Identification of genes differentially expressed in hemocytes of Scylla paramamosain in response to lipopolysaccharide

Although the crab Scylla paramamosain has been cultured in China for a long time, little knowledge is available on how crabs respond to infection by bacteria. A forward suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library was constructed from their hemocytes and the up-regulated genes were identified in order to isolate differentially expressed genes in S. paramamosain in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 721 clones on the middle scale in the SSH library were sequenced. Among these genes, 271 potentially functional genes were recognized based on the BLAST searches in NCBI and were categorized into seven groups in association with different biological processes using AmiGO against the Gene Ontology database. Of the 271 genes, 269 translatable DNA sequences were predicted to be proteins, and the putative amino acid sequences were searched for conserved domains and proteins using the CD-Search service and BLASTp. Among 271 genes, 179 (66.1%) were annotated to be involved in different biological processes, while 92 genes (33.9%) were classified as an unknown-function gene group. It was noted that only 18 of the 271 genes (6.6%) had previously been reported in other crustaceans and most of the screened genes showed less similarity to known sequences based on BLASTn results, suggesting that 253 genes were found for the first time in S. paramamosain. Furthermore, two up-regulated genes screened from the SSH library were selected for full-length cDNA sequence cloning and in vivo expression study, including Sp-superoxide dismutase (Sp-Cu-ZnSOD) gene and Sp-serpin gene. The differential expression pattern of the two genes during the time course of LPS challenge was analyzed using real-time PCR. We found that both genes were significantly expressed in LPS-challenged crabs in comparison with control. Taken together, the study primarily provides the data of the up-regulated genes associated with different biological processes in S. paramamosain in response to LPS, by which the interesting genes or proteins potentially involved in the innate immune defense of S. paramamosain will be investigated in future.     

Candidate genes involved in tanshinone biosynthesis in hairy roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia miltiorrhiza</Emphasis> revealed by cDNA microarray

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a valuable Chinese herb (Danshen) that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Diterpene quinones, known as tanshinones, are the main bioactive components of S. miltiorrhiza; however, there is only limited information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying secondary metabolism in this plant. We used cDNA microarray analysis to identify changes in the gene expression profile at different stages of hairy root development in S. miltiorrhiza. A total of 203 genes were singled out from 4,354 cDNA clones on the microarray, and 114 unique differentially expressed cDNA clones were identified: six genes differentially expressed in 45-day hairy root compared with 30-day hairy root; 96 genes differentially expressed in 60-day hairy root compared with 30-day hairy root; and 12 genes unstably expressed at different stages. Among the 96 genes differentially expressed in 60-day hairy root compared with 30-day hairy root, a total of 57 genes were up-regulated, and 26 genes represent 29 metabolism-related enzymes. Copalyl diphosphate synthase, which catalyzes the conversion of the universal diterpenoid precursor (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate to copalyl diphosphate, was up-regulated 6.63 fold, and another six genes involved in tanshinone biosynthesis and eight candidate P450 genes were also differentially expressed. These data provide new insights for further identification of the enzymes involved in tanshinone biosynthesis.     

Isolation and characterization of differentially expressed genes in the mycelium and fruit body of Tuber borchii

The transition from vegetative mycelium to fruit body in truffles requires differentiation processes which lead to edible fruit bodies (ascomata) consisting of different cell and tissue types. The identification of genes differentially expressed during these developmental processes can contribute greatly to a better understanding of truffle morphogenesis. A cDNA library was constructed from vegetative mycelium RNAs of the white truffle Tuber borchii, and 214 cDNAs were sequenced. Up to 58% of the expressed sequence tags corresponded to known genes. The majority of the identified sequences represented housekeeping proteins, i.e., proteins involved in gene or protein expression, cell wall formation, primary and secondary metabolism, and signaling pathways. We screened 171 arrayed cDNAs by using cDNA probes constructed from mRNAs of vegetative mycelium and ascomata to identify fruit body-regulated genes. Comparisons of signals from vegetative mycelium and fruit bodies bearing 15 or 70% mature spores revealed significant differences in the expression levels for up to 33% of the investigated genes. The expression levels for six highly regulated genes were confirmed by RNA blot analyses. The expression of glutamine synthetase, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, isocitrate lyase, thioredoxin, glucan 1,3-beta-glucosidase, and UDP-glucose:sterol glucosyl transferase was highly up-regulated, suggesting that amino acid biosynthesis, the glyoxylate cycle pathway, and cell wall synthesis are strikingly altered during morphogenesis.     

