Destabilizing Protein Polymorphisms in the Genetic Background Direct Phenotypic Expression of Mutant SOD1 Toxicity

Genetic background exerts a strong modulatory effect on the toxicity of aggregation-prone proteins in conformational diseases. In addition to influencing the misfolding and aggregation behavior of the mutant proteins, polymorphisms in putative modifier genes may affect the molecular processes leading to the disease phenotype. Mutations in SOD1 in a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases confer dominant but clinically variable toxicity, thought to be mediated by misfolding and aggregation of mutant SOD1 protein. While the mechanism of toxicity remains unknown, both the nature of the SOD1 mutation and the genetic background in which it is expressed appear important. To address this, we established a Caenorhabditis elegans model to systematically examine the aggregation behavior and genetic interactions of mutant forms of SOD1. Expression of three structurally distinct SOD1 mutants in C. elegans muscle cells resulted in the appearance of heterogeneous populations of aggregates and was associated with only mild cellular dysfunction. However, introduction of destabilizing temperature-sensitive mutations into the genetic background strongly enhanced the toxicity of SOD1 mutants, resulting in exposure of several deleterious phenotypes at permissive conditions in a manner dependent on the specific SOD1 mutation. The nature of the observed phenotype was dependent on the temperature-sensitive mutation present, while its penetrance reflected the specific combination of temperature-sensitive and SOD1 mutations. Thus, the specific toxic phenotypes of conformational disease may not be simply due to misfolding/aggregation toxicity of the causative mutant proteins, but may be defined by their genetic interactions with cellular pathways harboring mildly destabilizing missense alleles.     

Association of GNLY Genetic Polymorphisms with Chronic Liver Disease in a Korean Population

Granulysin (GNLY) is found in cytotoxic granules of cytolytic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, which are critical for hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance. GNLY cytotoxicity plays an important role in the defense against viruses or intracellular bacteria. We hypothesized that genetic variation in the GNLY gene could affect the resistance of hosts against HBV infection. We compared the distribution frequencies of GNLY polymorphisms between an HBV-induced chronic liver disease (CLD) group and a spontaneous recovery (SR) control group to determine whether GNLY polymorphisms play a role in HBV clearance. A total of 117 patients in the SR group and 230 patients in the CLD group were enrolled. Samples derived from complex infections, including hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus, and those associated with insufficient clinical information (10 samples in SR and 24 samples in CLD) were excluded from the study. The final analysis included 107 SR and 206 CLD samples. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and GNLY genotypes were determined by the GoldenGate(?) method. The genotype distribution of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2886767 (C>T), rs1561285 (G>C), and rs11127 (T>C) were significantly different between the SR and CLD groups in a recessive model (p<0.015). These three SNPs were in a complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) block. Diplotype distributions of haplotype (HT) 1 (C-G-T) and HT2 (T-C-C) were significantly different between the SR and CLD groups in a recessive model (p=0.025) and a dominant model (p=0.008). All p-values remained significant after multiple comparisons. GNLY polymorphism genotypes and diplotypes were associated with the chronicity of HBV. These data suggested that genetic variation of GNLY may be an important factor in HBV clearance through the CD8+ T or NK cell-mediated removal of HBV-infected cells from the host.     

Evaluation of Genetic Polymorphisms in Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Objective

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic medical condition characterized by symptoms that the affect an individual’s response to low-level chemical exposure. In this study, we identified a chemical sensitive population (CSP) and investigated the effect of genetic polymorphisms on their risk of chemical sensitivity.

Methods

A quick environment exposure sensitivity (QEESI) questionnaire was used to survey 324 Japanese male workers whose DNA samples had been collected and stored. The following genes, which encode enzymes affecting the metabolic activation of a large number of xenobiotic compounds, were selected and analyzed in order to determine their influence on genetic predisposition to CSP: cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1, N-acetyl transferase (NAT) 2, glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, GSTT1, GSTP1, low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2.

Results

Significant case-control distributed differences were observed in SOD2 polymorphisms and allele frequency distribution in high chemical sensitive subjects. Both the significant adjusted OR of 4.30 (95% CI, 1.23–15.03) and 4.53 (95% CI, 1.52-13.51) were observed in SOD2 Ala/Ala and Val/Ala compared to Val/Val and in SOD2 Ala/Ala compared to Val/Ala compared to Val/Val genetic analysis in the high chemical sensitivity case-control study.

Conclusions

We observed that high chemical sensitive individuals diagnosed by using Japanese criteria as MCS patients were more significantly associated with SOD2 polymorphisms.     

