S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in amniotic fluid as markers of abdominal wall and neural tube defects in the fetus

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is increased leakage of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein into amniotic fluid in pregnancies with neural tube defects, since both these proteins are produced by neural tissue, and to compare the value of these substances for detecting such defects with that of the more conventional techniques of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis. Amniotic samples from 25 mid-pregnancies (15–17 weeks' gestation) with neural tube defects (14 with open spina bifida and 11 with anencephaly) and from seven mid-pregnancies with abdominal wall defects were compared with a control material consisting of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 consecutive mid-pregnancy amniocenteses, with normal karyotypes and AFP concentrations. All of the above cases of abnormalities were primarily detected through increased AFP levels in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples from 13 pregnancies with fetuses with autosomal chromosomal abnormalities and seven amniotic fluid samples contaminated with blood were also included in the investigation. It is concluded from the results that the conventional AFP assay combined with AChE gel electrophoresis is the best method for screening amniotic fluid for neural tube defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Neither NSE nor S-100 assay alone proved to be superior for the detection of these cases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The S-100 assay, however, could give additional information in cases where AChE gel electrophoresis is not decisive; for example, in samples contaminated with blood.     

盐藻烯醇酶基因表达载体的构建及其转基因烟草的鉴定

以载体pCAMBIA2301为骨架引入pBI121中的GUS基因，构建了简便、实用的中间载体pCAMBIA2301G．将其中一个GUS基因用目的片段盐藻烯醇酶基因替换，构建了可以在植物中高效表达的载体pCAMBIA2301G—enolase，并将其转入根癌农杆菌EHA105中，采用叶盘转化法将盐藻烯醇酶基因转入模式植物烟草中．Southern杂交结果显示，盐藻烯醇酶基因已整合到植物基因组中，在转基因烟草中的拷贝数为2～4个．图6参10     

盐生杜氏藻烯醇酶基因启动子的克隆分析及胁迫转录应答

为了解盐生杜氏藻(Dunaliella salina)烯醇酶(Enolase)在渗透耐受中的具体功能,利用基因组步行方法和巢式PCR,从D.salina中克隆了烯醇酶基因DsENO 5’上游约2 000 bp的调控序列,并对其进行序列分析.分析表明,它包含多个与转录调控有关的保守序列(如CAAT-box,TATA-box),富含光﹑干旱及其它胁迫应答元件.利用实时荧光定量PCR的方法,研究了高渗﹑高温以及低温外界胁迫条件下DsENO的转录情况,发现其受高渗强烈抑制,高温显著诱导而低温微弱诱导.