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Biomedical subjects

C S Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to C S Cheng.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evidence that the nucleic acid base queuine is incorporated intact into tRNA by animal cells.

Queuine (the base of queuosine, Q) catalytically reduced with tritium or deuterium yields a derivative in which the proton at C-8 (purine numbering system) has been exchanged and the cyclopentene ring has been reduced to a cyclopentane ring. Mouse fibroblast tRNA has been labeled by culturing the cells in medium supplemented with [3H]- and [2H]dihydroqueuine. Such tRNA yields, upon hydrolysis, the nucleoside dihydroqueuosine and a saccharide derivative of dihydroqueuosine. Each product has been identified unambiguously by mass spectrometry and chromatography. Both the 3H- and 2H-labeled material coeluted, and no unlabeled Q nucleoside was found. Therefore, dihydroqueuine is incorporated intact into tRNA in mammalian cells. Furthermore, fractionation of the labeled tRNA on concanavalin A-agarose, which specifically binds the mannosyl-Q-containing tRNAAsp, has shown that the dihydroqueuosine-containing tRNAAsp is mannosylated. This is the first direct evidence that queuine is incorporated intact into mammalian tRNA in vivo.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of the unusual deoxynucleoside, alpha-N-(9-beta-D-2'-deoxyribofuranosylpurin-6-yl)glycinamide, specified by the phage Mu modification function.

Bacteriophage Mu encodes a protein that modifies approximately equal to 15% of DNA adenine residues to a new and unusual form. Modified DNA was enzymatically digested to deoxynucleosides, and the products were fractionated by HPLC. A modified adenine nucleoside, designated dA'x, was purified and its molecular structure was established by mass spectrometry. We show that dA'x is alpha-N-(9-beta-D-2'-deoxyribofuranosylpurin-6-yl)-glycinamide. The dA'x obtained from DNA was indistinguishable from the synthetic product with respect to its chromatographic behavior (HPLC and gas chromatography) and mass spectrum. Acid hydrolysis degrades dA'x to produce N6-carboxymethyladenine; this compound corresponds to the base Ax observed in earlier studies.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Iron toxicity screening.

Fischer's method for rapid detection of acute iron toxicity is modified to suit pediatric cases. TPTZ (2,4,6-tripyridyl-s-triazine) is the chromogen of choice since in a small volume of serum slight to moderate hemolysis can cause a false positive result bathophenanthroline. Ordinary labware is amenable to this simplified procedure.

Child, Preschool↗