Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.4.2.8 (hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase)
 2,527 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A young woman with normal gonadal development and mild mental retardation was found to have a small de novo interstitial deletion of most of band Xp21, karyotype designation 46,X,del(X) (pter----p21.3:: p21.1----qter). Replication studies on lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts revealed that in 45% of cells the normal X was late replicating. Somatic cell hybrids between her fibroblasts and HPRT-deficient Chinese hamster cells were obtained and selected for and against retention of the active human X chromosome. In several independent hybrids the deleted X was retained in the active state. Partial ornithine transcarbamylase (ornithine carbamoyltransferase EC 2.1.3.3) (OTC) deficiency was documented by elevated urinary orotic acid excretion and increased serum glutamine after a protein load. This confirms the mapping of the structural gene for OTC to this deletion. Testing of neutrophil function revealed heterozygosity for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) suggesting that a gene for CGD maps within the deletion. Thus, X inactivation mosaicism is also present in hepatocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes. Random X inactivation in a female with an Xp deletion has not been previously reported. The cells from this patient and the somatic cell hybrids containing her deleted X chromosome in the absence of the normal X provide material for the precise mapping of X linked genes and DNA sequences on the short arm of the human X chromosome.
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PMID:Random X inactivation resulting in mosaic nullisomy of region Xp21.1----p21.3 associated with heterozygosity for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and for chronic granulomatous disease. 651 24

Somatic cell hybrid clones were derived from the fusion of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; EC 2.4.2.8)-deficient mouse cells and two different human fibroblast strains, each carrying an X chromosome-autosome translocation. One of these had an X/11 translocation [46,X,t(X;11)(p21;q13)] and the other had an X/19 translocation [46,X,t(X;19)(q22;q13)]. The structurally normal human X chromosome is the late-replicating (genetically inactive) chromosome in these two cell strains; the rearranged X chromosome is early replicating (genetically active). One primary hybrid clone carrying both the translocated X chromosome and the structurally normal X chromosome was isolated in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium from each of these two cell fusion experiments. These clones were then selected in medium containing 8-azaguanine to achieve the loss of the active human HPRT locus. Five subclones from the cell hybrid with the X/11 translocation failed to express two known human X-chromosome markers [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD; EC 1.1.1.49) and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK; EC 2.7.2.3)] but did express human microsomal steroid sulfatase (STS; sterol-sulfate sulfohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.2). Three of these were cytogenetically analyzed and found to contain a structurally normal human X chromosome but not the X/11 translocation. Two subclones were isolated in 8-azaguanine from the hybrid with the X/19 translocation. Cytogenetic analysis of these two clones showed the presence of a structurally normal human X chromosome; the X/19 translocation was not present. They did not express human G6PD, PGK, or HPRT but did express human STS. These results indicate that human STS is expressed from a locus on the inactive human X chromosome and support our earlier finding that the STS locus escapes X-inactivation in man.
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PMID:Expression of an X-linked gene from an inactive human X chromosome in mouse-human hybrid cells: further evidence for the noninactivation of the steroid sulfatase locus in man. 693 82

Molecular epidemiology is a new and evolving area of research, combining laboratory measurement of internal dose, biologically effective dose, biologic effects, and influence of individual susceptibility with epidemiologic methodologies. Biomarkers evaluated were selected according to basic scheme: biomarkers of exposure--metabolites in urine, DNA adducts, protein adducts, and Comet assay parameters; biomarkers of effect--chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei, mutations in the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene, and the activation of oncogenes coding for p53 or p21 proteins as measured on protein levels; biomarkers of susceptibility--genetic polymorphisms of genes CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2. DNA adducts measured by 32P-postlabeling are the biomarker of choice for the evaluation of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Protein adducts are useful as a biomarker for exposure to tobacco smoke (4-aminobiphenyl) or to smaller molecules such as acrylonitrile or 1,3-butadiene. Of the biomarkers of effect, the most common are cytogenetic end points. Epidemiologic studies support the use of chromosomal breakage as a relevant biomarker of cancer risk. The use of the Comet assay and methods analyzing oxidative DNA damage needs reliable validation for human biomonitoring. Until now there have not been sufficient data to interpret the relationship between genotypes, biomarkers of exposure, and biomarkers of effect for assessing the risk of human exposure to mutagens and carcinogens.
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PMID:Molecular epidemiology studies on occupational and environmental exposure to mutagens and carcinogens, 1997-1999. 1069 23

