菜粉蝶微孢子虫核糖体RNA(rRNA)编码基因的研究

用PCR方法扩增、克隆了菜粉蝶微孢子虫核糖体小亚单位RNA(SSUrRNA)编码基因的核心序列 1 2 0 5bp后 ,进一步克隆到菜粉蝶微孢子虫SSUrRNA基因 3′端至LSUrRNA基因 5′端 (580R区 ) 657bp长的序列。与GenBank中对应序列比较后 ,在 657bp这段序列鉴定出菜粉蝶微孢子虫SSUrRNA基因 3′末端、rRNA基因内转录间隔区 (ITS)及LSUrRNA基因 5′端 (580R区 ) ,它们分别位于该序列中 1 45位、1 46 1 86位及 1 87位。与SSUrRNA基因核心序列拼接后SSUrRNA全基因长为 1 2 4 5bp ,rRNA基因内转录间隔区为 41bp及核糖体大亚单位RNA(LSUr RNA)编码基因 580R区为 470bp。同时还构建了菜粉蝶微孢子虫SSUrRNA的完整二级结构。关于微孢子虫rRNA基因的克隆及SSUrRNA的二级结构在国内尚属首次报道 ,它为进一步利用核糖体RNA编码基因及SSUrRNA的二级结构对不同微孢子虫的分类及亲缘关系的确定奠定了基础     

痘苗病毒VV16原核增强子样序列的克隆及其结构与功能的研究

利用带有氯霉素乙酰转移酶报道基因的检测载体,从痘苗病毒基因组DNA中筛选到一个增强子样片段VV16。序列分析表明,该片段长112bp,是痘苗病毒DNA依赖性RNA聚合酶、polyA聚合酶亚单位和DNA聚合酶基因RPO30的一部分,含有4个AT丰富区。采用带有β-半乳糖苷酶报道基因的载体检测发现,该片段正向可以增强报道基因表达9.0倍,反向可以增强报道基因表达4.1倍。RNA Dot blotting实验证实,它对基因的增强活性表现在转录水平上。DNA删切实验证实,5′端10bp及3′端12bp对其活性有重要调节作用,而该片段nt76～82的序列对增强子的活性至关重要。     

猪FGL2基因cDNA末端序列检测及结构分析

检测猪FGL2基因cDNA末端序列并对该基因结构初步分析。α-32P dCTP放射性同位素标记cDNA探针筛选猪基因组DNA文库;cDNA末端快速扩增(rapid amplification of cDNA end,RACE)。以猪正常小肠及心脏组织提取新鲜总RNA,反转录后作为模板,设计基因特异性引物,采用Advantage 2 聚合酶混合物进行PCR扩增;依据猪与人FGL2基因3′端已知同源序列设计PCR上游引物,以人FGL2基因3′末端序列设计下游引物,以猪基因组DNA为模板采用Advantage 2 聚合酶混合物进行PCR反应;PCR载体重组质粒DNA亚克隆扩增。同位素探针未能筛选到特异阳性克隆,RACE反应检测到特异性转录起始位置及第一个转录终止位置,但仍未检测到第二个转录终止位置。猪基因组DNA行PCR扩增成功检测到猪FGL2基因3′末端未知序列及第二个转录终止位置。     

我国禽脑脊髓炎病毒分离株全基因组的测定

测定了我国禽脑脊髓炎病毒(avian encephalomyelitis virus,AEV)分离株L2Z株的全基因组核苷酸序列.该病毒株的3′和5′非编码区核苷酸序列用3′和5′RACE(cDNA末端快速扩增)法获得.基因组全长为7 059个核苷酸残基,包括494个核苷酸残基的5′非编码区、6 402个核苷酸残基的开放阅读框和136个核苷酸残基的3′非编码区及poly(A)尾巴.与已发表的AEV疫苗株1 143的基因组序列比较发现,它们之间核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性分别为98%和97.6%.结构蛋白(VP1～VP4)中,主要宿主保护性免疫原蛋白VP1氨基酸之间差异较小.与小RNA病毒科其它病毒属相比,在非结构蛋白3D中,预测的8个RNA依赖性RNA聚合酶主要结构域中的4个高度保守.从而进一步确认了AEV的分子特性.     

