4种模式植物LRR Ⅷ-2亚家族基因的鉴定和进化历史分析

全基因组重复与串联重复是发生基因重复的重要机制,也是基因组和遗传系统多样化的重要动力。LRR-RLK编码富含亮氨酸重复的类受体蛋白激酶,是被子植物进化史上发生大规模扩张而形成的多基因家族。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)AtLRR-RLK包含15个亚家族,AtLRRⅧ-2是其中发生串联重复比例最高的亚家族。通过分析拟南芥、杨树(Populustrichocarpa)、葡萄(Vitis vinifera)和番木瓜(Carica papaya) 4种模式植物中LRR Ⅷ-2亚家族基因的扩张及差异保留情况,结果显示, LRR Ⅷ-2在杨树中的扩张程度最高,在拟南芥和葡萄中的扩张程度居中,但在番木瓜中发生丢失。拟南芥、杨树和葡萄LRR Ⅷ-2亚家族具有旁系同源基因对,但在番木瓜中未发现旁系同源基因。除杨树中的1对旁系同源基因外, 4种模式植物中LRR Ⅷ-2亚家族的旁系和直系同源基因都受到较强的纯化选择作用。对LRR Ⅷ-2亚家族进化历史的深入分析有助于理解基因重复在植物进化中的作用和意义,可为预测同源基因功能及解析其它基因家族进化历史提供参考。     

E3泛素连接酶基因CG4911敲除和功能的初步研究

蛋白质的泛素化是一种重要的翻译后修饰过程,参与调控细胞周期、基因转录、信号转导、炎症反应和干细胞的维持等过程。泛素连接酶E3（ubiqutin ligase）是泛素化过程中关键酶。但许多E3基因在发育中的功能和作用机制还不明确。该研究以黑腹果蝇为模式动物,研究泛素连接酶家族一个重要基因CG4911的功能及分子机制。获得CG4911基因敲除果蝇,CG4911敲除果蝇纯合子可活。原位杂交结果显示,CG4911在胚胎发育早期表达。通过构建CG4911-pUAST-3HA重组子转染Hela细胞,确定CG4911定位于细胞质中,其表达并无修饰作用,并且过表达基因CG4911可导致背板发育缺陷。该研究首次获得了CG4911基因敲除果蝇和CG4911转基因果蝇,并初步探索了F-box基因CG4911的功能,为进一步阐明泛素连接酶的功能及分子机制提供了科学依据。     

MADS-box基因家族基因重复及其功能的多样性

基因的重复(duplication)及其功能的多样性(diversification)为生物体新的形态进化提供了原材料。MADS-box基因在植物(特别是被子植物)的进化过程中发生了大规模的基因重复事件而形成一个多基因家族。MADS-box基因家族的不同成员在植物生长发育过程中起着非常重要的作用,在调控开花时间、决定花分生组织和花器官特征以及调控根、叶、胚珠及果实的发育中起着广泛的作用。探讨MADS-box基因家族的进化历史有助于深入了解基因重复及随后其功能分化的过程和机制。本文综述了MADS-box基因家族基因重复及其功能分化式样的研究进展。     

MADS-box 基因家族基因重复及其功能的多样性

基因的重复(duplication)及其功能的多样性(diversification)为生物体新的形态进化提供了原材料。MADS-box基因在植物(特别是被子植物)的进化过程中发生了大规模的基因重复事件而形成一个多基因家族。MADS-box基因家族的不同成员在植物生长发育过程中起着非常重要的作用, 在调控开花时间、决定花分生组织和花器官特征以及调控根、叶、胚珠及果实的发育中起着广泛的作用。探讨MADS-box基因家族的进化历史有助于深入了解基因重复及随后其功能分化的过程和机制。本文综述了MADS-box基因家族基因重复及其功能分化式样的研究进展。     

