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Biomedical subjects

H Kaji

Publications and source records attributed to H Kaji.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Clinical application of breath analysis for dimethyl sulfide following ingestion of DL-methionine.

After overnight-fasting, the concentration of dimethyl sulfide in expired alveolar gas (alv-DMS) was determined serially following ingestion of 2 g of DL-methionine in normal subjects and patients with liver diseases. Alv-DMS rose to a peak in 30 to 90 min, declined markedly within 3 h, and then decreased gradually. Half-disappearance times (T 1/2) (mean +/- S.E. min) in each experimental group were: normal (N = 9) 61.7 +/- 4.7, acute hepatitis (N = 6) 62.5 +/- 6.8, chronic hepatitis (N = 10) 84.0 +/- 13.0, and liver cirrhosis (N = 13) 159.2 +/- 30.4, respectively. Cirrhotics had a T 1/2 significantly longer than that of the other three groups: vs. normal P less than 0.02, vs. acute hepatitis P less than 0.05, and vs. chronic hepatitis P less than 0.05. T 1/2 of alv-DMS following ingestion of DL-methionine seems to be of clinical interest.

Breath Tests↗
PubMed1978

Evaluation of volatile sulfur compounds in the expired alveolar gas in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Trace amounts of volatile sulfur compounds were determined in the expired alveolar gas by gas chromatography. Among these sulfur containing substances, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide were quantitatively analyzed in 116 subjects; 53 normal, 13 acute hepatitis, 11 chronic hepatitis, 20 hepatic cirrhosis, and 19 stomach ulcer and/or biopsy of gastric mucosa. Fasting level of dimethyl sulfide in cirrhotics was 4.05 +/- 1.06 ng/dl, significantly elevated by comparison with normal controls (1.54 +/- 0.09 ng/dl) (P less than 0.05). In contrast, methyl mercaptan did not show a statistically significant rise in this study. The implications of the significant increase in dimethyl sulfide concentration in liver cirrhosis are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Effect of temperature on arginine incorporation by ribosomeless extracts of cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus.

The effect of transformation of normal rat kidney cells by a temperature-sensitive mutant of the Prague strain of Rous sarcoma virus (ts LA 24 PR-A) on the post-translational addition of arginine to the NH2-terminus of preformed acceptor molecules has been studied. Cells maintained at the permissive (35 degrees C) temperature show a high arginine-incorporating activity in ribosome free extracts compared to that found in extracts of cells grown at the non-permissive (40 degrees C) temperature. Temperature shift experiments as well as studies with cells transformed by wild type Rous sarcoma virus suggest that the decreased activity in cells grown at 40 degrees C is not due to a high temperature per se. The lower arginine incorporation in the 40 degrees C cell extracts is partially due to a decrease in the activity of arginyl transferase which catalyses the transfer of arginine from arginyl tRNA to the acceptor protein. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the radioactive product shows that the acceptor molecules present in extracts of cells grown at 40 degrees C are larger and qualitatively different from those found in extracts of cells grown at 35 degrees C.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1976

Amino-terminal arginylation of chromosomal proteins by arginyl-tRNA.

Arginine was transferred from arginyl-tRNA to the amino-terminal end of chromatin proteins by L-arginyl-transferase. The reaction was dependent on the presence of potassium ion and beta-mercaptoethanol and was sensitive to RNase and trypsin. Treatment with DNase partially inhibited the transfer of arginine from arginyl-tRNA suggesting that intact chromatin structure is necessary for modification of chromatin. The radioactivity incorporated into chromatin was sensitive to trypsin but not to DNase or RNase. Most of the incorporated radioactivity was recovered in the phenol fraction, supporting the notion that modification of chromatin takes place in proteins but not in nucleic acids of chromatin. Modification of the proteins by transfer of arginine from arginyl-tRNA takes place mainly in the nonhistone fraction of chromatin. Major portions of chromosomal proteins modified in this manner appear to be released from chromatin. Incubation of incorporated radioactive product with [12C]arginyl-tRNA did not alter the product, showing that incorporated arginine is stable and does not exchange with added arginine or arginyl-tRNA. These observations suggest that aminoacyl-transferase may function in the modification of chromosomal proteins and that modification of chromatin may alter the regulatory mechanisms of cellular functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Studies on J-chain biosynthesis in tumours producing immunoglobulins in NZB mice.

Investigation of biosynthesis of J chain in plasmacytomas induced in NZB mice revealed that this protein was not only synthesized in the cells that produce polymer immunoglobulin A but also in those that produce immunoglobulin G monomer. It was also found that protein similar to J chain of BALB/c-mice was associated with polymer immunoglobulin A but not with immunoglobulin G of NZB mouse myeloma proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Control of J chain biosynthesis in relation to heavy and light chain synthesis, polymerization and secretion.

Mouse myeloma tumors and some variants derived from them were labeled in vitro with tritiated leucine and the radioactive J chain was assayed in cell lysates by precipitation with an antiserum specific for mouse J chain. The major findings were: 1) J chain can be found in an IgG2b-secreting cells (MPC-11). These data, together with previous findings suggest that cells secreting all classes of IgG synthesize J chain, even though there is no apparent requirement for J chain in assembly of the IgG molecule. Hence production of J chain does not depend upon secretion of a polymeric immunoglobulin. 2) Intracellular J chain can be found in myeloma variants that do not produce heavy chains showing that production of J chain may not coordinately be linked to the synthesis of heavy chain. 3) J chain was found in cells synthesizing, but not secreting, immunoglobulin. Thus production of J chain is not linked to secretion of immunoglobulin. 4) J chain could not be detected in plasma cells that do not produce immunoglobulins. It was also not found in mouse leukemic cells, suggesting that production of J chain is probably linked in some way to immunoglobulin production.

Animals↗