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PubMed2005

Identification of microorganisms involved in reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated ethenes in an anaerobic microbial community.

In this study, we report on phylogenetic and physiological characterization of an anaerobic culture capable of reductive dehalogenation of tetrachloroethene (PCE) obtained from a PCE-contaminated site. The culture was enriched using different combinations of electron donors (hydrogen and acetate) and electron acceptors (PCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) and controls without chlorinated ethenes). The resulting subcultures were analyzed using three different approaches: chemical analysis to document conversion of chlorinated ethenes; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 16S rRNA gene fragments and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to compare community compositions; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to quantify specific groups of microorganisms using oligonucleotide probes previously designed or newly designed based on the sequences retrieved from sequence analysis of specific DGGE bands. Members of two genera which contain bacteria capable of reductive dehalogenation were detected in the culture: Dehalococcoides and Desulfitobacterium. The combined analyses suggested that Dehalococcoides-like bacteria are associated with complete dehalogenation of chlorinated ethenes to ethene with hydrogen as electron donor; and Desulfitobacterium-like bacteria, in contrast, are associated with incomplete PCE dehalogenation to cDCE and appear to be able to use acetate as electron donor. In addition, Sporomusa-like bacteria were identified, which most likely act as homoacetogens. The results demonstrated that combination of culture enrichment with different substrates, DGGE, and FISH allowed a detailed qualitative and quantitative characterization of the dominant microorganisms associated with reductive dehalogenation.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗
PubMed1991

Genetic and physical analyses of sister chromatid exchange in yeast meiosis.

We have used nonessential circular minichromosomes to monitor sister chromatid exchange during yeast meiosis. Genetic analysis shows that a 64-kb circular minichromosome undergoes sister chromatid exchange during 40% of meioses. This frequency is not reduced by the presence of a homologous linear minichromosome. Furthermore, sister chromatid exchange can be stimulated by the presence of a 12-kb ARG4 DNA fragment, which contains initiation sites for meiotic gene conversion. Using physical analysis, we have directly identified a product of sister chromatid exchange: a head-to-tail dimer form of a circular minichromosome. This dimer form is absent in a rad50S mutant strain, which is deficient in processing of the ends of meiosis-specific double-stranded breaks into single-stranded DNA tails. Our studies suggest that meiotic sister chromatid exchange is stimulated by the same mechanism as meiotic homolog exchange.

Kinetics↗
PubMed2002

Determination of metribuzin and major conversion products in soils by microwave-assisted water extraction followed by liquid chromatographic analysis of extracts.

A multiresidue method developed for the analysis of metribuzin and its major conversion products, deaminometribuzin (DA), diketometribuzin (DK) and deaminodiketometribuzin (DADK), in soils is presented. The method is based on microwave-assisted water extraction (MAWE) of soils using 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7 as extractant and analysis of aqueous extracts by HPLC-diode array detection. MAWE operational parameters were optimized with respect to extraction efficiency of the target compounds from soils with 1.5 and 3.5% organic matter content. Recoveries of all solutes above 80% were obtained from soils with 1.5% organic matter content; respective LOD and LOQ levels were determined at 5 and 10 micrograms/kg. In soils with organic matter content 3.5%, recoveries of all solutes were lower (< 70%) and the respective LOD and LOQ values were determined at 10 and 50 micrograms/kg. However, recoveries of fresh and aged residues, the latter weathered under cold storage conditions, were not statistically different for both types of soils.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2005

