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Biomedical subjects

H Ariga

Publications and source records attributed to H Ariga.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Cloned origin of DNA replication in c-myc gene can function and be transmitted in transgenic mice in an episomal state.

The c-myc protein has recently been shown to interact with a region possessing putative origin of DNA replication and enhancer activities located 2 kb upstream of the c-myc gene itself. Transgenic mice were obtained by injecting constructs containing this region, termed pmyc(H-P), into fertilized mouse eggs. The transgenic elements were capable of efficient replication in all mouse tissues examined and were maintained in an episomal state even in highly differentiated cells. Moreover, pmyc(H-P) was transmittable to the progeny throughout several generations, which suggests that the fragment derived from the region upstream of the c-myc gene possesses sequences necessary for partition, stability and DNA replication of the plasmid in the cells. In addition, we have shown that the plasmid might be captured only by eggs, not by sperm.

Animals↗

Transcription and replication silencer element is present within conserved region of human Alu repeats interacting with nuclear protein.

Human cells contain a nuclear protein interacting with Alu repeats, and this protein seems to recognize a conserved sequence motif, GGAGGC, present within the RNA polymerase III promoter and within the SV40 T-antigen-dependent ARS-like element. To study the potential functional role of this element, we have inserted the sequence into a chloramphenicolacetyltransferase (CAT) expression vector with a SV40 promoter and enhancer element from the up-stream region of the human c-myc gene, and transfected HeLa cells with the resulting plasmid. Analysis of expression by the CAT assay indicates that the Alu-derived sequence supresses transcription of the CAT gene driven by the c-myc enhancer/SV40 promoter. The Alu-derived sequence also inhibits ARS activity of the c-myc enhancer. The data allow the explanation of the transcriptional inactivity of Alu repeats in HeLa cells, and suggest the existence of a negative control of Alu transcription.

DNA Replication↗

Comparative studies on the usefulness of phosphate versus glycerin enema in preparation for colon examinations.

Fifty of 100 persons who had undergone health screening received phosphate enema while the other 50 received glycerin enema prior to proctoscopy and barium enema, and their usefulness for preparation for colon examination was compared by a double-blind test. There was no significant difference in the degree of colonic cleansing achieved by proctoscopy and barium enema. In the subjects who received phosphate enema, the incidence of abdominal pain was less than that in those who received glycerin enema, while the effect of phosphate enema on defecation appeared later than that of glycerin enema, indicating prolonged stool retention in the subjects given phosphate enema. To study the safety of the two enemas, either phosphate enema, glycerin enema or physiological saline solution as a control was administered at 0.35 ml/animal in the rectum by 4-h closure of the anus in 10 male 7-week-old Wistar rats, and the rectal mucosa was observed for irritation macroscopically and histopathologically. Glycerin enema produced less irritation than phosphate enema diffusely in the entire area of the rectum, while phosphate enema produced more local irritation at the end of the rectum than glycerin enema. The differences in the extent of irritation and injury between phosphate and glycerin enemas were considered to be derived from differences in the pharmacologic actions of these drugs. If the extent of injury were included in the extent of irritation, the difference in irritation between phosphate and glycerin enemas would not be significant. As described above, no specific difference seem to exist in the usefulness of phosphate and glycerin enemas as preparation for colon examination.

Animals↗

DNA replication origin and transcriptional enhancer in c-myc gene share the c-myc protein binding sequences.

We have previously reported that c-myc protein, or protein(s) complexed with c-myc protein, binds to the region upstream of the first exon of the c-myc gene and that this region contains an origin of cellular DNA replication (ori) and also a transcriptional enhancer. Here we show by Southwestern blotting that c-myc protein binds directly to a 7 bp sequence within the above region. Furthermore, we show that the c-myc protein binding sequences are indispensable for both ori and enhancer functions, but that additional sequences are required for maximal ori and enhancer activities. Thus, c-myc protein is a sequence specific factor which is apparently used both in initiation of DNA replication and in regulation of RNA transcription.

Animals↗

New galactosyllactose containing alpha-glycosidic linkage isolated from ovine (Booroola dorset) colostrum.

Three trisaccharides, tetra-, penta-, hexa- and certain higher oligosaccharides were obtained from ovine colostrum as free forms. The chemical structure of the three trisaccharides were determined by methylation and 13C-NMR analyses to be as follows: Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc, Gal beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc (3'-galactosyllactose) and Gal beta 1-6Gal beta 1-4Glc (6'-galactosyllactose). Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc, which had been confirmed as the oligosaccharide portion of a glycolipid prepared biosynthetically from rat spleen or bone marrow, has been identified for the first time from natural sources as a free form. The trisaccharide containing alpha-galactosyl unit is a novel compound in mammalian milk.

