Evolution of mammalian carbonic anhydrase loci by tanden duplication: close linkage of Car-1 and Car-2 to the centromere region of chromosome 3 of the mouse

Mapping Genes Is Good for You

I abandoned my original career choice of high school teaching to pursue dentistry and soon abandoned that path for genetics. The latter decision was due to a challenge by a professor that led to me reading Nobel speeches by pioneer geneticists before I had formal exposure to the subject. Even then, I was 15 years into my career before my interest in rodent genomes gave way to mapping cattle genes. Events behind these twists and turns in my career path comprise the first part of this review. The remainder is a review of the development of the field of bovine genomics from my personal perspective. I have had the pleasure of working with outstanding graduate students, postdocs, and colleagues to contribute my small part to a discipline that has evolved from a few individuals mapping an orphan genome to a discipline underlying a revolution in animal breeding.

A Locus for Circadian Period of Locomotor Activity on Mouse Proximal Chromosome 3

Lengthened circadian period of locomotor activity is a characteristic of a congenic strain of mice carrying a nonsense mutation in exon 5 of the carbonic anhydrase II gene, car2. The null mutation in car2 is located on a DBA/2J inbred strain insert on proximal chromosome 3, on an otherwise C57BL/6J genomic background. Since reducing the size of the congenic region would narrow the possible candidate genes for period, two recombinant congenic strains (R1 and R2) were developed from the original congenic strain. These new congenic strains were assessed for period, genetic composition, and the presence of immunoreactive carbonic anhydrase II. R1 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the distal portion of the original DBA/2J insert, while R2 mice were homozygous DBA/2J for the proximal portion. R1 mice had a significantly lengthened period compared to R2 mice and wild-type C57BL/6J mice, indicating that the gene(s) affecting period is likely found within the reduced DBA/2J insert (approximately 1 cM) in the R1 mice. The R1 mice also possessed the null mutation in car2. This study confirmed the presence of a gene(s) affecting period on proximal chromosome 3 and significantly reduced the size of the congenic region and the number of candidate genes. Future studies will focus on identifying the gene influencing period.

A single copy of carbonic anhydrase 2 restores wild-type circadian period to carbonic anhydrase II-deficient mice

Carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II)-deficient mice have long circadian periods compared to their siblings with normal CA-II levels. The CA-II-deficient mice differ genetically from their siblings at proximal chromosome three, where the mutated carbonic anhydrase 2 gene sits on a small insert of DNA from the DBA/2J strain. The rest of the genome is that of the C57BL/6J strain. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that the null mutation in carbonic anhydrase 2 and the long circadian period phenotype were linked. In order to separate the effect of the null mutation in carbonic anhydrase 2 from the effect of DBA/2J alleles of other genes on the insert, two new lines of mice were studied. The first line, Kar, was developed from a CA-II-deficient mouse that had a fortuitous recombination restoring functional CA-II without affecting the rest of the DBA/2J insert. The second line was generated by breeding DBA/2J mice and C57BL/6J mice until they had the genomic composition of CA-II-deficient mice without the null mutation. Both lines of mice had circadian periods not different from C57BL/6J mice and shorter than CA-II-deficient mice. The phenotype of the new lines showed that the long circadian period characteristic of the CA-II-deficient mice arises when functional CA-II is absent, not when DBA/2J alleles are present on proximal chromosome three.

Expression of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) promoter-reporter fusion genes in multiple tissues of transgenic mice does not replicate normal patterns of expression indicating complexity of CA II regulation in vivo

Although the proximal, 5' 115 bp of the human carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) gene was sufficient for expression of a reporter gene in some transfected cell lines, we found previously that 1100 bp of this promoter (or 500 bp of the mouse CA II promoter) was not sufficient for expression in transgenic mice. We have now studied the expression of linked reporter genes in mice transgenic for either (1) 11 kb of the human 5' promoter or (2) 8 kb of the human 5' promoter with mouse sequences from the first exon, part of the first intron (since a CpG island spans this region), and the 3' sequences of the gene. Expression was found in both cases, but the tissue specificity was not appropriate for CA II. Although there was a difference in the sensitivity of the assays used, the first construct led to expression in many tissues, while the second construct was expressed only in spleen. These findings indicate considerable complexity of DNA control regions for in vivo CA II expression.

