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Sequence variation of the hydroxymethyldihydropterin pyrophosphokinase: dihydropteroate synthase gene in lines of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, with differing resistance to sulfadoxine.

Dihydropteroate synthase (H2Pte synthase) is the target of the sulfur-based antimalarial drugs, which are frequently used in synergistic combination with inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (H2folate reductase) to combat chloroquine-resistant malaria. We have isolated the H2Pte synthase coding sequence of the most pathogenic human parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It forms part of a longer coding sequence, located on chromosome 8, that also specifies 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (CH2OH-H2pterinPP kinase) at its 5' proximal end. This domain is unusually large, with two long insertions relative to other CH2OH-H2pterinPP kinase molecules. To investigate a possible genetic basis for clinical resistance to sulfa drugs, we sequenced the complete H2Pte synthase domains from eleven isolates of P. falciparum with diverse geographical origins and levels of sulfadoxine resistance. Overall, point mutations in five positions were observed, affecting four codons. Parasite lines exhibiting high-level resistance were found to carry either a double mutation, altering both Ser436 and Ala613, or a single mutation affecting Ala581. The mutations at positions 436 and 581 have the same location relative to each of two degenerate repeated amino acid motifs that are conserved across all other known H2Pte synthase molecules. The amino acid alteration at residue 613 is identically positioned relative to a different conserved motif. The fourth amino acid residue (437) affected by mutation, though adjacent to the apparently crucial residue 436, shows no obvious correlation with resistance. Although these mutations have no exact counterparts in any other organism, that at position 581 falls within a region of three amino acids where H2Pte synthase is modified in various ways in a number of sulfonamide-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Copy-number analysis indicated that there was no amplification of the H2Pte synthase domain in resistant parasite lines of P. falciparum, compared to sensitive lines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Polymorphic Alu insertions within the Major Histocompatibility Complex class I genomic region: a brief review.

Most polymorphic Alu insertions (POALINs) belong to a subgroup of the Alu multicopy retrotransposon family of short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs) that are categorized as AluYb8 and AluYa5. The number of AluYb8/AluYa5 members (approximately 4,492 copies) is significantly less than the approximately one million fixed Alu copies per human genome. We have studied the presence of POALINs within the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I region on the short arm of chromosome 6 (6p21.3) because this region has a high gene density, many genes with immune system functions, large sequence variations and diversity, duplications and redundancy, and a strong association with more than 100 different diseases. Since little is known about POALINs within the MHC genomic region, we undertook to identify some of the members of the AluYb8/AluYa5 subfamily and to study their frequency of distribution and genetic characteristics in different populations. As a result of our comparative genomic analyses, we identified the insertion sites for five POALINs distributed within the MHC class I region. This brief review outlines the locations of the insertions and sequence features of the five MHC POALINs, their single site and haplotype frequencies in different geographic populations, and their association with different HLA class I genes and disease. We show that the MHC POALINs have a potential value as lineage and linkage markers for the study of human population genetics, disease associations, genomic diversity and evolution.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Patterns of sequence variation in the mitochondrial D-loop region of shrews.

Direct sequencing of the mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) of shrews (genus Sorex) for the region between the tRNA(Pro) and the conserved sequence block-F revealed variable numbers of 79-bp tandem repeats. These repeats were found in all 19 individuals sequenced, representing three subspecies and one closely related species of the masked shrew group (Sorex cinereus cinereus, S. c. miscix, S. c. acadicus, and S. haydeni) and an outgroup, the pygmy shrew (S. hoyi). Each specimen also possessed an adjacent 76-bp imperfect copy of the tandem repeats. One individual was heteroplasmic for length variants consisting of five and seven copies of the 79-bp tandem repeat. The sequence of the repeats is conducive to the formation of secondary structure. A termination-associated sequence is present in each of the repeats and in a unique sequence region 5' to the tandem array as well. Mean genetic distance between the masked shrew taxa and the pygmy shrew was calculated separately for the unique sequence region, one of the tandem repeats, the imperfect repeat, and these three regions combined. The unique sequence region evolved more rapidly than the tandem repeats or the imperfect repeat. The small genetic distance between pairs of tandem repeats within an individual is consistent with a model of concerted evolution. Repeats are apparently duplicated and lost at a high rate, which tends to homogenize the tandem array. The rate of D-loop sequence divergence between the masked and pygmy shrews is estimated to be 15%-20%/Myr, the highest rate observed in D-loops of mammals. Rapid sequence evolution in shrews may be due either to their high metabolic rate and short generation time or to the presence of variable numbers of tandem repeats.

