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Biomedical subjects

H Hamada

Publications and source records attributed to H Hamada.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Hierarchy of binding sites for chromosomal proteins HMG 1 and 2 in supercoiled deoxyribonucleic acid.

The interaction of chromosomal proteins HMG 1 and 2 with various DNA structures has been examined with plasmid pPst-0.9, which contains DNA sequences that can form the Z-DNA conformation and palindromic sequences that can form cruciform structures. Direct binding and competition experiments with 32P-labeled plasmid indicated that proteins HMG 1 and 2 preferentially bind to supercoiled form I DNA as compared to double-stranded linear DNA. The preferential binding to form I is due to the presence of single-stranded regions in this DNA. The binding of HMG 1 and 2 to the form I plasmid results in inhibition of S1 nuclease digestion in a selective manner. The B-Z junction is preferentially protected as compared to the cruciform, which in turn is more protected than other minor S1-sensitive structures present in pPst-0.9. Our results indicate that the binding of HMG 1 and 2 proteins to DNA is not random in that HMG 1 and 2 can distinguish between various S1 nuclease sensitive sites in the plasmid. The existence of a hierarchy of DNA binding sites for these proteins suggests that they can selectively affect the structure of distinct regions in the genome.

Actins↗

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field on growth and differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells.

A murine embryonal carcinoma cell line (F9) was used to examine the effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on the growth and differentiation of malignant cells. The cells can be induced to differentiate into parietal endodermal cells by treatment with retinoic acid. The pulsed electromagnetic field (1 Gauss and 10 Gauss) promoted the growth of embryonal carcinoma cells in both the presence and absence of retinoic acid. The pulsed electromagnetic field was also found to inhibit retinoic acid-induced differentiation, when the degree of differentiation was based on morphological criteria or on the production of plasminogen activator.

Animals↗

Cell-surface changes during in vitro differentiation of pluripotent embryonal carcinoma cells.

When aggregates of HM-1 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells were exposed to 10(-6) M retinoic acid for 2 days and cultured in medium lacking retinoic acid, they differentiated to nerve cells, endoderm cells, and myoblasts. Cells 2 days after initial exposure to retinoic acid were not significantly different from the parental EC cells, as judged by cell-surface architecture and by reactivity to lectins. On the fourth day, the surface of the aggregates was covered with two kinds of cells distinguishable from the parental cells. The round cells with short villi seemed to be precursors to endoderm cells. Receptors for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) newly appeared and receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA) were still expressed on their surfaces. The other cells, which were round cells with a few processes, might be precursors to nerve cells. PNA receptors had disappeared from their surfaces, and DBA receptors were not expressed. On the sixth day of differentiation, possible precursors to myoblasts were detected; they were flat cells with smooth surfaces. These cells lacked cell-surface receptors for the two lectins, while the precursor cells and the myoblasts excreted intercellular fibers reacting with PNA. HM-1 cells synthesized much embryoglycan, the structure of which was similar to that of the glycan isolated from quasinullipotent F9 cells. The only difference was that the glycan from HM-1 cells lacked DBA binding sites. Synthesis of fucosylated embryoglycan mainly decreased between the second and fourth day of differentiation. As above, cell-surface changes occurred mainly between the second and fourth day. The period seems to be important in determining the fate of the cells, since endoderm cells were scarcely seen among differentiated cells which had been continuously exposed to 10(-6) M retinoic acid during the period.

Animals↗

A membrane glycoprotein involved in teratocarcinoma cell adhesion to substratum.

