Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “frameshift mutation”

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 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources

Surface expression of O-specific lipopolysaccharide in Escherichia coli requires the function of the TolA protein.

We investigated the involvement of Tol proteins in the surface expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). tolQ, -R, -A and -B mutants of Escherichia coli K-12, which do not form a complete LPS-containing O antigen, were transformed with the O7+ cosmid pJHCV32. The tolA and tolQ mutants showed reduced O7 LPS expression compared with the respective isogenic parent strains. No changes in O7 LPS expression were found in the other tol mutants. The O7-deficient phenotype in the tolQ and tolA mutants was complemented with a plasmid encoding the tolQRA operon, but not with a similar plasmid containing a frameshift mutation inactivating tolA. Therefore, the reduction in O7 LPS was attributed to the lack of a functional tolA gene, caused either by a direct mutation of this gene or by a polar effect on tolA gene expression exerted by the tolQ mutation. Reduced surface expression of O7 LPS was not caused by changes in lipid A-core structure or downregulation of the O7 LPS promoter. However, an abnormal accumulation of radiolabelled mannose was detected in the plasma membrane. As mannose is a sugar unique to the O7 subunit, this result suggested the presence of accumulated O7 LPS biosynthesis intermediates. Attempts to construct a tolA mutant in the E. coli O7 wild-type strain VW187 were unsuccessful, suggesting that this mutation is lethal. In contrast, a polar tolQ mutation affecting tolA expression in VW187 caused slow growth rate and serum sensitivity in addition to reduced O7 LPS production. VW187 tolQ cells showed an elongated morphology and became permeable to the membrane-impermeable dye propidium iodide. All these phenotypes were corrected upon complementation with cloned tol genes but were not restored by complementation with the tolQRA operon containing the frameshift mutation in tolA. Our results demonstrate that the TolA protein plays a critical role in the surface expression of O antigen subunits by an as yet uncharacterized involvement in the processing of O antigen.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutation analysis of the FRAS1 gene demonstrates new mutations in a propositus with Fraser syndrome.

Fraser syndrome (OMIM 219000) is a rare, autosomal recessive condition with classical features of cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, ambiguous genitalia, laryngeal, and genitourinary malformations, oral clefting and mental retardation. Mutations causing loss of function of the FRAS1 gene have been demonstrated in five patients with Fraser syndrome. However, no phenotype-genotype correlation was established and there was evidence for genetic heterogeneity. Fraser syndrome is rare and the FRAS1 gene has 75 exons, complicating mutation screening in affected patients. We have screened two patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for Fraser syndrome and three patients with related phenotypes (two patients with Manitoba oculotrichoanal syndrome and one patient with unilateral cryptophthalmos and labial fusion) for mutations in FRAS1 to increase the molecular genetic data in patients with Fraser syndrome and related conditions. We report two new mutations in a patient with Fraser syndrome, a frameshift mutation and a deletion of two amino acids that we consider pathogenic as both alter the NG2-like domain of the protein. Although we are still unable to clarify a phenotype-genotype relationship in Fraser syndrome, our data add to the list of mutations associated with this syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Competitive inhibition of nicking--closing enzymes may explain some biological effects of DNA intercalators.

Intercalating agents cause varied and multiple biological effects. These include the inhibition of RNA and DNA synthesis, frameshift mutations and protein-associated DNA breaks. However, some non-intercalating analogs of intercalating compounds behave similarly. The model of DNA intercalation does not adequately explain all these biological effects. It is suggested here that intercalators and similar compounds may competitively inhibit the closing reaction of some nicking--closing enzymes. Hypothetical mechanisms built on this suggestion are presented for the formation of protein associated DNA breaks, frameshift mutation, inhibition of macromolecular synthesis, and recombination.

Animals↗

Human ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABC1): genomic organization and identification of the genetic defect in the original Tangier disease kindred.

