Biomedical subjects

Y Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Y Jin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide activates nuclear factor-kappaB through interleukin-1 signaling mediators in cultured human dermal endothelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated immune responses, including activation of monocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells, play an important role in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacteria-induced sepsis syndrome. Activation of NF-kappaB is thought to be required for cytokine release from LPS-responsive cells, a critical step for endotoxic effects. Here we investigated the role and involvement of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) signal transducer molecules in LPS signaling in human dermal microvessel endothelial cells (HDMEC) and THP-1 monocytic cells. LPS stimulation of HDMEC and THP-1 cells initiated an IL-1 receptor-like NF-kappaB signaling cascade. In transient cotransfection experiments, dominant negative mutants of the IL-1 signaling pathway, including MyD88, IRAK, IRAK2, and TRAF6 inhibited both IL-1- and LPS-induced NF-kappaB-luciferase activity. LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation was not inhibited by a dominant negative mutant of TRAF2 that is involved in TNF signaling. LPS-induced activation of NF-kappaB-responsive reporter gene was not inhibited by IL-1 receptor antagonist. TLR2 and TLR4 were expressed on the cell surface of HDMEC and THP-1 cells. These findings suggest that a signal transduction molecule in the LPS receptor complex may belong to the IL-1 receptor/toll-like receptor (TLR) super family, and the LPS signaling cascade uses an analogous molecular framework for signaling as IL-1 in mononuclear phagocytes and endothelial cells.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1999

Antibody identification, chromosome map assignment, and sequence analysis of a Rab escort protein homolog in Drosophila1.

Using a polyclonal antiserum a cDNA encoding a Rab escort protein (REP) homolog in Drosophila has been identified and sequenced. The gene encodes a 511 residue protein with a predicted molecular mass of 56855 Da. Antibody labeling demonstrates that Drosophila REP protein is present in the early embryo and that it is being apportioned uniformly throughout the embryo in a process likely to be linked to the syncytial nuclear divisions. In situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes reveals that the Drosophila REP gene is located in the 56E region on the second chromosome. Drosophila REP is the first invertebrate REP homolog to be identified and characterized.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed1999

The Caenorhabditis elegans gene unc-25 encodes glutamic acid decarboxylase and is required for synaptic transmission but not synaptic development.

The neurotransmitter GABA has been proposed to play a role during nervous system development. We show that the Caenorhabditis elegans gene unc-25 encodes glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the GABA biosynthetic enzyme. unc-25 is expressed specifically in GABAergic neurons. Null mutations in unc-25 eliminate the UNC-25 protein or alter amino acids conserved in all known GADs, result in a complete lack of GABA, and cause defects in all GABA-mediated behaviors. In unc-25 mutants the GABAergic neurons have normal axonal trajectories and synaptic connectivity, and the size and shape of synaptic vesicles are normal. The number of synaptic vesicles at GABAergic neuromuscular junctions is slightly increased. Cholinergic ventral nerve cord neurons, which innervate the same muscles as GABAergic ventral cord neurons, have normal morphology, connectivity, and synaptic vesicles. We conclude that GAD activity and GABA are not necessary for the development or maintenance of neuromuscular junctions in C. elegans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

The yeast a1 and alpha2 homeodomain proteins do not contribute equally to heterodimeric DNA binding.

In diploid cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the alpha2 and a1 homeodomain proteins bind cooperatively to sites in the promoters of haploid cell-type-specific genes (hsg) to repress their expression. Although both proteins bind to the DNA, in the alpha2 homeodomain substitutions of residues that are involved in contacting the DNA have little or no effect on repression in vivo or cooperative DNA binding with a1 protein in vitro. This result brings up the question of the contribution of each protein in the heterodimer complex to the DNA-binding affinity and specificity. To determine the requirements for the a1-alpha2 homeodomain DNA recognition, we systematically introduced single base-pair substitutions in an a1-alpha2 DNA-binding site and examined their effects on repression in vivo and DNA binding in vitro. Our results show that nearly all substitutions that significantly decrease repression and DNA-binding affinity are at positions which are specifically contacted by either the alpha2 or a1 protein. Interestingly, an alpha2 mutant lacking side chains that make base-specific contacts in the major groove is able to discriminate between the wild-type and mutant DNA sites with the same sequence specificity as the wild-type protein. These results suggest that the specificity of alpha2 DNA binding in complex with a1 does not rely solely on the residues that make base-specific contacts. We have also examined the contribution of the a1 homeodomain to the binding affinity and specificity of the complex. In contrast to the lack of a defective phenotype produced by mutations in the alpha2 homeodomain, many of the alanine substitutions of residues in the a1 homeodomain have large effects on a1-alpha2-mediated repression and DNA binding. This result shows that the two proteins do not make equal contributions to the DNA-binding affinity of the complex.

