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J Davies

Publications and source records attributed to J Davies.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The pseudodisaccharides: a novel class of group I intron splicing inhibitors.

Lysinomicin, a naturally-occurring pseudodisaccharide, inhibits translation in prokaryotes. We report that lysinomicin (and three related compounds) are able to inhibit the self-splicing of group I introns, thus identifying pseudodisaccharides as a novel class of group I intron splicing inhibitors. Lysinomicin inhibited the self-splicing of the sunY intron of phage T4 with a Ki of 8.5 microM (+/- 5 microM) and was active against other group I introns. Inhibition was found to be competitive with the substrate guanosine, unlike aminoglycoside antibiotics, which act non-competitively to inhibit the splicing of group I introns. Competitive inhibitors of group I intron splicing known to date all contain a guanidino group that was thought to be required for inhibition; lysinomicin lacks a guanidino group.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1994

A possible role for glyceraldehyde transport in the stimulation of HIT-T15 insulinoma cells.

D-Glyceraldehyde was transported into HIT-T15 cells at a linear rate for approx. 2 min and appeared to be unsaturable up to a concentration of 50 mM. Evidence was obtained for an electrogenic component of uptake of the triose. The rate of D-glyceraldehyde transport was also reduced in the absence of Na+, suggesting that a component of uptake was Na(+)-linked. Transport of D-glyceraldehyde could be prevented by N-ethylmaleimide but not significantly by p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonic acid, L-glyceraldehyde, nor by a number of inhibitors of known transport systems. However, D-glyceraldehyde transport was inhibited by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate, an inhibitor of some anion transport systems. D-Glyceraldehyde caused a marked depolarization of HIT-T15 cells accompanied by a rise in cytosolic [Ca2+] and [Na+] and a gradual intracellular acidification. The glyceraldehyde-induced rise in cytosolic [Na+] and intracellular acidification, but not the depolarization or rise in cytosolic [Ca2+], were reduced by dithiothreitol and 5-aminoguanidine, compounds which form chemical adducts with alpha-ketoaldehydes. Incubation of HIT cells with either D- or L-glyceraldehyde resulted in the formation of large amounts of D-lactate, the end product of methylglyoxal metabolism via the glyoxalase pathway. It is suggested that the depolarizing action of glyceraldehyde is the result, at least in part, of its electrogenic transport, probably via Na(+)-coupled entry into HIT cells involving an unidentified transport system. The intracellular acidification and a component of the increase in cytosolic [Na+] may be largely due to the presence of one or more dicarbonyl contaminants in the glyceraldehyde preparation.

Coumaric Acids↗
PubMed1994

Biosynthesis of butirosin in Bacillus circulans NRRL B3312: identification by sequence analysis and insertional mutagenesis of the butB gene involved in antibiotic production.

As an approach to an analysis of the biosynthesis of the aminoglycoside antibiotic butirosin (But), we investigated the chromosomal regions flanking the ButR gene (aphA4/butA) of Bacillus circulans NRRL-B3312, and have identified, by nucleotide sequence analysis, a large open reading frame (ORF; ButB) upstream from the ButR gene. Hybridization was detected between butB and chromosomal DNA from other Bacillaceae that produce But-like compounds (but not from non-producers). Interruption of this sequence by insertion of an erythromycin-resistance-encoding gene (erm) at either of two distinct sites eliminated the production (biosynthesis or export) of But, thus indicating a role for butB in antibiotic production. Gene butB is transcribed in the same direction as butA and encodes a protein of 1616 amino acid (aa) residues with a 30-aa N-terminal signal peptide. Comparison of the sequence for the translation product (ButB) with the aa compositions and sequences of known bacterial surface proteins, such as S-layer proteins, suggests that this protein is cell-wall associated. It is proposed that ButB plays a role in the export of But from the producing organism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Pharmacological characterisation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the cat red nucleus in vivo.

Extracellular recordings were made from the magnocellular neurones of the red nucleus (mRN) in anaesthetised cats. A study was made of the effects of selective excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists on excitatory monosynaptic responses evoked from the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and cerebellar interpositus nucleus (IPN). Iontophoretically applied CNQX and NBQX antagonised both SMC and IPN responses whereas, D-AP5 inhibited the SMC response but was ineffective to the IPN. At currents that selectively antagonised NMDA responses, CPPene had no effect on either SMC or IPN responses. 7-chlorokynurenate inhibited both SMC and IPN responses but required currents that antagonised both AMPA and NMDA responses and was therefore acting in a non-selective manner. Iontophoretically applied glycine was inhibitory to both agonist and synaptic responses, whilst D-serine potentiated NMDA responses but did not enhance monosynaptic responses of the SMC. However in the presence of either 7-chlorokynurenate or high currents of CNQX that reduced the SMC synaptic activation of the mRN neurones, D-serine attenuated the inhibitory action of these antagonists. It is concluded that monosynaptic responses from the SMC are mediated by both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors whereas the monosynaptic responses evoked from the IPN are mediated only by non-NMDA receptors. The lack of effect of CPPene is consistent with the postulate that two NMDA receptor subtypes are present on mRN neurones.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Inactivation of antibiotics and the dissemination of resistance genes.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a phenomenon of concern to the clinician and the pharmaceutical industry, as it is the major cause of failure in the treatment of infectious diseases. The most common mechanism of resistance in pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics of the aminoglycoside, beta-lactam (penicillins and cephalosporins), and chloramphenicol types involves the enzymic inactivation of the antibiotic by hydrolysis or by formation of inactive derivatives. Such resistance determinants most probably were acquired by pathogenic bacteria from a pool of resistance genes in other microbial genera, including antibiotic-producing organisms. The resistance gene sequences were subsequently integrated by site-specific recombination into several classes of naturally occurring gene expression cassettes (typically "integrons") and disseminated within the microbial population by a variety of gene transfer mechanisms. Although bacterial conjugation once was believed to be restricted in host range, it now appears that this mechanism of transfer permits genetic exchange between many different bacterial genera in nature.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Peptide antibiotics of the tuberactinomycin family as inhibitors of group I intron RNA splicing.

