Clinical and molecular characteristics of bladder urothelial carcinoma subtypes

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is a common malignancy with high heterogeneity. A reasonable molecular subtyping can facilitate biological study and personalized therapy of BLCA. In this study, unsupervised consensus clustering was used to acquire the molecular subtypes of BLCA based on messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) data. Gene signature markers and canonical signaling pathways were compared between different subtypes. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used for the functional annotation of overexpressed genes in different subtypes for Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Three molecular subtypes were identified including C1 (luminal-P53 like), C2 (luminal-other), and C3 (basal-immune-squamous). C2 was different from C1 and C3 in clinical characteristics, including younger, better prognosis, and a higher proportion of papillary, Asian, low-grade, early-stage, lymph node negative, and complete remission patients (P < 0.05). Three molecular subtypes also showed distinct mRNA and miRNA expression patterns. luminal and P53-like markers were highly expressed in subtype C1, luminal markers were highly expressed in subtype C2, and basal, EMT/claudin-low, immune and squamous-differentiation markers were highly expressed in subtype C3. In addition, highly expressed genes in C1 were involved in extracellular signal transduction and cell-cell interaction, highly expressed genes in C2 were associated with oxygen transport, energy and steroid metabolism, and highly expressed genes in C3 were related with inflammatory, immune, cytokine, and signal transduction. BLCA in different molecular subtypes showed different clinical and molecular characteristics and personalized therapy needed to be adopted according to the molecular subtypes.     

利用基因芯片技术研究两品种鸡脂肪组织差异表达基因

应用包含9024条鸡cDNA的表达谱芯片,对从两品种鸡脂肪组织抽提及纯化的mRNA进行芯片杂交,并对基因表达谱进行分析,旨在筛选高脂肉鸡和白耳蛋鸡脂肪组织差异表达的基因,探讨造成两品种体脂性状差异的分子生物学机理。结果按差异显著阳性标准分析,共筛选出差异表达基因67条,主要涉及脂类代谢、能量代谢、细胞骨架构成、转录和剪接因子以及蛋白质合成与分解等相关基因,此外,还筛选出一些尚未在GenBank上登陆的序列,推测可能是未知的新基因,它们在鸡脂类代谢的过程所起到的作用还需进一步实验证明。     

基于RNA-Seq转录组测序技术揭示肉兔生长发育调控的分子机制

为研究肉兔肌肉生长发育调控的分子机制,本试验以84日龄齐卡巨型白兔和齐兴肉兔为研究对象,屠宰后取背最长肌组织并提取总RNA,反转录建立c DNA文库,利用Illumina HiSeq 2500测序平台进行测序,并进行序列分析和注释。筛选与肉兔肌肉生长发育相关的信号通路及差异表达基因,最后进行荧光定量PCR验证。结果表明:齐卡巨型白兔和齐兴肉兔背最长肌中显著差异表达基因总数为833个,其中齐卡巨型白兔中显著上调基因325个,显著下调基因508个。KEGG功能注释发现差异基因显著富集到PI3K-AKT通路、癌症通路和黏着斑通路,最终筛选出4个可能与生长发育显著相关的差异表达基因,为进一步对肉兔进行遗传改良提供了理论基础。     

