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Biomedical subjects

K Gomi

Publications and source records attributed to K Gomi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A novel culture method for high level production of heterologous protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A high level production system for heterologous protein by cold culture of yeast transformants at 15 degrees C was developed. The yeast transformants, carrying a plasmid containing cDNA for Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylase (Taka-amylase A) or human lysozyme synthetic DNA, were cultivated in a selective medium for 1 or 2 days until full growth at 30 degrees C. The yeast cells were harvested by centrifugation from the culture fluid and then were transferred to YPD medium. These inoculated broths were incubated for 2 days at 15 degrees C and then for another 2 days at 30 degrees C. By the cold culture method described above, higher amounts of Taka-amylase A (28.6 mg/liter) and human lysozyme (6.1 mg/liter) were produced by the yeast transformants compared to those by conventional methods. Heterologous protein productions using YEp, YCp, and YIp types of yeast expression vectors with ADH1 or GAPDH promoter by the cold culture method showed effective productivity of about 2-fold compared to those by the conventional method of culture at 30 degrees C. The high level production of heterologous protein by this method was not specific to the S. cerevisiae strains examined.

Aspergillus oryzae↗
PubMed1994

Electrophoretic karyotype and gene assignment to chromosomes of Aspergillus oryzae.

An electrophoretic karyotype of Aspergillus oryzae was obtained by transverse altering-field electrophoresis. Seven chromosomal bands were found. With Schizosaccharomyces pombe chromosomes as size standards, we estimated the sizes of the chromosomes to be 7.0, 5.2, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.7, and 2.8 megabase pairs (Mbp). The chromosomal DNA bands were identified with use of 13 cloned genes including ribosomal DNA. The intensity of ethidium staining and the results of Southern blotting with 100 random clones isolated from A. oryzae suggested that the smallest band migrated as doublet and that the total genome size was approximately 35 Mbp.

Aspergillus oryzae↗
PubMed1994

High level secretion of calf chymosin using a glucoamylase-prochymosin fusion gene in Aspergillus oryzae.

A recombinant chymosin was secreted at high levels using fusion genes with A. oryzae glucoamylase gene (glaA) and a wheat bran solid-state culture system. Two portions of the A. oryzae glucoamylase, one with almost the entire glucoamylase (GA1-603) lacking 9 amino acids at the carboxyl terminal, and the other (GA1-511) lacking the starch binding-domain, were fused in frame with prochymosin cDNA. Western blot analysis indicated that the mature chymosin was released from the secreted fusion protein by autocatalytic processing. The transformant harboring the GA1-511-prochymosin construct showed about 5-fold chymosin production of the transformant in which the chymosin gene was directly expressed under the control of the glaA promoter in submerged culture. Moreover, wheat bran solid-state culture gave about 500-fold higher yield of the chymosin (approximately 150 mg/kg wheat bran) compared with the submerged culture.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Mitomycin derivatives having unique condensed-ring structures. Their synthesis and antitumor activity.

A series of mitomycin derivatives 1-3 having unique condensed-ring structures was synthesized and evaluated for their anticellular and antitumor activity. These compounds were synthesized by the Michael addition of 1.3-dicarbonyl compounds to 6-demethyl-7,7-(ethylenedioxy)-6,7-dihydro-6-methylenemitosanes (4-6, and 14) and the subsequent cyclization. For the preparation of 1. the allyloxycarbonyl (Aloc) group was employable for the protection of the aziridine (1a-N-H), since the deprotection proceeded without decomposition of the substrates under the mild conditions with Pd(0) and HCO2H-NEt3. Among these structurally unique derivatives, compounds 1a, 1b, 1d and 1e were quite potent against HeLa S3 human tumor cells and sarcoma 180 solid tumor in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effects of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhs-TM) on a rat model of disseminated intravascular coagulation with decreased levels of plasma antithrombin III.

We reported that recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhs-TM) is effective for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in vivo, in mice and rats. In the present work, we investigated the effects of decreased plasma antithrombin III (ATIII) levels on anticoagulant effects of rhs-TM, as compared to findings with heparin, of which effect is lowered by the decreased plasma ATIII levels in patients with DIC. Rat plasma ATIII levels decreased when we mixed plasma with anti-rat ATIII antibody and the potential of heparin to prolong APTT or PT was markedly diminished. The potential of rhs-TM to prolong APTT and PT was not affected. In rats injected with anti-rat ATIII antibody, plasma ATIII levels decreased immediately. When the rats were infused with tissue factor (TF), DIC was induced. At doses of rhs-TM and heparin which were equally effective at inhibiting the decrease in platelet count and fibrinogen level in control rats treated with TF, only rhs-TM remained effective in preventing DIC in rats with reduced ATIII levels. Heparin was not effective when administered to these rats with reduced ATIII levels. Therefore, rhs-TM effectively inhibits coagulation independent of ATIII levels, in contrast to heparin, which depends on the ATIII level.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin delivers bounded thrombin to antithrombin III: thrombomodulin associates with free thrombin and is recycled to activate protein c.

