Potential Genetic Polymorphisms Predicting Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Sri Lankan Women: Comparison with Different Ethnicity

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder of young women with long-term metabolic risk and prevalence among pre-marital Sri Lankan women is 6.3%. Inheritance of PCOS is likely to be oilgogenic; the genetic basis remaining largely unknown in view of the complex pathophysiology. The genetics of expression of PCOS requires an in-depth study, particularly among Sri Lankan women who have a greater metabolic risk from an early age. The emergence of an unanimously accepted genetic marker for susceptible PCOS was affected based on inconsistent findings. In this review, we summarize the common genetic polymorphisms of PCOS from different countries and outline some genetic polymorphisms that are potentially associated with the risk of PCOS in Sri Lankan women. This information could uncover candidate genes associating with PCOS, which will be valuable for the development of novel diagnostic and treatment method

Expression, Docking, and Molecular Dynamics of Endo-β-1,4-xylanase I Gene of Trichoderma virens in Pichia stipitis

It is essential that major carbohydrate polymers in the lignocellulosic biomass are converted into fermentable sugars for the economical production of energy. Xylan, the major component of hemicelluloses, is the second most naturally abundant carbohydrate polymer comprising 20–40% of the total biomass. Endoxylanase (EXN) hydrolyzes xylan into mixtures of xylooligosaccharides. The objective of this study was to genetically modify Pichia stipitis, a pentose sugar fermenting yeast species, to hydrolyze xylan into xylooligosaccharides via cloning and heterologous extracellular expression of EXNI gene from locally isolated Trichoderma virens species. Pichia stipitis was engineered to carry the EXNI gene of T. virens using pGAPZα expression vector. The open reading frame encodes 191 amino acids and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a 24 kDA recombinant protein. The EXNI activity expressed by recombinant P. stipitis clone under standard conditions using 1% beechwood xylan was 31.7 U/ml. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate EXNI-xylan interactions. Free EXNI and xylan bound EXNI exhibited similar stabilities and structural behavior in aqueous medium. Furthermore, this in silico work opens avenues for the development of newer generation EXN proteins that can perform better and have enhanced catalytic activity

Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in selected populations from two previously high malaria endemic areas of Sri Lanka - Fig 3

<p>Colour code observations at varying G6PD activity levels in samples from Anuradhapura district (a) and Kurunegala district (b).</p

Agarose gel electrophoresis of methylation specific PCR.

<p>(A), (B) and (C): samples 1 to 8. (D), (E) and (F): samples 9 to19. Top panel, non methylated PCR (Non Met PCR). Middle panel, methylated PCR (Met PCR). Bottom panel, methylated triplet primed PCR (mTP-PCR). L: l kb DNA molecular weight marker (Promega), N: Negative control (without genomic DNA).</p

Distribution of colour code discrepancies according to age and gender.

<p>Distribution of colour code discrepancies according to age and gender.</p

Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the two Teaching Hospitals (n = 2059).

<p>Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the two Teaching Hospitals (n = 2059).</p

Distribution of G6PD enzyme activity according to age.

<p>Distribution of G6PD enzyme activity according to age.</p

Colour Chart.

<p>Colour Chart.</p

Electropherograms of samples 1–8 obtained from 3’ direct triplet primed PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis.

<p>(A)- (H): samples 1 to 8. Peaks in the eletropherogram indicate the number of CGG repeats in each individual.</p