U.S. patent application number 13/051317 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-05 for polymerase enhancing factor (pef) extracts pef protein complexes isolated pef proteins and methods for purifying and identifying.
This patent application is currently assigned to AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Borns, Connie Hansen, Holly Hogrefe, Michael Muhich.
Application Number | 20120003713 13/051317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27124679 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120003713 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hansen; Connie ; et
al. |
January 5, 2012 |
Polymerase Enhancing Factor (PEF) Extracts PEF Protein Complexes
Isolated PEF Proteins and Methods for Purifying and Identifying
Abstract
The invention provides novel extracts, proteins, and complexes
that improve the polymerization activity of nucleic acid
polymerases. Included within the aspects of the invention are
methods for identifying compositions with a polymerase enhancing
activity, methods for purifying and using these compositions, and
specific extracts, proteins, and complexes that function to enhance
polymerase activity. As an example, specifically described is
nucleotide and amino acid sequence information for a Pyrococcus
furiosus PEF (P45), which was used to produce a recombinant
PEF.
Inventors: |
Hansen; Connie; (San Diego,
CA) ; Hogrefe; Holly; (San Diego, CA) ; Borns;
Michael; (Escondido, CA) ; Muhich; Michael;
(Olivenhain, CA) |
Assignee: |
AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
LOVELAND
CO
|
Family ID: |
27124679 |
Appl. No.: |
13/051317 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11633814 |
Dec 4, 2006 |
7943358 |
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13051317 |
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10738917 |
Dec 16, 2003 |
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11633814 |
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09399003 |
Sep 20, 1999 |
6734293 |
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10738917 |
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PCT/US98/05497 |
Mar 20, 1998 |
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09399003 |
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08957709 |
Oct 24, 1997 |
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PCT/US98/05497 |
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08822774 |
Mar 21, 1997 |
6183997 |
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08957709 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/188 ;
435/195 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12P 19/34 20130101;
C12N 9/78 20130101; C12N 9/1252 20130101; C12Q 1/6846 20130101;
C12Q 1/686 20130101; C12N 9/16 20130101; C12Q 1/6846 20130101; C12Q
2521/319 20130101; C12Q 2527/125 20130101; C12Q 2521/101
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/188 ;
435/195 |
International
Class: |
C12N 9/96 20060101
C12N009/96; C12N 9/14 20060101 C12N009/14 |
Claims
1. A non-naturally occurring composition of matter comprising at
least one component possessing nucleic acid polymerase enhancing
activity selected from the group consisting of: an isolated or
purified naturally occurring polymerase enhancing protein obtained
from a bacterial, eukaryotic, or Archaeal source; a wholly or
partially synthetic protein having the same amino acid sequence as
said naturally occurring protein or an analog thereof possessing
polymerase enhancing activity; polymerase-enhancing mixtures of one
or more of said naturally occurring or wholly or partially
synthetic proteins; a polymerase-enhancing protein complex of one
or more of said naturally occurring or wholly or partially
synthetic proteins; and a polymerase enhancing partially purified
cell extract containing one or more of said naturally occurring
proteins.
2.-95. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/957,709, filed Oct. 24, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/822,774, filed Mar. 21, 1997.
The entire contents of those applications are specifically
incorporated herein by reference and may be relied on to make and
use embodiments of the claimed invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to the fields of nucleic acid
polymerases and nucleic acid polymerization reactions.
[0004] 2. Introduction
[0005] The efficiency of a nucleic acid polymerization reaction has
implications for numerous assays and techniques. For example, the
ability to enhance polymerase activity in a PCR process increases
the sensitivity of the PCR-based assay. We have identified,
produced, purified, and analyzed novel extracts, proteins, and
complexes that improve the polymerization activity of nucleic acid
polymerases. Included within the aspects of the present invention
are methods for identifying compositions with a polymerase
enhancing activity, methods for purifying and using these
compositions, and specific extracts, proteins, and complexes that
function to enhance polymerase activity.
[0006] 3. Description of Related Art
[0007] Manipulating nucleic acids with polymerization reactions is
a fundamental component of biotechnology-related research. These
reactions permit researchers to replicate DNA or RNA in vitro,
which in turn allows cloning or amplification of specific nucleic
acids or groups of nucleic acids. Numerous other examples exist
detailing the critical nature of a nucleic acid polymerization
reaction or a nucleic acid polymerization enzyme in a particular
technique, including sequencing nucleic acids, mutagenesis of
nucleic acid sequences, and producing nucleic acid probes for
hybridization. Of particular current interest are amplification
reactions, such as PCR, that have greatly increased the rate at
which researchers can perform nucleic acid related experimentation.
Extremely rare nucleic acids can now be amplified and manipulated
using these techniques, which necessarily involve nucleic acid
polymerases.
[0008] Using techniques with an amplification step has driven
concern for the efficiency, fidelity, and sensitivity of the
polymerase used. This has resulted in efforts to both analyze and
optimize polymerization conditions for a variety of applications.
(Lundberg et at., Gene 108: 1-6 (1991); Eckert and Kunkel, PCR
Methods Applic. 1: 17-24 (1991); Ling et al., PCR Methods Applic.
1: 63-69 (1991); Brail et al., Mutat. Res. 303: 75-82 (1994);
Garrity and Wold, P.N.A.S. 89: 1021-1025 (1992); Taylor and Logan,
Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 6: 24-29 (1995)). In particular,
quantitative amplification-based reactions rely upon the ability to
efficiently amplify each nucleic acid species present in a sample.
(See Ausubel, et al., Chapter 15, In: Current Protocols in
Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons (1992) and supplements
through 1995.) Thus, bath a concern for the accuracy of and a need
for new methods to enhance the performance of amplification-based
nucleic acid techniques exists in the art.
[0009] One way in which these concerns and needs have been
addressed is through the use of additives to the amplification
reaction. Different additives act at different points in the
amplification process. For example, formamide has been used to
increase the specificity of PCR with GC rich target sequences,
which are particularly susceptible to intramolecular hybridization
that may prevent hybridization with a primer. (Sarkar, G. et al.
Nucl. Acids Res. 18: 7465 (1990)). It has also been reported that
tetramethylammonium chloride increases yield and specificity of PCR
reactions. (Chevet, E., et. al., Nucleic Acids Res. 233343-3334
(1995).) Hung et al. report the reduction in multiple satellite
bands from amplifying complex DNA when dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is
added. (Hung, T., et al. Nucl. Acids. Res. 18: 4953(1990).) The
multiple satellite bands often present problems in purifying the
desired amplification product from the other DNA present.
[0010] Certain proteins have been used to stabilize hybridized
nucleic acids during replication. For example, E. coli
single-stranded DNA binding protein has been used to increase the
yield and specificity of primer extension reactions and PCR
reactions. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,603 and 5,534,407.) The gene 32
protein (single stranded DNA binding protein) of T4 apparently
improves the ability to amplify larger DNA fragments (Schwartz, et
al., Nucl. Acids Res. 18: 1079 (1990)) and enhances DNA polymerase
fidelity (Huang, DNA Cell. Biol. 15: 589-594 (1996)). In addition,
bacterial thioredoxin combined with T7 DNA polymerase
(Sequenase.TM.; Amersham-USB) has been used to increase
processivity, but the combination is not active at high
temperatures, such as those used in PCR.
[0011] Another way amplification-based assays and techniques have
been improved is through the development of modified polymerases or
the use of combinations of polymerases. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,772)
For example, the TaKaRa long PCR kit employs two polymerases
(Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd; Japan), and a number of polymerase
combinations were also tested by Barnes (Proc, Nat. Acad. Sci. USA.
91:2216-2220 (1994). Truncated Taq and T. flavus DNA polymerase
enzymes that apparently exhibit increased thermostability and
fidelity in PCR have also been suggested. (U.S. Pat. No.
5,436,449.) Combinations of polymerases with and without 5'-3'
exonuclease or 3'-5' proofreading activity have also been used.
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,523)
[0012] Further, amplification-based assays and techniques have been
improved through empirical testing of conditions, reagents, and
reagent concentrations to optimize polymerization reactions with a
particular enzyme. Temperature and length of amplification cycles,
primer length, and pH, for example, are all conditions that can be
optimized. (Barnes, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:2216-2220
(1994).)
[0013] However, accessory proteins can be even more useful in
improving polymerase activity and/or the processivity of
polymerases. "Processivity" in this context refers to the number of
enzymatic reactions occurring each time an enzyme binds to its
substrate. In the context of nucleic acid replication reactions,
"processivity" means the number of bases that can be replicated
when the polymerase binds to a priming site. An increase in
processivity directly relates to longer replication products.
[0014] Intracellular replication has been shown to involve
accessory proteins, as characterized in E. coli, human, and phage
T4 systems. The accessory proteins interact with polymerases to
improve activity and provide the high processivity necessary to
replicate genomic DNA efficiently while avoiding unacceptable
mutation rates. Since the accessory proteins can be used in
combination with the other improvements noted above, the
development and application of accessory proteins holds particular
promise for enhancing the results of nucleic acid replication-based
reactions.
[0015] Accessory proteins have been identified in eukaryotes, E.
coli, and bacteriophage-T4 and are thought to form "sliding clamp"
structures. (Kelman and O'Donnell, Nucl. Acids. Res. 23(18):
3613-3620 (1995).) These structures are thought to tether the
polymerase to DNA, thereby increasing processivity. The sliding
damp structures, however, have largely been studied in in vitro
model systems. Only in the case of T4 polymerase has knowledge of
the activity of such accessory proteins been used to improve
polymerization-based techniques employed by researchers in the art.
For example, accessory proteins of the T4 holoenzyme have been
reported to improve processivity when added to polymerization
systems using T4 polymerase. (Young et al., Biochem. 31 (37):
8675-8690 (1992); Oncor Fidelity.TM. Sequencing System, Oncor;
Gaithersburg, Md.) However, since the T4 accessory proteins are
derived from bacteriophage, they are not likely to enhance
polymerases from bacteria, archae, or eukaryotes. Thus, the use of
T4 accessory proteins is believed to have been limited to
techniques where T4 polymerase is used.
[0016] The presence of dUTP (deoxyuracil triphosphate) in a
polymerization reaction and the effect of deoxyuridine-containing
DNA on DNA synthesis have also been examined. In particular,
deoxyuridine in a DNA strand has been shown to inhibit
polymerization by archael DNA polymerase. (Lasken, et al., (1996)
J. Biol. Chem. 271; 17692-17696.) While Lasken et al. reported that
archeal DNA polymerases, such as Vent, are inhibited by DNA
containing deoxyuridine, they do not discuss the effect of removing
uracil-containing nucleosides or nucleoside triphosphates from the
reaction to prevent incorporation. Furthermore, they do not discuss
any enzyme that acts on or turns over dUTP in a reaction. Neither
do they mention any dUTPase activity or the possible effect of
dUTPase activity on polymerization reactions. In addition, Lasken
et al. do not appreciate the fact that dUTP is generated during the
course of a normal PCR reaction by the deamination of dCTP. As a
result of the deamination, dUTP will be present and be incorporated
into an amplified nucleic acid, inhibiting the polymerase activity.
Thus, the art has not appreciated he potential of dUTPase
activities and proteins in enhancing replication reactions.
[0017] Accordingly, since present knowledge and use of accessory
proteins has led to limited applications in replication-based
techniques, there continues to exist a need in the art for new and
more widely useful compositions for enhancing polymerase enzyme
activity. The present invention meets this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention comprises extracts, protein complexes,
and related proteins that possess nucleic acid polymerase enhancing
activity useful in a variety of replication reactions known in the
art. Thus, the extracts, protein complexes, and related proteins of
the invention function to enhance a wide spectrum of in vitro
nucleic acid replication reactions by providing, inter alia,
replication products of superior length, fidelity, or both, and at
higher yields. As used in this specification and appended claims
"polymerase enhancing activity" means the ability to increase the
rate, fidelity, and/or yield of a nucleic acid polymerization
reaction mediated by a nucleic acid polymerase, or to expand or
alter the range of conditions under which such reaction does or may
proceed.
[0019] In one aspect of the invention, extracts of Pyrococcus
furiosus (Pfu) cells are provided that enhance the activity of Pfu
DNA polymerase. The extracts enhance nucleic acid replication
product yields over a fairly broad range of concentrations and
contain at least one polymerase enhancing factor. As used in this
specification and in the appended claims, the term "PEF" includes
purified naturally occurring polymerase enhancing factors and
wholly or partially synthetic copies or active analogs thereof. In
accordance with the invention, such extracts can be further
purified by heparin affinity chromatography followed by sepharose
gel purification. Additionally, PEFs can be identified and purified
using the antibodies of this invention, discussed below. While Pfu
cell samples were used and are specifically exemplified below, one
skilled in the art will appreciate that other cell samples can be
used to identify and purify PEF. For example, other species of the
archae Pyrococcus or Thermococcus can be used as well as
thermophilic bacteria cells and other bacteria cells. In addition,
eukaryotic cells and tissues can be used as a source for PEF, as
demonstrated by the cloning and expression of human dUTPase, which
also enhances polymerase activity. Thus, the invention also
comprises compositions and methods wherein a dUTPase or any
activity that turns-over dUTP is capable of acting to enhance a
nucleic acid polymerization reaction.
[0020] in another aspect of the invention, PEF complexes are
provided. The PEF complexes of the invention possess polymerase
enhancing activity and generally comprise multiple protein subunits
with a combined molecular weight of approximately 250 kD or above
as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis and gel filtration of unheated
PEF samples. An example of one PEF complex (P300) was purified from
Pfu cell sample extracts. The predominant components of the complex
are a 50 kD protein (P50) and a 45 kD protein (P45). Heat treating
the Pfu P45 with 2% SDS and 1% TCA produces a 17-18 kD protein,
which represents the fully denatured form. However, the Pfu PEF
complex contains other minor components with approximate apparent
molecular weights of 150, 100, 85, 60, 55, 42, and 37 kD. At least
two components (150 and 100) have been shown to be dimeric or
polymeric forms of P50. Thus, the PEF complexes of the invention
comprise protein components and function to enhance the activity of
polymerases.
[0021] In another aspect of the invention, Pfu proteins possessing
polymerase enhancing activity are provided. These proteins have
molecular weights between approximately 42 and 60 kD by SDS PAGE
analysis under partially denaturing conditions. The 42-60 kD
proteins may be used alone or in combination to enhance polymerase
activity. Methods for purifying these proteins as well as the PEF
extracts and PEF complexes from which they have been isolated are
also provided.
[0022] The invention also involves two particular proteins, Pfu P50
and P45, which are predominant components of the PEF complex
(P300). Detailed structural and functional information on the Pfu
P45 and P50 proteins is disclosed. The P50 protein is similar in
structure to a bacterial flavoprotein. The P45 protein is similar
in structure to dCTP deaminase, functions as a dUTPase, and
possesses polymerase enhancing activity. The structural information
herein can be used to generate specific hybridization probes that
detect the presence of nucleic acids encoding a protein that is
part of a PEF complex, or related proteins from samples from other
species, or possesses PEF activity. Furthermore, the structural
information can be used to generate proteins from expression
systems known in the art, synthetic proteins, partially synthetic
proteins, or proteins made from a combination of natural proteins,
expressed proteins, and synthetic proteins. Methods for detecting
the presence or absence of polymerase enhancing activity and/or
dUTPase activity are also included in this invention and can be
used to identify the various active PEF proteins or analogs. In
addition, polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies that bind to PEF
components can be produced, for example from purified P45 or P50,
purified PEF complexes (P300), or another PEF of the invention.
These antibodies can then be employed in assays and kits, well
known in the art, in order to identify the presence or absence of a
PEF.
[0023] The understanding of the catalytic activity of PEF, and the
P45 protein in particular, provides aspects of this invention
directed to polymerase enhancing proteins, as well as methods,
kits. and compositions containing a dUTPase activity or dUTPase
protein as a PEF. Thus, a dUTPase activity or dUTPase protein or
composition can be used to enhance nucleic acid replication,
polymerization, or PCR reactions according to this invention. In
fact, any activity that functions to turn-over dUTP can be used as
a polymerase enhancing activity of this invention. Wide-ranging
sources for the dUTPase activity, protein, or composition exist, as
it is demonstrated to be present from both archael and human
sources, the ends of the phylogenetic possibilities. Thus, any cell
or species can be used as a source for polymerase enhancing
activity or PEF.
[0024] Kits for replicating nucleic acids and methods for using the
PEF complexes, specific proteins of the complexes, and extracts
containing PEF are also provided. In addition, the complexes,
proteins, and extracts can be used in compositions comprising a
polymerase. Ideally, the polymerase will be one that is enhanced by
the complex, protein, or PEF. The PEF extracts, complexes and
proteins of the present invention are particularly useful in
mixtures with nucleic acid polymerases, such as native polymerases.
Those produced by recombinant DNA techniques, and kits containing
such polymerases.
[0025] Also provided in the invention are methods for identifying
proteins of complexes that influence nucleic acid polymerases. The
source of the protein can be any bacterial, archael, or eukaryotic
species. Certain embodiments involve methods for identifying
proteins affecting polymerases used in amplification reactions, for
example, alpha-type DNA polymerases such as DNA polymerases from
Pyrococcus and Thermococcus species. Other embodiments involve the
analysis of dUTPase activity as well as computer implemented
screening methods to identify a PEF.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1. PCR enhancing activity in a heparin sepharose column
fraction. PCR enhancing activity was measured using the 6.2 kb
system described in example 1. Column fraction SCS #36 H.S. #78
(prep. 2) was diluted in 1.times. cloned Pfu PCR buffer and 1 .mu.l
aliquots of the following were added to 100 .mu.l PCRs. FIG. 1:
lane 1, buffer; lanes 2, 4 column fraction diluted 1:10; lanes 3, 5
column fraction diluted 1:100. In FIG. 1, lanes 4 and 5,
.lamda.AA742 template DNA has been omitted from the reactions.
[0027] FIG. 2. PCR enhancing activity in a heparin sepharose column
fraction. FIG. 2: lane 1, buffer; lanes 2, 5 column fraction
undiluted; lanes 3, 6 column fraction diluted 1:10; lanes 4, 7
column fraction diluted 1:100. In FIG. 2, lanes 5-7, cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase has been omitted from the PCRs.
[0028] FIG. 3. PCR enhancing activity of SDS-PAGE gel-purified
samples from heparin sepharose fraction SCS #36 H.S. #78 (prep. 2).
FIG. 3 shows the PCR enhancing activity of proteins eluted from
SDS-PAGE gel slices 1-7 (native Pfu DNA pol.; lanes 1-7) and 9-20
(H.S. #78; lanes 9-20 from FIG. 4). The proteins were eluted as
described in Example 2. One (1) .mu.l of each gel slice, diluted
1:100 in cloned Pfu PCR buffer, was added to cloned Pfu PCRs as
described in Example 1 (6.2 kb primer-template system). In the left
lanes of the gel is shown PCR product synthesis in the presence of
1 .mu.l of buffer (-) or H.S. #78. diluted 1:1000 (0.001 .mu.l).
1:10.000 (0.0001 .mu.l), or 1:100,000 (0.00001 .mu.l). DNA markers
were electrophoresed in lane "m".
[0029] FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a duplicate of the master SDS-PAGE gel
from which gel slices were excised. The following proteins were
electrophoresed on both gels: lane A, 8 .mu.l of native Pfu DNA
polymerase (lot #24); lane B, pre-stained molecular weight markers
(Novex); lane C, heparin sepharose fraction SCS #36 H.S. #78 4
.mu.l (=160 ng PEF). The samples were not pre-heated before
loading, and the duplicate gel shown here was silver-stained. Gel
slices 1-7 were recovered from lane A on the master gel, while
slices 8-25 were recovered from lane C of the master gel.
[0030] FIG. 5. DNA polymerase activity in SDS-PAGE gel purified
samples. The level of DNA polymerase activity (cpms incorporated)
in gel slice eluates (1 .mu.l) was measured as described in Example
14. The polymerase activity exhibited by gel-purified proteins
numbered 1-7 in the native Pfu DNA polymerase preparation (FIG. 4;
lane A) is shown by the solid line (left Y axis). The polymerase
activity of gel-purified proteins numbered 8-25 in fraction H.S.
#78 (FIG. 4, lane C) is shown with the broken line (right-handed Y
axis). The apparent molecular weights of the proteins tested are
shown on the x axis (at the top) and are inferred from the position
the gel slices were recovered, relative to pre-stained molecular
weight markers. Gel slices #11 and 18 exhibited the highest PCR
enhancing activity.
[0031] FIG. 6. SDS-PAGE analysis of gel-purified P. furiosus PEF.
The following samples were electrophoresed on 4-20% acrylamide gels
in the presence of 1% SDS: lanes 2, 3--SCS #37 H.S. fraction #75
(prep. 4; 10 .mu.l of a Microcon 30 concentrated fraction; 100 ng
PEF) lanes 4, 5 10 .mu.l of SDS-PAGE gel slice eluate recovered
from SCS #37 H.S. fraction #75 (migrated 0-4 mm above 250 kD
protein marker). The samples in lanes 3 and 5 were boiled for 3
minutes before loading onto the SDS-PAGE gel. The completed gel was
stained with silver stain. The migration of pre-stained molecular
weight markers is shown in lane 1.
[0032] FIG. 7. SDS-PAGE analysis of S200-purified, P. furiosus PEF.
10 .mu.l (2.25 .mu.g) of S200-purified PEF (prep. 1) was incubated
in the presence of 2% SDS for 3 minutes at room temperature (RT),
75.degree. C., 85.degree. C., or 100.degree. C. (boil), as
indicated on the lanes, and then subject to electrophoresis as
described in Example 2. Proteins were detected by silver-staining.
Protein molecular weight markers were run in lane "m".
[0033] FIG. 8. PCR enhancing activity of SDS-PAGE gel-purified
samples from an S200-purified P. furiosus PEF preparation (prep 1).
Purified PEF (.about.4.5 .mu.g) was pre-incubated in 2% SDS for 3
minutes at room temperature (RT) or at 85.degree. C. (85.degree.
C.) before electrophoresis. Proteins were eluted from SDS-PAGE gel
slices 1-13 (gel RT) and 14-26 (gel 85.degree. C.) as described in
Example 2. One (1) .mu.l of each gel slice, diluted 1:100 in cloned
Pfu PCR buffer, was added to cloned Pfu PCRs as described in
Example 1 (6.2 kb primer-template system). The approximate
molecular weights of the SDS-PAGE gel-purified proteins is
indicated at the top of the gel; DNA size markers were run in lanes
"m".
[0034] FIG. 9. S200-purified PEF (1.4 .mu.g total protein) was
heated at 85 or 100.degree. C. prior to electrophoresis. Four
slices were excised from the gel between the 60 kD (slice 1) and 42
kD (slice 4) marker. The proteins were eluted in 50 .mu.l of buffer
and 10 .mu.l aliquots were boiled in the presence of SDS-BME
loading dye and run out on 4-20% PAGE gels. Lane 1: Novex
pre-stained markers; lane 2: 0.28 ng PEF; lanes 3-6: gel purified
proteins isolated from S200-purified PEF heated at 85.degree.
C.--slice 1 (lane 3), slice 2 (lane 4), slice 3 (lane 5), and slice
4 (lane 6); lanes 7-10; gel purified proteins isolated from S200
purified PEF heated at 100.degree. C.: slice 1 (lane 7), slice 2
(lane 8), slice 3 (lane 9), and slice 4 (lane 10).
[0035] FIG. 10. SDS-PAGE analysis of P. furiosus PEF preparations.
In the left panel, the following samples were subject to SDS-PAGE
silver stain analysis, conducted as described: cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase lot #24A (56 ng/.mu.l) [lanes 1-3, 1 .mu.l, 2 .mu.l, 4
.mu.l]; S200 purified P. furiosus PEF fraction #46 (prep. 1 from
SCS #38) [lane 4--2 .mu.l; S200 purified P. furiosus PEF pool
fractions #47-48 (550 ng/.mu.l; prep. 3 from SCS #38) [lanes 5-8,
0.1 .mu.1, 0.2 .mu.l, 0.4 .mu.l, 1 .mu.l]. In the right panel, the
following samples were run: cloned Pfu DNA polymerase lot #24A (56
ng/.mu.l) [lanes 1-3, 1 .mu.l, 2 .mu.l, 4 .mu.l]; microcon
30-concentrated SCS #36 heparin sepharose fraction #78 (prep. 2)
[lanes 4-6, 1 .mu.l, 2 .mu.l, 0.4 .mu.l; SCS #37 heparin sepharose
fraction #75 (prep. 4) [lanes 7-8, 1 .mu.l, 5 .mu.l].
[0036] FIG. 11. PDVF blots of P. furiosus PEF. PEF-containing
heparin sepharose fractions (from SCS #37 Pfu purification) were
concentrated and aliquots electrophoresed in 8 or 9 lanes on 4-20%
SDS-PAGE gels as described. The samples were boiled for 3 min.
prior to loading to recover the 50 kD monomeric PEF (top) or were
loaded in the absence of heat treatment to recover the >250 kD
aggregate (bottom). The proteins were transferred to PDVF filters
(BioRad) and stained with Amido black.
[0037] FIG. 12. PVDF blot of S200-purified P. furiosus PEF.
Approximately 20 .mu.g of total protein was electrophoresed in each
of 7 lanes on a 12% PAGE gel. The samples were heated at 85.degree.
C. for 5 minutes prior to loading. The proteins were transferred to
PVDF filters and stained as in the FIG. 11 legend.
[0038] FIG. 13. Absorbance spectrum of S-200 purified P. furiosus
PEF. The spectra of the following were obtained on a Shimadzu
UV160U spectrophotometer: 0.7 mg/ml P. furiosus PEF, 9.6 .mu.M and
4.8 .mu.M riboflavin, and PEF final storage buffer (blank).
[0039] FIG. 14. Recombinant P45 (rP45) amplification enhancement of
52 kb fragment. In the 5.2 kb "On/Off" assay with PEF and rP45
samples, 7, 0.7, or 0.2 ng of the native PEF protein or 5 .mu.l, 1
.mu.l, or 1 .mu.l of a 1/10 dilution of the rP45 protein (20 ng/ul)
was added to the on/off assay.
[0040] FIG. 15. SDS-PAGE analysis of fully denatured native PEF and
rP45. The following protein samples were electrophoresed on 4-20%
SDS-PAGE gels as described in the text: 100 ng native PEF,
boiled-in 2% SDS without (lane 1) or with 1% TCA (lane 2); 200 ng
recombinant P45 clone 1, boiled in 2% SDS (lane 3) or loaded in the
absence of heat-treatment (lane 5); 200 ng recombinant P45 clone
23, boiled in 2% SDS (lane 4) or loaded in the absence of
heat-treatment (lane 6). The migration of molecular weight markers
is shown in lane 7 (far right). The gel was stained with SYPRO
orange dye (Molecular Probes), diluted 1:5000 in 5% acetic
acid.
[0041] FIG. 16. Reverse Phase HPLC Analysis of dUTP Conversion by
PEF and rP45. Panel A, dUTP heated at 72.degree. C. in 1.times.
cloned Pfu polymerase buffer (negative control). Panel B, dUTP
heated in 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer with 700 ng native
PEF. Panel C, dUTP heated in 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer
with 5 .mu.l of rP45 (clone 1). Panel D, dUMP standard heated in
1.times. cloned Pfu buffer. Panel, E, the products shown in panel B
and panel D were mixed and injected simultaneously to demonstrate,
through the production of a single peak, that dUMP migrates
identically to the PEF byproduct.
[0042] FIG. 17. Reverse Phase HPLC Analysis of dCTP Conversion by
PEF and rP45. Panel A, dCTP heated in 1.times. cloned Pfu
polymerase buffer without additive (negative control). Panel B,
dCTP heated in 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer with 700 ng of
PEF. Panel C, dCTP heated in 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer
with 5 .mu.l of rP45. Panel D, dUTP and dCTP heated in 1.times.
cloned Pfu polymerase buffer with 700 ng of PEF. Chromatograms in
panels A, B, and D were performed in the same series, while
chromatogram C was performed in a different experiment, using a
different C-18 column. In the second experiment, a dCTP standard
was shown to elute at 9.6 minutes (data not shown).
