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Biomedical subjects

K Matsubara

Publications and source records attributed to K Matsubara.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[A prominent retrograde flow in coronary artery in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Pathophysiology and clinical significance of a systolic backward flow in the epicardial coronary artery have not been elucidated. Using a 20 MHz Doppler catheter, we assessed coronary flow velocity waveforms in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 19 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 11 patients without apparent cardiac abnormalities as control subjects. Systolic flow fraction was smaller in HCM than in controls. Only 4 patients with HCM showed a prominent retrograde flow persisting during almost the entire systole. All the 4 had marked cavity obliteration and two of them had systolic intraventricular pressure gradients of 80 and 110 mmHg respectively. Exercise thallium-201 ECT revealed that myocardial hypoperfusion was more frequent in those 4 patients. Through these observations, it is concluded that a high intramyocardial systolic pressure combined with a relatively low coronary perfusing pressure may result in a large systolic retrograde flow in the left epicardial coronary artery, and that it may be related to myocardial ischemia in patients with HCM.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Translation of hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase from the internal AUG codon, not from the upstream AUG codon for the core protein.

Hepatitis B virus DNA replicates via its own polymerase that also acts as reverse transcriptase (Summers and Mason, 1982). This enzyme is encoded by a 3.5 Kb mRNA transcript covering the whole genome. Since the same transcript also codes for the core protein, and since the core open reading frame (ORF) is located upstream of the pol ORF, it has been suggested that the polymerase is first produced as a core-pol fusion protein that subsequently undergoes cleavage. This is already known to be the case with retrovirus reverse transcriptase, for which a gag-pol fusion protein is made first and the latter protein is liberated by proteolytic cleavage. We investigated this problem using mutants that were modified at the translation initiation codon for the core and precore ORF. Our findings suggested that polymerase translation occurred from the internal AUG codon independently of core protein synthesis, and that obligatory production of the core-pol fusion protein is accordingly unlikely.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Cloning and characterization of a third type of human alpha-amylase gene, AMY2B.

We have previously reported concerning the existence of a third type of human alpha-amylase gene, AMY3 [Emi et al., Gene 62 (1988) 229-235; Tomita et al., Gene 76 (1989) 11-18], which is expressed in a lung carcinoid tissue, and differs in nucleotide sequence from the two previously characterized human alpha-amylase genes coding for salivary and pancreatic isozymes, termed AMY1 and AMY2, respectively. Here, we rename this gene AMY2B to coincide with the designation by Gumucio et al. [Mol. Cell Biol. 8 (1988) 1197-1205] and describe its genetic properties as revealed by sequencing studies. It consists of ten major exons whose sequences are highly homologous to those of AMY1 and AMY2. Not only the exons, but also most of the introns seem to be highly conserved, as judged from physical mapping data. The AMY2B gene identified from mRNA in a lung carcinoid tissue has at least two additional untranslated exons in its 5' region; hence the promoter lies far upstream relative to the other two AMY genes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

The essential region for assembly and particle formation in hepatitis B virus surface antigen produced in yeast cells.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome carries a HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) gene that can encode a polypeptide of 226 amino acids (aa). This gene can be expressed in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the products can be assembled into 22-nm particles indistinguishable from those recovered from a patient's serum. We constructed a set of deletion derivatives of the HBsAg gene, and examined the particle-forming ability of the resulting polypeptides by expressing the gene in yeast. Elimination of 9 aa from the N terminus had no effect, whereas the elimination of 21-80 aa decreased the ability to form particles, and the particles formed were correspondingly smaller. Elimination of 100 aa that delete the major hydrophobic domain of the molecule abolished the ability to form particles completely. Deletion of 53 aa from the C terminus showed little effect. However, deletions proceeding further toward the center of the molecule rendered the polypeptides unstable.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Identification of a novel alpha-amylase by expression of a newly cloned human amy3 cDNA in yeast.

A novel amylase gene (amy3) that differs in nucleotide sequence from salivary amylase gene (amy1) and pancreatic amylase gene (amy2) has been described [Tomita et al., Gene 76 (1989) 11-18], but whether this gene can ever code for an active enzyme has not been shown. We prepared cDNA of this gene from an mRNA obtained from lung carcinoid tissue, and expressed it in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the control of an acid phosphatase promoter. The product was secreted into culture media, and showed enzymatic activity, demonstrating that this novel alpha-amylase gene (amy3) can code for a functional isozyme. We purified this enzyme, and compared its biological properties with those of salivary and pancreatic human amylases similarly expressed in yeast. We observed that the novel amylase isozyme is more heat-sensitive than others, and that its substrate specificity is different from the other two isozymes.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Transcription of human endogenous retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence in a lung cancer cell line.

