No abstract available.
Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain* ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains* ; Immunoglobulins*

For the first time, the natural specimens of Abalone Oyster mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel. were collected and comparatively identified in Central Highland, South Vietnam. Pure isolation and fruitful cultivation of this mushroom were conducted for preservation of fungal gene resources and supply of precious foods and pharmaceutical material
Antineoplastic Agents ; Genes, Fungal

BMP-4 signaling is mediated through Smad proteins which may translocate to the nucleus to activate transcription. Little is known about how BMP-4 signaling regulates the transcription of its target genes, e.g., Xvent genes. Therefore, we isolated the genomic clone of a BMP-4 responsive homeobox gene, Xbr-1a/Xvent-2. This clone contains a promoter and three exons for the entire coding region. Using the primer extension, we identified the transcription initiation site corresponding to position -64 bp upstream to the ATG codon of the Xvent-2 gene. The promoter was linked to the luciferase reporter gene, and promoter activity determined by luciferase assay. The temporal promoter activity peaked between embryonic stages 13~17, in agreement with its temporal mRNA expression in the whole embryo. Through the serial deletion mutation, the upstream -235 bp of the promoter retains the full transcriptional activity, and is regulated by BMP-4 signaling. The present results suggest that the BMP-4 responsive element is located on the upstream 235 bp of the promoter.
Clinical Coding ; Clone Cells ; Codon ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, Homeobox ; Genes, Reporter ; Luciferases ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Deletion ; Smad Proteins ; Transcription Initiation Site ; Xenopus laevis ; Xenopus*

OBJECTIVE: Oocyte-specific homeobox 4 (Obox4) is preferentially expressed in oocytes and plays an important role in the completion of meiosis of oocytes. However, the Obox4 expression pattern has not been reported yet. In this study, we investigated the subcellular localization of Obox4 using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion expression system. METHODS: Three regions of Obox4 were divided and fused to the GFP expression vector. The partly deleted homeodomain (HD) regions of Obox4 were also fused to the GFP expression vector. The recombinant vectors were transfected into HEK-293T cells plated onto coated glass coverslips. The transfected cells were stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol and photographed using a fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: Mutants containing the HD region as well as full-length Obox4 were clearly localized to the nucleus. In contrast, the other mutants of either the N-terminal or C-terminal region without HD had impaired nuclear localization. We also found that the N-terminal and C-terminal of the Obox HD contributed to nuclear localization and the entire HD was necessary for nuclear localization of Obox4. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study, we demonstrated that the intact HD region of Obox4 is responsible for the nuclear localization of Obox4 protein in cells.
Fluorescence ; Genes, Homeobox ; Glass ; Meiosis ; Oocytes

Aims: The basal stem rot disease in oil palm is caused by the pathogenic Ganoderma boninense, which is infectious after mating and forming dikaryotic hyphae. This study was aimed to generate a mating-type biomarker for the detection of pathogenic Ganoderma species. Methodology and results: Mating-type region of Ganoderma was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primers flanking the mating-type region of other basidiomycetes. Amplified fragments were sequenced and were identified as the Ganoderma pheromone receptor gene of matB locus called the gprb2 gene. Using this biomarker, the pheromone receptor gene was detected in a total of 107 pathogenic Ganoderma spp. while the gene was not detected in the non-pathogenic Ganoderma lucidum. Phylogenetic tree analyses of the gene fragment encoding the partial amino acid sequence of gprb2 showed clades of close evolutionary relationship among the 107 pathogenic Ganoderma spp. Phylogenetic analyses using deduced amino acid sequences of the Ganoderma pheromone receptor b2 gene, gprb2 with homologous pheromone receptors of other basidiomycetous fungi revealed high conservation of this pheromone receptor within their respective taxonomy. Conclusion, significance and impact of study A potential mating-type biomarker was successfully identified that could detect pathogenic Ganoderma spp. The research findings will be helpful in oil palm screening to detect pathogenic Ganoderma spp. and gain further insight into the role of the mating-type loci of Ganoderma towards its pathogenesis in causing the basal stem rot disease of oil palm.
Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; Ganoderma

OBJECTIVETo test whether the diphtheria toxin A (DT-A) chain coding sequence linked to murine immunoglobulin Kappa light chain (IgKappa) promoter and enhancer have selective cytocidal effects on IgKappa producing cells.

METHODSThe diphtheria toxin A gene or beta galactosidase (beta-gal) gene were linked to a murine IgKappa promoter and enhancer to construct pcDNA3IgKappaDTA or pcDNA3IgKappaLacZ plasmids. These plasmids were transfected into IgKappa producing or non-producing cells by the liposome coated DNA method. Expression of beta-gal activity and effects on cell growth of transfected cells were assessed.

RESULTSThe beta-gal gene, under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, can express in all cell lines. Expression of beta-gal under the control of the IgKappa promoter was detected only in the IgKappa producing cell line, CA46. Expression of beta-gal was greatly suppressed when cotransfected with pcDNA3IgKappaDTA in CA46 cells. Cell growth of CA46 cells transfected with pcDNA3IgKappaDTA plasmid was significantly inhibited compared with CA46 cells transfected with pcDNA3IgKappaLacZ.

