ABC of emergency radiology. Maxillofacial radiographs.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R E Lloyd.
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Human erythroblastoid K562 cells have been recently described as a relatively nonpermissive host for poliovirus replication. During investigations of virus-induced cytopathic effects in this cell line, we discovered that poliovirus easily established persistently infected cultures in K562-Mu cells. In these cultures, most cells remained viable, with overall viability continuously maintained between 67 and 92% over 3 months. Infected K562 cells continued to grow, usually without any major periods of crisis in the culture or large diminutions in cell growth rate. K562-Mu cells produced a slower onset of virus production than observed in HeLa cells, and virus titers in culture supernates rapidly stabilized at levels between 10(5) and 10(6) PFU/ml. In infectious center or limiting dilution assays, only about 10% of K562 cells produced infectious virus after 2 days. However, when assays were extended to 3 to 5 days, most K562 cells in the culture scored as infectious centers, suggesting productive infection of all cells in the culture with delayed kinetics of virus production. Cultures of infected K562 cells could not be cured of virus by prolonged incubation with high-titer neutralizing antibody. Pulse-label SDS-PAGE analysis of infected cultures detected moderate levels of virus protein synthesis which peaked at 9-12 hr postinfection; however, little or no shutoff of host protein synthesis was observed at any time point during infection. Immunoblot analysis with antisera to the p220 subunit of eIF-4F demonstrated extensive but incomplete cleavage of p220 in infected K562 cells at times which correlated with peak viral protein synthesis. Taken together, the results demonstrate a persistent infection in which host cell shutoff does not occur despite significant viral protein synthesis and extensive early degradation of p220.
Copper(II), in the presence of UV-B radiation (280-315 nm), can generate single-strand breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of pBR322 plasmid DNA. A low level of single-strand backbone breaks occurs in the presence of Cu(II) alone, but UV-B irradiation increases the rate by the more than 100-fold. Concomitant with the damage to the DNA backbone is a loss of transforming activity. Oxygen is required for generation of the single-strand breaks but not for the loss of transforming activity. A DNA glycosylase (Fpg), which participates in the repair of certain DNA nitrogenous base damage, does not repair plasmid DNA damaged by Cu(II). The hydroxyl radical scavenging compound DMSO is only somewhat effective at protecting the physical and biological properties of the DNA. These results with Cu(II) are compared to those obtained previously with pBR322 plasmid DNA in the presence of Fe(III) and UV-A.
Iron(III) and UVA (320-400 nm) light strongly diminished the transforming activity of Haemophilus influenzae DNA in the presence of oxygen. Iron(III) alone in the absence of light had no measurable effect on the transforming activity. The chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) conferred virtually complete protection, but hydroxyl radical scavengers (mannitol, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) inhibited only a small fraction of the inactivation. Treatment of plasmid DNA (pBR322) with iron(III) results in the conversion of the covalently closed circular form of the plasmid to open circles and ultimately to the linear form. Concomitant with the alteration in the conformation of the plasmid, the ability to transform Escherichia coli was reduced. In model systems, iron(III) photoreacted with the DNA backbone causing nicking and double-strand breakage. The results are consistent with a mechanism involving a preliminary complexation of iron(III) by DNA followed by the generation of reactive free radicals other than .OH. We suggest that bound iron, or other UV-absorbing transition metal complexes, may be chromophores capable of causing DNA damage in the long-wave near-UV region.
