Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Delta variant”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Activation of murine epidermal V gamma 5/V delta 1-TCR(+) T cell lines by Glu-Tyr polypeptides.

The physiologic role of gamma delta-T-cell-receptor-bearing cells and the T cell receptor ligands that they recognize is still poorly understood. Previous studies have suggested that one possible antigen for gamma delta-TCR(+) cells is the random copolymer poly-glutamic acid-tyrosine (poly-Glu-Tyr), because poly-Glu-Tyr-reactive gamma delta-TCR(+) hybridoma cells were produced from poly-Glu-Tyr-immunized mice. We have found, however, that clonal V gamma 5/V delta 1-TCR(+) epidermal T cell lines from nonimmune mice also respond to poly-Glu-Tyr by producing cytokines. Other amino acid homopolymers, copolymers, and tripolymers were not stimulatory for the V gamma 5/V delta 1-TCR(+) epidermal T cells, except for poly-glutamic acid-alanine-tyrosine (poly-Glu-Ala-Tyr). Of the poly-Glu-Tyr and poly-Glu-Ala-Tyr polymers, only those that contained Glu and Tyr in an equimolar ratio were stimulatory. The cytokine interleukin-2 was strictly required for the responses to poly-Glu-Ala-Tyr, whereas the responses to poly-Glu-Tyr were merely enhanced with interleukin-2. The response to poly-Glu-Tyr was also enhanced by crosslinking CD28 molecules with plate-bound anti-CD28 crosslinking antibody. This finding suggests that the poly-Glu-Tyr response has a partial dependence on CD28-mediated costimulation, a characteristic of TCR-dependent responses. Consistent with this observation, V gamma 5/V delta 1-TCR-loss variants of the epidermal T cell line could no longer respond to poly-Glu-Tyr. The unpredicted responses of epidermal gamma delta-TCR(+) T cells to poly-Glu-Tyr and poly-Glu-Ala-Tyr demonstrate that the functions of these cells potentially can be triggered by peptidic ligands, probably through a TCR-mediated process.

B7-1 Antigen↗
PubMed1997

Identification of four trp1 gene variants murine pancreatic beta-cells.

Insulin secretion is stimulated by glucose, hormones and neurotransmitters. Both activation of a non-selective cation current and activation of a Ca2+ current in response to depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores have been suggested to play a role in this stimulation. The properties of these currents resemble those reported for the Drosophila genes trp and trpl. Using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis we found that of the six mammalian trp-related genes (trp1-6), only trp1 was expressed at high levels in the mouse insulinoma cell line MIN6. We cloned the murine homologue of human trp1 from MIN6 cells and identified four variants (alpha, beta, gamma and delta), generated by alternative splicing near the N-terminus of the protein. In vitro translation showed that only the alpha and beta splice variants are efficiently expressed. The beta variant is the dominant form in MIN6 cells (and probably in mouse pancreatic islets), whereas the alpha variant is the major type in the mouse brain. The beta variant showed 99% identity to the human homologue at the amino acid level.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1999

Erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase genotype and other mechanisms affecting workers' susceptibility to lead.

