环链棒束孢IcHsp104与IcHsp78的克隆及在不同胁迫条件下的表达检测

【背景】环链棒束孢(Isariacateinannulata)是一种重要的虫生真菌,许多环境因子的胁迫作用影响了该菌在田间的生防效果。【目的】热休克蛋白酪蛋白溶解蛋白酶(HeatShockProteinCasein LyticProteinase,Hsp100/Clp)是一类ATP依赖型Hsp100家族蛋白,克隆该菌株Hsp100/ClpB家族的2个关键基因IcHsp104与IcHsp78,探索该对基因在应对不同温度及盐浓度胁迫下的作用。【方法】通过前期获得的转录组数据库,采用本地BLAST方法对环链棒束孢Hsp100家族基因进行分析筛选。通过RT-PCR技术,对环链棒束孢Hsp100基因的编码区(Open Reading Frame,ORF)进行碱基验证。通过分子生物信息学分析软件,对环链棒束孢Hsp100基因的氨基酸结构、进化树、功能结构域和三级结构进行分析。通过不同温度及盐浓度处理菌株,采用荧光定量PCR(Real-TimeQuantitative PCR,RT-qPCR)技术,对获得的基因进行表达检测。【结果】共筛选出2个环链棒束孢Hsp100/ClpB基因Hsp104与Hsp78,将其命名为IcHsp104与IcHsp78,2个基因分别编码923个和805个氨基酸,分子量分别为103.199 kD和88.805 kD;2个基因均与棒束孢属、白僵菌属和虫草属3个物种的亲缘关系最近,但2个基因之间的同源性较低;2个基因编码的蛋白均为经典的AAA+-ATPase家族蛋白,三级结构以α螺旋为主。另外,经高低温处理菌株后,2个基因的表达均会上调,并随处理时间的延长上升越显著,而且高温胁迫组显著强于低温组。经不同浓度氯化钠处理后,低浓度组2个基因的表达量均上调,高浓度组2个基因的表达量均受到抑制。【结论】环链棒束孢IcHsp104与IcHsp78基因在抵抗外界温度及盐胁迫过程中起到重要的作用,为后续环链棒束孢应对环境胁迫的机理研究提供了理论基础。     

盐胁迫对昆虫病原真菌环链棒束孢生长及基因表达的影响

环链棒束孢Isaria cateniannulata是一种重要的昆虫病原真菌,广泛应用于茶园害虫的防治。环境胁迫是影响该菌株生长、扩散和菌株毒力的不利外界因素,其中盐胁迫对环链棒束孢的生长和基因转录表达的影响尚不清楚。本研究采用0（对照）、0.6和1.0mol/L的NaCl处理菌株,观测不同浓度NaCl对菌株表型的生长抑制作用,并对3组处理做了转录组分析。结果表明,3组处理共拼接到37 833个转录本,得到10 441个unigenes。与对照组相比,0.6和1.0mol/L NaCl处理组共鉴定出1 074个和2 412个差异表达基因,其中697个和1 201个表达上升,377个和1 211个表达下降。这些差异表达基因分别参与了碳水化合物和氨基酸的代谢、核糖体的生物合成、脂肪酸的合成与降解。为了验证转录组结果的准确性,本研究进一步通过qRT-PCR技术验证了12个差异表达基因的表达谱,研究结果为进一步了解环链棒束孢抵抗盐胁迫的分子机理奠定了理论基础。     

盐胁迫对昆虫病原真菌环链棒束孢生长及基因表达的影响（英文）

环链棒束孢Isaria cateniannulata是一种重要的昆虫病原真菌,广泛应用于茶园害虫的防治。环境胁迫是影响该菌株生长、扩散和菌株毒力的不利外界因素,其中盐胁迫对环链棒束孢的生长和基因转录表达的影响尚不清楚。本研究采用0 (对照)、0.6和1.0mol/L的NaCl处理菌株,观测不同浓度NaCl对菌株表型的生长抑制作用,并对3组处理做了转录组分析。结果表明,3组处理共拼接到37 833个转录本,得到10 441个unigenes。与对照组相比,0.6和1.0mol/L NaCl处理组共鉴定出1 074个和2 412个差异表达基因,其中697个和1 201个表达上升,377个和1 211个表达下降。这些差异表达基因分别参与了碳水化合物和氨基酸的代谢、核糖体的生物合成、脂肪酸的合成与降解。为了验证转录组结果的准确性,本研究进一步通过qRT-PCR技术验证了 12个差异表达基因的表达谱,研究结果为进一步了解环链棒束孢抵抗盐胁迫的分子机理奠定了理论基础。     