Apparent cleidocranial dysplasia associated with abnormalities of 8q22 in three individuals

Cleidocranial dysplasia is an autosomal dominant, generalised skeletal disorder characterised by variable clavicular hypoplasia, frontal bossing, multiple Wormian bones, and delayed eruption of the teeth. The gene locus for this syndrome has not yet been assigned. Three individuals with manifestations of cleidocranial dysplasia associated with rearrangements of chromosome 8q22 are described. The evidence presented suggests that the gene for cleidocranial dysplasia may be located on chromosome 8q in humans in a region showing homology to mouse chromosome 3.

The AXB and BXA set of recombinant inbred mouse strains

The recombinant inbred (RI) set of strains, AXB and BXA, derived from C57BL/6J and A/J, originally constructed and maintained at the University of California/San Diego, have been imported into The Jackson Laboratory and are now in the 29th to 59th generation of brother-sister matings. Genetic quality control testing with 45 proviral and 11 biochemical markers previously typed in this RI set indicated that five strains had been genetically contaminated sometime in the past, so these strains have been discarded. The correct and complete strain distribution patterns for 56 genetic markers are reported for the remaining RI strain set, which consists of 31 living strains and 8 extinct strains for which DNA is available. Two additional strains, AXB 12 and BXA 17, are living and may be added to the set pending further tests of genetic purity. The progenitors of this RI set differ in susceptibility to 27 infectious diseases as well as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cleft palate, and hydrocephalus. Thus, the AXB and BXA set of RI strains will be useful in the genetic analysis of several complex diseases.

Physical mapping of the human carbonic anhydrase gene cluster on chromosome 8

A cluster of genes encoding the three cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrase isozymes CAI, CAII, and CAIII lie on the long arm of chromosome 8 (8q22) in humans. These genes have been mapped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The genes lie in the order CA2, CA3, CA1. CA2 and CA3 are separated by 20 kb and are transcribed in the same direction, away from CA1. CA1 is separated from CA3 by over 80 kb and is transcribed in the direction opposite to CA2 and CA3. The arrangement of the genes is consistent with proposals that the duplication event which gave rise to CA1 predated the duplication which gave rise to CA2 and CA3. The order of these three genes differs from that suggested for the mouse based on recombination frequency.

Biochemical and genetic characterization of esterase-27 (ES-27), the major plasma cholinesterase of the house mouse (Mus musculus)

Esterase-27A (ES-27A) was characterized in strain A/WySnA by a cascade of seven bands seen after disc electrophoresis of serum and subsequent staining for esterase. ES-27A catalyses the hydrolysis of thiocholine butyrate and is strongly inhibited by 100 microM tetraisopropyl pyrophosphamide (isoOMPA). Hence, the enzyme was concluded to be a cholinesterase EC 3.1.1.8. A heat-labile form termed ES-27B was represented by strain AKR/Han. From a three-point cross (AKR/Han, A/Wy) and a five-point cross (AKR/Han, SEG/1), the gene order on chromosome 3 was concluded to be centromere-Car-2-Es-26-Es-27-Amy-1-Adh-1.

IgM natural autoantibodies against bromelain-treated mouse red blood cells recognise carbonic anhydrase

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) from mouse erythrocyte membranes is recognised as an autoantigen in Western blotting experiments with FUB 1, a murine IgM monoclonal antibody that binds both phosphatidylcholine and bromelain-treated mouse red blood cells (BrMRBC). Serum from mice stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS-serum) also recognises CA. From SDS-PAGE, and blotting experiments with whole mouse erythrocytes, we found two closely spaced glycoprotein bands in the 30 kD region that reacted with both FUB 1 and LPS-serum. One of the molecular weight markers, bovine carbonic anhydrase which is of a molecular weight of about 30 kD, electrophoresed in the same 30 kD region also reacted with these antibodies. Carbonic anhydrases from a range of mammalian species were found to be crossreactive with FUB 1 and LPS-serum by Western blotting, whereas human glycophorin A and human asialoglycophorin were not recognised by the antibodies. FUB 1 specifically recognises both native and denatured bovine carbonic anhydrase in ELISA assays. The serological identity of the determinants of CA and BrMRBC was confirmed by specific absorption of both FUB 1 and LPS-serum with BrMRBC and normal mouse erythrocytes. We propose that a native autoantigenic epitope on erythrocytes may be revealed by the proteolytic action of bromelain and that this determinant is associated, at least in part, with carbonic anhydrase.

