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Bp Sequence (bp + sequence)
Selected AbstractsHuman ameloblastin gene: genomic organization and mutation analysis in amelogenesis imperfecta patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2001Carina Kärrman Mårdh A gene encoding the enamel protein ameloblastin (AMBN) was recently localized to a region on chromosome 4q21 containing a gene for the inherited enamel defect local hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta (AIH2). Ameloblastin protein is located at the Tomes processes of secretory ameloblasts and in the sheath space between rod-interrod enamel, and the AMBN gene therefore represents a viable candidate gene for local hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). In this study, the genomic organization of human AMBN was characterized. The gene was shown to consist of 13 exons and 12 introns. An alternatively spliced 45 bp sequence was shown not to represent a separate exon and is most likely spliced by the use of a cryptic splice site. The finding that there were no recombinations between an intragenic microsatellite and AIH2 encouraged us to evaluate this gene's potential role as a candidate gene for local hypoplastic AI. Mutation screening was performed on all 13 exons in 20 families and 8 sporadic cases with 6 different forms of AI. DNA variants were found but none that was associated exclusively with local hypoplastic AI or any of the other variants of AI in the identified Swedish families. This study excludes the coding regions and the splice sites of AMBN from a causative role in the pathogenesis of AIH2. [source] Functionally important structural elements of the cyanobacterial clock-related protein PexGENES TO CELLS, Issue 1 2009Shunsuke Kurosawa Pex, a clock-related protein involved in the input pathway of the cyanobacterial circadian clock system, suppresses the expression of clock gene kaiA and lengthens the circadian period. Here, we determined the crystal structure of Anabaena Pex (AnaPex; Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120) and Synechococcus Pex (SynPex; Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942). Pex is a homodimer that forms a winged-helix structure. Using the DNase I protection and electrophoresis mobility shift assays on a Synechococcus kaiA upstream region, we identified a minimal 25-bp sequence that contained an imperfectly inverted repeat sequence as the Pex-binding sequence. Based on crystal structure, we predicted the amino acid residues essential for Pex's DNA-binding activity and examined the effects of various Ala-substitutions in the ,3 helix and wing region of Pex on in vitro DNA-binding activity and in vivo rhythm functions. Mutant AnaPex proteins carrying a substitution in the wing region displayed no specific DNA-binding activity, whereas those carrying a substitution in the ,3 helix did display specific binding activity. But the latter were less thermostable than wild-type AnaPex and their in vitro functions were defective. We concluded that Pex binds a kaiA upstream DNA sequence via its wing region and that its ,3 helix is probably important to its stability. [source] Functional analysis of Drosophila melanogaster hexokinase Hex-A locus: multiple Initiator-like elements enhance DPE containing promoter activityINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007P. C. Jayakumar Abstract Flight muscle Hexokinase-A (HEX-A) is the most conserved and essential hexokinase isoenzyme among Drosophila species. In this study, the Hex-A locus, encoding the HEX-A isoenzyme, has been analysed for the elements regulating its expression. By sequencing the 5, ends of Hex-A cDNA amplified by 5, RACE, we identified a transcription start site that overlapped the Initiator and downstream promoter elements. A 214 bp sequence, encompassing transcription start sites and promoter elements, was required for minimal promoter activity. DNA sequence to the 5, end of the minimal promoter element did not demonstrate any promoter activity; however, its inclusion with the basal promoter element enhanced the promoter activity. Oligonucleotide competition and site-directed mutagenesis identified the Initiator-like sequences, TCAWT, present in this region that were responsible for enhancing the promoter activity. The Hex-A locus is expressed as a single protein in Drosophila cell line, whereas in pupae, larvae and adult flies, it is expressed as two distinct types. [source] Characterization of genomic DNA encoding cecropins from an Aedes albopictus mosquito cell lineINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002D. Sun Abstract We used cDNA probes from Aedes albopictus mosquito cecropins AalCecA, B, and C to obtain genomic DNA copies and flanking DNA. Two gene copies (AalCecA1 and A2, AalCecB1 and B2, AalCecC1 and C2) encoding each of the three mature cecropin peptides were recovered. All these genes had a similar organization, into two exons interrupted by a single short intron. AalCecA1 and AalCecA2 encode mature protein products that differ by one amino acid residue, while AalCecB1 and AalCecB2, AalCecC1 and AalCecC2 encode identical mature cecropin peptides, respectively. The AalCecB and C gene pairs each share a common intergenic region of approximately 1 kb, with the two coding regions transcribed in opposite directions. With the exception of small insertions/deletions, the intergenic spacer region was highly conserved between the B1/C1 and B2/C2 clones. In transfected cells, 0.8 kb of upstream sequence was sufficient for inducible expression of AalCecA1. Within this region, a 28 bp sequence at positions ,192 to ,165 upstream of the transcription initiation site was found to contain a potential regulatory element. