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Biomedical subjects

S M Chang

Publications and source records attributed to S M Chang.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Different susceptibilities of platelet phospholipids to various phospholipases and modifications induced by thrombin. Possible evidence of rearrangement of lipid domains.

On the membrane surface of the human platelet, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were hydrolyzed to different extents by the snake venom phospholipases A2 of varying pI values. The susceptibility of platelet phospholipids to basic phospholipase A2 of Naja nigricollis (pI 10.6) has been reported (Wang et al. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 856, 244-258). The susceptibilities of platelet phospholipids to acidic phospholipase A2 of Naja naja atra (pI 5.2) and to neutral phospholipase A2 of Hemachatus haemachatus (pI 7.3) were investigated in this study. In gel-filtered platelets, acidic phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 35% PC and 10% PE, while neutral phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 18% PC and 3% PE. In thrombin-induced shape-changed platelets, acidic phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 20% PC and 10% PE, while neutral phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 15% PC and 6% PE. In thrombin-activated platelets, acidic phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 25% PC and 7% PE, while neutral phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed 25% PC and 10% PE. Sequential lipid hydrolysis experiments showed that basic phospholipase A2 of Naja nigricollis could hydrolyze the remaining PC and PE in the membrane previously treated with the neutral enzyme. The results may mean that: the PC and the PE domains exist on the platelet membrane surface; and the lipid domains on the membrane surface of resting platelets are rearranged by thrombin.

Blood Platelets↗

Construction of a defective retrovirus containing the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase cDNA and its expression in cultured cells and mouse bone marrow.

Defective ecotropic and amphotropic retroviral vectors containing the cDNA for human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) were developed for efficient gene transfer and high-level cellular expression of HPRT. Helper cell clones which produced a high viral titer were generated by a simplified method which minimizes cell culture. We used the pZIP-NeoSV(X) vector containing a human hprt cDNA. Viral titers (1 X 10(3) to 5 X 10(4)/ml) of defective SVX HPRT B, a vector containing both the hprt and neo genes, were increased 3- to 10-fold by cocultivation of the ecotropic psi 2 and amphotropic PA-12 helper cells. Higher viral titers (8 X 10(5) to 7.5 X 10(6] were obtained when nonproducer NIH 3T3 cells or psi 2 cells carrying a single copy of SVX HPRT B were either transfected or infected by Moloney leukemia virus. The SVX HPRT B defective virus partially corrected the HPRT deficiency (4 to 56% of normal) of cultured rodent and human Lesch-Nyhan cells. However, instability of HPRT expression was detected in several infected clones. In these unstable variants, both retention and loss of the SVX HPRT B sequences were observed. In the former category, cells which became HPRT- (6-thioguanine resistant [6TGr]) also became G418s, indicative of a cis-acting down regulation of expression. Both hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine resistance (HATr) and G418r could be regained by counterselection in hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine. In vitro mouse bone marrow experiments indicated low-level expression of the neo gene in in vitro CFU assays. Individual CFU were isolated and pooled, and the human hprt gene was shown to be expressed. These studies demonstrated the applicability of vectors like SVX HPRT B for high-titer production of defective retroviruses required for hematopoietic gene transfer and expression.

Bone Marrow↗

Gene replacement therapy for inborn errors of purine metabolism.

Effective retroviral vectors carrying the human HPRT and ADA genes have been described. Initial characterization of the retroviral gene transfer system using the HPRT vector allowed the delineation of several parameters important in viral titer, expression, and stability. Using the HPRT and ADA vectors, we have initiated experiments designed to insert these human genes into various tissues of the mouse and have demonstrated expression of both transduced genes in mouse bone marrow cells. Further work with these and other vector constructions is underway in the hope that this technique may allow safe and effective treatment of ADA and HPRT deficiencies, paving the way for treatments of other inborn errors of metabolism through somatic gene replacement therapy.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Monoclonal antibody against the catalytic subunit of bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the application of enzyme purification.

A monoclonal antibody against the catalytic subunit of bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been prepared. The antibody, M73/PK1, belongs to the heavy-chain subclass IgG3 and has a titer of 20,480. Purified M73/PK1 was obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Protein A-agarose affinity chromatography and was coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 6MB. The catalytic subunit was purified by this affinity column. A 75% yield and 4746-fold purification were obtained. These results show that this is a suitable and effective method for the purification of the catalytic subunit of bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of a Chinese hamster lung cell tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase mutant.

