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R L Cate

Publications and source records attributed to R L Cate.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Developmentally regulated polyadenylation of two discrete messenger ribonucleic acids for müllerian inhibiting substance.

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a 140-kilodalton homodimeric glycoprotein that causes regression of the Mullerian ducts in male embryos, and may also have a role in both males and females in the regulation of germ cell maturation. We examined the ontogeny of MIS messenger RNA (mRNA) in rat testes from midgestation through adulthood and found two discrete MIS mRNA species that are developmentally regulated. The larger 2.0-kilobase species is abundant at embryonic day 14, then decreases in late gestation, and is barely detectable after birth. The smaller 1.8-kilobase species is first noted at embryonic day 18 and is the major species detected postnatally. Both species are abundant just prior to birth, at embryonic day 21, then decrease markedly after birth. This variation in MIS mRNA levels correlates with the developmental expression of MIS protein. A series of oligonucleotide-directed ribonuclease H mapping experiments determined that the two mRNA species differ at their 3' ends in the extent of polyadenylation. Thus, differential polyadenylation of MIS mRNA may be an additional mechanism for regulating MIS expression during fetal and postnatal development.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

Directed expression of an oncogene to Sertoli cells in transgenic mice using mullerian inhibiting substance regulatory sequences.

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a glycoprotein hormone expressed by Sertoli cells that induces the regression of Mullerian ducts during development of the male reproductive tract. Transgenic mice carrying a fusion gene composed of human MIS transcriptional regulatory sequences linked to the SV40 T-antigen gene specifically develop testicular tumors composed of a cell type histologically resembling the Sertoli cell. The lack of pathology at other sites suggests tissue-restricted expression of the transgene. A cell line derived from one of the testicular tumors has been established that continues to express markers associated with Sertoli cells, such as transferrin, sulfated glycoprotein-2, and inhibin-beta B. The cell line does not express detectable levels of inhibin-alpha, MIS, or FSH receptor. However, the cells have retained forskolin responsiveness. As adult Sertoli cells cannot be propagated in vitro, the availability of an immortal cell line displaying features characteristic of normal Sertoli cells should aid in subsequent analyses of the biology of this cell type.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A quantitative and interspecific test for biological activity of anti-müllerian hormone: the fetal ovary aromatase assay.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), also known as Müllerian-inhibiting substance or factor, has previously been shown to sex-reverse the steroidogenic pattern of fetal mammalian ovaries through repression of aromatase biosynthesis. Study of the ontogeny of the response of cyclic AMP-stimulated aromatase activity of rat fetal ovaries to AMH has allowed us to develop a quantitative bioassay for the hormone. Linear responses as a function of the logarithm of AMH concentration were observed over ranges of 0.2-7.5 micrograms/ml for the bovine protein and 0.15-2 micrograms/ml for the human protein, with a maximal decrease in aromatase activity of 90% for both proteins. Under the same in vitro conditions, AMH treatment did not affect cyclic AMP-stimulated fetal rat testicular aromatase activity. Partially purified chick AMH also decreased rat ovarian aromatase activity, allowing us to use this test to study AMH ontogeny in chick gonads. Analysis of the species specificity of AMH repression of ovarian aromatase activity indicated that turtle and rat fetal ovaries responded to AMH of other vertebrate classes, whereas aromatase activity of chick embryo ovaries could be repressed only by the homospecific hormone.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Insensitivity of the chick embryo müllerian duct to human recombinant müllerian-inhibiting substance.

To determine whether mammalian Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) is active in birds, Müllerian ducts from 7- to 8-day-old male or female chick embryos were cultured in the presence of human recombinant MIS at concentrations between 2.5 and 12.5 micrograms/ml. None of 20 ducts regressed at any concentration. In contrast, at concentrations of 2.5-5 micrograms/ml, all 12 Müllerian ducts from 13-day-old male mouse embryos and 13 out of 14 female ducts were inhibited to varying degrees. It is concluded that avian Müllerian ducts are unresponsive to mammalian MIS. There may be a difference in structure between the MIS of birds and mammals, or the signal-transduction system may be different.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Correlation of gene and protein structure of rat and human lipocortin I.

