白桦E-box元件的载体构建及与BplMYB46转录因子的互作分析

MYB转录因子是植物中最大的转录因子家族成员之一,主要参与植物次生代谢调控、激素和环境因子的应答,在植物的生长发育中起着至关重要的作用。已有研究发现,E-box的核心序列为CANNTG(N:A/G/C/T),是一类与光响应和苯丙氨酸生物合成途径相关的元件。在前期研究中,先构建顺式作用元件库,然后以转录因子为中心的酵母单杂交技术筛选发现,白桦的BplMYB46转录因子能够与核心序列为CAAATG的E-box顺式作用元件结合。但是,是否能与E-box的其他核心序列结合还不清楚。本研究将每一种E-box顺式作用元件的核心序列分别进行双链DNA的复性并连接到pHIS2载体上,然后通过酵母单杂交技术筛选与BplMYB46转录因子能够特异结合的E-box顺式作用元件。结果显示,当E-box的核心序列第3个碱基为A/T/C、第四个碱基为A/G/C时,酵母单菌落能在三缺培养基TDO/3AT上生长,表明与BplMYB46转录因子结合的E-box顺式作用元件的特异性序列为CA(A/T/C)(A/G/C)TG。为后续通过BplMYB46转录因子与E-box顺式作用元件的结合来分析BplMYB46转录因子对下游基因的调控,以及为筛选优良下游基因改良白桦的遗传性状奠定数据基础。     

水稻WRKY转录调控因子研究进展

WRKY转录调控因子是植物中最大的转录调控因子家族之一,包含1或2个大约由60个氨基酸残基组成的高度保守的WRKY结构域。WRKY结构域的N端有严格保守的WRKYGQK氨基酸序列,其C端有锌指结构模型Cys(2)-His(2)或Cys(2)-His Cys。WRKY转录调控因子与靶基因启动子区域的DNA序列(T)TGAC(C/T)(W盒)特异性结合,调节目的基因的表达,在调控植物生长发育、物质代谢、抗病耐逆及氧化衰老过程中起重要作用。我们就有关水稻WRKY转录调控因子的结构分类及其生物学功能的研究进展做简要综述。     

基因本体论的蟾蜍bHLH转录因子功能富集分布

基因本体论是国际上标准的基因和蛋白质功能知识词汇.利用基因本体论的功能富集分布比较和分析了两种蟾蜍bHLH基因分子功能分布特点.结果发现,两种蟾蜍的bHLH基因均有显著富集分布的GO注释语句,其中转录调控活性( GO:0030528)、转录调控(GO:0045449)、DNA结合(GO:0003677)、RNA代谢过程调控(G0:0051252)、DNA依赖的转录调控(GO:0006355)、转录(G0:0006350)和转录因子活性(GO:0003700)等频率很高,表明这些GO注释是蟾蜍bHLH基因常见的功能;此外,蟾蜍bHLH基因在肌肉器官发育、神经管和眼发育等一些重要的发育或生理过程的基因表达调控中发挥着重要的作用.     

哺乳动物转录因子DNA结合谱

基因差异表达是生物发育和对刺激作出应答的分子基础,转录因子在这种基因差异表达中发挥着重要的调控作用。因此,要弄清楚转录因子调控基因差异表达的机理,就必须鉴定出它们全部的靶基因并构建其操纵的转录调控网络。对基因组DNA的序列特异性结合是转录因子调控基因转录的关键环节,因此,要鉴定转录因子的靶基因,就必须从它们与DNA相互作用的分子水平,鉴定它们能够识别并结合的全部DNA序列,即转录因子DNA结合谱。近年来随着DNA微阵列芯片和高通量DNA测序技术的产生和快速发展,出现了建立转录因子体内及体外DNA结合谱的一系列革命性的新技术,对该领域的研究带来重大影响。这些新技术主要包括建立转录因子体内DNA结合谱的染色质免疫沉淀-芯片技术(ChIP-chip)和染色质免疫沉淀-测序技术(ChIP-Seq),以及建立转录因子体外DNA结合谱的双链DNA微阵列芯片技术(dsDNA microarray)、指数富集配体系统进化-系列分析基因表达技术(SELEX-SAGE)、结合-n-测序技术(Bind-n-Seq)、多重大规模并行SELEX技术(MMP-SELEX)、凝胶迁移实验-测序技术(EMSA-Seq)和高通量测序-荧光配体互作图谱分析技术(HiTS-FLIP)。文章将对这些新技术做一综述。     

