Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033036 (APC)
 10,214 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report on a computer algorithm capable of predicting the location of T-helper-cell epitopes in protein antigen (Ag) by analysing the Ag amino acid sequence. The algorithm was constructed with the aim of identifying segments in Ag which are resistant to proteolytic degradation by the enzymes cathepsin B, L, and D. These are prominent enzymes in the endocytic pathway through which soluble protein Ag enter APC, and resistant segments in Ag may, therefore, be expected to contain more T-cell determinants than susceptible segments. From information available in the literature on the substrate specificity of the three enzymes, it is clear that a cysteine is not accepted in any of the S2, S1, S1', and S2' subsites of cathepsin B and L, and not in the S1 and S1' subsites of cathepsin D. Moreover, we have noticed that cysteine-containing T-cell determinants in a number of protein Ag are particularly rich in the amino acids alanine, glycine, lysine, leucine, serine, threonine, and valine. By searching protein Ag for clusters of amino acids containing cysteine and two of the other amino acids we were able to predict 17 out of 23 empirically known T-cell determinants in the Ag with a relatively low number of false (positive) predictions. Furthermore, we present a new principle for searching Ag for potential amphipatic alpha-helical protein segments. Such segments accord well with empirically known T-cell determinants and our algorithm produces a lower number of false positive predictions than the principle based on discrete Fourier transformations previously described.
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PMID:T-helper-cell determinants in protein antigens are preferentially located in cysteine-rich antigen segments resistant to proteolytic cleavage by cathepsin B, L, and D. 171 25

In order to examine whether the structural integrity of the hexapeptide disulfide loop (residues 17-22), present in the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (gamma) domain of human protein C (PC), and common to all vitamin K dependent coagulation proteins, is necessary for its anticoagulant properties, we employed recombinant (r) DNA technology to generate two important variants that would address this issue. One such mutein contained aspartic acid for gamma-residue substitutions at sequence positions 19 and 20 ([gamma 19D, gamma 20D]r-PC) in the light chain of the mature protein, and the other possessed a serine for cysteine substitution at position 22 ([C22S]r-PC of the same light chain. A subpopulation of molecules of these mutant proteins, containing the maximum levels of gamma-residues in each, has been purified by fast-protein anion-exchange liquid chromatography and affinity chromatography on an anti-human PC column. A study of the kinetic characteristics of the inhibition by Ca2+ of the thrombin-catalyzed activation rates of these variants, and the corresponding stimulation by Ca2+ of the thrombin/thrombomodulin-catalyzed activation rates of the same recombinant PC molecules, demonstrated that higher concentrations of Ca2+ were required to display these effects, when compared to wild-type (wt) r-PC and human plasma PC. This suggested that the kinetically relevant Ca2+ site responsible for these effects on activation of PC, and known to be present in another domain of PC, was affected by both mutations in the gamma-domain. The recombinant PC variants were converted to their activated forms ([gamma 19D, gamma 20D]r-APC and [C22S]r-APC) and assayed for their Ca(2+)-dependent anticoagulant activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Role of the hexapeptide disulfide loop present in the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain of human protein C in its activation properties and in the in vitro anticoagulant activity of activated protein C. 190 53

CD4 (T4) is a 60 kD glycoprotein expressed on a subset of T lymphocytes. CD4 augments T cell responses to suboptimal Ag stimulation. In addition, the CD4 molecule is the receptor for HIV-1. CD4 is phosphorylated on serine residues within the cytoplasmic domain and its cell surface expression is decreased in response to PMA, APC bearing the appropriate Ag or HIV infection. The kinetics of CD4 phosphorylation and modulation are similar, suggesting that the two events may be related. L3T4, the murine CD4 equivalent, is not modulated from the surface of mature, peripheral T cells in response to PMA. The difference in the ability to modulate L3T4 and CD4 in response to PMA may be due to differences between the two molecules or to differences between the cells in which they are expressed. To further define the requirements for CD4 modulation, we used retroviral vectors to transfer the cDNA for CD4 and various mutants of CD4 into two murine T cell hybridomas that express L3T4. One of these hybridomas, By155.16, does not modulate L3T4 in response to PMA and the other, 5D5.63, does modulate L3T4 in response to PMA. When expressed by these hybridomas CD4 is not modulated from the surface of By155.16 and is modulated from the surface of 5D5.63 in response to PMA. In both of these hybridomas, CD4 is phosphorylated on serine residues in response to PMA. A mutant form of CD4, CD4 delta, was constructed in which the majority of the cytoplasmic domain was deleted. When expressed in 5D5.63, CD4 delta was not modulated in response to PMA. Replacing the cytoplasmic domain of CD4 with that of the human IL-2 receptor did not reconstitute the ability of CD4 to be modulated. These results suggest that the inability to modulate L3T4 from the surface of murine peripheral T cells is due to features of the cell and not the molecule. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic domain of CD4 is required for its modulation from the cell surface in response to PMA.
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PMID:Requirements for modulation of the CD4 molecule in response to phorbol myristate acetate. Role of the cytoplasmic domain. 278 43

