Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Yoshida

Publications and source records attributed to M Yoshida.

At least 1,405 records · Page 78Linked to original sources

Gene expression within a chromatin domain: the role of core histone hyperacetylation.

Scaffold-attached regions (SAR elements) increase transcriptional rates for integrated but not episomal templates, and this effect can be potentiated by using an epigenetically active reagent, butyrate. The action of butyrate is a direct one, not involving de novo protein synthesis, and can be mimicked by using a novel and highly specific inhibitor of histone deacetylases, (R)-trichostatin A. This leads to a model in which SAR elements serve to stabilize the chromosomal topology arising as a consequence of hyperacetylation of histone cores. The synergistic effects of histone hyperacetylation and SARs are mediated by promoter upstream elements since, for a simple TATA box, the response to both parameters is an additive one.

Acetylation↗

Monomeric chaperonin-60 and its 50-kDa fragment possess the ability to interact with non-native proteins, to suppress aggregation, and to promote protein folding.

Chaperonin-60 is usually isolated as a tetradecameric form arranged as two stacked seven-member rings, and this structure has been considered to be required for promoting protein folding. However, monomeric chaperonin-60 (cpn60m), isolated from holo-chaperonin of Thermus thermophilus, and its proteolytic 50-kDa fragment, which lacks amino-terminal 78 amino acid residues, can interact with non-native rhodanese and lactate dehydrogenase, suppress formation of aggregates, and promote productive folding under the appropriate conditions. However, different from tetradecameric chaperonin-60, folding promoted by cpn60m and the 50-kDa fragment produces lower yields of active enzymes and does not require ATP or chaperonin-10. These effects are not due to transient reassembly of cpn60m into a tetradecamer during the reaction, since immobilized cpn60m and the 50-kDa fragment, both of which can not reassemble into a tetradecamer, can still promote protein folding. An excess amount of the 50-kDa fragment shows an inhibitory effect on MgATP-triggered holochaperonin-dependent folding, indicating the 50-kDa fragment and holo-chaperonin can interact with the same species of non-native proteins. Thus, cpn60m has an intrinsic activity as a molecular chaperone and amino-terminal region of cpn60 is dispensable for this activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Leptomycin B targets a regulatory cascade of crm1, a fission yeast nuclear protein, involved in control of higher order chromosome structure and gene expression.

The molecular action of leptomycin B (LMB), an agent inducing arrest of the eukaryotic cell cycle at G1 and G2 phases, was investigated by analyzing an LMB resistance gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. A genomic library of an LMB-resistant mutant was screened for LMB resistance, and a DNA fragment containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 1078 amino acids was cloned on a multicopy vector. The plasmid was found to confer drug resistance specifically to LMB. Nucleotide sequencing revealed that the ORF was a mutant gene for the essential nuclear protein crm1, which had been reported to complement a cold-sensitive mutation causing deformed nuclear morphology. The gene product named crm1-N1 had two amino acid replacements (Gly-503 to Asp and Met-546 to Ile). Two allelic mutants of crm1 (crm1-809 and crm1-119) were found to be hypersensitive and resistant, respectively, to LMB. Nuclear morphology of the cold-sensitive crm1-809 mutant at the restrictive temperature was almost the same as that of the wild-type cells treated with LMB. Furthermore, a low concentration of LMB induced the intracellular accumulation of a 25-kDa protein in the wild-type cells, which was immunologically identical to the protein accumulating in the crm1-809 mutant cells. These results strongly suggest that LMB primarily inhibits the function of the crm1 gene which is required for maintaining higher order chromosome structures, correct gene expression, and cell growth in the fission yeast.

Alkaloids↗

Purified vacuolar inorganic pyrophosphatase consisting of a 75-kDa polypeptide can pump H+ into reconstituted proteoliposomes.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase was purified to homogeneity from the vacuolar membranes of pumpkin hypocotyl tissue. The purified Inorganic pyrophosphatase consists of a single kind of 75-kDa polypeptide, and the stacked molecules with a repeating unit of 5.8 x 3.8 nm are seen under electron micrography. It exhibits H(+)-translocating activity across membranes coupled with PPi hydrolysis when it is reconstituted into proteoliposomes. A monovalent cation is required for the H+ translocation with the K+ ion being the most effective, but evidence for active transport of 42K+ into proteoliposomes was not obtained under the conditions tested. The hydrolysis of PPi by the reconstituted proteoliposomes is stimulated by the addition of a H+ ionophore, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethyoxyphenylhydrazone, but not by a K+ ionophore, valinomycin. Both hydrolysis of PPi and PPi-dependent H+ translocation of the proteoliposomes are inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular organization at the glycoprotein-complex-binding site of dystrophin. Three dystrophin-associated proteins bind directly to the carboxy-terminal portion of dystrophin.

