Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Adhya

Publications and source records attributed to S Adhya.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Significance of connective tissue proliferation in the breakdown of cartilage: a novel in vivo model.

The implantation of homologous femoral head cartilage in subcutaneous tissues of random bred Wistar rats results in both subchondral and articular surfaces becoming overlaid by an adherent granulation tissue comprising predominantly fibroblast-like cells. The response of the tissue to cartilage encapsulated with cotton fibres was also similar but erosions, mainly subchondral, were more evident and proteoglycan loss markedly greater. The connective tissue response to cotton was the progressive formation of a foreign body granuloma comprising mononuclear cells, multinucleated giant cells, and fibroblasts with very few polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

Animals

Adjuvant polyarthritis and the response of air pouch lining cells.

The influence of adjuvant polyarthritis on subcutaneous air pouches in rats was examined in the light of reports of the resemblance of their cavity lining to normal synovium. Marked macroscopic and microscopic changes were observed. These included thickening of air-pouch wall, hyperplasia of lining cells, infiltration of inflammatory cells, fibrosis, and the production of an effusion in the cavity; such changes are comparable to the proliferative synovitis reported in arthritic joints of diseased animals. However, whereas talus and patella cartilage were affected by the disease, these and femoral-head cartilage seemed to be relatively spared when implanted in air pouches of adjuvant-diseased rats even after a massive inflammatory response was elicited in the cavity following challenge with tuberculin. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the generalized nature of adjuvant disease and confirms the lack of association between inflammation and cartilage destruction.

Air

Sites of allosteric shift in the structure of the cyclic AMP receptor protein.

We have characterized crp mutations in E. coli that allow CRP to function without cAMP. crp* mutants carrying a deletion of the gene encoding adenylate cyclase (cya) show significant lac expression. Cyclic GMP, normally an ineffective activator of CRP+, can stimulate these mutant CRP*s to permit greater lac expression in vivo. Cyclic AMP binding to the amino-terminal domain of CRP+ induces an allosteric transition that changes the DNA-binding property of the carboxy domain. The CRP* phenotype is caused by substitution of amino acids with bulkier side chains in the D alpha-helix of the protein's carboxy domain, near the hinge connecting the two domains. These results are consistent with a model in which the mutant CRP*s assume, in part, a conformation normally evoked only by cAMP binding: one in which the relative orientation of the C, D, and F alpha-helices is altered. We define precisely the amino acids of these alpha-helices that interact to cause the allosteric shift.

Amino Acid Sequence

Site-specific DNA binding of nuclear factor I: analyses of cellular binding sites.

Nuclear factor I is a cellular site-specific DNA-binding protein required for the efficient in vitro replication of adenovirus DNA. We have characterized human DNA sequences to which nuclear factor I binds. Three nuclear factor I binding sites (FIB sites), isolated from HeLa cell DNA, each contain the sequence TGG(N)6-7GCCAA. Comparison with other known and putative FIB sites suggests that this sequence is important for the binding of nuclear factor I. Nuclear factor I protects a 25- to 30-base-pair region surrounding this sequence from digestion by DNase I. Methylation protection studies suggest that nuclear factor I interacts with guanine residues within the TGG(N)6-7GCCAA consensus sequence. One binding site (FIB-2) contained a restriction endonuclease HaeIII cleavage site (GGCC) at the 5' end of the GCCAA motif. Digestion of FIB-2 with HaeIII abolished the binding of nuclear factor I. Southern blot analyses indicate that the cellular FIB sites described here are present within single-copy DNA in the HeLa cell genome.

Base Sequence

Cloning and expression of the Escherichia coli rho gene in a plasmid vector.

In order to further elucidate the role of Rho protein on transcription termination and cells growth control, we have subcloned by two steps the rho+ structural gene of Escherichia coli from Lambda rho+524 into a plasmid vector. The resulting plasmid pEG25 contains a 2.9 kbp insert which is able to complement several different rho mutations and to express a functional Rho protein in U.V. irradiated maxicells.

Cloning, Molecular

Locations and nucleotide sequences of three major class III promoters for bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase on T3 DNA.

