Two genes encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase are located near the genes encoding the fourth component of complement in man.

Two genes encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase [21-OHase; steroid 21-monooxygenase; steroid, hydrogen-donor: oxygen oxidoreductase (21-hydroxylating); EC 1.14.99.10], a cytochrome P-450 enzyme, have been located within the HLA major histocompatibility complex. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-OHase deficiency is a common inherited disorder of cortisol biosynthesis which is in genetic linkage disequilibrium with certain extended HLA haplotypes. These haplotypes include characteristic serum complement allotypes. A series of cosmid clones was isolated from a human genomic library by using a probe encoding part of the fourth component of complement, C4. These clones also hybridized with a probe encoding most of human 21-OHase. Restriction mapping and hybridization analysis showed that there are two 21-OHase genes, each located near the 3' end of one of the two C4 genes. Hybridization with probes specific for the 5' and 3' ends of the 21-OHase gene showed that the 21-OHase and C4 genes all have the same orientation. The 21-OHase genes 3' to C4A and C4B carry T aq I fragments of 3.2 and 3.7 kilobases (kb), respectively. Both of these fragments are found in genomic DNA of most individuals. In DNA from an individual with the severe, "salt-wasting" form of 21-OHase deficiency who was homozygous for HLA-A3;Bw47;C4A*1;C4B*Q0(null); DR7, the 3.7-kb Taq I fragment is absent, whereas hormonally normal individuals homozygous for HLA-A1;B8;C4A*Q0;C4B*1;DR3 do not carry the 3.2-kb Taq I fragment. These data suggest that the 21-OHase "B" gene (3.7-kb Taq I fragment) is functional, but the 21-OHase "A" gene (3.2-kb Taq I fragment) is not.     

弓形虫P24基因敲除转染质粒pGB/P5-P3的构建

目的构建弓形虫P24(TgP24)基因敲除转染质粒pGB/P5P3(GRA2/BleP245’UTRP243,UTR),为TgP24基因敲除奠定基础。方法根据TgP24基因序列,设计并合成两对特异引物(P1toP4),采用PCR技术特异扩增TgP24基因的5,端非翻译区2.5kb片段(P245’UTR)和3’端非翻译区2.89kb片段(P243’UTR),将其分别亚克隆入pCR2.1TOPOTA载体,构建质粒P245’UTR/TA和P243’UTR/TA;重组质粒P245’UTR/TA经KpnⅠ和BglⅡ双酶切后,再将纯化的P245’UTR片段亚克隆入转染质粒GRA2/Ble的KpnⅠ和BglⅡ位点,构建重组质粒pGBP5(GRA2/BleP245’UTR);重组质粒P243’UTR/TA经BamHⅠ和NotⅠ双酶切后,纯化P243’UTR片段,再将其定向克隆到重组质粒pGBP5的BamHⅠ和NotⅠ位点,从而构建弓形虫TgP24基因敲除转染质粒pGB/P5P3。重组质粒经DNA序列测定证实目的片段插入正确。结果经过PCR筛选、限制性酶切及DNA测序鉴定,证实P245’UTR和P243’UTR两片段正确插入质粒GRA2/Ble的KpnⅠ和BglⅡ及BamHⅠ和NotⅠ位点,位于药物选择ble基因的上,下游。结论成功构建弓形虫P24基因敲除转染质粒pGB/P5P3。     

Robust gut-specific gene expression in transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Genetic modification of the vectorial capacity of mosquito vectors of human disease requires promoters capable of driving gene expression with appropriate tissue and stage specificity. We report on the characterization in transgenic Aedes aegypti of two mosquito gut-specific promoters. A 1.4-kb DNA fragment adjacent to the 5' end of the coding region of the Ae. aegypti carboxypeptidase (AeCP) gene and a corresponding 3.4-kb DNA fragment at the 5' end of the Anopheles gambiae carboxypeptidase (AgCP) gene were linked to a firefly luciferase reporter gene and introduced into the Ae. aegypti germ line by using Hermes and mariner (Mos1) transposons. Six independent transgenic lines were obtained with the AeCP construct and one with the AgCP construct. Luciferase mRNA and protein were abundantly expressed in the guts of transgenic mosquitoes in four of the six AeCP lines and in the AgCP line. Expression of the reporter gene was gut-specific and reached peak levels at about 24 h post-blood ingestion. The AeCP and AgCP promoters can be used to drive the expression of genes that hinder parasite development in the mosquito gut.     

Partial rescue of a lethal phenotype of fragile bones in transgenic mice with a chimeric antisense gene directed against a mutated collagen gene.