茶尺蠖小RNA病毒5'端非编码区的克隆和测序及与哺乳动物小RNA病毒的比较分析

用Trizol从纯化的茶尺蠖Ectropis oblique小RNA病毒（EoPV）中提取病毒基因组RNA,逆转录后加poly(dT),然后进行两步PCR扩增基因组5′端。克隆测序后,对其5′端非编码区的核苷酸序列进行分析,发现具有哺乳动物小RNA病毒的5′端非编码区的一些特征：A/T含量丰富、起始密码子上游AUG和小顺反子多。利用mfold预测了EoPV 5′端非编码区的二级结构,存在4个茎环结构,有哺乳动物内部核糖体进入位点（IRES）的保守区域,即含保守基序GNRA的茎环A和A/C丰富的环B及多聚嘧啶区域。据此推测EoPV基因组翻译采用IRES起始机制。     

茶尺蠖小RNA病毒5′端非编码区的克隆和测序及与哺乳动物小RNA病毒的比较分析

用Trizol从纯化的茶尺蠖Ectropis oblique 小RNA病毒(EoPV)中提取病毒基因组RNA,逆转录后加poly(dT),然后进行两步PCR扩增基因组5′端.克隆测序后,对其5′端非编码区的核苷酸序列进行分析,发现具有哺乳动物小RNA病毒的5′端非编码区的一些特征:A/T含量丰富、起始密码子上游AUG和小顺反子多.利用mfold预测了EoPV 5′端非编码区的二级结构,存在4个茎环结构,有哺乳动物内部核糖体进入位点(IRES)的保守区域,即含保守基序GNRA的茎环A和A/C丰富的环B及多聚嘧啶区域.据此推测EoPV基因组翻译采用IRES起始机制.     

4株SARS冠状病毒基因组5’端序列的分析与比较

利用5′RACE试剂盒对从中国不同地区、不同SARS患者体中分离的SARS-CoV基因组5′端序列进行RT-PCR扩增,并将扩增产物克隆至T easy vector。扩增片段的序列测定结果表明:所分离的4株SARS-CoV基因组5′端非编码区的核苷酸序列和其他国家和地区报道的序列基本一致,而且所形成二级结构也完全相同,但与已知普通冠状病毒的差别较大。同时发现在依赖于RNA的RNA聚合酶起始密码子上游-197 nt处有冠状病毒典型的转录调控核心保守序列5′-CUAAAC-3′。     

猪内源性反转录病毒5′端非编码区的克隆及结构分析

通过五指山猪内源性反转录病毒5′端非编码区(5′UTR)cDNA的克隆,分析其一级结构和调控元件,为进一步研究其在PERV复制、转录中的调控机制奠定基础。本研究采用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)获得全长约1035bp的PERV 5′UTR。通过NCBI公共数据库BLASTn序列进行同源性分析,并应用KEGG数据库对该转录调控区进行顺式作用元件定位分析,结果发现PERV 5′UTR与GenBank公布的部分PERV 5′UTR相比较,同源性在82.6~94.8%之间。一级结构分析发现PERV 5′UTR由U3、R、U5区、引物结合区(PBS)及前导序列组成,可能的核心启动子序列与具有增强子作用的39bp重复序列分别位于U3区的-67~ 1与-97~-59区段。在5′UTR转录调控区(-428~ 507)鉴定出31个有效的顺式作用元件位点,其中NF-Y、TBP、Oct-1、HSF、GATA-1和GATA-2等与PERV的转录、调控密切相关。     

4株SARS冠状病毒基因组5′端序列的分析与比较

利用5′RACE试剂盒对从中国不同地区、不同SARS患者体中分离的SARS—CoV基因组5′端序列进行RT-PCR扩增,并将扩增产物克隆至Teasy vector。扩增片段的序列测定结果表明：所分离的4株SARS—CoV基因组5′端非编码区的核苷酸序列和其他国家和地区报道的序列基本一致,而且所形成二级结构也完全相同,但与已知普通冠状病毒的差别较大。同时发现在依赖于RNA的RNA聚合酶起始密码子上游—197nt处有冠状病毒典型的转录调控核心保守序列5′-CUAAAC-3′。     

