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B Obermaier

Publications and source records attributed to B Obermaier.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Complete DNA sequence of yeast chromosome II.

In the framework of the EU genome-sequencing programmes, the complete DNA sequence of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome II (807 188 bp) has been determined. At present, this is the largest eukaryotic chromosome entirely sequenced. A total of 410 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, covering 72% of the sequence. Similarity searches revealed that 124 ORFs (30%) correspond to genes of known function, 51 ORFs (12.5%) appear to be homologues of genes whose functions are known, 52 others (12.5%) have homologues the functions of which are not well defined and another 33 of the novel putative genes (8%) exhibit a degree of similarity which is insufficient to confidently assign function. Of the genes on chromosome II, 37-45% are thus of unpredicted function. Among the novel putative genes, we found several that are related to genes that perform differentiated functions in multicellular organisms of are involved in malignancy. In addition to a compact arrangement of potential protein coding sequences, the analysis of this chromosome confirmed general chromosome patterns but also revealed particular novel features of chromosomal organization. Alternating regional variations in average base composition correlate with variations in local gene density along chromosome II, as observed in chromosomes XI and III. We propose that functional ARS elements are preferably located in the AT-rich regions that have a spacing of approximately 110 kb. Similarly, the 13 tRNA genes and the three Ty elements of chromosome II are found in AT-rich regions. In chromosome II, the distribution of coding sequences between the two strands is biased, with a ratio of 1.3:1. An interesting aspect regarding the evolution of the eukaryotic genome is the finding that chromosome II has a high degree of internal genetic redundancy, amounting to 16% of the coding capacity.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1994

Complete DNA sequence of yeast chromosome XI.

The complete DNA sequence of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome XI has been determined. In addition to a compact arrangement of potential protein coding sequences, the 666,448-base-pair sequence has revealed general chromosome patterns; in particular, alternating regional variations in average base composition correlate with variations in local gene density along the chromosome. Significant discrepancies with the previously published genetic map demonstrate the need for using independent physical mapping criteria.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Phosducin is a protein kinase A-regulated G-protein regulator.

Signal transduction by G-protein-coupled receptors is regulated by various mechanisms acting at the receptor level; those studied most thoroughly are from the beta-adrenergic receptor/Gs/adenylyl cyclase system. We report here a regulatory mechanism occurring at the level of the G proteins themselves. A protein with M(r) 33,000 that inhibits Gs-GTPase activity was purified from bovine brain. This protein is very similar or identical to phosducin, a protein previously thought to be specific for retina and pineal gland. Recombinant phosducin inhibited the GTPase activity of several G proteins, and also inhibited Gs-mediated adenylyl cyclase activation. Blockade of its inhibitory effects by protein kinase A suggests that phosducin may be part of a complex regulatory network controlling G-protein-mediated signalling.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1992

Rapid sequencing of the Sendai virus 6.8 kb large (L) gene through primer walking with an automated DNA sequencer.

The determination of the complete DNA sequence of the large (L) polymerase gene of Sendai virus strain Fushimi was used to explore the potential and feasibility of primer walking with fluorescent dye-labelled dideoxynucleotide terminators on an automated ABI DNA sequencer. The rapid identification of the complete sequence demonstrated that this approach is a time- and cost-saving alternative to classical sequencing techniques. Analysis of the data revealed that the L gene of Sendai virus strain Fushimi consists of exactly 6800 nucleotides and that the deduced amino acid sequence identifies a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 252.876 kDa. In contrast to Sendai virus strain Enders, the L mRNA of strain Fushimi is monocistronic. The comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the L genes of three different Sendai virus strains confirmed the existence of conserved as well as variable regions in the L protein and revealed a high grade of conservation in the carboxyterminal third. Furthermore, functional amino acid sequence motifs, like elements of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and ATP-binding sites as postulated previously, were identified.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Identification of pre-mRNA polyadenylation sites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In contrast to higher eukaryotes, little is known about the nature of the sequences which direct 3'-end formation of pre-mRNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hexanucleotide AAUAAA, which is highly conserved and crucial in mammals, does not seem to have any functional importance for 3'-end formation in yeast cells. Instead, other elements have been proposed to serve as signal sequences. We performed a detailed investigation of the yeast ACT1, ADH1, CYC1, and YPT1 cDNAs, which showed that the polyadenylation sites used in vivo can be scattered over a region spanning up to 200 nucleotides. It therefore seems very unlikely that a single signal sequence is responsible for the selection of all these polyadenylation sites. Our study also showed that in the large majority of mRNAs, polyadenylation starts directly before or after an adenosine residue and that 3'-end formation of ADH1 transcripts occurs preferentially at the sequence PyAAA. Site-directed mutagenesis of these sites in the ADH1 gene suggested that this PyAAA sequence is essential for polyadenylation site selection both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the 3'-terminal regions of the yeast genes investigated here are characterized by their capacity to act as signals for 3'-end formation in vivo in either orientation.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1988

Phorbol esters imitate in rat fat-cells the full effect of insulin on glucose-carrier translocation, but not on 3-O-methylglucose-transport activity.