[0043] FIG. 18. Reverse phase HPLC analysis of the products
generated by heat-treatment of dCTP. dCTP (10 mM in cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase PCR buffer) was heated at 95.degree. C. in thin-walled
tubes in a RoboCycler 40 temperature gradient block. Incubations
were carried out for the following length of time: 0 (panel A), 1
hour (panel 6), or 4 hours (panel C). 10 .mu.l of the reaction
mixtures were loaded onto a Waters Delta-pak C18 column (300
angstrom)/15 .mu.m), equilibrated in 50 mM triethylammonium
acetate, pH(7.0) (A). Products were eluted with acetonitrile (B) at
2 ml/min., using the following gradient: 0% B for 5 minutes, 0-10%
B over 20 minutes. Absorbence of the eluate was monitored with a
photodiode array detector, and peak areas were integrated at 260
nm. To the right of panels A and C are shown the same chromatograms
re-integrated at a higher sensitivity. In panel D, 10 .mu.l of 10
mM dUTP (in cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR buffer) was
chromatographed.
[0044] FIG. 19. Comparison of the absorbance spectrum of dCTP,
dUTP, and the product generated from heating dCTP. The absorbance
spectra (200-300 nm) of the following were superimposed: (1) peak
9.283 from chromatogram A in FIG. 18 (dCTP unheated); (2) peak
12.383 from chromatogram C in FIG. 18 (heated dCTP product); (3)
peak 12.100 from chromatogram D in FIG. 18 (dUTP unheated). The
three spectra were normalized such that heights of the maximally
absorbing peaks (Amax) are equivalent.
[0045] FIG. 20. Reverse phase HPLC analysis of the products
generated by PCR cycling dCTP. dCTP (10 mM in cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase PCR buffer) was cycled alone (Panel A) or in the
presence of 0.5 ng/.mu.l PEF (Panel 8) or 1.25 U/.mu.l Pfu DNA
polymerase (Panel C). Cycling was carried out in a RoboCycler 40
using the following conditions: 95.degree. C. 1 min./30 cycles of:
95.degree. C. 1 min., 60.degree. C. 1 min., 72.degree. C. 10:24
min./72.degree. C. 10 min. 10 .mu.l of the reaction mixtures were
chromatographed as described in the FIG. 18 legend. In panel D, the
absorbance spectra of dCTP, dUTP, and the product generated from
PCR cycling dCTP are compared. The absorbance spectra (200-300 nm)
of the following were superimposed: (1) major peak at 8.3-8.8 min.
from chromatogram of dCTP+Pfu unheated; (2) peak at 11.867 min.
from chromatogram of dUTP in buffer unheated; (3) peak 12.150 from
chromatogram C (FIG. 20) showing dCTP+Pfu cycled.
[0046] FIG. 21. dUTP Inhibition and Reversible Inhibition with PEF
and rP45. The following components were added to cloned Pfu DNA
Polymerase PCR reactions (5.2 kb "on/off" assay of example 1): Lane
1, 2 .mu.M dUTP+7 ng native PEF. Lane 2, 2 .mu.M dUTP. Lane 3, 2
.mu.M PEF generated dUMP. Lane 4, 20 .mu.M PEF generated dUMP. Lane
5, 2 .mu.M dUTP+180 ng rP45 clone 1. Lane 6, 2 .mu.M dUTP+20 ng
rP45 clone 1. Lane 7, 2 .mu.M dUTP+2 ng rP45 clone 1. Lane 8, 2
.mu.M dUTP+180 ng rP45 clone 23. Lane 9, 2 .mu.M dUTP+20 ng rP45
clone 23. Lane 10, 0.2 .mu.M dUTP. Lane 11, 0.2 .mu.M dUTP+7 ng
native PEF. Lane 12, 0.2 .mu.M dUTP+20 ng rP45 clone 1. Lane 13,
0.2 .mu.M dUTP+20 ng rP45 clone 23. In the right Lane M, 1 Kb DNA
markers were run.
[0047] FIG. 22. Inhibition of PCR with unrelated dU Containing
Oligonucleotides. A 0.9 kb target was amplified from human genomic
DNA. Lanes 2 and 3 represent the PCR amplification without the
addition of a third oligo. The sample in lane 3 was amplified in
the presence of 7 ng of PEF. Lanes 4-8 and 10-11 represent the
titration of the control (dT rather than dU) oligonucleotide (40
mer). Lanes 13 through 32 represent samples amplified in the
presence of the dU oligonucleotide (40 mer). Lanes 13-19 were
amplified with Pfu DNA polymerase alone. Lanes 14 through 26 were
amplified with Pfu DNA polymerase in the presence of 7 ng of PEF.
Lanes 27 through 32 were amplified with Taq DNA polymerase.
[0048] FIG. 23. Human dUTPase mimics PEF/P45 activity. PEF activity
was measured using the 5.2 kb primer-template assay described in
example 1. At each annealing step of the PCR reaction, 0.5 .mu.l of
the following were added: dUTPase storage buffer (negative
control), recombinant P45 (at 2 ng/.mu.l) (positive control), human
dUTPase preparation undiluted (duplicate reactions), or diluted
1:10 (duplicate reactions).
[0049] FIG. 24. Presence of PEF (P300) in P. furiosus DNA
polymerase preparations. SDS-PAGE analysis is shown for six
preparations of native Pfu DNA polymerase with varying levels of
PEF present. The volumes of each lot loaded is indicated (.mu.l).
The protein samples were not boiled prior to electrophoresis and
the gels were silver-stained.
[0050] FIG. 25. Western blot analysis of crude extracts using P.
furiosus PEF-specific IgG. Extracts were prepared from 5 different
fermentations of P. furiosus (lanes 1-5). 3 partially purified
fractions from T. aquaticus (lanes 6-8), and 1 extract from E. coli
(lane 9). Purified PEF (550 ng) and pre-stained molecular weight
markers were run in lanes 10 and 11, respectively. With the
exception of the markers, all samples were boiled in SDS/BME dye
prior to loading.
[0051] FIG. 26. Western blot analysis of native PEF samples using
anti-recombinant P45 antibody. Three samples (700 ng each) of
native Pfu PEF were prepared as follows: unheated 2% SDS loading
dye (lane 1); heated 2% SDS loading dye (lane 2); and heated 1%
TCA/2% SDS loading dye (lane 3). Heating was carried out for 5
minutes at 95.degree. C. The samples were electrophoresed on a
4-20% gradient gel and transferred to nitrocellulose. The blot was
probed as described in the text with rabbit anti-rP45 sera. Novex
prestained molecular markers (SeeBlue.TM.) were run adjacent to the
PEF samples in lane 4.
[0052] FIG. 27. Western blot using the antibody to CBP-rP45 and
cell lysates from different species. The lysates shown in lanes 2-7
were prepared by sonication. The samples were heated at 95.degree.
C. prior to loading except for the sample loaded in lane 10, which
was left at room temperature. Lane 1, SeeBlue.TM. Markers (Novex),
Lane 2, Uncharacterized Bacillus species (Magenta), lane 3, Thermus
aquaticus, lane 4, uncharacterized species, Lane 5, Pyrococcus
furiosus, Lane 6, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, lane 7,
Human lymphoma HL60 cells, Lane 8, purified Pyrococcus furious PEF,
Lane 9, purified fusion CBP-rP45, Lane 10, purified fusion
CBP-rP45.
[0053] FIGS. 28, 29, and 30. PCR enhancing activity of P. furiosus
PEF in cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCRs. PCR amplifications were
performed as described in example 14 with the following additional
notes. FIG. 28. A 1.9 kb lacI-lacZ.alpha. target was amplified from
plasmid DNA. 100 .mu.l PCRs were conducted with 50 pg of pPRIAZ,
100 ng of primers (5'CAT AGC GAA TTC GCA AAA CCT TTC GCG GTA TGG 3'
(SEQ. ID NO: 20); 5'ACT ACG GAA TTC CAC GGA AAA TGC CGC TCA TCC 3'
(SEQ ID NO: 21)), and 5 U cloned Pfu DNA polymerase in the absence
(duplicate samples #18) or the presence (duplicate lanes #19) of
0.5 .mu.l of a PEF-containing heparin sepharose fraction (H.S. #75;
prep. 4; .about.10 ng/.mu.l PEF). PCR cycling was conducted on a
GeneAmp PCR System 9600 (Perkin Elmer Cetus) using the following
conditions: 30 s at 95.degree. C. (1 cycle)/5 s at 95.degree. C.; 1
min. at 55.degree. C.; 2.5 min. at 72.degree. C. (30 cycles). FIG.
29. A 10 kb target from lambda DNA was amplified. 100 .mu.l PCRs
were conducted with 250 ng of lambda DNA (Sigma), 250 ng of primers
(F51-20 5'GGC-GTT-TCC-GTT-CTT-CTT-CG3' (SEQ ID NO: 22) R10163-20
5'CCA-TCT-CAC-GCG-CCA-GTT-TC 3' (SEQ ID NO: 23)), and 5 U cloned
Pfu DNA polymerase in the absence (lane 1) or the presence of 1
.mu.l of a S200-purified PEF (prep. 3; 550 ng/.mu.l PEF) diluted
1:500 (lane 2), 1:50 (lane 3), or 1:5 (lane 4). PCR cycling was
conducted on a Robocycler 40 (Stratagene) using the following
conditions: 95.degree. C. for 1 min. (1 cycle)/95.degree. C. for 1
min; 62.degree. C. for 1 min.; 72.degree. C. for 10 min. (30
cycles). FIG. 30. Lanes 1-5, a 5.2 kb portion of the human .alpha.1
antitrypsin gene was amplified from genomic DNA. 25 .mu.l PCRs were
conducted with 62.5 ng of human genomic DNA (Promega). 50 ng of
primers (F91-23 5'GAG GAG AGC AGG AAA GGT GGA AC (SEQ ID NO: 24);
R5271-21 5'GCT GGG AGA AGA CTT CAC TGG) (SEQ ID NO: 25), and 0.6 U
cloned Pfu DNA polymerase in the absence (lane 1) or the presence
of 1 .mu.l of S200 purified PEF (SCS #52; 0.7 .mu.g/ul) diluted
1:1000 (lane 2), 1:10,000 (lane 3), 1:100,000 (lane 4) or
1:1,000,000 (lane 5). PCR cycling was conducted on a RoboCycler 96
(Stratagene) using the following conditions: 96.degree. C. for 45 s
(1 cycle)/96.degree. C. for 45 s; 60.degree. C. for 45 s;
72.degree. C. for 14 min. (35 cycles)/72.degree. C. for 10 min. (1
cycle).
[0054] FIG. 31. Effect of Stratagene's Perfect Match (E. coli ssb)
on the specificity of PCRs conducted with cloned Pfu DNA polymerase
and P. furiosus PEF. PCRs were conducted using the 6.2 kb test
system (example 1) in 100 .mu.l reaction volumes. 1 .mu.l of the
following were added to PCRs: lanes 1,5-dilution buffer; lanes
2,6-undiluted PEF-containing heparin sepharose fraction (microcon
30-concentrated SCS #36 H.S. #78. prep. 2; .about.40 ng/.mu.l PEF);
lanes 3, 7--PEF fraction diluted 1:10; lanes 4, 8--PEF fraction
diluted 1:100. 1 .mu.l of Perfect Match was added to PCRs run in
lanes 5-8. No DNA samples were loaded in the lanes between lanes 3
and 4, 4 and 5, and 7 and 8.
[0055] FIG. 32. SDS-PAGE analysis of heparin sepharose (H.S.)
column fractions. The heparin sepharose fractions indicated (# at
top) from SCS native Pfu DNA polymerase prep. #37 (SCS #37) were
analyzed on 4-20% SDS-PAGE gels (4 .mu.l/lane). Prestained
molecular weight markers were run in lanes denoted "m" and 4 .mu.l
of SCS #36 H.S. #78 (PEF prep. 2) was run in lanes marked "A". The
peak of DNA polymerase (95 kD) activity eluted between fractions 50
and 61.
[0056] FIGS. 33, 34, 35, and 36. Enhancing activity of P. furiosus
PEF in PCRs conducted with Pwo (FIG. 33); JDF-3 (FIGS. 34 and 35),
ES4 and Vent (FIG. '35). and Deep Vent (FIG. 36) DNA polymerases.
In FIG. 33, 25 .mu.l PCRs were conducted using the 6.2 kb test
system (example 1) with 25 U/ml Pwo DNA polymerase and 1.times.
cloned Pfu PCR buffer. 1 .mu.l of S200-purified P. furiosus PEF
(prep 1; 225 ng/.mu.l) was added undiluted (lane 1) or diluted 1:10
(lane 2), 1:1000 (lane 3), 1:10,000 (lane 4). 1 .mu.l of dilution
buffer was added as a negative control (lane 5). In FIG. 34, a 10
kb lambda DNA-target was amplified from lambda DNA (lanes 1-4; 5-7;
11-13) or mouse genomic DNA, containing 40 copies (lanes 8-10) or 1
copy (lanes 14-16) of a lambda DNA transgene. 100 .mu.l PCRs were
conducted with 250 ng of lambda DNA (Sigma) or mouse genomic DNA
and 250 ng of primers (F51-20 5'GGC-GTT-TCC-GTT-CTT-CTT-CG (SEQ ID
NO: 22); R10163-20 5'CCA-TCT-CAC-GCG-CCA-GTT-TC) (SEQ ID NO: 23).
PCRs were conducted in Taq PCR buffer using 5 U Taq DNA polymerase
(lanes 1-4) or 1 U JDF3 DNA polymerase (lanes 5-16). 1 .mu.l of the
following was added to PCRs: S200-purified PEF (prep. 3; 550
ng/.mu.l PEF) diluted 1:500 (lanes 2, 12, 15), 1:100 (lanes 6, 9),
1:50 (lane 3), 1:10 (lanes 7, 10, 13, 16), or 1:5 (lane 4). 1 .mu.l
of dilution buffer was added as a negative control (lanes 1, 5, 8,
11, 14). PCR cycling was conducted on a Robocycler 40 (Stratagene)
using the following conditions: 95.degree. C. for 1 min., (1
cycle)/95.degree. C. for 1 min.; 62.degree. C. for 1 min.;
72.degree. C. for 10 min. for Taq or 5 min. for JDF3 (30 cycles).
In FIG. 35, the I.9 kb ligase gene was amplified from P. furiosus
genomic DNA. 100 .mu.l PCRs were conducted with 250 ng of DNA and
250 ng of primers (5' GAG CTT GCT CAA CTT TATC (SEQ ID NO: 26);
5'GAT AGA GAT AGT TTC TGG AGA CG) (SEQ ID NO: 27). PCRs were
conducted with 10 U ES4 DNA polymerase in Pfu PCR buffer (lanes 1,
2), 1.5 U JDF3 DNA polymerase in Taq PCR buffer (lanes 3, 4), 4 U
Pfu DNA polymerase in cloned Pfu PCR buffer (lanes 5, 6). 1 U Vent
DNA polymerase in Vent PCR buffer (lanes 7, 8) or 7 U Taq DNA
polymerase in Taq PCR buffer (lanes 9, 10). 1 .mu.l of the
following was added to PCRs: dilution buffer (lanes 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
or S200-purified PEF (prep. 3; 550 ng/.mu.l PEF) diluted 1:100
(lanes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). PCR cycling was conducted on a DNA Thermal
Cycler 480 (Perkin Elmer Cetus) using the following conditions:
95.degree. C. for 1 min.; 46.degree. C. for 1 min; 72.degree. C.
for 2 min. (30 cycles). In FIG. 36, a 2 kb DNA target was amplified
from transgenic mouse genomic DNA. 100 .mu.l PCRs were conducted
with 250 ng of DNA and 250 ng of primers (F51-20 5'GGC GTT TCC GTT
CTT CTT CG (SEQ ID NO: 22); R2092-23 5'CGG GAT ATC GAC ATT TCT GCA
CC) (SEQ ID NO: 28). PCRs were conducted with 0.75 U Deep vent DNA
polymerase in Deep Vent PCR buffer (lanes 1-4). 1 .mu.l of the
following was added: dilution buffer (lane 1) or S200-purified PEF
(prep. 3; 550 ng/.mu.l PEF), diluted 1:500 (lane 2), 1:100 (lane
3), 1:50 (lane 4). PCR cycling was conducted on a Robocycler 40
(Stratagene) using the following conditions: 95.degree. C. for 1
min. (I cycle)/95.degree. C. for 1 min.; 65.degree. C. for 1 min.;
72.degree. C. for 2 min. (30 cycles).
[0057] FIG. 37. Enhancement of RT-PCR with P. furiosus PEF. A
portion of the EGF receptor sequence was amplified from HepG.sub.2
total RNA using the 2-step RT-PCR protocol described with the
following additions. 1 .mu.l of a cDNA synthesis reaction was added
to 50 .mu.l PCR reactions containing 5 U Pfu DNA polymerase 1 .mu.M
antisense primer (5' GAG-TTA-AAT-GCC-TAC-ACT-GTA-TCT) (SEQ ID NO:
29), 1 .mu.M sense primer (5' CAG-GAC-TCA-GAA-GCT-GCT-ATC-GAA (SEQ
ID NO: 30) (1 kb product) or 5'CTG-CAC-GTG-CCC-TGT-AGG-ATT-TGT (SEQ
ID NO:31) (3 kb product)). 1 .mu.l of buffer (0) or 1 .mu.l of a
PEF-containing heparin sepharose fraction (SCS #37 H.S. #75; prep.
4; .about.10 ng/.mu.l PEF) was added undiluted (UD) or diluted 1:10
to 1.times.10.sup.-6 (as indicated). PCRs were conducted in cloned
Pfu PCR buffer, containing 3 mM MgSO.sub.4.
[0058] FIG. 38. Enhancement of Pfu DNA polymerase-based Seamless
Cloning with P. furiosus PEF. 20 ng of plasmid was amplified as
described in the Seamless Cloning kit protocol in the absence
(lanes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) or presence (duplicate lanes 1, 3, 5, 7,
9, 11) of S200-purified P. furiosus PEF (prep. 3; 550 ng/.mu.l),
diluted 1:100. A 7.2 kb target was amplified with 6 different
primer pairs (each set of 3 lanes). An extension time of 7.5
minutes was used for PEF-containing reactions, while an extension
time of 15 minutes was used for reactions lacking PEF.
[0059] FIG. 39. Enhancement of Pfu DNA polymerase-based QuikChange
mutagenesis with P. furiosus PEF. QuikChange mutagenesis was
performed using the kit control primers and plasmid template, with
either native or cloned Pfu DNA polymerase. To the reactions was
added 1 .mu.l of dilution buffer or 1 .mu.l of a PEF-containing
heparin sepharose fraction (SCS #36 H.S. #78; prep. 2.about.40
ng/.mu.l), diluted as indicated. The relative amount of linear
amplification product was assessed by the intensity of ethidium
bromide-stained product bands on agarose gels. Supercompetent E.
coli cells were transformed with the digested amplification
products. The number of amp resistant colonies and the mutation
frequencies were scored.
[0060] FIGS. 40 and 41. PCR enhancing activity of S200-purified P.
furiosus PEF. PCR enhancing activity was measured in duplicate
assays using the 6.2 kb test system described in Example 1. In FIG.
40, purified PEF (225 ng/.mu.l; prep. 1) was diluted in 1.times.
cloned Pfu PCR buffer and 1 .mu.l aliquots of the following were
added to 24 .mu.l PCRs--lane 1, buffer, lane 2, PEF undiluted;
lanes 3-6, PEF diluted 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000, respectively.
In FIG. 41, the following amounts of purified PEF were added: lane
1--1 .mu.1 of buffer, lane 2--1 .mu.l PEF neat, lanes 3-8, 1 .mu.l
PEF diluted 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000, 1:100,000, and
1:1,000,000.
[0061] FIGS. 42 and 43. PCR enhancing activity of heparin
sepharose-purified P. furiosus PEF. PCR enhancing activity was
measured using the 6.2 kb test system described. The PEF fraction
(.about.40 ng/.mu.l; prep. 2 in text) was diluted in 1.times.
cloned Pfu PCR buffer. In FIG. 42, 1 .mu.l aliquots of the
following were added to 50 .mu.l PCRs--lane I, buffer; lanes 2-5,
PEF diluted 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000, respectively. In FIG.
43, 1 .mu.l aliquots of the following were added to 24 .mu.l
PCRs--lane 1, buffer; lane 2, PEF undiluted; lanes 3-6, PEF diluted
1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10.000, respectively. DNA markers were
electrophoresed in lane "m".
[0062] FIG. 44. PCR enhancing activity of heparin sepharose column
fractions. The PCR enhancing activity contained in 1 .mu.l of each
column fraction (fractions 1-93 from FIG. 32; numbered at top) was
measured using the assay 6.2 kb primer-template PCR described in
Example 1. Fractions 50-61 contained the peak of Pfu DNA polymerase
activity and were excluded from analysis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0063] The following description should not be construed to limit
the scope of this invention to any specifically described
embodiment. Various aspects and embodiments of this invention will
be apparent from the disclosure as a whole in context with the
knowledge of one skilled in the art. In addition, the description
herein, in combination with information known or available to
persons of ordinary skill in the art, enables the practice of the
subject matter encompassed by the following claims.
[0064] For the purposes of this invention, a nucleic acid
replication reaction can mean any of the numerous nucleic acid
amplification, primer extension, reverse transcription, or other
nucleic acid polymerization reactions known in the art
Additionally, a replication reaction of this invention includes any
reaction in which the ability of an enzyme to interact with a first
nucleic acid and generate a second, substantially complementary
nucleic acid sequence, is involved. The amplification reactions of
this invention are not limited to PCR processes or any particular
PCR-based assay, although they are particularly useful herein, and
specifically include RT-PCR processes. The proteins, preparations,
compositions, mixtures, kits and methods of this invention can be
used with any appropriately designed nucleic acid replication
reaction.
[0065] As used herein, the term "PEF" refers to a naturally
occurring protein derived from a bacterial, eukaryotic, or archael
source (or a wholly or partially, synthetic copy or analog thereof)
having polymerase enhancing activity, mixtures of one or more such
proteins, protein complexes containing one or more such proteins,
or extracts containing one or more of such proteins, mixtures or
complexes. Recombinant PEF proteins, as a wholly synthetic copy of
a naturally occurring protein, and complexes with at least one
recombinant PEF protein are also "PEFs" according to this
invention. The Pfu P45 and P50 proteins of this invention are
illustrative of PEF proteins, which exhibit an apparent molecular
weight of approximately 45 kD and 50 kD and are predominant
components of a PEF complex derivable from Pfu. Data relating to
both the P45 and P50 proteins is presented herein and details
specific structural information. On SDS-PAGE, the non-heat-treated
PEF complex containing P45 and P50 as well as minor additional
components migrates with an apparent molecular weight>250 kD.
One species of the PEF complexes of this invention is the P300
complex from Pyrococcus furiosus.
[0066] The present invention is intended, however, to encompass
other PEF proteins, mixtures, complexes, compositions, and extracts
derived-from organisms other than Pfu identified by techniques
analogous to those provided by the following examples, or by use of
the structural information on the PEF proteins described herein or
derivable from the proteins described herein. More specifically,
the invention is intended to encompass PEFs identified on the basis
of sequence homology to all or part of the PEFs described herein,
including nucleic acid homology to all or part of the DNA sequence
encoding the proteins described herein or the DNA sequences
described herein. Computer-implemented homology searches using the
sequence information herein, stored on an appropriate
computer-readable medium, with procedures known in the art, can
generate these homologous PEFs. Also, reactivity with antibodies to
the proteins, complexes, or extracts disclosed herein can be used
with procedures known in the art to generate homologous PEFs.
[0067] One skilled in the art is familiar with methods of
generating analogs of proteins. Various techniques from
publications in the art can be used to mutate, modify, truncate, or
otherwise change a protein's amino acid sequence and retain
functional activity. In the case of a dUTPase activity as PEF, the
known crystal structure of dUTPases, such as E. coli dUTPase,
provides specific information on regions of a dUTPase that may be
mutated in any of a number of ways while still retaining PEF
activity (see Cedergren-Zeppezaueh E. S., et al. Nature 355:
740(1992), which also notes similarities to mammalian dUTPases in
Hokari. S. et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 253: 350 (1987)).
Similarly, wholly or partially synthetic or recombinantly expressed
proteins can also be generated from the information herein by those
skilled in the art. (For example, Ausubel et al. (1989) Current
Protocols in Molecular Biology, and supplements through February
1997.)
[0068] Furthermore, a PEF can also be a protein exhibiting a
dUTPase activity, as demonstrated herein. Specifically, human,
Pyrococcus furiosus, and Thermus thermophilis dUTPase activities
can be used to enhance polymerization reactions as a PEF. Other
eukaryotic, bacterial, and archael sources can similarly be used to
derive a PEF as a dUTPase protein. A PEF-can also be any protein
that functions to turn over dUTP or lower the concentration of
dUTP. Similarly, he invention comprises a method of enhancing
replication or amplification reactions by reducing the dUTP
concentration or preventing the incorporation of dUTP into
replicated or amplified products, as well as compositions that are
capable of preventing that incorporation.
[0069] The polymerase enhancing activity of the PEFs of this
invention can be determined in a number of different ways. The
description below details a few examples of assays and techniques
one skilled in the art can use to determine if PEF activity is
present. These assays and techniques can be used alone or in
combination.
[0070] Example 1 specifically details screening assays and the
"on/off" assay. This type of PCR assay allows one to identify the
presence of a polymerase enhancing activity in a sample. More
generally, any assay that shows an increase in PCR product yield,
over a negative control level, when a sample suspected to contain a
polymerase enhancing activity is added can be used to identify a
polymerase enhancing activity. Also, any assay that shows an
increase in processivity, over a control level, reflected by the
increased length of PCR products being generated when a sample
suspected to contain a polymerase enhancing activity is used. A
combination of PCR product yield and increased processivity can
also be used to determine whether or not a polymerase enhancing
activity is present.
[0071] A polymerase enhancing activity can also be identified by
assays that indicate a reduction in the PCR inhibitory action of
incorporated dUTP. For example, PCR reactions can be conducted in
the presence of dUTP and samples suspected of containing polymerase
enhancing activity. Those reactions that allow polymerization in
the presence of dUTP indicate a polymerase enhancing activity in
the form of a dUTPase activity. Thus, a dUTPase activity can be a
polymerase enhancing activity.
[0072] Also, a composition that functions to turn-over dUTP,
especially under thermophilic reaction or PCR reaction conditions,
can be a polymerase enhancing activity as a dUTPase. An enzyme or
activity that acts on dUTP so that it is not incorporated into a
newly polymerized strand functions to turn-over dUTP. The turn-over
of dUTP can also be detected by an assay for the conversion of dUTP
into dUMP, as detected by analyzing the reaction products by HPLC,
for example. Biochemical assays that detect the conversion of dUTP
into dUMP, or other nucleoside phosphate or metabolic derivatives
or products, can be devised or are known in the art and can be used
to identify polymerase enhancing activity as a dUTPase
activity.
[0073] A polymerase enhancing activity can also be a dUTPase enzyme
that possesses the consensus uridine-binding sequence motif (SEQ ID
NO: 72). A number of those enzymes are identified below. However,
numerous others exist or can be identified through
computer-implemented or other sequence analysis procedures known in
the art. Thus, the presence of the consensus uridine-binding motif
or the related sequences shown herein can also be used to define an
enzyme or protein that is a PEF, such as a protein that comprises
SEQ ID NO.: 72. or any one of SEQ ID NOS.: 72-81, or combinations
of these sequences.
[0074] Also, proteins identified through sequence identity
comparisons known in the art can be used to confirm the presence of
a PEF. For example, proteins from one species possessing a sequence
identity of approximately 18% or greater have been shown in the art
to be related to or analogous to the known protein of another
species. In the examples below, a sequence similarity of
approximately 39% suffices to positively identify a dUTPase
activity that can act as a PEF.
[0075] The antibodies to PEF described herein can also identify a
protein with polymerase enhancing activity. For example, Western
blot analysis of compositions from various archeal, bacterial,
thermophilic bacterial, or eukaryotic samples can identify a
protein that possess polymerase enhancing activity. Furthermore, as
the PEF proteins and complexes of this invention are demonstrated
as immunogenic, various other antibodies to PEF may be produced by
techniques known in the art with the information herein. These
other antibodies can also be used to identify a PEF.
EXAMPLE 1
Screening for PEF Activity
[0076] Protein-containing extracts from a number of different
sources can be tested for PEF activity. The extracts can be
prepared in a number of ways known in the art.
