Polymorphism of the Serotonin Receptor Type 2A (5-HTR2A) Gene and Verbal Fluency in Normalcy and in Schizophrenia

To study the effect of the serotonergic brain system on verbal fluency (i.e., the ability to rapidly extract necessary words from the internal vocabulary), the T102C polymorphism of the serotonin receptor type 2A (5-HTR2A) gene was tested for association with verbal fluency in 108 patients with schizophrenia or disorders of the schizophrenic spectrum and 97 mentally healthy individuals. A significant association was observed only in male schizophrenics (n = 67), with homozygotes A2A2 having lower verbal fluency. The results do not support the association between the 5-HTR2A polymorphism and verbal fluency in normalcy, and agree with the assumed contribution of genotype A2A2 to the severity of schizophrenia.     

猪L-FABP基因的克隆、表达特征及遗传多态性研究

FABPs属于脂结合蛋白超家族成员,是一类分子量较小而对脂肪酸有高亲和力的蛋白质,广泛存在于脊椎动物和非脊椎动物的细胞质中.FABPs担当细胞内脂肪酸的运输任务,它们与脂肪酸结合将其运输到脂肪酸氧化的位置、脂肪酸脂化成甘油三醋或磷脂的位置,或者进入细胞核内发挥其可能的调控功能.因此FABPs对脂类代谢具有重要的调控作用.本研究把L-FABP基因作为影响猪肌内脂肪含量的候选基因.为此,利用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)和PCR技术,克隆到猪肝脏型脂肪酸结合蛋白基因(L-FABP)的全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号AY960623)和部分基因组序列(GenBank登录号DQ182323).猪L-FABP基因的cDNA序列全长518 bp,该序列包括起始密码子TGA和38 bp的5'末端非编码区(5'URT),终止密码子TAG和99 bp的3'末端非编码区(3'URT),在3'URT结构区域中包含polyA加尾信号序列AATAAA.猪L-FABP基因与其他FABPs基因一样,也由4个外显子(67 bp、173 bp、93 bp和51 bp)和3个内含子组成,内含子1和3的大小是1 679bp和565 bp,没有获得内含子2的序列,外显子和内含子剪接处符合GT/AG规律.应用Clustal W/X程序对猪L-FABP与其他物种的L-FABP进行多重序列比对,发现猪L-FABP与人、大鼠、鸡的L-FABP的相似性分别为89.8%、81.9%和72.4%.亲水性分析表明,猪L-FABP也是一个潜在的跨膜蛋白,在氨基酸残基57-65之间有一个明显的跨膜α螺旋.应用半定量RT-PCR分析发现,猪L-FABP在猪体组织中广泛存在,但在肝脏和小肠组织中表达量最为丰富.分析还发现,所克隆得到的编码区核苷酸序列与已知猪L-FABP基因的编码区核苷酸序列存在一定的变异,分别是外显子2中T→C(116位)、C→T(231位)、C→A(236位)和A→C(258位),演绎成氨基酸在Leu74Met存在差异.为进一步证实这些突变位点在猪群中真实存在,利用PCR-SSCP检测方法对4个猪种(藏猪、大河猪、雅南猪和约克夏)的157头个体的外显子2全序列进行SNP位点多态性片段的基因型分型,结果发现一个C→T的单核苷酸多态,等位基因频率在中国地方猪种(藏猪、大河猪、雅南猪)与国外约克夏猪种间存在极显著的差异(P＜0.01).连锁分析发现,基因型CC的肌内脂肪含量(4.86±0.22%)显著的高于基因型CT(4.16±0.23%)和TT(4.05±0.27%)的肌内脂肪含量(P＜0.05).因此,推测L-FABP基因可能是影响猪肌内脂肪含量的主效基因或与主效基因紧密连锁的标记基因,并且能够在分子标记辅助选择中用于对猪肌内脂肪含量的遗传改良.     

原因不明月经过少子宫内膜雌激素受体β基因多态性及其表达

目的:探讨原因不明月经过少子宫内膜雌激素受体β(ERβ)基因多态性及其与表达的关系。方法:从2组人群中分别选取原因不明月经过少子宫内膜组织40例、月经量正常子宫内膜组织40例,通过逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)和Western印迹检测ERβ的表达;分析实验组与对照组ERβmRNA及蛋白质的表达情况,将ERβ基因的各基因型、等位基因型与子宫内膜ERβmRNA及蛋白质的表达之间分别进行比较。结果:实验组ERβmRNA表达量为0.6457±0.2957,对照组为0.9637±0.3621,实验组比对照组表达下调,差异有统计学意义(t=-6.589,P0.001);实验组ERβ蛋白质表达量为347.37±30.35,对照组为445.21±45.67,实验组比对照组表达下调,差异有统计学意义(t=-4.353,P0.001);2组RsaⅠ基因型、AluⅠ基因型、CA重复序列基因型ERβ表达差异均无统计学意义。结论:原因不明月经过少患者ERβmRNA及蛋白质在子宫内膜中的表达低于月经量正常子宫内膜,可能与月经量减少有关;2组人群ERβ基因RsaⅠ、AluⅠ、CA重复序列基因型及等位基因型子宫内膜表达无差异。     

