Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have previously reported a set of Moloney murine leukemia virus derived envelopes retargeted to the Pit-2 phosphate transporter molecule, by insertion of the Pit-2 binding domain (BD) at the N terminus of the ecotropic retroviral envelope glycoproteins (S. Valsesia-Wittmann et al., J. Virol. 70:2059-2064, 1996). The resulting chimeric envelopes share two BDs: an additional N-terminal BD (Pit-2 BD) and the BD of the ecotropic envelope (mCAT-1 BD). By inserting a variety of different amino acid spacers between the two binding domains, we showed that retroviruses can potentially use the targeted cell surface receptor Pit-2, the ecotropic retroviral receptor mCAT-1, or both receptors cooperatively for entry into target cell (S. Valsesia-Wittmann et al., EMBO J 6:1214-1223, 1997). An extreme example of receptor cooperativity was encountered when envelopes with specific proline-rich interdomain spacers (PRO spacers) were tested: both receptors had to be coexpressed at the surface of the targeted cells to cooperatively allow infection. Here, we characterized the role of PRO spacer in the cooperation of receptors. We have shown that the particular organization of the PRO spacer-a beta-turn polyproline-was responsible for the cooperative effect. In the native configuration of the viruses, the structure masked the regions located downstream of the PRO spacer, thus the mCAT-1 BD. After interaction with the targeted Pit-2 receptor, the BD of the backbone envelope became accessible, and we demonstrated that interaction between the mCAT-1 BD and the mCAT-1 receptor is absolutely necessary. This interaction leads to natural fusion triggering and entry of viruses into targeted cells.
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PMID:Role of chimeric murine leukemia virus env beta-turn polyproline spacers in receptor cooperation. 1150 93

Two second-site mutations in Moloney murine leukemia virus envelope surface protein (SU) were previously shown to rescue infection of two different SU mutants, a fusion-defective point mutant and a fusion-defective modified SU that exhibits weak subunit association. We report here that they also rescue infection of a third defective SU, one modified by insertion of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) between serine 6 and proline 7. GFP-SU assembled into virions and showed a strong association with the transmembrane protein (TM). However, these virions were noninfectious. GFP-SU expression was not maintained within cells, suggesting that the protein was toxic. Addition of the second-site mutations rendered the GFP-SU virus infectious and resulted in prolonged expression of the modified envelope protein. This virus showed a slight reduction in receptor binding but not in envelope protein processing, suggesting that addition of the GFP sequences results in subtle structural changes. Extrapolating these data, we see that the fundamental problem with the GFP-SU envelope protein appears to be a folding problem, suggesting that the second-site mutations rescue GFP-SU primarily by a mechanism that involves stabilizing the envelope protein structure.
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PMID:Two point mutations produce infectious retrovirus bearing a green fluorescent protein-SU fusion protein. 1168 70

Sourdough lactic acid bacteria were preliminarily screened for proteolytic activity by using a digest of albumin and globulin polypeptides as a substrate. Based on their hydrolysis profile patterns, Lactobacillus alimentarius 15M, Lactobacillus brevis 14G, Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis 7A, and Lactobacillus hilgardii 51B were selected and used in sourdough fermentation. A fractionated method of protein extraction and subsequent two-dimensional electrophoresis were used to estimate proteolysis in sourdoughs. Compared to a chemically acidified (pH 4.4) dough, 37 to 42 polypeptides, distributed over a wide range of pIs and molecular masses, were hydrolyzed by L. alimentarius 15M, L. brevis 14G, and L. sanfranciscensis 7A. Albumin, globulin, and gliadin fractions were hydrolyzed, while glutenins were not degraded. The concentrations of free amino acids, especially proline and glutamic and aspartic acids, also increased in sourdoughs. Compared to the chemically acidified dough, proteolysis by lactobacilli positively influenced the softening of the dough during fermentation, as determined by rheological analyses. Enzyme preparations of the selected lactobacilli which contained proteinase or peptidase enzymes showed hydrolysis of the 31-43 fragment of A-gliadin, a toxic peptide for celiac patients. A toxic peptic-tryptic (PT) digest of gliadins was used for in vitro agglutination tests on K 562 (S) subclone cells of human myelagenous leukemia origin. The lowest concentration of PT digest that agglutinated 100% of the total cells was 0.218 g/liter. Hydrolysis of the PT digest by proteolytic enzymes of L. alimentarius 15M and L. brevis 14G completely prevented agglutination of the K 562 (S) cells by the PT digest at a concentration of 0.875 g/liter. Considerable inhibitory effects by other strains and at higher concentrations of the PT digest were also found. The mixture of peptides produced by enzyme preparations of selected lactobacilli showed a decreased agglutination of K 562 (S) cells with respect to the whole 31-43 fragment of A-gliadin.
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PMID:Proteolysis by sourdough lactic acid bacteria: effects on wheat flour protein fractions and gliadin peptides involved in human cereal intolerance. 1182

