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T Pan

Publications and source records attributed to T Pan.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Influence of the cytoskeleton on surfactant protein gene expression in cultured rat alveolar type II cells.

We have investigated the role of the cytoskeleton in surfactant protein gene expression. Cytochalasin D (CD), colchicine (Col), or nocodazole (Noco) were tested on primary cultures of adult rat alveolar type II cells. Treatment with any of the drugs did not result in dramatic cell shape changes, but ultrastructural examination revealed that the cytoplasm of cells treated with CD was markedly disorganized; cells treated with Col did not exhibit such changes. Treatment with any of the three drugs resulted in a reduction in surfactant protein (SP) mRNAs. These decreases were not the result of cell toxicity, since overall protein synthesis was unimpaired by drug treatment. Washing the cells followed by an additional 2 days of culture resulted in a reaccumulation of SP mRNAs in CD-treated cells but not in Col-treated cells. Washing of Noco-treated cultures resulted in partial recovery. SP mRNA stability was estimated in the presence or absence of cytoskeleton-disrupting drugs. Disruption of either microfilaments or microtubules significantly affected the half-lives of mRNAs for SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C. These data support a role for the cytoskeleton in the maintenance of type II cell differentiation and suggest that the role of the cytoskeleton is at least in part to stabilize SP mRNAs.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Spatial tuning curve recording in inferior colliculus during electrical stimulation of the cochlea].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the electrical activity mechanism of auditory center to intracochlear electrical stimulation and provide physiological foundation for spatial encoding of electrical stimulation in multiple channel cochlear implant. METHODS: The spatial tuning curves(STC) in the inferior colliculus(IC) to monopolar electrical stimulation, bipolar electrical stimulation and tone stimulation in cats were composed by using the single unit and the multi-units cluster recording method. RESULTS: The bipolar electrical stimulation excited the response in the specific region in IC, which was similar to the response induced by tone stimulation. The monopolar electrical stimulation excited an extensive response and could not provide the spatial encoding. CONCLUSION: Using the bipolar electrical stimulation, the stimulation region is the key point for improving the spatial encoding. The physiological results of spatial encoding of monopolar electrical stimulation contradicted the psychophysical conclusion and the clinical effect of CI patients. The explanation to this needs further studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Transplantation of CG4 oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the myelin-deficient rat brain results in myelination of axons and enhanced oligodendroglial markers.

Transplantation of oligodendrocyte (Ol) progenitor cells into the central nervous system is a promising approach for the treatment of myelin disorders. This approach requires providing adequate numbers of healthy cells with myelinating potential. We recently showed the successful transplantation of Ol progenitors into the myelin-deficient (md) rat brain. In the present work, CG4 cells, a cell line with properties of Ol progenitors, were labeled with fast blue and grafted into P3-P5 pups born to carrier mothers. Examination of host brains 2 weeks posttransplant indicated that CG4 cells display a much more extensive migration capacity than their wild-type counterparts. These cells synthesized myelin components. In addition, ultrastructural analysis showed myelin formation along axons of md hosts in various brain regions, including corpus callosum, cerebellum, and brainstem. Furthermore, in situ hybridization studies performed on sagittal sections revealed extensive expression of transferrin-mRNA within the md host parenchyma. The high survival and functional features displayed by CG4 cells after transplantation, together with their striking wide distribution within the host parenchyma, as assessed by the presence of myelinated fibers in mutant hosts, emphasizes the importance of using highly motile and proliferative Ol progenitor cells. Strategies to improve the condition and life span of md rat pups are currently under investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Recognition of the T stem-loop of a pre-tRNA substrate by the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P.

