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J Harland

Publications and source records attributed to J Harland.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Experimental evidence for 60 Hz magnetic fields operating through the signal transduction cascade. Effects on calcium influx and c-MYC mRNA induction.

We tested the hypothesis that early alterations in calcium influx induced by an imposed 60 Hz magnetic field are propagated down the signal transduction (ST) cascade to alter c-MYC mRNa induction. To test this we measured both ST parameters in the same cells following 60 Hz magnetic field exposures in a specialized annular ring device (220 G (22 mT), 1.7 mV/cm maximal E(induced), 37 degrees C, 60 min). Ca2+ influx is a very early ST marker that precedes the specific induction of mRNA transcripts for the proto-oncogene c-MYC, an immediate early response gene. In three experiments influx of 45Ca2+ in the absence of mitogen was similar to that in cells treated with suboptimal levels of Con-A (1 micrograms/ml). However, calcium influx was elevated 1.5-fold when lymphocytes were exposed to Con-A plus magnetic fields; this co-stimulatory effect is consistent with previous reports from our laboratory [FEBS Lett. 301 (1992) 53-59; FEBS Lett. 271 (1990) 157-160; Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 649 (1992) 74-95]. The level of c-MYC mRNA transcript copies in non-activated cells and in suboptimally-activated cells was also similar, which is consistent with the above calcium influx findings. Significantly, lymphocytes exposed to the combination of magnetic fields plus suboptimal Con-A responded with an approximate 3.0-fold increase in band intensity of c-MYC mRNA transcripts. Importantly, transcripts for the housekeeping gene GAPDH were not influenced by mitogen or magnetic fields. We also observed that lymphocytes that failed to exhibit increased calcium influx in response to magnetic fields plus Con-A, also failed to exhibit an increase in total copies of c-MYC mRNA. Thus, calcium influx and c-MYC mRNA expression, which are sequentially linked via the signal transduction cascade in contrast to GAPDH, were both increased by magnetic fields. These findings support the above ST hypothesis and provide experimental evidence for a general biological framework for understanding magnetic field interactions with the cell through signal transduction. In addition, these findings indicate that magnetic fields can act as a co-stimulus at suboptimal levels of mitogen; pronounced physiological changes in lymphocytes such as calcium influx and c-MYC mRNA induction were not triggered by a weak mitogenic signal unless accompanied by a magnetic field. Magnetic fields, thus, have the ability to potentiate or amplify cell signaling.

Animals↗

A HSV-1 variant (1720) generates four equimolar isomers despite a 9200-bp deletion from TRL and sequences between 9200 np and 97,000 np in inverted orientation being covalently bound to sequences 94,000-126,372 np.

The genome structure of a spontaneously generated HSV-1 strain 17 variant, 1720, has been determined by restriction endonuclease and Southern blot analysis. The short segment of 1720 is unaltered compared to the parental strain 17 genome, whereas the long segment is extensively rearranged. Almost all of TRL (approximately 9.2 kb) has been deleted and consequently IRL is converted into unique sequence. Sequences from approximately 9200 nucleotide position (np) to 97,000 np are present in inverted orientation, covalently bound to sequences in the prototype orientation from approximately 94,000 np to the L/S junction at 126,372 np. Thus, sequences from 94,000 np to 97,000 np are now diploid, with one copy in the normal orientation and location, and the other at the long terminus as an inverted repeat; no inversion of the intervening unique sequences occurs about this novel inverted repeat. In contrast, normal inversions of the long and short segments occur to give four equimolar genomic isomers, indicating that the novel long terminus has gained an "a" sequence. The duplication of sequences between 94,000 np and 97,000 np results in a genome containing two copies of UL43 and one complete and one partial copy each of genes UL42 and UL44 encoding the 65 kD DNA-binding protein and glycoprotein C, respectively. The variant has been shown to grow normally in vitro following high multiplicity infection.

Base Sequence↗

Analysis of intrastrain recombination in herpes simplex virus type 1 strain 17 and herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52 using restriction endonuclease sites as unselected markers and temperature-sensitive lesions as selected markers.

The viral and host factors involved in herpes simplex virus (HSV) recombination are little understood. To identify features of the process, recombination in HSV-1 and HSV-2 has been studied by analysing the segregation of unselected markers in the form of restriction endonuclease (RE) sites. By confining parental interactions to only one strain of virus of each serotype, restrictions imposed by non-homology are overcome and differential growth phenotypes can be discounted. The analysis of unselected and selected recombinants using RE sites in conjunction with temperature-sensitive mutations is consistent with (i) HSV being highly recombinogenic, (ii) parental and progeny molecules taking part in the process, (iii) the four genomic isomers participating in recombination, (iv) genome alignment being part of the recombination process and (v) cellular factors in conjunction with genome homology influencing the efficiency of recombination.

