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Characterization by somatic cell genetics of a monoclonal antibody to the MDR1 gene product (P-glycoprotein): determination of P-glycoprotein expression in multi-drug-resistant KB and CEM cell variants.

We isolated an IgG2a murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) termed MAb57, specifically reactive with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) human cells. Its specificity toward the MDRI gene product (P-glycoprotein) has been demonstrated by the concordant segregation of the MAb57 epitope with the MDRI gene in interspecific mouse x human cell hybrids, and the reactivity of several different MDRI gene-expressing cells with MAb57, particularly insect cells acutely infected with a baculovirus encoding the MDRI gene. MAb57 can be used to detect, by flow cytometry, variations in the relative drug-resistance levels of several MDR KB and CEM cell variants. This immunological probe has also proven useful in selectively destroying MDR target cells in an antibody-dependent cell-mediated (ADCC) assay system as well as in detecting P-glycoprotein expression in normal and malignant tissues and cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Developmental expression of poly(A) binding protein mRNAs during spermatogenesis in the mouse.

The poly(A) binding protein (PABP), a conserved protein that binds to the 3' poly(A) tail on mRNAs in eukaryotic cells, has been implicated in the regulation of mRNA stability and translation. Two PABP cDNAs with different sequences were isolated from mouse testis cDNA libraries. The predicted amino acid sequence of one, PABP1, is nearly identical (98.9%) to human liver PABP, while 80% of the amino acids of the second, PABPt, are identical to mouse and human PABPs. Northern blots reveal that there is one major PABP mRNA species in liver, muscle, kidney, and brain, two in spleen, and at least four in testis. The levels of PABP mRNA in testis are 5-10-fold higher than in these somatic tissues, but surprisingly the vast majority of all PABP mRNA size variants sediment more slowly than single ribosomes, indicating strong translational repression. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays demonstrate that PABPt mRNAs are abundant only in testis. Northern blots of RNAs purified from highly enriched spermatogenic cells show that the high levels, multiple sizes of PABP mRNAs, and the PABPt mRNA are present in meiotic and early haploid spermatogenic cells, and are sharply reduced in late haploid cells. Comparison of the binding of PABP1 and PABPt to poly(A) Sepharose in vitro revealed subtle differences, even though PABPt contains substitutions for highly conserved aromatic amino acids that are thought to be necessary for binding to poly(A). The existence of two PABP isoforms in mouse spermatogenic cells could influence cytoplasmic gene expression during spermatogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specific staining of 9h in human somatic interphase cells by D 287/170.

Somatic interphase cells from males and females with normal karyotypes and with variants of the heterochromatic regions on chromosomes 9 and Y were stained with the fluorochrome D 287/170. The results showed that only 9h retained the ability to stain with D 287/170 in the interphase state, whereas 15ph and Yqh lost the specific staining pattern seen in metaphase. The number and size of the specific stained interphase bodies correlated with the ploidy of the cell population and the size of the 9h as seen in metaphase.

Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X↗

Alterations in the suppressor gene PPP2R1B in parathyroid hyperplasias and adenomas.

Deletion of chromosome 11q23 is a common alteration in parathyroid adenomas and hyperplasias. A new potential suppressor gene PPP2R1B encoding the beta isoform of the A subunit of the serine/threorine protein phosphatase 2A was recently identified and localized to chromosome 11q23. We performed polymerase chain reaction-based single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing on six parathyroid hyperplasias and 12 adenomas to evaluate the role of PPP2R1B in the pathogenesis of parathyroid lesions. A previously identified germline G-A transition (GGC-GAC) in codon 90, changing glycine (Gly) to aspartic acid (Asp), was detected in one adenoma. Both the common Gly allele and the variant Asp allele were detected by direct sequencing in the patient's somatic cells. We conclude mutations of PPP2R1B are not frequent in parathyroid lesions, and that other genes located at 11q23 may be more closely associated with pathogenesis of parathyroid hyperplasia and adenoma.

Adenoma↗

DIS3 licenses B cells for plasma cell differentiation in humans.

