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Biomedical subjects

K Tsukamoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Tsukamoto.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

5,6-Dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid is incorporated in mammalian melanin.

The role of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) in the biosynthesis of melanins has been studied by using the incorporation of specifically radiolabelled melanogenic precursors into melanins formed by melanocytes growing in vitro and in vivo. Extracts of mouse melanocytes and intact viable melanocytes were found to incorporate into melanin from 25% to more than 60% of [1-14C]tyrosine. Melanins from melanoma tumours grown in mice were radiolabelled with 3,4-dihydroxy[1-14C]phenylalanine, purified and chemoselectively decarboxylated. Determination of the 14CO2 evolved showed that at least 20% of the precursor incorporated in vivo retains the label in the form of non-aminoacidic aromatic-type carboxyl groups. These results provide the first unambiguous demonstration that DHICA is incorporated in physiologically relevant amounts in mammalian melanins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effect of amino acid substitution at position 219 of Citrobacter freundii cephalosporinase on extension of its substrate spectrum.

The cephalosporinase of Citrobacter freundii GN346 is a class-C beta-lactamase comprising 361 amino acids. The substitution of the glutamic acid at position 219 in the enzyme by lysine was previously shown to broaden its substrate specificity to unfavorable substrates such as oxyimino cephalosporins [Tsukamoto, K., Ohno, R. & Sawai, T. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 172, 4348-4351]. To investigate the cause of this phenomenon, Glu219 was changed to glutamine, cysteine or tryptophan. All the resultant enzymes showed higher cefuroxime-hydrolytic activities than the wild type, the order of increasing cefuroxime-hydrolytic activity being as follows: Trp greater than Lys greater than Cys greater than Gln greater than Glu. The rate of hydrolysis of cefuroxime by the Trp219 enzyme was approximately 3 x 10(4) times that of the wild-type enzyme. The order of increasing cefuroxime hydrolysis was approximately proportional to the molecular volume of the amino acid substituted and independent of the ionic character of the amino acids. The cysteine residue at position 219 in the Cys219 enzyme allowed its complete reaction with an SH-blocking reagent, 4-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid. The modified enzyme with the bulkier residue showed a 45% higher cefuroxime-hydrolytic activity than the untreated enzyme. These results suggested that extension of the substrate spectrum may be attributed to alteration in the configuration of the enzyme around position 219.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

Stimulation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in nucleus tractus solitarius is required for the baroreceptor reflex.

Bilateral injection into the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine produced a dose-related (10-500 pmol) increase in arterial pressure, with a maximal response of approximately 60 mm Hg. Idazoxan, also an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, produced a similar response although idazoxan was less potent than yohimbine. The pressor response elicited by these drugs was attenuated by stimulation of adrenergic receptors in the NTS by local administration of either clonidine or tyramine. Doses of yohimbine (200 pmol) or idazoxan (5 nmol) that maximally increased arterial pressure also completely inhibited the depressor and bradycardic responses to electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve. These results indicate that tonic stimulation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the NTS is required for baroreceptor reflex function.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

A second tyrosinase-related protein, TRP-2, is a melanogenic enzyme termed DOPAchrome tautomerase.

The production of melanin pigment in mammals requires tyrosinase, an enzyme which hydroxylates the amino acid tyrosine to DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), thus allowing the cascade of reactions necessary to synthesize that biopolymer. However, there are other regulatory steps that follow the action of tyrosinase and modulate the quantity and quality of the melanin produced. DOPAchrome tautomerase is one such melanogenic enzyme that isomerizes the pigmented intermediate DOPAchrome to DHICA (5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid) rather than to DHI (5,6-dihydroxyindole), which would be generated spontaneously. This enzyme thus regulates a switch that controls the proportion of carboxylated subunits in the melanin biopolymer. Efforts to clone the gene for tyrosinase have resulted in the isolation of a family of tyrosinase related genes which have significant homology and encode proteins with similar predicted structural characteristics. Using specific antibodies generated against synthetic peptides encoded by unique areas of several of those proteins, we have immuno-affinity purified them and studied their melanogenic catalytic functions. We now report that TRP-2 (tyrosinase related protein-2), which maps to and is mutated at the slaty locus in mice, encodes a protein with DOPAchrome tautomerase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

A second tyrosinase-related protein, TRP-2, maps to and is mutated at the mouse slaty locus.

We have cloned and sequenced mouse cDNAs corresponding to a third member of a family of melanocyte-specific mRNAs, which encode tyrosinase and related proteins. This new member, tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), has approximately 40% amino acid identity with the two other proteins in the family and has the same structural features including two copper binding sites, two cysteine-rich regions, a signal peptide and a transmembrane domain. We now show that one of the cysteine-rich regions in this protein family is an 'EGF-like' repeat found in many extracellular and cell surface proteins. The gene encoding TRP-2 maps to mouse chromosome 14, in the region of the coat colour mutation slaty. We show that the TRP-2 of slaty mice has a single amino acid difference from wild-type TRP-2; a substitution of glutamine for arginine in the first copper binding site. TRP-2 is the much sought melanogenic enzyme DOPAchrome tautomerase (DT), which catalyses the conversion of DOPAchrome to 5,6,dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. Extracts from mice homozygous for the slaty mutation have a 3-fold or more reduction in DT activity, indicating that TRP-2/DT is encoded at the slaty locus, and the missense mutation reduces but does not abolish the enzyme activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Chromosome-band-specific painting: chromosome in situ suppression hybridization using PCR products from a microdissected chromosome band as a probe pool.