Determination of an optimized conversion matrix for device independent skin color image analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A cross-polarized diffuse reflectance (CDR) color imaging system was developed for quantitative evaluation of port wine stain (PWS) response to laser therapy. To obtain calibrated Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) color space images from RGB (red, green, and blue) images, it was necessary to derive an optimized conversion matrix specific to our imaging system. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chromameter (CR-200, Minolta) and CDR imaging system were used to acquire CIELAB (CIE L*, a*, and b*) tristimulus values and RGB image values, respectively. A cost function was defined using these sample data sets and then a minimization algorithm was applied to obtain an optimized conversion matrix for our imaging system and illumination conditions. CIELAB color space values (L*, a*, and b*) obtained with the chromameter and CDR color images were compared to assess the accuracy of the derived matrix. RESULTS: In measurements using in vitro standard color patch or in vivo human skin samples, use of the optimized conversion matrix resulted in a good correlation with standard chromameter values for PWS human skin sites. CONCLUSIONS: The cost function minimization algorithm resulted in an optimized conversion matrix for our CDR imaging system. Use of the optimized matrix improved the utility of CDR color image analysis as a simple non-contact measurement technique to monitor quantitatively PWS response to laser therapy.

Color↗
PubMed1990

Localisation and characterisation of functional vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors in feline kidney.

Specific 125I-labelled vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) binding was determined in feline renal cortical and medullary plasma membranes. For the cortex, Scatchard analysis of the data resulted in a curvilinear plot with a high-affinity site K0.5 of 8.4 +/- 2.6 nmol l-1 (SE, n = 6) and a second low-affinity site K0.5 204 +/- 16 nmol l-1 with binding site concentrations (Bmax) of 385 +/- 44.5 and 2710 +/- 181.3 fmol mg protein-1 respectively. Conversely a similar analysis of the results obtained for outer medullary membranes gave a single site with a K0.5 of 1.2 +/- 0.2 nmol l-1 (SE, n = 4) and Bmax of 157.8 +/- 24.7 fmol mg-1. Inner medullary membrane binding data. Gave a single site of lower affinity (K0.5 = 62.5 +/- 21.6 nmol l-1; n = 3). Structurally related peptides, glucagon and secretin, were ineffective (up to 1 mumol l-1) in displacing VIP from specific sites in both cortex and medulla. Porcine PHI 1-27 (a peptide having N-terminal histidine and C-terminal isoleucine) and a VIP antagonist [4-Cl-D-Phe6Leu17]VIP both displaced 125I-VIP from cortical and medullary membrane binding sites with IC50 values of 43.0 nmol l-1 and 1.3 mumol l-1 (cortex) and 132.0 nmol l-1 and 1.5 mumol l-1 (medulla) respectively. The localisation of specific VIP binding sites in feline kidney was investigated further by in vitro autoradiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2005

Application of the case-crossover design to reduce unmeasured confounding in studies of condom effectiveness.

This analysis examined how unmeasured confounding affects estimates of the effectiveness of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Data were analyzed from a prospective cohort study of 1,122 female sexually transmitted disease clinic patients in Alabama (1992-1995), wherein participants were evaluated for sexually transmitted infections at six 1-month intervals. Associations between condom use and incident gonorrhea and chlamydia infection were compared between case-crossover and cohort analyses. In a case-crossover analysis of 228 follow-up visits ending in gonorrhea/chlamydia ("case intervals") and 743 self-matched follow-up visits not ending in gonorrhea/chlamydia ("noncase intervals") (183 women), consistent condom use without breakage or slippage was associated with significantly reduced risk of infection relative to nonuse (adjusted risk odds ratio = 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.26, 0.92). Conversely, a cohort analysis of 245 case intervals and 3,896 noncase intervals (919 women) revealed no significant reduction in infection risk from consistent use of condoms (adjusted risk odds ratio = 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.53, 1.17). Dose-response relations between the number of unprotected sex acts and infection were stronger in the case-crossover analysis (p for trend = 0.009) than in the cohort analysis (p for trend = 0.18). These findings suggest that epidemiologic studies confounded by unmeasured differences between condom users and nonusers underestimate condom effectiveness against these infections. The case-crossover method provides an additional technique for reducing unmeasured confounding in studies of condom effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The role of conversion in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: Do predictive factors exist?

