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

Several lysosomal enzymes present in human plasma (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-galactosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-glucosidase) were maintained in a fully active state for at least 8 months by the addition of ethylene glycol (300 milligrams final concentration) to freshly prepared plasma and storage at -20 degrees C. Pools of human plasma from healthy humans, stabilized and stored as above, and containing a low, medium or high content of the above enzymes, were used to establish the analytical imprecision (within-run, day-to-day and total imprecision) of the fluorimetric assay. Ten replicates in ten different analytical series, covering a period of two months, were performed. The total imprecision (expressed as coefficient of variation) was in general lower than 10%; in a few cases, particularly plasma samples with a low enzyme content, the total imprecision was 18%. The isozymes A, B, I1, and I2 of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase displayed the same stability upon storage as the unfractionated enzyme. It is concluded that pools of human plasma containing known amounts of lysosomal enzymes, stabilized by the addition of 300 micrograms ethylene glycol and stored at -20 degrees C, are suitable liquid materials for calibration and quality control for the assay of the same enzymes.
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PMID:Preparation of a stable liquid material for calibration and quality control for lysosomal enzymes in plasma. Assay of enzymes of lysosomal origin in plasma, I. 133 72

A hammerhead ribozyme designed against the mRNA coding for the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter enzyme was constructed. The synthetic ribozyme appeared able to correctly cleave in vitro the target RNA. This catalytic molecule was then assayed for in vivo activity in plant protoplasts. Plasmids coding either for the ribozyme or for the GUS target gene were cotransfected into the cells by the PEG-calcium procedure and GUS gene expression monitored following transient expression by measuring the intracellular GUS enzymatic activity. Expression of the ribozyme to high molar excess over the GUS transcript did not lead to any significant decrease of GUS activity in the transfected protoplasts. Insertion of the ribozyme sequence in the 3'-untranslated region of the GUS mRNA also had no detectable effect on GUS reporter gene expression whereas the corresponding RNA appeared able to self-cleave in vitro. These results indicate that the ability of ribozymes to perform catalytic cleavage of their substrate mRNA in vitro is essential but clearly not sufficient to ensure that efficient inhibition of the corresponding target gene will occur upon endogenous expression of this catalytic RNA in the plant cell.
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PMID:Assaying synthetic ribozymes in plants: high-level expression of a functional hammerhead structure fails to inhibit target gene activity in transiently transformed protoplasts. 145 Mar 86

A hemimethylated chimeric gene, containing the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, the beta-glucuronidase coding region and the polyadenylation signal of nopaline synthase, was introduced into tobacco protoplasts by polyethylene glycol mediated transfection. Hemimethylation led to complete inhibition of transient gene expression. In regenerated transgenic plants the integrated gene was constitutively hypermethylated at the sequences CpG and CpNpG and this was correlated with an inactivation of beta-glucuronidase in 12 out of 18 analyzed plant lines whereas two showed slight and four strong activity. From 10 control lines transformed with nonmethylated DNA, only two were inactive; three showed slight and five strong activity. 5-aza-cytidine treatment of plant tissue from 'hypermethylated' lines led to induction of beta-glucuronidase in most cases. Shoots regenerated from azaC treated calli revealed stable enzyme restoration and demethylation of the integrated transgene.
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PMID:In vitro DNA methylation inhibits gene expression in transgenic tobacco. 170 83

The requirements for homologous recombination between plasmid DNA molecules have been studied using the PEG (polyethylene glycol)-mediated transformation system of maize (Zea mays L.) protoplasts coupled with the transient expression assay for beta-glucuronidase (GUS). Two plasmids were introduced into maize protoplasts; one plasmid (pB x 26) contained a genomic clone of the Adh1 maize gene; the other plasmid (piGUS) was a promoterless construction containing part of intron A of the Adh1 gene fused to the gusA coding sequence. Thus, the two vectors shared an effective homologous region consisting of a 459 bp (HindIII-PvuII) fragment of the Adh1 intron A sequence. An active gusA fusion gene would result upon homologous recombination between the plasmids within the intron A sequence, and indeed GUS activity was observed in extracts following co-transformation of maize protoplasts with the two plasmids. The presence of recombinant DNA molecules in protoplast DNA isolated 1 day after co-transformation was verified using polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and Southern blots. For efficient homologous recombination, both plasmids had to be linearized. The recombination reaction was induced by restriction of the plasmid molecules either inside the effective homologous region or at the borders of the intron sequence. However, the presence of even small, terminal, nonhomologous sequences at the 3' end of the pB x 26 fragment inhibited the recombination reaction. Also, both ends of the linearized piGUS DNA molecules were involved in the recombination reaction. The results revealed some features of homologous recombination reactions occurring in plant cells which cannot be accommodated by mechanisms postulated for similar reactions in animal system and in lower eukaryotes.
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PMID:Homologous recombination between plasmid DNA molecules in maize protoplasts. 174 30

