Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:4.2.2.7 (heparinase)
 1,270 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Rab proteins are ras-like low molecular mass GTP-binding proteins, which are postulated to act as specific regulators of membrane trafficking in exocytosis and endocytosis. We have previously shown that synthetic peptides, corresponding to the effector domain of Rab3 proteins, stimulate a complete exocytotic response in mast cells. We have used a PCR-cloning strategy to investigate the presence of mRNA encoding Rab3 in mast cells. RNA based PCR was then performed on mast cell RNA using degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on two conserved sequences among Rab3 proteins. However, no PCR products were obtained, even for proteins known to be expressed in high copy numbers in mast cells (beta-actin and Fc receptor). We have found that the problem resides in the presence of mast cell secretory granule derived heparin, that copurifies with the RNA; heparin has been shown to inhibit the activity of reverse transcriptase and Taq polymerase in PCR. After treating the RNA (obtained from about 500 mast cells) with heparinase, several PCR products of varying size were obtained using primers specific for Rab3 proteins. These products were cloned and sequenced. We have found clones containing sequences that had a 100% homology at the deduced amino acid level to a portion of Rab3B and Rab3D (amino acids 16 to 83).
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PMID:RT-PCR cloning of Rab3 isoforms expressed in peritoneal mast cells. 750 66

Vascular endothelial cell (EC) wound healing was characterized on an EC-synthesized extracellular matrix (ECM) previously treated with enzymes and antibodies specific for ECM components. Using a computer-assisted video-microscope recording system capable of automatic EC recognition, we learned whether components of the EC-synthesized matrix influenced post-injury migration and wound healing in vitro. Localization of actin and its encoded mRNA using isoform-specific antibodies and labeled cDNA probes allowed for a direct correlation of living-cell behavior with cytoskeletal form and distribution. Results of these studies indicate that the computer-assisted EC tracking system allows for an automatic and reproducible analysis of EC behavior following injury in vitro. EC migrate fastest immediately following injury and then achieve a new, slower migration rate that is maintained until EC from one edge of 200- to 300-microns-wide wound zone contact EC from the other wound face. Treatment of EC-synthesized matrices with antibodies against fibronectin and laminin has no effect on EC migration following injury (-0.25 microns/min) or on cytoskeletal array. Similarly, digestion of these matrices with heparinase and hyaluronidase has no effect on wound healing rates. Slowly spreading EC cytoplasm, which borders the intact and antibody-treated EC matrices, is rich in actin but lacks myosin II. Two different preparations of collagenase (bacterial and mammalian) each potentiate EC wound healing in vitro. Bacterial collagenase treatment of the EC-synthesized matrices potentiates EC migration fivefold (1 micron/min) while treatment of EC-matrices with mammalian cell collagenase stimulates EC migration following injury some twofold (0.4 micron/min) over control values. Whereas EC on control matrices migrate in unison as a tissue-like sheet, EC on the collagenase-treated EC matrices migrate as individuals. Concomitant with the increased rates of migration following injury on the collagenase-treated EC-matrices is a two- to fourfold increase in the steady-state levels of beta-actin mRNA. This increase in actin mRNA abundance is observable by its preferential localization (seen by in situ hybridization) in the lamellae bordering the wound edge in association with beta-actin, which is exclusively localized there. Because beta-actin and its encoded mRNA are positioned together in association with the plasma membrane in regions of moving cytoplasm, it seems likely that beta-actin filament assembly is required for motility following endothelial injury.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms regulating the vascular endothelial cell motile response to injury. 752 70

To define the molecular regulation of mast cell phenotype and function optimized procedures must be available to study mRNA from mast cells freshly isolated from tissues. However, rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) contain large amounts of the proteoglycan heparin, and unfortunately, this molecule which is a potent inhibitor of reverse transcriptase (RT) and Taq polymerase and thus RT-PCR, copurifies with RNA. Here we describe an optimized protocol for extracting and amplifying RNA from rat PMC. Mast cells were isolated from rat peritoneum and a method modified from that of Chomczynski and Sacchi (1987) was used to extract the RNA. Following the removal of heparin by heparinase digestion, first strand cDNA synthesis was primed with oligo-dT and the resulting cDNA was quantified by rapid paper chromatography. The use of a detection system for the reverse transcription reaction ensured that the production of cDNA had occurred and allowed subsequent PCR testing to be optimal. cDNA thus produced can be used to detect relatively specific (histidine decarboxylase) and non-specific (beta-actin) mast cell products. Our PCR studies have shown a 300-fold increase in sensitivity over RNA processed by other methods.
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PMID:Optimization of the isolation and effective use of mRNA from rat mast cells. 905 Sep 42

Direct reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction (RT-in situ PCR) of selected mRNA expression in rat mast cells (MC) and alveolar macrophages (AM) was optimized. Rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC), rat cultured mast cells (RCMC), rat bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BALC) or rat cultured alveolar macrophages (NR8383) were studied for the detection of mRNA for beta-actin, TNF-alpha and/or CD8alpha. Each type of cell has unique optimal conditions for RT-in situ PCR. The following parameters were carefully evaluated for optimization: protease digestion, DNAse digestion, heparinase digestion, RT, PCR cycle number and signal development with chromagen. Heparinase digestion was required for PMC mRNA detection because they contain large amounts of heparin proteoglycan, which is a potent inhibitor of RT and Taq polymerase enzymes. Only a few PCR cycles were needed to produce a cytoplasmic signal for mRNA transcripts in RCMC, whereas other types of cells (PMC, BALC and NR8383) needed at least 20 cycles for mRNA detection. The mRNA signal in PMC was localized to the perinuclear region, whereas mRNA in other cell types (RCMC, BALC and NR8383) were detected throughout the cytoplasm. Furthermore, modified Southern blot analysis for TNF-alpha in RCMC treated with RT-in situ PCR demonstrated the specificity of amplification product. The modified and optimized protocols for this procedure were successfully applied to detect and localize several mRNA transcripts in rat MC and AM. The approach is valuable and can be used to further study selected gene expression in these and other cell types.
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PMID:Reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction for gene expression in rat mast cells and macrophages. 1041 Sep 80