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I Gozes

Publications and source records attributed to I Gozes.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Translation in vitro of rat brain mRNA coding for a variety of tubulin forms.

Prenatal rat brain tubulin was resolved by isoelectric focusing into five to six components (isotubulins 1--6) while in mature brain nine distinct forms were evident (isotubulins 1--9). Tubulin, isolated from various brain regions, displayed different proportions of these nine isotubulins which may result from the heterogeneity in brain cell population. Mature brain mRNA, when translated in vitro, in the reticulocyte lysate cell-free system, directed the synthesis of five tubulin forms, namely isotubulins 1, 3, 4 (or 5), 6 and 7. The mRNA species coding for isotubulins 3 and 7 could be partially separated on formamide/sucrose gradients, while in the absence of formamide the mRNA species directing the synthesis of isotubulins 1, 4 (or 5) and 6 showed differences in mobility. It therefore appears that brain mRNA may consist of five different species coding for distinct tubulin forms. Moreover, a marked age-dependent enhancement in the relative translation of the mRNA coding for isotubulin 7, which is not apparent among the translation products directed by the prenatal mRNA, was detected. Our results indicate that some of the age-dependent variations in tubulin microheterogeneity may be controlled at the mRNA level.

Aging↗

Tubulin: an integral protein of mammalian synaptic vesicle membranes.

The major protein in isolated synaptic vesicles from bovine cerebral cortex has been compared to tubulin by sodium dodecyl sulphate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and by peptide mapping following limited proteolysis of the protein by Staphylococcus aureus protease. The results establish in purified synaptic vesicles the presence of tubulin, which is composed of the alpha and beta subunits. In the presence of ethyleneglycolbis)aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or magnesium in the isolation buffers, the synaptic vesicles contained mainly the alpha-tubulin whereas the beta subunit was less abundant. Similarly, synaptosomal plasma membranes that were prepared in the presence of EGTA also contained more of alpha-tubulin than of the beta subunit. Non-ionic detergents such as Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40 failed to solubilize the tubulin from the synaptic vesicles. Ionic detergents such as deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulphate solubilized all the vesicle proteins, including tubulin. The results indicate that alpha-tubulin is an integral vesicle membrane protein, whereas most of the beta subunit is peripherally attached and can be easily dissociated from the vesicle membrane with EGTA.

Animals↗

Synthesis of tubulin and actin by neuronal and glial nuclear preparations from devloping rat brain.

A system was established in which nuclear preparations from rat brains were capable of protein synthesis under cell-free conditions. The electrophoretic pattern of the synthesized proteins was similar to that found in vivo provided that the reaction mixture contained pH 5 precipitated factors derived from the high speed supernatant fraction of brain. In the absence of the pH 5 factors, using nuclear preparations from brains of 2-day-old rats, approximately 1.5% and 2% of the newly synthesized proteins were identified as tubulin and actin, respectively. In the presence of pH 5 factors, protein synthesis was stimulated and the proportion of the newly synthesized tubulin and actin increased to 26% and 11%, respectively. In contrast to nuclear fractions from 2-day-old rats, when nuclei from brains of 1-month-old rats were tested in the presence of pH 5 factors, the proportion of tubulin and actin synthesized was lower and amounted to 10% and 4%, respectively. The age-dependent change in the relative amount of the tubulin and actin synthesized is in good agreement with the translational pattern shown by brain polyribosomes in a brain cell-free system as well as with the pattern obtained with brain mRNA translated in a wheat germ cell-free system. Nuclei enriched for either neuronal or glial populations synthesized similar proportions of tubulin and actin in vitro. We conclude that the reduction in the synthesis of tubulin and actin during the postnatal development of the rat brain occurs in both neuronal and glial cells.

Actins↗

Decrease in levels and rates of synthesis of tubulin and actin in developing rat brain.

The cytoplasmic and particulate tubulin content of postnatal rat brains was determined at various stages of development. The amount of tubulin in the soluble fraction was found to increase after birth and levels off at the age of 10-15 days, while the total protein content is still increasing. Indeed, the percentage of tubulin in the soluble fraction is about 33% at birth, stays at this value until day 10, and then decreases to 20% between days 10 and 15. On the other hand, the rate of increase in the level of the particulate tubulin parallels that of the total particulate proteins, and hence there is no change in the percentage of particulate tubulin during brain development. There was close agreement between the tubulin values obtained by the [3H]-colchicine binding assay and those obtained by electrophoretic resolution in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was also utilized to determine actin levels in developing brains. The percentage of cytoplasmic brain actin also decreased with the age of the rats, from a value of 20% at birth to 10% at day 30, while the percentage of the particulate actin remained constant. The decline in the percentage of cytoplasmic tubulin and actin during brain development can be accounted for by reduction in the proportions of the respective mRNA species. Translation of poly (A)-rich brain mRNA in a wheat-germ cell-free system showed that the percentages of tubulin and actin synthesized decreased gradually with age. Similar results were obtained by analyzing the proteins produced by isolated brain polysomes in a brain cell-free system.

