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G G Brown

Publications and source records attributed to G G Brown.

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

Organizational differences between cytoplasmic male sterile and male fertile Brassica mitochondrial genomes are confined to a single transposed locus.

Comparison of the physical maps of male fertile (cam) and male sterile (pol) mitochondrial genomes of Brassica napus indicates that structural differences between the two mtDNAs are confined to a region immediately upstream of the atp6 gene. Relative to cam mtDNA, pol mtDNA possesses a 4.5 kb segment at this locus that includes a chimeric gene that is cotranscribed with atp6 and lacks an approximately 1kb region located upstream of the cam atp6 gene. The 4.5 kb pol segment is present and similarly organized in the mitochondrial genome of the common nap B.napus cytoplasm; however, the nap and pol DNA regions flanking this segment are different and the nap sequences are not expressed. The 4.5 kb CMS-associated pol segment has thus apparently undergone transposition during the evolution of the nap and pol cytoplasms and has been lost in the cam genome subsequent to the pol-cam divergence. This 4.5 kb segment comprises the single DNA region that is expressed differently in fertile, pol CMS and fertility restored pol cytoplasm plants. The finding that this locus is part of the single mtDNA region organized differently in the fertile and male sterile mitochondrial genomes provides strong support for the view that it specifies the pol CMS trait.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1993

Structure of the maize mitochondrial replicon RNA b and its relationship with other autonomously replicating RNA species.

The mitochondria of maize plants with S-type cytoplasm possess a family of single and double-stranded RNA molecules, termed RNA plasmids, that replicate in a DNA-independent manner typical of RNA viruses. We have determined the sequence of the smallest and most abundant member of this family, a single-stranded RNA termed RNA b. The 719 nucleotide sequence of RNA b lacks open reading frames of significant length. Probes complementary to the determined (+) strand sequence identified two larger RNA species of 2900 and > 4000 nucleotides in S-type maize mitochondria, the smaller of which corresponds to a previously identified member of the RNA plasmid family designated RNA a. These probes also unexpectedly identified a low abundance form of RNA b in N-type maize mitochondria. (+) strand probes identified corresponding (-) strand forms in S cytoplasm that likely represent components of replication intermediates. Primer extension experiments demonstrated that RNA b is an internally deleted form of the larger RNA plasmid, RNA a, and that it has a discrete and homogeneous 5' terminus. The solubility of RNA b in 2 M-LiCl as well as structural modelling studies indicated that it has a very high degree of secondary structure. Analysis of specific cleavage products generated by treatment of RNA b-oligonucleotide duplexes with RNase H indicated that the only identifiable forms of RNA b were linear molecules with relatively homogeneous 3' termini; no circular forms were detected. RNA b was found to share a 13 nucleotide sequence with the circular cadang-cadang viroid; 11 of these nucleotides fall within the central conserved region of viroid RNAs. In addition, RNA b shares certain structural similarities with phage Q beta and "variant" RNAs that serve as in vitro templates for the Q beta replicase. Collectively, our results indicate that RNA b is a "defective-interfering" member of an RNA family representing a new and apparently distinct class of RNA replicons.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Altered brain energy metabolism in demented patients with multiple subcortical ischemic lesions. Working hypotheses.

We report the results of brain metabolic studies (using magnetic resonance spectroscopy) in three groups of individuals: (1) demented patients with multiple subcortical ischemic lesions (n = 18); (2) nondemented, age-matched controls (n = 21); and (3) demented patients with neurodegenerative disease, probably of the Alzheimer type (n = 19). Patients with dementia with subcortical vascular lesions, as demonstrated by appropriate imaging studies, had an increase of phosphate energy charge in areas of the cerebral cortex (especially prominent in the frontal regions) superficial to and excluded from the subcortical lesions. We hypothesize that this increased energy charge might be caused by reduced metabolic activity of disconnected brain tissue or by astrocytic hypertrophy and hyperplasia that accompanies subtle ischemic, cortical alterations.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of expression of a mitochondrial gene region associated with the Brassica "Polima" CMS: developmental influences.

