Introns and higher-order structure in the evolution of serpins

Summary The serpins are a large family of eukaryotic proteins, many but not all of whose members are proteinase inhibitors. Most members of this family show relatively low sequence identity, but crystal structures determined for 6 different serpins are closely similar. The intron positions of 11 serpins, and the intron sizes in 9 of these 11, have been determined. There is considerable diversity in number, position, and size of introns among these serpins, though subsets show clear similarity or identity. Dendrograms derived from comparisons of DNA and amino acid sequences and of intron positions for the 11 serpins differ from each other and from dendrograms previously derived from protein sequences. These dendrograms are difficult to reconcile exclusively with a loss of introns from a large primordial set during the evolution of the serpin family. The tertiary structure of the serpins does support the idea that this protein family arose from an early recombination event which fused the amino and carboxyl domains. The structure of the carboxyl domain also suggests that an insertion subsequent to the fusion event contributed two strands of -sheet, which complemented three -sheet strands of the amino domain, to complete -sheet A, which is the central secondary structure feature of the serpins. Few of the introns lie between regions of secondary or tertiary structure, and it seems more likely that many were acquired subsequent to the early events of serpin evolution and have undergone multiple insertions, deletions, and migrations since, subject to the constraint of the serpin structure.Abbreviations Api -1-proteinase inhibitor (human) - Aci -1-antichymotrypsin (human) - Agt angiotensinogen (rat) - Oah ovalbumin (chicken) - Gyh gene y (chicken) - At3 antithrombin 3 (human) - Pi1 plasminogen activator inhibitor 1—endothelial (human) - Pi2 plasminogen activator inhibitor 2—placental (human) - Cli Cl inhibitor (human) - Apl antiplasmin (human) - Bz4 Z protein (barley).     

Diversity of C-line terminations in Iranian populations

Thirteen Iranian populations of diverse origins have been analyzed for C-line terminations, utilizing bilateral palmar prints of 3,158 individuals. Significant bimanual and male/female differences were frequently found in these populations. Interpopulational variation displayed significant heterogeneity. Distance analysis and constructed dendrograms provided separation between the populations, but the dendrograms are not in agreement with the ethnohistoric records of the populations studied.     

Modulation of gene expression by alloimmune networks following murine heart transplantation

The objective of our study was to analyze gene expression profiles in a complex in vivo model of solid organ transplantation, and to investigate the effects of single-gene deletions on alloimmunity. Using algorithms to generate dendrograms and self-organizing maps, we differentiated the alloimmune profiles of 16 transgenic knockout mouse strains, and identified subsets of genes that correlate with the duration of graft survival and provide candidates for prognostic and diagnostic indicators following transplantation in our model system.Communicated by C. P. Hollenberg     

Genetic differentiation among some endogamous populations of Andhra Pradesh,India

Endogamous populations belonging to Brahmin, Vysya, Mala, and Madiga castes of Andhra Pradesh, South India, were investigated for certain red cell enzyme and serum protein genetic markers. Frequency values were statistically analyzed to assess genetic variation among the populations. Average heterozygosity of ten loci and genetic diversity within and between the populations were calculated by using the methods of Nei. Nei's index was used to calculate genetic distances between the pairs of populations. A dendrogram was drawn adapting the modified unweighted pair group method suggested by Li, which agreed with the history of the populations.     

Qualitative dermatoglyphic traits as measures of population distance

Thirteen Iranian populations of diverse origin have been analyzed for qualitative dermatoglyphic features utilizing bilateral finger and palmar prints of 3,158 individuals. Bimanual differences were significant for some of the features examined, whereas sex differences were frequently nonsignificant. Interpopulational variation displayed significant heterogeneity for all of the features studied. Distance analysis and constructed dendrograms provided separation between populations in agreement with known ethnohistoric records for hypothenar triradii, and for palmar and finger patterns, but not for the terminations of the D-Line.