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Biomedical subjects

J Shieh

Publications and source records attributed to J Shieh.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

High-throughput array production using precision glass syringes.

The advantages of using 1, 96, or 384 precision glass syringes in automated high-throughput microdispensers in creating highly uniform and reproducible DNA, protein, and organic compound array filters and slides are described. Using the Hydra Microdispenser and Tango Liquid Handling system, 0.1-5 ng (in 50-300 nL) PCR-amplified, human cancer-related genes and housekeeping genes were spotted onto nylon membranes and coated slides. Protein solutions of 50 microg/mL to 1 mg/mL were spotted onto coated slides or onto MaxiSorp 96-well plates. Up to 6144 spots/membrane and up to 1000 spots/slide were printed. The size of the spots created by glass syringes was uniform and reproducible (precision variation of less than 5%) from spot to spot and membrane to membrane. Using a Tango 384 system, a total of ten 6144-spot filters can be produced in approximately 25 min, translating into a spotting speed of 2.5 min/membrane.

Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis↗

The use of asymmetric-field inversion gel electrophoresis to predict tumor cell radiosensitivity.

The success of a predictive assay for radiotherapy relies on the use of one or more tumor cell traits that equate with tumor radioresistance or radiosensitivity. These traits can be divided into intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (epi-genetic) factors. Most probably, a tumor's response to radiotherapy will be influenced by both of these sets of traits. Radiobiological analysis of cultured cells derived from explanted tumors of head and neck patients has shown that in vitro survival of tumor cells is not the only factor affecting tumor radiocurability. Two possible reasons are the high degree of selection involved in growing the cells in vitro and the inability to assess the contribution of the cell-cell contact effect with cultured cells. A possible means of overcoming both of these problems would be an assessment of the radiosensitivity of the cell population immediately after removal from the tumor. Since a good correlation exists between intrinsic cellular radioresistance and DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR) as assayed by the Neutral Elution technique [21], we have investigated the feasibility of using asymmetric field inversion gel electrophoresis (AFIGE) in identifying resistant tumor cells in vitro. AFIGE has several advantages over neutral elution in that it is faster (approximately 60-80 samples can be run on the same agarose gel) and, most importantly, one can visualize DNA damage and repair by staining the DNA with ethidium bromide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Biochemical evidence for two different mechanisms for bleomycin-induced cell killing.

Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we have measured the ability of two bleomycin-sensitive mutants, XR-1 and BL-10, to repair DNA double-strands breaks (DSB). XR-1 was originally isolated by its hypersensitivity to killing with ionizing radiation, but we have also shown that it is sensitive to killing with bleomycin. In contrast, BL-10 was isolated by its extreme sensitivity to killing with bleomycin, and it is not cross-sensitive to other DNA breaking agents. A 1-h treatment of bleomycin induces a similar number of DNA double-strand breaks in XR-1, BL-10 and CHO cells. However, XR-1 is unable to repair bleomycin-induced DNA double-strand breaks, whereas BL-10 possesses the same kinetics of repair as parental CHO. These data lead us to conclude that at least two mechanisms of killing exist for bleomycin; one of them is DNA DSB-dependent, and the other seems to be DNA DSB-independent.

Animals↗

Autotrophic acetyl coenzyme A biosynthesis in Methanococcus maripaludis.

To detect autotrophic CO2 assimilation in cell extracts of Methanococcus maripaludis, lactate dehydrogenase and NADH were added to convert pyruvate formed from autotrophically synthesized acetyl coenzyme A to lactate. The lactate produced was determined spectrophotometrically. When CO2 fixation was pulled in the direction of lactate synthesis, CO2 reduction to methane was inhibited. Bromoethanesulfonate (BES), a potent inhibitor of methanogenesis, enhanced lactate synthesis, and methyl coenzyme M inhibited it in the absence of BES. Lactate synthesis was dependent on CO2 and H2, but H2 + CO2-independent synthesis was also observed. In cell extracts, the rate of lactate synthesis was about 1.2 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1. When BES was added, the rate of lactate synthesis increased to 2.3 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1. Because acetyl coenzyme A did not stimulate lactate synthesis, pyruvate synthase may have been the limiting activity in these assays. Radiolabel from 14CO2 was incorporated into lactate. The percentages of radiolabel in the C-1, C-2, and C-3 positions of lactate were 73, 33, and 11%, respectively. Both carbon monoxide and formaldehyde stimulated lactate synthesis. 14CH2O was specifically incorporated into the C-3 of lactate, and 14CO was incorporated into the C-1 and C-2 positions. Low concentrations of cyanide also inhibited autotrophic growth, CO dehydrogenase activity, and autotrophic lactate synthesis. These observations are in agreement with the acetogenic pathway of autotrophic CO2 assimilation.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Pseudoauxotrophy of Methanococcus voltae for acetate, leucine, and isoleucine.

Methanococcus voltae is a methanogenic bacterium which requires leucine, isoleucine, and acetate for growth. However, it also can synthesize these amino acids, and it is capable of low levels of autotrophic acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) biosynthesis. When cells were grown in the presence of 14CO2, as well as in the presence of compounds required for growth, the alanine found in the cellular protein was radiolabeled. The percentages of radiolabel in the C-1, C-2, and C-3 positions of alanine were 64, 24, and 16%, respectively. The incorporation of radiolabel into the C-2 and C-3 positions of alanine demonstrated the autotrophic acetyl-CoA biosynthetic pathway in this bacterium. Additional evidence was obtained in cell extracts in which autotrophically synthesized acetyl-CoA was trapped into lactate. In these extracts, both CO and CH2O stimulated acetyl-CoA synthesis. 14CH2O was specifically incorporated into the C-3 of lactate. Cell extracts of M. voltae also contained low levels of CO dehydrogenase, 13 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1. These results further confirmed the presence of the autotrophic acetyl-CoA biosynthetic pathway in M. voltae. Likewise, 14CO2 and [U-14C]acetate were also incorporated into leucine and isoleucine during growth. During growth with [U-14C]leucine or [U-14C]isoleucine, the specific radioactivity of these amino acids in the culture medium declined, and the specific radioactivities of these amino acids recovered from the cellular protein were 32 to 40% lower than the initial specific radioactivities in the medium. Cell extracts of M. voltae also contained levels of isopropyl malate synthase, an enzyme that is specific to the leucine biosynthetic pathway, of 0.8 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1. Thus, M. voltae is capable of autotrophic CO2 fixation and leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis.

Acetates↗