SV40 and Notch-I: multi-functionality meets pleiotropy.
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I determine the second-order approximation for the phenotypic distribution of an arbitrary number of quantitative traits, ignoring the effects of epistasis and linkage disequilibrium, conditioned on the presence of a specified genotype at one underlying locus of small effect. Using this approximation, I determine formulae for the effects of selection at a single locus with random mating under either Gaussian stabilizing selection, or correlated selection with truncation selection for one character. These formulae apply for arbitrary phenotypic distributions, yet even with multivariate Gaussian distributions of phenotypic effects the formula for correlated selection includes a correction to the standard formula in Falconer (1989). I demonstrate that this approximation has an error that is third order in the allelic or genotypic effects, independent of the form of the phenotypic distribution. I show also that the approximation of analogous form for the phenotypic distribution conditioned on the presence of a specified allele at a single locus is also correct to second order. Both approximations allow for dominance and are consistent in the sense that computing marginal fitnesses from approximations based on genotypic deviations and those based on average allelic effect yield the same answers.
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The capacity for spoken language in the human is a genetic trait, but the information communicated by this means is to a large extent culturally determined. Using a gene-culture coevolutionary approach, we model the hypothesis that speech evolved as a channel for the communication of adaptive cultural traits from parent to offspring. The motivation for this paper is a condition obtained previously that initial increase of communication would require at least a two-fold advantage for the transmitted trait. Here, we show that under reasonable assumptions the invasion condition becomes less stringent. In Model 1, we assume that two adaptive cultural traits can be transmitted. A gene which permits communication of the second adaptive trait. In Model 2, we assume that a related function such as greater memory capacity is a prerequisite for speech, and that this function confers an advantage independent of its association with speech. In both models we assume haploid sexual genetics and a simple scheme of vertical transmission. The stability properties of all corner and edge equilibria of the models are analyzed. The two models taken together suggest a possible scenario for the initial stages of the evolution of speech.
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The interleukin-2 receptor plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the normal T cell immune response to foreign antigen. The IL-2 receptor gamma-chain is one component of this receptor, and is encoded by the gene that is defective in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. The clinical manifestations of this disease led to the hypothesis and subsequent confirmation that the gamma-chain was in fact a subunit shared by multiple cytokine receptors, including those for IL-2, IL-4, and IL-7.
BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) and substance abuse/dependence seems to represent a specific subset within the phenotypic ADHD spectrum. METHODS: We applied complex segregation and linkage analyses in a set of multigenerational families densely segregating ADHD comorbid with ODD, CD, alcohol abuse/dependence, and nicotine dependence. RESULTS: Our data suggest that ADHD cosegregates with disruptive behaviors as a unique, phenotypically variable trait as evidenced by highly significant pair-wise linkages among: ADHD and ODD (logarithm of odds [LOD]=14.19), ADHD and CD (LOD=5.34), ODD and CD (LOD=6.68), and CD and alcohol abuse/dependence (LOD=3.98). In addition to previously reported ADHD susceptibility loci, we found evidence of linkage for comorbid ADHD phenotypes to loci at 8q24, 2p21-22.3, 5p13.1-p13.3, 12p11.23-13.3, 8q15, and 14q21.1-22.2. These results were replicated with an affected status phenotype derived from latent class clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of cosegregation of ADHD with comorbidities can inform our understanding of the inheritance patterns not only of ADHD but also of disruptive behavioral disorders and alcohol abuse/dependence. Refining the comorbid ADHD phenotype by determining the cosegregation profile of specific comorbidities might be a powerful tool for defining significant regions of linkage.
BACKGROUND: Asthma and obesity are common conditions that are strongly associated. This association might be due to shared genetic or environmental causes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether a shared genetic cause is responsible for the association between asthma and obesity and to estimate the magnitude of shared genetic cause. METHODS: The analyses were performed with 1001 monozygotic and 383 dizygotic same-sex twin pairs within the University of Washington Twin Registry. The presence of asthma was determined by self-report of a physician diagnosis of asthma, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated by using self-reported height and weight. Obesity was defined as a BMI of 30 or greater. The association between asthma and BMI was assessed by means of mixed-effects ordinal regression. Twin correlations examined the association of asthma and obesity. Univariate and bivariate structural equation models estimated the components of variance attributable to genetic and environmental effects. RESULTS: A strong association between asthma and BMI was identified in the sample population (P < .001). Substantial heritability was detected for asthma (53%) and obesity (77%), which is indicative of additive genetic influences on each disorder. The best-fitting model of shared components of variance indicated that 8% of the genetic component of obesity is shared with asthma. CONCLUSION: The covariation between obesity and asthma is predominantly caused by shared genetic risk factors for both conditions.