The human genome carries several endogenous retroviral sequences. One of them that we named 'HERV-A', carries almost the complete sequence of the long terminal repeat (LTR), and is located in the 5' region of the amylase genes (M.Emi, A.Horii, N.Tomita, T.Nishide, M.Ogawa, T. Mori and K.Matsubara, Gene 62: 229-235, 1988). Using this sequence as a probe, we found a 1.4 kb LTR transcript(s) in a lung cancer cell line. No corresponding transcript was observed in control cells. Two partial, but different cDNA clones were obtained, and each one was found to be a transcript starting within human sequences at 5' upstream from the LTR and ending within the LTR sequence.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Design and in vitro evaluation of slow-release dosage form of piretanide: utility of beta-cyclodextrin:cellulose derivative combination as a modified-release drug carrier.

To modify the release rate of piretanide, a potent loop diuretic, a double-layer tablet was designed, and in vitro release was evaluated. For a rapidly releasing portion, hydrophilic beta-cyclodextrin derivatives were employed to form a water-soluble complex with piretanide. For a sustained-release portion, cellulose derivatives were used to provide appropriate hydrophobicity. The release rate of piretanide in the pH range 1.2-6.8 was automatically monitored by a pH-changeable dissolution testing apparatus. The low solubility of piretanide in acidic medium was significantly improved by complexations with dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD). The pH-independent slow release was attained by use of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC):ethylcellulose (EC) matrices. Then, an optimal formulation of a double-layer tablet was obtained by the combination of each fraction. For example, the tablet consisting of the [DM-beta-CyD/(HPC:EC)] system in the weight ratio [1/3(1:3)] provided a sufficiently slow release of the drug over a period of 8 h in a wide pH region following an initial rapid dissolution.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1990

Distribution of type I collagen in human kidney diseases in comparison with type III collagen.

The distribution of type I collagen in normal and diseased renal tissues was studied using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, and was compared with that of type III collagen. In normal human kidneys, a monoclonal antibody against type I or type III collagen reacted with the renal interstitium, but not with the intra-glomerular structures. In various types of glomerulonephritis, immunofluorescent staining for type I collagen was positive in the fibrocellular and fibrous crescents, sclerosed glomeruli, and infrequently within the glomerular mesangium. In the crescents and sclerosed glomeruli, type I collagen was co-localized with type III collagen. The staining intensity of type I collagen in those areas was generally stronger than that in the interstitium. Mesangial staining for type I collagen was present within the glomeruli, particularly with a marked mesangial matrix increase, but was less in amount and frequency compared with type III collagen staining. These findings indicate that the fibrosclerotic process in damaged glomeruli is accompanied by the appearance of interstitial collagens, and that participation of type I collagen is prominent in crescent organization and global glomerular sclerosis, but is less frequent in mesangial expansion, compared with type III collagen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A case of maternity testing: exclusion by polymorphic VNTR markers of DNA.

The genetic markers of a Korean woman and her allegedly adopted child were compared to test her maternity. None of 21 conventional markers, including 8 red cell antigens, 6 red cell enzymes, and 7 serum proteins, excluded the maternity. These results indicate a maternal probability of 0.31 which was too low to conclude the true maternity. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, -C and -DR haplotyping was also uninformative in this case. The maternity was consequently excluded by the observation of a difference in 2 of 5 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) markers.

DNA↗
PubMed1990

Different type of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integrants that may reflect the integration process.

Through analyses of HBV DNA integratns in human cellular DNA, we identified three different integrant types, each of which may reflect the process of primary integrant formation by the viral DNA. The first type, which we call "simple type" consists of integrants found in some hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC's). The structure of the viral genome is simple, and part of it is deleted. The viral cohesive end sequence appears at one of the viral-cellular DNA junctions, and integration has elicited a microdeletion in the target cellular DNA sequence. This structure suggests viral DNA replication intermediates as substrates for integration. Judging from its frequency in HCC, this type may represent the most preferred one, if not all, among the primary integration products. The second type, which we call "complex type" is essentially the same as the first type, except tht the viral genome structure is complex. We considered the possibility that they may have been produced via the same process, using preformed complex viral genomes such as "novel form DNA's" (Rogler and Summers, 1982) as substrates. In cultured fetal hepatocytes, integration of HBV DNA can occur only a few days after infection. Among such integrants, we found a third type integrant, having a simple viral genome, but having a larger cellular DNA deletion. We propose that different forms of viral DNA may be used as substrates in the integration process, and the process is characterized by its eliciting of deletions of different size in the target cellular DNA. The most preferred substrate may be the one producing the simple type integrants, and the most frequently occurring deletion in the target DNA may be the microdeletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

HBV production in transgenic mice.

