Genetic Analysis and Mapping of Genes Involved in Fertility of Pingxiang Dominant Genic Male Sterile Rice

Pingxiang-dominant genic male sterile rice （PDGMSR） was the first dominant genic male sterile mutant identified in rice （Oryza sativa L.）, and the corresponding dominant genic male sterile gene was designated as Ms-p. The fertility of PDGMSR can be restored by introduction of a dominant epistatic fertility restoring gene in some rice varieties. In the present study, E823, an indica inbred rice variety, restored the fertility of PDGMSR, and the genetic pattern was found to be consistent with a dominant epistatic model, therefore, the dominant epistatic fertility restorer gene was designated as Rfe. The F2 population from the cross of PDGMSR/E823 was developed to map gene Rfe. The F2 plants with the genotypes Ms-pMs-pRferfe or Ms-pms-pRferfe were used to construct a fertile pool, and the corresponding sterile plants with genotypes Ms-pMs-prferfe or Ms-pms-prferfe were used to con- struct a sterile pool. The fertility restoring gene Rfe was mapped to one side of the microsatellite markers RM311 and RM3152 on rice chromosome 10, with genetic distances of 7.9 cM and 3.6 cM, respectively. The microsatellite markers around the location of the Ms-p gene were used to finely map the Ms-p gene. The findings of this study indicated that the microsatellite markers RM171 and RM6745 flanked the Ms-p gene, and the distances were 0.3 cM and 3.0 cM, respectively. On the basis of the sequence of rice chromosome 10, the physical distance between the two markers is approximately 730 kb. These findings facilitates molecular marker-assisted selection （MAS） of genes Ms-p and Rfe in rice breeding programs, and cloning them in the future.

Identification and Gene Mapping of Completely Dominant Earliness in Rice

The completely dominant earliness was identified in a genie male-sterile and early maturing indica line 6442S-7. F1 progenies from 6442S-7 crossed with thirteen various types of medium- or late-maturing varieties, shared the same heading date as 6442S-7. The segregation of heading date in the F2 and B1F1 populations showed that the earliness of 6442S-7 is mainly controlled by two dominant major genes. The local linkage map of one dominant earliness gene harbored in 6442S-7 was constructed with F2 population and four kinds of molecular marker techniques. The results showed that the gene was located between a RFLP marker C515 and a RAPD marker OPI 11.557 on the terminal region of short arm of rice chromosome 3, 10.9cM and 1.5cM from C515 and OPI11.557, respectively. The genetic distances from the target gene to two SSR markers, RM22 and RM231, and one AFLP marker, PT671, were 3.0, 6.7 and 12.4 cM, respectively. This gene, being identified and mapped first, is designated tentatively as Ef-cd(t). As a new genetic resource of completely dominant earliness, 6442S-7 has splendid future in rice improvement.

Utilizing Dominant Early Maturity Genes of Sterile Line UP-3s in Hybrid Rice Breeding to Avoid High Temperature Season

A new sterile line UP-3s, which carries the Dominant Early Maturity Gene (DEMG), was bred on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). UP-3s and two check sterile lines, Jin23-A and Xie-A which do not carry the Dominant Early Maturity Gene, were crossed with a group of different maturity restorer lines, PB-1R, PB-5R,PB11, PB-13R, PB-20, PB-21, PB-22R, and PB-23R. Eighteen new hybrid rice combinations of these crosses were then tested at UAPB in 2012 and 2013. The results showed that panicle differentiation (PD) of hybrids from female parent UP-3s (DEMG) crossed with the 8 male parents, were earlier than the hybrids from female parent Jin23-A or Xie-A crossed with the 8 male parents. The PD of these earlier hybrids was before Jun 25 and heading was before July 20. Early PD and heading avoided the high temperature (over 34&degC) period which usually occurs after July 20 in Arkansas. The yields of these earlier maturity hybrids with female parent UP-3s were higher than those of the late maturity hybrids thatwereF1 progeny of sterile lines Jin23-A or Xie-A (these two female parent checks with non-DEMG). These results showed that the DEMG sterile line UP-3s can be adopted in making crosses with later maturity restorer lines to obtain earlier maturity hybrids to avoid the high temperature period in Arkansas.