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a dynamic reversible process in which the level of phosphorylation, at any time, is the result of phosphatase and/or kinase activity. This balance is critical for control of growth and differentiation. The role of tyrosine phosphatases during nephrogenesis and in kidney disease requires delineation. Appropriate regulation of focal adhesion proteins such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin are important in cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. We have previously shown that B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (bcl-2) -/- mice develop cystic kidneys and exhibit sustained phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin. We have examined the expression and activity of focal adhesion tyrosine phosphatases [Src homology-2 domain phosphatase (SHP-2), protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP 1B), and PTP-proline, glutamate, serine, and threonine sequences (PEST)] during normal nephrogenesis and in cystic kidneys from bcl-2 -/- mice. Cystic kidneys from postnatal day 20 bcl-2 -/- mice demonstrate a reduced expression, sixfold decrease in activity, and altered distribution of SHP-2 and PTP 1B. PTP-PEST expression and distribution were similar in both bcl-2 +/+ and bcl-2 -/- mice. The altered regulation of PTP 1B and SHP-2 in kidneys from bcl-2 -/- mice correlates with sustained phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin. Thus renal cyst formation in the bcl-2 -/- mice may be the result of an inability of complete differentiation due to continued activation of growth processes, including activation of FAK and paxillin.
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PMID:Altered regulation of SHP-2 and PTP 1B tyrosine phosphatases in cystic kidneys from bcl-2 -/- mice. 1183 24

Winged helix factors are important regulators of embryonal development and tissue differentiation. They are also involved in translocations found in acute leukemias and solid tumors. We have detected transcripts from five known and four novel winged helix genes in leukemia cell lines and CD34(+) blood progenitor cells by reverse trancription-polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers on the highly conserved DNA binding domain. The genomic clones coding for two new winged helix proteins, FOXD4a and FOXD4b were isolated by high-stringency hybridization of a human phage library. FOXD4a and FOXD4b are encoded by a 1319 and 1250 bp single exon coding for a winged helix DNA binding domain, an amino-terminal acidic region and a carboxy-terminal proline- and alanine-rich region which correspond to putative transcriptional regulatory motifs. TATA box, CCAAT box, and transcription factor binding motifs have been identified in the 5' region of the genes. In addition, foxD4a and foxD4b cDNA has been isolated from NB-4 mRNA. The fox genes are transcribed in a tissue-restricted pattern in adult and fetal human tissues. FoxD4a and foxD4b mRNA was expressed in the leukemia cell lines KG-1, Kasumi, NB-4, HL-60, U937, THP-1, HEL, U266, Jurkat, and Raji. It has already been shown that winged helix factors are also involved in carcinogenesis. Based upon these studies, our results suggest that FOXD4a and FOXD4b may play a role in leukemogenesis.
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PMID:FOXD4a and FOXD4b, two new winged helix transcription factors, are expressed in human leukemia cell lines. 1223 74

The HTLV-1 transcriptional activator Tax is required for viral replication and pathogenesis. In concert with human CREB, Tax recruits the human transcriptional coactivator and histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP to the HTLV-1 promoter. Here we investigate the structural features of the interaction between Tax and the KIX domain of p300/CBP. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift perturbation mapping, and sedimentation equilibrium analysis show that KIX binds a Tax subdomain corresponding to residues 59-98 of Tax (called Tax(59-98)). Circular dichroism spectroscopy suggests that Tax(59-98) is intrinsically disordered (natively unfolded) in isolation and adopts an ordered conformation upon binding KIX. The interaction is disrupted by a single amino acid variation of Tax(59-98) in which leucine 68 is substituted with proline. Chemical shift perturbation mapping reveals that the Tax-binding surface of KIX is distinct from that utilized by CREB, and corresponds to the site of KIX that interacts with the human transcription factors c-Jun and mixed lineage leukemia protein (MLL). Sedimentation equilibrium analysis shows that Tax and the phosphorylated KID domain of CREB can simultaneously bind KIX to form a ternary 1:1:1 complex. The results provide a molecular description of the concerted recruitment of p300/CBP via the KIX domain by Tax and phosphorylated CREB during Tax-mediated gene expression.
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PMID:KIX-mediated assembly of the CBP-CREB-HTLV-1 tax coactivator-activator complex. 1458 Jan 93

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Gag polyprotein contains two adjacent proline-rich motifs (sequence PPPYVEPTAP) in the C terminus of the matrix domain [corrected]. Proline-to-alanine mutations were introduced into either or both motifs of HTLV-1 to determine the effect on the release of HTLV-1 virus-like particles from 293T cells. The release of both single mutants was significantly reduced, whereas a double mutation in both motifs abolished the release of the HTLV-1 particles. Two-hybrid and in vitro binding assays showed that the HTLV-1 Gag polyprotein binds both Tsg101 and Nedd4 proteins. The interaction with HTLV-1 Gag required the central WW domain of Nedd4 and the ubiquitin enzyme variant (UEV) domain of Tsg101. We expressed various fragments of Nedd4 and Tsg101 proteins in 293T cells and tested for their ability to interfere with virion release mediated by the HTLV-1 Gag-Pro polyprotein. Fragments consisting of the N-terminal UEV domain of Tsg101 and the central WW and C-terminal Hect domains of Nedd4 protein all caused transdominant inhibition of HTLV-1 particle release. Similarly, inhibition of the proteasome significantly decreased HTLV-1 particle release. Furthermore, the WW domain overexpression caused an early arrest of HTLV-1 particle morphogenesis before the membrane is deformed into the typical half-shell structure. This result suggests that Nedd4 is involved early in budding of HTLV-1.
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PMID:PPPYVEPTAP motif is the late domain of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Gag and mediates its functional interaction with cellular proteins Nedd4 and Tsg101 [corrected]. 1458 25

