Iis Jax - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Iis Jax

Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2002

Calcium-dependent signaling pathways are thought to be involved in the regulation of mammalian oo... more Calcium-dependent signaling pathways are thought to be involved in the regulation of mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation. However, the molecular linkages between the calcium signal and the processes driving meiotic maturation are not clearly defined. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the multi-functional calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) functions as one of these key linkers. Mouse oocytes were treated with a pharmacological CaM KII inhibitor, KN-93, or a peptide CaM KII inhibitor, myristoylated AIP, and assessed for the progression of meiosis. Two systems for in vitro oocyte maturation were used: (1) spontaneous gonadotropin-independent maturation and (2) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced reversal of hypoxanthine-mediated meiotic arrest. FSH-induced, but not spontaneous germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) was dose-dependently inhibited by both myristoylated AIP and KN-93, but not its inactive analog, KN-92. However, emission of the first polar body (PB1) was inhibited by myristoylated AIP and KN-93 in both oocyte maturation systems. Oocytes that failed to produce PB1 exhibited normal-appearing metaphase I chromosome congression and spindles indicating that CaM KII inhibitors blocked the metaphase I to anaphase I transition. Similar results were obtained when the oocytes were treated with a calmodulin antagonist, W-7, and matured spontaneously. These results suggest that CaM KII, and hence the calcium signaling pathway, is potentially involved in regulating the meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes. This kinase both participates in gonadotropin-induced resumption of meiosis, as well as promoting the metaphase I to anaphase I transition. Further evidence is therefore, provided of the critical role of calcium-dependent pathways in mammalian oocyte maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 61:560–569, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Developmental Biology, 2001

Oocytes from LTXBO mice exhibit a delayed entry into anaphase I and frequently enter interphase a... more Oocytes from LTXBO mice exhibit a delayed entry into anaphase I and frequently enter interphase after the first meiotic division. This unique oocyte model was used to test the hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) may regulate the meiosis I-to-meiosis II transition. PKC activity was detected in LTXBO oocytes at prophase I and increased with meiotic maturation, with the highest (P < 0.05) activity observed at late metaphase I (MI). Treatment of late MI-stage oocytes with the PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM), transiently reduced (P < 0.05) M-phase-promoting factor (MPF) activity and promoted (P < 0.

Biochemical Genetics, 1969

The level of hepatic δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase varies among inbred strains of mice and is reg... more The level of hepatic δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase varies among inbred strains of mice and is regulated by codominant alleles at the Lv locus. Twenty-two inbred strains have been classified with respect to this locus. Lv is 5±2 recombination units from brown, b, in linkage group VIII. The locus for autosomal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpd-1) has also been assigned to linkage group VIII and is 32±5 units from brown. The order of the loci is Lv-b-Gpd-1. Incidental note is made of linkage between the malic dehydrogenase (Mdh-1) and dilute (d) loci, linkage group II, with 10±3 % recombination between the two.

Deep-sea Research Part Ii-topical Studies in Oceanography, 1994

Immunogenetics, 1995

The only avian major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) genes thus far identified are from species ... more The only avian major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) genes thus far identified are from species of the relatively small order of Galliformes, while by far the largest order of Passeriformes (songbirds), containing some 60% of extant bird species, has not been studied at all in this regard. The Galliformes emerged more than 55 million years (my) ago, the Passeriformes some 25 my ago. Because of the potential for the use of Mhc genes as markers in the study of songbird populations, an attempt was made to clone class II B genes of a passeriform species, the Bangalese finch Lonchura striata acuticauda. Using a set of primers designed on the basis of known sequences, a probe corresponding to part of exon II was obtained by the polymerase chain reaction. The probe was then used to screen a Bengalese finch cDNA library and to isolate and sequence two nearly full-length clones. The sequences reveal the presence of one presumably functional class II B locus in this bird species.

Immunology, 1997

To investigate the importance of major histocompatability complex (MHC ) class I-and MHC class II... more To investigate the importance of major histocompatability complex (MHC ) class I-and MHC class II-dependent immune responses in herpes simplex virus-1 ( HSV-1) vaccine eÃcacy, groups of b 2 m°/°(MHC I-) and A b°/°( MHC II-) mice were inoculated with various vaccines, and then challenged intraperitoneally with HSV-1. Following vaccination with either live avirulent HSV-1, expressed HSV-1 glycoprotein D (gD), or a mixture of seven expressed HSV-1 glycoproteins (7gPs), A b°/°( MHC-II-) mice developed no enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) or neutralizing antibody titres. In contrast, significant ELISA and neutralizing antibody titres were induced in b 2 m°/°(MHC-I-) mice by all three vaccines. The neutralizing antibody titres were similar for all three vaccines, but were only # 1/4 to 1/3 of that developed in C57BL/6 (parental ) mice vaccinated with the same antigens. All three vaccines protected 100% of the wild-type C57BL/6 mice against lethal challenge with 2×107 plaque-forming units (PFU ) of HSV-1. The live virus vaccine and the 7gPs vaccine also protected 80% of the b 2 m°/°mice against the same lethal HSV-1 challenge dose. In contrast, in A b°/°m ice, none of the vaccines provided significant protection against the same lethal challenge dose of HSV-1. However, at a lower challenge dose of 2×106 PFU, all three vaccines protected 70-80% of the vaccinated A b°/°m ice (compared to only 10% survival in mock vaccinated controls). Thus, vaccination provided some protection against lethal HSV-1 challenge in both b 2 m°/°and A b°/°m ice; however, the protection was less than that seen in the parental C57BL/6 mice. In addition, A b°/°m ice were less well protected by vaccination than were b 2 m°/°mice. Our results suggest that (1) both MHC-I and MHC-II are involved in vaccine eÃcacy against HSV-1 challenge; (2 ) both types of responses must be present for maximum vaccine eÃcacy; and ( 3) the MHC-II-dependent immune response appeared to be more important than the MHC-I-dependent immune response for vaccine eÃcacy against HSV-1 challenge.

