GAL4/UAS系统在果蝇Tis11基因RNA干扰中的应用

TTP在哺乳动物许多关键基因表达的转录后水平上起调控作用,Tis11是TTP蛋白在果蝇中的同源物.目前还没有现成的可用于研究Tis11功能的基因敲除或敲低的果蝇.为了获得肌动蛋白启动子或者热激蛋白启动子驱动表达Tis11 mRNA干扰序列的具有较高干扰效率的Tis11基因干扰果蝇,将肌动蛋白启动子或者热激启动子驱动表达的GAL4果蝇品系与融合有Tis11 mRNA干扰序列的UAS品系杂交,收集同时带有GAL4基因和UAS序列的子一代果蝇.提取所收集果蝇的总RNA,将其中的mRNA逆转录成cDNA,并设计检测Tis11基因的特异性引物,然后通过Real-time PCR检测Tis11 mRNA的表达情况.结果显示所收集的能表达Tis11基因干扰序列的子一代果蝇与不能表达Tis11基因干扰序列的对照果蝇相比,其体内Tis11 mRNA的表达水平下降明显.收集的果蝇其体内所表达的干扰序列对Tis11 mRNA干扰效果显著,我们成功获得了Tis11基因的RNA干扰果蝇.     

二化螟碱性神经酰胺酶和中性鞘磷脂酶基因RNA干扰技术体系的优化

【目的】比较不同方法以及不同靶标基因的RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)效率,建立并优化二化螟Chilo suppressalis碱性神经酰胺酶saCER和中性鞘磷脂酶snSMase基因的RNAi的技术体系。【方法】通过培养液浸泡法将果蝇Drosophila daCER基因的dsRNA导入果蝇S2细胞内;分别通过显微注射法和荧光纳米粒子介导喂食法将体外合成的二化螟saCER和snSMase基因的特异性双链RNA(dsRNA)导入二化螟3龄(注射法)和2龄(喂食法)幼虫体内,之后利用qPCR测定靶标基因的mRNA表达水平,比较不同方法对不同基因的RNA干扰效率。【结果】将果蝇S2细胞浸泡在浓度为15 ng/μL的含daCER dsRNA细胞培养液中培养72 h后,daCER基因的表达水平下降了约84%。dsRNA (5 000 ng/μL)注射二化螟3龄幼虫60 h后对saCER基因的干扰效率达到最高(41%),dsRNA (2 500 ng/μL)注射48 h后对snSMase基因的干扰效率最高(47%);给二化螟2龄幼虫喂食dsRNA(48μg/d)后,分别在第7天和第8天对saCER(32%)和snSMase(52%)基因达到最大干扰效率。对于aCER基因,果蝇S2细胞浸泡法与二化螟注射法和喂食法相比,干扰效率差异极其显著;使用相同方法,对saCER基因和snSMase基因的干扰效率无显著差异;对于二化螟的同一基因(saCER或者snSMase),注射法与荧光纳米粒子喂食法之间干扰效率也无显著性差异。【结论】碱性神经酰胺酶基因和中性鞘磷脂酶基因对导入dsRNA进行RNAi的方法较敏感,本研究建立并优化的显微注射法和荧光纳米粒子介导喂食法RNAi技术体系在鞘脂质代谢酶基因功能的基础研究中具有可行性。注射法和喂食法对二化螟幼虫aCER基因的干扰效率远低于浸泡法对果蝇S2细胞中这一基因的干扰效率,进一步证实二化螟血淋巴中的RNA酶对dsRNA的快速降解以及中肠围食膜的阻隔很大程度上削减了dsRNA进入二化螟细胞内发挥干扰作用。     

Prohibitin特异性MiRRNAi表达载体构建及其干扰效果测定

目的：构建携带prohibitin（PHB-1）基因的MiRRNAi真核表达载体pcDNA^TM 6．2-GW／EmGFP-MiR,并观察其转染HEK293细胞株前后PHB-1的表达变化。方法：根据GenBank中prohibifin的序列,设计特异的两条互补的单链寡核苷酸退火后形成双链,克隆至pcDNA^TM6．2-GW／EmGFP-MiR质粒缺口末端,连接在质粒上生成含MiRRNAipcDNA^TM6．2．GW／EmGFP-MiR-PHB载体,测序鉴定后,用脂质体将重组子转染至HEK293细胞中,用Westernblotting检测干扰后HEK293细胞内PHB-1表达的变化。结果：将目的序列成功连接到载体上,并经测序分析证实载体构建成功。Westernblotting检测结果证实构建的PHB-1 MiR RNA表达重组体可显著抑制HEK293细胞内PHB-1的表达。结论：成功构建了携带PHB-1基因的MiR RNAi真核表达载体。     

