Cloning and functional characterization of an uncoupling protein homolog in hummingbirds

2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAUDIA R. VIANNA ◽  
THILO HAGEN ◽  
CHEN-YU ZHANG ◽  
ERIC BACHMAN ◽  
OLIVIER BOSS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Pectoral Muscle ◽  
Mitochondrial Fraction ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Rapid Amplification

The cDNA of an uncoupling protein (UCP) homolog has been cloned from the swallow-tailed hummingbird, Eupetomena macroura. The hummingbird uncoupling protein (HmUCP) cDNA was amplified from pectoral muscle (flight muscle) using RT-PCR and primers for conserved domains of various known UCP homologs. The rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method was used to complete the cloning of the 5′ and 3′ ends of the open reading frame. The HmUCP coding region contains 915 nucleotides, and the deduced protein sequence consists of 304 amino acids, being ∼72, 70, and 55% identical to human UCP3, UCP2, and UCP1, respectively. The uncoupling activity of this novel protein was characterized in yeast. In this expression system, the 12CA5-tagged HmUCP fusion protein was detected by Western blot in the enriched mitochondrial fraction. Similarly to rat UCP1, HmUCP decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential as measured in whole yeast by uptake of the fluorescent potential-sensitive dye 3′,3-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide. The HmUCP mRNA is primarily expressed in skeletal muscle, but high levels can also be detected in heart and liver, as assessed by Northern blot analysis. Lowering the room’s temperature to 12–14°C triggered the cycle torpor/rewarming, typical of hummingbirds. Both in the pectoral muscle and heart, HmUCP mRNA levels were 1.5- to 3.4-fold higher during torpor. In conclusion, this is the first report of an UCP homolog in birds. The data indicate that HmUCP has the potential to function as an UCP and could play a thermogenic role during rewarming.

scholarly journals Clinical and Functional Characterization of a Novel URAT1 Dysfunctional Variant in a Pediatric Patient with Renal Hypouricemia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 3479
Author(s):  
Blanka Stiburkova ◽  
Jana Bohata ◽  
Iveta Minarikova ◽  
Andrea Mancikova ◽  
Jiri Vavra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patient ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Cytoplasmic Staining ◽  
Renal Hypouricemia

Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is caused by an inherited defect in the main (reabsorptive) renal urate transporters, URAT1 and GLUT9. RHUC is characterized by decreased concentrations of serum uric acid and an increase in its excretion fraction. Patients suffer from hypouricemia, hyperuricosuria, urolithiasis, and even acute kidney injury. We report the clinical, biochemical, and genetic findings of a pediatric patient with hypouricemia. Sequencing analysis of the coding region of SLC22A12 and SLC2A9 and a functional study of a novel RHUC1 variant in the Xenopus expression system were performed. The proband showed persistent hypouricemia (67–70 µmol/L; ref. range 120–360 µmol/L) and hyperuricosuria (24–34%; ref. range 7.3 ± 1.3%). The sequencing analysis identified common non-synonymous allelic variants c.73G > A, c.844G > A, c.1049C > T in the SLC2A9 gene and rare variants c.973C > T, c.1300C > T in the SLC22A12 gene. Functional characterization of the novel RHUC associated c.973C > T (p. R325W) variant showed significantly decreased urate uptake, an irregular URAT1 signal on the plasma membrane, and reduced cytoplasmic staining. RHUC is an underdiagnosed disorder and unexplained hypouricemia warrants detailed metabolic and genetic investigations. A greater awareness of URAT1 and GLUT9 deficiency by primary care physicians, nephrologists, and urologists is crucial for identifying the disorder.

Cloning and functional characterization of a monoterpene synthase gene from Eleutherococcus trifoliatus

Holzforschung ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan-Feng Huang ◽  
Yi-Ru Lee ◽  
Yen-Hsueh Tseng ◽  
Sheng-Yang Wang ◽  
Fang-Hua Chu
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Open Reading Frame ◽  
Terpene Synthase ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Degenerate Primers ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Monoterpene Synthase ◽  
Young Leaves ◽  
Rapid Amplification

AbstractEleutherococcus trifoliatusalso known as the three-leavedEleutherococcus, a member of the Araliaceae (ginseng) family, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, many studies have demonstrated the bioactivities of the secondary metabolites inE. trifoliatus. In this study, a monoterpene synthase fromE. trifoliatushas been characterized. A pair of degenerate primers was designed and a fragment with conserved region of terpene synthase (TPS) was obtained. After 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), the full-length cDNA was obtained. The gene designatedEtLIMcontains an open reading frame of 1752 bp with a predicated molecular mass of 67.3 kDa. It was expressed in young leaves, stems, and drupes. The product ofEtLIMhas been identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as limonene.