The mitochondrial genome of the Polima (pol) male-sterile cytoplasm of Brassica napus contains a chimeric 224-codon open reading frame (orf224) that is located upstream of, and co-transcribed with, the atp6 gene. The N-terminal coding region of orf224 is derived from a conventional mitochondrial gene, orfB, while the origin of the remainder of the sequence is unknown. We show that an apparently functional copy of orfB is present in the pol mitochondrial genome, indicating that the pol CMS is not caused by the absence of an intact, expressed orfB gene. The 5' termini of orf224/atp6 transcripts present in both sterile and fertility-restored (Rf) pol cytoplasm plants are shown to map to sequences resembling mitochondrial transcription-initiation sites, whereas the 5' termini of two transcripts specific to restored lines map to sequences which resemble neither one another nor mitochondrial promoter motifs. It is suggested that the complex orf224/atp6 transcript pattern of Rf plants is generated by a combination of multiple transcription initiation and processing events and that the nuclear restorer gene acts to specifically alter orf224/atp6 transcripts by affecting RNA processing. Northern analyses demonstrate that the effect of the restorer gene on orf224/atp6 transcripts is not tissue or developmental-stage specific. However, the expression of the atp6 region is developmentally regulated in pol plants, resulting in decreased levels of monocistronic atp6 transcripts in floral tissue relative to seedlings. It is suggested that this developmental regulation may be related to the absence of overt phenotypic effects of the CMS mutation in vegetative tissues.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

Selective dissociations of sedation and amnesia following ingestion of diazepam.

Forty-eight healthy volunteers received 0.2 mg/kg oral diazepam or a placebo in a double-blind manner. The effect of the drug on memory was assessed by the free recall of unrelated word lists, and arousal was assessed by subjective ratings of drowsiness, multiple trials of a digit cancellation task, and the rate at which subjects rehearsed aloud items from the word lists. As expected, diazepam, depressed both memory functioning and all three measures of arousal. However, within the diazepam group, rehearsal rate was the only arousal measure that correlated with performance on the recall task. When looking at change scores, or the degree to which performance deteriorated from baseline to the diazepam condition, digit cancellation reduction was the only arousal measure that correlated with recall deterioration. Analyses also revealed that the three arousal measures did not correlate with each other. Results support the view that the arousal/attentional system is composed of partially independent subsystems with varying relationships to memory functioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Vascular dementia: neuropathologic alterations and metabolic brain changes.

After reviewing the concepts of dementia, in general, and vascular dementia, in particular, this review discusses potential future approaches that may contribute to an improved definition of the clinical syndrome and the neuropathological features of vascular dementia. Specific brain alterations in high-energy phosphate compounds, as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance, may contribute to the separation between dementias with neurodegenerative diseases and those with ischemic (vascular or hemodynamic) disorders.

Brain↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of transcription initiation sites on the soybean mitochondrial genome allows identification of a transcription-associated sequence motif.

Transcription initiation sites on the soybean mitochondrial genome have been characterized by sequence analysis of in vitro-capped soybean mtRNAs and corresponding mtDNA regions. The most abundant, discrete soybean mtRNA species labeled by guanylyltransferase and [alpha-32P]GTP are shown to correspond to the major transcript of the atp9 gene and to a group of small RNAs consisting of a discrete 80 nucleotide (nt) species plus heterogeneous species ranging in size from 133 to 148 nt. The 133-148 nt RNAs represent a set of transcripts with a common 5' terminus and ragged 3' ends, while the 80 nt RNA corresponds to positions 53-133 of the 133 nt species. The major, discrete in vitro-capped RNA species thus correspond to primary transcripts originating at three sites located in two regions of the soybean mitochondrial genome. The sequences extending from 13 nucleotides upstream to 8 nucleotides downstream of the initiation sites for the atp9 and 133-148 nt transcripts are identical at 18 of 21 positions. Sequences closely resembling this motif are located at some other 5' transcript termini of dicot plant mitochondria. Less closely related sequences are found at transcription initiation sites of wheat and maize mitochondria.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Suppression of cytoplasmic male sterility by nuclear genes alters expression of a novel mitochondrial gene region.