The ORF2 protein of hepatitis E virus binds the 5' region of viral RNA

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major human pathogen in much of the developing world. It is a plus-strand RNA virus with a 7.2-kb polyadenylated genome consisting of three open reading frames, ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3. Of these, ORF2 encodes the major capsid protein of the virus and ORF3 encodes a small protein of unknown function. Using the yeast three-hybrid system and traditional biochemical techniques, we have studied the RNA binding activities of ORF2 and ORF3, two proteins encoded in the 3' structural part of the genome. Since the genomic RNA from HEV has been postulated to contain secondary structures at the 5' and 3' ends, we used these two terminal regions, besides other regions within the genome, in this study. Experiments were designed to test for interactions between the genomic RNA fusion constructs with ORF2 and ORF3 hybrid proteins in a yeast cellular environment. We show here that the ORF2 protein contains RNA binding activity. The ORF2 protein specifically bound the 5' end of the HEV genome. Deletion analysis of this protein showed that its RNA binding activity was lost when deletions were made beyond the N-terminal 111 amino acids. Finer mapping of the interacting RNA revealed that a 76-nucleotide (nt) region at the 5' end of the HEV genome was responsible for binding the ORF2 protein. This 76-nt region included the 51-nt HEV sequence, conserved across alphaviruses. Our results support the requirement of this conserved sequence for interaction with ORF2 and also indicate an increase in the strength of the RNA-protein interaction when an additional 44 bases downstream of this 76-nt region were included. Secondary-structure predictions and the location of the ORF2 binding region within the HEV genome indicate that this interaction may play a role in viral encapsidation.     

Analysis of astrovirus serotype 1 RNA, identification of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motif, and expression of a viral structural protein.

We report the results from sequence analysis and expression studies of the gastroenteritis agent astrovirus serotype 1. We have cloned and sequenced 5,944 nucleotides (nt) of the estimated 7.2-kb RNA genome and have identified three open reading frames (ORFs). ORF-3, at the 3' end, is 2,361 nt in length and is fully encoded in both the genomic and subgenomic viral RNAs. Expression of ORF-3 in vitro yields an 87-kDa protein that is immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody specific for viral capsids. This protein comigrates with an authentic 87-kDa astrovirus protein immunoprecipitated from infected cells, indicating that this region encodes a viral structural protein. The adjacent upstream ORF (ORF-2) is 1,557 nt in length and contains a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motif. The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motifs from four astrovirus serotypes are compared. Partial sequence (2,018 nt) of the most 5' ORF (ORF-1) reveals a 3C-like serine protease motif. The ORF-1 sequence is incomplete. These results indicate that the astrovirus genome is organized with nonstructural proteins encoded at the 5' end and structural proteins at the 3' end. ORF-2 has no start methionine and is in the -1 frame compared with ORF-1. We present sequence evidence for a ribosomal frameshift mechanism for expression of the viral polymerase.     

Novel RNA family structure of hepatitis B virus expressed in human cells, using a helper-free adenovirus vector.

Ad5-HBL is a type 5 adenovirus bearing the large BglII fragment (2.8 kilobases; 87% of the total genome) of hepatitis B virus (HBV), subtype adr. Eight HBV RNAs expressed in HeLa cells infected with Ad5-HBL were mapped by the nuclease S1 technique. Three major RNAs spanning 2.4, 2.0, and 0.7 kilobases of the HBV sequences cover the coding regions of "presurface" plus surface antigen, surface antigen alone, and "X" protein, respectively. The 5' segment of an RNA which could code for core antigen (HBcAg) was also detected. All major HBV RNAs initiate from mutually exclusive 5' ends, terminate at the unique 3' end within the HBcAg coding region (except readthrough species), and have no spliced deletion, forming a novel RNA family structure. No TATA box-like sequences were found near the 5' end of these RNAs, except in the case of the 2.4-kilobase RNA. About two thirds of total HBV RNA does not terminate at the mapped 3'-end position, suggesting the termination signal is functionally inefficient. Since the potential 5' end of HBcAg mRNA was mapped at the same position as the minus-strand nick of HBV DNA previously reported, we propose a model that requires inefficient poly(A) addition to produce an RNA which serves both as HBcAg mRNA and as the putative RNA template of minus-strand DNA synthesis in the HBV life cycle.     

The complete nucleotide sequence of PEBV RNA2 reveals the presence of a novel open reading frame and provides insights into the structure of tobraviral subgenomic promoters.

The 3374 nucleotide sequence of RNA2 from the British PEBV strain SP5 has been determined. The RNA includes three open reading frames flanked by 5' and 3' noncoding regions of 509 and 480 nucleotides. The open reading frames specify coat protein, a 29.6K product homologous to the 29.1K product of TRV(TCM) RNA2 and a 23K product not homologous to any previously described protein. The homology demonstrated between the coat proteins of PRV, TRV and PEBV indicates a common evolutionary origin for these proteins. Upstream of each ORF are located sequences homologous to those with which subgenomic RNAs of other tobraviruses start. Subgenomic RNAs for the expression of the three ORFs may start at these points. On all five tobraviral RNA2 molecules sequenced to date, these sequences were found upstream of the coat protein ORF in association with a strongly-conserved potential secondary structural element. Similar potential structures were identified upstream of other tobraviral ORFs. These structures may contribute to the activity of the tobraviral subgenomic promoter.     