We describe a chromosome-band-specific painting method that involves (1) microdissection of the chromosome, chromosomal region or band, (2) amplification of a variety of chromosome/region/band-specific DNA fragments with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and (3) chromosome in situ suppression hybridization (CISS) with the direct use of the PCR products as a probe pool. With this method, it was possible 1) to paint an entire X or Y chromosome, a distal one-fourth of 2q, and only a band at 8q24.1, 2) to identify the origin of a minute marker chromosome in a mentally retarded patient, 3) to detect an X;Y translocation in another patient, and 4) to identify one human chromosome 2 in a human-mouse hybrid cell line. This method allows us to identify not only structural chromosome abnormalities at the band level, but also the origin of cytogenetically unidentifiable marker chromosomes. It will also be useful in studies of evolutionary cytogenetics.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Isolation of 2 novel RFLP markers and their localization at 2q35 by microdissection and subsequent enzymatic amplification.

We previously constructed a chromosome 2q-specific genomic library and isolated a number of microclones. In the present study, we first analyzed with Southern hybridization whether any of the microclones represent restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), and then tried to map RFLP markers physically, using the recently developed chromosome microdissection/enzymatic amplification method. Of 13 clones analyzed, two were RFLP markers; a clone, pM2C83, showed a four-allele MspI RFLP, and the other, pM2C8, a two-allele RsaI RFLP. In order to assign the two polymorphic markers, two chromosomal segments, 2q32-q35 and 2q35-qter, on the chromosome 2 from a karyotypically normal person were microdissected, and the DNA from each segment was amplified with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using marker sequence-specific primers. With this method, both of the clones were assigned to 2q35. These two RFLP markers must be useful for linkage analysis of genetic diseases whose loci are at around 2q35.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Microdissection of human chromosomal regions 8q23.3-q24.11 and 2q33-qter: construction of DNA libraries and isolation of their clones.

Human chromosomal regions 8q23.3-q24.11 and 2q33-qter were microdissected, DNAs from the regions were amplified with the primer-linker method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and their DNA libraries were constructed by cloning into pUC19. The primer-linker PCR involved Sau3AI digestion of microdissected chromosomal DNAs, ligation of the digests to a 10mer DNA linker and 24mer primer, filling the recessed 3' ends, and PCR amplification using the 24mer DNA as a primer. A total of 3.5 x 10(4) pUC19 recombinants (8q library) from the 8q region and 5.0 x 10(4) pUC clones (2q library) from the 2q region were obtained. From the 8q library, 60 pUC clones were selected, while 88 pUC-clones were selected from the 2q library. These clones were Southern blot analyzed on hybrid cell panels with or without human chromosome 8 or 2. Twelve (20%) of the 60 8q-derived clones were unique DNA sequences, and 9 were subjected to deletion analysis in the genomic DNA of two patients, one with trichorhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRPS) type I and the other with TRPS type II, both with del(8) (q23.3q24.13). Five of the 9 pUC clones tested showed a one-copy density in both patients, an indication that the clones map to the region deleted in both patients. Screening a genomic DNA library constructed in the phage revealed a clone with a 9.4-kb insert and a one-copy density in both patients. From the 2q library, 15 (17%) of the 88 pUC clones obtained were unique sequences. When a phage library was screened, 8 clones were obtained: 4 were identical and 2 were overlapping sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1992

Cloning and characterization of the inversion breakpoint at chromosome 2q35 in a patient with Waardenburg syndrome type I.

We described cloning and characterization of an inversion breakpoint of chromosome 2 inv(2)(q35q37.3) observed in a patient with Waardenburg syndrome type I (WSI). Genomic cosmid clones containing the HuP2 gene, which was considered as a candidate for WSI, were isolated from a library constructed from the patient DNA. One of the clones contained the inversion breakpoint and revealed signals at both 2q35 and 2q37 by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), indicating disruption of the HuP2 gene by the inversion. Our result further supports that the HuP2 gene is a candidate for Waardenburg syndrome type I and is located at q35.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

A simple and efficient amplification method of DNA with unknown sequences and its application to microdissection/microcloning.

