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Biomedical subjects

K Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to K Edwards.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Effect of changes in sodium intake on cell transport parameters.

Changing sodium intake from 70-200 mmol/day elevates blood pressure in normotensive volunteers by 6/4 mmHg. Older people, people with reduced renal function on a low sodium diet and people with a family history of hypertension are more likely to show this effect. The rise in blood pressure was associated with a fall in plasma volume suggesting that plasma volume changes do not initiate hypertension. In normotensive individuals the most common abnormality in membrane sodium transport induced by an extra sodium load was an increased permeability of the red cell to sodium. Some normotensive individuals also had an increase in the level of a plasma inhibitor that inhibited Na-K ATPase. These individuals also appeared to have a rise in blood pressure. Sodium intake and blood pressure are related. The relationship differs in different people and is probably controlled by the genetically inherited capacity of systems involved in membrane sodium transport.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1983

Cloning and expression of a porcine prorelaxin gene in E. coli.

A porcine prorelaxin gene has been constructed partly by synthetic means and partly from its natural messenger RNA. A gene coding for the 32 N-terminal amino acids including a chain initiator methionine codon (B gene) was synthesised and inserted in a plasmid at a site downstream from a tryptophan promoter in such a way that its expression is under the control of the trp promoter. DNA corresponding to the rest of the prorelaxin was prepared using reverse transcriptase extension of a primer complementary to relaxin mRNA and joined at a suitable restriction site to the B gene. Transformation of E. coli with this plasmid followed by suitable induction resulted in the synthesis of a new protein identified as prorelaxin by its size and its antigenic similarity to relaxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of steady and pulsatile flow in a double branching arterial model.

Data are presented to compare fluid flow parameters for steady flow with those for time-varying flow in a simplified two branch model which simulates the region of the abdominal aorta near the celiac and superior mesenteric branches of the dog. Measurements in the model included laser doppler anemometry velocity profiles during steady flow, sinusoidal flow with a superimposed mean flow (referred to as simple oscillatory flow) and arterial pulsatile flow. Shear rate measurements were made by an electrochemical technique during steady flow. Flow visualization studies were done during steady and pulsatile flow. Fluid flow effects in the simplified model during steady flow showed many similarities to the results from previous steady flow studies in a canine aortic cast. Shear rates in the region of the proximal (first, or celiac) branch were independent of flow rates in the distal (second, or mesenteric) branch, but the shear pattern within the proximal branch changed significantly as flow in the proximal branch increased. Shear rates on the proximal flow divider (leading edge into the distal branch) depended primarily on the flow rate to the proximal branch, but not on flow to the distal branch. At certain daughter branch flow ratios (approximately 2:1, proximal to distal), flow separation was promoted at the outer wall of the second branch, but flow separation did not occur in the first branch. In contrast to the canine aortic case results, flow separation was never detected on the distal (mesenteric) flow divider of the simplified model. This observation reflects the subtle effects of geometry on flow since the mesenteric flow divider in the canine cast protrudes into the main flow whereas the distal flow divider in the simplified model does not. There were distinct differences in the flow phenomena between steady, simple oscillatory and arterial pulsatile flow. Peak shear rates during pulsatile flow were as much as 10--100 times greater than steady flow shear rates at comparable mean flow rates. Particularly noteworthy for the pulsatile flow with a Womersley parameter of sixteen were very blunt velocity profiles throughout systole, and the absence of flow separation or reversal in those regions of the model that exhibited flow separation during steady flow. The shape of the waveform influences the nature of the flow during time-varying flows. Future studies of fluid dynamics in model systems must consider the pulsatile nature of the flow if a true interpretation of arterial flow phenomena is to be made.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1982

Structural and functional analysis of an rRNA operon and its flanking tRNA genes from Zea mays chloroplasts.

The complete analysis of an rRNA operon from Zea mays chloroplasts and its comparison with other plastidic or bacterial rRNA operons is presented. The maize operon contains structural genes for 16S, 23S and 4.5S rRNA species, a leader region proximal to the 16S rRNA gene and a 2.4 kb spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes. Within the spacer DNA sequence are two tRNA genes which code for a tRNAIle and tRNAAla species but each gene is split by large intervening sequences of 949 and 806 bp, respectively. 4.5S rRNA is a structural equivalent of the 3' terminal region of bacterial 23S rRNA. The operon is flanked at its 5' side by a tRNAVal gene and at its 3' side by a 5S rRNA gene. Both these genes are probably not included in the large, primary precursor rRNA transcript.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Primary and secondary structures of Escherichia coli MRE 600 23S ribosomal RNA. Comparison with models of secondary structure for maize chloroplast 23S rRNA and for large portions of mouse and human 16S mitochondrial rRNAs.

