Cyp19a1基因在中华鳖早期卵巢分化中的功能研究

芳香化酶是雌激素合成的关键酶,在非哺乳类脊椎动物的早期雌性性腺分化中起重要的调控作用.本研究首先分析了中华鳖(Pelodiscus sinensis)芳香化酶编码基因Cyp19a1在不同组织及不同发育时期雌雄胚胎性腺中的表达情况;其次,利用芳香化酶抑制剂(AI)和慢病毒RNA干扰及过表达技术,进行Cyp19a1基因的功能验证研究.研究结果表明,Cyp19a1基因在中华鳖成体卵巢组织中高度特异性表达,睾丸和心、肝、脾、肺、肾、肌、肠中未见表达.同时发现,Cyp19a1基因在第18期就呈现雌性性腺特异性表达,早于性腺分化启动时间(第19期).功能缺失实验表明,经过AI及Cyp19a1-shRNA处理后,ZW胚胎性腺皮质区退化,髓质区高度发育,形成原始性索结构,呈现雌性向雄性性逆转现象;同时雌性标记基因Foxl2的表达量下调,雄性标记基因Amh的表达量则显著上调.功能获得实验则表明,Cyp19a1过表达后的ZZ型性腺皮质区高度发育,髓质区退化,形成空洞结构,呈典型雌性特征,同时Foxl2基因的表达量上升,Amh的表达量显著降低.综上所述,本文证明了Cyp19a1是中华鳖早期卵巢分化的关键调控因子,为中华鳖性别分化机制研究奠定了基础.     

Sox8基因过表达诱导中华鳖ZW性腺的雄性分化

为了研究Sox8基因在中华鳖性别分化中的功能,研究利用慢病毒介导的过表达载体,在性别分化前的雌性中华鳖中过表达Sox8。通过组织学分析和生殖细胞标记蛋白VASA的免疫荧光染色发现在Sox8过表达后,50%的ZW性腺髓质区发育出睾丸特有的、含有生殖细胞的性索结构; qRT-PCR和免疫荧光结果显示雌性特异性基因Foxl2和Cyp19a1表达量显著降低,而调控睾丸发育的Dmrt1、Sox9和Amh基因表达上调。实验结果表明Sox8的过表达诱导ZW胚胎性腺往雄性方向分化,揭示了Sox8在中华鳖睾丸分化过程中的作用。     

大口黑鲈amh基因全长cDNA克隆、表达及多克隆抗体制备

为研究大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)抗缪勒氏管激素(amh)基因的表达及其在性腺发育中的潜在作用,研究利用RACE技术克隆得到了大口黑鲈amh基因,并制备Amh多克隆抗体,通过qRT-PCR、Western Blot分析Amh在大口黑鲈不同组织和不同发育阶段性腺中的表达模式,最后利用HE染色法和免疫组化观察不同发育阶段性腺的形态组织学变化及其与Amh表达的潜在关系。结果显示:大口黑鲈amh基因cDNA序列全长2050 bp,由24 bp5′非编码区、394 bp3′非编码区和1632 bp的开放阅读框组成,共编码543个氨基酸。amh基因mRNA在大口黑鲈11个组织中均有表达,其中雄鱼精巢中表达量最高,肌肉次之,雌鱼卵巢中表达量最高,肌肉次之。amh基因在雌雄鱼不同发育阶段的性腺中表达存在显著差异,精巢中表达量均显著高于卵巢(P<0.05)。同时, Western Blot结果显示Amh蛋白在精巢中表达丰度较高。amh基因在精巢中的表达量呈先上升后下降的趋势,且在孵化后65d鱼精巢中其表达量达到最高(P<0.05),免疫组化结果显示Amh表达于早期精...     