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhs-TM), having no transmembrane domain or chondroitin sulfate, was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Interactions between rhs-TM, thrombin (Th), protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (ATIII) were studied. Equilibrium between rhs-TM and Th had no detectable time lag in clotting inhibition (Kd = 2.6 nM) or PC activation (Kd = 22 nM), while ATIII inhibited Th at a bimolecular rate constant = 5,200 M-1s-1 (Kd < 0.2 nM). A mixture of ATIII, Th and rhs-TM showed that ATIII reacted with Th slower than rhs-TM, whose presence did not affect the reaction between ATIII and Th. In a mixture of rhs-TM, ATIII and PC, the repeated addition of Th caused the repeated activation of PC; which was consistent with the simulation based on the assumption that rhs-TM is recycled as a Th cofactor. From these results, we concluded that upon inhibition of the rhs-TM-Th complex by ATIII, rhs-TM is released to recombine with free Th and begins to activate PC, while the Th-ATIII complex does not affect rhs-TM-Th equilibrium.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evidence that the protein C activation pathway amplifies the inhibition of thrombin generation by recombinant human thrombomodulin in plasma.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a cofactor for the thrombin-catalyzed activation of anticoagulant protein C. However, we have no evidence that thrombomodulin actually activates protein C during blood coagulation processing, nor do we know whether this activated protein C acts as an anticoagulant. We studied the inhibitory action of recombinant human soluble TM (rhs-TM) on thrombin generation in whole plasma. Human plasma was activated with small amounts of tissue factor using phospholipid vesicles in place of activated platelets. Thrombin generation was observed. The addition of only 2 nM of rhs-TM prevented rapid generation of thrombin and reduced the total amount of thrombin generated. In order to study the influence of the protein C activation pathway on this inhibitory action of rhs-TM, protein C-depleted plasma was used. rhs-TM had little inhibitory effect on protein C-depleted plasma. However, the addition of protein C caused a delay in thrombin generation and a reduction of the maximum thrombin concentration. We concluded that the anticoagulant activity of rhs-TM was amplified by the protein C activation pathway.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1993

Antithrombotic effect of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin on endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein which neutralizes thrombin procoagulant activity and accelerates the thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C. We expressed recombinant human soluble TM (rhs-TM) in Chinese hamster ovary cells and compared the effects of rhs-TM and heparin on endotoxin-induced experimental disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in rats. Experimental DIC was induced by a continuous intravenous infusion of endotoxin for four hours. rhs-TM or heparin was infused simultaneously with endotoxin. Treatment with rhs-TM significantly reversed the endotoxin-induced changes in significantly reversed the endotoxin-induced changes in following parameters: platelet count, fibrinogen level and fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products. Furthermore, glomerular fibrin deposits elevated by endotoxin treatment were reduced by the rhs-TM administration. Heparin showed the similar effects to rhs-TM. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in rats receiving rhs-TM were slightly longer than APTT in endotoxin-treated rats, but rats receiving heparin had much more prolonged APTT. From these results, we concluded that rhs-TM may be useful for the clinical treatment of DIC while having only minor adverse effects on APTT.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Guided bone tissue elaboration by osteogenic cells in vitro.

Primary rat bone marrow cells were cultured for 2 weeks in polystyrene dishes whose surfaces had been roughened using 600- or 320-grit silicon carbide paper. Eight samples were prepared of each of the three groups of dishes, to include a nontreated control surface. Following the culture period, the dishes were stained by von Kossa's method. The distribution of bone formed during the culture period was examined by light microscopy and the area of bone formed quantified. Results demonstrated that both the amount and spatial distribution of bone were influenced by the roughness of the underlying substratum. Differences between the smooth and roughened surfaces were statistically different at P < .05.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Secretion of calf chymosin from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae.

Active calf chymosin was secreted from Aspergillus oryzae transformants when the chymosin cDNA was expressed under the control of glucoamylase gene (glaA) promoter. Secreted prochymosin was autocatalytically activated to the chymosin (0.07-0.16 mg/l). Western blot analysis showed that a secreted protein immunoreactive with an anti-chymosin antibody was of similar size to authentic chymosin. Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA of the chymosin cDNA was expressed at as high level as that of the glaA gene. The size and the level of the transcript were different among transformants, due to the integration position of the plasmid on the chromosome.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Disposition and metabolism of KW-2149, a novel anticancer agent.

