The alpha-like globin gene cluster in rabbits contains embryonic zeta-
globin genes, an adult alpha-globin gene, and theta-globin genes of
undetermined function. The basic arrangement of genes, deduced from
analysis of cloned DNA fragments, is 5'-zeta 0-zeta 1-alpha 1-theta 1- zeta
2-zeta 3-theta 2-3'. However, the pattern of restriction fragments
containing zeta- and theta-globin genes varies among individual rabbits.
Analysis of BamHI fragments of genomic DNA from 24 New Zealand white
rabbits revealed eight different patterns of fragments containing
zeta-globin genes. The large BamHI fragments containing genes zeta 0 and
zeta 1 are polymorphic in length, whereas a 1.9-kb fragment containing the
zeta 2 gene and the 3.5-kb fragment containing the zeta 3 gene do not vary
in size. In contrast to this constancy in the size of the restriction
fragments, the copy number of the zeta 2 and zeta 3 genes does vary among
different rabbits. No length polymorphism was detected in the BamHI
fragments containing the theta-globin genes, but again the copy number
varies for restriction fragments containing the theta 2 gene. The alpha 1-
and theta 1-globin genes are located in a nonpolymorphic 7.2-kb BamHI
fragment. The combined data from hybridization with both zeta and theta
probes shows that the BamHI cleavage pattern does not vary within the
region 5'-alpha 1-theta 1- zeta 2-zeta 3-theta 2-3', but the pattern
genomic blot-hybridization patterns for the progeny of parental rabbits
with different zeta-globin gene patterns shows that the polymorphic
patterns are inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Two different haplotypes
have been mapped based on the genomic blot-hybridization data. The
variation in the alpha-like globin gene cluster in the rabbit population
results both from differences in the copy number of the duplication block
containing the zeta-zeta-theta gene set and from the presence or absence of
polymorphic BamHI sites.
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In order to study the relationships among mammalian alpha-globin genes, we
have determined the sequence of the 3' flanking region of the human alpha 1
globin gene and have made pairwise comparisons between sequenced
alpha-globin genes. The flanking regions were examined in detail because
sequence matches in these regions could be interpreted with the least
complication from the gene duplications and conversions that have occurred
frequently in mammalian alpha-like globin gene clusters. We found good
matches between the flanking regions of human alpha 1 and rabbit alpha 1,
human psi alpha 1 and goat I alpha, human alpha 2 and goat II alpha, and
horse alpha 1 and goat II alpha. These matches were used to align the
alpha-globin genes in gene clusters from different mammals. This alignment
shows that genes at equivalent positions in the gene clusters of different
mammals can be functional or nonfunctional, depending on whether they
corrected against a functional alpha-globin gene in recent evolutionary
history. The number of alpha-globin genes (including pseudogenes) appears
to differ among species, although highly divergent pseudogenes may not have
been detected in all species examined. Although matching sequences could be
found in interspecies comparisons of the flanking regions of alpha- globin
genes, these matches are not as extensive as those found in the flanking
regions of mammalian beta-like globin genes. This observation suggests that
the noncoding sequences in the mammalian alpha-globin gene clusters are
evolving at a faster rate than those in the beta-like globin gene clusters.
The proposed faster rate of evolution fits with the poor conservation of
the genetic linkage map around alpha-globin gene clusters when compared to
that of the beta-like globin gene clusters. Analysis of the 3' flanking
regions of alpha-globin genes has revealed a conserved sequence
approximately 100-150 bp 3' to the polyadenylation site; this sequence may
be involved in the expression or regulation of alpha-globin genes.
