Metallothionein-human GH fusion genes stimulate growth of mice.

The promoter or regulatory region of the mouse gene for metallothionein-I was fused to the structural gene coding for human growth hormone. These fusion genes were introduced into mice by microinjection of fertilized eggs. Twenty-three (70 percent) of the mice that stably incorporated the fusion genes showed high concentrations of human growth hormone in their serum and grew significantly larger than control mice. Synthesis of human growth hormone was induced further by cadmium or zinc, which normally induce metallothionein gene expression. Transgenic mice that expressed human growth hormone also showed increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I in their serum. Histology of their pituitaries suggests dysfunction of the cells that normally synthesize growth hormone. The fusion genes were expressed in all tissues examined, but the ratio of human growth hormone messenger RNA to endogenous metallothionein-I messenger RNA varied among different tissues and different animals, suggesting that expression of the foreign genes is influenced by site of integration and tissue environment.

A fetal globin gene mutation in A gamma nondeletion hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin increases promoter strength in a nonerythroid cell.

Single base substitutions have been identified in the promoter regions of A gamma-globin genes from individuals with certain types of nondeletion A gamma hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). The presence of these mutations is closely associated with the A gamma HPFH phenotype, but proof that they are the nondeletion HPFH determinants is lacking. To test directly whether these base substitutions can result in an increase in A gamma-globin gene transcription, we studied cosmid clones containing the G gamma- through beta-globin gene regions from individuals with Greek-type (G-to-A base substitution at -117) and Chinese-type (C-to-T base substitution at -196) A gamma HPFH in a transient expression assay. When tested as part of a cosmid clone, the Greek HPFH A gamma-globin gene consistently produced about 1.4 times as much RNA as the wild-type A gamma-globin gene when standardized against RNA transcribed from the G gamma genes in cis. The relative strengths of the normal and HPFH A gamma-globin gene promoters were also compared in transient expression assays with plasmids containing the A gamma-globin genes. Pseudo-wild-type A gamma-globin genes containing a short, transcriptionally neutral deletion were used so that two A gamma-globin genes that differed in their promoter sequences could be compared in the same transfection. The plasmid transient expression results indicated a 1.3- to 1.4-fold increase in steady-state RNA levels from the Greek-type A gamma HPFH promoter compared with the wild-type A gamma promoter, while no difference was documented between the Chinese-type A gamma HPFH promoter and the wild-type A gamma promoter.

A majority of mice show long-term expression of a human beta-globin gene after retrovirus transfer into hematopoietic stem cells.

Murine bone marrow was infected with a high-titer retrovirus vector containing the human beta-globin and neomycin phosphotransferase genes. Anemic W/Wv mice were transplanted with infected marrow which in some cases had been exposed to the selective agent G418. Human beta-globin expression was monitored in transplanted animals by using a monoclonal antibody specific for human beta-globin polypeptide, and hematopoietic reconstitution was monitored by using donor and recipient mice which differed in hemoglobin type. In some experiments all transplanted mice expressed the human beta-globin polypeptide for over 4 months, and up to 50% of peripheral erythrocytes contained detectable levels of polypeptide. DNA analysis of transplanted animals revealed that virtually every myeloid cell contained a provirus. Integration site analysis and reconstitution of secondary marrow recipients suggested that every mouse was reconstituted with at least one infected stem cell which had extensive repopulation capability. The ability to consistently transfer an active beta-globin gene into mouse hematopoietic cells improves the feasibility of using these techniques for somatic cell gene therapy in humans.

Expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into murine erythroleukemia cells and human BFU-E cells.

Replication-defective amphotropic retrovirus vectors containing either the human beta-globin gene with introns or an intronless beta-globin minigene were constructed and used to study beta-globin expression following gene transfer into hematopoietic cells. The beta-globin genes were marked by introducing a 6-base-pair insertion into the region corresponding to the 5' untranslated region of the beta-globin mRNA to allow detection of RNA encoded by the new gene in human cells expressing normal human beta-globin RNA. Introduction of a virus containing the beta-globin gene with introns into murine erythroleukemia cells resulted in inducible expression of human beta-globin RNA and protein, while the viruses containing the minigene were inactive. The introduced human beta-globin gene was 6 to 110% as active as the endogenous mouse beta maj-globin genes in six randomly chosen cell clones. Introduction of the viruses into human BFU-E cells, followed by analysis of marked and unmarked globin RNAs in differentiated erythroid colonies, revealed that the introduced beta-globin gene was about 5% as active as the endogenous genes in these normal human erythroid cells and that again the minigene was inactive. These data are discussed in terms of the potential treatment of genetic disease by gene therapy.

