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Biomedical subjects

Y Fukui

Publications and source records attributed to Y Fukui.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

Binding of transforming protein, P47gag-crk, to a broad range of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins.

Although the oncogene product of CT10 virus, P47gag-crk, does not itself phosphorylate proteins at tyrosine residues, it elevates phosphotyrosine in transformed cells. The P47gag-crk oncoprotein contains SH2 and SH3 domains, which are conserved in several proteins involved in signal transduction, including nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. P47gag-crk bound in vitro to phosphotyrosine-containing proteins from crk-transformed cells and from cells transformed by oncogenic tyrosine kinases. The association between P47gag-crk and p60v-src, a phosphotyrosine-containing protein, was abolished by dephosphorylation of p60v-src. This suggests that the SH2 and SH3 regions function to regulate protein interactions in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner.

Animals↗

Homologous activators of ras in fission and budding yeast.

The ras proto-oncogene products are plasma membrane-bound, guanine nucleotide-binding proteins implicated in signal transduction across the plasma membrane. But the signal(s) that activates the ras pathway(s) is not known. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the CDC25 gene product acts upstream of Ras proteins, but it has not been clear whether CDC25 function is unique to the S. cerevisiae ras pathway. Here we report that the ste6 gene of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a homologue of CDC25: the ste6 gene product and the CDC25 gene product have significant amino-acid similarity in their C-terminal regions. Like the S. pombe ras1 gene, ste6 is essential for mating. Epistatic interactions indicate that the ste6 gene functions upstream of ras1. We propose that ste6 and CDC25 activate Ras protein through a common mechanism, perhaps by promoting GDP-GTP exchange, even though it seems that the function of Ras protein in budding yeast differs from that in fission yeast. Homologues of ste6 and CDC25 could regulate ras activity in other eukaryotic cells.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

A new cardiac auscultation simulator.

We have successfully developed a new cardiac auscultation simulator by applying recently developed digital and computer technology, which digitally records, stores, modifies, and plays back heart sounds and murmurs characteristic of various heart diseases. The simulator is capable of playing back different heart sounds or murmurs at each auscultatory site (aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, and mitral) of a human chest-sized mannequin (made of urethane foam), through four built-in speakers. We were able to listen to accurate reproductions of heart sounds and murmurs at the same timing as in real patients by any type of stethoscope used in routine medical practice. This compact and portable educational apparatus, which simulates realistic auscultatory sounds, will impact greatly on the medical training of cardiac auscultation for physicians, medical students, nurses, and paramedicals.

Computer Simulation↗

Effect of follicle cells on the acrosome reaction, fertilization, and developmental competence of bovine oocytes matured in vitro.

The role of follicle cells in the acrosome reaction of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization, cleavage, and development in vitro was investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were cocultured and matured in vitro with additional granulosa cells for 24 hr. Immediately before in vitro insemination, the oocytes were divided into three types with different follicle cells: denuded and corona- and cumulus-enclosed oocytes. The proportion of live, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa significantly increased at 3 and 6 hr after insemination in all types of oocytes. However, the mean proportion of live, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa that inseminated cumulus-enclosed oocytes at 6 hr after insemination was significantly higher than that of spermatozoa inseminating denuded oocytes (18.3% and 13.3%, respectively). The frequency of in vitro fertilization was significantly higher for cumulus-enclosed oocytes (65.4%) than for denuded and corona-enclosed oocytes (30.8% and 39.4%, respectively). Cumulus-enclosed oocytes when cocultured with oviduct epithelial cells also had significantly higher rates of cleavage (two- to eight-cell, 59.8%; eight-cell, 22.4%) and blastocyst formation (7.7%) than denuded and corona-enclosed oocytes. No eight-cell embryos or more advanced stages of embryonic development were observed in either denuded or corona-enclosed oocytes without the coculture. The present results indicate that cumulus cells at fertilization play an important role in inducing the acrosome reaction and promoting a high fertilization rate, cleavage, and development into blastocysts in vitro.

Acrosome↗

Testicular metastasis from malignant schwannoma of chest wall.

Metastatic malignancy to the testes is unusual. Reports of testicular metastasis of neurogenic tumor are extremely rare. Only 28 cases with testicular metastasis of neurogenic tumor have been reported in the world literature. Cases of primary malignant schwannoma with testicular metastasis have not been reported previously. We present an unusual case of a thirty-seven-year-old man who had a malignant schwannoma of the chest wall with testicular metastasis.

Adult↗

Effects of heparin dosage and sperm capacitation time on in vitro fertilization and cleavage of bovine oocytes matured in vitro.

