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Metabolism of cinnamic acids by some Clostridiales and emendation of the descriptions of Clostridium aerotolerans, Clostridium celerecrescens and Clostridium xylanolyticum.

The ability of Clostridium aerotolerans DSM 5434T, Clostridium celerecrescens DSM 5628T, Clostridium methoxybenzovorans DSM 12182T, Clostridium stercorarium ATCC 35414T, Clostridium subterminale DSM 2636, Clostridium termitidis DSM 5398T, Clostridium thermolacticum DSM 2910T, Clostridium thermopalmarium DSM 5974T and Clostridium xylanolyticum DSM 6555T to metabolize cinnamic acid and various derivatives, with or without glucose supplementation, was examined. Only C aerotolerans DSM 5434T and C. xylanolyticum DSM 6555T, closely related species, transformed cinnamic acid to 3-phenylpropionic acid. Both species also reduced a wide range of cinnamic acid derivatives, including o-, m- and p-coumaric, o-, m- and p-methoxycinnamic, p-methylcinnamic, caffeic, ferulic, isoferulic and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acids to their corresponding 3-phenylpropionic acid derivatives. C. aerotolerans DSM 5434T, however, also decarboxylated p-coumaric acid into 4-vinylphenol, which was then reduced to 4-ethylphenol. C. celerecrescens was grouped with C. aerotolerans and C. xylanolyticum in subcluster XIVa of the Clostridiales. C. celerecrescens DSM 5628T only metabolized m- and p-methoxycinnamic and p-methylcinnamic acids to their corresponding 3-phenylpropionic acid derivatives, reducing the double bond in the C3 aliphatic side chain. Addition of glucose markedly increased the yield of the biotransformations by these three species. An emendation of the descriptions of C. aerotolerans, C. celerecrescens and C. xylanolyticum is proposed, based on these observations.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

catena-Poly[aquacopper(II)-mu-[N-(1-oxido-2-naphthylmethylene)-glycinato-O,N,O':O']].

In the title compound, [Cu(C(13)H(9)NO(3))(H(2)O)](n), the Cu(II) ion is in a slightly distorted square-pyramidal environment, with four short bonds in the basal plane formed by three donor atoms of the Schiff base and a water O atom. A symmetry-related neighbouring molecule provides an apical carboxylate O atom at a distance of 2.551 (3) A; this contact leads to the formation of zigzag polymeric chains. In addition, the chain fragments are connected to each other by hydrogen bonding.

Chelating Agents↗

Immunoglobulin expression in human lymphoblastoid cell lines with early B cell features.

Immunoglobulin expression was studied by direct immunofluorescence and by biosynthesis experiments in two human cell lines Raji and T 5.1. The basic phenotype of these cells was close to that of pre-B cells: large cells with intracytoplasmic IgM with a predominance of mu chains over light chains and no detectable surface immunoglobulins. The apparent molecular weight of heavy and light chains was abnormally large. Immunoglobulins were secreted at a low rate as pentameric IgM in the T 5.1 line and as subunits and free light chains in the Raji line. Spontaneous variations of this phenotype were observed: the cultured cells acquired mu and lambda chains, then additionally delta chains while they progressively lost detectable cytoplasmic mu chains, thus leading to a mature B cell phenotype. Subsequently, the cells had no detectable surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins and then they displayed a pre-B cell phenotype again. Attempts to induce further maturation using various potential inducers were unsuccessful.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Yeast tRNA Leu UAG. Purification, properties and determination of the nucleotide sequence by radioactive derivative methods.