Long-term expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells of the mouse.

We have studied the regulation of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into a variety of transformed and normal hematopoietic cells. After transfer into murine erythroleukemia cells (MEL) expression from the human beta-globin gene responds to inducers of erythroid maturation in parallel to the endogenous murine globin genes. After infection of human BFU-E, RNA expression from the virally-transferred beta-globin gene was measured at 2.5%-5% of the endogenous beta-globin level. The most improved globin vectors can transfer the human beta-globin gene into pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells in mouse bone marrow. Mice reconstituted with infected marrow show human beta-globin RNA and protein expression in peripheral blood cells for over 4 months. In these animals, both myeloid and lymphoid cells carry the integrated provirus at a level of about 1 copy per cell. In serial transplantation experiments, bone marrow from these animals is capable of repopulating secondary and tertiary recipient animals which go on to show long-term human beta-globin expression. Retroviral vectors thus provide a practical way to refine models of globin gene regulation through in vivo tests and to evaluate the feasibility of protocols for gene addition therapy.

Assignment of orthologous relationships among mammalian alpha-globin genes by examining flanking regions reveals a rapid rate of evolution.

In order to study the relationships among mammalian alpha-globin genes, we have determined the sequence of the 3' flanking region of the human alpha 1 globin gene and have made pairwise comparisons between sequenced alpha-globin genes. The flanking regions were examined in detail because sequence matches in these regions could be interpreted with the least complication from the gene duplications and conversions that have occurred frequently in mammalian alpha-like globin gene clusters. We found good matches between the flanking regions of human alpha 1 and rabbit alpha 1, human psi alpha 1 and goat I alpha, human alpha 2 and goat II alpha, and horse alpha 1 and goat II alpha. These matches were used to align the alpha-globin genes in gene clusters from different mammals. This alignment shows that genes at equivalent positions in the gene clusters of different mammals can be functional or nonfunctional, depending on whether they corrected against a functional alpha-globin gene in recent evolutionary history. The number of alpha-globin genes (including pseudogenes) appears to differ among species, although highly divergent pseudogenes may not have been detected in all species examined. Although matching sequences could be found in interspecies comparisons of the flanking regions of alpha-globin genes, these matches are not as extensive as those found in the flanking regions of mammalian beta-like globin genes. This observation suggests that the noncoding sequences in the mammalian alpha-globin gene clusters are evolving at a faster rate than those in the beta-like globin gene clusters. The proposed faster rate of evolution fits with the poor conservation of the genetic linkage map around alpha-globin gene clusters when compared to that of the beta-like globin gene clusters. Analysis of the 3' flanking regions of alpha-globin genes has revealed a conserved sequence approximately 100-150 bp 3' to the polyadenylation site; this sequence may be involved in the expression or regulation of alpha-globin genes.

Purification of a family of specific messenger ribonucleic acids from moth follicular cells.

When moth follicular cells synthesize the characteristic, low-molecular-weight chorion (eggshell) proteins, they contain at least two groups of 8-9S RNAs which appear to be chorion mRNA. This class of RNA yields a characteristic radiolabeled profile on polyacrylamide slab gels. The same profile is obtained irrespective of whether lebeling is performed in vivo or in organ culture, and whether the RNAs are purified from whole cells or specifically released from polysomes. Polysomes contain putative chorion mRNA only when the cells actually synthesize chorion protein. The RNA size is correlated with the size of the chorion proteins: two month species differing in the size distribution of their chorion proteins show a corresponding difference in the size distribution of the RNAs.

One predominant 5'-undecanucleotide in adenovirus 2 late messenger RNAs.

Oligonucleotides containing the 5' termini of adenovirus 2 mRNA are selectively retained on columns of dihydroxyboryl cellulose. When total late adenovirus 2 mRNA was treated with RNAase T1, a single 5' terminal oligonucleotide was isolated, although in several states of methylation. This oligonucleotide has the general structure m7G5'ppp5' AmCmU(C4,U3)G. Since at least twelve individual species of mRNA must be present late after infection, this finding was unexpected and its significance is discussed.

Detection of species specific chromosomes in somatic cell hybrids.

