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R Williamson

Publications and source records attributed to R Williamson.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Directional sensitivity of hair cell afferents in the Octopus statocyst.

Changes in threshold sensitivity of hair cell afferents of the macula and crista of the Octopus statocyst were analyzed when the hair cells were stimulated with sinusoidal water movements from different directions. The experiments indicate that cephalopod statocyst hair cells are directionally sensitive in a way that is similar to the responses of the hair cells of the vertebrate vestibular and lateral line systems, with the amplitude of the response changing according to the cosine of the angle by which the direction of the stimulus (the deflection of the ciliary bundle) deviates from the direction of the hair cell's morphological polarization.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1994

On genetic and environmental factors in Menière's disease.

The etiology of Menière's disease (MD) remains obscure. Previous studies have shown a highly significant association between sporadic MD and one of the human leukocyte antigen, HLA-C genotypes, whereas disease activity has been related to the detection of enterovirus-specific viral protein (VP1) in the peripheral circulation. This present research extends the HLA association of sporadic cases to the study of families with more than one living member with unequivocal MD. Since the sporadic HLA associations point to chromosome 6 being a candidate region of a possible MD mutation, this area of the human genome has been investigated first; DNA suitable for study by other markers has been stored. The presence or absence of VP1 in the familial MD patients has been measured and related to disease activity at the time of sample collection. The association, in both sporadic and familial cases, of MD and partial HLA class I haplotypes points to a likely MD locus lying between the HLA-C and HLA-A loci on the short arm of chromosome 6. The significant relation between disease activity and circulating VP1 has been confirmed. It is likely that the predisposition to familial MD is attributable to a mutation on chromosome 6, which has been designated M1.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1993

Electrical coupling between primary hair cells in the statocyst of the squid, Alloteuthis subulata.

Intracellular recordings were made from primary sensory hair cells located on the dorsal side of the anterior crista segment of the squid statocyst. These hair cells were electrophysiologically identified by the occurrence of an antidromic action potential after electrical stimulation of the crista nerve. Two types of subthreshold, depolarising potentials were observed in the primary sensory hair cells. Firstly, those due to efferent inputs onto the primary hair cells and secondly those correlated one-to-one with action potentials in neighbouring primary hair cells. The former depolarising potentials could be blocked by bath applied cobalt, indicating chemical transmission, while the latter could not. Injection of a depolarising or hyperpolarising current into a primary hair cell depolarised or hyperpolarised, respectively, a neighbouring primary hair cell implying that the hair cells are electrically coupled with an electrical coupling coefficient of up to 0.4.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of GABA-like immunoreactivity in the octopus brain.

This paper presents the first evidence that some neurons in the octopus CNS contain delta-amino butyric acid (GABA). Using conventional immunohistochemical methods with appropriate controls, we obtained positive staining with an antibody to GABA in fibres in the neuropil of many lobes of the brain of the northern octopus Eledone cirrhosa. In several lobes cell bodies were also stained. Staining was not uniformly distributed in the brain nor within a particular lobe: some regions stained strongly, others not at all. These findings suggest that GABA should be added to the already long list of putative neurotransmitters in the cephalopod CNS.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The localization of a gene causing X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia (CPX) in an Icelandic kindred is between DXS326 and DXYS1X.

The locus responsible for X-linked, nonsyndromic cleft palate and/or ankyloglossia (CPX) has previously been mapped to the proximal long arm of the human X chromosome between Xq21.31 and q21.33 in an Icelandic kindred. We have extended these studies by analyzing an additional 14 informative markers in the family as well as including several newly investigated family members. Recombination analysis indicates that the CPX locus is more proximal than previously thought, within the interval Xq21.1-q21.31. Two recombinants place DXYS1X as the distal flanking marker, while one recombinant defines DXS326 as the proximal flanking marker, an interval of less than 5 cM. Each of the flanking markers recombines with the CPX locus, giving 2-point lod scores of Zmax = 4.16 at theta = 0.08 (DXS326) and Zmax = 5.80 at theta = 0.06 (DXYS1X).

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1993

Isolation and ordering of bacteriophage genomic clones corresponding to two YACs from 19q13.3.

We describe a method for rapidly isolating overlapping bacteriophage clones corresponding to the genomic region cloned in a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) that does not require sub-cloning or lambda DNA preparation. Purified YACs from 19q13.3 were used to screen a flow-sorted chromosome 19 library, and the resulting positive clones were characterized using inter-Alu PCR. In addition, aliquots of the lambda stocks were gridded out, and hybridized with probes known to be present in the YACs, thereby avoiding having to perform DNA preparations. The application of this technique in the identification of lambda clones which span the myotonic dystrophy (DM) locus on 19q13.3 is presented, and its general advantages are discussed.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1993

Polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium in the COL6A1 and COL6A2 gene cluster: novel DNA polymorphisms in the region of a candidate gene for congenital heart defects in Down's syndrome.

