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J Mak

Publications and source records attributed to J Mak.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Relaxin stimulates expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in normal human endometrial cells in vitro and is associated with menometrorrhagia in women.

Although the role of the reproductive hormone, relaxin, in rodents is well documented, its potential contribution to human reproduction is less well defined. In this study, we examine the effects of relaxin on human endometrial cells in vitro and describe the clinical effects of relaxin on menstrual flow in women. In cultured endometrial cells, relaxin specifically induces the expression of an angiogenic agent, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). cAMP is implicated as a second messenger involved in VEGF stimulation. VEGF expression is temporally regulated in the endometrium, and our results suggest that relaxin, which is secreted by the corpus luteum and is present in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, may be involved in regulating endometrial VEGF expression. Relaxin was recently tested in a clinical trial for efficacy in the treatment of progressive systemic sclerosis, and was administered at levels up to 10 times higher than that measured during pregnancy. The most frequent relaxin-related adverse event reported during the course of the study was the onset of menometrorrhagia, defined in this study as heavier-than-usual or irregular menstrual bleeding. The intensification of menstrual flow observed in these patients is consistent with the hypothesis that relaxin mediates neovascularization of the endometrial lining.

Adolescent↗

Effects of mutations in Pr160gag-pol upon tRNA(Lys3) and Pr160gag-plo incorporation into HIV-1.

During HIV-1 viral assembly, both Pr160gag-pol and primer tRNA(Lys3) are packaged into the virus. tRNA(Lys) packaging (both tRNA(Lys3) and tRNA(Lys1,2) is dependent upon the presence of RT sequences within Pr160gag-pol. In this work, we have monitored the effect of Pr160gag-pol mutations upon incorporation of tRNA(Lys3) and Pr160gag-pol into HIV-1 produced from COS-7 cells transfected with mutant HIV-1 proviral DNAs. Mutations include carboxy deletions of Pr160gag-pol and small amino acid insertions and replacements within the various functional domains of the reverse transcriptase (RT). tRNA(Lys3) incorporation was monitored both by 2D PAGE of viral RNA, and by hybridization with tRNA(Lys3)-specific DNA probes. Our data indicates: (1) deletion of integrase sequence has a moderate effect upon select tRNA(Lys3) packaging, while carboxy terminal deletions extending further into the RNase H and connection domains more strongly reduce viral tRNA(Lys3) content; (2) tRNA(Lys3) incorporation is strongly reduced by small inframe amino acid insertions or replacements in the carboxy region of the thumb domain and the amino half of the connection domain of RT, but tRNA(Lys3) incorporation is altered little, or not at all, by similar amino acid insertional mutations within other RT domains, such as the fingers, palm, RNase H, the amino portion of the thumb, and the carboxy region of the connection domain. The inability of connection domain mutant virus to incorporate tRNA(Lys3) and to properly process precursor proteins in the virus is due to the inability of mutant Pr160gag-pol to be incorporated into the virus. These mutant precursor proteins are maintained at levels in the cytoplasm similar to wild-type.

Animals↗

Mutations in the kissing-loop hairpin of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reduce viral infectivity as well as genomic RNA packaging and dimerization.

A stem-loop termed the kissing-loop hairpin is one of the most highly conserved structures within the leader of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and chimpanzee immunodeficiency virus genomic RNA. Because it plays a key role in the in vitro dimerization of short HIV-1 RNA transcripts (M. Laughrea and L. Jette, Biochemistry 35:1589-1598, 1996, and references therein; M. Laughrea and L. Jette, Biochemistry 35:9366-9374, 1996, and references therein) and because dimeric RNAs may be preferably encapsidated into the HIV-1 virus, alterations of the kissing-loop hairpin might affect the in vivo dimerization and encapsidation processes. Accordingly, substitution and deletion mutations were introduced into the kissing-loop hairpin of an infectious HIV-1 molecular clone in order to produce viruses by transfection methods. The infectivity of the resulting viruses was decreased by at least 99%, the amount of genomic RNA packaged per virus was decreased by 50 to 75%, and the proportion of dimeric genomic RNA was reduced from >80 to 40 to 50%, but the dissociation temperature of the genomic RNA was unchanged. There is evidence suggesting that the deletion mutations moderately inhibited CAp24 production but had no significant effect on RNA splicing. These results are consistent with the kissing-loop model of HIV-1 RNA dimerization. In fact, because intracellular viral RNAs are probably more concentrated in transfected cells than in cells infected by one virus and because the dimerization and encapsidation processes are concentration dependent, it is likely that much larger dimerization and encapsidation defects would have been manifested within cells infected by no more than one virus.

