转基因白桦不同月份叶片基因组DNA甲基化水平的变异

目的：以转坛￡抗虫基因白桦的不同月份叶片为实验材料,揭示基因组DNA甲基化水平与植物叶片发育及外源基因表达水平之间的相关性。方法：应用DNA-MSAP方法检测叶片基因组DNACCGG位点甲基化状态,利用Northern杂交技术分析其外源基因表达水平。结果：转基因白桦叶片基因组DNA同年5～9月总甲基化水平分别为21．95％、29．62％、25．41％、41.39％和47．24％,除7月份稍有波动外,整体呈现随着叶片的成熟和衰老渐升高趋势;全部扩增位点中,半、全甲基化位点比例分别为17．99％和15．19％,在各月份叶片中变化较大,其中半甲基化位点比例分别为10．37％、19．14％、14．92％、17．2％和28．83％,全甲基化位点比例依次为11．58％、10．49％、10．50％、24．11％和18．40％。同一无性系外源基因在当年5～7月表达量最高,8～9月呈下降趋势,与基因组甲基化状态呈负相关趋势。结论：转基因白桦叶片的成熟和衰老及外源基因表达量降低均可能与基因组DNA甲基化水平的升高相关。     

植物DNA甲基化调控因子研究进展

DNA甲基化是重要的植物基因组表观遗传修饰。植物中DNA甲基化的建立与维持是由多个调控因子协同作用的结果。不同的甲基转移酶类能直接作用于不同位点胞嘧啶甲基化, 其中MET1主要负责保持原初CG位点的甲基化, CMT3主要负责保持CNG位点的甲基化, 并由DRM与CMT3的协同从头甲基化作用来补偿其他相关序列的甲基化。这些甲基转移酶与染色质重塑解旋酶和组蛋白修饰因子协同改变染色质的结构, 行使表观遗传的功能。DNA转葡糖基酶有去甲基化活性从而减轻基因沉默。文章综述了以上植物DNA甲基化调控因子的生物学功能及其之间的相互作用和近年来的研究进展, 以更好的理解DNA甲基化的建立、保持和去除的机制。     

RNA介导的植物DNA甲基化研究进展

RNA介导的DNA甲基化作用(RNA-directed DNA Methylation,RdDM)是首次在植物中发现的基因组表观修饰现象,RdDM通过RNA-DNA序列相互作用直接导致DNA甲基化。植物中的RdDM和siRNA介导的mRNA降解现象,都是通过RNA使序列特异性基因发生沉默,它们对于植物的染色体重排、抵御病毒感染、基因表达调控和发育的许多过程起到了非常重要的作用。在植物中有很多的文献报道RdDM现象,但是对于其具体调控机理还不是很清楚。这里对RNA介导的植物DNA甲基化的基本特征进行了简要概述,主要对RdDM机理的研究进展进行了综述,其中包括RdDM过程中的DNA甲基转移酶的种类及其作用机理,DNA甲基化与染色质修饰之间的关系,以及与RdDM相关的重要蛋白质的研究等。在植物中,转录和转录后水平都可能发生RdDM,诱发基因沉默,前者常涉及靶基因启动子的甲基化,后者则牵涉到编码区的甲基化。RdDM的发生依赖于RNAi途径中相似的siRNA和酶,如DCL3、RdR2、SDE4和AGO4。植物中至少含有三类DNA甲基转移酶DRM1/2、MET1和CMT3,其作用部位是与RNA同源的DNA区域中的所有胞嘧啶,而组蛋白H3第九位赖氨酸的甲基化影响着胞嘧啶的甲基化。     

昆虫DNA甲基化的研究进展

DNA甲基化是表观遗传学的一个分支学科,因其在调控基因表达和生物体许多生理生化过程具有重要的作用,近年来逐渐受到广泛关注。昆虫由于种类繁多,变态发育和表型复杂,研究DNA甲基化的功能具有重要的意义。昆虫DNA甲基化需要由DNA甲基化转移酶(Dnmts)参与完成,其数量和结构在不同物种中差异较大。大多数昆虫均具有维持DNA甲基化水平的Dnmt1,缺乏行使从头DNA甲基化功能的Dnmt3,Dnmt2(也称为TRDMT1)虽保守存在但其DNA结合的能力极其微弱。昆虫DNA甲基化的总体水平较低,并且呈现不同龄期和组织的时空分布特异性。在昆虫基因组中,以外显子区的DNA甲基化水平最为显著,具有增强基因表达的功能,表现出在序列保守和广泛表达的基因中水平高、在特异表达的基因中水平低的进化特征。目前用于研究昆虫DNA甲基化的方法主要有生物信息学预测和甲基化特异限制性内切酶、甲基化敏感扩增多态性、基因组DNA甲基化测序等实验研究方法。本文就昆虫DNA甲基化转移酶的特性、DNA甲基化的分布与进化及其研究方法进行综述,旨在深入了解昆虫DNA甲基化的研究现状及其重要作用,为促进该研究领域的发展提供新的思路和方法。     

