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Regulatory factors of acetaldehyde metabolism in isolated rat liver mitochondria.

The factors affecting acetaldehyde oxidation were studied by direct measurement of redox changes of NADH and cytochrome c in isolated rat liver mitochondria which contain the natural complement of mitochondrial substrates and co-factors, etc. Thus, this system affords a quantitative model for mitochondrial acetaldehyde metabolism simulating in vivo conditions. The activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, as measured by the turnover number of cytochrome c, k3, depends upon the substrate concentration in a complex way. It reaches a maximum below 0.033 mM acetaldehyde and decreases abruptly at higher acetaldehyde concentration, interpreted here to be due to substrate inhibition. When mitochondria undergo hypotonic swelling, the maximal value of k3 is lowered by a factor of 15 and the substrate inhibition largely disappears. When mitochondria are stripped of the outer membrane and are suspended in pyrophosphate buffer, similar effects are obtained. It is concluded that acetaldehyde oxidation in mitochondria is dependent upon the state of mitochondria and the substrate concentration, and that the mitochondrial metabolism of acetaldehyde cannot be accurately predicted from in vitro data of solubilized enzyme.

Acetaldehyde↗

Activation and migration of leukocytes and vascular leakage induced by serum-opsonized zymosan particles in hamster cheek pouch.

The effect of topically applied serum-opsonized zymosan (SOZ) and zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) was studied in the hamster cheek pouch. Our data suggest that early vascular leakage, evaluated by intravital fluorescence microscopy after injection of FITC-dextran, and accumulation of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNGs), quantitated in fixed whole tissue specimens, induced by ZAS and SOZ were caused by complement activation, whereas the late leakages (greater than 20 min after SOZ application) was PMNG-dependent. Inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis by indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and BW755C influence early and late vascular leakage as well as accumulation of PMNGs. These drugs also inhibited the activation of hamster PMNGs in vitro, as evaluated by chemiluminescence, in a dose-dependent manner. (-)-Terbutaline, an adrenergic beta agonist, decreased vascular leakage but had no effect on PMNG activation and accumulation.

Animals↗

Measurement of the helix opening rate in Z-DNA by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation spectroscopy.

The exchange rate of the hydrogen-bonded guanine imino protons N(1) in the high-salt form of Poly(dG-dC) was measured by following the non-selective inversion-recovery of their 1H NMR signal at 360 MHz, in the temperature range between 77 degrees C and 90 degrees C. In a 4.5M NaCl solution, Poly(dG-dC) is believed to adapt the left-handed Z-conformation, and the results reported here represent the first quantitative measurements of this rate process for Z-DNA by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, complementing previous measurements made by tritium exchange at 0 degrees C (Ramstein, J. and Leng, M. (1980) Nature 288, 413-414). The results confirm that this process is much slower in the Z-form, compared to the B-structure, and that this difference in rates results mainly from a large decrease in the entropy of activation for Z-DNA.

DNA↗

Production of monoclonal antibodies to rat lung angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Several monoclonal antibodies to rat lung angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) have been produced. The antibodies are of the IgG class, do not inhibit ACE catalytic activity, and do not cross-react with the human or bovine enzyme. They bind in a curvilinear fashion to lung capillary endothelium by immunofluorescence microscopy, and radiolabeled antibody localizes in lung and other organs after intravenous injection into living rats. Each antibody tested appears to bind preferentially to lung rather than kidney ACE by ELISA, a finding supported by weak or absent immunofluorescence of kidney slices in vitro. These antibodies may be used to probe structural differences between ACE in various tissues and, by quantitating changes in accumulation of radiolabeled antibody in experimental models of lung injury, should complement functional measurements in determining the presence of subtle and progressive endothelial damage.

Animals↗

High stability of mRNAs postmortem and protocols for their assessment by RT-PCR.