Animals↗

Multiple forms of tRNA(Lys3) in HIV-1.

tRNALys3 is the primer for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RI) and is selectively incorporated into HIV-1 during viral assembly. While whole cell extracts of uninfected or infected cells contain only one detectable form of tRNALys3, multiple forms of tRNALys3 are detected in the virus released into the cell culture media. These tRNALys3 isoacceptors are found in HIV-1 produced from newly infected cord blood lymphocytes and from cells chronically infected with HIV-1, such as the lymphocytic cell line H9 and the monocytic cell lines U937 and PLB. They can be detected through the use of either RPC-5 column chromatography of tRNA aminoacylated with radioactive lysine or northern blot analysis using a tRNALys3-specific DNA hybridization probe. Both RPC-5 chromatography and northern blot analysis show the cytoplasmic form of tRNALys3 to be the major abundance form of tRNALys3 in the virus. Starting with the viral RNA isolated from HIV (PLB), the tRNALys3 species resolved by RPC-5 into peaks 2, 3, and 4 were deacylated and 3' end-labeled by heat-annealing the RNA in each peak to synthetic HIV genomic RNA, and extending the hybridized species one base using HIV-1 RT and radioactive dCTP. An electrophoretic comparison of the partial T1 digest pattern of purified human placental tRNALys3 with those of the RPC-5 resolved species showed that the labeled RNA species in each peak was tRNALys3. These radioactive tRNALys3 species retained their relative mobilities when rechromatographed on RPC-5. When total HIV (PLB) RNA was used as the source of primer/template, and similarly extended with RT in the presence of radioactive dCTP, the major priming tRNA resolved by RPC-5 had a chromatographic mobility identical to peak 3. This tRNA primer has a T1 digest pattern identifying it as tRNALys3. These results indicate that the major tRNALys3 species present in the virus is also the major tRNALys3 isoacceptor used as the primer for reverse transcription.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of modifying the tRNA(3Lys) anticodon on the initiation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription.

tRNA(3Lys) is a primer for reverse transcription in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and the anticodon of tRNA(3Lys) has been implicated in playing a role in both its placement onto the HIV-1 genome and its interaction with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). In this work, the anticodon in a tRNA(3Lys) gene was changed from UUU to CUA (tRNA(3Lys)Su+) or, in addition, G-73 was altered to A (tRNA(3Lys)Su+G73A). COS-7 cells were transfected with either wild-type or mutant tRNA(3Lys) genes, and both the wild-type and mutant tRNA(3Lys) produced were purified by using immobilized tRNA-specific hybridization probes. Each mutant tRNA(3Lys) was tested for its ability to prime reverse transcription in vitro, either alone or in competition with wild-type tRNA(3Lys). Short RT extensions of wild-type and mutant tRNALys could be distinguished from each other by their different mobilities in one-dimensional single-stranded conformation polymorphism polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These reverse transcription products show that heat-annealed tRNA(3Lys)Su+ has the same ability as heat-annealed wild-type tRNA(3Lys) to prime RT and competes equally well with wild-type tRNA(3Lys) for priming RT. tRNA(3Lys)Su+G73A has 60% of the wild-type ability to prime RT but competes poorly with wild-type tRNA(3Lys) for priming RT. However, the priming abilities of wild-type and mutant tRNA(3) are quite different when in vivo-placed tRNA is examined. HIV-1 produced in COS cells transfected with a plasmid containing both the HIV-1 proviral DNA and DNA coding for tRNA(3Lys)Su+ contains both endogenous, cellular wild-type tRNA(3Lys) and mutant tRNA(3Lys). When total viral RNA is used as the source of primer tRNA placed onto the genomic RNA in vivo, only wild-type tRNA(3Lys) is used as a primer. If the total viral RNA is first heated and exposed to hybridizing conditions, then both the wild-type and mutant tRNA(3Lys) act as primers for RT. These results indicate that the tRNA(3Lys)Su+ packaged into the virions is unable to act as a primer for RT, and a model is proposed to explain the disparate results between heat-annealed and in vivo-placed primer tRNA.

