Vntr Allele Frequency Distributions under the Stepwise Mutation Model: A Computer Simulation Approach

Variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs) are a class of highly informative and widely dispersed genetic markers. Despite their wide application in biological science, little is known about their mutational mechanisms or population dynamics. The objective of this work was to investigate four summary measures of VNTR allele frequency distributions: number of alleles, number of modes, range in allele size and heterozygosity, using computer simulations of the one-step stepwise mutation model (SMM). We estimated these measures and their probability distributions for a wide range of mutation rates and compared the simulation results with predictions from analytical formulations of the one-step SMM. The average heterozygosity from the simulations agreed with the analytical expectation under the SMM. The average number of alleles, however, was larger in the simulations than the analytical expectation of the SMM. We then compared our simulation expectations with actual data reported in the literature. We used the sample size and observed heterozygosity to determine the expected value, 5th and 95th percentiles for the other three summary measures, allelic size range, number of modes and number of alleles. The loci analyzed were classified into three groups based on the size of the repeat unit: microsatellites (1-2 base pair (bp) repeat unit), short tandem repeats [(STR) 3-5 bp repeat unit], and minisatellites (15-70 bp repeat unit). In general, STR loci were most similar to the simulation results under the SMM for the three summary measures (number of alleles, number of modes and range in allele size), followed by the microsatellite loci and then by the minisatellite loci, which showed deviations in the direction of the infinite allele model (IAM). Based on these differences, we hypothesize that these three classes of loci are subject to different mutational forces.     

在中国壮族家系中发现的一例-α~T/-α~Q复合β~0β~0珠蛋白基因型

本文报道在我国广西隆林壮族中发现一个罕見的HbQ复合α,β地中海贫血家系。先证者女,18岁,贫血面容,肝脾肿大。化学结构分析确证本Hb变异体为HbQ Thailand[α74(EF3)Asp→His]。血红蛋白组成以及α和β珠蛋白基因分析结果表明,先证者的珠蛋白基因型为-α~Q/-α~T复合β°/β°(IVSI-1G→T/Codon17A→T);先证者父的基因型为-‘α~Q/-复合β~O/β~A(IVSI-1G→T/β~A);先证母的基因型为-α~T/αα复合β~O/β~A(Codon17A→T/β~A)。     

Site and mechanism of behavioral tolerance to cocaine: A study of dopamine release in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats received i.v. infusions of cocaine hydrochloride (60 mg/kg per day) for 3, 7, and 14 days, or saline for 7 days. Acute cocaine challenge (40 mg/kg, s.c.) was given to treated and control rats 24 hr after the termination of each infusion period. There were no strain differences in brain levels of cocaine during cocaine infusion, nor after cocaine challenges. There were no strain differences in resting levels of [³H]dopamine release. Release of [³H]dopamine decreased in nuclei accumbens of 7- and 14-day cocaine-infused animals. Release of [³H]dopamine was maximal in both brain regions 2 hr after acute cocaine challenge. After 14 days of cocaine infusion, cocaine challenge in both strains reduced [³H]dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, but not in the striatum; the reduction being greater in Wistar-Kyoto rats. The behavioral tolerance which accompanies similar cocaine infusion regimens may be related to striatal tolerance to cocaine-induced dopamine release.     

Partition of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems containing charged dextran or hydrophobic PEG

Summary The electrochemical effect of a charged dextran derivative and the hydrophobic effect of hydrophobic chain PEG derivative on partitioning of six types of proteins in PEG/dextran aqueous two-phase systems were investigated- When 1. 6%(w/w)DEAE-dextran was present in the system,the partition coefficient decreased quickly with increasing pH value;when 0. 4% (w/w)PEG pentadecanoic acid ester was present in the system, the partition coefficient of protein with strong hydrophobicity was greatly increased. The experimental results show that the influence of hydrocarbon chain PEG derivative on partition coefficient is closely related to the hydrophobicity of proteins.     

IN VIVO EFFECTS OF CARDIOTROPHIN-1

Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a recently discovered cytokine that was isolated based on its ability to induce cardiac myocyte hypertrophy in vitro. In this study, the effects of chronic administration of CT-1 to mice (0.5 or 2 μg by intraperitoneal injection, twice a day for 14 days) were determined. A dose-dependent increase in both the heart weight and ventricular weight to body ratios was observed in the treated groups. The body weights of the animals were unaffected. These results indicate that CT-1 can induce cardiac hypertrophy in vivo. CT-1 was not specific for the heart, however. It stimulated the growth of the liver, kidney, and spleen, and caused atrophy of the thymus. CT-1 administration also increased the platelet counts by 70%, with no change in mean platelet volume. Red blood cell counts were increased in the treated animals, and there was a concomitant increase in haemoglobin concentration. Thus, CT-1 has a broad spectrum of biological activities in vivo. This observation is consistent with previous in-vitro findings showing that the mRNA for CT-1 is expressed in several tissues, and that CT-1 can function through binding to the leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor and signalling through the gp130 pathway.     

