BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Germ cells are the only cell type that can penetrate from one generation to next generation. At the early embryonic developmental stages, germ cells originally stem from primordial germ cells, and finally differentiate into functional gametes, sperm in male or oocyte in female, after sexual maturity. This study was conducted to investigate a large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis in chicken PGCs and compare the expression of the PGC ESTs with that of embryonic gonad. RESULTS:We constructed 10,851 ESTs from a chicken cDNA library of a collection of highly separated embryonic PGCs. After chimeric and problematic sequences were filtered out using the chicken genomic sequences, there were 5,093 resulting unique sequences consisting of 156 contigs and 4,937 singlets. Pearson chi-square tests of gene ontology terms in the 2nd level between PGC and embryonic gonad set showed no significance. However, digital gene expression profiling using the Audic's test showed that there were 2 genes expressed significantly with higher number of transcripts in PGCs compared with the embryonic gonads set. On the other hand, 17 genes in embryonic gonads were up-regulated higher than those in the PGC set. CONCLUSION:Our results in this study contribute to knowledge of mining novel transcripts and genes involved in germline cell proliferation and differentiation at the early embryonic stages.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The chromosome of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), a model organism for the genus Streptomyces, contains a cryptic type I polyketide synthase (PKS) gene cluster which was revealed when the genome was sequenced. The ca. 54-kb cluster contains three large genes, cpkA, cpkB and cpkC, encoding the PKS subunits. In silico analysis showed that the synthase consists of a loading module, five extension modules and a unique reductase as a terminal domain instead of a typical thioesterase. All acyltransferase domains are specific for a malonyl extender, and have a B-type ketoreductase. Tailoring and regulatory genes were also identified within the gene cluster. Surprisingly, some genes show high similarity to primary metabolite genes not commonly identified in any antibiotic biosynthesis cluster. Using western blot analysis with a PKS subunit (CpkC) antibody, CpkC was shown to be expressed in S. coelicolor at transition phase. Disruption of cpkC gave no obvious phenotype.

背景与目标： : 链霉菌属链霉菌A3(2) 的染色体是链霉菌属的模式生物，包含一个隐秘的I型聚酮化合物合酶 (PKS) 基因簇，该基因簇在基因组测序时被揭示。ca。54kb簇包含三个大基因，cpkA，cpkB和cpkC，编码PKS亚基。在计算机分析中，合酶由一个加载模块，五个延伸模块和一个独特的还原酶组成，作为末端结构域，而不是典型的硫酯酶。所有酰基转移酶结构域都对丙二酰延伸剂具有特异性，并且具有b型酮还原酶。在基因簇中还鉴定了定制和调节基因。令人惊讶的是，一些基因与在任何抗生素生物合成簇中不常见的初级代谢物基因显示出高度相似性。使用带有PKS亚基 (CpkC) 抗体的蛋白质印迹分析，显示CpkC在过渡期在coelicolor中表达。cpkC的破坏没有明显的表型。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PROBLEM:Thrombophilia has been associated with poor obstetrical outcomes. To determine the association of specific inherited thrombophilias and recurrent pregnancy loss, 10 thrombophilic genes were investigated. METHOD OF STUDY:A total of 550 women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss had buccal swabs taken for DNA analyses of the following gene mutations: factor V G1691A, factor V H1299R (R2), factor V Y1702C, factor II prothrombin G20210A, factor XIII V34L, beta-fibrinogen -455G>A, PAI-1 4G/5G, HPA1 a/b(L33P), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, MTHFR A1298C. The frequencies of these mutations were compared with controls published in the literature. RESULTS:When examined individually, PAI-1 4G/5G (P = 0.009), factor XIII V34L (P < 0.0001), and homozygous MTHFR C667T (P < 0.0001) correlated significantly with recurrent pregnancy loss compared with controls. The frequency of the factor V Y1702C mutation was extremely low in patients and controls; thus, this gene was removed from further calculations. The remaining six mutated genes, when analyzed cumulatively, also corresponded with recurrent pregnancy loss (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:A panel of thrombogenic gene mutations consisting of factor V G1691A, factor V H1299R (R2), factor II prothrombin G20210A, factor XIII V34L, beta-fibrinogen -455G>A, PAI-1 4G/5G, HPA1 a/b(L33P), MTHFR C677T, and MTHFR A1298C can identify individuals at risk for recurrent pregnancy loss.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:To identify genes preferentially expressed in the stem-cell-rich limbal epithelium of the rat cornea. METHODS:The limbal and central corneal epithelial cells of 6-week-old rats were isolated by microdissection. Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were constructed and analyzed, and in situ hybridization, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cDNA cloning were conducted by conventional procedures. RESULTS:The rat limbal and central corneal epithelial SAGE libraries consisted of 41,894 and 40,691 tags, respectively. After annotation, this was reduced to 759 transcripts specific for the limbal library and 844 transcripts specific for the central corneal library; 2292 transcripts overlapped. Transcripts encoding proteins with metabolic functions comprised the major functional category in both libraries. In situ hybridization and/or RT-PCR results of 12 of the most abundant, highly enriched transcripts in the limbal epithelium were in general agreement with the SAGE data and showed that these proteins are also expressed in the conjunctival epithelium. Interesting limbal-enriched transcripts encode WDNM1-like protein (similar to WDNM1/Expi, a putative secreted proteinase and inhibitor of metastasis), mesothelin (a cancer marker), marapsin (a trypsin-like serine protease that may control cell growth and migration), K4 and K15 (both cytokeratins), and membrane-spanning four-domain subfamily A member 8B. WDNM1-like protein was cloned and confirmed as a member of the four-disulfide core family. CONCLUSIONS:The SAGE results extend the database of genes expressed in the rodent cornea and suggest an association between several genes preferentially expressed in the limbal epithelium with cellular proliferation and migration.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:This study was undertaken to obtain differentially expressed genes related to human glioma by cDNA microarray and the characterization of a novel full-length gene. METHODS:Total RNA was extracted form human glioma and normal brain tissue, and mRNA was used as a probe. The results of hybridization procedure were scanned with the computer system. The gene named 507E08 cone was subsequently analyzed by northern blot, bioinformatic approach, and protein expression. RESULTS:Fifteen differentially expressed genes were obtained from human glioma by hybridization and scanning for four times. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the 507E08 clone was low expressed in human brain tissue and over expressed in human glioma tissues. The analysis of BLASTn and BLASTx showed that the 507E08 clone was a novel full-length gene, which codes 203 amino acid of protein and is called human ribosomal protein 14.22 gene. The nucleotide sequence had been submitted to the GenBank with the accession number of AF329277. After expression in E. coli., protein yielded a major band of apparent molecular mass 22 kDa on an SDS-PAGE gel. CONCLUSIONS:cDNA microarray technology can be successfully used to identify differentially expressed genes. The novel full-length gene of human ribosomal protein 13.22 may be correlated with the development of human glioma.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The prevalence of mRNAs coding for the sea urchin embryo regulatory factors P3A1 and P3A2 was measured by single-strand probe excess solution hybridization. P3A1 and P3A2 are not homologous proteins, though they both bind specifically to a particular cis-regulatory sequence. Interaction at this target site is known to be required for lineage-specific expression of an aboral ectoderm-specific gene and probably for several other genes as well. Genome blot hybridizations show that both factors are encoded by single-copy genes. Maternal mRNAs for both factors are present at less than 10(3) molecules per egg, which places them in the rare mRNA class. During development to the mesenchyme blastula stage, the amount of P3A1 mRNA (per embryo) increases severalfold while that of P3A2 remains approximately constant. Specification of the aboral ectoderm founder cells and of their initial patterns of gene expression must occur during early to mid-cleavage stage. Therefore, the regulatory proteins needed for this process must be produced by this stage. We show that the quantities of the P3A proteins that can be synthesized from the numbers of mRNA molecules present in the large blastomeres of the early embryo are sufficient to be functional, because these proteins will be accumulated in the nuclei. Thus maternal P3A1 or P3A2 proteins asre not required, nor were these detected in earlier studies. Furthermore, differential spatial (as well as temporal) distribution of both of these newly synthesized factor species could result from the unequal cleavage pattern utilized in the sea urchin egg.