Anticodon↗

Localization of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) mRNA in human bronchi.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) may regulate peptide-induced inflammation in the respiratory tract. It is of interest to determine which respiratory resident cells express NEP. Trachea and bronchi from seven nonsmoking, nonasthmatic subjects were examined. NEP messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was characterized by Northern blot hybridization of cultured human tracheobronchial epithelial and smooth muscle cells, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in trachea and bronchi. In situ hybridization with biotin- and 35S-labelled antisense complementary ribonucleic acid (cRNA) probes was used to determine the distribution of NEP mRNA in human bronchial mucosa. NEP-immunoreactive material was detected using MEK10 murine monoclonal antibodies and the immunogold method with silver enhancement. NEP mRNA was 4.5 kb in size in the cultured human smooth muscle and epithelial cells by Northern blot analysis. No evidence was found by RT-PCR for truncated, alternatively spliced NEP mRNAs, such as del exon 16 or del exons 5-18 in human bronchus. NEP mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization in epithelial cells, submucosal glands, bronchial smooth muscle and endothelium. NEP-immunoreactive material was identified in the epithelium, submucosal glands, bronchial smooth muscle, and endothelium, demonstrating an excellent correlation between the distribution of NEP mRNA and the cell surface protein. NEP mRNA and immunoreactive material were excluded from epithelial goblet cell and submucosal gland mucous cell vacuoles. We conclude that the various sites of NEP protein and mRNA expression correlate with the locations of peptide receptors and NEP enzyme function, and are consistent with the hypothesis that NEP may regulate peptide-induced inflammation in human bronchi.

Base Sequence↗

Biologic activities of the murine beta-chemokine TCA3.

The murine beta-chemokine TCA3 was purified to homogeneity. The biologic activities of the purified glycoprotein were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. Mice injected i.p. with 1- to 100-ng purified rTCA3 exhibited a rapid influx of neutrophils and macrophages. Increased numbers of neutrophils and monocytes were observed in peripheral blood within 15 min and peak at 45 min. After 45 min neutrophil and macrophage levels were increased in the peritoneal exudate with peak levels occurring at 2 h, followed by a subsequent decline by 24 h. Inflammatory responses were induced in a dose-dependent fashion. The in vivo inflammatory responses were mirrored by the pattern of TCA3-induced chemotaxis in vitro. Neutrophils and macrophages responded to similar concentrations of TCA3 (3 x 10(-9) to 10(-8) M). Lymph node cells responded to other chemokines but did not migrate to TCA3. We also demonstrated that rTCA3 stimulates a transient increase in cytoplasmic free calcium in monocytic cells through a PTX-sensitive pathway. Cross-desensitization studies indicate that TCA3 acts independently of other beta-chemokines (MIP-1 alpha and RANTES) and the alpha-chemokine IL-8. Furthermore, TCA3 does not induce a Ca2 lux in cells transfected with cDNA for the C-C CKR-1 chemokine receptor, supporting the conclusion that there are distinct receptors for TCA3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

DNA found in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 particles may not be required for infectivity.

We have studied the presence and significance of retroviral genome-derived DNA in the core of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles produced from transfections of HXB2 expression vectors in COS-7 cells and from HIV type 1 IIIB chronically infected H9 cells. Viruses purified by sucrose cushion centrifugation and treated with DNase I contained 1000-fold more viral RNA than DNA. However, protease-defective viruses that contained only p160gag-pol had less than 100 times the amount of DNA in their cores than wild-type viruses suggesting that the p66/p51 form of reverse transcriptase was responsible for DNA transcription. Viruses produced by transfections in the presence of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) contained the viral RNA genome but only DNA of premature length because of the chain terminating effects of AZT. However such viruses were as infections for CD4+ cells as wild-type virus. We conclude that retrovirus-derived DNA in HIV-1 particles is not required for infection and does not play a significant role in this process.

