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B Lebleu

Publications and source records attributed to B Lebleu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Poly(L-lysine)-conjugated oligonucleotides promote sequence-specific inhibition of acute HIV-1 infection.

Previously, we have reported that conjugation of antisense oligonucleotides to poly(L-lysine) (PLL) lowers their inhibitory concentration in several biological models. We have now tested these conjugates for inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. PLL-conjugated oligonucleotides complementary to the translation initiation site of Tat protein protect cells from the cytopathic effect of HIV-1 in acute infection assays. The EC50 of conjugates is approximately 0.15 microM, which represents a strong reduction in concentration as compared to nonconjugated oligonucleotides (EC50 = 20 microM). In contrast with most reports in the literature, we have observed sequence specific antiviral effects with PLL conjugates. This was particularly noteworthy in antiviral experiments performed with HIV-1 isolates presenting heterogeneity in the 5' end of the tat mRNA sequence. Two mismatches at the target site were sufficient to reduce very significantly the antiviral activity of the conjugates but did not modify the effect of nonconjugated oligonucleotides. Unlike free oligonucleotides, PLL-conjugated ones do not interfere with virus penetration and/or reverse transcription as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of viral DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Control of gene expression by antisense nucleic acids].

The use of antisense RNA or of antisense oligonucleotides for the specific control of viral or cellular genes expression has undergone rapid developments recently; their respective advantages and drawbacks will be discussed. Progresses in oligonucleotides chemistry have lead to the synthesis of analogs with improved pharmacological properties. Besides the antisense approach, which usually targets translation initiation or splicing sites, it is possible to interfere specifically with gene expression through triple helix formation (anti-gene strategy) or through the titration of regulatory proteins (sense approach). A major problem encountered in the use of synthetic oligonucleotides is their delivery to their nuclear or cytoplasmic targets after cell uptake by an endocytic pathway; our own work in this field will be discussed. Finally, we will describe the strategies followed by our group to improve the bioavailability of antisense oligonucleotides, as for instance conjugation to poly (L-lysine) or encapsidation in antibody-targeted liposomes.

Gene Expression Regulation↗
PubMed1978

Comparison of interferon action in interferon resistant and sensitive L1210 cells.

Translation inhibition, leu-tRNA aminoacylation and double-stranded RNA and ATP dependent phosphorylation were examined in interferon-treated and control cell-free lysates of leukaemic mouse L 1210 R and L 1210 S cells. No differences were observed between the respective interferon-treated and control cell-free extracts, except for the presence of an enhanced 67K dalton phosphoprotein fraction in interferon-treated L 1210 S cell-free extracts. In non-responding cell-free lysates, the lack of stimulation of a 67K dalton phosphoprotein fraction cannot be explained by the presence of an increased level of some inhibitory activity, such as a phosphatase.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Impairment of reovirus mRNA methylation in extracts of interferon-treated Ehrilich ascites tumor cells: further characteristics of the phenomenon.

We reported earlier that the methylation of unmethylated reovirus mRNA (reo mRNAU) by the cellular methylating enzymes is impaired in extracts of uninfected, interferon-treated Ehrilich ascites tumor cells (S30INT). We find now that after the methylation of reo mRNAU has stopped in S30INT, the RNA can be reisolated and further methylated in an extract of control cells (S30C). Thus the impairment of methylation in S30INT cannot be due to cleavage or irreversible inactivation of reo mRNAU. Freshly added reo mRNAU can be methylated in S30INT in which the methylation of previously added reo mRNAU has stopped. This indicates that the impairment is due to the depletion of S-adenosylme thionine (the methyl donor), the accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (an inhibitor of methylation), or the irreversible inactivation of reo mRNAU. Freshly added reo mRNAU can be methylated in S30INT in which the methylation of previously added reo mRNAU has stopped. This indicates that the impairment is not due to the depletion of S-adenosylmethionine (the methyl donor), the accumulation of S-adenoxylhomocysteine (an inhibitor of methylation), or the irreversible inactivation of the methylating enzymes. It may be due, however, to the unavailability of reo mRNAU for methylation. The extent of the impairment of reo mRNAU methylation in S30INT decreases with an increasing concentration of reo mRNAU but is not affected by added poly (U), ribosomal RNA, or encephalomyocarditis virus RNA (an mRNA that is probably not capped or methylated at its 5' end). The methylation of reo mRNAU is also impaired in an extract from cells that have not been treated with interferon but with the interferon inducer poly(I) - poly(C). The inhibitor is apparently a macromolecule that is inactivated during incubation. It decreases the methylation at the 7 position of the 5' terminal guanylate residue. In vitro, the rate of reo mRNA synthesis by reovirus cores in the presence of S30INT is the same as in the presence of S30C. However, the methylation of the de novo synthesized reo mRNA by the core-associated methylating enzyme(s) in vitro is inhibited by S30INT but not by S30C. The relevance of these phenomena to the inhibition of reovirus replication in interferon-treated cells remains to be established.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Messenger RNA methylation, translation and degradation in extracts of interferon-treated cells.

