Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Overlapping PCR”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

Mycoplasma synoviae surface protein MSPB as a recombinant antigen in an indirect ELISA.

Mycoplasma synoviae is a poultry pathogen causing respiratory disease and synovitis. A number of serological assays have been developed for diagnosis of M. synoviae infection; however, they lack sensitivity and/or are prone to false-positive reactions. Using a combination of PCR and expression cloning, four overlapping regions (regions 1-4) of the surface antigen MSPB of M. synoviae WVU-1853 were expressed in a bacterial expression system. Immunostaining of the resultant polypeptides with chicken sera raised against different M. synoviae strains, or Mycoplasma gallisepticum S6, suggested that region 4 contained a highly antigenic and species-specific domain (amino acids 212-317) [corrected] of MSPB. A fusion protein of region 4 was expressed in the pMAL expression system and purified from cold-osmotic-shock fluids of Escherichia coli cells for use in an indirect ELISA. The potential of the purified antigen for detection of M. synoviae antibodies was assessed with sera obtained from chickens experimentally infected with different strains of M. synoviae or M. gallisepticum, or from uninoculated chickens. All the sera from M. synoviae-inoculated chickens provided higher absorbance values than those from M. gallisepticum-inoculated or uninoculated chickens. Chickens inoculated with M. synoviae 86079/7NS had detectable increases of serum anti-MSPB immunoglobulins at day 7 after inoculation. These studies have identified the most antigenic region of one of the major species-specific surface proteins of M. synoviae, and shown the potential of this protein as a serodiagnostic reagent.

Animals↗

An integrated YAC map of the human X chromosome.

The human X chromosome is associated with a large number of disease phenotypes, principally because of its unique mode of inheritance that tends to reveal all recessive disorders in males. With the longer term goal of identifying and characterizing most of these genes, we have adopted a chromosome-wide strategy to establish a YAC contig map. We have performed > 3250 inter Alu-PCR product hybridizations to identify overlaps between YAC clones. Positional information associated with many of these YAC clones has been derived from our Reference Library Database and a variety of other public sources. We have constructed a YAC contig map of the X chromosome covering 125 Mb of DNA in 25 contigs and containing 906 YAC clones. These contigs have been verified extensively by FISH and by gel and hybridization fingerprinting techniques. This independently derived map exceeds the coverage of recently reported X chromosome maps built as part of whole-genome YAC maps.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Amplification of ribulose biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (RuBisCO LSU) gene fragments from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and a moderate thermophile using polymerase chain reaction.

Southern blot analysis of DNA from an iron-oxidising moderate thermophile NMW-6 and from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strain TFI-35 demonstrated sequences homologous to the RuBisCO LSU gene of Synechococcus. DNA fragments (457 bp) encoding part of the RuBisCO LSU gene (amino acids 73-200) were amplified from the genomic DNA of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and the moderate thermophile NMW-6 using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (Saiki et al. (1985) Science 233, 1350-1354). A comparison with the LSU sequences from T. ferrooxidans, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Chromatium vinosum, Synechococcus and Spinacea oleracea, which all have RuBisCOs with a hexadecameric structure, showed that the RuBisCO LSU gene sequence from NMW-6 appeared to be most closely related to that of the hydrogen bacterium A. eutrophus which showed 71.9% homology at the amino acid level. Despite its physiological similarity, T. ferrooxidans showed only 64.1% homology to the amino acid sequence from NMW-6 and had the lowest DNA homology (60.9%) of the hexadecameric type RuBisCOs. In the region sequenced, T. ferrooxidans and the RuBisCOs of the phototrophs C. vinosum, Synechococcus and S. oleracea, had 17 residues that were completely conserved which were substituted in both NMW-6 and A. eutrophus, 11 of these being identical substitutions. Comparison of the nucleotide and derived amino acid sequences of the RuBisCO LSU fragment from T. ferrooxidans with other RuBisCO sequences indicated a closer relationship to the hexadecameric type LSU genes of photosynthetic origin than to that of A. eutrophus. The T. ferrooxidans amino acid sequence showed 93.8%, 78.9% and 77.3% homology, respectively, to the C. vinosum, Synechococcus and S. oleracea (spinach) sequences but only 56.2% to A. eutrophus. The DNA sequence from Rhodospirillum rubrum, which has the atypical large subunit dimer RuBisCO structure with no small subunit, showed 39.2% and 42.7% homology, respectively, with the sequences of NMW-6 and T. ferrooxidans, and 25.0% and 29.7% amino acid homology, indicating that the DNA homology was substantially random in nature. PCR fragments (126 bp) that overlaped the last 15 codons of the fragments above were also amplified and sequenced. They showed incomplete homology with the larger fragments, supporting evidence obtained from Southern hybridizations that T. ferrooxidans and the moderate thermophile NMW-6 have multiple copies of RuBisCO LSU genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular characterization of the S-layer gene, sbpA, of Bacillus sphaericus CCM 2177 and production of a functional S-layer fusion protein with the ability to recrystallize in a defined orientation while presenting the fused allergen.

