MutS as a tool for mutation detection

MutS, a DNA mismatch-binding protein, seems to be a promising tool for mutation detection. We present three MutS based approaches to the detection of point mutations: DNA retardation, protection of mismatched DNA against exonuclease digestion, and chimeric MutS proteins. DNA retardation in polyacrylamide gels stained with SYBR-Gold allows mutation detection using 1-3 µg of Thermus thermophilus his6-MutS protein and 50-200 ng of a PCR product. The method enables the search for a broad range of mutations: from single up to several nucleotide, as mutations over three nucleotides could be detected in electrophoresis without MutS, due to the mobility shift caused by large insertion/deletion loops in heteroduplex DNA. The binding of DNA mismatches by MutS protects the complexed DNA against exonuclease digestion. The direct addition of the fluorescent dye, SYBR-Gold, allows mutation detection in a single-tube assay. The limited efficiency of T4 DNA polymerase as an exonuclease hampers the application of the method in practice. The assay required 300-400 ng of PCR products in the range of 200-700 bp and 1-3 µg of MutS. MutS binding to mismatched DNA immobilised on a solid phase can be observed thanks to the activity of a reporter domain linked to MutS. We obtained chimeric bifunctional proteins consisting of T. thermophilus MutS and reporter domains, like β-galactosidase or GFP. Very low detection limits for β-galactosidase could theoretically enable mutation detection not only by the examination of PCR products, but even of genomic DNA

Transcriptomic responses to wounding: meta-analysis of gene expression microarray data

Abstract Background A vast amount of microarray data on transcriptomic response to injury has been collected so far. We designed the analysis in order to identify the genes displaying significant changes in expression after wounding in different organisms and tissues. This meta-analysis is the first study to compare gene expression profiles in response to wounding in as different tissues as heart, liver, skin, bones, and spinal cord, and species, including rat, mouse and human. Results We collected available microarray transcriptomic profiles obtained from different tissue injury experiments and selected the genes showing a minimum twofold change in expression in response to wounding in prevailing number of experiments for each of five wound healing stages we distinguished: haemostasis & early inflammation, inflammation, early repair, late repair and remodelling. During the initial phases after wounding, haemostasis & early inflammation and inflammation, the transcriptomic responses showed little consistency between different tissues and experiments. For the later phases, wound repair and remodelling, we identified a number of genes displaying similar transcriptional responses in all examined tissues. As revealed by ontological analyses, activation of certain pathways was rather specific for selected phases of wound healing, such as e.g. responses to vitamin D pronounced during inflammation. Conversely, we observed induction of genes encoding inflammatory agents and extracellular matrix proteins in all wound healing phases. Further, we selected several genes differentially upregulated throughout different stages of wound response, including established factors of wound healing in addition to those previously unreported  in this context such as PTPRC and AQP4. Conclusions We found that transcriptomic responses to wounding showed similar traits in a diverse selection of tissues including skin, muscles, internal organs and nervous system. Notably, we distinguished transcriptional induction of inflammatory genes not only in the initial response to wounding, but also later, during wound repair and tissue remodelling

La Téne burial ground in Zeměchy (dist. Mělník)

Presented Bachelor diploma work is devoted to elaboration and evaluation of La Téne burial ground in Zeměchy near Kralupy nad Vltavou, which was excavated during archaeological rescue research in 2007. The purpose of work is study particular aspects of funeral rite in this burial ground and then it will be interpreted by using analogies. Part of work is also connecting the burial ground with La Téne settlement context in area of Knovíz stream. Key words Zeměchy - La Téne period - burial ground - Knovíz strea

Additional file 2: of Transcriptomic responses to wounding: meta-analysis of gene expression microarray data

Genes up- and downregulated in different wound healing phases. (XLSX 660 kb

Additional file 1: of Transcriptomic responses to wounding: meta-analysis of gene expression microarray data

The datasets included in the analysis. (XLSX 24 kb