The use of whole genome amplification in the study of human disease

The availability of large amounts of genomic DNA is of critical importance for many of the molecular biology assays used in the analysis of human disease. However, since the amount of patient tissue available is often limited and as particular foci of interest may consist of only a few hundred cells, the yield of DNA is often insufficient for extensive analysis. To address this problem, several whole genome amplification (WGA) methodologies have been developed. Initial WGA approaches were based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, recent reports have described the use of non-PCR-based linear amplification protocols for WGA. Using these methods, it is possible to generate microgram quantities of DNA starting with as little as 1mg of genomic DNA. This review will provide an overview of WGA approaches and summarize some of the uses for amplified DNA in various high-throughput genetic applications.     

Genome rearrangements derived from homoeologous recombination following allopolyploidy speciation in coffee

Allopolyploidization is widespread and has played a major role in flowering plant diversification. Genomic changes are common consequences of allopolyploidization, but their mechanisms of occurrence and dynamics over time are still poorly understood. Coffea arabica, a recently formed allotetraploid, was chosen as a model to investigate genetic changes in allopolyploid using an approach that exploits next‐generation sequencing technologies. Genes affected by putative homoeolog loss were inferred by comparing the numbers of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms detected using RNA‐seq in individual accessions of C. arabica, and between accessions of its two diploid progenitor species for common sequence positions. Their physical locations were investigated and clusters of genes exhibiting homoeolog loss were identified. To validate these results, genome sequencing data were generated from one accession of C. arabica and further analyzed. Genomic rearrangements involving homoeologous exchanges appear to occur in C. arabica and to be a major source of genetic diversity. At least 5% of the C. arabica genes were inferred to have undergone homoeolog loss. The detection of a large number of homoeologous exchange events (HEEs) shared by all accessions of C. arabica strongly reinforces the assumption of a single allopolyploidization event. Furthermore, HEEs were specific to one or a few accessions, suggesting that HEE accumulates gradually. Our results provide evidence for the important role of HEE in allopolyploid genome evolution.     

Variability of genetic sex determination in poeciliid fishes

Poeciliids are one of the best-studied groups of fishes with respect to sex determination. They present an amazing variety of mechanisms, which span from simple XX-XY or ZZ-ZW systems to polyfactorial sex determination. The gonosomes of poeciliids generally are homomorphic, but very early stages of sex chromosome differentiation have been occasionally detected in some species. In the platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus, gene loci involved in melanoma formation, in different pigmentation patterns and in sexual maturity are closely linked to the sex-determining locus in the subtelomeric region of the X- and Y- chromosomes. The majority of traits encoded by these loci are highly polymorphic. This phenomenon might be explained by the high level of genomic plasticity apparently affecting the sex-determining region, where frequent rearrangements such as duplications, deletions, amplifications, and transpositions frequently occur. We propose that the high plasticity of the sex-determining region might explain the variability of sex determination in Xiphophorus and otherbreak poeciliids.     

The effects of guanine and cytosine variation on dinucleotide frequency and amino acid composition in the human genome

Summary One hundred twelve human DNA sequences were analyzed with respect to dinucleotide frequency and amino acid composition. The variation in guanine and cytosine (G+C) content revealed: (1) at 2–3 and 3-1 doublet positions CG discrimination is attenuated at high G+C, but TA disfavor is enhanced, and (2) several amino acids are subject to G+C change. These findings have been reported in part for collections of sequences from various species. The present study confirms that in a single organism-the human-the G+C effects do exist. Aspects of the argument that connects G+C with protein thermal stability are also discussed.     