Animals↗

Expression of a bovine kappa-CN cDNA in the mammary gland of transgenic mice utilizing a genomic milk protein gene as an expression cassette.

Transgenic mice were produced by microinjection of a DNA construct composed of the bovine kappa-casein (kappa-CN) cDNA under the control of the goat beta-CN 5' promoter elements and 3' flanking regions into pronuclear-stage embryos. The gene construct targeted the expression of bovine kappa-CN RNA to the mammary gland and secretion of bovine kappa-CN in the milk. In the three lines studied (BC-7, BC-31 and BC-67) the transgene was stably integrated and propagated as a Mendelian locus. Expression of the bovine protein in lactating mice from the three transgenic lines was demonstrated by northern and western blots. In ten different tissues analysed by northern blotting, expression was confined to the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice from line BC-7, with low-level expression also observed in the salivary gland of lines BC-31 and BC-67. Transgene expression in the mammary gland paralleled normal casein gene expression during lactation and was not observed in virgin females. The level of bovine kappa-CN mRNA expression on day 10 of lactation in hemizygous transgenic females in relation to endogenous mRNA of whey acid protein (WAP) gene expression was 14%, 69%, and 127% in lines BC-7, BC-31 and BC-67, respectively. No association between transgene copy number and expression was observed. The bovine kappa-CN concentration in milk on day 10 of lactation ranged from 0.94 to 3.85 mg of protein per ml of milk. The bovine kappa-CN expressed in mouse milk had the same molecular mass and immunoactivity with polyclonal antibodies as did kappa-CN from bovine milk. A high degree of variation in the production of bovine kappa-CN within each of the transgenic lines was observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Correlating Chlamydia trachomatis infectious load with urogenital ecological success and disease pathogenesis.

The association of infectious burden of Chlamydia trachomatis with patient characteristics and clinical disease may have implications for understanding disease pathogenesis. We examined chlamydial load from 171 urine samples where load was based on copy number of organisms per copy number of eukaryotic cells derived by real-time quantitative PCR. High- (E, F, G) and low-prevalence (Ia, H, J, Ja) genotypes in the population had similar loads, suggesting a similar propensity for replicating in vivo, despite their differential ecological success. Symptomatic and asymptomatic patients also had similar chlamydial loads, indicating that virulence differences are likely not associated with variations in replication. There was a significant difference in genotypes by age for F (<31 years; P = 0.031) and for H where the mean age was lower than for the most prevalent genotype, E (P=0.013). Also, men had a significantly lower load than women when the genotype was F (P=0.042), although there was no significant difference in load between partners. Patients with recurrent chlamydial infections had a significant reduction in load with each subsequent episode regardless of genotype (P=0.007), suggesting that immune defenses do not block chlamydial entry but may impact replication. Additionally, the probability of being infected with J was 7.7-fold higher in patients with prior chlamydial infections (P=0.016), and although the loads were lower when compared with patients without prior infection, the results did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that chlamydial burden could be an important marker for recurrence and host immune response, which would facilitate pathogenesis research.

Adolescent↗

Quantitative analysis of human mitochondrial DNA using a real-time PCR assay.

OBJECTIVES: Known for their ability to inhibit the human DNA polymerase-gamma, nucleoside analogues induce toxic effects on mitochondria ranging from increased serum lactate levels to fatal lactic acidosis. DNA polymerase-gamma ensures the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and, thus, its inhibition leads to the decrease of the mtDNA. We describe a real-time PCR assay for mtDNA quantification associating DNA extraction procedures applied on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and subcutaneous adipose tissues and to study the antiretroviral effect on mitochondria. METHODS: Total DNA was extracted from PBMCs and subcutaneous adipose tissues. Nuclear and mitochondrial genes were amplified to determine the number of copies of mtDNA per cell using a cyt-b recombinant plasmid as standard control. We analysed eight HIV-infected asymptomatic patients never treated, four patients who had been treated for 6 months with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and six non-infected donors. RESULTS: The mtDNA quantification gave rise to reproducible results as the mean coefficients of variation were 1.09% for replicates of samples undertaken 10 times within the same run, and 5.78% and 3.7% for replicates tested in five different runs at 1:100 and 1:1000 dilutions, respectively. Median levels of mtDNA in PBMCs of healthy donors, naive and treated HIV-infected patients were 2.94, 2.78 and 1.93 log HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, respectively. Whereas DNA from PBMCs was shown to be devoid of inhibitors, subcutaneous adipose tissues needed an extra treatment as they were found to be highly inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: The method generated consistent and reproducible results and was successfully applied to DNAs extracted from PBMCs and subcutaneous adipose tissues with adapted extraction. The mtDNA changes in PBMCs were found to be fast as they fall off after 6 months' therapy, decreasing from 2.78 to 1.93 log copies/mL.

