异源DNA导入水稻诱发活跃反转子Tos17发生可遗传DNA甲基化变异

用水稻(Oryza sativa L.)内源反转座子Tos17为探针,经Southern杂交在5种含有野生稻(Zizania latifolia Griseb)(菰)DNA片段的水稻渐渗杂交系中检测到了可遗传DNA甲基化变异.在分析的4种甲基化敏感限制性内切酶中,每种酶切都发生了亲本杂交片段的消失和新片段的出现.发生甲基化变异的位点包括对称和不对称的胞嘧啶碱基,也包括腺嘌呤碱基.序列分析表明,与水稻亲本比较,所研究的5种渐渗杂交系在Tos17的2个重要区域(5'-LTR和RT)均未发生序列变异.但甲基化敏感-序列特异性PCR分析证实,每种渐渗杂交系在这2个区域内均发生了广泛的DNA甲基化变异.而且,在2种渐渗杂交系中发现5'-LTR和RT区域的甲基化变异存在协同性.甲基化变异可稳定遗传给后代.因为已有的研究表明,在这5种渐渗杂交系中异源DNA导入均导致了Tos17的激活和转座,因此可以推测DNA甲基化在调控Tos17活性中可能具有一定作用.但反转座子激活和甲基化变异之间的确切关系尚有待进一步研究.     

异源DNA导入水稻诱发活跃反转子Tosl7发生可遗传DNA甲基化变异

用水稻(Oryza sativa L.)内源反转座子Tosl7为探针,经Southern杂交在5种含有野生稻(Zizania latifolia Griseb．)(菰)DNA片段的水稻渐渗杂交系中检测到了可遗传DNA甲基化变异。在分析的4种甲基化敏感限制性内切酶中,每种酶切都发生了亲本杂交片段的消失和新片段的出现。发生甲基化变异的位点包括对称和不对称的胞嘧啶碱基,也包括腺嘌呤碱基。序列分析表明,与水稻亲本比较,所研究的5种渐渗杂交系在Tosl7的2个重要区域(5′—LTR和RT)均未发生序列变异。但甲基化敏感—序列特异性PCR分析证实,每种渐渗杂交系在这2个区域内均发生了广泛的DNA甲基化变异。而且,在2种渐渗杂交系中发现5′—LTR和RT区域的甲基化变异存在协同性。甲基化变异可稳定遗传给后代。因为已有的研究表明,在这5种渐渗杂交系中异源DNA导人均导致了Tosl7的激活和转座,因此可以推测DNA甲基化在调控Tosl7活性中可能具有一定作用。但反转座子激活和甲基化变异之间的确切关系尚有待进一步研究。     

东乡野生稻耐冷渐渗系DNA甲基化水平和模式变化研究

根据水稻全基因组和特定位点的CpG岛序列设计引物,采用McrBC酶酶切DNA,以东乡野生稻耐冷渐渗系(IL5335和IL5423)及其双亲为试材,研究其基因组和特定位点的DNA甲基化水平和模式变化特征,探讨甲基化变异对野生优异基因渐渗的影响。结果显示:(1)在覆盖全基因组的83个CpG岛中,IL5335和IL5423的基因组甲基化频率分别为46.6%和53.8%,低于受体亲本协青早B的62.6%;大部分(75.9%~80.7%)受体亲本的甲基化模式在两耐冷渐渗中能稳定遗传,另外一些位点发生了甲基化模式的改变,主要表现为脱甲基化(13.3%~18.1%)和过甲基化(4.4%~6.0%)。(2)在耐冷QTLs区间,两耐冷渐渗系的甲基化水平为13.3%~26.7%,远低于受体亲本的61.4%;它们在该区域的甲基化模式变异主要为脱甲基化(33.3%~40.0%),高于全基因组的平均变异率。(3)分析逆转座子Houba和Osr14区域的51个CpG岛发现,耐冷渐渗系在该区域具有较高频率的甲基化修饰和较低的甲基化模式变异。研究表明,种间杂交渐渗诱发了受体亲本广泛的甲基化水平和模式变异,为野生优异基因的有效利用提供了新的机遇和挑战。     

