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  • Articles  (576)
  • gene expression  (307)
  • evolution  (271)
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  • Springer  (576)
  • American Meteorological Society
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • 1995-1999  (576)
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  • Springer  (576)
  • American Meteorological Society
  • John Wiley & Sons
  • Wiley-Blackwell  (51)
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  • 1
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 80 (1996), S. 163-165 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: olfaction ; EAG ; sensory physiology ; antennal sensitivity ; interspecies hybrids ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
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  • 2
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 91 (1999), S. 359-368 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: Barbarea vulgaris ssp. arcuata ; Cruciferae ; Phyllotreta nemorum ; Chrysomelidae ; Alticinae ; flea beetle ; plant defence ; host plant range ; near-isogenic ; Y-linkage ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A Y-linked gene (R-gene) in the flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) confer the ability of larvae to survive on types of the plant Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. (Brassicaceae) which are immune to attack by susceptible conspecifics. Two near-isogenic flea beetle lines were developed. The YE-line contained the Y-linked R-gene, and male larvae from this line survived on B. vulgaris. The ST-line did not contain the gene and did not survive on the plant. The YE-line had been developed through 8–9 generations of backcrosses (YE-males with ST-females) and the two lines were considered to be isogenic except for genes located on the Y-chromosome. A single copy of the Y-linked gene is sufficient to transfer a susceptible genotype (ST) into a resistant genotype (YE) which is able to utilize a plant that is immune to attack by specimens without R-genes. The Y-linked gene had no effects on survival on other plant species tested. The gene did not have any effect on developmental times and weights of adult beetles reared on other plants than B. vulgaris. Developmental times of larvae with the Y-linked gene were longer on B. vulgaris than on normal host plants, R. sativus and S. arvensis, but the adults obtained the same size on these plant species. No trade-offs of the Y-linked gene were discovered. The results suggest that the occurrence of the Y-linked gene is a derived trait which has enabled the flea beetle to expand its host plant range. The evolution of a host shift to B. vulgaris seems not to be favoured by the presence of this single gene.
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  • 3
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    Acta biotheoretica 46 (1998), S. 141-156 
    ISSN: 1572-8358
    Keywords: locomotion ; Squamata ; lizards ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract In lower quadrupedal vertebrates locomotor efficiency seems to result from the associate movements of the axial and appendicular systems, which are totally independent in structure and embryological origin. The curvature of the trunk, produced by a standing wave, magnifies the propulsive action of the limbs. In intermediate forms, the association of an elongate trunk with limbs reduced in size brings about functional consequences which may be noticeably diverse according to the degree of trunk elongation and limb reduction. According to environmental constraints, animals search for better locomotor efficiency, which implies the maintenance or breakage of this association of both locomotor systems. In some cases, limb action on the ground is added to the axial wave action through a perfect mutual adjustment of rhythmic activity, until mechanical inefficiency of the limbs is reached by possible loss of contact with the ground. In other cases, the limbs dragged on the ground during the stance phase act against the axial action or, on the contrary, are inhibited by the axial system. A review of available data tries to contribute to an understanding of the respective roles of both systems in the transition to limblessness.
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  • 4
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 80 (1996), S. 7-13 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: host-plant selection ; sensory physiology ; neural coding ; deterrents ; peripheral interactions ; receptor sites ; genetics of insects ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Recent advances in our understanding of the relationship between chemosensory and behavioural responses to phytochemicals come from a number of studies on ovipositional and food selection behaviour of flies, butterflies, moths and beetles. Establishing input-output relationships has provided insight into the way in which the activity of chemoreceptors is translated into host-plant selection behaviour. This was achieved for both the qualitative contrast acceptance/rejection and for quantifiable preference hierarchies. By now it is clear that the subtlety of coding the complex phytochemical profiles offered by potential host plants relies on across-fibre patterns or ensemblefiring of taste neurons. Progress along these lines depends on unravelling processing pathways in the central nervous system, still a largely unexplored area in herbivorous insects. Increased interest can be noted for the mechanisms operating during the most peripheral events of chemoreception: the interaction of phytochemical and chemoreceptor, determining the specificity of recognition. Evidence for ‘peripheral integration’ has accumulated. Deterrent receptors have an especially puzzling nature. Although such cells respond to a wide array of structurally diverse secondary plant metabolites, their sensitivity profile differs between closely related species. To what extent membrane-bound receptor molecules are involved and what degree of specificity is conferred by these, is largely unknown. Sensitivity to a certain group or class of compounds is determined by single genes in several cases. This allows for a scenario in which single gene mutations affect stimulus-receptor interactions, which might concurrently affect host-plant selection behaviour.
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  • 5
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 80 (1996), S. 320-324 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: multitrophic interactions ; phylogeny ; evolution ; fitness
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
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  • 6
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 91 (1999), S. 29-35 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: chemoreception ; deterrents ; Pieris ; Brassicaceae ; cardenolides ; host-plant selection ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Pieris butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) are specialist herbivores of cruciferous plants. They exploit glucosinolates, secondary plant metabolites chemotaxonomically characteristic for this plant family, as token stimuli. In addition to particular glucosinolates, some genera of the Cruciferae contain cardenolides, steroidal allelochemicals that act as potent feeding and oviposition deterrents to several Pieris species. We investigated the sensory mechanisms by which these compounds are perceived in larvae. Pieris caterpillars and many other lepidopterous species are endowed with so-called generalist deterrent receptors, that respond to a broad spectrum of secondary plant substances. In Pieris caterpillars we found a second type of deterrent chemoreceptor in maxillary styloconic taste sensilla. This neuron is very sensitive to cardenolides (threshold 0.1–0.3 μM). The generalist deterrent receptor also responds to these substances but its threshold lies at 50–100× higher concentrations. In behavioural preference experiments Pieris brassicae L. caterpillars preferred cardenolide-treated cabbage leaf discs when confronted with a choice between them and a deterrent substance that does not occur in the Brassicaceae. The cardenolides acted as potent deterrents when offered against untreated cabbage leaf discs. This demonstrates that the balance of activity elicited in the two types of deterrent chemoreceptors determines the behavioural decision.
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  • 7
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    Acta biotheoretica 47 (1999), S. 29-40 
    ISSN: 1572-8358
    Keywords: Sexual selection ; mate selection ; gamete selection ; evolution ; ploidy ; asssortative mating
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Results of an agent-based computer simulation of the evolution of diploid sexual organisms showed that several mate selection strategies confer much higher average fitness to the simulated populations, and higher evolutionary stability to the alleles coding for these strategies, than random mating. Strategies which select for 'good genes' were very successful, and so were strategies based on assortative mating. The results support the hypothesis that mating is not likely to be random in nature and that the most successful mate selection strategies are those based on assortative mating or on advantageous genes.
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  • 8
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 82 (1997), S. 37-44 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: Barbarea vulgaris ; Cruciferae ; Phyllotreta nemorum ; Chrysomelidae ; Alticinae ; flea beetle ; plant defence ; genetics ; sex-linkage ; X- and Y-chromosome ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A polymorphism in host plant exploitation has been discovered in the flea beetle, Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) where one resistant population is able to use Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. ssp. arcuata (Opiz.) Simkovics (Brassicaceae) as a host plant while a susceptible population is not. Crosses (F1, F2, and backcrosses) between the two flea beetle populations were made, and survival of the progeny on B. v. ssp. arcuata was measured. The ability of P. nemorum larvae to survive in this plant species depended on the presence of major, dominant genes (R-genes). The two most abundant R-genes in the resistant flea beetle population were X- and Y-linked, respectively. The use of B. v. ssp. arcuata as a natural host plant by the resistant population of P. nemorum seems to be an extension of the host plant range of the species. The role of sex-linked genes in the evolution of host range is discussed.
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  • 9
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    Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 82 (1997), S. 25-35 
    ISSN: 1570-7458
    Keywords: Barbarea vulgaris ; Cruciferae ; Phyllotreta nemorum ; Chrysomelidae ; Alticinae ; flea beetle ; plant defence ; resistance ; host plant ; variation ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Several sorts of variation in the interaction between the insect, Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae:Alticinae), and the plant, Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. (Brassicaceae), have been discovered: 1) genetic differences in the levels of defences in the plant, 2) genetic differences in the ability of insects to cope with the plant defences, 3) seasonal variation in levels of defences in the plant, and 4) differences between leaf types in levels of defences. Two plant accessions were suitable for larval development throughout the season while the remaining nine accessions were more or less unsuitable for larvae from the ‘susceptible’ T-population at least at certain times of the year. All accessions were suitable for the ‘resistant’ E-population throughout the year. There was a seasonal variation in levels of defences in some accessions which were unsuitable for the T-population during the summer period when beetles were present, but not during autumn and spring when the beetle were hibernating. Upper (younger) cauline leaves of these accessions had higher levels of defences than lower (older) cauline leaves. The resistant E-population used B. vulgaris as a natural host plant while the susceptible T-population did not. The use of B. vulgaris as a natural host plant by the E-population of P. nemorum seems to be an extension of the host plant range of the species. Variation in plant defences may have facilitated the switch in host plant use by the resistant flea beetle population.
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  • 10
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 52 (1996), S. 942-949 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Apoptosis ; transglutaminase ; signalling ; gene expression ; promoter elements ; retinoic acids
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Clarification of the molecular details of forms of natural cell death, including apoptosis, has become one of the most challenging issues of contemporary biomedical sciences. One of the effector elements of various cell death pathways is the covalent cross-linking of cellular proteins by transglutaminases. This review will discuss the accumulating data related to the induction and regulation of these enzymes, particularly of tissue type transglutaminase, in the molecular program of cell death. A wide range of signalling pathways can lead to the parallel induction of apoptosis and transglutaminase, providing a handle for better understanding the exact molecular interactions responsible for the mechanism of regulated cell death.
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  • 11
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 52 (1996), S. 14-24 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Lycaenidae ; Formicidae ; symbiosis ; mutualism ; parasitism ; communication ; ecology ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Associations with ants, termed myrmecophily, are widespread in the butterfly family Lycaenidae and range from mere co-existence to more or less specific mutualistic or even parasitic interactions. Secretions of specialized epidermal glands are crucial for mediating the interactions. Transfer of nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids) from butterfly larvae to ants plays a major role, but manipulative communication with the help of odour signals is also involved. By means of myrmecophily, lycaenid butterflies largely escape ant predation, and certain species gain protection through attendant ants or achieve developmental benefits from ant-attendance. Benefits to the ants range from minimal to substantial food rewards. While most lycaenid species maintain facultative relationships with a variety of ant genera, highly specific and obligatory associations have convergently evolved in a number of butterfly lineages. As a corollary, communication systems are largely unspecific in the former, but may be highly specialized in the latter. The sophisticated communication between obligate myrmecophiles and their host ants is tightly connected with the evolutionary rise of specialized life-cycles and thus is a source of augmenting diversity within the butterflies.
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  • 12
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 51 (1995), S. 1116-1123 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Antisense RNA ; gene expression ; insertional mutagenesis ; physical mapping ; reporter genes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Over the past ten years, powerful molecular genetic techniques have been developed to analyze gene function inDictyostelium. DNA-mediated transformation using a variety of selections and vectors has allowed the introduction of wild-type or modified genes that are under various forms of transcriptional control. Homologous recombination is efficient and can be used to modify the genome in precise ways. In addition, it is now possible to clone genes based on their mutant phenotype alone, either by insertional mutagenesis, or by screening antisense expression cDNA libraries. Finally, a nearly complete physical map of the genome is available and so genes are easily mapped by physical techniques. We discuss many of these advances within the context of major research problems presently under study.
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  • 13
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 51 (1995), S. 454-464 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Quantitative genetics ; life history ; evolution ; cladocera ; heritability ; Daphnia ; zooplankton
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Quantitative genetic techniques are powerful tools for use in understanding the microevolutionary process. Because of their size, lifespan, and ease of culture, many zooplankton species are ideal for quantitative genetic approaches. As model systems, studies of zooplankton life histories are becoming increasingly used for examination of the central paradigms of evolutionary theory. Two of the fundamental empirical questions that zooplankton quantitative genetics studies can answer are: 1) How much genetic variance exists in natural populations for life history traits? 2) What is the empirical evidence for trade-offs that permeate life history theory based on optimality approaches? A review of existing data onDaphnia indicates substantial genetic variance for body size, clutch size, and age at first reproduction. Average broad-sense heritabilities for these three characters across 19 populations of 6 species are 0.31, 0.31, and 0.34, respectively. Although there is some discrepancy between the two pertinent studies that were designed to decompose the total genetic variance into its additive and non-additive components, a crude average seems to suggest that approximately 60% of the total genetic variance has an additive basis. The existing data are somewhat inconsistent with respect to presence/absence of trade-offs (negative genetic correlations) among life history traits. A composite of the existing data seems to argue against the existence of strong trade-offs between offspring size and offspring number, between present and future reproduction, and between developmental rate and fecundity. However, there is some evidence for a shift toward more negative (less positive) covariances in more stressful environments (e.g., low food). Zooplankton will prove to be very useful in future study in several important areas of research, including the genetics and physiology of aging, the importance of genotype-environment interaction for life history traits, and the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.
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  • 14
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 51 (1995), S. 606-611 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Metallothionein ; isometallothioneins ; gene expression ; rabbit kidney cell-line ; cadmium adaptation ; zinc adaptation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We explored the molecular genetics underlying the massive induction of isoMTs by Zn2+ or Cd2+ in metal tolerant rabbit kidney (RK-13) sub-line cells, using band shift assays and Southern blotting analysis. In sub-line cells accommodated to intermediate metal concentrations (100 μM Zn2+; 1–20 μM Cd2+) evidence suggested that the increase in the capacity for isoMT synthesis is brought about by an increased binding activity of the nuclear transcription factors MTF-1 and Sp1. Using quantitative band shift analysis with a mouse MRE-d oligonucleotide probe, the binding of both transcription factors was found to be enhanced two to three times over the binding activity measured in the unexposed parental RK-13 cells. Their increase in binding activity is probably the cause of the overexpression of MT genes and the development of metal tolerance in these cells. In cells tolerant to the highest concentrations of metal the analysis of Southern blot signals revealed MT gene amplification to be the most probable cause of the increased MT production. Thus, in cells of sub-lines growing in the presence of 350 μM Zn2+, two of the isoMT genes were coordinately triplicated and in cells tolerant to 150 μM Cd2+ one isoMT gene was amplified two-fold.
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  • 15
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 52 (1996), S. 503-510 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Drosophila ; accessory gland ; reproduction ; sexual behavior ; sperm displacement ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Recent results from biochemical and molecular genetic studies of the accessory gland proteins in maleDrosophila are reviewed. The most prominent feature is the species-specific variability. However, the analysis of the sex peptide inD. melanogaster shows that there is a strong homology in the molecular structure to the closely related sibling species, and that divergence increases with increasing phylogenetic distance. For this reason the sex peptide, after being transferred to the female genital tract during copulation, reduces receptivity and increases oviposition only in virgin females belonging to the same species group and subgroup. Even though studies were hitherto limited to a small number of the secretory components, it is evident that the accessory gland proteins play a key role in reproductive success of the fruit fly by changing female sexual behavior, supporting sperm transfer, storage and displacement. Thus, genes encoding the accessory gland proteins are apparently under strong evolutionary selection.
