用基因芯片检测DPYD等位基因在受试人群中的发生频率

二氢嘧啶脱氢酶基因（DPYD基因）所编码的二氢嘧啶脱氢酶（DPD酶）是氟化嘧啶类抗肿瘤药物代谢的主要限速酶,其活性存在显著的个体差异,并因此影响药物的疗效和毒副作用.大部分编码低/无活性酶的突变型等位基因是由于基因中的单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP）造成的,检测这些SNPs是预测患者对药物的反应和实现个体化给药方案的基础.制备并优化了用于检测DPYD基因中6个已知SNPs所编码的等位基因（DPYD^*2,^*3,^*4,^*5,^*9,^*12）的基因芯片,建立了该芯片的基因分型标准.并利用该芯片检测了肿瘤患者（112例）、肾病患者（83例）和健康者（45例）中DPYD突变型等位基因的发生频率.在受试人群中,突变型等位基因DPYD^*5和DPYD^*9平均发生率分别为32.08%和11.25%,未发现DPYD^*2,^*3,^*4,^*12突变型等位基因.而且以上单碱基突变的发生率在肿瘤患者、肾病患者和健康者间以及男性、女性肿瘤患者间无显著性差异,表明其与疾病的发生或性别无显著性关联.对20例标本的基因分型结果采用直接测序法进行验证,19例基因芯片分型结果与直接测序法结果相一致.DPYD^*5、DPYD^*9突变型等位基因在受试人群中具有较高的发生率.利用基因芯片能够对其实现快速准确的检测.     

雌激素受体α(ESR1)基因PvuⅡ和XbaI位点基因多态性与HBV慢性感染的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨雌激素受体ESR1(Estrogen Receptor alpha gene)基因的PvuⅡ(rs2234693)和XbaI (rs9340799)两个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs)位点的基因多态性与乙型肝炎病毒HBV(Hepatitis B Virus)慢性感染的相关性,为控制HBV持续感染提供新的思路和科学依据。方法：选择107例慢性乙型病毒性肝炎患者为病例组及107例同期体检的健康人群为对照组,基于高分辨熔解曲线技术(High Resolution Melting,HRM)建立PCR-HRM分子诊断方法,检测其雌激素受体ESR1基因两个SNP位点rs2234693(T>C)和rs9340799(A>G)的基因多态性,并通过基因测序进一步验证,探讨上述两个SNP位点与HBV慢性感染的相关性。结果：病例组和健康对照组ESR1基因rs2234693(T>C)位点的基因型频率比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),而两组间rs2234693位点等位基因频率比较差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);病例组和健康对照组间ESR1基因rs9340799(A>G)位点的各基因型频率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),慢性乙肝病例组GG基因型明显升高,两组间rs9340799位点等位基因频率差异亦具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示rs9340799位点的G基因可增加HBV慢性感染的发病风险,A基因可降低HBV慢性感染的发病风险。结论：雌激素受体基因ESR1的rs9340799 (A>G)位点的GG基因型和G等位基因可能是HBV感染慢性化的遗传易感基因,GG基因型与HBV的慢性感染具有一定的相关性。     

Mash2基因在体细胞克隆牛肺脏中DNA甲基化状态分析

体细胞核移植(体细胞克隆)技术在动物生产、医药工业、治疗性克隆以及对珍稀濒危动物的拯救有重要意义,然而克隆效率低下以及克隆动物发育异常,严重制约了克隆技术的发展和应用．在体细胞核克隆中,供体核来自高度分化了的体细胞,发生在核移植后几小时内供体核的重编程,决定了克隆胚胎的发育能力．印记基因是由等位基因表观遗传修饰的不对称导致的基因表达具有亲本选择性,而DNA甲基化是调控印记的一个主要方式．印记基因Mash2在胚胎发育和器官形成过程中起着非常重要的作用．为了探求核移植过程中Mash2基因DNA 甲基化的表观重编程是否充分,利用亚硫酸氢盐测序法对出生48 h内死亡的体细胞核移植牛和正常对照牛肺脏中Mash2基因的DNA甲基化状态进行分析．结果显示,尽管位于Mash2基因启动子和第一个外显子处的CpG岛在正常牛和克隆牛中甲基化水平都不高(20.04%,5.55%),但克隆组的甲基化水平仍显著低于正常对照组 (P < 0.05)．甲基化模式正常组中9N3有5种不同的形式,9N4仅1种;而克隆组9C3和9C5也分别是1种．推测Mash2基因的异常DNA甲基化很可能是导致克隆牛肺脏发育异常的一个重要原因．     

