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B Grimm

Publications and source records attributed to B Grimm.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Expression of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense RNA in tobacco induces pathogen defense responses conferring increased resistance to tobacco mosaic virus.

Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced activity of either uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase or coproporphyrinogen oxidase, two enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway, are characterized by the accumulation of photosensitizing tetrapyrrole intermediates, antioxidative responses, and necrotic leaf lesions. In this study we report on cellular responses in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase and coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense plants, normally associated with pathogen defense. These plants accumulate the highly fluorescent coumarin scopolin in their leaves. They also display increased pathogenesis-related protein expression and higher levels of free and conjugated salicylic acid. Upon tobacco mosaic virus inoculation, the plants with leaf lesions and high levels of PR-1 mRNA expression show reduced accumulation of virus RNA relative to wild-type controls. This result is indicative of an increased resistance to tobacco mosaic virus. We conclude that porphyrinogenesis as a result of deregulated tetrapyrrole synthesis induces a set of defense responses that resemble the hypersensitive reaction observed after pathogen attack.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

Reduced activity of geranylgeranyl reductase leads to loss of chlorophyll and tocopherol and to partially geranylgeranylated chlorophyll in transgenic tobacco plants expressing antisense RNA for geranylgeranyl reductase

The enzyme geranylgeranyl reductase (CHL P) catalyzes the reduction of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to phytyl diphosphate. We identified a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cDNA sequence encoding a 52-kD precursor protein homologous to the Arabidopsis and bacterial CHL P. The effects of deficient CHL P activity on chlorophyll (Chl) and tocopherol contents were studied in transgenic plants expressing antisense CHL P RNA. Transformants with gradually reduced Chl P expression showed a delayed growth rate and a pale or variegated phenotype. Transformants grown in high (500 &mgr;mol m-2 s-1; HL) and low (70 &mgr;mol photon m-2 s-1; LL) light displayed a similar degree of reduced tocopherol content during leaf development, although growth of wild-type plants in HL conditions led to up to a 2-fold increase in tocopherol content. The total Chl content was more rapidly reduced during HL than LL conditions. Up to 58% of the Chl content was esterified with geranylgeraniol instead of phytol under LL conditions. Our results indicate that CHL P provides phytol for both tocopherol and Chl synthesis. The transformants are a valuable model with which to investigate the adaptation of plants with modified tocopherol levels against deleterious environmental conditions.

Journal Article↗

Transient-state kinetic analysis of Synechococcus glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase.

We report a transient-state kinetic analysis relating to the mechanism of glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSAT). Multiple-wavelength spectral kinetic data were collected by micro-stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Time resolved spectral sketches resulting from reactions with glutamate 1-semialdehyde (GSA), 4,5-diaminovalerate (DAVA), and 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) indicated various transient chromophoric intermediates. On the basis of the generally accepted mechanism of other aminotransferases and absorbance characteristics of associated intermediates, these transient chromophores are likely associated with Schiff base formation, ketimine/aldimine tautomerization, and transimidation etc. Spectral kinetic changes associated with these putative intermediates were, in general, concentration dependent. Various experimental evidence, including reactions with the GSAT lys272ile mutant, suggested rapid equilibrium of isomeric aldimines and geminal diamines. With this and related simplifying assumptions, a minimal mechanism was derived which provided a means for transient-state spectral kinetic analysis of reactions with GSA, DAVA, and ALA, all of which lead to the formation of the same putative central enzyme complex. Resulting kinetic constants were internally consistent, in general agreement with steady-state and equilibrium data (KM, kcat, and Keq), and provided the basis for a reasonable computer simulation of the original data set (variance approximately 4 x 10(-5)). Reequilibration of enzyme intermediates following an apparent pseudoequilibrium indicated thermodynamically driven dissociation of the central aldiminic enzyme complex. This is consistent with previous observations and the minimal mechanism used in this kinetic analysis and suggests a plausible regulatory mechanism of GSAT.