The primary processing of the poliovirus polyprotein is catalyzed by 2A protease (2Apro) which cleaves at the 1D/2A junction in a very rapid cotranslational reaction. In addition, 2Apro also indirectly induces cleavage of the p220 component of eIF-4F, which results in selective inhibition of host protein synthesis. Earlier studies have indicated that 2Apro is related to 3C protease (3Cpro) and is structurally similar to trypsin-like serine proteases with the substitution of Cys109 as the nucleophile. We noticed that 2Apro of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses contains a specific motif of Cys55-Xaa-Cys57-Xaan-Cys115-Xaa-His117 which is absolutely conserved, but which is not found in viral 3Cpro or known cellular serine proteases. To better understand the specific roles these conserved cysteine and histidine residues played in the structure/function of 2Apro, we constructed a series of 2Apro mutants by site-specific mutagenesis and analyzed the mutant enzymes with respect to their biochemical properties. Conservative amino acid replacements at Cys55, Cys57, Cys115, or His117 resulted, in each case, in a complete loss of both in cis and in trans activities of 2Apro. To determine the function of these residues, we examined the biochemical/structural features of 2Apro expressed in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. Gel mobility shift and chemical modification data suggest that these cysteine residues do not form intra-molecular disulfide linkages as a structural feature of 2Apro. However, studies with metal chelators did not eliminate the possibility that 2Apro contains a metal-binding ligand. Finally, our results suggest that these conserved cysteine and histidine residues, including Cys55, Cys57, Cys115, and His117, are critical in maintaining the active conformation of 2Apro structure and essential in supporting the catalytic activity of 2Apro.
The cleavage of the p220 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF-4F) that is induced by the poliovirus protease 2A has been shown previously to require another translation initiation factor, eIF-3. The role of eIF-3 in this cleavage reaction, however, is not known. An antiserum was raised against human eIF-3 and used to analyze the eIF-3 subunit composition in poliovirus-infected and uninfected HeLa cells and after incubation of eIF-3 in vitro with viral 2A protease. No evidence for 2Apro-dependent cleavage of any eIF-3 subunit was detected. Infected cells contain an activity that catalyzes the cleavage of p220 to a specific set of cleavage products. This activity is thought to be an activated form of a latent cellular protease. The p220-specific cleavage activity was partially purified. It was resolved from eIF-3 by both gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. Neither intact eIF-3 nor any detectable subunits of eIF-3 were found to copurify with the p220-specific cleavage activity. The latter activity behaves as a protein of 55,000 to 60,000 molecular weight and is inhibited by alkylating agents and metals, which indicates the presence of essential thiol groups. When this activity was incubated with partially purified p220, cleavage occurred only in the presence of eIF-3. Thus, eIF-3 appears to play a role in the p220 cleavage cascade which is subsequent to the 2Apro-induced activation of the p220-specific protease.
Proteolytic processing of poliovirus polyprotein is carried out by the products of two viral genes, 2A and 3C. 2A protease catalyzes cleavage of the polyprotein of type 1 poliovirus at two sites, one a cis cleavage at the 2A N-terminus and the other a trans cleavage within the 3D polymerase. In addition to polyprotein cleavage activity, 2A protease also indirectly induces cleavage of the p220 component of the cap-binding protein complex, which results in selective inhibition of host protein synthesis. Molecular genetic and biochemical analyses of 2A protease were performed to test its putative homology to small trypsin-like serine proteases and to examine the roles of individual amino acids in the reaction mechanism of 2A protease. A recombinant plasmid containing poliovirus 1C, 1D, and 2A gene sequences was expressed in a cell-free transcription/translation system, resulting in synthesis of a precursor protein that underwent efficient self-processing and produced mature 2A protease. To identify residues involved in the catalytic center and/or substrate-binding loops, we generated a series of 2A mutants by site-specific mutagenesis of this plasmid. Mutants were then expressed in vitro and tested for autocatalytic cis cleavage activity, trans cleavage of the 1D/2A junction, and trans-activation of p220-specific protease. Our data suggest that the conserved His20, Asp38, and Cys109 residues recently proposed to be equivalent to the catalytic triad of known serine proteases may comprise the catalytic triad of 2A protease. Surprisingly, Asp38 could be replaced with glutamic acid and retain autocatalytic function. Other amino acid substitutions at Tyr88, Tyr89, and Thr124 suggested that these residues lie in loops involved in substrate binding. Biochemical studies with protease inhibitors indicate that 2A protease activity is blocked by inhibitors specific for serine and cysteine proteases. Overall, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that 2A proteinase is structurally similar to the trypsin-like family of serine proteases with the substitution of cysteine 109 as the active site nucleophile.
A case of a lymphoepithelial cyst presenting as a parotid tumour is described. Aspects of diagnosis and management are discussed, as well as current theories on the origin and development of lymphoepithelial (branchial) cysts.
