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Query: EC:3.1.27.4 (
ribonuclease
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6,621
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Advances in our understanding of molecular and cellular physiology necessitate that mRNA levels for specific growth factors and other rare transcripts be measured quantitatively in small samples. Conventional methods such as Northern blot analysis and solution hybridization/
ribonuclease
protection are not sufficiently sensitive. We now report the theory, development, and validation of a rapid and highly sensitive assay, the RNA/DNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RD-PCR), which uses a competitive PCR approach to measure the number of copies of a specific mRNA per cell. Total nucleic acid (RNA and genomic DNA) is isolated from cells in culture. The mRNA of interest is first reverse-transcribed with an oligomer bearing a complementary sequence specific for the mRNA at its 3'-end, and a sequence complementary to an intron of the desired gene at the 5'-end. Competitive PCR is then performed in the presence of the cDNA product and endogenous genomic DNA, with an upstream primer complementary to the exon sequence of the gene of interest, and a downstream primer complementary to the intron sequence that was tagged to the cDNA. The cell's own genomic DNA is thereby used as the internal standard. To control for the efficiency of reverse transcription, a standard curve is used in each assay. The technique was validated by comparing the quantitation of
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) mRNA in two human cell lines by RD-PCR and by RNase protection analysis. Both methods gave similar numbers of copies of
IGF-I
mRNA per cell. For accurate analysis, RNase protection required at least 10(7) cells; RD-PCR required as little as 10(2) cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:Competitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction without an artificial internal standard. 753 86
In species such as the pig and human, gonadal steroidogenesis is believed to be dependent upon the availability of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. However, before ovulation, Graafian follicles are impermeant to lipoproteins in the LDL class. Thus, de novo cholesterol biosynthesis via the rate-determining enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase is likely to provide a significant mechanism for generating sterol substrate for steroidogenesis by granulosa cells before follicular rupture. As serum-free monolayer culture of (swine) granulosa cells offers an in vitro model of hormonally responsive HMG-CoA reductase, we generated a (porcine) complementary DNA and homologous complementary RNA to investigate by sensitive and specific
ribonuclease
protection assay the hormonal regulation of HMG-CoA reductase gene expression in ovarian cells from immature Graafian follicles. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we cloned and sequenced a 238-base pair complementary DNA from porcine luteal tissue that encodes the catalytic region of HMG-CoA reductase. GenBank analysis of the DNA sequence homology between the pig and other species showed the greatest concordance with human (88%) and hamster (90%). Solution hybridization/
ribonuclease
protection analysis of total RNA isolated from serum-free monolayer cultures of porcine granulosa cells revealed that insulin (3 micrograms/ml) increased HMG-CoA messenger RNA (mRNA) concentrations corrected for constitutive 18S ribosomal RNA expression in a time-dependent fashion, with significant effects observed at 12 h and a 6-fold increase by 48 h. Recombinant human
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) peptide was able to mimic the action of insulin alone. Neither FSH (100 ng/ml) nor 8-bromo-cAMP (1 mM) had observable effects on HMG-CoA message accumulation at any time point studied. However, the combined action of either FSH and insulin or 8-bromo-cAMP and insulin resulted in synergistic increases in reductase mRNA by 31- and 17-fold, respectively. To assess the possible feedback effects of sterol on HMG-CoA gene expression, granulosa cells were treated with LDL. At physiological concentrations, LDL suppressed basal expression of HMG-CoA mRNA to levels below the control value. In addition, LDL inhibited insulin-stimulated HMG-CoA mRNA accumulation by 84% as well as the synergistic effects of insulin and FSH (by 94%) and of insulin and 8-bromo-cAMP (by 93%). We conclude that insulin alone or in combination with FSH or cAMP augments the accumulation of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA in ovarian (granulosa) cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
...
PMID:Regulation of porcine granulosa cell 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase by insulin and insulin-like growth factor I: synergism with follicle-stimulating hormone or protein kinase A agonist. 758 48
Diabetes alters the level of
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) mRNA in tissues of postnatal animals, but the impact of maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes on
IGF-I
mRNA abundance in fetal tissues has not been examined. Pregnant pigs were injected with either buffer or alloxan (50 mg/kg) at day 75 of gestation to induce diabetes. Fetal tissue samples were collected at day 105 of gestation, and
IGF-I
mRNA abundance (densitometric units/10 micrograms total RNA) were estimated by specific
ribonuclease
protection assay. Fetal glucose and
IGF-I
concentrations were increased 166 and 34%, respectively, by maternal diabetes. Maternal diabetes induced an increase in abundance of
IGF-I
mRNA in fetal skeletal muscle, liver, heart, kidney, and placenta.
