Assignment of the human GATA4 gene to 8p23.1-->p22 using fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, the human GATA4 gene, a member of the zinc-finger protein family recognizing the consensus GATA motif, was mapped to 8p23.1-->p22. This result, in conjunction with gene mapping data on other GATA-DNA binding proteins, suggests that genes encoding GATA-DNA binding proteins are dispersed throughout the genome, rather than clustered within a single locus.

Human fatty acid synthase: properties and molecular cloning

Fatty acid synthase (FAS; EC 2.3.1.85) was purified to near homogeneity from a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. The HepG2 FAS has a specific activity of 600 nmol of NADPH oxidized per min per mg, which is about half that of chicken liver FAS. All the partial activities of human FAS are comparable to those of other animal FASs, except for the beta-ketoacyl synthase, whose significantly lower activity is attributable to the low 4'-phosphopantetheine content of HepG2 FAS. We cloned the human brain FAS cDNA. The cDNA sequence has an open reading frame of 7512 bp that encodes 2504 amino acids (M(r), 272,516). The amino acid sequence of the human FAS has 79% and 63% identity, respectively, with the sequences of the rat and chicken enzymes. Northern analysis revealed that human FAS mRNA was about 9.3 kb in size and that its level varied among human tissues, with brain, lung, and liver tissues showing prominent expression. The nucleotide sequence of a segment of the HepG2 FAS cDNA (bases 2327-3964) was identical to that of the cDNA from normal human liver and brain tissues, except for a 53-bp sequence (bases 3892-3944) that does not alter the reading frame. This altered sequence is also present in HepG2 genomic DNA. The origin and significance of this sequence variance in the HepG2 FAS gene are unclear, but the variance apparently does not contribute to the lower activity of HepG2 FAS.

Leigh syndrome presenting with dystonia: report of one case

A 22-month-old female presented with developmental delay and dystonia. The T2 weighted image of the brain MRI showed bilateral symmetrical high signal lesions over the putamen. An increased serum lactate pyruvate ratio (29.25) and a positive oral glucose lactate stimulation test were noted. Electron microscopic examination showed abnormal mitochondrial aggregation with band cristae in the subsarcolemmal area. These findings were indicative of clinical Leigh's syndrome. However, unusually the mt DNA analysis showed a point mutation at the nucleotide position 8344.

Molecular basis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in three Taiwan aboriginal tribes

We have investigated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in 220 unrelated aboriginal male subjects who belong to three different tribes (Saisiat, Ami, and Yami) in Taiwan. Our results show that the G6PD deficiency rates for Saisiat, Ami, and Yami people are 9.0% (6/67), 6.1% (6/99), and 0% (0/54), respectively. Among these deficiency cases, 4 of 6 (66.7%) Saisiat subjects have the 493 A-->G mutation and one carries the 1376 G-->T mutation, whereas, in Ami subjects, we found that four of six (66.7%) affected males have the 592 C-->T mutation and one carries the 493 A-->G mutation. These results contrast with our previous findings for Taiwan Chinese, in whom the 1376 G-->T mutation is the major mutant allele and accounts for 52.3% of the deficiency cases. This is the first report of G6PD deficiency characterized at the DNA level in Taiwan aboriginal populations.

Lumboperitoneal shunt complicated with chronic tonsillar herniation: a case report

Lumbopritoneal shunt (L-P shunt) has been widely accepted as a treatment for communicating hydrocephalus. The technique offers many advantages such as easy insertion, a low infection rate, a reduced incidence of brain damage, et centera. Despite these advantages, there are also some associated complications, such as tonsillar herniation. This complication rarely occurs, but, when it does, it develops gradually. This report concerns an eight-year-old girl, who had received L-P shunt at the age of 20 days; she then developed tonsillar herniation, requiring operative decompression, eight years later. This case illustrates the necessity for carefully follow up patients who have undergone the L-P shunt procedure.

