David Kowbel

The human β-subunit of rod photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase: Complete retinal cDNA sequence and evidence for expression in brain

We have identified and sequenced cDNA clones that encode for the human beta-subunit of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDEB). A single 2565-bp open reading frame that codes for an 854-amino-acid protein was identified. The human beta-subunit protein is 90% identical to the bovine beta-subunit and 91% identical to the mouse protein. Northern blot analysis indicates that the gene is expressed as an abundant 3.5-kb transcript in retina and as a rare 2.9-kb transcript in brain. The isolation of cDNAs from human brain cDNA libraries confirms the brain as a site of expression for this gene. The molecular defect underlying retinal degeneration in the rd mouse has been found to be a nonsense mutation in the beta-subunit of the mouse cGMP PDE, resulting in a truncated protein (Pittler et al., 1991b, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88: 8322-8326). The molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding for the PDEB represents the first step in establishing whether this gene plays a causative role in any one of the several human hereditary retinopathies or, based on its localization to chromosome 4p 16.3, in the pathogenesis of Huntington disease.

Identification of multiple CpG islands and associated conserved sequences in a candidate region for the Huntington disease gene

The HD locus has been assigned to 4p16.3 distal to the DNA segment D4S10. However, the precise location of this gene is still unknown. At least three regions, together encompassing more than 3.5 Mb of DNA, can still be considered as candidate regions for the HD gene. Our efforts are directed toward the cloning and the complete characterization of one of these regions. Thus far we have cloned 460 kb of DNA in contiguously overlapping cosmids distal to D4S111 and have developed a detailed long-range restriction map orienting the contig within the terminal region of 4p16.3. We characterized 15 CpG-rich islands defined by tightly clustered rare cutter restriction sites for the enzymes NotI, BssHII, EagI, NruI, and SacII. In addition, we show that the sequences associated with the CpG-rich islands detect cross-species conservation. The detailed genetic analysis of the 460-kb contig provides a framework for the identification of genes, which can be assessed for the characteristics expected for the HD gene.