PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C A Weber

Publications and source records attributed to C A Weber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Restoration of preferential and strand specific gene repair in group 2 Chinese hamster ovary mutants (UV5) by the XPD (ERCC2) gene.

It has recently been reported that the XPD (ERCC2) gene is an integral component of the basal transcription factor TFIIH. We have studied the direct role of this repair gene on the fine structure of DNA repair in hamster cells. The gene and strand specific DNA repair of UV induced pyrimidine dimers was determined in wild-type hamster cells, in hamster cells harboring a mutation in the gene homologous to the XPD gene and in mutant cells transfected with the human XPD gene. In the mutant cells, strand specific repair was severely deficient. In the transfected cells, preferential and strand specific gene repair were restored to wild-type levels. The results of the current study clearly demonstrate a direct role for the XPD gene product both in the preferential repair and bulk repair of pyrimidine dimers as well as its high functional conservation between rodent and human cells. An in vitro transcription assay was employed to investigate whether RNA polymerase II mediated transcription was also affected by the transfection with the XPD gene. No change in transcription between the mutant and transfected cells was observed. This suggests that the role of XPD in repair can be distinguished from its role in TFIIH dependent transcription initiation. Different functional domains of XPD appear to be necessary for repair versus transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Construction of a functional cDNA clone of the hamster ERCC2 DNA repair and transcription gene.

The complete hamster ERCC2 cDNA was constructed in a plasmid vector from clones of three overlapping reverse transcribed/polymerase chain reaction amplified fragments using unique restriction enzyme recognition sites within the regions of overlap. This complete cDNA insert was then cloned into a mammalian expression vector, pcD2E, and tested for function by the ability to confer UV resistance to the ERCC2 mutant CHO cell line UV5. Site-specific mutagenesis was used to introduce the G347-->A and G1844-->A changes resulting in the Cys116-->Tyr and Gly615-->Glu mutations previously identified in UV5 and UVL-13 (also an ERCC2 mutant CHO cell line), respectively. The 116Tyr and 615Glu plasmids each failed to confer UV resistance to UV5 or UVL-13 cells, respectively, demonstrating that the changes identified are indeed the causative mutations in UV5 and UVL-13.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Defects in the DNA repair and transcription gene ERCC2(XPD) in trichothiodystrophy.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by brittle hair with reduced sulfur content, ichthyosis, peculiar face, and mental and growth retardation. Clinical photosensitivity is present in approximately 50% of TTD patients but is not associated with an elevated frequency of cancers. Previous complementation studies show that the photosensitivity in nearly all of the studied patients is due to a defect in the same genetic locus that underlies the cancer-prone genetic disorder xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XP-D). Nucleotide-sequence analysis of the ERCC2 cDNA from three TTD cell strains (TTD1V1, TTD3VI, and TTD1RO) revealed mutations within the region from amino acid 713-730 and within previously identified helicase functional domains. The various clinical presentations and DNA repair characteristics of the cell strains can be correlated with the particular mutations found in the ERCC2 locus. Mutations of Arg658 to either His or Cys correlate with TTD cell strains with intermediate UV-sensitivity, mutation of Arg722 to Trp correlates with highly UV-sensitive TTD cell strains, and mutation of Arg683 to Trp correlates with XP-D. Alleles with mutation of Arg616 to Pro or with the combined mutation of Leu461 to Val and deletion of 716-730 are found in both XP-D and TTD cell strains.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Defects in the DNA repair and transcription gene ERCC2 in the cancer-prone disorder xeroderma pigmentosum group D.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a sun-sensitive, cancer-prone genetic disorder characterized by a defect in nucleotide excision repair. The human nucleotide excision repair and transcription gene ERCC2 is able to restore survival to normal levels after exposure to UV light in XP complementation group D cells. No enhancement of UV survival is seen in groups C, E, F, or G. XP-CS-2 cells are complemented by ERCC2, confirming the reassignment to group D of this combined XP/Cockayne's syndrome patient. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ERCC2 cDNA from five XP group D cell strains [XP6BE(SV40), XP17PV, XP102LO, A31-27 (a HeLa/XP102LO hybrid), and XP-CS-2] revealed mutations predominantly affecting previously identified functional domains. The mutations include base substitutions resulting in amino acid substitutions, deletions due to splicing alterations, and defects in expression. XP6BE(SV40), XP17PV, XP102LO, and A31-27 all have one allele with an Arg683 to Trp substitution within the putative nuclear location signal. The genetic disorder trichothiodystrophy (which is not cancer-prone) can also result from mutations in the ERCC2 gene, some of which are the same as those found in XP-D. The various clinical presentations can be correlated with the particular mutations found in the ERCC2 locus.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Molecular and cellular analysis of the DNA repair defect in a patient in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D who has the clinical features of xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS) are quite distinct genetic disorders that are associated with defects in excision repair of UV-induced DNA damage. A few patients have been described previously with the clinical features of both disorders. In this paper we describe an individual in this category who has unusual cellular responses to UV light. We show that his cultured fibroblasts and lymphocytes are extremely sensitive to irradiation with UV-C, despite a level of nucleotide excision repair that is 30%-40% that of normal cells. The deficiency is assigned to the XP-D complementation group, and we have identified two causative mutations in the XPD gene: a gly-->arg change at amino acid 675 in the allele inherited from the patient's mother and a -1 frameshift at amino acid 669 in the allele inherited from his father. These mutations are in the C-terminal 20% of the 760-amino-acid XPD protein, in a region where we have recently identified several mutations in patients with trichothiodystrophy.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1994

