A gene encoding a putative GTPase regulator is mutated in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2 (ALS2) is an autosomal recessive form of juvenile ALS and has been mapped to human chromosome 2q33. Here we report the identification of two independent deletion mutations linked to ALS2 in the coding exons of the new gene ALS2. These deletion mutations result in frameshifts that generate premature stop codons. ALS2 is expressed in various tissues and cells, including neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord, and encodes a protein containing multiple domains that have homology to RanGEF as well as RhoGEF. Deletion mutations are predicted to cause a loss of protein function, providing strong evidence that ALS2 is the causative gene underlying this form of ALS.

Production of transgenic miniature pigs by pronuclear microinjection.

Miniature pig is an attractive animal for a wide range of research fields, such as medicine and pharmacology, because of its small size, the possibility of breeding it under minimum environmental controls and the physiology that is potentially similar to that of human. Although transgenic technology is useful for the analysis of gene function and for the development of model animals for various diseases, there have not yet been any reports on producing transgenic miniature pig. This study is the first successful report concerning the production of transgenic miniature pig by pronuclear microinjection. The huntingtin gene cloned from miniature pig, which is a homologue of candidate gene for Huntington's disease, connected with rat neuron-specific enolase promoter region, was injected into a pronucleus of fertilized eggs with micromanipulator. The eggs were transferred into the oviduct of recipient miniature pigs, whose estrus cycles were previously synchronized with a progesterone analogue. A total of 402 injected eggs from 171 donors were transferred to 23 synchronized recipients. Sixteen of them maintained pregnancy and delivered 65 young, and one resulted in abortion. Five of the 68 offspring (three of which were aborted) were determined to have transgene by PCR and Southern analysis. The overall rate of transgenic production was 1.24% (transgenic/injected eggs). This study provides the first success and useful information regarding production of transgenic miniature pig for biomedical research.

Identification and characterization of the miniature pig Huntington's disease gene homolog: evidence for conservation and polymorphism in the CAG triplet repeat.

Huntington's disease (HD) is associated with a significant expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat, which results in a lengthened polyglutamine tract in the single gene product, huntingtin, on human 4p16.3. We isolated cDNA clones that encompassed the entire coding sequence of the miniature pig HD gene (Sus HD) from two porcine testis cDNA libraries. The cDNA contig revealed a 12,749-nucleotide transcript coding for a 345-kDa protein (3139 amino acid residues), which exhibited 96% peptide sequence homology to human huntingtin. Northern blot analysis revealed that the Sus HD gene was ubiquitously expressed as two large transcripts of approximately 11 and 13 kb in size in all the tested tissues, much like the human HD gene. The CAG trinucleotide repeat was found to be interrupted by CAA triplets and to encode 17 or 18 consecutive glutamine residues. In our laboratory stock of miniature pig, three allotypes in the triplet repeat sequence were found. Thus, the Sus HD gene closely resembles its human counterpart in terms of sequence and expression pattern. In particular, human-miniature pig similarities in the normal length of the CAG triplet repeat as well as its repeat-number polymorphism may indicate that miniature pig would provide a good animal model for Huntington's disease.

Cyclin-dependent kinases as a therapeutic target for stroke.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are commonly known to regulate cell proliferation. However, previous reports suggest that in cultured postmitotic neurons, activation of CDKs is a signal for death rather than cell division. We determined whether CDK activation occurs in mature adult neurons during focal stroke in vivo and whether this signal was required for neuronal death after reperfusion injury. Cdk4/cyclin D1 levels and phosphorylation of its substrate retinoblastoma protein (pRb) increase after stroke. Deregulated levels of E2F1, a transcription factor regulated by pRb, are also observed. Administration of a CDK inhibitor blocks pRb phosphorylation and the increase in E2F1 levels and dramatically reduces neuronal death by 80%. These results indicate that CDKs are an important therapeutic target for the treatment of reperfusion injury after ischemia.

The RS447 human megasatellite tandem repetitive sequence encodes a novel deubiquitinating enzyme with a functional promoter.

