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Congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia associated with glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency: variant Paderborn.

The deficient red cell enzyme glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI) was characterized in a patient of German origin who had already been described, with congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, and in his heterozygous parents. The variant enzyme differs from the known GPI variant enzyme differs from the known GPI variants by the electrophoretic mobility, the thermal stability, and the leukocyte activity. No differences are found between normal GPI and the variant regarding the affinity to fructose-6-phosphate, the pH optimum and the thermal optimum. Since the electrophoretic pattern and the properties of the parenteral GPI are identical the propositus seems to be homozygous for an abnormal allele and not double-heterozygous as some other cases with GPI deficiency are. Recently, immunological studies have shown that the variant differs from other similar variants. According to the birthplace of the patient the variant is called "Paderborn".

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital Nonspherocytic↗

Selection of membrane IgM- variants from a mIgM+ murine B lymphoma cell: problems and solutions.

We have used antibody-mediated complement killing to isolate membrane IgM-negative (mIgM-) variants from the mIgM+ murine B cell lymphoma, WEHI 279.1. This procedure has been used previously to select variants which lack expression of other cell-surface antigens on lymphoid cells. In those experiments, multiple rounds of selection have often been required for selection of the negative variants. We found that many cycles of selection produced very few variants and that those isolated had reduced, but still measurable, levels of mIgM. We were able to select large numbers of stable mIgM- variants by subjecting the populations with reduced levels of mIgM to two rounds of immunoselection within one cell cycle. These variants are stable and exhibit a variety of defects which are all expressed as a failure to display IgM on their external surface. Analysis of these variant clones at the biochemical level will begin to define the requirements for proper display of mIgM on the cell membrane of B lymphoma cells.

Animals↗

Phenotypes of HeLa S3 variant cell lines resistant to growth inhibition by sodium butyrate.

HeLa cell variants capable of multiplying in the presence of sodium butyrate were used to study the relationship of cell cycle position to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production and regulation of the genes encoding hCG alpha- and beta-subunits. The butyrate-resistant variants exhibit several different stable phenotypes. In wild-type HeLa cells, butyrate arrests cell division and modulates synthesis of alpha- and beta-subunits of glycoprotein hormones by coordinately regulating steady-state levels of their respective mRNAs. Because the variant cell lines replicate, in addition to producing hCG subunits in the presence of butyrate, cell cycle arrest does not seem to be a requirement for expression of glycoprotein hormone genes. Studies of histone modification suggest that neither hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4 nor dephosphorylation of histones H1 and H2A mediates inhibition of cell replication. In the variants, alpha-subunit and hCG beta levels are independently regulated, as a consequence of independent regulation of alpha- and beta-hCG mRNA levels. Long-term effects of butyrate include derepression of some genes (hCG beta in the variant AO) and repression of others (hCG alpha in variant AO). Moreover, hormone production correlates with the steady-state levels of mRNA for each of the subunits, suggesting that regulation occurs before translation. These findings indicate that the butyrate-resistant variant cell lines are valuable for studies of the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of expression of ectopic hormones.

Acetylation↗

Factors regulating the emergence of spontaneous and X-ray-induced variants in primary rat tracheal epithelial cell cultures.

A series of experiments have been carried out to identify those factors that affect the number of altered populations detected in control, nonexposed, and radiation-exposed primary cultures of rat tracheal epithelial cells. The number of colony forming cells per milliliter of culture medium and the frequency with which the culture medium is changed seemed to be the most critical factors regulating the emergence of induced and spontaneous variants. Increasing the number of cells plated so that of colony forming cells increase from 25 to 200 per ml, regardless of the dish size used, was associated with a 200-fold decline in the frequency of spontaneous variants and a 40-fold decline in X-ray-induced variants. Increasing the interval between medium changes from 3 to 7 days after the first week of culture was associated with a 10-fold decrease in the frequency of spontaneous variants. The frequency of spontaneous and induced variants is markedly less dependent on culture density at densities between 150 and 600 colony forming cells per ml. The type of medium used to establish primary cultures had little effect on the frequency of variants detected. Similarly, when assays were performed at densities in excess of 150 colony forming cells per ml the frequency of spontaneous and x-ray-induced variants was not affected by the absence of epidermal growth factor, increased levels of calcium (final concentration, 0.8 mM), or by removal of pyruvate from the selection medium.

