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Y K Ho

Publications and source records attributed to Y K Ho.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Response of the wild type and low xanthine dehydrogenase strains of Drosophila melanogaster to adenine resistance selection.

Survival rates of two Drosophila melanogaster strains, the Oregon R Wild Type (WT), and a mutant that was Low Xanthine Dehydrogenase (LXD), grown for six generations in control and in adenine-supplemented media, were determined. Although adenine was toxic to both strains, it was less toxic to the LXD strain. Uric acid levels indicated that WT Drosophila melanogaster was less able to metabolize adenine through the detoxification pathway. Male flies of both strains appeared to be more susceptible to adenine toxicity than were female. The results demonstrate that the adenine resistant strain may possess an enzyme pattern to minimize the toxic effect of adenine.

Adenine↗
PubMed1985

Inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha from leukemic and normal human cells by partially thiolated human deoxyribonucleic acids.

In continuing search for exploitable biochemical differences between cancer and normal cells at the level of DNA replication, leukemic and "normal" hematopoietic cells from four different, established human cell lines were grown in culture flasks, and both the DNA and the DNA polymerase alpha were isolated in each case from the harvested (5-10 g wet weight) cell pellets. The four selected cell lines included a "normal" lymphoblastoid B-cell line (RPMI-1788), a pre-B cell (NALM-6) and a T-cell (MOLT-4) acute lymphoblastic leukemias, and a promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60). The DNA polymerase alpha enzyme of the two B-cell lines (both the leukemic and the "normal") showed the usual sensitivity toward inhibition by aphidicolin, while those from the two other leukemic cell lines were remarkably resistant to the antibiotic. Partially thiolated polycytidylic acid (MPC) strongly inhibited only the DNA polymerase alpha of the "normal" cell line, whereas the corresponding enzymes of all three leukemic cell lines were relatively insensitive to MPC. In contrast, the partially thiolated DNAs derived from the leukemic cell lines more strongly inhibited the DNA polymerase alphas of the leukemic cell lines than that of the "normal" cell line. These results indicate the existence of some structural differences between the DNA polymerase alpha enzymes (as well as between the DNAs) of human cells of different lineage and, particularly, of leukemic vs. "normal" character; such differences could be exploited in the design of selective antitemplates for chemotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Antitemplate effect of polynucleotides and their hybrid complexes.

In continuation of efforts to correlate the antitemplate activities of modified polynucleotides with their structure, and to understand the factors governing both their potency and stability, a group of single-stranded poly(ribo- and deoxyribo-) nucleotides, and the "hybrid" double-stranded complexes were prepared and investigated. The double-stranded hybrid poly(A,hs5U).poly(dT) section was found to be more stable to murine blood nucleases than was the single-stranded poly(A,hs5U). In a comparative study as inhibitors of the DNA polymerase alpha from rat hepatoma, the results showed that the modified polynucleotides were more potent than the unmodified ones, in general, the polydeoxyribonucleotides were better antitemplates than their ribo counterparts and the poly(A70,hs5U30).poly(dT) hybrid was more active than either of the single-stranded components. Thus it is possible to increase the nuclease resistance of the modified polyribonucleotides by forming hybrid complexes with complementary polydeoxyribonucleotides, and at the same time, to augment their antitemplate activities.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Synthesis and properties of poly 5-methylthiouridylic acid.

In an effort to search for good methods for the enzymatic synthesis of polynucleotide analogs with antitemplate activity, 5-methylthiouridine-5'-diphosphate (ms5UDP) has been synthesized and investigated as a substrate for polynucleotide phosphorylase. While ms5UDP was polymerized at a very low rate to give a 6% yield of polynucleotides by the polynucleotide phosphorylase of Micrococcus luteus, it was utilized more efficiently by the corresponding enzyme of Escherichia coli resulting in a 15% yield of poly (5-methylthiouridylic) acid. Results of the co-polymerization of ms5UDP and UDP revealed that the ratio of 5-methylthiouridylate to uridylate residues in the polynucleotide product was lower than the ratio of ms5UDP to UDP in the substrate mixture. The 5-methylthio group conferred only minute changes on the conformation of the modified polyuridylic acid, and the complexes formed between poly-(5-methylthiouridylic) acid and poly(adenylic) acid possessed slightly higher Tm values than did the unmodified counterparts. Poly(5-methylthiouridylic) acid was a potent inhibitor of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of transducin from bovine retinal rod outer segments. The role of sulfhydryl groups.