DNA甲基转移酶RNAi干涉载体的构建及其鉴定

DNA甲基化(DNA Methylation)是真核生物基因组最常见的DNA共价修饰形式,影响蛋白质-DNA的相互作用,在基因表达的调控上起着重要作用,RNAi(RNA interference)干涉是关闭特定基因功能的新技术,在植物功能基因组、植物发育及生理代谢途径调控等方面有着广泛应用.本文根据植物DNA甲基转移酶(DNMTs)的保守序列设计引物,首先从拟南芥总基因组DNA中克隆出DNA甲基转移酶基因保守片段,然后以此保守片段为模板扩增长度约570bp,的靶序列用于构建RNAi载体.根据RNAi作用机制,将570bp靶序列正向、反向连接到pHANNIBAL载体上,然后将带有此反向重复结构的完整OFF框连接到植物表达栽体pGreell上,经过酶切鉴定和测序分析证实DNA甲基转移酶RNAi重组表达载体构建成功.转化红豆衫细胞表明该干涉载体具有生物学功能,为研究受DNA甲基化调控的性状改良打下基础.     

DNA甲基化与植物转基因沉默研究进展

基因沉默现象已成为转基因植物商品化生产的严重阻碍。本文就DNA甲基化的作用机制及由其引起转基因沉默的研究作了简要综述。另外,结合基因表达的抑制因素,对如何消除DNA甲基化,促使外源基因高效表达的策略进行了初步探讨。     

DNA甲基化与植物转基因沉默研究进展

基因沉默现象已成为转基因植物商品化生产的严重阻碍。本文就DNA甲基化的作用机制及由其引物转基因沉默的研究作了简要综述,另外,结合基因表达的抑制因素,对如何消除DNA甲基化,促使外源基因高效表达的策略进行了初步探讨。     

基因组DNA甲基化及组蛋白甲基化

在真核生物中,DNA甲基化是一种非常重要的表观遗传学标记,能影响染色质的结构和基因的表达。随着全基因组甲基化测序的发展,全基因组范围内的DNA甲基化水平得以了解。文章概述了基因组中启动子、基因本体、增强子、沉默子和转座子等不同元件的DNA甲基化的研究进展,以及DNA甲基化与基因表达调控间的关系。启动子的DNA甲基化对基因的表达有抑制作用,而基因本体的DNA甲基化与基因的表达关系因物种或细胞类型不同而异。增强子的DNA甲基化状态与基因活性呈反比关系,沉默子则相反呈正相关。转座子的DNA高度甲基化抑制其转座活性,从而维持基因组的稳定性。文章还探讨了DNA甲基化与组蛋白甲基化间的相互作用及其对基因表达、可变剪切、转录的调控作用,以及本领域的未来研究方向。     

甲基转移酶的功能与分类

甲基转移酶是生物有机体内普遍仔任的一种重要酶类,它能催化遗传物质DNA的甲基化,在基因表达及动物生长、发育中起着重要的调控作用;同时,又能催化多种生理过程中间产物的甲基化进而合成或降解生理活性物质。研究发现,人类的情绪和许多疾病的发生及植物的抗逆性都与甲基转移酶基因的表达有关。     

DNMT3a通过提升基因内部甲基化介导紫杉醇诱导的LINE-1异常表达

药物诱导的长散在重复序列LINE-1异常激活可促进细胞基因组不稳定,而基因组不稳定是促进肿瘤发生发展和耐药表型形成的重要因素。因此,探索LINE-1异常激活的分子机制具有重要的理论和临床意义。DNA甲基化是调控基因表达的重要方式,已知DNA甲基转移酶家族成员DNMT3a不仅能通过促进基因启动子甲基化抑制基因表达,还可通过增强基因内部甲基化上调基因表达。本实验室前期研究发现,将乳腺癌细胞暴露于化疗药物可诱导LINE-1异常高表达,但LINE-1启动子甲基化水平并无显著改变。本研究进一步探讨了在化疗药物压力下DNMT3a是否可通过增强LINE-1基因内部甲基化水平促进LINE-1在乳腺癌细胞中的异常高表达。ChIP实验和甲基分析结果显示,用化疗药物紫杉醇(PTX)处理乳腺癌细胞,不仅可以诱导DNMT3a表达,而且可以促进DNMT3a与LINE-1基因内部区域的结合,提升其基因内部甲基化水平,进而上调LINE-1的表达水平。利用表达载体增加细胞内DNMT3a的表达水平,可显著上调LINE-1基因内部的甲基化及基因的表达水平,而下调DNMT3a的表达可有效抑制LINE-1表达。上述研究结果表明,DNMT3a介导的基因非启动子区甲基化在药物诱导的LINE-1异常激活中发挥重要作用,为认识LINE-1在乳腺癌化疗耐药性形成过程中异常激活的机制提供了新思路。     

