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P Nygaard

Publications and source records attributed to P Nygaard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Autoregulation of PurR repressor synthesis and involvement of purR in the regulation of purB, purC, purL, purMN and guaBA expression in Escherichia coli.

The purR gene encodes a repressor (PurR) controlling the synthesis of the enzymes of purine biosynthesis. The subunit of PurR was identified as a 38-kDa polypeptide by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analysis of a purR-lacZ transcriptional fusion indicated that purR expression is autoregulated. This was confirmed by gel retardation and DNaseI footprinting experiments, where two PurR-binding sites were identified in the transcribed part of purR. Introduction of a purR mutation in wild-type and pur-lac fusion strains was found to abolish purine repression of all genes of the purine biosynthetic pathway except for purA.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of hypoxanthine and guanine as the co-repressors for the purine regulon genes of Escherichia coli.

Addition of purine compounds to the growth medium of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium causes repressed synthesis of the purine biosynthetic enzymes. The repression is mediated through a regulatory protein, PurR. To identify the co-repressor(s) of PurR, two approaches were used: (i) mutations were introduced into purine salvage genes and the effects of different purines on pur gene expression were determined; (ii) purine compounds which dictate the binding of the PurR protein to its operator DNA were resolved by gel retardation. Both the in vivo and the in vitro data indicated that guanine and hypoxanthine are co-repressors. The toxic purine analogues 6-mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine also activated the binding of PurR to its operator DNA.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Role of guanosine kinase in the utilization of guanosine for nucleotide synthesis in Escherichia coli.

Using purine auxotrophic strains of Escherichia coli with additional genetic lesions in the pathways of interconversion and salvage of purine compounds, we demonstrated the in vivo function of guanosine kinase and inosine kinase. Mutants with increased ability to utilize guanosine were isolated by plating cells on medium with guanosine as the sole purine source. These mutants had altered guanosine kinase activity and the mutations were mapped in the gene encoding guanosine kinase, gsk. Some of the mutants had acquired an additional genetic lesion in the purine de novo biosynthetic pathway, namely a purF, a purL or a purM mutation. A revised map location of the gsk gene is presented and the gene order established as proC-acrA-apt-adk-gsk-purE.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Genetic evidence for a repressor of synthesis of cytosine deaminase and purine biosynthesis enzymes in Escherichia coli.

Addition of purines to the growth medium of Escherichia coli represses synthesis of cytosine deaminase (codA) and enzymes of purine de novo synthesis. After Tn10 mutagenesis, mutants displaying derepressed levels of cytosine deaminase in the presence of hypoxanthine were isolated. One of these had simultaneously acquired resistance to the hypoxanthine analog 6-mercaptopurine. The mutation purR6::Tn10 was shown to affect de novo synthesis of the purine enzymes glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (purF) and phosphoribosyl glycinamide synthetase (purD). The mutation was mapped by P1 transduction at 36 min on the E. coli linkage map. A plasmid containing the purR region was obtained by complementation of the purR6::Tn10 mutation. By comparing the restriction maps of the cloned fragment and the E. coli chromosome, the purR gene was found to be located very close to the lpp gene (36.3 min).

Chromosome Mapping↗

Gene-enzyme relationships of the purine biosynthetic pathway in Bacillus subtilis.

The gene-enzyme relationship has been established for most of the steps of the purine de novo biosynthetic pathway in Bacillus subtilis. The synthesis of inosine monophosphate (IMP) involves ten steps, and the branching from IMP to AMP and to guanosine monophosphate (GMP) synthesis both require two steps. To avoid confusion in the nomenclature of the pur genes we have adopted the Escherichia coli system for B. subtilis. The two genes specifying the enzymes catalysing the conversion of IMP to succinyl-AMP (pur A), and the conversion of IMP to xanthosine monophosphate (guaB), occur as single units whilst the other purine genes are clustered at 55 degrees on the B. subtilis linkage map. Based on transformation and transduction studies, and on complementation studies using B. subtilis pur genes cloned in plasmids, the arrangement of some of the clustered genes has been determined relative to outside markers. The following gene order has been established: pbuG-purB-purF-purM-purH-purD-tre. Three other genes were also found to be located in the cluster, guaA, purL and purE/C. However, we were not able to find their exact location. When the purF, purM, purD and purB genes of B. subtilis are present in plasmids they are capable of directing the synthesis in E. coli of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (purF), aminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase (purM), glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase (purD) and adenylosuccinate lyase (purB), respectively.

