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Functions of the internal pre-S domain of the large surface protein in hepatitis B virus particle morphogenesis.

The large hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface protein (L) forms two isomers which display their N-terminal pre-S domain at the internal and external side of the viral envelope, respectively. The external pre-S domain has been implicated in binding to a virus receptor. To investigate functions of the internal pre-S domain, a secretion signal sequence was fused to the N terminus of L (sigL), causing exclusive expression of external pre-S domains. A fusion construct with a nonfunctional signal (s25L), which corresponds in its primary sequence to sigL cleaved by signal peptidase, was used as a control. SigL was N glycosylated in transfected COS cells at both potential sites in pre-S in contrast to s25L or wild-type L, confirming the expected transmembrane topologies of sigL and s25L. Phenotypic characterization revealed the following points. (i) SigL lost the inhibitory effect of L or s25L on secretion of subviral hepatitis B surface antigen particles, suggesting that the retention signal mapped to the N terminus of L is recognized in the cytosol and not in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. (ii) SigL was secreted into the culture medium even in the absence of the major HBV surface protein (S), while release of an L mutant lacking the retention signal was still dependent on S coexpression. (iii) s25L but not sigL could complement an L-negative HBV genome defective for virion secretion in cotransfections. This suggests that the cytosolic pre-S domain, like a matrix protein, is involved in the interaction of the viral envelope with preformed cytosolic nucleocapsids during virion assembly.

Animals↗

The Human Genome Project and the future of diagnostics, treatment and prevention.

The Human Genome Project, the mapping of our 30,000-50,000 genes and the sequencing of all of our DNA, will have major impact on biomedical research and the whole of therapeutic and preventive health care. The tracing of genetic diseases to their molecular causes is rapidly expanding diagnostic and preventive options. The increased insights into molecular pathways, gained from high-throughput 'functional genomics', using DNA-chip and protein-chip approaches and specially designed animal model systems, will open great prospects for pharmacological and genetic therapies. Powerful bioinformatics and biostatistics will further improve our pattern recognition and accelerate progress. A rapidly expanding area of high expectations is that of 'pharmacogenomics': the design of more effective drugs with lower toxicity through tailoring of drug treatment to individual, genetically determined differences in drug metabolism. Not only will this decrease the cost of health care through reduction of adverse drug reactions, but a better stratification of populations will also provide more statistical power farther upstream in drug trials. However, the optimal benefits from the current explosion of 'data mining' will only be realized when the basic data are made and kept publicly accessible, while at the same time safeguarding the protection of intellectual property arising from downstream inventions. This is one of the goals of HUGO, the international Human Genome Organization, established 13 years ago to assist coordination of data acquisition and exchange and societal implementation of the genome project. Additional points of attention in this historic endeavour are the prevention of stigmatization and discrimination and the safeguarding of a worldwide balance in the contribution by--and benefits to--different populations, while respecting the diversity in cultures and traditions.

Ethics, Medical↗

Microarray-based detection of mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) polymorphisms in a routine clinical setting.

The assessment of allelic variants in the human mannose-binding lectin 2 (MBL2) gene is of great clinical importance in newborns or immune-suppressed patients at high risk for a variety of infections. Here, we present a study on the genotyping accuracy of a DNA microarray-based on-chip PCR method suited for the detection of five different polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene. We tested 153 genomic DNA samples, prepared from archival blood spots on Guthrie cards, for the presence of allelic variants in the human MBL2 gene by the on-chip PCR method and compared the obtained results of three variants to standard DNA capillary sequencing. The genotyping power of the described assay was readily comparable to DNA sequencing (453/459 correct genotype calls in 153 DNA samples; 98.7% accuracy), mainly due to intrinsic technical benefits of microarrays such as high number of test replicates and automated data analysis. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the accuracy and reliability of a microarray-based on-chip PCR genotyping assay for measuring allelic variants in a routine clinical setting.

Base Sequence↗

Cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci in mice.

