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Biomedical subjects

S Ghosh

Publications and source records attributed to S Ghosh.

At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources

Levuglandin E2 crosslinks proteins.

Levuglandin E2 (LGE2), a gamma-ketoaldehyde produced by rearrangement of the prostaglandin endoperoxide PGH2 under the aqueous conditions of its biosynthesis, causes extensive intermolecular crosslinking of ovalbumin at pH 6 or pH 7 and 37 degrees C. The time dependence of protein oligomerization is monitored by SDS-PAGE. Effects of pH and concentration on the extent of LGE2-induced crosslinking are examined. The efficacy of LGE2 for inducing crosslinking is compared with other oxidative metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), including the prostaglandins PGE2, PGD2, PGA2, PGB2, and PGF2 alpha, as well as malondialdehyde and E-4-hydroxy-non-2-enal. LGE2 is orders of magnitude more effective in crosslinking protein than any other cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase metabolite of AA tested.

Cross-Linking Reagents↗

Lack of expression of RP4-specified beta-lactamase in Azospirillum brasilense.

Plasmid RP4, which normally confers resistance to ampicillin (Apr), tetracycline (Tcr), and kanamycin (Kmr) to its hosts, failed to express enhanced Apr when transferred from Escherichia coli to Azospirillum brasilense which has its own intrinsic beta-lactamase. Even in a beta-lactamase-deficient mutant, A. brasilense RG-D16, no increase in beta-lactamase or significant Apr appeared following transfer of RP4. However, A. brasilense RG (RP4) and A. brasilense RG-D16 (RP4) did exhibit Tcr Kmr. When RP4 was transferred back from A. brasilense to E. coli all three drug resistances and beta-lactamase activity were fully expressed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Synthesis and reactivity of the oxovanadium(IV) complexes of two N-O donors and potentiation of the antituberculosis activity of one of them on chelation to metal ions: Part IV.

A new series of oxovanadium(IV) complexes of two aromatic acidhydrazides (BH and AH) have been reported. Of these two donors, AH is known to possess considerable in vitro antitubercular activity. At pH 2-4, oxometal complexes of the type [VO(BH/AH)2SO4].nH2O (n = 1, 0) and [VO(BH/AH)(C2O4)H2O].H2O (BH = C6H5CONHNH2 and AH = (2-NH2)C6H4.CO.NHNH2) were obtained. Reactions of [VO(BH/AH)(C2O4)H2O].H2O with a monodentate Lewis base lead to the isolation of metal-ligand complexes [VO(BH/AH)(C2O4)L].nH2O (L = NH3, n = 1, L = py, n = 2). Disposition of the bonding sites of donor molecules around the oxometal acceptor center and status of the metal-oxygen multiple bond have been established. A monomeric and distorted octahedral donor environment for the oxovanadium(IV) ion has been proposed on the basis of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Antitubercular activities, in vitro, of the oxovanadium(IV) complexes of AH have also been evaluated towards tuberculosis mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium flae, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium H37Rv.

Antitubercular Agents↗

Hypothermia in the elderly: sociomedical characteristics and outcome of 86 patients.

A comprehensive retrospective study analysing the case records of 86 hypothermic elderly patients who were treated according to a standard protocol in our department between 1980 and 1985 is presented. Hypothermia was found to occur not only in the frail, demented and disabled elderly men and women, but also in apparently healthy elderly individuals living with their families and in rest homes (40%). The level of consciousness was not related to the degree of hypothermia but to the underlying pathology. There was no correlation between the severity of hypothermia and mortality. Fatality was less among the group receiving substantial services, but the overall mortality within 48 hours was 36%. Early detection improved survival. Eleven per cent had recurrence of hypothermia and 90% of those who survived hypothermia died within one year. Prolonged duration of hypothermia, high levels of neutrophilia, blood urea and amylase, cardiac arrhythmias and impairment of consciousness were found to be associated with high mortality.

Aged↗

Transformation of murine melanocytes by basic fibroblast growth factor cDNA and oncogenes and selective suppression of the transformed phenotype in a reconstituted cutaneous environment.

Constitutive expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a common characteristic of metastatic melanomas, was reproduced in vitro by infection of normal murine melanocytes with a recombinant retrovirus carrying a cDNA for bFGF. Expression of bFGF in these cells conferred autonomous growth in culture and extinguished differentiated functions, such as the synthesis of melanin and formation of dendrites. Independence from exogenous bFGF and loss of differentiated functions in vitro were induced also by transformation of melanocytes with the oncogenes myc, Ela, ras, and neu, although bFGF was not expressed by the respective transformants. As shown in skin reconstitution experiments onto syngeneic mice and subcutaneous injections into nude mice, the various transformants differed in their behavior in vivo. The bFGF transformants did not form tumors. They reverted to having a normal, melanotic phenotype and restricted growth. Myc and Ela transformants grew as tumors in nude mice but not in syngeneic, immunocompetent animals. Ras-transformed melanocytes were always tumorigenic, whereas the formation of tumors by neu transformants was suppressed by the concomitant grafting of keratinocytes in reconstituted skin of syngeneic mice. These data show that melanocytes genetically manipulated to produce bFGF acquire properties in vitro similar to those of metastatic melanoma cells or those induced by various oncogenes but that constitutive production of bFGF by itself is insufficient to make melanocytes tumorigenic. The experiments also show that melanocytes transformed by the selected oncogenes respond differentially to various environments in vivo.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies against flagellar antigen of Salmonella typhi.

