Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Structural variants”

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 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

Ancestry and somatic profile predict acral melanoma origin and prognosis.

Acral melanoma, which is not ultraviolet (UV)-associated, is the most common type of melanoma in several low- and middle-income countries including Mexico. Latin American samples are significantly underrepresented in global cancer genomics studies, which directly affects patients in these regions as it is known that cancer risk and incidence may be influenced by ancestry and environmental exposures. To address this, we characterise the genome and transcriptome of 123 acral melanoma tumours from 92 Mexican patients, a population notable because of its genetic admixture. Compared with other studies of melanoma, we found fewer frequent mutations in classical driver genes such as BRAF, NRAS or NF1. While most patients had predominantly Amerindian genetic ancestry, those with higher European ancestry had increased frequency of BRAF mutations and a lower median number of structural variants. The tumours with activating BRAF mutations have a transcriptional profile more similar to cutaneous non-volar melanocytes, suggesting that acral melanomas in these patients may arise from a distinct cell of origin compared to other tumours arising in these locations. KIT mutations were found in a subset of these tumours, and quadruple wild-type samples (non BRAF/NRAS/NF1/KIT) differed from mutated samples in their structural genomic profile and overall and recurrence-free survival patterns. Transcriptional profiling defined three expression clusters; these characteristics were associated with recurrence-free and overall survival. We highlight potential novel low-frequency drivers, such as PTPRJ, NF2 and RDH5. Our study enhances knowledge of this understudied disease and underscores the importance of including samples from diverse ancestries in cancer genomics studies.

Journal Article↗

Genomic Characterization of Classic Adamantinoma, Osteofibrous Dysplasia, and Osteofibrous Dysplasia-like Adamantinoma.

Classic adamantinoma, osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD), and OFD-like adamantinoma are rare bone tumors arising primarily in the tibiae. Their distinction can be challenging; data on their molecular pathogenesis remain limited. We searched our pathology files in 2004-2024 for available cases and performed targeted next-generation sequencing along with whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays and 3-dimensional genomics/Hi-C sequencing in selected cases. Our cohort included 3 classic adamantinomas (2 females and 1 male; age, 14-56 years), 5 OFDs (3 females and 2 males; age, 9-25 years), and 2 OFD-like adamantinomas (1 female and 1 male; age, 30-41 years). Of the 10 tumors, 9 arose from the tibiae; 1 classic adamantinoma originated from the radius. The 3 classic adamantinomas harbored multiple copy number gains involving chromosome 7, 8, 10, 12, and/or 19. Focal deletion of chromosome 17, intergenic rearrangement involving FGFR1, and NRAS p.G12D were each present in 1 classic adamantinoma. Of the 5 OFDs, KMT2A p.C2441F, KMT2D p.S1040P, PHOX2B p.G213D, and RIF1 deletion were each present in 1 case; no additional copy number/single-nucleotide variants were identified. Of the 2 OFD-like adamantinomas, one case with tumor clusters visible only on cytokeratin immunostain harbored no variants, whereas another case with tumor clusters visible on light microscopy and cytokeratin/p40 immunostains showed gains of chromosome 7, 8, 19, and 20. By Hi-C, 1 classic adamantinoma harbored an approximately 9 Mb tandem duplication on chromosome 12q, 1 OFD harbored a rearrangement with breakpoints near MECOM and HOOK3, and the OFD-like adamantinoma with tumor clusters visible only on cytokeratin immunostain harbored no structural variant. In conclusion, classic adamantinomas and OFD might be genetically distinct. Classic adamantinomas harbored multiple alterations, including chromosome/arm-level copy number gains, the detection of which could aid their distinction from OFDs. Using genomics as the benchmark, OFD-like adamantinomas might be better delineated by light microscopy or p40 than by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. These data expanded our molecular understanding of these rare bone tumors.

Humans↗

Sequence-dependent folding of DNA three-way junctions.

Three-way DNA junctions can adopt several different conformers, which differ in the coaxial stacking of the arms. These structural variants are often dominated by one conformer, which is determined by the DNA sequence. In this study we have compared several three-way DNA junctions in order to assess how the arrangement of bases around the branch point affects the conformer distribution. The results show that rearranging the different arms, while retaining their base sequences, can affect the conformer distribution. In some instances this generates a structure that appears to contain parallel coaxially stacked helices rather than the usual anti-parallel arrangement. Although the conformer equilibrium can be affected by the order of purines and pyrimidines around the branch point, this is not sufficient to predict the conformer distribution. We find that the folding of three-way junctions can be separated into two groups of dinucleotide steps. These two groups show distinctive stacking properties in B-DNA, suggesting there is a correlation between B-DNA stacking and coaxial stacking in DNA junctions.

