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A Lamouroux

Publications and source records attributed to A Lamouroux.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Localization of the human tyrosine hydroxylase gene to 11p15: gene duplication and evolution of metabolic pathways.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) are consecutive enzymes in the metabolic pathway leading to the production of catecholamine neurotransmitters. A comparison of recently available sequence data of these enzymes in the rat indicates about 70% homology in the 3' coding regions. We have localized TH by in situ hybridization to human chromosome region 11p15. Consideration of this assignment and that of PAH to chromosome 12, together with the known distribution of other pairs of related genes on these two chromosomes, provides convincing evidence of their ancestral relationship and suggests a role for gene duplication in the diversification of metabolic pathways in the vertebrate ancestors of mammals.

Animals↗

Cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding a snake neurotoxin precursor.

A recombinant plasmid has been constructed containing a sequence of 186 nucleotides encoding a potent neurotoxin found in the venom of the sea-snake Laticauda semifasciata and designated as erabutoxin a. This sequence is flanked, in the upstream region, by a sequence of 60 nucleotides encoding a hydrophobic peptide fragment presumably involved in the secretion process of the neurotoxin. The sequence coding for the toxin ends with a termination codon which is followed by a 3'-untranslated sequence of approximately 240 nucleotides (excluding the poly(A) tract).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete coding sequence of rat tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA.

Several clones specific for tyrosine hydroxylase [tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.2] have been identified from a rat PC12 library by using the previously characterized clone pTH-1. The most complete of these, pTH-51, is 1758 base pairs long and covers most of the length of the mRNA, including the entire coding and 3' untranslated region. The polypeptide has an estimated molecular weight of 55,903 and some of its characteristic features are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of cDNA clones coding for rat tyrosine hydroxylase antigen.

Five recombinant DNA plasmids have been constructed that contain structural gene sequences for rat tyrosine hydroxylase [TyrOHase; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.2]. Rat pheochromocytoma PC 12 cell line, which contains relatively high levels of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes, was used to purify RNA. TyrOHase cDNA clones were identified by screening 350 cDNA clones constructed from partially purified TyrOHase mRNA. A rapid and powerful screening of the recombinant clones by differential colony hybridization was possible because TyrOHase is a tissue-specific protein. The final selection relied on the ability of cDNA inserts to hybridize specifically to TyrOHase mRNA as judged by cell-free translation and immunoprecipitation. Blot hybridization analysis of polyadenylylated RNA from PC 12 cells indicated a major mRNA species of 1.9 kilobases. A species of the same size was identified from a human pheochromocytoma tumor, indicating a crossreactivity between rat TyrOHase cDNA and human TyrOHase mRNA.

Animals↗

A single human gene encoding multiple tyrosine hydroxylases with different predicted functional characteristics.

Catecholaminergic systems in discrete regions of the brain are thought to be important in affective psychoses, learning and memory, reinforcement and sleep-wake cycle regulation. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the first enzyme in the pathway of catecholamine synthesis. Its importance is reflected in the diversity of the mechanisms that have been described which control its activity; TH levels vary both during development and as a function of the activity of the nervous system. Recently, we deduced the complete amino-acid sequence of rat TH from a complementary DNA clone encoding a functional enzyme. Here we demonstrate that, in man, TH molecules are encoded by at least three distinct messenger RNAs. The expression of these mRNAs varies in different parts of the nervous system. The sequence differences observed are confined to the 5' termini of the messengers and involve alternative splicing events. This variation has clear functional consequences for each putative form of the enzyme and could represent a novel means of regulating catecholamine levels in normal and pathological neurons.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