The nucleotide sequence encoding the crystalline bacterial cell surface (S-layer) protein SbpA of Bacillus sphaericus CCM 2177 was determined by a PCR-based technique using four overlapping fragments. The entire sbpA sequence indicated one open reading frame of 3,804 bp encoding a protein of 1,268 amino acids with a theoretical molecular mass of 132,062 Da and a calculated isoelectric point of 4.69. The N-terminal part of SbpA, which is involved in anchoring the S-layer subunits via a distinct type of secondary cell wall polymer to the rigid cell wall layer, comprises three S-layer-homologous motifs. For screening of amino acid positions located on the outer surface of the square S-layer lattice, the sequence encoding Strep-tag I, showing affinity to streptavidin, was linked to the 5' end of the sequence encoding the recombinant S-layer protein (rSbpA) or a C-terminally truncated form (rSbpA(31-1068)). The deletion of 200 C-terminal amino acids did not interfere with the self-assembly properties of the S-layer protein but significantly increased the accessibility of Strep-tag I. Thus, the sequence encoding the major birch pollen allergen (Bet v1) was fused via a short linker to the sequence encoding the C-terminally truncated form rSpbA(31-1068). Labeling of the square S-layer lattice formed by recrystallization of rSbpA(31-1068)/Bet v1 on peptidoglycan-containing sacculi with a Bet v1-specific monoclonal mouse antibody demonstrated the functionality of the fused protein sequence and its location on the outer surface of the S-layer lattice. The specific interactions between the N-terminal part of SbpA and the secondary cell wall polymer will be exploited for an oriented binding of the S-layer fusion protein on solid supports to generate regularly structured functional protein lattices.

Bacillus↗

Bacillus subtilis gene cluster involved in calcium carbonate biomineralization.

Calcium carbonate precipitation, a widespread phenomenon among bacteria, has been investigated due to its wide range of scientific and technological implications. Nevertheless, little is known of the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria foster calcium carbonate mineralization. In our laboratory, we are studying calcite formation by Bacillus subtilis, in order to identify genes involved in the biomineralization process. A previous screening of UV mutants and of more than one thousand mutants obtained from the European B. subtilis Functional Analysis project allowed us to isolate strains altered in the precipitation phenotype. Starting from these results, we focused our attention on a cluster of five genes (lcfA, ysiA, ysiB, etfB, and etfA) called the lcfA operon. By insertional mutagenesis, mutant strains carrying each of the five genes were produced. All of them, with the exception of the strain carrying the mutated lcfA operon, were unable to form calcite crystals. By placing transcription under IPTG (isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside) control, the last gene, etfA, was identified as essential for the precipitation process. To verify cotranscription in the lcfA operon, reverse transcription-PCR experiments were performed and overlapping retrocotranscripts were found comprising three adjacent genes. The genes have putative functions linked to fatty acid metabolism. A link between calcium precipitation and fatty acid metabolism is suggested.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Construction and characterization of human salivary histatin-5 multimers.

Human salivary histatin-5 (Hsn-5), a 24-amino acid polypeptide, is a potent candidacidal molecule. In this study, we have explored the following two hypotheses: More potent Hsn molecules may be achieved by duplication of the functional domain of Hsn-5 (C16, residues 9-24 of Hsn-5), and Hsn may act like other cationic peptides which aggregate and form channels across the target membrane. A PCR-based gene splicing by overlap extension (SOE) method was used to construct the DNA fragments encoding the following fusion molecules: Hsn-5--Hsn-5, Hsn-5--C16, and C16--C16. These constructs were expressed in E. coli, the proteins produced were purified, and their anticandidal activities as well as secondary structures were determined. Contrary to our hypotheses, results showed that none of the multimers possessed increased candidacidal activity. Specifically, C16--C16 and Hsn-5--C16 displayed candidacidal activity comparable with that of Hsn-5, while Hsn-5--Hsn-5 possessed significantly decreased candidacidal activity, yet all molecules retained an alpha-helical structure in a hydrophobic environment. Additionally, the circular dichroism data showed that Hsn-5 in an alpha-helical conformation does not aggregate in a hydrophobic environment, not even at 14- to 18-fold its physiological concentration. Our results suggest that the development of enhanced Hsn-5 molecules may not be achieved by duplication of its functional domain, and that Hsns may not act like other antimicrobial cationic peptides which aggregate and form channels across the target membrane.