In this study, the role of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) variants in lead susceptibility was examined. The study subjects comprised 223 male workers, and the relationship between their blood lead level and erythrocyte ALAD activity or plasma/urine delta-aminolevulinic acid level was studied. Leukocyte specimens from 11 workers, whose erythrocyte ALAD activities were as low as one-fifth that of the other normal workers, were subjected to analyses of their ALAD and ALAD alleles. Further, the entire exon fragment of the ALAD gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, and the reaction product was used as a target for direct DNA sequencing. Genomic DNA analysis revealed that all 11 workers had the ALAD allele, whereas the entire ALAD gene analysis failed to indicate other variants, except for the Rsa I site. The depletion in erythrocyte ALAD activity was not found to be caused by the ALAD allele.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Cushing's 'variant' response (acute hypotension) after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Association with moderate intracranial tensions and subacute cardiovascular collapse.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypertension is considered common and appropriate with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), maintaining cerebral perfusion. Hypotension, in contrast, is considered rare and detrimental. This study was designed to assess the frequency of each in both acute and subacute phases of primary SAH. METHODS: SAH was created by arterial rupture in spontaneously breathing rats under urethane anesthesia without craniotomy (n = 32). Arterial pressure and intracranial pressure (ICP) were monitored invasively. RESULTS: After extensive extravasation, the mean ICP rose acutely from 8 +/- 1 to 53 +/- 4 mm Hg over 2.4 +/- 0.3 minutes. Acute pressor changes occurred transiently in 71%. The most common acute response was hypotension (63%). Hypertension, in contrast, was rare (6%); the remainder was invariant (29%). Hypertension was associated with significantly lower maximum ICP values (39 +/- 4 versus 69 +/- 4 mm Hg, P < .001) with a negative correlation between hypotension and delta ICP (r = -.7, P < .01). Distinct and independent of acute responses, hypotension also occurred subacutely as a cardiovascular collapse (38%). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to popular belief, the most common acute response with SAH is hypotension; hypertension is rare. This, in fact, is in full agreement with Cushing: hypertension was seen only with gradual delta ICPs. In contrast, a "variant" to the classic response (hypotension) occurred with sudden delta ICPs. In the present study, hypotension stanched SAH at lower maximum ICP values, and thus with less cerebral compression. Despite this, cardiovascular collapse developed in a large proportion irrespective of acute change. Such collapse without prior hypertension (94%) implies a nonadrenergic etiology.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Divergent evolution of T cell repertoires: extensive diversity and developmentally regulated expression of the sheep gamma delta T cell receptor.

Sheep gamma delta T cells express an unprecedented repertoire of antigen receptors contributed by increased diversity in both variable and constant region gene segments. Variable region diversity results mainly from the utilization of a large family of duplicated V delta genes that have retained two distinct hypervariable segments comparable with the complementarity determining regions present in other antigen receptor V genes. This implies that sheep V delta chains have been intensely selected during evolution, probably at sites involved in ligand recognition. The sheep gamma delta heterodimer occurs in at least five isotypic variants formed by the association of a single C delta segment with one of five functional C gamma segments, each with distinctive hinge regions. Our analysis also shows that the establishment of a normal peripheral repertoire is both developmentally regulated and dependent on the continual presence of a functional thymus during ontogeny. The existence of an expanded V gene repertoire and multiple receptor isotypes together with the prominence of gamma delta T cells in the sheep immune system argues that this lineage of T cells has a more elaborate functional role in this evolutionary pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Relative replication fitness of a high-level 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine-resistant variant of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 possessing an amino acid deletion at codon 67 and a novel substitution (Thr-->Gly) at codon 69.

The combination of an amino acid deletion at codon 67 (delta 67) and Thr-to-Gly change at codon 69 (T69G) in the reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is associated with high-level resistance to multiple RT inhibitors. To determine the relative contributions of the delta 67 and T69G mutations on viral fitness, we performed a series of studies of HIV replication using recombinant variants. A high-level 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT)-resistant variant containing delta 67 plus T69G/K70R/L74I/K103N/T215F/K219Q in RT replicated as efficiently as wild-type virus (Wt). In contrast, the construct without delta 67 exhibited impaired replication (23% of growth of Wt). A competitive fitness study failed to reveal any differences in replication rates between the delta 67+T69G/K70R/L74I/K103N/T215F/+ ++K219Q mutant and Wt. Evaluation of proviral DNA sequences over a 3-year period in a patient harboring the multiresistant HIV revealed that the T69G mutation emerged in the context of a D67N/K70R/T215F/K219Q mutant backbone prior to appearance of the delta 67 deletion. To assess the impact of this stepwise accumulation of mutations on viral replication, a series of recombinant variants was constructed and analyzed for replication competence. The T69G mutation was found to confer 2',3'-dideoxyinosine resistance at the expense of fitness. Subsequently, the development of the delta 67 deletion led to a virus with improved replication and high-level AZT resistance.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed1994

Identification and characterization of delta B-CaM kinase and delta C-CaM kinase from rat heart, two new multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase isoforms.