Tangier disease is characterized by low serum high density lipoproteins and a biochemical defect in the cellular efflux of lipids to high density lipoproteins. ABC1, a member of the ATP-binding cassette family, recently has been identified as the defective gene in Tangier disease. We report here the organization of the human ABC1 gene and the identification of a mutation in the ABC1 gene from the original Tangier disease kindred. The organization of the human ABC1 gene is similar to that of the mouse ABC1 gene and other related ABC genes. The ABC1 gene contains 49 exons that range in size from 33 to 249 bp and is over 70 kb in length. Sequence analysis of the ABC1 gene revealed that the proband for Tangier disease was homozygous for a deletion of nucleotides 3283 and 3284 (TC) in exon 22. The deletion results in a frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon starting at nucleotide 3375. The product is predicted to encode a nonfunctional protein of 1,084 aa, which is approximately half the size of the full-length ABC1 protein. The loss of a Mnl1 restriction site, which results from the deletion, was used to establish the genotype of the rest of the kindred. In summary, we report on the genomic organization of the human ABC1 gene and identify a frameshift mutation in the ABC1 gene of the index case of Tangier disease. These results will be useful in the future characterization of the structure and function of the ABC1 gene and the analysis of additional ABC1 mutations in patients with Tangier disease.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗

Multiple virus genes involved in the nematode transmission of pea early browning virus.

Mutations were introduced into four genes encoded by RNA2 of pea early browning virus (PEBV) to determine their possible involvement in the transmission of this virus by nematodes. Deletion of 28 amino acids from the C-terminus of the coat protein abolished the formation of virus particles. Deletion of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus did not affect particle formation but did abolish nematode transmission. In contrast, deletion of 13 amino acids immediately preceding the 16 C-terminal residues did not affect particle formation and decreased rather than abolished nematode transmission. A deletion in the gene encoding a 29-kDa protein and a frameshift mutation in the gene encoding a 23-kDa protein both abolished transmission without affecting virus particle formation. Mutations in an ORF encoding a 9-kDa protein, which is located on the genome between the coat protein gene and 29K gene, gave conflicting results. Removal of the AUG initiation codon from the 9K ORF had no effect on transmission, whereas the introduction of a frameshift mutation, which would prematurely terminate expression of the putative 9-kDa protein, decreased the frequency of transmission. The results show that the coat protein and probably all three of the other RNA2-encoded proteins play a role in the transmission of PEBV by vector nematodes.

Animals↗

Complete amino acid sequence of a mouse immunoglobulin alpha chain (MOPC 511).

The complete amino acid sequence of the 432-residue heavy (alpha) chain of mouse myeloma MOPC 511 has been determined. The variable region of the alpha chain of IgA 511, a phosphocholine-binding protein, is highly homologous to that of the other phosphocholine-binding immunoglobulins. Comparison of the 511 alpha chain constant region with that of other mouse and human heavy chains shows that sequence divain. The CH3 domain disulfide bridge of the 511 alpha chain, for example, consists of only 28 amino acid residues compared to 60 residues for other chains and domains. Sequence divergences are alsos apparent at the CH2/CH3 domain boundary, an area where a number of frameshift mutations have occurred. One mutant, mouse IgA 47A, lacks the entire CH3 domain. Comparison of the 511 alppha chain with the 47A alpha chain reveals two noncconservative amino acid changes at the COOH terminus of the 47A chain, Ser-Gln for VAl-Thr in the 511 chain. These changes and the deletion of the CH3 domain can be explained by a single genetic event--namely, a frameshift mutation followed by premature chain termination. The remainder of the 47A constant region, including the hinge region, is identical to the 511 alpha chain, except for two conservative changes in the CH1 domain: serine-126 and theonine-197 in the 511 alpha chain are both replaced by alanine in the 47A chain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparison of the induction of specific locus mutations in wild-type and repair-deficient strains of Neurospora crassa.

A comparison of mutation induction between wild-type and excision repair-deficient strains has shown that, after treatment with four of the five mutagens tested, an enhanced recovery of induced mutants was found in the excision repair-deficient strains. In this sense we have confirmed for Neurospora Ames' (1977) observations with Salmonella. Furthermore, genetic analysis of the mutants induced in Neurospora in both wild-type and excision repair-deficient strains has shown that in some cases the enhanced recovery of mutants can be attributed to the recovery of a spectrum of genetic alterations in the excision repair-deficient strains that is qualitatively different from that found in the wild-type strain. This qualitatively different spectrum appears to arise as a result of a preferential increase in frameshift mutations. Thus, it appears that in excision repair-deficient strains of Neurospora genetic lesions are processed differently than in wild-type strains both to give enhanced yield as well as a selective increase in frameshift mutations. In this regard, the apparent difference between Salmonella and Neurospora data with regard to the characterization of the genetic effects of chemical carcinogens is most likely attributed to a difference in the genetic background of the strains. The present data with Neurospora suggest that this difference not only results in an enhanced recovery of revertants in Salmonella strains carrying the uvrB mutation but also that a different spectrum of genetic damage was detected from that which would have been observed in the standard wild-type strain G46. Observations from the present experiments with Neurospora have important implications not only for comparative mutagenesis, where the effects of the same mutagen are studied in different laboratory organisms, but also for risk estimation since the spectrum of genetic damage produced by a given agent may not be uniform in our genetically heterogeneous human population.

