Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Gassmann

Publications and source records attributed to M Gassmann.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Identification of a signaling complex involving CD2, zeta chain and p59fyn in T lymphocytes.

CD2 is a cell surface receptor molecule which has been implicated in cell-cell adhesion and signaling functions in T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. The mechanism by which extracellular stimuli induce CD2-regulated signal transduction events is largely unknown. However, there is increasing evidence that in cells of hematopoietic origin several receptor-mediated signaling mechanisms involve transmembrane polypeptides related to the CD3 zeta chain and the activation of protein tyrosine kinases. We have therefore investigated the potential involvement of zeta chain and src family protein tyrosine kinases in signal transduction pathways initiated by CD2. Using in vitro kinase assays on CD2 immunoprecipitates from detergent lysates of T lymphocytes, we identified a complex consisting of CD2, zeta chain and the src family kinases p59fyn and p56lck. Furthermore, using double indirect immunofluorescence combined with capping techniques, we have revealed such complexes in viable T lymphocytes. These findings provide evidence for a multimolecular signaling complex consisting of at least CD2, zeta chain and p59fyn in T lymphocytes and suggest a critical role for this complex in the initiation of CD2-mediated cellular activation by regulating the activation of intracellular signaling molecules.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation of CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase by p50csk kinase creates a binding site for p56lck tyrosine kinase and activates the phosphatase.

Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play an essential role in antigen receptor-initiated lymphocyte activation. Their activity is largely regulated by a negative regulatory tyrosine which is a substrate for the activating action of the CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) or, conversely, the suppressing action of the cytosolic p50csk PTK. Here we report that CD45 was phosphorylated by p50csk on two tyrosine residues, one of them identified as Tyr-1193. This residue was not phosphorylated by T-cell PTKs p56lck and p59fyn. Tyr-1193 was phosphorylated in intact T cells, and phosphorylation increased upon treatment with PTPase inhibitors, indicating that this tyrosine is a target for a constitutively active PTK. Cotransfection of CD45 and csk into COS-1 cells caused tyrosine phosphorylation of CD45 in the intact cells. Tyrosine-phosphorylated CD45 bound p56lck through the SH2 domain of the kinase. Finally, p50csk-mediated phosphorylation of CD45 caused a severalfold increase in its PTPase activity. Our results show that direct tyrosine phosphorylation of CD45 can affect its activity and association with Src family PTKs and that this phosphorylation could be mediated by p50csk. If this is also true in the intact cells, it adds a new dimension to the physiological function of p50csk in T lymphocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

CD4:p56lck association studied in vivo using antibody-induced capping and double indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.

Accumulating data suggest that the T-cell surface antigen CD4 transduces an independent signal during antigen-mediated T-cell activation. In vitro studies which showed that the cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase p56lck is present in anti-CD4 immunoprecipitates led to the model that p56lck is associated with the cytoplasmic domain of CD4. In this report we have extended these studies and examined potential CD4:p56lck associations in vivo. We show here by double immunofluorescence microscopy a specific co-distribution of p56lck with antibody-induced CD4 caps in intact cells. Murine T-cell hybridoma lines expressing mutant forms of CD4 were used to demonstrate that the 31 carboxyterminal aminoacids of its cytoplasmic domain, in particular cysteine-420 and cysteine-422, are crucial for the formation of CD4:p56lck complexes in vivo. The potential of the method applied is discussed with regard to studies of other transmembrane signalling systems involving src-like kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn is associated with the T cell receptor-CD3 complex in functional human lymphocytes.

The binding of antigen to the multicomponent T cell antigen receptor (TcR)-CD3 complex leads to the activation of several signal transduction pathways which result in T lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine secretion by molecular mechanisms and catalytic molecules as yet poorly defined. One of the earliest events that follows the triggering of the antigen-specific TcR-CD3 complex is a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular substrates, suggesting stimulation of at least one protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Since none of the seven TcR-CD3 subunits exhibits a recognizable kinase domain, it seems likely that the receptor complex is associated with an intracellular PTK. p59fyn and the T lymphocyte-specific p56lck are two intracellular, non-receptor, cell membrane-associated PTK of the src family expressed in T lymphocytes. Here, we show by double immunofluorescence microscopy a specific co-distribution of p59fyn, but not p56lck, with antibody-induced TcR or CD3 caps in intact human T lymphocytes. These findings provide direct evidence for a significant association of p59fyn with the TcR-CD3 complex under physiologically relevant conditions in functional T lymphocytes. They suggest that p59fyn is a crucial component of the TcR signal transduction machinery and that one of the earliest consequences of antigen recognition by the TcR is p59fyn-mediated phosphorylation of intracellular substrates on tyrosine residues.

