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Biomedical subjects

R Kim

Publications and source records attributed to R Kim.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Expression of the mouse metallothionein-I gene in Escherichia coli: increased tolerance to heavy metals.

The cDNA of mouse metallothionein, a small metal-binding protein rich in cysteine, has been cloned downstream from a bacterial inducible promoter and expressed in Escherichia coli. Upon induction, E. coli harboring this cDNA clone contained a protein species readily labelled by [35S]cysteine in vivo and incorporated 10-times as much 109Cd from the medium than would otherwise be the case. We show that expression of metallothionein endows resistance in E. coli to heavy metal ions such as mercury, silver, copper, cadmium and zinc by sequestering rather than exclusion or conversion, common mechanisms of metal resistance in bacteria.

Animals↗

[Combined effects of interferon alpha-A/D with fluoropyrimidine derivatives in the subrenal capsule assay].

The combined effects of interferon alpha-A/D (IFN alpha-A/D) with 5-fluorouracil and fluoropyrimidine derivatives such as 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (tegafur), UFT, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouracil (5'-DFUR), were examined by 4-day subrenal capsule assay. Four human tumor xenografts serially transplanted in athymic mice, H-111, SH-10 established from gastric cancers, CH-4 and CH-5 from colon cancers, were used. In this experiment, the adequate dose of each agent was estimated as 50 mg/kg for 5-FU, 473 mg/kg for tegafur, 433 mg/kg for UFT, 50 mg/kg for HCFU, 185 mg/kg for 5'-DFUR and 1 x 10(5) IU for IFN alpha-A/D, respectively. When synergistic, additive and subadditive effects were defined as positive combined effects, all combinations produced positive combined effects against H-111 and CH-5, while negative ones were observed for all combinations against CH-4. The combinations of 5-FU, HCFU and 5'-DFUR with IFN alpha-A/D produced synergistic effects against SH-10. These results indicate that the combination therapy of 5-FU and fluoropyrimidine derivatives with IFN alpha-A/D would be useful.

Animals↗

[Anticancer activities of a new mitomycin derivative KW 2149, against human tumors xenografted into nude mice].

Anticancer activity of KW 2149, a new derivative of mitomycin C (MMC), was investigated using 4 human tumors xenografted into nude mice. The basic methodology was essentially the same with NCI's therapeutic protocol. For the comparative study, KW 2149 or MMC was administered intraperitoneally at a schedule of q4d X 3. Daily doses were determined as a 1/3, 1/4 and 1/5 of LD50 value of each anticancer agent (7.5 mg/kg, 5.6 mg/kg and 4.5 mg/kg for KW 2149, and 2.7 mg/kg, 2.1 mg/kg and 1.7 mg/kg for MMC). Anticancer activity of KW 2149 seemed to be dependent on the doses. Comparing with MMC, KW 2149 produced higher response rates at the doses of 1/3 and 1/4 of LD50 and was less toxic judging from the decrease of the body weight. This study may indicate an utility of KW 2149, as a new anticancer agents, or suggest the difference of anticancer activities between these two agents.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Inhibition of thymidylate synthetase and antiproliferative effect by 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil].

In order to estimate tumor chemosensitivity of fluoropyrimidine derivative, inhibition of thymidylate synthetase (TS) was investigated using a nude mouse experimental system. Four human tumors xenografted in nude mice; H-111, SH-8 and SH-10, each established from gastric cancer, and EH-1 from esophageal cancer, were used. When the transplanted tumor volumes reached to approximately 200 mm3, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) was given for 5 days. Tumors was removed for the measurement of total and free TS at 0 hr, 6 hrs and 24 hrs after the last administrations. Simultaneously, the anti-proliferative effects were investigated according to the therapeutic protocol of NCI. No positive correlation between the inhibition rate of TS and the anti-proliferative effects was observed, although the absolute values of free TS were similar to the tumor inhibition rates. The measurement of total TS provided a highest concentration in SH-8, while extremely low in EH-1. On the analysis of free TS, a significant increase of the concentration was observed at 24 hrs after the last administration compared with at 6 hrs in SH-8. These results indicate that free TS had a potentiality as a new parameter for predicting tumor chemosensitivity of fluoropyrimidine derivative and the analysis of TS should be affected strongly by the characteristics of enzymic activity of examined tumor.

Animals↗

One strand of ars189 from the maxicircle of Crithidia fasciculata transforms Saccharomyces cerevisiae more efficiently than its complementary strand as a single stranded DNA.

An autonomously replicating element (ars189) has been isolated from the maxicircle DNA of an insect trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata. This 189-bp fragment contains two copies of the yeast consensus ARS sequence of (A/T)TTTATPuTTT(T/A), has an A + T composition of 79.4%, and shows a large asymmetry in the distribution of adenine and thymine residues between the two strands. The complementary strands of ars189 have been cloned into an M13 vector containing the URA3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When these circular single-stranded (ss) DNAs were used to transform yeast spheroplasts, the M13 chimeric DNA carrying the strand of ars189 rich in adenine generated approximately four times more yeast Ura + transformants than the construct containing the thymine-rich strand. In contrast, both strands of yeast ARS1 cloned into an M13 vector transformed yeast at an equivalent level. The conversion of ARS-containing ss DNAs to duplex forms in vivo and their subsequent autonomous replication have been verified by Southern hybridization analysis of extracts from yeast transformants.

