Predominant monomorphism of the RIT2 and GPM6B exceptionally long GA blocks in human and enriched divergent alleles in the disease compartment

Genetica - Across human protein-coding genes, the human neuron-specific genes, RIT2 and GPM6B, contain the two longest GA short tandem repeats (STRs) of 11 and 9-repeats, respectively, the length...     

Polymorphic core promoter GA-repeats alter gene expression of the early embryonic developmental genes

Protein complexes that bind to ‘GAGA’ DNA elements are necessary to replace nucleosomes to create a local chromatin environment that facilitates a variety of site-specific regulatory responses. Three to four elements are required for the disruption of a preassembled nucleosome. We have previously identified human protein-coding gene core promoters that are composed of exceptionally long GA-repeats. The functional implication of those GA-repeats is beginning to emerge in the core promoter of the human SOX5 gene, which is involved in multiple developmental processes. In the current study, we analyze the functional implication of GA-repeats in the core promoter of two additional genes, MECOM and GABRA3, whose expression is largely limited to embryogenesis. We report a significant difference in gene expression as a result of different alleles across those core promoters in the HEK-293 cell line. Across-species homology check for the GABRA3 GA-repeats revealed that those repeats are evolutionary conserved in mouse and primates (p < 1 × 10^− 8). The MECOM core promoter GA-repeats are also conserved in numerous species, of which human has the longest repeat and complexity. We propose a novel role for GA-repeat core promoters to regulate gene expression in the genes involved in development and evolution.     

Microsatellite-containing genes from the channel catfish brain: evidence of trinucleotide repeat expansion in the coding region of nucleotide excision repair gene RAD23B.

Expansion of trinucleotide repeats within genes is well known to cause pathological conditions in humans. Here we report a large number of genes containing simple sequence repeats (SSR) from the brain of channel catfish, of which a homologue of the RAD23B gene was found to include (CCA) trinucleotide repeats within its coding region. Because of the importance of the RAD23B gene in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system, the catfish RAD23B locus was further characterized. The (ACC) repeats encode a polythreonine (T) tract within the catfish RAD23B gene that is absent from the previously cloned human and mouse genes. A survey of the allele variation at the locus indicated the existence of variable microsatellite repeats in the NER RAD23B gene, suggesting that the trinucleotide repeats are expanding or shrinking. The majority of individuals harbor 10 (ACC) repeats within the RAD23B gene, but alleles with 8 and 11 repeats were also detected. The (ACC) repeats are limited to only channel catfish and the closely related blue catfish, but are absent from flathead catfish and the cloned human and mouse genes, suggesting that the microsatellite invasion into the RAD23B gene is a recent event in evolution.     

中国人eNOS基因VNTR多态性的基因型与等位基因频率

一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）催化L－精氨酸的氧化反应生成L－瓜氨酸和一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）。NO可通过cGMP依赖的信号传导途径介导平滑肌细胞舒张,是调节血管张力的重要信使分子。NO尚可抑制血小板凝集,对血栓形成起重要调节作用。目前在哺乳动物中已发现细胞来源、表达方式和活性调节不同的3种NOS同工酶,分别为神经元型NOS（neuronal NOS,nNOS）、诱导型NOS（inducible NOS,iNOS）和内皮细胞型NOS(endothelial NOS,eNOS）。人的eNOS基因位于第7号染色体长臂（7q36）,全长约21kb,含有26个外显子和25个内含子。eNOS基因存在多个与心脑血管疾病相关的基因多态性位点。其中位于第4内含子的一个以27bp为核心的数目可变性串联重复序列（variable number of tandem repeat,VNTR）多态性位点,已被证实与原发性高血压、心肌梗死和静脉血栓形成有关。目前在我国尚缺乏NOS基因多态性在正常人群中基因型及等位基因频率分布的统计资料。为此,我们从316名健康中国人的基因组DNA检测了eNOS基因第4内含子VNTR多态性的基因型和等位基因,鉴定出重复6次、5次和4次的3种等位基因,以及6／5杂合、5／5纯合、5／4杂合和4／4纯合的4种基因型。同时我们将正常中国人eNOS基因VNTR多态性的基因型和等位基因频率与其他种族的相关资料进行了统计对比。结果表明,中国人eNOS基因VNTR的各种基因型和等位基因频率与日本人相似,4／4纯合基因型频率与高加索人差异显著,各种基因型和等位基因频率与非裔美国人均存在显著差异。     