实时荧光定量PCR检测球孢白僵菌热休克蛋白基因hsp70在几种胁迫条件下的表达

本研究运用Realtime-PCR技术,对球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana hsp70基因在不同胁迫条件下的表达情况进行了检测。从mRNA转录水平探讨了不同胁迫条件对球孢白僵菌hsp70基因表达的影响。结果表明:38℃高温胁迫下,30min时表达量达到最高峰,为对照样品的10.18倍。随后表达量开始下降,至180min时,其表达量降为最低,为对照样品的2.85倍;4℃低温胁迫下,2h检测到hsp70的表达量下降至最低点,为对照样品的0.25倍。随后表达量开始回升,至10h表达量始终维持在对照样品的1.4-1.5倍左右;紫外胁迫下(波长253.7nm),3min后hsp70的表达量快速上升至最高峰,为对照样品的2.33倍。随后表达量迅速下降,至60min表达量始终维持在对照样品的0.2倍左右。因此推测,hsp70基因在球孢白僵菌抵抗高温、低温和紫外三种胁迫方面都可能具有重要作用。同时研究结果也表明,球孢白僵菌hsp70基因启动子在逆境下可引导基因高效表达,因而在抗逆工程菌株构建方面可能具有重要的应用价值。     

多基因联合分析棒束孢属Isaria（Ascomycota,Cordycipitaceae）系统发育关系

对棒束孢属Isaria及近缘属物种开展5基因（nrSSU、nrLSU、tef-1α、rpb1和 rpb2）测序并联合分析,结合GenBank相关类群序列,探讨棒束孢属系统发育关系,最终获得95个菌株、58个明确分类群的2-5基因序列。利用MEGA和MrBayes软件进行多基因聚类分析,结果表明棒束孢属多系起源于虫草菌科中,分3个不同分支。A支主要由Isaria cicadae、I. teniupes、I. coleopterorum、I. fumosorosea和I. cateniannulata等组成;B支包括I. poprawkii、I. locustica、I. javanica、I. amoenerosea和I. cateniobliqua;C支仅有I. farinosa。分支间被Cordyceps militaris、C. ninchukispora、C. pruinosa等隔开。棒束孢在形态上,主要以瓶梗基部膨大、尖端变细及孢子呈链状等特征与其他类群分开,但同时也发现有棒状分生孢子梗和单孢子类型。基于节点的分歧时间预测分析,推测棒束孢属首次分化于70Mya,但棒束孢属主要物种形成却在60-55Mya,且3个分支的棒束孢物种为快速同时形成,而后大多数类群表现遗传稳定。同时发现,与Isaria Clade A较近一支有粉被玛利亚霉Mariannaea pruinosa（C. pruinosa无性型）和蛹草蚧霉Lecanicillium militaris（C. militaris无性型）;与粉棒束孢距离最近一支有Akanthomyces aculeatus（C. tuberculata无性型）和L. attenuatum（C. confragosa无性型）,是两个不同的属征分类群,且相互间遗传距离较近。根据棒束孢属及其近缘种属形态特征的复杂性推测,棒束孢属在快速物种形成中,其近缘类群存在一定程度的丢失和选择性演化。     

橡胶树胶乳高表达热激蛋白HbHSP90.4基因抗逆功能分析

为了分析热激蛋白90（HSP90）基因在橡胶树（Hevea brasiliensis）逆境胁迫和激素转导中的作用,利用PCR技术从橡胶树品种热研73397胶乳中克隆得到HbHSP90.4基因全长cDNA序列,该基因含有1个2 451 bp开放阅读框（ORF）,编码816个氨基酸。生物信息学分析结果表明,HbHSP90.4含有HSP90 superfamily和HATPase superfamily结构域,属于HSP90家族成员。系统进化分析发现该蛋白与木薯MeHSP90具有较近的亲缘关系。亚细胞定位预测显示HbHSP90.4基因定位在内质网。qRT-PCR结果表明HbHSP90.4基因主要在橡胶树胶乳中表达。干旱、冷胁迫、橡胶树白粉菌侵染、H₂O₂和MeJA处理均可促进胶乳HbHSP90.4基因上调表达,而其在ETH、SA和ABA处理中均呈现显著下调表达。构建植物表达载体HbHSP90.4-mScarlet,为进一步的转基因植物的做成准备了材料。本研究为阐明胶乳HbHSP90.4基因响应橡胶树逆境胁迫过程和植物激素信号传导途径分子调控机制奠定坚实基础。     

