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Biomedical subjects

T Tsukamoto

Publications and source records attributed to T Tsukamoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Isolation of a new peroxisome-deficient CHO cell mutant defective in peroxisome targeting signal-1 receptor.

For the study of mechanism of peroxisome biogenesis, we attempted to isolate CHO cell mutants deficient in peroxisome biogenesis. We used as the parent strain a stable CHO transformant of rat PEX2 (formerly named peroxisome assembly factor-1) cDNA, to avoid unusually frequent isolation of Pex2 mutants. Among the three peroxisome-deficient mutants obtained, ZP102 was a new CHO mutant of complementation group 2, and was restored for peroxisome assembly by the transfection of human PEX5 (formerly called PXR1 or PTS1R) cDNA. This approach would facilitate the isolation of new complementation gorups of peroxisome-deficient CHO mutants and the identification of essential genes for peroxisome biogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

An orphan nuclear receptor lacking a zinc-finger DNA-binding domain: interaction with several nuclear receptors.

The yeast two-hybrid screening was applied to cloning cDNAs of proteins that interact with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha). We obtained from a rat liver cDNA library a clone encoding a protein related to the ligand-binding domain of the members of nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, whereas apparently lacking the zinc-finger DNA-binding domain. This protein interacted with the activated forms of several nuclear receptors, and thus is a novel type of heterodimer-forming nuclear receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Ki-ras point mutation in different types of colorectal carcinomas in early stages.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate pathways of carcinogenesis in the colon and rectum by investigating Ki-ras point mutation in different types of colorectal carcinomas in the early stage. METHODS: We analyzed rates of Ki-ras codon 12 mutations in 34 small, polypoid-type carcinomas (Tis or T1), 21 superficial-type carcinomas (Tis or T1), and 42 advanced carcinomas (T2, T3, and T4). RESULTS: Frequency of Ki-ras mutations in superficial-type carcinomas was 14.3 percent (3/21), which was significantly lower than 50 percent (17/34) in small polypoid carcinomas and 40.5 percent (17/42) in advanced carcinomas. These data suggest that another pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis that does not involve Ki-ras point mutation might exist. Among the 17 small polypoid carcinomas with Ki-ras point mutation in which both adenomatous and carcinomatous tissue were examined, 12 showed a mutation of the same type in both carcinomatous and adenomatous tissues. In two cases, mutation was present only in carcinomatous tissue and not in adenomatous tissue; in the other three cases, Ki-ras point mutation was present only in adenomatous tissue but not in carcinomatous tissue. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that carcinoma in a small polypoid lesion does not always develop from pre-existing adenoma with Ki-ras point mutation; in a small number of the polypoid-type early carcinomas, polyclonal composition concerning the Ki-ras gene may exist.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Juvenile hemangioma of the testis: analysis of expression of angiogenic factors.

We present a case of juvenile hemangioma of the testis associated with hemangiomas of the liver and skin. The testicular hemangioma appeared to progress after therapy with interferon alpha-2a (IFN alpha-2a), whereas the liver and skin hemangiomas regressed. Analysis of growth factors responsible for proliferation of hemangioma revealed that the tumor expressed vascular endothelial growth factor but not basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which is reported to be inhibited by IFN alpha-2a. This finding suggests that a possible explanation for the inadequate efficacy of IFN alpha-2a for testicular hemangioma is a lack of bFGF expression.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗
PubMed1997

[PCR method for detection of K1 antigen and serotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from extraintestinal infection].

A portion of the neuS gene concerning Escherichia coli K1, was amplified by the PCR to detect the K1 antigen among extraintestinal infection with E. coli. The correlation between K1 antigen and O:H serotype was investigated. The predominant serotypes were O7:H-, O16:H6, O18ac:H7 from cerebrospinal fluid with meningitis, O16:H6 from blood with septicemia, O1 : H7, O7:H-, O16:H6, O18ac:H7, O75 : H- from urine with cystitis. The same O:H serotypes tended to be found frequently irrespective of source. K1 antigen was found O1:H7, O7:H-, O16:H6, O18ac:H7, and almost all the strains possessed to H6 or H7.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1997

[Preliminary evaluation of the apparent diffusion coefficient of the kidney with a spiral IVIM sequence].

