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T Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to T Noguchi.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

The GARP gene encodes a new member of the family of leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins.

We have characterized a new human gene, named GARP, localized in the 11q14 chromosomal region. GARP comprises two coding exons, is expressed as two major transcripts of 4.4 and 2.8 kilobases, respectively, and encodes a putative transmembrane protein of 662 amino acids, the extracellular portion of which is almost entirely made of leucine-rich repeats. The molecular weight of the protein immunoprecipitated from transfected cells is 80,000. The GARP protein has structural similarities with the human GP Ib alpha and GP V platelet proteins, and with the Chaoptin, Toll, and Connectin adhesion molecules of Drosophila.

3T3 Cells↗

[Regulation of aromatase in human choriocarcinoma cells].

To examine the mechanism regulating trophoblastic aromatase, we studied the effects of various agents on aromatase activity and the aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P-450arom) concentration in human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells. Aromatase activity was assessed by radioassay with [1 beta-3H] androstenedione. The P-450arom concentration was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with specific antibodies to P-450arom. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated aromatase activity and increased the P-450arom concentration in a concentration-dependent (0.1-100 IU/ml) manner. Cholera toxin (CT), an adenylate cyclase activator, stimulated aromatase activity and the P-450arom concentration in a concentration-dependent (0.1-10ng/ml) and a time-dependent (12-72h) manner. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) (0.1-100ng/ml), a protein-kinase C activator, also stimulated aromatase activity and increased the P-450arom concentration. On the other hand, Ca2+ ionophore A23187, an agent increasing intracellular Ca2+ accumulation, inhibited aromatase activity and reduced the P-450arom concentration. The effects of CT, TPA and Ca2+ ionophore were additive. Aromatase activity was correlated with the P-450arom concentration. These results suggest that in JEG-3 cells the signal transduction system modulates aromatase activity by changing the P-450arom concentration.

Aromatase↗

Flash induced XANES spectroscopy for the Ca-depleted Mn-cluster in the photosynthetic O2-evolving enzyme.

Flash-induced changes of the Mn K-edge absorption spectra have been studied in the oxygen-evolving complex depleted of Ca. The Mn K-edge energy for the Ca-depleted S1-state was lower by 1.5 eV than that for the normal S1-state. The K-edge energy upshifted by 1 eV after one flash, indicative of an oxidation of Mn. After two flashes, the K-edge was elevated as well by 0.4 eV, and then reached a steady-state high level after continuous illumination where the K-edge energy was higher by 0.9 eV than that after one flash. The results indicate that the Mn-cluster and/or its direct ligand could be oxidized up to two electrons but further events are blocked.

Calcium↗

Myristoylation of hippocalcin is linked to its calcium-dependent membrane association properties.

Hippocalcin, a recently identified Ca(2+)-binding protein of the recoverin family exclusively expressed in the hippocampus, has a primary structure containing three putative Ca(2+)-binding sites (EF-hands) and a possible NH2-terminal myristoylation site. 45Ca blots demonstrated that every three EF-hand domains, expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, bind Ca2+, indicating that hippocalcin binds 3 mol of Ca2+/mol of protein. To determine whether hippocalcin is myristoylated, hippocalcin mRNA was translated in vitro in the presence of [3H]myristic acid. 3H label was resistant to hydroxylamine treatment, and replacement of NH2-terminal glycine with alanine prevented 3H label incorporation, indicating that in vitro translated hippocalcin covalently bound [3H]myristic acid at the NH2-terminal glycine. In vitro translated hippocalcin is quantitatively myristoylated, as evidenced by an electrophoretic mobility shift of [35S]methionine-labeled protein on two-dimensional gels. Native hippocalcin comigrated precisely with the in vitro translated hippocalcin on two-dimensional gels, suggesting that native hippocalcin is myristoylated. Native and in vitro translated hippocalcins, but not non-myristoylated mutagenic (Gly1-Ala1) hippocalcin, displayed Ca(2+)-dependent membrane association, indicating that myristoylation participates in its Ca(2+)-dependent membrane association properties. In vitro translated hippocalcin bound to phospholipid vesicles somewhat, however, phospholipid association was insufficient for its membrane association properties, suggesting that the NH2-terminal myristoyl moiety on hippocalcin interacts with lipid bilayers and facilitates interaction with other membrane proteins.

