Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) consists of four different isozymes (I, II, III, IV). Among these, ALDH I shows genetic polymorphism (normal and deficient) in a population of Mongoloid origin. The significantly lower frequency of ALDH I deficiency was found in alcoholic patients compared with healthy controls. ALDH I deficiency is one of the important genetic factors in regulating alcohol consumption and plays a protective role against alcoholism. Population genetic studies on ALDH I deficiency in different ethnic groups indicate that ALDH deficiency was found only in Mongoloid population groups.

Alcoholism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of GST1 gene deletion by the polymerase chain reaction and its possible correlation with stomach cancer in Japanese.

A homozygous gene deletion at the GST1 locus of genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood was investigated for its relationship with several types of cancer using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. DNA samples were prepared from blood obtained from 128 healthy blood donors and 150 patients with cancer or chronic hepatitis. PCR primers were prepared based on the human cDNA sequence and the intron/exon sequences of the rat Yb2 gene. The amplified sequence between exons 5 and 6 including intron 5 showed very clearly the presence of absence of the GST1 gene, after electrophoresis in a 2% agarose gel. Segregation of the presence and absence of PCR product from samples of twins and their parents indicated that presence involves homozygous or heterozygous normal GST1 genotypes while absence involves only homozygous gene deletion. The patients with stomach cancer had a significantly higher frequency of gene deletion than did the healthy controls (P < 0.005). Thus, GST1 deletion may be a possible genetic marker for early detection of a group at high risk of stomach cancer.

Asian People↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis of fusion proteins of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens in E. coli and their antigenicity.

Expression and yield in E. coli of a panel of fusion proteins containing various domains of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens, EBNA-1, EBNA-2, EBNA-3, EBNA-4 and EBNA-6, were scrutinized. The antigenicity of the EBNA fusion proteins against human sera was examined. Monospecific antisera to the different EBNA domains were produced by immunizing guinea pigs and rabbits. An EBNA-6 fusion polypeptide was useful for separating anti-EBNA-6 antibody from human sera by immunoaffinity purification. The applications of the fusion proteins to clinical diagnosis are discussed.

Animals↗