微泡菌属菌株YPW1和YPW16多糖降解特性分析

【背景】海洋环境中分离到的微泡菌属菌株具有多糖降解能力,在环境中可以作为糖类代谢的重要执行者参与海洋碳循环过程。【目的】测定2株微泡菌属菌株的多糖降解活性,通过与微泡菌属其他菌株基因组比较分析2株菌的多糖降解基因特征。【方法】通过3,5-dinitrosalicylicacid(DNS)定糖法测定多糖降解活性,同时利用高通量测序技术对菌株基因组序列进行测定与组装,并与其他基因组注释结果进行比较分析。【结果】分离得到2株微泡菌属菌株YPW1和YPW16,二者均为潜在新种。结果表明,菌株YPW1能够降解琼胶、褐藻胶、果胶、几丁质、木聚糖、淀粉、普鲁兰等7种多糖,而菌株YPW16仅可降解淀粉和普鲁兰。基因组分析表明,YPW1具有上述7种多糖的降解酶基因,但菌株YPW16只具有淀粉酶与普鲁兰酶降解基因。相较于其他微泡菌属菌株,菌株YPW1多糖降解范围、多糖降解酶基因种类与丰度较高,但菌株YPW16多糖降解范围却较为狭窄。由此可知,多糖降解酶基因在微泡菌属基因组中的分布差异性较大。【结论】本研究为微泡菌属提供了2株潜在的新型菌株资源,为生物多糖降解提供了生化工具,也为研究微泡菌属菌株中多糖降解基...     

基于太平洋甲胁虱裂化线粒体基因组推测甲胁虱属祖先线粒体核型

[目的]动物典型的单一染色体线粒体基因组在甲胁虱属Hoplopleura已裂化成多个线粒体微环染色体.本研究旨在通过测定太平洋甲胁虱Hoplopleura pacifica的线粒体基因组来推测甲胁虱属祖先线粒体核型.[方法]利用Illumina HiSeq X Ten高通量测序技术对太平洋甲胁虱裂化线粒体基因组进行测定...     

Genome sequence of M6, a diploid inbred clone of the high‐glycoalkaloid‐producing tuber‐bearing potato species Solanum chacoense,reveals residual heterozygosity

Cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a highly heterozygous autotetraploid that presents challenges in genome analyses and breeding. Wild potato species serve as a resource for the introgression of important agronomic traits into cultivated potato. One key species is Solanum chacoense and the diploid, inbred clone M6, which is self‐compatible and has desirable tuber market quality and disease resistance traits. Sequencing and assembly of the genome of the M6 clone of S. chacoense generated an assembly of 825 767 562 bp in 8260 scaffolds with an N50 scaffold size of 713 602 bp. Pseudomolecule construction anchored 508 Mb of the genome assembly into 12 chromosomes. Genome annotation yielded 49 124 high‐confidence gene models representing 37 740 genes. Comparative analyses of the M6 genome with six other Solanaceae species revealed a core set of 158 367 Solanaceae genes and 1897 genes unique to three potato species. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms across the M6 genome revealed enhanced residual heterozygosity on chromosomes 4, 8 and 9 relative to the other chromosomes. Access to the M6 genome provides a resource for identification of key genes for important agronomic traits and aids in genome‐enabled development of inbred diploid potatoes with the potential to accelerate potato breeding.     

Oncogenic Notch Promotes Long-Range Regulatory Interactions within Hyperconnected 3D Cliques

1. Download high-res image (138KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Genome analysis ofElymus angulatus andE. patagonicus (Poaceae) and their hybrids with N. and S. AmericanHordeum spp.

The results of genome analysis of five hybrids, viz.Elymus patagonicus ×Hordeum procerum, E. patagonicus ×H. tetraploidum, E. angulatus ×H. jubatum, E. angulatus ×H. lechleri, andE. angulatus ×H. parodii, are reported. The genomic constitution ofHordeum tetraploidum andH. jubatum is best given as H₁H₁H₂H₂, ofH. lechleri andH. parodii as H₁H₁H₂H₂H₄H₄, ofH. procerum as H₁H₁H₂H₂H₃H₃, and ofElymus patagonicus andE. angulatus as SSH₁H₁H₂H₂.