Glossary of Biotechnology Terms
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Mobile Genetic Elements in Streptococci
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. (2019) 32: 123-166. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21775/cimb.032.123 Mobile Genetic Elements in Streptococci Miao Lu#, Tao Gong#, Anqi Zhang, Boyu Tang, Jiamin Chen, Zhong Zhang, Yuqing Li*, Xuedong Zhou* State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China. #Miao Lu and Tao Gong contributed equally to this work. *Address correspondence to: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract Streptococci are a group of Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the family Streptococcaceae, which are responsible of multiple diseases. Some of these species can cause invasive infection that may result in life-threatening illness. Moreover, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are considerably increasing, thus imposing a global consideration. One of the main causes of this resistance is the horizontal gene transfer (HGT), associated to gene transfer agents including transposons, integrons, plasmids and bacteriophages. These agents, which are called mobile genetic elements (MGEs), encode proteins able to mediate DNA movements. This review briefly describes MGEs in streptococci, focusing on their structure and properties related to HGT and antibiotic resistance. caister.com/cimb 123 Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. (2019) Vol. 32 Mobile Genetic Elements Lu et al Introduction Streptococci are a group of Gram-positive bacteria widely distributed across human and animals. Unlike the Staphylococcus species, streptococci are catalase negative and are subclassified into the three subspecies alpha, beta and gamma according to the partial, complete or absent hemolysis induced, respectively. The beta hemolytic streptococci species are further classified by the cell wall carbohydrate composition (Lancefield, 1933) and according to human diseases in Lancefield groups A, B, C and G. -
Cell Fusion Induced by Pederine
Pediat. Res. 8: 606-608 (1974) Cell fusion heterokaryon pederine Cell Fusion Induced by Pederine MAURAR. LEVINE,[~~]JOSEPH DANCIS,MARIO PAVAN, AND RODYP. COX Division of Human Genetics and the Departments of Pharmacology, Pediatrics and Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA, and the Institute of Entomology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Extract Pederine, a natural product extracted from beetles, induces cell fusion among hu- man skin fibroblasts grown in tissue culture. Heterokaryons are produced when pederine is added to mixtures of human diploid fibroblasts and HeLa cells. The effi- ciency of cell fusion exceeds that achieved with other available agents. The technique is simple and the results are reproducible. Cells exposed to pederine under conditions that cause fusion retain their growth potential, which indicates that the treatment does not damage the cells. The technique should prove useful in research into mecha- nisms of membrane fusion, as well as research in which cell fusion is used as an in- vestigative tool. Speculation Lysolecithin is believed to induce cell fusion by perturbing the molecular structure of cellular membranes. Pederine is more effective at concentrations less than one thous- andth that of lysolecithin. The mechanism of pederine-induced cell fusion may pro- vide insight into the physiologic processes which maintain membrane integrity. Introduction years. The phenomenon of membrane fuslon is involved in a multitude of physiological processes including fertilization, pinocytosis and the forma- The experimental induction of cell Yusion among cells grown in tissue culture tion of syncytia. It is also a cmon event in pathological conditions such has facilitated studies of the mechanism of membrane fusion as well as re- as viral Infections and the response to foreign bodies. -
Prokaryotic Sex: Eukaryote-Like Qualities of Recombination in An
Dispatch R601 Prokaryotic Sex: Eukaryote-like match, the ends may be cut to a random extent by exonucleases, Qualities of Recombination in an and then the newly revealed ends are tested, and so on. This would increase Archaean Lineage the probability that eventually a reduced donor segment would sufficiently match a sequence from the Genetic exchange within one Archaean lineage is a bit like sex in recipient. We suggest this process eukaryotes — cells fuse and huge segments of DNA are recombined — with would be particularly successful in consequences for the spread of adaptations across species. organisms that recombine through cell fusion, as the donor segments start out Frederick M. Cohan* (which may be harmful to the recipient) exceptionally long. This hypothesis and Stephanie Aracena [3]. We therefore hypothesize that predicts that more-closely-related in Haloferax and other cell-fusion organisms may recombine after Two decades ago, Moshe Mevarech systems, niche-transcending a smaller number of cuts; so and colleagues discovered an adaptations may not transfer as easily more-distant crosses would yield extraordinary mode of recombination as in the Bacteria. On the other hand, shorter recombinant segments, in an Archaean taxon — cells of the huge size of recombined a pattern observed in Bacillus Haloferax can recombine through cell segments may foster the transfer transformation [3]. fusion [1]. After two cells fuse, their of extremely complex adaptations The authors suggest that horizontal genomes can recombine, and then the that could not otherwise be transferred genetic transfer would be particularly fused cell can resolve into two cells, [4], including possibly the ancient easy between species where cell fusion each with a single chromosome. -