We examined the usefulness of the spiral intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) sequence in measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the kidneys. Five volunteers and five patients with chronic renal failure underwent diffusion-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys with the spiral IVIM sequence. The ADC values in patients with chronic renal failure were significantly lower than those in the renal cortex of volunteers. The mean value of ADC in patients with chronic renal failure was lower than that in volunteers, although there was no statistically significant difference. In volunteers, the ADC of the renal cortex was significantly higher than that of the renal medulla. The phantom study indicated that the accuracy of ADC depended on the signal to noise ratio. A spiral IVIM sequence with a high enough signal to noise ratio may be useful in evaluating renal function especially that of the cortex.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Genetic evidence supporting the fecal-perineal-urethral hypothesis in cystitis caused by Escherichia coli.

PURPOSE: The fecal-perineal-urethral hypothesis to explain the cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) by enteric bacteria has been supported by longitudinal studies using methods of serotyping and detecting urovirulence factors such as P fimbriae. However, genetic techniques to more accurately characterize Escherichia coli strains have not been exploited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2,700 E. coli colonies isolated from the urine and rectal swabs of 9 female subjects with acute uncomplicated cystitis and from the rectal swabs of 30 healthy women were serotyped and examined for genes encoding various urovirulence factors by colony hybridization test. The clonality of the urine and fecal isolates of E. coli from the cystitis subjects was further evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: E. coli strains causing cystitis dominated the rectal flora of 7 of 9 patients. In the remaining 2 patients, similar clones comprised at least 20% of the fecal flora. Carriage of E. coli strains with a variety of urovirulence factors was quite common among healthy women. PFGE demonstrated that most of the isolates sharing the same serotypic characteristics and virulence factors in the urine and rectal swab samples from each subject were identical. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon precise genetic techniques, our results clearly support the fecal-perineal-urethral hypothesis, indicating that E. coli strains residing in the rectal flora serve as a reservoir for urinary tract infections, e.g., cystitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N alpha-(4-amino-4-deoxy-10-methylpteroyl)-DL-4,4-difluoroornithine.

N alpha-(4-Amino-4-deoxy-10-methylpteroyl)-DL-4,4-difluoroornithi ne (AMPte-DL-4,4-F2Orn, 4) was synthesized and evaluated as an inhibitor of human folypoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase (FPGS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and cell growth. Synthesis of 4 involved the use of a protected form of DL-4,4-difluoroornithine 9 which was derived from DL-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid. Biological activities of 4 were compared directly to those of the corresponding nonfluorinated compound N alpha-(4-amino-4-deoxy-10-methylpteroyl)-L-ornithine (AMPte-L-Orn, 3). Although the fluorinated analogue is a potent inhibitor of DHFR, it is a poor inhibitor of FPGS. However, the compound is transported across the cell membrane and inhibits cell growth, presumably due to the inhibition of DHFR. The data obtained with the fluorinated analogue are in contrast to those of the corresponding nonfluorinated compound 3, which is a potent inhibitor of both FPGS and DHFR but shows very low cytotoxicity due to poor transport.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1996

