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Biomedical subjects

S Nishikawa

Publications and source records attributed to S Nishikawa.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

The yeast JEM1p is a DnaJ-like protein of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane required for nuclear fusion.

DnaJ-like proteins are functional partners for Hsp70 molecular chaperones. Complete nucleotide sequencing of yeast chromosome X has revealed that an open reading frame YJL073w encodes a novel member of the DnaJ-like protein family. The open reading frame represents a protein of 692 amino acids with a J-domain and one putative membrane-spanning segment. An epitope-tagged version of the protein was anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and its J-domain faced the ER lumen. We therefore propose to designate this gene JEM1 (DnaJ-like protein of the ER membrane) and to designate its gene product JEM1p. The JEM1 gene is not essential for cell growth, but double disruption of the JEM1 gene and the SCJ1 gene, which encodes another DnaJ-like protein in the ER lumen, causes growth arrest at elevated temperature. The Deltajem1 mutant is defective in nuclear fusion, karyogamy, during mating. A mutant JEM1p carrying a mutation in the highly conserved His-Pro-Asp sequence in the J-domain could not complement either temperature-sensitive growth of the Deltajem1 Deltascj1 double mutant or defects in karyogamy of the Deltajem1 mutant. JEM1p likely assists the functions of BiP, Hsp70 in the ER, including karyogamy.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1997

Detailed analysis of base preferences at the cleavage site of a trans-acting HDV ribozyme: a mutation that changes cleavage site specificity.

In our previous attempt at in vitro selection of a trans - acting human hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme, we found that one of the variants, G10-68-725G, cleaved a 13 nt substrate, HDVS1, at two sites [Nishikawa,F., Kawakami,J., Chiba,A., Shirai,M., Kumar,P.K.R. and Nishikawa,S. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem., 237, 712-718]. One site was the normal cleavage site and the other site was shifted 1 nt toward the 3'-end. To clarify the interactions between nucleotides around the cleavage site of the trans -acting HDV ribozyme, we analyzed the efficiency of the reaction for every possible base pair between the substrate and the ribozyme at positions -1 (-1N:726N) and +1 (+1N:725N) relative to the cleavage site using the genomic HDV ribozyme, TdS4(Xho), and derivatives of the most active variant, G10-68. These mutagenesis analyses revealed that the +1 base of the substrate affects the structure of the catalytic core in the complex with G10-68-725G, substrate and divalent metal ions, and it shifts the cleavage site. In a comparison with other variants of the trans -acting HDV ribozyme, we found that this cleavage site shift occurred only with G10-68-725G.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1997

Activation of the prefrontal, occipital and parietal cortices during go/no-go discrimination tasks in the monkey as revealed by positron emission tomography.

The regions of the monkey brain involved in cognito-behavioral tasks were mapped using the H2(15)O positron emission tomography (PET) activation technique. Monkeys performed hand movements in an asymmetrically rewarded go/no-go reaction-time task with discrimination between green (go) and red (no-go) light signals. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured during the go/no-go task and a control task in which only go signals were presented. In the go/no-go task, when compared with the control, a significant increase in rCBF was noted in the following regions: (1) the principal sulci; (2) the anterodorsal frontal pole; (3) the anterior part of the inferior occipital sulcus which appeared to be the V4; and (4) the parieto-occipital region. The increase in the principal sulci may be related to the no-go decision and motor suppression in the area, as interpreted in our previous electrophysiological studies. The present results appear to support electrophysiological observations on visual perception and motor suppression and reflect a mode of their functional integration.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Expression of highly active recombinant NS3 protease domain of hepatitis C virus in E. coli.

