Journal of Genetics and Genomics

Immunity Genes and Susceptibility to Otitis Media: A Comprehensive Review

Rahul Mittal, Giannina Robalino, Robert Gerring, Brandon Chan, Denise Yan, M'hamed Grati, Xue-Zhong Liu

2014, 41(11): 567-581. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2014.10.003

Abstract (79) HTML PDF (2)

Abstract:
Otitis media (OM) is a middle ear infection associated with inflammation and pain. This disease frequently afflicts humans and is the major cause of hearing loss worldwide. OM continues to be one of the most challenging diseases in the medical field due to its diverse host targets and wide range of clinical manifestations. Substantial morbidity associated with OM is further exacerbated by high frequency of recurrent infections leading to chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Children have greater susceptibility to, and thus, suffer most frequently from OM, which can cause significant deterioration in quality of life. Genetic factors have been demonstrated, in large part by twin and family studies, to be key determinants of OM susceptibility. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on immunity genes and selected variants that have been associated with predisposition to OM. In particular, polymorphisms in innate immunity and cytokine genes have been strongly linked with the risk of developing OM. Future studies employing state-of-the-art technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), will aid in the identification of novel genes associated with susceptibility to OM. This, in turn, will open up avenues for identifying high-risk individuals and designing novel therapeutic strategies based on precise targeting of these genes.

Induction of clusterin Expression by Neuronal Cell Death in Zebrafish

Yun-Mi Jeong, Tae-Eun Jin, Jung-Hwa Choi, Mi-Sun Lee, Hyun-Taek Kim, Kyu-Seok Hwang, Doo-Sang Park, Hyun-Woo Oh, Joong-Kook Choi, Vladimir Korzh, Melitta Schachner, Kwan-Hee You, Cheol-Hee Kim

2014, 41(11): 583-589. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2014.08.007

Abstract (72) HTML PDF (2)

Abstract:
Clusterin, a protein associated with multiple functions, is expressed in a wide variety of mammalian tissues. Although clusterin is known to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases, ageing, and tumorigenesis, a detailed analysis of the consequences of gain- or loss-of-function approaches has yet to be performed to understand the underlying mechanisms of clusterin functions. Since clusterin levels change in neurological diseases, it is likely that clusterin contributes to cell death and degeneration in general. Zebrafish was investigated as a model system to study human diseases. During development, zebrafish clusterin was expressed in the notochord and nervous system. Embryonic overexpression of clusterin by mRNA microinjection did not affect axis formation, whereas its knock-down by anti-sense morpholino treatment resulted in neuronal cell death. To analyze the function of clusterin in neurodegeneration, a transgenic zebrafish was investigated, in which nitroreductase expression is regulated under the control of a neuron-specific huC promoter which is active between the stages of early neuronal precursors and mature neurons. Nitroreductase turns metronidazole into a cytotoxic agent that induces cell death within 12 h. After metronidazole treatment, transgenic zebrafish showed neuron-specific cell death. Interestingly, we also observed a dramatic induction of clusterin expression in the brain and spinal cord in these fish, suggesting a direct or indirect role of clusterin in neuronal cell death and thus, more generally, in neurodegeneration.

Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization and Stem Rust Resistance of Five Wheat−Thinopyrum ponticum Partial Amphiploids

Qi Zheng, Zhenling Lv, Zhixia Niu, Bin Li, Hongwei Li, Steven S. Xu, Fangpu Han, Zhensheng Li

2014, 41(11): 591-599. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2014.06.003

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Abstract:
Partial amphiploids created by crossing common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey are important intermediates in wheat breeding because of their resistance to major wheat diseases. In this study, we examined the chromosome compositions of five Xiaoyan-series wheat− Th. ponticum partial amphiploids (Xiaoyan 68, Xiaoyan 693, Xiaoyan 784, Xiaoyan 7430, and Xiaoyan 7631) using GISH, multicolor-GISH, and multicolor-FISH. We found several chromosome changes in these lines. For example, wheat chromosomes 1B and 2B were added in Xiaoyan 68 and Xiaoyan 7430, respectively, while wheat chromosome 6B was eliminated from Xiaoyan 693 and Xiaoyan 7631. Chromosome rearrangements were also detected in these amphiploids, including an interspecific translocation involving chromosome 4D and some intergenomic translocations, such as A–B and A–D translocations, among wheat genomes. Analysis of the Th. ponticum chromosomes in the amphiploids showed that some lines shared the same alien chromosomes. We also evaluated these partial amphiploids for resistance to nine races of stem rust, including TTKSK (commonly known as Ug99). Three lines, Xiaoyan 68, Xiaoyan 784, and Xiaoyan 7430, exhibited excellent resistance to all nine races, and could therefore be valuable sources of stem rust resistance in wheat breeding.

Concurrent Deficiency of Gibberellins and Abscisic Acid Causes Plant Male Sterility

Kai Shu, Yaorong Wu, Wenyu Yang, Qi Xie

2014, 41(11): 601-604. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2014.09.003

Abstract (65) HTML PDF (2)

Abstract:

The Strigolactone-Related Mutants have Enhanced Lamina Joint Inclination Phenotype at the Seedling Stage