[0077] One method was demonstrated with Pfu DSM 3638 cells. The
cells were grown, a cell paste collected by centrifugation and then
frozen at -80.degree. C. The paste was taken up with lysis buffer
(50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.2), 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM B-mercaptoethanol, 0.5
mM PMSF, and 2 .mu.g/ml aprotinin), and thereafter the cells were
lysed in a French press and then sonicated. Following sonication,
the lysate was centrifuged and the supernatant, containing
potential PEFs, was collected for assays.
[0078] Extracts from any cell producing a PEF, for example, cells
transfected with a recombinant vector directing the expression of a
PEF, can also be assayed. Methods of making extracts of these cells
are known in the art and are exemplified below.
[0079] 1. Screening Assays for PCR-Enhancing Activity
[0080] One method of detecting thermostable PEFs is by screening
partially-purified fractions from thermophilic archeal or bacterial
extracts for PCR enhancing activity. PCR enhancing activity can be
detected in samples consisting of column-purified fractions as well
as homogeneous protein samples and proteins recovered by elution
from SDS-PAGE gel slices (see below). Samples are added to PCR
amplification reactions containing DNA polymerase, buffer, dNTPs,
primers, and DNA template. PCR enhancing activity is identified by
an increase in PCR product yield for amplifications conducted in
the presence of a particular sample (DNA polymerase+PEF) as
compared to amplifications conducted in the absence of added sample
(DNA polymerase only).
[0081] When screening samples suspected of containing endogenous
DNA polymerase activity, for example protein extracts, negative
controls can be performed in which the exogenous DNA polymerase has
been omitted from the PCR amplifications. In addition, when
screening samples contaminated with DNA, negative controls can be
carried out in which exogenous DNA template is omitted from the PCR
amplifications.
[0082] The sensitivity of the PCR enhancing assay is dependent on
the complexity of the DNA targets employed. PCR reaction parameters
(target complexity, DNA, template concentration, polymerase
concentration, PCR cycle number or extension time) can be adjusted
so that the yield of PCR product is barely detectable under normal
conditions. In addition, samples for testing can be diluted
appropriately so that the concentration of PEFs falls within the
detectable range of the PCR enhancing activity assay.
[0083] 2. Screening Assays for PCR-Enhancing Activity using
Pfu-Derived Samples
[0084] A number of amplification assays can be designed to detect
the presence or absence of PEF activity, and/or compare PEF
activity between, samples. Generally, these tests employ a sample
containing a rare sequence to be amplified. The sequence is so
rare, or the conditions so designed, that amplification under
normal situations results in barely detectable or no detectable
amplified product. By adding a sample with putative PEF activity,
any effects on the amount of amplified product formed can be
detected.
[0085] One particular screening assay is called the "On/Off" assay,
which detects the presence or absence of PEF. The "On/Off assay
results in appreciable amplified product only when PEF activity is
present, or a detectable difference in amplified product when PEF
activity-is compared to when PEF is not present. Methods for
detecting the amount of amplified product are known in the art and
include those using electrophoresis and hybridization.
[0086] One embodiment of an assay used to screen for PEFs, in this
case from Pyrococcus furiosus, involved amplifying a 6.2 kb target
from transgenic mouse DNA (6.2 kb primer-template assay). A master
PCR cocktail was prepared consisting of: 200 .mu.M each dNTP, 2
.mu.g/ml primer F432-21 (5'-CTA-TTG-AGT-ACG-AAC-GCC-ATC) (SEQ ID
NO.: 62), 2 .mu.g/ml primer R6656-20 (GTC-ACG-CTT-GCT-CCA-CTC-CG)
(SEQ ID NO: 63), 2.5 .mu.g/ml .lamda.AA742 DNA (transgenic mouse
DNA having 40 copies of a lambda phage DNA shuttle vector),
1.times. cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR buffer (10 mM KCl, 10 mM
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.8), 2 mM MgSO.sub.4,
0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, and 100 .mu.g/ml BSA), and 25 U/ml cloned
Pfu DNA polymerase. Samples were diluted in 1.times. cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase PCR buffer, and 1 .mu.l of each diluted sample was added
to 24 .mu.l of the PCR cocktail. PCR amplifications were conducted
on the RoboCycler 96 Temperature Cycler (Stratagene), using the
following conditions: 96.degree. C. for 45 s (1 cycle)/96.degree.
C. for 45 s; 60.degree. C. for 45 s; 72.degree. C. for 14 min. (35
cycles)/72.degree. C. for 10 min. (1 cycle). PCR products (10
.mu.l/lane) are run out on I % agarose gels and PCR product bands
visualized by ethidium bromide staining. Samples with PCR enhancing
activity exhibit higher yields of the expected 6.2 kb PCR product
than can be obtained in the presence of DNA polymerase alone. When
PCR enhancement is due to the presence of PEFs, rather than
contaminating endogenous DNA polymerase activity, amplifications
performed in the absence of exogenous DNA (e.g. Pfu DNA polymerase)
yield no PCR product. Moreover, PCR amplifications performed in the
absence of exogenous DNA template should yield no PCR product when
the PEF sample lacks contaminating target DNA.
[0087] A second embodiment of an assay to screen for PEF employs,
for example the 5.2 kb human .alpha.1-antitrypsin gene in a PCR
amplification. PCR amplification of this primer/template system was
so limited that, in the absence of PEF, it was difficult to detect
any PCR product. With added PEF activity, a 5.2 kb product was
easily detected. The following conditions were used for this
"On/Off" assay: In 100 .mu.l--1.times. Cloned Pfu DNA polymerase
buffer, 200 .mu.M each dNTP, 200 ng primer F-91-23, 200 ng primer
R5271-21,125 ng Human Genomic DNA, 2.5 units cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase, +/- PEF or recombinant P45 (rP45).
TABLE-US-00001 (SEQ ID NO: 64) Primer F91-23
5'GAGGAGAGCAGGAAAGGTGGAAC3' (SEQ ID NO: 65) Primer 5271-21
5'GCTGGGAGAAGACTTCACTGG3'
The PCR cycling conditions were as follows: 95.degree. C. for 1
minute (1 cycle), 95.degree. C. for 1 minute--60.degree. C. for 1
minute--72.degree. C. for 10 minutes (30 cycles). After completion,
the reactions are run out on an electrophoresis gel and the
quantity of reaction products determined by any of a number of
methods known in the art.
[0088] 3. Screening Assays for Nucleic Acid Replication Enhancing
Activity
[0089] Extracts can also be added to any nucleic acid replication
reaction to determine PEF activity. Many of these reactions are
known in the art, including primer extension reactions, DNA
sequencing reactions, site-directed mutagenesis reactions, and a
number of PCR-based reactions. (Ausubel, F. M., et al. (1989)
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing
Associates and Wiley-Interscience, New York, N.Y.; Sambrook, .J.,
et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) By
comparing the results produced in a nucleic acid replication
reaction with and without the added extract, one can identify the
presence of PEF.
EXAMPLE 2
Purification of PEF from P. furiosus
[0090] Once PCR enhancing activity has been detected from, for
example, archeal or bacterial sources, large amounts of purified
PEF can be obtained by column chromatography. The following
protocol was developed for purifying PEF from P. furiosus (Pfu).
However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other cells or
species could be used as well.
[0091] 1. Cell Growth and Lysis
[0092] P. furiosus DSM 3638 cells were grown in a 400 liter
fermentor according to established protocol. (U.S. Pat. No.
5,545,552, specifically incorporated herein by reference.) The cell
paste was collected using a Sharples in-line centrifuge after
approximately 20 hours (A600=0.5), and then immediately frozen in
liquid N.sub.2 and stored at -80.degree. C. until use. Then, 500
grams of frozen cell paste was transferred to a 4 liter stainless
steel beaker on ice. The cells were resuspended with 2 liters of
lysis buffer, consisting of 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.2), 1 mM EDTA, 0
mM B-mercaptoethanol, 0.5 mM PMSF, and 2 .mu.g/ml aprotinin. The
cells were lysed in the French press using 2 passes at 8K PSI and
the lysate was then sonicated for 10 minutes. Following sonication,
the lysate was transferred to 400 ml bottles, spun for 1 hour at 9K
rpm in a Sorvall RG28 centrifuge using a Sorvall GS3 rotor, and the
supernatant collected.
[0093] 2. Purification by Column Chromatography
[0094] The supernatant was loaded at a flow rate of 5 ml/min. onto
a 10.times.5 cm Q-Sepharose Fast Flow.TM. (Pharmacia) column
(.about.392 mls), pre-equilibrated in buffer consisting of 50 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 8.2), 1 mM EDTA, and 10 mM B-mercaptoethanol. The
column was washed with 2 column volumes of buffer, and the
pass-through and column washes were collected and pooled. The
pooled fractions were adjusted to pH 7.5 using 1N HCl.
[0095] The Q-Sepharose pass-through was then loaded at a flow rate
of 5 ml/min. onto a 5.times.11.5 cm (.about.225 mls) SF Sepharose
Big Bead.TM. (Pharmacia) column, equilibrated in buffer containing
50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 10% (v/v) glycerol,
0.1% (v/v) Igepal CA-630, and 0.1% (v/v) Tween 20. The column was
washed with equilibration buffer until the absorbance (OD.sub.280)
approached baseline. The column was eluted with a 2 liter gradient
from 0 to 250 mM KCl (in equilibration buffer). Fractions of 20 ml
were collected, and aliquots removed from every third tube for
SDS-PAGE analysis.
[0096] Some of the fractions analyzed by SDS-PAGE showed a
band>250 kD when a sample was not heated prior to
electrophoresis (.about.300 kD). The fractions containing the 300
kD band were pooled and dialyzed overnight against 2.times.4 liters
of Buffer A (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.2), 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 10%
(v/v) glycerol, 0.1% (v/v) Igepal CA-630, and 0.1% (v/v) Tween 20).
The dialyzed pool was loaded at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. onto a
2.6.times.29 cm (.about.154 mls) Heparin Sepharose CL-6B.TM.
(Pharmacia) column, equilibrated in Buffer A. The column was washed
with 1 liter of Buffer A, and then eluted with a 1.5 liter gradient
from 0 to 300 mM KCl/Buffer A. Fractions of 10 ml were collected,
and aliquots removed from every third tube for SDS-PAGE analysis.
Fractions containing the 300 kD band were pooled and dialyzed
overnight against 2.times.4 liters of Buffer A.
[0097] The heparin sepharose-purified pool was loaded at a flow
rate of 0.5 ml/min. onto a 1.6.times.95 cm (.about.191 mls)
Sephacryl S-200 High Resolution.TM. (Pharmacia) column equilibrated
in Buffer A containing 100 mM KCl. Then, 2 ml fractions were
collected and aliquots removed from every third tube for SDS-PAGE
analysis. Fractions containing the 300 kD band were pooled and
dialyzed overnight against 1 liter of buffer containing 50 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 8.2). 0.1 mM EDTA. 1 mM DTT, 50% (v/v) glycerol, 0.1%
(v/v) Igepal CA-630, and 0.1% (v/v) Tween 20. The purified protein
was stored at -20.degree. C. The purification protocol described
above yielded .about.1 mg. of relatively homogeneous P300 band from
500 g. of cell paste.
[0098] 3. Purification of PEF from SDS-PAGE Gels
[0099] PEF in a heterogeneous sample can be identified by eluting
purified protein from SDS-PAGE gel slices and rescreening for PCR
enhancing activity. This method allows rapid assessment of the
number of PEF proteins in a particular sample and identification of
their apparent molecular weight.
[0100] P. furiosus protein samples with PCR enhancing activity were
electrophoresed on 4-20% acrylamide/2.6% bis-acrylamide
Tris-Glycine gels (Novex) along-side pre-stained molecular weight
markers. Samples were loaded in the presence of 2% SDS, but were
not boiled in order to prevent dissociation of PEF complexes. The
gels were run in Tris-Glycine buffer containing 1% SDS, and after
electrophoresis, were washed briefly in 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)/1
mM EDTA. Then, 2-3 mm gel slices were excised from the lanes of
interest using the prestained molecular weight markers as a guide.
Each gel slice was cut-up with a razor blade and the pieces
transferred to 50 .mu.l of elution buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl (pH
8.0)/1 mM EDTA/0.1% Tween-20). The slurry was incubated at
72.degree. C. for 30 minutes.
[0101] Gel slices containing PEFs are identified by testing the
eluates for PCR enhancing activity. Eluates containing >0.1
ng/.mu.l PEF are then re-analyzed on silver-stained SDS-PAGE gels
to verify the apparent molecular weight of the predominant protein
component. The gel slice eluates are boiled in the presence of 2%
SDS before loading and the apparent molecular weights of PEF
proteins determined relative to protein standards. The gel slice
elution procedure described here allows recovery of 1-10% of the
protein of interest.
EXAMPLE 3
Identification of the PCR Enhancing Activity in P. furiosus
Partially-Purified Column Fractions
[0102] The fractions collected after the heparin sepharose
chromatography were analyzed for PEF activity using the PCR
screening assay (Example 1). The addition of diluted heparin
sepharose fraction dramatically increased yields of PCR products
generated with cloned Pfu DNA polymerase. The PCR enhancing
activity of the fractions was shown to be dependent upon the
presence of exogenous DNA template (FIG. 1) and Pfu DNA polymerase
(FIG. 2). Increased PCR product yield was, therefore, not due to
the presence of contaminating DNA template or native Pfu DNA
polymerase, but rather to the presence of PEFs.
[0103] In order to further characterize the factor or factors
responsible, the following was performed. PEFs after heparin
sepharose chromatography were identified by screening SDS-PAGE
gel-purified samples for PCR enhancing activity, as discussed above
in Example 2. When the protein samples were loaded onto SDS-PAGE
gels without pre-boiling, PCR enhancing activity (FIG. 3) was
recovered in 2 gel slices from the gel of FIG. 4. One gel slice
(gel slice #1) was excised from a position between the 42 and 60 kD
markers, while the second gel slice (slice #2) was recovered from a
site just above the 250 kD marker (FIG. 4).
[0104] The proteins eluted from the gel slices were also screened
for DNA polymerase activity to demonstrate that PCR enhancing
activity was not related to contaminating DNA polymerase activity
(FIG. 5). The results indicated that SDS-PAGE purified proteins
with PCR enhancing activity lack significant DNA polymerase
activity. Moreover, SDS-PAGE purified Pfu DNA polymerase lacks PCR
enhancing activity when tested at protein concentrations comparable
to or greater than those of gel-purified PEFs.
[0105] The P. furiosus PEF proteins were conclusively identified by
re-analyzing gel purified samples with PCR enhancing activity on
silver stained SDS-PAGE gels. In the absence of pre-boiling, the
predominant band in gel slice #2 migrates somewhat slower than the
250 kD molecular weight marker, consistent with the site where the
gel slice was recovered (FIG. 6). This band is called P300 or PEF
complex. In addition, a minor band is evident at 50 kD, called P50.
Gel slice #1 contained a major band at 50 kD and a minor band at 45
kD.
[0106] However, when the proteins eluted from gel slice #2 are
boiled in SDS prior to loading, the predominant component migrates
with an apparent molecular weight of 50 kD (FIG. 6). A minor or
poorly staining component of .about.45 kD is also visible. These
results are consistent with P. furiosus PEF consisting of two
distinct proteins, with apparent molecular weights of 50 kD and 45
kD, which aggregate at low temperatures in presence of SDS to
produce a complex which migrates as a discrete band at 300 kD.
EXAMPLE 4
Characterization of PEF Complex and Protein Components of the
Complex
[0107] P. furiosus PEF fractions following S200 chromatography
comprise a mixture of proteins. A discrete band in SDS-PAGE
migrates above the 250 kD marker when the sample is not heated
prior to electrophoresis. This protein is called P300 or PEF
complex. When the conditions are changed to substantially
dissociate the PEF complex, the subunit protein components of the
PEF complex are visualized in SDS-PAGE.
[0108] 1. Temperature-Dependent Dissociation of PEF Complex
[0109] One method of dissociating PEF complex into its component
proteins is heat treatment. In the absence of heating, the majority
of PEF migrates as a complex, running slightly slower than the 250
kD molecular weight marker. Minor amounts of dissociated P50 and
P45 are visible in the unheated sample. However, after heat
treatment at temperatures of about 85.degree. C. or higher, the PEF
complex is completely dissociated as indicated by the absence of
the 300 kD band by SDS-PAGE. The predominant protein component of
PEF complex, as visualized by silver-staining, exhibits an apparent
molecular weight of approximately 50 kD in SDS-PAGE. The P50 band
is shown in the gel of FIG. 7, where the protein was heated to
.gtoreq.85.degree. C. in the presence of 2% SDS and BME prior to
loading. In addition, the P45 protein shown to be present in the
gel-purified PEF complex (FIG. 6) is also evident in the
heat-treated, S200-purified PEF sample (FIG. 7). Furthermore, minor
components with apparent molecular weights of approximately 37, 42,
55, 60, 85, 100, and 150 kD were also detected in SDS-PAGE analyses
of PEF complex treated at temperatures of 85-100.degree. C. These
minor components may represent additional forms of P50 and P45
generated by heat treatment (e.g. dimers, trimers, fragments) or
minor unrelated species.
[0110] 2. Polymerase Enhancing Activity of PEF Complex and
Component Proteins and Mixtures
[0111] Protein components of S200-purified PEF were purified by
SDS-PAGE and the PCR enhancing titer was determined by adding
serial dilutions of each gel slice eluate to PCR reactions with
cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR reactions. The protein or protein
mixtures which exhibited the highest levels of polymerase enhancing
activity were identified by running the eluates on silver stained
SDS-PAGE gels. Analysis of SDS-PAGE gel slice eluates indicates
that PCR enhancing activity of S200-purified P. furiosus PEF can be
attributed solely to the 45 kD species plus the 50 kD species. When
an S200-purified preparation was loaded in the absence of heating
(FIG. 7, prep. 1), PCR enhancing activity was present in gel slices
recovered just above the 250 kD marker and between the 42 and 60 kD
markers. When heated to 85.degree. C. before loading, PCR enhancing
activity migrated between the 42 and 60 kD markers (FIG. 8).
[0112] Titration experiments showed that the PCR enhancing titer of
gel purified proteins migrating with apparent mass between 42 kD
and 60 kD was not significantly different from that of the
gel-purified PEF complex (300 kD band). The levels of PCR enhancing
activity migrating between the 148 and 60 kD markers were
insignificant, thereby indicating that the 85 kD, 100 kD, and 150
kD bands do not contribute substantially to full PCR enhancing
activity of the PEF complex (P300). Moreover, these components do
not appear to further enhance the activity of PEF.
[0113] FIG. 9 shows the proteins recovered from 4 gel slices
between the 42 and 60 kD markers from 2 heated treated PEF samples.
The greatest PCR enhancements were observed for protein samples run
in lanes 5, 9, and 10. These lanes contained the highest amounts of
P45, in addition to low but detectable amounts of P50. Relative P50
concentration did not necessarily correlate with highest PCR
enhancing titer, as the proteins run in lane 4 (where only P50 is
visible) exhibited a lower titer than the protein mixture in lane 5
(same amount of P50, plus P45). Moreover, samples in lanes 9 and 10
exhibited similarly high PCR enhancing titers and levels of P45,
but the sample in lane 9 contained 10 to 1000-fold more P50 than
the sample in lane 10. These results are consistent with P45 being
the most active component of the PEF complex. Since all samples of
gel purified P45 isolated contain varying concentrations of P50,
the exact biochemical role a low concentration of P50 has on
attaining full PEF activity or stability could not be determined by
this method.
EXAMPLE 5
Amino Acid Analysis of PEF Complex and P50 and P45 Components
[0114] The complex and the predominate 50 kD component (P50) and 45
kD (P45) component from Pfu were sequenced at the N-terminus. In
addition, N-terminal sequence analysis was performed on the minor
100 and 150 kD components generated upon heat dissociation. Two
analyses were performed. In the first study, heparin
sepharose-purified PEF samples (.about.20% homogeneous; prep. 4 in
FIG. 10) were electrophoresed and electroblotted onto PDVF filters.
Samples were loaded onto 4-20% SDS-PAGE gels at room temperature or
after heat treatment, to allow recovery of both the 50 kD protein
and the >250 kD complex (FIG. 11). Blots were sent to Wistar
Sequencing Facility (Philadelphia, Pa.) for analysis. N-terminal
sequence analysis was performed on both the 50 kD (P50) protein
(heated SDS-PAGE sample) and the .about.250 kD PEF complex
(unheated SDS-PAGE sample).
[0115] The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the PEF complex
(P300) and the 50 kD component (Pfu P50) were found-to be
substantially identical (Table A). This data confirmed that Pfu P50
is the predominant component of the PEF complex. Two distinct
sequences were found for both P300 and P50 (1.degree. and
2.degree.), suggesting that Pfu PEF may contain 2 different 50 kD
species which co-migrate, or that the PVDF strip containing the 50
kD species was contaminated with the45 kD species or other species
visible by SDS-PAGE.
[0116] In addition to the N-terminal sequencing, the 50 kD protein
was also subject to in situ trypsin digestion and microbore reverse
HPLC. A subset of tryptic peptides was analyzed by mass spec. Two
peptides with single masses (#107, #112) and one peptide with two
masses (#108) were chosen for sequence analysis. Two internal
peptide sequences from Pfu P50 were recovered (Table A; Tryptic
Peptides). Peptide #112 was 24 amino acids in length and the
calculated mass of the Edman sequence (2530.8) was in very good
agreement with the observed peptide mass (2531.7). Peptides #107
and #108 contained multiple sequences which could not be sorted by
Edman sequencing alone. However these peptide fractions eluted very
close together on microbore HPLC and contained several residues in
common. Based upon shared sequence and mass analysis, a tentative
sequence was assigned (107/108; Table A).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE A Analysis 1. N-terminal Sequencing Protein
Mass (Da) Sample Obs. Sequence/(SEQ ID NO: ) PEF comples ~50,000
1.degree. XLLHH VKLIY ATXXR (1) 2.degree. XXXPD WXXRX EXLXX (2) P50
~50,000 1.degree. MLLHH VKLIY ATKSR (3) RLVGK KIVLA IPGXI AAVEP
2.degree. XXXPD WSXRX EXLGE KFY (4) Tryptic Peptides Peptide Mass
(Da) Comments Obs. Calc. Sequence/(SEQ ID NO: ) 107 1389.59 N/A
1659.1, 1910.63 N/A multiple sequences 108 multiple sequences
107/108 -- 11910.3 KYDAV IMAAA VVDFR PK (5) Aas common to 107/108
2531.73 2530.8 ADLVV GNTLE AFGSE (6) 112 ENQVV LIGR "X" represents
any amino acid underlined residues represent amino acids that may
be deleted or substituted with any amino acid but are tentatively
assigned as indicated.
[0117] The 35 amino acid sequence recovered from the N-terminus of
Pfu P50 (SEQ ID NO.: 3). and the two internal peptides of 17 and 24
amino acids (SEQ ID NO.:s 5 and 6), represent approximately 16% of
the total amino acid sequence of Pfu P50, assuming an apparent
molecular weight of 50 kD and a length of approximately 454 amino
acids.
[0118] In the second round of analyses, the N-terminal sequences of
the 150, 100, 50, 45, and 42 kD species were determined from a PVDF
blot of heated S200-purified PEF (FIG. 12 and Table 3). This
analysis was performed by the Beckman Research Institute of the
City of Hope (Duarte, Calif.). The N-terminal sequences of the 150
and 100 kD species were the same and identical to the major
sequence in the 50 kD band (except for ambiguity at the N-terminus)
and similar to the minor sequence in the 45 kD band. In addition,
the sequence was very similar to the major sequence in the PEF
complex and the 50 kD band determined in the Wistar sequence
analysis. The data are consistent with the 150 and 100 kD species
being alternative forms of the 50 kD species (e.g., dimers,
trimers, or aggregates). The major N-terminal sequence of the 45 kD
band (2 blot sections-analyzed; "upper" and "lower") was distinct
from the P50 sequence and very similar to the minor sequence found
in the 50 kD bands analyzed by both Wistar and Beckman and in the
PEF complex analyzed by Wistar. No N-terminal sequence was
recovered for the 42 kD species. In total, these data are
consistent with the PEF complex consisting of 2 distinct protein
components, P50 and P45.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE B Analysis 2. Protein sample (SEQ ID NO) (MW)
Sequence 150 kD (GAM) LHHV KLIYA TKLRK (7) 100 kD (GAM) LHHV KLIYA
TK(KL)RK) (8) 50 1.degree. M LHHV KLIYA TKL (9) 1.degree. GL(KL)PD
W(WK) (KF) RK EES (10) 45 1.degree. (GAI)LLPD IKIRK EILIE (11)
(upper) 2.degree. XMHH(VI) KLXYA TXSRK (12) 45 1.degree. M(LY) (LV)
(RP)D WKRRK EILIE (13) (lower) 42 no sequence X represents any
amino acid; underlined residues represent amino acids that may be
substituted with any amino acid but are assigned as indicated;
amino acids within parenthesis ( ) indicate that one of the
enclosed amino acids is present at that site.
[0119] Using sequence information stored in a computer readable
medium, one skilled in the art can perform computer-implemented
homology searches. Here, the nonredundant GenBankCDS
translations+PDB+SwissProt+SPupdate+PIR protein databases, using
BLASTp, indicated that the partial amino acid sequence of Pfu P50
and P45 do not exhibit identity to any protein in those
databases.
EXAMPLE 6
Nucleotide and Predicted Amino Acid Sequence of P50
[0120] The nucleotide sequence of the P50 protein component was
obtained by cloning the Pfu P50 using standard techniques.
[0121] 1. Library Screening
[0122] A Pyrococcus furiosus genomic library was plated on XL1-Blue
MRF' E. coli at a density of approximately 2000 plaques per plate.
Duralose filters (nitrocellulose on a nylon backing) were used to
take replicate lifts from each plate. While the first filter was on
the plate, orientation marks were made by stabbing a needle through
the filter and into the plate. The orientation marks were marked in
pen on the back of the plate before the filter was removed. The
filter lifts were treated as follows:
TABLE-US-00004 1.5-2.0 minutes 1.5M NaCl, 0.5M NaOH 2 minutes 0.5M
Tris (pH 8.0), 1.5M NaCl 30 seconds 2xSSC, 0.2M Tris (pH 7.5)
After treatment, the filters were partially dried until they were
still damp, but no standing water was visible. The DNA on the
filters was fixed by UV crosslinking with the Stratalinker set to
the "Autolink" format.
[0123] The filters were prehybridized in 15 ml of:
[0124] 5.times.SSC
[0125] 40 mM NaPO.sub.4 pH (6.5)
[0126] 5.times. Denhardt's
[0127] 5% Dextran Sulfate
[0128] 50% Formamide
[0129] 0.1 mg/ml Salmon sperm DNA (Boiled separately and added
immediately prior to use)
Prehybridization was carried out at 42.degree. C. for approximately
2 hours.
[0130] Probe was generated from the 900 bp PCR product amplified
from Pfu genomic DNA with the following degenerate primers:
TABLE-US-00005 (SEQ ID NO: 14) Oligo #50: CAT CAT GAA AAA CTA ATT
TAC GC C C C G T C T T (SEQ ID NO: 15) Oligo #61: GC CAT AAT TAC
TGC ATC GTA TTT G C G G T G A A
Oligo #50 was designed to hybridize to DNA encoding the HHVKLIYA
(SEQ ID NO.: 66) p&tide in SEQ ID NO.: 1 at the N-terminus of
P50, while oligo #61 was designed to hybridize to the antisense DNA
strand encoding the peptide KYDAVIMA (SEQ ID NO.: 67) in SEQ ID
NO.: 5.
[0131] The PCR product was purified from free primers, buffer and
nucleotides and 50 ng was labeled with .sup.32P-adATP using the
Stratagene Prime-It II Random Primer Labelling kit. The probe was
purified from free nucleotides before being boiled for five minutes
and added to the prehybridization reaction. The total probe was
roughly calculated to be 80 million cpm.
[0132] Hybridization was allowed to continue overnight at
42.degree. C. before the hybridization solution was removed and the
filters were washed four times with 0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at
60.degree. C. (stringent conditions).
[0133] The filters were exposed to X-ray film overnight and 20
primary isolates, with strong signals on both replicate filters,
were picked.