Animals↗

Regulation of the p59fyn protein tyrosine kinase by the CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase.

Triggering of the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 (TcR/CD3) complex leads to rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of regulatory proteins that participate in initiating T cell activation and proliferation. This signal transduction event requires the presence of the TcR/CD3-associated protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn. There is also evidence that the CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase is involved in TcR/CD3 signalling. We show here by capping experiments using double indirect immunofluorescence techniques that the receptor phosphotyrosine phosphatase CD45 and the intracellular protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn specifically co-distribute in functional T lymphocytes. Furthermore, we provide evidence that isolated p59fyn is a substrate for CD45 as indicated by the rapid dephosphorylation of the regulatory Tyr531 of p59fyn by CD45. This dephosphorylation is accompanied by a severalfold increase in the catalytic activity of p59fyn as measured by its autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate. We also demonstrate that CD45-mediated dephosphorylation and activation of p59fyn apparently occurs at a slow basal rate in resting T cells. This represents the first identification of a physiologic regulator of p59fyn and implies a mechanism for the role of CD45 in TcR/CD3 signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase and p56lck protein tyrosine kinase: a functional complex crucial in T cell signal transduction.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular proteins is observed very early during T cell activation. p56lck, a non-receptor src-like protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) which is associated with the intracellular domains of CD4 and CD8 co-receptors, has been implicated in these early signal transduction events. Furthermore, recent experiments indicate that the receptor phosphotyrosine phosphatase, CD45, might be important in the regulation of p56lck PTK activity and that its expression is required for the generation of second messenger molecules following TCR triggering. Here, using co-capping experiments and double indirect immunofluorescence microscopy in functional human T lymphocytes, a specific co-distribution of a significant fraction of p56lck with CD45, but not with several other cell surface proteins, has been revealed. This is the first demonstration of a physical interaction between a receptor phosphotyrosine phosphatase and a PTK under physiologically relevant conditions. In addition, after antibody-induced capping of CD4, both a co-localization of p56lck and CD4, and concomitantly a significant increase in intracellular phosphotyrosine at the sites of CD4 caps were observed. In strong contrast to these results, co-clustering of CD4 with CD45 did not result in any detectable intracellular phosphotyrosine at the cap sites. These data indicate that CD45 can act on CD4-associated phosphoproteins in viable human T lymphocytes. Further, this provides evidence that p56lck PTK is a substrate of CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase in vivo and thereby supports the idea that CD45 is an early regulator of T cell activation involved in the modulation of the coupling of receptor-triggered events to intracellular signalling pathways.

CD4 Antigens↗

Biochemical and functional comparison of DNA polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilon from calf thymus.

DNA polymerase alpha, delta and epsilon can be isolated simultaneously from calf thymus. DNA polymerase delta was purified to apparent homogeneity by a four-column procedure including DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose, phosphocellulose, and hydroxylapatite, yielding two polypeptides of 125 and 48 kDa, respectively. On hydroxylapatite DNA polymerase delta can completely be separated from DNA polymerase epsilon. By KCl DNA polymerase delta is eluted first, while addition of potassium phosphate elutes DNA polymerase epsilon. DNA polymerases delta and epsilon could be distinguished from DNA polymerase alpha by their (i) resistance to the monoclonal antibody SJK 132-20, (ii) relative resistance to N2-[p-(n-butyl)phenyl]-2-deoxyguanosine triphosphate and 2-[p-(n-butyl)anilino]-2-deoxyadenosine triphosphate, (iii) presence of a 3'----5' exonuclease, (iv) polypeptide composition, (v) template requirements, (vi) processivities on the homopolymer poly(dA)/oligo(dT12-18), and (vii) lack of primase. The following differences of DNA polymerase delta to DNA polymerase epsilon were evident: (i) the independence of DNA polymerase epsilon to proliferating cell nuclear antigen for processivity, (ii) utilization of deoxy- and ribonucleotide primers, (iii) template requirements in the absence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, (iv) mode of elution from hydroxylapatite, and (v) sensitivity to d2TTP and to dimethyl sulfoxide. Both enzymes contain a 3'----5' exonuclease, but are devoid of endonuclease, RNase H, DNA helicase, DNA dependent ATPase, DNA primase, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. DNA polymerase delta is 100-150 fold dependent on proliferating cell nuclear antigen for activity and processivity on poly(dA)/oligo(dT12-18) at base ratios between 1:1 to 100:1. The activity of DNA polymerase delta requires an acidic pH of 6.5 and is also found on poly(dT)/oligo(dA12-18) and on poly(dT)/oligo(A12-18) but not on 10 other templates tested. All three DNA polymerases can be classified according to the revised nomenclature for eukaryotic DNA polymerases (Burgers, P.M. J., Bambara, R. A., Campbell, J. L., Chang, L. M. S., Downey, K. M., Hübscher, U., Lee, M. Y. W. T., Linn, S. M., So, A. G., and Spadari, S. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 617-618).