Isolation, Identification and Earliness Effect Analysis of Rice Dominant Earliness Gene Ef-cd

Ef-cd gene is a dominant earliness gene located on the short arm of rice chromosome 3. In this paper, through continuous backcross, self-pollination and molecular marker assisted selection, individual Ef-cd gene was isolated and its nearly isogenic lines were constructed by using early-maturing indica line 6442S-7 as the donor parent, and by using latematuring indica line Minghui 63 （MH63）, Shuhui 881 （SH881） and Shuhui 527 （SH527） as the recurrent parents （genetic background）, respectively. Further, it was found out that Ef-cd gene could generally advance rice to head 11-14 d earlier. So, it was considered that Ef-cd gene played an important role in rapid developing early-maturing and super high-yielding rice varieties.

Mutation Identification in A 5-Generation Pedigree with Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa

An extended 5-generation family has been investigated in which 32 of the 111 family members were diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa (RP) The proband was a 58-year old male in whom night-blindness was first observed in early childhood, with almost loss of vision by 52 years of age The symptoms observed in other family members included night-blindness, impaired vision and visual field loss Dementia, digital abnormalities, deaf-mutism and mental retardation were variously diagnosed in a number of individuals with RP The affected and unaffected family members were tested for mutations in a range of candidate genes The 8 exons of three candidate genes have been analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing techniques A novel mutation was identified in the rhodopsin gene at codon 52 of exon 1 (TTC-TAC) that resulted in a substitution of Phe to Tyr

Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease with a novel heterozygous missense mutation in the uromodulin gene: A case report

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease(ADTKD)is a progressive chronic disease that is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion.Symptoms include hyperuricemia,gout,interstitial nephritis,renal cysts,and progressive renal damage that can lead to end-stage renal disease.Mutations in the uromodulin gene(UMOD)characterize the ADTKD-UMOD clinical subtype of this disease.To date,>100 UMOD mutations have been identified.Early diagnosis of ADTKD-UMOD is important to treat the disease,slow down disease progression,and facilitate the identification of potentially affected family members.CASE SUMMARY We report a 40-year-old man harboring a novel heterozygous missense mutation in UMOD(c.554G>T;p.Arg185Leu).The patient had hyperuricemia,gout,and chronic kidney disease.The same mutation was detected in his daughter,aunt and cousin.CONCLUSION A single nucleotide substitution in exon 3 of UMOD was responsible for the heterozygous missense mutation(c.554G>T,p.Arg185Leu).

Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis typeⅡresulting from a de novo mutation in the CLCN7 gene:A case report

BACKGROUND Osteopetrosis is a family of extremely rare diseases caused by failure of osteoclasts and impaired bone resorption. Among them, autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type Ⅱ(ADO Ⅱ), related to the chloride channel 7(CLCN7) gene, is the most frequent form of osteopetrosis. In this study, we report a de novo mutation of CLCN7 in a patient without the family history of ADO Ⅱ.CASE SUMMARY A 5-year-old Chinese boy with ADO Ⅱ was found to have a de novo mutation in the CLCN7 gene [c.746 C>T(p.P249 L)]. Typical clinical manifestations, including thickening of the cortex of spinal bones and long bones, non-traumatic fracture of the femoral neck, and femoral head necrosis, were found in this patient. The patient is the first reported case of ADO Ⅱ with the missense mutation c.746 C>T(p.P249 L) of the CLCN7 gene reported in China. We also review the available literature on ADO Ⅱ-related CLCN7 mutations, including baseline patient clinical features, special clinical significance, and common mutations.CONCLUSION Our report will enrich the understanding of mutations in ADO Ⅱ patients. The possibility of a de novo mutation should be considered in individuals who have no family history of osteopetrosis.

Dominant phase-advanced driving analysis of self-sustained oscillations in biological networks

Oscillatory behaviors can be ubiquitously observed in various systems. Biological rhythms are significant in governing living activities of all units. The emergence of biological rhythms is the consequence of large numbers of units. In this paper we discuss several important examples of sustained oscillations in biological media, where the unit composed in the system does not possess the oscillation behavior. The dominant phase-advanced driving method is applied to study the skeletons and oscillatory organizing motifs in excitable networks and gene regulatory networks.

