Search results for "Molecular sequence"
showing 10 items of 1972 documents
Characterization of the apical membrane antigen-1 in Italian strains of Babesia bigemina
2010
Babesia bigemina is a parasite endemic in different parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas. One of the few genes characterized in this species codifies for the Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA-1), a trans-membrane antigen recently identified. In this research, we characterized the ama-1 gene from three Italian B. bigemina strains, two B. bigemina strains obtained from Ragusa, Sicily (ITA1 and ITA3) and a third one obtained from Benevento, Campania (ITA2). Italian sequences were compared with those of the Australian strain obtained from the Sanger Institute web site and to strains from different parts of the world. The results obtained confirmed that this newly described ama-1 g…
Amplification, contraction and genomic spread of a satellite DNA family (E180) in Medicago (Fabaceae) and allied genera
2011
†Background and Aims Satellite DNA is a genomic component present in virtually all eukaryotic organisms. The turnover of highly repetitive satellite DNA is an important element in genome organization and evolution in plants. Here we assess the presence and physical distribution of the repetitive DNA E180 family in Medicago and allied genera. Our goals were to gain insight into the karyotype evolution of Medicago using satellite DNA markers, and to evaluate the taxonomic and phylogenetic signal of a satellite DNA family in a genus hypothesized to have a complex evolutionary history. †Methods Seventy accessions from Medicago, Trigonella, Melilotus and Trifolium were analysed by PCR to assess …
Recent speciation and secondary contact in endemic ants
2014
Gene flow is the main force opposing divergent selection, and its effects are greater in populations in close proximity. Thus, complete reproductive isolation between parapatric populations is not expected, particularly in the absence of ecological adaptation and sharp environmental differences. Here, we explore the biogeographical patterns of an endemic ant species, Cataglyphis floricola, for which two colour morphs (black and bicolour) coexist in parapatry throughout continuous sandy habitat in southern Spain. Discriminant analyses of six biometric measurements of male genitalia and 27 cuticular hydrocarbons reveal high differentiation between morphs. Furthermore, the low number of shared…
Functional analysis of the isoforms of an ABI3-like factor of Pisum sativum generated by alternative splicing
2009
At least seven isoforms (PsABI3-1 to PsABI3-7) of a putative, pea ABI3-like factor, originated by alternative splicing, have been identified after cDNA cloning. A similar variability had previously only been described for monocot genes. The full-length isoform, PsABI3-1, contains the typical N-terminal acidic domains and C-terminal basic subdomains, B1 to B3. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis revealed that the gene is expressed just in seeds, starting at middle embryogenesis; no gene products are observed in embryo axes after 18 h post-imbibition although they are more persistent in cotyledons. The activity of the isoforms was studied by yeast one-hybrid assays. When yeast was transformed …
New perspectives on the renal slit diaphragm protein podocin.
2011
Podocin is a critical component of the glomerular filtration barrier, its mutations causing recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. A GenBank analysis of the human podocin (NPHS2) gene resulted in the possible existence of a new splice variant of podocin in the kidney, missing the in-frame of exon 5, encoding the prohibitin homology domain. Using RT–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting followed by sequence analysis, we are for the first time able to prove the expression of a novel podocin isoform (isoform 2), exclusively and constitutively expressed in human podocytes. Furthermore, we reveal singular extrarenal podocin expression in human and murine testis. Our data show the…
Alternatively spliced transcripts of the thymus-specific protease PRSS16 are differentially expressed in human thymus.
2004
The putative serine protease PRSS16 is abundantly expressed in the thymic cortex and the gene is encoded within the HLA I complex. Although its function is not yet defined, the very restricted expression points to a role in T-cell development in the thymus. In this study, we show that the PRSS16 mRNA is alternatively spliced to generate at least five transcripts. Apart from the full-length sequence, we found two other isoforms with all putative active site residues of the serine protease, suggesting that those variants may also be functional. Semi-quantitative analysis of the splice variants in different tissue samples revealed a strong correlation between the specific formation of alternat…
Genomic Structure and in Vivo Expression of the Human Organic Anion Transporter 1 (hOAT1) Gene
2000
The human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1) plays a key role in the secretion of an array of potentially toxic organic anions including many clinically important drugs. Here we report on the genomic cloning of hOAT1. A human genomic library was used for screening of a PAC (P1 artificial chromosome) clone applying PCR techniques. Sequencing of several restriction subclones and of a PCR-generated clone revealed that the hOAT1 gene spans 8.2 kb and is composed of 10 exons divided by 9 introns. RT-PCR studies in a human kidney specimen led to the detection of two new splice variants, hOAT1-3 and hOAT1-4, showing a 132-bp in-frame deletion. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) we ma…
Serological identification and expression analysis of gastric cancer-associated genes
2002
Serological identification of tumour antigens by recombinant expression cloning has proved to be an effective strategy for the identification of cancer-associated genes having a relevance to cancer aetiology and progression, and for defining possible targets for immunotherapeutic intervention. In the present study we applied this technique to identify immunogenic proteins for gastric cancer that resulted in isolation of 14 distinct serum-reactive antigens. In order to evaluate their role in tumourigenesis and assess the immunogenicity of the identified antigens, we characterised each cDNA clone by DNA sequence analysis, mRNA tissue distribution, comparison of mRNA levels in cancerous and ad…
Developmental expression of two Haliotis asinina hemocyanin isoforms
2005
Hemocyanins are large copper-containing respiratory proteins that play a role in oxygen transport in many molluscs. In some species only one hemocyanin isoform is present while in others two are expressed. The physiological relevance of these isoforms is unclear and the developmental and tissue-specific expression of hemocyanin genes is largely unknown. Here we show that two hemocyanin genes in the gastropod Haliotis asinina, which encode H. asinina hemocyanin (HaH1) and HaH2 isoforms, are developmentally expressed. These genes initially are expressed in a small number of mesenchyme cells at trochophore and pre-torsional veliger stages, with HaH1 expression slightly preceding HaH2. These ce…
Muscleblind isoforms are functionally distinct and regulate α-actinin splicing
2007
Drosophila Muscleblind (Mbl) proteins control terminal muscle and neural differentiation, but their molecular function has not been experimentally addressed. Such an analysis is relevant as the human Muscleblind-like homologs (MBNL1-3) are implicated in the pathogenesis of the inherited muscular developmental and degenerative disease myotonic dystrophy. The Drosophila muscleblind gene expresses four protein coding splice forms (mblA to mblD) that are differentially expressed during the Drosophila life cycle, and which vary markedly in their ability to rescue the embryonic lethal phenotype of muscleblind mutant flies. Analysis of muscleblind mutant embryos reveals misregulated alternative sp…