The serine protease domain of HCV comprising amino acids 1027-1218 (deltaNS3) was expressed in E. coli with a His tag at its N-terminal end. The protease was purified to apparent homogeneity by a single step affinity chromatography resulting in high yields (approximately 3 mg/l of cultured cells). The deltaNS3 efficiently cleaves a 17-mer peptide corresponding to the NS5A-NS5B junction with kcat/Km = 160 x 10(-3) min(-1) microM(-1) in the presence of NS4A peptide. Our deltaNS3 represents the minimal domain possessing highly active protease of NS3 constructed so far. The deltaNS3 protein also efficiently processed a longer substrate corresponding to NS5A/5B junction (2203-2506 amino acids) that was synthesized by in vitro transcription and translation system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Discrimination of a single base change in a ribozyme using the gene for dihydrofolate reductase as a selective marker in Escherichia coli.

For use of ribozymes in vivo, it is desirable to select functional ribozymes in the cellular environment (in the presence of inhibitory factors and limited concentrations of mandatory Mg2+ ions, etc.). As a first step toward this goal, we developed a new screening system for detection in vivo of an active ribozyme from pools of active and inactive ribozymes using the gene for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) as a selective marker. In our DHFR expression vector, the sequence encoding either the active or the inactive ribozyme was connected to the DHFR gene. The plasmid was designed such that, when the ribozyme was active, the rate of production of DHFR was high enough to endow resistance to trimethoprim (TMP). We demonstrated that the active ribozyme did indeed cleave the primary transcript in vivo, whereas the inactive ribozyme had no cleavage activity. Cells that harbored the active-ribozyme-coding plasmid grew faster in the presence of a fixed concentration of TMP than the corresponding cells that harbored the inactive-ribozyme-coding plasmid. Consequently, when cells were transformed by a mixture that consisted of active- and inactive-ribozyme-coding plasmids at a ratio of 1:1, (i) mainly those cells that harbored active ribozymes survived in the presence of TMP and (ii) both active- and inactive-ribozyme-harboring cells grew at an identical rate in the absence of TMP, a demonstration of a positive selection system in vivo. If the background "noise" can be removed completely in the future, the selection system might usefully complement existing selection systems in vitro.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Probing the environment along the protein import pathways in yeast mitochondria by site-specific photocrosslinking.

Artificially aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs were used to introduce photoreactive amino acids into model mitochondrial precursor proteins to probe the environment along the protein import pathway. Amino acids with benzophenone side chains of various lengths [DL-2-amino-3-(p-benzoylphenyl)propanoic acid (1) and DL-2-amino-5-(p-benzoylphenyl)pentanoic acid (2)] were incorporated at specific sites throughout the cytochrome b2-dihydrofolate reductase fusion proteins, pb2(220)-DHFR and pb2 delta 19(220)-DHFR, which were destined for the intermembrane space and the matrix in mitochondria, respectively. In vitro import of pb2(220)-DHFR and pb2 delta 19(220)-DHFR bearing 1 or 2 into isolated yeast mitochondria was arrested so that the N terminus reached the intermembrane space or the matrix, respectively, while the DHFR domain remained at the mitochondrial surface. The matrix-targeted pb2 delta 19(220)-DHFR was photocrosslinked to Tom40 in the outer membrane, Tim44 in the inner membrane, and Ssc1p in the matrix, suggesting that the protein has an extended conformation in the import channels. On the other hand, incorporation of 2 at various positions in the 50-residue segment of intermembrane-space-targeted pb2(220)-DHFR gave photocrosslinks only to Tom40, suggesting that the segment is not in an extended conformation, but localized near Tom40. The N-terminal portion of pb2(220)-DHFR, but not pb2 delta 19(220)-DHFR, was photocrosslinked to an as-yet-unidentified mitochondrial component to generate a 95-kDa crosslinked product.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1997

Osteoclast precursors in bone marrow and peritoneal cavity.

