scholarly journals DNA-Encoded Chromatin Structural Intron Boundary Signals Identify Conserved Genes with Common Function

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A. Fincher ◽  
Gary S. Tyson ◽  
Jonathan H. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Mrna Splicing ◽  
Conserved Genes ◽  
V Genes ◽  
Chromatin Structural ◽  
Intron Boundary ◽  
Exon Boundary

The regulation of metazoan gene expression occurs in part by pre-mRNA splicing into mature RNAs. Signals affecting the efficiency and specificity with which introns are removed have not been completely elucidated. Splicing likely occurs cotranscriptionally, with chromatin structure playing a key regulatory role. We calculated DNA encoded nucleosome occupancy likelihood (NOL) scores at the boundaries between introns and exons across five metazoan species. We found that (i) NOL scores reveal a sequence-based feature at the introns on both sides of the intron-exon boundary; (ii) this feature is not part of any recognizable consensus sequence; (iii) this feature is conserved throughout metazoa; (iv) this feature is enriched in genes sharing similar functions: ATPase activity, ATP binding, helicase activity, and motor activity; (v) genes with these functions exhibit different genomic characteristics; (vi)in vivonucleosome positioning data confirm ontological enrichment at this feature; and (vii) genes with this feature exhibit unique dinucleotide distributions at the intron-exon boundary. The NOL scores point toward a physical property of DNA that may play a role in the mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing. These results provide a foundation for identification of a new set of regulatory DNA elements involved in splicing regulation.

scholarly journals Drosophila Brahma complex remodels nucleosome organizations in multiple aspects

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (15) ◽  
pp. 9730-9739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiejun Shi ◽  
Meizhu Zheng ◽  
Youqiong Ye ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Xiaolong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Nucleosome Position ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Entire Genome ◽  
Atpase Subunit ◽  
Chromatin Remodelers ◽  
Position Shift ◽  
Brahma Complex

Abstract ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes regulate nucleosome organizations. In Drosophila, gene Brm encodes the core Brahma complex, the ATPase subunit of SWI/SNF class of chromatin remodelers. Its role in modulating the nucleosome landscape in vivo is unclear. In this study, we knocked down Brm in Drosophila third instar larvae to explore the changes in nucleosome profiles and global gene transcription. The results show that Brm knockdown leads to nucleosome occupancy changes throughout the entire genome with a bias in occupancy decrease. In contrast, the knockdown has limited impacts on nucleosome position shift. The knockdown also alters another important physical property of nucleosome positioning, fuzziness. Nucleosome position shift, gain or loss and fuzziness changes are all enriched in promoter regions. Nucleosome arrays around the 5′ ends of genes are reorganized in five patterns as a result of Brm knockdown. Intriguingly, the concomitant changes in the genes adjacent to the Brahma-dependent remodeling regions have important roles in development and morphogenesis. Further analyses reveal abundance of AT-rich motifs for transcription factors in the remodeling regions.

scholarly journals Factors affecting authentic 5' splice site selection in plant nuclei.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1323-1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J McCullough ◽  
H Lou ◽  
M A Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Transition Point ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Plant Expression Vector ◽  
Normal Site ◽  
Intron Boundary

To define elements critical for 5' splice selection in dicot plant nuclei, wild-type and mutant transcripts containing the first intron of the pea rbcS3A gene were expressed in vivo by using an autonomously replicating plant expression vector. Mutations within the normal 5' splice site (+1) of this intron demonstrate that 5' splice sites at the normal exon-intron boundary having only limited agreement with a 5' splice site consensus sequence can be spliced quite effectively in dicot nuclei. Inactivation of the normal 5' splice site occurs only by point mutations of the G at position +1 of the intron (+1G) or +2U or by multiple mutations at other positions and results in the activation of three cryptic 5' splice sites in the adjacent exon and intron. cis competition of cryptic sites having consensus 5' splice site sequences with the normal 5' splice site demonstrates that cryptic splice sites in the exon, but not the intron, can compete to some extent with the normal site. Replacement of the sequences between the cryptic and normal 5' splice sites with heterologous exon or intron sequences demonstrates that the 5' boundary of this plant intron is defined by its position relative to the AU transition point between exon and intron. These results suggest that potential 5' splice sites upstream of the AU transition point are accessible for recognition by the plant pre-mRNA splicing machinery and that those downstream in the AU-rich intron are masked from recognition.

