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Biomedical subjects

J Apold

Publications and source records attributed to J Apold.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A de novo phenylketonuria mutation: ATG (Met) to ATA (Ile) in the start codon of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene.

We here describe the detection of a de novo mutation in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in a Norwegian phenylketonuria (PKU) patient. This novel mutation, M1I, disrupts the start codon of the gene by a G to A transition. The compound heterozygote genotype (IVS-12/M1I) of this patient predicts that no phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme is formed, thus leading to a severe classical PKU. Determination of haplotypes and DNA fingerprint patterns indicates a paternal origin of the de novo mutation.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

PKU mutations R408Q and F299C in Norway: haplotype associations, geographic distributions and phenotype characteristics.

Details are given concerning the phenylketonuria (PKU) mutations R408Q and F299C. Both mutations were identified among 47 PKU patients, derived from the Norwegian PKU registry. A novel PKU mutation (R408Q) was identified, by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, on six out of eight mutant haplotype 12 chromosomes and on none of the other PKU chromosomes. The F299C mutation occurred exclusively on mutant haplotype 8, and was the only mutation associated with this haplotype (on six chromosomes). One patient homozygous for each mutation was found. The patient homozygous for F299C manifested severe PKU, whereas the R408Q homozygote exhibited a mild PKU variant. Pedigree analysis of these families has not, so far, revealed consanguinity. Information on the place of birth of the relevant grandparents of the PKU patients with these mutations suggests that each of these mutations in Norway has originated from a common gene source.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Application of natural and amplification created restriction sites for the diagnosis of PKU mutations.

PCR amplification, either conventional, or as site directed mutagenesis using primers with mismatched 3'-ends, followed by restriction endonuclease digestion, provides rapid, non-isotope assays of known mutations in the human phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. Such assays were shown to have the potential to detect all of the 18 presently reported phenylketonuria mutations. The practical applicability of this approach was demonstrated for eight mutations in Norwegian phenylketonuria patients, among them the most common ones.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The structural requirements of epitopes with IgE binding capacity demonstrated by three major allergens from fish, egg and tree pollen.

Three major allergens from cod fish, egg white and tree pollen, were characterized by studies on their allergenic and antigenic structures. The major allergen of cod fish, Allergen M "parvalbumins pI 4.75", is composed of 113 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 12,328 daltons. It comprised three domains, AB, CD and EF, consisting of 3 helices interspaced by one loop. Each of the loops of the CD and EF domains each coordinates one Ca2+. The antigenicity and allergenicity of Allergen M was deduced from studying the modified protein and some particular synthetic peptides. Three sites were encompassing IgE binding epitopes namely peptides 33-44, 65-74 and 88-96. A novel peptide (49-64), of the CD-domain, was demonstrated to be allergenically/antigenically active and cross reactive with birch pollen allergen, which incidentally was used as a negative control. This site encompassed two repetitive sequences (D-E-D-K) and (D-E-L-K), suggested to be mutually critical for the specificity of antibody binding. This hypothesis was reconfirmed by SPPS of several analogous peptides of region 39-64. Furthermore, peptide 88-103 of the EF-domain was similarly synthesized; it functioned as a monovalent hapten, blocking and not eliciting allergic reaction. Moreover, peptide 13-32 of domain AB, the non-calcium binding domain, was thoroughly tested. The results of PK inhibition showed clear activity and the peptide was found to function at the level of a divalent determinant. Ovalbumin (OA) is the most dominant of five major allergens of egg white and universally used as model protein. OA allergenic epitopes were shown to be mainly determined by the primary structure and depend on certain peptide chain length. The N-terminal decapeptide (OA 1-10) was shown to react with reaginic IgE. Direct skin test on egg allergic patients, showed no activity and the site was therefore concluded to encompasses one single Ig binding haptenic epitope. Peptide OA 323-339, was demonstrated to be valuable in studies of T-cell recognition of protein antigens. Three analogous peptides of this region were prepared and clearly shown to be immunogenic in rabbits and to bind specific IgE from patients allergic to egg. OA 323-339 was concluded to encompass an allergenic and antigenic epitope which was recognized by human and rabbit B-lymphocytes. Eight peptides in the region 11-122 were similarly synthesized. A test battery was performed to study this region using rabbit polyclonal antibodies and human specific IgE. Some of these sites were involved in binding of particular Ig paratopes. Five immunogenic peptides from the major allergens of tree pollen extracts (segment 23-38), were synthesized. The selection of those peptides was setteled using two algorithms for providing the optimal hydrophobicity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Allergens↗
PubMed1990

The zebrafish homeobox gene hox-2.2: transcription unit, potential regulatory regions and in situ localization of transcripts.

The data presented in this report strongly suggest that the genome of the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, has a homeobox cluster which is equivalent to the murine Hox-2 locus. In support of this conclusion, we have found two closely linked zebrafish genes which are true homologues of the mouse Hox-2.1 and Hox-2.2 genes. Here we describe structural and functional properties of the zebrafish Hox-2.2 homologue hox-2.2. Furthermore, we have identified another zebrafish gene related to hox-2.2 which appears to correspond to the Hox-6.1 gene of the murine Hox-3 locus. In order to characterize the zebrafish hox-2.2 gene we have determined the genomic DNA sequence of a 3.4 kb SalI fragment. This revealed that the hox-2.2 transcription unit encodes a putative protein of 228 amino acids. The homeodomains of the murine Hox-2.2 and the zebrafish hox-2.2 proteins are almost identical and extensive sequence identity exists in other regions of the two proteins, which share 160 (70%) of the amino acid residues. Also in terms of expression, strong similarities were observed relative to the murine Hox-2.2 gene. Transcripts derived from zebrafish hox-2.2 start to accumulate when somite formation is initiated. Later in development these transcripts are detected mainly in the central nervous system. Reminiscent of Hox-2.2, the rostral boundary of zebrafish hox-2.2 expression is located in the posterior region of the hindbrain. Notably, untranslated regions of the hox-2.2 gene contain several short sequences closely related to a known homeodomain recognition sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A termination mutant prevalent in Norwegian haplotype 7 phenylketonuria genes.

