Polymorphisms in genes involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs in the Kazakhs of Kazakhstan

A list of SNPs that were not found in heterozygous or homozygous variants. (DOC 83 kb

Mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal profile of the Kazakh population from East Kazakhstan

Aim To study the genetic relationship of Kazakhs from East Kazakhstan to other Eurasian populations by examining paternal and maternal DNA lineages. Methods Whole blood samples were collected in 2010 from 160 unrelated healthy Kazakhs residing in East Kazakhstan. Genomic DNA was extracted with Wizard® genomic DNA Purification Kit. Nucleotide sequence of hypervariable segment I of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was determined and analyzed. Seventeen Y-short tandem repeat (STR) loci were studied in 67 samples with the Amp- FiSTR Y-filer PCR Amplification Kit. In addition, mtDNA data for 2701 individuals and Y-STR data for 677 individuals were retrieved from the literature for comparison. Results There was a high degree of genetic differentiation on the level of mitochondrial DNA. The majority of maternal lineages belonged to haplogroups common in Central Asia. In contrast, Y-STR data showed very low genetic diversity, with the relative frequency of the predominant haplotype of 0.612. Conclusion The results revealed different migration patterns in the population sample, showing there had been more migration among women. mtDNA genetic diversity in this population was equivalent to that in other Central Asian populations. Genetic evidence suggests the existence of a single paternal founder lineage in the population of East Kazakhstan, which is consistent with verbal genealogical data of the local tribes

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Gene Mutations Screening In Sporadic Breast Cancer Patients In Kazakhstan.

Background: A large number of distinct mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been reported worldwide, but little is known regarding the role of these inherited susceptibility genes in breast cancer risk among Kazakhstan women.Aim: To evaluate the role of BRCA1/2 mutations in Kazakhstan women presenting with sporadic breast cancer.Methods: We investigated the distribution and nature of polymorphisms in BRCA1 and BRCA2 entire coding regions in 156 Kazakhstan sporadic breast cancer cases and 112 age-matched controls using automatic direct sequencing.Results: We identified 22 distinct variants, including 16 missense mutations and 6 polymorphisms in BRCA1/2 genes. In BRCA1, 9 missense mutations and 3 synonymous polymorphisms were observed. In BRCA2, 7 missense mutations and 3 polymorphisms were detected. There was a higher prevalence of observed mutations in Caucasian breast cancer cases compared to Asian cases (p<0.05); higher frequencies of sequence variants were observed in Asian controls. No recurrent or founder mutations were observed in BRCA1/2 genes. There were no statistically significant differences in age at diagnosis, tumor histology, size of tumor, and lymph node involvement between women with breast cancer with or without the BRCA sequence alterations.Conclusions:Considering the majority of breast cancer cases are sporadic, the present study will be helpful in the evaluation of the need for the genetic screening of BRCA1/2 mutations and reliable genetic counseling for Kazakhstan sporadic breast cancer patients. Evaluation of common polymorphisms and mutations and breast cancer risk in families with genetic predisposition to breast cancer is ongoing in another current investigation.

The Genome Sequence of Yersinia pestis Bacteriophage φA1122 Reveals an Intimate History with the Coliphage T3 and T7 Genomes

The genome sequence of bacteriophage φA1122 has been determined. φA1122 grows on almost all isolates of Yersinia pestis and is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a diagnostic agent for the causative agent of plague. φA1122 is very closely related to coliphage T7; the two genomes are colinear, and the genome-wide level of nucleotide identity is about 89%. However, a quarter of the φA1122 genome, one that includes about half of the morphogenetic and maturation functions, is significantly more closely related to coliphage T3 than to T7. It is proposed that the yersiniophage φA1122 recombined with a close relative of the Y. enterocolitica phage φYeO3-12 to yield progeny phages, one of which became the classic T3 coliphage of Demerec and Fano (M. Demerec and U. Fano, Genetics 30:119-136, 1945)

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Gene Mutations Screening In Sporadic Breast Cancer Patients In Kazakhstan.