Identification of a GATA motif in the cardiac alpha-myosin heavy-chain-encoding gene and isolation of a human GATA-4 cDNA

In an attempt to identify the cardiac-specific genes regulated by the transcription factor GATA-4, we have identified a putative GATA-binding site located within the 5' flanking sequence of the human cardiac alpha-myosin heavy-chain-encoding gene. The 23-bp sequence surrounding the core GATA-binding site is conserved across species. The core motif and flanking sequences of this GATA-binding site are almost identical to that of a well-established GATA-binding site located within the 3' enhancer of the human beta-globin gene. Using electrophoretic mobility shift analysis, two distinct nuclear factors were found to bind specifically to this element. We have isolated a full-length cDNA clone for human GATA-4 (hGATA-4) by screening a human heart cDNA library. The hGATA-4 cDNA sequence shows 85% identity with murine GATA-4 in the protein coding region. The deduced amino-acid sequence within the two zinc-finger DNA-binding domains of human GATA-4 is 100% identical with murine GATA-4. Northern blot analysis reveals that this 4.4-kb transcript has higher expression in adult heart than in fetal heart. Our results suggest that GATA-4 may regulate a set of cardiac-specific genes and play a crucial role in cardiogenesis.

Histopathologic evaluation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PC10) in oral epithelial hyperplasias and premalignant lesions

As the therapeutic options for malignant lesions expand, early accurate diagnosis of premalignancy is becoming increasingly important in the concept of cancer prevention. Because it has been hypothesized that abnormal cell proliferation is related to subsequent malignant transformation, many proliferation markers such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen have been studied in a variety of malignant tumors. In oral surface epithelium, proliferating cell nuclear antigen activity is restricted to basal layers of normal squamous mucosa. In this preliminary study, 169 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded oral epithelial lesions, including 28 carcinomas in situ, 82 epithelial dysplasias, 21 epithelial atypia, and 38 typical epithelial hyperplasias, were studied with a monoclonal antibody, PC10, to determine whether proliferating cell nuclear antigen suprabasal expression correlated with premalignancy. The findings revealed that with progression of lesions toward malignancy, there was a significant predilection for basal/suprabasal staining pattern for proliferating cell nuclear antigen as compared with the strictly basal staining pattern seen in normal and benign epithelial conditions. One unexpected staining pattern, suprabasal positive stain only, was also noted mostly in reactive hyperplasia and dysplasia. The data suggested that a positive basal/suprabasal staining pattern for proliferating cell nuclear antigen is indicative of premalignancy in oral epithelial lesions.

Diphallus in an adult: microsurgical treatment--case report

A case of true, complete diphallus in an adult, associated with multiple malformations, is presented. The left urethra was perineal hypospadic; the right posterior urethra was small in caliber; and the right testis and spermatic cord were absent. The chordee was released; the right penis was resected and transferred to elongate the left one; and the urethra was reconstructed with a radial forearm free flap. Follow-up of more than 6 years shows that the patient has a good functional and cosmetic result.

Amino-terminal blocking group and sequence of the animal fatty acid synthase

We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the chicken fatty acid synthase. Based on the nucleotide-derived amino acid sequence of the chicken synthase, the N-terminal sequences are highly conserved among animal species, suggesting that translation of the animal synthases initiates with the same ATG codon. Like other fatty acid synthases, the NH2-terminal sequence of the chicken enzyme is blocked. We have isolated and purified the blocked NH2-terminal peptide from a tryptic digest of chicken synthase and have established that the blocking group is an acetyl group. The sequence of the native tryptic peptide confirmed the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence and suggested that all animal synthases begin with this homologous sequence. We developed simple procedures that can be used to isolate and characterize any blocked NH2-terminal peptide.

