PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Weremowicz

Publications and source records attributed to S Weremowicz.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Purification of the human NF-E2 complex: cDNA cloning of the hematopoietic cell-specific subunit and evidence for an associated partner.

The human globin locus control region-binding protein, NF-E2, was purified by DNA affinity chromatography. Its tissue-specific component, p45 NF-E2, was cloned by use of a low-stringency library screen with murine p45 NF-E2 cDNA (N. C. Andrews, H. Erdjument-Bromage, M. B. Davidson, P. Tempst, and S. H. Orkin, Nature [London] 362:722-728, 1993). The human p45 NF-E2 gene was localized to chromosome 12q13 by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Human p45 NF-E2 and murine p45 NF-E2 are highly homologous basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins with identical DNA-binding domains. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that p45 NF-E2 is associated in vivo with an 18-kDa protein (p18). Because bZIP proteins bind DNA as dimers, we infer that native NF-E2 must be a heterodimer of 45- and 18-kDa subunits. Although AP-1 and CREB copurified with NF-E2, no evidence was found for heterodimer formation between p45 NF-E2 and proteins other than p18. Thus, p18 appears to be the sole specific partner of p45 NF-E2 in erythroid cells. Cloning of human p45 NF-E2 should permit studies of the role of NF-E2 in globin gene regulation and erythroid differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cytogenetic evidence for a chromosome 22 tumor suppressor gene in ependymoma.

Although ependymomas comprise 5-10% of pediatric brain tumors, consistent cytogenetic aberrations have not been identified in these neoplasms. We report karyotypes for two ependymomas. A predominantly well-differentiated ependymoma contained several numerical chromosome aberrations, including monosomy 22. In contrast, an anaplastic ependymoma had a more complex karyotype that included loss of one chromosome 22 homologue and a balanced translocation at q13.3 in the remaining 22 homologue. These findings suggest the location of an ependymoma tumor suppressor gene on the long arm of chromosome 22.

Brain Neoplasms↗

The placental ribonuclease inhibitor (RNH) gene is located on chromosome subband 11p15.5.

The ribonuclease inhibitor from human placenta is a tight-binding inhibitor of alkaline and neutral ribonucleases, including the blood vessel-inducing protein, angiogenin. The location of the inhibitor gene within the human genome has now been determined. Utilizing human-rodent hybrid cell lines, it was found on chromosome 11. The localization was refined to chromosome band 11p15 by in situ hybridization of the ribonuclease inhibitor cDNA to normal metaphase chromosomes. A further refinement was obtained by in situ hybridization of the probe to metaphase chromosomes from RPMI 8402 cells, a line containing a well-characterized translocation t(11;14)(p15;q11) with a chromosome 11 breakpoint between the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog genes. This analysis has localized the ribonuclease inhibitor gene to chromosome subband 11p15.5, distal to the IGF2 gene.

Animals↗

Localization of the human angiogenin gene to chromosome band 14q11, proximal to the T cell receptor alpha/delta locus.

The gene encoding angiogenin, a potent inducer of blood vessel formation, has been localized within the human genome. It is present as a single copy per haploid genome and is located on chromosome 14, on the basis of discordancy analysis of human-rodent hybrid cell lines. This localization was refined to 14q11 by in situ hybridization of an angiogenin probe to metaphase chromosomes prepared from both normal human lymphocytes and RPMI 8402 cells. The results from the RPMI 8402 cells also establish that the angiogenin gene resides proximal to a translocation breakpoint within the T cell receptor alpha/delta locus and therefore upstream from that locus. An AvaII RFLP, present at a frequency of 29% in an unselected collection of human placental DNAs, was identified in the coding region of the gene and results from a single silent transversion.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

Sites of modification of human angiogenin by bromoacetate at pH 5.5.

Human angiogenin is inactivated by treatment with bromoacetate at pH 5.5. Use of [14C]bromoacetate and tryptic peptide mapping have identified the sites of carboxymethylation as His-13 and His-114, with His-114 reacting approximately 1.5-fold more rapidly than His-13. At later stages in the reaction, both His-13 and -114 become modified with His-114 in part forming a bis derivative. Comparison with carboxymethylhistidine derivatives of known structure obtained from bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A indicates that the reaction order is N-1 of His-114 greater than N-3 of His-13 greater than N-3 of His-114.

Acetates↗

Ribonucleolytic activity of angiogenin: essential histidine, lysine, and arginine residues.

The homology of angiogenin and pancreatic RNase A provides a compelling reason to systematically compare the characteristics of the two proteins using the chemical modification approaches that proved essential to understanding the action of RNase. Reagents specific for histidine, lysine, and arginine markedly decrease the ribonucleolytic activity of angiogenin, much as has been observed for RNase A. Activity is abolished by reduction of the disulfide bonds and is restored by reoxidation. Methionine, tyrosine, and carboxyl group reagents have no significant effect. From the point of view of reactivity, the histidine and lysine residues in angiogenin are severalfold less susceptible to modification than those in RNase A. Arginine reagents, on the other hand, inactivate angiogenin considerably faster than RNase A. Considering specificity, bromoacetate inactivates angiogenin at pH 5.5 by modifying 1.5 histidines, but lysine and arginine reagents are less specific. Thus, 3.8 and 6.3 residues, respectively, are modified by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and by formaldehyde plus cyanoborohydride, under conditions where activity decreases by approximately 80% in both cases. With phenylglyoxal, 6.7 arginines are lost when there is 92% inactivation. Poly(G) prevents inactivation by lysine and arginine reagents, and phosphate protects against the effects of lysine modification. Thus, the functional consequences of these modifications likely reflect the loss of critical residues rather than general conformational effects.

Arginine↗