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 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

The beta-delta crossover leading to the beta delta hybrid gene of hemoglobin P-Nilotic is located within 54 base-pairs of the 5' end of exon 2 or between codons 31 and 50.

The crossover region of the beta delta hybrid gene of the hemoglobin variant Hb P-Nilotic was defined in detail through cloning and sequencing of appropriate DNA segments. The crossover must have occurred without loss of bases within a 54 base-pair stretch of DNA between bases 275 and 330 (or between amino acid residues 31 and 50), indicating that the exon 1 and IVS-1 originate from beta, and exon 2, IVS-2 and exon 3 from delta. The data support the speculation that the IVS-1, in contrast to IVS-2, has no effect on the expression of this hybrid gene.

Adult↗

Crystal structure of the C2 domain from protein kinase C-delta.

BACKGROUND: The protein kinase C (PKC) family of lipid-dependent serine/theonine kinases plays a central role in many intracellular eukaryotic signalling events. Members of the novel (delta, epsilon, eta, theta) subclass of PKC isotypes lack the Ca2+ dependence of the conventional PKC isotypes and have an N-terminal C2 domain, originally defined as V0 (variable domain zero). Biochemical data suggest that this domain serves to translocate novel PKC family members to the plasma membrane and may influence binding of PKC activators. RESULTS: The crystal structure of PKC-delta C2 domain indicates an unusual variant of the C2 fold. Structural elements unique to this C2 domain include a helix and a protruding beta hairpin which may contribute basic sequences to a membrane-interaction site. The invariant C2 motif, Pro-X-Trp, where X is any amino acid, forms a short crossover loop, departing radically from its conformation in other C2 structures, and contains a tyrosine phosphorylation site unique to PKC-delta. This loop and two others adopt quite different conformations from the equivalent Ca(2+)-binding loops of phospholipase C-delta and synaptotagmin I, and lack sequences necessary for Ca2+ coordination. CONCLUSIONS: The N-terminal sequence of Ca(2+)-independent novel PKCs defines a divergent example of a C2 structure similar to that of phospholipase C-delta. The Ca(2+)-independent regulation of novel PKCs is explained by major structural and sequence differences resulting in three non-functional Ca(2+)-binding loops. The observed structural variation and position of a tyrosine-phosphorylation site suggest the existence of distinct subclasses of C2-like domains which may have evolved distinct functional roles and mechanisms to interact with lipid membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assembly of the human T cell receptor-CD3 complex takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum and involves intermediary complexes between the CD3-gamma.delta.epsilon core and single T cell receptor alpha or beta chains.

Functionally mature human T lymphocytes express a cell-surface receptor for antigen (T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3) composed of at least six polypeptides (TCR-alpha and -beta; T3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta). Immature thymocytes and variants of T cell lines lacking one of the TCR.CD3 polypeptide chains fail to express surface receptor and accumulate the other chains intracellularly. Here we show that the assembly of the TCR.CD3 complex within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) began with a core of CD3-gamma, -delta, and -epsilon to which TCR-alpha and -beta bound. A recently described intracellular protein, CD3-omega, participated in the assembly since it was found to be associated with the free TCR-alpha or -beta chains or with the CD3 chains. CD3-omega dissociated as TCR.CD3 complexes were formed in the ER. Association of non-disulfide-linked TCR-alpha and -beta chains with CD3 was detected before that of disulfide-bridged TCR-alpha/beta heterodimers. These data suggest that during assembly, the association of TCR-alpha and -beta chains with the CD3 complex precedes the formation of a TCR-alpha/beta dimer. The existence of intermediates consisting of CD3-gamma, -delta, and -epsilon chains and a single TCR-alpha or -beta chain was also confirmed by using a series of variant T cell lines lacking the TCR-beta or -alpha chain, respectively. Once the single TCR-alpha and -beta chains were associated with CD3, disulfide linkages were formed, and a 70-kDa form of the TCR was detected within the ER. This intracellular precursor of the TCR.CD3 complex was subsequently processed into the mature 90-kDa TCR as the TCR.CD3 complex passed through the Golgi apparatus. Assembly of the TCR.CD3 complex is a rather rapid process, whereas export from the ER occurs at a slow rate. After 1 h, 75% of the receptor complex remained within the ER.

