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S Morino

Publications and source records attributed to S Morino.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Gene expression of human eukaryotic initiation factor-4E for protein synthesis and study of its recognition mechanism of mRNA cap structure].

Being stimulated by the insights from model studies that (i) the intimate combination of hydrogen-bonding pairing and aromatic stacking interactions is important for the specific binding of guanine base by peptide and (ii) the pi-pi stacking force of Trp is significantly strengthened by the guanine N7-methylation (m7G), this research project was started, because (a) the mRNA cap structure is characterized by the existence of m7G and (b) an eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E), a protein which specifically recognizes the mRNA cap structure and opens the protein biosynthesis, contains 8 Trp residues irrespective of its relatively low molecular weight of about 25 kDa. In order to prepare the sufficient amount of sample for carrying out the analysis of the recognition mechanism of mRNA cap structure by eIF-4E at the atomic level, firstly, the expression of human eIF-4E gene in Escherichia coli was attempted. An artificial gene encoding for human eIF-4E was chemically synthesized and succeeded in the expression with two different forms, i.e., as a fusion protein with human growth hormone and a direct expression of soluble protein. The isolation of eIF-4E and its purification procedure using the m7GTP affinity chromatography were accomplished. It was shown by spectroscopic methods that the recombinant eIF-4E exhibits essentially the same tertiary structure as the native one and the binding ability with mRNA cap analog was identical with each other. In order to analyze the functional amino acid residues which are essential for specific recognition of mRNA cap structure, next a series of eIF-4E mutants were prepared by the site-directed mutagenesis, and His37, His200, Trp102 and Glu103 were suggested to be important for binding of mRNA cap structure, as judged from comparison of the binding abilities of respective mutants with a m7GTP affinity column. Since the crystals of recombinant eIF-4E-m7GTP complex suitable for X-ray crystallography are now in preparation, the detailed interaction mode between them will be opened in near future.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A controlled trial of mitoxantrone in multiple sclerosis: serial MRI evaluation at one year.

We present the results of a randomized double-blinded placebo controlled, multicenter trial, of low-dose mitoxantrone (MX), after one year, in 25 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, who had serial enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment groups were balanced for age, gender, duration of illness and neurological disability. Five of the 13 MX patients and 10 of the 12 placebo patients had exacerbations during treatment (p < 0.02). The mean change in the extended disability status scale was not significantly different between the MX and placebo treatment groups. Serial Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI detected no significant difference between the MX treated and placebo groups in the mean total number of new, enlarging, or Gadolinium-DTPA enhancing lesions; there was a trend toward a reduction of new, enlarging and Gadolinium-DTPA enhancing lesions in MX patients. Despite this ameliorating effect, the results indicate that serial Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI, performed over one year in a limited number of patients, could not provide conclusive evidence for a role of MX therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Direct expression of a synthetic gene in Escherichia coli: purification and physicochemical properties of human initiation factor 4E.

An artificial synthetic gene coding for human eIF-4E was cloned into an expression vector and direct expression was attempted in Escherichia coli [BL21(DE3) strain] under the control of T7 promoter. The active gene product which was induced in high yield (ca. 4 mg/100 ml) by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside was purified to homogeneity by a two-step chromatographic procedure with a good yield (ca. 74%), and was confirmed to be recombinant human eIF-4E by amino acid composition and sequence analyses, isoelectric focusing, and absorption spectral measurements. The identity of three-dimensional structures between the recombinant and native human eIF-4Es was confirmed by CD and fluorescence measurements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Thermal strain resulting from protective clothing of an armored vehicle crew in warm conditions.

The purpose of the study is to define a method of evaluation of physiological strain resulting from protective garments worn in warm conditions by the armored vehicle crew. A technique is developed evaluating evaporative transfer through clothing by continuous weighing of the active man (accuracy +/- 3/g). An index is defined (Iw) as the ratio of steady-state evaporating rate in clothed conditions to steady-state evaporation of nude subject in the same conditions of work and heat stress. The Iw index is significantly related to physiological strain determined by increased body heat content and reduced tolerance time. The results are compared to other previous findings concerning evaporative transfer through clothing and physiological strain indexes. The technique shows that evaporation through heavy clothing is not negligible. It is suggested that usual static measurements using physical models underestimate the evaporative heat transfer through clothing layers.

Body Temperature↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Investigation in a slaughter house and processing of pork meat. Repetitive task work and osteo-articular and musculotendinous pathology of the upper limbs].

The investigation concerned 47 workers (43 males and 4 females), whose average age was 41.5 years and average length of service 12 years. The aim of the study was to quantify the presence in an abattoir and meat processing plant of risk factors represented by repetitive movements requiring the use of force, and to describe the work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (WMSDs) of the upper limbs found in a group of workers exposed to such risk factors. The work was found to feature high speeds and very particular operations which, for most of the workers, required highly repetitive actions often associated with the use of force. Almost all the tasks had duration cycles of less than 30 seconds and a medium-high rate of actions/minute (from 20 to 60), with peak rates reached in the boning operations; the postural involvement was also considerable, particularly for the right wrist. The amount of force employed-calculated as a percentage of the Maximum Voluntary Contraction-averaged 50%. With very few exceptions, there were no significant pauses during the cycle. The group displayed a high prevalence of pain and paraesthesia and joint disorders, particularly in the over 35 age groups; statistically significant differences emerged with respect to the data from a matched population sample given the same anamnestic and clinical protocol. The group also exhibited significantly different Carpal Tunnel Syndromes with respect to the control population: 7 right-hand CTSs and five left-hand. CTS affected two out of every three women aged over 35 and 3 out of every 23 men over 35. The authors discuss the results in the light of previous studies and of the definition of CTS. The study concludes that investigating and preventing WMSDs in the meat processing industry is a justified, albeit very difficult, task whilst the protection afforded by current legislation appears to be most inadequate.

Abattoirs↗