We have recently identified a tandem repetitive DNA sequence that we designated the RS447 megasatellite. In this study, we describe a functional novel deubiquitinating enzyme (USP17, 60 kDa) gene that is intronless and encoded by the RS447 repeating unit. Northern blot analysis in conjunction with 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends confirmed the presence of poly(A)(+) containing RS447 RNA in normal cells. We also identified a functional promoter sequence as well as an open reading frame within every RS447 repeat. When USP17 was expressed in Escherichia coli, it exhibited deubiquitinating activity in vivo. An antibody against USP17 detected USP17 protein in human cells. Our results indicate that the RS447 repeating unit on this megasatellite repeat codes for and actively expresses a functional deubiquitinating enzyme. Although it is expressed ubiquitously in human tissues, USP17 exhibited a unique expression pattern in that its complementary strand is transcribed as an antisense transcript that may modulate the level of USP17 expression in the human brain.

Identification of two distinct transcripts for the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein gene.

The spinal muscular atrophies (SMA), characterized by motor neuron loss and progressive paralysis, are among the most common autosomal recessive disorders. Recently, two SMA candidate genes, NAIP (neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein) and survival motor neuron (SMN), were reported and a 131-kb genomic sequence of 5q13.1 encompassing these two genes was determined. Based upon this genomic sequence, the original NAIP cDNA sequence published in 1995 was shown to contain foreign fragments. We therefore conducted an extensive cDNA cloning of NAIP from a human fetal brain library. Our studies confirmed that the cDNA sequence deduced from the 131-kb genomic sequence was the major transcript in the human fetal brain. In addition, a shorter and minor transcript was also newly identified. We thus designated the longer and shorter transcripts as NAIPl and NAIPs, respectively. The cDNA clones for NAIPl and NAIPs should facilitate the functional analysis of the NAIP gene and its association with neuronal apoptosis and SMA.

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) may enhance the survival of granulosa cells thus indirectly affecting oocyte survival.

In mammals, the postnatal loss of more than 99% of female germ cells is due mainly to the process of ovarian follicular atresia. Atresia is known to be mediated by apoptotic granulosa cell-death. Here we show the involvement of neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) in ovarian folliculogenesis in which it prevents granulosa cell-death. NAIP has been isolated in association with a neurodegenerative disorder, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in which it has been shown to suppress mammalian cell-death induced by a variety of stimuli (Liston et al., 1996, Nature 379:349-353). In an in situ hybridization analysis with mouse ovaries, active expression of NAIP mRNA was localized in the granulosa cells of developing follicles from the primary stage to the Graafian stages, whereas the NAIP gene was not expressed or was weakly expressed in follicles that might be undergoing atresia. Gonadotropin, which is known to inhibit apoptosis in ovarian follicles, caused a 2.4-fold increase in NAIP gene expression in the ovary. To study the role of ovarian NAIP, antisense NAIP oligonucleotides were locally delivered into the ovarian bursa. Suppression of ovarian NAIP expression with antisense oligonucleotides evoked a decrease in the number of morphologically normal ovulated oocytes, implying an indirect involvement of NAIP in germ cell development by enhancing the survival of granulosa cells. These findings suggest that gonadotropin-inducible NAIP may indirectly affect oocyte survival as a result of the inhibition of apoptotic granulosa cell-death during folliculogenesis.

A yeast artificial chromosome-based physical map of the juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS2) critical region on human chromosome 2q33-q34.

The autosomal recessive form of juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS2; RFALS Type 3) has previously been mapped to the 8-cM interval flanked by D2S115 and D2S155 on human chromosome 2q33-q34. We have established a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig spanning an approximately 8-Mb region of the ALS2 candidate region and mapped 52 transcribed DNA sequences including 13 known genes and 39 expressed sequenced tags within this YAC contig. The establishment of a YAC contig and transcript map that spans the region containing the ALS2 mutation is an essential step in the identification of the ALS2 gene.

Human megasatellite DNA RS447: copy-number polymorphisms and interspecies conservation.

We previously isolated a novel 4.7-kb RS447 sequence, which tandemly repeated approximately 50-70 copies and resided on human chromosome 4p15 (M. Kogi et al., 1997, Genomics 42: 278-283). Another tandem array (or arrays) of several RS447 copies was hereby identified on the distal part of chromosome 8p. To analyze copy-number polymorphisms of the RS447 repeats, genomic DNA samples of eight nonkindred Japanese were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The copy numbers of the RS447 tandem arrays on 4p15 varied drastically from allele to allele and ranged from approximately 34 to 94 copies. All eight Japanese subjects were apparently heterozygous for the RS447 copy number, and 12 copy-number-different alleles have been at least clearly distinguished. The RS447 tandem repeats were thus found to be hypervariable and highly polymorphic in a human population. The RS447 sequences, however, do not appear to be either "selfish" or "junk" DNA. The unit size and sequence of RS447 were found to be very similar between members in the human genome. The unit size of 4746 bp comprises a putative open reading frame of 1590 bp. The RS447 sequence was well conserved in all the tested mammalian species. The head-to-tail tandem repetitive structure in the RS447 homologs was also confirmed in those species. The RS447 sequence is, therefore, considered to consist of a new class of tandemly repeated satellite DNA elements in the mammalian genome, which may thus be called "megasatellite DNA."

