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L J Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to L J Kennedy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Enantiospecific and regioselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation: diastereoselective approach to quaternary carbon stereogenic centers.

The enantiospecific and regioselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of a series of chiral nonracemic allylic carbonates, followed by ozonolysis and reductive lactonization, provides a convenient route to optically active gamma-lactones. Sequential alkylation and reductive alkylation furnished the alpha-quaternary-beta-ternary substituted gamma-lactone derivative as a >/=10:1 mixture of diastereoisomers.

Alkylation↗

DLA-DQA1 polymorphisms in dogs defined by sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP).

Several recent studies have identified DNA sequences for alleles of the DLA-DQA1 locus in the dog. To date, 10 DQA1 alleles have been reported. No data exists on the frequencies of these alleles within the general dog population, nor is there any indication of whether alleles are breed specific. We have addressed this issue by establishing a molecular-based sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP) method to identify all published DQA1 alleles and have used these methods to type a large number of dogs. Oligonucleotide probes were designed to detect all the polymorphic sites in exon 2. This allowed assignment at the allele level. Three hundred and thirty dogs were typed for DQA1. All but two of the published DQA1 alleles were identified in these animals. One new allele was identified, and confirmed by DNA cloning and sequencing. This typing method provides a powerful tool for generating data that will be essential for studies investigating the genetic relationships between different breeds.

Animals↗

Nomenclature for factors of the dog major histocompatibility system (DLA), 1998: first report of the ISAG DLA Nomenclature Committee.

A Nomenclature committee for Factors of the Dog Major Histocompatibility System or Dog Leukocyte Antigen (DLA) has been convened under the auspices of the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) to define a sequence based nomenclature for the genes of the DLA system. The remit of this committee includes: assignment of gene names rules for naming alleles assignment of names to published alleles assignment of names to new alleles rules for acceptance of new alleles DLA Nomenclature Committee, rules for acceptance, DLA genes and alleles, sequence based nomenclature.

Alleles↗

Identification of further DLA-DRB1 and DQA1 alleles in the dog.

Three novel DLA-DRB1 alleles and one novel DQA1 allele have been identified in a panel of 367 dogs. These were suggested by unusual reaction patterns found in sequence specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP) data. Four new alleles were confirmed using DNA cloning and sequencing.

Alleles↗

Interbreed variation of DLA-DRB1, DQA1 alleles and haplotypes in the dog.

Although 36 DLA-DRB1 and 10 DLA-DQA1 allele sequences have been published to date, no data on individual allele frequencies exists, either for specific breeds or cross breeds, and the full extent of the polymorphism at each of these loci is still not known. We have used sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP) to characterise a series of 367 dogs for their DRB1 and DQA1 alleles. These included individual animals from over 60 different breeds, with numbers per breed ranging from 1 to 39. DLA types were generated from 218 dogs for DRB1 and from 330 dogs for DQA1, while 181 dogs were characterised for both these loci. The frequency of individual DRB1 and DQA1 alleles showed considerable interbreed variation, e.g. 83% of West Highland White Terriers were DRB1*01 as opposed to 9% of Collies. No breed had >9 of the 22 DRB1 types defined in this study; several breeds had only two DRB1 types. DLA-DQA1 showed less variation in allele numbers per breed, but also showed considerable interbreed frequency variation. Haplotype analysis revealed over 44 different DRB1/DQA1 combinations. Of these, 25 were in a number of animals, and also in an animal that was homozygous for one or both of these loci. Some DRB1 alleles could be found in combination with several different DQA1 alleles, while others were only present in one haplotypic combination. DLA allele frequency data in normal dogs will be critical for disease association studies. It may also be possible to use haplotype data to establish the genetic relationships between different dog breeds.

Alleles↗

Synchronous change and perception of object unity: evidence from adults and infants.

