bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do Autoantibodies Predict Autoimmune Liver Disease in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome? Data of 180 Patients upon a 5 Year Follow‐Up
Authors: Csepregi A. , Szodoray P. , Zeher M. 
Published: March 2003

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of autoantibodies as serological markers to predict autoimmune liver diseases in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Materials and methods: 180 patients who met the European diagnostic criteria for SS but without a history of liver disease were studied upon a 5 year follow‐up. Sera taken at enrolment were evaluated by immunofluorescence analysis (IF‐AMA) on rat liver, stomach and kidney sections, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using rat mitochondrial, microsomal and soluble liver antigens and Western blot (WB) analysis using rat mitochondrial antigens. Results: At presentation, 152 (84%) sera had autoantibodies. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were expressed in 58% of patients and displayed three distinct patterns (speckled, homogenous and anticentromere). Smooth muscle autoantibodies (SMAs) and parietal cell autoantibodies were found in 39 and 4.5% of patients, respectively. Three patients presented antimitochondrial antibodies by IF‐AMA, and two of them developed symptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Two patients without IF‐AMA and without evidence of cholestasis had PBC‐specific AMA (anti‐PDC–E2 and anti‐BCKADC–E2). However, these two patients and the third IF‐AMA‐positive woman remained free from symptoms and biochemical signs of PBC. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (n = 2), ‘overlap syndrome’ of AIH and chronic hepatitis C (n = 1) and autoimmune cholangiopathy (AIC) (n = 1) were diagnosed in four patients. Conclusions: Patients with IF‐AMA usually develop symptomatic PBC upon a 5 year follow‐up. Our findings support the idea that patients without IF‐AMA, who express PBC‐specific AMA, are in early, asymptomatic stage of the disease. High‐titre SMA and IF‐AMA are the most specific indicators for AIH and PBC.
C1‐Inhibitor Reduces the Ischaemia–Reperfusion Injury of Skeletal Muscles in Mice after Aortic Cross‐Clamping
Authors: Nielsen E. W. , Mollnes T. E. , Harlan J. M. , Winn R. K. 
Published: March 2003

Background: Both C1‐inhibitor (C1‐INH) and antibodies against the CD18 adhesion molecule have been shown to reduce ischaemia–reperfusion injuries. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of increased ischaemia times and to determine whether inhibiting C1 or blocking the CD18 function was protective in skeletal muscle ischaemia–reperfusion injury after aortic cross‐clamping. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were subjected to aortic cross‐clamping below the renal artery for 60, 75 or 105 min, followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Two‐thirds of a total dose of anti‐CD18 antibody (40 mg/kg) or human C1‐INH (1000 IU/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection before ischaemia and one‐third immediately after the clamping. Creatine kinase (CK) in the plasma was used as an indicator of muscle injury severity. Results: There was a consistent rise in the plasma CK concentration proportional to the length of ischaemia (P < 0.0005). C1‐INH treatment significantly (P = 0.012) reduced the plasma CK for the ischaemia times of 75 and 105 min. The anti‐CD18 antibody did not have any effect, as demonstrated by the CK values that were similar to controls (P = 0.836). Conclusion: The data support a beneficial role for C1‐INH in the treatment of ischaemia–reperfusion injuries of skeletal muscles.
Intranasal Cry1Ac Protoxin is an Effective Mucosal and Systemic Carrier and Adjuvant of Streptococcus pneumoniae Polysaccharides in Mice
Authors: Moreno‐Fierros L. , Ruiz‐Medina E. J. , Esquivel R. , López‐Revilla R. , Piña‐Cruz S. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major respiratory pathogen in infants, children and the elderly. Available parenteral anti‐pneumococcal vaccines based on type‐specific capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) are useful in adults but do not elicit protective immunity in infants and young children. To enhance their immunogenicity, pneumococcal CPSs conjugated to proteins are being developed. Mucosal vaccines may induce mucosal and systemic immune responses, but their development has been hampered by the lack of effective, inexpensive innocuous mucosal adjuvants or immunogenic vaccine carriers. We have demonstrated that the recombinant Cry1Ac protoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is highly immunogenic and has mucosal and systemic adjuvant effects on proteins coadministered in mice. In this work, we evaluated Cry1Ac as a carrier and adjuvant of S. pneumoniae CPS for the induction of mucosal and systemic antibody responses after intranasal and intraperitoneal immunization in mice. Our results demonstrate that intranasal application of pneumococcal polysaccharides either coadministered or conjugated with Cry1Ac induces higher systemic and mucosal specific antibody responses than those elicited by pneumococcal polysaccharides alone. Adjuvant effects of Cry1Ac on polysaccharides may be appropriate for vaccine design.