IGF-I
mRNA levels were depressed by maternal diabetes in fetal adipose tissue and brain compared with the respective tissues from fetuses of control pigs. These data indicate that circulating levels of
IGF-I
and the steady-state levels of
IGF-I
mRNA in fetal tissues can respond to the metabolic and endocrine alterations occurring during maternal diabetes. The large variation in expression and degree of response among fetal tissues indicates that the fetus experiences tissue-specific regulation of
IGF-I
expression during development.
...
PMID:Alteration in IGF-I mRNA content of fetal swine tissues in response to maternal diabetes. 797 70
The cellular effects of
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) are modified by a family of binding proteins (IGFBPs) that act as reservoirs in serum for the growth factor and are produced locally by tissues, including the kidney. Because regulation of these proteins may influence renal repair, either directly or by their interactions with
IGF-I
, we studied gene expression during the recovery from renal failure induced by folic acid and during the compensatory increase in renal function following uninephrectomy (UNX). Expression of
IGF-I
, the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and all six IGFBPs was detected using an
ribonuclease
protection assay. IGFBP-5 was the most abundant binding protein mRNA present in kidney, whereas IGFBP-2 and -6 were the least abundant. During regeneration following folic acid-induced acute renal failure,
IGF-I
, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-5 mRNAs declined in abundance approximately two- to threefold. On the other hand, IGF-IR, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-2 were increased (approximately 2-, 6-, and 6-fold, respectively) in the first 24 h. IGFBP-1 mRNA remained elevated for at least 3 days. Despite the known increase in cellular RNA content following UNX, little difference in specific expression of mRNAs was observed. Because IGFBP-1 has been shown to stimulate cell migration and has previously been localized to the distal nephron, the site of greatest injury in the folic acid model, these data are compatible with the notion that this protein may function either directly to affect cellular repair or act as a reservoir for
IGF-I
under conditions of cellular damage.
...
PMID:Differential mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor system during renal injury and hypertrophy. 859 75
In several species, including humans, circulating
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) levels increase during the onset of puberty, suggesting that this peptide contributes to attaining sexual maturity. Because
IGF-I
elicits LHRH release from the median eminence (ME) of immature female rats in vitro, we hypothesized that it may represent one of the peripheral signals suspected to link somatic development to the LHRH-releasing system at puberty. We now present evidence in support of this concept. Quantitation of
IGF-I
messenger RNA (mRNA) levels by
ribonuclease
protection assay revealed that expression of the
IGF-I
gene did not change in the medial basal hypothalamus or preoptic area of female rats during peripubertal development. In contrast, the contents of both IGF-Ia and IGF-Ib mRNA, the two alternatively spliced forms of the
IGF-I
gene, increased significantly in the liver during the early proestrous phase of puberty. This change was followed by an elevation in serum
IGF-I
levels during the late proestrous phase of puberty along with a concomitant increase is serum gonadotropin levels. The proestrous change in serum
IGF-I
levels was accompanied by a selective increase in IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA in the ME. Small doses of
IGF-I
(2-200 ng), administered intraventricularly, effectively induced LH release in both juvenile and peripubertal female rats, an increase prevented by prior immunoneutralization of LHRH actions. Importantly, intraventricular injections of
IGF-I
(20 ng), administered twice daily in the afternoon to immature animals, significantly advanced puberty. Thus, these results suggest that
IGF-I
of peripheral origin contributes to the initiation of female puberty by stimulating LHRH release from the hypothalamus, an effect that appears to be amplified by the increased synthesis of
IGF-I
receptors in the ME during first proestrus.
...
