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S Weng

Publications and source records attributed to S Weng.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in substantia nigra.

Inefficiencies in mitochondrial respiration mainly affecting complex I and IV activities, occur with increasing age and have been suggested as a possible etiological factor in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. It has been suggested that this finding may be explained by an accumulation of mtDNA mutations. We hypothesise that some polymorphic mitochondrial genomes encode less efficient respiratory protein subunits and are therefore less tolerant of acquired mutations. If this hypothesis is correct, individuals with 'less efficient' mtDNA genotypes may be predisposed both to more rapid biological aging and to neurodegenerative disease. In this study we investigate the substantia nigra mtDNA composition from 4 elderly individuals (2 non-parkinsonian and 2 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease) to determine whether there is sufficient polymorphism to account for different possible respiratory efficiencies. THe mitochondrial tRNAArg, tRNAHis, tRNAScr, tRNALeu(CUN), ND4L, ND4 and ND5 genes as well as parts of the ND3 and ND6 subunit coding regions were analysed (4221 bp), revealing the presence of multiple deletions and 48 discrete polymorphic sites. These included 23 missense, two tRNA and one nonsense polymorphism. Eight of the missense polymorphisms caused nonconservative amino acid replacements at sites of moderate to high evolutionary constraint. These findings suggest that mtDNA diversity in the ageing brain may account for a range of bioenergetic outcomes. The variation in mtDNA genotype involves both inherited (fixed familial) polymorphism and superimposed acquired mutations.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the early processing routes of N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins through the characterization of Man8GlcNAc2 isomers: evidence that endomannosidase functions in vivo in the absence of a glucosidase blockade.

Since it has become apparent that the early processing of the N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins can proceed by several routes, we undertook to determine whether the isomeric nature of Man8GlcNAc2, which is the first intermediate with the potential for structural diversity, can provide information relating to the pathways utilized in various intact cultured cells as well as in the total membrane fraction derived from these cells (BW5147.3, HepG2, HL60, F-9, and MDCK). With the use of kifunensine (KIF) to block processing by Golgi mannosidase I, it could be shown that a substantial amount of Man8GlcNAc2 components in which the terminal mannose is missing in the alpha 1,3-linked and alpha 1,6-linked chain (isomers A and C, respectively) are produced, although in the absence of the inhibitor only the B-isomer, in which the mannose of the middle chain has been excised, was apparent. Our findings in vivo and in vitro suggest that the distinctive Man8GlcNAc2 product of endomannosidase (isomer A) and of ER mannosidase II (isomer C) are not evident in the absence of KIF, since they are rapidly degraded by Golgi mannosidase I, which is located in an intracellular compartment distal to the other two enzymes and itself exclusively generates the Man8GlcNAc2 isomer B. Investigations carried out in HepG2 cells indicated that glycoproteins with N-linked oligosaccharides whose processing has been blocked by KIF at the Man8GlcNac2 isomer A and C stage can nevertheless be effectively secreted. The observation that isomer A of Man8GlcNAc2 is a specific product of endomannosidase action made it possible to demonstrate the action of this enzyme in vivo without employing a glucosidase blockade and to show that a substantial amount of the deglucosylation of N-linked oligosaccharides is carried out by this enzyme.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1996

Use of antiherpes drugs and the risk of Kaposi's sarcoma: data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

To determine if use of antiherpes drugs protects against the development of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), data from 935 homosexual men with AIDS from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were analyzed. In nested case-control analysis, neither acyclovir use for human immunodeficiency virus infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-1.26; P = .39) nor acyclovir use for any indication (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.76-1.38; P = .89) was associated with a reduced risk of KS as initial AIDS diagnosis. In longitudinal analysis, acyclovir was also not protective against developing KS as a late manifestation of AIDS (after initial non-KS AIDS diagnosis). Among men with cytomegalovirus disease, ganciclovir use (relative risk [RR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.22-1.44; P = .23) and foscarnet use (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.051-3.10; P = .38) were associated (although not significantly) with a reduced risk of KS. Thus, acyclovir use does not appear to reduce the risk of KS, but further study of other antiherpes drugs such as ganciclovir and foscarnet is warranted.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Presence of free radicals in pigment gallstone in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether free radical, which may play a role in pigment gallstone formation, is present in pigment gallstones in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Free radical signal of gallstones from 18 patients was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at 77K under anaerobic condition and in air (control). As soon as the anaerobic determination was finished, the fresh anaerobic sample was exposed to air and stored in a freezer at -20 degrees C. RESULTS: Free radical signal (g = 2.0038) was detected in fresh anaerobic samples containing more than 2% bilirubin compound, and the signal intensity correlated linearly with the content of calcium bilirubinate (r = +0.95, P < 0.0005). During the storage at -20 degrees C and exposure to air, the signal intensity of each anaerobic sample and its control increased gradually, eventually reaching the same stable level. Fe(III) signal intensity was enhanced synchronously and related linearly with free radical signal (r = +0.99, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Free radical exists originally in pigment gallstones in vivo, and it may play an important role in pigment gallstone formation. The free radical signal carried by gallstones may be strengthened by the action of oxygen in air on bilirubin. The transition metal ions probably take part in the formation of bilirubin free radical.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1993

Demonstration that a kifunensine-resistant alpha-mannosidase with a unique processing action on N-linked oligosaccharides occurs in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum and various cultured cells.

A novel alpha-mannosidase has been identified in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which at neutral pH processes the Man9GlcNAc oligosaccharide of glycoproteins by specifically cleaving the terminal mannose residue of the alpha 1,6-linked chain to yield Man8GlcNAc, isomer C. This enzyme accounted for about half of the total ER alpha-mannosidase activity and was fully active at the concentration (0.25 microM) of kifunensine (KIF) completely inhibitory to the action of the ER enzyme which by removing the terminal sugar of the middle chain converts Man9GlcNAc to Man8GlcNAc isomer B; both ER enzymes, however, were inhibited in a similar manner by 1-deoxymannojirimycin (IC50 = 0.2 mM) and their action could not be distinguished with this agent. The KIF-resistant mannosidase which functioned optimally in the presence of 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 did not show the high susceptibility to EDTA demonstrated by the KIF-sensitive enzyme and unlike the latter had the capacity to hydrolyze p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannoside (Km = 0.45 mM); it had no specific cation requirements, but its activity was greatly reduced in the presence of Zn2+. In isolated ER membranes as well as in intact carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone-treated cells, the processing pattern was substantially different in the presence of KIF than in its absence; while in the latter instance Man9GlcNAc was readily converted to Man6GlcNAc, the KIF-resistant enzyme was limited in its capacity to go beyond Man8GlcNAc. The KIF-resistant alpha-mannosidase was found in substantial amounts in all cell lines examined (HL-60, BW5147.3, MOLT-4, K-562, HepG2, Chinese hamster ovary, F-9, Madin-Darby canine kidney, FRTL-5). The finding that mannose removal from N-linked oligosaccharides can be initiated in two distinctive manners substantially broadens our concept of the processing events which can occur before a glycoprotein reaches the Golgi complex or to which ER resident molecules can be exposed.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