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A Lefort

Publications and source records attributed to A Lefort.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Molecular cloning of the thyrotropin receptor.

The pituitary hormone thyrotropin, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), is the main physiological agent that regulates the thyroid gland. The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) was cloned by selective amplification with the polymerase chain reaction of DNA segments presenting sequence similarity with genes for G protein-coupled receptors. Out of 11 new putative receptor clones obtained from genomic DNA, one had sequence characteristics different from all the others. Although this clone did not hybridize to thyroid transcripts, screening of a dog thyroid complementary DNA (cDNA) library at moderate stringency identified a cDNA encoding a 4.9-kilobase thyroid-specific transcript. The polypeptide encoded by this thyroid-specific transcript consisted of a 398-amino acid residue amino-terminal segment, constituting a putative extracellular domain, connected to a 346-residue carboxyl-terminal domain that contained seven putative transmembrane segments. Expression of the cDNA conferred TSH responsiveness to Xenopus oocytes and Y1 cells and a TSH binding phenotype to COS cells. The TSHR and the receptor for luteinizing hormone-choriogonadotropin constitute a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors with distinct sequence characteristics.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Pairs of cyclic AMP analogs, that are specifically synergistic for type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases, mimic thyrotropin effects on the function, differentiation expression and mitogenesis of dog thyroid cells.

The role of the two different isozymes of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is still unclear. We have investigated the potential roles for each isozyme in dog thyroid cells, a model in which the function, expression of differentiation and proliferation are positively regulated by thyrotropin acting through cyclic AMP. The dog thyroid contains both type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases. These isozymes were selectively activated in vitro by type-I-directed and type-II-directed analog pairs. In thyroid slices, both type-I directed and type II-directed analog pairs synergistically activated thyroid hormone synthesis, as measured by incorporation of 131I into proteins and thyroid hormone secretion as determined by the release of butanol-extractable 131I. In primary cultures of dog thyroid cells both isozyme-directed analog pairs synergistically enhanced iodide trapping, a marker of differentiation, and DNA synthesis, as measured by the percentage of cells incorporating [3H]thymidine into their nuclei. However, DNA synthesis was more sensitive to type-I-directed pairs. The results demonstrate that both cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes can mediate the action of cAMP on function, differentiation expression and cell proliferation in dog thyroid cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Selective amplification and cloning of four new members of the G protein-coupled receptor family.

An approach based on the polymerase chain reaction has been devised to clone new members of the family of genes encoding guanosine triphosphate-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors. Degenerate primers corresponding to consensus sequences of the third and sixth transmembrane segments of available receptors were used to selectively amplify and clone members of this gene family from thyroid complementary DNA. Clones encoding three known receptors and four new putative receptors were obtained. Sequence comparisons established that the new genes belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. Close structural similarity was observed between one of the putative receptors and the 5HT1a receptor. Two other molecules displayed common sequence characteristics, suggesting that they are members of a new subfamily of receptors with a very short nonglycosylated (extracellular) amino-terminal extension.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and sequencing of a calcium-binding protein regulated by cyclic AMP in the thyroid.

p24 is a thyroid protein (Mr 24,000) identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis on the basis that its synthesis and phosphorylation are up-regulated by thyrotropin and cyclic AMP agonists. p24 cDNA was cloned from a lambda gt11 cDNA library using a polyclonal antibody raised against the protein recovered from a Western blot spot. The encoded polypeptide (189 residues) displays a putative target-site for phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and belongs to the superfamily of proteins binding Ca2+ through 'EF hand' domains. It presents four such domains of which two agree closely with the consensus. The ability of p24 to bind Ca2+ has been directly confirmed on Western blots. p24 was detected in many tissues including the salivary glands, the lung and the brain. The ubiquitous nature of p24, together with its regulatory and sequence characteristics suggest that it constitutes an important target common to the cyclic AMP and Ca2+-phosphatidylinositol cascades.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Control of thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin transcription by cAMP: evidence for distinct regulatory mechanisms.

The expression of the genes coding for thyroglobulin (TG), and thyroperoxidase (TPO), are regulated by TSH. These effects are mediated by cAMP as they are reproduced by forskolin. In vitro run-on transcription assays performed on nuclei isolated from dog thyrocytes in culture or from dog thyroid slices, indicate that the forskolin-induced transcriptional stimulation of TG and TPO genes are very different. For the TG gene, the kinetics of transcriptional activation vary according to the experimental model: it is rapid (1 h) in thyroid slices and slow (8 h) in primary cultures. In contrast, TPO induction is rapid in both cases. In primary cultures, insulin is responsible for the basal level and for a part of forskolin-induced TG transcription, whereas TPO transcription is not affected by insulin. The forskolin-induced increase of TG transcription requires ongoing protein synthesis, as it is blocked by cycloheximide. TPO gene transcription is unaffected by cycloheximide. Taken together with previous data on the two genes, our results suggest that while TPO regulation corresponds to the classical model of genes in which the promoter is regulated directly via cAMP regulatory elements, TG gene regulation involves the synthesis of an intermediary, rapid turnover trans-acting protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Transcriptional regulation of the thyroperoxydase gene by thyrotropin and forskolin.

The expression of the gene coding for thyroperoxydase, the main enzyme involved in the synthesis of the thyroid hormones, is controlled by thyroid stimulating hormone. In vitro transcription assays performed on nuclei isolated from dog thyroid cells in primary culture showed that this control is at the transcription level, takes place rapidly (1 h) and is cyclic AMP-dependent as it is mimicked by forskolin. Insulin does not seem to be an important modulator of the thyroperoxydase gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pulmonary fibrosis during a case of dermatomyositis (author's transl)].

The authors describe the case of a pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, the discovery of which preceeded the skin and muscular manifestations of dermatomyositis which was confirmed by a muscular biopsy. The aetiopathogenesis of the pulmonary disorder is not well known, nevertheless an immunological mechanism demonstrated in the experimental myositis is suggested but has yet to be proved.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