Saponin-permeabilized polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) released beta-glucuronidase, a lysosomal enzyme, dose-dependently in response to cupric phenanthroline (CuPh), a mild oxidant, which catalyzes the formation of disulfide bridges. The beta-glucuronidase release induced by CuPh was inhibited by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Both dithiothreitol (DTT) and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-naphthalene sulfonamide (W-7) also inhibited the beta-glucuronidase release induced by CuPh. CuPh elicited a decrease in protein-bound free sulfhydryls simultaneously, and this decrease was not restored by EGTA treatment. CuPh inhibited Ca2+ uptake into Ca2+ store sites, and promoted a Ca2+ efflux from Ca2+ store sites. It also inhibited Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in permeable PMNs. DTT, a sulfhydryl reducing agent, suppressed both the beta-glucuronidase release and the Ca2+ uptake in CuPh-treated permeable PMNs. On the other hand, chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (CMPS), a sulfhydryl modifier, decreased the amount of free sulfhydryls in protein and released beta-glucuronidase in permeable PMNs dose-dependently, but EGTA did not inhibit either reaction. Neither CuPh nor CMPS released beta-glucuronidase from intact PMNs. These results indicate that both CuPh and CMPS act on intra-PMN target molecules to exert their influence, but the involved mechanisms are different in nature. Alteration in calcium movement is responsible for the beta-glucuronidase release in the CuPh-treated permeable PMNs.
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PMID:Study on the cupric phenanthroline-induced beta-glucuronidase release in saponin-permeabilized polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 180 54

For analysis of expression of three different plant promoters such as CaMV 35S, rbc S and mas, compact plasmid vectors were constructed by use of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene and nos termination signal. The plasmid molecules were introduced into tobacco and tomato protoplasts by using the Mg2+/PEG transformation protocol described by Negrutiu et al. The transient assays revealed maximum expression two days after DNA uptake. The comparative studies show the following order of promoters mas, CaMV 35S, rbc S as far as the activity is concerned. We also detected genotype-dependent promoter activity in the case of tomato.
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PMID:Promoter and genotype dependent transient expression of a reporter gene in plant protoplasts. 184 83

We report here an efficient and highly reproducible delivery system, using an improved biolistic transformation device, that facilitates transient expression of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) in chloroplasts of cultured tobacco suspension cells. Cultured tobacco cells collected on filter papers were bombarded with tungsten particles coated with pUC118 or pBI101.3 (negative controls), pBI505 (positive nuclear control) or a chloroplast expression vector (pHD203-GUS), and were assayed for GUS activity. No GUS activity was detected in cells bombarded with pUC118 or pBI101.3. Cells bombarded with pBI505 showed high levels of expression with blue color being distributed evenly throughout the whole cytosol of the transformants. pHD203-GUS was expressed exclusively in chloroplasts. We base this conclusion on: i) the procaryotic nature of the promoter used in the chloroplast expression vector; ii) delayed GUS staining; iii) localization of blue color within subcellular compartments corresponding to plastids in both shape and size; and iv) confirmation of organelle-specific expression of pHD203-GUS using PEG-mediated protoplast transformation. Chloroplast transformation efficiencies increased dramatically (about 200-fold) using an improved helium-driven biolistic device, as compared to the more commonly used gun powder charge-driven device. Using GUS as a reporter gene and the improved biolistic device, optimal bombardment conditions were established, consistently producing several hundred transient chloroplast transformants per Petri plate. Chloroplast transformation efficiency was found to be increased further (20-fold) with supplemental osmoticum (0.55 M sorbitol and 0.55 M mannitol) in the bombardment and incubation medium. This system provides a highly effective mechanism for introducing and expressing plasmid DNA within higher-plant chloroplasts, and the fact that GUS functions as an effective marker gene now makes many genetic studies possible which were not possible before.
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PMID:Optimization of delivery of foreign DNA into higher-plant chloroplasts. 210 74