The ribozyme from bacterial ribonuclease P (denoted P RNA) specifically recognizes the coaxially stacked T stem-loop and the acceptor stem of a tRNA substrate. This recognition is mediated primarily through tertiary interactions. At least four 2'-OH groups in the T stem-loop region have been implicated as direct contacts with Bacillus subtilis P RNA [Pan, T., et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 12510]. Effects of six single 2'-OH --> 2'-H substitutions and two base mutants of the G19-C56 tertiary interaction in tRNA on substrate binding (Kd) and the chemical step of the reaction (k2) have been determined using a tRNA(Phe) substrate containing a 2'-deoxy residue at the cleavage site. Our results show that at least five functional groups in the T stem-loop of tRNA directly participate in P RNA binding. They include the 2'-OH groups of residues 54, 56, 61, and 62 and possibly the 4-amino group of the conserved C56. The 2'-OHs of residues 54, 61, and 62 are positioned within the same minor groove due to stacking of the reverse Hoogsteen U54-A58 pair on the G53-C61 Watson-Crick pair in the T stem. This groove is extended to the 4-amino group of C56 through the tertiary structure of tRNA. We use the term "tertiary groove" to describe alignment of functional groups through tertiary folding of an RNA. The binding also includes the 2'-OH of nucleotide C56 which is not located in this tertiary groove. Assuming additivity, these five interactions can contribute 7.4 kcal/mol or 10(5)-fold in binding but only -0.5 kcal/mol or approximately 2-fold in chemistry at 37 degrees C. The P RNA binding site for the T stem-loop includes at least the previously identified A230 as well as the A130 in B. subtilis P RNA. The Kd and k2 data from the A130G mutant of B. subtilis P RNA suggest that A130 may be proximal to residue 56 in tRNA. These results show how the highly structured T stem-loop region in a pre-tRNA substrate is bound by the B. subtilis P RNA. This is among the first examples of how a nonhelical RNA structure can be recognized by another RNA through tertiary interactions.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1997

An experimental comparative study on the characteristics of ventricular fibrillation during cardiac arrest and methoxamine administration.

The effect of a pure alpha-adrenergic agent, methoxamine on ventricular fibrillation (VF) amplitude and the relation between hemodynamic parameters and survival in a rodent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) model were studied. Our results suggested that: 1) VF amplitude decreased during untreated VF, but it increased during pericardial chest compression: 2) methoxamine significantly increased the mean aortic pressure (MAP) and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) but not VF amplitude, and the survival also increased due to elevation of CPP; and 3) all surviving animals with successful defibrillation had a higher VF amplitude.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Effect of different drugs on end-tidal carbon dioxide during rodent CPR.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of non-adrenergic agents on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) during CPR in a rodent model. Our results suggested that: 1) coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) after drugs infusion was increased significantly by methoxamine, arginine vasopresin (AVP) and angiotension-II (ANG-II), but not by endothelin-1 (ET-1); 2) ETCO2 prior to defibrillation was decreased significantly by a pure alpha 1 adrenergic agents, methoxamine and were increased significantly by non-adrenergic agents, ANG-II and ET-1 during rodent CPR; 3) a significant positive correlation between ETCO2 and CPP was observed in AVP group, suggesting that AVP have little effect on pulmonary circulation; and 4) methoxamine, AVP and ANG-II have similar effect on resuscitability during rodent CPR.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Novel and variant ribozymes obtained through in vitro selection.

Ribozymes are RNA molecules capable of catalyzing chemical reactions. Natural ribozymes generally accelerate the rate of cleavage and ligation of specific phosphodiester bonds. In vitro selection of RNA is now being used as a powerful technique to isolate novel and variant ribozymes that carry out catalysis at phosphodiester and carbon bonds. The range of reactions catalyzed by in vitro selected ribozymes is now well beyond the scope of known natural ribozymes.

Carbon↗
PubMed1997

Intermediates and kinetic traps in the folding of a large ribozyme revealed by circular dichroism and UV absorbance spectroscopies and catalytic activity.

