High throughput HLA genotyping using 454 sequencing and the Fluidigm Access Array™ System for simplified amplicon library preparation.

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II loci are the most polymorphic genes in the human genome; distinguishing the thousands of HLA alleles is challenging. Next generation sequencing of exonic amplicons with the 454 genome sequence (GS) FLX System and Conexio Assign ATF 454 software provides high resolution, high throughput HLA genotyping for eight class I and class II loci. HLA typing of potential donors for unrelated bone marrow donor registries typically uses a subset of these loci at high sample throughput and low cost per sample. The Fluidigm Access Array System enables the incorporation of 48 different multiplex identifiers (MIDs) corresponding to 48 genomic DNA samples with up to 48 different primer pairs in a microfluidic device generating 2304 parallel polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Minimal volumes of reagents are used. During genomic PCR, in this 4-primer system, the outer set of primers containing the MID and the 454 adaptor sequences are incorporated into an amplicon generated by the inner HLA target-specific primers each containing a common sequence tag at the 5' end of the forward and reverse primers. Pools of the resulting amplicons are used for emulsion PCR and clonal sequencing on the 454 Life Sciences GS FLX System, followed by genotyping with Conexio software. We have genotyped 192 samples with 100% concordance to known genotypes using 8 primer pairs (covering exons 2 and 3 of HLA-A, B and C, and exon 2 of DRB1, 3/4/5 and DQB1) and 96 MIDs in a single GS FLX run. An average of 166 reads per amplicon was obtained. We have also genotyped 96 samples at high resolution (14 primer pairs covering exons 2, 3, and 4 of the class I loci and exons 2 of DRB1, 3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPB1, and exon 3 of DQB1), recovering an average of 173 sequence reads per amplicon.

Crystal structure and biophysical properties of a complex between the N-terminal SNARE region of SNAP25 and syntaxin 1a.

SNARE proteins are required for intracellular membrane fusion. In the neuron, the plasma membrane SNAREs syntaxin 1a and SNAP25 bind to VAMP2 found on neurotransmitter-containing vesicles. These three proteins contain "SNARE regions" that mediate their association into stable tetrameric coiled-coil structures. Syntaxin 1a contributes one such region, designated H3, and SNAP25 contributes two SNARE regions to the fusogenic complex with VAMP2. Syntaxin 1a H3 (syn1aH3) and SNAP25 can form a stable assembly, which can then be bound by VAMP2 to form the full SNARE complex. Here we show that syn1aH3 can also form a stable but kinetically trapped complex with the N-terminal SNARE region of SNAP25 (S25N). The crystal structure of this complex reveals an extended parallel four-helix bundle similar to that of the core SNARE and the syn1aH3-SNAP25 complexes. The inherent ability of syn1aH3 and S25N to associate stably in vitro implies that the intracellular fusion machinery must prevent formation of, or remove, any non-productive complexes. Comparison with the syn1aH3-SNAP25 complex suggests that the linkage of the N- and C-terminal SNAP25 SNARE regions is kinetically advantageous in preventing formation of the non-productive syn1aH3-S25N complex. We also demonstrate that the syn1aH3-S25N complex can be disassembled by alpha-SNAP and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor.

Optimization of debris removal during bladder irrigation.

Debris build-up within the bladder is one of the main problems encountered by patients undergoing long term catheterization. One of the methods of ameliorating this is to wash out the bladder at regular intervals. In this paper, an alternative method of bladder irrigation is investigated experimentally. The effectiveness of several possible catheter designs has been examined, together with other relevant variables such as the proximity and alignment of the tube tip to the debris and the irrigation flow rate. Results show that debris removal is very sensitive to tube design, with best designs achieving almost complete removal and the worst practically none. The proprietary continuous irrigation catheter used was particularly poor for the type of debris used. Removal is insensitive to the distance of the tube tip from the bladder base up to a limiting value, above which it reduces rapidly. Where misalignment causes the inlet jet to miss the debris, removal rates are very low. Increasing flow rate increases removal up to a limiting value, above which it remains constant. Although the results show the general trends, to optimize the system requires further understanding of the detailed flow patterns within the bladder. A theoretical study using computational fluid dynamics is thus being undertaken.

