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Beyond FIRO-B--three new theory-derived measures--Element B: behavior, Element F: feelings, Element S: self.

Although the FIRO-B instrument has been used widely for a large number of purposes, it was not designed as a general purpose instrument. Several years ago, after revising the FIRO theory underlying the instrument based on over 20 years' experience with the instrument and related activities, the author revised the FIRO-B extensively, so extensively it was given a new name, Element B. The new instrument is much stronger both theoretically and psychometrically while at the same time retaining the simplicity and shortness of the original. In addition, two new instruments based on the same theory were designed, developed, and tested. They measure feelings (Element F) and self-concept (Element S). All three instruments have, over the past 10 years, been used primarily as training instruments. When given in conjunction with other methods, they have been used for improving self-awareness, teamwork, morale, and productivity in such organizations as Procter & Gamble, AT&T, NASA, Amdahl Corporation, the Swedish Army, and about 100 companies in Japan. Included is a comment on scales anchored both logically, using methods such as facet design and unidimensional scaling, and empirically, such as the "big five."

Adult

Three-dimensional finite element modelling of bone: effects of element size.

This study quantifies the effects of element size on the stress/strain results of finite element (FE) models of bone that are generated with a previously described automated method. This method uses cube-shaped hexahedral elements, which enabled element shape and aspect ratio to be held constant while the effects of element size were studied. Three models of a human proximal femur, each with a different element size (3.1 mm, 3.8 mm and 4.8 mm), were analysed. Convergence in strain energy of the models had been verified in previous work. The stresses and strains predicted by the models were compared on a pointwise basis using linear regression analysis. There was a general decrease in the level of stress and strain when element size was increased, even though convergence in strain energy had been achieved. An increase in element width from 3.1 mm to 3.8 mm decreased the predicted stresses by 13% to 29% overall; the predicted strains decreased by 4% to 20% for the same increase in element size. These results indicate that linear cube-shaped hexahedral elements must be very small (3 mm on a side or smaller) to represent the sharp variations in mechanical properties that exist in bone, and that use of larger elements decreases the predicted stresses and strains. The elements used in this study are similar to those typically used to represent trabecular bone in conventional (non-automated) FE modelling methods. Therefore, the sensitivity of the stress/strain results to element size that was found for trabecular bone also applies to conventional modelling of such bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

[Supplementation of essential trace elements during total parenteral nutrition--effects on trace element-deficient rats].

Thirty-one male SD rats, six weeks old, were fed a trace element-deficient diet for two weeks and then divided into three groups and maintained for 1 week as follows: group A with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) without supplementation of trace elements, group B with TPN supplemented with the following 5 trace elements ... iron, zinc, copper, manganese and iodine, and group C with a diet free of the above five trace elements. Another group of eight rats was fed a diet supplemented with the above five trace elements for three weeks as a control (group D). Feeding or TPN without supplementation of trace elements evoked microcytic hypochromic anemia and significant decreases in iron concentrations in plasma and tissues (groups A and C). Supplementation of trace elements in the TPN solution showed a tendency to cure anemia and a significant increase in the iron concentration in tibia (group B). Decreases in the zinc or copper concentrations in plasma and tissues during TPN without trace elements were prevented by supplementation of trace elements in the TPN solution (group B). The plasma zinc and copper concentrations correlated well with their levels in liver, kidney and tibia. Manganese deficiency was not recognized in this investigation (groups A and C), though supplementation of trace elements in the TPN solution increased tissue manganese concentration (group B). Feeding or TPN without supplementation of trace elements induced decreases in plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine (groups A and C). Supplementation of trace elements in the TPN solution showed a tendency to increase plasma thyroxine (group B).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Extrachromosomal DNA forms of copia-like transposable elements, F elements and middle repetitive DNA sequences in Drosophila melanogaster. Variation in cultured cells and embryos.