湖北汉族人群载脂蛋白A5遗传多态性分析

采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片断长度多态性(polymerase chain reaction restriction-fragment length polymorphism, PCR-RFLP)对257例湖北健康汉族人群APOA5 -1131T>C及56C>G基因多态性进行鉴定。结果发现: 湖北汉族人群中ApoA5 -1131T>C存在TT、TC、CC基因型, 3种基因型的频率分别为50.9%、32.9%及16.2%; 56C>G位点存在CC、CG基因型, 257名研究对象中, G等位基因分布频率小于5%; 各基因型频率和等位基因频率在不同种族和地域间分布存在显著性差异。结论: 湖北汉族人群中ApoA5基因-1131T>C位点存在单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP), 56C>G在该人群中应视为一个突变位点而不是多态性位点     

一个新硝基还原酶基因NOR1编码区单核苷酸多态及与鼻咽癌的关联分析

NOR1基因是中南大学湘雅医学院肿瘤研究所克隆的一个鼻咽癌表达下调新基因,生物信息学预测NOR1基因含有硝基还原酶结构域,该基因可能参与亚硝胺类化学致癌物在体内的代谢过程,从而与鼻咽癌的发生密切相关.通过采用病例-对照的研究方法,利用测序技术对144名鼻咽癌患者和匹配的144名正常人NOR1基因编码区单核苷酸多态(coding region single nucleotide polymorphisms, cSNPs)进行基因分型,关联分析结果显示所检测到的两个cSNPs之间存在连锁不平衡,且均与鼻咽癌发病相关,两个cSNPs及它们所组成的单倍型相对危险度分别为1.36、1.64和1.37.两个cSNPs的多态性改变均使NOR1基因编码蛋白一级结构发生了变化,这种改变可能影响NOR1基因编码蛋白的结构和功能.研究进一步支持了NOR1基因与鼻咽癌的发生发展可能存在密切的关系.     

鸡视网膜母细胞瘤基因1(RB1)多态性与体重性状的相关性

为探讨鸡视网膜母细胞瘤基因1(Retinoblastoma1,RB1)多态性对体重性状的影响,文章以东北农业大学高、低脂双向选择品系肉鸡为实验材料,采用MALDI-TOF-MS、PCR-RFLP方法进行基因多态性检测和个体基因型分析,共获得27个SNP位点的基因型数据。采用滑动窗口法构建单倍型,进而利用单位点和单倍型分别与鸡体重性状进行关联分析。结合单位点和单倍型分析结果,确定了RB1基因上4个显著影响1周龄体重的SNP位点,2个显著影响1、3周龄体重的SNP位点。研究结果表明RB1基因是影响鸡早期体重性状的重要候选基因。     

转座子引起的猪ktn1基因结构变异及其与生产性能的关联分析

为探明转座子对猪的ktn1基因及其侧翼区结构变异的贡献,从全基因组测序(WGS)数据库中获取14个猪基因组中的ktn1基因序列和侧翼序列,通过ClustalX多序列比对和RepeatMasker转座子注释,全面解析转座子对ktn1的影响。通过PCR检测到一个SINEA1转座子插入多态,在苏姜猪群体中与相关性状进行关联分析。结果显示,ktn1基因及其侧翼区中含有至少77个转座子片段,其中绝大部分(98.70%)为SINE类转座子,并鉴定到9个小结构变异和4个由转座子引起的大结构变异,表明转座子是基因变异的重要来源。其中一个SINEA1插入多态引起的结构变异,在不同品种中呈现丰富的多态性,且无插入个体(SINE-/-)苏姜猪的断奶窝重((64.20±10.6) kg)比纯合有插入个体(SINE+/+)((74.14±9.0) kg)和杂合有插入个体(SINE+/-)((69.71±7.7) kg)轻(P<0.05),表明基于转座子插入多态研发分子标记具有可行性,提示转座子插入多态分子标记在分子辅助育种中具有较强的应用潜力。     