Adipose Tissue↗

Construction of isogenic gonococcal strains varying in the presence of a 4.2-kilobase cryptic plasmid.

A 4.2-kilobase (kb) cryptic plasmid is present in 96% of isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. An inability to construct isogenic derivatives which vary in the presence of the 4.2-kb plasmid has prevented the study of its function. We report a method to deliver an intact 4.2-kb plasmid into plasmidless gonococcal strains. The method involved transformation with novel 15.7-kb hybrid penicillinase-producing (Pcr) plasmids, which were cointegrates containing two copies of the 4.2-kb plasmid arranged in tandem direct repeat plus one copy of the 7.2-kb Pcr plasmid pFA3. When the 15.7-kb hybrid Pcr plasmids were introduced into a gonococcal recipient lacking evident plasmids, they dissociated at a relatively high frequency into plasmids identical to their parents: the 4.2-kb cryptic plasmid and pFA10 (a stable 11.5-kb plasmid containing one copy of each of the 7.2-kb Pcr plasmid pFA3 and the 4.2-kb cryptic plasmid pFA1). Curing strains of their Pcr plasmids resulted in isogenic strains which varied only in the presence of the 4.2-kb plasmid. The presence of the autonomously replicating 4.2-kb plasmid did not affect a number of tested phenotypes, including auxotype, antibiotic sensitivity, and frequencies of variation of outer membrane protein II. The interpretation of the functional significance of the 4.2-kb plasmid was complicated, however, by the additional finding that each of three tested plasmid-free strains contained a chromosomal fragment of about 1.6 kb that hybridized under moderate stringency with a 1.65-kb HinfI fragment of the 4.2-kb plasmid.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

A variable minisatellite sequence in the chloroplast genome of Sorbus L. (Rosaceae: Maloideae).

The chloroplast genome is now known to be more variable than was once thought. Reports of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and sequence variation, as well as variation in chloroplast microsatellites, are common. Here, data are presented on the variability of a minisatellite sequence in the chloroplast genome of Sorbus species. RFLP analysis of a PCR product comprising the region between the trnM and rbcL genes of nine Sorbus species identified seven size variants. Sequencing revealed the observed size polymorphism to be due to differences in the number of copies of an imperfect 9-bp motif. A more intensive survey of the variability of the minisatellite was undertaken in populations of Sorbus aucuparia. The potential uses of such regions in chloroplast DNA are discussed and a possible mechanism for the evolution of the minisatellite is presented.

Base Sequence↗

Monitoring the mode and tempo of concerted evolution in the Drosophila melanogaster rDNA locus.

Non-LTR retrotransposons R1 and R2 have persisted in rRNA gene loci (rDNA) since the origin of arthropods despite their continued elimination by the recombinational mechanisms of concerted evolution. This study evaluated the short-term evolutionary dynamics of the rDNA locus by measuring the divergence among replicate Drosophila melanogaster lines after 400 generations. The total number of rDNA units on the X chromosome of each line varied from 140 to 310, while the fraction of units inserted with R1 and R2 retrotransposons ranged from 37 to 65%. This level of variation is comparable to that found in natural population surveys. Variation in locus size and retrotransposon load was correlated with large changes in the number of uninserted and R1-inserted units, yet the numbers of R2-inserted units were relatively unchanged. Intergenic spacer (IGS) region length variants were also used to evaluate changes in the rDNA loci. All IGS length variants present in the lines showed significant increases and decreases of copy number. These studies, combined with previous data following specific R1 and R2 insertions in these lines, help to define the type and distribution, both within the locus and within the individual units, of recombinational events that give rise to the concerted evolution of the rDNA locus.

Animals↗

Unisexuality and molecular drive: bag320 sequence diversity in bacillus taxa (insecta phasmatodea).