The properties and functions of the sulfhydryl groups of transducin were examined by 5,5' -dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) titration and N-ethylmaleimide modification. The T beta gamma subunit of transducin contained a total of six free sulfhydryl groups and two were reactive under native conditions. Both reactive sulfhydryl groups were located in the beta polypeptide. The functions of transducin were not affected by the modification of these two sulfhydryl groups. The T alpha subunit of transducin contained three accessible sulfhydryl groups under both native and denaturing conditions. When 1.3 sulfhydryl groups were covalently modified by N-ethylmaleimide, the GTPase activity, the guanosine 5' -(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) uptake, and the rhodopsin-binding property of transducin were inhibited. The binding of Gpp(NH)p to T alpha blocked two of the three sulfhydryl groups from chemical modification and increased the reactivity of the remaining one. Modification of this specific sulfhydryl group of T alpha -Gpp(NH)p inhibited the exchange of the bound Gpp(NH)p for GTP. However, the modified T alpha-Gpp(NH)p was able to activate cGMP phosphodiesterase in solution and on positively charged liposomes. These findings demonstrated that a conformational change of T alpha occurs upon the binding of Gpp(NH)p and a specific sulfhydryl group of T alpha plays an important role in the activation of transducin in retinal rod outer segments.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Effects of purine amino groups on the development of Drosophila.

The effect of a variety of 6-substituted purines on development of Drosophila melanogaster, eggs and larva, were studied. Purine and 2,6-diaminopurine both were very toxic to egg development. Adenine and 2,6-diaminopurine were moderately and equally toxic to larva development. Substitution on the 6-position of the purine ring was very effective in regulating metamorphosis of Drosophila.

2-Aminopurine↗
PubMed1984

Use of monoclonal anti-receptor antibodies to probe the expression of the low density lipoprotein receptor in tissues of normal and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, like humans with familial hypercholesterolemia, have a genetic defect in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. WHHL fibroblasts produce a low molecular weight precursor form of the receptor that is not glycosylated normally and is not transported to the cell surface at a normal rate. In the current studies, we have used a monoclonal antibody that reacts with the rabbit LDL receptor to extend these findings to intact rabbits. We have made the following observations: (a) In normal rabbits the liver and adrenal glands synthesize high molecular weight mature LDL receptors like those in fibroblasts. (b) In WHHL rabbits the adrenals express only the low molecular weight receptor precursor, and the liver expresses no detectable receptors. (c) When injected intravenously, the radioiodinated anti-LDL receptor monoclonal antibody is cleared from plasma 6-10-fold faster in normal than in WHHL rabbits, with specific uptake demonstrable in livers and adrenals of normal but not WHHL rabbits. The latter finding raises the general possibility that the total number of cell surface receptors expressed by an animal or human in vivo can be estimated by measuring the rate of clearance of an intravenously injected monoclonal antibody directed against the receptor of interest.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Poly I-Mercapto Poly C: antiviral, anticellular, and pharmacologic effects.

Thiolation of position 5 of some of the cytosine bases in polycytidylic acid results in the formation of mercaptopolycytidylic acid (MPC). Annealing of MPC to polyinosinic acid (Poly I) results in the formation of double-stranded Poly I-MPC. In this study we investigated the interferon inducing ability, in vivo toxic effects, effect on DNA synthesis, and the effects in human tumor cell lines of Poly I-MPC. Poly I-MPC was capable of inducing human alpha, beta and gamma interferons in the appropriate cell systems. In vivo toxicity was measured in mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits according to FDA guidelines. Weight loss and lethal and pyrogenic effects were markedly lower in Poly I-MPC treated animals than in those that received unmodified Poly I-Poly C. In contrast to the lack of an effect of Poly I-Poly C in human lymphocytes, Poly I-MPC inhibited DNA synthesis. It also inhibited colony formation and was cytotoxic in several human tumor cell lines. Poly I-MPC's ability to induce human alpha, beta and gamma interferons, to inhibit DNA synthesis and its effects in human tumor cell lines demonstrate the potential of this drug for future clinical studies, both as an antiviral and antitumor agent.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Plasma clearance and tissue distribution of partially thiolated polycytidylic acid and its degradation products in rodents.