Animals↗

Transrepression of the N-myc expression by c-myc protein.

In the human neuroblastoma cell line IMR32 the N-myc gene happens to be amplified and actively expressed, whereas no stable c-myc RNA can be detected in the same cells. In this report, we show that in IMR32 cells the expression of the N-myc gene is repressed by introduction of a c-myc expression vector (c-myc cDNA conjugated with an SR promoter). Moreover, dose response experiments showed that the amount of endogenous c-myc protein present in HeLa cells (which express c-myc but not N-myc) is enough to repress the expression of N-myc in IMR32 cells.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

HLA-B51 and HLA-Bw52 differ by only two amino acids which are in the helical region of the alpha 1 domain.

Genes encoding the serologically cross-reactive HLA-B51 and HLA-Bw52 molecules were isolated and the exons sequenced. HLA-B51 genes obtained from Caucasian and Oriental individuals were identical. HLA-Bw52 differs from HLA-B51 by four nucleotide substitutions in exon 2 encoding the alpha 1 domain. These comprise one isolated silent substitution in codon 23 and a cluster of three coding substitutions in codons 63 and 67. Amino acid substitutions of N----E at position 63 and F----S at position 67 are the only differences between HLA-B51 and HLA-Bw52 and these residues are postulated to form HLA-B51 specific epitopes. HLA-B51 could have been formed from HLA-Bw52 by the combination of a genetic exchange with HLA-B8 and a point mutation. Similarity of HLA-B51 and HLA-Bw52 with HLA-Bw58 suggest they also share a common ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Androgen control of autoimmune expression in lacrimal glands of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice.

The purpose of the present study was to determine, by utilizing an animal model of Sjögren's syndrome, whether androgen therapy might ameliorate autoimmune sequelae in the lacrimal gland. Age-matched female MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice were administered subcutaneous implants of placebo- or testosterone-containing pellets after the onset of disease. Lacrimal glands and, for comparison, submandibular glands were collected from sacrificed mice immediately prior to androgen administration and following 17 and 34 days of maintained hormone exposure. Tissues were processed for light microscopy and examined with a computer-assisted image analysis system. Results demonstrated that testosterone exposure dramatically reduced lymphocyte infiltration in lacrimal tissue: following 34 days of treatment, the percentage infiltrate had undergone a 12-fold decrease. This hormone action, which was time dependent, involved significant abrogations in both infiltrate size and number. Testosterone administration also induced a significant 2- to 3-fold rise in lacrimal gland weight and acinar area and a 2-fold reduction in acinar density/field, compared to values in placebo-treated controls. In addition, androgen administration significantly decreased the magnitude of lymphocyte infiltration in submandibular glands. Overall, our findings demonstrate that androgen therapy may reverse autoimmune sequelae in lacrimal, as well as submandibular, glands in a mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome.

Animals↗

Effect of silencer on polyomavirus DNA replication.

We have cloned the cellular sequence termed box DNA from the enhancer region of polyomavirus F9 mutant fPyF9. Box DNA functions as a negative transcriptional element (silencer) in undifferentiated F9 cells but not in differentiated L cells. Plasmid DNAs containing the origin and enhancer of polyomavirus were used to measure simultaneously transcriptional and replication activities in transfected cells. DNA replication activity was significantly reduced under conditions in which the silencer was able to reduce enhancer activity in F9 cells. On the other hand, when the silencer could not repress enhancer activity in MOP-8 cells, which are mouse NIH 3T3 cells producing polyomavirus T antigen constitutively, replication activity was still intact. The silencer itself had no effect on DNA replication or transcription in either type of cells. Furthermore, the insertion of a 6-base oligonucleotide within a consensus sequence of box DNA abolished the repressive effect of the silencer on DNA replication and enhancer activities. These results suggest that enhancer factors, interacting with silencer factors, may be closely associated with the mechanism of replication.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Negative transcriptional regulatory element that functions in embryonal carcinoma cells.

