Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Variant identification”

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 1,099 records · Page 61Linked to original sources

Identification of CCK-B/gastrin receptor splice variants in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

There is increasing evidence for a direct interaction of the enteric nervous and immune system. Receptors for neuropeptides such as VIP, somatostatin, and substance P have been characterised in human immuno-haematopoietic cells but little is known about the functional significance and expression of receptors for cholecystokinin (CCK) on cells of the immune system. There are only few studies that describe the expression of CCK receptors on human leukaemia-derived cell lines but the receptor structure and function in normal leukocytes have not been clearly established. We therefore sought to determine CCK receptor expression, structure, and function in nontransformed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Full-length cDNA clones encoding the human CCK-A and CCK-B/gastrin receptor are expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers without haematopoietic malignancy. In addition to wild-type CCK-B/gastrin receptor cDNAs, we isolated a splice variant with an in frame insertion of 69 amino acids within its putative third intracellular receptor loop. Dideoxy sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA of this splice variant comprises exons 1-4 but retains intron 4 (207 bp) in the absence of mutations within the splice donor sites. Transient expression of this splice variant in COS-7 cells reveals wild-type affinity for CCK-8, Gastrin-17, and antagonist L-365,260. Affinity for glycine-extended gastrin-17 was not increased when compared to the wild-type CCK-B/gastrin receptor. In vitro, gastrin decreased 3H-thymidine labelling in phytohaemagglutinin-pretreated mononuclear cells at a half-maximally effective concentration of 1.5 nM. We also isolated a cDNA encoding another splice variant of the CCK-B/gastrin receptor with a 158 bp deletion of the entire exon 4 sequence. We conclude that wild-type transcripts of both CCK receptor subtypes and splice variants of the CCK-B/gastrin receptor are expressed in nontransformed human mononuclear cells and that gastrin exhibits antiproliferative effects.

Alternative Splicing↗

Identification of a new HLA-B*40 variant, B*4035.

In this report, the novel allele B*40351 is presented. The allele was identified in a Caucasian individual by sequence-based typing. B*4035 is identical to B*4002 in exon 2, but differs in exon 3 at position 463, where it has an A in stead of a C. This results in an amino acid change from arginine to serine at codon 131 of the mature protein. The haplotype carrying the B*4035 was A3 B*4035 Cw2 DR11 DQ3.

Alleles↗

Identification of a rare Epstein-Barr virus variant that enhances early antigen expression in Raji cells.

Early antigens (EAs) are made when the P3J-HR-1 strain of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects cells that already harbor latent EB viral genomes. We wished to identify EBV genes that might participate in induction of EAs. We have recently isolated from the HR-1 line EB viral variants that are unable to induce EAs. We have now isolated a clone of HR-1 cells that releases virus with the capacity to induce EA. We compared the genome of the EB variant that possesses the capacity to induce EA with that of a variant that is unable to induce EA and with parental stock that was the source of both different biotypes of EBV. The variant that is able to induce EA contains, in molar or greater quantities, additional fragments of EBV DNA not found in the variant that lacks that capacity. These same DNA fragments are present in submolar quantities in the parental DNA, indicating that they represent a subpopulation in the parental viral DNA mixture. We thus provide evidence that EA induction is brought about by unusual forms of EBV DNA that are likely to act by regulating expression of the genome.

Antigens, Viral↗

Identification of a simian immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase variant with enhanced replicational fidelity in the late stage of viral infection.

Genomic hypermutation of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) enables these viruses to adapt and escape from various types of anti-viral selection by altering the molecular properties of viral gene products. In this study, we examined whether the biochemical and catalytic properties of SIV DNA polymerases (reverse transcriptases; RT) can change during the course of viral infection. For this test, we analyzed RTs obtained from two SIV clones, SIVMNE CL8 and SIVMNE 170. SIVMNE 170 was isolated during the late symptomatic phase of infection with the parental strain, SIVMNE CL8. We found these two RTs have identical DNA polymerase specific activities and kinetics with three different DNA and RNA templates. In addition, the processivity of these two SIV RT proteins were also similar. However, as demonstrated by a misincorporation assay, the SIVMNE 170 RT showed much higher fidelity than SIVMNE CL8. The fidelity difference between these two SIV RTs was also confirmed by a steady state kinetic fidelity assay. These findings suggest that the fidelity of lentiviral RTs may change during the course of viral infection, possibly in response to alterations of host anti-viral immune capability. In addition, our sequence analysis of these two RT genes proposes possible structural strategies that the virus may employ to alter RT fidelity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of a new stable variant of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase 1 (Ahp1) induced by oxidative stress.