Animals↗

Effects of alterations of primer-binding site sequences on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genomic RNA primer-binding site (PBS) sequence comprises 18 nucleotides which are complementary to those at the 3' end of the replication initiation primer tRNA(3Lys). To investigate the role of the PBS in viral replication, we either deleted the original wild-type PBS (complementary to tRNA(3Lys) or replaced it with DNA sequences complementary to either tRNA(1,2Lys) or tRNA(Phe). Transfection of COS cells with such molecular constructs yielded similar levels of viral progeny that were indistinguishable with regard to viral proteins and tRNA content. Virus particles derived from PBS-deleted molecular clones were noninfectious for MT-4, Jurkat, and CEM-T4 cells. However, infectious viruses were derived from constructs in which the PBS had been altered to sequences complementary to either tRNA(1,2Lys) or tRNA(Phe), although mutated forms showed significant lags in replication efficiency in comparison with wild types. Molecular analysis of reverse-transcribed DNA in cells infected by the mutated viruses indicated that both tRNA(1,2Lys) and tRNA(Phe) could function as primers for reverse transcription during the early stages of infection. Sequencing of full-length proviral DNA, obtained 6 days after infection, revealed the mutated PBS, indicating that a complete cycle of reverse transcription had occurred. During subsequent rounds of infection, reversion of the mutated PBS to wild-type sequences was observed, accompanied by increased production of viral gene products. Reversion to wild-type PBS sequences was confirmed both by specific PCR analysis, using distinct primer pairs, and by direct sequencing of amplified segments. We also performed endogenous in vitro reverse transcription experiments in which synthesis of minus-strand strong-stop viral DNA was primed from a synthetic RNA template containing a PBS complementary to various tRNA isoacceptors. These results showed that tRNA(3Lys) was a much more efficient primer of such reactions than either tRNA(1,2Lys) or tRNA(Phe).

Animals↗

Incorporation of excess wild-type and mutant tRNA(3Lys) into human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles produced in COS-7 cells transfected with HIV type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA contain 8 molecules of tRNA(3Lys) per 2 molecules of genomic RNA and 12 molecules of tRNA1,2Lys per 2 molecules of genomic RNA. When COS-7 cells are transfected with a plasmid containing both HIV-1 proviral DNA and a human tRNA3Lys gene, there is a large increase in the amount of cytoplasmic tRNA3Lys per microgram of total cellular RNA, and the tRNA3Lys content in the virus increases from 8 to 17 molecules per 2 molecules of genomic RNA. However, the total number of tRNALys molecules per 2 molecules of genomic RNA remains constant at 20; i.e., the viral tRNA1,2Lys content decreases from 12 to 3 molecules per 2 molecules of genomic RNA. All detectable tRNA3Lys is aminoacylated in the cytoplasm of infected cells and deacylated in the virus. When COS-7 cells are transfected with a plasmid containing both HIV-1 proviral DNA and a mutant amber suppressor tRNA3Lys gene (in which the anticodon is changed from TTT to CTA), there is also a large increase in the relative concentration of cytoplasmic tRNA3Lys, and the tRNA3Lys content in the virus increases from 8 to 15 molecules per 2 molecules of genomic RNA, with a decrease in viral tRNA1,2Lys from 12 to 5 molecules per 2 molecules of genomic RNA. Thus, the total number of molecules of tRNALys in the virion remains at 20. The alteration of the anticodon has little effect on the viral packaging of this mutant tRNA in spite of the fact that it no longer contains the modified base mcm 5s2U at position 34, and its ability to be aminoacylated is significantly impaired compared with that of wild-type tRNA3Lys. Viral particles which have incorporated either excess wild-type tRNA3Lys or mutant suppressor tRNA3Lys show no differences in viral infectivity compared with wild-type HIV-1.

Animals↗

Role of Pr160gag-pol in mediating the selective incorporation of tRNA(Lys) into human immunodeficiency virus type 1 particles.

