Introns: The Functional Benefits of Introns in Genomes

Interactions of TRAF6 and NLRX1 gene polymorphisms with environmental factors on the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus vascular complications in a southern Han Chinese population

AIMS

To evaluate the effects of TRAF6 and NLRX1 polymorphisms and their interactions with environmental factors on the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) vascular complications in a southern Han Chinese population.

METHODS

Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in a case-control study to estimate risk factors of T2DM vascular complications. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and haplotype associations were also estimated.

RESULTS

The CA genotype of the NLRX1 rs4245191 was identified as a risk factor for T2DM macrovascular complications and diabetic cerebral infarction (OR=2.88, 95% CI=1.15-7.22, P=0.024; OR=4.00, 95% CI=1.04-15.38, P=0.043, respectively). A significantly lower T allele frequency in the TRAF6 rs16928973 was observed in T2DM patients with both microvascular and macrovascular complications compared with patients without any complication under the allelic model (T vs. C: OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.14-0.98, P=0.038). No significant differences in haplotypes, gene-gene interactions and gene-environment interactions were observed among T2DM vascular subgroup patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides evidence that the NLRX1 rs4245191 polymorphisms influence the risk of T2DM macrovascular complications and diabetic cerebral infarction.

The sociobiology of genes: the gene's eye view as a unifying behavioural-ecological framework for biological evolution

Although classical evolutionary theory, i.e., population genetics and the Modern Synthesis, was already implicitly 'gene-centred', the organism was, in practice, still generally regarded as the individual unit of which a population is composed. The gene-centred approach to evolution only reached a logical conclusion with the advent of the gene-selectionist or gene's eye view in the 1960s and 1970s. Whereas classical evolutionary theory can only work with (genotypically represented) fitness differences between individual organisms, gene-selectionism is capable of working with fitness differences among genes within the same organism and genome. Here, we explore the explanatory potential of 'intra-organismic' and 'intra-genomic' gene-selectionism, i.e., of a behavioural-ecological 'gene's eye view' on genetic, genomic and organismal evolution. First, we give a general outline of the framework and how it complements the-to some extent-still 'organism-centred' approach of classical evolutionary theory. Secondly, we give a more in-depth assessment of its explanatory potential for biological evolution, i.e., for Darwin's 'common descent with modification' or, more specifically, for 'historical continuity or homology with modular evolutionary change' as it has been studied by evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) during the last few decades. In contrast with classical evolutionary theory, evo-devo focuses on 'within-organism' developmental processes. Given the capacity of gene-selectionism to adopt an intra-organismal gene's eye view, we outline the relevance of the latter model for evo-devo. Overall, we aim for the conceptual integration between the gene's eye view on the one hand, and more organism-centred evolutionary models (both classical evolutionary theory and evo-devo) on the other.

The peptidylglycine-α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) gene rs13175330 A>G polymorphism is associated with hypertension in a Korean population

BACKGROUND

Peptidylglycine-α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) may play a role in the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is a hormone involved in the maintenance of blood pressure (BP). The objective of the present study was to determine whether PAM is a novel candidate gene for hypertension (HTN).

RESULTS

A total of 2153 Korean participants with normotension and HTN were included. Genotype data were obtained using the Korean Chip. The rs13175330 polymorphism of the PAM gene was selected from the ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) most strongly associated with BP. The presence of the G allele of the PAM rs13175330 A>G SNP was associated with a higher risk of HTN after adjustments for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and drinking [OR 1.607 (95% CI 1.220-2.116), p = 0.001]. The rs13175330 G allele carriers in the HTN group treated without antihypertensive therapy (HTN w/o therapy) had significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP than the AA carriers, whereas the G allele carriers in the HTN group treated with antihypertensive therapy (HTN w/ therapy) showed significantly higher diastolic BP. Furthermore, rs13175330 G allele carriers in the HTN w/o therapy group had significantly increased levels of insulin, insulin resistance, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol levels and LDL particle sizes compared to the AA carriers.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the PAM rs13175330 A>G SNP is a novel candidate gene for HTN in the Korean population. Additionally, the PAM rs13175330 G allele might be associated with insulin resistance and LDL atherogenicity in patients with HTN.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of four fish-specific CC chemokine receptors CCR4La, CCR4Lc1, CCR4Lc2 and CCR11 in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The chemokine and chemokine receptor networks regulate leukocyte trafficking, inflammation, immune cell differentiation, cancer and other biological processes. Comparative immunological studies have revealed that both chemokines and their receptors have expanded greatly in a species/lineage specific way. Of the 10 human CC chemokine receptors (CCR1-10) that bind CC chemokines, orthologues only to CCR6, 7, 9 and 10 are present in teleost fish. In this study, four fish-specific CCRs, termed as CCR4La, CCR4Lc1, CCR4Lc2 and CCR11, with a close link to human CCR1-5 and 8, in terms of amino acid homology and syntenic conservation, have been identified and characterized in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). These CCRs were found to possess the conserved features of the G protein-linked receptor family, including an extracellular N-terminal, seven TM domains, three extracellular loops and three intracellular loops, and a cytoplasmic carboxyl tail with multiple potential serine/threonine phosphorylation sites. Four cysteine residues known to be involved in forming two disulfide bonds are present in the extracellular domains and a DRY motif is present in the second intracellular loop. Signaling mediated by these receptors might be regulated by N-glycosylation, tyrosine sulfation, S-palmitoylation, a PDZ ligand motif and di-leucine motifs. Studies of intron/exon structure revealed distinct fish-specific CCR gene organization in different fish species/lineages that might contribute to the diversification of the chemokine ligand-receptor networks in different fish lineages. Fish-specific trout CCRs are highly expressed in immune tissues/organs, such as thymus, spleen, head kidney and gills. Their expression can be induced by the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFNγ, by the pathogen associated molecular patterns, PolyIC and peptidoglycan, and by bacterial infection. These data suggest that fish-specific CCRs are likely to have an important role in immune regulation in fish.