背景与目标： : 通过单链探针过量溶液杂交测量编码海胆胚胎调节因子P3A1和P3A2的mrna的患病率。P3A1和P3A2不是同源蛋白，尽管它们都与特定的顺式调节序列特异性结合。已知该靶位点的相互作用对于外胚层特异性基因的谱系特异性表达以及其他几个基因也是必需的。基因组印迹杂交表明，这两个因子均由单拷贝基因编码。两种因子的母体mRNA在每个卵中存在的分子少于10(3) 个，这使它们处于稀有mRNA类别中。在发育到间充质囊胚阶段期间，P3A1 mRNA的量 (每个胚胎) 增加了几倍，而P3A2的量保持大致恒定。必须在早期至中期切割阶段对外胚层创始细胞及其基因表达的初始模式进行规范。因此，此过程所需的调节蛋白必须在此阶段产生。我们表明，可以从早期胚胎大卵裂球中存在的mRNA分子的数量合成的P3A蛋白的数量足以发挥功能，因为这些蛋白将积聚在细胞核中。因此，不需要母体P3A1或P3A2蛋白，在早期研究中也未检测到这些蛋白。此外，这两种新合成的因子物种的空间 (和时间) 分布差异可能是由于海胆卵中使用的不相等的卵裂模式造成的。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :This minireview considers the possibility that there is a correlation between the slow rate of morphological change and speciation events that has been occurred within the lungfish lineage since the Permian period, and the apparent slow rate of divergence in the amino acid sequences of lungfish opioid precursor sequences. The status of lungfish as "living fossils" is considered.

背景与目标： : 这篇小型评论认为，自二叠纪以来，肺鱼谱系内发生的形态变化和物种形成事件的缓慢速率与肺鱼阿片类药物前体序列的氨基酸序列的明显差异速率之间存在相关性。考虑了肺鱼作为 “活化石” 的地位。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We report a patient with a unique combination of features, including microcephaly; mental retardation; poorly developed frontal lobes; hypoplastic pituitary gland; hypothyroidism; alopecia universalis; single maxillary central incisor; taurodontism; median palatal ridge; longitudinally grooved nails; and scoliosis. His unbalanced karyotype was found to be 45,XY,der(15;18)(q10;q10). The constellation of anomalies appears to represent a contiguous gene syndrome caused, at least in part, by deletion of TGIF and the gene responsible for hereditary hypotrichosis simplex. The phenotype of our patient differs other reported patients with del(18p). Possible explanations include (1) the effects of a different deleted region, (2) a positional effect caused by a gene close by, or (3) by interruption of a different gene resulting from chromosomal translocation.

背景与目标： : 我们报告了一名具有独特特征组合的患者，包括小头畸形; 智力低下; 额叶发育不良; 垂体发育不良; 甲状腺功能减退; 普遍脱发; 单个上颌中切牙; 牛角牙症; 正中腭嵴; 纵向开槽的指甲; 和脊柱侧弯。发现他的不平衡核型为45，XY，der(15;18)(q10;q10)。异常星座似乎代表了一个连续的基因综合征，至少部分是由TGIF和负责遗传性低毛丝菌病的基因缺失引起的。我们患者的表型不同于其他报告的del患者 (18p)。可能的解释包括 (1) 不同缺失区域的影响，(2) 由接近的基因引起的位置效应，或 (3) 由染色体易位引起的不同基因的中断。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We report on an association study between a tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in the GABR beta1 gene and manic-depressive illness in a Spanish population. This gene may be an important candidate for bipolar affective disorders since severe GABergic alterations have been described in patients. Although our results do not reveal a clear evidence for association between manic-depressive illness and GABR beta1, we have found significant differences between patients and controls in the female subpopulation.

