APEX disease gene resequencing: mutations in exon 7 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene.

Detection of mutations in disease genes will be a significant application of genomic research. Methods for detecting mutations at the single nucleotide level are required in highly mutated genes such as the tumor suppressor p53. Resequencing of an individual patient's DNA by conventional Sanger methods is impractical, calling for novel methods for sequence analysis. Toward this end, an arrayed primer extension (APEX) method for identifying sequence alterations in primary DNA structure was developed. A two-dimensional array of immobilized primers (DNA chip) was fabricated to scan p53 exon 7 by single bases. Primers were immobilized with 200 microm spacing on a glass support. Oligonucleotide templates of length 72 were used to study individual APEX resequencing reactions. A template-dependent DNA polymerase extension was performed on the chip using fluorescein-labeled dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs). Labeled primers were evanescently excited and the induced fluorescence was imaged by CCD. The average signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) observed was 30:1. Software was developed to analyze high-density DNA chips for sequence alterations. Deletion, insertion, and substitution mutations were detected. APEX can be used to scan for any mutation (up to two-base insertions) in a known region of DNA by fabricating a DNA chip comprising complementary primers addressing each nucleotide in the wild-type sequence. Since APEX is a parallel method for determining DNA sequence, the time required to assay a region is independent of its length. APEX has a high level of accuracy, is sequence-based, and can be miniaturized to analyze a large DNA region with minimal reagents.     

Functional phosphoproteomic profiling of phosphorylation sites in membrane fractions of salt-stressed Arabidopsis thaliana

The in vitro stationary phase proteome of the human pathogen Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 (SD1) was quantitatively analyzed in Coomassie Blue G250 (CBB)-stained 2D gels. More than four hundred and fifty proteins, of which 271 were associated with distinct gel spots, were identified. In parallel, we employed 2D-LC-MS/MS followed by the label-free computationally modified spectral counting method APEX for absolute protein expression measurements. Of the 4502 genome-predicted SD1 proteins, 1148 proteins were identified with a false positive discovery rate of 5% and quantitated using 2D-LC-MS/MS and APEX. The dynamic range of the APEX method was approximately one order of magnitude higher than that of CBB-stained spot intensity quantitation. A squared Pearson correlation analysis revealed a reasonably good correlation (R ² = 0.67) for protein quantities surveyed by both methods. The correlation was decreased for protein subsets with specific physicochemical properties, such as low M_r values and high hydropathy scores. Stoichiometric ratios of subunits of protein complexes characterized in E. coli were compared with APEX quantitative ratios of orthologous SD1 protein complexes. A high correlation was observed for subunits of soluble cellular protein complexes in several cases, demonstrating versatile applications of the APEX method in quantitative proteomics.     

Arrayed primer extension: solid-phase four-color DNA resequencing and mutation detection technology

The technology and application of arrayed primer extension (APEX) is presented. We describe an integrated system with DNA chip and template preparation, multiplex primer extension on the array, fluorescence imaging, and data analysis. The method is based upon an array of oligonucleotides, immobilized via the 5' end on a glass surface. A patient DNA is amplified by PCR, digested enzymatically, and annealed to the immobilized primers, which promote sites for template-dependent DNA polymerase extension reactions using four unique fluorescently labeled dideoxy nucleotides. A mutation is detected by a change in the color code of the primer sites. The technology was applied to the analysis of 10 common beta-thalassemia mutations. Nine patient DNA samples, each of which carries a different mutation, and four wild-type DNA samples were correctly identified. The signal-to-noise ratio of this technology is, on the average, 40:1, which enables the identification of heterozygous mutations with a high confidence level. The APEX method can be applied to any DNA target for efficient analysis of mutations and polymorphisms.     

Common polymorphisms and somatic mutations in human base excision repair genes in ovarian and endometrial cancers

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the human APEX and OGG1 genes, encoding proteins important in base excision repair (BER) of DNA, contain nucleotide sequence polymorphisms or are mutated somatically in tumors from women diagnosed with ovarian or endometrial cancer. Based upon the analysis of germline DNA from 83 individuals, 63 with ovarian cancer and 20 with endometrial cancer, we found two missense polymorphisms in APEX (Q51H and D 148E) and two missense (A3P and S326C) and one intronic (Exon 5-15 bp) polymorphism in OGG1. The frequencies of the various alleles (in the ovarian and endometrial cancer patients combined) were 4.8% for 51-His and 56.2% for 148-Glu in APEX, and 1.0% for 3-Pro and 20.0% for 326-Cys in OGG1. Somatic mutations in APEX (P112L, W188X and R237C) were identified in three of 20 endometrial tumors, but no mutations were identified in APEX in 43 ovarian tumors, or in OGG1 at either tumor site. Given the crucial role of the APEX and OGG1 proteins in BER of oxidative DNA damage, the identified polymorphisms are good candidates for genetic epidemiologic studies of cancer susceptibility, while the finding that three of 20 (15%) endometrial tumors have somatic mutations in APEX suggests that inactivation of the BER pathway is important for the development of endometrial cancer in at least a subset of cases.     

