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C Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C Liu.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Cellular construction of a circadian clock: period determination in the suprachiasmatic nuclei.

The circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei is composed of multiple, single-cell circadian oscillators (clock cells). We now test the hypothesis that the circadian period in behavior is determined by the mean period that arises from the coupling of clock cells with diverse circadian periods. For these studies, we monitored firing rate rhythms of individual suprachiasmatic nuclei neurons on fixed multielectrode plates and exploited the altered circadian periods expressed by heterozygous and homozygous tau mutant hamsters. The results show that circadian period in the whole animal is determined by averaging widely dispersed periods of individual clock cells. The data also demonstrate that the tau mutation affects circadian function in a cell-autonomous manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Synthesis of 3-Position-Modified Analogues of myo-Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate, Tools for Investigation of the Polyphosphoinositide Pathway of Cellular Signaling.

Methods for the synthesis of 3-O-(carboxymethyl)- and 3-O-alkylated myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphates in racemic form from myo-inositol have been devised. For DL-3-O-(carboxymethyl)-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, an analogue of myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, DL-3-O-allyl-2,6-di-O-benzyl-1-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-4,5-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol (14) was prepared from myo-inositol in seven steps. The triol DL-3-O-allyl-2,6-di-O-benzyl-myo-inositol (26), which was obtained after treatment of 14 with acid, was phosphitylated and the product oxidized to give the fully protected trisphosphate 27. The efficient oxidative cleavage of the 3-O-allyl ether of 27 in the presence of the cyanoethyl-protected phosphate triesters was achieved by treatment of 27 with NaIO(4)/RuCl(3).hydrate to afford the fully protected 3-O-(carboxymethyl) trisphosphate 28. After deblocking, DL-3-O-(carboxymethyl) trisphosphate 6 was obtained. For DL-3-O-alkylated myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate analogues, the fully protected 14 was isomerized to the cis-prop-1-enyl derivative 15. The propenyl group was removed to give DL-2,6-di-O-benzyl-1-O-(p-methoxybenzyl)-4,5-isopropylidene-myo-inositol (16). The 3-O-methyl ether 17, 3-O-ethyl ether 18, and 3-O-n-propyl ether 19 derivatives were synthesized by treatment of the anion of 16 with methyl iodide, ethyl iodide, or n-propyl iodide, respectively. Removal of the isopropylidene and p-methoxybenzyl groups afforded 3-O-alkylated triols 20, 21, or 22, which were phosphitylated and the products oxidized to give the respective fully protected 3-O-alkylated trisphosphates 23-25. Deprotection furnished 3-O-methyl- (3), 3-O-ethyl- (4), or 3-O-n-propyl-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (5). These compounds will be useful pharmacological tools to explore the interaction of myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate with its receptor and metabolic enzymes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Increased lymphocyte apoptosis in Fas ligand transgenic mice.

Fas ligand (fasL) transgenic (Tg) mice were produced by introducing a murine fasL cDNA under the control of a TCR beta-chain enhancer minigene. Higher levels of fasL expression with increased biologic activity were observed in the Tg mice compared with non-Tg mice. Numbers of CD4+ CD8+ T cells in the thymus and T cells in the lymph node and spleen were lower in the fasL Tg mice compared with the non-Tg mice. This is consistent with a reduction in the size of the T cell areas in fasL Tg mice compared with non-Tg mice. Conversely, in fasL Tg mice, there was an increase in the number and size of apoptotic foci associated with phagocytic cells, as determined by in vivo TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) staining. Stimulation of non-Tg mice in vivo with anti-CD3 Ab for 3 days resulted in greatly increased apoptosis of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes and lymph node T cells. Surviving thymocytes and T cells of lymph node and spleen expressed Fas at low levels. After similar stimulation of fasL Tg mice, however, a discreet population of surviving cells expressed high levels of Fas, indicating that a novel population of Fas apoptosis-resistant cells develops in these mice. These results indicate that high levels of fasL can result in both increased Fas-mediated apoptosis and the development of T cells that express high levels of Fas, but are resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Adenoviral gene delivery elicits distinct pulmonary-associated T helper cell responses to the vector and to its transgene.

Replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) vectors are effective to specifically target the respiratory epithelium for either corrective gene therapy such as cystic fibrosis or for mucosal immunization. As a consequence of transducing the lower respiratory tract with an E1/E3 deleted Ad5 vector, host responses have been characterized by the duration of transgene expression and by the induction of CTL responses. However, limited emphasis has been devoted to understanding the contribution of CD4+ T cell responses to the Ad vector. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells migrate into the lung following sequential intratracheal Ad5 transgene instillations. Isolated CD3+ T lymphocytes from the lungs were predominantly of the Th2 type, and after cell sorting, the IL-4-producing T cells were largely CD4+, while IFN-gamma expression was associated with both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Ab responses to the Ad5 vector and to the expressed transgene beta-galactosidase (beta gal) revealed elevated bronchial and serum IgA and IgG Abs with low neutralization titers. Analysis of serum IgG subclass responses showed IgG1 and IgG2b with lower IgG2a Abs to Ad5 and IgG2a and IgG2b Ab responses to beta gal. Ad5-specifc CD4+ T cells produced both Th1 (IFN-gamma and IL-2)- and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6)-type cytokines, while beta gal-specific CD4+ T cells secreted IFN-gamma and IL-6. This study provides direct evidence for the concomitant induction of Th2- with Th1-type responses in both the pulmonary systemic and mucosal immune compartments to the Ad5 vector as well as a Th1-dominant response to the transgene.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

The University of Florida frameless high-precision stereotactic radiotherapy system.

PURPOSE: To develop and test a system for high precision fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy that separates immobilization and localization devices. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patient localization is achieved through detection and digital registration of an independent bite plate system. The bite plate is made and linked to a set of six infrared light emitting diodes (IRLEDs). These IRLEDs are detected by an infrared camera system that identifies the position of each IRLED within 0.1 to 0.15 mm. Calibration of the camera system defines isocenter and translational X, Y, and Z axes of the stereotactic radiosurgery subsystem and thereby digitally defines the virtual treatment room space in a computer linked to the camera system. Positions of the bite plate's IRLEDs are processed digitally using a computer algorithm so that positional differences between an actual bite plate position and a desired position can be resolved within 0.1 mm of translation (X, Y, and Z distance) and 0.1 degree of rotation. Furthermore, bite plate misalignment can be displayed digitally in real time with translational (x, y, and z) and rotational (roll, pitch, and yaw) parameters for an actual bite plate position. Immobilization is achieved by a custom head mold and thermal plastic mask linked by hook-and-loop fastener tape. The head holder system permits rotational and translational movements for daily treatment positioning based on the bite plate localization system. Initial testing of the localization system was performed on 20 patients treated with radiosurgery. The system was used to treat 11 patients with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. RESULTS: Assessment of bite plate localization in radiosurgery patients revealed that the patient's bite plate could be positioned and repositioned within 0.5 +/- 0.3 mm (standard deviation). After adjustments, the first 11 patients were treated with the bite plate repositioning error reduced to 0.2 +/- 0.1 mm. CONCLUSIONS: High precision stereotactic radiotherapy can be delivered using separate localization and immobilization systems. Treatment setup and delivery can be accomplished in 15 min or less. Advantages compared with standard systems require further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Orally absorbed reactive glycation products (glycotoxins): an environmental risk factor in diabetic nephropathy.