Osteoclasts differentiate from cells that share some phenotypes with mature macrophages and monocytes, but early precursors for osteoclasts still remain obscure. To characterize osteoclast precursors, using monoclonal anti-c-Fms and anti-c-Kit antibodies, bone marrow cells were separated and the frequency of clonogenic progenitors were measured. Osteoclast precursors in the bone marrow mainly expressed c-Kit and diminished in frequency when they expressed c-Fms. In contrast to bone marrow, the precursors in the peritoneal cavity were enriched with a population of c-Fms+. Injection of these antibodies into mice demonstrated that peritoneal osteoclast precursors were sensitive to anti-c-Fms but not to anti-c-Kit antibodies, whereas those in bone marrow only declined in the presence of both antibodies. Meanwhile, c-Fms as opposed to c-Kit played an essential role in the generation of osteoclasts in cultures. We also compared osteoclast precursors with colony forming cells (CFU-M) by a macrophage colony stimulating factor. CFU-M in bone marrow decreased when anti-c-Kit antibody was administered and no CFU-M was detected in peritoneum. In this study, we show differences between proliferative potential osteoclast precursors maintained in bone marrow and peritoneum and between CFU-M and osteoclast precursors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Involvement of Fas antigen in ovarian follicular atresia and luteolysis.

The Fas antigen (Fas) is a cell-surface receptor protein that mediates apoptosis-inducing signals and plays an important role in the immune system. Significant amounts of Fas mRNA can be detected not only in lymphoid organs but also in the liver, heart, and ovary. In the ovary, apoptosis is thought to cause follicular atresia and luteolysis. We have investigated the involvement of Fas in these events. Here we report that Fas protein is expressed on granulosa and luteal cells but not on oocytes in the ovary. An injection of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody with apoptosis-inducing activity into adult mice enhanced follicular atresia and luteolysis. After the injection, the corpora lutea disappeared and the number of follicles containing pyknotic granulosa cells increased. There were also fewer ovulated ova and lower levels of luteal cell-produced progesterone. Furthermore, as the result of a non-functional Fas/Fas ligand system, mature ovaries from the mouse mutant/pr (lymphoproliferation) were histologically abnormal in terms of follicular development, in that the number of secondary follicles significantly increased. These results suggested that Fas plays an important role in follicular atresia and luteolysis in the ovarian physiology of adult mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Hepatotoxicity of diisopropyl ester of malonic acid and chloromalonic acids, disinfection by-products of the fungicide isoprothiolane.

The fungicide isoprothiolane (diisopropyl 1,3-dithiolane-2-ylidenemalonate) decomposes to the diisopropyl esters of malonic acid (DM), chloromalonic acid (DCM) and dichloromalonic acid (DDCM) upon aqueous chlorination. In this study, the cytotoxicity of these compounds was examined using rat hepatocytes cultured on Matrigel. DCM and DDCM caused hepatocellular death at concentrations > 0.5 mM, while DM had no effect on the cell viability even at the maximum concentration examined (4 mM). Significant lipid peroxidation, measured as 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was observed in both DCM- and DDCM-treated hepatocyte cultures, and was significantly enhanced by pretreatment with 0.1 mM bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), a carboxylesterase inhibitor. When both BNPP and SKF-525A, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, were present in the medium, DCM-induced cytotoxicity and lipid peroxidation were significantly suppressed compared to cultures with BNPP-treatment alone. By contrast, the DDCM-induced cytotoxicity was not affected by the combined pretreatment of SKF-525A and BNPP. These results indicate that DCM is metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 in an ester form, while DDCM is activated by a mechanism other than one involving cytochrome P450. To further elucidate the cytochrome P450 isozyme involved in the metabolic activation of DCM, microsomal lipid peroxidation was studied in vitro using microsomes from rats treated with beta-naphthoflavone, musk xylene, phenobarbital, pyrazole, or dexamethasone. Among these preparations, the microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats showed the most extensive lipid peroxidation in the presence of DCM, and the lipid peroxidation was enhanced by BNPP as observed in hepatocyte cultures. These findings suggest the possible involvement of cytochrome P450 3A in the metabolic activation of DCM.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Expressions of PDGF receptor alpha, c-Kit and Flk1 genes clustering in mouse chromosome 5 define distinct subsets of nascent mesodermal cells.

