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C S Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to C S Kumar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of quercetin on galactose-induced hyperglycaemic oxidative stress in hepatic and neuronal tissues of Wistar rats.

In recent times there has been great demand for natural products that have possible preventive action against diabetes and its secondary complications. Keeping this in mind, this study was undertaken to investigate the influence of the flavonoid, quercetin, on oxidative stress markers and the antioxidant defence system of hepatic and neuronal tissues from galactose-induced hyperglycaemic rats. Weanling male Wistar rats were treated with 30% galactose in AIN 93 diet (group B, n=8) to induce hyperglycaemia. Control rats received normal Stock AIN 93 diet (group A, n=8). The third set of rats received group B diet with quercetin at 400 mg/100 g diet (group C, n=8). Glucose levels and body weights were measured on a weekly basis for four weeks to monitor the hyperglycaemia induced by galactose feeding. Parameters involved in the pathogenesis of galactose-induced hyperglycaemia, which included organosomatic index, protein content, antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), tryptophan fluorescence, content of protein carbonyls, prooxidant malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in hepatic and neuronal tissues were determined at the end of the fourth week. The study suggest that quercetin counters the pro-oxidant effects of galactose-induced hyperglycaemic stress, as there was a significant reversal of changes with respect to body weights, organosomatic index of hepatic and neuronal tissues, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, reduced glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, treatment with quercetin appears to reduce the osmotic stress induced by hyperglycaemia, as assessed by polyol pathway enzyme aldose reductase. These results imply that inclusion of quercetin in the diet controls, to some extent, galactose-induced hyperglycaemia and its attendant complications.

Animal Feed↗

Ectopic expression of rice OsMADS1 reveals a role in specifying the lemma and palea, grass floral organs analogous to sepals.

MADS-domain-containing transcription factors play diverse roles in plant development. The prototypic members of this gene family are the floral organ identity genes of the model dicotyledonous plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Sequence relatedness and function ascribe them to AP1/AGL9, AG, AP3 and PI gene groups. The rice MADS-box gene, OsMADS1, is a member of the AP1/ AGL9 sub-group. Tomato and Petunia members of this sub-group specify floral meristem identity and control organ development in three inner whorls. Reported here are phylogenetic analyses that show OsMADS1 to form a distinct clade within the AGL9 gene family. This sub-group currently has only three other monocot genes. We have studied the expression pattern of OsMADS1 and determined the consequences of its ectopic expression in transgenic rice plants. OsMADS1 is not expressed during panicle branching; earliest expression is in spikelet meristems where it is excluded from the outer rudimentary/sterile glumes. During organogenesis, OsMADS1 expression is confined to the lemma and palea, with weak expression in the carpel. Ectopic OsMADS1 expression results in stunted panicles with irregularly positioned branches and spikelets. Additionally, in spikelets, the outer rudimentary glumes are transformed to lemma/palea-like organs. Together, these data suggest a distinct role for OsMADS1 and its monocot relatives in assigning lemma/palea identity.

Alleles↗

SB-205384: a GABA(A) receptor modulator with novel mechanism of action that shows subunit selectivity.

1. SB-205384, and its (+) enantiomer (+)-SB-205384 were tested for their modulatory effects on human GABA(A) receptor subunit combinations expressed in Xenopus oocytes by electrophysiological methods. 2. The slowing of the decay rate induced by SB-205384 on native GABA-activated currents in rat neurones was also seen on GABA(A) currents in oocytes expressing human GABA(A) subunits. This temporal effect was observed for the alpha3beta2gamma2 subunit combination with little effect in subunit combinations containing either alpha1 or alpha2. 3. Potentiation of the peak amplitude of the GABA-activated currents by SB-205384 or (+)-SB-205384 was less specific for a particular subunit combination, although the greatest effect at 10 microM drug was seen on the alpha3beta2gamma2 subunit combination. 4. In contrast, zolpidem, a benzodiazepine site modulator, did not significantly slow decay rates of GABA(A) currents in oocytes expressing the alpha3beta2gamma2 subunit combination. Zolpidem, as expected, did selectively potentiate GABA-activated currents on oocytes expressing the gamma2 subunit compared to those containing the gamma1. 5. The results show that the novel kinetic modulatory profile of SB-205384 is selective for the alpha3beta2gamma2 subunit combination. This suggests that the compound is binding to a novel regulatory site on the subunit complex.

Aminopyridines↗

Cloning and characterization of a novel integrin beta3 subunit.

