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D P Clark

Publications and source records attributed to D P Clark.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Selective thymocyte depletion in neonatal HIV-1 thymic infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of HIV-1 infection on thymocyte development, and the role of thymic infection on the pathogenesis of neonatal HIV-1 infection. DESIGN AND METHODS: The consequences of thymic infection by HIV-1 were examined by comparative histologic and molecular analyses of an asymptomatic, HIV-1-seropositive 3-day-old subject, versus age- and treatment-matched controls. The presence of replicating virus was established by in situ hybridization with specific molecular probes to HIV-1. The distribution of thymocyte subsets was determined by quantitative flow cytometry following staining with antibodies to CD4 and CD8 cell surface proteins. RESULTS: The results show clear evidence of severe thymic involution, HIV-1 infection of thymocytes, and selective depletion of thymocyte subpopulations. The consequences of HIV-1 infection were a marked depletion of CD3+CD4+ CD8hi and CD3+CD4+CD8- cells. The phenotype of the residual thymic lymphoid population was predominantly that of immature CD3-CD4-CD8- double negative and CD3+CD4+CD8lo cells. CONCLUSION: Changes in the distribution of thymocyte subsets suggests a role for thymic involvement in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection in neonates.

CD3 Complex↗
PubMed1993

Anaerobic regulation of the adhE gene, encoding the fermentative alcohol dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli.

The regulation of the adhE gene, which encodes the trifunctional fermentative acetaldehyde-alcohol dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli, was investigated by the construction of gene fusions and by two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis. Both operon and protein fusions of adhE to lacZ were induced 10- to 20-fold by anaerobic conditions, and both fusions were repressed by nitrate, demonstrating that regulation is at the level of transcription. Nitrate repression of phi (adhE-lacZ) expression, as well as of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme activity, was partly relieved by a mutation in narL. Mutations in rpoN or fnr had no effect on the expression of adhE. Two-dimensional protein gels demonstrated that increases in the amount of adhE protein correlated with increases in enzyme activity, demonstrating that induction was due to synthesis of new protein, not to activation of preexisting protein. When oxidized sugar derivatives such as gluconate or glucuronate were used as carbon sources, the anaerobic expression of phi (adhE-lacZ) was greatly reduced, whereas when sugar alcohols such as sorbitol were used, the expression was increased compared with expression when glucose was the carbon source. This observation suggested that induction of phi (adhE-lacZ) might depend on the level of reduced NADH, which should be highest with sorbitol-grown cells and lowest with glucuronate-grown cells. When phi (adhE-lacZ) was present in a strain deleted for the adhE structural gene, anaerobic expression of phi (adhE-lacZ) was approximately 10-fold higher than in an adhE+ strain. Since the presence of alcohol dehydrogenase would serve to decrease NADH levels, this finding again implies that the adhE gene is regulated by the concentration of reduced NAD. Introduction of a pgi (phosphoglucose isomerase) mutation reduced the anaerobic induction of phi(adhE-lacZ) when the cells were grown on glucose, but had little effect on fructose-grown cells. Pyruvate did not overcome the pgi effect, but glycerol 3-phosphate did, which is again consistent with the possibility that adhE expression responds to the level of reduced NAD rather than to a glycolytic intermediate.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1992

Construction and properties of pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes with up to nine lipoyl domains per lipoate acetyltransferase chain.

The lipoate acetyltransferase (E2p) subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex of Escherichia coli have three tandemly repeated lipoyl domains, although net deletions of one or two has no apparent effect on the activity of the purified complexes. Plasmids containing IPTG-inducible aceEF-lpd operons, which encode PDH complexes bearing from one to nine lipoyl domains per E2p chain (24-216 per complex), were constructed. They were all capable of restoring the nutritional lesion of a strain lacking PDH complex and they all expressed active sedimentable multienzyme complexes having a relatively normal range of subunit stoichiometries. The extra domains are presumed to protrude from the E2p core (24-mer) without significantly affecting the assembly of the E1p and E3 subunits on the respective edges and faces of the cubic core. However, the catalytic activities of the overproduced complexes containing four to nine lipoyl domains per E2p chain were lower than those with fewer lipoyl domains. This could be due to under-lipoylation of the domains participating in catalysis and interference from unlipoylated domains.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1991

Mutations permitting the anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli on trehalose.

Wild-type strains of Escherichia coli K-12 do not grow anaerobically on trehalose or galactose. We isolated two operon fusion mutants of E. coli which gained the ability to grow on trehalose anaerobically (tan). The tanA-lac mutation was located at 41 min on the E. coli genetic map and also abolished growth on glucuronic acid both aerobically and anaerobically. The tanB-lac mutation was mapped to 68 min and permitted anaerobic growth on galactose as well as trehalose. The tanB-lac fusion was induced anaerobically whereas tanA-lac showed more or less constitutive beta-galactosidase expression.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1991

Molecular cloning and sequence of the thdF gene, which is involved in thiophene and furan oxidation by Escherichia coli.

