[A non-invasive method for detecting mitochondrial tRNAThr15927G>A mutation]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility of detecting maternal hereditary mitochondrial tRNA^Thr15927G>A (m.15927G>A) mutation using buccal swabs.

METHODS

We performed sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA in blood samples from 2070 cases of maternal hereditary mitochondrial disease in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and identified 3 patients with m.15927G>A mutation.Buccal swabs and blood samples were obtained from the 3 patients (mutation group) and 3 normal volunteers (control group).After extracting whole genomic DNA from all the samples, the DNA concentration and purity were analyzed.The PCR products were subjected to dot blot hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and DNA sequencing analysis to verify the feasibility of detecting m.15927G>A mutation using buccal swabs.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in DNA concentration extracted from buccal swabs and blood samples in either the mutation group or the control group (P > 0.05), but the purity of manually extracted oral mucosa DNA was significantly lower than that of whole blood and oral mucosa DNA extracted using commercial kits (P < 0.05).Dot blot hybridization and Southern blot hybridization both yielded positive results in the control group but negative results in the mutation group.DNA sequencing identified m.15927G>A mutation in all the samples from the mutation group.

CONCLUSIONS

Buccal swabs collection accurate is an accurate and sensitive method for the detection of m.15927G>A mutation.

Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury (IDILI): Potential Mechanisms and Predictive Assays

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI) is a significant source of drug recall and acute liver failure (ALF) in the United States. While current drug development processes emphasize general toxicity and drug metabolizing enzyme- (DME-) mediated toxicity, it has been challenging to develop comprehensive models for assessing complete idiosyncratic potential. In this review, we describe the enzymes and proteins that contain polymorphisms believed to contribute to IDILI, including ones that affect phase I and phase II metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, drug transporters, inflammation, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA). We then describe the various assays that have been developed to detect individual reactions focusing on each of the mechanisms described in the background. Finally, we examine current trends in developing comprehensive models for examining these mechanisms. There is an urgent need to develop a panel of multiparametric assays for diagnosing individual toxicity potential.

Nuclease-containing media for resettable operation of DNA logic gates

We designed and tested a system that allows DNA logic gates to respond multiple times to the addition of oligonucleotide inputs. After producing an output signal, the system spontaneously resets to the background state. This system does not require any operator action to achieve reset of a DNA logic gate, and may become useful for construction of reusable DNA-based computational devices.