We determined 90% of the primary structure of E.coli MRE 600 23S rRNA by applying the sequencing gel technique to products of T1, S1, A and Naja oxiana nuclease digestion. Eight cistron heterogeneities were detected, as well as 16 differences with the published sequence of a 23S rRNA gene of an E.coli K12 strain. The positions of 13 post-transcriptionally modified nucleotides and of single-stranded, double-stranded and subunit surface regions of E.coli 23S rRNA were identified. Using these experimental results and by comparing the sequences of E.coli 23S rRNA, maize chloro. 23S rRNA and mouse and human mit 16S rRNAs, we built models of secondary structure for the two 23S rRNAs and for large portions of the two mit rRNAs. The structures proposed for maize chloroplast and E.coli 23S rRNAs are very similar, consisting of 7 domains closed by long-range base-pairings. In the mitochondrial 16S rRNAs, 3 of these domains are strongly reduced in size and have a very different primary structure compared to those of the 23S rRNAs. These domains were previously found to constitute a compact area in the E.coli 50S subunits. The conserved domains do not belong to this area and contain almost all the modified nucleotides. The most highly conserved domain, 2042-2625, is probably part of the ribosomal A site. Finally, our study strongly suggests that in cytoplasmic ribosomes the 3'-end of 5.8S rRNA is basepaired with the 5'-end of 26S rRNA. This confirms the idea that 5.8S RNA is the counterpart of the 5'-terminal region of prokaryotic 23S rRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Secondary structure of the large subunit ribosomal RNA from Escherichia coli, Zea mays chloroplast, and human and mouse mitochondrial ribosomes.

Short base-paired RNA fragments, and fragments containing intra-RNA cross-links, were isolated from E. coli 23S rRNA or 50S ribosomal subunits by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The interactions thus found were used as a first basis for constructing a secondary structure model of the 23S rRNA. Sequence comparison with the 23S rDNA from Z. mays chloroplasts, as well as with the 16S (large subunit) rDNA from human and mouse mitochondria, enabled the experimental model to be improved and extrapolated to give complete secondary structures of all four species. The structures are organized in well-defined domains, with over 450 compensating base changes between the two 23S species. Some ribosomal structural "'switches" were found, one involving 5S rRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The rRNA operon from Zea mays chloroplasts: nucleotide sequence of 23S rDNA and its homology with E.coli 23S rDNA.

The nucleotide sequence of 23S rDNA from Zea mays chloroplasts has been determined. Alignment with 23S rDNA from E.coli reveals 71 percent homology when maize 4.5S rDNA is included as an equivalent of the 3' end of E.coli 23S rDNA. Among the conserved sequences are sites for base modification. Chloramphenicol sensitivity and ribosomal subunit interaction. A proposal for the base pairs formed between 16S and 23S rRNAs during the 30S/50S subunit interaction is presented. The alignment of maize 23S rDNA with that of E.coli reveals three small insertion sequences of 25, 65 and 78 base pairs, whereas maize 16S rDNA shows only deletions when compared with the E.coli species.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1980

N-terminal amino acid sequence of proalbumin from inbred buffalo rats.

The sequence of radioactively labelled amino acids at the N-terminus of proalbumin was determined by automated Edman-degradation. [3H] Valine, [3H]phenylalanine or [14C]arginine was incorporated into protein in vivo for a time period of 10 min after injection. Since albumin remains unlabelled during this time period (Urban et al., 1976), separation of proalbumin and albumin was not required for this work. Hence, compared to previous methods, a shorter purification procedure could be used which increased the yield of anti-albumin-precipitable protein and reduced the risk of proteolysis. Microsomes were prepared from livers removed 10 min after injection of the radioactively labelled amino acids. A buffer extract of the acetone-dried powder from these microsomes was chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose. All protein obtained after chromatography which could be precipitated with antiserum to serum albumin was isolated by immunoprecipitation and subsequent separation of the antigen-antibody complex. The sequence of radioactive amino acids in this antigen preparation suggests that about 20-25% of proalbumin possessed at the N-terminus the pentapeptide sequence X-Val-Phe-Arg-Arg- whereas 75-80% contained the hexapeptide sequence Arg-X-Val-Phe-Arg-Arg-.

Albumins↗
PubMed1979

Relationship between protein synthesis and secretion in liver cells and the state of the adenine nucleotide system.

Adenine nucleotide levels could be precisely and reproducibly adjusted in liver cell suspensions by partially depleting the ATP pool with D-fructose or glycerol. Thus, it was possible to quantitatively correlate rates of protein synthesis and secretion with intracellular levels of ATP and with derived parameters, such as the adenylate energy charge. Half the maximum rate of incorporation of leucine into protein was observed at an energy charge of 0.80, a ratio of ATP to ADP of 2.6, and an ATP level of 1.05 mumol per g of wet cells. Proteins were secreted with half the maximum rate at an energy charge of 0.85, a ratio of ATP to ADP of 3.1 and an ATP concentration of 1.1 mumol per g of wet cells. Protein secretion did not depend on continued synthesis. Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation inhibited protein secretion in addition to protein synthesis, in contrast to observations by other authors on liver slices.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1977

Group B streptococcal meningitis: delayed response to treatment.

Four infants with group B streptococcal meningitis had a delayed response to antibiotic therapy. Resolution of cerebrospinal fluid infection and/or pleocytosis occurred only after prolonged and intensive antimicrobial management. In this respect, these infants were similar to infants with gram-negative enteric meningitis. It is suggested that infants with group B streptococcal meningitis be closely monitored to insure adequate response to therapy.

Chloramphenicol↗