CONCLUSIONSelective killing of IgKappa producing cells can be attained by introducing the diphtheria toxin A gene under the control of IgKappa promoter and enhancer.

Diphtheria Toxin ; genetics ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Genes, Immunoglobulin ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; genetics ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Almost all patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have chromosomal translocation which can result in genetic variation. There are mainly five types of chromosomal translocations, involving the IGH gene translocation to 11q13 (CCND1), 4p16 (FGFR/MMSET), 16q23 (MAF), 6p21 (CCND3) and 20q11 (MAFB). It is possible that all IGH translocations converge on a common cell cycle signal pathway. Some MM develops through a multistep transformation from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to smoldering MM (SMM) and eventually to MM and plasma cell leukemia (PCL). Similarly to what Darwin proposed in the mid-19th century-random genetic variation and natural selection in the context of limited resources, MM clonal evolution follow branching and nonlinear mode. The failure of MM treatment is usually related with the minimal subclone which is hardly found at newlydiagnosed.
Clonal Evolution ; Cyclin D1 ; Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differently expressed Homeobox genes between adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland and normal gland tissue, and find out the effect of homeobox genes on oncogenesis and differentiation of adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland.

METHODSSix strictly paired specimens including adenoid cystic carcinoma and its surrounding normal gland tissue and two pairs of specimens including cell strain of adenoid cystic carcinoma and its surrounding normal gland tissue were established. Customized Oligo microarray which contains probes of 232 human homeobox genes was used to analyze and conclude two groups of different genes data. RT-PCR technique was used to examine the mRNA expressing level of highly suspected relevant genes of adenoid cystic carcinoma in different specimens. Obvious differently expressed Homeobox genes were found through statistical analyses.

RESULTSIn tissue specimens homeobox genes were found 67 up-regulated and 54 down-regulated, and in cell specimens homeobox genes were found 12 up-regulated and 15 down-regulated. One up-regulated gene and 7 down-regulated genes were found both in tissue and cell specimens, among which EVX1 and PITX1 were the most frequent. RT-PCI showed that there was statistical expressing difference between TGIF, EVX1 and normal gland tissue in ACC-M.

CONCLUSIONAs the key gene to cellular proliferation and differentiation, homeobox genes are closely relevant to the oncogenesis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Genes, Homeobox ; Humans ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms

Assessing the cell-type expression pattern of a certain gene can be achieved by using cell-type-specific gene manipulation. Recently, cre-recombinase-dependent gene-silencing tool, pSico has become popular in neuroscientific research. However, pSico has a critical limitation that gene-silenced cell cannot be identified by fluorescence, due to an excision of the reporter gene for green fluorescence protein (GFP). To overcome this limitation, we newly developed pSico-Red, with mCherry gene as a reporter outside two loxP sites, so that red mCherry signal is detected in all transfected cells. When a cell expresses cre, GFP is excised and shRNA is enabled, resulting in disappearance of GFP. This feature of pSico-Red provides not only cell-type-specific gene-silencing but also identification of cre expressing cells. Using this system, we demonstrated for the first time the neuronal expression of the Bestrophin-1 (Best1) in thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and TRN-neuron-specific gene-silencing of Best1. We combined adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying Best1-shRNA in pSico-Red vector and transgenic mouse expressing cre under the promoter of distal-less homeobox 5/6 (DLX5/6), a marker for inhibitory neurons. Firstly, we found that almost all of inhibitory neurons in TRN express Best1 by immunohistochemistry. Using pSico-Red virus, we found that 80% of infected TRN neurons were DLX5/6-cre positive but parvalbumin negative. Finally, we found that Best1 in DLX5/6-cre positive neurons were significantly reduced by Best1-shRNA. Our study demonstrates that TRN neurons strongly express Best1 and that pSico-Red is a valuable tool for cell-type-specific gene manipulation and identification of specific cell population.
Animals ; Dependovirus ; Fluorescence ; Genes, Homeobox ; Genes, Reporter ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neurons* ; RNA, Small Interfering

One type of important plant disease resistance, gene-for-gene resistance, is resulted from the interactions between products of the pathogen avirulence (Avr) genes and their matching plant resistance (R) genes. Avr genes have been cloned from a variety of pathogens including fungi, bacteria, viruses and oomycetes. No significant homology is found between sequences of the most cloned Avr genes and those of known proteins or between those of themselves. However, significant homology has been found between sequences of the cloned R genes and those of known proteins or between those of themselves. R proteins consist of similar domains. It has been reported that hypersensitive cell death and resistance, which are induced by interactions between products of different Avr/R gene pairs consisting of similar R genes but different Avr genes, are distinct in development speed, strength, and organ and tissue specificity. Avr genes have dual functions: Pathogens containing Avr genes are avirulent to plants carrying the matching R genes, while they are virulent in race, strain, pathovar or species-specific way to plants without carrying the matching R genes.
Bacteria ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Fungi ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Bacterial ; physiology ; Genes, Fungal ; physiology ; Genes, Viral ; physiology ; Plant Diseases ; genetics ; microbiology ; virology ; Plant Viruses ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Virulence