We previously reported the analysis of genome-wide expression profiles and various diabetes-related traits in a segregating cross between inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (DBA). By considering transcript levels as quantitative traits, we identified several thousand expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) with LOD score >4.3. We now experimentally address the problem of multiple comparisons by estimating the fraction of false-positive eQTL that are under cis-acting regulation. For this, we have utilized a classic cis-trans test with (B6 x DBA)F(1) mice to determine the relative levels of transcripts from the B6 and DBA alleles. The results suggest that at least 64% of cis-acting eQTL with LOD >4.3 are true positives, while the remaining 36% could not be confirmed as truly cis-acting. Moreover, we find that >96% of apparent cis-acting eQTL occur in regions that do not share SNP haplotypes. Cis-acting eQTL serve as an important new resource for the identification of positional candidates in QTL studies in mice. Also, we use the analysis of the correlation structures between genotypes, gene expression traits, and phenotypic traits to further characterize genes expressed in liver that are under cis-acting control, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of integrating genetics and gene expression data in segregating populations.

Alleles↗

Large-scale identification of single-feature polymorphisms in complex genomes.

We have developed a high-throughput genotyping platform by hybridizing genomic DNA from Arabidopsis thaliana accessions to an RNA expression GeneChip (AtGenome1). Using newly developed analytical tools, a large number of single-feature polymorphisms (SFPs) were identified. A comparison of two accessions, the reference strain Columbia (Col) and the strain Landsberg erecta (Ler), identified nearly 4000 SFPs, which could be reliably scored at a 5% error rate. Ler sequence was used to confirm 117 of 121 SFPs and to determine the sensitivity of array hybridization. Features containing sequence repeats, as well as those from high copy genes, showed greater polymorphism rates. A linear clustering algorithm was developed to identify clusters of SFPs representing potential deletions in 111 genes at a 5% false discovery rate (FDR). Among the potential deletions were transposons, disease resistance genes, and genes involved in secondary metabolism. The applicability of this technique was demonstrated by genotyping a recombinant inbred line. Recombination break points could be clearly defined, and in one case delimited to an interval of 29 kb. We further demonstrate that array hybridization can be combined with bulk segregant analysis to quickly map mutations. The extension of these tools to organisms with complex genomes, such as Arabidopsis, will greatly increase our ability to map and clone quantitative trait loci (QTL).

Arabidopsis↗

Functional complementation of a yeast vesicular transport mutation ypt1-1 by a Brassica napus cDNA clone encoding a small GTP-binding protein.

A cDNA clone (bra) encoding a small GTP-binding protein was isolated from Brassica napus by screening a root cDNA library with a degenerate oligonucleotide probe that corresponds to a highly conserved GTP-binding domain of the Ras superfamily. Sequence analysis shows that the clone contains an open reading frame of 219 amino acid residues with the estimated molecular mass of 24379 Da and this coding region contains all the conserved motifs of the Ras superfamily. The deduced amino acid sequence of the bra gene is most closely related to the Ypt/Rab family that functions in the vesicular transport (46% and 47% amino acid identity to the yeast Ypt1 and to the human Rab1, respectively) and is more distantly related to the other Ras-related families. The protein encoded by the bra gene, when expressed in Escherichia coli, shows the ability to bind GTP. Furthermore, when the bra gene is introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the regulation of the yeast GAL1 promoter, the gene can complement the temperature-sensitive yeast mutation ypt1-1 that has defects in vesicular transport function. The amino acid sequence similarity and the functional complementation of the yeast mutation suggest that this gene is likely to be involved in the vesicular transport in plants. Genomic Southern analysis shows that this gene is a member of a small gene family in Brassica napus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Restoration of pathogenicity of a penetration-deficient mutant of Collectotrichum lagenarium by DNA complementation.

Infection by Colletotrichum lagenarium requires formation of an appressorium and of a penetration peg. A mutant, 83,348, defective in morphogenesis of the penetration peg was unable to penetrate into cellulose membranes or infect cucumber leaves. DNA transformation using a wild-type genomic library constructed in pKVB resulted in two transformants, Ppr1 and Ppr2, with restored penetration peg formation, from 2,000 benomyl-resistant transformants. However, penetration into cellulose membranes by these transformants ranged from 30 to 40% compared to greater than 90% by wild-type. Southern-blot hybridization showed that a single copy of a cosmid clone had integrated into the genome of the transformants. A 12.0-kbp fragment of the cosmid vector with the flanking region of wild-type genomic DNA was recovered by plasmid rescue from Ppr1. Using the flanking DNA sequences as a probe for colony blot hybridization, a genomic clone was identified and designated pRP46. Transformants obtained following transformation with pRP46 were able to penetrate cellulose membranes. The penetration frequency of pRP46 transformants ranged from 25 to 65%. Transformants were also pathogenic on cucumber.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Assessment of the variant prioritization strategy for genomic newborn screening in the Generation Study.