Animals↗

Ultrastructural cryoimmunocytochemistry is a convenient tool for the study of DNA replication in cultured cells.

In the present study, we have optimized an immunocytochemical ultrastructural approach for in situ localization of newly synthesized DNA in unsynchronized as well as in synchronized human HeLa cells and in exponentially growing mouse P815 cells, which had incorporated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) during short pulses varying from 1 to 20 minutes. The incorporated BrdU was detected in hydrolyzed ultrathin cryosections or Lowicryl sections by means of a monoclonal antibody, revealed by secondary colloidal gold-labeled probes. The results demonstrate our ability to study, with high resolution and reproducibility, DNA replication during consecutive periods of the S-phase, which is monitored by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. In addition, this approach allows one to perform a concomitant mapping of replicated DNA and various enzymes of the replisome.

Animals↗

Expression of biologically active human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B-receptor in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) consists of three different isoforms, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB, which bind to at least two types of receptors: the B-receptor, to which only PDGF-BB binds, and the A/B receptor, to which all three isoforms bind. Microinjection of synthetic mRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes was used to obtain cell-surface expression of the human PDGF B-receptor. The production of receptor molecules of correct size (190 kd) was demonstrated by specific immunoprecipitation; the binding properties of the membrane- associated PDGF B-receptor were investigated with highly purified recombinant [125I] labeled human PDGF-BB and -AA. Unlike Swiss mouse 3T3 cells, which possess both B- and A/B-receptors and, therefore, bind both isoforms with high affinity, the mRNA-injected oocytes bound only the BB isoform. Mock-injected oocytes showed no specific binding.

Animals↗

Efficient production of chicken egg yolk antibodies against a conserved mammalian protein.

The egg yolk of immunized chicken is a rich and inexpensive source of specific polyclonal antibodies. In this paper we show that 20-30 micrograms of a highly conserved mammalian protein, as exemplified by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, are sufficient to induce an immune response. Immunoblot analysis revealed that specific antibodies appeared 20 days after immunization, reached a plateau after 30 days, and remained high until at least day 81. A total amount of 4 g immunoglobulin was extracted from 62 eggs of one immunized hen, yielding approximately 130 mg of specific antibodies.

Animals↗

[The chicken egg as a supply of polyclonal antibodies].

Polyclonal antibodies can be isolated not only from the blood of immunized mammals but also from the egg yolk of immunized chickens. The advantages of this alternative method are: 1) Birds produce antibodies against highly conserved mammalian proteins. 2) The quantity of antigen needed for an efficient immune response is very low (20-30 micrograms). 3) The use of complete Freund's adjuvant leads to long lasting titers of yolk antibodies yielding a total amount of 65 mg specific antibodies per month. 4) The purification of antibodies is simple, inexpensive and quick. Polyethylene glycol precipitation is sufficient to obtain a purity of more than 90%. 5) Chicken antibodies are acid- and heat-resistant and might therefore be orally applied to prevent or to cure infectious intestinal diseases of young animals or humans. 6) Immunization with complete Freund's adjuvant is well tolerated and produces no inflammatory reactions and 7) collecting eggs is, in contrast to bleeding animals, non-invasive. In this review we present both, the method how to produce and to isolate yolk antibodies as well as their possible application in science, diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy.

Animals↗

Calf thymus DNA polymerase delta independent of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

