Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601Genetic variations among three major ethnic groups in Nigeria using RAPD5158480010.22099/mbrc.2018.26098.1280ENOlukanni A. TitilayoDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos. P.M.B. 56, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria NigeriaAmoo O. SamuelHuman Virology Laboratory, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, P.M.B 2013, Yaba, Lagos, NigeriaOlukanni O. DavidDepartment of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry), Redeemer’s University. P.M.B. 230, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria0000-0003-1830-9412Taiwo I. AdewunmiDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos. P.M.B. 56, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria NigeriaJournal Article20170720Genetically, every individual is unique; this may stem from inheritance, geographical locations, and/or environmental interactions. This study examined the possibility of developing a cheap and easy-to-use marker that can distinguish among the three ethnic groups in Nigeria using RAPD-PCR. Five RAPD primers, OPA1-3 and OPC1-2, were randomly selected and used to amplify DNA samples isolated from blood of eighteen human subjects representing the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria (six subjects each). Genomic DNAs were extracted using DNA isolation kit, RAPD-PCR amplification was performed and gel electrophoresis was done. Genetic similarity between the band polymorphism was evaluated as frequencies of occurrence and the phylogenetic tree constructed. Three of the five primers show various polymorphisms; the highest frequency band for primer OPA1 is 50% while that of primer OPA2 is 100% and for OPC2 is 83.33%. Although OPA2 has common bands in majority of the samples few of the bands are ethnic group specific. Bands 471 and 435 bp are specific for the Hausa ethnic group at 66.67% frequency. Similarly, in primer OPC2, band 320 can be used to distinguish the Hausas from the other two ethnic groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and test for homogeneity showed that there is no significant difference in the polymorphism between and among the groups. In conclusion this research has given an insight into the possibility of developing RAPD primers that could be used to distinguish people of different ethnic groups.Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601A preliminary study of the association between the ABCA1 gene promoter DNA methylation and coronary artery disease risk5965481410.22099/mbrc.2018.28910.1312ENHabib GhaznaviHealth Promotion Research Centre, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IranKhalil MahmoodiDepartment of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, IranMohammad Soleiman SoltanpourDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, IranJournal Article20180327Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common health problem in Iranian population. ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays central role in the efflux of the cholesterol from peripheral tissues back to liver. Inactivation of ABCA1 by epigenetic change such as DNA methylation may contribute to the development of CAD. The present study investigated the association between promoter DNA methylation status of <em>ABCA1</em> with the development and severity of CAD. Our study population consisted of 110 angiographically documented CAD patients and 110 controls. The severity of CAD was determined based on the number of stenotic vessels showing more than 50% stenosis. Promoter DNA methylation status of <em>ABCA1</em> was determined by methylation specific PCR. Lipid profile was determined by routine colorimetric methods. Results showed that the frequency of <em>ABCA1</em> DNA methylation was significantly higher in CAD group as compared with control group (16.36% <em>vs</em> 5.45%; P=0.015). Also, the methylation frequency of <em>ABCA1</em> gene was significantly higher in older CAD patients as compared with younger CAD patients (P=0.038). No association was seen between plasma lipid concentration and the promoter DNA methylation status of <em>ABCA1</em> (P>0.05). Also, the association between the severity of CAD and methylation of <em>ABCA1</em> gene was not significant (P>0.05). In conclusion the current study indicated <em>ABCA1</em> DNA methylation as a significant risk factor for development but not severity of CAD. Also, predisposition to the development of CAD by <em>ABCA1</em> gene DNA methylation was independent of plasma lipid concentration.Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601In silico mutational analysis and identification of stability centers in human interleukin-46776483110.22099/mbrc.2018.28855.1310ENSandeep SainiDepartment of Bioinformatics, G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, India0000-0001-6822-4949Chander Jyoti- ThakurDepartment of Bioinformatics, G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, India0000-0002-9968-3109Varinder KumarDepartment of Bioinformatics, G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, India0000-0002-8912-5429Akshay SuhagDepartment of Bioinformatics, G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, IndiaNiharika JakharDepartment of Bioinformatics, G.G.D.S.D. College, Chandigarh, IndiaJournal Article20180317Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a critical role in apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation. The intensity of IL4 response depends upon binding to its receptor, IL-4R. The therapeutic efficiency of interleukins can be increased by generating structural mutants having greater stability. In the present work, attempts were made to increase the stability of human IL-4 using in-silico site directed mutagenesis. Different orthologous sequences of IL4 from <em>Pan troglodytes</em>,<em> Aotusnigriceps</em>, <em>Macacamulatta</em>, <em>Papiohamadryas</em>, <em>Chlorocebusaethiops</em>, <em>Vicugnapacos</em>, <em>Susscrofa </em>and <em>Homo sapiens</em> were aligned using Clustal Omega that revealed the conserved and non-conserved positions. For each non-conserved position, possible favorable and stabilizing mutations were found using CUPSAT with predicted ΔΔG (kcal/mol). The one with highest ΔΔG (kcal/mol) among all possible mutations, for each non-conserved position was selected and introduced manually in human IL-4 sequence resulting in multiple mutants of IL-4. Mutant proteins were modeled using structure of IL4 (PDB ID: 2B8U) as a template by SWISS MODEL. The mutants A49L and Q106T were identified to have stability centre using SCide. Molecular dynamics and docking analysis also confirmed the mutants stability and binding respectively. Mutants A49L and Q106T had -7.580079 kcal/mol and -39.418124 kcal/mol respectively lesser energy value than the wild type IL4. The result suggested that, the stability of human IL-4 has been increased by mutation.Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601Characterization of dengue virus in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus spp. of mosquitoes: A study in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan7782483210.22099/mbrc.2018.29073.1315ENMubbashir HussainVector Borne Diseases Lab, Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 26000 PakistanShahzad MunirFaculty of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, ChinaKashif RahimBeijing Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering Drug and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaNawaz Haider BashirFaculty of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, ChinaAbdul BasitVector Borne Diseases Lab, Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 26000 PakistanBaharullah KhattakVector Borne Diseases Lab, Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 26000 PakistanJournal Article20180416Dengue is a vector-borne disease caused by dengue virus. According to the recent report of CDC that one-third population of the world are at high risk with Dengue fever. The prevalence of the dengue hemorrhagic fever was found more in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes was reported as the main cause of transmission of dengue virus. So the current study was planned to characterize the virus in <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes collected from different area of Pakistan. In current investigation, <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes and larvae were trapped under conducive conditions which are counted as 495 <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes and 260 <em>Aedes</em> larvae. First of all, adult mosquitoes were identified morphologically under microscopy, counted as 73.3% <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and 26.7% <em>Ae. albopictus</em>. Finally, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses that only 4 adults of <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes and 10 <em>Aedes</em> larvae as naturally infected with dengue virus with possible source <em>Ae. aegypti</em>. This study basically uncovered the presence of virus in different species of mosquitoes in southern regions of Pakistan. The present study will also give us an insight for vector control programs of dengue virus in the affected area.Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601Impacts of seed priming with salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide on possible metabolic pathway of two amino acids in maize plant under lead stress8388484210.22099/mbrc.2018.29089.1317ENRoya ZanganehDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, IranRashid JameiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, IranFatemeh RahmaniDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, IranJournal Article20180417Heavy metals pollution is one of the key environmental problems. In this research, the effect of seed priming with salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide was investigated on methionine and arginine amino acids contents and some compounds derived from their metabolism as well as <em>ZmACS6</em> and <em>ZmSAMD</em> transcripts levels in maize plants under lead stress. For this purpose, maize seeds were soaked in salicylic acid (0.5 mM) and sodium hydrosulfide (0.5mM) for 12 hours and then exposed to lead (2.5 mM) for 9 days. The results showed that lead stress reduced nitric oxide content and shoot <em>ZmACS6</em> and <em>ZmSAMD</em> transcript levels while increased glycine betaine, methionine, arginine and proline amino acids contents as well as root <em>ZmACS6</em> and <em>ZmSAMD</em> transcript levels. Salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide pretreatments reduced methionine, arginine and proline accumulation and increased glycine betaine and nitric oxide contents and regulated the expression of <em>ZmACS6</em> and <em>ZmSAMD </em>genes (genes participating in methionine metabolism) under lead stress. Our data suggest that salicylic acid and hydrogen sulfide play role in regulating the methionine and arginine metabolism in maize under lead stress condition.Shiraz University PressMolecular Biology Research Communications2322-181X7220180601Induction of apoptosis and necrosis in human acute erythroleukemia cells by inhibition of long non-coding RNA PVT18996484310.22099/mbrc.2018.29081.1316ENMahsa SalehiDepartment of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranMohammadreza SharifiDepartment of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran0000-0002-1538-9034Journal Article20180417Recent advances in molecular medicine have proposed new therapeutic strategies for cancer. One of the molecular research lines for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is the use of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) which are a class of non-coding RNA molecules longer than 200 base pairs in length that act as the key regulator of gene expression. Different aspects of cellular activities like cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and migration are regulated by lncRNAs. In various cancers, aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been reported. One of the lncRNAs that showed upregulation in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1). Here, we performed blockage of lncRNA PVT1 in human acute erythroleukemia (AEL) cell line (KG1) using antisense LNA GapmeRs. Then, at different time points (24, 48 and 72 hours) after transfection, qRT‑real‑time PCR and Annexin‑V/Propidium Iodide staining assay were performed. The data were processed using the ANOVA test. At all three time points, the ratio of apoptotic cells in the PVT1 antisense LNA GapmeRs treated group was higher than the other groups. The ratio of necrotic cells in the antisense LNA GapmeRs group was also higher than the other groups. These assessments show that inhibition of lncRNA PVT1 could significantly induce apoptosis and necrosis in KG1 cells. Our findings can be used in translational medicine for future investigation in acute erythroleukemia and treatment approach based on antisense therapy.