The PARP-1 Inhibitor Olaparib Causes Retention of γ-H2AX Foci in <i>BRCA</i>1 Heterozygote Cells Following Exposure to Gamma Radiation

A novel treatment for cancer patients with homozygous deletions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 is to use drugs that inhibit the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Specific inhibition of PARP-1 can induce synthetic lethality in irradiated cancer cells while theoretically leaving normal tissue unaffected. We recently demonstrated in a cell survival assay that lymphoblastoid cells with mono-allelic mutations of BRCA1 were hypersensitive to gamma radiation in the presence of the PARP-1 inhibitor Olaparib compared to normal cells and mono-allelic BRCA2 cells. To determine if the enhanced radiation sensitivity was due to a persistence of DNA strand breaks, we performed γ-H2AX foci analysis in cells derived from two normal individuals, three heterozygous BRCA1 and three heterozygous BRCA2 cell lines. Cells were exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation in the presence or absence of 5 μM Olaparib. Using immunofluorescence and imaging flow cytometry, foci were measured in untreated cells and at 0.5, 3, 5 and 24 hours post-irradiation. In all lymphoblastoid cells treated with 2 Gy gamma radiation, there was a predictable induction of DNA strand breaks, with a modest but significant retention of foci over 24 hours in irradiated cells treated with Olaparib (ANOVA P < 0.05). However, in mono-allelic BRCA1 cells, there was a failure to fully repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) in the presence of Olaparib, evidenced by a significant retention of foci at 24 hours’ post irradiation (t-Test P These data show that the cellular hypersensitivity of mono-allelic BRCA1 lymphoblastoid cells to gamma radiation in the presence of the Olaparib is due to the retention of DNA DSB. These data may indicate that patients with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 gene treated with radiotherapy and PARP-1 inhibitors may experience elevated radiation-associated normal tissue toxicity.

Accumulation of Mutant Genes and Its Pathway with Reproductive Isolation

According to the fitness of heterozygote was lower than homozygote among panmictic population,the process of generational accumulate of mutant gene r was considered.Branch point of r＇s frequency by generational evolution which revealed the hereditary incompatibility between R and r,was worked out,and it was found that genetic drift can make r have higher frequency to surpass the branch point to form reproductive isolation.It was not enough to have the three conditions of mutation,genetic drift and natural selection to be the drive of biological evolution;hybrid weakness,the repelling interaction between the genetic background of original population and the new mutation,were also needed.

Validation of qGSIO, a quantitative trait locus for grain size on the long arm of chromosome 10 in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Grain size is a major determinant of grain weight and a trait having important impact on grain quality in rice. The objective of this study is to detect QTLs for grain size in rice and identify important QTLs that have not been well characterized before. The QTL mapping was first performed using three recombinant inbred line populations derived from indica rice crosses Teqing/IRBB lines, Zhenshan 97/Milyang 46, Xieqingzao/Milyang 46. Fourteen QTLs for grain length and 10 QTLs for grain width were detected, including seven shared by two populations and 17 found in one population. Three of the seven com- mon QTLs were found to coincide in position with those that have been cloned and the four others remained to be clarified. One of them, qGSIO located in the interval RM6100-RM228 on the long arm of chromosome 10, was validated using F2：3 populations and near isogenic lines derived from residual heterozygotes for the interval RM6100-RM228. The QTL was found to have a considerable effect on grain size and grain weight, and a small effect on grain number. This region was also previously detected for quality traits in rice in a number of studies, providing a good candidate for functional analysis and breeding utilization.