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, synthetic double-stranded DNA containing this 28 bp sequence retarded protein in cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from C7-10 cells. [source] Sequence and organization of the mitochondrial genome of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma dimidiataINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001E. M. Dotson Abstract The 17 019 bp mitochondrial genome of Triatoma dimidiata is composed of thirteen protein coding sequences, twenty-two tRNAs, small and large ribosomal units, and a control region. The gene order and orientation are identical to that of Drosophila yakuba. The nucleotide composition is biased toward adenine and thymine (69.5% A + T). The 2.1 kb putative control region, known as the A + T rich region in most insects, has an A + T bias of 66%, but contains a 400 bp sequence that is 77.5% A + T and two other distinct regions: (1) one with a lower A + T bias (60.1%) and (2) a region of eight tandem repeat units. The identified 1.4 kb nuclear copy of mitochondrial sequences encompasses the string of Gs and the beginning of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene but lacks the 1.8 kb region spanning the eight tandem repeats and the 5, end of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit II gene. [source] Thymidylate synthase polymorphisms and colon cancer: Associations with tumor stage, tumor characteristics and survivalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2007Karen Curtin Abstract Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism, a pathway that is important in colorectal carcinogenesis. We investigated the role of functional polymorphisms in the TS 5,-UTR promoter enhancer region (TSER, 3 or 2 repeats of a 28-bp sequence) and the 3,-UTR (1494delTTAAAG) and their association with colon tumor characteristics, including tumor stage and acquired mutations in p53, Ki- ras and microsatellite instability. Data from a population-based incident case,control colon cancer study in northern California, Utah and Minnesota (1,206 cases, 1,962 controls) was analyzed using unordered polytomous logistic regression models. In both men and women, individuals with variant TS alleles were at reduced risk of having an advanced stage tumor (metastatic disease: OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.2,0.6 vs. wildtype TSER and 3,-UTR). Stage-adjusted survival did not differ by genotype. Men with 1 or 2 variant alleles in both the TSER and 3,-UTR genotypes had a 50% reduced risk of a p53 -positive tumor (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3,0.9 vs. homozygous wildtype TSER and 3,-UTR). Women with 1 or 2 variant alleles for either the TSER or 3,-UTR polymorphism had reduced risk of having any colon tumor that did not vary by mutation status. This study provides some support for associations between TS genotype and colon cancer tumor characteristics. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Identification of a novel single nucleotide polymorphism in the first tandem repeat sequence of the thymidylate synthase 2R alleleINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 9 2007Lisa F. Lincz Abstract Thymidylate synthase (TS) activity is an important determinant of response to chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidine prodrugs and its expression is largely determined by the number of functional upstream stimulatory factor (USF) E-box consensus elements present in the 5,regulatory region of the TYMS gene. Two known polymorphisms in this area, a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) consisting of 2 or 3 repeats (2R/3R) of a 28-bp sequence and a further G > C single nucleotide substitution within the second repeat of the 3R, result in genotypes with between 2 and 4 functional repeats in most humans. Here, we identify a further G > C SNP in the first repeat of the TYMS 2R allele, which effectively abolishes the only functional USF protein binding site in this promoter. The frequency of the new allele was found to be 4.2% (95% CI = 1.4,9.6%), accounting for 8.8% (95% CI = 2.9,19.3%) of all 2R alleles in our patient cohort. Thus, we observed that the lowest number of inherited functional binding sites is 1 instead of 2 as previously thought, and could potentially be 0 in a homozygous individual. This would severely decrease TS expression and may have implications for predicting efficacy and toxicity of therapy with commonly used fluorouracil-based therapy regimes. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Identification of a novel human tissue factor splice variant that is upregulated in tumor cells,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 7 2006Hitendra S. Chand Abstract Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the prime initiator of blood coagulation and plays a critical role in thrombosis and hemostasis. In addition, a variety of tumor cells overexpress cell-surface TF, which appears to be important for tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. To elucidate the mechanism involved in the upregulation of TF in human tumor cells, a comprehensive analysis of TF mRNA from various normal and tumor cells was performed. The results of these studies indicate that, in addition to possessing a normal full-length TF transcript and minor levels of an alternatively spliced transcript known as alternatively-spliced tissue factor (asTF) (Bogdanov et al., Nat Med 2003;9:458,62), human tumor cells express additional full-length TF transcripts that are also generated by alternative splicing. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5,-rapid amplification of cDNA ends- (5,-RACE) based analyses of cytoplasmic RNA from normal and tumor cells revealed that there is alternative splicing of the first intron between exon I and exon II resulting in 2 additional TF transcripts. One of the transcripts has an extended exon I with inclusion of most of the first TF intron (955 bp), while the second transcript is formed by the insertion of a 495 bp sequence, referred to as exon IA, derived from an internal sequence of the first intron. The full length TF transcript with alternatively spliced novel exon IA, referred to as alternative exon 1A-tissue factor (TF-A), represented ,1% of the total TF transcripts in normal cells, but constituted 7,10% of the total TF transcript in tumor cells. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that cultured human tumor cells contain 10,25-fold more copy numbers of TF-A in comparison to normal, untransformed cells. We propose that high-level expression of the novel TF-A transcript, preferentially in tumor cells, may have utility in the diagnosis and staging of a variety of solid tumors. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] FRNK, the autonomously expressed C-terminal region of focal adhesion kinase, is uniquely regulated in vascular smooth muscle: Analysis of expression in transgenic miceJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2005Haruko Hayasaka Abstract FRNK, the autonomously expressed carboxyl-terminal region of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), is expressed in tissues that are rich in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Here we report the generation of transgenic mice harboring the putative FRNK promoter fused to LacZ and examine the promoter activity in situ via expression of ,-galactosidase. The transgenic mice exhibited expression of ,-galactosidase predominantly in arterial VSMCs in large and small blood vessels of major organs. Upregulation of ,-galactosidase activity was observed in tunica media following carotid injury, indicating that the FRNK promoter is activated in VSMCs in response to injury. Robust expression of ,-galactosidase in blood vessels was also detected in the developing embryo. However, expression was also observed in the midline, the nose and skin epidermis, indicating distinct transcriptional regulation of the FRNK promoter in embryogenesis. To analyze FRNK expression in vitro, we identified a 116 bp sequence in the FRNK promoter that was sufficient to function as an enhancer when fused to the minimal actin promoter and expressed in cultured smooth muscle cells. Mutation of AP-1 and NF-E2 binding consensus sequences within this element abrogated enhancer activity, supporting the involvement of this promoter element in VSMC expression of FRNK. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Structural organization of the est,31 gene in a Colombian strain of Culex quinquefasciatus differs from that in CubaMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2002D. De Silva Abstract In Culex mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), the most common mechanism for resistance to organophosphorus (OP) insecticides involves amplification of one or more esterases. Two esterase loci are often involved, with different allelic forms co-amplified. Est,31 is co-amplified with est,1 in a Colombian (COL) strain of Culex quinquefasciatus Say. These two alleles co-migrate on acrylamide gels, often leading to misscoring of the phenotype as elevation of a single est, enzyme. By sequencing COL genomic DNA, we determined the est,31 gene length is 1623 nucleotides. The open reading frame of est,31 encodes a 540 amino acid protein, as for est,21 in strain Pel RR from Sri Lanka. The intron/exon boundaries of est,31 are identical to those of est,21, suggesting that they are alleles of the same locus. The COL est,31 gene differs from est,32 in strain MRES from Cuba, although they have equivalent electrophoretic mobility, showing that these two strains contain distinct resistance-associated amplicons. Twenty nucleotide differences were scored between the MRES partial 495 bp sequence and that in the COL strain, with two amino acid changes, demonstrating distinct est, enzymes. Our sequencing data show 95% identity between the three est, genes (each has six introns and seven exons) in OP-resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus. Amplified