Biomedical subjects

N Shimbara

Publications and source records attributed to N Shimbara.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of cDNAs for rat proteasomes: deduced primary structures of four other subunits.

Proteasomes (multi-protease complexes) are composed of approximately 15 non-identical subunits of similar sizes (molecular weight = 21-32 kDa), but different charges (isoelectric point = 4-9). Previously, we deduced the primary structures of 6 subunits of rat proteasomes by recombinant DNA techniques. In this paper we report the nucleotide sequences of 4 other subunits, rIOTA, rZETA, rDELTA, and rRING12, determined from cDNA clones isolated by screening a rat H4TG hepatoma cell cDNA library with the cDNAs of their human counterparts as probes. The polypeptides deduced from their nucleotide sequences consisted of 246, 241, 202, and 219 amino acid residues with calculated molecular weights of 27,399, 26,391, 21,649, and 23,324, and calculated isoelectric points of 6.37, 4.65, 4.84, and 4.70, respectively. These results and previous findings indicate that the primary structures of the subunits of rat proteasomes show considerably high inter-subunit homology, but can be classified into apparently distinct sub-groups, suggesting that rat proteasome genes form a multi-gene family with the same evolutionary origin, but have diverged during evolution to acquire possibly subunit-specific functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Changes in expressions of proteasome and ubiquitin genes in human renal cancer cells.

Proteasomes and ubiquitin (Ub) are essential components of the energy-dependent, nonlysosomal proteolytic pathway. To clarify the physiological role of this proteasome/Ub-dependent pathway, we meaured the levels of expressions of proteasomes and Ub in human renal cancers by Northern blot and immunochemical analyses. The mRNAs for two of the multiple subunits of proteasomes, C2 and C9, were expressed at abnormally high levels in most neoplastic lesions of patients with various primary renal cell carcinomas and in all renal cancer cell lines examined. However, no significant difference was found by enzyme immunoassay in the proteasomal contents of cancerous and normal parts of the kidney. The levels of mRNAs for the subunits of proteasomes were high in rapidly proliferating renal cells and appeared to be correlated with the activities of these cells for proteasome synthesis, but the cellular contents of proteasomes in these cells were normal, suggesting rapid turnover of proteasomes in rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Consistent with the increased expressions of proteasomal mRNAs, the expressions of three Ub genes, mono-UbA80, mono-UbA52, and poly-UbC, were found to be greatly increased in these renal cancer cells. Immunohistochemical staining of normal kidney showed that the levels of both proteasomes and Ub were high in cells of renal tubules and collecting ducts, but low in the glomerulus. The levels of both proteins appeared to be considerably increased in the nuclei of granular and clear carcinoma cells of the kidney. Moreover, the profiles of cellular proteins conjugated with Ub in normal kidney tissues were different from those in cancerous parts of the kidney and in established renal cancer cells. These results suggest that the proteasome- and ubiquitin-mediated system is functionally involved in the cancerous state in human kidney.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Radiolytic hydroxylation of 1-substituted thymines promoted by transition metal salts in N2- and N2O-saturated aqueous solutions.

The effect of high-valent transition metal salts on the radiation-induced hydroxylation of thymine (1a), 1-methylthymine (1b), and thymidine (1c) to the corresponding thymine glycol derivatives (2a-c) was studied at pH 7.0 in N2- and N2O-saturated aqueous solutions. The selectivities of (2a-c) based on converted (1a-c) increased to attain the maxima of 35-69% and then decreased, with increasing the one-electron reduction potential [E(M (n+1)+/Mn+)] of metal salts in the range of 0-1.0 V vs. NHE less than. Metal salts with E(M (n+1)+/Mn+) 0 or greater 1.0 V vs. NHE caused little change in the yields of (2a-c).

Hydroxylation↗