Analysis of Variance↗

Expression of human salivary histatin and cystatin/histatin chimeric cDNAs in Escherichia coli.

We have previously constructed recombinants encoding the full-length and truncated forms of cystatin-SN and expressed these in the Escherichia coli expression system pGEX-2T, which expresses foreign sequences as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). Recombinant cystatins were produced and purified in large quantities. The full-length recombinant cystatin-SN exhibited comparable biological activity and secondary structure to natural cystatin, validating the use of the full-length and mutant recombinant proteins for structure-function studies of salivary molecules. In this study, we have expressed histatin-1 cDNA in the pGEX-3X vector and cystatin-SN/histatin-1 or cystatin-SN/histatin-3 chimeric cDNAs in the pGEX-2T vector. Gene splicing by overlap extension (SOE), a PCR-based method, was used for generating the chimeric cDNAs. Each construct was analyzed by DNA sequencing, which showed the correct junctions and reading frames between the GST/histatin-1 and the GST/cystatin/histatin cDNAs. Expression of histatin and cystatin/histatin chimeras was induced by IPTG and the production of the fusion proteins monitored by SDS-PAGE/Coomassie blue staining and in the case of the GST/cystatin/histatin fusion proteins, also by Western blot using anti-cystatin antibody. The results of these studies showed that we have successfully constructed recombinants encoding the individual and chimeric salivary molecules and efficiently expressed these in E. coli expression system pGEX. Purification and characterization of recombinant histatin and cystatin-histatin hybrid proteins are presently ongoing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Functional genomics and expression analysis of the Corynebacterium glutamicum fpr2-cysIXHDNYZ gene cluster involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction.

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium glutamicum is a high-GC Gram-positive soil bacterium of great biotechnological importance for the production of amino acids. To facilitate the rational design of sulphur amino acid-producing strains, the pathway for assimilatory sulphate reduction providing the necessary reduced sulfur moieties has to be known. Although this pathway has been well studied in Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and low-GC Gram-positives like Bacillus subtilis, little is known for the Actinomycetales and other high-GC Gram-positive bacteria. RESULTS: The genome sequence of C. glutamicum was searched for genes involved in the assimilatory reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. A cluster of eight candidate genes could be identified by combining sequence similarity searches with a subsequent synteny analysis between C. glutamicum and the closely related C. efficiens. Using mutational analysis, seven of the eight candidate genes, namely cysZ, cysY, cysN, cysD, cysH, cysX, and cysI, were demonstrated to be involved in the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds. For three of the up to now unknown genes possible functions could be proposed: CysZ is likely to be the sulphate permease, while CysX and CysY are possibly involved in electron transfer and cofactor biosynthesis, respectively. Finally, the candidate gene designated fpr2 influences sulphur utilisation only weakly and might be involved in electron transport for the reduction of sulphite. Real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed that cysIXHDNYZ form an operon and that transcription of the extended cluster fpr2 cysIXHDNYZ is strongly influenced by the availability of inorganic sulphur, as well as L-cysteine. Mapping of the fpr2 and cysIXHDNYZ promoters using RACE-PCR indicated that both promoters overlap with binding-sites of the transcriptional repressor McbR, suggesting an involvement of McbR in the observed regulation. Comparative genomics revealed that large parts of the extended cluster are conserved in 11 of 17 completely sequenced members of the Actinomycetales. CONCLUSION: The set of C. glutamicum genes involved in assimilatory sulphate reduction was identified and four novel genes involved in this pathway were found. The high degree of conservation of this cluster among the Actinomycetales supports the hypothesis that a different metabolic pathway for the reduction of inorganic sulphur compounds than that known from the well-studied model organisms E. coli and B. subtilis is used by members of this order, providing the basis for further biochemical studies.

Actinobacteria↗

Distinct cytochrome P450 aromatase isoforms in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain and ovary are differentially programmed and estrogen regulated during early development.