黑腹果蝇3号染色体裂翅平衡致死位点的发现及2号、3号染色体裂卷翅双平衡染色体的建立

果蝇的平衡染色体在遗传研究中被广泛应用.文章通过分析黑腹果蝇裂翅新突变体与野生型、982紫眼及黑檀体杂交后代裂翅性状情况,首次将裂翅基因定位于3号染色体上,并阐明了裂翅平衡致死、杂合子纯繁的遗传机制,获得了以裂翅为显性标记的3号平衡染色体品系.探索了双平衡染色体显性标记基因聚合的杂交模式,成功建立了以裂翅和卷翅为标记的2号、3号双平衡染色体.裂翅的发现为3号染色体平衡子提供了更加方便识另0的显性翅型标记,同时裂卷翅双平衡体的建立丰富了果蝇常用工具平衡子,可以广泛用于基因定位及突变筛选过程.     

高流动性蛋白基因过量表达对果蝇发育的影响

HmgD基因编码果蝇高流动性蛋白（High mobility group proteins, HMG）的同源物,它可以参与染色质的组装。目前关于HMGD蛋白在果蝇胚胎发育过程中的作用尚无定论。我们采用UAS-Gal4系统,通过功能获得性突变的方法研究了HmgD基因过量表达对果蝇发育的影响。结果表明：HmgD过量表达对果蝇胚胎期发育的影响较弱,而对后期幼虫的发育具有很大的影响;HmgD过量表达的果蝇胚胎死亡率增高,但这种影响不是很大,因为一部分胚胎仍然能够发育至成体;但是当HmgD在广泛表达的Gal4驱动子（ActGal4）的控制下过量表达时导致子代大量死亡,特别是用4个拷贝的转基因果蝇进行杂交时,后代中的突变型在三龄幼虫末期全部死亡;部分突变型幼虫体内长有黑色素瘤,其血淋巴中的血细胞数量极显著地高于野生型。RT-PCR分析表明,突变幼虫中与血细胞增殖有关的Ras-MAPK途径和Toll途径被异常激活。这些结果显示：HmgD过量表达可能引起染色质结构疏松,激活了特定的转录因子,从而引发了三龄幼虫期异常的转录调控,并导致幼虫死亡。     

利用GAL4-UAS系统在果蝇中过表达研究人类基因功能

随着人类基因组测序的基本完成 ,大量新基因被发现 ,其中许多只有序列及基因组定位信息。新的焦点是这些新基因的功能研究。模式生物果蝇对此起重要作用。利用转基因果蝇和GAL4 UAS系统初步鉴定功能基因 ,建立了源于 10个不同人类基因的共 5 4个转基因果蝇品系 ,然后用 6种不同的GAL4诱导这些转基因在果蝇中过量表达。其中一个人类基因 ,延伸因子 1alpha 1(EF1α 1)的过表达导致果蝇的背板异常和糙眼表型。该研究表明可在果蝇中利用基因过表达策略初筛人类功能基因 ,这为大规模人类基因的功能研究提供了新的手段     

RNA干扰在昆虫中的作用机理及应用进展

RNA干扰（RNAi）是生物体内源基因发生转录后特异性降解的一种生理现象,作为抵抗病毒的免疫机制,广泛存在于生物体内。RNAi在秀丽隐杆线虫中的发生机制已明确,但昆虫的系统性RNAi不同于线虫,在昆虫中尚未发现线虫跨膜蛋白SID．2的同源蛋白,且果蝇中不存在依赖于RNA的RNA聚合酶（RdRP）,但存在具有相似活性的物质。昆虫发生RNAi的效率不仅与靶标基因自身及双链RNA的选择有关,而且与虫体的发育状态及摄入双链RNA的剂量相关。随着RNAi在昆虫中作用特点的阐明,RNAi的应用价值也逐渐体现。近年来,通过RNAi沉默靶标基因,不但促进了昆虫基因功能研究的发展,而且被广泛用于重要农业害虫抗药性基因的研究。最新研究表明,RNAi结合第2代测序技术,针对非模式昆虫,能迅速找到具有致死效应的靶标序列,加快了利用RNAi技术生产生物农药的步伐。     