Cell Line↗

The effect of alpha-thalassemia on the level of hybrid hemoglobin variants in heterozygotes.

The influence of a relative deficiency in alpha chain production on the amount of Hemoglobins Kenya, P-Nilotic, and Lepore was determined. The level of these hybrid hemoglobins in heterozygotes was correlated to various states of alpha chain deficiency by: 1) quantitation of the variants in blood samples and comparing these data with the number of alpha globin genes determined by gene mapping, 2) in vitro recombination experiments involving isolated non-alpha chains and normal alpha chains, and 3) in vitro heat stability analyses of the isolated hemoglobins. Hb Kenya, composed of normal alpha and gamma-beta hybrid chains, is heat labile, has a decreased ability to combine with alpha chains, and its level in heterozygotes is greatly decreased when a concomitant alpha-chain deficiency (alpha-thalassemia) is present. Such a posttranslational control mechanism was not observed for Hb Lepore, with normal alpha chains and delta-beta hybrid chains, and Hb P-Nilotic, with normal alpha chains and beta-delta hybrid chains. The latter two variants are heat stable, and their hybrid chains combine equally well as normal beta chains with normal alpha chains. Hb P-Nilotic is more heat stable than Hb A and its in vitro formation is increased over that of Hb S, and perhaps even Hb A, in conditions of severe alpha chain deficiency.

Fetal Hemoglobin↗

Structure and activity of artificial mutant variants of human growth hormone.

Four artificial mutant variants of human growth hormone (hGH) with the following characteristics were prepared in Escherichia coli by in vitro mutagenesis: (i) replacement of Trp86 with Tyr (W86Y hGH); (ii) deletion of Trp86 (delta W86 hGH); (iii) deletion of residues 32-46 (20-kd-hGH); and (iv) deletion of residues 32-71 (17.5-kd-hGH). Both W86Y hGH and delta W86 hGH have a point mutation at Trp86 which is the only Trp residue in hGH and is conserved among members of the growth hormone family. 20-kd-hGH is a minor component of hGH in the pituitary gland and plasma and is the result of an alternative splicing of the primary gene transcript, while only the corresponding mRNA and not the protein has been found in the case of 17.5-kd-hGH. The biological activities (adipogenic activity and potentiation of gain in body weight) and structures (as analyzed by circular dichroism) were mostly retained by the W86Y, delta W86 and 20-kd-hGH variants but not by 17.5-kd-hGH.

Adipose Tissue↗

Crystal structures of HbA2 and HbE and modeling of hemoglobin delta 4: interpretation of the thermal stability and the antisickling effect of HbA2 and identification of the ferrocyanide binding site in Hb.

