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P J Ford

Publications and source records attributed to P J Ford.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

A single amino acid substitution makes ERK2 susceptible to pyridinyl imidazole inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are serine/threonine kinases that mediate intracellular signal transduction pathways. Pyridinyl imidazole compounds block pro-inflammatory cytokine production and are specific p38 kinase inhibitors. ERK2 is related to p38 in sequence and structure, but is not inhibited by pyridinyl imidazole inhibitors. Crystal structures of two pyridinyl imidazoles complexed with p38 revealed these compounds bind in the ATP site. Mutagenesis data suggested a single residue difference at threonine 106 between p38 and other MAP kinases is sufficient to confer selectivity of pyridinyl imidazoles. We have changed the equivalent residue in human ERK2, Q105, into threonine and alanine, and substituted four additional ATP binding site residues. The single residue change Q105A in ERK2 enhances the binding of SB202190 at least 25,000-fold compared to wild-type ERK2. We report enzymatic analyses of wild-type ERK2 and the mutant proteins, and the crystal structure of a pyridinyl imidazole, SB203580, bound to an ERK2 pentamutant, I103L, Q105T, D106H, E109G. T110A. These ATP binding site substitutions induce low nanomolar sensitivity to pyridinyl imidazoles. Furthermore, we identified 5-iodotubercidin as a potent ERK2 inhibitor, which may help reveal the role of ERK2 in cell proliferation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Chemosensitization and drug accumulation effects of VX-710, verapamil, cyclosporin A, MS-209 and GF120918 in multidrug resistant HL60/ADR cells expressing the multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP.

Overexpression of the multidrug resistance MDR1 gene product P-glycoprotein and/or the multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP confers multidrug resistance to cancer cells. The pipecolinate derivative VX-710 has previously been demonstrated to reverse MDR1-mediated multidrug resistance at concentrations of 0.5-2.5 microM by direct interaction with P-glycoprotein and inhibition of its drug efflux activity. In this study we investigated whether VX-710 as well as four other known MDR1 modulators could also reverse multidrug resistance mediated by MRP. VX-710 at 0.5-5 microM restored senstivity of MRP-expressing HL60/ADR promyelocytic leukemia cells to the cytotoxic action of doxorubicin, etoposide and vincristine. VX-710 was approximately 2-fold more effective than verapamil, MS-209 and CsA in modulating MRP-mediated multidrug resistance, whereas GF120918 had no significant effect. VX-710 was also more effective than verapamil, MS-209 and CsA in restoring the daunorubicin accumulation deficit in HL60/ADR cells and in increasing calcein uptake. A photoaffinity analog of VX-710, [3H]VF-13,159, specifically photo labeled the MRP protein and unlabeled VX-710 inhibited this binding in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that VX-710 is not only a potent modulator of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance, but also affects multidrug resistance in MRP-expressing cells and may exert its action, at least in part, by binding directly to MRP.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

A tightly regulated high level expression vector that utilizes a thermosensitive lac repressor: production of the human T cell receptor V beta 5.3 in Escherichia coli.

A series of vectors has been constructed to express the human T cell receptor V beta 5.3 under the control of the hybrid trc promoter in Escherichia coli. Transcriptional induction of the trc promoter was achieved chemically by using isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in a bacterial strain that harbors the lacIq gene, or thermally by using the mutant lacIts gene that encodes a temperature-sensitive lac repressor [Bukrinsky et al. (1988) Multicopy expression vector based on temperature-regulated lac repressor: expression of human immunodeficiency virus env gene in Escherichia coli. Gene 70, 415-417]. Several of the plasmids tested also contain the E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin II (STII) signal sequence for protein secretion. In addition, the gene 10 leader sequence from bacteriophage T7 and a minicistron localized upstream of the V beta 5.3 coding sequence were tested for their potential effect on protein production. These elements increased protein yield two-fold when transcription was induced by IPTG, but had no detectable effect on protein yield when transcription was induced thermally. The highest protein yield was obtained when V beta 5.3 was expressed either from plasmid pKB containing the STII signal in strain LJ24, or from plasmid pKBi that lacks the signal sequence, in the protease deficient strain SG21173 (lon, htpR. clp). Both plasmids contain the lacIts gene, the trc promoter, the two transcription terminators of the rrnB operon, and a tetracycline selection marker. Production of V beta 5.3 using pKBi-V beta 5.3 in strain SG21173 in a 5-liter fermenter under controlled growth conditions yielded over 25 mg V beta 5.3/liter culture. Conversion of the lacIts to the lacIqts gene yielded vector pKBiq-V beta 5.3 which exhibits complete repression of the trc promoter at 30 degrees C. This stringent regulation of the thermally inducible trc promoter, the elimination of IPTG, the inclusion of the tetracycline resistance gene, and the high level of protein yield should render this expression system broadly useful for the high level production of heterologous proteins in E. coli, for both basic research and human therapeutic applications.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

A soluble deletion mutant of the human complement receptor type 1, which lacks the C4b binding site, is a selective inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway.