Radioactive (35S-labeled) partially thiolated polycytidylic acid (MPC) was administered i.v. to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood samples were taken at various intervals, and the radioactivity in plasma was determined. The concentration of total radioactivity in plasma decreased rapidly postinjection, independently of the dose, and could not be readily resolved into a series of exponential terms with a high degree of confidence. Coadministration with polyinosinic acid in a 1:1 ratio significantly decreased the clearance of radioactive compounds from the plasma; moreover, the clearance of radioactivity decreased with increasing dose. Complexing with polyinosinic acid also decreased the rate of degradation of [35S]MPC as evidenced by an increase of the trichloroacetic acid-precipitable fraction (i.e., oligonucleotides larger than five to ten nucleotide units), from 0.45 to 0.92 of the total radioactivity in plasma 60 min postinjection. The plasma clearance and organ distribution of radioactivity following injection of [35S]MPC were determined in normal and leukemic RFM/Un mice. About 90% of the 35S radioactivity was removed from the plasma in 5 and 10 min, respectively, in these two groups of mice, and the residual plasma levels of radioactivity at any given time were twice as high in the leukemic group throughout an observation period of 1 hr. Organ distribution studies demonstrated significantly greater (per mg tissue) accumulation of radioactivity in the livers and spleens of the leukemic versus normal mice at all time points, while the corresponding data for the kidneys were similar for the two groups. Another study, comparing the radioactivity in suspended and washed spleen cells harvested 60 min postinjection, indicated that 4 to 10 times more MPC and/or 35S-labeled oligonucleotides were localized and bound intracellularly in the spleens of the leukemic mice. These studies of the pharmacokinetic properties and metabolic degradation of [35S]MPC suggest that this polynucleotide may be protected from degradation by complexing with polyinosinic acid and that preferential accumulation of [35S]MPC occurs in organs infiltrated by leukemic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and its mRNA in rat liver as studied with a monoclonal antibody and a cDNA probe.

A monoclonal antibody directed against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A reductase and a cDNA to reductase mRNA were used to study the subunit structure of the enzyme and the regulation of its mRNA in rat liver. Although the monoclonal antibody and the cDNA were made with materials from cultured hamster cells, the two reagents cross-reacted with reductase protein and mRNA from rat liver. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with monoclonal antibody, the subunit molecular weight of rat liver reductase was 90,000. When the enzyme was solubilized from microsomes by freeze-thawing, the subunit molecular weight was reduced to 52,000-58,000, owing to proteolysis. This proteolysis was inhibited by EGTA and leupeptin. The cDNA probe for reductase, radiolabeled with 32P, hybridized to restriction fragments of genomic DNA from rat liver, as visualized by Southern blot analysis. In the livers of control rats, no reductase mRNA was detected when the 32P-cDNA was blot-hybridized to poly(A+) RNA. Hepatic reductase activity was increased 45-fold when rats were fed cholestyramine and mevinolin. Under these conditions, the amount of immunodetectable reductase protein rose by 33-fold, and the reductase mRNA became visible by blot hybridization as a band of approximately 4 kilobases in length. When the mevinolin/cholestyramine-treated rats were fed cholesterol, reductase activity and immunodetectable protein declined markedly and the reductase mRNA was reduced to barely detectable levels. We conclude that treatment with cholestyramine and mevinolin increases the amount of reductase protein in rat liver by elevating the amount of its mRNA and that cholesterol feeding to such induced rats lowers the amount of hepatic reductase protein by decreasing the level of its mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Reconstitution of LDL with lipophilic fluorescein derivatives: quantitative analysis of the receptor activity of human lymphocytes.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL), the major cholesterol transport protein in human plasma, consists of an apolar core of cholesteryl esters surrounded by a polar shell containing phospholipids, unesterified cholesterol and protein. In the current paper we report the absorption and fluorescence spectra of members of a new class of lipophilic fluorescein derivatives which were designed to be reconstituted into the core of LDL in place of the native cholesteryl esters. One of these derivates, cholesteryl 12-O-[methyl 3-O-methyl-5' (6')-carboxyfluorescein]ricinoleyl carbonate (MMC) was reconstituted into the core of LDL. The resultant fluorescent reconstituted LDL was used in conjunction with flow cytometry to quantify the LDL receptor activity of fresh blood lymphocytes derived from normal individuals and from patients with the heterozygous and homozygous forms of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The LDL receptor activities of the heterozygous and homozygous FH lymphocytes were approximately 37% and 1% of normal, respectively. LDL reconstituted with these lipophilic fluorescein derivatives will be valuable in studying LDL metabolism and may be useful for the diagnosis of FH.

