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L F Liu

Publications and source records attributed to L F Liu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cloning and expression of a chick liver glutathione S-transferase CL 3 subunit with the use of a baculovirus expression system.

Glutathione S-transferase CL 3 subunits purified from 1-day-old-chick livers were digested with Achromobacter proteinase I and the resulting fragments were isolated for amino acid sequence analysis. An oligonucleotide probe was constructed accordingly for cDNA library screening. A cDNA clone of 1342 bases, pGCL301, encoding a protein of 26209 Da was isolated and sequenced. Including conservative substitutions, this protein has 75-79% sequence similarity to other Alpha family glutathione S-transferases. The coding sequence of pGCL301 was inserted into a baculovirus vector for infection of Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) cells. The expressed protein has a high relative activity with ethacrynic acid (47% of the specific activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). The enzyme has a subunit molecular mass of 25.2 +/- 1.2 kDa (by SDS/PAGE), a pI of 9.45 and an absorption coefficient A1%1cm of 13.0 +/- 0.5 at 280 nm.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Camptothecin overcomes MDR1-mediated resistance in human KB carcinoma cells.

In order to understand the high efficacy of camptothecin derivatives against human colon tumor xenografts in nude mice, we have studied the transport properties of camptothecin derivatives across cellular membranes of MDR1-overexpressing cells. MDR1 overexpression was shown to have little effect on camptothecin cytotoxicity; camptothecin was equally cytotoxic to both the drug-sensitive parental cell line, KB 3-1, and its multidrug-resistant derivative, KB V1. The ability of camptothecin to overcome MDR1-mediated resistance is most likely due to unimpaired accumulation of camptothecin in MDR1 cells as suggested from the following experiments: (a) cytotoxicity of camptothecin against KB V1 cells was not altered by the known MDR1-reversing agent, verapamil; (b) camptothecin was ineffective as compared with vinblastine in competing with [3H]azidopine for photoaffinity labeling of MDR1; (c) camptothecin was equally efficient in trapping cellular topoisomerase I molecules on chromosomal DNA in the form of cleavable complexes in both KB 3-1 and KB V1 cells. The mechanism by which camptothecin overcomes MDR1-mediated resistance has been further studied using a number of uncharged and charged camptothecin derivatives. In contrast to the uncharged camptothecin derivatives, such as 9-amino-camptothecin and 10,11-methylenedioxy-camptothecin, the charged camptothecin derivative, topotecan, showed reduced cytotoxicity against MDR1-overexpressing KB V1 cells. The reduced cytotoxicity of topotecan in KB V1 cells was due to the overexpression of MDR1 in KB V1 cells since verapamil restored both topotecan accumulation and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the charge on camptothecin can affect the drug's sensitivity to MDR1. The possible effect of membrane permeability in determining drug selectivity of MDR1 is discussed.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1991

Nucleotide sequence of a class mu glutathione S-transferase from chicken liver.

A clone coding for glutathione S-transferase (GST) CL2 was isolated from a chicken liver cDNA library. This clone (819 bp) encodes a polypeptide comprising 219 amino acids with a molecular weight of 25,717, excluding the initiator methionine. The primary amino acid sequence of the enzyme has 47% identical sequence with other class mu GSTs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Metabolic derepression of alpha-amylase gene expression in suspension-cultured cells of rice.

We present evidence to show that the alpha-amylase gene family in rice is under two different modes of regulation: 1) hormonal regulation in germinating seeds, and 2) metabolic repression in cultured cells by available carbohydrate nutrients. Expression of alpha-amylase genes in deembryoed rice seeds is known to be induced by exogenous gibberellic acid. On the other hand, expression of alpha-amylase genes in suspension-cultured cells is induced by the deprivation of carbohydrate nutrient. A lag period of 2-4 h is required for the induction of alpha-amylase mRNA in sucrose-depleted medium. The induction of alpha-amylase expression is extraordinarily high and levels of alpha-amylase mRNA can be increased 8-20-folds after 24 h of sucrose starvation. The synthesis and secretion of alpha-amylase is also dependent upon the level of carbon source. The derepression or repression of alpha-amylase synthesis can be readily reversed by the deprivation or replenishment of sucrose in the medium, respectively. Glucose and fructose exert a repression on the alpha-amylase synthesis similar to that of sucrose. A hypothesis that explains the induction of alpha-amylase synthesis by carbohydrate starvation is proposed. Our data have suggested a hitherto undiscovered, potentially important control mechanism of carbohydrate metabolism in higher plants.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1991

Topoisomerase II levels during granulocytic maturation in vitro and in vivo.