Isolation and characterization of a novel acetyl-CoA carboxylase kinase from rat liver

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is regulated allosterically by citrate and covalently by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. We have isolated and purified from rat livers a novel kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates the carboxylase. This kinase is bound to the carboxylase and can be eluted in salt-rich solution. The native kinase exists as high molecular weight aggregates of a subunit that has a molecular weight of 40,000. The phosphorylation sites of the carboxylase were determined after tryptic and cyanogen bromide digestions of 32P-labeled carboxylase and separation of the peptides by various chromatographic procedures. Amino acid analyses of the phosphopeptides showed that the Ser77 and Ser1200 residues were the sites of phosphorylation. Treating the phosphorylated carboxylase with the Mn(2+)-dependent acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphatase 2 removed the phosphate and reactivated the carboxylase. These results suggest that both this kinase and the acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphatase 2 act at the same site(s) in the acetyl-CoA carboxylase molecule. Citrate dramatically inhibits the kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the carboxylase, suggesting that the allosteric modification and activation by citrate render the phosphorylation sites inaccessible to the kinase and therefore maintain high carboxylase activity. This observation indicates that there is a close interplay between the citrate effect on and phosphorylation of the carboxylase in regulating its activity.

Microsurgical replantation of the avulsed scalp: report of six cases

This article reports the successful microsurgical replantation of six scalps avulsed for over 3 to 11 hr, after trauma and before repair, including five total and one partial avulsion. The authors believe that one key to successful replantation is effective vessel anastomoses. In the reported series, three scalps were reconstructed with two superficial temporal vessels and in five cases, with a 1:1 ratio between arteries and veins. The partially avulsed scalp was replanted successfully with only one artery and one vein. The management of postoperative complications is discussed.

Endothelin stimulates cardiac alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain gene expression

The effect of endothelin-1 on cardiac myosin heavy chain gene expression was examined using an isolated neonatal rat myocardial cell culture system. The effects of endothelin-1 on the expression of alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain genes in the primary rat myocardial cell culture system were examined by S1 nuclease protection analysis. Endothelin-1 was found to stimulate both alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain gene expression. The 5' flanking regions of both the alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain gene promoters ligated to a reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, were used to study the effect of endothelin-1 on transcription. Myocardial cells treated with endothelin-1 increased the transcription rate of alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain genes in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the hypertrophic effect of endothelin-1 on cardiac myocytes involves augmentation of alpha- and beta- myosin heavy chain gene expression by increasing gene transcription.

[Induction by kopsinine of hepatic mixed-function oxidase in mice]

Kopsinine is an indole alkaloid. Oral administration of kopsinine 200 mg/kg once daily for 3 d significantly increased liver microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, NADPH-cytochrome C reductase, aminopyrine demethylase and benzo(a)pyrine hydroxylase activities in mice. kopsinine only induced cytochrome P-450 in rough endoplasmic reticulum of liver. SDS-polyamine gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the protein bands of microsomes from kopsinine treated mice were similar to that induced by phenobarbital in mice. Metyrapon, a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, partially antagonized aminopyrine demethylase activity of microsomes from mice treated with kopsinine. The results suggest that kopsinine yields a pentobarbital-like induction on liver mixed function oxidase in mice. In addition, kopsinine was found to shorten the barbital-induced sleeping time in mice.

Characterization of recombinant thioesterase and acyl carrier protein domains of chicken fatty acid synthase expressed in Escherichia coli