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to analyze the reasons for conversion of laparoscopic colorectal procedures to open surgery and to identify risk factors. METHODS: All patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery at our institution were enrolled in a prospective trial. The causes of conversion were analyzed. Statistical analysis, including a logistic regression model, was performed to identify factors that would predict an increased risk of conversion. RESULTS: A total of 300 laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted procedures for both benign and malignant diseases were performed within 5 years. Mean patient age was 61.4 years (range, 17-93). There were 218 women and 82 men. Major complications occurred in 8.6%, and 30-day-mortality rate was 1.1%. Postoperative hospitalization was 13.9 days (range, 6-47). Conversion occurred in 22 cases (7.3%). The mean age of the converted group was 64.7 years (range, 31-93). Postoperative hospital stay was 15.0 days (range, 10-25). The main reasons for conversion to open surgery were inflammation, obesity, anesthetic problems, technical difficulties, intraoperative complications, and intraoperative decisions concerning oncological resection. The conversion rate was 14.6% in patients who underwent sigmoid resection for diverticular disease. By univariate analysis, statistically significant factors defining a higher risk of conversion were male gender (p = 0.0029), age from 55 to 64 years (p = 0.0015), extreme body status (p = 0.0001), and diagnosis of diverticular disease (p = 0.0011). According to the logistic regression model, all four factors combined would give a probability of conversion of 70.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors contributing to the possibility of conversion included male gender, age between 55 and 64 years, extreme body status, and diverticular disease. Using these data, patients with an increased likelihood of conversion can be identified. However, if conversion is necessary, laparoscopic colorectal surgery can be safely applied to the patients with no additional morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Hyosgerin, a new optically active coumarinolignan, from the seeds of Hyoscyamus niger.

Hyosgerin, a new optically active coumarinolignan, has been isolated and characterized along with three other coumarinolignans, venkatasin, cleomiscosin A and cleomiscosin B, from the seeds of Hyoscyamus niger L. The structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical conversion. The optical properties and absolute stereochemistry of these coumarinolignans have also been studied and discussed.

Coumarins↗
PubMed1995

Evidence for gene conversion in the amylase multigene family of Drosophila pseudoobscura.

The alpha-amylase (Amy) multigene family in Drosophila pseudoobscura is located on the third chromosome, which is polymorphic for more than 40 inverted gene arrangements. The number of copies in this family ranges from one to three, depending on the arrangement in question. A previous study of the three Amy genes from the Standard (ST) arrangement suggested either that duplicated copies (Amy2 and Amy3) are functionally constrained or that they are undergoing gene conversion with Amy1. In order to elucidate further the pattern of molecular evolution in this family, we cloned and sequenced four additional Amy genes, two from the Santa Cruz (SC) and two from the Chiricahua (CH) gene arrangement. Of the two alternatives, only the hypothesis of gene conversion is supported by the sequence analysis. The homogenization effect of gene conversion has been strongest in SC, whose copies differ by only two nucleotides, less noticeable in ST, and negligible in the CH. Furthermore, the action of gene conversion is apparently localized, occurring only in the coding region. Interestingly, these results concur with the findings of other workers for the duplicated Amy genes in the Drosophila melanogaster group. Thus, the occurrence of gene conversion in the Amy multigene family seems to be a common feature in the Drosophila species studied so far.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Cytochrome P450 and actin genes expressed in Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa armigera: paralogy/orthology identification, gene conversion and evolution.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted using conserved cytoplasmic actin and diversified cytochrome P450 (P450) sequences isolated from Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa armigera, two species thought to be closely related based on allozyme analyses. These sequences were compared in turn with published sequences from other insects to gain insight into how different gene families evolve. In Bombyx mori and these Helicoverpa species, cytoplasmic actin genes are present as a pair of tandemly duplicated paralogs with coding sequence identities as high as 95.5% (B. mori), 98.9% (H. zea) and 98.5% (H. armigera) due to recent 5'-polar gene conversions. Phylogeny and interspecies comparisons assign the six actin genes into two orthologous groups: HaA3a/HzA3a/BmA3 and HaA3b/HzA3b/BmA4, which exhibit more similarities between H. zea and H. armigera than between Helicoverpa species and B. mori. Like the actin genes in H. zea, four CYP6B genes exist as two pairs of duplicated paralogs with recent 5'-polar gene conversions. Interspecific comparisons and phylogeny analysis identified three groups of orthologous CYP6B genes: H. zea CYP6B8 or CYP6B28/H. armigera CYP6B7, H. zea CYP6B27/H. armigera CYP6B6, and H. zea CYP6B9/H. armigera CYP6B2/Heliothis virescens CYP6B10. The low degree of divergence in the first two of these groups is comparable to allelic variation within a single species. These orthologous relationships and the high degrees of similarity in both actin and P450 genes strongly indicate that these Helicoverpa species are extremely closely related.