PMID:Insulin-like growth factor I of peripheral origin acts centrally to accelerate the initiation of female puberty. 875 38
In the present studies we examined the regulation of
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) expression in porcine granulosa cells in vitro. Using Northern analysis and
ribonuclease
protection assays with exon-specific probes, we identified the
IGF-I
messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts present in these cells under basal and hormone-stimulated conditions. We also assessed changes in secreted
IGF-I
using Western blots and correlated the change in protein secretion after hormone treatment with changes in mRNA levels. By analogy to the human
IGF-I
gene and its transcription, two major transcripts of approximately 1 and 7.5 kilobases, seen in freshly isolated granulosa cells and follicle wall and in single passaged granulosa (MDGp1) cells, most likely correspond to IGF-IA. Minor transcripts of 3-4 kilobases, which appeared after FSH or forskolin treatments or in control cells after long exposure of the autoradiographs, were attributed to incompletely processed RNA precursors. Ribonuclease protection assay analysis using probes to detect alternative use of exon 5 or exon 6 indicated that most, if not all, of the transcripts contained only exon 6 sequence (IGF-IA). Both class 1 and class 2 transcripts were identified using exon 1- and exon 2-specific probes, respectively. GH increased steady state levels of
IGF-I
mRNA 3-fold, FSH increased it approximately 10-fold, and forskolin maximally increased it 12- to 15-fold. Estradiol had no effect alone or in combination with the other treatments. All treatments that increased
IGF-I
mRNA coordinately increased both class 1 and class 2 transcripts, with the increase in class 1 greater than that in class 2. Multiple forms of
IGF-I
protein were seen under basal conditions and after hormone treatment. These were identified based on mRNA analysis and biochemical methods as both glycosylated and nonglycosylated IGF-IA prohormone, incompletely processed forms of prohormone, and the mature peptide. Changes in the levels of total protein were similar to the changes in mRNA (GH, 3-fold; FSH and forskolin, 10- to 20-fold). All forms of the protein changed coordinately, suggesting that these hormones had no major effect on the intracellular processing mechanism. IGF-binding protein-3 was able to bind to all
IGF-I
forms. These data conclusively demonstrate FSH and GH induction of ovarian
IGF-I
. The porcine granulosa cell culture system used in these studies should be an excellent system for studying the hormonal regulation of
IGF-I
expression.
...
PMID:Regulation of insulin-like growth factor I biosynthesis in porcine granulosa cells. 889 30
Relaxin promotes growth of reproductive tissues, including the uterus. Although we have evidence of a role for
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) in mediating relaxin-induced growth of porcine granulosa cells in vitro, the mechanism of action by which relaxin enhances uterine growth has not been identified. To investigate a role for the uterine insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in relaxin-induced uterine growth, we monitored the effects of relaxin on porcine IGFs and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in vivo. The trophic effects of relaxin on the uterus were elicited by administering relaxin or saline to prepubertal gilts every 6 h for 54 h. Three hours after the last injection, uterine flushes, uteri, follicular fluid, and ovaries were collected. Estradiol was measured in plasma and follicular fluid to confirm the prepubertal status of each animal. Significantly higher concentrations of uterine lumen
IGF-I
(P < 0.05) and IGF-II (P < 0.01) were observed in animals treated with relaxin. However, relaxin administration did not affect uterine
IGF-I
and -II gene expression, as determined by a
ribonuclease
protection assay and Northern analysis, respectively. In uterine flushes, relaxin treatment increased an IGFBP doublet (33 and 34.5 kDa) and IGFBP-3. The uterine IGFBP doublet was identified as IGFBP-2 by immunoprecipitation. Plasma or follicular fluid IGFs and IGFBPs were unaffected by relaxin administration. In addition, relaxin did not influence
IGF-I
binding to its uterine receptor. This is the first study to demonstrate regulation of the pig uterine IGF system by relaxin. In conclusion, the data point to
IGF-I
, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3 as putative mediators of relaxin-induced uterine growth in the pig.
...
PMID:Relaxin increases insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins of the pig uterus in vivo. 927 49
Five days of treadmill training in rats leads to increased muscle size and running time. This was used to examine the effect of exercise on circulating
insulin-like growth factor I
[IGF-I; radioimmunoassay (RIA)], local muscle (hindlimb) IGF-I (by RIA), and muscle IGF-I mRNA (by
ribonuclease
protection assay). Eight-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 10); single-exercise test (n = 10), untrained but with one maximal exercise test at the end of the study; and training (n = 16), trained for 5 days and one maximal exercise test on day 6. There were no differences among the groups with respect to circulating IGF-I. Muscle IGF-I protein in trained rats (4.2 +/- 1.5 ng/g of muscle tissue) was significantly greater than both control (0.27 +/- 0.1 ng/g) and single-exercise test (0.62 +/- 0.19 ng/g, P < 0.05 by analysis of variance). There was no difference among the groups in IGF-I mRNA gene expression. These data suggest that there is an early, marked, local muscle increase in IGF-I protein in response to exercise. This increase, however, may not be related to increased muscle IGF-I gene expression. Moreover, the IGF-I response was probably local in nature since it was not matched by any increase in circulating IGF-I.
...