In addition to the modulation of vascular tone, angiotensin II (Ang II) has growth factor-like ef... more In addition to the modulation of vascular tone, angiotensin II (Ang II) has growth factor-like effects in vascular tissue. The mechanisms whereby Ang II mediates these trophic actions are incompletely understood but are thought to include effects on systemic blood pressure, stimulation of transforming growth factor-␤ (TGF-␤) expression, and transactivation of growth factor receptor kinases. To investigate the role of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) transactivation in mediating the growth factor-like effects of Ang II we administered Ang II (200 ng/kg per minute) or saline to male Sprague-Dawley rats by osmotic minipump for 12 days and treated with imatinib mesylate, an inhibitor of the PDGFR tyrosine kinase. In addition to systolic blood pressure elevation, Ang II infusion led to increased vascular weight, media:lumen ratio, matrix expansion, and overexpression of TGF-␤ mRNA in mesenteric arteries. Without affecting blood pressure or PDGF ligand expression, imatinib attenuated the changes in vessel morphology but further increased TGF-␤ mRNA. Western blot analysis of mesenteric arterial tissue demonstrated the presence of the ␤but not the ␣-isoform of PDGFR. Phosphorylation of PDGFR-␤ was increased by Ang II in vascular smooth muscle cells, and this was inhibited by imatinib. The findings of attenuation of vascular hypertrophy and matrix deposition by imatinib indicate that transactivation of the PDGFR in vivo contributes to the growth factor-like effects of Ang II, independent of its hemodynamic effects or its ability to induce TGF-␤ gene expression. (Hypertension. 2004; 44:195-202.)

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2010

Dynamic phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II CTD repeats (YS 2 PTS 5 PS 7 ) is coupled to tra... more Dynamic phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II CTD repeats (YS 2 PTS 5 PS 7 ) is coupled to transcription and may act as a "code" that controls mRNA synthesis and processing. To examine the "code" in budding yeast, we mapped genome-wide CTD S2, 5 and 7 phosphorylations (PO4) and compared them with the CTD-associated termination factors, Nrd1 and Pcf11. CTD-PO4 dynamics are not scaled to the size of the gene. At 5' ends, the onset of S2-PO4 is delayed by about 450 bases relative to S5-PO4, regardless of gene length. Phospho-CTD dynamics are genespecific, with high S5/7-PO4 at the 5' end being characteristic of well-expressed genes with nucleosome-occupied promoters. Furthermore, the CTD kinases Kin28 and Ctk1 profoundly affect pol II distribution along genes in a highly gene-specific way. The "code" is therefore written differently on different genes, probably under the control of promoters. S7-PO4 is enriched on introns and at sites of Nrd1 accumulation suggesting that this modification may function in splicing and Nrd1 recruitment. Nrd1 and Pcf11 frequently co-localized, suggesting functional overlap between these terminators. Surprisingly, Pcf11 is also recruited to centromeres and pol III transcribed genes. phosphorylation genome-wide in yeast relative to total pol II and the CTD-associated transcription termination factors, Nrd1 and Pcf11.

Among other features, peptides affect MHC class II molecules, causing changes in the binding of b... more Among other features, peptides affect MHC class II molecules, causing changes in the binding of bacterial superantigens (b-Sag). Whether peptides can alter binding of viral superantigens (v-Sag) to MHC class II was not known. Here we addressed the question of whether mutations limiting the diversity of peptides bound by the MHC class II molecules influenced the presentation of v-Sag and, subsequently, the life cycle of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). T cells reactive to v-Sag were found in mice lacking DM molecules as well as in A b Ep-transgenic mice in which MHC class II binding grooves were predominantly occupied by an invariant chain fragment or E␣ 52-68 peptide, respectively. APCs from the mutant mice failed to present v-Sag, as determined by the lack of Sag-specific T cell activation,

The S_tandard T_est Program Set C_ost M_odel (STCM) is an integrated ... more The S_tandard T_est Program Set C_ost M_odel (STCM) is an integrated model suite being developed jointly by Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCAD LKE), Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville (NAOEP JAX), and Test Automation Incorporated (TAI) to provide government agencies with a tool to perform consistent TPS cost estimating across multiple Automatic Test System (ATS) platforms. Through the World Wide Web, STCM will provide the government Test Program Set (TPS) Program Manager(PM) with a comprehensive tool for TPS cost estimating, forecasting, and tracking by capitalizing on the unique capabilities of the following existing software tools for TPS cost estimation and ATS analysis: (i) NAWCAD LKE system synthesis model plus (SSM+) (ii) NADEP JAX Should-Cost TPS Cost Estimate Model (iii) NADEP JAX Auto-ID Merge Model (iv) TAI Cost Asset Schedule Prediction Evaluation Routine (CASPER)