Endogenous advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) include chemically crosslinking species (glycotoxins) that contribute to the vascular and renal complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Renal excretion of the catabolic products of endogenous AGEs is impaired in patients with diabetic or nondiabetic kidney disease (KD). The aim of this study was to examine the oral absorption and renal clearance kinetics of food AGEs in DM with KD and whether circulating diet-derived AGEs contain active glycotoxins. Thirty-eight diabetics (DM) with or without KD and five healthy subjects (NL) received a single meal of egg white (56 g protein), cooked with (AGE-diet) or without fructose (100 g) (CL-diet). Serum and urine samples, collected for 48 hr, were monitored for AGE immunoreactivity by ELISA and for AGE-specific crosslinking reactivity, based on complex formation with 125I-labeled fibronectin. The AGE-diet, but not the CL-diet, produced distinct elevations in serum AGE levels in direct proportion to amount ingested (r = 0.8, P < 0.05): the area under the curve for serum ( approximately 10% of ingested AGE) correlated directly with severity of KD; renal excretion of dietary AGE, although normally incomplete (only approximately 30% of amount absorbed), in DM it correlated inversely with degree of albuminuria, and directly with creatinine clearance (r = 0.8, P < 0.05), reduced to <5% in DM with renal failure. Post-AGE-meal serum exhibited increased AGE-crosslinking activity (two times above baseline serum AGE, three times above negative control), which was inhibited by aminoguanidine. In conclusion, (i) the renal excretion of orally absorbed AGEs is markedly suppressed in diabetic nephropathy patients, (ii) daily influx of dietary AGEs includes glycotoxins that may constitute an added chronic risk for renal-vascular injury in DM, and (iii) dietary restriction of AGE food intake may greatly reduce the burden of AGEs in diabetic patients and possibly improve prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Activation of human T cells by major histocompatability complex class II expressing neutrophils: proliferation in the presence of superantigen, but not tetanus toxoid.

The primary function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in the immune response appears to be acute phagocytic clearance of foreign pathogens and release of inflammatory mediators. Consistent with their assumed lack of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression, PMN have not been considered to play a role in antigen presentation and T-cell activation. However, recent reports have shown that human PMN can express MHC class II molecules both in vitro and in vivo after stimulation with either granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Thus, under appropriate conditions, PMN could play a significant role in immune regulation, including T-cell activation. In this report, we demonstrate that human class II-expressing PMN can serve as accessory cells in superantigen (SAg)-mediated T-cell activation. This accessory activity for SAg presentation was present only after induction of MHC class II expression, and was especially pronounced following culture of PMN with GM-CSF plus IFN-gamma, which acted synergistically to induce MHC class II molecules on PMN. Moreover, the level of MHC class II expression and the magnitude of SAg-induced T-cell responses were found to be highly correlated and distinctly donor dependent, with PMN from some donors repeatedly showing fivefold higher responses than PMN from other donors. On the other hand, culture of PMN with GM-CSF plus IFN-gamma under conditions that resulted in optimal MHC class II expression did not enable them to function as antigen-presenting cells for either intact tetanus toxoid (TT) or for a TT peptide. These results delineate a new pathway for T-cell activation by SAg that may play an important role in the severity of SAg-induced inflammatory responses. They also identify a donor-specific polymorphism for induction of PMN MHC class II expression which may be of significance for therapies involving GM-CSF and IFN-gamma.

Antigen Presentation↗
PubMed1997

The Jun kinase/stress-activated protein kinase pathway functions to regulate DNA repair and inhibition of the pathway sensitizes tumor cells to cisplatin.

We have studied the role of Jun/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) pathway in DNA repair and cisplatin resistance in T98G glioblastoma cells. JUN/SAPK is activated by DNA damage and phosphorylates serines 63 and 73 in the N-terminal domain of c-Jun, which is known to increase its transactivation properties. We show that treatment of T98G glioblastoma cells with cisplatin but not the transplatin isomer activates JNK/SAPK about 10-fold. T98G cells, which are highly resistent to cisplatin (IC50 = 140 +/- 13 microM), modified to express a nonphosphorylatable dominant negative c-Jun (termed dnJun) exhibit decreased viability following treatment with cisplatin, but not transplatin, in proportion (rPearson = 0.98) to the level of dnJun expressed leading to a 7-fold decreased IC50. Similar effects are observed in U87 cells, PC-3 cells, and MCF-7 cells, as well as in T98G cells modified to express TAM-67, a known inhibitor of c-Jun function. In contrast, no sensitization effect was observed in cells modified to express wild-type c-Jun. Furthermore, through quantitative polymerase chain reaction-stop assays, we show that dnJun expressing cells were inhibited in repair of cisplatin adducts (p = 0.55), whereas repair is readily detectable (p = 0.003) in parental cells. These observations indicate that the JNK/SAPK pathway is activated by cisplatin-induced DNA damage and that this response is required for DNA repair and viability following cisplatin treatment. Regulation of DNA repair following genotoxic stress may be a normal physiological role of the JNK/SAPK pathway.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Intermediate-density lipoproteins and progression of carotid arterial wall intima-media thickness.

