Showing papers by "Paris Descartes University published in 1989"

Alternative splicing directs the expression of two D2 dopamine receptor isoforms

Abstract: Dopamine receptors are classified into D1 and D2 subtypes on the basis of their pharmacological properties and the intracellular responses they mediate. The cerebral D2 dopamine receptor is the target of drugs used to alleviate the main symptoms of schizophrenia. Although it is considered to be a single molecular entity, there is evidence that multiple D2-receptor subtypes exist. A complementary DNA encoding a D2 receptor has recently been cloned and the deduced 415-amino-acid sequence indicates that it belongs to the large superfamily of receptors coupled to G proteins, and that its topology consists of seven transmembrane domains. In this family, the genes are frequently without introns and each is believed to encode a unique polypeptide product. Here we show that the gene for the D2 receptor produces two receptor isoforms by alternative messenger RNA splicing, providing a route to receptor diversity in this family. One isoform corresponds to the D2(415) receptor, but the second contains an additional sequence encoding a 29-amino-acid fragment, defining a novel D2(444) receptor isoform. Expression of the two isoforms is tissue-specific, and both are regulated by guanyl nucleotides. As the extra sequence is located within a putative cytoplasmic loop that binds to G proteins, the two isoforms might interact with different G proteins and thereby initiate distinct intracellular signals.

Effect of the Tfm mutation on handedness in mice.

Abstract: The hyposthesis has been proposed that testosterone is involved in the determination of handedness in man: a high sensitivity to testosterone being associated with left handedness. Handedness in mice is tested according to Collins' paradigm: most mice present either a right or a left paw preference but others are ambilateral. The hypothesis that there is an association between a low neonatal imprinting by testosterone and a strong handedness (right or left) is tested here using Tfm male mice which are testosterone insensitive. Our results confirmed the hypothesis, since Tfm males were as well lateralized as their female siblings and significantly more strongly lateralized than their male siblings not carrying the mutation.

A comparison of fibronectinolytic activities from several oral bacteria.

Abstract: Fibronectinolytic activity from two Gram-positive microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans and Bacterionema matruchotii), and from three Gram-negative oral bacteria (Bacteroides intermedius, Bacteroides gingivalis and Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans) were compared. 125I-labelled human plasma fibronectin (FN) was incubated either either with bacterial extracts or with concentrated culture medium samples and the patterns of FN-degradation products were determined by SDS-PAGE. Results to date have shown that Streptococcus mutans, Bacterionema matruchotii and Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans were unable to degrade FN. On the other hand the Gram-negative Bacteroides intermedius and Bacteroides gingivalis were shown to contain Fn-degrading activity. The highest activity was found in the bacterial extracts of Bacteroides gingivalis. Inhibition assays demonstrated that fibronectinolytic activity of Bacteroides gingivalis occurred predominantly by cysteine proteinase(s) while that of Bacteroides intermedius by a common action of serine and cysteine proteinases.

Device for detecting and measuring particles precipitating in a liquid by the use of echography

Abstract: It mainly comprises a thermoregulated measuring cell (1) with which is associated an emitting/receiving ultrasonic probe (2), which consists of a cavity (10) separated at half its height by a plate (11) of small thickness, the upper chamber above the plate being intended to receive the suspension (13) of particles, whereas the probe is located in the lower chamber below the plate, its upper face (14) being at a distance from the said plate. Application to the detection of the state of aggregation of red corpuscles in blood.