Predicting Housekeeping Genes Based on Fourier Analysis

Housekeeping genes (HKGs) generally have fundamental functions in basic biochemical processes in organisms, and usually have relatively steady expression levels across various tissues. They play an important role in the normalization of microarray technology. Using Fourier analysis we transformed gene expression time-series from a Hela cell cycle gene expression dataset into Fourier spectra, and designed an effective computational method for discriminating between HKGs and non-HKGs using the support vector machine (SVM) supervised learning algorithm which can extract significant features of the spectra, providing a basis for identifying specific gene expression patterns. Using our method we identified 510 human HKGs, and then validated them by comparison with two independent sets of tissue expression profiles. Results showed that our predicted HKG set is more reliable than three previously identified sets of HKGs

Mass-Dependent and -Independent Fractionation of Mercury Isotope during Gas-Phase Oxidation of Elemental Mercury Vapor by Atomic Cl and Br

This study presents the first measurement of Hg stable isotope fractionation during gas-phase oxidation of Hg⁰ vapor by halogen atoms (Cl^•, Br^•) in the laboratory at 750 ± 1 Torr and 298 ± 3 K. Using a relative rate technique, the rate coefficients for Hg⁰+Cl^• and Hg⁰+Br^• reactions are determined to be (1.8 ± 0.5) × 10^–11 and (1.6 ± 0.8) × 10^–12 cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1, respectively. Results show that heavier isotopes are preferentially enriched in the remaining Hg⁰ during Cl^• initiated oxidation, whereas being enriched in the product during oxidation by Br^•. The fractionation factors for ²⁰²Hg/¹⁹⁸Hg during the Cl^• and Br^• initiated oxidations are α^202/198 = 0.99941 ± 0.00006 (2σ) and 1.00074 ± 0.00014 (2σ), respectively. A Δ¹⁹⁹Hg/Δ²⁰¹Hg ratio of 1.64 ± 0.30 (2σ) during oxidation of Hg⁰ by Br atoms suggests that Hg-MIF is introduced by the nuclear volume effect (NVE). In contrast, the Hg⁰ + Cl^• reaction produces a Δ¹⁹⁹Hg/Δ²⁰¹Hg-slope of 1.89 ± 0.18 (2σ), which in addition to a high degree of odd-mass-number isotope MIF suggests impacts from MIF effects other than NVE. This reaction also exhibits significant MIF of ²⁰⁰Hg (Δ²⁰⁰Hg, up to −0.17‰ in the reactant) and is the first physicochemical process identified to trigger ²⁰⁰Hg anomalies that are frequently detected in atmospheric samples

Genome-wide association study in Han Chinese identifies four new susceptibility loci for coronary artery disease

We performed a meta-analysis of 2 genome-wide association studies of coronary artery disease comprising 1,515 cases with coronary artery disease and 5,019 controls, followed by de novo replication studies in 15,460 cases and 11,472 controls, all of Chinese Han descent. We successfully identified four new loci for coronary artery disease reaching genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10(−8)), which mapped in or near TTC32-WDR35, GUCY1A3, C6orf10-BTNL2 and ATP2B1. We also replicated four loci previously identified in European populations (PHACTR1, TCF21, CDKN2A/B and C12orf51). These findings provide new insights into biological pathways for the susceptibility of coronary artery disease in Chinese Han population

Database Resources of the National Genomics Data Center, China National Center for Bioinformation in 2021

The National Genomics Data Center (NGDC), part of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), provides a suite of database resources to support worldwide research activities in both academia and industry. With the explosive growth of multiomics data, CNCB-NGDC is continually expanding, updating and enriching its core database resources through big data deposition, integration and translation. In the past year, considerable efforts have been devoted to 2019nCoVR, a newly established resource providing a global landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences, variants, and haplotypes, as well as Aging Atlas, BrainBase, GTDB (Glycosyltransferases Database), LncExpDB, and TransCirc (Translation potential for circular RNAs). Meanwhile, a series of resources have been updated and improved, including BioProject, BioSample, GWH (Genome Warehouse), GVM (Genome Variation Map), GEN (Gene Expression Nebulas) as well as several biodiversity and plant resources. Particularly, BIG Search, a scalable, one-stop, cross-database search engine, has been significantly updated by providing easy access to a large number of internal and external biological resources from CNCB-NGDC, our partners, EBI and NCBI. All of these resources along with their services are publicly accessible at https://bigd.big.ac.cn