Associations between milk performance traits in Holstein cows and 16 candidate SNPs identified by arrayed primer extension (APEX) microarray

An oligonucleotide microarray-which allows for parallel genotyping of many SNPs in genes involved in cow milk protein biosynthesis-was used to identify which of the 16 candidate SNPs are associated with milk performance traits in Holstein cows. Four hundred cows were genotyped by the developed and validated microarray. Significant associations were found between four single SNPs, namely DGAT1 (acyloCoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase), LTF (lactoferrin), CSN3 (kappa-casein), and GHR (growth hormone receptor) and with fat and protein yield and percentage. Many significant associations between combined genotypes (two SNPs) and milk performance traits were found. The associations between the combined genotypes DGAT1/LTF and DGAT1/LEPTIN analyzed traits are presented as examples. The microarray based on APEX (Arrayed Primer Extension) is a fast and reliable method for multiple SNP analysis of potential application in marker-assisted selection. After further development, the chip may prospectively be used for dairy cattle paternity analysis and evolutionary studies.     

MilkProtChip--a microarray of SNPs in candidate genes associated with milk protein biosynthesis--development and validation

MilkProtChip is an oligonucleotide microarray based on the arrayed primer extension (APEX) technique, allowing genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of interest for bovine milk protein biosynthesis. APEX consists of a sequencing reaction primed by an oligonucleotide anchored with its 5'end to a glass slide and terminating one nucleotide before the polymorphic site. The extension with one fluorescently labeled dideoxy nucleotide complementary to the template reveals the polymorphism. A total of 75 SNPs were selected among those associated directly or potentially with milk protein content. Among the 75 SNPs, 4 did not produce a positive signal. Most of the remaining SNPs produced a signal for both strands, except for 4 (one strand). In the validation step, 12 Polish Holstein bulls, 1 Polish Red bull, 1 bison (Bison bonasus), 11 Jersey cows and 25 Polish Holstein cows were screened to validate SNPs. Among the 71 selected SNPs--26 were found monoallelic, the rest showing at least two genotypes for the entire population under study. All the animals were earlier genotyped for 2-5 SNPs by PCR-RFLP and PCR sequencing and all showed complete concordance with APEX genotyping. APEX reactions showed relatively high signal frequencies: more than 0.9, 0.9-0.8 and below 0.8, for 65, 4 and 2 DNA samples, respectively. The primary application of the MilkProtChip is the simultaneous genotyping of dozens of SNPs to reveal and clarify the genetic background of milk protein biosynthesis. The chip may possibly be used for dairy cattle identification and paternity analysis, evolutionary studies, the evaluation of genetic distances between wild and domestic cattle breeds and the domestication history of bovine species.     

Altered gene expression profiles and higher frequency of spontaneous DNA strand breaks in APEX2-null thymus

A second class II AP endonuclease, APEX2, possesses strong 3'-5' exonuclease and 3'-phosphodiesterase activities but only very weak AP-endonuclease activity. APEX2 associates with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the progression of S phase of the cell cycle is accompanied by its expression. APEX2-null mice exhibit severe dyslymphopoiesis in thymus as well as moderate dyshematopoiesis and growth retardation. Comparative gene expression profiling of wild-type and APEX2-null mice using an oligonucleotide microarray revealed that APEX2-null thymus has significantly altered gene expression profiles, reflecting its altered populations of thymocytes. Beyond these altered populations, APEX2-null thymus exhibits significant alterations in expression of genes involved in DNA replication, recombination and repair, including Apex1, Exo1 and Fen1 as well as master genes for the DNA damage response, such as E2f1, Chek1, and proapoptotic genes. We therefore examined the extent of DNA strand breakage, and found that both of single-strand breaks detected as comets and double-strand breaks detected as gammaH2AX foci were significantly higher in frequency in most APEX2-null thymocytes compared to wild-type thymocytes. This higher frequency of DNA breaks was accompanied by increased expression of PCNA and increased phosphorylation of p53 at Ser23 and to a lesser extent, at Ser18. The present study clearly demonstrates that APEX2-null lymphocytes have a higher frequency of DNA breaks, indicating that APEX2 may play an important role(s) during their generation and/or repair.     

