铁皮石斛尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶基因的克隆与分析

目的:研究尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(UGPase)在铁皮石斛不同组织中的表达情况,探讨其与石斛多糖累积的关系。方法:根据铁皮石斛原球茎转录组数据中的DoUGPase1序列设计引物,并利用RACE技术克隆该基因;用生信分析软件预测其蛋白结构,并进行系统发育分析;利用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)技术研究该基因在铁皮石斛不同年份,不同组织中的表达。结果:通过RACE技术得到1个3054 bp基因,命名为DoUGPase1,其ORF长1530 bp,编码510个氨基酸残基,与油棕(Elaeis guineensis)和波斯枣(Phoenix dactylifera)有一定的同源性,且DoUGPase1在3年生的植株中相对表达量整体较高(P0.05)。结论:我们预测在铁皮石斛的生长发育过程中DoUGPase1基因与多糖累积的活跃程度成正比例。     

铁皮石斛泛素结合酶基因DoUBC24的克隆及表达分析

目的:克隆铁皮石斛泛素结合酶基因DoUBC24,预测其蛋白结构特征和进化关系,分析其时空差异表达情况,并推测其在植物生长发育中的功能。方法:提取铁皮石斛全苗总RNA,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)和巢式PCR技术克隆Do UBC24基因;用生物信息手段分析基因序列结构特征,并预测其编码蛋白及其理化性质和亚细胞定位;用MEGA6.0构建系统发育树,分析物种进化关系;用qRT-PCR检测DoUBC24在原球茎不同发育时期及不同组织中的相对表达量。结果:克隆得到基因全长为3811 bp,包含2880 bp的CDS,编码959个氨基酸残基,编码产物含有一个保守的UBCc结构域;分子进化分析显示,DoUBC24同海枣、油棕、小果野芭蕉、玉米、短花药野生稻、二穗短柄草和大麦等单子叶植物的亲缘关系较近;qRT-PCR分析显示,DoUBC24在铁皮石斛叶原基维管系统形成、原球茎退化时期表达显著下降,而在椭球形原球茎、根端分生组织和类原球茎中表达量较高,在组织中的表达量水平依次为花茎种子根叶。结论:铁皮石斛泛素结合酶DoUBC24基因在铁皮石斛原球茎不同发育时期及不同组织中均有显著的差异表达,可能对原球茎发育及植物组织的形态建成具有重要调控作用。     

秦艽转录因子WRKY30的克隆及表达模式分析

以秦艽转录组数据的目标序列为模版,经反转录扩增和RACE等方法,获得一条长1 260 bp的WRKY30转录因子cDNA序列,开放阅读框为975 bp,编码324个氨基酸残基。WRKY转录因子是植物特有的一类大家族,参与植物防卫反应,介导植物应答,在植物生长发育和代谢中起调控作用,参与植物的多种生物学过程,该类家族成员中含有绝对保守的WRKYGQK氨基酸残基,且因此得名。该转录因子含有一个WRKY保守结构域和一个C2HC锌指结构,隶属于WRKY基因家族的第Ⅲ类成员,经序列相似性比对将其命名为GmWRKY30。相对定量2-△△Ct方法分析结果显示,GmWRKY30在秦艽根中的相对表达水平最高,茎中最低,和对照相比有显著性差异。在根中,受花生四烯酸胁迫后GmWRKY30的相对表达水平显著降低,银离子胁迫后表达水平显著升高。这些研究结果说明GmWRKY30基因具有组织表达特异性,对不同诱导子的响应强度有差异,推测其可能参与诱导响应的调控机制不同。     