Base Sequence↗

Anionic polymers in cell walls of gram-positive bacteria.

Information on the prevalence, compositions, and structures of anionic carbohydrate-containing polymers of cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria is summarized. The data suggest that these polymers are important for normal functioning of bacterial cells and require further studies. Structural data on teichoic acids found in the literature published over the last few years are discussed. This is a very diverse class of polymers whose structure-specific pathways of degradation were studied and NMR spectra were examined. Unique comprehensive tables of 13C-NMR spectroscopic data (mainly obtained by the authors) on these polymers are given in the Appendix. Other tables summarize data on teichuronic acids, sugar-phosphate polymers, acid polysaccharides, and structural variants of bonds between acid polysaccharides and peptidoglycans known from the literature. Functions of anionic polymers and their possible chemotaxonomic applications are discussed.

Anions↗

Alterations upstream from the Shine-Dalgarno region and their effect on bacterial gene expression.

A vector containing the leftward promoter (pL) as transcription initiation signal and a synthetic, easily adaptable translation initiation region have been constructed. We have used the expression system to assess the relevance of sequences upstream from the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) region in the translational-initiation process. To this end, a series of structural variants of the prototype ribosome-binding site were used to direct the synthesis of both mature human fibroblast interferon and beta-galactosidase (beta-gal). It was found that alterations 5' to the SD element can considerably affect the rate of mRNA translation. The observation that the relative efficiency of the various 5'-untranslated regions depends on the downstream coding information implies that secondary (and/or tertiary) structure formation is of major importance in the initiation process. But an mRNA folding, in which the SD and ATG determinant are set free in single-stranded regions, does not unconditionally guarantee an efficient initiation of translation.

Base Sequence↗

Studies of anthracycline--DNA complexes by circular dichroism.

A series of doxorubicin and daunorubicin analogues have been investigated in aqueous solution and as DNA-bound forms by means of circular dichroism (c.d.) spectroscopy. The structural variants comprise modifications on the amino sugar, on the aliphatic ring and the side chain of the aglycone moiety, and of the substitution pattern of the anthraquinone chromophore. Results with compounds having conformational constraints interfering with optimal fitting to DNA indicate that stereochemistry and conformation of the aliphatic ring predominantly affect c.d. spectra of anthracyclines in DNA-bound as well as in free form. Conformational correspondence with the known structure of the daunorubicin-oligonucleotide complex is inferred from the spectra of derivatives with modifications at position 6 or 11 in the anthraquinone chromophore. On the other hand, a different binding geometry is postulated for compounds either lacking the 4-methoxy group of daunorubicin (idarubicin and derivatives) or having a phenolic function in its place (carminomycin and derivatives). A possible relation with cytotoxic activity is discussed at a speculative level.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[Use of gen5 and gen6 ts-mutants of phage T3 as indicators of inhibitors of DNA synthesis].

In an enzyme-specific drug screening system nalidixic acid and 3'-FTdR, inhibitors of DNA synthesis, both reduce the growth of wild type and temperature-sensitive point mutants of phage T3 with different efficiencies. The wild type shows the strongest sensitivity against the drugs, while an exonuclease mutant is the most insensitive variant. The DNA polymerase mutants exhibit an intermediate degree of inhibition. The anthracycline antibiotics violamycin BI and adriblastin which preferentially inhibit RNA synthesis show the same degree of inhibition for all mutants. This is true also for the RNA synthesis inhibitor lambdamycin, which is identical with chartreusin. The protein synthesis inhibitors chloramphenicol and o-phenanthroline, a chelating agent, impair all mutants to the same extent. Our data confirm the hypothesis that structural variants of essential viral enzymes, when compared with the wild type should reveal different sensitivities against specific inhibitors and show that this T3 system could be used for the indication of specific inhibitors of DNA synthesis.

Aminoglycosides↗

Effect of four helix bundle topology on heme binding and redox properties.

