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Biomedical subjects

J P Mercier

Publications and source records attributed to J P Mercier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Rapid evolution of the DNA-binding site in LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases.

Sequence analysis of chloroplast and mitochondrial large subunit rRNA genes from over 75 green algae disclosed 28 new group I intron-encoded proteins carrying a single LAGLIDADG motif. These putative homing endonucleases form four subfamilies of homologous enzymes, with the members of each subfamily being encoded by introns sharing the same insertion site. We showed that four divergent endonucleases from the I-CreI subfamily cleave the same DNA substrates. Mapping of the 66 amino acids that are conserved among the members of this subfamily on the 3-dimensional structure of I-CreI bound to its recognition sequence revealed that these residues participate in protein folding, homodimerization, DNA recognition and catalysis. Surprisingly, only seven of the 21 I-CreI amino acids interacting with DNA are conserved, suggesting that I-CreI and its homologs use different subsets of residues to recognize the same DNA sequence. Our sequence comparison of all 45 single-LAGLIDADG proteins identified so far suggests that these proteins share related structures and that there is a weak pressure in each subfamily to maintain identical protein-DNA contacts. The high sequence variability we observed in the DNA-binding site of homologous LAGLIDADG endonucleases provides insight into how these proteins evolve new DNA specificity.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2000

Mass spectrometric study of randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrins using ionspray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization.

Mixtures of methylated beta-cyclodextrins were characterized using three different methods of mass spectrometry: ionspray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Each of these methods allows a fast and simple determination of the degree of substitution, and can provide evidence for differences in the methylation of batches which have very similar global degrees of substitution. The three methods are in good qualitative agreement, but there are systematic differences in the quantitative results for the percentages of the various methylated molecules present in a batch. This is attributed to ionization yields which increase with the number of methyl groups, with different slopes for the different methods.

Atmospheric Pressure↗
PubMed1999

Liquid chromatography analysis of phosphonic acids on porous graphitic carbon stationary phase with evaporative light-scattering and mass spectrometry detection.

The analysis of several phosphonic acids has been investigated by liquid chromatography (LC), using porous graphitic carbon as stationary phase with mass spectrometry (MS) or evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD). In both detection modes (MS and ELSD), the mobile phase must be volatile and, due to the porous graphitic carbon (PGC) properties, should promote electronic interactions. Among the various hydrogeno- and perfluorocarboxylic acids tested, trifluoroacetic acid (0.1%, v/v) was selected as electronic competitor for solute retention. The baseline resolution of a phosphonic acids mixture required a trifluoroacetic-acetonitrile gradient elution. This methodology was then applied to the identification of phosphonic acids in a spiked tap water sample. Quantitative analyses are successfully achieved with a good correlation coefficient.

Carbon↗
PubMed1998

Identification of phosphonic acids by capillary electrophoresis-ionspray mass spectrometry.

The identification of alkylphosphonic acids in spiked tap water has been investigated by on-line capillary electrophoresis-UV spectrometry-mass spectrometry (CE-UV-MS) in negative-ion mode. The 5 mM sorbic acid-ammonia electrolyte (pH 6.5) allows simultaneous indirect UV and MS (ionspray) detection. Several parameters (electrolyte pH, make-up chemical composition and make-up flow-rate) have been optimized and 5 mg/l limit of detection has been reached for these analytes in selected ion monitoring MS detection. MS-MS detection has also been investigated to reach a low detection limit (100 micrograms/l) for alkyl alkylphosphonic acids in spiked tap water. The mass spectra of these compounds exhibit a very abundant negative ion, [M-H]- (MS) with characteristic fragmentation (MS-MS) of acids and monoesters. Quantitative analysis achieved with CE-UV shows good correlation coefficients and allows accurate quantification of the analytes.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗
PubMed1997

[Ceramic implants to benefit complete lower dentures].