A second major species of leucine tRNA, tRNA Leu UAG (formerly designated tRNA Leu CUA) was purified from baker's yeast in a three-step procedure entailing BD-cellulose chromatography in the presence and absence of Mg2+ and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Results of aminoacylation and partial RNase T1 digestion experiments showed that this tRNA retains a native conformation under conditions that denature yeast tRNA Leu m5CAA (tRNA3 Leu). The primary structure of baker's yeast tRNA Leu UAG was elucidated by application of sensitive radioactive isotope derivative ("postlabeling") methods. Complete RNase T1 and A and partial RNase U2 fragments, prepared from non-radioactive tRNA and 5'-half and 3'-half molecules, were separated by two-dimensional polyethyleneimine-cellulose anion-exchange thin-layer chromatography and isolated by a novel micropreparative procedure affording high yields of these compounds in sufficient purity for subsequent tritium derivative analysis. Base composition and sequence of oligonucleotides were analyzed by tritium derivative methods. Molar ratios of the fragments were determined from the radioactivity of 3H-labeled nucleoside trialcohols in combination with base analysis. 2'-O-Methylated guanosine was characterized using the [gamma-32P]ATP/polynucleotide kinase reaction. The analysis of classical complete and partial RNase digests by the tritium derivative methods yielded the complete nucleotide sequence of the tRNA. A total of about 20 A260 units of the RNA was used for analysis, i.e. considerably less material than required for conventional spectrophotometric analysis. A different sequencing approach, consisting of a combination of "readout sequencing" with tritium sequencing of complete RNase T1 and A fragments, was applied to the 3'-half molecule. The 3'-half molecule was labeled with 32P at its 5' terminus, partially degraded with RNase T1, U2, and Phy1 and with alkali, and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The sequence was read off the gel on the basis of cleavage patterns and size of the fragments. While the readout procedure provided only the positions of A, U, C, and G residues in the chain, additional information from tritium derivative analysis was utilized to define the positions of the modified nucleosides. The readout sequencing procedure was found to require less than 0.01 A260 unit of RNA and the analysis of the complete fragments about 6 A260 units. Interesting structural features of tRNA Leu UAG are (a) the location of unique, leucine tRNA iso-acceptor-specific sequences next to U-8, a constant nucleotide participating in synthetase recognition, (b) the occurrence of 1-methyladenosine in the T loop, a modification not present in the structurally related tRNA Leu m5CAA, and (c) the unusual presence of an unmodified uridine in the first position of the anticodon, which may be related to the unusual coding properties reported for this tRNA.

Adenine↗

Lectin-gold localization of fucose residues in human gastric mucosa.

The oligosaccharides of the mucous gastric glycoproteins are involved in the protection of the gastric mucosa and are altered in different diseases. Therefore, it is important to know their composition in health, to better determine the alterations induced by the disease. Moreover, analysis of the molecular composition of the fundic gland cells has been previously used to obtain new insights into the origin of the different cell types. The aim of the present study was the localization in the subcellular structures of the fucose residues of the oligosaccharides in human fundic glands. For this, lectin cytochemical methods were used at the light and electron microscopic levels. They were combined with enzymatic and chemical treatments to characterize the nature of the oligosaccharide chains containing the fucose residues. The presence of this carbohydrate belonging to N- or O-linked oligosaccharides has been demonstrated in the secretory granules of the surface, gastric pit, mucous neck, and transitional cells of the fundic mucosa, and in the intracellular canaliculi and tubulovesicular system of the parietal cells. These fucose residues were added in the trans-Golgi regions to the elongating chains. Additional fucose linked to the innermmost N-acetylglucosamine of the N-linked oligosaccharides was found in the chief cells, being incorporated in the cis-Golgi. The findings in the transitional cells corroborate the origin of the chief cells from the mucous neck cells.

Blood Group Antigens↗

MTD calculations on quantitative structure-activity relationships of steroids binding to the progesterone receptor.

The minimal topological difference (MTD) method is used to describe quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for the progesterone-receptor binding affinity including 59 progestational steroids. Multiple correlation coefficients of r = 0.962 and r = 0.955 are obtained by use of the MTD variable and a measure of hydrophobicity for the series of progesterone and ethisterone derivatives, respectively. Hydrophobic effects are found to strongly influence receptor binding. In accordance with the hydrogen bonding concept, the optimized MTD receptor maps indicate cavity vertices in the regions of oxygen functions at C3 and in the 17 beta position. Receptor wall vertices are attributed in the areas of 4, 10 beta, and 13 beta substituents of 4-en-3-one steroids while 17 alpha side chains additionally contain receptor cavity vertices. A comparison of corresponding receptor maps suggests in accord with X-ray crystal structure data that progesterone and ethisterone derivatives are bound in somewhat different orientations relative to the receptor surface.