Fatty acid synthase of animal tissue is a multifunctional enzyme comprised of two identical subunits, each containing seven partial activities and a site for the prosthetic group, 4'-phosphopantetheine (acyl carrier protein). We have recently isolated cDNA clones of chicken fatty acid synthase coding for the dehydratase, enoyl reductase, beta-ketoacyl reductase, acyl carrier protein, and thioesterase domains (Chirala, S.S., Kasturi, R., Pazirandeh, M., Stolow, D.T., Huang, W.Y., and Wakil, S.J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 3750-3757). To gain insight into the structure and function of the various domains, the portion of the cDNA coding for the acyl carrier protein and thioesterase domains was expressed in Escherichia coli by using an expression vector that utilizes the phage lambda PL promoter. The recombinant protein was efficiently expressed and purified to near homogeneity using anion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatography. As expected from the coding capacity of the cDNA expressed, the protein has a molecular weight of 43,000 and reacts with antithioesterase antibodies. The recombinant thioesterase was found to be enzymatically active and has the same substrate specificity and kinetic properties as the native enzyme of the multifunctional synthase. Treatment of the recombinant protein with alpha-chymotrypsin results in the cleavage of the acyl carrier protein and thioesterase domain junction sequence at exactly the same site as with native fatty acid synthase. The amino acid composition of the purified recombinant protein revealed the presence of 0.6 mol of beta-alanine/mol of protein, indicating partial pantothenylation of the recombinant acyl carrier protein domain. These results indicate that the expressed protein has a conformation similar to the native enzyme and that its folding into functionally active domains is independent of the remaining domains of the multifunctional synthase subunit. These conclusions are consistent with the proposal that the multifunctional synthase gene has evolved from fusion of component genes.

[Mechanism of the protective action of kopsinine against hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride]

Kopsinine 1 mmol/L inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation (MDA) formation induced by CCl4 in vitro. Metyrapone, a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of kopsinine on MDA formation. Oral administration of kopsinine 200 mg/kg decreased the formation of diene conjugates in liver microsomes in CCl4 (1 ml/kg ig) intoxicated mice. Kopsinine also inhibited 14CCl4 covalent binding to lipids and proteins of liver microsomes. But the degree of inhibition was not as pronounced as that of inhibition of MDA. The metabolic conversion of CCl4 to carbon monoxide and the utilization of NADPH in the course of CCl4 metabolism by liver microsomes were increased by kopsinine in intro. It appears that to maintain the stability of membranes of liver cells is the mode of the protective action of kopsinine.

Complete amino acid sequence of chicken liver acyl carrier protein derived from the fatty acid synthase

The acyl carrier protein domain of the chicken liver fatty acid synthase has been isolated after tryptic treatment of the synthase. The isolated domain functions as an acceptor of acetyl and malonyl moieties in the synthase-catalyzed transfer of these groups from their coenzyme A esters and therefore indicates that the acyl carrier protein domain exists in the complex as a discrete entity. The amino acid sequence of the acyl carrier protein was derived from analyses of peptide fragments produced by cyanogen bromide cleavage and trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestions of the molecule. The isolated acyl carrier protein domain consists of 89 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular weight of 10,127. The protein contains the phosphopantetheine group attached to the serine residue at position 38. The isolated acyl carrier protein peptide shows some sequence homology with the acyl carrier protein of Escherichia coli, particularly in the vicinity of the site of phosphopantetheine attachment, and shows extensive sequence homology with the acyl carrier protein from the uropygial gland of goose.

A novel cDNA extension procedure. Isolation of chicken fatty acid synthase cDNA clones

We have developed a simple and versatile cDNA extension method using lambda-exonuclease-generated single-stranded DNA as a primer. This plasmid-based cDNA extension method can be used to synthesize unidirectional extensions of the existing cDNA clones or subcloned fragments of the untranslated and exon regions of genomic DNA clones. The method is simple to use and involves no addition of linkers or tailing. We have successfully used this method to isolate 4.6 kilobase pairs of chicken fatty acid synthase cDNA clones, starting from the fragment of a genomic clone coding for the untranslated region of the fatty acid synthase mRNA. About 2.8 kilobase pairs of the cDNA coding for the chicken fatty acid synthase has been sequenced. The sequence has an open reading frame coding for 945 amino acids of the fatty acid synthase. In the sequence, we have identified the enoyl reductase, NADPH binding region, a putative beta-ketoacyl reductase region, and the entire sequences of acyl carrier protein and the thioesterase domains. The arrangement of these partial activities in this sequence confirms the arrangement of these activities as determined through partial proteolytic mapping studies. The amino acid sequence of chicken fatty acid synthase deduced from cDNA sequences shows a high degree of homology with the rat fatty acid synthase sequence, suggesting that these multifunctional proteins are conserved evolutionarily.

