多组学分析在昆虫滞育中的应用

组学技术将生物的相关问题分别展现在基因、蛋白质和代谢物等不同层次水平上,已成为解读生命过程的重要工具。本文分别从转录组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学以及组学间的联合应用等方面概括总结了组学技术在昆虫滞育研究中的应用情况,阐述了以转录组学、蛋白质组学和代谢组学为代表的多组学技术在昆虫滞育调控分子机制中取得的重要成果,并针对当前研究现状,对昆虫滞育中组学技术应用的前景和局限性进行了总结和展望,以期为昆虫滞育调控分子机制的研究提供参考依据。     

植物响应盐胁迫组学研究进展

盐胁迫对植物生长的影响主要表现在离子毒害、渗透胁迫以及次级氧化胁迫等,植物遭受盐胁迫时迅速启动相关基因,进行转录调控,进而合成相应蛋白质来控制代谢物合成和离子转运以调节渗透平衡。随着现代分子生物学迅速发展,对植物耐盐机理研究也深入到了转录组、蛋白质组、代谢组及离子组等水平,"组学"研究为耐盐基因鉴定及标志性代谢物的挖掘等提供了有力手段。该文对近年来国内外有关转录组学、蛋白质组学、代谢组学、离子组学的主要研究方法及在盐胁迫中的应用研究进展进行综述,以揭示植物耐盐机理,为优良耐盐碱植物的筛选与培育提供支持。     

生态代谢组学研究进展

代谢组学指某一生物系统中产生的或已存在的代谢物组的研究,以质谱和核磁共振技术为分析平台,以信息建模与系统整合为目标。随着代谢组学中的研究方法与技术成为生态学研究的有力工具,生态代谢组学概念应运而生,即研究某一个生物体对环境变化的代谢物组水平的响应。理清代谢组学与生态代谢组学学科发展的脉络,综述代谢组学研究中的常用技术及其优势与局限性,论述代谢组学技术在生态学研究中的应用现状,展望代谢组学技术与其他系统生物学组学技术的结合在生态学中的应用前景,提出生态代谢组学研究者未来要完成的任务和面对的挑战。     

多组学前沿技术专刊序言

后基因组时代,基因组学、转录组学、蛋白质组学及代谢组学等技术应用日趋广泛,功能注释成为生命科学研究的中心任务,多组学整合分析成为全面解析生物学机理的主要手段。本专刊邀请了国内多组学领域的相关专家学者介绍了基因组学、转录组学、蛋白质组学及代谢组学等领域最新进展和应用成果,收录了相关文章28篇,以供从事多组学研究的科研工作者参考。     

组学技术及其在食品科学中应用的研究进展

后基因组时代的主要研究任务即是组学(转录组学、蛋白质组学及代谢组学)研究,其发展迅速,有望成为解决生命科学领域诸如食品品质与安全等科学问题的有力工具.组学研究为食品科学相关研究提供了新的思路和技术,在食品加工、贮藏、营养素检测、食品安全以及食品鉴伪等领域中已有广泛的应用.综述转录组学、蛋白质组学及代谢组学研究的核心技术,以及组学技术在食品科学研究中的研究进展,并对其应用前景进行展望.     

代谢物组学在医药研究中的成功实践

代谢物组学作为后基因时代的一种全新的组学技术。其主要以现代系统生物学为理论基础,以生物体液为研究对象,以现代谱学分析理论和生物样品制备方法为技术支撑,集中生物体内低分子量化学组分进行全息分析和海量数据挖掘,最终明晰机体生物学变化的本质。代谢物组学在功能基因组学、病理生理学、药理毒理学等方面都有着广泛的应用前景。本文以代谢物组学概念化的提出为切入点,着眼于代谢物组学的宽口径应用领域,重点概述代谢物组学在医药领域的成功实践,并对代谢物组学的未来发展做初步构想代谢物组学在功能基因组学、病理生理学、药理毒理学等方面都有着广泛的应用前景。     

