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Biomedical subjects

R Tizard

Publications and source records attributed to R Tizard.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein): a renal ligand for lymphokines.

The protein portion of the immunosuppressive glycoprotein uromodulin is identical to the Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein and is synthesized in the kidney. Evidence that the glycoproteins are the same is based on amino acid sequence identity, immunologic cross-reactivity, and tissue localization to the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop. Nucleic acid sequencing of clones for uromodulin isolated from a complementary DNA bank from human kidney predicts a protein 639 amino acids in length, including a 24--amino acid leader sequence and a cysteine-rich mature protein with eight potential glycosylation sites. Uromodulin and preparations of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein bind to recombinant murine interleukin-1 (rIL-1) and human rIL-1 alpha, rIL-1 beta, and recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF). Uromodulin isolated from urine of pregnant women by lectin adherence is more immunosuppressive than material isolated by the original salt-precipitation protocol of Tamm and Horsfall. Immunohistologic studies demonstrate that rIL-1 and rTNF bind to the same area of the human kidney that binds to antiserum specific for uromodulin. Thus, uromodulin (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein) may function as a unique renal regulatory glycoprotein that specifically binds to and regulates the circulating activity of a number of potent cytokines, including IL-1 and TNF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the herbicide-resistance gene bar from Streptomyces hygroscopicus.

A gene which confers resistance to the herbicide bialaphos (bar) has been characterized. The bar gene was originally cloned from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, an organism which produces the tripeptide bialaphos as a secondary metabolite. Bialaphos contains phosphinothricin, an analogue of glutamate which is an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase. The bar gene product was purified and shown to be a modifying enzyme which acetylates phosphinothricin or demethylphosphinothricin but not bialaphos or glutamate. The bar gene was subcloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Interspecific transfer of this Streptomyces gene into Escherichia coli showed that it could be used as a selectable marker in other bacteria. In the accompanying paper, bar has been used to engineer herbicide-resistant plants.

Journal Article↗

Protease B of the lysosomelike vacuole of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is homologous to the subtilisin family of serine proteases.

The PRB1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the vacuolar endoprotease protease B. We have determined the DNA sequence of the PRB1 gene and the amino acid sequence of the amino terminus of mature protease B. The deduced amino acid sequence of this serine protease shares extensive homology with those of subtilisin, proteinase K, and related proteases. The open reading frame of PRB1 consists of 635 codons and, therefore, encodes a very large protein (molecular weight, greater than 69,000) relative to the observed size of mature protease B (molecular weight, 33,000). Examination of the gene sequence, the determined amino-terminal sequence, and empirical molecular weight determinations suggests that the preproenzyme must be processed at both amino and carboxy termini and that asparagine-linked glycosylation occurs at an unusual tripeptide acceptor sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of antigen recognition by insulin-specific T-cell hybridomas from B6 wild-type and bm12 mutant mice.

Molecular analysis of the heterodimeric T-cell antigen receptor of insulin-specific class II-restricted T-cell hybridomas (THys) derived from C57BL/6 (B6) wild-type and B6.C-H-2bm12 (bm12) mutant mice revealed that such T cells use a diverse V gene repertoire. Analysis of three THys that use related V genes, however, showed a number of novel features. Two THys that share major histocompatibility complex restriction use V alpha genes that are 98.6% homologous. Two THys sharing the same antigen fine specificity use a particular germ line V beta D beta J beta combination. A 21-base-pair deletion in the 5' segment of the J beta gene occurs in one THy, suggesting a novel mechanism for generating diversity in T-cell antigen receptor beta genes. The first amino acid encoded by N sequences at the V-D junction is conserved in a pair of T cells which recognize identical antigenic epitopes. The implications of these findings for the structural mechanisms underlying major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen-specific T-cell recognition are discussed.

Animals↗

Two human 35 kd inhibitors of phospholipase A2 are related to substrates of pp60v-src and of the epidermal growth factor receptor/kinase.