Hemoglobin A(2) (alpha(2)delta(2)) is an important hemoglobin variant which is a minor component (2-3%) in the circulating red blood cells, and its elevated concentration in beta-thalassemia is a useful clinical diagnostic. In beta-thalassemia major, where there is beta-chain production failure, HbA(2) acts as the predominant oxygen deliverer. HbA(2) has two more important features. (1) It is more resistant to thermal denaturation than HbA, and (2) it inhibits the polymerization of deoxy sickle hemoglobin (HbS). Hemoglobin E (E26K(beta)), formed as a result of the splice site mutation on exon 1 of the beta-globin gene, is another important hemoglobin variant which is known to be unstable at high temperatures. Both heterozygous HbE (HbAE) and homozygous HbE (HbEE) are benign disorders, but when HbE combines with beta-thalassemia, it causes E/beta-thalassemia which has severe clinical consequences. In this paper, we present the crystal structures of HbA(2) and HbE at 2.20 and 1.74 A resolution, respectively, in their R2 states, which have been used here to provide the probable explanations of the thermal stability and instability of HbA(2) and HbE. Using the coordinates of R2 state HbA(2), we modeled the structure of T state HbA(2) which allowed us to address the structural basis of the antisickling property of HbA(2). Using the coordinates of the delta-chain of HbA(2) (R2 state), we also modeled the structure of hemoglobin homotetramer delta(4) that occurs in the case of rare HbH disease. From the differences in intersubunit contacts among beta(4), gamma(4), and delta(4), we formed a hypothesis regarding the possible tetramerization pathway of delta(4). The crystal structure of a ferrocyanide-bound HbA(2) at 1.88 A resolution is also presented here, which throws light on the location and the mode of binding of ferrocyanide anion with hemoglobin, predominantly using the residues involved in DPG binding. The pH dependence of ferrocyanide binding with hemoglobin has also been investigated.

Alternative Splicing↗

Embryonic regulation of histone ubiquitination in the sea urchin.

We have used quantitative 2-D protein electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation to study the patterns of histone ubiquitination at 10 h and 36 h of embryonic development in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Variants csH2A, alpha H2A, beta H2A, gamma H2A, delta HA, H2AF./Z, alpha H2B, beta H2B, and gamma H2B showed up to sevenfold differences in level of monoubiquitination between variants, and individual variants showed up to sixfold changes during development. At 36 h of embryogenesis, the late variants were less ubiquitinated than the early variants, although the overall level of ubiquitination was appreciably greater than at 10 h. Antiubiquitin antibodies were used to precipitate formaldehyde-fixed chromatin fragments in order to estimate the degree of ubiquitination of the early histone genes. The 5' regulatory region of the active H3 gene appeared to be at least twice as ubiquitinated as the adjacent upstream spacer. However, the absolute level of ubiquitination of the early histone gene repeat seemed to be independent of transcriptional activity. These results show that variant-specific ubiquitination of histones is a part of the developmental program in sea urchin embryos, but is not clearly correlated with transcriptional activity of the early histone genes, except perhaps in the regulatory regions.

Animals↗

Identification of novel human tumor cell-specific CaMK-II variants.

CaMK-II (the (type II) multifunctional Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase) has been implicated in diverse neuronal and non-neuronal functions, including cell growth control. CaMKII expression was evaluated in a variety of human tumor cell lines using RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase coupled polymerase chain reaction). PCR primers which flanked the CaMK-II variable domain were used so that all possible variants of the four mammalian CaMK-II genes (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) could be identified. 8 distinct CaMK-II isozymes were identified from human mammary tumor and neuroblastoma cell cDNA, each of which represented a variant of beta, gamma or delta CaMK-II. They included 2 beta isozymes (beta e, beta 'e), 4 gamma isozymes (gamma B, gamma C, gamma G, gamma H) and 2 delta isozymes (delta C, delta E) This is the first report of human beta and delta CaMK-II sequences. A panel of human cell types was then screened for these CaMK-II isozymes. As expected, cerebral cortex predominately expressed alpha, beta and delta A CaMK-II. In contrast, tumor cells, including those of neuronal origin, expressed an entirely different spectrum of CaMK-II isozymes than adult neuronal tissue. Tumor cells of diverse tissue origin uniformly lacked alpha CaMK-II and expressed 1-2 beta isozymes, at least 3 gamma isozymes and 1-2 delta isozymes. When compared to undifferentiated fibroblasts, beta e, beta'e, gamma G and gamma H were preferentially expressed in tumor cells. CaMK-II immunoblots also indicated that neuroblastoma and mammary tumor cells express isozymes of CaMK-II not present in their non-transformed cell or tissue counterpart. The identification of these new, potential tumor-specific CaMK-II variants supports previous indications that CaMK-II plays a role in growth control. In addition, these results provide insight into both splice variant switching and variable domain structural similarities among all CaMK-II isozymes.

