Trends of the Major Porin Gene (ompF) Evolution: Insight from the Genus Yersinia

OmpF is one of the major general porins of Enterobacteriaceae that belongs to the first line of bacterial defense and interactions with the biotic as well as abiotic environments. Porins are surface exposed and their structures strongly reflect the history of multiple interactions with the environmental challenges. Unfortunately, little is known on diversity of porin genes of Enterobacteriaceae and the genus Yersinia especially. We analyzed the sequences of the ompF gene from 73 Yersinia strains covering 14 known species. The phylogenetic analysis placed most of the Yersinia strains in the same line assigned by 16S rDNA-gyrB tree. Very high congruence in the tree topologies was observed for Y. enterocolitica, Y. kristensenii, Y. ruckeri, indicating that intragenic recombination in these species had no effect on the ompF gene. A significant level of intra- and interspecies recombination was found for Y. aleksiciae, Y. intermedia and Y. mollaretii. Our analysis shows that the ompF gene of Yersinia has evolved with nonrandom mutational rate under purifying selection. However, several surface loops in the OmpF porin contain positively selected sites, which very likely reflect adaptive diversification Yersinia to their ecological niches. To our knowledge, this is a first investigation of diversity of the porin gene covering the whole genus of the family Enterobacteriaceae. This study demonstrates that recombination and positive selection both contribute to evolution of ompF, but the relative contribution of these evolutionary forces are different among Yersinia species

POLYMORPHISM OF THE MATRIX METALLOPROTEASES 2 AND 9 AND AORTIC STIFFNESS IN ADULTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Aim. To study the parameters of aortic stiffness and polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteases genes MMP2 (-1306) and MMP9 (-1564) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) of young and middle age.Material and methods. Totally, 58 patients studied with AH, age 25-60 y.o., and 59 healthy volunteers. The pulse wave velocity (PWV) assessed, and augmentation index (arteriography on TensioClinic TL1, Hungary). The specimens of DNA extracted, from blood leucocytes, and gene typing of promotor regions of the genes MMP2 (-1306) and MMP9 (-1564).Results. Genotypes MMP2 (-1306) (CT and ТТ) are found in AH patients with the signs of metabolic syndrome (MS) 1,72 times more commonly than in controls (p=0,23). Genotypes MMP9 (-1564) (CT and ТТ) are slightly more common in the general AH group comparing to controls (OR=1,4; p=0,39). In AH patients with no MS signs the genotypes MMP9 (-1564) (CT and ТТ) are predominant and found 2,66 times more frequently, than in the healthy (р=0,04). In cases of high PWV in AH, genotype MMP9 (-1564) (СТ and ТТ) is found 1,9 times more often than in controls with AH and normal PWV with no statistical significance (р=0,14).Conclusion. The polymorphism MMP9 (-1564 C/T) finding in AH patients can be used for prediction of additional risk for cardiovascular catastrophes with the individualized monitoring of collected factors