Direct interaction between the C-terminal portion of dystrophin and dystrophin-associated proteins was investigated. The binding of dystrophin to each protein was reconstituted by overlaying bacterially expressed dystrophin fusion proteins onto the blot membranes to which dystrophin-associated proteins were transferred after separation by SDS/PAGE with the following results. (a) Among the components of the glycoprotein complex which links dystrophin to the sarcolemma, a 43-kDa dystrophin-associated glycoprotein binds directly to dystrophin. Although at least one of the binding sites of this protein resides within the cysteine-rich domain of dystrophin, a contribution of additional amino acid residues within the first half of the C-terminal domain was also suggested for more secure binding. (b) Two other proteins also directly bind to dystrophin. Their binding sites are suggested to reside within the last half of the C-terminal domain which is alternatively spliced depending on the tissue type. Previously, based on the enzyme digestion experiments, we showed that the binding site for the glycoprotein complex on dystrophin is present within the cysteine-rich domain and the first half of the C-terminal domain [Suzuki, A., Yoshida, M., Yamamoto, H. & Ozawa, E. (1992) FEBS Lett. 308, 154-160]. Here, we have extended this work and found that the region which is involved in interaction with the complex is widely extended to the entire length of this part of the molecule. On the basis of the present results, we propose a model of molecular architecture at the binding site for the complex on dystrophin.

Antibodies↗

Folding intermediate binds to the bottom of bullet-shaped holo-chaperonin and is readily accessible to antibody.

Holo-chaperonin from Thermus thermophilus (Thermus holo-cpn) is a bullet-shaped particle where chaperonin-10 heptamer locates at one axial end of the cylindrical body of chaperonin-60 tetradecamer. Thermus holo-cpn promotes in-vitro folding of denatured 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH) from the same bacterium. We observed the complexes of Thermus holo-cpn and folding intermediates of IPMDH by immuno-electron microscopy after decoration by single layer labeling with anti-IPMDH IgG or by double layer labeling with anti-IPMDH IgG as first layer and antibodies against IgG as second layer. Images of the electron microscope showed that anti-IPMDH IgG was bound to the bottom end of the bullet-shaped Thermus holo-cpn. This result provides direct evidence that the folding intermediate binds to the axial end, which is opposite to the end where chaperonin-10 heptamer resides, of the cylindrical body of chaperonin-60 tetradecamer, and that bound folding intermediate in the complex is sufficiently exposed to the outside to be accessible by antibody.

3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗

Opposite changes in the mesolimbic dopamine metabolism in the nerve terminal and cell body sites induced by locally infused baclofen in the rat.

Infusion of baclofen (10(-4) M, 1 h) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the cell body site of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neuron system in conscious rats, caused a decrease in both axonal and somatodendritic DA release in this neuron system, when monitored by in vivo microdialysis using two probes simultaneously placed in both the NAC and the VTA. Levels of the metabolite of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the VTA decreased significantly in a similar manner following infused baclofen into the VTA, however, a pronounced increase in DOPAC outflow was observed in dialysates from the NAC. This dissociated changes in DA metabolism observed in the NAC may possibly be derived from regulatory mechanisms via an autoreceptor located in the DA nerve terminals.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Detection of thymopoietin-responsive proteins in nude mouse spleen cells by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and image processing.

Lymphoid cells isolated from the spleen of BALB/c nu/nu nude mice were treated with synthetic human thymopoietin, and newly synthesized proteins were labeled by [35S]methionine incorporation. In the control experiment, the same lot of spleen cells were incubated in the labeling medium without the addition of thymopoietin. Urea/detergent-soluble proteins were extracted from the cells after 3 h incubation to be separated by two-dimensional poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spots of [35S]methionine-labeled proteins were visualized by autoradiography and analyzed by image processing. The computer-aided spot matching screened out three major thymopoietin-responsive proteins, TRP-1, -2 and -3. [35S]Methionine incorporation into TRP-3, of which the isoelectric point and molecular mass were approximately pI 5 and 10 kDa, respectively, was decreased by the thymopoietin treatment. In contrast with the down regulation, TRP-1, which was slightly higher in pI and slightly larger in molecular mass, and TRP-2, which was slightly higher in pI and almost the same in molecular mass as TRP-3, were evidently induced by the treatment. However, TRPs could not be assigned to Thy-1 antigen on the difference in molecular mass. The specific induction by the thymopoietin treatment suggested that TRP-1 and -2 might be novel proteins related to the intracellular signal transduction.

Animals↗

Multiple functions of nitric oxide in pathophysiology and microbiology: analysis by a new nitric oxide scavenger.