Adenine↗

VanD-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium 10/96A.

VanD type Enterococcus faecium 10/96A is constitutively resistant to vancomycin and to low levels of teicoplanin by nearly exclusive synthesis of peptidoglycan precursors terminating in D-alanyl-D-lactate (L. M. Dalla Costa, P. E. Reynolds, H. A. Souza, D. C. Souza, M. F. Palepou, and N. Woodford, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:3444-3446, 2000). A G(184)S mutation adjacent to the serine involved in the binding of D-Ala1 in the D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (Ddl) led to production of an impaired Ddl and accounts for the lack of D-alanyl-D-alanine-containing peptidoglycan precursors. The sequence of the vanD gene cluster revealed eight open reading frames. The organization of this operon, assigned to a chromosomal location, was similar to those in other VanD type strains. The distal part encoded the VanH(D) dehydrogenase, the VanD ligase, and the VanX(D) dipeptidase, which were homologous to the corresponding proteins in VanD-type strains. Upstream from the structural genes for these proteins was the vanY(D) gene; a frameshift mutation in this gene resulted in premature termination of the encoded protein and accounted for the lack of penicillin-susceptible D,D-carboxypeptidase activity. Analysis of the translated sequence downstream from the stop codon, but in a different reading frame because of the frameshift mutation, indicated homology with penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) with a high degree of identity with VanY(D) from VanD-type strains. The 5' end of the gene cluster contained the vanR(D)-vanS(D) genes for a putative two-component regulatory system. Insertion of ISEfa4 in the vanS(D) gene led to constitutive expression of vancomycin resistance. This new insertion belonged to the IS605 family and was composed of two open reading frames encoding putative transposases of two unrelated insertion sequence elements, IS200 and IS1341.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cutting edge: cells that carry A null allele for toll-like receptor 2 are capable of responding to endotoxin.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 have been implicated in the responses of cells to LPS (endotoxin). CD14-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 fibroblasts (CHO/CD14) are exquisitely sensitive to endotoxin. Sequence analysis of CHO-TLR2, compared with human and mouse TLR2, revealed a single base pair deletion. This frameshift mutation resulted in an alternative stop codon, encoding a protein devoid of transmembrane and intracellular domains. CHO-TLR2 cDNA failed to enable LPS signaling upon transient transfection into human epithelial kidney 293 cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of CHO-TLR2 enabled expression of a presumed full-length hamster TLR2 that conferred LPS responsiveness in human epithelial kidney 293 cells. Genomic TLR2 DNA from primary hamster macrophages also contained the frameshift mutation found in CHO fibroblasts. Nevertheless, hamster peritoneal macrophages were found to respond normally to LPS, as evidenced by the induction of cytokines. These results imply that expression of TLR2 is sufficient but not essential for mammalian responses to endotoxin.

Alleles↗

Nitrogen regulatory locus "glnR" of enteric bacteria is composed of cistrons ntrB and ntrC: identification of their protein products.

The nitrogen regulatory locus "glnR" of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium is composed of two cistrons, which we propose to call ntrB and ntrC (nitrogen regulation B and C). Frameshift mutations in ntrB and ntrC were isolated on a lambda phage that carries the E. coli ntrB and ntrC genes and the closely linked glnA gene, the structural gene encoding glutamine synthetase [L-glutamate:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.1.2]; mutations were selected as suppressors of glnF (which we propose to rename ntrA), a selection used previously to isolate glnR mutations. Phage DNA from one mutant (ntrB) failed to direct synthesis of a 36-kilodalton (kDal) protein whose synthesis was directed by DNA from the parent phage (ntrB+) in a coupled in vitro transcription/translation system. DNA from three other mutants (ntrC) failed to direct synthesis of a 54-kDal protein; DNA from two of these mutants instead directed synthesis of smaller proteins, 53 and 50 kDal, respectively. In all four cases, DNA from frameshift revertants directed synthesis of both the 36-kDal and 54-kDal proteins. These results suggested that ntrB and ntrC were separate genes which encoded 36-kDal and 54-kDal protein products, respectively. Frameshift mutations in ntrB and ntrC complemented each other with regard to regulation of glnA expression in vivo and growth on arginine as nitrogen source, another nitrogen-controlled phenotype; this confirmed that ntrB and ntrC are separate cistrons that encode diffusible products. The ntrB and ntrC genes were also defined in S. typhimurium. Studies of mutant strains provided information on the roles of the ntrB and ntrC products in activation and repression of glnA expression and raised the possibility that these products function as a protein complex in regulating expression of nitrogen-controlled genes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