Consensus Sequence↗

PubMed1999

EMAP II: a modulator of neovascularization in the developing lung.

Neovascularization is a key regulatory process in fetal growth and development. Although factors promoting growth and development of the pulmonary vasculature have been investigated, nothing is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that may counteract these stimuli. Endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide (EMAP) II has recently been identified as an antiangiogenic factor in tumor vascular development. We postulated that EMAP II is a putative negative modulator of lung vascular growth. EMAP II mRNA and protein decrease fivefold (P < 0.01) as the developing lungs in the fetal mouse progress from having poor vascularization (day 14) to having complete vascular development at term (day 18.5). EMAP II protein expression continues to remain low throughout postnatal life and into adulthood, with the exception of a surge that correlates with microvascular maturation. Furthermore, through the use of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, EMAP II is localized throughout the lung, with significant expression in the submyoepithelial area during the early stages of lung development when there is minimal vascular development. In contrast, EMAP II is distributed around the large vessels during the end of vascular development, suggesting that EMAP II modulates the neovascularization process. We speculate that EMAP II is a director of neovascularization in the developing lung.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Effect of clozapine and adjunctive high-dose glycine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The focus of this study was the systematic evaluation of the clinical effects of glycine as an adjunct to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine in the treatment of schizophrenia. METHOD: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 19 patients with chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia who were maintained on optimal doses of clozapine (400-1200 mg/day) were administered either 30 g/day of glycine (N=9) or placebo (N=10) for 12 weeks. Clinical evaluations with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and the Simpson-Angus movement scale were completed biweekly. RESULTS: The use of glycine as an adjunct to clozapine was not effective in decreasing positive or negative symptoms. In contrast, the patients treated with clozapine without glycine had a 35% reduction in positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that glycine may interfere with the antipsychotic efficacy of atypical neuroleptics such as clozapine.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Inhibition stereochemistry of hydroxamate inhibitors for thermolysin.

N-Acyl-N-hydroxy-beta-amino acid derivatives were prepared and tested as inhibitors for thermolysin to find that these inhibitors show the L-stereospecificity in contrast to the corresponding hydroxamates prepared from alpha-amino acid, which exhibit the D-stereochemistry. N-Formyl-N-hydroxy-beta-L-Phe-NHMe is the most potent inhibitor having the Ki value of 1.66 microM.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1998

Crystal structure of the MATa1/MATalpha2 homeodomain heterodimer in complex with DNA containing an A-tract.

The crystal structure of the heterodimer formed by the DNA binding domains of the yeast mating type transcription factors, MATa1 and MATalpha2, bound to a 21 bp DNA fragment has been determined at 2.5 A resolution. The DNA fragment in the present study differs at four central base pairs from the DNA sequence used in the previously studied ternary complex. These base pair changes give rise to a (dA5).(dT5) tract without changing the overall base composition of the DNA. The resulting A-tract occurs near the center of the overall 60 degrees bend in the DNA. Comparison of the two structures shows that the structural details of the DNA bend are maintained despite the DNA sequence changes. Analysis of the A5-tract DNA subfragment shows that it contains a bend toward the minor groove centered at one end of the A-tract. The observed bend is larger than that observed in the crystal structures of A-tracts embedded in uncomplexed DNA, which are straight and have been presumed to be quite rigid. Variation of the central DNA base sequence reverses the two AT base pairs contacted in the minor groove by Arg7 of the alpha2 N-terminal arm without significantly altering the DNA binding affinity of the a1/alpha2 heterodimer. The Arg7 side chain accommodates the sequence change by forming alternate H bond interactions, in agreement with the proposal that minor groove base pair recognition is insensitive to base pair reversal. Furthermore, the minor groove spine of hydration, which stabilizes the narrowed minor groove caused by DNA bending, is conserved in both structures. We also find that many of the water-mediated hydrogen bonds between the a1 and alpha2 homeodomains and the DNA are highly conserved, indicating an important role for water in stabilization of the a1/alpha2-DNA complex.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1998

Cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization characterization of chromosome 1 rearrangements in head and neck carcinomas delineate a target region for deletions within 1p11-1p13.