Protein-protein interactions in intracellular membrane fusion.

The fusion of intracellular vesicles with their target membranes is an essential feature of the compartmental structure of eukaryotic cells. This process requires proteins that dictate the targeting of a vesicle to the correct cellular location, mediate bilayer fusion and, in some systems, regulate the precise time at which fusion occurs. Recent biophysical and structural studies of these proteins have begun to provide a foundation for understanding their functions at a molecular level.

Crystal structure of the amino-terminal domain of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein.

The cytosolic ATPase N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) disassembles complexes of membrane-bound proteins known as SNAREs, an activity essential for vesicular trafficking. The amino-terminal domain of NSF (NSF-N) is required for the interaction of NSF with the SNARE complex through the adaptor protein alpha-SNAP. The crystal structure of NSF-N reveals two subdomains linked by a single stretch of polypeptide. A polar interface between the two subdomains indicates that they can move with respect to one another during the catalytic cycle of NSF. Structure-based sequence alignments indicate that in addition to NSF orthologues, the p97 family of ATPases contain an amino-terminal domain of similar structure.

The leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-binding site on ICAM-3 comprises residues on both faces of the first immunoglobulin domain.

ICAM-3 (CD50), a member of the Ig superfamily, is a major ligand for the leukocyte integrin LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18). This interaction represents one of several Ig superfamily/integrin ligand-receptor pairs that have been described to date. ICAM-3 is highly expressed on resting leukocytes and on APCs. In addition to an adhesive function, ICAM-3 can act as a signal-transducing molecule on T cells, providing a costimulatory signal for cell proliferation. Eighteen point mutations in ICAM-3 were generated, and residues important for binding of functional blocking Abs were identified. Mutation of seven of the residues reduced or abrogated adhesion to LFA-1, including three residues that are located on strand A of the ABED face of domain 1. In contrast, extensive mutagenesis analysis of ICAM-1 has shown that only residues on the GFC face interact with LFA-1. Our results provide evidence for a more extensive binding interface between ICAM-3 and LFA-1 than has previously been described. ICAM-3 appears to be unique among the ICAMs in utilizing residues on both faces of domain 1 for interaction with its ligand LFA-1.

Crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of sialoadhesin in complex with 3' sialyllactose at 1.85 A resolution.

The structure of the functional N-terminal domain from the extracellular region of the cell surface receptor sialoadhesin has been determined in complex with the oligosaccharide 3' sialyllactose. This provides structural information for the siglec family of proteins. The structure conforms to the V-set immunoglobulin-like fold but contains several distinctive features, including an intra-beta sheet disulphide and a splitting of the standard beta strand G into two shorter strands. These novel features appear important in adapting the V-set fold for sialic acid-mediated recognition. Analysis of the complex with 3'sialyllactose highlights three residues, conserved throughout the siglec family, as key features of the sialic acid-binding template. The complex is representative of the functional recognition interaction with carbohydrate and as such provides detailed information for a heterotypic cell adhesion interaction.

Expression, crystallization, and preliminary X-ray analysis of a sialic acid-binding fragment of sialoadhesin in the presence and absence of ligand.

Sialoadhesin is a macrophage-restricted cell surface receptor, consisting of 17 immunoglobulin domains, which mediates cell adhesion via the recognition of specific sialylated glycoconjugates. A functional fragment of sialoadhesin, comprising the N-terminal immunoglobulin domain, has been expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells as both native (SnD1) and selenomethionyl (Se-SnD1) stop protein. The successful production of 86% selenomethionine-incorporated protein represents a rare example of production of selenium-labeled protein in mammalian cells. SnD1 and Se-SnD1 have been crystallized in the absence of ligand, and SnD1 has also been crystallized in the presence of its ligand 2,3 sialyllactose. The ligand-free crystals of SnD1 and Se-SnD1 were isomorphous, of space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit cell dimensions a = b 38.9 A,c = 152.6 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, and diffracted to a maximum resolution of 2.6 A. Cocrystals containing 2,3 sialyllactose diffracted to 1.85 A at a synchrotron source and belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit cell dimensions a = 40.9 A, b = 97.6 A,c = 101.6 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees.