Human DNA sequences related to murine endogenous retroviral superantigens and their expression in Sjogren's syndrome

Davidson, Brian Kenneth Smith (2001) Human DNA sequences related to murine endogenous retroviral superantigens and their expression in Sjogren's syndrome. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The project described in this thesis was undertaken to identify human DNA sequences related to the MMTV 3'LTR gene (vSag) that encodes endogenous superantigens in mice. Using sequence specific PCR primers and murine probes specific for the first and second conserved region of murine vSag, six human clones have been isolated from a DNA library. These human clones have been characterised through a process of hybridisation analysis, subcloning and sequencing. These DNA sequences show limited regions of homology with murine vSag, although none of these clones have extended regions of homology over the entire vSag gene. These vSag-related sequences do not lie in close proximity to other MMTV genes, as indicated by the failure of these clones to hybridise strongly with MMTV gag, pol and env probes. DNA database searches indicated that three of the six human DNA sequences with limited regions of homology to murine vSag were greater than 98% identical with sequences submitted as part of the Human Genome Project. None of these sequences represented known human genes. Potential open reading frames were identified in five out of the six human DNA sequences, with predicted translated proteins ranging in length from 43 to 156 amino acids. In the second part of this thesis, evidence of expression of human vSag-related sequences was sought in the autoimmune condition Primary Sjogren's Syndrome (1

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: Dr. I Griffiths.
• Keywords: Biochemistry, genetics, Sjogren's syndrome, superantigens, retroviruses.
• Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Date of Award: 2001
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2001-73170
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jul 2022 12:54
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.73170
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73170