Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Vassart

Publications and source records attributed to G Vassart.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Molecular cloning of complementary DNA: preparation of a plasmid vector with low transformation background.

A simple method that allows the rapid preparation of oligo dG-tailed plasmid vectors is presented. The procedure involves purification of the tailed molecules by hybridization to oligo dC-cellulose followed by a stepwise thermal elution. The resulting plasmid is virtually devoid of transformation activity in the absence of oligo dC-tailed DNA fragments. It allows construction of cDNA libraries with as low as 1% of colonies harboring wild-type plasmids.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1982

The 5'-end of bovine thyroglobulin mRNA encodes a hormonogenic peptide.

The sequence of 370 bases at the 5'-end of bovine thyroglobulin mRNA has been determined. A 41 base untranslated segment was found preceeding the ATG initiator codon. It is followed by an open reading frame providing the first data on thyroglobulin primary structure. Analysis of the amino acid sequence demonstrated the presence of an 18 residue hydrophobic segment representing a putative signal peptide. Comparison of the amino terminal sequence of thyroglobulin with that of peptides known to contain thyroid hormones [7,8] demonstrated that the first tyrosine in native thyroglobulin is mainly found as thyroxine in the mature iodinated protein [8]. Our results clearly identify the amino-terminal region of thyroglobulin as an important hormonogenic domain of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Molecular cloning of the 8000-base thyroglobulin structural gene.

Bovine thyroglobulin mRNA was reverse-transcribed into full-length double-stranded cDNA. The existence of three HindIII restriction endonuclease sites in the 8000-base thyroglobulin structural gene had allowed the easy cloning of the two internal HindIII fragments [Christophe et al. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 111, 419-423]. In the present study, the central portion of the structural gene was cloned in Escherichia coli as two individual recombinant plasmids containing 2000-base-pair and 4700-base-pair segments located respectively 5' and 3' relative to the unique BamHI site of the cDNA. BamHI linkers were added to the double-stranded cDNA and, following restriction with HindIII, selective cloning of the 5' (2600-base-pair) and 3' (1000-base-pair) terminal HindIII fragments was achieved by inserting them between the HindIII and BamHI sites of the plasmid pBR322. Partial sequencing of the 1000-base-pair 3'-terminal fragment demonstrated the presence of an A-A-U-A-A-A sequence in the mRNA 14 bases upstream from a poly(A) tract corresponding to the 3' end of the mRNA. Together, the four clones represent about 99% of the thyroglobulin structural gene and provide the starting material for the determination of thyroglobulin primary structure.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Radioautographic localization of prolactin messenger RNA on histological sections by in situ hybridization.

In situ hybridization of complementary [H3]DNA ([H3]cDNA) synthetized from purified rat prolactin messenger RNA (rPRL mRNA) was performed to specifically identify on histologic sections of rat hypophysis cells expressing the PRL gene. Radioautographic labelling occurred over weakly acidophilic cells, while other acidophils, with darker cytoplasm did not contain more silver grains than blood vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Dopaminergic control of prolactin mRNA accumulation in the pituitary of the male rat.

Dopaminergic control of the expression of the prolactin gene was investigated by administration of bromoergocryptine (CB154) to male rats. The effects of the drug on the following parameters were measured: (i) circulating levels of GH and PRL; (ii) synthesis of GH and PRl measured by pulse labeling pituitary fragments in vitro; (iii) GH and PRL mRNA activities; and (iv) content of PRL and mRNA. After 1 day of CB154 administration, serum PRL fell to undetectable levels whereas it took 3 days to observe a 50% reduction in PRL synthesis. This effect was accounted for by a parallel decrease in PRL mRNA activity and content. GH synthesis and GH mRNA were not affected by the treatment. Our results show that the dopaminergic inhibition of PRL production involves regulation at a pre-translational level.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Growth hormone responses to thyroid hormone in the neonatal rat: resistance and anamnestic response.