Actins↗
PubMed2006

Mercury conversion processes in Amazon soils evaluated by thermodesorption analysis.

This paper reports on the speciation study and the Hg redox behavior in Amazon soils not influenced by gold mining and collected near Manaus, AM, Brazil. The samples were incubated by adding Hg(0) and HgCl(2) to dry soil. Solid phase Hg speciation analysis was carried out using a Hg thermodesorption technique with the aim of distinguishing elemental Hg(0) from Hg(II) binding forms. In the first case, we observed the conversion of Hg(0) to Hg(II) binding forms in the range of 28-68% and a correlation between the percent of oxidation and OM content. Samples incubated with Hg(II) showed the formation of Hg(I) and/or Hg(0) in the range of 19-69%. The lowest values corresponded to the samples with the lowest clay contents. The kinetics of conversion of Hg(0) as well as HgCl(2) were roughly fitted to the two first order reactions, a fast one and a slow one. It was not possible to evaluate differences between sampling sites and types of soils, but the mean half-life of the first order reaction obtained by the addition of Hg(II) was slower (t(1/2)=365d) than the one obtained by the addition of Hg(0) (t(1/2)=148d). Previous studies have shown the predominance of organically bound Hg in these samples. Thus, the kinetic difference between Hg oxidation and reduction in combination with the efficient retention processes by OM may explain the high background values found in Amazon soils.

Brazil↗
PubMed1988

Fat deposition in a broiler sire strain. 3. Heritability of and genetic correlations among body weight, abdominal fat, and feed conversion.

Body weight, abdominal fat, and feed conversion were measured in ad libitum-fed pedigreed chickens of four lines selected from a broiler sire strain. Lines were selected for four generations for a low amount of abdominal fat (AF), a favorable feed conversion (FC), a high body weight after restricted feeding (GR), and a high body weight after ad libitum feeding (GL). A total of 2,400 pedigreed chickens from three hatches were reared by line in groups on litter and 864 chickens were tested for individual feed conversion in individual cages. The h2 from the sire component for the four lines combined were for body weight, .27 (litter) and .22 (cages); for weight of abdominal fat, .54 (litter) and .40 (cages); for percentage abdominal fat, .53 (litter) and .45 (cages); and for feed conversion, .44 (cages). Analysis within line and sex indicated that, in the relatively fat GR and GL lines, sex-linked inheritance could be involved for abdominal fat. In the leaner AF and FC lines this was not the case. Genetic correlations (sire estimate) for the four lines combined were, between body weight and weight of abdominal fat, .58 (litter) and .55 (cages); between body weight and percentage abdominal fat, .36 (litter) and .47 (cages); between body weight and feed conversion, .16 (cages); between weight of abdominal and feed conversion, .43 (cages); and between percentage abdominal fat and feed conversion, .44 (cages). Genetic correlations did not differ significantly between sexes, but in the AF and FC lines, the genetic correlation between body weight and abdominal fat was higher (AF: .80, FC: .76) than in the GR (.14) and GL (.68) lines.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual preference of apparent gene conversion events in MHC genes of mice.