In our Department of implantology, 141 ceramic implants were put in place with the objective of stabilizing a complete mandibular prosthesis in 39 patients. Despite the small number of cases reported, statistical analysis was informative because of the homogeneity of the conditions: the same indication for a prosthesis; the same operator for the surgery as well as the prosthesis; The very good follow-up with all but 2 patients having been monitored regularly. In addition to the finding that our results are practically superposable on those obtained with titanium implants over the same period of time. We share our experience with ceramic materials; dispel their reputation of fragility, especially since the advent of zirconium; and emphasize the simplicity of these "artificial roots" that can be use without prefabricated and costly intermediate parts.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1996

Capillary electrophoresis analysis of chemical warfare agent breakdown products. I. Counterelectroosmotic separation of alkylphosphonic acids and their monoester derivatives.

An analytical method has been developed for the analysis of chemical warfare agents by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Sorbate anion has been selected as indirect UV-absorbing agent and decamethonium cation reduces the electroosmotic flow. The optimized electrolyte (5 mM sorbic acid, 0.1 mM decamethonium bromide pH 6) allows the simultaneous separation of alkylphosphonic acids and their monoester derivatives in less than 15 min. The measurement of phosphonic solutes has been achieved in spiked soils using calibration curves in the 5-50 mg/l concentration range.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1995

The site-specific DNA endonuclease encoded by a group I intron in the Chlamydomonas pallidostigmatica chloroplast small subunit rRNA gene introduces a single-strand break at low concentrations of Mg2+.

Two group I introns (CpSSU.1 and CpSSU.2) that each potentially encode a protein with two copies of the LAGLI-DADG motif were identified in the Chlamydomonas pallidostigmatica chloroplast small subunit rRNA gene. They both belong to subgroup IA3 and represent novel insertion positions in this gene (sites 508 and 793 in the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA). The proteins encoded by the two introns were synthesized in vitro and tested for their ability to cleave the homing site of their respective introns. Only the CpSSU.1-encoded protein (I-CpaII) was found to display specific DNA endonuclease activity. At 0.1 mM MgCl2, I-CpaII nicks only the bottom (transcribed) DNA strand, but at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 mM, it cleaves both DNA strands (leaving a 4 nucleotide single-stranded extension with 3'-OH overhangs) while preferentially nicking the bottom strand. The rate of cleavage of the top strand increases with increasing concentration of MgCl2. The preliminary data derived from these endonuclease assays suggest that the mode of DNA cleavage by I-CpaII is directed by the availability of Mg2+ and the affinity of different binding sites for this cation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evolutionary transfer of ORF-containing group I introns between different subcellular compartments (chloroplast and mitochondrion).

We describe here a case of homologous introns containing homologous open reading frames (ORFs) that are inserted at the same site in the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene of different organelles in distantly related organisms. We show that the chloroplast LSU rRNA gene of the green alga Chlamydomonas pallidostigmatica contains a group I intron (CpLSU.2) encoding a site-specific endonuclease (I-CpaI). This intron is inserted at the identical site (corresponding to position 1931-1932 of the Escherichia coli 23S rRNA sequence) as a group I intron (AcLSU.m1) in the mitochondrial LSU rRNA gene of the amoeboid protozoon Acanthamoeba castellanii. The CpLSU.2 intron displays a remarkable degree of nucleotide similarity in both primary sequence and secondary structure to the AcLSU.m1 intron; moreover, the Acanthamoeba intron contains an ORF in the same location within its secondary structure as the CpLSU.2 ORF and shares with it a strikingly high level of amino acid similarity (65%; 42% identity). A comprehensive survey of intron distribution at site 1931 of the chloroplast LSU rRNA gene reveals a rather restricted occurrence within the polyphyletic genus Chlamydomonas, with no evidence of this intron among a number of non-Chlamydomonad green algae surveyed, nor in land plants. A parallel survey of homologues of a previously described and similar intron/ORF pair (C. reinhardtii chloroplast CrLSU/A. castellanii mitochondrial AcLSU.m3) also shows a restricted occurrence of this intron (site 2593) among chloroplasts, although the intron distribution is somewhat broader than that observed at site 1931, with site-2593 introns appearing in several green algal branches outside of the Chlamydomonas lineage. The available data, while not definitive, are most consistent with a relatively recent horizontal transfer of both site-1931 and site-2593 introns (and their contained ORFs) between the chloroplast of a Chlamydomonas-type organism and the mitochondrion of an Acanthamoeba-like organism, probably in the direction chloroplast to mitochondrion. The data also suggest that both introns could have been acquired in a single event.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1994

Identification of variability of ribosomal DNA spacer from Pseudomonas soil isolates.