Genetic studies with Japanese quail

Summary An inbreeding study and two selection experiments with Japanese quail are reported which have been conducted on a comparative basis with similar work in chickens.Japanese quail exhibit pronounced inbreeding depression of reproductive traits such as egg production, fertility, hatchability and viability. Compared to the domestic fowl, the quail populations were found to show three times more damage from inbreeding for their entire reproductive cycle. These findings raise some questions concerning the history of the quail's domestication, and the breeding techniques required for developing highly inbred laboratory populations of that species.Selection experiments for high body weight at 6 weeks of age have shown response patterns comparable to those found in chicken populations. Inbreeding effects have tended to obscure some of the genetic gains in egg number which could be demonstrated only in appropriate comparisons with control populations.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über einen Inzuchtversuch und zwei Selektionsexperimente mit Japanischen Wachteln berichtet, die zum Vergleich mit ähnlichen Arbeiten mit Hühnern durchgeführt wurden.Die Japanische Wachtel zeigt bei reproduktiven Eigenschaften, wie Eiproduktion, Fertilität, Schlüpfen und Vitalität ausgesprochene Inzuchtdepression. Im Vergleich mit dem Haushuhn ergab sich, daß Wachtelpopulationen in ihrem gesamten Reproduktionszyklus dreifach höhere Inzuchtschäden aufwiesen. Diese Feststellungen werfen einige Fragen bezüglich der Geschichte der Domestikation und bezüglich der Zuchtmethoden auf, die angewendet werden müssen, um stark ingezüchtete Laborpopulationen dieser Art zu entwickeln.Selektionen auf hohes Körpergewicht im Alter von 6 Wochen brachten vergleichbare Werte mit bei Hühnerpopulationen gefundenen Ergebnissen. Durch Inzuchtwirkungen wurden z. T. genetisch bedingte Steigerungen der Eizahl verschleiert, die nur durch geeignete Vergleiche mit Kontrollpopulationen aufgezeigt werden konnten.

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Dedicated to Professor Hans Stubbe on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.     

Allele Frequency of Inosine Triphosphate Pyrophosphatase Gene Polymorphisms in a Japanese Population

The enzyme inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) catalyses the pyrophosphohydrolysis of ITP to IMP. ITPase deficiency is a clinically benign autosomal recessive condition characterised by the abnormal accumulation of ITP in erythrocytes. A deficiency of ITPase may predict adverse reactions to therapy with the thiopurine drug 6‐mercaptopurine and its prodrug azathioprine. In this study, we examine the frequencies of ITPA polymorphisms in 100 healthy Japanese individuals. The allele frequency of the 94C > A variant in the Japanese sample was 0.135 (Caucasian allele frequency 0.06). The IV2 + 21A > C polymorphism was not found in Japanese (Caucasian allele frequency 0.130). Allele frequencies of the 138G > A, 561G > A and 708G > A polymorphisms were 0.57, 0.18 and 0.06 respectively in the Japanese population, and with the exception of the 138G > A polymorphism, similar to allele frequencies in Caucasians.     

Association of the Genetic Polymorphisms in Pre-MicroRNAs with Risk of Ischemic Stroke in a Chinese Population

microRNA (miRNA) plays a role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNA genes may contribute to disease susceptibility. However, the effect of miR-146a, miR-196a2, and miR-499 polymorphisms on ischemic stroke susceptibility has been rarely reported. Using the TaqMan assay, we evaluated the association of hsa-miR-146a/rs2910164, hsa-miR-196a2/rs11614913, and hsa-miR-499/rs3746444 polymorphisms with the risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population with 531 ischemic stroke patients and 531 control subjects. Rs2910164 C/G genotypes were significantly associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke in different genetic model (homozygote comparison: OR = 2.00, 95% CI, 1.29–3.12, P = 0.002; additive model: OR = 1.35, 95% CI, 1.10–1.65, P = 0.004;dominant model: OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.00–1.75, P = 0.049; recessive model: OR = 1.82, 95% CI, 1.20–2.74, P = 0.004). Subjects with allele G of hsa-miR-146a/ rs2910164 also showed increased risk of ischemic stroke (OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.09–1.62, P = 0.005). Stratification analysis showed that the association between rs2910164 and the risk of ischemic stroke was more pronounced in subjects over 60 years old, females, non-drinkers, subjects without hypertension or diabetes mellitus. There were significant combined effects between miR-146a/rs2910164 and fasting glucose/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels on ischemic stroke susceptibility. However, we failed to find any association between the alleles/genotypes of rs11614913 T/C and ischemic stroke, respectively (P> 0.05). In summary, this study provides evidence that miR-146a/rs2910164 might be associated with a significantly increased risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population, and the combined effects between miRNA polymorphism and fasting glucose /blood lipid levels may contribute to stroke pathogenesis.     