中国人群5—羟色胺2A受体基因中T102C多态性与精神分裂症的联系

在研究５－羟色胺２Ａ受体基因多态性与精神分裂症的关联分析中,调查了２０２例精神分裂症患者及２０２例正常对照。各相匹配组间比较未发现基因型和等位基因频率的显著性差异。结果提示,在中国人群中５－羟色胺２Ａ受体的静态Ｔ１０２Ｃ突变与精神分裂症之间不存在关联。     

双色荧光杂交芯片在检测 P 1A 1M P I 基C 因多态性中的应用

目的：应用一种新的高通量SNP检测方法-双色荧光杂交芯片技术检测CYPIA1 MspI基因多态性。方法：收集江苏汉族人群原发性肺癌患者75例和相应对照77例,应用双色荧光杂交芯片技术检测了152例样本的CYPIAI基因MspI基因多态性,并应用PCR-RFLP技术验证双色荧光杂交芯片的特异性。结果：152例样本的CYPIAI基因双色荧光杂交芯片技术分型结果与PCR-RFLP结果完全相符,两种方法的基因型分型结果具有很好的一致性。结论：双色荧光杂交芯片技术是一个高通量SNP检测的良好工具,特异性高,在大规模人群SNP筛检中具有良好的发展前案。     

The single nucleotide polymorphism A118G alters functional properties of the human mu opioid receptor

The most common single nucleotide polymorphism in the coding region of the human mu opioid receptor gene is the A118G variant, an adenine to guanine transition at nucleotide position 118 of the coding sequence of the gene. This polymorphism codes for an asparagine to aspartic acid substitution at amino acid 40 in the amino-terminus, thereby removing a potential extracellular glycosylation site. Using in vitro cellular expression assays, this variant has been reported to change binding of the endogenous agonist beta-endorphin and signaling of the receptor following binding of beta-endorphin. Three clinical studies report that A118G genotype affects opioid antagonist-mediated increases in cortisol levels. These studies demonstrate a functional role of this variant in responses to endogenous and exogenous opioids. To further characterize function, we expressed the prototype and variant receptors in two types of cells (human 293 embryonic kidney cells and Syrian hamster adenovirus-12-induced tumor cells). Stable expression of variant and prototype receptors was characterized by differences in levels of cell surface binding capacity (B(max)), forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, as well as agonist-induced accumulation of cAMP (EC(50)) for several agonists, but not for beta-endorphin. In contrast, transiently expressed variant receptors showed only a minor difference in cell surface binding capacity compared to the prototype, and no differences in cAMP EC(50) values.     

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of CACNA1A gene in migraine

INTRODUCTION:

Migraine is a chronic, neurovascular polygenic disease where genetic and environmental factors are involved in its etiology. Dysfunction of neuronal ion transportation can provide a model for predisposition for common forms of migraine. Mutations in genes encoding ion channels disturb the rhythmic function of exposed tissue that may also explain the episodic nature of migraine. Our aim was to study the single nucleotide polymorphisms of CACNA1A gene in migraine patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The subjects were the patients of migraine, in the age range of 18-80 years, diagnosed by a Neurologist, as per the diagnostic criteria of International Headache Society (IHS) Classification 2004 after excluding other causes of headache by clinical examination and relevant investigations.The controls were the age and sex matched healthy persons from the same population excluding the relatives of patients. Only those patients and the controls, who voluntarily participated in the study, were taken and their blood samples were taken for the study. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction was performed according to the manufacturer''s protocol for Qiagen DNA extraction kits (Qiagen, Hilden, NRW, Germany). DNA content was quantified by spectrophotometric absorption (Nanodrop Spectrophotometer, BioLab, Scoresby, VIC, Australia). Polymerase chain reaction was performed using an iCycler Thermal Cycler (Bio.Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). The polymorphic analysis of CACNA1A gene was carried out by two methods: Restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing.

RESULTS:

The study included a total of 25 patients of migraine, diagnosed on out-patient department basis as per IHS Classification 2004 and compared with age and sex matched 25 healthy controls. Most of the patients 23 (92%) were below the age of 50 years. 20 of the patients (80%) were females and 5 (20%) were males. The polymorphic analysis of CACNA1A gene revealed the presence of only the wild form of the gene for the codon E993V in both case and control groups.

CONCLUSION:

In our study, we could not find any polymorphism of CACNA1A gene in the selected patients. Instead the wild type of genotype was found in both patients and controls. This negative result presented here, implies that if the CACNA1A gene is involved in typical migraine (with and without aura), its contribution is very modest and therefore difficult to discern. Nevertheless, there are other genes that could be considered potential candidates for typical migraine susceptibility for which further research is needed.     

