Identification and phylogenetic comparison of p53 in two distinct mussel species (Mytilus)

Author Posting. © The Authors, 2005. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B. V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology 140 (2005): 237-250, doi:10.1016/j.cca.2005.02.011.The extent to which humans and wildlife are exposed to anthropogenic challenges is an important focus of environmental research. Potential use of p53 gene family marker(s) for aquatic environmental effects monitoring is the long-term goal of this research. The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene that is fundamental in cell cycle control and apoptosis. It is mutated or differentially expressed in about 50% of all human cancers and p53 family members are differentially expressed in leukemic clams. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the p53 gene in two species of Mytilus, Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus, using RT-PCR with degenerate and specific primers to conserved regions of the gene. The Mytilus p53 proteins are 99.8% identical and closely related to clam (Mya) p53. In particular, the 3′ untranslated regions were examined to gain understanding of potential post-transcriptional regulatory pathways of p53 expression. We found nuclear and cytoplasmic polyadenylation elements, adenylate/uridylate-rich elements, and a K-box motif previously identified in other, unrelated genes. We also identified a new motif in the p53 3′UTR which is highly conserved across vertebrate and invertebrate species. Differences between the p53 genes of the two Mytilus species may be part of genetic determinants underlying variation in leukemia prevalence and/or development, but this requires further investigation. In conclusion, the conserved regions in these p53 paralogues may represent potential control points in gene expression. This information provides a critical first step in the evaluation of p53 expression as a potential marker for environmental assessment.AFM was supported by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, BC, Canada, and RLC was supported by STAR grant R82935901 from the Environmental Protection Agency (USA)

EFFICIENCY OF OUTCOMES IN SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR THE STAGE 5 OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Purpose. To evaluate the long-term anatomical and functional outcomes of surgical treatment of the terminal stage of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Material and methods. The analysis of long-term anatomical and functional results lensvitrshvartectomy (LVSHE) at the ROP stage V was performed at the Leningrad Regional Pediatric Clinical Hospital in 92 patients (180 eyes) aged from 2 to 17 years (mean 4.0±0.2). A method for an anatomical evaluation of efficiency for surgical treatment of retinal detachment is proposed on the basis of calculation of the retinal attachment coefficient (Cf), as the ratio of the area of the digital image of the attached retina to the total area of digital fundus images.Results. The complete anatomical success was achieved in 35.6% (64 eyes of 53 patients), partial – in 37.2% of cases (67 eyes, 51 children), total retinal detachment was inoperable in 27.2% (49 eyes, 42 children). In the first group of patients (mean age for the LVSHE – 3.9±0.2 months) the Cf was 0.5±0.04, in the second group (age – 7.9 ±0.1 months.) – 0.6±0.03, in the third group (age – 17.1±1.52 months) – 0.4±0.02. In the groups 1 and 2 indices were statistically not significantly different, while the area of retinal attachment in the group 3 of patients was significantly lower (p<0.001). A positive functional outcome (Vis≥0.001) was registered in 34 eyes, at the same time its share was significantly higher in eyes with retinal attachment in patients who had the surgery in the active ROP phase at the age of 5 months. The average visual acuity was 0.01±0.002.Conclusions. The results dictate the need for an individual approach to the choice of the period for the LVSHE and, if possible implementation of the surgical treatment as soon as possible in the maximum early terms from the beginning of retinal detachment development