Yeasts lacking cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) activity are permanently subjected to oxidative stress. We used two-dimensional PAGE to examine the proteome pattern of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains lacking Cu,Zn-SOD. We found a new stable form of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase 1 (Ahp1) with a lower isoelectric point. This form was also present in wild type strains after treatment with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. In vitro enzyme assays showed that Ahp1p had lower specific activity in strains lacking Cu,Zn-SOD. We studied three mutants presenting a reduced production of the low pI variant under oxidative stress conditions. Two of the mutants (C62S and S59D) were totally inactive, thus suggesting that the acidic form of Ahp1p may only appear when the enzyme is functional. The other mutant (S59A) was active in vitro and was more resistant to inactivation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide than the wild type enzyme. Furthermore, the inactivation of Ahp1p in vitro is correlated with its conversion to the low pI form. These results suggest that in vivo during some particular oxidative stress (alkyl hydroperoxide treatment or lack of Cu,Zn-SOD activity but not hydrogen peroxide treatment), the catalytic cysteine of Ahp1p is more oxidized than cysteine-sulfenic acid (a natural occurring intermediate of the enzymatic reaction) and that cysteine-sulfinic acid or cysteine-sulfonic acid variant may be inactive.

Cysteine↗

Molecular cloning of mouse type 2 and type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and identification of a novel type 2 receptor splice variant.

We isolated cDNAs encoding type 2 and type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors (IP(3)R2 and IP(3)R3, respectively) from mouse lung and found a novel alternative splicing segment, SI(m2), at 176-208 of IP(3)R2. The long form (IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(+)) was dominant, but the short form (IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-)) was detected in all tissues examined. IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-) has neither IP(3) binding activity nor Ca(2+) releasing activity. In addition to its reticular distribution, IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(+) is present in the form of clusters in the endoplasmic reticulum of resting COS-7 cells, and after ATP or Ca(2+) ionophore stimulation, most of the IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(+) is in clusters. IP(3)R3 is localized uniformly on the endoplasmic reticulum of resting cells and forms clusters after ATP or Ca(2+) ionophore stimulation. IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-) does not form clusters in either resting or stimulated cells. IP(3) binding-deficient site-directed mutants of IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(+) and IP(3)R3 fail to form clusters, indicating that IP(3) binding is involved in the cluster formation by these isoforms. Coexpression of IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-) prevents stimulus-induced IP(3)R clustering, suggesting that IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-) functions as a negative coordinator of stimulus-induced IP(3)R clustering. Expression of IP(3)R2 SI(m2)(-) in CHO-K1 cells significantly reduced ATP-induced Ca(2+) entry, but not Ca(2+) release, suggesting that the novel splice variant of IP(3)R2 specifically influences the dynamics of the sustained phase of Ca(2+) signals.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Identification, characterization, and functional analysis of sp1 transcript variants expressed in germ cells during mouse spermatogenesis.

The SP family of zinc-finger transcription factors are important mediators of selective gene activation during embryonic development and cellular differentiation. SP-binding GC-box domains are common cis-regulatory elements present in the promoters of several genes expressed in a developmentally specific manner in differentiating mouse germ cells. Four Sp1 cDNAs were isolated from a mouse pachytene spermatocyte cDNA library and characterized by DNA sequence analysis. Northern blot studies revealed that these cDNAs corresponded to 3 full-length Sp1 transcripts (4.1, 3.7, and 3.2 kilobases [kb]) and an additional 1.4-kb 5'-truncated Sp1 transcript that are temporally expressed during spermatogenesis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction studies verified that the highest levels of Sp1 transcript expression of 4.1, 3.7, and 3.2 kb occur in the primary spermatocytes. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of these Sp1 transcripts and their encoded 60-kDa and 90-kDa SP1 proteins were demonstrated using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses. To assess the transcriptional properties of these SP1 transcription factors, SP-deficient Drosophila SL2 cells were stably transfected with the respective Sp1 cDNA expression vectors and cotransfected with either Ldh2, Ldh3, or Creb promoter/luciferase reporter constructs. The levels of SP-mediated luciferase expression observed depended on the structure of the glutamine-rich transactivation domains and the number of GC-box elements present in the respective promoters. The alterations observed in germ cells in the patterns of expression of the Sp1 transcripts encoding the 60-kDa and 90-kDa SP1 isoforms suggest that these SP1 factors may be involved in mediating stage-specific and cell type-specific gene expression during mouse spermatogenesis.