猪IGF-I基因的一个遗传多态性及其遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法对长白猪（87头）、大白猪（79头）和马身猪（102头）的胰岛素样生长因子-I（IGF-I）基因exon3和exon4分别进行单核苷酸多态性分析。发现exon3上有多态性,且存在3种基因型（AA、AB、BB）。统计结果表明,3种基因型在各品种中的分布不一致,多重比较差异极显著（P<0.01）。固定效应模型分析结果表明,背膘厚基因型间差异显著（P<0.05）,而初生重、断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著（P>0.05）。最小二乘分析结果表明,BB基因型与其它2种基因型比较有较大的初生重,同AA和AB型比较差异极显著（P<0.01）,3种基因型在初生重的大小排列顺序为AA相似文献   

Candidate Human Genetic Polymorphisms and Severe Malaria in a Tanzanian Population

Human genetic background strongly influences susceptibility to malaria infection and progression to severe disease and death. Classical genetic studies identified haemoglobinopathies and erythrocyte-associated polymorphisms, as protective against severe disease. High throughput genotyping by mass spectrometry allows multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to be examined simultaneously. We compared the prevalence of 65 human SNP''s, previously associated with altered risk of malaria, between Tanzanian children with and without severe malaria. Five hundred children, aged 1–10 years, with severe malaria were recruited from those admitted to hospital in Muheza, Tanzania and compared with matched controls. Genotyping was performed by Sequenom MassArray, and conventional PCR was used to detect deletions in the alpha-thalassaemia gene. SNPs in two X-linked genes were associated with altered risk of severe malaria in females but not in males: heterozygosity for one or other of two SNPs in the G6PD gene was associated with protection from all forms of severe disease whilst two SNPs in the gene encoding CD40L were associated with respiratory distress. A SNP in the adenyl cyclase 9 (ADCY9) gene was associated with protection from acidosis whilst a polymorphism in the IL-1α gene (IL1A) was associated with an increased risk of acidosis. SNPs in the genes encoding IL-13 and reticulon-3 (RTN3) were associated with increased risk of cerebral malaria. This study confirms previously known genetic associations with protection from severe malaria (HbS, G6PD). It identifies two X-linked genes associated with altered risk of severe malaria in females, identifies mutations in ADCY9, IL1A and CD40L as being associated with altered risk of severe respiratory distress and acidosis, both of which are characterised by high serum lactate levels, and also identifies novel genetic associations with severe malaria (TRIM5) and cerebral malaria(IL-13 and RTN3). Further studies are required to test the generality of these associations and to understand their functional consequences.     

Genetic Associations with Diabetes: Meta-Analyses of 10 Candidate Polymorphisms

Aims

The goal of our study is to investigate the combined contribution of 10 genetic variants to diabetes susceptibility.

Methods

Bibliographic databases were searched from 1970 to Dec 2012 for studies that reported on genetic association study of diabetes. After a comprehensive filtering procedure, 10 candidate gene variants with informative genotype information were collected for the current meta-anlayses. Using the REVMAN software, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the combined contribution of the selected genetic variants to diabetes.

Results

A total of 37 articles among 37,033 cases and 54,716 controls were involved in the present meta-analyses of 10 genetic variants. Three variants were found to be significantly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D): NLRP1 rs12150220 (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.92, P = 0.01), IL2RA rs11594656 (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.82–0.91, P<0.00001), and CLEC16A rs725613 (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.92, P = 0.01). APOA5 −1131T/C polymorphism was shown to be significantly associated with of type 2 diabetes (T2D, OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.03–1.57, P = 0.03). No association with diabetes was showed in the meta-analyses of other six genetic variants, including SLC2A10 rs2335491, ATF6 rs2070150, KLF11 rs35927125, CASQ1 rs2275703, GNB3 C825T, and IL12B 1188A/C.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that IL2RA rs11594656 and CLEC16A rs725613 are protective factors of T1D, while NLRP1 rs12150220 and APOA5 −1131T/C are risky factors of T1D and T2D, respectively.     

Genetic polymorphism of haptoglobin subtypes in a Japanese population

Haptoglobin (Hp) subtypes have been determined in the Japanese population by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting and by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the present study, neuraminidase-treated plasma samples were used for subtyping of Hp, without prior purification. These samples were obtained from 372 unrelated healthy donors. Allelic frequencies were: Hp*1F = 0.0014; Hp*1S+ = 0.2688; Hp*2FF = 0.0000; Hp*2FS = 0.7284, and Hp*2SS = 0.0014. The phenotypic distribution was in good accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.     

