Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
 31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The high sensitivity of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for detecting low copy number mRNA transcripts has been standardized to analyze the mRNA profiles of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, CuZn-superoxide dismutase and aldose reductase, with respect to the housekeeping gene cyclophilin, in rat lenses cultured in hyperglycemic (50mM glucose) or oxidative (100 microM H2O2) media for 24, 40 and 60 hr. In response to hyperglycemia mRNA expression of catalase appeared to be inhibited at 24 hr but attained normal levels by 40 hr. On the other hand, mRNA levels of catalase were higher than normal between 40 and 60 hr in the presence of H2O2. Glutathione peroxidase mRNA abundance although enhanced in response to both hyperglycemia as well as H2O2-induced stress, displayed opposite trends with time-an increase from 24-60 hr due to hyperglycemia and a decrease to normal by 60 hr in the presence of H2O2. In contrast, CuZn-superoxide dismutase was inhibited at 50 mM glucose achieving baseline levels by 60 hr, while H2O2 elicited an induction at 24 hr which waned to basal levels by 60 hr. Interestingly, aldose reductase was unaffected by hyperglycemia but showed an appreciable increase with time upon exposure of the lens to H2O2. The role of these enzymes in cataractogenesis with regard to their respective mRNA levels is discussed.
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PMID:Semi-quantitation of mRNA by polymerase chain reaction. Levels of oxidative defense enzymes and aldose reductase in rat lenses cultured in hyperglycemic or oxidative medium. 873 24

Taurine is thought to be an osmolyte in the kidney medulla. We have investigated the gene expression of the taurine transporter (TauT) and the enzymes of taurine biosynthesis, cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD). We achieved this by measuring their mRNA levels using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in five kidney regions of rats in various hydration states; namely, normal hydration, after 2 days of antidiuresis following chronic diuresis and finally after acute salt loading. The mRNA levels of the well-established tonicity-sensitive genes coding for the aldose reductase (AR), the sodium myo-inositol transporter (SMIT) and the betaine transporter (BGT1) were also determined for the sake of comparison. In normally hydrated rats, TauT-, CDO-, and CSD-mRNA were enriched in the outer stripe of the outer medulla (OS). Following antidiuresis, the mRNA levels of TauT, CDO, CSD, SMIT, BGT1 and AR were all similarly increased in the papilla when compared with levels in rats submitted to a chronic diuresis. After acute salt loading, the mRNA level of TauT, like that of SMIT and BGT1, was overexpressed in OS whereas the mRNA levels of CDO and CSD remained unchanged. Like SMIT, BGT1 and AR genes, TauT, CDO and CSD genes appear to be tonicity-sensitive genes which can be activated in vivo by hypertonicity in the rat kidney. However, tonicity-induced activation of the TauT gene is more sensitive than that of CDO and CSD genes.
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PMID:Gene expression of the taurine transporter and taurine biosynthetic enzymes in rat kidney after antidiuresis and salt loading. 1137 73

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a novel aldose reductase inhibitor on lens protein kinase Cgamma (PKCgamma) levels in galactosemic dogs. Six-month old Beagles (12 total; 6 male and 6 female) were made galactosemic by feeding a diet of 40% galactose for 6 weeks. Three dogs per group were fed either control, normal diet, 40% galactose diet, 40% galactose diet with aldose reductase inhibitor at 100 mg/kg body weight per day given orally, or a control diet with aldose reductase inhibitor alone (1-H,7-H-5alpha,6,8,9-tetrahydro-1-oxopyran[4,3-beta](1) benzopyran, referred to herein as HAR-1). Lenses were removed and analyzed for toxicity by pathological examination. Lens polyol concentrations were determined by GC/MS. PKCgamma levels were determined by Western blot and by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No toxicity was observed from the aldose reductase inhibitor when given at 100 mg/kg body weight per day for 6 weeks. Galactosemic dogs showed deterioration of lens cells. Deterioration included vacuole formation in the lens, cell lysis, and loss of cell nuclei. Galactosemic dogs given the HAR-1 appeared identical to control dogs. Polyol concentrations in the lenses were reduced by 50% in dogs fed the 40% galactose diet with the aldose reductase inhibitor, HAR-1. PKCgamma protein levels were reduced in the galactosemic dog lenses, but synthesis of PKCgamma was not affected, as measured by RT-PCR. The PKCgamma protein levels were similar to controls in dogs given the aldose reductase inhibitor, HAR-1, even when polyol concentrations remained 50% elevated above control levels. HAR-1, when given to control dogs, caused a reduction in the synthesis of PKCgamma mRNA but not in total PKCgamma protein levels. This study demonstrates the use of a novel aldose reductase inhibitor to control changes in PKCgamma in dog lens, a PKC that is known to control gap junction activity.
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PMID:Normalization of lens protein kinase Cgamma in galactosemic dogs by a novel aldose reductase inhibitor. 1509 23

Random Forest, a form of multiple decision trees, has been used to screen a database of Chinese herbal constituents for potential inhibitors against several therapeutically important molecular targets. These comprise cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterases, protein kinase A, cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, aldose reductase, and three HIV targets-integrase, protease, and reverse transcriptase. In addition, compounds were identified which may inhibit the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and/or nitric oxide production in vivo. A total of 240 Chinese herbs containing 8264 compounds were screened in silico, including many used on a regular basis in traditional Chinese medicine. Active compounds were selected from another database of 2597 phytochemicals and related natural products with known target affinities and covered a wide range of structural classes. Random Forest was found to perform well, even on highly unbalanced data characteristic of ligand-based screening where the compounds to be screened are far more numerous than the number of active compounds used in training. Despite a conservative screening protocol, a wide variety of compounds from Chinese herbs were hit. Of particular interest were the relatively large number of herbs predicted to inhibit multiple targets, as well as a number which appeared to contain inhibitors of the same target from different phytochemical classes. The latter point to the possibility that individual species may make use of alternative phytochemical strategies in target inhibition. A literature search provided evidence to support 83 herb-target predictions.
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PMID:Virtual screening of Chinese herbs with Random Forest. 1738 Nov 65

Senescence is a mechanism that limits cellular lifespan and constitutes a barrier against cellular immortalization. To identify new senescence regulatory genes that might play a role in tumorigenesis, we have designed and performed a large-scale antisense-based genetic screen in primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). Out of this screen, we have identified five different genes through which loss of function partially bypasses senescence. These genes belong to very different biochemical families: csn2 (component of the Cop9 signalosome), aldose reductase (a metabolic enzyme) and brf1 (subunit of the RNA polymerase II complex), S-adenosyl homocysteine hydrolase and Bub1. Inactivation, at least partial, of these genes confers resistance to both p53- and p16INK4a-induced proliferation arrest. Furthermore, such inactivation inhibits p53 but not E2F1 transcriptional activity and impairs DNA-damage-induced transcription of p21. Since the aim of the screen was to identify new regulators of tumorigenesis, we have tested their inactivation in human tumors. We have found, either by northern blot or quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis, that the expression of three genes, Csn2, Aldose reductase and Brf1, is lost at different ratios in tumors of different origins. These genes are located at common positions of loss of heterogeneity (15q21.2, 7q35 and 14q32.33); therefore,we have measured genomic losses of these specific genes in different tumors. We have found that Csn2 and Brf1 also show genomic losses of one allele in different tumors. Our data suggest that the three genes identified in the genome-wide loss-of-function genetic screen are putative tumor suppressors located at 15q21.2; 7q35 and 14q32.33.
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PMID:Cellular senescence bypass screen identifies new putative tumor suppressor genes. 1796 25