Tumour-promoting phorbol esters have insulin-like effects on glucose transport and lipogenesis in adipocytes and myocytes. It is believed that insulin activates the glucose-transport system through translocation of glucose transporters from subcellular membranes to the plasma membrane. The aim of the present study was to investigate if phorbol esters act through the same mechanism as insulin on glucose-transport activity of rat adipocytes. We compared the effects of the tumour-promoting phorbol ester tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) and of insulin on 3-O-methylglucose transport and on the distribution of D-glucose-inhibitable cytochalasin-B binding sites in isolated rat adipocytes. Insulin (100 mu units/ml) stimulated 3-O-methylglucose uptake 9-fold, whereas TPA (1 nM) stimulated the uptake only 3-fold (mean values of five experiments, given as percentage of equilibrium reached after 4 s: basal 7 +/- 1.3%, insulin 60 +/- 3.1%, TPA 22 +/- 2.3%). In contrast, both agents stimulated glucose-transporter translocation to the same extent [cytochalasin B-binding sites (pmol/mg of protein; n = 7): plasma membranes, basal 6.2 +/- 1.0, insulin 13.4 +/- 2.0, TPA 12.7 +/- 2.7; low-density membranes, basal 12.8 +/- 2.1, insulin 6.3 +/- 0.9, TPA 8.9 +/- 0.7; high-density membranes, 6.9 +/- 1.1; insulin 12.5 +/- 1.0, TPA 8.1 +/- 0.9]. We conclude from these data: (1) TPA stimulates glucose transport in fat-cells by stimulation of glucose-carrier translocation; (2) insulin and TPA stimulate the carrier translocation to the same extent, whereas the stimulation of glucose uptake is 3-fold higher with insulin, suggesting that the stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose-transport activity involves other mechanisms in addition to carrier translocation.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1987

An Mr 180,000 protein is an endogenous substrate for the insulin-receptor-associated tyrosine kinase in human placenta.

The beta-subunit of the insulin receptor contains a tyrosine-specific protein kinase. Insulin binding activates this kinase and causes phosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor. It is believed that phosphorylation of other proteins might transmit the insulin signal from the receptor to the cell. In the present study we used a polyclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibody to detect other proteins that become tyrosine phosphorylated upon insulin stimulation. Glycoproteins from human placenta membranes were enriched by wheat germ agglutinin chromatography and phosphorylation was studied with [gamma-32P]ATP and insulin in vitro. Phosphorylated proteins were immunoprecipitated by antibodies against the insulin receptor and by serum containing the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Beside the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the 95 kDa beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, an insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of a 180 kDa protein was found. The phosphorylation of both proteins occurred only on tyrosine residues. Insulin increased 32P incorporation into the 180 kDa band 2.7-fold (S.E.M. +/- 0.3, n = 5). The 180 kDa protein was not precipitated by antibodies against the insulin receptor. H.p.l.c. chromatograms of tryptic fragments of the phosphorylated 180 kDa protein and of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor revealed different patterns for both proteins. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the 180 kDa protein was also detectable in unfractionated detergent-solubilized membranes. The phosphorylation of the 180 kDa protein was stimulated by insulin with the same dose-response curve as the phosphorylation of the beta-subunit, suggesting that this protein might be another endogenous substrate of the insulin receptor kinase.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1987

Catecholamines and tumour promoting phorbolesters inhibit insulin receptor kinase and induce insulin resistance in isolated human adipocytes.