植物DNA甲基化及胁迫诱导的变异

DNA中碱基的化学修饰近年来一直是生命科学领域研究的热点之一。DNA甲基化是一种常见的表观遗传现象,它能在不改变DNA序列的前提下改变遗传表型。各种胁迫因素能诱导植物DNA甲基化产生变异,但其应答胁迫机制仍然未知。本文对植物DNA甲基化研究进展进行了综述,结合本课题组的研究结果,对7Li离子束注入、~(60)CO-γ射线诱变诱导产生的DNA甲基化变异进行了报道,以期为DNA甲基化可能参与涉及植物的表型可塑性提供一定的依据。     

高压导致水稻变异品系发生DNA甲基化模式及基因组结构的改变

用高压力诱变水稻品种“毕粳38”, 产生了两个稳定的变异: 变异1与变异2. 对原种及两个变异品系的基因组DNA及Hpa Ⅱ/Msp Ⅰ酶切后的基因组DNA采用ISSR及RAPD分析; 并通过特异引物分析水稻的转座子mPing的变化; 且对变异片段纯化测序; 同时以水稻基因组中潜在活跃的反转录转座子LTR(long terminal repeat)Osr7, Osr36, Tos19(Osr54)以及转座子MITEs(miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements)的mPing和Pong及某些特异片段为探针, 进行Southern杂交. 结果显示原种及两个变异品系不仅存在着基因组结构的变异, 而且发生了DNA甲基化模式的改变. 此外, 对原种及两个变异品系进行了异地栽种, 其形态水平的变异稳定表达. 结果表明: 高静水压对高等植物的种子进行诱变, 产生表型变异的分子基础是由于发生了DNA分子水平上的广泛变异, 并证明高压可导致水稻多种转座元件的可能激活及DNA甲基化模式的改变. 因此可以认为高压是引起植物遗传变异一个重要因素, 可能在作物诱变育种中具有广阔的应用前景.     

东乡野生稻基因渐渗系中逆转座子逆转录酶序列的克隆及表达分析

以东乡野生稻(Oryza rufipogon)耐冷渐渗系IL5335、IL5243及其双亲为试材, 克隆到75条存在高度异质性的Ty1-copia类逆转座子逆转录酶序列, 经聚类分析将这些逆转录酶序列分为7个家族; 家族6和7含有65条逆转录酶序列, 序列间的相似性为44.9%–99.3%; 家族1–5仅含10条逆转录酶序列, 其中8条来源于耐冷渐渗系, 它们与亲本的序列相似性为29.2%–52.8%, 分析发现这些序列曾发生缺失或插入突变。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示, IL5335和IL5243中的houba、osr15及osr17逆转录酶的表达量均远高于受体亲本(表达量增加1.50–5.07倍), 表明渐渗杂交诱发改变了IL5335和IL5243中逆转录酶序列的结构及其表达活性。该结果为今后水稻表观遗传学研究及外源优异基因利用奠定了基础。     

DNA甲基化与基因表达调控研究进展

表观遗传修饰是指不改变DNA序列的、可遗传的对碱基和组蛋白的化学修饰,主要包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重塑以及非编码RNA等.表观遗传修饰是更高层次的基因表达调控手段.DNA甲基化是一种重要的表观遗传修饰,参与基因表达调控、基因印记、转座子沉默、X染色体失活以及癌症发生等重要生物学过程.近年来随着研究方法和技术的进步,全基因组DNA甲基化的研究广泛兴起,多个物种全基因组甲基化图谱被破译,全局水平对DNA甲基化的研究不仅利于在宏观层面上了解DNA甲基化的特性与规律,同时也为深入分析DNA甲基化的生物学功能与调控奠定了基础.结合最新研究进展综述DNA甲基化在基因组中的分布模式、规律以及和基因转录的关系等.     

植物人工异源多倍体的遗传及后遗传变化

据估计,70%以上的显花植物在其生活史上至少发生过一次以上的多倍化。传统的有关多倍性的观点认为,多倍体基因组应是其双亲基因组的积加。但是,有些合成异源多倍体的基因组发生了广泛的遗传及后遗传变化。这些变化包括亲本DNA序列丢失、核仁显性、DNA甲基化模式改变、基因沉默、反转座子激活等。亲本序列丢失可能与部分同源序列间重组有关,而亲本基因沉默可能与同源性依赖的基因沉默及RNA干涉等有关。     

