两种等位基因特异性扩增方法在结肠癌K-ras癌基因点突变检测中的应用比较

针对传统电泳检测方法存在操作复杂、费时等缺点,提出一种用于检测K-ras癌基因点突变的实时荧光等位基因特异性扩增（Allele specific amplification,ASA）方法。该法采用突变型引物对结肠癌基因组中的K-ras基因进行等位基因特异性扩增,只有突变型样品能被顺利扩增出双链DNA产物,该产物能与双链DNA染料SYBR GreenⅠ结合,产生荧光信号从而被检测到。通过对荧光域值和溶解曲线分析来区分不同的基因突变类型。该法可以检测到野生型DNA中含量为1/1 000的突变型DNA,整个检测时间小于1 h。我们用该法检测31例结肠癌样品中K-ras基因密码子12发生的点突变,其中有15例检出为阳性。此外,还采用等位基因特异性扩增结合电泳分析对样品进行了检测,并对两种方法进行了比较。结果显示：实时荧光等位基因特异性扩增方法具有操作简便、快速、检测成本低等优点,为临床诊断基因突变引起的疾病提供了一种可行的手段。     

Functional Study of One Nucleotide Mutation in Pri-MiR-125a Coding Region which Related to Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs which modulate gene expression by binding to complementary segments present in the 3′UTR of the mRNAs of protein coding genes. MiRNAs play very important roles in maintaining normal human body physiology conditions, meanwhile, abnormal miRNA expressions have been found related to many human diseases spanning from psychiatric disorders to malignant cancers. Recently, emerging reports have indicated that disturbed miRNAs expression contributed to the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). In this study, we identified a new mutation site (+29A>G, position relative to pre-miR-125a) by scanning pri-miR-125a coding region in 389 Chinese Han RPL patients. This site was co-existed with two polymorphisms (rs12976445 and rs41275794) in patients heterogeneously and changed the predicted secondary structures of pri-miR-125a. Subsequent in vitro analysis indicated that the A>G mutation reduced mature miR-125a expression, and further led to less efficient inhibition of verified target genes. Functional analysis showed that mutant pri-mir-125a can enhance endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) invasive capacity and increase the sensitivity of ESCs cells to mifepristone. Moreover, we further analyzed the possible molecular mechanism by RIP-chip assay and found that mutant pri-mir-125a disturbed the expression of miR-125a targetome, the functions of which includes embryonic development, cell proliferation, migration and invasion. These data suggest that A>G mutation in pri-miR-125a coding region contributes to the genetic predisposition to RPL by disordering the production of miR-125a, which consequently meddled in gene regulatory network between mir-125a and mRNA.     

GCP5 and GCP6: Two New Members of the Human γ-Tubulin Complex

The gamma-tubulin complex is a large multiprotein complex that is required for microtubule nucleation at the centrosome. Here we report the purification and characterization of the human gamma-tubulin complex and the identification of its subunits. The human gamma-tubulin complex is a ring of ~25 nm, has a subunit structure similar to that reported for gamma-tubulin complexes from other species, and is able to nucleate microtubule polymerization in vitro. Mass spectrometry analysis of the human gamma-tubulin complex components confirmed the presence of four previously identified components (gamma-tubulin and gamma-tubulin complex proteins [GCPs] 2, 3, and 4) and led to the identification of two new components, GCP5 and GCP6. Sequence analysis revealed that the GCPs share five regions of sequence similarity and define a novel protein superfamily that is conserved in metazoans. GCP5 and GCP6, like other components of the gamma-tubulin complex, localize to the centrosome and associate with microtubules, suggesting that the entire gamma-tubulin complex takes part in both of these interactions. Stoichiometry experiments revealed that there is a single copy of GCP5 and multiple copies of gamma-tubulin, GCP2, GCP3, and GCP4 within the gamma-tubulin complex. Thus, the gamma-tubulin complex is conserved in structure and function, suggesting that the mechanism of microtubule nucleation is conserved.     

