Vestibular compensation in the European green frog (Rana esculenta L.) and effect of training on compensation

Sequences variations in 5'-flanking region of ABO gene and correlation with ABO alleles in the indigenous Chinese

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

5'-flanking sequences of the ABO gene play important role in the regulation of gene expression, but polymorphism of 5'-flanking sequence of ABO gene is rarely known. Here, we further characterize the molecular genetic basis and ABO allele-related polymorphism of the 5'-untranslated regions (5'-UTR) of the human ABO gene.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collecting blood samples from 72 blood donors in Hangzhou, China, we analysed sequences of exons 6 and 7 of ABO gene and amplified an enhanced segment of 43 bp repeats in the 5'-UTR. Subsequently, we selected 25 homozygotes [of genotypes A101/A101 (two), A102/A102 (seven), B101/B101 (seven) and O01/O01 (nine)] and five heterozygotes [A102/O01 (two), B101/O01 (two) and O01/O105 (one)] for sequencing 5 -kb amplicons spanning the 5'-UTR and partial exon 1 of the ABO gene. We sequenced the amplicons bidirectionally and, when pertinent, analysed selected haplotypes by cloning.

RESULTS

As a result, we identified 11 new polymorphic sites (10 point mutations, one 8-bp deletion) in the 5'-UTR of the A102, B101 and O01 alleles of common ABO phenotypes. Five A102 alleles carry four tandem repeats of a 43-bp minisatellite unit that deviated from previous reports.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed the DNA polymorphisms in the 5'-UTRs correlated with the common ABO alleles. Elucidation of the diversity of the 5'-UTRs is an important supplement to existing methods for increasing our understanding of the molecular basis of the ABO blood group system.

Postnatal changes in locomotor movements after labyrinthectomy in rats

The influence of unilateral or bilateral labyrinthectomy on the postnatal development of locomotor movements was studied in newborn rats. Locomotor movements of the rats were measured on the surface of a digitizer table by attaching a miniature resonance coil to the abdomen of the rat. Labyrinthectomy was performed in rats on postnatal day (PND) 11. From PND 10 to PND 14, the total distance and mean velocity of locomotor movements were significantly lower in the labyrinthectomized rats than in the control rats. From PND 17 to PND 20, the total distance and mean velocity of the locomotor movements of the unilateral labyrinthectomized rats gradually recovered to an almost normal level. However, those of the bilateral labyrinthectomized rats remained at insufficient levels even at PND 20.