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Biomedical subjects

G Veres

Publications and source records attributed to G Veres.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Genetic instability of a MoMLV-based antisense double-copy retroviral vector designed for HIV-1 gene therapy.

We constructed a retroviral vector encoding a mutant tRNA(imet) gene followed by a HIV-1 rev-specific antisense sequence in the U3 region of the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR). This Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based double-copy retroviral vector was used to transduce human lymphoblastoid T-cell lines (CEM, Jurkat). In some clonal cell lines the expected short transcript initiated either from the 5' or 3' LTR tRNA-alpha rev gene was not detectable by Northern blot analyses of transduced, G418-resistant cells with an alpha rev-specific oligonucleotide probe. In other clonal cells, neither the short polymerase III transcript nor the full-length genomic polymerase II transcript (containing the 3' LTR tRNA-alpha rev gene) was detectable when compared with the transduced cell pool. Southern blot and DNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses specific for the tRNA-alpha rev cassette in the 5' or 3' LTR of the retroviral vector suggested that the transfer of the 3' LTR U3 region to the 5' LTR was incorrect in most proviruses. These data were confirmed by DNA sequence analyses of several clonal lines demonstrating deletions and insertions. In summary, our results indicate that this retroviral vector design with direct repeats flanking the polymerase III transcription unit plus the alpha rev insert is prone to genetic rearrangements and consequently not useful for the development of gene therapy protocols.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Constitutive expression of chimeric neo-Rev response element transcripts suppresses HIV-1 replication in human CD4+ T lymphocytes.

We have previously reported that chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase (neo)-Rev response element (RRE) transcripts suppress the function of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev trans-activator protein in HeLa cells. In an extension of these experiments, human CD4+ CEM cells (G418-resistant cell populations and clonal isolates) stably expressing chimeric neo-RRE genes (2, 3, or 6 RRE copies) were generated using retroviral-mediated gene transfer. The transduced CEM clones were infected with the HIV-1 HTLVIIIB isolate and the following three phenotypes were observed: (i) the transduced CEM cells were readily infected with HIV-1 indistinguishable from the control CEM cells; (ii) the appearance of HIV-1 replication markers was significantly delayed; (iii) no signs of HIV-1 replication were detectable although proviral HIV-1 DNA sequences could be detected in these cells. Furthermore, HIV antigen expression was limited in neo-resistant CEM cell populations inoculated with the HIV-1 HTLVIIIB isolate. Only 10% of the CEM-pX17-3xRRE cells and 20% of the CEM-pX17-2xRRE cells displayed HIV-1 antigens 43 days after challenge and had retained CD4 surface expression on 47% and 64% of the cells, respectively. In sharp contrast, 80% of the CEM-pX17 or the CEM-pX17-6xRRE cells expressed HIV-1 antigens but no CD4 antigens were detectable in these cultures. These results clearly indicate that RRE decoys could be developed into an effective somatic gene therapy approach against HIV-1 induced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Ectopic correction of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in sparse fur mice.

The sparse fur (spf) mutant mouse is a model for human X-linked ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. Human OTC cDNA placed under transcriptional control of the mouse OTC promoter was microinjected into fertilized oocytes of spf mice. Two founder lines of transgenic mice were phenotypically and biochemically corrected for OTC deficiency by the expression of the human gene at high levels in the small intestine with little or no expression occurring in the liver. The tissue pattern of expression of transgenic mice bearing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene placed under the control of the mouse OTC promoter parallels these results. These experiments demonstrate that human OTC cDNA is selectively expressed in small bowel by a truncated OTC promoter, and such ectopic expression corrects the spf phenotypic and metabolic features of this inborn error. These data suggest that somatic gene therapy of OTC deficiency can be achieved by intestine-targeted gene transfer.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The genetic structure of mouse ornithine transcarbamylase.

The gene encoding the mouse urea cycle enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase has been isolated on five partially overlapping bacteriophage lambda clones. We have characterized the gene and found that it is split between ten exons distributed over approximately 70 kb of the X chromosome. The introns range in size from 88 bases to the relatively unusual size of approximately 26 kilobases, while the splice donor/splice acceptor sequences conform to the consensus established for other eukaryotic genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The molecular basis of the sparse fur mouse mutation.

The ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient sparse fur mouse is an excellent model to study the most common human urea cycle disorder. The mutation has been well characterized by both biochemical and enzymological methods, but its exact nature has not been revealed. A single base substitution in the complementary DNA for ornithine transcarbamylase from the sparse fur mouse has been identified by means of a combination of two recently described techniques for rapid mutational analysis. This strategy is simpler than conventional complementary DNA library construction, screening, and sequencing, which has often been used to find a new mutation. The ornithine transcarbamylase gene in the sparse fur mouse contains a C to A transversion that alters a histidine residue to an asparagine residue at amino acid 117.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Differential methylation of the ornithine carbamoyl transferase gene on active and inactive mouse X chromosomes.

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase (Oct) is an X-linked gene which exhibits tissue-specific expression. To determine whether methylation of specific CpG sequences plays a role in dosage compensation or tissue-specific expression of the gene, 13 potentially methylatable sites were identified over a 30-kilobase (kb) region spanning from approximately 15 kb upstream to beyond exon II. Fragments of the Mus hortulanus Oct gene were used as probes to establish the degree of methylation at each site. By considering the methylation status in liver (expressing tissue) versus kidney (nonexpressing tissue) from male and female mice, the active and inactive genes could be investigated on active and inactive X-chromosome backgrounds. One MspI site, 12 kb 5' of the Oct-coding region, was cleaved by HpaII in liver DNA from males but not in kidney DNA from males and thus exhibited complete correlation with tissue-specific expression of the gene. Six other sites showed partial methylation, reflecting incomplete correlation with tissue-specific expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The 5' flanking region of the ornithine transcarbamylase gene contains DNA sequences regulating tissue-specific expression.

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTCase) is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme that catalyzes the 2nd step in the mammalian urea cycle. The gene encoding OTCase is located on the X chromosome and expression of OTCase is limited almost exclusively to hepatocytes. We have characterized a lambda phage recombinant, isolated from a mouse genomic library, that spans the first two exons of the mouse OTCase gene. Nuclease S1 mapping and primer extension analysis of this clone allowed us to determine that the transcription start site is 136 base pairs (bp) upstream from the translation initiation codon. Two TATA-like sequences were found 25 and 153 bp from the transcription initiation point. An 800-bp fragment containing the 5' flanking region of the OTCase gene was fused upstream to the coding sequence of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene to assay promoter activity. This plasmid was introduced into mouse fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells and human hepatoma Hep G2 cells by the calcium phosphate co-precipitation method. After DNA transfection chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was observed only in Hep G2 cells. We conclude that this 800-bp fragment contains sufficient information to control OTCase gene expression in a tissue-specific manner, probably by interacting with trans-acting factor(s) which are not present in the other cell line.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1985

Purification and characterisation of chicken brain hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase.

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme (EC 2.4.2.8) from chicken brain has been purified 10 000-fold to homogeneity. The molecular mass of the native enzyme is 85 kDa, with four subunits, each of 26 kDa, and exerts its maximum activity at pH 10.0. The Km values for hypoxanthine and guanine are 5.2 and 1.8 microM, respectively. The half-life of the enzyme is 30 min at 85 degrees C. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against the native purified enzyme and were used for purification of enzyme to homogeneity. The monoclonal antibody did not bind to the active centre of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Detection of a nerve-specific membrane protein on differentiating PCC3/A/1 cells.

Attempts were made to prepare monoclonal antibodies specifically reactive with cell surface components of a murine neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro 2a. One of the antibodies (1c2) reacts with a varying proportion of in vitro cultivated Neuro 2a cells, but does not react with murine embryonal carcinoma cell lines (PCC3/A/1 and F9) or with a murine fibroblast line (LM). This antibody selectively stains a subpopulation of nerve cells in murine adult central nervous system, e.g. granular cells in cerebellar cortex. Immunoaffinity purification of adult brain and Neuro 2a plasma membrane fractions with the antibody resulted in an electrophoretically pure protein of approx. 28 kD molecular weight as estimated by SDS-PAGE. Although this antigen is absent from PCC3/A/1 embryonal carcinoma cells, it can be demonstrated after 9 days of growth and differentiation under low density conditions by indirect immunoperoxidase staining. This monoclonal antibody may prove useful in further analysis of neural tissue development.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Graphic analysis of forces acting upon a simplified model of the foot.

Application of a graphical technique to analyse internal forces on a simplified model of the foot in various external loading patterns. The method is applied when the external load is acting purely upon the forefoot, the hindfoot and on both locations. The pes planus situation and the effect of the "rocker" and inlay sole are studied.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