The effect of the catecholamine isoprenaline (10(-5) mol/l) and of the tumour promoting phorbolester tetradecanoyl-beta-phorbol acetate (10(-9) mol/l) on insulin stimulated 3-O-methyl-glucose transport was studied in freshly isolated human adipocytes. Both substances reduced the maximal responsiveness of the glucose transport system to insulin by approximately 50%. To test if this is caused by inhibition of the insulin receptor kinase the receptor from phorbolester and isoprenaline treated cells was solubilized, partially purified and its kinase activity studied in vitro. Insulin stimulated 32P-incorporation into the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor of phorbolester or isoprenaline treated cells was reduced to 20-60% of the values found with receptor from control cells at insulin concentrations between 10(-10) mol/l and 10(-7) mol/l. This inhibition of kinase activity of receptor from phorbolester and isoprenaline treated cells was observed at nonsaturating adenosine triphosphate levels (5 mumol/l), and it could be overcome with higher concentrations of gamma-32P-adenosine triphosphate in the phosphorylation assay. A Lineweaver Burk analysis of the insulin stimulated receptor phosphorylation revealed that the Michaelis constant for adenosine triphosphate of the receptor kinase from phorbolester and isoprenaline treated cells was increased to greater than 100 mumol/l compared with less than 50 mumol/l for receptor from control cells. We conclude from the data that catecholamine and phorbolester treatment of human adipocytes modulates the kinase activity of the insulin receptor by increasing its Michaelis constant for adenosine-triphosphate, and propose that this modulation of receptor kinase is a mechanism that can contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in human fat cells.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1987

Insulin rapidly stimulates phosphorylation of a 46-kDa membrane protein on tyrosine residues as well as phosphorylation of several soluble proteins in intact fat cells.

It is speculated that the transmission of an insulin signal across the plasma membrane of cells occurs through activation of the tyrosine-specific receptor kinase, autophosphorylation of the receptor, and subsequent phosphorylation of unidentified substrates in the cell. In an attempt to identify possible substrates, we labeled intact rat fat cells with [32P]orthophosphate and used an antiphosphotyrosine antibody to identify proteins that become phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in an insulin-stimulated way. In the membrane fraction of the fat cells, we found, in addition to the 95-kDa beta-subunit of the receptor, a 46-kDa phosphoprotein that is phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine residues. This protein is not immunoprecipitated by antibodies against different regions of the insulin receptor and its HPLC tryptic peptide map is different from the tryptic peptide map of the insulin receptor, suggesting that it is not derived from the receptor beta-subunit. Insulin stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 46-kDa protein within 150 sec in the intact cell 3- to 4-fold in a dose-dependent way at insulin concentrations between 0.5 nM and 100 nM. The insulin effect starts after 30 sec, is maximal at 150 sec, and declines to almost basal values by 5 min. Furthermore, the antiphosphotyrosine antibody precipitated at least five proteins in the soluble fraction of the fat cell. Insulin (0.5 nM, 100 nM) stimulated within 2 min the 32P incorporation into a 116-kDa band, a 62-kDa band, and three bands between 45 kDa and 50 kDa 2- to 10-fold. We suggest that the 46-kDa membrane protein and possibly also the soluble proteins are endogenous substrates of the receptor tyrosine kinase in fat cells and that their phosphorylation is an early step in insulin signal transmission.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Insulin receptor kinase defects as a possible cause of cellular insulin resistance.

The insulin receptor contains in its beta-subunit a tyrosine (-) specific protein kinase. It is believed that transmission of an insulin signal across the plasma membrane of target cells of insulin action occurs through activation of this kinase, autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and subsequent phosphorylation of other cellular substrates. We studied the insulin receptor kinase in a number of insulin resistant cell systems in order to elucidate if defects of this kinase are a possible cause of cellular insulin resistance. Three different patterns of kinase abnormalities were found, in different insulin resistant cells: 1. In an insulin resistance melanoma cell line a reduced receptor kinase autophosphorylation was found apparently due to a defect of the tyrosine autophosphorylation sites of this receptor; 2. Catecholamine and phorbol ester induced insulin resistance of isolated rat fat cells as well as human fat cells was associated with a decreased activity of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase which was apparently due to a modulation of the ATP binding site of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase; 3. The receptor kinase isolated from the skeletal muscle of diabetic Zucker rats (fa/fa) was found to be insulin insensitive with no major alteration of maximal responsiveness. These results suggested that different forms of kinase defects exist which can contribute to the pathogenesis of cellular insulin resistance. Based on these data studies in skeletal muscle from type II diabetic patients were started. Results from five patients so far suggest that, here as well, an abnormality of the insulin receptor kinase exists which might be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in type II diabetes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters increase the Km of the ATP-binding site of the insulin receptor kinase from rat adipocytes.

