Hb Sinai,a new α chain mutant a 47 His

Summary A new chain mutant Hb-Sinai ₄₇ ^His is described. The aminoacid composition of all tryptic peptides has been determined, with the exception of the insoluble core. In the fingerprint peptide T 6 which normally migrates between T 3 and T 1, moves now between T 3 and T 7. The aminoacid composition of peptide T 6 indicates a change in the aminoacid composition from Asp- to His⁺ in position 47.This work was supported by Grant No. GM 13714 U.S.P.H.S.     

Organization of α-chain genes among Hb G-Philadelphia heterozygotes in association with Hb S, β-thalassemia,and α-thalassemia-2

The percentages of the -chain variant Hb G-Philadelphia (Hb G) or ₂ 68 AsnLys₂ were evaluated in 84 adult and 18 newborn heterozygotes. These included members of three families who were studied in more detail by nucleic acid hybridization techniques. The adult heterozygotes fell in two categories, one with a higher proportion of Hb G [46.5±1.0% (SD), N=21] and another with lower values (33.9±3.4%, N=63). Among the newborn heterozygotes, two babies fell in the category with the higher proportion of Hb G while 16 babies gave values between 25 and 34%. Studies of -chain gene organization on the parents of one neonate with a Hb G level of 27% at birth and 37% at 8 months excluded the presence of chromosomes with triplicated -chain genes which could lead to the ^0G/ genotype. Rather, these studies on five Hb G heterozygotes from three families confirmed the linkage between Hb G and a specific type of -thalassemia-2 associated with the presence of a 16-kbp Bgl II fragment which most probably carries the ^G locus since it has been found in 19 Hb G heterozygotes studied to date. The presence of an -thal-2 heterozygosity and three -chain genes (^0G/) was confirmed among Hb G heterozygotes with lower proportions of this variant. It is likely that the even lower values found in some newborn could arise through defective assembly of ^G- dimers. The presence of an -thal-2 homozygosity and two active -chain genes, one on each chromosome (^0G/⁰), was confirmed among heterozygotes with the higher proportion of Hb G. One of each of these categories was present in each of the three families investigated. This type of variability in the number of active -chain genes due to a heterozygosity or a homozygosity for -thalassemia-2 explains the trimodality of Hb S percentages among heterozygotes and the atypical hematological or biosynthetic features among patients with -thalassemia and sickle-cell syndromes.This research was supported by USPHS Research Grants HLB-05168 and HLB-15158 and by designated research funds of the Veterans Administration. This is Contribution No. 0693 of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.     

Hb Costa Rica or · 2 ‚ 277(EF1)His→Arg: the first example of a somatic cell mutation in a globin gene

We have identified a minor hemoglobin component (∼5%) in the blood of a healthy Costa Rican female, but not in her mother and two brothers (father not studied), that has an His→Arg replacement at position β77 (Hb Costa Rica). No other amino acid replacements were observed and no β- or γ-chain-like peptides were present. Hb Costa Rica has a normal stability. Sequence analyses of numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified segments of DNA that contain exon 2 of the β gene failed to identify a CAC→CGC (His→Arg) mutation. The same was the case when cDNA was sequenced, indicating that a β-Costa Rica-mRNA could not be detected with this procedure. Gene mapping of genomic DNA with BglII, BamHI, and HindIII gave normal fragments only and with the same intensity as observed for the fragments of a normal control. The quantities of the β chain variants Hb J-Iran and Hb Fukuyama with related mutations at β77 vary between 30% and 45% in heterozygotes, whereas that of Hb F-Kennestone with the same His→Arg mutation but in the ^Gγ-globin gene, is a high 40%–45% (as percentage of total ^Gγ) in a heterozygous newborn. These different observations exclude a heterozygosity of the A→G mutation at codon β77, as well as a deletion comparable to that of Hbs Lepore or Kenya, or a β-globin gene duplication, and point to a nontraditional inheritance of Hb Costa Rica. Allele-specific amplification of cDNA with appropriate primers identified the presence of a low level of mutated mRNA in the reticulocytes of the patient, which was confirmed by dotblot analysis of the same material with ³²P-labeled probes. Comparable amplification products were not observed in genomic DNA. The A→G mutation apparently occurred in a somatic cell at a relatively early stage in the development of the hematopoietic cell system, and Hb Costa Rica accumulated through rapid cell divisions in patchy areas in the bone marrow (somatic mosaicism). An unequal distribution of Hb Costa Rica over the red cells supports this possibility. Received: 25 August 1995 / Revised: 13 December 1995     

Evaluation of HPFH and δβ-thalassemia mutations in a Brazilian group with high Hb F levels

Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) is characteristic of the fetal development period. However, in some genetic conditions, such as hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) and delta-beta thalassemia (δβ-thalassemia), Hb F continues to be produced in adulthood. We evaluated the frequency of two mutations of HPFH, HPFH-1 and HPFH-2 African, and two mutations in δβ-thalassemia, Sicilian and Spanish, in a Brazilian population. Peripheral blood samples were collected from adults from hospitals and blood centers in southeast and northeast Brazil. These individuals were healthy and without complaints of anemia, but had increased Hb F. Samples were submitted to electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses to quantify Hb F values and, subsequently, to molecular analyses to verify the mutations. In the molecular analysis, 16 of the 60 samples showed a heterozygous profile for the HPFH mutations, two for HPFH-1 and 14 for HPFH-2. In the same sample set, three were heterozygous for Spanish δβ-thalassemia and none were heterozygous for Sicilian δβ- thalassemia. The Hb F values in the HPFH-2 heterozygotes differed from those previously reported for this mutation. In this group, the HPFH mutations were more frequent than the δβ-thalassemia mutations. The finding of these mutations in this Brazilian population reflects the mixing process that occurred during its formation.     

Expression of Hb β-T and Hb β-E genes in Eastern India—Family studies

The distribution patterns of different haemoglobins were observed amongst the family members of β-thalassaemia homozygous and HbE-β-thalassaemia patients with the aid of gel electrophoretic and alkali denaturation techniques. Of the 18 families studied, four belonged to β-thalassaemia homozygous and 14 to HbE-β-thalassaemia patients. Interaction of HbE and β-thalassaemia genes resulted in major clinical abnormalities with increase in the percentages of haemoglobins F and E. The percentages of HbA₂ in homozygous β-thalassaemia were within the normal range. Although in Southeast Asia the β° type of HbE-thalassaemia is more prevalent, only one individual with this type of thalassaemia was observed during this survey. In the rest of the patients examined the percentages of adult haemoglobin ranged from 5.2 to 42.5 indicating the presence of a β⁺ type gene.     

Hb S-São Paulo: a new sickling hemoglobin with stable polymers and decreased oxygen affinity

Hb S-São Paulo (SP) [HBB:c.20A > T p.Glu6Val; c.196A > G p.Lys65Glu] is a new double-mutant hemoglobin that was found in heterozygosis in an 18-month-old Brazilian male with moderate anemia. It behaves like Hb S in acid electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and solubility testing but shows different behavior in alkaline electrophoresis, cation-exchange HPLC and RP-HPLC. The variant is slightly unstable, showed reduced oxygen affinity and also appeared to form polymers more stable than the Hb S. Molecular dynamics simulation suggests that the polymerization is favored by interfacial electrostatic interactions. This provides a plausible explanation for some of the reported experimental observations.     

Hb Q-H病的生化遗传研究

本文报道在江西萍乡发现的我国第一个Hb Q-H病家系的研究结果,并对Hb Q的化学结构和Hb Q-H病的遗传学进行讨论分析。     

Hb Mobile [α2β2 73(E17)Asp → Val]: A new variant

A new hemoglobin variant found in a mother and her child was characterized by column chromatography of the tryptic hydrolysate of the aminoethylated, glycinamidated -chain, followed by chymotryptic digestion of the abnormal T-9 peptide and amino acid analyses. It was shown to be _{2 2} 73(E17) Asp Val and named Hb Mobile.This work was supported in part by Research Grants AM0780 and AM13173 from the National Institute for Arthritis and Metabolic Disease.     

Hb Natal or α2(minus Tyr-Arg)β2: A high oxygen affinity α chain variant with a deleted carboxy-terminus resulting from a TAC → TAA (Tyr → terminating codon) mutation in codon α140

The discovery is reported of a fast-moving α chain variant (Hb Natal) which is characterized by a shortened α polypeptide chain because of the deletion of the Tyr-Arg carboxy-terminal residues. Through amplification of appropriate segments of DNA and hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide probes, it was possible to detect a C → A mutation in codon 140 of the α₂ globin gene, which causes a change in the codon for tyrosine to a terminating codon. Hb Natal or α₂(minus Tyr-Arg)β₂ has a high affinity for oxygen without a Bohr effect and heme-heme interaction. These results provide direct evidence for the importance of the tyrosine residue at α140 in the oxygenation-deoxygenation process.     

