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Biomedical subjects

F Shirley

Publications and source records attributed to F Shirley.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Regulation of L-selectin expression by membrane proximal proteolysis.

L-selectin is a lectin cell adhesion molecule expressed on the cell surfaces of lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Upon leukocyte activation or L-selectin cross-linking the transmembrane-bound L-selectin is rapidly shed from the cell surface. Based on these observations, it has been proposed that L-selectin is proteolytically cleaved from the cell surface. However a panel of common protease inhibitors have no effect on L-selectin proteolysis. To further define the mechanism of L-selectin down-regulation we have produced reagents to study proteolytic fragments of L-selectin. We have developed a trapping ELISA for the detection of soluble L-selectin. In addition we have produced a high affinity polyclonal antisera against the extracellular domain and against the cytoplasmic domain of L-selectin. Both antisera immunoprecipitate the intact form of L-selectin from metabolically labeled PHA lymphoblasts and peripheral blood neutrophils. We review here our progress in defining a 6 kD L-selectin transmembrane peptide (L-STMP) from PMA activated lymphoblasts and fMLP-activated neutrophils. Radiochemical sequencing data indicate that the cleavage site occurs between Lys321 and Ser322 in a short membrane-proximal region of the extracellular domain.

Amino Acid Sequence

Membrane proximal cleavage of L-selectin: identification of the cleavage site and a 6-kD transmembrane peptide fragment of L-selectin.

Rapid downregulation of L-selectin expression occurs in response to leukocyte activation, and it has been speculated to be an integral process in the adhesion cascade leading to neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation. It has previously been proposed that L-selectin is proteolytically cleaved from the cell surface; however, the nature of the cleavage site has been unknown. We have produced polyclonal antisera against the extracellular domain and against the cytoplasmic domain of L-selectin. Both antisera immunoprecipitate the intact form of L-selectin from metabolically labeled phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphoblasts and peripheral blood neutrophils. In addition, the anti-cytoplasmic domain serum, but not the antiectodomain serum, immunoprecipitate a 6-kD species from PMA activated lymphoblasts and formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine-activated neutrophils. Conversely, the antiectodomain serum but not the anti-cytoplasmic domain serum immunoprecipitate a 68-kD soluble form of L-selectin from the supernatant of PMA-activated lymphoblasts. The appearance of the 6-kD species on activated cells correlated with the disappearance of the intact form of L-selectin and the appearance of the soluble form of L-selectin. A third polyclonal serum generated against the membrane proximal region of the ectodomain also reacted with the 6-kD species, indicating that this is a transmembrane peptide of L-selectin. That the 6-kD species is derived from L-selectin was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of the 6-kD species from L-selectin transfectants but not from mock transfectants. Radiochemical sequence analysis defined a cleavage site between Lys321 and Ser322, which would predict a transmembrane fragment consistent in size with the observed 6-kD fragment. A Ser-Phe-Ser motif adjacent to the cleavage site is conserved between human, mouse, and rat L-selectin, and a related motif is found proximal to transmembrane domains of other downregulated proteins, such as ACE, CD16-II, and TNF-RII, suggesting the possibility of a common recognition motif.

Amino Acid Sequence

Monoclonal antibodies to sweet taste proteins. I. Analysis of antigenic epitopes on thaumatin by competitive inhibition assays.

Using a competitive inhibition binding immunoassay, we have examined some of the antigenic epitopes present on thaumatin, an intense sweet tasting protein from the African fruit katemfe. We have developed a library of monoclonal antibodies which react with different surface antigenic epitopes on thaumatin. Some of these monoclonal antibodies also cross-react with monellin, another unrelated sweet tasting protein. The competitive binding immunoassay examines the immunoreactivity of both solid-phase and liquid-phase monoclonal antibodies. At least six major antigenic epitopes on thaumatin were identified by our library of monoclonal antibodies. This type of competitive binding analysis may prove useful in the discovery of "sweet taste determinants" on plant proteins and in the development of tandem immunoassays for quantitation of sweet tasting proteins in plant extracts.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Loop ileostomy. Techniques and indications.

The records of 15 patients whose surgical treatment involved the construction of a loop ileostomy were reviewed. Indications for loop ileostomy include the necessity to protect multiple or complicated anastomoses, the protection of ileorectal anastomoses in patients with inflammatory disease, and the necessity of diverting the flow of intestinal contents in patients with fulminant inflammatory bowel disease. The technique of constructing and taking down a loop ileostomy is described.

Adult