Amino Acids, Diamino↗

Photodynamic action of uroporphyrin and protochlorophyllide in greening barley leaves treated with cesium chloride.

Incubation of greening barley leaves with cesium chloride (CsCl) results in photodynamic leaf lesions within 24 h due to an inactivation of uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase, an enzyme of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, and transient accumulation of uroporphyrin (ogen). To examine the mechanism of porphyrinogenesis, time kinetics of the accumulating tetrapyrrole intermediates uroporphyrin (ogen) and protochlorophyllide were performed with leaves which were cut from 7-day-old dark-grown barley seedlings and incubated in 15 mM CsCl or water under different light regimes. In the presence of CsCl chlorophyll and carotenoids accumulation was inhibited in the first 24 h of continuous light and the pigment content decreased dramatically during extended illumination. When CsCl=treated leaves were transferred to darkness, accumulated uroporphyrinogen was completely converted to protochlorophyllide. Low temperature fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed that uroporphyrinogen almost completely accumulated in the reduced form. The oxidised form, uroporphyrin, was detectable after 24 h of illumination. The photodynamic leaf lesions became visible at the same time. Protochlorophyllide synthesised from accumulated uroporphyrinogen III in dark incubated leaves had a fluorescence maximum at 635 nm which is indicative for its non-photoconvertible form. Re-illumination of the barley leaves resulted in a rapid degradation of proteins and pigments and an intense lipid peroxidation within less than two hours due to the photodestructive potential of non-metabolised protochlorophyllide.

Carotenoids↗

Novel insights in the control of tetrapyrrole metabolism of higher plants.

Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis has been the subject of numerous studies over several decades. In recent years scientific interest in plant tetrapyrrole biosynthesis has included both genetical and biochemical elucidation of almost every enzymatic step of the pathway and has focused to an increasing extent on the regulatory mechanism of the entire metabolic pathway, but in particular of key steps, such as synthesis of 5-aminolevulinate, magnesium chelatase or protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase.

Mutation↗

Cloning and characterization of a plastidal and a mitochondrial isoform of tobacco protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase.

Protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase is the last enzyme in the common pathway of heme and chlorophyll synthesis and provides precursor for the mitochondrial and plastidic heme synthesis and the predominant chlorophyll synthesis in plastids. We cloned two different, full-length tobacco cDNA sequences by complementation of the protoporphyrin-IX-accumulating Escherichia coli hemG mutant from heme auxotrophy. The two sequences show similarity to the recently published Arabidopsis PPOX, Bacillus subtilis hemY, and to mammalian sequences encoding protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase. One cDNA sequence encodes a 548-amino acid residues protein with a putative transit sequence of 50 amino acid residues, and the second cDNA encodes a protein of 504 amino acid residues. Both deduced protein sequences share 27.2% identical amino acid residues. The first in vitro translated protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase could be translocated to plastids, and the approximately 53-kDa mature protein was detected in stroma and membrane fraction. The second enzyme was targeted to mitochondria without any detectable reduction in size. Localization of both enzymes in subcellular fractions was immunologically confirmed. Steady-state RNA analysis indicates an almost synchronous expression of both genes during tobacco plant development, greening of young seedlings, and diurnal and circadian growth. The mature plastidal and the mitochondrial isoenzyme were overexpressed in E. coli. Bacterial extracts containing the recombinant mitochondrial enzyme exhibit high protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase activity relative to control strains, whereas the plastidal enzyme could only be expressed as an inactive peptide. The data presented confirm a compartmentalized pathway of tetrapyrrole synthesis with protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase in plastids and mitochondria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structure of glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminomutase: an alpha2-dimeric vitamin B6-dependent enzyme with asymmetry in structure and active site reactivity.

