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)

We developed a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) in human serum. A monoclonal antibody against MDA-LDL (ML25) used in our method recognized not only MDA-LDL but also other MDA-modified proteins. However, MDA-LDL was able to be detected specifically by using a combination of ML25 and an antibody specific for apolipoprotein B (apo B) (AB16), which was conjugated with beta-galactosidase. Using this method, measurable amounts of MDA-LDL were detected in the sera of 40 healthy individuals. MDA-LDL was observed to be mainly distributed in the human LDL fraction separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation, while in each lipoprotein subfraction the largest amount of MDA-LDL per protein was found at a subfraction between LDL and HDL. The particle size of LDL in this fraction was smaller than that of LDL in the main LDL fraction, as assessed by electrophoresis. In addition, LDL oxidized by Cu2+ was also detectable with this method. We conclude that our method is sensitive and specific for MDA-LDL and might be useful for investigating MDA-LDL in the human circulation.
 ...
PMID:Distribution of immunoreactive malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein in human serum. 794 93

The human apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene resides in a 47.5 kb DNasel-sensitive chromosomal domain in hepatic and intestinal cells, flanked by the 5' distal matrix association region (MAR) and the 3' proximal MAR. A third MAR, the 5' proximal MAR, is found only in transcriptionally active hepatic (HepG2) cells. Hepatic expression of the apoB gene requires a tissue-specific promoter (-898 to +121) and an enhancer from the second intron of the gene (+360 to +1064). A vector containing this portion of the gene linked to the beta-galactosidase reporter is sufficient for low level expression in the livers of transgenic mice. Expression in transgenic mice was increased when the promoter-enhancer beta-gal vector was flanked by MARs. The results were similar whether the 5' distal, the 5' proximal or the 3' proximal MARs were placed at both ends of the construct, or whether the construct was flanked by the 5' distal and the 3' MAR, suggesting that the apoB MARs play a role in gene expression in vivo. When the MAR-containing constructs were transiently transfected into HepG2 cells, the resulting beta-gal activities were similar to that of the construct lacking MARs, thus demonstrating that the MARs do not exhibit any enhancer activity. Recent experiments (Kalos, M., and R. E. K. Fournier. 1995. Mol. Cell. Biol. 15: 198-207) examining stable integration of some of our constructs into human and rat hepatoma transfectants suggest that in single and double copy transfectants, the apoB MARs behave as boundary "insulators", protecting the integrated transgenes against position effects regardless of their site of integration. However, multicopy transfectants are transcriptionally inactive and when the MARs are absent, expression of the transgenes drops to background levels. Our results to date with single and low-copy number transgenes do not support an insulator function for the apoB MARs, although they appear to be required to increase the levels of expression.
 ...
PMID:Evaluation of the function of the human apolipoprotein B gene nuclear matrix association regions in transgenic mice. 890 89

C to U editing of the nuclear apolipoprotein B (apoB) transcript is mediated by a core enzyme containing a catalytic deaminase, apobec-1, and an RNA binding subunit, apobec-1 complementation factor (ACF). ACF expression is predominantly nuclear, including mutant proteins with deletions of a putative nuclear localization signal. We have now identified a novel 41-residue motif (ANS) in the auxiliary domain of ACF that functions as an authentic nuclear localization signal. ANS-green fluorescence protein and ANS-beta-galactosidase chimeras were both expressed exclusively in the nucleus, whereas wild-type chimeras or an ACF deletion mutant lacking the ANS were cytoplasmic. Nuclear accumulation of ACF is transcription-dependent, temperature-sensitive, and reversible, features reminiscent of a shuttling protein. ACF relocates to the cytoplasm after actinomycin D treatment, an effect blocked by the CRM1 inhibitor leptomycin B. Heterokaryon assays confirmed directly that ACF shuttles in vivo. ACF binds to the protein carrier, transportin 2 in vivo, and colocalizes to the nucleus as determined by confocal microscopy. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that transportin 2 binds directly to the ANS motif. These data suggest that directed nuclear localization and compartmentalization of the core complex of the apoB RNA editing enzyme is regulated through a dominant targeting sequence (ANS) contained within ACF.
 ...
PMID:A novel nuclear localization signal in the auxiliary domain of apobec-1 complementation factor regulates nucleocytoplasmic import and shuttling. 1289 82

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hypertriglyceridemia, and elevated free fatty acids are present in the majority of patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus and are strongly associated with hepatic insulin resistance. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that an increased rate of fatty acid oxidation in liver would prevent the potentially harmful effects of fatty acid elevation, including hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation and elevated TG secretion. Primary rat hepatocytes were transduced with adenovirus encoding carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (Adv-CPT-1a) or control adenoviruses encoding either beta-galactosidase (Adv-beta-gal) or carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (Adv-CPT-2). Overexpression of CPT-1a increased the rate of beta-oxidation and ketogenesis by approximately 70%, whereas esterification of exogenous fatty acids and de novo lipogenesis were unchanged. Importantly, CPT-1a overexpression was accompanied by a 35% reduction in TG accumulation and a 60% decrease in TG secretion by hepatocytes. There were no changes in secretion of apolipoprotein B (apoB), suggesting the synthesis of smaller, less atherogenic VLDL particles. To evaluate the effect of increasing hepatic CPT-1a activity in vivo, we injected lean or obese male rats with Adv-CPT-1a, Adv-beta-gal, or Adv-CPT-2. Hepatic CPT-1a activity was increased by approximately 46%, and the rate of fatty acid oxidation was increased by approximately 44% in lean and approximately 36% in obese CPT-1a-overexpressing animals compared with Adv-CPT-2- or Adv-beta-gal-treated rats. Similar to observations in vitro, liver TG content was reduced by approximately 37% (lean) and approximately 69% (obese) by this in vivo intervention. We conclude that a moderate stimulation of fatty acid oxidation achieved by an increase in CPT-1a activity is sufficient to substantially reduce hepatic TG accumulation both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, interventions that increase CPT-1a activity could have potential benefits in the treatment of NAFLD.
 ...
PMID:A moderate increase in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a activity is sufficient to substantially reduce hepatic triglyceride levels. 1834 15