The present study was conducted to clarify the effect of heparin dosage and sperm capacitation time on in vitro fertilization (Experiment 1) and cleavage (Experiment 2) rates of bovine oocytes matured in vitro. For in vitro fertilization, seven dosages of heparin (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml) and nine incubation periods (0, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min) in a capacitation medium were examined, using 6,634 oocytes. The mean proportions of fertilized oocytes in 25, 50 and 100 microg/ml of heparin were significantly (P<0.05) higher (53 to 59%) than in the other dosages (3 to 44%). Incubation with heparin for longer than 60 min lowered the frequencies of fertilization (20 to 36%) compared with the shorter incubation periods (38 to 49%). Higher proportions of fertilized oocytes were obtained by 5, 15, 30 or 45 min of incubation (42 to 49%) than by the other time periods (20 to 38%). Cleavage rates were found by using 2,098 oocytes in a factorial study (4x4x15: dosages -25, 50, 100 and 200 mug/ml; incubation periods -0, 15, 30 and 60 min; and replicates). The incubation periods and replicates resulted in highly significant differences (P<0.001) in development rates to eight-cell stage, but the four dosages of heparin showed no significant differences. The present results indicate that heparin dosage and sperm capacitation time are important factors influencing in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates. Optimal heparin dosages for the capacitation of bull spermatozoa ranged from 25 to 100 microg/ml; optimal incubation periods ranged from 5 to 60 min.

Journal Article↗

Effects of culture systems on development of in vitro fertilized bovine ova into blastocysts.

We examined the effects of co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells, cumulus cells, trophoblastic vesicles or amniotic sac cells on the development of bovine eight-cell embryos derived from in vitro maturation and fertilization into blastocysts. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa were treated with caffeine plus Ca-ionophore A23187 for capacitation and were then co-incubated for 4 h with oocytes matured in vitro. Ova resulting from this in vitro fertilization were cultured in HEPES-buffered TCM-199 + 10% fetal calf serum(FCS) for 68 h and then removed from the cumulus cell mass. The eight-cell embryos were cultured using four co-culture systems either without cells(controls) or within rabbit oviducts. The co-culture of oviductal epithelial cells, trophoblastic vesicles or amniotic sac cells significantly (P<0.05) increased development into blastocysts (39.0 to 50.7%) when compared with co-culture with cumulus cells, control or rabbit oviducts(1.9 to 29.3%). Six of 16 recipients became pregnant with frozen embryos derived from co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells(1/2), trophoblastic vesicles(2/7) or amniotic sac cells(3/7). Eight calves, including two sets of twins, were obtained.

Journal Article↗

A method for chromosome analysis of ram spermatozoa using zona-free hamster oocytes.

A method for displaying ram spermatozoan chromosomes using the interspecific zona-free hamster oocyte penetration was described to distinguish X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa. Semen samples from four rams were frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing the samples, motile spermatozoa were collected by the swim-up method and treated with ionophore A23187 for the purpose of facilitating their capacitation. Slides were prepared by the gradual fixation-air dry method. The rates of oocyte penetration, first cleavage metaphase, and the number of ova that were karyotyped successfully were 67.9, 60.8 and 40.6%, respectively. The overall success rate (number of spermatozoa karyotyped/number of oocytes used for insemination) was 47.9%. A total of 1009 spermatozoa were analyzed, and the ratio of X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa was 508:501.

Journal Article↗

Cytotoxic effect of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion on human melanoma cell lines, HMV-II and SK-MEL-44, is dependent on the melanin contents and caused by inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport.

MPP+, an oxidative metabolite of a neurotoxin, MPTP, was found to be cytotoxic to human melanoma cell lines, HMV-II and SK-MEL-44. After 3 days of culture in the presence of MPP+, a larger amount of MPP+ was accumulated in HMV-II cells than in SK-MEL-44 cells, which correlated well with the melanin contents; HMV-II cells contain larger amounts of melanin than SK-MEL-44 cells. After 6 days of culture in the presence of MPP+, the cytotoxicity of MPP+ on these cell types was evaluated by counting cell numbers with the dye exclusion test and double-layer soft agar clonogenic assay. It was found that exposure to MPP+ reduced the survival of HMV-II cells more significantly than that of SK-MEL-44 cells. In HMV-II cells, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was used to elucidate the mechanism of MPP+ lethality. The formazan formation was reduced markedly by the presence of MPP+ at concentrations much lower than those required for cell death. These results suggest that cytotoxicity of MPP+ may be ascribed to its accumulation due to high affinity for melanin, and to inhibition of the enzymes utilizing ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

The A3 allele of the HLA-DQA1 locus is associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Japanese.