代谢物组学方法及其在植物学研究中的应用

代谢物是生物体受遗传控制和环境影响的最终表达产物,以全体代谢物(代谢物组)为研究对象的代谢物组学是继基因组学和蛋白质组学后必然出现的又一门"组学"技术。该文综述了代谢物组的检测、数据的处理和分析等以及这些技术在植物目标分析、基因功能、代谢途径和代谢工程、整合植物学、信号转导等研究中的应用和前景。     

多组学技术及其在生命科学研究中应用概述

随着新一代测序技术、高分辨质谱技术、多组学整合分析方法及数据库的发展,组学技术正从传统的单一组学向多组学技术发展。以多组学驱动的系统生物学研究将带来生命科学研究的新范式。本文简要概述了基因组学、表观基因组学、转录组学,蛋白质组学及代谢组学的进展,重点介绍多组学技术平台的组成和功能,多组学技术的应用现状及在合成生物学及生物医学等领域的应用前景。     

代谢组学技术及其在临床研究中的应用

在后基因组时代, 系统生物学研究成为人们关注的焦点。转录组学、蛋白质组学等功能基因组学研究方法可同时检测药物或其他因素影响下大量基因或蛋白质的表达变化情况, 但这些变化不能与生物学功能的变化建立直接联系。代谢组学方法则可为代谢物含量变化与生物表型变化建立直接相关性。代谢组学研究的目的是定量分析一个生物系统内所有代谢物的含量, 进行全面代谢物分析需要分析化学技术的支撑, 核磁共振和基于质谱的分析技术是代谢组学研究的两种主要技术手段。代谢组学研究可产生大量数据信息, 对这些数据进行分析离不开化学统计学的应用, 比如主成分分析、多维缩放、各种聚类分析技术以及功能差异分析等。文章综述了近年来代谢组学分析技术及数据分析技术的研究进展, 在此基础上, 对代谢组学在临床研究及临床前研究中的应用研究进展进行了综述。对疾病代谢表型图谱的研究有助于人们了解疾病发生、发展以及致死的机制; 在临床条件下, 这些代谢图谱可以作为疾病诊断、预后以及治疗的评判标准。代谢物组成的变化是毒物胁迫对机体造成的最终影响, 利用代谢组技术可以直接反映毒物对机体的影响。质谱技术、核磁共振技术的应用使得药物筛选过程可以快速完成, 并有助于实现个性化用药。此外, 利用代谢组学技术还可以进行已知酶的新活性研究, 也可以研究未知酶。     

代谢物组学及其在微生物研究中的应用

代谢物组学(metabolomics)是继基因组学(genomics)、蛋白质组学(proteomics)后发展起来的一门新学科。对代谢物组学的含义,研究方法及流程,特别是其在微生物中的应用进行了介绍,包括使用代谢物组学中的NMR技术研究微生物在降解环境污染物中的作用;使用代谢物组学技术研究微生物代谢通量,从而在分析代谢通量的基础上通过代谢工程改变代谢通量,提高目的产物的得率;确定所获得基因库中沉默基因的功能;运用代谢物组学分析方法阐明生物体系对于环境变化的响应,从而协助我们确定最佳的取样时间及最佳分析组织,设计实验。随后简要对代谢物组学发展动态进行了展望。     

Non-uniform distribution pattern for differentially expressed genes of transgenic rice Huahui 1 at different developmental stages and environments

DNA microarray analysis is an effective method to detect unintended effects by detecting differentially expressed genes (DEG) in safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. With the aim to reveal the distribution of DEG of GM crops under different conditions, we performed DNA microarray analysis using transgenic rice Huahui 1 (HH1) and its non-transgenic parent Minghui 63 (MH63) at different developmental stages and environmental conditions. Considerable DEG were selected in each group of HH1 under different conditions. For each group of HH1, the number of DEG was different; however, considerable common DEG were shared between different groups of HH1. These findings suggested that both DEG and common DEG were adequate for investigation of unintended effects. Furthermore, a number of significantly changed pathways were found in all groups of HH1, indicating genetic modification caused everlasting changes to plants. To our knowledge, our study for the first time provided the non-uniformly distributed pattern for DEG of GM crops at different developmental stages and environments. Our result also suggested that DEG selected in GM plants at specific developmental stage and environment could act as useful clues for further evaluation of unintended effects of GM plants.     