We have identified, expressed and characterized two new isoforms of the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaM kinase) cloned from rat heart. Both isoforms are variants of the neuronal delta-CaM kinase (termed delta A-CaM kinase), and are designated as delta B-CaM kinase and delta C-CaM kinase. The new isoforms differ from delta A-CaM kinase in its isoform-specific insert region, between nucleotides 984 to 1087 of the delta A-CaM kinase cDNA. Replacing these 102 nucleotides, a sequence of 33 nucleotides which code for 11 amino acids (KRKSSSSQMM) are introduced in delta B-CaM kinase. The delta C-CaM kinase lacks all 102 nucleotides and the corresponding 34 amino acids which they encode. The predicted molecular masses of the delta B- and delta C-CaM kinase isoforms are 57,697 Da and 56,446 Da, respectively. Recombinant delta-CaM kinases purified from transfected COS-7 cells were found to associate into a larger holoenzyme estimated to contain 8 to 10 subunits. The relative subunit molecular masses on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are 59 kDa, 54 kDa and 52 kDa for delta A-, delta B- and delta C-CaM kinase, respectively. All three isoforms showed a strict dependence on Ca2+/calmodulin for activity and exhibited the Ca(2+)-dependent autophosphorylation and resultant conversion to Ca(2+)-independent kinase activity, characteristic features of multifunctional CaM kinase. Phosphopeptide analysis after partial CNBr digestion suggests that delta B-CaM kinase is the predominant soluble CaM kinase species purified from rat heart.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Coexpression of alternatively spliced estrogen and progesterone receptor transcripts in human breast cancer.

Primary transcripts of the human estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) are subject to a number of alternative splicing events resulting in a range of variant messenger ribonucleic acid species in receptor-positive tissues. Despite in vitro demonstrations of a possible role for some of these variants in hormonal sensitivity, the clinical significance of this process is uncertain. In this study the coexpression of variant ER and PR transcripts has been documented by RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis in a series of receptor-positive breast tumors. In 35 ER-positive tumors, a common profile of variant ER transcripts was present, with all tumors containing the delta2ER and delta7ER, 94% containing the delta4ER, and 83% containing the delta5ER. In 25 of these cases, which were also PR positive, the most highly expressed PR variants, the delta4PR, delta6PR, and delta(4/2)PR, a transcript from which a 126-bp portion of PR exon 4 was deleted, were detected in over 90% of the cases. The alternatively spliced ER variants were expressed at higher relative levels than the PR species, which had mean levels of expression less than 10% that of wild-type PR. The most abundant species was the delta7ER, which was present at levels ranging from 29-83% of the wild type. There was no relationship between the level of delta7ER in individual tumors and the pattern of expression of the estrogen-responsive proteins PR and pS2. The common profile of alternatively spliced ER and PR transcripts in breast tumors means that this feature cannot be used as a discriminator of hormone responsiveness or other clinical end points. Further, the low level of expression of the majority of variant species calls into question their potential for impacting significantly on receptor function.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Altered expression of BRCA1, BRCA2, and a newly identified BRCA2 exon 12 deletion variant in malignant human ovarian, prostate, and breast cancer cell lines.

Germline mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 predispose to hereditary breast, ovarian, and possibly prostate cancer, yet structural mutations in these genes are infrequent in sporadic cancer cases. To better define the involvement of these genes in sporadic cancers, we characterized expression levels of BRCA1 and BRCA2 transcripts in cancer cell lines derived from neoplasms of the ovary, prostate, and breast and compared them with those expressed in primary cultures of normal epithelial cells established from these organs. We observed upregulation of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 expression in six of seven ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCA420, OVCA429, OVCA432, ALST, DOV13, and SKOV3) when compared with levels found in normal ovary surface epithelial cells. Furthermore, five cancerous or immortalized prostatic epithelial cell lines (BPH-1, TSU-Pr1, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145) also expressed higher levels of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mRNA than did primary cultures of normal prostatic epithelial cells. In contrast, only the estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cell line overexpressed these messages, whereas the estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cell lines Hs578T, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468 showed no change in expression levels when compared with normal breast epithelial cells. In addition, expanding on our recent identification of a novel BRCA2 transcript variant carrying an in-frame exon 12 deletion (BRCA2 delta 12), we report increased expression of this variant in several ovarian, prostate, and mammary cancer cell lines (OVCA420, OVCA433, ALST, DOV13, SKOV3, TSU-Pr1, DU145, and MDA-MB-468). Most notably, high levels of BRCA2 delta 12 mRNA were detected in an estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and in an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line, DU-145. Interestingly, the wild-type BRCA2 transcript was barely detectable in DU145, which could be used as a model system for future investigations on BRCA2 delta 12 function. Taken together, our data suggest disruption of BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 gene expression in certain epithelial cancer cell lines of the ovary, prostate, and breast. Because wild-type BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene products increase during cell-cycle progression and are believed to exert growth-inhibitory action, enhanced expression of these genes in cancer cells may represent a negative feedback mechanism for curbing proliferation in fast-growing cells. At present, the functionality of BRCA2 delta 12 remains elusive.