Factors affecting authentic 5' splice site selection in plant nuclei

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1323-1331
Author(s):  
A J McCullough ◽  
H Lou ◽  
M A Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Transition Point ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Plant Expression Vector ◽  
Normal Site ◽  
Intron Boundary

To define elements critical for 5' splice selection in dicot plant nuclei, wild-type and mutant transcripts containing the first intron of the pea rbcS3A gene were expressed in vivo by using an autonomously replicating plant expression vector. Mutations within the normal 5' splice site (+1) of this intron demonstrate that 5' splice sites at the normal exon-intron boundary having only limited agreement with a 5' splice site consensus sequence can be spliced quite effectively in dicot nuclei. Inactivation of the normal 5' splice site occurs only by point mutations of the G at position +1 of the intron (+1G) or +2U or by multiple mutations at other positions and results in the activation of three cryptic 5' splice sites in the adjacent exon and intron. cis competition of cryptic sites having consensus 5' splice site sequences with the normal 5' splice site demonstrates that cryptic splice sites in the exon, but not the intron, can compete to some extent with the normal site. Replacement of the sequences between the cryptic and normal 5' splice sites with heterologous exon or intron sequences demonstrates that the 5' boundary of this plant intron is defined by its position relative to the AU transition point between exon and intron. These results suggest that potential 5' splice sites upstream of the AU transition point are accessible for recognition by the plant pre-mRNA splicing machinery and that those downstream in the AU-rich intron are masked from recognition.

scholarly journals In Silico Predicted Antifungal Peptides: In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Candida Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Tecla Ciociola ◽  
Walter Magliani ◽  
Tiziano De Simone ◽  
Thelma A. Pertinhez ◽  
Stefania Conti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Synthetic Antibody

It has been previously demonstrated that synthetic antibody-derived peptides could exert a significant activity in vitro, ex vivo, and/or in vivo against microorganisms and viruses, as well as immunomodulatory effects through the activation of immune cells. Based on the sequence of previously described antibody-derived peptides with recognized antifungal activity, an in silico analysis was conducted to identify novel antifungal candidates. The present study analyzed the candidacidal and structural properties of in silico designed peptides (ISDPs) derived by amino acid substitutions of the parent peptide KKVTMTCSAS. ISDPs proved to be more active in vitro than the parent peptide and all proved to be therapeutic in Galleria mellonella candidal infection, without showing toxic effects on mammalian cells. ISDPs were studied by circular dichroism spectroscopy, demonstrating different structural organization. These results allowed to validate a consensus sequence for the parent peptide KKVTMTCSAS that may be useful in the development of novel antimicrobial molecules.

scholarly journals Engineering nucleosomes for generating diverse chromatin assemblies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zenita Adhireksan ◽  
Deepti Sharma ◽  
Phoi Leng Lee ◽  
Qiuye Bao ◽  
Sivaraman Padavattan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Dna Nanostructures ◽  
Macromolecular Assemblies ◽  
Maximum Resolution ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Chromatin Structural ◽  
Dna Fragment

