Sex differences in heritability of BMI: a comparative study of results from twin studies in eight countries.

Body mass index (BMI), a simple anthropometric measure, is the most frequently used measure of adiposity and has been instrumental in documenting the worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity witnessed during the last decades. Although this increase in overweight and obesity is thought to be mainly due to environmental changes, i.e., sedentary lifestyles and high caloric diets, consistent evidence from twin studies demonstrates high heritability and the importance of genetic differences for normal variation in BMI. We analysed self-reported data on BMI from approximately 37,000 complete twin pairs (including opposite sex pairs) aged 20-29 and 30-39 from eight different twin registries participating in the GenomEUtwin project. Quantitative genetic analyses were conducted and sex differences were explored. Variation in BMI was greater for women than for men, and in both sexes was primarily explained by additive genetic variance in all countries. Sex differences in the variance components were consistently significant. Results from analyses of opposite sex pairs also showed evidence of sex-specific genetic effects suggesting there may be some differences between men and women in the genetic factors that influence variation in BMI. These results encourage the continued search for genes of importance to the body composition and the development of obesity. Furthermore, they suggest that strategies to identify predisposing genes may benefit from taking into account potential sex specific effects.     

A combined polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease enzyme assay for discriminating between Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni

Abstract A combined polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease (RE) enzyme assay was developed to discriminate between Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni . Amplimers of the FlaA gene obtained by PCR were digested with Alu I and Hin fI to distinguish C. coli from C. jejuni . With Alu I digestion C. jejuni -specific bands were observed at 110, 140 and 160 bp and C. coli -specific bands at 293 and 147 bp. C. jejuni -specific bands of 349 and 109 bp were found by Hin fI digestion but Hin fI did not digest the Fla A amplimer of C. coli . This combined technique is fast and easy to perform, and distinguishes the two campylobacters unequivocally.     

Histone mRNAs contain blocked and methylated 5′ terminal sequences but lack methylated nucleosides at internal positions

Histone mRNA, labeled with ³²P or ³H-methionine during the S phase of partially synchronized HeLa cells, was isolated from the polyribosomes and purified as a “9S” component by sucrose gradient sedimentation. We identified two types of 5′ terminals, m⁷G(5′)pppN^mpN and m⁷G(5′)pppN^m-pN^mpN, in which the first methylated nucleoside is 7-methylguanosine, the second is either N⁶,2′-O-dimethyladenosine, 2′-O-methyladenosine, or 2′-O-methylguanosine, and the third is 2′-O-methyluridine, 2′-O-methylcytidine, or 2′-O-methyladenosine. Approximately 1.7% of the ³²P label was present in the 5′ terminal structures. Assuming a similar specific radioactivity for all phosphates, this percentage corresponds to an average of one terminal per 335 nucleotides. Histone mRNA differed from bulk polyadenylylated mRNA of HeLa cells in lacking significant amounts of 2′-O-methyluridine or 2′-O-methylcytidine in the second position of the 5′ terminal oligonucleotide and in lacking N⁶-methyladenosine residues at internal positions.     

Heterogeneity of storage proteins in maize

The extensive charge heterogeneity of maize (Zea mays L.) zeins observed in isoelectric focusing (IEF) (about 15 bands with pI's in the pH range 6–9) has been found to be independent of extraction procedures or of endosperm development. Zeins do not stain for glycoproteins and exhibit only one lipoprotein component, with pI 3, representing 3–5% of the total protein.Zeins are very resistant to in vitro deamidation, at both acidic and alkaline pH, at high temperatures, and for rather prolonged times. On the basis of the zein content in acidic and basic amino acids, and of the respective pI's exhibited in IEF (mostly in the pH range 7–8) it has been calculated that at least 90% of the glutamic and aspartic acids (52 residues out of a total of 190) are present as asparagine and glutamine.Amino acid analysis of zein fractions isolated by preparative IEF has demonstrated changes in the composition of 18 amino acid residues. However, since these changes affect only neutral and hydrophobic residues, it is concluded that the observed zein heterogeneity is partly based on in vivo deamidation of glutamine and asparagine and partly to spot mutations in some of the genes responsible for zein synthesis.Abbreviations A absorbance - Bis N,N-methylene bisacrylamide - IEF isoelectric focusing - 2-ME 2-meroaptoethanol - mol wt molecular weight - 62 opaque-2 - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - pI isoelectric point - PAS periodic acid-Schiff stain - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - ICA trichloroacetic acid - TEMED N,N,N,N-tetramethyl ethylene diamine - Z₁ zein extracted with 55% isopropanol - Z₂ zein extracted with 55% isopropanol and 0.6% 2-ME - Z 9.6 zein of mol wt 9600 - Z 13.5 zein of mol wt 13,500 - Z 21 zein of mol wt 21,000 - Z 23 zein of mol wt 23,000     

Linkage relationships between regulatory and structural gene loci involved in zein synthesis in maize

Summary The synthesis of at least 15 zein polypeptides is under the control of regulatory gene loci. One of these, Opaque-2 (chromosome 7, position 16) strongly reduces the zein accumulation without modifying the zein molecular components. The linkage relationship between the regulatory gene 02 and the 5 structural loci (Zp1, Zp2, Zp3, Zp6, Zp12) segregating with sample Mendelian ratios have been studied. Zp1, Zp2, Zp3 are closely linked to each other; moreover this gene cluster is located on chromosome 7 at 5.5 cM from the Opaque-2 locus. The structural loci Zp6 and Zp12 are not linked with each other, with the 02 locus or with Zp1, Zp2, Zp3. From our data it follows that the zein structural genes are located in at least three positions on the maize genome. The scattering in the genome of the genes controlled by the Opaque-2 locus suggests a transacting role for this regulatory element.     

Cynanchoside,a highly oxygenated iridoid glucoside from Macfadyena cynanchoides

The elucidation of the structure and stereochemistry of cynanchoside, a new highly oxygenated iridoid glucoside isolated from Macfadyena cynanchoides (Bignoniaceae), has been accomplished using mainly ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data and further confirmed by simple chemical transformations.     

Chromosomal localization of zein genes by in situ hybridization in Zea mays

Summary In order to localize the genes coding for zein, the major storage protein of maize endosperm, zein ¹²⁵I-mRNA and ³H-cDNA labelled at high specific activity were used for in situ hybridization on heterozygous interchanges and paracentric inversions of the KYS strain of Zea mays. The analysis of the diplotene-metaphase I microsporocytes indicated the presence of zein structural genes on the long arm of chromosomes 4 and 5, the short arm of chromosome 7 and the distal segment of the long arm of chromosome 10. The two hybridization sites on chromosomes 7 and 10 are found near opaque-2 and opaque-7 loci which are known to regulate zein synthesis. The present data are discussed in relation to results obtained by other authors using genetical mapping of zein genes.