We have designed two alternative four helix bundle protein scaffold topologies for maquette construction to examine the effect of helix orientation on the heme binding and redox properties of our prototype heme protein maquette, (alpha-SS-alpha)2, previously described as H10H24 [Robertson, D. E., Farid, R. S., Moser, C. C., Mulholland, S. E., Pidikiti, R., Lear, J. D., Wand, A. J., DeGrado, W. F., and Dutton, P. L. (1994) Nature 368, 425]. Conversion of the disulfide-bridged di-alpha-helical monomer of (alpha-SS-alpha)2 into a single polypeptide chain results in topological reorientation of the helix dipoles and side chains within a 62 amino acid helix-loop-helix monomer, (alpha-l-alpha), which self-associates to form (alpha-l-alpha)2. Addition of an N-terminal cysteine residue to (alpha-l-alpha) with subsequent oxidation yields a 126 amino acid single molecule four helix bundle, (alpha-l-alpha-SS-alpha-l-alpha). Gel permeation chromatography demonstrated that (alpha-SS-alpha)2 and (alpha'-SS-alpha')2, a uniquely structured variant of the prototype, as well as (alpha-l-alpha)2 and (alpha'-l-alpha')2 assemble into distinct four helix bundles as designed, whereas (alpha-l-alpha-SS-alpha-l-alpha) elutes as a monomeric four alpha-helix bundle. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy proves that these peptides are highly alpha-helical, and incorporation of four hemes has little effect on the helical content of the secondary structure. Four heme dissociation constants were evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy and ranged from the 15 nM to 25 microM range for each of the peptides. The presence of Cotton effects in the visible CD illustrated that the hemes reside within the protein architecture. The equilibrium redox midpoint potentials (Em8) of the four bound hemes in each peptide are between -100 and -280 mV, as determined by redox potentiometry. The heme affinity and spectroelectrochemical properties of the hemes bound to (alpha-l-alpha)2 and (alpha-l-alpha-SS-alpha-l-alpha) are similar to those of the prototype, (alpha-SS-alpha)2, and to bis-histidine ligated b-type cytochromes, regardless of the global architectural changes imposed by these topological rearrangements. The hydrophobic cores of these peptides support local electrostatic fields which result in nativelike heme chromophore properties (spectroscopy, elevated reduction potentials, heme-heme charge interaction, and reactivity with exogenous diatomics) illustrating the utility of these non-native peptides in the study of metalloproteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Morphological changes in the adrenal cortex in different variants of low-renin hyperaldosteronism. Comparison with the functional state of certain hormonal systems.

On the basis of morphological and histochemical examination of adrenal tissue of 45 patients with arterial hypertension and low-renin hyperaldosteronism, the following five morphological variants of this disease were differentiated: 1) with adenoma of the adrenal cortex and atrophy of surrounding cortical tissue; 2) with adenoma and hyperplasia of elements of the zona glomerulosa and(or) the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis; 3) with multiple adenomatosis of the adrenal cortex; 4) with isolated diffuse or focal hyperplasia of the zona glomerulosa; 5) with nodal, diffuse-nodal or diffuse hyperplasia of all cortical zones. In tumours, three structural variants, corresponding to their histogenesis, were identified. A correlation was found between morphological variants and hormonal diagnosis of different forms of low-renin hyperaldosteronism.

Adenoma↗

[Cystosarcoma phyllodes and sarcoma of the breast].

Altogether 217 phyllode tumours, 28 sarcomas and 5 carcinosarcomas of the mammary gland have been studied in the Institute from 1946 to 1980. Three structural variants of phyllode tumour are distinguished: 1) early stages of formation, 2) classical phyllode tumour, 3) phyllode tumour with sarcomatous stroma. 20 out of 28 sarcomas are linked with phyllode tumours while the morphogenesis of primary sarcomas, which are characterized by a more malignant clinical course, remains unclear. When studied electron-microscopically, classical phyllode tumour reveals marked and peculiar vascular proliferation which not infrequently coincides with cellular stroma. Various directions of functional and structural differentiation of stromal cells are observed. The alternation in the tumour of areas with different morphology found in light microscope is reflected by the dependence of the structure of intercellular substance upon the type of stromal cells observed electron-microscopically.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Anti-peptide sera against cell-CAM 105 determine high molecular-mass variants of the long isoform in rat hepatocytes.