Two mutants of Escherichia coli unable to synthesize riboflavin were grown with limiting (2 micrograms ml-1) and non-limiting (10 micrograms ml-1) concentrations of riboflavin. These riboflavin auxotrophs when grown to exponential phase with non-limiting riboflavin are more sensitive to broad spectrum near-ultraviolet light (NUV, 320-400 nm) inactivation than when they are grown with limiting riboflavin. Exponential phase cells of the riboflavin auxotrophs grown with limiting riboflavin are sensitized when irradiated in saline supplemented with riboflavin. This suggests that extracellular riboflavin is important as a NUV sensitizer when intracellular levels of riboflavin are reduced. The concentration of riboflavin in crude extracts from exponentially growing cells correlates well with the sensitivity of these mutants to NUV inactivation. The level of riboflavin supplementation has little effect on the NUV sensitivity of the parental strain.
These studies provide the first evidence that adoptive transfer of syngeneic mouse (BALB/c) lymphocytes treated with low levels of mouse interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta can result in sufficient protection to protect mice from Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infection. Specifically, intraperitoneal inoculation of noncytotoxic lymphocytes treated exogenously with IFN (3 to 50 U/ml), washed exhaustively, and mixed with antibody to IFN-alpha/beta to neutralize any residual or early produced IFN, resulted (after repeated studies) in a 35% to 40% reduction in mortality of mice challenged with SFV (P less than or equal to .01), while inoculation of control lymphocytes had no effect. Direct administration of relatively high levels of IFN-alpha/beta (2,000 U/d) only moderately reduced the mortality (by 20%) in mice. Passive transfer of IFN-treated BALB/c mouse embryo cells also did not protect. The protection could not be attributed to carryover of IFN by the lymphocytes, endogenous IFN induction, enhanced cytotoxicity of endogenous splenocytes or peritoneal leukocytes, or early appearance of antiviral neutralizing antibody. Thus, the most likely cause of the observed protection is consistent with a unique mechanism that can be activated by the IFN-treated lymphocytes.
In the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors, three major questions need to be answered. First, is the mass intra glandular or extraglandular? Second, is it benign or malignant? Third, does it lie deep to or superficial to the facial nerve? Computerized tomography is a relatively new diagnostic technique and when used in conjunction with sialography can provide very useful preoperative information about parotid lesions. A case is presented in which computerized tomography sialography was performed preoperatively in a patient with a parotid gland swelling and greatly assisted in the diagnosis and operative treatment. The technique is described in detail and previous reports of the procedure are reviewed.
Infection of HeLa cells by poliovirus results in an abrupt inhibition of host cell protein synthesis. It is thought that the mechanism of this inhibition involves proteolytic cleavage of the p220 component of the cap-binding protein complex, thereby causing functional inactivation of the cap-binding protein complex and preventing capped (cellular) mRNAs from binding ribosomes. Current data suggest that the viral proteinase 2A indirectly induces p220 cleavage via alteration or activation of a second proteinase of cellular origin. We present evidence that translation of poliovirus proteinase 2A sequences in vitro activates p220 cleavage. We have also aligned published picornavirus 2A amino acid sequences for maximum homology, and we show that the picornaviruses can be divided into two classes based on the presence or absence of a highly conserved 18-amino acid sequence in the carboxy-terminal portion of 2A. This conserved 2A sequence is homologous with the active site of the cysteine proteinase 3C common to all picornaviruses. We show that picornaviruses which contain the putative 2A active site sequence (e.g., enteroviruses and rhinoviruses) will induce cleavage of p220 in vivo. Conversely, we show that two cardioviruses (encephalomyocarditis virus and Theiler's encephalomyelitis virus) do not encode this putative proteinase sequence in the 2A region and do not induce cleavage of p220 in vivo. The foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2A sequence represents an apparent deletion and consists of only 16 amino acids, most homologous with the carboxy terminus of the cardiovirus 2A sequence. It does not contain the putative cysteine proteinase active site. However, FMDV infection induces complete cleavage of BK cell p220, and translation of FMDV RNA in vitro induces an activity that cleaves HeLa cell p220. The data predict that an alternate FMDV viral protease is responsible for the induction of p220 cleavage.