PURPOSE: Genomic sequencing offers the opportunity to screen for hundreds of rare genetic conditions. To minimize potential negative impact on families and clinical services, it is crucial to reduce false-positive results while prioritizing clinical utility. We present an automated variant prioritization approach in the Generation Study, a research study investigating genomic sequencing in 100,000 newborns in England. Prioritized variants will subsequently undergo manual review by a registered clinical scientist and a specialist clinician before being reported back to parents. METHODS: We assessed specificity of our automated variant prioritization approach in 34,410 samples not enriched for rare diseases and sensitivity in 546 samples from patients with diagnostic variants in genes relevant to newborn screening. We used coverage and copy-number variants callability metrics to evaluate variant detection. RESULTS: We estimated that 3% to 5% of samples will have prioritized variants that require manual review and that <1% of cases will have reportable variants requiring further confirmation of the condition. Sensitivity in genes included in the Generation Study was estimated to be approximately 80%. Gene-level specificity results led to changes in variant prioritization rules and conditions that are included. CONCLUSION: Gene-specific assessment of variant prioritization is crucial to establish analytical validity prior to inclusion in genomic newborn screening.

Humans↗

Identification of genes affecting production of the adhesive holdfast of a marine caulobacter.

Caulobacters are stalked bacteria that produce a structure termed a holdfast which enables firm attachment to surfaces. Tn5 insertion mutagenesis was used to identify genes affecting holdfast production or function in the marine strain MCS6. Twelve thousand Tn5 insertion mutants were screened for adhesion defects by an assay involving the attachment of cells to polystyrene microtiter dish wells. Among adhesion-defective mutants, those with multiple polar (pleiotropic) defects were excluded and the remainder were examined for the presence of holdfast. Forty-one mutants that produced no detectable holdfast or a significantly reduced amount were found. Southern blot and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses indicated that 11 unique Tn5 insertions were clustered in three regions of the genome. In addition, 71 mutants that adhered poorly or not at all to polystyrene, yet still produced a holdfast, were found. Southern blot and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses of 15 of these mutants showed eight unique Tn5 insertion sites clustered in two additional regions of the genome. An assay involving attachment to glass treated with siloxane chemicals (producing surfaces with varying degrees of hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity) was used to attempt characterization of this phenotype. Unexpectedly, no simple pattern of differences in binding between the mutants and wild-type caulobacters was found. In particular, no reduction in the ability of the mutants to bind to hydrophobic surfaces was noted. Complementation with cosmid clones was successful in nearly all cases and confirmed the designation of five genomic regions of holdfast-related genes. No detectable cross-hybridization was observed with several holdfast-related gene regions from a freshwater caulobacter, providing further evidence that the marine and freshwater caulobacters are genetically distinct.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Hepatitis B and D genomes in hepatitis B surface antigen negative patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis D viral genomes were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction in the serum and liver of 69 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive patients (47 with HCV RNA and 22 without HCV RNA). Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-was detected in 49% of the patients with HCV-RNA and in 64% of those without HCV-RNA. Furthermore, intrahepatic HBV-DNA was found in four of five (80%) of the biopsies analysed. Delta genome was found in 72% and 73%, respectively, of the anti-HCV positive patients with or without HCV-RNA. In addition, intrahepatic delta virus genome was detected in another four liver biopsies studied. In the group of patients with HCV-RNA, the simultaneous presence of hepatitis B and D genomes was statistically higher in transfused patients than in drug addicts, or in those with an unknown infection route (P < 0.001). These results show a high percentage of B and D genomes in HBsAg negative patients with anti-HCV, irrespective of the presence or absence of the HCV genome. However, the clinical implications of this finding should be examined in future studies.

DNA Primers↗

Development of degenerate and specific PCR primers for the detection and isolation of known and putative chloroethene reductive dehalogenase genes.

