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C Thiel

Publications and source records attributed to C Thiel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The crystal structure and ion channel activity of human annexin II, a peripheral membrane protein.

Annexin II binds in a calcium-dependent manner to acidic phospholipids and is a substrate of some protein kinases. An N-terminally shortened form of human annexin II was crystallized and its molecular structure determined. It is very similar to two previously described members of this protein family, annexin I and annexin V. The protein structure is nearly completely alpha-helical organized as four compact domains which consist of five alpha-helices each. The domains surround a hydrophilic pore. The calcium binding sites are located at the convex side of the structure as in annexin V. Recombinant and natural porcine annexin II are active as ion channel with characteristics similar to annexin V, while N-terminally shortened annexin II and the heterotetramer (annexin II-p11)2 are inactive. Two cysteine residues, Cys133 and Cys262, form a disulphide bridge connecting domains II and III, adding further weight to the notion that ion channel activity does not require major structural rearrangements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Generation and reactivation of T-cell receptor A joining region pseudogenes in primates.

Tandemly duplicated T-cell receptor (Tcr) AJ (J alpha) segments contribute significantly to TCRA chain junctional region diversity in mammals. Since only limited data exists on TCRA diversity in nonhuman primates, we examined the TCRAJ regions of 37 chimpanzee and 71 rhesus macaque TCRA cDNA clones derived from inverse polymerase chain reaction on peripheral blood mononuclear cell cDNA of healthy animals. Twenty-five different TCRAJ regions were characterized in the chimpanzee and 36 in the rhesus macaque. Each bears a close structural relationship to an equivalent human TCRAJ region. Conserved amino acid motifs are shared between all three species. There are indications that differences between nonhuman primates and humans exist in the generation of TCRAJ pseudogenes. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the various characterized TCRAJ of each species are reported and we compare our results to the available information on human genomic sequences. Although we provide evidence of dynamic processes modifying TCRAJ segments during primate evolution, their repertoire and primary structure appears to be relatively conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Quantitative assessment of amounts consumed using the combined methods of a food frequency questionnaire and a 3-day dietary protocol].

With this paper we attempt to present a possible way of making quantitative estimates of the quantities of selected, preventively important food stuff groups consumed using a food frequency questionnaire together with a 3-day dietary protocol. The 3-day dietary protocol used in the 1984/85 MONICA survey of the former GDR is used as the standard. For large nutritional/epidemiological studies (e.g., cancer or cardiovascular cohort studies) this combination of methods is suggested as a means of arriving at quantitative estimates for nutritional habits in relation to the product groups presented here. Further investigations regarding correction factors are necessary where the food frequency is either very low or very high to detect potential inaccuracy.

Adult↗

[What is the reliability of conventional ultrasound mammography and color coded ultrasound in diagnosis of breast tumors?].

To establish the diagnostic relevance of sonographic blood supply measurement for tumor's nature evaluation, 192 women with suspect unilateral breast findings were examined on the preoperative day with color coded sonography (MEM color technique). A combination of evaluation in B-scan and color mode resulted in a sensitivity of approx. 96% in cases of malignant tumors (121 histological findings of breast cancer). Specificity in the 71 patients with a histologically benign diagnosis was of over 90%. Despite an essential improvement in dignity diagnosis, histologic proof is, however, necessary, even in cases of benign findings at the diagnosis. Since a 100% certainty in the differentiation of benign and malignant tumors will never be achieved with ultrasound techniques, biopsy specimen will have to be taken. Thus additional measurements of tumor blood flow seems of no clear advantage for the patient. In our opinion, the essential contribution of blood flow diagnosis of malignant tumors lies rather in the evaluation of tumor prognosis, since the differences in the blood supply of malignant growths are indicators for their biological behavior.

Adult↗

Structure and diversity of the T-cell receptor alpha chain in rhesus macaque and chimpanzee.