Fluoresceins↗
PubMed1983

Inhibition of DNA polymerase-alpha from rat hepatoma with a series of new synthetic polynucleotides.

In continuation of efforts to correlate the antitemplate activities of chemically modified polynucleotides with their base composition and structure, four synthetic copolymers, poly(A,C), poly(C,U), poly(A,C,U), and poly(A,C,G) were modified by thiolation of 2.6-4.8% of their pyrimidine bases. The resulting 5-mercaptoheteropolynucleotides and the previously described 5-mercapto-polycytidylate (MPC) and -polyuridylate (MPU) were tested in a comparative manner as inhibitors of the DNA polymerase-alpha from rat hepatoma. A wide scale of inhibitory potencies was obtained in the following (decreasing) order: MPU greater than M-poly(A,C,U) greater than M-poly(C,U) greater than MPC greater than M-poly(A,C) greater than or equal to M-poly(A,C,G). The sensitivity of the hepatoma DNA polymerase toward these antitemplates increased upon further purification of the enzyme through the DNA-agarose step. Partially thiolated DNA-isolates from rat hepatoma and calf thymus, respectively, showed significant inhibition of the hepatoma DNA polymerase, the thiolated hepatoma DNA being the more active inhibitor.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Selectivity of antitemplates as inhibitors of deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases.

DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus was relatively insensitive to the action of partially thiolated polycytidylic acid (MPC) which had been shown previously to be a potent inhibitor of the corresponding enzyme from regenerating rat liver, competitive with the activated DNA template. In contrast, partially thiolated polyuridylic acid (MPU) strongly inhibited the calf thymus enzyme as well, but showed non-competitive kinetics with respect to the activated DNA template. The much more potent inhibitory activity of MPU compared to MPC was attributed to the less rigid conformation of the former. Methyl substitution on the 5-mercapto groups of MPU substantially decreased but did not abolish its inhibitory activity. MPU was also a potent inhibitor of the herpes virus (HSV-1) induced DNA polymerase which, too, showed little sensitivity toward MPC; in this case, the inhibition by MPU was uncompetitive with respect to the DNA template. In preliminary experiments, MPU showed significant (61%) inhibition of the replication of HSV-1, while MPC was inactive. The results demonstrate that the inhibitory activity of partially thiolated synthetic polynucleotides toward certain DNA polymerases is dependent on the base composition.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of pyridine homologues on proton flux through the CF0 . CF1 complex and photophosphorylation in chloroplasts.

