PubMed HealthSearch

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Structural variation”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Structural variation in the nasal bone region of European moose (Alces alces L.).

The ontogeny of typical (normal) nasal bone region of the European moose (Alces alces L.) and the 3 variants of the pattern, was studied. The variants, named as "extra bone type", "punctured type" and "open type" referring the morphology of the internasal suture, were originally observed in Finnish male and female moose skulls in 1971. All of the variants were later found in hunting trophy exhibitions presenting male moose trophies from Sweden, Norway, Baltic Republics of USSR and Poland. The frequencies of the variants showed regional differences. By using histological, radiological and OTC bone labelling methods, all of the nasal bone types were observed in this study in embryonal (N = 36), newborn (N = 21), juvenile (N = 38) and adult (N = 12) moose. Two twin embryos showed different nasal bone structure. The variation is considered to be of congenital origin.

Animals

The influence of structural variations in the F- and FG-helix of the beta-subunit modified oxyHb-NES on the heme structure detected by resonance Raman spectroscopy.

The dispersion of the depolarization ratio of two prominent Raman lines (1,375 cm-1 and 1,638 cm-1) of oxyhemoglobin-N-ethyl succinimide have been examined for pH values between pH = 6.0 and 8.5. Both exhibit a significant pH dependence. Calculation of the Raman tensor in terms of a fifth-order time dependent theory provides information about the pH-dependence of parameters reflecting symmetry classified distortions of the prosthetic heme group. To correlate these distortions with the functional properties of the molecule the following protocol was used: 1) An allosteric model suggested by Herzfeld and Stanley (1974) has been applied to O2-binding curves measured at different pH values between 6.5 and 9.0. From this calculation one obtains both, the energy differences between different molecular conformations and the equilibrium constants of oxygen and proton binding. 2) A titration model was formulated relating each conformation of a molecule to a distinct set of distortion parameters of the heme group. 3) The distortion parameters resulting from the analysis of our Raman data were assigned as an effective value due to incoherent superposition of the distortion parameters related to the different titration states. The application of this procedure yields an excellent reproduction of the pH-dependent effective distortion parameters of both Raman lines investigated. It is shown that the protonation of two tertiary effector groups located in the beta-subunits affect the symmetry of the heme in a contrary manner: the protonation of a His-residue (pK = 8.2, probably His(FG4) beta) causes a symmetric position of the proximal imidazole thus lowering the perturbations of the heme core. Further it influences the interaction between amino acid residues of the heme cavity and pyrrole side chains (probably Val(FG5) beta-vinyl (pyrrole 3) thus causing a decrease of the distortions related to the peripheral part of the heme. In contrast, the protonation of Lys (EF6) beta causes a tilt position of the proximal imidazole and an increase of asymmetric perturbations of the heme core, whereas the interaction between the pyrrole side chains and the heme cavity is weakened. Our results are consistent with stereochemical predictions of Moffat (1971) concerning the existence of a H-bond between His(FG4) beta and Cys(F9) beta.

Adult

Ribosomal gene structure, variation and inheritance in maize and its ancestors.

We have examined the structure of nuclear genes coding for ribosomal RNAs in maize and its wild relatives, the teosintes and Tripsacum. Digestion of the rDNA (genes coding for 18S, 5.8S and 26S RNAs) with 15 restriction endonucleases (with six base pair recognition sites) yields essentially a single map for the approximately 10,000 repeat units within an individual plant or species. Both length and site variation were detected among species and were concentrated in the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA repeat unit. This result is in agreement with patterns of rDNA change observed among wheat and its relatives (Triticeae), and among vertebrate species. Digestion of these nuclear DNAs with BamHI and subsequent hybridization with a 5S RNA gene-specific probe allowed determination of the size of the 5S gene repeat unit in maize, teosintes, and Tripsacum. Groupings in the genus Zea were characterized by distinct repeat unit types five Tripsacum species examined shared a 260 base pair major repeat unit type. Additionally, several other restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns differentiated among the 5S DNAs within the genus Zea. The rDNA and 5S DNA restriction site variation among the species can be interpreted phylogenetically and agrees with biochemical, karyotypic, and morphological evidence that places maize closest to the Mexican teosintes. For both gene arrays, contributions from each parental genome can be detected by restriction enzyme analysis of progeny from crosses between maize and two distantly related teosintes, Zea luxurians or Zea diploperennis, but certain teosinte arrays were underrepresented in some of the hybrids.

Blotting, Southern

Effects of structural variations in elaboration on learning by EMR and nonretarded children.

