Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.26.9 (ribonuclease)
 6,589 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The beta1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta1,4GalNAc-T) (EC) gene is expressed in normal brain tissues and in various malignant transformed cells, such as malignant melanoma, neuroblastoma, and adult T cell leukemia. To analyze the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression, we determined the genomic organization of the beta1, 4GalNAc-T gene. The gene consists of at least 11 exons and spans >8 kilobase pairs. The coding region is located in exons 2-11. To determine the transcription initiation sites, 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis and ribonuclease protection assays were performed using RNA obtained from the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-31. Consequently, we defined three transcription initiation sites and the alternative usage of three exons. Exons 1a and 1b partially overlap; the latter is part (3'-side) of the former and corresponds to the 5'-noncoding region of the cDNA clone previously isolated. The third transcript, exon 1c, corresponds to nucleotides -520 to -412 (position +1 = A of ATG of beta1,4GalNAc-T cDNA), which are considered to be in intron 1 based on the cloned cDNA sequence. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed the corresponding protection bands in samples of the gene-expressing cell lines. 5'-Flanking regions of individual initiation sites showed promoter activity when analyzed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay in SK-MEL-31 cells. The multiple transcription initiation sites and their promoters/enhancers identified here might be differentially involved in the cell type-specific expression of the beta1,4GalNAc-T gene. This gene was assigned to human chromosome 12q13.3 by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization.
 ...
PMID:Genomic organization and chromosomal assignment of the human beta1, 4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene. Identification of multiple transcription units. 870 39

Several commercial preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have been tested as therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in clinical trials, but with discordant outcomes. We also have found dramatic differences in the cytotoxic effects of four different commercial hCG preparations on an established KS cell line, KSIMM. A co-purified moiety (ies) present in these preparations may explain these differences. The eosinophil-derived neurotoxin ribonuclease, extended with four extra residues ((-4)EDN), has been suggested to be the putative anti-KS compound in the hCG preparations, being specifically recognized by the cells through its N terminal extension. We therefore synthesized a 16-residue peptide (MSLHV-NT12 EDN), made to resemble the active recognition sequence of (-4)EDN. MSLHV-NT12 EDN displays a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on KSIMM (killing 50% of the cells at 9 microg/ml). The cytotoxic effect is specific for KS cells, MSLHV-NT12 EDN being harmless even at 100 microg/ml for a melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28) or for normal human fibroblasts. We also demonstrated that MSLHV-NT12 EDN induces apoptosis in KSIMM cells. In conclusion, MSLHV-NT12 EDN is a specific proapoptotic substance for KS cells, which warrants further investigation into its in vivo effects.
 ...
PMID:A synthetic peptide derived from the human eosinophil-derived neurotoxin induces apoptosis in Kaposi's sarcoma cells. 1527 5