A novel CRX mutation by whole-exome sequencing in an autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy pedigree

AIMTo identify the disease-causing gene mutation in a Chinese pedigree with autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy (adCORD).METHODSA southern Chinese adCORD pedigree including 9 affected individuals was studied. Whole-exome sequencing (WES), coupling the Agilent whole-exome capture system to the Illumina HiSeq 2000 DNA sequencing platform was used to search the specific gene mutation in 3 affected family members and 1 unaffected member. After a suggested variant was found through the data analysis, the putative mutation was validated by Sanger DNA sequencing of samples from all available family members.RESULTSThe results of both WES and Sanger sequencing revealed a novel nonsense mutation c.C766T (p.Q256X) within exon 5 of CRX gene which was pathogenic for adCORD in this family. The mutation could affect photoreceptor-specific gene expression with a dominant-negative effect and resulted in loss of the OTX tail, thus the mutant protein occupies the CRX-binding site in target promoters without establishing an interaction and, consequently, may block transactivation.CONCLUSIONAll modes of Mendelian inheritance in CORD have been observed, and genetic heterogeneity is a hallmark of CORD. Therefore, conventional genetic diagnosis of CORD would be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Our study indicated the robustness and cost-effectiveness of WES in the genetic diagnosis of CORD.

A Presumed Synonymous Mutation of PKD2 Caused Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease in a Chinese Family

Objective:Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD)is mainly caused by the pathogenic mutation of PKD1 or PKD2 gene and usually affects bilateral kidneys.Synonymous mutations are generally assumed to be neutral as they do not alter amino acids.Herein,we described an extremely rare ADPKD child caused by a heterozygous synonymous mutation of PKD2 gene accompanied by massive proteinuria and congenital solitary kidney.Methods:Clinical characteristics of the patients were summarized.Whole-exome sequencing was performed to screen the disease-causing gene mutation,and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Sanger sequencing were applied to analyze the impact of the identified mutation on gene transcription and splicing.Results:Polycystic changes were found in the solitary kidney of a girl initially presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria.Thereafter her mother and 2 other family members were diagnosed to be ADPKD.Whole-exome sequencing of the proband identified a heterozygous synonymous mutation(c.1716G>A,p.Lys572=)located in the splicing site of exon 7 in PKD2 gene,which was co-segregated with the PKD phenotype in the family.RT-PCR and direct sequencing of amplified products revealed that this heterozygous synonymous mutation led to exon7 skipping in PKD2 gene.Conclusion:We reported an extremely rare child case of ADPKD2 in combination with solitary kidney and nephrotic-range proteinuria,and firstly confirmed the pathogenicity of a heterozygous synonymous mutation(c.1716G>A)in PKD2 gene.The results indicate that synonymous mutations should not be excluded from disease-causing if they are located in splicing site of an exon.

Autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss caused by a novel mutation in MYO7A:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Variants in the MYO7A gene commonly result in Usher syndrome,and in rare cases lead to autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness(DFNA11).Currently,only nine variants have been reported to be responsible for DFNA11 and their clinical phenotypes are not identical.Here we present a novel variant causing DFNA11 identified in a three-generation Chinese family.CASE SUMMARY The proband was a 53-year-old Han male who presented with post-lingual bilateral symmetrical moderate sensorineural hearing loss.We learned from the patient’s medical history collection that multiple family members also had similar hearing loss,generally occurring around the age of 40.Subsequent investigation by high-throughput sequencing identified a novel MYO7A variant.To provide evidence supporting that this variant is responsible for the hearing loss in the studied family,we performed Sanger sequencing on 11 family members and found that the variant co-segregated with the deafness phenotype.In addition,the clinical manifestation of the 11 affected family members was found to be lateonset bilateral slowly progressive hearing loss,inherited in this family in an autosomal dominant manner.None of the affected family members had visual impairment or vestibular symptoms;therefore,we believe that this novel MYO7A variant is responsible for the rare DFNA11 in this family.CONCLUSION We report a novel variant leading to DFNA11 which further enriches the collection of MYO7A variants,and our review of the nine previous variants that have been identified to cause DFNA11 provides a reference for clinical genetic counseling.

Analysis of the CHRNA7 gene mutation and polymorphism in Southern Han Chinese patients with nocturnal frontal epilepsy

Objective:To detect the CHRNA7 gene mutation and polymorphism in Southern Han Chinese patients with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy(NFLE).Methods:Blood samples were collected from 215 Southern Han Chinese patients with NFLE and 200 healthy Southern Han Chinese control subjects.Genomic DNA was extracted,and CHRNA7 whole genome exons were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and subjected to Sanger sequencing.Results:No CHRNA7 gene mutation was detected in all of the NFLE patients.However,five single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in sporadic cases were found,located in exons 5,6.and 7 of the CHRNA7 gene.Among them,c.690G>A and c.698A>G are known SNPs,while c.370G>A,c.654C>T,and c.497-498delTG were newly discovered SNPs.These SNPs were also found in some of the healthy controls.Conclusions:No CHRNA7 gene mutation was identified in Southern Han Chinese patients with NFLE.The CHRNA7 gene is probably not responsible for NFLE in this population.