N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea induces mammary cancers in the pituitary-isografted mouse which are histologically and genotypically distinct from those induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) are alkylating agents which respectively ethylate or methylate nucleophilic centers in the cell such as DNA. In vitro studies with naked DNA and bacterial mutagenesis assays suggest that these two compounds induce different spectra of genetic lesions. In addition, the ethyl-DNA adducts induced by ENU persist longer than the methyl-DNA adducts induced by MNU. Since MNU is a known mammary carcinogen in the pituitary-isografted mouse, these data suggest that ENU may be an even more potent carcinogen than MNU. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ENU was a mammary carcinogen in the pituitary-isografted mouse and if so, to compare the genotype and phenotype of ENU-induced mammary tumors with those induced by MNU. Fifteen adult female virgin BALB/c mice were isografted with two pituitaries and subsequently treated with a single intravenous injection of ENU (50 micrograms/g body weight). Mammary adenocarcinomas arose in all of the survivors (n=12) with a median latency of 27 weeks and a mean frequency of 1.4 cancers per mouse. When tumor DNA was analyzed for mutations in the 12th and 61st codons of c-Ki-ras or c-Ha-ras protooncogenes, only wild type sequences were found. This is in contrast to MNU which causes a G to A transition mutation in the 12th codon of the c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene in about one of five mammary cancers induced in pituitary-isografted mice. Furthermore, the ENU-induced tumors were solid viable papillary adenocarcinomas, whereas MNU induced tumors are highly necrotic adenocarcinomas with squamous metaplasia. These results demonstrate that, in the pituitary-isografted mouse, ENU is as potent a mammary carcinogen as MNU and suggest that oncogenes other than c-Ki-ras or c-Ha-ras may be involved in ENU-induced mammary cancers.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Synthesis and biological evaluation of DL-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid and DL-gamma,gamma-difluoromethotrexate.

DL-4,4-Difluoroglutamic acid (DL-4,4-F2Glu) and its methotrexate analogue, DL-gamma,gamma-difluoromethotrexate (DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX), were synthesized and evaluated as alternate substrates or inhibitors of folate-dependent enzymes. Synthesis of DL-4,4-F2Glu involved the nitroaldol reaction of ethyl nitroacetate with a difluorinated aldehyde ethyl hemiacetal as a key step. Attempted ligation of DL-4,4-F2Glu to methotrexate (MTX), catalyzed by human folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase (FPGS), revealed that DL-4,4-F2Glu is a poor alternate substrate. DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX was synthesized by a route proceeding through N-[4-(methylamino)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid di-tert-butyl ester followed by alkylation with 6-(bromomethyl)-2,4-pteridinediamine hydrobromide. DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX was found to be neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of human FPGS. The fluorinated analogue of MTX, however, inhibits DHFR and cell growth with the same potency as MTX.

Aminopterin↗
PubMed1996

Exploitation of folate and antifolate polyglutamylation to achieve selective anticancer chemotherapy.

Synthesis of poly(gamma-glutamate) metabolites of natural folates and antifolates is a critical process. Folypolyglutamates are essential for cell proliferation. Polyglutamates of glutamate (Glu)-containing antifolates are often critical for their cytotoxic action and are relevant to antifolate resistance. However, the role of polyglutamate synthesis in selectivity is less clear. We have undertaken a research program to further define the significance of polyglutamate metabolism and to devise ways to exploit this metabolism to achieve greater therapeutic selectivity in cancer chemotherapy. This article briefly reviews several approaches tested thus far. Inhibition of folypolyglutamate synthesis should lead to cell death. Current ornithine (Orn)-containing folate-based inhibitors of the enzyme responsible for their synthesis, folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), are poorly transported, apparently because of interference by the protonated delta-amine. Replacement of Orn with 4, 4-difluoroOrn, the delta-amine of which has a much lower pKa and is thus less protonated at physiological pH, was explored. Since it is unclear how polyglutamylation contributes to selectivity, we explored generic means either to eliminate or to enhance polyglutamylation. The data indicate that substitution for Glu in an antifolate by some Glu analogs in which the gamma-COOH is either altered or replaced (e.g., gamma-tetrazole-Glu) leads to loss of both FPGS substrate activity and binding; antifolate target specificity is unchanged, while uptake is actually enhanced. Substitution of 3,3-difluoroGlu for Glu leads to enhanced polyglutamylation (although probably only to the diglutamate), retention of target specificity, and at least equal uptake. Comparative studies of the same antifolate containing different replacements for Glu, such as gamma-tetrazole-Glu (no polyglutamylation) or 3,3-difluoroGlu (enhanced polyglutamylation), will be useful in exploring the role and significance of polyglutamylation.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1996

Positive and negative host factors for Sendai virus transcription and their organ distribution in rat.