The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the spacer region located between the 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA genes of strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida isolated from peat bog, canola field, or arctic plants. Some of spacer region of four of the P. fluorescens strains examined, strains 64-3, 63-28, QP5, and R17-FP2, was about 515 base pairs (bp) in length, and contained the genes for tRNA(Ile) and tRNA(Ala). The DNA sequences of two strains from canola, 64-3 and 63-28, differed at only two positions. The sequences of the peat bog strains QP5 and R17-FP2 were identical. However, differences were noted between the DNA sequence common to the pair of strains 64-3 and 63-28 and the corresponding common sequence for strains QP5 and R17-FP2. These differences were mainly concentrated in two DNA segments of 10 and 19 bp, respectively. A probe for the 19-bp variable segment that occurs in the ribosomal spacer of strains QP5 and R17-FP2 recognized total DNA from these two strains, but not DNA from other bacteria of different origins. These results suggest the existence of a limited degree of variability within the 16S-23S ribosomal DNA spacer region, and that this variability may be useful to the recognition of particular Pseudomonas strains from environmental samples.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Group I introns interrupt the chloroplast psaB and psbC and the mitochondrial rrnL gene in Chlamydomonas.

The polymerase chain reaction was used to identify novel IAI subgroup introns in cpDNA-enriched preparations from the interfertile green algae Chlamydomonas eugametos and Chlamydomonas moewusii. These experiments along with sequence analysis disclosed the presence, in both green algae, of a single IA1 intron in the psaB gene and of two group I introns (IA2 and IA1) in the psbC gene. In addition, two group I introns (IA1 and IB4) were found in the peptidyltransferase region of the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene at the same positions as previously reported Chlamydomonas chloroplast introns. The 188 bp segment preceding the first mitochondrial intron revealed extensive sequence similarity to the distantly spaced rRNA-coding modules L7 and L8 in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mitochondrial DNA, indicating that these two modules have undergone rearrangements in Chlamydomonas. The IA1 introns in psaB and psbC were found to be related in sequence to the first intron in the C. moewusii chloroplast psbA gene. The similarity between the former introns extends to the immediate 5' flanking exon sequence, suggesting that group I intron transposition occurred from one of the two genes to the other through reverse splicing.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of the chloroplast large subunit ribosomal RNA gene from 17 Chlamydomonas taxa. Three internal transcribed spacers and 12 group I intron insertion sites.

Previous reports on the chloroplast large subunit rRNA genes of the two distantly related green algae Chlamydomonas eugametos and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii indicate differences in the distribution of group I introns and suggest a different arrangement of internal transcribed spacers. To provide insights into the origin of these two types of intervening sequences, we have undertaken the sequencing of the chloroplast rrnL genes of 15 additional Chlamydomonas taxa and have characterized the mature large subunit rRNA species they encode in addition to those specified by the C. reinhardtii rrnL. These analyses disclosed the presence of three internal transcribed spacers sharing the same positions in all of the 17 taxa as well as the presence of a total of 39 group I introns representing 12 insertion sites. Of these insertion sites, only one has been identified in non-Chlamydomonas taxa. The distribution of Chlamydomonas introns is highly variable and, in many respects, is not consistent with the phylogeny deduced from chloroplast rRNA sequence comparisons. This phylogeny features two main lineages of Chlamydomonas taxa forming sister groups. Because earlier branching organisms in the green algal/land plant lineage display no chloroplast rDNA introns, it appears that all of the intron insertion positions in Chlamydomonas are of recent origins, with some of the positions having arisen subsequent to the divergence of the two main Chlamydomonas lineages. Remarkably, the rRNA regions corresponding to most of the group I intron insertion positions in rRNA genes have been assigned functional roles suggesting that they lie in exposed regions of the ribosome. On the basis of this striking correlation between exposed rRNA regions and intron insertion sites, we speculate that the reversal of the self-splicing reaction has played a major role in the creation of the multiple intron insertion positions found in rRNA genes as well as in the proliferation of group I introns elsewhere in the Chlamydomonas chloroplast genome.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The single group-I intron in the chloroplast rrnL gene of Chlamydomonas humicola encodes a site-specific DNA endonuclease (I-ChuI).