携带与未携带松材线虫的松墨天牛转录组差异表达基因分析

【目的】本研究旨在建立携带与未携带松材线虫Bursaphelenchus xylophilus的松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus成虫各组织的转录组数据库,揭示松墨天牛对松材线虫响应的转录组整体表达特征。【方法】以携带和未携带松材线虫的松墨天牛成虫的表皮、气管和脂肪体为材料,采用Illumina HiSeq TM 2000测序平台开展转录组测序,利用Trinity软件对RNA-Seq数据进行从头组装,利用NCBI数据库进行基因注释。通过DEG-Seq分析携带和未携带松材线虫的松墨天牛成虫中的差异表达基因,对上调表达基因进行GO和KEGG代谢途径富集分析,并通过实时荧光定量PCR技术对部分差异表达的基因包括ENV,CDK1,HSP70-C,HSP70,HSP75,DUO,PABPN1和IGFP基因的表达水平进行验证。【结果】测序过滤后共获得55059条单基因簇(unigene),平均长度为1536 bp。将unigene与数据库中的序列进行BLASTX比对,成功注释24354条unigenes,其中4022条unigene在GO数据库中获得注释,6098条unigene在KEGG数据库中获得注释。经过GO与KEGG富集分析显示,松墨天牛成虫携带松材线虫后,差异表达基因主要为与其气管中压力调节、组织与DNA修复、激素响应方面相关的基因。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果显示CDK1,HSP70,HSP75,DUO,PABPN1和IGFP基因的表达量在携带松材线虫的松墨天牛气管中相比未携带松材线虫的松墨天牛气管中的显著上调。【结论】本研究初步阐明松墨天牛携带松材线虫后转录组的整体表达模式,为进一步研究松墨天牛的基因功能及对松材线虫的胁迫响应过程奠定了基础。     

镉胁迫下麻疯树转录组测序分析

麻疯树是一种能适应多种恶劣环境条件的能源植物,目前关于其抵抗重金属胁迫的分子调控机理尚不清楚。从组学水平整体分析其基因表达模式对于筛选关键基因、解析镉胁迫响应调控网络和促进分子育种具有重要意义。利用Illumina测序技术对水培条件下培养的处理组(Cd 100)和对照组(CK)麻疯树幼苗叶的转录组进行高通量测序,两个数据库的测序数据经de novo组装得到50448条高质量的Unigene。两个样品中发现了2551条差异表达基因,其中539条上调基因,2012条下调基因。根据不同数据库的注释信息,发现麻疯树镉胁迫引起叶片中多种代谢途径的变化,包括碳代谢,光合作用,植物激素信号转导以及植物病原响应途径。DAVID分析显示镉胁迫引起了麻疯树叶中与离子转运相关基因的变化,导致叶片中Na离子和铁离子稳态的变化。转录因子分析发现WRKY和ZIP在镉胁迫中发挥重要作用。用qRT-PCR技术对随机挑选的5个基因进行荧光定量验证,结果与测序数据一致,证实了差异表达基因数据的有效性。深入探讨了麻疯树镉胁迫的分子机理,为进一步应用于基因工程和植物修复提供基础。     

Identification of novel oocyte and granulosa cell markers

Here we present novel gene expression patterns in the ovary as part of an ongoing assessment of published micro-array data from mouse oocytes and embryos. We present the expression patterns of 13 genes that had been determined by micro-array to be expressed in the mature egg, but not during subsequent preimplantation development. In-situ hybridization of sectioned ovaries revealed that these genes were expressed in one of two distinct patterns: (1) oocyte-specific or (2) expressed in both the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells. Despite the fact that micro-array data demonstrated expression in the egg, several of these genes are expressed at low levels in the oocyte, but strongly expressed in granulosa cells. Eleven of these genes have no reported function or expression during oogenesis, indicating that this approach is a necessary step towards functional annotation of the genome. Also of note is that while some of these gene products have been well characterized in other tissues and cell types, others are relatively unstudied in the literature. Our results provide novel gene expression information that may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of follicular recruitment, oocyte maturation and ovulation and will direct further experimentation into the role these genes play during oogenesis.     

Annotation of a 95-kb<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Populus deltoides</Emphasis> genomic sequence reveals a disease resistance gene cluster and novel class I and class II transposable elements

Poplar has become a model system for functional genomics in woody plants. Here, we report the sequencing and annotation of the first large contiguous stretch of genomic sequence (95 kb) of poplar, corresponding to a bacterial artificial chromosome clone mapped 0.6 centiMorgan from the Melampsora larici-populina resistance locus. The annotation revealed 15 putative genetic objects, of which five were classified as hypothetical genes that were similar only with expressed sequence tags from poplar. Ten putative objects showed similarity with known genes, of which one was similar to a kinase. Three other objects corresponded to the toll/interleukin-1 receptor/nucleotide-binding site/leucine-rich repeat class of plant disease resistance genes, of which two were predicted to encode an amino terminal nuclear localization signal. Four objects were homologous to the Ty1/copia family of class I transposable elements, one of which was designated Retropop and interrupted one of the disease resistance genes. Two other objects constituted a novel Spm-like class II transposable element, which we designated Magali.M.L. and S.R. contributed equally to this article     

