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)

Calbindin-D28k (CaBP28k) belongs to a large class of eucaryotic proteins that bind calcium (Ca2+) to a specific helix-loop-helix structure. To date, this protein was mainly linked to brain, kidneys, and pancreas. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the existence of CaBP8k in the human placental trophoblasts of the human term placenta. Placental Ca2+ transfer from maternal to fetus is crucial for fetal development, although the biochemical mechanisms responsible for this process are largely unknown. In the current study, we have investigated the 45Ca2+ uptake by human trophoblast cells in correlation with the expression CaBP28k. The expression of CaBP28k was determined by Northern blot analysis, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Indeed, Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of a CaBP28k transcript in syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblast cells, and HEK-293 cells. This was further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis followed by sequencing. In addition, anti-CaBP28k labeling was associated with cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast tissues in placental tissue sections and in vitro cultured cells. The presence of CaBP28k protein in these cells was confirmed by Western blotting. Cytotrophoblast cells isolated from human term placenta showed differentiation into syncytiotrophoblasts in culture according to the increase in hCG secretion. Both Ca2+ uptake and hCG secretion by trophoblasts increased gradually and were high at Day 4. Taken together, these data suggest that CaBP28k may play a role in Ca2+ transport or cell development in human trophoblast possibly trough Ca2+ buffering.
...
PMID:Expression of calbindin-D28k (CaBP28k) in trophoblasts from human term placenta. 1260 74

Pigs are under consideration as possible sources of organs for xenotransplantation in humans. The induction of hematopoietic microchimerism through xenotransplantation of source animal hematopoietic cells has been suggested as a means to induce tolerance in potential recipients. Because all porcine cells contain genetic information for porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), coculture techniques, reverse transcriptase (RT) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays were used to determine whether infectious PERV is released from fresh porcine bone marrow cells cultured in the presence or absence of porcine cytokines. Human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK-293 cells cocultured with porcine bone marrow cells were positive for PERV RNA but never became positive for viral RT activity, suggesting the PERV infection was not productive. In contrast, high levels of RT activity was detected in porcine ST-IOWA cells after coculture, demonstrating that these cells became productively infected. PERV was released from cultured porcine bone marrow cells without stimulation, and combinations of the porcine hematopoietic cytokines, interleukin-3, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and stem cell factor had no additional effect on the infectivity or in vitro tropism of released PERV virions.
...
PMID:Detection of porcine endogenous retrovirus in cultures of freshly isolated porcine bone marrow cells. 1279 82

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, flagellated bacteria that adheres to human gastric mucosa, is strongly associated with gastric ulcers and adenocarcinoma. The mechanisms through which gastric epithelial cells recognize this organism are unclear. In this study we evaluated the interactions between the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and H. pylori-mediated NF-kappa B activation and the induction of chemokine mRNA expression. By reverse transcriptase-PCR we determined that MKN45 gastric epithelial cells express low but detectable amounts of TLR2, -4, and -5 but no MD-2. To determine which, if any, TLRs may play a role in the response of epithelial cells to H. pylori, HEK293 cells were cotransfected with the NF-kappa B-Luc reporter, CD14 and MD2 expression plasmids, and expression plasmids for TLR2, TLR4, or TLR5. Infection of the cultures with H. pylori (strain 26695) induced NF-kappa B activity in cells transfected with TLR2 and TLR5, but not TLR4. Consistent with the HEK293 experiments, H. pylori-induced NF-kappa B activation was decreased in MKN45 gastric epithelial cells by transfection of dominant-negative versions of TLR2 and TLR5 but not TLR4. Highly purified lipopolysaccharide from H. pylori strain 26695 activated NF-kappa B in HEK293 via TLR2 but not TLR4. Partially purified flagellin from H. pylori was also capable of inducing NF-kappa B activation in HEK cells transfected with TLR5. Additionally, chemokine gene expression was induced by H. pylori in HEK293 cells following stable transfection with TLR2 or TLR5 expression plasmids. These studies demonstrate that gastric epithelial cells recognize and respond to H. pylori infection at least in part via TLR2 and TLR5. Furthermore, the unique lipopolysaccharide of H. pylori is a TLR2, not a TLR4 agonist.
...
PMID:Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR5, but not TLR4, are required for Helicobacter pylori-induced NF-kappa B activation and chemokine expression by epithelial cells. 1280 70

