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I R Kirsch

Publications and source records attributed to I R Kirsch.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Characterization of the full length cDNA for murine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. Novel features at the 5'-end predict two translational start sites at two in-frame AUGs.

We have isolated overlapping cDNA clones representing the full length (4038 base pairs) transcript for murine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. The coding sequence predicts a membrane-bound glycoprotein with three distinct structural features, a large COOH-terminal domain (355 amino acids), a single transmembrane domain (20 amino acids), and a short NH2-terminal domain. Primer extension analysis, S1 protection analysis, and RNA blotting demonstrate the presence of two sets of mRNA transcripts which differ in length by about 200 base pairs. The 5' boundary of the long transcripts maps upstream of two in-frame ATGs. The 5' boundary of the short transcripts maps between these two ATGs. These results predict that two related forms of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase of 399 and 386 amino acids are synthesized as a consequence of alternative translation initiation. The long form (399 amino acids) has an NH2-terminal extension of 13 amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Detection of genes of interest in tissues and cells by in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization (ISH) is a powerful technique for assessing the expression of particular genes of interest within individual cells in tissues or cytospins. The only limitations of the technique are the availability of appropriate probes and tissues. When coupled with routine histology and DNA analysis, characterization and classification of tissues can be greatly extended. Future applications include the identification of tumor-specific markers that can be combined with ISH in diagnostic strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Molecular biology of the leukemias.

In this article we reviewed some of the important concepts and techniques of molecular biology applied to the study of lymphoid malignancies. Molecular biology is a tool for addressing certain basic research and clinical questions. It is also a key to the development of a new perspective in biology and medicine. For the first time in history the scope of our understanding of health and disease extends from populations at risk, through individual patients, these patients' tumors, the aberrant cells, the altered proteins, deregulated mRNAs, and disrupted chromosomes, down to the ultimate mutated nucleotide which leads to malignant transformation. This conceptual framework is new to our time and makes us participants as physicians, scientists, and members of society in a uniquely exciting era.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1988

Juxtaposition of the T-cell receptor alpha-chain locus (14q11) and a region (14q32) of potential importance in leukemogenesis by a 14;14 translocation in a patient with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and ataxia-telangiectasia.

We describe a t(14;14)(q11;q32) translocation in a patient with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and ataxia-telangiectasia (AT). By using a battery of joining (J)-segment probes from the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha-chain locus TCRA, three distinct J alpha rearrangements were observed. One rearrangement reflected a normal TCRA variable (V) region V alpha-to-J alpha recombination. The second rearrangement was caused by the translocation even itself, which joined a DNA segment from 14q32 centromeric to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGH) and a J alpha gene located approximately 75 kilobases (kb) 5' of the TCRA constant region gene (C alpha). A third rearrangement involved a 17-kb internal deletion 3' to the translocation, a rearrangement within the J alpha locus that has been observed once before in a patient with AT. Analysis of these three rearrangements underscores the increase in aberrant locus-specific recombination in lymphocytes from patients with AT. Furthermore, these studies support the view that a growth-effecting gene is present in the 14q32 region that participates in the leukemogenic process.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗
PubMed1988

Complex translocation disrupts c-myc regulation in a human plasma cell myeloma.

A complex translocation has interrupted the third exon of the c-myc gene in human plasma cell myeloma tumor cells and a derivative cell line (NCI-H929). As a result of this rearrangement, a chimeric mRNA is expressed which commences 5' of the c-myc coding region and includes sequences introduced by the translocation event. All of the detectable c-myc-containing mRNA in the tumor and cell line was derived from this rearranged c-myc allele. This chimeric c-myc mRNA, in which most of the germ line c-myc 3' untranslated region has been replaced, was greater than sevenfold more stable than c-myc transcripts with intact 3' ends. This suggests that the 3' untranslated region may play an important role in c-myc mRNA stability.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

A study of myc-related gene expression in small cell lung cancer by in situ hybridization.

