[New polymorphic variants of the gene for human blood coagulation factor IX].

The polymorphism of Alu-repeats, which are located in the introns of the human factor IX gene (copies 1-3), was studied. To identify polymorphic variants, direct sequencing of PCR products that contained appropriate repeats was used. In each case, 20 unrelated X chromosomes were studied.

[New site-specific endonucleases from strains of Bacillus].

In a search for new restriction endonucleases type II, among forty bacterial strains of the Bacillus genus two strains producing site-specific endonucleases have been found. Endonucleases BbvAIII and BspFI, isolated from B. brevis BLM B-677 and B.

[Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect beta-thalassemia mutations in heterozygous carriers from Azerbaijan while performing prenatal DNA-diagnosis].

Prenatal DNA-diagnosis of beta-thalassemia in a family from Azerbaijan revealed two mutations new for this region--G-A transition at codon 15 and G-C transversion at position 5 of the intron 1. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out by direct sequencing of in vitro amplified (PCR) beta-globin gene fragments with a modified Sanger technique using thermostable DNA polymerase. The absence of parents mutations in the fetal DNA allowed us to conclude that the fetus is normal.

[Artificial DNA splicing using directed ligation].

An approach to the directed genetic recombination in vitro has been devised, which allows for joining, in a predetermined chemical-enzymatic way, a series of DNA segments to give a precisely spliced polynucleotide sequence (DNA Splicing by Directed Ligation, SDL). The approach makes use of amplification, by several polymerase chain reactions (PCR), of the chosen DNA segments. The corresponding primers contain recognition sites of the class IIS restriction endonucleases, yielding protruding ends of unique primary structures.