Botryocladius gen.n.: a new transantarctic genus of orthocladiine midge (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: Cranston Peter S. , Edward Donald H. D. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA new genus of orthocladiine Chironomidae, Botryocladius (type species B. grapeth sp.n. from eastern Australia) is described and illustrated in all life history stages. All thirteen included species are described as new, six from eastern Australia (B. grapeth, B. brindabella, B. mdfrc, B. collessi, B. tasmania, B. australoalpinus), two from Western Australia (B. bibulmun and B. freemani), one from ephemeral streams in Australia (B. petrophilus) and four from Patagonian Argentina and Chile (B. edwardsi, B. glacialis, B. mapuche and B. tronador). All Australian species are known from at least pupal exuviae, most from adult males and several from larvae. In contrast, only B. edwardsi amongst Neotropical species is known from the adult male; all others are described from pupal exuviae. The immature stages are lotic in Australian permanent and temporary streams and Patagonian glacial streams and rivers, and lentic in Neotropical glacial‐fed and Australian subalpine lakes. Botryocladius appears to belong with a grouping centred on two formally undescribed taxa from Australia. The genus evidently demonstrates a vicariant distribution with at least two sister‐group relationships between South American and Australian taxa, providing a minimum dating for the clade of 38 Ma., with apparent absence from New Zealand indicating a maximum date of 80 Ma.
Basal ischnoceran louse phylogeny (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Goniodidae and Heptapsogasteridae)
Authors: Smith Vincent S. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA phylogenetic analysis of generic relationships for avian chewing lice of families Goniodidae and Heptapsogasteridae (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) is presented. These lice, hosted by galliform, columbiform and tinamiform birds are reputedly basal in the phylogeny of Ischnocera. A cladistic analysis of sixty‐two adult morphological characters from thirty‐one taxa revealed thirty equally parsimonious cladograms. The phylogeny is well resolved within Heptap‐sogasteridae and supports the monophyly of subfamily Strongylocotinae (sensuEichler 1963). Resolution within Goniodidae is lower but suggests that the genera hosted by Columbiformes are largely monophyletic. Mapping host taxonomy on to the phylogeny of the lice reveals a consistent pattern which is largely congruent down to the rank of host family, although at lower taxonomic levels the association appears to be more complex. The inclusion of more louse taxa may help considerably to unravel the coevolutionary history of both the hosts and their parasites.
Molecular sequence data resolves basal divergences within Simuliidae (Diptera)
Authors: Moulton JohN. K. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryBasal divergences within Simuliidae are inferred from portions of the large nuclear ribosomal subunit (28S), elongation factor‐one alpha (EF‐1α), dopa decarboxylase (DDC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the small mitochondrial ribosomal subunit (12S) and subunit two of NADH dehydrogenase (ND2). Sequences from 28S and EF‐1α are presented for a thaumaleid, a chironomid and twenty‐five of the thirty‐two currently recognized simuliid genera. For DDC, PEPCK, 12S and ND2 the taxon sampling is less extensive, but includes both aforementioned outgroup taxa, Parasimulium Malloch, Simulium Latreille and genera representing each of the two to three major suprageneric taxa of various authors. Phylogenetic analyses of 28S, EF‐1α, PEPCK and DDC sequences yield strong support for the basal position of Parasimulium (Parasimuliinae) and division of the remaining simuliids (Simuliinae) into monophyletic sister taxa, Prosimuliini and Simuliini. These groupings are entirely concordant with those recovered in the most intensive analysis of morphological data.
