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Biomedical subjects

S H Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to S H Wilson.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Antibodies from patients and mice with autoimmune diseases react with recombinant hnRNP core protein A1.

Sera from autoimmune patients and normal volunteers were tested for antibodies to the A1 core protein of heteronuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) particles by ELISA and Western blot assays. The A1 protein used in these studies was produced by recombinant DNA technology. Thirty-seven per cent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus produced anti-A1 antibodies, compared to 7% of normal controls. Several strains of autoimmune mice were also analysed. They spontaneously made high-titered responses to A1. Normal strains showed very low anti-A1 response unless they were specifically immunized with the antigen. Following immunization, normal mice also made high-titered responses to the A1 protein. These studies demonstrated that the A1 protein itself is an autoantigenic component of hnRNP particles. Our studies uncovered no evidence of linkage between the production of anti-A1 and of anti-DNA antibodies.

Animals↗

Mammalian alpha-polymerase: cloning of partial complementary DNA and immunobinding of catalytic subunit in crude homogenate protein blots.

A new polyclonal antibody against the alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptide was prepared by using homogeneous HeLa cell alpha-polymerase. The antibody neutralized alpha-polymerase activity and was strong and specific for the alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptide (Mr 183,000) in Western blot analysis of crude extracts of HeLa cells. The antibody was used to screen a cDNA library of newborn rat brain poly(A+) RNA in lambda gt11. A positive phage was identified and plaque purified. This phage, designated lambda pol alpha 1.2, also was found to be positive with an antibody against Drosophila alpha-polymerase. The insert in lambda pol alpha 1.2 (1183 base pairs) contained a poly(A) sequence at the 3' terminus and a short in-phase open reading frame at the 5' terminus. A synthetic oligopeptide (eight amino acids) corresponding to the open reading frame was used to raise antiserum in rabbits. Antibody affinity purified from this serum was found to be immunoreactive against purified alpha-polymerase by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and was capable of immunoprecipitating alpha-polymerase. This indicated the lambda pol alpha 1.2 insert encoded an alpha-polymerase epitope and suggested that the cDNA corresponded to an alpha-polymerase mRNA. This was confirmed in hybrid selection experiments using pUC9 containing the cDNA insert and poly(A+) RNA from newborn rat brain; the insert hybridized to mRNA capable of encoding alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptides. Northern blot analysis of rat brain poly(A+) RNA revealed that this mRNA is approximately 5.4 kilobases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic relatedness of human DNA polymerase beta and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase.

The Protein Identification Resource (PIR) protein sequence data bank was searched for sequence similarity between known proteins and human DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) or human terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT). Pol beta and TdT were found to exhibit amino acid sequence similarity only with each other and not with any other of the 4750 entries in release 12.0 of the PIR data bank. Optimal amino acid sequence alignment of the entire 39-kDa Pol beta polypeptide with the C-terminal two thirds of TdT revealed 24% identical aa residues and 21% conservative aa substitutions. The Monte Carlo score of 12.6 for the entire aligned sequences indicates highly significant aa sequence homology. The hydropathicity profiles of the aligned aa sequences were remarkably similar throughout, suggesting structural similarity of the polypeptides. The most significant regions of homology are aa residues 39-224 and 311-333 of Pol beta vs. aa residues 191-374 and 484-506 of TdT. In addition, weaker homology was seen between a large portion of the 'nonessential' N-terminal end of TdT (aa residues 33-130) and the first region of strong homology between the two proteins (aa residues 31-128 of Pol beta and aa residues 183-280 of TdT), suggestive of genetic duplication within the ancestral gene. On the basis of nucleotide differences between conserved regions of Pol beta and TdT genes (aligned according to optimally aligned aa sequences) it was estimated that Pol beta and TdT diverged on the order of 250 million years ago, corresponding roughly to a time before radiation of mammals and birds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromosomal location of the human gene for DNA polymerase beta.

Inhibition studies indicate that DNA polymerase beta has a synthetic role in DNA repair after exposure of mammalian cells to some types of DNA-damaging agents. The primary structure of the enzyme is highly conserved in vertebrates, and nearly full-length cDNAs for the enzyme were recently cloned from mammalian cDNA libraries. Southern blot analysis of DNA from a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids, using portions of the cDNA as probe, indicates that the gene for human DNA polymerase beta is single copy and located on the short arm or proximal long arm of chromosome 8 (8pter-8q22). A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was detected in normal individuals by using a probe from the 5' end of the cDNA, and this RFLP probably is due to an insertion or duplication of DNA in 20-25% of the population. This restriction site can be used as one marker for chromosome 8 genetic linkage studies and for family studies of traits potentially involving this DNA repair gene.