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  • 16
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 277-295 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: evolution ; classification ; EF-hand ; domain ; homology ; chimera ; congruence ; gene duplication ; gene fusion ; eukaryote ; dendrogram ; calmodulin ; troponin C ; light chain of myosin ; S100 ; parvalbumin ; calcineurin ; recoverin ; calpain ; sorcin ; diacylglycerol ; calbindin ; aequorin ; phospholipase C ; BM-40
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Forty-five distinct subfamilies of EF-hand proteins have been identified. They contain from two to eight EF-hands that are recognizable by amino acid sequence as being statistically similar to other EF-hand domains. All proteins within one subfamily are congruent to one another, i.e. the dendrogram computed from one of the EF-hand domains is similar, within statistical error, to the dendrogram computed from another(s) domain. Thirteen subfamilies - including Calmodulin, Troponin C, Essential light chain, Regulatory light chain - referred to collectively as CTER, are congruent with one another. They appear to have evolved from a single ur-domain by two cycles of gene duplication and fusion. The subfamilies of CTER subsequently evolved by gene duplications and speciations. The remaining 32 subfamilies do not show such general patterns of congruence; however, some - such as S100, intestinal calcium binding protein (calbindin 9kd), and trichohylin - do not form congruent clusters of subfamilies. Nearly all of the domains 1, 3, 5, and 7 are most similar to other ODD domains. Correspondingly the EVEN numbered domains of all 45 subfamilies most closely resemble EVEN domains of other subfamilies. Many sequence and chem-ical characteristics do not show systemic trends by subfamily or species of host organisms; such homoplasy is widespread. Eighteen of the subfamilies are heterochimeric; in addition to multiple EF-hands they contain domains of other evolutionary origins.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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  • 17
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    Minds and machines 6 (1996), S. 463-480 
    ISSN: 1572-8641
    Keywords: Human reasoning ; evolution ; deontic reasoning ; transitive reasoning ; non-human primates ; neocortical ratio ; dominance hierarchy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Computer Science , Philosophy
    Notes: Abstract Research from ethology and evolutionary biology indicates the following about the evolution of reasoning capacity. First, solving problems of social competition and cooperation have direct impact on survival rates and reproductive success. Second, the social structure that evolved from this pressure is the dominance hierarchy. Third, primates that live in large groups with complex dominance hierarchies also show greater neocortical development, and concomitantly greater cognitive capacity. These facts suggest that the necessity of reasoning effectively about dominance hierarchies left an indelible mark on primate reasoning architectures, including that of humans. In order to survive in a dominance hierarchy, an individual must be capable of (a) making rank discriminations, (b) recognizing what is forbidden and what is permitted based one's rank, and (c) deciding whether to engage in or refriin from activities that will allow one to move up in rank. The first problem is closely tied to the capacity for transitive reasoning, while the second and third are intimately related to the capacity for deontic reasoning. I argue that the human capacity for these types of reasoning have evolutionary roots that reach deeper into our ancestral past than the emergence of the hominid line, and the operation of these evolutionarily primitive reasoning systems can be seen in the development of human reasoning and domain-specific effects in adult reasoning.
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  • 18
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    Minds and machines 9 (1999), S. 309-346 
    ISSN: 1572-8641
    Keywords: language ; grammar ; syntax ; semantics ; evolution ; emergence ; brain size
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Computer Science , Philosophy
    Notes: Abstract It is commonly argued that the rules of language, as distinct from its semantic features, are the characteristics which most clearly distinguish language from the communication systems of other species. A number of linguists (e.g., Chomsky 1972, 1980; Pinker 1994) have suggested that the universal features of grammar (UG) are unique human adaptations showing no evolutionary continuities with any other species. However, recent summaries of the substantive features of UG are quite remarkable in the very general nature of the features proposed. While the syntax of any given language can be quite complex, the specific rules vary so much between languages that the truly universal (i.e. innate) aspects of grammar are not complex at all. In fact, these features most closely resemble a set of general descriptions of our richly complex semantic cognition, and not a list of specific rules. General principles of the evolutionary process suggest that syntax is more properly understood as an emergent characteristic of the explosion of semantic complexity that occurred during hominid evolution. It is argued that grammatical rules used in given languages are likely to be simply conventionalized, invented features of language, and not the result of an innate, grammar-specific module. The grammatical and syntactic regularities that are found across languages occur simply because all languages attempt to communicate the same sorts of semantic information.
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    BioMetals 11 (1998), S. 345-358 
    ISSN: 1572-8773
    Keywords: calcium ; CREB ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Through the evolution of multicellular organisms, calcium has emerged as the preferred ion for intracel-lular signalling. It now occupies a pivotal role in many cell types and nowhere is it more important than in neurons, where it mediates both the relaying and long-term storage of information. The latter is a process that enables learning and memory to be formed and requires the activation of gene expression by calcium signals. Evidence from a number of diverse organisms shows that transcription mediated by the transcrip-tion factor CREB is critical for learning and memory. Here we review the features of CREB activation by calcium signals in mammalian cells. In contrast to other transcription factors, its regulation is dependent on an elevation of nuclear calcium concentration, potentially placing this spatially distinct pool of calcium as an important mediator of information storage.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
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    Journal for general philosophy of science 30 (1999), S. 37-58 
    ISSN: 1572-8587
    Keywords: protein ; experimentation ; conceptual variation and selection ; evolution ; Mulder ; Liebig ; Pflüger ; Nägeli
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Philosophy , Nature of Science, Research, Systems of Higher Education, Museum Science
    Notes: Abstract A philosophically comprehended account is given of the genesis and evolution of the concept of protein. Characteristic of this development were not shifts in theory in response to new experimental data, but shifts in the range of questions that the available experimental resources were fit to cope with effectively. Apart from explanatory success with regard to its own range of questions, various other selecting factors acted on a conceptual variant, some stemming from a competing set of research questions, others from an altogether different field of inquiry, and still others from the external environment. These results are best explained on, hence support, an evolutionary model of the progress of experimental investigation, whose outlines are briefly discussed.
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    Minds and machines 6 (1996), S. 481-505 
    ISSN: 1572-8641
    Keywords: Neuroscience ; evolutionary psychology ; interfield theory ; evolution ; teleology ; function ; functionalism ; brain mapping ; language processing
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Computer Science , Philosophy
    Notes: Abstract The idea of integrating evolutionary biology and psychology has great promise, but one that will be compromised if psychological functions are conceived too abstractly and neuroscience is not allowed to play a contructive role. We argue that the proper integration of neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology requires a telelogical as opposed to a merely componential analysis of function. A teleological analysis is required in neuroscience itself; we point to traditional and curent research methods in neuroscience, which make critical use of distinctly teleological functional considerations in brain cartography. Only by invoking teleological criteria can researchers distinguish the fruitful ways of identifying brain components from the myriad of possible ways. One likely reason for reluctance to turn to neuroscience is fear of reduction, but we argue that, in the context of a teleological perspective on function, this concern is misplaced. Adducing such theoretical considerations as top-down and bottom-up constraints on neuroscientific and psychological models, as well as existing cases of productive, multidisciplinary cooperation, we argue that integration of neuroscience into psychology and evolutionary biology is likely to be mutually beneficial. We also show how it can be accommodated methodologically within the framework of an interfield theory.
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    Coral reefs 17 (1998), S. 155-168 
    ISSN: 1432-0975
    Keywords: Key words Atoll hydrodynamics ; Lagoon ciculation ; Wave transformation ; Currents ; Physical processes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract  Detailed measurements of water levels, and tide and wave-induced currents were undertaken to examine physical processes and their relationship with morphology in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a medium sized atoll in the Indian Ocean. Results indicate that the atoll structure controls both lagoon circulation and the spatial pattern of energy distribution. Lagoon circulation is tide dominated (currents 16–31 cms-1) with flushing (2–5 days) of the lagoon occurring through the deep leeward passages. Wave- and tide-driven unidirectional flows through shallow passages (26–65 cms-1) are important mechanisms of ocean to lagoon water exchange and contribute up to 24% of the lagoon neap tide prism. Reef flats are dominated by wave energy (maximum velocity 140 cms-1, east) with measurements of the attenuation of wave energy between reef flats and shallow lagoon (80–90%) conforming to measurements from fringing and barrier reefs. Spectral analysis shows that the characteristics of wave energy vary on different sectors of the atoll, with gravity wave energy dominating the east, and infragravity wave energy dominating the southern reef flat and passages. Wave setup at the reef crest is considered to be responsible for an identified 0.1 m higher water level in the southern as opposed to eastern and northern atoll, which promotes higher reef flat growth. Transmission of gravity waves across reef flats requires threshold water depths of 0.65 (east) and 0.70 m (south). The higher southern reef is an effective filter of gravity wave energy for most tidal elevations. Differences in the type and magnitude of physical processes within the atoll are discussed with relation to geomorphic development on Cocos.
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    Plant molecular biology reporter 16 (1998), S. 323-339 
    ISSN: 1572-9818
    Keywords: Aux/IAA genes ; gene expression ; gene families ; RT-PCR ; tomato
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have developed an improved method for determination of gene expression levels with RT-PCR. The procedure is rapid and does not require extensive optimization or densitometric analysis. Since the detection of individual transcripts is PCR-based, small amounts of tissue samples are sufficient for the analysis of expression patterns in large gene families. Using this method, we were able to rapidly screen nine members of the Aux/IAA family of auxin- responsive genes and identify those genes which vary in message abundance in a tissue- and light-specific manner. While not offering the accuracy of conventional semi-quantitative or competitive RT-PCR, our method allows quick screening of large numbers of genes in a wide range of RNA samples with just a thermal cycler and standard gel analysis equipment.
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    Plant molecular biology reporter 17 (1999), S. 371-383 
    ISSN: 1572-9818
    Keywords: epidermal peel ; extraction ; gene expression ; stomata ; tree tobacco
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Stomatal guard cells are critical for maintenance of plant homeostasis and represent an interesting cell type for studies of leaf cell differentiation and patterning. Here we describe techniques for the isolation of guard cell RNA and protein from blended epidermal peels of Nicotiana glauca. The RNA isolation procedure is a modification of the hot borate method, which is particularly well-suited for recalcitrant tissues. Protein was extracted by disrupting guard cell-enriched epidermis with a French® press. This system offers the following advantages: relatively high yield, low or no contamination by other cell types, fresh tissue as a source of RNA and protein rather than protoplasts, and a plant species that is readily transformable. These techniques will allow for cloning and analysis of genes expressed in guard cells, application of traditional biochemical techniques to guard cell proteins, as well as characterization of genetic manipulation of guard cell function in transgenic plants.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1573-0417
    Keywords: colonization ; evolution ; lakes ; Norway ; deglaciation ; land uplift ; invertebrates ; Chironomidae ; Porifera ; Bryozoa ; diatoms ; Charophyta ; tsunami
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Invertebrate colonization of lakes following the uplift of land from the sea was studied in four lakes, currently situated between 39 and 24 m a.s.l., on the central Norwegian coast. The lakes were isolated from the sea between 9500 and 7700 years B.P. Animal and algal remains picked from core samples showed that the first colonizers preserved as fossils were usually members of the Chironomidae, Daphnidae/Chydoridae, Acarina, Porifera (Ephydatia mülleri and Spongilla lacustris), Bryozoa (Cristatella mucedo and Plumatella spp.) and Charophyta (Chara sp.). Of the chironomids, the genus Chironomus was present in the oldest lacustrine layers of all four lakes, but other genera recorded at the marine/lacustrine boundary were Dicrotendipes, Procladius (?), Einfeldia, Microtendipes, and Glyptotendipes. Remains of the caddis fly family Limnephilidae were also present in the earliest lacustrine sediments in Kvennavatnet and Kvernavatnet. The oldest invertebrate fauna is typical for mesotrophic lakes. However, chironomids and mites have been present in this area from at least about 10 500 years B.P. A diverse chironomid community was established between 300 and 800 years after isolation from the sea at Kvernavatnet on the island of Hitra, while only between 80 and 120 years passed before a comparably diverse community developed at Kvennavatnet on the mainland coast. A similar development of the invertebrate fauna occurred in Kvennavatnet, Kvernavatnet and Storkuvatnet. However, Litjvatnet deviates greatly from the ‘normal’ pattern because a tsunami disturbed the bottom sediments and fauna. The tsunami, a gigantic sea wave, was caused by a submarine slide from the Norwegian continental slope. It reached Litjvatnet, today located 24 m a.s.l., but was not traced in Storkuvatnet at 30 m a.s.l. This event happened about 7200 years B.P.
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    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 71 (1997), S. 159-178 
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: aromatic pathways ; chlorobenzenes ; evolution ; genes ; plasmids ; pseudomonas
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Chlorobenzenes are substrates not easily metabolized by existing bacteria in the environment. Specific strains, however, have been isolated from polluted environments or in laboratory selection procedures that use chlorobenzenes as their sole carbon and energy source. Genetic analysis indicated that these bacteria have acquired a novel combination of previously existing genes. One of these gene clusters contains the genes for an aromatic ring dioxy-genase and a dihydrodiol dehydrogenase. The other contains the genes for a chlorocatechol oxidative pathway. Comparison of such gene clusters with those from other aromatics degrading bacteria reveals that this process of recombining or assembly of existing genetic material must have occurred in many of them. Similarities of gene functions between pathways suggest that incorporation of existing genetic material has been the most important mechanism of expanding a metabolic pathway. Only in a few cases a horizontal expansion, that is acqui sition of gene functions to accomodate a wider range of substrates which are then all transformed in one central pathway, is observed on the genetic level. Evidence is presented indicating that the assembly process may trigger a faster divergence of nearby gene sequences. Further ‘fine-tuning’, for example by developing a proper regulation, is then the next step in the adaptation.
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    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 71 (1997), S. 265-270 
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: bacteria ; DNA ; evolution ; genome ; RNA
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract This review examines evolution of bacterial genomes with an emphasis on RNA based life, the transition to functional DNA and small evolving genomes (possibly plasmids) that led to larger, functional bacterial genomes.
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    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 71 (1997), S. 257-263 
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: bacteria ; energy ; evolution ; genome ; metabolism
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract This article examines the relationship between (or dependence of) bacterial evolution in prokaryotes and metabolism, and the changing physical-chemical conditions present during early evolution.
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    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 71 (1997), S. 363-368 
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: assembly ; anode ; bacteria ; cathode ; DNA ; evolution ; genetics ; molecular ; surfaces
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Molecular evolution is examined in bacteria with an emphasis on mineral surfaces, membranes, cathodes and anodes. In early molecular evolution, cathode-anode system may have been naturally occurring on a nm to µm scale. Secondly, the cathode-anode system could have been separated by a primitive, permeable lipid or microsphere on a mineral surface, that was a precursor of a more advanced membrane with a charge differential on either side of the membrane. These aspects will be considered from a theoretical evolutionary perspective.