[0134] Six primary isolates were diluted, plated, and screened
again using the same method described above. Of the six, three
filters produced isolated lambda clones. The clones were confirmed
by PCR amplification using the degenerate primers. All clones were
able to produce the 900 bp amplified product with oligos #50 and
#61, which was used as probe. Clones 6A and 3B produced a 1200 bp
amplified fragment with oligos #54 and #58. Oligo #54 was designed
to hybridize to DNA encoding the HHVKLIYA (SEQ ID NO: 66) peptide
in SEQ ID NO: 1, and oligo #58 was designed to hybridize to the
antisense DNA strand encoding the EENQVVL (SEQ ID NO.: 68) peptide
of SEQ ID NO.: 6. Clone 6D only produced a 900 bp amplified
product.
TABLE-US-00006 (SEQ ID NO: 16) Oligo #54: CAT CAT GAA AAA CTA ATA
TAC GC C C C G T C T T (SEQ ID NO: 17) Oligo #58: AG TAC TAC TTG
ATT TTC TTC A G G C G A A
Bluescript plasmid was excised from the lambda clones in SOLR cells
and the presence of inserts confirmed again by PCR amplification of
the 1200 or 900 bp product.
[0135] 2. DNA Sequencing
[0136] Sequencing was carried out on-purified PCR products and
plasmid minipreps made from the excised cells. The nucleotide
sequence is listed below with the predicted protein translation.
The peptide sequences used to generate the probes are indicated by
underlining. "N" represents any base and "X" represents any amino
acid.
TABLE-US-00007 (SEQ, ID NO:. 18)
ATGCTTCACCACGTCAAGCTAATCTACGCCACAAAAAGTCGAAAGC
TAGTTGGAAAAAAGATAGTCNNNNNNNNNCCAGGGAGTATTGCGGC
TTTGGATGTGAAAGCTTGTGAGGGACTAATTAGGCATGGGGCCGAA
GTTCATGCAGTGATGAGTGAGGCAGCCACCAAGATAATTCATCCTT
ATGCATGGAATTTGCCCACGGGAAATCCAGTCATAACTGAGATCAC
TGGATTTATCGAGCATGTTGAGTTAGCAGGGGAACATGAGAATAAA
GCAGATTTAATTTTGGTTTGTCCTGCCACTGCCAACACAATTAGTA
AGATTGCATGTGGAATAGATGATACTCCAGTAACTACAGTCGTGAC
CACAGCATTTCCCCACATTCCAATTATGATAGCCCCAGCAATGCAT
GAGACAATGTACAGGCATCCCATAGTAAGGGAGAACATTGAAAGGT
TAAAGAAGCTTGGCGTTGAGTTTATAGGACCAAGAATTGAGGAGGG
AAAGGCAAAAGTTGCAAGCATTGATGAAATAGTTTACAGAGTTATT
AAAAAGCTCCACAAAAAAACATTGGAAGGGAAGAGAGTCCTAGTAA
CGGCGGGAGCAACAAGAGAGTACATAGATCCAATAAGATTCATAAC
AAATGCCAGCAGTGGAAAAATGGGAGTAGCGTTGGCTGAAGAAGCA
GATTTTAGAGGAGCTGTTACCCTCATAAGAACAAAGGGAAGTGTAA
AGGCTTTTAGAATCAGAAAAATCAAATTGAAGGTTGAGACAGTGGA
AGAAATGCTTTCAGCGATTGAAAATGAGTTGAGGAGTAAAAAGTAT
GACGTAGTTATTATGGCAGCTGCTGTAAGCGATTTTAGGCCAAAAA
TTAAAGCAGAGGGAAAAATTAAAAGCGGAAGATCAATAACGATAGA
GCTCGTTCCNNNNAATCCCAAAATCATTGATAGAATAAAGGAAATT
CAACCAAATGTCTTTCTTGTTGGATTTAAAGCAGAAACTTCAAAAG
AAAAGCTTATAGAAGAAGGTAAAAGGCAGATTGAGAGGGCCAAGGC
TGACTTAGTCGTTGGTAACACATTGGAAGCCTTTGGAAGCGAGGAA
AACCAAGTAGTATTAATTGGCAGAGATTTCACAAAAGAACTTCCAA
AAATGAAAAAGAGAGAGTTAGCAGAGAGAATTTGGGATGAGATAGA GAAATTNCTGTCC
Pyrococcus furiosus P50 predicted amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO:
19) MLHHVKLIYATKSRKLVGKKIVXXXPGSIAALDVKACEGLIRHGAE
VHAVMSEAATKIIHPYAWNLPTGNPVITEITGFIEHVELAGEHENK
ADLILVCPATANTISKIACGIDDTPVTTVVTTAFPHIPIMIAPAMH
ETMYRHPIVRENIERLKKLGVEFIGPRIEEGKAKVASIDEIVYRVI
KKLHKKTLEGKRVLVTAGATREYIDPIRFITNASSGKMGVALAEEA
DFRGAVTLIRTKGSVKAFRIRKIKLKVETVEEMLSAIENELRSKKY
DVVIMAAAVSDFRPKIKAEGKIKSGRSITIELVPXNPKIIDRIKEI
QPNVFLVGFKAETSKEKLIEEGKRQIERAKADLVVGNTLEAFGSEE
NQVVLIGRDFTKELPKMKKRELAERIWDEIEKXLS Translated sequence
corresponding to chemically-determined N- terminal sequence (SEQ ID
NO.: 3): (SEQ ID NO: 46) MLHHVKLIYATKSRKLVGKKIVXXXPGSIAA Translated
sequences corresponding chemically-determined internal peptide
sequences (SEQ ID NOs.: 5 and 6 ): (SEQ ID NO: 47)
KWDVVIMAAAVSDFRPK (SEQ ID NO: 48) ADLVVGNTLEAFGSEENQVVLIGR
The protein has a theoretical pl of 9.36 and a theoretical MW of
44801.29.
[0137] There are inconsistencies between the chemically-determined
AA sequence of PSO and the AA sequence derived from the P. furiosus
P50 genomic clone. One skilled in the art is familiar with many
reasons for this type of inconsistency. For example, the
inconsistencies below can, largely, be explained by known
limitations common to the procedures used. These limitations do not
operate to limit the structural knowledge of proteins or nucleic
acids. Instead, they merely indicate possible variations in the
sequences of amino acids or nucleic adds by a finite number.
[0138] Some of the inconsistencies and explanations are:
TABLE-US-00008 MLLHHVKLIYA TKSRR LVGKK IVLAI PGXIA AVEP (Table A;
SEQ ID NO: s 1 and 3) MLHHV KLIYA TKL (Table B; SEQ ID NO: 9) MLHHV
KLIYA TKSRK LVGKK IVLAI PGSIA ALDV (predicted sequence from SEQ ID
NO.: 19)
The inconsistency in Table A sequence at cycle 2 (extra AA between
AA1 and 2) may be due to contamination with P45, which appears to
have L's at positions 2 and 3. Moreover, L at cycle 2 in SEQ ID NO:
1 was assigned tentatively. Other inconsistencies between the Table
A sequence and the predicted sequence occur at AA 15 (R vs. K) and
AA 32-34 (VEP vs. LDV).
[0139] An inconsistency between the Table B sequence and the
predicted sequence was found at AA13. The identification of AA13 as
L instead of S is explained by the poor recovery of S in chemical
sequencing and the contamination of P50 with low amounts of P45,
which has a L at that position.
TABLE-US-00009 ADLVV GNTLE AFGSE ENQVV LIGR (Table A; SEQ ID NO: 6)
ADLVV GNTLE AFGSE ENQVV LIGR (predicted sequence from SEQ ID NO.:
19) KYDAV IMAAA VVDFR PK (Table A; SEQ ID NO: 5) KYDVV IMAAA VSDFR
PK (predicted sequence from SEQ ID NO.: 19)
SEQ ID NO: 6, determined chemically from a P50 tryptic peptide, was
identical to a 24 AA sequence translated from the P50 DNA sequence.
For SEQ ID NO: 5, there were 2 inconsistencies found between the
chemical and DNA sequences. An A was recovered at cycle 4 instead
of a V, and a V was recovered at cycle 12 instead of a S. The
inconsistencies may be due to the difficulties associated with
interpreting sequences from a sample that is not absolutely
pure.
EXAMPLE 7
Identification of Proteins Related to P50: Similarity to E. coli
DFP Flavoprotein
[0140] 1. DNA Sequence Similarity of Pfu P50 Protein to Archael and
Bacterial Proteins
[0141] The DNA sequence of a P50 clone exhibits very strong
homology to the flavoprotein DFP, a protein identified in E. coli
as playing a role in DNA synthesis and pantothenate metabolism
(Spitzer and Weiss, J. Bacteriol. 164:994-1003 (1985) and Spitzer,
Jimenez-Billini, and Weiss, J. Bacteriol. 170:872-876 (1988)).
Although DFP was found to be an essential gene for DNA replication,
these authors were not able to elucidate its role in DNA
replication. The sequences in Table 1 (N-terminal 1.degree.
sequence, tryptic peptides 107/108 and 112) are all found in the
translated P50 clone, which exhibits very high similarity to DFP.
Accordingly, the P50 amino acid and DNA sequence information can be
used to identify related proteins associated with PEF complexes
from other sources such as bacteria, eukaryotes, and archae.
[0142] The amino acid sequences of Methanococcus jannaschii (Mja)
and E. coli dfp proteins support the identification of the protein
designated P50 (Pfu) as a member of the dfp family of proteins. The
three protein sequences were compared using ClustalW 1.6, with the
comparison data represented below.
TABLE-US-00010 1 15 16 30 1 Pfu -----------MLHH VKLIYATKSRKLVGK 31
45 46 60 KIVXXXPGSIAALDV -KACEGLIRHGAEVH 61 75 76 90
AVMSEAATKIIHPYA WNLPTGNPVITEITG 78 2 Mja -------MISEIMHP
TKLLKGTKSKLLENK KILVAVTSSIAAIET PKLMRELIRHGAEVY CIITEETKKIIGKEA
LKFGCGNEVYEEITG 83 3 E. coli MKARQQKYCDKIANF WCHPTGKIIMSLAGK
KIVLGVSGGIAAYKT PELVRRLRDRGADVR VAMTEAAKAFITPLS LQAVSGYPVSDSLLD 90
Page 2.1 91 105 106 120 1 Pfu -----FIEHVELAGE HENKADLILVCPATA 121
135 136 150 NTISKIACGIDDTPV TTVVTTAFPHIPIMI 151 165 166 180
APAMHETMYRHPIVR ENIERLK-KLGVEFI 162 2 Mja -----DIEHILLY--
--NECDCLLIYPATA NIISKINLGIADNIV NTTALMFFGNKPIFI VPAMHENMFN--AIK
RHIDKLKEKDKIYII 162 3 E. coli PAAEAAMGHIELG-- --KWADLVILAPATA
DLIARVAAGMANDLV STICLATP--APVAV LPAMNQQMYRAAATQ HNLEVLA-SRGLLIW 173
Page 3.1 181 195 196 210 1 Pfu GPRIEE------GKA KVASIDEIVYRVIKK 211
225 226 240 LHKKTLE-GKRVLVT AGATREYIDPIRFIT 241 255 256 270
NASSGKMGVALAEEA DFRGAVTLIRTKGSV 245 2 Mja SPKFEE------GKA
KVANIEDVVKAVIEK IGNNLKKEGNRVLIL NGGTVEFIDKVRVIS NLSSGKMGVALAEAF
CKEGFYVEVITAMGL 246 3 E. coli GPDSGSQACGDIGPG RXXDPLTIVDMAVAH
FSPVNDLKHLNIMIT AGPTREPLDPVRYIS NHSSGKMGFAIAAAA ARRGANVTLVSGPVS 263
Page 4.1 271 285 286 300 1 Pfu GPRIEE------GKA KVASIDEIVYRVIKK 301
315 316 330 YDVVIMAAAVSDFRP KIKAEGKIKSGRS-- 331 345 346 360
--ITIELVPXNPKII DRIKEIQPN-VFLVG 330 2 Mja EPPYYIKNHKVLTAK
EMLNKAIE--L-AKD FDIIISSAAISDFTV ES-FEGKLSSEEE-- --LILKLKR-NPKVL
EELRRIYKD-KVIIG 326 3 E. coli LPTPPFVKRVDVMTA LEMEAAVN--ASQVV
QNIFIGCAAVADYRA ATVAPEKIKKQATQG DELTIKMVK-NPDIV AGVAALKDHRPYVVG 350
Page 5.1 361 375 376 390 1 Pfu FKAETSK-EK-LIE GKRQIERAKADLVVG 391
405 406 420 NTL----EAFGSEEN QVVLIGRDETKELPL 421 435 435 450
MKKRELAERIWDEIE KXLS----- 403 2 Mja FKAEYNLDEKELINR AKERLNKYNLNMIIA
NDLSK--HYFGDDYI EVYIITKYEVEKISG SKK-EISERIVEKVK KLVKS---- 403 3 E.
coli FAAETNN----VEEY ARQKRIRKNLDLICA NDVSQPTQGFNSDNN
ALHLFWQDGDKVLPL ERKELLGQLLLDEIV TRYDEKNRR 430
[0143] From the above comparison, it would be apparent to one of
skill in the art that related proteins from other species can be
identified and isolated by methods known in the art. The example
above employed stringent screening conditions. Less stringent
conditions, varying the concentration of salts, detergent, or the
temperature during hybridization or washing, as known in the art,
would lead to related clones from libraries containing sequences of
any of a number of species. For example, in addition to the
conditions described above, any of the following hybridization
conditions can be used, in any combination, in methods to isolate
DNA sequences related to the P50 or P45 sequences herein: [0144]
low stringency wash in a solution comprising approx. 0.45M NaCl,
approx. 0.045 M trisodium citrate, and approx. .I % SDS, at approx.
37.degree. to approx. 42.degree. C.; [0145] hybridization buffer
comprising approx 0.75M NaCl, approx. 0.15 M Tris, approx. 10 mM
sodium pyrophosphate, approx. 0.075 M trisodium citrate, and
approx. 50% formamide; [0146] hybridization buffer comprising
approx. 5.times.SSC, approx. 5.times. Denhardt's, approx. 5%
Dextran Sulfate, approx. 50% formamide, and approx. 0.1 mg/ml
ssDNA; [0147] hybridization wash comprising approx. 0.1 M
phosphate, approx. 0.1.times. SET, approx. 0.1% sodium
pyrophosphate, and approx. 0.1% SDS at approx. 45.degree. C.
[0148] 2. Absorbance Spectrum of Purified P. furiosus PEF
Complex
[0149] The absorbance spectrum of purified P. furiosus PEF complex
reveals two peaks of absorbance at 370 and 450 nm. FIG. 13 depicts
the absorbance spectrum of S-200 purified P. furiosus PEF. These
data indicate and are consistent with the PEF complex comprising at
least one flavoprotein. Sequencing data also verifies the
identification of P. furiosus P50 as a homolog of the E. coli DFP
protein. E. coli DFP is a flavoprotein containing a non-covalently
associated FMN moiety.
[0150] Up to this point, flavoproteins have not been directly
implicated as part of the replication machinery. The potential
involvement of a flavoprotein in PCR enhancement suggests a role
for redox reactions. The only redox reaction involved in DNA
synthesis is the formation of deoxyribonucleotides from
ribonucleotides, which is catalyzed by ribonucleoside diphosphate
reductase. In vitro, the ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase
enzyme can be coupled to NADPH via two known pathways involving
FAD-containing oxidoreductases (Pigiet and Conley, J. Biol. Chem.
252:6367-72 (1977); Thelander and Reichard. Ann. Rev. Biochem.
48:133-158 (1979)). One pathway involves thioredoxin and,
thioredoxin reductase. Interestingly, E. coli thioredoxin has been
shown to act as an accessory protein and confer processivity on T7
DNA polymerase. An alternate hypothesis for the potential role of a
flavoprotein in PCR enhancement is that a flavoprotein may be
required for the continuous processing or activation of other
proteins or cofactors needed for nucleic acid replication.
EXAMPLE 8
Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence of P45
[0151] The nucleotide sequence of the Pfu P45 protein component was
obtained as described below.
[0152] 1. Synthesis of P45 Sequences
[0153] Amino terminal peptide sequencing of purified P45 protein
allowed the generation of four degenerate oligonucleotides designed
to hybridize to DNA encoding the PDWKIRKE (SEQ ID NO.:69) peptide
of SEQ ID NO.: 11. as follows:
TABLE-US-00011 (SEQ ID NO: 32) #743: CCA GAC TGG AAA ATA AGG AAA GA
T G TGG C T (SEQ ID NO: 33) #744: CCA GAC TGG AAA ATA AGA AAA GA T
G TGG C T (SEQ ID NO: 34) #745: CCA GAC TGG AAA ATA AGG AAG GA T G
TGG C T (SEQ ID NO: 35) #746: CCA GAC TGG AAA ATA AGA AAG GA T G
TGG C C
[0154] A lambda phage P. furiosus genomic library was used as
template for PCR amplification of the P45 sequence. The four
degenerate oligonucleotides were used in separate reactions to
prime template in one direction, in combination with one of the
primers that border the genomic insertion of the lambda vector (-20
primer and reverse primer). The PCR reaction was carried out as
specified below:
[0155] 10 .mu.l 10.times. Stratagene cloned Pfu buffer
[0156] 5 .mu.l degenerate P45 primer (either #743, 744, 745, or
746) at 100 ng/.mu.l
[0157] 2.0 .mu.l either reverse or -20 primer (700 ng/.mu.l)
[0158] 0.8 .mu.l 100 mM dNTP (total dNTPs)
[0159] 0.5 .mu.l Taq DNA polymerase (Stratagene, 5 u/.mu.)
[0160] 0.5 .mu.l Taq Extender (Stratagene, 5 u/.mu.l)
[0161] 3.0 .mu.l Pfu genomic library (.about.1.2.times.10.sup.10
plaque forming units/ml)
[0162] 78.2 .mu.l H.sub.2O
PCR cycling was carried out in a RoboGradient temperature cycler as
follows: One cycle at 95.degree. C. for 3 minutes, followed by 30
cycles of: 95.degree. C. for 1 minute; 51.degree. C. to 65.degree.
C. gradient for 2 minutes; 72.degree. C. for 6 minutes.
[0163] The PCR products were separated on a 1% agarose, 1.times.
TBE gel. All primer combinations produced multiple bands. A pattern
of four bands was consistently seen with primers 743, 744, and 746
in conjunction with the -20 primer. The three degenerate primers
that formed consistent four band patterns with the -20 primer were
able to generate the pattern at 56.degree. C. Only 743 could
generate the pattern at 58.degree. C. The band pattern produced
with the degenerate primers in combination with the reverse primers
was less distinct and formed only at lower annealing temperatures
than the products generated with the -20 primer.
[0164] 2. Cloning Strategies
[0165] Two strategies were used to isolate the P45 clone. One
procedure was to make simplified sub-libraries of the original
highly complex library and screen for an insert with the -20 and
743 primers. Positive sub-libraries could be diluted and rescreened
until individual plaques containing the appropriate insert were
identified. The other technique was to make use of Vectorette.TM.
technology (Genosys Biotechnologies), which allows PCR
amplification when the sequence of only one end of a DNA fragment
is known. In the Vectorette system, genomic DNA is digested with a
selection of specific restriction endonucleases. After digestion,
the ends of the genomic DNA are ligated to specific vectorette
units, which have the same cohesive termini as the genomic DNA
digestion. The ligated vectorette unit contains a sequence
complementary to a provided vectorette PCR primer. (Arnold and
Hodgson, PCR Methods and Applications 1:39-42 (1991).)
[0166] 3. The Vectorette Reaction
[0167] Fifty .mu.l reactions containing 100 ng of P. furiosus
genomic DNA were digested with Eco RI, Hind III and Bsp 1061 (an
isoschizomer for Cla I) in their recommended buffers for one hour
at 37.degree. C. Without any post-reaction treatment, 1 .mu.l of
the appropriate vectorette unit (Hind III, Cla I or Eco RI at 3
pmole/.mu.l) was added with 6 .mu.l of 10 mM ATP, 1 .mu.l of 100 mM
DTT and 1 unit of T4 DNA ligase (Stratagene 4 u/.mu.l). The
reaction was cycled at the following temperatures: 20.degree. C.
for 60 minutes followed by 37.degree. C. for 30 minutes for 3
cycles.
[0168] The ligated DNA was amplified according to the
following:
[0169] 10 .mu.l cloned 10.times. Stratagene Pfu buffer
[0170] 8.3 .mu.l degenerate P45 primer at 100 ng/.mu.l
[0171] 2.0 .mu.l 50 pm/.mu.l vectorette primer
[0172] 0.8 .mu.l 100 mM (total) dNTP
[0173] 0.5 .mu.l Taq DNA polymerase (Stratagene, 5 u/.mu.l)
[0174] 0.5 .mu.l Taq Extender (Stratagene, 5 u/.mu.l)
[0175] 1.0 .mu.l vectorette library
[0176] 76.9 .mu.l H.sub.2O
PCR cycling was carried cut as follows: One cycle at 95.degree. C.
for 1 minute followed by 30 cycles of: 95.degree. C. for 1 minute;
56.degree. C. for 2 minutes; and 72.degree. C. for 3 minutes.
[0177] Ten .mu.l were loaded on a 1% agarose, 1.times. TBE gel.
Multiple bands were produced by all primers except 745. To
determine if all three vectorette library products had been
correctly primed off the same target DNA (P45 sequence) rather than
having been produced by a non-specific PCR reaction, the products
were digested with Mnl I. Mnl I cleaves at a frequent four base
pair recognition sequence and produces a useful pattern of bands
specific to the template digested. The pattern generated by
electrophoresis of the Mnl I digestion fragments of the Cla 1/743,
Hind III/744 and Eco RI/744 PCR products on a 6% acrylamide gel
showed some variation, but the majority of bands could be
identified in all three samples, indicating that they share large
segments of identical sequence.
[0178] 4. Screening
[0179] The PCR products from the Cla I/743 and Hind III/744
combinations were mixed and purified from free nucleotides and
unused primers before being used as template for the generation of
a 52 million cpm .sup.32P labeled probe. Details on probe synthesis
and library screening are cited in Example 6.
[0180] More than 60 positive clones resulted from screening with
the mixed vectorette probe. Several positive were well situated for
collection without significant contamination from adjoining
plaques. Twelve of these plaques were subjected to PCR
amplification with the 743 and -20 primer as described previously
except that an annealing temperature of 56.degree. C. was used
instead of a temperature gradient. In the same amplification assay,
11 sub-libraries were assayed in the same manner.
[0181] Three of the twelve clones recovered from the primary
radioactive label screen produced strong single bands. Clone 1
produced a band of approximately 5 kb, clone 3 produced a band of
approximately 3.5 kb, and clone 9 generated a band of approximately
2.7 kb. One of the sub-libraries also produced a clone of
approximately 6.5 kb.
[0182] 5. Sequencing
[0183] Sequencing of the P45 clones was carried out on purified PCR
products and plasmid mini-preps made from excised cells. The
nucleotide sequence of P45 is listed below with the predicted amino
acid translation. The chemically-determined N-terminal sequence of
P45 (SEQ ID NO.: 11). used to generate the degenerate PCR primers
(SEQ ID NO.: 32-35), is indicated by underlining.
TABLE-US-00012 P45 nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO.: 70) ATGCTACTTC
CAGACTGGAA AATCAGAAAA GAAATACTTA TAGAGCCATT TTCTGAAGAA TCGCTCCAAC
CAGCAGGTTA TGACCTCAGA GTGGGCAGAG AGGCTTTTGT TAAGGGGAAA TTAATCGACG
TGGAAAAGGA AGGAAAAGTC GTTATTCCTC CAAGGGAATA CGCCTTAATC CTAACCCTCG
AGAGGATAAA GTTGCCCGAC GATGTTATGG GGGATATGAA GATAAGGAGC AGTTTAGCAA
GAGAAGGGGT TATTGGTTCT TTTGCTTGGG TTGACCCAGG ATGGGATGGA AACTTAACAC
TAATGCTCTA CAATGCCTCA AATGAACCTG TCGAATTAAG ATATGGAGAG AGATTTGTGC
AGATCGCATT TATAAGGCTA GAGGGTCCGG CAAGAAACCC TTACAGAGGA AACTATCAGG
GGAGCACAAG GTTAGCTGGG TCAAAGAGAA AGAAACTCTA G P45 amino acid
sequence (SEQ ID NO.: 71) MLLPDWKIRK EILIEPFSEE SLQPAGYDLR
VGREAFVKGK LIDVEKEGKV VIPPREYALI LTLERIKLPD DVMGDMKIRS SLAREGVIGS
FAWVDPGWDG NLTLMLYNAS NEPVELRYGE RFVQIAFIRL EGPARNPYRG NYQGSTRLAF
SKRKKL*
[0184] The translated P45 protein has a theoretical pl of 9.12 and
a calculated molecular weight of 17868.76. The translated
N-terminal sequence (underlined) of P45 corresponds to the
experimentally-determined sequence (SEQ ID NO.: 11) and matches the
exact sequence (SEQ ID NO.: 60) used to design the degenerate PCR
primers.
[0185] When the P45 DNA sequence is translated in all six frames
and compared to multiple sequence databases using the
computer-implemented program Blastx. the dCTP deaminase gene of
Desulfurolobus ambivalens was found to have similarities. Another
entirely different gene encoding polyprotein from Visna and
Maeda/Visna virus was also identified, but at a less significant
level of sequence similarity. Each of these similar genes, as well
as those discussed below, may represent sequences related to P45.
Thus, sequence information stored on computer readable medium may
be used with computer based methods to search for homologous,
similar, or identical sequences in a database to develop further
P45 aid PEF-encoding DNA sequences in accordance with this
invention, as shown in example 9 below.
EXAMPLE 9
Identification of Proteins Related to P45
[0186] 1. DNA Sequence Homology of P. furiosus P45 Protein to dCTP
Deaminase and dUTPases
[0187] When the P45 DNA sequence was compared to multiple databases
using the program BtastX, the probable deoxycytidine triphosphate
deaminase (dCTP deaminase) gene (dcd) of Desulfurolobus ambivalens
was found to exhibit the highest degree of similarity. The
biochemical properties and physiological role of dCTP deaminase has
been studied in E. coli, where dCTP deaminase is a homotetramer,
which catalyzes the formation of dUTP and NH.sub.3 from dCTP. DNA
sequences with similarity to the E. coli dcd gene have been
discovered in other bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Haemophilus
influenzae) and in archea (Ouzounis, C., Kyrpides, N., and Sander,
C. Nucl. Acids Res. 23:565-570 (1995); Bult, C. J. et al. Science
273:1058-1073 (1996); Beck, C. J., Eisenhardt, A. R. and Neuhard,
J., J. Biol. Chem. 250:609-616 (1975); Fleischmann, R. D. et al.,
Science 269:496-512(1995)). Amino acid sequence comparisons between
P. furiosus P45 and the dCTP deaminases from Desulfurolobus
ambivalens ("A") also known as Acidianus ambivalens, Sulfolobus
ambivalens), E. coli ("E") and Haemophilus influenzae are shown
below, demonstrating sequence similarity ranges from about 39.1 to
about 71.2%.
EXAMPLE 9
Identification of Proteins Related to P45
[0188] 1. DNA Sequence Homology of P. furiosus P45 Protein to dCTP
Deaminase and dUTPases
[0189] When the P45 DNA sequence was compared to multiple databases
using the program BtastX, the probable deoxycytidine triphosphate
deaminase (dCTP deaminase) gene (dcd) of Desulfurolobus ambivalens
was found to exhibit the highest degree of similarity. The
biochemical properties and physiological role of dCTP deaminase has
been studied in E. coli, where dCTP deaminase is a homotetramer,
which catalyzes the formation of dUTP and NH.sub.3 from dCTP. DNA
sequences with similarity to the E. coli dcd gene have been
discovered in other bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Haemophilus
influenzae) and in archea (Ouzounis, C., Kyrpides, N., and Sander,
C. Nucl. Acids Res. 23:565-570 (1995); Bult, C. J. et al. Science
273:1058-1073 (1996); Beck, C. J., Eisenhardt, A. R. and Neuhard,
J., J. Biol. Chem. 250:609-616 (1975); Fleischmann, R. D. et al.,
Science 269:496-512(1995)). Amino acid sequence comparisons between
P. furiosus P45 and the dCTP deaminases from Desulfurolobus
ambivalens ("A") also known as Acidianus ambivalens, Sulfolobus
ambivalens), E. coli ("E") and Haemophilus influenzae are shown
below, demonstrating sequence similarity ranges from about 39.1 to
about 71.2%.
