Identification of immediate early gene X-1 as a cellular target gene of hcmv-mir-UL148D.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpesvirus that causes congenital diseases and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Its functional proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) facilitate efficient viral propagation by altering host cell behavior. The identification of functional target genes of miRNAs is an important step in the study of HCMV pathogenesis.

Two novel mutations in the BCKDHB gene (R170H, Q346R) cause the classic form of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that is caused by mutations in the subunits of the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD) complex. BCKD is a mitochondrial complex encoded by four nuclear genes (BCKDHA, BCKDHB, DBT, and DLD) and is involved in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). In this study, we investigated the DNA sequences of BCKDHA, BCKDHB and DBT genes for mutations in a Chinese newborn with the classic form of MSUD and predicted the associated conformational changes using molecular modeling.

[Chromosomal abnormality diagnosis of male infertility by QF-PCR].

To assess the clinical practice of quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) in genetic diagnosis of male infertility patients, 78 nonobstructive male infertility patients were pooled for semen routine screening and sexual hormone determination; QF-PCR was applied to detect the polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) and specific sequence tagged site (STS) of sex chromosomes; routine chromosome G-band was used for karyotype analysis and PCR was used for the detection of AZF microdeletion. Routine screening of semen found 18 azoospermia and 20 oligospermia patients (48.72%).

[Association of -63A/C polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M3 gene with essential hypertension in Chinese population].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of -63A/C polymorphism of human glutathione S-transferase M3(GSTM3) gene in Chinese Han population and the association of -63A/C polymorphism with essential hypertension (EH).

Methods: -63A/C polymorphism of GSTM3 gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 234 patients with EH and 328 healthy controls. The genotypes were confirmed partially by DNA sequencing.