The primary structure and genomic organization of five novel transcripts located close to the Huntington's disease gene on human chromosome 4p16.3.

Five distinct novel transcripts (RES4-22, -23, -24, -25 and -26) that mapped to the 1-Mb interval between D4S180 and D4S183 on human chromosome 4p16.3 close to the Huntington's disease (HD) gene were isolated, and the structure and exon/intron organization of each gene were thoroughly analyzed. The transcripts of the RES4-22, -23 and -24 genes each have several isoforms by alternative splicing and these have also been defined. Two transcripts, RES4-24 and RES4-25, reside in the same genomic region with opposite polarities and they also clearly overlap. Among these transcripts, RES4-26 was found to encode a novel zinc finger protein. The transcript map based upon our current level of analysis combined with data from previous studies reveals the gene-rich nature and the intricate organization of the genes in the HD locus.

The brainstem and thalamic lesions in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: an MRI study.

We studied the frequency and characteristics of brainstem and thalamic lesions in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy using MRI. Of 15 subjects diagnosed by DNA analysis, 13 had lesions in the pontine base, nine in the midbrain, and five in the thalamus. Lesions were correlated positively with the patient's age, but not with neurologic features or numbers of CAG repeats. Patients with Machado-Joseph disease or spinocerebellar ataxia 1 did not show these characteristic lesions.

Sequence of a 131-kb region of 5q13.1 containing the spinal muscular atrophy candidate genes SMN and NAIP.

The spinal muscular atrophies (SMA), which are characterized by motor neuron loss and progressive paralysis, are among the most common autosomal recessive disorders. The SMA region of chromosome 5q13.1 is distinguished by variable amplification of genomic sequence incorporating a number of genes and pseudogenes. Recently, two SMA candidate genes mapping to this area were identified: survival motor neuron (SMN) and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP). The telomeric copy of SMN (SMNtel) is deleted in over 95% of cases of SMA, with NAIP deletions primarily seen in type I SMA. We present here 131 kb of genomic sequence from 5q13.1 incorporating both NAIP and SMNtel in addition to revisions of the original NAIP cDNA sequence. The Alu-rich NAIP-SMNtel interval contains the microsatellite polymorphisms that are deleted in as many as 80% of type I SMA chromosomes, focusing attention on this region in the pathogenesis of type I SMA.

Elevation of neuronal expression of NAIP reduces ischemic damage in the rat hippocampus.

We show here that transient forebrain ischemia selectively elevates levels of neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) in rat neurons that are resistant to the injurious effects of this treatment. This observation suggests that increasing NAIP levels may confer protection against ischemic cell death. Consistent with this proposal, we demonstrate that two other treatments that increase neuronal NAIP levels, systemic administration of the bacterial alkaloid K252a and intracerebral injection of an adenovirus vector capable of overexpressing NAIP in vivo, reduce ischemic damage in the rat hippocampus. Taken together, these findings suggest that NAIP may play a key role in conferring resistance to ischemic damage and that treatments that elevate neuronal levels of this antiapoptotic protein may have utility in the treatment of stroke.

A novel tandem repeat sequence located on human chromosome 4p: isolation and characterization.

In an effort to analyze the genomic region of the distal half of human chromosome 4p, to where Huntington disease and other diseases have been mapped, we have isolated the cosmid clone (CRS447) that was likely to contain a region with specific repeat sequences. Clone CRS447 was subjected to detailed analysis, including chromosome mapping, restriction mapping, and DNA sequencing. Chromosome mapping by both a human-CHO hybrid cell panel and FISH revealed that CRS447 was predominantly located in the 4p15.1-15.3 region. CRS447 was shown to consist of tandem repeats of 4.7-kb units present on chromosome 4p. A single EcoRI unit was subcloned (pRS447), and the complete sequence was determined as 4752 nucleotides. When pRS447 was used as a probe, the number of copies of this repeat per haploid genome was estimated to be 50-70. Sequence analysis revealed that it contained two internal CA repeats and one putative ORF. Database search established that this sequence was unreported. However, two homologous STS markers were found in the database. We concluded that CRS447/pRS447 is a novel tandem repeat sequence that is mainly specific to human chromosome 4p.