Molecular cloning of the human nucleotide-excision-repair gene ERCC4.

ERCC4 was previously identified in somatic cell hybrids as a human gene that corrects the nucleotide-excision-repair deficiency in mutant hamster cells. The cloning strategy for ERCC4 involved transfection of the repair-deficient hamster cell line UV41 with a human sCos-1 cosmid library derived from chromosome 16. Enhanced UV resistance was seen with one cosmid-library transformant and two secondary transformants of UV41. Cosmid clones carrying a functional ERCC4 gene were isolated from a library of a secondary transformant by selecting in Escherichia coli for expression of a linked neomycin-resistance gene that was present in the sCos-1 vector. The cosmids mapped to 16p13.13-p13.2, the location assigned to ERCC4 by using somatic cell hybrids. Upon transfection into UV41, six cosmid clones gave partial correction ranging from 30% to 64%, although all appeared to contain the complete gene. The capacity for in vitro excision of thymine dimers from a plasmid by transformant cell extracts correlated qualitatively with enhanced UV resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The human DNA repair gene, ERCC2 (XPD), corrects ultraviolet hypersensitivity and ultraviolet hypermutability of a shuttle vector replicated in xeroderma pigmentosum group D cells.

To determine the contribution of a human DNA repair gene, ERCC2 (XPD), to mutagenesis in human cells, two ERCC2 (XPD)-transformed xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) cell lines with increased UV survival compared to XP6BE(SV40), the original XPD line, were studied: D6BE-ER2-2 with slightly increased UV survival; and D6BE-ER2-9 with normal UV survival. ERCC2 (XPD) antibody-reactive protein levels were elevated 4.8-fold in D6BE-ER2-2 and 17.6-fold in D6BE-ER2-9 relative to XP6BE(SV40). DNA repair ability was assessed by measuring the ability of the cells to restore expression to UV-treated plasmids. Transfection of pRSVcat exposed to 1000 J/m2 UV resulted in 0.3% chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in XP6BE(SV40) cells but 20-80% in D6BE-ER2-2, D6BE-ER2-9, and repair-proficient cells compared to untreated control plasmids. The UV hypersensitivity of the mutagenesis shuttle vector pSP189 in XP6BE(SV40) cells was partially corrected and the UV hypermutability and excess of G:C-->A:T mutations of pSP189 fell to the normal range in D6BE-ER2-2 and D6BE-ER2-9 cells. However, the frequency of plasmids recovered with multiple base substitution mutations was significantly reduced with XP6BE(SV40) cells and remained low in D6BE-ER2-2 and D6BE-ER2-9 cells, when compared with the normal fibroblasts. The human DNA excision repair gene, ERCC2 (XPD), substantially corrected the plasmid UV hypersensitivity and UV hypermutability of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D cells; however, the dose response relationship varied for different end points.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cloning and molecular characterization of the Chinese hamster ERCC2 nucleotide excision repair gene.

