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Publications (10)39.44 Total impact

  • Article: Processing of the human heparanase precursor and evidence that the active enzyme is a heterodimer.
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    ABSTRACT: Human platelet heparanase has been purified to homogeneity and shown to consist of two, non-covalently associated polypeptide chains of molecular masses 50 and 8 kDa. Protein sequencing provided the basis for determination of the full-length cDNA for this novel protein. Based upon this information and results from protein analysis and mass spectrometry, we propose a scheme to define the structural organization of heparanase in relation to its precursor forms, proheparanase and pre-proheparanase. The 8- and 50-kDa chains which make up the active enzyme reside, respectively, at the NH(2)- and COOH-terminal regions of the inactive precursor, proheparanase. The heparanase heterodimer is produced by excision and loss of an internal linking segment. This paper is the first to suggest that human heparanase is a two-chain enzyme.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/1999; 274(42):29587-90. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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    Article: Nucleotide sequence of the 3'-terminal two-thirds of the grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3 genome reveals a typical monopartite closterovirus.
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    ABSTRACT: The RNA genome of grapevine leafroll-associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) was cloned as a cDNA generated from GLRaV-3-specific dsRNA, and a partial genome sequence of 13154 nucleotides (nt) including the 3' terminus was determined. The sequenced portion contained 13 open reading frames (ORFs) potentially encoding, in the 5'-3' direction, proteins of > 77 kDa (ORF1a; helicase, HEL), 61 kDa (ORF1b; RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RdRp), 6 kDa (ORF2), 5 kDa (ORF3, small transmembrane protein), 59 kDa (ORF4; heat shock protein 70, HSP70), 55 kDa (ORF5), 35 kDa (ORF6; coat protein, CP), 53 kDa (ORF7; diverged coat protein, CPd), 21 kDa (ORF8), 20 kDa (ORF9), 20 kDa (ORF10), 4 kDa (ORF11), 7 kDa (ORF12), and an untranslated region of 277 nt. ORF1b is probably expressed via a +1 ribosomal frameshift mechanism, most similar to that of lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV). Phylogenetic analysis using various gene sequences (HEL, RdRp, HSP70 and CP) clearly demonstrated that GLRaV-3, a mealybug-transmissible closterovirus, is positioned independently from aphid-transmissible monopartite closteroviruses (beet yellows, citrus tristeza and beet yellows stunt) and whitefly-transmissible bipartite closterovirus (lettuce infectious yellows, LIYV). However, another alleged mealybug-transmissible closterovirus, little cherry virus, was shown to be more closely related to the whitefly-transmissible LIYV than to GLRaV-3.
    Journal of General Virology 06/1998; 79 ( Pt 5):1299-307. · 3.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Intracellular IL-1 receptor antagonist promoter: cell type-specific and inducible regulatory regions.
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    ABSTRACT: The objective of these studies was to examine the molecular mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation of the gene for the intracellular structural variant of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (icIL-1Ra) molecule. By reverse transcription-PCR analysis, constitutive expression of endogenous icIL-1Ra mRNA was observed in the epithelial cell lines A431 and HT-29, but not in the macrophage cell lines RAW 264.7 and U937, or in the lymphocyte cell lines Raji and Jurkat. However, icIL-1Ra mRNA expression was observed in response to stimulation with LPS in RAW 264.7 cells and to PMA and LPS in U937 cells. To examine the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, 4.5 kb of the 5' flanking sequence was isolated from the human icIL-1Ra gene, sequenced, cloned into a luciferase expression vector (pIC4525.Luc), and examined in transfection studies. The pIC4525.Luc construct exhibited a pattern of expression in epithelial and macrophage cell lines similar to that of the endogenous icIL-1Ra gene. To obtain a generalized map of cell type-specific and inducible cis-acting DNA elements, nested 5' deletional mutants of the icIL-1Ra promoter were constructed. Results from transfection studies with these icIL-1Ra promoter/luciferase fusion constructs indicated that constitutive expression in epithelial cells was under the control of three positively acting regions located between bases -4525 to -1438, -288 to -156, and -156 to -49. In contrast, basal expression of pIC4525.Luc in transfected but unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells was under the control of a weak inhibitory region located between bases -4525 to -1438 and a strong positive element between -156 and -49. LPS induction of icIL-1Ra transcription in RAW 264.7 cells was regulated by strong positively acting DNA regions between bases -1438 to -909 and -156 to -49. In summary, the proximal region of the icIL-1Ra promoter, between bases -156 to -49, contains positive cis-acting elements that are needed for expression in both epithelial and monocyte cell lines. However, our results indicate that the ability of this proximal promoter region to control expression is strongly influenced, both positively and negatively, by other upstream cis-acting elements in a cell type-specific manner.
