Prenatal prediction of childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in Turkish families

Childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common neurodegenerative genetic disorders. SMN1 is the SMA-determining gene deleted or mutated in the majority of SMA cases. There is no effective cure or treatment for this disease yet. Thus, the availability of prenatal testing is important. Here we report prenatal prediction for 68 fetuses in 63 Turkish SMA families using direct deletion analysis of the SMN1 gene by restriction digestion. The genotype of the index case was known in 40 families (Group A) but unknown in the remaining 23 families (Group B). A total of ten fetuses were predicted to be affected. Eight of these fetuses were derived from Group A and two of these fetuses were from Group B families. Two fetuses from the same family in Group A had the SMNhyb1 gene in addition to homozygous deletion of the NAIP gene. One fetus from Group A was homozygously deleted for only exon 8 of the SMN2 gene, and further analysis showed the presence of both the SMN1 and SMNhyb1 genes but not the SMN2 gene. In addition, one carrier with a homozygous deletion of only exon 8 of the SMN1 gene was detected to have a SMNhyb2 gene, which was also found in the fetus. To our knowledge, these are the first prenatal cases with SMNhyb genes. Follow-up studies demonstrated that the prenatal predictions and the phenotype of the fetuses correlated well in 33 type I pregnancies demonstrating that a careful molecular analysis of the SMN genes is very useful in predicting the phenotype of the fetus in families at risk for SMA. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Split-hand/split-foot malformation with paternal mutation in the p63 gene

We report the prenatal diagnosis at 16 weeks' gestation of bilateral split-hand/split-foot malformation (SHSFM) with severe lobster claw deformity of hands and feet in a male fetus without associated malformations. A minor manifestation of SHSFM was present in the father with only mild bilateral foot involvement (syndactyly I–II; cleft II–III; left cutaneous syndactyly III–IV). Mutation analysis of the p63 gene on chromosome 3q27 showed a missense mutation 577A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K193E) in the father. This mutation has not been reported so far in SHSFM but resembles the previously reported 580A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K194E) in a family with SHSFM. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism and catalytic performance for direct dimethyl ether synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation over CuZnZr/ferrierite hybrid catalyst

Direct synthesis of dimethyl ether(DME) by CO_2 hydrogenation has been investigated over three hybrid catalysts prepared by different methods:co-precipitation,sol-gel,and solid grinding to produce mixed Cu,ZnO,ZrO_2 catalysts that were physically mixed with a commercial ferrierite(FER) zeolite.The catalysts were characterized by N_2 physisorption,X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),temperature programmed desorption of CO_2(CO_2-TPD),temperature programmed desorption of NH_3(NH_3-TPD),and temperature programmed H2 reduction(H_2-TPR).The results demonstrate that smaller CuO and Cu crystallite sizes resulting in better dispersion of the active phases,higher surface area,and lower reduction temperature are all favorable for catalytic activity.The reaction mechanism has been studied using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS).Methanol appears to be formed via the bidentate-formate(b-HCOO) species undergoing stepwise hydrogenation,while DME formation occurs from methanol dehydration and reaction of two surface methoxy groups.     

四环素胁迫对Shigella flexneri细菌四环素抗性基因抗性表达的影响过程

四环素(TC)抗生素在不同环境介质中已被广泛检出,为研究其对四环素抗性基因(TC-ARGs)丰度变化及表达水平的影响过程,以从活性污泥中筛选和纯化分离获得的弗氏志贺氏菌(Shigella flexneri)为研究对象,考察了不同浓度TC对其生长过程的作用影响,采用荧光定量PCR和逆转录PCR方法定量检测了不同抗性机制TC-ARGs,包括tetC、tetO和tetX基因的丰度变化及表达水平,并探讨了TC浓度与TC-ARGs丰度及其表达水平之间的相关关系.结果表明,在培养周期内(24 h),TC胁迫对Shigella flexneri细菌的生长具有抑制作用,细菌细胞浓度增长速率随TC暴露浓度的升高而降低,但对TC-ARGs丰度变化影响较小.TC胁迫能够促进Shigella flexneri细菌TC-ARGs的转录表达,tetC、tetO和tetX基因表达水平在整个培养周期内均先升高后降低.由相关性分析可知,TC浓度与TC-ARGs丰度及其表达水平之间相关关系不显著,但tetC和tetO基因丰度与其转录表达水平之间存在显著的正相关关系,表明其基因丰度一定程度上可用来衡量和评价其抗性表达水平.     

农作物品种单一化的影响

绿色革命是人与自然关系的产物--集约型农业与高产农业的一大壮举.但绿色革命带来的负面影响也是巨大的,主要是农作物品种单一化引起的农业种质资源的减少和农业生态系统的脆弱.本文就绿色革命的这一负面影响进行阐述并提出对策.     

假单胞杆菌抗镉基因的克隆

以pBR322为载体,将抗镉的假单胞杆菌R4染色体的抗镉基因克隆至大肠杆菌HB101,从5000个重组体中筛选出一株抗镉基因克隆株,命名为大肠杆菌HB101(pBC311)。重组质粒pBC311经PstⅠ酶解和琼脂糖凝胶电泳证实抗镉基因位于3.6kb长的PstⅠ片段上。克隆菌株可在含100μg/ml CdCl_2的L-肉汤中生长,其生长停滞期比受体大肠杆菌HB101短得多,说明克隆菌株含有抗镉基因。     

假单胞菌的氯儿茶酚1,2-双加氧酶基因的克隆和表达

 从土壤中分离得到1株降解2,4-二氯酚(2,4-DCP)能力较强的细菌菌株GT241-1,克隆了该菌株的3,5-二氯儿茶酚1,2-双加氧酶基因(dcpB),采用的克隆策略为:用Southern杂交对dcpB进行定位后,构建重组质粒,再用斑点杂交从重组质粒中筛选目的转化子.经序列测定得知dcpB亚克隆片段全长4303bp,其中dcpB基因编码区765bp.核苷酸和推测的氨基酸序列分析表明,dcpB与已在GenBank登记的相关基因有一定的差异.dcpB基因能够在大肠杆菌转化子中成功地表达有生物活性的酶.     

二氧化钛-水体系氧同位素分馏系数的实验研究

对TiO2的两种常见同质多像变体金红石和锐钛矿与水之间的氧同位素分馈系数的实验研究进行了系统的总结和评述。水热品化法（575～775℃）和水热氧化法（300～700℃）以及低温水解（22～50℃）获得的实验金红石－水体系分馏系数与增量方法理论计算结果相一致。低温水对法获得的锐钛矿－水体系分馏可能是一种不平衡分馏，其分馏系数的大小决定于锐钛矿的形成机制。同时，低温水解实验还揭示．在低温矿物形成和同质多像转变过程中可能存在氧同位素继承性，这对解释低温环境氧同位素数据具有重要的地球化学意义。