Animals↗

Abolition of the RL neurovirulence phenotype of herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52 does not require deletion of the DR1 element of the 'a' sequence.

We have characterized a spontaneous variant of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain HG52, 2616, which has 786 bp of both copies of RL deleted, but which retains 782 bp upstream of the 5' end of immediate early gene 1 and 463 bp downstream of the 'a' sequence. Variant 2616 is avirulent following intracerebral inoculation of BALB/c mice, thus showing in vivo characteristics similar to those of variant 2604, described previously (a 1488 bp deletion incorporating the DR1 element of the 'a' sequence), but not to those of variant 2701, which has an intermediate neurovirulence phenotype. The deletions in variants 2616 and 2604 remove the conserved HSV-1 and -2 RL open reading frame entirely and extend downstream from it, whereas the deletion in variant 2701 removes only the 5' part. The data show that deletion of part of the 'a' sequence is not required for the production of the RL avirulence phenotype in HSV-2 strain HG52.

Animals↗

Herpes simplex virus type 1 deletion variants 1714 and 1716 pinpoint neurovirulence-related sequences in Glasgow strain 17+ between immediate early gene 1 and the 'a' sequence.

Dideoxynucleotide sequence analysis of a spontaneously isolated deletion variant (1714) of Glasgow strain 17+ of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) demonstrates that the deletion is 759 bp in length and is located within each copy of the BamHI s fragment (0 to 0.02 and 0.81 to 0.83 map units) of the long repeat region of the genome. The deletion removes one complete copy of the 18 bp DR1 element of the 'a' sequence and terminates 1105 bp upstream of the 5' end of immediate early (IE) gene 1. The variant grows to high titre, is not temperature-sensitive and is not host cell type-restricted in vitro. In vivo studies demonstrate that 1714 is totally avirulent for BALB/c mice following intracerebral inoculation, with an LD50 of 7 x 10(6) p.f.u./mouse compared to less than 10 p.f.u./mouse for the parental wild-type strain 17+. In vivo growth kinetics show that the non-neurovirulent phenotype is due to an inability to replicate in mouse brain. Because 1714 was in a genomic background in which the four XbaI sites had been removed and because the phenotype was thymidine kinase-negative, the 759 bp deletion was introduced into an otherwise totally wild-type background. The resulting variant (1716) is non-neurovirulent for mice, with an LD50 of 7 x 10(6) p.f.u./mouse. The deletion does not prevent the virus from establishing a latent infection or reactivating from it in vitro. The results demonstrate that sequences between IE-1 and the 'a' sequence produce neurovirulence in Glasgow strain 17+ and, in conjunction with the non-neurovirulence of the HSV-2 HG52 variant JH2604, identify a common function conserved in HSV-1 and -2.

Animals↗

A herpes simplex virus type 2 variant in which a deletion across the L-S junction is replaced by single or multiple reiterations of extraneous DNA.