An alternative method for amplification of DNA with unknown sequences was developed. This involves the direct ligation of a primer oligodeoxyribonucleotide itself to restricted DNA fragments with unknown sequences to be amplified by PCR. The oligonucleotide need not be phosphorylated and need not be annealed with its complementary oligonucleotide in advance for ligation. The ligation reaction seems to be independent of the concentration of unknown DNA, proceeds in short time, and is efficient. The ligation efficiency was more than 30% at a low concentration, 10 fg/microliters, of DNA. This method was applied to a microdissection/microcloning of the short arm of human chromosome 2. Of 65 clones screened for the highly repetitive sequences with total human genomic DNA, eleven (17%) were positive. Their inserts ranged in size from 150 to 1,200 bp (average, 460 bp). In Southern blot analysis, thirty consecutive clones all detected signals common to both total human genomic DNA and mouse-human hybrid cell DNA containing only chromosome 2 of human origin. Among them, 24 (80%) were unique sequences, and 6 (20%) were multi-copy (or intermediate-repeat) sequences. Thus, this method is simple and efficient, and provides an alternative way to amplify unknown DNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Role of asparagine-linked carbohydrates in pulmonary metastasis of B16-F10 murine melanoma cells: implication through glycosylation inhibition by nojirimycin.

N-linked oligosaccharide moieties of cell surface glycoconjugates may be involved in the metastatic potential of tumour cells. Many studies have examined the anti-metastatic properties of inhibitors of carbohydrate synthesis or processing in vitro. However, there has so far been little evidence of such inhibitory factors on metastasis in vivo because of the general high toxicity of the inhibitors. In this study, we found nojirimycin (NM) to be a substantially non-toxic carbohydrate synthesis inhibitor that inhibited the experimental metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma cells not only in vitro but also in vivo. When NM was administered intraperitoneally to syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, the inhibition was dose-dependent, with 40-75% suppression of pulmonary colonization observed after 5 days exposure to NM (at 0.4 or 4 mg/day). An in vitro lectin sensitivity assay showed that NM-treated B16-F10 cells were less susceptible to the lectin concanavalin-A, suggesting alteration or decrease of high mannose-type carbohydrate moieties on the cell surface. Further in vitro analysis of adhesiveness between B16-F10 cells and endothelial cells demonstrated that NM treatment causes reduced binding of B16-F10 cells to endothelial cells. We have also studied the effect of NM on natural killer (NK) cells in mice. NM treatment elicited no substantial increase in the cytotoxic activity of splenic NK cells against YAC-1 target cells. These results indicate that NM acts on the process of adhesion and that specific structures of the cell surface carbohydrate moieties may be involved in the colonization phase of metastasis in vivo.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed1992

Functional properties of cloned melanogenic proteins.

Several genes critical to the regulation of melanin production in mammals have recently been cloned and characterized. They map to the albino, brown, and slaty loci in mice, and encode proteins with similar structures and features, but with distinct catalytic capacities. The albino locus encodes tyrosinase, an enzyme with three distinct catalytic activities--tyrosine hydroxylase, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidase and DHI (5,6-dihydroxyindole) oxidase. The brown locus encodes TRP-1 (tyrosinase-related protein-1), which has the same, but greatly reduced, catalytic potential. The slaty locus encodes TRP-2, another tyrosinase related-protein, which has DOPAchrome tautomerase activity. In this study we have examined the enzymatic interactions of these proteins, and their regulation by a novel melanogenic inhibitor. We observed that tyrosinase activity is more stable in the presence of TRP-1 and/or TRP-2, but that the catalytic function of TRP-2 is not affected by the presence of TRP-1 or tyrosinase. Other factors also may influence melanogenesis and a unique melanogenic inhibitor suppresses tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activities, but does not affect the spontaneous rate of DOPAchrome decarboxylation to DHI. The results demonstrate the catalytic functions of these proteins and how they stably interact within a melanogenic complex in the melanosome to regulate the quantity and quality of melanin synthesized by the melanocyte.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sporadic congenital transmission of avian leukosis virus in hens discharging the virus into the oviducts.

The efficacy of the albumen test for infectious avian leukosis virus (ALV) was examined in detecting congenitally transmitting hens. Seventy-three White Leghorn non-viremic hens with antibody to ALV were used. Eleven of the hens shed infectious ALV into their egg albumen, whereas only 7 of the 11 ALV-positive hens shed ALV antigens. The egg albumen test for infectious ALV was shown to be more effective in detecting the congenitally transmitting hens than that for ALV antigens. Then, twenty of the 62 hens which shed no infectious ALV into the albumen were studied for transmission of ALV to their embryos and for discharging ALV into the oviduct and vagina. Six of the 50 embryos from 4 hens were found to be infected with ALV but all of the 227 embryos from remaining 16 hens were free from the infection. Discharge of the virus into the oviduct and vagina was found both in the 4 transmitting hens and in 6 of the 16 non-transmitting hens. These results suggest that the hens discharging ALV into the oviduct, even though they do not shed ALV into egg albumen, may transmit the virus sporadically to their embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Potent and preferential inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II by K252a and its derivative, KT5926.

Effects of protein kinase inhibitors, K252a and its derivative KT5926, on Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II were examined. Both compounds potently inhibited Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Kinetic analyses indicated that the inhibitory effect of K252a and KT5926 was competitive with respect to ATP (Ki: 1.8 and 4.4 nM, respectively) and noncompetitive with respect to the substrates. Taken together with a previous report (Nakanishi et al. Mol. Pharmacol. 37, 482, 1990) concerning the Ki values of these compounds for ATP with various protein kinases, the results suggest that K252a and KT5926 are potent and preferential inhibitors of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

Alkaloids↗