Southeast Asian Mitochondrial DNA Analysis Reveals Genetic Continuity of Ancient Mongoloid Migrations

Human mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) from 153 independent samples encompassing seven Asian populations were surveyed for sequence variation using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction endonuclease analysis and oligonucleotide hybridization. All Asian populations were found to share two ancient AluI/DdeI polymorphisms at nps 10394 and 10397 and to be genetically similar indicating that they share a common ancestry. The greatest mtDNA diversity and the highest frequency of mtDNAs with HpaI/HincII morph 1 were observed in the Vietnamese suggesting a Southern Mongoloid origin of Asians. Remnants of the founding populations of Papua New Guinea (PNG) were found in Malaysia, and a marked frequency cline for the COII/tRNA(Lys) intergenic deletion was observed along coastal Asia. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that both insertion and deletion mutations in the COII/tRNA(Lys) region have occurred more than once.     

Hematopoietic stem cells in mice during embryonic development preceding the establishment of liver hematopoiesis]

We studied the time course of appearance of CFUs (7-8 days old) in embryos of (C57B1/6 x CBA)F1 mice from the 8th day of embryonic development. Significant amounts of CFUs could be detected from the 10th day of development, initially in the body of the embryo from the stage of 30-33 pairs of somites, then in the yolk sac and still later, from the stage of about 40 pairs of somites, in liver anlage. CFUs could not be reliably detected until the 9th day of development either in the embryo itself or in the yolk sac. However, after incubation of nine day old embryos for four days in organ culture, such cultures contained CFUs. CFUs could be found in significant levels in embryos explanted from the embryos at the stage no earlier than 24 pairs of somites. When the yolk sac and the embryo were cultivated separately, CFUs could also be detected, however, the removal of liver primordium from the embryo did not influence the amount of CFUs in its body. CFUs were not found in cultures of liver primordium from nine day old embryos. Thus, we can detect pre-CFUs in 9 day old embryos at the stage 25-28 pairs of somites using the system of organ culture; at the same time CFUs cannot be found in intact embryos of the same age. These data provide evidence that before the establishment of liver hemopoiesis precursors of CFUs are located both in the yolk sac and in the embryo outside rudimentary liver. However, our results do not provide any data for the conclusion about the primary source of pre-CFUs in the mouse embryo.     

Organization, structure, and polymorphisms of the human profilaggrin gene

Profilaggrin is a major protein component of the keratohyalin granules of mammalian epidermis. It is initially expressed as a large polyprotein precursor and is subsequently proteolytically processed into individual functional filaggrin molecules. We have isolated genomic DNA and cDNA clones encoding the 5'- and 3'-ends of the human gene and mRNA. The data reveal the presence of likely "CAT" and "TATA" sequences, an intron in the 5'-untranslated region, and several potential regulatory sequences. While all repeats are of the same length (972 bp, 324 amino acids), sequences display considerable variation (10-15%) between repeats on the same clone and between different clones. Most variations are attributable to single-base changes, but many also involve changes in charge. Thus, human filaggrin consists of a heterogeneous population of molecules of different sizes, charges, and sequences. However, amino acid sequences encoding the amino and carboxyl termini are more conserved, as are the 5' and 3' DNA sequences flanking the coding portions of the gene. The presence of unique restriction enzyme sites in these conserved flanking sequences has enabled calculations on the size of the full-length gene and the numbers of repeats in it: depending on the source of genomic DNA, the gene contains 10, 11, or 12 filaggrin repeats that segregate in kindred families by normal Mendelian genetic mechanisms. This means that the human profilaggrin gene system is also polymorphic with respect to size due to simple allelic differences between different individuals. The amino- and carboxyl-terminal sequences of profilaggrin contain partial or truncated repeats with unusual un-filaggrin-like sequences on the termini.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Amerindian mitochondrial DNAs have rare Asian mutations at high frequencies, suggesting they derived from four primary maternal lineages.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation of the South American Ticuna, the Central American Maya, and the North American Pima was analyzed by restriction-endonuclease digestion and oligonucleotide hybridization. The analysis revealed that Amerindian populations have high frequencies of mtDNAs containing the rare Asian RFLP HincII morph 6, a rare HaeIII site gain, and a unique AluI site gain. In addition, the Asian-specific deletion between the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) and tRNA(Lys) genes was also prevalent in both the Pima and the Maya. These data suggest that Amerindian mtDNAs derived from at least four primary maternal lineages, that new tribal-specific variants accumulated as these mtDNAs became distributed throughout the Americas, and that some genetic variation may have been lost when the progenitors of the Ticuna separated from the North and Central American populations.     