Cytogenetic analyses have revealed structural rearrangements of chromosome 1 in a large fraction of head and neck carcinomas (HNCA). These aberrations frequently affect chromosomal band 1p13 and the centromeric region, the latter often in the form of isochromosome i(1q) and whole-arm translocations. To delineate the critical region involved in rearrangements of proximal 1p, we have undertaken a more precise breakpoint mapping in 13 HNCAs, using metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization with 11 yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones spanning 1p. All of the tumors had chromosome 1 changes at G-banding analyses. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that in almost all of the cases, at least one copy of chromosome 1 was affected by centromeric rearrangement. By the use of YAC clones mapped to juxtacentromeric regions and a centromere-specific alpha-satellite probe, we detected variable breakpoints in the whole-arm translocations. At the cytogenetic level, 1p13 rearrangements were frequent. However, molecular breakpoints within this band varied among the HNCAs tested. The lack of consistently rearranged chromosome segments indicates that the pathogenetically important consequence of 1p rearrangements in HNCAs is loss and/or gain of genes outside the breakpoint regions. In an assessment of the genomic imbalances, partial or complete overrepresentation of 1q was seen in eight cases. Loss of 1p material was also identified in eight cases; and in four of them, the deleted segments were too small to be discovered by G-banding analysis. The minimal overlapping deleted region was in the interval between YAC 959C4 (band p11-p12) and the centromere (p10). Our findings indicate that a target region potentially harboring tumor suppressor gene(s) crucial for HNCA is located within chromosomal bands 1p11-p13.

Centromere↗

PubMed1998

Human integrin beta3 gene expression: evidence for a megakaryocytic cell-specific cis-acting element.

The human integrin beta3 participates in a wide range of adhesive biologic functions and is expressed in a selected subset of tissues, but little is known about the cis-acting DNA elements or trans-acting factors responsible for this regulation. Using cell lines characterized for beta3 expression, a number of upstream regulatory regions in the beta3 gene were identified. (1) The three regions from -1159 to -584, -290 to -146, and -126 to -115 demonstrated positive, negative, and negative activity, respectively. (2) The region from -115 to +29 of the beta3 gene was sufficient for cell-specific activity. Deletion of the sequence from -115 to -89 produced a 6- to 40-fold reduction in reporter gene activity in beta3-expressing megakaryocytic cell lines (K562, Dami, and HEL), but only a 1.7- and 2.7-fold reduction, respectively, in beta3-expressing endothelial and melanoma cell lines, and 1.3- and 2. 8-fold reduction, respectively, in non-beta3-expressing Chinese hamster ovary and 293 cell lines. This sequence also bound nuclear proteins in a cell-specific manner in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Mutational analysis indicated that the sequence GAGGGG (positions -113 to -108) is a megakaryocytic cell line-specific cis-acting element. (3) The region from -89 to +29 promoted lower activity in all cell lines. We also provide evidence that a CCCACCC sequence at position -70 has transcriptional activity, most likely through the Sp1 transcription factor. These data supply the first detailed map of the transcriptional regulatory elements of the 5' region of the beta3 gene, define positive regulatory sequences with potent megakaryocyte preferential activity, and indicate that the ubiquitous transcription factor, Sp1, may augment beta3 gene expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

lin-14 regulates the timing of synaptic remodelling in Caenorhabditis elegans.

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans six GABAergic motor neurons, known as DDs, remodel their patterns of synaptic connectivity during larval development. DD remodelling involves a complete reversal of the direction of information flow within nerve processes without marked changes in process morphology. We used a marker localized in vivo to DD presynaptic zones to analyse how the timing of DD remodelling is controlled. In wild-type animals, DDs remodel their synaptic outputs within a 3-5-hour period at the end of the first larval stage. We show that the heterochronic gene lin-14, which controls the timing of stage-specific cell lineages, regulates the timing of DD synaptic output remodelling. In lin-14 loss-of-function mutants, DDs remodel precociously. The degree of precocious remodelling is correlated with the level of lin-14 activity. Expression of lin-14(+) in the DDs of lin-14-null mutants rescues the precocious remodelling, indicating that lin-14 can act cell-autonomously. Consistent with this hypothesis, LIN-14 protein levels decrease in the DDs before remodelling. Our observations reveal a role of heterochronic genes in non-dividing cells, and provide an example of cell-autonomous respecification of neuronal connectivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and evaluation of N-substituted-2-alkyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinones.