小鼠Bcl2a1a蛋白的生物信息学预测分析

目的:分析小鼠Bcl2a1a全长基因的核苷酸序列及其编码蛋白的氨基酸序列,利用软件预测其蛋白的二、三级结构与特征。方法:运用生物信息学相关软件分析和预测人类BCL2A1和小鼠Bcl2a1a基因的同源区段,预测小鼠Bcl2a1a基因的启动子区域及蛋白跨膜区域与信号肽;利用软件模拟生成蛋白三级结构图像,并了解小鼠Bcl2a1a蛋白与其他蛋白的相互作用关系。结果:小鼠Bcl2a1a基因全长5497 bp,编码的蛋白含有172个氨基酸残基,相对分子质量为460 087.23,属于不稳定的疏水性蛋白。小鼠Bcl2a1a基因与人类BCL2A1基因的同源区域在≥200 bp的位置。2个软件预测的小鼠Bcl2a1a基因启动子最可能在3439～3543 bp和4600 bp,但由于没有预测到CpG岛存在,所以结果准确率较低。小鼠Bcl2a1a蛋白无跨膜结构域,无信号肽;在二级结构预测中,α螺旋为Bcl2a1a蛋白的主要折叠形式;该蛋白仅含有1个BCL结构域,且与Bbc3、Apaf1、Bcl2l2、Trp53、Bak1、Bid、Nfkb1、Jun、Rel、Rela等蛋白形成相互作用网络。结论:Bcl2a1a基因及蛋白的生物信息学分析为相关研究奠定了重要的信息基础。     

H_2O_2诱导Neuro-2a细胞死亡机理的研究

细胞内线粒体呼吸链过程中的电子漏和神经细胞代谢的酶类如单胺氧化酶(MAO)等可产生活性氧物质(ROS)如H_2O_2等。ROS对细胞有毒性作用,导致细胞死亡,在许多疾病特别是神经退行性疾病中具有重要作用。我们用H_2o_2诱导N-2a神经母细胞瘤细胞,利用光镜、荧光显微镜、透射电镜观察了诱导的N-2a细胞的死亡,结果表明其死亡形式不同于典型的细胞凋亡,而类似于Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡,死亡细胞染色质呈团块状凝集,细胞核膜仍保持完整。DNA不降解形成ladder,且不需要caspase-3,1的活性,但是H_2O_2诱导的Neuro-2a细胞死亡可以被Bcl-X_L,抑制。我们的结果可以说明,ROS介导的细胞毒性作用是导致Ⅱ型神经细胞编程性死亡的一个原因。     

Structure dynamics of the hemoglobin mutants Hb H?tel Dieu, HbG Philadelphia, HbJ Mexico, Hb St. Mandé and Hb San Diego, studied by nanosecond-laser-flash photolysis

The kinetics of the change from the carboxy to the deoxy conformation of the mutated hemoglobins mentioned in the title and of normal human adult hemoglobin were determined from measurements of light absorption changes occurring up to 50 microseconds after nanosecond-laser photodissociation of the corresponding CO complexes. The spectral evolution of the mutated hemoglobins was found to be similar in its main features to that of normal hemoglobin. The kinetics could be decomposed into two phases with rates 1.1-1.8 x 10(6) s-1 and 0.17-0.34 x 10(6) s-1 (except Hb St. Mandé which displayed only the faster phase). Study of the mutated subunits of HbJ Mexico (alpha subunit) and Hb H?tel Dieu (beta subunit) showed that they convert exponentially to the stable deoxy state after photodeligation at the same rates as the corresponding subunits of normal Hb: 1.1 x 10(6) s-1 (alpha) and 0.3 x 10(6) s-1 (beta). The results indicate that there is no direct correlation between the kinetics of spectral relaxation in the time range studied and the oxygenation properties for these hemoglobins. However, there is some indication that the kinetics are dependent upon the region of mutation.     

H2O2诱导Neuro—2a细胞死亡机理的研究

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H2O2, can be produced by enzymes involved in electron leakage of respiration chain in mitochondria, and by neurochemical enzymes such as monoamine oxidase in neural cells. ROS are toxic to cells, and can result in cell death. ROS also play an important role in some diseases, especially in neurodegenerative diseases by yet unknown mechanisms. In the current research, the N-2a neuroblastoma cell was treated with H2O2, and the morphological changes of cell death were characterized. Our results show that N-2a cell death is different from classical apoptosis, but belongs type II nerve cell programmed death, which shows condensed chromatin within intact nuclear envelope and no apoptotic body. The chromatin DNA of dead cells shows no internucleosomal cleavage, as well as no requirement for caspase-3, 1 activity. However, the H2O2-induced N-2a cell death can be inhibited by Bcl-XL. It can be concluded that type II nerve cell death is the result of cell toxicity mediated by ROS. The results pave the way for further research of type II nerve cell death.     

Epac2: a sulfonylurea receptor?