    The Journal of Immunology 02/1997; 158(2):748-55. · 5.79 Impact Factor
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    Article: The coat protein gene of grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3: cloning, nucleotide sequencing and expression in transgenic plants.
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    ABSTRACT: A lambda ZAP II cDNA library was constructed by cloning cDNA prepared from a high molecular weight double-stranded RNA (dsRNA, ca. 18 kb) isolated from grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) infected tissues. This cDNA library was immuno-screened with GLRaV-3 coat protein specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and three immuno-positive clones were identified. Analysis of nucleotide sequences from these clones revealed an open reading frame (ORF) which was truncated at the 3' end; the remainder of this ORF was obtained by sequencing a fourth clone that overlapped with one of the immunopositive clones. A total of 2028 bp was sequenced. The putative GLRaV-3 coat protein ORF, 939 bp, encodes a protein (referred to as p35) with a calculated M(r) of 34866. Multiple alignment of the p35 amino acid sequence with coat protein sequences from other closteroviruses revealed that the consensus amino acid residues (R and D) of filamentous plant viruses are preserved in the expected locations. The GLRaV-3 coat protein gene was then engineered for sense and antisense expression in transgenic plants. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants that contain the sense GLRaV-3 coat protein gene produced a 35 kDa protein that reacted with GLRaV-3 antibody in Western blot.
    Archives of Virology 02/1997; 142(6):1101-16. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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    Article: Organization of a human UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene and a related processed pseudogene.
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    ABSTRACT: We have previously characterized a cDNA that encodes a full length human UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-transferase) (J.A. Meurer et al., J. Biochem., 118, 568-574, 1995). The present report describes the characterization of the corresponding human GalNAc-transferase gene and a related pseudogene. Two human genomic libraries, lambda and P1, were screened with probes derived from the human GalNAc-transferase nucleotide sequence, resulting in the isolation of four genomic clones. Southern blotting, PCR analysis, and sequencing revealed that three clones, lambda.HG-5, P1.GALN-A, and P1.GALN-B, contained overlapping genomic sequences that encompass over 55 kilobase pairs (kb) of genomic DNA and comprise a portion of the human GalNAc-transferase 5'-and 3'-untranslated regions and the entire coding region. The human GalNAc-transferase gene structure consists of at least 11 exons ranging in size from 99 to > 620 nucleotides which are separated by 10 introns ranging in size from 0.7 to approximately 12.5 kb. The fourth genomic clone, P1-GALN-psi, contained a approximately 2.4 kb sequence region which shares an overall 78.6% nucleotide identity with coding region exons 1 and 3 through 11 of the human GalNAc-transferase gene. However, a lack of intron sequences, as well as the presence of multiple nucleotide mutations, insertions, and deletions that disrupt the potential GalNAc-transferase reading frame, suggest that P1.GALN-psi contains a processed pseudogene. Screening of a human/rodent somatic cell hybrid panel with a P1.GALN-psi probe localized the GalNAc-transferase pseudogene to chromosome 3. Hence, the human genome contains at least two related GalNAc-transferase genes that are located on separate chromosomes.
    Glycobiology 03/1996; 6(2):231-41. · 3.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cloning and comparative sequence analysis of the gene encoding canine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).
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    ABSTRACT: Canine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a primary role in the adherence of canine neutrophils to endothelial cells and in the cytotoxicity of canine neutrophils for adult cardiac myocytes. We have cloned the canine ICAM-1 gene and have analyzed the conservation of ICAM-1 amino acid (aa) sequences in man, chimpanzee, mouse, rat and dog. Canine ICAM-1 displays 61% identity with human ICAM-1. Cys residues critical to the immunoglobulin (Ig) fold structure and four sites of N-linked glycosylation are absolutely conserved in ICAM-1 from all species. Residues in the cytoplasmic tail associated with cytoskeletal alpha-actinin binding are highly conserved, supporting the hypothesis that intracellular attachment is indeed important for ICAM-1 function. Residues critical for human ICAM-1 binding to the beta 2-integrin leukocyte-function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) are highly conserved between all species, whereas those residues demonstrated to play an important role in interaction of human ICAM-1 with macrophage activation complex 1 (Mac-1) are not highly conserved. Residues critical for ICAM-1 binding to rhinovirus and malaria-infected red blood cells (IRBC) are not highly conserved.
