Objective: To study the mutations of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 type L1 genes of cervical carcinoma biopsies from Uygur women in Southern Xinjiang, and analyze changes of L1 protein function.
Methods: The tissue DNA was extracted from cervical carcinoma biopsies. HPV16 L1 genes were amplified by PCR from the DNA HPV16 type L1 genes were sequenced and analyzed.
Results: The result of PCR showed that the positive rate of HPV16 L1 was 84.21% (16/19). These DNA were sequenced, and we found some mutations in comparison with the previously published sequence of prototype HPV16 L1. Some of the mutations changed the triplet codes, subsequently led to changes of amino acids. The mutations of all thirteen HPV16 L1 fragments formed six patterns (XJL1-1 approximately XJL1-6) at nucleic acid level. Compare to HPV16 prototype, their homology were 99.69% to 99.87%. There were four mutations in nucleic acid sequences of XJL1-1, which occurred also in XJL1-2 approximately XJL1-6. Moreover, there are other mutations in XJL1-2 approximately XJL1-6 besides the four mutations in XJ L1-1. The mutations of all thirteen HPV16 L1 fragments formed four patterns at amino acid level, among the mutations XJL1-1/2/3 was by 76.92% (8/13).
Conclusion: HPV16 type L1 genes from cervical carcinoma biopsies occurred some mutations in Uygur women from southern Xinjiang, and formed several patterns as well as mainstream pattern. The mutations of L1 proteins changed its hydrophobicity and antigenicity. The research suggested that the mutations of HPV16 type L1 genes associated with HPV16 phylogenesis and escape from immune recognition.