The glycoprotein cell-CAM 105 is a member of the carcinoembryonic-antigen-(CEA)-gene family, involved in cell-cell adhesion of rat hepatocytes and expressed on the cell surface as a long (L) and a short (S) isoform with slightly differing molecular masses and isoelectric points. The cDNA of the L-isoform has been isolated and sequenced, as confirmed by the preparation of specific anti-peptide sera [Lin, S.-H., Culic, O., Flanagan, D. & Hixson, D. C. (1991) Biochem. J. 278, 155-161]. Recently, two additional cDNAs have been sequenced, which possess identical deduced primary structures, including short intracellular domains 10 amino acids in length, which differ from the cytoplasmic domain of the L-isoform specifically in the last four C-terminal amino acids. Here, we report on the production of the polyclonal antiserum [anti-(peptide 2)] by immunization with a synthetic hexapeptide (GGSGSF) corresponding to the unique intracellular C-terminal domain of these short cell-CAM 105 cDNA isoforms. This antiserum was specific in ELISA, immunoblot and immunoprecipitation assays for a protein with the same biochemical properties as the S-isoform of cell-CAM 105 expressed in rat liver. In addition, CNBr peptide maps of the S-isoform and the protein immunoprecipitated with anti-(peptide 2) serum were identical. Together, these results provide strong evidence that anti-(peptide 2) serum is specific for the S-isoform of rat liver cell-CAM 105. In immunoblot analysis on liver plasma membrane extracts prepared without collagenase perfusion, at least seven high molecular-mass proteins were observed which showed strong reactivity with mAbs against extracellular epitopes and L-isoform-specific antibodies but no reactivity with anti-(peptide 2) serum. Like the L-isoform, these proteins are expressed on the cell surface and might represent structural variants of cell-CAM 105.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Interferon-alpha: a gene family in therapeutic use.

Several variants of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were isolated and purified to homogeneity. They differed to various degrees in biological properties. However, three IFN-alpha 2 variants showed only minor differences from a variant called IFN-alpha 88 with regard to their ability to inhibit growth and to bind to specific receptors, tested on Daudi cells. Two monoclonal antibodies were studied, which showed overlapping specificity for at least one peptide obtained after HPLC separation of tryptic digests. The monoclonal antibodies could discriminate between sequence differences to a much higher degree than the receptor on Daudi cells. It is concluded that the receptor is degenerate and binds well to different structural variants of IFN and that for therapeutic use, several of the variants will probably have the same biological potency.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Multiplex PCR strategy for rapid identification of structural types and variants of the mec element in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Full characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) requires definition of not only the bacterial genetic background but also the structure of the complex and heterologous mec element these bacteria carry, which is associated with drug resistance determinant mecA. We report the development, validation, and application of a multiplex PCR strategy that allows quick presumptive characterization of the mec element types based on the structural features that were shown to be typical of mec elements carried by several MRSA clones. The strategy was validated by using a representative collection of pandemic MRSA clones in which the full structure of the associated mec elements was previously determined by hybridization and PCR screenings and also by DNA sequencing. The method was tested together with multilocus sequence typing and other typing methods for the characterization of 18 isolates representative of the MRSA clones recovered during a hospital outbreak in Barcelona, Spain. The multiplex PCR was shown to be rapid, robust, and capable in a single assay of identifying five structural types of the mec element among these strains, three major and two minor variants, each one of which has been already been seen among MRSA characterized earlier. This technique should be a useful addition to the armamentarium of molecular typing tools for the characterization of MRSA clonal types and for the rapid tentative identification of structural variants of the mec element.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Subunit structure of the variable V-1 antigen of Mycoplasma pulmonis.

It was previously shown that multiple structural variants of the V-1 antigen (variable antigen 1) of Mycoplasma pulmonis could be found within a single strain. This antigen is unusual in that it produces a ladder pattern after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The present study showed that some variants of V-1 could be extracted into the aqueous phase of a phenol-H2O system. Analysis with anti-V-1 monoclonal antibodies showed that the phenol-H2O-extracted V-1 had a regular spacing of 3.1 kilodaltons (kDa) between bands and trypsinization of this extracted V-1 resulted in the gradual symmetrical collapse (2.9-kDa increments) of the ladder into a single band, suggesting the presence of multiple identical subunits within the V-1 structure. The upper band from the phenol-H2O-extracted V-1 was isolated and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting, resulting in the regeneration of the original ladder pattern with 3.1-kDa spacing between bands. When V-1 was boiled for increasing times in the presence of SDS, the staining intensity of the upper band decreased with the concurrent appearance of additional lower-molecular-weight bands. Finally, by using whole cells, it was found that the lower-molecular-weight species of the ladder pattern selectively partitioned into the hydrophobic phase of a Triton X-114 phase partitioning system, and the higher-molecular-weight bands were found in the aqueous phase. These data indicate that the V-1 bands are composed of subunits which may aggregate via hydrophobic interactions and that these aggregates at least partially dissociate when exposed to harsh denaturing conditions, resulting in the characteristic ladder pattern of V-1.

Antigenic Variation↗

Receptor interactions controlling lipoprotein metabolism.

