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At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Mutator-like elements identified in melon, Arabidopsis and rice contain ULP1 protease domains.

The transposon Mutator was first identified in maize, and is one of the most active mobile elements in plants. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains at least 200 Mutator-like elements (MULEs), which contain the Mutator-like transposase gene, and often additional genes. We have detected a novel type of MULEs in melon (CUMULE), which, besides the transposase, contains two ubiquitin-like specific protease-like sequences (ULP1). This element is not present in the observed location in some melon cultivars. Multiple copies of this element exist in the Cucumis melo genome, and it has been detected in other Cucurbitaceae species. Analysis of the A. thaliana genome revealed more than 90 CUMULE-like elements, containing one or two Ulp1-like sequences, although no evidence of mobility exists for these elements. We detected various putative transposable elements containing ULP1-like sequences in rice. The discovery of these MULEs in melon and Arabidopsis, and the existence of similar elements in rice and maize, suggest that a proteolytic function may be important for this subset of the MULE transposable elements.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2001

Comparative analyses of the distribution of various transposable elements in Pyricularia and their activity during and after the sexual cycle.

We examined the distribution and activity of six transposable elements found in the blast fungus, Pyricularia spp. Sixty-eight isolates from various gramineous plants were used for the survey, and the elements were plotted on a dendrogram constructed on the basis of their rDNA-ITS2 sequences. MGR586 and Pot2 (Class II elements), Mg-SINE (SINE-like element) and MGR583 (LINE-like retrotransposon) were widely distributed among the Pyricularia isolates, suggesting that they are old elements which arose in, or invaded, the Pyricularia population at very early stages in its evolution. By contrast, the distribution of the LTR-retrotransposons MAGGY and Grasshopper was limited or sporadic, suggesting that they are relatively new elements which recently invaded the Pyricularia population by means of horizontal transfer events. The activity of these elements was evaluated by Southern analysis in progenies derived from a cross between a Setaria isolate and a Triticum isolate. Many new MAGGY signals were observed, which were absent in the parental isolates, at various stages of the sexual cycle and following vegetative growth. In contrast, the other elements yielded few, if any, such signals. Analysis of the sequences flanking the new MAGGY insertions revealed that they were each associated with a 5-bp target-site duplication at both ends of the insertion. These data suggested that MAGGY was the most active of the elements tested for transposition in Pyricularia.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1984

Schistosoma mansoni: electron probe X-ray microanalysis of the elemental composition of the tegument and subtegumental tissues of adult worms.

The elementary composition [Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, Ca and Fe] of the tegument, tegumental spines, and subtegumental tissues of adult male and female Schistosoma mansoni have been determined by electron probe X-ray microanalysis of unfixed, freeze-dried cryosections. Statistical analysis of the results suggests that there are distinct differences in the elemental composition of the tissues both between and within individual male and female worms, and between male and female worms in general. In particular, there were significant variations in the elemental contents of the tissues between individual male and female worms, which may reflect differences in the physiology and/or metabolic state of the worms. Significant differences in the elemental composition of the various tissues examined within individual worms were also found. In general, in both male and female worms, there were significantly higher elemental levels in the tegument, as opposed to the subtegumental tissues. The elemental composition of the tegumental spines in both male and female worms differed from that of the tegumental cytoplasm, although the differences in the elemental composition between spines from male and female worms reflected the differences in the elemental content between the teguments themselves. Differences in the elemental composition of the tissues between male and female worms were also found, with the female tegument containing significantly higher elemental levels (with the exception of Cl) than the male tegument. In particular, the tegument of female worms contained higher levels of calcium and, in relatively small areas, isolated calcium-containing granules. This higher tegumental calcium level in female worms may reflect a higher calcium demand by sexually mature female worms due to the presence, within the mature vitelline cells, of calcium-containing corpuscles and the production of large numbers of eggs.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Distribution of moderately volatile trace elements in fine-grained chondrule rims in the unequilibrated CO3 chondrite, ALH A77307.

The concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, and Se in five, fine-grained chondrule rims in the highly unequilibrated CO3 chondrite ALH A77307 (3.0) have been determined for the first time by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) microprobe at Brookhaven National Laboratory. These elements are especially useful for tracing the role of condensation and evaporation processes which occurred at moderate temperatures in the solar nebula. Understanding the distribution of moderately volatile elements between matrix and chondrules is extremely important for evaluating the different models for the volatile depletions in chondritic meteorites. The data show that the trace element chemistry of rims on different chondrules is remarkably similar, consistent with data obtained for the major and minor elements by electron microprobe. These results support the idea that rims are not genetically related to individual chondrules, but all sampled the same reservoir of homogeneously mixed dust. Of the trace elements analyzed, Zn and Ga show depletions relative to CI chondrite values, but in comparison with bulk CO chondrites all the elements are enriched by approximately 1.5 to 3.5 x CO. The abundance patterns for moderately volatile elements in ALH A77307 chondrule rims closely mimic those observed in the bulk chondrite, indicating that matrix is the major reservoir for these elements. The close matching of the patterns for the volatile depleted bulk chondrite and enriched matrix is especially striking for Na, which is anomalously depleted in ALH A77307 in comparison with average CO chondrite abundances. The depletion in Na is probably attributable to the effects of leaching in Antarctica. With the exception of Na, the volatile elements show a relatively smooth decrease in abundance as a function of condensation temperature, indicating that their behavior is largely controlled by their volatility.

Electron Probe Microanalysis↗
PubMed1979

The clustered and scrambled arrangement of moderately repetitive elements in Drosophila DNA.

An examination of cloned Drosophila DNA has revealed large clusters of densely spaced, short (less than or equal to 1 kb), moderately repetitive elements. Different clusters have many of the same repetitive elements, but these elements are arranged differently in each cluster. It is improbable that this clustered arrangement can be detected by conventional reassociation kinetic and electron microscopic techniques, but it can be detected and features of its fine structure can be determined by a two-dimensional version of Southern's blotting technique. The genomic organization of these clustered repetitive elements was investigated by hybridizing restriction fragments of cloned DNA to polytene chromosomes, to filter-bound recombinant DNA clones and to Southern blots of total Drosophila DNA. These studies demonstrated that clusters occur in euchromatic regions of the chromosomes and that at least one of the clusters has the same repetitive element organization in cloned and in chromosomal DNA. These studies also demonstrated that copies of the elements from one cluster are scattered in at least 1000 chromosomal regions. These regions appear to have differing concentrations of repetitive DNA, but together they account for a large fraction of Drosophila's moderately repetitive DNA. Aside from indicating the genomic organization of cluster elements, this work has identified cluster elements throughout a 9 kb region neighboring one of the heat shock genes, throughout the intron of the major rDNA repeat and within the apparently transposable element, 412.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Isolation of the transposable maize controlling elements Ac and Ds.

Restriction endonuclease fragments containing part of the Waxy (Wx) locus have been cloned from strains with insertion mutations at the locus caused by the controlling elements Activator (Ac) and Dissociation (Ds). Evidence is presented that the genetically defined Ac element corresponds to a 4.3 kb insertion, while the two Ds elements correspond to 4.1 kb and 2.0 kb insertions, all near the 3' end of the Wx transcription unit. The 4.1 kb Ds is almost completely homologous to the Ac element, differing by a central deletion of less than 0.2 kb. The 2.0 kb Ds element is homologous to the ends of the Ac element. Sequences homologous to the ends of the Ac element are present in many copies in the genomes examined, while there are ten or fewer copies of a sequence with homology to the center of the cloned Ac element. The Ac element at the Wx locus can be distinguished structurally from the other Ac-like sequences in the genome.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Recycling of trace elements required for humans in CELSS.

