Allele frequencies of the human platelet antigen-1 in the Egyptian population

Background

We report the expression pattern of 5S rDNA in the eggs of water frogs Rana lessonae, Rana ridibunda and Rana esculenta using the quantitative real-time PCR. This kind of research had never been performed before.

Results

5S rDNA relative expression of the Rana ridibunda oocytes is approximately six times higher in comparison to the Rana lessonae oocytes. The oocytes of the investigated Rana esculenta frogs, in respect of 5S rDNA relative expression ratio, were very similar to the Rana ridibunda oocytes.

Conclusion

We suggest the possibility of using 5S rDNA as the internal control gene, in the studies of relative mRNA quantitative assays in water frog oocytes, because of its characteristic specific expression pattern in the Rana lessonae, Rana ridibunda and Rana esculenta oocytes.     

The role of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in pathogen defence

Phytohormones are not only instrumental in regulating developmental processes in plants but also play important roles for the plant's responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In particular, abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid have been shown to possess crucial functions in mediating or orchestrating stress responses in plants. Here, we review the role of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in pathogen defence responses with special emphasis on their function in the solanaceous plant potato.     

LINE-1 preTa elements in the human genome

The preTa subfamily of long interspersed elements (LINEs) is characterized by a three base-pair "ACG" sequence in the 3' untranslated region, contains approximately 400 members in the human genome, and has low level of nucleotide divergence with an estimated average age of 2.34 million years old suggesting that expansion of the L1 preTa subfamily occurred just after the divergence of humans and African apes. We have identified 362 preTa L1 elements from the draft human genomic sequence, investigated the genomic characteristics of preTa L1 insertions, and screened individual elements across diverse human populations and various non-human primate species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to determine the phylogenetic origin and levels of human genomic diversity associated with the L1 elements. All of the preTa L1 elements analyzed by PCR were absent from the orthologous positions in non-human primate genomes with 33 (14%) of the L1 elements being polymorphic with respect to insertion presence or absence in the human genome. The newly identified L1 insertion polymorphisms will prove useful as identical by descent genetic markers for the study of human population genetics. We provide evidence that preTa L1 elements show an integration site preference for genomic regions with low GC content. Computational analysis of the preTa L1 elements revealed that 29% of the elements amenable to complete sequence analysis have apparently escaped 5' truncation and are essentially full-length (approximately 6kb). In all, 29 have two intact open reading frames and may be capable of retrotransposition.     

Initiation of Bone and Amnion Banking in Turkey

There is a growing demand in Turkey for human tissue to use in surgery and wound healing. However, our country does not have facilities for local production of tissue grafts and generally depends on imported products. Under a multi-year project initiated in 1997, the International Atomic Energy Agency has provided main equipment for tissue processing and experts on Tissue Banking as well as training on tissue processing methods.In this presentation, information on various stages of the project implementation is given. Details of lay out for the process laboratories and equipment are given. Donor selection and testing criteria, processing procedures for bone and amnion, setting up product design, implementation of quality system and radiation sterilisation are described briefly. Quality procedures included preparation of quality manual, record forms, document control, non-conformance and corrective actions, training records, equipment maintenance and calibration are all in line with GMP/GLP Standards. Clinical applications of tissue grafts and medico-legal position of organ and tissue donation in Turkey are also discussed briefly.     

Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Metabolites by Naphthalene-Catabolizing Enzymes

The ability of the dehydrogenase and ring cleavage dioxygenase of the naphthalene degradation pathway to transform 3,4-dihydroxylated biphenyl metabolites was investigated. 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dehydrogenase was expressed as a histidine-tagged protein. The purified enzyme transformed 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl, and 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl (3,4-DHB), and 3,4-dihydroxy-2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3,4-DH-2,2′,5,5′-TCB), respectively. Our data also suggested that purified 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase catalyzed the meta cleavage of 3,4-DHB in both the 2,3 and 4,5 positions. This enzyme cleaved 3,4-DH-2,2′,5,5′-TCB and 3,4-DHB at similar rates. These results demonstrate the utility of the naphthalene catabolic enzymes in expanding the ability of the bph pathway to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls.     