Nerve Growth Factor as a Mitogen for a Pancreatic Carcinoid Cell Line

Abstract: Carcinoid tumors are a group of neuroendocrine neoplasms distributed widely throughout the body but most commonly occurring in the gut. These tumors retain many characteristics of their neural crest origin, including secretion of neuroactive peptides and responsiveness to neurotrophic substances. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophic protein involved in maintenance and differentiation of peripheral sympathetic and sensory neurons, regulates growth of several neural tumor cells by inducing a differentiated phenotype and subsequent inhibition of cell growth rate. We examined the actions of NGF in a functioning human pancreatic carcinoid cell line (termed BON). NGF has no effect on the cytoarchitecture or constitutive secretion of bioamines in this carcinoid cell line. NGF, however, stimulates the in vitro cellular proliferation of BON cells. BON cells possess mRNA for the NGF receptors (p75^LNGFR and p140^trkA) and membrane-associated tyrosine kinase activity is increased in response to NGF. Both the mitogenic activity of NGF, as well as the receptor-linked tyrosine kinase activity, can be abrogated in BON cells by the trkA inhibitor K-252a and specific anti-NGF antibody. Our studies demonstrate that NGF is a mitogen for this carcinoid cell line without effect on cellular phenotype or cytoarchitecture. NGF may play a role in the development and progression of human carcinoid tumors.     

甘蔗细平象的研究

甘蔗细平象Trockorhopalus humeralis Chevrolat是云南甘蔗上的一种毁灭性地下害虫,以幼虫和成虫在地下蔗头内为害,为害期8-10个月。据1989年调查,受害蔗每亩损失500-3000kg,严重的无收。此虫1年发生1代,以成虫在蔗头内越冬,有喜湿性,不能飞翔,主要通过沟河流水传播。在河川坝地,沙壤土中虫口较多;宿根年限越长的甘蔗受害越重。建议蔗稻轮作;缩短甘蔗宿根年限;早春翻挖有虫蔗蔸烧毁;结合新植蔗下种,宿根蔗松蔸培土施用甲基异柳磷或铁灭克等颗粒杀虫剂进行防治。     

转移及非转移肿瘤移植后615小鼠血液流变学变化的研究

血道高转移瘤株FC、淋巴合并血道高转移瘤株U14、淋巴道高转移瘤株H22、非转移瘤株P615分别接种于336只纯系近交615小鼠.不同时间取血并处死动物,进行组织学及血液流变学检查.将转移瘤发展过程分为潜伏期、侵袭期、转移早、中、晚期,非转移瘤发展过程分为潜优期、增殖期、囊腔形成期及中心坏死期.本实验结果显示,不同转移能力及途径肿瘤发展的不同时期血液流变学变化规律不同,因而表明肿瘤侵袭、转移与血液流变学变化之间存在互为因果的紧密关系.其临床诊断及治疗意义被讨论.     

Leukemia inhibitory factor/differentiation-stimulating factor (LIF/D-factor): regulation of its production and possible roles in bone metabolism.

Leukemia inhibitory factor/differentiation-stimulating factor (LIF/D-factor), expression of its mRNA, and possible roles in bone metabolism were studied in murine primary and clonal osteoblast-like cells. Local bone-resorbing factors such as IL-1, TNF alpha, and LPS strongly induced expression of LIF/D-factor mRNA in both clonal MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblast-like cells. Neither parathyroid hormone nor 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulated expression of LIF/D-factor mRNA. LIF/D-factor per se did not stimulate expression of its own mRNA. Appreciable amounts of LIF/D-factor were detected in synovial fluids from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients but not in those with osteoarthritis (OA). Simultaneous treatment with LIF/D-factor, IL-1, and IL-6 at the concentrations found in synovial fluids from RA patients greatly enhanced bone resorption, though these cytokines did not stimulate bone resorption when separately applied. This suggests that LIF/D-factor produced by osteoblasts is in concert with other bone-resorbing cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6 involved in the bone resorption seen in the joints of RA patients. LIF/D-factor specifically bound to MC3T3-E1 cells with an apparent dissociation constant of 161 pM and 1,100 binding sites/cell. LIF/D-factor dose-dependently suppressed incorporation of [3H]thymidine into MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, it potentiated the alkaline phosphatase activity induced by retinoic acid, though LIF/D-factor alone had no effect on enzyme activity. These results suggest that LIF/D-factor is involved in not only osteoclastic bone resorption but also osteoblast differentiation in conjugation with other osteotropic factors.