Dihydrofolate Reductase Gene Sequences Research Articles

Pneumocystis carinii dihydropteroate synthase but not dihydrofolate reductase gene mutations correlate with prior trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or dapsone use.

Recent studies of the human Pneumocystis carinii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene suggest that P. carinii is developing resistance to sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and dapsone. To explore whether P. carinii is also developing resistance to trimethoprim (TMP), the human P. carinii dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene was cloned, DHFR and DHPS genes in 37 P. carinii isolates from 35 patients were sequenced, and the relationship between TMP-SMX or dapsone use and gene mutations was analyzed. The DHFR gene sequences were identical in all isolates except 1 with a synonymous substitution. In contrast, the DHPS gene sequences showed mutations in 16 of the 37 isolates; prior sulfa/sulfone prophylaxis was associated with the presence of these mutations (P<.001). In addition to suggesting that there is less selective pressure on DHFR than on DHPS, this study reinforces the hypothesis that mutations in the DHPS gene are likely involved in the development of sulfa resistance in P. carinii.

5' Nucleotide sequences influence serum-modulated expression of a human dihydrofolate reductase minigene.

Human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene sequences were isolated from DHFR gene-amplified breast cancer cell line MCF-7. These genomic sequences plus human DHFR cDNA sequences were used to construct a DHFR minigene. Calcium phosphate-mediated transfer of minigene DNA into DHFR gene-deleted Chinese hamster ovary cells converted these cells to a DHFR+ phenotype at a frequency of 0.12%. Minigene-transfected cells contained 20 to 30 minigene copies per cell and had DHFR enzyme levels similar to those of wild-type MCF-7 human cells (1.4 pmol/mg of protein). In contrast to gene-amplified MCF-7 cells, which contained multiple DHFR mRNA species (1.1, 1.6, 3.8, and 5.3 kilobases), only a single 3.8-kilobase DHFR mRNA was found in minigene-transfected cells. Previous studies on normal cells demonstrated modulation of DHFR levels by a variety of conditions which altered cell growth. When cell growth was induced in minigene-transfected cells by release from serum deprivation and DHFR levels were assayed at the time of maximum DNA synthesis, these levels were increased 2.4 to 3.7-fold. In contrast, the DHFR levels in cells transfected with a construct made from DHFR cDNA and viral promoter, intron, and termination sequences were unchanged. Minigene deletions were made and analyzed to determine the DHFR gene sequences responsible for regulation. Deletion of sequences upstream from 322 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription or 90 base pairs downstream from the termination of translation (which removed most of the 3' nontranslated region of the gene) did not alter the responsiveness of minigene-transfected cells to serum deprivation. However, when sequences between 322 and 113 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription were deleted, serum-dependent expression in minigene-transfected cells was affected.

5' Nucleotide sequences influence serum-modulated expression of a human dihydrofolate reductase minigene.

Human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene sequences were isolated from DHFR gene-amplified breast cancer cell line MCF-7. These genomic sequences plus human DHFR cDNA sequences were used to construct a DHFR minigene. Calcium phosphate-mediated transfer of minigene DNA into DHFR gene-deleted Chinese hamster ovary cells converted these cells to a DHFR+ phenotype at a frequency of 0.12%. Minigene-transfected cells contained 20 to 30 minigene copies per cell and had DHFR enzyme levels similar to those of wild-type MCF-7 human cells (1.4 pmol/mg of protein). In contrast to gene-amplified MCF-7 cells, which contained multiple DHFR mRNA species (1.1, 1.6, 3.8, and 5.3 kilobases), only a single 3.8-kilobase DHFR mRNA was found in minigene-transfected cells. Previous studies on normal cells demonstrated modulation of DHFR levels by a variety of conditions which altered cell growth. When cell growth was induced in minigene-transfected cells by release from serum deprivation and DHFR levels were assayed at the time of maximum DNA synthesis, these levels were increased 2.4 to 3.7-fold. In contrast, the DHFR levels in cells transfected with a construct made from DHFR cDNA and viral promoter, intron, and termination sequences were unchanged. Minigene deletions were made and analyzed to determine the DHFR gene sequences responsible for regulation. Deletion of sequences upstream from 322 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription or 90 base pairs downstream from the termination of translation (which removed most of the 3' nontranslated region of the gene) did not alter the responsiveness of minigene-transfected cells to serum deprivation. However, when sequences between 322 and 113 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription were deleted, serum-dependent expression in minigene-transfected cells was affected.

Selective overproduction of human dihydrofolate reductase in a methotrexate-resistant human-mouse somatic cell hybrid

The development of methotrexate (MTX) resistance in cultured cells results in increased levels of the drug's target enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Stepwise-selected MTX-resistant sublines originating from an MTX-sensitive human-mouse hybrid expressed elevated DHFR levels and human-DHFR specific gene sequence amplification. By high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gradient electrophoresis, human DHFR was shown to be selectively overproduced in VB2a-100 MTX-resistant cells whereas mouse DHFR protein “spots” present in MTX-sensitive parental hybrid were absent in these cells exhibiting 100 μM MTX resistance. These findings and those in a parallel study indicate that concurrent with overproduction of human DHFR and amplification DHFR sequences in VB2a-100, a loss of mouse-specific DHFR gene sequences occurred.