Microwave: an alternative to electric heating in the treatment of peripheral lymphedema

The results of a new method of treating chronic lymphedema with heat, using microwaves, are described in 98 patients with peripheral lymphedema. Thirteen had bilateral lymphedema and were included only to provide additional evidence of the lack of side-effects using this technique. The remaining 85 patients showed a significant (p less than .001) reduction in the amount of peripheral edema with edema reduction greater than 50% in three-fourths of the patients. The incidence and severity of secondary acute inflammation ("erysipelas") were also sharply reduced (p less than .001). The microwave method of heat application has a number of advantages over an older technique which used electrically-powered heating elements.

[Protective action of kopsinine against experimental liver injuries in mice]

Kopsinine is an indole alkaloid. Kopsinine 200 mg/kg is significantly protected mice from liver injury induced by CCl4, paracetamol, thioacetamide and prednisolone. The elevated serum transaminase levels and liver lesions were reduced by kopsinine. In addition, kopsinine markedly promoted liver regeneration and the incorporation of [3H]TdR and [3H]leucine into liver protein and DNA, respectively, in partially hepatectomized mice. The results indicate that kopsinine has a hepatoprotective action in mice.

Complete amino acid sequence of the thioesterase domain of chicken liver fatty acid synthase

The complete amino acid sequence of thioesterase domain of chicken liver fatty acid synthase has been determined by sequencing peptides produced by trypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and cyanogen bromide cleavage. The thioesterase domain consists of 300 amino acid residues. All of the tryptic peptides of the thioesterase domain were isolated and sequenced, except the segment covered from position 109 to position 124. Peptides resulting from digestion by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and cyanogen bromide cleavage filled the missing part and overlapped the complete sequence of the entire thioesterase domain. The NH2 terminus of the thioesterase domain was determined to be lysine by sequencing the whole domain up to 20 residues while the COOH terminus was identified as serine through carboxyl peptidase Y cleavage. The active site of the thioesterase domain of chicken fatty acid synthase was suggested to be the serine on position 101 according to its homology with other serine-type esterases and proteases which have a common structure of -Gly-X-Ser-Y-Gly- with the variable amino acids X and Y disrupting the homology.

A rapid purification method for rat liver pyruvate carboxylase and amino acid sequence analyses of NH2-terminal and biotin peptide

A rapid method for the purification of pyruvate carboxylase from rat liver has been developed. The method involves extraction of the enzyme from frozen liver powder followed by polyethylene glycol fractionation and avidin-affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme has a specific activity of 9-10 mumol/min/mg protein when assayed at 22 degrees C in the presence of acetyl-CoA. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the preparation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate showed the presence of one protein band with an estimated Mr 125,000 and no significant contamination by other biotin-containing enzymes. In addition to being rapid, the method is advantageous because prior isolation of mitochondria is not necessary. Using these preparations we have determined the sequence of the first 15 amino acids from the NH2-terminal end of the molecule to be Ser-Gly-Pro-Val-Ala-Pro-Leu-Asn-Val-Leu-Leu-Leu-Glu-Tyr-Pro. The sequence of the 24 amino acid residues around the biotin site was determined to be Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu-Val-Leu-Ser-Ala-Met-biocytin-Met-Glu-Thr-Val-Val-Thr-Ser -Pro- Thr-Glu-Gly-Thr-Ile-Arg.