Two hybrid cell clones secreting monoclonal antibodies against flagellar antigen isolated from Salmonella typhi, were produced and characterized. The antibodies bound specifically to the flagellar strain of S. typhi and did not show any reactivity with a flagellar S. typhi or with flagellar strains of S. dublin, S. paratyphi A, S. paratyphi B, S. typhimurium, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The antibodies recognized a determinant present on a group of proteins migrating between 45 Kd and 60 Kd. These monoclonal antibodies would be useful reagents for clinical and epidemiological studies.

Animals↗

Thermal regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in c(3) and c(4) plants native to hot and temperate climates.

Exposure of leaf sections from 2-week-old seedlings of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) (C(4) plant), corn (Zea mays L.) (C(4)), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (C(3) plant), and soybean (Glycine max L.) (C(3)) to 40 or 45 degrees C for up to 4 hours resulted in significant increases in the levels of 102 kilodalton (C(4)), 52 kilodalton (C(3) and C(4)), and 15 kilodalton (C(3) and C(4)) polypeptides. These proteins comigrated, respectively, with authentic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and the large (RLSU) and small (RSSU) subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) during both one- and two-dimensional SDS-PAGE and reacted with antisera raised against these enzymes. After 4 hours at 50 degrees C, levels of the polypeptides either remained relatively stable (PEPC, RLSU) or increased (RSSU) in sorghum and peanut (plants native to hot climates). In corn and soybean (plants native to temperate climates), levels of the proteins either fell sharply (corn) or showed strong evidence of incomplete processing and/or aggregation (soybean). In addition to changes in levels of the proteins, the activities of PEPC and Rubisco in extracts of leaves exposed to 50 degrees C fell by 84% and 11% of their respective control values in sorghum and by 54% each in peanut. In corn and soybean, the activities of both enzymes were depressed at 40 degrees C, with measured values at 50 degrees C not exceeding 5% of those from the nonstressed controls.

Journal Article↗

Temperature inhibition of siderophore production in Azospirillum brasilense.

The effect of growth at 42 degrees C on the different components of the siderophore-mediated iron transport that are induced by iron limitation in Azospirillum brasilense was examined. Biosynthesis of the siderophore spirilobactin was strongly inhibited (20-fold) by growth at 42 degrees C, whereas the transport of iron by the ferric-spirilobactin transport system and the induction of the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins were unaffected.

Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria↗

Glycogen content & structure & some enzymes of glycogen metabolism in human foetal organs.

The glycogen content, and its structure and the enzymes involved in glycogenolysis in human foetal organs were studied at different periods of gestation. Of all the tissues studied glycogen content was found to be the highest in cardiac muscle. Very little glycogen was present in the foetal liver at 9-12 wk of gestation, this increased progressively to nearly 2 per cent at 24 wk. Glycogen content of placenta was lower than that of skeletal muscle and liver. The level of glycogen in adipose tissue, placenta and cerebrum was not high enough to play any role in glucose homeostasis of the foetus. Human foetal liver and skeletal muscle glycogen showed the normal branched structure while the liver glycogen was found to be unusually stable. Glycogen phosphorylase activity in the foetal liver and muscle was found to be low, i.e., about a fifth and a fourth of adult liver and muscle activity respectively. The stability of foetal liver glycogen and phosphorolytic activity in the liver and muscle indicate negligible glycogenolysis during foetal development. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity in foetal liver was undetectable below 12 wk of gestation, the activity increasing progressively up to 24 wk.

Fetus↗

Stability and kinetic behaviour of some enzymes in surfactant environment.

The interaction of alpha-chymotrypsin, invertase, alcohol dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase with some ionic and non-ionic surfactants, viz. sodium dodecyl sulphate, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and Triton X-100, has been examined by studying the effect of varying surfactant concentrations on enzyme activities as well as by determining the time-dependent inactivation and the time-independent inhibition. The kinetic parameters, Km and Vmax, for alpha-chymotrypsin-catalysed reaction in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate were evaluated. Anionic surfactants markedly decreased enzyme activity, whereas cationic surfactants were less effective. Nonionics showed no effect. This change in enzyme activity was also dependent on the nature of enzyme.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The behavior of centrosomes in multinucleate cells formed after colcemid treatment.

Multinucleate PtK1 cells were generated by treating the cells with colcemid for up to 60 h. Cells with scattered chromosomes reconstructed nuclear envelopes around these chromosomes. After recovery of up to 36 h these multinucleate cells went into mitosis. In such cells mainly two types of spindles are found: a bipolar spindle with some "accessory" half-spindles and multipolar mitotic apparatus with several equally-sized half-spindles ordered in an irregular way. Ultrastructural studies revealed centrosomes within such spindles which had not developed a microtubular connection to chromosomes and obviously could not act as mitotic pole. This result is interpreted in the way that centrosomes undergo a maturation cycle. Immature centrosomes cannot form mitotic poles. The asynchrony of the cycles of the multiple centrosomes seems to be generated by an uneven distribution of special factor(s).

Animals↗

Post-metaphase mitotic events in cells treated with dinitrophenol.

The sequence of post-metaphase mitotic events, such as anaphase movement A and B, chromosome decondensation, nuclear envelope reformation and cytokinesis, has been studied in 2,4-initrophenol (DNP)-treated HeLa cells. The effects of DNP were found to be dose dependent and at concentrations higher than 3 mM, both anaphase A and B movements were totally and nearly instantaneously arrested. It could be shown that cytokinesis did not depend on the completion of anaphase movements. This was also true for nuclear envelope reformation which could take place even around condensed chromosomes arrested in anaphase. The post-metaphase mitotic events do not follow a strict causal sequence, but they can be dissociated from each other in anaphase-arrested cells.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