BACKGROUND: Although LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is generally accepted to be a major risk factor for progression of atherosclerosis, the traditional measurement of LDL-C includes measurement of IDL. Little is known about the relationship between IDL and progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated the association of plasma lipoprotein subclasses with progression of preintrusive carotid artery atherosclerosis in the Monitored Atherosclerosis Regression Study (MARS). METHODS AND RESULTS: MARS was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled serial arterial imaging trial conducted in subjects 37 to 67 years old with angiographically defined coronary artery disease. Analytical ultracentrifugation was used to determine lipoprotein subclasses, including LDL (Sf 0 to 12), IDL (Sf 12 to 20), VLDL (Sf 20 to 400), and HDL (F1.20 0 to 9) in 188 subjects. Subjects were randomized to a cholesterol-lowering diet plus placebo or lovastatin 80 mg/d. The outcome measure, the annual progression rate of the distal common carotid artery far wall intima-media thickness determined by high resolution B-mode ultrasonography, was determined at baseline and every 6 months on trial. When the major apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins were measured independently, IDL (r=.21, P<.005) but not VLDL (r=-.09, P=.24) or LDL (r=.09, P=.26) was associated with the progression of carotid artery intimamedia thickness. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide further evidence for the role of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the progression of atherosclerosis and support the evidence that indicates that the risk of atherosclerosis attributable to LDL-C may in part be the result of lipoproteins in the IDL fraction (Sf 12 to 20) that is included within the traditional measurements of LDL-C.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of expression, cytokine regulation, and effector function of the high affinity IgG receptor Fc gamma RI (CD64) expressed on human blood dendritic cells.

The mechanisms responsible for efficient sequestration of Ag by cells of the dendritic cell (DC) lineage remain incompletely characterized. One pathway, internalization of Ag-IgG complexes via CD32 (the type II IgG FcR, Fc gamma RII) enhances Ag presentation 100-fold over noncomplexed Ag. Blood leukocytes differentially express two additional IgG FcR, Fc gamma RI (CD64) and Fc gamma RIII (CD16), which may also participate in leukocyte functions such as phagocytosis, Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), release of oxygen intermediates, and enhancement of Ag presentation. A phagocytically active form of CD64 was recently demonstrated on human blood DC, but complete functional potential of CD64 on the DC lineage remains undefined. Therefore, highly purified human blood DC (CD33(2)+, CD14-, CD11c2+, HLA-DR3+, CD64+ (CD83+ after overnight culture)) and monocytes (CD33(2)+, CD14(3)+, CD11c2+, HLA-DR+, CD64(2)+, CD83-) were compared for cytokine modulation and effector functions of CD64. Both DC and monocyte CD64 expression was increased by IFN-gamma and IL-10, but while monocyte CD64 was decreased by IL-4, DC CD64 remained unchanged. FcR-mediated functional differences were also evident between the DC and the monocytes. Monocytes generated robust Fc gamma R-dependent superoxide anion release and ADCC activity, while DC failed to release reactive oxygen intermediates and demonstrated minimal ADCC activity, despite apparently normal expression of the gamma-chain subunit and the signaling molecule Syk. In contrast, DC were more efficient than monocytes with respect to T cell activation when Ag was targeted specifically to CD64. These new findings suggest a previously unappreciated potential for CD64 to shape the immune response by dramatically increasing the efficiency with which DC sequester Ag prior to achieving full T cell stimulatory potential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Hemagglutinin specificity and neuraminidase coding capacity of neuraminidase-deficient influenza viruses.