An antiserum was raised against glycoproteins isolated from teratocarcinoma OTT6050 by affinity chromatography on Ricinus communis agglutinin-1 (RCA-1). The antiserum inhibited attachment and spreading of the teratocarcinoma cells on plastic tissue culture plates. Embryonal carcinoma cells (F9 and N4-1) and PYS-2 parietal endodermal cells were also affected. The antiserum was also effective in preventing adhesion of trophoblasts to substratum. Furthermore, the antiserum caused rounding and detachment of the cells previously spread on the substrates, and the process could be reversed by removing the antiserum. Fab fragments isolated from the antiserum also inhibited cell-substratum adhesion, but not cell-cell adhesion, indicating that the factor involved is specific for cell-substratum adhesion. The antiserum inhibited adhesion of F9 and PYS-2 cells not only to plastic dishes but also to those coated with plasma fibronectin, laminin, and plant lectins such as concanavalin A (conA). Therefore, it is likely that the antiserum inhibited cell-substratum adhesion by blocking the function of an intrinsic component of cell-substratum adhesion rather than interfering with specific receptors for fibronectin or laminin. The glycoprotein with the antibody-blocking activity was partially purified from particulate fraction of teratocarcinoma OTT6050 by extraction with Triton X-100 and affinity chromatography on RCA-1-agarose and conA-agarose Upon Western blot analysis of the glycoprotein preparation, the antibody reacted only with a glycoprotein of the apparent molecular weight (MW), 125 000 (GP-125). An antibody preparation was isolated by affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B coupled with the glycoprotein fraction and was shown to have all of the activities described above. Molecules resembling GP-125 could be also isolated from cultured F9 and PYS-2 cells by solubilization with Triton X-100 and indirect immunoprecipitation.

Animals↗

Molecular structure of the human cytoplasmic beta-actin gene: interspecies homology of sequences in the introns.

A recombinant phage that carries the cytoplasmic beta-actin gene was isolated from a human DNA library. The nucleotide sequence of this gene was determined. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence matches perfectly that of beta-actin from human fibroblasts. The gene contains five introns. A large intron was found in the 5' untranslated region six nucleotides upstream from the ATG initiation codon. Four introns were found within the coding region at codons specifying amino acids 41/42, 121/122, 267, and 327/328. In contrast to the human cardiac muscle actin gene, the aorta-type smooth muscle actin gene, and the stomach-type smooth muscle actin gene, the beta-actin gene lacks the codon for cysteine between the ATG initiation codon and the codon for the NH2-terminal amino acid of the mature protein. Hybridization of genomic DNA with DNA fragments derived from intron I in the 5' untranslated region and from intron III strongly suggests the presence of a single beta-actin gene in the human genome. The DNA sequences of the coding region, of the 3' untranslated region, and of the sequence block between the "CCAAT" box and "TATA" box in the 5' flanking DNA of the human beta-actin gene are highly homologous to the corresponding sequences of the rat and chicken beta-actin genes. Unexpectedly, the sequence of intron III of the human beta-actin gene shows considerable homology to that of the rat beta-actin gene.

Actins↗

Evaluation of tri-combinant vaccine for feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia virus infections in Japanese native cats.

Tri-combinant vaccine consisting of attenuated feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) and inactivated feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), were evaluated for safety and efficacy, using Japanese native cats and the viral strains isolated in Japan. Thirty-eight 9- to 12-week-old kittens were inoculated intramuscularly and subcutaneously with the vaccine. Consequently, no adverse reaction was found, and protective efficacy was confirmed by challenge tests with the virulent strains of each virus. Serum-neutralizing antibodies against FCV and FPLV were maintained for at least one year after vaccination, whereas antibody against FHV disappeared in two cases at 24 weeks after vaccination. Application of this vaccine seemed effective for control of feline viral disease in cats for experimental use.

Animals↗

Cell surface markers to monitor the process of visceral endoderm differentiation from embryonal carcinoma cells: identification of the stage sensitive to high concentration of retinoic acid.

Two cell surface antigens, brushin and FT-1 were effective in analysis of the process of visceral endoderm differentiation. Brushin was detected on both primitive and visceral endoderm, while FT-1 was detected only on visceral endoderm. When aggregates of N4-1 embryonal carcinoma cells were exposed to 10(-8) M-retinoic acid for more than 2 days, external cells differentiated to multilayered and vacuolized visceral endoderm. However, aggregates treated with 10(-6) M-retinoic acid developed an endoderm layer, which remained one cell thick and was not vacuolized. Cell surface properties of the endoderm cells indicated that the high concentration of retinoic acid inhibited the differentiation pathway at the stage between primitive endoderm cells and visceral endoderm cells. By pulsed exposure to 10(-6) M-retinoic acid, the period sensitive to the high concentration of retinoic acid was shown to be around day 4 after the initial exposure to retinoic acid.

