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J F Harper

Publications and source records attributed to J F Harper.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Organization and structure of Volvox beta-tubulin genes.

Genomic clones encoding two Volvox beta-tubulin genes have been isolated and shown to represent the only two beta-tubulin genes in the genome. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to demonstrate that the two genes are genetically linked. One of these genes was sequenced and the mRNA start site(s) determined by primer extension. A comparison of its sequence to those of the two beta-tubulin genes of Chlamydomonas revealed: (1) a high degree of conservation of the coding region, with the predicted amino acid sequence differing only in the C-terminal residue; (2) extensive sequence conservation in the 5' untranslated leader region and a 16 bp (putative regulatory) sequence in the promoter region; (3) the same number and location of introns, with a short region of homology in intron 1, but little significant homology in introns 2 and 3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Organization and structure of Volvox alpha-tubulin genes.

Southern analysis of Volvox genomic DNA revealed two genes homologous to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii alpha-tubulin cDNA. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis indicated that the two genes are not genetically linked. Clones representing one of the alpha-tubulin genes have been isolated from a genomic library of Volvox carteri f. nagariensis. A 3153 bp BamHI fragment containing the entire alpha-tubulin gene (1802 bp) plus 707 bp of the 5'- and 644 bp of the 3'-untranslated regions has been sequenced, revealing the following features: (1) the derived alpha-tubulin primary structure of 451 amino acids is highly conserved, differing in two residues from the alpha 1- and in two additional residues from the alpha 2-tubulin of C. reinhardtii; (2) in comparison to the C. reinhardtii genes, the Volvox alpha-tubulin gene contains a third intron; positions of the other two introns are precisely conserved; (3) codon usages are biased towards G or C, and against A, in the third position; 19 codons are absent from the alpha-tubulin coding sequence, and 5 of these are not used in any of 7 compiled Volvox genes; (4) transcription begins with an A, 30 bp downstream of the putative TATA box; upstream of the TATA box is a 14 bp sequence similar to consensus sequences found in all 4 C. reinhardtii tubulin genes and believed to regulate promoter function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Intragenic deletions in 21 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)/Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) families studied with the dystrophin cDNA: location of breakpoints on HindIII and BglII exon-containing fragment maps, meiotic and mitotic origin of the mutations.

Following the strategy outlined in an accompanying paper, we studied 32 X-linked muscular dystrophy families (29 Duchenne [DMD] and three Becker [BMD] type) for abnormalities of HindIII and BglII fragments detected by the entire dystrophin cDNA. Twenty-one different single-intragenic deletions, and no duplications, were identified. The deletion endpoints were precisely mapped on the published HindIII fragment map. Detailed analysis of overlapping deletions led to clarification of the fragment order for some previously unsettled regions of the HindIII map and to the construction of a partial map of exon-containing BglII fragments. For the regions involved in deletions, the corresponding HindIII and BglIII fragments could be identified. Noncontiguous comigrating fragments were detected in two regions by careful analysis of the patterns in deletion patients. Four of the 21 deletions generated novel restriction fragments that facilitated detection of female carriers in these families. Twelve of the deletions had a breakpoint in one of the two large introns known to be the sites of breakpoint clusters. By combining deletions and RFLP analyses, we unequivocally identified the gamete that first carried the mutation in 13 families: eight oocytes and five sperm. Germ-line mosaicism previously detected in one male was confirmed by cDNA studies. In two additional families gonadal mosaicism was found in females. As evidence is accumulating for frequent mitotic origin of these deletion mutations, this phenomenon has to be considered when postulating mutational mechanisms and in genetic counseling of DMD/BMD families.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Prenatal diagnosis and detection of carriers with DNA probes in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

We performed genetic analyses for the prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and detection of the carrier state in five families with seven pregnancies at risk for the disease. As genetic markers for the disorder, we used DNA-sequence polymorphisms detected with 12 different DNA probes derived from the vicinity of the Duchenne's muscular dystrophy locus or from within the gene, on the X chromosome. One male fetus of a proved carrier mother was predicted to be unaffected, and this was confirmed after birth. Another male fetus was predicted to be unaffected (probability, 95 percent or greater), although a crossover event had been identified in a region of the X chromosome thought to be distal to the Duchenne gene. Unfortunately, an elevated serum creatine kinase level after birth indicated that the infant had inherited the Duchenne mutation. Three male fetuses predicted to be affected with 66 percent or 95 percent probabilities were aborted, and the presence of the DNA-marker alleles was confirmed in fetal tissues. In one family, in which the maternal grandparents were unavailable, the initial genetic interpretation had to be revised after a second male fetus was analyzed with intragenic probes. Our experience suggests that despite the large number of intragenic and flanking DNA polymorphisms available, uncertainties often remain in the prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. Pitfalls are presented by the large size of the region in which Duchenne's mutations can occur. Crossover events in this region, which result in an exchange of DNA between two X chromosomes, can render DNA-marker studies inaccurate. Also, an autosomal recessive mutation can produce the same clinical picture.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1987

Stage-specific hypermutability of the regA locus of Volvox, a gene regulating the germ-soma dichotomy.