Animals↗

Sequence of human DNA polymerase beta mRNA obtained through cDNA cloning.

A cDNA library from polyA+ RNA of a human teratocarcinoma cell line in phage lambda gt11 was screened with a fragment of the rat beta-polymerase cDNA, lambda pol beta-10, as probe. Five positive phage were identified and plaque purified. The cDNA of one positive clone selected for detailed study was 1257 bp. This insert was sequenced and found to contain the coding region for beta-polymerase, as well as 163 bp and 137 bp from the 5' and 3' untranslated regions, respectively. The primary structure of human beta-polymerase (318 amino acids, Mr = 36, 133) deduced from the cDNA was similar to rat beta-polymerase (95% matched residues). The greatest difference between the sequences of the human and rat cDNAs was in the 3' untranslated regions (64% matched base residues). These results provide necessary sequence information for study of the human beta-polymerase gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of rodent helix-destabilizing protein revealed by cDNA cloning.

A cDNA library of newborn rat brain poly(A+) RNA in lambda gt 11 was screened with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a five amino acid sequence in the N-terminal region of the calf helix-destabilizing protein, UP1. Six positive phage were isolated after testing 2 X 10(5) recombinants, and each phage was plaque purified. Four of these phage clones were positive with a second oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a 5 amino acid sequence in the C-terminal region of calf UP1; one of the clones positive with both probes was selected for detailed study. This phage, designated lambda HDP-182, contained a 1706-base pair cDNA insert corresponding to an mRNA with a poly(A) sequence at the 3' terminus and a single open reading frame starting 63 bases from the 5' terminus and extending 988 bases. The 3' untranslated region of the mRNA contained 718 bases, including an AAUAAA signal 21 bases from the poly(A) sequence and a 16-residue poly(U) sequence flanked on each side by oligonucleotide repeats. Primer extension analysis of newborn rat brain poly(A+) RNA suggested that the cDNA insert in lambda HDP-182 was full length except for about 35 nucleotide residues missing from the 5' end untranslated region, and Northern blot analysis revealed one relatively abundant mRNA species of approximately the same size as the cDNA insert. The 988-residue open reading frame in the cDNA predicted a 34,215-dalton protein of 320 amino acids. Residues 2 through 196 of this rat protein are identical to the 195-residue sequence of the calf helix-destabilizing protein, UP1. The 124-amino acid sequence in the C-terminal portion of the 34,215-dalton protein is not present in purified calf UP1. This 124-residue sequence has unusual amino acid content in that it is 11% asparagine, 15% serine, and 40% glycine and consists of 16 consecutive oligopeptide repeats. Computer-derived secondary structure predictions for the 34,215-dalton protein revealed two distinct domains consisting of residues 1 through approximately 196 and residues approximately 197 to 320, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the mouse low-salt-eluting single-stranded DNA-binding protein as a mammalian lactate dehydrogenase-A isoenzyme.

A 36,000-Mr protein purified from mouse myeloma on the basis of selective binding to a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-cellulose column has been identified as the lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) subunit. A homogeneous preparation of this mouse myeloma ssDNA-binding protein, termed the 'low-salt-eluting protein', was found to possess LDH activity, and rabbit antiserum prepared against this protein was shown to cross-react with purified 36,000-Mr LDH-A subunits from mouse and bovine sources. In addition, bovine and human LHD-A4 isoenzymes were shown to be capable of binding ssDNA. These enzymic and immunological identities with LDH-A were not observed with purified helix-destabilizing protein 1 from mouse myeloma. A model for ssDNA-LDH binding is discussed.

Animals↗

Structure of rat DNA polymerase beta revealed by partial amino acid sequencing and cDNA cloning.

A cDNA library of newborn rat brain poly(A)+ RNA in phage lambda gt11 was screened with a polyclonal antibody against chicken DNA polymerase beta. One positive phage was isolated and purified after testing 2 X 10(7) recombinants. This phage, designated lambda pol beta-10, contained an 1197-base-pair cDNA insert that corresponded to a mRNA with a poly(A) sequence at the 3' terminus and a single, long open-reading frame of 957 bases. The open-reading frame, starting 44 residues from the 5' end of the cDNA, predicted a 36,375-Da protein of 318 amino acids. Comparison of this deduced amino acid sequence with the partial sequence obtained with purified polymerase beta revealed a match of six tryptic peptides, involving a total of 47 amino acid residues. This confirmed the identity of the cDNA. Blot-hybridization analysis of newborn rat brain poly(A)+ RNA revealed a mRNA species of approximately the same size as the cDNA insert; in addition, a second mRNA species approximately equal to 4000 bases long was detected. Computer-derived secondary structure analysis of the enzyme predicted seven regions of alpha-helix distributed throughout and three regions of beta-sheet.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Native species of helix destabilizing protein-1 in mouse myeloma identified by antibody probing of Western blots.