BRCA1 Protein↗
PubMed2005

Identification of the isoforms of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNAs in the substantia nigra.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK)II is highly expressed in the CNS and mediates activity-dependent neuronal plasticity. Four CaMKII isoforms, alpha, beta, gamma and delta, have a large number of splicing variants. Here we identified isoforms of CaMKII in the rat substantia nigra (SN). Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses revealed that the gamma and delta isoform mRNAs with several splicing variants were predominantly expressed in SN. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the major isoforms were gammaA, gammaC, delta1 and delta3. An immunohistochemical study also confirmed the preferential localization of gamma and delta isoforms in SN dopaminergic neurons. In dopaminergic neurons, immunoreactivity against anti-CaMKIIdelta1-4 antibody was detected in both nucleus and cytoplasm, in contrast to the predominant expression of gamma isoforms in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we showed expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs with exons II and IV in SN. Taken together with our previous observations, the results suggest that the CaMKIIdelta3 isoform is involved in the expression of BDNF in the SN.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Immunochemical evidence for hybrid sialoglycoproteins of human erythrocytes.

The two major sialoglycoproteins of the human erythrocyte membrane (alpha and delta, glycophorins A and B) have identical amino acid sequences for the first 26 residues from the amino terminus, except that alpha expresses M or N blood group antigen activity whereas deta carries only blood group N activity. In addition, the asparagine at position 26 on alpha carries an oligosaccharide chain which is absent from the same position on delta. The two sialoglycoproteins differ in their remaining amino acid sequence and delta expresses blood group Ss activity. There are also variant sialoglycoproteins which have properties of both the alpha and delta molecules and may be hybrids of these. Using antibodies directed against different structural regions of the major sialoglycoprotein alpha, we confirm here and two variant erythrocytes (Miltenberger class V (MiV) and Ph) contain hybrid sialoglycoprotein molecules (Fig. 1). These hybrid sialoglycoproteins arise from cross-over events between the genes coding for alpha and delta. It is suggested that the two genes are closely associated in the order alpha, delta (5' leads to 3') on the chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Distinct in vivo expression patterns of survivin splice variants in renal cell carcinomas.

Survivin, a novel member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, reduces the susceptibility of tumor cells to proapoptotic stimuli, thereby promoting tumor cell survival during tumor progression and treatment with anticancer drugs. Recently, we identified 2 novel alternative splice variants of survivin, survivin-2B and survivin-Delta Ex3, which differ in their antiapoptotic properties. Survivin-2B has lost its antiapoptotic potential and may act as a naturally occurring antagonist of antiapoptotic survivin and survivin-Delta Ex3. Because the in vivo expression of these splice variants in human cancer has not been analyzed so far, 57 renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) were explored using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We found that all RCCs express survivin-Delta Ex3, survivin-2B and survivin, the latter being the dominant transcript. When we compared early and intermediate stages with late stages of clear cell RCCs, no significant changes in the expression levels of survivin and survivin-Delta Ex3 became evident. However, a significant decrease was observed for the mRNA ratio between survivin-2B and survivin in late tumor stages (p = 0.036). Chromophilic/papillary RCCs, which are known to be less aggressive than clear cell RCCs, did not show significantly lower expression levels of antiapoptotic survivin and survivin-Delta Ex3, compared with stage-adjusted clear cell RCCs. Our study demonstrates for the first time in vivo expression of functionally different survivin variants and suggests a role of these survivin splice variants in the progression and clinical behavior of human RCCs.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1997

Thermodynamics of the interactions of lac repressor with variants of the symmetric lac operator: effects of converting a consensus site to a non-specific site.

