Conformational stabilities of Escherichia coli RNase HI variants with a series of amino acid substitutions at a cavity within the hydrophobic core.

Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI has a cavity within the hydrophobic core. Two core residues, Ala52 and Val74, resided at both ends of this cavity. We have constructed a series of single mutant proteins at Ala52, and double mutant proteins, in which Ala52 was replaced by Gly, Val, Ile, Leu, or Phe, and Val74 was replaced by Ala or Leu.

High resistance of Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI variant with quintuple thermostabilizing mutations to thermal denaturation, acid denaturation, and proteolytic degradation.

To test whether the combination of multiple thermostabilizing mutations is a useful strategy to generate a hyperstable mutant protein, five mutations, Gly23-->Ala, His62-->Pro, Val74-->Leu, Lys95-->Gly, and Asp134-->His or Asn, were simultaneously introduced into Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI. The enzymatic activities of the resultant quintuple mutant proteins, 5H- and 5N-RNases HI, which have His and Asn at position 134, respectively, were 35 and 55% of that of the wild-type protein. The far-UV and near-UV CD spectra of these mutant proteins were similar to those of the wild-type protein, suggesting that the mutations did not seriously affect the tertiary structure of the protein.

A genetic linkage map of the mouse using restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS).

We have developed a multiplex method of genome analysis, restriction landmark genomic scanning (RLGS) that has been used to construct genetic maps in mice. Restriction landmarks are end-labeled restriction fragments of genomic DNA that are separated by using high resolution, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identifying as many as two thousand landmark loci in a single gel. Variation for several hundred of these loci has been identified between laboratory strains and between these strains and Mus spretus.

A novel strategy for stabilization of Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI involving a screen for an intragenic suppressor of carboxyl-terminal deletions.

A strategy to genetically select Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI mutants with enhanced thermostability is described. E. coli strain MIC3001, which shows an RNase H-dependent, temperature-sensitive growth phenotype, was used for this purpose.