Gene therapeutic approaches to inhibit hepatitis B virus replication

Acute and chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infections remain to present a major global health problem. The infection can be associated with acute symptomatic or asymptomatic hepatitis which can cause chronic inflammation of the liver and over years this can lead to cirrhosis and the development of hepatocellularcarcinomas. Currently available therapeutics for chronically infected individuals aim at reducing viral replication and to slow down or stop the progression of the disease. Therefore, novel treatment options are needed to efficiently combat and eradicate this disease. Here we provide a state of the art overview of gene therapeutic approaches to inhibit HBV replication. We discuss non-viral and viral approaches which were explored to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids aiming at reducing HBV replication. Types of delivered therapeutic nucleic acids which were studied since many years include antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and antisense RNA, ribozymes and DNAzymes, RNA interference, and external guide sequences. More recently designer nucleases gained increased attention and were exploited to destroy the HBV genome. In addition we mention other strategies to reduce HBV replication based on delivery of DNA encoding dominant negative mutants and DNA vaccination. In combination with available cell culture and animal models for HBV infection, in vitro and in vivo studies can be performed to test efficacy of gene therapeutic approaches. Recent progress but also challenges will be specified and future perspectives will be discussed. This is an exciting time to explore such approaches because recent successes of gene therapeutic strategies in the clinic to treat genetic diseases raise hope to find alternative treatment options for patients chronically infected with HBV.

Genetic Analysis of the Resistance in Six Newly-bred Rice Varieties to the Whitebacked Planthopper,Sogatella furcifera

The paper reports the study on resistance in 6 newly-bred rice varieties, such as Nongxiang 16 and 9234, to the whitehacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera. In crossing with the susceptible Taichung Native 1 (TN1), the resistance of their F1 and F2 populations and the back-crossed BC1F1 populations have been evaluated. The resistance to 5. furcifera in Zhenongda 6022, 9234 and Zhongjian 96-3 was controlled by a single dominant gene, and by a single recessive gene in Nongxiang 16, R40 and Shuhui 881, respectively. These varieties possessed good agronomical characteristics and could be used in further rice breeding and rice production.

A case of hereditary multi-infarct dementia Mutation in exon 11 of the Notch3 gene on chromosome 19

This study is a report on one 59-year-old male patient with hereditary multi-infarct dementia who came from a family with a positive family history of this disease. The patient primarily presented with dizziness accompanied by vertigo and a positive Romberg＇s sign. Skull magnetic resonance images showed lacunar infarction in bilateral temporal lobes, bilateral basal ganglias, periventricular white matter and semioval center, and ischemic focus accompanied by white matter degeneration, exhibiting senile morphological brain changes. No abnormalities were observed by skull magnetic resonance angiography. Gene detection further confirmed that there was Arg607Cys heterozygous mutation in exon 11 of the Notch3gene. No other mutations in exons were detected.

Expression of PKD2 gene in human renal tissue and other tissues

Objective: To study the expression of PKD2 gene in human kidney and other tissues. Methods: The expression of PKD2 was detected by reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization(ISH) . The results of ISH were analyzed by micromegakargooytes. Results: Distribution of pkd-2 in normal adult kidney was stronger in proximal convoluted tubule, Henle's loop ascending branch, distal convoluted tubule and cortical collecting ducts, and inferior signal were observed in fetal kidney. Negative was seen in ADPKD 2 kidney. Conclusion: Down-regulation of PKD2 gene expression in kidney may take effect on the occurrence and development of ADPKD2.

Novel mutation of SPG4 gene in a Chinese family with hereditary spastic paraplegia:A case report

BACKGROUND Hereditary spastic paraplegia(HSP)is a group of neurogenetic diseases of the corticospinal tract,accompanied by distinct spasticity and weakness of the lower extremities.Mutations in the spastic paraplegia type 4(SPG4)gene,encoding the spastin protein,are the major cause of the disease.This study reported a Chinese family with HSP caused by a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for long-term right lower limb weakness,leg stiffness,and unstable walking.His symptoms gradually worsened,while no obvious muscle atrophy in the lower limbs was found.Neurological examinations revealed that the muscle strength of the lower limbs was normal,and knee reflex hyperreflexia and bilateral positive Babinski signs were detected.Members of his family also had the same symptoms.Using mutation analysis,a novel heterozygous duplication mutation,c.1053dupA,p.(Gln352Thrfs*15),was identified in the SPG4 gene in this family.CONCLUSION A Chinese family with HSP had a novel mutation of the SPG4 gene,which is autosomal dominant and inherited as pure HSP.The age of onset,sex distribution,and clinical manifestations of all existing living patients in this family were analyzed.The findings may extend the current knowledge on the existing mutations in the SPG4 gene.