In gastrulating embryos, various types of cells are generated before differentiation into specific lineages. The mesoderm of the gastrulating mouse embryo represents a group of such intermediate cells. PDGF receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha), c-Kit and fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk1) are expressed in distinctive mesodermal derivatives of post-gastrulation embryos. Their expressions during gastrulation were examined by whole mount immunostaining with monoclonal antibodies against these three receptors. The antibodies stained different mesodermal subsets in gastrulating embryos. Flow cytometry of head fold stage embryos revealed that Flk1+ mesodermal cells could be further classified by the level of c-Kit expression. To examine the possibility that hematopoietic cell differentiation is initiated from the Flk1+ mesoderm, embryonic stem (ES) cells were cultured on the OP9 or PA6 stromal cell layer; the former but not the latter supported in vitro hematopoiesis from ES cells. Flk1+ cells were detected only on the OP9 cell layer from day 3 of differentiation before the appearance of hematopoietic cells. Thus, Flk1+ cells will be required for in vitro ES cell differentiation into hematopoietic cells. The results suggest that these three receptor tyrosine kinases will be useful for defining and sorting subsets of mesodermal cells from embryos or in vitro cultured ES cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Histidine-like immunoreactivity in the rat retina.

PURPOSE: Histidine is an indispensable amino acid with an imidazole ring and it is a precursor of histamine, carnosine, and anserine. Histidine has been proposed to act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in mammalian central nervous system (CNS), including retina. In this study, we report histidine-like immunoreactivity in the rat retina with the use of antibodies raised against histidine coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with glutaraldehyde. METHODS: In order to confirm the specificity of the antiserum toward histidine, immunodots were carried out. Only the histidine conjugate showed immunoreactivity. The rat retinas fixed with glutaraldehyde were used for immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Histidine immunoreactivity was identified in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner nuclear layer (INL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and Müller cells of rat retina. CONCLUSIONS: Histidine may be a precursor of histamine in the inner retina, and Müller cells may play some role in the metabolism of histidine.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Three distinctive steps in Peyer's patch formation of murine embryo.

Investigation of the process of Peyer's patch (PP) formation has been hampered by difficulties in identifying its initial step in the embryo. In this study, we overcame this problem by means of whole-mount immunohistochemistry using mAb against the molecules which were expressed in the cells accumulated at the site of PP development. This method was sensitive enough to distinguish a minute cell cluster in the developing gastrointestinal tract. We analyzed the time course of the expression of various surface markers and found that PP formation proceeds through three successive steps. The first is the appearance of a VCAM-1+ cell cluster at 15.5 days postcoitus (d.p.c.). Histological examination of the VCAM-1+ clusters suggested that VCAM-1+ cells represent a stromal component. The second step is characterized by the accumulation of round cells expressing la, IL-7R or CD4 at 17.5 d.p.c. Lymphocytes expressing CD3 or B220 were detected only in the final step which started at 18.5 d.p.c. Using any of these markers, the aggregation was initially detected on the upper jejunum and it extended to the colon as the number of clusters increased. At the neonatal stage, the number reached up to eight or nine, irrespective of the antibodies used for the detection. In the aly/aly mutant mouse, where no lymph nodes or PP are found in the adult, none of these three steps was detected. On the other hand, in the SCID mouse that is defective in the formation of mature lymphocytes, the first and second step proceeded, whereas the third step was undetectable. These findings suggest that the progression of each step is indeed regulated by different mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Triazine dyes inhibit HIV-1 entry by binding to envelope glycoproteins.

