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K Smith

Publications and source records attributed to K Smith.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Metallothionein mRNA induction in HeLa cells in response to zinc or dexamethasone is a primary induction response.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight, heavy metal binding proteins unique in their high cysteine content and high affinity for Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ag2+ and Cu2+ (refs 1--3). The synthesis of MTs is induced by zinc or cadmium in the liver and kidney and in cultured cells. More recently MT induction by the steroid hormone dexamethasone (Dex) has been demonstrated in HeLa cells and adrenalectomized rats. Because glucocorticoid hormones lead to an intracellular accumulation of zinc, the question arises of whether the induction of MT gene expression by steroids is a 'primary induction response' (ref. 18), or due to elevated intracellular Zn2+. The glucocorticoid-induced transport of Zn2+ is dependent on concurrent protein synthesis. We now show that, in contrast to glucocorticoid-stimulated Zn2+ transport, the Zn2+ and Dex induction of translatable MT-mRNA is independent of concomitant protein synthesis but not RNA synthesis; that is, MT induction by either agent is a primary induction response.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1980

The isolation of the beta A-, beta C-, and gamma-globin genes and a presumptive embryonic globin gene from a goat DNA recombinant library.

As an approach to understand how the expression of globin genes are regulated during development, clones containing globin DNA sequences were selected from a recombinant library of goat genomic DNA. The type of globin gene present in each of the recombinants was determined by cross-hybridization to the DNA of mouse alpha- and beta-globin cDNA-containing plasmids. Of 11 clones isolated, eight hybridized specifically to the DNA of the mouse beta-globin plasmid, while one clone hybridized only to the DNA of the alpha globin plasmid. The location of each globin sequence within its DNA insert was determined by a combination of restriction enzyme mapping and Southern transfer-hybridizations. Selected fragments were sequenced; comparisons of the amino acids coded for by these regions with those of the goat globins identified clones carrying beta A-, beta C-, and gamma-globin genes. Another recombinant coded for amino acid sequences resembling, but not identical with, the known goat globins, and was identified tentatively as containing an embryonic or epsilon-gene. Detailed analysis of the clone containing the beta C gene and an overlapping clone revealed that three other beta-like sequences are located 6, 12, and 21 kilobases on the 5'-side of the beta C gene. The globin sequence of the locus nearest to the beta C gene has an altered translation termination codon and, if transcribed and translated, would give a globin chain seven amino acids longer than the normal goat beta C-globin. In addition, the sequence following this termination codon is very AT-rich, unlike that of other globin genes. The recombinants described contain extensive regions of DNA surrounding the globin genes, making them useful for identifying regulatory sequences as well as determining the sequence organization of the goat globin genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Cytoskeletal F-actin patterns quantitated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin in normal and transformed cells.

Actin in cultured fibroblasts is organized into a complex set of fibers. Patterns of organization visualized with antibody to actin are similar but not identical to those visualized with fluorescein isothiocyanate-phalloidin (Fl-phalloidin), a chemical that binds to F-actin polymer with a dissociation constant of 2.7 X 10(-7) M [Wulf, E., Deboben, A., Bautz, F. A., Faulstich, H. & Wieland, T. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 4498-4502]. Fl-phalloidin reveals that transformed cells have fewer, finer, and shorter F-actin-containing structures than do normal cells. Two-color fluorescence microscopy of single cells reveals that F-actin staining by Fl-phalloidin picks out the cytoskeletal cables more sharply than does antibody to actin, due to a reduced intracellular background fluorescence. This improved resolution permits sorting of cellular Fl-phalloidin patterns into four classes ranging in organization from 90% of the cytoplasm occupied by large cables to the absence of detectable cables. Reproducible differences in pattern distributions between normal and transformed cell lines have been quantitated. Fl-phalloidin together with rhodamine-based indirect antibody to simian virus 40 tumor antigen reveals a direct relationship between the degree of pattern change and simian virus 40 nuclear antigen expression in intermediate transformed 3T3 cell lines [Risser, R. & Pollack, R. (1974) Virology 59, 477-489].

Actins↗
PubMed1980

Establishment and transformation diminish the ability of fibroblasts to contract a native collagen gel.

Cultures of established and transformed fibroblasts were less able to contract a hydrated collagen gel than normal precrisis cells. Postcrisis fibroblasts from different rodent strains and species underwent a further reduction in contraction ability and either spontaneous or simian virus 40 (SV40) transformation. Human precrisis fibroblasts contracted much more efficiently than two SV40-transformed human lines. Fibroblasts from a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia were intermediate between all other human fibroblasts assayed and the SV40-transformed human lines. The absolute efficiency of contraction was dependent on temperature and serum concentration, but no conditions were found that resulted in equal efficiencies for the three types of cells. Precrisis cells were extremely sensitive to the passage procedures when assayed for collagen contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Turnover of murine beta-glucuronidase. Comparison among liver, kidney, and spleen and between lysosomes and microsomes.

The turnover properties of murine beta-glucuronidase in several tissues and at two subcellular sites have been determined by monitoring the radioactivity present in immunoprecipitated enzyme at a number of time points following the in vivo administration of a single radiolabeled protein precursor (either L-[3,4(-3H)]leucine or or NaH14CO3). In all experiments a considerable period of time was required for the attainment of maximum specific radioactivity in glucuronidase. Similar labeling kinetics was found when [3H]leucine incorporation was monitored in immunoprecipitated murine liver delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase. Half-life estimates of 2 to 3 days were obtained for glucuronidases of liver, kidney, and spleen. In most strains of inbred mice, it is known that approximately 60% of total liver glucuronidase activity resides in lysosomes, while 40% is within the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (Ganschow, R. E. and Paigen, K. (1968) Genetics 59, 335-349). These two subcellular forms of glucuronidase turn over at similar rates. Furthermore, the bulk of glucuronidase in the endoplasmic reticulum does not serve as precursor to lysosomal glucuronidase.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The location of the globin mRNA sequence within its 16S precursor.

The coding sequence of globin mRNA has been located at or very close to the 3' end of its poly(A)-containing 16S precursor. The 16S RNA was annealed to globin cDNA and the hybrid digested with ribonuclease H. The undigested fragment did not bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose and its size was that expected for the intact 5' portion of the precursor.

Animals↗