ABSTRACT
A cDNA of the rat retinoblastoma gene (RB) was prepared from total RNA of rat liver using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The 4432-nt sequence isolated contained 2700-nt translated and 1732-nt 3'-untranslated regions (UTR). The isolated cDNA detected poly(A)+RNAs of 5.4 and 3.4 kb in rat liver and kidney by Northern blot hybridization. The nt sequence of the isolated cDNA had 85% homology with that of mouse and 73% with human. The 899-amino-acid (aa) sequence was 95% homologous to that of mouse and 90% to human. The aa sequences of two functional domains of oncoprotein-binding and ten putative phosphorylation sites regulating RB function were conserved in the three species. However, the 3'-UTR were less homologous among the three, and had polymorphism in three portions, even in rats. These polymorphisms were strain-specific and genetically segregated. Thus, the rat RB cDNA and its sequence information may be useful for clarifying the role of the RB protein and genetic linkage analysis in basic biomedical research using rats, especially in experimental carcinogenesis.
Subject(s)
DNA, Complementary/genetics , Genes, Retinoblastoma , Polymorphism, Genetic , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , DNA Primers/genetics , Genetic Linkage , Humans , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Retinoblastoma Protein/genetics , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
In 1999, 8 elderly people aged over 70 stayed for 5 days in Mizusawa Welfare Techno-house and their health conditions and activities of daily life were monitored using 16 sensors attached around the house. To determine a few feasible, practical sensors and optimal sensor positions, accumulated data was analyzed. Because of bud get conditions only two sensors (infrared sensor and life line monitor sensor) were placed in one voluntary house and the data were transferred from the voluntary house to the techno-house through the ISDN and CATV lines. The data were analyzed every days. Only 2 sensors to detect were placed and attached this year, however one more sensor to detect physical conditions such as ECG records during sleeping time, will be used next year. On the other hand, an integrate system that can analyze many data transferred from various sensors simultaneously was developed. To introduce this system into privatehouse, many problems such as privacy protection, security, etc must be solved.