Associations Between Milk Performance Traits in Holstein Cows and 16 Candidate SNPs Identified by Arrayed Primer Extension (APEX) Microarray

An oligonucleotide microarray—which allows for parallel genotyping of many SNPs in genes involved in cow milk protein biosynthesis—was used to identify which of the 16 candidate SNPs are associated with milk performance traits in Holstein cows. Four hundred cows were genotyped by the developed and validated microarray. Significant associations were found between four single SNPs, namely DGAT1 (acyloCoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase), LTF (lactoferrin), CSN3 (kappa-casein), and GHR (growth hormone receptor) and with fat and protein yield and percentage. Many significant associations between combined genotypes (two SNPs) and milk performance traits were found. The associations between the combined genotypes DGAT1/LTF and DGAT1/LEPTIN analyzed traits are presented as examples.

The microarray based on APEX (Arrayed Primer Extension) is a fast and reliable method for multiple SNP analysis of potential application in marker-assisted selection. After further development, the chip may prospectively be used for dairy cattle paternity analysis and evolutionary studies.     

Evaluation of a microarray for genotyping polymorphisms related to xenobiotic metabolism and DNA repair

We present an oligonucleotide microarray ("MetaboChip") based on the arrayed primer extension (APEX) technique, allowing genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of interest for cancer susceptibility and pharmacogenetics. APEX consists of a sequencing reaction primed by an oligonucleotide anchored with its 5' end to a glass slide and terminating one nucleotide before the polymorphic site. The extension with one fluorescently labeled dideoxynucleotide complementary to the template reveals the polymorphism. Ninety-three SNPs in 42 genes were selected among those resequenced in the context of the SNP500 project, using a set of 102 reference DNA samples from the Coriell Biorepository. Selected SNPs belong to the following genes: ADH1B, ALDH2, APEX, CDKN2A, COMT, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2E1, CYP3A4, DRD2, DRD4, EPHX1, ERCC1, ERCC2, ERCC4, ERCC5, GRPR, GSTA4, GSTM3, GSTP1, GSTT2, LIG3, MDM2, MGMT, MPO, NAT1, NAT2, NQO1, OGG1, PCNA, POLB, SLC6A3, SOD2, TP53, XRCC1, XRCC2, XRCC3, and XRCC9. We assessed the performance of APEX by comparing the results obtained with MetaboChip against those reported by the SNP500. Among 88 SNPs that yielded signals, 6 showed less than 99% of concordance, whereas 82 performed accurately, showing that APEX is a reliable and sensitive genotyping method.     

APEX Nuclease (Multifunctional DNA Repair Enzyme) 1 Gene Asp148Glu Polymorphism and Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis Involving 58 Articles and 48903 Participants

Background

Polymorphisms in the APEX nuclease (multifunctional DNA repair enzyme) 1 gene (APEX1) may be involved in the carcinogenesis by affecting DNA repair. We aimed to summarize available data on the association of the APEX1 Asp148Glu (rs1130409) polymorphism with risk of multiple types of cancer via a meta-analysis.

Methods and Results

In total, 58 qualified articles including 22,398 cancer patients and 26,505 controls were analyzed, and the data were extracted independently by two investigators. Analyses of the full data set indicated a marginally significant association of the APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism with cancer risk under allelic (odds ratio (OR)=1.05; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.99-1.11; P=0.071), dominant (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.01-1.17; P=0.028), and heterozygous genotypic (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.16; P=0.026) models, with significant heterogeneity and publication bias. In subgroup analyses by cancer type, with a Bonferroni corrected alpha of 0.05/6, significant association was observed for gastric cancer under both dominant (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.2-2.51; P=0.003) and heterozygous genotypic (OR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.2-2.31; P=0.002) models. In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, risk estimates were augmented in Caucasians, especially under dominant (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.0-1.24; P=0.049) and heterozygous genotypic (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 0.99-1.24; P=0.063) models. By study design, there were no significant differences between population-based and hospital-based studies. In subgroup analysis by sample size, risk estimates were remarkably overestimated in small studies, and no significance was reached in large studies except under the heterozygous genotypic model (OR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.06-1.43; P=0.006, significant at a Bonferroni corrected alpha of 0.05/2). By quality score, the risk estimates, albeit nonsignificant, were higher in low-quality studies than in high-quality studies. Further meta-regression analyses failed to identify any contributory confounders for the associated risk estimates.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism might be a genetic risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. Further investigations on large populations are warranted.     