Salivary peroxidase,Pm, and Ph protein polymorphisms in Malaysians

Summary Three human saliva genetic markers, namely, salivary peroxidase (SAPX), Pm, and Ph proteins, were investigated in the three major ethnic groups of Malaysia: Malays, Chinese, and Indians.For Pm, the allelic frequencies of Pm ⁺ for Malays, Chinese, and Indians are 0.385±0.030, 0.282±0.026, and 0.289±0.026 respectively. For Ph, the allelic frequencies of Ph ⁺ are 0.082±0.016 for Malays, 0.109±0.017 for Chinese, and 0.062±0.013 for Indians. For SAPX, the allelic frequencies of SAPX ¹ in Malays, Chinese, and Indians are 0.762±0.027, 0.755±0.027, and 0.723±0.026 respectively.     

Terbium ion binding to Limuluspolyphemus hemocyanin

Terbium ion binds to calcium-free $\text{Limulus}$ hemocyanin at pH 7.0 and 8.9, and promotes the aggregation of hemocyanin subunits, a phenomenon associated with calcium binding. An excitation maximum for the bound terbium at 293 nm and the results of treating the hemocyanin with N-bromosuccinimide indicate that energy transfer from tryptophan to the bound terbium is responsible for the enhancement of terbium fluorescence. At pH 8.9, addition of calcium to hemocyanin containing bound terbium results in only a partial loss of terbium fluorescence, suggesting heterogeneity in the terbium binding sites. Titration of hemocyanin with terbium also indicates multiple binding sites.     

Isolation of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from an integrated-farming pond and palm-oil mill effluent ponds

Bacterial isolates from two environments, an integrated-farming pond in the university and palm-oil mill effluent (POME) ponds at a local palm-oil-processing factory, were screened for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Initially Sudan Black B staining was performed to detect lipid cellular inclusions. Lipid-positive isolates were then grown in a nitrogen-limiting medium containing 2% (w/v) glucose to promote accumulation of PHA before the subsequent Nile Blue A staining. The PHA extracted from positive isolates was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The proportion of PHA-positive bacterial isolates was higher in the POME ponds compared to the integrated-farming pond.     

Aspidospermatan–aspidospermatan and eburnane-sarpagine bisindole alkaloids from Leuconotis

Leucofoline and leuconoline, representing the first members of the aspidospermatan–aspidospermatan and eburnane-sarpagine subclasses of the bisindole alkaloids, respectively, were isolated from the Malayan Leuconotis griffithii. The structures of these bisindole alkaloids were established using NMR and MS analysis, and in the case of leuconoline, confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Both alkaloids showed weak cytotoxicity towards human KB cells.     

Structure Elucidation of Two New Norlignans from Anemone vitifolia and Their Anti‐Inflammatory Activities

Two new norlignans together with two known phenylpropanoids were isolated from the whole herb of Anemone vitifolia. All compounds were reported from this plant for the first time. The structures of these compounds were identified by comprehensive HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis and comparison with literature data. Additionally, bioactivity study results showed that two new compounds have potential anti‐inflammatory activity. The plausible biosynthetic pathway for these compounds were also speculated in this article.