Drosophila melanogaster embryos and cells in culture were screened for the presence of unintegrated covalently closed circular DNA forms that hybridize to copia-like transposable elements, the F element and uncharacterized dispersed middle repetitive DNA elements. Our results indicate that the majority of copia-like elements (including copia, 297, 412, mdg1, mdg3 and gypsy), the F elements, and 9 of 12 middle repetitive DNA elements are present as free DNA forms in cultured cells and embryos. An 18 base-pair inverted repeat has been reported to flank the long direct repeat of mdg3, implying that mdg3 is not an orthodox copia-like element; however, we have sequenced two independently isolated mdg3 clones and shown that the inverted repeat is not part of the element. The relative abundance with which free DNA forms are found varies between the cultured cells used, and between cultured cells and embryos. This variation, which can be up to 20-fold for some elements, does not correlate well with either the amount of element-specific poly(A)+ RNA present per cell or the number of element-specific sequences integrated in the genome.

Animals

The distribution of transposable elements within and between chromosomes in a population of Drosophila melanogaster. II. Inferences on the nature of selection against elements.

Data were collected on the distribution of nine families of transposable elements among a sample of autosomes isolated from a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, by means of in situ hybridization of biotinylated probes to polytene chromosomes. There is no general tendency for elements to accumulate at the tips of chromosomes. Elements tend to be present in excess of random expectation in the euchromatin proximal to the centromeres of the major autosomes, and on chromosome four. There is considerable heterogeneity between different families in the extent of this excess. The overall abundance of element families is inversely related to the extent to which they accumulate proximally. The level of proximal accumulation for the major autosomes is similar to that on the fourth chromosome, but less than that for the X chromosome. There is an overall deficiency of elements in the mid-section of the X compared with the mid-sections of the major autosomes, with considerable heterogeneity between families. The magnitude of this deficiency is positively related to the extent to which elements accumulate proximally. No such deficiency is seen if the proximal regions of the X and autosomes are compared. There is a small and non-significant excess of elements in third chromosomes carrying inversions. There is some between-year heterogeneity in element abundance. The implications of these findings are discussed, and it is concluded that they generally support the hypothesis that transposable element abundance is regulated primarily by the deleterious fitness consequences of meiotic ectopic exchange between elements. If this is the case, such exchange must be very infrequent in the proximal euchromatin, and the elements detected in population surveys of this kind must be inserted into sites where they have negligible mutational effects on fitness.

Animals

Identification of nucleotide substitutions necessary for trans-activation of mariner transposable elements in Drosophila: analysis of naturally occurring elements.

Six copies of the mariner element from the genomes of Drosophila mauritiana and Drosophila simulans were chosen at random for DNA sequencing and functional analysis and compared with the highly active element Mos1 and the inactive element peach. All elements were 1286 base pairs in length, but among them there were 18 nucleotide differences. As assayed in Drosophila melanogaster, three of the elements were apparently nonfunctional, two were marginally functional, and one had moderate activity that could be greatly increased depending on the position of the element in the genome. Both molecular (site-directed mutagenesis) and evolutionary (cladistic analysis) techniques were used to analyze the functional effects of nucleotide substitutions. The nucleotide sequence of the element is the primary determinant of function, though the activity level of elements is profoundly influenced by position effects. Cladistic analysis of the sequences has identified a T----A transversion at position 1203 (resulting in a Phe----Leu amino acid replacement in the putative transposase) as being primarily responsible for the low activity of the barely functional elements. Use of the sequences from the more distantly related species, Drosophila yakuba and Drosophila teissieri, as outside reference species, indicates that functional mariner elements are ancestral and argues against their origination by a novel mutation or by recombination among nonfunctional elements.

Animals

The region of a Bacteroides conjugal chromosomal tetracycline resistance element which is responsible for production of plasmidlike forms from unlinked chromosomal DNA might also be involved in transfer of the element.