长白落叶松转录因子LobHLH34克隆及表达分析

为了解转录因子bHLH在长白落叶松（Larix olgensis）中的功能,探究该基因在长白落叶松不同组织中及不同逆境胁迫下的表达特性,从长白落叶松根、茎和叶3个不同部位的转录组数据中获得bHLH34基因全长序列,并设计引物,克隆得到长白落叶松bHLH34基因,其完整的开放阅读框（ORF）长度为696 bp,共编码231个氨基酸。构建亚细胞定位表达载体,瞬时转化毛果杨（Populus trichocarpa）原生质体,在激光共聚焦显微镜下观察显示,LobHLH34基因定位在细胞核内。系统进化树分析结果显示,长白落叶松与云杉（Picea asperata）、卷柏（Selaginella tamariscina）树种该基因的亲缘关系较近。利用qRT-PCR技术分析了bHLH34基因在长白落叶松中的组织表达特异性和应对非生物胁迫的表达。结果表明LobHLH34基因在长白落叶松的根、茎、叶中均有表达,其中在茎部表达量最低,在叶中相对表达量最高。LobHLH34基因在NaCl、PEG和ABA处理时,不同器官中的表达量也有所不同。推测长白落叶松bHLH34基因参与了植物的生长、发育、响应逆境胁迫的过程,且在不同器官中具有特异性。     

胡杨PeNAC121基因启动子的分离鉴定和胁迫应答模式分析

为了探究NAC转录因子家族成员在胡杨（Populus euphratica）逆境胁迫中的响应和调控机制,利用PCR技术从胡杨中克隆了PeNAC121基因的启动子序列,并采用生物信息学工具对该启动子的结构特征进行了分析,最后利用该启动子驱动GUS报告基因在三倍体毛白杨（Populus tomentosa）中表达,并对获得的转基因植株采用不同胁迫处理后进行了GUS染色和酶活性定量分析。结果表明,克隆获得的PeNAC121基因的启动子长度为1 997 bp（起始密码子ATG上游）,启动序列中除了含有大量的光响应元件,还含有多个与非生物逆境胁迫和激素响应相关的元件,如低温响应元件LTR、干旱响应元件MBS、防卫和胁迫响应元件TC-rich repeats、脱落酸（ABA）响应元件、以及赤霉素（GA）响应元件等。基因的组织表达模式检测结果显示,PeNAC121基因主要在茎中表达,在根和叶中的表达较少。GUS组织化学染色和酶活性检测结果表明,胡杨PeNAC121启动子显著受到NaCl、甘露醇、ABA和4 ℃低温的诱导表达。由上述结果推测PeNAC121基因与胡杨的逆境胁迫应答密切相关,表明该基因的启动子是一个能够应答多种逆境胁迫的诱导型启动子。本研究为阐明PeNAC121基因在胡杨逆境响应和调控中的作用机制提供理论参考。     