Microarray expression profiling of Spodoptera litura in response to oxidative stress

To examine the expression profile of oxidative stress responsive genes in Spodoptera litura, we constructed a cDNA library from S. litura injected with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Using a microarray chip composed of 2,964 cDNAs, we screened gene expression at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h post H(2)O(2) injection. Data were clustered into 15 groups of genes that behave similarly across each time course. Seventy-three genes were identified as being at least twofold up- or downregulated after treatment with H(2)O(2) in S. litura. We constructed expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for genes that changed at least twofold after treatment with H(2)O(2) . The functional classification of these ESTs based on Gene Ontology showed that the ESTs are rich in genes involved in oxidoreductase activity (5.7%), defense (14.3%), cellular process (22.9%), and development (17.1%).     

Isolation and Characterization of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Mycelium and Fruit Body of Tuber borchii

The transition from vegetative mycelium to fruit body in truffles requires differentiation processes which lead to edible fruit bodies (ascomata) consisting of different cell and tissue types. The identification of genes differentially expressed during these developmental processes can contribute greatly to a better understanding of truffle morphogenesis. A cDNA library was constructed from vegetative mycelium RNAs of the white truffle Tuber borchii, and 214 cDNAs were sequenced. Up to 58% of the expressed sequence tags corresponded to known genes. The majority of the identified sequences represented housekeeping proteins, i.e., proteins involved in gene or protein expression, cell wall formation, primary and secondary metabolism, and signaling pathways. We screened 171 arrayed cDNAs by using cDNA probes constructed from mRNAs of vegetative mycelium and ascomata to identify fruit body-regulated genes. Comparisons of signals from vegetative mycelium and fruit bodies bearing 15 or 70% mature spores revealed significant differences in the expression levels for up to 33% of the investigated genes. The expression levels for six highly regulated genes were confirmed by RNA blot analyses. The expression of glutamine synthetase, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthetase, isocitrate lyase, thioredoxin, glucan 1,3-β-glucosidase, and UDP-glucose:sterol glucosyl transferase was highly up-regulated, suggesting that amino acid biosynthesis, the glyoxylate cycle pathway, and cell wall synthesis are strikingly altered during morphogenesis.     

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。     

RNA-seq用于获得共轭亚油酸对贵妃鸡肌内脂肪代谢调控的关键基因

通过转录物组测序获得在贵妃鸡基础日粮中添加共轭亚油酸(CLA)对肌内脂肪代谢的差异表达基因,经生物信息学分析获得相关的信号通路及可能发挥重要作用的候选基因,为CLA对肌内脂肪沉积的分子机制奠定基础。本研究选用55日龄健康的贵妃鸡为试验动物,在基础日粮中添加CLA 0%、1%和2%,预饲期1周,正饲期6周。屠宰采集胸肌组织进行转录物组测序,对测序数据进行差异表达分析,差异表达基因GO功能和差异表达基因KEGG通路富集分析,筛选出与胸肌脂类代谢相关的差异表达基因,利用qRT-PCR对差异表达基因进行验证。结果显示,共获得1 065个差异表达基因,其中上调基因703个,下调基因362个。GO富集结果显示,差异表达基因主要富集在生物过程的细胞过程、单一生物过程、生物调节和代谢过程。KEGG信号通路富集显示,差异表达基因显著富集在黏着斑、不饱和脂肪酸生物合成、脂肪酸生物合成和类固醇生物合成等信号通路中,发现11个主要与肌内脂肪代谢相关的候选基因,分别是FADS1、FADS2、ELOVL5、ACOX2、SLC27A1、FABP5、LPL、LOC107050163、ENSGALG00000030996、ENSGALG00000005043和ENSGALG00000048882。并随机选取6个基因进行qRT-PCR验证,其相对表达量变化趋势与测序结果一致。本研究筛选到CLA影响贵妃鸡胸肌脂类代谢相关的差异表达基因,并对11个主要参与脂肪代谢相关的基因进行分析,为揭示CLA调控肌内脂肪沉积的分子机制奠定基础。     