Differences in the growth hormone (GH) responses to primary and to secondary stimulation with triiodothyronine (T3) were studied in rats deprived of thyroid hormone from birth. Neonatal hypothyroidism was induced in pups by feeding pregnant rats an iodine-deficient, propylthiouracil-containing diet. T3 stimulation was carried out in pups by subcutaneous injection of a single dose of 50 mug T3/100 g body wt. Pituitary GH content, rate of GH synthesis in vitro, and GH messenger (m)RNA activity in a cellfree translation system were measured.No significant differences in body weight and in pituitary GH content were observed between hypothyroid and normal pups at ages 1, 3, and 6 d. 10- and 28-d-old hypothyroid pups showed a significant arrest of growth, decreased pituitary GH content, and development of GH responsiveness to T3. In contrast, serum thyroxine concentration in hypothyroid pups was <0.15 mug/dl, significantly lower than normal at all ages.GH synthesis and GH mRNA activity studied in pituitaries of 28-d-old rats were expressed as percent total protein synthesis and percent mRNA activity, respectively. GH synthesis and mRNA activity were 3.0 and 2.6% in hypothyroid rats, 3.3 and 2.9% in hypothyroid rats given a single T3 injection 14 d earlier (T3-withdrawn rats), and 26.8 and 27.1% in normal rats. Administration of T3 to hypothyroid rats induced an increase in GH synthesis and GH mRNA activity, reaching 5.8 and 5.6% 12 h after primary stimulation and 12.2 and 16.1% 12 h after secondary stimulation. The response rates were linear but 2.5-fold more rapid after secondary stimulation. The latter response was similar to that observed after T3 stimulation of rats rendered hypothyroid during adulthood. The responses of GH synthesis and mRNA activity were concordant after both primary and secondary T3 stimulation. A twofold increase in both parameters was observed as early as 2 h after T3 injection. Four conclusions can be drawn from these experiments. First, during neonatal life, GH accumulation in rat pituitaries is independent of thyroid hormone and is insensitive to T3. Second, GH dependence on and sensitivity to thyroid hormone is acquired between the 6th and 10th d of neonatal life. Third, secondary T3 stimulation produces an anamnestic response manifested by an increased rate of GH synthesis and mRNA activity. Fourth, primary T3 stimulation is not associated with a lag in the endogenous translation of the newly accumulated GH mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Nonfunctional thyroglobulin messenger RNA in goats with hereditary congenital goiter.

A goat strain with congenital goiter was studied as a model for human thyroid disoders. These goats were deficient in thyroglobulin (Tg), the precursor protein of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. RNA coding for Tg (Tg-RNA) was detected in reduced amounts in the goiters and was almost absent from the membranes, where Tg is normally synthesized. This paper describes the preparation and characterization of a goat Tg cDNA plasmid and its use in the study of thyroglobulin gene expression in the goiter. We found that the goiter Tg-RNA is polyadenylated and has the same size as normal 33S goat TG mRNA. Thus, there are no major defects in the mRNA processing. However, in contrast to normal Tg mRNA, the goiter Tg-RNA was not translated into immunoprecipitable Tg subunits when injected into Xenopus oocytes. We conclude therefore that the goiter Tg-RNA has one or more alterations causing a lack of proper translation and/or a decreased cytoplasmic stability.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Restriction mapping of synthetic thyroglobulin structural gene as a means of investigating thyroglobulin structure.

Bovine 33 S thyroglobulin mRNA was reverse transcribed into double-stranded DNA under conditions allowing the synthesis of a complete 8 kilobase pair copy. A physical map of the resulting synthetic thyroglobulin structural gene was constructed using six restriction endonucleases. The following conclusions could be drawn: (i) the polypeptide chains in thyroglobulin subunits are identical; (ii) thyroglobulin is composed of a major class of molecules sharing the same primary structure; (iii) there is no evidence for precise internal repetition in the structure of thyroglobulin subunits.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Molecular cloning of bovine thyroglobulin complementary DNA. Characterization of 2500-base-pair and 1900-base-pair fragments.

Double-stranded thyroglobulin complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from purified 33-S bovine thyroglobulin mRNA. This synthetic structural gene has previously been shown to contain three sites for the restriction endonuclease HindIII, yielding two internal fragments of 1900 and 2500 base pairs respectively. Recombinant molecules were prepared by ligating the HindIII-restricted cDNA to the plasmid pBR322 which had been linearized by the same enzyme. When Escherichia coli was transformed with this mixture, it yielded two kinds of colonies each harboring recombinant plasmids containing one of the two cDNA fragments. Both recombinant molecules hybridized specifically to translatable thyroglobulin mRNA. Sequence homology between the two cloned DNAs could not be detected by cross-hybridization experiments; this argues against the existence of internal structural repetition in thyroglobulin subunits. Together, the two cloned DNA fragments represent 55% of the 8000-base-pair double-stranded thyroglobulin DNA.

Animals↗