The human complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35), is a single-chain glycoprotein consisting of 30 repeating homologous protein domains known as short consensus repeats (SCR) followed by transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The SCR themselves, considered in groups of seven, form long homologous repeats (LHR) which have been designated LHR-A, -B, -C, and -D for the most common human allotype of CR1. A soluble deletion mutant of CR1 which lacks the first seven N-terminal SCR (LHR-A) as well as the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains was produced and characterized. The resulting protein, designated sCR1[desLHR-A], lacks the C4b binding site found in LHR-A, but retains the two C3b binding sites found in LHR-B and -C, respectively. The functional activities of sCR1[desLHR-A] were quantitatively compared in vitro to those of soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) which has been shown to retain all known functions of the native cell surface receptor. sCR1[desLHR-A] and sCR1 competed equally for the binding of dimeric C3b to erythrocyte CR1. sCR1[desLHR-A] and sCR1 were similar in their capacity to serve as a cofactor in the factor I-mediated degradation of the C3b and C4b alpha chains. sCR1[desLHR-A] and sCR1 were comparable in their capacity to inhibit erythrocyte lysis and anaphylatoxin production mediated by the alternative complement pathway. sCR1[desLHR-A], however, was significantly less effective an inhibitor of erythrocyte lysis and anaphylatoxin production than sCR1 under conditions which allow classical pathway activation. These results demonstrate sCR1[desLHR-A] to be a selective inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway in vitro.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1996

Extended in vivo half-life of human soluble complement receptor type 1 fused to a serum albumin-binding receptor.

A new approach has been used to extend the T(1/2) of human soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) in rats. The albumin-binding domains B2A3 (BA) and B1A2B2A3 (BABA) from Streptococcal protein G were fused to the carboxyl terminus of sCR1, and the recombinant genes were expressed and amplified in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Western blot analysis and surface plasmon resonance measurements demonstrated the binding of rat serum albumin to both sCR1-BA and sCR1-BABA but not to sCR1. The in vitro complement inhibitory activity of the fusion proteins was shown to be similar to that of sCR1, indicating that neither the albumin-binding domains nor the presence of bovine serum albumin interfere with sCR1 function. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the T(1/2) of the distribution phase (T(1/2alpha)) was 3.3, 20.0 and 6.0 min for sCR1, sCR1-BA and sCR1-BABA, respectively. The T(1/2) of the elimination phase (T(1/2beta)) was 103, 297 and 170 min for sCR1, sCR1-BA and sCR1-BABA, respectively. The plasma elimination of sCR1-BA and sCR1-BABA was significantly (P < .05) prolonged as compared to sCR1. The proteins showed similar tissue distribution; at 4-hr postdosing, the highest levels of 125I-radioactivity per gram of tissue were localized in the urine, blood, liver, stomach, and small intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Expression of the human T-cell receptor V beta 5.3 in Escherichia coli by thermal induction of the trc promoter: nucleotide sequence of the lacIts gene.

We have constructed a vector, pKBi, for the high-level expression of the variable beta chain 5.3 (V beta 5.3) of the human T-cell receptor in Escherichia coli. This vector incorporates the trc promoter, a polylinker, two transcription terminators, and the tetracycline resistance gene. Furthermore, the vector contains the lacIts gene that encodes a temperature-sensitive (ts) lac repressor, thus obviating both the need to use IPTG as a transcriptional inducer, and bacterial strains that harbor either the lacI or lacIq genes. The sequence of the lacIts gene shows an open reading frame of 1,080 nucleotides encoding 360 amino acids, and differs from the lacI gene at nucleotide 559 (with reference to the first nucleotide of the start codon). This nucleotide changes from G to A, causing amino acid residue 187 to change from glycine (GGC) to serine (AGC). This mutation imparts thermal sensitivity to the lac repressor protein. This is the first time that a TCR V beta region has been expressed at high levels (up to 28 mg/liter of culture) without fusion partners. The availability of the lacIts gene for thermal induction of the trc promoter, and the presence of the tetracycline resistance gene should make the expression vector pKBi particularly attractive for the efficient production of human therapeutic proteins in bacteria.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Quantitative analysis of C4b dimer binding to distinct sites on the C3b/C4b receptor (CR1).