一个鼻咽癌家系中存在COX7B2基因的低频变异

在中国南方鼻咽癌(nasopharyngeal carcinoma, NPC)高发地区, 遗传易感性在鼻咽癌发病中起重要作用, 在4p11-4p14区域存在一个鼻咽癌易感位点. 采用PCR-直接测序法对位于该区域内的细胞色素C氧化酶亚单位Ⅶb2 (COX7B2)基因进行单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP)筛查, 对发现的变异在家系患者、散发病例和正常人群中进行分型分析, 探讨COX7B2基因变异是否与鼻咽癌有关. 在COX7B2基因中共发现5个新的SNP位点, 分别位于上游启动子区(&#8722;158101G>T和&#8722;157322G>A)、第2内含子区域(&#8722;109602A>G)、第3外显子区(78T>A)和3′-非翻译区(354T>A). 位于第3外显子编码区的78T>A变异导致CAT26CAA (His26Gln)改变, 在31号鼻咽癌家系中与患者易感单体连锁, 但不存在于其他家系患者和散发病人中. 在广东地区和华东地区对照个体中78T>A变异的频率分别为0.45%(2/448)和0.26%(1/384), 在白人、黑人样本中没有发现该变异. 蛋白质序列比对显示COX7B2亚基26His位点在人、大猩猩、黑猩猩、长臂猿、大鼠和小鼠中十分保守. 上述结果提示COX7B2基因26His是一个保守的位点, 低频的His26Gln变异可能与31号家系的鼻咽癌高发有关.     

Neuronatin基因研究进展

Neuronatin(Nnat)是最近克隆的脑特异表达的新基因,在大脑发育过程中被选择性地剪接.人Nnat基因全长3 973 bp,含有3个外显子和2个内含子.Nnat mRNA有α和β两种剪接形式,分别编码81个和54个氨基酸,两者具有同一相位的开放阅读框架,差别在于β形式中间的外显子被剪切掉.人Nnat是单拷贝基因,定位于染色体20q11.2～12.小鼠Nnat基因定位于2号染色体末端.该基因是印记基因(imprinted gene),仅在父本来源的等位基因表达,而母本来源的等位基因则被甲基化不能表达.该基因在胚胎期及出生后早期大量表达,而在成年和衰老动物大脑中表达明显降低,因此推测该基因与大脑的发育和分化密切相关.成年动物中垂体前叶是Nnat mRNA唯一强表达的地方.推测其蛋白质产物具有疏水N端和亲水C端,是跨膜蛋白,其确切功能尚属未知.     

非编码的mRNA

非编码的mRNA是近年发现的一类不含典型ORF的mRNA.目前已发现或克隆的这类基因主要有：H19基因,XIST基因,XLSIRT基因,His-1基因,bic基因,rox1和rox2基因等.它们与胚胎发育,肿瘤发生及X染色体失活密切相关.     

阿特拉津降解菌Arthrobacter sp. AG1降解基因研究

菌株Arthrobacter sp. AG1能以4000 mg/L的阿特拉津（AT）为唯一碳源、氮源和能源生长。通过设计特异引物从AG1中扩增出阿特拉津氯水解酶基因trzN的全序列,该基因与已报道的trzN基因序列相似性为99%。AG1菌株中含有两个大于100kb的质粒,Southern杂交结果显示trzN和atzB基因均位于其中较大的一个质粒pAG1上。将AG1菌株在LB液体培养基中转接三代后,发现34%的细菌细胞丢失了降解活性,但却未发现丢失质粒,PCR扩增结果表明突变子丢失了trzN基因,但atzB和atzC基因未丢失,说明降解活性的缺失是trzN基因片段从质粒上丢失的结果,表明trzN基因在环境中存在水平转移现象,暗示菌株AG1中的阿特拉津降解基因是基因的水平转移重组的结果。     