离子束介导甘蓝全DNA转化拟南芥菜的分子分析

30 keV的Ar+离子束在1.5×1017 ions/cm2的注入剂量下介导外源甘蓝全DNA导入模式植物拟南芥菜,在94株转化当代植株中,有6株表型产生变异。以其中的一株(T-5)作为研究对象,用80条10碱基随机引物对该株和其子代变异株基因组作随机扩增的多态性DNA分析,引物S176 在T-5和其变异子代T-5-2中扩增出了相同分子量的变异新条带T-5S176-620。T-5S176-620的碱基序列和拟南芥菜基因组序列进行同源比对,结果表明该片段不属于拟南芥菜基因组,Southern杂交实验证明该片段来自供体甘蓝基因组。但是,根据T-5S176-620序列设计的引物不能从甘蓝基因组中扩增出预期长度的DNA片段,结合离子束介导外源全DNA转化的特点和过程,探讨了其中可能的机制。     

中国杂交籼稻DNA甲基化多样性与遗传稳定性

水稻育种一直关注DNA序列多样性,但表观多样性(如DNA甲基化)也影响性状,不应被忽略.分析了20个杂交稻育种中广泛应用的籼稻亲本系间的DNA甲基化多样性及其遗传稳定性.结果表明,水稻育种系之间广泛存在DNA甲基化多样性;DNA甲基化与序列多样性之间存在正相关关系;DNA甲基化可以通过自交或杂交遗传给下一代.本研究揭示了DNA甲基化在水稻育种中应用的价值.     

DNA 的电荷转移

在双链DNA分子中,电荷常出现远距离的迁移现象,这与很多生物学功能有密切的关系,本文说明了DNA电荷转移的形成机制,分析了误配、绞联、三股螺旋及DNA结合蛋白对DNA电荷转移效率的影响,同时论述了DNA电荷转移的生物学意义。     

Distributions of Topological States in Circular DNA

A distinctive feature of closed circular DNA molecules is their particular topological state, which cannot be altered by any conformational rearrangement short of breaking at least one strand. This topological constraint opens unique possibilities for experimental studies of the distributions of topological states created in different ways. Primarily, the equilibrium distributions of topological properties are considered in the review. It is described how such distributions can be obtained and measured experimentally, and how they can be computed. Comparison of the calculated and measured equilibrium distributions over the linking number of complementary strands, equilibrium fractions of knots and links formed by circular molecules has provided much valuable information about the properties of the double helix. Study of the steady-state fraction of knots and links created by type II DNA topoisomerases has revealed a surprising property of the enzymes: their ability to reduce these fractions considerably below the equilibrium level.     

Studies on human DNA polymerase epsilon and GINS complex and their role in DNA replication

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is carried out by the coordinated action of three DNA polymerases (Pols), Pol α, δ, and ε. In this report, we describe the reconstitution of the human four-subunit Pol ε and characterization of its catalytic properties in comparison with Pol α and Pol δ. Human Pol ε holoenzyme is a monomeric complex containing stoichiometric subunit levels of p261/Pol 2, p59, p17, and p12. We show that the Pol ε p261 N-terminal catalytic domain is solely responsible for its ability to catalyze DNA synthesis. Importantly, human Pol (hPol) ε was found more processive than hPol δ in supporting proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent elongation of DNA chains, which is in keeping with proposed roles for hPol ε and hPol δ in the replication of leading and lagging strands, respectively. Furthermore, GINS, a component of the replicative helicase complex that is composed of Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3, was shown to interact weakly with all three replicative DNA Pols (α, δ, and ε) and to markedly stimulate the activities of Pol α and Pol ε. In vivo studies indicated that siRNA-targeted depletion of hPol δ and/or hPol ε reduced cell cycle progression and the rate of fork progression. Under the conditions used, we noted that depletion of Pol ε had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cellular DNA replication than depletion of Pol δ. We suggest that reduction in the level of Pol δ may be less deleterious because of its collision-and-release role in lagging strand synthesis.     

Homologies to chloroplast DNA in the nuclear DNA of a number of Chenopod species

Summary Sequences homologous to chloroplast (ct)DNA have been found in nuclear DNA in five species of the Chenopodiaceae, extending the earlier observations of promiscuous DNA in Spinacia oleracea (Timmis and Scott 1983). Using the 7.7 kbp spinach ctDNA Pst I fragment as a hybridization probe, several separately located homologies to ctDNA were resolved in the nuclear DNA of Beta vulgaris, Chenopodium quinoa, and Enchylaena tomentosa. In Chenopodium album and Atriplex cinerea the major region of homology was to a nuclear Eco RI fragment (6 kbp) indistinguishable from that in ctDNA. These homologies may therefore involve larger tracts of ctDNA because the same restriction sites are apparently retained in the nucleus. This suggests that in these latter two species there is a contrasting, more homogeneous arrangement of ctDNA transpositions in the nucleus.     