We produced transgenic mice by microinjecting a partially duplicated copies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene into fertilized eggs of C57BL/6 mice. One mouse was a high producer of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) in the serum. All offspring carrying HBV DNA were positive for both antigens in the serum. The HBV DNA was expressed in liver- and kidney-specific manner. The normal process of HBV replication, including the packaging of the pregenome 3.5-kb RNA into a nucleocapsid, the reverse-transcription of the complete minus strand DNA, and the release of Dane particles into the serum before the completion of synthesis of plus strand, occurred in the liver of these transgenic mice. These results suggest that the species specificity of HBV infection is not due to the inability to replicate in nonnatural host but to the lack of receptors or factors needed for virus adsorption and internalization. The founder mouse is now 19 months of age but shows no clinical or pathological change, suggesting that HBV itself is not cytopathic.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A yeast system for stable expression of hepatitis B surface antigen.

We have constructed a yeast strain that has integrated into its chromosomal ribosomal RNA gene site two copies of Hepatitis B virus surface (HBS) antigen gene under the control of the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter and terminator. The level of expression of HBS gene was low in the strain, but upon chemical and physical mutageneses, in combination with an immunological screening procedure, a mutant clone which expressed HBS protein at a high level was obtained. This mutant strain produces HBS antigen stably under non-selective conditions.

Chromosomes↗
PubMed1990

"First pass phenomenon" of inhaled gas in the fire victims.

We investigated the differences in the levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), cyanide (HCN) and petroleum fuels (gasoline and kerosene) between left and right ventricular bloods from fire victims. COHb was slightly, and HCN and petroleum fuels were markedly higher levels in the left than those in the right. These effects were so called 'first pass phenomena' due to the circulation, diffusion and metabolization before the deaths of fire victims.

Burns↗
PubMed1990

Retrobulbar optic neuritis in a two-year-old boy.

We report a 2-year-4-month-old boy with retrobulbar optic neuritis. He had a sudden onset of impaired vision, which progressed to total blindness within a day. The visual evoked potential (VEP) showed no activity, but the electroretinogram was normal. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no abnormal findings in the visual tract. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) myelin basic protein (MBP) level was elevated and serum anti-myelin antibody was positive. These findings suggested that optic neuritis in our patient was induced by retrobulbar demyelination, perhaps as a result of an autoimmune process. His visual impairment recovered gradually, but not completely, following oral prednisolone therapy. We have followed him for one year since discharge and have found neither recurrence of optic neuritis nor any other neurological disorders. Optic neuritis in children is rare and, to our knowledge, this patient is one of the youngest to be reported. This case suggests that autoimmune mechanisms may induce optic neuritis even in early childhood. In addition to VEP and MRI studies, the CSF MBP and serum anti-myelin antibody can be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up the patients with optic neuritis.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

Cloning and nucleotide sequences of livB and livC, the structural genes encoding binding proteins of the high-affinity branched-chain amino acid transport in Salmonella typhimurium.

The liv gene cluster responsible for encoding the high-affinity branched-chain amino acid transport proteins in Salmonella typhimurium was mapped in the 7.6-kilobase HindIII-SacI segment of plasmid pMN12 by utilizing the gene dosage effect. By subcloning and biochemical analysis, the livB and livC structural genes encoding the leucine-, isoleucine-, valine-, threonine-binding protein (LIVT-BP) and the leucine-specific binding protein (L-BP), respectively, were localized within the 3,617-base HindIII-BstEII segment. Upon determining the nucleotide sequence of the 3,617 bases, we found that the coding sequence of the livB gene (1,095 base pairs) starts at the position 355 and specifies the precursor LIVT-BP of 365 amino acid residues, and the livC gene (1,107 base pairs) starts at the position 2,452 and encodes the precursor L-BP of 369 amino acid residues. The two genes, separated by a 1-kilobase intergenic region, each possess potential promoters and rho-independent transcriptional terminators. The mature LIVT-BP and L-BP are produced by removing the putative 21 and 23 signal peptides from the respective precursors. In comparison with the analogous two binding proteins from Escherichia coli K-12, strong homologies are observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Differentiation of human non-salivary, non-pancreatic alpha-amylase from salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases by use of FG5P.

Human non-salivary, non-pancreatic alpha-amylase (yHXA) is the gene product of a newly found human alpha-amylase gene expressed in yeast. Its mode of action on a fluorogenic derivative of p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltopentaoside, FG5P (FG-G-G-G-G-P), was examined at various pH values to elucidate the difference between yHXA and pancreatic or salivary alpha-amylase. The product analysis of the digests by HPLC showed that the enzyme hydrolyzed FG5P to FG3 (FG-G-G) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-maltoside (G-G-P) and to FG4(FG-G-G-G) and p-nitrophenyl alpha-glucoside (G-P), and the ratio of the two reactions changed with pH. The three enzymes differed from each other in the mode of action at pH 5.5. The molar ratio of FG4 to FG3 in the digest with yHXA was the largest. This suggested that the expression of the new gene in human can be detected by the use of FG5P as the substrate in the alpha-amylase assay.

Binding Sites↗