The complement receptor CR1 (CD35) is a transmembrane protein composed in its extracellular portion of short consensus repeats (SCR 1-30) organized into four long homologous repeats (LHR-A, LHR-B, LHR-C, and LHR-D). Each LHR, except LHR-D, contains a binding site for C3b and/or C4b within its first four SCR. The binding reaction between CR1 and soluble dimers of C4b (C4b2) was analyzed using the native receptor on human erythrocytes and full-length recombinant CR1 expressed in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CR1 mutants expressed similarly were used to determine the SCR of LHR-A required for C4b2 binding and the potential of C3b binding sites in CR1 to bind C4b2. Erythrocyte CR1, CHO cells expressing full-length recombinant CR1 (ABCD), constructs ACD, and SCR(1-4)D each bound C4b2 with similar affinities (Kd, approximately 4 x 10(-7) M). Construct SCR(1-2)D bound C4b2 with lower affinity (Kd, 1.4 x 10(-6) M) indicating that SCR(1-4) are required for a fully functional C4b2 binding site. Construct SCR(15-18)D, which contains a C3b site, also bound C4b2 with lower affinity (Kd 1.2 x 10(-6) M) than its binding to C3b dimers. Constructs SCR(15-16)D and D did not bind C4b2. Each CR1 construct that bound C4b2 functioned as a cofactor for factor I-mediated cleavage to C4d.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cell surface expression of the C3b/C4b receptor (CR1) protects Chinese hamster ovary cells from lysis by human complement.

The C3b/C4b receptor, also known as complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35), is a single chain glycoprotein consisting of 30 repeating homologous protein domains known as short consensus repeats (SCR) followed by transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. A series of recombinant proteins derived from CR1 has been prepared and assessed for the capacity to inhibit complement lysis of the host Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The full-length recombinant CR1 inhibited human complement-mediated CHO cell lysis, and the efficiency of inhibition was directly proportional to the number of receptors/cell. The SCR 15-18 of CR1, but not SCR 15-16, inhibited complement lysis of the host CHO cell, bound monomeric C3b (Kd,app = 6.5 x 10(-7) M), and dimeric C3b (Kd = 1.8 x 10(-8) M), and served as a cofactor in the proteolysis of C3b by factor I, confirming and extending the observations of Fearon and colleagues (Kalli, K. R., Hsu, P., Bartow, T. J., Ahearn, J. M., Matsumoto, A. K., Klickstein, L. B., and Fearon, D. T. (1991) J. Exp. Med. 174, 1451-1460). The SCR 1-4 of CR1, but not SCR 1-2, also inhibited complement lysis of the host CHO cell, indicating that more than two SCR are necessary and that four SCR are sufficient for optimal C4b binding to CR1. Thus, the structural requirements for C4b binding are analogous to those for C3b binding, namely, four SCR of CR1 form the binding sites for each of these proteins. CR1 has long been recognized to regulate extrinsic complement activation, that is, to bind to and promote the degradation of fluid phase C3b and of C3b attached to immune complex. These results demonstrate that CR1 is also an intrinsic regulator of complement activation in that, under appropriate conditions, CR1 inhibits complement-mediated lysis of the cell on which it is expressed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Schedule dependent potentiation of antitumor drug effects by alpha-difluoromethylornithine in human gastric carcinoma cells in vitro.

A clone of human gastric cancer cells (AGS-6) and the parental line (AGS-P) from which it was isolated were used in cell survival studies to determine whether pretreatment for 24, 48 or 72h with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, 5mM) would increase the cell's sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil (5FU), Adriamycin (Adria), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-methyl cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (MeCCNU), or Bleomycin (Bleo). Generally, the AGS parental cells were most sensitive to the anticancer agents after exposures to DFMO. However, there was no way to predict in advance from DFMO-induced changes in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), polyamine or cell kinetics values, how long an exposure to DFMO was required before sensitization to an anticancer agent occurred. The degree of potentiation for a single drug was variable from time to time during exposure to DFMO, and broad differences in the sensitizations were demonstrated among the four anticancer drugs. The AGS-6 clone exhibited little or no increased sensitivity as a result of pretreatment with DFMO, even though the DFMO-induced reductions in ODC and polyamine values in these cells were similar to those produced in the more sensitive parental line.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of the class II-associated invariant chain gene in normal and mutant B lymphocytes.

The invariant chain protein is intracellularly associated with class II major histocompatibility proteins. In many cases, the expression of these molecules appears to be regulated in a similar manner. Contained within the promoter of the invariant chain gene are sequences (X and I gamma 1) that are similar to the X and Y box elements of class II genes, suggesting that these sequences might be involved in its regulation. DNase I footprinting reveals additional cis-acting elements (I gamma 2 and I gamma 3) that contain sequence similarities to NF-kappa B and/or H2TF1/KBF1 recognition sequences. A series of fusion constructs with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene were used to analyze the role of these sequences (I gamma 1, I gamma 2, I gamma 3, and X and Y elements) in both normal and mutant B lymphocytes. These data suggest the likelihood of multiple X box proteins in B cells, which can act as both negative and positive regulatory factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Heterogeneous survival and cell kinetics responses of human astrocytoma clones to alpha-difluoromethylornithine in vitro.