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Caffeine, a stimulant largely consumed around the world, is a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, and therefore caffeine actions at synapses usually, but not always, mirror those of adenosine. Importantly, different adenosine receptors with opposing regulatory actions co-exist at synapses. Through both inhibitory and excitatory high-affinity receptors (A1R and A2R, respectively), adenosine affects NMDA receptor (NMDAR) function at the hippocampus, but surprisingly, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of caffeine upon this ionotropic glutamatergic receptor deeply involved in both positive (plasticity) and negative (excitotoxicity) synaptic actions. We thus aimed to elucidate the effects of caffeine upon NMDAR-mediated excitatory post-synaptic currents (NMDAR-EPSCs), and its implications upon neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis. We found that caffeine (30–200 μM) facilitates NMDAR-EPSCs on pyramidal CA1 neurons from Balbc/ByJ male mice, an action mimicked, as well as occluded, by 1,3-dipropyl-cyclopentylxantine (DPCPX, 50 nM), thus likely mediated by blockade of inhibitory A1Rs. This action of caffeine cannot be attributed to a pre-synaptic facilitation of transmission because caffeine even increased paired-pulse facilitation of NMDA-EPSCs, indicative of an inhibition of neurotransmitter release. Adenosine A2ARs are involved in this likely pre-synaptic action since the effect of caffeine was mimicked by the A2AR antagonist, SCH58261 (50 nM). Furthermore, caffeine increased the frequency of Ca2+ transients in neuronal cell culture, an action mimicked by the A1R antagonist, DPCPX, and prevented by NMDAR blockade with AP5 (50 μM). Altogether, these results show for the first time an influence of caffeine on NMDA receptor activity at the hippocampus, with impact in neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis.
We surveyed nine diallelic polymorphic sites on the Y chromosomes of 1,544
individuals from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the New World.
Phylogenetic analyses of these nine sites resulted in a tree for 10
distinct Y haplotypes with a coalescence time of approximately 150,000
years. The 10 haplotypes were unevenly distributed among human populations:
5 were restricted to a particular continent, 2 were shared between Africa
and Europe, 1 was present only in the Old World, and 2 were found in all
geographic regions surveyed. The ancestral haplotype was limited to African
populations. Random permutation procedures revealed statistically
significant patterns of geographical structuring of this paternal genetic
variation. The results of a nested cladistic analysis indicated that these
geographical associations arose through a combination of processes,
including restricted, recurrent gene flow (isolation by distance) and range
expansions. We inferred that one of the oldest events in the nested
cladistic analysis was a range expansion out of Africa which resulted in
the complete replacement of Y chromosomes throughout the Old World, a
finding consistent with many versions of the Out of Africa Replacement
Model. A second and more recent range expansion brought Asian Y chromosomes
back to Africa without replacing the indigenous African male gene pool.
Thus, the previously observed high levels of Y chromosomal genetic
diversity in Africa may be due in part to bidirectional population
movements. Finally, a comparison of our results with those from nested
cladistic analyses of human mtDNA and beta-globin data revealed different
patterns of inferences for males and females concerning the relative roles
of population history (range expansions) and population structure
(recurrent gene flow), thereby adding a new sex-specific component to
models of human evolution.
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Methylphenidate (MPD) is one of the most prescribed drugs for alleviating the symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, changes in the molecular mechanisms related to MPD withdrawal and susceptibility to consumption of other psychostimulants in normal individuals or individuals with ADHD phenotype are not completely understood. The aims of the present study were: (i) to characterize the molecular differences in the prefrontal dopaminergic system of SHR and Wistar strains, (ii) to establish the neurochemical consequences of short- (24 hours) and long-term (10 days) MPD withdrawal after a subchronic treatment (30 days) with Ritalin® (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride; 2.5 mg/kg orally), (iii) to investigate the dopaminergic synaptic functionality after a cocaine challenge in adult MPD-withdrawn SHR and Wistar rats. Our results indicate that SHR rats present reduced [3H]-Dopamine uptake