Independent Genes (independent + gene)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Differential expression of mast cell characteristics in human myeloid cell lines

EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2004
Pia Welker
Abstract:, In order to better understand the mechanisms governing display of mast cell characteristics in human myeloid cells, we have studied the mast cell phenotype in human promyelocytic (HL-60) and myelocytic (U-937, TPH-1) vs. basophilic (KU-812) and mast cell (HMC-1) lines, in part also in skin mast cells and blood monocytes, at mRNA and protein level before and after stimulation with mast cell growth factors. In unstimulated cells, mRNA for the stem cell factor (SCF) receptor c-kit and the gamma chain of the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc,RI) was noted in all cells studied. Like mast and basophilic cells, THP-1 cells expressed the Fc,RI, and , chains and weakly histidine decarboxylase (HDC), but they lacked mRNA for mast cell-specific proteases [tryptase, chymase, carboxypeptidase A (CPA)]. In contrast, HL-60 and U-937 cells lacked Fc,RI,, but expressed tryptase and chymase, HL-60 cells also CPA. KU-812 cells failed to express the basophil-specific marker 2D7. After a 10-day culture with SCF or fibroblast supernatants, baseline mRNA expression of most mast cell characteristics was upregulated, whereas c-kit mRNA expression decreased in all but THP-1 cells. Differential mRNA expression of Fc,RI vs. protease (tryptase) was confirmed at protein level by immunocytochemistry and enzymatic activity. KU-812 cells are thus closest to skin mast cells in that they express all molecules studied, except for chymase, followed by THP-1 cells that lack all mast cell proteases. In contrast, HL-60 and U-937 cells fail to express the Fc,RI, and , chains but express most mast cell proteases. The selective and differential expression of mast cell characteristics in human myeloid cell lines suggests that induction of the mast cell phenotype is regulated by several independent genes and that mast cells and basophils branch off at early and distinct points of myeloid development. [source]


Large-scale screening of intracellular protein localization in living fission yeast cells by the use of a GFP-fusion genomic DNA library

GENES TO CELLS, Issue 3 2000
Da-Qiao Ding
Background Intracellular localization is an important part of the characterization of a gene product. In an attempt to search for genes based on the intracellular localization of their products, we constructed a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fusion genomic DNA library of S. pombe. Results We constructed the S. pombe GFP-fusion genomic DNA library by fusing, in all three reading frames, random fragments of genomic DNA to the 5, end of the GFP gene in such a way that expression of potential GFP-fusion proteins would be under the control of the own promoters contained in the genomic DNA fragments. Fission yeast cells were transformed with this plasmid library, and microscopic screening of 49 845 transformants yielded 6954 transformants which exhibited GFP fluorescence, of which 728 transformants showed fluorescence localized to distinct intracellular structures such as the nucleus, the nuclear membrane, and cytoskeletal structures. Plasmids were isolated from 516 of these transformants, and a determination of their DNA sequences identified 250 independent genes. The intracellular localizations of the 250 GFP-fusion constructs was categorized as an image database; using this database, DNA sequences can be searched for based on the localizations of their products. Conclusions A number of new intracellular structural components were found in this library. The library of GFP-fusion constructs also provides useful fluorescent markers for various intracellular structures and cellular activities, which can be readily used for microscopic observation in living cells. [source]


Sigma factor selectivity in Borrelia burgdorferi: RpoS recognition of the ospE/ospF/elp promoters is dependent on the sequence of the ,10 region

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Christian H. Eggers
Summary Members of the ospE/ospF/elp lipoprotein gene families of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent, are transcriptionally upregulated in response to the influx of blood into the midgut of an infected tick. We recently have demonstrated that despite the high degree of similarity between the promoters of the ospF (PospF) and ospE (PospE) genes of B. burgdorferi strain 297, the differential expression of ospF is RpoS-dependent, while ospE is controlled by ,70. Herein we used wild-type and RpoS-deficient strains of B. burgdorferi and Escherichia coli to analyse transcriptional reporters consisting of a green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene fused to PospF, PospE, or two hybrid promoters in which the ,10 regions of PospF and PospE were switched [PospF (E , 10) and PospE,(F , 10) respectively]. We found that the PospF,10 region is both necessary and sufficient for RpoS-dependent recognition in B. burgdorferi, while ,70 specificity for PospE is dependent on elements outside of the ,10 region. In E. coli, sigma factor selectivity for these promoters was much more permissive, with expression of each being primarily due to ,70. Alignment of the sequences upstream of each of the ospE/ospF/elp genes from B. burgdorferi strains 297 and B31 revealed that two B31 ospF paralogues [erpK (BBM38) and erpL (BBO39)] have ,10 regions virtually identical to that of PospF. Correspondingly, expression of gfp reporters based on the erpK and erpL promoters was RpoS-dependent. Thus, the sequence of the PospF,10 region appears to serve as a motif for RpoS recognition, the first described for any B. burgdorferi promoter. Taken together, our data support the notion that B. burgdorferi utilizes sequence differences at the ,10 region as one mechanism for maintaining the transcriptional integrity of RpoS-dependent and -independent genes activated at the onset of tick feeding. [source]


In vitro transcription of PrfA-dependent and -independent genes of Listeria monocytogenes