Ectopic expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in the cerebellum in mice transgenic for a carbonic anhydrase II promoter-CAT construct that is without apparent phenotypic effect

We have developed six transgenic lines of mice with constructs containing presumptive 5' regulatory regions of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II). Four of the lines contained 1,100 bases of the 5' flanking region of the human CA II gene, and two transgenic lines resulted from a construct containing 500 bases of the 5' flanking region of the mouse CA II gene. Tissue-specific expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was not obtained in any of the transgenic lines. One of the transgenic lines was found to have high levels of expression of CAT in cerebellum. This expression persisted through multiple generations and was independent of the parental origin of the transgene. On the assumption that the expression was due to the insertion of the transgene in or near a gene expressed normally in cerebellum, homozygous mice were bred for the transgenic insert to see if a mutation might have been induced. Homozygous mice were found and seemed to be normal in all aspects of their phenotype studied. Thus, in this case, neither the insertion of the gene nor the ectopic expression of CAT seemed to be harmful to the animals.

The polymorphic human DNA sequence D8S8 assigned to 8q13-21.1, close to the carbonic anhydrase gene cluster, by isotopic and nonisotopic in situ hybridization and by linkage analysis

Restriction fragment length polymorphism at the D8S8 locus is explained by the occurrence of at least two alternative alleles at two separate TaqI sites; TaqI-A allele frequencies 0.73 and 0.27 and TaqI-B allele frequencies 0.94 and 0.06. The D8S8 locus has been assigned to 8q13-21.1, near to the carbonic anhydrase (CA) gene cluster, by in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes using both tritium and immunofluorescently labelled probes. Linkage analysis using the CEPH family DNA panel indicates a close genetic linkage between D8S8 and CA3, with a lod score of +7.80 at theta = 0.05 in males.

Mapping of mouse carbonic anhydrase-3, Car-3: another locus in the homologous region of mouse chromosome 3 and human chromosome 8

At least six separate genes determining tissue- and organelle-specific isoforms of carbonic anhydrase are known. We have determined the chromosome location of one of these genes, carbonic anhydrase-3 (Car-3), in the mouse and carried out a linkage analysis of Car-1, Car-2, and Car-3. Car-3 has been assigned to band 3A2 by in situ hybridization. We identified a PstI restriction fragment length polymorphism between Mus spretus and Mus mus domesticus and, by using an interspecific backcross, showed that Car-3 is 2.4 +/- 1.7% SE from both Car-1 and Car-2, calculating genetic distance as percentage recombination. No recombinants were found between Car-1 and Car-2 in 100 backcross offspring, and when these data are combined with earlier results, these two loci are estimated to be 1.2 cM from each other at the 95% confidence interval. The three homologous carbonic anhydrase loci in man had earlier been assigned to 8q22, and the finding of linkage of Car-3 to Car-1 and Car-2 in the mouse adds another locus to the conserved segments on mouse chromosome 3 and human chromosome 8.

Transplantation analysis of B cell destruction in (NOD x CBA)F1 mouse bone marrow chimeras

F1 hybrids produced by outcross of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with diabetes resistant strains are also diabetes resistant. This resistance is abrogated if F1 hybrids are lethally irradiated and then haematopoietically reconstituted with NOD bone marrow. This model was employed to determine whether T lymphocyte recognition and elimination of pancreatic B cells in NOD mice is restricted by the MHC haplotype of the target B cell. Diabetes resistant (NOD/Lt x CBA/J)F1 hybrids were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with NOD/Lt bone marrow. Following haematopoietic reconstitution, donor matched NOD/Lt or CBA/J pancreatic islet and anterior pituitary grafts were grafted under a renal capsule to determine whether effector cells derived from NOD/Lt marrow progenitors would reject islet grafts in a MHC restricted fashion. The H-2k haplotype expressed by CBA/J mice differs from all known loci of the unique H-2 haplotype of NOD; therefore, if NOD/Lt T lymphocytes eliminate pancreatic B cells in a MHC restricted fashion. NOD islet grafts would be eliminated in these chimeras while CBA islet grafts would be retained. Overt diabetes developed in 80% of the female and 40% of the male F1 hybrids following reconstitution with NOD/Lt marrow, while no hybrids reconstituted with CBA/J marrow became diabetic through a year of age. The retention of CBA/J skin and pituitary grafts in NOD/Lt marrow reconstituted F1 hybrids confirmed that the F1 thymic environment imparted tolerance to CBA/J alloantigens. Nonetheless, responses to a T cell dependent model antigen were restricted to the unique MHC haplotype of NOD. This was associated in the hyperglycaemic chimeras with rejection (8-21 days post-implantation) of both CBA/J and NOD/Lt islet grafts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Definition of mouse chromosome 1 and 3 gene linkage groups that are conserved on human chromosome 1: evidence that a conserved linkage group spans the centromere of human chromosome 1