COS-7 cells transfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA produce virus in which three tRNA species are most abundant in the viral tRNA population. These tRNAs have been identified through RNA sequencing techniques as tRNA(3Lys) the primer tRNA in HIV-1, and members of the tRNA(1,2Lys) isoacceptor family. These RNAs represent 60% of the low-molecular-weight RNA isolated from virus particles, while they represent only 6% of the low-molecular-weight RNA isolated from the COS cell cytoplasm. Thus, tRNA(Lys) is selectively incorporated into HIV-1 particles. We have measured the ratio of tRNA(3Lys) molecules to copies of genomic RNA in viral RNA samples and have calculated that HIV-1 contains approximately eight molecules of tRNA(3Lys) per two copies of genomic RNA. We have also obtained evidence that the Pr160gag-pol precursor is involved in primer tRNA(3Lys) incorporation into virus. First, selective tRNA(Lys) incorporation and wild-type amounts of tRNA(3Lys) were maintained in a protease-negative virus unable to process Pr55gag and Pr160gag-pol precursors, indicating that precursor processing was not required for primer tRNA incorporation. Second, viral particles containing only unprocessed Pr55gag protein did not selectively incorporate tRNA(Lys), while virions containing both unprocessed Pr55gag and Pr160gag-pol proteins demonstrated select tRNA(3Lys) packaging. Third, studies with a proviral mutant containing a deletion of most of the reverse transcriptase sequences and approximately one-third of the integrase sequence in the Pr160gag-pol precursor resulted in the loss of selective tRNA incorporation and an eightfold decrease in the amount of tRNA(3Lys) per two copies of genomic RNA. We have also confirmed herein finding of a previous study which indicated that the primer binding site is not required for the selective incorporation of tRNA(Lys).

Base Sequence↗

Reverse transcriptase is an important factor for the primer tRNA selection in HIV-1.

During assembly, HIV-1 selectively packages tRNA(Lys3), the primer tRNA for reverse transcriptase (RT). Because of tRNA(Lys3)'s ability to interact with RT, RT may be the viral protein which binds to primer tRNA and carries it into the virus. We have tested this hypothesis by measuring the amount of tRNA(Lys3) incorporated into wild type and RT(-) virus, and have also measured the tRNA tightly associated with the RNA genome, a characteristic of primer tRNA. We find that in RT(-) HIV-1, primer tRNA(Lys3) is reduced approximately 10 fold compared to wild type virus (which contains 8 molecules tRNA(Lys3)/virus), and the tRNA found tightly associated with the RNA genome is also greatly reduced in these mutant virus.

Cell Line↗

Mature reverse transcriptase (p66/p51) is responsible for low levels of viral DNA found in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Reverse transcription of the HIV RNA genome is thought to occur in the host cell cytoplasm after viral adsorption. However, viral DNA has been isolated in cell-free virus particles. We have quantitated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification the amount of viral DNA in virions as compared to RNA. Virus produced by proviral DNA transfections of cos-7 cells or by chronically-infected H9 cells; neither of which express the cell surface CD4 receptor, contained at least 1000 times more viral RNA than DNA. In contrast, only 60 times more RNA than DNA was present in virus particles produced by transfection of Jurkat cells, which were CD4-positive and thus potentially susceptible to superinfection. Protease-defective virus, carrying only the precursor of reverse transcriptase (RT) p160gag-pol, contained virtually no detectable DNA. These results indicate that only mature RT (p66/p51) and not its precursor (p160gag-pol) is responsible for the presence of viral DNA in HIV.

