Computational Evaluation of the Promoter Region of the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Gene; towards its Involvement in Stress-Induced Haematological Parameters Alteration in Medical Students Al-Hatamleh Mohammad Ahmed Issa1, Ariff Tengku Mohammad2,**, Al-Shajrawi Omar Mahmoud1, Nadeem Muhammad Ilyas1, Simbak Nordin Bin1, Latif Ahmad Zubaidi A.1, Baig Atif Amin1,* 1Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia 2Institute for Community (Health) Development and Quality of Life (I-CODE), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia *Corresponding Author E-mail: atifamin@unisza.edu.my
**tg_mariff@unisza.edu.my
Online published on 20 December, 2018. Abstract The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. It has been postulated to be involved in academic stress induced oxidative stress and blood indices alteration in medical students. This study Aimed to perform molecular characterization of the human BDNF promoter region. The sequence of the promoter region of the human BDNF was obtained from Gene bank. The open reading frames (ORFs), restrictions/methylation sites against a total of 560 recognition sequences, a total of three TATA boxes (TATA, tata, Goldberg Hogness Sequences) were identified using clustal X feature of Vector NTI. Transcriptional factors binding sites (TFBS) were identified using online tool. Promoter prediction was determined by doing manually matching of TFBS with TATA box from outward. These manual findings were compared with online promoter prediction Results. A total of 11 ORFs were identified, with a total of seven on direct strand and four complementary strands. A total of two vital restrictions sites were found against 560 recognition sequence in our database. Six TATA boxes inclusive of one TATA (TATAA), one tata (TTGACA) and four Goldberg-Hogness (TATAAAA) sequences were identified. A total of 63 TFBS were identified using online tools. In the online promoter prediction program, prediction of transcription start site (TSS) was determined to be at-360 bp. This is the first study characterizing the molecular motifs and crucial elements within the reported promoter region of the BDNF. Presence of the identified TFs aligning to the TATA box elements beside their roles in stress required to assess the role of these TFs with BDNF in future studies. Top Keywords BDNF, Promoter analysis, Medical Students, Stress, Haematological parameters. Top |