We have identified a novel integrin beta3 subunit, termed beta3C, from a human osteoclast cDNA library. The COOH-terminal sequence and 3'-untranslated region of the beta3C subunit differs from the previously reported beta3A (platelet) and beta3B (placenta) sequences, while the regions coding for the transmembrane and extracellular domains are identical. The beta3C cytoplasmic domain contains 37 amino acids, the last 17 of which are encoded by a novel exon located about 6 kilobase pairs downstream of exon 14 of the beta3A gene. HEK 293 cells were stably co-transfected with alphaV and either beta3C (HEKbeta3C) or beta3A (HEKbeta3A). The viability of HEKbeta3C cells was lower than that of HEKbeta3A cells, and HEKbeta3C cells in culture grew as clusters rather than as a monolayer. The novel cytoplasmic domain did not affect receptor binding affinity; both alphaVbeta3A and alphaVbeta3C isoforms exhibited high affinity binding to 125I-echistatin and cyclic and linear RGD peptides. However, in contrast to HEKbeta3A, HEKbeta3C cells failed to adhere to osteopontin, an alphaVbeta3 matrix protein. The data provide further support for the key role of the cytoplasmic domain of the beta3 integrin in cell adhesion and suggest a potential role for the beta3C integrin subunit in modulating cell-matrix interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic marker profile of primitive Kutia Kondh tribal population of Phulbani district (Orissa).

Blood samples from 330 Kutia Kondhs (a primitive tribal population of Orissa) were subjected to a battery of tests for genetic markers to find out the incidence of various blood group polymorphisms (ABO, MN, Duffy, JKa), serum proteins, sickling and G-6-PD deficiency. Predominance of O (39.09%) blood group for ABO, N blood group (53.44) for MN and Fya+b+ (55.72) for Duffy blood group, were observed. High incidence of Hp2-1 (39.33), SS (70.43) and CC (96.65) for haptoglobulin, C3 and transferrin respectively were seen. The overall frequency of sickling was observed to be 16.36 per cent. The sex-wise distribution of G-6-PD was 13.71 per cent for males and 1.84 for females.

Blood Group Antigens↗

Lysine 182 of endothelin B receptor modulates agonist selectivity and antagonist affinity: evidence for the overlap of peptide and non-peptide ligand binding sites.

The potent vasoactive peptide hormone endothelin (ET) binds to receptors which belong to the G-protein coupled receptor family. The availability of non-peptide antagonists for ET receptors allows investigation of the relationship among the binding sites for peptide and non-peptide ligands. In this study, a lysine residue, conserved within transmembrane domain 3 (TM3) of the ETA and ETB receptor subtypes, is implicated in agonist and antagonist binding by its analogous position within TM3 to a binding site aspartate residue conserved within bioactive amine receptors. Replacement of this lysine within hETB by arginine, alanine, methionine, aspartate, or glutamate results in hETB variants with unaltered affinities for agonist peptide ET-1 but which have affinities for peptide agonists ET-2, ET-3, sarafotoxin 6C, and TRL 1736 which are between 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than their corresponding wild-type hETB values. Significantly, the affinities of non-peptide antagonists, (+/-)-SB 209670 and its analogs as well as Ro 46-2005, are abrogated. The results suggest that an interaction of K182 of hETB with the indan 2-carboxyl of (+/-)-SB 209670 may contribute to the high-affinity binding of the diarylindan antagonists. The results indicate that TM3 of hETB is a region of overlap among the binding sites of non-peptide antagonists and the affected peptide agonists.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular characterization and regulation of the human endothelin receptors.

Endothelin receptors (ETRs) are distributed throughout a variety of tissues. Two human cDNAs were identified which encode distinct ETR proteins. One cDNA encoded a 427-amino acid protein that shared 91% identity to rat ETAR. The second cDNA encoded a 442-amino acid protein that was 88% identical to rat ETBR. Ligand binding studies of the cloned receptors expressed in COS cells confirmed that they were pharmacologically ETAR and ETBR subtypes; although the selective antagonist BQ123 showed a potency similar to ET-3 in displacing 125I-ET-1 binding to ETAR. This observation contrasts with rat ETAR pharmacology where BQ123 has a 100-fold higher affinity than ET3. Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human ETAR displayed equal potencies in displacing 125I-ET-1 binding, which indicates that rat and human ETAR are pharmacologically distinct. Electrophysiological studies of both ETRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes revealed that they are functional. Northern analysis indicated that the two ETRs are differentially expressed in many tissues. Marmosets maintained on a high fat/high cholesterol diet exhibited 3-fold increase in ETBR mRNA levels with little change in ETAR mRNA levels. Availability of cDNA clones for ETR subtypes can open avenues for future analysis of their role in pathophysiology of various diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Novel endothelin receptors in the follicular membranes of Xenopus laevis oocytes mediate calcium responses by signal transduction through gap junctions.