Antibody probing of Western blots is a method for analyzing the apparent Mr of a protein in any given preparation (Renart, J., Reiser, J., and Stark, G., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76: 3116, 1979). We prepared a rabbit antiserum to purified mouse myeloma helix destabilizing protein-1 and used this antiserum in Western blotting experiments with a crude homogenate of mouse myeloma. The results indicated that the native species of helix destabilizing protein-1 can be degraded during purification. This in vitro proteolysis results in complete loss of the native species and accumulation of lower Mr proteins that represent limit digestion products. These findings have identified the true native form of mouse myeloma HDP-1 as a protein of apparent Mr = 36,000 to 38,000, instead of the Mr = 24,000 and 27,000 proteins obtained by routine purification.

Animals↗

Properties and applications of new monoclonal antibodies raised against calf DNA polymerase alpha.

A panel of 12 hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against alpha-polymerase were prepared by fusion of mouse myeloma cells and spleen cells of a rat immunized with homogeneous calf thymus alpha-polymerase. Hybridomas were selected and cloned on the basis of immunobinding to pure alpha-polymerase in solid phase radioimmunoassay. Antibodies secreted by these cells eventually were purified in milligram quantities from ascites fluids. These antibodies, all of the rat immunoglobulin M class, cross-reacted with alpha-polymerases from calf and monkey cells as revealed by immunobinding in radioimmunoassay and by immunoprecipitation of DNA polymerase activity. The antibodies were not capable of neutralizing the enzyme activity. With the methods described these antibodies may be used to immunoprecipitate alpha-polymerase from crude extracts of mammalian cells and to measure levels of the enzyme protein.

Animals↗

Measurement of DNA polymerase beta in skin fibroblast cell lines from patients with ataxia telangiectasia.

DNA polymerase beta levels were measured in 4 cell lines of normal human skin fibroblasts and in 5 cell lines of skin fibroblasts from patients with ataxia telangiectasia, an autosomal recessive disease exhibiting marked X-ray sensitivity. The enzyme specific activities for the normal lines were similar and the mean value was 2-fold lower than the mean value for the ataxia lines. With both kinds of cells, the enzyme level did not change as the cultures progressed from logarithmic to stationary phase of growth. Thus, this putative DNA repair enzyme appears to be 'constitutive' in human skin fibroblast lines, and a modest elevation of beta-polymerase activity is associated with ataxia telangiectasia. These results are discussed in the context to current views about DNA-repair enzymes in X-ray-sensitive cultured mammalian cells.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗

Synthesis of DNA polymerase by in vitro translation of calf RNA.

Synthesis of alpha-polymerase in translation mixtures containing calf thymus poly(A+) RNA was examined by activity gel analysis and by immuno-binding with a monoclonal antibody to calf thymus alpha-polymerase. Activity gel analysis indicated that a DNA polymerase catalytic polypeptide of Mr = approximately 120,000 had been synthesized. Immunobinding experiments indicated that an immunoreactive polypeptide of about the same size had been formed in vitro. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of calf thymus total RNA revealed that mRNA encoding the approximately 120,000-Mr DNA polymerase polypeptide sedimented at about 16S. This approximately 120,000-Mr catalytic polypeptide corresponds in size to an alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptide found earlier in crude extracts of calf cells.

Animals↗

Site-specific modification of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I large fragment with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is an inhibitor of DNA polymerase activity of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I large fragment. Kinetic studies indicated that overall PLP inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to dNTP, and Hill plot analysis revealed that two molecules of PLP were involved in the inhibition. Reduction of the PLP-treated enzyme with sodium [3H]borohydride resulted in covalent incorporation of 3 mol of PLP/mol of enzyme. This incorporation was at lysine residues exclusively, and the PLP-modified enzyme was not capable of DNA polymerase activity. The presence of dNTP during the modification reaction blocked the incorporation of 1 mol of PLP/mol of enzyme. Similar results were obtained in the presence or absence of template-primer. These data indicate that a PLP target lysine is in or around a dNTP binding site that is essential for polymerase activity and that this binding site is functional in the absence of template-primer. The enzyme modified in the presence of dNTP, containing 2 mol of PLP/mol of enzyme, was capable of DNA polymerase activity but was unable to conduct elongation of product molecules beyond a short oligonucleotide length.