Extracts from interferon-treated, not virus infected EAT cells differ in several biochemical characteristics from extracts of untreated cells. Some of these differences are manifested only if the extracts are supplemented with ds RNA and ATP. Thus, in the extracts from interferon-treated cells these supplements activate a protein kinase and an endonuclease activity as well as an inhibitor of the translation of messenger RNA. The effect of the same supplements in extracts of untreated cells is much less pronounced. Other differences between the two types of extracts do not seem to depend on the addition of ds RNA and ATP. These include an impairment of mRNA cap methylation and an inhibition of peptide chain elongation that can be overcome by the addition of tRNA. The treatment of human (HeLa S3) cells with human interferon is manifested in the cell extract similarly to the treatment of EAT cells with mouse interferon. Studies are underway to isolate and characterize the ds RNA activated enzymes and the inhibitors and to establish how the presence of these in extracts from interferon-treated cells can account for the impairment of virus replication by interferon.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1976

Interferon, double-stranded RNA, and protein phosphorylation.

We reported earlier that the addition of double-stranded RNA and ATP increases the endonuclease activity more in an extract of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells which have been treated with an interferon preparation than in a comparable extract from control cells. We report here that the addition of double-stranded RNA to an extract from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells which have been treated with an interferon preparation [or with the interferon inducer poly(I)-poly(C)] promotes the phosphorylation by [gamma-32P]ATP of at least two proteins: P1 (molecular weight of 64,000) and P2 (molecular weight of 37,000). Double-stranded RNA also promotes the phosphorylation of at least one (i.e., P1) of these two proteins in an extract from cells which have not been treated with interferon, but the extent of phosphorylation is much smaller. Double-stranded RNA which has been degraded by RNase III, or DNA, does not promote the phosphorylation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1975

Blocks in elongation and initiation of protein synthesis induced by interferon treatment in mouse L cells.

Synthesis of polypeptide chains coded by exogenous messenger RNAs is inhibited in cell-free extracts from interferon-treated mouse L cells, due to a "deficiency" in some specific tRNA species. A detailed analysis shows that polypeptide chain elongation is blocked and incomplete chains are formed. After a few minutes, however, initiation of new polypeptide chains is also blocked. Messenger RNA still binds to ribosomes but initiator Met-tRNA(FMET) binding is inhibited. The block in initiation appears to be secondary to the block in elongation.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Interferon treatment of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: effects on exogenous mRNA translation and tRNA inactivation in the cell extract.

We reported earlier that in cell extracts that were prepared from interferon-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and preincubated and passed through Sephadex G-25 (S60INT), the translation of exogenous mRNA (viral and host) was impaired and the impairment could be overcome to a large extent by adding a crude tRNA preparation from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells but not from Escherichia coli. We find now that the rate of inactivation of some tRNA's (especially those specific for leucine, lysine, and serine) but not those of many others is faster in S30INT than in corresponding extracts from control cells. This increased rate of tRNA inactivation may perhaps account for the need for added RNA to overcome at least partially the impairment of translation in S30INT. The relationship of the increased rate of tRNA inactivation to the antiviral effect of interferon is unclear. So far no significant difference has been detected in the amount of tRNA needed to overcome the impairment of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA translation in S30INT between tRNA from interferon-treated cells and tRNA from control cells. Futhermore, no difference was found in the rate of inactivation in S30INT between leucine-specific tRNA's from interferon-treated and from control cells. tRNA's specific for leucine and lysine were not inactivated (unless very slowly) during incubation under out conditions in an extract from interferon-treated (or from control) cells unless the extract had been passed through Sephadex G-25 or dialyzed. The translation fo exogenous mRNA was, however, impaired in an extract from interferon-treated cells that had not been passed through Sephadex G-25. This impairment was apparently not overcome by added tRNA.

Animals↗