Animals↗

Effects of propylthiouracil and methylmercaptoimidazole on thyroglobulin synthesis.

The effect of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), and 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole (MMI) on thyroglobulin (Tg) biosynthesis has been studied in vivo and in vitro. In vivo experiments were performed in rats treated for 20 days with PTU or MMI, analyzing soluble and particulate, cold and 125I-labelled, Tg. Thyroglobulin biosynthesis was also investigated by in vitro experiments, incubating thyroid tissue with labelled amino acid and carbohydrate in the presence of antithyroid compounds. It has been found that in vivo antithyroid agents decrease the amount of soluble Tg and increase the proportion of particulate Tg. Tg from treated animals is poorly iodinated being mainly represented by its 12S subunit. In vitro studies demonstrate that PTU and MMI inhibit Tg biosynthesis which is impaired in the polypeptide synthesis as well as in carbohydrate chains addition. Thus the inhibition of the hormonogenetic processes induced by antithyroid treatment leading to a depressed iodinating activity also appears to be related to a significant impairment of the production of the Tg molecule, the specific iodine acceptor.

Amino Acids↗

Time to pregnancy among female greenhouse workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the possibility that work in greenhouses with potential exposure to pesticides entails a risk for reduced fecundity in terms of increased time to pregnancy. METHODS: Among 1767 female members of the Danish Gardeners Trade Union, telephone interview data were obtained on the 492 most recent pregnancies of women employed when they stopped contraception to get a child (the starting time). The pregnancies were classified according to job characteristics at the starting time. The ratio between the likelihood of pregnancy during a month for the exposed persons versus the referents (the fecundability ratio) was estimated by discrete proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: The adjusted fecundability ratio for workers in flower greenhouses versus other union members was 1.11 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.90-1.36]. Among workers in flower greenhouses the handling of cultures many hours per week, the spraying of pesticides, and the nonuse of gloves was related to reduced fecundability [adjusted fecundability ratio 0.69 (95% CI 0.47-1.03), 0.78 (95% CI 0.59-1.06), and 0.67 (95% CI 0.46-0.98), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that female workers in flower greenhouses may have reduced fecundability and that exposure to pesticides may be part of the causal chain. Additional studies of fertility among women working in greenhouses are highly warranted.

Adult↗

Chemical cleavage of the overexpressed mitochondrial F1beta precursor with CNBr: a new strategy to construct an import-competent preprotein.

We have isolated a soluble import-competent 15 kDa N-terminal fragment of the overexpressed Nicotiana plumbaginifolia F1beta precursor of the ATP synthase (N15pF1beta). The isolation was achieved after chemical cleavage, with CNBr, of the insoluble precursor collected in inclusion bodies, followed by purification of the fragment using ion-exchange chromatography. The purity of the final product was estimated to be more than 99%. N15pF1beta contained a presequence of 54 amino acid residues (except for the N-terminal methionine residue) and 82 N-terminal residues of the mature protein. N15pF1beta was shown to be imported into isolated potato tuber mitochondria and to be processed by the isolated mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) integrated into the cytochrome bc1 complex of the respiratory chain. Addition of N15pF1beta at micromolar concentrations resulted in the inhibition of import of F1beta precursor and alternative oxidase precursor, synthesized in vitro, into isolated mitochondria as well as the processing of these precursors catalysed by the isolated MPP-bc1 complex. N15pF1beta conjugated via a biotin link to avidin blocked import sites even after the reisolation of mitochondria and inhibited the import of the mitochondrial precursors, indicating that it can be used as a substrate for the generation of a stable translocation intermediate. Our results present a novel procedure for the production of an N-terminal fragment of the F1beta precursor that contains all information necessary for mitochondrial targeting and processing and that can be used for structural and functional studies of the mitochondrial protein import system. This procedure has a general value because it can be used for the production of chemical quantities of any mitochondrial import substrate and presequence peptide.

