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Kun Tang

Publications and source records attributed to Kun Tang.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Oriented assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into monodisperse hollow single-crystal microspheres.

Magnetite nanoparticles of Fe3O4 were found to assemble into monodisperse hollow Fe3O4 microspheres with tunable diameters ranging from 200 to 400 nm and open pores on the shells in ethylene glycol in the presence of dodecylamine (DDA). The oriented assembly of nanoparticles conferred the individual hollow Fe3O4 microspheres a remarkable feature of single crystals. The morphologies of the products could be easily manipulated by varying the synthesis parameters. Increasing the concentration of DDA led to an obvious shape evolution of the products from rhombic nanoparticles to hollow microspheres, solid microspheres, and finally irregular nanoparticles, which were mainly attributed to the special self-assembly phenomenon of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the solvothermal process.

Ferrosoferric Oxide↗
PubMed2006

Identifying genes underlying skin pigmentation differences among human populations.

Skin pigmentation is a human phenotype that varies greatly among human populations and it has long been speculated that this variation is adaptive. We therefore expect the genes that contribute to these large differences in phenotype to show large allele frequency differences among populations and to possibly harbor signatures of positive selection. To identify the loci that likely contribute to among-population human skin pigmentation differences, we measured allele frequency differentiation among Europeans, Chinese and Africans for 24 human pigmentation genes from 2 publicly available, large scale SNP data sets. Several skin pigmentation genes show unusually large allele frequency differences among these populations. To determine whether these allele frequency differences might be due to selection, we employed a within-population test based on long-range haplotype structure and identified several outliers that have not been previously identified as putatively adaptive. Most notably, we identify the DCT gene as a candidate for recent positive selection in the Chinese. Moreover, our analyses suggest that it is likely that different genes are responsible for the lighter skin pigmentation found in different non-African populations.

Asian People↗
PubMed2006

A simple and convenient approach for isolating RNA from highly viscous plant tissue rich in polysaccharides.

RNA isolation is a prerequisite to the study of gene expression of herbaceous plant Dendrobium nobile under an environmental stress. However, RNA isolation is difficult in the plant of genus Dendrobium, which is relatively viscous, due to being rich in polysaccharides. The common protocols for RNA isolation are tedious and usually result in poor yields when applied to D. nobile. Here, we describe a simple and convenient method for high quality total RNA extraction from D. nobile. Main procedures are as follows: smashing plant tissue and cell wall by means of pre-cooled citrate homogenization, cleaving cell membrane by using guanidine hydrochloride lysis buffer, removing proteins, polyphenols and polysaccharides by acidic phenol/chloroform. It is particularly useful for processing large numbers of plant samples. The whole process can be completed within 2.5 h. The extracted RNA is suitable for applications such as RT-PCR, Northern analysis and screening of differential expression genes.

Cell Culture Techniques↗
PubMed2006

FMR1 CGG repeat patterns and flanking haplotypes in three Asian populations and their relationship with repeat instability.

Hyper-expansion of a CGG repeat in the 5' untranslated region of the FMR1 gene followed by methylation and silencing is the predominant cause of Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited mental retardation disorder. Most detailed studies of the FMR1 gene have focused on Caucasian populations and patients. We performed a detailed haplotype and linkage disequilibrium analysis of the FMR1 gene in a total of 454 unselected normal X chromosomes from three Asian populations, Chinese, Malay and Indian. Compared to Caucasians and African Americans, the diversity of normal FMR1 CGG repeat lengths, patterns and flanking haplotypes were lower in Asians. Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between the CGG repeat and flanking FMR1 markers in all three Asian populations, with strong association between specific CGG repeat alleles and flanking marker alleles observed only in the Chinese and Malays. A test for randomness of distribution between FRAXA CGG repeat patterns and flanking FMR1 marker haplotypes also revealed a highly significant non-random distribution between CGG repeat patterns and flanking haplotypes in all three ethnic groups (P < 0.001). Extending previous findings in Caucasians and African Americans we present a novel statistical approach, using data from unselected population samples alone, to show an association between absence of at least one AGG interruption in any position (5', 3', or middle) and increased CGG repeat instability.

5' Flanking Region↗
PubMed2006

[Effect of polysaccharides content of tissue culturing seedlings on Dendrobium candidium under sound wave stimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the polysaccharides content of tissue culturing seedlings on Dendrobium candidium under special sound wave stimulation. METHODS: The content of polysaccharides was detected by phenol-vitriol colorimetry method. RESULTS: The polysaccharides content of the groups stimulated continuously for 24d was higher obviously than the content of the control groups. CONCLUSION: The stimulation of the special sound wave promoted markedly the synthesis of polysaccharides in D. candidium. It may affect obviously the metabolic pathway of polysaccharides in D. candidium.

Colorimetry↗
PubMed2005

Platelet amyloid precursor protein processing: a bio-marker for Alzheimer's disease.

