Although the killing of dependent infants by adult males is a widespread phenomenon among primates, its causes and consequences still remain hotly debated. According to the sexual selection hypothesis, infanticidal males will gain a reproductive advantage provided that only unrelated infants are killed and that the males increase their chances of siring the next infants. Alternatively, the social pathology hypothesis interprets infanticide as a result of crowded living conditions and, thus, as not providing any advantage. Based on DNA analyses of wild Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) we present the first evidence that male attackers were not related to their infant victims. Furthermore, in all cases the presumed killers were the likely fathers of the subsequent infants. Our data, therefore, strongly support the sexual selection hypothesis interpreting infanticide as an evolved, adaptive male reproductive tactic.

Simple repetitive DNA sequences are ubiquitous constituents of eukaryotic chromosomes. The properties of simple repeats generate increased interest as expansions of certain trinucleotide blocks cause human diseases. We studied protein binding and structural features of (gaauu.ttc)n tracts e.g. in the polymorphic frataxin intron 1 and (gt)n(ga)m stretches from different HLA-DRB1 alleles in their original genomic environments. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that HeLa nuclear proteins bind to DNA fragments containing these simple repeat blocks. The major retarded protein/DNA complexes comprise, in both cases, zinc-dependent proteins present in nuclear extracts from different cell types. Competition experiments using various simple repeats differing in length and flanking regions demonstrate specific interactions. DNase I footprinting shows protein-binding sites located either within the repeats alone or within the repeats as well as their flanking regions, often with preference for one strand. Comparing different (gt)n(ga)m alleles, a regular pattern of footprints was not detectable in the (gt)n part indicating that the zinc-dependent protein recognizes structural rather than sequence-specific features. OsO4 and DEPC modifications followed by electrophoretic and electron microscopical analyses demonstrate that the homopurine blocks often form different types of intramolecular triple helices. A similar situation was evident using (gaauu.ttc)n blocks of different lengths within frataxin intron 1 as targets. These data have functional implications for non-coding (gaauu.ttc)n and (gt)n(ga)m tracts with regard to gene expression in vivo.

Hamilton's theory predicts that relatedness asymmetries, with higher relatedness between alloparents and brood than between parents and brood, favour the evolution of eusociality. The haplodiploid reproductive system of the social Hymenoptera does indeed produce relatedness asymmetries, but the diplodiploid system of the eusocial Isoptera does not automatically do so. Three mechanisms that might favour relatedness asymmetries, and therefore eusociality, in termites have been extensively debated: First, substantial inbreeding generates the background for effective kin-selection. Second, inbreeding-outbreeding cycles within and between colonies cause a higher relatedness between individuals of the same generation than between them and their potential offspring. This would be analogous to the haplodiploid system. Third, translocation complexes of sex-linked chromosomes may generate higher relatedness within sexes than between sexes, again analogous to the haplodiploid system. We tested these three hypotheses for the African termite Schedorhinotermes lamanianus (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) using estimates of within-colony relatedness derived by multilocus DNA fingerprinting with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe. We found little support for any of the three hypotheses. We observed inbreeding to occur only during one or a few generations within colonies, which is unlikely to be an operational basis for ongoing kin-selection. Overall, we conclude that ecological factors and constraints must be considered a major selective force.

Molecular EcologyVolume 8, Issue 4 p. 700-702 Characterization of microsatellite markers in the red alga Gracilaria gracilis H Luo, H Luo Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorM Möorchen, M Möorchen Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorC. R Engel, C. R Engel Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorC Destombe, C Destombe Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorJ. T Epplen, J. T Epplen Molecular Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, D-44780 Bochum, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorC Epplen, C Epplen Molecular Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, D-44780 Bochum, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorP Saumitou-Laprade, P Saumitou-Laprade Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorM Valero, M Valero Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this author H Luo, H Luo Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorM Möorchen, M Möorchen Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorC. R Engel, C. R Engel Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorC Destombe, C Destombe Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorJ. T Epplen, J. T Epplen Molecular Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, D-44780 Bochum, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorC Epplen, C Epplen Molecular Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, D-44780 Bochum, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorP Saumitou-Laprade, P Saumitou-Laprade Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this authorM Valero, M Valero Laboratoire de G éné tique et Evolution des Populations Vé g étales, CNRS (UPRESA 8016 and GDR 1002) Université de Lille 1, Bâ timent SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’ Ascq Cedex, FrancSearch for more papers by this author First published: 31 May 2013 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294x.1999.00879.xCitations: 11 M. Valero Fax: +33 3 20 43 69 79; E-mail: [email protected] AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume8, Issue4April 1999Pages 700-702 RelatedInformation