A four-nucleotide base-pair deletion in the coding region of the Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor gene prevents its accumulation in the seeds of Glycine microphylla PI440956.

The Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI), an abundant soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed protein, is a major antinutritional factor. Nulls for the major soybean BBI have been reported in several of the wild perennial Glycine species including G. microphylla (Benth.) Tind PI440956. This perennial Glycine species does not accumulate the major BBI and the molecular basis for the absence of the major BBI in this plant introduction (PI) line is not known. We have cloned the BBI gene from G. microphylla PI440956, G. microphylla PI505188, and G. max cv. Jefferson and determined its nucleotide sequences. Analysis of the G. microphyllla PI505188 and G. max cv. Jefferson nucleotide sequences revealed a complete open-reading frame encoding the BBI. In contrast, the BBI coding region of G. microphylla PI440956 contained a frameshift mutation that resulted in the introduction of a stop codon at the amino terminal region of the protein. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the BBI gene was expressed in developing seeds of G. microphylla PI505188 and G. max cv. Jefferson, but not in developing seeds of G. microphylla PI440956. In contrast, a BBI-related isoinhibitor gene was expressed at similar levels in all three Glycine species. Our results suggest that the frameshift mutation in the BBI coding region is responsible for the absence of BBI in the seeds of G. microphylla PI440956.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activin type II receptor restoration in ACVR2-deficient colon cancer cells induces transforming growth factor-beta response pathway genes.

The activin type II receptor (ACVR2) gene is a putative tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in microsatellite-unstable colon cancers (MSI-H colon cancers). ACVR2 is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta type II receptor (TGFBR2) family and controls cell growth and differentiation. SMAD proteins are major intracellular effectors shared by ACVR2 and TGFBR2 signaling; however, additional shared effector mechanisms remain to be explored. To discover novel mechanisms transmitting the ACVR2 signal, we restored ACVR2 function by transfecting wild-type ACVR2 (wt-ACVR2) into a MSI-H colon cancer cell line carrying an ACVR2 frameshift mutation. The effect of ACVR2 restoration on cell growth, SMAD phosphorylation, and global molecular phenotype was then evaluated. Decreased cell growth was observed in wt-ACVR2 transfectants relative to ACVR2-deficient vector-transfected controls. Western blotting revealed higher expression of phosphorylated SMAD2 in wt-ACVR2 transfectants versus controls, suggesting cells deficient in ACVR2 had impaired SMAD signaling. Microarray-based differential expression analysis revealed substantial ACVR2-induced overexpression of genes implicated in the control of cell growth and tumorigenesis, including the activator protein (AP)-1 complex genes JUND, JUN, and FOSB, as well as the small GTPase signal transduction family members, RHOB, ARHE, and ARHGDIA. Overexpression of these genes is shared with TGFBR2 activation. This observed similarity between the activin and TGF-beta signaling systems suggests that activin may serve as an alternative activator of TGF-beta effectors, including SMADs, and that frameshift mutation of ACVR2 may contribute to MSI-H colon tumorigenesis via disruption of alternate TGF-beta effector pathways.

Activin Receptors, Type II↗

Isolation and characterization of mutants of vaccinia virus with a modified 94-kDa inclusion protein.

