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W Zimmerman

Publications and source records attributed to W Zimmerman.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Pericentrin and gamma-tubulin form a protein complex and are organized into a novel lattice at the centrosome.

Pericentrin and gamma-tubulin are integral centrosome proteins that play a role in microtubule nucleation and organization. In this study, we examined the relationship between these proteins in the cytoplasm and at the centrosome. In extracts prepared from Xenopus eggs, the proteins were part of a large complex as demonstrated by sucrose gradient sedimentation, gel filtration and coimmunoprecipitation analysis. The pericentrin-gamma-tubulin complex was distinct from the previously described gamma-tubulin ring complex (gamma-TuRC) as purified gamma-TuRC fractions did not contain detectable pericentrin. When assembled at the centrosome, the two proteins remained in close proximity as shown by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The three- dimensional organization of the centrosome-associated fraction of these proteins was determined using an improved immunofluorescence method. This analysis revealed a novel reticular lattice that was conserved from mammals to amphibians, and was organized independent of centrioles. The lattice changed dramatically during the cell cycle, enlarging from G1 until mitosis, then rapidly disassembling as cells exited mitosis. In cells colabeled to detect centrosomes and nucleated microtubules, lattice elements appeared to contact the minus ends of nucleated microtubules. Our results indicate that pericentrin and gamma-tubulin assemble into a unique centrosome lattice that represents the higher-order organization of microtubule nucleating sites at the centrosome.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Mutation analysis of the THRA1 gene in breast cancer: deletion/fusion of the gene to a novel sequence on 17q in the BT474 cell line.

We have previously described a common region of deletion and allele loss on chromosome 17q in sporadic breast cancers that is likely to contain a tumor suppressor gene. The region, mapped to 17q12-q21, was bordered by D17S250 and D17S579 on the centromeric and telomeric sides, respectively. This deletion region overlaps the BRCA1 locus, which predisposes to familial breast and ovarian cancer. The most frequent loss of heterozygosity was observed at the thyroid hormone receptor alpha (THRA1) locus. Southern analysis revealed a rearrangement of THRA1 in the BT474 breast cancer cell line. This rearrangement represented a deletion of exons 8-10 of one THRA1 allele that was also coamplified with ERBB2. Northern blots showed two mutant transcripts in BT474 cells. Analysis of the mutant transcripts revealed fusion of the THRA1 exon 7 by splicing to a novel sequence designated BTR for "BT474 transcribed rearrangement." BTR was found to be highly conserved and mapped to 17q. The deletion in BT474 cells spans the entire BRCA1 region. To search for additional mutations in the THRA1 gene, all nine protein-encoding exons of THRA1 were examined for point mutations via single strand conformation analysis in a series of primary breast tumors, breast cancer cell lines, and lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the youngest affected members of several German breast cancer families. No point mutations were detected, including the unrearranged THRA1 allele in BT474. We have thus excluded THRA1 as a commonly mutated sporadic breast cancer tumor suppressor gene and as the BRCA1 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of cell cycle progression during the development of Dictyostelium and its relationship to differentiation.

Labeling with the thymidine analog 5'-bromodeoxyuridine has been used to follow cell cycling during development of the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. The results show that cycling continues during development and that 75% of all cells from axenically grown cultures go through S-phase. Although cell cycle progression is temporarily blocked in all cells during early aggregation, it is specifically reinitiated in prespore cells later in development. Prestalk cells do not reenter the cycle. Pulse chase experiments indicate a close correlation between cell cycle phase at the onset of development and differentiation fate. Cells in S-phase and early G2 differentiate preferentially into prestalk cells; cells in the later part of G2 differentiate into prespore cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Highly efficient uptake of a rifamycin derivative via the FhuA-TonB-dependent uptake route in Escherichia coli.

Rifamycin CGP 4832 is a semisynthetic rifamycin derivative. It is at least 200 times more active than rifampicin against Escherichia coli and related bacteria. This increased activity is shown here to be due to the efficient uptake of CGP 4832 across the E. coli outer membrane via the ferrichrome transport system comprising the outer membrane FhuA (TonA) protein, the ferrichrome receptor, and the inner membrane TonB protein. CGP 4832 competed with ferrichrome and other iron siderophore complexes, and with bacteriophage T5 and colicin M for binding sites on the FhuA protein. Mutations in fhuA or tonB genes reduce CGP 4832 sensitivity to a level comparable to that to rifampicin. There is no evidence that CGP 4832 or rifampicin utilize the inner membrane ferrichrome transport system to gain entry into the cytoplasm.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