Biomedical subjects

F Gros

Publications and source records attributed to F Gros.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

The glial voltage-gated sodium channel: cell- and tissue-specific mRNA expression.

Previous electrophysiological and pharmacological studies on central and peripheral glia revealed the presence of voltage-gated Na channels with properties that are similar but not identical to those of neuronal Na channels. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding the C-terminal portion of a putative glial Na-channel (Na-G) alpha subunit. The amino acid sequence deduced from this cDNA indicates that the Na-G represents a separate molecular class within the mammalian Na-channel multigene family. By Northern blot, RNase protection, and in situ hybridization assays, we demonstrate that, in addition to brain astroglia, the Na-G mRNA is expressed in cultures of Schwann cells derived from dorsal root ganglia or from sciatic nerve. In vivo, the Na-G mRNA is detected not only in brain, dorsal root ganglia, and sciatic nerve, but also in tissues outside the nervous system including cardiac and skeletal muscle and lung. Its level varies according to the tissue and is developmentally regulated. The sequence and expression data concur in designating Na-G as an distinct type of Na channel, presumably with low sensitivity to tetrodotoxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Mapping of the dopa decarboxylase gene to the 11A band of the murine genome.

A human DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) cDNA probe of 747 base pairs has been used to map the DDC gene by in situ hybridization on mouse metaphase chromosomes. This result indicates that the gene is located on band 11A, near the erythroblastosis oncogene B (erb b) locus. This provides evidence for a synteny group on mouse chromosome 11 and human chromosome 7.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Growth inhibition of N1E-115 mouse neuroblastoma cells by c-myc or N-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides causes limited differentiation but is not coupled to neurite formation.

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were found to be stable in the culture medium containing fetal calf serum (heat-inactivated 30 minutes at 65 degrees C) and in cells. Antisense oligomer treatment causes cessation of mitoses, but does not lead to morphological differentiation. Under antisense conditions, we have observed an increase in the amount of two neurospecific protein, namely peripherin and gamma-enolase. Comparison of the results obtained with chemical inducers and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides allows us to postulate three phases in N1E-115 differentiation: the first correspond to the arrest of mitosis, the second to the expression of a limited neuronal program, and the third to the morphological and electrophysiological differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Purification and characterization of the blue-green rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) tyrosine hydroxylase with a dopamine-Fe(III) complex. Reversal of the endogenous feedback inhibition by phosphorylation of serine-40.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was purified from tumours of rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells by a three-step purification procedure giving 30 mg of pure enzyme in 3 days. The enzyme sedimented with an S(eo),w value of 9.2 S and revealed an apparent subunit molecular mass of 62 kDa with a minor 60 kDa component. Two-dimensional gel isoelectric focusing/electrophoresis and tryptic digestion revealed that the heterogeneity could be accounted for by limited proteolysis of the 62 kDa component and the presence of covalently bound phosphate. The enzyme had a strong blue-green colour (epsilon 700 = 3.1 +/- 0.2 mM-iron-1.cm-1). The resonance Raman spectrum obtained with lambda excitation = 605 nm revealed the presence of an Fe(III)-catecholamine complex in the isolate enzyme, similar to that observed in the bovine adrenal enzyme [Andersson, Cox, Que, Flatmark & Haavik (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 18621-18626]. In the rat PC12 enzyme, all of the iron present (0.53 +/- 0.03 atom per subunit) seems to be chelated by the feedback inhibitors (0.49 +/- 0.05 mol of dopamine and 0.10 +/- 0.03 mol of noradrenaline per mol of subunit). The e.p.r. spectra at 3.6 K show g-values at 7.0, 5.2 and 1.9 as observed for other catecholate-complexed enzymes. After phosphorylation of serine-40 and addition of L-tyrosine a new rhombic (magnitude of E/D = 0.33) e.p.r. species could be observed. Phosphorylation of serine-40 by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase increased the catalytic activity; depending on assay conditions, up to 80-110-fold activation could be observed when measured at high TH (i.e. high endogenous catecholamine) concentration.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1992

Polyglutamylated alpha-tubulin can enter the tyrosination/detyrosination cycle.