Frequency Detection of Organophosphate Resistance Allele in Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations by Real-time PCR Amplification of Specific Allele (rtPASA)

A rapid, simple and accurate real-time PASA (PCR amplification of specific allele) (rtPASA) protocol was developed and optimized for the frequency estimation of the Glyl 19Ser mutation in the type-I acetylcholinesterase locus, putatively associated with organophosphate resistance, in pooled DNA samples of Anopheles sinensis, a major vector mosquito of malaria in Korea. Performance of the rtPASA protocol was evaluated by comparing with the data generated from individual genotypings of a field population. The resistance allele frequency of the population (74.4%) predicted from the linear regression line of the rtPASA agreed well with that estimated from the individual genotyping (74.1%), demonstrating its reliability and accuracy. Using this rtPASA protocol, the resistance allele frequency in 10 local populations of An. sinensis was determined to range from 74.4% to 97.2%, suggestive of the widespread organophosphate resistance in An. sinensis in Korea.     

Structure of the C-Terminal Tail of α-Tubulin: Increase of Heterogeneity from Newborn to Adult

Abstract: A combination of posttranslational modifications contributes to the high heterogeneity of brain tubulin in mammals. In this report, the structures of the detyrosinated carboxy-terminal peptides of α-tubulin from newborn and adult mouse brain were compared. The heterogeneity of these carboxy-terminal peptides was observed to increase from newborn to adult brain tubulin. The major part of this increased heterogeneity is due to the posttranslational excision of Glu⁴⁵⁰, which makes α-tubulin nontyrosinatable (Δ-2 tubulin). The structures of the polyglutamyl side chain of the bi- and triglutamylated peptides were analyzed in this work. In polyglutamylation of α-tubulin, the first glutamyl residue can only be amide-linked to the γ-carboxyl group of Glu⁴⁴⁵, but the additional residues may be linked either to the γ- or to the α-carboxyl groups of the preceding one. By optimized reverse-phase separations and comparison with synthetic peptides corresponding to all possible linkages for the biglutamylated (γ1α2, γ1γ2) and triglutamylated (γ1α2α3, γ1γ2γ3, γ1α2γ3, γ1γ2α3, γ1γ2α2) tubulin peptides, it was possible to conclude that the mode of linkage connecting the second and third additional glutamyl residues corresponds mostly to α-bond structures, for both newborn and adult mice.     

Gene Conversion Transfers the GAF-A Domain of Phosphodiesterase TbrPDEB1 to One Allele of TbrPDEB2 of Trypanosoma brucei

Background

Chromosome 9 of Trypanosoma brucei contains two closely spaced, very similar open reading frames for cyclic nucleotide specific phosphodiesterases TbrPDEB1 and TbrPDEB2. They are separated by 2379 bp, and both code for phosphodiesterases with two GAF domains in their N-terminal moieties and a catalytic domain at the C-terminus.

Methods and Findings

The current study reveals that in the Lister427 strain of T. brucei, these two genes have undergone gene conversion, replacing the coding region for the GAF-A domain of TbrPDEB2 by the corresponding region of the upstream gene TbrPDEB1. As a consequence, these strains express two slightly different versions of TbrPDEB2. TbrPDEB2a represents the wild-type phosphodiesterase, while TbrPDEB2b represents the product of the converted gene. Earlier work on the subcellular localization of TbrPDEB1 and TbrPDEB2 had demonstrated that TbrPDEB1 is predominantly located in the flagellum, whereas TbrPDEB2 partially locates to the flagellum but largely remains in the cell body. The current findings raised the question of whether this dual localization of TbrPDEB2 may reflect the two alleles. To resolve this, TbrPDEB2 of strain STIB247 that is homozygous for TbrPDEB2a was tagged in situ, and its intracellular localization was analyzed.

Conclusions

The results obtained were very similar to those found earlier with Lister427, indicating that the dual localization of TbrPDEB2 reflects its true function and is not simply due to the presence of the two different alleles. Notably, the gene conversion event is unique for the Lister427 strain and all its derivatives. Based on this finding, a convenient PCR test has been developed that allows the stringent discrimination between Lister-derived strains that are common in many laboratories and other isolates. The technique is likely very useful to resolve questions about potential mix-ups of precious field isolates with the ubiquitous Lister strain.     

