Human branch point consensus sequence is yUnAy

Human branch point consensus sequence is yUnAy

Yeast carries a strictly conserved branch point sequence (BPS) of UACUAAC, whereas the human BPS is degenerative and is less well characterized. The human consensus BPS has never been extensively explored in vitro to date. Here, we sequenced 367 clones of lariat RT-PCR products arising from 52 introns of 20 human housekeeping genes. Among the 367 clones, a misincorporated nucleotide at the bran...

The human Kv1.1 channel is palmitoylated, modulating voltage sensing: Identification of a palmitoylation consensus sequence.

Voltage-dependent K(+) channels rely on precise dynamic protein interactions with surrounding plasma membrane lipids to facilitate complex processes such as voltage sensing and channel gating. Many transmembrane-spanning proteins use palmitoylation to facilitate dynamic membrane interactions. Herein, we demonstrate that the human Kv1.1 ion channel is palmitoylated in the cytosolic portion of th...

At a New Branch Point

BRCA1 at a branch point.

T breastand ovarian-specific tumor suppressor protein, BRCA1, has been implicated in regulating the nuclear processes of repair of damaged DNA, chromatin remodeling, and transcription. Although many have sought specific DNA sequences bound by BRCA1, no such sequences have been reported. In new research described in this issue of PNAS (1), BRCA1 protein is shown to bind to DNA with high affinity...

Consensus sequence Zen.

Consensus sequences are widely used in molecular biology but they have many flaws. As a result, binding sites of proteins and other molecules are missed during studies of genetic sequences and important biological effects cannot be seen. Information theory provides a mathematically robust way to avoid consensus sequences. Instead of using consensus sequences, sequence conservation can be quanti...