Phylogeny of the water strider genus Rheumatobates (Heteroptera: Gerridae)
Authors: Westlake Kathleen P. , Rowe Locke , Currie Douglas C. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe genus Rheumatobates comprises thirty‐seven species and subspecies of New World water striders belonging to subfamily Rhagadotarsinae. Among species, males vary dramatically in the degree and nature of modifications of the antennae, three pairs of legs and abdominal and genital segments. Characters describing this modification have traditionally been used to differentiate and group species. The general assumption has been that modified species belong to one group and unmodified species to another. These two ‘species groups’ are subdivided into ‘subgroups’, but little effort has been made to resolve relationships among them. We conduct the first numerical cladistic analysis of Rheumatobates using a data set comprised of 102 characters, primarily describing modification of male external morphology. To address concerns about the inclusion of characters to be optimized on the phylogeny, characters describing modification of antennae and hind legs were included and then excluded in separate analyses. A preferred phylogeny was chosen from the four equally parsimonious cladograms found after successive reweighting of characters. There was good resolution at all levels of the phylogeny. Most of the major clades and terminal relationships were moderately to strongly supported, whereas the basal relationships were less well supported. The general assumption that unmodified and modified species form two monophyletic groups was not supported. However, traditionally recognized ‘subgroups’ within the modified species group were largely upheld. The analysis also suggested several major clades and relationships among these clades that were not previously recognized. The exclusion of characters describing modification of antennae and hind legs did not change the resolved major clades of the reconstructed phylogeny.
The adenine nucleotide translocator of higher plants is synthesized as a large precursor that is processed upon import into mitochondria.
Authors: Winning BM , Sarah CJ , Purdue PE , Day CD , Leaver CJ 
Published: March 2003

SummaryTwo maize genes and cDNAs encoding the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), a nuclear‐encoded inner mitochondrial membrane carrier protein, have previously been isolated in this laboratory. Sequence analysis revealed the existence of much longer open reading frames than the corresponding fungal and mammalian ANT genes. Potato ANT cDNAs have subsequently been isolated and sequenced and alignment of the deduced plant amino acid sequences with the equivalent fungal and mammalian polypeptides indicated that the plant proteins contain N‐ terminal extensions. When the plant cDNA clones are expressed in vitro they direct the synthesis of precursor proteins that are specifically processed at the N‐terminus upon import into isolated mitochondria. N‐ terminal amino acid sequence data obtained from the native proteins purified from both maize and potato mitochondria has allowed identification of the putative processing sites. Further import analysis has shown that two distinct regions of the maize precursor protein contain targeting information, the 97 amino acids at the N‐ terminus and the 267 C‐terminal amino acids. This is the first report that provides experimental evidence that the adenine nucleotide translocator of higher plants is synthesized as a large precursor protein that is specifically cleaved upon import into mitochondria. Import of ANT into higher plant mitochondria therefore appears to be different to the corresponding process in fungal and mammalian systems where targeting of ANT to mitochondria is mediated by internal signals and there is no N‐terminal processing.
Late embryogenesis‐abundant genes encoding proteins with different numbers of hydrophilic repeats are regulated differentially by abscisic acid and osmotic stress
Authors: Espelund Mari , Sæbøe‐Larssen Stein , Hughes D. Wayne , Galau Glenn A. , Larsen Frank , Jakobsen1 Kjetill S. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe late embryogenesis‐abundant (Lea) genes, which are suggested to act as desiccation protectants during seed desiccation and in water‐stressed seedlings, can be induced by abscisic acid (ABA) and various kinds of water‐related stress. Using cotton Lea cDNAs as probes it was found that several of the Lea genes are conserved at the mRNA level in dicots and monocots. By screening a barley cDNA library with a cotton Lea D19 cDNA a family of three members was isolated. The putative B19 proteins have strong similarities to the Em protein in wheat and to LEA proteins from several dicots. However, the middle part of the B19 proteins consists of a 20‐amino acid motif repeated three and four times in B19.3 and B19.4, respectively, but only once in B19.1. The gene products are strongly hydrophilic, the internal 20‐amino acid motif being the most hydrophilic part. This motif is found once in cotton Lea D19 but is repeated twice in cotton Lea D132, indicating that the repeats are universal among monocot and dicot B19‐like genes. The B19 genes are regulated similarly during embryo development, but to very different levels. In contrast, they are differentially regulated by ABA and various types of osmotic stress. In immature embryos all three genes are responsive to ABA and mannitol. However, B19.1 is also responsive to salt. Cold stress does not induce B19 mRNAs; only a stabilization of the transcript levels is seen. These results suggest that the responses to salt stress and exogenous ABA operate through different pathways.
