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Biomedical subjects

J Tellam

Publications and source records attributed to J Tellam.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Targeting of EBNA1 for rapid intracellular degradation overrides the inhibitory effects of the Gly-Ala repeat domain and restores CD8+ T cell recognition.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) includes a unique glycine-alanine repeat domain that inhibits the endogenous presentation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes through the class I pathway by blocking proteasome-dependent degradation of this antigen. This immune evasion mechanism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of EBV-associated diseases. Here, we show that cotranslational ubiquitination combined with N-end rule targeting enhances the intracellular degradation of EBNA1, thus resulting in a dramatic reduction in the half-life of the antigen. Using DNA expression vectors encoding different forms of ubiquitinated EBNA1 for in vivo studies revealed that this rapid degradation, remarkably, leads to induction of a very strong CTL response to an EBNA1-specific CTL epitope. Furthermore, this targeting also restored the endogenous processing of HLA class I-restricted CTL epitopes within EBNA1 for immune recognition by human EBV-specific CTLs. These observations provide, for the first time, evidence that the glycine-alanine repeat-mediated proteasomal block on EBNA1 can be reversed by specifically targeting this antigen for rapid degradation resulting in enhanced CD8+ T cell-mediated recognition in vitro and in vivo.

Alanine↗
PubMed2001

Immunotherapeutic strategies for EBV-associated malignancies.

Advances in our understanding of the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the control of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies and the overall biology of these diseases have led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies designed to specifically target viral antigens expressed in these malignancies. Long-term success of many of these strategies is constrained by the latency phenotypes adopted by different diseases. Adoptive transfer of polyclonal virus-specific CTLs has been used successfully to reverse the outgrowth of malignancies such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). On the other hand, limited viral gene expression in other EBV-associated malignancies such as Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma limits the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies used for PTLD. Preclinical studies based on specific targeting of viral antigens expressed in these malignancies have provided very encouraging results and thus are likely to serve as an important platform for the treatment of human patients.

Adoptive Transfer↗
PubMed1996

The glucose transporter (GLUT-4) and vesicle-associated membrane protein-2 (VAMP-2) are segregated from recycling endosomes in insulin-sensitive cells.

Insulin stimulates glucose transport in adipocytes by translocation of the glucose transporter (GLUT-4) from an intracellular site to the cell surface. We have characterized different synaptobrevin/vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) homologues in adipocytes and studied their intracellular distribution with respect to GLUT-4. VAMP-1, VAMP-2, and cellubrevin cDNAs were isolated from a 3T3-L1 adipocyte expression library. VAMP-2 and cellubrevin were: (a) the most abundant isoforms in adipocytes, (b) detectable in all insulin responsive tissues, (c) translocated to the cell surface in response to insulin, and (d) found in immunoadsorbed GLUT-4 vesicles. To further define their intracellular distribution, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated with a transferrin/HRP conjugate (Tf/HRP) and endosomes ablated following addition of DAB and H2O2. While this resulted in ablation of > 90% of the transferrin receptor (TfR) and cellubrevin found in intracellular membranes, 60% of GLUT-4 and 90% of VAMP-2 was not ablated. Immuno-EM on intracellular vesicles from adipocytes revealed that VAMP-2 was colocalized with GLUT-4, whereas only partial colocalization was observed between GLUT-4 and cellubrevin. These studies show that two different v-SNAREs, cellubrevin and VAMP-2, are partially segregated in different intracellular compartments in adipocytes, implying that they may define separate classes of secretory vesicles in these cells. We conclude that a proportion of GLUT-4 is found in recycling endosomes in nonstimulated adipocytes together with cellubrevin and the transferrin receptor. In addition, GLUT-4 and VAMP-2 are selectively enriched in a postendocytic compartment. Further study is required to elucidate the function of this latter compartment in insulin-responsive cells.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1986

Isolation and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding rat mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase.

We have determined the complete sequence of the rat mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) precursor derived from nucleotide sequence of the cDNA. A single synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide probe was used to screen a rat atrial cDNA library constructed in lambda gt10. A 1.2 kb full-length cDNA clone provided the first complete amino acid sequence of pre-mMDH. The 1014 nucleotide-long open reading frame encodes the 314 residue long mature mMDH protein and a 24 amino acid NH2-terminal extension which directs mitochondrial import and is cleaved from the precursor after import to generate mature mMDH. The amino acid composition of the transit peptide is polar and basic. The pre-mMDH transit peptide shows marked homology with those of two other enzymes targeted to the rat mitochondrial matrix.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Human renin gene sequence, gene regulation and prorenin processing.

Human DNA coding for renin was identified and sequenced. The gene consisted of 10 exons corresponding to a 1500 nucleotide mRNA was broken up by long stretches of 'nonsense' DNA (introns) and spanned 12,000 base pairs. In addition, the sequence of nucleotides involved in regulation of the gene was determined by sequencing upstream. Prediction of the amino acid sequence of human preprorenin revealed likely sites of processing. This helps explain many past experimental observations. For example, the pro region contained adjacent likely cleavage sites for trypsin and pepsin and so reveals why both trypsin and pepsin can activate prorenin. The structure of human renin had features involved in its highly specific hydrolysis of the Leu10-Val11 bond unique to human angiotensinogen: in particular leucine 224 (instead of valine). Renin gene expression was studied in the mouse by quantification of both renin activity and its mRNA. Sodium depletion, captopril and spironolactone increased expression of Ren-1 in the kidney. The unusual, duplicated, mouse gene, Ren-2, which is expressed in the submandibular gland was, regulated by (dihydro)testosterone in male mice and by thyroid hormone in female mice.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Structure of human renin and expression of the renin gene.

The amino acid sequence of human renin was identified for the first time. This was determined from the nucleotide sequence of exons in the human renin gene identified in a genomic library by recombinant DNA techniques. Examination of amino acid residues involved in the enzymatic hydrolysis by human renin of the unique Leu10-Val11 bond of human angiotensinogen revealed features peculiar to this highly specialized aspartyl protease. The expression of the renin gene was examined with a hybridization probe for renin mRNA in sections and extracts of tissues. In the submandibular gland of mice renin mRNA, like renin, increased during development and in response to testosterone in females; sodium depletion increased renin mRNA in kidney.

Amino Acid Sequence↗