The effects of three elaboration structures (compound sentences, complex sentences, and paragraphs) on the paired-associate learning and reversal of 30 8- to 10-year-old nonretarded and 30 8- to 10-year-old EMR children were investigated. Analyses of trials-to-criterion, first trial errors, and reversal errors did not reveal any differences in the effects of the three elaboration structures. Results of the present study indicate that given constant meaning and relational factors, some forms of surface structure differneces (compound sentences vs. complex sentence vs. paragraph) are not significant in determining a child's ability to understand an elaboration or to use it in a learning situation. There was no population difference found in the analysis of first-trial errors, although small significant differences between the nonretarded and EMR children were found in the analyses of trials-to-criterion and reversal performance.

Child

Recurrent structural variation and recent turnover at the 17q21.31 locus in humans and great apes.

The 17q21.31 locus in humans harbors several complex structural haplotypes including a ~970kb inversion. Different inversion haplotypes have been associated with susceptibility to microdeletions causing Koolen-de Vries syndrome and variation in fecundity and recombination rates. Here, using 210 haplotype-resolved human genome assemblies and pangenome graph-based approaches we characterize 11 distinct structural haplotypes, several of which have not been previously described. Extending our analyses to a set of haplotype-resolved great-ape genomes, we characterize the structure of an independent inversion in chimpanzees which extends an additional 650kb, encompasses 5 additional genes, and is ~2 million years younger than the human inversion. We further determine that gorillas exhibit an independent duplication of the KANSL1 gene which may predispose them to Koolen-de Vries syndrome causing microdeletions. Using short read sequencing data we characterize 17q21.31 haplotype diversity worldwide in ~5174 individuals from 107 populations finding increased frequencies of KANSL1 duplication-containing haplotypes in both European and South Asian populations as well as 8 double recombination events between inverted and non-inverted haplotypes ranging in size from 20-180kb. Finally, using 626 ancient Eurasian human genomes we show the frequency of haplotypes containing KANSL1 duplications has increased ~6-fold over the past 12 thousand years in Europe. Together, our results highlight the dynamics, complexity, and recurrent, independent evolution of a medically relevant locus across humans and great apes.

Journal Article

Structural variations of O-linked oligosaccharides present in leukosialin isolated from erythroid, myeloid, and T-lymphoid cell lines.

Structures of O-linked oligosaccharides of leukosialin isolated from K562 erythroid, HL-60 promyelocytic, and HSB-2 T-lymphoid cell lines were examined. Leukosialin was isolated by specific immunoprecipitation from cells which were metabolically labeled with [3H]glucosamine, and glycopeptides were isolated after Pronase digestion. O-Linked oligosaccharides were released by alkaline borohydride treatment, and the structures of purified oligosaccharides were elucidated by specific exoglycosidase digestion, Smith degradation, and methylation anaylsis. Oligosaccharides from K562 cells were found to be GalNAcOH, Gal beta 1----3GalNAcOH, NeuNAc alpha 2----6GalNAcOH, NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAcOH, Gal beta 1----3(NeuNAc alpha 2----6)GalNAcOH, and NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuNAc alpha 2----6)GalNAcOH. On the other hand, oligosaccharides from HL-60 and HSB-2 cells were found to be NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAcOH, NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6(Gal beta 1----3)GalNAcOH, Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6(NeuNAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta 1----3)GalNAcOH, and NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6(NeuNAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3)GalNAcOH. These results clearly indicate that leukosialin can be differently glycosylated with O-linked chains, and each erythroid or myeloid (and T-lymphoid) cell line expresses a characteristic set of O-linked oligosaccharides which differ in core structures as well as in sialylation.

Antigens, CD

Effect of molecular structure variation on the disintegrant action of sodium starch glycolate.

The effect of variation in the degree of cross-linkage and extent of carboxymethylation on the disintegration and dissolution properties of sodium starch glycolate has been examined. Samples of sodium starch glycolate were evaluated for particle size distributions and bulk and tapped densities. The bulk powders were also tested for sedimentation volumes, water uptake, and bulk swelling. Direct compression formulations containing aspirin and hydrochlorothiazide and varying concentrations of the modified starches were tableted on a rotary tablet press and evaluated for weight variation, hardness, disintegration, and dissolution. The results indicate that relatively small changes in molecular structure can cause substantial modification of disintegrant properties and suggest that the specifications for one commercially available sodium starch glycolate are within optimal specifications for both cross-linkage and degree of substitution.

Aspirin

Structural variations in the Drosophila retrotransposon, 17.6.