Comparative mapping between the human and the mouse genomes allows characterization of linkage groups that have been conserved over evolution. In this study, genes previously localized to adjacent regions of human chromosome 1 were mapped to discrete regions on distal mouse chromosomes 1 and 3 using an interspecific cross. Linkage analysis in mouse defined two groups in which the gene order appears to be the same as that in humans: 15 genes localized between human chromosome 1q21 and 1q32 were found to span 29.5 cM on distal mouse chromosome 1; 6 genes localized between human chromosome 1q21 and 1p22 spanned 15.6 cM on distal mouse chromosome 3. These data suggest that gene order within large chromosome segments may remain stable over long periods of evolution and that the position of the centromere may reflect a late event in the evolution of higher eukaryotic organisms. These studies provide a model for examination of specific evolutionary events.

Oligodendrocytes express a normal phenotype in carbonic anhydrase II-deficient mice

The nervous system of a mouse mutant characterized by a carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) deficiency was examined with light and electron microscopy and with immunocytochemistry using different glial cell markers. No major morphologic abnormalities at either the cellular or subcellular level are detectable in the brains of CAII-deficient mice, even though CAII is the main isozyme of CA in the brain. The oligodendrocytes, which characteristically express high levels of CA II, do not exhibit signs of degeneration or abnormalities even in 1-year-old CA II-deficient mice. Similarly, neurons and astrocytes have a normal structure and distribution. Oligodendrocytes show a normal staining pattern and distribution for galactocerebroside (GC), 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP), and myelin basic protein (MBP). Astrocytes have a normal morphology and distribution when stained for GFAP and S100 protein. The lack of major degeneration in the brain due to a CA II deficiency suggests these mice utilize other enzymatic or physiological pathways to compensate for the enzyme absence.

Mouse carbonic anhydrase III: nucleotide sequence and expression studies

A cDNA for the mouse carbonic anhydrase, CAIII, has been isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library. The cloned cDNA contains all of the coding region (777 bp) and both 5' untranslated (86-bp) and 3' untranslated (217-bp) sequences. The coding sequence shows 87% homology at the nucleotide level and 91% homology, when amino acid residues are compared, with human CAIII. Protein and mRNA analyses show that CAIII is present at low levels in cultured myoblasts and is abundant in adult skeletal muscle and in liver. The marked sex-related differences in CAIII distribution, described for rat liver, are not seen in the mouse. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms using TaqI and PstI are described which distinguish between Mus spretus and Mus musculus domesticus.

Human chromosome 8

The role of human chromosome 8 in genetic disease together with the current status of the genetic linkage map for this chromosome is reviewed. Both hereditary genetic disease attributed to mutant alleles at gene loci on chromosome 8 and neoplastic disease owing to somatic mutation, particularly chromosomal translocations, are discussed.

Cocoa: a new mouse model for platelet storage pool deficiency

We describe genetic, haematological and biochemical properties of a new mouse pigment mutant, cocoa (coa). Cocoa is a recessive mutation located on the centromeric end of chromosome 3 near the Car-2 locus. The mutation causes increased bleeding time accompanied by symptoms of platelet storage pool deficiency (SPD), including decreased platelet serotonin and decreased visibility of dense granules as analysed by electron microscopy of unfixed platelets. Dense granules were visible in normal numbers when platelets were incubated with the fluorescent dye, mepacrine. The intragranular environment, however, was abnormal as indicated by decreased flashing of mepacrine-loaded dense granules after exposure to ultraviolet light. Unlike the previously described seven mouse pigment mutations with SPD in which pigment granules, platelet dense granules and lysosomes are affected, the cocoa mutant had normal secretion of lysosomal enzymes from kidney proximal tubule cells and platelets. The cocoa mutation thus represents an example of a single gene which simultaneously affects melanosomes and platelet dense granules but probably does not affect lysosomes. The results indicate that melanosomes and platelet dense granules share steps in synthesis and/or processing. Cocoa may be a model for cases of human Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in which functions of melanosomes and platelet dense granules, but not lysosomes, are involved.

