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A genome-wide and nonredundant mouse transcription factor database.

Here we describe the development of a genome-wide and nonredundant mouse transcription factor database and its viewer (http://genome.gsc.riken.gp/TFdb/). We systematically selected transcription factors with DNA-binding properties and their regulators on the basis of their LocusLink and Gene Ontology annotations. We also incorporated into our database information regarding the corresponding available cDNA clones and their structural properties. Because of these features, our database is unique and may provide useful information for systematic genome-wide studies of transcriptional regulation.

Animals↗

Serial analysis of gene expression in sinusoidal endothelial cells from normal and injured mouse liver.

Here we describe gene expression profiles of mouse liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) revealed by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). We prepared SAGE libraries of LSECs from normal and injured liver by CCl(4) administration, and we obtained 32,867 tags from normal and 37,493 tags from injured liver, representing 6011 unique transcripts. CCl(4) administration upregulated several genes related to cell growth and differentiation (Cdkn1a, Irf1, Il4ra, etc.), whereas it downregulated genes related to cell growth or protein transport (Kdr, Igfbp4, Ap1b1, etc.). To identify genes preferentially expressed in LSEC, we compared our SAGE libraries with 77 publicly available libraries generated from various mouse tissues and cell lines. We identified 23 genes, including Stab2 and uncharacterized genes, as possible markers for LSEC, which will be useful to analyze the specific role for LSECs in normal as well as regenerating liver.

Animals↗

DNA databases.

This paper presents DNA algorithms for five relational algebra database operations, selection, projection, union, set difference, and Cartesian product on so-called DNA databases. A DNA database is a database where data records are encoded as DNA strands. The five operations mentioned before are fundamental in the field of databases and perform most of the data retrieval operations on current databases.

Algorithms↗

Evaluation of the role of Valosin-containing protein in the pathogenesis of familial and sporadic Paget's disease of bone.

Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is a common metabolic bone disease of late onset with a strong genetic component. Rarely, PDB can occur as part of a syndrome in which the disease is accompanied by inclusion body myopathy and frontotemporal dementia (inclusion body myopathy, Paget's disease and frontotemporal dementia, IBMPFD). Recently, IBMPFD has been shown to be caused by mutations in Valosin-containing Protein (VCP), which is required for the proteasomal degradation of phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha, a necessary step in the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Here, we evaluated the role of VCP in the pathogenesis of typical PDB. We conducted mutation screening of VCP in 44 kindreds with familial Paget's disease recruited mainly through clinic referrals in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. We also performed an association study of VCP haplotypes in patients with PDB who did not have a family history of the disease (sporadic PDB). No mutations were found in VCP in three PDB families where there was evidence of allele sharing between affected subjects in the VCP critical region on chromosome 9p13. We failed to detect disease-associated mutations in any of the three exons previously reported to contain IBMPFD mutations in a further 41 PDB families. We found no evidence of allelic association between common VCP haplotypes in a case-control study of 179 sporadic PDB patients and 172 age- and sex-matched controls. Genetic variation in VCP does not appear to be a common cause of familial or sporadic PDB in the absence of myopathy and dementia.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Lack of DNA copy number alterations revealed with comparative genomic hybridization in fibroadenomas of the breast.

There are very few studies reporting DNA copy number changes in fibroadenomas of the breast. Using comparative genomic hybridization, we analyzed 20 paraffin-embedded samples of fibroadenomas of the breast from patients with no familial or previous history of breast cancer. No alterations in the DNA copy number were observed in any of the tumors analyzed, regardless of the chromosomal alterations observed using conventional cytogenetic analysis. We discuss our results and compare them to other reports on fibroadenomas.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Drug interactions with the potential to prevent prodrug activation as a common source of irrational prescribing in hospital inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the frequency of potential drug-drug interactions between the prodrugs losartan, codeine, and tramadol and drugs known to inhibit their activation in hospitalized patients. METHODS: The frequency of coadministration between losartan and well-established cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 inhibitors, as well as codeine and tramadol and CYP2D6 inhibitors, was studied by use of data from a university hospital medication database. The study population comprised all patients treated in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, oncology, and neurology wards (105,533 treatment periods and 65,526 patients) between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 2002 (6 years). RESULTS: Every fifth patient receiving losartan, codeine, or tramadol was concomitantly taking another drug that has the potential to inhibit the activation of these drugs. During the 6-year time period, 1999 patients were exposed to a potential interaction. Interactions occurred more commonly in internal medicine wards (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-2.5) and in women (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of drugs that potentially result in inhibition of prodrug activation present a common and unrecognized source of irrational prescribing.