The DNA sequences of three major class III T3 RNA polymerase promoters located at 45.0, 55.0, and 64.8% on the standard T3 genetic map have been determined. The precise RNA initiation sites were also determined by 5'-terminal RNA sequence analysis of the transcripts synthesized from the promoter-containing DNA fragments. Alignment of these three class III promoters and a previously determined T3 RNA polymerase promoter at 1.05% on T3 genetic map, with start points of transcription (+1) in register, indicates a high degree of sequence conservation among the four T3 RNA polymerase promoters. The sequences are identical between positions -12 and +4 and are uniformly A-T between -12 and -17. The conserved portion of the (-) strand sequence is 5' (sequence in text) Upstream from -17 and downstream from +4 the sequences diverge. Comparison of this sequence with a prototype 23-base pair promoter sequence for T7 RNA polymerase shows overall homology between positions -17 and +4 with conserved divergence at residues -2 and between -10 and -12. Furthermore, careful examination of the nucleotide sequences around 45.0 and 64.8 T3 map units shows that the putative RNA sequences arising from these regions by overlapping transcription from upstream promoters can be arranged into stable stemloop structures thought to be required for RNase III cleavage. This pattern is similar to those reported for the corresponding T7 RNA polymerase promoters on T7 DNA (Dunn. J. J., and Studier, F. W. (1983) J. Mol. Biol. 166, 477-535).

Base Sequence

Demonstration of two operator elements in gal: in vitro repressor binding studies.

Genetic and DNA base sequence analyses of cis-dominant mutations that derepress the gal operon of Escherichia coli suggested the existence of two operator loci needed for gal repression. One (OE) is located immediately upstream to the two overlapping gal promoters and the other (OI) is inside the first structural gene. We have investigated the ability of wild-type and mutant OE and OI DNA sequences to bind to gal repressor. The repressor has been purified from cells containing a multicopy plasmid in which the repressor gene is brought under the control of phage lambda PL promoter. The DNA-repressor interactions are detected by the change in electrophoretic mobility of labeled DNA that accompanies its complex formation with repressor protein. The purified repressor shows concentration-dependent binding to both O+E and O+I but not to OEc and OIc sequences. These results authenticate the proposed operator role of the two homologous gal DNA control elements and thereby establish that the negative control of the gal operon requires repressor binding at both OE and OI, which are separated by greater than 90 base pairs.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel

A control element within a structural gene: the gal operon of Escherichia coli.

The gal operon of Escherichia coli is transcribed from two overlapping promoters, PG1 and PG2. Cyclic AMP and its receptor protein (CRP) modulate the two promoters in opposite directions by binding to a single cat locus. Both the promoters are negatively regulated by a single repressor, the product of the galR gene. An operator site, defined by several mutations, has previously been located upstream from the cat locus. We have isolated and characterized a new set of cis-dominant constitutive mutations of the gal operon and determined their locations by DNA sequencing. From these studies, we propose the existence of a second functional gal operator element at an extraordinary site--within galE, the first structural gene. Both the operators, OE (exterior) and OI (interior), are involved in the repression of PG1 and PG2. This would be the first example of the presence of a functional operator element within a structural protein-coding region.

Base Sequence

Cyclic AMP-dependent constitutive expression of gal operon: use of repressor titration to isolate operator mutations.

When the gal operator region is present in a multicopy plasmid it binds to all ("titrates") the gal repressor and "induces" the chromosomal gal operon. To make operator mutations (Oa) with reduced affinity toward the repressor, plasmid DNA was irradiated with UV light and mutant derivatives were isolated that were unable to release the chromosomal gal genes from repression. Then with such an Oa plasmid operator revertants were isolated that had reacquired the ability to release repression. Both sets of mutations have been localized by DNA sequence analysis. When the Oa mutations were transferred from the plasmid to the chromosome by recombination these mutant operators were found to make gal expression constitutive (independent of repressor) but still dependent on cAMP, whereas the previously reported gal operator mutants (Oc) are constitutive both in the presence and in the absence of cAMP. The titration method of isolating mutants enables the isolation of strains with operator mutations that also affect normal promoter activity, and it provides an easy way to isolate revertants of operator mutations.

Base Sequence

The pleiotropic ts15 mutation of E. coli is an IS1 insertion in the rho structural gene.

Rho protein regulates transcription termination in E. coli. Some of the temperature-sensitive mutants defective in Rho protein, e.g., ts15, show remarkable pleiotropic phenotypes. The ts mutations map between the ilv and cya loci on the E. coli chromosome. We have cloned the gene that restores the wild-type phenotypes of these mutants. Genetic and biochemical characterizations have shown that the cloned DNA segment carries the structural gene for the Rho polypeptide. Analysis of the rhots15 mutation has revealed the presence of an IS1 insertion in the carboxy terminal segment of the rho cistron, thereby truncating the 52-kilodalton (kd) Rho polypeptide to a 50-kd size and also making it thermolabile. This provides an example of how an IS1 insertion mutation can cause a TS phenotype. We have also shown that the multiple phenotypes of the mutant cell, including the temperature sensitivity, are caused by a single mutation (rhots15::IS1) in the rho structural gene. How a rho structural gene mutation may cause such pleiotropy is discussed.