Cell Line↗

Identification of tRNAs incorporated into wild-type and mutant human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We have identified the tRNAs which are incorporated into both wild-type human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strain IIIB (HIV-1IIIB) produced in COS-7 cells transfected with HIV-1 proviral DNA and mutant, noninfectious HIV-1Lai particles produced in a genetically engineered Vero cell line. The mutant proviral DNA contains nucleotides 678 to 8944; i.e., both long terminal repeats and the primer binding site are absent. As analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both mutant and wild-type HIV-1 contain four major-abundance tRNA species, which include tRNA(1,2Lys), tRNA(3Lys) (the putative primer for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase) and tRNA(Ile). Identification was accomplished by comparing the electrophoretic mobilities and RNase T1 digests with those of tRNA(3Lys) and tRNA(1,2Lys) purified from human placenta and comparing the partial nucleotide sequence at the 3' end of each viral tRNA species with published tRNA sequences. Thus, the absence of the primer binding site in the mutant virus does not affect tRNA(Lys) incorporation into HIV-1. However, only the wild-type virus contains tRNA(3Lys) tightly associated with the viral RNA genome. The identification of the tightly associated tRNA as tRNA(3Lys) is based upon an electrophoretic mobility identical to that of tRNA(3Lys) and the ability of this RNA to hybridize with a tRNA(3Lys)-specific DNA probe. In addition to the four wild-type tRNA species, the mutant HIV-1-like particle contains two tRNA(His) species and three tRNA-sized species that we have been unable to identify. Their absence in wild-type virus makes it unlikely that they are required for viral infectivity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Identification of neutral endopeptidase mRNA in human nasal mucosa.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) may regulate peptide-induced inflammation in the upper respiratory tract. NEP mRNA was detected by Northern blotting in poly(A)+ mRNA prepared from human turbinates. NEP mRNA bands were detected at 3.9 and 1.8 kb. In situ hybridization identified NEP mRNA in epithelial cells, serous cells of submucosal glands, and vessel walls. The vacuoles of goblet and mucous cells were not stained, but it is likely that the cytoplasm of these cells contained some NEP mRNA. Radioactive in situ hybridization with 35S-UTP appeared to be more sensitive than nonradioactive in situ hybridization with biotin-UTP and immunogold detection. The NEP mRNA-containing cells identified by in situ hybridization were the same as those identified by immunohistochemistry to contain immunoreactive NEP. These NEP-containing cells have been previously shown to possess peptide receptors. This is consistent with the hypothesis that NEP on cells bearing peptide receptors may regulate neuropeptide-induced inflammation in human nasal mucosa.

Biotin↗

Variable tRNA content in HIV-1IIIB.

Low molecular weight RNA in HIV-1 is found in three size classes resembling 7S RNA, 5S RNA, and tRNA. The 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) patterns of tRNA found in HIV-1 have been determined in virus produced in five different cell types: H9, UHC1 (a U937-derived clone), UHC8 (an RT(-) derivative of U937), HeLa, and COS. The presence of the putative primer tRNA for reverse transcriptase, tRNA(Lys,3), has also been determined either by hybridization with a tRNA(Lys,3)-specific DNA probe or by a comparison of the electrophoretic mobility of viral tRNA species with purified human tRNA(Lys,3). Our results indicate the following: 1) The number of tRNA species found in infectious HIV-1IIIB produced in different cell types varies, according to cell type, from greater than 20 to 4, indicating that only 4 or less tRNA species are required for the viral infectious life cycle. 2) There are 1-3 tRNA species tightly associated to the viral genomic RNA, depending upon the cell type producing the virus. 3) The putative primer tRNA, tRNA(Lys,3), is detected with the tRNA(Lys,3)-specific hybridization probe in the tRNA of HIV-1 produced in H9 cells, and the tightly associated tRNA species in this virus has the same electrophoretic mobility in 1-D PAGE as purified tRNA(Lys,3). On the other hand, we cannot detect tRNA(Lys,3) in the tRNA of HIV-1 produced in HeLa cells, and the tightly associated tRNA found in this virus does not migrate with the same electrophoretic mobility as tRNA(Lys,3).

Animals↗

Extra-pancreatic expression of the rat islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) gene.

Messenger RNA for rat islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been identified not only in the pancreas but also, in lesser amounts, in preparations from the stomach and dorsal root ganglia. In the stomach, insulin mRNA was not detectable, ruling out possible contamination by pancreatic tissue. Because IAPP and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are related and CGRP is present in both stomach and dorsal root ganglia, it was possible that 'IAPP' signals were in fact due to cross-hybridization with CGRP mRNA. A second IAPP probe was constructed which does not cross-react. This probe also detected mRNA in both tissues, confirming the expression of IAPP in both tissues. The regional distribution of IAPP mRNA in the stomach did not parallel that of gastrin mRNA. IAPP mRNA was present in the antrum, centrum and pylorus and, like gastrin, the highest amounts were in the pylorus. However, the ratio between the pylorus and centrum was 3.6:1 for IAPP and 156:1 for gastrin. The effects of dietary manipulation were determined; a period of 48 h of starvation reduced pancreatic IAPP mRNA by approximately 60%, whereas in the stomach there was no significant reduction. If the action of IAPP was hormonal, pancreas and stomach would not be acting in concert. A paracrine role for gastric IAPP therefore seems more likely.

Amyloid↗