We have identified a novel membrane form of guanylate cyclase (GC) from a mouse testis cDNA library and termed it mGC-G (mouse GC-G) based on its high sequence homology to rat GC-G. It encodes a potential type I transmembrane receptor, with the characteristic domain structure common to all members of the family of membrane GCs, including an extracellular, putative ligand-binding domain, a single membrane-spanning segment and cytoplasmic protein kinase-like and cyclase catalytic domains. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase--PCR and Northern-blot analyses showed that mGC-G is highly and selectively expressed in mouse testis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the extracellular protein sequence revealed that mGC-G is closely related to members of the subfamily of natriuretic peptide receptor GCs. When overexpressed in HEK-293T cells (human embryonic kidney 293T cells) or COS-7 cells, mGC-G manifests as a membrane-bound glycoprotein, which can form either homomeric or heteromeric complexes with the natriuretic peptide receptor GC-A. It exhibits marked cGMP-generating GC activity; however, notably, all ligands known to activate other receptor GCs failed to stimulate enzymic activity. The unique testis-enriched expression of mGC-G, which is completely different from the broader tissue distribution of rat GC-G, suggests the existence of as-yet-unidentified ligands and unappreciated species-specific physiological functions mediated through mGC-G/cGMP signalling in the testis.
...
PMID:Identification of an orphan guanylate cyclase receptor selectively expressed in mouse testis. 1471 86

Understanding of Ca(2+) signaling requires the knowledge of proteins involved in this process. Among these proteins are sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases (SERCAs) that pump Ca(2+) into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Recently, the human SERCA3 gene was shown to give rise to five isoforms (SERCA3a-e (h3a-h3e)). Here we demonstrate the existence of an additional new member, termed SERCA3f (h3f). By reverse transcriptase-PCR using monocytic U937 cell RNA, h3f mRNA was found to exclude the antepenultimate exon 21. h3f mRNA expression appeared as a human-specific splice variant. It was not found in rats or mice. h3f mRNA gave rise to an h3f protein differing in its C terminus from h3a-h3e. Of particular interest, h3f diverged in the first amino acids after the first splice site but presented the same last 21 amino acids as h3b. Consequently, we further investigated the structure-function-location relationships of the h3b and h3f isoforms. Comparative functional study of h3b and h3f recombinant proteins in intact HEK-293 cells and in fractionated membranes showed the following distinct characteristics: (i) resting cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) and (ii) ER Ca(2+) content ([Ca(2+)](er)); similar characteristics were shown for the following: (i) the effects of the SERCA inhibitor, thapsigargin, on Ca(2+) release ([Ca(2+)](Tg)) and subsequent Ca(2+) entry ([Ca(2+)](e)) and (ii) the low apparent Ca(2+) affinity and the enhanced rate of dephosphorylation of the E(2)P phosphoenzyme intermediate. Subcellular location of h3b and h3f by immunofluorescence and/or confocal microscopy using the h3b- and h3f-specific polyclonal and the pan-h3 monoclonal (PL/IM430) antibodies suggested overlapping but distinct ER location. The endogenous expression of h3f protein was also proved in U937 cells. Altogether these data suggest that the SERCA3 isoforms have a more widespread role in cellular Ca(2+) signaling than previously appreciated.
...
PMID:Identification, expression, function, and localization of a novel (sixth) isoform of the human sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase 3 gene. 1502 35