As a first step toward understanding estrogen's role in neurodevelopment, a PCR cloning strategy was used to isolate complementary DNAs encoding two distinct cytochrome P450 aromatase isoforms in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain and ovary (termed P450aromB and P450aromA, respectively). Sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that the zebrafish P450arom forms are orthologs of previously identified cyp19b and cyp19a genes in goldfish. On Northern blots, a single 4.4-kb transcript of the P450aromB subtype was identified in brain, and a 2.1-kb transcript of the P450aromA subtype in ovary, but RT-PCR showed a degree of overlapping expression. Both messenger RNA (mRNA) forms were detected in unfertilized eggs and 1.5 hpf (cleavage stage) embryos but declined by 12 hpf, indicating maternal transfer. A secondary rise in mRNAs between 12-24 hpf indicated the onset of embryonic cyp19b and -a transcription. Both mRNA species accumulated progressively to 120 hpf (early larval stage), but the relative magnitude and pattern of change was isoform specific. Estradiol (E(2,) 1 microM) advanced and amplified the developmentally programmed accumulation of P450aromB mRNA, and ICI164.384 decreased expressed levels, implying blockade of an endogenous estrogen mediated regulatory component. Conversely, E(2) had no effect or decreased P450aromA mRNA. The early embryonic expression of P450aromB and P450aromA isoforms, and differences in developmental programming and estrogen regulation, imply independent regulatory mechanisms and unique functions during major morphogenetic and differentiative events.

Aging↗

The W546X mutation of the thyrotropin receptor gene: potential major contributor to thyroid dysfunction in a Caucasian population.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) occurs in approximately 1 in 3000 births and can be caused by mutations in 9 known genes, including that encoding the TSH receptor (TSHR). We report on two Welsh siblings, detected by neonatal screening, who had normal sized and placed glands but negative isotope uptake. Genomic DNA was obtained from both siblings and parents, the TSHR amplified using pairs of intronic and/or overlapping exonic primers and the PCR products sequenced automatically. Both siblings were homozygous for a previously described G to A transition producing a missense mutation, W546X, in the fourth membrane spanning region of the TSHR, rendering it unresponsive to TSH. Both parents were heterozygous and unrelated; furthermore, the W546X has been described in three further families (one of which is Welsh), suggesting that it may be a relatively common mutation. We genotyped 368 euthyroid Welsh individuals using single nucleotide primer extension, and found 366 homozygous wild-type (G:G) and 2 heterozygous (G:A) for the mutation. In conclusion, CH in the siblings is due to the missense mutation, W546X, in their TSHR gene. The W546X allele was detected in approximately 1 in 180 individuals and may be a major contributor to hypothyroidism in the Welsh population.

Alleles↗

Mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in sporadic thyroid neoplasms.

Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) and thyroid neoplasms. Predisposition to FAP is conferred by mutations in the APC gene, located on chromosome 5q21. Somatic mutations of APC are also observed in about 60% of sporadic colorectal adenomas and carcinomas, suggesting that disruption of this putative tumor suppressor gene may play a role in both familial as well as acquired colorectal tumorigenesis. The APC gene is expressed in normal human thyroid, thyroid adenomas, and differentiated carcinoma tissues as well as in four clonal human thyroid carcinoma cell lines, as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of a 388-base APC messenger ribonucleic acid fragment spanning exons 14 and 15, followed by hybridization to an exon 15-specific complementary DNA probe. Eighty human thyroid neoplasms were examined for loss of heterozygosity of the APC locus, using primers flanking a hypervariable dinucleotide (CA) repeat (CB26) immediately adjacent to the APC gene. Of 71% informative samples, 2 showed allelic loss: a follicular adenoma (FA) and a nodule from a multinodular goiter (MNG). The DNA of 83 benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms and 4 thyroid carcinoma cell lines was examined for mutations within a 1200-basepair stretch of exon 15 by single strand conformation polymorphism. Five sets of overlapping primers were used for PCR. The anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line (ARO) had 1 APC allele with an adenine insertion at codon 1556 (ACTA to AACTA), leading to a premature stop codon at 1558. An anaplastic carcinoma had a mutation of codon 1346 (TCA-CCA; Ser to Pro). In summary, the APC gene is expressed in normal and neoplastic human thyroid tissue and is a target for inactivating mutations in some thyroid tumors.

Adenoma↗

Preparation of recombinant RNase single-chain antibody fusion proteins.

