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Biomedical subjects

D Atkins

Publications and source records attributed to D Atkins.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The tobacco mosaic virus 30K movement protein in transgenic tobacco plants is localized to plasmodesmata.

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing a gene encoding the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) movement protein (30K) were studied using immunocytochemical techniques. The movement protein was shown to be localized within or on most of the plasmodesmata observed in the transformed plant. These results are consistent with the idea that the movement protein interacts with the plasmodesmata to facilitate the cell-to-cell spread of TMV.

Capsid Proteins↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the tobacco mosaic virus movement protein using a baculovirus expression vector.

A cDNA clone of the tobacco mosaic virus 30K movement protein (MP) gene was constructed and introduced into an Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis baculovirus expression vector. Infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with the vector resulted in the synthesis of low levels of MP, which was detected by anti-MP serum as two closely related species of Mr approximately 34K and a third species of 32K. The authenticity of the recombinant MP was confirmed by comparison of the protein, on the basis of migration during SDS-PAGE, with authentic MP from several sources. It appeared that the recombinant MP was not modified by N-linked glycosylation, but was phosphorylated. The recombinant MP was produced in both a phosphorylated and an unphosphorylated state and the former species was shown to comigrate with plant-expressed MP during SDS-PAGE.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Oophorectomy leads to a selective decrease in 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol receptors in rat jejunal villous cells.

The distribution of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3] receptors in isolated rat jejunal cells was investigated in normal and oophorectomized female rats and also in vitamin D-deficient animals. Oophorectomy caused a selective reduction in 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor numbers in villous cells, the reduction being similar (37%) in both normal and vitamin D-deficient animals. The data suggest that this effect of oophorectomy reflects a direct effect of oestrogens in the intestinal synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptors, independent of the renal synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D3. It is proposed that this phenomenon may, in part, explain the reduction in calcium absorption which occurs after oophorectomy or the menopause.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The temporal distribution of the 1 alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol receptor in the rat jejunal villus.

The distribution of the 1 alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol receptor was studied in enterocytes isolated from the upper, mid and lower villus and crypt cells of the jejunum of normal and rachitic rats. In all cell fractions a high-affinity receptor (KD congruent to 0.07 nmol/l) with a sedimentation coefficient of 3.5S was demonstrated. In normal rats there was a 60% reduction in receptor numbers in crypt cells compared with the mid and upper villous cells. Vitamin D deficiency led to a reduction in receptor numbers in all cell fractions (45% upper villus, 78% crypt cells). The data are compatible with the concept of calcium absorption occurring in the differentiated villous cells and also account for the reduction in absorption in rachitic animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Mechanism of the regulation of the 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in the rat jejunum by glucocorticoids.

The distribution of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) receptors in isolated jejunal villous and crypt cells was investigated in normal and adrenalectomized male rats, and also in animals treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, and/or the glucocorticoid antagonist, 11-deoxy-cortisol. Adrenalectomy caused an increase in 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptors whilst dexamethasone treatment led to a reduction in receptor number. 11-Deoxy-cortisol was able to reverse the 'down-regulation' effect caused by glucocorticoids. In all cases, the changes in receptor numbers were more pronounced in crypt cells. The data suggest that, in the small intestine, glucocorticoids may control the synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptors via the mediation of a glucocorticoid receptor, and that the adrenal hormones mainly express their effect in crypt cells. It is proposed that this phenomenon may, in part, explain the reduction in calcium absorption which occurs in man after chronic glucocorticoid treatment.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1983

Distribution and properties of Ca2+-ATPase, phytase, and alkaline phosphatase in isolated enterocytes from normal and vitamin D-deficient rats.

The effects of vitamin D-deficiency and repletion on the distribution and activities of Ca2+-ATPase, phytase, and alkaline phosphatase in intact epithelial cells isolated from different regions of the villi and the crypts of the rat jejunum were studied. Similar distribution patterns of activities were found for the three enzymes. In all cases, the enzyme levels were the highest at the villus tip and gradually declined to low activities in the crypt. The Kms were very different between cells in the crypt base and those at the villus tip, the highest Kms being found in the crypt. The activities of these enzymes were reduced in the entire length of the villus in vitamin D-deficient rats. Recovery of the enzymatic levels was observed on vitamin D repletion, but at different rates. Total recovery of activity of Ca2+-ATPase, phytase, and alkaline phosphatase was observed after 18, 24, and 36 hours, respectively, after a single dose of 6.5 nmol (2.5 micrograms) vitamin D3. Enzymatic activities in the crypt cells were not affected by vitamin D3 treatment. These data suggest that Ca2+-ATPase, phytase, and alkaline phosphatase may be distinct entities, and that their activities in the crypt cells may not be vitamin D-dependent.

6-Phytase↗
PubMed1982

Carcinogenic epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene and cyclopenta[cd]pyrene induce base substitutions via specific transversions.