We have purified two 35 kd phospholipase A2 inhibitors from human placenta, which we refer to as lipocortin I and II. Both proteins exhibit similar biochemical properties and occur in placenta at about 0.2% of the total protein. By peptide mapping, sequence, and immunological analyses, we show that lipocortin I and the 35 kd substrate for the EGF-receptor/kinase from A431 cells are the same protein. By similar criteria, we determine that lipocortin II is the human analogue of pp36, a major substrate for pp60src, which has been characterized in chicken embryo fibroblasts and in bovine brush border preparations. The amino acid sequences of lipocortin I and II that we deduced from cDNA clones share 50% homology, indicating that they probably evolved from a common gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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↗

Molecular cloning and expression of human tumor necrosis factor and comparison with mouse tumor necrosis factor.

U-937 cells, a monocytic line derived from a human histiocytic lymphoma, were induced for human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion into the medium and were used for the preparation of TNF mRNA. Biological activity of the latter was quantified in a Xenopus laevis oocyte injection system. TNF mRNA was enriched by gradient centrifugation and this size-fractionated mRNA was used for synthesis of cDNA and inserted into the unique PstI site of pAT153. A recombinant plasmid containing human TNF cDNA was selected by colony hybridization using an internal fragment of a mouse TNF cDNA clone [Fransen, L., Mueller, R., Marmenout, A., Tavernier, J., Van der Heyden, J., Kawashima, E., Chollet, A., Tizard, R., Van Heuverswyn, H., Van Vliet, A., Ruysschaert, M. R. & Fiers, W. (1985) Nucleic Acids Res. 13, 4417-4429] as a probe. The sequence of this human TNF cDNA is in agreement with the one published by Pennica et al. [Pennica, D., Nedwin, G. E., Hayflick, J. S., Seeburg, P. H., Derynck, R., Palladino, M. A., Kohr, W. J., Aggarwal, B. B. & Goeddel, D. V. (1984) Nature (Lond.) 312, 724-729]. The 157-amino-acid-long mature sequence is about 80% homologous to mouse TNF and its hydrophilicity plot is also very similar, in spite of the apparent species specificity of TNF. In contrast to mouse TNF, it contains no potential N-glycosylation site. When compared to other cytokines, like IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, or IL-2, there is a remarkably high preference for G X C pairs in the third-letter positions. Expression of the TNF cDNA in monkey COS cells or in Escherichia coli gives rise to a protein having similar biological and serological properties as natural human TNF. A human genomic clone was also identified and sequenced; it was found to be in good agreement with the one recently published by Shirai et al. [Shirai, T., Yamaguchi, H., Ito, H., Todd, C. W. & Wallace, R. B. (1985) Nature (Lond.) 313, 803-806], except for some differences in the introns and 5'-untranslated region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of the human tissue-type plasminogen activator structural gene including its 5' flanking region.