Alanine↗

Cloning and expression of flatfish (Paralichthys olivaceus) interferon cDNA.

Fish interferon (IFN) cDNA was first cloned from the cDNA library of immortalized flatfish leukocytes. The clone contains an open reading frame that encodes a 138 amino acid polypeptide including a glycosylation site and a signal peptide containing 30 amino acids. BHK-21 cells transfected with the INF-expression plasmid produced active recombinant IFN (about 16 kDa) which was then purified by WGA agarose affinity chromatography. This recombinant IFN inhibited infection of fish cells with the Hirame (flatfish) rhabdovirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The regulation of gene expression by insulin is differentially impaired in the liver of the genetically obese-hyperglycemic Wistar fatty rat.

The regulation by insulin and carbohydrates of the gene expression of three key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism was studied in the liver of the Wistar fatty rat, a model of obese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A high glucose or fructose diet, or insulin administration caused a similar magnitude of increase in the level of L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA in the liver of Wistar fatty rats and their lean littermates. However, the induction of glucokinase mRNA and repression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA by dietary glucose or insulin were impaired in the fatty rats, whereas fructose caused a similar decrease in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in both types of rats. These results indicate that the regulation of gene expression of glucokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, but not of L-type pyruvate kinase, by insulin is impaired in the liver of the Wistar fatty rat.

Animals↗

FT-IR studies on the triplet state of P680 in the photosystem II reaction center: triplet equilibrium within a chlorophyll dimer.

The structure and molecular interactions of the primary donor (P680) in the reaction center (D1-D2-cytochrome b-559 complex) of photosystem II (PS II) have been investigated by detecting light-induced FT-IR difference spectra upon the formation of its triplet state (3P680). The 3P680/P680 spectrum obtained was analyzed by comparing it with difference spectra between the ground and lowest triplet states of purified chlorophyll a (Chl) in organic solvents. The negative peaks at 1669 and 1707 cm-1 accompanied by the positive peaks at 1627 and 1659 cm-1 in the 3P680/P680 spectrum were assigned to the keto C = O stretching mode, and the appearance of these two pairs of bands indicated that P680 has a dimeric structure analogous to that of the bacterial primary donor. From the band positions of the keto and carbomethoxy C = O stretches, the hydrogen-bonding properties of these two Chl molecules were found to be asymmetrical; in one Chl molecule both the keto and carbomethoxy C = O groups form hydrogen bonds, while in the other Chl molecule the keto C = O is not hydrogen-bonded whereas the carbomethoxy C = O probably is hydrogen-bonded. The temperature dependence of the intensity ratios of the keto C = O bands revealed that the triplet state is equilibrated between the two Chl molecules with an energy gap of 8.4 +/- 0.7 meV. Most of the triplet population was found to be localized on one Chl molecule (86% at 80 K), in which both of the two C = O groups are hydrogen-bonded, that is probably attached to the D1 subunit. Considering the structure of the bacterial reaction center determined by X-ray crystallography and the sequence homology between the D1 and D2 subunits of PS II and the L and M subunits of bacteria, a model of the P680 structure and its interactions with apoproteins has been proposed.

Chlorophyll↗

Distribution of hippocalcin mRNA and immunoreactivity in rat brain.

Distribution of hippocalcin in rat brain was analysed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods. Hippocalcin mRNA and immunoreactivity were expressed more intensely in the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, intensely in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, moderately in the dentate granule cells and pyramidal cells of cerebral cortex layers II-VI and weakly in the large neuronal cells of the caudate-putamen. Some discrepancies in the localization of hippocalcin mRNA and immunoreactivity were noted in the mamillary nuclei, anterior part of the thalamus and the septal nuclei. In most cell types, hippocalcin immunoreactivity was localized in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of cell bodies and dendrites.

Animals↗

Determination of the lipase stereoselectivities using circular dichroism (CD); lipases produce chiral di-O-acylglycerols from achiral tri-O-acylglycerols.