What are the thermodynamic consequences of the stepwise conversion of a highly specific (consensus) protein-DNA interface to one that is nonspecific? How do the magnitudes of key favorable contributions to complex stability (burial of hydrophobic surfaces and reduction of DNA phosphate charge density) change as the DNA sequence of the specific site is detuned? To address these questions we investigated the binding of lac repressor (LacI) to a series of 40 bp fragments carrying symmetric (consensus) and variant operator sequences over a range of temperatures and salt concentrations. Variant DNA sites contained symmetrical single and double base-pair substitutions at positions 4 and/or 5 [sequence: see text] in each 10 bp half site of the symmetric lac operator (Osym). Non-specific interactions were examined using a 40 bp non-operator DNA fragment. Disruption of the consensus interface by a single symmetrical substitution reduces the observed equilibrium association constant (K(obs)) for Osym by three to four orders of magnitude; double symmetrical substitutions approach the six orders in magnitude difference between specific and non-specific binding to a 40 bp fragment. At these adjacent positions in the consensus site, the free energy effects of multiple substitutions are non-additive: the first reduces /deltaG(obs)o/ by 3 to 5 kcal mol(-1), approximately halfway to the non-specific level, whereas the second is less deleterious, reducing /deltaG(obs)o/ by less than 3 kcal mol(-1). Variant-specific dependences of K(obs) on temperature and salt concentration characterize these LacI-operator interactions. In general, binding constants and standard free energies of binding both exhibit characteristic extrema near 290 K. As a consequence, both the enthalpic and entropic contributions to stability of Osym and variant complexes change from positive (i.e. entropy driven) at lower temperatures to negative (i.e. enthalpy driven) at higher temperatures, indicating that the heat capacity change upon binding, deltaC(obs)o, is large and negative. In general, /deltaC(obs)o/ decreases as the specificity and stability of the variant complex decreases. Stabilities of complexes of LacI with Osym and all variant operators are strongly [salt]-dependent. Binding constants for the variant complexes exhibit a power-dependence on [salt] that is larger in magnitude (i.e. more negative) than for Osym, but no obvious trend relates changes in contributions from the polyelectrolyte effect and the observed reductions in stability (delta deltaG(obs)o). These variant-specific thermodynamic signatures provide novel insights into the consequences of converting a consensus interface to a less specific one; such insights are not obtained from comparisons at the level of delta deltaG(obs)o. We propose that this variant-specific behavior arises from a strong effect of operator sequence on the extent of induced conformational changes in the protein (and possibly also in the DNA site) which accompany binding.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2005

A variant of SCID with specific immune responses and predominance of gamma delta T cells.

We describe here a patient with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of recombinase activating gene 1-deficient (RAG1-deficient) SCID, who produced specific antibodies despite minimal B cell numbers. Memory B cells were detected and antibodies were produced not only against some vaccines and infections, but also against autoantigens. The patient had severely reduced levels of oligoclonal T cells expressing the alphabeta TCR but surprisingly normal numbers of T cells expressing the gammadelta TCR. Analysis at a clonal level and TCR complementarity-determining region-3 spectratyping for gammadelta T cells revealed a diversified oligoclonal repertoire with predominance of cells expressing a gamma4-delta3 TCR. Several gammadelta T cell clones displayed reactivity against CMV-infected cells. These observations are compatible with 2 non-mutually exclusive explanations for the gammadelta T cell predominance: a developmental advantage and infection-triggered, antigen-driven peripheral expansion. The patient carried the homozygous hypomorphic R561H RAG1 mutation leading to reduced V(D)J recombination but lacked all clinical features characteristic of Omenn syndrome. This report describes a new phenotype of RAG deficiency and shows that the ability to form specific antibodies does not exclude the diagnosis of SCID.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Role of delta-PKC on the differentiation process of murine erythroleukemia cells.

In murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells the length of the latent period before the onset of hexamethylenebisacetamide induced terminal erythroid differentiation is inversely correlated to the intracellular level of delta-PKC. This is supported by the following experimental evidence. V3.17[44] MEL cell line, characterized by a very high rate of differentiation, contains an amount of delta-PKC protein one third lower than that present in the N23 MEL cell line, characterized by a very low rate of differentiation. A similar difference in the amount of delta-PKC mRNA is present in the two cell lines. In N23 cells, following addition of HMBA, the amount of delta-PKC protein and delta-PKC mRNA is down-regulated to one third its original value, which now corresponds to that constitutively present in V3.17[44] cells. Furthermore, in these cells the levels of delta-PKC protein and of its specific mRNA are unaffected by treatment with HMBA. Following introduction of homologous purified delta-PKC both MEL cell variants display a longer latent period before the onset of differentiation from 50 to 75 hours in N23 cell line and from 20 to 40 hours in V3.17[44] cells, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that a delta-PKC related signal plays a negative role in the early stages of MEL cell differentiation and that the level of the kinase is controlled through a down-regulation process upon exposure to the chemical inducer.

Acetamides↗
PubMed2005

Identification and functional characterization of an alternative splice variant within the fourth exon of human nanog.

Nanog, a homeodomain (HD) transcription factor, plays a critical role in the maintenance of embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal. Here, we report the identification of an alternatively-spliced variant of nanog. This variant lacked a stretch of amino acids (residues 168-183) located between the HD and tryptophan-repeat (WR) of the previously-reported full length sequence, suggesting that the deleted sequence functions as a linker and possibly affects the flexibility of the C-terminal transactivation domain relative to the DNA binding domain. Expression of mRNA encoding the splice variant, designated as nanog-delta 48, was much lower than that of the full length version in human ES cells. The ratio of nanog-delta 48 transcript to full length transcript increased, however, in multipotent adult progenitor cells. EMSA analysis revealed that both forms of Nanog were able to bind a nanog binding sequence with roughly the same affinity. A reporter plasmid assay also showed that both variants of nanog modestly repressed transactivation of gata-4, whose expression is proposed to be inhibited by nanog, with comparable potency. We conclude that, despite the difference in primary structure and expression pattern in various stem cells, the alternatively-spliced variant of Nanog has similar activity to that of the full length version.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1995

Differential expression of human Fas mRNA species upon peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation.

Human Fas/Apo-1 is a cell-surface protein that mediates apoptosis upon ligation with Fas ligand. The gene lies on the long arm of chromosome 10, consists of nine exons, and spans more than 26 kb of DNA. We previously reported the presence of a Fas variant mRNA, designated as Fas delta TM, in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Fas delta TM is generated by alternative splicing of the intact exon 6, which encodes the Fas transmembrane domain. In the present study, we describe three novel forms of Fas mRNA that are generated by alternative splicing of exons 3, 4, 6 and 7. These three mRNA variants undergo a frameshift and produce truncated polypeptides because of the appearance of a stop codon in the altered open reading frame. On activation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a decreased expression of alternatively spliced Fas mRNA species correlated with increased cell-surface expression of Fas. These results suggest that differential expression of alternatively spliced Fas mRNAs may play a role in regulation of Fas function via regulation of the production of the membrane-bound and the soluble, secreted Fas protein products.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of delta FosB and FosB-like proteins by electroconvulsive seizure and cocaine treatments.

Previous work has shown that c-Fos and several Fos-like proteins or Fras (Fos-related antigens) are induced acutely in brain in response to a wide variety of stimuli. In contrast, several stimuli induce apparently distinct Fos-like proteins, termed chronic Fras, after chronic administration. We show that delta FosB, a truncated splice variant of FosB, responds like the other acute Fras: it is induced rapidly and transiently in cerebral cortex after acute electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) and in striatum after acute cocaine but does not accumulate after chronic ECS or cocaine treatment. Although the chronic Fras are immunochemically related to delta FosB, they can be distinguished from delta FosB based on their temporal properties in that they are induced after chronic ECS and cocaine treatments only. Moreover, the chronic Fras and delta FosB can be distinguished by their migration patterns on one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The chronic Fras, therefore, appear to be novel FosB-related proteins. We also provide evidence that the chronic Fras heterodimerize primarily with Jun-D and Jun-B, as opposed to c-Jun. The possibility that AP-1 complexes containing the chronic Fras function as negative regulators of AP-1 mediated transcription is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