Satellite DNA variability follows a pattern of concerted evolution through homogenization of new variants by genomic turnover mechanisms and variant fixation by chromosome redistribution into new combinations with the sexual process. Bacillus taxa share the same Bag320 satellite family and their reproduction ranges from strict bisexuality (B. grandii) to automictic (B. atticus) and apomictic (B. whitei = rossius/ grandii; B. lynceorum = rossius/grandii/atticus) unisexuality. Thelytokous reproduction clearly allows uncoupling of homogenization from fixation. Both trends and absolute values of satellite variability were analyzed in all Bacillus taxa but B. rossius, on 906 sequenced monomers at all level of comparisons: intraspecimen, intrapopulation, interpopulation, intersubspecies, and interspecies. For unisexuals, allozymic and mitochondrial clones were also taken into account. Different reproductive modes (sexual/parthenogenetic) appear to explain observed variability trends, supporting Dover's hypothesis of sexuality acting as a driving force in the fixation of sequence variants, but the present analyses also highlight current spreading of new variants in B. grandii maretimi specimens and point to a biased sequence inheritance at the time of hybrid onset in the apomictic hybrids B. whitei and B. lynceorum. Evidence of biased gene conversion events suggests that, given enough time, sequence homogenization can take place in a unisexual such as B. lynceorum. On the contrary, the absolute values of sequence diversity in each taxon are linked to the species' range, time of divergence, and repeat copy number and, possibly, to transposon features. Satellite dynamics appears therefore to be the outcome of both general molecular processes and specific organismal traits.

Animals↗

Genomic localization of endogenous mobile CACTA family transposons in natural variants of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The differentiation between gene-rich and transposon-rich (gene-poor) regions is a common feature of plant genomes. This may be due to preferential integration of transposons into gene-poor regions or may be due to purifying selection against transposon insertion into gene-rich regions. We examined the distribution of a low-copy-number mobile subfamily of Arabidopsis CACTA transposons in the genomes of 19 natural variants (ecotypes) of A. thaliana, and compared that to the pattern of integrations induced in the laboratory by mutation of the DDM1 (Decrease in DNA Methylation) gene. Sequences similar to mobile CACTA1 copies were distributed among the ecotypes and showed high degrees of polymorphism in genomic localization. Despite the high level of polymorphism, the copy number was low in all the ecotypes examined, and the elements were localized preferentially in pericentromeric and transposon-rich regions. This contrasts with the pattern of transposition induced by the ddm1 mutation, in which the range of integration sites is less biased and the copy number frequently increases. Based on these observations, we discuss the possible contribution of natural selection and chromatin structure to the distribution of transposons.

Arabidopsis↗

High rate of horizontal transfer of transposable elements in Drosophila.

We have conducted molecular population genetics analyses to understand the relationships among the transposable elements (TEs) in Drosophila melanogaster, in combination with sequence comparisons of TEs from two related species, D. simulans and D. yakuba. We observed much lower than expected genetic differences among elements, clear evidence for departure from expectations for equilibrium copy numbers and little divergence between species. This suggests that a large proportion of TEs in D. melanogaster had a recent origin as a result of interspecies movement.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial pseudogenes are pervasive and often insidious in the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus.

Here we show that multiple DNA sequences, similar to the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, occur within single individuals in at least 10 species of the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus. Cloning of amplified products revealed the presence of copies that differed in length and (more frequently) in base substitutions. Although multiple copies were amplified in individual shrimp from total genomic DNA (gDNA), only one sequence was amplified from cDNA. These results are best explained by the presence of nonfunctional duplications of a portion of the mtDNA, probably located in the nuclear genome, since transfer into the nuclear gene would render the COI gene nonfunctional due to differences in the nuclear and mitochondrial genetic codes. Analysis of codon variation suggests that there have been 21 independent transfer events in the 10 species examined. Within a single animal, differences between the sequences of these pseudogenes ranged from 0.2% to 20.6%, and those between the real mtDNA and pseudogene sequences ranged from 0.2% to 18.8% (uncorrected). The large number of integration events and the large range of divergences between pseudogenes and mtDNA sequences suggest that genetic material has been repeatedly transferred from the mtDNA to the nuclear genome of snapping shrimp. Unrecognized pseudogenes in phylogenetic or population studies may result in spurious results, although previous estimates of rates of molecular evolution based on Alpheus sister taxa separated by the Isthmus of Panama appear to remain valid. Especially worrisome for researchers are those pseudogenes that are not obviously recognizable as such. An effective solution may be to amplify transcribed copies of protein-coding mitochondrial genes from cDNA rather than using genomic DNA.

Animals↗

Development and evaluation of a one-pot RPA-Cas12a assay based on a primer-driven reverse screening strategy for preliminary screening of megalocytivirus-related viruses.

A primer-driven reverse-screening strategy was used to identify an RPA-Cas12a target suitable for the rapid preliminary screening of megalocytivirus-related viruses. The ISKNV reference genome NC_003494.1 was used as the initial template, and candidate amplification units were designed according to RPA primer-design requirements, primer physicochemical properties, and the availability of Cas12a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sites and crRNA target sequences. Following preliminary amplification assessment, the retained candidate primers were aligned individually against 75 complete genome sequences of megalocytivirus-related viruses. Of these, 67 sequences met the predefined criteria for target-region integrity, primer-binding-site compatibility, and Cas12a recognition. Retrospective mapping to the reference genome located the candidate amplification region within ORF057L. Based on the resulting candidate detection unit, a one-pot RPA-Cas12a assay incorporating a commercially available lyophilized RPA amplification module was developed. Optimization showed that 400&#x202f;nM reporter and 80&#x202f;nM crRNA-1 provided relatively stable fluorescence output. A cut-off value of 1281.6 relative fluorescence units (RFU) was established as the mean plus three standard deviations of the endpoint fluorescence values obtained from 20 qPCR-negative samples. In analytical sensitivity testing, the assay generated fluorescence signals above the negative control at low plasmid copy numbers. However, because only a limited number of replicates were tested at these low template concentrations, these findings were not used to define a formal limit of detection. ISKNV, RSIV, and TRBIV samples tested positive, whereas the MRV sample produced an endpoint fluorescence value below the cut-off. Repeatability analysis of the same sample in six independent reactions yielded a coefficient of variation of 8.03%. Among the 39 samples examined, no discordant qualitative results were observed between the RPA-Cas12a assay and qPCR. These findings support the use of the ORF057L-targeted one-pot RPA-Cas12a assay as a rapid preliminary screening tool for megalocytivirus-related viruses. Nevertheless, its formal limit of detection, inter-batch stability, cross-reactivity with additional non-target pathogens, and clinical diagnostic performance require further evaluation.

Lyophilized RPA↗

Distribution of DNA insertion element IS5 in natural isolates of Escherichia coli.

DNA from Escherichia coli strains in a reference collection of 72 recent natural isolates (ECOR strains) and 25 natural isolates from the "pre-antibiotic" period 1930-1940 (Murray strains) were studied to determine the genomic abundance of insertion element IS5 and the size of genomic restriction fragments carrying sequences homologous to IS5. Among the ECOR strains, nearly two-thirds lack DNA sequences that hybridize with IS5, and one-half of the remainder have only one copy. Among strains in which IS5 is present, extensive variation in the size of IS5-bearing restriction fragments occurs, in many cases allowing distinction among strains that are judged to be nearly identical in genotype because of the identical electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme coded by each of 11 chromosomal loci. Among the Murray strains in which IS5 is present, the average number of elements per strain is larger, but not markedly so, than among recent isolates. Comparison between duplicate strains in the Murray collection suggests that the rate of accumulation of IS5 elements in prolonged storage in stab tubes corresponds to an apparent probability of transposition of approximately 0.008 +/- 0.002 per IS5 element per year. Because of the extensive genetic variation among strains, insertion elements such as IS5 would seem to be convenient genetic markers with which to detect recent common ancestry among strains.

Animals↗

New cytochrome P450 2D6*56 allele identified by genotype/phenotype analysis of cryopreserved human hepatocytes.

