The selectivity of inclusion and exclusion criteria in bulimia nervosa treatment studies.

Objective: To examine the rates of exclusion and inclusion in various research studies for a series of 51 treatment-seeking patients.

Method: The inclusion and exclusion criteria employed in a sample of 41 studies were applied to a series of 51 treatment-seeking bulimia nervosa patients.

Results: Of the sample of 51, 11, (21.

Mutations in POL1 increase the mitotic instability of tandem inverted repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Tandem inverted repeats (TIRs or hairpins) of 30 and 80 base-pair unit lengths are unstable mitotically in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). TIR instability results from deletions that remove part or all of the presumed hairpin structure from the chromosome. At least one deletion endpoint is always at or near the base of the hairpin, and almost all of the repaired junctions occur within short direct sequence repeats of 4 to 9 base pairs.

A factor, U2AF, is required for U2 snRNP binding and splicing complex assembly.

Pre-mRNA splicing complex assembly is mediated by two specific pre-mRNA-snRNP interactions: U1 snRNP binds to the 5' splice site and U2 snRNP binds to the branch point. Here we show that unlike a purified U1 snRNP, which can bind to a 5' splice site, a partially purified U2 snRNP cannot interact with its target pre-mRNA sequence. We identify a previously uncharacterized activity, U2AF, that is required for the U2 snRNP-branch point interaction and splicing complex formation.

Alternative branch points are selected during splicing of a yeast pre-mRNA in mammalian and yeast extracts.

Pre-mRNA splicing in yeast and higher eukaryotes proceeds by similar pathways, in which a probable splicing intermediate and the excised intron are in a lariat configuration. To compare the pre-mRNA splicing mechanisms in yeast and higher eukaryotes, we have analyzed the RNA products resulting from in vitro processing of a yeast intron-containing pre-mRNA in HeLa cell and yeast extracts. In yeast, the RNA branch (2'-5' phosphodiester bond) of the RNA lariat forms at the third adenosine of the TACTAAC box in vivo and in vitro.

Methyl-esterified proteins in a mammalian cell line.

Methyl esterification of carboxylic acid residues in intact mouse S49 lymphoma cells was examined, and at least 24 proteins were found to be modified. Cell fractionation revealed that a distinct set of these proteins could be found in each of the four fractions. Nuclei contained 11 methyl-esterified proteins at 12, 15.

Specific and stable intron-factor interactions are established early during in vitro pre-mRNA splicing.

Biochemical components (splicing factors) interact with specific intron regions during pre-mRNA splicing in vitro. The pre-mRNA specifically associates with factors at both the branch point and the 5' splice site and these RNA-factor interactions are maintained in the intron-containing RNA processing products. The first detectable event, the ATP-dependent association of a factor (or factors) with the branch point, is mediated by at least one factor containing an essential nucleic acid component.

Role of the 3' splice site consensus sequence in mammalian pre-mRNA splicing.

Pre-mRNA splicing has been shown to occur by a two-step pathway. In the first stage, the pre-mRNA is cleaved at the 5' splice site, generating the first exon RNA species and an RNA species composed of the intron and second exon (IVS1-exon 2 RNA species). In the second stage, cleavage at the 3' splice site and ligation of the exons occurs, resulting in the excision of the intact intron.

An RNA processing activity that debranches RNA lariats.

The excised introns of pre-messenger RNA's (pre-mRNA's) and intron-containing splicing intermediates are in a lariat configuration in which the 5' end of the intron is covalently joined by a 2',5'-phosphodiester bond to a specific adenosine residue near the 3' end of the intron. A 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity in HeLa cell extracts has been detected that debranches RNA lariats, converting them to linear RNA molecules by specific cleavage of the 2',5'-phosphodiester bond. This lariat debranching activity is distinct from previously reported 2',5'-phosphodiesterases with regard to its biochemical and substrate requirements as well as its stringent cleavage specificity.

Cryptic branch point activation allows accurate in vitro splicing of human beta-globin intron mutants.

The excised introns of pre-mRNAs and intron-containing splicing intermediates are in a lariat configuration in which the 5' end of the intron is linked by a 2'-5' phosphodiester bond (RNA branch) to a single adenosine residue near the 3' end of the intron. To determine the role of the specific sequence surrounding the RNA branch, we have mutated the branch point sequence of the human beta-globin IVS1. Pre-mRNAs lacking the authentic branch point sequence are accurately spliced in vitro; processing of the mutant pre-mRNAs generates RNA lariats due to the activation of cryptic branch points within IVS1.

Excision of an intact intron as a novel lariat structure during pre-mRNA splicing in vitro.

To study the mechanisms of RNA splicing we have analyzed the products generated by in vitro processing of a truncated 32P-labeled human beta-globin RNA precursor that contains the first two exons and the first intervening sequence (IVS1). Six major RNA products were detected and characterized. The first detectable RNA processing event is cleavage at the 5' GT of IVS1.

Normal and mutant human beta-globin pre-mRNAs are faithfully and efficiently spliced in vitro.

Human beta-globin mRNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) synthesized in vitro from a bacteriophage SP6 promoter/beta-globin gene fusion are accurately and efficiently spliced when added to a HeLa cell nuclear extract. Under optimal conditions, the first intervening sequence (IVS 1) is removed by splicing in up to 90% of the input pre-mRNA. Splicing requires ATP and in its absence the pre-mRNA is neither spliced nor cleaved at splice junctions.

Tryptophan hydroxylase. The role of oxygen, iron, and sulfhydryl groups as determinants of stability and catalytic activity.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.

Spontaneous precipitation of brushite in urine: evidence that brushite is the nidus of renal stones originating as calcium phosphate.

Further evidence that brushite plays a regulatory role in renal stone formation was provided by the identification of brushite as the first precipitate that appears in supersaturated urine by spontaneous precipitation. Calcium chloride was added to induce supersaturation in urine specimens from twelve subjects with and twelve subjects without nephrolithiasis. The first precipitate in all specimens with pH below 6.

Calcification of collagen by urine in vitro: dependence on the degree of saturation of urine with respect to brushite.

A state of supersaturation of urine with respect to brushite is considered to be important in the formation of renal stones composed of calcium phosphate. 56 supersaturated urine specimens and 44 undersaturated specimens were incubated with collagen (Sigma collagen). Most of the supersaturated specimens calcified the collagen, whereas none of the undersaturated ones did so.