We have previously identified a major modification of neuronal alpha-tubulin which consists of the posttranslational addition of a varying number of glutamyl units on the gamma-carboxyl group of glutamate residue 445. This modification, called polyglutamylation, was initially found associated with detyrosinated alpha-tubulin [Eddé, B., Rossier, J., Le Caer, J.P., Desbruyères, E., Gros, F., & Denoulet, P. (1990) Science 247, 83-85]. In this report we show that a lateral chain of glutamyl units can also be present on tyrosinated alpha-tubulin. Incubation of cultured mouse brain neurons with radioactive tyrosine, in the presence of cycloheximide, resulted in a posttranslational labeling of six alpha-tubulin isoelectric variants. Because both tyrosination and polyglutamylation occur in the C-terminal region of alpha-tubulin, the structure of this region was investigated. [3H]tyrosinated tubulin was mixed with a large excess of unlabeled mouse brain tubulin and digested with thermolysin. Five peptides, detected by their radioactivity, were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry showed that one of these peptides corresponds to the native C-terminal part of alpha-tubulin 440VEGEGEEEGEEY451 and that the remainders bear a varying number of glutamyl units linked to glutamate residue 445, which explains the observed heterogeneity of tyrosinated alpha-tubulin. A quantitative analysis showed that the different tyrosinated forms of alpha-tubulin represent a minor (13%) fraction of the total alpha-tubulin present in the brain and that most (80%) of these tyrosinated forms are polyglutamylated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Preparation of a rat brain histidine decarboxylase (HDC) cDNA probe by PCR and assignment of the human HDC gene to chromosome 15.

The formation of histamine from its precursor histidine is catalyzed by histidine decarboxylase (HDC), a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylase. The knowledge of sequence similarities between various rodent HDCs permitted us to prepare a rat brain HDC cDNA probe. After reverse transcription of rat brain polyA + mRNA, the HDC cDNA obtained was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using two specific primers. The resulting 1019-bp DNA was cloned in the p-MAL vector. Its sequence corresponds to the published data on rat fetal liver HDC. This 1019-bp rat probe detected two BamHI sequences in man; these were assigned to chromosome 15 by somatic hybrid cell analysis. According to the well-known homology between human chromosome 15 and mouse chromosome 2, the result obtained is in agreement with the published localization of HDC on mouse chromosome 2. The mapping of the human HDC gene on chromosome 15 is an original contribution to the chromosomal assignment of related PLP-dependent decarboxylases.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Heterogeneity of Tau proteins during mouse brain development and differentiation of cultured neurons.

Tau microtubule-associated proteins constitute a group of developmentally regulated neuronal proteins. Using the high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system, we have resolved more than 60 distinct Tau isoforms in the adult mouse brain. Tau protein heterogeneity increases drastically during the second week of brain development. In neuronal primary cell cultures, some of these developmental changes can be observed. The increase of Tau heterogeneity in culture is more limited and reaches a plateau after a period corresponding to the second week of development. Most, if not all, of the vast Tau heterogeneity can be attributed to intensive post-translational phosphorylation, which may affect the structure of the proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Adriamycin promotes neurite outgrowth in the "neurite-minus" N1A-103 mouse neuroblastoma cell line.

Adriamycin, an anticancer agent acting on topoisomerase II, promotes the arrest of cell division and neurite extension in a "neurite-minus" murine neuroblastoma cell line, N1A-103. This morphological differentiation is accompanied by a blockade in the S phase of the cell cycle, modification of the amount of peripherin, and appearance of the beta 7-tubulin isoform. Yet, adriamycin-induced N1A-103 cells fail to express other neuronal markers, such as long-lasting Ca2+ channels, synaptophysin, and the shift in the proportion of the beta'1 tubulin isoform to the beta'2 isoform, whose appearance parallels the terminal differentiation of the wild type neuroblastoma cell line N1E-115. Hence, a comparison of the behavior of these two cell lines leads to the proposal that there are two programs of neuroblastoma differentiation: one where expression is triggered by the arrest of cell division and which is observed in adriamycin-induced N1A-103 variant cells, and the other, presumably occurring further downstream, which would involve further changes in morphogenesis and acquisition of new electrophysiological properties.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Structure of the mouse gene encoding peripherin: a neuronal intermediate filament protein.

The gene encoding mouse peripherin, a neuronal intermediate filament protein, has been cloned. Its sequence, through 1021 nucleotides composing the 5'-flanking region, nine exons, eight introns and 547 nucleotides of the 3'-flanking region, as well as its transcription initiation site have been determined. The amino acid coding sequence differs from that of the rat peripherin gene. The mouse gene has an additional histidine near the N-terminal end, and shows three conservative and two non-conservative changes. The promoter sequence, containing the binding sites for transcription factors as well as other sequences is homologous to promoter regions of other type III intermediate filament protein genes and other neuronal-specific genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Activation of the gene encoding the glycolytic enzyme beta-enolase during early myogenesis precedes an increased expression during fetal muscle development.

We define the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of the gene encoding the glycolytic enzyme, beta-enolase, during mouse ontogenesis. Transcripts were detected by in situ hybridization using 35S labelled cRNA probes. The beta-enolase gene is expressed only in striated muscles. It is first detected in the embryo, in the cardiac tube and in newly formed myotomes. In the muscle masses of the limb, beta gene expression occurs at a low level in primary fibers, and subsequently greatly increases at a time which corresponds to the onset of innervation and secondary fiber formation. Later in development, it becomes undetectable in slow-twitch fibers. Our results demonstrate the multistep regulation of the beta-enolase gene. The regulation of this muscle-specific gene in somites is discussed in terms of the myogenic sequences of the MyoD family shown to be present when it is activated.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Gene therapy: present situation and future prospects.