The single group-I intron (ChLSU.1) in the chloroplast (cp) large subunit rRNA-encoding gene (rrnL) of the green alga Chlamydomonas humicola is located at a position at which no introns have previously been characterized in other systems. In the present study, the nucleotide (nt) sequence of this 1118-bp intron was found to contain an internal open reading frame (ORF) that potentially encodes a basic protein of 218 amino acid residues. The putative C. humicola protein features two copies of the LAGLI-DADG motif and is part of the family of intron-encoded proteins comprising the endonucleases (ENases), I-SceI, I-SceIV and I-CsmI. Expression of the ChLSU.1 intron ORF in vitro in the presence of a 260-bp DNA fragment containing the exon 1-2 junction of an intronless version of the C. humicola rrnL resulted in specific cleavage of the DNA fragment very close to the intron insertion site. This novel intron-encoded ENase, designated I-ChuI, was also shown to generate a staggered cut with 4-nt (CTCG) 3'-OH overhangs 2 bp downstream from the intron insertion site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Hodgkin's disease complicating pregnancy.

We report our experience in the management of 12 patients with Hodgkin's disease associated with pregnancy. Three patients presented in the first trimester; pregnancy was interrupted in two. They are alive and well after 8, 14 and 16 years of follow-up. Two patients presented in the second trimester; they elected to continue their pregnancies and both died from progressive disease, one of them having refused therapy. The remaining seven patients in the third trimester continued pregnancy; they are all alive after five to 11 years of follow-up and one is alive with active disease. Two patients received radiotherapy during pregnancy. Both had normal outcomes of pregnancy and no fetal abnormalities were found. There is no evidence to suggest that either pregnancy affects the course of Hodgkin's disease or that Hodgkin's disease affects pregnancy. General rules as to how to proceed in patients with Hodgkin's disease complicated by pregnancy are described.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease: significance of splenic involvement].

We retrospectively reviewed 224 cases of Hodgkin's disease, in 120 of which staging laparotomy was performed. The surgical findings in cases of clinical stage I or II disease with supradiaphragmatic presentation or clinical stage III disease did not influence the treatment plans. Of the 64 patients with positive results of laparotomy (splenic or lymph node involvement or both) 51 had splenic involvement; their 5-year survival rate, 57%, was similar to that of the patients with clinical or pathological stage III disease - 58% and 54% respectively. At laparotomy 11 patients with pathological stage III disease were found to have isolated splenic involvement; their 5-year survival rate, 64%, was not appreciably different from that of the patients with clinical stage II disease, 70%; both groups were treated with radiotherapy only. From this study we can conclude that splenic involvement in Hodgkin's disease has no deleterious effect on survival and that splenic irradiation seems to be as effective as splenectomy in controlling the disease.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1983

Second malignancy complicating Hodgkin's disease.

We have reviewed the records of 227 patients with Hodgkin's disease diagnosed between 1969 and 1977 inclusively. The incidence of a second malignancy has been assessed. Fourteen patients developed second malignancies, 10 of which were solid tumors and four acute leukemias. The ratios of observed to expected malignancies were assessed for three subgroups: it was 1.58 for patients who received radiotherapy alone, 5.17 for patients who received combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and 14.73 for a third subgroup of patients who also received maintenance chemotherapy. A detailed analysis of the 14 patients with a second malignancy has been done. Only one occurred in a patient who had had a splenectomy. Patients who had a relapse of Hodgkin's disease did not have an increased incidence of second malignancy. Treatment-induced malignancies appear to be rather aggressive. Of the 14 patients, 12 died within one year and two are alive with disease, one year after diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