Toward a survey of somatic mutation of the NF1 gene in benign neurofibromas of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations of the NF1 gene, is characterized by multiple neurofibromas, pigmentation anomalies, and a variety of other possible complications, including an increased risk of malignant neoplasias. Tumorigenesis in NF1 is believed to follow the two-hit hypothesis postulated for tumor-suppressor genes. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been shown to occur in NF1-associated malignancies and in benign neurofibromas, but only few of the latter yielded a positive result. Here we describe a systematic approach of searching for somatic inactivation of the NF1 gene in neurofibromas. In the course of these studies, two new intragenic polymorphisms of the NF1 gene, a tetranucleotide repeat and a 21-bp duplication, could be identified. Three tumor-specific point mutations and two LOH events were detected among seven neurofibromas from four different NF1 patients. Our results suggest that small subtle mutations occur with similar frequency to that of LOH in benign neurofibromas and that somatic inactivation of the NF1 gene is a general event in these tumors. The spectrum of somatic mutations occurring in various tumors from individual NF1 patients may contribute to the understanding of variable expressivity of the NF1 phenotype.     

High rate of DNA loss in the Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila virilis species groups

We recently proposed that patterns of evolution of non-LTR retrotransposable elements can be used to study patterns of spontaneous mutation. Transposition of non-LTR retrotransposable elements commonly results in creation of 5' truncated, "dead-on-arrival" copies. These inactive copies are effectively pseudogenes and, according to the neutral theory, their molecular evolution ought to reflect rates and patterns of spontaneous mutation. Maximum parsimony can be used to separate the evolution of active lineages of a non-LTR element from the fate of the "dead-on-arrival" insertions and to directly assess the relative frequencies of different types of spontaneous mutations. We applied this approach using a non-LTR element, Helena, in the Drosophila virilis group and have demonstrated a surprisingly high incidence of large deletions and the virtual absence of insertions. Based on these results, we suggested that Drosophila in general may exhibit a high rate of spontaneous large deletions and have hypothesized that such a high rate of DNA loss may help to explain the puzzling dearth of bona fide pseudogenes in Drosophila. We also speculated that variation in the rate of spontaneous deletion may contribute to the divergence of genome size in different taxa by affecting the amount of superfluous "junk" DNA such as, for example, pseudogenes or long introns. In this paper, we extend our analysis to the D. melanogaster subgroup, which last shared a common ancestor with the D. virilis group approximately 40 MYA. In a different region of the same transposable element, Helena, we demonstrate that inactive copies accumulate deletions in species of the D. melanogaster subgroup at a rate very similar to that of the D. virilis group. These results strongly suggest that the high rate of DNA loss is a general feature of Drosophila and not a peculiar property of a particular stretch of DNA in a particular species group.      

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.     

Morphological and molecular taxonomy of a new Daptonema (Nematoda,Xyalidae) with comments on the systematics of some related taxa

A new species of Daptonema is described based upon morphological characters and 18S rRNA sequence. Daptonema matrona sp. nov. was collected in Pina Basin (north‐eastern Brazil). It differs from all other species of the genus by the presence of reduced cephalic setae and straight spicules. These features require an adaptation of the generic diagnosis. Moreover, the females are characterized by intra‐uterine development of the offspring, considered herein as their major autapomorphic feature. Molecular systematic analyses supported Daptonema matrona sp. nov. as a distinct genetic and evolutionary lineage. The data also indicate hypotheses of taxonomic synonymies amongst some related taxa from Xyalidae as well as the paraphyly of Daptonema. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158 , 1–15.     

Karyotype analysis in South American species of Myrtaceae

In Myrtaceae (Myrteae), the diploid chromosome number 2 n  = 2 x  = 22 is the most common, although variations of ploidy level occur, with some triploid (2 n  = 3 x  = 33) and tetraploid (2 n  = 4 x  = 44) records. Karyotype details in this group are scarce because the chromosomes are small (< 2 μm). In this work, we carried out a karyotypic analysis of 15 species of Myrtaceae grouped in different subtribes and genera. Measurements of chromosome length (long arm, L ; short arm, S ) were taken and several karyotypic parameters were calculated for each species. The karyotypes in fleshy-fruited taxa (Myrteae) were more varied than in the other previously analysed dry-fruited group ( Eucalyptus , Eucalypteae), in which the chromosomes were exclusively metacentric.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155 , 571–580.     

Altered B:9-23 insulin, when administered intranasally with cholera toxin adjuvant, suppresses the expression of insulin autoantibodies and prevents diabetes

Insulin peptide B:9-23 is a major autoantigen in type 1 diabetes that contains two distinct CD4 epitopes (B:9-16 and B:13-23). One of the two epitopes, B:13-23, overlaps with a CTL epitope (B:15-23). In this study, we report that the elimination of the CTL epitope from the B:9-23 peptide by amino acid substitution (with alanine) at positions B:16 and 19 (A16,19 altered peptide ligand) or truncation of the C-terminal amino acids from the peptide (B:9-21), neither of which stimulated the proliferation of insulin B:15-23 reactive CD8 T cells, provided significant intranasally induced suppression of diabetes when coadministered with a potent mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). Intranasal treatment with A16,19 resulted in the elimination of spontaneous insulin autoantibodies, significant inhibition of insulitis and remission from hyperglycemia, and prevented the progression to diabetes. Intranasal administration of native B:9-23/CT or B:11-23/CT resulted in a significant enhancement of insulin autoantibody expression and severity of insulitis and failed to prevent diabetes. Our present study indicates that elimination of the CTL epitope from the B:9-23 peptide was critically important for mucosally induced diabetes prevention. The A16,19 altered peptide ligand, but not other native insulin peptides, suppresses insulin autoantibodies associated with protection from and remission of diabetes.     

Biomimetic implant coatings

Biomaterials and tissue engineering technologies are becoming increasingly important in biomedical practice, particularly as the population ages. Cellular responses depend on topographical properties of the biomaterial at the nanometer scale. Structures on biomaterial surfaces are used as powerful tools to influence or even control interactions between implants and the biological system [; ]. The influence of nanometer sized surface structures on osteoblastlike cell interactions was tested with niobium oxide coatings on polished titanium slices (cp-Ti grade 2). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of nanoscopic surface structures on osteoblast interactions in order to support collagen I production and cell adhesion. The coatings were done by means of the sol-gel process. The surface structure was adjusted by annealing of the metaloxide ceramic coatings due to temperature depended crystal growth. The applied annealing temperatures were 450, 550 and 700 degrees C for 1 h, corresponding to Ra-numbers of 7, 15 and 40 nm. The surfaces were characterized by means of AFM, DTA/TG, diffractometry and white light interferometry. The cell reactions were investigated concerning adhesion kinetics, migration, spreading, cell adhesion, and collagen I synthesis. The smooth surface (Ra=7 nm) resulted in the fastest cell anchorage and cell migration. The closest cell adhesion was reached with the surface structure of Ra=15 nm. The roughest surface (Ra=40 nm) impedes the cell migration as well as a proper spreading of the cells. The best results concerning cell adhesion and spreading was reached with an intermediate surface roughness of Ra=15 nm of the niobium oxide coating on cp-titanium slices.     

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

Journal of Genetics -