重要转录因子FoxO3a在斑马鱼性腺中的表达分析

FoxO蛋白作为Forkhead Box家族的重要一员,在动物的生长发育、细胞分化、代谢、免疫和凋亡等方面起重要作用,研究发现FoxO蛋白是哺乳动物卵泡发育的重要调节因子.通过检测雌雄斑马鱼性腺中foxo3a基因的表达情况,初步研究FoxO在鱼类生殖发育中的作用.PCR和蛋白免疫杂交结果都显示foxo3a基因在斑马鱼雌性性腺中的表达量要明显高于雄性.这一结果提示,foxo3a基因在斑马鱼的卵巢发育中可能发挥重要作用.     

性别及日龄对转人神经生长因子基因小鼠唾液中蛋白分泌的影响

神经生长因子(Nerve growth factor,NGF)是一种能促进神经元发育、分化、再生的蛋白。为高效生产药效更佳的人源NGF (hNGF)药物,最近,笔者实验室构建出唾液腺特异表达hNGF的转基因小鼠,并从该转基因小鼠唾液中纯化获得具有高生物学活性的h NGF蛋白。为了选择性别和日龄最适宜的转hNGF基因小鼠用于收集纯化hNGF蛋白,文中比较了28日龄(性成熟前)雄性、雌性,63日龄(性成熟后)雄性、雌性转hNGF基因小鼠,共4组转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液量、唾液总蛋白量、唾液鼠源NGF (mNGF)蛋白量和唾液h NGF蛋白量等指标。结果显示,63日龄的转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液量、唾液总蛋白量、唾液mNGF蛋白量和唾液hNGF蛋白量显著高于28日龄同一性别的转hNGF基因小鼠,且63日龄的雄性转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液hNGF蛋白量显著高于同一日龄的雌性转hNGF基因小鼠;在4组小鼠中,63日龄的雄性转hNGF基因小鼠分泌的唾液hNGF含量最高,比28日龄雌性转hNGF基因小鼠高出约46倍,最适宜用于收集唾液并从中纯化hNGF。     

鸡胚公母性腺差异表达基因的基因芯片杂交筛选

采用Affymetrix公司鸡基因组芯片对9日龄鸡胚公母性腺总RNA进行了芯片杂交, 并对基因表达谱进行了分析。统计结果显示, 9日龄母鸡性腺表达基因数19 368个, 公鸡性腺表达基因数19 493个; 公母性腺绝对差异表达基因,即公鸡性腺表达而母鸡性腺不表达基因145个, 母鸡性腺表达而公鸡性腺不表达基因189个。绝对差异表达基因功能分类结果显示, 参与细胞组成、细胞加工和分子结合基因占多数, 部分基因参与细胞器组成、代谢加工、生物学调控以及催化反应和细胞信号转导等。值得注意的是, 本研究发现了一些已经报道同性别决定和分化有一定关联的基因, 如ASW、CHD1和SOX9等, 同时也发现了一些未知其同性腺分化和发育有关联的基因和编码假想蛋白的表达序列。进一步分析这些基因和表达序列的生物学功能和表达模式, 将对鸟类性别决定和分化机制的了解提供有益参考。     

琥珀蚕丝腺转录因子基因AaSGF-1的克隆、原核表达及组织表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在克隆琥珀蚕Antheraea assama丝腺转录因子基因AaSGF-1,分析其序列特征及表达模式并制备多克隆抗体,为探讨该基因的生理功能奠定基础。【方法】采用RT-PCR和RACE技术从琥珀蚕丝腺中克隆AaSGF-1的cDNA序列,并进行生物信息学分析;利用qPCR检测AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕5龄第4天幼虫不同组织(头、中肠、脂肪体、丝腺、血液、表皮)中的表达模式;构建原核表达质粒载体,在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21中表达AaSGF-1,利用纯化的融合蛋白免疫新西兰兔子,获得高效的抗体。利用免疫荧光技术检测AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕蚁蚕丝腺和表皮及4龄幼虫丝腺中的表达情况。【结果】克隆了琥珀蚕AaSGF-1的cDNA序列(GenBank登录号： MK889510.1),开放阅读框(ORF)序列长1 050 bp,编码349个氨基酸残基,预测蛋白分子质量为38.8 kD,理论等电点(pI)为8.74。qPCR检测结果显示AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕5龄幼虫丝腺组织尤其是后部丝腺中高量表达,而在其他组织中几乎不表达。免疫荧光结果表明AaSGF-1在蚁蚕及4龄幼虫的丝腺中表达。【结论】本研究原核表达了琥珀蚕AaSGF-1,制备了多克隆抗体,证实了AaSGF-1在琥珀蚕幼虫的丝腺中高表达,为进一步研究该基因在琥珀蚕丝腺发育及丝蛋白合成中的作用奠定了基础。     