小鼠XBP1基因RNA干扰慢病毒载体的构建及筛选

目的:构建小鼠XBP1基因RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)慢病毒载体,筛选具有较好干扰效率的小鼠XBP1 siRNA靶序列.方法:针对小鼠XBP1基因特异性序列,设计4个RNAi靶序列及1个阴性对照序列,合成含有正义和反义Oligo DNA的互补DNA序列,退火形成双链DNA,并克隆到经Age Ⅰ和EcoR Ⅰ酶切后的pGCL-GFP载体连接产生短发卡RNA(shRNA)慢病毒载体,PCR筛选阳性克隆,DNA测序鉴定.由病毒包装系统进行包装,经滴度测定后感染NIH3T3细胞,应用Real-time PCR鉴定干扰效率.结果:PCR鉴定与DNA测序证实合成的寡核苷酸链插入正确,293T细胞测定病毒滴度为1×108TU/ml.Real-timePCR证实XBP1-siRNA-3靶点的干扰效率最高,其干扰效率达到95%以上.结论:成功构建并筛选了小鼠XBP1基因RNAi慢病毒载体,为研究XBP1在巨噬细胞免疫功能调控中的作用奠定了基础.     

针对小鼠早期生长反应因子-1发夹结构小干扰RNA载体的构建及其干扰效率鉴定

目的:构建及筛选高效率针对早期生长反应基因-1(Egr-1)进行RNA干扰(RNAi)的质粒.方法:根据Egr-1基因mRNA序列,设计有小发夹结构的3条寡核苷酸序列,克隆到空栽体pGCSIL-GFP中,构建重组质粒,同时设计构建不针对任何特异基因的质粒作为阴性时照.将shRNA袁达质粒转粢HEK293细胞.通过对GFP表达量的观察,荧光定量PCR及western blotting定量检测Egr-1基因的表达,鉴定shRNA表达质粒对Egr-1的干扰效率.结果:针对小鼠Egr-1基因进行RNAi的3个序列中,有1个序列的干扰效率大于70%以上.结论:成功构建了1个针对小鼠Egr-1基因的高效RNAi表达质粒.     

Tubby-RFP balancers for developmental analysis: FM7c 2xTb-RFP, CyO 2xTb-RFP, and TM3 2xTb-RFP

We report here the construction of Tubby-RFP balancers for the X, 2nd and 3rd chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. The insertion of a 2xTb-RFP transgene on the FM7c, CyO, and TM3 balancer chromosomes introduces two easily scorable, dominant, developmental markers. The strong Tb phenotype is visible to the naked eye at the larval L2, L3, and pupal stages. The RFP associated with the cuticle is easily detected at all stages from late embryo to adult with the use of a fluorescence stereomicroscope. The FM7c Bar 2xTb-RFP, CyO Cy 2xTb-RFP, and TM3 Sb 2xTb-RFP balancers will greatly facilitate the analysis of lethals and other developmental mutants in L2/L3 larvae and pupae, but also provide coverage of other stages beginning in late embryogenesis through to the adult.     

Tubby-tagged balancers for the Drosophila X and second chromosomes

We generated FM7a and CyO balancer chromosomes bearing a Tubby1 (Tb1) dominant transgene. Flies heterozygous for these FM7a and CyO derivatives exhibit a phenotype undistinguishable from that elicited by the Tb1 mutation associated with the TM6B balancer. We tested two of these Tb-bearing balancers (FM7-TbA and CyO-TbA) for more than 30 generations and found that the Tb1 transgene they carry is stable. Thus, these new Tb-tagged balancers are particularly useful for balancing lethal mutations and distinguish homozygous mutant larvae from their heterozygous siblings.     

Drosophila damaged DNA binding protein 1 contributes to genome stability in somatic cells

The damaged DNA-binding protein (DDB) complex consists of a heterodimer of p127 (DDB1) and p48 (DDB2) subunits and is believed to have a role in nucleotide excision repair (NER). We used the GAL4-UAS targeted expression system to knock down DDB1 in wing imaginal discs of Drosophila. The knock-down was achieved in transgenic flies using over-expression of inverted repeat RNA of the D-DDB1 gene [UAS-D-DDB1(650)-dsRNA]. As a consequence of RNA interference (RNAi), the fly had a shrunken wing phenotype. The wing spot test showed induced genome instability in transgenic flies with RNAi knock-down of D-DDB1 in wing imaginal discs. When Drosophila larvae with RNAi knock-down of D-DDB1 in wing imaginal discs were treated with the chemical mutagen methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), the frequency of flies with a severely shrunken wing phenotype increased compared to non-treated transgenic flies. These results suggested that DDB1 plays a role in the response to DNA damaged with MMS and in genome stability in Drosophila somatic cells.     