The folding thermodynamics and kinetics for the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis RNase P are analyzed using circular dichroism and UV absorbance spectroscopies and catalytic activity. At 37 degrees C, the addition of Mg2+ (Kd approximately 50 microM) to the unfolded state produces an intermediate state within 1 ms which contains a comparable amount of secondary structure as the native ribozyme. The subsequent transition to the native state (Kd[Mg] approximately 0.8 mM, Hill coefficient approximately 3.5) has a half-life of hundreds of seconds as measured by circular dichroism at 278 nm and by a ribozyme activity assay. Surprisingly, the formation of the native structure is accelerated strongly by the addition of a denaturant; approximately 30-fold at 4.5 M urea. Thus, the rate-limiting step entails the disruption of a considerable number of interactions. The folding of this, and presumably other large RNAs, is slow due to the structural rearrangement of kinetically trapped species. Taken together with previous submillisecond relaxation kinetics of tRNA tertiary structure, we suggest that error-free RNA folding can be on the order of milliseconds.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1996

Multiple substrate binding sites in the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis RNase P.

The ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis RNase P (P RNA) recognizes an RNA structure consisting of the acceptor stem and the T stem-loop of tRNA substrates. An in vitro selection experiment was carried out to obtain potential RNA substrates that may interact with the P RNA differently from the tRNA substrate. Using a P RNA-derived ribozyme that contains most, if not all, of the structural elements thought to be involved in active site formation of P RNA, but lacks the putative binding site for the T stem-loop of tRNA, a single RNA substrate was isolated after nine rounds of selection. This RNA is a competent substrate for the ribozyme used in selection as well as for the full-length P RNA. Biochemical characterization shows that this selected substrate interacts at a different site compared with the tRNA substrate. The selection experiment also identified a self-cleaving RNA seemingly different from other known ribozymes. These results indicate that a biological ribozyme can contain different binding sites for different RNA substrates. This alternate binding site model suggests a simple mechanism for evolving existing ribozymes to recognize RNA substrates of diverse structures.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1996

Domain structure of the ribozyme from eubacterial ribonuclease P.

Large RNAs can be composed of discrete domains that fold independently. One such "folding domain" has been identified previously in the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P (denoted P RNA). This domain contains roughly one-third of all residues. Folding of an RNA construct consisting of the remaining two-thirds of B. subtilis P RNA was examined by Fe(II)-EDTA hydroxyl radical protection. This molecule folds into the proper higher-order structure under identical conditions as the full-length P RNA, suggesting the presence of a second folding domain in B. subtilis P RNA. Folding analysis of the Escherichia coli P RNA by hydroxyl radical protection shows that this P RNA is completely folded at 5-6 mM Mg2+. In order to analyze the structural organization of folding domains in E. coli P RNA, constructs were designed based on the domain structure of B. subtilis P RNA. Fe(II)-EDTA protection indicates that E. coli P RNA also contains two folding domains. Despite the significant differences at the secondary structure level, both P RNAs appear to converge structurally at the folding domain level. The pre-tRNA substrate, localized in previous studies, may bind across the folding domains with the acceptor stem/3'CCA contacting the domain including the active site and the T stem-loop contacting the other. Because all eubacterial P RNAs share considerable homology in secondary structure to either B. subtilis or E. coli P RNA, these results suggest that this domain structure may be applicable for most, if not all, eubacterial P RNAs. Identification of folding domains should be valuable in dissecting structure-function relationship of large RNAs.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1996

Effects of continuous infusion fentanyl citrate on cerebrovascular and systemic prostanoids in postsurgical newborn piglets.