Western blotting, indirect immunolocalization, flow cytometry, and a functional assay for drug-induced strand breakage were utilized to examine topoisomerase (topo) II levels during granulocytic maturation in HL-60 human progranulocytic leukemia cells and in samples of normal human marrow. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that the intensity of the signal for topo II in unsynchronized log phase HL-60 cells varied widely. Indirect immunolabeling combined with propidium iodide staining and two-parameter flow cytometry revealed that topo II levels increased an average of 2-fold as cells progressed from G1 to G2/M. When HL-60 cells were induced to mature toward granulocytes, topo II levels progressively decreased and became undetectable by functional assays, by indirect immunoperoxidase staining, and by Western blotting with an antibody which identified Mr 170,000 and Mr 180,000 forms of topo II. Similar changes were detected during normal granulocytic maturation in human marrow in vivo. Western blotting revealed that levels of the Mr 170,000 (proliferation-associated) isoform of topo II were highest in marrow fractions enriched in progranulocytes and myelocytes, intermediate in unfractionated marrow from normal volunteers, and undetectable in mature granulocytes. The Mr 180,000 topo II polypeptide was also diminished or absent from mature granulocytes. In further experiments, marrow samples from normal volunteers were subjected to flow cytometry after labeling of topo II and various cell surface markers. Levels of the Mr 170,000 topo II polypeptide in CD34-positive cells (multipotent and committed progenitors from several hematopoietic lineages) were indistinguishable from levels observed in the HL-60 leukemia cell line. These results suggest that topo II levels in highly proliferative normal human myeloid cells in vivo approach levels found in corresponding neoplastic cell lines in vitro. Conversely, as the same cells mature into granulocytes in vivo or in vitro, levels of both molecular weight forms of topo II diminish. These results provide a framework for the further investigation of topo II levels and drug sensitivity in human leukemia.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

DNA looping alters local DNA conformation during transcription.

The effect of protein-mediated DNA looping on local DNA conformation during active transcription was studied using the lac repressor-operator system. Our results suggest that lac repressor-mediated DNA looping within a plasmid DNA molecule containing two lac repressor binding sequences in vivo effectively separates plasmid DNA into two topological domains. Supercoils generated by transcription within each topological domain can be rapidly removed by DNA topoisomerase I.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

ATP-dependent partitioning of the DNA template into supercoiled domains by Escherichia coli UvrAB.

The helicase action of the Escherichia coli UvrAB complex on a covalently closed circular DNA template was monitored using bacterial DNA topoisomerase I, which specifically removes negative supercoils. In the presence of E. coli DNA topoisomerase I and ATP, the UvrAB complex gradually introduced positive supercoils into the input relaxed plasmid DNA template. Positive supercoils were not produced when E. coli DNA topoisomerase I was replaced by eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I or when both E. coli and eukaryotic DNA topoisomerases I were added simultaneously. These results suggest that like other DNA helix-tracking processes, the ATP-dependent action of the UvrAB complex on duplex DNA simultaneously generates both positive and negative supercoils, which are not constrained by protein binding but are torsionally strained. The supercoiling activity of UvrAB on UV-damaged DNA was also studied using UV-damaged plasmid DNA and a mutant UvrA protein that lacks the 40 C-terminal amino acids and is defective in preferential binding to UV-damaged DNA. UvrAB was found to preferentially supercoil the UV-damaged DNA template, whereas the mutant protein supercoiled UV-damaged and undamaged DNA with equal efficiency. Our results therefore suggest that the DNA helix-tracking activity of UvrAB may be involved in searching and/or prepriming the damaged DNA for UvrC incision. A possible role of supercoiled domains in the incision process is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Transplanted LDL and mannose-6-phosphate receptor internalization signals promote high-efficiency endocytosis of the transferrin receptor.