PMID:Increase in muscle IGF-I protein but not IGF-I mRNA after 5 days of endurance training in young rats. 936 24
Major changes in serum levels of
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) occur in children with end-stage liver disease in association with changes in body composition. We hypothesized that these changes would be associated with changes in hepatic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. Eleven children with end-stage extrahepatic biliary atresia and 11 controls (liver donors) were studied. Serum samples were obtained from the children with biliary atresia immediately before orthotopic liver transplantation. Serum
IGF-I
, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-2 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, and IGFBP-3 by immunoradiometric assay. In both groups, growth hormone receptor mRNA expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,
IGF-I
mRNA expression by
ribonuclease
protection assay, and IGFBP-1 to -4 mRNA expression by Northern analysis. Growth hormone receptor and
IGF-I
mRNA levels were reduced 1.7-fold (P = .003) and 9.6-fold (P = .0001) in biliary atresia compared with levels in controls. Despite increased serum IGFBP-1 levels and reduced IGFBP-3 levels in biliary atresia, there was no change in either IGFBP-1 or IGFBP-3 mRNA expression. In contrast, serum levels and mRNA expression of IGFBP-2 were increased 1.6-fold (P = .003) and twofold (P = .0001), respectively, compared with controls. Gene expression did not correlate with liver dysfunction or body composition. Changes in growth hormone receptor and
IGF-I
mRNA expression may account for the reduction in serum
IGF-I
found in pediatric liver disease. In contrast, the marked alteration in circulating IGFBP levels was not accompanied by changes in hepatic IGFBP gene expression, suggesting that posttranslational mechanisms may be important.
...
PMID:Hepatic growth hormone receptor, insulin-like growth factor I, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein messenger RNA expression in pediatric liver disease. 939 4
To investigate specific effects of androgens on whole body metabolism, we studied six healthy lean men (mean +/- SEM age, 23.2 +/- 0.5 yr) before and after gonadal steroid suppression with a GnRH analog (Lupron), given twice, 3 weeks apart. Primed infusions of [13C]leucine, indirect calorimetry, isokinetic dynamometry, growth factor measurements, and percutaneous muscle biopsies were performed at baseline (D1) and after 10 weeks of treatment (D2); each subject served as his own control. Testosterone concentrations were markedly suppressed after 10 weeks of treatment (D1, 535 +/- 141 ng/dL; D2, 31 +/- 9). Leucine's rate of appearance (index of proteolysis) was markedly suppressed after 10 weeks of hypogonadism (-13%; P = 0.01) as well as the nonoxidative leucine disposal, an index of whole body protein synthesis (-13%; P = 0.01) without any changes in plasma amino acid concentrations. All subjects studied after 10 weeks showed a decrease in fat-free mass, as measured by skinfold calipers and dual emission x-ray absortiometry scans (D1, 56.5 +/- 2.9 kg; D2, 54.4 +/- 2.5; P = 0.005), and an increase in percent fat mass (D1, 19.2 +/- 2.5%; D2, 22.2 +/- 2.5; P = 0.001). Rates of lipid oxidation decreased (-31%; P = 0.05) after treatment, with parallel changes in resting energy expenditure (-9%; P = 0.05). Mean and peak GH concentrations (measured every 10 min for 6 h) and GH production rates did not decrease after testosterone deficiency, with an actual increase in basal secretion (P < 0.02). Plasma
insulin-like growth factor I
(
IGF-I
) concentrations did not change significantly after 10 weeks of treatment (D1, 227 +/- 44 micrograms/L; D2, 291 +/- 60; P = 0.08). Isokinetic dynamometry of leg extensors at 60 degrees and 180 degrees/s was also decreased after 10 weeks of hypogonadism. Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was isolated from muscle biopsy samples, and
ribonuclease
protection assays were performed using human complementary DNA clones for
IGF-I
, IGF-binding protein-4, myosin, and actin. Ten weeks after Lupron treatment, messenger RNA (mRNA) concentrations of
IGF-I
decreased significantly, whereas there was a trend toward higher IGF-binding protein-4 concentrations, with no change in myosin or actin mRNA concentrations. In conclusion, testosterone deficiency in young men is associated with a marked decrease in measures of whole body protein anabolism, decreased strength, decreased fat oxidation, and increased adiposity. These effects of testosterone deficiency are independent of changes in peripheral GH production and
IGF-I
concentrations, even though im
IGF-I
mRNA concentrations decrease. These data suggest a direct effect of androgens on whole body lipid and protein metabolism.
...
PMID:Testosterone deficiency in young men: marked alterations in whole body protein kinetics, strength, and adiposity. 962 14
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