Distribution of ABO genotypes and allele frequencies in a Korean population.

The genotypes of the ABO blood group system were investigated in Korean living in Kangwon-Do area by PCR-RFLP analysis of the seven polymorphic nucleotide positions 261, 467, 526, 646, 703, 796 and 803 of the cDNA from A1 transferase. In 253 unrelated Korean individuals, 15 genotypes were found and the allele frequencies of A(Pro), A(Leu), B, O(T) and O(A) were 0.022, 0.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax protein transforms rat fibroblasts via two distinct pathways.

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax protein activates the transcription of several cellular genes. This function is thought to play a critical role in the Tax-dependent transformation step in HTLV-1 leukemogenesis. Tax activates transcription via three enhancers: the cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-like sequence, the kappaB element, and the CArG box.

Genotyping for RhC/c and RhE/e by PCR using allele-specific oligonucleotide primers.

The Rh blood group system has five major antigens D, C/c, and E/e. These antigens are encoded in RHD and RHCE genes. In this report, we describe a systemic method for RhC/c and RhE/e genotyping by PCR using allele-specific oligonucleotide primers (ASO-PCR).

Gene frequencies of human platelet antigens on glycoprotein IIIa in Japanese.

Background: Polymorphism of glycoprotein IIIa on human platelets is one of the factors in alloimmunization that causes neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and refractoriness to platelet transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: DNA typing methods were originally developed to determine the genotypes of five human platelet antigen (HPA) systems located on glycoprotein IIIa: HPA-1, HPA-4, HPA-6W, HPA-7W and HPA-8W. The gene frequencies of these platelet antigens were determined by DNA typing of 331 unrelated Japanese donors.

Suballeles of the ABO blood group system in a Japanese population.

The nucleotides (nt) at positions 467 and 646 of the ABO blood group system were analyzed in a Japanese population by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods. Two types at nt467, tentatively designated 'Pro' and 'Leu', were found in the common A (= A1) alleles, and two types at nt646 named 'T' and 'A' were found in O alleles. The types at nt467 of B and O alleles were Pro and those at nt646 of A and B alleles were T.

Genotype frequencies of the human platelet antigen, Ca/Tu, in Japanese, determined by a PCR-RFLP method.

Recently, the polymorphism of a new human platelet antigen, Ca/Tu, was shown to be derived from a G-A nucleotide substitution at base 1564 of GPIIIa cDNA, which leads to a single amino acid difference, Arg/Gln at amino acid 489 of GPIIIa. We developed a PCR-RFLP method to determine the genotypes of Ca/Tu and their frequencies in a Japanese population. Fifteen Ca/Tua donors comprising 1 Ca/Tu(a/a) homozygous donor and 14 Ca/Tu(a/b) heterozygous donors were found among the 314 random donors analyzed.

[Gene structure and transformation mechanism of HTLV-I].

HTLV-I is the etiological agent of the adult T cell leukemia. HTLV-I genome contains the novel pX region in addition to the genes common to all retroviruses. Tax, encoded at the pX region, may play a central role in cellular transformation, however, little information is available on the mechanism.

Simultaneous DNA typing of human platelet antigens 2, 3 and 4 by an allele-specific PCR method.

We developed an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) method using originally designed primers to determine the genotype of the human platelet antigens (HPAs) 2, 3 and 4 in parallel. The results were compared with those obtained by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism and the mixed passive hemagglutination test. Seventy-three individuals were tested and the ASPCR results were in good agreement with those determined by the other two methods.

Genotyping of ABO blood groups by PCR and RFLP analysis of 5 nucleotide positions.

The genotyping of ABO blood groups was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The 4 DNA fragments containing the nucleotide position 261, 526, 703 and 796 of cDNA from A-transferase were amplified by PCR, and the amplified DNA subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The different nucleotide at position 803 was clearly distinguished by electrophoresis of the PCR products amplified with allele-specific primers.

Single amino acid substitution (58Pro-->Ser) in HTLV-I tax results in loss of ras cooperative focus formation in rat embryo fibroblasts.

Two tax genes cloned from a healthy HTLV-I carrier in whom the viral genome is clonally integrated into peripheral CD4+CD8+ cells showed a considerable difference in ras cooperative focus forming ability in rat embryo fibroblasts (REF). Sequence analysis revealed differences in two codons of the two genes. SH-1tax and SH-2tax.

En(a-) phenotype in a Japanese blood donor.

The first Japanese En(a-) individual (T.N.) was found by screening red cells from 250,000 Japanese blood donors with monoclonal anti-Ena.

A high incidence of C9 deficiency among healthy blood donors in Osaka, Japan.

By the use of sucrose gelatin veronal buffer (SGVB), a simple screening test was developed by us to detect sera with low complement activity, including C9-deficient sera. Using this screening test, we were able to identify sera with low complement activity including C9-deficient sera among a large number of samples. Further examinations, estimation of the protein concentration of C9, C4, C3, etc.

A Japanese family with two sisters apparently homozygous for Mk.

Two Japanese sisters with consanguineous parents have M-N- En(a-) Wr(a-b-) S-s-U- red cells and are therefore apparently homozygous for Mk; the third reported family with members of this genotype. The serum of the proposita (ORCMK) contained anti-EnaTS, anti-EnaFR and possibly anti-Wrb, whereas the serum of her MkMk sister contained no atypical antibodies. Total absence of sialoglycoproteins alpha and delta from red cell membranes of an Mk homozygote was demonstrated by lactoperoxidase-catalysed radioiodination of accessible tyrosine residues with subsequent SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, and by use of a monoclonal antibody directed at the cytoplasmic portion of alpha-sialoglycoprotein.