Bacterial Proteins

Regulation of the pR operon of bacteriophage lambda.

The E. coli lambda lysogen, OR1263, carries the fusion pR-cro-tR1-IS2-gal. The gal promoter is deleted and gal expression from pR, in the absence of the lambda antitermination factor N, is blocked by the efficient transcription terminator in IS2. Selection for Gal+ yields strains deleted for the IS2 terminator and various portions of the lambda chromosome. Analysis of these deletions reveals the following: (a) The lambda tR1 terminator is about 50% efficient. (b) In two deletions sequenced, DNA loss occurred as a result of homologous recombination between a 2- or a 4-base pair repeat. (c) By measuring the ability of lambda N product to suppress the polarity of a gal ochre mutation, we demonstrate that the N utilization site in the lambda pR operon lies between tR1 and cro. (d) The level of Cro repressor synthesized by a single copy prophage is sufficient to repress the cI maintenance promoter, prm, but is inadequate to inhibit pR.

Bacteriophage lambda

Promoter occlusion: transcription through a promoter may inhibit its activity.

Induction of prophage lambda inhibits the expression of the gal operon from its cognate promoters. The effect is observed only in cis, and is due to frequent transcription of the gal promoter region by RNA polymerase molecules initiating upstream at the prophage PL promoter. The frequency of transcription initiation at PL is some 30 times greater than that at the gal promoter, Pg1. PL is one of the strongest procaryotic promoters. This "promoter occlusion" is essentially complete when the distance between gal and PL is small (less than or equal to 10 kb); and when PL is fully active (that is, in the absence of the cl or cro repressors). We discuss the possibility that promoter occlusion at two lambda promoters, Pint and PR', might play a role in the sequential expression of viral functions.

Bacteriophage lambda

Cloning of the RHO gene of Escherichia coli.

The map position of the rho gene on E coil chromosome, as determined by phage P1 generalized transduction, was determined. The gene order is ilv-rho-cya. By Hind III endonuclease shotgun technique, the rho+ gene was cloned into a lambda-Charon 25 vector. The sizing of the restriction endonuclease generated DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis, the heteroduplex analysis of cloned DNA molecules by electron microscope and the demonstration of the synthesis of rho protein by the cloned DNA shows that a functional piece of DNA, containing the entire rho gene of E coli has been cloned.

Bacteriophage lambda

Evidence for two functional gal promoters in intact Escherichia coli cells.

We have used an S1 mapping assay to demonstrate that the mRNA transcripts of the Escherichia coli galactose operon found in intact E. coli cells with a defect in adenylate cyclase or the cyclic AMP receptor protein contain at their 5' end about five nucleotides more than the gal mRNA molecules made in wild type cells. The same difference between gal RNA synthesized in vitro in the absence of cyclic AMP or cyclic AMP receptor protein and gal RNA made in the presence of these factors is detected by this assay. Our results strongly suggest that the same two overlapping promoters, which we previously identified by in vitro transcription of gal DNA fragments, also control the expression of the galactose operon in intact cells. The intracellular levels of cyclic AMP determine which promoter is utilized.

DNA, Bacterial

Location, function, and nucleotide sequence of a promoter for bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase.

The major promoters for bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase on the T3 genome have been mapped by DNA.RNA filter hybridization. One promoter is located in a 300-base-pair Hpa I restriction fragment near the genetic "left" end of T3 DNA. The sequence in the vicinity of the major initiation site of transcription in this region has been determined. A part of the (-)strand sequence is 5' T-A-T-T-T-A-C-C-C-T-C-A-C-T-A-A-A-G-+1 G-G-A-A-U 3'. Comparison of this sequence with the prototype 23-base-pair promoter sequence for bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase shows a striking pattern of homology and divergence. Between positions -9 and +4, the sequences are virtually identical, whereas between positions -17 and -10, the sequences are quite different. It is postulated that these sequence subsets may perform different functions in transcription initiation by the phage RNA polymerases.

Base Sequence

Guanylate cyclase activity in Escherichia coli mutants defective in adenylate cyclase.

Guanylate cyclase, which catalyzes the synthesis of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate, has been assayed in several strains of Escherichia coli. They include wild-type cells and mutants defective in adenylate cyclase, which is responsible for the synthesis of adenosine 3',5'-phosphate. Our results demonstrate that adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase are two different enzymes in E. coli and suggest that the gene that encodes adenylate cyclase also plays a regulatory role in the synthesis of guanylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases