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B Kienzle

Publications and source records attributed to B Kienzle.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Depression, emotional blunting, and akinesia in schizophrenia. Overlap and differentiation.

Depression, negative symptoms, and extrapyramidal signs (EPS) frequently occur together in schizophrenia. Their overlap is due partly to the lack of specificity of assessment instruments. However, to disentangle the three syndromes is clinically important as treatment of schizophrenia requires a differentiated approach. This study investigated the overlap between depression, emotional blunting as a core part of the negative syndrome, and akinesia as manifestation of EPS, using the Calgary Depression Rating Scale (CDSS), the Rating Scale for Emotional Blunting (SEB), and the akinesia score of the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) as the most specific assessment instruments presently available. We investigated 57 medicated schizophrenic patients before discharge from hospitalization. Mutual relationships were assessed with linear and partial correlations. Substantial linear associations emerged between SEB and SAS scores. The correlation between CDSS and SAS scores was significantly lower, but also different from zero. When SEB scores were statistically controlled, the association between CDSS and SAS scores dropped to nonsignificance; the correlation between SEB and SAS scores remained nearly unchanged when controlling for depression. The correlation between CDSS and SEB scores decreased to nonsignificance when controlling for SAS scores. Neither gender, age, illness duration, nor type of medication had an influence on the findings. High levels of akinesia were related to emotional blunting but not independently to depressive symptoms in medicated schizophrenic patients. Although the results cannot be assumed to be specific for schizophrenia, they corroborate the partial independence of depression and affective blunting in schizophrenia and the relationship of negative symptoms to EPS.

Journal Article↗

Beta 3-adrenergic receptor-mediated lipolysis and oxygen consumption in brown adipocytes from cynomolgus monkeys.

Primary adipocytes were isolated from axillary brown adipose tissue from adult cynomolgus monkeys. That this tissue contained brown adipocytes was verified by morphological examination and by demonstrating the presence of uncoupling protein messenger ribonucleic acid in the isolated adipocytes. The contributions of beta 1-, beta 2-, and beta 3-adrenergic receptors (AR) to lipolysis and oxygen consumption of isolated brown adipocytes were determined after agonist stimulation. Dose responses were determined using isoproterenol (a nonselective beta-AR agonist), denopamine (beta 1-AR agonist), procaterol (beta 2-AR agonist), and CGP12177A (beta 1- and beta 2-AR antagonist, beta 3-AR agonist). Isoproterenol, denopamine, and procaterol stimulated lipolysis with EC50 values of 4,500, and 83 nmol/L, respectively. Intrinsic activities (relative to isoproterenol maxima) were 100%, 74%, and 59%, respectively. The presence of beta 3-ARs coupled to lipolysis was demonstrated by the activity of CGP12177A (EC50 = 1.6 mumol/L; intrinsic activity = 62%). Isoproterenol stimulated oxygen consumption of brown adipocytes by 75-100% above the basal rate, with an EC50 of 1 mumol/L. Denopamine, procaterol, and CGP12177A stimulated oxygen consumption at a concentration of 100 mumol/L. These results demonstrate that all three beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes are coupled to lipolysis and oxygen consumption in brown adipocytes from cynomolgus monkeys.

Abdomen↗

A novel abetalipoproteinemia genotype. Identification of a missense mutation in the 97-kDa subunit of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein that prevents complex formation with protein disulfide isomerase.