Neuraminidase (NA)-deficient mutant virus stocks have been obtained by passaging A/NWS/33HA-tern/Australia/G70c/75NA (H1N9) influenza virus in medium containing neuraminidase from Micromonospora viridifaciens and antiserum against the influenza NA. Growth of the resulting mutants is dependent on addition of bacterial neuraminidase to the medium. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed large single deletions in the NA genes, with both ends of the NA gene segments conserved. These RNA fragments all have the capacity to code for a peptide that contains the N-terminal "tail" and membrane-anchoring region of the NA, but the presence of this peptide has not been demonstrated in virions or infected cells. In contrast to the ease of selection of NA-deficient mutants from the H1N9 virus, no mutants were selected from three other viruses. The HA-coding segments of parental H1N9 and mutant NWSc-Mvi predict a change of Pro to His at residue 227 (H3 numbering), close to the receptor-binding site of H3 HA, compared to the HA of an H1N2 reassortant that contains the NWS/33 HA gene. This change may contribute to an altered HA specificity that allows selection of mutants that can infect cells in the presence of high levels of NA activity. It appears that the role of NA in influenza infection is to remove sialic acid from the HA rather than to destroy receptors on cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Coupling of muscarinic cholinergic receptors and cGMP in nocturnal regulation of the suprachiasmatic circadian clock.

Acetylcholine has long been implicated in nocturnal phase adjustment of circadian rhythms, yet the subject remains controversial. Although the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), site of the circadian clock, contains no intrinsic cholinergic somata, it receives choline acetyltransferase-immunopositive projections from basal forebrain and mesopontine tegmental nuclei that contribute to sleep and wakefulness. We have demonstrated that the SCN of inbred rats in a hypothalamic brain slice is sensitive to cholinergic phase adjustment via muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) only at night. We used this paradigm to probe the muscarinic signal transduction mechanism and the site(s) gating nocturnal responsiveness. The cholinergic agonist carbachol altered the circadian rhythm of SCN neuronal activity in a pattern closely resembling that for analogs of cGMP; nocturnal gating of clock sensitivity of each is preserved in vitro. Specific inhibitors of guanylyl cyclase (GC) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), key elements in the cGMP signal transduction cascade, blocked phase shifts induced by carbachol. Further, carbachol administration to the SCN at night increased cGMP production and PKG activity. The carbachol-induced increase in cGMP was blocked both by atropine, an mAChR antagonist, and by LY83583, a GC inhibitor. We conclude that (1) mAChR regulation of the SCN is mediated via GC-->cGMP-->PKG, (2) nocturnal gating of this pathway is controlled by the circadian clock, and (3) a gating site is positioned downstream from cGMP. This study is among the first to identify a functional context for mAChR-cGMP coupling in the CNS.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1997

Mass spectrometric characterization of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic/electrospray mass spectrometric (HPLC/MS) technique is described for the characterization of the beta-subunit of the glycopeptide human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The beta-subunit of hCG was dissociated from the alpha-subunit using 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and separated by reversed-phase HPLC using a 0.1% TFA-acetonitrile gradient. Although reductive alkylation with 4-vinylpyridine allowed direct observation of the intact beta-subunit of hCG by HPLC/MS due to the increase in charge, the heterogeneity of the carbohydrate fractions resulted in poor detection limits and extremely complex spectra. After reductive alkylation with either iodoacetate or 4-vinylpyridine, tryptic fragments of either the alpha- or beta-subunit can be observed using reversed-phase HPLC/MS. HPLC/MS data were consistent with the reported primary sequence, although oligosaccharide attachment sites at both 127Ser and 132Ser could not be documented. Microheterogeneity of the carbohydrate moiety on both N-glycosylation sites on the beta-subunit could be readily observed. A larger degree of heterogeneity was observed on 13Asn. Differences were also observed in the oligosaccharide distribution in three commercial preparations of hCG. Detection of the C-terminal portion of the beta-subunit required enzymatic deglycosylation prior to HPLC/MS analysis.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed1997

Mechanism of the hardening process for a hydroxyapatite cement.

