G Wistow1, L Sardarian, W Gan, M K Wyatt. 1. Section on Molecular Structure and Function, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2740, USA. graeme@helix.nih.gov
Abstract
PURPOSE: gammaS-crystallins are major components of adult vertebrate lenses. Here we examine the population of gammaS transcripts in adult human lens and the structure of the human CRYGS genes. METHODS: Adult lens human transcripts were obtained from NEIBANK, an Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) analysis of human eye tissues. The human CRYGS gene was isolated as a PAC clone and sequenced by direct and PCR-based methods. RESULTS: As judged by EST frequency, gammaS is one of the most abundant transcripts in the adult human lens, ranking just behind betaB2-, alphaB- and alphaA-crystallins. EST analysis reveals two transcript sizes resulting from alternative AATAAA and ATTAAA polyadenylation signals. In addition, one cDNA clone was found to contain a novel insert sequence that disrupted the open reading frame. Gene sequencing confirmed that this insert comes from intron 1 and is part of a sequence corresponding to a cluster of unidentified human transcripts in dbEST. Human and mouse gammaS gene proximal promoter sequences were compared and showed a high degree of evolutionary conservation, including consensus binding sites for transcription factors of the maf and SOX families. CONCLUSIONS: The human CRYGS gene can give rise to at least two transcripts through alternative polyadenylation. A minor transcript results from alternative splicing into sequences in intron 1. These sequences form part of a transcription unit (Mys) expressed in several non-lens tissues. The identity and function Mys of is not yet known, however, the cryptic splicing of CRYGS could produce a defective protein product, with potentially deleterious results for the adult human lens.
PURPOSE: gammaS-crystallins are major components of adult vertebrate lenses. Here we examine the population of gammaS transcripts in adult human lens and the structure of the humanCRYGS genes. METHODS: Adult lens human transcripts were obtained from NEIBANK, an Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) analysis of human eye tissues. The humanCRYGS gene was isolated as a PAC clone and sequenced by direct and PCR-based methods. RESULTS: As judged by EST frequency, gammaS is one of the most abundant transcripts in the adult human lens, ranking just behind betaB2-, alphaB- and alphaA-crystallins. EST analysis reveals two transcript sizes resulting from alternative AATAAA and ATTAAA polyadenylation signals. In addition, one cDNA clone was found to contain a novel insert sequence that disrupted the open reading frame. Gene sequencing confirmed that this insert comes from intron 1 and is part of a sequence corresponding to a cluster of unidentified human transcripts in dbEST. Human and mouse gammaS gene proximal promoter sequences were compared and showed a high degree of evolutionary conservation, including consensus binding sites for transcription factors of the maf and SOX families. CONCLUSIONS: The humanCRYGS gene can give rise to at least two transcripts through alternative polyadenylation. A minor transcript results from alternative splicing into sequences in intron 1. These sequences form part of a transcription unit (Mys) expressed in several non-lens tissues. The identity and function Mys of is not yet known, however, the cryptic splicing of CRYGS could produce a defective protein product, with potentially deleterious results for the adult human lens.
Authors: Ishara A Mills-Henry; Shannon L Thol; Melissa S Kosinski-Collins; Eugene Serebryany; Jonathan A King Journal: Biophys J Date: 2019-06-14 Impact factor: 4.033