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Positional cloning moves from perditional to traditional.

The technique of positional cloning has become a familiar component of modern human genetics research. After a halting start in the mid-1980s, the number of disease genes succumbing to cloning efforts based solely on pinpointing their position in the genome is growing exponentially. More than 40 genes have been identified so far. But the positional candidate approach, which combines knowledge of map position with the increasingly dense human transcript map, greatly expedites the search process and will soon become the predominant method of disease gene discovery. The challenge ahead is to apply such methods to identifying genes involved in complex polygenic disorders.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Tunable retina encoders for retina implants: why and how.

Current research towards retina implants for partial restoration of vision in blind humans with retinal degenerative dysfunctions focuses on implant and stimulation experiments and technologies. In contrast, our approach takes the availability of an epiretinal multi-electrode neural interface for granted and studies the conditions for successful joint information processing of both retinal prosthesis and brain. Our proposed learning retina encoder (RE) includes information processing modules to simulate the complex mapping operation of parts of the 5-layered neural retina and to provide an iterative, perception-based dialog between RE and human subject. Alternative information processing technologies in the learning RE are being described, which allow an individual optimization of the RE mapping operation by means of iterative tuning with learning algorithms in a dialog between implant wearing subject and RE. The primate visual system is modeled by a retina module (RM) composed of spatio-temporal (ST) filters and a central visual system module (VM). RM performs a mapping 1 of an optical pattern P1 in the physical domain onto a retinal output vector R1(t) in a neural domain, whereas VM performs a mapping 2 of R1(t) in a neural domain onto a visual percept P2 in the perceptual domain. Retinal ganglion cell properties represent non-invertible ST filters in RE, which generate ambiguous output signals. VM generates visual percepts only if the corresponding R1(t) is properly encoded, contains sufficient information, and can be disambiguated. Based on the learning RE and the proposed visual system model, a novel retina encoder (RE*) is proposed, which considers both ambiguity removal and miniature eye movements during fixation. Our simulation results suggest that VM requires miniature eye movements under control of the visual system to retrieve unambiguous patterns P2 corresponding to P1. For retina implant applications, RE* can be tuned to generate optimal ganglion cell codes for epiretinal stimulation.

Action Potentials↗

Phage fl mRNA processing in Escherichia coli: search for the upstream products of endonuclease cleavage, requirement for the product of the altered mRNA stability (ams) locus.

In Escherichia coli infected with the filamentous phage f1, a number of the polycistronic phage mRNA species are generated through post-transcriptional processing by host nuclease activity. In this paper we review experimental evidence assessing whether known RNases are involved in mediating these processing events, and we use S1 nuclease mapping methods to visualize putative upstream products of endonuclease cleavage. By examining f1 processing in a phage-infected host bearing a temperature-sensitive allele of the altered message stability locus (ams), we show that production of the major processed species requires a component of the host cell which functions in the messenger RNA decay process.

Coliphages↗

A comprehensive view of human chromosome 1.

Comprehensive representations of human chromosomes combining diverse genomic data sets, localizing expressed sequences, and reflecting physical distance are essential for disease gene identification and sequencing efforts. We have developed a method (CompView) for integrating genomic information derived from available cytogenetic, genetic linkage, radiation hybrid, physical, and transcript-based mapping approaches. CompView generates chromosome representations with substantially higher resolution, coverage, and integration than current maps of the human genome. The CompView process was used to build a representation of human chromosome 1, yielding a map with >13,000 unique elements, an effective resolution of 910 kb, and a marker density of 50 kb. CompView creates comprehensive and fully integrated depictions of a chromosome's clinical, biological, and structural information.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Martin's Map: a conceptual framework for teaching and learning the medical interview using a patient-centred approach.