The effects of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on survival, cell kinetics and polyamine levels were studied on two clones of human astrocytoma in vitro. The survival responses were dose and time dependent; and treatments with DFMO which lasted for 72 h resulted in heterogeneous responses with one clone being up to 6 times more sensitive than the other. Shorter treatments produced more uniform killing in the clones. A continuous exposure of the cells to 5 mM DFMO resulted in a rapid decrease in putrescine values in both clones, followed by decreases in the spermidine levels. These effects were closely followed by 148% to 170% increases in cell population doubling times, and a lowering of saturation densities. No clear correlations could be established among baseline polyamine levels and cell kinetics or survival responses to DFMO treatments.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1986

Heterogeneous survival responses of human gastric cancer clones to alpha difluoromethylornithine in vitro.

The effects of alpha Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)2 on survival of human gastric cancer clones were studied in vitro. The responses were dose and time dependent. Treatments which lasted for less than 12 h were cytotoxic at only the highest doses used. The greatest effects on survival were observed only when cells were treated for 48 and 72 h. The effects on the clones produced by such prolonged treatment durations were heterogeneous, with survival values differing by as much as 460%. By contrast, the clonal survival responses to short DFMO treatments (12 h) were very uniform (dose differential of only 19%); however, this uniformity in response could be achieved only by using non-pharmacological doses of DFMO. The heterogeneity in survival responses in the clones might be slightly associated with their levels of intracellular spermidine. Clones with the smallest amounts of intracellular spermidine at the start of treatment were most sensitive to DFMO. However, this association may not hold up with further testing in other gastric cancer clones or when studied in other cancer lines in vitro.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

Cell cycle kinetics responses of human stomach cancer cells to reduction in polyamine levels by treatment with alpha difluoromethylornithine in vitro.

Treatment of human gastric cancer clones in vitro with low doses of DFMO (5 mM) produced elongation of the cell population doubling times and lowering of the saturation densities. By contrast, DFMO treatment of normal human skin fibroblasts altered only the saturation density. The lack of an effect of 5 mM DFMO on the doubling time of normal fibroblasts may be directly related to baseline intracellular putrescine levels, which were about 2.5 times higher than in the cancer cells. The same dose of DFMO caused a rapid decrease in intracellular polyamine levels in the tumor clones. The effects on the doubling time and saturation density were almost totally abolished by the addition of 50 microM putrescine to the growth medium during the first 24 h of treatment with DFMO. Exposure to 5 mM DFMO for 24 h caused the human gastric cancer cells to become blocked in G1 phase only, and this led to a reduction in the fraction of cells in S phase. The G1 block was reversible and this cohort of cells eventually passed through S phase and then through G2 and M. A higher 100 mM dose of DFMO and longer exposure times for both doses produced cell cycle changes and death of more than 90% of the cell population. These data suggest that cell kinetics changes observed under these experimental conditions may reflect polyamine-related alterations in the biochemical events of cell cycle progression kinetics; but may also be the result of DFMO-induced loss of cell viability.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1981

Identification in Xenopus laevis of a class of oocyte-specific proteins bound to messenger RNA.

Proteins associated with poly(A)-rich RNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes have been identified in immature ovary homogenates using sucrose gradient centrifugation, oligo(dT)-cellulose fractionation and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional acid/urea/sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis. At least eight proteins are associated with ribonucleoprotein complexes and have the following properties. 1. Four major proteins, mRNP1-4, cosediment with poly(A)-rich RNA at 40--200 S, bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose and are oocyte-specific. These are very basic proteins with molecular weights of about 50 X 10(3), 52 X 10(3), 56 X 10(3), 59 X 10(3). 2. Two further proteins, mRNP5,6, molecular weights 75 X 10(3) and about 100 X 10(3), also co-isolate with poly(A)-rich RNA mRNP7 (Mr 16 X 10(3)) cosediments with poly(A)-rich RNA but fails to bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose. mRNP8 (Mr 22 X 10(3)) binds to oligo(dT)-cellulose but sediments more slowly than the bulk of poly(A)-rich ribunucleoprotein, at 30--70 S. 3. mRNP1-4 are present in immature oocytes but only mRNP3-4 are found in full-grown oocytes, while none of them could be detected in Xenopus liver or reticulocytes. These proteins are largely cytoplasmic, associated with free mRNP particles, and differ in molecular weight from proteins isolated from polysomal mRNPs in somatic tissues. 4. mRNP1-4 are very abundant in immature oocytes; sedimentation properties are consistent with a protein:RNA ratio of 4:1 (w/w). The sedimentation constant of mRNP particles is resistant to concentrations of ribonuclease A which degrade ribosomes, although mRNA isolated from these ribonuclease-treated particles appears to be partially degraded. The role of ribonucleoprotein complexes in the stability and storage of mRNA during oogenesis is discussed.

Animals↗