Animals↗

Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on urinary cotinine excretion in nonsmokers. Evidence for passive smoking.

Despite recognition of the deleterious effects of passive smoking, quantitative information on the intake of environmental tobacco smoke is still lacking. Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine found in the urine. We have examined the relationship between urinary cotinine excretion in 472 nonsmokers and the smokiness of their environment. The urinary cotinine levels of nonsmokers who lived with smokers were higher than those of nonsmokers who did not, increasing with the combined daily cigarette consumption of smokers in the family. The urinary cotinine values of nonsmokers who worked with smokers were also higher than those of nonsmokers who did not, increasing with the number of smokers in the workroom. The presence of smokers in both the home and the workplace also increased the cotinine levels. Urban nonsmokers had more cotinine in their urine than rural nonsmokers. We conclude that the deleterious effects of passive smoking may occur in proportion to the exposure of nonsmokers to smokers in the home, the workplace, and the community.

Adult↗

A mutation in actin associated with neoplastic transformation.

A new protein was recognized in a chemically transformed human fibroblast cell line when its proteins labeled with [35S]methionine were compared with those from normal human fibroblasts by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The new protein was found in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction as well as in the Triton-soluble fraction, and it migrated very closely to beta- and gamma-actins on the gels. This new protein was identified as a variant form of actin by its reaction with antiactin antibody and its tryptic peptide pattern, which was identical to actin. mRNA coding for the variant actin was detected only in this particular transformed line. The size and cross- hybridizability with Dictyostelium actin cDNA of mRNA coding for the variant actin and complete amino acid sequence of the variant actin indicate that the new variant actin is the product of a mutated beta-actin gene. Only a single amino acid (glycine) at position 244 was replaced by aspartic acid. This substitution corresponds to a GC----AT transition, a point mutation. On the other hand, a highly malignant cell variant was isolated from the transformed line. The mutated beta-actin was further altered in this highly malignant subclone: it showed a more negative charge, rapid synthetic rate, and a short half-life in the cells. Incorporation into the cytoskeleton was significantly reduced in the mutated beta-actin. A hypothesis on the relationship between a mutation in the actin gene and oncogenic transformation was proposed.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Transmembrane control of laminin, lectin receptors and surface villi in teratocarcinoma-derived endodermal cells.

Distribution of laminin on the surface of teratocarcinoma-derived parietal endoderm cells was studied by immuno-histochemical staining of the fixed specimen using affinity-purified anti-laminin antibody. Laminin was distributed on the basal surface of the cells, while treatment either with colchicine or with cytochalasin D (CD) resulted in a severely polarized distribution; laminin was seen only at one end of the cell. Treatment with both the reagents did not cause the severe polarization. Receptors for lectins and cell surface villi were polarized by treatment with CD but not by treatment with colchicine. These results suggest that laminin--or its cell surface receptor--is linked to both microfilament and microtubules and that the mode of transmembrane control for laminin is different from certain other cell surface components of the cells.

Animals↗

Characterization of genomic poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) sequences: structure, organization, and conformation.

Hybridization studies suggest the abundant presence of poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) (TG-element), a potential Z-DNA sequence, in eucaryotic genomes. We have isolated and characterized TG-elements from different locations in the human genome: from randomly isolated clones, associated with the actin gene family, and linked to another repeated element. The results indicate that the following features are typical of these TG-elements: the elements consist of 20 to 60 base pairs of (dT-dG)n.(dC-dA)n, the sequences characterized in our study were not flanked by direct or inverted repeats, the sequences are interspersed rather than in satellite blocks, the elements are not usually associated with other repeated elements, and some of the elements are found near coding sequences or in introns. Studies on the conformation of a genomic TG-element in a supercoiled plasmid indicate several distinct properties of the TG-element: it is in the Z-form only at low ionic strength, S1 nuclease recognizes its Z-form with a marked preference for one of the B-Z junctions, and the sensitive region extends for 20 base pairs near the B-Z junction. In contrast to the result with the supercoiled plasmid, S1 nuclease failed to recognize the TG-element in minichromosomes.