Primary structure of the multifunctional alpha subunit protein of yeast fatty acid synthase derived from FAS2 gene sequence

The yeast fatty acid synthase consists of two multifunctional proteins, alpha and beta, arranged in an alpha 6 beta 6 complex with a molecular weight of 2.4 x 10(6). Five of the seven enzymatic activities reside in the beta subunit, while the remaining two activities, beta-ketoacyl synthase and beta-ketoacyl reductase, and the domain of the acyl carrier protein, with its prosthetic group, 4'-phosphopantetheine, are in the alpha subunit. The genes FAS1 and FAS2 coding for beta and alpha subunits, respectively, have been cloned and the sequence of FAS1 has been reported (Chirala, S. S., Kuziora, M. A., Spector, D. M., and Wakil, S. J. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 4231-4240). In this study, we present the nucleotide sequence of the FAS2 gene. The sequence has an open reading frame, coding for a protein of 1894 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 207,863. The location of the serine site of attachment of the prosthetic group of the acyl carrier protein domain and the active cysteine-SH site of beta-ketoacyl synthase have been identified at residues 180 and 1312, respectively, in the deduced amino acid sequence. A putative NADPH binding site of beta-ketoacyl reductase has been suggested at residue 1038 based on the similarities to the consensus amino acid sequences -Gly-Ser-Ala- of the pyridine nucleotide enzymes. We could not find any sequence homology in the 5' flanking sequence of the FAS1 and FAS2 genes that would suggest common regulatory function. However, in the sequence of these two genes there is an identical eight-base pair sequence TCATTATG at the translational initiation site suggesting that the subunit stoichiometry probably results from equal translational efficiency of the mRNAs of both FAS1 and FAS2 genes. The S1 endonuclease mapping suggests that there is a transcriptional initiation site at about 40 nucleotides upstream of the first ATG codon and a transcriptional termination site about 300 nucleotides downstream of the TAG stop codon. The gene does not contain introns as no intron consensus TACTAAC have been found in the sequence.

Simultaneous liquid-chromatographic determination of prednisone and prednisolone in plasma

This high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of prednisone and its metabolite, prednisolone, in plasma is a modification of the method of Frey et al. (Clin Chem 1979;25:1944-7). Heparinized plasma (1.0 mL) with 0.1 mL of internal standard solution (11-deoxy-17-hydroxycorticosterone, 2 mg/L) is extracted with 7.0 mL of dichloromethane, then washed sequentially with 0.1 mol/L HCl, 0.1 mol/L NaOH, and deionized water, 2.0 mL each. The extract is evaporated and the residue reconstituted with 75 microL of mobile phase, methanol/H2O (40/60 by vol). Thirty microliters of this is injected onto a reversed-phase C6 column, which is eluted at 1.4 mL/min. Analytical recoveries of prednisone and prednisolone were 94-98% and 102-106%, respectively. Day-to-day precision (CV) was 3.8% for prednisone, 6.1% for prednisolone. We encountered no interference from the 21 other steroids and 25 drugs tested. This method is simple, accurate, and precise.

Simultaneous liquid-chromatographic determination of prednisone and prednisolone in plasma

This high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of prednisone and its metabolite, prednisolone, in plasma is a modification of the method of Frey et al. (Clin Chem 1979;25:1944-7). Heparinized plasma (1.0 mL) with 0.1 mL of internal standard solution (11-deoxy-17-hydroxycorticosterone, 2 mg/L) is extracted with 7.0 mL of dichloromethane, then washed sequentially with 0.1 mol/L HCl, 0.1 mol/L NaOH, and deionized water, 2.0 mL each. The extract is evaporated and the residue reconstituted with 75 microL of mobile phase, methanol/H2O (40/60 by vol). Thirty microliters of this is injected onto a reversed-phase C6 column, which is eluted at 1.4 mL/min. Analytical recoveries of prednisone and prednisolone were 94-98% and 102-106%, respectively. Day-to-day precision (CV) was 3.8% for prednisone, 6.1% for prednisolone. We encountered no interference from the 21 other steroids and 25 drugs tested. This method is simple, accurate, and precise.