An IGF-I promoter polymorphism modifies the relationships between birth weight and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes at age 36

BACKGROUND: Biochemical testing for pheochromocytoma by measurement of fractionated plasma metanephrines is limited by false positive rates of up to 18% in people without known genetic predisposition to the disease. The plasma normetanephrine fraction is responsible for most false positives and plasma normetanephrine increases with age. The objective of this study was to determine if we could improve the specificity of fractionated plasma measurements, by statistically adjusting for age. METHODS: An age-adjusted metanephrine score was derived using logistic regression from 343 subjects (including 33 people with pheochromocytoma) who underwent fractionated plasma metanephrine measurements as part of investigations for suspected pheochromocytoma at Mayo Clinic Rochester (derivation set). The performance of the age-adjusted score was validated in a dataset of 158 subjects (including patients 23 with pheochromocytoma) that underwent measurements of fractionated plasma metanephrines at Mayo Clinic the following year (validation dataset). None of the participants in the validation dataset had known genetic predisposition to pheochromocytoma. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the age-adjusted metanephrine score was the same as that of traditional interpretation of fractionated plasma metanephrine measurements, yielding a sensitivity of 100% (23/23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 85.7%, 100%). However, the false positive rate with traditional interpretation of fractionated plasma metanephrine measurements was 16.3% (22/135, 95% CI, 11.0%, 23.4%) and that of the age-adjusted score was significantly lower at 3.0% (4/135, 95% CI, 1.2%, 7.4%) (p < 0.001 using McNemar's test). CONCLUSION: An adjustment for age in the interpretation of results of fractionated plasma metanephrines may significantly decrease false positives when using this test to exclude sporadic pheochromocytoma. Such improvements in false positive rate may result in savings of expenditures related to confirmatory imaging.     

Tropomyosin is localized in the nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold of physarum polycephalum

The nuclei and chromosomes were isolated from plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum.The nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold were obtained after the DNA and most of the proteins were extracted with DNase I and 2 M NaCl.SD-PAGE analyses revealed that the nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold contained a 37 kD polypeptide which is equivalent to tropomyosin in molecular weight.Immunofluorescence observations upon slide preparations labeled with anti-tropomyosin antibody showed that the nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold emanated bright fluorescence,suggesting the presence of the antigen in them.Immunodotting results confirmed the presence of tropomyosin in the nuclear matrix and chromosome scaffold.Immunoelectron microscopic observations further demonstrated that tropomyosin was dispersively distributed in the interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes.     

A new species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from south‐eastern Brazil

A new species, Eugenia marambaiensis M.C.Souza & M.P.Morim, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by having large translucent gland dots densely distributed on the leaves, with a caudate apex and slightly wavy margins and a glabrous raceme, with only two flowers. Eugenia marambaiensis was only found in the locality of Restinga da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 306–308.     

Characterisation of a 34 kD protein from potato cyst nematodes, using monoclonal antibodies with potential for species diagnosis

Two monoclonal antibodies, which differentially recognise the two species of potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis, are described. They have been shown to have potential for quantification of these two species, recognising proteins of the same molecular weight (34 kD) in both species. Further investigation showed these proteins to have isoelectric points at pH values of 5.7 in G. pallida and 5.9 in G. rostochiensis, in common with the proteins used by Fleming & Marks (1983) to differentiate the species of PCN. They are likely to be structurally very similar, with the same physiological function (and therefore similar concentrations) in the two species. In cross-reactivity tests with a wide range of soil nematode species, the antibodies reacted strongly only with species of the genus Globodera, and thereby confirmed their potential as the basis of a quantitative immunoassay likely to be useful in management of PCN populations.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

We report the development of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using an unenriched genomic library. The number of the alleles ranged from two to 18 and observed hererozygosity ranged from 0.0286 to 0.9429, indicating that these markers will be useful for population studies and mapping in pacific white shrimp. Seven loci were detected deviated from Hardy–Weinberg, caused by deficiency of heterozygote, suggesting population genetic structure across the sampled population. No evidence for linkage disequilibrium was found.     

