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Biomedical subjects

B C Chu

Publications and source records attributed to B C Chu.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Crosslinking transcription factors to their recognition sequences with PtII complexes.

We have prepared phosphorothioate-containing cyclic oligodeoxynucleotides that fold into 'dumbbells' containing CRE and TRE sequences, the binding sequences for the CREB and JUN proteins, respectively. Six phosphorothioate residues were introduced into each of the recognition sequences. K2PtCl4 crosslinks CRE to CREB and TRE to JUN. The extent of crosslinking is about eight times greater than that observed with standard oligodeoxynucleotides and amounts to 30-50% of the efficiency of non-covalent association as estimated by gel-shift assays. Crosslinking is reversed by incubation with NaCN. The crosslinking reaction is specific--a dumbbell oligonucleotide with six phosphorothioate groups introduced into the Sp1 recognition sequence could not be crosslinked efficiently to CREB or JUN proteins with K2PtCl4. The binding of TRE to CREB is not strong enough for effective detection by gel-shift assays, but the TRE-CREB complex is crosslinked efficiently by K2PtCl4 and can then readily be detected.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Optimization of the efficiency of cross-linking PtII oligonucleotide phosphorothioate complexes to complementary oligonucleotides.

We have investigated the efficiency with which PtII complexes cross-link phosphorothioates of oligonucleotides to complementary DNA targets. The A and G residues 2-5 bases downstream from the 5'-phosphorothioate group are preferred sites for cross-linking. Replacement of residues in this part of the target by T residues results in greatly decreased cross-linking when cis platinum diammine dichloride (cisPtII) or potassium platinous chloride (K2PtCl4) are used. Trans platinum diammine dichloride (transPtII) forms cross-links with T residues if A and G residues are absent from the susceptible region of the target. Oligomers containing an internal phosphorothioate group can also be linked to their templates with transPtII, but not with cisPtII or K2PtCl4. Cross-linking via an internal phosphorothioate group tends to be less efficient than cross-linking via a 5'-terminal phosphorothioate. The Sp isomers of internal phosphorothioates are cross-linked more efficiently than the Rp isomers. Preliminary experiments suggest that the efficiency of cross-linking to RNA targets will prove similar to that found for DNA targets.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of DNA synthesis by cross-linking the template to platinum-thiol derivatives of complementary oligodeoxynucleotides.

Unsubstituted oligodeoxynucleotides, or oligodeoxynucleotides linked to poly-(L)-lysine, when hybridized to a 322 base long template, did not inhibit the production of full length DNA copies by the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I. However, synthesis was inhibited if the cysteamine derivative of the same oligomer was cross-linked to the template via PtII. Truncated products were formed by termination of DNA synthesis a small number of bases upstream from the 5'-end of the cross-linked oligomer. AMV reverse transcriptase behaved similarly but was also slightly inhibited by the hybridized oligomer or its poly-lysine derivative.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1989

The lack of effect of pentoxifylline on random skin flap survival.

The effects of pentoxifylline on skin flap survival were studied in rabbits. A total of 40 rabbits had caudally based single-pedicle flaps measuring 4 x 14 cm raised on the mid dorsum of each animal. Twenty of these rabbits were given intraperitoneal injections of pentoxifylline in doses of 24 mg/kg per day beginning 48 hours prior to flap construction and continued daily for 7 days postoperatively. The remaining 20 control rabbits received intraperitoneal injections of saline in equal volumes as the experimental groups. At the end of 7 days, viable flap length was visually inspected and measured in all 40 rabbits. There was no significant difference in skin flap viability in rabbits treated with pentoxifylline compared to the control group.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Ligation of oligonucleotides to nucleic acids or proteins via disulfide bonds.

We have developed general methods for joining together, via cleavable disulfide bonds, either two unprotected polynucleotides or a polynucleotide and a peptide or protein. To join two oligonucleotides, each is first converted to an adduct in which cystamine is joined to the 5'-terminal phosphate of the oligonucleotide by a phosphoramidate bond. The adducts are mixed and reduced with dithiothreitol. The dithiothreitol is then removed by dialysis. Oxidation by atmospheric oxygen occurs to yield the required dimer. To join an oligonucleotide to a cysteine-containing peptide or protein, the 5'-cystamine oligomer is first converted to a 2'-pyridyldisulfide adduct and then reacted with an excess of the peptide or protein. If the peptide does not contain a free cysteine residue, it is first treated with iminothiolane to introduce one or more sulfhydryl groups. We have used these procedures to join a 16 mer deoxynucleotide probe and MDV-1 RNA, a substrate of Q beta RNA polymerase. This adduct hybridizes with a complementary target DNA. We have also joined a 16mer probe to peroxidase and MDV-1 RNA to human IgG. The probe-peroxidase adduct maintains enzymatic activity and the MDV-1 RNA-IgG adduct binds to a complementary anti-IgG.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis of an amplifiable reporter RNA for bioassays.