Actins↗

Properties and synthesis of tubulin in neuroblastoma cells.

Cloned neuroblastoma cell lines derived from the spontaneous mouse tumor C-1300 were used to study nerve cell differentiation. Our findings included a) morphologic and electrical differentiation was induced by the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide to the culture medium of some of the neuroblastoma clonal lines; b) a contrasting difference existed between the percentage of the phenylalanine-specific, tRNA species deficient in the peroxy Y-nucleoside in the mouse embryo or rat brain (6-10%) and that of mouse neuroblastoma cells (85%); c) the assembly of neuroblastoma microtubules and neurofilaments that are necessary for neurite outgrowth proceeded from preexisting pools of tubulin and actin, but a sustained level of phosphorylated tubulin was not required for this regulation; and d) the in vitro translation of tubulin and actin was accomplished with mRNA from rat brains in a wheat-germ cellfree system.

Actins↗

Translation in vitro of rat brain messenger RNA coding for tubulin and actin.

A partially purified fraction of poly(a)-rich brain mRNA coding for tubulin and actin was obtained by stepwise elution from an oligo(deoxythymidylate)-cellulose column and was efficiently translated in a wheat-germ cell-free system. The newly synthesized tubulin and actin migrated along with the authentic proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and on sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gels, where tubulin alpha- and beta-subunits are separated. The two proteins synthesized in vitro were found to be biologically active; they could be induced to polymerize and were both precipitated by vinblastine. In addition, specific binding of tubulin to an affinity column of colchicine-Sepharose and actin to myosin were demonstrated.

Actins↗

Inhibition of human neuroblastoma growth by a specific VIP antagonist.

The 28-amino-acid neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), is a potent mitogen during embryonic development and plays a vital role in brain growth. VIP is also mitogenic for tumor cells, including the human neuroblastoma (NMB). Northern blot analysis has revealed VIP mRNA transcripts in NMB. We now report VIP-like immunoreactivity within these neuroblastoma cells that increased during logarithmic growth and decreased after attaining confluency. About 10(6) seeded cells secreted 5-40 pg of VIP-like immunoreactivity into the medium. These results suggest an autocrine role for VIP in the regulation of neuroblastoma growth. A VIP hybrid antagonist (neurotensin6-11 VIP7-28) that has been shown to inhibit lung cancer proliferation was now tested for inhibition of neuroblastoma growth. Receptor binding studies indicated that the hybrid antagonist displaced [125I]-VIP binding in the neuroblastoma cells (EC50 = 5 x 10(-6)M). Furthermore, as measured by thymidine incorporation and by cell counts, the potent VIP hybrid antagonist inhibited neuroblastoma multiplication in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, VIP may be an important regulator of growth of nerve cell progenitors and of tumors derived from neuronal origin and intervening with VIP function may lead to improved treatment of cancer.

Female↗

Studies toward the biosynthesis of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

In view of the potential biological importance of VIP, we have begun to examine the regulation of its biosynthesis. For this purpose we have, as a first step, searched for an enriched source of VIP biosynthesis. By a combination of chromatographic procedures and radioimmunoassays we discovered an as yet unknown source for VIP production, namely a human buccal tumor, containing 0.67 +/- 0.05 ng VIP/micrograms protein which is greater than the richest source in brain (the cerebral cortex). Thus, we decided to use the tumor tissue for VIP-mRNA purification and characterization. To identify VIP-mRNA we are using as hybridization probes, synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides with relatively unambiguous nucleotide sequence complementary to the predicted VIP-mRNA sequence. These probes are synthesized, using the deoxynucleoside phosphoramidite approach, to a length of 17 bases each, and contain all the possible DNA sequences according to the genetic code. These specific probes are then radioactively labelled using the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme polynucleotide kinase and afterwards hybridized to mRNA, which had been resolved on denaturing agarose gels. Employing this approach, we identified a single putative VIP-mRNA band which was then partially purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Upon in vitro translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell free system, this mRNA was found to code for VIP immunoreactive proteins. In conclusion, our studies suggest the existence of high molecular weight precursors to VIP cross-reactive with anti-VIP antibodies, that are coded for by a partially purified mRNA containing VIP sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Vasoactive intestinal peptide antagonist retards the development of neonatal behaviors in the rat.

Based on the demonstrated neurotrophic activity of VIP in vitro, a recently designed VIP antagonist was used to assess the role of this neuropeptide in the behavioral development of rats. Rats received daily subcutaneous injections from birth to day 14. Observations of developmental milestones/behaviors were made daily for 21 days. Of the measures of behavioral development tested, the time to surface right on day 4 and the day of onset for forelimb placing, hindlimb placing, forelimb grasping and air righting were significantly retarded by the antagonist. Cotreatment with VIP prevented the antagonist-induced delay. These results suggest that VIP activity is important in the development of select complex motor behaviors.

Animals↗