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    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 72 (1997), S. 251-259 
    ISSN: 1572-9699
    Keywords: bacteria ; catalysis ; DNA ; enzyme ; evolution ; microorganisms ; optimization ; RNA ; time
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Microbial populations (and life) not only evolve, they optimize. The transition from a random, unorganized, lifeless Earth to the present situation, where the Earth is virtually covered with nucleic acids and diverse and complex species, required numerous molecular changes and the integration of metabolic pathways over billions of years. Primitive prokaryotic life was dependent on and constrained by the physical-chemical conditions on the Earth, while slowly reshaping conditions present. In this review, molecular evolution and molecular optimization are examined with an emphasis on the order in which evolutionary events occurred.
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    Journal of the history of biology 32 (1999), S. 343-383 
    ISSN: 1573-0387
    Keywords: agnosticism ; Darwinian ; evolution ; materialism ; Malthusian ; nebular hypothesis ; popularization ; professionalization ; transitional forms
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , History
    Notes: Abstract Robert Chambers and Thomas Henry Huxley helped popularize science by writing for general interest publications when science was becoming increasingly professionalized. A non-professional, Chambers used his family-owned Chambers' Edinburgh Journal to report on scientific discoveries, giving his audience access to ideas that were only available to scientists who regularly attended professional meetings or read published transactions of such forums. He had no formal training in the sciences and little interest in advancing the professional status of scientists; his course of action was determined by his disability and interest in scientific phenomena. His skillful reporting enabled readers to learn how the ideas that flowed from scientific innovation affected their lives, and his series of article in the Journal presenting his rudimentary ideas on evolution, served as a prelude to his important popular work, Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. Huxley, an example of the new professional class of scientists, defended science and evolution from attacks by religious spokesmen and other opponents of evolution, informing the British public about science through his lectures and articles in such publications as Nineteenth Century. He understood that by popularizing scientific information, he could effectively challenge the old Tory establishment -- with its orthodox religious and political views -- and promote the ideas of the new class of professional scientists. In attempting to transform British society, he frequently came in conflict with theologians and others on issues in which science and religion seemed to contradict each other but refused to discuss matters of science with non-professionals like Chambers, whose popular writing struck a more resonant chord with working class readers.
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    De economist 144 (1996), S. 397-428 
    ISSN: 1572-9982
    Keywords: conventions ; institutions ; game theory ; evolution
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    Topics: Economics
    Notes: Summary This survey article starts with a game-theory interpretation of coordination problems that occur in an economy. Three types of games are discussed in which the degree of coordination versus conflict varies. It is shown that game-theoretic techniques for equilibrium selection or securing the highest pay-off outcome do not always suffice, which raises the need for exogenous information. Norms, such as conventions and institutions, may provide this information. The emergence and persistence of norms as well as the relationship between the type of game and the type of norm are discussed. After a discussion on conventions and rationality, some notions from Institutional Economics are introduced, in which institutions are explained as a way to deal with limited and costly information. Some applications are given in the last section.
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    Insectes sociaux 42 (1995), S. 57-69 
    ISSN: 1420-9098
    Keywords: Hindgut ; alkalinity ; evolution ; symbionts ; gut morphology
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The pH of the gut contents was measured in 52 species of higher termites (Termitidae), representing 36 genera in all four subfamilies. A statistically significant trend was shown from lower termites with low mean gut pH through to the Termitinae with higher mean gut pHs. Elevation of the pH occurred principally in the first and third proctodaeal segments, reaching values as high as 10.5 in 8 soil-feeding genera and 1 wood-feeding genus of Termitinae. Elevation of gut pH within the Termitidae appears to be independent of the general nature of the feeding substrate.
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    Insectes sociaux 43 (1996), S. 375-389 
    ISSN: 1420-9098
    Keywords: Nasutitermitinae ; Subulitermes ; Coatitermes ; Velocitermes ; evolution ; phylogeny
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The developmental pathways of the neuter castes were studied in three species of Nasutitermitinae from central Panama. The humivorousSubulitermes denisae andCoatitermes clevelandi display several primitive traits: absence of sex dimorphism, representation of both sexes among workers and soldiers, and occurrence of successive worker instars. The litter-dwellingVelocitermes barrocoloradensis has a more complex caste system: female larvae are larger than males and give rise to the large workers, which constitute the bulk of the work force; male larvae proceed to soldiers through a small worker or a special larval instar. The resulting soldier caste is polymorphic. These results support previously formulated hypotheses regarding a link between humivorous diet and reduced polymorphism on the one hand, and between forest-floor foraging and large continuous size variation among soldiers on the other. Whereas the caste systems ofSubulitermes andCoatitermes probably represent a primitive condition,Velocitermes shares derived traits withNasutitermes and the other fully nasute genera previously studied. I therefore hypothesize that ancestors with these advanced features may have spread from the neotropics and be at the origin of most nasute genera, including humivorous taxa, present in other regions.
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    ISSN: 1420-9098
    Keywords: Formicidae ; Leptothoracini ; Tetramoriini ; internal transcribed spacer ; social parasitism ; evolution ; phylogenetics
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary A fragment of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) adjacent to the 5.8S rRNA gene of 20 myrmicine ant species was sequenced. Sequence comparisons were carried out between 11 species of the tribe Leptothoracini, five species of the tribe Tetramoriini, three species of the tribe Solenopsidini and one species of the tribe Myrmicini. Additionally, the formicine antCamponotus ligniperda (tribe Camponotini) was analyzed as an outgroup species. Among all investigated species, the fragment had a variable length of ≈ 230–380 bp with only a few conserved sequence elements. The sequences of this fragment were perfectly identical within four palearctic populations ofLeptothorax acervorum indicating that intraspecific variation is rather low. Within the species of Tetramoriini (includingAnergates atratulus) 94.1% of sequence positions were identical, 95.6% within the species of theLeptothorax s.str.-group and 64.6% within the species of theMyrafant-group. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the social parasitesHarpagoxenus sublaevis, Doronomyrmex goesswaldi, D. kutteri andD. pacis, Chalepoxenus muellerianus as well asStrongylognathus alpinus andTeleutomyrmex schneideri are most closely related to the groups of their respective host species, which generally confirms the taxonomical classifications of the subfamily Myrmicinae based on morphological criteria. The taxonomical positions of the speciesA. atratulus has as yet been uncertain, however, sequence comparison of the ITS-1 fragment leads to the conclusion thatA. atratulus rather belongs to the tribe Tetramoriini than to the Solenopsidini.
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    Cellular and molecular life sciences 52 (1996), S. 888-891 
    ISSN: 1420-9071
    Keywords: Ageing ; rat ; brain ; gene expression ; differential display
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique of differential display to analyse changes in gene expression during ageing of the rat brain. In this approach we have compared three young adult (6 months) with three old adult (20 months) animals. RNA preparations from the homogenised brains were subjected to reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR using 36 different combinations of primer pairs. Any PCR product which was consistently found to be more prominent in the three young brains compared to the three old brains, and vice versa, was scored as potentially representing a gene which was differentially expressed during the ageing of this tissue. Out of a possible 2000+PCR products we identified 44 that might represent genes that exhibit differential expression during ageing of the rat brain. An initial screen of these fragments, by Southern-blotting the PCR products and hybridising them with cDNA probes derived from either young or old brain RNA preparations, indicated that 40% of them represented genes that were differentially expressed. This approach is likely to prove invaluable for identifying cohorts of genes that show differential expression during the ageing process.
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    ISSN: 1423-0445
    Keywords: sex pheromone ; synergist ; antagonist ; mate recognition ; reproductive isolation ; chemotaxonomoy ; phylogeny ; evolution ; Lepidoptera ; Tortricidae
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The geometric isomers (E,E)-, (E,Z)-, (Z,E)-, and (Z,Z)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate were identified as sex pheromone components or sex attractants in the tribes Eucosmini and Grapholitini of the tortricid subfamily Olethreutinae. Species belonging to the more ancestral Tortricinae were not attracted. Each one isomer was behaviourally active in males ofCydia andGrapholita (Grapholitini), either as main pheromone compound, attraction synergist or attraction inhibitor. Their reciprocal attractive/antagonistic activity in a number of species enables specific communication with these four compounds.Pammene, as well as otherGrapholita andCydia responded to the monoenic 8- or 10-dodecen-1-yl acetates. Of the tribes Olethreutini and Eucosmini,Hedya, Epiblema, Eucosma, andNotocelia trimaculana were also attracted to 8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetates, but several otherNotocelia to 10,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetates. The female sex pheromones ofC. fagiglandana, C. pyrivora, C. splendana, Epiblema foenella andNotocelia roborana were identified. (E,E)- and (E,Z)-8,10-dodecadien-1-yl acetate are producedvia a commonE9 desaturation pathway inC. splendana. CallingC. nigricana andC. fagiglandana females are attracted to wingfanning males.
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    Immunogenetics 49 (1999), S. 865-871 
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Orangutan ; MHC class I ; HLA-C ; natural killer cells ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  HLA-B and C are related class I genes which are believed to have arisen by duplication of a common ancestor. Previous study showed the presence of orthologues for both HLA-B and C in African apes but only for HLA-B in Asian apes. These observations suggested that the primate C locus evolved subsequent to the divergence of the Pongidae and Hominidae. From an analysis of orangutan Tengku two HLA-C-like alleles (Popy C*0101 and Popy C*0201) were defined as well as three HLA-B-like (Popy-B) alleles. By contrast, no Popy-C alleles were obtained from orangutan Hati, although three Popy-B alleles were defined. Thus an HLA-C-like locus exists in the orangutan (as well as a duplicated B locus), implying that the primate C locus evolved prior to the divergence of the Pongidae and Hominidae and is at least 12–13 million years old. Uncertain is whether all orangutan MHC haplotypes contain a C locus, as the failure to find C alleles in some individuals could be due to a mispairing of HLA-C-specific primers with certain Popy-C alleles. These results raise the possibilities that other primate species have a C locus and that the regulation of natural killer cells by C allotypes evolved earlier in primate evolution than has been thought.
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    ISSN: 1432-203X
    Keywords: glyphosate ; gene expression ; gene amplification ; cell culture ; resistance
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The stability and expression of amplified 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) genes was examined in glyphosate resistant tobacco cells grown in glyphosate-free medium, and in plantlets regenerated from resistant cells. Amplified DNA was maintained in resistant cells grown in the absence of glyphosate for three years. Amplified EPSPS genes were retained in regenerated plantlets at levels comparable to those observed in the resistant cells, and EPSPS mRNA was overexpressed (compared to unselected plantlets). However, glyphosate resistance in cell lines grown in glyphosate-free medium declined 7-fold, and in regenerated plantlets approximately 20-fold, compared to resistant cells maintained under glyphosate selection. In plantlets, reduced resistance correlated with lower levels of EPSPS mRNA. Plantlets regenerated from resistant cells exhibited morphological variation, and had an approximate doubling of their nuclear genome size.
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    Ecological research 10 (1995), S. 321-325 
    ISSN: 1440-1703
    Keywords: body temperature ; brood parasitism ; cuckoo ; evolution ; telemetry
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Body temperatures of 11 bird species, including cuckoos, were measured in an artificial meteorological room. Ratios of change in body temperature to that in air temperature were thereby obtained for each species. Cuckoos demonstrate a remarkably high value, indicating a particularly low ability to regulate body temperature. Viewed in this light, the cuckoo's parasitic behavior is very likely an adaptation to overcome a physiological disadvantage. This in turn might be expected to reinforce delay in evolution of temperature homeostasis.
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    Journal of industrial microbiology and biotechnology 17 (1996), S. 151-158 
    ISSN: 1476-5535
    Keywords: bacteriocins ; colicins ; evolution ; ecology ; Escherichia coli
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    Topics: Biology , Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
    Notes: Abstract In this review we focus on the ecological and evolutionary forces that determine the frequency and diversity of colicins inEscherichia coli. To begin, we describe that this killing phenotype is ubiquitous inE. coli, with as many as 50% of the isolates from a population producing colicin toxins, and that each population sampled has its own unique distribution of the more than 20 known colicin types. Next, we explore the dynamics of colicinogeny, which exhibits a typical form of frequency dependence, where the likelihood of successful colicin invasion into a population increases as the initial density of colicinogenic cells increases. We then incorporate thoughts on the evolution of chromosomal resistance to colicins and describe how resistance might influence the dynamics of colicinogen invasion and maintenance and the resulting colicin diversity. The final section deals with a genetic and phylogenetic characterization of colicins and a discussion of the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for generating colicin diversity. In this final section we provide details of the different molecular mechanisms known to play a role in generating colicin diversity, including the two most dominant forces in colincin evolution: recombination and positive, deversifying, selection.
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  • 42
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: vasoactive intestinal peptide ; ulcerative colitis ; gene expression
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The availability of colon provides a ready source of human neurons. Among the products of nerve cell bodies, vasoactive intestinal peptide is a neuropeptide that serves as a marker of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves in colon. These nerves have been proposed to be involved in regulation of immune function, secretion, and smooth muscle function. In previous work, we identified decreased tissue levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide in a disorder of chronic colonic mucosal inflammation, ulcerative colitis. We hypothesized that diminished gene expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide could result in decreased tissue levels of this neuropeptide. Sigmoid colon was obtained at surgery from controls (n=6) and patients with ulcerative colitis (n=6). Vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNA was quantified by Northern blot hybridization and tissue levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide were determined by radioimmunoassay. Tissue vasoactive intestinal peptide was decreased only in the mucosalsubmucosal layer of ulcerative colitis (p=.02). There was a single 1.7 kbase vasoactive intestinal peptide transcript identified in both control colon and ulcerative colitis. Normalized vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNA levels were increased by 260% in ulcerative colitis compared to controls (p〈.01). These observations suggest that decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide gene expression or abnormal post-transcriptional processing are not primary defects in this disorder of chronic inflammation. The findings support the alternative hypothesis that axonal degeneration in ulcerative colitis could result in increased expression of neuronal vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNA.