Alternative Splicing↗

Specific activation of the acetylcholine receptor subunit genes by MyoD family proteins.

Whether the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) of the MyoD family can discriminate among the muscle gene targets for the proper and reproducible formation of skeletal muscle is a recurrent question. We have previously shown that, in Xenopus laevis, myogenin specifically transactivated muscle structural genes in vivo. In the present study, we used the Xenopus model to examine the role of XMyoD, XMyf5, and XMRF4 for the transactivation of the (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor) nAChR genes in vivo. During early Xenopus development, the expression patterns of nAChR subunit genes proved to be correlated with the expression patterns of the MRFs. We show that XMyf5 specifically induced the expression of the delta-subunit gene in cap animal assays and in endoderm cells of Xenopus embryos but was unable to activate the expression of the gamma-subunit gene. In embryos, overexpression of a dominant-negative XMyf5 variant led to the repression of delta-but not gamma-subunit gene expression. Conversely, XMyoD and XMRF4 activated gamma-subunit gene expression but were unable to activate delta-subunit gene expression. Finally, all MRFs induced expression of the alpha-subunit gene. These findings strengthen the concept that one MRF can specifically control a subset of muscle genes that cannot be activated by the other MRFs.

Animals↗

A novel mutation, Arg71Thr, in the delta-sarcoglycan gene is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Approximately 20-35% of cases of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy are familial. DCM-associated mutations have been reported in 13 genes including the desmin, delta-sarcoglycan, and metavinculin genes. This study screened for variants in these genes in Finnish patients with DCM. All coding regions of the desmin and delta-sarcoglycan genes and the metavinculin-specific exon of the vinculin gene were screened in 52 DCM patients from eastern Finland by PCR-SSCP. We detected a novel mutation, Arg71Thr, in the delta-sarcoglycan gene in two members of a small DCM family. One of the mutation carriers fulfills diagnostic criteria for DCM and is also symptomatic. The other mutation carrier has slightly dilated left ventricle and well preserved systolic function. Therefore carriers of the Arg71Thr mutation had a relatively mild phenotype and a late onset of the disease. Disease-associated mutations were not found in the desmin gene or the metavinculin-specific exon of the vinculin gene. We conclude that the desmin and delta-sarcoglycan genes are not predominant disease-causing genes in patients with DCM in eastern Finland.

Adolescent↗

Association of the TNF-alpha-308 (G-->A) polymorphism with self-reported history of childhood asthma.

Asthma is a complex disease involving genetic and environmental aetiology. The tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes have been implicated in asthma pathogenesis. This study investigated the association of a G-308A variant of TNF-alpha and an insertion/deletion (I/D) variant of ACE with a self-reported history of childhood asthma, in two population groups. At Northwick Park Hospital, London, 1,811 pregnant women attending for antenatal care were recruited. Participants with a self-reported history of childhood asthma, determined by a researcher-administered questionnaire, and controls with no personal or family history of asthma, of UK/Irish (cases n=20; controls n=416) and South Asian (cases n=6; controls n=275) origin were used in this study. Participants were genotyped for the TNF-alpha-308 and ACE I/D variants by a PCR-RFLP and PCR approach. The TNF-alpha-308 allele 2 (-308A) was significantly associated with self-reported childhood asthma in the UK/Irish (Odds ratios (OR): 2.6; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.1-6.2; P=0.03) but not in the South Asian population. The ACE DD genotype was not associated with childhood asthma in either population group. Gametic phase disequilibrium between the TNF-alpha-308 and ACE I/D variants was significantly different from zero in UK/Irish cases (delta=0.09; P=0.034). The TNF-alpha308 allele 2 or a linked major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variant may be a genetic risk factor for childhood asthma in the UK/Irish sample.

Adenine↗

Adult human subventricular, subgranular, and subpial zones contain astrocytes with a specialized intermediate filament cytoskeleton.