scholarly journals Identification and Functional Characterization of Two IntronicNIPBLMutations in Two Patients with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
María E. Teresa-Rodrigo ◽  
Juliane Eckhold ◽  
Beatriz Puisac ◽  
Jelena Pozojevic ◽  
Ilaria Parenti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Cornelia De Lange Syndrome ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Acceptor Site ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Cornelia De Lange

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder with a high phenotypic variability including mental retardation, developmental delay, and limb malformations. The genetic causes in about 30% of patients with CdLS are still unknown. We report on the functional characterization of two intronicNIPBLmutations in two patients with CdLS that do not affect a conserved splice-donor or acceptor site. Interestingly, mRNA analyses showed aberrantly spliced transcripts missing exon 28 or 37, suggesting the loss of the branch site by the c.5329-15A>G transition and a disruption of the polypyrimidine by the c.6344del(-13)_(-8) deletion. While the loss of exon 28 retains the reading frame of theNIBPLtranscript resulting in a shortened protein, the loss of exon 37 shifts the reading frame with the consequence of a premature stop of translation. Subsequent quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated a 30% decrease of the totalNIPBLmRNA levels associated with the frameshift transcript. Consistent with our results, this patient shows a more severe phenotype compared to the patient with the aberrant transcript that retains its reading frame. Thus, intronic variants identified by sequencing analysis in CdLS diagnostics should carefully be examined before excluding them as nonrelevant to disease.

scholarly journals Harnessing a Transient Gene Expression System in Nicotiana benthamiana to Explore Plant Agrochemical Transporters

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 524
Author(s):  
Bingqi Wu ◽  
Zhiting Chen ◽  
Xiaohui Xu ◽  
Ronghua Chen ◽  
Siwei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transient Expression ◽  
Nicotiana Benthamiana ◽  
Heterologous Gene Expression ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Transient Gene Expression ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Gene Expression System

Functional characterization of plant agrichemical transporters provided an opportunity to discover molecules that have a high mobility in plants and have the potential to increase the amount of pesticides reaching damage sites. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in tobacco is simple and fast, and its protein expression efficiency is high; this system is generally used to mediate heterologous gene expression. In this article, transient expression of tobacco nicotine uptake permease (NtNUP1) and rice polyamine uptake transporter 1 (OsPUT1) in Nicotiana benthamiana was performed to investigate whether this system is useful as a platform for studying the interactions between plant transporters and pesticides. The results showed that NtNUP1 increases nicotine uptake in N. benthamiana foliar discs and protoplasts, indicating that this transient gene expression system is feasible for studying gene function. Moreover, yeast expression of OsPUT1 apparently increases methomyl uptake. Overall, this method of constructing a transient gene expression system is useful for improving the efficiency of analyzing the functions of plant heterologous transporter-encoding genes and revealed that this system can be further used to study the functions of transporters and pesticides, especially their interactions.

scholarly journals Cloning and functional characterization of the human fractalkine receptor promoter regions

2002 ◽  
Vol 368 (3) ◽  
pp. 753-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre GARIN ◽  
Philippe PELLET ◽  
Philippe DETERRE ◽  
Patrice DEBRÉ ◽  
Christophe COMBADIÈRE
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Exon 2 ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Fractalkine Receptor ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Exon 4 ◽  
Coronary Events

We have previously shown that reduced expression of the fractalkine receptor, CX3CR1, is correlated with rapid HIV disease progression and with reduced susceptibility to acute coronary events. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of CX3CR1 expression, we structurally and functionally characterized the CX3CR1 gene. It consists of four exons and three introns spanning over 18kb. Three transcripts are produced by splicing the three untranslated exons with exon 4, which contains the complete open reading frame. The transcript predominantly found in leucocytes corresponds to the splicing of exon 2 with exon 4. Transcripts corresponding to splicing of exons 1 and 4 are less abundant in leucocytes and splicing of exons 3 and 4 are rare longer transcripts. A constitutive promoter activity was found in the regions extending upstream from untranslated exons 1 and 2. Interestingly, exons 1 and 2 enhanced the activity of their respective promoters in a cell-specific manner. These data show that the CX3CR1 gene is controlled by three distinct promoter regions, which are regulated by their respective untranslated exons and that lead to the transcription of three mature messengers. This highly complex regulation may allow versatile and precise expression of CX3CR1 in various cell types.

scholarly journals Characterization of an MLP Homologue from Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Jin Luo ◽  
Hui Shen ◽  
Qiaoyun Ren ◽  
Guiquan Guan ◽  
Bo Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Development ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Muscle Lim Protein ◽  
Rapid Amplification ◽  
Differentiation And Proliferation ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline

Members of the cysteine-rich protein (CRP) family are known to participate in muscle development in vertebrates. Muscle LIM protein (MLP) belongs to the CRP family and has an important function in the differentiation and proliferation of muscle cells. In this study, the full-length cDNA encoding MLP from Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis; HLMLP) ticks was obtained by 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). To verify the transcriptional status of MLP in ticks, HLMLP gene expression was assessed during various developmental stages by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Interestingly, HLMLP expression in the integument was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that observed in other tested tissues of engorged adult ticks. In addition, HLMLP mRNA levels were significantly downregulated in response to thermal stress at 4 °C for 48 h. Furthermore, recombinant HLMLP was expressed in Escherichia coli, and Western blot analysis showed that rabbit antiserum against H. longicornis adults recognized HLMLP and MLPs from different ticks. Ten 3-month-old rabbits that had never been exposed to ticks were used for the immunization and challenge experiments. The rabbits were divided into two groups of five rabbits each, where rabbits in the first group were immunized with HLMLP, while those in the second group were immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) diluent as controls. The vaccination of rabbits with the recombinant HLMLP conferred partial protective immunity against ticks, resulting in 20.00% mortality and a 17.44% reduction in the engorgement weight of adult ticks. These results suggest that HLMLP is not ideal as a candidate for use in anti-tick vaccines. However, the results of this study generated novel information on the MLP gene in H. longicornis and provide a basis for further investigation of the function of this gene that could potentially lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of myofiber determination and transformation

scholarly journals Rhinella marina oocytes: a suitable alternative expression system for functional characterization of aquaglyceroporins

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vania Rojas ◽  
Yulexi Y. Ortiz ◽  
Sheridan Rodríguez ◽  
Vladimir Araque ◽  
Alexis Rodríguez-Acosta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expression System ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Alternative Expression

A preprogalanin cDNA from the turtle pituitary and regulation of its gene expression

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (4) ◽  
pp. R1649-R1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Yuh-Lin Yu ◽  
Chin-Hon Pon ◽  
Hui-Chen Ku ◽  
Chih-Ting Wang ◽  
Yung-Hsi Kao
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Reading Frame

Galanin is a hormone 29 or 30 amino acids (aa) long that is widely distributed within the body and exerts numerous biological effects in vertebrates. To fully understand its physiological roles in reptiles, we analyzed preprogalanin cDNA structure and expression in the turtle pituitary. Using the Chinese soft-shell turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis order Testudines), we obtained a 672-base pair (bp) cDNA containing a 99-bp 5′-untranslated region, a 324-bp preprogalanin coding region, and a 249-bp 3′-untranslated region. The open-reading frame encoded a 108-aa preprogalanin protein with a putative 23-aa signal sequence at the NH2 terminus. Based on the location of putative Lys-Arg dibasic cleavage sites and an amidation signal of Gly-Lys-Arg, we propose that turtle preprogalanin is processed to yield a 29-aa galanin peptide with Gly1 and Thr29 substitutions and a COOH-terminal amidation. Sequence comparison revealed that turtle preprogalanin and galanin-29 had 48–81% and 76–96% aa identities with those of other vertebrates, respectively, suggesting their conservative nature. Expression of the turtle galanin gene was detected in the pituitary, brain, hypothalamus, stomach, liver, pancreas, testes, ovaries, and intestines, but not in the adipose or muscle tissues, suggesting tissue-dependent differences. An in vitro study that used pituitary tissue culture indicated that treatment with 17β-estradiol, testosterone, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone resulted in increased galanin mRNA expression with dose- or time-dependent differences, whereas leptin and neuropeptide Y reduced galanin mRNA levels. These results suggest a hormone-dependent effect on hypophyseal galanin mRNA expression.

Zebrafish tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase: molecular cloning, expression, and functional characterization

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emi Mishiro ◽  
Ming-Yih Liu ◽  
Yoichi Sakakibara ◽  
Masahito Suiko ◽  
Ming-Cheh Liu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Cloning ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
The Other ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Level ◽  
Ph Optimum ◽  
Rapid Amplification ◽  
High Degree

By employing the reverse transcriptase – polymerase chain reaction technique in conjunction with 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends, a full-length cDNA encoding a zebrafish (Danio rerio) tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST) was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that this zebrafish TPST is, at the amino acid sequence level, 66% and 60% identical to the human and mouse TPST-1 and TPST-2, respectively. The recombinant form of the zebrafish TPST, expressed in COS-7 cells, exhibited a pH optimum at 5.75. Manganese appeared to exert a stimulatory effect on the zebrafish TPST. The activity of the enzyme determined in the presence of 20 mM MnCl2 was more than 2.5 times that determined in the absence of MnCl2. Of the other nine divalent metal cations tested at a 10 mM concentration, Co2+ also showed a considerable stimulatory effect, while Ca2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ exerted some inhibitory effects. The other four divalent cations, Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Hg2+, inhibited completely the sulfating activity of the zebrafish TPST. Using the wild-type and mutated P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 N-terminal peptides as substrates, the zebrafish TPST was shown to exhibit a high degree of substrate specificity for the tyrosine residue on the C-terminal side of the peptide. These results constitute a first study on the cloning, expression, and characterization of a zebrafish cytosolic TPST.Key words: zebra fish, tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase, molecular cloning.

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