Xp-duplications with and without sex reversal

Duplications in Xp including the DSS (dosage sensitive sex reversal) region cause male to female sex reversal. We investigated two patients from families with Xp duplications. The first case was one of two sisters with karyotype 46,XY, der(22), t(X;22)(p11.3;p11)mat and unambiguous female genitalia. The living sister was developmentally retarded, and showed multiple dysmorphic features and an acrocallosal syndrome. The second case was a boy with a maternally inherited direct duplication of Xp21.3-pter with the breakpoint close to the DSS locus. He had multiple abnormalities and micropenis, but otherwise unambiguous male genitalia. We performed quantitative Southern blot analysis with probes from Xp22.13 to p21.2 to define the duplicated region. Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular data from both patients were compared with those of previously reported related cases. A comparison of the extragenital symptoms revealed no differences between patients with or without sex reversal. In both cases, the symptoms were non-specific. Among 22 patients with a duplication in Xp, nine had unambiguous female genitalia and a well-documented duplication of the DSS region. Two patients with duplication of DSS showed ambiguous external genitalia. From these data, we conclude that induction of testicular tissue may start in these patients, but that the type of genitalia depends on the degree of subsequent degeneration by a gene in DSS.     

Linkage disequilibrium and extended haplotypes in the HLA-A to D6S105 region: implications for mapping the hemochromatosis gene (HFE)

The hemochromatosis gene (HFE) maps to 6p21.3, in close linkage with the HLA Class I genes. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) studies were designed to narrow down the most likely candidate region for HFE, as an alternative to traditional linkage analysis. However, both the HLA-A and D6S105 subregions, which are situated 2–3 cM and approximately 3 Mb apart, have been suggested to contain HFE. The present report extends our previous study based upon the analysis of a large number of HFE and normal chromosomes from 66families of Breton ancestry. In addition to the previously used RFLP markers spanning the 400-kb surrounding HLA-A, we examined three microsatellites: D6S510, HLA-F, and D6S105. Our combined data not only confirm a peak of LD at D6S105, but also reveal a complex pattern of LD over the i82 to D6S105 interval. Within our ethnically well-defined population of Brittany, the association of HFE with D6S105 is as great as that with HLA-A, while the internal markers display a lower LD. Fine haplotype analysis enabled us to identify two categories of haplotypes segregating with HFE. In contrast to the vast majority of normal haplotypes, 50% of HFE haplotypes are completely conserved over the HLA-A to D6S105 interval. These haplotypes could have been conserved through recombination suppression, selective forces and/or other evolutionary factors. This particular haplotypic configuration might account for the apparent inconsistencies between genetic linkage and LD data, and additionally greatly complicates positional cloning of HFE through disequilibrium mapping.The authors contributed equally to this work     

Biflavonoid differentiation in sixBartramia species (Bartramiaceae,Musci)

The occurrence of eight biflavones belonging to the biluteolin series, the apigenin-luteolin series and the 2,3-dihydro-biluteolin series, and one monomeric flavone with an acid group, was investigated in six taxa ofBartramia with emphasis on sect.Ithyphyllae. The variation of biflavone profiles contributes to the characterization of theBartramia species studied; substitution patterns signalize relevance also on the sectional level. Based upon the flavonoid composition,Bartramia afro-ithyphylla is suggested to be transferred from sect.Ithyphyllae to sect.Bartramia of the genusBartramia.     

Thiol-induced oligomerization of α-lactalbumin at high pressure

Denaturation and aggregation of-lactalbumin at high pressure (up to 10 kbar, 1000 MPa) were studied by means of circular dichroism, gel-permeation chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate and gel electrophoresis. It was found that the unfolding of-lactalbumin at high pressure is reversible even in basic pH and at a protein concentration as large as 10%. In these conditions only a negligible fraction of the protein is denatured irreversibly and aggregates. The rate of aggregation of-lactalbumin at high pressure increases significantly in the presence of low-molecular reducing agents such as cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, and dithiothreitol. Maximal yield of-lactalbumin oligomerization (over 90%) was achieved in the presence of cysteine at the molar cysteine/protein ratioq=2 and atpH 8.5. Apparent molecular weight of the obtained oligomers was over 500 kDa. It was shown that the size distribution of oligomers can be modulated by varyingpH and reducing agent. The size distribution shifts in the direction of very large, poorly soluble particles whenpH decreases. Maximal content of the insoluble fraction (about 30%) can be reached at pH 5.5 when cysteine (q=2) is used as reducing agent. The oligomers of-lactalbumin are stabilized mainly by nonnative interchain disulfide bridges. Circular dichroism measurements point to an additional mechanism of cohesion of polypeptide chains in the oligomers, which is formation of intermolecular-sheets.     

Regulation and functional significance of phospholipase D in myocardium

There is now clear evidence that receptor-dependent phospholipase D is present in myocardium. This novel signal transduction pathway provides an alternative source of 1,2-diacylglycerol, which activates isoforms of protein kinase C. The members of the protein kinase C family respond differently to various combinations of Ca²⁺, phosphatidylserine, molecular species of 1,2-diacylglycerol and other membrane phospholipid metabolites including free fatty acids. Protein kinase C isozymes are responsible for phosphorylation of specific cardiac substrate proteins that may be involved in regulation of cardiac contractility, hypertrophic growth, gene expression, ischemic preconditioning and electrophysiological changes. The initial product of phospholipase D, phosphatidic acid, may also have a second messenger role. As in other tissues, the question how the activity of phospholipase D is controlled by agonists in myocardium is controversial. Agonists, such as endothelin-1, atrial natriuretic factor and angiotensin 11 that are shown to activate phospholipase D, also potently stimulate phospholipase C- in myocardium. PMA stimulation of protein kinase C inactivates phospholipase C and strongly activates phospholipase D and this is probably a major mechanism by which agonists that promote phosphatidyl-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis secondary activate phosphatidylcholine-hydrolysis. On the other hand, one group has postulated that formation of phosphatidic acid secondary activates phosphatidyl-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis in cardiomyocytes. Whether GTP-binding proteins directly control phospholipase D is not clearly established in myocardium. Phospholipase D activation may also be mediated by an increase in cytosolic free Ca²⁺ or by tyrosine-phosphorylation.     

Biotransformation of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes by cell suspension cultures of Achillea millefolium L. ssp. millefolium

The transformation capacity of Achillea millefolium L. ssp. millefolium (yarrow) cell suspension cultures was investigated using geraniol (50mg/l) and borneol, menthol, thymol and farnesols (25mg/l) as substrates. Apart from converting these substrates into several biotransformation products, the cell suspension cultures were also able to glycosylate both the substrates and the biotransformation products. aa]Key Words bb]Achillea millefolium L. ssp. millefolium bb]Yarrow bb]Compositae bb]Biotransformation bb]Glycosylation bb]Geraniol bb]Borneol bb]Menthol bb]Thymol bb]Farnesols     

Molecular analysis of a pistil-specific gene expressed in the stigma and stylar cortex of Solanum tuberosum

A gene, sts14, coding for a highly expressed mRNA in pistils of Solanum tuberosum, was isolated. Northern blot and in situ analyses demonstrated that the gene was expressed throughout pistil development in both the stylar cortex and the stigma. The deduced STS14 protein displays similarity to the pathogenesis-related PR-1 proteins. A possible function for protection or guidance of the pollen tubes through the pistil is discussed.