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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

A new approach in the evaluation of chromosome variants in man. II. Pairs without Q or C (qh) variants.

Chromosome variants were evaluated on the basis of their DNA-replication pattern (LBA). The size of late-replicating centromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, and 20, i.e., pairs without Q or C (qh) variants, was measured by means of a microdensitometer. The results were expressed in area, related to that of a euchromatic segment of a given chromosome, and were assigned into five classes based on the difference in standard deviation from an average relative size. LBA variants in each of 12 pairs were found in 29%-42% of the chromosomes.

Acridine Orange↗

Cloning of interleukin-4 delta2 splice variant (IL-4delta2) in chimpanzee and cynomolgus macaque: phylogenetic analysis of delta2 splice variant appearance, and implications for the study of IL-4-driven immune processes.

The human interleukin-4 ( IL-4) gene produces an exon 2-lacking alternative splice variant, termed IL-4delta2, and described as a naturally occurring antagonist of IL-4-driven activity. We report the isolation of an IL-4delta2 cDNA from chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes) bone marrow samples and cynomolgus macaque ( Macaca fascicularis) activated peripheral lymph node cells. The complete IL-4 cDNA sequence from chimpanzee is also provided for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis of several known IL-4 sequences revealed a highly conserved structure of coding regions among primates, suggesting that alternative IL-4 transcript splicing may be a process shared by other simian and potentially pro-simian species as well. Extension of the study to other mammalian species led us to the assumption that generation of IL-4 splice variants may be common to primates, lagomorphs (rabbit), and rodents of the sciuridae family (woodchuck), but is unlikely to occur in mice and rats (muridae), for which IL-4 splice variants have indeed never been described. Potential implications of alternatively spliced cytokine products with possible antagonistic or competitive inhibitory function, for the choice of suitable animal models of IL-4-regulated immune processes, are discussed. This study also indicates the importance of considering alternative splicing when defining cytokine bioassays, most particularly in the present context of transcriptomics, involving the generalization of sequence-based detection methods such as quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Alternative Splicing↗

Neither the butyrylcholinesterase K variant nor transferrin C2 variant confers a risk for Alzheimer's disease in Koreans.

To investigate the possible involvement of the butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) K variant and transferrin (TF) C2 variant in the manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we analyzed the BCHE, TF and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes of 164 sporadic AD patients and 239 normal elderly controls. The frequencies of the BCHE K and TF C2 did not differ between the AD patients and controls (P > 0.1). The occurrence of the APOE epsilon4 did not influence the distribution of the BCHE K and TF C2 variants (P > 0.1). No linkage disequilibrium between the BCHE K and TF C2 was observed either in both the AD patients and controls (P > 0.1). In conclusion, neither the BCHE K nor the TF C2 confers a risk for AD.

Aged↗

A preparative method for the isolation of genetic variant forms of glucosephosphate isomerase and a study of five variants.

A method has been developed for the rapid, quantitative separation of normal and abnormal glucosephosphate isomerase allozymes from individuals heterozygous for genetic variant forms of the enzyme. The method utilizes a substrate gradient elution of the enzyme from carboxymethyl Biogel and is far superior in terms of resolution and recovery to methods based on electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Five different genetic variant forms of the enzyme were isolated and subjected to a systematic comparison of their physical, catalytic and stability properties. While the physical and catalytic properties of most of the variants were similar, clear differences in the stability of the allozymes were apparent. In order to detect mutations affecting the stability, a series of different stability tests are required.

Genetic Variation↗

A natural variant of bovine dopamine beta-monooxygenase with phenylalanine as residue 208: purification and characterization of the variant homo- and heterotetramers of (F208)4 and (F208)2(L208)2.

Bovine dopamine beta-monooxygenase was purified from each of 18 individual adrenal glands by the method we have developed for the rapid purification of the enzyme from a single adrenal gland. Differential peptide mapping of the 18 enzyme preparations following fluorescence labeling of their cysteine residues revealed the presence of a novel variant with Phe as residue 208 in 14 adrenal glands; seven of them were homozygous for the variant allele and the remaining seven heterozygous. The variant enzyme was a tetramer and exhibited kinetic and structural properties similar to those of the wild-type tetramer (L208)4. These results indicate an allelic polymorphism and codominant expression of the two alleles of the enzyme gene.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Checking the conformational stability of cystatin C and its L68Q variant by molecular dynamics studies: why is the L68Q variant amyloidogenic?