Abstract Structural characterization of chromatin is challenging due to conformational and compositional heterogeneity in vivo and dynamic properties that limit achievable resolution in vitro. Although the maximum resolution for solving structures of large macromolecular assemblies by electron microscopy has recently undergone profound increases, X-ray crystallographic approaches may still offer advantages for certain systems. One such system is compact chromatin, wherein the crystalline state recapitulates the crowded molecular environment within the nucleus. Here we show that nucleosomal constructs with cohesive-ended DNA can be designed that assemble into different types of circular configurations or continuous fibers extending throughout crystals. We demonstrate the utility of the method for characterizing nucleosome compaction and linker histone binding at near-atomic resolution but also advance its application for tackling further problems in chromatin structural biology and for generating novel types of DNA nanostructures. We provide a library of cohesive-ended DNA fragment expression constructs and a strategy for engineering DNA-based nanomaterials with a seemingly vast potential variety of architectures and histone chemistries.

scholarly journals PLRG1 Is an Essential Regulator of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis during Vertebrate Development and Tissue Homeostasis

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 3173-3185 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Kleinridders ◽  
Hans-Martin Pogoda ◽  
Sigrid Irlenbusch ◽  
Neil Smyth ◽  
Csaba Koncz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Tissue Homeostasis ◽  
Mrna Splicing ◽  
Vertebrate Development ◽  
Adult Tissue ◽  
Serum Stimulation ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis ◽  
Dependent Cell

ABSTRACT PLRG1, an evolutionarily conserved component of the spliceosome, forms a complex with Pso4/SNEV/Prp19 and the cell division and cycle 5 homolog (CDC5L) that is involved in both pre-mRNA splicing and DNA repair. Here, we show that the inactivation of PLRG1 in mice results in embryonic lethality at 1.5 days postfertilization. Studies of heart- and neuron-specific PLRG1 knockout mice further reveal an essential role of PLRG1 in adult tissue homeostasis and the suppression of apoptosis. PLRG1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) fail to progress through S phase upon serum stimulation and exhibit increased rates of apoptosis. PLRG1 deficiency causes enhanced p53 phosphorylation and stabilization in the presence of increased γ-H2AX immunoreactivity as an indicator of an activated DNA damage response. p53 downregulation rescues lethality in both PLRG1-deficient MEFs and zebrafish in vivo, showing that apoptosis resulting from PLRG1 deficiency is p53 dependent. Moreover, the deletion of PLRG1 results in the relocation of its interaction partner CDC5L from the nucleus to the cytoplasm without general alterations in pre-mRNA splicing. Taken together, the results of this study identify PLRG1 as a critical nuclear regulator of p53-dependent cell cycle progression and apoptosis during both embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis.

scholarly journals A Functional Interaction between the Carboxy-Terminal Domain of RNA Polymerase II and Pre-mRNA Splicing

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Du ◽  
Stephen L. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Mrna Splicing ◽  
Splicing Factors ◽  
Functional Interaction ◽  
Carboxy Terminal Domain ◽  
Localization Signal ◽  
Nuclear Domains ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

In the preceding study we found that Sm snRNPs and SerArg (SR) family proteins co-immunoprecipitate with Pol II molecules containing a hyperphosphorylated CTD (Kim et al., 1997). The association between Pol IIo and splicing factors is maintained in the absence of pre-mRNA, and the polymerase need not be transcriptionally engaged (Kim et al., 1997). The latter findings led us to hypothesize that a phosphorylated form of the CTD interacts with pre-mRNA splicing components in vivo. To test this idea, a nested set of CTD-derived proteins was assayed for the ability to alter the nuclear distribution of splicing factors, and to interfere with splicing in vivo. Proteins containing heptapeptides 1-52 (CTD52), 1-32 (CTD32), 1-26 (CTD26), 1-13 (CTD13), 1-6 (CTD6), 1-3 (CTD3), or 1 (CTD1) were expressed in mammalian cells. The CTD-derived proteins become phosphorylated in vivo, and accumulate in the nucleus even though they lack a conventional nuclear localization signal. CTD52 induces a selective reorganization of splicing factors from discrete nuclear domains to the diffuse nucleoplasm, and significantly, it blocks the accumulation of spliced, but not unspliced, human β-globin transcripts. The extent of splicing factor disruption, and the degree of inhibition of splicing, are proportional to the number of heptapeptides added to the protein. The above results indicate a functional interaction between Pol II's CTD and pre-mRNA splicing.