植物WRKY转录因子结构特点及其生物学功能

WRKY转录因子是近年来在植物中发现的N-端含有WRKYGQK高度保守氨基酸序列的新型转录调控因子, 它能够与(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box)发生特异性作用, 调节启动子中含W-box元件的调节基因和/或功能基因的表达, 从而参与植物的各种防卫反应, 调节植物的生长发育等。文章主要论述了植物WRKY转录因子的基本结构及其生物学功能。     

植物WRKY转录因子结构及功能研究进展

WRKY蛋白是植物所特有的转录因子家族.因WRKY结构域中的N-端均含有高度保守的WRJKYGQK氨基酸序列而得名.它能够与(T)TGACC(A/T)序列(W*box)发生特异性作用,调节启动子中含W-box元件的调节基因或功能基因的表达,从而参与植物的各种防卫反应,调节植物的发育和代谢等.近些年来.有关WRKY转录因子的研究很多,如模式生物中的拟南芥和水稻基因组中拥有大量的WRKY成员.主要介绍WRKY转录因子的结构特点及生物学功能.     

热带爪蟾bHLH转录因子鉴定与进化分析

爪蟾是重要的生物医学模式动物。文章根据NCBI公布的热带爪蟾(Xenopus tropicalis)基因组数据,利用生物信息学方法提取和鉴定了爪蟾全基因组范围的碱性螺旋-环-螺旋(bHLH)基因信息,应用系统发生方法进行分类并做基因本体论(Gene Ontology,GO)功能富集分布分析,以期从整体上探讨爪蟾bHLH转录因子基因家族的分类及功能。结果表明,在热带爪蟾基因组数据库中发现了70个bHLH转录因子,其中69个可以分别归到6大组(A~F)的34个亚家族中,另一个为"孤儿因子"(Orphan)基因。GO富集分布统计发现有51个显著富集分布的GO注释语句,其中转录调控活性、转录调控、DNA结合、RNA代谢过程调控、DNA依赖的转录调控、转录和转录因子活性等出现频率很高,表明这些GO术语是爪蟾bHLH基因最常见的功能;许多bHLH转录因子在一些重要的发育或生理过程中发挥调控作用,如肌肉组织和器官(横纹肌、骨骼肌、眼部和咽部肌肉)的分化和发育、消化系统发育、咽部和感觉器官的发育、碱基和核苷及核酸的代谢调控、生物合成过程调控、DNA结合和蛋白质异聚化活性等。另外,还有一些重要信号通路(Signaling pathway)的GO术语显著地富集。文章还对Hes转录因子家族做了进化分析。这些结果为热带爪蟾bHLH基因的进一步研究打下了很好的基础。     

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。     

云南地区宫颈癌组织中人乳头瘤病毒18型LCR基因变异特征分析

研究云南地区人乳头瘤病毒18型LCR基因在宫颈癌组织中的变异特点,通过系统发生分析探讨HPV-18变异株的分子流行特征,并通过转录因子结合位点的预测分析LCR变异对病毒感染可能造成的影响。本研究提取了云南地区74例女性宫颈癌组织样本中的DNA,通过PCR、测序、序列比对,分析了9个HPV-18LCR完整DNA序列的基因变异信息,并用Mega 7.0软件使用邻接法进行进化分析,使用JASPAR数据库对可能的转录因子结合位点进行预测。HPV-18LCR序列中发现T7258A、C7529A、G7563A、A7567C、T7592C、A7670T、T7736G、C7764T、C7857T、A41G、C54T、A89C和T104C13个核苷酸点突变,其中最常见变异位点是T7592C,其次是C7857T,突变频率分别为100%和44.4%。9个HPV-18LCR完整DNA序列分属于4个HPV-18LCR变异体,进化树分析显示云南地区流行的HPV-18主要为A系变异体(8个A1亚系,1个A4亚系),HPV-18LCR中T7592C、C7857T变异位于转录因子TBP、HOXA5的结合区域内。云南地区宫颈癌组织中主要流行的HPV-18为A系变异体,T7592C、C7857T是HPV-18LCR中主要变异位点。     

Cancer-selective antiproliferative activity is a general property of some G-rich oligodeoxynucleotides

Oligodeoxynucleotide libraries containing randomly incorporated bases are used to generate DNA aptamers by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). We predicted that combinatorial libraries with alternative base compositions might have innate properties different from the standard library containing equimolar A + C + G + T bases. In particular, we hypothesized that G-rich libraries would contain a higher proportion of quadruplex-forming sequences, which may impart desirable qualities, such as increased nuclease resistance and enhanced cellular uptake. Here, we report on 11 synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide libraries of various base combinations and lengths, with regard to their circular dichroism, stability in serum-containing medium, cellular uptake, protein binding and antiproliferative activity. Unexpectedly, we found that some G-rich libraries (composed of G + T or G + C nucleotides) strongly inhibited cancer cell growth while sparing non-malignant cells. These libraries had spectral features consistent with G-quadruplex formation, were significantly more stable in serum than inactive libraries and showed enhanced cellular uptake. Active libraries generally had strong protein binding, while the pattern of protein binding suggested that G/T and G/C libraries have distinct mechanisms of action. In conclusion, cancer-selective antiproliferative activity may be a general feature of certain G-rich oligodeoxynucleotides and is associated with quadruplex formation, nuclease resistance, efficient cellular uptake and protein binding.     

ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION 2/RFL, the rice ortholog of Arabidopsis LEAFY, suppresses the transition from inflorescence meristem to floral meristem through interaction with APO1

The temporal and spatial control of meristem identity is a key element in plant development. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate inflorescence and flower architecture, we characterized the rice aberrant panicle organization 2 (apo2) mutant which exhibits small panicles with reduced number of primary branches due to the precocious formation of spikelet meristems. The apo2 mutants also display a shortened plastochron in the vegetative phase, late flowering, aberrant floral organ identities and loss of floral meristem determinacy. Map-based cloning revealed that APO2 is identical to previously reported RFL gene, the rice ortholog of the Arabidopsis LEAFY (LFY) gene. Further analysis indicated that APO2/RFL and APO1, the rice ortholog of Arabidopsis UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS, act cooperatively to control inflorescence and flower development. The present study revealed functional differences between APO2/RFL and LFY. In particular, APO2/RFL and LFY act oppositely on inflorescence development. Therefore, the genetic mechanisms for controlling inflorescence architecture have evolutionarily diverged between rice (monocots) and Arabidopsis (eudicots).     

红松查尔酮合成酶基因CHS密码子偏好性分析

查尔酮合成酶(Chalcone synthase,CHS)广泛存在于植物体内,是花色素形成过程中一种重要的酶,可以进一步催化生成黄酮类化合物。本研究采用Codon W和EMBOSS在线软件对红松查尔酮合成酶基因CHS的密码子使用偏好性进行分析,并与北美乔松等其他24种植物的CHS基因以及模式植物基因组进行比较,对认识红松CHS基因的密码子使用偏好性,为选择适宜的表达系统奠定了一定的基础。研究结果表明:红松CHS基因编码区的有效密码子数(ENC)和GC含量分别为48.92和0.548,C+G含量高于A+T含量,密码子偏好以A/T结尾;多数植物CHS基因的G+C含量高于A+T含量,且密码子更偏好C/G结尾;聚类分析表明,红松与马尾松和赤松的密码子使用偏好性的相似性较高;密码子使用频率研究发现,红松CHS遗传转化与异源表达较优的受体可能是大肠杆菌和拟南芥。     

Mismatch repair deficient human cells: spontaneous and MNNG-induced mutational spectra in the HPRT gene

We have determined both the spontaneous and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced mutational spectra in the HPRT gene of human cells (MT1) defective in the mismatch repair gene hMSH6 (GTBP). Eight of nine exons and nine of sixteen intronic flanking sequences were scanned, encompassing >900 bp of the HPRT gene. Mutant hotspots were detected and separated by differences in their melting temperatures using constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis (CDCE) or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).

A key finding of this work is that a high proportion of all HPRT inactivating mutations is represented by a small number of hotspots distributed over the exons and mRNA splice sites. Thirteen spontaneous hotspots and sixteen MNNG-induced hotspots accounted for 55% and 48% of all 6TG^R point mutations, respectively. MNNG-induced hotspots were predominantly G:C→A:T transitions. The spontaneous spectrum of cells deficient in hMSH6 contained transversions (A:T→T:A, G:C→T:A, A:T→C:G), transitions (A:T→G:C), a plus-one insertion, and a minus-one deletion. Curiously, G:C→A:T transitions, which dominate human germinal and somatic point mutations were absent from the spontaneous hMSH6 spectra.     

Isolation and characterization of RNA aptamers specific for the hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 3 protease.

Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) from hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serine protease that provides an essential function in maturation of the virus by cleaving the nonstructural regions of the viral polyprotein. The goal of this work was to isolate RNA aptamers that bind specifically to the NS3 protease active site in the truncated polypeptide DeltaNS3. RNA aptamers were selected in vitro by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The RNA pool for SELEX had a 30-nucleotide randomized core region. After nine selection cycles, a pool of DeltaNS3-specific RNA aptamers were obtained. This RNA pool included 45 clones that divided into three main classes (G9-I, II and III). These classes include the conserved sequence GA(A/U)UGGGAC. These aptamers bind to DeltaNS3 with a binding constant of about 10 nM and inhibit approximately 90% of the protease activity of DeltaNS3 and MBP-NS3 (full-length of NS3 fused with maltose binding protein). In addition, these aptamers inhibited approximately 70% of the MBP-NS3 protease activity in the presence of the NS4A peptide P41. G9-I aptamer appeared to be a noncompetitive inhibitor for DeltaNS3 with a Ki approximately 100 nM in the presence of P41. These results suggest that the pool of selected aptamers have potential as anti-HCV compounds. Mutational analysis of the G9-I aptamer demonstrated that the sequences required for protease inhibition are in stem I, stem III and loop III of the aptamer. These regions include the conserved sequence GA(A/U)UGGGAC.     

Clock polymorphisms and circadian rhythms phenotypes in a sample of the Brazilian population

A Clock polymorphism T to C situated in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) has been associated with human diurnal preference. At first, Clock 3111C had been reported as a marker for evening preference. However these data are controversial, and data both corroborating and denying them have been reported. This study hypothesizes that differences in Clock genotypes could be observed if extreme morning-type subjects were compared with extreme evening-type subjects, and the T3111C and T257G polymorphisms were studied. The possible relationship between both polymorphisms and delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) was also investigated. An interesting and almost complete linkage disequilibrium between the polymorphisms T257G in the 5' UTR region and the T3111C in the 3' UTR region of the Clock gene is described. Almost always, a G in position 257 corresponds to a C in position 3111, and a T in position 257 corresponds to a T in position 3111. The possibility of an interaction of these two regions in the Clock messenger RNA structure that could affect gene expression was analyzed using computer software. The analyses did not reveal an interaction between those two regions, and it is unlikely that this full allele correspondence affects Clock gene expression. These results show that there is no association between either polymorphism T3111C or T257G in the Clock gene with diurnal preference or delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). These controversial data could result from the possible effects of latitude and clock genes interaction on circadian phenotypes.     

Neighboring-nucleotide effects on the mutation patterns of the rice genome

DNA composition dynamics across genomes of diverse taxonomy is a major subject of genome analyses. DNA composition changes are characteristics of both replication and repair machineries. We investigated 3,611,007 single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） generated by comparing two sequenced rice genomes from distant inbred lines （subspecies）, including those from 242,811 introns and 45,462 protein-coding sequences （CDSs）. Neighboring-nucleotide effects （NNEs） of these SNPs are diverse, depending on structural content-based classifications （genomewide, intronic, and CDS） and sequence context-based categories （A/C, A/G, A/T, C/G, C/T, and G/T substitutions） of the analyzed SNPs. Strong and evident NNEs and nucleotide proportion biases surrounding the analyzed SNPs were observed in 1-3 bp sequences on both sides of an SNP. Strong biases were observed around neighboring nucleotides of protein-coding SNPs, which exhibit a periodicity of three in nucleotide content, constrained by a combined effect of codon-related rules and DNA repair mechanisms. Unlike a previous finding in the human genome, we found negative correlation between GC contents of chromosomes and the magnitude of corresponding bias of nucleotide C at -1 site and G at ＋1 site. These results will further our understanding of the mutation mechanism in rice as well as its evolutionary implications.     

The Xanthomonas type III effector XopAP prevents stomatal closure by interfering with vacuolar acidification

Plant stomata close rapidly in response to a rise in the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) or salicylic acid (SA) and after recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Stomatal closure is the result of vacuolar convolution, ion efflux, and changes in turgor pressure in guard cells. Phytopathogenic bacteria secrete type III effectors (T3Es) that interfere with plant defense mechanisms, causing severe plant disease symptoms. Here, we show that the virulence and infection of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), which is the causal agent of rice bacterial leaf streak disease, drastically increased in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants overexpressing the Xoc T3E gene XopAP, which encodes a protein annotated as a lipase. We discovered that XopAP binds to phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,5)P₂), a membrane phospholipid that functions in pH control in lysosomes, membrane dynamics, and protein trafficking. XopAP inhibited the acidification of vacuoles by competing with vacuolar H⁺-pyrophosphatase (V-PPase) for binding to PtdIns(3,5)P₂, leading to stomatal opening. Transgenic rice overexpressing XopAP also showed inhibition of stomatal closure when challenged by Xoc infection and treatment with the PAMP flg22. Moreover, XopAP suppressed flg22-induced gene expression, reactive oxygen species burst and callose deposition in host plants, demonstrating that XopAP subverts PAMP-triggered immunity during Xoc infection. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that XopAP overcomes stomatal immunity in plants by binding to lipids.