KW-2149 is a new derivative of mitomycin C (MMC). The plasma concentrations, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of [3H]-KW-2149 in normal and tumor-bearing mice after i.v. administration of 16.6 mg/kg were investigated. The plasma radioactivity decreased biexponentially after i.v. administration in normal mice. However, the unchanged drug disappeared rapidly, showing a half-life (t1/2) of 9.7 min, which was shorter than MMC's (18 min). The radioactivity was excreted in mouse urine (33%) and feces (58%) within 144 h. High radioactivity was distributed in the gallbladder, liver, kidney, pancreas, and lung at 1 h after i.v. administration to normal mice. The tumor concentration was lower than the plasma or blood concentration. The lowest radioactivity was observed in the brain. The metabolic rate of KW-2149 was very rapid. The methyl sulfide form (M-16), the symmetrical disulfide dimer (M-18), and the albumin conjugate were detected in plasma, which possessed anticellular activity. The specific anticellular activity of these compounds against uterine carcinoma (HeLa S3) was 1/100, 1, and 1/20 respectively, as compared with that of KW-2149.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Enhancement of antitumor activity of mitomycin C in vitro and in vivo by UCN-01, a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C.

UCN-01 (7-hydroxy-staurosporine) is a potent and selective inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), one of several protein kinases examined. UCN-01 itself was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo in oncogene-activated human and murine tumor cell lines. Since the mechanism(s) of action of UCN-01 is thought to be different from those of alkylating agents, including mitomycin C (MMC), we tested the combined effect of UCN-01 with MMC on human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. UCN-01 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of MMC and yet it did not affect the growth of the cells in vitro. However, other nonselective protein kinase inhibitors, such as staurosporine, K-252a, KT6124 (a derivative of K-252a) and H7, did not enhance the activity of MMC. Isobologram analysis revealed that the interaction of UCN-01 with MMC was synergistic in its antiproliferative activity. A DNA histogram of A431 cells treated with both UCN-01 and MMC showed a block in the cell cycle at the G1/S phase. However, a histogram of cells treated with UCN-01 or MMC alone showed a G1 or a G2M block, respectively. The combined effect of UCN-01 with MMC was further examined in vivo in xenografted A431 cells in nude mice. The combination of both drugs in a single i.v. injection exhibited greater antitumor activity than MMC and UCN-01 alone (P < 0.01). This synergistic antitumor effect was also confirmed in two other solid tumor cell lines, i.e. human xenografted colon carcinoma Co-3 and murine sarcoma 180. The same was observed in the i.v.-inoculated P388 leukemia model, in which we saw an increased lifespan of mice when UCN-01 was combined with MMC. These results suggests the feasibility of using UCN-01 in clinical oncology, especially in combination with alkylating agents such as MMC. In addition, this combination therapy might be a novel chemotherapeutic approach to MMC-insensitive tumors in clinical trials.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of uptake of mitomycin C and KW-2149 by murine P388 leukemia cells sensitive or resistant to mitomycin C.

KW-2149, a new mitomycin C (MMC) derivative, inhibited the growth of murine P388 leukemia in vitro at 20-fold lower concentrations than those of MMC. KW-2149 was also effective in inhibiting the growth of MMC-resistant P388 (P388/MMC) cells. To elucidate these characteristics of KW-2149, its uptake and efflux were compared with those of MMC in MMC-sensitive and -resistant P388 cells. Both MMC and KW-2149 accumulated rapidly in P388 cells after incubation at the concentration of 0.47 and 0.024 microM, respectively, which were the IC50 values at 1-h exposure. Although this concentration of KW-2149 was 20 times lower than that of MMC, its intracellular concentration was little more than that of MMC, suggesting that KW-2149 accumulated in the cells quite efficiently. The accumulated KW-2149 in the cells after 1-h treatment remained for as long as 24 h after the incubation of the cells in drug-free medium, suggesting that most of the intracellular KW-2149 or MMC was bound to cellular components. The ratios of resistance of P388/MMC cells to MMC and KW-2149 were 34 and 8.8, respectively, at 1-h exposure, suggesting that P388/MMC cells were partially resistant to KW-2149 in vitro. P388/MMC cells also showed partial resistance to cisplatin, Adriamycin, m-AMSA, and etoposide. The accumulation of MMC in P388/MMC cells was lower than that in P388 cells, although the size of the former cells was almost equal to that of the latter. As a result, the amount of DNA-bound MMC was lower in P388/MMC cells than in P388 cells, suggesting its involvement in the mechanisms of MMC resistance in P388/MMC cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1993

Resorption of sintered synthetic hydroxyapatite by osteoclasts in vitro.