Previously, transgenic mice were prepared that developed a lethal phenotype of fragile bones because they expressed an internally deleted mini-gene for the pro alpha 1(I) chain of human type I procollagen. The shortened pro alpha 1(I) chains synthesized from the human transgene bound to and produced degradation of normal pro alpha 1(I) chains synthesized from the normal mouse alleles. Here we assembled an antisense gene that was similar to the internally deleted COL1A1 minigene but the 3' half of the gene was inverted so as to code for an antisense RNA. Transgenic mice expressing the antisense gene had a normal phenotype, apparently because the antisense gene contained human sequences instead of mouse sequences. Two lines of mice expressing the antisense gene were bred to two lines of transgenic mice expressing the mini-gene. In mice that inherited both genes, the incidence of the lethal fragile bone phenotype was reduced from 92% to 27%. The effects of the antisense gene were directly demonstrated by an increase in the ratio of normal mouse pro alpha 1(I) chains to human mini-pro alpha 1(I) chains in tissues from mice that inherited both genes and had a normal phenotype. The results raise the possibility that chimeric gene constructs that contain intron sequences and in which only the second half of a gene is inverted may be particularly effective as antisense genes.     

(Alpha)alpha 5.3: a novel alpha(+)-thalassemia deletion with the breakpoints in the alpha 2-globin gene and in close proximity to an Alu family repeat between the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes

A novel 5.3-kb deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster was observed in a family from Naples, Southern Italy. It removes the 5' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, causing an alpha (+)-thalassemia defect. Because of the presence of the residual 3' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, we indicated this new haplotype with the symbol (alpha)alpha 5.3. The 5' breakpoint, the first to be reported in the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes, is located 822 bp upstream of the cap site of the psi alpha 1-gene and about 150 bp upstream of a 300- nt Alu family member. The 3' breakpoint is located in the IVS-1 nt 58 of the alpha 2-globin gene. The 5.3-kb deleted fragment shows particular characteristics: it contains four Alu sequences having long regions 80% complementary and the 5'-GGCC-3' short repeat at both ends. The sequences spanning across the breakpoints on the same strand and containing this repeat on their 3' and 5' ends, respectively, are 17 of 25 base complementary. These particular features led us to assume the formation of a multistem-loop due to the intrastrand interaction between the complementary regions as intermediate to the deletion. The unusual localization of the 5' breakpoint suggests that even the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes may function as a deletion target.     

Stop codon in the procollagen II gene (COL2A1) in a family with the Stickler syndrome (arthro-ophthalmopathy).

Linkage analysis with restriction fragment length polymorphisms for the gene for type II procollagen (COL2A1) was carried out in a family with the Stickler syndrome, or arthro-ophthalmopathy, an autosomal dominant disorder that affects the eyes, ears, joints, and skeleton. The analysis demonstrated linkage of the disease and COL2A1 with a logarithm-of-odds score of 1.51 at zero recombination. A newly developed procedure for preparing cosmid clones was employed to isolate the allele for type II procollagen that was linked to the disease. Analysis of over 7000 nucleotides of the gene revealed a single base mutation that altered a CG dinucleotide and converted the codon CGA for arginine at amino acid position alpha 1-732 to TGA, a stop codon. From previous work on procollagen biosynthesis, it is apparent that the truncated polypeptide synthesized from an allele with a stop codon at alpha 1-732 cannot participate in the assembly of type II procollagen, and therefore that the mutation would decrease synthesis of type II procollagen. It was not apparent, however, why the mutation produced marked changes in the eye, which contains only small amounts of type II collagen, but relatively mild effects on the many cartilaginous structures of the body that are rich in the same protein.     

Cloning of the gene and complete cDNA encoding a type 2 deiodinase from Fundulus heteroclitus

Recently, we reported the cloning of a cDNA fragment from Fundulus heteroclitus liver encoding the open reading frame of type 2 deiodinase (FhD2). We here report the cloning of 14 kb of genomic sequence from F. heteroclitus that includes the previously reported coding region of the F. heteroclitus Dio2 gene (FhDio2), the 5(') and 3(') untranslated regions, and flanking regions and introns. This FhDio2 gene comprises two exons divided by a 4.8-kb intron. The position of the intron is similar to that of introns in other Dio2 genes. The analysis of approximately 1.3 kb of genomic sequence upstream of the mRNA start site revealed that, in contrast to mammalian Dio2 genes, there were no apparent TATA or CRE sequences. Nevertheless, a putative Sp1 site was found, similar to that in other F. heteroclitus TATA-less promoters. We have also cloned the complete FhD2 cDNA, which spans 4652 bp and contains a sequence adjacent to its poly(A) tail that is highly similar to the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) found in human D2 cDNA. The expression of a construct containing the FhD2 ORF plus the native SECIS resulted in a protein with deiodinase activity similar to that of the native FhD2. Analysis of the regulation of this gene, combined with ongoing studies of the F. heteroclitus D1 gene, will allow us to elucidate the functions of the colocalized deiodinases in teleost liver.     

Expression of a partially deleted gene of human type II procollagen (COL2A1) in transgenic mice produces a chondrodysplasia.

