Evolution and somatic learning in V-region genes.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Hightower.
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Adozelesin is a derivative of an extremely cytotoxic compound, CC1065. This entirely new class of drug binds preferentially to DNA and facilitates alkylation reaction. In the present study, we used the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) chemosensitivity assay to compare the cytotoxic potency of Adozelesin with that of common chemotherapeutic agents in ten gynecologic-cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry was also used to study its effects on cell-cycle kinetics. The mean drug concentrations required to produce a 50% reduction in ATP levels as compared with controls [IC50] were: Adriamycin, 0.17 +/- 0.06 microM; 4OH-Cytoxan, 18 +/- 3 microM; cisplatin, 17 +/- 7 microM; 5-fluorouracil, 183 +/- 116 microM; and Adozelesin, 11.0 +/- 5.4 pM. Thus, Adozelesin was 10(4) - 10(7) times more potent than Adriamycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and Cytoxan. Cell kinetics studies revealed significant S and G2 blocks such as those previously reported for other alkylating agents.
The quality of frozen fruits and vegetables can be compromised by the damaging effects of ice crystal growth within the frozen tissue. Antifreeze proteins in the blood of some polar fishes have been shown to inhibit ice recrystallization at low concentrations. In order to determine whether expression of genes of this type confers improved freezing properties to plant tissue, we have produced transgenic tobacco and tomato plants which express genes encoding antifreeze proteins. The afa3 antifreeze gene was expressed at high steady-state mRNA levels in leaves from transformed plants, but we did not detect inhibition of ice recrystallization in tissue extracts. However, both mRNA and fusion proteins were detectable in transgenic tomato tissue containing a chimeric gene encoding a fusion protein truncated staphylococcal protein A and antifreeze protein. Furthermore, ice recrystallization inhibition was detected in this transgenic tissue.