More than 21 members of 17.6, a Drosophila retrotransposon, were isolated and their possible structural changes were examined by restriction mapping, blot hybridization, heteroduplex analysis and nucleotide sequence determination of long terminal repeats (LTRs). At least 7 members were found to suffer with terminal or internal long deletions. No pair of LTRs having an identical nucleotide sequence was found either within an element or between elements. Although an initiation site for the presumable genome-sized transcript of 17.6, a potential substrate for reverse transcription on translocation, was identified within the left-hand LTR, our results as a whole support the notion that the majority of 17.6s have continued to reside for a long period of time at their present chromosomal loci and hence the rate of translocation of 17.6 is very low.

Animals

Structural variation in d(CTCTAGAG). Implications for protein-DNA interactions.

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to characterize the structure of the self-complementary DNA oligomer d(CTCTAGAG). The structure was refined to an R factor of 14.7% using data to 2.15-A resolution. The tetragonal unit cell, space group P4(3)2(1)2, has dimensions a = 42.53 and c = 24.33 A. The asymmetric unit consists of a single strand or four base pairs. Two strands, related by a crystallographic dyad axis, coil about each other to form a right-handed duplex. This octamer duplex has a mean helix rotation of 32 degrees, 11.3 base pairs per turn, an average rise of 3.1 A, C3'-endo furanose conformations, a shallow minor groove, and a deep major groove. Such averaged parameters suggest classification of the octamer as a member of the A-DNA family. However, the global parameters tend to mask variations in conformational parameters observed at the level of the base pairs. In particular, the central TpA (= TpA) step displays extensive interstrand purine-purine overlap and an unusual sugar-phosphate backbone conformation. These structural features may be directly related to certain sequence-specific protein-DNA interactions involving nucleases and repressors.

Base Composition

Structural variation in the antithrombin III binding site region and its occurrence in heparin from different sources.

A tetrasaccharide possessing a biosynthetically permissible structural variability in and adjacent to the antithrombin III (ATIII) binding site has been isolated from heparin lyase depolymerized bovine lung heparin by using strong anion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography (SAX-HPLC). On the basis of two-dimensional 500-MHz 1H NMR experiments, including phase-sensitive correlated spectroscopy (COSY) and rotating frame nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY), and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS), the primary structure of this tetrasaccharide was unambiguously established as delta UAp2S (1----4)-alpha-D-GlcNp2S6S(1----4)-beta-D-GlcAp(1----4)-alph a-D-GlcNp2S3S6S (where delta UA represents 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid). The 1H NMR ROESY experiment proved to be particularly valuable in offering sequence information. Heparins from a variety of species and tissue sources were examined by oligosaccharide mapping using SAX-HPLC and gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two of these heparins are used as anticoagulants; they are porcine intestinal mucosal heparin and bovine lung heparin. The predominant ATIII-binding site in porcine heparin contained an N-acetylated glucosamine residue. We now report the structure of the predominant ATIII-binding site in bovine heparin as----4)-alpha-D-GlcNp2S6S(1----4)-beta-D-GlcAp(1----4)-alph a-D- GlcNp2S3S6S(1----4)-alpha-L-IdoAp2S(1----4)-alpha-D-GlcNp 2S6S(1----. This study shows the presence of one or both types of ATIII-binding-site variants in all of the heparins that were examined.

Animals

Structural variations in soluble iron complexes of models for ferritin: an x-ray absorption and Mössbauer spectroscopy comparison of horse spleen ferritin to Blutal (iron-chondroitin sulfate) and Imferon (iron-dextran).

Variations in the turnover of storage iron have been attributed to differences in apoferritin and in the cytoplasm but rarely to differences in the structure of the iron core (except size). To explore the idea that the iron environment in soluble iron complexes could vary, we compared horse spleen ferritin to pharmaceutically important model complexes of hydrous ferric oxide formed from FeCl3 and dextran (Imferon) or chondroitin sulfate (Blutal), using x-ray absorption (EXAFS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that the iron in the chondroitin sulfate complex was more ordered than in either horse spleen ferritin or the dextran complex (EXAFS), with two magnetic environments (Mössbauer), one (80%-85%) like Fe2O3 X nH2O (ferritinlike) and one (15%-20%) like Fe2O3 (hematite); since sulfate promotes the formation of inorganic hematite, the sulfate in the chondroitin sulfate most likely nucleated Fe2O3 and hydroxyl/carboxyls, which are ligands common to chondroitin sulfate, ferritin and dextran most likely nucleated Fe2O3 X nH2O. Differences in the structure of the iron complexed with chondroitin sulfate or dextran coincide with altered rates of iron release in vivo and in vitro and provide the first example relating function to local iron structure. Differences might also occur among ferritins in vivo, depending on the apoferritin (variations in anion-binding sites) or the cytoplasm (anion concentration).