The microbial products FK506 and CsA are potent immunosuppressive agents that prevent early transcriptional events in TcR-mediated activation. Their mode of action is dependent upon the inhibition of calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase positioned within the calcium-dependent signaling pathway. TcR-mediated activation of thymocytes constitutes an important prerequisite for their development and selection to mature T cells. Disruption of the cross-talk between thymic APC and thymocytes results in the loss of normal T cell ontogeny. To study the role of calcineurin in T cell maturation and repertoire selection in vivo, mice were treated with either FK506 or CsA. Administration of either drug inhibited the progression of CD4+CD8+ positive thymocytes to mature single positive T cells. Furthermore, both drugs disrupted the process of negative thymic selection, causing an increased frequency of self-reactive cells among the few positively selected T cells. These effects correlated directly with the degree of inhibition of in vivo calcineurin enzyme activity. Blocking calcineurin activity appears to disrupt positive thymic selection and to prevent the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes.
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PMID:Disruption of T cell development and repertoire selection by calcineurin inhibition in vivo. 752 95

The influence of antibodies against phospholipids (PLa) on APC response was investigated in 155 women with a history of thromboembolism and/or repeated foetal losses. PLa were determined as antibodies against cardiolipin (CLa) and phosphatidyl serine (PSa) and as lupus anticoagulant (LA) tested by dilute Russell's Viper Venom time and by the Textarin/Ecarin ratio. APC-response was studied by a clotting (aPTT-based) and by an amidolytic (factor IXa-X-based) assay. A reduced response to APC (APC-resistance) was found in 49% of 65 PLa-positive and in 13% of 90 PLa-negative samples (chi 2 = 23.9; p < 0.5 x 10(-4)). It was more common in the samples with LA, as compared to CLa+PSa positive (58% vs. 30%, not significant). The presence of the mutation causing Arg506-Gln substitution in coagulation factor V was investigated in 84 samples. The occurrence of the mutation in APC-resistant patients with CLa+PSa or with LA in one of the two assays was similar to those without PLa (84% and 100%, respectively). In the absence of APC resistance, the occurrence of the mutation was similar in the samples with and without PLa (14% vs. 11%). Samples with LA, determined by both tests used, comprised a special group where the frequency of the mutation in the APC resistant samples was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). In the latter samples, the pathogenic mechanism of APC resistance may be connected with the influence on phospholipid membranes.
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PMID:Studies on phospholipid antibodies, APC-resistance and associated mutation in the coagulation factor V gene. 763 Dec 99

Aberrations of the APC gene, which plays an important role in the genesis of familial adenomatous polyposis and colorectal carcinoma, were investigated in 31 surgical specimens of primary breast carcinoma. These studies utilized the polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction-fragment-length polymorphism and single-strand-conformation polymorphism analyses combined with tumor cell enrichment by cell sorting. Loss of heterozygosity at the APC locus was detected in 8 (38%) of 21 informative cases, but only 2 (6%) of 31 tumors carried a mutated APC gene. Direct DNA sequencing analysis confirmed mutations at codon 1081 (AGC to ATC) resulting in an amino acid substitution of serine for isoleucine, and at codon 1096 (CAG to CAT) resulting in a substitution of glutamine for histidine. There were no significant correlations between the loss of heterozygosity or mutation at the APC locus and any clinicopathological characteristics. Our present observations suggest that the mutations of the APC gene may play an important role in the genesis of certain breast carcinomas, and that another tumor-suppressor gene, which is the true target of frequent loss of heterozygosity, may exist near the APC gene.
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PMID:Aberrations of the APC gene in primary breast carcinoma. 779 98

The biological activity of epidermal growth factor (EGF) is mediated through the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor (EGFR). In numerous cell types, binding of EGF to the EGFR stimulates the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor eventually leading to cell proliferation. In tumor-derived cell lines, which overexpress the EGFR, however, growth inhibition is often seen in response to EGF. The mechanism for growth inhibition is unclear. To study the relationship between growth inhibition and EGFR kinase activity, we have used a cell line (PC-10) derived from a human squamous cell carcinoma that overexpresses EGFR. When exposed to 25 ng/ml EGF at low cell densities (1,300 cells/cm2), PC-10 cells exhibit cell death. In contrast, if EGF is added to high density cultures, no EGF mediated cell death is seen. When PC-10 cells were maintained at confluency in the presence of 25 ng/ml EGF for a period of 1 month, they were subsequently found competent to proliferate at low density in the presence of EGF. We designate these cells APC-10. The APC-10 cells exhibited a unique response to EGF, and no concentration of EGF tested could produce cell death. By 125I-EGF binding analysis and [35S]methionine labeling of EGFR, it was found that the total number of EGFR on the cell surface of APC-10 was not decreased relative to PC-10. No difference between PC-10 and APC-10 was seen in EGF binding affinity to the EGFR. Significantly, EGF stimulated autophosphorylation of the EGFR of APC-10 was 8-10-fold lower than that of PC-10. This reduced kinase activity was also seen in vitro in membrane preparations for EGFR autophosphorylation as well as phosphorylation of an exogenously added substrate. No difference between PC-10 and APC-10 in the overall pattern of EGFR phosphorylation in the presence or absence of EGF was detectable. However, the serine and threonine phosphorylation of the EGFR of APC-10 cells was consistently 2-3-fold lower than that seen in PC-10 cells. These results suggest a novel mechanism for EGFR overexpressing cells to survive EGF exposure, one that involves an attenuation of the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGFR in the absence of a change in receptor levels or receptor affinity.
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PMID:Loss of cytotoxic effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on EGF receptor overexpressing cells is associated with attenuation of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity. 810 61