We cloned and sequenced cDNA for the TCRAC1 of a healthy rhesus monkey and chimpanzee. TCRAC1 from both nonhuman primates show extensive conservation compared to the human sequence and to other mammals. A possible primate-specific insertion near the hinge region of the TCRAC1 region is described. Characterization of 18 rhesus macaque and eight chimpanzee TCRA chain cDNA clones derived from inverse PCR revealed 12 different TCRAV and 16 different TCRAJ regions which corresponded closely to known human counterparts. One functional rhesus macaque TCRDV-TCRAJ rearrangement was detected, suggesting a genomic organization of the macaque TCRD locus which is similar to humans. At the genomic level, a single TCRAC1 gene segment was detected in rhesus macaque and chimpanzee. The close phylogenetic relationship between primates shown here for TCRA chain components supports the use of these species as animal models of human immune-mediated disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Formation of the annexin II2p112 complex upon differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma cells.

Murine teratocarcinoma F9 cells, which remain undifferentiated under standard cell culture conditions, can form cellular layers resembling early embryonic tissues upon induction of differentiation by retinoic acid and cyclic AMP. We have employed a combination of Northern and Western blot analyses to elucidate the regulation of expression of the tyrosine kinase substrate annexin II and its cellular ligand p11 during this differentiation process. Interestingly, the synthesis of the two subunits of the annexin II2p112 complex is not coregulated during F9 differentiation. Annexin II, which is only very weakly expressed in undifferentiated F9 cells, shows a strong increase in the amount of transcript and protein once the differentiated phenotype is established. The level of this induction does not depend on the type of F9 differentiation. In contrast to the regulated synthesis of annexin II, a significant amount of p11 mRNA and protein is already present in the undifferentiated cells and remains constant during the differentiation of F9 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis reveals that annexin II and p11 are concentrated in the submembranous region of the differentiated F9 cells. In contrast, p11 is uniformly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of undifferentiated cells. p11 is translocated to the submembranous region of the undifferentiated F9 cells upon coexpression of an exogenous annexin II introduced by transient transfection. Thus the localization of annexin II and p11 to the submembranous cytoskeleton depends on the formation of the tight annexin II2p112 complex.

Animals↗

Mapping of three unique Ca(2+)-binding sites in human annexin II.

Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to map and characterize Ca(2+)-binding sites in annexin II, a member of the annexin family of Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-binding proteins which serves as a major cellular substrate for the tyrosine kinase encoded by the src oncogene. Several single amino acid substitutions were introduced in the human annexin II and the various mutant proteins were scored for their affinity towards Ca2+ in different assays. The data support our previous finding [Thiel, C., Weber, K. and Gerke V. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 14,732-14,739] that a Ca(2+)-binding site is present in the third of the four repeat segments which comprise the 33-kDa protein core of annexin II. In addition to Gly206 and Thr207, which are localized in the highly conserved endonexin fold of the third repeat, Glu246 is involved in the formation of this site. Thus the architecture of this Ca(2+)-binding site in solution is very similar, if not identical, to that of Ca2+ sites identified recently in annexin V crystals [Huber, R., Schneider, M., Mayr, I., Römisch, J. and Paques, E.-P. (1990) FEBS Lett. 275, 15-21]. In addition to the site in repeat 3, we have mapped sites of presumably similar architecture in repeats 2 and 4 of annexin II. Again, an acidic amino acid which is located 40 residues C-terminal to the conserved glycine at position 4 of the endonexin fold is indispensable for high-affinity Ca2+ binding: Asp161 in the second and Asp321 in the fourth repeat. In contrast, repeat 1 does not contain an acidic amino acid at a corresponding position and also shows deviations from the other repeats in the sequence surrounding the conserved glycine. These results on annexin II together with the crystallographic information on annexin V reveal that annexins can differ in the position of the Ca2+ sites. Ca(2+)-binding sites of similar structure are present in repeats 2, 3, and 4 of annexin II while in annexin V they occur in repeats 1, 2, and 4. We also synthesized an annexin II derivative with mutations in all three Ca2+ sites. This molecule shows a greatly reduced affinity for the divalent cation. However, it is still able to bind Ca2+, indicating the presence of (an) additional Ca2+ site(s) of presumably different architecture.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The tight association of the tyrosine kinase substrate annexin II with the submembranous cytoskeleton depends on intact p11- and Ca(2+)-binding sites.

