The stachydrine catabolism region in Sinorhizobium meliloti encodes a multi-enzyme complex similar to the xenobiotic degrading systems in other bacteria.

Stachydrine (proline betaine) can be used by Sinorhizobium meliloti as a source of carbon and nitrogen. Catabolism depends on an initial N-demethylation, after which the resultant N-methyl proline enters general metabolism. Deletion and insertion mutagenesis demonstrated that the information necessary for catabolism is carried on the symbiotic plasmid (pSym) distal to nodD2 and the nod-nif cluster.

Processing of the human heparanase precursor and evidence that the active enzyme is a heterodimer.

Human platelet heparanase has been purified to homogeneity and shown to consist of two, non-covalently associated polypeptide chains of molecular masses 50 and 8 kDa. Protein sequencing provided the basis for determination of the full-length cDNA for this novel protein. Based upon this information and results from protein analysis and mass spectrometry, we propose a scheme to define the structural organization of heparanase in relation to its precursor forms, proheparanase and pre-proheparanase.

Nucleotide sequence of the 3'-terminal two-thirds of the grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 genome reveals a typical monopartite closterovirus.

The RNA genome of grapevine leafroll-associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) was cloned as a cDNA generated from GLRaV-3-specific dsRNA, and a partial genome sequence of 13154 nucleotides (nt) including the 3' terminus was determined. The sequenced portion contained 13 open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding, in the 5'-3' direction, proteins of > 77 kDa (ORF1a; helicase, HEL), 61 kDa (ORF1b; RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RdRp), 6 kDa (ORF2), 5 kDa (ORF3, small transmembrane protein), 59 kDa (ORF4; heat shock protein 70, HSP70), 55 kDa (ORF5), 35 kDa (ORF6; coat protein, CP), 53 kDa (ORF7; diverged coat protein, CPd), 21 kDa (ORF8), 20 kDa (ORF9), 20 kDa (ORF10), 4 kDa (ORF11), 7 kDa (ORF12), and an untranslated region of 277 nt. ORF1b is probably expressed via a +1 ribosomal frameshift mechanism, most similar to that of lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV).

A human homolog of the yeast CDC7 gene is overexpressed in some tumors and transformed cell lines.

The Cdc7 protein kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a critical regulator of several aspects of DNA metabolism and cell cycle progression. We describe the isolation of a human gene encoding a Cdc7 homolog. The Cdc7Hs protein sequence is 27% identical to that of the yeast protein, includes features unique to yeast Cdc7, and contains all conserved catalytic residues of protein kinases.

Intracellular IL-1 receptor antagonist promoter: cell type-specific and inducible regulatory regions.

The objective of these studies was to examine the molecular mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation of the gene for the intracellular structural variant of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (icIL-1Ra) molecule. By reverse transcription-PCR analysis, constitutive expression of endogenous icIL-1Ra mRNA was observed in the epithelial cell lines A431 and HT-29, but not in the macrophage cell lines RAW 264.7 and U937, or in the lymphocyte cell lines Raji and Jurkat.

The coat protein gene of grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3: cloning, nucleotide sequencing and expression in transgenic plants.

A lambda ZAP II cDNA library was constructed by cloning cDNA prepared from a high molecular weight double-stranded RNA (dsRNA, ca. 18 kb) isolated from grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) infected tissues. This cDNA library was immuno-screened with GLRaV-3 coat protein specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and three immuno-positive clones were identified.

Organization of a human UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene and a related processed pseudogene.

We have previously characterized a cDNA that encodes a full length human UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-transferase) (J.A. Meurer et al.

Cloning and comparative sequence analysis of the gene encoding canine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

Canine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a primary role in the adherence of canine neutrophils to endothelial cells and in the cytotoxicity of canine neutrophils for adult cardiac myocytes. We have cloned the canine ICAM-1 gene and have analyzed the conservation of ICAM-1 amino acid (aa) sequences in man, chimpanzee, mouse, rat and dog. Canine ICAM-1 displays 61% identity with human ICAM-1.

Cloning of a canine cDNA homologous to the human transforming growth factor-beta 1-encoding gene.