MAP Multiple Sequence Alignment Results
TABLE-US-00013 [0190] Page 1.1 1 15 16 30 1 p45 MLLPDWKIRKE----
-ILIEPFSE-EWLQP 31 45 46 60 AGYDLRVGXX XRVGR -----EAXVKGK--- 61 75
76 90 -LIDVEK-------- --EGKVXIPPREYAL 65 2 A. MILGDRDLKYYLEKG
WIVISPLTO-DTIRE NGVDLRVGG--EIAR FKKTDEIYEDGKDPR SFYEIEK--------
--GDEFIIYPNEHVL 77 3 E. MRLCDRDIEAWLDEG RLSINPRPPVERING
ATVDVRLGNKFRTFR GHTAAFIDLSGPKDE VSAALDRVMSDEIVL DEGEAFYLHPGELAL 90
4 HAEIN MRLCDTDIERYLDDG IISLTPRPNNDKING ATIDVRLGNSFRVFR
EHSAPFIDLSGPKEE VSAQLESVMSDEIII PEGEAFFLHPGTLAL 90 Page 2.1 91 105
106 120 1 p45 ILTLERIKLPDDVMG DMKIRSSLAREGVIG 121 135 136 150 SFAW
-VDPGMDGNL TLMLYNASNEPVELR 151 165 166 180 YGERFVQIAFIRLEG
PARNPYR----QNYQ 149 2 A. LVTEEYVKLPNDVMA FVNLRSSFARLGLFV
PPTI--VDAGFEGQL TIEVLG-SAFPVKIK RGTRHLHLIFARTLT PVENPYH----GKYQ 160
3 E. AVTLESVTLPADLVG WLDGRSSLARLGLMV HVTAHRIDPGWSGCI
VLEFYNSGKLPLALR PGMLIGALSFEPLSG PAVRPYNRREDAKYR 180 4 HAEIN
ATTLESVKLPANIIG WLDGRSSLARLGLMV HVTAHRIDPGWEGKI VLEFYNSGKLPLALR
PNMVIGALSFEVLSG EXKRPYSSRKDAKYK 180 Page 3.1 181 195 196 210 1 p45
GSTRLAFSKRKKL-- 162 211 225 226 240 241 255 256 270 2 A.
GQQGVTLPKFKFR-- 173 3 E. NQQGAVASRIDKD- 193 4 HAEIN NQQSAVASRIDEDKE
195
[0191] E. coil DCD exhibits an apparent molecular weight of 21.2 kD
(Wang, L. and Weiss. B. J. Bacteriol. 174:5647-5653 (1992)), while
the predicted molecular weight of M. jannaschii DCD is
approximately 22 kD (204 amino acids). These molecular weights are
approximately half the apparent molecular weight of P. furiosus P45
and suggest that the heat-dissociated form of P45 (apparent mol.
weight of 45 kD) may actually be a dimer.
[0192] In addition to dCTP deaminase, P. furiosus P45 exhibits a
significant, but lower degree of sequence similarity to uridine
triphosphatase (dUTPase). dUTPase, an enzyme encoded by the dut
gene, converts dUTP to pyrophosphate and dUMP. An amino sequence
alignment comparing the sequence of P45 to several dUTPases is
shown below. Regions of identity are shown in black boxes, while
regions of similarity are shown in grey boxes.
TABLE-US-00014 p45 1 -----------------------------------
----------------------------------- ------MLIIDWKIRKEILIEPFSEEWLQP
phager1 1 -----------------------------------
-------------------------ETRGFKFVNE NTINEYAT--------EHG------ ECOLi
1 -----------------------------------
-------------------------MKKIDTKILD PFVGKEFPGPIYAT-------SGS------
HAIEN 1 -----------------------------------
-------------------------MKKIDTKILD SFIGNEFPGPIYAT-------EGS------
Scere- 1 ----------------------------------- visiae
------------------------MTATSDXVLNI QLRGASFTVPFTKG-------ATG------
swine 1 -----------------------------------
----------------------------MSLYTKC VKINNNEIIINISM-------SGS------
tomato 1 ----------------------------MAENQIN
SPEI--------TEPSPVKQKLDHPENGNVPFFRV KKGISNFVLFSIA--------SLG------
variola 1 -----------------------------------
-----------------------MFNMNINSPTRF VKEINRFKSNIPQ--------PYS------
ORFN2 1 -----------------------------------
------------------------MEFCHTETIQV VRINQNITISAG---------PGL------
Human 1 -----------------------------------
---MPCSEET----PAISPSKRARPAEVGGMQLRF APIIEHFTAMPG---------ARG------
Rat 1 MPVLCALPRPTPTFSAPLAYAHVRAKPKLRRKQ-R
SPDLERADRTRSADPAVSVSKRARAED--DASDRP LIEHPTAMFG-----------ARG------
EIAV 1 -----------------------------------
-------------------------ICGNQIADEA AKIKEEIMLAYQGC-------QIKEKRDED
consensus 1 -----------------------------------
------------------------------m i kls a lptras a P45 25
KSYDIRVGXXXRVGREAXVKGKLIDVEKEGKVKII
TRSYAIILILERIKLIDDVMTDMKIISTAREGVL- ISFAWVIPGWDAI-DMIYNASNEP
phager1 23 VGYNISAS---------------------ETVHQI
DIIKNSIGIAQIGDDEVLKIYD-ISNPVIAGIAII NSVIINSMYPQEFKGLFMIISKEP ECOLi
23 AGLDIRACL-------------------KDAVELA
IGETTMPIGIAIHLADPSLAASMLFPSGIGHFIGI VLNLVLHSGQQLMSIMRIQSS HAEIN 28
AGL-DIRALI-------------------ESFEIQ
AGITKIIPIGLSYIADPNLKAHAIILVPSGCGHGI VLNLVLHSIQIP-SMISNWIRINEP
Scere- 29 AGYDEYAGQ-----------------------III visia
IAMGQGNTSKIMSFTVIVGTIIIIFFSGIVAVING IQTA-VNIRATIE-IK-RNFNNQRD swine
25 AGYDFYLAI--------------------S--YIN
KIYRINHRINCGMHDKCMETS-PPSGMDNYNHIC- WNSYIPE-MIFEENICSD tomato 52
AGYDASHA---------------------A--TKD
LARGKAINPNLSIANIQGTLAIIN-PPSGLAWTYS HVA-WNADYAP-HINFNHSEVD variola
30 AGYDLYLAT--------------------I--YNH
GIRQMKHISWSNIKFCMFIA-PPSGLSLIG-KIG- NKENVL-WNIINNKYT ORFN2 29
AGLDICGAT-------------------L--CVHS
HCSRVFKILIKPISGCVGFIA-PPSGWAYIEEFHV A-WNEMPM-VNNFIFINSD Human 46
AGTDIYSAY--------------------L--YNM
MIKAVKIDIQIALISGCLGPVA-PPSGLAAFHFWV A-WNEMKH-VIVLFNFIKNK Rat 85
AGYDIYSAY-----------------------YNI
SMIKAMKNIQIAVISGCIGFVA-PPSQLLAVFHFN VA--WNENIPHLYNVLFNFIKEK EIAV 34
AGFDICVPY--------------------Y--IMN
IVSATKIIPKVKICVPPNSFTWVTG-KISMIKQGL LINI--IINYEGITIE-HQNCTKIIKGN
consensus 101 AGyDl say d ti pp e lv Tdl I lp ygrma prSglavkr idlgg
gviD dyrgn lgvvlyN g e p45 120 VELFYIEFFVIIAEIII------------------
----------------------------------- ------------------------------
phager1 101 VTISKIQPTMIGVFVITT------NDDHANGPRTH RNIIEV ECOLi 108
FTIQPEEPIAVMIFVPVVQAAFNLIEDFIAIDHIE
IGNHSIR------Q--------------------- ----------------------------
HAEIN 108 FKIEVGDRIAQLVFVPVVQAL-FNIIEDFQQIEHI
EIGNHSIK------Q-------------------- -----------------------------
Scerevisi 105 EAIIKGDRVAGLIILEKINDDAQIVVIDSIIESAH
IAKFSIISIN------------------------- ------------------------------
swine 100 ENIIVGDRIACHEEPVEYHI-NEEIKCIHDIIEMN
SHFGSSIM--------------------------- -----------------------------
tomato 127 FEVIVGDRIAQLIVQKINTIE-VEQIDDMSIVFGS
LSFGSTIV--------------------------- -----------------------------
variola 104 FNVNTGDRLAQIIYQPIYYHR-CKEIQSMSHDAID
QGFGSTGL------R-------------------- -----------------------------
ORRN2 104 FEVIKGDRLAQLICEAISCIA-NQEINCMNIDRID
SGFGSTSS------GACGGRDTAWYIS-------- -----------------------------
Human 121 FEVFKGDRIAQLICEAIFYFEIEEIQAIIDIEIHS
SIGFGSTGK------N------------------- ------------------------------
Rat 160 FEVIKGDKIAQLICEFLIIYFDLEFIQTMNIEHGS
IGFGSTGK------N-------------------- ------------ EIAV 108
IKLFGQKFAQLEILQ-HHSNSRQPWDENKISQAGD
KGFGSTG-VFWVENIQEAQDEHENWHTSPKILARN YKIPLTVAKQITQECPHCTKQGSGPAGCVM
consensus 201 f lk G???aqlif ril pe I v ld tdrg ggfgstg
[0193] One of the regions of sequence similarity between P45 and
dUTPase is the putative uridine-binding motif. This motif is
conserved in the translated amino add sequence of P. furiosus P45,
which reveals the presence of a putative uridine-binding sequence
conserved in .psi. synthetases, dCTP deaminases, and dUTPases
(Koonin, E. V. Nucl. Acids Res. 24:2411-2415 (1996)). In the
following comparisons, U represents a bulky hydrophobic residue
such as I, L, V, M, F, Y, or W, and the bolded residues match the
G, D or U residues of the consensus sequence.
TABLE-US-00015 Consensus uridine-binding motif: .GUUD..U.G.U.U (SEQ
ID NO.: 72) P. fur. P45: FAWVDPGWDGNTLM (SEQ ID NO.: 73) M. jann.
DCD: AGWIDAGFKGKITL (SEQ ID NO.: 74) M. jann put. DCD:
SAVHDPGYEGRPEY (SEQ ID NO.: 75) D. sulf. DCD: PTIVDAGFEGQLTI (SEQ
ID NO.: 76) E. coli DCD: AHRIDPGWSGCIVL (SEQ ID NO.: 77) E. coli
DUT: VGLIDSDYQGQLMI (SEQ ID NO.: 78) Yeast DUT: AGVVDRDYTGEVKV (SEQ
ID NO.: 79) Human DUT: AGVIDEDYRGNVGV (SEQ ID NO.: 80) Herpes virus
DUT: TGLIDPGFQGELKL (SEQ ID NO.: 81)
[0194] Each of these proteins represent activities, such as
dUTPase, that may be used as a polymerase enhancing activity or
PEF. One skilled in the art can identify numerous other proteins
using stored sequence information, in the appropriate computer
readable medium, from this disclosure and analogous searching
procedures in other databases. Database information on each of the
following species can specifically be used to identify PEF using
one or more of the sequences, or parts thereof, identified herein:
Pyrococcus furiosus; Pyrococcus horikoshii; Pyrobaculum aerophilum;
Sulfolobus solfataricus; Archaeoglobus fulgidus; Aquifex
pyrophilus; Methanococcus jannaschii; Thermotoga maritima;
Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; and Thermus thermophilis.
[0195] The physiological function of dCTP deaminase has only been
studied in E. coli, where it plays an essential role in
deoxyribonucleotide metabolism. dCTP deaminase converts dCTP to
dUTP, which is an obligatory step in the de novo synthesis of
thymidylate in bacteria (Taylor, A. F., and Weiss, B. J. Bacteriol.
151:351-357 (1982)). In turn, uridine triphosphatase (dUTPase
encoded by the dut gene),a ubiquitous enzyme found in bacteria,
eukaryotes, and eukaryotic viruses, degrades dUTP to pyrophosphate
and dUMP, the thymidylate synthetase substrate. Thus, dCTP
deaminase and dUTPase are functionally linked, with mutations in
the dcd gene suppressing dut mutations (Wang. L. and Weiss. B. J.
Bacteriol. 174: 5647-5653 (1992)).
[0196] dUTPase has shown to be an essential gene in E. coli and in
yeast (El-Hajj, H. H., Zhang, H., and Weiss. B. J. Bacteriol. 170:
1069-1075 (1988); Gadsden, M. H. et al. EMBO J. 12:4425-4431
(1993)) because it functions in vivo to prevent dUTP incorporation
into DNA. In E. coli dut mutants, the dUTP pool is greatly
enhanced, resulting in an increased substitution of uracil for
thymine in DNA during replication. Uracil-DNA glycosylase and
exonuclease III play an essential role in repairing
uracil-containing DNA in E. coli dut mutants (Taylor, A. F. and
Weiss, B., J. Bacteriol. 151:351-357 (1982)).
[0197] The substrate specificities, enzyme activities, and
physiological role of dCTP deaminase and dUTPase had not been
characterized in archea prior to this disclosure.
EXAMPLE 10
Expression Cloning and Characterization of Recombinant P45
[0198] 1. Expression Cloning of P45 by the Method of Ligation
Independent Cloning (LIC)
[0199] Recombinant P45 was produced by PCR amplification of a
portion of a P45 genomic clone (clone #9). The primers (oligos #1
and 2 below) were designed to function with the Affinity Protein
Expression and Purification System (Stratagene; La Jolla, Calif.)
which uses Ligation Independent Cloning (LIC).
TABLE-US-00016 Oligo #1. (SEQ ID NO: 82) 5'
GACGACGACAAGATGCTACTTCCAGACTGGAAA 3' Oligo #2. (SEQ ID NO: 83) 5'
GGAACAAGACCCGTCCCACTTTCACAGATGAAGAG 3'
[0200] The bold letter segments represent sequences specific to the
cloning vector while the adjoining sequence is specific to the
clone #9 sequence. The ATG underlined in oligo #1 corresponds
precisely to the 5' end of the P45 gene, while the sequence after
the bold letters in oligo #2 corresponds to the end of the genomic
insert.
[0201] The PCR amplification was carried out in a volume of 100
.mu.l containing: 1.times. Cloned Pfu polymerase Buffer, 0.2 mM
dNTPs (each); 200 ng of Primer oligo #1, 200 ng of Primer oligo #2;
3 .mu.l Genomic clone #9 plaque core in 500 .mu.l SM buffer
(.about.2000 Lambda particles); 2.5 units Cloned Pfu DNA
Polymerase; and 7 ng Native PEF (where 10.times. Cloned Pfu
Polymerase Buffer is: 100 mM KCl; 100 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4;
200 mM Tris-Cl (pH 8.75); 20 mM MgSO.sub.4; 1% Triton.RTM. X-100;
and 1000 .mu.g/ml BSA).
[0202] The thermocycling parameters were: 95.degree. C. for 1
minute (1 cycle); 95.degree. C. for 1 minute--56.degree. C. for 1
minute--72.degree. C. for 5 minutes (30 cycles).
[0203] The 2.5 kb amplified product was purified and then subjected
to limited nucleotide excision in the presence of dATP. This
promotes removal of nucleotides at the 3' termini of the PCR
product until an adenine residue is reached. The excision mixture
(consisting of: 1.times. Cloned Pfu Polymerase Buffer; 0.5 mM dATP;
43.5 PCR product (8.7 ng/.mu.l); 1.25 units Cloned Pfu DNA
polymerase) was incubated at 72.degree. C. for 10 minutes.
[0204] 20 .mu.l of the exonuclease treated PCR product was annealed
with 40 ng of digested pCAL-n-EK vector (exonuclease treated to
produce ends complementary to the sequence exposed in the PCR
product) for 45 minutes at room temperature. The amount of insert
molar excess, relative to vector, was approximately 9 fold. The
pCAL-n-EK vector contains an upstream, in-frame-calmodulin binding
peptide tag, which allows the N-terminal fusion protein to be
easily purified on calmodulin agarose (CAM agarose). Various other
expression vectors, which may or may not produce fusion proteins,
are known in the art and can be used to express P45 protein or
fragments thereof or to produce DNA constructs with a sequence
encoding P45 protein or fragments thereof. An expression vector
need only contain DNA sequences operating to permit or control
transcription from an appropriately linked nucleic acid. The type
of control, the degree of transcription permitted, and the manor in
which the vector and nucleic acid are appropriately linked may
vary. Generally, an expression vector, also contains a replication
control sequence to allow the vector to replicate in a host.
However, replication control sequences are not required where
replication of the host is not crucial to expression.
[0205] 2. Purification of Recombinant P45
[0206] Five microliters of the annealed vector/insert DNA was
transformed into XL2-Blue competent cells. Ten of the resultant
colonies were screened by PCR for the 2.5 kb insert and 9 were
found to contain the correct size insert. Plasmid DNA was prepared
from three clones and then used to transform BL21 (DE3) cells. Six
BL21 (DE3) colonies were grown for approximately 10 hours in 5 ml
of 1.times. LB, 125 .mu.g/ml ampicillin at 37.degree. C. These
cultures were used to inoculate six flasks containing 250 ml
1.times. LB and 125 .mu.g/ml ampicillin. When the optical density
(OD.sub.600 values) of the cultures reached 1.1 to 1.3, IPTG was
added to a final concentration of about 1 mM. The cells were grown
overnight at 37.degree. C. Cells were collected by centrifugation
and the pellet estimated (visually) to be in the range 0.4-0.5 gm.
The pellet was resuspended in 2.5 ml of calcium binding buffer:
50-mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0); 150 mM NaCl; 0.10 mM BME; 10 mM magnesium
acetate; 2 mM CaCl.sub.2.
[0207] 250 .mu.l of 10 mg/ml lysozyme was added to the cells and
the reaction was allowed to incubate on ice for one hour. The
slightly lysed samples were sonicated twice with the Branson
Sonifier 250, the microtip at a duty cycle of 50% and a setting of
4. The lysate was cleared by superspeed centrifugation. Cleared
lysate was added to 700 .mu.l of washed Stratagene Calmodulin
agarose (50% CAM agarose by volume) and allowed to bind with gentle
rocking at 4.degree. C. for 1 hour. The resin was washed 3 times
with 10 ml of CaCl.sub.2 binding buffer and twice with 5 ml of the
same solution except that the CaCl.sub.2 concentration was reduced
to 0.1 mM. Washing was accomplished by centrifugation, removal of
the supernatant and resuspension in fresh buffer. 5 .mu.l of the
CAM resin was collected to examine on SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The
washed matrix was resuspended in 900 .mu.l of elution buffer (50 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 8.0); 150 mM NaCl; I0 mM BME; 2 mM EGTA) and allowed
to sit for one minute prior to pelleting of the agarose resin. The
elution buffer containing P45 was removed to a separate tube and
the CAM agarose was resuspended again in 900 .mu.l of elution
buffer. Next, a high salt elution buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0);
1000 mM NaCl; 10 mM BME; 10 mM magnesium acetate; 2 mM EGTA) was
used to elute remaining P45 protein from the CAM agarose.
[0208] Subsequent SDS-PAGE analyses showed that the high salt
elution buffer released a majority of the recombinant P. furiosus
P45 protein from the column matrices. Some residual protein
remained bound to the calmodulin agarose.
[0209] The method described here to produce P45 protein can be
modified in numerous ways by methods known in the art. (Ausubel, F.
M., et al. (1989) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene
Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience, New York, Sambrook,
J., et at. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed.,
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) In
one possible modification, a P45 analog protein can be produced.
For example, a mutation can be introduced into the P45 coding
region. Any type of mutation can be used including site-specific
point mutation, deletion mutation, insertion mutation, and
multiples or combinations of these mutations. This mutant coding
region is inserted into an appropriate vector, which is transferred
into a host cell. The host cell then expresses the P45 analog. A
P45 analog protein substantially retains one or more of the PEF
activity or dUTP or dCTP metabolic activities described herein.
Thus, the fusion protein and affinity tag expression and
purification system described here is only one of many ways to
produce a recombinant PEF protein such as recombinant P45.
[0210] Analogs may be constructed by, for example, making various
substitutions of residues or sequences or deleting terminal or
internal residues or sequences not needed for biological activity.
For example, cysteine residues can be deleted or replaced with
other amino acids to prevent formation of unnecessary or incorrect
intramolecular disulfide bridges upon renaturation. Other
approaches to mutagenesis involve modification of adjacent dibasic
amino acid residues to enhance expression in yeast systems in which
KEX2 protease activity is present. Other mutations can be made that
favor expression in various host cells.
[0211] Typically, substitutions may be made conservatively. For
example, one may substitute amino acids that have physiochemical
characteristics resembling those of the residue to be replaced.
Similarly, when a deletion or insertion strategy is adopted, the
potential effect of the deletion or insertion on biological
activity should be considered. In order to preserve the biological
activity, deletions and substitutions will preferably result in
homologous or conservatively substituted sequences, meaning that a
given residue is replaced by a biologically similar residue.
Examples of conservative substitutions include, but are not limited
to, substitution of one aliphatic residue for another, such as Ile,
Val, Leu, or Ala for one another, or substitutions of one polar
residue for another, such as between Lys and Arg; Glu and Asp; or
Gln and Asn. In view of this specification, one skilled in the art
will be able to make other such conservative substitutions, for
example, substitutions of entire regions having similar
hydrophobicity characteristics.
[0212] Mutations in nucleotide sequences constructed for expression
of an analog, in most instances, should preserve the reading frame
phase of the coding sequences and preferably will not create
complementary regions that could hybridize to produce secondary
mRNA structures such as loops or hairpins which would adversely
affect translation of the receptor mRNA. Although a mutation site
may be predetermined, it is not necessary that the nature of the
mutation per se be predetermined. For example, in order to select
for optimum characteristics of mutants at a given site, random
mutagenesis may be conducted at the target codon and the expressed
mutants or analogs screened for the desired activity.
[0213] Not all mutations in the nucleotide sequence which encode
the protein will be expressed in the final product. For example,
nucleotide substitutions may be made to enhance expression,
primarily to avoid secondary structure loops in the transcribed
mRNA (see EPA 75,444A, incorporated herein by reference), or to
provide codons that are more readily translated by the selected
host, e.g., the well-known E. coli preference codons for E. coli
expression.
[0214] Mutations can be introduced at particular loci by
synthesizing oligonucleotides containing a mutant sequence, flanked
by restriction sites enabling ligation to fragments of the native
sequence. Following ligation, the resulting reconstructed sequence
encodes an analog having the desired amino acid insertion,
substitution, or deletion.
[0215] Alternatively, oligonucleotide-directed
site-specific-mutagenesis procedures can be employed to provide an
altered gene having particular codons altered according to the
substitution, deletion, or insertion required. Exemplary methods of
making the alterations set forth above are disclosed by Walder et
al. (Gene 42:133. 1986); Bauer et al. (Gene 37:73, 1985); Craik
(BioTechniques, Jan. 12-19. 1985); Smith et al. (Genetic
Engineering: Principles and Methods. Plenum Press, 1981); and U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,518,584 and 4,737,462, which disclose suitable
techniques, and are incorporated by reference herein.
[0216] 3. Comparison of Recombinant P45 and Native PEF PCR
Enhancing Activity
[0217] The 5.2 kb "On/Off" assay, described in example 1, was used
to demonstrate that recombinant P45 (rP45) possesses PEF activity
comparable to a natural PEF. The results are shown in FIG. 14. When
no PEF activity is added, the 5.2 kb amplification product is not
generated as shown in the lane labeled "none" of FIG. 14. When
proteins produced from the recombinant clones of P45 (called "1" or
"23" from their plasmid delineation) were added to the On/Off assay
in amounts of 5 .mu.l, 1 .mu.l, or 1 .mu.l of a 1/10 dilution
(approximately 100, 20 and 2 ng, respectively), they all showed
enhancement of PCR product yield comparable to the two native PEF
preps. Interestingly, 5 .mu.l worked less well than 1 .mu.l. An
"overdose" phenomenon was also noted with native PEF (example
16).
[0218] 4. Molecular Weight of Recombinant P45 Compared to Native
PEF Complex and Protein Components of the Complex
[0219] The predicted molecular weight of the translated rP45 DNA
sequence was 18.6 kDa. However, the native P45 component migrates
as part of the PEF complex at 300 kDa without heat denaturation,
and at 45 kDa with heat denaturation (99.degree. C. for 5 minutes,
partially denatured). Protein complexes in hyperthermophiles are
unusually stable and sometimes require extreme conditions before
disassociation occurs. We have found that P45 migrates at
approximately 18 kD, or approximately 17-18 kD, instead of 45 kD
when the native PEF complex is boiled in the presence of 2% SDS and
1% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) (fully denaturing conditions) (FIG.
15). Without heat denaturation, more than half of the recombinant
P45 migrated at approximately 50 kDa (45+4 kDa calmodulin binding
tag), while the remaining sample migrated dose to 26 kDa (FIG. 15).
With heat denaturation all of the sample migrated at approximately
26 kDa, suggesting that the recombinant is a dimer in its
undenatured state. Trichloroacetic acid heat treatment failed to
produce any additional bands in the recombinant sample.
[0220] The migration differences between the fully denatured forms
of the native (18 kD) and recombinant P45 (26 kD) might be
explained by differences in post-translational modifications
between P. furiosus and the E. coli host or by the effects of the 4
kD CBP (calmodulin binding protein) tag on the folding or migration
of the rP45 fusion protein.
EXAMPLE 11
Potential Mechanisms of PCR Enhancement by P45
[0221] 1. Identification of the Reaction Catalyzed by PEF/P45
[0222] The similarity of P45 to dCTP deaminases prompted us to test
whether dCTP or other nucleotide triphosphates were substrates of
PEF/P45. PEF was incubated with dCTP or dUTP and the reaction
products were separated by reverse phase HPLC. Reaction mixtures
(50 .mu.l) containing 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer, 10 mM
dCTP or dUTP, and 700 ng PEF (or 5 .mu.l of cloned p45 (.about.100
ng) or nothing (neg. control)) were incubated at 72.degree. C. for
1 hour. The samples were injected on a 3.9.times.250 cm Waters
Delta-pak C-18 column (300 angstrom/15 .mu.m), equilibrated in 50
mM triethylammonium acetate, pH(7.0) (A). Products were eluted with
acetonitrile (B) at 2 ml/min. using the following gradient: 0% B
for 5 minutes, 0-10% B over 20 minutes. Absorbence of the eluate
was monitored with a photodiode array detector, and peak areas were
integrated at 260 nm.
[0223] The data in FIG. 16 show that both the native PEF complex
and purified recombinant p45 utilize dUTP as a substrate. In the
presence of cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR buffer, dUTP migrates at
10.517 minutes. After a one hour incubation with PEF or recombinant
P45 (purified from clone 1 or 23), the dUTP peak disappeared (0.1%
total peak area) and a new peak appeared eluting at 4.400 minutes
(98% total peak area). The product of the PEF+dUTP reaction
migrated with the same retention time as a dUMP standard, which was
different from the retention times of dUDP, dCMP, dCDP, and dCTP.
To confirm that the product was dUMP, a dUMP standard and the
PEF+dUTP product were mixed together and re-injected. The mixed
sample produced only one peak.
[0224] In addition to dUTP, dCTP was also found to serve as a
substrate for PEF (FIG. 17). The product of the PEF+dCTP reaction
appeared to be dCMP, based upon its retention time and absorbance
maxima. Although PEF utilizes dCTP, dUTP is the preferred substrate
of PEF/P45. In the example shown, only 16.6% of the dCTP was
converted in 1 hour under the same conditions which converted 100%
dUTP (FIG. 17, panel B). Moreover, when dCTP and dUTP were
incubated together with PEF, only dUMP (4.2 minute peak in panel C)
was generated. No reactivity with PEF was detected for the
following nucleotides: dGTP, dATP, dTTP, dCMP, dUMP, and rUTP under
the conditions used.
[0225] The substrate preference and reaction catalyzed by PEF/P45
was significantly different from that predicted based upon the
amino acid similarity to dCTP deaminases. Although both enzymes
bind dCTP and dUTP, the forward reaction catalyzed by dCTP
deaminase is the deamination of dCTP to produce dUTP+NH.sub.3.