The dynamics for the hydraulic process of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) were investigated by X-ray diffraction quantitative analysis. The results show that the hardening process of CPC is initially controlled by the dissolution of reactants in a 4-h period and subsequently by diffusion through the product layer of hydroxyapatite (HAP) around the grains. The compressive strength rises approximately linearly with the increase of the extent of conversion in a 4-h period, and a maximum compressive strength of about 51 MPa, which is superior to those reported by the references, is obtained in 4 h. Then the compressive strength drops a little with an increase in the extent of conversion. The final product of setting reaction is acicular HAP crystal. Crystal seed not only reduces the setting time but also drops the compressive strength. The variation of pH in CPC slurry from 7.5 to 10.5 reveals that the control step of the dissolution process in the hardening process is the dissolution of dicalcium phosphate anhydrous and the presence of crystal seed will reduce the supersaturation to produce HAP.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1997

Sequence variation of allele 27 at the D1S80 locus.

In 180 unrelated Japanese individuals 18 examples of allele 27 were detected at the locus D1S80 (MCT118). On 6% polylacrylamide gels 5 out of these 18 alleles were found to migrate between allele 26 and allele 27, but closer to allele 27, and thus were labelled variants of allele 27. All 18 examples of allele 27 were sequenced and the results were compared. Although all had the same number of base pairs (578 bp) the five variants could be subdivided into three types. V1, V2 and V3. The variants and the standard allele were composed of the same kinds of repeat units, but the order of arrangement was different. We investigated whether it was possible to distinguish the standard allele 27, and the variants V1, V2, and V3 by PCR-RFLP. EcoRII and MspI which have restriction sites within the repeat units were adopted as restriction enzymes. The variants could be discriminated from each other after treatment of the PCR fragments with EcoRII or MspI, followed by PAG electrophoresis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

A new drug delivery system--ciprofloxacine/tricalcium phosphate delivery capsule (CTDC) and its in vitro drug release pattern.

A new drug delivery system (DDS), ciprofloxacine/tricalcium phosphate delivery capsule (CTDC) was developed by loading a broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacine into the central cylindrical cavity of tricalcium phosphate capsule. The new system showed good biocompatibility and could degrade gradually in our preliminary studies. In vitro study showed that CTDC could maintain high-level and long-term release of ciprofloxacine and that ultrasonic irradiation within the range of physical therapy could increase the drug release amount from CTDC ( P < 0.02), and might become a new technique to achieve the control of drug release from DDS.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1997

ACTBP2 gene frequency distribution and sequencing of the allelic ladder and variants in the Japanese and Chinese populations.

The human beta-actin related pseudogene H-beta-Ac-psi-2 (ACTBP2) gene frequency distributions in the Japanese and Chinese Han populations were investigated and compared. Analysis was carried out by applying fluorescently labeled samples and a differently labeled sequenced allelic ladder within the same lanes in denaturing gels, followed by laser detection and automated analysis using Genescan software 672. The discrimination index and the heterozygosity index were calculated to be 0.993 and 0.916 in the Japanese population, and 0.993 and 0.944 in the Chinese Han population, respectively. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in these two populations. The allelic ladder, which ranged from 233 bp to 319 bp, was constructed from a combination of 23 regularly occurring alleles. The allelic ladder and 12 variants observed in 24 individuals in these two populations were sequenced. The variants could be divided into three types according to their structural variation characteristics. These variants differed from the alleles of the same repeats in the allelic ladder by the presence or absence of hexanucleotides in the central repeat regions, base deletions in the flanking regions, and base insertions in the repeat units.

Actins↗