Lipocortins (annexins) are a family of calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity. The characteristic primary structure of members of this family consists of a core structure of four or eight repeated domains, which have been implicated in calcium-dependent phospholipid binding. In two lipocortins (I and II) a short amino-terminal sequence distinct from the core structure has potential regulatory functions which are dependent on its phosphorylation state. We have isolated the rat and the human lipocortin I genes and found that they both consist of 13 exons with a striking conservation of their exon-intron structure and their promoter and amino acid sequences. Both lipocortin I genes are at least 19 kbp in length with exons ranging from 57 to 123 bp interrupted by introns as large as 5 kbp. Each of the four repeat units of lipocortin I are encoded by two consecutive exons while individual exons code for the highly conserved putative calcium-binding domains. The promoter sequences in the rat and in human genes are highly conserved and contain nucleotide sequences characterized as enhancer sequences in other genes. The structure of the lipocortin I gene lends support to the hypothesis that the lipocortin genes arose by a duplication of a single domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Genomic Southern analysis with alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated oligonucleotide probes and the chemiluminescent substrate AMPPD.

We have used a chemiluminescent detection method to improve both the sensitivity and the speed of detection of human genes with oligonucleotide probes. A direct chemiluminescent substrate (AMPPD) was used in combination with an alkaline-phosphatase-labeled oligonucleotide probe to detect the human tissue of plasminogen activator gene by Southern blot analysis. X-ray exposures obtained after 4 h were comparable to those obtained after 7 days with a 32P-labeled oligomer. After 16 h, the signal was 12 times greater than the 32P signal. The detection of the single-copy tissue plasminogen activator gene in 0.25 micrograms of human genomic DNA (76,000 molecules) was achieved. The improved sensitivity obtained by chemiluminescent detection should increase the usefulness of oligonucleotide probes in the direct Southern analysis of human genetic disorders.

Adamantane↗
PubMed1990

Abnormal sexual development in transgenic mice chronically expressing müllerian inhibiting substance.

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), also known as anti-Müllerian hormone, is a glycoprotein normally secreted by the Sertoli cells of the fetal and adult testis and by granulosa cells of the postnatal ovary. The production of MIS in the male fetus brings about the regression of the Müllerian ducts, the anlagen of the uterus, oviducts, and upper vagina. In addition, purified MIS induces the formation of seminiferous cord-like structures in fetal rat ovaries cultured in vitro, suggesting that MIS may influence testicular differentiation. We have produced transgenic mice chronically expressing human MIS under the control of the mouse metallothionein-1 promoter to investigate its role during sexual development. In females, chronic expression led to the inhibition of Müllerian duct differentiation, resulting in a blind vagina and no uterus or oviducts. At birth the ovaries had fewer germ cells than normal; during the next two weeks germ cells were lost and the somatic cells became organized into structures resembling seminiferous tubules. Apparently, these structures degenerate as they are undetectable in adult females. The majority of transgenic males developed normally. But in two lines with the highest levels of MIS expression, some males showed feminization of the external genitalia, impairment of Wolffian duct development, and undescended testes. These results suggest that MIS has several distinct roles in mammalian sexual development.

Androgens↗
PubMed1990

Imaging of DNA sequences with chemiluminescence.

We have coupled a chemiluminescent detection method that uses an alkaline phosphatase label to the genomic DNA sequencing protocol of Church and Gilbert [Church, G. M. & Gilbert, W. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 1991-1995]. Images of sequence ladders are obtained on x-ray film with exposure times of less than 30 min, as compared to 40 h required for a similar exposure with a 32P-labeled oligomer. Chemically cleaved DNA from a sequencing gel is transferred to a nylon membrane, and specific sequence ladders are selected by hybridization to DNA oligonucleotides labeled with alkaline phosphatase or with biotin, leading directly or indirectly to deposition of enzyme. If a biotinylated probe is used, an incubation with avidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate follows. The membrane is soaked in the chemiluminescent substrate (AMPPD) and is exposed to film. Dephosphorylation of AMPPD leads in a two-step pathway to a highly localized emission of visible light. The demonstrated shorter exposure times may improve the efficiency of a serial reprobing strategy such as the multiplex sequencing approach of Church and Kieffer-Higgins [Church, G. M. & Kieffer-Higgins, S. (1988) Science 240, 185-188].