OBJECTIVE: At the end of training, students seem to lack a basic understanding of how to take an organised, relevant medical and social history using a patient-centred approach. The aim of developing the map described in this paper was to provide a framework for such an approach. METHODS: Action research was used to continuously modify and refine an interview map that was used by medical clerks, family medicine residents, international medical graduates and practising doctors for teaching and learning purposes over a 10-year period. CONCLUSION: 'Martin's Map' provides a realistic framework for flexibly organising and integrating medical content with process that did not previously exist. The map provides medical educators with a standardised framework for talking about the medical interview, which helps learners understand how to use their medical knowledge with a patient-centred approach. Learners are able to visually see how they can take a focused medical and social history using a patient-centred approach, which subsequently seems to help them organise their thinking and approach during the medical encounter.

Clinical Competence↗

Intravirion processing of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vif protein by the viral protease may be correlated with Vif function.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif protein is specifically packaged into virus particles through an interaction with viral genomic RNA in which it associates with the viral nucleoprotein complex. We now demonstrate for the first time that virus-associated Vif is subject to proteolytic processing by the viral protease (Pr). Pr-dependent processing of Vif was observed both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo processing of Vif was cell type independent and evident by the appearance of a 7-kDa processing product, which was restricted to cell-free virus preparations. Processing of Vif required an active viral Pr and was sensitive to Pr inhibitors such as ritonavir. The processing site in Vif was characterized both in vivo and in vitro and mapped to Ala(150). Interestingly, the Vif processing site is located in a domain that is highly conserved among HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus Vif isolates. Mutations at or near the processing site did not affect protein stability or packaging efficiency but had dramatic effects on Vif processing. In general, mutations that markedly increased or decreased the sensitivity of Vif to proteolytic processing severely impaired or completely abolished Vif function. In contrast, mutations at the same site that had little or no effect on processing efficiency also did not influence Vif function. None of the mutants affected the ability of the virus to replicate in permissive cell lines. Our data suggest that mutations in Vif that cause a profound change in the sensitivity to Pr-dependent processing also severely impaired Vif function, suggesting that intravirion processing of Vif is important for the production of infectious viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping in the sequencing era.

The present phase of the Human Genome Project is concerned with sequencing. The shift of emphasis has left an impression that mapping is in some sense complete or finished. On the contrary, faced with the challenges of mapping genes for complex traits and efforts to understand recombination and other biological processes, the need for accurate integrated metric maps is greater than ever. Furthermore, sequencing could be regarded as merely a way of improving the map, since the most useful 'end product' of the sequencing effort must be the annotated sequence that gives precise physical coordinates for markers and expressed sequences. Integration of both location and functional information, the latter provided by homology, expression and other functional studies, is the main target for the future.

Chromosome Mapping↗

A knowledge-based care protocol system for ICU.

There is a growing interest in using care maps in ICU. So far, the emphasis has been on developing the critical path, problem/outcome, and variance reporting for specific diagnoses. This paper presents a conceptual knowledge-based care protocol system design for the ICU. It is based on the manual care map currently in use for managing myocardial infarction in the ICU of the Sturgeon General Hospital in Alberta. The proposed design uses expert rules, object schemas, case-based reasoning, and quantitative models as sources of its knowledge. Also being developed is a decision model with explicit linkages for outcome-process-measure from the care map. The resulting system is intended as a bedside charting and decision-support tool for caregivers. Proposed usage includes charting by acknowledgment, generation of alerts, and critiques on variances/events recorded, recommendations for planned interventions, and comparison with historical cases. Currently, a prototype is being developed on a PC-based network with Visual Basic, Level-Expert Object, and xBase. A clinical trial is also planned to evaluate whether this knowledge-based care protocol can reduce the length of stay of patients with myocardial infarction in the ICU.

Alberta↗

Processing of cDNA and genomic kilobase-size clones for massive screening, mapping and sequencing by hybridization.