Analysis of the frequencies of class II HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles by serological and DNA typing in 49 Japanese patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and 31 Japanese controls indicates the following. (i) Susceptibility is more strongly associated with the HLA-DQ subregion than with the HLA-DR subregion. (ii) Of the class II alleles detected, the A3 allele of the DQA1 locus was the most strongly associated with disease. Ninety-six percent of the patients were positive for the A3 allele compared to 53% of the controls (P = 0.001; relative risk = 19.7; confidence limits = 3.72-188.64). (iii) The DQw8 allele of the DQB1 locus, which is associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Caucasians and Blacks, was not increased in frequency in Japanese patients (22%) versus controls (19%). (iv) Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles are associated with reduced susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Caucasians. The major predisposing haplotypes in Japanese are DR4 and DR9. By DNA sequence analysis, both of these Japanese haplotypes have Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles. Oligonucleotide dot blot analysis showed that all, except 1, of the 49 Japanese patients and all of the 31 controls have at least one Asp-57-encoding DQB1 allele. In addition, 40% of the patients were homozygous for Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles versus 35% of the controls. The high frequencies of Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles in this ethnic group may account for the rarity of type 1 diabetes in Japan.

Alleles↗

Structure and function of the cytoskeleton of a Dictyostelium myosin-defective mutant.

To study the role of conventional myosin in nonmuscle cells, we determined the cytoskeletal organization and physiological responses of a Dictyostelium myosin-defective mutant. Dictyostelium hmm cells were created by insertional mutagenesis of the myosin heavy chain gene (De Lozanne, A., and J. A. Spudich. 1987. Science (Wash. DC). 236: 1086-1091). Western blot analysis using different mAbs confirms that hmm cells express a truncated myosin fragment of 140 kD (HMM-140 protein) instead of the normal 243-kD myosin heavy chain (MHC). Spontaneous revertants appear at a frequency less than 4 x 10(-5), which synthesize normal myosin and are capable of forming thick filaments. In hmm cells, the HMM-140 protein is diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm, indicating that it cannot assemble into thick filaments. The actin distribution in these mutant cells appears similar to that of wild-type cells. However, there is a significant abnormality in the organization of cytoplasmic microtubules, which penetrate into lamellipodial regions. The microtubule networks consist of approximately 13 microtubules on average and their pattern is abnormal. Although hmm cells can form mitotic spindles, mitosis is not coordinated with normal furrow formation. The hmm cells are clearly defective in the contractile events that lead to normal cytokinesis. The retraction of different regions of the cell can result in the occasional pinching off of part of the cell. This process is not coupled with formation of mitotic spindles. There is no specific accumulation of HMM-140 in such constrictions, whereas 73% of such cells show actin concentrated in these regions. The mutant hmm cells are also deficient in capping of Con-A-bound surface receptors, but instead internalize this complex into the cytoplasm. The hmm cells display active phagocytosis of bacteria. Whereas actin is concentrated in the phagocytic cups, HMM-140 protein is not localized in these regions. cAMP, a chemoattractant that induces drastic rounding up and formation of surface blebs in wild type cells, does not induce rounding up in the hmm cells. A Triton-permeabilized cell model of the wild-type amebae contracts on reactivation with Mg-ATP, whereas a model of the hmm cell shows no detectable contraction. Our data demonstrate that the conventional myosin participates in the significant cortical motile activities of Dictyostelium cells, which include rounding up, constriction of cleavage furrows, capping surface receptors, and establishing cell polarity.

Animals↗

Dynamic eye accommodation evoked by apparent distances.

A three-dimensional optometer (TDO), which can measure simultaneously three major ocular functions in a working environment, was used to measure the visual responses of human subjects viewing: (1) actual artworks and (2) corrugation presented by moving random dots on a cathode ray tube (CRT). Measurements were performed in natural viewing conditions on two emmetropic females. Both subjects demonstrated distinct accommodative responses for the stimuli presented at a fixed distance. The results indicate that the accommodation generally shifts in accord with changes of perceived distance. The usefulness of the TDO was demonstrated in these experiments.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

A combined case of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma and nevus cell nevus.

A 41-year-old woman with desmoplastic trichoepithelioma associated with pigmented nevus presented. Pigmented nevus had been present on her face at birth. She had received cryotherapy and dermabrasion at a small part of the pigmented nevus. As a result of the therapy, the discoloration disappeared. The lesion lately increased and became hard. Histologically, the lesion was composed of two distinctive but intimately mixed cellular components; nevus cells and basaloid cells. In the pigmented lesion, basaloid cells were not present. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma associated with nevocellular nevus in Japan.

Adult↗

Glued carbon fiber electrodes for diaphragm pacing.

Carbon fibers with fibrin glue were used as electrodes for diaphragm pacing. The electrodes were applied to three mongrel dogs and the effectiveness was tested. The carbon leads were glued to phrenic nerves by means of the fibrinogen and thrombin bilaterally. The tidal volumes and threshold current level for stimulation were measured at various time up to 9 weeks after implantation. Effective contraction of diaphragm were observed for 9 weeks. By using this electrode, the exfoliation of the nerve is not necessary, the nerve can be maintained in an intact state, and the risk of the implanting operation can be minimized.