Characterization of cadmium-responsive MicroRNAs and their target genes in maize (Zea mays) roots

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides, highly conserved among species, which modulate gene expression by cleaving messenger RNA target or inhibiting translation. MiRNAs are involved in the regulation of many processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Beef tenderness is an organoleptic characteristic of great influence in the acceptance of meat by consumers. Previous studies have shown that collagen level, marbling, apoptosis and proteolysis are among the many factors that affect beef tenderness. Considering that miRNAs can modulate gene expression, this study was designed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs that could be modulating biological processes involved with beef tenderness. Deep sequence analysis of miRNA libraries from longissimus thoracis muscle allowed the identification of 42 novel and 308 known miRNAs. Among the known miRNAs, seven were specifically expressed in skeletal muscle. Differential expression analysis between animals with high (H) and low (L) estimated breeding values for shear force (EBVSF) revealed bta-mir-182 and bta-mir-183 are up-regulated (q value < 0.05) in animals with L EBVSF, and bta-mir-338 is up-regulated in animals with H EBVSF. The number of bovine predicted targets for bta-mir-182, bta-mir-183 and bta-mir-338 were 811, 281 and 222, respectively, which correspond to 1204 unique target genes. Among these, four of them, MEF2C, MAP3K2, MTDH and TNRC6B were common targets of the three differentially expressed miRNAs. The functional analysis identified important pathways related to tenderness such as apoptosis and the calpain–calpastatin system. The results obtained indicate the importance of miRNAs in the regulatory mechanisms that influence muscle proteolysis and meat tenderness and contribute to our better understanding of the role of miRNAs in biological processes associated with beef tenderness.     

几种虫生真菌对斜纹夜蛾的致病性

用布氏白僵菌、球孢白僵菌、玫烟色拟青霉、绿僵菌和莱氏野村菌5种真菌的固体培养物,对斜纹夜蛾2、3龄幼虫进行了毒力测定.结果表明：布氏白僵菌和莱氏野村菌两种菌株对斜纹夜蛾幼虫有明显的致病效果,对2龄幼虫的致死中时(LT₅₀)分别为2.95 d和4.10 d,累计校正死亡率分别为100%和95.2%;对3龄幼虫的致病力低于2龄,致死中时(LT₅₀)分别为19.67 d和19.63 d,累计校正死亡率分别为56.6%和52.2%.玫烟色拟青霉、球孢白僵菌两菌株也有一定的致病力,对2龄幼虫的致死中时(LT₅₀)分别为4.89 d 和6.34 d,累计校正死亡率分别为85.7%和71.4%.     

细菌感染后家蚕幼虫中肠差异表达基因的鉴定（英文）

作为遭遇各种微生物的前线, 昆虫的消化道在免疫反应中起到重要的作用。为了研究家蚕Bombyx mori肠道免疫反应, 我们利用基于ACP (annealing control primer)的反转录PCR技术, 从中肠组织中鉴定得到18个在经口器感染绿脓杆菌Pseudomonas aeruginosa 和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus后的差异表达基因,并利用荧光定量PCR分析了其中4个基因在感染后24 h内的动态变化。结果表明： 肽聚糖识别蛋白-L1（PGRP-L1)和一个丝氨酸蛋白酶前体基因特异性地受绿脓杆菌感染后上调; 30kP蛋白酶A基因受绿脓杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌2种细菌感染后上调。我们的研究鉴定了经口器感染后家蚕中肠中参与入侵细菌识别和免疫信号途径的基因, 可为对这些基因进一步的功能研究提供线索。     