阿特拉津降解菌Arthrobacter sp. AG1降解基因研究

菌株Arthrobacter sp. AG1能以4000 mg/L的阿特拉津（AT）为唯一碳源、氮源和能源生长。通过设计特异引物从AG1中扩增出阿特拉津氯水解酶基因trzN的全序列,该基因与已报道的trzN基因序列相似性为99%。AG1菌株中含有两个大于100kb的质粒,Southern杂交结果显示trzN和atzB基因均位于其中较大的一个质粒pAG1上。将AG1菌株在LB液体培养基中转接三代后,发现34%的细菌细胞丢失了降解活性,但却未发现丢失质粒,PCR扩增结果表明突变子丢失了trzN基因,但atzB和atzC基因未丢失,说明降解活性的缺失是trzN基因片段从质粒上丢失的结果,表明trzN基因在环境中存在水平转移现象,暗示菌株AG1中的阿特拉津降解基因是基因的水平转移重组的结果。     

LCRG1基因启动子关键顺式调节元件的鉴定

LCRG1基因( laryngeal carcinoma related gene1,LCRG1 )是一个新的喉癌候选抑瘤基因,其转录调控机制一直未被阐明．通过限制性内切酶酶切介导对LCRG1基因 (-169～+127)区域进行剪切体分析,将LCRG1基因最小启动子定位于-169～-57．应用连接体扫描突变体分析,将关键顺式作用元件确定在-137～-122．生物信息学提示该区存在SP1、E2F1/DP1、EKLF和ZF9转录因子结合位点．利用已知反式作用因子与报告基因质粒进行共转染,提示Spl为有效的反式作用因子,且能上调LCRG1基因的表达．凝胶迁移阻滞实验确定LCRG1基因关键的顺式作用元件区域具有Spl结合位点．LCRG1基因启动子-137～-122片段在该基因表达过程中可能起重要作用,为LCRG1基因功能研究提供了新的证据．     

RNA干扰ABCE1基因后可增加肺癌95-D/NCI-H446细胞的E-钙黏附蛋白表达并减低细胞侵袭力

研究ABCE1对肺癌(95-D和 NCI-H446)细胞的作用．使用RNA干扰技术,抑制ABCE1基因的表达,通过Western blot 分析及FACS检测,观察ABCE1基因对E-钙黏附蛋白在95-D/NCI-H446细胞表达的影响;运用transwell 侵袭实验,观察M95-D/ NCI-H446细胞侵袭力的变化．RNA干扰ABCE1基因后,实验组与对照组相比,在48 h后可显著抑制肺癌(95-D和 NCI-H446)细胞ABCE1蛋白的表达,同时,伴随E-钙黏附蛋白的高表达,以及细胞侵袭力的降低． ABCE1基因与E-钙黏附蛋白相关,抑制ABCE1基因可增加肺癌95-D/NCI-H446细胞的E-钙黏附蛋白的表达,减低细胞的侵袭力．     

Rapid genotyping of APOA5 -1131T>C polymorphism using high resolution melting analysis with unlabeled probes

The APOA5 -1131 T/C polymorphism (rs662799) exhibits a very strong association with elevated TG levels in different racial groups. High resolution melting (HRM) analysis with the use of unlabeled probes has shown to be a convenient and reliable tool to genotyping, but not yet been used for detecting rs662799 polymorphism. We applied the unlabeled probe HRM analysis and direct DNA sequencing to assay the -1131T>C SNP in 130 cases DNA samples blindly. This HRM analysis can be completed in <3 min for each sample. The two melting peaks were displayed at 66.1±0.4°C for CC homozygote and 68.7±0.2°C for TT homozygote; TC heterozygote showed the both melting peaks. The genotyping results by HRM method were completely concordant with direct DNA sequencing. The distribution of CC, TC, and TT genotypes for the -1131T>C SNP was 9.2, 49.2, and 41.5%, respectively. This assay was sensitive enough to detect C allele down to 20% and 10% for T allele. The limit of detection for C and T allele was 6.2 and 2.5 ng/μL DNA, respectively. The developed unlabeled probe HRM method provides an alternative mean to detect ApoA5 -1131T>C SNP rapidly and accurately.     