Molecular characterization and cytological mapping of a non-repetitive DNA sequence region from the W chromosome of chicken and its use as a universal probe for sexing carinatae birds.

A non-repetitive genomic DNA region of about 25 kb was cloned from the W chromosome of chicken using a genomic library prepared from a single W chromosome of the chicken. This region was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with mitotic and lampbrush chromosomes to a position between the major EcoRI family and the pericentromeric Xhol family on the W chromosome. A 0.6-kb EcoRI fragment (EE0.6) subcloned from this region consists of a sequence that can be obtained by the exon-trapping procedure and flanking sequences. Sequences, which are closely similar to that of EE0.6, are widely conserved on the W chromosomes of Carinatae birds, as revealed by Southern blot hybridization to HindIII-digested female and male genomic DNAs from 18 species of birds belonging to eight different taxonomic orders. The female sex of those birds can be determined by the presence of an unambiguous female-specific band. For many species of birds, the female sex can also be determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a set of primers from the flanking sequences in the chicken EE0.6.

The structures of integration sites in transgenic rice.

Extensive genomic sequencing and sequence motif analysis have been conducted over the integration sites of two transgenic rice plants, #478 and #559, carrying the luciferase gene and/or hygromycin phosphotransferase gene. The transgenes reside in a region with inverted structure and a large duplication of rice genome over 2 kb. Integration was found at the AT-rich region and/or at the repetitive sequence region, including a SAR-like structure, retrotransposon and telomere repeats. The presence of a patch of sequence homology between plasmid and target DNA, and a small region of duplication involving the target DNA around the recombination site, implicated illegitimate recombination in the process of gene integration. Massive rearrangement of genomic DNA including deletion or translocation was also observed at the integration site and the flanking region of the transgene. The recognition sites of DNA topoisomerases I or II were observed in the rearranged sequences. Since only three junctions of transgenic rice were implicated in the illegitimate recombination and extensive rearrangement of the rice genome, rice protoplasts may be active in this process.

Characterization of DNA sequences constituting the terminal heterochromatin of the chicken Z chromosome.

Two clones, pCZTH5-8 and pCZTH12-8, were isolated from a female chicken genomic library by screening with sequences obtained from genomic libraries which had been constructed from a terminal region of a single Z chromosome of chicken utilizing laser microbeam irradiation and PCR amplification. Fluorescence in situ hybridization to the mitotic Z chromosome and the lampbrush ZW bivalent of chicken demonstrated that both the cloned sequences are located in the heterochromatic region of the Z chromosome at the end opposite to the pairing region with the W chromosome. The sequences pCZTH-8 and pCZTH12-8 are distributed widely on both the telomeric bow-like loops (TBL) and the region I (short loops region) of the Z lampbrush chromosome. These clones, pCZTH12-8 particularly notably, hybridized also to the TBLs of lampbrush bivalents 1-4 of chicken. Both sequences are transcribed in the lampbrush stage oocytes on the Z chromosome and on other macrobivalents. The subfragment of pCZTH5-8 which hybridizes to the TBLs and the insert of pCZTH12-8 contain regions that are closely similar in sequence. The pCZTH-8 sequence has no internal repeats and may be part of the 24-kb macrosatellite repeating unit that is evident after Nhel digestion of the genomic DNA. A cloned 24-kb unit, pFN-1, does not show significant DNA curvature, but cytosines of its CpG dinucleotides may be highly methylated in vivo. This contrasts with the repeat sequences of the W heterochromatin which not only have highly methylated CpG but are also strongly curved. The 24-kb unit is repeated about 830 times in the diploid genome of a female chicken, suggesting that nearly the entire terminal heterochromatin on the Z chromosome consists of this macrosatellite family. Sequences of the greater part of the pCZTH-8 are restricted to the genus Gallus but the sequence of one subregion which hybridizes to TBLs is present in the genomes of the order Galliformes.