Adolescent↗

Evolutionary rate variation and RNA secondary structure prediction.

Predicting RNA secondary structure using evolutionary history can be carried out by using an alignment of related RNA sequences with conserved structure. Accurately determining evolutionary substitution rates for base pairs and single stranded nucleotides is a concern for methods based on this type of approach. Determining these rates can be hard to do reliably without a large and accurate initial alignment, which ideally also has structural annotation. Hence, one must often apply rates extracted from other RNA families with trusted alignments and structures. Here, we investigate this problem by applying rates derived from tRNA and rRNA to the prediction of the much more rapidly evolving 5'-region of HIV-1. We find that the HIV-1 prediction is in agreement with experimental data, even though the relative evolutionary rate between A and G is significantly increased, both in stem and loop regions. In addition we obtained an alignment of the 5' HIV-1 region that is more consistent with the structure than that currently in the database. We added randomized noise to the original values of the rates to investigate the stability of predictions to rate matrix deviations. We find that changes within a fairly large range still produce reliable predictions and conclude that using rates from a limited set of RNA sequences is valid over a broader range of sequences.

Algorithms↗

MicroRNA sequence motifs reveal asymmetry between the stem arms.

The processing of micro RNAs (miRNAs) from their stemloop precursor have revealed asymmetry in the processing of the mature and its star sequence. Furthermore, the miRNA processing system between organism differ. To assess this at the sequence level we have investigated mature miRNAs in their genomic contexts. We have compared profiles of mature miRNAs within their genomic context of the 5' and 3' stemloop precursor arms and we find asymmetry between mature sequences of the 5' and 3' stemloop precursor arms. The main observation is that vertebrate organisms have a characteristic motif on the 5' arm which is in contrast to the 3' arm motif which mainly show the conserved U at the position of the mature start. Also the vertebrate 5' arm motif show a semi-conserved G 13 nucleotides upstream from the first position. We compared the 5' and 3' arm profiles using the average log likelihood ratio (ALLR) score, as defined by Wang and Stormo (2003) [Wang T., Stormo, G.D., 2003. Combining phylogenetic data with co-regulated genes to identify regulatory motifs. Bioinformatics 2369-2380.] and computing a p-value we find that the two profiles differs significantly in their 3' end where the 5' arm motif (in contrast to the 3' arm motif) has a semi-conserved GU rich region. Similar findings are also obtained for other organisms, such as fly, worm and plants. The observed similarities and differences between closely and distantly related organisms are discussed and related to current knowledge of miRNA processing.

Animals↗

Selection on codon usage in Drosophila americana.

Synonymous codons are not used at random, significantly influencing the base composition of the genome. The selection-mutation-drift model proposes that this bias reflects natural selection in favor of a subset of preferred codons. Previous estimates in Drosophila of the intensity of selective forces involved seem too large to be reconciled with theoretical predictions of the level of codon bias. This probably results from confounding effects of the demographic histories of the species concerned. We have studied three species of the virilis group of Drosophila, which are more likely to satisfy the assumptions of the evolutionary models. We analyzed the patterns of polymorphism and divergence in a sample of 18 genes and applied a new method for estimating the intensity of selection on synonymous mutations based on the frequencies of unpreferred mutations among polymorphic sites. This yielded estimates of selection intensities (N(e)s) of the order of 0.65, which is more compatible with the observed levels of codon bias. Our results support the action of both selection and mutational bias on codon usage bias and suggest that codon usage and genome base composition in the D. americana lineage are in approximate equilibrium. Biased gene conversion may also contribute to the observed patterns.

Animals↗

The master sex-determination locus in threespine sticklebacks is on a nascent Y chromosome.