PEF/P45, on the other hand, preferentially utilizes dUTP and
catalyzes the release of pyrophosphate (Ppi). No deamination of
dCTP by P. furiosus PEF or P45 was observed under the conditions
used.
[0226] 2. Enzymatic Detection of Inorganic Pyrophosphate (PPi)
Produced by PEF from dUTP
[0227] We tested whether inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) or inorganic
phosphate (Pi) was generated during the PEF-catalyzed conversion of
dUTP to dUMP (FIG. 16). To assess whether Pi was produced, 900 or
1800 ng of PEF was incubated in the presence of 5 mM dUTP in
1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer for 1 hour at 72.degree. C.
The reaction mixture was subsequently analyzed for the presence of
Pi using the method of Heinonen and Lahti (Heinonen; J. K. and
Lahti, R. J. (1981) Anal. Biochem. 113: 313-317). Previous results
(HPLC) demonstrated that under the above reaction conditions, 100%
of the dUTP should be converted to product. One hundred percent
(100%) conversion corresponds to the production of 500 nmol of Pi,
if Pi is a product of the reaction. However, no Pi was detected in
these assays. The assay for Pi was sensitive enough to detect as
little as about 50 nmoles of Pi. These observations show that Pi is
not formed during the reaction of PEF with dUTP.
[0228] In experiments to investigate whether PPi is formed during
the reaction, 900 or 1800 ng of PEF was incubated with 10 mM dUTP
in 1.times. cloned Pfu polymerase buffer for 1 hour at 72.degree.
C. The presence of PPi in the reaction mixture was then quantified
using Sigma's Enzymatic Determination of Pyrophosphate kit (Sigma
Product No. P7275). The kit utilizes a coupled enzyme system
whereby two moles of NADH are oxidized to NAD.sup.+ for each mole
of PPi present in the reaction mixture. The oxidation of NADH is
monitored spectrophotometrically at 340 nm. Using this assay
system, the production of PPi was clearly established in, reactions
that contained PEF and dUTP. No PPi was detected in control
reactions that lacked PEF or that contained PEF and dATP (in place
of dUTP). The reactions that contained 1800 ng of PEF produced
twice as much PPi as those that contained 900 ng of PEF.
[0229] The temperature optimum (T.sub.opt) for the generation of
PPi from dUTP was measured by incubating mixtures of dUTP and
native PEF at temperatures ranging from 73.degree. C. to 99.degree.
C. PPi production by native PEF increased steadily over this
temperature range and was highest at 99.degree. C. While the
T.sub.opt for native PEF was found to >99.degree. C.,
recombinant P45 exhibited maximal activity between 85.degree. C.
and 93.degree. C. when tested at the same enzyme concentration
(dUTP turn-over) but at a lower total protein concentration.
Accordingly, specific temperature ranges, such as from about
70.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C., from about 85.degree. C. to
about 93.degree. C.; or temperatures above about 70.degree. C., can
be used with aPEF or polymerase enhancing activity of the
invention.
[0230] The enzyme activity of three different preparations of
S200-purified native PEF was measured at 85.degree. C. Protein
concentrations were determined by both Bradford and by amino acid
analysis. Shown below is a summary of the enzyme activity and
specific activity (protein concentration determined by Bradford or
AAA as indicated) of S200-purified native PEF. These activities
were compared to the minimum amount of purified PEF required to
amplify the 5.2 kb target in the "on/off" assay described in
example 1 (100 .mu.l PCR).
TABLE-US-00017 Minimum amount of PPi Specific activity Specific
activity dUTPase production (.mu.mole (.mu.mole required for
(.mu.mole PPi/hr/.mu.g) PPi/hr/.mu.g) 5.2 kb PCR Prep PPi/hr/.mu.l)
(Bradford) (AAA) (nmole PPi/hr) 1 1.23 1.76 4.03 0.11 2 0.27 0.59
3.13 0.11 3 0.14 na 1.37 0.22-0.44
[0231] The data indicate that for purified PEF preps 1 and 2, there
is an excellent agreement between dUTPase activity and PCR
enhancing activity. However, native PEF prep 3 exhibited 2-4 times
less PCR enhancing activity, possibly due to its lower specific
activity. Prep 3 may contain contaminants, which interfere with PCR
enhancement.
[0232] PPi formation from dCTP was also measured by substituting
dCTP for dUTP. For native PEF prep 1, the level of dCTPase activity
was found to be 0.097 (.mu.mole PPi/hr/.mu.l) at 85.degree. C.,
which is 12-fold lower than the rate of PPi production from dUTP.
In addition, recombinant P45 preparations were also tested and
found to produce PPi from both dUTP and dCTP. Native PEF and
recombinant P45 exhibited a similar degree of preference for dUTP,
as compared to dCTP.
[0233] Therefore, recombinant P45 and structurally similar P45
proteins catalyze this reaction in the absence of any of the other
components of the PEF complex. The methods described here for the
PPi detection are, thus, a useful tool for analyzing the activity
of or determining the presence of native PEF, PEF analog proteins,
recombinant or synthetic PEF proteins, PEF complexes, and rP45.
[0234] 3. PEF/dUTP Product Characterization with Mass
Spectrometry
[0235] Electrospray mass spectral analysis was performed to
characterize the byproduct of reactions employing PEF and dUTP.
Analysis in the negative ionization mode produced a relatively
clean spectrum exhibiting peaks at 307 and 615 m/e. These masses
are consistent with those of dUMP [M-H] and its non-covalent dimer
[2M-H]. Analysis in the positive mode gave a complex array of
peaks.
[0236] 4. Role of PEF/P45 in Eliminating dUTP Accumulation During
PCR
[0237] An understanding of the catalytic activity of PEF/P45 has
provided insight into the mechanism by which PCR enhancement
occurs. Lasken et al. have reported that archeal DNA polymerases,
such as Vent, incorporate dUTP at approximately 40% the rate of TTP
(Roger S. Lasken, David M. Schuster, and Ayoub Rashtchian, (1996)
J. Biol. Chem. 271; 17692-1 7696). However, further DNA synthesis
by archeal DNA polymerases appears to be inhibited by dU-containing
DNA. Inhibition appears related to the 6500-fold greater affinity
of Vent for dU-containing sites, as compared to dT-containing DNA.
Based upon these observations, Lasken has proposed that archeal DNA
polymerases may play a role in repairing dU-containing DNA in
vivo.
[0238] One possible mechanism for the PCR enhancing activity of
PEF/P45 is that its associated dUTPase activity may convert any
dUTP present during PCR to dUMP, a side-product which should not
interfere with DNA polymerase activity. By so doing, dUTP would not
be available for incorporation into the PCR product, and hence
dU-DNA inhibition of the DNA polymerase would not occur. Such a
mechanism is consistent with the increased PCR product yields
generated by archeal DNA polymerase in the presence of PEF/P45.
[0239] dUTP, however, is not intentionally added to PCR reactions
but may be generated by spontaneous deamination of dCTP during the
high temperatures used in PCR cycling (Jens-Peter Horst and
Hans-Joachim Fritz. (1996) The EMBO Journal 15; 5459-5469). To
assess the extent of dCTP deamination to dUTP during PCR, we
incubated dCTP (10 mM) at 95.degree. C. (PCR denaturation
temperature) in the presence of cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR
buffer. The products of heat treatment were analyzed by reverse
phase-HPLC (as described above) and peak assignments were made by
comparing retention times to those of standards. FIG. 18 shows the
results obtained when dCTP is heated for 1 hour (panel B) or 4
hours (panel C) at 95.degree. C. dCTP breaks down into 2
predominate species, dCDP (22%/1 hr; 41%/4 hr.) and dCMP (2.8%/1
hr.; 25%/4 hr.). A minor peak at 12.38 minutes was also produced
(0.049%/1 hr.; 0.116%/4 hr.), which was identified as dUTP, based
upon its retention time (dUTP standard=12.10 minutes; panel D) and
absorbence maximum. As shown in FIG. 19, the 12.38 minute peak
generated by heating dCTP (spectrum 2) exhibits maximal absorbence
at approximately 260 nm, as does the dUTP-standard (spectrum 3),
while dCTP absorbs maximally at approximately 270 nm (spectrum
1).
[0240] dUTP production was also measured during PCR cycling. A dCTP
solution (10 mM dCTP in cloned Pfu DNA polymerase PCR buffer) was
subject to PCR cycling in a RoboCycler 40 using the cycling
conditions described for the 5.2 kb "on/off" system (example 1).
Products generated during PCR were analyzed by HPLC as described
above. After 30 cycles, the following products were evident: 79%
dCTP, 19% dCDP, 1.8% dCMP, and 0.064% dUTP (FIG. 20, panel A). The
dUTP generated during PCR cycling of dCTP exhibited a retention
time (12.1 min.) and absorbence maxima (263 nm) which were very
close to those of the dUTP standard (11.9 min.; 263 nm) (FIG. 20,
panel D). When dCTP was cycled in the presence of Pfu DNA
polymerase (50.times. PCR conditions, 10 mM dCTP and 1.25 U
Pfu/.mu.l reaction mix) there was no difference in the amount of
dCDP, dCMP, or dUTP produced (FIG. 20, panel C). However, when dCTP
was cycled in the presence of PEF (50.times. PCR conditions, 10 mM
dCTP and 0.5 ng PEF/.mu.l reaction mix), the following products
were produced: 73% dCTP, 19% dCDP, and 8% dCMP (FIG. 20, panel B).
There was no detectable dUTP when dCTP was cycled in the presence
of PEF, consistent with an associated dUTPase activity of PEF.
[0241] The increase in dCMP production in dCTP+PEF samples (8%) as
compared to dCTP.+-.Pfu samples (1.7-1.8%) shows that in addition
to eliminating the minor dUTP deamination product during PCR, PEF
will also convert dCTP to dCMP. In this experiment (50.times. PCR
conditions), the final dCTP concentration post-PCR was 73% in
PEF-containing reactions and 79% in those lacking PEF. This slight
drop in the dCTP pool is not anticipated to affect PCR product
yield or DNA polymerase replication fidelity significantly.
However, it is anticipated that the use of higher amounts of PEF in
PCR (>>1 ng per 100 .mu.l reaction) will be deleterious due
to dCTP reactivity. If high amounts of PEF are used, it is possible
that the dCTP pool could fall below levels required for maximal
yields and lowest misinsertion rates. As described elsewhere, we
have observed inhibition of replication or amplification and/or
smearing of products with the use of excessive amounts of PEF.
[0242] 5. PEF Reverses Inhibitory Action of dUTP in Amplification
Reactions
[0243] Although Lasken reported that the incorporation of dUTP in
the nascent DNA strand only inhibited archael polymerases by 40%
(Lasken, et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271; 17692-57696), we
unexpectedly found that the presence or addition of small amounts
of dUTP into PCR reactions had more dramatic inhibitory
consequences, as demonstrated below.
[0244] A relatively small (0.9 kb) fragment of the human
al-antitrypsin gene was amplified in the absence or presence of
dUTP. PCR reaction mixtures contained the following (in a 100 .mu.l
volume): 1.times. Cloned Pfu polymerase buffer; 200 .mu.M each,
dCTP, dGTP, dATP; 200 ng oligo F91-23 (100 ng/.mu.l); 200 ng oligo
R980-23 (100 ng/.mu.l); 125 ng Human genomic DNA; 2.5 units Pfu DNA
polymerase; 200 .mu.M total of (dTTP and dUTP) or (dTTP+PEF
generated dUMP).
TABLE-US-00018 (SEQ ID NO: 84) F91-23 5' - GAGGAGAGCAGGAAAGGTGGAAC
3' (SEQ ID NO: 85) R980-23 5' CTCCATGTCCCAACTCCGATCAC 3'
PEF generated dUMP was prepared as described in Example 11, section
1, and purified by reverse phase HPLC.
[0245] PCR cycling was carried out as follows: 95.degree. C. for 1
minute (1 cycle); 95.degree. C. for 1 minute--58.degree. C. for 1
minute--72.degree. C. for 2 minutes (30 cycles).
[0246] The PCR products were examined on a 1% agarose 1.times. TBE
gel as shown in FIG. 21. The amplification of the 900 bp product
from human genomic DNA was completely inhibited with dUTP
concentrations as low as 2 .mu.M (1% of the dTTP+dUTP pool) and
partially inhibited at 0.2 .mu.M (0.1%). The concentration of
individual nucleotides in a standard PCR reaction is about 200
.mu.M. dUTP inhibition can be completely prevented when PEF or the
recombinant P45 protein (rP45) is added to PCR reactions containing
dUTP. Seven ng of PEF can reverse the inhibition caused by as much
as 20 .mu.M dUTP (data not shown). The preferred amount of PEF or
P45 used in a particular reaction can be optimized according to the
principles provided here or by methods for quantifying
amplification reactions known in the art.
[0247] Unlike dUTP, the PEF generated byproduct, dUMP, was not
inhibitory in Pfu polymerase-based PCR reactions, even when present
at concentrations of 20 .mu.M. In FIG. 21, amplifications
containing purified dUMP appear less robust than other bands on the
gel. It should be noted that the other PCR products on this gel
were generated by Pfu in the presence of PEF or rP45, which has
been demonstrated to enhance PCR product yields as compared to
amplifications conducted in the absence of PEF/rP45. These results
are consistent with the enhancing activity of PEF and rP45 being a
result of dUTPase activity. The dUTPase activity may hydrolyze dUTP
and thereby prevent the incorporation of dUTP into DNA. As
demonstrated in FIG. 21, dUTP incorporation by Pfu DNA polymerase
during PCR can significantly decrease PCR product yields.
Accordingly, the invention comprises a method of enhancing nucleic
acid replication or amplification reactions by reducing the dUTP
concentration or preventing the incorporation of dUTP into
replicated or amplified products, as well as compositions that are
capable of preventing that incorporation.
[0248] We also tested whether PEF/rP45 could reverse the inhibition
caused by uracil-containing DNA. PCR amplification was carried out
in the presence of a third unrelated primer, which contains 9 dUs
instead of dTs (dU oligo). Primers complementary to M13 DNA were
synthesized.
TABLE-US-00019 Control Oligo (SEQ ID NO: 86) 5'
GGTTTTCCCAGTCACGACGTTGTAAAACGACGGCCAGT 3' dU Oligo (SEQ ID NO: 87)
5' GGUUUUCCCAGUCACGACGUUGUAAAACGACGGCCAGU 3'
[0249] The 900 bp .alpha.1-antitrypsin fragment was amplified in
the presence of the oligos, added at levels ranging from 200 ng (16
pmole) to 0.2 ng (0.016 pmole) per 100 ul reaction. In addition,
similar reactions were performed with Taq DNA polymerase instead of
Pfu DNA polymerase. In FIG. 22, the control oligonucleotide shows
inhibition of the Pfu-based PCR reaction at high concentrations (16
and 8 pmole). In contrast, inhibition by the dU oligo was readily
observed at concentrations as low as 0.8 pmole. It seems likely
that both oligonucleotides sequester Pfu DNA polymerase away from
the PCR primers and genomic DNA, but the dU oligo can inhibit at
lower concentrations. These results show that Pfu DNA polymerase
may be more tightly bound to a dU containing substrate. With the
addition of PEF, a small amount of amplification product is
observed in reactions containing 0.8 pmole of dU containing
primer.
[0250] The enhancement by PEF in the dU oligo-inhibited reaction
could be achieved through at least two possible pathways. The most
likely explanation is that PEF is having no effect on the dU
containing oligonucleotides and is simply increasing the activity
of Pfu DNA polymerase by scavenging dUTP generated during PCR by
heat- or chemically-induced deamination of dCTP (e.g., lanes 2 and
3 of FIG. 22). Or, PEF may work with Pfu DNA polymerase to remove
the uracil moieties from the oligonucleotides through a repair
pathway. Thus, PEF may also be used in repair reactions employing
appropriate polymerase activities. Repair reactions are known in
the art and methods to adopt the use of PEF into those reactions
can be devised by those skilled in the art.
[0251] The knowledge of potential PEF mechanisms of action
described here allows those skilled in the art to employ other dUTP
modifying enzymes in enhancing polymerase reactions. A definition
or one of these other modifying enzymes can be an enzyme that
diminishes the capacity to incorporate dUTP by polymerases or at
least partially inhibits dUTP incorporation. Assays used to
identify and characterize PEF as described herein can also show
other dUTP modifying enzymes. These other modifying enzymes could
also mimic the enhancing attributes of PEF or a particular protein,
such as P45 or rP45. An example of this class of enzyme would be
dUTP pyrophosphatases (EC 3.6.1.23), such as deoxyuridine
5'-triphosphate nucleotide hydrolase, as well as other enzymes
involved in dUTP metabolism, catabolism, or synthesis. These other
enzymes may be used alone or in combination with PEF or other
proteins or enhancing additives.
[0252] Furthermore, the presence of the consensus uridine-binding
motif or the related sequences shown herein can also be used to
define an enzyme or protein that is a PEF. Thus, a protein that
comprises SEQ-ID NO.: 72, or any one of SEQ ID NOs.:72-81, or
combinations of these sequences, may be a PEF according to this
invention.
EXAMPLE 12
Identification of other Proteins for Enhancing Polymerase
Activity
[0253] The structural information, in the amino acid and nucleotide
sequences, as well as the functional information described here
allow one skilled in the art to identify polymerase enhancing
and/or dUTPase activities from a variety of sources. For example,
we have shown above how degenerate probes made from the amino acid
sequences of P50 and P45 can be used to clone nucleotide sequences
encoding polymerase enhancing and dUTPase activities, or PEF. Since
we have identified the importance of dUTPase activity in
controlling and enhancing polymerase reactions, such as PCR,
structural information available for any dUTPase can be put to a
new and advantageous use in identifying and producing proteins for
enhancing polymerization reactions. Furthermore, the assays
described can be used to identify the presence of dUTPase activity
from any source.
[0254] 1. Cloning Human dUTPase as a Representative Eukaryotic
Protein for Enhancing Polymerization Reactions
[0255] To determine if other enzymes with dUTPase activity could
also produce polymerase enhancing activity, we cloned a
representative eukaryotic protein, human dUTPase. Total RNA was
isolated from human placenta and converted to cDNA as follows: 5
.mu.l total human RNA, 5 .mu.l oligo dT (0.1 .mu.l/.mu.l),1 .mu.l
Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (40 u/.mu.l), 1
.mu.l 100 mM dNTPs, 5 .mu.l 10.times. first strand buffer, 33 .mu.l
DEPC-treated water (where 1.times. first strand buffer is 50 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 8.3). 75 mM KCl, 10 mM DTT, and 3 mM MgCl.sub.2). The
reaction was incubated at 37.degree. C. for one hour. A negative
control was run in without reverse transcriptase.
[0256] Primers containing a sequence specific to the 5' and 3'
termini of one of the human dUTPase genes were synthesized and are
shown below. The accession numbers for the cDNA sequence of Human
deoxyuridine triphosphatase (DUT) are
gi|1421817|gb|U62891|HSU62891. These primers also shared sequence
with the vector pCAL-n-EK (in bold print below), which allowed
ligation independent cloning (LIC) of the amplified product, as
described in Example 10.
TABLE-US-00020 (SEQ ID NO: 88) Primer 285
GACGACGACAAGATGCCCTGCTCTGAAGAGACACC (SEQ ID NO: 89) Primer 286
GGAACAAGACCCGTTTAATTCTTTCCAGTGGAACC
Prior to PCR, the reverse transcriptase was heat inactivated by
incubating the reaction at 80.degree. C. for 5 minutes. The dUTPase
sequence was amplified in a 100 .mu.l reaction containing 1.times.
cloned Pfu polymerase buffer, 200 ng of each primer, 200 .mu.M
dNTPs, 2.5 units of Pfu DNA polymerase, 3 ng of PEF complex and 3
.mu.1 of human placenta cDNA from the previous section.
[0257] The reactions were amplified under the following conditions:
95.degree. C. for 3 minutes (1 cycle); 95.degree. C. for 1 minute;
50.degree. C. for 1 minute; 72.degree. C. for 2 minutes (30
cycles). The amplified reaction was examined on a 1% agarose gel to
confirm that the product exhibited the correct size before
purification. The purified product was cloned into the expression
vector pCAL-n-EK, as described in Example 10, and transformed into
XL1-Blue cells. Three clones were confirmed to contain human
dUTPase by sequencing of the first 500 bases. After the
transformants were shown to contain the dUTPase sequence by PCR
amplification, their plasmids were harvested and used to transform
the E. coli strain BL21 (DE3).
[0258] 2. Human dUTPase Expression and Activity Analysis
[0259] The BL21/dUTPase clones were induced with IPTG and the
expressed protein was purified by means of the calmodulin binding
peptide (CBP) tag expressed as a fusion protein at the amino
terminus of the dUTPase sequence. The fusion protein was purified
on calmodulin agarose, as described in example 10. The protein
products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and found to be of the correct
molecular weight.
[0260] To confirm that the dUTPase clones were active, the Sigma
pyrophosphatate assay (see Example 11) was utilized. The assay
demonstrated that all of the clones tested could convert dUTP to
dUMP+pyrophosphate. The human dUTPase enzyme was thermolabile and
became completely inactive after a one minute pre-incubation at
70.degree. C.
[0261] Polymerase enhancement was also detected with the 5.2 kb
on/off assay. The assay was modified from the protocol described in
Example 1 to allow detection of the thermolabile PEF activity. A
PCR cocktail was mixed to provide an identical starting point for
all samples. Ninety-nine microliters of the cocktail was aliquoted
into six thin-walled. 0.5 ml tubes. The reactions contained 278 ng
of human genomic DNA, 200 ng of each primer (see Example 1), 200
.mu.M each dNTP, 2.5 units of Pfu DNA polymerase in 1.times. cloned
Pfu polymerase buffer. At each 60.degree. C. annealing step, 0.5
.mu.l of one the following were added: human dUTPase preparation, a
1/10th dilution of the human dUTPase preparation, 2 ng/.mu.l rP45
(positive control), or dUTPase storage buffer (negative control).
Both human dUTPase reactions were run in duplicate. The samples
were cycled as follows: 95.degree. C. for 1 minute (1 cycle);
95.degree. C. for 1 minute; 60.degree. C. for 1 minute; 72.degree.
C. for 5.2 minutes (30 cycles).
[0262] 10 .mu.l of each PCR reaction was visualized on a 1%
agarose, 1.times. TBE gel by ethidium bromide staining. (See FIG.
23.) The undiluted human dUTPase preparation was able to enhance
the polymerase activity to produce the 5.2.Kb band. As demonstrated
by the negative control, lack of any enhancing factor results in a
failed PCR. The positive control for this experiment, rP45, did not
work in this experiment, presumably because an excessive quantity
(30 ng total) was added.
EXAMPLE 13
Production of Antibodies to PEF and Western Blot Analysis
[0263] 1. Production of Anti-PEF and Anti rP45 IgG
[0264] PEF-specific IgG was purified by immunoaffinity
chromatography from the sera of rabbits previously immunized
against a lot of native Pfu DNA polymerase containing PEF (see FIG.
24 showing gel of purified native Pfu polymerase preps). The
S-200-purified Pfu PEF was covalently coupled to AffiGel 10
(BioRad: Hercules, Calif.) in the presence of 20 mM HEPES, 1 mM
DTT, 50 mM Kcl, 0.05% Tween 20, 1 mM EDTA, and 10% glycerol,
following the manufacturer's recommended protocol. Rabbit sera (2.4
ml) was loaded onto a 0.2 ml column in the presence of 10 mM Tris
(pH 7.5). The column was washed extensively and the specific IgG
was eluted with 0.1 M glycine-HCl (pH 2.5) followed by 0.1 M
triethylamine (pH 11.5). Using a Centricon-30, the IgG was
concentrated and the elution buffer replaced with PBS.
[0265] In addition, sera containing rP45-specific IgG was obtained
by immunizing rabbits with recombinant P45, which was prepared as a
tagged fusion protein, as described in example 10, section 2. The
purified enzyme (0.177 mg/ml) was used to immunize two New Zealand
white rabbits using the following immunization schedule: 90
.mu.g/rabbit in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA); 18 days later,
boost with 45 .mu.g/rabbit in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA);
39 days later, second boost; 45 days later, obtained serum sample
for Western blot.
[0266] 2. Western Blot Analysis Using Anti-PEF Antibodies.
[0267] Cell extracts were prepared by suspending cells in
4.times.50 mM Tris, pH 8.2, 10 mM BME, 1 mM EDTA, and 10% glycerol,
followed by sonication. Then, 2.5 mM PMSF was added and the
cellular debris removed by centrifugation for 1.5 minutes at 14,000
rpm. PEI was added to the supernatant to a final concentration of
0.9% and the mixture centrifuged again. The supernatants (10 .mu.l)
were electrophoresed on 4-20% SDS-PAGE gels and the proteins
transferred to nitrocellulose by electroblotting. The blots were
blocked with 1% Blotto/PBS for 1 hour at room temperature and then
incubated with PEF-specific IgG overnight at 4.degree. C. The blots
were washed in PBS 0.05% Tween 20, and then incubated with alkaline
phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG. The blot was washed
and then incubated in color development solution (100 mM Tris-HCl,
pH 9.5, 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, 0.3 mg/ml NBT, and 0.15 mg/ml
BCIP) for approximately 1-2 minutes. The enzyme reaction was
stopped and the membrane was washed five times with deionized
water.
[0268] FIG. 25 depicts the results of the Western Blot. Extracts
were prepared from 5 different fermentations of P. furiosus (lanes
1-5). In addition, three extracts or partially purified column
fractions from T. aquaticus (lanes 6-8) and one extract from E.
coli (lane 9) were also run. Purified PEF (550 ng) and pre-stained
molecular weight markers were run in lanes 10 and 11, respectively.
With the exception of the markers, all samples were boiled in
SDS/BME dye prior to loading. The results show PEF-specific IgG
binds to and cross-reacts with components of the PEF complex in
crude Pfu extracts, including the P50 and P45 components. In
contrast, no cross-reaction was observed with extracts from T.
aquaticus or E. coli.
[0269] 3. Western Blot Detection of Native PEF and Recombinant P45
Using Anti-rP45 Sera
[0270] Native PEF samples were electrophoresed on a 4-20% gradient
Tris-Glycine SDS gel. The samples were loaded without denaturation
(P300 form) or after partial (boiling in 2% SDS; P45 form) or
complete (boiling 2% SDS plus 1% TCA) denaturation. The samples
were transferred to nitrocellulose and the blots developed as
described above, except that sera from rabbits immunized with
recombinant P45 was used (diluted 1:1000).
[0271] In FIG. 26, antibodies specific to recombinant P45
crossreact with bands in undenatured, partially denatured, and
fully denatured samples of native PEF. The predominant bands are
the P300 aggregate (P45/P50) present in the unheated lane, the 45
kD (partially denatured) form present in the boiled sample, and the
17 kD (fully denatured) form present in the boiled/1% TCA/2% SDS
lane, which presumably represents the fully denatured monomer. In
addition to these different aggregation states of native P45, there
are also minor bands present in the Western blot, which may
represent additional forms of P45 or the cross-reaction of
antibodies to Pyrococcus proteins sharing common epitopes with E.
coli contaminants present in the recombinant P45 preps.
[0272] As with the PEF-specific IgG from above, anti-rP45 sera can
also be used to identify immunochemically-related proteins from
other species. In FIG. 27, the rP45-specific IgG was used to probe
a blot containing cellular extracts from bacteria (Bacillus
species, T. aquaticus), archaea (P. furiosus, M
thermoautotrophicum, and an uncharacterized species) and human
cells (HL60 lymphoma). The results obtained show the antibodies
bind to proteins from P. furiosus, the uncharacterized species, and
the human cell line, which migrate with the same apparent molecular
weight as purified native PEF. The antibodies also bind weakly with
proteins in the Bacillus and M. thermoautotrophicum extracts,
although these bands migrate with a different apparent molecular
weight than P. furiosus PEF species. As with the PEF-specific IgG,
no cross-reactivity was detected with T. aquaticus extracts.
[0273] In a separate Western assay, samples from Thermus
thermophilis were run out on an SDS-PAGE gel and probed with the
rP45 antisera. The rP45 antibody binds to a band of approximately
24 kD (between markers of 16 kD and 30 kD) and another band
approximately twice that size, presumable a dimeric or multimeric
form. This demonstrates that PEF activity or protein is present in
the T. thermophilis samples. The PEF as dUTPase activity in these
samples was further confirmed by a dUTP conversion assay employing
reverse phase HPLC. The assay detected the turn-over of dUTP with
the T. thermophilis samples, but a control sample showed no
detectable turn-over of the dUTP present.