Animals

Phenotypic effects of apolipoprotein structural variation on lipid profiles. III. Contribution of apolipoprotein E phenotype to prediction of total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the healthy women study.

The apolipoprotein (apo) E structural locus has been shown to influence concentrations of total cholesterol, apo B, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in population studies. Apo E has six phenotypes resulting from three common alleles at this locus. In the present study, we have typed 473 healthy white women for apo E. At baseline in 1984, all women were premenopausal. To date, 109 of these women have become postmenopausal and are not on hormone therapy. Statistical analyses were done on both pre- and postmenopausal groups to assess the influence of menopausal status in combination with the apo E locus on lipid profile. Nine lipoprotein lipids and apolipoproteins were categorized by three apo E phenotypes: apo E3-2, apo E3-3, and apo E4-3. These were compared in analysis of variance. At baseline, the apo E3-2 phenotype showed the lowest average concentrations of total cholesterol (170 mg/dl), apo B (80 mg/dl), and LDL cholesterol (91 mg/dl), while the apo E4-3 phenotype demonstrated the highest average concentrations of total cholesterol (192 mg/dl), apo B (104 mg/dl), and LDL cholesterol (116 mg/dl) (p less than or equal to 0.0004). Apo E3-3 homozygotes were intermediate on all three quantitative variables. The postmenopausal subset showed the same trends by phenotype, with overall increases in total cholesterol, apo B, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, regardless of phenotype. Women who remained premenopausal generally showed smaller increases in these same measures. Our results suggest that, on average, the lower lipoprotein values for the apo E3-2 phenotype are maintained through early menopause despite a worsening of lipid profiles for all women as they age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alleles

The predicted presence of large helical structural variation in yeast HIS4 upstream region is correlated with general amino acid control on the CYC1 gene.

A series of CYC1 constructions in which the upstream promoter portion has been replaced by a variety of HIS4 synthetic fragments has demonstrated that the 5' TGACTC 3' repeat is crucial for conferring amino acid general control. Efficient regulation, however, is obtained only with fragments containing both the repeat and flanking sequences. Analysis of the flanks shows the presence of a 16 nucleotide long sequence composed of alterations of two purines and two pyrimidines between the upstream and downstream repeats. Such a sequence has very large twist angle variations. Homologous sequence are observed in HIS1, HIS3, and in TRP5 upstream regions between copies of the repeat. Sequences which confer special structural characteristics may aid in protein recognition of the promoter region.

Amino Acids

Alkylphosphocholines: influence of structural variation on biodistribution at antineoplastically active concentrations.

Hexadecylphosphocholine (HPC) and octadecylphosphocholine (OPC) show very potent antitumor activity against autochthonous methylnitrosourea-induced mammary carcinomas in rats. The longer-chain and unsaturated homologue erucylphosphocholine (EPC) forms lamellar structures rather than micelles, but nonetheless exhibits antineoplastic activity. Methylnitrosourea was used in the present study to induce autochthonous mammary carcinomas in virgin Sprague-Dawley rats. At 6 and 11 days following oral therapy, the biodistribution of HPC, OPC and EPC was analyzed in the serum, tumor, liver, kidney, lung, small intestine, brain and spleen of rats by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. In contrast to the almost identical tumor response noted, the distribution of the three homologues differed markedly. The serum levels of 50 nmol/ml obtained for OPC and EPC were much lower than the value of 120 nmol/ml measured for HPC. Nevertheless, the quite different serum levels resulted in similar tumor concentrations of about 200 nmol/g for all three of the compounds. Whereas HPC preferably accumulated in the kidney (1 mumol/g), OPC was found at increased concentrations (400 nmol/g) in the spleen, kidney and lung. In spite of the high daily dose of 120 mumol/kg EPC as compared with 51 mumol/kg HPC or OPC, EPC concentrations (100-200 nmol/g) were low in most tissues. High EPC concentrations were found in the small intestine (628 nmol/g). Values of 170 nmol/g were found for HPC and OPC in the brain, whereas the EPC concentration was 120 nmol/g. Obviously, structural modifications in the alkyl chain strongly influence the distribution pattern of alkylphosphocholines in animals. Since EPC yielded the highest tissue-to-serum concentration ratio in tumor tissue (5.1) and the lowest levels in other organs, we conclude that EPC is the most promising candidate for drug development in cancer therapy.

Animals

Structural variation in mammalian gamma-crystallins based on computer graphics analyses of human, rat and calf sequences. 1. Core packing and surface properties.