4种模式植物LRR VIII-2亚家族基因的鉴定和进化历史分析

全基因组重复与串联重复是发生基因重复的重要机制, 也是基因组和遗传系统多样化的重要动力。LRR-RLK编码富含亮氨酸重复的类受体蛋白激酶, 是被子植物进化史上发生大规模扩张而形成的多基因家族。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) AtLRR-RLK包含15个亚家族, AtLRR VIII-2是其中发生串联重复比例最高的亚家族。通过分析拟南芥、杨树(Populus trichocarpa)、葡萄(Vitis vinifera)和番木瓜(Carica papaya) 4种模式植物中LRR VIII-2亚家族基因的扩张及差异保留情况, 结果显示, LRR VIII-2在杨树中的扩张程度最高, 在拟南芥和葡萄中的扩张程度居中, 但在番木瓜中发生丢失。拟南芥、杨树和葡萄LRR VIII-2亚家族具有旁系同源基因对, 但在番木瓜中未发现旁系同源基因。除杨树中的1对旁系同源基因外, 4种模式植物中LRR VIII-2亚家族的旁系和直系同源基因都受到较强的纯化选择作用。对LRR VIII-2亚家族进化历史的深入分析有助于理解基因重复在植物进化中的作用和意义, 可为预测同源基因功能及解析其它基因家族进化历史提供参考。     

东亚飞蝗UBX结构域包含蛋白基因 LmUBX2 的克隆和表达分析

【目的】UBX结构域包含蛋白是p97/CDC48的辅助因子。p97在泛素化相关的多种细胞过程中起着重要的作用,如依赖泛素 蛋白酶体系统的蛋白质降解和同型膜融合等。本研究旨在克隆东亚飞蝗 Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen)的UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,分析其组织和发育表达格局,为进一步研究UBX结构域包含蛋白基因的功能奠定基础。【方法】通过分析东亚飞蝗的转录组数据克隆UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,采用实时定量PCR技术分析该基因在不同发育时期和成虫不同组织中的表达水平。【结果】克隆到东亚飞蝗的一个UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,命名为 LmUBX2。 LmUBX2 开放阅读框长1 020 bp,编码399个氨基酸,预测分子量和等电点分别为37.8 kDa和6.03,与其他UBX结构域包含蛋白的氨基酸一致性为37%~64%,N端和C端分别有一个保守的UBA结构域和UBX结构域。序列比较和系统发育分析发现 LmUBX2 属于SAKS1亚家族。定量分析发现,LmUBX2 在整个生命周期中都有表达,但成虫期的表达水平最高;在检测的所有组织中都有表达,但在精巢和卵巢中表达水平最高。【结论】研究结果说明 LmUBX2 可能参与东亚飞蝗多种生理过程,尤其可能与东亚飞蝗的生殖有关,但还需深入研究。     

东亚飞蝗UBX结构域包含蛋白基因LmUBX2的克隆和表达分析（英文）

【目的】UBX结构域包含蛋白是p97/CDC48的辅助因子。p97在泛素化相关的多种细胞过程中起着重要的作用,如依赖泛素-蛋白酶体系统的蛋白质降解和同型膜融合等。本研究旨在克隆东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen)的UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,分析其组织和发育表达格局,为进一步研究UBX结构域包含蛋白基因的功能奠定基础。【方法】通过分析东亚飞蝗的转录组数据克隆UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,采用实时定量PCR技术分析该基因在不同发育时期和成虫不同组织中的表达水平。【结果】克隆到东亚飞蝗的一个UBX结构域包含蛋白基因,命名为LmU BX2。LmU BX2开放阅读框长1 020 bp,编码399个氨基酸,预测分子量和等电点分别为37.8 kD a和6.03,与其他UBX结构域包含蛋白的氨基酸一致性为37%~64%,N端和C端分别有一个保守的UBA结构域和UBX结构域。序列比较和系统发育分析发现LmU BX2属于SAKS1亚家族。定量分析发现,LmU BX2在整个生命周期中都有表达,但成虫期的表达水平最高;在检测的所有组织中都有表达,但在精巢和卵巢中表达水平最高。【结论】研究结果说明LmU BX2可能参与东亚飞蝗多种生理过程,尤其可能与东亚飞蝗的生殖有关,但还需深入研究。     