Degenerate and specific PCR primers were designed for the detection of chloroethene reductive dehalogenases (CE-RDase), the key enzymes of chloroethene dehalorespiration, based on sequence information of three CE-RDases and three chlorophenol (CP) RDases. For the design of the degenerate primers, seven conserved amino-acid blocks identified with different bioinformatic tools were used. For one block degenerate, primers containing a 5'-consensus clamp region specific for CE-RDases and a 3'-end degenerate core region specific for RDases in general were designed using the Consensus-Degenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primer (CDHOP) design method. Applying the degenerate primers to genomic DNA of Sulfurospirillum multivorans strain K, Dehalobacter restrictus strain PER-K23, and Desulfitobacterium sp. strain PCE1 led to the isolation of the known CE-RDase genes and three new genes encoding putative reductive dehalogenases that cluster with CE-RDases and not with CP-RDases. In addition, primers designed to be specific for the three known CE-RDase genes, namely pceA of S. multivorans, pceA of D. restrictus, and tceA of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes were successfully tested on genomic DNA of different chloroethene-dehalorespiring bacteria. Nested PCR using degenerate primers followed by a PCR with specific primers allowed a sensitive detection of only 10(2) copies per reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Key enzymes of the protocatechuate branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway for aromatic degradation in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Although the protocatechuate branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway in Gram+ bacteria has been well studied, this branch is less understood in Gram+ bacteria. In this study, Corynebacterium glutamicum was cultivated with protocatechuate, p-cresol, vanillate and 4-hydroxybenzoate as sole carbon and energy sources for growth. Enzymatic assays indicated that growing cells on these aromatic compounds exhibited protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activities. Data-mining of the genome of this bacterium revealed that the genetic locus ncg12314-ncg12315 encoded a putative protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase. The genes, ncg12314 and ncg12315, were amplified by PCR technique and were cloned into plasmid (pET21aP34D). Recombinant Escherichia coli strain harboring this plasmid actively expressed protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activity. Further, when this locus was disrupted in C. glutamicum, the ability to degrade and assimilate protocatechuate, p-cresol, vanillate or 4-hydroxybenzoate was lost and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activity was disappeared. The ability to grow with these aromatic compounds and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activity of C. glutamicum mutant could be restored by gene complementation. Thus, it is clear that the key enzyme for ring-cleavage, protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, was encoded by ncg12314 and ncg12315. The additional genes involved in the protocatechuate branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway were identified by mining the genome data publically available in the GenBank. The functional identification of genes and their unique organization in C. glutamicum provided new insight into the genetic diversity of aromatic compound degradation.

Adipates↗

A cytogeneticist's perspective on genomic microarrays.

The identification of cytogenetic imbalance is an important component of clinical genetics. About 1 in 154 newborns has a chromosome abnormality. Conventional cytogenetic analysis has enabled the identification of microscopic alterations of the chromosomes. The development of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and other molecular methodologies has made possible the identification of submicroscopic aberrations. An additional development was comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a method that directly compares two genomes for DNA copy differences. As first developed, the substrate for CGH analysis is normal metaphase chromosomes. Recently, CGH has been applied to microarrays (array CGH) constructed from large insert clones to identify chromosome imbalance. Array CGH has many advantages over conventional cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic techniques. Array CGH can be comprehensive (genome-wide), high resolution, amenable to automation, rapid, and sensitive. We anticipate that array CGH will be employed in the clinical cytogenetics laboratory in the near future and will lead to the identification of the chromosomal basis of new syndromes and existing genetic conditions.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Linkage analysis in alcohol dependence.

Alcohol dependence often is a familial disorder and has a genetic component. Research in causative factors of alcoholism is coordinated by a multi-center program, COGA [The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, Begleiter et al., 1995]. We analyzed a subset of the COGA family sample, 84 pedigrees of Caucasian ancestry comprising 745 persons, 339 of whom are affected according to DSM-III-R and Feighner criteria. Using parametric and nonparametric methods, evidence for linkage was found on chromosome 1 (near markers D1S532, D1S1588, and D1S534), as well as on chromosome 15 (near marker D15S642). Other regions of the genome showed suggestive evidence for contributing loci. Related findings are discussed in recent publications investigating linkage in humans [Reich et al., 1998] and mice [Melo et al., 1996].