热胁迫对双孢蘑菇抗氧化酶及热激蛋白基因的差异表达的影响

抗氧化酶和热激蛋白是双孢蘑菇Agaricus bisporus抵御逆境胁迫的重要蛋白,高温胁迫下菌丝会通过二者基因的差异表达来减少对自身的损伤。通过对双孢蘑菇菌丝进行40℃热胁迫处理0-120min后发现,随着热胁迫时间延长,菌丝生长速度降低、气生菌丝增多和菌丝分叉明显。转录组分析抗氧化酶和热激蛋白基因差异表达发现,在热胁迫30-60min时抗氧化酶基因gpx、ppo3和cat3与热激蛋白基因hsp、hsp70-1和hsp70-17上调表达明显,而在90-120min时抗氧化酶基因ppo1、ppo2和cat2与热激蛋白基因hsp16、hsp70-14、hsp70-3和hsp70-16上调表达明显。跟踪抗氧化酶活性发现,热胁迫能激活过氧化氢酶（CAT）和过氧化物酶（POD）,使酶活性提高2-3倍;同时热胁迫降低了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）酶活性,而对多酚氧化酶（PPO）影响不明显。此外,研究还发现热胁迫能使双孢蘑菇积累更多的超氧阴离子氧化自由基（O ^2-）,从而对菌丝造成损伤。因此,双孢蘑菇在热胁迫过程中可以通过启动不同的抗氧化酶和热激蛋白基因表达来抵御高温胁迫对菌丝造成的损伤,其中CAT和POD可能起到主要清除氧化自由基的作用,对双孢蘑菇耐高温基因的初步研究为选育耐高温品种奠定基础。     

条形柄锈菌小麦专化型葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶基因PsG6PDH1的表达特征及功能分析

葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶是磷酸戊糖途径中的关键限速酶。基于已测序的条形柄锈菌小麦专化型基因组序列,利用RT-PCR方法克隆了该病菌葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶PsG6PDH1的全长cDNA序列（1 497bp）,编码498个氨基酸的蛋白。编码蛋白含有葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶的保守功能域。系统进化分析发现,PsG6PDH1与禾柄锈菌小麦专化型的G6PDH聚为一簇。qRT-PCR分析表明,PsG6PDH1在病菌侵染早期的表达明显上调,其中侵染24h时表达量最高,为对照夏孢子的30倍。将PsG6PDH1导入酿酒酵母G6PDH缺失突变体中成功表达,并表现出较强的葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶活性,明显酵母增强了菌株对过氧化氢的耐受性。由此推测,PsG6PDH1可能参与了条形柄锈菌小麦专化型在侵染寄主时抵御寄主的氧化胁迫反应。研究结果为进一步研究该病菌基础代谢及侵染机理奠定一定的理论基础。     

肺形侧耳变温结实相关基因Ppcsl-1的克隆及功能预测

CSL（CBF1/RBP-Jκ/suppressor of hairless/LAG-1）转录因子家族在真菌发育和细胞分化过程中扮演重要角色。前期研究已构建了肺形侧耳变温结实相关消减杂交文库,并从中筛选到一个代表csl基因部分序列的EST。通过TAIL PCR（thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR）技术克隆了该基因（Pleurotus pulmonarius csl-1,简写为 Ppcsl-1）,并利用RACE（rapid-amplification of cDNA ends）技术获得该基因的cDNA全长。Ppcsl-1 cDNA全长2 991bp,编码一个996个氨基酸组成的蛋白（命名为PpCSL-1）。进化分析显示在担子菌CSL中,PpCSL-1与糙皮侧耳Pleurotus ostreatus CSL（PoCSL）亲缘关系最近。荧光定量检测结果表明Ppcsl-1在菌丝经过5℃ 12h冷处理之后的表达量最高,表明其有可能被冷刺激诱导表达并在开启子实体形成的过程中起重要作用。     

锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)Hsp70基因cDNA的克隆及序列分析

采用RT-PCR及RACE技术克隆锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)的热休克蛋白Hsp70基因并进行序列分析。克隆测序后拼接得到一条长2482 bp的cDNA序列,该序列ORF(Open reading frame,开放阅读框)为1950 bp,编码649个氨基酸,分子量约为71.06 kD,理论等电点为5.24。3'UTR(untranslated region,非编码区)为158 bp,5'UTR为40 bp。通过antheprot分析发现2个Hsp70家族的签名序列:IFDLGGGTFDVSIL,IVLVGGSTRIPKIQK;Dnak特征基序DLGTT-S-V;非细胞器基序:RARFEEL;核定位信号标签:KKDPSESKRALRRL;胞质Hsp70特征基序EEVD。同源性分析表明,锯缘青蟹Hsp70编码区核苷酸序列与凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)、斑节对虾(Penaeus monodon)、罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)的相似性分别为84.02%、83.87%和79.60%;核苷酸序列所推导出的Hsp70氨基酸序列,与凡纳滨对虾、斑节对虾和罗氏沼虾的相似性分别为92.79%、92.17%和96.47%。本研究克隆了锯缘青蟹Hsp70基因,为进一步深入研究锯缘青蟹的抗逆机理及其遗传改良奠定了基础。     