Our previous work resulted in the isolation of mutant strains of Escherichia coli K-12 which were able to oxidize furans and thiophenes as a result of mutations in several novel genes. Some of the genes involved in thiophene oxidation were cloned into the multicopy vector pUC19. The plasmid pKA10 carries a 3.8-kb chromosomal fragment which encodes a previously undiscovered gene involved in thiophene oxidation. Three proteins with approximate molecular sizes of 48, 30, and 26 kDa were overproduced by cells carrying pKA10. Maxicell experiments and DNA sequence analysis indicated that the 48- and 26-kDa proteins are encoded by pKA10, whereas the 30-kDa protein is apparently chromosomally derived. A cassette specifying kanamycin resistance was inserted into various sites on pKA10. An insertion which abolished the 48-kDa protein also abolished thiophene oxidation. Chromosomal integration of pKA10::Kan allowed us to locate the chromosomal insert of pKA10 at 84 min on the E. coli genetic map by transduction. Since no previously identified genes involved in thiophene metabolism are located in this region, we designated the gene for the 48-kDa protein as thdF. Sequencing of the 3.8-kb insert revealed an overlap of several hundred bases with the regulatory and structural regions of the tnaA gene, which is also located at 84 min. The 26-kDa protein is probably truncated tnaA protein. An open reading frame corresponding to the 48-kDa thdF protein was located next to the tnaA gene, which encodes tryptophanase, but was transcribed in the opposite sense.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Congenital melanocytic nevi: update 1990.

The risks posed by congenital melanocytic nevi and best methods for their treatment have posed controversial questions. Here the authors review the most recent information and latest therapies for congenital nevi.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Electrosurgical treatment of rhinophyma.

Thirteen patients with moderate to severe rhinophyma were treated with electrosurgery. All patients achieved cosmetic improvement with minimal postoperative complications. Six of 13 patients noted an improvement in nasal breathing after treatment. Patients with a predominantly lobular rhinophyma achieved the best overall results whereas younger patients with generalized nasal hypertrophy were at the highest risk for scarring. This low-cost treatment was associated with few complications and gave excellent cosmetic results. A new clinical classification of rhinophyma has been developed on the basis of the patients in this series.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Molybdenum cofactor negative mutants of Escherichia coli use citrate anaerobically.

Anaerobically, Escherichia coli cannot grow using either glycerol or citrate as sole carbon and energy source. However, it has been reported that a mixture of glycerol and citrate will support growth. We have found that wild-type strains of E. coli K-12 do not grow on glycerol plus citrate anaerobically. However, growth eventually occurs due to the frequent appearance of mutants. We found that such Cit+ mutants were defective in anaerobic respiration with nitrate or trimethylamine-N-oxide and were chlorate resistant (i.e. molybdenum cofactor deficient). Conversely, well characterized mutants in any of chlA, B, D, E, G and N were also able to use citrate anaerobically. No anaerobic growth differences between wild type and chl mutants were observed either with fermentable sugars or with glycerol plus fumarate or glycerol plus tartrate. Citrate lyase was induced anaerobically by citrate and repressed by glucose in both wild type strains and chl mutants. Furthermore, levels of citrate lyase, fumarate reductase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarase and alcohol dehydrogenase were similar in both types of strains under anaerobic conditions. It is conceivable that a functioning molybdenum cofactor prevents use of citrate by keeping citrate lyase in the inactive form.

Aconitate Hydratase↗
PubMed1990

Thiophene-degrading Escherichia coli mutants possess sulfone oxidase activity and show altered resistance to sulfur-containing antibiotics.

We have previously isolated mutants of Escherichia coli which show increased oxidation of heterocyclic furan and thiophene substrates. We have now found that strains carrying the thdA mutation express a novel enzyme activity which oxidizes a variety of substrates containing a sulfone (SO2) moiety. Both heterocyclic sulfones (e.g., tetramethylene sulfone) and simple aliphatic sulfones (e.g., ethyl sulfone) were oxidized. The thdA mutants were more resistant than wild-type strains to aromatic sulfone antibiotics such as dapsone. In contrast they showed increased susceptibility to thiolutin, a cyclic antibiotic containing sulfur at the sulfide level of oxidation. Several new thdA mutant alleles were isolated by selecting for increased oxidation of various aliphatic sulfur compounds. These new thdA mutants showed similar sulfone oxidase activity and the same map location (at 10.7 min) as the original thdA1 mutation. The constitutive fadR mutation was required for the phenotypic expression of thdA-mediated oxidation of sulfur compounds. However, the thdA-directed expression of sulfone oxidase activity was not fadR dependent. The thdC and thdD mutations probably protect against the toxicity of thiophene derivatives rather than conferring improved metabolic capability.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1990

Familial urticaria pigmentosa.

