Frequent joining of Bcl-2 to a JH6 gene in hepatitis C virus-associated t(14;18).

The t(14;18) chromosomal translocation, which joins the Bcl-2 proto-oncogene to an Ig J(H) gene, has increased prevalence in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We now establish a link between the molecular structure and clinical occurrence of HCV-associated t(14;18). A t(14;18) was detected by PCR in leukocytes from 22 of 46 HCV-infected patients (48%) and 11 of 54 healthy controls (20%) (p = 0.

Tsukamurella strandjordae sp. nov., a proposed new species causing sepsis.

We have isolated a gram-positive, weakly acid-alcohol-fast, irregular rod-shaped bacterium from cultures of blood from a 5-year-old girl with acute myelogenous leukemia. This isolate was compared with 14 other strains including reference strains of Tsukamurella species by a polyphasic approach based on physiological and biochemical properties, whole-cell short-chain fatty acid and mycolic acid analyses, DNA-DNA hybridization, and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. This isolate represents a new taxon within the genus Tsukamurella for which we propose the name Tsukamurella strandjordae sp.

Identification of medically important yeasts using PCR-based detection of DNA sequence polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer 2 region of the rRNA genes.

Identification of medically relevant yeasts can be time-consuming and inaccurate with current methods. We evaluated PCR-based detection of sequence polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of the rRNA genes as a means of fungal identification. Clinical isolates (401), reference strains (6), and type strains (27), representing 34 species of yeasts were examined.

A library-based bioinformatics services program.

Support for molecular biology researchers has been limited to traditional library resources and services in most academic health sciences libraries. The University of Washington Health Sciences Libraries have been providing specialized services to this user community since 1995. The library recruited a Ph.

Application of 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify Bordetella hinzii as the causative agent of fatal septicemia.

We report on the first case of fatal septicemia caused by Bordetella hinzii. The causative organism exhibited a biochemical profile identical to that of Bordetella avium with three commercial identification systems (API 20E, API 20 NE, and Vitek GNI+ card). However, its cellular fatty acid profile was not typical for either B.

G protein control of Drosophila photoreceptor phospholipase C.

Light stimulates phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate phospholipase C (PLC) activity in Drosophila photoreceptors. We have investigated the mechanism of this reaction by assaying PLC activity in Drosophila head membranes using exogenous phospholipid substrates. PLC activation depends on the photoconversion of rhodopsin to metarhodopsin and is reduced in norpAEE5 PLC and ninaEP332 rhodopsin mutants.

In situ assay of light-stimulated G protein activity in Drosophila photoreceptor G protein beta mutants.

An in situ 35S-labeled guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding procedure was developed to assay light-stimulated G protein activity in Drosophila compound eyes. We found that Drosophila with mutations in G beta e, an abundant photoreceptor-specific G protein beta subunit essential for photoexcitation, are defective in light-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding. We confirmed that G beta e interacts with a GTP-binding protein by demonstrating that immunoprecipitation of G beta e is sensitive to GTP gamma S.

An eye-specific G beta subunit essential for termination of the phototransduction cascade.

Heterotrimeric G proteins couple various receptors to intracellular effector molecules. Although the role of the G alpha subunit in effector activation, guanine nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis has been well studied, the cellular functions of the G beta subunits are less well understood. G beta gamma dimers bind G alpha subunits and anchor them to the membrane for presentation to the receptor.

Pertussis toxin expression in Drosophila alters the visual response and blocks eating behaviour.

Pertussis toxin inactivates certain G-proteins by introducing an ADP-ribose group near the carboxyl-terminus of the alpha-subunit. The major pertussis toxin substrate in Drosophila tissues is Go alpha. We introduced a pertussis toxin gene under control of the hsp70 heat-shock promoter into the Drosophila genome.

A G beta protein in the Drosophila compound eye is different from that in the brain.

A G protein beta subunit gene (Gbe) is expressed only in the eyes of adult D. melanogaster. This gene was identified by probing a Drosophila head cDNA expression library with monoclonal antibodies to a previously characterized Drosophila G protein beta subunit (Gbb).

The Drosophila Go alpha-like G protein gene produces multiple transcripts and is expressed in the nervous system and in ovaries.

Drosophila melanogaster cDNA clones coding for the alpha subunit of a Go-like G protein have been isolated. The sequence of two cDNA clones shows there is alternative splicing in the 5'-coding region which, on conceptual translation, would give rise to two proteins with slightly different amino termini. A partial genomic clone indicates there are four introns in the carboxyl-terminal half of the clone.

Cloning of a Drosophila melanogaster guanine nucleotide regulatory protein beta-subunit gene and characterization of its expression during development.

A Drosophila melanogaster gene encoding a protein with greater than 80% sequence identity to the beta subunits of mammalian guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) has been cloned. The gene, which was mapped to 13F on the X chromosome by in situ hybridization, was cloned from a Drosophila genomic library by using a bovine transducin beta-subunit cDNA probe. Genomic DNA blot hybridization analysis indicated that there is a single Drosophila G-protein beta-subunit gene.

Urinary glucuronidase and arylsulfatases in identical twins of bladder cancer patients.

Studies showing that bladder cancer patients have unusually high levels of urinary beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatases A and B led to the suggestion that these urinary enzymes may participate in bladder cancer etiology. An alternative explanation of the high levels of these urinary enzymes in bladder cancer patients is that the disease itself causes the elevation. Since the levels of these enzymes are genetically determined, measuring these enzymes in healthy identical twins of bladder cancer patients can test whether high enzyme levels occurred prior to bladder cancer.