中国人群的β地贫的可诊断率与产前诊断中遗传标记的选择策略

利用与β地中海贫血致病基因连锁的遗传标记进行产前诊断已成为可能,但群体中遗传标记与致病基因的不完全连锁决定了产前诊断的局限性。根据中国人群中7个遗传标记的多态性分布数据,我们计算了各遗传标记及其所有组合的可诊断率。又据各遗传标记及其组合的可诊断率,我们可以对:(1)所作出产前诊断的可诊断率进行预先评价;(2)选择适合于中国人群β地中海贫血产前诊断的最佳策略。本文提出了中国人群中选择遗传标记进行β地中海贫血产前诊断的最佳路线。同时将基因的连锁分析法与寡核苷酸法进行了比较。     

The carboxy terminus of pp60c-src is a regulatory domain and is involved in complex formation with the middle-T antigen of polyomavirus.

A large number of mutations were introduced into the carboxy-terminal domain of pp60c-src. The level of phosphorylation on Tyr-416 and Tyr-527, the transforming activity (as measured by focus formation on NIH 3T3 cells), kinase activity, and the ability of the mutant pp60c-src to associate with the middle-T antigen of polyomavirus were examined. The results indicate that Tyr-527 is a major carboxy-terminal element responsible for regulating pp60c-src in vivo. A good but not perfect correlation exists between lack of phosphorylation at Tyr-527 and increased phosphorylation at Tyr-416, between elevated phosphorylation on Tyr-416 and activated kinase activity, and between activated kinase activity and transforming activity. Phosphorylation of Tyr-527 was insensitive to the mutation of adjacent residues, indicating that the primary sequence only has a minor role in recognition by kinases or phosphatases which regulate it in vivo. Three mutants which have in common a modified Glu-524 residue were phosphorylated on Tyr-416 and Tyr-527 and were weakly transforming. This suggests that other mechanisms besides complete dephosphorylation of Tyr-527 can lead to increased phosphorylation of Tyr-416 and activation of the transforming activity of pp60c-src. Furthermore, the residues between Asp-518 and Pro-525 were required to form a stable complex with middle-T antigen. The proximity of these sequences to Tyr-527 suggests a model in which middle-T activates pp60c-src by binding directly to this region of the molecular and thereby preventing phosphorylation of Tyr-527. Alternatively, middle-T binding may mediate a conformational change in this region, which in turn induces an alteration in the level of phosphorylation at Tyr-527 and Tyr-416.     

Identification of genes required for cytoplasmic localization in early C. elegans embryos

We have isolated and analyzed eight strict maternal effect mutations identifying four genes, par-1, par-2, par-3, and par-4, required for cytoplasmic localization in early embryos of the nematode C. elegans. Mutations in these genes lead to defects in cleavage patterns, timing of cleavages, and localization of germ line-specific P granules. Four mutations in par-1 and par-4 are fully expressed maternal effect lethal mutations; all embryos from mothers homozygous for these mutations arrest as amorphous masses of differentiated cells but are specifically lacking intestinal cells. Four mutations in par-2, par-3, and par-4 are incompletely expressed maternal effect lethal mutations and are also grandchildless; some embryos from homozygous mothers survive and grow to become infertile adults due to absence of functional germ cells. We propose that all of these defects result from the failure of a maternally encoded system for intracellular localization in early embryos.     

Human collagen gene COL5A1 maps to the q34.2----q34.3 region of chromosome 9, near the locus for nail-patella syndrome.

Type V collagen is a fibrillar collagen that is widely distributed in tissues as a minor component of extracellular matrix and is usually composed of one pro alpha 2 (V) and two pro alpha 1 (V) chains. In this report, recently isolated cDNA and genomic clones, which encode the pro alpha 1 (V) chain, are used as probes for hybridization to filter-bound DNA from a panel of human-mouse hybrid cell lines and for in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes. These studies establish the chromosomal location of the COL5A1 gene, which encodes the pro alpha 1 (V) chain, within segment 9q34.2----q34.3. These findings add to the previously characterized dispersion of collagen genes in the human genome, as this is the first example of a collagen locus on chromosome 9. In addition, these studies place COL5A1 near the locus for the genetic disorder, nail-patella syndrome (hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia), which also maps to 9q34.     

Nitric oxide synthesis in the CNS endothelium and macrophages differs in its sensitivity to inhibition by arginine analogues.

Inhibition of nitric oxide production by arginine analogues was examined in three cell systems; macrophages, CNS tissue and endothelial cells. Nitric oxide production was assessed indirectly using in vitro assays measuring nitrite production (macrophages), cGMP elevation (CNS) and acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aortic ring segments (endothelium). NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and NG-amino-L-arginine possessed similar inhibitory activity in all three assays, while NG-nitro-L-arginine displayed a striking selectivity for inhibition of brain and endothelial cell nitric oxide synthesis, with IC50 values of 0.05 microM in the CNS versus 200 microM in macrophages. These results suggest that distinct enzymes are responsible for nitric oxide synthesis in different cell types, and indicate that it may be possible to selectively modulate nitric oxide production in vivo.     

Differential expression of the two Arabidopsis nitrate reductase genes

The differential regulation of the two nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) genes of Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh was examined. cDNAs corresponding to each of the NR genes (NR1 and NR2) were used to measure changes in the steady-state levels of NR mRNA in response to nitrate, light, circadian rhythm, and tissue specificity. Although nitrate-induction kinetics of the two genes are very similar, NR1 is expressed in the absence of nitrate at a higher basal level than NR2. Nitrate induction is transient both in the roots and leaves, however the kinetics are different: the induction and decline in the roots precede that in the leaves. Light induces the expression of each of the genes with significantly different kinetics: NR2 reached saturation more rapidly than did NR1. Both genes showed similar diurnal patterns of circadian rhythm, with NR2 mRNA accumulating earlier in the morning.     

Brefeldin A's effects on endosomes, lysosomes, and the TGN suggest a general mechanism for regulating organelle structure and membrane traffic.

Addition of brefeldin A (BFA) to most cells results in both the formation of extensive, uncoated membrane tubules through which Golgi components redistribute into the ER and the failure to transport molecules out of this mixed ER/Golgi system. In this study we provide evidence that suggests BFA's effects are not limited to the Golgi apparatus but are reiterated throughout the central vacuolar system. Addition of BFA to cells resulted in the tubulation of the endosomal system, the trans-Golgi network (TGN), and lysosomes. Tubule formation of these organelles was specific to BFA, shared near identical pharmacologic characteristics as Golgi tubules and resulted in targeted membrane fusion. Analogous to the mixing of the Golgi with the ER during BFA treatment, the TGN mixed with the recycling endosomal system. This mixed system remained functional with normal cycling between plasma membrane and endosomes, but traffic between endosomes and lysosomes was impaired.     

Intracellular protein trafficking defects in human disease

Secretory proteins and integral membrane proteins travel through the secretory pathway to a variety of destinations. Their targets are often specified by signals in the amino acid sequence or signals added post-translationally. The KDEL sequence that retains soluble proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and the mannose 6-phosphate group of lysosomal enzymes are well-characterized examples of targeting signals; other signals are less well understood. Given the complexity and importance of the intracellular trafficking pathways, it is perhaps not surprising that mutations that affect the trafficking of proteins are associated with some human genetic diseases.