Genetic polymorphism of PIF proteins in a Japanese population

Phenotype and gene frequencies of PIF (parotid isoelectric focusing variant) were determined in a series of individuals from eastern Japan. Among 422 unrelated individuals examined, 391 (92.66%) of PIF+ and 31 (7.34%) of PIF- phenotypes were observed; the gene frequencies were PIF+ = 0.729 and PIF- = 0.271.     

猪H-FABP基因多态性与肌内脂肪含量的关联分析

以山西白猪为实验材料,采用索氏脂肪抽提法对其背最长肌的肌内脂肪含量进行了测定。根据心脏脂肪酸结合蛋白(heart fatty acid-binding protein,H-FABP)基因的PCR-RFLP多态性,应用SPSS软件,用最小二乘法拟合一般线性模型(GLM)分析了H-FABP基因的不同位点的基因型对肌内脂肪含量的影响。结果表明,基因型hh、dd、BB对肌内脂肪含量影响的效应值最大。证明H-FABP基因可以作为肌内脂肪含量的侯选基因。     

华山新麦草自然居群的遗传结构和种内遗传多态性研究

华山新麦草为我国特有种,公分布在陕西华山,应用5种酶系统共13个基因位点对采自华山13个亚居群的华山新麦草进行等位酶分析,研究结果发现,多态性位点的比例（P）为69％,个位点等位基因的平均数（A）为1．8,平均每个位点的预期杂合性（He)为0．344,Simpson指数为0．998,证明华山新麦草居群内有较高的遗传多态性和克隆多样性,固定指数（F）显示有意义的负值（－0．252),预期的随机交配相比较,居群内有过多的杂合体,这可能与华山新麦草的交酸系统和繁育方式有关,平均的遗传距离为0．046（变化范围：0－0．139）,大约有91％的遗传变异存在于亚居群内,应用间接法测得华山新麦草自然居群间的基因流（Nm)为2．77,明显你于一般风媒传粉植物（5．24）,暗示华山新麦草自然居群的基因流水平似乎正处于一种临界状太,有进一步分化的潜能,但受多种因素的影响。     

Analysis of Human Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms in the Japanese Population

The highly polymorphic nature and high amplification efficiency of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is valuable for the analysis of biological evidence in forensic casework, such as the identification of individuals and assignment of race/ethnicity. To be useful, a mtDNA polymorphism database for the Japanese population requires an understanding of the range of haplotype variation and phylogenies of mtDNA sequences. To extend current knowledge on the haplotypes in the Japanese population, this study defines new lineages and provides more detail about some of those previously described. We compared the hypervariable regions (HVRs) of 270 healthy, unrelated Japanese individuals and demonstrated 192 haplotypes. Combining HVR1 and HVR2, the genetic diversity was 0.9935, thus providing a high level of identification capability. Haplogroup status was defined for 160 individuals using HVR1, HVR2, and particular coding region polymorphisms; these individuals belonged to 94 haplotypes, four of which were new lineages. The complete mtDNA sequence was also determined from seven individuals.     

中国汉族人群DNA酶I基因多态性与不稳定性心绞痛的关系

目的：探讨脱氧核糖核酸酶（IDNA酶I）基因多态性与汉族人群不稳定性心绞痛（unstable angina pectoris,UAP）易感性的关系。方法：以196例UAP患者为病例组,排除冠心病的297例体检者为对照组,应用PCR及PCR-限制性片段长度多态（PCR-RFLP）分析DNA酶I基因8外显子单核苷酸多态位点A2317G及4内含子56bp可变串联重复序列（HumDN1）多态性;协方差分析A2317G、HumDN1各基因型与UAP患者血脂的关系,将年龄、性别、高血压、糖尿病及吸烟作为协变量;x2检验分析UAP患者冠脉血管病变支数与DNA酶I基因型的关系。结果：UAP组与对照组A2317G、HumDN1各基因型及等位基因分布无明显统计学差异（P〉0.05）,两组DNA酶I单体型分布亦无差异。UAP患者DNA酶I各基因型血脂水平、冠脉血管病变支数的差异无明显统计学意义,所有P值均〉0.05。结论：DNA酶I基因多态性与中国汉族人群不稳定心绞痛及其血脂水平无明显相关性。     

Genetic analysis of thiopurine methyltransferase polymorphism in a Japanese population