Adamantane↗
PubMed1990

An immunoassay to detect human müllerian inhibiting substance in males and females during normal development.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed to measure human Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) in biological fluids. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is specific for MIS, with a sensitivity in human serum to 0.5 ng/ml and does not recognize transforming growth factor-beta 1 or -beta 2, LH, or FSH. It similarly fails to recognize other proteins secreted from the cell type into which the MIS gene was cloned. MIS was detected in the serum of normal newborns, infants, children, and adults. In males the serum level of MIS is 10-70 ng/mL at birth. The level increases slightly after birth, and then decreases to a basal level of 2-5 ng/mL after the first 10 yr of life. Newborn male urine contains minimal amounts of MIS (0.5 ng/mL). In females MIS is barely detectable in serum at birth, but rises to the basal level equal to that seen in males after 10 yr of age. Similar basal levels of MIS were found in adult ovarian follicular fluid. MIS levels were high in the serum of a female patient with a sex cord tumor (3200 ng/mL), but fell to 100 ng/mL after multiple excisional operations. In addition, a serum MIS level of 20 ng/mL was detected in a patient with an ovarian granulosa cell tumor. A sensitive assay for MIS could be useful in the diagnosis of patients with congenital abnormalities of sexual development and patients with Sertoli cell and/or other MIS-producing neoplasms. Other applications may also be recognized as the biology of MIS in both males and females is further elucidated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Minimal antiproliferative effect of recombinant müllerian inhibiting substance on gynecological tumor cell lines and tumor explants.

Múllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) is a testicular hormone that promotes involution of the Múllerian duct during embryogenesis. The Múllerian duct gives rise to adult female reproductive ducts including the fallopian tubes, uterus, and upper vagina. Thus, testicular MIS ensures the regression of female sex organ primordia. Partially purified bovine MIS was reported to inhibit proliferation of tumor cells derived from human gynecological cancers. These observations suggest that MIS might be an effective anticancer agent for some human tumors. Recombinant human MIS (rHu-MIS) has recently become available. To assess the antiproliferative activity of rHu-MIS, we examined its effects on 11 ovarian, six endometrial, and two nongynecological human tumor cell lines. rHu-MIS had no effect on proliferation of these cell lines in five independent assays. Forty-three primary human tumor explants were also examined in human tumor colony forming assays, gel-supported primary culture assays, and subrenal capsule assays. rHu-MIS significantly inhibited the growth of five of these tumors including four ovarian and one small cell lung cancer explant. The four ovarian cancer responses include three of 13 (23%) explants tested in human tumor colony-forming assays and one of eight (12.5%) explants tested in gel-supported primary culture assays. We conclude that rHu-MIS may have antiproliferative activity against some human ovarian cancers.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Proteolytic processing of mullerian inhibiting substance produces a transforming growth factor-beta-like fragment.

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a differentiation factor that causes the Mullerian duct to regress during the development of the male reproductive tract. The active form is a disulfide-linked dimer consisting of two identical 70-kDa subunits. Recently, the amino acid sequence for MIS was deduced from its gene sequence and revealed that the carboxyl-terminal region shares homology with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Since TGF-beta is produced as a large latent precursor that requires proteolytic activation for activity, we sought to determine if MIS might undergo a similar processing event. Here we demonstrate that typically 5 to 20% of the protein in MIS preparations is cleaved at a site 109 amino acids from the carboxyl terminus. Concurrent cleavages from both chains of the MIS dimer produces a 25-kDa TGF-beta-like fragment and a high molecular mass complex derived from the amino terminus of the protein. Although the two fragments are noncovalently linked, they remain tightly associated after cleavage, and thus are structurally organized like TGF-beta within its precursor. The same cleavage products also can be generated by limited proteolysis with plasmin, which provides a simple method for converting the entire preparation into the cleaved form. The plasmin-digested MIS is fully active in the organ culture assay.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

Southern analysis of genomic DNA with unique and degenerate oligonucleotide probes: a method for reducing probe degeneracy.