Adenine↗

Decreased B lymphocyte ecto-5'nucleotidase and increased adenosine deaminase in mononuclear cells from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

The levels of purine enzyme activities were studied in 10 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex (ARC) and in 6 healthy individuals with antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). All AIDS/ARC patients studied had ecto-5'nucleotidase (ecto-5'NUC) activity in B lymphocytes below the normal range and 4 out of 6 clinically healthy HIV-positive likewise had reduced activity. Increased numbers of activated B lymphocytes were found both in the group of healthy HIV positive individuals and in AIDS/ARC patients. Further studies are needed to define whether the decrease in ecto-5'NUC activity on the B lymphocytes is a result of increased activation of the cells or of a B cell defect. No significant changes were found in ecto-5'NUC levels in T lymphocytes or mononuclear cells (MNC), neither in the group of AIDS/ARC patients nor in the healthy HIV-positive group. Both AIDS/ARC patients and healthy individuals with antibodies against HIV had increased levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in mononuclear cells, but only in the group of AIDS/ARC patients was the increase significant. No changes were found in purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) activity in the two groups tested. From these investigations of purine enzyme levels and other markers of immune function in both sick and healthy HIV infected individuals we conclude that the observed changes in ecto-5'NUC and ADA activities in HIV infected patients are not a direct result of the HIV infection but develop early in the course of the disease.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Low cytidine deaminase levels in human hematopoietic cell lines.

Purine and pyrimidine enzyme profiles of human cell lines have been investigated. A novel observation was the finding that most of the cell lines showed very low or undetectable levels of cytidine (deoxycytidine) deaminase, while they possessed pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, cytidine and deoxycytidine kinase activities. Most cell lines showed high levels of adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities and low levels of purine 5'-nucleotidase. We propose that high adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities and low cytidine deaminase activity may be of importance for immature hematopoietic cells in order to ensure a balanced synthesis of the DNA precursors.

Cell Line↗

Genetic and physiological characterization of Bacillus subtilis mutants resistant to purine analogs.

Bacillus subtilis mutants defective in purine metabolism have been isolated by selecting for resistance to purine analogs. Mutants resistant to 2-fluoroadenine were found to be defective in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (apt) activity and slightly impaired in adenine uptake. By making use of apt mutants and mutants defective in adenosine phosphorylase activity, it was shown that adenine deamination is an essential step in the conversion of both adenine and adenosine to guanine nucleotides. Mutants resistant to 8-azaguanine, pbuG mutants, appeared to be defective in hypoxanthine and guanine transport and normal in hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. Purine auxotrophic pbuG mutants grew in a concentration-dependent way on hypoxanthine, while normal growth was observed on inosine as the purine source. Inosine was taken up by a different transport system and utilized after conversion to hypoxanthine. Two mutants resistant to 8-azaxanthine were isolated: one was defective in xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (xpt) activity and xanthine transport, and another had reduced GMP synthetase activity. The results obtained with the various mutants provide evidence for the existence of specific purine base transport systems. The genetic lesions causing the mutant phenotypes, apt, pbuG, and xpt, have been located on the B. subtilis linkage map at 243, 55, and 198 degrees, respectively.

Adenine↗

New assignment of the adenosine deaminase gene locus to chromosome 20q13 X 11 by study of a patient with interstitial deletion 20q.

A karyotype 46,XY,del(20)(q11 X 23q13 X 11) was found in a three year old boy with mental and growth retardation, low set ears, broad nasal bridge, and macrostomia. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was reduced by about 50%, assigning the gene locus to the deleted segment. A review of the previously reported regional assignments suggests that the ADA gene is in the region of band 20q13 X 11.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Purification and some properties of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase from Escherichia coli K12.

Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase from Escherichia coli K12 was purified to homogeneity as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For this purpose a pyrimidine-requiring strain harboring the upp gene on a ColE1 plasmid was used, which showed 15-times higher uracil phosphoribosyltransferase activity in a crude extract. When this strain was grown under conditions of uracil starvation, an additional 10-times elevation of the enzyme activity was obtained. The molecular weight of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase was determined to be 75000; the enzyme consists of three subunits with a molecular weight of 23500. Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase is specific for uracil and some uracil analogues. The apparent Km values for uracil and PRib-PP were 7 microM and 300 microM, respectively. As an effector of enzyme activity, GTP lowered the Km for PRib-PP to 90 microM and increased the Vmax value 2-fold, but had no effect on the Km for uracil. The effect of GTP was found to be pH-dependent. The enzymatic characterization of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase and the observed regulation of its synthesis emphasizes the role of the enzyme in pyrimidine salvage.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Segregation of a t(3;20) translocation through three generations resulting in unbalanced karyotypes in six persons.

With the aid of high resolution chromosome banding, a t(3;20) translocation was discovered in a large family with six retarded members. The translocation involved very small terminal segments. The unbalanced products resulting in partial trisomy 20q and monosomy 3p were observed in the retarded subjects. Gene localisation studies of the ADA gene, with a presumed locus on the long arm of chromosome 20, were also carried out and seem to exclude this gene from the distal part of 20q (20q13.1----qter).

Adolescent↗

Complications that may occur in those with spinal cord injuries who participate in sport.

The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of developing complications in paraplegics taking part in sport. It is a retrospective study of patients with complete spinal cord injury at the spinal level of C7--cauda equina/conus injury, and consists of 61 patients admitted to the Beitostølen Healthsportcenter, Norway. All of them had achieved satisfactory bladder/bowel function. The wheelchair dependents were all skilled in the use of the wheelchair. They participated in a training programme with an average duration of 25 days. Different activities were tried, such as weight-lifting, pulking, swimming, volleyball, calisthenics in a group, horseback-riding, archery, tabletennis, canoeing, totalling 11 955 training hours. During the training period the following complications were observed: urinary tract infections, pressure sores, and sprains and strains. There were 30 complications, most of them only of minor type. The incidence of complications, expressed as number of complications/1000 training-hours was, for urinary tract infections--0,50, pressure sores 0,42, sprains/strains 1,33, others 0,25: in all 2,51. Sprains and strains were the most common complications, accounting for about 55 per cent of the total, all of which were successfully treated before discharge. Sport activities are an important part of the rehabilitation of the spinal cord injured and the risk of serious complications appears to be low.

Athletic Injuries↗

Purine metabolizing enzymes in lymphocytes from patients with solid tumors.

The activities of five clinically important enzymes of purine metabolism have been determined in lymphocytes from 62 patients with various types of solid tumors. The activity of purine nucleoside phosphorylase was increased in all patient groups studied, i.e. small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (n = 30), carcinoma of the breast (n = 17) and other tumors (n = 15), compared to cells form normal donors. Activities of adenosine deaminase, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT), hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), and 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NUC) vary little from control values, except for lower levels of APRT in lymphocytes from patients with carcinoma of the breast. In patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, enzyme levels were also determined in granulocytes, where increased APRT activity was found. Following cytostatic treatment of these patients, significant decreases were seen in lymphocytic HGPRT and 5'-NUC activities.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Identification of the enzymatic reactions encoded by the purG and purI genes of Escherichia coli.

The chromosomal locations of the genes purG and purI on the Escherichia coli linkage map are the opposites of those of Salmonella typhimurium. By methods which permit the identification of lesions in any of the five early enzymes of the purine de novo pathway, the gene-enzyme relationships of the purG and purI loci have been reevaluated in these two organisms. The results demonstrate that the relative locations of the genes encoding the two enzymes (phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthetase and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole synthetase) are similar in the two organisms. The gene products have been correctly determined in S. typhimurium. The gene products currently listed for the loci in E. coli are incorrect. The E. coli purG locus is equivalent to the S. typhimurium purI locus, and the E. coli purI locus is equivalent to the S. typhimurium purG locus.

Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases↗