石榴木质素合成相关基因PgMYB308的克隆和表达分析

该研究以‘红玉石籽’(Punica granatumcv.Hongyushizi)石榴为试验材料,采用RACE和RT-PCR方法,获得与木质素的合成相关基因PgMYB308。PgMYB308基因cDNA全长792bp,编码263个氨基酸。分子量为29.56kD,理论等电点为9.07。序列比对和功能域分析发现,PgMYB308包含R2和R3保守域,以及C1、C2、C4和锌指基序。系统进化树分析显示,PgMYB308与其他物种起源相同,而与桉树EgMYB308亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR分析表明,PgMYB308在茎、叶和种子等组织中均有表达,其中茎中表达量最高,叶片中表达量最低;PgMYB308在‘突尼斯软籽’中表达最高,而在‘红玉石籽’和‘白玉石籽’中表达量较低;PgMYB308在‘红玉石籽’籽粒的不同时期均有表达,但在花后20d相对表达量最高,以后随发育进程呈现逐渐下降的趋势。     

石榴种皮总木质素含量及PgCOMT基因的克隆与表达

为探讨石榴(Punica granatumL.)籽粒硬度与种皮总木质素含量的相关性及种皮COMT基因的表达方式,利用Texture Analyser质构仪和巯基乙酸法测定6个品种的成熟籽粒硬度及种皮总木质素含量。结果表明,6个石榴品种的籽粒硬度与种皮总木质素含量呈正相关,相关系数为0.9246。采用RACE技术从石榴种皮中克隆得到1条长度为1456 bp的PgCOMT基因cDNA序列(GenBank登录号为KJ713968)。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,PgCOMT在‘红玉石籽’、‘粉皮’、‘会理软籽’、‘蒙自甜’和‘突尼斯软籽’石榴种皮中的相对表达量与石榴籽粒硬度较为一致;随着石榴种皮的发育其表达量先下降后上升。这为深入了解石榴软籽性状的产生机理奠定了基础。     

石榴种皮木质素合成相关转录因子基因PgMYB的克隆与表达

为初步探讨石榴(Punica granatum L.)籽粒硬度产生机理及转录因子基因PgMYB在石榴种皮木质素生物合成途径中的作用,测定了不同石榴品种籽粒硬度及种皮总木质素含量并分析两者关系,利用RT-PCR结合RACE技术,克隆了‘红玉石籽’石榴的1个MYB转录因子基因(PgMYB),通过实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了PgMYB的相对表达量。结果表明:(1)石榴籽粒硬度与种皮总木质素含量呈显著正相关关系,相关系数为0.906。(2)PgMYB基因cDNA全长1 088bp,开放阅读框921bp,编码蛋白由306个氨基酸组成,N端具有2个MYB DNA结合结构域,是植物中一个典型的R2R3-MYB转录因子;同源分析显示,该基因编码的氨基酸序列与银合欢的MYB1和拟南芥的MYB4一致性分别高达89%和84%。(3)在不同籽粒硬度石榴品种中PgMYB的表达与籽粒硬度和种皮总木质素含量呈负相关关系。(4)在石榴各个发育时期中,PgMYB表达与种皮总木质素含量同样呈负相关关系。推测该基因可能抑制石榴种皮总木质素的生物合成。     

石榴果色合成相关基因CHS和CHI的表达特性分析

花色苷是类黄酮家族中重要的一类次生代谢产物,对果实呈色起重要作用。CHS (查尔酮合成酶)和CHI (查尔酮异构酶)为花色苷合成提供了前体物质,是花色苷合成所不可或缺的。利用RT-PCR和RACE方法,本研究从石榴果皮中克隆了与花色苷合成相关的CHS基因和CHI基因的cDNA全长,同时采用qRT-PCR研究了这两个基因在三个不同色泽石榴品种‘红宝石’、‘水晶甜’、‘墨石榴’发育期内的表达模式,并分析了果皮花色苷含量变化与基因转录水平的关系。结果表明,石榴中CHS和CHI基因cDNA全长分别为1 197 bp和693 bp,分别编码398和230个氨基酸,命名为PgCHS和PgCHI,在GenBank中的登录号分别为KF841615和KF841616。在氨基酸水平上,Pg CHS与荔枝、葡萄、山竹等果树的同源性达到90%以上。Pg CHI与果树中龙眼、梨、美洲葡萄、桑树等同源性达到70%以上。qRT-PCR结果显示,CHS和CHI基因的表达模式随色泽发育期和品种不同而有差异。在‘红宝石’石榴中,该两个基因都有前期和后期两个表达高峰期;而‘水晶甜’石榴中这两个基因的表达高峰期均出现在中后期;‘墨石榴’发育初期时CHS和CHI的表达量最高,以后的表达量都较低。同一品种内,CHS和CHI的表达具有协同性,两者的协同性表达有利于花色苷及其他类黄酮相关产物的合成。3个品种中CHS和CHI基因的表达与花色苷的积累并不一致。     