mRNA specific for tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is induced in HeLa cells by the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (Waller, E.K., and Schleuning, W.D. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 6354-6360). To study the underlying mechanism, a cDNA library was constructed from phorbol myristate acetate stimulated HeLa cell mRNA and screened with two t-PA mRNA specific oligonucleotides (Edlund, T., Ny, T., Rånby, M., Heden, L.-O., Palm, G., Holmgren, E., and Josephson, S. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 349-352). Two nearly full length double-stranded cDNA clones were obtained. Suitable restriction fragments from the cDNA were employed as probes for the isolation of three recombinant bacteriophages, containing overlapping fragments of the t-PA gene. By restriction analysis, heteroduplex mapping, and DNA sequencing it was determined that the three overlapping fragments contain the complete t-PA structural gene and that the 2658 bases long t-PA mRNA is encoded by a gene of approximately 29 kilobases overall length, which is interrupted by 13 introns. To characterize the presumptive control region, a subcloned gene fragment, containing the 5' sequence of the cDNA, was sequenced, and the transcription initiation site was identified by nuclease S1 protection experiments. The putative transcription start site is located 24 base pairs (bp) downstream of a typical TATA consensus sequence. Two additional TATA motifs with hitherto unknown functions are found 93 and 226 bp upstream of the putative cap site. A recombinant plasmid was constructed, which accommodates the cap site including 475 bp of upstream sequences, fused to a double-stranded cDNA of t-PA mRNA which contains the complete translated and parts of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions. This plasmid directs t-PA biosynthesis in Xenopus laevis oocytes after microinjection into the germinal vesicle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular cloning of mouse tumour necrosis factor cDNA and its eukaryotic expression.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF), released by induced macrophages, causes tumour necrosis in animals and kills preferentially transformed cells in vitro. mRNA induced in the established mouse monocytic PU 5.1.8 cell line by lipopolysaccharide, was converted into double-stranded cDNA and cloned in the pAT153 vector. Recombinant plasmids were screened by plus-minus hybridization and TNF-specific oligonucleotide probes constructed on the basis of partial amino acid sequences of rabbit TNF. A series of TNF specific clones were identified and confirmed by hybrid selection of mouse TNF-specific mRNA. The sequence codes for a 235 amino acids long polypeptide, of which 156 amino acids presumably correspond to the mature product. It can be concluded that mature mouse TNF is a glycosylated dimer. Biologically active TNF was secreted by both Cos-I and CHO-cells transfected with the chimaeric expression vector pSV2d2-mTNF containing the coding region of the mouse TNF cDNA gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genes encoding the Ti beta subunit of the antigen/MHC receptor undergo rearrangement during intrathymic ontogeny prior to surface T3-Ti expression.

To obtain further information about the ontogeny of the T-cell antigen/MHC receptor, a Ti beta subunit cDNA probe and heteroantisera specific for the Ti alpha and Ti beta subunits were utilized to characterize human T-lineage cells. Analysis of thymic tumors and normal thymocytes at both the DNA and protein levels demonstrates that Ti beta gene rearrangement is evident in stage II (T11+T6+T3-) and stage III (T11+T6-T3+), but not stage I (T11+T6-T3-) thymocytes. In contrast, surface expression of Ti alpha and Ti beta molecules is exclusively restricted to stage III thymocytes. Thus human T-lineage ontogeny is characterized by an orderly series of differentiation steps wherein Ti beta gene rearrangement precedes surface expression of the T3-Ti molecular complex.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Nucleotide sequence of Rous sarcoma virus.

We present the 9312 nucleotide sequence of the Prague C (Pr-C) strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). A comparison of known protein sequences with the nucleotide sequence allows assignment of the coding regions for the gag, pol, env and src genes. The gag gene is terminated by an amber stop codon and is contained within a different reading frame than is the pol gene. The pol and env genes overlap. The sequences surrounding the src gene in the Pr-C and Schmidt-Ruppin (SR-A) strains of RSV have been compared, and they reveal that an element, E, of approximately 153 nucleotides is present on the 3' side of the src gene in Pr-C, and on the 5' side in SR-A. We hypothesize that E was part of a duplicated region of over 250 nucleotides flanking the src gene in an ancestral RSV, and that differential deletion of one copy of E led to its positional difference in Pr-C and SR-A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete sequence of the Rous sarcoma virus env gene: identification of structural and functional regions of its product.