In this review, some of the most characteristic experimental approaches have been surveyed, using in vitro cultivated cell systems or animal models to achieve therapeutical gene treatment of severe monogenic diseases. Great advances have been made in the utilization of viral-mediated gene transfer as well as by direct DNA injection techniques to permit either stable insertion of a "correcting" gene into the chromosomes of a cell or a tissue or its penetration and activity as an episome. In most instances, long-term expression of the newly introduced genetic information could be obtained and certain genetic defects could be compensated for or corrected in cultivated cells or in vivo. Recent approvals on certain protocols concerning somatic gene therapy in humans indicate that the medical world is quite conscious of the importance of this new strategy. Certain ethical considerations are listed and discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Alport syndrome and diffuse leiomyomatosis: deletions in the 5' end of the COL4A5 collagen gene.

Alport syndrome (AS) is an hereditary glomerulonephritis that is mainly inherited as a dominant X-linked trait. Structural abnormalities in the type IV collagen alpha 5 chain gene (COL4A5), which maps to Xq22, have recently been detected in several patients with AS. The association of AS with diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis (DL) has been reported in 24 patients, most of them also suffering from congenital cataract. The mode of transmission and the location of the gene(s) involved in this association have not been elucidated. Southern blotting using cDNA probes spanning the whole COL4A5 and a 5' end COL4A5 genomic probe showed that three out of three patients with the DL-AS association had a deletion in the 5' part of the COL4A5 gene extending beyond its 5' end. This indicates that the same gene, COL4A5, is involved in classical AS and in DL-AS and that the transmission of DL-AS is X-linked dominant. These results also suggest that leiomyomatosis might be due to the alteration of a second gene involved in smooth muscle cell proliferation, which is located upstream of the COL4A5 gene, and that there might be a contiguous gene deletion syndrome, involving at least the genes coding for congenital cataract, DL and AS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Modulation of embryonic and muscle-specific enolase gene products in the developing mouse hindlimb.

During striated muscle development, the glycolytic enzyme enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) undergoes an isozymic transition, from the embryonic alpha alpha form towards the muscle-specific forms alpha beta and beta beta. The regulation of this transition was analyzed in mouse hindlimb muscles from embryonic day 15 (E15) to the adult stage. The quantitative modulations of the levels of the transcripts and subunits of alpha and beta enolase genes were determined. The absolute amounts of alpha and beta enolase mRNAs were estimated using in vitro synthesized transcripts as calibration standards, thus allowing an evaluation of their relative contribution at each stage examined. The muscle-specific beta enolase mRNA is already present at E15. Its level then increases and, from E17, this transcript becomes predominant. This accumulation is biphasic: a steep prenatal rise, corresponding to a net increase per fiber, accompanies the formation of secondary myofibers and the development of innervation; a second rise, beginning at postnatal day 5, is temporally correlated with the definitive specialization of the myofibers. Most of the decrease in alpha mRNA level occurs postnatally. No temporal or quantitative correlation between the up-regulation of beta mRNA and the down-regulation of alpha mRNA levels is observed throughout hindlimb muscle development. Quantitative immunoblotting analyses carried out in parallel show that the enolase isozymic transition is mainly controlled at the mRNA level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

PubMed1992

Substitution of arginine for glycine 325 in the collagen alpha 5 (IV) chain associated with X-linked Alport syndrome: characterization of the mutation by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified lymphoblast cDNA fragments.

A large kindred with adult-type X-linked Alport syndrome was studied with regard to a defect in the recently described COL4A5 collagen gene. Southern blot analysis with COL4A5 cDNA probes showed loss of a MspI restriction site. Direct sequencing of cDNA amplified from lymphoblast mRNA demonstrated a single-base substitution converting a glycine codon to arginine at position 325 in the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen. The triple-helical collagenous domain of alpha 5(IV), characterized by a Gly-X-Y repeat sequence, is interrupted 22 times by noncollagenous sequences. The mutation creates an additional interruption in the Gly-X-Y repeat motif, between interruptions 4 and 5. It is interesting that such glycine substitutions inside the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes have been associated with many cases of osteogenesis imperfecta. This gly325-to-arg substitution presumably alters the triple-helix formation, and, in turn, modifies the ultrastructural and functional characteristics of the type IV collagen network inside the glomerular basement membrane.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Distribution of glutamylated alpha and beta-tubulin in mouse tissues using a specific monoclonal antibody, GT335.