Mutation at the regA locus confers on somatic cells of Volvox (which otherwise undergo programmed death) ability to redifferentiate as reproductive cells. Stable mutations at the regA locus, but not at other loci, were induced at high frequency when embryos at one particular stage were exposed to either UV irradiation, novobiocin, nalidixic acid, bleomycin, 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, or 5-fluorouracil. All treatments led to some mutations that were not expressed until the second generation after treatment. The sensitive period was after somatic and reproductive cells of the next generation had been set apart, but before they had undergone cytodifferentiation. Hypermutability occurs in presumptive reproductive cells (in which regA is normally not expressed) somewhat before regA normally acts in somatic cells. We postulate that hypermutability of regA in the reproductive cells at this time reflects a change of state that the locus undergoes as it is inactivated.

Bleomycin↗
PubMed1987

Use of repetitive sequences to identify DNA polymorphisms linked to regA, a developmentally important locus in Volvox.

The regA locus plays a centrally important role in Volvox development by preventing somatic cells from redifferentiating as germ cells; until now, approaches to cloning regA, as a preliminary to molecular analysis of its function, have been lacking. Here a novel approach is described that uses repetitive-sequence probes to rapidly identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) linked to regA. Genomic DNA was cut with restriction enzymes having 4-base recognition sequences and then electrophoresed long enough to run most fragments off the gel; the remaining long (1- to 20-kb) fragments were resolved into numerous, reproducibly identifiable bands. On Southern blots of such preparations, six repetitive-sequence probes were used to identify 1232 bands, 24% of which were polymorphic between two closely related strains. Ninety-four RFLPs, for which inheritance patterns have been analyzed, fall into 36 "segregation groups," within which no recombination was observed in the limited progeny sample analyzed. Eight RFLPs cosegregated perfectly with alleles at the mating-type (mt) locus. More significantly, four RFLPs exhibited linkage to the regA locus, providing a potential starting place for a chromosome walk designed to clone the locus.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

Congenital adrenal hypoplasia, myopathy, and glycerol kinase deficiency: molecular genetic evidence for deletions.

Glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) is an X-linked recessive trait that occurs in association with congenital adrenal hypoplasia (AH) and developmental delay with or without congenital dystrophic myopathy. Several such patients have recently been reported to have cytological deletions of chromosome region Xp21 and/or of DNA markers that map near the locus for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in band Xp21. We have examined the initial family reported in the literature and, using prometaphase chromosome studies and Southern blot analysis with 13 different DNA probes derived from band Xp21, have found no deletions within this region of the X chromosome. When DNA samples from six other unrelated affected males were analyzed, four of them were found to have different-size deletions within Xp21. Thus, the form of GKD associated with AH and dystrophic myopathy exhibits significant genetic heterogeneity at the DNA level. No deletions were detected in two patients with isolated GK deficiency. Comparison of our molecular studies of unrelated patients with deletions of DNA segments allows us to define the region of Xp21 (between probes J-Bir and L1.4) that most likely contains the genes for GKD and AH. This location is distal to the DMD locus. The patients with progressive muscular dystrophy tended to have larger deletions that include markers known to derive from the DMD locus, while GKD/AH/dystrophic-myopathy patients without current evidence of deletion seemed to have a milder, nonprogressive form of congenital myopathy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1986

Evidence for the inhibitory subunit of adenylate cyclase (Ni) in nervous and heart tissue of Aplysia.

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) plays a critical role in modulating a variety of neuronal responses in Aplysia californica. Previous studies have focused on the neurotransmitter activation of adenylate cyclase, which presumably occurs via the guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-regulated excitatory subunit (Ns). While adenylate cyclase has also been shown to be regulated by inhibitory neurotransmitters, coupled through the inhibitory GTP-regulated coupling protein Ni in some systems, the effects of Ni-mediated adenylate cyclase inhibition on neuronal processing in Aplysia have not previously been reported. In the present study Ni is detected in Aplysia by both protein chemistry and enzymatic activity. A 40 kdalton substrate for the enzymatic activity of Bordetella pertussis toxin is observed. Incubation of Aplysia nervous tissue homogenates with pertussis toxin (IAP) and 32P-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide labels a single protein, assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Furthermore, crude membrane suspensions of this tissue demonstrate biphasic adenylate cyclase activity in response to increasing concentrations of GTP, showing Ni and Ns functional activities. These findings provide evidence that Ni is present in Aplysia tissue. Ni may serve as an important site for the regulation of cAMP synthesis and neuronal plasticity.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1986

Desensitization in rat parotid to beta-adrenergic agonists and counteracting effects of forskolin are conserved in membrane and detergent-solubilized adenylate cyclase catalyst activity.