背景与目标： 我们报告了一项西班牙人群中GABR beta1基因的四核苷酸重复多态性与躁狂抑郁症之间的关联研究。该基因可能是双相情感障碍的重要候选者，因为已经在患者中描述了严重的GABergic改变。尽管我们的结果并未揭示出躁狂抑郁症与GABR beta1之间存在关联的明确证据，但我们发现女性亚群的患者与对照组之间存在显着差异。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Rhodopseudomonas palustris is a purple, facultatively phototrophic bacterium that uses hydrogen gas as an electron donor for carbon dioxide fixation during photoautotrophic growth or for ammonia synthesis during nitrogen fixation. It also uses hydrogen as an electron supplement to enable the complete assimilation of oxidized carbon compounds, such as malate, into cell material during photoheterotrophic growth. The R. palustris genome predicts a membrane-bound nickel-iron uptake hydrogenase and several regulatory proteins to control hydrogenase synthesis. There is also a novel sensor kinase gene (RPA0981) directly adjacent to the hydrogenase gene cluster. Here we show that the R. palustris regulatory sensor hydrogenase HupUV acts in conjunction with the sensor kinase-response regulator protein pair HoxJ-HoxA to activate hydrogenase expression in response to hydrogen gas. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the HupUV-HoxJA regulatory system also controls the expression of genes encoding a predicted dicarboxylic acid transport system, a putative formate transporter, and a glutamine synthetase. RPA0981 had a small effect in repressing hydrogenase synthesis. We also determined that the two-component system RegS-RegR repressed expression of the uptake hydrogenase, probably in response to changes in intracellular redox status. Transcriptome analysis indicated that about 30 genes were differentially expressed in R. palustris cells that utilized hydrogen when growing photoheterotrophically on malate under nitrogen-fixing conditions compared to a mutant strain that lacked uptake hydrogenase. From this it appears that the recycling of reductant in the form of hydrogen does not have extensive nonspecific effects on gene expression in R. palustris.

背景与目标： : 红假单胞菌 (Rhodopseudomonas palustris) 是一种紫色的兼性光养细菌，在光自养生长过程中使用氢气作为电子供体进行二氧化碳固定或在固氮过程中进行氨合成。它还使用氢作为电子补充剂，以使氧化的碳化合物 (例如苹果酸盐) 在光异养生长过程中完全同化为细胞材料。R. palustris基因组预测了膜结合的镍铁吸收氢化酶和几种控制氢化酶合成的调节蛋白。还有一个新的传感器激酶基因 (RPA0981) 直接与氢化酶基因簇相邻。在这里，我们显示了R. palustris调节传感器氢化酶HupUV与传感器激酶响应调节蛋白对HoxJ-HoxA共同作用，以响应氢气激活氢化酶表达。转录组分析表明，HupUV-HoxJA调节系统还控制编码预测的二羧酸转运系统，推定的甲酸转运蛋白和谷氨酰胺合成酶的基因的表达。RPA0981在抑制氢化酶合成方面的作用很小。我们还确定，两组分系统RegS-RegR抑制了摄取氢化酶的表达，可能是对细胞内氧化还原状态变化的响应。转录组分析表明，与缺乏摄取氢化酶的突变菌株相比，在固氮条件下在苹果酸上光异养生长时利用氢的R. palustris细胞中约30个基因差异表达。由此看来，以氢形式回收还原剂对R. palustris的基因表达没有广泛的非特异性影响。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:We examined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the P53 gene in bladder cancer, and investigated the role of the P53 gene on malignant progression of papillary tumors. In addition, the clonality of recurrent bladder cancer was examined. METHODS:LOH of the P53 gene was analyzed in 67 bladder cancers from 47 patients. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 3 polymorphic loci in the P53 gene, and analyzed with nonradioisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism (Non-RI SSCP) analysis. RESULTS:Out of 40 informative samples, LOH was detected in 13 samples, containing 4 of 7 in grade 3 (57%), 9 of 23 in grade 2 (39%), and none of 10 in grade 1 (10%). Statistical significance was observed between the LOH in grades 1 and 2, and in grades 1 and 3. An analysis of 5 cases showing malignant progression revealed that 3 (60%) showed an LOH in the primary tumor, and 2 showed LOH in recurrent tumors, in contrast to LOH found in 3 cases of 19 (16%) not showing malignant progression. Four cases with metachronous recurrence exhibited LOH; 2 at recurrent tumors, 1 only at the initial tumor, and 1 at both tumors. CONCLUSIONS:The alterations of the P53 gene were considered to correlate with tumor grade, and contribute to the malignant progression of bladder cancer. LOH in the P53 gene may serve as a clinical indicator for prognosis in superficial bladder cancer.