Biomedical subjects

Klaus Weber

Publications and source records attributed to Klaus Weber.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Expression profiles of the essential intermediate filament (IF) protein A2 and the IF protein C2 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

The multigene family of intermediate filament (IF) proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans covers 11 members of which four (A1-3, B1) are essential for development. Suppression of a fifth gene (C2) results in a dumpy phenotype. Expression patterns of three essential genes (A1, A3, B1) were already reported. To begin to analyze the two remaining RNAi phenotypes we followed the expression of the A2 and C2 proteins. Expression of A2 mRNA starts in larval stage L1 and continues in the adult. Transgenic A2 promoter/gfp larvae strongly display GFP in the main body hypodermis but not in seam cells. This pattern and the muscle displacement/paralysis induced by RNAi silencing are consistent with the role of this protein in keeping the correct hypodermis/muscle relationship during development. IF protein C2 occurs in the cytoplasm and desmosomes of intestinal cells and in pharynx desmosomes. Expression of C2 starts in the late embryo and persists in all further stages.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Analysis of gene function in somatic mammalian cells using small interfering RNAs.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a highly conserved gene silencing mechanism that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a signal to trigger the degradation of homologous mRNA. The mediators of sequence-specific mRNA degradation are 21- to 23-nt small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) generated by ribonuclease III cleavage from longer dsRNAs. Twenty-one-nucleotide siRNA duplexes trigger specific gene silencing in mammalian somatic cells without activation of the unspecific interferon response. Here we provide a collection of protocols for siRNA-mediated knockdown of mammalian gene expression. Because of the robustness of the siRNA knockdown technology, genomewide analysis of human gene function in cultured cells has now become possible.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Conservation of the gene structure and membrane-targeting signals of germ cell-specific lamin LIII in amphibians and fish.

Targeting of nuclear lamins to the inner nuclear membrane requires CaaX motif-dependent posttranslational isoprenylation and carboxyl methylation. We previously have shown that two variants of lamin LIII (i.e., LIII and LIIIb) in amphibian oocytes are generated by alternative splicing and differ greatly in their membrane association. An extra cysteine residue (as a potential palmitoylation site) and a basic cluster in conjunction with the CaaX motif function as secondary targeting signals responsible for stable membrane association of lamin LIIIb. cDNA sequencing and genomic analysis of the zebrafish Danio rerio lamin LIII uncovers a remarkable conservation of the genomic organization and of the two secondary membrane-targeting signals in amphibians and fish. The expression pattern of lamin LIII genes is also conserved between amphibians and fish. Danio lamin LIII is expressed in diplotene oocytes. It is absent from male germ cells but is expressed in Sertoli cells of the testis. In addition, we provide sequence information of the entire coding sequence of zebrafish lamin A, which allows comparison of all major lamins from representatives of the four classes of vertebrates.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed2002

Cytoplasmic intermediate filament protein expression in tunicate development: a specific marker for the test cells.

The urochordate Ciona intestinalis is a well established system for embryological studies, and large scale EST sequences begin to emerge. We cloned five cytoplasmic intennediate filament (IF) cDNAs and made specific antibodies to the recombinant proteins. Self-assembly studies and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to study these proteins and their distribution. Confirming and extending previous studies in Styela, we found that Ciona protein IF-A is expressed in muscle and forms homopolymeric filaments while proteins IF-C and IF-D, which form only obligatory heteropolymeric filaments, resemble a keratin pair exclusively found in the entire epidermis. Protein IF-B and the new protein IF-F potentially reflect tunicate-specific IF proteins. They are found in the entire internal epithelia including the neural gland. We also extended the analysis to earlier developmental stages of Ciona. Protein IF-A is expressed in muscle from larval stages, whereas proteins IF-C and IF-D are found only in the tail epidermis. Protein IF-F is detected abundantly in the test cells of eggs, embryos and premetamorphic larvae. Our studies show that IF proteins could prove very useful markers in the study of cell fate determination in Ciona. They also support previous findings on the evolutionary relationships of different IF proteins. Non-vertebrate chordates have IF proteins which represent orthologs of vertebrate type I to III proteins, but also IF proteins that do not seem to fit into these classes. However, the intron positions of all tunicate IF genes are conserved with vertebrate type I to III genes, pointing to a common evolutionary origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Impaired glucose phosphorylation and transport in skeletal muscle cause insulin resistance in HIV-1-infected patients with lipodystrophy.

Insulin resistance is a frequently observed side effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Currently, very little is known about the mechanisms or specific tissues involved. We aimed to identify possible defects in skeletal muscle glucose uptake and metabolism in HIV patients receiving HAART. Whole-body glucose disposal and oxidation were determined by combination of the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique and indirect calorimetry. Muscle glucose uptake of the thighs was measured simultaneously by dynamic 2[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography. Patients receiving HAART had signs of lipodystrophy as confirmed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Whole-body glucose disposal was significantly reduced in these patients compared with untreated patients. Analysis of kinetic constants using a three-compartment model indicated reduced skeletal glucose uptake caused by significantly impaired glucose transport and phosphorylation. Skeletal muscle glucose uptake was reduced by 66% in treated patients and explained 46% and 43% of whole-body glucose disposal in patients on HAART and therapy-naive patients, respectively. Insulin-stimulated whole-body oxidative and nonoxidative glucose disposal was significantly lower in the treated group, as was suppressive insulin action on lipolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report providing in vivo evidence that, in lipodystrophic HIV patients, impaired glucose transport and phosphorylation cause reduced insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2000

Local heparin delivery for prevention of second in-stent restenosis. Acute and long-term results in 47 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: Heparin has been shown to reduce intimal thickening after arterial wall injury by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. The authors studied the acute and long-term results after local delivery of heparin after balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-seven in-stent restenosis cases, 32 of them longer than 1 cm, were enrolled. After angioplasty local heparin delivery was performed using the Dispatch coronary infusion catheter (Scimed Life Systems/Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, MA, USA); the infusion rate was 99.9 ml per hour and a target dosage of 4000 iu heparin per site was intended to be delivered. In nine cases (19.15%) heparin delivery had to be stopped because of ischemia. One patient died six days after intervention. After a follow-up interval of 6-12 months target vessel revascularization rate was 28.26%. CONCLUSIONS: For the protocol used ischemia occurred more often than previously reported. Considering the fact that most patients had diffuse in-stent restenosis, the target revascularization rate at follow-up was acceptable.

Journal Article↗