Adults and infants display a robust ability to perceive the unity of a center-occluded object when the visible ends of the object undergo common motion (e.g. Kellman, P.J., Spelke, E.S., 1983. Perception of partly occluded objects in infancy. Cognitive Psychology 15, 483-524). Ecologically oriented accounts of this ability focus on the primary of motion in the perception of segregated objects, but Gestalt theory suggests a broader possibility: observers may perceive object unity by detecting patterns of synchronous change, of which common motion is a special case. We investigated this possibility with observations of adults and 4-month-old infants. Participants viewed a center-occluded object whose visible surfaces were either misaligned or aligned, stationary or moving, and unchanging or synchronously changing in color or brightness in various temporal patterns (e.g. flashing). Both alignment and common motion contributed to adults' perception of object unity, but synchronous color changes did not. For infants, motion was an important determinant of object unity, but other synchronous changes and edge alignment were not. When a stationary object with aligned edges underwent synchronous changes in color or brightness, infants showed high levels of attention to the object, but their perception of its unity appeared to be indeterminate. An inherent preference for fast over slow flash rates, and a novelty preference elicited by a change in rate, both indicated that infants detected the synchronous changes, although they failed to use them as information for object unity. These findings favor ecologically oriented accounts of object perception in which surface motion plays a privileged role.

Adult↗

DLA-DRB1 polymorphisms in dogs defined by sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP).

To date, DNA sequences for 29 dog DLA-DRB1 alleles have been reported. However, no data exists on the frequencies of these alleles within the general dog population, nor is there any indication of whether there is interbreed variation of allele distribution. We have addressed this by establishing a molecular based sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP) method to identify all of the known broad DRB1 types and we have used this to type a random panel of dogs. A series of oligonucleotide probes were designed to detect known polymorphisms in the three DRB1 hypervariable regions, together with two distinctive motifs in other regions of exon 2. This set of probes enabled us to assign broad DRB1 types. Two hundred and eighteen dogs were SSOP typed for DRB1. All but 4 of the published DLA-DRB1 alleles were identified in these animals. Interbreed variation in both allele distributions and allele frequencies were observed, which may be useful in the study of genetic variation between breeds. This variation also has implications for the selection of control groups for studies aimed at identifying MHC associations with disease susceptibility in the dog.

Animals↗

Nomenclature for factors of the dog major histocompatibility system (DLA), 1998. First report of the ISAG DLA Nomenclature Committee. International Society for Animals Genetics.

A Nomenclature Committee for factors of the dog major histocompatibility system or dog leukocyte antigen (DLA) has been convened under the auspices of the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) to define a sequence-based nomenclature for the genes of the DLA system. The remit of this committee includes: i) assignment of gene names; ii) rules for naming alleles; iii) assignment of names to published alleles; iv) assignment of names to new alleles; and v) rules for acceptance of new alleles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A study of HLA-DPB1 phenotypes reveals DPB1*6301 in a rural population from Cameroon.

Several recently reported HLA-DPB1 alleles have only been identified in a single family or individuals and are of unknown distribution world-wide. Many new DPB1 alleles appear to arise as a result of gene conversion-like events, which may localize variant DPB1 alleles to the population in which they were first identified. Using two SSOP-based typing methods in parallel, we have identified HLA-DPB1*6301 in an individual from rural Cameroon which has previously only been reported in a family of Mexican-American origin. The presence of DPB1*6301 was confirmed by sequence-based typing of exon 2.

Alleles↗

Nitrotyrosine formation, apoptosis, and oxidative damage: relationships to nitric oxide production in SJL mice bearing the RcsX tumor.

In SJL mice, growth of RcsX lymphoma cells results in activation of macrophages in the spleen and lymph nodes to produce high levels of NO radical (NO.). We used this experimental model system to study the toxicology of NO. in vivo. To characterize spatial relationships between sites of NO. production and tissue damage, immunohistochemical techniques were developed for simultaneous detection of inducible NO. synthase (iNOS), 3-nitrotyrosine, and apoptosis in spleen and lymph nodes of tumor-bearing animals. Elevated expression of iNOS, presumed to reflect increased NO. production, was associated with a significant increase in frequency of apoptotic nuclei. Both apoptotic nuclei and 3-nitrotyrosine staining were found in cells juxtaposed to iNOS-expressing (ie., NO.-producing) macrophages and also within the macrophages themselves. To assess the extent of DNA damage associated with the response, 8-oxoguanine levels were quantified in DNA extracted from spleens of tumor-bearing mice. No increase in levels of this marker of oxidative DNA damage was found in tissues in which apoptosis and 3-nitrotyrosine levels were highly elevated within specific subsets of cells. Collectively, our results indicate that under the pathophysiological conditions existing in the RcsX tumor-bearing SJL mouse, cellular damage caused by NO. and/or other reactive species produced by activated macrophages is highly localized within cells in close proximity to the activated macrophages.