DIS3 is the main catalytic subunit of the nuclear RNA exosome, a complex playing a crucial role in RNA processing and the degradation of various noncoding RNA substrates. In mice, DIS3 is essential for genomic rearrangements during B cell development, but its role in terminal plasma cell (PC) differentiation has not been explored. Although DIS3 gene alterations are frequent in multiple myeloma (MM), a PC malignancy, their molecular impact remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed an antisense oligonucleotide strategy to knock down DIS3 expression in a well-characterized model of human PC differentiation. Reducing DIS3 expression systematically led to decreased B cell proliferation and impaired PC differentiation with lower levels of switched immunoglobulin secretion. Transcriptome analyses confirmed alterations in the proliferation and differentiation programs, alongside an accumulation of noncoding RNAs. Notably, centromere-associated noncoding RNAs were highly sensitive to DIS3 activity, and their accumulation in DIS3-deficient cells, either as transcripts or DNA-associated RNAs, correlated with the mislocalization of the centromere-specific histone variant CENP-A. We finally observed reduced physiological DNA recombination and somatic hypermutation but increased genomic instability in DIS3-deficient cells, in agreement with the higher levels of IGH translocations observed in our large cohort of DIS3-mutant MM patients. Together, these results underscore the essential role of DIS3 in regulating B cell proliferation, DNA recombination, and physiological or malignant PC differentiation in humans.

Humans↗

Somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes in human neonates.

The antibody response in the young infant is limited in several ways; in particular, responses generally are of low affinity and restricted to IgM. This raises the question whether the affinity maturation process, consisting of somatic mutation of immunoglobulin genes coupled with selection of high-affinity variants, is operative in the neonate. Re-arranged V(H)6 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from cord blood and from peripheral blood of infants. Heteroduplex analysis detected mutation in only 2/18 cord blood samples, while mutations were seen from about 10 days of age onwards. Cloning and sequencing of mutated neonatal V(H)6 genes showed that mutated sequences contained relatively few mutations (one to three mutations per sequence) compared with published values of about 10 in adult IgM sequences. Selection was not evident in the majority of neonatal samples. Thus mutation can occur in the human neonate, but is minimal and generally not accompanied by selection. The age at which affinity maturation develops effectively is yet to be defined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in ovarian cancer: Covariation with specific cytogenetic features.

We analyzed 37 primary invasive carcinomas for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations by screening the entire coding regions of both genes. Seven predicted truncating mutations (four in BRCA1 and three in BRCA2) and one novel BRCA1 missense variant (S1542C) were identified (8/37, 22%). Two of the BRCA1 mutations were somatic changes, whereas the remaining three BRCA1 changes and all mutations of BRCA2 were found to be of germline origin. All eight BRCA-positive tumors were serous or seropapillary carcinomas (8/27 serous tumors, 30%), and all but one were poorly differentiated. The correlation between tumor karyotype and BRCA status showed that clonal chromosomal aberrations were present in all BRCA-positive tumors (8/8) compared with 20 of 29 BRCA-negative ones. The most consistently affected region in BRCA-positive tumors was the long arm of chromosome 6; alterations within this arm with a breakpoint in band 6q21 were seen in four of five BRCA1-positive and in two of three BRCA2-positive tumors, but only in four of 20 karyotypically abnormal tumors without BRCA mutations, suggesting that the genetic pathways of tumor progression differ in the two groups. The high frequency of germline BRCA mutations detected in this pilot study (16% of 37 invasive carcinomas) points to the need for more extended analyses of population-based series of patients to determine the true contribution of these predisposing genes to the overall incidence of ovarian cancer in this population.

Journal Article↗

Somatic mutations in the connexin 40 gene (GJA5) in atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, particularly stroke. The cardiac gap-junction protein connexin 40 is expressed selectively in atrial myocytes and mediates the coordinated electrical activation of the atria. We hypothesized that idiopathic atrial fibrillation has a genetic basis and that tissue-specific mutations in GJA5, the gene encoding connexin 40, may predispose the atria to fibrillation. METHODS: We sequenced GJA5 from genomic DNA isolated from resected cardiac tissue and peripheral lymphocytes from 15 patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation. Identified GJA5 mutations were transfected into a gap-junction-deficient cell line to assess their functional effects on protein transport and intercellular electrical coupling. RESULTS: Four novel heterozygous missense mutations were identified in 4 of the 15 patients. In three patients, the mutations were found in the cardiac-tissue specimens but not in the lymphocytes, indicating a somatic source of the genetic defects. In the fourth patient, the sequence variant was detected in both cardiac tissue and lymphocytes, suggesting a germ-line origin. Analysis of the expression of mutant proteins revealed impaired intracellular transport or reduced intercellular electrical coupling. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in GJA5 may predispose patients to idiopathic atrial fibrillation by impairing gap-junction assembly or electrical coupling. Our data suggest that common diseases traditionally considered to be idiopathic may have a genetic basis, with mutations confined to the diseased tissue.