DNA polymerase delta from calf thymus was purified under conditions that minimized proteolysis to a specific activity of 27,000 units/mg. The four step isolation procedure included phosphocellulose, hydroxyapatite, heparin-Sepharose and FPLC-MonoS. This enzyme consists of four polypeptides with Mr of 140, 125, 48 and 40 kilodaltons. Velocity gradient sedimentation in glycerol removed the 48 kDa polypeptide while the other three sedimented with the DNA polymerase activity. The biochemical properties of the three subunit enzyme and the copurification of 3'----5' exonuclease activity were typical for a bona fide DNA polymerase delta. Tryptic peptide analysis showed that the 140 kDa polypeptide was different from the catalytic 180 kDa polypeptide of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha. Both high Mr polypeptides (140 and 125 kDa) were catalytically active as analysed in an activity gel. Four templates were used by DNA polymerase delta with different preferences, namely poly(dA)/oligo(dT)12-18 much much greater than activated DNA greater than poly(dA-dT) greater than primed single-stranded M13DNA. Calf thymus proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) could not stimulated this DNA polymerase delta in any step of the isolation procedure. If tested on poly(dA)/oligo(dT)12-18 (base ratio 10:1), PCNA had no stimulatory effect on DNA polymerase delta when tested with low enzyme DNA ratio nor did it change the kinetic behaviour of the enzyme. DNA polymerase delta itself did not contain PCNA. The enzyme had an intrinsic processivity of several thousand bases, when tested either on the homopolymer poly(dA)/oligo(dT)12-18 (base ratio 64:1) or on primed single-stranded M13DNA. Contrary to DNA polymerase alpha, no pausing sites were seen with DNA polymerase delta. Under optimal in vitro replication conditions the enzyme could convert primed single-stranded circular M13 DNA of 7,200 bases to its double-stranded form in less than 10 min. This supports that a PCNA independent DNA polymerase delta exists in calf thymus in addition to a PCNA dependent enzyme (Lee, M.Y.W.T. et al. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 1906-1913).

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of ramipril in hypertensive patients with renal insufficiency.

In an open trial, the pharmacokinetics of ramipril and its active metabolite ramiprilat were studied in 25 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency given 5 mg ramipril p.o. for 14 days. Ramipril was rapidly absorbed and reached a peak concentration after 1-2 h. Cmax was greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency, which might indicate a reduced renal elimination rate, although, the rapid decline of the concentration-time curve for ramipril was almost independent of renal function. The mean initial apparent half-lives on Days 1 and 12, respectively, were 2.8 and 3.4 h (Group I: creatinine clearance 5-15 ml/min), 1.8 and 2.3 h (Group II: creatinine clearance 15-40 ml/min), and 1.9 and 1.9 h (Group III: creatinine clearance 40-80 ml/min). No accumulation was observed after multiple dosing. In contrast, the kinetics of its active acid metabolite ramiprilat was significantly influenced by renal function. The mean times to the peak plasma concentration were 5.7 h in Group I, 4.4 h in Group II and 3.8 h in Group III. The initial decline in plasma ramiprilat was dependent upon renal function; the mean initial apparent half-lives (Days 1 and 12, respectively) were 16.0 and 14.8 h (Group I), 10.1 and 9.5 h (Group II) and 10.6 and 8.0 h (Group III). Mean trough concentrations and absolute accumulation also increased with worsening renal function, and the renal clearance of ramiprilat was significantly correlated with the creatinine clearance. The subsequent long terminal phase at low plasma ramiprilat concentrations represented slow dissociation of the ACE-inhibitor complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Steady-state kinetics of ramipril in renal failure.

In an open trial, the pharmacokinetics of ramipril and its active metabolite ramiprilat were studied in 23 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency. During a 2-week treatment period, each subject took daily a 5-mg tablet of ramipril. Serum profiles and urinary excretion of the parent compound and ramiprilat, the active metabolite, were then evaluated. Peak concentrations of ramipril were slightly greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency; however, most of the ramipril was metabolized in the liver. The drug concentration-time curve was almost independent of renal function and no accumulation was observed after multiple dosing. In contrast, ramiprilat kinetics were significantly influenced by renal function. Initial apparent half-lives (8-16 h), mean trough concentrations (5-19 ng/ml), and absolute accumulation all increased with worsening renal function, and renal clearance of ramiprilat was significantly correlated with creatinine clearance. The subsequent long terminal phase at low ramiprilat serum concentration represents the slow dissociation of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-bound drug. This study indicates that in patients with severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min), smaller doses of ramipril will be required than in patients with normal or borderline normal renal function.

Adult↗

Therapeutic efficacy and tolerance of ramipril in hypertensive patients with renal failure.

In an open trial, the antihypertensive and hormonal effects of ramipril, a new nonsulfhydryl angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were studied in 23 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal failure: group I, creatinine clearance 5-15 ml/min, n = 10; group II, creatinine clearance 15-40 ml/min, n = 7; group III, creatinine clearance 40-80 ml/min, n = 6. In a 2-week placebo run-in period, antihypertensive agents were reduced or discontinued. During the treatment phase, patients received a 5-mg tablet of ramipril once daily for a period of 2 weeks. Concomitant medication remained unchanged. In all groups, ramipril significantly decreased mean arterial blood pressure. Blood pressure response was not different in the three groups, although plasma ramipril levels were higher in patients with severe renal failure. In patients with high plasma renin activity (PRA), reduction of blood pressure was greater than in subjects with low PRA. Plasma ACE activity was suppressed to less than 20% of its initial value in all groups during the whole treatment period, and the suppression was more marked and lasted longer in patients with severe renal failure. A strong correlation between the plasma ramiprilat levels and the inhibition of plasma ACE activity was noted for all groups. Mean serum creatinine did not increase significantly; serum potassium levels rose from 4.5 to 4.9 mmol/L on day 14 (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, in patients with various degrees of renal failure, ramipril represents an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Replication of single-stranded porcine circovirus DNA by DNA polymerases alpha and delta.