A monoclonal antibody (GT335) directed against polyglutamylated tubulin was obtained by immunization with a synthetic peptide which mimics the structure of the polyglutamylated site of alpha-tubulin. This peptide corresponds to the C-terminal sequence Glu441-Gly448 and was chemically modified by the addition of two glutamyl units at Glu445. The specificity of GT335 was assayed by direct and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against tubulin and several synthetic peptides differing either by the structure of the added polyglutamyl chain or by their amino acid sequence. Further characterization was carried out by immunoblotting detection after one- or two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The epitope appears to be formed by at least two constituents: a basic motif of monoglutamylation which is retained in the polyglutamylated forms independent of their degree of glutamylation, and some elements of the polypeptide chain close to the site of glutamylation. Given the specificity of GT335 and the delineation of its epitope, our results indicate that, in addition to alpha and beta' (class III)-tubulin, other beta-tubulin isotypes are also glutamylated. This antibody has been used to analyze the cell and tissue distributions of glutamylated tubulin. In mouse brain extracts, GT335 reacts strongly with alpha-tubulin and, to a lesser extent, with beta' (class III) and beta-tubulin. The same reactivity is also observed with cultured neurons whereas astroglial cells exhibit only low levels of glutamylated tubulin. In non-nervous mouse tissues such as spleen, lung or testis, glutamylation was shown to involve only beta-tubulin, but at far lower levels than in brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Different mRNAs code for dopa decarboxylase in tissues of neuronal and nonneuronal origin.

A cDNA clone for dopa decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.28) has been isolated from a rat pheochromocytoma cDNA library and the cDNA sequence has been determined. It corresponds to an mRNA of 2094 nucleotides. The length of the mRNA was measured by primer-extension of rat pheochromocytoma RNA and the 5' end of the sequence of the mRNA was confirmed by the PCR. A probe spanning the translation initiation site of the mRNA was used to hybridize with mRNAs from various organs of the rat. S1 nuclease digestion of the mRNAs annealed with this probe revealed two classes of mRNAs. The comparison of the cDNA sequence and published sequences for rat liver, human pheochromocytoma, and Drosophila dopa decarboxylase supported the conclusion that two mRNAs are produced: one is specific for tissue of neuronal origin and the other is specific for tissues of nonneuronal (mesodermal or endodermal) origin. The neuronal mRNA contains a 5' untranslated sequence that is highly conserved between human and rat pheochromocytoma including a GA stretch. The coding sequence and the 3' untranslated sequence of mRNAs from rat liver and pheochromocytoma are identical. The rat mRNA differs only in the 5' untranslated region. Thus a unique gene codes for dopa decarboxylase and this gene gives rise to at least two transcripts presumably in response to different signals during development.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1991

Network antibodies identify nuclear lamin B as a physiological attachment site for peripherin intermediate filaments.

We studied the molecular associations between peripherin (a neuronal, type III intermediate filament subunit) and nuclear lamins. We show here that isolated peripherin binds selectively to mammalian lamin B under in vitro conditions. We further demonstrate that a synthetic peptide, representing the proximal part of peripherin's tail domain (P1), also associates with mammalian lamin B in a saturable, cooperative, and specific fashion. Laboratory animals immunized with P1 spontaneously develop idiotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies recognizing peripherin and lamin B, respectively. These data provide essentially in vivo evidence that lamin B represents a constitutive nuclear "receptor" site for the tail domains of peripherin intermediate filaments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Functional adult acetylcholine receptor develops independently of motor innervation in Sol 8 mouse muscle cell line.

We have defined culture conditions, using a feeder layer of cells from the embryonic mesenchymal cell line, 10T1/2 and a serum-free medium, which allow cells from the mouse myogenic cell line Sol 8 to form contracting myotubes for two weeks. Under these culture conditions, Sol 8 myotubes undergo a maturation process characterized by a sequential expression of two phenotypes. An early phenotype is typified by the expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) gamma-subunit transcripts and the presence of low conductance ACh-activated channels, typical of embryonic AChR. A late phenotype is characterized by the expression of AChR epsilon-subunit transcripts, the decreased accumulation of gamma-subunit transcripts and the appearance of high conductance ACh-activated channels, typical of adult AChR. These results indicate that the expression of functional adult type AChR does not require the presence of the motor nerve and therefore represents an intrinsic feature of the Sol 8 muscle cells. Chronic exposure of the cells to the voltage-sensitive Na+ channel blocking agent tetrodotoxin does not affect the appearance of the AChR epsilon-subunit transcripts but prevents the reduction of the steady-state level of the AChR gamma-subunit transcripts and yields a reduced proportion of the adult type channels. Thus, activity seems to facilitate the switch from the embryonic to the adult phenotype of the AChR protein. The Sol 8 cell system might be useful to analyse further the genetic and epigenetic regulation of muscle fibre maturation in mammals.

Animals↗