Calcium & ROS: Two orchestra directors for the requiem of death

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) triggers regulated necrosis of mycobacterium-infected macrophages through of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) production in a RIPK1/3-dependent manner. To explain that, Roca and colleagues describe an inter-orgallenar circuit which involves the lysosomal ceramide production, mitoROS, BAX activation and RyR Ca²⁺ efflux from the endoplasmic reticulum into the mitochondrion.     

Detection of an Allele Conferring Resistance to Bacillus sphaericus Binary Toxin in Culex quinquefasciatus Populations by Molecular Screening

The activity of the Bacillus sphaericus binary (Bin) toxin on Culex quinquefasciatus larvae depends on its specific binding to the Cqm1 receptor, a midgut membrane-bound α-glucosidase. A 19-nucleotide deletion in the cqm1 gene (cqm1_REC) mediates high-level resistance to Bin toxin. Here, resistance in nontreated and B. sphaericus-treated field populations of C. quinquefasciatus was assessed through bioassays as well as a specific PCR assay designed to detect the cqm1_REC allele in individual larvae. Resistance ratios at 90% lethal concentration, gathered through bioassays, were close to 1 and indicate that the selected populations had similar levels of susceptibility to B. sphaericus, comparable to that of a laboratory colony. A diagnostic PCR assay detected the cqm1_REC allele in all populations investigated, and its frequency in two nontreated areas was 0.006 and 0.003, while the frequency in the B. sphaericus-treated population was significantly higher. Values of 0.053 and 0.055 were detected for two distinct sets of samples, and homozygote resistant larvae were found. Evaluation of Cqm1 expression in individual larvae through α-glucosidase assays corroborated the allelic frequency revealed by PCR. The data from this study indicate that the cqm1_REC allele was present at a detectable frequency in nontreated populations, while the higher frequency in samples from the treated area is, perhaps, correlated with the exposure to B. sphaericus. This is the first report of the molecular detection of a biolarvicide resistance allele in mosquito populations, and it confirms that the PCR-based approach is suitable to track such alleles in target populations.     

Loss of PU.1: One of the Many Roads to Myeloid Leukemia

No abstract available.     

Novel Mutation to Dominant Fucose Resistance in the l-Arabinose Operon of Escherichia coli

We isolated an unusual mutant in which the arabinose operon carried an araC lesion that led to a dominant fucose resistance while retaining recessive constitutivity. All previously characterized C(c) mutations have been recessive for both fucose resistance and constitutivity.     

High Susceptibility to Cry1Ac and Low Resistance Allele Frequency Reduce the Risk of Resistance of Helicoverpa armigera to Bt Soybean in Brazil

The Old World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), was recently introduced into Brazil, where it has caused extensive damage to cotton and soybean crops. MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean, which expresses the Bt protein Cry1Ac, was recently deployed in Brazil, providing high levels of control against H. armigera. To assess the risk of resistance to the Cry1Ac protein expressed by MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean in Brazil, we conducted studies to evaluate the baseline susceptibility of H. armigera to Cry1Ac, in planta efficacy including the assessment of the high-dose criterion, and the initial resistance allele frequency based on an F₂ screen. The mean Cry1Ac lethal concentration (LC₅₀) ranged from 0.11 to 1.82 μg·mL⁻¹ of diet among all H. armigera field populations collected from crop seasons 2013/14 to 2014/15, which indicated about 16.5-fold variation. MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean exhibited a high level of efficacy against H. armigera and most likely met the high dose criterion against this target species in leaf tissue dilution bioassays up to 50 times. A total of 212 F₂ family lines of H. armigera were established from field collections sampled from seven locations across Brazil and were screened for the presence of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean resistance alleles. None of the 212 families survived on MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean leaf tissue (estimated allele frequency = 0.0011). The responses of H. armigera to Cry1Ac protein, high susceptibility to MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean, and low frequency of resistance alleles across the main soybean-producing regions support the assumptions of a high-dose/refuge strategy. However, maintenance of reasonable compliance with the refuge recommendation will be essential to delay the evolution of resistance in H. armigera to MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean in Brazil.