Characterisation of the beta-tubulin gene of Cylicocyclus nassatus?

mRNA and genomic DNA were isolated from adult Cylicocyclus nassatus, and the mRNA was reverse transcribed. The cDNA was PCR amplified using degenerate primers designed according to the alignment of the β-tubulin amino acid sequences of other species. To complete the coding sequence, the 3′ end was amplified with the 3′-RACE, and for amplification of the 5′ end the SL1-primer was used. The cDNA of the β-tubulin gene of C. nassatus spans 1429 bp and encodes a protein of 448 amino acids. Specific primers were developed from the cDNA sequence to amplify the genomic DNA sequence and to analyse the genomic organisation of the β-tubulin gene. The complete sequence of the genomic DNA of the β-tubulin gene of C. nassatus has a size of 2652 bp and is organised into nine exons and eight introns. The identities with the exons of the gru-1 β-tubulin gene of Haemonchus contortus range between 79% and 97%.     

植原体tuf基因与其上游部分基因结构和相关基因启动子保守区域特征及活性分析

植原体寄主种类多, 危害范围广, 开展其遗传多样性、关键基因调控等方面研究有助于提高该病害综合防治水平。通过长片段PCR引物扩增我国PaWB-sdyz、PaWB-fjfz和LY-fjya1植原体株系tuf基因及其上游6个基因的片段, 进行植原体基因启动子保守区域序列特征和多位点序列分析。利用启动子探针载体pSUPV4检测植原体tuf基因上游序列的启动子活性。扩增获得PaWB-sdyz、PaWB-fjfz、LY-fjya1株系tuf基因上游12,745-12,748 bp序列, 比较分析发现PaWB-sdyz、PaWB-fjfz、LY-fjya1、OY-M、AYWB、PAa、SLY、AT植原体株系tuf与其上游6个基因的结构顺序皆为5’-rplL-rpoB-rpoC-rps12-rps7-fusA-tuf-3’。推测出可能的植原体启动子保守区域模式序列: T₉₀T₁₀₀G₉₂T₇₅G₆₇A₈₅ (-35区); T₉₀A₉₆T₉₂A₉₈T₇₃T₉₀ (-10区)。基于8个植原体株系的rplL-tuf核苷酸序列编码基因、非编码序列、氨基酸序列的多位点序列分析可将不同植原体株系以较高的支持率清晰地区分, 不同植原体株系rplL-tuf核苷酸非编码区变异水平更高。16SrI组植原体tuf基因上游序列存在3种变异类型, 其代表株系PaWB-fjfz、LY-fjya1 tuf基因上游130 bp片段和CWB-hnsy1 tuf基因上游129 bp片段皆具有启动子活性。     

Sequence analysis of mouse cDNAs encoding ribosomal proteins L12 and L18

Mouse cDNAs encoding ribosomal proteins (r-proteins), L12 and L18, were isolated and their sequences determined. The L12 cDNA was found to contain 639 bp, including a coding sequence of 498 nucleotides (nt), 5' (78 nt) and 3' (45 nt) untranslated regions (UTRs), and a poly(A) tail of 18 nt. The L18 cDNA was shown to consist of 648 bp, including a coding sequence of 567 nt, 5' (26 nt) and 3' (39 nt) UTRs, and a poly(A) tail of 16 nt. The nt sequences of the protein-coding region from the mouse L12 and L18 cDNAs were found to exhibit 96% and 92% identity, respectively, with those of the rat. With the use of mouse L12 and L18 cDNA probes, multiple (at least 10) copies of the L12 and L18 gene families were shown to be present in the mouse and rat genomes. However, there was no sequence heterogeneity detected among seven L18 cDNA clones, indicating that only one copy of the L18 gene-related sequences is functional, and the other copies are presumably nonfunctional pseudogenes. The complete amino acid (aa) sequences of the mouse r-proteins, L12 and L18, were deduced from the nt sequences of their cDNA clones. L12 has 165 aa and a M_r, of 17 790, while L18 has 188 aa and a M_r of 21 570. The aa sequences of the mouse r-proteins, L12 and L18, exhibit 98% and 94% identity, respectively, to those of rat.     