The expression of myc-related genes (c-myc, N-myc, and L-myc) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) was studied by RNA-RNA tissue in situ hybridization. The tissues investigated included cytospins of ten cell lines derived from patients with SCLC, four corresponding nude mouse xenografts from cell lines, and metastatic tumor tissue obtained by surgical biopsy and at autopsy. The probes were prepared as 35S labeled complementary RNA. The expression of each gene was demonstrated specifically by autoradiography in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cell samples. The average levels of oncogene expression in each specimen corroborated previous data obtained by Northern blot assays. In addition, heterogeneity in gene expression from cell to cell in each sample was noted. This study represents the first attempt to demonstrate oncogene expression in lung cancer cell lines and tissues in situ, and confirms that the expression of these myc related genes can be seen in the primary tumor. The technique of RNA-RNA tissue in situ hybridization has great potential in answering fundamental questions of tumor cell heterogeneity and progression in SCLC. It should be useful in both prospective and retrospective studies.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗
PubMed1987

Fragile sites limited to lymphocytes: molecular recombination and malignancy.

Fragile sites on chromosomes are points at which rearrangements tend to occur nonrandomly. Because translocations between chromosomes #7 and #14 occur nonrandomly in normal cultured lymphocytes, we analyzed chromosomes #7 and #14 in 53,580 cultured lymphocytes and 109,300 other human cells. We found one rearrangement per 1,218 lymphocytes. These rearrangements were not restricted to translocations but included inversions and hitherto undetected duplications and deletions. In lymphocytes cultured for only 48 hours, rearrangements were seen indicating their presence in vivo. The breakpoints were exclusively in chromosome bands 7p13, 7q35, 14q11, and 14q32. The predisposition to form these rearrangements appeared nonrandom and inherited. These four bands act as if they contain fragile sites limited to lymphocytes. Fragility was not observed in these bands in cells from amniotic fluid, bone marrow, skin, or chorionic villi. Bands 7p13, 7q35, and 14q11 contain T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, whereas, band 14q32 contains the immunoglobulin heavy (IgH) chain locus. Rearrangements of these bands may result from molecular recombination between TCR or between TCR and IgH genes forming TCR/TCR and TCR/IgH chimeric genes important to understanding lymphocyte development and neoplasia. TCR/IgH chimeric genes have been found in T- and B-cell malignancy.

Chromosome Fragile Sites↗
PubMed1987

Application of RNA-RNA tissue in situ hybridization in an analysis of a patient with leukemia.

RNA-RNA tissue in situ hybridization is a relatively new technique that detects gene expression in individual cells. In this report we compare and contrast the technique with conventional biologic analysis. We illustrate how this technique could function as a diagnostic tool by applying it to a 58-year-old man with a four-month history of lymphadenopathy and peripheral lymphocytosis. RNA-RNA tissue in situ hybridization performed on sections of one of this patient's lymph nodes and on cytospins of his peripheral blood demonstrated the presence of an apparent monoclonal population of B cells producing mu and lambda immunoglobulin (Ig) messages in the lymph node and peripheral blood as well as a T-cell population in the lymph node only. These results were corroborative and complementary to conventional DNA (Southern) and RNA (Northern) analyses. The data were consistent with the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). With the use of this technique, an intriguing pattern of cellular heterogeneity was observed within the mu-lambda population of cells in the lymph node. A subset of these cells appeared to express a much greater amount of immunoglobulin message and to cluster around the lymph node vessels. The combination of RNA-RNA in situ hybridization and routine histopathology has the potential for providing an additional dimension to tumor analysis.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1987

The gene for galactosyltransferase maps to mouse chromosome 4.

The chromosomal localization of the gene for UDP-galactosyltransferase (glycoprotein 4-B-galactosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.38) has been determined to be on mouse chromosome 4 by the use of mouse X hamster somatic cell hybrids. It has been proposed that galactosyltransferase is associated with the mouse T/t complex which has been localized to mouse chromosome 17. These results show that galactosyltransferase is not encoded within the T/t complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Refinement of lymphoma cytogenetics by the chromosome 18q21 major breakpoint region.