Human L68Q cystatin C is one of the known human amyloidogenic proteins. In its native state it is a monomer with alpha/beta structure. Experimental evidence suggests that L68Q variant associates into dimeric intermediates and that the dimers subsequently self-assemble to form amyloid deposits and insoluble fibrils. Details of the pathway of L68Q mutant amyloid formation are unclear; however, different experimental approaches with resolutions at molecular level have provided some clues. Probably, the stability and flexibility of monomeric L68Q variant play essential roles in the early steps of amyloid formation; thus, it is necessary to characterize early conformational changes of L68Q cystatin C monomers. In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility that the differences between the monomeric forms of wild-type (wt) cystatin C and its L68Q variant are responsible for higher tendency of the L68Q cystatin C amyloidogenesis. We started our studies with the simulations of wt and L68Q cystatin C monomers. Nanosecond time scale molecular dynamics simulations at 308K were performed using AMBER7.0 program. The results show that the structure of the L68Q monomer was changed, relative to the wt cystatin C structure. The results support earlier speculation that the L68Q point mutation would easily lead to dimer formation.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Identification and characterization of a new human type 9 cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase splice variant (PDE9A5). Differential tissue distribution and subcellular localization of PDE9A variants.

Previously, four splice variants of human cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) 9A (PDEs 9A1, 9A2, 9A3 and 9A4) have been identified. In this study, we have cloned a cDNA representing a new human PDE9A variant (PDE9A5). PDE9A5 encodes a protein of 492 amino acids, smaller than PDEs 9A1 and 9A2 but larger than PDEs 9A3 and 9A4. The exon structure of PDE9A5 is different from those of PDEs 9A1, 9A2, 9A3 and 9A4 in that, of the 20 exons of PDE9A gene, it lacks exons 2 and 5. PDE9A5 has been characterized in comparison with PDE9A1, the longest PDE9A variant. PDEs 9A5 and 9A1 have similar enzymatic properties. They both have a high affinity for cGMP with similar Km values (0.39 and 0.25 microM, respectively), although they have slightly different Vmax values (2.55 and 0.96 micromol/min/mg, respectively). They exhibit very similar divalent metal ion dependency and inhibitor sensitivity. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis shows that PDEs 9A5 and 9A1 exhibit differential tissue distribution. They are highly expressed in immune tissues (spleen, lymph node and thymus) and are more abundant in T cells than in B cells, neutrophils and monocytes. When transiently expressed in HEK293 cells, PDEs 9A5 and 9A1 proteins exhibit differential subcellular localization. PDE9A5 localizes exclusively in the cytoplasm, whereas PDE9A1 localizes in the nucleus only. The nuclear localization of PDE9A1 is dependent on a unique pat7 motif. By Western blot analysis, native PDE9A1 is detectable in the nucleus but not in the cytoplasm of T cells. Thus, to our knowledge, PDE9A1 is the only PDE isoform found to localize exclusively in the nucleus. We speculate that the physiological role of the PDE9A diversity may be imparting cGMP-metabolizing ability to specific cellular compartments in appropriate tissues.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

An IgG2a-producing variant of an IgG2b-producing mouse myeloma cell line. Structural studies on the Fc region of parent and variant heavy chains.

The IgG2b-producing MPC 11 mouse myeloma cell line has yielded a number of variants which synthesize heavy chains characteristic of a different immunoglobulin subclass, IgG2a, as previously shown by serology, peptide maps, and assembly profiles. We have studied the Fc regions of the IgG2a protein synthesized by one variant, ICR 9.9.2.1, and of the IgG2b protein synthesized by MPC 11 and compared them to MOPC 173, an IgG2a protein of known sequence. We analyzed the Fc regions of the three immunoglobulins by several analytical techniques, such as immunoelectrophoresis of papain digests, NaDodSo4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses of Fc CNBr fragments, and comparative ion-exchange chromatography of radiolabeled tryptic and chymotryptic Fc peptides. In addition, Fc CNBr fragments of the variant gamma2a and MPC 11 gamma2b molecules were isolated and subjected to amino acid analysis and partial sequence determination. From these data, we concluded that the Fc fragment of ICR 9.9.2.1 is most probably identical to that of MOPC 173 and different from the parental gamma2b Fc fragment. A number of residue positions which discriminate between gamma2b and gamma2a sequences are described. In two of three segments sequenced, gamma2b and gamma2a molecules share more identical residues than either shares with another mouse subclass, gamma1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of a common variant in the lipoprotein lipase gene in a large Utah kindred ascertained for coronary heart disease: the -93G/D9N variant predisposes to low HDL-C/high triglycerides.

