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Biomedical subjects

J L Whitton

Publications and source records attributed to J L Whitton.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Replication origins and a sequence involved in coordinate induction of the immediate-early gene family are conserved in an intergenic region of herpes simplex virus.

We have determined the structure of the 5' portion of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSF-2) immediate-early (IE) mRNA-3 and have obtained the DNA sequence specifying the N terminus of its encoded polypeptide, Vmw182, its untranslated leader and the intergenic region between IEmRNAs-3 & 4/5. Comparison of the HSV-2 intergenic sequences with the HSV-1 equivalent region identifies several conserved regions: (1) an AT-rich element with core consensus TAATGARAT which is likely to be the 'activator' sequence through which coordinate induction of the IE gene family is mediated. (2) GC-rich and GA-rich tracts, found in a wide variety of eukaryotic promoters, which vary in position and orientation between HSV-2 and HSV-1 and which represent modulators of transcription. (3) TATA homologies present 15-25 base pairs (bp) upstream of mRNA 5' termini. (4) a 137bp direct repeat in HSV-2 which contains sequence almost identical to the HSV-1 replication origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

A brief instrument for longitudinal monitoring of mood states.

We describe the development of a practical instrument for longitudinal assessment of affective symptoms in large samples. An 11-item questionnaire was completed twice daily by normal and affectively disordered subjects for 90 days to determine which subjective states to measure; and to compare the 100 mm visual analogue format with a segmented visual analogue format on morning and evening ratings. The final instrument consists of three bipolar ratings--mood, anxiety, and energy levels--on a segmented visual analogue format, plus hours of sleep. It is administered once a day, in the morning. The instrument has high subject and rating compliance for studying infradian cycles.

Emotions↗
PubMed1984

The junctions between the repetitive and the short unique sequences of the herpes simplex virus genome are determined by the polypeptide-coding regions of two spliced immediate-early mRNAs.

Immediate-early (IE) mRNAs-4 and -5 of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are transcribed from the IRs/TRs genome regions towards the Us region. Each of these spliced mRNAs has an untranslated leader sequence of 249 bases and a single intron of approximately 540 bases which are contained entirely within TRs/IRs sequences. The DNA sequence of the intron largely comprises tandem reiterations of three distinct short sequences. Upstream of the common 5' mRNA termini the DNA sequence contains regions of homology with the equivalent region of HSV-1. Comparison of the polypeptides encoded by these HSV-2 mRNAs with those of HSV-1 shows blocks of conserved amino acids. The locations of the first initiator ATG triplets of these two HSV-2 mRNAs suggest that the IRs/TRs regions of HSV expand, by gene conversion or by equal though non-homologous crossover, to an extent determined by the functions of the DNA sequences which are duplicated or deleted as a result of the crossover. This mechanism for expansion of repeats may apply to other herpesviruses which have a genome structure similar to that of HSV.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Immediate-early mRNA-2 of herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 is unspliced: conserved sequences around the 5' and 3' termini correspond to transcription regulatory signals.

Nuclease S1 and exonuclease VII analyses of immediate-early (IE) mRNA-2 of herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) show them to be unspliced and of similar length. The DNA sequences around the 5' and 3' termini have been determined. Comparison of the sequences around the 5' ends reveals several common features. (1) Four discrete blocks of upstream homology which are precisely colinear with respect to the 5' termini of the mRNAs; the blocks include the 'TATA' box, a G-C rich sequence and a sequence (AATTAAATACAT) which may be involved in the coordinate induction of the IE class of genes. (2) Several copies of the sequence CCCCGCCC, found in different upstream positions in HSV-1 and HSV-2, which may be important in the expression of a wide variety of eukaryotic genes. (3) Potential hairpin structures in the region of the 5' termini which are present at similar locations in HSV-1 and HSV-2. Sequence comparison around the 3' termini of IEmRNA-2 reveals high homology at the proposed C-terminus of the polypeptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Silver staining of nucleic acids. Applications in virus research and in diagnostic virology.

The rapid and sensitive method of silver staining of nucleic acids in polyacrylamide gels is used to visualise double-stranded (ds) and single-stranded (ss) molecules of both DNA and RNA. The binding of silver ions to nucleic acids in gels is stoichiometric and independent of the GC content of ds DNA. Silver staining can be applied to problems in virus research and to the analysis of clinical virus isolates.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1982

Weather and infradian rhythms in self-reports of health, sleep and mood measures.

Some individuals exhibit significant and sustained periodicities in their self-reports of physical well-being, mood, hours of sleep, anxiety and cognition. These infradian rhythms may be related to weather variables such as solar flux, barometric pressure, temperature and humidity. The time of year, or season, during which self-reporting is performed may predicate the infradian rhythms and their relationship to weather.

Affect↗
PubMed1978

A spectral method for removing eye movement artifacts from the EEG.

A frequency-domain technique for compensating for eye artifacts in mid-line scalp EEG when power spectra are to be calculated is reported. It has been tested in 12 subjects during voluntary and random eye movements. The method which involves calculating the ratio of EEG and EOG spectra adequately controls for low-frequency components in the EEG due to eye artifacts and allows recovery of the dominant peaks in the scalp EEG spectrum.

Electroencephalography↗
PubMed1978

EEG frequency patterns associated with hallucinations in schizophrenia and "creativity" in normals.

This study attempts to define EEG power spectral patterns associated with hallucinatory behaviors in schizophrenia. Six unmedicated schizophrenics with Schneiderian criteria were interviewed and their tongue potentials were monitored and recorded on FM tape. Eye movements and tongue potentials were monitored and segments with artifacts were not used. Consecutive 4-sec intervals of EEG were analyzed in the frequency domain using fast Fourier transorm methods and serial power spectra plots obtained. The intrusiveness of the hallucinatory experience may be similar to the sudden internal experience of perceptual resolution in a creative task. Six normal controls were similarly monitored and analyzed while responding to tests of "creativity." In the 4-sec interval prior to reports of hallucinatory experiences, a frequency pattern of predominatly delta and theta power was found in 71.7% of the EEG segments. In the control group, 78.1% of the EEG segments preceding a creative response demonstrated a similar low frequency pattern which also differed significantly from the base line EEG frequency pattern.

Adult↗