利用基因芯片技术筛选秦川牛公牛与阉牛肌肉组织差异表达基因

为了筛选秦川牛公牛和阉牛肌肉组织差异表达的基因,探讨二者肉质差异的分子生物学机理,文章利用Affymetrix公司生产的牛基因组芯片技术,分别检测了3头36月龄秦川牛公牛与阉牛背最长肌肌肉组织的mRNA表达水平变化;运用Significance Analysis of Microarrays(SAM)法对秦川牛公牛和阉牛基因表达谱进行了差异分析;并通过分子注释系统平台(MAS2.0)对差异表达基因进行了功能富集类分析和调控通路分析;最后应用实时定量PCR技术对部分差异表达基因进行了验证。基因表达谱分析结果显示,在36月龄秦川牛的肌肉组织中,共检测到约11000个探针,代表大约10000个基因。共筛选出差异表达基因143条,主要涉及胶原纤维的组织和合成、细胞粘附、细胞生长调控、泛素介导的蛋白分解代谢和横纹肌收缩等生物学过程;在分子注释系统数据库中注释到的显著调控通路为细胞外基质受体反应、细胞通讯、焦点粘连和紧密连接等;所验证的差异表达基因的荧光定量PCR结果与芯片结果基本一致。结合已有的文献报道,文章初步认为ECM受体反应、细胞通讯、焦点粘连、紧密接头等调控通路及COL3A1、COL1A1、COL1A2、SPP1、FBN1、MMP2、ECM1、MYH3、MYH8、S100A4、ASPN、CFD等基因可能是参与调控秦川牛阉割前后肉质性状差异的重要调控通路和基因。此外,还筛选出一些尚未在GenBank上登陆的序列,推测可能是未知的新基因,它们在牛肉质代谢过程中的作用还需进一步的研究证明。     

Variability of gene expression profiles in human blood and lymphoblastoid cell lines

Background

Infection of plants by pathogens and the subsequent disease development involves substantial changes in the biochemistry and physiology of both partners. Analysis of genes that are expressed during these interactions represents a powerful strategy to obtain insights into the molecular events underlying these changes. We have employed expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis to identify rice genes involved in defense responses against infection by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and fungal genes involved in infectious growth within the host during a compatible interaction.

Results

A cDNA library was constructed with RNA from rice leaves (Oryza sativa cv. Hwacheong) infected with M. oryzae strain KJ201. To enrich for fungal genes, subtraction library using PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization was constructed with RNA from infected rice leaves as a tester and that from uninfected rice leaves as the driver. A total of 4,148 clones from two libraries were sequenced to generate 2,302 non-redundant ESTs. Of these, 712 and 1,562 ESTs could be identified to encode fungal and rice genes, respectively. To predict gene function, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was applied, with 31% and 32% of rice and fungal ESTs being assigned to GO terms, respectively. One hundred uniESTs were found to be specific to fungal infection EST. More than 80 full-length fungal cDNA sequences were used to validate ab initio annotated gene model of M. oryzae genome sequence.

Conclusion

This study shows the power of ESTs to refine genome annotation and functional characterization. Results of this work have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning fungal-plant interactions and formed the basis for new hypothesis.     