Avidin↗

The penultimate rotamer library.

All published rotamer libraries contain some rotamers that exhibit impossible internal atomic overlaps if built in ideal geometry with all hydrogen atoms. Removal of uncertain residues (mainly those with B-factors >/=40 or van der Waals overlaps >/=0.4 A) greatly improves the clustering of rotamer populations. Asn, Gln, or His side chains additionally benefit from flipping of their planar terminal groups when required by atomic overlaps or H-bonding. Sensitivity to skew and to the boundaries of chi angle bins is avoided by using modes rather than traditional mean values. Rotamer definitions are listed both as the modal values and in a preferred version that maximizes common atoms between related rotamers. The resulting library shows significant differences from previous ones, differences validated by considering the likelihood of systematic misfitting of models to electron density maps and by plotting changes in rotamer frequency with B-factor. Few rotamers now show atomic overlaps in ideal geometry; those overlaps are relatively small and can be understood in terms of bond angle distortions compensated by favorable interactions. The new library covers 94.5% of examples in the highest quality protein data with 153 rotamers and can make a significant contribution to improving the accuracy of new structures. Proteins 2000;40:389-408.

Amino Acids↗

Active site labeling of Escherichia coli transcription elongation complexes with 5-[4-azidophenacyl)thio)uridine 5'-triphosphate.

Escherichia coli RNA polymerase transcription elongation complexes have been prepared that contain a photo-cross-linking uridine analog at only the 3' end, or one or two nucleotides removed from the 3' end, in the nascent RNA chain. Additionally, complexes have been isolated in which the analog has been substituted for every UMP residue, at positions ranging from 20 to 140 nucleotides from the 3' end. The RNA has been photochemically cross-linked to the RNA polymerase to identify the subunits that form the binding site(s) for these regions in the nascent RNA. The photo-cross-linking nucleotide analog used for these studies was 5-[4-azidophenacyl)thio)uridine-5'-triphosphate (5-APAS-UTP), which acts as a 10-15 A probe. With 5-APAS-UMP positioned only at the 3' end of the RNA, or one or two nucleotides from the 3' end, only the beta subunit appeared to be contacted. When the analog was positioned throughout the RNA, both the beta and beta' subunits were contacted. No labeling of the sigma or alpha subunits was observed with any RNA length. In addition to placing this analog at specific positions in short RNAs, we have carried out transcription studies with 5-APAS-UTP to determine the optimal UTP to analog ratio for production of full length, photoreactive transcripts. Surprisingly, we found that when transcription complexes were stalled shortly after initiation, by deletion of one ribonucleoside triphosphate to synchronize transcription, changes in transcriptional pausing occurred downstream. These results suggest that events that occur early in transcription can affect the elongation and/or termination events that occur far downstream from the promoter. This effect occurred even with UTP but was greatly enhanced by replacement of UTP with either this analog or 4-thio-UTP. By enhancing the normal transcriptional pausing event, these analogs can serve as probes of the conformational changes that may exist in paused transcription complexes.

Affinity Labels↗

Differential expression of small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, PG-I/biglycan and PG-II/decorin, by vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in culture.

Cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle (BASM) and endothelial (BAE) cells, like articular chondrocytes, synthesize two populations of small chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) proteoglycans (PGs) of similar size as PG-I/biglycan and PG-II/decorin. However, Northern blot analyses demonstrated that BAE cells express detectable amounts of mRNA transcripts only for PG-I/biglycan, whereas BASM cells and articular chondrocytes express mRNA transcripts for both PG-I/biglycan and PG-II/decorin. Endothelial cells from human umbilical vein also expressed detectable amounts of mRNA transcripts only for PG-I/biglycan, and not PG-II/decorin. Antiserum raised against bovine PG-II/decorin immunoprecipitated an apparent single PG species with relative molecular mass (Mr) of approximately 120,000-180,000 from BASM cell and articular chondrocyte cultures but failed to immunoprecipitate an equivalent PG species from BAE cell cultures, consistent with the results from Northern blot analysis. In contrast, immunoprecipitations by antisera to PG-I/biglycan indicated that cultured endothelial cells synthesize two forms of PG-I/biglycan with Mr values slightly larger than 200,000 and 120,000-140,000. It is likely, based on the magnitude of the size difference, that these two forms of PG-I/biglycan differ in the number of glycosaminoglycan chains. Additionally, BASM but not BAE cells were found to express detectable amounts of mRNA transcripts for type I collagen. The above results indicate that the two main cell types of the vascular wall, endothelial and smooth muscle cells, express different sets of small interstitial CS/DS PGs and that the synthesis of PG-II/decorin by these cells correlates with the expression of type I collagen, a collagen known to interact specifically with this PG. These differences in the expression of extracellular matrix molecules may be important in regulating the cell type-specific functions of endothelial and smooth muscle cells within the vascular tissue.

Animals↗

Purification and partial characterization of fibrillin, a cysteine-rich structural component of connective tissue microfibrils.

Fibrillin, a connective tissue macromolecule (Mr = 350,000) which is normally insoluble in its tissue form, has been purified from the medium of human skin fibroblast and ligament cells in culture. Analysis of the amino acid composition indicates that fibrillin contains approximately 14% cysteine, of which one-third appears to be in the free reactive sulfhydryl form. Electron microscopic images of fibrillin reveal an extended, flexible molecule approximately 148 nm long and 2.2 nm wide. These length measurements are consistent with shape calculations based upon velocity sedimentation data. It is likely that the material we have purified from cell culture medium represents monomeric fibrillin consisting of a single polypeptide chain. Additional ultrastructural immunohistochemical data presented here suggest a model for the parallel, head-to-tail alignment of fibrillin molecules in microfibrils.

Amino Acids↗

[Conformational aspects of glycosylation].

The stereochemical conditions of the enzymatic process of carbohydrate chain addition to the amino acid sequence are reviewed. A particular attention is given to the process of N-glycosylation, which was studied by the method of theoretical conformational analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of specific HLA-DQ alpha allospecificities by genomic, biochemical, and serologic analysis.

Bgl II restriction endonuclease digestion of genomic DNA from lymphoblastoid cell lines homozygous for HLA DR and DQ serological specificities, followed by hybridization with a DQ alpha cDNA probe, identified a genomic polymorphism characterized by two reciprocal patterns, one associated with DR 3, 5 and 8 and the other with DR 1, 2, 4, 7, and 9. The former pattern corresponded precisely to the reactivity of monoclonal antibody SFR20-DQ alpha 5, shown by Western blotting to react with isolated alpha-chains, but not with beta-chains. Additional variants of the DQ alpha genes were identified by using a locus-specific oligonucleotide probe for the DQ alpha gene, indicating differences among the DQ alpha 5-negative set of alleles. This analysis defines a set of DQ alpha allelic markers that are distinct from the well-established DQ serologic specificities DQw1, 2, 3 or "blank." Although most DQ alpha 5+ cells carry the DRw52 specificity associated with the DR beta 2 gene, analysis of DQ alpha polymorphisms on DR5, DQw1; DR8, DQw1; and DRw13, DQw1 cells verified that this DQ alpha family of alleles was not invariably linked to the DR beta 2 locus.

Epitopes↗

Specific and non-specific interactions of two carcinogenic mycotoxins, luteoskyrin and rugulosin with nucleic acids.