BACKGROUND: Newborns admitted to the intensive care unit undergo multiple painful procedures. Fentanyl citrate (FC) is one of the most commonly used drugs for pain relief in the newborn. Although it has been reported that one of the biological effects of fentanyl is hemodynamic stability, the response of systemic and/or cerebrovascular prostanoids to FC infusions have not been studied. METHODS: To examine the effects of continuous intravenous (IV) infusion of FC on systemic and cerebrovascular prostanoid concentrations, two groups of spontaneously breathing newborn piglets (1-3 days old) were studied. The study group (n = 6) and the control group (n = 8) were respectively given a loading dose of 30 micrograms/kg IV over 15 minutes, immediately followed by a continuous IV infusion of 10 micrograms/kg/hr for 6 hours, or a placebo (PB) solution of 5% dextrose in a similar fashion. Cerebrospinal fluid (0.5 mL) from cisterna magna puncture and blood samples (1.0 mL) from the sagittal sinus vein and carotid artery were collected serially before and after FC or PB infusion for drug and PG determinations. FC was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the prostanoids were measured using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits. RESULTS: FC infusion induced marked elevations in 6-ketoPGF1 alpha (300%, p < 0.001) and TXB2 (150%, p < 0.001) at 30 minutes, and remained elevated up to 2 hours of infusion. In addition, systemic 6-ketoPGF1 alpha increased by 180% (p < 0.001) and PGE2 concentrations fell dramatically at 30 minutes (87%, p < 0.001) and did not return to normal levels during the infusion time (83% to 81%, p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). CSF 6-ketoPGF1 alpha and TXB2 levels increased by 152% and 80%, respectively (p < 0.001), but PGE2 decreased by 76% (p < 0.001), at 6 hours of infusion. An inverse relationship existed between FC, and sagittal sinus PGE2 levels (r = 0.46, p < 0.03) and systemic PGE2 levels (r = 0.602, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: The data suggest FC is rapidly transported across the blood brain barrier and the effects on cerebrovascular prostanoids, particularly PGE2 is rapid and prolonged. PGE2 appears to be the primary responsive prostanoid. The magnitude of the response, as evidenced by the early and sharp reductions in systemic and cerebrovascular concentrations, suggest vasoconstriction, with possible adverse effects on organ blood flow and metabolic activity. However, further studies are required to evaluate the effects on organ blood flow and metabolism.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1995

Probing of tertiary interactions in RNA: 2'-hydroxyl-base contacts between the RNase P RNA and pre-tRNA.

A general method has been developed to analyze all 2' hydroxyl groups involved in tertiary interactions in RNA in a single experiment. This method involves comparing the activity of populations of circularly permuted RNAs that contain or lack potential hydrogen-bond donors at each position. The 2' hydroxyls of the pre-tRNA substrate identified as potential hydrogen bond donors in intermolecular interactions with the ribozyme from eubacterial RNase P (P RNA) are located in the T stem and T loop, acceptor stem, and 3' CCA regions. To locate the hydrogen-bond acceptors for one of those 2' hydroxyls in the P RNA, a phylogenetically conserved adenosine was mutated to a guanosine. When this mutant P RNA was used, increased cleavage activity of a single circularly permuted substrate within the population was observed. The cleavage efficiency (kcat/Km) of a singly 2'-deoxy-substituted substrate at this position in the T stem was also determined. For the wild-type P RNA, the catalytic efficiency was significantly decreased compared with that of the all-ribo substrate, consistent with the notion that this 2' hydroxyl plays an important role. For the P RNA mutant, no additional effect was found upon 2'-deoxy substitution. We propose that this particular 2' hydroxyl in the pre-tRNA interacts specifically with this adenosine in the P RNA. This method should be useful in examining the role of 2' hydroxyl groups in other RNA-RNA and RNA-protein complexes.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1995

Novel RNA substrates for the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P identified by in vitro selection.

Novel RNA substrates for the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P (P RNA) have been obtained by in vitro selection. The selection method involves cleavage of a circular RNA library by the P RNA, isolation of the linear cleavage product, and regeneration of circular RNA to allow amplification and multiple cycles of selection. The use of circular RNA ensures that potential substrates can be selected without restricted location of the cleavage site. Such a selection method has been used previously to isolate RNA motifs that undergo autolytic cleavage with Pb2+ [Pan, T., & Uhlenbeck, O. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 3887-3895]. The circular RNA pool after eight cycles of selection was cleaved by the B. subtilis P RNA as efficiently as a pre-tRNA(Phe) substrate, estimated to be more than 10 orders of magnitude better than the unselected RNA library. Kinetic analysis of individual variants showed that the kcat/KM of the selected RNA was up to 4-fold higher than that of the pre-tRNA(Phe). When cleavage was carried out with Escherichia coli P RNA, the selected RNA was 10-60-fold less reactive than the reaction of the pre-tRNA(Phe). Two distinct classes of variants are selected, both of which appear to differ significantly from the known P RNA substrates. Terminal truncation experiments suggest that a large number of nucleotides in the class I variants can be deleted without affecting the cleavage activity. The resulting minimal class I substrates contain a short stem-loop with no other apparent helical structures. The class II substrates are cleaved within a putative helical stem that is formed entirely by the primer sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Higher order folding and domain analysis of the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P.

Folding of the ribozyme from Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P (denoted P RNA) has been examined by Fe(II)-EDTA protection and bimolecular association. Fe(II)-EDTA results show that, in the presence of Mg2+, P RNA is folded into a core structure which includes most of the phylogenetically conserved nucleotides. Folding is cooperative and is complete at 5-6 mM Mg2+ with the [Mg2+]1/2 at 2-3 mM. The Hill constant indicates that this folding transition requires binding of at least three additional Mg2+ ions. Two RNA molecules consisting of nucleotides 62-239 [p(62-239)] and 240-401 + 1-61 [p(240-61)] of the B. subtilis P RNA have been constructed. These RNAs can in principle form the catalytically active structure primarily, if not solely, through tertiary interactions. Although either molecule by itself is inactive, the bimolecular complex is as active as the circularly permuted P RNAs from which it is derived. The binding constant of the complex can be as low as 0.1 microM and is strongly dependent on Mg2+ and K+ concentrations. Association of these molecules also induces a Mg2+ dependent cleavage at nucleotide 103 in p(62-239). p(62-239) gives a Fe(II)-EDTA protection pattern very similar to the wild-type P RNA at identical Mg2+ concentrations. However, Fe(II)-EDTA protection in p(240-61) is completely lost, even though it contains many nucleotides that are conserved among all P RNAs. These results suggest that, like other RNAs, P RNA contains domains that can fold in the absence of the rest of the molecule. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of the P RNA structure and catalysis.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1995

9-cis-retinoic acid is more effective than all-trans-retinoic acid in upregulating expression of the alpha-fetoprotein gene.

In McA-RH 8994 rat hepatoma cells, all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA) induces expression of the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin genes and results in a phenotype similar to differentiated fetal hepatocytes. The present study elucidated the mechanism involved in AFP gene regulation mediated by retinoic acid. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that 9-cis-retinoic acid (c-RA), a ligand for retinoid x receptors (RXRs), also induced expression of the AFP gene in McA-RH 8994 cells. The induction was time- and dose-dependent. Northern blots and transfection assays using the 7.3 kb full-length regulatory region of the AFP gene demonstrated that c-RA was more effective than t-RA in regulating expression of the AFP gene. At 10(-7) M, c-RA increased AFP mRNA 5-fold and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity 2.5-fold. In contrast, t-RA at a concentration of 10(-7) M exerted no significant effect; 10(-6) to 10(-5) M t-RA was needed to affect AFP gene expression. These data suggested that activation of RXRs is essential for the regulation of the AFP gene. Co-transfection experiments revealed that over-expression of RXR alpha in McA-RH 8994 cells further enhanced the CAT activity induced by c-RA. In addition, c-RA did not alter the half-life of AFP mRNA. Thus, RXR alpha may play a crucial role in transcriptional regulation of the AFP gene and in controlling hepatocyte phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Selection of circularly permuted ribozymes from Bacillus subtilis RNAse P by substrate binding.

The effect of a single break in the phosphodiester backbone of Bacillus subtilis RNAse P RNA (P RNA) was examined using circular permutation analysis (CPA). This method reveals that many of the phosphodiester bonds in this catalytic RNA can be broken with little or no effect on substrate binding. Phosphate positions that show strong effects are located mostly in regions conserved among all RNAse P RNAs, or they are in regions known to interact directly with the pre-tRNA substrate. Two circularly permuted isomers of P RNA were constructed and analyzed in detail. The KM for both circularly permuted isomers is nearly identical to that of the wild-type P RNA. Since the KM of the P RNA is essentially the same as the binding constant to the substrate, this finding confirms the CPA results. The implications of backbone breakage are discussed with respect to folding and catalysis of the RNAse P RNA.

Bacillus subtilis↗