An intronic dinucleotide polymorphism in the IFN-gamma gene (IFNG) was used as a marker for testing association with multiple sclerosis (MS). Disease association was analyzed in case-control sets sampled from four geographically separate European populations (Germany, Northern Italy, Sardinia, and Sweden). Only in the Swedish was a weak disease association of the IFNG allele pattern found, mainly due to a higher frequency of IFNG allele I1 in MS patients. No evidence for association was found in the German or Northern Italian populations. These results contrast with the situation in Sardinia. We have recently reported transmission disequilibrium of IFNG allele I2 in Sardinian MS siblings not carrying the predisposing DRB1 *03 or *04 alleles (Ann. Neurol. 44, 841-842, 1998). Further analysis now shows that I2 is significantly more often transmitted to DRB1 *03-/*04- males, than to DRB1 *03-/*04- females. The odds ratio (OR) for IFNG-associated susceptibility to MS in the total Sardinian DRB1*03-/*04- group was 1.88 for I2 heterozygotes but amounted to 8.235 for I2 homozygotes, suggestive of a recessive mode of inheritance. Score test-based statistics pointed to an I2 allele dosage effect acting in susceptibility. Comparison of the IFNG allele frequencies in seven European populations (Northern Finnish, Southern Finnish, Swedish, Danish, German, Italian, and Sardinian) revealed a highly different distribution pattern. We introduced latitude as a score variable in order to test for trend in binomial proportions. This test statistic showed that for both most common alleles, I1 and I2 (compiled allele frequency about 85%), a significant opposite north-to-south trend is seen throughout Europe. This effect is primarily due to the extreme values found in the outlier populations of Finland and Sardinia. Our findings are discussed with respect to recent literature pertinent to the role of the IFNG chromosome region in autoimmune diseases.

We measured telomerase activity in 36 malignant and seven benign lipomatous neoplasias from 34 patients to assess the role of telomerase in the development of liposarcoma. The sensitive PCR-based telomerase assay (telomeric repeat amplification protocol-TRAP) was applied. We correlated telomerase activity with the shortening or elongation of telomeric repeat fragment length (TRF), measured by using hybridization with a telomere specific oligonucleotide probe. Telomerase activity was demonstrated in 69% of malignant tumors. This information may be helpful in distinguishing benign tumors from malignant neoplasias. Telomerase expression, however, seems to be characteristic of poorly differentiated liposarcomas. Telomerase activity was not correlated with age at the time of diagnosis or with sex. We observed that telomerase expressing tumors had higher proliferation indices than neoplasias lacking telomerase. Telomerase activity was observed in all eight recurrences, suggesting a close association of telomerase with the biologic behavior of liposarcomas. Therefore, we assume that telomerase plays a key role in the establishment and progression of lipomatous tumors.

Twin studies evidence that genetic factors of the host influence the acquisition and the clinical outcome of Helicobacter pylori infections in addition to bacterial and environmental factors. In the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha-gene, allelic frequencies of the polymorphic microsatellite TNFa and the promoter polymorphism TNF-308 were studied for 209 H. pylori+ patients and compared to 184 H. pylori- controls. In the H. pylori+ group 34 individuals suffered from duodenal ulcer and 45 from gastric ulcer. Genotyping of the TNFa microsatellite and TNF-308 polymorphisms was performed after polymerase chain reaction by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridizations, respectively. The phenotype frequency of microsatellite allele TNFa6 was lower in the H. pylori+ females as well as infected females with gastric ulcer compared to uninfected controls. Infected men with duodenal ulcer had a decreased frequency of allele TNFa10. The genotype TNF1/TNF1 of the polymorphism TNF-308 is a risk factor for duodenal ulcer in H. pylori+ females; p = 0.01; relative risk (RR) = 10.7; corrected p-value (Pc) = 0.05. Thus, the TNF region is crucial in the complex genetic predisposition for H. pylori infection for certain patient subgroups.