Animals↗

The human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha gene: identification and functional characterization of two natural allelic variants.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)alpha-null mice have a defect in fatty acid metabolism but reproduce normally. The lack of a detrimental effect of the null phenotype in development and reproduction opens up the possibility for null or variant PPARalpha gene (PPARA) alleles in humans. To search the coding region and splice junctions for mutant and variant PPARalpha alleles, the human PPARalpha gene was cloned and characterized, and sequencing by polymerase chain reaction was carried out. Two point mutations in the human gene were found in the DNA binding domain at codons for amino acids 131 and 162. The allele containing the mutation in codon 162 (CTT to GTT, L162V) designated PPARA*3, was found at a high frequency in a Northern Indian population. Transfection assays of this mutant showed that the non-ligand dependent transactivation activity was less than one-half as active as the wild-type receptor. PPARA*3 was also unresponsive to low concentrations of ligand as compared to the wild-type PPARA*1 receptor. However, the difference is ligand concentration-dependent; at concentrations of the peroxisome proliferator Wy-14 643 > 25 microM, induction activity was restored in this variant's transactivation activity to a level five-fold greater as compared with wild-type PPARA*1 with no ligand. The mutation in codon 131 (CGA to CAA, R131Q), designated PPARA*2 is less frequent than PPARA*3, and the constitutive ligand independent activity was slightly higher than PPARA*1. Increasing concentrations of Wy-14 643 activated PPARA*2 similar to that observed with PPARA*1. The biological significance of these novel PPARalpha alleles remains to be established. It will be of great interest to determine whether these alleles are associated with differential response to fibrate therapy.

Alleles↗

Rapid test for identification of a human papillomavirus 16 E6 L83V variant.

A variant of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 has been shown recently to be more prevalent in invasive cervical carcinoma than in preinvasive lesions. This HPV 16 variant possesses a common mutation (T to G) in nucleotide 350 (codon 83) of the E6 gene, resulting in an amino acid shift, L83V, in the E6 protein. This mutation was believed to signify preinvasive cervical lesions with a high probability of progression to invasive carcinoma. The purpose of the present investigation is to describe a rapid method for the detection of this variant HPV 16, E6 (L83V). Paraffin blocks of 18 gynecologic biopsy specimens were collected, all displaying the morphology of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I-III) and a positive HPV 16 test. Sections from these blocks were used for DNA extraction. A DNA sequence of the E6 gene containing 176 bases (including codon 83) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by non-radioactive single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. A divergent SSCP pattern was observed in 7 of the HPV 16 positive biopsy specimens. A DNA sequence analysis of the PCR products revealed the conversion of Leu to Val in codon 83 of the E6 gene, correlating to the divergent band pattern. This PCR-SSCP method can be used to test for HPV 16 in women who are at serious risk of developing invasive cervical carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Identification of a novel alpha1-antitrypsin null variant (Q0Cairo).

Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a common hereditary disorder associated with high risk of developing pulmonary emphysema early in life and, to a lesser extent, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Among Northern Europeans and Northern Americans, more than 95% of individuals with emphysema associated with AATD carry the most frequent AAT deficient gene variants, PI*Z and PI*S. Rare AAT deficient variants account for 2-4% of AATD individuals. We extend the sequence data on AAT by characterizing a novel Null allele detected in 3 subjects: a carrier belonging to an Italian/Egyptian family and 2 members of a family originating from Southern Italy. The mutation raised on a M1 (Ala213) base allele and it is characterized by an A-->T transversion at exon III, nt 218, codon 259 (AAA-->TAA) (GeneBank accession number AY 256958). The transversion results in a premature stop codon (Lys259AAA-->Stop259TAA). The proposed nomenclature of Q0cairo is from the birthplace of the father of first recognized subject. Serum levels and isoelectric focusing of AAT were consistent with the presence of the Null variant.

Adolescent↗

Identification of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel splice variants and their distribution in the turtle cochlea.