scholarly journals Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of p53 In Vitro and In Vivo Modulates Binding to its DNA Consensus Sequence

Neoplasia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal ◽  
Dean S. Rosenthal ◽  
RuiBai Luo ◽  
Raed Samara ◽  
Mira Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Sequence

scholarly journals Context effects and inefficient initiation at non-AUG codons in eucaryotic cell-free translation systems.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 5073-5080 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Context Effects ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Late Event ◽  
Free Translation ◽  
Initiator Codon ◽  
Translation Systems ◽  
Short Versions

The context requirements for recognition of an initiator codon were evaluated in vitro by monitoring the relative use of two AUG codons that were strategically positioned to produce long (pre-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase [CAT]) and short versions of CAT protein. The yield of pre-CAT initiated from the 5'-proximal AUG codon increased, and synthesis of CAT from the second AUG codon decreased, as sequences flanking the first AUG codon increasingly resembled the eucaryotic consensus sequence. Thus, under prescribed conditions, the fidelity of initiation in extracts from animal as well as plant cells closely mimics what has been observed in vivo. Unexpectedly, recognition of an AUG codon in a suboptimal context was higher when the adjacent downstream sequence was capable of assuming a hairpin structure than when the downstream region was unstructured. This finding adds a new, positive dimension to regulation by mRNA secondary structure, which has been recognized previously as a negative regulator of initiation. Translation of pre-CAT from an AUG codon in a weak context was not preferentially inhibited under conditions of mRNA competition. That result is consistent with the scanning model, which predicts that recognition of the AUG codon is a late event that occurs after the competition-sensitive binding of a 40S ribosome-factor complex to the 5' end of mRNA. Initiation at non-AUG codons was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by introducing appropriate mutations in the CAT and preproinsulin genes. GUG was the most efficient of the six alternative initiator codons tested, but GUG in the optimal context for initiation functioned only 3 to 5% as efficiently as AUG. Initiation at non-AUG codons was artifactually enhanced in vitro at supraoptimal concentrations of magnesium.

scholarly journals Identification of target genes and a unique cis element regulated by IRF-8 in developing macrophages

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 1938-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiko Tamura ◽  
Pratima Thotakura ◽  
Tetsuya S. Tanaka ◽  
Minoru S. H. Ko ◽  
Keiko Ozato
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cystatin C ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Microarray Gene Expression ◽  
Cathepsin C ◽  
Cis Element

Abstract Interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8)/interferon consensus sequence–binding protein (ICSBP) is a transcription factor that controls myeloid-cell development. Microarray gene expression analysis of Irf-8-/- myeloid progenitor cells expressing an IRF-8/estrogen receptor chimera (which differentiate into macrophages after addition of estradiol) was used to identify 69 genes altered by IRF-8 during early differentiation (62 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated). Among them, 4 lysosomal/endosomal enzyme-related genes (cystatin C, cathepsin C, lysozyme, and prosaposin) did not require de novo protein synthesis for induction, suggesting that they were direct targets of IRF-8. We developed a reporter assay system employing a self-inactivating retrovirus and analyzed the cystatin C and cathepsin C promoters. We found that a unique cis element mediates IRF-8–induced activation of both promoters. Similar elements were also found in other IRF-8 target genes with a consensus sequence (GAAANN[N]GGAA) comprising a core IRF-binding motif and an Ets-binding motif; this sequence is similar but distinct from the previously reported Ets/IRF composite element. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that IRF-8 and the PU.1 Ets transcription factor bind to this element in vivo. Collectively, these data indicate that IRF-8 stimulates transcription of target genes through a novel cis element to specify macrophage differentiation.

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