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Biomedical subjects

E Bálint

Publications and source records attributed to E Bálint.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Abundance and location of DARPP-32 in striato-tegmental circuits of domestic chicks.

The striatum is reciprocally connected to the brainstem dopaminergic nuclei and receives a strong dopaminergic input. In the present study the spatial relation between the dopaminergic and dopaminoceptive structures of the avian medial striatum (formerly: lobus parolfactorius) was observed by confocal laser scanning microscope in the domestic chick (Gallus domesticus). We also analysed the connections in the area ventralis tegmentalis and the substantia nigra. To label the dopaminergic structures, anti-tyrosine hydroxylase was used and DARPP-32 (dopamine and cAMP regulated phosphoprotein) was a marker of dopaminoceptive elements. The tyrosine hydroxylase positive fibres formed baskets of juxtapositions around the DARPP-32 containing cells of the medial striatum. However, such baskets were also observed to juxtapose DARPP-32 immunonegative cells. In the tegmentum, DARPP-32 was observed in axons descending from the telencephalon via the ansa lenticularis. These varicose fibers innervated the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra and were often juxtaposed to dopaminergic neurons and dendrites. Approximately 40% of the striatal projection neurons targeting the ventral tegmentum, and 60% of striatal projection neurons targeting the nigra were immunoreactive to DARPP-32, as revealed by retrograde pathway tracing with Fast Blue. Endogenous dopamine may exert a retrograde synaptic effect on the afferent striato-tegmental fibers, apart from the reported extrasynaptic action. The abundance of juxtapositions observed in the avian brainstem and medial striatum corroborates the possibility of reciprocal striato-tegmental circuits, relevant to the reinforcement of behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A cellular function for the RNA-interference enzyme Dicer in the maturation of the let-7 small temporal RNA.

The 21-nucleotide small temporal RNA (stRNA) let-7 regulates developmental timing in Caenorhabditis elegans and probably in other bilateral animals. We present in vivo and in vitro evidence that in Drosophila melanogaster a developmentally regulated precursor RNA is cleaved by an RNA interference-like mechanism to produce mature let-7 stRNA. Targeted destruction in cultured human cells of the messenger RNA encoding the enzyme Dicer, which acts in the RNA interference pathway, leads to accumulation of the let-7 precursor. Thus, the RNA interference and stRNA pathways intersect. Both pathways require the RNA-processing enzyme Dicer to produce the active small-RNA component that represses gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

C-terminal ubiquitination of p53 contributes to nuclear export.

The growth inhibitory functions of p53 are controlled in unstressed cells by rapid degradation of the p53 protein. One of the principal regulators of p53 stability is MDM2, a RING finger protein that functions as an E3 ligase to ubiquitinate p53. MDM2 promotes p53 nuclear export, and in this study, we show that ubiquitination of the C terminus of p53 by MDM2 contributes to the efficient export of p53 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In contrast, MDM2 did not promote nuclear export of the p53-related protein, p73. p53 nuclear export was enhanced by overexpression of the export receptor CRM1, although no significant relocalization of MDM2 was seen in response to CRM1. However, nuclear export driven by CRM1 overexpression did not result in the degradation of p53, and nuclear export was not essential for p53 degradation. These results indicate that MDM2 mediated ubiquitination of p53 contributes to both nuclear export and degradation of p53 but that these activities are not absolutely dependent on each other.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed2000

A ribonucleotide reductase gene is a transcriptional target of p53 and p73.

Many p53-inducible genes have been identified that might play a role in mediating the various downstream activities of p53. We have identified a close relative of ribonucleotide reductase, recently named p53R2, as a p53-inducible gene, and show that this gene is activated by several stress signals that activate a p53 response, including DNA damaging agents and p14(ARF). p53R2 expression was induced by p53 mutants that are defective for the activation of apoptosis, but retain cell cycle arrest function, although no induction of p53R2 was seen in response to p21(WAF1/CIP1)-mediated cell cycle arrest. Several isoforms of the p53 family member p73 were also shown to induce p53R2 expression. Transient ectopic expression of either wild type p53R2 or p53R2 targeted to the nucleus, did not significantly alter cell cycle progression in unstressed cells. The identification of this gene as a p53 target supports a direct role for p53 in DNA repair, in addition to inhibition of growth of damaged cells. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4283 - 4289

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Mdm2 binds p73 alpha without targeting degradation.