Turtle auditory-hair cells are frequency-tuned by the activity of calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels, a cell's characteristic frequency being determined by the KCa channel density and kinetics which both vary systematically along the cochlea. As a first step towards identifying the source of KCa channel variation, we have isolated, by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on dissociated hair cells, the main cDNAs homologous to the slo gene which encodes the channel's alpha-subunit. A total of six alternatively spliced variants were identified, the smallest of which is 94% identical to a mouse Slo sequence. Variation occurs by insertion of exons at only two splice sites, two of these exons encoding novel 31- and 61-amino acid sequences. As we were unable to detect splicing at other potential sites, we infer that the six variants correspond to naturally occurring combinations. The spatial distribution of the variants, defined by isolating hair cells from different regions of the cochlea, indicated that some isoforms were non-uniformly distributed. Those containing large inserts in the first splice site were notably absent from the highest-frequency region. We suggest that alternative splicing of the slo gene may contribute to variation in KCa channel properties.

Alternative Splicing↗

Rapid detection and further characterization of infection with hepatitis B virus variants containing a stop codon in the distal pre-C region.

Recently, hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in the absence of HBe antigenaemia has been attributed to HBV variants with a TAG stop codon in the distal pre-C region associated with one or two point mutations. We describe here a rapid detection method for the diagnosis of such HBeAg-negative HBV variants using selective oligonucleotide hybridization. The entire pre-C region was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and hybridized under stringent conditions with non-mutated (M0), one (M1) and two (M2) point-mutated oligonucleotide probes. Of the 15 HBeAg-positive (group I) and 20 HBeAg-negative (group II) serum samples studied, 14 samples in group I and one sample in group II hybridized with M0 only and 18 samples in group II hybridized with M1 or M2, or both. The remaining two samples (from groups I and II, respectively) failed to hybridize with any of the three probes. DNA sequencing confirmed mixed distal pre-C sequences in samples hybridizing with more than one probe and also revealed novel mutations in the distal pre-C region of the two samples which failed to hybridize with any of the probes. The latter sample had a +2 frameshift and hence represented a new type of HBeAg-negative HBV variant. This method may therefore prove useful in the diagnosis of infections by HBeAg-negative HBV variants resulting from common mutations in the pre-C region, as well as for the identification of less common variants with novel mutations in the same region.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of neutral mutants surrounding two naturally occurring variants of Potato spindle tuber viroid.

Single point mutations in the pathogenicity domain of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) can have a dramatic effect on disease expression, and only three substitutions are required for the spontaneous conversion of the type strain PSTVd-Intermediate to the rapidly replicating, highly pathogenic variant RG1 (Gruner et al., Virology 209, 60-69, 1995). To identify available evolutionary pathways linking these two variants, we mutagenized five positions in an infectious cDNA copy of PSTVd-Intermediate and screened the resulting mixture of 768 sequences for neutral or near-neutral mutants. Numerical simulations based on the bioassay data indicate that the 23 variants recovered represent >80 % of all such sequences. RG1 was the only naturally occurring variant recovered, and the overall pattern of sequence changes observed indicates that PSTVd-Int occupies a comparatively steep peak within the fitness landscape.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of a novel HLA-B*55 variant (B*5513) from a Korean family.

The novel allele, B*5513, was identified from three siblings of a Korean family. Direct DNA sequencing analysis revealed that B*5513 differed from B*5502 by a single-nucleotide substitution at codon 116 (TTA-->TTC) resulting in an amino acid change from leucine to phenylalanine. This substitution altered serologic reactivity of the B55 molecule to B22-specific alloantisera.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Identification of a new HLA-B*08 variant, HLA-B*0804.

The HLA-B locus is the most polymorphic locus known with currently over 100 different alleles described. Many of these alleles encode variants of the serologically-defined tissue transplantation antigens. This high level of diversity makes accurate tissue typing difficult. Here we present the sequence of a new HLA-B*08 variant, HLA-B*0804, found in Caucasian siblings JH and PF serologically typed as HLA-B51/B59 and HLA-B59/B60, respectively. Additionally, DNA-based typing by the polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) identified HLA-B*51 in JH and HLA-B*4001 in PF. However, PCR-SSP failed to identify a second allele in either of these individuals. The unusual finding of a B59 antigen in a Caucasian and the discrepant molecular typing results suggested that these individuals might express novel HLA molecules. Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) followed by direct sequencing, we characterized a novel HLA-B*08 variant, HLA-B*0804. The presence of this allele was confirmed by cloning and sequencing. HLA-B*0804 differed from HLA-B*0801 by only one nucleotide substitution resulting in an amino acid replacement of phenylalanine by serine at position 67. Incidentally, this single nucleotide difference was sufficient to prevent amplification by PCR-SSP. This striking difference between both the serologically typed antigen and the PCR-SSP-identified allele compared to the sequenced allele supports the use of sequence-based typing for the analysis of HLA class I locus alleles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