STRBase: a short tandem repeat DNA database for the human identity testing community

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has compiled and maintained a Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database (http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/) since 1997 commonly referred to as STRBase. This database is an information resource for the forensic DNA typing community with details on commonly used short tandem repeat (STR) DNA markers. STRBase consolidates and organizes the abundant literature on this subject to facilitate on-going efforts in DNA typing. Observed alleles and annotated sequence for each STR locus are described along with a review of STR analysis technologies. Additionally, commercially available STR multiplex kits are described, published polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sequences are reported, and validation studies conducted by a number of forensic laboratories are listed. To supplement the technical information, addresses for scientists and hyperlinks to organizations working in this area are available, along with the comprehensive reference list of over 1300 publications on STRs used for DNA typing purposes.

Rapid acquisition of dendritic spines by visual thalamic neurons after blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an important role in the development of retinal axon arbors in the mammalian lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). We investigated whether blockade of NMDA receptors in vivo or in vitro affects the dendritic development of LGN neurons during the period that retinogeniculate axons segregate into on-center and off-center sublaminae. Osmotic minipumps containing either the NMDA receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-APV) or saline were implanted in ferret kits at postnatal day 14. After 1 week, LGN neurons were intracellularly injected with Lucifer yellow. Infusion of D-APV in vivo led to an increase in the number of branch points and in the density of dendritic spines compared with age-matched normal or saline-treated animals. To examine the time course of spine formation, crystals of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate were placed in the LGN in brain slices from 14- to 18-day-old ferrets. Labeled LGN cell dendrites were imaged on-line in living slices by confocal microscopy, with slices maintained either in normal perfusion medium or with the addition of D-APV or NMDA to the medium. Addition of D-APV in vitro at doses specific for blocking NMDA receptors led to a > 6-fold net increase in spine density compared with control or NMDA-treated slices. Spines appeared within a few hours of NMDA receptor blockade, indicating a rapid local response by LGN cells in the absence of NMDA receptor activation. Thus, activity-dependent structural changes in postsynaptic cells act together with changes in presynaptic arbors to shape projection patterns and specific retinogeniculate connections.