Measurement of gene expression is a major area of brain research. We report on the remarkable postmortem stability of a selection of brain mRNAs in both fresh and frozen brain tissue. We describe techniques for extracting total RNA, synthesizing cDNAs from the mRNAs, amplifying specific cDNAs by the polymerase chain reaction technique, and quantitating the products. We chose five genes to study: the housekeeping gene cyclophilin; the complement components C3 and C4; the microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2); and the strongly inducible cyclooxygenase COX-2. We found little deterioration in total RNA or in any of the mRNAs in postmortem tissue up to 96 h. When tissue was frozen, stored at -70 degrees C for 15 years and then thawed, there was no evidence of deterioration from storage, but there was gradual deterioration post thawing. All the mRNAs were stable for 1-2 h at 4 degrees C following thawing. Cyclophilin, C3 and C4 mRNAs were still stable after 8 h, MAP-2 and COX-2 mRNAs showed significant deterioration between 2 and 4 h, and COX-2 mRNA showed drastic deterioration between 4 and 8 h. The data give no indication of rapid postmortem degeneration of RNA. Reliable mRNA values may be obtained from postmortem brain with long autolysis times provided the tissue has been kept in the cold, and from frozen tissues for 1-2 h after thawing.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Molecular dynamics simulations of the protein unfolding/folding reaction.

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of proteins in solvent are now able to realistically map the protein-unfolding pathway. The agreement with experiments probing both folding and unfolding suggests that these simulated unfolding events also shed light on folding. The simulations have produced detailed models of protein folding transition, intermediate, and denatured states that are in both qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiment. The various studies presented here highlight how such simulations both complement and extend experiment.

Computer Simulation↗

Development of cross-linked polystyrene-supported chiral amines featuring a fluorinated linker for gel-phase 19F NMR spectrometry monitoring of reactions.

Ten cross-linked polystyrene-supported, protected chiral amines featuring both a spacer, comprising from 5 to 15 atoms, and a fluorinated linker have been successfully prepared. The development of the monitoring technique by gel-phase 19F NMR spectrometry on cross-linked polystyrene derivatives proved to be of high value in four steps of the process, as shown by the comparison of data gathered from both a classic NMR spectrometer and elemental analysis. Gel-phase 19F NMR spectrometry, thus, constitutes a useful technique that complements IR and 13C NMR spectrometries for the qualitative monitoring of reactions. In addition, quantitative determination of the conversion in a given transformation is possible, provided that 19F chemical shifts of the substrate and the product be different enough (Deltadelta>base width), as illustrated by the Mitsunobu coupling process (16-->17). The technique is nondestructive, and the samples used to monitor the reactions may be returned to the reaction medium. Deprotection of the above amines was achieved and furnished eight of the final resins in good to acceptable purity for future applications.

Amines↗

Quantitation and characterization of anti-Galalpha1-3Gal antibodies in sera of 200 healthy persons.

The natural occurrence of complement-activating anti-Galalpha1-3Gal antibodies (anti-Gal) in human serum is considered as a major obstacle to xenotransplantation. In this study we determined anti-Gal in sera of 200 healthy volunteers (100 male, 100 female) of different age groups using an IgG- and IgM-isotype specific ELISA. In addition, we used a direct hemagglutination test involving rabbit erythrocytes (E(R)), which are known for abundant surface expression of the Galalpha1-3Gal antigen. The measured arbitrary ELISA units (U) for anti-Gal ranged from 5 to 204 U (77+/-47; mean +/- 1 SD) for IgM, and from 1 to 162 U(73+/-32) for IgG. Anti-E(R) hemagglutination titers were between 1: 65536 and 1: 64 (mean 1: 703), with 75% of all serum samples being in the range of 1: 8192-1: 512. Specificity of the tests was determined by immunoabsorption of anti-Gal on Sepharose-coupled synthetic Galalpha1-3Gal antigen, which reduced ELISA as well as agglutination titers by 90% or more. Overall, inter-individual differences of both anti-Gal ELISA values and E(R) agglutination titers exceeded age-, gender-, or ABO-type related changes. A tendency was found to higher anti-Gal IgM values in women than in men (P < 0.005 by Student's t-test), whereas the gender-difference for anti-Gal IgG or E(R) titers was not significant. Application of the anti-Gal ELISA as well as the E(R) agglutination assay for pre-transplant screening of potential pig xenograft recipients is discussed.

Adult↗

A heat-inducible transcription factor, HsfA2, is required for extension of acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.

The expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) induced by nonlethal heat treatment confers acquired thermotolerance (AT) to organisms against subsequent challenges of otherwise lethal temperature. After the stress signal is removed, AT gradually decays, with decreased Hsps during recovery. AT of sufficient duration is critical for sessile organisms such as plants to survive repeated heat stress in their environment, but little is known regarding its regulation. To identify potential regulatory components, we took a reverse genetics approach by screening for Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) T-DNA insertion mutants that show decreased thermotolerance after a long recovery (2 d) under nonstress conditions following an acclimation heat treatment. Among the tested mutants corresponding to 48 heat-induced genes, only the heat shock transcription factor HsfA2 knockout mutant showed an obvious phenotype. Following pretreatment at 37 degrees C, the mutant line was more sensitive to severe heat stress than the wild type after long but not short recovery periods, and this could be complemented by the introduction of a wild-type copy of the HsfA2 gene. Quantitative hypocotyl elongation assay also revealed that AT decayed faster in the absence of HsfA2. Significant reduction in the transcript levels of several highly heat-inducible genes was observed in HsfA2 knockout plants after 4 h recovery or 2 h prolonged heat stress. Immunoblot analysis showed that Hsa32 and class I small Hsp were less abundant in the mutant than in the wild type after long recovery. Our results suggest that HsfA2 as a heat-inducible transactivator sustains the expression of Hsp genes and extends the duration of AT in Arabidopsis.

Acclimatization↗

The effects of colcemid on mouse bone marrow.

Following Colcemid administration, mitoses accumulate preferentially in the subendosteal region of the bone marrow of the mouse. This finding suggests that the most rapidly proliferating cells are localized to the subendosteal region, and complements previous radioautographic studies which have demonstrated a corresponding labelling gradient in the marrow. Quantitative estimates of cell cycle time by the stathmokinetic method were precluded by the presence of significant Colcemid induced interphase cell loss. Colcemid also affected cell differentiation in the marrow. Following Colcemid administration there was a fall in mature granulocytes in the marrow, and a concommitant rise in marrow megakaryocytes.

Animals↗

Properties of rarely encountered types of ganglion cells in the cat's retina and an overall classification.

1. In a reference sample of 960 cat retinal ganglion cells, seventy-three had receptive fields departing from the concentric centre-surround pattern.2. Five classes were distinguished among the subset: local edge detectors, direction-selective cells, colour-coded cells, uniformity detectors, edge inhibitory off-centre cells.3. Local edge detectors (forty-five) possessed a radially symmetrical pattern of responses to both centrifugal and centripetal movements of both black and white small targets, an on-off receptive field with a silent inhibitory surround and a low or zero maintained discharge. Their operation could be interpreted as the detection of a contrasting border confined to a small region of the visual field.4. With direction-selective units (eleven) it was possible to find an axis through the receptive field along which sharply different responses could be obtained for opposite directions of movement of small black or white targets.5. Colour units (six) were mostly of the single opponent type having excitatory input from blue-sensitive cones and inhibitory input from long wave-length cones. Both inputs coexisted at the centre of the field and either could be spatially more extensive than the other. One example changed over to rod input under scotopic conditions, another did not.6. Uniformity detectors (five) had a brisk maintained discharge which was reduced or abolished temporarily by all forms of visual stimulation.7. Edge inhibitory off-centre units (three) behaved like uniformity detectors for small targets and fine gratings but like off-centre on-surround units for large targets. Their receptive fields consisted of three concentric regions: a small sized, central edge inhibitory region; a larger zone of off-responsiveness; and an outlying annulus of on-responsiveness.8. It is argued that the above physiological types belong to the morphologically heterogeneous class of cells called gamma cells. The argument is based on similarity in the sizes of receptive fields and dendritic trees and on evidence that the axons are thinner than those of the brisk-sustained and brisk-transient ganglion cells.9. The physiological classification of cat retinal ganglion cells developed in this paper and the preceding one is summarized in a Table.10. It now appears that cat and rabbit possess a qualitatively similar complement of receptive field types among their ganglion cells; the differences reside in the quantitative expression of the various classes.