石榴PgGPX基因克隆及盐胁迫下的表达分析

该研究以‘红玉石籽’籽粒为材料,通过RACE技术克隆了石榴GPX基因,利用Real-time PCR检测石榴在不同器官中及石榴叶片在盐胁迫处理下的相对表达量。结果表明:(1)PgGPX基因cDNA全长872bp,其中开放阅读框504bp,编码168个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,该蛋白具有植物GPX的典型结构,与可可树、荔枝、甜橙、玉米等植物的GPX基因相比,具有较高的一致性,分别为90.30%、87.40%、86.80%、86.20%。(2)PgGPX在石榴的叶片、花瓣和籽粒中均有所表达,且具有组织特异性,在盐胁迫下,石榴叶片中的PgGPX表达量显著上升。推测PgGPX基因在胁迫反应中可能发挥重要作用。     

‘砀山酥梨’及其褐色果皮芽变PbXET基因克隆与表达分析

为研究‘砀山酥梨’及其褐皮芽变木葡聚糖转葡糖苷酶基因(PbXET)表达水平差异,该实验利用RACE技术,克隆了梨PbXET基因;采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,分析了梨树叶片、果皮和果肉等不同组织及花后不同时期果皮中PbXET基因表达差异。结果表明:(1)梨PbXET3(KJ690921)和PbXET4(KJ690922)开放阅读框分别为903bp和891bp,分别编码300和296个氨基酸;氨基酸序列聚类分析显示,PbXET3与苹果MdXET-3以及PbXET4与苹果MdXET-5的亲缘关系最近。(2)半定量PCR分析显示,花后150d,PbXET3和PbXET4基因在‘砀山酥梨’和‘锈酥’不同组织中均有表达,且PbXET3在叶片中表达量很低,在果皮、果肉中表达相对较强,其中叶片中PbXET3表达量低于PbXET4,而果肉和果皮中PbXET3的表达均明显高于PbXET4。(3)荧光定量PCR分析发现,在‘砀山酥梨’和‘锈酥’果皮中,PbXET3和PbXET4基因不同时期的表达量变化趋势不同;与‘砀山酥梨’相比,果皮颜色发生变化(花后100d)之后,‘锈酥’果皮中PbXET3表达量骤减;而果皮颜色发生变化(花后100d)之前,PbXET4表达量均显著降低。由此推测,PbXET3和PbXET4基因参与了‘锈酥’果皮褐色形成的调节,其表达水平差异可能是改变‘锈酥’表皮细胞结构的重要原因之一。     

2个石榴品种果皮花色苷合成相关基因表达分析

以2个不同红色石榴品种‘红宝石’和‘墨石榴’为试验材料,采用荧光定量PCR方法,分析花色苷合成相关基因CHS、CHI、F3H、DFR、ANS、UFGT等6个基因在果实发育过程中的转录表达特性,同时分析基因表达量与果皮花色苷积累的关系。结果表明:(1)在整个果实发育期内‘墨石榴’花色苷含量明显高于‘红宝石’;随着果实的发育,‘红宝石’果皮中总花色苷含量不断增加,而‘墨石榴’中总花色苷含量初期很高,随后迅速下降,后期维持在较低水平。(2)‘红宝石’中CHS、CHI、F3H、DFR、UFGT等5个基因均在果实发育的早期和晚期出现2个表达高峰,而ANS基因的表达量在整个果实发育期内不断升高;在‘墨石榴’中CHS、CHI、F3H、DFR、ANS等5个基因的表达高峰均出现在早期,随着果实的发育表达量均呈下降变化趋势,但UFGT基因在中期时表达量最高。(3)‘红宝石’石榴的ANS基因表达量与总花色苷含量呈显著正相关,‘墨石榴’中CHS和ANS基因的表达水平与总花色苷含量显著相关。研究认为,花色苷合成相关基因的初期和末期表达差异是2个石榴品种着色差异的主要原因,ANS在‘红宝石’着色中起关键作用,CHS和ANS可能在‘墨石榴’花色苷积累中起重要作用。     

