Human collagen gene COL5A1 maps to the q34.2----q34.3 region of chromosome 9, near the locus for nail-patella syndrome

Type V collagen is a fibrillar collagen that is widely distributed in tissues as a minor component of extracellular matrix and is usually composed of one pro alpha 2 (V) and two pro alpha 1 (V) chains. In this report, recently isolated cDNA and genomic clones, which encode the pro alpha 1 (V) chain, are used as probes for hybridization to filter-bound DNA from a panel of human-mouse hybrid cell lines and for in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes. These studies establish the chromosomal location of the COL5A1 gene, which encodes the pro alpha 1 (V) chain, within segment 9q34.2----q34.3. These findings add to the previously characterized dispersion of collagen genes in the human genome, as this is the first example of a collagen locus on chromosome 9. In addition, these studies place COL5A1 near the locus for the genetic disorder, nail-patella syndrome (hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia), which also maps to 9q34.

The pro-alpha 1(V) collagen chain. Complete primary structure, distribution of expression, and comparison with the pro-alpha 1(XI) collagen chain

We have isolated overlapping cDNA clones from human and hamster libraries which comprise the entire coding sequences for the prepro-alpha 1(V) collagen chains of both species. The translated polypeptide has a signal peptide of 36 amino acids, a central triple helical domain of 338 uninterrupted Gly-X-Y triplets, and 266 amino acids which comprise the C-telopeptide and propeptide. The N-propeptide and telopeptide are comprised of 522 residues in humans and 524 residues in hamsters. The cDNA-derived pro-alpha 1(V) amino acid sequences exhibit a variety of structural features characteristic of fibrillar collagens. Pro-alpha 1(V) is found to be unique among fibrillar collagen chains, however, in lacking potential cross-linking lysyl residues in either telopeptide, and in possessing potential N-asparaginyl-linked carbohydrate attachment sites in its N-propeptide. Of particular interest is the strong homology found between the pro-alpha 1(V) and pro-alpha 1(XI) collagen chains in most domains, with the notable exception of a subdomain in the globular region of the N-propeptide. RNase protection analysis of RNA with a variety of pro-alpha 1(V) cDNA-derived riboprobes indicates a broad distribution of expression of the pro-alpha 1(V) chain in tissues and suggests that transcripts encoding the pro-alpha 1(V) chain and the putative pro-alpha 1'(V) chain are not products of the same gene.

[The changes of beta-glucuronidase in rabbit model with calcium bilirubinate stone]

The aim of the present study is to determine the beta-glucuronidase changes in bile and hepatobiliary tissue of rabbit model having pigment gallstone by means of biochemical and enzymehistochemical assay methods. The result showed both of the bacterial and non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase take part in the course of pigment gallstone formation. The bacterial beta-glucuronidase level increased quickly before the formation of gallstone, then decreased with control of bacterial infection. Non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase increased slowly in pro-formation stage of gallstone, then kept high level for long period of time. The relationship between beta-glucuronidase and pigment gallstone formation is also discussed.

Improvement in chronic hepatocerebral degeneration following liver transplantation

Chronic progressive hepatocerebral degeneration with spastic paraparesis, dementia, dysarthria, ataxia, tremor, and neuropsychiatric symptoms follows long-standing portal-systemic shunting, is associated with structural changes in the central nervous system, and does not respond to conventional therapy for hepatic encephalopathy. A case of advanced chronic liver disease with severe, progressive hepatocerebral degeneration after 23 yr of portal-systemic shunting is reported in whom there was significant objective improvement in intellectual function and in the chronic neurological signs 3 mo after orthotopic liver transplantation and further improvement 12 mo after transplantation.

Some physicochemical properties of rice mitochondrial DNA

Certain physicochemical properties of rice mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were determined. Certain low-molecular-weight mtDNA bands were found in addition to the major mtDNA band. Rice mtDNA appeared in the electron microscope as a collection of linear molecules with heterogeneous length in the range of 1-156 kb. The major distribution area was 60-105 kb. A small fraction (less than 5%) of rice mtDNA was found in the form of a circular molecule. Some molecules had the appearance of being supercoiled. Replication fork structures were found in both circular and linear mtDNA molecules. In one rice species, Jin Nante, 15 different circular molecules were found. Rice mtDNA was digested with different restriction enzymes. The total molecular weight of rice mtDNA was calculated to be about 300 kb according to the data of restriction enzyme digestion and electron microscopy.

Castanospermine blocks the hyperglycemic response to carbohydrates in vivo: a result of intestinal disaccharidase inhibition

Castanospermine is a potent inhibitor of rat intestinal glycohydrolases in vitro and prevents the hyperglycemic response to an oral sucrose challenge in vivo. Among the glycohydrolases tested, castanospermine was most effective against sucrase with an IC50 of 1.1 x 10(-7) M. In vivo, a significant effect was seen at doses less than 1 mg/kg in both normal and streptozotocin-treated rats. Castanospermine has a prolonged duration of activity in vivo with significant activity when administered 4 hours before sucrose.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Campylobacter pyloridis: correlation with presence of C. pyloridis in the gastric mucosa

Antibody to Campylobacter pyloridis was measured by ELISA in the sera of 160 patients from whom gastric biopsy specimens were also obtained. The antigen was an acid-glycine extract of C. pyloridis, and titers ranged from 80 to 22,000 ELISA units (EU). Of 117 patients in whom C. pyloridis was detected microbiologically or histologically, 87 (74%) had a titer greater than or equal to 300 EU, and only one had a titer less than 150 EU. Of 43 patients in whom C. pyloridis was not detected, only two (5%) had a titer greater than 300 EU. Thus, for a titer of 300 EU the ELISA test had a specificity of 97% and a sensitivity of 81%. At 150 EU the specificity was 78%, and the sensitivity was 99%. Histological diagnosis of active chronic gastritis was associated with a high median ELISA titer (485 E), chronic gastritis with a much lower titer (150 EU), and normal histology with a titer of 110 EU. Discriminating use of this serological test could be of assistance to detect C. pyloridis in the gastric mucosa.

Effect of triiodothyronine on (Na+ G K+)-adenosine triphosphatase and (Na+ + Mg2+)-dependent phosphorylated intermediate in rat salivary glands

The present studies concern the effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on rat salivary (Na+ + K+)-adenosine triphosphatase (NaK-ATPase). The results indicate that T3 selectively increased submandibular and parotid NaK-ATPase units with a single, large dose of T3, different dosage of T3, three successive doses of T3 given on alternate days, and "physiological" doses of T3 with daily injection for 2 weeks. Sublingual NaK-ATPase was insensitive to T3 in the above experiments. The effect of T3 on submandibular and parotid NaK-ATPase is selective since Mg-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase showed no significant differences under different thyroid status. The lack of response of NaK-ATPase to reverse T3, further substantiates the specificity of T3 on salivary NaK-ATPase.