A cDNA clone containing the complete human alpha 1-antitrypsin sequence was isolated from a human liver cDNA bank by screening with a chemically synthesized oligonucleotide probe. DNA sequences encoding the alpha 1-antitrypsin mature polypeptide were inserted into an Escherichia coli expression vector that allows transcription from the efficient leftward promoter of bacteriophage lambda (PL) an...

the fast-moving variants, and the homozygotes as shown in Figure 1. (Recently I have also detected a case of heterozygosity of transferrin and complement component C3). However, it is always necessary to keep in mind that a1-antitrypsin heterozygosity is not the only cause of a1 zone-splitting. In fact, in one case the additional band was a-fetoprotein (1). In my experience the better way to as...

A stable polymorphism of the Pi alleles M1, M2 and M3 close to their observed frequencies has been predicted, simply by relating fitness to the proportion of each genotype having alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) levels greater than 100 mg/100 ml. By further specifying that the rare S and Z genotypes with low alpha 1-AT levels have enhanced fertility, equilibria of the M, S and Z alleles have al...

Typical liver cell inclusions of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency were found in a patient with the Pi S phenotype and acute alcoholic hepatitis. It is suggested that the inclusions resulted from the combined effects of the S phenotype and alcohol and, on the basis of the known chemistry of the variant antitrypsins, that the lowered serum concentration of antitrypsin associated with the S allele m...

Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency predisposes subjects to developing pulmonary emphysema and childhood liver cirrhosis. We have studied restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the alpha 1 antitrypsin gene in a normal population and a group of patients with pulmonary emphysema. We have identified five RFLPs with eight restriction enzymes. The most frequent polymorphisms have been detec...

Current concepts of the pathogenesis of emphysema suggest that it results from an imbalance of elastase and antielastase activity within the alveolar structures. Although emphysema that is associated with hereditary deficiency of serum alpha 1-antitrypsin conforms to this scheme, the major risk factor in the more common form of emphysema is cigarette smoking. A study was designed to evaluate th...

The transcription factors LF-A1 and LF-B1 are required for the cell-specific expression of the human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene in hepatocytes. We report here the purification and preliminary characterization of LF-A1. This protein, purified to homogeneity from calf liver nuclei by site-specific DNA affinity chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC, has a molecular mass of 40 kDa. Binding sites of L...

We describe a 16-year-old girl and her 41-year-old father who both had a bleeding tendency, dramatic prolongation of all standard clotting assays, undetectable levels of plasma protein C activity, and low or borderline levels of factors X, XI and XII. Plasma and serum electrophoresis revealed a minor peak following the main alpha(1) globulin peak, of which the proportion was increased. Platelet...