水稻minE基因的克隆及分析

 植物叶绿体与原核生物分裂机制相似,其中MinE蛋白在细菌分裂过程中具有重要作用. 为了研究植物MinE蛋白在叶绿体分裂过程中的功能及其进化,利用RT PCR技术克隆了水稻叶绿体分裂相关基因OsMinE,并在GenBank登录（No. AY496951）.OsMinE基因cDNA全长1 035 bp,其ORF为711 bp,编码236个氨基酸.与原核生物MinE蛋白相比,水稻OsMinE具有明显延伸的N端与C端.其N端102个氨基酸残基为预测的叶绿体导肽序列,C端延伸保守,推测赋予植物MinE蛋白新的功能.植物minE基因结构分析显示,水稻、拟南芥、杨树都仅含有1个内含子,且插入位置及相位相同.这表明,该内含子可能在单子叶、双子叶植物分化前产生.水稻OsMinE基因在大肠杆菌细胞中的表达严重影响了细胞的分裂,初步证明了水稻MinE蛋白与原核细胞MinE蛋白功能类似.水稻OsMinE基因的克隆为进一步研究叶绿体的分裂机制奠定了基础.     

酿酒酵母海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因克隆及植物表达载体的构建

从耐热性极强的酿酒酵母菌株AS21416中分离纯化出总RNA和mRNA,以AMV逆转录酶合成cDNA,采用保守引物,从该cDNA中扩增克隆出tps1基因,对该基因的全序列分析表明,该基因含有1507个核苷酸,与国外报道相关基因的同源性达99.6%。利用BamHⅠ和SacⅠ切点将tps1基因插入植物表达载体pBin438多克隆位点上,得到tps1基因植物表达载体重组质粒。     

彩叶草叶片衰老相关新基因Cbcbs的分子特征和功能分析

 叶片衰老是观叶植物观赏性降低的重要因素之一.为研究彩叶草叶片衰老变化的分子机理,在构建彩叶草衰老叶片cDNA文库及小型EST库的基础上,以1条新的具有胱硫醚 β 合酶(cystathionine beta synthase, CBS)结构域的EST序列为探针,通过RACE与文库结合的 方法,克隆了1个具有1对完整CBS结构域的全长cDNA,Cbcbs.Cbcbs cDNA 全长859 bp,包含1个609 bp的ORF框,编码202个氨基酸.其5′UTR区含有1个终止子TAA,3′UTR区含有推测的加尾信号AATAAA和ATTTA元件.CbCBS N端含有线粒体转运肽,具有2个保守的CBS结构域,4个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ(casein kinase Ⅱ,CKⅡ)磷酸化位点,3个蛋白激酶C(protein kinase c,PKC)磷酸化位点和1个酪氨酸硫化(tyrosine sulfation,TS)位点.序列比较和进化分析表明,CbCBS是与衰老或应急相关的蛋白.二级结构和三级结构预测表明,CbCBS的功能主要由CBS结构域决定.RT-PCR分析表明,该基因在叶的各个时期均有表达,但随叶片衰老进程的加快而表达增加,是一个叶衰老相关基因（SAG）,推测在线粒体中成熟的CbCBS可能作为细胞能量传感器,在叶衰老引起的能量应急中参与细胞能量水平的调节.     

猪CFL2b 基因cDNA克隆初步分析

利用基因表达谱芯片分析法筛选出与大白猪高肌肉产量-肌纤维形成有关的CFL2b基因.参考人和小鼠CFL2b基因序列,采用SMART-RACE技术结合EST序列拼接技术,从猪骨骼肌肌肉中首次克隆了猪CFL2b的全长cDNA序列（GenBank登录号EU561660,EU561661）,Northern杂交检测CFL2b基因 mRNA.结果表明,猪CFL2b基因含有2个转录本,长转录本3　012 bp,短转录本1　466 bp .CFL2b基因在多种真核生物中都有表达,且编码区序列非常保守,开放式读码框501 bp编码了166个氨基酸的蛋白质.氨基酸序列分析表明,猪CFL2基因与人和小鼠氨基酸同源性分别为100%和99.1%.核苷酸序列相似性分别为88.1%和74.9%.     