Adult↗

Localization of a gene (MCUL1) for multiple cutaneous leiomyomata and uterine fibroids to chromosome 1q42.3-q43.

Dominant transmission of multiple uterine and cutaneous smooth-muscle tumors is seen in the disorder multiple leiomyomatosis (ML). We undertook a genomewide screen of 11 families segregating ML and found evidence for linkage to chromosome 1q42.3-q43 (maximum multipoint LOD score 5.40). Haplotype construction and analysis of recombinations permitted the minimal interval containing the locus, which we have designated "MCUL1," to be refined to an approximately 14-cM region flanked by markers D1S517 and D1S2842. Allelic-loss studies of tumors indicated that MCUL1 may act as a tumor suppressor. Identification of MCUL1 should have wide interest, since this gene may harbor low-penetrance variants predisposing to the common form of uterine fibroids and/or may undergo somatic mutation in sporadic leiomyomata.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Immunoelectron microscopical distribution of histones H2B and H3 and protamines during human spermiogenesis.

The fine structural distribution of histones H2B and H3, and protamines were localized by means of specific antibodies and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry in nuclei of human spermatids and spermatozoa. The antibodies were used to detect the nuclear basic proteins on section of testis and ejaculated spermatozoa by immunoelectron microscopy. A quantitative analysis of labelling density was performed on micrographs using an interactive image analysis system. The labelling density of somatic-type histones H2B and H3 and of their testis-specific variants was constant in the nuclei of young spermatids with round nuclei (stages 1-2), and then increased in intermediate spermatids (stages 3-4). Histone H3 labelling decreased at the end of the elongation phase (stage 5) while histone H2B labelling decreased in mature spermatids (stage 6) only. Spermatozoa were found to be weakly labelled by the anti-histone antibodies. The first signs of labelling of protamines and basic intermediate proteins appeared in spermatid nuclei at stage 4, increased further in stage 6 spermatids and persisted in all sperm nuclei. The present work shows that histone-to-protamine replacement occurs at the beginning of the spermatid maturation phase in human. However, histones are partially retained in mature spermatids and sperm nuclei.

Adult↗

Human spleen histone H1. Isolation and amino acid sequences of three minor variants, H1a, H1c, and H1d.

Following the previous determination of the main variant H1b of human spleen histone H1, we have determined the complete amino acid sequence of another variant, H1d. Limited chymotryptic digestion of H1d produced four fragments, I to IV, and one partial fragment I-II, as in the case of H1b. These fragments were aligned with two overlapping peptides, produced by another enzyme from the intact H1d. We also confirmed the C-terminal sequence of H1d by carboxypeptidase digestion. This H1d has an acetylated N-terminal serine, equimolar alanine or valine residue at 17, and is composed of 212 residues. The molecular weight was 21,233 for the alanine variant and 21,261 for the valine variant in the unmodified form. We also deduced the total sequences of H1a and H1c in a similar way, considering the maximum homology with H1b and H1d. Each N-terminal serine residue is acetylated, too. H1a consists of 222 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 22,178 in its unmodified form; the H1c consists of 220 residues and has a molecular weight of 22,218 in that form. The human spleen H1 sequences varied to about the same extent in the N-terminal 40 and C-terminal 110 residues. However, the sequences of the about 70 internal residues are well conserved between the variants. The extent of differences among the human H1 variants is similar to, or rather smaller than, those among the mammalian somatic H1 species. The implications of these differences in the sequence for H1 function are discussed from the evolutionary viewpoint.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Somatic mutation-mediated evolution of herbicide resistance in the nonindigenous invasive plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata).