We have optimized conditions for genomic Southern analysis of eukaryotic DNA with both unique and degenerate oligonucleotide probes. Using the human Factor IX gene, optimal probe concentrations and hybridization times were determined, and washing conditions with sodium chloride and tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA-Cl) were compared. With TMA-Cl, the washing temperature was independent of GC content. With these conditions, the Factor IX gene was detected in genomic DNA using a 128-fold degenerate 20-mer and a 32-fold degenerate 17-mer. This permits the detection of a gene prior to cloning and the reduction of probe degeneracy, and facilitates the isolation of that gene. We apply this method of probe degeneracy reduction using probes for the human Factor VIII gene.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Isolation of the bovine and human genes for Müllerian inhibiting substance and expression of the human gene in animal cells.

We have isolated the bovine and human genes for Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), a testicular glycoprotein that causes regression of the Müllerian duct during development of the male embryo. The mRNA sequence of bovine MIS, determined from an analysis of cDNA and genomic clones, codes for a protein of 575 amino acids containing a 24 amino acid leader peptide. The human gene has five exons that code for a protein of 560 amino acids. A comparison of the bovine and human MIS proteins reveals a highly conserved C-terminal domain that shows marked homology with human transforming growth factor-beta and the beta chain of porcine inhibin. Animal cells transfected with the human gene secrete biologically active MIS, which causes regression of the rat Müllerian duct in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Expression of alpha-amylase in Bacillus licheniformis.

In Bacillus licheniformis, alpha-amylase production varied more than 100-fold depending on the presence or absence of a catabolite-repressing carbon source in the growth medium. alpha-Amylase was produced during the growth phase and not at the onset of the stationary phase. Induction of alpha-amylase correlated with synthesis of mRNA initiating at the promoter of the alpha-amylase gene.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of the methylation patterns of the two rat insulin genes.

We have investigated whether DNA methylation is involved in regulating the expression of the rat insulin genes. We studied cytosine methylation in and near the two insulin genes to examine the correlation of site-specific methylation with expression in different tissues and to compare the demethylation patterns of the two genes. For both genes, we found certain sites undermethylated only in insulin-producing tissues. However, the overall patterns of the two genes in expressing tissues are quite different. The insulin I gene is significantly less methylated than the insulin II gene in a tumor that makes equal amounts of the two insulin RNAs. In another tumor and cell line that make 5-fold higher levels of insulin I RNA than insulin II RNA, the changes in the methylation levels of the two genes do not correlate with the increased expression of insulin I. In nonexpressing tissues, the insulin I gene is completely methylated, while the insulin II gene is demethylated at a number of sites. Thus, the general level of methylation of the insulin genes does not correlate with their differential expression. Furthermore, the methylation at specific sites does not correlate either; some CG dinucleotides that appear to be important for one gene are not present in the other. Our results suggest that there is no specific control by methylation of the expression of the insulin genes in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Precise location of two promoters for the beta-lactamase gene of pBR322. S1 mapping of ribonucleic acid isolated from Escherichia coli or synthesized in vitro.

We identified two promoters for the beta-lactamase gene of plasmid pBR322. RNA isolated from bacteria containing pBR322 or RNA transcribed in vitro on pBR322 templates was hybridized to 5' end-labeled single-stranded plasmid probes (Berk, A. J., and Sharp, P. A. (1977) Cell 12, 721-732). Electrophoretic analysis of the nuclease S1 digestion products next to Maxam-Gilbert sequencing ladders closely defines the transcriptional initiation points. The natural promoter lies near the coding sequence of the beta-lactamase gene, initiating transcription at -35 bases before the ATG initiation codon, while a second promoter initiates at positions -244 and/or -245 (on the opposite side of the Eco RI site). This promoter overlaps the promoter transcribing in the opposite direction toward the tetracycline gene(s) and starts in the -10 region of that promoter. S1 mapping of procaryotic mRNA, transcribed in vivo, allows both an accurate identification of promoters and the analysis of their transcriptional regulation.

Base Sequence↗