Animals↗

Lipoprotein lipase gene variants and risk of coronary disease: a quantitative analysis of population-based studies.

The purpose of this study is to quantify the magnitude of the association between common variants in the lipoprotein lipase gene and coronary disease, based on published population-based studies. Fourteen studies, representing 15,708 subjects, report allelic distribution for lipoprotein lipase gene variants among coronary disease patients and control subjects. Patient outcomes included clinical coronary disease events and documented coronary disease based on angiography. Allele frequencies are estimated for disease and non-disease groups within each study. A 2 x 2 contingency table is used to compute individual study odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, relating the presence of the rare allele to disease status. Mantel-Haenszel-stratified analysis of each allelic variant results in a summary odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the association between each rare allele in the lipoprotein lipase gene and coronary disease. The lipoprotein lipase D9N allele has a summary odds ratio of 1.59 (95% confidence interval 1.03-2.55), indicating a 59% increase in risk of coronary disease for carriers with this allelic variant. The lipoprotein lipase N291S allele showed no association with coronary disease (summary odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.19). The summary odds ratio for lipoprotein lipase S447Ter allele is 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.65-1.0), indicating a marginal negative association between this variant and coronary disease. The common lipoprotein lipase Pvu II polymorphism shows no relation to coronary disease (summary odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.80-1.01). The rare allele of the lipoprotein lipase HindIII polymorphism is negatively associated with coronary disease (summary odds ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.73-0.96). The lipoprotein lipase D9N allele is associated with high levels of triglyceride and low levels of high-density lipoprotein. Similar atherogenic lipid levels are observed in subjects with structural mutations lipoprotein lipase C188E and P207L. Carriers of the S447Ter allele have low levels of triglyceride. The lipoprotein, lipase gene variants which decrease lipoprotein lipase catalytic activity are associated with familial combined hyperlipidemia, but not the elevation of apolipoprotein B seen in this disorder. In conclusion, allelic variants in the lipoprotein lipase gene are associated with altered lipid levels and differential coronary disease risk.

Alleles↗

Frequencies of Estrogen Receptor mRNAs Splice Variants in Various Human Mammary Tissues.

BACKGROUND: Several variant estrogen receptor (ER) mRNAs are present in various cell lines of human breast cancer, and are considered to be one reason for the loss of hormone dependence. The purpose of this study was to assess the ER variants in human various breast tissues, and to investigate the correlation between the expression of ER variants and ER/progesterone receptor (PgR) status. METHODS: The frequencies of 3 ER splice variants (del 2/3, del 5, and del 7) were assessed in 24 benign and 76 malignant breast lesions by the reverse transcription ]polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and compared with histopathological features. ER and PgR proteins were analyzed using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and immunohistochemical assay (IHA) in 68 cases of cancer to determine whether aberrant variants influence the status of either protein. RESULTS: Deletions of exons 5 and 7 (del 5 and 7) were more frequent than the deletion of exon 2/3 (del 2/3) in both benign and malignant lesions, and the expression of del 5 and del 7 seemed to correlate with epithelial overgrowth. There was no significant difference between the ER/PgR protein status and the expression of each ER variant in breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The expression of ER splice variants is not uncommon in human breast diseases. The abnormal ER structures in this study are not a main factor for tamoxifen insensitivity or an important regulators of PgR expression.

Journal Article↗

A novel splice variant involving the 5' untranslated region of thyroid hormone receptor beta1 (TRbeta1).

The thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRbeta) gene generates two different proteins by use of a different promoter (beta1 and beta2). We now report a novel short TRbeta1 RNA splice variant in humans lacking 35 nucleotides at the 3' end of the non-coding exon 1 due to an alternative 5' splice donor site. This short variant was first identified in sequences of cDNA obtained from cultured human fibroblasts. Both variants were found in human fibroblasts, brain, pituitary, adrenal gland, placenta, muscle, thyroid and lymphocytes. These TRbeta1 variants possess splice donor sites with a sequence score slightly favoring the TRbeta1 long variant. Variant-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that their relative proportions were equal except in pituitary and muscle, in which the long form was 3- and 5-fold in excess. T3 treatment of fibroblasts grown in thyroid hormone depleted medium did not affect the absolute or relative expression of the two variants. Furthermore, the expression level in fibroblasts from patients with resistance to thyroid hormone with or without TRbeta gene mutations was not different to that in fibroblasts from normal controls.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

An uncoupling protein 2 gene variant is associated with a raised body mass index but not Type II diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Linkage between markers close to the uncoupling protein 2 and 3 genes (11q13) and resting metabolic rate and a pre-diabetic phenotype have been found. The syntenic region in mouse has been found to be linked to quantitative traits associated with obesity and diabetes. UCP2 and UCP3 could therefore have an important role in body weight regulation and susceptibility to diabetes. We investigated a recently identified variant of the UCP2 gene in exon 8 as a marker for glucose and weight homeostasis. METHODS: Length variation of the UCP2 exon 8 variant was studied by the polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis. Sequence variants of the UCP3 gene were sought by semi-automated DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In 453 South Indian subjects, we found an association in women between the UCP2 exon variant and body mass index (p = 0.018). These findings were replicated in a separate group of South Indian subjects (n = 143, p < 0.001) irrespective of sex. Although no association was found between the UCP2 exon 8 variant and overt obesity in British subjects, the UCP2 genotype of obese women (n = 83) correlated with fasting serum leptin concentration (p = 0.006) in the presence of extreme obesity. These observations could not be explained by tight linkage disequilibrium with a coding region variant in the region of the UCP3 gene of biological significance. Lastly, no association was found between UCP2 and Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes using either a family based design (85 families) or case control study (normal glucose tolerance n = 335, impaired glucose tolerance n = 42, Type II diabetes n = 76). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: We have described a UCP2 gene exon 8 variant that may affect susceptibility to weight gain by influencing regulation of leptin.

Adult↗

Butyrylcholinesterase K variant on chromosome 3 q is associated with Type II diabetes in white Caucasian subjects.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the association of three genes associated with Alzheimer's disease--butyrylcholinesterase (BcHE) on chromosome 3 q, alpha2 macroglobulin (alpha2M) on chromosome 12 p and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) on chromosome 19 q--with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Frequencies of BcHE K variant, alpha2M insertion and/or deletion polymorphism, the ApoE common polymorphisms and promoter variants at ApoE-491 and -291, were examined by fluorescent RFLP in DNA from 276 United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Type II diabetic subjects and 351 non-diabetic subjects from the Diabetes In Families study. Genetic data in diabetic subjects was analysed in relation to clinical characteristics and islet function as assessed by the requirement for insulin therapy 6 years after randomisation. RESULTS: The BcHE K variant allele was more common among Type II diabetic subjects (D) than non-diabetic subjects (ND) (22.8 % D vs 15.8 % ND; p = 0.00 017). Subjects homozygous for the variant were more frequent in the diabetic group (5.8 % D vs 2.6 % ND: p = 0.00 056). The K variant allele frequency was not associated with a requirement for insulin therapy (29.0 % insulin-requiring vs 21.8 % non-insulin-requiring; p = 0.121). There were no associations of alpha2M and ApoE polymorphisms or ApoE promoter variants with clinical characteristics or insulin requirement in diabetic subjects. There were differences in total cholesterol (p = 0.0005) and LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.0009) among non-diabetic subjects in relation to ApoE-491 genotypes. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: The association of the BcHE gene (3q26) with Type II diabetes could be related to an identified susceptibility locus on chromosome 3q27 but appears to be independent of islet function. The absence of diabetes-specific associations with alpha2M, ApoE or ApoE promoter variants suggest that these are not important in the onset of hyperglycaemia.

