Transplantation is based on a satisfactory matching of the patient and donor genes for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA), which increases the chance of a successful transplantation. HLA gives individual cell surface markers. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region, encoding HLA in humans, is the most polymorphic in the human genome. The genes are located on chromosome six and consists of 200 genes. Those genes encode protein products essential for the acquired immune system. MHC molecule’s role is to represent foreign substance for B- and T-lymphocytes. MHC is an important system as it contributes to the activation of the immune system to combat viruses, bacteria, parasites and cancer cells. HLA-typing is determined through certain antigens in the HLA system. The classical transplantation antigens are HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, -DQ and -DP. By amplifying the DNA with sequence specific primers in the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the amplicons can be detected and alleles present in the patient genome can be determined. The purpose of this study was to compare occurrence of non-specific DNA binding using master mix where Ampli Taq DNA polymerase is added and master mix with polymerase included in the PCR. Samples from 16 patients were tested with both master mix- solutions. The analyses were performed with primer plates for HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRP1. The results showed that the master mix with Taq polymerase included should be applied, because it gave clearer specific band, better image quality and gave weaker and approximately 30% fewer non- specific DNA binding compared to the master mix with added Taq polymerase.

Hos vuxna individer förekommer två fenotyper gällande produktionen av laktas, vilka kallas laktostolerans och laktosintolerans. Vid laktosintolerans produceras otillräckliga mängder laktas vilket framkallar symptom som magsmärtor och flatulens vid intagandet av mjölkprodukter. En enbaspolymorfism (LCT-13910C>T) har kopplats till laktostolerans hos nordvästeuropéer och kan genotypas med smältkurveanalys i realtids-PCR. På Laboratoriemedicin vid Länssjukhuset Ryhov används idag en metod vid genotypning av LCT-13910C>T där extraktion av DNA från blod krävs innan analys. Anledningen till detta är att DNA-polymeraset som ingår enzymmixen LightCycler® FastStart DNA Master HybProbe endast fungerar med rent DNA-templat. Med en annan enzymmix, Kapa Probe Force, ska analys kunna göras direkt på blod. För att utvärdera enzymmixen jämfördes resultat från befintlig metod och resultat från metod med Kapa Probe Force, gällande förmågan att identifiera genotyperna LCT-13910C/C, C/T och T/T samt med avseende på imprecision. Vid jämförelse mellan metoderna samstämde resultatet i avseende på genotyp till 100 % utifrån specificerade smälttemperaturer (Tm) för respektive genotyp angivna i kitet för primer/prober. Däremot syntes lägre fluorescensnivå på smältopparna i metod med Kapa Probe Force, men påverkade inte tolkning av smältkurvorna. En lägre prov-till-prov-variation sågs även i resultatet från metod med Kapa Probe Force gentemot befintlig metod. / Among adults two phenotypes are found with regards to production of lactase, these are termed lactase persistence and lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is characterized by a low production of lactase, which leads to symptoms such as stomach ache and flatulence after the consumption of dairy products. A single nucleotide polymorphism (LCT-13910C>T) has been correlated with the occurrence of lactase persistence in northwestern Europeans. Genotyping of LCT-13910C>T is possible with melting curve analysis in real time PCR. The currently used method for genotyping of LCT-13910C>T at Ryhov County Hospital requires the extraction of DNA template from blood, due to the fact that the DNA-polymerase in the kit LightCycler® FastStart DNA Master HybProbe requires pure DNA template for analysis. With another DNA-polymerase, included in the kit Kapa Probe Force, analysis on crude samples such as pure blood should be possible. Evaluation of Kapa Probe Force included comparison of the results from both methods with regards to identification of genotypes LCT-13910C/C, C/T and T/T and with regard to imprecision. The results from Kapa Probe Force were 100 % consistent with the results from existing method and acquired melting temperatures (Tm) were all within the accepted ranges specified in the kit of primers and probes. The fluorescence of melting curves acquired with Kapa Probe Force was significantly lower, however this had no effect when it came to interpreting the results. A lower variation could also be seen between samples with Kapa Probe Force compared to existing method.

<p>3’ end cleavage and polyadenylation are important steps in the maturation of eukaryotic mRNAs. Poly(A) polymerase (PAP), the enzyme catalysing the addition of adenosine residues, exists in multiple isoforms. In this study the functional significance of multiple poly(A) polymerases have been investigated. It is concluded (i) that at least three mechanisms generate the multiple isoforms i.e. gene duplication, post-translational modification and alternative mRNA processing and (ii) that the different isoforms of poly(A) polymerases have different catalytic properties. The study highlights regulation of poly(A) polymerase activity through modulation of its affinity for the substrate as visualised by the K_M parameter. We suggest that trans-acting factors modulating the K_M of poly(A) polymerase will play important roles in regulating its activity.</p><p>A new human poly(A) polymerase (PAPγ) encoded by the PAPOLG gene was identified. PAPγ is 65% homologous to the previously identified PAP. In human cells three isoforms of poly(A) polymerases being 90, 100 and 106 kDa in sizes are present. These native isoforms were purified. The PAPOLA gene encoded the 100 and 106 kDa isoforms while the 90 kDa isoform was encoded by the PAPOLG gene. Native PAPγ was found to be more active than 100 kDa PAP while the hyperphosphorylated 106 kDa PAP isoform was comparably inactive due to a 500-fold decrease in affinity for the RNA substrate. </p><p>The PAPOLG gene was shown to encode one unique mRNA while the PAPOLA gene generated five different PAP mRNAs by alternative splicing of the last three exons. The PAPOLA encoded mRNAs were divided into two classes based on the composition of the last three exons. Poly(A) polymerases from the two classes were shown to differ in polyadenylation activities. These differences revealed two novel regulatory motifs in the extreme C-terminal end of PAP, one being inactivating and the other activating for polyadenylation activity.</p>

3’ end cleavage and polyadenylation are important steps in the maturation of eukaryotic mRNAs. Poly(A) polymerase (PAP), the enzyme catalysing the addition of adenosine residues, exists in multiple isoforms. In this study the functional significance of multiple poly(A) polymerases have been investigated. It is concluded (i) that at least three mechanisms generate the multiple isoforms i.e. gene duplication, post-translational modification and alternative mRNA processing and (ii) that the different isoforms of poly(A) polymerases have different catalytic properties. The study highlights regulation of poly(A) polymerase activity through modulation of its affinity for the substrate as visualised by the KM parameter. We suggest that trans-acting factors modulating the KM of poly(A) polymerase will play important roles in regulating its activity. A new human poly(A) polymerase (PAPγ) encoded by the PAPOLG gene was identified. PAPγ is 65% homologous to the previously identified PAP. In human cells three isoforms of poly(A) polymerases being 90, 100 and 106 kDa in sizes are present. These native isoforms were purified. The PAPOLA gene encoded the 100 and 106 kDa isoforms while the 90 kDa isoform was encoded by the PAPOLG gene. Native PAPγ was found to be more active than 100 kDa PAP while the hyperphosphorylated 106 kDa PAP isoform was comparably inactive due to a 500-fold decrease in affinity for the RNA substrate. The PAPOLG gene was shown to encode one unique mRNA while the PAPOLA gene generated five different PAP mRNAs by alternative splicing of the last three exons. The PAPOLA encoded mRNAs were divided into two classes based on the composition of the last three exons. Poly(A) polymerases from the two classes were shown to differ in polyadenylation activities. These differences revealed two novel regulatory motifs in the extreme C-terminal end of PAP, one being inactivating and the other activating for polyadenylation activity.