We have attempted to purify envelope (Env) glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the culture supernatants of CHO-Sec cells that secreted truncated 140-kDa precursor and mature 120-kDa Env glycoproteins. The concentrated culture supernatants were applied to a column coupled with cibacron blue 3GA (CB3GA) to separate albumin from the Env proteins because CB3GA, a triazine dye, has been known to have a high affinity to albumin. Unexpectedly, Env proteins as well as albumin bound to the column, and the bound Env proteins were eluted by increasing the ionic strength using KCl. Gp120 was eluted at 0.5-0.9 M of KCl, while a higher concentration (0.9-1.5 M) was necessary for the elution of gp140. The agarose gel coupled with reactive red 120 (RR120), another triazine dye with similar characteristics, also retained both Env proteins, and the bound Env proteins could be eluted in a similar manner. In addition, these agents inhibited syncytium formation caused by HTLV-IIIB and HTLV-IIIMN. Inhibition was also seen when a virus-free fusion assay between Env protein expressed in CHO cells and fluorescent labeled SupT1 cells were used. These findings indicate that triazine dyes bind to the functional regions of Env proteins of HIV-1 that play important role(s) for HIV infection.

Albumins↗
PubMed1997

Identification of calprotectin, a calcium binding leukocyte protein, in human dental calculus matrix.

Calprotectin is a calcium binding protein produced by leukocytes, macrophages and epithelial cells, and its levels in several tissues increase during infections and in many inflamed areas, suggesting that it may be an indicator of inflammatory activity. Osteopontin is a prominent phosphorylated glycoprotein in bone matrix, having calcium binding capacity. Recently, it has been reported that calprotectin and osteopontin are present in urinary stones (pathological mineralized masses in the body), and that these proteins may be involved in their formation. Dental calculus formed by mineralization of dental plaque is an inflammatory factor which may contribute to periodontal disease. It contains many organic components involved in mineralization. We recently found osteopontin molecules in human dental calculus and suggested that the components of its matrix may be similar to those of urinary stones. In this study, we investigated the presence of calprotectin in human dental calculus by immunohistochemical and immunoblotting analyses using a specific antibody for calprotectin. After fixation and demineralization of dental calculi adhered to tooth roots, sections embedded in paraffin were immunoreacted with the antibody for calprotectin and positive immunostaining for calprotectin was observed. Dental calculus proteins were then extracted with EDTA and separated by electrophoresis on 15% polyacrylamide gels. By immunoblotting analysis, 3 or 4 bands were observed at 11, 14.5, 22-25, 28 or 36.5 kDa and these patterns corresponded to those of calprotectin subunits. When non-immune rabbit serum was used instead of calprotectin-specific antibody as a negative control, no immunoreactivity was observed. These findings indicate that calprotectin is associated not only with antibacterial action but also with calcium binding capacity during dental calculus formation.

Calcium-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1997

PDGFR alpha expression during mouse embryogenesis: immunolocalization analyzed by whole-mount immunohistostaining using the monoclonal anti-mouse PDGFR alpha antibody APA5.

We investigated the cells that express platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR alpha) during mouse embryogenesis. PDGFR alpha expression has been identified by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies on tissue sectins. Because no immunostaining study using whole-mount specimens has been published to date, we established a new monoclonal antibody (MAb), APA5, for this purpose. Our results differed in that APA5 stained only the paraxial mesoderm, whereas other investigators concluded that most if not all mesodermal cells expressed PDGFR alpha. Moreover, we did not find PDGFR alpha expression in embryonic erythrocytes, which have been previously suggested to express PDGFR alpha. On the basis of our present results, we wish to revise the proposed PDGFR alpha expression as follows. At the pregastrulation stage, PDGFR alpha is expressed only in primitive endoderm, particularly that in the ectoplacental cone. On gastrulation, it is expressed at high levels in the paraxial mesoderm. This expression continues after its differentiation into the somite. Along with the differentiation and migration of the sclerotome, PDGFR alpha + cells begin to become distributed throughout the embryonal mesenchyme. During organogenesis, particularly intense staining is detected in regions of epithelial and mesenchymal interaction, such as the tooth bud and bronchi. In addition to mesodermal derivatives, the developing lens, apical ectodermal ridge, glial precursor, cardiac valves, and choroid plexus express PDGFR alpha. Our results with whole-mount immunostaining show that PDGFR alpha is abundantly expressed and may play important roles during embryogenesis.

Animals↗