Biotechnology: Answers to Common Questions
FSR0030 Biotechnology: Answers to Common Questions Kevin Keener, Assistant Professor of Food Science Thomas Hoban, Professor of Sociology and Food Science N.C. Cooperative Extension Service N.C. State University We are entering the “Century of Biology.” Recent developments in the biological sciences are giving us a better understanding of the natural world. At the same type we are developing new tools that are collectively referred to as “biotechnology.” These help us address problems related to human health, food production, and the environment. Any new technology – particularly one as far-reaching as biotechnology – will generate interest, as well as concerns. Because the science behind biotechnology is complex, misconceptions arise over its impacts and implications. In this publication we will answer questions many people have about biotechnology. These questions are organized along the lines of a news story: what, when, who, where, why, and how. We also provide a list of additional information sources available on the Internet. Our primary focus will be on the uses of biotechnology in agriculture and food production since these appear to be more controversial than other applications (at least up until this time). What is Biotechnology? In its broadest sense, biotechnology refers to the use of living systems to develop products. New scientific discoveries are allowing us to better understand fundamental life processes at the cellular and molecular level. Now we can improve selected attributes of microbes, plants, or animals for human use by making precise genetic changes that were not possible with traditional methods. All living organisms contain genes that carry the hereditary traits between generations. -
Horizontal Gene Transfer
Genetic Variation: The genetic substrate for natural selection Horizontal Gene Transfer Dr. Carol E. Lee, University of Wisconsin Copyright ©2020; Do not upload without permission What about organisms that do not have sexual reproduction? In prokaryotes: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT): Also termed Lateral Gene Transfer - the lateral transmission of genes between individual cells, either directly or indirectly. Could include transformation, transduction, and conjugation. This transfer of genes between organisms occurs in a manner distinct from the vertical transmission of genes from parent to offspring via sexual reproduction. These mechanisms not only generate new gene assortments, they also help move genes throughout populations and from species to species. HGT has been shown to be an important factor in the evolution of many organisms. From some basic background on prokaryotic genome architecture Smaller Population Size • Differences in genome architecture (noncoding, nonfunctional) (regulatory sequence) (transcribed sequence) General Principles • Most conserved feature of Prokaryotes is the operon • Gene Order: Prokaryotic gene order is not conserved (aside from order within the operon), whereas in Eukaryotes gene order tends to be conserved across taxa • Intron-exon genomic organization: The distinctive feature of eukaryotic genomes that sharply separates them from prokaryotic genomes is the presence of spliceosomal introns that interrupt protein-coding genes Small vs. Large Genomes 1. Compact, relatively small genomes of viruses, archaea, bacteria (typically, <10Mb), and many unicellular eukaryotes (typically, <20 Mb). In these genomes, protein-coding and RNA-coding sequences occupy most of the genomic sequence. 2. Expansive, large genomes of multicellular and some unicellular eukaryotes (typically, >100 Mb). In these genomes, the majority of the nucleotide sequence is non-coding. -
An Overview of Molecular Events Occurring in Human Trophoblast Fusion Pascale Gerbaud, Guillaume Pidoux
An overview of molecular events occurring in human trophoblast fusion Pascale Gerbaud, Guillaume Pidoux To cite this version: Pascale Gerbaud, Guillaume Pidoux. An overview of molecular events occurring in human trophoblast fusion. Placenta, Elsevier, 2015, 36 (Suppl1), pp.S35-42. 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.12.015. inserm- 02556112v2 HAL Id: inserm-02556112 https://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-02556112v2 Submitted on 28 Apr 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. 1 An overview of molecular events occurring in human trophoblast fusion 2 3 Pascale Gerbaud1,2 & Guillaume Pidoux1,2,† 4 1INSERM, U1139, Paris, F-75006 France; 2Université Paris Descartes, Paris F-75006; France 5 6 Running title: Trophoblast cell fusion 7 Key words: Human trophoblast, Cell fusion, Syncytins, Connexin 43, Cadherin, ZO-1, 8 cAMP-PKA signaling 9 10 Word count: 4276 11 12 13 †Corresponding author: Guillaume Pidoux, PhD 14 Inserm UMR-S-1139 15 Université Paris Descartes 16 Faculté de Pharmacie 17 Cell-Fusion group 18 75006 Paris, France 19 Tel: +33 1 53 73 96 02 20 Fax: +33 1 44 07 39 92 21 E-mail: [email protected] 22 1 23 Abstract 24 During human placentation, mononuclear cytotrophoblasts fuse to form a multinucleated syncytia 25 ensuring hormonal production and nutrient exchanges between the maternal and fetal circulation. -
