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A Gartner

Publications and source records attributed to A Gartner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of a tobacco cDNA clone encoding a putative MAP kinase.

We have isolated and sequenced a MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase-type cDNA from a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cell suspension cDNA library by screening with a PCR fragment amplified from the same library with oligonucleotide primers corresponding to two sequences conserved in yeast and animal MAP kinases. The tobacco sequence, ntf3, shows 45-54% identity to various members of the MAP kinase family at the protein level. Northern experiments showed that ntf3 is expressed in all tobacco tissues tested, including pollen isolated at different developmental stages. Southern analysis indicated that, as in other organisms, there is a family of MAP kinase genes in tobacco. In complementary tests, ntf3 could not substitute the yeast MAP kinase genes fus3 and kss1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Pheromone-induced signal transduction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the sequential function of three protein kinases.

Protein phosphorylation plays an important role in pheromone-induced differentiation processes of haploid yeast cells. Among the components necessary for signal transduction are the STE7 and STE11 kinases and either one of the redundant FUS3 and KSS1 kinases. FUS3 and presumably KSS1 are phosphorylated and activated during pheromone induction by a STE7-dependent mechanism. Pheromone also induces the accumulation of STE7 in a hyperphosphorylated form. This modification of STE7 requires the STE11 kinase, which is proposed to act before STE7 during signal transmission. Surprisingly, STE7 hyperphosphorylation also requires a functional FUS3 (or KSS1) kinase. Using in vitro assays for FUS3 phosphorylation, we show that pheromone activates STE7 even in the absence of FUS3 and KSS1. Therefore, STE7 activation must precede modification of FUS3 (and KSS1). These findings suggest that STE7 hyperphosphorylation is a consequence of its activation but not the determining event.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Signal transduction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires tyrosine and threonine phosphorylation of FUS3 and KSS1.

The FUS3 and KSS1 kinases are components of the pheromone-dependent signal transduction pathway in yeast. We show that FUS3 and KSS1 become rapidly phosphorylated after pheromone treatment. Similar to mammalian MAP kinases, this modification occurs at two amino acids of FUS3, threonine-180 and tyrosine-182. A mutation introduced at either position results in complete loss of function in vivo. Amino acid substitutions that destroy catalytic activity of the kinase do not prevent phosphorylation of the mutant products, a result that excludes an autocatalytic activation pathway. The modification of FUS3 is dependent on kinases encoded by the STE11 and STE7 genes. Furthermore, a hyperactive allele of STE11 causes increased phosphorylation of FUS3 in the absence of pheromone stimulation. Thus, either STE7 or STE11 could be the kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of FUS3.

Alleles↗

Alfalfa cyclins: differential expression during the cell cycle and in plant organs.

Cell division in eukaryotes is mediated by the action of the mitosis promoting factor, which is composed of the CDC2 protein kinase and one of the various mitotic cyclins. We have recently isolated a cdc2 gene from alfalfa. Here, we report the isolation of two cyclin genes, cycMs1 and cycMs2, from alfalfa. The cycMs2 gene shows highest similarity to type B cyclins. In contrast, the predicted amino acid sequence of the cycMs1 gene shows similar homology scores to cyclins of all types (25 to 35%). Both genes are expressed in dividing suspension cultured cells but cease to be expressed when the cells enter stationary phase. In synchronized alfalfa suspension cultured cells, the mRNAs of cycMs1 and cycMs2 show maximal expression in the G2 and M phases. Transcripts of cycMs2 are found only in late G2 and M phase cells, an expression pattern typical for cyclin B genes, whereas cycMs1 appears with the onset of G2. This pattern indicates that alfalfa cycMs1 and cycMs2 belong to different classes of cyclins. In young leaves, expression of both genes is high, whereas in mature leaves no transcripts can be detected, indicating that the two cyclin genes are true cell division markers at the mRNA level. In other organs, a more complex expression pattern of the two cyclin genes was found.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Alfalfa heat shock genes are differentially expressed during somatic embryogenesis.

