MGB probe assay for rapid detection of mtDNAl1778 mutation in the Chinese LHON patients by real-time PCR

Objective： Leber＇s hereditary optic neuropathy （LHON） is a maternally inherited degeneration of the optic nerve caused by point mutations of mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA）. Many unsolved questions regarding the penetrance and pathophysiological mechanism of LHON demand efficient and reliable mutation testing. This study aims to develop a minor groove binder （MGB） probe assay for rapid detection of mtDNA11778 mutation and heteroplasmy in Chinese LHON patients by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Methods： Forty-eight patients suspected of having LHON and their maternal relatives underwent a molecular genetic evaluation, with 20 normal individuals as a control group at the same time. A real-time PCR involving two MGB probes was used to detect the mtDNA 1 1778 mutation and heteroplasmy. A linear standard curve was obtained by pUCmLHONG and pUCmLHONA clones. Results： All 48 LHON patients and their maternal relatives were positive for rntDNA11778 mutation in our assay, 27 heteroplasmic and 21 homoplasmic. Eighteen cases did not show an occurrence of the disease, while 9 developed the disease among the 27 heteroplasmic mutation cases. Eleven did not show an occurrence of the disease, while 10 cases developed the disease among 21 homoplasmic mutation cases. There was a significant difference in the incidence between the heteroplasmic and the homoplasmic mutation types. The time needed for running a real-time PCR assay was only 80 min. Conclusion： This real-time PCR assay is a rapid, reliable method for mtDNA mutation detection as well as heteroplasmy quantification. Detecting this ratio is very important for predicting phenotypic expression of unaffected carriers.     

Naja siamensis, a cryptic species of venomous snake revealed by mtDNA sequencing

Because of possible variation in venom composition, an understanding of venomous snake systematics is of great importance for the optimization of antivenom treatment of snakebite patients. Intraspecific variation in the morphology of many venomous snakes complicates the definition and indentification of some species when allopatric populations are involved. Selectively neutral or near-neutral mtDNA sequences can reveal evolutionary relationships obscured by ecogenetically-caused morphological variation. We use comparative sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene to reveal the existence of a widespread, cryptic species of spiting cobra from southeast Asia. This species,Naja siamensis, is widely sympatric with other Asiatic cobra species. This may be of considerable medical significance, and calls for further research into venom composition in Asiatic cobras.     

2种三疣梭子蟹居群线粒体Cyt b和S-rRNA基因片段序列变异研究

目的：通过对2种三疣梭子蟹居群样线粒体C弘b和S-rRNA基因片段的序列分析,探讨其遗传变异,为种质资源的管理、保存和利用提供依据．方法：采集山东潍坊和福建厦门两个不同居群的三疣梭子蟹样,提取其线粒体DNA．由Genebank获得三疣梭子蟹完整线粒体DNA序列（登陆号：NC_005037）,设计扩增Cyt b和S-rRNA基因片段引物,经PCR扩增获得预期产物,纯化后测序．结果：以提取的线粒体DNA为模板扩增出特异性强的Cyt b和S-rRNA基因片段,与预期条带长度429bp和465bp吻合;2个基因片段的AT含量均高于GC含量;Cyt b基因片段有3个位点发生了突变,S-rRNA只有1个位点发生了突变;在两种居群的4个突变位点中,2个位置突变为相同的碱基,且所有突变位点均呈转换方式．结论：Cyt b基因序列比S-rRNA基因序列具有相对高的突变率;研究的2个基因片段的突变位点的碱基置换主要呈转换方式;来自2个三疣梭子蟹居群样本的线粒体S-rRNA基因的突变发生在同一位点且突变为相同碱基,表明2个居群具有较近的亲缘关系．     

蓖麻蚕蛹mtDNA的限制性内切酶图谱

采用碱变性法制备蓖麻蚕蛹ｍｔＤＮＡ，经九种限制性内切酶单酶和双酶酶解后，琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测酶切位点数和酶切片段长度。根据片段的大小确定消失片段与新生片段关系，通过对片段重叠、拼接、判断各片段邻近位置，从而构建了９种限制性内切酶、共２４个酶切位点蓖麻蚕蛹ｍｔＤＮＡ酶切图谱。