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R Komel

Publications and source records attributed to R Komel.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Improved purification of steroid 1:2-dehydrogenase from Nocardia opaca and partial characterization of its cloned gene sequence.

We have purified a steroid-inducible 1:2-dehydrogenase from Nocardia opaca. The final enzyme preparation was purified 120-fold with a recovery of 38%. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be: Met-Gln-Asp-Trp-Thr-Ser-Glu-(Cys)-Asp-Val-Leu-Val-Val-Gly-. From the genomic library of Nocardia opaca in the plasmid pUC19, a clone designated as pSTD23 containing a 0.9 kb KpnI-PstI fragment was found to hybridize with an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to the first six amino acids from the N-terminal of the purified protein. The nucleotide sequence of the upstream region and a part of the structural domain were determined. The sequence of the first 56 amino acids of the steroid 1:2-dehydrogenase from Nocardia opaca as deduced from its gene sequence showed a 58% homology with the corresponding gene from Pseudomonas testosteroni, and the conservative sequences in the FAD-binding domain were also determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis of the CFTR gene in Slovenian cystic fibrosis patients: detection of mutations and sequence variations.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) mutations have been identified in Slovenian CF patients using single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The entire coding region and all of the splice junction sites were screened in 24 patients. By varying the electrophoretic conditions and composition of the gel, 16 different nucleotide changes have been observed in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Three newly described mutations and four previously reported mutations were found. In addition two new polymorphisms have been identified. Of 35 non-delta F508 chromosomes examined, mutations were detected on 25.7%, raising the proportion of Slovenian CF alleles characterized to 67.5%. Because of the high sensitivity of the SSCP technique most of the remaining uncharacterized CF mutations probably lie in large introns, promoter sequences, or putative regulatory regions not yet analyzed.

Adult↗

Synthesis of the DNA probe for the determination of rat AChE mRNA.

This is a preliminary report on our attempts of synthesis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the cDNA probe for the determination of mRNA of the AChE catalytic subunit. As our strategy we took the advantage of the fact that sequence identity of AChE gene increases with phylogenetic proximity. Single codon usage could therefore be applied. Two non-degenerate PCR primers were synthesised corresponding to AChE regions which were highly conservative among species analyzed until now. The sequence amplified by these two primers should be 339 base pairs long as concluded from mouse AChE sequence. By determining the nucleotide sequence of the PCR product and by comparison of this sequence with the corresponding mouse AChE region, we would be able to verify the correspondence of our PCR product to the rat AChE gene fragment. Only the first four amino acids of our PCR product flanking Phe 200, which is the first amino acid from the A2 primer, are 100% homologous with the mouse AChE. However, from the next 18 amino acids towards the N-terminal, only 4 are homologous with the mouse AChE. Since we expected more than 90% homology between the phylogenetically closely related species of mouse and rat, we doubt that the DNA sequence obtained belongs to the rat AChE gene.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Transformation of Cochliobolus lunatus with pUT 720 changes the steroid hydroxylating ability of the fungus.

The filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus, a known 11 beta-hydroxylator of steroids, was transformed to bleomycin resistance using the heterologous plasmid pUT 720. This plasmid contains the Sh ble gene expressed under the control of the Aspergillus nidulans gpd and trpC expression signals. The bleomycin-resistant colonies appeared with a frequency of six per microgram of DNA. All colonies were real transformants and no "abortive" growth was observed. In all transformants tested the plasmid molecules became stably integrated into the genome of the host, and one of the plasmid molecules integrated in a site-specific manner. Transformants retained the ability to hydroxylate the steroid ring, but the hydroxy group was inserted at the 15 alpha position.

Actinomycetales↗

Cystic fibrosis gene mutations and linked RFLPs in the Slovenian population.

The authors used polymerase chain reaction to analyse 56 Slovenian cystic fibrosis (CF) chromosomes for the presence of delta F508 and eight other most frequent mutations located in exons 7,11 and 20 (R347P, R334W, G551D, R553X, S549RA, S549RT, S549I and S1255X) of the CF gene. We also determined the frequency of haplotypes associated with CF for six linked RFLP markers (MetD/TaqI, MetH/TaqI, XV-2c/TaqI, KM-19/PstI, MP6d9/MspI and J3.11/MspI) in 27 Slovenian CF families. delta F508 mutation was present in 55.4 percent of the CF chromosomes. No case of the other mutations were detected in the sample of tested CF chromosomes. A very high degree of association (0.88) has been found between DNA marker MetH and CF (as measured by the Yule's association coefficient) in our population. Using the RFLP markers XV-2c and KM-19, we found that 85% of delta F508 mutated chromosomes have a single 1 2 (B) haplotype, and that this haplotype is present on only 15.4 percent of CF chromosomes without this deletion.

Child↗

Heterologous transformation of Cochliobolus lunatus.