Phorbol ester treatment of isolated rat adipocytes inhibits insulin stimulation of the glucose transport system. We studied whether this effect is related to a modification of the insulin receptor kinase. Insulin receptor of tetradecanoyl-beta-phorbol acetate (TPA)-treated adipocytes was solubilized and partially purified, and its kinase activity was studied in vitro. We found that insulin (10(-7) M) increased the tyrosine autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor kinase from TPA-treated cells only 3-fold in contrast to a 12-fold stimulation in control cells. The rate of insulin-stimulated 32P incorporation into the receptor of TPA-treated cells at insulin concentrations between 10(-10) M and 10(-7) M and at nonsaturating [32P]ATP levels (5 microM) was reduced to only 5-8% of the values found with receptor from control cells. 125I-insulin binding to the solubilized receptor of TPA-treated cells was reduced as well, apparently due to a decreased affinity of the binding site. Decreased binding was however, not sufficient to explain the difference of kinase activity. The inhibition of kinase activity of the receptor from TPA-treated cells decreased when the concentration of [gamma-32P]ATP in the phosphorylation assay was increased. A Lineweaver-Burk analysis of receptor phosphorylation revealed that the Km for ATP of the receptor kinase from TPA-treated cells was increased to greater than 100 microM compared to 25 microM for the receptor of control cells. An analogous change of the Km for ATP was found when we studied the phosphorylation of a synthetic polymer of tyrosine and glutamic acid as a substrate of the receptor kinase. We conclude from the data that phorbol treatment of rat adipocytes modulates the kinase activity of the insulin receptor by increasing its Km for ATP and that this is part of a mechanism leading to insulin resistance in these cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1986

Decreased tyrosine kinase activity of insulin receptor isolated from rat adipocytes rendered insulin-resistant by catecholamine treatment in vitro.

Catecholamine treatment of isolated rat adipocytes decreases insulin binding and inhibits insulin stimulation of the glucose-transport system. There is increasing evidence that the insulin signal is transmitted after insulin is bound to the receptor via a tyrosine kinase, which is an intrinsic part of the receptor. To find whether the receptor kinase is modified by catecholamines, we solubilized and partially purified the insulin receptor of isoprenaline-treated adipocytes and studied the effect of insulin on its kinase activity. (1) Insulin increased the tyrosine autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor kinase from catecholamine-treated cells only 4-fold, compared with a 12-fold stimulation in control cells. (2) The rate of insulin-stimulated 32P incorporation into the receptor of isoprenaline-treated cells at non-saturating [32P]ATP concentrations (5 muM) was decreased to 5-8% of the values for receptor from control cells. (3) 125I-insulin binding to the partially purified receptor from catecholamine-treated cells was also markedly decreased. The insulin receptor from catecholamine treated cells bound 25-50% of the amount of insulin bound by the receptor from control cells at insulin concentrations of 10 pM-0.1 muM. Part of the impaired insulin-responsiveness of the receptor kinase of catecholamine-treated cells is therefore explained by impaired binding properties; however, an additional inhibition of the kinase activity of the insulin receptor from catecholamine-treated cells is evident. (4) This inhibition of kinase activity decreased when the concentration of [gamma-32P]ATP in the phosphorylation assay was increased. A Lineweaver-Burk analysis revealed that the Km for ATP of the receptor kinase from isoprenaline-treated cells was increased to approx. 100 muM, compared with approx. 25 muM for receptor of control cells. (5) We conclude from the data that catecholamine treatment of rat adipocytes modulates the kinase activity of the insulin receptor by increasing its Km for ATP and that this is part of the mechanism leading to insulin-resistance in these cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1985

Insulin receptor kinase in human skeletal muscle.

Receptor-associated protein kinase activity has been shown in all primary target tissues of insulin action in the rat and a function of insulin receptor phosphorylation in signal transmission was proposed. Insulin receptor phosphorylation so far has not been demonstrated in human target tissues of insulin. We describe here insulin receptor kinase activity in human skeletal muscle. Insulin (10(-8) mol/l) stimulates the phosphorylation of a 95-kDa protein from skeletal muscle 2-fold. The phosphoprotein is quantitatively immunoprecipitated with insulin receptor antibody identifying it as the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor. The insulin stimulation of phosphorylation is detectable also at physiological insulin concentrations (10(-9) mol/l) showing that receptor phosphorylation could be involved in insulin action in human skeletal muscle as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Phorbolesters enhance basal D-glucose transport but inhibit insulin stimulation of D-glucose transport and insulin binding in isolated rat adipocytes.

The C-kinase activating phorbolester TPA (12-O-Tetradecanoyl-beta-phorbol-13-acetate) and PdBu (4-beta-Phorbol-12,13,dibutyrate) stimulated D-glucose transport twofold in isolated rat adipocytes but inhibited high affinity insulin binding and the responsiveness of D-glucose transport to insulin stimulation by about 30%. Phorbolesters have therefore insulin-like effects but antagonize insulin on receptor and postreceptor level.

Adipose Tissue↗