Polymorphisms exist at many genetic loci. At some loci, however, polymorphism is so high that tens and even hundreds of different alleles coexist in the population. Two such highly polymorphic systems are the immunoglobulin genes and the vertebrate major histocompatibility loci. The origin and maintenance of highly polymorphic loci remain open to debate but it seems likely that special mechanisms contribute to their variability and that their polymorphism serves important biological roles. The high degree of polymorphism at the H-2 class I major histocompatibility locus of the mouse has been documented by both tissue transplantation and serological methods. More recently, molecular cloning and DNA sequencing of some of the class I genes has shown that most of the sequence variability is concentrated in the first two domains and is often found in clustered regions within them. In addition, several groups have suggested that gene conversion events among the many class I genes may contribute to H-2 polymorphism; such events would have to occur during meiosis to produce heritable alterations. The strongest evidence for gene conversion comes from sequence analysis of mutant class I H-2 alleles where concerted changes at adjoining sites in DNA imply gene conversion by distant but closely related loci. We report here an analysis of these mutants indicating that the chromosomes containing loci that have experienced gene conversion originated from females. These data suggest a striking preference for mammalian meiotic gene conversion events during female rather than male gametogenesis.

Alleles↗
PubMed1998

Oral loading with propafenone: a placebo-controlled study in elderly and nonelderly patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation.

UNLABELLED: The efficacy and safety of propafenone as an oral loading dose (600-mg single oral dose) in converting recent-onset atrial fibrillation (< or = 7 days duration) to sinus rhythm were evaluated in a single-blind, placebo-controlled study according to patients' age. Overall, 240 hospitalized patients, NYHA Class < or = 2 without signs or symptoms of heart failure were enrolled: among patients aged < or = 60 years, 55 were allocated to propafenone treatment and 59 to placebo, respectively, and among patients aged > 60 years, 64 were allocated to propafenone treatment and 62 to placebo, respectively. RESULTS: In each age group, the likelihood of conversion to sinus rhythm was significantly greater after propafenone compared with placebo at 3 and 8 hours. For patients aged < or = 60 years, corresponding odd ratios were 3.78 (95% CI = 1.80-7.92, P = 0.04) at 3 hours and 4.74 (95% CI = 2.12-10.54, P = 0.02) at 8 hours; for patients aged > 60 years odd ratios were 5.03 (95% CI = 2.08-12.12, P = 0.02) at 3 hours and 6.75 (95% CI = 3.28-73.86, P = 0.01) at 8 hours, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that conversion to sinus rhythm within 3 hours was predicted by age < or = 60 years (P = 0.0064) and by propafenone treatment (P < 0.0001), and conversion to sinus rhythm within 8 hours was predicted by age < or = 60 years (P = 0.0467) and by propafenone treatment (P < 0.0001). The occurrence of adverse effects was observed in 14%-16% of propafenone treated patients and in 8% of placebo treated patients without significant differences according to age. In conclusion, in patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation without signs of heart failure, propafenone as a single oral loading dose is effective. It is also effective in selected elderly subjects with a favorable safety profile. Moreover, spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm appears to occur less frequently in elderly patients.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Segregation and sporadic cases in families with Hunter's syndrome.

Segregation analysis on five samples of families with Hunter's syndrome (158 cases overall) shows that the mutant allele segregates in agreement with Mendelian expectations for an X linked recessive disease, but the proportion of sporadic cases is significantly lower than expected under mutation-selection equilibrium. Heterogeneity among the samples is apparent, but it is caused entirely by a sample of Ashkenazi families, whose segregation pattern has previously been interpreted as supporting the hypothesis of prenatal selection in favour of the pathological allele. Conversely, our joint analysis of the five samples by a maximum likelihood approach does not suggest segregation distortion. Possible reasons for the apparent lack of sporadic cases include the effect of ascertainment bias.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

Microsomally-mediated denitrosation of nitrosoguanidinium compounds.

