Landscape of NOTCH1 mutations and co-occurring biomarker alterations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

NOTCH1 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and has emerged as a marker of poor prognosis. In addition to coding NOTCH1 mutations involving exon 34, non-coding NOTCH1 mutations involving the 3' UTR have been described in a limited number of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and were associated with adverse outcomes. In this study, 1574 CLL patients were assessed using targeted sequencing with a 29 gene panel and the results were correlated with prognostic characteristics.

Ultra-Rapid Reporting of GENomic Targets (URGENTseq): Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing Results within 48 Hours of Sample Collection.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based mutation panels profile multiple genes simultaneously, allowing the reporting of numerous genes while saving labor and resources. However, one drawback of using NGS is that the turnaround time is often longer than conventional single gene tests. This delay can be problematic if molecular results are required to guide therapy in patients with clinically aggressive diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia.

CYP2D7 Sequence Variation Interferes with TaqMan CYP2D6 (*) 15 and (*) 35 Genotyping.

TaqMan™ genotyping assays are widely used to genotype CYP2D6, which encodes a major drug metabolizing enzyme. Assay design for CYP2D6 can be challenging owing to the presence of two pseudogenes, CYP2D7 and CYP2D8, structural and copy number variation and numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) some of which reflect the wild-type sequence of the CYP2D7 pseudogene. The aim of this study was to identify the mechanism causing false-positive CYP2D6 (*) 15 calls and remediate those by redesigning and validating alternative TaqMan genotype assays.

Analysis of common mitochondrial DNA mutations by allele-specific oligonucleotide and Southern blot hybridization.

Mitochondrial disorders are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. There are a set of recurrent point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that are responsible for common mitochondrial diseases, including MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes), MERRF (myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red fibers), LHON (Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy), NARP (neuropathy, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa), and Leigh syndrome. Most of the pathogenic mtDNA point mutations are present in the heteroplasmic state, meaning that the wild-type and mutant-containing mtDNA molecules are coexisting.

The rice miniature inverted repeat transposable element mPing is an effective insertional mutagen in soybean.

Insertional mutagenesis of legume genomes such as soybean (Glycine max) should aid in identifying genes responsible for key traits such as nitrogen fixation and seed quality. The relatively low throughput of soybean transformation necessitates the use of a transposon-tagging strategy where a single transformation event will produce many mutations over a number of generations. However, existing transposon-tagging tools being used in legumes are of limited utility because of restricted transposition (Ac/Ds: soybean) or the requirement for tissue culture activation (Tnt1: Medicago truncatula).