铁皮石斛类唾液酸转移酶基因的分子鉴定

利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从珍稀濒危药用植物铁皮石斛(Dendrobium of ficinale)中分离到一个类唾液酸转移酶(sialylt ransferase-like proteins,STLP)基因,命名为DoSTLP1(GenBank注册号KC178574).序列分析结果表明,DoSTLP1基因全长cDNA为1 340 bp,编码1条由367个氨基酸组成的肽链,分子量41.66 kD,等电点8.64;DoSTLP1蛋白具有唾液酸转移酶和糖基转移酶29家族的保守结构域(分别为1～357,87～346位氨基酸)、信号肽(1～27)和跨膜结构域(3～25,285～311).多序列比对和系统进化结果显示,DoSTLP1与多种植物的STLPs基因有较高的相似性(44.7％～53.7％),而且与水稻、玉米等单子叶植物STLPs基因的亲缘关系较近.实时定量PCR分析显示,DoSTLP1基因在铁皮石斛根、茎、叶器官中为组成型表达,其转录本在石斛根中的相对表达量较高,为叶中的2.857倍,茎和叶中的表达量无显著差异.该研究为进一步解析该基因在铁皮石斛生长发育过程中的生物学功能奠定基础.     

油菜矮秆突变WRKY转录因子cDNA克隆及表达分析

以甘蓝型油菜为材料,利用已建立的抑制性消减文库(SSH),采用RACE技术克隆到1个植物WRKY转录因子相关基因,命名为BnD11,其cDNA全长1034 bp,含有810 bp的完整开放阅读框,编码269个氨基酸。该基因编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥WRKY40氨基酸序列相似性为79%,与拟南芥中编码WRKY-DNA结合蛋白40基因的氨基酸序列相似性达78%,与其它多种植物的WRKY转录因子的氨基酸序列也有较高的相似性。半定量RT-PCR对BnD11进行组织特异性表达分析显示:在正常生长条件下,BnD11在野生型和矮秆油菜的各个组织中均有表达,但在矮秆突变的根、茎、茎尖的相对表达量明显高于野生型。研究表明,BnD11功能区段具有很高的保守性,可能参与了油菜的茎秆发育。     

药用植物长春花WRKY转录因子的鉴定及表达谱分析

WRKY是调控植物生长发育和逆境胁迫反应等生命活动的一个转录因子大家族.然而,有关药用植物长春花CrWRKY转录因子的种类和功能却知之甚少.从26 009个长春花蛋白中鉴定出47个CrWRKY转录因子.依据WRKY结构域和系统进化,将CrWRKY分为G1、G2和G3三大类群.表达谱数据分析表明,长春花CrWRKY基因的表达具有器官特异性.47个CrWRKY基因的表达谱可分为3种表达模式:第1类型主要在花、甲基茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)或酵母提取物(YE)处理的原生质体中高表达;第2类型主要在茎和毛状根中高表达;第3类型在根、茎、叶、幼苗和MeJA处理的毛状根中高表达.进一步用实时定量PCR检测了16个代表性CrWRKY基因在不同器官、MeJA处理原生质体和毛状根中的表达模式,检测结果与上述数字基因表达谱数据基本一致.约1/3以上CrWRKY基因的表达受MeJA和YE的调控,暗示它们可能参与萜类吲哚生物碱的合成和逆境胁迫反应.为进一步解析长春花WRKY转录因子的功能和萜类吲哚生物碱合成调控的网络奠定了基础.     

柱花草WRKY转录因子在低磷胁迫下的克隆与分析

该研究依据生物信息学分析,采用RT-PCR方法从格拉姆柱花草[Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.)]中克隆出1个WRKY转录因子基因,命名为StWRKY45。该基因最大开放阅读框(ORF)为924bp,编码307个氨基酸,分子量为35.62kD,等电点为9.81。系统进化树分析表明,StWRKY45属于WRKY转录因子第Ⅱ类WRKY基因,与拟南芥AtWRKY45、AtWRKY57亲缘关系最近。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,在非磷胁迫下(对照),StWRKY45基因在柱花草幼苗的根、茎、叶中都有表达,但表达量均相对较低;在低磷胁迫下,StWRKY45基因在格拉姆柱花草根、茎、叶中的表达基本随胁迫时间的延长逐渐升高,且均在叶中的表达量最高;在低磷胁迫96h时叶、茎中的相对表达量均达到最高,分别是对照的20.47倍、9.38倍,但在低磷胁迫72h时根中的相对表达量达到最高,为对照的9.29倍。研究表明,StWRKY45基因受低磷胁迫诱导高表达,推测StWRKY45基因可能参与柱花草对低磷胁迫的响应。     