The tuberactinomycins are a group of cyclic peptide antibiotics, which are potent inhibitors of prokaryotic protein synthesis. We report the inhibitory effect of viomycin, di-beta-lysyl-capreomycin IIA and tuberactinomycin A on group I intron self-splicing. They compete with the guanosine cofactor for the G-binding site located in the conserved core of the intron. They are 100-fold more active than all other competitive inhibitors described so far (dGTP, arginine or streptomycin), inhibiting splicing at concentrations between 10 and 50 microM. Mutation of the G-binding site leads to partial resistance, and the inhibitory effect of these drugs is dependent on Mg2+ concentration. This suggests that the tuberactinomycins have more than one contact site with the intron RNA: via the G-binding site and via additional contacts with the RNA backbone. Positioning the tuberactinomycins in the three-dimensional model of the td intron core suggests that the charged lysyl side-chain (R1) is in contact with the backbone of the P1 helix. Structure/function analyses with various tuberactinomycin analogues with different activities confirm the involvement of this sidechain in inhibition of group I self-splicing. The demonstration of a new class of splicing inhibitors, the peptide antibiotics, illustrates how antibiotics may interact with catalytic RNA.

Bacteriophage T4↗
PubMed1994

'Camelising' human antibody fragments: NMR studies on VH domains.

A human heavy chain variable domain (VH) was expressed in bacteria for structural analysis by NMR spectroscopy. NMR analysis was initially impossible due to the short transverse proton relaxation time of the VH, probably caused by aggregation through the exposed interface naturally in contact with the light chain. The relaxation time was improved to normal values when this interface was mutated to mimic heavy chains of camel antibodies naturally devoid of light chains and through the use of the detergent CHAPS. Assignment of NMR signals will now be possible after isotopic labeling. Implications for the design of VH domains as minimum size immunoreagents are outlined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A scanning tunnelling microscopy comparison of passive antibody adsorption and biotinylated antibody linkage to streptavidin on microtiter wells.

An antiferritin antibody was either, (a) passively adsorbed to microwells or (b) biotinylated and immobilised to streptavidin coated microwells. Scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) imaging of these well surfaces coated with a platinum (95%) carbon (5%) coating (Pt/C) conductive layer showed a randomly oriented array of antibodies for passive adsorption whereas for biotin-streptavidin immobilisation there was a more uniform and even distribution of antibodies on the well surface. On further incubation with ferritin STM imaging showed that for passive adsorption approximately 5% of the surface was functional, while for the biotinylated antibody it was greater than 60%. The images presented in this paper show graphically the loss of functionality that occurs using passive adsorption and, conversely, the preservation of antibody functionality using the biotin-streptavidin linkage for antibody immobilisation. These results correlate well with the work of others in the field.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1994

Control of calbindin-D28K expression in developing mouse kidney.

Calbindin-D28K, a cytoplasmic calcium-binding protein located in restricted regions of mature metanephric kidneys, is expressed in a complex manner by kidneys developing in culture. In developing collecting duct, it is present in all regions and is independent of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. In developing nephrons, its expression is restricted to the most distal end of the growing tubule, commences during differentiation of specialized tubule segments, and depends completely on the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. The Wolffian ducts of mesonephric kidneys also express calbindin independently of 1,25(OH)2D3, as do the Wolffian duct-derived connecting tubules, but mesonephric nephrons show no expression of the molecule. By displaying separate tissue-specific controls for calbindin expression, cultured kidney rudiments offer a very accessible system for investigation of the control mechanisms involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Characterization and immunogenicity of a candidate subunit vaccine against varicella-zoster virus.

This study describes the properties of an inactivated subunit antigen preparation from varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected MRC-5 cells by treatment with detergent and formaldehyde, ultracentrifugation over sucrose and acetone precipitation. The method preserved the antigenicity of VZV proteins and several VZV-specific glycoproteins, while virus DNA was less than 20 pg/250 micrograms protein--a putative vaccine dose. The vaccine was immunogenic in rabbits and stimulated antibodies to the major capsid protein as well as to glycoproteins; an immunoprecipitin was shared with a known immune human serum. The preparation contained no infectious VZV with no evidence of side effects in a rabbit or in five human vaccinees during a follow-up period of 6-10 years.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Prognostic factors in upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

In this study we examined factors of possible prognostic value about outcome in a consecutive series of 2217 patients with hematemesis and melena. Death occurred in 189 (8.5%) patients, and 243 (11%) patients experienced rebleeding. Death was significantly associated with rebleeding, age over 60 years, and the finding of blood in the stomach at endoscopy. Rebleeding was significantly associated with melena, identification of a gastric or duodenal ulcer, endoscopic stigmata of hemorrhage such as blood, clot, and active bleeding, and the finding of shock at admission. However, female gender, previous history of ulceration, or indigestion of ulcerogenic drugs, especially nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, were poor predictors of either death or rebleeding. We conclude that the identification of patients at a high risk could contribute to improved management of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, including early therapeutic intervention.

Aged↗