Molecular characterization of genetically-modified crops: Challenges and strategies

Molecular characterization lays a foundation for safety assessment and subsequent monitoring of genetically modified (GM) crops. Due to the target-specific nature, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods cannot comprehensively detect unintended gene insertions, let alone unknown GM events. As more and more new developed GM crops including new plant breeding technology (NPBT) generated crops are in the pipeline for commercialization, alternative -omics approaches, particularly next generation sequencing, have been developed for molecular characterization of authorized or unauthorized GM (UGM) crops. This review summarizes first those methods, addresses their challenges, and discusses possible strategies for molecular characterization of engineered crops generated by NPBT, highlighting needs for a global information-sharing database and cost-effective, accurate and comprehensive molecular characterization approaches.     

Unintended polar metabolite profiling of carotenoid-biofortified transgenic rice reveals substantial equivalence to its non-transgenic counterpart

Substantial equivalence is a critical concept for biosafety assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops. To investigate substantial equivalence among carotenoid-biofortified GM rice and five conventional rice cultivars having common white (three) and red (two) grain colors, profiles of 52 polar metabolites were analyzed using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results were compared to evaluate the differences among GM and non-GM rice cultivars using principal components analysis. The GM rice is more comparable to its non-transgenic counterpart rice variety according to the closer co-separation than for other cultivars tested. This suggests that profiling of unintended polar metabolites could be a useful tool to reveal substantial equivalence of GM rice.     

Exploitation of molecular profiling techniques for GM food safety assessment

Several strategies have been developed to identify unintended alterations in the composition of genetically modified (GM) food crops that may occur as a result of the genetic modification process. These include comparative chemical analysis of single compounds in GM food crops and their conventional non-GM counterparts, and profiling methods such as DNA/RNA microarray technologies, proteomics and metabolite profiling. The potential of profiling methods is obvious, but further exploration of specificity, sensitivity and validation is needed. Moreover, the successful application of profiling techniques to the safety evaluation of GM foods will require linked databases to be built that contain information on variations in profiles associated with differences in developmental stages and environmental conditions.     

Tracking genes from seed to supermarket: techniques and trends

Analytical techniques to track plant genes in the environment and the food chain are essential for environmental risk assessment, government regulation and production and trade of genetically modified (GM) crops. Here, I review laboratory techniques to track plant genes during pre-commercialization research on gene flow and post-commercialization detection, identification and quantification of GM crops from seed to supermarket. At present, DNA- and protein-based assays support both activities but the demand for fast, inexpensive, sensitive methods is increasing. Part of the demand has been generated by stringent food labeling and traceability regulations for GM crops. The increase in GM crops, changes in GM crop design, evolution of government regulations and adoption of risk-assessment frameworks will continue to drive development of analytical techniques.     

Environmental risk assessment of transgenic miraculin-accumulating tomato in a confined field trial in Japan

The commercial use of genetically modified (GM) crops requires prior assessment of the risks to the environment when these crops are grown in the field or distributed. Assessments protocols vary across countries and GM crop events, but there is a common need to assess environmental biosafety. In this study, we conducted an environmental risk assessment in a confined field of GM tomato plants that can produce miraculin, a taste-altering protein that causes sour tastes to be perceived as sweet, for practical use in Japan. The evaluation was conducted for 1) competitiveness (the ability to compete with wild plants for nutrients, sunlight, and growing areas and prevent their growth) and 2) the production of toxic substances (the ability to produce substances that interfere with the habitat and growth of wild plants, animals, and microorganisms). Investigations of plant morphology and growth characteristics as well as tolerance to low temperature during early growth and overwintering for assessment endpoints related to competitiveness showed no biologically meaningful difference between GM tomato and non-GM tomato. In addition, harmful substances in plant residues and root secretions were assessed by the plow-in method, succeeding crop test and soil microflora tests, and it was determined that GM tomato does not exhibit an increase in harmful substances. Based on these results, it was concluded that GM miraculin-accumulating tomato is comparable to conventional tomato and is unlikely to have unintended adverse effects in the natural environment of Japan.     