Recycle of complete nourishment necessary for human should be constructed in CELSS (Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems). Essential elements necessary for human support are categorized as major elements, semi-major elements and trace elements. Recently, trace elements have been identified from considerations of local diseases, food additive problems, pollution problems and adult diseases, consisting of Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Co, F, Si, Mn, Cr, I, As, Mo, Ni, V, Sn, Li, Br, Cd, Pb, B. A review of the biogeochemical history of the earth's biosphere and the physiological nature of humans and plants explains some of the requirements. A possible route for intake of trace elements is considered that trace elements are dissolved in some chemical form in water, absorbed by plants through their roots and then transfered to human as foods. There may be a possibility that living things absorb some trace elements from atmosphere. Management and recycling of trace elements in CELSS is discussed.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of trace element concentrations in livers of diseased, emaciated and non-diseased southern sea otters from the California coast.

Infectious diseases have been implicated as a cause of high rates of adult mortality in southern sea otters. Exposure to environmental contaminants can compromise the immuno-competence of animals, predisposing them to infectious diseases. In addition to organic pollutants, certain trace elements can modulate the immune system in marine mammals. Nevertheless, reports of occurrence of trace elements, including toxic heavy metals, in sea otters are not available. In this study, concentrations of 20 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi) were measured in livers of southern sea otters found dead along the central California coast (n=80) from 1992 to 2002. Hepatic concentrations of trace elements were compared among sea otters that died from infectious diseases (n=27), those that died from non-infectious causes (n=26), and otters that died in emaciated condition with no evidence of another cause of death (n=27). Concentrations of essential elements in sea otters varied within an order of magnitude, whereas concentrations of non-essential elements varied by two to five orders of magnitude. Hepatic concentrations of Cu and Cd were 10- to 100-fold higher in the sea otters in this study than concentrations reported for any other marine mammal species. Concentrations of Mn, Co, Zn, and Cd were elevated in the diseased and emaciated sea otters relative to the non-diseased sea otters. Elevated concentrations of essential elements such as Mn, Zn, and Co in the diseased/emaciated sea otters suggest that induction of synthesis of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme is occurring in these animals, as a means of protecting the cells from oxidative stress-related injuries. Trace element profiles in diseased and emaciated sea otters suggest that oxidative stress mediates the perturbation of essential-element concentrations. Elevated concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd, in addition to several other organic pollutants, may contribute to oxidative stress-meditated effects in sea otters.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The influence of living habits and family relationships on element concentrations in human hair.

The paper discusses the content of elements in hair of subjects studied over several years. The study was performed on 5 subjects (N=28) that lived together or were family related. The elemental composition of hair of the studied subjects was compared with the average content of the population living in the same urban area (Wrocław city, south-west Poland), with the population of a non-industrialized area in Poland (Silesian Beskid), as well as with the population of north-east Sweden and Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the composition of hair from the studied subjects with the people living in the same city, it was found that the differences resulted mainly from different living habits (Na, Si, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn) and local exposure (Pb, Cd, Al). When comparing with the reference material for unexposed population, it was found that the studied subjects were exposed to Al. Time profile of element contents in hair of a given person showed that the level changed significantly (even several fold) with changes of living habits or environmental exposure. Also, it was found that there were similar tendencies in the accumulation of the majority of elements by people that lived together. The effect of living habits on the level of a given element was found to be stronger than the influence of either sex or family relationship. The paper also discusses inter-element interactions within the studied group. Statistically significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between elements that occur together: Ca-Mg, Fe-Mn, Na-K, Co-K, Au-Pt, Cd-Pb. In order to determine the influence of various elements on the content of another element, linear multiple regression was performed that revealed the following relationships: Ca=f(Mn, Sr), Na=f(K, Mn), K=f(V, Ti).

Elements↗
PubMed2006

Quantifying the availability and the stability of trace cationic elements in fly ash.