八眉猪、长白猪及长×八杂交猪肌肉组织中FoxO1基因的表达

分别取6月龄八眉、长白和 (长×八)杂交猪后腿部比目鱼肌、腓肠肌和趾长伸肌, 提取总RNA, 根据人、黑猩猩及大鼠等物种FoxO1基因同源序列设计并合成引物, 以猪b-actin 基因作为内参, 优化反应条件和体系, RT-PCR 单管扩增猪FoxO1基因, 检测八眉、长白和长×八杂交猪不同类型骨骼肌中FoxO1基因mRNA的表达差异。结果表明: 在不同经济类型猪群和不同类型骨骼肌中FoxO1基因mRNA的表达丰度不同, 即在八眉 猪骨骼肌中的表达普遍高于长白猪 (P<0.01), 在杂交组合 (长×八)骨骼肌中的表达也高于长白猪 (P<0.01); 同时在以Ⅰ型纤维为主的比目鱼肌中表达丰度最低(P<0.01), 在以Ⅱb型纤维为主的趾长伸肌中表达丰度最高(P<0.01)。结果提示, FoxO1基因的表达与Ⅰ型肌纤维的含量成反比; 不同经济类型猪品种骨骼肌的发育与FoxO1基因的调控有关。     

Molecular characterization and tissue expression profiles of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in Chinese alligator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alligator sinensis</Emphasis> during the active and hibernating periods

The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis (Fauvel, 1879) is an endangered species endemic to China. Up to this date, very little is known about the regulation of its growth and development. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) plays essential roles in regulating vertebrate growth and development by modulating IGFs action. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of Chinese alligator IGFBP-1 (caIGFBP-1) for the first time, which has an open reading frame (ORF) of 885-bp nucleotides encoding a peptide of 294 amino acid residues. The caIGFBP-1 contains all features of IGFBP-1 peptide with the conserved cysteine-rich N- and C-terminal domains and variable central L-domain. Multiple alignment analysis showed that caIGFBP-1 shares high identity in amino acid sequence with the IGFBP-1 s of American alligator Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802) (99.32%) and birds (66.32–74.53%). Phylogenetic tree analysis of IGFBP-1 amino acid sequences indicated that alligators cluster into bird branch. The caIGFBP-1 is widely expressed in all the examined tissues, the expression level is highest in liver, higher in kidney, moderate in pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and lower in ovary, muscle, lung, heart. During the hibernating period, the expression level of caIGFBP-1 was significantly reduced in liver, kidney, stomach, pancreas and small intestine, while did not significantly change in heart, lung, ovary and muscle. The caIGFBP-1 mRNA expression changes during the active and hibernating periods, which coincides with that of Chinese alligator IGF, implicating that it might play important roles in the IGF-mediated growth and development of Chinese alligator.     