Animals↗

Serology of coccidioidomycosis.

Serologic tests have assisted in the diagnosis and prognosis of coccidioidomycosis for a half-century. The causative agent, Coccidioides immitis, is a dimorphic fungus existing in a hyphal form with arthroconidia in nature and in the usual culture. The arthroconidia represent the inhaled infective forms which in vivo and under special laboratory conditions form spherules which endosporulate. The culture filtrate/autolysate (coccidioidin) from the hyphal phase has provided antigens of suitable reliability for currently used serologic tests. These tests are primarily to determine the two major antibody responses: the early immunoglobulin M (IgM) response is useful in the diagnosis of acute primary coccidioidomycosis. Later, IgG is produced and usually outlasts the IgM, persisting in chronic coccidioidomycosis. The IgM is detectable by tube precipitin, a corresponding immunodiffusion, or latex particle agglutination tests. The pertinent antigen(s) is heat stable and pronase resistant and appears to be largely carbohydrate, mainly mannose with some 3-O-methyl mannose. The IgG detectable in the serum and other body fluids by complement fixation and a corresponding immuno-diffusion is useful in diagnosis, and its quantitation provides an indicator of progression of disease (increasing titer) or regression (decreasing titer). The pertinent antigen appears to be a heat-labile, pronase-sensitive protein which in an unreduced form has a molecular weight of 110,000. A third very useful serologic procedure is the exoantigen test for identification of putative cultures of C. immitis.

Animals↗

Rapid and sensitive quantitative immunoassay for the large simian virus 40 T antigen.

A quantitative, enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay has been developed for the simian virus 40 large T antigen. When hamster anti-simian virus 40 tumor serum was used, this method permitted specific identification of large T antigen and its analog, the D2 hybrid protein, a molecule with the same C-terminal approximately 600 amino acids as large T antigen. The sensitivity limit of this test was 0.63 ng of protein. The slopes of the regression lines of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titrations performed with highly purified D2 or simian virus 40 large T antigen and with crude extracts of simian virus 40-infected monkey and transformed human cells were identical. Thus, the curve generated with a purified protein, such as D2, can serve as a quantitative standard for the measurement of large T antigen in a wide variety of extracts. Furthermore, solutions containing high salt concentrations and buffers containing up to 0.1% Nonidet P-40 did not interfere with the assay, making it applicable to the measurement of large T antigen in a variety of chromatographic fractions. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was three times more sensitive, was significantly faster to perform, and was quantitatively valid over a much broader large-T-antigen concentration range than the complement fixation test. As such, it should be useful in future studies of the structure and function of this protein.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Functional significance of lysine 1423 of neurofibromin and characterization of a second site suppressor which rescues mutations at this residue and suppresses RAS2Val-19-activated phenotypes.

Lysine 1423 of neurofibromin (neurofibromatosis type I gene product [NF1]) plays a crucial role in the function of NF1. Mutations of this lysine were detected in samples from a neurofibromatosis patient as well as from cancer patients. To further understand the significance of this residue, we have mutated it to all possible amino acids. Functional assays using yeast ira complementation have revealed that lysine is the only amino acid that produced functional NF1. Quantitative analyses of different mutant proteins have suggested that their GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity is drastically reduced as a result of a decrease in their Ras affinity. Such a requirement for a specific residue is not observed in the case of other conserved residues within the GAP-related domain. We also report that another residue, phenylalanine 1434, plays an important role in NF1 function. This was first indicated by the finding that defective NF1s due to an alteration of lysine 1423 to other amino acids can be rescued by a second site intragenic mutation at residue 1434. The mutation partially restored GAP activity in the lysine mutant. When the mutation phenylalanine 1434 to serine was introduced into a wild-type NF1 protein, the resulting protein acquired the ability to suppress activated phenotypes of RAS2Val-19 cells. This suppression, however, does not involve Ras interaction, since the phenylalanine mutant does not stimulate the intrinsic GTPase activity of RAS2Val-19 protein and does not have an increased affinity for Ras proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of HER2 and the coamplified genes GRB7 and MLN64 in human breast cancer: quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR as a diagnostic alternative to immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