RFLPs in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene locus were determined in 47 Norwegian nuclear families that had at least one child with phenylketonuria (PKU). The PKU haplotype distribution differed somewhat from that of other European populations. Mutant haplotype 7 is relatively rare in other populations but constituted 20% of all mutant haplotypes in Norway. In 14 of the 17 mutant haplotypes 7, a previously unreported deletion of the BamHI restriction site in exon 7 of the PAH gene was observed. The abrogation of the BamHI site was shown to be due to a G-to-T transversion, changing Gly 272 to Ter 272 in exon 7 of the gene, thus directly identifying the PKU mutation. Unlike the families of the other PKU patients, the families with this mutation clustered along the southeastern coast of Norway, suggesting a founder effect for this mutation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Dust from carpeted and smooth floors. I. Comparative measurements of antigenic and allergenic proteins in dust vacuumed from carpeted and non-carpeted classrooms in Norwegian schools.

Dust samples from fitted-carpets and linoleum floors in 12 schools in Norway were collected by vacuum cleaning. The presence of antigens and allergens of alder (Alnus incana), birch (Betula verrucosa), timothy (Phleum pratense), mould (Cladosporium herbarum), house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), cat and dog dander, codfish, hen egg white and human dander were investigated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed radio-immunoelectrophoresis (CRIE) and radio-allergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition. No qualitative differences in allergen contents of dust from both types of floor tested were noted. Similarly, no relationship could be demonstrated between floor-type and allergen concentration under identical experimental conditions. Antigens and allergens of both cat and dog were frequently demonstrated in dust extracts. All extracts included human dander and mould allergens. In addition, most dust samples from both carpeted and smooth floors contained hen egg white and codfish allergens. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that dust from smooth floors and fitted-carpets was relatively free of mite and pollen from alder, birch and timothy.

Allergens↗
PubMed1988

Primary structure, developmentally regulated expression and potential duplication of the zebrafish homeobox gene ZF-21.

We report the molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA derived from a zebrafish gene (ZF-21) related to the mouse homeobox containing gene Hox2.1. Interesting information about the differential conservation of various domains was gained from comparisons between the putative protein sequences from ZF-21 (275 amino acids) and Hox2.1 (279 aa). A separate DNA binding domain including the ZF-21 homeodomain and 36 additional flanking residues is completely identical to the C-terminal part of Hox2.1. As a consequence, these two mouse and zebrafish proteins must have identical DNA binding properties. A lower level of sequence identity between the N-terminal coding regions of ZF-21 and Hox2.1 reduces the total protein homology to 81%. However, short stretches of perfect homology in these N-terminals suggests that the essential biochemical functions are the same. As expected for true homologues, the ZF-21 and Hox2.1 genes also share extensive similarities with respect to non-coding sequences and temporal expression during embryogenesis. The finding of a potential ZF-21 duplication is discussed in relation to functional and evolutionary aspects of vertebrate homeobox genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Antigenic and allergenic determinants of ovalbumin. I. Peptide mapping, cleavage at the methionyl peptide bonds and enzymic hydrolysis of native and carboxymethyl OA.

The effects of enzymic cleavage and perturbing the conformation of the allergenic and antigenic determinants of hens egg white albumin (OA) were examined. Hens egg white extract of a total protein concentration 8.43 g/l was prepared. Isoelectric focusing in sodium dodecyl sulfate and polyacrylamide gel peptide maps for the crude egg white extract showed 26 spots visualized by staining with Coomassie blue. The OA was purified using a TSK-2000 gel filtration chromatography column. The specific allergenic reactivity of the purified OA as measured by RAST inhibition and direct RAST was relatively high: 3 micrograms gave an inhibition of approximately 10%. The cleavage of OA with cyanogen bromide resulted in 4 fractions, all capable of binding specific IgE with the first peak showing the highest inhibition. Thermal denaturation of OA had no direct effect on the antigenic reactivity. RAST inhibition values for the denatured protein were similar to those of the native protein. Carboxymethylation of OA gave a product with only 20% of the inhibition reactivity. Further treatment with trypsin did not abolish the allergenic and antigenic reactivities as shown by RAST inhibition and by deflection of OA line in rocket line immunoelectrophoresis. On the other hand, limited pepsin hydrolysis destroyed the antigenic structure of the molecule. The reactivity of OA is thus relatively stable and could easily be retained making it possible to identify the allergenic determinants of enzymic hydrolysates used for elucidating the antigenic structure of the molecule.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

The allergenic structure of allergen M from cod. III. Studies on the antigenicity of long-sequence peptides.

Fragments TM 1 (75 amino acid residues) and TM 2 (38 amino acid residues), and 3 other polypeptides (range 16-25 amino acid residues) of Allergen M from cod were shown to be active in rabbit IgG-mediated reactions. The same peptides were previously found to possess reactivity in IgE-mediated reactions, thus suggesting a structural relationship between their antigenic and allergenic determinants.

Absorption↗