The COL6A1 and COL6A2 (collagen VI) gene cluster on chromosome 21 is a candidate region for defects leading to congenital heart anomalies in Down's syndrome. We report a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in this gene region, detected using a COL6A1 cDNA probe. Linkage disequilibrium relationships were studied among the RFLPs of this gene cluster. The RFLP reported here shows no significant linkage disequilibrium with any others in the region. It has a polymorphism information content value of 0.27, raising the informativity of the locus.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1993

Universal community carrier screening for cystic fibrosis?

Approximately 5% of the Caucasian North European and North American populations are carriers of the gene defect causing cystic fibrosis (CF). Since the CF gene was isolated in 1989 and the common mutations identified, there has been debate as to whether community-wide screening for CF carriers should be offered. Pilot studies and new discussions are leading to a consensus that screening is now possible and will not lead to undue anxiety, but there is still no agreement as to cost, or how it will be used by those screening positive.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1993

Non-invasive liposome-mediated gene delivery can correct the ion transport defect in cystic fibrosis mutant mice.

We report gene transfer to the Edinburgh insertional mutant mouse (cf/cf), delivering CFTR cDNA-liposome complexes into the airways by nebulization. We show full restoration of cAMP related chloride responses in some animals and demonstrate, in the same tissues, human CFTR cDNA expression. Overall, a range of correction was seen with restoration of about 50% of the deficit between wild type mice and untreated cf/cf controls. We report modest correction in the intestinal tract following direct instillation and provide initial encouraging safety data for both the respiratory and intestinal tract following the liposome mediated gene delivery. The non-viral nature and potentially lower immunogenicity of DNA-liposomes suggest that this may offer a therapeutic alternative to adenoviral therapies.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Physical mapping and YAC-cloning connects four genetically distinct 4qter loci (D4S163, D4S139, D4F35S1 and D4F104S1) in the FSHD gene-region.

We have constructed a long-range restriction map of the region on chromosome 4q that contains the gene for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). This region contains the linkage group cen ... D4S163-D4S139-D4F35S1-D4F104S1-FSHD ... 4qter, which spans a genetic distance of about 5 cM. Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) mapping indicated that these loci span a region not more than 1 Mb. STSs were developed for several of these loci, which served to isolate four overlapping yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs). These YACs confirmed the PFGE map and have allowed us to generate a more detailed restriction map using cosmid contig mapping. The physical distances were smaller than was expected on the basis of the genetic map. Two potential HTF islands have been detected within the cloned region. One HTF island maps about 100 kb centromeric from the tandem repeats involved in the FSHD mutation, whereas the other maps within these tandem repeats.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Fine mapping of the FSHD gene region orientates the rearranged fragment detected by the probe p13E-11.

We have produced a fine restriction map around the locus D4F104S1 (previously designated D4S810); a probe to this locus, p13E-11, identifies a polymorphic EcoRI fragment containing 3.2kb tandem repeats and detects DNA rearrangements associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). We developed an STS (D4F106S1) which maps 2kb proximal to D4F104S1, and used this to isolate a 470kb YAC (y25C2E) from the ICI YAC library and a 930kb YAC (y956A11) from the CEPH megabase library. Both YACs contain the loci D4S139, D4F35S1 and D4F104S1. A cosmid library was produced from YAC y25C2E and two cosmid contigs constructed; a 115kb contig encompassing D4S139, and one of 135kb linking D4F35S1 and D4F104S1 and extending distal to the EcoRI fragment detected by p13E-11. A fine restriction map of both these contigs has been generated, allowing the orientation of the EcoRI fragment rearranged in FSHD to be determined. YAC y956A11 was used to confirm the integrity of y25C2E and the map of this region. 9B6A, a probe to the homeobox region of the tandem repeat D4Z4, identified a cross-hybridising sequence proximal to D4F104S1, however, p13E-11 does not detect this additional locus. CpG islands were identified between D4S139 and D4F35S1 and within each copy of the tandem repeat. The probe 9B6A detected each copy of the repeat motif, suggesting there is homeobox present in every copy of the 3.2kb repeat.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Segregation of delta F508 and normal CFTR alleles in human sperm.

Single sperm typing provides an accurate method to order tightly linked loci by single cell DNA high resolution segregation analysis. We have used similar methods to type individual sperm from a known delta F508 cystic fibrosis heterozygote to determine the frequency of the mutation within his germ cell population, and to test possible explanations for the reported sex ratio distortion of the cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation to male offspring. Using a nested polymerase chain reaction we have been able to amplify a single locus sequence, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), from a single target sperm haploid genome to detectable amounts without the use of radioactivity. The same sperm from a single male delta F508 carrier were simultaneously typed for the presence of the sex chromosomes to verify the ratio of X- to Y-bearing sperm and to determine the association, if any, between sex and delta F508 in male gametes. We have demonstrated that there is a significant difference in the proportions of 'normal' and 'delta F508' sperm (X2 = 7.36, p < 0.01), although when the same sperm are sexed the difference between delta F508/X and delta F508/Y sperm is not significant (X2 = 1.71, p = 0.192). Single sperm typing can address questions about segregation distortion in man, and it is unlikely that sex ratio distortion for CF carriers is due to events which occur pre-fertilisation. As these data are from one individual only, they should be confirmed for other male carriers, including those with different CF mutations.

Alleles↗