The absolute frequency of labeled N-6-methyladenosine in HeLa cell messenger RNA decreases with label time

When HeLa cells were labeled with either [³H]adenosine or H₃³²PO₄, the absolute frequency of m⁶A (N-6-methyladenosine) decreased 2 to 2.5-fold between a short and long label. The frequency of caps (m⁷GpppXmpYp) remained constant at a level which suggests that most if not all mRNAs are capped in either a short or a long label. Since the inhibition of heterogeneous nuclear RNA synthesis with either actinomycin D or 5,6-dichloro-I-β-d-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole halted the labeling of both m⁶A and caps within 10 to 15 minutes and no direct cytoplasmic addition of m⁶A could be detected, m⁶A must be lost faster than caps from the cytoplasmic mRNA. This preferential loss could be due to one or more of the following: (1) a m⁶A demethylase; (2) excision of m⁶A containing sequences followed by splicing of the remaining parts of the mRNA; or (3) a minority of the mRNA with a high frequency of m⁶A leaving the cytoplasmic compartment rapidly, presumably by being degraded.     

NADPH oxidase is involved in protein kinase CKII down-regulation-mediated senescence through elevation of the level of reactive oxygen species in human colon cancer cells

We have shown that protein kinase CKII (CKII) inhibition induces senescence through the p53-dependent pathway in HCT116 cells. Here we examined the molecular mechanism through which CKII inhibition activates p53 in HCT116 cells. CKII inhibition by treatment with CKII inhibitor or CKIIα small-interfering RNA (siRNA) increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion levels. These effects were significantly blocked by pretreatment of cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Additionally, NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor apocynin and p22^phox siRNA significantly reduced p53 expression and suppressed the appearance of senescence markers. CKII inhibition did not affect mitochondrial superoxide generation. These data demonstrate that CKII inhibition induces superoxide anion generation via NOX activation, and subsequent superoxide-dependent activation of p53 acts as a mediator of senescence in HCT116 cells after down-regulation of CKII.     

Molecular characterization of MHC-DRB cDNA in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

In the present study, water buffalo MHC (Bubu)-DRB cDNA was cloned and characterized. The 1022 base long-amplified cDNA product encompassed a single open reading frame of 801 bases that coded for 266 amino acids. The Bubu-DRB sequence showed maximum homology with the BoLA-DRB3*0101 allele of cattle. A total of seven amino acid residues were found to be unique for the Bubu-DRB sequence. The majority of amino acid substitutions was observed in the β(1) domain. Residues associated with important functions were mostly conserved. Water buffalo DRB was phylogenetically closer to goat DRB*A.     

Identification of MhcMafa-DRB Alleles in a Cohort of Cynomolgus Macaques of Vietnamese Origin

Cynomolgus macaques have been used widely to build a research model of infectious and chronic diseases, as well as in transplantation studies, where disease susceptibility and/or resistance are associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). To better elucidate polymorphisms and genetic differences in the Mafa‐DRB locus, and facilitate the experimental use of cynomolgus macaques, we used pool screening combined with cloning and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products to characterize MhcMafa‐DRB gene alleles in 153 Vietnamese cynomolgus macaques. We identified 30 Mafa‐DRB alleles belonging to 17 allelic lineages, including four novel sequences that had not been documented in earlier reports. The highest frequency allele was Mafa‐DRB*W27:04, which was present in 7 of 35 (20%) monkeys. The next most frequent alleles were Mafa‐DRB*3:07 and Mafa‐DRB*W7:01, which were detected in 5 of 35 (14.3%) and 4 of 35 (11.4%) of the monkeys, respectively. The high‐frequency alleles in this Vietnamese population may be high priority targets for additional characterization of immune functions. Only the DRB1*03 and DRB1*10 lineages were also present in humans, whereas the remaining alleles were monkey‐specific lineages. We found 25 variable sites by aligning the deduced amino acid sequences of 29 identified alleles. Evolutionary and population analyses based on these sequences showed that human, rhesus, and cynomolgus macaques share several Mhc‐DRB lineages and the shared polymorphisms in the DRB region may be attributable to the existence of interbreeding between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. This information will promote the understanding of MHC diversity and polymorphism in cynomolgus macaques and increase the value of this species as a model for biomedical research. Am. J. Primatol. 74:958‐966, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