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced null mutation at the mouse Car-2 locus: an animal model for human carbonic anhydrase II deficiency syndrome

Electrophoretic screening of (C57BL/6J x DBA/2J)F1 progeny of male mice treated with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea revealed a mouse that lacked the paternal carbonic anhydrase II (CA II). Breeding tests showed that this trait was heritable and due to a null mutation at the Car-2 locus on chromosome 3. Like humans with the same inherited enzyme defect, animals homozygous for the new null allele are runted and have renal tubular acidosis. However, the prominent osteopetrosis found in humans with CA II deficiency could not be detected even in very old homozygous null mice. A molecular analysis of the deficient mice shows that the mutant gene is not deleted and is transcribed. The CA II protein, which is normally expressed in most tissues, could not be detected by immunodiffusion analysis in any tissues of the CA II-deficient mice, suggesting a nonsense or a missense mutation at the Car-2 locus.

Regional localization of carbonic anhydrase genes CA1 and CA3 on human chromosome 8

The human carbonic anhydrase isozymes represent a family of homologous proteins which are important in respiratory function, fluid secretion, and maintenance of cellular acid-base homeostasis. Using somatic cell genetic techniques we have mapped two of the CA genes (CA1 and CA3) to human chromosome 8. In situ hybridization data demonstrates that both CA1 and CA3 map to the same region (q13-q22) of chromosome 8.

Nucleotide sequence, tissue-specific expression, and chromosome location of human carbonic anhydrase III: the human CAIII gene is located on the same chromosome as the closely linked CAI and CAII genes

The carbonic anhydrases (CA) are a class of metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. The genes for the carbonic anhydrase isozymes are members of a multigene family that are differentially expressed in a number of cell types. We have isolated a full-length representative of a CAIII mRNA transcript from an adult human muscle cDNA library, and we present the complete nucleotide sequence of this cDNA clone. RNA blots demonstrate that CAIII messages can be detected in a variety of cell types but that high-level expression is limited to human fetal and adult skeletal muscle and to rodent slow skeletal muscle and liver. In addition, we have used a panel of human-mouse cell hybrids to localize the human CAIII gene to chromosome 8. Previous reports have established the CAI and CAII isozyme genes to be closely linked on chromosome 8, and the assignment of the CAIII gene to the same chromosome raises the possibility that these genes may all be linked at a single complex locus.

Molecular evolution of the carbonic anhydrase genes: calculation of divergence time for mouse carbonic anhydrase I and II

A cDNA clone in pBR322 that cross-hybridizes with a mouse carbonic anhydrase form II (CAII) probe has been sequenced and identified as mouse carbonic anhydrase form I (CAI). The 1224-base-pair clone encodes the entire 260-amino-acid protein and appears to contain an Alu-like element in the 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 77% homology to human CAI and contains 17 of the 20 residues that are considered unique to and invariant for all mammalian CAI isozymes. The results of a detailed comparison of the nucleic acid sequences spanning the coding regions of mouse CAI and rabbit CAI have been used to calibrate an evolutionary clock for the carbonic anhydrases (CAs). These data have been applied to a comparison of the mouse CAI and CAII nucleic acid sequences to calculate the divergence time between the two genes. The divergence-time calculation provides the first estimation of the evolutionary relationship between CAs based entirely on nucleotide sequence comparison.

Assignment of the gene determining human carbonic anhydrase, CAI, to chromosome 8

A cDNA clone complementary to the mRNA encoding the rabbit erythrocyte specific carbonic anhydrase, CAI, has been used as probe for human CAI sequences in the analysis of DNA from panels of rodent/human somatic cell hybrids. The presence of the human CAI gene in all hybrids correlates with the presence of chromosome 8. Together with published mapping data, this assignment indicates that three CA loci are situated on chromosome 8.

Dominant visible and electrophoretically expressed mutations induced in male mice exposed to ethylene oxide by inhalation

The offspring of DBA/2J male mice exposed to ethylene oxide (EtO) by inhalation had an increased incidence of both dominant visible and electrophoretically detected mutations over that found in control populations. The progeny at risk were obtained from matings during the exposure period and were the products of germ cells that were exposed throughout the entire spermatogenic process. The results reported here suggest that male germ cells repeatedly exposed to EtO during spermatogenesis are susceptible to EtO-induced transmissible damage.

The gene for human muscle specific carbonic anhydrase (CAIII) is assigned to chromosome 8

A cDNA clone complementary to the mRNA encoding the human muscle specific carbonic anhydrase CAIII has been used as probe in the analysis of DNA from panels of rodent/human somatic cell hybrids. The presence of the CA III gene in all hybrids correlates with the presence of chromosome 8. This is the first assignment of the CAIII gene in any species and, together with published mapping data, indicates that all of the human CA loci are situated on chromosome 8.