Defects in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene are associated with dyslipidemia in the general population. Several rare mutations in the gene, as well as two common coding region polymorphisms, D9N and N291S, exhibit deleterious effects on circulating lipid levels. Using a linkage-based approach, we have identified a large Utah kindred segregating the D9N variant in the LPL gene. The kindred was ascertained for premature coronary heart disease and was expanded based on familial dyslipidemia. A genomic scan identified a region of linkage including LPL, and mutation screening identified the segregating variant. In the kindred, the variant shows high penetrance for a hypoalphalipoproteinemia phenotype, but is also associated with hypertriglyceridemia and elevated insulin levels. The strength of linkage was dependent on the combination of phenotype definition and model parameters, favoring the use of a MOD score approach. Most other studies of LPL have proceeded by mutation screening of randomly chosen individuals or selected affected probands; this is the first example identifying a segregating LPL mutation using direct linkage.

Aged↗

Novel deletion variants of 9q13-q21.12 and classical euchromatic variants of 9q12/qh involve deletion, duplication and triplication of large tracts of segmentally duplicated pericentromeric euchromatin.

Large-scale copy number variation that is cytogenetically visible in normal individuals has been described as euchromatic variation but needs to be distinguished from pathogenic euchromatic deletion or duplication. Here, we report eight patients (three families and two individuals) with interstitial deletions of 9q13-q21.12. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation with a large panel of BACs showed that all the deleted clones were from extensive tracts of segmentally duplicated euchromatin, copies of which map to both the long and short arms of chromosome 9. The variety of reasons for which these patients were ascertained, and the phenotypically normal parents, indicates that this is a novel euchromatic variant with no phenotypic effect. Further, four patients with classical euchromatic variants of 9q12/qh or 9p12 were also shown to have duplications or triplications of this segmentally duplicated material common to both 9p and 9q. The cytogenetic boundaries between the segmentally duplicated regions and flanking unique sequences were mapped to 9p13.1 in the short arm (BAC RP11-402N8 at 38.7 Mb) and to 9q21.12 in the long arm (BAC RP11-88I18 at 70.3 Mb). The BACs identified in this study should in future make it possible to differentiate between clinically significant deletions or duplications and euchromatic variants with no established phenotypic consequences.

Adolescent↗

Challenge of human Jurkat T-cells with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin elicits major changes in cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) expression by up-regulating PDE3 and inducing PDE4D1 and PDE4D2 splice variants as well as down-regulating a novel PDE4A splice variant.

The cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and PDE4 isoforms provide the major cAMP-hydrolysing PDE activities in Jurkat T-cells, with additional contributions from the PDE1 and PDE2 isoforms. Challenge of cells with the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin led to a rapid, albeit transient, increase in PDE3 activity occurring over the first 45 min, followed by a sustained increase in PDE3 activity which began after approximately 3 h and continued for at least 24 h. Only this second phase of increase in PDE3 activity was blocked by the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D. After approximately 3 h of exposure to forskolin, PDE4 activity had increased, via a process that could be inhibited by actinomycin D, and it remained elevated for at least a 24 h period. Such actions of forskolin were mimicked by cholera toxin and 8-bromo-cAMP. Forskolin increased intracellular cAMP concentrations in a time-dependent fashion and its action was enhanced when PDE induction was blocked with actinomycin D. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis, using generic primers designed to detect transcripts representing enzymically active products of the four PDE4 genes, identified transcripts for PDE4A and PDE4D but not for PDE4B or PDE4C in untreated Jurkat T-cells. Forskolin treatment did not induce transcripts for either PDE4B or PDE4C; however, it reduced the RT-PCR signal for PDE4A transcripts and markedly enhanced that for PDE4D transcripts. Using RT-PCR primers for PDE4 splice variants, a weak signal for PDE4D1 was evident in control cells whereas, in forskolin-treated cells, clear signals for both PDE4D1 and PDE4D2 were detected. RT-PCR analysis of the PDE4A species indicated that it was not the PDE4A isoform PDE-46 (PDE4A4B). Immunoblotting of control cells for PDE4 forms identified a single PDE4A species of approximately 118 kDa, which migrated distinctly from the PDE4A4B isoform PDE-46, with immunoprecipitation analyses showing that it provided all of the PDE4 activity in control cells. Forskolin treatment led to a marked decrease of this novel PDE4A species and allowed the detection of a strong signal for an approximately 67 kDa PDE4D species, suggested to be PDE4D1, but did not induce PDE4B and PDE4C isoforms. Elevation of intracellular cAMP concentrations in Jurkat T-cells thus exerts a highly selective effect on the transcriptional activity of the genes encoding the various PDE4 isoforms. This leads to the down-regulation of a novel PDE4A splice variant and the induction of PDE4D1 and PDE4D2 splice variants, leading to a net increase in the total PDE4 activity of Jurkat T-cells.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Isolation of myeloma variants with predefined variant surface immunoglobulin by cell sorting.