Mapping and genetic validation of a grain size QTL qGS7.1 in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Grain size is a major determinant of grain weight, which is one of the components of rice yield. The objective o this study was to identify novel, and important quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for grain size and weight in rice. QTLs were mapped using a BC4F4 population including 192 backcross inbred lines(BILs) derived from a backcross between Xiaolijing(XLJ) and recombinant inbred lines(RILs). The mapping population was planted in both Lingshui(Hainan, 2015) and Fuyang(Zhejiang, 2016), with the short-and long-day conditions, respectively. A total of 10 QTLs for grain length, four for grain width, four for the ratio of grain length to width, and 11 for grain weight were detected in at least one environment and were distributed across 11 chromosomes. The phenotypic variance explained ranged from 6.76–25.68%, 14.30–34.03%, 5.28–26.50%, and 3.01–22.87% for grain length, grain width, the ratio of grain length to width, and thousand grain weight, respectively. Using the sequential residual heterozygotes(SeqRHs) method, qGS7.1, a QTL for grain size and weight, was mapped in a 3.2-Mb interval on chromosome 7. No QTLs about grain size and weight were reported in previous studies in this region, providing a good candidate for functional analysis and breeding utilization.

Relationship between loss of heterozygosity of microsatellite on DCC gene and prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma

AIM To investigate the relationship between the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of microsatellite on the Deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene and the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS A retrospective study of 58 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma with the follow up data and paired control normal mucosal tissues from 1983 to 1985 from files of the Department of Pathology, West China University of Medical Sciences was carried out by PCR microsatellite method. Tumors were graded as well, moderately and poorly differentiated in 16, 35 and 7 cases, and staged as Dukes′ A, B, C in 11, 30 and 17 cases, respectively. RESULTS Heterozygosity of microsatellite was lost on DCC gene in 18 of 58 (31 0%) cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The 5 year survival rate between the positive and negative for LOH was 44 4% and 77 5%, respectively, being significantly different ( P <0 05). It was suggested that the LOH on microsatellite of DCC gene was correlated to the prognosis, but not to the differentiation ( P >0 05) and Dukes′ stage ( P >0 05) in colorectal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION LOH of microsatellite on DCC gene may be one of malignant markers. Combined with the traditional prognostic indices, LOH can predict the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Modelling of the populating development of the genome in the radiation condition of the environment

The existence of the genome population in condition of radiation environment has been considered. The differences between the laws of the allele frequencies for autosomal genes and genes linked to sex are described. Radiation conditions were found at maintenance of the balance of the Hardy-Weinberg genotype in the population, as well as conditions of complete elimination of the targeted allele by ionizing radiation. Conclusions about the nature of radiation resistance of the population are drawn.

Liver-specific glucocorticoid action in alcoholic liver disease:Study of glucocorticoid receptor knockout and knockin mice

Background and aim:Glucocorticoids are the only first-line drugs for severe alcoholic hepatitis(AH),with limited efficacy and various side effects on extrahepatic tissues.Liver-targeting glucocorticoid therapy may have multiple advantages over systemic glucocorticoid for AH.The aim of this study was to determine the role of hepatocellular glucocorticoid receptor(GR)in alcohol-associated steatosis(AS)and AH.Materials and methods:AS was induced by a high-fat diet plus binge alcohol in adult male and female mice with liver-specific knockout(LKO)and heterozygote of GR.AH was induced by chronic-plus-binge in middle-aged male mice with liver-specific knockin of GR.Changes in hepatic mRNA and protein expression were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.Results:GR-LKO aggravated steatosis and decreased hepatic expression and circulating levels of albumin in both genders of AS mice but only increased markers of liver injury in male AS mice.Marked steatosis in GR-LKO mice was associated with induction of lipogenic genes and down-regulation of bile acid synthetic genes.Hepatic protein levels of GR,hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 were gene-dosage-dependently decreased,whereas that of lipogenic ATP citrate lyase was increased in male GR heterozygote and LKO mice.Interestingly,hepatic expression of estrogen receptor alpha(ERα)was induced,and the essential estrogen-inactivating enzyme sulfotransferase 1e1 was gene-dosage-dependently down-regulated in GR heterozygote and knockout AS mice,which was associated with induction of ERα-target genes.Liver-specific knockin of GR protected against liver injury and steatohepatitis in middle-aged AH mice.Conclusions:Hepatic GR deficiency plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AS induced by high-fat diet plus binge,and liver-specific overexpression/activation of GR protects against chronic-plus-binge-induced AH in middle-aged mice.Hepatocellular GR is important for protection against AS and AH.