A 1369-bp cDNA that encodes a homolog of the human transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been isolated from canine endothelial cells using a combination of PCR and traditional plaque-screening methods. The deduced 390-amino-acid sequence of the canine TGF-beta 1 precursor has 91-94% identity to those deduced from the previously described human and mouse TGF-beta 1 clones.

D4 dopamine receptor-mediated signaling events determined in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells.

A Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line stably expressing a recombinant human D4 dopamine receptor made from a synthetic gene has been used to determine potential D4-mediated signaling events. We designed and synthesized a modified gene coding for a human D4 receptor with reduced G + C content but unaltered encoded amino acids. Stable expression of this gene was obtained in two cell lines, inducible expression in CHO lacI cells and constitutive expression in HEK293 cells.

Analyses of genes that encode the 15-kDa zein protein of maize: identification of potential gene regulatory elements.

A gene (gZ15.4.1) encoding the 15-kDa zein polypeptide was isolated from maize cultivar A5707, and its nucleotide sequence was determined.

Analysis of TR-DNA/plant junctions in the genome of a Convolvulus arvensis clone transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4.

A Charon 4A phage library, containing insert DNA isolated from a morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) plant genetically transformed by Ri T-DNA from Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4, was used to isolate a lambda clone that contains part of the Ri TL-DNA and the complete TR-DNA. The two Ri T-DNAs were recovered adjacent to each other in a tail-to-tail configuration (i.e.

Isolation and characterization of a genomic clone encoding the β-subunit of β-conglycinin.

β-Conglycinin, and abundant storage protein in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds, is a trimeric protein consisting of various isomers containing the three subunits, α', α and β.

A malonyl-CoA-binding protein from liver.

A soluble protein that binds malonyl-CoA without requiring cofactors has been purified from rat liver. Until saturated, it competes with fatty acid synthetase for free malonyl-CoA, temporarily reducing the rate of fatty acid synthesis at low levels of malonyl-CoA, as in fatty acid synthetase--coupled assays for acetyl-CoA carboxylase. These assays yield low estimates for carboxylase activity with crude and partially purified homogenates containing the malonyl-CoA-binding protein.

Isolation and identification of TL-DNA/plant junctions in Convolvulus arvensis transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4.

We have constructed a Charon 4A phage library containing insert DNA isolated from a morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) plant (clone 7) regenerated from a root organ culture incited by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, strain A4. Using a subcloned region of the Ri plasmid as P-labeled probe, two lambda clones containing most of the 'left' T-DNA (TL) region were isolated. One of these lambda clones contains the left TL-DNA/plant junction, which was located by comparing nucleotide sequences from the appropriate regions of the Ri plasmid and this lambda clone.

Nucleotide sequences from phaseolin cDNA clones: the major storage proteins from Phaseolus vulgaris are encoded by two unique gene families.

The nucleotide sequences of eight partial and five full-length phaseolin cDNA clones show that phaseolin polypeptides are encoded by two distinct gene families which differ in their coding regions by the presence or absence of two different size direct repeats. The alpha-type phaseolin polypeptides are encoded by genes containing direct repeats which encode 14 additional amino acids. Aside from these differences, the alpha-and beta-type phaseolin genes show a high degree of homology (98%) which is consistent with these genes being derived from a common ancestral gene.

Use of a recombination-deficient phage lambda system to construct wheat genomic libraries.

The poor cloning efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Yamhill) DNA in conventional cloning vectors has previously prevented the preparation of complete genomic libraries. We show here that while wheat DNA does not clone efficiently using the vector Ch4A, it can be cloned efficiently using Ch32.

Early events after infection of Escherichia coli by bacteriophage T5. Induction of a 5'-nucleotidase activity and excretion of free bases.

Thymine-containing compounds, produced degradation of Escherichia coli DNA after infection of the cells with bacteriophage T5, did not accumulate in the cell but were excreted into the medium as the DNA was degraded. The ultimate degradation product was extracellular thymine that was not reutilized when T5 DNA synthesis began. This excretion of thymine may have been due in part to the induction of 5'-nucleotidase activity within 3 min after T5 infection.