铁皮石斛M型硫氧还蛋白基因的分子特征

利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从珍稀濒危兰科药用植物铁皮石斛中分离到1个编码M型硫氧还蛋白(TRX)基因cDNA全长,命名为Do TRXm1(GenBank注册号KC178573).序列分析结果表明,DoTRXm1基因长850 bp,ORF(570 bp)编码1条由189个氨基酸组成的肽链,分子量20.32 kD,等电点9.44;DoTRXm1蛋白具有保守的硫氧还蛋白结构域(第87～187位氨基酸)和催化位点(106～124).多序列比对和系统进化分析结果显示,DoTRXm1与植物M型TRXs基因有较高相似性(53％～70％),与水稻、玉米以及高梁等单子叶植物TRXs聚在1个分支,隶属于M型TRXs基因进化系统的Ⅱ类群.实时定量PCR分析显示,DoTRXm1基因为组成型表达,其转录本在石斛根中的相对表达量较高,为叶中的5.63倍,茎中次之(2.35倍),叶中最低.该研究为进一步解析DoTRXml在铁皮石斛生长发育、逆境胁迫等过程中的生物学功能奠定基础.     

铁皮石斛GRAS转录因子家族基因SCL3克隆及表达分析

GRAS家族是一类植物特有的转录调控因子,参与调控植物生长发育及抵御逆境胁迫,并且在赤霉素(gibberellins, GAs)信号转导过程中具有重要作用。本研究采用RT-PCR结合RACE方法从铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo)原球茎中克隆到了一个转录因子GRAS家族基因SCL3 (scarecrow-like 3)并对其进行了表达分析。该基因cDNA序列全长2 278 bp,命名为DoSCL3 (GenBank注册号:MG252261),其编码425个氨基酸,分子量为47.88 kD,等电点(PI)为6.21。DoSCL3基因编码的蛋白不含跨膜域和信号肽,具有GRAS转录因子家族特有的保守结构域(22~422);多序列比对表明,DoSCL3与小兰屿蝴蝶兰的SCL3蛋白高度同源(相似性达到83%),同时进化树分析结果显示其与小兰屿蝴蝶兰亲缘关系非常相近。qRT-PCR实验结果显示,DoSCL3基因在铁皮石斛种子共生萌发中随着萌发进程的变化(1~3级,萌发至原球茎阶段)其表达量逐渐升高,并且在种子萌发至2级时,共生萌发组表达量显著高于无菌萌发组(为无菌组2.2倍),表明DoSCL3在兰科药用植物铁皮石斛种子共生萌发中菌根共生关系的建立过程起到重要的调控作用。     

白及蔗糖合成酶基因的克隆及表达分析

为揭示白及蔗糖合成酶基因与生长发育的关系,该研究以白及为材料,利用RT-PCR技术同源克隆白及蔗糖合成酶的关键基因SuSy,对SuSy基因的生物学特性及表达特征进行了分析,并利用实时荧光定量PCR检测SuSy基因在不同组织中的表达规律。结果表明:(1)白及SuSy基因长度为2 215 bp,编码737个氨基酸,与铁皮石斛、文心兰和蝴蝶兰的蛋白质氨基酸序列的相似性分别为97%、92%和95%。(2)生物信息学分析表明,SuSy蛋白质序列具有较高的亲水性,与拟南芥SuSy蛋白质氨基酸三级结构一致性为75.2%;系统进化树分析发现,白及SuSy蛋白与铁皮石斛处于同一个分支上。(3) qRT-PCR结果表明,SuSy基因在叶片中的表达量最高,块茎中的表达量最低;成熟叶片的表达量高于未成熟叶片的表达量;数据差异性分析显示,SuSy基因在根、块茎中表达量具有极显著性差异,但在一年生叶和二年生叶中的表达量无显著性差异,幼苗叶和一、二年生叶中表达量具有极显著性差异。由此推测,SuSy基因可能受生长发育的诱导,是调控白及生长发育关键基因。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.