An androgen-inducible expression system for Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A novel controllable expression system for Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been developed. Expression of the gene encoding the human androgen receptor, from a strong yeast promoter, results in transactivation of a hybrid promoter carrying androgen-responsive sequences such that a target gene may be expressed in an androgen-dependent manner. By selection of an appropriate combination of androgen receptor level, target-gene copy number and concentration of the androgenic ligand, dihydrotestosterone, the expression level can be set within a 1400-fold range with no detectable effect on normal cell growth.

The mode of action of alpha sarcin and a novel assay of the puromycin reaction.

A new technique was developed for measuring the amount of peptidyl-tRNA in a protein-synthesizing system in vitro. By this technique the course of the puromycin reaction may be followed and the modes of action of various inhibitors of protein synthesis readily determined. We conclude that the polypeptide alpha sarcin inhibits the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA into the ribosomal 'A' site, that sparsomycin inhibits the peptidyl transferase reaction and that cycloheximide may block translocation.

Ribosomal resistance to the 12,13-epoxytrichothecene antibiotics in the producing organism Myrothecium verrucaria.

An extract of Myrothecium verrucaria, a fungus which produces a range of 12,13-epoxytrichothecene toxins, was found to be resistant to T-2 toxin, one of its products. The epoxytrichothecenes are inhibitors of eukaryotic protein synthesis and normally bind to the 60S ribosomal subunit so as to inhibit peptidyltransferase activity. Ribosomes from M. verrucaria contain 60S subunits which are not subject to inhibition by T-2 toxin and are also resistant to certain other drugs such as anisomycin and homoharringtonine, but not sparsomycin or cycloheximide.

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol stimulation of a mitochondrial protein in chick intestinal cells.

The steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) stimulates the absorption of dietary calcium by the small intestine of animals although the exact mechanism by which this is achieved remains unclear. However, it has long been known that a soluble, calcium-binding protein (CaBP), is produced in large amounts in the cytoplasm of the intestinal cells of animals after in vivo administration of vitamin D3 or 1,25-(OH)2D3 (refs 1,2). We report here that 1,25-(OH)2D3 administered in vivo to rachitic chickens also stimulates production of another protein with molecular weight (MW) 39,000-42,000 which is insoluble in the absence of detergent, is found in the outer mitochondrial membrane and is produced in advance of maximum calcium transport.

Inactivation of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin by in vitro mutagenesis of the A-subunit gene.

In vitro mutagenesis of the LTA gene, encoding the A subunit of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, has been used to obtain A subunits deficient in enzymic activity. One inactive A-subunit mutant which contained two amino acid substitutions, was shown to associate with native B subunits to form a holotoxoid lacking toxin activity. A serine to phenylalanine mutation appears to be responsible for the loss of toxicity.

M13 clones carrying point mutations: identification by solution hybridization.

A solution hybridization procedure for the rapid identification of M13 clones carrying a particular sequence is described. The method, which employs a radiolabeled oligonucleotide probe, can discriminate between sequences which differ by only a single base, and can therefore be used for the identification of mutant sequences created by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Samples of phage-containing supernatant from cultures of M13-infected Escherichia coli are incubated with radiolabeled probe in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The mixtures are then subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis to separate hybrid molecules from unbound probe and hybridization is detected by autoradiography. This solution hybridization procedure is quicker and more convenient than membrane hybridization and has the added advantage that more than one probe can be used on a given gel.

Nucleotide sequences of four variants of the K88 gene of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

The nucleotide sequences of four variants of the Escherichia coli K88 antigen gene, K88ab1, K88ab2, K88ac, and K88ad, have been determined. The K88ab2 and K88ac sequences have not been reported previously. The K88ab1 sequence is very similar to that determined by other workers, but the K88ad sequence differs considerably from that described in a previous report. Comparison of the amino acid sequences inferred from the gene sequences revealed certain clusters of amino acid substitutions which have been correlated with areas of potential antigenicity in the mature proteins.

Expression of an autoprocessing CAT-HIV-1 proteinase fusion protein: purification to homogeneity of the release 99 residue proteinase.

The 99 residue human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteinase has been expressed in Escherichia coli as part of an autocleaving fusion protein. Expression of the fusion protein is toxic to the host cells, however yields of the released proteinase have been improved by optimising induction nad harvest times to increase culture biomass, and decrease degradation of the proteinase. Soluble proteinase was extracted from these cells by a simple and highly efficient three step process. N-terminal sequence analysis confirms that the enzyme preparation is highly pure and correctly autoprocessed. The proteinase cleaves peptide substrate IGCTLNFPISPIETV between F and P at pH 6.0 with a Km of 310 microM and a Kcat of 14s-1. The enzyme is sensitive to its ionic environment, showing stimulation of activity at high salt concentrations, and shows a pH optimising 5.5.

Expression of atrial natriuretic factor as a cleavable fusion protein with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in Escherichia coli.

Recombinant fusion proteins containing human atrial natriuretic factor, ANF(1-28) joined to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) via cleavable linker sequences have been produced in Escherichia coli. The linker sequences were designed to allow the release of authentic ANF(1-28) following proteolytic cleavage by enterokinase or thrombin, or chemical cleavage with 2-(2-nitrophenylsulphenyl)-3-methyl-3'-bromoindolenine. Proteins, containing ANF(1-28) fused to the carboxyl-terminal region of CAT (using the ScaI restriction site in the cat gene), were largely soluble in E. coli and were obtained in higher yield than analogues containing ANF(1-28) linked to shorter CAT sequences. The longer derivatives also retained CAT activity allowing subsequent purification by affinity chromatography.

Structure-activity relationships of recombinant human interleukin 2.

Structure-activity relationships of recombinant human interleukin 2 were investigated by preparation, purification, and characterization of 21 missense mutants. A key role for residue Phe42 in the high-affinity interaction with receptor was indicated by (a) the reduction of 5-10-fold in binding affinity and bioactivity upon mutation of this residue to Ala and (b) the lack of evidence for conformational perturbation in Phe42----Ala in comparison with the wild-type protein as investigated by intrinsic fluorescence, second-derivative UV spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and reversed-phase HPLC, suggesting that the drop in binding is a direct effect of removal of the aromatic ring. In contrast, the conservative mutations Phe42----Tyr and Phe42----Trp did not cause significant reductions in bioactivity. UV and fluorescence spectra indicated approximately 60% overall exposure to solvent of tyrosines in the wild-type molecule, the tryptophan (residue 121) being buried; fluorescence data also showed that Trp42 in Phe42----Trp is likely to be within 1 nm of Trp121 and about 50% exposed to solvent. Phe44----Ala, Cys105----Ala, and Trp121----Tyr also exhibited reduced bioactivity, but these mutants are conformationally perturbed relative to wild type. None of the remaining mutants had detectably reduced bioactivity, even though several showed signs of altered conformation. Four mutants were recovered in very low yield, probably because of defective refolding.