Genetic portrait of Lisboa immigrant population from Cabo Verde with mitochondrial DNA analysis

Journal of Genetics -     

Functional characterization of an LCCL-lectin domain containing protein family in Plasmodium berghei

Using bioinformatic, proteomic, immunofluorescence, and genetic cross methods, we have functionally characterized a family of putative parasite ligands as potential mediators of cell-cell interactions. We name these proteins the Limulus clotting factor C, Coch-5b2, and Lgl1 (LCCL)-lectin adhesive-like protein (LAP) family. We demonstrate that this family is conserved amongst Plasmodium spp. It possesses a unique arrangement of adhesive protein domains normally associated with extracellular proteins. The proteins are expressed predominantly, though not exclusively, in the mosquito stages of the life cycle. We test the hypothesis that these proteins are surface proteins with 1 member of this gene family, lap1, and provide evidence that it is expressed on the surface of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Finally, through genetic crosses of wild-type Pblap1+ and transgenic Pblap1- parasites, we show that the null phenotype previously reported for sporozoite development in a Pblap1- mutant can be rescued within a heterokaryotic oocyst and that infectious Pblap1 sporozoites can be formed. The mutant is not rescued by coparasitization of mosquitoes with a mixture Pblap1+ and Pblap1- homokaryotic oocysts.     

小鼠淋巴细胞抗原CTLA-4的胞外肽段表达及纯化

目的: 真核细胞表达小鼠淋巴细胞抗原CTLA-4胞外段肽,研究表达肽段与抗原呈递细胞B7分子结合后减轻小鼠淋巴细胞刺激后的增殖抑制,从而启动T淋巴细胞进一步增殖。方法:从小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞获得总RNA,通过逆转录PCR扩增出CTLA-4全长基因,克隆并测序。依据胞外段序列和真核表达载体pcDNA3.1序列,合成引物扩增胞外片段,两者经内切核酸酶处理、连接构建重组表达pcDNA3.1载体,重组质粒经测序验证后,采用lipofectamine 2000转染入小鼠肝癌细胞Hepa1-6,经G418筛选获得稳定表达细胞株。结果:获得小鼠CTLA-4胞外段真核表达载体和小鼠肝癌细胞Hepa1-6稳定表达转染细胞株,制备了CTLA-4胞外肽段,经His标签抗体和小鼠CTLA-4抗体Western blot检测表达蛋白带均呈阳性。结论:获得CTLA-4胞外段肽,为进一步研究该肽的作用打下基础。     

Morphology and development of additional bony elements in the genus Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

We describe the extra bony elements, plates, and osteoderms present in species of the genus Brachycephalus. Samples of eight species of Brachycephalus, including seven populations of Brachycephalus ephippium, were examined. The large additional elements associated with the skull (parotic plate) and vertebrae (vertebral and paravertebral plates) all comprise intramembranous bone, similar to that of the frontoparietal or nasal bones of the skull of most of frogs. Additionally, in the dermis of one unnamed species, we discovered and described true osteoderms. We discuss the morphological nature and diversity of theses elements and their importance as evidence of phylogenetic relationship within Brachycephalus. In summary, three distinct conditions of extra bony elements occur in the genus Brachycephalus: (1) bony plates may be present or absent in species of the genus; (2) a few, small bony plates may be developed and these may be represented by (a) paravertebral plates small and restricted to the distal ends of the transverse processes of the presacral IV, (b) parotic plates small and not covering the tops of the squamosals, and (c) ornamented spinal plates on all vertebrae; and (3) well‐developed bony plates may be present as (a) paravertebral plates forming a ‘bone‐shield’ on the dorsal surface of the trunk, ornamented, and visible through the integument, (b) parotic plates covering the tops of the squamosals, and (c) spinal plates associated with all vertebrae, and ornamented on vertebrate I–VI. Although the phenomenon of miniaturization may be associated with the appearance of new elements in at least some of the species in the genus, the traditional rule may not be universally applicable. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99 , 752–767.