Adult↗

Frequency and enzyme activity of the butyrylcholinesterase K-variant in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: Among variants of the butyrylcholinesterase gene ( BChE), the K-variant causing Ala539Thr substitution is the most common one associated with about one-third reduction in the enzyme activity. This study aimed to detect the frequency of the K-variant allele in a Turkish population sample and also to evaluate how the plasma BChE activity was influenced by this variant. METHODS: Patients administered for elective surgery ( n=77) were examined for the presence of the K allele. The enzyme activity was determined in plasma. RESULTS: The K-variant of BChE is a common allele with a frequency of 0.266 (CI(95%) 0.196-0.336) in our sample from a Turkish population. Mean enzyme activity in subjects homozygous for the K-variant was about 40% lower than other subjects. CONCLUSION: The frequency of the BChE K-variant was significantly higher in a Turkish population than those reported for other populations and it is associated with a diminished enzyme activity.

Adult↗

Carbohydrate-binding specificities of mouse ficolin A, a splicing variant of ficolin A and ficolin B and their complex formation with MASP-2 and sMAP.

Ficolins are a group of proteins mainly consisting of collagen-like and fibrinogen-like domains and are thought to play a role in innate immunity via their carbohydrate-binding activities. Two types of ficolins have been identified in mice, ficolin A, and ficolin B. However, their structure and function are not fully understood. In this study, we isolated the cDNA encoding a novel variant of ficolin A having a shorter collagen-like domain and a longer gap sequence, which was generated from the ficolin A gene by alternative splicing. We delineated the structure and function of mouse ficolins, including this splicing variant, by preparing the respective recombinants. Recombinant ficolin A, its splicing variant, and ficolin B showed multimeric structures and revealed binding to both N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. Interestingly, ficolin B specifically recognized sialic acid residues. Ficolin A and its variant, but not ficolin B, bound to mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine protease-2 (Masp-2) and small MBL-associated protein (smap), and the resulting complexes showed a potent complement activating capacity. In addition, smap competed with Masp-2 in association with ficolin A and its variant, and inhibited the complement activation by the ficolin A (or ficolin A variant)/MASP-2 complex, indicating its regulatory role in the lectin pathway. These results suggest that ficolin A and its variant function as recognition molecules of the lectin pathway, and ficolin B plays a distinct role through its unique carbohydrate-binding specificity.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Beyond Rett syndrome: a case series expanding the neurological spectrum associated with pathogenic MECP2 variants.

BACKGROUND: Although pathogenic variants in MECP2 are classically associated with Rett syndrome (RTT), increasing evidence suggests that they can underlie a broader spectrum of neurological phenotypes. Clinical manifestations may vary according to sex, variant type, residual protein function, and pattern of X-chromosome inactivation. METHODS: We describe five unrelated individuals carrying pathogenic MECP2 variants identified through multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, chromosomal microarray analysis, and next-generation sequencing. Clinical, neuroradiological, neurophysiological, and molecular findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Two unrelated girls carrying large de novo Xq28 deletions encompassing the entire MECP2 locus presented with mild neurodevelopmental impairment and epilepsy, but no developmental regression or classic RTT features. Both girls showed borderline cognitive functioning and normal brain MRI. A 9-year-old boy carrying a maternally inherited MECP2 frameshift variant presented with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and focal epilepsy, whereas carriers in his family exhibited milder neuropsychiatric manifestations. A 44-year-old man carrying a MECP2 missense variant presented with an early-onset spastic-ataxic syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and cerebellar dysfunction, while a 16-year-old girl patient carrying a distinct de novo MECP2 missense variant displayed isolated mild motor incoordination and subtle cerebellar signs with preserved cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings expand the evidence that pathogenic MECP2 variants can produce neurological phenotypes distinct from classic RTT, including mild neurodevelopmental impairment without regression, and predominantly cerebellar or spastic-ataxic manifestations associated with limited cognitive involvement. Allelic heterogeneity seems to correlate with clinical phenotypes, at least in our small cohort. In conjunction with established diagnostic criteria, these observations support testing MECP2 in a selection of atypical neurodevelopmental and movement disorder presentations.