Nucleotide sequence and derived amino acid sequence of a cDNA encoding human muscle carbonic anhydrase

We report the nucleotide (nt) sequence of a full length cDNA clone, pCA15, which encodes the human muscle-specific carbonic anhydrase, CAIII. pCA15 identifies a 1.7-kb mRNA, which is present at high levels in skeletal muscle, at much lower levels in cardiac and smooth muscle and which appears to be developmentally regulated. The CAIII mRNA is distinguished by a 887-nt long 3'-untranslated region, containing two AAUAAA signal sequences and is longer than either of the mRNAs encoding the erythrocyte CAs, CAI and CAII, which each have relatively shorter 3'-untranslated regions, 360 and 670 nt long, respectively. The derived amino acid (aa) sequence for human CAIII shows 85% homology with ox CAIII, 62% homology with human CAII and 54% with human CAI when simple pairwise aa comparisons are made. We describe an allelic variation at a TaqI restriction site for CAIII which occurs at high frequency in the European population.

A linkage study of protein-coding loci in Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis

Genealogical and gene marker data from the closely related species Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis have been used to search for linkage between genes coding for the blood proteins albumin, carbonic anhydrase 1 and 2, diaphorase 1 and 2, group-specific component, glucose phosphate isomerase, hemoglobin alpha chains, isocitrate dehydrogenase, prealbumin, and transferrin. The results are consistent with conservation of the linkage between the loci coding for albumin and group-specific component and loci coding for the two carbonic anhydrase isozymes, as observed in other species. Among the 38 possible pairwise comparisons, no new linkage groups were identified. Tight linkage can be excluded for most pairs of loci.

Isolation of a cDNA clone for the human muscle specific carbonic anhydrase, CAIII

The molecular cloning of cDNA for the human muscle specific carbonic anhydrase CAIII is described. The recombinant was isolated from a human muscle cDNA library prepared in the expression vector lambda gt11, and was characterized by hybridization selection and immunoprecipitation. A comparison of insert cDNA and mRNA sizes suggests that the cDNA is full length and includes extensive untranslated sequences. Preliminary sequence data have confirmed the authenticity of this clone and Southern blotting of human and rodent DNA indicates that it will be a useful probe in the analysis of somatic cell hybrids.

DNA polymorphism in the 5' flanking region of the human carbonic anhydrase II gene on chromosome 8

A restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) is described which is associated with the human carbonic anhydrase II gene (CA2) that codes for one of the three genetically distinct carbonic anhydrase isozymes, CA I, CA II, and CA III. The isolated DNA was cleaved with several restriction enzymes and subjected to Southern blot hybridization analysis using a DNA probe containing the 5' end of the human CA II gene. A two allele RFLP which was detected with the restriction endonuclease, Taq I, is expressed phenotypically on Southern blots as either a 5.4 kilobase (kb) fragment or as 4.0 and 1.4kb fragments. These fragments result from the presence or absence of a Taq I recognition site in the 5' flanking region approximately 1.0kb from the initiation codon of the CA II gene. Segregation analysis showed that the alleles are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, with a frequency of 50%.

Novel carbonic anhydrase (Car-2) allele in Spanish mice

A unique electrophoretic form of carbonic anhydrase is characteristic of some laboratory-maintained mice of the wild mouse species Mus spretus. This isozyme has been characterized by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and by isoelectric focusing. It is proposed that this isozyme be called CAR-2C and that its encoding allele be designated Car-2c. Fertile hybrids of Mus spretus and C57BL/6J (Car-2a) show both CAR-2A and CAR-2C bands of approximately equal intensity. The CAR-2C isozyme is readily identified by electrophoresis on 75-mm cellulose acetate strips because it migrates significantly faster than the isozymes of inbred mice, the CAR-2A and CAR-2B that do not separate from one another under standard conditions. Isoelectric focusing cleanly resolves all three of these CAR-2 forms. Mus hortulanus, although closely related to Mus spretus in other biochemical-genetic characteristics, has a CAR-2-homologous isozyme that is distinctly different from the CAR-2C of Mus spretus and from the isozymes of the common inbred strains.

Chromosome maps of man and mouse II

Chromosome displays and listings are presented showing loci whose position is known in both man and mouse, in similar manner to our previous report (Dalton et al. 1981). There is now evidence for at least 27 conserved autosomal segments with two or more loci in the two species. The human and mouse chromosome maps show the location of homologous genes. The mouse map also shows the positions of translocations used in gene location and of some other genes used in linkage studies on them.

Towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression during diploidization in phylogenetically polyploid lower vertebrates

Polyploidization and regional gene duplication have occurred frequently during vertebrate evolution, providing the genetic material necessary for creating evolutionary novelties. Mammals, including man, can be regarded as diploid species with a polyploid history of evolution. Polyploidization steps during the phylogeny of mammals probably took place in the genomes of amphibian- or fish-like mammalian ancestors. The polyploid status has subsequently been shaped by the process of diploidization, leading to genomes that are polyploid with respect to the amount of genetic material and the number of gene copies, and diploid with respect to the level of gene expression and chromosomal characteristics. Phylogenetically tetraploid amphibian and teleost species together with their diploid close relatives can be used as a model system to study the effect of polyploidization and the mechanisms of diploidization of a parallel event during early mammalian evolution. Experimental evidence permits the assumption that the diploidization of gene expression in tetraploid cyprinid fish may be functionally correlated with structural modifications of the ribosomal components, RNA and protein. These findings are discussed in the light of reduced protein synthesis in diploidized tetraploid species and a mechanism to explain diploidization during mammalian evolution.

The nucleotide sequence and derived amino acid sequence of cDNA coding for mouse carbonic anhydrase II

The nucleotide sequence of a clone containing mouse carbonic anhydrase (CA) cDNA in pBR322 has been determined. The cloned cDNA contains all of the coding region except for nucleotides specifying the first eight amino acids, and all of the 3' noncoding region, which consists of 700 nucleotides. A cDNA clone was identified which contains an additional 54 bp at the 5' end, so that the complete amino acid sequence of mouse CA could be deduced. This sequence showed a 73-81% homology with other mammalian CA form II isozymes, 56-63% with form I isozymes, and 52-56% with form III isozymes. By examination of the amino acids which are unique and invariant for each isozyme, the mouse amino acid sequence was found to contain 16 of the 23 residues that are unique and invariant to mammalian CA form II isozymes, but only one or no residue for forms I and III, respectively.

Polymorphic gene for human carbonic anhydrase II: a molecular disease marker located on chromosome 8

A panel of 28 mouse-human somatic cell hybrids of known karyotype was screened for the presence of the human carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) gene, which encodes one of the three well-characterized, genetically distinct carbonic anhydrase isozymes (carbonate dehydratase; carbonate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.1). The human and mouse CA II genes can be clearly distinguished by Southern blot analysis of BamHI-digested genomic DNA with a mouse CA II cDNA hybridization probe. The two major hybridizing fragments in mouse were 15 and 6.0 kilobase pairs, and in human they were 15 and 4.3 kilobase pairs. Analysis of the somatic cell hybrids by this technique identified those containing human CA II gene sequences. Segregation analysis of the molecular marker and chromosomes in cell hybrids indicated a clear correlation between the presence of chromosome 8 and the human CA II gene (CA2). This finding provides the second polymorphic marker for human chromosome 8 and, moreover, a molecular disease marker, because human CA II deficiency has recently been linked to an autosomal recessive syndrome of osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis and cerebral calcification.

A chemical and enzymological comparison of the common major human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase II, its minor component, and a new genetic variant, CA II Melbourne (237 Pro leads to His)

A new variant of human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) was discovered in a single Caucasian family during routine screening of blood samples from Melbourne, Australia. The normal and variant enzymes in the heterozygous CA II mixture, as well as a minor component of the normal enzyme, were resolved by isoelectric focusing following purification by a specific affinity matrix. Specific esterase activities of all three were very similar, but quite different Michaelis-Menten constants were noted for the minor component. No differences were noted with respect to inhibition by acetazolamide, but the minor component was more sensitive to chloride inhibition. Double diffusion analysis showed the immunological identity of the normal, variant, and minor components. Both the variant CA II and the minor component were less heat stable than the normal enzyme, but all forms showed identical rates of inactivation upon dialysis against the zinc chelator pyridine dicarboxylic acid. Amino acid analyses of the whole protein and the single difference peptide were consistent with a proline to histidine substitution in the variant. This was identified as 237 Pro leads to His by a process of elimination involving direct sequencing of tryptic and cyanogen bromide peptides. The numbering is by homology with the human CA I sequence.