We have determined the spectrum of base-pair substitution mutations induced in the lacI gene of a uvrB- strain of Escherichia coli by two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons--(+/-)7 alpha,8 beta-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10 tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), and 3,4-epoxycylopenta[cd]pyrene (CPPE). Approximately 10% of all lacI mutations induced by either BPDE or CPPE are nonsense mutations, suggesting that base-pair substitutions are a large fraction of the mutational events induced by these agents in the uvrB- bacteria. Both carcinogens specifically induced the G . C leads to T . A and, to a lesser extent, the A . T leads to T . A transversions. One possible mechanism for transversion induction at G . C sites by BPDE might involve carcinogen binding to the exocyclic amino group of guanine in the template strand followed by a rotation of the modified base around its glycosylic bond from the anti to the syn conformation. This could allow specific pairing of modified bases with an imino tautomer of adenine.

Benzopyrenes↗
PubMed1980

Prostaglandins as mediators of bone resorption in renal and breast tumours.

Amounts of prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F have been measured by radioimmunoassay in extracts of renal cortical carcinoma and benign and malignant breast tumours after solvent extraction and column chromatography. 2. Substantial amounts of prostaglandin E were found in extracts of benign and malignant breast tumours and in renal tumours. Much lower amounts of prostaglandin F were present in all tumour types. 3. Co-cultivation of tumour explants with mouse calvaria led to significant bone resorption in 10 of 13 renal carcinomas, three of eight malignant breast tumours, and two of nine benign breast tumours. Tumours associated with bone resorption had higher concentrations of prostaglandin E in culture media at the end of incubation than did non-resorbers. 4. Indomethacin (14 mumol/1) greatly reduced bone resorption in the presence of the tumour, but this was not always complete, particularly with breast tumours. Indomethacin had no effect on prostaglandin-induced bone resorption. Theophylline (2.2 mmol/1) significantly increased prostaglandin E production and resorption by an effect on the tumour. 5. It is concluded that prostaglandins may be important in mediating the effects of renal cortical carcinoma and possibly breast cancer on bone destruction. A non-prostaglandin mechanism may also contribute to bone destruction by breast carcinoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Drug therapy assessments by pharmacists.

Drug therapy assessments made for ambulatory patients by pharmacists and those made by the patients' primary physicians were compared. Using refill assessment guidelines, pharmacists evaluated the drug therapy regimens of patients attending a general medicine clinic before they were seen by their physicians. At the end of each clinic day, the pharmacists compared their assessments with the physician evaluations. Of the 155 drug regimens reviewed, the study pharmacists would have continued 104 (67.1%) without alteration, changed 48 (31.0%), and referred three patients (1.9%) with new problems for physician evaluation. The differences between pharmacist assessment and physician agreement were not significant (p greater than 0.2), but there was a significant difference between pharmacist assessment and physician actions (p less than 0.005), because the physicians actually changed only 52% of the drugs they agreed could be changed. The study suggests that the pharmacist is able to detect drug therapy problems and to recommend appropriate actions for resolving them.

Drug Prescriptions↗
PubMed1977

Rat osteogenic sarcoma cells:effects of some prostaglandins, their metabolites and analogues on cyclic AMP production.

Cyclic AMP production by freshly isolated cells, from a 32P-induced transplantable rat osteogenic sarcoma, was stimulated by PGE1, PGE2 and to a less extent by PGF2alpha and PGA2. In the case of PGE2, the cyclic AMP content of cells was maximal within 5 min. The 13,14-dihydroderivatives of PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2alpha had approximately 40% of the activity of the parent prostaglandin whilst, in every case, the metabolites (15-keto and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto) had very little activity. Two prostaglandin endoperoxide analogues (U44069 and U46619) had only 10% of the activity of an equimolar dose of PGE2. The data presented in this paper demonstrates similarities between the responses of these cells and cells derived from bony tissue in terms of the ability of prostaglandins to stimulate bone resorption in tissue culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Secretion of prostaglandins as bone-resorbing agents by renal cortical carcinoma in culture.

Fragments of human renal carcinoma tissue have been co-cultured with mouse calvaria. In 9/13 cases significant bone resorption occurred whilst in no case did control kidney cause significant resorption. When bone resorption did occur, it could be reduced by inclusion of indomethacin in the culture medium. In some cases when theophylline was included in culture medium to prevent cyclic AMP breakdown, there was enhancement of tumour-induced bone resorption. Control studies without tumour showed that none of the experimental treatments had a direct effect on bone. Radioimmunoassay of prostaglandin E (PGE) levels in pooled culture media showed that tumour fragments produced appreciable amounts of PGE, and that this production was lowered by indomethacin and increased by theophylline. It is concluded that the bone resorption induced by these tumours is due to a prostaglandin, and that prostaglandin production may be controlled by changes in cyclic AMP metabolism.

Animals↗