A novel type of temperature-sensitive protein synthetic mutant was isolated from V-79 Chinese hamster lung cells using an amino acid analog suicide selection. The expression of the temperature sensitive phenotype of the mutant is greatly affected by the concentration of tryptophan in the culture medium. In addition, the activity of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is undetectable in cell-free extracts prepared from the mutant cells. The results suggest that the mutant has an alteration in the structural gene encoding tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Mouse mononuclear phagocyte antigenic heterogeneity detected by monoclonal antibodies.

Identification and characterization of the many cellular and subcellular changes that underlie various macrophage functions have been hampered by the problem of population heterogeneity. The problem has remained because, in the case of most functions, we have not had the means to examine cells at a level below that of whole populations. We report here the potential means to do so. Rat anti-mouse mononuclear phagocyte monoclonal antibodies were raised against adherent cells cultured from bone marrow. These antibodies were used to delineate and, in the presence of complement, eliminate subpopulations of macrophages. The extent to which antigenic heterogeneity occurs was shown in several mononuclear phagocyte populations that are commonly employed experimentally. Some antibodies reacted with most mononuclear phagocytes tested, whereas others showed marked selectivity of binding. As expected, resident populations were less heterogeneous antigenically than inflammatory populations were. The data both extend what is known about mononuclear phagocyte population heterogeneity and suggest means by way of which this heterogeneity can be overcome.

Animals↗

Structural relatedness of mouse lactate dehydrogenase isozymes, A4 (muscle), B4 (heart), and C4 (testis).

Three homotetrameric lactate dehydrogenase isozymes, LDH-M(A4), LDH-H(B4), and LDH-X(C4), from DBA/2J mice have been purified by affinity chromatography. The amino acid compositions of the subunits A,B, and C, based on a molecular weight of 36,000, have been determined. The compositional relatedness of these isozymes indicates that subunits A (muscle) and B (heart) are more closely related to each other than to subunit C (testis). Tryptic peptide maps and amino acid compositions of some active site peptides apear to confirm the compositional relatedness among these isozymes. The sequence of the loop region of mouse C subunit seems to be markedly different from all known A and B sequences, and the structural and functional implications are discussed.

Amino Acids↗

Antigenic analyses of two axenized strains of Entamoeba histolytica by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis.

Antigens in extracts of two strains of Entamoeba histolytica (HT-31 and HK-9) were studied by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2D-IEP) and 32 and 20 different antigenic components were detected, respectively. Cross-reactions between heterologous systems showed a large number of shared antigens between the two strains. Extracts were fractionated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography. Of the fractions obtained, fraction II of both strains was found to have the most reactive antigenic components. Precipitin patterns of fraction II from HT-31 and HK-9 with sera from patients showed similar 2D-IEP profiles and suggested that in this fraction antigens common to both strains exist which elicit antibody in individuals with E. histolytica infections.

Animals↗

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in murine haematopoietic progenitor cells following retroviral transfer.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism, leads to severe combined immune deficiency in man. This enzyme, although constitutively expressed in most tissues, is expressed at high level in immature T cells, and study of the pathophysiology of the disorder indicates that increased deoxyadenosine or altered methylation capacity have toxic effects on T-cell maturation. Although bone marrow transplantation can correct the immune deficiency, this therapy is associated with graft-versus-host disease and incomplete immune restoration, and so our laboratory and others have sought to develop a method of gene replacement as a possible treatment for the disease. Moreover, characterization of the complementary DNA of the human ADA gene and some of its mutants makes it possible to design gene transfer strategies. We have now subcloned a human adenosine deaminase cDNA into the retrovirus shuttle vector pZIP-SV(B), and in this way have isolated a cell line, 4.2T, which produces high titres of replication-defective retrovirus which have been used to transfer the gene for human ADA to mouse bone marrow cells. Transfer and expression of the neomycin-resistance gene (neo) and the ADA gene in murine bone marrow colony-forming units (CFU) was demonstrated by in vitro colony formation in the presence of the antibiotic G418 or 9-xylofuranosyladenine plus deoxycoformycin, respectively. Isoenzyme analysis also showed human ADA expression in the cultured mouse bone marrow.

Adenosine Deaminase↗