Utility of MLPA in mutation analysis and carrier detection for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

CONTEXT:

Multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA) is a new technique to identify deletions and duplications and can evaluate all 79 exons in dystrophin gene in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Being semi-quantitative, MLPA is also effective in detecting duplications and carrier testing of females; both of which cannot be done using multiplex PCR. It has found applications in diagnostics of many genetic disorders.

AIM:

To study the utility of MLPA in diagnosis and carrier detection for DMD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Mutation analysis and carrier detection was done by multiplex PCR and MLPA and the results were compared.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

We present data showing utility of MLPA in identifying mutations in cases with DMD/BMD. In the present study using MLPA, we identified mutations in additional 5.6% cases of DMD in whom multiplex PCR was not able to detect intragenic deletions. In addition, MLPA also correctly confirmed carrier status of two obligate carriers and revealed carrier status in 6 of 8 mothers of sporadic cases.     

基于亲和探针的药物靶点鉴定技术研究进展

药物靶点的鉴定和相关研究在药学研究领域具有重要的理论指导意义和实用价值。利用亲和探针偶联靶分子的方法是目前发现药 物靶点的主要手段之一。该方法可从分子水平发现药物的作用靶点,从而对药物的分子作用机制提供细胞水平的直接证据。从 DNA 和小 分子药物探针的构筑和应用入手,对近些年鉴定 DNA 损伤识别蛋白的研究进展进行了较为详尽的讨论,并简要介绍目前探索小分子药物 作用靶点的主流技术。作为亲和偶联鉴定药物作用靶点方法的重要组成部分,亲和探针设计的合理性关系到方法本身的可操作性以及鉴 定结果的可靠性。从多个角度对 DNA 探针和小分子药物探针的设计经验进行了较为系统的总结,例如经典的亲和纯化分离方法,以及更 为高效的光激发共价偶联技术等。这些方法和思路为探索 DNA 损伤相关蛋白质的功能以及小分子药物的细胞作用机制提供了丰富的研究 工具,有助于从分子水平理解药物的作用机制。     

检测钾离子通道的小分子荧光探针的研究进展

钾离子通道是分布最为广泛、种类繁多的一类离子通道,因其生理功能的多样性,已成为许多疾病的药物作用靶点。近年来,许 多化学结构不同的药物均因钾离子通道阻滞引起的严重心肌毒性而被撤出市场,使得小分子药物的钾通道抑制活性筛选面临重大挑战。 介绍检测钾离子通道的小分子荧光探针的研究进展,并总结小分子荧光探针的作用机制,为今后小分子荧光探针的设计提供思路,使得 小分子荧光探针可以广泛应用于候选药物的高通量筛选、钾离子通道的活体成像与检测。     

生物素标记寡核苷酸探针探测扩增的病理性突变珠蛋白基因

用末端转移酶催化生物素核苷酸底物(Biotin-ll-dUTP)共价连接在合成的寡核苷酸3’羟基末端,从而合成了两种寡核苷酸探针(β~T_(41-42)及β~A_(41-42))。用它们分别与克隆化扩增的正常和突变的β—珠蛋白基因片段杂变。结果表明该探针都具有与~(32)P探针相似的特异性,其杂交的灵敏度为2—3pg(特异序列)。进而将探测HbS基因的正常和异常两种寡核苷酸19聚体(β~A_6和β~S_6)用~(32)P和生物素分别标记;将HbS杂合子病人的白细胞DNA经聚合酶链反应(PCR)法扩增,并以含正常β—珠蛋白基因的DNA片段作对照,与两种探针分别进行斑点杂交。所得结果完全一致;Hbs杂合子DNA对正常和异常探针都显出杂交信号,而正常DNA只与β~A探针显杂交信号。     

原子力显微技术在细胞生物学中的应用

对近年来原子力显微技术(AFM)在细胞生物学中的应用大致归纳为几个方面进行了简单介绍,还指出了细胞表面结构难于识别、细胞内部结构难以原位观察等AFM应用于细胞生物学中的难题,并提出了“形状探针”的概念以及超薄切片的思路以解决这些难题。AFM在细胞生物学中的应用研究还远远不足,需要更多的科学工作者加入其中。     

Role of nuclear analytical probe techniques in biological trace-element research

Many biomedical experiments require the qualitative and quantitative localization of trace elements with high sensitivity and good spatial resolution. The feasibility of measuring the chemical form of the elements, the time course of trace element metabolism, and conducting experiments in living biological systems are also important requirements for biological trace element research. Nuclear analytical techniques that employ ion or photon beams have grown in importance in the past decade and have led to several new experimental approaches. Some of the important features of these methods are reviewed here along with their role in trace element research. Examples of their use are given to illustrate potential for new research directions. It is emphasized that the effective application of these methods necessitates a closely integrated multidisciplinary scientific team.     

用染色体原位杂交技术定位RFLP探针Fr.3-42于16p13

限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)探针Fr.3-42(第九届人类基因定位国际会议编号D1(?)S21)为一长1.9kb的人类单拷贝EcoRI/HindⅢ片段,本实验采用染色体原位杂交方法,将该探针定位于16号染色体短臂末端(p13)。在另一研究中已证实Fr.3-42与人α-珠蛋白基因紧密连锁。     

A BUNCH-OLIGONUCLEOTIDE FORMING STABLE MONOMOLECULAR QUADRUPLEX CONTAINING A T-TETRAD

The chemical synthesis of bunch-ODN I and II prone to form quadruplex structures containing G-and T-tetrads has been reported. Structural studies were performed by ¹H-NMR and CD melting experiments.