The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.

/pdf/initial-sequencing-and-analysis-of-the-human-genome-5dapk1rsx1.pdf

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

https://www.cs.princeton.edu/~bee/courses/read/burge-jmb-1997.pdf

Prediction of Complete Gene Structures in Human Genomic DNA

Automated partial DNA sequencing was conducted on more than 600 randomly selected human brain complementary DNA (cDNA) clones to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs). ESTs have applications in the discovery of new human genes, mapping of the human genome, and identification of coding regions in genomic sequences. Of the sequences generated, 337 represent new genes, including 48 with significant similarity to genes from other organisms, such as a yeast RNA polymerase II subunit; Drosophila kinesin, Notch, and Enhancer of split; and a murine tyrosine kinase receptor. Forty-six ESTs were mapped to chromosomes after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. This fast approach to cDNA characterization will facilitate the tagging of most human genes in a few years at a fraction of the cost of complete genomic sequencing, provide new genetic markers, and serve as a resource in diverse biological research fields.

/pdf/complementary-dna-sequencing-expressed-sequence-tags-and-21r7ogldx5.pdf

Complementary DNA sequencing : expressed sequence tags and human genome project

First conceptualized as a mechanism for the mitochondrial transport of long-chain fatty acids in the early 1960s, the carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) system has since come to be recognized as a pivotal component of fuel homeostasis. This is by virtue of the unique sensitivity of the outer membrane CPT I to the simple molecule, malonyl-CoA. In addition, both CPT I and the inner membrane enzyme, CPT II, have proved to be loci of inherited defects, some with disastrous consequences. Early efforts using classical approaches to characterize the CPT proteins in terms of structure/function/regulatory relationships gave rise to confusion and protracted debate. By contrast, recent application of molecular biological tools has brought major enlightenment at an exponential pace. Here we review some key developments of the last 20 years that have led to our current understanding of the physiology of the CPT system, the structure of the CPT isoforms, the chromosomal localization of their respective genes, and the identification of mutations in the human population.

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.00001.x

The mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase system. From concept to molecular analysis.

A general strategy for selecting insertion mutations in mice has been devised. Constructs lacking a promoter and including a beta-galactosidase gene, or a reporter gene encoding a protein with both beta-galactosidase and neomycin phosphotransferase activity, were designed so that activation of the reporter gene depends on its insertion within an active transcription unit. Such insertion events create a mutation in the tagged gene and allow its expression to be followed by beta-galactosidase activity. Introduction of promoter trap constructs into embryonic stem (ES) cells by electroporation or retroviral infection has led to the derivation of transgenic lines that show a variety of beta-galactosidase expression patterns. Intercrossing of heterozygotes from 24 strains that express beta-galactosidase identified 9 strains in which homozygosity leads to an embryonic lethality. Because no overt phenotype was detected in the remaining strains, these results suggest that a substantial proportion of mammalian genes identified by this approach are not essential for development.

/pdf/promoter-traps-in-embryonic-stem-cells-a-genetic-screen-to-19fifgltiy.pdf

Promoter traps in embryonic stem cells: a genetic screen to identify and mutate developmental genes in mice.

The lengths of introns and exons in various parts of genes of vertebrates, insects, plants and fungi are tabulated. Differences between the various groups of organisms are apparent. The results are discussed and support the idea that, generally speaking, introns were present in primitive genomes, though in some cases they may have been inserted into pre-existing genes.

/pdf/a-survey-on-intron-and-exon-lengths-nb80k5qtcd.pdf

J D Hawkins

Papers

A survey on intron and exon lengths