Human glial fibrillary acidic protein-delta (GFAP-delta) is a GFAP protein isoform that is encoded by an alternative splice variant of the GFAP-gene. As a result, GFAP-delta protein differs from the predominant splice form, GFAP-alpha, by its C-terminal protein sequence. In this study, we show that GFAP-delta protein is not expressed by all GFAP-expressing astrocytes but specifically by a subpopulation located in the subpial zone of the cerebral cortex, the subgranular zone of the hippocampus, and, most intensely, by a ribbon of astrocytes following the ependymal layer of the cerebral ventricles. Therefore, at least in the sub ventricular zone (SVZ), GFAP-delta specifically marks the population of astrocytes that contain the neural stem cells in the adult human brain. Interestingly, the SVZ astrocytes actively splice GFAP-delta transcripts, in contrast to astrocytes adjacent to this layer. Furthermore, we show that GFAP-delta protein, unlike GFAP-alpha, is not upregulated in astrogliosis. Our data therefore indicate a different functional role for GFAP-delta in astrocyte physiology. Finally, transfection studies showed that GFAP-delta protein expression has a negative effect on GFAP filament formation, and therefore could be important for modulating intermediate filament cytoskeletal properties, possibly facilitating astrocyte motility. Further studies on GFAP-delta and the cells that express it are important for gaining insights into its function during differentiation, migration and during health and disease.

Alternative Splicing↗

Historic reflection on steroids: Lederle and personal aspects.

Steroid research at Lederle was initiated in 1946 and continued until about 1971. The areas of research interest involved primarily a study of delta 5,7-steroids, provitamin D3 variants, dehydroepiandrosterone variants, steroidal ketals, corticoids, and steroid conjugates. One of the principal goals was to develop novel antiinflammatory steroids for the treatment of, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis. A rational design led to the development of 16 alpha-hydroxycorticoids, culminating in the synthesis and therapeutic use of triamcinolone and related compounds.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Myxoma virus M11L ORF encodes a protein for which cell surface localization is critical in manifestation of viral virulence.

Myxoma virus (MYX) induces extensive immunosuppression in infected rabbits and is associated with high levels of mortality. The virus encodes multiple gene products designed to circumvent the cellular immune response to the viral infection. Deletion analysis has shown that the M11L open reading frame (ORF) is an important virulence factor which downregulates leukocyte infiltration of MYX-induced tumors. To investigate the role of the M11L protein in viral pathogenesis, we sequenced the MYX M11L ORF and showed that the sequence has motifs consistent with a 166-aa class III membrane-spanning molecule possessing a single transmembrane helix near the C-terminus and a 142-aa N-terminal extracellular domain that has six cysteine residues plus two consensus N-glycosylation sites. Transcription analysis indicates that M11L is expressed as an early gene, and surface immunofluorescence studies with anti-M11L antibodies reveal that M11L protein is transported to the infected cell surface. Immunoprecipitation analysis of an attenuated viral recombinant, vMYX-GF-delta M11L, indicates that an M11L variant protein with an altered C-terminus is synthesized at about 45% of wild type levels; however, it is not detectable on the cell surface, suggesting that proper M11L function requires localization at the infected cell membrane. We propose that M11L is a virulence factor whose function is to recognize an extracellular ligand essential for the cellular inflammatory response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase II by its own splice isoform.

cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (cGK I, cGK II, and cAK) are important mediators of many signaling pathways that increase cyclic nucleotide concentrations and ultimately phosphorylation of substrates vital to cellular functions. Here we demonstrate a novel mRNA splice isoform of cGK II arising from alternative 5' splicing within exon 11. The novel splice variant encodes a protein (cGK II Delta(441-469)) lacking 29 amino acids of the cGK II Mg-ATP-binding/catalytic domain, including the conserved glycine-rich loop consensus motif Gly-x-Gly-x-x-Gly-x-Val which interacts with ATP in the protein kinase family of enzymes. cGK II Delta(441-469) has no intrinsic enzymatic activity itself, however, it antagonizes cGK II and cGK I, but not cAK. Thus, the activation and cellular functions of cGK II may be determined not only by intracellular cGMP levels but also by alternative splicing which may regulate the balance of expression of cGK II versus its own inhibitor, cGK II Delta(441-469).