Actins↗

Enhanced gene expression by the poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) sequence.

The sequence poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) (TG-element) is a ubiquitous component of eucaryotic genomes and has the potential to adopt a left-handed DNA conformation (Z-DNA). In this report, we have tested the hypothesis that the TG-element can modulate gene expression. Human genomic DNA fragments (1 to 1.5 kilobases) containing a (dT-dG)n.(dC-dA)n tract (30, 40, or 50 base pairs) or chemically synthesized (dT-dG)n.(dC-dA)n fragments (50 to 130 base pairs) were inserted in the pSV2-cat (simian virus 40 enhancer plus) or pA10-cat (enhancer minus) expression vector plasmid. These constructs were transfected into CV-1 cells or HeLa cells, and their transcription was monitored by assaying chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity. The results showed that pSV2-cat with the TG-element and pA10-cat with the TG-element synthesized more chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity (2 to 10 times, depending on the location of the TG-element) than did parental pSV2-cat and pA10-cat DNAs, respectively. Furthermore, the TG-element appeared to have characteristics similar to those of viral enhancers: (i) the TG-element enhanced transcription from a distance, (ii) its closer location to the promoter was more effective, and (iii) its orientation was not crucial. However, its enhancer-like activity was much weaker than that of the simian virus 40 enhancer, and, unlike many viral enhancers, it was equally active in monkey and in human cells. These results suggest that the TG-element may influence the expression of cellular genes.

Acetyltransferases↗

Structure of a human smooth muscle actin gene (aortic type) with a unique intron site.

A recombinant phage containing an actin gene (lambda Ha201) was isolated from a human DNA library and the structure of the actin gene was determined. The amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences of lambda Ha201 were compared with those of six actin isoforms; they matched those of bovine aortic smooth muscle actin, except for codon 309, which was valine (GTC) in lambda Ha201 and alanine (GCN) in bovine aortic smooth muscle actin. Southern blot hybridization experiments showed that the gene of normal human cells did not have the TaqI-sensitive site around position 309, whereas half of the genes of HUT14 cells did. These results indicate that one allele of the aortic smooth muscle actin gene in HUT14 cells has a transition point mutation (C----T) at codon 309 and that the amino acid sequences of normal human aorta and bovine smooth muscle actins are probably identical. In addition to the five introns interrupting exons at codons 150, 204, and 267, and between codons 41 and 42 and 327 and 328, which are common to skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle actin genes, the smooth muscle actin gene has two more intron sites between codons 84 and 85 and 121 and 122. The previously unreported intron site between codons 84 and 85 is unique to the smooth muscle actin gene. The intron site between codons 121 and 122 is common to beta-actin genes but is not found in other muscle actin genes. A hypothesis is proposed for the evolutionary pathway of the actin gene family.

Actins↗

Changes in cellular DNA sequence adjacent to integrated viral genome in transplantable and nontransplantable guinea pig cells transformed by SV40.

Guinea pig (strain No13) kidney cells were transformed with SV40 (SVNo13). When this transformant was injected subcutaneously into syngeneic irradiated guinea pigs, tumors were produced in some animals. One of them became transplantable (ST13). Clones were obtained from cultured tumor cells (STC13). About one copy of the viral genome appeared to exist in both SVNo13 and STC13 clones as determined by reassociation kinetics. We have examined the distribution of integrated viral sequences in the host DNA by blot hybridization. In SVNo13, the blotting pattern with BamHI showed two main bands of 6.9 and 4.3 kilobases (kb), whereas in STC13 clones the 6.9-kb band was replaced with a shorter one of 6.1-kb. The blotting pattern with EcoRI also showed distinct changes between SVNo13 and STC13 clones. These results suggest either the occurrence of some mutations or deletions in the cellular DNA adjacent to the integrated viral genome or the transposition of viral DNA sequences during tumor development.

Animals↗