Follicular oocytes from Xenopus laevis display saturable and high affinity endothelin (ET)-1 binding sites. Competition binding experiments using unlabeled ET-1, ET-3, and sarafotoxin 6c indicated that these ET receptors belong to the ETA receptor subtype. However, the ETA receptor-selective antagonist BQ123 [cyclo(D-Trp,D-Asp,L-Pro,D-Val,L-Leu)] failed to inhibit 125I-ET-1 binding to these receptors, suggesting that these receptors belong to a novel subtype of ETA receptors (ETAX) distinct from the human ETA receptors. These endogenous receptors are present in the follicular layer, because defolliculated oocytes did not show any 125I-ET-1 binding. Addition of ET-1 to follicular oocytes led to Ca2+ mobilization, which was reversibly blocked by treatments that uncouple gap junctions, suggesting that these ETAX receptors mediate their response by transferring signals through gap junctions. On the other hand, the expressed human ETA receptor-mediated Ca2+ mobilization was not blocked by inhibitors of gap junctions. In agreement with the binding data, the endogenous ETAX receptor-mediated response was not inhibited by BQ123 even at 100 nM, whereas the expressed human ETA receptor-mediated response was inhibited by 50% at concentrations as low as 10 nM. This further confirms that the amphibian ETAX receptors are different from mammalian ETA receptors. Finally, ET-1 enhanced the rate of progesterone-induced maturation of follicular oocytes, implying the involvement of these endogenous ETAX receptors in an in vivo maturation process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chimeric interferon-gamma receptors demonstrate that an accessory factor required for activity interacts with the extracellular domain.

We determined the species specificity and function of structural domains of the interferon-gamma receptor (IFN-gamma R) by construction of human/murine chimeric IFN-gamma R cDNA clones and their expression in various cells. We demonstrate that we can reconstitute a biologically active IFN-gamma R in eukaryotic cells with chimeric receptors as long as the extracellular domain and an accessory factor are from the same species. These results indicate that the extracellular domain of the receptor interacts directly or indirectly with the species-specific accessory factor.

3T3 Cells↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of the major endothelin receptor subtype in porcine cerebellum.

Endothelin receptors (ETRs) display subtype heterogeneity and are widely distributed throughout the tissues of the periphery and central nervous system. In order to gain further insight into the potential molecular differences of ETRs, we initiated molecular cloning of ETR genes by screening for the appearance of 125I-ET-1 binding activity in COS cells transfected with pools of a porcine cerebellum cDNA expression library. Two independent clones (pPCETR 1.1 and pPCETR 5.6) were identified and isolated by repeated rounds of pool enrichment and COS cell expression. DNA sequence analysis of pPCET 1.1 and pPCET 5.6 indicated that both clones have the same nucleotide sequence; the deduced amino acid sequence indicated that the porcine cerebellum ETR is 443 residues in length and consists of seven potential transmembrane domains, with homology to members of the GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Northern analysis indicated a single mRNA species of about 5 kilobases, which is expressed significantly in cerebellum, lung, kidney, and pituitary. Expression of functional receptor was demonstrated by endothelin-1 (ET-1)-mediated Ca2+ mobilization in COS cells transfected with pPCETR 1.1 (COS/ETR 1.1) and ET-1-mediated electrophysiological responses in Xenopus oocytes injected with RNA derived from pPCETR 1.1. Quantitative comparison of saturation binding of 125I-ET-1 to either porcine cerebellum or COS/ETR 1.1 membranes indicated an identical apparent dissociation constant. The relative efficacy of ET-related peptides to compete for binding of 125I-ET-1 to receptor from porcine cerebellum and COS/ETR 1.1 indicated that both preparations encode a nonselective or ETBR subtype. Chemical cross-linking of 125I-ET-1 to receptor derived from cerebellum or COS/ETR 1 revealed two bands, with apparent molecular masses of 47 and 35 kDa. These data demonstrate that the pPCETR 1.1 encodes the major ETR subtype in the porcine cerebellum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression and reconstitution of a biologically active mouse interferon gamma receptor in hamster cells. Chromosomal location of an accessory factor.

In order to localize the chromosome encoding the accessory factor required for function of the murine interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor, we transfected a cDNA expression vector encoding the receptor into several Chinese hamster x mouse somatic cell hybrids. As mouse Chromosome 10 carries the gene which encodes the interferon gamma-receptor (Ifgr), we used somatic cell hybrids that lack this chromosome. The presence of mouse Chromosome 16 was required to generate a response to murine IFN-gamma as assayed by stimulation of class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression. These results demonstrate a species-specific accessory factor encoded on mouse Chromosome 16 (termed Ifgt) is necessary for mouse IFN-gamma to stimulate major histocompatibility complex expression through its receptor.

Animals↗

Expression and reconstitution of a biologically active human interferon-gamma receptor in hamster cells.

We report the expression of the human interferon-gamma (Hu-IFN-gamma) receptor from a cDNA clone in an animal cell where both stable expression of the cloned receptor as well as its biological activity is demonstrated for the first time. Biological activity of the receptor (i.e. expression of surface histocompatibility antigens in response to human interferon-gamma) requires the presence of human chromosome 21 demonstrating the requirement for at least one other species-specific factor in the modulation of receptor action. This system should now facilitate delineation of regions involved in the binding of human interferon-gamma and receptor signal transduction.

Animals↗