Large (greater than 50 kilobases) conjugal chromosomal tetracycline resistance (Tcr) elements have been found in many human colonic Bacteroides strains. Recently, N. B. Shoemaker and A. A. Salyers (J. Bacteriol, 170:1651-1657, 1988) reported that some of these Tcr elements appeared to mediate production of plasmidlike forms, NBU1 and NBU2, from an unlinked region of the chromosome of Bacteroides uniformis 0061. Production of the plasmidlike forms and the transfer frequency of the Tcr elements were both enhanced by preexposure to tetracycline. Thus it appeared that genes involved in production of plasmidlike forms (Plf activity) might be coregulated with transfer genes and that Plf activity might have a role in transfer of the Tcr elements. By screening subclones of a Tcr element, Tcr Emr DOT, we have shown that the genes necessary for Plf activity on the Tcr element are within a 10-kilobase region adjacent to the Tcr gene. Subclones of this region were then used to construct insertional gene disruptions in a Tcr element, Tcr ERL, which is closely related to the Tcr Emr DOT element. Two of the disruption mutants were Plf-. Both had reduced transfer frequencies, one (omega RDB2) 10(2)-fold lower than that of the wild-type element and the other (omega RDBT) 10(4)-fold lower. omega RDB2 was also deficient in the ability to mobilize coresident plasmids, whereas omega RDBT exhibited nearly wild-type mobilization activity. The phenotypes of the mutants indicate that there are at least two genes necessary for Plf activity and that both may be involved in transfer of the element. The third disruption mutant (omegaRDB1), which expressed Plf constitutively, also had a transfer frequency 10(2) -fold lower than that of the wild-type element and was deficient in mobilization of coresident plasmids. The relationship between Plf genes and transfer, therefore, appears to be a complex one.

Bacteroides

Activation of the serum response element and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element by the activated c-raf-1 protein in a manner independent of protein kinase C.

Transfection of the cDNA encoding the activated c-raf-1 protein or addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or dibutyryl cAMP to NIH/3T3 cells activated the c-fos gene enhancer linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase or luciferase reporter gene. Prolonged treatment of NIH/3T3 cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate caused down-regulation of protein kinase C. In these cells, addition of TPA did not stimulate the c-fos gene enhancer any more, but transfection of the c-raf-1 cDNA or addition of dibutyryl cAMP still stimulated the c-fos gene enhancer to the same extent as those induced in the control cells. Transfection of the c-raf-1 cDNA or addition of TPA to NIH/3T3 cells stimulated the serum response element and TPA response element but not the cAMP response element. In contrast, addition of dibutyryl cAMP to NIH/3T3 cells stimulated the cAMP response element but not the serum response element or TPA response element. These results indicate that the activated c-raf-1 protein stimulates the serum response element and TPA response element in a manner independent of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Since the c-fos gene enhancer has been shown to contain the serum response element and cAMP response element, it is most likely that the c-raf-1 protein is involved in the regulation of c-fos gene expression through the serum response element.

Animals

Evolution of P transposable elements: sequences of Drosophila nebulosa P elements.

P elements have been cloned and sequenced from Drosophila nebulosa. Their sequences have diverged less than 6% from P elements of Drosophila melanogaster. However D. nebulosa P elements have nucleotide changes that close all four open reading frames found in the D. melanogaster P element. Microinjection experiments show that D. nebulosa P elements cannot provide transposase function for D. melanogaster P elements, nor are D. nebulosa P elements mobilized by the transposase provided by a D. melanogaster P factor. Three D. nebulosa P elements appear to have integrated into the same position of a complex, centromeric repeated sequence. Comparison of nucleotide sequences suggests that D. nebulosa P elements have diverged upon different pathways from a common ancestor that was 99% homologous to the P elements of D. melanogaster.

Base Sequence

E1A-induced enhancer activity of the poly(dG-dT).poly(dA-dC) element (GT element) and interactions with a GT-specific nuclear factor.

The alternating sequence poly(dG-dT).poly(dA-dC) is a highly repeated sequence in the eucaryotic genome. We have examined the effect of trans-acting early viral proteins on the ability of the GT element to stimulate transcription of the adenovirus major late promoter (MLP). We find that the GT element alone does not activate expression from the MLP in either the presence or absence of another enhancer element. However, in the presence of the E1A gene products of either adenovirus type 5 or 2, the GT element activated expression from the MLP. The stimulatory activity of the GT element in the presence of E1A had the properties of an enhancer element, and the trans-activating effect on the GT element was additive in conjunction with the E1A-responsive BK virus enhancer. We also have demonstrated that a specific nuclear factor(s) binds to the GT element. However, the E1A protein(s) do not affect the initial factor interaction(s) with the GT element. Overall, our data demonstrate that trans modulation of promoter activity can be mediated through the GT element.

Adenovirus Early Proteins

The rat albumin promoter: cooperation with upstream elements is required when binding of APF/HNF1 to the proximal element is partially impaired by mutation or bacterial methylation.