长江江豚MHC-DRB基因第二外显子的分离鉴定

主要组织相容性复合体(Major histocompatibility complex,MHC)在脊椎动物的免疫系统中起着重要的作用,常作为适应性遗传标记应用于保护遗传学研究.长江江豚(Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)是惟一生活于淡水环境中的江豚种群,且已处于濒危状况.为了开发适用于长江江豚保护遗传学研究的MHC遗传标记,首次采用北象海豹(Mirounga angustirostris)的一对DRB基因引物对长江江豚的基因组进行扩增,从5个个体中成功扩增并测序得到5条MHC DRB基因第二外显子188 bp的核苷酸序列.BLAST结果表明这5条DRB特异序列与Gen-Bank中白鲸(Delphinapterus leucas)的DRB2序列具有较高的同源性,从而证实得到了预期扩增位点.进一步分析发现:这5条序列在4个核苷酸位点上产生替代,翻译后氨基酸序列在3个位点上发生替代;均具有完整的开放阅读框;且核苷酸的非同义替代率远远高于同义替代率;此外,从同一个体分离到两种以上不同DRB核苷酸序列,暗示着长江江豚在DRB座位上可能存在基因重复现象.初步分析结果表明长江江豚的DRB基因具有核苷酸多态性和氨基酸多态性及潜在功能性,并经受着强烈的自然选择.因此,该DRB座位可以作为适应性遗传标记进一步用于长江江豚遗传多样性以及种群适应能力评估等保护遗传学研究.     

Sequence variability analysis on major histocompatibility complex class II DRB alleles in three felines

The variation of the exon 2 of the major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) class II gene DRB locus in three feline species were examined on clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), leopard (Panthera pardus) and Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). A pair of degenerated primers was used to amplify DRB locus covering almost the whole exon 2. Exon 2 encodes the β1 domain which is the most variable fragments of the MHC class II molecule. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was applied to detect different MHC class II DRB haplotypes. Fifteen recombinant plasmids for each individual were screened out, isolated, purified and sequenced finally. Totally eight distinct haplotypes of exon 2 were obtained in four individuals. Within 237 bp nucleotide sequences from four samples, 30 variable positions were found, and 21 putative peptide-binding positions were disclosed in 79 amino acid residues. The ratio of nonsynonymous substitutions (d _N ) was much higher than that of synonymous substitutions (d _S ), which indicated that balancing selection probably maintain the variation of exon 2. MEGA neighbor joining (NJ) and PAUP maximum parsimony (MP) methods were used to reconstruct phylogenetic trees among species, respectively. Results displayed a more close relationship between leopard and tiger; however, clouded leopard has a comparatively distant relationship form the other two. __________ Translated from Zoological Research, 2006, 27(2): 181-C188 [译自:动物学研究]     

Multiple parasites mediate balancing selection at two MHC class II genes in the fossorial water vole: insights from multivariate analyses and population genetics

We investigated the factors mediating selection acting on two MHC class II genes (DQA and DRB) in water vole (Arvicola scherman) natural populations in the French Jura Mountains. Population genetics showed significant homogeneity in allelic frequencies at the DQA1 locus as opposed to neutral markers (nine microsatellites), indicating balancing selection acting on this gene. Moreover, almost exhaustive screening for parasites, including gastrointestinal helminths, brain coccidia and antibodies against viruses responsible for zoonoses, was carried out. We applied a co-inertia approach to the genetic and parasitological data sets to avoid statistical problems related to multiple testing. Two alleles, Arte-DRB-11 and Arte-DRB-15, displayed antagonistic associations with the nematode Trichuris arvicolae, revealing the potential parasite-mediated selection acting on DRB locus. Selection mechanisms acting on the two MHC class II genes thus appeared different. Moreover, overdominance as balancing selection mechanism was showed highly unlikely in this system.