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Biomedical subjects

T Kanehisa

Publications and source records attributed to T Kanehisa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Variation in the distribution of silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions on the chromosomes of the wild mouse, Mus musculus.

A silver staining method was used to analyze the distribution of nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) on chromosomes of 45 wild mice (Mus musculus). The four subspecies represented were M. m. musculus, M. m. molossinus, M. m. castaneus, and M. m. bactrianus. Ag-NORs were observed near the centromeric regions of 11 chromosomes (4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19), indicating a preponderance of Ag-NORs on smaller chromosomes. The first five loci have not been observed previously. It is suggested that a correlation may exist between the specific features of mouse Ag-NORs and the events involved in intra- and interchromosomal homogenization of rDNA.

Animals↗

Local similarity in the amino acid sequence between the non-catalytic region of Rous sarcoma virus oncogene product p60v-src and intermediate filament proteins.

We found local sequence-similarity between the non-catalytic region of the Rous sarcoma virus oncogene product, p60v-src, and the core region of cytoskeletal keratin through an extensive similarity search of segments of proteins. The segments showing similarity in p60v-src were in the region that is important for morphological transformation, and corresponded to segments with unique structural features predicted for intermediate filament proteins. We suggest that cellular components related with intermediate filament proteins or the sequence shared by the two proteins may be involved in the regulation of the kinase activity or substrate specificity of p60v-src.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues of calmodulin in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells.

Calmodulin, a wide-spread eukaryotic Ca2+-binding protein, was phosphorylated at its tyrosine residues in Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed chicken and rat cells but not in normal chicken embryo fibroblasts. In contrast, serine and threonine phosphorylation of calmodulin was found to occur in both normal and virus-transformed cells. In an in vitro system containing purified src kinase from RSV-transformed cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of calmodulin by the src kinase was inhibited by Ca2+. Furthermore, the tyrosine-phosphorylated calmodulin showed slower mobility than that of nonphosphorylated calmodulin in NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis when Ca2+ was present. These results suggest that the structure of calmodulin Ca2+ complex may be altered by tyrosine phosphorylation. It is thus inferred that Ca2+ may regulate the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of calmodulin in RSV-transformed cells, and phosphorylation in turn may attenuate the function of this protein in vivo.

Animals↗

Evolutionary implication of heterogeneity of the nontranscribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA repeating units in various subspecies of Mus musculus.

Genetic variability of the nontranscribed spacer (NTS) region within ribosomal DNA repeating units in the various subspecies of Mus musculus was determined. Mice belonging to several laboratory mouse strains were examined by means of Southern blot hybridization with a mouse ribosomal DNA probe. This probe encompasses the 3' end of the 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and the following spacer. Restriction enzyme digestions of the liver DNAs from various wild mice revealed that each of the subspecies has a unique pattern in the spacer encompassing a distance approximately 10 kb downstream from the ribosomal gene. These restriction patterns permit the classification of mouse subspecies and also provide insights into the origin of the laboratory mouse strains.

Animals↗

Diastolic bulging of the interventricular septum toward the left ventricle. An echocardiographic manifestation of negative interventricular pressure gradient between left and right ventricles during diastole.

Diastolic bulging of the interventricular septum (IVS) toward the left ventricle was observed by real-time cross-sectional echocardiography in three patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and one patient with secondary pulmonary hypertension after closure of an atrial septal defect. M-mode echocardiography showed a characteristic abnormal pattern of septal motion in diastole and in systole. In two patients, we attempted to correlate M-mode motion to the interventricular pressure gradient. During diastole, the interventricular pressure gradient between the left and right ventricles was negative and the pressure gradient curve was very similar to the M-mode echogram of the IVS. Banding studies in which acute right ventricular hypertension was produced in dogs showed similar shape changes, suggesting that the diastolic shape and motion of the septum are determined by the interventricular pressure gradient between the ventricles. Diastolic bulging of the IVS toward the left ventricle in our patients results from negative interventricular pressure gradient between the left and right ventricles during diastole.

Adult↗

Motion of the interatrial septum in acute mitral regurgitation. Clinical and experimental echocardiographic studies.

The interatrial septal echocardiograms from 15 patients with acute mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae were compared with those from 14 normal subjects. On the cross-sectional echocardiogram, the interatrial septal configuration in patients with chordal rupture showed a characteristic pattern in which the interatrial septum (IAS) was flat or slightly convex toward the left atrium at end-diastole and became markedly convex toward the right atrium at end-systole. On the M-mode echocardiogram, the interatrial septal amplitude was greater in patients with chordal rupture (12.4 +/- 1.9 mm) than in normal subjects (9.4 +/- 0.9 mm). Systolic fluttering of the IAS was found in five of 10 patients with rupture of the chordae attached to the posterior mitral leaflet. This finding was thought to be specific for acute mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae to the posterior mitral leaflet. After operation, the amplitude of the IAS became normal or diminished and systolic fluttering of the IAS disappeared. Animal experiments performed to clarify the mechanism of these findings showed that increased systolic motion of the IAS resulted from an increased in the systolic left atrial-to-right atrial pressure gradient due to acute mitral regurgitation. The systolic fluttering of the IAS was thought to represent a jet stream against the IAS due to rupture of the chordae tendineae to the lateral half of the posterior mitral leaflet. We conclude that the interatrial septal echocardiogram reflects the hemodynamic changes due to acute mitral regurgitation and direction of the regurgitant jet against the IAS. This finding may prove to be important in diagnosing acute mitral regurgitation secondary to ruptured chordae tendineae.

Acute Disease↗

The effects of digoxin on resting membrane potentials of skeletal muscles in dystrophic mice.

To clarify the abnormality of skeletal muscles in dystrophic mice, we studied the potassium content, resting membrane potential and especially the effects of digoxin on the membrane potential. Both the potassium content and the resting membrane potential of dystrophic muscles were significantly lower than those of normal mice. The resting membrane potential of dystrophic muscles was less reduced by digoxin than that of normal mice. It was suggested that there was a change in membrane permeability of skeletal muscles in dystrophic mice and that membrane permeability was less sensitive to digoxin than normal mice.

Animals↗

Favorable effects of oral digoxin therapy on the left ventricular performance in patients with artificial pacemakers.

The contribution of atrial systole in the left ventricular (LV) function and the effects of oral digoxin maintenance therapy on the LV function were evaluated noninvasively in patients who had artificial pacemakers but no clinical manifestation of congestive heart failure (NYHA Class I). Diastolic dimension (Dd), ejection time (ET), and stroke volume were constant in 8 patients without P waves on their electrocardiograms, but in 20 patients with P waves they were variable from beat to beat because of the variation of the PR intervals which caused them to reach their maximum values when the PR intervals were 160 to 200 msec. Ten out of the 28 patients were given 0.25 mg of digoxin daily for 10 days. Dd did not change significantly, but the ET and the systolic dimension were significantly shortened (P < 0.001). Posterior wall excursion, ejection fraction, and mean posterior wall velocity were significantly increased (P < 0.001). It is concluded that (1) atrial contraction is important to the LV function in patients with artificial pacemakers, and (2) that favorable effects on the LV function can be obtained by a small dose of digoxin administered to the patients who had artificial pacemakers but no congestive heart failure.

Adult↗