We have characterized in the accompanying paper (P. Herbomel, A. Rollier, F. Tronche, M.-O. Ott, M. Yaniv, and M. C. Weiss, Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:4750-4758, 1989) six different elements in the albumin promoter. One of them, the proximal element (PE), is the binding site for a strictly liver specific factor, APF/HNF1. This binding site contains a bacterial DAM DNA methylase methylation target sequence which, when methylated, decreases the affinity of the protein for this element. When the different albumin promoter constructions were prepared in an Escherichia coli deoxyadenosine methylase-negative strain, the respective contributions of the elements to the overall promoter activity were strikingly different. An intact proximal element plus the TATA box gave almost full transcriptional activity in transient transfection experiments and only in differentiated hepatoma cells of line H4II, whereas the distal elements (distal element III [DEIII], the NF1-binding site DEII, and the E/CBP-binding site DEI) had become essentially dispensable. Mutations affecting the CCAAT box showed only a two- to threefold decrease. When PE was methylated, mutated, or replaced by the homologous element from the alpha-fetoprotein gene, activity in the context of the short promoter (PE plus the TATA box) was abolished. However, activity was restored in the presence of the upstream elements, showing that cooperation with factors binding to the CCAAT box and distal elements favors the functional interaction of the liver-specific APF/HNF1 factor with lower-affinity binding sites.

Albumins

A regulatory element that mediates co-operation between a PEA3-AP-1 element and an AP-1 site is required for phorbol ester induction of urokinase enhancer activity in HepG2 hepatoma cells.

We have characterized a transcriptional enhancer of the human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene and found a regulatory element required for co-operation between a PEA3--AP-1 element and an AP-1 site in the enhancer. We designated this regulatory element co-operation mediator (COM). Both the PEA3--AP-1 element, the AP-1 site and the COM are required for efficient phorbol ester induction of transcription from the uPA promoter in the HepG2 hepatoma cell line. We show that the COM is also required for co-operation between the PEA3--AP-1 element and a glucocorticoid response element, both in the presence or absence of TPA, indicating that the COM is generally capable of mediating synergism between inducible enhancer elements. The COM contains multiple overlapping binding sites for nuclear proteins, designated uPA enhancer factors 1-4 (UEF-1-4). We have identified putative binding sites for UEF-1, -2 and -3. The UEF-1 and -3 sites in the uPA enhancer are highly conserved between species. We demonstrate the binding of UEF-3 to the NIP element, a previously characterized regulatory element in the human interleukin-3 and stromelysin promoters, suggesting that this factor plays a role in regulation of a variety of genes.

Base Sequence

Identification and structural characterization of further DNA elements in the potato and pepper genomes homologous to the transposable element-like insertion Tst1.

The molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of elements from potato and pepper that are related to the recently identified Tst1 element are described. Sequence analysis reveals considerable conservation of sequences internal to both the Tst1 element and two of the related elements identified here. In six potato clones analysed, the 11 bp inverted repeat first identified in the Tst1 element is conserved. Several of the elements are flanked by an 8 bp direct repeat. DNA fragments which were amplified from several pepper genomes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using the inverted repeat as sequence primers also display considerable conservation of sequences internal to the Tst1 element. These data further support the possibility that Tst1 is a non-autonomous transposable element and that Tst1 might be the first example of a transposable element which occurs in several genera of solanaceous plants.

Base Sequence

A major factor contributing to the high degree of unexplained variability of some elements concentrations in biological tissue: 27 elements in 5 organs of the mussel Mytilus as a model.

It has long been known that a high degree of "unexplained" residual variability can occur in the concentrations of some elements in some biological tissues. Until now, no reasons have been found for the presence of such high levels of variability. The present study describes a factor which can adequately explain this phenomenon. It was found that elements which are stored primarily in an insoluble form showed much higher degrees of variability than those stored in a soluble form. Elements found primarily in an insoluble form are often isolated from cellular metabolism including any regulatory processes and may build up to high levels in some individuals. The groups of elements showing the highest levels of residual variability were the heavy metals, lanthanides and actinides. These groups tended to be stored primarily in an insoluble form as determined by subcellular fractionation. The groups of elements showing the lowest levels of residual variability were the alkali metals and non-metals which were found to occur primarily in a soluble form in mussel tissue. The elements of the kidney generally had higher levels of residual variability than those of any other organ probably because of the kidney's ability to store high concentrations of elements in insoluble granules. A study of the behavior of aluminum in the digestive gland suggests that elements associated with insoluble granules of sediment passing through the gut could contribute to the residual variability of these elements. The highest levels of residual variability were observed for zinc, silver and lead in the kidney while the lowest for rubidium in the gills.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

The distribution of transposable elements within and between chromosomes in a population of Drosophila melanogaster. I. Element frequencies and distribution.