Suppression of host protein synthesis in cells infected by poliovirus and certain other picornaviruses involves inactivation of the cap-binding protein complex. Inactivation of this complex has been correlated with the proteolytic cleavage of p220, a component of the cap-binding protein complex. Since picornaviral RNA is not capped, it continues to be translated as the cap-binding protein complex is inactivated. The cleavage of p220 can be induced to occur in vitro, catalyzed by extracts from infected cells or by reticulocyte lysates translating viral RNA. Expression of polioviral protease 2A is sufficient to induce p220 cleavage, and the presence in 2A of an 18-amino-acid sequence representing a putative cysteine protease active site correlates with the ability of different picornaviruses to induce p220 cleavage. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection induces complete cleavage of p220, yet the FMDV genome codes for a 2A protein of only 16 amino acids, which does not include the putative cysteine protease active site. Using cDNA plasmids encoding various regions of the FMDV genome, we have determined that the leader protein is required to initiate p220 cleavage. This is the first report of a function for the leader protein, other than that of autocatalytic cleavage from the FMDV polyprotein.
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A rare case of necrotising fasciitis affecting the face is described which, following prompt treatment and reconstruction, resulted in a successful outcome.
Poliovirus infection of HeLa cells results in a rapid inhibition of host protein synthesis by a mechanism that does not affect the translation of poliovirus RNA. It has been suggested that this virus-induced translational control results from inactivation of the cap-binding protein complex, and it has been shown that the 220-kilodalton component(s) (p220) of the cap-binding protein complex is cleaved in infected HeLa cells to form antigenically related polypeptides of 100 to 130 kilodaltons. We have previously described an activity in infected cells that specifically restricts translation of capped mRNA in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Here, we describe further refinements and characterization of restriction assay. We determined that the assay is a good in vitro model for study of host cell shutoff by several criteria: (i) translation was inhibited in both instances at the step involving mRNA binding to ribosomes; (ii) translation of capped mRNA was specifically inhibited, whereas translation of poliovirus RNA was not; (iii) restriction activity appeared in infected cells with kinetics which parallel host cell shutoff; and (iv) restriction activity, like the specific inhibition of host translation, appeared in cells infected in the presence of guanidine-HCl. The restricting activity was partially purified from poliovirus-infected cells and was compared with the virus-induced p220 cleavage activity. Both activities copurified through numerous cell fractionation and biochemical fractionation procedures. However, specific restriction of capped mRNA translation in reticulocyte lysates occurred without complete cleavage of the endogenous p220.
Poliovirus protein 2A contains a short amino acid sequence that also occurs in the putative active site of the known viral proteinase, 3C, previously shown to be responsible for glutamine/glycine cleavages in the poliovirus polyprotein precursor. Experimental evidence indicates that 2A is a second viral proteinase that mediates the cleavage of two tyrosine/glycine cleavages in the generation of virus-specific proteins. Since poliovirus inhibition of host cell protein synthesis correlates with the specific cleavage of the 220,000-Da component of the cap binding protein complex, we have tested whether viral protein 2A contains the p220 cleavage activity. The results show that 2A does not copurify with p220 cleavage activity, partially purified fractions containing high p220 cleavage activity contain no detectable 2A sequences in the form of either mature or precursor protein, and anti-2A serum or IgG does not inhibit p220 cleavage in vitro.
Poliovirus infection of HeLa cells results in a rapid shutoff of host protein synthesis but does not inhibit the translation of poliovirus mRNA. It has been suggested that this virus-induced translational control is mediated by the inactivation of a cap binding protein (CBP) complex, and it has been shown that the 220,000-Da component(s) (p220) of the CBP complex is cleaved in infected HeLa cells to form antigenically related peptides of 100,000-130,000 Da. To determine whether the known viral protease (peptide 3C) was the mediator of the cleavage of p220, we used immunoblot techniques to analyze partially purified infected HeLa cell extracts for cleavage activity. We report here that p220 cleavage activity does not copurify with viral peptide 3C or with any precursors containing 3C sequences. We also show that cleavage of p220 can be demonstrated in vitro in HeLa cell extracts under conditions where the functional activity of the poliovirus protease is inhibited by specific antibody.