Comparative analysis of sequence characteristics of imprinted genes in human, mouse, and cattle

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that results in monoallelic expression of genes depending on parent-of-origin of the allele. Although the conservation of genomic imprinting among mammalian species has been widely reported for many genes, there is accumulating evidence that some genes escape this conservation. Most known imprinted genes have been identified in the mouse and human, with few imprinted genes reported in cattle. Comparative analysis of genomic imprinting across mammalian species would provide a powerful tool for elucidating the mechanisms regulating the unique expression of imprinted genes. In this study we analyzed the imprinting of 22 genes in human, mouse, and cattle and found that in only 11 was imprinting conserved across the three species. In addition, we analyzed the occurrence of the sequence elements CpG islands, C + G content, tandem repeats, and retrotransposable elements in imprinted and in nonimprinted (control) cattle genes. We found that imprinted genes have a higher G + C content and more CpG islands and tandem repeats. Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) were notably fewer in number in imprinted cattle genes compared to control genes, which is in agreement with previous reports for human and mouse imprinted regions. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and long terminal repeats (LTRs) were found to be significantly underrepresented in imprinted genes compared to control genes, contrary to reports on human and mouse. Of considerable significance was the finding of highly conserved tandem repeats in nine of the genes imprinted in all three species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Patterns of evolution in the unique tRNA gene arrays of the genus Entamoeba

Genome sequencing of the protistan parasite Entamoeba histolytica HM-1:IMSS revealed that almost all the tRNA genes are organized into tandem arrays that make up over 10% of the genome. The 25 distinct array units contain up to 5 tRNA genes each and some also encode the 5S RNA. Between adjacent genes in array units are complex short tandem repeats (STRs) resembling microsatellites. To investigate the origins and evolution of this unique gene organization, we have undertaken a genome survey to determine the array unit organization in 4 other species of Entamoeba-Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba moshkovskii, Entamoeba terrapinae, and Entamoeba invadens-and have explored the STR structure in other isolates of E. histolytica. The genome surveys revealed that E. dispar has the same array unit organization as E. histolytica, including the presence and numerical variation of STRs between adjacent genes. However, the individual repeat sequences are completely different to those in E. histolytica. All other species of Entamoeba studied also have tandem arrays of clustered tRNA genes, but the gene composition of the array units often differs from that in E. histolytica/E. dispar. None of the other species' arrays exhibit the complex STRs between adjacent genes although simple tandem duplications are occasionally seen. The degree of similarity in organization reflects the phylogenetic relationships among the species studied. Within individual isolates of E. histolytica most copies of the array unit are uniform in sequence with only minor variation in the number and organization of the STRs. Between isolates, however, substantial differences in STR number and organization can exist although the individual repeat sequences tend to be conserved. The origin of this unique gene organization in the genus Entamoeba clearly predates the common ancestor of the species investigated to date and their function remains unclear.     

PCR analysis of four length-polymorphic loci in Korean population for genotyping

On human chromosomes, a short sequence of DNA is known to repeat a number of times. These repeats are called variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) or short tandem repeat (STR) which has a short repeat core. VNTR and STR are used in the field of forensic science, evolution, and anthropology. In this work, we examined allele frequencies of one VNTR (YNZ22) and three STRs (NeuR, D21S11, Humth01) in a Korean population sample by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with silver stain. Subsequently, the polymorphism information content (PIC) was calculated: the highest PIC was observed in the NeuR locus (0.95680) and lowest in the Humth01 locus (0.75809).     

Protein factors specifically binding to the regulatory elements of non-transcribed spacer of rat ribosomal genes

Mouse, rat and human protein factors recognizing regulatory elements of nontranscribed spacer of rat ribosomal genes were studied by gel retardation assay. Protein factors bind specifically to the DNA fragments containing the core promoter sequence of RNA-polymerase I, to "spacer" promoter and to a putative enhancer sequence. Factors of mouse, rat and human nuclear extracts that recognize the region containing the core promoter sequence have similar molecular masses and are not identical to the previously described protein factor TIF-1B. Two factors that bind the "spacer" promoter region differ from the factors of the core promoter. "Spacer" promoter factors of mouse and rat nuclear extracts are probably identical, but differ from those of human extract. Protein factors, recognizing the putative enhancer region of rat and human extracts are alike but were not detected in mouse extract. Regions of nontranscribed spacer containing dispersed and tandem repeats do not bind any specific protein factors.