Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (beta-galactosidase)
 14,648 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An infectious herpesvirus mutant has been constructed in which a major structural envelope glycoprotein gene was replaced by a hybrid gene encoding a novel fusion protein consisting of the N-terminus of the viral glycoprotein joined to Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta Gal). Specifically, we fused DNA encoding the first 157 amino acids of the structural glycoprotein gIII from pseudorabies virus strain Becker to the E. coli lacZ gene in a bacterial expression vector. The resulting hybrid gene was then used to replace the wild-type gIII gene in the virus by cotransfection of plasmid and viral DNA. The desired viral recombinants were identified by their inability to react with specific monoclonal antibodies that recognized only wild-type gIII protein. One such mutant virus, PRV-Z1, was chosen for further analysis. PRV-Z1 expressed a glycosylated gIII-beta Gal fusion protein after infection of PK15 cells. The fusion protein has no demonstrable beta Gal activity and, although glycosylated, remains sensitive to the enzyme endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, unlike the mature gIII gene product, indicating that the fusion protein was incompletely processed.
 ...
PMID:Construction of an infectious pseudorabies virus recombinant expressing a glycoprotein gIII-beta-galactosidase fusion protein. 303 31

Lumbar spinothalamic neurons in the lamina X of the L3-L4 spinal cord segment have been proposed to constitute the spinal ejaculation generator in male rats. Lumbar spinothalamic cells are immunoreactive for galanin and neurokinin-1 receptors. We previously showed that after injection of pseudorabies virus either in the bulbospongiosus muscle or in the prostate, retrogradely labeled cells in the L3-L4 segment also displayed galanin or neurokinin-1 receptor immunoreactivities, demonstrating a direct link between lumbar spinothalamic cells and two anatomical structures involved in the two phases of ejaculation i.e. the emission and the expulsion phases. In order to provide with a more precise anatomical support for the role of lumbar spinothalamic cells in controlling ejaculation, we injected simultaneously in male adult rats two strains of recombinant pseudorabies virus, expressing either beta-galactosidase (PRV-BaBlu) or green fluorescent protein (PRV-152) in the prostate and in the bulbospongiosus muscle, respectively. After 5 days, we performed multiple immunofluorescence experiments to detect PRV-BaBlu, PRV-152 and galanin or neurokinin-1 receptors in transverse sections of the L1-S1 segment. Double- and triple-labeled cells were counted using confocal laser scanning microscope. Double-labeled neurons with the two strains of pseudorabies virus were mainly found at the L3-L4 segment lateral to the central canal in lamina X and represented about 60% of the total number of pseudorabies virus-labeled neurons. All the double pseudorabies virus-labeled neurons also expressed lumbar spinothalamic and most of them neurokinin-1 receptor, identifying them as lumbar spinothalamic neurons. The convergence of retrograde labeling from prostate and bulbospongiosus muscle on the same lumbar spinothalamic cells strongly reinforce their role in the spinal control and coordination of the emission and expulsion of sperm.
 ...
PMID:Identification of lumbar spinal neurons controlling simultaneously the prostate and the bulbospongiosus muscles in the rat. 1636 54

Numerous physiological and emotionally motivated behaviors require concomitant activation of somatomotor and sympathetic efferents. Likewise, adaptive and maladaptive responses to stress are often characterized by simultaneous recruitment of these efferent systems. This review describes recent literature that outlines the organization of somatomotor-sympathetic circuitry in the rat. These circuits were delineated by employing recombinant pseudorabies (PRV) viral vectors as retrograde trans-synaptic tract tracers. In these studies PRV-152, a strain that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein, was injected into sympathectomized hindlimb muscle, while PRV-BaBlu, which expresses beta-galactosidase, was injected into the adrenal gland in the same animals. Immunofluorescent methods were then used to determine the presence of putative dual-function neurons that were infected with both viral strains. These somatomotor-sympathetic neurons (SMSNs) were detected in a number of brain regions. However, the most prominent nodes in this circuitry included the paraventricular, dorsomedial, and lateral nuclei of the hypothalamus, ventrolateral periaqueductal grey and ventromedial medulla. Phenotypic studies revealed subsets of SMSNs to be capable of synthesizing serotonin, or to contain neuroactive peptides vasopressin, oxytocin, orexins, or melanin-concentrating hormone. Based on these data and the results of studies employing monosynaptic tracers a central somatomotor-sympathetic circuit is proposed. This circuitry is likely recruited in diverse situations, including stress responses, cold defense, exercise and sleep. Furthermore, activation of specific classes of SMSNs likely shapes distinct stress-coping strategies. Dysregulation in the organization and function of this circuit may also contribute to the expression of physical symptoms of affective disorders, such as major depression, anxiety and panic.
 ...
PMID:Organization of brain somatomotor-sympathetic circuits. 1836 9