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Biomedical subjects

W K Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to W K Roberts.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A transfer RNA-dependent protein synthesizing system from Ehrlich ascites extracts.

An homologous cell-free system from Ehrlich ascites cells was made tRNA dependent by passing both the ribosomes and the ammonium sulfate fraction through DEAE-cellulose columns in 0.30 M KCl. Protein synthesis was routinely stimulated 20-50 fold by the addition of 100 mug/ml of ascites cell tRNA in the presence of oviduct mRNA, ascites mRNA, or encephalomyocarditis RNA.

Animals↗

Regulation of the immune response: production of a soluble suppressor by immune spleen cells in vitro.

The addition of ovalbumin-immune spleen cells (Ova ISC) to sheep erythrocytes-immune spleen cells (SRBC ISC) in Mishell-Dutton-type cultures resulted in a dramatic reduction of PFC to SRBC and was dependent upon the addition of soluble Ova at low concentrations of Ova ISC. The suppressing cells in the Ova ISC were shown to be irradiation sensitive, depleted by anti-theta antiserum and complement treatment, and did not absorb to glass bead columns. Ova ISC-induced inhibition also occurred in culture chambers across a cell-impermeable membrane and a soluble inhibitor was recovered in chambers opposite the Ova ISC. This suppressor factor was sensitive to trypsin treatment and to heating at 80 degrees C, but not to 70 degrees C, for 30 min. The molecular weight, as determined by sucrose gradient analysis, was between 55,000 and 60,000 daltons. This suppressor factor appears to be distinct from a T-cell "helper" factor which was found to be sensitive to heating at 70 degrees C for 30 min. We propose that this suppressor factor participates in the termination of most immunologic responses and is responsible for the antigenic competition phenomenon.

Animals↗

Antibody synthesis in synchronized mouse spleen cells during the secondary response to sheep erythrocytes in vitro.

Immunoglobulin synthesis by mouse spleen cells during the secondary response to sheep erythrocytes in vitro was examined in cells synchronized by methotrexate and adenosine treatment. Antibody synthesis by the synchronized cells was discontinuous through the cell cycle and highest in the early S phase. Previous results from this laboratory indicated that antibody secretion, as measured by plaque production to sheep erythrocytes, was also greatest in early S, and taken together these results suggest little difference in the expression of antibody synthesis and secretion through the cell cycle. Actinomycin D was employed in several experiments in an attempt to determine if the variation in antibody synthesis was regulated by transcription of messenger RNA for immunoglobulin. Lower actinomycin concentrations (0.05 mug/ml) reportedly permitting messenger, but not ribosomal, RNA synthesis as well as higher concentrations (1 mug/ml) rapidly reduced immunoglobulin and total protein synthesis. These results indicated that actinomycin was not suitable for determining the stability of messenger RNA in mouse spleen cells. Therefore, the reasons for fluctuation in antibody synthesis during the cell cycle could not be determined, but several possibilities are suggested.

Adenosine↗

Mechanism of Mengo virus-induced cell injury in L cells: use of inhibitors of protein synthesis to dissociate virus-specific events.

L cells were infected with Mengo virus in the presence of varying concentrations of protein synthesis inhibitors (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, p-fluorophenylalanine, puromycin), and examined with respect to the effects of the inhibitors on several features of virus-induced cell injury. The virus-specific events in the cells could be dissociated into three groups, based on their sensitivity to the inhibitors: (i) viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, bulk viral protein synthesis, and infectious particle production, all of which were prevented by low inhibitor concentrations; (ii) the cytopathic effect (CPE) and stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, which were sensitive to intermediate concentrations of the inhibitors; and (iii) the virus-induced inhibitions of host RNA and protein synthesis, which were resistart to the inhibitors of protein synthesis except at very high concentrations. It is concluded from this that the virus-induced CPE and stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis are not consequences of the inhibition of cellular RNA or protein synthesis. Analysis of the virus-specific protein and RNA synthesized at several concentrations of azetidine and puromycin suggests that the CPE may be induced by a viral protein precursor. Virus-induced inhibition of host RNA and protein synthesis occurred at azetidine concentrations which blocked the synthesis of over 99.7% of the total viral RNA and over 99% of the viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Calculations show that this would correspond to less than 150 dsRNA molecules per infected cell, resulting in a dsRNA-polysome ratio of less than 1:1,000; this indicates that host protein synthesis cannot be inhibited by an irreversible binding of dsRNA to polysomes.

Amino Acids↗

The specific substance from Pneumococcus type 34 (41). The phosphodiester linkages.

1. The phosphate groups in the type-specific substance S.34 from Pneumococcus type 34 (U.S. type 41) were shown to join the hydroxyl group at position 1 or 5 of ribitol and the hydroxyl group at position 3 of a d-galactofuranosyl residue in the next repeating unit. 2. A partial structure of the type-specific substance was derived. 3. New syntheses of d-galactose 2-phosphate and d-galactose 3-phosphate are described.

Galactose↗