The Chinese hamster ERCC2 nucleotide excision repair gene, encoding a presumed ATP-dependent DNA helicase, was cloned from the V79 cell line, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The approximately 15-kb gene comprises 23 exons with a 2283-base open reading frame. The predicted 760-amino-acid protein is 98% identical to the human ERCC2/XPD (760 amino acids), 51% identical to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3 (778 amino acids), and 54% identical to the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad15 (772 amino acids) proteins. The promoter region of the hamster ERCC2 gene contains a pyrimidine-rich stretch (42 nucleotides, 88% C+T) similar to sequences found in the promoter regions of two other nucleotide excision repair genes, a GC box, a putative alpha-Pal transcription factor binding site, and two CAAT boxes. There is no apparent TAATA box. No consensus polyadenylation sequence (AATAAA or its variants) was found within 663 bases 3' of the translation termination codon.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1994

Molecular analysis of CXPD mutations in the repair-deficient hamster mutants UV5 and UVL-13.

The cDNA sequence of the Chinese hamster xeroderma pigmentosum group D (CXPD) nucleotide excision repair gene was analyzed from three Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines: repair proficient strain AA8 and repair deficient, UV complementation group 2 strains UV5 and UVL-13. CXPD encodes a presumed ATP-dependent DNA helicase and is single copy in CHO lines due to the hemizygosity of chromosome 9. Comparison of the deduced wild-type AA8 CXPD protein sequence with that of the Chinese hamster V79 lung-derived cell line revealed two amino acid polymorphisms. Position 285 is glutamine in AA8 and arginine in V79, and position 298 is alanine in AA8 and threonine in V79. Comparison with the human XPD, Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe rad15 homologs shows variability at these positions. Analysis of the CXPD sequence in the repair deficient CHO lines UV5 and UVL-13 revealed, in each case, a single base substitution resulting in an amino acid substitution. Position 116 is tyrosine in UV5 and cysteine in AA8, and the corresponding positions of XPD, RAD3, and rad15 are cysteine. Position 615 is glutamic acid in UVL-13 and glycine in AA8, and the corresponding positions of XPD, RAD3, and rad15 are glycine. In both UV5 and UVL-13, positions 285 and 298 are glutamine and alanine, respectively, as seen in AA8. These results suggest that cysteine 116 and glycine 615 are critical to the repair function of CXPD.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Molecular analysis of the XP-D gene in Italian families with patients affected by trichothiodystrophy and xeroderma pigmentosum group D.

In several patients with the rare hereditary disorder trichothiodystrophy (TTD), a DNA repair defect has been shown to be in the same gene as in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XP-D). The ERCC-2 gene (excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency of group 2) has recently been identified as a strong candidate gene for XP-D, since it restores normal UV sensitivity to XP-D cells after transfection. Using Southern blotting, we have analysed the ERCC-2 gene in DNA samples from 28 members of nine Italian families with individuals affected by XP-D (three patients) or by TTD with photosensitivity due to the XP-D defect (eight patients). No major modifications of the ERCC-2 gene were detected with two cDNA probes in either XP-D or TTD patients indicating that the association between TTD and XP-D is not likely to result from a large deletion or rearrangement involving this gene. We found two RFLPs after digestion of the DNA samples with TaqI or MspI, but neither of them could be related to the molecular alteration determining the pathological phenotype. We also analysed a human homologue detected with the hamster sequence isolated by Arrand et al. (1989), which specifically, but partially, complements the DNA repair deficiency in XP-D cells. Our analysis demonstrated that this gene is not the primary gene defective in XP-D. In fact two RFLPs detected with a genomic probe do not co-segregate with the disease in an XP-D family.

DNA↗
PubMed1994

Mutations in the xeroderma pigmentosum group D DNA repair/transcription gene in patients with trichothiodystrophy.