Transduction by Bacteriophage Ti * Henry Drexler
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 1083-1088, August 1970 Transduction by Bacteriophage Ti * Henry Drexler DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, BOWMAN GRAY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA Communicated by Edward L. Tatum, May 25, 1970 Abstract. Amber mutants of the virulent coliphage T1 are able to transduce a wide variety of genetic characteristics from permissive to nonpermissive K strains of Escherichia coli. The virulent coliphage T1 is not known to be related to any temperate phage. Certain of the characteristics of T1 seem to be incompatible with its potential existence as a temperate phage; for example, the average latent period for T1 is only 13 min' and about 70% of its DNA is derived from the host.2 In order to demonstrate transduction by T1 it is necessray to provide condi- tions in which potential transductants are able to survive; this is accomplished by using amber mutants of T1 to transduce nonpermissive recipients. Experi- ments which show that T1 is a transducing phage are presented and have been designed chiefly to illustrate the following points: (1) Infection by T1 is able to cause heritable changes in recipients; (2) the genotype of the donor host is im- portant in determining what characteristics can be transferred to recipients; (3) the changes in the recipients are not caused by transformation; and (4) there is a similarity between the transducing activity and the plaque-forming ability of T1 with respect to serology, host range, and density. Materials and Methods. Bacterial strains: The abbreviations and symbols of Demerec et al.3 and Taylor and Trotter4 are used to describe all pertinent genotypes. -
Introduction to the Cell Cell History Cell Structures and Functions
Introduction to the cell cell history cell structures and functions CK-12 Foundation December 16, 2009 CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the “FlexBook,” CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning. Copyright ©2009 CK-12 Foundation This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. Contents 1 Cell structure and function dec 16 5 1.1 Lesson 3.1: Introduction to Cells .................................. 5 3 www.ck12.org www.ck12.org 4 Chapter 1 Cell structure and function dec 16 1.1 Lesson 3.1: Introduction to Cells Lesson Objectives • Identify the scientists that first observed cells. • Outline the importance of microscopes in the discovery of cells. • Summarize what the cell theory proposes. • Identify the limitations on cell size. • Identify the four parts common to all cells. • Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Introduction Knowing the make up of cells and how cells work is necessary to all of the biological sciences. Learning about the similarities and differences between cell types is particularly important to the fields of cell biology and molecular biology. -
Review Cell Fusion and Some Subcellular Properties Of
REVIEW CELL FUSION AND SOME SUBCELLULAR PROPERTIES OF HETEROKARYONS AND HYBRIDS SAIMON GORDON From the Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Oxford, England, and The Rockefeller University, New York 10021 I. INTRODUCTION The technique of somatic cell fusion has made it first cell hybrids obtained by this method. The iso- possible to study cell biology in an unusual and lation of hybrid cells from such mixed cultures direct way. When cells are mixed in the presence of was greatly facilitated by the Szybalski et al. (6) Sendai virus, their membranes coalesce, the cyto- and Littlefield (7, 8) adaptation of a selective me- plasm becomes intermingled, and multinucleated dium containing hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and homo- and heterokaryons are formed by fusion of thymidine (HAT) to mammalian systems. similar or different cells, respectively (1, 2). By Further progress followed the use of Sendai fusing cells which contrast in some important virus by Harris and Watkins to increase the biologic property, it becomes possible to ask ques- frequency of heterokaryon formation (9). These tions about dominance of control processes, nu- authors exploited the observation by Okada that cleocytoplasmic interactions, and complementa- UV irradiation could be used to inactivate Sendai tion in somatic cell heterokaryons. The multinucle- virus without loss of fusion efficiency (10). It was ate cell may divide and give rise to mononuclear therefore possible to eliminate the problem of virus cells containing chromosomes from both parental replication in fused cells. Since many cells carry cells and become established as a hybrid cell line receptors for Sendai virus, including those of able to propagate indefinitely in vitro. -
Cell Growth-Regulated Expression of Mammalian MCM5 and MCM6 Genes Mediated by the Transcription Factor E2F