In vitro mRNA synthesis by Sendai virus is almost entirely dependent on the addition of cellular proteins (positive host factors), one of which could be tubulin. In this study, we investigated the distribution of host factors in various rat organs. Extracts from the brain, thymus, heart, lung, testis, ovary, and uterus all supported in vitro Sendai virus transcription, among which the highest activity was obtained with the brain extract. On the other hand, little or no activity was detected in the liver, spleen, and kidney extracts. An inverse correlation between the apparent host factor activity to stimulate mRNA synthesis and RNase activity that hydrolyzes Sendai virus mRNAs was found, except in the liver extract. However, when a transcription initiation complex was isolated and subjected to RNA chain elongation reaction, all of the extracts including those from liver, spleen and kidney, were active. Immunoblotting showed that tubulin molecules were integrated in these initiation complexes, supporting the notion that tubulin is involved in the initiation complex formation. We also identified a transcription inhibitory activity without any detectable RNase activity in the liver extract. This negative host factor seemed to act on RNA chain elongation. It is likely that Sendai virus transcription is regulated by both positive and negative regulatory factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Apoptotic process of cerebellar degeneration in experimental methylmercury intoxication of rats.

This report deals with the mechanism involved in the cerebellar degeneration following experimental methylmercury poisoning of male Wistar rats. The cerebellar granule cells of animals that exhibited typical hind leg paresis were shrunken and displayed marked nuclear pyknosis. At the ultrastructural level, the nuclei of these cells were condensed and fragmented, features which are characteristic of apoptosis. In situ staining for DNA strand breaks revealed that the pyknotic nuclei were positively labeled. DNA fragmentation was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis; a ladder pattern of multiples of approximately 200-base pair fragments, typical of apoptosis, was observed with the cerebellar DNA of the methylmercury-treated animals. These observations suggest that the degeneration of cerebellar granule cells by alkyl mercury compounds involves an apoptotic process.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cellular basis for protein C deficiency caused by a single amino acid substitution at Arg15 in the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain.

Protein C is a zymogen of an anticoagulant vitamin K-dependent serine protease. Inherited protein C deficiency is often associated with a high risk for venous thromboembolism. It is characteristic of protein C deficiency that most single amino acid replacements result in type I (secretion defect) deficiency. To determine the molecular and cellular bases of protein C deficiency, we expressed recombinant human protein C mutants in which Arg15 was mutated to either Gly, Trp, Gln, Leu, or Pro by a single base exchange. Arg15 is one of the conservative residues in the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domains of the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, and is also one of the high frequency multiple mutation sites in protein C deficiency. In transient expression studies using human kidney 293 cells, the relative amounts of Arg15 mutants secreted into the medium and determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were as follows: Gly, 42%; Trp, 14%; Gln, 54%; Leu, 22%; and Pro, 13%, the amount of wild-type (Wt) protein C being taken as 100%. Thus, the order of the secreted amounts of the recombinant mutants was determined to be Wt > Gln > Gly > Leu > Trp, Pro. Pulse-chase experiments using both transiently-transfected and a pool of stably-transfected 293 cells, and stably-transfected BHK cells showed the same order of secretion efficiency. Since this order correlated well with that of the hydrophobicity scale of amino acid side chains, a conformational alteration of the Gla domain resulting in impaired secretion may be dependent on the hydrophobicity of the replaced amino acid. In transient cells, the relative radioactivities of pulse-labeled bands of all recombinant protein C were almost equal, suggesting that the same translational efficiency for Wt and all Arg15 mutants. All of the Arg15-mutated protein C precursors were shown to be located in the same organelle as protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein, and were sensitive to endoglycosidase H digestion. These results suggest that mutations of the highly conserved Arg15 in the Gla domain of protein C caused a secretion defect to variable degrees depending on replaced amino acid residue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