Genotype/phenotype analysis with human hepatocytes has identified a new inactive CYP2D6 allele, CYP2D6*56. Cryopreserved human hepatocytes from 51 livers were evaluated for CYP2D6 activity with dextromethorphan as the probe substrate. Hepatocyte lots that lacked CYP2D6 activity were further evaluated for CYP2D6 expression and known genetic variations, including CYP2D6*2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, *8, *9, *10, *11, *14, *15, *17, *18, *19, *20, *25, *26, *29, *30, *35, *40, *41, *43, and various multiple copy CYP2D6 alleles (*1xn, *2xn, and *4xn) by the AmpliChip CYP450 prototype microarray (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ). Two discrepancies were uncovered between the CYP2D6 genotype and activity by this approach. In one sample, a previously unreported 3201C 224 T transition in exon 7 resulted in Arg344(CGA) being replaced by a stop codon (TGA), resulting in a CYP2D6 enzyme lacking the terminal 153 amino acids. This allele was given the designation of CYP2D6*56 and the GenBank accession number DQ282162. The lack of CYP2D6 activity in cryopreserved hepatocytes and microsomes found in the second sample, despite a normal level of CYP2D6 expression and a genotype (*10/*1) predictive of normal CYP2D6 activity, was attributed to enzyme inactivation by an unknown metabolite. The identification and characterization of the CYP2D6*56 allele indicates that commercial cryopreserved human hepatocytes may provide a valuable means to rapidly identify genetic variations with functional relevance. This integrated approach of identifying alleles and examining allele relationships to gene expression and function could be of tremendous value to understanding the mechanism responsible for functional differences in gene variation. The commercial availability of human cryopreserved hepatocytes also makes this potential readily available to any who are interested in it, not just those with access to private liver banks.

Alleles↗

The 5S rRNA gene diversity in Kengyilia rigidula (Keng and S.L. Chen) J.L. Yang, Yen, and Baum (Poaceae: Triticeae): possible contribution of the H genome to the origin of Kengyilia.

Fifty-three units of 5S rDNA sequences from five accessions of Kengyilia rigidula, a member of the tribe Triticeae that also includes wheat, barley, rye, and their wild relatives, have been amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned, and sequenced. The genome of K. rigidula consists of three haplomes, St, P, and Y. An evaluation of the aligned sequences of the diverse 53 different 5S DNA units yielded three 5S-unit classes. One unit class, Long S1, was assignable to the St haplome, one unit class, the Long P1, was assignable to the P haplome, and a third unit class, Long H1, was assignable to the H haplome. The last was expected to be assignable to the Y haplome, based on previous knowledge. Evolutionary scenarios are put forward to explain this finding. Among those possibilities is that the number of copies of units assignable to the Y haplome is very small and difficult to detect. Short units, reported earlier in K. alatavica, were not found in K. rigidula.

Base Sequence↗

[Evaluation of wild-type estrogen receptor beta and its isoforms: ER-beta/delta 5/6 i ER-beta/delta 6 in endometrial adenocarcinoma].

Estrogen target genes play essential role among pathogenetic and prognostic factors of endometrial adenocarcinoma; and among them estrogen receptor genes. Although prevailing estrogen receptor type is ER-alpha in endometrium, transduction of signal carried by estrogens can be also mediate by ER-beta, which biological meaning relies on modulation of ER-alpha transcriptional activity. There is hypothesized that ER-beta can keep under control mitogenic activity mediating by ER-alpha. The aim of the study was qualitative and quantitative analysis of wtER-beta and ER-beta/delta 5-6, ER-beta/delta 6 isoforms in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Material used in the study included specimens obtained from 27 female: group I--normal endometrium (n = 12), group II--endometrial adenocarcinoma (n = 15). RNA was extracted from the analyzed material using phenol-chloroform method by Total RNA Prep Plus. Qualitative analysis was performed basing on RT-PCR reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses. For all RNA extracts of the samples examined RT-PCR was performed with a sequence detector ABIPRISMTM7700--Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems (RT: 600 C-30 min; PCR: 950 C-5 min, 40 cycles: 950 C-30s, 600 C-1 min, and 720 C-10 min) in order to determine the number of RNA copies (which corresponds to the number of cDNA copies) for wtER-beta and ER-beta/delta 5-6 and ER-beta/delta 6. Specificity of QRT-PCR reaction was determined by delimitation of melting temperature of all examined amplimers (ABI PRISM7000, Qu-antiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR Kit) and by sequence analysis using ABI PRISM377 DNA Sequencer. Wild-type of estrogen receptor beta and ER-beta/delta 5-6, ER-beta/delta 6 isoforms--coming into alternative splicing of mRNA, presented both, in proliferative endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Copy number of wtER-beta mRNA was significantly (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test) lower in comparison with proliferative endometrium and correlated with decrease of ER-beta/delta 6 mRNA copy number (r = 0.85; p < 0.05). Preliminary results confirming decrease of wtER-beta, ER-beta/delta 5/6 and ER-beta/delta 6 mRNA copy number in endometrial adenocarcinoma can show their relationship with high risk of carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