Animals↗

Actomyosin organization in mitotic Dictyostelium amoebae.

Immunofluorescence localization of actin and myosin during mitosis indicates the significant roles of these cytoskeletons for cytokinesis. High frequency mitosis was induced by synchronous culture using temperature shift (T. Kitanishi-Yumura and Y. Fukui, 1987), and high resolution fluorescence microscopy was performed by the agar-overlay method (S. Yumura and Y. Fukui, 1984). It was shown that actin and myosin are dissociated from the cortex in prophase and reassembled in anaphase to form unique cortical structures: the contractile ring and/or polar lamellipodial network. Conventional myosin (myosin-II) is only localized in the contractile ring, whereas a low-molecular weight isozyme (myosin-I) is localized in the polar leading edge (Y. Fukui, T. Lynch, H. Brzeska, and E. Korn, 1989). Actin is localized in both structures and also forms a unique array in the furrow oriented perpendicular to the plane of constriction (Y. Fukui and S. Inoué, manuscript in preparation). The study suggests that conventional myosin provides the major force of constriction, whereas myosin-I participates in projecting lamellipodia, and actin is involved in several different functions in different regions of the cytoplasm.

Actins↗

Association of p62c-yes with polyomavirus middle T-antigen mutants correlates with transforming ability.

A number of mutants of polyomavirus middle T antigen (MTag) were constructed into replication-competent avian retroviruses. To assess the ability of these MTag variants to transform and to associate with the avian p60c-src and p62c-yes proto-oncogene products, we used these viruses to infect chicken embryo fibroblasts. We found that the ability of individual mutant MTags to associate with p62c-yes correlated well with the ability of these mutants to transform, as has been previously shown for the association of MTag with p60c-src. All transformation-competent mutant MTags retained the ability to complex with p62c-yes. Two transformation-defective mutants, RX67 and RX68, which could weakly associate with p60c-src, were unable to associate with p62c-yes.dl1015, a transformation-defective mutant which could associate with p60c-src and with a phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, was also able to associate with p62c-yes. Therefore, some as yet unmeasured biochemical property is defective in this mutant.

Animals↗

Activation of the proto-oncogene p60c-src by point mutations in the SH2 domain.

To investigate the importance of a conserved region spanning residues 137 to 241 in the noncatalytic domain of p60c-src (SH2 region), we used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to change residues that are highly conserved in this region. Chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a p60c-src variant containing arginine instead of tryptophan at residue 148 (W148R) appeared more rounded than cells overexpressing a normal c-src gene, and they formed colonies in soft agar. p60c-src variants containing serine instead of arginine at residue 155 (R155S) or isoleucine instead of glycine at residue 170 (G170I) also appeared transformed and were anchorage independent, but to a lesser extent than W148R. Mutation of residue 201 from histidine to leucine (H201L) had no observable effect. The in vitro kinase activity of cells infected with W148R or G170I was elevated twofold. Expression of p60W148R (or, to a lesser extent, of p60G170I) increased the number of proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine in infected cells. All of the mutants were phosphorylated in vivo on Tyr-527, instead of Tyr-416 as observed for p60v-src. Immunoprecipitated p60W148R and p60G170I were found to be associated with a phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, a factor which appears to be necessary for transformation by tyrosine-specific protein kinases. These results show that a single point mutation in the SH2 region of the cellular src gene can activate its transforming potential. This type of activation is in a new category of alterations at the amino terminus that activate but do not cause a shift in phosphorylation at the carboxy terminus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Absence of cytochrome P-450 and presence of autolysosomal membrane antigens on the isolation membranes and autophagosomal membranes in rat hepatocytes.

We wished to determine if phenobarbital (PB)-inducible cytochrome P-450 [P-450(PB)] and autolysosomal membrane antigens could be localized immunocytochemically on the isolation membranes and the limiting membranes of autophagosomes in rat hepatocytes by the post-embedding protein A-gold method. P-450(PB) was maximally induced by PB treatment; then formation of autophagosomes and accumulation of autolysosomes were induced by cessation of PB treatment and by injection of leupeptin, respectively. P-450(PB) was detected neither on the isolation membranes nor on the limiting membranes of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Autolysosomal membrane antigens, which were localized by the immunogold technique exclusively in post-Golgi compartments such as lysosomes, endosomes, and plasma membrane but were not found in pre-Golgi compartments such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope, were detected in large amounts on the isolation membranes. These results suggest that the isolation membranes originate not from ER membranes but from post-Golgi membranes. We also present direct immunoelectron microscopic evidence that P-450(PB) is indeed degraded in the autolysosomes: when rats were treated with leupeptin, P-450(PB) was detected not only within the autophagosomes but also within the autolysosomes, whereas without leupeptin treatment, P-450(PB) was detectable only within the autophagosomes.

Animals↗