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) in brain is processed either by an amyloidogenic pathway by beta-secretase and gamma-secretase to yield Abeta (beta-amyloid 4 kDa) peptide or by alpha-secretase within the beta-amyloid domain to yield non-amyloidogenic products. We have studied blood platelet levels of a 22-kDa fragment containing the Abeta (beta-amyloid 4 kDa) peptide, beta-secretase (BACE1), alpha-secretase (ADAM10), and APP isoform ratios of the 120-130 kDa to 110 kDa peptides from 31 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 10 age-matched healthy control subjects. We found increased levels of Abeta4, increased activation of beta-secretase (BACE1), decreased activation of alpha-secretase (ADAM10) and decreased APP ratios in AD patients compared to normal control subjects. These observations indicate that the blood platelet APP is processed by the same amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways as utilized in brain and that APP processing in AD patients is altered compared to control subjects and may be a useful bio-marker for the diagnosis of AD, the progression of disease and for monitoring drug responses in clinical trials.

ADAM Proteins↗
PubMed2005

A functional polymorphism within the MRP1 gene locus identified through its genomic signature of positive selection.

Searching for genomic evidence of positive selection has been hailed as an attractive strategy for identifying functional polymorphisms. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of identifying functional polymorphism at the MRP1 gene locus using this strategy. The 190 kDa MRP1 protein is an efflux pump that regulates the accumulation of xenobiotics and drugs in cells. Functional sequence variations within this gene might account, in part, for inter-individual and population differences in drug response. To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MRP1 gene with potentially important functional significance, we scanned for genomic signatures of recent positive selection at this locus in approximately 480 individuals sampled from the Chinese, Malay, Indian, European-American and African-American populations. The genetic profile of SNPs at this locus revealed high haplotype diversity and weak linkage disequilibrium (LD). Despite this weak LD, major allele G of SNP 5'FR/G-260C contained within a high frequency haplotype exhibited extended haplotype homozygosity across 135 kb in European-Americans. Using two independent genomic tests, long-range haplotype (LRH) test and the F(ST) statistic, we found statistical evidence of positive selection for this allele in the European-American population. When this SNP was recapitulated in an in vitro MRP1 promoter-reporter assay, significantly lower activity was observed from the G-containing promoter when compared with the C-containing promoter in all four cell lines that we tested (P<0.01). These observations confirm the power of this strategy in identifying functionally different alleles of genes and suggest that the different alleles at this SNP locus in the MRP1 gene may account, in part, for inter-individual variations and population differences in drug response.

Genomics↗
PubMed2005

Effect of MDR1 haplotype on risk of Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND: MDR1, a multidrug transporter, encodes a P-glycoprotein that regulates the bioavailability of xenobiotics and is highly expressed at the blood-brain-barrier. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (e21/2677[G/T/A] and e26/3435[C/T]) in the MDR1 gene can lead to differences in MDR1 expression and function. Specific MDR1 alleles of the 2 SNPs are positively selected among ethnic Chinese but not in the white population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether specific haplotypes formed by SNPs e21/2677 and e26/3435 may protect against Parkinson disease (PD) among ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centers in Hong Kong. SUBJECTS: One hundred eighty-five patients with PD and 206 control subjects. INTERVENTIONS: The two SNPs were amplified in a single multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Five other SNPs that span 100 kilobases of the gene were also analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Haplotypes frequencies, degree of haplotype association with the disease status, and estimated odds ratio for each haplotype with associated 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: In addition to 2677 G-->T/A (exon 21) and 3435 C-->T (exon 26), the other SNPs that were analyzed were -41 A-->G (intron -1), -145 C-->G (exon 1), -129 T-->C (exon 1), 1236 T-->C (exon 12), and 4036 A-->G (exon 28). Haplotypes containing SNPs e21/2677 and e26/3435 were found to be significantly associated with risk of PD. In particular, the 2677T-3435T haplotype was strongly associated with a reduced risk of PD (P<.001; chi(2) = 14.521; odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.59). CONCLUSIONS: An MDR1 haplotype containing SNPs e21/2677T and e26/3435T protects against PD in ethnic Chinese, compatible with the observation of a recent positive selection of the T alleles of these 2 SNPs in this ethnic population.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Strong linkage disequilibrium at the nucleotide analogue transporter ABCC5 gene locus.

The ABCC5 transporter is a ubiquitously expressed ATP-dependent efflux pump that exports nucleotide analogues, including thiopurine anticancer drugs and antiviral drugs. Polymorphisms within this gene may be associated with differences in response to these drugs between different individuals. Haplotype mapping may facilitate the identification of causal genetic variations in association studies. Here, we report the characterization of the haplotype and linkage disequilibrium (LD) profiles across the entire 100 kb of the ABCC5 gene in five ethnically unique populations. Of 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) examined, 16 were observed to occur at high frequency in all five populations and were used for further haplotype and LD analyses. The ABCC5 gene was found to be in strong LD in all populations with half-length LD (LD0.5) estimated to be between 106 and 293 kb long and useful LD extending beyond 100 kb. Low haplotype diversity was observed in the four non-African populations, where the total number of observed haplotypes constituted less than 22% of the predicted number of haplotypes in a simulated population that has undergone maximum recombination. Four and six tagging SNPs, which could account for approximately 90% of observed haplotypes, were identified in the non-African and African-American populations, respectively.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2004

Analysis of MDR1 haplotypes in Parkinson's disease in a white population.

