The Huntington's disease (HD) gene has been mapped in 4~16.3 but has eluded identification. We have used haplotype analysis of linkage disequilibrium to spotlight a small segment of 4~16.3 as the likely location of the defect. A new gene, IT15, isolated using cloned trapped exons from the target area contains a polymorphic trinucleotide repeat that is expanded and unstable on HD chromosomes. A (CAG), repeat longer than the normal range was observed on HD chromosomes from all 75 disease families examined, comprising a variety of ethnic backgrounds and 4~16.3 haplotypes. The GAG), repeat appears to be located within the coding sequence of a predicted-346 kd protein that is widely expressed but unrelated to any known gene. Thus, the HD mutation involves an unstable DNA segment, similar to those described in fragile X syndrome, spino-bulbar muscular atrophy, and myotonic dystrophy, acting in the context of a novel 4~16.3 gene to produce a dominant phenotype.

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis, or type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), is a common autosomal dominant disorder characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the embryonic neural crest. Portions of the gene have been recently identified by positional cloning, and sequence analysis has shown homology to the GTPase activating protein (GAP) family. In this report we present the results of an extensive cDNA walk resulting in the cloning of the complete coding region of the NF1 transcript. Analysis of the sequences reveals an open reading frame of 2818 amino acids, although alternatively spliced products may code for different protein isoforms. The gene extends for approximately 300 kb on chromosome 17, with its promoter in a CpG-rich island.

The cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as an attractive drug repurposing target for COVID-19. Here we combine genetics and chemical perturbation to demonstrate that ACE2-mediated entry of SARS-Cov and CoV-2 requires the cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) as an assisting cofactor: ablation of genes involved in HS biosynthesis or incubating cells with a HS mimetic both inhibit Spike-mediated viral entry. We show that heparin/HS binds to Spike directly, and facilitates the attachment of Spike-bearing viral particles to the cell surface to promote viral entry. We screened approved drugs and identified two classes of inhibitors that act via distinct mechanisms to target this entry pathway. Among the drugs characterized, Mitoxantrone is a potent HS inhibitor, while Sunitinib and BNTX disrupt the actin network to indirectly abrogate HS-assisted viral entry. We further show that drugs of the two classes can be combined to generate a synergized activity against SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effect. Altogether, our study establishes HS as an attachment factor that assists SARS coronavirus cell entry and reveals drugs capable of targeting this important step in the viral life cycle.

SAG (sensitive to apoptosis gene) was cloned as an inducible gene by 1,10-phenanthroline (OP), a redoxsensitive compound and an apoptosis inducer. SAG encodes a novel zinc RING finger protein that consists of 113 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 12.6 kDa. SAG is highly conserved during evolution, with identities of 70% between human and Caenorhabditis elegans sequences and 55% between human and yeast sequences. In human tissues, SAG is ubiquitously expressed at high levels in skeletal muscles, heart, and testis. SAG is localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of cells, and its gene was mapped to chromosome 3q22-24. Bacterially expressed and purified human SAG binds to zinc and copper metal ions and prevents lipid peroxidation induced by copper or a free radical generator. When overexpressed in several human cell lines, SAG protects cells from apoptosis induced by redox agents (the metal chelator OP and zinc or copper metal ions). Mechanistically, SAG appears to inhibit and/or delay metal ion-induced cytochrome c release and caspase activation. Thus, SAG is a cellular protective molecule that appears to act as an antioxidant to inhibit apoptosis induced by metal ions and reactive oxygen species.

We have used RNA in situ hybridization to study the regional expression of the Huntington's disease gene (HD) and its rat homologue in brain and selected nonneural tissues. The HD transcript was expressed throughout the brain in both rat and human, especially in the neurons of the dentate gyrus and pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal formation, cerebellar granule cell layer, cerebellar Purkinje cells and pontine nuclei. Other brain areas expressed lower levels of the HD transcript without pronounced regional differences. Neuronal expression predominated over glial expression in all regions. HD mRNA was also expressed in colon, liver, pancreas and testes. The regional specificity of neuropathology in HD, which is most prominent in the basal ganglia, thus cannot be accounted for by the pattern of expression of HD.