We describe an in situ hybridization technique which allows rapid identification of species-specific chromosomes in somatic cell hybrid lines. Chromosome preparations from rodent-human hybrid lines are hybridized to biotinylated total human DNA which is subsequently detected by a series of immunocytochemical reactions which culminate in a peroxidase reaction visible by light microscopy. This technique not only allows identification of intact human chromosomes but also fragmented and rearranged human chromosomal segments. We have detected as little as 1 X 10(7) bp of human DNA inserted into a mouse chromosome using this procedure and estimate that the sensitivity of the technique would allow detection of sequences 5- to 10-fold smaller. The usefulness of the technique for screening hybrid cell gene mapping panels is discussed.

The human growth hormone gene family: structure and evolution of the chromosomal locus.

The structure of the human growth hormone gene cluster has been determined over a 78 kilobase region of DNA by the study of two overlapping cosmids. There are two growth hormone genes interspersed with three chorionic somatomammotropin genes, all in the same transcriptional orientation. One of the growth hormone genes lies in an active chromatin conformation in the pituitary and at least one of the chorionic somatomammotropin genes lies in an active chromatin conformation in the placenta. The two groups of genes are highly homologous throughout their 5' flanking and coding sequences, but diverge in their 3' flanking regions which raises the paradox of how genes so similar in structural and flanking sequences can be so differentially regulated. Analysis of the sequences of the genes and identification of at least three different classes of duplication units interspersed throughout the five gene cluster suggests that the cluster evolved quite recently and that the mechanism of gene duplication involved homologous but unequal exchange between middle repetitive elements of the Alu family.

Gamma gene promoter and enhancer structure in Seattle variant of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin.

A variant of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH), first described in a patient from Seattle, was studied by structural analysis of the gamma-globin genes. A family study suggested that the determinant for this form of HPFH, in which the HbF contains both G gamma- and A gamma-globin chains, segregated with the beta S gene. No deletions or other abnormalities were detected in the fetal to adult globin gene region by genomic mapping studies. All four gamma-globin genes were isolated from a cosmid library, and allelic pairs of gamma-globin genes were distinguished by linkage to either the beta S- or beta A-globin gene. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the four gamma-globin gene promoters revealed a total of three discrepancies compared with a reference sequence, but these were judged unlikely to be the underlying determinants. Sequence analysis of the enhancer region located 3' to the A gamma-globin gene from the putative HPFH chromosome revealed three base substitutions, whereas this region was normal in the A gamma-globin gene linked to the beta A gene. These data raise the possibility that an alteration of enhancer function rather than promoter function could be the basis for this condition.

Expression of the human gamma-globin gene after retroviral transfer to transformed erythroid cells.

Regulation of the human fetal (gamma) globin gene and a series of mutant gamma-globin genes was studied after retroviral transfer into erythroid cells with fetal or adult patterns of endogenous globin gene expression. Steady-state RNA from a virally transferred A gamma-globin gene with a normal promoter increased after induction of erythroid maturation of murine erythroleukemia cells and comprised from 2% to 23% of the mouse beta maj-globin RNA level. RNA expression from the virally transferred A gamma-globin gene comprised 23% of the endogenous G gamma- + A gamma-globin expression in K 562 cells after treatment with hemin. Expression from a virally transferred gamma- or beta-globin gene exceeded endogenous gamma- or beta-globin expression by a factor of 6 or more in the human erythroleukemia line KMOE, in which the endogenous globin genes are weakly inducible. In these experiments, no difference in expression was observed between the gene with the normal promoter and an A gamma-globin gene with a point mutation in its promoter (-196 C-to-T) that has been associated with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). To test for cis-acting determinants located within the introns of the gamma-globin gene, expression was measured from a set of gamma-globin genes configured with either intron alone or with neither intron. In contrast to an intronless beta-globin gene, which is not expressed in MEL cells, the intronless gamma-globin gene was expressed in MEL cells at 24% of the level of an intron-containing gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulated expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into murine and human hematopoietic cells.

Retroviral vectors and infection protocols were developed which permit transfer in vitro of the human beta-globin gene into transformed erythroid cells and normal human and murine hematopoietic cells. In murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, RNA expression from the human beta-globin gene was regulated in parallel with the endogenous globin genes and this RNA directed synthesis of human beta-globin protein chains. Human BFU-E which were present in normal bone marrow samples were also infected with the globin virus. After erythroid maturation in vitro, several percent of the total beta-globin mRNA was derived from the virally transferred beta-globin gene in the erythroid progeny cells of the bursts. The initial design of the beta-globin vectors was improved after the removal of sequences which interfered with the production of high-titer retrovirus stocks. The improved vector can transfer the human beta-globin gene to pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells (PHSC) of the mouse as shown by long-term expression of human beta-globin RNA and protein in peripheral blood, and the presence of the globin provirus in reconstituted myeloid and lymphoid cell lineages in primary and secondary recipients of virus-infected bone marrow.