A wide range of biological functions of nitric oxide (NO) was analyzed using a newly discovered nitric oxide scavenger, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolineoxyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) or its water-soluble derivative carboxy-PTIO. The chemistry is very simple in that NO was oxidized by PTIO, yielding one mole each of NO2 and 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl. Based on the potent NO-scavenging activity of PTIO derivatives, the diverse functions of NO under physiological states as well as various pathological conditions such as endotoxin shock and viral diseases are now explicated. It was found that PTIO and carboxy-PTIO showed significant inhibitory activity against a series of biological actions of NO: (1) endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in an ex vivo system, (2) pathogenicity of NO produced excessively in endotoxin shock in rats and in influenza virus pneumonitis in mice, and (3) enhanced vascular permeability in solid tumors mediated by NO. PTIO directly extinguishes NO generated by NO synthase (NOS) without affecting NOS activity, which is a clear contrast to NOS inhibitors. Therefore, characterization of this unique mode of action of PTIO appears to be helpful not only in understanding of the pathophysiological role of NO but also in the treatment of various diseases caused by excessive production of NO.

Animals↗

Primary thymic carcinoma: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study.

During the treatment of five cases of thymic carcinoma, we conducted a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study. The patients included four males and one female, whose ages ranged from 50 to 69 years. The histologic breakdown was squamous cell carcinoma in four and small cell carcinoma in one. Immunohistochemically, the squamous cell carcinomas were positive for cytokeratin (intermediate molecular weight) and keratin. However, staining was negative for Leu-7 and chromogranin. A complete resection was achieved in only one case. In all four of the remaining cases, the resection was incomplete due to invasion into adjacent organs and disseminated lesions. Thymic carcinoma is a tumor for which a higher response rate can be expected from multidisciplinary therapy than that for lung cancer. Therefore, it is desirable, from the clinical view, to determine clinical staging and to establish standard operative procedures comprising mediastinal lymph node dissection as well as effective chemotherapy. With respect to pathology, it is hoped that an improved histologic classification will be developed.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Expression of utrophin (dystrophin-related protein) and dystrophin-associated glycoproteins in muscles from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

We examined whether the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (GPC), which serves to fix dystrophin to cell membranes, is present at the sarcolemma in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) muscles using an immunohistochemical method. Antibodies against 50DAG (A2) and 43DAG (A3a), the components of GPC, were used for the detection of GPC. We found that, although the amount of GPC was reduced in DMD muscles where utrophin but not dystrophin was distinctly present, 43DAG (A3a) was fairly heavily and 50DAG (A2) was lightly but distinctly stained on the cell surfaces. It is likely that the capability of utrophin to preserve 50DAG (A2) is less than that of dystrophin, although utrophin has been reported to bind to GPC. We also found that 43DAG (A3a) but not 50DAG (A2) was detected in the peripheral nerves where utrophin was detected. Therefore, it is likely that 43DAG (A3a) is essential for the fixation of utrophin to cell membranes, as in the case of dystrophin. 50DAG (A2) may play other important roles in the pathogenesis of DMD.

Cytoskeletal Proteins↗

Widespread tissue distribution of multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in familial mitochondrial myopathy.

We used Southern blot analysis and the polymerase chain reaction to analyze the tissue distribution of multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions in a 45-year-old man with familial mitochondrial myopathy-Southern blots showed two major types of abnormal mtDNA with approximately 4- and 8-kilobase deletions in the skeletal and extraocular muscles. The amount of muscle mtDNA with deletions correlated approximately with the severity of muscle involvement. The polymerase chain reaction showed multiple mtDNA deletions even in clinically asymptomatic tissues, the pattern of which differed with the type of tissue. Nucleotide sequences of several mtDNAs with deletions showed that the deletions were flanked by direct repeats consisting of 3 to 12 nucleotides. Leukocytes from the patient's affected sister and his mother exhibited the same mtDNA deletion pattern. Most of the same deletions were present in leukocytes obtained from the patient's father.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of peptide analysis results for horse, bovine and dog cytochrome c using capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry with untreated capillary column and basic buffer condition.

Peptide analysis of cytochrome c using capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry was demonstrated to be a rapid, sensitive and useful technique for providing information concerning the location of variation. We analyzed tryptic digests of horse, bovine and dog cytochrome c, and compared the peptide analysis results for information concerning amino acid sequences in proteins. The differences in amino acid sequence were confirmed by taking into consideration that all the other fragments are identical in each map. The use of an untreated capillary column with basic buffer condition (water+acetonitrile+(20 g/L) ammonium carbonate (70/20/10), pH 9.2) had a reproducibility of migration times to within about 2%.

Amino Acid Sequence↗