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In a previous large scale screen for differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer, we identified a gene highly overexpressed in cancer encoding a novel protein with four K-homologous (KH) domains. KH-domains are found in a subset of RNA-binding proteins, including pre-mRNA-binding (hnRNP) K protein and the fragile X mental retardation gene product (FMR1). By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) the identified gene named koc (KH domain containing protein overexpressed in cancer) was assigned to chromosome 7p11.5. Two pseudogenes were localised on chromosome 6 and 11. The cloned koc cDNA has a 250 bp 5'-UTR, a 1740 bp ORF and a 2168 bp 3'-UTR. The AU-rich 3'-untranslated region of koc contains eight AUUUA and four AUUUUUA reiterated motifs. The deduced koc protein with 580 amino-acids has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of approximately 65,000 (65 K). The koc transcript is highly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines and in pancreatic cancer tissue as compared to both, normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis tissue. High levels of expression were as well found in tissue samples of other human tumours. As the KH domain has been shown to be involved in the regulation of RNA synthesis and metabolism, we speculate that koc may assume a role in the regulation of tumour cell proliferation by interfering with transcriptional and or posttranscriptional processes. However, the precise role of koc in human tumour cells is unknown and remains to be elucidated.

背景与目标： : 在先前对胰腺癌中差异表达基因的大规模筛选中，我们鉴定了一个在癌症中高度过表达的基因，该基因编码具有四个K同源 (KH) 域的新型蛋白质。KH结构域存在于RNA结合蛋白的子集中，包括前mRNA结合 (hnRNP) K蛋白和脆弱的X智力低下基因产物 (FMR1)。通过荧光原位杂交 (FISH)，将鉴定出的名为koc (含KH结构域的蛋白质在癌症中过表达) 的基因分配到7p11.5号染色体上。两个假基因位于6号和11号染色体上。克隆的koc cDNA具有250 bp 5 '-UTR、1740 bp ORF和2168 bp 3'-UTR。科威特石油公司富含非盟的3 '-非翻译区包含八个AUUUA和四个auuuuuua重申的图案。推导的具有580个氨基酸的koc蛋白具有约65,000 (65 K) 的相对分子质量 (Mr)。与正常胰腺和慢性胰腺炎组织相比，koc转录本在胰腺癌细胞系和胰腺癌组织中高度过表达。在其他人类肿瘤的组织样本中也发现了高水平的表达。由于KH结构域已被证明参与RNA合成和代谢的调节，因此我们推测koc可能通过干扰转录和或转录后过程而在肿瘤细胞增殖的调节中发挥作用。然而，koc在人类肿瘤细胞中的确切作用尚不清楚，尚待阐明。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Oral cancer is a neoplasm with some known causes. Proliferation genes are significant among its few pathogenetic and prognostic factors. Calcyclin is a cell-cycle-related gene, the function of which is still unclear. Its expression and that of Haras and histone-H3 have been investigated in an assessment of their pathogenetic role in squamous cell carcinoma. RNA extracted from the pathological and normal mucosa of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and benign lesions was reverse transcribed and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of all three genes in the pathological mucosa was enhanced in SCC only. This suggests that they may be involved in its pathogenesis and provides another parameter for the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions.

