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Biomedical subjects

H L Moses

Publications and source records attributed to H L Moses.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Effect of cell proliferation on levels and diversity of poly(A)-containing mRNA.

The relationship between cell proliferation and the amount and diversity of polyribosome-associated poly(A)-containing messenger RNA [poly(A)+mRNA]has been investigated using a cloned AKR-mouse embryo cell culture system. The following results were obtained. First, an early response to the stimulation of proliferation of AKR-2B cells in culture is a rapid increase in the rate of accumulation of polyribosomal poly(A)+ mRNA. This results in a large increase in the total poly(A)+ mRNA content of rapidly proliferating cells compared to that found in resting cells. Second, the total amount of unique DNA sequence contributing to the poly(A)+ mRNA populations of both growing and resting cells is not detectably different. This corresponds to 9000-11,000 diverse gene equivalents of DNA and represents the transcription of 0.8-0.9% of the haploid mouse genome. Third, most of the increased poly(A)+ mRNA content of growing cells (greater than 90%) reflects an increased rate of production of polysomal mRNA species which are also found in resting cells. Fourth, growing cells appear to contain some species of poly(A)+ mRNA which are either absent or present in very low concentrations in non-growing cells. Within the limits of detection, however, all species of poly(A)+ mRNA present in non-growing cells are also present in growing cells.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1976

Separation and characterization of transcriptionally active and inactive nuclear subfractions of AKR mouse embryo cells.

This study was initiated with the objective of separating and characterizing two or more nuclear subfractions, which could then be compared with respect to their relative propensity for binding carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Nuclei were isolated from cloned AKR-2B mouse embryo cells, which are susceptible to transformation by chemical carcinogens. The nuclei were mechanically sheared and subfractions were separated by sedimentation through a 0.17 to 1.7 M sucrose gradient. When the cells were treated with [3H]uridine for 30 min, most of the label incorporated into RNA was recovered in the top region of the gradients, which represented Nuclear Subfraction I. The majority of the chromatin DNA, however was localized in the bottom region (Subfraction II) and the pellet (Subfraction III). Precipitation (with CaCl2) of the rapidly labeled RNA of Subfraction I along with the chromatin DNA suggested that the label was present in nascent RNA chains still attached to the chromatin. Thus, the transcripitionally active chromatin seemed to be localized in Nuclear Subfraction I. The chromatin of Subfraction I was also the best template for RNA synthesis in vitro with exogenous bacterial polymerase. The protein and RNA content of subfraction I was greater than that of the other two subfractions and whole chromatin. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of membrane material in Subfraction I and II, with little such material in Subfraction III. Subfraction I differed from Subfractions II and II and whole chromation with respect to thermal denaturation of the DNA and histone composition (as determined by gel electrophoresis). The acidic protein composition (as determined by gel electrophoresis) differed for the chromatin of all three nuclear subfractions.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1976

Binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to transcriptionally active nuclear subfractions of AKR mouse embryo cells.

The objective of this study was to examine the binding of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in well-characterized nuclear subfractions from transformable cells in culture. A cloned line of AKR mouse embryo cells was exposed to culture medium containing [3H]-3-methyl-cholanthrene (MC) (0.4 mug/ml) 670 Ci/mole). Cellular uptake and nuclear binding were determined after 4 hr of exposure. The addition of unlabeled MC up to 10 mug/ml did not cause reduction of [3H]MC cellular uptake or nuclear binding. From 2 to 5% of the total cellular MC was localized in the nuclei. All nuclear subfractions obtained from mechanically sheared nuclei and separated on sucrose gradients showed some MC binding; however, a high-affinity, high-specific-activity binding of MC was associated only with the slower-sedimenting component shown to represent that fraction of nuclear chromatin that is transcriptionally active. Conditions that caused the precipitation of this chromatin also resulted in the precipitation of the radioactive compound, thus suggesting that the MC was physically bound to the chromatin. Unlabeled MC (10 mug/ml) saturated this high-affinity MC binding to the transcripitionally active chromatin but did not saturate the binding to the other nuclear fractions. The binding of another potent carcinogen, [3H]-1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene, and the "weak" carcinogen, [3H]-1,2,3,4-dibenzanthracene (3,4-DBA), to whole nuclei and nuclear subfractions was also determined. The concentration, specific activity, and time of treatment were identical with those used for MC. The level of binding of [3H]-1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene was approximately 3-fold greater in whole nuclei on a per mass DNA basis than in those of either the MC or the 3,4-DBA. The binding of MC and 3,4-DBA to whole nuclei was approximately equal. As with MC, the [3H]-1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene demonstrated a peak of high specific activity binding to the slower-sedimenting fraction of chromatin while the 3,4-DBA displayed considerably less binding to this fraction.

Benz(a)Anthracenes↗
PubMed1973

Comparison and characterization of nuclear isolation procedures as applied to chick oviduct.

A number of methods for the preparation of chick oviduct nuclei have been compared. Nuclei have been isolated in hypertonic sucrose and citric acid and the product has been characterized with respect to cleanliness, ultrastructure, RNA polymerase activity, RNA integrity, and chromatin composition. The study demonstrates that the choice of oviduct nuclear isolation procedure will depend markedly on the purpose for which the nuclei are required. Thus, nuclei prepared entirely in high-molarity sucrose retain the highest levels of RNA polymerase. Those prepared rapidly in the presence of citric acid retain nuclear RNA in an essentially undegraded state. Finally, a bulk preparation is described which, because of its adaptability and high yield of morphologically intact nuclei using large amounts of tissue, is ideal for use in preparing chromatin. Conditions are described by which isolated nuclei can be stored for up to 6 months and retain their morphology, chemical characteristics, and RNA polymerase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1971

The influence of postnatal development on drug-induced hepatic porphyria and the synthesis of cytochrome P-450. A biochemical and morphological study.

The mitochondrial enzyme delta-aminolevulinate synthetase (ALAS) controls the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of porphyrins and heme. An experimental form of hepatic porphyria can be readily elicited in laboratory animals, such as the rat, by drugs and foreign chemicals which are known to enhance the de novo formation of this enzyme in the liver. The present study shows that there is a striking refractoriness to the induction of ALAS during the perinatal period in the rat. Chemicals which have potent porphyria-inducing activity in adult animals have no significant inducing effect on hepatic ALAS in neonates. The ultrastructural changes which accompany the induction of ALAS by drugs and chemicals in adult liver also fail to take place in the livers of neonates. A progressive capacity for responding to the action of chemical inducers of hepatic ALAS does, however, develop in neonatal animals so that by approximately 5-6 wk of age experimental porphyria can be elicited as effectively in them as in adults. The reasons for the refractoriness of hepatic ALAS to induction in the perinatal period are not known; but the findings of this study make it clear that ALAS belongs to that increasingly large group of liver enzymes in mammals whose appearance, increase of activity, or inducibility is developmentally determined. The occurrence of developmental changes in the indicibility of ALAS in the liver of neonates also provided an opportunity to study the relationship of this enzyme activity to the drug-mediated induction of the hepatic hemoprotein cytochrome P-450. This inducible hemoprotein serves as the terminal oxygenase in the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system in the liver. The results of this study indicate that, in contrast to the refractoriness of ALAS to induction, significant drug-induced changes of hepatic P-450 content and of hemeprecursor incorporation into this cytochrome do take place in neonates. The synthesis of P-450 thus appears to be under a regulatory control different from that of ALAS in neonates, and the relation between ALAS activity and P-450 formation is not therefore a direct one.

Acyltransferases↗