Gallbladder tissue from patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis contains increased amounts of prostanoids when compared to normal gallbladder tissue. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent stimulus of eicosanoid formation. It has been implicated as a mediator of acute inflammatory processes and systemic responses to shock. In this study the role of PAF in acute acalculous cholecystitis was evaluated. Anesthetized cats underwent gallbladder perfusion with a physiologic buffer solution containing [14C]polyethylene glycol as a nonabsorbable tracer to quantitate mucosal water absorption. Platelet-activating factor was infused into the hepatic artery for 2 hours. Control experiments were performed when vehicle alone was infused. Experiments also were performed when indomethacin was administered intravenously and when indomethacin and PAF were administered. Gallbladder mucosal absorption/secretion and perfusate and tissue prostaglandin E (PGE) and 6 keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha) levels were evaluated. Gallbladder inflammation was evaluated by beta-glucuronidase and myeloperoxidase tissue concentrations and by a histologic scoring system. Platelet-activating factor eliminated gallbladder absorption and produced net fluid secretion associated with dose-related increases in perfusate PGE concentrations and gallbladder tissue PGE and 6 keto PGF1 alpha levels when compared to control values. Platelet-activating factor produced significant inflammation in the gallbladder with increases in the histologic score of inflammation and tissue lysosomal enzyme activities. Indomethacin significantly decreased the fluid secretion, prostanoid levels, and inflammation produced by PAF. The results suggest that PAF may induce acute gallbladder inflammation associated with systemic stress through a prostanoid-mediated mechanism.
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PMID:The role of prostanoids in the production of acute acalculous cholecystitis by platelet-activating factor. 217 43

An efficient co-transformation protocol using polyethylene glycol was developed for Zea mays L. (cv. A188 x BMS) protoplasts isolated from suspension culture cells. Co-transformation was accomplished by using plasmid constructions containing beta-glucuronidase (gusA) or neomycin phosphotransferase (neo) gene coding sequences; both were under control of the CaMV 35S promoter. Protoplast culture and transformation conditions were optimized to assure efficient recovery of transformed cells. The overall efficiency of transformation was 1 x 10(-4) (calculated per viable protoplast plated). Among kanamycin-resistant lines, 50% showed a high level of GUS activity (above one unit). Southern blot hybridization confirmed the presence of numerous gusA and neo coding sequences in the maize genome. In two analyzed lines, integrated sequences appeared to be organized in tandem head-to-tail repeats. Results also indicated that the integrated sequences were partially methylated.
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PMID:Stable co-transformation of maize protoplasts with gusA and neo genes. 256 94

To investigate the influence of naturally occurring immune complexes (ICs) on monocyte lysosomal enzyme release, blood monocytes have been isolated from normal human volunteers, purified, and maintained in culture for 5 days. These cells have been exposed in vitro to sera containing ICs and to the same sera depleted of ICs with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG). IC-containing sera have been shown to result in increased lysosomal enzyme release (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) and beta-glucuronidase) sustained for up to 5 days even after brief (24-h) exposure (NAG activity at 120 h, nmol substrate hydrolysed ml-1 culture supernatant: control, 98 +/- 27; 2% PEG control, 70 +/- 10; IC serum exposure for 120 h, 305 +/- 73; IC serum exposure for 24 h, 330 +/- 95; exposure to IC-depleted sera 120 h, 158 +/- 93). Further analysis showed no relationship between the total IC concentration and enzyme release, nor was there any relationship between the complement component (C3) composition of the complexes and degree of enzyme release. These results confirm the potential importance of circulating IC on monocyte activation in man and indicate that this could result in changes in macrophage activity at the sites of inflammation.
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PMID:Monocyte lysosomal enzyme release in response to naturally occurring circulating immune complexes. 670 73


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