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    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; insulin ; calcium ; gene expression ; rat liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of refeeding on the expression of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the liver of fasted rats was investigated. When rats were fasted overnight, the hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was reduced about 70% of that in feeding rats. Refeeding produced a remarkable elevation of hepatic regucalcin mRNA level (about 150–170% of fasted rats). Liver regucalcin concentration was appreciably increased by refeeding, although it was not altered by fasting. The oral administration of glucose (2 g/kg body weight) to fasted rats caused a significant increase in hepatic regucalcin mRNA level. Moreover, hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was clearly elevated by a single subcutaneous administration of insulin (10 and 100 U/kg) to fasted rats. The hormonal effect was not further enhanced by the simultaneous administration of calcium chloride (250 mg Ca/kg) to fasted rats, although calcium administration stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the liver. The present study suggests that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA stimulated by refeeding is significantly involved in the action of insulin and/or calcium as stimulating factors.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 143 (1995), S. 67-71 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; gene distribution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The existence and expression of gene encoding the Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin in various species and tissues were investigated with Southern and Northern hybridization analyses using regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb of open reading frame). Genomic Southern hybridization analysis demonstrated that regucalcin gene was widely conserved among higher animals including human, monkey, rat, mouse, dog, bovine, rabbit and chicken. The gene was not found in yeast. The Northern blot analysis of poly (A)+RNAs extracted from the liver of various species showed that regucalcin mRNA was predominantly expressed in rat and mouse, although the expression was also seen in human, bovine and chicken. Furthermore, the enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) with rabbit-anti-regucalcin IgG indicated that hepatic regucalcin concentration was most pronounced in rat as compared with that of guinea pig, mouse and chicken. These observations show that the gene expression of regucalcin and its protein synthesis is unique in the liver of rats, suggesting the existence of a specific mechanism in demonstrating regucalcin synthesis from gene.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 143 (1995), S. 137-141 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; estrogen ; gene expression ; rat liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of nuclear receptor-related hormones on the expression of hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in rats was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb of open-reading frame). A single subcutaneons administration of 17β-estradiol (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg body weight) in rats induced a remarkable increase of regucalcin mRNA in liver; the level was about 200% of control at 24 h after the administration of 2.0 mg/kg. The increase showed about 350% even at 6 h after the administration. Meanwhile, hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was not appreciably altered by a single subcutaneous administration of thyroxine (T4) (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) or hydrocortisone (10 and 30 mg/kg) in rats. The present study demonstrates that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA is stimulated by estrogen action in the liver nuclei of rats.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 144 (1995), S. 105-108 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: fatty acid synthase ; gene expression ; and thyroid hormone
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on regulation of fatty acid synthase in chicken liver was investigated. In hypothyroid animals, enzyme activity was about one half of that in euthyroid animals. T3 treatment increased the enzyme activity in hypothyroid animals. There is little difference in both the mRNA concentration and the transcription rate between euthyroid and hypothyroid animals. T3 treatment markedly decreased both the mRNA concentration and the transcription rate in euthyroid and hypothyroid animals. These results suggested that T3 maintained the normal level of enzyme expression primarily by stimulating the post-transcriptional step, while the transcription of the gene was inhibited by hyperthyroidism.
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  • 47
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 155 (1996), S. 85-90 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; rat hepatoma ; Morris hepatoma cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Whether the gene expression of hepatic Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin is altered in hepatomas was investigated. The change in regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb). Rat hepatoma was induced by continuous feeding of basal diet containing 0.06% 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3′-Me-DAB). After 35 weeks feeding, rats were sacrificed, and the non-tumorous and tumorous tissues of the livers were removed. In individual rats, the regucalcin mRNA levels in the tumorous tissues were generally decreased in comparison with that of the non-tumorous tissues of the chemical-fed rats, although the chemical administration might decrease the mRNA expression in normal rat liver, suggesting that the chemical administration causes a suppresive effect on the mRNA expression. When the genomic DNA extracted from the liver tumorous tissues was digested with restriction enzymes (EcoRI, BamHI and HindIII) and analyzed by Southern blotting, no rear-ranged band was found in the regucalcin gene from the hepatoma. Interestingly, in the transplantable Morris hepatoma cells, the regucalcin mRNA was markedly expressed, while the albumin mRNA was expressed only slightly. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin mRNA is clearly expressed in the transformed cells (Morris hepatoma cells).
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  • 48
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 155 (1996), S. 105-111 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; aldosterone ; estrogen ; dexamethasone ; gene expression ; rat kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of various steroid hormones on the expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open-reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in the kidney cortex but not the medulla. Rats received a single subcutaneous administration of steroid; the animals were sacrificed 60 min after the treatment of aldosterone (2.5, 5.0 and 10 μg/100 g body weight) or 6 h after the treatment of estrogen (17β-estradiol; 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/100 g), hydrocortisone (0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/100 g) and dexamethasone (50, 100 and 150 μg/100 g). Regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex were clearly diminished by the administration of aldosterone or estrogen, while hydrocortisone administration had no effect. The administration of dexamethasone (100 μg/100 g) caused a remarkable increase of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex. The dexamethasone-induced increase in regucalcin mRNA levels was completely blocked by the simultaneous administration of cycloheximide (150 μg/100 g), although the drug administration had no effect on the mRNA levels in control rats. Meanwhile, the dexamethasone administration did not cause an appreciable alteration of calcium content in the kidney cortex. The present study demonstrates that, of the various steroid hormones used, dexamethasone uniquely has a stimulatory effect on regucalcin mRNA expression in the kidney cortex of rats. The steroid effect may be mediated through a newly synthesized protein.
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  • 49
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 160-161 (1996), S. 307-313 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: myocardium ; hypertension ; gene expression ; estrogens ; cardiac hypertrophy ; signal transduction ; genetic program
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Gender specific differences in cardiovascular disease are largely mediated by sex hormones. The use of estrogens significantly reduces the overall incidence of heart disease in postmenopausal women. Beneficial effects of estrogens on plasma lipoprotein levels are clearly established. However, these do not explain the magnitude of risk reduction seen in clinical studies. Thus, additional and currently unknown functions of estrogens must be operative. Elucidation of the exact estrogen action in the heart will have important implications in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. It will probably enhance the therapeutic repertoire in treating heart disease, the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. We will review the current understanding of the function of estrogens in the heart and discuss potential strategies on how to apply these data to clinical practice.
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  • 50
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 162 (1996), S. 139-144 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; saline ingestion ; hypertensive rats ; kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) or saline ingestion, which is a hypertensive factor, on the expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open-reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in the kidney cortex but not the medulla. Rats were adrenalectomized, and 48 h later they were sacrificed. ADX caused a reduction of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex, suggesting that adrenal glands participate in the regulation of the mRNA expression. This reduction was not restored by the subcutaneous administration of dexamethasone with an effective dose (1 mg/kg body weight), which can stimulate kidney regucalcin mRNA expression. Regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex of rats were markedly suppressed by the ingestion of saline for 7 days. The ADX-induced decrease of renal cortex regucalcin mRNA levels was not appreciably restored by saline ingestion. Moreover, regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) were clearly decreased as compared with that of control (Wistar-Kyoto) rats. Meanwhile, calcium content in the kidney cortex was not significantly decreased by ADX or saline ingestion. The present study suggests that the expression of regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats is suppressed by saline administration.
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  • 51
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    Keywords: calreticulin ; gene expression ; steroid receptor
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Calreticulin is a ubiquitously expressed Ca2+ binding protein of the endoplasmic reticulum which inhibits DNA binding and transcriptional activation by steroid hormone receptors. In this study the effects of calreticulin on tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene expression in cultured McA–RH7777 hepatocytes was investigated. McA–RH7777 cells were stably transfected with calreticulin expression vector to generate cells overexpressing the protein. The transcriptional activity of the TAT gene, which is glucocorticoid–sensitive and cAMP–dependent, was investigated in the mock transfected McA–RH7777 and in cells overexpressing calreticulin (designated McA–11 and McA–17). In the presence of dexamethasone or the cAMP analog (CTP–cAMP) expression of the TAT gene was induced in mock transfected McA–RH7777 cells by approximately 4.5 and 5 fold, respectively. In McA–11 and McA–17 cells, overexpressing calreticulin, glucocorticoi ever, the CTP–cAMP–dependent expression of the TAT gene was not affected. The ability of calreticulin to inhibit glucocorticoid–sensitive TAT gene expression but not the cAMP–dependent expression of the gene suggests that the protein affects specifically the action of transcription pathways involving steroid receptors or transcription factors containing KxFF(K/R)R–like motifs. Calreticulin may play an important role in the regulation of glucocorticoid–sensitive pathway of expression of the hepatocytes specific genes during development.
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  • 52
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 148 (1995), S. 45-57 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: manganese ; superoxide dismutase ; gene expression ; hyperoxide lung injury ; nuclear factor kappa B
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract TNFα and IL-1 each can activate NF-κB and induce gene expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial matrix enzyme which can provide critical protection against hyperoxic lung injury. The regulation of MnSOD gene expression is not well understood. Since redox status can modulate NF-κB and potential κB site(s) exist in the MnSOD promoter, the effect of thiols (including NAC, DTT and 2-ME) on TNFα and IL-1 induced activation of NF-κB and MnSOD gene expression was investigated. Activation of NF-kB and increased MnSOD expression were potentiated by thiol reducing agents. In contrast, thiol oxidizing or alkylating agents inhibited both NF-κB activation and elevated MnSOD expression in response to TNFα or IL-1. Since protease inhibitors TPCK and TLCK can inhibit NF-κB activation, we also investigated the effect of these compounds on MnSOD expression and NF-κB activation. TPCK and TLCK each inhibited MnSOD gene expression and NF-κB activation. Since the MnSOD promoter also contains anAP-1 binding site, the effect of thiols and thiol modifying agents on AP-1 activation was investigated. Thiols had no consistent effect onAP-1 activation. Likewise, some of the thiol modifying compounds inhibited AP-1 activation by TNFα or IL-1, whereas others did not. Since diverse agents had similar effects on activation of NF-κB and MnSOD gene expression, we have demonstrated that activation of NF-κB and MnSOD gene expression are closely associated and that reduced sulfhydryl groups are required for cytokine mediation of both processes.
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  • 53
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    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; calmodulin ; spontaneous hypertensive rats ; rat kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats ingested with saline was investigated. The alteration in regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open reading frame). Rats were freely given saline as drinking water for 7 days. Regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex were suppressed by saline ingestion. When calcium chloride (10 mg Ca/100 g body weight) was intraperitoneally administered to rats ingested with saline for 7 days, the effect of calcium administration to increase regucalcin mRNA levels was weakened by saline ingestion. Such effect was also seen by the administration of 2.5 and 5 mg Ca/100 g. Regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) were not appreciably increased by the administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g). Meanwhile, calcium content in the kidney cortex was significantly elevated by the administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g) to normal rats. This increase was weakened in saline-ingested rats. Moreover, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity in the cytosol of kidney cortex was significantly decreased by saline ingestion. These results suggest the possibility that saline ingestion-induced suppression of regucalcin mRNA expression in the kidney cortex is partly involved in the attenuation of Ca2+ signalling.
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  • 54
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    Keywords: microbodies ; diabetes mellitus ; steroid hormone receptor ; β-oxidation ; gene expression
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract To determine whether the increased fatty acid β-oxidation in the peroxisomes of diabetic rat liver is mediated by a common peroxisome proliferation mechanism, we measured the activation of long-chain (LC) and very long chain (VLC) fatty acids catalyzed by palmitoyl CoA ligase (PAL) and lignoceryl CoA ligase and oxidation of LC (palmitic acid) and VLC (lignoceric acid) fatty acids by isotopic methods. Immunoblot analysis of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), and Northern blot analysis of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α), ACO, and PAL were also performed. The PAL activity increased in peroxisomes and mitochondria from the liver of diabetic rats by 2.6-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively. The lignoceroyl-CoA ligase activity increased by 2.6-fold in diabetic peroxisomes. Palmitic acid oxidation increased in the diabetic peroxisomes and mitochondria by 2.5-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively, while lignoceric acid oxidation increased by 2.0-fold in the peroxisomes. Immunoreactive ACO protein increased by 2-fold in the diabetic group. The mRNA levels for PPAR-α, ACO and PAL increased 2.9-, 2.8- and 1.6-fold, respectively, in the diabetic group. These results suggest that the increased supply of fatty acids to liver in diabetic state stimulates the expression of PPAR-α and its target genes responsible for the metabolism of fatty acids.
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  • 55
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 155 (1996), S. 153-162 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: apolipoprotein B and E ; lipid ; gene expression ; rat ; mouse
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of the present investigation was to study the regulation of apolipoprotein E by two dietary nutrients, saturated fat and cholesterol, known to raise plasma cholesterol levels. ApoE is a protein component of several classes of lipoproteins including VLDL and HDL, and dietary lipids may regulate VLDL and apoE-containing HDL particles through their effects on apoE gene. Male rats and mice were fed the following 4 diets: control diet (C); high cholesterol diet with 0.5% cholesterol (HC); high fat diet with 20% hydrogenated coconut oil (HF); and high fat plus high cholesterol diet with 0.5% cholesterol and 20% fat (HF/C). Plasma cholesterol levels remained unchanged on HC diet, but in mice VLDL-cholesterol increased by 31%. HF diet increased VLDL and LDL by 15–17% in rats, and 21% in mice. A combination of fat and cholesterol diet showed pronounced effects on plasma lipoprotein concentrations, raising apoB-containing particles by 21% and 44% in mice and rats, respectively. Plasma apoE levels increased significantly on all diets. The mechanism of regulation of increased plasma apoB and apoE levels was examined. Quantification of hepatic apoB mRNA showed a lack of correlation between plasma apoB and hepatic apoB mRNA levels, suggesting that posttranscriptional regulation increased plasma apoB-containing lipoproteins in animals fed saturated fat diets. Hepatic apoE mRNA levels increased significantly in animals fed cholesterol-rich diets. However, despite increased plasma apoE levels on diet containing only saturated fat, hepatic apoE mRNA did not change. Synthesis of apoE on the liver polysomes increased selectively on cholesterol-rich diets. These results suggest that cholesterol-rich diets altered apoE, in part, by transcriptional mechanism, and saturated fat-rich diets increased plasma apoE levels by posttranscriptional mechanism, possibly decreased receptor-mediated uptake of apoE-containing particles. The regulation of LDL receptor was also studied since plasma apoB and E levels may be altered by LDL receptor-mediated uptake by the hepatocytes. As expected, high cholesterol diet decreased LDL receptor mRNA by 30–40%. However, the LDL receptor protein on liver membranes did not change on any of the test diets in both animal species. Hepatic cholesterol content increased several fold selectively on high cholesterol diets. These findings suggest that: 1) both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms are important in regulating plasma apoB and E containing lipoproteins; 2) dietary cholesterol regulates apoE gene by a transcriptional mechanism anddietary saturated fat by posttranscriptional mechanism; and 3) changes in the hepatic apoE and LDL receptor mRNA are associated with the changes in intracellular cholesterol concentrations.
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  • 56
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 146 (1995), S. 71-77 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; rat kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open-reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in the kidney cortex, and this expression was clearly increased by a single intraperitoneal administration of calcium chloride solution (5–15 mg Ca/100 g body weight) in rats; this increase was remarkable at 60–120 min after the administration. Thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX) caused a slight decrease of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex. However, the administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g) in TPTX rats produced a clear increase of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex. The subcutaneous administration of calcitonin (10–100 MRC mU/100 g) or parathyroid hormone [1–34] (1–10 U/100 g) in TPTX rats which received calcium (10 mg/100 g) administration did not cause an appreciable alteration of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex, suggesting that the mRNA expression is not stimulated by calcium-regulating hormones. The administration of trifluoperazine (TFP; 5 mg/100 g), an inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin action, completely blocked the expression of regucalcin mRNA stimulated by calcium administration. Now, calcium content in the kidney cortex was significantly elevated by a single intraperitpneal administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g) in rats. The present study clearly demonstrates that the expression of regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex is stimulated by calcium administration in rats. This expression may be mediated through Ca2+/calmodulin action in the kidney cortex.