For adsorption-desorption controlled leaching processes, the total leachable mass and the adsorption constant are parameters representing the availability and the stability of trace elements in solid media. With these parameters, one can predict the leaching behavior of trace elements from solids under various pH and solid-to-liquid ratio conditions. An approach was developed in this paper to determine these parameters for model elements Cu(II), Cd(II), and Ni(II) in fly ash. This approach consists of a batch equilibrium titration, a batch equilibrium leaching with and without target element addition, and mathematical modeling. Results indicated that the adsorption constant of a trace element can be determined by modeling the adsorption ratio of the added element to the system as a function of pH. Results also indicated that the trace element originally present in fly ash had similar adsorption-desorption behavior as that added externally. By modeling the batch leaching data with and without external element addition, the total leachable mass and adsorption constant of the target element can be determined simultaneously. The total leachable mass is in agreement with experimental data from 50mM EDTA extraction.

Cadmium↗
PubMed2003

LINE-1 preTa elements in the human genome.

The preTa subfamily of long interspersed elements (LINEs) is characterized by a three base-pair "ACG" sequence in the 3' untranslated region, contains approximately 400 members in the human genome, and has low level of nucleotide divergence with an estimated average age of 2.34 million years old suggesting that expansion of the L1 preTa subfamily occurred just after the divergence of humans and African apes. We have identified 362 preTa L1 elements from the draft human genomic sequence, investigated the genomic characteristics of preTa L1 insertions, and screened individual elements across diverse human populations and various non-human primate species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to determine the phylogenetic origin and levels of human genomic diversity associated with the L1 elements. All of the preTa L1 elements analyzed by PCR were absent from the orthologous positions in non-human primate genomes with 33 (14%) of the L1 elements being polymorphic with respect to insertion presence or absence in the human genome. The newly identified L1 insertion polymorphisms will prove useful as identical by descent genetic markers for the study of human population genetics. We provide evidence that preTa L1 elements show an integration site preference for genomic regions with low GC content. Computational analysis of the preTa L1 elements revealed that 29% of the elements amenable to complete sequence analysis have apparently escaped 5' truncation and are essentially full-length (approximately 6kb). In all, 29 have two intact open reading frames and may be capable of retrotransposition.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Trace element trophic transfer in aquatic organisms: a critique of the kinetic model approach.

The bioaccumulation of trace elements in aquatic organisms can be described with a kinetic model that includes linear expressions for uptake and elimination from dissolved and dietary sources. Within this model, trace element trophic transfer is described by four parameters: the weight-specific ingestion rate (IR); the assimilation efficiency (AE); the physiological loss rate constant (ke); and the weight-specific growth rate (g). These four parameters define the trace element trophic transfer potential (TTP = IR.AE/[ke + g]) which is equal to the ratio of the steady-state trace element concentration in a consumer due to trophic accumulation to that in its prey. Recent work devoted to the quantification of AE and ke for a variety of trace elements in aquatic invertebrates has provided the data needed for comparative studies of trace element trophic transfer among different species and trophic levels and, in at least one group of aquatic consumers (marine bivalves), sensitivity analyses and field tests of kinetic bioaccumulation models. Analysis of the trophic transfer potentials of trace elements for which data are available in zooplankton, bivalves, and fish, suggests that slight variations in assimilation efficiency or elimination rate constant may determine whether or not some trace elements (Cd, Se, and Zn) are biomagnified. A linear, single-compartment model may not be appropriate for fish which, unlike many aquatic invertebrates, have a large mass of tissue in which the concentrations of most trace elements are subject to feedback regulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Neuronal localization of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 in the rodent and primate brain: a light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study.

