Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.31 (beta-glucuronidase)
 7,680 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To develop a model system for studies of homologous recombination in plants, transgenic Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia lines were generated harbouring a single target T-DNA containing the negative selective codA gene encoding cytosine deaminase (CD) and the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Subsequently, the target lines were transformed with a replacement-type T-DNA vector in which the CD gene and the GUS promoter had been replaced with a kanamycin-resistance gene. For both Nicotiana species kanamycin-resistant lines were selected which had lost the CD gene and the GUS activity. One tobacco line was the result of a precise gene targeting event. However, most other lines were selected due to a chromosomal deletion of the target locus. The deletion frequency of the target locus varied between target lines, and could be present in up to 20% of the calli which were grown from leaf protoplasts. T-DNA transfer was not required for induction of the deletions, indicating that the target loci were unstable. A few lines were obtained in which the target locus had been deleted partially. Sequence analysis of the junctions revealed deletion of DNA sequences between microhomologies. We conclude that T-DNAs, which are stable during plant development as well as in transmission to the offspring, may become unstable during propagation in callus tissue. The relationships between callus culture, genetic instability and the process of T-DNA integration and deletion in the plant genome are discussed.
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PMID:Gene targeting and instability of Agrobacterium T-DNA loci in the plant genome. 916 Oct 32

Adenoviruses (Ads) that selectively replicate in tumor cells have shown promising preliminary results in clinical trials, especially in combination with chemotherapy. Here, we describe a system that combines the antitumor synergy of Ads and chemotherapeutic agents with the benefits of enzyme-activated prodrug therapy. In this system, a functional transgene expression cassette is created by homologous recombination during adenoviral DNA replication. Transgene expression is strictly dependent on viral DNA replication, which in turn is tumor specific. We constructed replication-activated Ad vectors to express a secreted form of beta-glucuronidase and a cytosine deaminase/uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, which activate the prodrugs 9-aminocamptothecin glucuronide to 9-aminocamptothecin and 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and further to 5-fluoro-UMP, respectively. We demonstrated replication-dependent transgene expression, prodrug activation, and induction of tumor cell toxicity by secreted beta-glucuronidase and cytosine deaminase/uracil phosphoribosyltransferase. Furthermore, exposure of cells to activated prodrug or drug at subtoxic concentrations enhanced viral DNA replication. Characteristically, these agents induced changes in the cell cycle status of exposed cells (G(2) arrest), which closely resembled the effect of wild-type Ad infection, and are thought to be favorable for viral replication. We tested a number of cytostatic drugs (camptothecin, etoposide, daunorubicin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, Taxol, and actinomycin D) for their effect on viral DNA replication and found considerable differences between individual agents. Finally, we show that the combination of viral and prodrug therapy enhances viral replication and spread in liver metastases derived from human colon carcinoma or cervical carcinoma in a mouse model. Our data indicate that specific vector/drug combinations tailored to be synergistic may have the potential to improve the potency of either therapeutic approach. These data also provide a new rationale for expressing prodrug-activating enzymes from conditionally replicating Ads.
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PMID:Enzyme-activated Prodrug Therapy Enhances Tumor-specific Replication of Adenovirus Vectors. 1241 33