Optimisation of the Photonic Efficiency of TiO2 Decorated on MWCNTs for Methylene Blue Photodegradation

MWCNTs/TiO₂ nanocomposite was prepared by oxidising MWCNT in H₂SO₄/HNO₃ then decorating it with TiO₂-p25 nanopowder. The composites were characterised using XRD, TEM, FT-IR PL and UV−vis spectroscopy. The TEM images have shown TiO₂ nanoparticles immobilised onto the sidewalls of the MWCNTs. The UV-vis spectrum confirms that the nanocomposites can significantly absorb more light in the visible regions compared with the commercial TiO₂ (P25). The catalytic activity of these nanocomposites was determined by photooxidation of MB aqueous solution in the presence of visible light. The MWCNTs/TiO₂ (1:3) mass ratio showed maximum degradation efficiency. However, its activity was more favourable in alkaline and a neutral pH than an acidic medium.     

LC–MS/MS characterization of combined glycogenin-1 and glycogenin-2 enzymatic activities reveals their self-glucosylation preferences

Glycogen synthesis is initiated by self-glucosylation of the glycosyltransferases glycogenin-1 and -2 that, in the presence of UDP-glucose, form both the first glucose-O-tyrosine linkage, and then stepwise add a series of α1,4-linked glucoses to a growing chain of variable length. Glycogen-1 and -2 coexist in liver glycogen preparations where the proteins are known to form homodimers, and they also have been shown to interact with each other. In order to study how glycogenin-1 and -2 interactions may influence each other's glucosylations we setup a cell-free expression system for in vitro production and glucosylation of glycogenin-1 and -2 in various combinations, and used a mass spectrometry based workflow for the characterization and quantitation of tryptic glycopeptides originating from glycogenin-1 and -2. The analysis revealed that the self-glucosylation endpoint was the incorporation of 4–8 glucose units on Tyr 195 of glycogenin-1, but only 0–4 glucose units on Tyr-228 of glycogenin-2. The glucosylation of glycogenin-2 was enhanced to 2–4 glucose units by the co-presence of enzymatically active glycogenin-1. Glycogenin-2 was, however, unable to glucosylate inactive glycogenin-1, at least not an enzymatically inactivated Thr83Met glycogenin-1 mutant, recently identified in a patient with severe glycogen depletion.     

Improvement of β-glucosidase production by co-culture of Aspergillus niger and A. oryzae under solid state fermentation through feeding process

Eleven different Aspergillus strains were evaluated for their ability to produce β-glucosidase using sugar cane bagasse as a sole carbon source under solid state fermentation (SSF). The most potent strains, A. niger NRC 7 (674.6 U/g ds) and A. oryzae NRRL 447 (83 U/g ds), were used in a mixed culture to enhance β-glucosidase production by co-culturing under SSF. In mixed culture, β-glucosidase of the two strains (814 U/g ds) was nearly 1.2- and 9.8-fold than that of monocultures of A. niger NRC 7A and A. oryzae NRRL 447, respectively. Optimization of the culture parameters, initial pH value, moisture content, inoculum size and ratios of the two strains. and incubation time exhibited a significant increase in β-glucosidase production (1,893 U/g ds) than before optimization. Single feeding with citrate-phosphate buffer, succinate buffer, casein. and soybean flour individually after the third day of the fermentation time and controlling the moisture content at 90 % (w/w) induced β-glucosidase production. Maximum enzyme production increased up to 2.1-fold compared to 2,188 U/g ds during normal batch culture. Among nitrogen sources, soybean flour gave the highest β-glucosidase (4,578 U/g ds). while urea reduced β-glucosidase production (1,693 U/g ds). However, the combination of buffers with soybean flour through two fed cycles resulted in a decrease of the enzyme than single fed with buffers or soybean flour alone.