Localization of the gene for amiloride binding protein on chromosome 7 and RFLP analysis in cystic fibrosis families

Summary The apical sodium channel is essential for sodium reabsorption by the kidney. Its activity is blocked by the diuretic amiloride. Using a human cDNA coding for the amiloride binding protein (ABP), the corresponding structural gene was mapped to human chromosome 7q34–q36 by in situ hybridization. This region flanks the region implicated in cystic fibrosis (7q32). Because an alteration of the amiloride sensitive sodium channel function has been suggested in cystic fibrosis, a possible link between the ABP gene and this disease was analyzed by restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. From this study, it appears that the gene coding for ABP is not directly modified by mutations causing cystic fibrosis.     

Antitumor activity and distribution of pyrroloiminoquinones in the sponge genus Zyzzya

A detailed analysis of four different collections of the sponge genus Zyzzya yielded nine pyrroloiminoquinones of the makaluvamine, batzelline, and isobatzelline/damirone classes. Dereplication analyses of additional Zyzzya extracts did not disclose more potent or additional new compounds. Comparative testing of these compounds in the National Cancer Institute's 60 cell line human tumor screen revealed varying levels of potency and differential cytotoxicity, apparently related to the unsaturation levels in and substitution patterns on the core ring system. Further studies on the topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage were conducted. Reductive activation of the pyrroloiminoquinones led to DNA damage in vitro, which correlated with half wave potentials and reversibility parameters. DNA damage could be abrogated by ascorbate. Fluorescence displacement was used to measure intercalation with DNA; intercalation efficiency did not correlate with DNA-damaging proficiency. Makaluvamine H (5) emerged as the most potent and differential of our isolates, roughly comparable to makaluvamines C (in vitro) and I (in vivo). 3,7-Dimethyl guanine was isolated from one of the Zyzzya collections and from the sponge Latrunculia purpurea.     

Synteny comparison between apes and human using fine-mapping of the genome

Comparing the genomes of the great apes and human should provide novel information concerning the origins of humankind. Relative to the great apes, the human karyotype has one fewer chromosome pair, as human chromosome 2 derived from the telomeric fusion of two ancestral primate chromosomes. To identify the genomic rearrangements that accompanied human speciation, we initiated a comparative study between human, chimpanzee, and gorilla. Using the HAPPY mapping method, an acellular adaptation of the radiation hybrid method, we mapped a few hundred markers on the human, chimpanzee, and gorilla genomes. This allowed us to identify several chromosome rearrangements, in particular a pericentric inversion and a translocation. We precisely localized the synteny breakpoint that led to the formation of human chromosome 2. This breakpoint was confirmed by FISH mapping.     

A new human brain cDNA molecule: assignment to chromosome 11q21-q23.1 and description of two polymorphisms studied by the polymerase chain reaction

A new human brain cDNA molecule was mapped by in situ hybridization to the 11q21-q23.1 region of the human genome, probably to the 11q22 band. An EcoRI restriction site and a (GT) _n repeat element within the gene were shown to be polymorphic. Both polymorphisms were readily studied by the polymerase chain reaction. A two-allele polymorphism was described for the EcoRI restriction site, whereas four different alleles were detected for the second genetic marker. The observed heterozygosities were 37% and 42% for the former and the latter polymorphism, respectively. The combined heterozygosity index was estimated to be 0.56. These new genetic markers will be useful for linkage analysis of neurogenetic diseases that have been mapped to this chromosomal region.     

New gene in the homologous human 11q13–q14 and mouse 7F chromosomal regions

Alterations in the chromosomal region 11q13–11q14 are involved in several pathologies in which most of the key genes remain to be identified. In an effort to isolate as many candidates as possible, we are cloning genes from this region. We report here the mapping for a new sequence from 11q13.5–11q14. This sequence, designated D11S833E, putatively encodes a new gene, provisionally named GARP. We cloned its homologous sequence in the mouse and located it on Chromosome (Chr) 7, region F. The human and mouse genes belong to a conserved group of synteny. This, together with the similar conservation of the FGF and TYR genes, indicates that the human 11q13–q14 and mouse 7E-7F regions share homology.     

Assignment of the humanhap retinoic acid receptor RARβ gene to the p24 band of chromosome 3

Summary The humanhap retinoic acid receptor RAR has been localized by in situ hybridization to the p24 band of chromosome 3.     

N-caffeoylphenalkylamide derivatives as bacterial efflux pump inhibitors

As part of an ongoing project to identify plant natural products as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of Mirabilis jalapa Linn. (Nyctaginaceae) led to the isolation of an active polyphenolic amide: N-trans-feruloyl 4'-O-methyldopamine. This compound showed moderate activity as an EPI against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus overexpressing the multidrug efflux transporter NorA, causing an 8-fold reduction of norfloxacin MIC at 292 microM (100 microg/mL). This prompted us to synthesize derivatives in order to provide structure-activity relationships and to access more potent inhibitors. Among the synthetic compounds, some were more active than the natural compound and N-trans-3,4-O-dimethylcaffeoyl tryptamine showed potentiation of norfloxacin in MDR S. aureus comparable to that of the standard reserpine.