Constitutive, light‐responsive and circadian clock‐responsive factors compete for the different I box elements in plant light‐regulated promoters
Authors: Borello Ugo , Ceccarelli Elena , Giuliano Giovanni 
Published: March 2003

The I box is a conserved regulatory motif which is found upstream of plant genes (rbcS, cab and nia) whose transcription is regulated by light and the circadian clock. Gel retardation and UV cross‐linking assays were used to resolve two different groups of I box binding factors (IBFs) in tomato nuclear extracts.Active components of the first group (IBF‐1) recognize the I box of the light‐responsive rbcS promoter; one factor within this group, IBF‐1a, also recognizes the adjacent G box, which has been shown previously to bind a different class of plant transcription factors, the G box binding factors (GBFs). To the limit of experimental resolution, IBF‐1a and GBF compete for the same nucleotides on the G box. Nevertheless, these two activities are biochemically and immunologically distinct. The relative abundance of IBF‐1a shows a vast decrease in dark‐adapted plants.Factors in the second group (IBF‐2), recognize the I box of the nia promoter, which is regulated both by light and the circadian clock; one factor within this group, IBF‐2a, also binds the I box of a second promoter showing similar regulation, the cab promoter. The IBF‐2a binding sites on the cab and nia promoters show extensive homology to a circadian clock‐responsive promoter element from wheat. The abundance of IBF‐2a is diurnally regulated and shows a dramatic induction around the onset of the light period. Transfer of the plants in continuous darkness demonstrates that this induction is under the control of a circadian clock. These data suggest that I box binding factors may be involved in regulation of transcription by light and the circadian clock.
Vesicle transport and processing of the precursor to 2S albumin in pumpkin
Authors: Hara‐Hishimura Ikuko , Takeuchi Yuka , Inoue Kaori , Nishimura Mikio 
Published: March 2003

Cell fractionation of pulse‐chase‐labeled developing pumpkin cotyledons demonstrated that proprotein precursor to 2S albumin is transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to dense vesicles and then to the vacuoles, in which pro2S albumin is processed to the mature 2S albumin. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that dense vesicles of about 300 nm in diameter mediate the transport of pro2S albumin to the vacuoles.The primary structure of the precursor (16 578 Da) to pumpkin 2S albumin has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of an isolated cDNA insert. The presence of a hydrophobic signal peptide at the N‐terminus indicates that the precursor is a preproprotein that is converted into pro2S albumin after cleavage of the signal peptide. N‐terminal sequencing of the pro2S albumin in the isolated vesicles revealed that the signal peptide is cleaved off co‐translationally on the C‐terminal side of alanine residue 22 of prepro2S albumin. By contrast, post‐translational cleavages occur on the C‐terminal sides of asparagine residues 35 and 74, which are conserved among precursors to 2S albumin from different plants. Hydropathy analysis revealed that the two asparagine residues are located in the hydrophilic regions of pro2S albumin. These findings suggest that a vacuolar processing enzyme can recognize exposed asparagine residues on the molecular surface of pro2S albumin and cleave the peptide bond on the C‐terminal side of each asparagine residue to produce mature 2S albumin in the vacuoles.