The DNMT3A (DNA methyltransferase 3A) and DNMT3B genes encode putative de novo methyltransferases and show complex transcriptional regulation in the presence of three and two different promoters respectively. All promoters of DNMT3A and DNMT3B lack typical TATA sequences adjacent to their transcription start sites and contain several Sp1-binding sites. The importance of these Sp1-binding sites was demonstrated by using a GC-rich DNA-binding protein inhibitor, mithramycin A, i.e. on the basis of decrease in the promoter activities and mRNA expression levels of DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Overexpression of Sp1 and Sp3 up-regulated the promoter activities of these two genes. The physical binding of Sp1 and Sp3 to DNMT3A and DNMT3B promoters was confirmed by a gel shift assay. Interestingly, Sp3 overexpression in HEK-293T cells (human embryonic kidney 293T cells) resulted in 3.3- and 4.0-fold increase in DNMT3A and DNMT3B mRNA expression levels respectively by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR, whereas Sp1 overexpression did not. Furthermore, an antisense oligonucleotide to Sp3 significantly decreased the mRNA levels of DNMT3A and DNMT3B. These results indicate the functional importance of Sp proteins, particularly Sp3, in the regulation of DNMT3A and DNMT3B gene expression.
...
PMID:Transcriptional regulation of the human DNA methyltransferase 3A and 3B genes by Sp3 and Sp1 zinc finger proteins. 1536 56

Simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV(KU2) replicates with extremely high titers in macaques. In order to determine whether the DNA of the viral genome could be used as a vaccine if the DNA were rendered noninfectious, we deleted the reverse transcriptase gene from SHIVKU2 and inserted this DNA (DeltartSHIVKU2) into a plasmid that was then used to test gene expression and immunogenicity. Transfection of Jurkat and human embryonic kidney epithelial (HEK 293) cells with the DNA resulted in production of all of the major viral proteins and their precursors and transient export of a large quantity of the Gag p27 into the supernatant fluid. As expected, no infectious virus was produced in these cultures. Four macaques were injected intradermally with 2 mg of the DNA at 0, 8, and 18 weeks. The animals developed neutralizing antibodies and low enzyme-linked immunospot assay (E-SPOT) titers against SHIVKU2. These four animals and two unvaccinated control animals were then challenged with heterologous SHIV89.6P administered into their rectums. The two control animals developed viral RNA titers exceeding 10(6) copies/ml of plasma, and these titers were accompanied by the loss of CD4+ T cells by 2 weeks after challenge. The two control animals died at weeks 8 and 16, respectively. All four of the immunized animals became infected with the challenge virus but developed lower titers of viral RNA in plasma than the control animals, and the titers decreased over time in three of the four macaques. The fourth animal remained viremic and died at week 47. Whereas the control animals failed to develop E-SPOT responses, all four of the immunized animals developed anamnestic E-SPOT responses after challenge. The animal that died developed the highest E-SPOT response and was the only one that produced neutralizing antibodies against the challenge virus. These results established that noninfectious DNA of pathogenic SHIV could be used as a vaccine to prevent AIDS, even though the immunological assays used did not predict the manner in which the challenge virus would replicate in the vaccinated animals.
...
PMID:A noninfectious simian/human immunodeficiency virus DNA vaccine that protects macaques against AIDS. 1573 Dec 36

Xenotransplantation of pig organs, tissues, and cells bears the risk of interspecies transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). To evaluate the long-term effect of PERV infection on human cells, human embryonic kidney cell line HEK-293 cells were co-cultured with PERV produced by the porcine kidney PK15 cell line for 24 hours and the infected HEK-293 cells were continually cultured for 6 months. PERV-gag, pol gene and gag protein were detected in infected HEK-293 cells by PCR and immunofluorescent staining. PERV from the supernatant of infected HEK-293 cells was same as that from PK15 in morphology. The concentration of reverse transcriptase in the supernatant of infected HEK-293 cells was almost 200 times lower than that of PK15 cells. Except that infected HEK-293 cells doubled a little earlier than the control and infected cells grew in serum-free medium poorly, further study for cell morphology and growth showed no significant difference between infected HEK-293 cells and uninfected control. These results suggested although PERV from PK15 could infect human cells in vitro, there was no significant acute effect attributable to PERV infection on the growth of HEK-293 cells by 6 months culture.
...
PMID:Long-term effects on HEK-293 cell line after co-culture with porcine endogenous retrovirus. 1580 88

