A Non-Synonymous HMGA2 Variant Decreases Height in Shetland Ponies and Other Small Horses

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) such as height and their underlying causative variants is still challenging and often requires large sample sizes. In humans hundreds of loci with small effects control the heritable portion of height variability. In domestic animals, typically only a few loci with comparatively large effects explain a major fraction of the heritability. We investigated height at withers in Shetland ponies and mapped a QTL to ECA 6 by genome-wide association (GWAS) using a small cohort of only 48 animals and the Illumina equine SNP70 BeadChip. Fine-mapping revealed a shared haplotype block of 793 kb in small Shetland ponies. The HMGA2 gene, known to be associated with height in horses and many other species, was located in the associated haplotype. After closing a gap in the equine reference genome we identified a non-synonymous variant in the first exon of HMGA2 in small Shetland ponies. The variant was predicted to affect the functionally important first AT-hook DNA binding domain of the HMGA2 protein (c.83G>A; p.G28E). We assessed the functional impact and found impaired DNA binding of a peptide with the mutant sequence in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. This suggests that the HMGA2 variant also affects DNA binding in vivo and thus leads to reduced growth and a smaller stature in Shetland ponies. The identified HMGA2 variant also segregates in several other pony breeds but was not found in regular-sized horse breeds. We therefore conclude that we identified a quantitative trait nucleotide for height in horses.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene from Pseudomonas testosteroni.

The structural gene (hsd) of the Pseudomonas testosteroni encoding the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase has been cloned using the cosmid vector pVK102. Escherichia coli carrying recombinant clones of hsd, isolated by immunological screening, were able to express the biologically active enzyme, as measured by the conversion of testosterone into androstenedione. Subcloning experiments, restriction and deletion analysis, and site-directed insertion mutagenesis showed that the hsd gene is located within a 1.3-kb HindIII-PstI restriction fragment. A 26.5-kDa protein encoded by a recombinant plasmid containing this Ps. testosteroni DNA restriction fragment was detected by SDS-PAGE analysis of in vitro [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides.     

Identification and molecular weight of SP1 synthesized from mRNA of human placenta in a wheat germ cell-free system

Poly (A⁺)-mRNA obtained from human term placenta using guanidine HCl and oligo (dT) cellulose chromatography was translated in a wheat germ cell-free system. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the translation products revealed the presence of several polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 10 KD to 70 KD. A single protein band representing around 1% of the total radioactive proteins synthesized in the presence of 2.5 g of mRNA was isolated by immunoprecipitation, using specific antiserum against either the native Pregnancy-specific ₁-glycoprotein or a reduced and carboxymethylated derivative. The molecular weight of 31–2 KD of this translation product corresponding to the nonprocessed precursor could account for the 43 KD value assigned to the protein purified from human pregnant serum.     

Processing of SP1 precursor in a cell-free system from poly(A+) mRNA of human placenta

Cell-free translation of polyadenylated mRNA from human term placenta in a wheat germ extract, after immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against purified pregnant serum SP₁, yielded a single polypeptide of 31 kDa. Addition of dog pancreatic microsomal vesicles to the translation system resulted in the appearance of two polypeptides, one of them of 46 kDa and the other of 28 kDa. Both polypeptides were protected from limited proteolysis and when the assay was performed with lytic detergent concentrations in addition to proteases, this protection was abolished indicating that the polypeptides were segregated into the microsomal vesicles. The cleavage of a signal peptide of 3 kDa from the 31 kDa primary translation product gives rise to 28 kDa and accounts for the slight increase in electrophoretic mobility. The treatment of the immunoprecipitated products with Endoglycosidase H and -mannosidase, suggested that only the 46 kDa polypeptide is a glycoprotein.From the results obtained we conclude that SP₁ is synthesized and processed to a glycoprotein of 46 kDa which would be a protomeric form of the oligomers reported in pregnant serum by other authors.Abbreviations PMSF phenylmethyl sulfonylfluoride - TCA trichloroacetic acid - DTT dithiotreitol     

Regulation of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in tissue fragments and microsomes from human term placenta: kinetic analysis and inhibition by steroids

The effects of 50 microM of progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHIA), androstenedione (delta 4) and testosterone (T) on the bioconversion of [3H]pregnenolone (6 nM) to [3H]P4 were investigated by incubating 200 mg of tissue fragments as well as equivalent aliquots of microsomes from human term placenta during 30 min. All the steroids assayed, except E3, significantly inhibited the [3H]P4 formation in a microsome incubation system with respect to the control assay (P less than 0.001). Conversely in a tissue incubation system. P4, E1 as well as E3 had no effect on [3H]pregnenolone bioconversion while E2 slightly decreased the [3H]P4 formation (P less than 0.05) compared with the control. A significant inhibition was observed in this system with the other steroids (P less than 0.001). To investigate these apparent different results of inhibition-noninhibition of the same steroids irrespective of the system of incubation used, the effects of P4, E2 and T on 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3 beta-HSD) activity were studied in tissue fragments and microsomes in kinetic terms. The results found indicate that these steroids inhibited in a competitive fashion the 3 beta-HSD activity in both systems. The different Ki values found in tissue fragments and microsomes respectively for P4 (1.8 microM vs 0.5 microM), E2 (2.3 microM vs 0.6 microM) and T (0.25 microM vs 0.3 microM) explain the bioconversion results obtained in presence of 50 microM of the same steroids. These results include inhibition of [3H]P4 formation by T in tissue fragments as well as in microsomes whereas P4 and E2 inhibited the [3H]P4 formation only in microsomes. Furthermore, the comparison of these Ki values with the available data of intraplacental and circulating concentrations of the same steroids in human term pregnancy suggest that only P4 would be expected to cause marked 3 beta-HSD inhibition in physiological conditions.