Cyclic AMP accumulation in rat parotid slices is only transiently stimulated by isoproterenol (Harper, J.F. and Brooker, G. Molec. Pharmacol. 13:1048-1059, 1977); the progressive loss of isoproterenol effect is termed desensitization. In this report we show that desensitized cyclic AMP accumulation is associated with desensitization of adenylate cyclase in subsequently prepared membranes and in adenylate cyclase that has been detergent-solubilized from desensitized membranes. Adenylate cyclase in membranes made from isoproterenol-desensitized tissue is desensitized to both the stimulating effects of isoproterenol with 6 mM MgCl2 and of forskolin with 30 mM MnCl2. We have previously determined (Harper, J.F. J. Cyclic Nucleo. Prot. Phosphoryl. Res. 9:401-414, 1984) that cyclic AMP accumulation desensitized to isoproterenol is rapidly counteracted by 1 microM forskolin but not 0.1 microM forskolin. Similarly, if 1 microM forskolin was included in the desensitizing incubation with isoproterenol then adenylate cyclase subsequently prepared was not desensitized. Development of desensitized adenylate cyclase was only partially affected by 0.1 microM forskolin. Desensitization is counteracted by forskolin only on intact cells. Once tissue is homogenized, desensitized adenylate cyclase does not respond as well to forskolin as does control adenylate cyclase. The site of desensitization appears to be at or near the adenylate cyclase catalytic unit. Desensitization of adenylate cyclase catalytic activity remains demonstrable after membranes are solubilized with CHAPS. The adenylate cyclase activity remaining in the supernatant following solubilization of desensitized membranes is depressed to nearly the same extent as found in the membranes. Further, desensitized adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations and after solubilization is desensitized to stimulatory effects of forskolin with 30 mM MnCl2, a condition under which forskolin is probably acting directly on the adenylate cyclase catalytic unit. Desensitization appears not to be dependent on activity of the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Gi), since pertussis toxin is without effect on desensitization of cyclic AMP accumulation to isoproterenol.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1985

Precise calculation of the cumulative distribution function and its inverse function for Fisher's F and Student's t tests.

A computer program to calculate precise solutions (exact to the limit of computer accuracy) for the cumulative distribution function of the statistical t and F distributions is detailed. A routine that makes iterative calls of this algorithm to calculate precisely the inverse function of these distributions by successive approximation is also provided. The program provided yields precise levels of probability confidence for both Fisher's F and Student's t tests, and the inverse calculation of critical values given p. It is written in a subset of BASIC which should run on any small computer, requiring only 1538 bytes on the Commodore 64.

Biometry↗
PubMed1984

Peritz' F test: basic program of a robust multiple comparison test for statistical analysis of all differences among group means.

Peritz' F test has previously been found to be the most robust statistical multiple comparison test able to hold all comparisons among group means to a given experimentwise error rate. A BASIC program which will perform this test quickly on a desk-top microcomputer, needing fewer than 11 kbytes of RAM memory, is presented. The program is run in the author's laboratory using an inexpensive VIC-20 computer.

Computers↗
PubMed1984

Effect of cAMP and calmodulin inhibitors on water absorption in rat proximal tubule.

The possible role of calmodulin in solute transport was examined in the kidney of the rat. Utilizing a radioimmunoassay, calmodulin was identified and quantitated in homogenates of the cortex of the kidney. The physiologic significance of these findings was examined utilizing in vivo microperfusion techniques applied to the proximal convoluted tubule of the thyroparathyroidectomized rat. The addition of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to the luminal perfusion solution resulted in a lower rate of water absorption of 1.67 +/- 0.09 nl min-1 mm-1 as compared to 2.46 +/- 0.11 in controls. The addition of either of two compounds with affinity for calmodulin, trifluoperazine (TFP) or W-13, reversed the cAMP-induced inhibition of water absorption. In the absence of cAMP, neither agent affected water absorption. Analogs of TFP and W-13 with lower binding affinities for calmodulin had no effect on water absorption and did not reverse the cAMP effect. None of the above experimental maneuvers affected the absorption of phosphate. These results demonstrate the presence of calmodulin in the kidney of the rat and suggest that calmodulin may be involved in cAMP-associated inhibition of water and electrolyte transport in the proximal tubule of the rat.

Absorption↗
PubMed1983

Antigenic structure of calmodulin: production and characterization of antisera specific for plant calmodulins or Ca2+-replete vs. Ca2+-free calmodulins.

Calmodulin was purified from bovine testis and soybean seed, using affinity chromatography on (6-amino-hexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylene sulfonamide (W7)-Sepharose. The simple preparation of this affinity medium is presented. Although bovine and soybean calmodulins share affinity for W7-Sepharose, share biological activity, and have similar amino acid compositions, antisera raised against soybean calmodulin recognize animal calmodulins with 20,000-fold less avidity than they do plant calmodulins. We have also raised antisera which recognize only Ca2+-calmodulin; they are incapable of recognizing the Ca2+-free conformation of calmodulin. Two classes of such antisera were obtained. One class exhibited half-maximal binding of [125I]-calmodulin with 0.5 microM Ca2+ while the other required 2.5 microM ionic Ca2+ for the same degree of antigen binding. These studies together indicate that plant calmodulins possess an epitope not found on animal calmodulins, and that the conformational alterations calmodulin undergoes upon binding Ca2+ can be exploited to raise antisera against those conformations.

Amino Acids↗