The replacement of reporter groups, such as fluorescent molecules or enzymes, by an amplifiable reporter should lead to bioassays of greatly increased sensitivity, since a very large number of copies of the reporter can be accumulated in a short time. Midivariant RNA is an appropriate reporter, since it is autocatalytically replicated by Q beta RNA polymerase in vitro. This RNA can be amplified exponentially, with a population doubling time of 36 seconds, resulting in the synthesis of 10(6) copies of each molecule in 12 minutes. We have used chemical methods to attach biotin to the 5' terminus of midivariant RNA via a disulfide linker. This biotinylated RNA combines with avidin to give a product that is readily purified by gel electrophoresis. The RNA-biotin-avidin adduct, and the RNA released from it by reductive cleavage of the linker arm, replicate normally. The RNA-biotin-avidin adduct should be a suitable reporter for a variety of replication-assisted bioassays involving biotinylated antibodies or biotinylated nucleic acid probes.

Avidin↗
PubMed1985

Nonenzymatic sequence-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNA.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid have been attached covalently to the 5' terminus of the deoxynucleotide sequence C-A-C-A-A-T-T-C-C-A-C-A-C-A-A-C (16-mer) via an ethylenediamine linker. In the presence of Fe2+ and dithiothreitol, these reagents bring about the hybridization-dependent cleavage of the sequence T-C-G-T-A-T-G-T-T-G-T-G-T-G-G-A-A-T-T-G-T-G-A-G-C-G-G-A-T-A-A-C-A-A-T-T- T (37-mer), a sequence that contains an internal subsequence complementary to the 16-mer. The principal cleavage sites on the 37-mer are about four residues on each side of the terminal phosphate group of the 16-mer.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Detection of specific DNA sequences with short biotin-labeled probes.

We have developed a simple, general synthesis of nonradioactive DNA probes in which biotin is attached to the 5'-terminal phosphate of an oligodeoxyribonucleotide 16 bases long via an ethylenediamine or hexamethylenediamine linker. The products are stable under normal hybridization conditions. They hybridize to target DNA as efficiently as the underivatized oligodeoxyribonucleotide. Color development, using a commercially available kit, is complete within 3 hr using the biotin-detection method. The sensitivity of detection of homologous DNA with a probe to which biotin was attached via a hexamethylenediamine linker is about one-tenth of that achieved overnight by autoradiography with the corresponding 32P-labeled probe.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Control of solid tumor metastases with a high-molecular-weight derivative of methotrexate.

Methotrexate (MTX) covalently bound to bovine serum albumin (MTX-BSA), injected ip (10 mg/kg) once every 4 days for a total of 4 doses, was more effective than an equivalent dose of free MTX in reducing the number of metastases observed in female (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mice bearing the sc implanted Lewis lung carcinoma. Treatment with the high-molecular-weight derivative of MTX in addition caused a decreased rate of growth of the primary tumor and a modest increase in the life-span of the tumor-bearing animal. When tumor-bearing mice were killed after receiving injections of [3H]MTX or [3H]MTX-BSA, no difference in the amount of drug was found at the tumor site after 1 hour; however, after 8 or 24 hours, twice as much radioactivity was found in the tumors of mice treated with carrier-bound drug. Analysis of this radioactivity indicated a ratio of 60--80% carrier-bound to 20--40% free MTX.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Increased urinary excretion of nucleic acid and nicotinamide derivatives by rats after treatment with alkylating agents.

Rats treated with di(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNUA) and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENUA) excrete significantly larger amounts of deoxycytidine (dC) and thymidine in their urine 0-24 h after treatment. Ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) gave negative results in this respect but all five alkylating agents increased the excretion of 1-methyl-nicotinamide (1-meNmd). In addition, a larger quantity of 7-methylguanine (7MG) and uric acid was excreted after DMN treatment. 1,4-Dimethanesulphonoxybutane (myleran), 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (dichlorvos), 5-fluorouracil (5FU), cytosine arabinoside (araC), 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and 7-bromomethylbenz-[a]anthracene (7-BrMBA) gave negative results.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1975

Increased urinary excretion of labelled deoxyribonucleosides in rats with stable pre-labelled DNA treated with methyl methanesulphonate or nitrogen mustard.

After the DNA of newborn female rats had been labelled by repeated injections of [14C]orotate (totalling 36 mu Ci) during the first 3 weeks of life, approximately 1,000,000 dpm were found in the DNA of the liver, lungs, kidneys, gut, brain, heart and spleen of 8-week-old rats. Methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) (80 mg/kg) and di-(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (HN2) (5 mg/kg) injection increased the amount of 14C-labelled DNA pyrimidine nucleosides excreted in the urine to 5000 dpm from 350 dpm before injection. The effect on RNA products was much less marked.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A simple procedure for cross-linking complementary oligonucleotides.

A simple, efficient procedure for cross-linking two complementary oligonucleotides, which does not require chemical modification of either oligonucleotide, is described. One of the oligonucleotides is first converted to the 5'-phosphorothioate derivative with polynucleotide kinase. It is then incubated with its complement in the presence of 1 microM trans-platinum(II)diammine dichloride. After overnight incubation, 40-50% cross-linking is observed. DNA synthesis by the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I is blocked at the cross-linked site, resulting in the formation of truncated products. Potassium platinous chloride (K2PtCl4) and cis-platinum(II)diammine dichloride form cross-links less efficiently than the trans isomer.

Base Sequence↗