We have isolated two cDNA clones (Mshsp18-1; Mshsp18-2) from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) which encode for small heat shock proteins (HSPs) belonging to the hsp17 subfamily. The predicted amino acid sequences of the two alfalfa proteins are 92% identical and a similar degree of homology (90%) can be detected between Mshsp18-2 and the pea hsp17. In comparison to various members of small HSPs from soybean amino acid sequence similarities of 80-86% were identified. The alfalfa HSPs share a homologous stretch of amino acids in the carboxy terminal region with hsp22, 23, 26 from Drosophila. This region contains the GVLTV motif which is characteristic of several members of small HSPs. At room temperature alfalfa hsp18 mRNAs were not detectable in root and leaf tissues but northern analysis showed a low level of expression in microcallus suspension (MCS). The transcription of Mshsp18 genes is induced by elevated temperature, CdCl2 treatment and osmotic shock in cultured cells. In alfalfa somatic embryos derived from MCS a considerable amount of hsp18 mRNA can be detected during the early embryogenic stages under normal culture conditions. The differential expression of these genes during embryo development suggests a specific functional role for HSPs in plant cells at the time of the developmental switch in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A microparticle enhanced nephelometric immunoassay (Nephelia) applied to thymulin measurement.

This article describes a microparticle enhanced nephelometric immunoassay (Nephelia) applied to the quantification of the thymic peptide hormone thymulin. Nephelia uses antibody recognition by the antithymulin antiserum in a competitive reaction between free thymulin and thymulin bound to the microspheres. The binding between microsphere and thymulin is achieved with the aid of a protein carrier. The sensitivity of the competitive reaction varied with the protein carrier and the antiserum sample. The most efficient reaction was obtained with the thymulin-metallothionein-microsphere conjugates; as little as 5 pg/ml of thymulin could be detected. In adult human serum or in its ultra-filtrate, spiked synthetic thymulin was totally recovered. Measurement of thymulin in serum or ultra-filtrate samples demonstrated the presence of interference from molecules in the serum. Nephelia led to the same conclusions as those reported with other methods and performs as well, and is more simple to use than radio- or enzymo-immunoassays for thymulin measurement.

Adult↗

Psychological test signs of borderline personality disorder: a review of the empirical literature.

Recent empirical work aimed at identifying test signs of borderline personality disorder is reviewed. The review focuses on commonly employed clinical tests, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Rorschach, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Possible test signs are considered in relation to their sensitivity to and specificity for the diagnosis and in relation to the criteria of DSM-III, which define the disorder. Although consistent patterns of potentially useful test signs have begun to appear, methodological difficulties have hampered any subsequent development of clinically useful indices. Greater attention to sample size and its composition and definition as well as demonstrations of adequate reliability and predictive utility are required for further development of these signs.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗

[Fracture resistance of human maxillary molars with MOD amalgam or composite fillings].

The fracture resistance of human maxillary molars was tested following different types of cavity preparation and filling with various materials. The untreated controls and teeth treated with amalgam/Dentin Adhesive showed the highest strength values. A comparable fracture resistance was found in teeth with amalgam or composite fillings and direct composite inlays, these values being significantly lower than in the controls. The lowest strength values measured were those of the unfilled teeth with prepared cavities.

Composite Resins↗

The proposed 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor in human leukemic cells is an artefact.

It is now well established that human lymphoblastoid cell lines showing immaturity characters display ecto-5'-nucleotidase activities lower than normal levels. A recent paper (Sun, A.S., Holland, J.F. and Ohnuma, T. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 762, 577-584) mentioned that this phenomenon resulted from the presence of a 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor in these cell lines. We demonstrate here that the use of 5'-[3H]AMP as a substrate, and inadequate analysis of the products formed, led them to a misinterpretation. [3H]Adenosine derived from 5'-[3H]AMP hydrolysis was further transformed into [3H]inosine by the adenosine deaminase activity of the leukemic cell lines tested; [3H]inosine was precipitated with the excess substrate and was not taken into account in the ecto-5'-nucleotidase determination, which led the authors to confuse this adenosine deaminase activity with a 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor. We did not observe 5'-nucleotidase inhibition by leukemic cell cytosol when convenient assay methods were used and showed that the presence of such an inhibitor remains to be established.

5'-Nucleotidase↗