We have characterized one of the most highly expressed genes of vaccinia virus, WR strain, in the wild type and in several spontaneous mutants isolated from persistently infected cells. This gene encodes the 94-kDa inclusion protein, which is the vaccinia virus counterpart of the 160-kDa A-type inclusion (ATI) protein of cowpox virus. The homology index between both genes is greater than 95%. A deletion of two consecutive adenylate residues is responsible for a frameshift mutation and premature translational termination in the vaccinia virus gene. In addition, several point mutations and small deletions occur in the 94K gene. The deduced protein contains 725 amino acids, and 4 of the 10 repeated motifs present in the carboxyl terminus of the cowpox virus 160-kDa protein are conserved. In several mutants independently isolated from untreated and interferon-treated persistently infected cells, the gene encodes a 40-kDa protein. In mutant 87-4, this truncated protein is due to the insertion of a cytidilate residue that produces a frameshift mutation and premature translational termination. The deduced protein contains 366 amino acids and has lost all the repetitions. Transcriptional analysis has shown that the steady-state levels of mRNAs in cells infected with the mutants or wild-type vaccinia virus are similar. However, the accumulation of this protein in cells infected with the mutants is reduced indicating some instability. In addition the mutated protein is not recognized by polyclonal antisera. Existence of tandemly repeated sequences at the carboxyl terminus of this family of inclusion proteins correlates with their antigenicity. These results indicate a high degree of mutability of the ATI gene and products, which apparently has no consequence on replication in vitro, but could have relevance to control of the infection by immune responses in animal hosts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular genetics of the human MHC complement gene cluster.

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) complement gene cluster (MCGC) is a highly variable region that is characterized by polymorphisms, variations in gene size and gene number, and associations with diseases. Deficiencies in complement C2 are either due to abolition of C2 protein synthesis by mini-deletions that caused frameshift mutations, or blocked secretion of the C2 protein by single amino acid substitutions. One, two or three C4 genes may be present in a human MCGC haplotype and these genes may code for C4A, C4B, or both. Deficiencies of C4A or C4B proteins are attributed to the expression of identical C4 isotypes or allotypes from the C4 loci, the absence or deletion of a C4 gene, 2-bp insertion at exon 29 or 1-bp deletion at exon 20 that caused frameshift mutations. The C4 genes are either 21 or 14.6 kb in size due to the presence of endogenous retrovirus HERV-K(C4) in the intron 9 of long C4 genes. A deletion or duplication of a C4 gene is always accompanied by its neighboring genes, RP at the 5' region, and CYP21 and TNX at the 3' region. These four genes form a genetic unit termed the RCCX module. In an RCCX bimodular structure, the pseudogene CYP21A, and partially duplicated gene segments TNXA and RP2 are present between the two C4 loci. The RCCX modular variations in gene number and gene size contributed to unequal crossovers and exchanges of polymorphic sequences/mutations, resulting in the homogenization of C4 polymorphisms and acquisitions of deleterious mutations in RP1, C4A, C4B, CYP21B and TNXB genes. RD, SKI2W, DOM3Z and RP1 are the four novel genes found between Bf and C4. RD and Ski2w proteins may be related to RNA splicing, RNA turnover and regulation of translation. The functions of Dom3z and RP1 are being investigated. The complete genomic DNA sequence between C2 and TNX is now available. This should facilitate a complete documentation of polymorphisms, mutations and disease associations for the MCGC.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Spontaneous and ENU-induced mutation spectra at the cII locus in Big Blue Rat2 embryonic fibroblasts.

Big Blue Rat2 embryonic fibroblasts carry the lambda-Liz shuttle vector which is also present in the Big Blue mouse and rat. Mutations in the Big Blue systems have most often been measured at the lacI locus. However, a method for positive selection of mutations at the lambda cII locus was recently described. This assay appears to have many advantages over the use of lacI as a mutational target, but it has yet to be well characterized in mammalian mutagenesis studies. The objective of these studies was to determine the spontaneous and ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutant frequencies (MFs) and mutational spectra at cII using Big Blue Rat2 embryonic fibroblasts. The average spontaneous MF was 13 +/- 1.4 x 10(-5). The average induced MF was 60 +/- 10 x 10(-5) 10 days following a 30 min treatment with 0.1 mg/ml ENU. Eighty four independent spontaneous mutants were sequenced: 23 (27.4%) were frameshift mutations and 61 (72.6%) were base substitutions. Two spontaneous frameshift hotspots were detected, both in mononucleotide runs. G:C-->A:T transitions were the most common type of base substitution in cII; of these 71% occurred at CpG sites. The ENU-induced mutational spectrum at cII (44 mutants) consisted of 42 base substitutions (95.5%) and two -1 frameshift mutations (4.5%). Compared with the spontaneous spectrum, the ENU-induced spectrum had significantly fewer frameshift mutations (4.5 versus 27%) and base substitutions occurred predominantly at A:T base pairs (71 versus 34%). Overall, the spontaneous cII mutational spectrum reported here differs slightly from spontaneous spectra reported at the Big Blue lacI locus, but the mutational spectra and base substitution MFs following treatment with ENU were comparable at both loci. These data support the continued use of cII as a selectable marker in mutagenesis studies involving cells or tissues that carry a lambda transgene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of rat calmodulin processed genes with implications for a mRNA-mediated process of insertion.

