Biomaterial Database

Human globin gene transcription in injected Xenopus oocytes: enhancement by sodium butyrate. 1984

G A Partington, and N J Yarwood, and T R Rutherford

We have studied the expression of the human adult (beta) and foetal (gamma) globin genes by injecting a cosmid containing the complete -G gamma-A gamma-psi beta-delta-beta cluster into Xenopus oocytes. The transcripts from the gamma and beta genes were characterised with respect to their 5' termini by S1 nuclease mapping using probes which extend 5' to the cap site and 3' into the first exon. The only beta transcripts detectable in injected oocytes spanned from either -231 or -177 (cap site +1) into the first exon. The sensitivity of this transcription to inhibition by a low concentration of alpha-amanitin indicated that polymerase II was responsible. S1 analysis of gamma gene transcripts showed that the predominant transcript mapped from a site at -227, but a low level of transcription from the cap site was also detectable. Incubation of oocytes in saline solution containing sodium butyrate prior to injection resulted in a significant stimulation of transcription from the gamma gene cap site. In contrast, transcription from the beta gene upstream sites was only slightly increased. The possible role of sodium butyrate in promoting this effect is discussed in the context of its known property as a modifier of cellular chromatin.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009865	Oocytes	Female germ cells derived from OOGONIA and termed OOCYTES when they enter MEIOSIS. The primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at the diplotene state until OVULATION at PUBERTY to give rise to haploid secondary oocytes or ova (OVUM).	Ovocytes,Oocyte,Ovocyte
D010957	Plasmids	Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.	Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D002087	Butyrates	Derivatives of BUTYRIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxypropane structure.	Butyrate,n-Butyrate,Butanoic Acids,Butyric Acids,Acids, Butanoic,Acids, Butyric,n Butyrate
D004257	DNA Polymerase II	A DNA-dependent DNA polymerase characterized in E. coli and other lower organisms. It may be present in higher organisms and has an intrinsic molecular activity only 5% of that of DNA Polymerase I. This polymerase has 3'-5' exonuclease activity, is effective only on duplex DNA with gaps or single-strand ends of less than 100 nucleotides as template, and is inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents.	DNA Polymerase epsilon,DNA-Dependent DNA Polymerase II,DNA Pol II,DNA Dependent DNA Polymerase II
D004262	DNA Restriction Enzymes	Enzymes that are part of the restriction-modification systems. They catalyze the endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA sequences which lack the species-specific methylation pattern in the host cell's DNA. Cleavage yields random or specific double-stranded fragments with terminal 5'-phosphates. The function of restriction enzymes is to destroy any foreign DNA that invades the host cell. Most have been studied in bacterial systems, but a few have been found in eukaryotic organisms. They are also used as tools for the systematic dissection and mapping of chromosomes, in the determination of base sequences of DNAs, and have made it possible to splice and recombine genes from one organism into the genome of another. EC 3.21.1.	Restriction Endonucleases,DNA Restriction Enzyme,Restriction Endonuclease,Endonuclease, Restriction,Endonucleases, Restriction,Enzymes, DNA Restriction,Restriction Enzyme, DNA,Restriction Enzymes, DNA
D005260	Female		Females
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D005914	Globins	A superfamily of proteins containing the globin fold which is composed of 6-8 alpha helices arranged in a characterstic HEME enclosing structure.	Globin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults