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Biomedical subjects

T Wakasugi

Publications and source records attributed to T Wakasugi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

The chloroplast gene for ribosomal protein CL23 is functional in tobacco.

Chloroplast rpl23 loci potentially coding for a polypeptide homologous to the E. coli L23 ribosomal protein are frame-shifted in spinach and several other plants, indicating that these loci are pseudogenes. In tobacco, rpl23 constitutes a continuous open reading frame of 93 codons and its transcript initiates at least 66 bp upstream from the initiation codon. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a 13 kDa protein from the 50 S subunit of tobacco chloroplast ribosomes matches that derived from the tobacco rpl23 locus. This shows that rpl23 is a functional gene in tobacco.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Two promoters within the psbK-psbI-trnG gene cluster in tobacco chloroplast DNA.

Transcription of the 2.6 kbp psbK-psbI-trnG cluster in tobacco chloroplasts has been studied. This cluster contains, in linear sequence, the genes encoding two low-molecular-mass polypeptides, K and I, of photosystem II (psbK and psbI, respectively), and tRNA(Gly) (UCC) (trnG). Northern blot hybridization revealed that the largest transcript (2.6 kb) hybridizes to psbK, psbI and trnG, but not to the following trnR-UCU. Ten other transcripts ranging from 0.1 to 1.3 kb were also detected. Three of these transcripts overlap the divergent transcript arising from trnS-GCU located on the opposite DNA strand. S1 mapping and primer extension experiments showed that these multiple transcripts comprise eight distinct 5' ends. By in vitro capping assays two of them were determined to be transcriptional initiation sites; one is located 163 bp upstream of psbK and the other is 6 bp upstream of trnG. The 3' ends of transcripts were determined by S1 mapping; one lies between psbI and trnG and the other is at the end of trnG. The presence of dual promoters of trnG is discussed.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1990

Chloroplast ribosomal protein L32 is encoded in the chloroplast genome.

The 50 S subunit of chloroplast ribosomes was prepared from tobacco leaves. The proteins were fractionated and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a 14 kDa protein was determined. This sequence matches the N-terminal sequence deduced from ORF55 located between ndhF and trnL on the small single-copy region of tobacco chloroplast DNA. The deduced protein shows homology to E. coli and B. stearothermophilus L32 proteins, and it has been named as CL32 and ORF55 as rpl32. The tobacco chloroplast genome therefore contains 21 different ribosomal protein genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

A young type III hyperlipoproteinemic patient associated with apolipoprotein E deficiency.

A 13-year-old female patient had noticed tuberoeruptive xanthomas since 3 years of age. Her serum, VLDL, and IDL cholesterol levels were high (348, 158, and 60 mg/dL, respectively), while LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were 56 and 62 mg/dL, respectively. VLDL-cholesterol/serum triglyceride ratio was extremely high (0.86), suggesting type III hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP). Her apo E was undetectable by the single radial immunodiffusion studies and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Her parents showed hypertriglyceridemia and her two siblings were normolipidemic, and their apo E levels were normal. Genomic DNA digested with BamHI or EcoRI did not show gross differences in the restriction fragment length between the apo-E-deficient patient and normal controls. Thus, apo E deficiency may be characterized by early appearance of clinical manifestations of type III HLP and higher VLDL-cholesterol/serum triglyceride ratio.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cotranscription of the genes encoding two P700 chlorophyll a apoproteins with the gene for ribosomal protein CS14: determination of the transcriptional initiation site by in vitro capping.

Transcription of the psaA operon in tobacco chloroplasts has been studied. This operon contains in linear sequence the genes encoding the P700 chlorophyll a A1 and A2 apoproteins (psaA and psaB) and the gene encoding the ribosomal CS14 protein (rps14). Northern blot hybridization revealed that a 5.2 kb transcript hybridizes to psaA, psaB, and rps14, but not to the fMet-tRNA (trnfM) gene which follows. Primer extension and in vitro capping assays indicated that the transcriptional initiation site is 194 bp upstream of psaA. The 3' end of the transcript was determined by S1 mapping to be 105 bp downstream of rps14. The transcript is calculated to be 5,207 nucleotides long.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Effects of CS-514 (eptastatin), an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, on serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemic patients treated by low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis.

Nine heterozygous patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) were treated by low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis using dextran sulfate cellulose columns. After more than 3 procedures of LDL-apheresis without drug therapy, combination therapy with LDL-apheresis and CS-514 (eptastatin), an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, at a dose of 10 mg twice daily was started. Pre- and post-apheresis serum cholesterol levels were decreased significantly by CS-514, from 289 +/- 24 mg/dl (mean +/- SEM) to 247 +/- 25 mg/dl and from 118 +/- 7 mg/dl to 106 +/- 9 mg/dl, respectively. Pre- and post-apheresis apolipoprotein B levels decreased significantly on CS-514 from 160 +/- 9 mg/dl to 138 +/- 8 mg/dl and from 58 +/- 6 mg/dl to 45 +/- 6 mg/dl, respectively. No adverse effects were observed during the combination therapy. Thus, the addition of an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase to LDL-apheresis is a useful method for further reducing serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels in FH heterozygotes.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Six chloroplast genes (ndhA-F) homologous to human mitochondrial genes encoding components of the respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase are actively expressed: determination of the splice sites in ndhA and ndhB pre-mRNAs.

Sequences (ndhA-F) homologous to human mitochondrial genes for components of the respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase have been found in the chloroplast DNA of tobacco. The ndhA, D, E and F sequences corresponding to the mitochondrial URF1, 4, 4L and 5 are located in the small single copy region, the ndhB sequence corresponding to URF2 in the inverted repeat and the ndhC sequence corresponding to URF3 in the large single copy region of the chloroplast DNA. Northern blot hybridization revealed that all six ndh sequences are actively expressed in the chloroplasts. The ndhA and ndhB sequences contain single introns and the splice sites of their pre-mRNAs were determined by reverse transcription analysis. These findings suggest that potential components of an NADH dehydrogenase are synthesized in the chloroplasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Effects of CS-514 on serum lipoprotein lipid and apolipoprotein levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Effects of CS-514, a new competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, on serum lipoprotein lipid and apolipoprotein levels were studied in 13 heterozygous patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Treatment with 10 mg of CS-514 twice daily reduced total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) cholesterol levels by 25%, 33%, and 33%, respectively, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels by 15%. Apolipoprotein B, E, and C-II levels decreased by 24%, 20%, and 19%, and apolipoproteins A-I and A-II levels increased by 10% and 7%, respectively. One patient showed abnormally high levels of SGOT, SGPT, and serum alkaline phosphatase, which returned to normal levels immediately after the cessation of CS-514. No other adverse effects were observed. Thus, CS-514 reduces atherogenic lipoproteins and apolipoprotein B, and increases HDL and apolipoprotein A-I and A-II, and appears to be a useful drug for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The complete nucleotide sequence of the tobacco chloroplast genome: its gene organization and expression.

The complete nucleotide sequence (155 844 bp) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Bright Yellow 4) chloroplast DNA has been determined. It contains two copies of an identical 25 339 bp inverted repeat, which are separated by a 86 684 bp and a 18 482 bp single-copy region. The genes for 4 different rRNAs, 30 different tRNAs, 39 different proteins and 11 other predicted protein coding genes have been located. Among them, 15 genes contain introns. Blot hybridization revealed that all rRNA and tRNA genes and 27 protein genes so far analysed are transcribed in the chloroplast and that primary transcripts of the split genes hitherto examined are spliced. Five sequences coding for proteins homologous to components of the respiratory-chain NADH dehydrogenase from human mitochondria have been found. The 30 tRNAs predicted from their genes are sufficient to read all codons if the ;two out of three' and ;U:N wobble' mechanisms operate in the chloroplast. Two sequences which autonomously replicate in yeast have also been mapped. The sequence and expression analyses indicate both prokaryotic and eukaryotic features of the chloroplast genes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Tobacco chloroplast gene coding for subunit I of proton-translocating ATPase: comparison with the wheat subunit I and E. coli subunit b.

The tobacco chloroplast gene for subunit I of proton-translocating ATPase is located 405 bp down-stream from the gene for subunit III and 58 bp upstream from the gene for subunit alpha in the same DNA strand. This gene is interrupted by a 695 bp intron. The coding region contains 552 bp (184 codons) and its deduced amino acid sequence shows 78% homology with that of the wheat gene for subunit I.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Treatment of homozygous patients with familial hypercholesterolemia by double-filtration plasmapheresis.

Two homozygous patients with familial hypercholesterolemia were treated by double-filtration plasmapheresis. The plasma separated by the first filter was subsequently led to the second filter of ethylene vinylalcohol co-polymer hollow fibers, which trap very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) preferentially to other plasma constituents. Serum, VLDL, IDL, LDL cholesterol levels decreased by 55, 68, 59 and 55%, respectively. HDL cholesterol levels decreased by 39%. Immunoglobulins and fibrinogen levels decreased significantly. Cutaneous and tendinous xanthomas became smaller. off

Adult↗