A small (2.8-kilobase, kb) major breakpoint region localized to segment 18q21 rearranges in greater than 70% of t(14;18)(q32;q21) lymphomas. This rearrangement interrupts the Bcl-2 gene and introduces it into the Ig locus at 14q32. The rearrangement between the joining region (JH) of Ig on chromosome 14 and the 18q21 region creates a translocation-specific DNA rearrangement. We generated probes that distinguish the 14;18 juncture on the derivative (der) 14 and der (18) chromosomes, providing a molecular approach to t(14;18) identification. Approximately 60% of unselected follicular lymphomas, 20% of diffuse large cell lymphomas, and 50% of adult undifferentiated non-Burkitt lymphomas demonstrated 14;18 rearrangements within the major breakpoint region. Examination of DNA for 14;18 rearrangements resolved the identity of 14q+ chromosomes in two patient's cells that lacked an obvious reciprocal partner. Identification of the exact restriction fragments that mediate translocations complements routine cytogenetics. The detection of DNA rearrangements does not require dividing cells or the presence of an identifiable reciprocal partner and can detect clonal translocation rearrangements when the neoplastic cells are only a minority of all cells present.

Chromosome Banding↗
PubMed1987

Immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene configuration in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of infancy.

We examined immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain, K light chain, and T cell receptor (TCR) gamma and beta gene configuration in the leukemic cells from a series of infants aged less than 1 year with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Each of these 11 cases demonstrated leukemic cell surface antigens that have been correlated with a B cell precursor phenotype. Of the 11, lymphoblasts of 4 retained the germline configuration of both Ig and TCR loci, whereas 7 had rearranged the Ig heavy chain gene. Two of these seven showed light chain gene rearrangement. TCB beta chain rearrangement had occurred in only one of the 11 patients' tumors. No TCR gamma chain rearrangements were identified. These results are in contrast to earlier studies of B cell precursor ALL in children in which Ig heavy chain gene rearrangements were evident in every case and approximately 40% showed Ig light chain rearrangement as well. In addition, 45% of cases of B cell precursor ALL of children had rearranged their gamma TCR genes, and 20% had rearranged beta. These data suggest that ALL in infancy represents an earlier stage of B cell development than is found in B cell precursor ALL of children. ALL in the infant age group has been associated with the worst prognosis of all patients with ALL. This study suggests that the disease in infants differs not only clinically, but also at the molecular genetic level, from the disease in children.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Common mechanism of chromosome inversion in B- and T-cell tumors: relevance to lymphoid development.

An inversion of chromosome 14 present in the tumor cells of a patient with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia of B-cell lineage was shown to be the result of a site-specific recombination event between an immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable gene and the joining segment of a T-cell receptor alpha chain. This rearrangement resulted in the formation of a hybrid gene, part immunoglobulin and part T-cell receptor. Furthermore, this hybrid gene was transcribed into messenger RNA with a completely open reading frame. Thus, two loci felt to be normally activated at distinct and disparate points in lymphocyte development were unified and expressed in this tumor.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1986

Identification of three new Ig lambda-like genes in man.

Three new human lambda L chain-like Ig genes are identified by restriction enzyme and nucleotide sequence analysis. Two genes, 14.1 and 16.1, have intact J and C regions, and are potentially functional, with open reading frames. A third gene, 18.1, is a pseudogene. The evolutionary lineage of these genes compared to the known functional locus lambda C1-lambda C6 can be surmised from Southern blot and nucleotide homologies. This study demonstrates that the human lambda gene family is more complex than previously recognized.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Regulated expression of the c-myb and c-myc oncogenes during erythroid differentiation.

We have investigated the expression of the genes c-myb, c-myc, and alpha globin in murine erythroid cells at different stages of development, in viral-induced erythroleukemias, as well as in two mouse erythroleukemia cell lines that can be induced to terminally differentiate when exposed to dimethylsulfoxide. We find that there is a reciprocal correlation between the cell's production of messenger RNA for c-myb and globin. c-myc message shows a similar but less dramatic decrease coincident with globin RNA production. Initially with the administration of an inducing agent, dimethylsulfoxide, there is a rapid decrease of myc and myb mRNA, which is followed by signs of differentiation in the induced culture. We conclude that these oncogenes function in early maturational stages of development of these cells. In the erythroleukemic state these genes are down-regulated by forced differentiation and may play a direct role in influencing the state of differentiation of these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The human galactosyltransferase gene is on chromosome 9 at band p13.

The structural gene for galactosyltransferase (glycoprotein 4-B-galactosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.38) was localized to human chromosome 9 band p13 by chromosome in situ hybridization using a cloned bovine galactosyltransferase cDNA probe. This chromosomal location is at the same position to which galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase, an enzyme which provides the nucleotide sugar substrate (UDP-galactose) for galactosyltransferase, has been mapped.

Animals↗