Zum Thema Während in der kaukasischen Bevölkerung die Prävalenz des Diabetes mellitus Typ I 1:300 beträgt, liegt diese bei Geschwistern bei 6% und bei monozygoten Zwillingen bei 30–50%. Ähnlich verhält es sich bei der rheumatoiden Arthritis: Die Prävalenz in der Bevölkerung ist 1%, bei Geschwistern und dizygoten Zwillingen 5%, bei monozygoten Zwillingen 10–30%. Diese wenigen Zahlenbeispiele weisen auf genetische Faktoren hin, die ätiologisch jedenfalls mitbestimmend für die spätere Entwicklung der entsprechenden Krankheitsbilder sind. Über die genetischen Komponenten einiger Krankheitsbilder, bei denen Autoimmunphänomene eine wichtige Rolle spielen, wird hier ein Überblick gegeben: Diabetes mellitus Typ I, rheumatoide Arthritis, Multiple Sklerose, M. Basedow und Hashimoto Thyreoiditis. Eine Beziehung zwischen Veränderungen im Genom einerseits und einer bestimmten Krankheit andererseits herzustellen, ist komplex und besonders schwierig dann, wenn diese multifaktoriell bedingt sind.

Sperm competition can be a powerful selective force in the evolution of mating systems. The level of sperm competition depends on the remating frequency of females. Several scorpionfly species have been studied with respect to their mating systems. However, remating frequencies and lifetime patterns of sperm usage are completely unknown. Members of the genus Panorpa (Panorpidae: Mecoptera) display a particularly interesting range of mating systems, and Panorpa vulgaris was selected for study. Remating frequencies of wild-caught females were estimated (a) by comparing sperm quantities in females caught early and late in the season with mean number of sperm transferred by males in one copulation, and (b) by polymorphic microsatellite loci. The paternity of offspring produced during the entire lifetime of females in the lab was determined using three polymorphic microsatellite loci. More than 1200 individuals, collected both from wild and from captivity-bred P. vulgaris, were typed for paternity analyses. Microsatellite typing as well as comparison of sperm quantities showed (1) that females mated with several males and (2) that the number of mates increased with progressive lifetime. Some females were observed in captivity during their entire lifetime and the complete mating activities were recorded. Analysis of their offspring showed that females allocate paternity in proportion to male copulation duration. Remating and sperm mixing may allow females to gain "high quality" genes for their offspring when females adjust copulation duration to male quality.

has become a model insect for testing theories of sexual selection. This contribution summarizes that which has been learned in recent years and presents new data that clearly show that the mating system of P. vulgaris is not simply a resource-defense polygyny, as has previously been thought. In P. vulgaris neither the pattern in food exploitation nor the ratio of variance in the lifetime reproductive success of the two sexes is in accordance with that expected in resource defense polygynous mating systems. Lifetime mating duration is the most important proximate determinant of male fitness. Males employing alternative mating tactics obtain copulations of varying duration in relation to the following sequence: saliva secretion  1  food offering  1  no gift. The number of salivary masses which males provide to females during their lifetime is significantly correlated with the lifetime condition index. The condition index depends on the fighting prowess of males and their ability to find food items. Thus saliva secretion of Panorpa is considered a Zahavian handicap, which can serve as an honest quality indicator used by mating females. Our results confirm four main predictions of the indicator model of the theory of sexual selection: (a) the indicator signals high ecological quality of its bearer, (b) the indicator value increases with phenotypic quality, (c) the indicator value is positively correlated with the genetic quality affecting offspring fitness in a natural selection context, and (d) the quality indicator is more costly for low- than for high-quality individuals. The evolutionary consequences of the mating pattern and the sperm competition mechanism in P. vulgaris are discussed in the context the way in which sexual selection creates and maintains sperm mixing and the evolution of a promiscuous mating system.

A simple and fast method with high reliability is necessary for the identification of mutations, polymorphisms and sequence variants (MPSV) within many genes and many samples, e.g. to clarify the genetic background of individuals with multifactorial diseases. We evaluated polymerase chain reaction - single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis to identify MPSV in several genes, which are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of multifactorial autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The method is based on the property, that the electrophoretic mobility of single-stranded nucleic acids depends not only on its size but also on its sequence. The target sequence was amplified, digested into fragments ranging from 50-200 bp, heat-denatured and analyzed on native gels. The analysis of 55 PCR systems, including a total of 145 fragments demonstrates, that the detection rate of MPSV depends primarily on the fragment lengths. Appropriate dilutions of samples enhances the proportion of ssDNA compared to dsDNA. Changing the gel conditions, glycerol concentrations and/or the addition of urea may increase fragment resolution in some cases. In general, the detection of MPSV is neither influenced by their location within the fragment nor by the type of substitution, i.e, transitions or transversions. The standard PCR-SSCP system described here provides high reliability and detection rates and allows the efficient analysis of many samples and many genes.