Plant DNA methyltransferase genes: Multiplicity,expression, methylation patterns

Expression and methylation patterns of genes encoding DNA methyltransferases and their functionally related proteins were studied in organs of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Genes coding for the major maintenance-type DNA methyltransferases, MET1 and CMT3, and the major de novo-type DNA methyltransferase, DRM2, are actively expressed in all organs. Similar constitutively active expression was observed for genes encoding their functionally related proteins, a histone H3K9 methyltransferase KYP and a catalytically non-active protein DRM3. Expression of the MET1 and CMT3 genes is significantly lower in developing endosperm compared with embryo. Vice versa, expression of the MET2a, MET2b, MET3, and CMT2 genes in endosperm is much more active compared with embryo. A special maintenance DNA methylation system seems to operate in endosperm. The DNMT2 and N6AMT genes encoding putative methyltransferases are constitutively expressed at low levels. CMT1 and DRM1 genes are expressed rather weakly in all investigated organs. Most of the studied genes have methylation patterns conforming to the “body-methylated gene” prototype. A peculiar feature of the MET family genes is methylation at all three possible site types (CG, CHG, and CHH). The most weakly expressed among genes of their respective families, CMT1 and DRM1, are practically unmethylated. The MET3 and N6AMT genes have unusual methylation patterns, promoter region, and most of the gene body devoid of any methylation, and the 3'-end proximal part of the gene body is highly methylated.     

Stage-specific alterations of DNA methyltransferase expression, DNA hypermethylation, and DNA hypomethylation during prostate cancer progression in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate model

We analyzed DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) protein expression and DNA methylation patterns during four progressive stages of prostate cancer in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model, including prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, well-differentiated tumors, early poorly differentiated tumors, and late poorly differentiated tumors. Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b protein expression were increased in all stages; however, after normalization to cyclin A to account for cell cycle regulation, Dnmt proteins remained overexpressed in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and well-differentiated tumors, but not in poorly differentiated tumors. Restriction landmark genomic scanning analysis of locus-specific methylation revealed a high incidence of hypermethylation only in poorly differentiated (early and late) tumors. Several genes identified by restriction landmark genomic scanning showed hypermethylation of downstream regions correlating with mRNA overexpression, including p16INK4a, p19ARF, and Cacna1a. Parallel gene expression and DNA methylation analyses suggests that gene overexpression precedes downstream hypermethylation during prostate tumor progression. In contrast to gene hypermethylation, genomic DNA hypomethylation, including hypomethylation of repetitive elements and loss of genomic 5-methyldeoxycytidine, occurred in both early and late stages of prostate cancer. DNA hypermethylation and DNA hypomethylation did not correlate in TRAMP, and Dnmt protein expression did not correlate with either variable, with the exception of a borderline significant association between Dnmt1 expression and DNA hypermethylation. In summary, our data reveal the relative timing of and relationship between key alterations of the DNA methylation pathway occurring during prostate tumor progression in an in vivo model system.     

Faithful inheritance of cytosine methylation patterns in repeated sequences of the allotetraploid tobacco correlates with the expression of DNA methyltransferase gene families from both parental genomes

The widespread occurrence of epigenetic alterations in allopolyploid species deserves scrutiny that DNA methylation systems may be perturbed by interspecies hybridization and polyploidization. Here we studied the genes involved in DNA methylation in Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) allotetraploid containing S and T genomes inherited from Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana tomentosiformis progenitors. To determine the inheritance of DNA methyltransferase genes and their expression patterns we examined three major DNA methyltransferase families (MET1, CMT3 and DRM) from tobacco and the progenitor species. Using Southern blot hybridization and PCR-based methods (genomic CAPS), we found that the parental loci of these gene families are retained in tobacco. Homoeologous expression was found in all tissues examined (leaf, root, flower) suggesting that DNA methyltransferase genes were probably not themselves targets of uniparental epigenetic silencing for over thousands of generations of allotetraploid evolution. The level of CG and CHG methylation of selected high-copy repeated sequences was similar and high in tobacco and its diploid progenitors. We speculate that natural selection might favor additive expression of parental DNA methyltransferase genes maintaining high levels of DNA methylation in tobacco, which has a repeat-rich heterochromatic genome. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AM946602–AM946620 and FM872474–FM872476.