PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Basu

Publications and source records attributed to T Basu.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Why does ethanol induce cellular heat-shock response?

At the time of induction of the periplasmic protein alkaline phosphatase (AP) in Escherichia coli, the presence of ethanol (10% v/v) in the growth medium did not allow the induced AP to be translocated out to the periplasm. The nontransported AP was stored in the cytoplasm as the unfolded precursor form (AP with its amino-terminal signal sequence), which had no enzymatic activity. The presence of 10% v/v ethanol in the growth medium also induced the heat-shock response in E. coli, which was evident from the enhanced syntheses of several heat-shock proteins (HSPs) over their cellular basal levels. These results, in conjunction with our earlier findings on the occurrence of heat-shock response in an AP-signal sequence mutant of E. coli due to the export deficiency of AP precursor, suggest that the membrane protein precursors, stored in the cytoplasm due to the ethanol-mediated inhibition of translocation, behaved to the cells as abnormal proteins, which ultimately triggered the signal for the induction of heat-shock response in E. coli.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Over expression of inducible proteins in Escherichia coli by treatment with ethanol.

It is reported that ethanol enhances DNA synthesis in E. coli cells [Basu, T and Poddar, R. K. (1994), Folia. Microbiol. 39, 3-6]. This communication reports that during growth of E. coli in the presence of 5% v/v ethanol, the derepressed expression of the cytoplasmic enzymes beta-galactosidase and D-serine deaminase per cell increased approximately three fold, while that of the periplasmic enzyme alkaline phosphatase decreased approximately 40% compared to control cell levels. However, in cells transformed with the plasmid pSM 456, bearing phoA-lacZ fusion, the level of induced synthesis of the hybrid protein PhoA-LacZ, controlled by the phoA promoter, was elevated by 25% in the presence of 5% v/v ethanol. This result suggests that the induction of the alkaline phosphatase precursor has also been enhanced by the ethanol treatment, but the inhibition in the export of the precursor across the cytoplasmic membrane, by the influence of ethanol, may represent the reason for the deficient expression of active alkaline phosphatase. It is proposed that there is an ethanol-mediated increase in DNA synthesis, resulting in gene amplification, which may enhance the synthesis of inducible proteins in ethanol-treated cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Filling the gaps in the porcine linkage map: isolation of microsatellites from chromosome 18 using flow sorting and SINE-PCR.

Flow-sorted chromosome 18 material from the pig (SSC18) was amplified with SINE-PCR to generate DNA for molecular cloning. An SSC18-enriched library was constructed and subsequently screened with a (CA)15 probe to identify polymorphic microsatellites. Eleven unique microsatellites were obtained, six of which constituted direct extensions of SINE poly(A) tracts. Eight primer pairs amplified polymorphic loci in unrelated pigs. The polymorphic markers were typed in a Swedish reference pedigree for porcine genome mapping, but only two of them (S0177 and S0179) mapped to SSC18. The remaining markers mapped to chromosomes 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11. Together with two markers from other sources (S0062 and sw787), a four-point linkage group on SSC18 could be established.

Animals↗

Role of Shc in the activation of Ras in response to epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor.

Treatment of the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 with nerve growth factor (NGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to result in activation of Ras. In response to EGF treatment, complexes form between Sos, Grb2 and tyrosine phosphorylated Shc and/or EGF receptor. In response to NGF treatment, complexes form between Sos, Grb2 and tyrosine phosphorylated Shc. While Shc is also found bound to the activated NGF receptor, Trk, no complexes were detectable that contained both Trk and Grb2 or Sos. In streptolysin O permeabilised cells, a tyrosine phosphopeptide, EGFR-Y1068P, which binds to the SH2 domain of Grb2, totally blocks growth factor induced formation of complexes between Grb2 and Shc or EGF receptor, and also blocks activation of nucleotide exchange on Ras. At low concentrations, another tyrosine phosphopeptide, TRK-Y490P, which binds to the SH2 domain of Shc, blocks growth factor induced formation of complexes between Shc and the EGF receptor or Trk, but fails to block activation of nucleotide exchange on Ras. Higher concentrations of TRK-Y490P inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and the formation of Shc complexes with Grb2: this results in strong inhibition of Ras activation by NGF and partial inhibition of Ras activation by EGF. These data demonstrate that the formation of a trimeric complex between tyrosine phosphorylated Shc, Grb2 and Sos is the key event in the activation of Ras in response to NGF. The binding of Sos to tyrosine phosphorylated receptor, via Grb2 may also contribute to Ras activation by EGF but not NGF, while stable complex formation between Shc and receptors is not necessary for Ras activation by either growth factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dental health status and treatment needs of elderly residents of Edmonton, Alberta.