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
M. Lalic-Mülthaler
In vitro transcription starting from the promoters of the Listeria monocytogenes genes hly, plcA, actA, mpl, prfA and iap has been studied. Whereas transcription from Phly, PplcA and PactA is strictly PrfA-dependent, that from Piap, PprfA1/2 and, unexpectedly, also from Pmpl is independent. Initiation of in vitro transcription at all tested promoters except PprfA requires high concentrations of ATP but not GTP. The nucleotides required in higher concentrations for efficient in vitro transcription are always included in the first three nucleotides of the corresponding transcript. RNA polymerase prepared from L. monocytogenes cultured either in rich culture medium (RNAPBHI), exposed to heat shock conditions (RNAP48) or conditioned in minimal essential medium (RNAPMEM) shows significant differences in the transcription efficiencies when transcription is initiated at these promoters. Transcription starting from the PrfA-dependent promoters PactA and Phly is enhanced with RNAP48 and RNAPMEM (in relation to Piap,mediated transcription), while transcription from the other promoters is reduced when compared with RNAPBHI. These data suggest that in vivo transcription of the genes actA and hly may not function optimally with RNA polymerase loaded with the vegetative sigma factor 43, but may require a modified RNA polymerase, possibly loaded with an alternative sigma factor. [source]


Evolutionarily independent genes and genomes and insights on genetic structure, evolution and conservation of the collis group of darters

ANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 4 2009
K. J. Oswald
Abstract Comparing variation across evolutionarily independent characters, notably nuclear and mitochondrial genes, yields a more robust estimate of diversification than is generally recovered from individual characters. Patterns of variation across multiple molecular markers from the mitochondrial (16SrRNA, cytochrome b) and nuclear (ldhA6 and aldB) genomes were examined from six populations of Etheostoma collis and two populations of Etheostoma saludae, species aligned in the collis groups. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that sequence variation among individuals from the Roanoke, Tar and Neuse Rivers and the Catawba and Pee Dee Rivers, respectively, form highly supported, deeply divergent clades. Relationships of alleles sampled from Saluda River E. saludae and Cape Fear River E. collis to these lineages are unresolved, but all groups are reciprocally monophyletic for both nuclear and mtDNA loci. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that historical factors have had a strong influence on the distribution of genetic variation among populations. Genetic variation within the collis group is consistent with all previously proposed taxonomic hypotheses for the collis group, providing no taxonomic insights. From a conservation standpoint, each population of the collis group is an ESU, thereby warranting a drainage-specific management strategy. [source]


Generation of a triple-gene knockout mammalian cell line using engineered zinc-finger nucleases,

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2010
Pei-Qi Liu
Abstract Mammalian cells with multi-gene knockouts could be of considerable utility in research, drug discovery, and cell-based therapeutics. However, existing methods for targeted gene deletion require sequential rounds of homologous recombination and drug selection to isolate rare desired events,a process sufficiently laborious to limit application to individual loci. Here we present a solution to this problem. Firstly, we report the development of zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) targeted to cleave three independent genes with known null phenotypes. Mammalian cells exposed to each ZFN pair in turn resulted in the generation of cell lines harboring single, double, and triple gene knockouts, that is, the successful disruption of two, four, and six alleles. All three biallelic knockout events were obtained at frequencies of >1% without the use of selection, displayed the expected knockout phenotype(s), and harbored DNA mutations centered at the ZFN binding sites. These data demonstrate the utility of ZFNs in multi-locus genome engineering. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 97,105. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Multiple fuzzy neural network system for outcome prediction and classification of 220 lymphoma patients on the basis of molecular profiling

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 10 2003
Tatsuya Ando
A fuzzy neural network (FNN) using gene expression profile data can select combinations of genes from thousands of genes, and is applicable to predict outcome for cancer patients after chemotherapy. However, wide clinical heterogeneity reduces the accuracy of prediction. To overcome this problem, we have proposed an FNN system based on majoritarian decision using multiple noninferior models. We used transcriptional profiling data, which were obtained from "Lymphochip" DNA microarrays (http://llmpp.nih.gov/DLBCL), reported by Rosenwald (N Engl J Med 2002; 346: 1937,47). When the data were analyzed by our FNN system, accuracy (73.4%) of outcome prediction using only 1 FNN model with 4 genes was higher than that (68.5%) of the Cox model using 17 genes. Higher accuracy (91%) was obtained when an FNN system with 9 noninferior models, consisting of 35 independent genes, was used. The genes selected by the system included genes that are informative in the prognosis of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), such as genes showing an expression pattern similar to that of CD10 and BCL-6 or similar to that of IRF-4 and BCL-4. We classified 220 DLBCL patients into 5 groups using the prediction results of 9 FNN models. These groups may correspond to DLBCL subtypes. In group A containing half of the 220 patients, patients with poor outcome were found to satisfy 2 rules, i.e., high expression of MAX dimerization with high expression of unknown A (LC_26146), or high expression of MAX dimerization with low expression of unknown B (LC_33144). The present paper is the first to describe the multiple noninferior FNN modeling system. This system is a powerful tool for predicting outcome and classifying patients, and is applicable to other heterogeneous diseases. [source]