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata L.f. Royle) was introduced to the surface water of Florida in the 1950s and is today one of the most serious aquatic weed problems in the USA. As a result of concerns associated with the applications of pesticides to aquatic systems, fluridone is the only USEPA-approved chemical that provides systemic control of hydrilla. After a decrease in fluridone's efficacy at controlling hydrilla, 200 Florida water bodies were sampled to determine the extent of the problem and the biological basis for the reduced efficacy. Our studies revealed that hydrilla phenotypes with two- to six-fold higher fluridone resistance were present in 20 water bodies. Since fluridone is an inhibitor of the enzyme phytoene desaturase (PDS), the gene for PDS (pds) was cloned from herbicide-susceptible and -resistant hydrilla plants. We report for the first time in higher plants three independent herbicide-resistant hydrilla biotypes arising from the selection of somatic mutations at the arginine 304 codon of pds. The three PDS variants had specific activities similar to the wild-type enzyme but were two to five times less sensitive to fluridone. In vitro activity levels of the enzymes correlated with in vivo resistance of the corresponding biotypes. As hydrilla spread rapidly to lakes across the southern United States in the past, the expansion of resistant biotypes is likely to pose significant environmental challenges in the future.

Base Sequence↗

Concurrent teratogenic and mutagenic action of 2-methoxyethanol in Drosophila melanogaster larvae resulted in similar phenotypes: close resemblance to directed mutations.

Early third instar larvae of wild-type Drosophila melanogaster were transferred to medium supplemented with 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) or ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. 2-ME produced terata in adult flies as wing notches and duplications of macrochaetae similar to feeding with methoxyacetic acid (MAA), the oxidation product of 2-ME. Larval feeding with 2-ME also affected the fertility of both females and males. 2-ME or more likely its intermediate oxidation product, methoxyacetaldehyde (MAALD), concurrently generated mutations in the premeiotic stages of the oocytes in the early third instar larvae. The mutagenicity of 2-ME has been confirmed in subsequent small scale experiments. The mutation frequency ranged from 4 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-2). Although terata were not supposed to be heritable, 1.1 to 8.7% of the affected females produced offspring with phenotypic similarity to the female parent. This phenomenon looked like a classical example of inheritance of an acquired character. The question is addressed why a Notch-like phenocopy, generated by larval 2-ME treatment, could bring forth Notch and rudimentary mutants in particular. Administration of 2-ME to larvae, containing the highly active alcohol dehydrogenase variant ADH-71k, exposed the mitotic germ cells and the mitotic somatic cells of the imaginal discs simultaneously to the mutagen MAALD and the teratogen MAA, respectively. The chances for specific gene mutations, though non-adaptive, were likely increased by a feedback mechanism: gene-products that were inhibited or disturbed by the teratogen demanded increased transcription of their encoding genes. Transcribed genes are more susceptible to mutagens.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

[Schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders in general hospital].

The prevalence and clinical presentation of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders in general hospitals were studied. The disease incidence rate was estimated at 3.1% that was 3 times higher than that in general population. Slow-progredient (latent) schizophrenia with comorbid functional visceral disorders ("organoneurotic" schizophrenia) occurs most frequently. Once manifested, the latter was associated with somatoform disorders during the disease course and developed concomitantly with neurotic and overvalued hypochondria symptoms. The authors suggest that several variants of complex relations between the endogeneous disease (schizophrenia) severity and functional somatic disorders. Slow-progredient (latent) disease reveals an affinity to a number of somatic disorders associated with neurotic and overvalued hypochondria. In more severe disease forms combination of endogenous process with somatoform disorders is accompanied by development of hypochondria with stable algias. In progressive (paranoid) schizophrenia, association with somatoform disorders occurs only at the initial stage of the process. Somatic sensations trigger formation of delusion symptom complexes of cathestesic delusion type.

Adult↗

[Mental disorders associated with disorders of menstruation function].

Based on the data of randomized clinical and psychopathological investigation of 100 somatically healthy females with masked depression the author conventionally distinguished three main variants of "gynecological masks" of endogenic depression. A four-year experience of outpatient management of these persons in psychiatric room of the outpatient setting was discussed.

Adult↗

Pasteurella multocida isolated from rabbits and swine: serologic types and toxin production.