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a heat shock protein (Hsp90) gene from black tiger shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis>)

The techniques of homology cloning and anchored PCR were used to clone the Hsp90 gene from black tiger shrimp. The full length cDNA of black tiger shrimp Hsp90 (btsHsp90) contained a 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of 72 bp, an ORF (open reading frame) of 2160 bp encoding a polypeptide of 720 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 83-kDa and a 3′ UTR of 288 bp. The sequence of the coding region showed 90 and 84% homology with that of the Chiromantes haematocheir and Homo sapiens, respectively. Conserved signature sequences of Hsp90 gene family were found in the btsHsp90 deduced amino acid sequence. The temporal expressions of Hsp90 gene were constitutively in the black tiger shrimp tissues including liver, ovary, muscle, brain stomach, and heart, and their levels were markedly enhanced after 30-min heat treatment at 37°C. In ovarian maturation stages, the expression of btsHsp90 was strongest in the second stage, weaker in the fourth and first stage.     

A repressor element in the 5'-untranslated region of human Pax5 exon 1A

Five members of the RecQ helicase family, RECQL, WRN, BLM, RTS and RECQL5, have been found in human and three of them (WRN, BLM and RTS) were disclosed to be the genes responsible for Werner, Bloom and Rothmund–Thomson syndromes, respectively. RECQL5 (RecQ helicase protein-like 5) was isolated as the fifth member of the family in humans through a search of homologous expressed sequence tags. The gene is expressed with at least three alternative splicing products, , β and γ. Here, we isolated mouse RECQL5β and determined the DNA sequence of full-length cDNA as well as the genome organization and chromosome locus. The mouse RECQL5β gene consists of 2949 bp coding 982 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence among human (Homo sapiens), mouse (Mus musculus), Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans RECQL5β homologs revealed three portions of highly conserved regions in addition to the helicase domain. Nineteen exons are dispersed over 40 kbp in the genome and all of the acceptor and donor sites for the splicing of each exon conform to the GT/AG rule. The gene is localized to the mouse chromosome 11E2, which has a syntenic relation to human 17q25.2-q25.3 where human RECQL5β exists. Our genetic characterizations of the mouse RECQL5β gene will contribute to functional studies on the RECQL5β products.     

Genomic organization of four β-1,4-endoglucanase genes in plant-parasitic cyst nematodes and its evolutionary implications

The genomic organization of genes encoding β-1,4-endoglucanases (cellulases) from the plant-parasitic cyst nematodes Heterodera glycines and Globodera rostochiensis (HG-eng1, Hg-eng2, GR-eng1, and GR-eng2) was investigated. HG-eng1 and GR-eng1 both contained eight introns and structural domains of 2151 and 2492 bp, respectively. HG-eng2 and GR-eng2 both contained seven introns and structural domains of 2324 and 2388 bp, respectively. No significant similarity in intron sequence or size was observed between HG-eng1 and HG-eng2, whereas the opposite was true between GR-eng1 and GR-eng2. Intron positions among all four cyst nematode cellulase genes were conserved identically in relation to the predicted amino acid sequence. HG-eng1, GR-eng1, and GR-eng2 had several introns demarcated by 5′-GC…AG-3′ in the splice sites, and all four nematode cellulase genes had the polyadenylation and cleavage signal sequence 5′-GAUAAA-3′—both rare occurences in eukaryotic genes. The 5′- flanking regions of each nematode cellulase gene, however, had signature sequences typical of eukaryotic promoter regions, including a TATA box, bHLH-type binding sites, and putative silencer, repressor, and enhancer elements. Database searches and subsequent phylogenetic comparison of the catalytic domain of the nematode cellulases placed the nematode genes in one group, with Family 5, subfamily 2, glycosyl hydrolases from Scotobacteria and Bacilliaceae as the most homologous groups. The overall amino acid sequence identity among the four nematode cellulases was from 71 to 83%, and the amino acid sequence identity to bacterial Family 5 cellulases ranged from 33 to 44%. The eukaryotic organization of the four cyst nematode cellulases suggests that they share a common ancestor, and their strong homology to prokaryotic glycosyl hydrolases may be indicative of an ancient horizontal gene transfer.