Active DNA demethylation and DNA repair

DNA methylation on cytosine is an epigenetic modification and is essential for gene regulation and genome stability in vertebrates. Traditionally DNA methylation was considered as the most stable of all heritable epigenetic marks. However, it has become clear that DNA methylation is reversible by enzymatic “active” DNA demethylation, with examples in plant cells, animal development and immune cells. It emerges that “pruning” of methylated cytosines by active DNA demethylation is an important determinant for the DNA methylation signature of a cell. Work in plants and animals shows that demethylation occurs by base excision and nucleotide excision repair. Far from merely protecting genomic integrity from environmental insult, DNA repair is therefore at the heart of an epigenetic activation process.     

Involvement of DNA polymerase beta in DNA replication and mutagenic consequences

Overexpression in mammalian cells of the error-prone DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) has been found to increase the spontaneous mutagenesis. Here, we investigated a possible mechanism used by Pol beta to be a genetic instability enhancer: its interference in replicative DNA synthesis, which is normally catalysed by the DNA polymerases alpha, delta and epsilon. By taking advantage of the ability to incorporate efficiently into DNA the chain terminator ddCTP as well as the oxidised nucleotide 8-oxo-dGTP, we show here that purified Pol beta can compete with the replicative DNA polymerases during replication in vitro of duplex DNA when added to human cell extracts. We found that involvement of Pol beta lowers replication fidelity and results in a modified error-specificity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that involvement of Pol beta occurred during synthesis of the lagging strand. These in vitro data provide one possible explanation of how overexpression of the enzyme could perturb the genetic instability in mammalian cells. We discuss these findings within the scope of the up-regulation of Pol beta in many cancer cells.     

基因芯片制备方法研究进展

基因芯片是融微电子学、生命科学和物理学为一体的技术,目前广泛应用于疾病的基因诊断、基因表达研究、基因组研究、发现新基因以及病原体的诊断,具有广阔的应用前景。基因芯片的制备主要可分为原位合成、合成后交联二种方法。本文综述了基因芯片的制备方法分析了各自的优缺点。     

Simulated microgravity decreases DNA repair capacity and induces DNA damage in human lymphocytes

The effect of simulated microgravity on DNA damage and apoptosis is still controversial. The objective of this study was to test whether simulated microgravity conditions affect the expression of genes for DNA repair and apoptosis. To achieve this objective, human lymphocyte cells were grown in a NASA‐developed rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor that simulates microgravity. The same cell line was grown in parallel under normal gravitational conditions in culture flasks. The effect of microgravity on the expression of genes was measured by quantitative real‐time PCR while DNA damage was examined by comet assay. The result of this study revealed that exposure to simulated microgravity condition decreases the expression of DNA repair genes. Mismatch repair (MMR) class of DNA repair pathway were more susceptible to microgravity condition‐induced gene expression changes than base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) class of DNA repair genes. Downregulation of genes involved in cell proliferation (CyclinD1 and PCNA) and apoptosis (Bax) was also observed. Microgravity‐induced changes in the expression of some of these genes were further verified at the protein level by Western blot analysis. The findings of this study suggest that microgravity may induce alterations in the expression of these DNA repair genes resulting in accumulation of DNA damage. Reduced expression of cell‐cycle genes suggests that microgravity may cause a reduction in cell growth. Downregulation of pro‐apoptotic genes further suggests that extended exposure to microgravity may result in a reduction in the cells' ability to undergo apoptosis. Any resistance to apoptosis seen in cells with damaged DNA may eventually lead to malignant transformation of those cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 723–731, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

基因组中的重复DNA序列

综述了基因组中常见的重复DNA序列,介绍了其可能的产生机理、分布情况和生物学功能。     

Present-Day DNA Contamination in Ancient DNA Datasets

Present-day contamination can lead to false conclusions in ancient DNA studies. A number of methods are available to estimate contamination, which use a variety of signals and are appropriate for different types of data. Here an overview of currently available methods highlighting their strengths and weaknesses is provided, and a classification based on the signals used to estimate contamination is proposed. This overview aims at enabling researchers to choose the most appropriate methods for their dataset. Based on this classification, potential avenues for the further development of methods are discussed.