The oral health of 140 independent elderly volunteers, selected from different sections of Edmonton, Alberta, was assessed in conjunction with their nutritional and medical status, in an attempt to evaluate the dental needs of this population. Dental caries was assessed using WHO standards and the CPITN was used in assessing periodontal and gingival health needs. The mean age of the participants was 70.9 +/- 2.6 years. The average time since they had last seen a dentist was 3.0 +/- 6.2 years. Twenty-six percent of the group were edentulous and wore full dentures. An evaluation of denture hygiene and retention showed that 53 per cent of all maxillary and 57 per cent of all mandibular appliances exhibited poor hygiene; 33 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively, had problems with retention and/or occlusion. Only 12 per cent of the group exhibited any sort of mucosal pathology, all of which was related to ill fitting dentures. The total population had a mean of 15.0 +/- 11.1 teeth, only 0.5 of these were decayed, while 8.9 were restored. CPITN scores taken from a total of 511 sextants with standing teeth showed that 16 per cent of the group exhibited bleeding upon probing, 29 per cent had calculus, 13 per cent exhibited pocketing, while 3.6 per cent had deep pockets. Sixty-seven per cent of the population required dental treatment, none of whom needed emergency intervention. Over 49 per cent of the dentate population could benefit from prophylaxis; 16 per cent required more definitive periodontal treatment. Forty-five per cent of the denture population required treatment.

Aged↗

A comparative analysis of Mhc DRB3 polymorphism in the American bison (Bison bison).

The degree of genetic polymorphism at the DRB3 locus in the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) of the North American bison was investigated by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. Nine different alleles were characterized in a selected sample of 20 animals. The genetic distances between alleles were as large as usually found at highly polymorphic Mhc loci in other species. A comparative analysis of the DRB3 polymorphism in bison and cattle revealed an extensive sharing of sequence motifs. The result clearly shows a transspecies persistence of DRB3 allelic lineages in the two species. Consequently a significant amount of Mhc polymorphism has been maintained through the population bottleneck that bison experienced in the late nineteenth century. An analysis of the pattern of sequence polymorphism among bison and cattle DRB3 alleles strongly suggested that interallelic recombination has contributed significantly to the generation of allelic diversity at this locus.

Alleles↗

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma of the vulva: a case report and review of the literature.

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma is a rare skin tumor of sweat gland origin. We present the first reported case of this tumor in the female genitalia. Due to the rarity of this tumor, there has yet to be an established standard of care. The present case is that of a 41-year-old woman with malignant eccrine spiradenoma of the periclitoral region. She had an 18-month history of a recurrent, painful mass adjacent to the clitoris. Her diagnosis was made after excision of the cystic tumor. The patient then underwent a partial radical vulvectomy with bilateral sentinel lymph node sampling. As malignant eccrine spiradenoma is a rare tumor, no standard care exists for treatment and postoperative management. Based on our review of the literature, wide local excision appears to be the preferred initial treatment. Furthermore, adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation does not seem to improve survival in patients with advanced or recurrent cancer. Although lymph node sampling and/or lymphadenectomy is frequently reported in the treatment of this tumor, hematogenous metastasis can also occur. Therefore, these patients require close postoperative follow-up for recurrent disease.

Acrospiroma↗

Zinc, carotene, and retinol in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Serum zinc, beta-carotene, retinol, retinol binding protein and prealbumin were measured in 22 cutaneous melanoma patients at diagnosis and in 17 patients with 1 or more basal cell carcinomas of the skin recently removed. The indices measured were found to distinguish melanoma patients from non-melanoma patients with a high level of accuracy. Moreover, the predictability of zinc depends on the level of beta-carotene, and this dependence differs between melanoma and non-melanoma patients.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