Efficient procedures for managing a large number of M13 or plasmid clones have been developed. In addition to picking, clones are directly arrayed in multiwell plates by dispensing diluted transformation mixtures. Metal pin arrays are used for fast inoculations of preparative plates filled by medium or by PCR mixture. Growth of M13 clones in multiwell plates is optimized to obtain a consistently high yield, and a PCR protocol is defined for reliable amplification of several thousand M13 or plasmid inserts per day in BioOvens. Over 80,000 cDNA inserts have been amplified. The phages or amplified inserts are spotted on nylon filters using an array of pins having a flat bottom, 0.3 mm in diameter. The procedures are suitable for an automated processing of hundreds of thousands of short clones from representative cDNA and genomic libraries. Hybridization of arrayed clones with oligonucleotide and complex probes can simplify the search for new genes and accelerate large-scale sequencing.

Bacteriophage M13↗

A physical and functional map of the human TNF-alpha/NF-kappa B signal transduction pathway.

Signal transduction pathways are modular composites of functionally interdependent sets of proteins that act in a coordinated fashion to transform environmental information into a phenotypic response. The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha triggers a signalling cascade, converging on the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B, which forms the basis for numerous physiological and pathological processes. Here we report the mapping of a protein interaction network around 32 known and candidate TNF-alpha/NF-kappa B pathway components by using an integrated approach comprising tandem affinity purification, liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, network analysis and directed functional perturbation studies using RNA interference. We identified 221 molecular associations and 80 previously unknown interactors, including 10 new functional modulators of the pathway. This systems approach provides significant insight into the logic of the TNF-alpha/NF-kappa B pathway and is generally applicable to other pathways relevant to human disease.

Animals↗

Sequences on the 3' side of hexanucleotide AAUAAA affect efficiency of cleavage at the polyadenylation site.

The hexanucleotide AAUAAA has been demonstrated to be part of the signal for cleavage and polyadenylation at appropriate sites on eucaryotic mRNA precursors. Since this sequence is not unique to polyadenylation sites, it cannot be the entire signal for the cleavage event. We have extended the definition of the polyadenylation cleavage signal by examining the cleavage event at the site of polyadenylation for the simian virus 40 late mRNAs. Using viable mutants, we have determined that deletion of sequences between 3 and 60 nucleotides on the 3' side of the AAUAAA decreases the efficiency of utilization of the normal polyadenylation site. These data strongly indicate a second major element of the polyadenylation signal. The phenotype of these deletion mutants is an enrichment of viral late transcripts longer than the normally polyadenylated RNA in infected cells. These extended transcripts appear to have an increased half-life due to the less efficient cleavage at the normal polyadenylation site. The enriched levels of extended transcripts in cells infected with the deletion mutants allowed us to examine regions of the late transcript which normally are difficult to study. The extended transcripts have several discrete 3' ends which we have analyzed in relation to polyadenylation and other RNA processing events. Two of these ends map to nucleotides 2794 and 2848, which lie within a region of extensive secondary structure which marks the putative processing signal for the formation of the simian virus 40-associated small RNA. A third specific 3' end reveals a cryptic polyadenylation site at approximately nucleotides 2980 to 2985, more than 300 nucleotides beyond the normal polyadenylation site. This site appears to be utilized only in mutants with debilitated normal sites. The significance of sequences on the 3' side of an AAUAAA for efficient polyadenylation at a specific site is discussed.

Animals↗

Deconvolution: a novel signal processing approach for determining activation time from fractionated electrograms and detecting infarcted tissue.

BACKGROUND: Two important signal processing applications in electrophysiology are activation mapping and characterization of the tissue substrate from which electrograms are recorded. We hypothesize that a novel signal-processing method that uses deconvolution is more accurate than amplitude, derivative, and manual activation time estimates. We further hypothesize that deconvolution quantifies changes in morphology that detect electrograms recorded from regions of myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the accuracy of activation time estimation, 600 unipolar electrograms were calculated with a detailed computer model using various degrees of coupling heterogeneity to model infarction. Local activation time was defined as the time of peak inward sodium current in the modeled myocyte closest to the electrode. Deconvolution, minimum derivative, and maximum amplitude were calculated. Two experienced electrophysiologists blinded to the computer-determined activation times marked their estimates of activation time. F tests compared the variance of activation time estimation for each method. To evaluate the performance of deconvolution to detect infarction, 380 unipolar electrograms were recorded from 10 dogs with infarcts resulting from ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The amplitude, duration, number of inflections, peak frequency, bandwidth, minimum derivative, and deconvolution were calculated. Metrics were compared by Mann-Whitney rank-sum tests, and receiver operating curves were plotted. CONCLUSIONS: Deconvolution estimated local activation time more accurately than the other metrics (P < .0001). Furthermore, the algorithm quantified changes in morphology (P < .0001) with superior performance, detecting electrograms recorded from regions of myocardial infarction. Thus, deconvolution, which incorporates a priori knowledge of electrogram morphology, shows promise to improve present clinical metrics.