Animals↗

Conservation of a 29-base-pair sequence within maxicircle ARS fragments from six species of trypanosomes.

The maxicircles from Trypanosoma brucei, Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, Leptomonas seymouri, and Phytomonas davidi were examined for the presence of a 29-bp sequence termed CF29 that has been found in the ars 189 sequence from the Crithidia fasciculata maxicircle and in Lt-ars 189 from the maxicircle of Leishmania tarentolae. The CF29 sequence also contains a yeast consensus ARS of (T/A)TTTATPuTTT(T/A). All of the maxicircles examined contained specific fragments that hybridized to the CF29 probe. The non-replicating yeast plasmid vector YIp5 was used to clone these CF29-containing maxicircle fragments. High-frequency transformation was observed when these chimeric plasmids were used to transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Autonomous replication of these transforming plasmids was verified by Southern analysis of yeast-cell extracts using pBR322 as a hybridization probe. Therefore it appears that the CF29 sequence is widely conserved in kinetoplastid protozoa and is associated with ARS sequences in the maxicircles. Hybridization of the CF29 probe to a population of P. davidi minicircles was also observed. However, the YIp5 chimeric plasmid containing this CF29-hybridizing minicircle fragment failed to transform yeast.

Animals↗

Isolation of gram quantities of EcoRI restriction and modification enzymes from an overproducing strain.

Structural genes for EcoRI restriction endonuclease and modification methylase have been inserted into the plasmid vector pKC30 (Shimatake, H., and Rosenberg, M. (1981) Nature (Lond.) 292, 128-132) downstream from the bacteriophage lambda pL promoter. Upon induction of pL expression in strains producing a thermolabile lambda cI857 repressor, synthesis of EcoRI polypeptides is enhanced to the extent that after 4 h they represent several per cent of the total cell protein. Purification of activities overproduced in this manner yields preparations of endonuclease and methylase which appear identical to those obtained from conventional sources, with overall yields corresponding to 0.5 to 0.9 g of each enzyme/kg of cell paste.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Pseudocyst of the auricle.

Pseudocyst of the auricle is an intracartilaginous collection of serous or serosanguineous fluid resulting in a noninflammatory cystic swelling of the upper ear. The histology is distinctive, consisting of an intracartilaginous cavity due to cartilaginous degeneration and replacement by fibrous tissue. The condition is likely due to ischemic necrosis of auricular cartilage. Inappropriate therapy may result in a permanent deformity of the auricle.

Adult↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of an inactive mutant aspartate transcarbamoylase from Escherichia coli.

A mutant aspartate transcarbamoylase, ATCase231, has been crystallized at neutral pH. The mutant enzyme has a single substitution of aspartic acid in place of glycine within the catalytic chain and shows not only the loss of enzyme activity but also marked changes in the chemical reactivity of several amino acid residues and weakening of interaction between regulatory and catalytic subunits. Despite these differences, the mutant enzyme crystals have the same space group and cell parameters as the wild type crystals grown at pH 5.9.

Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase↗

Molecular cloning and expression of the ilvGEDAY genes from Salmonella typhimurium.

The ilvGEDAY genes of Salmonella typhimurium were cloned in Escherichia coli K-12 by in vitro recombination techniques. A single species of recombinant plasmid, designated pDU1, was obtained by selecting for Valr Ampr transformants of strain SK1592. pDU1 was shown to contain a 14-kilobase EcoRI partial digestion product of the S. typhimurium chromosome inserted into the EcoRI site of the pVH2124 cloning vector. The ilvGEDAY genes were found to occupy a maximum length of 7.5 kilobases. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the S. typhimurium ilv gene cluster provided another demonstration of the gene order as well as established the location of ilv Y between ilvA and ilvC. The presence of a ribosomal ribonucleic acid operon on the pDU1 insert, about 3 kilobases from the 5' end of ilvG, was shown by Southern hybridization. The expression of the ilvGEDA operon from pDU1 was found to be elevated, reflecting the increased gene dosage of the multicopy plasmid. A polarity was observed with respect to ilvEDA expression which is discussed in terms of the possible translational effects of the two internal promoter sequences, one located proximal to ilvE and the other located proximal to ilvD.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Papular dermatitis of pregnancy.

Papular dermatitis of pregnancy is a condition characterized by widespread intensely pruritic papules that show no particular anatomic predilection. These lesions may occur at any time during the pregnancy and may be associated with increased fetal wastage. The response to corticosteroids is prompt and gratifying to the patient and the physician. Therapeutic doses of prednisone have not been associated with increased fetal loss. The etiology of the condition is unknown and it may recur with subsequent pregnancies.

Adolescent↗