Porcine circovirus is the only mammalian DNA virus so far known to contain a single-stranded circular genome (Tischer et al. (1982) Nature 295, 64-66). Replication of its small viral DNA (1.76 kb) appears to be dependent on cellular enzymes expressed during S-phase of the cell cycle (Tischer et al. (1987) Arch. Virol. 96, 39-57). In this paper we have exploited the porcine circovirus genome to probe for in vitro initiation and elongation of DNA replication by different preparations of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and delta as well as by a partially purified preparation from pig thymus. The results indicated that three different purification fractions of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and one from pig thymus initiate DNA synthesis at several sites on the porcine circovirus DNA. It appears that the sites at which DNA primase synthesizes primers are not entirely random. Subsequent DNA elongation by a highly purified DNA polymerase alpha holoenzyme which had been isolated by the criterion of replicating single-stranded M13 DNA (Ottiger et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 4789-4807) is very efficient. Complete conversion to the double-stranded form is obtained in less than 1 min. When the DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha is blocked with the DNA polymerase alpha specific monoclonal antibody SJK 132-20 after initiation by DNA primase, DNA polymerase delta can efficiently replicate from the primers. This in vitro DNA replication system may be used in analogy to the bacteriophage systems in E. coli to study initiation and elongation of DNA replication.

Animals↗

Calcium-dependent calmodulin-binding proteins associated with mammalian DNA polymerase alpha.

Complex, multiprotein forms of bovine (calf thymus), hamster (Chinese hamster ovary cell), and human (HeLa) cell DNA polymerase alpha (Pol alpha) were analyzed for their content of calmodulin-binding proteins. The approach used an established autoradiographic technique employing 125I-labeled calmodulin to probe proteins in denaturing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electropherograms. All three Pol alpha enzymes were associated with discrete, Ca2+-dependent calmodulin-binding proteins. Conventionally purified calf thymus Pol alpha holoenzyme contained three prominent, trifluoperazine-sensitive species with apparent molecular masses of approx. 120, 80 and 48 kDa. The 120 and 48 kDa species remained associated with the polymerase.primase core of the calf enzyme during immunopurification with monoclonal antibodies directed specifically against the polymerase subunit. The patterns of the calmodulin-binding proteins displayed by conventionally purified preparations of hamster and human Pol alpha enzymes were similar to each other and distinctly different from the pattern of comparable preparations of calf thymus Pol alpha. Immunopurified preparations of the human and hamster Pol alphas retained significant calmodulin-binding activity of apparent molecular masses of approx. 55, 80 and 150-200 kDa.

Animals↗

Calf thymus DNA polymerase delta: purification, biochemical and functional properties of the enzyme after its separation from DNA polymerase alpha, a DNA dependent ATPase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

We have established a novel procedure to purify calf thymus DNA polymerase delta from cytoplasmic extracts. The enzyme has typical properties of DNA polymerase delta including a 3' - greater than 5' exonuclease activity and efficiently replicates natural occurring genomes such as primed single-stranded M13 DNA and single-stranded porcine circovirus DNA, this last one thanks to an associated or contaminating primase activity. A processivity of at least a thousand bases was evident and this in the apparent absence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The enzyme was purified through a procedure that allows the simultaneous isolation of DNA polymerase delta, DNA polymerase alpha-primase and a DNA dependent ATPase. All these enzymes coeluted from a phosphocellulose column. After chromatography on hydroxylapatite DNA polymerase delta separated from the coeluting DNA polymerase alpha and DNA dependent ATPase. Separation of the latter two was achieved on heparin-Sepharose. DNA polymerase delta was further purified by heparin-Sepharose and fast protein liquid chromatography. Purified DNA polymerase delta was resistant to the DNA polymerase alpha inhibitors BuPdGTP and BuAdATP and did not react with DNA polymerase alpha monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Based on this isolation protocol we can start to test biochemically the hypothesis whether DNA polymerase delta and DNA polymerase alpha might act coordinately at the replication fork as leading and lagging strand replicases, respectively.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