扬子鳄的起源

介绍了现存鳄彼此间的亲缘关系、扬子鳄起源的时间和地点。主要结论可归纳如下：①现存鳄类在科、属、种分类上都存在不同意见;②扬子鳄与密河鳄被分在同一属内,但两者之间的亲缘关系存在争议,两者在形态、生化、细胞、分子生物学上差异很大;③Stell认为扬子鳄在中新世开始出现,作者认为它可能起源于渐新世或中新世早期;④Stell认为分布于北美的汤氏鳄（A.thomsoni)可能是扬子鳄的祖先类型,而另一些学者认为扬子鳄起源于亚洲的可能性更大些。     

团头鲂foxO基因家族的序列特征及表达分析

为了研究鱼类foxO(Forkhead box O)基因的功能, 基于组学测序及PCR扩增获得了团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)foxO家族7个基因, foxO1a/b、foxO3a/b、foxO4和foxO6a/b的编码序列, 分别为1965、1892、1929、1959、1878、1803和2157 bp。SMART结构域分析显示该家族基因属于典型的FoxO家族蛋白, 具有保守的Forkhead、FOXO_KIX_bdg和 FOXO-TAD结构域。系统进化分析显示, 团头鲂FoxO与其他鲤科鱼类的同源基因具有较高的相似性。基于qPCR分析显示7个基因在所检测的9个组织中均有表达, 但在各组织间存在表达差异, 其中foxO4在血液中表达量最高, foxO6a在肝脏中表达量最高, 而foxO6b在脑中表达量最高。在胚胎早期发育过程中, foxO1a和foxO1b、foxO3a和foxO3b、foxO6a和foxO6b的表达模式类似; 而foxO4在发育早期, 除了体节出现期、眼色素沉淀晚期、体节生成期和受精后10d表达量高外, 其他时期表达量都比较低。经急性低氧处理后, 团头鲂foxO家族基因的表达水平在所检测的大部分组织中呈现显著上调趋势, 尤其是在肌肉组织中。基于JASPAR分析显示foxO家族基因都包含有Hif-1α结合位点, 利用双荧光素酶报告系统对foxO1b启动子进行了验证, 发现该基因受到Hif-1α调控。这些结果说明foxO基因可能通过Hif-1α介导的途径在团头鲂低氧应激中发挥重要作用。     

扬子鳄的现状与保护

扬子鳄为我国特有的珍稀爬行动物,被我国政府列为国家一级保护,在我国有关它的记载已有三千多年的历史。古典文献把它记作“鼍’,民间称为“土龙”、“猪婆龙”,拉丁学名叫Alligatorsinensis。据史料记载,约五百多年前,它在长江中下游种群分布稠密,分布区范围约在东经11     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Laminin and Cytokeratin in Embryonic Alligator Gonads

Gonadal sex differentiation is temperature-dependent in Alligator mississippiensis; testis differentiation occurs in embryos incubated at 33°C and ovary differentiation occurs in embryos incubated at 30°C. Laminin and cytokeratin were examined immunohistochemically in the gonads of alligator embryos incubated at these temperatures. The aim of this study was to determine whether these structural proteins show the same sex-specific expression patterns reported for mammalian embryos, and to assess their usefulness as early markers of gonadal differentiation in species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Laminin delineated enlarged seminiferous cords in differentiating testes from developmental stage 23 to hatching. Laminin distribution was more diffuse and revealed smaller cords of cells in differentiating ovaries. Cytokeratin was also detected in developing gonads of both sexes. Cytokeratin became concentrated in the basal cytoplasm of differentiating Sertoli cells in developing testes. In developing ovaries, prefollicular cells of the ovarian cortex and cell cords in the medulla stained strongly for cytokeratin. Cytokeratin did not show the same basal distribution in female medullary cord cells as seen in the Sertoli cells of testes, however. These sex-specific patterns of laminin and cytokeratin distribution in embryonic alligator gonads may serve as early markers of sexual differentiation.     