葡萄TST基因家族鉴定及表达分析

【目的】液泡膜糖转运蛋白（tonoplast sugar transporter,TST或者TMT）是植物发育过程中发挥重要作用的一种糖转运蛋白。为探究该基因家族在葡萄生长发育中的作用,并进一步为阐明TST基因功能提供坚实的基础。【方法】通过同源分析法从葡萄基因组中鉴定出13个TST基因,对基因的结构和编码蛋白质进行生物信息学分析;利用qRT-PCR技术分析‘鄞红’葡萄发育过程中不同组织的TST表达水平,并与不同时期葡萄果肉中可溶性糖含量进行相关性分析。【结果】结果表明：该基因家族分布在6条染色体上,存在3对片段重复和3对串联重复基因;根据系统发育将其分为3个亚家族,各亚族家族成员结构相似;顺式作用元件表明TST基因含有大量与激素、光和胁迫响应相关的顺式作用元件;蛋白质结构均显示该家族由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲组成,各亚族蛋白模型相似;qRT-PCR结果显示,VvTST在不同组织中均有表达,并存在时空表达特异性;对葡萄果肉中基因表达量变化与可溶性糖含量变化进行相关性分析发现,4个VvTST（VIT_18s0001g12560、VIT_18s0122g00850、VIT_04s0023g01860和VIT_03s0038g03940）的表达水平与葡萄果肉中可溶性糖的积累呈现相似趋势。【结论】上述研究结果表明,VvTST可能对葡萄果肉中可溶性糖积累起到至关重要的作用。     

昆虫泛素基因和功能研究进展

泛素(Ubiquitin)是一种广泛存在于真核细胞中的小分子量蛋白质,其基本功能是通过泛素-蛋白水解酶复合体通路(Obiquitin proteasome pathway UPP)高效并高度选择性降解蛋白质.本文综述了昆虫泛素基因的克隆鉴定、表达特点、作用途径,重点介绍了昆虫泛素在调控转录因子、调节细胞周期和细胞凋亡、细胞生长以及信号转导中的作用.泛素调控机制、信号转导、生理功能及其影响因素,以及针对泛素设计特异性昆虫生长发育调节剂可能是今后昆虫泛素研究的重点.     

千里光泛素(Ubiquitin)基因生物信息学与功能分析

为阐明泛素(Ubiquitin)在高等植物中结构与功能的关系,从千里光全长cDNA文库中分离到泛素基因,采用生物信息学方法对其进行系统分析.碱基序列和系统进化树结果显示,千里光泛素基因与果子蔓泛素基因的核苷酸序列(GenBank登录号:GQ890686.1)的同源性最高(87％);尽管碱基位点出现较大的变异,但高度保守氨基酸序列结果提示,泛素的保守位点对维持蛋白质结构和功能发挥关键作用;蛋白质的理化性质、三维结构预测与亚细胞定位结果表明,作为辅酶,泛素主要参与高等植物细胞的信号转导、转录调控和物质转运等功能.     

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Expansin Gene Superfamily Reveals Grapevine-Specific Structural and Functional Characteristics

Background

Expansins are proteins that loosen plant cell walls in a pH-dependent manner, probably by increasing the relative movement among polymers thus causing irreversible expansion. The expansin superfamily (EXP) comprises four distinct families: expansin A (EXPA), expansin B (EXPB), expansin-like A (EXLA) and expansin-like B (EXLB). There is experimental evidence that EXPA and EXPB proteins are required for cell expansion and developmental processes involving cell wall modification, whereas the exact functions of EXLA and EXLB remain unclear. The complete grapevine (Vitis vinifera) genome sequence has allowed the characterization of many gene families, but an exhaustive genome-wide analysis of expansin gene expression has not been attempted thus far.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We identified 29 EXP superfamily genes in the grapevine genome, representing all four EXP families. Members of the same EXP family shared the same exon–intron structure, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed a closer relationship between EXP genes from woody species, i.e. grapevine and poplar (Populus trichocarpa), compared to those from Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa). We also identified grapevine-specific duplication events involving the EXLB family. Global gene expression analysis confirmed a strong correlation among EXP genes expressed in mature and green/vegetative samples, respectively, as reported for other gene families in the recently-published grapevine gene expression atlas. We also observed the specific co-expression of EXLB genes in woody organs, and the involvement of certain grapevine EXP genes in berry development and post-harvest withering.