We have cloned the polyomavirus mutant fPyF9, which persists in an episomal state in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells (K. Ariizumi and H. Ariga, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:3920-3927, 1986). fPyF9 carries three copies of exogenous sequences, the prototype of which is a 21-base-pair repeat (box DNA), in the region of the enhancer B domain of wild-type polyomavirus DNA. The consensus sequence, GCATTCCATTGTT, is 13 base pairs long. The box DNA inserted into fPyF9 appeared to come from a cellular sequence and was present in many kinds of DNAs, including F9 chromosomal DNA. The biological function of box DNA was analyzed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression assays, using chimeric plasmids containing box DNA conjugated with simian virus 40 promoter elements. The results showed that box DNA repressed the activities both of the simian virus 40 promoter and enhancer only in transfected undifferentiated F9 cells and not in differentiated LTK- cells. Box DNA functioned independently of orientation and position with respect to the promoter in an enhancerlike manner, although the effect of box DNA was opposite that of the enhancer. The XhoI linker insertion into the consensus sequences of box DNA abolished the repression activity, and the protein(s) recognizing the consensus sequences was identified only in F9 cells, not in L cells. These analyses suggest that box DNA may be a negative regulatory element that functions in undifferentiated cells.

Animals↗

Inhibition of c-myc gene expression in murine lymphoblastoma cells by geldanamycin and herbimycin, antibiotics of benzoquinoid ansamycin group.

We have shown that geldanamycin (GDM), an antibiotic of benzoquinoid ansamycin group, inhibits DNA replication in cultured mouse lymphoblastoma L5178Y cells. Here we report that GDM selectively inhibited the expression of c-myc gene, proto-oncogene, along with suppression of DNA replication in L5178Y cells, which are consistent with our previous results that c-myc protein promotes cellular DNA replication. The significantly enhanced inhibition by GDM of DNA replication was observed, when the antibiotic was introduced at G1 stage prior to S phase of cell cycle. The results are in favor of the prospects that GDM inhibits DNA replication mainly at time of initiation, and that c-myc protein is essential for the initiation of cellular DNA replication. Furthermore, when c-myc expression was inhibited by GDM, the expression of p53 gene, the product of which may be another DNA replication protein, was stimulated in the tumor cells. Thus, GDM should be useful to investigate the molecular mechanism of DNA replication promoted by c-myc protein and also to distinguish the function of c-myc protein from that of p53 protein in DNA replication.

Animals↗

Lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in patients with Behçet's disease.

Serum cholesterol concentrations among very low, low, and high density lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL) in 12 male patients with Behçet's disease were compared with those of 12 normal male subjects. Serum lipoproteins were separated by a combination of ultracentrifugation and gel filtration chromatography. The patients had significantly (p less than 0.001) lower concentrations of HDL-cholesterol than the control subjects (356 +/- 62 mg/l vs. 573 +/- 108 mg/l, means +/- SD). The cholesterol concentrations in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL) from the patients tended to be reciprocally higher than those of the controls, though not statistically significant. There was no difference in serum total cholesterol concentrations. The chemical composition of HDL from the patient group was characterized by higher protein and lower cholesterol (both esterified and free) contents compared with the control HDL.

Adult↗

An initiation site of DNA replication with transcriptional enhancer activity present upstream of the c-myc gene.

We have previously reported that c-myc protein may promote cellular DNA replication by binding to initiation sites of replication. Here we report that a putative origin of human cellular DNA replication (ori) is present at approximately 2 kb upstream of the coding region of the c-myc gene itself. The c-myc protein, or protein(s) complexed with c-myc protein, bind to the upstream region (approximately 200 bp in length) which has transcriptional enhancer activity as well as autonomously replicating activity in human cells, suggesting that the c-myc protein may be an enhancer binding protein as well as a DNA replication protein. Results with deletion mutants suggest that the sequence essential to the origin of DNA replication may be adjacent to, but cannot be clearly separated from, the sequence responsible for enhancer activity. Furthermore, when cloned DNA containing putative c-myc protein binding sequences was transfected as competitor into HL-60 cells, expression of c-myc was inhibited, suggesting that c-myc protein itself may be necessary for c-myc expression.

Base Sequence↗

Phospholipid modulates in vitro replication of autonomous replicating sequence from human cells.

A cloned plasmid, pmyc(H-K), containing sequences derived from human c-myc gene replicated in vitro in Raji nuclear extract in a semiconservative manner. Using this system, it was found that phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin strongly inhibited the replication of pmyc(H-K) in vitro, whereas other phospholipids, i.e., phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, and sphingomyelin, had no appreciable effect. The concentrations of phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin producing 50% inhibition of the replication were 4.6 and 5.4 microM, respectively. Phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin inhibited the relaxation of pmyc(H-K) supercoiled DNA, but showed little or weaker effects on DNA polymerase alpha and topoisomerase II in Raji nuclear extract. These results suggest that phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin antagonize the replication of pmyc(H-K) in vitro, through, at least in part, the interaction with topoisomerase I.

DNA Replication↗