We describe a procedure for the isolation of somatic cell variants in which gene products are expressed on the cell surface that are not expressed in the wild type. Cloned cells of the myeloma line MPC 11, which expresses an IgG2b protein, were incubated with an antiserum specific for IgGI and IgG2a. Cells reacting with this antiserum were stained with a fluorescent anti-antiserum and enriched in three cycles of sorting in the fluorescence-activated cell sorter and subsequent growth in vitro. From the enriched population two variants were isolated by cloning in soft agar. One of them expressed a variant immunoglobulin that types serologically as an IgG2a but whose variable portion was idiotypically related to that of the MPC 11 wild-type protein.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Nucleotide changes in sequential variants of influenza virus hemagglutinin genes and molecular structures of corresponding monoclonal antibodies specific for each variant.

We have generated four monoclonal antibodies specific for one or more members of a series of two sequentially derived PR8 influenza virus variants. Three of these antibodies share cross-reactive idiotypes. The amino acid sequences of these antibodies were determined, and it was found that two of these antibodies use genes from the VH7183 family, whereas the third uses a gene from the VHJ558 family. All four monoclonal antibodies derive from different families of genes encoding the variable region of the kappa chain. The RNA sequence of the parent PR8 virus as well as the RNA sequences of the sequential variants were also determined, and it was demonstrated that the variant hemagglutinin molecules differed from the parent molecule by only a single amino acid interchange. Despite these subtle differences in antigenic structures of hemagglutinin, and the cross-reactive idiotype of the antibodies, their primary structures were very different. These data reinforce the idea that a wide variety of antibody structures exist which are directed against subtly different structures in biologically important antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic variants of human serum albumin in Italy: point mutants and a carboxyl-terminal variant.

Of the > 50 different genetic variants of human serum albumin (alloalbumins) that have been characterized by amino acid or DNA sequence analysis, almost half have been identified in Italy through a long-term electrophoretic survey of serum. Previously we have reported structural studies of 11 Italian alloalbumins with point mutations, 2 different carboxyl-terminal variants, and 1 case of analbuminemia in an Italian family. This article describes confirmation by DNA sequencing of mutations previously inferred from protein sequencing of 4 of the above alloalbumins; it also reports the mutations identified by protein and DNA sequence analysis of 4 other Italian alloalbumins not previously recorded: albumin Larino, His3-->Tyr; Tradate-2 (protein sequencing only), Lys225-->Gln; Caserta, Lys276-->Asn; and Bazzano, a carboxyl-terminal variant. The first 3 have point mutations that produce a single amino acid substitution, but a nucleotide deletion causes a frameshift and an altered and truncated carboxyl-terminal sequence in albumin Bazzano. In these 4 instances the expression of the alloalbumin is variable, ranging from 10% to 70% of the total albumiN, in contrast to the usual 50% each for the normal and mutant albumin. The distribution of point mutations in the albumin gene is nonrandom; most of the 47 reported point substitutions involve charged amino acid residues on the surface of the molecule that are not concerned with ligand-binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two unstable beta chain variants associated with beta-thalassemia: Hb Miami [beta116(G18)his-->Pro], and Hb Hershey [beta70(E14)Ala-->Gly], and a second unstable Hb variant at 170: Hb Abington [beta70(E14)Ala-->Pro].