The three-dimensional structure of glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminomutase (EC 5.4.3.8), an alpha2-dimeric enzyme from Synechococcus, has been determined by x-ray crystallography using heavy atom derivative phasing. The structure, refined at 2.4-A resolution to an R-factor of 18.7% and good stereochemistry, explains many of the enzyme's unusual specificity and functional properties. The overall fold is that of aspartate aminotransferase and related B6 enzymes, but it also has specific features. The structure of the complex with gabaculine, a substrate analogue, shows unexpectedly that the substrate binding site involves residues from the N-terminal domain of the molecule, notably Arg-32. Glu-406 is suitably positioned to repel alpha-carboxylic acids, thereby suggesting a basis for the enzyme's reaction specificity. The subunits show asymmetry in cofactor binding and in the mobilities of the residues 153-181. In the unliganded enzyme, one subunit has the cofactor bound as an aldimine of pyridoxal phosphate with Lys-273 and, in this subunit, residues 153-181 are disordered. In the other subunit in which the cofactor is not covalently bound, residues 153-181 are well defined. Consistent with the crystallographically demonstrated asymmetry, a form of the enzyme in which both subunits have pyridoxal phosphate bound to Lys-273 through a Schiff base showed biphasic reduction by borohydride in solution. Analysis of absorption spectra during reduction provided evidence of communication between the subunits. The crystal structure of the reduced form of the enzyme shows that, despite identical cofactor binding in each monomer, the structural asymmetry at residues 153-181 remains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterisation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cDNA clones encoding proteins involved in magnesium chelation into protoporphyrin IX.

We have identified cDNA clones encoding the two Mg chelatase subunits CHL I and CHL H from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by screening a cDNA library with homologous cDNA fragments from Arabidopsis thaliana. A full-length Chl I cDNA clone encodes a peptide with 426 amino acids. The entire cDNA sequence encoding 1382 amino acid long CHL H was obtained by extension of a truncated cDNA fragment using the 'rapid amplification of cDNA ends' (RACE) method. Both genes Chl I and Chl H were strongly expressed in young leaves and to a lesser extent in mature leaves. Only traces of both transcripts were found in flowering organs. Southern blot analysis suggests that CHL I is encoded by a single gene and CHL H most likely by several genes.

Blotting, Northern↗

Yeast 5-aminolevulinate synthase provides additional chlorophyll precursor in transgenic tobacco.

Synthesis of the tetrapyrrole precursor 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) in plants starts with glutamate and is a tRNA-dependent pathway consisting of three enzymatic steps localized in plastids. In animals and yeast, ALA is formed in a single step from succinyl CoA and glycine by aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S) in mitochondria. A gene encoding a fusion protein of yeast ALA-S with an aminoterminal transit sequence for the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase was introduced into the genome of wild-type tobacco and a chlorophyll-deficient transgenic line expressing glutamate 1-semi-aldehyde aminotransferase (GSA-AT) antisense RNA. Expression of ALA-S in the GSA-AT antisense transgenic line provided green-pigmented co-transformants similar to wild-type in chlorophyll content, while transformants derived from wild-type plants did not show phenotypical changes. The capacity to synthesize ALA and chlorophyll was increased in transformed plants, indicating a contribution of ALA-S to the ALA supply for chlorophyll synthesis. ALA-S activity was detected in plastids of the transformants. Preliminary evidence is presented that succinyl CoA, the substrate for ALA-S, can be synthesized and metabolized in plastids. The transgenic plants formed chlorophyll in the presence of gabaculine, an inhibitor of GSA-AT. Steady-state RNA and protein levels and consequently, the enzyme activity of GSA-AT were reduced in plants expressing ALA-S. In analogy to the light-dependent ALA synthesis attributed to feedback regulation, a mechanism at the level of intermediates or tetrapyrrole end-products is proposed, which co-ordinates the need for heme and chlorophyll precursors and restricts synthesis of ALA by regulating GSA-AT gene expression. The genetically engineered tobacco plants containing the yeast ALA-S activity demonstrate functional complementation of the catalytic activity of the plant ALA-synthesizing pathway and open strategies for producing tolerance against inhibitors of the C5 pathway.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Mg-chelatase of tobacco: identification of a Chl D cDNA sequence encoding a third subunit, analysis of the interaction of the three subunits with the yeast two-hybrid system, and reconstitution of the enzyme activity by co-expression of recombinant CHL D, CHL H and CHL I.