To address the issue of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) expression in non-melanocytic cells, we have quantitatively evaluated the relative expression levels of both MC1R mRNA and protein in a subset of different cell types. Using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at high cycle numbers, we detected MC1R mRNA in all cell types examined, including human embryonic kidney-293 (HEK 293) cells, a cell type widely used as a negative control in melanocortin expression studies. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed the highest levels of MC1R transcripts were in melanocytic cells, whereas the keratinocyte and fibroblast cell cultures examined had only a low level of expression, similar to that of HEK 293 cells. Antibody mediated detection of MC1R protein in membrane extracts demonstrated exogenous receptor in MC1R transfected cell lines, as well as endogenous MC1R in melanoma cells. However, radioligand binding procedures were required to detect MC1R protein of normal human melanocytes and no surface expression of MC1R was detected in any of the non-melanocytic cells examined. This was consistent with their low level of mRNA, and suggests that, if present, the levels of surface receptor are significantly lower than that in melanocytes. The capacity of such limited levels of MC1R protein to influence non-melanocytic skin cell biology would likely be severely compromised. Indeed, the MC1R agonist [NIe(4), D-Phe(7)] alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH) was unable to elevate intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in the keratinocyte and fibroblast cells examined, whereas a robust increase was elicited in melanocytes. Although there are a variety of cell types with detectable MC1R mRNA, the expression of physiologically significant levels of the receptor may be more restricted than the current literature indicates, and within epidermal tissue may be limited to the melanocyte.
...
PMID:Quantitative analysis of MC1R gene expression in human skin cell cultures. 1642 Feb 49

Formation of tooth enamel is a very complex process in which a specific set of proteins secreted by ameloblasts play a primordial role. As part of a screening procedure to identify novel proteins secreted by EO (enamel organ) cells of rat incisors, we isolated a partial cDNA fragment (EO-017) that is the homologue of the recently described mouse Amtn (amelotin) gene [Iwasaki, Bajenova, Somogyi-Ganss, Miller, Nguyen, Nourkeyhani, Gao, Wendel and Ganss (2005) J. Dent. Res. 84, 1127-1132]. Presented herein is the cloning of rat and pig full-length cDNAs with their deduced protein sequences. Detailed expression profiling by Northern-blot analysis and RT (reverse transcriptase)-PCR on rat and mouse tissues revealed highest expression in the mandible, more specifically in the maturation stage of the EO. Among all tissues tested, low expression was detected only in periodontal ligament, lung, thymus and gingiva. In silico analyses revealed that the Amtn gene is highly conserved in seven other mammals, but is absent from fish, birds and amphibians. The Amtn protein is enriched in proline, leucine, glutamine and threonine (52% of total) and contains a perfectly conserved protein kinase CK2 phosphorylation site. Transient transfection experiments in HEK-293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells) showed that secreted Amtn is post-translationally modified possibly through O-linked oligosaccharides on threonine residues. In concordance with its predominant expression site, immunofluorescence localization within the rat and mouse mandibles revealed Amtn localized to the basal lamina of maturation stage ameloblasts of incisors and unerupted molars. Intense Amtn protein expression was also detected in the internal basal lamina of junctional epithelium in molars. The peculiar and unique cellular localization of Amtn suggests a role in cell adhesion.
...
PMID:Cloning of rat amelotin and localization of the protein to the basal lamina of maturation stage ameloblasts and junctional epithelium. 1678 91


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>