The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is a heterodimer composed of the ubiquitous multifunctional protein, protein disulfide isomerase, and a unique 97-kDa subunit. Mutations that lead to the absence of a functional 97-kDa subunit cause abetalipoproteinemia, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a defect in the assembly and secretion of apolipoprotein B (apoB) containing lipoproteins. Previous studies of abetalipoproteinemic patient, C.L., showed that the 97-kDa subunit was undetectable. In this report, [35S]methionine labeling showed that this tissue was capable of synthesizing the 97-kDa MTP subunit. Electrophoretic analysis showed two bands, one with a molecular mass of the wild type 97-kDa subunit and the other with a slightly lower molecular weight. Sequence analysis of cDNAs from additional intestinal biopsies showed this patient to be a compound heterozygote. One allele contained a perfect in-frame deletion of exon 10, explaining the lower molecular weight band. cDNAs of the second allele were found to contain 3 missense mutations: His297 --> Gln, Asp384 --> Ala, and Arg540 --> His. Transient expression of each mutant showed that only the Arg540 --> His mutant was non-functional based upon its inability to reconstitute apoB secretion in a cell culture system. The other amino acid changes are silent polymorphisms. High level coexpression in a baculovirus system of the wild type 97-kDa subunit or the Arg540 --> His mutant along with human protein disulfide isomerase showed that the wild type was capable of forming an active MTP complex while the mutant was not. Biochemical analysis of lysates from these cells showed that the Arg to His conversion interrupted the interaction between the 97-kDa subunit and protein disulfide isomerase. Replacement of Arg540 with a lysine residue maintained the ability of the 97-kDa subunit to complex with protein disulfide isomerase and form the active MTP holoprotein. These results indicate that a positively charged amino acid at position 540 in the 97-kDa subunit is critical for the productive association with protein disulfide isomerase. Of the 13 mutant MTP 97-kDa subunit alleles described to date, this is the first encoding a missense mutation.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a human type 2 neuropeptide Y receptor.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid polypeptide that is widely distributed in the central nervous system and periphery. Pharmacological studies have suggested that there are at least three receptor subtypes, Y1, Y2, and Y3. Cloning of the Y1 subtype has been reported previously. Here we report the isolation by expression cloning of a cDNA encoding a human NPY receptor displaying a pharmacology typical of a Y2 receptor. COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA express high affinity binding sites for NPY, peptide YY, and NPY13-36, whereas [Leu31,Pro34]NPY binds with lower affinity. The receptor is 381 amino acids in length and has seven putative transmembrane regions typical of G-protein-coupled receptors. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of this Y2 receptor to that of the human Y1 receptor indicates that the two receptors are 31% identical at the amino acid level. Northern blot analyses reveal a single 4-kilobase mRNA species and indicate that the messenger RNA is present in many areas of the central nervous system. NPY induced calcium mobilization and inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells that stably express the Y2 receptor cDNA, indicating that the recombinant Y2 receptor is functionally coupled to second messenger systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A 30-amino acid truncation of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein large subunit disrupts its interaction with protein disulfide-isomerase and causes abetalipoproteinemia.

The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is a heterodimer composed of the multifunctional enzyme, protein disulfide-isomerase, and a unique large, 97 kDa, subunit. It is found as a soluble protein within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum of liver and intestine and is required for the assembly of very low density lipoproteins and chylomicrons. Mutations in MTP which result in an absence of MTP function have been shown to cause abetalipoproteinemia. Here, the gene encoding the MTP 97-kDa subunit of an abetalipoproteinemic subject, which we have previously demonstrated lacks MTP activity and protein (Wetterau, J. R., Aggerbeck, L. P., Bouma, M.-E., Eisenberg, C., Munck, A., Hermier, M., Schmitz, J., Gay, G., Rader, D. J., and Gregg, R. E. (1992) Science 258, 999-1001), was isolated and sequenced. A nonsense mutation, which predicts the truncation of the protein by 30 amino acids, was identified. To investigate if this apparently subtle change in MTP could explain the observed absence of MTP, protein disulfide-isomerase was co-expressed with either the normal or mutant MTP 97-kDa subunit in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. Although there were high levels of expression of both the normal and mutant forms of the MTP 97-kDa subunit, only the normal subunit was able to form a stable, soluble complex with protein disulfide-isomerase. These results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal 30 amino acids of the MTP 97-kDa subunit plays an important role in its interaction with protein disulfide-isomerase.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗

Transcriptional regulation of human and hamster microsomal triglyceride transfer protein genes. Cell type-specific expression and response to metabolic regulators.

In order to characterize the molecular mechanisms that dictate microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) gene transcription in human and hamster, two species with similar plasma lipoprotein profiles, the MTP gene promoters were cloned, sequenced, and functionally characterized by transient transfection analysis. The results presented in this report indicate that the 5' ends of human and hamster MTP genes share similar structural features. The promoter sequences are well conserved and consist of similar functional elements. Transient transfection analysis of MTP promoter-driven luciferase gene expression showed that the promoter is active in liver and intestinal cells but not in epithelial cells, consistent with endogenous MTP gene expression. The -123 to -85 bp region of the human promoter is critical for the expression and contains the consensus recognition sequences for liver cell-specific factors HNF-1 and HNF-4 and activator protein AP-1. The promoter contains a modified sterol response element and a negative insulin response element. The human promoter activity is positively regulated by cholesterol and negatively regulated by insulin. From the functional analysis of MTP promoters, it is concluded that the elements that regulate the cell type-specific expression in human and hamster are well conserved and that insulin and cholesterol can regulate the activity of the MTP promoter in opposite directions.