Lipoprotein receptors play a central role in lipoprotein metabolism and a major role in cholesterol homeostasis. The most completely characterized lipoprotein receptor is the LDL (low density lipoprotein) or apo-B,E(LDL) receptor. The apo-B,E(LDL) receptor is present on both hepatic and extrahepatic cells and is responsible for the metabolism of a major portion of plasma LDL. Binding and internalization of LDL particles by this receptor initiates a series of intracellular events, resulting in the regulation of cellular cholesterol metabolism. In addition to the apo-B on LDL interacting with the apo-B,E(LDL) receptor, the apo-E on apo-E-containing lipoproteins is also capable of interacting and regulating intracellular cholesterol metabolism. The liver has also been shown to contain a second distinct lipoprotein receptor that is specific for apo-E. This receptor has been demonstrated on hepatic membranes from humans, dogs, and swine and is referred to as the apo-E receptor. This receptor may be responsible for the clearance of chylomicron remnants from plasma by the liver and may participate in reverse cholesterol transport. Thus, apo-E is a major determinant in lipoprotein metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis. The receptor binding properties of apo-E are well characterized, and a series of structural variants, several with lipoprotein binding defects, have been identified. Studies of the binding activity of these receptor-defective apo-E variants have helped to define the receptor binding domain of apo-E.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Exploring the substrate specificities of alpha-2,6- and alpha-2,3-sialyltransferases using synthetic acceptor analogues.

The acceptor specificities of rat liver Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase, recombinant full-length human liver Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase, and a soluble form of recombinant rat liver Gal(beta 1-3/4)GlcNAc alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase were studied with a panel of analogues of the trisaccharide Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-2)Man(alpha 1-O)(CH2)7CH3. These analogues contain structural variants of D-galactose, modified at either C3, C4 or C5 by deoxygenation, fluorination, O-methylation, epimerization, or by the introduction of an amino group. In addition, the enantiomer of D-galactose is included. The alpha-2,6-sialyltransferases tolerated most of the modifications at the galactose residue to some extent, whereas the alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase displayed a narrower specificity. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed in order to correlate enzymatic activity to three-dimensional structure. Ineffective acceptors for rat liver alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase were shown to be inhibitory towards the enzyme; likewise, the alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase was found to be inhibited by all non-substrates. Modified sialyloligosaccharides were obtained on a milligram scale by incubation of effective acceptors with one of each of the three enzymes, and characterized by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy.

Animals↗

C2 and factor B: structure and genetics.

Complement components C2 and factor B are novel types of serine protease that are encoded by single loci in the major histocompatibility complex on human chromosome 6. The two proteins share 39% homology, or 50% taking into account conservative amino acid replacements. The catalytic chains, C2a (509 residues) and Bb (505 residues) show homology in their C-terminal domains to the catalytic polypeptides of other serine proteases. The non-catalytic chains, C2b (223 residues) and Ba (234 residues) both contain three tandem repeats of approx. 60 amino acids each, which are homologous to the repeats in C4b-binding protein and factor H, and also the repeats in the non-complement protein beta 2-glycoprotein I. Molecular mapping and DNA sequence analysis has shown that the factor B gene is 6 kb in length and contains 18 exons, while the C2 gene is 18 kb in length; 425 bp separates the 3' end of the C2 gene from the 5' end of the factor B gene. C2 and factor B are polymorphic and structural variants have been detected at the protein level by differences in charge. The degree of polymorphism at the factor B locus has been defined by DNA sequence analysis of the two common alleles F and S. In addition restriction fragment length polymorphisms have been detected in the C2 gene. These DNA polymorphisms subdivide the common allelic variant of C2 (C2C) and reveal that there is much greater variability at the C2 locus than that detected by protein typing.

Alleles↗

Total Synthesis of Archaeal 72-Membered Macrocyclic Tetraether Lipids.

Total synthesis of archaeal 72-membered macrocyclic tetraether lipids 3a and 3b is reported. The synthesis was principally composed of preparation of the functionalized half-sized diether compounds 11 and 15 first followed by appropriate dimerization through Julia coupling and final macrocyclization of the crucial dialdehydes 23 and 31 by McMurry coupling. This strategy appeared to be advantageous for the stereoselective synthesis of both natural 72-membered tetraether lipids 3a and 3b using common synthetic intermediates. In addition, this approach was so designed that its synthetic flexibility would allow construction of unnatural structural variants for physicochemical studies. Also described are the results of differential scanning calorimetric analysis of the synthesized lipids 3a and 3b. Both 3a and 3b showed almost the same phase behavior with the broad endothermic phase transition at -53 degrees C. The enthalpy of the phase transition, DeltaH, was estimated to be 1.8 and 1.9 kcal/mol for 3a and 3b, respectively. The physicochemical as well as polymorphismic properties of 3a and 3b turned out to be indistinguishable despite of their regioisomeric structures. The physical structure of the phases in terms of the chemical structure is also discussed.

Journal Article↗