and cAMP accumulation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and are not responsive to dopaminergic stimuli in when compared to Wistar rats. After a 24-hour withdrawal of MPD, SHR did not present any alterations in [3H]-Dopamine Uptake, [3H]-SCH 23390 binding and cAMP production; nonetheless, after a 10-day MPD withdrawal, the results showed a significant increase of [3H]-Dopamine uptake, of the quantity of [3H]-SCH 23390 binding sites and of cAMP levels in these animals. Finally, SHR that underwent a 10-day MPD withdrawal and were challenged with cocaine (10 mg/kg i.p.) presented reduced [3H]-Dopamine uptake and increased cAMP production. Wistar rats were affected by the 10-day withdrawal of MPD in [3H]-dopamine uptake but not in cAMP accumulation; in addition, cocaine was unable to induce significant modifications in [3H]-dopamine uptake and in cAMP levels after the 10-day withdrawal of MPD. These results indicate a mechanism that could explain the high comorbidity between ADHD adolescent patients under methylphenidate treatment and substance abuse in adult life. 相似文献
Dopamine is the main catecholamine found in the chick retina whereas norepinephrine is only found in trace amounts. We compared the effectiveness of dopamine and norepinephrine in promoting cyclic AMP accumulation in retinas at embryonic day 13 (E13) and from post-hatched chicken (P15). Dopamine (EC(50)=10microM) and norepinephrine (EC(50)=30microM), but not the beta(1)-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, stimulated over seven-fold the production of cyclic AMP in E13 retina. The cyclic AMP accumulation induced by both catecholamines in embryonic tissue was entirely blocked by 2microM SCH23390, a D(1) receptor antagonist, but not by alprenolol (beta-adrenoceptor antagonist). In P15 retinas, 100microM isoproterenol stimulated five-fold the accumulation of cAMP. This effect was blocked by propanolol (10microM), but not by 2microM SCH23390. Embryonic and adult retina display beta(1) adrenergic receptor mRNA as detected by RT-PCR, but the beta(1) adrenergic receptor protein was detected only in post-hatched tissue. We conclude that norepinephrine cross-reacts with D(1) dopaminergic receptor with affinity similar to that of dopamine in the embryonic retina. In the mature retina, however, D(1) receptors become restricted to activation by dopamine. Moreover, as opposed to the embryonic tissue, norepinephrine seems to stimulate cAMP accumulation via beta(1)-like adrenergic receptors in the mature tissue. 相似文献
Aprotinin, the most studied serine proteinase inhibitor, was isolated from porcine lung for the first time. The purified porcine
aprotinin had an Mr value of ∼7 kDa. It cross-reacted with polyclonal serum anti-commercial aprotinin. About 1 μg porcine
aprotinin inhibited 6 μg trypsin whereas 1 μg commercial soybean inhibitor inhibited only 1 μg trypsin. The aprotinin gene
was also isolated from porcine lung: the deduced amino acid sequence showed 74% identity to bovine aprotinin. 相似文献
The nuclear phenotypes and survival of the hemipteran,Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), were studied in specimens treated with copper sulfate and methylmercury. The objective was to determine
whether changes in chromatin supraorganization and insect survival similar to those promoted by other stressing agents could
also be induced by heavy metals. At the concentrations used, copper sulfate and methylmercury were toxic to the cells, mainly
inducing nuclear degenrration in the Malpighian tubules and being lethal to a large part of the insect population. Although
some individual resistance was found, especially in fasted specimens, heavy metals were found to be much more lethal than
was, for instance, a thermal shock at 0°C for 12 h. The nuclear phenotypes detected after heavy metal treatment were similar
to those reported under other stressing conditions. However, the frequency at which nuclei exhibited aspects of heterochromatin
unraveling was much higher than that found in fasted and thermal-shocked specimens, and was independent of the heavy metal
type used. If this phenotype represents an attempt to improve opportunities for extensive cell and insect survival, it was
not sufficiently effective. In 5th instar nymphs, the effect of CuSO4 on chromatin supraorganization was detected at early steps of spermatogenesis but not in the cells which were at late spermiogenesis
when the metal was administered. This is probably due to changes in nuclear protein composition and to the tightly packed
state of the DNA-protein complexes occurring at spermiogenesis, which may protect chromatin from damages. However, when CuSO4 was supplied to 4th instar nymphs, it slowed down the spermiogenesis process, possibly due to several factors including Cu2+ binding to DNA phosphates. 相似文献