The relation between mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and different genes expression in patients with beta Thalassemia

Backgroundβ-thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy resulting in quantitative changes in the β-globin chain. Understanding the molecular basis of that disorder requires studying the expression of genes controlling the pathways that affect the erythropoietic homeostasis especially the MAPK pathway. The MAPKs are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play an essential role in connecting cell-surface receptors to DNA in the nucleus of the cell.Aimto study the effect of expression of GNAI2, DUSP5 and ARRB1 genes on MAPK signaling pathway in pediatric patients with beta thalassemia.MethodsForty children with beta thalassemia major (TM), forty children with beta thalassemia intermedia (TI) and forty age and gender matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Detection of GNAI2, DUSP5 and ARRB1 mRNA expression was done by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Resultsrevealed increased expression of ARRB1 (Arrestin Beta 1) gene, and decreased expression of both GNAI2 (Guanine nucleotide-binding protein G (i) subunit alpha-2) and DUSP5 (Dual specificity protein phosphatase 5) genes in both patient groups than control groups respectively.ConclusionsChange in the rate of expression of ARRB1, GNAI2 and DUSP5 may have a role in the pathogenesis of abnormal hematopoiesis in cases of β thalassemia through affecting the MAPK pathway.     

A molecular approach to optimize hIFN α2b expression and secretion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis>

In this work, we investigated the effect of codon bias and consensus sequence (CACA) at the translation initiation site on the expression level of heterologous proteins in Yarrowia lipolytica; human interferon alpha 2b (hIFN-α2b) was studied as an example. A codon optimized hIFN-α2b gene was synthesized according to the frequency of codon usage in Y. lipolytica. Both wild-type (IFN-wt) and optimized hIFN-α2b (IFN-op) genes were expressed under the control of a strong inducible promoter acyl-co-enzyme A oxidase (POX2). Protein secretion was directed by the targeting sequence of the extracellular lipase (LIP2): pre–proLIP2. Codon optimization increased protein production by 11-fold, whereas the insertion of CACA sequence upstream of the initiation codon of IFN-op construct resulted in 16.5-fold increase of the expression level; this indicates that translational efficiency plays an important part in the increase of hIFN-α2b production level. The replacement of the pre–proLIP2 signal secretion with the LIP2 pre-region sequence followed by the X-Ala/X-Pro stretch but without the pro-region also increased the secretion of the target protein by twofold, suggesting therefore that the LIP2 pro-region is not necessary for extracellular secretion of small heterologous proteins in Yarrowia lipolytica.     

Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis SPB1 Lipopeptide Biosurfactant Toxicity Towards Mice

The in vivo potential toxicity of SPB1 lipopeptide biosurfactant towards male mice was evaluated. An LD50 value (defined as the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population) was determined to be about 475 mg/kg. Results show that daily administration of SPB1 biosurfactant did not show any death cases at any dose. Also, no unusual changes in behavior and no intoxication were observed during the 28 days period of treatment. Analysis proved that there were no significant differences in the serum glucose concentration levels, plasma total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase activity and bilirubin concentration among the control and experimental groups. In contrast, a little enhancement of alanine aminotransferase activities was observed for mice treated by the highest dose of the biosurfactant corresponding to 47.5 mg/kg of body weight which indicated the necrosis of hepatocyte. A daily intake of doses lower than 47.5 mg/kg of body weight had no significant adverse effect on hematological parameters and serum biochemical data. These results proved that SPB1 biosurfactant could be of a great interest as an additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceuticals fields.     

Physiological and biochemical studies on nitrogen fixing blue-green algae

Summary Experiments were made to investigate the influence exerted by calcium, strontium, cobalt and molybdenum on the growth and nitrogen fixation of a local strain of Nostoc commune.Calcium, cobalt and molybdenum at least in micro amounts were found to be required for the achievement of best growth and highest nitrogen fixation.Calcium seems to be irreplaceable by strontium, the latter element exerted a strong inhibitory action on both growth and nitrogen fixation processes.