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is the most widely available material for retrospective clinical studies. In combination with the potential of genomics, these tissues represent an invaluable resource for the elucidation of disease mechanisms and validation of differentially expressed genes as novel therapeutic targets or prognostic indicators. We describe here an approach that, in combination with laser-assisted microdissection allows quantitative gene expression analysis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue. Using an optimized RNA microscale extraction procedure in conjunction with real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based on fluorogenic TaqMan methodology, we analyzed the expression of a panel of cancer-relevant genes, EGF-R, HER-2/neu, FGF-R4, p21/WAF1/Cip1, MDM2, and HPRT and PGK as controls. We demonstrate that expression level determinations from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues are accurate and reproducible. Measurements were comparable to those obtained with matching fresh-frozen tissue and neither fixation grade nor time significantly affected the results. Laser microdissection studies with 5-microm thick sections and defined numbers of tumor cells demonstrated that reproducible quantitation of specific mRNAs can be achieved with only 50 cells. We applied our approach to HER-2/neu quantitative gene expression analysis in 54 microdissected tumor and nonneoplastic archival samples from patients with Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma and showed that the results matched those obtained in parallel by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Thus, the combination of laser-assisted microdissection and real-time TaqMan reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction opens new avenues for the investigation and clinical validation of gene expression changes in archival tissue specimens.
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PMID:Quantitative gene expression analysis in microdissected archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. 1115 80

Despite the recent introduction of real-time PCR methods and cDNA microarrays, competitive PCR techniques continue to play an important role in nucleic acid quantification because of the significantly lower cost of equipment and consumables. In this study, we developed a construct, termed tumor suppressor-internal standard (TS-IS) that produced polycompetitive RNA templates as an internal standard to quantify cellular RNA concentration of tumor suppressor genes. This construct is composed of not only sets of primers for detecting the expression of several tumor suppressor genes (such as pRB, p16(INK4A) 15(INK4B), p14(ARF) p53, and p21(WAF1)), but also HPRT as an endogenous marker. Using an internal standard RNA that was synthesized from the TS-IS construct, we were able to establish optimized conditions for the quantification of tumor suppressor genes with minimal amounts (50 ng) of cellular RNA. In addition, the usefulness of this method was confirmed by analyzing the expression levels of tumor suppressor genes in fourteen hepatoma cell lines as a model. The TS-IS assay that we used was inexpensive and a widely applicable method that permitted the reliable and accurate quantification of tumor suppressor genes.
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PMID:Quantification of tumor suppressor mRNA expression by poly-competitive RT-PCR using a TS-IS that contained multiple internal competitors. 1213 90

Biological effects were examined in confluent cultures of fibroblasts and epithelial cells exposed to very low mean doses of alpha radiation, doses by which only 1-2% of the cells were actually traversed by an alpha particle. Enhanced frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges and HPRT mutations occurred in the non-irradiated, 'bystander' cells associated with a similar increase in the frequency of micronuclei, indicating the induction of DNA damage in these cells. In order to gain information concerning molecular pathways, changes in gene expression were examined in bystander cells by western analysis and in situ immunofluorescence staining. The expression levels of p53, p21 and MDM2 were significantly modulated in bystander cells; the damage signals leading to these changes were transmitted from irradiated to bystander cells by gap junction mediated intercellular communication. The bystander response was suppressed by incubation with superoxide dismutase as well as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, suggesting the effect may be mediated by oxidative stress. To examine other signalling pathways responsive to oxidative stress, the activation of stress-related kinases and their downstream transcription factors were analysed in bystander cells by western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays; a 2-4-fold increase in the phosphorylation levels of JNK, ERK1/2, p90RSK, Elk-1 and ATF2 was observed. These changes were detected by 15 min after irradiation and persisted for at least 1 h. These findings indicate the activation of multiple signal transduction pathways in bystander cells, involving signals arising from the plasma membrane as well as from DNA damage.
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PMID:Bystander effects: intercellular transmission of radiation damage signals. 1219 73