扬子鳄的营养成份初步分析

对扬子鳄肌肉、脂肪及血粉有关营养成份作了较全面分析检测。结果表明鳄肌肉和血粉中粗蛋白含量高,且含氨基酸种类齐全和多种必需微量元素,其营养丰富,生物学价值高;鳄贮脂中不饱和脂肪酸占总脂肪酸的７１４％,富含多种高级不饱和脂肪酸,其营养价值高于其他兽类油,具有保健作用。     

Developmental morphology of the neonatal alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) ovary

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) ovary development is incomplete at hatching. During the months following hatching, the cortical processes of oogenesis started in ovo continues and folliculogenesis is initiated. Additionally, the medullary region of the gonad undergoes dramatic restructuring. We describe alligator ovarian histology at hatching, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months of age in order to characterize the timing of morphological development and compare these findings to chicken ovary development. At hatching, the ovarian cortex presents a germinal epithelium containing oogonia and a few primary oocytes irregularly scattered between somatic epithelial cells. The hatchling medulla shows fragmentation indicative of the formation of lacunae. By 1 week of age, oocytes form growing nests and show increased interactions with somatic cells, indicative of the initiation of folliculogenesis. Medullary lacunae increase in diameter and contain secretory material in their lumen. At 1 month, nest sizes and lacunar diameters continue to enlarge. Pachytene oocytes surrounded by somatic cells are more frequent. Trabeculae composed of dense irregular connective tissue divide cortical nests. Three months after hatching oocytes in meiotic stages of prophase I up to diplotene are present. The ovary displays many enlarged follicles with oocytes in diplotene arrest, thecal layers, lampbrush chromosomes, and complete layers of follicular cells. The medulla is an elaborated complex of vascularized lacunae underlying the cortex and often containing discrete lymphoid aggregates. While the general morphology of the alligator ovary is similar to that of the chicken ovary, the progression of oogenesis and folliculogenesis around hatching is notably slower in alligators. Diplotene oocytes are observed at hatching in chickens, but not until 3 months in alligators. Folliculogenesis is completed at 3 weeks in chickens whereas it is still progressing at 3 months in alligators.     

Growth rates of Chinese and American alligators

Growth rates in two closely related species, Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator) and Alligator sinensis (Chinese alligator), were compared under identical conditions for at least 1 year after hatching. When hatched, Chinese alligators were approximately 2/3 the length and approximately 1/2 the weight of American alligator hatchlings. At the end of 1 year of growth in captivity in heated chambers, the Chinese alligators were approximately 1/2 as long and weighed approximately 1/10 as much as American alligator yearlings. When the animals were maintained at 31 degrees C, Chinese alligator food consumption and length gain rates dropped to near zero during autumn and winter and body weights decreased slightly, apparently in response to the change in day length. At constant temperature (31 degrees C), food consumption by American alligators remained high throughout the year. Length gain rates in American alligators decreased slowly as size increased, but were not affected by photoperiod. Daily weight gains in American alligators increased steadily throughout the year. In autumn, provision of artificial light for 18 h a day initially stimulated both length and weight gain in Chinese alligators, but did not affect growth in American alligators. Continuation of the artificial light regimen seemed to cause deleterious effects in the Chinese alligators after several months, however, so that animals exposed to the normal light cycle caught up to and then surpassed the extra-light group in size. Even after removal of the artificial light, it was several months before these extra-light animals reverted to a normal growth pattern. These findings may be of interest to those institutions engaged in captive growth programs intended to provide animals for reintroduction to the wild or to protected habitat.     

Extreme evolutionary conservation of CaSox4 gene in alligator Alligator sinensis

The SOX genes form a gene family related by homology to the high-mobility-group (HMG) box region of the testis-determining gene, SRY. Using degenerate primer PCR, we have cloned and sequenced the HMG-box motif of CaSox4 gene from genomic DNA of the Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis, a species closely related to American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. Sequence comparison showed that CaSox4 gene shared 97% homology at the nucleotide level and complete identity at the amino acid level, respectively, with AES4 gene of Alligator mississippiensis. It indicates that the Sox4 gene has been extremely conserved during evolution. The result obtained in the present study strongly suggests that the Sox4 gene did not diverge during the differentiation of two closely related alligators, which are thought to have originated from a common ancestor and have existed largely unchanged for 200-250 Myr.