Genetic correlates of the development of theta event related oscillations in adolescents and young adults

The developmental trajectories of theta band (4-7Hz) event-related oscillations (EROs), a key neurophysiological constituent of the P3 response, were assessed in 2170 adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 25. The theta EROs occurring in the P3 response, important indicators of neurocognitive function, were elicited during the evaluation of task-relevant target stimuli in visual and auditory oddball tasks. Associations between the theta EROs and genotypic variants of 4 KCNJ6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to vary with age, sex, scalp location, and task modality. Three of the four KCNJ6 SNPs studied here were found to be significantly associated with the same theta EROs in adults in a previous family genome wide association study. Since measures of the P3 response have been found to be a useful endophenotypes for the study of a number of clinical and behavioral disorders, studies of genetic effects on its development in adolescents and young adults may illuminate neurophysiological factors contributing to the onset of these conditions.

Klf5 Mediates Odontoblastic Differentiation through Regulating Dentin-Specific Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression during Mouse Tooth Development

Klf5, a member of the Krüppel-like transcription factor family, has essential roles during embryonic development, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. This study was to define molecular mechanism of Klf5 during the odontoblastic differentiation. The expression of Klf5, odontoblast-differentiation markers, Dspp and Dmp1 was co-localized in odontoblastic cells at different stages of mouse tooth development and mouse dental papilla mesenchymal cells. Klf5 was able to promote odontoblastic differentiation and enhance mineral formation of mouse dental papilla mesenchymal cells. Furthermore, overexpression of Klf5 could up-regulate Dspp and Dmp1 gene expressions in mouse dental papilla mesenchymal cells. In silico analysis identified that several putative Klf5 binding sites in the promoter and first intron of Dmp1 and Dspp genes that are homologous across species lines. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that Klf5 bound to these motifs in vitro and in intact cells. The responsible regions of Dmp1 gene were located in the promoter region while effect of Klf5 on Dspp activity was in the first intron of Dspp gene. Our results identify Klf5 as an activator of Dmp1 and Dspp gene transcriptions by different mechanisms and demonstrate that Klf5 plays a pivotal role in odontoblast differentiation.

Functional characterizations and expression profiles of ADAR2 gene, responsible for RNA editing, in response to GCRV challenge in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

ADAR (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA)-mediated adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a critical arm of the antiviral response. The present study focused on the structural and functional characterizations of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) ADAR2 (CiADAR2) gene. The complete genomic sequence of CiADAR2 is 150,458 bp in length, containing 12 exons and 11 introns. The open reading frame (ORF) of 2100 bp encodes a polypeptide of 699 amino acids (aa) which contains three highly conservative domains - two N-terminal dsRNA binding domains (dsRBDs) and one C-terminal deaminase domain. The predicted crystal structure of CiADAR2 deaminase domain suggested a catalytic center form in the enzyme active site. CiADAR2 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in the fifteen tested tissues, and was induced post GCRV challenge in spleen and head kidney and C. idella kidney (CIK) cells. The ex vivo expression of CiADAR2 protein was verified by the Flag (tag)-based western blot assay. Antiviral activity assay of CiADAR2 was manifested by the delayed appearance of cytopathic effect (CPE) and inhibition of GCRV yield at 48 h post infection. Furthermore, in CiADAR2 overexpression cells, mRNA expression levels of CiIFN1, CiTLR7 and CiTLR8 were facilitated at different time points after GCRV infection, comparing to those in control group. Taken together, it was indicated that ADAR2 was an antiviral cytokine against GCRV and anti-GCRV function mechanism might involve in the TLR7/8-regulated IFN-signaling. These findings suggested that CiADAR2 was a novel member engaging in antiviral innate immune defense in C. idella, which laid a foundation for the further mechanism research of ADAR2 in fishes.