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Biomedical subjects

C Pourcel

Publications and source records attributed to C Pourcel.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Presence of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in cellular DNA of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be one of the agents involved in the aetiology of human primary liver cancer. This hypothesis is supported by (1) the similarity between the geographical distribution of chronic carriers of the viral surface antigen (HBsAg) and that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); (2) the increase in the prevalence of HBV markers in serum of patients with primary liver cancer when compared with the general population; (3) the observation that HBV infection precedes the development of the tumour. Moreover, these epidemiological indications of an association between HBV infecton and hepatocellular carcinoma are supported by the detection of HBV markers such as HBsAg or viral DNA sequences, although in a non-integrated form in tumour tissue. To study the relationship between HBV and primary liver cancer further, we looked for the presence of free or integrated viral DNA in tumour tissue of human hepatocellular carcinomas and in a HBsAg-producing human hepatoma cell line. Using the blot-transfer hybridization technique and cloned HBV DNA as a probe, we have now demonstrated that the viral DNA is integrated in the cellular genome both in tumour tissue and in a hepatoma cell line.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1980

Excretion of hepatitis B surface antigen particles from mouse cells transformed with cloned viral DNA.

A plasmid containing two cloned hepatitis B virus genomes in a tandem head-to-tail arrangement has been introduced into mouse fibroblasts by using cotransformation with the cloned herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. Several copies of the plasmid were integrated into high molecular weight cellular DNA. The original tandem structure of the hepatitis B virus DNA was conserved. Hepatitis B surface antigen was synthesized by all the 15 clones examined. The other viral antigens were not detected. The surface antigen was excreted into the cell culture medium as particles having the same characteristics as those found in human serum. It is estimated that 2-4 X 10(4) particles were produced per mouse cell per 24 hr in two clones. This value corresponds to approximately 2-4 X 10(6) surface antigen polypeptides per cell per 24 hr.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Bacteriophage lambda-E. coli K12 vector-host system for gene cloning and expression under lactose promoter control: I. DNA fragment insertion at the lacZ EcoRI restriction site.

Bacteriophage lambda vectors, derived from lambda plac5 were constructed. Their genomes have only one EcoRI restriction site, located near the end of the beta-galactosidase gene. Recombinants, constructed in vitro, having a DNA fragment inserted in the EcoRI site, are lac- and can be easily recognized. Expression of such foreign genes is then under the control of the lac promoter. Mutations Qam73 and Sam7 greatly increase the amount of beta-galactosidase synthesized by the vector bacteriophage. The lambda ZEQS vector has been certified B2 (EK2) by the French control commission "Recombinaisons génétiques in vitro".

Coliphages↗
PubMed1979

Localization of Streptomyces stanfordii endonuclease I (SstI) cleavage sites on genomes of human adenovirus types two and five.

The SstI restriction endonuclease cleaves adenovirus 2 and 5 (Ad2 and Ad5) DNAs into 15 and 16 fragments, respectively. Cleavage sites were positioned with respect to several other cuts made by seven restriction endonucleases. There are relatively few SstI sites in the middle portion and in the right side of the genome, while several are located within the 16.5--20% region which contains "leader sequences".

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1979

Cloning in Escherichia coli and physical structure of hepatitis B virion DNA.

A restriction map of hepatitis B virion DNA was established after cloning of the whole viral genome in Escherichia coli. By use of EcoRI, Xho I, Bgl II, Xba I, BamHI, HincII, and Hae III endonucleases, a total of 28 restriction sites were mapped. The single-stranded region was localized on the restriction map and 5' end of the short strand was mapped at a fixed position.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1978

[Cloning of the hepatitis B virus genome in Escherichia coli].

The whole genome of the hepatitis B virus (Dane particles) was inserted in vitro in the genome of the bacteriophage lambda gtWES . LAMBDA B. The recombinant DNA molecule was cloned in E. coli. Amplification of the hybrid bacteriophage enables the preparation of large amounts of hepatitis B virus DNA. The possibilities offered by the utilization of this recombinant bacteriophage are discussed.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A submicroscopic unbalanced subtelomeric translocation t(2p;10q) identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization: fetus with increased nuchal translucency and normal standard karyotype with later growth and developmental delay, rhombencephalosynapsis (RES).

Reaching an accurate diagnosis in children with mental retardation associated or not with dysmorphic signs is important to make precise diagnosis of a syndrome and for genetic counseling. A female case with severe growth and development delay, dysmorphic features and feeding disorder is presented. Antenataly, the fetus was observed to have increased nuchal translucency and a slight hypoplastic cerebellum. A standard karyotype was normal. RES and a submicroscopic unbalanced subtelomeric translocation t(2p; 10q) were demonstrated after birth. We show that within the framework of a collaborative approach, a concerted research of submicroscopic subtelomeric rearrangements should be performed in case of mental retardation associated with facial dysmorphic features, and when other etiologies or non-genetic factors (iatrogenic, toxic, infectious, metabolic...) have been ruled out.

Cerebellum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The hepatitis B virus.

DNA recombinant technology has radically changed hepatitis B virus (HBV) virology. The genetic organization, transcription and replication of the virus are basically understood, structures of integrated HBV sequences in hepatocellular carcinoma have been characterized, and new vaccines produced by recombinant DNA technique are being developed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maternal inhibition of hepatitis B surface antigen gene expression in transgenic mice correlates with de novo methylation.

Differential modifications of the genome during gametogenesis result in a functional difference between the paternal and maternal genomes at the moment of fertilization. A possible cause of this imprinting is the methylation of DNA. The insertion of foreign DNA into transgenic mice allows the tagging of regions that are differentially methylated during gametogenesis. We describe here a transgenic mouse strain in which the expression of the hepatitis B surface antigen gene is irreversibly repressed following its passage through the female germ line. This inhibition is accompanied by the methylation of all the HpaII and HhaI sites within the foreign gene, which we have shown to be integrated into a site on chromosome 13. The irreversibility reported here contrasts with what is found with other transgenic mice sequences which are reversibly methylated after passage through the male or female germ line, though in both cases methylation appears to be important in the imprinting process.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular comparison of virulence plasmids in Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli.

Virulent isolates of Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella boydii harboured a 140 Mdal plasmid which was either absent or deleted in spontaneously avirulent strains. Together with previous data concerning S. sonnei, S. flexneri and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, the present results established the general role of extrachromosomal elements in the virulence of such enteroinvasive species. Among different species, these virulence plasmids showed unrelated endonuclease cleavage patterns, whereas hybridization experiments showed that homologous sequences were present throughout the molecules. These plasmids may therefore have derived from a common ancestor molecule which overcame evolutionary alterations in restriction sites. Furthermore, intraspecies and intraserotype comparison of these plasmids by endonuclease cleavage demonstrated highly conserved sequences. The consequences of these data for evolution, epidemiology and diagnosis of Shigella and enteroinvasive E. coli are discussed.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel↗