Primary rat bone marrow cells were cultured for periods of 8 d on hydroxyapatite discs produced by sintering compressed powder at 1130 degrees C. The disc surfaces were roughened using silicon carbide paper to create three groups of samples (n = 10) of differing surface topography. The culture conditions permitted both the differentiation and fusion of cells of the osteoclast lineage. Following culture, the cells were stained in situ for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, and the samples were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Evidence of cellular resorption of the hydroxyapatite discs was seen on all samples. Small tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive cells created resorption pits of 15-25 microns diameter in the ceramic surface, which were morphologically similar to those found in natural bone tissue, while multinucleate cells caused erosion of the ceramic surface without pit formation. Statistical analyses showed that the total numbers of cells, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive cells, and multinucleated cells were all higher on the roughened surfaces, although the resorption pits were more easily visualized on the smooth surfaces. The results clearly demonstrate that not only are osteoclasts capable of resorbing sintered hydroxyapatite but that the rugosity of the hydroxyapatite influences the fusion of osteoclast mononuclear precursors.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Reduced bone marrow toxicity of KW-2149, a mitomycin C derivative, in mice.

The bone marrow toxicity of KW-2149, a newly synthesized mitomycin C (MMC) derivative, was compared with MMC in different aged ddY mice. Both MMC and KW-2149 exhibited a similar type of leukopenia in young adult mice. However, in mature adult mice, the recovery from leukopenia was rapid in KW-2149-treated mice, whereas in the MMC-treated mice, it was delayed. The difference between KW-2149 and MMC was more significant in thrombocytopenia in mature mice, and that induced by KW-2149 was mild, whereas that by MMC was severe and delayed. This reduced bone marrow toxicity of KW-2149 in mature mice was confirmed by the assay of colony-forming units in culture, progenitors of granulocytes or macrophages, and megakaryocytic colony-forming units, progenitors of platelets, in the bone marrow cells. The bone marrow toxicity and lethal toxicity of MMC was augmented by weekly intermittent treatment; in contrast, that of KW-2149 was not, suggesting that bone marrow toxicity may have a critical role in the lethal toxicity of MMC. The non-cumulative bone marrow toxicity of KW-2149 enabled the weekly intermittent treatment of human lung adenocarcinoma L-27 inoculated into nude mice. Thus its antitumor activity was greater than with single treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Combination effect of navelbine (vinorelbine ditartrate) with cisplatin against murine P388 leukemia and human lung carcinoma xenografts in mice.

The in vivo combination effect of navelbine (NVB, KW-2307) plus cisplatin was compared with that of vindesine (VDS) plus cisplatin in terms of antitumor activity and side effects. The antitumor activity of NVB or cisplatin against i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia was augmented by their combination on various schedules when the interval of administrations was within 24 h. Against i.v. inoculated P388 leukemia, the most significant combination effect was observed when cisplatin was administered 4 h after NVB injection (ILS(%) > 451) and three long-term survivors were observed. On this schedule, the combination of LD10 of each drug was achieved, indicating the lack of addition of toxicity. This was further proved by examination of body weight change, white blood cell count and platelet count. Interestingly, significant elevation of blood urea nitrogen concentration by cisplatin was prevented by the combination with NVB. The combination of maximum tolerated dose of NVB and cisplatin was also tolerable in nude mice, and their combination effect was observed against human lung large cell carcinoma Lu-65 and adenocarcinoma PC-12. The number of toxic death mice was more in VDS plus cisplatin-treated groups than in NVB plus cisplatin-treated groups, indicating that the combination chemotherapy of NVB plus cisplatin is a better regimen than that of VDS plus cisplatin in experimental tumor systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of DNA fragmentation in human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells treated with duocarmycins or other antitumor agents by pulse field gel electrophoresis.

Pulse field gel electrophoresis using a contour-clamped homogeneous electric field was applied for the analysis of DNA-fragmenting activity of antitumor agents towards human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells. Duocarmycins (DUMs), novel antitumor antibiotics with ultrapotent cell growth-inhibitory activities, caused DNA fragmentation at 10 times their IC50 values at 2 h exposure. At 100 times their IC50 values, the size of the smallest fragments was about 245 kilobase pairs (kbp). DUMA, DUMB1 and DUMB2 exhibited similar DNA fragmentation patterns, suggesting similar action mechanisms. DNA fragmentation was also detected in cells treated with radical producers, intercalators and topoisomerase inhibitors. Two bands of about 1800 and 1500 kbp were commonly detected in the cells treated with DUMs and these agents. In addition, fragments of about 900 kbp were detected in the cells treated with a topoisomerase inhibitor, 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methane-sulfon-m-anisidine, and fragments in the broad size range between 700 and 245 kbp in the cells treated with radical producers, bleomycin and neocarzinostatin. DUMs showed a characteristic DNA fragmentation pattern, since both types of fragments induced by the topoisomerase inhibitor and the radical producers were simultaneously detected, suggesting a novel mode of interaction with DNA. DNA-crosslinking agents and mitotic inhibitors did not induce DNA fragmentation under these conditions. The pulse field gel electrophoresis is potentially useful for characterizing DNA-cleaving activity of various antitumor agents at the cellular level.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