We describe urticaria pigmentosa in three generations of a kindred. Unique to this family is the marked diversity of their skin disease. Classic lesions of urticaria pigmentosa, telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans, and clinically normal skin with positive dermal infiltrates of excess mast cells were found in individual family members. Urticaria pigmentosa is rarely reported as an inherited disease. To our knowledge, this is the largest American kindred of familial mast cell disease and is the second report documenting disease in three generations.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and sequence analysis of the fermentative alcohol-dehydrogenase-encoding gene of Escherichia coli.

A 6-kb fragment of DNA, which complemented defects in the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-encoding gene (adhE) of Escherichia coli, was cloned into a multicopy vector. Both ADH and coenzyme-A-linked acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ACDH) activities were encoded by the plasmid, pHIL8. The adhE gene was identified as an open reading frame of 891 codons encoding an Mr 96,008 protein (minus the initiating methionine). Codon usage analysis indicates that adhE should be highly expressed. This gene shows no significant homology to any previously sequenced ADH-encoding gene.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1989

Anaerobic growth defects resulting from gene fusions affecting succinyl-CoA synthetase in Escherichia coli K12.

Insertion of the fusion-generating phage Mud1 (Ap, lacZ) yielded two similar isolates, DC511 and DC512, which were unable to grow aerobically on acetate or alpha-ketoglutarate but which could use succinate, malate, fumarate, glycerol, and various sugars. These mutants were unable to grow anaerobically on most sugars unless provided with methionine, lysine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid, all of which require succinyl-CoA for their synthesis. The insertions of both mutants mapped at 17 min, in the suc operon. Enzyme assays indicated a lack of succinyl-CoA synthetase; however, full activity of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase was retained. Beta-galactosidase expression by strains containing these gene fusions was reduced under anaerobic conditions. In aerobically grown cultures, both fusions were induced about fivefold in the presence of acetate. This type of regulation would be expected of a Krebs cycle enzyme.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1989

The fermentation pathways of Escherichia coli.

Under anaerobic conditions and in the absence of alternative electron acceptors Escherichia coli converts sugars to a mixture of products by fermentation. The major soluble products are acetate, ethanol, acetate and formate with smaller amounts of succinate. In addition the gaseous products hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced in substantial amounts. The pathway generating fermentation products is branched and the flow down each branch is varied in response both to the pH of the culture medium and the nature of the fermentation substrate. In particular, the ratio of the various fermentation products is manipulated in order to balance the number of reducing equivalents generated during glycolytic breakdown of the substrate. The enzymes and corresponding genes involved in these fermentation pathways are described. The regulatory responses of these genes and enzymes are known but the details of the underlying regulatory mechanisms are still obscure.

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

Dermal implants: safety of products injected for soft tissue augmentation.

Soft tissue augmentation is a frequently performed outpatient operation. Products available for soft tissue augmentation vary in chemistry, clinical indications, and toxicity. This review examines safety and efficacy data for collagen implants (Zyderm and Zyplast), gelatin matrix implants (Fibrel), and injectable silicone. Soft tissue augmentation requires excellent technique to achieve excellent clinical efficacy. When used appropriately, the available products for soft tissue augmentation have few complications or adverse reactions.

Aminocaproates↗
PubMed1989

Mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase.

Mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in the fermentative NAD-linked lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) have been isolated. These mutants showed no growth defects under anaerobic conditions unless present together with a defect in pyruvate formate lyase (pfl). Double mutants (pfl ldh) were unable to grow anaerobically on glucose or other sugars even when supplemented with acetate, whereas pfl mutants can do so. The ldh mutation was found to map at 30.5 min on the E. coli chromosome. The ldh mutant FMJ39 showed no detectable lactate dehydrogenase activity and produced no lactic acid from glucose under anaerobic conditions as estimated by in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. We also found that in wild-type strains the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase was conjointly induced by anaerobic conditions and an acidic pH. Despite previous findings that phosphate concentrations affect the proportion of lactic acid produced during fermentation, we were unable to find any intrinsic effect of phosphate on lactate dehydrogenase activity, apart from the buffering effect of this ion.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1989

Anaerobic fermentation balance of Escherichia coli as observed by in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Fermenting anaerobic cultures of Escherichia coli were observed by the nonintrusive technique of in vivo, whole-culture nuclear magnetic resonance. Fermentation balances were calculated for hexoses, pentoses, sugar alcohols, and sugar acids. Substrates more reduced than glucose yielded more of the highly reduced fermentation product ethanol, whereas more-oxidized substrates produced more of the less-reduced fermentation product acetate. These relationships were made more obvious by the introduction of ldhA mutations, which abolished lactate production, and delta frd mutations, which eliminated succinate. When grown anaerobically on sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, E. coli produced ethanol in excess of the amount calculated by the standard fermentation pathways. Reducing equivalents must be recycled from formate to account for this excess of ethanol. In mutants deficient in hydrogenase (hydB), ethanol production from sorbitol was greatly decreased, implying that hydrogen gas released from formate by the formate-hydrogen lyase system may be partially recycled, in the wild type, to increase the yield of the highly reduced fermentation product ethanol.

Anaerobiosis↗