Animals↗

Cloning and regulation of hamster microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. The regulation is independent from that of other hepatic and intestinal proteins which participate in the transport of fatty acids and triglycerides.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is a heterodimer consisting of protein disulfide isomerase and a unique large subunit. Recent studies showing that an absence of MTP is a cause of abetalipoproteinemia indicate that MTP is required for the assembly of very low density lipoproteins in the liver and chylomicrons in the intestine. In this study, complementary DNA encoding the large subunit of hamster MTP was cloned. The cDNA sequence was used to design a 50-base pair oligonucleotide probe for a solution hybridization assay to quantitate MTP large subunit mRNA levels in a study of MTP regulation in male Syrian Golden hamsters. In animals fed a low fat diet, MTP exhibited a proximal to distal gradient of expression in the intestine. MTP activity and large subunit mRNA levels in the liver were about 25 and 10% that found in the proximal intestine, respectively. To investigate the effect of diet on MTP, hamsters were maintained for 31 days on one of four diets: 1) control low fat, 2) high fat, 3) low fat, high sucrose, or 4) diet 1 followed by a 48-h fast. The high fat diet increased MTP large subunit mRNA levels in the liver and throughout the small and large intestine. A 55 and 126% increase was observed in the liver and intestine (duodenum and jejunum), respectively. A 40% increase of intestinal MTP protein mass was also observed. The high sucrose diet caused a significant 55% increase in hepatic MTP mRNA levels but did not significantly affect the intestinal mRNA levels. MTP mRNA levels were unchanged in response to fasting. A short term dietary study showed that intestinal MTP mRNA was up-regulated within 24 h after initiating a high fat diet. An acute hepatic response was not observed. The regulation of MTP mRNA levels by high fat diets was compared to that of the liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and apolipoprotein B (apoB). ApoB mRNA levels were not significantly affected by a high fat diet. Although L-FABP mRNA levels were increased in the liver and intestine, the onset of the changes did not parallel that of MTP. These results suggest that L-FABP, apoB, and MTP, three proteins which play important roles in the transport of fatty acids and triglyceride in the liver and intestine, are not coordinately regulated by diet in hamsters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human microsomal triglyceride transfer protein large subunit gene structure.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is a heterodimer consisting of the multifunctional enzyme protein disulfide isomerase and a unique, large 97-kDa subunit. MTP is required for the assembly and secretion of very low density lipoproteins and chylomicrons by the liver and intestine, respectively. In vitro, MTP catalyzes the transport of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, and phosphatidylcholine between phospholipid surfaces. We have characterized the gene encoding the large subunit of human MTP. It contains 18 exons and spans approximately 55-60 kb. Fluorescent in situ hybridization localized this gene to band 4q24 of chromosome 4. A (CA)n repeat polymorphic marker, which may be useful for investigating a link between the MTP gene and genetic defects in lipid metabolism, was identified in intron 10. Sequence analysis of the 5' flanking region of the gene revealed potential sites which may bind transcriptional factors and control MTP expression.

Alleles↗

Isolation and sequence of the t-RNA ligase-encoding gene of Candida albicans.

The gene encoding tRNA ligase from Candida albicans was isolated from a genomic library by complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain containing a disrupted structural gene, RLG1, encoding tRNA ligase. The cloned gene also complements a temperature-sensitive allele of RLG1. Sequence analysis revealed a single 2499-nt coding region. The gene encodes a protein of 833 amino acids that is 42% identical to S. cerevisiae tRNA ligase. Hybridization to chromosomes of C. albicans separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis located the gene to chromosome 1, the smallest C. albicans chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and gene defects in microsomal triglyceride transfer protein associated with abetalipoproteinaemia.

The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), which catalyses the transport of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester and phospholipid between phospholipid surfaces, is a heterodimer composed of the multifunctional protein, protein disulphide isomerase, and a unique large subunit with an apparent M(r) of 88K (refs 1-3). It is isolated as a soluble protein from the lumen of the microsomal fraction of liver and intestine. The large subunit of MTP was not detectable in four unrelated subjects with abetalipoproteinaemia, a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a defect in the assembly or secretion of plasma lipoproteins that contain apolipoprotein B (ref. 6). We report here the isolation and sequencing of complementary DNA encoding the large subunit of MTP. A comparison of this sequence to corresponding genomic sequences from two abetalipoproteinaemic subjects revealed a homozygous frameshift mutation in one subject and a homozygous nonsense mutation in the other. The results indicate that a defect in the gene for the large subunit of MTP is the proximal cause of abetalipoproteinaemia in these two subjects, and that MTP is required for the secretion of plasma lipoproteins that contain apolipoprotein B.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