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  • 57
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    Keywords: fatty acid transport protein ; gene expression ; subtractive hybridization ; oxidative stress ; ischemia/reperfusion ; ischemic preconditioning
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In this study, ischemia and oxidative stress-inducible gene expression in heart was examined by subtractive hybridization technique. Total RNA was isolated from ventricular muscle fragments of normal and oxidative stress-induced hearts. Poly (A)+ RNA was purified followed by the construction of a plasmid cDNA library. This was followed by the subtractive screening of oxidative stress-induced cDNA library. The positive colonies were amplified and the plasmid isolated. An aliquot was subjected to restriction cutting with Bam H1 and EcoRl; the fragments corresponding to cDNA insert were separated by electrophoresis, radiolabeled by random-primed DNA synthesis, and used as probes in standard Northern blotting experiments. An aliquot containing the plasmid from the confirmed positives was then subjected to bidirectional partial DNA sequencing (using M13 and T7/T3α primers) by the chain-extension/chain termination method. These sequences were subjected to a computerized search for homologies against all sequences in the updated worldwide Gen Bank and EMBL sequence databases followed by restriction mapping and reading frame identification. Out of 24 putative positive colonies screened, one clone was matched with 〉 97% homology with FAT gene that has been implicated in binding or transport of long chain fatty acids. cDNA probe synthesized from this clone identified two major transcripts of 4.8 and 2.9 kb. Additional experiments were then performed where isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to the following treatments: (1) 5 min ischemia; (2) 10 min ischemia; (3) 20 min ischemia; (4) 5 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning); and (5) 5 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion, repeated four times (4 × preconditioning). RNAs were extracted from these hearts and hybridized with the FAT cDNA probe. The results indicated that FAT gene was induced by oxidative stress, ischemic preconditioning, but not by ischemia. (Mol Cell Biochem 160/161: 241–247, 1996)
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  • 58
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    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; diabetic state ; ethanol ; liver injury
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration in calcium-binding protein regucalcin in the liver and serum of rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic state or ethanol ingestion was investigated. STZ (6.0 mg/100 g body weight) was subcutaneously administered in rats, and 1 or 3 weeks later they were sacrificed by bleeding. Liver regucalcin mRNA levels were not clearly altered by the diabetic state, as evidenced by Northern blotting using regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb of open reading frame). Based on enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) with rabbit-anti-regucalcin IgG, hepatic regucalcin concentration was decreased about 50% of control levels by STZ treatment. However, serum regucalcin concentration was not significantly altered by STZ treatment. Meanwhile, when rats ingested ethanol (10 and 30%) in the drinking water for 2 weeks, liver regucalcin mRNA levels were clearly increased, although hepatic regucalcin concentration was significantly decreased. Serum regucalcin concentration was not appreciably altered. Serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) activities were significantly increased at 1 or 3 weeks after STZ administration in rats, while their activities were not altered by ethanol ingestion. The present study demonstrates that hepatic regucalcin concentration is decreased independent of mRNA expression in the STZ-diabetes and during ethanol ingestion in rats.
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  • 59
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 163-164 (1996), S. 231-237 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: extracellular matrix ; angiotensin II ; fibrillar collagen ; cardiac fibrosis ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Recent studies suggest that angiotensin II (angiotensin) may be involved in the regulation of metabolism of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM). Two major components of ECM are collagen types I and III which play an important role in maintaining the structure and function of the heart. Although the cellular metabolism of collagen is very complex (especially at the posttranslational level), we chose to address events that occur relatively early in the synthesis of cardiac collagen molecules. To gain an understanding of the role of angiotensin in the regulation of cardiac collagen gene expression, we studied the effect of three different doses of angiotensin (12, 24, and 48 μg/kg/h) on adult heart and cultured neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. The steady-state mRNA abundance of collagen types I and III was monitored using Northern blot analysis in both left and right ventricular samples at day 3 of angiotensin infusion and in cultured cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with angiotensin. In all mRNA abundance studies, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) signal was used to normalize the data for possible differences in loading and/or transfer of total RNA. Both collagen types I/GAPDH and III/GAPDH mRNA signal ratios were increased significantly in left ventricle in all dose regimens used for angiotensin infusion. Only the collagen type I/GAPDH mRNA signal ratio was increased in right ventricle with angiotensin infusion. Angiotensin (10−7-10−5 M) had no effect on the steady-state mRNA abundance of collagen genes in cultured neonatal cardiac fibroblasts after 24 h treatment in serum-free conditions. Our results confirm that infusion of angiotensin may upregulate steady-state collagen gene mRNA abundance in the heart. Angiotensin had no observable effect on collagen mRNA abundance in neonatal fibroblast culture. An explanation for the current results may be that angiotensin causes the release of undefined factors from cardiac myocytes, and that these secondary factors may be involved in either the activation of collagen gene transcription or in alteration of stability of collagen mRNA transcripts via a paracrine mechanism. Although our results indicate hemodynamic loading may potentiate the action of angiotensin, this scenario is unlikely as collagen type I gene expression was increased in the normotensive right ventricle.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 167 (1997), S. 169-177 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: tamoxifen ; interferon ; gene expression ; breast cancer
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The molecular basis for the enhanced growth inhibition of MCF-7 human breast cancer xenografts by a combination of human interferon-β (IFN-β) and tamoxifen was investigated. Treatment of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and BT-20 cells with the combination of IFN-β and tamoxifen resulted in enhanced antiproliferative effects in vitro. Treatment with the combination of IFN-β and tamoxifen enhanced the expression of several IFN-β-inducible genes in human breast carcinoma cell lines relative to levels induced by IFN-β alone. Tamoxifen alone did not induce transcription of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Augmentation of ISG expression by the combination of IFN-β and tamoxifen was noted in breast tumor cell lines irrespective of their functional estrogen receptor (ER) status or their dependence on estradiol for growth, suggesting that upregulation of ISGs was independent of ER status. Enhancement of IFN-stimulated gene expression by tamoxifen occurred at the transcripti onal level. Expression of transfected reporter genes under the control of IFN-α/β regulated promoters was also enhanced in IFN-β and tamoxifen-treated cells. Similarly, transcriptional induction of chimeric reporter plasmids driven by an IFN-γ inducible promoter (GAS; IFN-γ activated site) was also enhanced by the combination of IFN-γ and tamoxifen. In tamoxifen treated cells, IFN-β and IFN-γ readily activated transcription factors ISGF-3 and GAF, respectively. Therefore, augmentation of ISG expression by tamoxifen is an early event in the antitumoral activity of this drug combination. (Mol Cell Biochem 167: 169-177, 1997)
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 172 (1997), S. 47-57 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: smooth muscle ; gene transfer ; DNA ; RNA ; ribozyme ; liposome ; lipoxygenase ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Chemically synthesized hammerhead-type ribozymes targeted against the porcine leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase (LO) have been developed and studied. One chimeric ribozyme consists of DNA in the non-enzymatic portions, and RNA in the enzymatic core as well as two phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages at 3′ terminus. The second ribozyme consists of ribonucleotide sequences generated by in vitro transcription. In this chapter we describe methodologies to first analyze the ribozyme catalytic activity in vitro by studying cleavage of target RNA in vitro. The subsequent sections will describe how to target the catalytic ribozyme and deliver it to porcine vascular smooth muscle cells (PVSMC) by a liposome-mediated method. Finally ways to evaluate its activity to inhibit expression of the 12-LO mRNA will be presented. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ribozymes as novel candidates for therapeutic agents to block specific gene expression in vascular cells.
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  • 62
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    Keywords: heart ; DNA ; library ; gene expression
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    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The availability of high quality cDNA libraries is often crucial to the successful identification and characterization of genes. The concepts and potential pitfalls of constructing cDNA libraries are presented. Various applications requiring high quality cDNA libraries are outlined, including large-scale single pass sequencing of cDNA clones to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and differential screening of cDNA libraries. The usefulness of combining such approaches for the discovery of novel disease-related and cardiovascular-based ESTs (CVBest) is discussed.
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 173 (1997), S. 59-69 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: hydrogen peroxide ; oxidative stress ; gene expression ; lens epithelial cells ; N-acetylcysteine ; pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The involvement of H2O2 in cataract development has been established inboth human patients and animal models. At the molecular level H2O2 has beenobserved to cause damage to DNA, protein and lipid. To explore the oxidativestress response of the lens system at the gene expression level, we haveexamined the effects of H2O2 on the mRNA change of the proto-oncogenes,c-jun, c-fos and c-myc in a rabbit lens cell line, N/N1003A. H2O2 treatmentof the rabbit lens epithelial cells for 60 min induces quick up-regulationof both c-jun and c-fos mRNAs. The maximal induction is 38 fold for c-jun at150 µM and 72 fold for c-fos at 250 µM H2O2. Treatment ofN/N1003A cells with 50-250 µM H2O2 for 60 min leads to a 2-5 foldincrease of the c-myc mRNA level. H2O2 also induces an up-regulation intransactivity of the activating protein-1 (AP-1) as shown with a reportergene driven by a prolactin gene promoter with 4 copies of AP-1 binding sitesinserted in the upstream of the promoter. Maximal induction occurs with 150µM H2O2. In the same system, the antioxidants, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) at concentrations shown toup-regulate the mRNAs of both c-jun and c-fos, also enhance thetransactivity of AP-1. NAC and PDTC have different effects in modulating theinduction of AP-1 activity by H2O2 and TPA. These results reveal thatoxidative stress regulates expression of various regulatory genes in lenssystems, which likely affects cell proliferation, differentiation andviability and thus affect normal lens functions.
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  • 64
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    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; cDNA cloning ; gene expression ; mouse liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The molecular cloning of the cDNA coding for a Ca2+-binding proteinregucalcin and its mRNA expression in mouse liver were investigated. ThecDNA clone encoding a regucalcin was isolated from a mouse liver cDNAlibrary and sequenced. Analysis of the sequence of the cloned cDNA showedthat the cDNA encoded the complete amino acid sequence of the mouseregucalcin molecule; the cDNA had an open reading frame of 897 bp. Mouseregucalcin was composed of 299 amino acid residues, and its molecular weightwas estimated to be 33,406 Da. The amino acid sequence of mouse regucalcinhad 94% homology, as compared with that of rat regucalcin. Northernblot analysis with the mouse liver cDNA probe revealed that mouse regucalcinmRNA was mainly present in the liver but only slightly in the kidney with asize of 1.8 kb. Hepatic regucalcin mRNA level of male mouse was higher thanthat of female mouse. A single intraperitoneal administration of calciumchloride (5, 15, and 30 mg Ca2+/100 g body weight) to mice induced aremarkable increase in regucalcin mRNA in the liver; the increase inregucalcin mRNA levels at 30 min after calcium administration wasdose-dependent. The present results demonstrate that regucalcin mRNA in miceis uniquely expressed in the liver, and that its expression is stimulated bycalcium administration.
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  • 65
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 176 (1997), S. 273-279 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: cardiac hypertrophy ; myosin heavy chain ; gene expression ; adrenergic system
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Growth of the heart in hypertrophy is accompanied by changes in the phenotypic expression of cardiac genes. To explore the molecular basis of cardiac hypertrophy, we have analyzed the regulation of myosin heavy chain gene (MHC) expression. In one set of experiments, pressure overload on the rat heart was produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta. Changes in the α and β-MHC mRNA were then studied in overloaded hearts and following load removal. Pressure overload resulted in down-regulation of the α-MHC with corresponding up-regulation of the steady state level of β-MHC mRNA. Load removal (debanding) resulted in regression of cardiac hypertrophy and a rapid return of α-MHC mRNA to normal values. In contrast, the recovery in β-MHC mRNA was much slower to the extent that it remained substantially elevated compared to respective sham controls even after 7 weeks of post-debanding. These results suggest that putative load-related signals independently regulate two genes. Several lines of evidence indicate that adrenergic nervous system plays an important role in the induction and maintenance of cardiac hypertrophy and in the redistribution of myosin isoforms. We have analyzed the effect of cAMP inducing agents on the regulation of a-MHC gene in primary cultures of the fetal (18 day) rat cardiac myocyte. Inclusion of 8 Br-cAMP in the culture media increased the expression of α-MHC promoter/reporter construct comprising of 2.9 kb upstream sequence of the α-MHC gene. Several deletion mutations in the α- MHC gene promoter defined the cAMP responsive boundaries to be a 32 bp region comprising of -71 to -40 bp sequences. Deletion of this region resulted in loss of cAMP response as well as in basal expression of α-MHC promoter/reporter construct. These data suggest a role of β-adrenergic pathway in the modulation of α-MHC gene expression.
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  • 66
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; Ca2+-binding protein ; protein kinase C ; Ca2+signaling ; gene expression ; H4-II-E hepatoma cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of hepatic Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin in the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E) was investigated. The change in regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in H4-II-E hepatoma cells. This expression was clearly stimulated in the presence of serum (10% fetal bovine serum). Bay K 8644 (2. 5 × 10-6 M), a Ca2+ channel agonist, significantly stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the absence or presence of 10% serum. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10-3 M) did not have a stimulatory effect on the regucalcin mRNA expression. The presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 10-6 M) or estrogen (10-8 M) caused a significant increase in regucalcin mRNA levels in the hepatoma cells cultured in serum-free medium, while insulin (5 × 10-9 M) or dexamethasone (10-6 M) had no effect. Bay K 8644-stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the hepatoma cells was completely blocked in the presence of trifluoperazine (10-5 M), an antagonist of calmodulin, or staurosporine (10-7 M), an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The stimulatory effect of PMA was clearly inhibited in the presence of stauroporine. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin mRNA is expressed in the transformed H4-II-E hepatoma cells, and that the expression is stimulated through Ca2+-dependent signaling factors.
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  • 67
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 199 (1999), S. 189-200 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: lung ; cancer ; urokinase ; receptor ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) interacts with its receptor (uPAR) to promote proteolysis as well as cell proliferation and migration. These functions contribute to the pathogenesis of neoplastic growth and invasiveness. Expression of uPAR in tumor extracts also inversely correlates with prognosis in many forms of cancer. In this study, we sought to determine if differences in uPAR expression were distinguishable between cultured human lung carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma subtypes. We also sought to determine if, as in malignant mesothelioma cells, uPAR expression is regulated at the posttranscriptional level in cultured malignant lung carcinoma cells. Using 125I-uPA binding and ligand blotting techniques, uPAR was expressed by phenotypically diverse lung carcinoma cell lines, including the H460, H157 and H1395 non-small cell lines and the H146 small cell lung carcinoma line. Increased uPAR expression was also detected in spindle-shaped (M33K) and epithelioid (M9K and MS-1) malignant mesothelioma cells. Selected mediators, including TGF-β, TNF-α, LPS and PMA, uniformly enhanced uPAR expression in each of the tumor cell lines. Steady state uPAR mRNA expression was determined by RNase protection assay and correlated directly with the changes in cell surface uPAR expression. By gel mobility shift and UV-cross linking assays, a uPAR mRNA binding protein (uPAR mRNABp) implicated in the posttranscriptional control of message stability, was identified in each of the cell lines. Expression of uPAR and its message in cultured lung carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma cells is similarly influenced by effectors present in the tumor microenvironment. Regulation of the uPAR message occurs at the posttranscriptional level in cultured small and non-small cell lung carcinoma cells as well as spindle-shaped and fibrous malignant mesothelioma cell lines. Posttranscriptional regulation of uPAR in all these cells involves the interaction of the uPAR mRNABp with uPAR mRNA, which promotes uPAR mRNA destabilization.