Mg-protoporphyrin IX chelatase catalyzes insertion of the magnesium ion into protoporphyrin IX, the last common intermediate precursor in chlorophyll and heme biosynthesis, to form Mg-protoporphyrin IX. In Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Synechocystis, the three open reading frames bchD/chID, bchH/chIH and bchI/chII encode proteins which are required for in vitro Mg-chelatase activity. In higher plants also, three proteins are necessary for the Mg chelation, and genes homologous to bchH and bchI have been isolated previously. In this study, a novel tobacco cDNA sequence homologous to bchD is isolated and initially characterized. Together with the tobacco clones encoding the other two subunits, full-length cDNAs are now available for the first time for all three subunits of one plant species. The CHL D polypeptide deduced from the open reading frame encodes a protein of 758 aa (82.9 kDa) with an amino terminal extension that resembles a plastid transit peptide. Sequence comparison of tobacco CHL D revealed similarities to the D subunit of Rhodobacter and Synechocystis of 44% and 75%. The amino terminal half of CHL D shows significant similarity (46%) to the entire CHL I peptide sequence, indicating a gene duplication from an ancestral gene. The carboxy terminal half seemed to be unique. Both parts of CHL D are linked with a glutamine/asparagine/proline-rich region flanked by a highly acid-rich segment. Protein-protein interaction among the three subunits CHL D, H and I was studied using the yeast two-hybrid system. Physical interaction was demonstrated between CHL D and CHL I indicating that CHL D is part of the Mg-chelatase. Heterodimer formation of CHL H with CHL I or CHL D could not be demonstrated by transactivation of the lacZ reporter gene. Homodimerization of the CHL D subunit was indicated in the more sensitive assay on X-Gal-containing agar plates. In vitro Mg2+ insertion into protoporphyrin IX was demonstrated in protein extracts of yeast strains expressing the three subunits of tobacco Mg-chelatase. The reconstitution of the recombinant enzyme activity required additional ATP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Changes in the composition of the photosynthetic apparatus in the galactolipid-deficient dgd1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The glycerolipid digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) is exclusively associated with photosynthetic membranes and thus may play a role in the proper assembly and maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus. Here we employ a genetic approach based on the dgd1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate the function of DGDG in thylakoid membranes. The primary defect in the genetically well-characterized dgd1 mutant resulted in a 90% reduction of the DGDG content. The mutant showed a decreased photosystem II (PSII) to photosystem I ratio. In vivo room- and low-temperature (77 K) chlorophyll fluorescence measurements with thylakoid preparations are in agreement with a drastically altered excitation energy allocation to the reaction centers. Quantification of pigment-binding apoproteins and pigments supports an altered stoichiometry of individual pigment-protein complexes in the mutant. Most strikingly, an increase in the amount of peripheral light-harvesting complexes of PSII relative to the inner antenna complexes and the PSII reaction center/core complexes was observed. Regardless of the severe alterations in thylakoid organization, photosynthetic oxygen evolution was virtually not compromised in dgd1 mutant leaves.

Arabidopsis↗

Members of a low-copy number gene family encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase are differentially expressed in barley.