Binding Sites↗

Properties of a novel oligonucleotide-releasing bidirectional DNA exonuclease from mouse myeloma.

Highly purified, but not homogeneous, samples of helix-destabilizing protein 1 from mouse myeloma contain a novel oligonucleotide-releasing DNA exonuclease. This enzyme was separated from helix-destabilizing protein 1 and obtained in highly purified form. A polypeptide of Mr 41 000 is a main constituent of the purified enzyme, and this polypeptide comigrated with the exonuclease activity during the final step of the purification, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration where the enzyme had a native Mr of 40 000. Overall purification of enzyme activity was greater than 20 000-fold. This exonuclease releases 5'-oligonucleotides in a limited processive manner in both the 5'----3' and 3'----5' directions. Activity of the enzyme is resistant to 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide, requires a divalent cation, has an alkaline pH optimum, and degrades single-stranded DNA much faster than double-stranded DNA or RNA. The predominant oligonucleotide product with uniformly labeled substrates is (pdN)2. With 3' end labeled substrates, greater than 95% of the labeled products are (pdN)4 and (pdN)5; with 5' end labeled substrates, the main labeled product is (pdA)2. The rate of product release from 3' and 5' end labeled substrates is nearly identical at 37 degrees C. A model of the action of this enzyme and a comparison with a human placenta exonuclease [Doniger, J., & Grossman, L. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 4579-4587] are discussed.

Animals↗

Synthesis of catalytically active polymerase alpha by in vitro translation of calf RNA.

The cell-free synthesis of DNA polymerase in translation mixtures containing calf thymus total and poly (A+) RNA was examined using activity gel analysis and immunobinding with a monoclonal antibody to calf thymus alpha-polymerase. Activity gel analysis indicated that functional DNA polymerase catalytic polypeptides of Mr = 110,000 to 120,000 and Mr approximately 68,000 were synthesized. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of total RNA resulted in resolution and partial purification of the mRNAs encoding these two DNA polymerase polypeptides. Immunobinding experiments with the monoclonal antibody to calf alpha-polymerase confirmed that an immunoreactive polypeptide of 110 to 120 kilo-daltons had been formed in vitro. This polypeptide and the 68,000-Mr polypeptide correspond in size to alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptides observed in crude extracts of calf cells and in purified calf alpha-polymerase.

Animals↗

Identification of a higher molecular weight DNA polymerase alpha catalytic polypeptide in monkey cells by monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody against purified calf DNA polymerase alpha (deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7) was used to immunoprecipitate proteins from a crude soluble extract of growing monkey BSC-1 cells. Immunoprecipitates contained familiar DNA polymerase alpha catalytic polypeptides of Mrs approximately equal to 115,000 and 70,000 and also a Mr 40,000 catalytic polypeptide; the major component in the immunoprecipitates, however, was a polypeptide of Mr approximately equal to 190,000 not previously identified as a DNA polymerase. This protein was capable of DNA polymerase activity after electroelution from NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels and renaturation. The highly purified enzyme so obtained was active with poly(dT).oligo(rA) as template.primer, resistant to dideoxy TTP (ddTTP), and inhibited by aphidicolin and butylphenyldeoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate, thus identifying it as a DNA polymerase alpha. The results indicate that a polypeptide of Mr approximately equal to 190,000 is an abundant component among DNA polymerase alpha catalytic polypeptides in growing monkey cells.

Animals↗

Predicted normal values for maximal respiratory pressures in caucasian adults and children.

Maximal respiratory pressures at the mouth (PEmax and PImax) have been measured in 370 normal caucasian children and adults. Age, height, and weight were recorded for all subjects and incorporated in a stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine prediction equations for the maximal respiratory pressures in the children and adults for both sexes. In men PImax and PEmax were significantly correlated only with age (p less than 0.001 and less than 0.035 respectively), whereas in women they were correlated with height (p less than 0.035 and less than 0.03). In both boys and girls PImax was related to weight (p less than 0.0001 and less than 0.01 respectively) and PEmax to age (p less than 0.001 for both). The values for PImax and PEmax in adults were lower than in previously reported series, but in children the values obtained were similar to those reported for several smaller series.

Adolescent↗