A DNA mediated transformation system has been developed for the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus. Transformants were obtained by using plasmid pAN 7-1 carrying the Escherichia coli hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) fused to an Aspergillus nidulans promoter. The integration of plasmid pAN 7-1 into the fungal genome altered the ability of this microorganism to transform progesterone.

Ascomycota↗

Altered expression of the steroid bioconverting pathway in pAN 7-1 transformants of Cochliobolus lunatus.

The filamentous fungus C. lunatus converts progesterone mainly to its 11 beta-hydroxy derivative. C. lunatus transformed with the plasmid pAN 7-1, which contains the E. coli hph gene expressed under the control of the A. nidulans gpd and trpC expression signals, lacks this activity, but exhibits acetyl side chain degradation of progesterone through the reaction scheme progesterone----20 beta-hydroxy-progesterone----delta 4-androstene-3,17-dione---- testolactone + testosterone. The main part of this metabolic pathway is not expressed in the non-transformed strain. It was determined that the site-specific integration of the plasmid into the genome directly influences the expression of genes involved in the bioconversion of steroids.

Ascomycota↗

11 beta-hydroxylation of steroids by Cochliobolus lunatus.

The substrate specificity of 11 beta-hydroxylase of Cochliobolus lunatus was studied and a close parallelism to the results obtained with 11 alpha-hydroxylase of Rhizopus nigricans was observed. It was found that the cell wall does not differentiate between the steroid substrates used and the absence of the cell wall increases the bioconversion.

Ascomycota↗

Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Cochliobolus lunatus.

Cochliobolus lunatus is known to be able to hydroxylate steroids at position 11 beta. Besides this inducible enzyme, we found a constitutive hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity which is strongly regioselective with the highest activity at position 17, and the best substrate was found to be androstenedione. Using different substrates, no such activities were observed at positions 3 or 11. The enzyme is membrane bound and NADH or NADPH dependent. The protoplasts of Cochliobolus lunatus show the same activity as intact cells, which means that the cell wall does not influence the reaction.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Effect of medium treatment on microbial degradation of sterols by Nocardia.

The rate of transformation of cholesterol by Nocardia sp. is affected by the culture medium composition as well as by the way it has been treated before inoculation. When 1% of peptone was sterilized separately and afterwards added to the basic medium, the transformation of cholesterol to bisnorchola-1,4-dienic acid, as well as further aerobic degradation, was accelerated by a factor of 2. If this enriched medium was kept at rest overnight, the rate of transformation was lowered to half. Heating of additional peptone together with a basic medium resulted only in a slight diminution of the transformation of the preceding 4-ene metabolite to the final 1,4-diene when compared with a normal basic medium without any additive.

Aerobiosis↗

[Steroid-transforming enzymes from microorganisms. XI. Reversibility of the dehydrogenation reaction of the steroid-1-dehydrogenase from Nocardia opaca].

Highly purified preparations of the 4-en-3-oxosteroid: (acceptor)-1-en-oxidoreductase from Nocardia opaca have been investigated in both types of reactions: 1.2-dehydrogenation of the 4-en-3-oxo-derivative and 1.2-hydrogenation of the 1.4-dien-3-oxo-derivative. It was not possible to separate the hydrogenating activity from the dehydrogenating activity by affinity chromatography, disc electrophoresis, SDS-electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing techniques. The pure enzyme preparation is discussed as only one FAD depending protein acting in response to the system as a dehydrogenase as well as a reductase.

Androstadienes↗

11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in progesterone biotransformation by the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus.

Progesterone biotransformation was examined in relation to hydroxylating and dehydrogenating enzymes of Cochliobolus lunatus. 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (11beta-HSD) was located in cytosolic fraction and was NADP-dependent, inducible by progesterone and apparently uni-directional. Several inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were tested; furosemide, glycyrrhizic-acid and carbenoxolone did not influence the dehydrogenation of 11beta-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione to 4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione, although grapefruit juice significantly reduced the rate of progesterone hydroxylation.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

K5 D328E: a novel missense mutation in the linker 12 domain of keratin 5 associated with epidermolysis bullosa simplex (Weber-Cockayne).

A novel missense mutation was detected in the L12 region of keratin 5 (K5) in a Slovene family diagnosed with a Weber-Cockayne variant of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS). Direct sequencing identified a heterozygous GAC to GAA substitution altering codon 328 of K5 from Asp to Glu in all affected family members, while no mutation was observed either in the healthy individual or the 50 unrelated control samples. Asp(328) of K5 (position 12 in the L12 domain) is remarkably conserved among all type II keratins. K5 L12:D12E is the third mutation found to affect this residue in K5-related EBS, indicating the importance of Asp(328) for K5 structure and the dramatic effect that fine changes can have on keratin intermediate filament integrity.

Alleles↗