Mammalian genes transcribe RNA not continuously, but in bursts. Transcriptional output can be modulated by altering burst fraction or burst size, but how regulatory elements control bursting parameters remains unclear. Single-molecule RNA FISH experiments revealed that the β-globin enhancer (LCR) predominantly augments transcriptional burst fraction of the β-globin gene with modest stimulation ...

The beta-globin locus control region (LCR) is characterized by erythroid-specific DNase I hypersensitive sites and is involved in the chromatin organization, transcriptional potentiation, developmental regulation, and replication timing of the entire beta-globin gene cluster. When and how the LCR is first activated during erythropoiesis is not known. Here we analyze the chromatin structure of t...

We compared the ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay to cell culture for diagnosis of genitourinary chlamydial infections in women using swab specimens obtained by clinicians from the endocervix and by patients from their own vaginas. Specimens from 40 (12.9%) of 309 patients were positive for chlamydial infection by culture, while the specimens of 50 (16.2%) patients were positive by LCR. Chlamyd...

OBJECTIVE To map comprehensively the methylation status of the CpG sites within the HPV16 long control region (LCR) in HPV-positive cancer cells, and to explore further the effects of methylation status of HPV16 LCR on cell bioactivity and E6 and E7 expression. In addition, to analyze the methylation status of the LCR in HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients. MET...

Domesticated male striped bass were selected as high cortisol stress responders (HCR) or low cortisol stress responders (LCR) by ranking mean 1-h post-stress plasma cortisol levels following a 2-min standardized net challenge once per month for four consecutive months. During the selection period, HCR and LCR fish maintained a significant divergence in post-stress cortisol levels, but these dif...

OBJECTIVE To compare the reliability of ligase chain reaction (LCR) to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting Chlamydia trachomatis endocervical infections. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of 486 patients at risk for chlamydial infection of the endocervix. We obtained two endocervical specimens from each patient and used LCR and PCR to detect C. trachomatis. Discrepant results ...

The molecular mechanisms regulating the activity of the TCRα gene are required for the production of the circulating T cell repertoire. Elements of the mouse TCRα locus control region (LCR) play a role in these processes. We previously reported that TCRα LCR DNA supports a gene expression pattern that mimics proper thymus-stage, TCRα gene-like developmental regulation. It also produces transcri...

Locus control regions (LCRs) are cis-acting gene regulatory elements with the unique, integration site-independent ability to transfer the characteristics of their locus-of-origin's gene expression pattern to a linked transgene in mice. LCR activities have been discovered in numerous T cell lineage-expressed gene loci. These elements can be adapted to the design of stem cell gene therapy vector...

Poor aerobic fitness is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and increased all-cause mortality. We previously found that rats with a low capacity for running (LCR) that were fed an acute high-fat diet (HFD; 45% kcal from fat) for 3 days resulted in positive energy balance and increased hepatic steatosis compared with rats that were highly aerobically fit with a high capacity for running (...

OBJECTIVE Nucleic acid amplification tests have facilitated field based STD studies and increased screening activities. However, even with highly specific tests, the positive predictive value (PPV) of such tests may be lower than desirable in low prevalence populations. We estimated PPVs for a single LCR test in a population survey in which positive specimens were retested. METHODS The Baltim...