This article describes the construction, expression, and purification of RNase single-chain antibody fusion proteins. To construct a fusion protein, the gene for each moiety, the RNase and the binding ligand, is modified separately to contain complementary DNA encoding a 13 amino acid spacer that separates the RNase from the binding moiety. Appropriate restriction enzyme sites for cloning into the vector are also added. The modified DNA is combined and fused using the PCR technique of splicing by overlap extension (1). The resulting DNA construct is expressed in inclusion bodies in BL21(DE3) bacteria that are specifically engineered for the expression of toxic proteins (2). After isolation and purification of the inclusion bodies, the fusion protein is solubilized, denatured, and renatured. The renatured RNase fusion protein mixture is purified to homogeneity by two chromatography steps. The first column, a CM-Sephadex C-50 or a heparin Sepharose column, eliminates the majority of contaminating proteins while the second column, an affinity column (Ni2+-NTA agarose), results in the final purification of the RNase fusion protein.

Animals↗

Combinatorial saturation mutagenesis by in vivo overlap extension for the engineering of fungal laccases.

Combinatorial saturation mutagenesis -CSM- is a valuable tool for improving enzymatic properties from hot-spot residues discovered by directed enzyme evolution or performing semi-rational studies. CSM coupled to a reliable high-throughput screening assay -coefficient of variance below 10%- has been used to enhance turnover rates in the fungal laccase variant T2 from Myceliophthora thermophila. The influence of the highly conserved pentapeptide 509-513 on the redox potential of blue-copper containing enzymes is well described. We focused combinatorial saturation mutagenesis in residues Ser510 and Leu513. Libraries were constructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by in vivo overlap extension -IVOE- of the PCR products. This methodology provides a simple manner to build CSM libraries avoiding extra PCR reactions, by-products formation and in vitro ligation steps. After exploring more than 1,700 clones, mutant (7E1) with approximately 3-fold higher kinetics than parent type was found. 7E1 showed one synonymous mutation (L513L, CGT/TTG) and one beneficial mutation S510G (TCG/GGG) that can not be achieved by conventional error-prone PCR techniques. Mutation S510G seems to affect the C-terminal plug, which modulates the transit of water and oxygen to the trinuclear copper cluster.

Ascomycota↗

Porcine lung surfactant protein D: complementary DNA cloning, chromosomal localization, and tissue distribution.

Porcine organs and lung surfactant have medically important applications in both xenotransplantation and therapy. We have started to characterize porcine lung surfactant by cloning the cDNA of porcine surfactant protein D (SP-D). SP-D and SP-A are important mediators in innate immune defense for the lung and possibly other mucosal surfaces. Porcine SP-D will also be an important reagent for use in existing porcine animal models for human lung infections. The complete cDNA sequence of porcine SP-D, including the 5' and 3' untranslated regions, was determined from two overlapping bacteriophage clones and by PCR cloning. Three unique features were revealed from the porcine sequence in comparison to SP-D from other previously characterized species, making porcine SP-D an intriguing species addition to the SP-D/collectin family. The collagen region contains an extra cysteine residue, which may have important structural consequences. The other two differences, a potential glycosylation site and an insertion of three amino acids, lie in the loop regions of the carbohydrate recognition domain, close to the carbohydrate binding region and thus may have functional implications. These variations were ruled out as polymorphisms or mutations by confirming the sequence at the genomic level in four different pig breeds. Porcine SP-D was shown to localize primarily to the lung and with less abundance to the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The genes for SP-D and SP-A were also shown to colocalize to a region of porcine chromosome 14 that is syntenic with the human and murine collectin loci.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutations in von Willebrand factor multimerization domains are not a common cause of classical type 1 von Willebrand disease.

Type 1 von Willebrand disease (vWD) is an autosomal dominant bleeding disorder of variable penetrance. It is characterised by a mild to moderate bleeding tendency and a quantitative deficiency of von Willebrand factor (vWF) with the full range of vWF multimers. Few mutations have been described which account for the mode of inheritance in dominant vWD type 1. We screened the vWF multimerization domains (regions D1-D3 of the vWF gene) of 12 unrelated patients with dominant vWD type 1 to investigate the hypothesis that multimerization of vWF sub-units may be inhibited or reduced by a "dominant negative" mechanism. Platelet-derived RNA was reverse transcribed and the resulting vWF cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a series of overlapping fragments. These were subjected to a combination of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and heteroduplex analysis. This approach identified mobility shifts on acrylamide gels that represented 12 distinct SSCP and/or heteroduplex patterns in our patient group. DNA sequencing of the region encompassing each mobility shift showed these variants to represent previously described polymorphisms within the vWF coding sequence. Examination in all 12 patients for the previously described G3389T and T3445C mutations proved negative. The molecular pathology of classical type 1 vWD remains enigmatic, mutations having been identified in only a small minority of patients. A common mechanism underlying this disease state has still to be elucidated.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