Algorithms↗

Sequence-structure mapping errors in the PDB: OB-fold domains.

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the single most important repository of structural data for proteins and other biologically relevant molecules. Therefore, it is critically important to keep the PDB data, as much as possible, error-free. In this study, we have analyzed PDB crystal structures possessing oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding (OB)-fold, one of the highly populated folds, for the presence of sequence-structure mapping errors. Using energy-based structure quality assessment coupled with sequence analyses, we have found that there are at least five OB-structures in the PDB that have regions where sequences have been incorrectly mapped onto the structure. We have demonstrated that the combination of these computation techniques is effective not only in detecting sequence-structure mapping errors, but also in providing guidance to correct them. Namely, we have used results of computational analysis to direct a revision of X-ray data for one of the PDB entries containing a fairly inconspicuous sequence-structure mapping error. The revised structure has been deposited with the PDB. We suggest use of computational energy assessment and sequence analysis techniques to facilitate structure determination when homologs having known structure are available to use as a reference. Such computational analysis may be useful in either guiding the sequence-structure assignment process or verifying the sequence mapping within poorly defined regions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protection against 3'-to-5' RNA decay in Bacillus subtilis.

A 320-nucleotide RNA with several characteristic features was expressed in Bacillus subtilis to study RNA processing. The RNA consisted of a 5'-proximal sequence from bacteriophage SP82 containing strong secondary structure, a Bs-RNase III cleavage site, and the 3'-proximal end of the ermC transcriptional unit. Comparison of RNA processing in a wild-type strain and a strain in which the pnpA gene, coding for polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), was deleted, as well as in vitro assays of phosphate-dependent degradation, showed that PNPase activity could be stalled in vivo and in vitro. Analysis of mutations in the SP82 moiety mapped the block to PNPase processivity to a particular stem-loop structure. This structure did not provide a block to processivity in the pnpA strain, suggesting that it was specific for PNPase. An abundant RNA with a 3' end located in the ermC coding sequence was detected in the pnpA strain but not in the wild type, indicating that this block is specific for a different 3'-to-5' exonuclease. The finding of impediments to 3'-to-5' degradation, with specificities for different exonucleases, suggests the existence of discrete intermediates in the mRNA decay pathway.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Multi-site dual surface monophasic action potential mapping of atrial repolarization in vivo: is atrial repolarization a two- or three-dimensional process?

Although the atrial free wall is a thin structure, atrial depolarization has been shown to have aspects of three-dimensionality. This study asks whether the same is true for atrial repolarization. By using a multi-element dual-surface probe, monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded simultaneously at several opposing sites on the right atrial endocardial and epicardial surfaces in six open-chest pigs. The times of depolarization and repolarization were marked in recordings during sinus, paced rhythms, and during infusions of cold saline to the epicardial surface, which generated a temperature gradient across the atrial wall. Repolarization times were similar on endocardial and epicardial surfaces in some sites, but others showed significant differences during sinus and paced rhythms. Cold saline infusion produced a significant lengthening of MAP duration, and this was more pronounced on the atrial endocardial sites than on the epicardial sites. The observed differences in endocardial and epicardial repolarization times may be due to the presence of atrial pectinate muscles on the endocardial surface. These results suggest that in some regions atrial repolarization is a three-dimensional process. Possible limitations of this study include the fact that the depth of view of MAPs recorded from the atrial wall may extend to the opposing surface.