Animals↗

Quantitation of 8-oxoguanine and strand breaks produced by four oxidizing agents.

Reactive oxygen species, produced endogenously or by exposure to environmental chemicals and ionizing radiation, induce a wide range of DNA lesions. The variety of chemistries associated with different oxidants suggests that each will produce a unique spectrum of DNA damage products. To extend our efforts to relate genotoxin chemistry to DNA damage, we measured both strand breaks and 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) in DNA after exposure to gamma-radiation, Fe(II)-EDTA/H2O2, Cu(II)/H2O2, and peroxynitrite at concentrations approaching physiological relevance. We found that the ratio of 8-oxoG to strand breaks varied more than 10-fold depending on the oxidizing agent: approximately 0.4 for Cu(II)/H2O2 and peroxynitrite and approximately 0.03 for Fe-(II)-EDTA/ H2O2 and gamma-radiation. In the case of Cu(II)/H2O2, the relative proportion of 8-oxoG and strand breaks was found to vary more than 2-fold (0.14-0.37) for different Cu(II) concentrations, consistent with other studies. We were able to detect 8-oxoG formation by peroxynitrite by using low peroxynitrite concentrations in conjunction with a sensitive immunoaffinity/HPLC-ECD methodology. The level of 8-oxoG relative to strand breaks produced by peroxynitrite was higher than that produced by Fe(II)-EDTA/H2O2 and gamma-radiation, which is consistent with the altered reactivity or accessibility of a non-hydroxyl radical species produced by peroxynitrite.

Copper↗

Reduction of chromium(VI) by ascorbate leads to chromium-DNA binding and DNA strand breaks in vitro.

Chromium(VI) is a known human carcinogen which requires intracellular reduction for activation. Ascorbate (vitamin C) has been reported to function as a major reductant of Cr(VI) in animals and cell culture systems. The reaction of Cr(VI) with varying concentrations of ascorbate was studied under physiological conditions in vitro in order to determine the types of reactive intermediates produced and to evaluate the reactivity of these intermediates with DNA. Reactions of 1.8 mM Cr(VI) with 0-18 mM ascorbate at pH 7.0 in N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES; 0.10 M) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris.HCl; 0.050 M) buffers were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance and UV/visible spectroscopy. Cr(V) and carbon-based free radical adducts of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO) were observed at 0.5 to 1 and 1 to 1 reactions of ascorbate to Cr(VI). Levels of Cr(V) were higher for reactions in HEPES buffer, and levels of carbon-based radicals were higher in Tris.HCl buffer. Levels of Cr(IV) and Cr(III) increased with increasing concentration of ascorbate in both buffers. Reaction of Cr(VI) with varying ascorbate in the presence of calf thymus DNA or pBR322 DNA resulted in Cr-DNA adducts and plasmid relaxation, respectively. Maximum binding of Cr to DNA was observed for the 1:1 reaction ratio of Cr(VI) with ascorbate in both HEPES and Tris.HCl buffers, but total Cr bound to DNA was 8-fold lower in Tris.HCl than HEPES buffer. Preincubation of Cr(VI) with ascorbate before reaction with DNA decreased Cr-DNA binding to background levels. Preincubation of Cr(III) with ascorbate resulted in only low Cr-DNA binding. Levels of Cr-DNA binding were higher with single-stranded vs double-stranded DNA. Reactions with 14C-labeled ascorbate produced no cross-linking of ascorbate to DNA. Maximum plasmid relaxation was observed for the 1:1 ascorbate to Cr(VI) ratio in both buffers; however, single-strand breaks were 2-fold higher in Tris.HCl than HEPES buffer. Reactions with plasmid in the presence of DMPO quenched formation of single-strand breaks. Interpretation of these results in light of the spectroscopic studies suggested that Cr(V) and carbon-based radicals were responsible for Cr-DNA adducts and DNA single-strand breaks, respectively.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Young infants' retention of information about bisyllabic utterances.