In human neuroblastoma cell lines (LAN5, SHEP and IMR32), mycophenolic acid (MPA) at concentrations (10(-7)-10(-6) M) readily attainable during immunosuppressive therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept), induces guanine nucleotide depletion leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through a p53 mediated pathway (up-regulation of p53, p21 and bax and down-regulation of bcl-2 and survivin). MPA-induced apoptosis is also associated to a marked decrease of p27 protein. In the same cell lines MPA, at lower concentrations (50 nM), corresponding to the plasma levels of the active free drug during Cellcept therapy, induces differentiation toward the neuronal phenotype by causing a partial chronic guanine nucleotide depletion. MPA-induced differentiation is not associated to p27 accumulation as occurs using retinoic acid. At a fixed concentration of MPA a higher percentage of apoptotic or differentiated cells is obtained when non dialysed serum substitutes for the dialysed one, due to the higher hypoxanthine concentration in the former (about 10 microM) leading to competition on HPRT-mediated salvage of guanine. At hypoxanthine or oxypurinol concentrations higher than 1 microM (up to 100 microM) no further enhancement of MPA effects was obtained, in agreement with the recently described safety of the allopurinol-mycophenolate mofetil combination in the treatment of hyperuricemia of kidney transplant recipients. The apoptotic effects of MPA do not appear to be significantly increased by the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase inhibitor niflumic acid.
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PMID:Potential role of mycophenolate mofetil in the management of neuroblastoma patients. 1557 Dec 95

Hypomorphic mutations which lead to decreased function of the NBS1 gene are responsible for Nijmegen breakage syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder that imparts an increased predisposition to development of malignancy. The NBS1 protein is a component of the MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 complex that plays a critical role in cellular responses to DNA damage and the maintenance of chromosomal integrity. Using small interfering RNA transfection, we have knocked down NBS1 protein levels and analyzed relevant phenotypes in two closely related human lymphoblastoid cell lines with different p53 status, namely wild-type TK6 and mutated WTK1. Both TK6 and WTK1 cells showed an increased level of ionizing radiation-induced mutation at the TK and HPRT loci, impaired phosphorylation of H2AX (gamma-H2AX), and impaired activation of the cell cycle checkpoint regulating kinase, Chk2. In TK6 cells, ionizing radiation-induced accumulation of p53/p21 and apoptosis were reduced. There was a differential response to ionizing radiation-induced cell killing between TK6 and WTK1 cells after NBS1 knockdown; TK6 cells were more resistant to killing, whereas WTK1 cells were more sensitive. NBS1 deficiency also resulted in a significant increase in telomere association that was independent of radiation exposure and p53 status. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that NBS1 deficiency in human cells leads to hypermutability and telomere associations, phenotypes that may contribute to the cancer predisposition seen among patients with this disease.
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PMID:NBS1 knockdown by small interfering RNA increases ionizing radiation mutagenesis and telomere association in human cells. 1599 26

Immortalized cells frequently have disruptions of p53 activity and lack p53-dependent nucleotide excision repair (NER). We hypothesized that telomerase immortalization would not alter p53-mediated ultraviolet light (UV)-induced DNA damage responses. DNA repair proficient primary diploid human fibroblasts (GM00024) were immortalized by transduction with a telomerase expressing retrovirus. Empty retrovirus transduced cells senesced after a few doublings. Telomerase transduced GM00024 cells (tGM24) were cultured continuously for 6 months (>60 doublings). Colony forming ability after UV irradiation was dose-dependent between 0 and 20J/m2 UVC (LD50=5.6J/m2). p53 accumulation was UV dose- and time-dependent as was induction of p48(XPE/DDB2), p21(CIP1/WAF1), and phosphorylation on p53-S15. UV dose-dependent apoptosis was measured by nuclear condensation. UV exposure induced UV-damaged DNA binding as monitored by electrophoretic mobility shift assays using UV irradiated radiolabeled DNA probe was inhibited by p53-specific siRNA transfection. p53-Specific siRNA transfection also prevented UV induction of p48 and improved UV survival measured by colony forming ability. Strand-specific NER of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) within DHFR was identical in tGM24 and GM00024 cells. CPD removal from the transcribed strand was nearly complete in 6h and from the non-transcribed strand was 73% complete in 24h. UV-induced HPRT mutagenesis in tGM24 was indistinguishable from primary human fibroblasts. These wide-ranging findings indicate that the UV-induced DNA damage response remains intact in telomerase-immortalized cells. Furthermore, telomerase immortalization provides permanent cell lines for testing the immediate impact on NER and mutagenesis of selective genetic manipulation without propagation to establish mutant lines.
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PMID:Telomerase-immortalized human fibroblasts retain UV-induced mutagenesis and p53-mediated DNA damage responses. 1614 41