PURPOSE: Accurate testing of HER2 is centrally important for breast cancer therapy and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are current standard testing methods. As a potential alternative for assessment of HER2, we explored quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), a fast and inexpensive method yielding quantitative results insensitive to interobserver variability and amenable to standardized scoring. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We assessed HER2 status at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels with FISH, quantitative RT-PCR, and IHC in 136 tumor samples from 85 breast cancer patients. Expression of GRB7, MLN64, and p21, genes coregulated with HER2, was also quantified with quantitative RT-PCR and correlated with the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) individually and in combination with HER2. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent and 19% of the patients scored HER2 positive with IHC and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. In 18 of 19 cases, HER2 statuses in tumors and lymph node metastases were identical. HER2 status significantly correlated with DFS when determined by IHC (P < 0.01), quantitative RT-PCR (P < 0.003), but not with FISH (P = 0.09). The combination of HER2 with MLN64, but not with GRB7 or p21, enhanced the prognostic power for the DFS (P < 0.00005) and OS (P < 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative RT-PCR seems to be clinically as useful in the assessment of HER2 status as IHC and FISH, yielding comparable correlations of HER2 status with the OS and DFS. Thus, quantitative RT-PCR analysis of HER2 or HER2 plus MLN64 is a promising complement or alternative to current methods for HER2 testing, particularly in laboratories lacking FISH or IHC technology.

Adult↗

Destructive index: a measurement of lung parenchymal destruction in smokers.

Destruction of alveolar walls is considered by most observers to be the most important part in the definition of emphysema, yet it has never been precisely defined and quantitated. We therefore attempted to devise a reliable microscopic technique to quantitate alveolar destruction that would be both sensitive to disease and easy to perform. Using a point-count system, we obtained an index of parenchymal destruction that represents the percentage of destroyed space as a fraction of the total alveolar and duct space. We have called this measurement the destructive index (DI). In the lungs of 8 nonsmokers and 23 smokers, we quantitated the DI and compared it with the mean linear intercept (Lm) and with pulmonary function in smokers. Although Lm was not significantly different in the 2 groups, significant differences between the DI of smokers and nonsmokers (p less than 0.005) were found. In addition, the DI correlated with FEV1(-0.43, p less than 0.05), MMEF (r = -0.44, p less than 0.05), and recoil pressure at 90% TLC (r = -0.61, p less than 0.05) in smokers. These findings suggest that the destructive component of emphysema can be easily quantitated microscopically, occurs in smokers before dimensional changes are evident (i.e., increased Lm), and influences lung function. Therefore, the quantitation of this destruction (DI) could add greatly to the microscopic definition of emphysema, complementing the information given by the dimensional component of emphysema (Lm).

Aged↗

Cell-based high-throughput screening assay system for monitoring G protein-coupled receptor activation using beta-galactosidase enzyme complementation technology.

A novel cell-based functional assay to directly monitor G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation in a high-throughput format, based on a common GPCR regulation mechanism, the interaction between beta-arrestin and ligand-activated GPCR, is described. A protein-protein interaction technology, the InteraX trade mark system, uses a pair of inactive beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) deletion mutants as fusion partners to the protein targets of interest. To monitor GPCR activation, stable cell lines expressing both GPCR- and beta-arrestin-beta-gal fusion proteins are generated. Following ligand stimulation, beta-arrestin binds to the activated GPCR, and this interaction drives functional complementation of the beta-gal mutant fragments. GPCR activation is measured directly by quantitating restored beta-gal activity. The authors have validated this assay system with two functionally divergent GPCRs: the beta2-adrenergic amine receptor and the CXCR2 chemokine-binding receptor. Both receptors are activated or blocked with known agonists and antagonists in a dose-dependent manner. The beta2-adrenergic receptor cell line was screened with the LOPAC trade mark compound library to identify both agonists and antagonists, validating this system for high-throughput screening performance in a 96-well microplate format. Hit specificity was confirmed by quantitating the level of cAMP. This assay system has also been performed in a high-density (384-well) microplate format. This system provides a specific, sensitive, and robust methodology for studying and screening GPCR-mediated signaling pathways.

Arrestins↗