In plants tetrapyrrole synthesis is initially light regulated on the level of 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthesis. ALA is formed from glutamate in three enzymatic steps. Glutamyl tRNA reductase (GluTR) catalyses the NADPH-dependent reduction of glutamyl tRNA to glutamate 1-semialdehyde. GluTR is encoded by a low-copy gene family consisting of three to four genes. Three different cDNA clones are presented. Full-length clones BHA1 and 87 differ in the length of the 3' untranslated region and code for a 58.5 kDa protein. The sequence of the partial clone, BHA13, contains at least 87 base mismatches in the coding region for the mature GluTR resulting in 11 amino acid substitutions. Synthesis of a recombinant mature and a truncated GluTR lacking the first 19 amino terminal amino acids in Escherichia coli lead only in the latter case to complementation of an E. coli hemA mutant. Steady-state level of BHA1- and BHA13-specific mRNA encoding GluTR were analysed by Northern blot hybridization using cDNA-specific oligo nucleotides and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Accumulation of the two RNA species is light induced in greening barley and controlled during cellular development. In contrast to BHA13, BHA1 transcripts are present in roots and are elevated after cytokinin treatment of dark-grown seedlings. Furthermore, BHA1 mRNA shows oscillation under circadian growth conditions. GluTR transcript levels correlate with the capacity for ALA synthesis indicating that the rate-limiting substrate flux through the ALA synthesizing pathway can be at least partially attributed to GluTR expression. Consequences of the initial control of the chlorophyll metabolic pathway on the level of ALA formation are discussed.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay for semi-quantitative detection of HBV DNA in mononuclear leukocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

A ligase chain reaction (LCR)-based approach to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is described. Using this new amplification technique, we determined semi-quantitatively the amount of a short HBV S-gene fragment in PBMC lysates of 25 patients with different forms of chronic hepatitis (group A (n = 8), hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg)+/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)+; group B (n = 9), HBsAg+/HBeAg-; group C (n = 8), HBsAg-/HBeAg-). The LCR results were compared with the findings obtained with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of three distinct HBV gene regions (preS1/2, S and C) and related to the serological profiles of the patients. Depending on the primer pair used for PCR amplification, sensitivity of HBV LCR in PBMC was equivalent or slightly superior to PCR. The highest positivity rate for HBV DNA was observed in the HBeAg+ and HBV DNA seropositive group (8/8) and was lower in the other patient groups B (4/9) and C (1/8). Interestingly, HBV gene sequences could also be detected in the lymphocytes of an HBsAg negative patient and in two patients from group B who were both negative for serum viral particles by PCR. The rapid LCR procedure represents a reliable alternative to PCR for the sensitive detection of HBV DNA in PBMC samples. In combination with the automated IMx(TM)-system the new amplification technique may be routinely used for screening for HBV in whole blood samples and thus may help to better evaluate the risk of HBV reinfection in liver transplant recipients.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗

Reduction of coproporphyrinogen oxidase level by antisense RNA synthesis leads to deregulated gene expression of plastid proteins and affects the oxidative defense system.

A full-length cDNA sequence encoding coproporphyrinogen oxidase was inserted in inverse orientation behind a CaMV promoter and transferred to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by standard transformation techniques. Transformants showed reduced coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity and accumulation of photosensitive coproporphyrin(ogen), indicating antisense RNA expression. An inverse correlation was observed between the level of coproporphyrinogen oxidase and transformant phenotype. The latter is characterized by a broad range of growth retardation and necrosis, indicating oxidative leaf damage. Coproporphyrinogen is an apparent chromophore and its excitation finally leads to the production of reactive oxygen. Evidence is presented that indicates a direct correlation between the accumulation of non-metabolized coproporphyrinogen and oxidative damage to cellular structural components. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were investigated. Whereas superoxide dismutase activity increased in transgenic plants, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity remained constant. Tocopherol, rather than carotene or zeaxanthin, seemed to be involved in detoxification, indicating the putative localization and allocation of coproporphyrinogen. Expression of coproporphyrinogen oxidase antisense RNA did not significantly influence the level of other enzymes in the chlorophyll metabolic pathway, but deregulated gene expression of nuclear encoded plastid proteins. Accumulation of coproporphyrinogen and/or the resulting effects, such as oxidative stress, impairs a plastid/nuclear signal which may adapt gene expression to the plastid state.

