Surgical reconstruction as a palliative treatment for metastatic malignancies of the spine.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Y Yang.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is the major protein component of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) and, through its binding to the LDL receptor, it plays a prominent role in lipoprotein metabolism and in the development of atherosclerosis. Specially developed computer programs were applied to detect potential internal repeats in the human apoB sequence and homology of some of these repeats with other apolipoproteins. The simultaneous computer alignment of several (repeated) sequences, carried out in an iterative way to generate consensus sequences, showed the presence of repeated amphipathic helical regions and of repeated hydrophobic proline-rich domains. Extensive Monte-Carlo statistics were used to demonstrate the statistical significance of the internal repeats. Both classes of repeats may contribute to the specific lipid-binding characteristics of apoB. Additional homology, detected between apoB and apoE, the other apolipoprotein-ligand of the LDL receptor, further defined the structural requirements for this receptor-ligand interaction. The computer programs developed in this study should also be useful for detecting internal repeats in other proteins.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) is the protein ligand in low-density lipoproteins that binds to a specific cell-surface receptor. Its molecular mass has been a subject of controversy. We have determined the molecular mass of the protein by a chemical approach. After complete CNBr cleavage, the C-terminal fragment of apo B-100 was purified by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. Amino acid N- and C-terminal analyses confirm that this peptide represents the C-terminal peptide as deduced from the DNA sequence of a human apo B-100 cDNA clone. A chemically synthesized peptide was used to determine the recovery of the peptide (74.72%). On the basis of these data, the molecular mass of apo B-100 was determined to be 496.82 +/- 24.84 kDa.
The amino acid sequence of rabbit apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) has been determined by degradation and alignment of two overlapping sets of peptides obtained from tryptic and staphylococcal digestions. All of the peptides of rabbit apo A-I resulting from digestion by staphylococcal protease were isolated and sequenced except residues 33-37. A digestion with trypsin was employed to find overlapping and missing peptides. The N-terminus of rabbit apo A-I was confirmed by sequencing the intact protein up to 20 residues while the C-terminus was identified through its homology with human apo A-I. The protein contains 241 residues in its single chain. Its primary structure is highly homologous to the reported canine apo A-I (80%) and human apo A-I (78%), but exhibits less similarity with rat apo A-I (60%). Like human apo A-I, rabbit apo A-I contains very little histidine (2) and methionine (1); it does however have two residues of isoleucine. Based on a comparison of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic character of apo A-I residues with that of the two synthetic peptides that activated lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (Pownall et al. and Yokoyama et al.), we found that the five segments with the highest corresponding homologies on the protein are located within the N-terminal half. This suggests that the N-terminal half of apo A-I contains the major portion of regions activating lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase.
We have determined the complete sequence of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 cDNA. It is 14.1 kilobases in length and codes for a 4563-amino acid protein, including a 27-amino acid signal peptide and a 4536-amino acid mature protein. Further, we identified 2366 residues of apoB-100 by direct sequence analysis of apoB-100 tryptic peptides. The mature peptide is characterized by high hydrophobicity (0.916 kcal/residue) and predicted beta-sheet content (21%). Dot matrix analysis revealed the presence of many long internal repeats in apoB-100. The mature peptide contains 25 cysteine residues, 12 of which are in the N-terminal 500 residues. Twenty potential N-linked glycosylation sites were identified, of which 13 were proven to be glycosylated, and 4 were found not to be glycosylated by direct analysis of tryptic peptides. Our findings on apoB structure provide a basis for future experimentation on the role of apoB-100-containing lipoproteins in atherosclerosis.
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was purified to homogeneity from bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). No pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity was detected at any stage of the purification. However, the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was phosphorylated and inactivated with purified pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase from bovine kidney. The protein-bound radioactivity was localized in the pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha subunit. The phosphorylated, inactive pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was dephosphorylated and reactivated with purified pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase from bovine heart. Tryptic digestion of the 32P-labeled complex yielded a single phosphopeptide, which was purified to homogeneity. The sequence of the phosphopeptide was established to be Tyr-Gly-Gly-His-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Asp-Pro-Gly-Thr-Thr-Tyr-Arg. This sequence is very similar to the sequence of a tryptic phosphotetradecapeptide derived from the alpha subunit of bovine kidney and heart pyruvate dehydrogenase: Tyr-His-Gly-His-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Asp-Pro-Gly-Val-Ser-Tyr-Arg.
Light microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to study the morphology of cells that showed immunoreactivity (IR) to antisera against substance P (SP), glucagon (GLU), met enkephalin (ENK), and somatostatin (SS) in the retina of the larval tiger salamander. Both vertical sections and retinal whole mounts were studied. All four antisera labeled amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer and cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). GLU-IR cells had processes stratified throughout the inner plexiform layer (IPL), whereas the other three types had bistratified projections in laminae 1 and 5, with lamina 5 being broader and more dense. Two types of SS-IR amacrine cell were observed. As seen in retinal whole mount, most GLU-IR and ENK-IR amacrine cells had processes that were symmetrically distributed about the soma, whereas processes of SS- and SP-IR amacrine cells were markedly asymmetrical. The dendritic fields of SP-IR amacrine cells were selectively oriented toward the periphery of the retina in the nasal, temporal, and dorsal areas. Immunoreactive cells in the GCL had fine projections into the IPL and in addition gave rise to two large oriented processes proximal to the soma that projected in opposite directions for 100-200 microns. The oriented processes often showed further branching; they appeared to be along the radiated lines from the optic disc but did not enter it. The implications of the selectively oriented processes of SP-IR amacrine cells and cells in the GCL are discussed.