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  • 68
    ISSN: 1573-4927
    Keywords: glycophorins ; gorilla ; evolution ; gene family ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Homologues of MN blood group antigens, encoded by members of the glycophorin A (GPA) gene family, are expressed in man, anthropoid apes, and some species of Old World monkeys. Previous studies had shown that a three-gene framework, most closely related to that in man, is present in the chimpanzee. Here we report the genomic structure, transcript map, and protein expression of the GYPA locus in gorillas. Compared to the corresponding human and chimpanzee homologues, gorilla GPA, GPB, and GPB/E genes each showed a high degree of sequence identity, with the same exon-intron organization. However, the expression of exons III, IV, or V encoding the extracellular or membrane domains of homologous glycophorins varied among the three species. Gorilla GPA and GPB/E genes were unique in that the former occurred in two allelic forms with or without the expression of exon III, whereas the latter contained one (ψ exon III) instead of two silenced exons (ψ exons III and IV). Differences from human but not chimpanzee GPA also included the presence of a hybrid M/N epitope and the absence of the sequon for N-glycosylation. Owing to the retention of a functional exon III, gorilla GPB was more similar to chimpanzee GPB than human GPB. A transspecies allele was identified in the gorilla that gave rise to the Henshaw (He)-like antigen similar to that found in man. These results provide further insight into the model for evolution of the GPA gene family, indicating that the mechanisms underlying inter- and intraspecific polymorphism of glycophorins could predate the divergence of gorillas as the consequence of gene duplication and diversification.
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  • 69
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 172 (1997), S. 37-46 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene transfer ; gene expression ; adenovirus ; blood vessel
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is a promising method for studies of vascular biology and potentially for gene therapy. Intravascular approaches for gene transfer to blood vessels in vivo generally require interruption of blood flow and have several limitations. We have used two alternative approaches for gene transfer to blood vessels in vivo using perivascular application of vectors. First, replication-deficient adenovirus expressing nuclear-targeted bacterial b-galactosidase was injected into cerebrospinal fluid via the cisterna magna of rats. Leptomeningeal cells over the major arteries were efficiently transfected, and adventitial cells of large vessels and smooth muscle cells of small vessels were occasionally stained. When viral suspension was injected with the rat in a lateral position, the reporter gene was expressed extensively on the ipsilateral surface of the brain. Thus, adenovirus injected into cerebrospinal fluid provides gene transfer in vivo to cerebral blood vessels and, with greater efficiency, to perivascular tissue. Furthermore, positioning of the head may ‘target’ specific regions of the brain. Second, vascular gene delivery was accomplished by perivascular injection of virus in peripheral vessels. Injection of the adenoviral vector within the periarterial sheath of monkeys resulted in gene transfer to the vessel wall that was substantial in magnitude although limited to cells in the adventitia. Approximately20% of adventitial cells expressed the transgene, with no gene transfer to cells in the intima or media. These approaches may provide alternative approaches for gene transfer to blood vessels, and may be useful for studies of vascular biology and perhaps vascular gene therapy.
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  • 70
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 172 (1997), S. 111-120 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: differential display ; cardiac development ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract An estimated 15,000 different mRNA species are expressed in a typical mammalian cell. The differential expression of mRNAs in both a temporal and cell-specific manner determines the fate of the cell and creates the organism. Analysis of this differential gene expression has become a central aim of many laboratories attempting to understand the mechanisms underlying various biological processes. Currently, we are using a technique called differential display to analyze the differential expression of genes in cardiomyocytes. Differential display is a rapid and powerful technique that was introduced by Liang and Pardee in 1992. Since that time, it has been successfully applied by several groups, and it is quickly becoming a standard method for studying differential gene expression. Here, we present a detailed article discussing the differential display methodology and how we have utilized it to identify potential genes involved in cardiomyocyte proliferation. Furthermore, we have provided a list of materials and supplied examples of data obtained, in an effort to allow the reader to perform the technique with success in their own laboratory.
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  • 71
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: plasminogen activators ; plasminogen activator inhibitors ; gene expression ; left ventricular hypertrophy ; pressure overload
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the early stages of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) acute adaptive changes occur in the coronary vasculature as it remodels. Plasminogen activators (PAs) and inhibitors (PAIs) have the potential effects of proteolytic degradation that is relevant to tissue remodeling and angiogenesis. Our study focused on the possible roles of PAI-1, PAI-2, uPA and tPA in myocyte hypertrophy and angiogenesis in the early and late stages of pressure overload induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We divided seventeen adult swine, weighing 24.2 ± 6.5 kg, into four groups: control, sham-operated, early LVH and late heart failure LVH group. At surgery we placed a fixed constrictor on the ascending aorta immediately above the aortic valve. This increased LV systolic pressure from 133 ± 15 to 193 ± 24 mm Hg after the surgery. We subdivided the early group into groups of 3 animals each that we euthanized at 8, 24 and 72 h after operation and obtained heart samples for analysis. In the late heart failure group individual animals were euthanized at 55, 59, 62 and 72 days after the detection of congestive heart failure. We also obtained tissue samples from the control and sham-operated swine. Sections for histologic analysis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. We isolated RNA, size fractionated it using 1% formaldehyde-agarose gel electrophoresis and then did Northern blots. The mRNAs from both PAI-1 and PAI-2 showed a remarkable increase at 8 and 24 h after acute aortic constriction and returned to control by 72 h. Regional differences showed that most of the increases were in the endocardium. Three animals in the late heart failure LVH group were determined to be in congestive heart failure at about 2 months after the onset of aortic constriction. In these animals PAI-1 and PAI-2 were increased in both the left and right ventricles but remained low in an animal of the same elevation in aortic pressure seen by the LV who did not have congestive failure. These data suggest that PA and PAI gene expressions change before morphologic changes occur in the early stages of developing LVH. Also at the time of onset of congestive heart failure this increased expression reappears. PAs and PA inhibitors mRNA levels vary in the different regions of the heart reflecting changing wall stresses. Thus, the PAs and PA inhibitors may play an important role in angiogenesis that occurs during the early stages of LVH. The increased expression in the late stage of LVH may reflect further changes in wall stresses since these animals also showed overt clinical signs of heart failure.
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  • 72
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 178 (1998), S. 157-162 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: protein tyrosine phosphatases ; gene expression ; degenerate deoxyoligonucleotides ; RT-PCR ; Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to identify protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) expressed in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and to examine their expression levels as well as to characterize quantitative aspects of RT-PCR based on degenerate deoxyoligonucleotides. By using an RT-PCR assay based on degenerate deoxyoligonucleotide primers, expression of mRNAs for two cytoplasmic- and six transmembrane-type PTPs in Swiss 3T3 cells was detected. The sequences of two of them are new. Among nine analyzed PTPs expressed to widely varied extends, only three have mRNA levels high enough to be seen on Northern blots with 10 µg of total RNA per lane. The frequencies with which the examined PTPs are represented among the PCR amplification products, correlate stronger with the primer fidelity, defined as the number of mismatches between the primer- and the cDNA target-sequences, rather than with the PTP expression levels. In conclusion, an RT-PCR assay based on degenerate primers can be successfully used to sample the expressed PTPs and to identify new members of this gene family. However, reliable quantification of their mRNA levels can only be achieved using the classical approaches, like Northern, RNase protection assay or non-degenerate quantitative RT-PCR.
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  • 73
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 162 (1996), S. 51-58 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: metabolism ; glucose transporter ; adipocytes ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We tested the hypothesis that the constitutive glucose transporter (GLUT 1) in 3T3-L 1 adipocytes belongs to the family of glucose-regulated proteins which are transcriptionally regulated by glucose deprivation. Using cDNA probes for both GRP78 (BiP) and GLUT1, we show that the level of GRP78 mRNA increased by 15-fold within 24 h of glucose deprivation with little change in GLUT1 mRNA. The elevated GRP78 mRNA in turn led to a time-dependent increase in GRP78 protein. While glucose deprivation did not alter the expression of the normal glycoform of GLUT 1, a lower molecular weight glycoform accumulated with extended deprivation. Mannose and fructose, but not galactose, prevented the induction of GRP78 and accumulation of the abnormal GLUT1. Because GRP78 acts as a chaperone in other cell systems, we also sought evidence to support this activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Using the technique of co-immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that GRP78 bound several proteins unique to the glucose-deprived state. No deprivation-specific proteins could be detected in association with GLUT 1. These data lead us to conclude that GLUTl does not display characteristics of the glucose-regulated proteins, at least in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, a widely used model for differentiation, hormone action, and nutrient control. However, the mechanisms for activating traditional members of this family appear intact.
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  • 74
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 186 (1998), S. 43-51 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: myocardial ischemia ; gene expression ; growth factors ; phospholamban ; calsequestrin heat shock proteins ; preconditioning ; stunning
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Brief periods of coronary occlusion render the affected myocardium more tolarant to the otherwise devastating effects of long coronary occlusion. Besides this phenomena, called ischemic preconditioning, short periods of ischemia cause a regional dysfunction, namely myocardial stunning. The molecular mechanisms of both syndromes are not very well understood. We therefore investigated the expression of genes which may be involved in cardioprotection or repair processes.Using our porcine model of ischemia and reperfusion we were able to show an induction of genes coding for transcription factors (proto-oncogenes), for proteins involved in repair processes (heat shock genes), for proteins implicated in the calcium homeostasis (calcium-handling genes) and for growth factors. We could show that the increased mRNA levels are due to an enhanced transcriptional activity and not to a prolonged half-life of the transcripts. The angiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) represents an exception. It exhibits - in addition to a HIF-motif (Hypoxia Inducible Factor) in its promoter/enhancer - a protein binding region in its 3′ UTR which when occupied renders the mRNA more stable. However to what extent the expression of the distinct genes contributes to the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning or myocardial stunning can only be presumed. Increased mRNA stability can be confered via adenosine which is produced during ischemia by ATP-breakdown. The demasking of unknown genes - via differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) - should provide a more comprehensive view of the mechanisms underlying both processes.
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  • 75
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 201 (1999), S. 111-123 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: complement factor I ; TPA ; protein kinase C ; gene expression ; Hep G2 cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract This study examined the role of the protein kinase C (PKC) signalling pathway in the regulation of expression of human complement factor I (CFI) gene. The production of CFI by Hep G2 cells was enhanced in a dose- and time-dependent fashion by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-1,2-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a potent PKC activator. 4α-phorbol didecanoate, an inactive phorbol ester, had no effect on CFI synthesis. The TPA-dependent increase in CFI secretion was correlated with an increase in CFI mRNA levels. Forskolin, a cAMP-inducing agent, augmented the TPA response. W7, an inhibitor of protein kinase A and genistein, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase(s) both did not prevent the increase in CFI expression mediated by TPA. However, calphostin C, a specific inhibitor of PKC, abolished the TPA-induced increase in CFI mRNA levels. Down regulation of intracellular PKC levels by prior exposure of Hep G2 cells to a high concentration of TPA also blocked the increase in CFI mRNA levels induced by TPA suggesting that the TPA effects were mediated via activation of PKC. mRNA decay studies indicated that the half-life of CFI mRNA in TPA-induced cells was not significantly different from control. Nuclear run-on transcriptional assays on the other hand demonstrated that whereas the CFI gene is transcribed under basal conditions in Hep G2 cells, TPA induced a 3-4 fold increase in the transcription rate of CFI gene in 24 h. The transcription rate of GAPDH gene did not change, indicating that the effects were not general on gene transcription. Transient transfections of Hep G2 cells with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene (CAT) constructs containing a series of sequential 5′ deletions of the CFI promoter and CAT assays showed that the sequence between -136 and -130, containing an AP-1 consensus sequence (TGAGTCA) was required for the TPA response. This observation was substantiated by the finding that mutation of this AP-1 site to TttaTCA or TtAtcCA abolished the TPA responsiveness. The enhancement of the activity of transfected chimeric CAT constructs by TPA was abrogated by calphostin C and by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (an inhibitor of NF-κB and AP-1 transactivation). These results indicate that TPA regulation of CFI gene requires PKC signalling and is mediated by via a TPA response element (TRE) in the CFI promoter region located at -136/-130 and involves the transactivation of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors. We suggest that PKC may be one of the intracellular pathways that control CFI gene expression and that cellular processes (involving growth factors, hormones, cytokines etc.) that activate PKC may upregulate the expression of the CFI gene.
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  • 76
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; Ca2+-ATPase ; brain microsomes ; aging
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin and its effect on the microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity in rat brain tissues was investigated. The expression of regucalcin mRNA was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in brain tissues using rat regucalcin-specific primers. Regucalcin concentration in the brain tissues was about 5 × 10-9 M as measured using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA), and this level was lowered with increasing age (50 weeks old). The presence of regucalcin (10-9 to 10-7 M) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in Ca2+-ATPase activity in the brain microsomes of young rats (5 weeks old). Meanwhile, the enzyme activity was not significantly altered by the addition of calmodulin (1 or 50 μg/ml), calbindin (1 or 10 μg/ml), and S-100 A protein (5 or 25 μg/ml), which are other Ca2+-binding proteins in rat brain. The effect of regucalcin to inhibit microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity was weakened in the brain of rats with increasing age (50 weeks old). The present study demonstrates that regucalcin is expressed in the brain, and that it can uniquely inhibit Ca2+-ATPase activity in the brain microsomes of rats. The findings suggest that regucalcin plays a role in the regulation of microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity in rat brain tissues.
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  • 77
    ISSN: 1573-1561
    Keywords: Eriocrania cicatricella ; Eriocrania sparrmannella ; Eriocraniidae ; Lepidoptera ; sex pheromone ; EAG ; GC-EAD ; mass spectrometry ; synthesis ; evolution ; (Z)-4-hepten-2-one ; (2R)-heptan-2-ol ; (2R)-(Z)-4-hepten-2-ol
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Extracts from different body parts of adult femaleEriocrania cicatricella (Zett.) were tested for electrophysiological activity on conspecific male antennae. Extracts from the Vth abdominal segment, containing a pair of exocrine glands, elicited the largest electroantennographic response when compared to extracts of other body parts. Female extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantennographic detection (EAD). The EAD active peaks were identified as (Z)-4-hepten-2-one, (2R)-heptane-2-ol, and (2R)-(Z)-4-hepten-2-ol by coinjection on a gas chromatography and by comparison of mass spectra with those of synthetic standards. In field tests, a blend of these three pheromone components was highly attractive to conspecific males, and a subtractive assay confirmed that the unsaturated alcohol is the major pheromone component, whereas no definite behavioral activity could be assigned to the ketone or the saturated alcohol. A bait containing the two alcohols withS-configuration was attractive to maleE. sparrmannella (Bosc), whereas no males ofE. cicatricella were found in these traps. The sex pheromone compounds inE. cicatricella are chemically similar to pheromones reported in Trichoptera and they are produced in homologous glands.