3T3 Cells↗

Neuronal distribution and functional characterization of the calcium channel alpha2delta-2 subunit.

The auxiliary calcium channel alpha2delta subunit comprises a family of three genes, alpha2delta-1 to 3, which are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. alpha2delta-2 mRNA is found in the heart, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, liver and pancreas. We report here for the first time the identification and functional characterization of alpha2delta-2 splice variants and their mRNA distribution in the mouse brain. The splice variants differ in the alpha2 and delta protein by eight and three amino acid residues, respectively, and are differentially expressed in cardiac tissue and human medullary thyroid carcinoma (hMTC) cells. In situ hybridization of mouse brain sections revealed the highest expression of alpha2delta-2 mRNA in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, habenulae and septal nuclei, and a lower expression in the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb, thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, as well as the inferior and superior colliculus. As the in situ data did not suggest a specific colocalization with any alpha1 subunit, coexpression studies of alpha2delta-2 were carried out either with the high-voltage-gated calcium channels, alpha1C, alpha1E or alpha1A, or with the low-voltage-gated calcium channel, alpha1G. Coexpression of alpha2delta-2 increased the current density, shifted the voltage dependence of channel activation and inactivation of alpha1C, alpha1E and alpha1A subunits in a hyperpolarizing direction, and accelerated the decay and shifted the steady-state inactivation of the alpha1G current.

Alternative Splicing↗

Molecular cloning and bioinformatics analysis of a novel spliced variant of survivin from human breast cancer cells.

Survivin gene and its two alternatively spliced variants, survivin-2 B and survivin- Delta Ex3 gene were cloned from human breast cancer cell lines B-cap37 firstly. A new gene designated as survivin-image (SI) was cloned from above cell lines, which has not been reported yet to clone from any cell lines. It was found that the novel gene 507 bp comprises partial survivin gene (345 bp), partial image gene (155 bp) of eye cancer and other insertion of 7 bp by analyzing with a series of recent bioinformatics software at the level of nucleotide and protein deduced. Predicted 3-D structures of the new molecule showed greatly similar to that of survivin in N-terminal containing BIR by homology modeling. These results suggested SI gene (GenBank accession No.AY830084) might be a novel alternatively spliced isoforms of the survivin gene involved in other functional significances related to tumorigenesis.

Alternative Splicing↗

Susceptibility genes for complex epilepsy.

Common idiopathic epilepsies are, clinically and genetically, a heterogeneous group of complex seizure disorders. Seizures arise from periodic neuronal hyperexcitability of unknown cause. The genetic component is mostly polygenic, where each susceptibility gene in any given individual is likely to represent a small component of the total heritability. Two susceptibility genes have been so far identified, where genetic variation is associated with experimentally demonstrated changes in ion channel properties, consistent with seizure susceptibility. Rare variants and a polymorphic allele of the T-type calcium channel CACNA1H and a polymorphic allele and a rare variant of the GABA(A) receptor delta subunit gene have differential functional effects. We speculate that these and other as yet undiscovered susceptibility genes for complex epilepsy could act as 'modifier' loci, affecting penetrance and expressivity of the mutations of large effect in those 'monogenic' epilepsies with simple inheritance that segregate through large families. Discovery of epilepsy-associated ion channel defects in these rare families has opened the door to the discovery of the first two susceptibility genes in epilepsies with complex genetics. The susceptibility genes so far detected are not commonly involved in complex epilepsy suggesting the likelihood of considerable underlying polygenic heterogeneity.

Alleles↗