一株嗜酸硫杆菌M4-422-6的分离及其全基因组测序和比较基因组学分析

【目的】开展具有硫氧化能力的嗜酸硫杆菌属(Acidithiobacillus)的分离及其比较基因组学分析,不仅可以丰富硫氧化细菌菌种资源,而且有助于加深理解嗜酸硫杆菌的分子进化与生态适应机制。【方法】利用以硫代硫酸钠为唯一能源的培养基分离具有硫氧化能力的细菌;利用Illumina HiSeq X和Oxford Nanopore测序平台对一株嗜酸硫杆菌M4-422-6进行全基因组测序;利用相关生物信息学分析软件对原始数据进行组装和基因组注释,并与一株亲缘关系最近的菌株Igneacidithiobacillus copahuensis VAN18-1进行比较基因组学分析。【结果】分离获得一株具有硫氧化能力的嗜酸硫杆菌M4-422-6。基因组注释结果显示,菌株M4-422-6基因组由1个染色体和2个质粒组成,基因组大小为2 917 823 bp,G+C含量为58.54%,共编码2 925个蛋白。16S rRNA基因和基因组系统发育树显示,菌株M4-422-6代表嗜酸硫杆菌属的一个潜在新种。功能基因注释结果显示,菌株Acidithiobacillus sp. M4-422-6拥有与菌株特性相关的众多基因,包括硫氧化相关基因、CO₂固定相关基因和耐酸相关基因。比较基因组学分析发现,虽然菌株M4-422-6与VAN18-1的亲缘关系最近,但两者仍拥有众多的差异基因,主要包括噬菌体抗性相关基因和移动元件编码基因。【结论】菌株M4-422-6代表嗜酸硫杆菌属的一个潜在新种,该菌株具有同种内菌株所不具有的特有基因,并据此推测嗜酸硫杆菌种内分化可归因于对特定生态位的适应。     

Identification of differentially expressed genes from adult cockroach females exhibiting maternal care behavior

Recent challenges in the study of animal behavior are to detect genes related to behavior and how the genes exert their influence on morphological and behavioral plasticity, particularly as related to the mechanism of insect sociability. In this study, we discovered genes related to parental care behavior in social insects. Woodroaches of the genus Cryptocercus provide nutritious materials and symbiotic protists via proctodeal feeding to their young during early developmental stages. Thus, they are a good model species for discovering genes related to parental care behavior. We screened eight differentially expressed genes (DEG1–DEG8) from adult Cryptocercus females exhibiting maternal care behavior. Of the proteins translated from the screened genes, DEG7 showed high homology to apolipophorin-III-like proteins. Analysis of diverse molecular features revealed that DEG7 was a partial clone encoding apoLp-III, which plays essential roles in hemolymph-lipid transport processes in insects. Isolation of full-length cDNAs for the DEGs identified in this study would be very helpful for a functional annotation of the individual genes and further understanding of maternal care behavior at the molecular level in the future.     

RNA-Seq analysis of a soybean near-isogenic line carrying bacterial leaf pustule-resistant and -susceptible alleles

Bacterial leaf pustule (BLP) disease is caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines (Xag). To investigate the plant basal defence mechanisms induced in response to Xag, differential gene expression in near-isogenic lines (NILs) of BLP-susceptible and BLP-resistant soybean was analysed by RNA-Seq. Of a total of 46 367 genes that were mapped to soybean genome reference sequences, 1978 and 783 genes were found to be up- and down-regulated, respectively, in the BLP-resistant NIL relative to the BLP-susceptible NIL at 0, 6, and 12h after inoculation (hai). Clustering analysis revealed that these genes could be grouped into 10 clusters with different expression patterns. Functional annotation based on gene ontology (GO) categories was carried out. Among the putative soybean defence response genes identified (GO:0006952), 134 exhibited significant differences in expression between the BLP-resistant and -susceptible NILs. In particular, pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) receptors and the genes induced by these receptors were highly expressed at 0 hai in the BLP-resistant NIL. Additionally, pathogenesis-related (PR)-1 and -14 were highly expressed at 0 hai, and PR-3, -6, and -12 were highly expressed at 12 hai. There were also significant differences in the expression of the core JA-signalling components MYC2 and JASMONATE ZIM-motif. These results indicate that powerful basal defence mechanisms involved in the recognition of PAMPs or DAMPs and a high level of accumulation of defence-related gene products may contribute to BLP resistance in soybean.