The synthesis of a range of 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridinones with potential for the chelation of iron(III) is described. The pKa values of respective ligands and the stability constants of their iron(III) complexes are presented. The distribution coefficient values of a range of 48 hydroxypyridinones and their corresponding iron(III) complexes between 1-octanol and MOPS buffer (pH 7.4) are reported. The range of log Dcomplex values covers 7 orders of magnitude. The results suggest the existence of a biphasic relationship between the distribution coefficient values of the chelator and the corresponding iron(III) complexes. For ligands with a log Dligand = -1, a linear relationship exists with a value of the slope 2.53, whereas with ligands with a log Dligand < -1, a linear relationship exists with a slope of 0.49. The reduced slope for the more hydrophilic molecules of the series offers some advantage for this type of hydroxypyridinone as the distribution coefficients for such complexes do not change so rapidly with increasing ligand hydrophilicity. The ability of selected 3-hydroxypyridinones to facilitate the excretion of iron in bile was investigated in non-iron-overloaded, bile duct-cannulated rats and in a [59Fe]ferritin-loaded rat model. Both systems compare the ability of chelators to remove iron from the liver, the prime target organ in thalassemia. The N-(hydroxyalkyl)-3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones are demonstrated to be orally active under the in vivo conditions adopted. Thus both 1-(hydroxyalkyl)- and 1-(carboxyalkyl)pyridinones are able to remove iron from the liver. Although 1-(carboxyalkyl)hydroxypyridinones are active, they do not demonstrate any clear advantage over Deferiprone (1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one). Indeed 1-(hydroxyalkyl)hydroxypyridinones which are known to be rapidly converted to 1-(carboxyalkyl)hydroxypyridinones are also marginally superior to Deferiprone. In contrast, 2-ethyl-1-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one, which is not metabolized to the corresponding (carboxyalkyl)hydroxypyridinone, was found to be superior to Deferiprone and therefore deserves further consideration as an orally active iron chelator with potential for the treatment of iron overload associated with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Post-translational processing of the insulin-like growth factor-2 precursor. Analysis of O-glycosylation and endoproteolysis.

Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) is expressed in most embryonic tissues and is required for normal development during gestation. After birth IGF-2 expression is extinguished in most tissues, but the gene is often reactivated during tumorigenesis. Tumors secrete high molecular weight forms of IGF-2 that result from aberrant post-translational processing of pro-IGF-2. As a first step toward understanding how high molecular weight IGF-2 peptides might contribute to tumor progression, we have characterized the biosynthesis of IGF-2 in a human embryonic cell line. We have found that pro-IGF-2 can initially form two disulfide isomers that undergo rearrangement to a single conformation in vivo. The addition of N-acetylgalactosamine to Ser71, Thr72, Thr75, and Thr139 likely occurs in the cis- Golgi apparatus. Sialic acid addition begins in the trans- Golgi apparatus, but IGF-2 peptides must reach the trans-Golgi network for oligosaccharide maturation to be completed. Endoproteolysis occurs concomitant to or slightly after oligosaccharide maturation. Cleavage was observed only at Arg104, resulting in the secretion of IGF-2-(1-104) and free E-peptide. Proteolysis required basic residues in the P1 (Arg104) and P4 (Arg101) positions, was completely blocked by a furin inhibitor, and was enhanced by coexpression with furin, PACE4, PC6A, PC6B, and LPC. These data suggest that members of the subtilisin-related proprotein convertase family mediate processing of pro-IGF-2 at Arg104. We did not detect the IGF-2 peptides that are most abundant in normal serum, mature IGF-2, and IGF-2-(1-87), in this expression system, which indicates that novel endoproteases are responsible for generating these products.

Arginine↗

PubMed1998

Is P50 suppression a measure of sensory gating in schizophrenia?

BACKGROUND: Abnormal P50 response has been hypothesized to reflect the sensory gating deficit in schizophrenia. Despite the extensive literature concerning the sensory filtering or gating deficit in schizophrenia, no evidence has been provided to test the relationship of the P50 phenomenon with patients' experiences of perceptual anomalies. METHODS: Sixteen drug-free DSM-IV diagnosed schizophrenic patients who reported moderate to severe perceptual anomalies in the auditory or visual modality were examined as compared to 16 schizophrenic patients who did not report perceptual anomalies, and 16 normal subjects. Both control groups were age- and gender-matched with the study group. RESULTS: Patients reporting perceptual anomalies exhibited P50 patterns that did not differ from normal subjects. In contrast, patients who did not report perceptual anomalies showed the abnormal P50 ratios previously found to be associated with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: These paradoxical findings do not support the hypothetical relationship between the P50 and behavioral measures of sensory gating, suggesting that additional studies are needed to further explore the clinical correlates of the P50.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of a malignant eccrine poroma by cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques.