Multiple functions of promoter sequences involved in organ‐specific expression and ammonia regulation of a cytosolic soybean glutamine synthetase gene in transgenic Lotus corniculatus
Authors: Marsolier Marie‐Claude , Carrayol Elisa , Hirel Bertrand 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA 3.5 kbp promoter fragment fused to the reporter β‐glucuronidase (GUS) gene had previously been shown to contain the regulatory elements controlling the ammonia‐stimulated transcription of GS15, a soybean gene encoding root and root nodule cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS). Further studies using an RNase protection assay allowed detection of large amounts of GS15 transcripts in flowers and pulvinus of soybean plants, whereas in other vegetative parts of the plant, the corresponding mRNAs were expressed at low levels. A comparable GUS expression pattern was obtained in transgenic Lotus corniculatus containing the GS15‐GUS construct. Histochemical localization of GUS activity revealed that the cytosolic GS gene is expressed in anther theca and pollen at a late stage of flower development. Strong GUS staining was also visible in transgenic Lotus pulvini. Progressive 5′ deletion of GS15 promoter showed that regulatory elements necessary for ammonia stimulation both in roots and nodules are located between −3.5 and −1.3 kbp relative to the transcription start site. Elements involved in pulvinus‐specific expression are localized between −1.3 and −0.7 kbp, whereas 240 bp are sufficient to control the expression of the GS15 gene in the anthers. It therefore appears that multiple and separate promoter sequences control the organ‐specific and ammonia‐regulated expression of the cytosolic GS15 gene.
Purification, characterization, and cell wall localization of an α‐fucosidase that inactivates a xyloglucan oligosaccharin
Authors: Augur Christopher , Benhamou Nicole , Darvill Alan , Albersheim Peter 
Published: March 2003

SummaryAn α‐fucosidase that releases fucosyl residues from oligosaccharide fragments of xyloglucan, a plant cell wall hemicellulosic polysaccharide, was purified to homogeneity from pea (Pisum sativum) epicotyls using a combination of cation exchange chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The α‐fucosidase has a molecular mass of 20 kDa according to sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The α‐fucosidase has an isoelectric point of 5.5. The substrate specificity of the α‐fucosidase was determined by high performance anion exchange chromatographic analysis of oligosaccharide substrates and products. The enzyme hydrolyzes the terminal α‐1,2‐fucosidic linkage of oligosaccharides and does not cleave p‐nitrophenyl‐α‐L‐fucoside. The enzyme does not release measurable amounts of fucosyl residues from large polysaccharides. The subcellular localization of α‐fucosidase in pea stems and leaves has been studied by immunogold cytochemistry. The α‐fucosidase accumulates in primary cell walls and is not detectable in the middle lamella or in the cytoplasm of 8‐day‐old stem tissue and 14‐day‐old leaf tissue. α‐Fucosidase activity was readily detected in extracts of 8‐day‐old stem tissue. No significant α‐fucosidase acitivity or immunogold labeling of the α‐fucosidase was detected in 2‐ and 4‐day‐old stem tissue indicating that production of α‐fucosidase is developmentally regulated.
A phloem‐specific sucrose‐H+ symporter from Plantago major L. supports the model of apoplastic phloem loading
Authors: Gahrtz Manfred , Stolz Jürgen , Sauer Norbert 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn this paper the cloning of a full‐length cDNA clone encoding the PmSUC2 sucrose‐H+ symporter from Plantago major is described. This plant allows the simple preparation of vascular bundles from the basal regions of fully developed source leaves and thus a separation of vascular and non‐vascular tissue. A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A)+ RNA isolated from vascular bundles and used for the subsequent cloning of cDNAs. The respective mRNA is specifically expressed in the vascular bundles as shown on Northern blots of total RNA from vascular and non‐vascular tissues. The PmSUC2 protein has 12 putative transmembrane helices and is highly homologous to other plant sucrose transporters. Substrate specificity and energy dependence of the transporter encoded by this cDNA were determined by expression in baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The PmSUC2 protein catalyses the transport of sucrose into transgenic yeast cells. Invertase null mutants of yeast expressing PmSUC2 accumulate sucrose more than 200‐fold. This transport was sensitive to uncouplers or SH‐group inhibitors. Plasma membranes from yeast cells expressing the PmSUC2 protein were purified and fused to proteoliposomes containing cytochrome‐c‐oxidase. In this system sucrose is accumulated only when proton motive force is generated, indicating that PmSUC2 is a sucrose‐H+ symporter. The apparent molecular weight of the PmSUC2 protein is 35 kDa on 10% SDS‐polyacrylamide gels. The presented data strongly support the theory of phloem loading from the apoplastic space by a sucrose‐H+ symporter.