OPA1基因新发无义变异导致ADOA一家系临床表型和基因型分析

目的分析常染色体显性遗传性视神经萎缩(ADOA)一家系的临床表型及基因型。方法采用家系调查研究方法,纳入2023年7-10月在河南省立眼科医院就诊的中国河南地区汉族ADOA一家系2代4名成员,包括2例患者。详细询问患者及其家系成员病史,并进行全面的眼科检查,包括视力、视野、眼底、视网膜电图(ERG)、视觉诱发电位(VEP)、光学相干断层扫描;同时进行听力、肌电图及颅脑磁共振检查以明确是否伴有全身异常。收集该家系4名成员的外周血,对先证者进行全外显子组测序,其他成员采用Sanger测序验证。对新发现的变异位点进行致病性和蛋白结构分析。结果先证者女,15岁,左眼视力下降4年,双眼视神经萎缩,双眼黄斑区中心凹厚度稍变薄,神经节细胞复合体层厚度局部轻度变薄,VEP各波呈低振幅改变,部分视野缺失;全身检查未见明显听力障碍和肌张力异常。先证者母亲视神经部分区域萎缩,双眼黄斑区中心凹厚度稍变薄,VEP检查未见明显异常,ERG轻度异常。全外显子组测序结果显示,先证者及其母亲OPA 1基因外显子6出现杂合无义变异c.676C>T(p.Gln226Ter),该变异位点在HGMD数据库未见报道,千人基因组和gnomAD数据库未见收录,其可导致226位谷氨酰胺处发生提前终止。蛋白结构分析显示,OPA1蛋白p.Gln226Ter可造成蛋白与周围残基相结合的氢键改变,进而导致蛋白功能改变。根据ACMG指南,该变异可能致病。结论该ADOA家系患者表现为青少年时期发病的双眼视神经萎缩,左眼为主;OPA 1基因c.676C>T变异可能为该ADOA家系致病变异位点,该变异位点为首次报道。

TWNK基因突变致慢性眼外肌麻痹一家系的临床及遗传学分析

慢性进行性眼外肌麻痹是线粒体病的一种表型,以上睑下垂或眼球活动障碍为特征。该文报道一个TWNK基因突变导致的线粒体病家系的临床和遗传学分析。先证者为32岁女性,因“双眼睑下垂10余年”就诊于河北医科大学第三医院神经肌肉病科,仅表现为眼睑下垂、轻度眼外肌麻痹。临床诊断为“慢性进行性眼外肌麻痹”。其家族中也存在类似病例。为明确致病基因,对先证者进行高通量测序及致病变异筛查。根据临床表型与基因测序结果,确定了TWNK基因的一个杂合突变位点(c.1411T>G,p.Y417D)作为候选致病基因。进一步采用Sanger测序法对先证者及其家系成员进行验证,确认了该突变位点的存在。根据美国医学遗传学与基因组学学会遗传变异分类标准与指南,该变异判定为致病变异(PVS1+PM2+PP3),且该位点在国内尚无报道。该研究不仅拓展了TWNK基因的变异谱,还为线粒体病家系的遗传咨询与分子诊断提供了参考依据。

CLCN7基因新突变致常染色体显性遗传骨硬化症2型一个家系报告

报告并分析一个常染色体显性遗传骨硬化症2型家系的临床特征、影像表现和基因诊断。该家系中先证者及其父亲临床症状均表现为腰痛,X片呈典型骨硬化改变,基因检测结果显示患者及其父亲氯化物通道7(chloride channel 7,CLCN7)基因存在两处未报道过的新的杂合缺失变异,分别为c.2043_2073+5del及22~23号外显子区域0.373 kb的缺失(chr16:1497372-1497745)。先证者母亲临床表型正常,未检测到CLCN7基因变异。突变符合常染色体显性遗传模式。本研究报告了CLCN7基因新变异导致的一个常染色体显性遗传性骨硬化症2型家系,扩展了CLCN7基因变异谱。