    Gene 05/1995; 156(2):291-5. · 2.34 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cloning of a canine cDNA homologous to the human transforming growth factor-beta 1-encoding gene.
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    ABSTRACT: A 1369-bp cDNA that encodes a homolog of the human transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been isolated from canine endothelial cells using a combination of PCR and traditional plaque-screening methods. The deduced 390-amino-acid sequence of the canine TGF-beta 1 precursor has 91-94% identity to those deduced from the previously described human and mouse TGF-beta 1 clones.
    Gene 05/1995; 155(2):307-8. · 2.34 Impact Factor
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    Article: D4 dopamine receptor-mediated signaling events determined in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells.
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    ABSTRACT: A Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line stably expressing a recombinant human D4 dopamine receptor made from a synthetic gene has been used to determine potential D4-mediated signaling events. We designed and synthesized a modified gene coding for a human D4 receptor with reduced G + C content but unaltered encoded amino acids. Stable expression of this gene was obtained in two cell lines, inducible expression in CHO lacI cells and constitutive expression in HEK293 cells. In CHO lacI cells induced to express D4 receptors but not in uninduced cells, dopamine and quinpirole inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation and potentiate ATP-stimulated [3H]arachidonic acid release through a mechanism that requires protein kinase C but is unaffected by membrane-soluble cAMP analogs. In addition, D4 receptor activation causes an increase in the rate of extracellular acidification measured by microphysiometry. This response is unaffected by protein kinase C down-regulation but is inhibited by removal of extracellular sodium and inhibitors of NaH-1 exchange, suggesting the involvement of a Na+/H+ exchanger. All responses are blocked by clozapine and are sensitive to pertussis toxin. D4 receptors, like other G(i)/G(o)-linked receptors, mediate multiple signaling events, and the pathways activated are similar to those used by D2 and D3 receptors expressed in similar cells.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 05/1994; 269(16):11813-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Analyses of genes that encode the 15-kDa zein protein of maize: identification of potential gene regulatory elements.
    R F Drong, J L Slightom
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    ABSTRACT: A gene (gZ15.4.1) encoding the 15-kDa zein polypeptide was isolated from maize cultivar A5707, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. A total of 2085 bp was sequenced, including about 300 bp of 5'-flanking DNA that includes several potential regulatory elements not available in the previously published 15-kDa zein-encoding gene (gZ15A) sequence. Several nt differences between gZ15.4.1 and gZ15A were observed, which include two single amino acid replacements.
    Gene 02/1993; 123(2):245-8. · 2.34 Impact Factor
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    Article: Nucleotide sequences from phaseolin cDNA clones: the major storage proteins from Phaseolus vulgaris are encoded by two unique gene families.
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    ABSTRACT: The nucleotide sequences of eight partial and five full-length phaseolin cDNA clones show that phaseolin polypeptides are encoded by two distinct gene families which differ in their coding regions by the presence or absence of two different size direct repeats. The alpha-type phaseolin polypeptides are encoded by genes containing direct repeats which encode 14 additional amino acids. Aside from these differences, the alpha-and beta-type phaseolin genes show a high degree of homology (98%) which is consistent with these genes being derived from a common ancestral gene. Much of the heterogeneity found in the phaseolin polypeptides appears to be due to post-translational processing. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrates that the alpha-type genes contain only a few amino acid replacement substitutions and that the beta-type genes appear to contain no amino acid replacement substitutions. S1 nuclease mapping shows a complex pattern for transcriptional initiation of phaseolin mRNA. Hydropathy analysis shows that phaseolin polypeptides are predominately hydrophilic, and that the two N-glycosyl recognition sites are located in different hydropathic environments.
    Nucleic Acids Research 10/1985; 13(18):6483-98. · 8.03 Impact Factor