The MDR1 multidrug transporter is important in regulating environmental xenobiotics and hence may play a causative role in Parkinson's disease (PD). MDR1 haplotype comprising 2677 G > T/A and 3435 C > T may be protective against PD. Using a case control methodology, we investigated the association of MDR1 haplotypes (single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 2677 G > T/A and 3435 C > T) in a Polish PD population. Seven SNPs, extending from the promoter to exon 28 of the MDR1 gene in 158 PD patients and 139 healthy controls were evaluated. Specifically we examined the association of haplotypes containing SNPs 2677 G > T/A and 3435 C > T and risk of PD. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effects of the covariates on the phenotypes. Haplotypes' frequencies were estimated using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm. The frequency of each individual SNPs; -41 A > G (intron -1), -145 C > G (exon 1), -129 T > C (exon 1), 1236 T > C (exon 12), 2677 G > T/A (exon 21), 3435 C > T (exon 26), and 4036 A > G (exon 28) did not differ between PD and controls. However, there was a trend towards significance in PD patients having the haplotype 2677G-3435C (p < 0.09, chi-square 2.85, odds ratio 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-1.08). Haplotype constructs of the other loci did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was a weak protective effect of the haplotype 2677G-3435C in our white population. However, the MDR1 haplotypes did not generally modulate the risk of PD.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Genomic evidence for recent positive selection at the human MDR1 gene locus.

The MDR1 multidrug transporter regulates the traffic of drugs, peptides and xenobiotics into the body as well as sensitive tissues like the brain, germ cells and the developing fetus. Hence, it may influence an individual's response to drugs as well as his/her susceptibility to complex diseases in which environmental factors, especially xenobiotics, play a role. Polymorphisms within this gene, especially single-nucleotide polymorphism e26/3435(C/T), have been variously associated with differences in MDR1 expression, function, drug response and disease susceptibility. Here, we report the detailed characterization of the haplotype and linkage disequilibrium architecture of the entire 200 kb of the MDR1 gene in five world populations, namely, Chinese, Malays, Indians, Caucasians and African-Americans. We observed varied haplotype diversity across the entire gene in the different populations. The major haplotype mh5, which contains the subhaplotype e12/1236T-e21/2677T-e26/3435T, is highly represented among the four non-African populations, while mh7, which contains the subhaplotype e12/1236C-e21/2677G-e26/3435C, accounts for over a third of African-American chromosomes. These observations are inconsistent with a simple population evolution model, but instead are suggestive of recent historical events that have maintained such long range linkage disequilibrium. Using a modified long-range haplotype test, we found statistically significant evidence of recent positive selection for the e21/2677T and e26/3435T alleles in the Chinese population, and for the e26/3435T allele in the Malay population. Interestingly, we also detected evidence for positive selection of the alternative allele e26/3435C in the African-American population. These data suggest that independent mutational events may have occurred on the mh5 and mh7 haplotypes of the MDR1 gene to confer positive selection in the non-African and African-American populations, respectively.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2002

Distinct haplotype profiles and strong linkage disequilibrium at the MDR1 multidrug transporter gene locus in three ethnic Asian populations.

The MDR1 multidrug transporter plays a key role in determining drug bioavailability, and differences in drug response exist amongst different ethnic groups. Numerous studies have identified an association between the MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) exon 26 3435C>T and differences in MDR1 function. We performed a haplotype analysis of the MDR1 gene in three major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays and Indians) by examining 10 intragenic SNPs. Four were polymorphic in all three ethnic groups: one occurring in the non-coding region and three occurring in coding exons. All three coding SNPs (exon 12 1236C>T, exon 21 2677G>T/A and exon 26 3435C>T) were present in high frequency in each ethnic group, and the derived haplotype profiles exhibited distinct differences between the groups. Fewer haplotypes were observed in the Malays (n = 6) compared to the Chinese (n = 10) and Indians (n = 9). Three major haplotypes (> 10% frequency) were observed in the Malays and Chinese; of these, two were observed in the Indians. Strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) was detected between the three SNPs in all three ethnic groups. The strongest LD was present in the Chinese, followed by Indians and Malays, with the corresponding LD blocks estimated to be approximately 80 kb, 60 kb and 40 kb, respectively. These data strongly support the hypothesis that strong LD between the neutral SNP exon 26 3435C>T and a nearby unobserved causal SNP underlies the observed associations between the neutral SNP and MDR1 functional differences. Furthermore, strong LD between exon 26 3435T and different unobserved causal SNPs in different study populations may provide a plausible explanation for conflicting reports associating the same exon 26 3435T allele with different MDR1 functional changes.

5' Untranslated Regions↗