Annexin II, a member of the annexin family of Ca(2+)- and lipid-binding proteins, is a major substrate of the pp60src kinase. It is unique within the annexin protein family, since it can form a tight heterotetrameric complex with the cellular protein ligand p11, a member of the S100 protein family. Within the cell, the annexin II2p11(2) complex is localized at the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane in the submembranous cytoskeleton. This intracellular localization is thought to be the consequence of a typical annexin II property observed in vitro, its Ca(2+)-dependent binding to phospholipids and cytoskeletal elements (F-actin, non-erythroid spectrin). We employed site-directed mutagenesis to create mutant annexin II molecules with defects either in the p11-binding site or in the Ca(2+)-binding sites present in repeats 2, 3 and 4. The mutated annexin II derivatives were expressed in HeLa and RMCD cells by transfection of the appropriate DNA constructs in order to analyze the importance of p11- and Ca(2+)-binding for the intracellular localization of annexin II. Immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody that specifically detected the transfected annexin II derivatives indicated that the Ca(2+)-dependent incorporation of annexin II into the submembranous network depended on its ability to form the annexin II/p11 complex and on the presence of intact Ca(2+)-binding sites. Neither monomeric annexin II lacking an intact p11-binding site, nor the annexin II mutant with defects in the Ca(2+)-binding sites in repeats 2, 3 and 4 were associated with the Triton X-100-resistant network of the submembranous cytoskeleton.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Primary structure and expression of the Xenopus laevis gene encoding annexin II.

Annexin II (AnxII) is one of the Ca(2+)-dependent membrane- and phospholipid-binding proteins (annexins) which are encoded by a multigene family. AnxII was originally described as a major cellular substrate for the tyrosine kinase encoded by the src oncogene, and is also phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vivo and in vitro. To obtain more information about structurally conserved regions in AnxII, which could be of structural and/or functional importance, we have identified AnxII in a nonmammalian species, the clawed toad Xenopus laevis. In a ligand overlay assay, we employed p11, the cellular protein ligand of AnxII, to show that a 36-kDa Anx capable of binding p11 is present in a cellular extract from X. laevis cells. The cDNA cloning and sequence analysis revealed that two types of AnxII mRNA are expressed in X. laevis. The transcripts are highly similar to each other, but are encoded by two different genes. The deduced amino acid sequences show a high degree of conservation when compared to the sequences of mammalian and chicken AnxII. In particular, the p11-binding domain, as well as the protein core, which harbors the binding sites for Ca2+ and phospholipid, are highly similar. However, Tyr23, which is phosphorylated by pp60src in mammalian and chicken AnxII, is replaced by a Leu residue in both X. laevis molecules. Thus, tyrosine phosphorylation is probably not a general mode of regulation of AnxII function(s).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a Ca(2+)-binding site in human annexin II by site-directed mutagenesis.

Annexin II, a major cytoplasmic substrate of the src tyrosine kinase, is a member of the annexin family of Ca2+/phospholipid-binding proteins. It is composed of a short N-terminal tail (30 residues) followed by four so-called annexin repeats (each 70-80 residues in length) which share sequence homologies and are thought to form (a) new type(s) of Ca(2+)-binding site(s). We have produced wild-type and site specifically mutated annexin II molecules to compare their structure and biochemistry. The recombinant wild-type annexin II displays biochemical and spectroscopical properties resembling those of the authentic protein purified from mammalian cells. In particular, it shows the Ca(2+)-induced blue shift in fluorescence emission which is typical for this annexin. Replacement of the single tryptophan in annexin II (Trp-212) by a phenylalanine abolishes the fluorescence signal and allows the unambiguous assignment of the Ca(2+)-sensitive spectroscopic properties to Trp-212. This residue is located in the third annexin repeat in a highly conserved stretch of 17 amino acids which are also found in the other repeats and known as the endonexin fold. To study the precise architecture of the Ca2+ site which must reside in close proximity to Trp-212, we changed several residues of the endonexin fold in repeat 3 by site-directed mutagenesis. An analysis of these mutants by fluorescence spectroscopy and Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding reveals that Gly-206 and Thr-207 seem indispensible for a correct folding of this Ca(2+)-binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a discontinuous epitope on annexin II by site-directed mutagenesis.