(-) Luteoskyrin and (+) Rugulosin are 2 hepatotoxic and carcinogenic anthraquinone-like pigments from Penicillia which contaminate rice and other foodstuffs. They inhibit in vivo and in vitro replication, transcription and DNA repair of Protocaryots and Eucaryots presumably by forming chelate-complexes with nucleic acids. In the present work, characterization, specificity and structure of binary polychelates (pigment-metal)n and ternary complexes (pigment-metal-nucleic acids) are successively reported: whereas, unspecific complex II with double-stranded polynucleotides is shown to result from simple adsorption of polychelate onto the double helix, complex I is specific for single-stranded DNA (or polypurine nucleotides) and results from electrostatic association of separate pigment-metal units with the polyphosphate chain. Additional stabilization is obtained by hydrophobic interaction between stacked aromatic moieties of pigment and purine units. A model of interaction is proposed for both complexes I and II.

Carcinogens↗

An analogue of ubiquinone which inhibits respiration by binding to the iron-sulfur protein of the cytochrome b-c1 segment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

A synthetic quinone, 5-n-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole (UHDBT), inhibits electron transfer reactions in the cytochrome b-c1 segment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Addition of UHDBT to isolated succinate-cytochrome c reductase complex has effects on reduction of the cytochromes b and c1 by succinate similar to those which result from removal of the iron-sulfur protein from the b-c1 complex. Thus, UHDBT inhibits reduction of cytochrome c1 by succinate and, if antimycin is added before succinate, UHDBT inhibits reduction of cytochrome b in addition to c1. UHDBT increases the midpoint potential of the iron-sulfur protein of the b-c1 complex from +280 to +350 mV at pH 7.2. The inhibitor also shifts the gx peak in the EPR spectrum of the iron-sulfur protein from g = 1.80 to 1.76 and shifts the gz peak from g = 2.02 to 2.03. It causes only a slight shift in the central gy = 1.90 signal. The efficacy of inhibition of cytochrome c reductase activity of isolated reductase complex by UHDBT appears to depend on the oxidation-reduction poise of some component(s) in the b-c1 complex. Inhibition is decreased and there is an extensive lag in the onset of inhibition under conditions favoring oxidation of the b-c1 complex; inhibition increases and the lag is eliminated under conditions favoring reduction of the b-c1 complex. The titer for inhibition of cytochrome c reductase activity of isolated reductase complex is one UHDBT per b-c1 complex. With reductase complex from which the iron-sulfur protein of the b-c1 complex is reversibly resolved, the titer for inhibition is proportional to the amount of iron-sulfur protein reconstituted to the complex. These results suggest that UHDBT inhibits mitochondrial respiration by binding to the iron-sulfur protein of the b-c1 complex, possibly at a site which is otherwise involved in binding ubiquinone, and that this binding is enhanced when the iron-sulfur protein is reduced.

Animals↗

Post-translational glycosylation-induced activation of aglycoinsulin receptor accumulated during tunicamycin treatment.

Tunicamycin, which inhibits N-linked oligosaccharide chain addition to nascent polypeptides, interrupts glycosylation of the insulin receptor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes giving rise to inactive receptors. Chronic exposure of cells to low levels (100 ng/ml) of high performance liquid chromatography-purified tunicamycin causes a greater than or equal to 90% depletion of insulin binding to cell surface and Triton X-100-extractable receptors and a 93% inhibition of [3H]glucosamine incorporation into protein in alkali-stable form. Under identical conditions, protein synthesis was inhibited less than 10%. Recovery of insulin binding activity after the removal of tunicamycin achieves 70-80% of control activity within 36 h. Concomitant with the withdrawal of tunicamycin, cells were shifted to medium containing heavy (greater than 95% 15N, 13C, 2H) amino acids after which Triton X-100-solubilized "light" and "heavy" insulin receptors were separated isopycnically on CsCl density gradients. A kinetic analysis of the recovery of functional receptors revealed that the initial appearance of previously synthesized light receptor was followed, after a short lag, by newly synthesized heavy receptor. Similar levels of light receptor, but no new heavy receptor, accrue in the presence of cycloheximide. This strongly suggests that inactive aglycoinsulin receptor accumulated post-translationally during chronic treatment with tunicamycin and then re-entered the glycosylation pathway when the inhibitor was removed giving rise to a functional insulin receptor.

Animals↗