Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Novotný

Publications and source records attributed to J Novotný.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Analysis of structural similarities between brain Thy-1 antigen and immunoglobulin domains. Evidence for an evolutionary relationship and a hypothesis for its functional significance.

The Thy-1 membrane glycoprotein from rat brain is shown to have structural and sequence homologies with immunoglobulin (Ig) domains on the basis of the following evidence. 1. The two disulphide bonds of Thy-1 are both consistent with the Ig-fold. 2. The molecule contains extensive beta-structure as shown by the c.d. spectrum. 3. Secondary structure prediction locates beta-strands along the sequence in a manner consistent with the Ig-fold. 4. On the basis of rules derived from known beta-sheet structures, a three-dimensional structure with the Ig-fold is predicted as favourable for Thy-1. 5. Sequences in the proposed beta-strands of Thy-1 and known beta-strands of Ig domains show significant sequence homology. This homology is statistically more significant than for the comparison of proposed beta-strand sequences of beta 2-microglobulin with Ig domains. An hypothesis is presented for the possible functional significance of an evolutionary relationship between Thy-1 and Ig. It is suggested that both Thy-1 and Ig evolved from primitive molecules, with an Ig fold, which mediated cell--cell interactions. The present-day role of Thy-1 may be similar to that of the primitive domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of endotoxin on granulation tissue formation in rats.

Open wounds were incised in the dorsal skin of female Wistar rats. Solutions of Salmonella typhosa endotoxin (0.25 micrograms to 25 micrograms/ml saline) were applied 3 times a day on granulation tissue formed in the wounds. 5 days of treatment with the lowest endotoxin concentration resulted in 25% increase of the weight of the tissue, a more than 30% increase of DNA content and a 25% increase of hydroxyproline content in the tissue. Further elevation of these values could be obtained by increasing endotoxin concentration by tenfold or hundredfold but these changes were not very pronounced.

Animals↗

Studies on lectins. XLVII. Some properties of D-galactose binding lectins isolated from the seeds of Butea frondosa, Erythrina indica and Momordica charantia.

The lectins from the seeds of Butea frondosa, Erythrina indica and Momordica charantia were isolated by affinity chromatography on O-alpha-D-galactosyl polyacrylamide gels. The Butea frondosa lectin has sedimentation coefficient S20,W = 6.7 S, its molecular weight is 141 000 and it consists of noncovalently associated subunits of molecular weights 36 000 and 65 000. The lectin contains two 1/2-cystine and 3--4 methionine residues per molecule, 4.3% neutral sugar and 0.5% glucosamine. Threonine is the single N-terminal amino acid residue. The lectin from Erythrina indica seeds has a sedimentation coefficient S20,W = 4.0 S, its molecular weight is 66 200 and it consists of two kinds of subunit (molecular weights 30 000 and 34 000, respectively), which are noncovalently associated. The lectin is devoid of cystein, has a neutral sugar content 5.6% and glucosamine content 0.46%. It contains probably one Mn atom per subunit. The N-terminal amino acid sequence is Val-Glu-Val-Leu-(Phe)-Phe-(Ala)-Phe-. The lectin from Momordica charantia seeds has a sedimentation coefficient S20,W = 6.5 S, its molecular weight is 129 000. It interacts weakly with Sephadex G-200. The lectin consists of subunits of molecular weights 29 000, 32 000 and 36 000, respectively, held together by cystine bridges. Its content of cystine and methionine residues is relatively high, 4.1% neutral sugar and 0.5% glucosamine form the carbohydrate moiety. Two N-terminal amino acids (asparagine and valine) are present.

Amino Acids↗

[Relations between the fungi Gaeumannomyces graminis and Phialophora radicicola when growing together outside the host (author's transl)].

In laboratory model experiments, numerous hyphal adhesions were found to take place between a severe wheat pathogen, G. graminis var. tritici, and a weak wheat pathogen, P. radicicola var, radicicola, and therefore the linear growth of the both fungi is inhibited. When both fungi occur concurrently side by side on celophane, the hyphae of one fungus do not occupy the place colonized before by the other fungus, due to mutual contact. It can be presumed that also direct interaction between hyphae of both fungi participates in cross protection mechanism of the take-all fungus G. graminis with P. radicicola.

Antibiosis↗

Antibodies of restricted heterogeneity directed against the cardiac glycoside digoxin.

Intravenous injection of New Zealand White rabbits with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine conjugated with the cardiac glycoside digoxin resulted in the production of both antidigoxin and anti-type III pneumococcal polysacharide antibodies. Among antisera of 12 rabbits examined during their peak antibody production periods, 1 to 20 mg (mean, 5.4 mg) of antidigoxin antibody could be recovered from 1 ml of serum. Antisera from five of these 12 rabbits contained antidigoxin antibodies of restricted heterogeneity as demonstrated by urea-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of fully reduced and alkylated antibodies. From the antisera of four of these five rabbits, electrophoretically homogeneous antibodies (1 to 5 mg/ml antiserum) could be isolated by affinity chromatography on ouabain-amine-Sepharose columns. The structural homogeneity of two of these antidigoxin antibodies was confirmed by amino acid sequence analysis of purified light chains through the first hypervariable region. These data suggest that the conjugation of small molecules to bacterial polysaccharide vaccines may provide a general method for synthesis of immunogens that can regularly elicit antihapten antibodies of restricted heterogeneity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