On the challenges of the HapMap resource

The International HapMap Project provides a key resource of genotypic data on human lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from four major world populations of European, African, Chinese and Japanese ancestry for researchers to associate with various phenotypic data to find genes affecting health, disease and response to drugs. Recently, the HapMap resource has significantly benefited research areas such as gene expression variation studies. Besides some intrinsic limitations, there are a few challenges that should be considered in the next wave of research using this tremendous resource. We suggest that overcoming these challenges or considering the confounding variables in the interpretation of results can provide more insights into the current views of the human genome as well as complex traits such as drug response variation and susceptibility to common diseases.     

新生儿基因CYP2E1 5′端RsaⅠ和PON2311位点多态性与早产的关系

探讨新生儿基因细胞色素P450 2E1（CYP2E1）5‘端RsaI多态性和对氧磷酶2（二乙基对硝基苯磷酸酯酶2）基因311位点（PON2311）多态性对早产的影响。采用横断面调查方法,使用统一的调查表,由安庆市各县医院对入院分娩孕妇及其单胎,活产,早产和对照新生儿进行调查,共得到有效样本194个母亲－新生儿对。单因素分析结果显示：CYP2E1野生纯合子基因型（cut/cut)与突变纯合子基因型（uncut/uncut)/杂合子基因型（cut/uncut)比较,对早产的影响不具有统计学意义,而PONS2 Ser311Ser纯合子基因型与Cys311Cys纯合子基因型／Cys311Ser杂合子基因型比较,对早产的影响具有显著的统计学意义。进一步分析CYP2E15‘端RsaI位点多态性和PON2311位点多态性是否存在交互作用。结果显示：CYP2E1野生纯合子基因型和PON2 Ser311Ser纯合子基因型这一组合与参照组比较,对早产的影响具有显著的统计学意义。基因CYP2E15‘端Rsa I位点多态性与新生儿早产不相关,但基因PON2311位点多态性与新生儿早产相关,且CYP2E1 5‘端RsaI位点多态性和PON2311位点多态性之间对早产的影响存在交互作用。     

Expression patterns and association analysis of the porcine DHX58 gene

RIG-1 signalling is responsible for the detection of cytoplasmic viral RNA molecules. DEXH (Asp-Glu-X-His) box polypeptide 58 (encoded by DHX58) is a negative regulator of the RIG-1 signalling pathway. In human, the DHX58 gene can be upregulated and can inhibit the RIG-1 signalling pathway during viral infection. In this study, porcine DHX58 gene expression patterns were studied. According to our results, the porcine DHX58 gene was upregulated not only by the stimulation of Poly I:C but also by the stimulation of 1ipopolysaccharides (LPS). One polymorphism (g.4919G>C), detected in the ninth intron, was significantly associated with some blood parameters including the red cell distribution width of 1-day-old pigs and white blood cell counts, lymphocyte absolute counts, and platelet distribution width of 17-day-old pigs (P < 0.05). Moreover, the individuals with the genotype GG have a significantly higher mean white blood cell count than individuals with genotype CC or GC (P < 0.05). Our study indicates that DHX58 is an important gene that is associated with the immune response in swine.     

新生儿CYP2E1基因5′端RsaⅠ位点多态性和PON2基因148位点多态性与早产的关系

为探讨新生儿细胞色素P450 2E1(CYP2E1)基因多态性和对氧磷酶2(二乙基对硝基苯磷酸酯酶2)基因(PON2)148位点多态性对早产的影响,采用横断面调查方法,使用统一的调查表,由安庆市各县医院对入院分娩孕妇及其单胎、活产、早产和对照新生儿进行调查,共得到有效样本209个母亲-新生儿对。单因素分析结果显示：CYP2E1野生纯合子基因型( ／ )与突变纯合子基因型(-／-)／杂合子基因型( ／-)比较,对早产的影响不具有统计学意义。而PON2 Alal48Ala纯合子基因型与G1y148G1y纯合子基因型／Ala148 Gly杂合子基因型比较,对早产的影响具有显著的统计学意义。进一步分析CYP2E1基因5′端RsaⅠ位点多态性和PON2基因148位点多态性是否存在交互作用,结果显示：CYP2E1野生纯合子基因型和PON2 Ala148Ala纯合子基因型这一组合与参照组比较,对早产的影响有显著的统计学意义。基因CYP2E1 5′端Rsa I位点多态性与新生儿早产不相关,但基因PON2 148位点多态性与新生儿早产相关,且CPY2E1 5′端Rsa I位点多态性和PON2 148位点多态性之间对早产的影响存在交互作用。