This study examined 2-to 3 month-olds' representations of bisyllables. In 3 experiments, infants were familiarized with sets of bisyllables that either did or did not share a common consonant-vowel (CV) syllable. In Experiment 1, infants detected the presence of a new bisyllable in the test phase except when it shared a common initial CV syllable. a modified version of the high-amplitude sucking (HAS) procedure, incorporating a 2-min delay period, tested infants' retention of information about bisyllables in the remaining 2 experiments. In Experiment 2, infants were significantly more likely to retain information about bisyllables that shared the same initial CV syllable. Finally, the authors investigated whether infants simply benefited from the presence of 2 common phonetic segments, regardless of whether these came from the same cv syllable. The results showed that CV syllable organization is important in infants' ability to encode and retain information about bisyllables.

Humans↗

Definition of HLA-C alleles using sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSOP).

Many new HLA-C locus alleles have recently been identified by DNA sequencing, and a molecular based method for their detection using PCR with sequence specific primers has been reported. However, other methods may be more appropriate for the identification of C locus alleles in larger studies. Here we describe one such system, based on PCR sequence specific oligonucleotide probes, (SSOP) for C locus typing. Advantages of SSOP typing compared to SSP are that it is easier to detect new alleles, more cost effective and less time consuming. We have developed a DNA typing method to identify the broad C locus antigens (including those not yet defined serologically) using a minimum of probes with one amplification. We use a C locus specific sense primer in exon 2 and a consensus antisense primer in exon 3, in a two-step PCR, giving a product of 710 bp. Probes were designed with similar melting temperatures (54-56 degrees C) that would identify as many alleles as possible. The method was established using DNA from B lymphoid cell lines of known C locus type, mostly 10th workshop homozygous cell lines, plus as many other sequenced cell lines as possible. The system was able to correctly identify their C locus types using only 26 probes. DNA was tested from a panel of serologically typed individuals which included many different heterozygous combinations. We found a high concordance of results, with all discrepancies being additional antigens identified by molecular typing, filling in serological blanks. We can identify all common heterozygote combinations using this method.

Alleles↗

HLA antigen frequencies in renal transplant recipients and non-immunosuppressed patients with non-melanoma skin cancer.

An increased frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR1 was found in 49 non-immunosuppressed patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), being highest in patients under the age of 60 with multiple squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Of 266 patients receiving long-term immunosuppression following renal transplantation 46 (17%) were found to have NMSC. No increase in HLA-DR1 was found in renal transplant recipients (RTR) with non-melanoma skin cancer (RTR+C) when compared with matched renal transplant recipients without skin cancer (matched RTR-C), or when compared with healthy controls. There was an increased frequency of DQw2 in RTR+C, most pronounced in RTR with SCC (61.9% compared with 18.75% in matched RTR-C), giving a relative risk of 13.98. We found statistically significant differences in the frequency of a number of HLA antigens on comparing RTR+C with healthy controls, but none of these differences were found when we compared RTR+C against matched RTR-C.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Unselfish love.

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Adult↗

Perception of acoustic correlates of major phrasal units by young infants.

How might young learners parse speech into linguistically relevant units? Sensitivity to prosodic markers of these segments is one possibility. Seven experiments examined infants' sensitivity to acoustic correlates of phrasal units in English. The results suggest that: (a) 9 month olds, but not 6 month olds, are attuned to cues that differentially mark speech that is artificially segmented at linguistically COINCIDENT as opposed to NONCOINCIDENT boundaries (Experiments 1 and 2); (b) the pattern holds across both subject phrases and predicate phrases and across samples of both Child- and Adult-directed speech (Experiments 3, 4, and 7); and (c) both 9 month olds and adults show the sensitivity even when most phonetic information is removed by low-pass filtering (Experiments 5 and (6). Acoustic analyses suggest that pitch changes and in some cases durational changes are potential cues that infants might be using to make their discriminations. These findings are discussed with respect to their implications for theories of language acquisition.

Attention↗