Humans↗

Clinical isolation and characterization of aminoglycoside-resistant small colony variants of Enterobacter aerogenes.

Small colony variants of Enterobacter aerogenes, as well as the parental large colony type, grew in blood drawn for cultures on three separate days from a patient who had received suboptimal gentamicin therapy. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of four aminoglycoside antibiotics were eight to more than 16 times higher for small colony variants than for the normal large colony type. Small colony variants had defective catalase activity, which may have interfered with oxidative metabolism and aminoglycoside uptake. Small colony variants reverted readily to the parental type in vitro in the absence of aminoglycosides. Clinically isolated small colony variants appeared similar to those selected in the presence of gentamicin in vitro, with respect to colony morphology, aminoglycoside resistance and catalase deficiency. The isolation of small colony variants during gentamicin therapy in vivo suggests that such variants may be a cause of treatment failure in patients receiving aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides↗

Microheterogeneity of biliverdin reductase in rat liver and spleen: selective suppression of enzyme variants in liver by bromobenzene.

Recently we have reported the detection of multiple net-charge and molecular mass variants of biliverdin reductase in the rat liver. We now report an apparent selective change in the electrophoretic profile of the reductase variants in the liver by in vivo bromobenzene treatment (2 mmol/kg, sc, 24 h). Using two-dimensional electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, one molecular mass species of the reductase (Mr 30,400) appeared to be selectively suppressed by bromobenzene treatment. This molecular mass species was the main component of two isoelectric focusing bands with pI6.23 and 5.91. The effect in vivo of bromobenzene could not be duplicated by in vitro experiments involving treatment of purified enzyme with bromobenzene in the presence of a NADPH-dependent microsomal drug metabolizing system. The phenomenon of multiplicity of the reductase was not limited to the liver. Multiplicity of the enzyme was detected also in the spleen; however, the pattern of composition of the reductase variants vastly differed from that of the liver. In the spleen, variants with pI 5.76, 5.61, and 5.48 were the prevalent forms; the variant with pI 6.23 was absent, and pI 5.91 was present in a minute amount. Further, bromobenzene did not affect the composition pattern of net-charge variants in this organ. Also, the splenic biliverdin reductase activity was refractory to in vivo bromobenzene treatment, whereas the liver reductase activity with both NADH and NADPH was altered by the treatment. The possible significance of the presence of multiple variants of biliverdin reductase and the change in their composition caused by bromobenzene is discussed.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of a human transthyretin variant.

An apparent Mr variant of plasma transthyretin (TTR), previously detected using 2-D PAGE, is the first reported occurrence of this type of human TTR variant. We characterized the variant TTR to determine the nature of this difference. Comparative tryptic peptide maps of variant and normal TTR and sequencing of peptides which differed indicated the variant contained a single amino acid substitution of valine for tyrosine at position 116. Because such a change requires two nucleotide substitutions, we postulate the variant arose through mutation in codon 116 of a heretofore unrecognized polymorphic or rare variant allele of TTR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Changes in histones H2A and H3 variant composition in differentiating and mature rat brain cortical neurons.

