Automated system for purification of dye-terminator sequencing products eliminates up-stream purification of templates.

The quality of sequencing results is to a large extent determined by the purity of the template and the purification of the sequencing products. Fragments that can act as unspecific primers and templates are removed before gel analysis, and the background of unspecific signals is highly reduced. Purification of the sequencing products is needed to remove salts, nucleotides, proteins and template DNA that can interfere with the gel separation.

Heat-mediated activation of affinity-immobilized Taq DNA polymerase.

A novel strategy for heat-mediated activation of recombinant Taq DNA polymerase is described. A serum albumin binding protein tag is used to affinity-immobilize an E. coli-expressed Taq DNA polymerase fusion protein onto a solid support coated with human serum albumin (HSA).

The rate of nuclear gene transcription in barley endosperm syncytia increases sixfold before cell-wall formation.

The rate of gene transcription in endosperm nuclei up to the formation of the first cell layers was investigated by pulse-labelling young fertilized barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ovules with [(3)H]uridine. Quantitative autoradiographic studies of silver grains accumulating over the nuclei of wild-type endosperm demonstrated that the rate of transcription increased sixfold in the period from 3 to 7 d after pollination (DAP).

DNA sequence of the skeletal muscle calcium release channel cDNA and verification of the Arg615----Cys615 mutation, associated with porcine malignant hyperthermia, in Norwegian landrace pigs.

Porcine calcium release channel (CRC) cDNA from skeletal muscle has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 97% identity to the corresponding rabbit and human sequences. Using oligonucleotide primers based on the nucleotide sequence, CRC cDNA fragments from seven pigs representing HALNN, HALNn and HALnn genotypes have been amplified.

Chromosomal localization of the hormone sensitive lipase (LIPE) and insulin receptor (INSR) genes in pigs.

Using rat hormone sensitive lipase (LIPE) and human insulin receptor (INSR) cDNA probes, the LIPE gene was assigned to chromosome 6p11-q21 and the INSR gene to chromosome 2q11-q21 in pigs by in situ hybridization. In humans, these two genes are located on the q and p arms of chromosome 19, respectively. The present results provide the first in situ hybridization mapping data for porcine chromosome 2.