BACKGROUND: Many different environmental and genetic sex-determination mechanisms are found in nature. Closely related species can use different master sex-determination switches, suggesting that these developmental pathways can evolve very rapidly. Previous cytological studies suggest that recently diverged species of stickleback fish have different sex chromosome complements. Here, we investigate the genetic and chromosomal mechanisms that underlie sex determination in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). RESULTS: Genome-wide linkage mapping identifies a single chromosome region at the distal end of linkage group (LG) 19, which controls male or female sexual development in threespine sticklebacks. Although sex chromosomes are not cytogenetically visible in this species, several lines of evidence suggest that LG 19 is an evolving sex chromosome system, similar to the XX female/XY male system in many other species: (1) males are consistently heterozygous for unique alleles in this region; (2) recombination between loci linked to the sex-determination region is reduced in male meiosis relative to female meiosis; (3) sequence analysis of X- and Y-specific bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones from the sex-determination region reveals many sequence differences between the X- and Y-specific clones; and (4) the Y chromosome has accumulated transposable elements and local duplications. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that threespine sticklebacks have a simple chromosomal mechanism for sex determination based on a nascent Y chromosome that is less than 10 million years old. Further analysis of the stickleback system will provide an exciting window into the evolution of sex-determination pathways and sex chromosomes in vertebrates.

Animals↗

Vector-based RNAi approaches for stable, inducible and genome-wide screens.

RNA interference (RNAi) has revolutionized the study of biology and offers numerous applications in basic biology as well as in drug discovery research. Since the discovery of RNAi, several tools have been developed to enable loss-of-function studies in mammalian systems. The efficacy of RNAi is dependent on specific and versatile RNAi triggers that have evolved to enable transient, stable and in-vivo applications. Recently developed genome-wide short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and microRNA-adapted short hairpin RNA (shRNAmir) libraries incorporate advances in shRNA design and molecular 'barcodes' to enable more complex RNAi screens and the opportunity to progress to more complex genetics in whole animals.

Animals↗

The organization of the keratin I and II gene clusters in placental mammals and marsupials show a striking similarity.

The genomic database for a marsupial, the opossum Monodelphis domestica, is highly advanced. This allowed a complete analysis of the keratin I and keratin II gene cluster with some 30 genes in each cluster as well as a comparison with the human keratin clusters. Human and marsupial keratin gene clusters have an astonishingly similar organization. As placental mammals and marsupials are sister groups a corresponding organization is also expected for the archetype mammal. Since hair is a mammalian acquisition the following features of the cluster refer to its origin. In both clusters hair keratin genes arose at an interior position. While we do not know from which epithelial keratin genes the first hair keratins type-I and -II genes evolved, subsequent gene duplications gave rise to a subdomain of the clusters with many neighboring hair keratin genes. A second subdomain accounts in both clusters for 4 neighboring genes encoding the keratins of the inner root sheath (irs) keratins. Finally the hair keratin gene subdomain in the type-I gene cluster is interrupted after the second gene by a region encoding numerous genes for the high/ultrahigh sulfur hair keratin-associated proteins (KAPs). We also propose a tentative synteny relation of opossum and human genes based on maximal sequence conservation of the encoded keratins. The keratin gene clusters of the opossum seem to lack pseudogenes and display a slightly increased number of genes. Opossum keratin genes are usually longer than their human counterparts and also show longer intergenic distances.

Animals↗

Prokaryotic life in a potash-polluted marsh with emphasis on N-metabolizing microorganisms.

Prokaryotic life along the salt gradient of the potash marsh resulting from mining waste at Schreyahn, Northern Germany, was screened for the distribution of total prokaryote (assessed by the 16S rRNA gene) and of N2-fixing (nifH gene), denitrifying (nosZ) and nitrifying (amoA) microorganisms. Information on prokaryotes was retrieved from the different soil sites (a) by culturing in conventional media, (b) by isolating the DNA, amplifying the target genes by PCR followed by sequencing, (c) by employing the recently developed computer program (TReFID [Rösch, C., Bothe, H., 2005. Improved assessment of denitrifying, N2-fixing, and total-community bacteria by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using multiple restriction enzymes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71, 2026-2035]) based on tRFLP data. New sequences were obtained as well as ones that were almost identical to those found at far distant locations. Whereas the distribution of plants strictly follows the salt gradient, this is apparently not the case with prokaryotes. Bacteria of hypersaline areas coexist with salt-non-tolerant species. The recently developed TReFID program is successfully applied to characterize a prokaryote community structure.

