Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.7.48 (transcriptase)
 9,479 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Several antitumor substances that effectively inhibited the growth of ascites and solid tumor cells transplanted in mice were isolated from pine cone NaOH extract by acid- and ethanol-precipitation. These antitumor substances were also potent antiviral agents against human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus and influenza virus; they induced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcal aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans, and induced antiparasite activity against Hymenolepis nana in mice. Chemical analysis of these substances by IR, UV, NMR, ESR and partition chromatography on cellulose-TLC plate disclosed that they had lignin-related structures complexed with sugars or polysaccharides. Chlorinated decomposition of the lignin portion significantly reduced their antiviral activity. In agreement with this, the antiviral activity of synthesized lignins prepared by polymerization of phenylpropanoid precursors was comparable to that of the undecomposed counterparts of the pine cone extract. Acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide portion significantly reduced the ability of the substances to induce antitumor and antimicrobial activities in mice. With an appropriate eliciting agent, intravenous administration of natural lignified substances transiently induced endogenous production of a cytotoxic factor (possibly tumor necrosis factor) in normal mice. Their priming activity was significantly higher than that of their component units or degradation products. These data suggest the importance of conjugating lignins with polysaccharides for in vivo expression of various kinds of immunopotentiating activity. As possible explanations for their induction of a variety of immunopotentiating activities, these natural and synthetic lignins stimulated macrophage NBT-reducing activity, polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) iodination and splenocyte DNA synthesis and inhibited poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase, RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities.
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PMID:Antitumor, antiviral and immunopotentiating activities of pine cone extracts: potential medicinal efficacy of natural and synthetic lignin-related materials (review). 164 35

Reverse transcriptase activity of lymphadenopathy associated virus was assayed after exposure to various standard chemical disinfectants. 25% ethanol or 1% glutaraldehyde should prove sufficient to disinfect medical instruments, and 0.2% sodium hypochlorite for cleaning floors and benches. 0.1% formalin is too slow to be recommended.
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PMID:Inactivation of lymphadenopathy associated virus by chemical disinfectants. 620

Intracellular virions of stationary phase ethanol-grown cells of a killer strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain encapsulated M (1.1 x 10(6) dalton) and L (3.2 x 10(6) dalton) double-stranded RNA plasmids. These virions also contain RNA polymerase activity which catalyzes the synthesis of full-length, single-stranded, asymmetric transcripts (denoted m and l) of the virion double-stranded RNAs. Product m is made by M-containing particles and shows complete sequence homology to M but not to L. Product l is made by L-containing particles and shows complete homology only to L. The products show no self-homology, indicating asymmetric transcription. Therefore, the polymerase appears to function in vitro as a double-stranded RNA transcriptase. The lack of sequence homology between M and L is confirmed.
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PMID:Transcription of killer virion double-stranded RNA in vitro. 700 34

Genomic probes were used to investigate hepatitis A virus (HAV) and enterovirus RNAs in two types of shellfish from natural beds (Atlantic coast, France). After elution concentration, nucleic acid extracted by proteinase K and purified by phenol-chloroform and ethanol precipitation was assayed by dot blot hybridization. The probes used were a specific HAV probe corresponding to the 3' end (3D polymerase coding region) and an enterovirus probe corresponding to the 5' noncoding region. The method was first tested under experimental conditions by using virus-spiked shellfish before being applied under field conditions. Our results show that shellfish were highly contaminated: enterovirus and HAV RNAs were found in 63 and 67%, respectively, of samples examined with the riboprobes. On the same site, viral (HAV and enterovirus) RNAs were found in a larger fraction of cockles than mussels. Statistical tests of dependence showed no relationship between viral contamination and bacterial contamination (evaluated by fecal coliform counts).
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PMID:Use of genomic probes to detect hepatitis A virus and enterovirus RNAs in wild shellfish and relationship of viral contamination to bacterial contamination. 828

A new immunomodulating agent, imiquimod, has been reported to have antiviral and antitumor activities in animal models. S-28463 (4-amino-2-ethoxymethyl-alpha, alpha-dimethyl-1H-imidazo[4, 5-c]quinoline-1-ethanol), an analog of imiquimod, has more potent antiviral activity in animals than imiquimod. It has also been shown to be more potent at inducing cytokines in human blood in vitro. However, its precise role as an immunomodulator in the skin has not been determined. We investigated the effect of S-28463 on human keratinocyte (KC) production of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and other proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Human KC were incubated with S-28463 at two concentrations (1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml) for 6 h. Cytokine gene expression was analyzed by reverse-transcriptase PCR. In human KC, S-28463 stimulated significant increases in IFN-alpha mRNA at both concentrations. IL-1alpha mRNA increased 1.4-fold at 10 micrograms/ml. IL-8 mRNA was upregulated 2.5-fold at 10 micrograms/ml. Twenty-four hours after treatment, IL-1 alpha, IL-8, and TNF-alpha protein were increased, but IFN-alpha was below the level of detection. These results suggest that in the skin, S-28463-induced-IL-1 alpha, IL-8, and TNF-alpha production may be involved in the immunomodulating action of S-28463.
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PMID:Effect of a novel topical immunomodulator, S-28463, on keratinocyte cytokine gene expression and production. 883 22

