空间飞行水稻pi-hit-1基因启动子功能分析

pi-hit-1基因是本实验室通过空间诱变找到的一个水稻新基因。为了对pi-hit-1基因启动子结构和功能进行研究,首先使用植物启动子分析数据库(PlantProm DB-TSSP,TFSEARCH,PLACE及PlantCARE)对该基因转录调控区序列进行预测分析,结果显示该基因上游调控区存在多个顺式元件,主要集中在翻译起始位点前300bp的区域,转录起始位点位于翻译起始位点前100bp,在转录起始位点前132bp存在TATA box元件。凝胶电泳迁移率实验(EMSA)发现翻译起始位点上游约300bp存在转录因子特异结合位点,为该基因的核心启动子,这与预测结果一致。采用系统生物学的方法研究水稻新基因pi-hit-1启动子结构,发现了该基因的核心启动子元件,为研究空间环境如何影响基因的转录调控提供了重要依据。     

人PRL-3基因启动子的克隆及转录因子Snail结合位点的初步鉴定

促肝细胞再生磷酸酶-3(PRL-3)是重要的肿瘤转移相关基因,其转录调控机制一直未被阐明.应用TRED在线分析系统共获得3种可能的人PRL-3基因启动子区域.通过与人基因组序列进行比对,发现其中3号启动子序列距离人PRL-3基因距离最近,位于该基因上游约1 kb的DNA区域,与5′端非翻译区域邻接.在线Consite分析系统发现,-500 bp至-451bp之间存在Snail结合的核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG.运用分子克隆的方法获得PRL-3基因启动子2段区域-699 bp至299bp及-642 bp至-383 bp区域,后者具有Snail结合位点核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG.构建具有荧光素酶报告基因的pGL3载体并检测其启动子活性.-699～299 bp区域与-642～-383 bp区域的DNA片段在SW480、SW620、CNE2、293A细胞中均具有启动子活性,其中含有Snail结合位点核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG的短片段活性强于较完整的序列.染色质免疫沉淀结合PCR扩增技术及凝胶迁移阻滞实验确定PRL-3基因启动子区域具有Snail结合位点.研究确定,PRL-3基因的启动子位于转录起始位点上游700 bp与下游300 bp的DNA区域,PRL-3基因启动子存在转录因子Snail结合元件.     

猪早期胚胎发育中SOX2基因启动子活性分析

转录因子SOX2 (sex determining region Y-box2)在早期胚胎发育第一次谱系分化以及内细胞团多能性维持等方面具有重要的作用。但是目前有关SOX2基因启动子的系统研究较少,尤其是在猪(Sus scrofa)中尚无相关报道。为系统分析猪SOX2基因启动子在早期胚胎中的活性,本研究通过优化显微注射体系中绿色荧光蛋白表达载体种类和注射时间,构建了适合猪SOX2基因启动子活性分析的参照体系和显微注射体系;对猪SOX2基因翻译起始位点上游5000 bp区域进行转录因子结合位点的预测,发现该区域存在4个转录因子结合位点簇;针对上述区域设计并构建相应的缺失型SOX2基因启动子报告载体,利用建立的显微注射体系将其导入胚胎,通过mCherry荧光强度以及qRT-PCR定量分析SOX2基因启动子中不同转录因子结合位点簇对启动子活性的影响。结果表明,与全长SOX2基因启动子相比,SOX2基因翻译起始位点上游2254～2442 bp区域缺失后,猪4-细胞和8-细胞胚胎中SOX2基因启动子活性下降至17.8%,该缺失区域中仅包含两个NF-AT(nuclear factor of activated T cells)转录因子结合位点。因此,本研究结果推测猪SOX2基因启动子中NF-AT转录因子结合位点是影响猪早期胚胎SOX2基因启动子活性的关键位点。本研究为揭示猪早期胚胎发育中SOX2基因表达调控机制提供了数据支持。     

水稻OsWRKY89启动子紫外线-B反应元件区的鉴定

植物需要利用太阳光能进行光合作用,因而不可避免地受到紫外线-B(UV-B) 辐射的影响．为了鉴定水稻WRKY转 录因子OsWRKY89基因启动子中的UV-B反应相关元件,分析了转启动子不同缺失片段与gus融合基因的水稻幼苗,发现在该启动子中存在UV-B反应元件,位于基因翻译起始位点上游-1 213～-1 188之间的25 bp区域,碱基序列为AAGATCTACCATTGCTCTATAGCTT．结合OsWRKY89和UV-B诱导上调表达基因启动子序列分析发现,该元件区在水稻UV-B反应基因启动子上具有高度的保守性,而且与已知保守的光反应元件位置邻近,表明该区域在水稻UV-B反应的转录调控中可能具有重要功能．     

PC-1增强受体酪氨酸激酶家族成员EphA3在前列腺癌细胞中的转录

为了研究前列腺癌相关基因(prostate and colon gene 1, PC-1）对受体酪氨酸激酶家族分子EphA3表达的影响,用RT-PCR、实时PCR和Western印迹检测表达不同水平PC-1的前列腺癌细胞系LNCaP和C4-2中EphA3的表达情况. 发现PC-1可诱导EphA3基因表达上调. 采用荧光素酶实验检测PC-1对于EphA3启动子转录活性的影响,结果显示,PC-1对转录起始位点上游916 bp的启动子活性没有影响,而可增强转录起始位点上游2011 bp启动子的活性.对EphA3启动子－916 bp～－2　011 bp区域进行生物信息学分析,结果显示,此区域包含HSF、NF-1、Nkx-2、SP1和GATA-1等多种转录因子结合位点.实验结果表明,PC-1可通过影响EphA3启动子诱导EphA3基因高表达,其调控区域位于转录起始位点上游－2　011　bp至－916 bp之间,提示PC-1可能通过影响一些结合于此区域的转录因子来影响EphA3启动子的转录活性.     