A general method was described to determine the optical purity of 1,2 (or 2,3)-di-O-acylglycerols via a key compound, 3 (or dibenzoyl-sn-glycerol (3 or 3'). The chiral di-O-acylglycerols were first silylated and the acyl groups were removed by the Grignard degradation to 3 (or 1) O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-sn-glycerol and subsequent benzoylation lead to the key compound 3 or 3' without racemization. The optical purity was determined from the strong exciton Cotton effect of 3 (+) or 3' (-) at 238 nm in the concentration of ca. 1 mM. The method was successfully applied to determine the stereoselectivities of lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) from three origins, bacteria, mammal and fungus such as Pseudomonas (AP, 89% optical purity, sn-1 preference), porcine pancreatin (PPL, 9.3% optical purity, sn-3 preference) and Candida (CC, sn-2 preference) using tripalmitin. The similar studies were extended to tri-O-benzoylglycerol (6) and tri-O-(cyclohexanecarbonyl)glycerol (5). All the enzymes showed high stereoselectivities with tri-O-benzoylglycerol. PPL and AP showed high and low stereoselectivities with tri-O-(cyclohexanecarbonyl)glycerol, while low and high stereoselectivities with tri-O-palmitoylglycerol, respectively. The results show that the stereoselectivities are ruled by the origins of lipases and acyl groups. The structures of the recognition site might be associated with enantioselectivities of the enzymes.

Animals↗

Insulin stimulates association of insulin receptor substrate-1 with the protein abundant Src homology/growth factor receptor-bound protein 2.

Insulin activates the ras proto-oncogene product p21ras (Ras) by stimulating conversion of the inactive GDP-bound form of Ras to the active GTP-bound form. The protein ASH (for abundant Src homology) (Matuoka, K., Shibata, M., Yamakawa, A., and Takenawa, T. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 89, 9015-9019) is composed of one Src homology (SH)2 and two SH3 domains and highly homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans protein sem-5 that couples a tyrosine kinase to a Ras protein. We have studied an interaction of ASH with insulin-stimulated tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human insulin receptors (CHO-HIR cells). In an anti-ASH (alpha ASH) immunoprecipitates, we detected a 170-kDa phosphoprotein that was recognized by an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and an anti-insulin receptor substrate 1 antibody (alpha IRS-1) from the insulin-stimulated [32P]orthophosphate-labeled CHO-HIR cells. We failed to detect the tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein ASH. These data suggested that insulin stimulates IRS-1.ASH complex formation in intact cells. Incubation of an ASH fusion protein with the lysates of insulin-stimulated CHO-HIR cells revealed that the fusion protein of ASH was able to bind the tyrosine-phosphorylated 170-kDa protein that was recognized by alpha IRS-1. We also demonstrated that fusion protein of ASH was able to bind the fusion protein of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 fragments, suggesting that ASH is able to bind tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 directly. These data suggest that IRS-1.ASH complex formation may play a role in coupling the insulin receptor kinase to a Ras signaling pathway. Furthermore, we observed an insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity in alpha ASH immunoprecipitates, suggesting the formation of an ASH.IRS-1.PI 3-kinase complex. This complex formation was detected as early as 10 s after insulin stimulation in intact CHO-HIR cells. This is the first report that supports the notion that IRS-1 binds several signal transducing molecules containing SH2 domains, thus serves as an SH2 docking protein that transduces insulin's signal multidirectionally.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

An enhancer unit of L-type pyruvate kinase gene is responsible for transcriptional stimulation by dietary fructose as well as glucose in transgenic mice.

We produced three lines of transgenic mice containing the 5' flanking region of the L-type pyruvate kinase gene from nucleotides -189 to +37, which includes an enhancer unit and TATA box as functional elements, linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Since transgene expression was stimulated by both dietary fructose and glucose in a tissue-dependent manner, we suggest that this unit is responsive to both stimuli.

Animals↗

Transactivation of a plasmid-borne bacteriophage T4 late gene.

We examined how a plasmid-borne T4 late gene is activated by infecting T4 phage (transactivation). A gene fusion system was developed where expression of a late gene promoter fused to the lacZ gene may easily be followed by measuring beta-galactosidase activity. Considerable transactivation can occur, provided that the infecting phage contains a mutation which abolishes the denB-encoded endonuclease, and that the gene 46-encoded exonuclease is functional. The level of transactivation was correlated with the formation of high molecular weight DNA composed of tandem repeats of plasmid DNA. The formation of these molecules and subsequent transactivation depended on DNA replication and homology between phage and plasmid DNAs. Also the capacity of bacteriophage T4, grown on cells containing a plasmid-borne T4 gene, to transduce the plasmid provided indirect evidence of the formation of these tandem-repeat molecules. A good correlation was established between the ability to transduce and the presence of sequence homology between the phage and the plasmid. However, the requirement for phage/plasmid homology is no longer prerequisite if transcription from the plasmid is permitted by introducing an alc mutation into the infecting phage, presumably because this allows DNA replication to start through RNA priming.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Presence of lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles in an intramembranous ossifying tissue: new-born mouse calvaria.

Lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles have been isolated from the extracellular matrix of the calvaria of new-born mice. The calvariae, intramembranous ossification tissue, were removed from 2-day-old mice, followed by the separation of the extracellular matrix vesicle fraction after collagenase digestion. Lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles with a density different from that of matrix vesicles were detected in the matrix vesicle fraction. Lactate dehydrogenase in these vesicles did not result from cell lysis and vesicle capture during the preparation of the matrix vesicle fraction. The isoenzyme pattern of lactate dehydrogenase in lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles was nearly identical to that of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase of the cell fraction. Other cytosolic enzymes were not detected in lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles, suggesting the presence of a mechanism for specific uptake of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase during the in vivo formation of the vesicles. This is the first report on the presence of lactate dehydrogenase-containing vesicles in the intramembranous ossification site.

Animals↗

Evidence for estrogen synthesis in adenomyotic tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate steroidogenesis in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in adenomyosis. STUDY DESIGN: Aromatase and estrone sulfatase activities were determined by anion-exchange resin column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and cocrystallization. The effects of danazol on the activity of these enzymes were also examined. Moreover, localization of aromatase in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues was immunohistochemically examined with antihuman placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antibody. RESULTS: Aromatase and estrone sulfatase activities were detected in ectopic endometrium. The activity of these enzymes was significantly suppressed by danazol. In addition, aromatase was immunohistochemically detected in glandular cells of eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that estrogen is synthesized in the eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of women with uterine adenomyosis and that it may affect the growth of adenomyosis. Danazol suppressed synthesis of estrogen in vitro.

Adult↗

The presence of vesicles containing lactate dehydrogenase in the ameloblast layer of bovine enamel organ.

Ameloblast layers were removed from bovine enamel organs, followed by the separation of the extracellular matrix-vesicle fraction after collagenase digestion. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-containing vesicles were found in that fraction. LDH in these vesicles did not result from cell lysis and vesicle capture during the preparation of the fraction. The isoenzyme pattern of LDH in LDH-containing vesicles was similar to that of cytosolic LDH of ameloblasts, suggesting the presence of a mechanism for specific uptake of cytosolic LDH during the in vivo formation of the vesicles. The existence of LDH-containing vesicles in enamel organ, where mineralization had been believed not to be initiated by matrix vesicles, suggests the possibility that LDH-containing vesicles have a specific function different from that of matrix vesicles.

Ameloblasts↗

Clinical significance of plasma levels of clomipramine, its hydroxylated and desmethylated metabolites: prediction of clinical outcome in mood disorders using discriminant analysis of therapeutic drug monitoring data.

We measured the plasma concentrations of clomipramine and its metabolites, N-desmethylclompiramine, 8-hydroxy-N-desmethylclomipramine, 8-hydroxyclomipramine in 65 depressed patients with subtypes of DSM-III-R mood disorders receiving clomipramine hydrochloride. There were large interindividual variations in the concentrations of the parent and each of the metabolic compounds, though the overall correlations between drug concentrations and daily doses of clomipramine were highly significant. Metabolic ratios for both desmethylation and hydroxylation varied by 15-35-fold interindividually. Discriminant analysis of the data from drug concentrations and scores of Global Assessment of Functioning revealed that it is useful to monitor the concentrations of both desmethylated and hydroxylated metabolites in order to predict the clinical effects of clomipramine.

Adolescent↗