Alcoholism↗

Rapid detection of three large novel deletions of the aspartoacylase gene in non-Jewish patients with Canavan disease.

Canavan disease (CD), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by mutations in the aspartoacylase (ASPA) gene. In the present study, the ASPA gene was analyzed in 24 non-Jewish patients with CD from 23 unrelated families. Within this cohort, we found three large novel deletions of approximate 92, 56, and 12.13 kb in length, using both self-ligation of restriction endonuclease-digested DNA fragments with long-distance inverse PCR and multiplex dosage quantitative PCR analysis of genomic DNA. The 92 kb large deletion results in complete absence of the ASPA gene in one homozygous and one compound heterozygous patient, respectively. The 56 kb large deletion causes absence of the majority of the ASPA gene except for exon 1 alone in a compound heterozygous patient. The 12.13 kb deletion involves deletion of the ASPA gene from intron 3 to intron 5 including exons 4 and 5 (I3 to E4E5I5) in a compound heterozygous patient. Patients with the three large deletions clinically manifested severe symptoms at birth, including seizures. Our study showed that the combined use of long-distance inverse PCR and multiplex dosage quantitative PCR analysis of genomic DNA is a helpful and rapid technique to search for large deletions, particularly for detection of large deletions in compound heterozygous patients.

Amidohydrolases↗

Mapping susceptibility genes for asthma and allergy.

Allergy and asthma are related conditions caused by a complex interaction of genetic factors and environmental influences. With family data from several different populations, linkage analysis has been performed and used to identify regions of the genome that contain susceptibility genes for these conditions. To date, 4 genome screens have been completed and have successfully identified several chromosomal locations that are likely to contain asthma and allergy genes. Many of these regions contain potential biologic candidate genes that modulate immunologic responses or airways inflammation. By focusing on the common regions that have been replicated in these 4 genome screens, the major susceptibility genes for asthma and allergy should be identified. This will lead to an improved understanding of pathogenic factors that lead to development or progression of asthma and allergic diseases.

Asthma↗

Significant linkage to migraine with aura on chromosome 11q24.

Migraine with aura (MA) is a prevalent neurological condition with strong evidence for a genetic basis. Familial hemiplegic migraine, a rare Mendelian form of MA, can be caused by mutations in the calcium channel gene, CACNA1A or in the ATP1A2 gene, a Na+/K+ pump. Susceptibility genes for the more prevalent forms of migraine have yet to be identified despite several reports of linkage including loci on 4q24, 1q31, 19p13 and Xq24-28. We have undertaken a genome-wide screen of 43 Canadian families, segregating MA with families chosen for an apparent autosomal dominant pattern of transmission. Diagnosis was based upon International Headache Society Criteria. Parametric linkage analysis revealed a novel locus on 11q24 with a two-point LOD score of 4.2 and a multi-point parametric LOD score of 5.6. We did not find any support for linkage at previously reported loci. The lack of consensus amongst linkage studies, including this study, is probably an indication of the heterogeneity that is inherent for MA. Nevertheless, the finding of a highly significant locus with a LOD score of 5.6 is powerful evidence that a gene increasing susceptibility to MA resides on 11q24. Several candidate genes map to this region of the genome including a number of ion channel genes such as GRIK4, SCNB2, KCNJ5 and KCNJ1.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Comparison of evidence supporting a chromosome 6 alcoholism gene.

A whole genome scan has been conducted on 105 families ascertained for probands with a diagnosis of alcoholism by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). To identify chromosomal regions likely to contain genes contributing to the development of this disorder, data from 296 highly polymorphic markers have been analyzed using the MAPMAKER/SIBS [Kruglyak and Lander, 1995] and GENEHUNTER-PLUS [Kruglyak et al., 1996; Kong and Cox, 1997] multipoint linkage programs. Chromosome 6 exhibited lod scores greater than 3.0 and was further tested by two-point linkage analyses at each marker along the chromosome to assess the consistency of results from these allele sharing linkage programs. Two-point linkage was assessed with MAPMAKER/SIBS, GENEHUNTER-PLUS and the SIBPAL subprogram of the SAGE package of genetic epidemiology programs [Elston, 1997].

Alcoholism↗