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  • 78
    ISSN: 1573-1561
    Keywords: Sex pheromone ; Idaea aversata ; Idaea straminata ; Idaea biselata ; (Z,Z)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate ; (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate ; (Z,E)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate ; Lepidoptera ; Geometridae ; electroantennography ; single cell recording ; biosynthesis ; phylogeny ; evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract Pheromone compounds so far identified from most geometrid moths consist of all-Z diene, triene, or tetraene hydrocarbons with chain lengths of C17 to C21, and their monoepoxide derivatives biosynthesized from linoleic and linolenic acids. The present study reports the occurrence of olefinic acetates as sex pheromones in three species of Geometridae. (Z,Z)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate and (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate found in female gland extracts ofIdaea aversata elicited significant responses from conspecific male antennae in gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GCEAD). In extracts ofI. straminata, (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate, (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate, and (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate were found, and the synthetic compounds elicited strong responses from conspecific male antennae. In the third species,I. biselata, only (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate was found in the female extracts, and this compound elicited a strong EAD response from the conspecific male antenna. The identities of the pheromone components inI. aversata andI. straminata were further confirmed according to their characteristic ions after GC-MS analyses. Single sensillum recordings fromI. aversata showed two types of pheromone-detecting sensilla present on the male antenna. One type contained two receptor neurons, one of which was specifically tuned to (Z,Z)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate, the other to (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate. A second type contained one neuron responding to (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate. The two types were clearly different also with respect to external morphology, the former being considerably longer and having a larger base diameter. Also inI. straminata two physiological types of sensilla could be distinguished. One type contained two neurons, one of which responded to (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate, the other to (Z,E)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate. The second type contained one neuron, responding to (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate. No correlation between external morphology and physiological response of the investigated sensilla was observed inI. straminata. In field tests, a two-component blend containing (Z,Z)-9,11-tetradecadienyl acetate and (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate in a ratio of 10:1 was attractive to males ofI. aversata. This two-component blend was also attractive to males ofI. straminata, but in a ratio of 1:1. High numbers of maleI. biselata were caught in traps baited with (Z,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate alone. The incorporation of deuterium labels into pheromone components after topical application of deuterium-labeled palmitic acid confirmed that the pheromone components ofI. aversata could be synthesized from this precursor, as has been previously observed for acetate pheromone components of many other moth species. Our results suggest that an evolutionary reversal back to the production of palmitic acid-derived pheromone components has occurred within the geometrid subfamily Sterrhinae.
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    Journal of chemical ecology 23 (1997), S. 1527-1547 
    ISSN: 1573-1561
    Keywords: Secondary metabolites ; chemical defense ; evolution ; ascidians ; sponges
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract We used three chemical fractions (spanning a wide range of polarities) from the extracts of four marine invertebrates, the spongesCrambe crambe andHemimycale columella and the ascidiansCystodytes dellechiajei andPolysyncraton lacazei, to test inhibition of cell division, photosynthesis, and settlement. We used assay organisms from the same habitat, seeking to determine whether a species may display diverse, ecologically relevant bioac-tivities and, if so, whether the same types of compound may be responsible for such activities. Cell division was strongly inhibited by the spongeC. crambe. A dichloromethane fraction fromC. crambe prevented development of sea urchinParacentrotus lividus eggs at a concentration of 10 μg/ml, as did the butanolic fraction, but at higher concentrations (50 and 100 μg/ml). At 50 μg/ml, the aqueous fraction ofC. crambe allowed cell division but prevented eggs from developing beyond the gastrula stage. Similar results were recorded with the dichloromethane fraction ofP. lacazei and from the aqueous fraction ofH. columella. Photosynthesis was unaffected by any of the species at 50 μg/ml. Larval settlement was inhibited by one or another fraction from the four species surveyed at a concentration of 50 μg/ml, althoughC. crambe exhibited the greatest amount of activity. We therefore found that various fractions displayed the same type of bioactivity, while compounds from the same fraction were responsible for multiple activities, suggesting that secondary metabolites are multiple-purpose tools in nature, which is relevant to our understanding of species ecology and evolution. Moreover, results showed that the assessment of the role of chemical compounds is significantly influenced by the assay organism, fractionation procedure, concentration, and duration of experiments. All these factors should be carefully considered when testing ecological hypotheses of the roles of chemically-mediated bioactivities.
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    Journal of chemical ecology 25 (1999), S. 31-49 
    ISSN: 1573-1561
    Keywords: Chemical ecology ; evolution ; variation ; population dynamics ; community ; species interactions ; infochemical ; semiochemical ; parasitoid ; foraging behavior ; learning ; phenotypic plasticity
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract The marriage of chemistry with ecology has been a productive one, providing a wealth of examples of how chemicals play important roles in the loves and lives of living organisms. At first the marriage may have been a simple and monogamous one with the major scientific aim of making proximate analyses of chemically mediated, individual level interactions. But times have changed and chemical ecology is broadening, embracing different approaches and disciplines. There is, for example, increasing appreciation of variability in the systems under study and an increase in evolutionary thinking. Another promising development is greater recognition of the potential importance of chemically mediated interactions for population dynamics and for structuring communities and species coexistence. The latter is an utterly underexplored area in chemical ecology. The field of chemical ecology of insect parasitoids shows some of these promising developments. Responses of parasitoids to infochemicals are increasingly studied with an integrated approach of mechanism and function. This integration of “how” and “why” questions significantly enhances the evolutionary and ecological understanding of stimulus–response patterns. The future challenge in chemical ecology is to demonstrate how chemically mediated interactions steer ecological and evolutionary processes at all levels of ecological organization. To reach this goal there is a need for interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists and ecologists working at different levels of organization and with different approaches, with other disciplines as partners.
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  • 81
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 151 (1995), S. 55-60 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium ; gene expression ; kidney damage ; rat kidney cortex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The alteration of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin mRNA expression in the kidney cortex of rats administered cisplatin and cephaloridine, which can induce kidney damage, was investigated. Cisplatin (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/100 g body weight) or cephaloridine (25, 50 and 100 mg/100 g) was intraperitoneally administered in rats, and 1, 2 and 3 days later they were sacrificed. The alteration in serum findings after the administration of cisplatin (1.0 mg/100 g) or cephaloridine (50 and 100 mg/100 g) demonstrated chemically induced kidney damage; blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration increased markedly and serum inorganic phosphorus or calcium concentration decreased significantly. Moreover, the administration of cisplatin (1.0 mg/100 g) or cephaloridine (100 mg/100 g) caused a remarkable increase of calcium content in the kidney cortex of rats, indicating kidney damage. The expression of regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex was markedly reduced by the administration of cisplatin or cephaloridine in rats, when the mRNA levels were analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb). The mRNA decreases were seen with the used lowest dose of cisplatin or cephaloridine. The present study clearly demonstrates that the mRNA expression of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin in the kidney cortex of rats is decreased by chemically induced kidney damage.
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  • 82
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 152 (1995), S. 131-141 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene expression ; mRNA ; proto-oncogenes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Polyomavirus large T-antigen transgenic mice develop cardiac hypertrophy characterized by an increase in atrial natriuretic factor and β-myosin heavy chain isoform expression. The aim of this study was to examine changes in proto-oncogene expression in hypertrophied hearts from the transgenic mice. Expression of early growth response-1 (Egr-1) mRNA was detected in hearts from all 15 transgenic mice, but was not detectable in 13 control mice. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments usingEgr-1-specific primers confirmed the increase inEgr-1 mRNA in enlarged hearts from the transgenic mice. Expression of c-jun,junD and Ha-ras mRNAs was increased in the transgenic hearts 3, 17 and 2.8-fold, respectively. Western blots showed an increase in c-myc, c-jun and ras protein in hypertrophied transgenic hearts. Immunofluorescence analyses confirmed an increase in Egr-1 and c-jun protein in transgenic cardiomyocytes. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-ras and HSP 90 mRNAs were decreased 22, 2.7 and 3-fold, respectively in the transgenic hearts. Not altered in most hypertrophied hearts was expression of c-fos, junB, p53, c-neu, c-myc, HSP70, HSP27, TGF-β or IGF-1 mRNAs. Proto-oncogene and growth factor gene expression in hypertrophy induced by PVLT expression is modulated, with some proto-oncogenes increased and others decreased in expression.
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  • 83
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 154 (1996), S. 65-70 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene expression ; regulatory elements ; plasmid ; oligonucleotides
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A potentially powerful pharmacological approach to modulating the expression of specific, disease-related genes involves the inhibition of transcription factor binding to promoter or enhancer elements through oligonucleotide-mediated triple-helix formation. In vivo, the typical target for intermolecular triplex formation would most likely be torsionally-strained rather than relaxed duplex DNA. To determine the effects of strained DNA on triplex formation, we investigated the interactions between a G/T rich oligonucleotide and both supercoiled and relaxed plasmid DNA using a restriction endonuclease protection assay. Both the kinetics of formation and dissociation of purine-motif triplexes were unaffected by the conformational state of the duplex DNA. Similarly, the topological state of the plasmid targets was not affected by triplex formation. Taken together, these observations suggest that stable intermolecular triplexes can form in vivo under conditions of moderate torsional strain.
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  • 84
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: guanine nucleotide-binding proteins ; evolution ; phylogeny ; structure-function
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are ∼20-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that are allosteric activators of the NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of cholera toxin and appear to play a role in intracellular vesicular trafficking. Although the physiological roles of these proteins have not been defined, it has been presumed that each has a specific intracellular function. To obtain genetic evidence that each ARF is under evolutionary pressure to maintain its structure, and presumably function, rat ARF cDNA clones were isolated and their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared to those of other mammalian ARFs. Deduced amino acid sequences for rat ARFs 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were identical to those of the known cognate human and bovine ARFs; rat ARF4 was 96% identical to human ARF4. Nucleotide sequences of both the untranslated as well as the coding regions were highly conserved. These results indicate that the ARF proteins are, as a family, extraordinarily well conserved across mammalian species. The unusually high degree of conservation of the untranslated regions is consistent with these regions having important regulatory roles and that individual ARFs contain structurally unique elements required for specific functions.
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  • 85
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: estrogen ; apolipoprotein ; gene expression ; mice ; atherosclerosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Estrogen protects against developing premature coronary artery disease.However, the mechanism of protective effects of estrogen still remainspoorly understood. One mechanism by which estrogen can have protectiveeffects apppears to be through modulation of plasma lipoproteins. We showedthat the mouse can be used as animal model to study estrogen-mediatedsynthesis and secretion of lipoproteins since, unlike the rat, the mousedoes not up-regulate LDL receptors (Srivastava et al. [4]). Since inbredstrains of mice differ in their genetic background and show differingresponsiveness to dietary lipids, we examined how various inbred strains ofmice respond to estradiol administration, and whether some mouse strainsshow responses similar to rats. 17b-estradiol was administered to male micefrom 15 different inbred strains, and the changes in plasma levels oflipids, apoB, apoAI, and apoE were examined. Total cholesterol decreased inall but one strain, apoAI levels decreased in all but 3 strains while apoBlevels and apoB/apoAI ratios increased in all but 2 strains, suggesting thatin contrast to rats, the apoB-containing lipoproteins increased relative toHDL in all strains of mice examined. Basal and estradiol-induced changes intotal cholesterol were significantly correlated with changes in apoAI, butnot apoB, reflecting the predominance of HDL over other lipoproteins inmouse plasma. The effects of estrogen on plasma apoE levels varied amongvarious inbred strains of mice tested. Plasma apoE levels increased in sevenstrains treated with estrogen, and remained unchanged in the rest. Toexamine whether changes of plasma apoproteins are associated with thechanges in the respective hepatic mRNA levels, apoAI, B and E mRNA werequantified by RNase protection assay. Hepatic apoE mRNA did not showcorrelation with either basal or post treatment plasma apoE levels in any ofthe strains. Similarly, most of the mouse strains did not show correlationof plasma apoAI and apoB levels with the corresponding hepatic mRNA levels.These results suggest that estrogen regulates plasma lipoproteinconcentrations primarily by posttranscriptional mechansims, and there werestrain-related differences in the estrogen-mediated regulation oflipoprotein metabolism.
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  • 86
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; Ca2+-binding protein ; insulin ; gene expression ; HepG2 cells ; transformed cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of hepatic Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin in the cloned human hepatoma cells (HepG2) was investigated. The change in regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using rat liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in HepG2 cells, although the mRNA was markedly expressed in normal rat liver. Moreover, regucalcin protein in HepG2 cells was detected by Western blot analysis using a polyclonal rabbit anti-regucalcin antibody. Regucalcin mRNA expression in HepG2 cells was clearly stimulated by the culture with insulin (10-8 M) of the effective concentration. Regucalcin protein in HepG2 cells was also increased by the treatment of insulin (10-8 M). The present results demonstrate that regucalcin is expressed in the transformed HepG2 cells, and that the expression is stimulated by insulin.
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  • 87
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 177 (1997), S. 1-6 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene expression ; mRNA secondary structure ; single tube RT-PCR ; TNF receptor I
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The secondary structure of human tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFR-I) mRNA based on its lowest folding energy was predicted. Three combinations of primers selected from open-regions and four combinations of primers from closed-regions of TNFR-I mRNA structure were employed for single-tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the determination of TNFR-I gene expression in U937 cell. All the primers were designed with the same criteria. However, the different primers generated distinct quantities of RT-PCR products from the same concentration of TNFR-I mRNA, implying that the determination of gene expression by RT-PCR was affected by the mRNA secondary structure. In addition, the sensitivity of the open-region RT-PCR was approximately one hundred-fold higher than that in the closed-regions of TNFR-I mRNA. The low efficiency of the closed-region RT-PCR was not correlated with the G/C content of the TNFR-I mRNA structure. These results suggest that consideration of the influence of intrinsic mRNA structure of a gene is essential prior to the determination of gene expression by quantitative RT-PCR, and this open-region strategy of primer design may yield an efficient primer for in vitro amplification of cDNA by RT-PCR.
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  • 88
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: cholesteryl ester ; CETP ; Caco-2 ; polymerase chain reaction ; gene expression ; mRNA ; alternative splicing
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma protein involved in the reverse cholesterol transport and expressed in several human tissues and cell lines. We studied CETP expression in Caco-2 cell line, a model of the human enterocyte epithelium. By reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we could demonstrate that in basal condition Caco-2 cells have a low rate of expression of active CETP mRNA. Furthermore, we found that even in this cell line CETP mRNA alternative splicing occurs with deletion of exon 9 sequence. Densitometric analysis of the in vitro amplified fragments showed that under basal conditions about 60% of reverse transcribed CETP cDNA corresponds to exon 9-deleted transcripts. After challenge with 50 µM sodium oleate, there is a ∼2 fold increase in the transcription rate of the full-length CETP cDNA, as measured by competitive PCR, which is accompanied to an increased activity measured in the cell-conditioned medium. On the contrary, no significant change is seen in the amount of exon 9-deleted cDNA. Consequently, an inversion in the ratio of full-length and exon 9-deleted CETP cDNA is evident, suggesting that sodium oleate selectively enhances the expression of full-length CETP mRNA.