大鼠颅脑损伤后差异表达基因及miRNA研究

研究背景创伤性脑损伤(Traumatic brain injury, TBI)是致死率和致残率极高的外科疾患,我国在对于TBI的判断、治疗等方面还处于薄弱阶段,因此我们需要在分子层面了解大鼠颅脑损伤后基因及miRNA表达差异,以便更好地对症治疗。目的了解大鼠颅脑损伤后基因及miRNA表达差异,为临床治疗TBI提供新的思路。方法利用GEO2R筛选基因,然后用MiRwalk软件对筛选的miRNA的靶基因进行预测,再用DAVID做基因本体论功能富集分析,最后利用cytoscape做网络关系图。结果发现247个相对明显的差异表达的基因,包括150个上调表达基因和97个下调表达基因;7个差异表达的miRNA,包括2个上调表达miRNA和5个下调表达miRNA。这些差异表达基因在细胞内和细胞外都起作用,并且在炎症反应,药物应答等生物过程中起作用。将差异基因与靶基因对比后,可得到48个重合基因,同时发现这些重合基因与差异表达的miRNA有着一定的联系。     

cDNA expression array analysis of gene expression in human hepatocarcinoma Hep3B cells induced by BNIPL-1

Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 2 like-1 （BNIPL-1） is a novel human protein identified in our laboratory, which can interact with Bcl-2 and Cdc42GAP and induce apoptosis via the BNIP-2 and Cdc42GAP homology （BCH） domain. In the present study, we established the Hep3B-Tet-on stable cell line in which expression of BNIPL-1 can be induced by doxycycline. The cell proliferation activity assay showed that the overexpression of BNIPL-1 suppresses Hep3B cell growth in vitro. The differential expression profiles of 588 known genes from BNIPL-1-transfected Hep3B-Tet-on and vector control cells were determined using the Atlas human cDNA expression array. Fifteen genes were differentially expressed between these two cell lines, among which seven genes were up-regulated and eight genes were down-regulated by BINPL-1. Furthermore, the differential expression result was confirmed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Among these differentially expressed genes, p16^INK4, IL-12, TRAIL and the lymphotoxin β gene involved in growth suppression or cell apoptosis were up-regulated, and PTEN involved in cell proliferation was down-regulated by BNIPL-1. These results suggest that BNIPL-1 might inhibit cell growth though cell cycle arrest and/or apoptotic cell death pathway（s）.     

Small RNA and degradome deep sequencing reveals important roles of microRNAs in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita infection

Investigation of cotton response to nematode infection will allow us to better understand the cotton immune defense mechanism and design a better biotechnological approach for efficiently managing pest nematodes in cotton. In this study, we firstly treated cotton by root knot nematode (RKN, Meloidogyne incognita) infections, then we employed the high throughput deep sequencing technology to sequence and genome-widely identify all miRNAs in cotton; finally, we analyzed the functions of these miRNAs in cotton response to RKN infections. A total of 266 miRNAs, including 193 known and 73 novel miRNAs, were identified by deep sequencing technology, which belong to 67 conserved and 66 novel miRNA families, respectively. A majority of identified miRNA families only contain one miRNA; however, miR482 family contains 14 members and some others contain 2–13 members. Certain miRNAs were specifically expressed in RKN-infected cotton roots and others were completely inhibited by RKN infection. A total of 50 miRNAs were differentially expressed after RKN infection, in which 28 miRNAs were up-regulated and 22 were inhibited by RKN treatment. Based on degradome sequencing, 87 gene targets were identified to be targeted by 57 miRNAs. These miRNA-targeted genes are involved in the interaction of cotton plants and nematode infection. Based on GO (gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, 466 genes from all 636 miRNA targets were mapped to 6340 GO terms, 181 genes from 228 targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were mapped to 1588 GO terms. The GO terms were then categorized into the three main GO classes: biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. The targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in 43 GO terms, including 22 biological processes, 10 cellular components, and 11 molecular functions (p < 0.05). Many identified processes were associated with organism responses to the environmental stresses, including regulation of nematode larval development, response to nematode, and response to flooding. Our results will enhance the study and application of developing new cotton cultivars for nematode resistance.