Single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP)-driven indirect sequencing in detection of short deletion

To seek for novel rare and/or sporadic mutations within genomic neighborhood of common −344 C>T (rs2427827) FCER1A proximal promoter polymorphism, which by its prevalence could have masked the presence of less frequent genetic variants in our previous single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) mutational search study, SSCP screening was repeated using primers fixing −344 C>T variant. The genomic region surrounding −344 C>T polymorphism was confirmed to be fairly conservative and only a single sporadic mutation (present in 1 out of 196 chromosomes), a 6-bp deletion −262 to 257 del CTAGAC, was found. From the methodological point of view, we demonstrated a successful detection of a short-length polymorphism using SSCP screening in a population, in which the same genomic region contained frequent single-nucleotide polymorphic variant. In conjunction with subsequent cloning of aberrantly migrating PCR products and SSCP-driven indirect sequencing of the clones, this method offers a superior (to direct sequencing of PCR products) detection of rare mutations. The cost-effective method applied by us enables a reliable characterization of infrequent (thus present only in heterozygotic form) short-length variance of the sequence which are difficult to interpret by direct sequencing.     

Automated single‐strand conformation polymorphism reveals low diversity of a Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II gene in the threatened New Zealand sea lion

Single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the second exon of the DQB gene in the endemic New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) was automated using fluorescently‐labelled PCR primers and a capillary sequencer. SSCP mobility profiles (n = 61 individuals) were confirmed by direct sequencing of genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (n = 39). We found only two alleles defined by changes at a single codon of this apparently functional locus. SSCP at a constant temperature above ambient allowed consistent and rapid genotyping. By comparison, sequence‐based genotyping was highly dependent on the threshold used to identify secondary peaks indicative of a heterozygote.     

RhCE-D (2)-CE hybrid allele causing puzzle in serology and sequencing: a case report

The Rh locus, one of the important blood group systems in transfusion medicine, is controlled by three highly homologous genes: RHAG, RHD and RHCE. RHD and RHCE genes both contain 10 exons with opposite orientation, with genetic homology of higher than 92%. Based on this arrangement and configuration, a hybridization variant easily occurs, which causes variant or weak antigen expression. A 46-year-old woman of group A was admitted to hospital with bloody stool. Her RhD phenotype was confusing (agglutination < 1+) as detected by gel card. The unexpected antibody was identified to be anti-D. Only exon 2 of RHD was detected by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) with hybrid heterozygosis of c.150T>C, c.178A>C, c.201G>A, and c.307T>C by sequencing. The genotype of RHCE was confirmed to be Ccee by SSP-PCR and the serologic phenotype was Ccee too. However, the sequencing of RhCE was confirmed to be ccee with c.178CC, c.203AA, c.307CC on exon 2. Further analysis found that the difference between them depended on the replacement of exon 2 from RhD. The genotype of this patient was found to be RhCE-D(2)-CE/RhCE, leading to a conf using RhD phenotype.     

基于SLAF-seq技术的苗药八爪金龙遗传分析

为探究苗药八爪金龙群体遗传进化和亲缘关系的远近,该研究利用简化基因组测序技术(SLAFseq)对42份八爪金龙样品进行测序,获得多态性SLAF标签。同时采用GATK和SAMtools软件在多态性SLAF中检测单核苷酸多态性(SNP)分子标记,并利用SNP分子标记分析八爪金龙样品间的遗传分化关系。结果表明:(1) 42份八爪金龙共获得246.35 Mb reads,测序质量值Q30的平均值为95.66%,GC含量的平均值为41.14%。(2)通过生物信息学的分析,获得1 769 265个SLAF标签,其中379 829个多态性SLAF标签,共开发2 299 640个SNPs分子标记。(3)利用开发的SNPs数据构建八爪金龙的系统发育树,42份八爪金龙分成两个大的类群。第一类群为细柄百两和原变种百两金;第二类群由贵州朱砂根、红凉伞、湖北朱砂根和江西朱砂根组成。江西朱砂根与其余群体关系较远,有明显的分群现象。该研究从基因组水平揭示不同地区八爪金龙资源之间的遗传关系,为八爪金龙种质资源的鉴定和遗传多样性分析提供了理论基础,所开发的SNP位点可进一步用于挖掘与品质、抗逆性等相关的基因。     

Development of a high resolution melting method for genotyping of risk HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1 alleles and ethnic distribution of these risk alleles