Purification, properties, partial sequence and evolutionary relationships of marsupial erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase

Carbonic anhydrase (EC 4.2.1.1) has been purified from the erythrocytes of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii desmarest). The enzyme was separated into four zones of activity. The three major individual forms were isolated as discrete entities. Comparison of substrate specificity, specific activities, kinetic constants and inhibition characteristics indicated that these heteromorphs represented minor post-translational modifications of a single gene product of carbonic anhydrase II type. Double-immunodiffusion and peptide mapping confirmed this proposition. The marsupial enzyme exists as a monomer with a molecular weight of about 29 000 containing one atom of zinc per mole which is much more tightly bound to the enzyme than it is in either human carbonic anhydrase I or II. The wallaby enzyme was, like human carbonic anhydrase II, partially inactivated by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate under conditions not inhibitory for human carbonic anhydrase I. The partial sequence of 51 residues of cyanogen-bromide peptides was sufficiently homologous to allow unambiguous overlap with the sequence of both human carbonic anhydrase I and II isozymes as well as with the recently published sequence of an apparent type I-like enzyme from the turtle. It is clear that the single wallaby erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase belongs to the class of separately evolving type II isozymes which have previously been defined only for placental mammals.

Glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and carbonic anhydrase activities in oligodendrocytes and myelin: comparisons between species and CNS regions

Oligodendrocytes isolated from bovine white matter had higher specific activities of glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) than were observed in homogenates of white matter or gray matter from bovine brains, whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was lower in the cells than in the homogenates. These observations suggest that G6PDH, as well as GPDH, is an oligodendrocyte-enriched enzyme. The 3 enzymes were also measured in myelin from bovine brains, rat spinal cords, and mouse brains, and, for each enzyme, the relative specific activity (RSA) in myelin was calculated by dividing the specific activity in myelin by the specific activity in the respective starting homogenate. Of the 3 enzymes, GPDH, G6PDH and LDH, the RSA of G6PDH was highest, at 0.26, in the bovine myelin, whereas the RSAs of GPDH were highest, at approximately 0.20, in the myelin from rat spinal cords and mouse brains. Carbonic anhydrase was also measured in the myelin from the rodent tissues, and significantly higher RSAs, at 0.43-1.06, were obtained. The finding that carbonic anhydrase consistently has higher concentrations than either G6PDH or GPDH in myelin suggests that the latter are restricted, in the myelin sheath, to regions in which oligodendroglial cytoplasm is enclosed, whereas carbonic anhydrase is distributed more broadly in the myelin membranes. A developmental increase in GPDH in the rat spinal cord is also reported.

A polymorphic variant of human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I with a widespread distribution in Australian aborigines, CAI Australia-9 (8 Asp leads to Gly): purification, properties, amino acid substitution, and possible physiological significance of the variant enzyme

Carbonic anhydrase I (EC 4.2.1.1) purified from the pooled packed red blood cells of 100 individuals typed as heterozygous for the common Australian Aboriginal carbonic anhydrase I variant CAI Australia-9 had a slightly higher specific CO2 hydratase or esterase (toward p-nitrophenyl acetate) activity than the normal component and a higher Km and Vmax using the esterase substrate. The variant enzyme was slightly more resistant to heat inactivation. The extent of inhibition of both enzymes by the specific inhibitor acetazolamide was identical, as was their immunological behavior and the lability of the active-site zinc ion. The variant enzyme was more resistant to chloride inhibition. The physiological importance of this observation is discussed in the context of a proposed adaptive advantage of the variant gene in the arid western and central regions of Australia. The amino acid substitution in the Aboriginal variant of a glycine for an aspartic acid residue has been located at residue 8 from the N terminus (i.e., 8 Asp leads to Gly), by proteolytic and partial acid hydrolyses. The possible effects of this substitution on the structure and function of the molecule are discussed.

Chemical and enzymological characterization of an Indonesian variant of human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase II, CAII Jogjakarta (17 Lys leads to Glu)

A new variant of human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) was discovered in a single heterozygous individual during routine screening of blood samples from the island of Java in Indonesia. The normal and variant components of the heterozygous CAII mixture were resolved by isoelectric focusing following purification by a specific affinity matrix. Specific esterase activities and Michaelis-Menten constants were identical. Only very small differences were noted with respect to inhibition by acetazolamide and chloride. Double diffusion analysis showed the immunological identify of the normal and variant enzymes. The variant CAII was considerably less heat stable than the normal enzyme. The variant was slightly more stable than the normal enzyme upon dialysis against the zinc chelator dipicolinic acid (PDCA), indicating a tighter binding of zinc than the normal enzyme. Analysis of tryptic peptides from the normal and variant enzymes indicated that, in the variant, lysine at position 17 from the N terminus had changed to glutamic acid. The differences in physiochemical properties observed for the normal and variant enzyme are discussed in relation to the possible effects of this substitution on the structure of the CAII molecule.