The amino-terminal amino acid sequences of gp85 and gp37, the envelope glycoproteins of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), were determined. Alignment of these sequences with the amino acid sequence predicted from the complete nucleotide sequence of the Prague strain of RSV, subgroup C (PR-C), has allowed us to delineate the env gene-coding region of this virus. The coding sequences for gp85 and gp37 have been placed in an open reading frame that extends from nucleotide 5045 to nucleotide 6862 and predict sizes of 341 amino acids (36,962 molecular weight) for gp85 and 198 amino acids (21,566 molecular weight) for gp37. Carbohydrate makes a significant contribution to the observed molecular weights of these polypeptides--the amino acid sequence contains 14 potential glycosylation sites (Asn-X-Ser/Thr) in gp85 and two in gp37. Experiments aimed at estimating the number of carbohydrate side chains yielded results consistent with most or all of these sites being occupied. Although an initiation codon is located early (codon 4) in the open reading frame, it is likely that splicing yields an mRNA on which translation initiates at the same AUG as that of the gag gene to produce a nascent polypeptide in which gp85 is preceded by a 62-amino-acid-long leader peptide. This leader contains the hydrophobic sequence (signal sequence) necessary for translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum and is completely removed from the env gene product during translation. The polyprotein precursor, Pr95env, is cleaved to gp85 and gp37 at the carboxyl side of the basic sequence:-Arg-Arg-Lys-Arg-. gp85 is attached through a disulphide linkage to gp37, and although the positions of the cysteines involved in this linkage are not known, the presence of a 27-amino-acid-long hydrophobic region at the carboxy-terminus of gp37 is consistent with its role as a membrane anchor for the viral glycoprotein complex. The location of host range variable regions with respect to the possible tertiary structure of the complex is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure and evolution of the two nonallelic rat preproinsulin genes.

In the rat, there are two nonallelic genes for preproinsulin. The insulin end products are very similar and are equally expressed. We have isolated clones carrying these genes and their flanking sequences, and characterized them by DNA sequencing and electron microscopic analysis. We have established the primary structure of the preproinsulin mRNAs and the signal peptides of these two proteins. One of the genes contains two introns: a 499 bp intron interrupting the region encoding the connecting peptide and a 119 bp intron interrupting the segment encoding the 5 noncoding region of the mRNA. The introns are transcribed and present in a preproinsulin mRNA precursor. The other gene possesses the smaller, but not the larger, of the two introns. Calculations based on the divergence of the two preproinsulin nucleotide and amino acid sequences indicate that these genes are the products of a recent duplication. Thus one of the genes gained or lost an intron since that time.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence of a mouse germ-line gene for a variable region of an immunoglobulin light chain.

We have determined the sequence of the DNA of a germ-line gene for the variable region of a mouse immunoglobulin light chain, the VlambdaII gene. The sequence confirms that the variable region gene lies on the DNA separated from the constant region. Hypervariable region codons appear in the germ-line sequence. A sequence for the hydrophobic leader, 19 amino acids that are cleaved from the amino terminus of the protein, appears near, but not continuous with, the light chain structural sequence: most of the leader sequence is separated from the rest of the gene by 93 bases of untranslated DNA.

Animals↗

A bacterial clone synthesizing proinsulin.

We have cloned double-stranded cDNA copies of a rat preproinsulin messenger RNA in Escherichia coli chi1776, using the unique Pst endonuclease site of plasmid pBR322 that lies in the region encoding amino acids 181-182 of penicillinase. This site was reconstructed by inserting the cDNA with an oligo(dG)-oligo(dC) joining procedure. One of the clones expresses a fused protein bearing both insulin and penicillinase antigenic determinants. The DNA sequence of this plasmid shows that the insulin region is read in phase; a stretch of six glycine residues connects the alanine at position 182 of penicillinase to the fourth amino acid, glutamine, of rat proinsulin.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning and expression of human lipocortin, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor with potential anti-inflammatory activity.

The anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids has been attributed to the induction of a group of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortin. These proteins are thought to control the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, by inhibiting the release of their common precursor, arachidonic acid, a process that requires phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of phospholipids. Lipocortin-like proteins have been isolated from various cell types, including monocytes, neutrophils and renal medullary cell preparations. The predominant active form is a protein with an apparent relative molecular mass (Mr) of 40,000 (40K). These partially purified preparations of lipocortin mimic the effect of steroids, and mediate anti-inflammatory activity in various in vivo model systems. Using amino-acid sequence information obtained from purified rat lipocortin, we have now cloned human lipocortin complementary DNA and expressed the gene in Escherichia coli. Our studies confirm that lipocortin is a potent inhibitor of phospholipase A2 activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