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Biomedical subjects

T J Guilfoyle

Publications and source records attributed to T J Guilfoyle.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A transcriptionally active, covalently closed minichromosome of cauliflower mosaic virus DNA isolated from infected turnip leaves.

Purified nuclei from turnip leaves infected by cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) have been shown to contain a fraction of CaMV DNA that consists of covalently closed circular molecules; possesses a nucleosome structure, based on sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease; and contains nuclear RNA polymerase II that selectively transcribes the coding strand of CaMV DNA in vitro. Our results suggest that the transcriptionally active CaMV DNA is in the form of a minichromosome and that this DNA does not contain the site-specific discontinuities characteristic of the virion.

Chromosomes↗

Auxin-induced changes in the population of translatable messenger RNA in elongating sections of soybean hypocotyl.

In vitro translation products of polyadenylated RNA from untreated and auxin-treated elongating sections of soybean (Glycine max var. Wayne) hypocotyl were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The levels of translatable messenger RNA for at least ten in vitro translation products are increased by auxin treatment. The induction by auxin occurs rapidly (within 15 minutes), and the amounts of the induced in vitro translation products increase with time of auxin treatment. Indoleacetic acid has the same effect on the population of translatable messenger RNA as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The auxin-induced in vitro translation products disappear rapidly when Actinomycin D is present during the last two hours of a three-hour auxin treatment.

Journal Article↗

Auxin- and ethylene-induced changes in the population of translatable messenger RNA in Basal sections and intact soybean hypocotyl.

In vitro translation products of polyadenylated RNA from untreated and auxin-treated basal sections of soybean (Glycine max var. Wayne) hypocotyl were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Within one hour of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatment, the translatable messenger RNAs for at least twelve in vitro translation products are modulated upward. In vitro translation products of polyadenylated RNA from untreated, auxin-treated and Ethephon-treated intact soybean hypocotyl were also analyzed. Within two hours of treatment with either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or Ethephon, the translatable messenger RNAs for a group of high molecular weight in vitro translation products are modulated upward. There is a particular set of translatable messenger RNA, encoding in vitro translation products in the 24,000 to 32,000 molecular weight range, that is specifically modulated upward by auxin treatment in intact soybean hypocotyl and in hypocotyl sections.

Journal Article↗

Auxin-induced deoxyribonucleic acid dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase activities in mature soybean hypocotyl.

When 3-day-old etiolated soybean seedlings are treated with the synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, cells of the mature hypocotyl swell and proliferate abnormally. By 48 h after auxin application ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase I and II levels increase by about 10-20- and 6-fold, respectively, on a fresh weight tissue basis and about 3-6- and 2-fold, respectively, on a tissue deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) basis. [35S]Methionine incorporation into RNA polymerase subunits suggests that this increase in levels of RNA polymerases results from de novo synthesis of the enzymes. No alteration in subunit structure or patterns of incorporation of [35S]methionine into RNA polymerase subunits is detected following auxin treatment. No differences in the phosphorylation patterns of RNA polymerase subunits are detected after hormone treatment. These results indicate that although the levels of RNA polymerases I and II may regulate, in part, the rates of transcription during physiological or developmental transitions, alteration or modification of RNA polymerase subunit structure does not appear to be involved in transcriptional regulation in the auxin-induced soybean hypocotyl.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Auxin-induced changes in the patterns of protein synthesis in soybean hypocotyl.

The patterns of protein synthesis in elongating and mature (basal) sections of soybean hypocotyl were examined after incubation in a medium containing auxin (auxin-treated) or a medium lacking auxin (untreated). The hypocotyl sections (1.2 cm) were labeled with [(35)S]methionine, and polypeptide patterns were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Auxin treatment altered the pattern of protein synthesis in both elongating and basal soybean hypocotyl sections. Excision of terminal segments from incubated sections was required to clearly observe auxin-induced changes in the synthesis of polypeptides. Polypeptides synthesized in terminal segments, possibly in response to wounding, can mask subtle changes in the spectrum of polypeptides synthesized in response to auxin. Cytokinin treatment caused a decrease in [(35)S]methionine incorporation into polypeptides and altered the pattern of protein synthesis in untreated and auxin-treated elongating hypocotyl sections.