盐肤木基因组DNA提取方法改进及AFLP体系的建立

经过反复试验,摸索出一种提取高质量植物基因组DNA的方法:改良的4×CTAB法.以盐肤木叶片为实验材料,提取到高质量的基因组DNA,建立了酶切、连接、预扩增、选择性扩增的AFLP反应体系.通过两种引物组合"E+3/M+3"和"E+2/M+3"策略筛选出8对条带分辨率高、多态性好的引物组合,优化了盐肤木的AFLP银染反应...     

Dynamic variable selection in SNP genotype autocalling from APEX microarray data

Background  

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are DNA sequence variations, occurring when a single nucleotide – adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C) or guanine (G) – is altered. Arguably, SNPs account for more than 90% of human genetic variation. Our laboratory has developed a highly redundant SNP genotyping assay consisting of multiple probes with signals from multiple channels for a single SNP, based on arrayed primer extension (APEX). This mini-sequencing method is a powerful combination of a highly parallel microarray with distinctive Sanger-based dideoxy terminator sequencing chemistry. Using this microarray platform, our current genotype calling system (known as SNP Chart) is capable of calling single SNP genotypes by manual inspection of the APEX data, which is time-consuming and exposed to user subjectivity bias.     

Restriction Site-dependent PCR: An Efficient Technique for Fast Cloning of New Genes of Microorganisms

New bioactive proteins need to be screened from various microorganismsfor the increasing need for industrial and pharmaceutical peptide,proteins, or enzymes. A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR)method, restriction site-dependent PCR (RSD-PCR), was designedfor rapid new genes cloning from genomic DNA. RSD-PCR strategyis based on these principles: (i) restriction sites dispersethroughout genomes are candidacy for universal pairing; (ii)a universal primer is a combination of a 3'-end of selectedrestriction sites, and a 5'-end of degenerated sequence. A two-roundPCR protocol was designed and optimized for the RSD-PCR: amplifythe single strand target template from genomic DNA by a specificprimer and amplify the target gene by using the specific primerand one of the universal RSD-primers. The optimized RSD-PCRwas successfully applied in chromosome walking using specificinternal primers, and cloning of new genes using degeneratedprimers derived from NH₂-terminal amino acid sequence of protein.     

Detection and Identification of Brenneria nigrifluens, the Causal Agent of the Shallow Bark Canker of Walnut by, PCR Amplification

A 1 kb DNA band from strains of Brenneria nigrifluens, as shown by amplification of their genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using minisatellite primer designed on the minisatellite sequence of the M13 phage, was isolated, cloned and sequenced. Specific oligonucleotides (F1–C3) were selected into this 1 kb DNA sequence and used in a PCR assay to detect and identify strains of B. nigrifluens . Several strains of B. nigrifluens were assessed with F1–C3 primers producing a specific band of approximately 250 bp pairs in length. This target was successfully amplified from purified genomic DNA, from bacterial culture and directly from infected walnut bark tissue. No amplification was obtained when the PCR assay was performed on other plant-pathogenic species from the following genera Brenneria, Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Pectobacterium, Xanthomonas and from walnut-associated bacteria, indicating the specificity of these primers. The PCR assay with the primers described here provides a rapid, specific and sensitive diagnostic method for B. nigrifluens and a useful tool for epidemiological studies.     

Fast quantification of nucleic acid hybrids by affinity-based hybrid collection.

A hybridization technique for the quantification of nucleic acids is described. In the method a probe pair is allowed to form hybrids with the target nucleic acid in solution. One of the probes has been modified with an affinity label, by which the formed hybrids can be isolated after the reaction. Streptavidin-agarose was used to capture hybrids containing biotinylated DNA. The hybrids were measured using radioiodine as label on the second probe. The rate of the hybridization reaction in solution is fast, allowing the whole procedure to be carried out in 3 h. The method is quantitative with a detection limit of 4 X 10(5) molecules (0.67 attomoles) target DNA. The test is insensitive to impurities in biological samples, which are analyzed without purification of the target DNA. Non-isotopic measurement of the hybrids can also be applied. In this case the hybrids are bound to microtitration wells and detected spectrophotometrically by peroxidase-catalyzed colour development.