石榴赤霉素合成相关基因PgKO的克隆及表达分析

该研究以‘红玉石籽’(Punica granatum cv.Hongyushizi)石榴为试验材料,采用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从石榴花中克隆得到赤霉素合成关键酶——内根贝壳杉烯氧化酶(KO)基因,命名为PgKO(GenBank登录号为MG208017)。PgKO全长cDNA为1 729bp,包含1 542bp开放阅读框(ORF),编码513个氨基酸,相对分子量为141.16kD,理论等电点为4.9。多重序列对比显示,PgKO与苹果MdKO、白梨PcKO、葡萄VvKO的相似性分别为61.28%、64.56%和73%,并且具有CYP450结构域(脯氨酸富含域、氧还原位点和血红素结合域)。系统进化树分析表明,PgKO与其他物种的起源相同,并与桉树EgKO的亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR发现,在石榴蕾期和盛花期,PgKO基因的表达量均为筒状花高于钟状花,且PgKO基因在两种花型的子房、花药、花萼中均有表达,但筒状花中子房的表达量最高,花萼的表达量最低;钟状花中花药的表达量最高,子房的表达量最低。     

‘黄花’梨及其芽变‘绿黄花’梨HHT基因克隆与表达分析

该试验以砂梨品种‘黄花’梨（果皮褐色）及其芽变‘绿黄花’梨（果皮绿色）盛花后第8周的果皮为试材,利用常规PCR和巢式PCR技术克隆了ω 羟基棕榈酸O 阿魏酰转移酶（ω hydroxypalmitate O feruloyl transferase, HHT）基因cDNA的全长,命名为 PpyHHT（登录号为KX131155）。序列分析结果表明,该基因开放阅读框（ORF）为1 335 bp,编码444个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,推定的PpyHHT蛋白质相对分子质量为49.91 kD,等电点是4.75,与白梨相似性高达98%,亲缘关系最近。实时荧光定量PCR（qRT PCR）表达分析显示,2种梨果皮中 PpyHHT基因在盛花后6~9周的4个转色关键期表达量不断变化,在‘黄花’梨果皮中的表达量明显高于‘绿黄花’梨。推测 PpyHHT基因可能参与砂梨果实褐色/绿色性状的形成。     

‘砀山酥梨’及其褐皮芽变果皮中多胺类物质含量和相关基因表达分析

为研究多胺类物质在‘砀山酥梨’芽变品系‘锈酥’果皮褐色形成中的作用,以‘砀山酥梨’和‘锈酥’花后不同时期果皮为试材,采用HPLC方法测定果皮中多胺类物质的含量,利用RACE技术克隆多胺合成过程中的关键基因,通过Protparam网站与MEGA5.0软件分析相关基因蛋白的理化性质及其系统进化,用荧光定量qRT-PCR方法分析不同时期果皮中相关基因的相对表达量。结果表明:(1)除花后50和150d外,其它时期‘砀山酥梨’果皮中腐胺含量均显著高于‘锈酥’,花后50d、75d、150d时,‘锈酥’果皮中的亚精胺、精胺含量显著高于‘砀山酥梨’果皮。(2)克隆出多胺合成的基因ADC、SPDS和SPMS(GenBank登录号分别为KM923903、KM923905和KM923906),预测ADC和SPMS均为水溶性蛋白、SPDS为疏水性蛋白,它们与苹果的亲缘关系最近。(3)荧光定量PCR结果显示,花后50d,多胺合成中ADC、SPDS和SPMS在‘锈酥’果皮中表达量均显著高于‘砀山酥梨’。研究推测,‘锈酥’果皮中多胺代谢及相关基因的上调表达可能与‘锈酥’的果皮褐色形成有关。     

Catabolism of 4-Hydroxyacids and 4-Hydroxynonenal via 4-Hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs

4-Hydroxyacids are products of ubiquitously occurring lipid peroxidation (C₉, C₆) or drugs of abuse (C₄, C₅). We investigated the catabolism of these compounds using a combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis. Livers were perfused with various concentrations of unlabeled and labeled saturated 4-hydroxyacids (C₄ to C₁₁) or 4-hydroxynonenal. All the compounds tested form a new class of acyl-CoA esters, 4-hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs, characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, accurate mass spectrometry, and ³¹P-NMR. All 4-hydroxyacids with five or more carbons are metabolized by two new pathways. The first and major pathway, which involves 4-hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs, leads in six steps to the isomerization of 4-hydroxyacyl-CoA to 3-hydroxyacyl-CoAs. The latter are intermediates of physiological β-oxidation. The second and minor pathway involves a sequence of β-oxidation, α-oxidation, and β-oxidation steps. In mice deficient in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, high plasma concentrations of 4-hydroxybutyrate result in high concentrations of 4-hydroxy-4-phospho-butyryl-CoA in brain and liver. The high concentration of 4-hydroxy-4-phospho-butyryl-CoA may be related to the cerebral dysfunction of subjects ingesting 4-hydroxybutyrate and to the mental retardation of patients with 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria. Our data illustrate the potential of the combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis for pathway discovery.     

Leukotriene B4, C4, D4 and E4 inactivation by hydroxyl radicals

Leukotriene B4 chemotactic activity and leukotriene C4, D4 and E4 slow reacting substance activity were rapidly decreased by hydroxyl radicals generated by two different iron-supplemented acetaldehyde-xanthine oxidase systems. At low Fe2+, leukotriene inactivation was inhibited by catalase, superoxide dismutase, mannitol and ethanol, suggesting involvement of hydroxyl radicals generated by the iron-catalyzed interaction of superoxide and H2O2 (Haber-Weiss reaction). Leukotriene inactivation increased at high Fe2+ concentrations, but was no longer inhibitable by superoxide dismutase, suggesting that inactivation resulted from a direct interaction between H2O2 and Fe2+ to form hydroxyl radicals (Fenton reaction). The inactivation of leukotrienes by hydroxyl radicals suggests that oxygen metabolites generated by phagocytes may play a role in modulating leukotriene activity.     

Glutathione transferase A4-4 resists adduction by 4-hydroxynonenal

4-Hydroxy-2-trans-nonenal (HNE) is a lipid peroxidation product that contributes to the pathophysiology of several diseases with components of oxidative stress. The electrophilic nature of HNE results in covalent adduct formation with proteins, fatty acids and DNA. However, it remains unclear whether enzymes that metabolize HNE avoid inactivation by it. Glutathione transferase A4-4 (GST A4-4) plays a significant role in the elimination of HNE by conjugating it with glutathione (GSH), with catalytic activity toward HNE that is dramatically higher than the homologous GST A1-1 or distantly related GSTs. To determine whether enzymes that metabolize HNE resist its covalent adduction, the rates of adduction of these GST isoforms were compared and the functional effects of adduction on catalytic properties were determined. Although GST A4-4 and GST A1-1 have striking structural similarity, GST A4-4 was insensitive to adduction by HNE under conditions that yield modest adduction of GST A1-1 and extensive adduction of GST P1-1. Furthermore, adduction of GST P1-1 by HNE eliminated its activity toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and toward HNE itself. HNE effects on GST A4-4 and A1-1 were less significant. The results indicate that enzymes that metabolize HNE may have evolved structurally to resist covalent adduction by it.     

A short path to synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoroglucosaminides: methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide

A convenient method of synthesis of 1,6-anhydro-4-deoxy-2-O-tosyl-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose by fusion of 1,6;3,4-dianhydro-2-O-tosyl-beta-D-galactopyranose with 2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium fluoride was found. By successive action of ammonia, methyl trifluoroacetate, and acetic anhydride, the resulting compound was transformed into 1,6-anhydro-3-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose, which was converted into 3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride by the reaction with HF/Py. The resulting fluoride was further used as a glycosyl donor in the synthesis of methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide.     