Ethanol oxidation in Kupffer cells was investigated by measuring 14C-acetate formation from 14C-ethanol, and the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) in this process was also examined. Formation of 14C-acetate from 20 mM of 14C-ethanol was significantly increased in medium-containing Kupffer cells (9,003 +/- 2,066 cpm/5 x 10(6) cells), compared with medium containing no cells (1,826 +/- 46 cpm, p < 0.01), or containing acid-killed Kupffer cells (1,629 +/- 210 cpm, p < 0.01). Ethanol formation was significantly attenuated when 20 and 200 microM cyanamide or 2 microM disulfiram were given. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that Kupffer cells carry mRNA for ALDH2. These findings indicate that Kupffer cells can oxidize ethanol to acetate. ALDH2 may participate in this process, especially in the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1999 Apr
PMID:Evidence for ethanol oxidation by Kupffer cells. 1023 87

Aflastatin A inhibits aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus via an unknown mechanism. We found that aflastatin A clearly inhibited production of norsolorinic acid, an early biosynthetic intermediate of aflatoxin, at a concentration of 0.25 microg/ml. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and real-time quantitative PCR (TaqMan PCR) experiments indicated that the transcription of genes encoding aflatoxin biosynthetic enzymes (pksA, ver-1, and omtA) and a gene encoding a regulatory protein for expression of the biosynthetic enzymes (aflR) were significantly reduced by the addition of aflastatin A. We also found that aflastatin A elevated the glucose consumption and ethanol accumulation by A. parasiticus, and repressed transcription of genes involved in ethanol utilization. These results suggest that aflastatin A inhibits a very early step in aflatoxin biosynthesis prior to the transcription of aflR and can influence glucose metabolism in the fungus.
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PMID:Effects of aflastatin A, an inhibitor of aflatoxin production, on aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway and glucose metabolism in Aspergillus parasiticus. 1159 1

Breast cancer is a serious illness affecting approximately one in nine women in the United States. Although an actual cause for breast cancer is unknown, genetic and environmental factors have been associated with its onset. Elevated levels of estrogen and heightened expression of the WNT10B proto-oncogene have been implicated in the development of human malignant breast tumors because they enhance the proliferation of mammary tissue. Two pyrethroid insecticides, sumithrin and fenvalerate, have been shown to mimic estrogenic activity in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells by inducing pS2 expression whereas two other pyrethroids, permethrin and d-trans allethrin do not have the same capability. To investigate if estrogen and these four pyrethroid insecticides could affect the expression of a gene related to mammary gland development, WNT10B expression in pyrethroid-treated MCF-7 cells was examined. MCF-7 cells under normal growth conditions do not express WNT10B. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nested PCR and Southern hybridization were employed to detect WNT10B expression. As controls, cells were treated with either ethanol, corn oil, or Vista LPA solvent. When compared to the solvent-treated controls, sumithrin, fenvalerate and estrogen treated MCF-7 cells all had increased levels of WNT10B expression. The non-estrogenic pyrethroids, d-trans allethrin and permethrin, demonstrated a similar elevation of WNT10B expression at a lower concentration, but not at the higher concentration. The results suggest that pyrethroid insecticides and estrogen can enhance the expression of the WNT10B proto-oncogene. However, since both the estrogenic and non-estrogenic substances amplified Wnt10B expression, the mechanism likely involves multiple distinct pathways.
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PMID:Effects of pyrethroid insecticides and estrogen on WNT10B proto-oncogene expression. 1243 93

Alcohol has been reported to be a risk factor in psoriasis mainly based on the observation that there is a higher prevalence of alcohol abuse in individuals with psoriasis. The mechanism by which alcohol affects this disease is still elusive. So far there are no reports describing the effects of metabolites relevant to alcohol metabolism on the growth of human keratinocytes. In the present study we examined the effects of ethanol and acetone, which exceeds its normal endogenous level in the blood of heavy drinkers, on the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes. HaCaT cells were incubated for 30 min in the presence of various concentrations of ethanol (2.14 m M-1.71 M) and acetone (1.7 mM-1.36 M). The numbers of viable and proliferating cells were determined at different times after ethanol and acetone treatment. The effects of ethanol and acetone on the mRNA levels of genes characteristic for proliferating keratinocytes such as alpha5 integrin, keratinocyte growth factor receptor and cyclin D1 were studied by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Both ethanol and acetone induced proliferation of HaCaT cells. The maximum increase in the number of viable cells and the maximum proliferative response was observed with 4.28 m M ethanol and 13.6 m M acetone. The alpha5 integrin, keratinocyte growth factor receptor and cyclin D1 mRNA levels were higher compared to the controls as early as 2 h after ethanol and 30 min after acetone treatment of the cells. The stimulatory effect of ethanol and acetone on human keratinocytes may be one of the reasons why psoriasis can be precipitated by alcohol misuse.
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PMID:Ethanol and acetone stimulate the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes: the possible role of alcohol in exacerbating psoriasis. 1272 8

The microbial enantioselective reduction of acetylpyridine derivatives was studied. Many microorganisms were found to reduce 5-acetylfuro[2,3-c]pyridine (AFP) to (S)-5-(1-hydroxyethyl)furo[2,3-c]-pyridine (FPH). Candida maris IFO10003 reduced AFP to (R)-FPH with high enantioselectivity. The microbial reduction reaction was optimized. The aeration conditions and glucose concentration affected the yield and stereoselectivity. The cells accumulated 17.5 g/l (107 mM) of (R)-FPH with a 99% yield and 97% enantiomeric excess (e.e.). A cell-free extract of C. maris accumulated 91.5 g/l (559 mM) with over 99% e.e. with enzymatic NADH regeneration. (R)-FPH is an important intermediate for the synthesis of HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitor, and other optically active 1-(pyridyl)ethanol derivatives are versatile chiral building blocks for asymmetric synthesis.
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PMID:Microbial enantioselective reduction of acetylpyridine derivatives. 1278 22


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