橡胶树转录因子HbWRKY9的克隆与特性分析

通过RACE技术克隆得到一个新的橡胶树WRKY,命名为Hb WRKY9,Gen Bank登录号为JQ914653,基因全长为1 646 bp,ORF为954 bp,编码317个氨基酸。Hb WRKY9蛋白含有1个WRKY结构域和1个C2H2型锌指结构,与蓖麻(Ricinus communis)、麻疯树(Jatropha carcas)、毛果杨(Populus trichocarpa)和酿酒葡萄(Vitis vinifera)的WRKY成员一致性分别为80%、79%、70%和63%。对其启动子序列的分析表明,启动子核心区域位于翻译起始密码子上游74~123 bp处,启动子序列中包含TATA-box、CAAT-box、5'UTR Py-rich stretch、WRKY转录因子结合位点W-box、MYB结合位点MBS,以及与光响应相关的调控元件G-box和Box4,分生组织特异表达调控元件CCGTCC-box,与缺氧诱导相关的ARE元件,与高温胁迫相关的调控元件HSE,与Me JA和ABA等激素响应相关的CGTCA-motif和ABRE等顺式调控元件。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,Hb WRKY9基因能响应低温胁迫,呈上调表达。     

巴西橡胶树HbNTL1基因启动子的克隆与序列分析

膜结合NAC转录因子(NTLs)是植物NAC转录因子家族中一类C端具有跨膜结构域(transmembrane motifs,TMs)的转录调控因子,在植物生长发育、激素调节和逆境胁迫应答中具有重要的功能。根据巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)膜结合类NAC转录因子HbNTL1基因cDNA序列,利用基因组步移的方法从巴西橡胶树叶片基因组DNA中克隆获得了HbNTL1基因上游1 718 bp的调控片段。序列分析表明,该段序列含有一个典型的真核生物核心启动子区域,转录起始位点A位于起始密码子上游206 bp处。该启动子序列除了含有多个TATA-box、CAAT-box等基本顺式作用元件外,还存在赤霉素、茉莉酸和脱落酸等激素响应元件以及大量逆境胁迫诱导相关的顺式调控元件,如ABRE、DOFCOREZM、MYBCORE、W-box和MYCCONSENSUSATHSE等反应元件,表明HbNTL1转录因子可能是一个逆境胁迫相关NAC转录因子,在橡胶树抵御逆境胁迫的生理过程中具有重要功能。     

巴西橡胶树 HbNAC1基因启动子的克隆及序列分析

NAC转录因子是植物特有的一类转录调控因子,在植物的生长发育、激素调节和境胁迫应答中具有重要的功能。为研究NAC转录因子在巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)抗逆胁迫中的功能,本项目组根据巴西橡胶树NAC转录因子-HbNAC1基因序列,通过Genome Walking方法从巴西橡胶基因组DNA中获得了长度为1861bp的HbNAC1基因的5’调控区片段,序列分析表明该段序列含有一个典型的真核生物核心启动子区域,转录起始位点T位于起始密码子上游52bp处。该启动子序列除了含有TATA-box、CAAT-box等基本顺式作用元件外,还具有茉莉酸响应元件以及大量光顺式作用元件和逆境胁迫诱导相关的顺式调控元件,这表明HbNAC1基因在橡胶树逆境胁迫应答过程具有重要功能,其启动子可能是一个光诱导型和组织特异性启动子。     

草莓MET1基因启动子克隆及瞬时表达分析

根据草莓MET1类DNA甲基转移酶基因(FaMET1)全长序列设计引物,通过PCR获得了该基因翻译起始位点上游669 bp的序列.生物信息学分析表明,该序列中存在启动子的基本元件TATA-box、CAAT-box和多个胁迫诱导元件.进一步构建了FaMET1基因启动子驱动GUS的植物表达载体FMpro::GUS,通过农杆菌注射法转化草莓果实细胞,结果表明,该序列能够驱动GUS在草莓果实中瞬时表达,为进一步研究FaMET1的表达调控奠定了基础.     

一个光合组织特异表达强启动子的分离及功能分析

用接头PCR技术克隆了长度为1415 bp的PNZIP基因启动子, 该启动子具有真核生物启动子的典型特征, 引物延伸实验证明转录起始位点位于翻译起始位点上游122 bp处. 根据PNZIP基因启动子的序列特征, 利用PCR技术对该启动子进行了有目的的缺失, 将5个长度不同的启动子片段分别与报告基因GUS相连接, 构建植物表达载体, 转化烟草. 荧光定量检测结果表明: 5个不同长度的PNZIP启动子均能驱动GUS基因在光合组织中专一表达, 它们的活性随着启动子5′端的逐步缺失而不断地下降; 在叶片组织中长度为1415 bp的PNZIP启动子活性比35S启动子高9倍; PNZIP启动子中存在2个可能与光合组织特异表达有关的新的顺式作用元件, 即GAAATA和GATACT, GATACT元件可能决定基因的光合组织特异性表达, 而GAAATA可能作为增强子提高基因在光合组织的表达强度.     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒研究进展

传染性法氏囊病(Infection bursal disease, IBD)是由鸡传染性法氏囊病毒(Infectious bursal disease virus, IBDV)引起的鸡和火鸡的一种高度接触性传染病,给世界各国的禽养殖业带来了巨大损失.自IBDV发现至今新的变异株不断出现,分子结构的改变导致病毒致病力的改变及宿主对疫苗应答的改变,使得传统的疫苗已不能控制其流行,因此各国学者对其基因组结构和功能进行了广泛深入的研究,并积极研制新型有效的疫苗以达到防治的目的.     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.