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Biomedical subjects

J C Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to J C Bennett.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Primary structure of human J chain: alignment of peptides from chemical and enzymatic hydrolyses.

The primary structure of the J chain from a human Waldenströms IgM protein has been determined using a combination of automated and conventional Edman degradative procedures. Eighty-five percent of the sequence was established with peptides isolated from tryptic digests of carboxyamidomethylated and citraconylated J chain, many of which were sequenced completely. Alignment of the tryptic fragments was achieved with peptides generated by chymotrypsin and limited acid hydrolyses. The j chain consits of 129 amino acids and a single oligosaccharide structure linked to asparagine at positon 43 of the sequence. The molecular weight, including 7.5% carbohydrate by weight, is 16 422. The location and arrangement of three half-cystines could be deduced from previous studies, whereas the pairing of the remaining five disulfide bonds still needs to be clarified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Whooping-cough admissions to a paediatric hospital over ten years. The protective value of immunisation.

188 children with pertussis were admitted to Derbyshire Children's Hospital over a period of ten years. Fewer immunised children were admitted than would be expected if immunisation were ineffective. Immunisation seemed to decrease the risk of complications and the time spent in hospital. It is suggested that pertussis immunisation is valuable and should perhaps be introduced at an earlier age than is now recommended.

Age Factors↗

Structural analysis of the peptides derived from specific acid-catalyzed hydrolysis at aspartylprolyl peptide bonds in human J chain.

Human J chain from IgM has been selectively cleaved at three aspartylprolyl peptide bonds to yield four fragments containing 62, 20, 25, and 22 amino acids, respectively. The amino acid sequence of each peptide has been partially determined, (59 of a total of 129 residues) and its position in the J chain ascertained. There were no obvious similarities to known sequences in other immunoglobulin polypeptide chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantitative isolation of mouse thymus leukemia antigen, TL.

This report describes the purification of TL from papain digests of a tumor line (ASL1) and of an established cell line (L251A). Through the use of gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography, the TL was purified approximately 100-fold with respect to the original digest. It was noted that the TL isolated from ASL1 had a specific activity 1.4 times higher than that isolated from L251A. The reason for this anomaly is unexplained. However, this work indicates that classical methods of protein chemistry can be used in the purification of these membrane components which are present in only small amounts on the cell surface.

Animals↗

A comparative analysis of the C1-binding ability of fragments derived from complement-fixing and noncomplement-fixing IgM proteins.

The purpose of this study was to examine the molecular parameters necessary for initiation of complement fixation by IgM proteins. To determine why some IgM molecules are capable of complement fixation while others are not, several different Waldenström IgM proteins were examined for their ability to fix total hemolytic complement in the CH(50) assay. Subsequently, the C1 fixing ability of a 56-residue fragment derived from the Cmu4 domain of each of these IgM molecules was studied with C1 fixation assay. One of the three Waldenström IgM proteins (Gr) used in the present study was found unable to consume complement in a CH(50) assay when tested at the same concentration as the two complement-consuming IgM molecules (Dau and Bus). However, when the 56-residue C(H)4 fragment from the Cmu4 domain of each IgM molecule was tested for C1-fixing ability, all three were found to bind C1. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that a C1 binding site exists within the Cmu4 domain of both complement-fixing and noncomplement-fixing IgM molecules. Presumably, the latter molecules are unable to interact in their native state with C1 in the manner required for initiation of the classical complement pathway, possibly due to the configurational inaccessibility of the entire C1 binding site.

Complement C1↗

Purification of murine thymus leukemia antigen (TL). A quantitative assessment of limited proteolysis.

The murine thymus leukemia antigen (TL) has been solubilized from the tumor ASL1 and from an established cell line ASL1W, by papain digestion. When a 15-min digest was chromatographed on Sephadex G-200, two peaks of TL activity were eluted with apparent molecular weights of approximately 58,000 and 31,000. Chromatography of a 30-min digest under the same conditions resulted in elution of a single peak of activity with an apparent molecular weight of 58,000. Additional purification was carried out on the 58,000 molecular weight material by absorption to, and elution from DEAE-cellulose. The combination of gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography resulted in approximately a 150-fold purification.

Animals↗

C1 fixation and classical complement pathway activation by a fragment of the Cmu4 domain of IgM.

A 56 residue fragment derived from a Waldenströme IgM protein and consisting of 24 residues of the amino-terminal portion of the Cmu4 domain disulfide bonded to 32 residues of the carboxy-terminal region of the loop has been shown to fix active C1 (C1) in a C1-fixation assay. Cleavage of the disulfide bond within the CH4 fragment resulted in a marked decrease of C1-fixing ability, although the isolated A and B fragments did retain a limited ability to fix C1. Upon incubation with normal human serum the intact CH4 fragment and equal molar amounts of the isolated A and B peptides consumed C4 suggesting that the C1-activating determinant of IgM remains intact in these three fragments. Furthermore, on a molar basis the intact or the reduced CH4 fragment consumed C4 as effectively as each of its component chains suggesting that transient binding of C1 by the individual A and B peptide chains is sufficient to activate C1. On the basis of these observations it is proposed that a classical complement fixation function, i.e. C1 binding and activation, can be localized within a region of the IgM molecule corresponding to the Cmu4 domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The protein nature of the Thy-1.2 alloantigen as expressed by the murin lymphoblastoid line S-49.1 TB-2-3.

This preliminary study was undertaken to investigate the chemical nature of the Thy-1.2 antigen expressed on the murine cell line S-49.1 TB-2-3 (S-49). The presence of the Thy-1.2 antigen was indicated by the inhibition of AKR anti-C3-Thy-1.2 serum induced lysis of 51Cr-primed target cells. It was found that limited digestion of S-49 cells with crude papain yielded a Thy-1.2-containing solution. The protein nature of the Thy-1.2 antigen obtained in this manner was indicated by changes after proteolytic digestion. Separate digestions with crystalline papain, insolubilized papain, and insolubilized protease all destroyed the Thy-1.2 activity. These results suggest that the protein moiety is necessary for Thy-1.2 activity.

Absorption↗

Subfragments of the papain solubilized TL antigen.

TL antigen was solubilized from the tumor ASLI (TL. 1,2,3) by papain digestion. The subfragments of 125I-labeled TL were examined by two methods. The first involved immune precipitation followed by electrophoresis on SDS-acrylamide gels. This treatment yielded three bands of molecular weight 39,000 and 19,000, as well as material which migrated with the tracking dye. In the second procedure the papain digested material was partially purified on Sephadex G-200. The active fraction from G-200 was labeled with 125Iodine, mixed with alloantiserum and rechromatographed on G-200. The isolated immune complexes were boiled in SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol, then separated on a SDS-Sephadex G-150 column. Two radioactive peaks were eluted indicating an absence of the 19,000 m.w. component following the latter method of purification.

Animals↗

The structural basis for binding of complement by immunoglobulin M.

An insight into the structural features of human IgM that are responsible for its capacity to bind the first component of complement (C) has been obtained by examining the ability of IgM subfragments to bind active C1 (C1). The smallest two fragments found to bind C1 were the major CNBr fragment of the Fc portion of IgM and the C(H)4 fragment of the carboxy-terminal domain. The smallest fragment which fixes C1 has a disaggregated mol wt of 6,800, consists of 60 residues, and contains no carbohydrate. Structural considerations and sequence overlaps suggest that the amino-terminal side of the C(H)4 domain (24 amino acid residues) might be responsible for fixing C1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