A minigene version of the human gene for type II procollagen (COL2A1) was prepared that lacked a large central region containing 12 of the 52 exons and therefore 291 of the 1523 codons of the gene. The construct was modeled after sporadic in-frame deletions of collagen genes that cause synthesis of shortened pro alpha chains that associate with normal pro alpha chains and thereby cause degradation of the shortened and normal pro alpha chains through a process called procollagen suicide. The gene construct was used to prepare five lines of transgenic mice expressing the minigene. A large proportion of the mice expressing the minigene developed a phenotype of a chondrodysplasia with dwarfism, short and thick limbs, a short snout, a cranial bulge, a cleft palate, and delayed mineralization of bone. A number of mice died shortly after birth. Microscopic examination of cartilage revealed decreased density and organization of collagen fibrils. In cultured chondrocytes from the transgenic mice, the minigene was expressed as shortened pro alpha 1(II) chains that were disulfide-linked to normal mouse pro alpha 1(II) chains. Therefore, the phenotype is probably explained by depletion of the endogenous mouse type II procollagen through the phenomenon of procollagen suicide.     

Soybean leghemoglobin gene family: normal, pseudo, and truncated genes.

Leghemoglobin (Lb) genes in soybean represent a small family of closely related genes. Three Lb sequences isolated from a genomic library were analyzed at the nucleotide sequence level. A Lb gene present on an 11.5-kilobase (kb) EcoRI genomic fragment spans approximately 1,200 nucleotides and is interrupted at amino acid positions 32 to 33, 68 to 69, and 103 to 104. The intervening sequences, as well as the 5' and 3' flanking regions of this gene, contain the consensus sequences found in other eukaryotic genes. The length of the 5'-untranslated region is 49 bases as determined by nuclease S1 mapping. R-loop analysis of the DNA from the recombinant phage containing the 11.5-kb EcoRI genomic fragment showed that another Lb gene is located 2.5 kb away. The nucleotide sequence of the second gene showed that this gene is incomplete, containing only exons 3 and 4. The deduced amino acid sequence of this gene, although showing 76% homology with the corresponding region of the other Lb gene, is not represented in any of the known Lb proteins. Both genes are oriented in the same direction with respect to the coding strand. Analysis of the sequence present on a second genomic clone containing a 4.2-kb EcoRI fragment revealed a truncated Lb gene showing homology with the last exon and the noncoding region at the 3' end of the two other Lb genes.     

Effect of Elevated Temperature on the Intracellular Degradation of Different Collagen Types

The intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen of types I, II and IV was studied under cell culture conditions at normal and elevated body temperatures. The degradation of type I procollagen was studied in both human skin and chicken tendon fibroblasts, type II procollagen in chicken sternal chondrocytes and type IV procollagen in a human tumor cell line (HT-1080). To avoid the effect of the different temperatures on isotope penetration and protein synthesis, the cells were pulsed at 37 °C. The degradation of the newly synthesized procollagen was then followed during the chase period at 37 °C and at different temperatures slightly above the melting temperature of type I procollagen. Degradation was clearly increased in the human skin fibroblasts when the temperature was raised to 41 °C, whereas the result in the chicken tendon fibroblasts at 43 °C was not as dramatic. The extent of degradation in chicken chondrocytes was resistant to changes in temperature, whereas that in the HT-1080 cells was clearly increased when the incubation temperature was raised to 43 °C.     

己酮可可碱对人α1(Ⅰ)前胶原基因启动子活性的影响

目的探讨己酮可可碱（pentoxifylline,PTX）对人α1(Ⅰ)前胶原（COL1A1）基因启动子活性的作用及其机制。方法构建含人COL1A1基因启动子序列-2483～+42bp片段与氯霉素乙酰基转移酶（CAT）报告基因的重组体pCOLH2.5,将其瞬时转染至人皮肤成纤维细胞,加入PTX或/和胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF-1）及胰岛素,测定CAT活性。结果0.4mmol/L、2mmol/L和10mmol/L的PTX使pCOLH2.5的活性降至对照的（82±9）%、（58±8）%与（32±13）%。IGF-1与胰岛素能促进pCOLH2.5的活性。PTX能拮抗IGF-1与胰岛素的这一促进作用。结论PTX能下调人COL1A1启动子的活性,而IGF-1与胰岛素能上调该启动子的活性。PTX能拮抗IGF-1与胰岛素的这一上调作用。     

Early-onset osteoarthritis linked to the type ii procollagen gene. detailed clinical phenotype and further analyses of the gene

Objective. To specify in detail the clinical phenotype in 2 Finnish families demonstrating linkage between the type II procollagen gene (COL2A1) and osteoarthritis (OA). We also reevaluated the linkage and screened the exon sequences of the COL2A1 gene for mutations. Methods. We used single-stranded conformation polymorphism and denaturing gradient-gel electrophoresis techniques for the analyses. Results. The patients' phenotype represented typical, but early-onset, OA. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of chondrodysplasia. No mutation in the protein-coding regions of the COL2A1 gene could be identified. However, the linkage analysis with a new multiallelic marker resulted in a statistically more significant logarithm of odds (LOD) score than has been reported. Conclusion. Familial OA with classic clinical and radiographic findings is tightly linked to the COL2A1 gene. Systematic screening of the 54 exons did not, however, reveal any mutations; this suggests that the mutation may lie in the promoter region or within the introns of this 35-kb gene.