彩叶草Rubisco活化酶基因SsRCA的分子特征及其表达模式

为研究观赏植物彩叶草的光合特性,根据Rubisco活化酶(RCA)的保守区域简并扩增获得的保守片段,采用RACE方法,克隆了RCA全长cDNA,命名为SsRCA(GenBank登录号FJ787730).SsRCA cDNA全长1 548bp,包含1个1 311bp的ORF框,编码436个氨基酸的前体蛋白.其5'-UTR区含有1个终止子TAA,3'-UTR区具有2个mRNA非稳定性相关的DST-like元件和推测的加尾信号AATAAA.SsRCA蛋白具有定位于叶绿体的N端转运肽,具有2个保守的ATP-binding结构域、1个sensor 2基序和多个磷酸化位点.多序列比对和系统进化分析表明,SsRCA与其他植物的RCA蛋白具有较高的一致性,属于RCA的β亚基.表达分析表明,SsRCA基因在含有绿色组织的茎、叶和萼片表达.在9 h黑暗和15 h光照的光周期处理中,正午时表达量最高,午夜时表达量最低,具有明显的光诱导表达特性.     

多主棒孢菌调控致病性相关基因CCK1的克隆及生物信息学分析

采用同源克隆、SEFA-PCR和RT-PCR技术克隆获得了多主棒孢菌(Corynespora cassiicola)CCK1基因的DNA和cDNA.生物信息学分析表明,该基因DNA和cDNA全长分别为2 710 bp和1 065 bp,编码区含4个内含子(长53、54、50和56bp),推测编码354个氨基酸,其分子量约40.98 kD,等电点(pI) 6.43.从GenBank搜索相似蛋白和构建进化树发现,CCK1与多个丝状真菌调控致病性相关的PMK1类MAPK蛋白聚为一类,且含1个参与双重磷酸化作用的MAPK蛋白激活域TEY和1个Ser/Thr蛋白激酶保守结构域.推测CCK1基因可能参与调控C.cassiicola菌丝生长、产孢和致病性等.     

西伯利亚蓼多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白基因的克隆及盐胁迫下的表达

根据西伯利亚蓼茎抑制消减文库(SSH)中获得的多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白(polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins,PGIP) 的EST序列,采用RACE技术在西伯利亚蓼消减库(SSH)成功克隆了PGIP蛋白基因的cDNA序列．该基因开放读码框为1 020 bp,编码339个氨基酸, 具有1段24个残基的保守亮氨酸结构域．序列分析表明,该基因具有N端信号肽,具有PGIPs家族共有的典型保守区域,属PGIPs家族基因,命名为PsPGIP,GenBank登录号为ACD01043．荧光定量PCR分析表明,PsPGIP在西伯利亚蓼叶、茎、地下茎等器官中均有分布．在3% NaHCO₃诱导表达中,该基因在叶中表达明显受盐胁迫的诱导．推测该基因在抵御盐胁迫伤害中起到了重要的作用．     

人同源盒基因NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞的诱导凋亡作用

构建人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体,研究其在前列腺癌细胞PC-3、LNCaP 中的表达及对细胞的促凋亡作用.以人前列腺癌细胞LNCaP细胞中的总RNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增NKX3.1基因全长编码片段,将NKX3.1 cDNA重组到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（+）中; 将pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1表达载体瞬时转染前列腺癌细胞PC-3和LNCaP 细胞,用RT-PCR和Western印迹检测NKX3.1 cDNA在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达;绘制细胞生长曲线,观察NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞增殖的抑制作用;用DNA/ladder和流式细胞术检测NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞凋亡的影响,进一步用RT PCR检测凋亡相关基因caspase3、caspase8、caspase9、Apaf1、survivin和Bcl2表达的变化.人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1经酶切及测序鉴定正确. pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1转染PC-3和LNCaP细胞后,经RT-PCR和Western印迹证明能有效表达NKX3.1.生长曲线显示,前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA后细胞增殖受到抑制;前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA 48 h后,DNA电泳呈现具有凋亡特征的DNA ladder;流式细胞术检测出现明显凋亡峰;RT-PCR检测凋亡相关基因.结果显示,caspase3、caspase8、caspase9基因表达明显增加,Bcl2基因表达明显减少.本研究成功构建了真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 NKX3.1, 转染PC3和LNCaP细胞后能有效表达,并对细胞具有诱导凋亡作用     