A major metabolic fate of 1-methyl-2-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and nitrosocimetidine (NC) in rodents is denitrosation to generate the unmodified, parent guanidinium compound. MNNG is a potent, locally-acting carcinogen. NC is the nitrosated derivative of cimetidine, an important clinical drug administered orally for the treatment of stomach ulcers. Contrary to expectations based on the results of various short-term in vitro tests for carcinogenic potential, NC is not a carcinogen when administered to rats or mice. Rat liver microsomal enzymes have been found to be capable of catalyzing the denitrosation of MNNG, NC and an NC analog, 1,3-dimethyl-2-cyano-1-nitrosoguanidine (CyanoDMNG) in an NADPH-dependent reaction. The denitrosated guanidinium compound generated accounts for 50-70% of the nitroso compound metabolized in a microsomal incubate; nitrite is generated with a yield which represents 40-60% of the guanidinium compound produced. The cytochrome P450 inhibitors metyrapone, n-octylamine, 1-n-hexylimidazole and ellipticine inhibit the conversion of CyanoDMNG to 1,3-dimethyl-2-cyanoguanidine (Cyano-DMG) and nitrite. Microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity is not perturbed by this series of organic compound inhibitors. Diethyl maleate at high concentrations weakly stimulates the reaction. The rates of production of the CyanoDMNG degradation products CyanoDMG, nitrite and nitrate are markedly diminished in nitrogen-saturated and in carbon dioxide-saturated microsomal incubates. Preincubating microsomes for 1 h at 37 degrees C prior to substrate and NADPH addition has no effect on the denitrosation activity. Kinetic analysis of the conversion of CyanoDMNG to CyanoDMG indicates a Km of 1.0 mM and a Vmax of 2.7 nmol/min/mg protein. Microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with the cytochrome P450 inducers pyrazole or phenobarbital show enhanced denitrosation activity. The denitrosation capacity of hamster liver microsomes is similar to that observed for rat microsomes.

Aminopyrine↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of interleukin 2 stimulated 65-kilodalton phosphoprotein in human T cells.

We have characterized the cellular proteins which are rapidly phosphorylated by interleukin 2 (IL 2) in a human IL 2 dependent cell line. When treated with IL 2, the phosphorylation of five proteins, 65, 50, 37, 24, and 21 kDa, was found in IL 2 dependent cell lines by two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis. After cell conversion from an IL 2 dependent state to an IL 2 independent state, one of the five phosphoproteins, the 65-kDa protein, became constitutively phosphorylated even without addition of IL 2. Also, in other IL 2 independent cell lines, such as KUT-2 and HUT-102, constitutive phosphorylation of the 65-kDa protein occurred without IL 2-stimulation. So our researchers were focused on biochemical characterization of the 65-kDa protein. It was found that the 65-kDa protein was one of the major cellular proteins by comparing the results of two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of [32P]Pi-labeled and [3H]leucine-labeled cellular proteins and peptide mapping analysis. Subcellular fractionation studies indicated that the 65-kDa protein is a cytosol protein. The 65-kDa protein was purified from cytosol of a human T cell line, and its amino acid composition and amino acid sequences of its three oligopeptides were determined. It was found that the 65-kDa protein is identical with 1-plastin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Evidence that dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA, directly inhibits GnRH gene expression in GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to have diverse effects on overall physiology, although its mechanism of action and specific receptor are not yet known. We have used the immortalized, clonal GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons to study DHEA effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) gene expression. DHEA (10(-4) M) downregulates GnRH transcription by 39, 70 and 83% at 24, 36, and 48 h, respectively, while DHEA-sulphate had no effect. Hydroxyflutamide a specific androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, and cyproterone acetate or trilostane, both inhibitors of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 4,5 isomerase, the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of DHEA to sex steroids, did not affect the ability of DHEA to downregulate GnRH gene expression. We found that GT1-7 cells did not express aromatase, thereby precluding conversion to estrogen. Analysis of [(14)C] DHEA metabolism by thin layer chromatography indicates that the main metabolites produced are 7 alpha- and 7 beta-hydroxy DHEA, and 7-oxo DHEA, although these steroids were not able to repress GnRH gene expression alone. Cell viability studies indicated that the transcriptional repression observed is not due to GT1-7 cell death. Interestingly, SV40 T-antigen mRNA levels, under the control of 2.3 kb of the rat GnRH gene 5' regulatory region, are also repressed by DHEA. Our studies indicate that DHEA has direct effects on GnRH transcription that appear to be unique from those observed after conversion to other steroidogenic compounds.

5' Untranslated Regions↗