Genes for tensin, villin and desmin are linked on mouse chromosome 1

Transcriptional changes following restoration of SERCA2a levels in failing rat hearts

Heart failure is characterized at the cellular level by impaired contractility and abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis. We have previously shown that restoration of a key enzyme that controls intracellular Ca(2+) handling, the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a), induces functional improvement in heart failure. We used high-density oligonucleotide arrays to explore the effects of gene transfer of SERCA2a on genetic reprogramming in a model of heart failure. A total of 1,300 transcripts were identified to be unmodified by the effect of virus alone. Of those, 251 transcripts were found to be up- or down-regulated upon failure. A total of 51 transcripts which were either up--(27) or down--(24) regulated in heart failure were normalized to the nonfailing levels by the restoration of SERCA2a by gene transfer. The microarray analysis identified new genes following SERCA2a restoration in heart failure, which will give us insights into their role in the normalization of multiple pathways within the failing cell.

Comparative analysis of a BAC contig of the porcine RN region and the human transcript map: implications for the cloning of trait loci

The poorly developed transcript maps and the limited resources for genome analysis hamper positional cloning of trait loci in farm animals. This study demonstrates that this will now be easier by the combined use of BAC contigs and the import of the near complete human transcript map. The conclusion was obtained by a comparative analysis of a 2.4-Mb BAC contig of the RN region in pigs. The contig was constructed as part of a successful positional cloning project, which identified PRKAG3 as the causative gene for the RN phenotype. A comparative map including the corresponding regions on human chromosome 2q35 and mouse chromosome 1 (region 36-44 cM) is reported. Sixteen coding sequences were mapped on the BAC contig. The majority of these were identified by BLAST searches of BAC end sequences and BAC shotgun sequences generated during the positional cloning project. Map data for the orthologues in humans were available for 12 of the 16 coding sequences, and all 12 have been assigned to 2q35. Furthermore, no evidence for any rearrangement in gene order was obtained. The extensive linkage conservation indicates that the near complete human transcript map will be an invaluable resource for positional cloning projects in pigs and other domestic animals.

Comparative FISH-mapping of villin (VIL) gene in river buffalo, sheep and goat chromosomes

Two genomic clones of the villin (VIL) gene were independently hybridized on river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, BBU), sheep (Ovis aries, OAR) and goat (Capra hircus, CHI) chromosomes by using sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and R-banding (RBP- and RBA-banding). Clear hybridization signals revealed that VIL is located in BBU 2q33, OAR 2q33 and CHI 2q33. These chromosomes and chromosome bands are believed to be homologous and the VIL locus is the same as that previously found on cattle chromosome 2q43. VIL localization in these three species allows us tentatively to assign all cattle U17 to BBU and CHI 2q and to extend the physical map to OAR 2q.