Sulfonylureas are widely used oral drugs in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. They function by the inhibition of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in pancreatic β-cells, which are thus considered the 'classical' sulfonylurea receptor. Next to the ATP-sensitive K+ channels, additional sulfonylurea-interacting proteins were identified, which might contribute to the physiological effects of this drug family. Most recently, Epac2 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2) was added to the list of sulfonylurea receptors. However, this finding caused controversy in the literature. The critical discussion of the present paper comes to the conclusion that sulfonylureas are not able to activate Epac2 directly and are unlikely to bind to Epac2. Increased blood glucose levels after food intake result in the secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells. Glucose levels are detected 'indirectly' by β-cells: owing to increased glycolysis rates, the ratio of cellular ATP/ADP increases and causes the closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. In consequence, cells depolarize and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels open to cause an increase in the cellular Ca2+ concentration. Finally, Ca2+ induces the fusion of insulin-containing granules with the plasma membrane. Sulfonylureas, such as tolbutamide, glibenclamide or acetohexamide, form a class of orally applicable drugs used in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

Two new human hemoglobin variants caused by unusual mutational events: Hb Zaïre contains a five residue repetition within the α-chain and Hb Duino has two residues substituted in the β-chain

Summary With rare exceptions, the more than 600 human hemoglobin variants described are caused by a single point mutation. Other abnormal features, such as unequal crossing-over, frameshift mutagenesis or double mutations in the same polypeptide chain, have seldom been encountered. We report two new variants caused by such rare mutational events. Hb Zaïre [116(GH4)-His-Leu-Pro-Ala-Glu-117 (GH5)] is the second example in which a short amino acid sequence is inserted within the -chain. This abnormal hemoglobin results from a tandem repetition of 5 amino-acid residues, from sequence 112 through 116, at the end of the GH corner. Hb Duino is an unstable hemoglobin. It presents within the same -chain, the association of two rare point mutations; these substitutions are those found in Hb Newcastle [92(F8)HisPro] and in Hb Camperdown [104(G6)ArgSer]. Family studies demonstrated that the Hb Newcastle abnormality was a de novo mutation of a gene already carrying the Hb Camperdown substitution.     

巴西橡胶树HbγGCS基因克隆及表达分析

γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸合成酶（TGCS）是细胞内谷胱甘肽（GSH）生物合成的限速酶,GSH在植物许多生理过程中发挥重要作用。本研究采用简并PCR和RACE技术获得巴西橡胶树γGCS基因全长cDNA序列,命名为HbTGCS（GenBank登录号：GU997638）。该基因全长2187bp,最长开放阅读框为1572bp,编码523个氨基酸。进化分析结果表明HbγGCS属双子叶植物γGCS亚类,同葡萄γGCS分为一组,与单子叶植物的亲缘关系较远。半定量RT-PCR结果表明HbγGCS基因在胶乳、叶片、树皮、花中均有表达,以花中表达量最大。健康橡胶树胶乳中HbγGCS达量高于死皮树。HbγGCS表达受乙烯、茉莉酸、过氧化氢、机械伤害、干旱、低温和高盐调控。     

Hb疫苗无反应者的免疫效应研究

<正>乙型肝炎(HB)疫苗70年代后期引入美国,1982年正式批准使用。预料使用该疫苗将显著减少乙肝病毒(HBV)感染的发病率。慢性乙肝与原发性肝癌之关系目前已经证实,因而,广泛使用HB疫苗,尤其在亚洲和非洲地区,将显著减少这种恶性肿瘤的发生。     

The linkage of Hb Valletta [α2β287(F3)Thr→Pro] and Hb F-Malta-I [α2 Gγ2117(G19)His→Arg] in the Maltese population

Summary We have identified a new stable abnormal hemoglobin called Hb Valletta, which is characterized by a ThrPro substitution at position 87 of the chain. This mutation was found to be linked to that of the chain variant Hb F-Malta-I with a HisArg mutation at position 117 of the ^G chain. Both variants were detected in the blood samples of 34 Maltese and two Italian new-born babies with isoelectrofocusing and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Similar analyses of cord blood from 388 additional Maltese newborns failed to identify either one of these two variants. Additional analyses of 353 Maltese adults (including 39 -thalassemia heterozygotes) resulted in the detection of two adult Hb Valletta heterozygotes. Dot-blot hybridization analyses of amplified DNA with a probe specific for the ^G-F-Malta-I variant showed that both also carried that mutation. These results show close linkage of the mutant forms of the ^G- and -globin genes, 27–28 kb apart, and a failure to identify chromosomes with either the Hb F-Malta-I mutation alone or with the Hb Valletta mutation alone, indicating a low recombination frequency.