[Complete nucleotide sequence of the nonstructural gene of alphavirus YN87448 strain isolated in China and its relationship to other Sindbis viruses].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the complete nucleotide sequence of the nonstructural gene of YN87448 virus stain which was firstly isolated from a female patient with fever in Yunnan Province in 1986, and identified as a member of Alphavirus by the serological method. METHODS: The complete nucleotide sequence of the nonstructural region gene of YN87448 virus strain was determined with nine clones, which were obtained by using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and by linking nine overlapping fragments into pGEM-T vector respectively. RESULTS: The complete nucleotide sequence of nonstructural gene of YN87448 virus strain was 7,613 nucleotides long exclusive of the 5' cap, encoding four nonstructural proteins, nsP1, nsP2, nsP3, nsP4, and contained one initiator(ATG) and two stop codons (TGA). In comparison with the consensus sequence of S.A.AR86, the homogeneity of the nucleotide sequence between YN87448 virus strain and sindbis-like virus isolate S.A.AR86 was 98.8%. YN87448 virus strain can not produce a fatal disease in adult mice. In comparison with the consensus sequence of S.A.AR86, there is a 54 nucleotide insertion from 5,256 bp to 5,309 bp, 3 nucleotide (AGT) deletion at 5,603 bp in nsP3 region, and an opal termination codon between the nsP3 and the nsP4 genes in YN87448. virus strain. This sequence has been put into Gene Bank and No. is AF103734. CONCLUSION: YN87448 is a new sindbis-like virus strain.

Alphavirus↗

[Construction of middle fragment deletion mutant with improved gene splicing by overlap extension].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase beta (PI4K-beta) mutant with the 325th to 373rd amino acid codons deleted, and try to develop a simple method for constructing middle fragment deletion mutant. METHODS: In line with the mechanism of gene splicing by overlap extension(SOE), an additional PCR was used to get the PI4K-beta mutant in which the 325th to 373rd amino acid codons were deleted. Then the mutated gene was cloned into pCMV-Tag4A mammalian expression vector. RESULTS: A mutant with the 325th to 373rd amino acid codons deleted was constructed successfully. CONCLUSION: The improved SOE is a very effective and reliable method to construct middle fragment deletion mutant. It is worthy to be popularized.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

Detection of novel LAMC2 mutations in Herlitz junctional epidermolysis Bullosa.

BACKGROUND: Laminin 5, an anchoring filament attachment protein within the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone involved in the pathogenesis of junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), consists of three polypeptide subunits, the alpha 3, beta 3, and gamma 2 chains which are encoded by the LAMA3, LAMB3, and LAMC2 genes, respectively. To facilitate identification of pathogenetic mutations in LAMC2, a strategy based on direct amplification of genomic DNA by PCR or mRNA by RT-PCR, followed by heteroduplex analysis of the PCR products, was developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primer pairs for amplification of the complete cDNA as well as the 23 individual exons in the genomic DNA, which encode the entire gamma 2 chain of laminin 5, were established. The primers for amplification of exons from genomic DNA were positioned at least 24 bp away from the intron-exon borders in the flanking intronic sequences. For amplification of cDNA generated by RT-PCR, eight primer pairs covering overlapping segments of the entire coding sequence of LAMC2 mRNA were used. The amplified sequences were scanned for pathogenetic mutations and sequence variations in JEB patients and unrelated control individuals by heteroduplex analysis by means of conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE). RESULTS: Utilizing the strategy developed in this study, we identified pathogenetic mutations in three patients with the Herlitz (lethal) variant of JEB, and eight intragenic normal polymorphisms, which are useful for linkage analysis, in the LAMC2 gene. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology described in this study is capable of detecting single-base substitutions or small insertions and deletions in the LAMC2 gene. Demonstration of mutations in this gene in JEB patients further emphasizes the role of laminin 5 in providing integrity to the cutaneous basement membrane zone.

Epidermolysis Bullosa, Junctional↗