At concentrations below 1 mM, hydrophobic pyridine homologues decrease the rate of photophosphorylation and light-stimulated hydrolysis of ATP and light-activated exchange of the tightly bound nucleotides in chloroplasts, but increase the rate of the Hill reaction. Unlike uncoupling agents, the presence of the organic base at such low concentrations decreases the rate of light-dependent leakage and has no effect on the efficiency of two-stage photophosphorylation in broken chloroplasts. By assuming that the organic base is bound to independent equivalent sites in the thylakoid membrane, a simple expression can be derived which relates the observed rates of photophosphorylation and light-stimulated hydrolysis of ATP quantitatively to the concentration of the organic base in solution and gives dissociation equilibrium constants which are on the order of the relative hydrophobicities of the pyridine homologues. A possible mechanistic model for the CF0 . CF1 complex is proposed which could serve as the basis for a unified interpretation of the kinetics of proton translocation in illuminated chloroplasts, the steady-state rate of photophosphorylation, the light-stimulated ATPase activity, and the light-activated exchange of tightly bound adenine nucleotides.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1982

5-Mercaptopolyuridylic acid (MPU), a potent inhibitor of the reverse transcriptase from avian myeloblastosis virus.

The effects of partially thiolated polyuridylic acid (MPU), partially thiolated polycytidylic acid (MPC), and their unmodified counterparts, poly(U) and poly(C), respectively, on the reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis is virus (AMV) have been determined, using different template-primers. Poly(C) stimulated and MPC inhibited the polymerization reaction catalyzed by the AMV reverse transcriptase in the presence of the natural viral template (endogenous RNA or purified 70S RNA), or with poly(C) . oligo(dG)12-18 but not with poly(A) . oligo(dT)12-18 as the only template-primer present in the purified enzyme system. Both poly(U) and MPU inhibited the reaction in the presence of either of the synthetic or natural templates. Using the purified enzyme with the 70S RNA template, MPU was by far the most potent inhibitor, with I50 = 0.8 microM based on the epsilon (P) value, or I50 less than 3 x 10(-9) M based on the actual, macromolecular weight of the polynucleotide.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗
PubMed1982

Effects of partially thiolated polycytidylic acid and liposomes on in vitro colony-forming cells of leukemic mice.

Partially thiolated polycytidylic acid (MPC), an antileukemic agent, when administered to leukemic RF/UN mice inhibited the clonogenicity of bone marrow progenitor cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect of a single dose of MPC disappeared within 40 hr due to the rapid degradation of this compound in mice. When MPC was encapsulated in liposomes before injection, its activity at 19 hr after inoculation was similar to that of free MPC. The inhibitory effect of this liposome-MPC complex, however, persisted for at least 40 hr, indicating that the MPC was protected from hydrolysis by the nucleases present in blood. Drug-free liposomes increased the number of clonogenic progenitor cells, whereas a mixture of plain liposomes and MPC decreased the number of clonogenic cells to a greater extent than did MPC alone or MPC within liposomes. A possible explantation for these observations is that the liposomes per se altered the clearance function of the reticuloendothelial system and completed with MPC for uptake by the reticuloendothelial system cells, thereby resulting in increased plasma levels of MPC which in turn resulted in greater killing of the target cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effect of pyridine homologues on the basal rate of electron transport and H+/e- ratio in chloroplasts.

Low concentrations of hydrophobic pyridine homologues (1 mM) were found to increase the rate of the Hill reaction in chloroplasts without significantly affecting either the steady-state proton uptake or the rate of proton leakage in the dark. By assuming that the organic base can be bound to two types of independent binding sites in the thylakoid membrane with dissociation constants K1 and K2 respectively, the kinetic data can be treated quantitatively. The values of K1 and K2 determined by the treatment are in the same relative order as the hydrophobicities of the pyridine homologues: K1 - 1.16 mM and K2 = 54 mM for pyridine; 0.6 and 38 mM for 4-picoline; 0.27 and 31 mM for 4-ethylpyridine, 0.10 and 4.2 mM for 4-t-butylpyridine; 0.08 and 3.2 mM for 4-n-butylpyridine. The rates of oxygen generation and proton uptake by illuminated chloroplasts with either ferricyanide or 1,4-benzoquinone as the electron acceptor were also measured in the presence of various pyridine homologues. Low concentration of pyridine homologues were found to decrease the H+/e- ratio. This last observation seems to substantiate an indirect coupling mechanism between electron transport and proton translocation.

Chloroplasts↗