Hydration pattern of A4T4 and T4A4 DNA: a molecular dynamics study

Hydration pattern and energetics of 'A-tract' containing duplexes have been studied using molecular dynamics on 12-mer self-complementary sequences 5'-d(GCA4T4GC)-3' and 5'-d(CGT4A4CG)-3'. The structural features for the simulated duplexes showed correlation with the corresponding experimental structures. Analysis of the hydration pattern confirmed that water network around the simulated duplexes is more conformation specific rather than sequence specific. The calculated heat capacity change upon duplex formation showed that the process is entropically driven for both the sequences. Furthermore, the theoretical free energy estimates calculated using MMPBSA approach showed a higher net electrostatic contribution for A4T4 duplex formation than for T4A4, however, energetically both the duplexes are observed to be equally stable.     

Human C4 haplotypes with duplicated C4A or C4B

In the course of study of families for the sixth chromosome markers HLA-A, C, B, D/DR, BF, and C2, the two loci for C4, C4A, and C4B, and glyoxalase I, we encountered five examples of probable duplication of one or the other of the two loci for C4. In one of these, both parents and one sib expressed two different structural genes for C4B, one sib expressed one, and one sib expressed none, suggesting that two C4B alleles were carried on a single haplotype: HLA-A2, B7, DR3, BFS1, C2C, C4A2, C4B1, C4B2, GLO1. In a second case, two siblings inherited C4B*1 and C4B*2 from one parent and C4B*Q0 from the other. This duplication appeared on the chromosome as HLA-AW33, B14, DR1, BFS, C2C, C4A2, C4B1, C4B2, GLO2. In a third, very large family with 3 generations, a duplication of the C4B locus occurred which was followed in 2 generations. In one individual, there were three C4B alleles and two C4A alleles. One of the C4B alleles had a hemolytically active product with electrophoretic mobility near C4B2 and was designated C4B*22. It segregated with C4B1 in the family studied. The complete haplotype was HLA-A11, CW1, BW56, DR5, BFS, C2C, C4A3, C4B22, C4B1, GLO2. In another family with 12 siblings, one parent and eight children expressed two C4A alleles on the haplotype HLA-AW30, BW38, DR1, BFF, C2C, C4A3, C4A2, C4BQ0, GLO1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Non-cross-reactivity of antibodies to murine LDH-C4 with LDH-A4 and LDH-B4

The induction of infertility by immunization with the sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase, LDH-C4, suggests its use in a contraceptive vaccine. Development of an immunological contraceptive for human use, however, requires that there be no cross-reactions with somatic tissues. We have demonstrated, using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbence, solid-phase radioimmunoassay, and competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay, that antisera to LDH-C4 is specific and does not cross-react with the somatic isozymes, LDH-A4 and LDH-B4.     

Genetics of complement C4. Two homoduplication haplotypes C4S C4S and C4F C4F in a family

Summary A family in which two homoduplicated C4 haplotypes (or supergenes) segregate is described. One haplotype C4F ^* 3 C4F ^*2.2 is composed of two C4F alleles and the other C4S ^* 5.1 C4S ^*1 of two C4S alleles. The C4F duplication haplotype is a partial inhibitor of the Rodgers antigen, and judged from our family and population material, it seems to be rather frequent and associated with HLAB ^*35, Bf ^* F, and HLAD/DR ^*1. The C4S duplication haplotype is Rg(a-) and is not identified in individuals without another S, Ch(a+) variant.This work was supported by grant No 12-1727 from the Danish Medical Research Council     

Structure and stability of sodium and potassium complexes of dT4G4 and dT4G4T.

The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes contain specialized structures that include DNA with multiple tandem repeats of simple sequences containing clusters of G on one strand, together with proteins which synthesize and bind to these sequences. The unit repeat in the protozoan Oxytricha with the cluster dT4G4 can form structures containing tetrads of guanine residues, referred to G4 DNA, in the presence of metal ions such as Na+ or K+. We show here that, in the presence of Na+, dT4G4 forms a tetramer with parallel strands by means of a UV cross-linking assay. In the presence of K+, two further interactions are observed: at low temperature, higher order complexes are formed, provided the 3' end of the strand is G; a single 3'T inhibits this association in dT4G4T. At high temperature, these complexes dissociate, leading to a tetramer with a different ordered structure that melts only at very high temperatures. These results suggest that the cohesive properties of DNA containing G clusters might depend on associative interactions driven by a free 3'G terminus in the presence of K+, as well as by connecting antiparallel G hairpins as has been postulated.