Common variants at SCN5A-SCN10A and HEY2 are associated with Brugada syndrome, a rare disease with high risk of sudden cardiac death

Brugada syndrome is a rare cardiac arrhythmia disorder, causally related to SCN5A mutations in around 20% of cases. Through a genome-wide association study of 312 individuals with Brugada syndrome and 1,115 controls, we detected 2 significant association signals at the SCN10A locus (rs10428132) and near the HEY2 gene (rs9388451). Independent replication confirmed both signals (meta-analyses: rs10428132, P = 1.0 × 10(-68); rs9388451, P = 5.1 × 10(-17)) and identified one additional signal in SCN5A (at 3p21; rs11708996, P = 1.0 × 10(-14)). The cumulative effect of the three loci on disease susceptibility was unexpectedly large (Ptrend = 6.1 × 10(-81)). The association signals at SCN5A-SCN10A demonstrate that genetic polymorphisms modulating cardiac conduction can also influence susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmia. The implication of association with HEY2, supported by new evidence that Hey2 regulates cardiac electrical activity, shows that Brugada syndrome may originate from altered transcriptional programming during cardiac development. Altogether, our findings indicate that common genetic variation can have a strong impact on the predisposition to rare diseases.

Application of cell-based biosensors for the detection of bacterial elicitor flagellin

Cell-based biosensors, bioelectronic portable devices containing plant living cells have been used for monitoring some physiological changes induced by pathogen-derived signal molecules called flagellin. The screen-printed electrodes have been adapted for preparation of biosensors. The proton-sensitive thick films have been printed using composite bulk modified with edition of RuO(2). Obtained disposable electrodes were made possible to measure the pH change with well sensitivity and reproducibility. Tobacco cells attached to the electrode surface, cell-based biosensor, can be used for the detection of flagellin, the virulence factor of bacterial pathogen. We culture tobacco cells on the surface of such electrotransducer for several weeks and monitor of potential of cells under flagellin stimulation. The detection of the electrochemical proton gradient across the plasma membrane serves as the analytical signal. The electrode response depended upon H(+) concentration in extracellular solution. It can be conveniently observed on the surfaces of biosensors. Suitable stability and the good response time of constructed biosensors were observed. Future development of these cell-based biosensors could draw advances in selective monitoring of microbial pathogens and other physiologically active components. Moreover, this new method is much faster compared with the traditional microbial testing.

Maize TF IIIA--the first transcription factor IIIA from monocotyledons. Purification and properties

Purification and properties of transcription factor IIIA (TF IIIA) from maize pollen (Zea mays L.) are presented for the first time. The purified protein has a molecular mass of about 35 kDa and exhibits binding affinity toward both 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA gene. It also facilitates transcription of the 5S rRNA gene in a HeLa cell extract.

Maize TF IIIA--the first transcription factor IIIA from monocotyledons. Purification and properties

Purification and properties of transcription factor IIIA (TF IIIA) from maize pollen (Zea mays L.) are presented for the first time. The purified protein has a molecular mass of about 35 kDa and exhibits binding affinity toward both 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA gene. It also facilitates transcription of the 5S rRNA gene in a HeLa cell extract.

A factor affecting stimulation of aminocylation in plants

The presence of a factor stimulating the reaction of aminoacylation tRNAs was found in the seeds of lupin, with a molecular weight of 950 as estimated by gel filtration. The influence of this factor on the kinetics of the aminoacylation reactions of lupin, Escherichia coli, Baker's yeast and heterogeneous systems was investigated. This factor inhibits the esterification reaction of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from bacteria and yeast. Its influence on the optimum pH activity of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from lupin was determined.