两个棉花Rac蛋白基因的克隆与表达分析

为研究棉花纤维起始和伸长的分子机理,在棉花纤维EST序列分析的基础上,从棉花纤维中扩增并克隆了2个棉花Rac蛋白的cDNA基因,分别命名为GhRacA和GhRacB。GhRacA cDNA长959bp,推测的编码蛋白包含211个氨基酸。GhRacB cDNA长920bp,编码195个氨基酸的蛋白。GhRacA和GhRacB蛋白均含有GTP／GDP结合和激活区域、Effector区和碱性氨基酸区。GhRacB的C末端有保守的异戊烯基化位点CSIL,而GhRacA没有明显的异戊烯基化位点。序列比较分析表明,GhRacA和GhRacB是2个新的棉花Rac蛋白。RT-PCR分析表明,GhRacA和GhRacB在根、下胚轴、茎、叶和纤维中都有表达,但均在棉花纤维起始和伸长时期有优势表达,推测2个基因在棉花纤维的早期发育中可能有重要的功能。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白基因cry1Ab16的克隆及表达

通过对已知cry1类基因以及已发表的cry1Ab的序列进行分析,分别设计了引物P1、P2、P3和P4,首次从无晶体的芽胞杆菌AC11中扩增到一个苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白（Insecticidal crystal protein, ICP）cry1Ab类基因。测序结果显示该基因与已知的cry1Ab1基因有8个核苷酸不同,编码的蛋白有7个氨基酸差异。此基因已登录GenBank,并命名为新亚型基因cry1Ab16 (Ac. NO. AF375608)。Southern杂交结果进一步证实该基因存在于菌体的质粒上。将cry1Ab16基因克隆到Escherichia coli表达载体pQE30上并转化E. coli M15。Western印迹分析表明,E. coli M15表达了130 kD的Cry1Ab16蛋白,但此蛋白不稳定,大部分降解成65 kD的蛋白。将表达Cry1Ab16 蛋白的大肠杆菌用涂布法对三龄小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella）毒力测定,其LC50为258.3mg/L;对其他夜蛾科害虫的生长发育也有明显的抑制作用。     

Identification and characterization of Cor413im proteins as novel components of the chloroplast inner envelope

Plastids are surrounded by two membrane layers, the outer and inner envelope membranes, which have various transport and metabolic activities. A number of envelope membrane proteins have been identified by biochemical approaches and have been assigned to specific functions. Despite those efforts, the chloroplast envelope membrane is expected to contain a number of as yet unidentified proteins that may affect specific aspects of plant growth and development. In this report, we identify and characterize a novel class of inner envelope membrane proteins, designated as Cor413 chloroplast inner envelope membrane group (Cor413im). Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that Cor413im proteins are targeted to the chloroplast envelope. Biochemical analyses of Cor413im1 demonstrate that it is an integral membrane protein in the inner envelope of chloroplasts. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis reveals that COR413IM1 is more abundant than COR413IM2 in cold-acclimated Arabidopsis leaves. The analyses of T-DNA insertion mutants indicate that a single copy of COR413IM genes is sufficient to provide normal freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis. Based on these data, we propose that Cor413im proteins are novel components that are targeted to the chloroplast inner envelope in response to low temperature.     

General Information

A novel cDNA clone encoding a COR413-like gene was isolated by suppression subtraction hybridization and cDNA library screening from sea-island cotton (Gossypium barbadense). This gene (designated as GbCOR413, Accession number: AY761065) has a total length of 893 bp with an open reading frame of 600 bp, encoding a predicated polypeptide of 200 amino acids with a molecular weight of 22.74 kDa and a predicated pI of 9.2. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that this gene belonged to a novel stress-regulated multi-spanning transmembrane protein family without signal peptide. By means of semi-quantities RT-PCR analysis, the expression of GbCOR413 under short-term cold treatment at 4°C, water submergence and abscic acid treatment was investigated. Our studies suggested that the cloned gene was a new member of COR gene family which was slowly responsive to cold stress in cotton. Jin Wang and Kai-Jing Zuo are co-first authors of this paper.     