Unintended effects in genetically modified crops: revealed by metabolomics?

In Europe the commercialization of food derived from genetically modified plants has been slow because of the complex regulatory process and the concerns of consumers. Risk assessment is focused on potential adverse effects on humans and the environment, which could result from unintended effects of genetic modifications: unintended effects are connected to changes in metabolite levels in the plants. One of the major challenges is how to analyze the overall metabolite composition of GM plants in comparison to conventional cultivars, and one possible solution is offered by metabolomics. The ultimate aim of metabolomics is the identification and quantification of all small molecules in an organism; however, a single method enabling complete metabolome analysis does not exist. Given a comprehensive extraction method, a hierarchical strategy--starting with global fingerprinting and followed by complementary profiling attempts--is the most logical and economic approach to detect unintended effects in GM crops.     

Environmental fate and behaviour of antibiotic resistance genes and small interference RNAs released from genetically modified crops

Rising global populations have amplified food scarcity across the world and ushered in the development of genetically modified (GM) crops to overcome these challenges. Cultivation of major crops such as corn and soy has favoured GM crops over conventional varieties to meet crop production and resilience needs. Modern GM crops containing small interference RNA molecules and antibiotic resistance genes have become increasingly common in the United States. However, the use of these crops remains controversial due to the uncertainty regarding the unintended release of its genetic material into the environment and possible downstream effects on human and environmental health. DNA or RNA transgenes may be exuded from crop tissues during cultivation or released during plant decomposition and adsorbed by soil. This can contribute to the persistence and bioavailability in soil or water environment and possible uptake by soil microbial communities and further passing of this information to neighbouring bacteria, disrupting microbial ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and soil fertility. In this review, transgene mechanisms of action, uses in crops, and knowledge regarding their environmental fate and impact to microbes are evaluated. This aims to encapsulate the current knowledge and promote further research regarding unintended effects transgenes may cause.     

The impact of genetically modified crops on soil microbial communities.

Genetically modified (GM) plants represent a potential benefit for environmentally friendly agriculture and human health. Though, poor knowledge is available on potential hazards posed by unintended modifications occurring during genetic manipulation. The increasing amount of reports on ecological risks and benefits of GM plants stresses the need for experimental works aimed at evaluating the impact of GM crops on natural and agro-ecosystems. Major environmental risks associated with GM crops include their potential impact on non-target soil microorganisms playing a fundamental role in crop residues degradation and in biogeochemical cycles. Recent works assessed the effects of GM crops on soil microbial communities on the basis of case-by-case studies, using multimodal experimental approaches involving different target and non-target organisms. Experimental evidences discussed in this review confirm that a precautionary approach should be adopted, by taking into account the risks associated with the unpredictability of transformation events, of their pleiotropic effects and of the fate of transgenes in natural and agro-ecosystems, weighing benefits against costs.     

The release of genetically modified crops into the environment. Part II. Overview of ecological risk assessment

Despite numerous future promises, there is a multitude of concerns about the impact of GM crops on the environment. Key issues in the environmental assessment of GM crops are putative invasiveness, vertical or horizontal gene flow, other ecological impacts, effects on biodiversity and the impact of presence of GM material in other products. These are all highly interdisciplinary and complex issues. A crucial component for a proper assessment is defining the appropriate baseline for comparison and decision. For GM crops, the best and most appropriately defined reference point is the impact of plants developed by traditional breeding. The latter is an integral and accepted part of agriculture. In many instances, the putative impacts identified for GM crops are very similar to the impacts of new cultivars derived from traditional breeding. When assessing GM crops relative to existing cultivars, the increased knowledge base underpinning the development of GM crops will provide greater confidence in the assurances plant science can give on the risks of releasing such crops.