est,31 and est,1 are at least 10 kb apart in temephos-selected COL and 2.7 kb apart in Pel RR, whereas these non-amplified genes are only 1.7 kb apart in the non-selected parental COL stock, as in Pel SS (susceptible Sri Lankan strain), demonstrating that this region of the genome is susceptible to expansion and contraction. [source] Patterns of variation at a mitochondrial sequence-tagged-site locus provides new insights into the postglacial history of European Pinus sylvestris populationsMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 9 2000N. Soranzo Abstract Due to their maternal mode of inheritance, mitochondrial markers can be regarded as almost ,ideal' tools in evolutionary studies of conifer populations. In the present study, polymorphism was analysed at one mitochondrial intron (nad 1, exon B/C) in 23 native European Pinus sylvestris populations. In a preliminary screening for variation using a polymerase chain reaction,restriction fragment length polymorphism approach, two length variants were identified. By fully sequencing the 2.5 kb region, the observed length polymorphism was found to result from the insertion of a 31 bp sequence, with no other mutations observed within the intron. A set of primers was designed flanking the observed mutation, which identified a novel sequence-tagged-site mitochondrial marker for P. sylvestris. Analysis of 747 trees from the 23 populations using these primers revealed the occurrence of two distinct haplotypes in Europe. Within the Iberian Peninsula, the two haplotypes exhibited extensive population differentiation (,ST = 0.59; P , 0.001) and a marked geographical structuring. In the populations of central and northern Europe, one haplotype largely predominated, with the second being found in only one individual of one population. [source] Regulated site-specific recombination of the she pathogenicity island of Shigella flexneriMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Harry Sakellaris Summary The she pathogenicity island (PAI) is a chromosomal, laterally acquired, integrative element of Shigella flexneri that carries genes with established or putative roles in virulence. We demonstrate that spontaneous, precise excision of the element from its integration site in the 3, terminus of the pheV tRNA gene is mediated by an integrase gene (int) and a gene designated rox (regulator of excision), both of which are carried on the she PAI. Integrase-mediated excision occurs via recombination between a 22 bp sequence at the 3, terminus of pheV and an imperfect direct repeat at the pheV -distal boundary of the PAI. Excision leads to the formation of a circular episomal form of the PAI, reminiscent of circular excision intermediates of other mobile elements that are substrates for lateral transfer processes such as conjugation, packaging into phage particles and recombinase-mediated integration into the chromosome. The circle junction consists of the pheV -proximal and pheV -distal boundaries of the PAI converging on a sequence identical to 22 bp at the 3, terminus of pheV. The isolated circle was transferred to Escherichia coli where it integrated specifically into phe tRNA genes, as it does in S. flexneri, independently of recA. We also demonstrate that Rox stimulates, but is not essential for, excision of the she PAI in an integrase-dependent manner. However, Rox does not stimulate excision by activating the transcription of the she PAI integrase gene, suggesting that it has an excisionase function similar to that of a related protein from the P4 satellite element of phage P2. [source] The Neurospora circadian clock regulates a transcription factor that controls rhythmic expression of the output eas(ccg-2) geneMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Deborah Bell-Pedersen The circadian clock provides a link between an organism's environment and its behaviour, temporally phasing the expression of genes in anticipation of daily environmental changes. Input pathways sense environmental information and interact with the clock to synchronize it to external cycles, and output pathways read out from the clock to impart temporal control on downstream targets. Very little is known about the regulation of outputs from the clock. In Neurospora crassa, the circadian clock transcriptionally regulates expression of the clock-controlled genes, including the well-characterized eas(ccg-2) gene. Dissection of the eas(ccg-2) gene promoter previously localized a 68 bp sequence containing an activating clock element (ACE) that is both necessary and sufficient for rhythmic activation of transcription by the circadian clock. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), we have identified light-regulated nuclear protein factors that bind specifically to the ACE in a time-of-day-dependent fashion, consistent with their role in circadian regulation of expression of eas(ccg-2). Nucleotides in the ACE that interact with the protein factors were determined using interference binding assays, and deletion of the core interacting sequences affected, but did not completely eliminate, rhythmic accumulation of eas(ccg-2) mRNA in vivo, whereas deletion of the entire ACE abolished the rhythm. These data indicate that redundant binding sites for the protein factors that promote eas(ccg-2) rhythms exist within the 68 bp ACE. The ACE binding complexes formed using protein extracts from cells with lesions in central components of the Neurospora circadian clock were identical to those formed with extracts from wild-type cells, indicating that other proteins directly control eas(ccg-2) rhythmic expression. These data suggest that the Neurospora crassa circadian clock regulates an unknown transcription factor, which in turn activates the expression of eas(ccg-2) at specific times of the day. [source] cDNA nucleotide sequence coding for stearoyl-CoA desaturase and its expression in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo,MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2003S.L. Hsieh Abstract A cDNA sequence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) was determined from zebrafish (Danio rerio) and compared to the corresponding genes in several teleosts. Zebrafish SCD cDNA has a size of 1,061 bp, encodes a polypeptide of 325 amino acids, and shares 88, 85, 84, and 83% similarities with tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and milkfish (Chanos chanos), respectively. This 1,061 bp sequence specifies a protein that, in common with other fatty acid desaturases, contains three histidine boxes, believed to be involved in catalysis. These observations suggested that SCD genes are highly conserved. In addition, an oligonucleotide probe complementary to zebrafish SCD mRNA was hybridized to mRNA of approximately 396 bases with Northern blot analysis. The Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the SCD mRNA was expressed predominantly in the liver, intestine, gill, and muscle, while a lower level was found in the brain. Furthermore, we utilized whole-mount in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative RT-PCR to identify expression of the zebrafish SCD gene at five different stages of development. This revealed that very high levels of transcripts were found in zebrafish at all stages during embryogenesis and early development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 325,333, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Identification of a 150 bp cis -acting element of the AtNRT2.1 promoter involved in the regulation of gene expression by the N and C status of the plantPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 11 2007THOMAS GIRIN ABSTRACT The Arabidopsis thaliana AtNRT2.1 gene, which encodes a NO3 - transporter involved in high-affinity uptake by the roots, is a molecular target of several mechanisms responsible for the regulation of root NO3 - acquisition by the N status of the plant. All levels of AtNRT2.1 expression (promoter activity, transcript level, protein accumulation, transport activity) are coordinately up-regulated in the presence of NO3 - , and repressed by downstream N metabolites. Transgenic plants expressing the GUS reporter gene under the control of upstream sequences of AtNRT2.1 have been studied to identify elements targeted by these two regulatory mechanisms. A 150 bp sequence located upstream of the TATA box that is required for both stimulation by NO3 - and repression by N metabolites of the promoter has been identified. This sequence is able to confer these two regulations to a minimal promoter. Split-root experiments indicate that the stimulation of the chimaeric promoter by NO3 - occurs only at the local level, whereas its repression by N metabolites is mediated by a systemic signal spread to the whole plant. The activity of the cis -acting 150 bp element is also regulated by sucrose supply to the roots, suggesting a possible interaction between N and C signalling within this short region. Accordingly, multiple motifs potentially involved in regulations by N and/or C status are identified within this sequence by bioinformatic approaches. This is the first report of such a cis -acting element in higher plants. [source] Oligophrenin-1, a Rho GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) involved in X-linked mental retardation, is expressed in the enteric nervous systemTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Junhua Xiao Abstract Oligophrenin-1 is a RhoGTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP) that is involved in the regulation of shape changes in dendritic spines, and outgrowth of axons and dendrites in the brain. These changes in neuronal morphology are central to the mechanisms of plasticity, learning, and memory. Although the enteric nervous system also exhibits long-term changes in neuronal function, the expression and involvement of oligophrenin-1 has not previously been investigated. We show by RT-PCR analysis that oligophrenin-1 mRNA is expressed in the myenteric plexus (MP) of the guinea pig ileum. Sequencing of RT-PCR products showed that guinea pig oligophrenin-1 mRNA is 98% and 87% homologous to human and mouse oligophrenin-1, respectively, except that a 42 bp sequence is absent from the guinea pig mRNA. This 42 bp sequence codes for a sequence of 14 amino acids located near the carboxy-terminal end of the RhoGAP domain in the human sequence. An antibody that recognizes human oligophrenin-1 identified a 91 kDa protein band in rat and mouse brain