Oncogene (1999) 18, 2299 ± 2309 ã 1999 Stockton Press All rights reserved 0950 ± 9232/99 $12.00 http://www.stockton-press.co.uk/onc Cell growth-regulated expression of mammalian MCM5 and MCM6 genes mediated by the transcription factor E2F Kiyoshi Ohtani1, Ritsuko Iwanaga1, Masataka Nakamura*,1, Masa-aki Ikeda2, Norikazu Yabuta3, Hiromichi Tsuruga3 and Hiroshi Nojima3 1Human Gene Sciences Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan 2Department of Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; 3Department of Molecular Genetics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan Initiation of DNA replication requires the function of family (MCM2-7) that have been identi®ed in yeast, MCM gene products, which participate in ensuring that Xenopus, and human. Mcm proteins seem to regulate DNA replication occurs only once in the cell cycle. the initiation at the replication origin where the loading Expression of all mammalian genes of the MCM family of the proteins onto the origin recognition complex is induced by growth stimulation, unlike yeast, and the (ORC) is regulated by Cdc6 and cyclin-dependent mRNA levels peak at G1/S boundary. In this study, we kinases (Donovan et al., 1997; Tanaka et al., 1997). examined the transcriptional activities of isolated human However, the mechanism(s) by which Mcm proteins MCM gene promoters. Human MCM5 and MCM6 control the initiation of DNA replication remains promoters with mutation in the E2F sites failed in unclear. promoter regulation following serum stimulation and Xenopus Mcm proteins seem to be able to access exogenous E2F expression. -
Recombination in Bacteria
Recombination in Bacteria 1. Conjugation DNA from a donor cell is transferred to a recipient cell through a conjugation tube (pili). 2. Transformation Uptake of naked DNA molecule from remains of one bacterium (donor cell) by another bacterium (recipient cell). 3. Transduction Bacterial genes are carried from a donor cell to a recipient cell by a bacteriophage. { Generalized { Specialized Conjugation Ability to conjugate located on the F-plasmid F+ Cells act as donors F- Cells act as recipients F+/F- Conjugation: { F Factor “replicates off” a single strand of DNA. { New strand goes through pili to recipient cell. { New strand is made double stranded. { If entire F-plasmid crosses, then recipient cell becomes F+, otherwise nothing happens Conjugation with Hfr Hfr cell (High Frequency Recombination) cells have F-plasmid integrated into the Chromosome. Integration into the Chromosome is unique for each F-plasmid strain. When F-plasmid material is replicated and sent across pili, Chromosomal material is included. (Figure 6.10 in Klug & Cummings) When chromosomal material is in recipient cell, recombination can occur: { Recombination is double stranded. { Donor genes are recombined into the recipient cell. { Corresponding genes from recipient cell are recombined out of the chromosome and reabsorbed by the cell. Interrupted Mating Mapping 1. Allow conjugation to start Genes closest to the origin of replication site (in the direction of replication) are moved through the pili first. 2. After a set time, interrupt conjugation Only those genes closest to the origin of replication site will conjugate. The long the time, the more that is able to conjugate. 3. -
Microbial Genetics by Dr Preeti Bajpai
Dr. Preeti Bajpai Genes: an overview ▪ A gene is the functional unit of heredity ▪ Each chromosome carry a linear array of multiple genes ▪ Each gene represents segment of DNA responsible for synthesis of RNA or protein product ▪ A gene is considered to be unit of genetic information that controls specific aspect of phenotype DNA Chromosome Gene Protein-1 Prokaryotic Courtesy: Team Shrub https://twitter.com/realscientists/status/927 cell 667237145767937 Genetic exchange within Prokaryotes The genetic exchange occurring in bacteria involve transfers of genes from one bacterium to another. The gene transfer in prokaryotic cells is thus unidirectional and the recombination events usually occur between a fragment of one chromosome (from a donor cell) and a complete chromosome (in a recipient cell) Mechanisms for genetic exchange Bacteria exchange genetic material through three different parasexual processes* namely transformation, conjugation and transduction. *Parasexual process involves recombination of genes from genetically distinct cells occurring without involvement of meiosis and fertilization Principles of Genetics-sixth edition Courtesy: Beatrice the Biologist.com by D. Peter Snustad & Michael J. Simmons (http://www.beatricebiologist.com/2014/08/bacterial-gifts/) Transformation: an introduction Transformation involves the uptake of free DNA molecules released from one bacterium (the donor cell) by another bacterium (the recipient cell). Frederick Griffith discovered transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in 1928. In his experiments, Griffith used two related strains of bacteria, known as R and S. The R bacteria (nonvirulent) formed colonies, or clumps of related bacteria, that Frederick Griffith 1877-1941 had a rough appearance (hence the abbreviation "R"). The S bacteria (virulent) formed colonies that were rounded and smooth (hence the abbreviation "S").