Biochemical studies of DNA strand break repair and molecular characterization of mei-41, a gene involved in DNA break repair
The ability to repair X-irradiation induced single-strand DNA breaks was examined in mutagen-sensitive mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. This analysis demonstrated that examined stocks possess a normal capacity to repair X-ray induced single-strand breaks. One of the mutants in this study, mei-41, has been shown to be involved in a number of DNA metabolizing functions. A molecular characterization of this mutant is presented. A cDNA hybridizing to genomic DNA both proximal and distal to a P element inducing a mei-41 mutation was isolated from both embryonic and adult female recombinant lambda phage libraries. A 2.2 kilobase embryonic cDNA clone was sequenced; the sequence of an open reading frame was identified which would predict a protein of 384 amino acids with a molecular weight of 43,132 daltons. An examination of homologies to sequences in protein and nucleic acid data bases revealed no sequences with significant homology to mei-41, however, two potential Zinc-finger domains were identified. Analysis of RNA hybridizing to the embryonic cDNA demonstrated the existence of a major 2.2 kilobase transcript expressed primarily in embryos and adult flies. An examination of the transcription of this gene in mei-41 mutants revealed significant variation from wild-type, an indication that the embryonic cDNA does represent a mei-41 transcript. Expression in tissues from adult animals demonstrated that the 2.2 kilobase RNA is expressed primarily in reproductive tissues. A 3.8kb transcript is the major species of RNA in the adult head and thorax. Evidence is presented which implies that expression of the mei-41 gene is strongly induced by exposure of certain cells to mutagens.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Davis, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5524806
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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DNA REPAIR
GENES
DROSOPHILA
STRAND BREAKS
RADIOINDUCTION
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
DNA HYBRIDIZATION
GENE MUTATIONS
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
RNA
X RADIATION
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
DIPTERA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
HYBRIDIZATION
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MUTATIONS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals