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S Nomoto

Publications and source records attributed to S Nomoto.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Activated c-raf-1 gene from human stomach cancer].

We previously isolated a novel human transforming sequence from a primary stomach cancer and identified the gene as an activated version of the c-raf-1 gene which is the human homologue of v-raf, a viral oncogene encoding a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase. Of 57 kbp of the human sequence isolated, a region of 40 kbp was found to be the minimum functional unit for the transforming activity, because a cosmid clone harboring this region was capable of inducing foci upon transfection. The size of the transcript of the transforming c-raf-1 gene was estimated to be about 2.8kb. Analyses of cDNA clones of this gene revealed that the gene was generated by substitution of the 5'-sequence (exons 1-5) of the normal c-raf-1 gene with an unrelated human sequence. We identified a region in the genomic clone where the rearrangement had occurred. The rearranged EcoRI fragment was detected in all the primary transformants obtained from two independent transfections, suggesting that the recombination had occurred in the primary cancer. The substituted cDNA sequence is composed of an open reading frame, which joins to exon 6 of the c-raf-1 gene in an in-phase manner. The substituted open reading frame encodes an extremely hydrophobic polypeptide. Thus, the putative product of the transforming gene seems to have a hydrophobic stretch ahead of the ser/thr-protein kinase domain of the c-raf-1 gene product. These results suggest that the truncation or replacement of the amino-terminal domain of the c-raf-1 protein leads to constitutive activation of the protein kinase residing in the downstream domain.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Optimized atomic absorption spectrophotometry of calcium in erythrocytes.

We sought to establish optimum conditions for measuring calcium in erythrocytes by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The conditions we selected are as follows. Wash one volume of fresh heparin-treated packed cells once with 30 volumes of isotonic buffered saline (pH 7.4) at a temperature somewhat exceeding 25 degrees C. Dilute the washed packed cells 10-fold with 12 mmol/L hydrochloric acid, and analyze the supernate for calcium. Measure the hematocrit of the washed packed cells, then analyze an aliquot of them for calcium, using a computer-readout type of flame or a non-flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with a pyrocoated graphite tube. The temperature program is 1000 degrees C for ashing [corrected] and 1800 degrees C for the atomizing cycle. Intraday and day-to-day reproducibility of the assay was 6.55% and 8.19%, respectively, at the mean concentration of calcium in the erythrocytes of healthy adults, which is 4.30 mumol/L.

Adult↗

An anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibody inhibits cell-substratum adhesion of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

A monoclonal rat IgM antibody (4C9) raised against F9 embryonal carcinoma cells reacted with fucosyl residues in poly-N-acetyllactosamine-type large carbohydrates of these cells (embryoglycan). The chemical properties and distribution of the antigen resembled those of SSEA-1. The monoclonal antibody was found to inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells: in the presence of the antibody, cells grew as spherical cell aggregates on plastic dishes. When the antibody was added to the already spread cells, they displayed the initial sign of rounding up within 3 h; the rounding process was largely completed within 6 h. After removal of the antibody, cells resumed their normal morphology. The antibody could act in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol. In serum-free medium, F9 cells spread on plastic dishes coated with fibronectin or with laminin, and the process was also inhibited by the antibody. Immuno-electronmicroscopy revealed that 4C9 antigen was diffusely distributed over the cell surface of F9 cells. The distribution of the antigen was not altered generally after culturing with the antibody for 6 h. Another monoclonal rat IgM antibody, which did not react with embryoglycan and resembled anti-Forssman, did not inhibit cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells, in spite of its reactivity to the cells. Thus, a glycoprotein with fucosyl (poly)-N-acetyllactosamine structure appears to be involved in cell-substratum adhesion of F9 cells.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Structure of the activated c-raf-1 gene from human stomach cancer.

We previously isolated a novel human transforming gene from a primary stomach cancer and identified it as an activated version of the c-raf-1 gene which is the human homologue of v-raf, a viral oncogene encoding a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase. Analyses of cDNA and genomic clones of this gene revealed that it was generated by substitution of 5'-sequence (exons 1-5) of the normal c-raf-1 gene with an unrelated human sequence. We identified the region in the genomic clone where the rearrangement had occurred. The rearranged EcoRI fragment was detected in all the primary transformants obtained from two independent transfections, suggesting that the recombination had occurred in the primary cancer. By sequence analysis of cDNA, the putative product of the transforming gene was inferred to have a hydrophobic stretch ahead of the ser/thr-protein kinase domain of the c-raf-1 gene product. We introduced one of the cDNA which contains the 1.6-kb open reading frame into the pUC9 vector. An autophosphorylating, 58 kd protein was induced in Escherichia coli cells bearing the plasmid upon induction. Since ser/thr-protein kinase activity of the normal c-raf protein has not been evidenced, these results suggest that the truncation/replacement of the amino-terminal domain of the c-raf-1 protein leads to constitutive activation of the protein kinase probably residing on the downstream domain.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