Asynchronous accumulation of lettuce infectious yellows virus RNAs 1 and 2 and identification of an RNA 1 trans enhancer of RNA 2 accumulation

Time course and mutational analyses were used to examine the accumulation in protoplasts of progeny RNAs of the bipartite Crinivirus, Lettuce infectious yellow virus (LIYV; family Closteroviridae). Hybridization analyses showed that simultaneous inoculation of LIYV RNAs 1 and 2 resulted in asynchronous accumulation of progeny LIYV RNAs. LIYV RNA 1 progeny genomic and subgenomic RNAs could be detected in protoplasts as early as 12 h postinoculation (p.i.) and accumulated to high levels by 24 h p.i. The LIYV RNA 1 open reading frame 2 (ORF 2) subgenomic RNA was the most abundant of all LIYV RNAs detected. In contrast, RNA 2 progeny were not readily detected until ca. 36 h p.i. Mutational analyses showed that in-frame stop codons introduced into five of seven RNA 2 ORFs did not affect accumulation of progeny LIYV RNA 1 or RNA 2, confirming that RNA 2 does not encode proteins necessary for LIYV RNA replication. Mutational analyses also supported that LIYV RNA 1 encodes proteins necessary for replication of LIYV RNAs 1 and 2. A mutation introduced into the LIYV RNA 1 region encoding the overlapping ORF 1B and ORF 2 was lethal. However, mutations introduced into only LIYV RNA 1 ORF 2 resulted in accumulation of progeny RNA 1 near or equal to wild-type RNA 1. In contrast, the RNA 1 ORF 2 mutants did not efficiently support the trans accumulation of LIYV RNA 2. Three distinct RNA 1 ORF 2 mutants were analyzed and all exhibited a similar phenotype for progeny LIYV RNA accumulation. These data suggest that the LIYV RNA 1 ORF 2 encodes a trans enhancer for RNA 2 accumulation.     

Sequence of the region coding for virion proteins C and E2 and the carboxy terminus of the nonstructural proteins of rubella virus: comparison with alphaviruses

The sequence of the 3' 4508 nucleotides (nt) of the genomic RNA of the Therien strain of rubella virus (RV) was determined for cDNA clones. The sequence contains a 3189-nt open reading frame (ORF) which codes for the structural proteins C, E2 and E1. C is predicted to have a length of 300 amino acids (aa). The N-terminal half of the C protein is highly basic and hydrophilic in nature, and is putatively the region of the protein which interacts with the virion RNA. At the C terminus of the C protein is a stretch of 20 hydrophobic aa which also serves as the signal sequence for E2, indicating that the cleavage of C from the polyprotein precursor may be catalyzed by signalase in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. E2 is 282 aa in length and contains four potential N-linked glycosylation sites and a putative transmembrane domain near its C terminus. The sequence of E1 has been previously described [Frey et al., Virology 154 (1986) 228-232]. No homology could be detected between the amino acid sequence of the RV structural proteins and the amino acid sequence of the alphavirus structural proteins. From the position of a region of 30 nt in the RV genomic sequence which exhibited significant homology with the sequence in the alphavirus genome at which subgenomic RNA synthesis is initiated, the RV subgenomic RNA is predicted to be 3346 nt in length and the nontranslated region from the 5' end of the subgenomic RNA to the structural protein ORF is predicted to be 98 nt. In a different translation frame beginning at the 5' end of the RV nt sequence reported here is a 1407 nt ORF which is the C terminal region of the nonstructural protein ORF. This ORF overlaps the structural protein ORF by 149 nt. A low level of homology could be detected between the predicted amino acid sequence of the C-terminus of the RV nonstructural protein ORF and the replicase proteins of several positive RNA viruses of animals and plants, including nsp4 of the alphaviruses, the protein encoded by the C-terminal region of the alphavirus nonstructural ORF. However, the overall homology between RV and the alphaviruses in this region of the genome was only 18%, indicating that these two genera of the Togavirus family are only distantly related. Intriguingly, there is a 2844-nt ORF present in the negative polarity orientation of the RV sequence which could encode a 928-aa polyprotein.