Data were collected on the distribution of nine families of transposable elements among second and third chromosomes isolated from a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, by means of in situ hybridization of element probes to polytene chromosomes. It was found that the copy numbers per chromosome in the distal sections of the chromosome arms followed a Poisson distribution. Elements appeared to be distributed randomly along the distal sections of the chromosome arms. There was no evidence for linkage disequilibrium in the distal sections of the chromosomes, but some significant disequilibrium was detected in proximal regions. There were many significant correlations between different element families with respect to the identity of the sites that were occupied in the sample. There were also significant correlations between families with respect to sites at which elements achieved relatively high frequencies. Element frequencies per chromosome band were generally low in the distal sections, but were higher proximally. These results are discussed in the light of models of the population dynamics of transposable elements. It is concluded that they provide strong evidence for the operation of a force or forces opposing transpositional increase in copy number. The data suggest that the rate of transposition per element per generation is of the order of 10(-4), for the elements included in this study.

Animals

The heritable activation of cryptic Suppressor-mutator elements by an active element.

A weakly active maize Suppressor-mutator (Spm-omega) element is able to heritably activate cryptic Spm elements in the maize genome. The spontaneous activation frequency, which is 1-5 x 10(-5) in the present genetic background, increases by about 100-fold in the presence of an Spm-omega and remains an order of magnitude above the background level a generation after removal of the activating Spm-omega. Sectorial somatic reactivation of cryptic elements can be detected phenotypically in kernels. Selection of such kernels constitutes an efficient selection for plants with reactivated Spm elements. Analysis of the reactivation process reveals that it is gradual and proceeds through genetically metastable intermediates that exhibit different patterns of element expression during plant development. Newly reactivated elements tend to return to an inactive form. However, the probability that an element will remain in a heritably active state increases when the element is maintained in the presence of an active Spm element for several generations.

Alleles

Trace element absorption in infants as a foundation to setting upper limits for trace elements in infant formulas.

The bioavailability of the trace elements iron, zinc, copper and manganese from human milk is high compared to cow's milk and infant formulas. This high bioavailability may be explained by the presence of lactoferrin in human milk, which may facilitate iron and manganese uptake via an intestinal receptor for this protein. High concentrations of ascorbate and citrate may also facilitate uptake of trace elements from human milk and milk formulas, while a high concentration of casein in cow's milk and cow's milk formulas may limit trace element absorption from these diets. Trace element absorption from soy formula is low, mostly due to the presence of phytate but possibly also due to some protein fraction. Trace elements sharing absorptive pathways compete for uptake, and imbalances in the ratios between trace elements (Fe/Zn, Zn/Cu, Fe/Mn) in formulas may impair trace element absorption. These factors need to be taken into consideration when setting upper limits for trace elements in formulas. With our present knowledge, an upper limit for iron of 14 mg/l, for zinc, 12 mg/l, copper, 1.2 mg/l, and manganese, 0.6 mg/l are suggested. The capacity of infants to homeostatically adapt to varying intakes of trace elements needs to be further evaluated.

Female

Drosophila P element transposase recognizes internal P element DNA sequences.

Drosophila P transposable elements encode an 87 kd trans-acting protein, transposase, that is required to catalyze P element transposition and excision. We show here that purified transposase is a site-specific DNA binding protein. P element transposase does not interact with the terminal 31 bp inverted repeats but instead interacts specifically with an internal 10 bp consensus sequence present at both the 5' and 3' ends of P element DNA. These binding sites lie within sequences known to be important for transposition in vivo. Transposase also displays an unusually high nonspecific affinity for DNA. The transposase binding site at the 5' and overlaps sequences we show to be essential for transcription from the P element promoter in vitro, which raises the possibility that either transposase or the related 66 kd P element protein may affect P element transcription. From these and other observations, we suggest that the P element transposition reaction probably requires the binding of additional Drosophila protein factors to the terminal DNA sequences.

Animals