Journal Article↗

Plant DNA-dependent RNA polymerases: subunit structures and enzymatic properties of the class II enzymes from quiescent and proliferating tissues.

Class II DNA-dependent RNA polymerases were purified from soybean tissues of different physiological states: (1) from seed embryo tissue, representative of a quiescent, low metabolic state and (2) from auxin-treated hypocotyl tissue, representative of a highly proliferative and metabolically active state. Dodecyl sulfate, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that RNA polymerase II from embryonic tissue consists largely (90-95%) of the form IIA enzyme, the largest subunit having a molecular weight of 215 000. RNA polymerase II from hypocotyl tissue is exclusively a form IIB enzyme, the largest subunit having a molecular weight of 180 000. Polypeptides common to RNA polymerases IIA and IIB have the following molecular weights: 138 000; 42 000; 27 000; 22 000; 19 000; 17 600; 17 000; 16 200; 16 100; and 14 000. Peptide mapping in the presence of dodecyl sulfate suggests that the 215 000 and 180 000 subunits possess similar peptide fragments. Plant embryo tissues do not contain protease activity capable of cleaving the 215 000 subunit to the 180 000 subunit, but proliferating plant tissues do contain such an activity. Mixing experiments indicate that appreciable amounts of RNA polymerase IIB are not being artifactually produced during protein purification.

Amanitins↗

Isolation and Characterization of a Chromatin-associated Protein Kinase from Soybean.

A chromatin-associated casein-type protein kinase has been purified 500-fold from soybean (Glycine max, var. Wayne) tissue. The enzyme can be completely dissociated from isolated chromatin in 250 millimolar (NH(4))(2)SO(4). After purification, the kinase preparation is stable for at least 6 months at 0 C. The enzyme will phosphorylate casein, phosvitin, and denatured chromatin proteins, but not histones. Only ATP will serve as a phosphate donor with an apparent K(m) of 8 micromolar. Five millimolar Mg(2+) is required for maximal activity, but Mn(2+) will support phosphorylation at a lower level. The average molecular weight as determined by sucrose gradient sedimentation and gel filtration is approximately 55,000. Under conditions of low ionic strength [less than 250 millimolar (NH(4))(2)SO(4)] soybean casein kinase forms higher molecular weight aggregates with other chromosomal proteins in the preparation. The enzyme activity is not affected by cyclic AMP. Casein kinase shows a broad optimum between 7 and 8 and the isoelectric point is approximately 9. Preliminary data indicate that soybean casein kinase will not phosphorylate soybean RNA polymerases I or II, nor does it have any obvious effect on in vitro chromatin transcription by endogenous RNA polymerases.

Journal Article↗

Isolation and preliminary characterization of a casein kinase from cauliflower nuclei.

A casein-type protein kinase has been isolated from cauliflower (Brassica cauliflora Gars.) nuclei and purified to a specific activity of 23,000 units/milligram of protein (1 unit is defined as the transfer of 1 picomole of (32)Pi from gamma-[(32)P]ATP to substrate per minute at 28 C). The enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 39,000 as judged by sucrose density gradient sedimentation. The casein kinase requires ATP as the phosphate donor and will phosphorylate casein and phosvitin, but not histones. The enzyme activity is not affected by cAMP or cGMP. The casein kinase appears to be analogous to casein kinases described in other plant and animal systems.

Journal Article↗

Analysis of plant RNA polymerase I transcript in chromatin and nuclei.

Chromatin isolated (pH 8.0) from soybean hypocotyl contains only RNA polymerase I activity as judged by its elution at low ionic strength (0.11 M ammonium sulfate) from DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex, its total resistance to alpha-amanitin, and lack of preference for poly(dA-dT). The in vitro RNA product from this chromatin contains rRNA as a major component (36%) with little or no symmetry of transcription. The transcript from nuclei, where both RNA polymerases I and II are active, shows a dramatic increase in % rRNA (from 35 to 65%) when alpha-amanitin is present during synthesis. These observations suggest that plant RNA polymerase I is similar to animal RNA polymerase I in both its insensitivity to alpha-amanitin and preferential transcription of rRNA genes.