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis and peptic Ulcer disease is a known complication.Genes within the HLA-complex including TNFct have been shown to influence the clinical course.132 German individuals were examined if informed consent was given.H. pylori status was determined by urease test, culture and histology.77 individuals were 14. pylori +, 9 of these suffered from gastric ulcer, 10 from duodenal ulcer.The remaining 55 H. pyloripersons served as controls.The highly polymorphic rnicrosatellite TNFa is located 3 kb upstream of the lymphotoxin A gene and is linked to the TNFct gene and HLA class II genes.Methods: Specific oligonucleotides flanking the simple repeat motif (gt)n of TNFa are utilized for PCR.Microsatellite alleles are defined by length variants of the simple repeat.Results: The allele distribution profile of the entire cohort investigated corresponds to the distribution in the German population (as assessed in more than 400 controls).However, comparing the phenotype frequencies in H. pylori ÷ and H. pylori" individuals the frequency of allele a6 is significantly increased in the H. pylori" group (RR 0.41; p<0.05 as calculated by Chi-square test).Alleles a7 to a14 are more frequent in the infected group.All H. pylori ÷ patients with peptic ulcer disease had at least one allele of TNFa2, all or a13.These TNFa alleles are known to be associated with high secretion of TNFc~.Individuals with TNFa6, however, showed low TNFct secretion (Pociot, 1993).Conclusion: TNF~ plays a crucial role in the host defense to infection with 11. pylori.The clinical course of the infection may be mediated by different levels of TNFct secretion.

Zusammenfassung Bei der multiplen Sklerose als chronisch demyelinisierender Erkrankung des Zentralnervensystems (ZNS) werden derzeit 3 Verfahren zur Remyelinisierungsförderung untersucht: Die Gabe von Wachstumsfaktoren, die Transplantation myelinbildender Zellen und die Applikation von intravenösen Immunglobulinen (IVIg). Im Tiermodell führen diese Prinzipien zu Remyelinisierungen in experimentell akut demyelinisierten Arealen des ZNS und verbessern z.T. die Leitfähigkeit der Axone. Die systemische Therapie mit Wachstumsfaktoren könnte v.a. durch Wirkungen auf gesunde Gewebe limitiert sein. Bei Transplantationen stellt sich das Problem der Immunogenität von homologen Zellen, da noch keine nicht immunogenen Zellinien zur Verfügung stehen. Auch ist die zur Kultivierung und Vermehrung von humanen Oligodendrozyten und deren Vorläuferzellen benötigte Kombination von Wachstumsfaktoren nicht bekannt. Beim Menschen gibt es wachsende Evidenzen für eine remyelinisierungsfördernde Potenz von IVIg. Zum Beweis dieser Wirkung sind weitere kontrollierte Studien nötig und werden momentan durchgeführt.

In order to understand evolutionary aspects of the highly polymorphicHLA-F microsatellite (heterozygosity>90%), several alleles of primates were characterized. 576 meioses from 35 CEPH families were investigated for regular transmission. Furthermore 364 healthy, non-related individuals belonging to four populations from distant ethnic groups were analysed to determine the applicability of this locus in population studies.

Friedreich's ataxia is the most common hereditary ataxia and is frequently associated with disturbances of glucose metabolism. This autosomal recessive disease is caused by the decreased expression of a mitochondrial protein, frataxin, encoded by the X25 gene. Homozygous expansion of a GAA repeat in the first intron of X25 inhibits frataxin expression and is associated with clinical disease. We evaluated whether heterozygous expansions of the triplet repeat in the frataxin gene X25 may be associated with NIDDM in two genetically distinct populations--one in Germany (n = 358) and the other in the U.S. (n = 292)--using a polymerase chain reaction-based assay. Intermediate expansions (10-36 repeats), which are longer than normal but not sufficient for the appearance of the ataxia phenotype, were found in 24.7 and 27.3% of these two NIDDM cohorts compared with 7.6 and 6.3% of the matched control subjects (both P < 0.001). The odds ratios were 3.36 (95% CI 1.72-6.55) for the German group and 4.01 (2.08-7.74) for the U.S. group. Therefore, we conclude that the X25/frataxin GAA repeat polymorphism is associated with NIDDM in a frequency higher than any other mutation heretofore described. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible role of frataxin in the pathogenesis of NIDDM.