EXAMPLE 14
Use of PEF-Complex in Nucleic Acid Replication Reactions
[0274] Initially and as a control to confirm the activity of the
DNA polymerase used, gapped-duplex calf thymus DNA (Pharmacia)
assays were performed. The polymerase cocktail contained 50 mM
Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, 1 mM DTT, 50 .mu.g/m BSA, 4%
glycerol, 200 .mu.M each dNTP, [.sup.3H]TTP (0.5 mCi..mu.mole final
concentration), and 250 .mu.g/ml of activated calf thymus DNA
(Pharmacia). Samples containing Pfu DNA polymerase or P. furiosus
PEF were serially diluted in Pfu DNA polymerase storage buffer (50
mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.2, 0.1% NP-40, 0.1% Tween-20, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM
DTT, 50% glycerol) and then 1 .mu.l of each dilution was added to
10 .mu.l aliquots of polymerase cocktail. Polymerization reactions
were conducted in triplicate for 30 minutes at 72.degree. C. The
extension reactions were quenched on ice, and then 5 .mu.l aliquots
were spotted immediately onto DE81 filters (Whatman).
Unincorporated [.sup.3H]TTP was removed by 6 washes with
2.times.SCC (0.3M NaCl, 30 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0), followed by
one wash with 100% ethanol. Incorporated radioactivity was measured
by scintillation counting. The assay was calibrated by counting a
known amount of [.sup.3H]TTP on DE-81 filters, omitting the wash
steps. One unit of polymerase activity is defined as the amount of
enzyme which catalyzes the incorporation of 10 nmoles of total dNTP
into polymeric form (binds to DE-81 paper) in 30 minutes at
72.degree. C. Polymerase concentrations (U/ml) were extrapolated
from the slope of the linear portion of units vs. enzyme volume
plots.
[0275] The PEF samples tested exhibit no significant DNA polymerase
activity while the Pfu DNA polymerase exhibited a specific activity
of 2-4.times.10.sup.4 u/mg.
[0276] 1. Enhancement of Cloned Pfu DNA Polymerase with Pfu PEF
[0277] P. furiosus PEF has been demonstrated to enhance the yield
of PCR products generated with recombinant Pfu DNA polymerase using
plasmid, lambda, and genomic DNA templates (FIGS. 28-30). The
results demonstrate that the addition of P. furiosus PEF increases
PCR product yield for a variety of PCR systems, ranging in target
complexity. Relatively easy targets, e.g. plasmid DNA, can be
successfully amplified with Pfu DNA polymerase and the addition of
PEF further increases product yield (FIG. 28). We have found that
fewer PCR cycles or lower template concentrations can be used in
PEF-containing reactions, demonstrating the advantageous properties
of the proteins and compositions described and the methods
employing them.
[0278] The most dramatic enhancements were observed when long (FIG.
29) and/or highly complex targets (FIG. 30) are amplified. The
presence of PEF unexpectedly and significantly improves the
amplification of these targets, which are often poorly amplified by
single enzyme PCR reactions. In FIG. 29, the addition of 1-100 ng
of PEF (S200-purified PEF; prep. 3) to 100 .mu.l PCR reactions
containing 5 U of Pfu DNA polymerase significantly increased yield
s of a 10 kb PCR product. In FIG. 30, a 5.2 kb target was
successfully amplified from human genomic DNA in the presence of
0.3-280 ng PEF (SCS #52 S200 purified) per 100 .mu.l PCR, but not
in the absence of PEF, despite the use of 1.9 min. per kb extension
times.
[0279] P. furiosus PEF has been found to enhance the yields of both
specific and non-specific PCR products, when amplifications are
conducted under less stringent PCR conditions with PCR primers that
hybridize to more than one target. E. coli ssb (single-stranded
binding protein; Stratagene's PerfectMatch has been shown
previously to increase the specificity of primer extension
reactions, presumably by minimizing the formation of poorly matched
primer-template complexes. When used in conjunction with E. coli
ssb, P. furiosus PEF has been found to enhance the yield of
specific PCR products (FIG. 31). Pfu PEF also enhances yields of
PCR products obtained with exo-Pfu and a mixtures of Taq and Pfu
polymerase (for example, TaqPlus Long.TM., Stratagene; La Jolla,
Calif.). Therefore, Pfu PEF is useful with polymerase mutants,
truncated versions of polymerases, mixtures of polymerases, and
polymerase-additive combinations (for example, Perfect Match.RTM.,
Stratagene).
[0280] 2. Enhancement of Native Pfu DNA Polymerase with Pfu PEF
[0281] Subsequent to identifying PEF from P. furiosus, we
recognized that certain lots of native Pfu DNA polymerase
preparations contained PEF. Varying amounts of the >250 kD
aggregate could be detected on silver-stained SDS-PAGE gels (e.g.,
lots 38 and 46 in FIG. 24). Eleven of the 23 preparations examined
were found to visibly contain low levels (8/11 lots; 0.1-1% total
protein) to high levels (3/11 lots; 10-30% total protein)of PEF.
PEF co-migrates with Pfu DNA polymerase during the initial Q- and
SP-Sepharose columns in Pfu DNA polymerase purification, and elutes
just after the major peak of Pfu DNA polymerase activity on the
Heparin Sepharose column (FIG. 32). Pfu DNA polymerase fractions
pooled after the Heparin Sepharose step are typically contaminated
with varying amounts of PEF, depending upon the column efficiency
and pooling strategy employed.
[0282] Contamination of native Pfu DNA polymerase with varying
amounts of PEF could potentially contribute to lot-to-lot variation
in the performance of native Pfu DNA polymerase in PCR. It is
expected that lots containing approximately 1-100 ng of PEF per 2.5
U of Pfu DNA polymerase will give rise to higher PCR product yields
than amplifications conducted with cloned Pfu DNA polymerase or
native Pfu DNA polymerase lots contaminated with .ltoreq.10 pg per
2.5 U Pfu DNA polymerase (<0.02% total protein). In theory, a
lot containing certain PEF concentrations would exhibit reduced Pfu
DNA polymerase performance, based upon the apparent inhibition of
PEF at high concentrations discussed below (>900 ng per 2.5 U
Pfu DNA polymerase in 100 .mu.l PCRs).
[0283] When adding PEF to native Pfu DNA polymerase PCR
amplifications, it is anticipated that the level of PEF contained
in a particular lot of native Pfu must be taken into account to
avoid smearing, inhibition of synthesis, or sub-optimal
enhancement.
EXAMPLE 15
Use of PEFs in Amplification Reactions
[0284] 1. Activity of Pfu PEF in a Standard PCR Protocol
[0285] To enhance PCR product yield, P. furiosus PEF is added
separately or pre-mixed with the DNA polymerase, to standard PCR
amplifications. PCR amplification reactions generally consist of
the following: 0.01-0.05 U/.mu.l DNA polymerase, 2.5 pg/.mu.l to 1
ng/.mu.l P. furiosus PEF, 1-5 ng/.mu.l of each primer, 0.5-10
ng/.mu.l of genomic DNA template, and 0.2 mM each dNTP in a
suitable buffer (e.g., cloned Pfu DNA polymerase buffer consists of
10 mM, KCl, 10 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH
8.8). 2 mM MgSO.sub.4, 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, and 100 ng/.mu.l
BSA). Amplifications from less-complex templates (e.g., lambda or
plasmid DNA) are typically successful with 0.1-100 pg/.mu.l DNA.
The minimum amounts of native PEF typically used in PCR correspond
to amounts of enzyme sufficient to catalyze the release of 0.1 to
0.4 nmole PPi/hr per 100 .mu.l PCR reaction (see example 11,
section 2). PCR amplifications are conducted under standard
conditions; e.g., 94-96.degree. C. for 0.5-2 min (1 cycle);
94-96.degree. C. for 0.5-2 min.; 50-65.degree. C. for 0.5-2 min.;
68-72.degree. C. for 0.5-3 min. per kb of target amplified (30-40
cycles)/72.degree. C. for 0-10 min. (1 cycle).
[0286] 2. Enhancement of PCR Amplification Reactions Employing DNA
Polymerases other than Pfu DNA Polymerase
[0287] P. furiosus PEF has been found to enhance the performance of
other .alpha.-type (Family B0 related) DNA polymerases from
thermophilic archaea. Enhanced PCR product yields were observed
when P. furiosus PEF was added to amplifications conducted with DNA
polymerases from both Pyrococcus and Thermococcus species. DNA
polymerases demonstrated to function with P. furiosus PEF include
Pwo DNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim; cloned from P. woesei,
Deep Vent DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs; cloned from P. sp.
GBD), JDF3 DNA polymerase (Stratagene; cloned from P. sp. JDF3),
ES4 DNA polymerase (Stratagene; purified from P. sp. ES4, renamed
P. endeavori) and Vent DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs; cloned
from T. litoralis).
[0288] In FIG. 33, S200-purified Pfu PEF (prep. 1) increased yields
of a 6.2 kb PCR product obtained with 2.5 U of Pwo DNA polymerase.
In FIG. 34, the addition of S200-purified PEF (prep. 3) to JDF3 DNA
polymerase PCRs increased the yield of a 10 kb product amplified
from lambda DNA (lanes 5-7; 11-13) and mouse genomic DNA containing
40 copies (lanes 8-10) or 1 copy (lanes 14-16) of a lambda DNA
transgene. In JDF3 DNA polymerase-based PCRs, amplifications are
typically conducted with 1 U of enzyme and extension times of 0.5
min./kb target. In FIG. 35, the addition of 5 ng of S200-purified
PEF (prep. 3) to ES4, JDF3, Pfu, and Vent DNA polymerase PCRs
increased the yield of a 1.9 kb product amplified from P. furiosus
genomic DNA. In FIG. 36, the addition of P. furiosus PEF was also
shown to increase yields of a 2 kb PCR product amplified with Deep
Vent DNA polymerase from transgenic mouse genomic DNA.
[0289] The addition of P. furiosus PEF may not enhance the yield of
PCR products generated with Taq DNA polymerase (FIG. 34, lanes 1-4
and FIG. 23, lanes 9-10). Taq DNA polymerase is a Pol I-like
(Family A-related) DNA polymerase isolated originally from the
thermophilic eubacteria Thermus aquaticus.
[0290] 3. Enhancement of RT-PCR Reactions
[0291] P. furiosus PEF has also been shown to enhance the yield of
PCR products amplified from reverse transcribed RNA (cDNA) in a
process known as RT-PCR, known in the art. Enhancement has been
observed in both 2-step (FIG. 37) and 1-tube RT-PCR protocols (data
not shown). In the former procedure, aliquots of cDNA synthesis
reactions are added to PCR reactions containing a thermostable DNA
polymerase (e.g., Pfu DNA polymerase) and P. furiosus PEF. In the
latter approach, RNA is added to reaction mixtures containing a
thermolabile RT, dNTPs, primers, a thermostable DNA polymerase (Pfu
DNA polymerase), and P. furiosus PEF. cDNA synthesis and PCR
amplification take place sequentially, in the same tube, by
conducting cDNA synthesis at 37-42.degree. C., followed by PCR
amplification at elevated temperatures.
[0292] In the 2-step RT-PCR procedure, cDNA synthesis is first
performed by combining the following reagents (50 .mu.l final
volume): 5 .mu.g total RNA pre-annealed to 300 ng of primer (oligo
dT, random hexamers, or a gene-specific primer), 4 mM each dNTP, 20
U RNase block (optional), and 50 U MMLV RT (or other RT) in buffer
containing 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.3). 75 mM KCl, 3 mM MgCl.sub.2, and
DEPC-treated water. cDNA synthesis is allowed to proceed for 1 hour
at 37-42.degree. C. After heat inactivation of the RT, 1 .mu.l of
cDNA is added to a 50 .mu.l PCR reaction containing 5 U Pfu DNA
polymerase, 0.01-50 ng P. furiosus PEF, 1 .mu.M of each primer, and
0.2 mM each dNTP in buffer consisting of 10 mM KCl, 10 mM
(NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.8), 3 mM MgSO.sub.4,
0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100, and 100 .mu.g/ml BSA. PCR can be conducted
using the following cycle conditions: 94.degree. C. 2 min.;
60.degree. C. 2 min.; 68.degree. C. 1 min. per kb (1 cycle) and
then 94.degree. C. 1 min.; 60.degree. C. 1 min.; 68.degree. C. 1
min. per kb (40 cycles).
[0293] The enhancement of RT-PCR with P. furiosus PEF was evaluated
using PCR primers designed to span at least one intron-exon
junction in the EGF receptor gene. Two primer sets were used
(antisense: 5'GAG-TTA-AAT-GCC-TAC-ACT-GTA-TCT (SEQ ID NO.: 29);
sense: 5'CAG-GAC-TCA-GAA-GCT-GCT-ATC-GAA (SEQ ID NO.: 30) (1 kb) or
5'CTG-CAC-GTG-CCC-TGT-AGG-ATT-TGT (SEQ ID NO.: 31) (3 kb)), which
generate PCR products of 1 kb or 3 kb, as indicated, when
amplification occurs from spliced RNA rather than contaminating
DNA.
[0294] The PEF concentration which gives optimal performance was
determined by titrating PEF preparation 3 (S-200 purified) and
preparation 4 (heparin sepharose fraction) in the 2-step RT-PCR
procedure described here. With PEF preparation 4, significant
increase in the yield of the 1 kb product was observed when 0.001-1
.mu.l was added (10 pg-10 ng PEF) (FIG. 37). Synthesis of the 3 kb
product was significantly enhanced when 0.1-1 .mu.l (1-10 ng PEF)
of preparation 4 was added. With PEF preparation 3, significant
increases in the yields of both the 0.6 kb and the 3 kb products
were observed for all amounts tested in the range of 0.002-0.1
.mu.l (1-50 ng).
[0295] 4. Enhancement of Seamless.TM. Cloning Protocol
[0296] Seamless Cloning was performed using Stratagene's
Seamless.TM. Cloning kit (Stratagene; La Jolla, Calif., 1997/1998
Stratagene Catalog, specifically incorporated herein by reference),
following the recommended protocol. The effect of P. furiosus PEF
on the efficiency of Seamless Cloning is shown in FIG. 38.
Increased yield of a 7.2 kb PCR product was observed when 5 ng of
S-200 purified PEF (prep. 1) was added to 50 .mu.l PCR reactions
containing 2.5 U Pfu DNA polymerase and methyl dCTP. Amplifications
conducted in the presence of PEF utilized 1 min. per kb extension
times. In the absence of PEF, very little PCR product was generated
despite the use of longer 2 min./kb extension times.
[0297] 5. Enhancement of Linear Amplification Reactions:
QuikChange.TM. Mutagenesis Protocol
[0298] Site-specific mutagenesis can be accomplished efficiently
with double-stranded DNA templates using a linear
amplification-based strategy employing Pfu DNA-polymerase
(QuikChange.TM. Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit; Stratagene; La
Jolla, Calif., 1997/1998 Stratagene Catalog, specifically
incorporated herein by reference). PCR primers containing the
desired mutation(s) are designed to anneal to the same site on
opposite strands. Primer extension reactions are conducted with a
thermostable DNA polymerase (e.g. Pfu DNA polymerase) at
temperatures which allow efficient synthesis in the absence of
strand displacement activity (68.degree. C.). The amplification
product is treated with DpnI to digest the parental methylated
plasmid DNA and the resulting gapped, double-stranded DNA is then
transformed into competent E. coli cells. Mutant clones are
identified by DNA sequencing.
[0299] In evaluating P. furiosus PEF, mutagenesis was conducted
using Stratagene's QuikChange mutagenesis kit, except that both
recombinant and native Pfu DNA polymerase were used in the
kit-supplied reaction buffer. The effect of P. furiosus PEF on the
efficiency of QuikChange mutagenesis is shown in FIG. 39. The
addition of 0.04 to 4 ng of PEF of PEF prep. 2 (heparin sepharose
fraction lot 36 H.S. #78; 40 ng/.mu.l) to 50 .mu.l reactions
increased the number of transformants generated by native and
cloned Pfu DNA polymerases, while retaining mutation frequencies of
90-97%. Optimal results were obtained with 0.4 ng of PEF, which
gave 7.5-fold and 5.3-fold increases in the number of mutant
colonies generated with native and cloned Pfu DNA polymerase,
respectively.
[0300] The use of PEFs in the QuikChange.TM. mutagenesis protocol
corresponds to the use of PEFs in other linear amplification
reactions known in the art, such as cycle sequencing reactions,
primer extension reactions, and the like. PEFs can be employed in
any linear amplification method to enhance the activity of the
polymerase used. For example, the effect of Pfu PEF on cycle
sequencing can be evaluated by comparing the quality and length of
sequencing ladders generated with a polymerase, for example exo-Pfu
DNA polymerase, in the absence and in the presence of PEF. A number
of different cycle sequencing reactions, known to one skilled in
the art, can be used in combination with the PEF complexes and
proteins of this invention to enhance polymerase activity. In
addition, primer extension reactions can also be enhanced with the
use of PEFs. Numerous primer extension reactions are known in the
art.
EXAMPLE 16
Enhancing Titer of PEF
[0301] The nucleic acid replication enhancing activity of several
different preparations of Pfu PEF have been evaluated in PCR,
PCR-related applications, linear amplification-based applications,
mutagenesis applications, cycle sequencing applications, and primer
extension applications. One skilled in the art will appreciate that
similar methods to optimize the use of any PEF, such as those
specifically discussed herein, are apparent from the disclosure
herein. A sample of substantially homogeneous PEF (e.g.
S200-purified) enhances the performance of Pfu DNA polymerase in
PCR amplification reactions when added at concentrations spanning a
10,000-fold range (0.09-900 ng/100 .mu.l). The highest yields of
amplified product are observed in the presence of .about.1 to 100
ng of P50. The addition of excess PEF (.gtoreq.900 ng/100 .mu.l,
where protein concentration was determined by the silver staining
intensity of the P50 band as compared to known protein standards)
or very low PEF concentrations (<9 pg/100 .mu.l) in a PCR
reaction resulted in lower PCR product yield.
[0302] The relative purity and PEF content of 4 preparations was
examined by SDS-PAGE analysis (FIG. 10). Preparations 1 and 3
consist of S200-purified PEF of >95% homogeneity, while
preparations 2 and 4 consist of concentrated heparin sepharose
fractions of 10-20% homogeneity.
[0303] The PCR enhancing titer of S200-purified P. furiosus PEF
(prep. 1; FIGS. 40 and 41) was determined using the
F432-21/R6656-20/.lamda.AA742 primer-template system described in
example 1. This, preparation is approximately 95% pure, contains
<0.001 U/.mu.l DNA polymerase activity, and .about.225 ng/.mu.l
PEF. PCR-enhancing activity was found to be optimal when 0.004-0.4
.mu.l (0.9-90 ng), of homogeneous P. furiosus PEF was added to 100
.mu.l PCR reactions containing 2.5 U of Pfu DNA polymerase.
Reduced, but significant, PCR product yield was observed when 4
.mu.l (900 ng) or 0.0004 .mu.l (0.09 ng) of the S200-purified
protein was added (FIG. 40). In a second identical experiment,
significant enhancement was noted when 0.004-4 .mu.l was added, and
very little improvement was noted with 0.0004 .mu.l (FIG. 41).
[0304] The PCR enhancing titer of PEF preparation 2 was also
determined (FIG. 42-43). Preparation 2 consisted of a concentrated
(Microcon-30) heparin sepharose fraction, in which P. furiosus PEF
made up approximately 10% of the total protein and was present at
approximately 40 ng/.mu.l. Enhanced PCR product yield was observed
when 0.0002-0.2 .mu.l (0.008-8 ng) of the column fraction was added
to 100 .mu.l PCR reactions containing 2.5 U of Pfu DNA polymerase,
with greatest enhancements observed in the range of 0.002-0.2 .mu.l
(0.08-8 ng) (FIG. 42). In a second identical experiment, enhanced
PCR product yield was observed when 0.004-0.04 .mu.l (0.16-1.6 ng)
of PEF preparation 2 was added to 2.5 U of DNA polymerase per 100
.mu.l PCR reaction (FIG. 43). No PCR product was observed in the
presence of 4 .mu.l (160 ng) or 0.0004 .mu.l (0.016 ng) of the
column fraction, while a smear was generated when 0.4 .mu.l (16 ng)
of the column fraction was added to PCR. Smeary PCR products were
also noted previously when 1 .mu.l of heparin sepharose fractions
containing the highest concentrations of PEF are added to PCRs
(e.g., lot 37 H.S. fractions 69-81 in FIG. 44; PEF prep. 2 in FIG.
31).
[0305] In summary, substantially homogeneous P. furiosus PEF
enhances the performance of Pfu DNA polymerase in test PCR
amplifications when added at concentrations spanning a 10,000-fold
range (0.09-900 ng/100 .mu.l). The highest yields are observed in
the presence of .about.1 to 100 ng of PEF. The addition of excess
PEF (.gtoreq.900 ng/100 .mu.l) or PEF<-9 pg/100 .mu.l PCR
reaction, was found to give reduced performance (lower PCR product
yield). Partially-purified PEF samples (heparin sepharose column
fractions) also appear to enhance PCR product yield over a fairly
broad range of PEF concentrations. With the column fraction
analyzed here, highest yields of PCR were obtained in the range of
0.08 ng to 8 ng. The addition of higher amounts of the column
faction resulted in smearing (16-40 ng) or lack of enhancement (160
ng).
[0306] Inhibition of PCR enhancement at high concentrations of PEF
appears to occur irrespective of the purity of the PEF sample. The
addition of higher concentrations of homogeneous PEF (.gtoreq.900
ng) resulted in lower yields of PCR product than could be obtained
with <900 ng PEF. Heparin sepharose fractions of 10-20% purity
also gave reduced PCR product yields when high amounts of PEF were
added. Up to 8 ng of PEF in prep. 2 (H.S. #78 fraction) could be
added before smearing or inhibition occurred. The discrepancy
between the amount of PEF which is inhibitory in homogeneous
preparations (.gtoreq.900 ng), as compared to partially-purified
column fractions (>16 ng), suggests that additional protein or
DNA contaminants may be present in the heparin sepharose
fractions.
[0307] Examination of heparin sepharose fractions revealed that P.
furiosus PEF elutes just after the major-peak of Pfu DNA polymerase
activity (e.g., fractions 50-61 in FIG. 32). SDS-PAGE analysis
showed that the highest levels of the >250 kD PEF appeared in
fractions 63-78 from the native Pfu DNA polymerase purification
(FIG. 32). PCR enhancing activity was observed in fractions 37-90
(FIG. 44). Discrete PCR product bands were generated with fractions
37-48 and 87-90, which contain very low levels of PEF.
Interestingly, DNA smears were generated with fractions 69-81 (FIG.
44), which contain the highest levels of PEF and no detectable Pfu
DNA polymerase. These results are consistent with the hypothesis
that P. furiosus PEF acts as an inhibitory substance when present
at high concentrations. However, concentrations high enough to
adversely effect polymerization and PCR reactions can easily be
determined through the methods and assays described herein. Thus,
one skilled in the art can avoid concentrations of PEF that inhibit
polymerase activity or PCR reactions without undue
experimentation.
[0308] As observed with PCR, inhibition during linear amplification
protocols was noted with high concentrations of PEF-containing
heparin sepharose fractions (FIG. 39). The addition of 40 ng (1
.mu.l prep. #2) of PEF to QuickChange.TM. reactions resulted in
reduced yield of amplification product, as visualized by a
reduction in the ethidium bromide-staining intensity of DNA bands
on agarose gels. Reduced yield accompanied a 1.8 to 2.8-fold
reduction in the number of transformants and a slight, but
reproducible, decrease in mutation frequency.
[0309] A possible and the most likely explanation for inhibition by
homogenous PEF preparations is depletion of dCTP. In Example 11,
section 1, we demonstrated that PEF can utilize dCTP as a
substrate, although much less efficiently than dUTP. At high PEF
concentrations it is possible that enough dCTP is hydrolyzed by PEF
to drop the dCTP levels below what is required for optimal DNA
synthesis. It is also possible that moderate to high levels of PEF
could alter dCTP levels enough to affect DNA polymerase
misincorporation rates. Alternatively, contaminants in the
substantially homogenous PEF preparations may also cause the
inhibition and may only be present in sufficient concentrations
when high concentrations of PEF are used.
[0310] Each of the references referred to herein can be relied on
by one skilled in the art in making and using embodiments of the
invention. In addition, each reference is specifically
incorporated, in its entirety, into this disclosure.
[0311] The sequence listing information that follows incorporates
the sequences in prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/822,744,
which is specifically incorporated herein by reference. The
sequence information from any one sequence or any combination of
sequences can be translated into a computer readable medium by
those of skill in the art. Furthermore, the sequences of the
specific clones or plasmids described or identified herein can be
easily determined and used in a computer readable medium by one
skilled in the art.