Two distinct processed calmodulin genes of rat (lambda SC8 and lambda SC9) were identified, cloned and their DNA sequences determined. The existence of direct repeats of 19 base-pairs for lambda SC8 or 9 base-pairs for lambda SC9 at both ends of the coding plus non-coding regions suggested a possible involvement of a mRNA-mediated process of insertion. Total genomic Southern hybridization suggested the existence of at least three different calmodulin-related genes in the rat genome. The other gene was the bona fide calmodulin gene (lambda SC4) which was split into at least five exons. lambda SC9 contained insertions of one nucleotide and two 17 base-pair direct repeats in the coding region. These insertions cause frameshift mutations probably preventing it from encoding a functional calmodulin. It also carried an insertion of a rat middle repetitive sequence, identifier sequence (IDS: Sutcliffe et al., 1982) in the 3'-non-coding region. Otherwise, it consisted of an almost identical DNA sequence to that of the bona fide calmodulin gene (lambda SC4), including the 3'-non-coding region down to the poly(A) recognition signal, A-A-T-A-A-A. On the other hand, lambda SC8 did not possess frameshift mutations in the coding region, and hence was capable of encoding a functional protein. In fact, a probe specific to the lambda SC8 sequence identified a band in Northern blotting whose size was 300 nucleotides smaller than that of authentic calmodulin mRNA. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences showed that only the coding regions of these two processed genes were homologous, indicating that the divergence of these two processed genes from the common ancestor calmodulin was an ancient event.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Relationship of phenotype with type of deletion of dystrophin gene].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the distribution characteristics of dystrophin gene deletions in the northeastern of China and the relationship of severity with type of deletion. METHODS: To screen deletion distribution of 124 DMD/BMD patients via multiplex PCR, male high-risk fetuses were detected deletion by the same method. RESULTS: The deletion frequency was 49%. Deletions located in the regions of exons 45 - 53 and exons 8 - 19 were 41 (67%) and 13 (21%) cases respectively, and in 5 (8%) cases deletions were scattered over both regions, still 2 cases (3%) were checked up deletions lying in exons 34 and 43; there were 9 cases of in-frame deletions and 49 frameshift mutations in all deletions; of 30 high-risk fetuses 10 male ones were screened deletions, who had the same deletion-segments as their probands. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of dystrophin gene deletions in the northeastern of China cluster mainly in two hot-spots, neighboring regions of exon 8 might be a real deletion "hot spot" in this region; the phenotype is associated with the type of gene deletion, the phenotype is BMD when in-frame deletions occur; severe DMD when frameshift mutations occur. Multiplex PCR method provides the short-cuts for detecting patients and making prenatal gene diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Role of the gag and pol genes of human immunodeficiency virus in the morphogenesis and maturation of retrovirus-like particles expressed by recombinant vaccinia virus: an ultrastructural study.

An ultrastructural study was performed on rabbit epithelial RK-13 cells and CD4+ human T lymphocyte lines infected with various recombinant vaccinia viruses (RVVs) expressing genes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): the mature p17 or p24 gag domain alone, the entire or truncated gag gene, the reverse transcriptase domain, or the gag-pol genes with a frameshift mutation. Cells infected with RVVs that produced the gag polyprotein with a predicted Mr of more than 48K showed budding and release of HIV-like particles into the extracellular space. These particles were not observed in cells expressing a truncated gag gene (p17 and p24 regions). Mature HIV-like particles were observed extracellularly when the entire gag gene and the protease region of the pol gene were expressed. In contrast, in cells infected with RVVs that contained the gag-pol gene with a frameshift mutation, neither recognizable budding structures nor extracellular HIV-like particles could be detected. These results suggest that the gag gene, particularly its 3' terminus, is necessary for the assembly of HIV particles. In addition, the protease region of the pol gene seems to be required for morphological maturation of HIV particles, but complete proteolytic cleavage of the gag protein may prevent bud formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