Genomic analysis of human and mouse TCL1 loci reveals a complex of tightly clustered genes.

TCL1 and TCL1b genes on human chromosome 14q23.1 are activated in T cell leukemias by translocations and inversions at 14q32.1, juxtaposing them to regulatory elements of T cell receptor genes. In this report we present the cloning, mapping, and expression analysis of the human and murine TCL1/Tcl1 locus. In addition to TCL1 and TCL1b, the human locus contains two additional genes, TCL1-neighboring genes (TNG) 1 and 2, encoding proteins of 141 and 110 aa, respectively. Both genes show no homology to any known genes, but their expression profiles are very similar to those of TCL1 and TCL1b. TNG1 and TNG2 also are activated in T cell leukemias with rearrangements at 14q32.1. To aid in the development of a mouse model we also have characterized the murine Tcl1 locus and found five genes homologous to human TCL1b. Tcl1b1-Tcl1b5 proteins range from 117 to 123 aa and are 65-80% similar, but they show only a 30-40% similarity to human TCL1b. All five mouse Tcl1b and murine Tcl1 mRNAs are abundant in mouse oocytes and two-cell embryos but rare in various adult tissues and lymphoid cell lines. These data suggest a similar or complementary function of these proteins in early embryogenesis.

Purification and characterization of recombinant forms of TCL-1 and MTCP-1 proteins.

The TCL-1 gene which is located on chromosome 14 plays a major role in human hematopoeitic malignancies and encodes a 14-kDa protein whose function has not been determined. The TCL-1 gene is expressed in pre-B cells, in immature thymocytes, and at low levels in activated T cells but not in peripheral mature B cells and in normal cells. The TCL-1 protein is similar in its primary structure to a protein encoded by the mature T cell proliferation gene (MTCP-1). The MTCP-1 gene is located on the X chromosome and has been shown to be involved in rare chromosomal translocations in T cell proliferative diseases. The TCL-1 and MTCP-1 genes appear to be members of a family of genes involved in lymphoid proliferation and T cell malignancies. Our laboratory has undertaken the study of the TCL-1 and MTCP-1 proteins to determine the structure and the function of these related proteins. In the present report, we have produced, using a bacterial expression system, both purified TCL-1 and MTCP-1 proteins in forms with and without a six His tag sequence. The recombinant proteins were purified by chromatography on a Ni-NTA resin followed by reverse-phase FPLC using a buffer system at pH 7.9 and a polymeric-based reverse-phase column. The MTCP-1 recombinant proteins display greater solubility, do not form disulfide linked dimers or oligomers, and elute at a lower isopropanol concentration than the corresponding TCL-1 proteins. The purified recombinant TCL-1 and MTCP-1 proteins have been characterized by N-terminal sequence analysis, time of flight mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Initial results have indicated that the MTCP-1 protein with the His tag removed is suitable for both NMR and X-ray crystallographic methods of structure determination.

NMR spectroscopic and enzymatic studies of DNA hairpins containing mismatches in the EcoRI recognition site.

We have correlated the structural perturbations caused by DNA mismatches with the enzymatic data of the interaction of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI with DNA. Oligonucleotides d(CGAGAATTCTCA5GAXAATTCT) (X = G, A, T) and d(CGCGAATTYGCGT4CGCXAATTCGCG) (Y = C, X = G, T and Y = A, X = T) containing single mismatches within the EcoRI recognition site were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and by their EcoRI substrate properties. UV melting and gel electrophoresis studies confirm that the oligonucleotides form hairpin structures. The presence of either a CT or a CA mismatch results in markedly lower Tm and van't Hoff enthalpies compared with the fully base paired control. NMR imino proton spectra of these hairpins demonstrate that the perturbation caused by the two mispairs or a noncanonical AT pair is localized and limited to one or two base pairs on either side of the perturbation. The DNA hairpin structures containing single mismatches, and to a lesser extent also sequences with a single noncanonical base pair, are substrates for the restriction endonuclease. In addition to the strand scission at the nonperturbed GpA phosphodiester bond some cleavage is observed at the mismatched position. The interactions of the CA and CT mismatched hairpin with the enzyme are characterized by binding constants that are only 33 and 57 times lower, respectively, than that for the canonical sequence, corresponding to 8-10 kJ x mol(-1) less favorable free binding energy. This, taken together with the NMR data, indicates that the CA and CT mismatches have only small effects on the EcoRI recognition of the DNA substrate. We conclude that two out of the three hydrogen bonds that characterize the interaction of EcoRI with the CG base pair in the canonical sequence can still be formed for either the CT or CA mismatched recognition site.

Rhenium-labeled somatostatin analog RC-160. 1H NMR and computer modeling conformational analysis.

The solution conformations of RC-160, cyclic D-Phe1-Cys2-Tyr3-D-Trp4-Lys5-Val6-Cys7+ ++-Trp8-NH2, an analog of the tumor antiproliferatory neuropeptide somatostatin, and RC-160 labeled with rhenium (Re-RC-160), have been determined by using two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy (600 MHz) and restrained molecular dynamics simulations. Re-RC-160 yields the same average solution conformation as does the apo form with an antiparallel beta-sheet fold and a type II' beta-turn centered at D-Trp4-Lys5. These results indicate that the spatial topography of the side chains essential for somatostatin receptor binding is maintained in Re-RC-160.

Structural features of fibronectin synthetic peptide FN-C/H II, responsible for cell adhesion, neurite extension, and heparan sulfate binding.

FN-C/H II (KNNQKSEPLIGRKKT), a heparin-binding peptide derived from the COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin, mediates cell adhesion for a variety of cell types and promotes neurite outgrowth. By systematic amino acid substitution of synthetic peptide analogues of FN-C/H II, the basic structural features necessary for activity have been identified in the COOH-terminal residues LIGRKK. This biologically "active" sequence has been located in several other heparin/heparan sulfate-binding proteins and may represent a potential binding motif for sulfated polyanions. NMR structural studies indicate that the COOH-terminal segment of FN-C/H II displays significant multiple-turn or helix-like character suggesting that the RKK sequence may lie on the same surface of the protein, as opposed to alternating in an extended chain motif.

2',5' A synthetase: allosteric activation by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate.

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (fru-1,6-P2), but not other glycolytic intermediates, activates highly purified 2',5' A synthetases from rabbit reticulocyte lysates and from 2',5'-ADP-agarose purified extracts of interferon-treated HeLa cells without the addition of dsRNA. The 2',5' A was structurally and biologically identical to authentic 2',5' A. Micrococcal nuclease inhibited the activation of 2',5' A synthetase by poly(I)-poly(C), but did not affect activation by fru-1,6-P2. Addition of fru-1,6-P2 aldolase prevented the activation of 2',5' A synthetase by fru-1,6-P2.

Callus formation and plantlet regeneration from protoplasts derived from suspension cultures of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Protoplasts were isolated from anther-derived suspension cultures of commercial wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chris). The protoplasts were released enzymatically and isolated by centrifugation on a sucrose cushion. The isolated protoplasts were initially cultured in a liquid medium in the dark. Numerous microcalli were produced under these conditions, some of which differentiated into globular embryos. Upon transfer to a solid medium and exposure to 16h/8h light/dark cycle, the protocalli proliferated and many of the somatic embryos matured. Complete plantlets were obtained and maintained in sterile culture.