We have cytogenetically and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyzed short-term cultures from a malignant eccrine poroma, a type of tumor in which chromosomal abnormalities have previously not been reported. Combining the results from G-banding and FISH, the karyotype was interpreted as 50,XX,t(3;11;12)(q21;p15;q15),+5,+7,+9, +9,t(12;22)(q13;q13),+del(12)(q15),der(15)t(3;15) (q23;p13),der(17)t(8;17)(q22;p13),-20,add(22)(q13).

Acrospiroma↗

PubMed1998

Unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements in a metastasizing salivary gland tumor with benign histology.

Benign metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma (BMPA) is a rare tumor of the salivary glands. Despite benign histopathologic features, it can metastasize and is sometimes lethal. No chromosomal data have been reported for this tumor type. We have by chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis examined the short-term cultures of three skeletal metastases from a BMPA and identified two related hypodiploid clones: 44,XX,dic(3;22)(p11;q13) or der(3)t(3;22)(p11;q?) add(22)(q?),der(9;21)(q10;q10),der(13)t(1;13)(q11;p13)/45,XX,-3,der(9;21 ) (q10;q10),der(13)t(1;13)(q11; p13),?der(22)t(3;22)(q22;q13), +mar. The karyotypic features of this BMPA thus differ from the characteristic cytogenetic findings in pleomorphic adenomas and carcinomas ex pleomorphic adenoma.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

PubMed1998

Cytogenetic analysis of pancreatic carcinomas: intratumor heterogeneity and nonrandom pattern of chromosome aberrations.

Twenty-nine nonendocrine pancreatic carcinomas (20 primary tumors and nine metastases) were studied by chromosome banding after short-term culture. Acquired clonal aberrations were found in 25 tumors and a detailed analysis of these revealed extensive cytogenetic intratumor heterogeneity. Apart from six carcinomas with one clone only, 19 tumors displayed from two to 58 clones, bringing the total number of clones to 230. Karyotypically related clones, signifying evolutionary variation, were found in 16 tumors, whereas unrelated clones were present in nine, the latter finding probably reflecting a distinct pathogenetic mechanism. The cytogenetic profile of pancreatic carcinoma was characterized by multiple numerical and structural changes. In total, more than 500 abnormal chromosomes, including rings, markers, homogeneously stained regions, and double minutes, altogether displaying 608 breakpoints, were detected. This complexity and heterogeneity notwithstanding, a nonrandom karyotypic pattern can be discerned in pancreatic cancer. Chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, and 19 and bands 1q12, 1q21, 3q11, 6p21, 6q21, 7q11, 7q22, 7q32, 11q13, 13cen, 14cen, 17q11, 17q21, and 19q13 were most frequently involved in structural rearrangements. A total of 19 recurrent unbalanced structural changes were identified, 11 of which were not reported previously: del(1)(q11), del(3)(p11), i(3)(q10), del(4)(q25), del(11)(p13), dup(11)(q13q23), i(12)(p10), der(13;15)(q10;q10), del(18)(q12), del(18)(q21), and i(19)(q10). The main karyotypic imbalances were entire-copy losses of chromosomes 18, Y, and 21, gains of chromosomes 7, 2, and 20, partial or whole-arm losses of 1p, 3p, 6q, 8p, 9p, 15q, 17p, 18q, 19p, and 20p, and partial or whole-arm gains of 1q, 3q, 5p, 6p, 7q, 8q, 11q, 12p, 17q, 19q, and 20q. In general, the karyotypic pattern of pancreatic carcinoma fits the multistep carcinogenesis concept. The observed cytogenetic heterogeneity appears to reflect a multitude of interchangeable but oncogenetically equivalent events, and the nonrandomness of the chromosomal alterations underscores the preferential pathways involved in tumor initiation and progression.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMed1998

Application of heparin to chiral separations of antihistamines by capillary electrophoresis.

A study of the chiral separations of antihistamines, including pheniramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, carbinoxamine and doxylamine in capillary electrophoresis (CE) was accomplished using heparin as a chiral additive (CA) and phosphate buffer as the background electrolyte. Several factors were shown to affect both the selectivity and the migration time, including concentration of heparin, concentration of buffer, and the pH. A dual mechanism involving both inclusion complexation and ionic interactions with heparin is thought to be responsible for the chiral recognition. In the pH range of 2.6-3.5 and reversed polarity, baseline resolutions were obtained using a wide range of buffer and heparin concentrations. Typically, chiral resolution was obtained within 50 min.

Brompheniramine↗