Bacteria↗

Identification of Heterodera glycines (soybean cyst nematode [SCN]) cDNA sequences with high identity to those of Caenorhabditis elegans having lethal mutant or RNAi phenotypes.

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is a devastating obligate parasite of Glycine max (soybean) causing one billion dollars in losses to the US economy per year and over ten billion dollars in losses worldwide. While much is understood about the pathology of H. glycines, its genome sequence is not well characterized or fully sequenced. We sought to create bioinformatic tools to mine the H. glycines nucleotide database. One way is to use a comparative genomics approach by anchoring our analysis with an organism, like the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Unlike H. glycines, the C. elegans genome is fully sequenced and is well characterized with a number of lethal genes identified through experimental methods. We compared an EST database of H. glycines with the C. elegans genome. Our goal was identifying genes that may be essential for H. glycines survival and would serve as an automated pipeline for RNAi studies to both study and control H. glycines. Our analysis yielded a total of nearly 8334 conserved genes between H. glycines and C. elegans. Of these, 1508 have lethal phenotypes/phenocopies in C. elegans. RNAi of a conserved ribosomal gene from H. glycines (Hg-rps-23) yielded dead and dying worms as shown by positive Sytox fluorescence. Endogenous Hg-rps-23 exhibited typical RNA silencing as shown by RT-PCR. However, an unrelated gene Hg-unc-87 did not exhibit RNA silencing in the Hg-rps-23 dsRNA-treated worms, demonstrating the specificity of the silencing.

Animals↗

Study of stem cell function using microarray experiments.

DNA Microarrays are used to simultaneously measure the levels of thousands of mRNAs in a sample. We illustrate here that a collection of such measurements in different cell types and states is a sound source of functional predictions, provided the microarray experiments are analogous and the cell samples are appropriately diverse. We have used this approach to study stem cells, whose identity and mechanisms of control are not well understood, generating Affymetrix microarray data from more than 200 samples, including stem cells and their derivatives, from human and mouse. The data can be accessed online (StemBase; http://www.scgp.ca:8080/StemBase/).

Animals↗

Molecular evolution and multilocus sequence typing of 145 strains of SARS-CoV.

In this study, we have identified 876 polymorphism sites in 145 complete or partial genomes of SARS-CoV available in the NCBI GenBank. One hundred and seventy-four of these sites existed in two or more SARS-CoV genome sequences. According to the sequence polymorphism, all SARS-CoVs can be divided into three groups: (I) group 1, animal-origin viruses (such as SARS-CoV SZ1, SZ3, SZ13 and SZ16); (II) group 2, all viruses with clinical origin during first epidemic; and (III) group 3, SARS-CoV GD03T0013. According to 10 special loci, group 2 again can be divided into genotypes C and T, which can be further divided into sub-genotypes C1-C4 and T1-T4. Positive Darwinian selections were identified between any pair of these three groups. Genotype C gives neutral selection. Genotype T, however, shows negative selection. By comparing the death rates of SARS patients in the different regions, it was found that the death rate caused by the viruses of the genotype C was lower than that of the genotype T. SARS-CoVs might originate from an unknown ancestor.

Base Sequence↗

Functional and evolutionary analyses on expressed intronless genes in the mouse genome.

Using computational approaches we have identified 2017 expressed intronless genes in the mouse genome. Evolutionary analysis reveals that 56 intronless genes are conserved among the three domains of life--bacteria, archea and eukaryotes. These highly conserved intronless genes were found to be involved in essential housekeeping functions. About 80% of expressed mouse intronless genes have orthologs in eukaryotic genomes only, and thus are specific to eukaryotic organisms. 608 of these genes have intronless human orthologs and 302 of these orthologs have a match in OMIM database. Investigation into these mouse genes will be important in generating mouse models for understanding human diseases.

Animals↗