Genetic identification of two Acipenser iridovirus-European variants using high-resolution melting analysis.

Acipenser iridovirus-European (AcIV-E) is an important pathogen of sturgeons. Two variants differing by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the Major Capsid Protein gene have been described, but without any indication as to their prevalence in farms. To facilitate epidemiological studies, we developed a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to distinguish between two alleles (var1 and var2) differing by five point substitutions.

Acipenser iridovirus-European encodes a replication factor C (RFC) sub-unit.

New genomic sequence data were acquired for the Acipenser iridovirus-European (AcIV-E), a virus whose complete genome and classification still remain to be elucidated. Here, we obtained the first full-length Major capsid protein (MCP) gene sequence for AcIV-E, as well as two additional open reading frames (ORFs) adjacent to the MCP gene. BLAST searches of the first ORF (α) resulted in no match to any gene or protein in the public databases.

A sensitive method to monitor ectodomain shedding of ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

All ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are made as membrane anchored precursors that can be proteolytically processed and released from the plasma membrane. This process, which is referred to as protein ectodomain shedding, is emerging as a key regulator of the function of EGFR ligands. In light of the important roles of EGFR signaling in development and disease, it will be important to understand more about the regulation of proteolytic processing of EGFR ligands.

Essential role for ADAM19 in cardiovascular morphogenesis.

Congenital heart disease is the most common form of human birth defects, yet much remains to be learned about its underlying causes. Here we report that mice lacking functional ADAM19 (mnemonic for a disintegrin and metalloprotease 19) exhibit severe defects in cardiac morphogenesis, including a ventricular septal defect (VSD), abnormal formation of the aortic and pulmonic valves, leading to valvular stenosis, and abnormalities of the cardiac vasculature. During mouse development, ADAM19 is highly expressed in the conotruncus and the endocardial cushion, structures that give rise to the affected heart valves and the membranous ventricular septum.

Catalytic properties of ADAM19.

ADAMs are membrane-anchored glycoproteins with functions in fertilization, heart development, neurogenesis, and protein ectodomain shedding. Here we report an evaluation of the catalytic activity of recombinantly expressed soluble forms of ADAM19, a protein that is essential for cardiovascular morphogenesis. Proteolytic activity of soluble forms of ADAM19 was first demonstrated by their autocatalytic removal of a purification tag (Myc-His) and their ability to cleave myelin basic protein and the insulin B chain.