Rat brain cortical neurons originate from germinal cells during a period of 6 days immediately before birth. Upon leaving the proliferative layer neurons become irreversibly quiescent. We have previously reported the presence of core histone nonallelic variants in terminally differentiated rat brain cortical neurons. Although the functional significance of core histone variants is unknown, several lines of evidence suggest that the processes of variant replacement could be involved in the structural and functional differentiation of chromatin. Here we describe the changes in core histone composition that occur during postnatal development. The changes in chromatin composition are already apparent at birth, suggesting that the change in synthesis patterns is related to the arrest of cell proliferation and neuron commitment. During postnatal development H2A.2, H2A.x, and H3.3 accumulate, whereas H2A.1, H3.1, and H3.2 decrease. H2A.z is the only variant that remains constant. The time courses of replacement and the observed variant proportions when the variant composition approaches the equilibrium suggest that all H2A variants are synthesized either in germinal cells or in neurons, whereas H3.1 and H3.2 seem to be synthesized only in germinal cells. The extent of the replacement of H3.1 and H3.2 by H3.3 shows that the exchange process affects most of the chromatin. The half-life times of H2A.1 and H3.2 were calculated from their respective exponential decays. Values of 65 days or less and 142 days were found for H2A.1 and H3.2, respectively. The preferential replacement of H2A.1 over H3.2 reinforces the view that the histone core does not degrade as a single unit.

Aging↗

Frequency of variant antigens in Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia undergoes antigenic variation. The rate of antigenic variation and the size of the variant antigen repertoire were estimated in clones of Giardia lamblia which reexpresses surface variant antigens that are characteristics of its parent. Calculations were based on determinations of the number of trophozoites expressing defined or nondefined epitopes as well as the total number of trophozoites in newly established clones. The rate of appearance of variant antigens containing defined epitopes was expressed as the number of generations until the first trophozoite expressing a defined epitope appeared. In clones of isolate WB, tested because their major surface variant antigens were largely nondefined, variants expressing epitopes recognized by Mabs 6E7 or 3F6 appeared after approximately 12 generations. Variants expressing epitopes recognized by Mab 5C1 appeared at about 13 generations, significantly greater than for the other epitopes. The rate of antigenic variation was studied in another isolate, GS/M, whose surface epitope repertoire differs from that of isolate WB. A single epitope recognized by Mab G10/4 was tested. Trophozoites reexpressing this epitope first appeared after about 6.5 generations, significantly less than in WB. Therefore, the single epitope studied in isolate GS/M is reexpressed much more frequently than those of WB. In isolate WB, the epitopes recognized by Mab 6E7 and 3F6 tended to appear at the same time. The median number of variant antigens in WB was estimated to lie between 20.5 and 184.

Analysis of Variance↗

P1 variant antithrombins Glasgow (393 Arg to His) and Pescara (393 Arg to Pro) have increased heparin affinity and are resistant to catalytic cleavage by elastase. Implications for the heparin activation mechanism.

The heparin affinity of normal and two P1 variants of antithrombin-III (AT) was studied by gradient elution with NaCl in Tris buffer on heparin-Sepharose. At pH 7.4 normal AT eluted at [Na+] 0.78 mol/l and the variants both showed increased affinity with AT Pescara eluting at [Na+] 0.86 mol/l and AT Glasgow at [Na+] 0.92 mol/l. We have earlier proposed a model for heparin activation in which the native state of AT maintains a salt bridge involving the P1 Arg-393 residue. Binding of heparin induces a higher heparin affinity conformation in which the salt bridge is disrupted to reveal the reactive centre for inhibition of thrombin. The Glasgow and Pescara variants, lacking a reactive centre P1 basic residue, would be unable to form this salt bridge, and we suggested that the high affinity conformation which they adopt as their native state would resemble the heparin induced conformation. To examine this model, we measured the heparin induced fluorescence of two P1 variants and tested the susceptibility of their reactive loops to catalytic cleavage. Both variants had fluorescence spectra indistinguishable from normal AT. In the absence of heparin, neither variant was more susceptible than normal to catalytic cleavage by human neutrophil elastase. These findings suggest that the conformation of these P1 variants is different to that of fully heparinized normal AT.

Antithrombin III↗