We have isolated and characterized a novel variant of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain HG52 which has a deletion of 13.5 kb across the L-S junction of the genome, resulting in all of the IRL region, half of the IRS region and the intervening L-S junction 'a' sequence(s) being removed. The deleted DNA has been replaced by single or multiple (up to 14) reiterations of a DNA sequence approximately 1 kb in length. Individual genomes within the population range in size from approximately 12 kb smaller than unit length to unit length or marginally larger. The L component of the genome is fixed in the prototype orientation while the S component inverts inefficiently. The variant is viable in tissue culture, is not temperature-sensitive, demonstrates impaired single-cycle growth characteristics and, apart from altered mobility of a single species (29.5K), its polypeptide profile in infected cells appears normal. Southern blot analysis has failed to identify the inserted sequences as being derived from HSV-2.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Generation of a herpes simplex virus type 2 variant devoid of XbaI sites: removal of the 0.91 map coordinate site results in impaired synthesis of glycoprotein G-2.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (strain HG52) has four XbaI sites at map coordinates (m.c.) 0.45, 0.7, 0.91 and 0.94, i.e. two in the unique long and two in the unique short regions of the genome. Previously, we had isolated a genome containing only the 0.45 and 0.94 XbaI sites. Here we report the isolation of a mutant (JH2611) in which all four XbaI sites have been removed using an enrichment selection procedure, without any loss of viability. Removal of each site has been shown to be due to a base change or small undetectable deletion/insertion of less than 100 bp. In HSV-1, the XbaI site at 0.45 m.c. is in an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 14K. Both the 0.7 and 0.94 m.c. HSV-2 XbaI sites are in intergenic positions. The 0.91 m.c. XbaI site has been shown to be within the coding sequence of the glycoprotein gG-2. Synthesis of gG-2 by JH2611 and two other mutants, JH2610 (formerly HG52X163X3) and JH2609 (formerly HG52X163X21), in which the 0.91 m.c. site has been deleted was analysed by immunoprecipitation using the gG-2-specific monoclonal antibodies AP1 and LP5 and the anti-peptide serum 14713. In the mutants JH2610 and JH2611 neither gG-2 nor its precursor were detected but the monoclonal antibodies detected two polypeptides migrating above the normal positions of gG-2 and the gG-2 precursor; these were not precipitated by the anti-peptide serum. With the mutant JH2609 neither gG-2 nor its precursors could be detected by either the monoclonal antibodies or the anti-peptide serum. The results strongly suggest that gG-2 is non-essential for the growth of HSV-2 in vitro.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Three mutants of herpes simplex virus type 2: one lacking the genes US10, US11 and US12 and two in which Rs has been extended by 6 kb to 0.91 map units with loss of Us sequences between 0.94 and the Us/TRs junction.

In the process of generating restriction endonuclease site deletion mutants, we have isolated and characterized three mutants of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), strain HG52, with large genomic deletions in Us and TRs. The deleted sequences (7.5 kb) extend from 0.94 map coordinates (m.c.) to 0.99 m.c. and are presumed to contain the HSV-2 gene equivalents of US10, 11 and 12, one copy of immediate early (IE) gene 3 and one copy of an origin of replication (ORIs). One of the mutants (HG52X163X12) has a simple deletion whereas in the two others (HG52X163X14 and HG52X163X21) the deleted sequences have been replaced by inverted duplications of Us/IRs sequences between 0.83 and 0.91 m.c. such that the molecules have short region inverted repeats extended by 6 kb on either side. All three are viable, stable and grow in tissue culture indicating that the polypeptides coded by the HSV-2 genes equivalent to US10, 11 and 12 are non-essential for lytic growth in BHK21/C13 cells. In addition the lack of one copy of the HSV-2 equivalent of IE gene 3 and ORIs in HG52X163X12 shows that only one copy of each suffices for viability. However the temperature restriction of the mutants at 38.5 degrees C suggests that one or more of the polypeptides coded by the deleted sequences may be required in conjunction with another polypeptide(s) for viral growth or stability at the higher temperature.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus type 2 (strain HG52).

We provide evidence that: (i) two variants lacking the XbaI site at map coordinate 0.7 have been selected following XbaI treatment of the DNA of herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52; (ii) one of these mutants had lost the 0.7 restriction site due to a deletion of approximately 150 base pairs and in the other the site loss was due to a similar sized sequence insertion; (iii) following XbaI treatment, four variants with deletions ranging in size from 1.5 kb (in both TRL and IRL) to 9 kb in IRL were isolated; (iv) substantial deletions in the long terminal repeat regions of HG52 are present with a frequency of 24% of genomes in the elite stock, a variant with a 3.75 kb deletion in IRL making up 10% and one with a 1.5 kb deletion in both IRL and TRL making up 14%; (v) two of the variants isolated after XbaI treatment of viral DNA were identical to the deletion prototype within the elite stock, suggesting that these variants were not generated as a result of XbaI treatment but pre-existed in the viral DNA pool; (vi) the deletion variants were stably maintained during routine stock propagation, were viable and could be propagated as cloned populations; (vii) the deletions did not have a marked deleterious effect on the one-step growth kinetics of the virus.

Autoradiography↗

Isolation of restriction endonuclease site deletion mutants of herpes simplex virus.

We provide evidence that (i) variants lacking individual herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) XbaI sites can be selected following extensive XbaI treatment of the viral DNA and can be recombined to produce HSV-1 variants lacking two of the four sites normally found, (ii) all XbaI sites can be removed from a viable intertypic recombinant HSV genome, (iii) following XbaI treatment, different mutants with deletions (0.15 to 8.8 kb) in the long repeat ( TRL or IRL ) and long unique regions can be readily isolated, as well as mutants with novel XbaI sites, (iv) several mutants with deletions in one of the repeats ( TRL or IRL ) have a measurable growth disadvantage in tissue culture.

Binding Sites↗