The APC gene is mutated in familial adenomatous polyposis and sporadic colorectal tumors. The product of this gene is a 300 kDa cytoplasmic protein and its overexpression results in the block of cell cycle progression from the G0/G1 to the S phase. In the present study, we studied the expression and phosphorylation of the APC protein through the cell cycle. The APC protein was found to be constantly expressed and phosphorylated at serine and threonine residues. Moreover, the APC protein immunoprecipitated from cells arrested in the M phase by nocodazole treatment migrated in SDS-PAGE more slowly than those from the G1 and S phases. Phosphatase treatment abolished this M phase-specific retarded migration, suggesting that APC is transiently hyperphosphorylated in the M phase.
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PMID:The tumor suppressor gene product APC is hyperphosphorylated during the M phase. 860 42

The mutation cluster region in the APC gene defines a region of approximately 660 bp, in which the vast majority of its somatic mutations are found. These mutations disrupt the polypeptide chain, typically eliminating five of the seven repeated sequences of 20 amino acids (aa) each in the central region of the APC protein. To examine the relationship between loss of this structure and loss of function, we constructed APC deletion mutants that progressively truncated the protein across the mutation cluster region. The mutants were tested for their association with beta-catenin and their ability to down-regulate it in SW480 cells. The binding of beta-catenin to APC fragments required the inclusion of only a single 20-aa repeat sequence, whereas down-regulation required the presence of at least three of these repeat sequences, and those including the second repeat exhibited the highest activity. The mutation of three conserved serine residues in the second repeat greatly reduced the activity of an otherwise highly active APC fragment. Thus, the repeated 20-aa sequence is directly implicated in beta-catenin turnover. The elimination of at least five of these seven repeats due to somatic mutations suggests that loss of beta-catenin regulation by APC is selected for during tumor progression.
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PMID:Loss of beta-catenin regulation by the APC tumor suppressor protein correlates with loss of structure due to common somatic mutations of the gene. 937 78

Abnormalities of chromosome 1q21 are common in B-cell malignancies and have been associated with a poor response to therapy. The nature of the involved gene(s) on chromosome 1q21 remains unknown. A cell line (CEMO-1) has recently been established from a patient with precursor-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which exhibited a t(1;14)(q21;q32). To identify the gene involved in this translocation, we have cloned both rearranged IGHJ alleles using long-distance inverse polymerase chain reaction (LDI-PCR). Two IGHJ fragments were amplified from CEMO-1 DNA and sequenced. One allele showed novel sequences upstream of JH5 with no homology to either IGH or any other sequences on the databases. Using a single-copy Xho I fragment immediately 5' of JH5, PAC clones were isolated and mapped to chromosome 1q21 on normal metaphases by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), confirming that this allele represented the t(1;14)(q21;q32) breakpoint. Sequence analysis of the 1q21 Xho I fragment showed identity with an expressed sequence tag (EST), and this probe was therefore used to probe Northern blots. Two transcripts of 6.3 kb and 4.2 kb expressed at low level in mRNA from all tissues were detected: a third transcript of 1.6 kb was expressed only in thymus, spleen, and small intestine. Full-length BCL9 cDNA clones were obtained from a normal human fetal brain cDNA library supplemented by 5' and 3' RACE. Sequence analysis predicted a protein of 1394 amino acids containing 18% proline, 11% glycine, 11% serine, and 6% methionine, but no recognizable protein motifs or significant homologies to any other known proteins. The CEMO-1 1q21 breakpoint fell within the 3' UTR of the BCL9 gene. Low-level expression of BCL9 was detected in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed normal B cells by Northern blot; in contrast, abundant BCL9 expression was observed in CEMO-1, indicating that deregulated expression of this gene was one pathological consequence of the translocation. Screening of a panel of 39 B-cell malignancies with 1q abnormalities by Southern blot showed one additional case with a breakpoint in the 3' UTR of BCL9, indicating that this was a recurrent breakpoint. FISH analysis using an 850-kb YAC spanning BCL9 identified a further case with t(1;22)(q21;q11) causing juxtaposition of BCL9 to the IGlambda locus. Other breakpoints were heterogeneous, falling both centromeric (10 cases) and telomeric (10 cases) of the BCL9 gene. These data suggest that BCL9 may be the target of translocation in some B-cell malignancies with abnormalities of 1q21 and that deregulated BCL9 expression may be important in their pathogenesis.
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PMID:Molecular cloning of translocation t(1;14)(q21;q32) defines a novel gene (BCL9) at chromosome 1q21. 949 Jun 69


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