RESUMEN
Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GH) plays an important role in the metabolism of folic acid and the pharmacology of antifolates such as methotrexate. We have previously cloned and characterized the human GH cDNA. In this report, the complete organization and structure of the human GH gene was determined. The human GH gene spans 24 kb in the human genome, with nine exons sized from 51 to 371 bp. All of exon-intron splice junctions follow the GT-AG rule. The sequence upstream of exon 1 consists of a promoter-like, GC-rich region and a number of putative cis active elements including Sp1, AP1, and MZF1 sites. A TATA sequence in the 5' region of human GH gene was not observed, similar to housekeeping genes known to be tissue-specific and differentially expressed. S1 nuclease protection analysis with human liver, prostate, brain, and mammary gland revealed a major transcription start point at nucleotide -125 relative to the ATG start codon and several minor transcription start points. Analysis of GH cDNA isolated from human liver indicated a nucleotide change, T-->C, in the leader sequence of GH, which suggested a polymorphism. Studies of cDNA from different human tissue sources provided evidence that there is a single spliced cDNA species in human.
Asunto(s)
gamma-Glutamil Hidrolasa/genética , Secuencia de Bases , ADN Complementario , Exones , Humanos , Intrones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Homología de Secuencia de Ácido Nucleico , Transcripción GenéticaRESUMEN
The alpha-mating pheromone receptor encoded by the STE2 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is homologous to the large family of GPCRs that mediate multiple types of signal transduction in mammals. We have screened libraries of mutant receptors to identify dominant negative alleles that are capable of interfering with the function of a co-expressed normal receptor. Two dominant negative alleles have been recovered in this manner. In addition, we find that previously isolated loss-of-function mutations in the alpha-factor receptor exhibit dominant negative effects. Detection of the dominant effects requires high-level expression of the mutant receptors but does not require a high ratio of mutant to normal receptors. Cellular levels of the normal receptors are not affected by co-expression of the dominant negative alleles. Expression of the mutant receptors does not interfere with constitutive signaling in a strain that lacks the G protein alpha subunit encoded by GPA1, indicating that interference with signaling occurs at the level of the receptor or the interacting G protein. Expression of increased levels of G protein subunits partially reverses the dominant negative effects. The dominant negative behavior of the mutant receptors is diminished by deletion of the SST2 gene, which encodes an RGS (Regulator of G protein Signaling) protein involved in desensitization of pheromone signaling. The most likely explanation for the dominant negative effects of the mutations appears to be the existence of an interaction between unactivated receptors and the trimeric G protein that titrates the G protein away from the normal receptors or renders the G protein insensitive to receptor activation. This interaction appears to be mediated by the SST2 gene product.