Animals↗

Towards a proteome project of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803: linking 130 protein spots with their respective genes.

Following the complete sequencing of the genome of the univellular cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 within our institute, a protein-gene linkage map of this photosynthetic microorganism was successfully constructed for 130 high abundance proteins present on two-dimensional gels. An additional six proteins were analyzed, but were probably encoded extrachromosomally. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of this protein-gene linkage map, we analyzed the changes that occur in cellular proteins after illumination of PCC6803 cells. The results indicate that this protein-gene linkage map greatly simplifies the identification process of such modulated genes. After illumination, at least three distinctive spots with reduced intensity were detected on two-dimensional gels and the corresponding genes of two of these were successfully identified as chaperonin 2 and a Tortula ruralis rehydrin-related gene. Thus, the combination of the protein-gene linkage map and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis should permit a comprehensive analyses of the proteins encoded by the genome (i.e., "proteome") of this photosynthetic autotroph. This post-genome project represents a productive way of exploiting the information obtained from the sequencing of the cyanobacterium genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Processing of the Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein-1: identification of a 33-kilodalton secondary processing product which is shed prior to erythrocyte invasion.

We have previously shown that only a single 19-kDa fragment of the Plasmodium falciparum major merozoite surface protein (MSP1) is carried with an invading merozoite into the infected red cell. This fragment (MSP1(19] is derived from the C-terminal membrane-bound end of a major product, MSP1(42), of the primary stage of MSP1 proteolytic processing. Using a monoclonal antibody mapped to an epitope within the N-terminal region of MSP1(42), we have shown that a soluble 33-kDa polypeptide (MSP1(33) corresponding to the N-terminal region of MSP1(42) is shed into culture supernatants during merozoite release and erythrocyte invasion. These observations provide further evidence that the secondary processing of MSP1(42) involves a highly site-specific proteolytic activity.

Animals↗

The use of Stokes deformation number as a predictive tool for material exchange behaviour of granules in the 'equilibrium phase' in high shear granulation.

The objective of this study was three-fold; to investigate the different mechanisms of material exchange during the equilibrium phase of the granulation process and whether these mechanisms are consistent with the mechanisms described in the growth regime map, to study how material properties and process conditions affect these exchange mechanisms, and to correlate Stokes deformation number to the exchange mechanisms. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), alpha-lactose, microfine cellulose (MFC), and dextrin were granulated using water as a binding agent. Once in the equilibrium phase, 5% (w/w) of the granular mass was replaced with wet tracer granules, after which the granulation process was continued. Granules were typically of a size of approximately 1mm in diameter. Therefore, these granules can also be called pellets. Tracer experiments show indeed solid material exchange can take place in the equilibrium phase of the high shear granulation process. Tracer material was equally dispersed throughout the whole batch for all materials tested. However, the granulation time needed to reach this homogeneous distribution varied with material and granulation conditions. Three different mechanisms of material exchange were identified: exchange by disintegration, where granules are rapidly crushed and formed to granules again; exchange by deformation, where abraded granule fragments immediately fuse with other granules; and exchange by distribution, where there is a prolonged period over which both tracer and standard granules stay intact, followed by uncontrolled growth and exchange of material. It was found that it is possible to shift between the mechanisms by changing the process conditions, e.g., changing viscosity or amount of binder liquid. These observations indicate that by choosing the appropriate process conditions improved distribution of small amounts of insoluble materials in the granules can be obtained. A relation exists between the exchange mechanisms and the growth regime map: the disintegration mechanism resembles 'crumb behaviour', the deformation mechanism resembles 'steady growth', and the distribution mechanism resembles 'nucleation' and 'induction growth'. Unfortunately, Stokes deformation number cannot be used as a predictive tool when low viscosity binders like water are used, due to the importance of viscosity in the equation. However, this number is one of the variables of the growth regime map. Since the exchange mechanisms correspond to the granule growth mechanisms in the regime map, alternatively colour experiments might be used to reveal the granulation regime.

Algorithms↗