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  • 89
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 178 (1998), S. 283-287 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: regucalcin ; calcium-binding protein ; gene expression ; fetal development ; rat liver
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in fetal rats was investigated. The alteration in regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin cDNA (0.9 kb with complete open reading frame). Hepatic regucalcin mRNA levels were progressively increased with fetal development; the mRNA was clearly expressed at 15 and 21 days of pregnancy but only slightly at the 8 days. Meanwhile, β-actin mRNA levels in the fetal liver were remarkable at 8 and 15 days of pregnancy. The fetal liver regucalcin mRNA levels at 15 days of pregnancy were significantly decreased by overnight-fasting of maternal rats. The oral administration of calcium chloride (50 mg Ca/100 g body weight) to maternal rats at 15 days of pregnancy caused a remarkable elevation (about 2 fold) of regucalcin mRNA levels in the fetal liver; this increase was seen 60 and 180 min after the calcium administration. After birth, regucalcin mRNA was increasingly expressed in the livers of newborn and weanling rats, while hepatic β-actin mRNA expression was not appreciably altered with increasing ages. These findings demonstrate that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA is increased with fetal development, and that the gene expression may be stimulated by the ingestion of dietary calcium.
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  • 90
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: extremely low frequency magnetic fields ; gene expression ; neuron derived orphan receptor-1 ; signal transduction ; Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Enhanced expression of neuron derived orphan receptor (NOR-1) gene was observed by exposure of Chinese hamster ovary K1 (CHO-K1) cells to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) of 50 Hz at 400 mT, but not at 5 mT. The enhanced expression, reaching the maximum at 6 h, was transient and reduced to the control level after exposure to 400 mT ELFMF for 24 h. The NOR-1 expression induced by treatment with forskolin and TPA was further enhanced by the simultaneous treatment with 400 mT ELFMF, in which the maximum response was at 3 h. The NOR-1 expression by these treatments was induced more earlier than that by 400 mT ELFMF alone. When cells were treated with an inhibitor of the protein kinase C (calphostin C or crocetin) and Ca2+ entry blockers (nifedipin and dantrolen) during the 400 mT ELFMF exposure, the enhanced NOR-1 expression was not observed. Exposure of CHO-K1 cells to the high-density 400 mT ELFMF may affect the signal transduction in the cells, resulting in the enhanced NOR-1 gene expression.
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  • 91
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 188 (1998), S. 41-48 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: zinc ; transcription factors ; gene expression ; organogenesis ; Xenopus laevis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Zinc regulates the gene expression machinery. It affects the structure of chromatin, the template function of its DNA, the activity of numerous transcription factors and of RNA polymerases. Hence, it determines both the types of mRNA transcripts synthesized and the rate of transcription itself. Alterations in one or more of these zinc dependent processes have been proposed to account for the proliferative arrest and teratology induced by zinc deficiency. To examine this proposal, studies of zinc during X. laevis development have been initiated. The kinetics of X. laevis oocyte zinc uptake and storage and of zinc utilization during embryogenesis have been examined first. Vitellogenin carries zinc into the oocyte. Ten % of the total zinc (10 ng/egg) remains within the cytosol while 90% (90 ng/egg) is stored in the yolk platelets associated with lipovitellin. The cytosolic pool is the source of the zinc for all newly formed metalloproteins involved in embryo development. The yolk platelet zinc pool is stored for later use during early metamorphosis. It is now possible to examine zinc transfer to molecules, such as e.g. transcription factors, and the role of the metal in their function in development and organogenesis.
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  • 92
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    Molecular and cellular biochemistry 189 (1998), S. 107-111 
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: gene expression ; electromagnetic fields ; superinduction ; anisomycin ; immediate early gene
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells have been treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) at final concentrations of 2, 4, 8, and 16 ng/ml, and then were exposed to 60-Hz, sinusoidal magnetic fields (MF) of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μT (rms) for 30 min. Transcript levels for both c-fos and glyceraldehyde-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase were determined by Northern blot analysis using 32P-labeled cDNA probes. No change in c-fos expression was measured at any condition employed. Treatment of PC12 cells with a combination of agents (NGF, forskolin, and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate [TPA]) increased c-fos expression over that detected with NGF alone. MF exposure of cells treated with the three-agent regimen produced two outcomes, either no change or a doubling of c-fos expression. In subsequent experiments, cells were treated with NGF, NGF + forskolin + TPA, or pre-treated with anisomycin and then treated with NGF + forskolin + TPA. It was determined that MF exposure, like superinduction with anisomycin, increased c-fos expression only in cultures which were not yet exhibiting maximal c-fos expression. It is hypothesized that MF exposure, like anisomycin, may alter the activity of key intracellular protein kinases.
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  • 93
    ISSN: 1573-4919
    Keywords: mechanical stretch ; smooth muscle cells ; differential display ; gene expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Physical forces induce profound changes in cell phenotype, shape and behavior. These changes can occur in vascular structures as a result of pressure overload and their effects can be seen in atherosclerotic vessels in which smooth muscle cells have undergone hyperplastic and hypertrophic changes. At the molecular level, mechanical stimuli are converted into chemical ones and lead to modulation of gene expression and/or the activation of a new repertoire of genes whose encoded proteins help the cells to adapt to their microenvironment. In this study, we have used a two primer-based mRNA differential display technique to identify candidate mechano-responsive genes in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. As compared to the original method described by Liang and Pardee, this technique uses two arbitrary primers instead of an anchored oligo(dt) plus an arbitrary primer in the polymerase chain reaction. The chief advantages of these modifications are an increase in the efficiency of the amplification and in the identification of differentially expressed clones. Using this approach, we compared the pattern of expressed genes in cells cultured under static conditions with those in cells that were mechanically stretched (1 Hz) for 24 h in a well-defined in vitro mechanical system. Three candidate genes that showed reproducible differences were chosen for further characterization and cloning. One clone was under expressed in stretched cells and had a DNA sequence with 90% homology to the human fibronectin gene. Two other clones were highly expressed in stretched cells and had a 92% and a 83% sequence homology with human platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor and rat insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) genes respectively. Northern blot analysis confirmed low levels of fibronectin mRNA transcripts in stretched cells. In contrast, accumulation of PAF receptor mRNA occurred 30 min after mechanical stretch was initiated whereas IGF-I mRNA levels peaked at 8 h. Both mRNA levels were sustained for up to 24 h of mechanical stretching. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the two primer-based mRNA differential display that enabled us to identify and characterize alterations at the level of gene expression among matrix proteins, G-protein coupled receptors and growth factors, each of whose response to mechanical strain is different. A more complete understanding of these responses will provide further insight into the pathologic processes associated with hypertension and atherosclerosis.
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  • 94
    ISSN: 1573-4943
    Keywords: Klebsiella aerogenes ; ribitol dehydrogenase ; evolution ; mutant structures
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Chemistry and Pharmacology
    Notes: Abstract A mutant ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH-F) was purified from Klebsiella aerogenes strain F which evolved from the wild-type strain A under selective pressure to improve growth on xylitol, a poor substrate used as sole carbon source. The ratio of activities on xylitol (500 mM) and ribitol (50 mM) was 0.154 for RDH-F compared to 0.033 for the wild-type (RDH-A) enzyme. The complete amino acid sequence of RDH-F showed the mutations. Q60 for E60 and V215 for L215 in the single polypeptide chain of 249 amino acid residues. Structural modeling based on homologies with two other microbial dehydrogenases suggests that E60 → Q60 is a neutral mutation, since it lies in a region far from the catalytic site and should not cause structural perturbations. In contrast, L215 → V215 lies in variable region II and would shift a loop that interacts with the NADH cofactor. Another improved ribitol dehydrogenase, RDH-D, contains an A196 → P196 mutation that would disrupt a surface α-helix in region II. Hence conformational changes in this region appear to be responsible for the improved xylitol specificity.
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  • 95
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    Molecular biology reports 24 (1997), S. 221-230 
    ISSN: 1573-4978
    Keywords: gene expression ; ribonucleoprotein ; RNase MRP ; RNase P ; transcription
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We report on the expression of mouse RNase MRP RNA in human embryonic kidney 293 cells upon DNA transfection. Stable cell lines were selected by cotransfection with a neo r gene. Transcription of wild-type and deletion mutants of MRP RNA and ribonucleoprotein formation were assessed by RNase protection and immunoprecipitation experiments. Mouse MRP RNA as expressed in 293 cells readily associates with human proteins to form a chimeric Th ribonucleoprotein. 5' truncated MRP RNAs, however, failed to associate with Th antigen(s) and deletion of the 3' sequences of MRP RNA greatly reduced the expression in stable as well as in transient transfectants. Abbreviations: nt(s) – nucleotide(s); RNP – ribonucleoprotein.
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  • 96
    ISSN: 1573-4978
    Keywords: gene expression ; nuclear matrix proteins ; ocular lens epithelial cells ; transcription factors
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Association of transcription factors with the nuclear matrix represents a mechanism by which nuclear architecture may influence transcriptional control of gene expression. This investigation examines nuclear matrix associated proteins (NMP's) isolated from ocular lens epithelial cells by monitoring DNA binding activities using consensus oligonucleotides recognized by the transcription factors YY1, AML-1, AP-1, SP-1 and ATF. The nuclear matrix fractions tested included an immortilized human lens epithelial cell line containing the SV40 large T-antigen, and two mouse lens epithelial cell lines derived from either a normal mouse or a cataract mouse. A rabbit epidermal epithelial cell line and HeLa cells were also included in this study for comparison. The data from these experiments reveal that ubiquitously represented and tissue restricted regulatory proteins are associated with nuclear matrix of lens epithelial cells. The functional significance of the nuclear matrix association of these transcription factors remains to be determined. However, our findings raise the possibility that the transcription factors associated with the nuclear matrix could have specific roles in gene regulation and eye tissue development.
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  • 97
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    Molecular biology reports 23 (1996), S. 205-210 
    ISSN: 1573-4978
    Keywords: autoantigen ; cDNA cloning ; gene expression ; ribonucleoprotein Ro ; 5′RACE
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Autoantibodies to SS-A/Ro are among the most common found in sera of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. These autoimmune diseases can affect various organ systems of the body and are variable in their manifestations and presentation. One of the autoimmune targets is the 60 kDa SS-A/Ro protein known to be associated with small cytoplasmic Y RNAs. To study systematically the expression of the protein, we have cloned the mouse full length 60 kDa SS-A/Ro cDNA using 5′ RACE based on a cDNA sequence reported in the mouse genome project. The recombinant protein derived from the putative full-length construct was shown to react with human prototype anti-SS-A/Ro serum Ge in western blot and immunoprecipitation and comigrated with cellular 60 kDa SS-A/Ro protein in 3T3 cells. Cellular expression, measured by RT-PCR, was highest in mouse brain, followed by lung, muscle, kindney and heart. Lower levels were found in testis, liver and spleen. Like the human 60 kDa SS-A/Ro protein, the deduced mouse homolog has 538 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed 89.9% identity and 95.0% similarity between the mouse and human proteins.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: β-fructofuranosidase ; invertase ; gene expression ; gene structure ; flower buds ; Daucus carota
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Three genomic clones (Inv *Dc1, Inv *Dc2 and Inv *Dc3) were isolated by using the cDNA for carrot cell wall β-fructofuranosidase as a probe. The expression patterns of the three genes differed markedly. High levels of Inv *Dc1 transcripts were found in leaves and roots of young carrot, whereas in plants with developing tap roots no transcripts were detected. A high level of mRNA of Inv *Dc1 was also present in suspension-cultured cells. In developing reproductive organs, only low levels of transcripts of Inv *Dc1 were found in flower buds and flowers and none at later stages of development. In contrast, Inv *Dc2 and Inv *Dc3 were not expressed in vegetative plant organs. Invb1 *Dc1 was exclusively and strongly expressed in flower buds, and Inv *Dc3 at a very low level in suspension-cultured cells.
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  • 99
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: fruit ; gene expression ; promoter ; ripening ; tomato ; transgenic plant
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The 1.4 kb 5′ polygalacturonase (PG) gene-flanking region has previously been demonstrated to direct ripening-specific chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) expression in transgenic tomato plants. The steady state level of CAT mRNA in these plants was estimated to be less than 1% of the endogenous PG mRNA. Further constructs containing larger PG gene-flanking regions were generated and tested for their ability to direct higher levels of reporter gene expression. A 4.8 kb 5′-flanking region greatly increased levels of ripening-specific reporter gene activity, while a 1.8 kb 3′ region was only shown to have a positive regulatory role in the presence of the extended 5′ region. Transgenic plants containing the CAT gene flanked by both of these regions showed the same temporal pattern of accumulation of CAT and PG mRNA, and steady-state levels of the transgene mRNA were equivalent to 60% of the endogenous PG mRNA on a per gene basis. The proximal 150 bp of the PG promoter gave no detectable CAT activity. However, the distal 3.4 kb of the 4.8 kb 5′ PG promoter was shown to confer high levels of ripening-specific gene expression when placed in either orientation upstream of the 150 bp minimal promoter. The DNA sequence of the 3.4 kb region revealed a 400 bp imperfect reverse repeat, and sequences which showed similarity to functionally significant sequences from the ripening-related, ethylene-regulated tomato E8 and E4 gene promoters. The possible roles of the flanking regions in regulating PG gene expression are discussed.
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  • 100
    ISSN: 1573-5028
    Keywords: acetohydroxyacid synthase ; gene organization ; gene expression ; herbicide resistance ; cotton ; Gossypium hirsutum
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) gene family of the cotton AD allotetraploid Gossypium hirsutum has been cloned and characterized. We have identified six different AHAS genes from an analysis of genomic clones and Southern blots of genomic DNA. Four of the six genes are organized as tandem pairs, in which the genes are separated by only 2–3 kb. Conservation of restriction fragment length polymorphisms between G. hirsutum and A-genome and D-genome-containing diploid cottons was sufficient to assign the single genes in clones A5 and A19 to the A and D subgenomes, respectively. Each diploid genome has one tandem pair, but in these cases we could not make specific subgenomic assignments. DNA and deduced amino acid sequences were determined for the A5 and A19 genes, and an AHAS cDNA clone isolated from a leaflibrary. The sequence of the A19 gene matches that of the cDNA clone, while the A5 gene is 97.8% similar. The four genes comprising the tandem pairs are much less similar to the cDNA clone. The deduced amino acid sequences of the mature polypeptides encoded by the A5 and A19 genes are collinear with the housekeeping forms of AHAS from Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and Brassica napus. The constitutive expression of A5 and A19 was confirmed with RNase protection assays and northern blots. We conclude that these genes encode the main house-keeping froms of AHAS in G. hirsutum. Among the four AHAS genes comprising the two tandem pairs, at least two are functional. These genes exhibit either low-level constitutive expression (one or both of the ‘downstream’ genes of each pair), or highly specific expression in reproductive tissue (one or both of the ‘upstream’ genes of each pair). The AHAS gene family of G. hirsutum is more complex than that of other plants so far examined.
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