Sequence CWU 1
1
89115PRTPyrococcus furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(15)"X" represents any
amino acid 1Xaa Xaa Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Xaa Xaa
Xaa1 5 10 15215PRTPyrococcus furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(15)"X"
represents any amino acid 2Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Asp Trp Xaa Xaa Arg Xaa
Glu Xaa Leu Xaa Xaa1 5 10 15335PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(35)"X" represents any amino acid 3Xaa Leu
Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Lys Xaa Arg Xaa1 5 10 15Leu
Val Gly Lys Xaa Ile Val Leu Ala Ile Pro Gly Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa 20 25
30Xaa Xaa Xaa 35418PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(18)"X"
represents any amino acid 4Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Asp Trp Xaa Xaa Arg Xaa
Glu Xaa Leu Xaa Glu Xaa1 5 10 15Xaa Xaa517PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(17)"X" represents any amino acid 5Xaa Tyr
Asp Ala Val Ile Met Ala Ala Ala Val Val Asp Phe Arg Pro1 5 10
15Lys624PRTPyrococcus furiosus 6Ala Asp Leu Val Val Gly Asn Thr Leu
Glu Ala Phe Gly Ser Glu Glu1 5 10 15Asn Gln Val Val Leu Ile Gly Arg
20717PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(17)"X" represents any
amino acid 7Gly Ala Met Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Xaa Lys
Leu Arg1 5 10 15Lys818PRTPyrococcus
furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(18)"X" represents any amino acid 8Gly Ala
Met Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Lys Xaa Xaa1 5 10 15Arg
Lys913PRTPyrococcus furiosus 9Met Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr
Ala Thr Lys Leu1 5 101016PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(16)"X" represents any amino acid 10Gly
Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Asp Trp Xaa Xaa Lys Phe Arg Lys Glu Glu Ser1 5 10
151117PRTPyrococcus furiosus 11Gly Ala Ile Leu Leu Pro Asp Trp Lys
Ile Arg Lys Glu Ile Leu Ile1 5 10 15Glu1216PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(16)"X" represents any amino acid 12Xaa
Met His His Val Ile Lys Leu Xaa Tyr Ala Thr Xaa Ser Arg Lys1 5 10
151318PRTPyrococcus furiosus 13Met Leu Tyr Leu Val Arg Pro Asp Trp
Lys Arg Arg Lys Glu Ile Leu1 5 10 15Ile Glu1423DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 14caycaygaha arythattta cgc 231523DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 15gccatdatna cdgcrtcgta ttt 231623DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 16caycaygaha arythatata cgc 231720DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 17ardacdacyt grttttcttc 20181209DNAPyrococcus
furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(1209)"n" is a, t, g, or c 18atgcttcacc
acgtcaagct aatctacgcc acaaaaagtc gaaagctagt tggaaaaaag 60atagtcnnnn
nnnnnccagg gagtattgcg gctttggatg tgaaagcttg tgagggacta
120attaggcatg gggccgaagt tcatgcagtg atgagtgagg cagccaccaa
gataattcat 180ccttatgcat ggaatttgcc cacgggaaat ccagtcataa
ctgagatcac tggatttatc 240gagcatgttg agttagcagg ggaacatgag
aataaagcag atttaatttt ggtttgtcct 300gccactgcca acacaattag
taagattgca tgtggaatag atgatactcc agtaactaca 360gtcgtgacca
cagcatttcc ccacattcca attatgatag ccccagcaat gcatgagaca
420atgtacaggc atcccatagt aagggagaac attgaaaggt taaagaagct
tggcgttgag 480tttataggac caagaattga ggagggaaag gcaaaagttg
caagcattga tgaaatagtt 540tacagagtta ttaaaaagct ccacaaaaaa
acattggaag ggaagagagt cctagtaacg 600gcgggagcaa caagagagta
catagatcca ataagattca taacaaatgc cagcagtgga 660aaaatgggag
tagcgttggc tgaagaagca gattttagag gagctgttac cctcataaga
720acaaagggaa gtgtaaaggc ttttagaatc agaaaaatca aattgaaggt
tgagacagtg 780gaagaaatgc tttcagcgat tgaaaatgag ttgaggagta
aaaagtatga cgtagttatt 840atggcagctg ctgtaagcga ttttaggcca
aaaattaaag cagagggaaa aattaaaagc 900ggaagatcaa taacgataga
gctcgttccn nnnaatccca aaatcattga tagaataaag 960gaaattcaac
caaatgtctt tcttgttgga tttaaagcag aaacttcaaa agaaaagctt
1020atagaagaag gtaaaaggca gattgagagg gccaaggctg acttagtcgt
tggtaacaca 1080ttggaagcct ttggaagcga ggaaaaccaa gtagtattaa
ttggcagaga tttcacaaaa 1140gaacttccaa aaatgaaaaa gagagagtta
gcagagagaa tttgggatga gatagagaaa 1200ttnctgtcc
120919403PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(403)"X" represents
any amino acid 19Met Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Lys
Ser Arg Lys Leu1 5 10 15Val Gly Lys Lys Ile Val Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Gly
Ser Ile Ala Ala Leu 20 25 30Asp Val Lys Ala Cys Glu Gly Leu Ile Arg
His Gly Ala Glu Val His 35 40 45Ala Val Met Ser Glu Ala Ala Thr Lys
Ile Ile His Pro Tyr Ala Trp 50 55 60Asn Leu Pro Thr Gly Asn Pro Val
Ile Thr Glu Ile Thr Gly Phe Ile65 70 75 80Glu His Val Glu Leu Ala
Gly Glu His Glu Asn Lys Ala Asp Leu Ile 85 90 95Leu Val Cys Pro Ala
Thr Ala Asn Thr Ile Ser Lys Ile Ala Cys Gly 100 105 110Ile Asp Asp
Thr Pro Val Thr Thr Val Val Thr Thr Ala Phe Pro His 115 120 125Ile
Pro Ile Met Ile Ala Pro Ala Met His Glu Thr Met Tyr Arg His 130 135
140Pro Ile Val Arg Glu Asn Ile Glu Arg Leu Lys Lys Leu Gly Val
Glu145 150 155 160Phe Ile Gly Pro Arg Ile Glu Glu Gly Arg Ala Lys
Val Ala Ser Ile 165 170 175Asp Glu Ile Val Tyr Arg Val Ile Lys Lys
Leu His Lys Lys Thr Leu 180 185 190Glu Gly Lys Arg Val Leu Val Thr
Ala Gly Ala Thr Arg Glu Tyr Ile 195 200 205Asp Pro Ile Arg Phe Ile
Thr Asn Ala Ser Ser Gly Lys Met Gly Val 210 215 220Ala Leu Ala Glu
Glu Ala Asp Phe Arg Gly Ala Val Thr Leu Ile Arg225 230 235 240Thr
Lys Gly Ser Val Lys Ala Phe Arg Ile Arg Lys Ile Lys Leu Lys 245 250
255Val Glu Thr Val Glu Glu Met Leu Ser Ala Ile Glu Asn Glu Leu Arg
260 265 270Ser Lys Lys Tyr Asp Val Val Ile Met Ala Ala Ala Val Ser
Asp Phe 275 280 285Arg Pro Lys Ile Lys Ala Glu Gly Lys Ile Lys Ser
Gly Arg Ser Ile 290 295 300Thr Ile Glu Leu Val Pro Xaa Asn Pro Lys
Ile Ile Asp Arg Ile Lys305 310 315 320Glu Ile Gln Pro Asn Val Phe
Leu Val Gly Phe Lys Ala Glu Thr Ser 325 330 335Lys Glu Lys Leu Ile
Glu Glu Gly Lys Arg Gln Ile Glu Arg Ala Lys 340 345 350Ala Asp Leu
Val Val Gly Asn Thr Leu Glu Ala Phe Gly Ser Glu Glu 355 360 365Asn
Gln Val Val Leu Ile Gly Arg Asp Phe Thr Lys Glu Leu Pro Lys 370 375
380Met Lys Lys Arg Glu Leu Ala Glu Arg Ile Trp Asp Glu Ile Glu
Lys385 390 395 400Xaa Leu Ser2033DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic
20catagcgaat tcgcaaaacc tttcgcggta tgg 332133DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 21actacggaat tccacggaaa atgccgctca tcc
332220DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 22ggcgtttccg ttcttcttcg
202320DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 23ccatctcacg cgccagtttc
202423DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 24gaggagagca ggaaaggtgg aac
232521DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 25gctgggagaa gacttcactg g
212619DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 26gagcttgctc aactttatc
192723DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 27gatagagata gtttctggag acg
232823DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 28cgggatatcg acatttctgc acc
232924DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 29gagttaaatg cctacactgt atct
243024DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 30caggactcag aagctgctat cgaa
243124DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 31ctgcacgtgc cctgtaggat ttgt
243223DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 32ccagaytgga arwknaggaa aga
233323DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 33ccagaytgga arwknagaaa aga
233423DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 34ccagaytgga arwknaggaa gga
233523DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 35ccagaytgga arwknagaaa gga
233684DNAPyrococcus furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(84)"n" is a, t, g, or
c 36cagagtgggc agagaggctn ttgttaaggg gaaattaatc gacgtggaaa
aggaaggaaa 60agtcgntatt cctccaaggg aata 843727PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(27)"X" represents any amino acid 37Glu
Trp Ala Glu Arg Leu Leu Leu Arg Gly Asn Xaa Ser Lys Trp Lys1 5 10
15Arg Lys Glu Lys Ser Xaa Phe Leu Gln Gly Asn 20
253827PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(27)"X" represents any
amino acid 38Arg Val Gly Arg Glu Ala Xaa Val Lys Gly Lys Leu Ile
Glu Val Glu1 5 10 15Lys Glu Gly Lys Val Xaa Ile Pro Pro Arg Glu 20
253928PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(28)"X" represents any
amino acid 39Gln Ser Gly Gln Arg Gly Xaa Cys Xaa Gly Glu Ile Asn
Arg Ser Gly1 5 10 15Lys Gly Arg Lys Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Lys Gly Leu
20 2540129DNAPyrococcus furiosus 40ctgcccactc tgaggtcata acctgctggt
tggagccatt cttcagaaaa tggctctata 60agtatttctt ttctgatttt ccagtctgga
agtagcattt taccaccgaa acctttattt 120ttaatttaa 1294142PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(42)"X" represents any amino acid 41Xaa
Ile Lys Asn Lys Gly Phe Gly Gly Lys Met Leu Leu Pro Asp Trp1 5 10
15Lys Ile Arg Lys Glu Ile Leu Ile Glu Pro Phe Ser Glu Glu Trp Leu
20 25 30Gln Pro Ala Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg Val Gly 35
4042740DNAPyrococcus furiosusmisc_feature(1)..(740)"n" is a, t, g,
or c 42tcctccaagg gaatacgcct taatcctaac cctcgagagg ataaagttgc
ccgacgatgt 60tatgggggat atgaagataa ggagcagttt agcaagagaa ggggttattg
gttcttttgc 120ttgggttgac ccaggatggg atggaaactt aacactaatg
ctctacaatg cctcaaatga 180acctgtcgaa ttaagatatg gagagagatt
tgtgcagatc gcatttataa ggctagaggg 240tccggcaaga aacccttaca
gaggaaacta tcaggggagc acaaggttag cgttttcaaa 300gagaaagaaa
ctctagcgtc ttttcaatag catcctcaat atctcgtgtg aagtaatcaa
360tgtaaatact tgctgggtgg gtttttaggg attcaaactc gtaagatggg
cctgtatagc 420agaaaactat ttttgcctct tcttcattta tctttctgtg
aataaaaaat ccaacatcca 480cactagttcc aaaagatatt gtttgcgtga
ttaccaacaa gatcttggca ttatttttga 540tcttatactc tattctcctt
tctccctcca atttgcccaa aataaacctg ggtagtatac 600attcactcct
ctcttttaaa ttcctataaa ttcgtacata gtttagaaaa atgtcaaatt
660ctttnttccc tgttaaatta accncnaaat ctttatnann aancttttta
taattcccaa 720aacccctaat tttccccttn 74043246PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(246)"X" represents any amino acid 43Leu
Gln Gly Asn Thr Pro Xaa Ser Xaa Pro Ser Arg Gly Xaa Ser Cys1 5 10
15Pro Thr Met Leu Trp Gly Ile Xaa Arg Xaa Gly Ala Val Xaa Gln Glu
20 25 30Lys Gly Leu Leu Val Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Thr Gln Asp Gly Met
Glu 35 40 45Thr Xaa His Xaa Cys Ser Thr Met Pro Gln Met Asn Leu Ser
Asn Xaa 50 55 60Asp Met Glu Arg Asp Leu Cys Arg Ser His Leu Xaa Gly
Xaa Arg Val65 70 75 80Arg Gln Glu Thr Leu Thr Glu Glu Thr Ile Arg
Gly Ala Gln Gly Xaa 85 90 95Arg Phe Gln Arg Glu Arg Asn Ser Ser Val
Phe Ser Ile Ala Ser Ser 100 105 110Ile Ser Arg Val Lys Xaa Ser Met
Xaa Ile Leu Ala Gly Trp Val Phe 115 120 125Arg Asp Ser Asn Ser Xaa
Asp Gly Pro Val Xaa Gln Lys Thr Ile Phe 130 135 140Ala Ser Ser Ser
Phe Ile Phe Leu Xaa Ile Lys Asn Pro Thr Ser Thr145 150 155 160Leu
Val Pro Lys Asp Ile Val Cys Val Ile Thr Asn Lys Ile Leu Ala 165 170
175Leu Phe Leu Ile Leu Tyr Ser Ile Leu Leu Ser Pro Ser Asn Leu Pro
180 185 190Lys Ile Asn Leu Gly Ser Ile His Ser Leu Leu Ser Phe Lys
Phe Leu 195 200 205Xaa Ile Arg Thr Xaa Phe Arg Lys Met Ser Asn Ser
Xaa Phe Pro Val 210 215 220Lys Leu Thr Xaa Lys Ser Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa
Phe Leu Xaa Phe Pro Lys225 230 235 240Pro Leu Ile Phe Pro Xaa
24544246PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(246)"X" represents
any amino acid 44Pro Pro Arg Glu Tyr Ala Leu Ile Leu Thr Leu Glu
Arg Ile Lys Leu1 5 10 15Pro Asn Asn Val Met Gly Asp Met Lys Ile Arg
Ser Ser Leu Ala Arg 20 25 30Glu Gly Val Ile Gly Ser Phe Ala Trp Val
Asp Pro Gly Trp Asp Gly 35 40 45Asn Leu Thr Leu Met Leu Tyr Asn Ala
Ser Asn Glu Pro Val Glu Leu 50 55 60Arg Tyr Gly Glu Arg Phe Val Gln
Ile Ala Phe Ile Arg Leu Glu Gly65 70 75 80Pro Ala Arg Asn Pro Tyr
Arg Gly Asn Tyr Gln Gly Ser Thr Arg Leu 85 90 95Ala Phe Ser Lys Arg
Lys Lys Leu Xaa Arg Leu Phe Asn Ser Ile Leu 100 105 110Asn Ile Ser
Cys Glu Val Ile Asn Val Asn Thr Cys Trp Val Gly Phe 115 120 125Xaa
Gly Phe Lys Leu Val Arg Trp Ala Cys Ile Ala Glu Asn Tyr Phe 130 135
140Cys Leu Phe Phe Ile Tyr Leu Ser Val Asn Lys Lys Ser Asn Ile
His145 150 155 160Thr Ser Ser Lys Arg Tyr Cys Leu Arg Asp Tyr Gln
Gln Asp Leu Gly 165 170 175Ile Ile Phe Asp Leu Ile Leu Tyr Ser Pro
Phe Ser Leu Gln Phe Ala 180 185 190Gln Asn Lys Pro Gly Xaa Tyr Thr
Phe Thr Pro Leu Phe Xaa Ile Pro 195 200 205Ile Asn Ser Tyr Ile Val
Xaa Lys Asn Val Lys Phe Phe Xaa Pro Cys 210 215 220Xaa Ile Asn Xaa
Xaa Ile Phe Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Phe Ile Ile Pro Lys225 230 235 240Thr
Pro Asn Phe Pro Leu 24545246PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(246)"X" represents any amino acid 45Ser
Ser Lys Gly Ile Arg Leu Asn Pro Asn Pro Arg Glu Asp Lys Val1 5 10
15Ala Arg Arg Cys Tyr Gly Gly Tyr Glu Asp Lys Glu Gln Phe Ser Lys
20 25 30Arg Arg Gly Tyr Trp Phe Phe Cys Leu Gly Xaa Pro Arg Met Gly
Trp 35 40 45Lys Leu Asn Thr Asn Ala Leu Gln Cys Leu Lys Xaa Thr Cys
Arg Ile 50 55 60Lys Ile Trp Arg Glu Ile Cys Ala Asp Arg Ile Tyr Lys
Ala Arg Gly65 70 75 80Ser Gly Lys Lys Pro Leu Gln Arg Lys Leu Ser
Gly Glu His Lys Val 85 90 95Ser Val Phe Lys Glu Lys Glu Thr Leu Ala
Ser Phe Gln Xaa His Pro 100 105 110Gln Tyr Leu Val Xaa Ser Asn Gln
Cys Lys Tyr Leu Leu Gly Gly Phe 115 120 125Leu Gly Ile Gln Thr Arg
Lys Met Gly Leu Tyr Ser Arg Lys Leu Phe 130 135 140Leu Pro Leu Leu
His Leu Ser Phe Cys Glu Xaa Lys Ile Gln His Pro145 150 155 160His
Xaa Phe Gln Lys Ile Leu Phe Ala Xaa Leu Pro Thr Arg Ser Trp 165 170
175His Tyr Phe Xaa Ser Tyr Thr Leu Phe Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Ile Cys
180 185 190Pro Lys Xaa Thr Trp Val Val Tyr Ile His Ser Ser Leu Leu
Asn Ser 195 200 205Tyr Lys Phe Val His Ser Leu Glu Lys Cys Gln Ile
Leu Xaa Ser Leu 210 215 220Leu Asn Xaa Pro Xaa Asn Leu Tyr Xaa Xaa
Xaa Phe Tyr Asn Ser Gln225 230 235 240Asn Pro Xaa Phe Ser Pro
2454631PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(31)"X" represents
any amino acid 46Met Leu His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala Thr Lys
Ser Arg Lys Leu1 5 10 15Val Gly Lys
Lys Ile Val Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Gly Ser Ile Ala Ala 20 25
304717PRTPyrococcus furiosus 47Lys Tyr Asp Val Val Ile Met Ala Ala
Ala Val Ser Asp Phe Arg Phe1 5 10 15Lys4824PRTPyrococcus furiosus
48Ala Asp Leu Val Val Gly Asn Thr Leu Glu Ala Phe Gly Ser Glu Glu1
5 10 15Asn Gln Val Val Leu Ile Gly Arg 204921DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 49ctattgagta cgaacgccat c 215020DNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 50gtcacgcttg ctccactccg 2051437PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(437)"X" represents any amino acid 51Met
Ile Ser Glu Ile Met His Pro Thr Lys Leu Leu Lys Gly Thr Lys1 5 10
15Ser Lys Leu Leu Glu Asn Lys Lys Ile Leu Val Ala Val Thr Ser Ser
20 25 30Ile Ala Ala Ile Glu Thr Pro Lys Leu Met Arg Glu Leu Ile Arg
His 35 40 45Gly Ala Glu Val Tyr Cys Ile Ile Thr Glu Glu Thr Lys Lys
Ile Ile 50 55 60Gly Lys Glu Ala Leu Lys Phe Gly Cys Gly Asn Glu Val
Tyr Glu Glu65 70 75 80Ile Thr Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asp Ile Glu
His Ile Leu Leu Tyr 85 90 95Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn Glu Cys Asp Cys Leu
Leu Ile Tyr Pro Ala Thr 100 105 110Ala Asn Ile Ile Ser Lys Ile Asn
Leu Gly Ile Ala Asp Asn Ile Val 115 120 125Asn Thr Thr Ala Leu Met
Phe Phe Gly Asn Lys Pro Ile Phe Ile Val 130 135 140Pro Ala Met His
Glu Asn Met Phe Asn Xaa Xaa Ala Ile Lys Arg His145 150 155 160Ile
Asp Lys Leu Lys Glu Lys Asp Lys Ile Tyr Ile Ile Ser Pro Lys 165 170
175Phe Glu Glu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Lys Ala Lys Val Ala Asn
180 185 190Ile Glu Asp Val Val Lys Ala Val Ile Glu Lys Ile Gly Asn
Asn Leu 195 200 205Lys Lys Glu Gly Asn Arg Val Leu Ile Leu Asn Gly
Gly Thr Val Glu 210 215 220Phe Ile Asp Lys Val Arg Val Ile Ser Asn
Leu Ser Ser Gly Lys Met225 230 235 240Gly Val Ala Leu Ala Glu Ala
Phe Cys Lys Glu Gly Phe Tyr Val Glu 245 250 255Val Ile Thr Ala Met
Gly Leu Glu Pro Pro Tyr Tyr Ile Lys Asn His 260 265 270Lys Val Leu
Thr Ala Lys Glu Met Leu Asn Lys Ala Ile Glu Xaa Xaa 275 280 285Leu
Xaa Ala Lys Asp Phe Asp Ile Ile Ile Ser Ser Ala Ala Ile Ser 290 295
300Asp Phe Thr Val Glu Ser Xaa Phe Glu Gly Lys Leu Ser Ser Glu
Glu305 310 315 320Glu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Ile Leu Lys Leu Lys Arg
Xaa Asn Pro Lys 325 330 335Val Leu Glu Glu Leu Arg Arg Ile Tyr Lys
Asp Xaa Lys Val Ile Ile 340 345 350Gly Phe Lys Ala Glu Tyr Asn Leu
Asp Glu Lys Glu Leu Ile Asn Arg 355 360 365Ala Lys Glu Arg Leu Asn
Lys Tyr Asn Leu Asn Met Ile Ile Ala Asn 370 375 380Asp Leu Ser Lys
Xaa Xaa His Tyr Phe Gly Asp Asp Tyr Ile Glu Val385 390 395 400Tyr
Ile Ile Thr Lys Tyr Glu Val Glu Lys Ile Ser Gly Ser Lys Lys 405 410
415Xaa Glu Ile Ser Glu Arg Ile Val Glu Lys Val Lys Lys Leu Val Lys
420 425 430Ser Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 43552444PRTPyrococcus
furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(444)"X" represents any amino acid 52Met
Lys Ala Arg Gln Gln Lys Tyr Cys Asp Lys Ile Ala Asn Phe Trp1 5 10
15Cys His Pro Thr Gly Lys Ile Ile Met Ser Leu Ala Gly Lys Lys Ile
20 25 30Val Leu Gly Val Ser Gly Gly Ile Ala Ala Tyr Lys Thr Pro Glu
Leu 35 40 45Val Arg Arg Leu Arg Asp Arg Gly Ala Asp Val Arg Val Ala
Met Thr 50 55 60Glu Ala Ala Lys Ala Phe Ile Thr Pro Leu Ser Leu Gln
Ala Val Ser65 70 75 80Gly Tyr Pro Val Ser Asp Ser Leu Leu Asp Pro
Ala Ala Glu Ala Ala 85 90 95Met Gly His Ile Glu Leu Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Lys Trp Ala Asp Leu 100 105 110Val Ile Leu Ala Pro Ala Thr Ala
Asp Leu Ile Ala Arg Val Ala Ala 115 120 125Gly Met Ala Asn Asp Leu
Val Ser Thr Ile Cys Leu Ala Thr Pro Xaa 130 135 140Xaa Ala Pro Val
Ala Val Leu Pro Ala Met Asn Gln Gln Met Tyr Arg145 150 155 160Ala
Ala Ala Thr Gln His Asn Leu Glu Val Leu Ala Xaa Ser Arg Gly 165 170
175Leu Leu Ile Trp Gly Pro Asp Ser Gly Ser Gln Ala Cys Gly Asp Ile
180 185 190Gly Pro Gly Arg Xaa Xaa Asp Pro Leu Thr Ile Val Asp Met
Ala Val 195 200 205Ala His Phe Ser Pro Val Asn Asp Leu Lys His Leu
Asn Ile Met Ile 210 215 220Thr Ala Gly Pro Thr Arg Glu Pro Leu Asp
Pro Val Arg Tyr Ile Ser225 230 235 240Asn His Ser Ser Gly Lys Met
Gly Phe Ala Ile Ala Ala Ala Ala Ala 245 250 255Arg Arg Gly Ala Asn
Val Thr Leu Val Ser Gly Pro Val Ser Leu Pro 260 265 270Thr Pro Pro
Phe Val Lys Arg Val Asp Val Met Thr Ala Leu Glu Met 275 280 285Glu
Ala Ala Val Asn Xaa Xaa Ala Ser Val Gln Gln Gln Asn Ile Phe 290 295
300Ile Gly Cys Ala Ala Val Ala Asp Tyr Arg Ala Ala Thr Val Ala
Pro305 310 315 320Glu Lys Ile Lys Lys Gln Ala Thr Gln Gly Asp Glu
Leu Thr Ile Lys 325 330 335Met Val Lys Xaa Asn Pro Asp Ile Val Ala
Gly Val Ala Ala Leu Lys 340 345 350Asp His Arg Pro Tyr Val Val Gly
Phe Ala Ala Glu Thr Asn Asn Xaa 355 360 365Xaa Xaa Xaa Val Glu Glu
Tyr Ala Arg Gln Lys Arg Ile Arg Lys Asn 370 375 380Leu Asp Leu Ile
Cys Ala Asn Asp Val Ser Gln Pro Thr Gln Gly Phe385 390 395 400Asn
Ser Asp Asn Asn Ala Leu His Leu Phe Trp Gln Asp Gly Asp Lys 405 410
415Val Leu Pro Leu Glu Arg Lys Glu Leu Leu Gly Gln Leu Leu Leu Asp
420 425 430Glu Ile Val Thr Arg Tyr Asp Glu Lys Asn Arg Arg 435
4405314PRTPyrococcus furiosusMISC_FEATURE(1)..(14)"X" represents
any amino acid 53Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa1 5 105414PRTPyrococcus furiosus 54Phe Ala Trp Val Asp Pro
Gly Trp Asp Gly Asn Thr Leu Met1 5 105514PRTPyrococcus furiosus
55Ala Gly Trp Ile Asp Ala Gly Phe Lys Gly Lys Ile Thr Leu1 5
105614PRTPyrococcus furiosus 56Ser Ala Val His Asp Pro Gly Tyr Glu
Gly Arg Pro Glu Tyr1 5 105714PRTPyrococcus furiosus 57Pro Thr Ile
Val Asp Ala Gly Phe Glu Gly Gln Leu Thr Ile1 5 105814PRTPyrococcus
furiosus 58Ala His Arg Ile Asp Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Cys Ile Val Leu1
5 105924DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 59gagttaaatg cctacactgt
atct 246024DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 60caggactcag aagctgctat
cgaa 246124DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 61ctgcacgtgc cctgtaggat
ttgt 246221DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 62ctattgagta cgaacgccat
c 216320DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 63gtcacgcttg ctccactccg
206423DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 64gaggagagca ggaaaggtgg aac
236521DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 65gctgggagaa gacttcactg g
21668PRTPyrococcus furiosus 66His His Val Lys Leu Ile Tyr Ala1
5678PRTPyrococcus furiosus 67Lys Tyr Asp Ala Val Ile Met Ala1
5687PRTPyrococcus furiosus 68Glu Glu Asn Gln Val Val Leu1
5698PRTPyrococcus furiosus 69Pro Asp Trp Lys Ile Arg Lys Glu1
570471DNAPyrococcus furiosus 70atgctacttc cagactggaa aatcagaaaa
gaaatactta tagagccatt ttctgaagaa 60tcgctccaac cagcaggtta tgacctcaga
gtgggcagag aggcttttgt taaggggaaa 120ttaatcgacg tggaaaagga
aggaaaagtc gttattcctc caagggaata cgccttaatc 180ctaaccctcg
agaggataaa gttgcccgac gatgttatgg gggatatgaa gataaggagc
240agtttagcaa gagaaggggt tattggttct tttgcttggg ttgacccagg
atgggatgga 300aacttaacac taatgctcta caatgcctca aatgaacctg
tcgaattaag atatggagag 360agatttgtgc agatcgcatt tataaggcta
gagggtccgg caagaaaccc ttacagagga 420aactatcagg ggagcacaag
gttagcgttt tcaaagagaa agaaactcta g 47171156PRTPyrococcus furiosus
71Met Leu Leu Pro Asp Trp Lys Ile Arg Lys Glu Ile Leu Ile Glu Pro1
5 10 15Phe Ser Glu Glu Ser Leu Gln Pro Ala Gly Tyr Asp Leu Arg Val
Gly 20 25 30Arg Glu Ala Phe Val Lys Gly Lys Leu Ile Asp Val Glu Lys
Glu Gly 35 40 45Lys Val Val Ile Pro Pro Arg Glu Tyr Ala Leu Ile Leu
Thr Leu Glu 50 55 60Arg Ile Lys Leu Pro Asp Asp Val Met Gly Asp Met
Lys Ile Arg Ser65 70 75 80Ser Leu Ala Arg Glu Gly Val Ile Gly Ser
Phe Ala Trp Val Asp Pro 85 90 95Gly Trp Asp Gly Asn Leu Thr Leu Met
Leu Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Glu 100 105 110Pro Val Glu Leu Arg Tyr Gly
Glu Arg Phe Val Gln Ile Ala Phe Ile 115 120 125Arg Leu Glu Gly Pro
Ala Arg Asn Pro Tyr Arg Gly Asn Tyr Gln Gly 130 135 140Ser Thr Arg
Leu Ala Phe Ser Lys Arg Lys Lys Leu145 150
1557213PRTuridine-binding motifMISC_FEATURE(1)..(13)"X" represents
any amino acid 72Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa1 5 107314PRTPyrococcus furiosus 73Phe Ala Trp Val Asp Pro Gly
Trp Asp Gly Asn Thr Leu Met1 5 107414PRTMethanococcus jannaschii
74Ala Gly Trp Ile Asp Ala Gly Phe Lys Gly Lys Ile Thr Leu1 5
107514PRTMethanococcus jannaschii put. 75Ser Ala Val His Asp Pro
Gly Tyr Glu Gly Arg Pro Glu Tyr1 5 107614PRTD. sulf. 76Pro Thr Ile
Val Asp Ala Gly Phe Glu Gly Gln Leu Thr Ile1 5 107714PRTEscherichia
coli 77Ala His Arg Ile Asp Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Cys Ile Val Leu1 5
107814PRTEscherichia coli 78Val Gly Leu Ile Asp Ser Asp Tyr Gln Gly
Gln Leu Met Ile1 5 107914PRTYeast 79Ala Gly Val Val Asp Arg Asp Tyr
Thr Gly Glu Val Lys Val1 5 108014PRTHomo sapiens 80Ala Gly Val Ile
Asp Glu Asp Tyr Arg Gly Asn Val Gly Val1 5 108114PRTHerpes Virus
81Thr Gly Leu Ile Asp Pro Gly Phe Gln Gly Glu Leu Lys Leu1 5
108233DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 82gacgacgaca agatgctact
tccagactgg aaa 338335DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 83ggaacaagac
ccgtcccact ttcacagatg aagag 358423DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic
84gaggagagca ggaaaggtgg aac 238523DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic
85ctccatgtcc caactccgat cac 238638DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic
86ggttttccca gtcacgacgt tgtaaaacga cggccagt 388738RNAArtificial
Sequencesynthetic 87gguuuuccca gucacgacgu uguaaaacga cggccagu
388835DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 88gacgacgaca agatgccctg
ctctgaagag acacc 358935DNAArtificial Sequencesynthetic 89ggaacaagac
ccgtttaatt ctttccagtg gaacc 35
* * * * *