Amanitins↗

Purification and characterization of RNA polymerase I from a higher plant.

RNA polymerase I was purified from chromatin isolated from auxin-treated soybean hypocotyl. Purification was achieved by using Agarose A-1.5m gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose, CM-sephadex, and phosphocellulose chromatography, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. With denatured calf thymus DNA as template, the enzyme has a high specific activity (200-300 nmol/mg/30 min at 28 degrees C) which is comparable to other RNA polymerase I enzymes purified from animals and yeast. While the gel profiles indicate that purification to homogeneity (greater than 90%) may not have been achieved, the enzyme appears to be composed of possibly 7 subunits, several of which are similar to the subunits of yeast RNA polymerase I. The putative subunits and molar ratios are 183 000 (1), 136 000 (1), 50 000 (0.5), 46 000 (0.5), 40 000 (0.5), 33 000 (0.2), and 28 000 (2). The purified enzyme strongly prefers a completely denatured template such as poly(dC).

Amanitins↗

Purification and Characterization of DNA-dependent RNA Polymerases from Cauliflower Nuclei.

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases were solubilized from nuclei of cauliflower inflorescences and purified by agarose A-1.5m, DEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex, and phosphocellulose chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. RNA polymerases I + III were separated from II by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Subsequent chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex resolved RNA polymerase I from III. RNA polymerases I and II were further purified to high specific activity by phosphocellulose chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. RNA polymerase I was refractory to alpha-amanitin at 2 mg/ml. RNA polymerase II was 50% inhibited at 0.05 mug/ml, and RNA polymerase III was 50% inhibited at 1 to 2 mg/ml of alpha-amanitin. The enzymes were characterized with respect to divalent cation optima, ionic strength optima, and abilities to transcribe cauliflower, synthetic, and cauliflower mosaic virus DNA templates.

Journal Article↗

Selective Modulation of RNA Polymerase I Activity during Growth Transitions in the Soybean Seedling.

RNA polymerase I and II activities were measured in tissues of the soybean (Glycina max, var. Wayne) hypocotyl where dramatic changes in the relative level of RNA synthesis are associated with normal and auxin-induced growth transitions. When assayed in isolated nuclei, the activity of RNA polymerase I changed much more than the activity of RNA polymerase II during these growth transitions. The activity of RNA polymerase I expressed in the nuclei generally showed a positive correlation with the relative level of RNA synthesis (i.e. accumulation) of that tissue. Following solubilization of the RNA polymerases from these isolated nuclei and fractionation of them on DEAE-cellulose, the activity of RNA polymerase I relative to that of RNA polymerase II showed smaller changes during these growth transitions than when assayed in the nuclei. Thus, these data indicate that the activity of RNA polymerase I is significantly modulated in the nucleus, up or down depending upon the growth state, during growth transitions in the soybean in addition to lesser changes which occur in the apparent level of the enzyme.

Journal Article↗

Enhancement of soybean RNA polymerase I by auxin.

When etiolated soybean seedlings are treated with the synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid, cells of the mature hypocotyl become swollen and proliferate abnormally. This abnormal growth induced by auxin coincides with a 5- to 8-fold increase in the alpha-amanitin-insensitive RNA polymerase associated with isolated chromatin or nuclei. The alpha-amanitin-sensitive RNA polymerase activity of the auxin-treated hypocotyl was similar to that of control tissue. The increase in RNA polymerase I activity of chromatin and nuclei was maintained after solubilization and fractionation on DEAE-cellulose. Auxin thus appears to enhance RNA synthetic activity (i.e., ribosomal RNA) in mature soybean tissue by altering RNA polymerase I directly rather than by altering RNA polymerase I directly rather than by altering the chromatin template.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