Pasteurella multocida isolates from rabbits and swine of different geographic origins were serologically grouped and typed. Similar capsule serogroups and somatic serotypes were common to both species. Selected serotypes of both serogroups A and D were tested for toxin production. Toxin-producing isolates from both rabbits and swine were found in serogroup D, but not serogroup A. A correlation was not found between somatic serotype and the capability of an isolate to produce toxin. Noncapsulated variants derived from parent capsulated toxin-producing isolates also produced toxin. The capability of an isolate to produce a toxin did not necessarily make it virulent. The toxins from rabbit and swine P multocida of different geographic origins were antigenically similar. Cell lysis was compared with sonication as a method to release cell-associated toxin for biochemical purification. The toxin was purified from lysates by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatographic procedures. The purified toxin had a molecular weight of 112,000 to 158,000 and an apparent isoelectric point of 4.65 to 4.8. The toxin precipitated at pH near its isoelectric point. Electrofocusing-electrophoresis titration curves of the purified toxin preparation showed it consisted of 2 similar proteins which varied in their capabilities to stain with Coomassie brilliant blue. The proteins precipitated together near their apparent isoelectric point and interacted at pH 9.7.

Animals↗

Characterization of high mobility group protein levels during spermatogenesis in the rat.

The distribution, quantitation, and synthesis of high mobility group (HMG) proteins during spermatogenesis in the rat have been determined. HMG1, -2, -14, and -17 were isolated from rat testes by Bio-Rex 70 chromatography combined with preparative gel electrophoresis. Amino acid analysis revealed that each rat testis HMG protein was similar to its calf thymus analogue. Tryptic peptide maps of somatic and testis HMG2 showed no differences and, therefore, failed to detect an HMG2 variant. Testis levels of HMG proteins, relative to DNA content, were equivalent to other tissues for HMG1 (13 micrograms/mg of DNA), HMG14 (3 micrograms/mg of DNA), and HMG17 (5 micrograms/mg of DNA). The testis was distinguished in that it contained a substantially higher level of HMG2 than any other rat tissue (32 micrograms/mg of DNA). HMG protein levels were determined from purified or enriched populations of testis cells representing the major stages of spermatogenesis; spermatogonia and early primary spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes, early spermatids, and late spermatids; and testicular somatic cells. High levels of HMG2 in the testis were due to pachytene spermatocytes and early spermatids (56 +/- 4 and 47 +/- 6 micrograms/mg of DNA, respectively). Mixtures of spermatogonia and early primary spermatocytes showed lower levels of HMG2 (12 +/- 3 micrograms/mg of DNA) similar to proliferating somatic tissues, whereas late spermatids had no detectable HMG proteins. The somatic cells of the testis, including isolated populations of Sertoli and Leydig cells, showed very low levels of HMG2 (2 micrograms/mg of DNA), similar to those in nonproliferating somatic tissues. HMG proteins were synthesized in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes, but not in spermatids. Rat testis HMG2 exhibited two bands on acid-urea gels. A "slow" form comigrated with somatic cell HMG2, while the other "fast" band migrated ahead of the somatic form and appeared to be testis-specific. The "fast" form of HMG2 accounted for the large increase of HMG2 levels in rat testes. These results show that the very high level of HMG2 in testis is not associated with proliferative activity as previously hypothesized.

Animals↗

Evaluation of germline sequence variants of GFRA1, GFRA2, and GFRA3 genes in a cohort of Spanish patients with sporadic medullary thyroid cancer.

The etiology of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (sMTC) remains elusive. While germline gain-of-function mutations in the RET proto-oncogene cause hereditary MTC, somatic RET mutations have been described in a variable number of sMTC. So far, S836S of RET, is the only variant whose association with sMTC has been found in several European cohorts. Because RET variants seem to be associated with MTC, it is plausible that variants in genes encoding for RET coreceptors may play a role in the pathogenesis of sMTC. Recently, we described two possible low penetrance susceptibility alleles in the gene encoding RET coreceptor GFRalpha1, -193C > G and 537T > C, in a German series of sMTC. In this study, we have genotyped nine polymorphisms within GFRA1-3 genes for 51 Spanish sMTC, and 100 normal controls. Our results show that no statistical signification was found when Spanish sMTC patients were compared to controls. Taken together with the observations in the German sMTC series, the present findings suggest that GFRA1-193C > G and 537T > C could be in linkage disequilibrium with other loci responsible for the disease with a founder effect in Germany. Alternatively, the combined observations might also suggest that, if indeed the polymorphisms are functional, the effect is small.

Base Sequence↗