We report on three previously undescribed unstable hemoglobin (Hb) variants: Hb Miami, Hb Hershey and Hb Abington. Hb Miami was associated with a beta(+)-thalassemia (thal) mutation [IVS-I-110 (G-->A)], whereas Hb Hershey was associated with a B0-thal mutation [IVS-I-1 (G-->A)]. Hb Hershey also has decreased oxygen affinity. These three Hb variants illustrate the range of clinical severity that can be seen with unstable Hb variants, particularly when combined with a thalassemic mutation.

Adult↗

Human herpesvirus 6 variant A, but not variant B, infects EBV-positive B lymphoid cells, activating the latent EBV genome through a BZLF-1-dependent mechanism.

Human herpesvirus 6, a predominantly T lymphotropic virus, has been recently shown to infect some EBV-positive B cell lines, and to induce in them the activation of the EBV lytic cycle. Here we have confirmed and extended such observations, showing that (1) this phenomenon is restricted to the variant A of HHV-6: in fact two isolates belonging to the HHV-6 variant B (BA92 and Z29) were neither able to infect any B cell line, independently of the EBV status, nor to induce the EBV genome expression. The only exception is represented by the P3HR1 cells, in which, however, the infection by the variant B does not determine induction of EBV antigens; (2) the presence of the EBV genome contributes to the susceptibility of the B cell lines to HHV-6 infection, increasing the binding sites and the percentage of infectable cells, as detected by immunoelectron microscopy; and (3) HHV-6 infected T cells, transfected with plasmids bearing the promoter regions of the EBV early genes BZLF1 and BMRF1, show a strong transactivation of these promoters.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Association of the CASP10 V410I variant with reduced familial breast cancer risk and interaction with the CASP8 D302H variant.

Dysregulation of apoptosis plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis. As part of death receptor- and mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis, the homologues caspases 10 and 8 may act as low-penetrance breast cancer (BC) susceptibility genes. In death receptor-mediated apoptosis, engagement of death receptors by their ligands involves the assembly of the death-inducing signalling complex (DISC). In mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis, the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol results in apoptosome formation. Recruitment of both caspases 10 and 8 (CASP10 and CASP8, respectively) to DISC and apoptosome leads to their activation by dimerization. We investigated the influence of the coding CASP10 variant V410I (G1228A) by performing a case-control study - using 511 familial BC cases and 547 control subjects - on BC risk and revealed a significant association of V410I with a reduced risk (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43-0.88, P = 0.0076) related to the number of variant alleles (P(trend) = 0.0039). As CASP10 and CASP8 functionally co-operate during apoptosis, we analysed the mutual effect of both CASP10 V410I and CASP8 D302H, resulting in a significant association between the number of the variant alleles I410 and H302 and a highly decreased familial BC risk (OR = 0.35, P(trend) = 0.007), pointing to the interaction between the CASP10 and CASP8 polymorphisms in breast carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

Long-read based detection of large copy number variants with potential functional significance using the ContextSV structural variant caller.

Long-read sequencing enables improved detection of structural variants (SVs) in the human genome due to its substantially increased read lengths. However, currently widely used long-read SV callers primarily rely on alignment-based evidence, limiting their ability to detect large and complex SVs and potentially missing disease-relevant events. To address these limitations, we developed ContextSV, a framework that integrates alignment evidence with copy number predictions derived from sequencing coverage and single-nucleotide variant allele frequencies to improve SV detection, particularly for large copy number variants (CNVs). We additionally developed ContextScore, a machine learning-based classification model to assign SV confidence scores based on genomic context features and integrated it within ContextSV. Through benchmarking analyses on both simulated and real datasets, we demonstrate that ContextSV improves detection of large CNVs and inversions that may be missed by existing long-read SV callers. We further illustrate its utility by identifying and experimentally validating multiple large SVs in the KOLF2.1J reference stem cell line that were not detected by other methods. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ContextSV serves as a valuable complement to existing long-read SV detection approaches by improving sensitivity for large and clinically relevant SVs.

Humans↗