N Boucher

University Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada

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Publications (3)5.48 Total impact

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    Article: A +2138InsCAGACC polymorphism of the melanocortin receptor 3 gene is associated in human with fat level and partitioning in interaction with body corpulence.
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    ABSTRACT: The melanocortin system includes five receptors (MC1R to MC5R), and mouse and human MC4R has been shown to be involved in the regulation of feeding, and mouse MC3R in body composition. To verify a possible similar effect of MC3R in humans, we analyzed one insertion and one single nucleotide polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and a microsatellite (D20S32e) in relation to body composition and glucose metabolism. Eight hundred twelve subjects of the Québec Family Study (QFS) cohort were analyzed for body composition, food intake, and energy metabolism phenotypes. Southern Blot with the complete MC3R cDNA was used to detect a new +2138InsCAGACC variant by Pst1 restriction. PCR-RFLP with BsaJ1 was used to type amino acid polymorphism V81I arising from a G241A nucleotide change. PCR and automatic DNA sequencers were used for the analysis of the TG dinucleotide repeat D20S32e located between -1933/-1892 of MC3R. In a covariance analysis among genotypes, phenotypes were adjusted for age and sex as covariates. Food intake and energy metabolism phenotypes were also adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and leptin and abdominal fat, as assessed by a computed tomography scan, for fatness using six skinfold thicknesses. An association between the +2138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism was observed with fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%FAT), and total abdominal fat (ATF). Homozygote subjects for the +2138 insertion variant allele in normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) and overweight (25 < or = BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) subjects showed a similar level of fatness despite the overall difference in BMI. In normal weight, homozygotes for the insertion allele showed higher mean values than heterozygotes and homozygotes for wild-type allele without insertion (%FAT: 24.0 +/- 1.1 versus 19.3 +/- 0.9 and 20.5 +/- 0.8, p = 0.0005; FM: 15.7 +/- 0.9 kg versus 11.7 +/- 0.7 kg and 12.6 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0003). In contrast, overweight subjects homozygote for the variant allele showed lower mean values (%FAT: 27.0 +/- 1.2 versus 31.4 +/- 0.8 and 30.9 +/- 0.7, p = 0.002; FM: 18.3 +/- 1.0 kg versus 22.8 +/- 0.8 kg and 22.0 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0001). This resulted in a similar level of body fat between both BMI groups for subjects homozygote for the insertion allele versus wild-type allele carriers (%FAT: +/-2-3% versus +/-10-12%; FM: +/-2 kg versus +/-9-11 kg). In obese subjects (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2) ), a lower level of ATF was seen (-15%, p = 0.002). Other polymorphisms and phenotypes tested showed no association. A new 12138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism is associated with the level of adiposity and with body fat partitioning in interaction with corpulence in humans.
    Molecular Medicine 03/2002; 8(3):158-65. · 3.76 Impact Factor
  • Article: A +2138InsCAGACC Polymorphism of the Melanocortin Receptor 3 Gene is Associated in Human with Fat Level and Partitioning in Interaction with Body Corpulence1
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Background: The melanocortin system includes five receptors (MC1R to MC5R), and mouse and human MC4R has been shown to be involved in the regulation of feeding, and mouse MC3R in body composition. To verify a possible similar effect of MC3R in humans, we analyzed one insertion and one single nucleotide polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and a microsatellite (D20S32e) in relation to body composition and glucose metabolism. Methods: Eight hundred twelve subjects of the Quebec Family Study (QFS) cohort were analyzed for body composition, food intake, and energy metabolism phenotypes. Southern Blot with the complete MC3R cDNA was used to detect a new +2138InsCAGACC variant by Pst1 restriction. PCR-RFLP with BsaJ1 was used to type amino acid polymorphism V81I arising from a G241A nucleotide change. PCR and automatic DNA sequencers were used for the analysis of the TG dinucleotide repeat D20S32e located between -1933/- 1892 of MC3R. In a covariance analysis among genotypes, phenotypes were adjusted for age and sex as covariates. Food intake and energy metabolism phenotypes were also adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and leptin and abdominal fat, as assessed by a computed tomography scan, for fatness using six skinfold thicknesses. Results: An association between the +2138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism was observed with fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%FAT), and total abdominal fat (ATF). Homozygote subjects for the +2138 insertion variant allele in normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) and overweight (25 </= BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) subjects showed a similar level of fatness despite the overall difference in BMI. In normal weight, homozygotes for the insertion allele showed higher mean values than heterozygotes and homozygotes for wild-type allele without insertion (%FAT: 24.0 +/- 1.1 versus 19.3 +/- 0.9 and 20.5 +/- 0.8, p = 0.0005; FM: 15.7 +/- 0.9 kg versus 11.7 +/- 0.7 kg and 12.6 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0003). In contrast, overweight subjects homozygote for the variant allele showed lower mean values (%FAT: 27.0 +/- 1.2 versus 31.4 +/- 0.8 and 30.9 +/- 0.7, p = 0.002; FM: 18.3 +/- 1.0 kg versus 22.8 +/- 0.8 kg and 22.0 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0001). This resulted in a similar level of body fat between both BMI groups for subjects homozygote for the insertion allele versus wild- type allele carriers (%FAT: +/-2-3% versus +/-10-12%; FM: +/-2 kg versus +/-9-11 kg). In obese subjects (BMI >/= 30 kg/m(2) ), a lower level of ATF was seen (-15%, p = 0.002). Other polymorphisms and phenotypes tested showed no association. Conclusion: A new 12138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism is associated with the level of adiposity and with body fat partitioning in interaction with corpulence in humans
    Mol.Med. 8(3):158-165.
  • Article: Development of a very sensitive luminescence assay for the measurement of paclitaxel and related taxanes.
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    ABSTRACT: A rapid and very sensitive enzyme immunoassay was developed for the measurement of paclitaxel and related taxanes in crude extracts of Taxus sp., in human serum and in culture medium of paclitaxel-producing microorganisms such as Erwinia taxi. For the ELISA, paclitaxel was chemically modified by the introduction of an amine to enable coupling with biotin. The presence of paclitaxel or related taxanes competitively inhibited the binding of paclitaxel-biotin to anti-taxane monoclonal antibody. This method detected paclitaxel in concentrations as low as 33 pM; the affinity of the antibody was higher for paclitaxel than for cephalomanine, baccatin and DAB. The sensitivity of this assay makes it useful for estimating the paclitaxel and taxanes content of Taxus sp. extracts, monitoring the paclitaxel serum level of paclitaxel treated patients and in other biological fluids.
    Anticancer research 19(6B):5127-30. · 1.73 Impact Factor