Variations in the turnover of storage iron have been attributed to differences in apoferritin and in the cytoplasm but rarely to differences in the structure of the iron core (except size). To explore the idea that the iron environment in soluble iron complexes could vary, we compared horse spleen ferritin to pharmaceutically important model complexes of hydrous ferric oxide formed from FeCl3 and dextran (Imferon) or chondroitin sulfate (Blutal), using x-ray absorption (EXAFS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that the iron in the chondroitin sulfate complex was more ordered than in either horse spleen ferritin or the dextran complex (EXAFS), with two magnetic environments (Mössbauer), one (80%-85%) like Fe2O3 X nH2O (ferritinlike) and one (15%-20%) like Fe2O3 (hematite); since sulfate promotes the formation of inorganic hematite, the sulfate in the chondroitin sulfate most likely nucleated Fe2O3 and hydroxyl/carboxyls, which are ligands common to chondroitin sulfate, ferritin and dextran most likely nucleated Fe2O3 X nH2O. Differences in the structure of the iron complexed with chondroitin sulfate or dextran coincide with altered rates of iron release in vivo and in vitro and provide the first example relating function to local iron structure. Differences might also occur among ferritins in vivo, depending on the apoferritin (variations in anion-binding sites) or the cytoplasm (anion concentration).
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Human liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) cDNA clones were identified in a liver cDNA library. The two longest clones were completely sequenced. The nucleotide sequence predicts a protein of 127 amino acid residues. Identity of the clones was confirmed by limited amino acid sequence analysis of purified human L-FABP peptides and Edman degradation of radiolabeled in vitro translated FABP. Statistical analysis of the amino acid and mRNA sequences of human L-FABP, rat L-FABP, rat intestinal (I-) FABP, and mouse 422 protein indicates that the human and rat L-FABPs are highly homologous and that L-FABP and I-FABP diverged a long time ago (approximately 650-690 million years ago), although they are more closely related to each other than either of them is to 422 protein. Secondary structure predictions from the primary sequence of human and rat L-FABP reveal a region (residues 12-30) that might be the putative fatty acid binding domain of the two L-FABPs. Knowledge of the primary amino acid sequence of L-FABP and possible functional domains will be pivotal in further defining and understanding the mechanism of ligand binding and transfer by this protein.
The characteristic absorption spectra of aromatic amino acids between 240 and 310 nm were used to identify tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine-containing peptides. In acidic solution, the absorption spectra of these amino acids exhibit minima or maxima at 255, 270, and 286 nm. Based on these characteristics, the content of the aromatic amino acid in peptide can be estimated. For this study, 2 nmol of tryptic peptides from human apolipoprotein A-1 was separated by high-performance liquid chromatography using a reverse-phase column. The peptide fragments were monitored by a photodiode-array spectrophotometer. This new approach offers a rapid, simple, sensitive, and direct identification of peptides containing aromatic amino acids. Those containing Trp, which may be of interest for DNA sequencing and important in sequence analysis of proteins, can be selectively purified using this technique.
The pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was investigated in tumor-free anesthetized rats. Blood samples in the carotid artery and in the right atrium were sampled by cannulation during the steady-state infusion of 5-FU. Serum and blood samples were assayed by HPLC. After comparing the steady-state concentration of 5-FU in the right carotid artery with that in the right atrium, it was concluded that there was no pulmonary elimination of 5-FU in the anesthetized rat.
Apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 cDNAs were identified in a human liver cDNA library cloned in the expression vector lambda gt11. The beta-galactosidase-apoB-100 fusion protein was detected by two independently produced low density lipoprotein polyclonal antisera and by three apoB-100 monoclonal antibodies that crossreact with apoB-74. It was not recognized by two apoB-100 monoclonal antibodies that crossreact with apoB-26. The longest clone, lambda B8, was completely sequenced. It contains a 2.8-kilobase DNA fragment containing the codons for the carboxyl-terminal 836 amino acid residues of apo-B-100, as well as the 3' untranslated region of apoB-100 mRNA. We have thus mapped apoB-74 to the carboxyl-terminal portion of apoB-100. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cloned DNA matches the sequences of 14 apoB-100 peptides determined in our laboratory. Minor differences in amino acid sequence were noted in three of the peptides, suggesting polymorphism of apoB-100 at the protein and DNA levels. Secondary structure predictions reveal an unusual pattern for apolipoproteins, consisting of beta-structure (24%), alpha-helical content (33%), and random structure (30%). Ten amphipathic helical regions of 10-24 residues were identified. This carboxyl-terminal fragment of apoB-100 is considerably more hydrophobic than other apolipoproteins with known structure. Its lipid binding regions might include stretches of highly hydrophobic beta-sheets as well as amphipathic helices. Our findings on apoB structure might be important for understanding the role of apoB-100-containing lipoproteins in atherosclerosis.
An endogenous brain ligand which competes with 3H-flunitrazepine for the binding to benzodiazepine receptor has been isolated and purified to homogeneity. The purification procedures involve the liberation of the ligand into the high speed supernatant followed by ultrafiltration through a PM10 membrane (exclusion limit: 10,000-dalton) column chromatographies on Sephadex G-50, Bio-Rad P2 and finally with three times reversed phase HPLC using C18 columns. The purified endogenous ligand is heat stable, insensitive to DNAase or RNAase and contains about 5-10% amino acid residues. It has an absorption maximum at 220 nm and a minor peak at 313 nm. The exact chemical structure is unknown.