A comparison of mammalian gamma-crystallins has been made by computer-graphics model building of several gamma-crystallin sequences based on the atomic co-ordinates of the X-ray determined structure of calf gamma-II crystallin. The complete family of rat gamma-crystallins is compared together with the orthologous protein, gamma 1-2 crystallin, from rat, human and calf lens, and the orthologous protein, gamma 2-1 crystallin, from rat and human lens. In human gamma-crystallins, a major structural difference, the replacement of an arginine by a cysteine, occurs in one of the four-fold repeated folded hairpins, which may affect stability. Sequence variations involving buried residues were observed, leading to small differences in core packing of the different sequences which may be related to their regional location in the lens. Model-building studies also indicate that the surfaces of the different gamma-crystallins vary in number of exposed hydrophobic residues and ion pairs. These differences would affect protein-water interactions and therefore contribute to refractive index. A major variable region of the gamma-crystallin structures involves polar residues surrounding the inter-domain contact and the length of the polypeptide connecting the two domains. An attempt is made to correlate bovine gamma-crystallins which are known to be responsible for cold cataract with the corresponding sequences from rat lens.

Amino Acid Sequence

Effect of structural variations in cholesteryl-conjugated oligonucleotides on inhibitory activity toward HIV-1.

A number of oligonucleotide analogues containing internucleoside phosphorothioate linkages and a covalently attached cholesteryl residue was synthesized and tested for activity against HIV-1 in cultures of Molt3 cells. Structural features important for high antiviral activity are the presence of a cholesteryl moiety, a run of terminal phosphorothioate groups, and the presence of nucleoside residues. An increase in length of the tether between cholesteryl and phosphorus from six to 14 atoms has no significant effect on antiviral activity, and up to one-half of the internucleoside links in a cholesteryl-conjugated phosphorothioate oligomer and one-third of the internucleoside links in a nonconjugated phosphorothioate can be replaced with phosphodiester links without much change in antiviral activity. However, replacement of nucleoside units in the oligomers by a simple analogue (-OCH2CH2CH2O-) yields inactive or very weakly active compounds, even in the presence of a cholesteryl group. Dose-response patterns for assays in which cholesteryl-conjugated oligomers are added to test cells either simultaneously or subsequently to viral infection are similar for homooligomer derivatives and for oligomers containing "antisense" sequences, suggesting a similarity in mode of action for the two classes of oligomers in this system.

Antiviral Agents

Nonprostanoid prostacyclin mimetics. 3. Structural variations of the diphenyl heterocycle moiety.

4,5-Diphenyl-2-oxazolenonanoic acid (2) and 2-[3-[2-(4,5-diphenyl-2-oxazolyl)ethyl]phenoxy]acetic acid (3) were previously identified as nonprostanoid prostacyclin (PGI2) mimetics that inhibit ADP-induced aggregation of human platelets in vitro. The effects on biological activity of substitution and structural modification of the 4- and 5-phenyl rings of 3 was examined. Potency showed a marked sensitivity to the introduction of substituents to these aromatic rings and only the bis-4-methyl derivative 9j, IC50 = 0.34 microM, demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the parent structure 3, IC50 = 1.2 microM. Substitution at the ortho or meta positions of the phenyl rings, replacement by thiopheneyl or cyclohexyl moieties, or constraining in a planar phenanthrene system resulted in compounds that were less effective inhibitors of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. In contrast, variation of the heterocycle moiety revealed a much less stringent SAR and many 5- and 6-membered heterocycles were found to effectively substitute for the oxazole ring of 2 and 3. The diphenylmethyl moiety functioned as an effective isostere for 4,5-diphenylated heterocycles since 13aad showed similar platelet inhibitory activity to 3. With the exception of the 3,4,5-triphenylpyrazole derivative 13g, compounds presenting the (m-ethylphenoxy)acetic acid side chain discovered with 3 demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the analogously substituted alkanoic acid derivative. The structure-activity findings led to a refinement of a model of the nonprostanoid PGI2 mimetic pharmacophore.

Adenosine Diphosphate

A theoretical study of the effect of structural variations on the biochemical reactivity of yeast tRNAPhe and yeast tRNAAsp.

The ASIF index which combines both steric and electronic factors is applied to the comparative study of the reactivity of yeast tRNAAsp and yeast tRNAPhe using the coordinates deduced from their crystal structures. The results compared with the known experimental reactivities in solution are somewhat less perfect for tRNAAsp than for tRNAPhe. The reasons for this situation are probably related to the differences existing between the structures of tRNAAsp in the crystal and in solution.

Alkylation