DNA repair defects in the xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) group D complementation group can be associated with the clinical features of two quite different disorders; XP, a sun-sensitive and cancer-prone disorder, or trichothiodystrophy (TTD) which is characterized by sulphur-deficient brittle hair and a variety of other associated abnormalities, but no skin cancer. The XPD gene product, a DNA helicase, is required for nucleotide excision repair and recent evidence has demonstrated a role in transcription. We have now identified causative mutations in XPD in four TTD patients. The patients are all compound heterozygotes and the locations of the mutations enable us to suggest relationships between different domains in the gene and its roles in excision repair and transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Correction by the ERCC2 gene of UV sensitivity and repair deficiency phenotype in a subset of trichothiodystrophy cells.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare genetic disease with heterogeneous clinical features associated with specific deficiencies in nucleotide excision repair. Patients have brittle hair due to a reduced content of cysteine-rich matrix proteins. About 50% of the cases reported in the literature are photosensitive. In these patients an altered cellular response to UV, due to a specific deficiency in nucleotide excision repair, has been observed. The majority of repair-defective TTD patients have been assigned by complementation analysis to group D of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Recently, the human excision repair gene ERCC2 has been shown to correct the UV sensitivity of XP-D fibroblasts. In this work we describe the effect of ERCC2 on the DNA repair deficient phenotype of XP-D and on two repair-defective TTD cell strains (TTD1VI and TTD2VI) assigned by complementation analysis to group D of XP. ERCC2 cDNA, cloned into a mammalian expression vector, was introduced into TTD and XP fibroblasts via DNA-mediated transfection or microneedle injection. UV sensitivity and cellular DNA repair properties, including unscheduled DNA synthesis and reactivation of a UV-irradiated plasmid containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene (pRSVCat), were corrected to wild-type levels in both TTD and XP-D cells. These data show that a functional ERCC2 gene is sufficient to reestablish a wild-type DNA repair phenotype in TTD1VI and TTD2VI cells, confirming the genetic relationship between TTD and XP-D. Furthermore, our findings suggest that mutations at the ERCC2 locus are responsible for causing a similar phenotype in TTD and XP-D cells in response to UV irradiation, but produce quite different clinical symptoms.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Trichothiodystrophy: clinical spectrum, central nervous system imaging, and biochemical characterization of two siblings.

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by sulfur-deficient brittle hair, identifies a group of genetic disorders with an altered synthesis of high-sulfur matrix proteins and a defect in excision repair of ultraviolet damage in fibroblasts of most TTD patients. In contrast to patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), TTD patients do not have an increased frequency of skin cancers. TTD patients may be grouped into four categories: 1) those without photosensitivity and without a defect in excision repair of UV damage; 2) those without photosensitivity and with an excision-repair defect in the same gene as in XP-D (complementation group D); 3) those with photosensitivity and with the XP-D repair defect; 4) those with photosensitivity and with a repair defect distinct from that in XP-D. We present a brother and sister in the third category of TTD. Clinically, the patients have brittle hair, short stature, ichthyosis, photosensitivity, nail and dental dysplasias, cataracts, mental retardation, and pyramidal tract abnormalities. Diagnosis was made by hair mount, which shows the characteristic banding pattern with polarizing microscopy, and by hair amino acid analysis, which demonstrated decreased high-sulfur matrix proteins. Fibroblasts cultured from skin biopsies had a marked DNA excision repair defect similar to the repair defect seen in XP-D. We have documented a unique dysmyelinating disorder on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that might explain their mental retardation, marked hyperactivity, and neurologic deficits. Following the discovery that the human excision repair cross complementing rodent ultraviolet group 2 (ERCC2) gene is able to correct the ultraviolet sensitivity of XP-D cell strains, the ERCC2 cDNA from previous TTD patients was sequenced and shows frameshifts, deletions and point mutations in the ERCC2 gene. Molecular analysis of our patients is in progress. Molecular analysis of the defects in ERCC2 in clinically distinct patients with XP,XP/Cockayne's syndrome, and TTD may provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of these genetically related but clinically distinct disorders.

Brain↗
PubMed1992

A Rorschach study of attachment and anxiety in inpatient conduct-disordered and dysthymic adolescents.

We investigated the constructs of attachment and anxiety in inpatient conduct-disordered and dysthymic adolescents. Texture, diffuse shading, and pure human content (Exner, 1986) Rorschach indices were compared between 48 subjects who met the criteria for conduct disorder and 30 subjects who met the criteria for dysthymia, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, 1987). We also compared mild, moderate, and severe conduct-disorder groups on the three selected Rorschach variables and investigated certain family characteristics for the two groups. We found a lower frequency of texture and pure human content responses in conduct-disordered subjects and a greater frequency of diffuse shading responses in the dysthymic subjects. The conduct-disordered subjects also came from homes in which the mother figure was significantly less present. Our psychometric findings of lessened attachment and diminished anxiety in the conduct-disordered adolescents are similar to adult psychopaths. We urge that an attachment or socialization disturbance criterion be reintroduced into the forthcoming DSM-IV conduct-disorder diagnosis.

Adolescent↗