To identify regions of the mitochondrial genome that potentially could specify the "Polima" (pol) cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of Brassica napus, transcripts of 14 mitochondrial genes from nap (male fertile), pol (male sterile), and nuclear fertility-restored pol cytoplasm plants were analyzed. Transcriptional differences among these plants were detected only with the ATPase subunit 6 (atp6) gene. Structural analysis of the atp6 gene regions of pol and nap mitochondrial DNAs showed that rearrangements in the pol mitochondrial genome occurring upstream of atp6 have generated a chimeric 224-codon open reading frame, designated orf224, that is cotranscribed with atp6. In CMS plants, most transcripts of this region are dicistronic, comprising both orf224 and atp6 sequences. Nuclear restorer genes at either of two distinct loci appear to specifically alter this transcript pattern such that monocistronic atp6 transcripts predominate. The differences in expression of this region appear to result, in part, from differential processing of a tRNA-like element comprising a tRNA pseudogene present immediately upstream of atp6 in both the sterile and fertile mitochondrial DNAs. Possible mechanisms by which expression of the orf224/atp6 locus and the Polima CMS trait may be specifically related are considered.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1991

Cerebral blood flow and neuropsychological asymmetries in unilateral stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study sought to determine the degree of agreement between asymmetries of neuropsychological functioning and nine methods of quantifying asymmetries of regional cerebral blood flow. METHODS: The regional cerebral blood flow methods combined three markers of cerebral blood flow asymmetry (percent hemispheric difference, maximum percent probe-pair asymmetry, and number of probe-pair asymmetries) with three indexes of regional cerebral blood flow (fast compartment flow, initial slope index, and initial slope). Eleven patients with left hemispheric ischemic strokes and 13 with right hemispheric ischemic strokes were studied with the xenon-133 inhalation technique and neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Blind clinical judgments of neuropsychological asymmetry significantly correlated with all nine methods of cerebral blood flow asymmetry determination; correlations ranged from -0.42 to -0.77. Clinical judgment of asymmetry of neuropsychological functioning accurately predicted the hemisphere of lower flow in 71-92% of cases, depending on the method of cerebral blood flow asymmetry determination. Agreement between cerebral blood flow and neurobehavioral signs of asymmetry was greater for initial slope and initial slope index than for the fast flow index. The initial slope and initial slope index showed equally good agreement. The use of the number of asymmetrical probe pairs to detect cerebral blood flow asymmetries agreed less well with neurobehavioral asymmetry than did the other two markers studied. CONCLUSIONS: Both the initial slope index and the initial slope measures of cerebral blood flow are useful in predicting neuropsychological asymmetries, especially when the magnitude of the asymmetry is taken into account.

Cerebrovascular Circulation↗
PubMed1990

Effects of age, neuropsychological impairment, and medication on regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia and major affective disorder.

Reports of abnormalities of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with schizophrenia and major affective disorder are contradictory. To gain a better understanding of the possible sources of these contradictions, the rCBF and neuropsychological functioning of 15 schizophrenics, 15 patients with major affective disorder, and 15 age-matched controls were studied. No group differences in overall rCBF, percent frontal deviation in flow, or rCBF asymmetries were observed. Both overall rCBF and percent frontal deviation of rCBF were reduced with greater age and with increasing neuropsychological impairment. Dosage of neuroleptic medication was associated with reduced whole brain flow, not with percent frontal deviation flow. Previously reported differences in the resting rCBF of schizophrenics might be more closely related to the age of the subjects and to their neuropsychological impairment rather than the inherent progression of the disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

RNA plasmids.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Memory functioning following a left medial thalamic hematoma.