The function of the p53 tumor suppressor protein is regulated by interaction with Mdm2, which targets p53 for ubiquitin dependent degradation. We show here that like p53, p73 alpha forms an interaction with Mdm2, both in vitro and in cells, but this does not result in the degradation of the p73 alpha protein. The human papillomavirus E6 protein also fails to degrade p73 alpha, suggesting that the mechanisms governing p73 alpha stability are distinct from those known to regulate p53 stability. However, the interaction of Mdm2 with 73 alpha is sufficient to impede p73 alpha transcriptional function, despite the lack of degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

beta-Amyloid[1-40]-induced early hyperpolarization in M26-1F cells, an immortalized rat striatal cell line.

The short-term (20-minute) action of beta[1-40]-amyloid on the resting transmembrane potential was investigated by means of flow-cytofluorimetric studies in M26-1F cells, an immortalized rat striatal cell line, using the potential-sensitive fluorescent probe bis-oxonol. The distribution of the individual cell-associated probe fluorescence was found to be shifted to lower levels in cells treated with beta-amyloid[1-40] for 20 minutes as compared with that of their untreated counterparts. A change in the same direction was caused by valinomycin, a hyperpolarizing ionophore, whereas gramicidin, a depolarizing ionophore, induced a shift to higher fluorescence intensities. These findings, together with the reported behaviour of this particular fluorescent probe at different transmembrane potential levels, indicate that beta-amyloid[1-40] is capable of inducing early hyperpolarization in M26-1F cells. This is one of the earliest cell physiological effect of beta-amyloid peptides that has been reported so far. Moreover, our findings indicate an ionophore-like action of amyloid peptides.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Increased rate of transcription contributes to elevated expression of the mutant p53 gene in Burkitt's lymphoma cells.

Mutations and elevated levels of the p53 tumor suppressor protein have been reported in Burkitt's lymphomas (BL). We investigated whether elevated levels of the mutant p53 protein can be due to transcriptional or posttranscriptional mechanisms. In surveying a series of B-lymphoid cell lines, we found that a high level of the p53 protein tended to reflect high steady-state levels of p53 mRNA. p53 mRNA exhibited high stability in all of the cells tested. Cycloheximide treatment of the cells showed that the low level of p53 mRNA in non-BL lymphoid cells can not be attributed to posttranscriptional regulation by a labile protein. Nuclear run-on experiments revealed that the transcription rate of the p53 gene is about four times higher in some high p53-expressing BL cell lines as compared to low p53-expressing lymphoid cell lines. Our data suggest that an increase in the rate of transcription of the p53 gene is one of the mechanisms that contribute to elevated levels of mutant p53 protein observed in many tumor cells.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1979

Absorption and fluorescence of fluram-labelled lysozyme and peroxidase solutions.

The absorption spectra of fluram, lysozyme, horse-radish peroxidase, and mixtures of lysozyme + fluram and peroxidase + fluram and the fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of the mixtures in 0.05 M phosphate buffer with 1 per cent dioxane are determined. Due to formation of a protein-fluram compound, the absorption spectra of the mixtures are not algebraic sums of the components. From the fluorescence intensities the number of bonding sites is found 6 in both cases. The fluorescence spectrum of the peroxidase-fluram compound has maxima at 305, 350, 400, 450 nm due to peroxidase and at 480 nm originating from fluram. In mixtures of 10(-5) M lysozyme + 10(-4) M fluram, 3/4 of the excitation energy is transferred from lysozyme to fluram within the compound under 280 nm excitation. Under similar conditions 4/5 of the excitation energy is transferred from peroxidase to fluram.

Binding Sites↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hepatic suppurations requiring segmented or atypical hepatectomies].

Following studies of cases with hepatic suppurations the authors indicate the necessity for regular or atypic hepatectomies. The extension of the suppurative process in the liver made necessary the ligature of the great sagital vein and the authors show, on the basis of anatomic and topographical data (hepatic segmentation), that it is necessary to extend the hepatectomy to the IV-th para-median segment. The authors also present the indications for bi-segmental right hepatectomy in segments VII-VI as well as of the total left regulated hepatectomy.

Adolescent↗