Sterol regulatory element binding proteins are membrane-bound transcription factors that activate expression of several genes controlling cellular cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis. The present study aimed to investigate the in vivo expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 in the normal rodent and primate brain, and in the brain in Niemann-Pick type C disease mice. These mutant animals have lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and progressive neurodegeneration caused by an inactivating mutation of the NPC1 gene whose protein product functions in vesicular lipid trafficking. Western blot analysis of rat hippocampal homogenates with an affinity purified rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against an internal epitope of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 identified a major 68,000 mol. wt protein consistent with the amino-terminal, transcriptionally active fragment of sterol regulatory element binding proteins-1. Immunocytochemically, this antibody revealed dense sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 staining of nuclei and light staining of the cytoplasm of cells in the neocortex and hippocampus in the rat, mouse and monkey brain. By electron microscopy of immunogold-labeled brain sections, these densely labeled cells were found to be neurons. In contrast, normal glial cells had little or no sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 immunoreactivity even at a developmental stage (postnatal day 9) which coincides with active myelination in the rat brain. Also, in contrast to the normal mouse brain, Niemann-Pick type C mice showed reduced staining of cortical and hippocampal neuronal nuclei. Since sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 has been shown to be a transcriptional regulator of fatty acid synthesis in vivo, the current findings of a predominantly neuronal nuclear expression of the 68,000 mol. wt transcriptionally active fragment of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 highlights the established role of phospholipid metabolites and other fatty-acid containing lipids in neuronal signal transduction and other neuronal functions. Reduced sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 expression in neurons in Niemann-Pick type C may reflect a deficiency in fatty acid synthesis that could contribute to the neuronal dysfunction in this disorder.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Minerals and trace elements in milk.

The nutritional roles, requirements, and metabolism and the quantitative relationship between dietary intakes and health for a number of the minerals and trace elements have been more clearly defined in recent years, but there are still considerable deficiencies in our understanding of these issues, e.g., the significance of calcium in the etiology and treatment of osteoporosis and hypertension. Reliable information is now available on the content, and the principal factors affecting it, of most of the minerals and trace elements in human and cow's milks. However, for some of the trace elements, there is still a wide variation in reported values in the literature, which is due, at least in part, to analytical difficulties. The contribution of cow milk and milk products to the diet in Western countries is significant for sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iodine. Iodine is the only trace element for which there has been any suggestion of excessive amounts in cow milk. However, there is evidence of a decline in milk iodine concentrations in the United States in recent years, although the situation in other countries less clear. Breast milk usually has adequate mineral and trace element contents for feeding full-term infants, with the exceptions of fluoride, for which supplementation of infants is recommended, and of selenium in some countries, such as Finland and New Zealand, where maternal intakes are low. However, breast milk selenium contents have increased in these countries in recent years due to increased maternal selenium intakes. The concentrations of minerals and trace elements in infant formulas for full-term infants are generally higher than in human milk, and all appear to be more than adequate, with the possible exception of selenium, which may need to be increased in some formulas. Considerable changes in the mineral and trace element contents of formulas have been instituted in recent years in the light of improved knowledge of infant requirements. While the chemical forms of the macrominerals and some of the trace elements (iron, zinc, copper, and manganese) in milks are fairly well defined, the forms of many of the trace elements are unknown. Sodium, potassium, chloride, and iodine are believed to be almost totally absorbed from milks and infant formulas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Differential regulation of P and hobo mobile elements by two laboratory strains of Drosophila melanogaster.

Analysis of the transposition behaviour of the P and hobo elements borne by the 31.1/CyL4 MRF (P), 23.5 delta/CyL4 MRF (hobo) and 23.5*/Cy MRF (hobo) strains in the progeny of dysgenic crosses with two ME laboratory strains (Berlin-k and dp b cn bw) at 25 degrees C revealed that: (a) the two ME laboratory strains affect differently the transposition rates of P and hobo elements. More precisely, P element transposition is higher in heterozygotes with dp b cn bw than in those with Berlin-k. In contrast, the transposition rate of hobo elements is higher in Berlin-k than in dp b cn bw heterozygotes. (b) Like P, hobo has the potential to transpose at high frequencies and to nonhomologous chromosomes. (c) The dysgenically inactive hobo elements of the 31.1 MRF strain transpose more frequently than the dysgenically active hobo elements of the 23.5 MRF strains in certain crosses. (d) There are insertion hot spots for P and hobo elements. For the P elements there are enough data to suggest that the insertion hot spots are different in the two EM strains. The data are discussed on the basis of the involvement of putative host factors in transposition regulation of the P and hobo elements.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Transmission pattern of hobo transposable element in transgenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster.

This study is an attempt to trace the fate of hobo elements in the genomes of E strains of Drosophila melanogaster that have been transfected with pHFL1, a plasmid containing an autonomous hobo. Such long-term population studies (over 105 generations) could be very useful for better understanding the population and genomic dynamics of transposable elements and their pattern of insertions. Molecular analyses of hobo elements in the transfected lines were performed using Southern blots of XhoI-digested genomic DNAs. The complete element was observed in all six injected lines. In two lines we observed, at generation 100, two deleted elements, which did not correspond to Th1 and Th2. The results obtained by the in situ method show that the number of hybridization sites increases in each line and prove that the hobo element may be amplified in an RM genome. The hobo activity does not seem to be systematically correlated with the number of hobo elements. After generation 85, the evolution of the hobo element's insertion site number depends on the injected line. In all lines, the total number of insertions remains quite small, between 0 and 11. Hobo elements are located on each of the chromosomal arms. We describe 'hotspots'-insertion sites present in all lines and in all generations. On the 3R arm, a short inversion appeared once at generation 85.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Tsessebe, Topi and Tiang: three distinct Tc1-like transposable elements in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae.

Three distinct types of Tc1-family transposable elements have been identified in the malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. These three elements, named Tsessebe, Topi and Tiang, have the potential to encode transposases that retain most of the conserved amino acids that are characteristic of this transposon family. However, all three are diverged from each other by more than 50% at the nucleotide level. Full-length genomic clones of two types, Topi and Tsessebe, have been isolated and fully sequenced. The third, Tiang, is represented only by a 270 bp, PCR-amplified fragment of the transposase coding region. The Topi and Tsessebe elements are 1.4 kb and 2.0 kb in length, respectively, and differ in the length of their inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). The Topi elements have 26 bp ITRs, whereas the Tsessebe clones have long ITRs ranging in length from 105 to 209 bp, with the consensus being about 180 bp. This difference is due primarily to variation in the length of an internal stretch of GT repeats. The copy number and location of these elements in ovarian nurse cell polytene chromosomes varies greatly between element subtypes: Topi elements are found at between 17-31 sites, Tsessebe at 9-13 and Tiang at 20 euchromatic sites, in addition to several copies of these elements in heterochromatic DNA. The copy number and genomic insertion sites of these transposons varies between A. gambiae strains and between member species of the A. gambiae complex. This may be indicative of transpositionally active Tc1-like elements within the genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Glider and Vision: two new families of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements in Xenopus laevis genome.

We have characterised from Xenopus laevis two new short interspersed repetitive elements, we have named Glider and Vision, that belong to the family of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs). Glider was first characterised in an intronic region of the alpha-tropomyosin (alpha-TM) gene and database search has revealed the presence of this element in 10 other Xenopus laevis genes. Glider elements are about 150 bp long and for some of them, their terminal inverted repeats are flanked by potential target-site duplications. Evidence for the mobility of Glider element has been provided by the presence/absence of one element at corresponding location in duplicated alpha-TM genes. Vision element has been identified in the promoter region of the cyclin dependant kinase 2 gene (cdk2) where it is boxed in a Glider element. Vision is 284bp long and is framed by 14-bp terminal inverted repeats that are flanked by 7-bp direct repeats. We have estimated that there are about 20,000 and 300 copies of Glider and Vision respectively scattered throughout the Xenopus laevis genome. Every MITEs elements but two described in our study are found either in 5' or in 3' regulatory regions of genes suggesting a potential role in gene regulation.

Animals↗