The internalization signals of several constitutively recycling receptors have recently been identified as regions of four or six amino acids that include an aromatic residue, usually tyrosine. Here, we show that transplanted signals from the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (Man-6-PR) promote rapid internalization of the transferrin receptor (TR), directly establishing that recognition signals are interchangeable, self-determined structural motifs and that signals from type I membrane proteins are active in a type II receptor. We also show that the chemical and spatial patterns of critical residues in both four- and six-residue internalization motifs are consistent with a tight turn structure. A six-residue LDLR signal is needed for activity in TR, suggesting that an amino-terminal aromatic side chain is obligatory. In contrast, the carboxy-terminal aromatic side chain in the TR signal can be replaced by a large hydrophobic residue. Thus, internalization signals apparently require an aromatic amino-terminal residue and either an aromatic or large hydrophobic carboxy-terminal residue rather than a conserved tyrosine per se. Consistent with this conclusion, predicted internalization signals from the poly-Ig receptor, YSAF, and asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) subunit H1, YQDL, also promote internalization of TR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Elevated expression of DNA topoisomerase II in camptothecin-resistant human tumor cell lines.

In a previous study, we established camptothecin (CPT)-resistant cell lines, A549/CPT and HT-29/CPT, from human lung cancer A549 and human colon cancer HT-29. A549/CPT was shown to express similar amounts of DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) as the parental line, and HT-29/CPT was shown to express lower amounts of topo I than its parental line. DNA topoisomerases I and II are known to be functionally related. In the present study, the possible alterations in topo II expression were examined in these human CPT-resistant lines. In A549/CPT and HT-29/CPT, the cellular contents of topo II and its mRNA were elevated over that seen in each parental line. Nuclear extracts from A549/CPT and HT-29/CPT showed higher topo II activity than those from the corresponding parental lines when the same amounts of nuclear protein were used. Topo II was partially purified from HT-29 and HT-29/CPT by hydroxylapatite column chromatography, and the enzyme activities were compared. HT-29/CPT showed higher topo II activity in the hydroxylapatite column-eluted fractions than HT-29. These results indicate the possible activation of topo II expression in the CPT-resistant cell lines.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1990

Involvement of nucleic acid synthesis in cell killing mechanisms of topoisomerase poisons.

The primary cytotoxic mechanism of camptothecin has been proposed to involve an interaction between the replication machinery and the camptothecin-mediated topoisomerase I-DNA cleavable complex (Y. H. Hsiang, M.G. Lihou, and L.F. Liu, Cancer Res., 49:5077-5082, 1989). In the present study, we show that killing of V79 cells by the topoisomerase II poisons 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) and etoposide may involve ongoing RNA synthesis in addition to ongoing DNA synthesis. V79 cells synchronized by mitotic shake-off were treated with topoisomerase poisons in the presence of inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis. S-Phase V79 cells were more sensitive to the topoisomerase I poison camptothecin and the topoisomerase II poison m-AMSA than G1-phase cells. The greater sensitivity of S-phase cells to killing by m-AMSA and camptothecin was abolished during cotreatment, but not posttreatment, with aphidicolin, suggesting that ongoing DNA synthesis in involved in cell killing by both topoisomerase I and II poisons. Cotreatment with transcription inhibitors, such as 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole or cordycepin, partially protected cells from the cytotoxic effects of m-AMSA but had no effect on camptothecin-mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest that ongoing RNA transcription may be involved in cell killing by topoisomerase II poisons but not topoisomerase I poisons. Cotreatment with camptothecin reduced m-AMSA-mediated cytotoxicity in G1-phase V79 cells, suggesting a possible antagonism between topoisomerase I and II poisons. This antagonistic effect between topoisomerase I and II poisons could be explained by the strong inhibitory effect of camptothecin on RNA transcription.

Amsacrine↗
PubMed1990

Primary sequence of duck metallothionein.

Only one metallothionein appears in domesticated duck upon zinc induction. The complete amino acid sequence has been elucidated. This metallothionein has the same sequence as the chicken metallothionein, as determined by chemical sequencing of overlapping peptides produced by selective proteinase digestion and confirmed by mass spectrometry. The observation that animals of divergent origins share a common gene product presents an example of extreme conservation of a stress-inducible protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Establishment of a camptothecin analogue (CPT-11)-resistant cell line of human non-small cell lung cancer: characterization and mechanism of resistance.