A patient with a discrete, left medial thalamic hematoma developed a severe anterograde amnesia. The memory deficit was most consistent for verbal materials, but was also observed on several tests of figural memory. The patient appeared to have a normal short-term memory (STM) capacity, performed normally on a STM distractor task and was not abnormally sensitive to proactive inhibition. This case is evidence that unilateral damage to the medial thalamus alone can produce a severe memory deficit.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

In vivo 31P NMR profiles of Alzheimer's disease and multiple subcortical infarct dementia.

We used in vivo phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy to study regional high-energy phosphate and phospholipid metabolism in brains of patients with dementia associated with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple subcortical cerebral infarctions (MSID). The MSID patients demonstrated elevations of the phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) ratio in both the temporoparietal and frontal regions. Phosphomonoesters (PME) and the ratio of PME to phosphodiesters were elevated in the temporoparietal region of AD. Pi was also elevated in the frontal and temporoparietal regions of AD. Findings from 31P NMR were accurate in distinguishing MSID from AD. Values of PCr/Pi accurately classified 100% of the MSID patients and 92% of AD. Pi and PME, considered jointly, also accurately classified all MSID and all but 1 AD. Findings from in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy appear to yield metabolic profiles useful in distinguishing AD from MSID.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Bilateral posterior cerebral artery strokes in a young migraine sufferer.

We report a young migraine sufferer who developed bilateral posterior cerebral artery territory infarcts during the course of his classic migraines, the second of which was associated with intraluminal clot in the posterior cerebral artery. To our knowledge, bilateral posterior cerebral artery stroke from spontaneous migraine has not been reported. Head computed tomographic, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiographic correlation is presented. The mechanism of migrainous infarction may be in part explained by caliber changes in arterioles and capillaries leading to flow reduction in the more proximal conduit arteries combined with the associated coagulopathy that has been previously documented during migraine attacks.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of spermatozoa from the boar, ram, goat and bull.

1. Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMR) was utilized to examine semen and spermatozoa isolated from boars, rams, goats and bulls. 2. Whole semen was found to contain high but variable levels of glycerylphosphocholine, most of which was located in the seminal plasma rather than in the spermatozoa. 3. Spermatozoa concentrated into a pellet were found to contain resonances for inorganic phosphate, phosphomonoesters including fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and glucose-6-phosphate, and free nucleotide triphosphate peaks. 4. A broad resonance was observed from 30 to -25 ppm which originated partly from nucleotide tri- and diphosphates. 5. No high energy molecules such as phosphoarginine or phosphocreatine which could act as energy shuttles were observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Neuropsychological deficits and real-world dysfunction in cerebral revascularization candidates.

An assessment strategy using multiple levels of observation permitted description of problems in everyday living experienced by cerebral revascularization candidates. We contrasted the neuropsychological deficits and real-world dysfunction displayed by candidates for cerebral revascularization with that manifested by patients with severe spinal complaints. Correlations between selected neuropsychological scores and life quality measures were modest. Prediction of real-world performance in individuals likely will require multivariate combinations of measures. Relationships between life quality measures and neuropsychological scores may differ for patients with known or suspected neurological disease and patients with disorders which do not threaten cognitive functioning.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1987

Effects of lateralized cerebral dysfunction on the Continuous Paired-Associate Test.

Some authorities have advocated matching tests on several critical psychometric properties before inferring the presence of a differential pattern of deficit. This study examined the effects of lateralized cerebral dysfunction on the matched Verbal and Design subtests of the Continuous Paired-Associate Test (CPAT). Patients with lateralized destructive lesions were studied in Experiment 1. Epileptic patients with lateralized electroencephalographic findings were studied in Experiment 2. Left but not right hemispheric abnormalities impaired performance on the Verbal CPAT, but only for destructive lesions. The Designs CPAT was a nonspecific indicator of cerebral dysfunction. For studies with the goal of predicting laterality of cerebral dysfunction, we advocate a two-step strategy of test development. The first step would make use of the principle of double dissociation in selecting items to compose subtests. The second step would involve an item analysis of subtests to determine the need for matching.

Adolescent↗