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyses the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, and azathiopurine. Several mutations in the TPMT gene have been identified which correlate with a low activity phenotype. The molecular basis for the genetic polymorphism of TPMT has been established for European Caucasians, African-Americans, Southwest Asians and Chinese, but it remains to be elucidated in Japanese populations. The frequency of the four allelic variants of the TPMT gene, TPMT*2 (G238C), TPMT*3A (G460A and A719G), TPMT*3B (G460A) and TPMT*3C (A719G) were determined in Japanese samples (n=192) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP and allele-specific PCR-based assays. TPMT*3C was found in 0.8% of the samples (three heterozygotes). The TPMT*2, TPMT*3A and TPMT*3B alleles were not detected in any of the samples analyzed. This study provides the first analysis of TPMT mutant allele frequency in a sample of Japanese population and indicates that TPMT*3C is the most common allele in Japanese subjects.     

多巴胺转运体基因多态性与癌症患者性别关系研究

目的:探讨多巴胺转运体基因(DAT1)多态性与新疆汉族癌症患者性别的关系.方法:采用聚合酶链式反应和VNTR多态性分析技术对新疆汉族癌症患者DAT1多态性进行检测,比较各组间等位基因和基因型频率分布的差异及组内男女性别等位基因和基因型频率分布的差异.结果:在213例无关癌症人群个体中,DATI VNTR多态性表现出6～12倍重复的7种等位基因,共检出7种基因型.男女癌症患者的DATl VNTR等位基因及基因型频率的差异均无显著性(P>0.05).结论:多巴胺转运体基因(DAT1)3'端40bp可变串联重复多态性可能与汉族癌症患者的性别无关.     

河南汉族群体短串联重复vWA遗传多态性研究

研究人类短串联重复序列vWA在河南汉族人群中遗传多态性,探讨该基因座在法医学和基因诊断中的应用的可能性;同时和中国成都人群、美国黑人、高加索人群、西班牙人群、西班牙南方人群的vWA遗传多态性进行比较,以期了解该基因座在人种、地域上是否有差异。采集河南地区无血缘关系汉族个体血样,应用Chelex法提取DNA,聚合酶链式反应扩增,非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分型,χ2检验。得到vWA在河南汉族群体中的基因频率,有8个等位基因,24个基因型,杂合度为0.80,个体识别率为0.84,非父排除率为0.61;河南汉族人群和中国成都人群vWA遗传多态性无显著性差异（χ2=9.6, P＞0.05）,而与美国黑人群（χ2=118,48,P＜0.05）、高加索人群（χ2=45.48,P＜0.05）、西班牙人群（χ2=86.87,P＜0.05）、西班牙南方人群（χ2=85.68,P＜0.05）均有显著性差异。说明该基因座多态性较好,分布符合Hardy-Weinberg 平衡,可以用于个体识别和亲权鉴定。同时也说明河南汉族人群具有一定的代表性,其群体遗传特征的调查研究对群体遗传学和人类学有着重要意义。 Genetic Polymorphisms of Human Short Tandem Repeat vWA LI Yi,HAO Bing-tao,YANG Yan-li,ZHU Wen-yu,SI Yan-mei,WANG Ying-tai (Genetics Department,the People`s Hospital of Henan Province,Zhengzhou 450003,China) Abstract:We researched the genetic polymorphisms of vWA in Henan population and its usfulness in forensic science.DNA extracted from non-relative persons in Henan population with Chelex was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and was typed by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis silver staining.A total of 8 alleles and 19 genotypes were found in Henan population,its heterozygosity is high and the locus can be used in forensic genetics.We obtained the allelic frequency of the locus vWA in Henan population.The results of amniotic fluid,villus,blood stain indicate vWA is a good locus for forensic study. Key words：polymorphism; short tandem repeats; polymerase chain reaction; vWA     

Enzyme and Chromosome Polymorphisms in Japanese Natural Populations of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Collections of D. melanogaster from Japanese populations were analyzed for enzyme and chromosomal polymorphisms. Allelic frequencies at the Adh and alphaGpd loci were compared with polymorphic inversion (In(2L)B, In(2R)C) frequencies in the second chromosome. There was a significant positive correlation between the frequencies of AdhS and In(2L)B, caused by linkage. On the other hand, inversion-free cage populations maintained in the laboratory for a long time showed considerably larger variation in the frequencies of these enzyme alleles, which seem very likely to be a consequence of random drift. Two fitness components of these enzyme and chromosomal variants were measured in two different environmental conditions; neither of the two loci showed heterozygote superiority in viability or productivity, while the inversion heterozygotes showed a superior productivity compared to the corresponding homozygotes in the fluctuating environment. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that polymorphic isozyme genes are maintained by random drift of neutral genes in natural populations, and that association with linked inversions is a historical accident.