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Most angiosperm flowers are tightly integrated, functionally bisexual shoots that have carpels with enclosed ovules. Flowering plants evolved from within the gymnosperms, which lack this combination of innovations. Paradoxically, phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that the flowering plant lineage substantially pre-dates the evolution of flowers themselves. We provide a model based on known gene regulatory networks whereby positive selection on a single, partially redundant gene duplicate 'trapped' the ancestors of flower-bearing plants into the condensed, bisexual state approximately 130 million years ago. The LEAFY (LFY) gene of Arabidopsis encodes a master regulator that functions as the main conduit of environmental signals to the reproductive developmental program. We directly link the elimination of one LFY paralog, pleiotropically maintained in gymnosperms, to the sudden appearance of flowers in the fossil record.
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Resistance to toxicants is a convenient model for investigating whether adaptive changes are associated with pleiotropic fitness costs. Despite the voluminous literature devoted to this subject, intraspecific comparisons among toxicant resistance genes are rare. We report here results on the pleiotropic effect on adult survival of Culex pipiens mutants involved in the same adaptation: the resistance to organophosphorus insecticides. This field study was performed in southern France where four resistance genes sequentially appeared and increased in frequency in response to intense insecticide control. By repeated sampling of overwintering females through winter, we analysed the impact of each of three resistance genes on adult survival. We showed that (i) the most recent gene seems to be of no disadvantage during winter, (ii) the oldest affects survival in some environmental conditions, and (iii) the third induces a constant, severe and dominant survival cost. Such variability is discussed in relation to the physiological changes involved in resistance.
Peptide aptamers (=binders) against inorganic materials often show a capacity for mineralization of their target atoms; thus they are able to function both as binding molecules and as mediators for mineralization. Although the mechanisms underlying these two properties of peptide aptamers are not yet fully understood, they have been used separately to fabricate various nanostructures. Here, we present a novel method of nanofabrication, in which binding and mineralization by a peptide aptamer are alternately utilized to assemble multilayered nanostructures comprised of metal loaded cage proteins ornamented with Ti-binding peptides.
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Ghrelin, a peptide predominantly produced by the stomach, has been discovered as a natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) type 1a. Shortly there after, it attracted enormous interest since it appeared as the first peripheral orexigenic factor. Besides, ghrelin exerts other neuroendocrine metabolic and non-endocrine actions (e.g. cardiovascular activities) that may rely on the widespread distribution of ghrelin and its receptor (GHS-R). The existence of several GHS-R subtypes and evidences that neuroendocrine and metabolic but not all other ghrelin actions are dependent on acylation on serine 3 add further complexity to the system whose major physiological role remains to be definitely elucidated. Ghrelin knockout(-/-) mice are neither anorectic nor dwarf though GHS-R-/- are slightly underweight and do not respond to ghrelin with increased GH secretion or appetite. Thus, the continuation of the fascinating ghrelin story as well as its potential pathophysiological implications in endocrinology and internal medicine remain open avenues for future investigations.
The hairless gene in mammals encodes a nuclear factor that is highly expressed in skin and appears to control hair follicle integrity and cycling. In the absence of a normal and functional Hairless (Hr) protein, the hair bulb undergoes premature apoptosis during the first catagen stage of the hair cycle. The most striking effects of the mutation are loss of hair follicles and formation of epidermal utricles and dermal cysts. The hairless gene expression appears to be widespread and temporally regulated. The gene is strongly expressed in different compartments of the brain. Hairless mRNAs were detected in cartilage, gonads, thymus and colon. In addition to alopecia, hairless mice strains show subtle defects in the development and differentiation of various tissues and organs. The Hr protein is localised in cell nuclei and functions as a transcriptional regulator. Although its role has not been resolved in molecular terms, it was demonstrated that Hr is able to interact with multiple nuclear hormone receptors. Hr seems to be a part of a large multiprotein complex capable to repress transcription by its association to chromatin remodelling factors such as histone deacetylases. Recent experimental data suggest that Hr might be involved in Hox gene regulation, cell adhesion modulation and progenitor cells identity. At least in the skin, but probably in other organs, the Hr repressor seems to be responsible for the timing of epithelial cells differentiation.