Expression profiling and bioinformatic analyses of a novel stress-regulated multispanning transmembrane protein family from cereals and Arabidopsis

Cold acclimation is a multigenic trait that allows hardy plants to develop efficient tolerance mechanisms needed for winter survival. To determine the genetic nature of these mechanisms, several cold-responsive genes of unknown function were identified from cold-acclimated wheat (Triticum aestivum). To identify the putative functions and structural features of these new genes, integrated genomic approaches of data mining, expression profiling, and bioinformatic predictions were used. The analyses revealed that one of these genes is a member of a small family that encodes two distinct groups of multispanning transmembrane proteins. The cold-regulated (COR)413-plasma membrane and COR413-thylakoid membrane groups are potentially targeted to the plasma membrane and thylakoid membrane, respectively. Further sequence analysis of the two groups from different plant species revealed the presence of a highly conserved phosphorylation site and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchoring site at the C-terminal end. No homologous sequences were found in other organisms suggesting that this family is specific to the plant kingdom. Intraspecies and interspecies comparative gene expression profiling shows that the expression of this gene family is correlated with the development of freezing tolerance in cereals and Arabidopsis. In addition, several members of the family are regulated by water stress, light, and abscisic acid. Structure predictions and comparative genome analyses allow us to propose that the cor413 genes encode putative G-protein-coupled receptors.     

Cloning and characterization of a salt stress-inducible small GTPase gene from the model grass species Lolium temulentum

A gene encoding a small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (smGTP) related to the Rab2 gene family of GTPases was identified during the analysis of a salt stress suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) expression library from the model grass species Lolium temulentum L. (Darnel ryegrass). The smGTP gene was found to have a low-level constitutive expression and was strongly induced by salt stress in root, crown and leaf tissues. The expression pattern of the smGTP gene was compared against two additional stress genes identified in the SSH expression library, the well-characterized dehydration stress tolerance gene, delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) encoding for a key enzyme in proline biosynthesis, and the cold response gene COR413. The genes were analyzed for their response to salinity as well as their responses to 7 different forms of abiotic stress in L. temulentum plants. The smGTP gene displayed an expression pattern similar to the P5CS gene, suggesting a role in dehydration stress. In contrast, the COR413 gene was found to be up-regulated in response to all stresses tested and has utility as a general stress marker in grass plants.     

An apoplastic chitinase CpCHT1 isolated from the corolla of wintersweet exhibits both antifreeze and antifungal activities

The shrub Chimonanthus praecox L. (wintersweet) which is native to Chinese montane forests produces its flowers in the midst of winter. This indicates that the floral organs of this species are adapted to growth and development under freezing temperatures. Here, we report the isolation and preliminary characterisation of a 33 kDa apoplastic antifreeze chitinase (CpCHT1) from the petals and its corresponding cDNA. The chitinase activity of CpCHT1 was confirmed by activity staining. Antifreeze activity was validated in terms of the formation of bipyramidal ice crystals and high thermal-hysteresis values. CpCHT1 was also found to affect the germination of fungal spores of four major plant pathogens. In addition, the gene and protein are expressed constitutively not only in flowers, but also in leaves, bark and root tissues. From these data we hypothesize that this protein is multifunctional and may protect wintersweet from freezing injury and provide nonspecific disease resistance.     

Overexpression of CpSIZ1, a SIZ/PIAS-Type SUMO E3 Ligase from Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), Delays Flowering,Accelerates Leaf Senescence and Enhances Cold Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox L.) is a traditional winter-flowering plant in China and a popular cut flower in winter. Its unique flowering characteristics under cold stress may involve the regulation of a large number of proteins. Protein post-translational modification is an important regulating type for the gene function. However, little is known about the post-translational modification in wintersweet. SUMOylation is an important post-translational modification in eukaryotes. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligases perform multiple functional regulatory activities in plants via SUMOylation. Here, we cloned and identified a SIZ/PIAS-type SUMO E3 ligase, CpSIZ1, from wintersweet. CpSIZ1 shared high similarity with other SIZ1 proteins. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) indicated that CpSIZ1 was expressed in all tissues tested, with the highest expression in flower wither period of stage 6, and followed by mature leaves except for different flower development stages. The ectopic expression of CpSIZ1 in Arabidopsis, including the CpSIZ1 overexpression in siz1-2 mutant (HB line) and CpSIZ1 overexpression in WT (OE line), not only promoted vegetative growth, delayed flowering and accelerated leaf senescence, but also improve the cold tolerance in Arabidopsis. Therefore, our studies have enrich the understanding of function of SIZ1 gene in woody plant, and provide a good foundation for further research on the post-translational modification regulation mechanism in this winter-flowering plant.