Recent studies have demonstrated that alleles at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2187668 and rs4664308 within genes HLA-DQA1 and PLA2R1, respectively, had a significant impact on the susceptibility to idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). Analysis of the two genomic loci could identify alleles for individuals at risk for IMN. Conventional methods for genotyping are labor intensive, expensive or time consuming. High resolution melting (HRM) is a new technique for genotyping and has the advantages of simplicity, speed, high sensitivity and low cost. Here, we describe genotyping of SNPs rs2187668 and rs4664308 using HRM. In this study, we identified polymorphisms of rs2187668 and rs4664308 in 480 healthy unrelated Chinese volunteers of two ethnic groups from three different geographical areas in China. The two genomic loci were genotyped by HRM using a saturating fluorescent dye SYTO® 9 on 7900 HT and RG 6000 instruments, and were further confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Three different SNP genotypes were sufficiently distinguished by HRM with mean sensitivity of 98.8% and mean error rate of 1.9%. In addition, the allele frequencies varied greatly based on ethnic or geographic origins. In conclusion, HRM is a rapid, cost efficient, sensitive, suitable technique for genotyping, and simple enough to be readily implemented in a diagnostic laboratory. We believe this will be a valuable technique for determining the genotype of rs2187668 and rs4664308 and for assessing individual susceptibility to IMN.     

Mutation detection in the breast cancer gene BRCA1 using the protein truncation test

About 400 distinct mutations have been defined in the BRCA1 gene, and these are spread fairly evenly through the 5592 bp of coding DNA. This circumstance presents a formidable challenge for mutation screening. Apart from total direct sequencing, the preferred screening method has been single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) gels, with a smaller input from constant denaturant gradient electrophoresis (CDGE), heteroduplex (HD) analysis, and mismatch cleavage. The protein truncation test (PTT) was used early in BRCA1 mutation screening but has not been widely adopted, perhaps because a straightforward analysis of the whole BRCA1 gene requires working with RNA and all its perceived problems. The present work was undertaken to assess the practicality of using the PTT under routine conditions for the screening of long genes such as BRCA1 that are not highly expressed in lymphocytes. We conclude that, provided RNA preparation is carried out effectively and consistently, the PTT approach has significant advantages over other methodologies such as SSCP gels.     

Identification of Allelic Polymorphism in the Ovine Leptin Gene

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone/cytokine that influences the physiological control of numerous biological functions and links nutritional status with both neuroendocrine and immune functions. In livestock, variation in the leptin (LEP) gene has been characterized in cattle and pig, but it has not been reported in sheep. In this study, variation in the exon 3 coding sequence of the ovine LEP gene was investigated by polymerase chain reaction–single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. Five novel SSCP patterns, representing five different sequences, were identified under a combination of two different electrophoresis conditions. Either one or two different sequences were detected in individual sheep and all the sequences identified shared high homology with the LEP sequences from a variety of species, suggesting that these sequences represent alleles of the ovine LEP gene. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, and three of these resulted in amino acid changes. Variation detected here might have an impact on leptin activity and function.     

Fine-Mapping the HOXB Region Detects Common Variants Tagging a Rare Coding Allele: Evidence for Synthetic Association in Prostate Cancer

The HOXB13 gene has been implicated in prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility. We performed a high resolution fine-mapping analysis to comprehensively evaluate the association between common genetic variation across the HOXB genetic locus at 17q21 and PrCa risk. This involved genotyping 700 SNPs using a custom Illumina iSelect array (iCOGS) followed by imputation of 3195 SNPs in 20,440 PrCa cases and 21,469 controls in The PRACTICAL consortium. We identified a cluster of highly correlated common variants situated within or closely upstream of HOXB13 that were significantly associated with PrCa risk, described by rs117576373 (OR 1.30, P = 2.62×10⁻¹⁴). Additional genotyping, conditional regression and haplotype analyses indicated that the newly identified common variants tag a rare, partially correlated coding variant in the HOXB13 gene (G84E, rs138213197), which has been identified recently as a moderate penetrance PrCa susceptibility allele. The potential for GWAS associations detected through common SNPs to be driven by rare causal variants with higher relative risks has long been proposed; however, to our knowledge this is the first experimental evidence for this phenomenon of synthetic association contributing to cancer susceptibility.