Camptothecin-11 (CPT-11) is a new derivative of camptothecin, a plant alkaloid antitumor agent, and a good candidate for clinical trials because of higher antitumor activity, less toxicity, and high aqueous solubility. CPT-11 is known to be altered into an active form, SN-38, by esterase in in vivo. CPT-11-resistant cells (PC-7/CPT) established from a human non-small cell lung cancer cell (PC-7) by stepwise, continuous treatment with CPT-11 exhibit about a 10-fold increase in resistance to the drug. CPT-11-resistant cells show a moderate cross-resistance to camptothecin (x8.6) and SN-38 (x8.6), and weak cross-resistance to Adriamycin (x2.2) and 5-fluorouracil (x2.4). The comparative studies between the parent (PC-7) and resistant (PC-7/CPT) cell lines with respect to their growth characterization shows a longer cell doubling time (45.8 versus 35.5 h), a lower cloning efficiency (3.2 versus 7.1%), and a lower population of S-phase cells (26.4 versus 36.0%) in the CPT-11-resistant cells. This observation may partly explain the resistance to CPT-11, a drug whose activity is cell cycle specific. Accumulation of CPT-11 is nearly the same in both cell lines. However, the intracellular concentration of SN-38 formed in the parent cells was 2-fold greater than in the CPT-11-resistant cells. This alteration may affect to some extent to the resistance. As assayed by relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA, the total activity of DNA topoisomerase I from the CPT-11-resistant cells was shown to be reduced to one-fourth its level in sensitive cells. The reduced activity was caused by a reduction of amount of DNA topoisomerase I. Furthermore, the enzyme from the resistant cells was shown to be 5-fold more resistant to CPT-11 than the enzyme from the parent cells. Thus, decreased total activity of topoisomerase I may play an important role in cellular resistance to CPT-11, and it appears that this decreased activity is due to a resistant form of topoisomerase I in CPT-11 resistant cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1990

Effects of transcription and translation on gyrase-mediated DNA cleavage in Escherichia coli.

Gyrase-mediated DNA cleavage on plasmid DNAs was measured in Escherichia coli treated with oxolinic acid. On pBR322 DNA, gyrase cleavage sites were concentrated in the region between the 3'-ends of the tetA and bla genes. The preferential cleavage in this region was dependent on RNA transcription and the divergent orientation of these two transcription units. The enhanced gyrase cleavage also required translation; chloramphenicol treatment or the insertion of a translation terminator within the 5'-proximal region of the tetA gene abolished the enhanced cleavage. We suggest that the enhanced gyrase cleavage may reflect the changes in local DNA supercoiling during RNA transcription as gyrase cleavage in vitro was shown to be sensitive to the supercoiling state of DNA. The effects of transcription and translation on gyrase cleavage can best be explained by the twin-supercoiled-domain model of transcription (Liu, L. F., and Wang, J. C. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 7024-7027).

DNA Topoisomerases, Type II↗
PubMed1990

A protein factor from Xenopus oocytes with simian virus 40 large tumor antigen-like DNA supercoiling activity.

The ATP-dependent movement of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen on DNA can cause positive supercoiling of template DNA in the presence of bacterial DNA topoisomerase I, which specifically relaxes negative supercoils. With such a supercoiling assay, an activity capable of ATP-dependent, positive supercoiling of DNA in the presence of bacterial DNA topoisomerase I was found in 7S particles prepared from Xenopus laevis oocytes but not in purified transcription factor IIIA. The positive supercoils accumulated during the reaction are strained, as evidenced by their sensitivity to eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I. Purification of this activity led to the identification of a DNA-dependent ATPase. Molar excess of transcription factor IIIA or spermidine was found to strongly stimulate the supercoiling reaction of the purified ATPase. These results suggest that this DNA-dependent ATPase can interact with and translocate along closed-circular duplex DNA, producing local alterations in the supercoiled state of the DNA template in a manner analogous to that of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1990

A model for tumor cell killing by topoisomerase poisons.

Our model proposes that topoisomerase-targeting antitumor drugs form reversible drug-enzyme-DNA complexes that collide with the DNA and RNA synthesis machineries. On collision, the complexes lose their reversibility, and generate lethal double-strand DNA breaks. Further investigations of topoisomerase action will allow this model to be refined, and may ultimately lead to the development of more effective anticancer drugs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