DNA and chromatin structure of the human alpha 1 (I) collagen gene.

The human alpha 1 (I) collagen gene and 48 kilobase pairs of flanking DNA have been isolated on two overlapping cosmids. The alpha 1 (I) gene is 18 kilobase pairs long and contains a single repetitive element of the Alu family; at least 15 repetitive elements are present in the flanking DNA. Analysis of chromatin structure in nuclei isolated from cultured fibroblasts demonstrated a single chromatin domain greater than 65 kilobase pairs in length that contained 9 DNase I-hypersensitive sites. The pattern of hypersensitive sites was also determined in nuclei derived from placental tissue. Five of the DNase I-hypersensitive sites were observed in both placental and fibroblast chromatin including one site near the 5' end and another near the 3' end of alpha 1 (I). An additional two sites located near the 3' end of the alpha 1 (I) gene in fibroblast chromatin are associated with the tissue-specific use of different polyadenylation sites. Two DNase I-hypersensitive sites found only in fibroblast chromatin and one site found only in placental chromatin were located more than 10 kilobase pairs away from the alpha 1 (I) gene and may be related to tissue-specific expression of other genes in the domain. However, the only abundant placental mRNAs from the 65-kilobase pair domain were those transcribed from the alpha 1 (I) gene. These findings suggest that physical linkage does not play a predominant role in controlling coordinate expression of collagen genes.

An amazing sequence arrangement at the 5' ends of adenovirus 2 messenger RNA.

The 5' terminal sequences of several adenovirus 2 (Ad2) mRNAs, isolated late in infection, are complementary to sequences within the Ad2 genome which are remote from the DNA from which the main coding sequence of each mRNA is transcribed. This has been observed by forming RNA displacement loops (R loops) between Ad2 DNA and unfractionated polysomal RNA from infected cells. The 5' terminal sequences of mRNAs in R loops, variously located between positions 36 and 92, form complex secondary hybrids with single-stranded DNA from restriction endonuclease fragments containing sequences to the left of position 36 on the Ad2 genome. The structures visualized in the electron microscope show that short sequences coded at map positions 16.6, 19.6 and 26.6 on the R strand are joined to form a leader sequence of 150-200 nucleotides at the 5' end of many late mRNAs. A late mRNA which maps to the left of position 16.6 shows a different pattern of second site hybridization. It contains sequences from 4.9-6.0 linked directly to those from 9.6-10.9. These findings imply a new mechanism for the biosynthesis of Ad2 mRNA in mammalian cells.

Comparison of late mRNA splicing among class B and class C adenoviruses.

Adenovirus class B (Ad3 and Ad7) and class C (Ad1, Ad5, and Ad6) late r-strand mRNA's were found to have segmented 5' leaders. These leaders were very similar among serotype within a class but differed in sequence from the leaders on late mRNA's of a different class. However, the leader components of class B viruses mapped at essentially the same map coordinates as those of class C viruses. The 5' coordinates of the main bodies of class B messages to which the tripartite leaders are attached as well as the map positions of several of their early mRNA's were very similar to those of Ad2 transcripts. Infrequent examples of late r-strand polysomal RNAs of Ad3 and Ad7 had, in addition to the three common leader segments, a fourth leader segment derived from RNA encoded at various sites between the second and third leaders. The extra components formed several distinct groups. These molecules are presumably intermediates in the splicing processes that generate mature messages.

Lethal osteogenesis imperfecta resulting from a single nucleotide change in one human pro alpha 1(I) collagen allele.

We have characterized a mutation in a pro alpha 1(I) procollagen gene (COL1A1) that results in lethal (type II) osteogenesis imperfecta. The mutation is a single base change that results in a cysteine-for-glycine substitution at position 988 of the triple-helical portion of half of the alpha 1(I) chains of type I collagen. The mutation thus disrupts the (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)n pattern necessary for triple-helix formation, where Xaa and Yaa are other amino acids. These experiments establish the minimal mutation in a type I collagen gene capable of producing lethal disease, and the lethality demonstrates a selective mechanism for the stringent maintenance of the collagen gene structure.