Background: A large number of distinct mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been reported worldwide, but little is known regarding the role of these inherited susceptibility genes in breast cancer risk among Kazakhstan women. Aim: To evaluate the role of BRCA1/2 mutations in Kazakhstan women presenting with sporadic breast cancer. Methods: We investigated the distribution and nature of polymorphisms in BRCA1 and BRCA2 entire coding regions in 156 Kazakhstan sporadic breast cancer cases and 112 age-matched controls using automatic direct sequencing. Results: We identified 22 distinct variants, including 16 missense mutations and 6 polymorphisms in BRCA1/2 genes. In BRCA1, 9 missense mutations and 3 synonymous polymorphisms were observed. In BRCA2, 7 missense mutations and 3 polymorphisms were detected. There was a higher prevalence of observed mutations in Caucasian breast cancer cases compared to Asian cases (p<0.05); higher frequencies of sequence variants were observed in Asian controls. No recurrent or founder mutations were observed in BRCA1/2 genes. There were no statistically significant differences in age at diagnosis, tumor histology, size of tumor, and lymph node involvement between women with breast cancer with or without the BRCA sequence alterations. Conclusions:Considering the majority of breast cancer cases are sporadic, the present study will be helpful in the evaluation of the need for the genetic screening of BRCA1/2 mutations and reliable genetic counseling for Kazakhstan sporadic breast cancer patients. Evaluation of common polymorphisms and mutations and breast cancer risk in families with genetic predisposition to breast cancer is ongoing in another current investigation

Recombinant <i>Vaccinia virus</i>-coded interferon inhibitor B18R: Expression, refolding and a use in a mammalian expression system with a RNA-vector

<div><p>B18R protein of <i>Vaccinia virus</i> binds to type I interferons and inhibits activation of interferon-mediated signal transduction. Cells which have unimpaired interferon signaling such as primary cell cultures or some industrially important cell lines are capable of development of an antiviral state. An establishment of the antiviral state limits replication of RNA-viruses and can suppress replication of RNA vectors. The interferon inhibitor B18R effectively prevents the establishment of the antiviral state. For this reason, B18R has become a ubiquitous component of protocols for epigenetic reprogramming which use transfections of RNA replicons or mRNA. Despite wide practical applicability, commercially available B18R is predominantly produced in cell cultures and little information has been published on a production and use of bacterially expressed B18R. Objectives of this study were to produce B18R in an <i>E</i>.<i>coli</i> expression system and to confirm the product’s biological activity by using it to maintain RNA-vectors in cell cultures capable of the antiviral state. The described method allows the expression and efficient refolding to obtain 10–100 mg of B18R from a small-scale culture and the production process is economically attractive compared to a use of an eukaryotic expression. To check for a presence of the biological activity of bacterially-expressed B18R the protein was used to support persistence of an autonomously replicating RNA-vector in a cell culture which is capable of the antiviral state. A RNA-containing virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) can serve as an efficient vector for heterologous expression in cell cultures, although its replication is sensitive to the effects of type I interferons which limit a range of cell lines for a use with this vector. The VEE replicon was utilized to direct an expression of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The producing replicon could persist in HEK293 cells for sufficiently long time only in presence of B18R, whereas addition of B18R not only allowed persistence of the replicon but also increased production from the replicon. A model product granulocyte colony stimulating factor accumulated to 35.5 μg/ml during a 7 day experiment. This work describes efficacious expression and refolding of the viral cytokine inhibitor and demonstrates a utility of bacterially-expressed B18R.</p></div

Accumulation of G-CSF in incubation media of HEK293 and BHK21 cultures transfected with a G-CSF-producing VEE replicon.

<p>Data for two producing cultures based on BHK-21 or HEK293 are shown. A presence of B18R in incubation media significantly increases yields of the product of recombinant expression (G-CSF) driven by the VEE replicon.</p

Part of the expression plasmid with a synthetic gene B18R.

<p>The deduced translation of recombinant B18R is shown.</p

SDS-PAGE of samples produced during purification and refolding of B18R.

<p>Panel A. Lanes: 1, a solution of inclusion bodies in an SLS-containing buffer; 2, a solution after 20-hour incubation in a presence of CuSO₄ for oxidation; 3, a sample of B18R after precipitation to remove SLS, dissolved in buffer A with 6M urea; 4–8, fractions (1 ml) collected during elution of B18R from an IMAC column. M—protein Mw marker (Sigma Cat. C1992), molecular masses of the marker’s bands indicated. Panel B. Results of ion exchange chromatography. Two lanes beside a marker’s lane were loaded with 10 ug of purified B18R. Arrow points at a band of B18R (Mw 38.9 kDa).</p