背景与目标： 口腔癌是一种已知病因的肿瘤。增殖基因在其少数致病和预后因素中具有重要意义。钙周期蛋白是一个与细胞周期相关的基因，其功能尚不清楚。在评估其在鳞状细胞癌中的致病作用时，已研究了其表达以及Haras和histone-H3的表达。从鳞状细胞癌 (SCC) 和良性病变患者的病理和正常粘膜中提取的RNA被逆转录并通过聚合酶链反应 (PCR) 扩增。仅在SCC中，病理粘膜中所有三个基因的表达均增强。这表明它们可能参与其发病机理，并为恶性和良性病变的鉴别提供了另一个参数。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We have constructed a physical map of a > 2-Mb region on mouse chromosome 6 that contains the natural killer gene complex (NKC). The map comprises a contig of 14 overlapping yeast artificial chromosomes onto which we positioned 25 NKC markers. NKC genetically linked genes encode > 17 proteins that directly control innate NK cell-mediated tumor lysis and disease resistance. Herein we show that Nkrp1 genes are clustered in a region flanked by A2m and Cd69 genes and that most Ly49 genes are clustered in a distal region -1 Mb distant. Importantly, syntenic intervals of mouse chromosome 6 and human chromosome 12p that include the NKC are conserved. NKC species conservation suggests that the human NKC may contain orthologues for the mouse viral disease resistance genes, Cmv1 and Rmp1. The high-resolution NKC map will facilitate investigation of NKC gene regulation and identification of phenotypically defined gene products that confer NK cell defense against viral pathogens.

背景与目标： : 我们已经在小鼠6号染色体上构建了一个> 2-Mb区域的物理图，其中包含自然杀伤基因复合物 (NKC)。该图谱包含14个重叠的酵母人工染色体的重叠群，我们在其上定位了25个NKC标记。NKC基因连接的基因编码> 17种直接控制先天NK细胞介导的肿瘤溶解和抗病的蛋白质。在本文中，我们显示Nkrp1基因聚集在A2m和Cd69基因两侧的区域中，并且大多数Ly49基因聚集在远端区域-1 Mb远处。重要的是，包含NKC的小鼠6号染色体和人类12p染色体的同义间隔是保守的。NKC物种保护表明，人类NKC可能包含小鼠病毒抗病基因Cmv1和rmp1的直系同源物。高分辨率NKC图谱将有助于NKC基因调控的研究和表型定义的基因产物的鉴定，这些基因产物赋予NK细胞针对病毒病原体的防御能力。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :By screening a pigeon genomic DNA library, we isolated a recombinant phage clone containing the alpha(A)-globin gene. The DNA sequence of the approximately 6kbp-long insert fragment of the phage clone was determined. The sequence suggested the existence of pigeon alpha(D)-globin gene located 3.1 kbp upstream from the alpha(A)-globin gene. The expression of the alpha(D)-globin in late embryo was also shown by the N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the intact globin chain. These results show that two adult alpha-globin genes, alpha(A) and alpha(D), exist in the pigeon genome, and the alpha(D)-globin is expressed at the late embryo stage. The stage-specific expression suggests the existence of regulatory elements and factors interacting to inhibit transcription at the adult stage.

背景与目标： : 通过筛选鸽子基因组DNA文库，我们分离出含有 α (a)-珠蛋白基因的重组噬菌体克隆。确定了噬菌体克隆的约6kbp长的插入片段的DNA序列。该序列表明存在位于 α (A)-珠蛋白基因上游3.1 kbp的鸽子 α (D)-珠蛋白基因。完整珠蛋白链的N端氨基酸序列也显示了 α (D)-珠蛋白在晚期胚胎中的表达。这些结果表明，鸽子基因组中存在两个成年的 α-珠蛋白基因 α (A) 和 α (D)，并且 α (D)-珠蛋白在胚胎晚期表达。阶段特异性表达表明存在调节元件和因子相互作用以抑制成年阶段的转录。