Antioxidants↗

Reactions of glutamate semialdehyde aminotransferase (glutamate-1-semialdehyde 2,1 aminomutase) with vinyl and acetylenic substrate analogues analysed by rapid scanning spectrophotometry.

The reactions occurring when glutamate-1-semialdehyde amino-transferase (glutamate-1-semialdehyde 2,1 aminomutase, EC 5.4.3.8) was treated with two potential mechanism-based inactivators, namely 4-aminohex-5-enoate and 4-aminohex-5-ynoate, have been investigated by monitoring rapid transient changes in the absorption spectrum of the enzyme's prosthetic group, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. In both cases a short-lived chromophore absorbing maximally at about 500 nm was formed in a few milliseconds. In the case of the vinyl analogue (4-aminohex-5-enoate) this chromophore, considered to be a quinonoid intermediate, converted rapidly into the pyridoxamine phosphate form of the co-enzyme in a single turnover which was accompanied by negligible inactivation. However, slow inactivation of the enzyme by this compound was observed when the enzyme was made to undergo multiple turnovers by including the efficient aldehyde substrate, succinic semialdehyde. The acetylenic compound, aminohexynoate, produced more complex spectral changes with the consecutive formation of compounds absorbing maximally at 496 nm, 450 nm, 564 nm and 330 nm. The enzyme was 90% inactivated by aminohexynoate within 10 s and thereafter lost no further activity unless aldehyde substrate was added. Mechanisms and kinetic constants consistent with the observations are proposed for each compound. The observation that the acetylenic compound is a much more potent inactivator than its vinyl analogue is attributed to the occurrence of a conjugated allene as intermediate.

Acetylene↗

Isolation, sequencing and expression of cDNA sequences encoding uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase from tobacco and barley.

We have cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA for uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD, EC 4.1.1.37) from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and a partial cDNA clone from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The cDNA of tobacco encodes a protein of 43 kDa, which has 33% overall similarity to UROD sequences determined from other organisms. We propose that tobacco UROD has an N-terminal extension of 39 amino acid residues. This extension is most likely a chloroplast transit sequence. The in vitro translation product of UROD was imported into pea chloroplasts and processed to ca. 39 kDa. A truncated cDNA, from which the putative transit peptide had been deleted, was used to over-express the mature UROD in Escherichia coli. Purified protein showed UROD activity, thus providing an adequate source for subsequent enzymatic characterization and inhibition studies. Expression of UROD was investigated by northern and western blot analysis during greening of etiolated barley seedlings, and in segments of barley primary leaves grown under day/night cycles. The amount of RNA and protein increased during illumination. Maximum UROD-RNA levels were detected in the basal segments relative to the top of the leaf.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Propagation of large numbers of cells of a human mixed-lineage T-lymphoid/myeloid.

Previously, a subset of T cells co-expressing the myeloid antigen CD33 has been described in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia. However, normal lymphocytes have been viewed as not expressing the CD33 antigen. We have developed culture conditions which allow for the rapid expansion of CD3+CD33+ cells from patients with myeloid leukaemia as well as normal individuals. The protocol for cellular expansion includes the addition of interferon-gamma on day 0, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and a monoclonal antibody against CD3 on day 1 to peripheral blood lymphocytes. Using this protocol, total cell number increased more than 600-fold within 16 d of culture. Cells could be kept in culture for more than 6 months. Cells of the CD3+CD33+ phenotype increased to 15.2 +/- 4.6% using this protocol after 16 d in culture. These cells have been characterized by flow cytometry and have been found to express the alpha, beta T-cell receptor, co-express the CD2, CD5, CD7 and HLA-DR antigens and did not express CD14 or CD15 antigens. Cells of the CD3+CD33+ phenotype were unable to lyse tumour cells as determined in a 51Cr release assay. In patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. CD3+CD33+ cells seem to be negative for expression of bcr/abl transcript in contrast to CD33- cells. Our data suggest that CD3+CD33+ cells do exist in peripheral blood from normal individuals.

Antigens, CD↗