A binary coding method of RNA secondary structure and its application

According to the three classifications of nucleotides, we introduce a sort of binary coding method of RNA secondary structures. On the basis of this representation, we can reduce a RNA secondary structure into three binary digit sequences. We also propose coding rules based on the exclusive‐OR operation. Associating with the proposed coding rules, we can judge the mutation between bases or between base and base pair, and make sequence alignment easily. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009     

分子动力学模拟残基突变对芳香烃受体配体结合区的影响

芳香烃受体(Aryl hydrocarbon receptor,AhR)属于配体依赖性的转录因子蛋白。本文通过对AhR配体结合区域(Ligand binding domain,LBD)的结构功能及物种特异性分析,发现在其结合腔口有一些关键残基可能起到"门控"作用,进一步将野生型(WT)和3个突变模型(Phe289Ala、Tyr316Ala、Ile319Ala)进行分子动力学模拟,从蛋白稳定性、蛋白结构变化、蛋白结合腔变化及蛋白和配体结合能力4个方面分析3个残基的门控作用。研究发现,Phe289、Tyr316、Ile319氨基酸残基通过形成疏水作用为AhR LBD起到"门控"作用;而将这些氨基酸分别突变后,其蛋白稳定性降低,整体运动性增加,配体亲和力减弱,其中Tyr316、Ile319对腔内体积影响较大,Phe289使腔内环境稳定性降低。本研究可为基于芳香烃受体的药物设计提供相关理论指导。     

Mutation scanning analysis of genetic variation within and among Echinococcus species: Implications and future prospects

Adult tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus (family Taeniidae) occur in the small intestines of carnivorous definitive hosts and are transmitted to particular intermediate mammalian hosts, in which they develop as fluid‐filled larvae (cysts) in internal organs (usually lung and liver), causing the disease echinococcosis. Echinococcus species are of major medical importance and also cause losses to the meat and livestock industries, mainly due to the condemnation of infected offal. Decisions regarding the treatment and control of echinococcosis rely on the accurate identification of species and population variants (strains). Conventional, phenetic methods for specific identification have some significant limitations. Despite advances in the development of molecular tools, there has been limited application of mutation scanning methods to species of Echinococcus. Here, we briefly review key genetic markers used for the identification of Echinococcus species and techniques for the analysis of genetic variation within and among populations, and the diagnosis of echinococcosis. We also discuss the benefits of utilizing mutation scanning approaches to elucidate the population genetics and epidemiology of Echinococcus species. These benefits are likely to become more evident following the complete characterization of the genomes of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis.     

He-Ne激光选育高木质素降解率的白腐真菌Lx

用He-Ne激光对一株木质素降解活性较高的白腐真菌L₁进行选育.将该菌的菌丝体和原生质体多次照射诱变,结果得出:在波长632.5nm,用功率为6mW和7mW照射该菌的菌丝体,选育出的菌株L₆和L₇木质素降解率可达38.1%和39.88%,比出发菌株L₁提高了33%和39%.用功率9mW的He-Ne激光辐照原生质体,照射20min时,原生质体致死率已达100%.在照射时间为10min时,选育出一株木质素降解率达43.03%的菌株L_x,比出发菌株L₁提高了50%.同工酶分析显示该菌株发生了稳定的遗传突变.     

Effects of gamma irradiation on the shoot length of Cicer seeds

The effects of radiation on the shoot and root lengths of germinated seedling of irradiated seeds of Cicer species, i.e. three kabuli types and four desi types of cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum Ladiz.) and 2 annual wild types (C. reticulatum Ladiz. and C. bijugum K.H. Rech.) were investigated. The seeds were irradiated with a ⁶⁰Co gamma source using 0, 200, 300 and 400 Gy doses at 1.66 kGy h⁻¹. At 200 Gy minor effects could be observed, but at 400 Gy an obvious depression of shoot length was observed. The kabuli types were more affected than the desi ones. The critical dose that prevented the shoot and root elongation varied among species and also ranged from genotypes to genotype within species.     

Differential evolution algorithms using hybrid mutation

Differential evolution (DE) has gained a lot of attention from the global optimization research community. It has proved to be a very robust algorithm for solving non-differentiable and non-convex global optimization problems. In this paper, we propose some modifications to the original algorithm. Specifically, we use the attraction-repulsion concept of electromagnetism-like (EM) algorithm to boost the mutation operation of the original differential evolution. We carried out a numerical study using a set of 50 test problems, many of which are inspired by practical applications. Results presented show the potential of this new approach.     

BRCA1 mutation screening using restriction endonuclease fingerprinting-single-strand conformation polymorphism in an automated capillary electrophoresis system

Efficient mutation scanning techniques are needed for the rapid detection of novel disease-associated mutations and rare-sequence variants of putative importance. The large size of the breast cancer 1 gene (BRCA1) and the many mutations found throughout its entire coding sequence make screening for mutations in this gene particularly challenging. We have developed a method for screening exon 11 of the BRCA1 gene based on restriction enzyme digestion of fluorescence-labeled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) using an automated capillary electrophoresis system, denoted capillary restriction endonuclease fingerprinting (REF)-SSCP electrophoresis. Using this strategy on a control set of samples, we were able to detect 17 of 18 known sequence alterations. The method was then applied to screen 73 Norwegian females with family histories of breast and/or ovarian cancer. A total of 172 sequence alterations were detected, including substitutions, insertions, and deletions. One novel substitution of unknown function was identified. Sequencing of all samples negative in the capillary REF-SSCP system gave no additional mutations confirming the high sensitivity of the described methodology. Capillary REF-SSCP electrophoresis appeared as a technically convenient technique, requiring amplification of fewer PCR fragments than traditional SSCP. The novel strategy allows high-throughput mutation scanning without radioactive labeling and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).     

Mutation scanning-coupled analysis of haplotypic variability in mitochondrial DNA regions reveals low gene flow between human and porcine Ascaris in endemic regions of China

Haplotypic variation within and among the Ascaris populations representing six provinces in China was investigated. Mitochondrial DNA regions in the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes were amplified by PCR from total genomic DNA samples (n > 720) from Ascaris individuals from humans and pigs, and subjected to mutation scanning and subsequent selective sequencing. For the cox1, ten different electrophoretic profiles were recorded for human Ascaris, and the same number for pig Ascaris, one of them being common to both host species. For the nad1, 11 different profiles were detected for human Ascaris, and 15 for pig Ascaris. Having defined all haplotypes (20 for pcox1 and 26 for pnad1) by sequencing, their frequencies were estimated in each of the two host species and each of the six provinces. For each mitochondrial region, the frequency of the different haplotypes varied considerably, depending on host species and geographical origin. Analysis of the sequence data (representing all haplotypes for each mitochondrial locus) by F-statistics indicated restricted gene flow between human Ascaris and pig Ascaris, and supported the conclusions from previous molecular epidemiological investigations that pigs are not a significant source of Ascaris infection in humans in endemic regions.