Two hereditary human leukemia syndromes are severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), caused by mutations in the gene ELA2, encoding the protease neutrophil elastase, and familial platelet disorder with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), caused by mutations in the gene AML1, encoding the transcription factor core-binding factor alpha (CBFalpha). In mice, CBFalpha regulates the expression of ELA2, suggesting a common link for both diseases. However, gene-targeted mouse models have failed to reproduce either human disease, thus prohibiting further in vivo studies in mice. Here we investigate CBFalpha regulation of the human ELA2 promoter, taking advantage of bone marrow obtained from patients with either illness. In particular, we have identified novel ELA2 promoter substitutions (-199 C to A) within a potential motif for lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1), a transcriptional mediator of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, in SCN patients. The LEF-1 motif lies adjacent to a potential CBFalpha binding site that is in a different position in human compared with mouse ELA2. We find that LEF-1 and CBFalpha co-activate ELA2 expression. In vitro, the high mobility group domain of LEF-1 interacts with the runt DNA binding and proline-, serine-, threonine-rich activation domains of CBFalpha. ELA2 transcript levels are up-regulated in bone marrow of an SCN patient with the -199 C to A substitution. Conversely, a mutation of the CBFalpha activation domain, found in a patient with familial platelet disorder with AML, fails to stimulate the ELA2 promoter in vitro, and bone marrow correspondingly demonstrates reduced ELA2 transcript. Observations in these complementary patients indicate that LEF-1 cooperates with CBFalpha to activate ELA2 in vivo and also suggest the possibility that up-regulating promoter mutations can contribute to SCN. Two hereditary AML predisposition syndromes may therefore intersect via LEF-1, potentially linking them to more generalized cancer mechanisms.
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PMID:Lymphoid enhancer factor-1 links two hereditary leukemia syndromes through core-binding factor alpha regulation of ELA2. 1459 2

Astins, antitumour cyclic pentapeptides, were isolated from the Aster tataricus. Their chemical structures, consist of a 16-membered ring system containing a unique beta,gamma-dichlorinated proline [Pro(Cl)2], other non-coded amino acid residues and a cis conformation in one of the peptide bonds. The astin backbone conformation, along with the cis peptide bond in which the beta,gamma-dichlorinated proline residue is involved, was considered to play an important role in their antineoplastic activities on sarcoma 180A and P388 lymphocytic leukaemia in mice, but the scope and potential applications of this activity remain unclear. With the aim at improving our knowledge of the conformational properties influencing the bioactivity in this class of compounds, new astin-related cyclopeptides were synthesized differing from the natural products by the presence of some non-proteinogenic amino acid residues: Aib, Abu, -(S)beta3-hPhe and a peptide bond surrogate (-SO2-NH-). The analogues prepared c(-Pro-Thr-Aib-beta3-Phe-Abu-), c[Pro-Thr-Aib-(S)beta3-hPhe-Abu], c[Pro-Abu-Ser-(S)beta3-hPhe psi(CH2-SO2-NH)-Abu] and c[Pro-Thr-Aib-(S)beta3-hPhe psi(CH2-SO2-NH)-Abu] were synthesized by classical methods in solution and tested for their antitumour effect. These molecules were studied by crystal-state x-ray diffraction analysis and/or solution NMR and MD techniques.
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PMID:New antitumour cyclic astin analogues: synthesis, conformation and bioactivity. 1499 87

The human O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene and its mutants have been used for in vivo selection of transduced hematopoietic stem cells with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) alone or in combination with O(6)-benzylguanine (BG). To allow similar in vivo selection in dogs, without the risk of inducing an immune response, we have cloned the canine MGMT drug resistance gene. Comparison of canine and human MGMT-coding regions indicates that there is about 62% amino acid identity and 78% similarity between the two MGMTs. The canine MGMT is also longer, by nine amino acids. Proline at position 140 and the surrounding amino acids of the human MGMT are highly conserved in the canine sequence. To determine whether mutation of the proline residue at position 144 to lysine in the canine MGMT would provide a similar advantage for selection of transduced cells as the human mutant, Moloney murine leukemia virus and human immunodeficiency type 1 vectors encoding the corresponding mutant MGMT were created and used to express separately canine and human MGMTs in cultured cells. Drug resistance assays using BCNU alone or BCNU with BG demonstrated that the wild-type and mutant canine MGMTs provided resistance to the selection agents that was comparable to the human MGMT counterparts.
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PMID:Cloning and expression of canine O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in target cells, using gammaretroviral and lentiviral vectors. 1505 63


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