Recombinant annexin II mutants were generated to identify amino acids involved in the formation of the discontinuous epitope of the monoclonal antibody H28. Analysis of the various mutant proteins by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that residues Lys27, Arg62, Glu65, and Arg67 are indispensable for H28 reactivity. Residues in equivalent positions are also in close proximity in the recently determined X-ray structure of annexin V, a different member of the same family of Ca2+/lipid-binding proteins. Thus annexins II and V show a similar three-dimensional folding in this region of the molecule. Consequently, the Ca2+ binding sites and the residues phosphorylated by pp60src (Tyr23) and protein kinase C (Ser25) most likely reside on opposite sides of the annexin II molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Food allergies and intolerance reactions].

Adverse reactions to food and food additives are defined by its different pathomechanisms. Clinically most important are allergic (immunologic) reactions (types I and III), which occur in 7-10% of the general population, and nonimmunologic (pseudoallergic) reactions (PAR), which occur in 1-2%, besides nonallergic reactions by vasoactive amines. Clinical features are equal. Sources of antigens for allergic reactions are proteins of cow's milk, fish, hen's egg, meat, and all kinds of cereals, fruits, vegetables, and spices, while pseudoallergic reactions are induced by chemicals (preservatives, colorants, antioxidants). The diagnostic procedures of allergic reactions include the proof of sensitization by case history, skin test, specific IgE (and IgG) in-vitro, elimination diet and provocation test; pseudoallergic reactions with no underlying sensitization are diagnosed only by elimination and provocation procedures.

Food Hypersensitivity↗

[Food allergy].

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Allergens↗

Influence of surface charge on the incorporation and orientation of cytochrome c oxidase in liposomes.

Cytochrome c-oxidase is usually oriented 80-90% right-side-out when reconstituted with asolectin by the cholate dialysis method. Transformation of positively charged lysine groups at the matrix domain into negatively charged groups with succinic anhydride results in random orientation. A random orientation is also found after reconstitution in phosphatidylcholine, which can be changed into predominant right-side-out orientation by addition of cardiolipin. It is concluded that electrostatic interaction between positively charged groups of cytochrome c-oxidase with negative groups of phospholipids determines the asymmetric orientation of the enzyme in liposomes.

Acetic Anhydrides↗

Influence of non-esterified fatty acids on respiratory control of reconstituted cytochrome-c oxidase.

Bovine heart cytochrome-c oxidase was reconstituted in liposomes (asolectin) and the activity measured in the presence and absence of uncoupler at increasing concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids. Palmitic and stearic acids resulted in a decrease of about 40% in the respiratory control ratio at a concentration of 1 microM, when measured using a spectrophotometric procedure but not with a polarographic assay method. At higher fatty acid concentrations no further change was found. A 50% decrease in respiratory control was determined when the enzyme was reconstituted in pure phosphatidylcholine containing 2% cardiolipin. The respiratory control of reconstituted cytochrome-c oxidase from bovine liver was not influenced by fatty acids.

Animals↗

Downregulation of tumor necrosis factor expression in the human Mono-Mac-6 cell line by lipopolysaccharide.

Mono-Mac-6 cells, but not U937 cells, can be induced to rapidly express tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA and protein when triggered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 1 microgram/ml. Preincubation of the cells for 3 d with low amounts of LPS (10 ng/ml) results in nearly complete suppression of TNF secretion. This downregulation appears to occur at the pretranslational level since specific mRNA is virtually undetectable under these conditions. By contrast, the same preincubation with 10 ng/ml LPS results in enhanced phagocytosis (28.6-67.2% for Staphylococcus aureus), demonstrating that not all monocyte functions are suppressed. While these results show that only stringent exclusion of LPS from culture media allows for induction of TNF in the Mono-Mac-6 cell line, the pronounced effect of LPS preincubation may also provide a suitable model with which to study the mechanisms of LPS-induced desensitization.

Blotting, Northern↗