lysates and in guinea pig sciatic nerve, and a 36 kDa protein band in both purified enteric ganglion cell and brain lysate from guinea pig. Oligophrenin-1 is localized specifically to neurons and varicose axons in the MPs and submucosal plexuses (SMPs) of the guinea pig and rat, but is not detectable in glial cells, smooth muscle, or other cell types. These findings indicate that oligophrenin-1 is expressed in the enteric nervous system, where it may regulate morphological changes in axons and dendrites, and thus modulate neuronal connectivity. Anat Rec Part A 273A:671,676, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mediation of interleukin-1,,induced transforming growth factor ,1 expression by activator protein 4 transcription factor in primary cultures of bovine articular chondrocytes: Possible cooperation with activator protein 1ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 6 2003R. Andriamanalijaona Objective Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and transforming growth factor ,1 (TGF,1) play major roles in osteoarticular diseases, exerting opposite effects on both the catabolism and anabolism of cartilage matrix. Previous findings suggest that IL-1 and TGF,1 could function in a feedback interaction. However, the effect exerted by IL-1 on expression of TGF, by articular chondrocytes is, so far, poorly understood. The present study was carried out to determine the influence of IL-1, on the expression of TGF,1 by bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs) in primary culture. Methods BAC primary cultures were treated with IL-1,, and TGF,1 messenger RNA (mRNA) steady-state levels and protein expression were measured by real-time reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Transient transfection of TGF,1 gene promoter constructs was performed to delineate the DNA sequences that mediate the IL-1, effect. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and supershift analysis were used to characterize the transcription factors binding to these sequences. Results Cultured BACs responded to IL-1, exposure by exhibiting an increase of TGF,1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. The effect was found to be mediated by a major 80-bp sequence located between ,732 and ,652 upstream of the transcription initiation site. EMSA and supershift analysis revealed that the transcription factors activator protein 4 (AP-4) and AP-1 specifically bound to the ,720/,696 part of this sequence under IL-1, treatment. Overexpression of AP-4 in the BAC cultures resulted in stimulation of the transcriptional activity of the ,732/+11 TGF,1 promoter construct through the same IL-1,,responsive element. Conclusion IL-1, induces an increase of TGF,1 in articular chondrocytes through activation of AP-4 and AP-1 binding to the TGF,1 gene promoter. These findings may help us understand the role of IL-1, in the disease process. Notwithstanding its deleterious effect on cartilage, IL-1 could initiate the repair response displayed by injured cartilage in the early stages of osteoarthritis through its ability to enhance TGF,1 expression by local chondrocytes. [source] Upstream genetic variant near INSIG2, influences response to carnitine supplementation in bipolar patients with valproate-induced weight gainACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 3 2009K Doudney Background: The protein product of INSIG2 is involved in cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism and homeostasis. Variation at rs7566605 near the gene INSIG2 has been associated with increased BMI. Objective: To evaluate the effect of rs7566605/INSIG2 genotype on the ability of valproate-treated bipolar patients (BMI , 25 kg/m2) to lose weight using carnitine supplementation during a 26-week lifestyle intervention study. Design: Forty-eight bipolar patients with clinically significant treatment emergent weight gain were genotyped at the rs7566605 SNP. Participants were randomised to l -carnitine (15 mg/kg/day) or placebo for 26 weeks in conjunction with a moderately energy restricted, low-fat diet. Weight and body fat percent were measured fortnightly. Waist circumference measurements and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were used to assess changes in body composition. Obesity-related biomarkers were measured at baseline and 26 weeks. Results: There was a significant interaction between rs7566605/INSIG2 genetic status and treatment with carnitine or placebo. Carnitine had no significant effect on body composition measures in G allele homozygous patients who lost between 0.97 and 2.23 kg of fat. However C allele carriers on average gained 2.28 kg when given a placebo. Carnitine supplementation in this group enabled average weight loss of 2.22 kg of fat (p = 0.01). Approximately half of this mass was in the vital truncal compartment (p = 0.002). Bioinformatic analysis detected that the SNP lies in a highly conserved 336 bp sequence which potentially affects INSIG2 gene expression. Conclusions: C-carriers at rs7566605, possibly regulating the homeostasis gene INSIG2, lost significantly less weight in this lifestyle intervention study. This effect was reversed by carnitine supplementation. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||