Development of a heat shock inducible and inheritable RNAi system in silkworm

A heat shock inducible and inheritable RNA interference (RNAi) system was developed in the silkworm (Bombyx mori). RNAi transgenic silkworms were generated by injecting silkworm eggs with a piggyBac transposon plasmid carrying RNAi sequence against target gene driven by the Drosophila heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) promoter and the helper plasmid expressing piggyBac transposase. The transgenic EGFP gene and the endogenous eclosion hormone (EH) gene were chosen respectively as the target genes. In the RNAi transgenic silkworms, heat shock at 42 degrees C significantly and specifically reduced the expression of EGFP or EH gene in silkworms according to the corresponding RNAi targeting sequence but not in silkworms with the irrelevant RNAi sequence demonstrating the efficiency and specificity of the RNAi effect. Heat shock in the pupal stage hampered pupal-adult eclosion and reduced egg fertility in EH RNAi transgenic silkworms but not in the wild type or EGFP RNAi transgenic silkworms. The establishment of this heat inducible and inheritable conditional RNA interference system in silkworms provided an approach for the first time to dissect the functions of target genes in silkworms at different stages.     

Genetic nature of abnormal larval development in the progeny of l(1)ts403(sbr10) females of Drosophila melanogaster

In Drosophila melanogaster the small bristles (sbr) gene is vital and evolutionary conservative and controls nuclear export of mRNA. Sbr mutant alleles had a broad pleiotropic effect. High frequency of abnormal larva dying (up to 18 %) at the first instar stage in progeny of heat shock (37 degrees C, 1 h) treated mutant females is one of the most interesting l(l)ts403(sbr10) allele effects. Abnormal larvae display characteristic phenotype that involves the Malpighian tubules defect. Using interphase FISH method (fluorescence in situ hybridization), we showed that abnormal larvae had monosomy on chromosomes 2 and 3. DNA content in neuroblast interphase nuclei of abnormal larvae is 2.1 times less than in normal larvae. We suggest that abnormal larvae could be full or mosaic haploids that appeared as a result of maternal genome loss during fertilization or the mitotic division. Larvae with the same abnormalities appear in a progeny of females with different genotypes mating with males carrying compound chromosomes 2 or 3. FISH analysis showed that such larvae had monosomy only on a chromosome that is compound in paternal strain. Thus, monosomy on large autosomes may cause aspecial phenotype of abnormal larvae in D. melanogaster.     

GFP-tagged balancer chromosomes for Drosophila melanogaster.

We constructed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing balancer chromosomes for each of the three major chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Expression of GFP in these chromosomes is driven indirectly by a Kruppel (Kr) promoter, via the yeast GAL4-UAS regulatory system. GFP fluorescence can be seen in embryos as early as the germ band extension stage, and can also be seen in larvae, pupae, and adults. We show the patterns of GFP expression of these balancers and demonstrate the use of the balancers to identify homozygous progeny.     

Larval RNAi in Drosophila?

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a common method of gene knockdown in many model systems. To trigger an RNAi response, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) must enter the cell. In some organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, cells can take up dsRNA from the extracellular environment via a cellular uptake mechanism termed systemic RNAi. However, in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, it is widely believed that cells are unable to take up dsRNA, although there is little published data to support this claim. In this study, we set out to determine whether this perception has a factual basis. We took advantage of traditional Gal4/upstream activation sequence (UAS) transgenic flies as well as the mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) system to show that extracellular injection of dsRNA into Drosophila larvae cannot trigger RNAi in most Drosophila tissues (with the exception of hemocytes). Our results show that this is not due to a lack of RNAi machinery in these tissues as overexpression of dsRNA inside the cells using hairpin RNAs efficiently induces an RNAi response in the same tissues. These results suggest that, while most Drosophila tissues indeed lack the ability to uptake dsRNA from the surrounding environment, hemocytes can initiate RNAi in response to extracellular dsRNA. We also examined another insect, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, which has been shown to exhibit a robust systemic RNAi response. We show that virtually all Tribolium tissues can respond to extracellular dsRNA, which is strikingly different from the situation in Drosophila. Our data provide specific information about the tissues amenable to RNAi in two different insects, which may help us understand the molecular basis of systemic RNAi.