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We have previously used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce basic residues (i.e., Arg; Lys) in the nucleic acid binding cleft of the Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (MMLV RT) in order to increase its template-primer (T/P) binding affinity. Three stabilizing mutations (i.e., E286R, E302K, and L435R) were identified (Yasukawa et al., 2010). Now, we studied the mechanism by which those mutations increase the thermal stability of the RT. The three single-mutants (E286R, E302K, and L435R), an RNase H-deficient MMLV RT (carrying the RNase H-inactivating mutation D524A), a quadruple mutant (E286R/E302K/L435R/D524A, designated as MM4) and the wild-type enzyme (WT) were produced in Escherichia coli. All RTs exhibited similar dissociation constants (Kd) for heteropolymeric DNA/DNA (2.9-6.5nM) and RNA/DNA complexes (1.2-2.9nM). Unlike the WT, mutant enzymes (E286R, E302K, L435R, D524A, and MM4) were devoid of RNase H activity, and were not able to degrade RNA in RNA/DNA complexes. These results suggest that the mutations, E286R, E302K, and L435R increase the thermostability of MMLV RT not by increasing its affinity for T/P but by abolishing its RNase H activity.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) is a heterodimer containing 66 kDa p66 and 51 kDa p51 subunits. We previously showed that HIV-1 group M (HIV-1 M) RT and HIV-1 group O (HIV-1 O) RT have higher affinities for dTTP and template-primer (T/P) than Moloney murine leukemia virus RT, which is currently used for cDNA synthesis, suggesting that they might also be useful for cDNA synthesis (Konishi et al. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2013, 169:77-87). Here, we have increased the thermostability of both HIV-1 M RT and HIV-1 O RT by site-directed mutagenesis. The Asp443 → Ala mutation, which abolishes RNase H activity, was introduced into the p66 subunits of HIV-1 M RT and HIV-1 O RT. The temperatures that reduced the initial activity by 50 % of the resulting mutants, HIV-1 M p66D443A/p51 and HIV-1 O p66D443A/p51, were 44 and 52 °C, respectively, which were higher than those of wild-type HIV-1 M p66/p51 (42 °C) and HIV-1 O p66/p51 (48 °C). The highest temperature at which both HIV-1 M p66D443A/p51 and HIV-1 O p66D443A/p51 exhibited cDNA synthesis activity was 68 °C, which was higher than for the wild-type enzymes (62 and 66 °C, respectively).

The aim of this study is to explore the advantages of using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) in cDNA synthesis. Recombinant HIV-1 group M (HIV-1 M) RT and HIV-1 group O (HIV-1 O) RT were produced in an Escherichia coli expression system. In the incorporation of dTTP into poly(rA)-p(dT)(15) (T/P), the K (m) values for dTTP of HIV-1 M RT and HIV-1 O RT were 8 and 12 % of that of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) RT, respectively, and the K (m) values for T/P were 25 and 23 % of that of MMLV RT, respectively. Compared with MMLV RT, HIV-1 M RT and HIV-1 O RT were less susceptible to formamide, which is frequently used for cDNA synthesis with a G + C-rich RNA to improve specificity. The high substrate affinity and low susceptibility to formamide of HIV-1 RT might be advantageous for its use in cDNA synthesis.

We hypothesized that the thermal stability of Moloney murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase (MMLV RT) will increase with increases in its ability to bind with a template-primer (T/P). To test this hypothesis, we introduced positive charges into MMLV RT by site-directed mutagenesis at positions that have been implicated in the interaction with T/P. Thirty-six variants were constructed in which one of the twelve residues (Glu69, Gln84, Asp108, Asp114, Glu117, Glu123, Asp124, Glu286, Glu302, Trp313, Leu435, and Asn454) was replaced with Lys, Arg, or Ala, and these were expressed in Escherichia coli. In about half of these 36 variants, thermal inactivation at 50°C was reduced in the presence of the T/P, which suggested that this strategy was effective at stabilizing MMLV RT. We next combined three of the 36 mutations, Glu286→Ala, Glu302→Lys, and Leu435→Arg, and the mutation, Asp524→Ala, which is known to abolish the RNase H activity and increase the stability. Temperatures of 54 and 56°C reduced the initial reverse transcription activity by 50% over a 10-min incubation in the triple variant E286R/E302K/L435R and quadruple variant E286R/E302K/L435R/D524A, respectively. These temperatures were higher than that observed for WT (45°C). The highest temperature at which the triple and quadruple variants exhibited cDNA synthesis activity was 60°C, which was again higher than for WT (54°C). Thus, highly stable MMLV RT variants were generated by this mutation strategy.

Transport properties of C_<60> field-effect transistors (FETs) have been investigated in the temperature range between 160 and 300 K. Activation energy was estimated from temperature dependence of resistance at the linear region and of current at the saturation region for various channel lengths. Variation of activation energy values is attributed to carrier injection barrier at contact between source electrode and C_<60>channel, and barriers to carrier hopping between trap states in the channel of C_<60>., identifier:https://dspace.jaist.ac.jp/dspace/handle/10119/4409

Transport characteristics in n-channel organic field-effect transistors are discussed on the basis of density of states (DOS) for trap states determined with multiple trap and release model. First the trap-free intrinsic mobilities, the activation energies, and total effective DOS for conduction band are determined with the effective field-effect mobility versus temperature plots and total DOS of trap states. Second the general formula for subthreshold swing S applicable to organic field-effect transistors is derived and the surface potentials are determined from the S determined from the transfer curves and the DOS for the trap states according to the general formula., identifier:https://dspace.jaist.ac.jp/dspace/handle/10119/4408