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) is a primary antioxidant enzyme that scavenges hydrogen peroxide or organic hydroperoxides. We have recently found that GPX is induced by etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor and a p53 activator. In a search for a cis-element that confers potential p53 regulation of GPX, we identified a p53 binding site in the promoter of the GPX gene. This site bound to purified p53 as well as p53 in nuclear extract activated by etoposide. A luciferase reporter driven by a 262-base pair GPX promoter fragment was transcriptionally activated by wild type p53 in a p53 binding site-dependent manner. The same reporter was also activated in a p53 binding site-independent manner by several p53 mutants. The p53 binding and transactivation of the GPX promoter were enhanced by etoposide in p53-positive U2-OS cells. Etoposide-induced transactivation was blocked by a dominant negative p53 mutant, indicating that endogenous wild type p53, upon activation by etoposide, transactivated the GPX promoter. Furthermore, expression of endogenous GPX was induced significantly at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels by etoposide in U2-OS cells but not in p53-negative Saos-2 cells. This is the first report demonstrating that GPX is a novel p53 target gene. The finding links the p53 tumor suppressor to an antioxidant enzyme and will facilitate study of the p53 signaling pathway and antioxidant enzyme regulation.

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Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and factor V are homologous glycoproteins that have a domain structure of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2. FVIII is a heterodimer of the heavy chain (domains A1-A2-B) and the light chain (domains A3-C1-C2) in a metal ion-dependent association between the A1-and A3-domains. Previous studies identified a 110-amino acid region within the FVIII A1-domain that inhibits its secretion and contains multiple short peptide sequences that have potential to bind immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP). FVIII secretion requires high levels of intracellular ATP, consistent with an ATPdependent release from BiP. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to elucidate the importance of the potential BiP-binding sites in FVIII secretion. Mutation of Phe at position 309 to Ser or Ala enhanced the secretion of functional FVIII and reduced its ATP dependence. The F309S FVIII had a specific activity, thrombin activation profile, and heat inactivation properties similar to those of wild-type FVIII. However, F309S FVIII displayed increased sensitivity to EDTA-mediated inactivation that is known to occur through metal ion chelation-induced dissociation of the heavy and light chains of FVIII. The results support that Phe 309 is important in high affinity heavy and light chain interaction, and this correlates with a high affinity BiP-binding site. Introduction of the F309S mutation into other secretion defective FVIII mutants rescued their secretion, demonstrating the ability of the this mutation to improve secretion of mutant FVIII proteins retained in the cell.Two structurally related plasma glycoproteins, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) 1 and factor V (FV), are essential cofactors for the proteolytic activation of factor X and prothrombin, respectively. FVIII and FV have similar domain structures of A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 (1-4). The A-domains exhibit 35-40% amino acid identity to each other and to the A-domains of the copperbinding protein ceruloplasmin. Upon transit through the secretory compartment, FVIII is processed to a heterodimer consisting of a carboxyl-terminal derived light chain of 80 kDa (domains A3-C1-C2) in a metal ion-dependent association with an amino-terminal derived 200-kDa heavy chain (domains A1-A2-B) (5). FVIII is inefficiently secreted, and this correlates with its interaction with the protein chaperone immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP), also known as the glucose-regulated protein of 78 kDa (GRP78) (6, 7). BiP is a peptide-dependent ATPase that interacts with unfolded, mutant, or unassembled protein subunits within the ER (8). FVIII release from BiP requires high intracellular concentrations of ATP. Depletion of intracellular ATP by treatment with low concentrations of the protonophore carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) specifically inhibited FVIII secretion, whereas secretion of FV was not affected (9, 10). Further studies demonstrated that FVIII secretion requires not only high intracellular ATP level but also the ATPase activity of BiP (11).Previous studies using chimeric FVIII and FV cDNA mol...