Molecular Cloning and Characterization of PI3K-p85α Gene from Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goat (Capra hircus)

PI3K, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, is a specific lipid kinase family. It is associated with cell proliferation and survival..Class-IA PI3K is heterodimers composed of catalytic subunit (p110) and regulatory subunit (p85). p85α is the most abundant regulatory subunit of PI3K family. PI3K-p85α partial cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR from Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goat (Capra hircus) and sequenced. The molecular characterization of the PI3K-p85α gene was described. The amplified fragment is 1152bp in length, corresponding to a polypeptide of 384 amino acids residues with 45.4 kDa predicted molecular mass. The cDNA nucleotide sequence has 98% identity with regulatory subunit alpha (PIK3R1) of bovine and 93% identity with human. The goat PI3K-p85α patial cDNA is cloned.

Cytosolic iron superoxide dismutase is a part of the triacylglycerol biosynthetic complex in oleaginous yeast

A novel multienzyme complex for the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol in oleaginous yeast has been identified recently in the cytosol and characterized [Gangar, Karande and Rajasekharan (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 10290–10298]. Screening the library of Rhodotorula glutinis with an oligonucleotide probe derived from the N-terminal sequence of one of the protein components in the complex (21 kDa protein) resulted in the isolation of a 0.7 kb cDNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the isolated gene codes for superoxide dismutase (SOD). Atomic absorption spectroscopy and inhibition assays showed that this cytosolic SOD utilizes Fe as its cofactor. Enzymic assays, immunoprecipitation and cross-linking experiments revealed that SOD is a part of the triacylglycerol biosynthetic complex, which could protect the substrate and the complex from oxidative damages. These results indicate for the first time the presence of iron-containing SOD in a soluble form in yeast.

A Standard Nomenclature for von Willebrand Factor Gene Mutations and Polymorphisms

SummaryExamination of the entire von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene for mutations, particularly in types 1 and 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is becoming more widely practised. The sequence of the entire VWF gene will soon be compiled as a single sequence. For these reasons, a clearly defined nomenclature to use for numbering the VWF nucleotide and amino acid sequence is required.The following recommendations are made for VWF numbering. VWF cDNA nucleotide sequence should be numbered from the A of the initiator ATG as the +1 position. Genomic DNA should be prefixed with a “g” and also numbered from this position. Amino acid (aa) numbering should be from the initiator methionine as the +1 position with sequential numbering of aa throughout VWF. To avoid confusion with previously used numbering schemes for mature VWF, which started from serine 764 of pre-pro VWF, the use of the single letter amino acid code is recommended.

Cathepsin P, a novel protease in mouse placenta

The complete cDNA nucleotide sequence of a novel cathepsin derived from mouse placenta, termed cathepsin P, was determined. mRNA for cathepsin P was expressed in placenta and at lower levels in visceral yolk sac, but could not be detected in a range of adult tissues. The expression pattern of this protease indicates that it probably plays an important role during implantation and fetal development.

Genomic Subtractive Hybridization and Selective Capture of Transcribed Sequences Identify a Novel Salmonella typhimurium Fimbrial Operon and Putative Transcriptional Regulator That Are Absent from the Salmonella typhi Genome

ABSTRACT Salmonella typhi, the etiologic agent of typhoid fever, is adapted to the human host and unable to infect nonprimate species. The genetic basis for host specificity in S. typhi is unknown. The avirulence of S. typhi in animal hosts may result from a lack of genes present in the broad-host-range pathogenSalmonella typhimurium. Genomic subtractive hybridization was successfully employed to isolate S. typhimurium genomic sequences which are absent from the S. typhi genome. These genomic subtracted sequences mapped to 17 regions distributed throughout the S. typhimurium chromosome. A positive cDNA selection method was then used to identify subtracted sequences which were transcribed by S. typhimurium following macrophage phagocytosis. A novel putative transcriptional regulator of the LysR family was identified as transcribed by intramacrophage S. typhimurium. This putative transcriptional regulator was absent from the genomes of the human-adapted serovars S. typhi andSalmonella paratyphi A. Mutations within this gene did not alter the level of S. typhimurium survival within macrophages or virulence within mice. A subtracted genomic fragment derived from the ferrichrome operon also hybridized to the intramacrophage cDNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of S. typhimurium and S. typhi chromosomal sequences flanking the ferrichrome operon identified a novel S. typhimurium fimbrial operon with a high level of similarity to sequences encoding Proteus mirabilis mannose-resistant fimbriae. The novel fimbrial operon was absent from the S. typhi genome. The absence of specific genes may have allowedS. typhi to evolve as a highly invasive, systemic human pathogen.