Conclusion

Our comprehensive analysis of the grapevine EXP superfamily confirmed and extended current knowledge about the structural and functional characteristics of this gene family, and also identified properties that are currently unique to grapevine expansin genes. Our data provide a model for the functional characterization of grapevine gene families by combining phylogenetic analysis with global gene expression profiling.     

Functional analysis of the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor family in poplar reveals biochemical diversity and multiplicity in defense against herbivores

We investigated the functional and biochemical variability of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) genes of Populus trichocarpa x Populus deltoides. Phylogenetic analysis, expressed sequence tag databases, and western-blot analysis confirmed that these genes belong to a large and diverse gene family with complex expression patterns. Five wound- and herbivore-induced genes representing the diversity of the KTI gene family were selected for functional analysis and shown to produce active KTI proteins in Escherichia coli. These recombinant KTI proteins were all biochemically distinct and showed clear differences in efficacy against trypsin-, chymotrypsin-, and elastase-type proteases, suggesting functional specialization of different members of this gene family. The in vitro stability of the KTIs in the presence of reducing agents and elevated temperature also varied widely, emphasizing the biochemical differences of these proteins. Significantly, the properties of the recombinant KTI proteins were not predictable from primary amino acid sequence data. Proteases in midgut extracts of Malacosoma disstria, a lepidopteran pest of Populus, were strongly inhibited by at least two of the KTI gene products. This study suggests that the large diversity in the poplar (Populus spp.) KTI family is important for biochemical and functional specialization, which may be important in the maintenance of pest resistance in long-lived plants such as poplar.     

Extensive Functional Diversification of the Populus Glutathione S-Transferase Supergene Family

Identifying how genes and their functions evolve after duplication is central to understanding gene family radiation. In this study, we systematically examined the functional diversification of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene family in Populus trichocarpa by integrating phylogeny, expression, substrate specificity, and enzyme kinetic data. GSTs are ubiquitous proteins in plants that play important roles in stress tolerance and detoxification metabolism. Genome annotation identified 81 GST genes in Populus that were divided into eight classes with distinct divergence in their evolutionary rate, gene structure, expression responses to abiotic stressors, and enzymatic properties of encoded proteins. In addition, when all the functional parameters were examined, clear divergence was observed within tandem clusters and between paralogous gene pairs, suggesting that subfunctionalization has taken place among duplicate genes. The two domains of GST proteins appear to have evolved under differential selective pressures. The C-terminal domain seems to have been subject to more relaxed functional constraints or divergent directional selection, which may have allowed rapid changes in substrate specificity, affinity, and activity, while maintaining the primary function of the enzyme. Our findings shed light on mechanisms that facilitate the retention of duplicate genes, which can result in a large gene family with a broad substrate spectrum and a wide range of reactivity toward different substrates.     

金鱼ABC转运蛋白基因家族成员鉴定及分析

腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白(ATP-binding cassette transporter,ABC transporter)基因家族在原核生物和真核生物中广泛存在,该家族蛋白能够利用ATP裂解产生的能量将多种底物转运到膜上,参与多种生物过程,如营养摄入、细胞解毒、脂质稳态、信号转导、病毒防御以及抗原呈递等。目前,鱼类中,只在斑马鱼、斑点叉尾鮰和鲤鱼等少数鱼类中对该基因家族进行了系统的研究,关于金鱼ABC转运蛋白基因家族的详细分析,未见报道。本研究中,我们利用三代结合二代测序技术构建的金鱼转录组参考基因集数据,鉴定出55个ABC转运蛋白基因,通过系统进化分析将它们分为8个亚家族(A^H)。即金鱼ABC转运蛋白基因是由10个ABCA、14个ABCB、13个ABCC、5个ABCD、1个ABCE、4个ABCF、7个ABCG和1个ABCH组成。同时,我们将金鱼与斑马鱼、斑点叉尾鮰和鲤鱼等物种ABC转运蛋白基因家族成员的数目进行比较分析,推测硬骨鱼类特异的第3次全基因复制(3R-WGD)和谱系特异的第4次全基因组复制(4R-WGD)对金鱼该基因家族成员数目的影响。本研究结果为金鱼ABC转运蛋白基因功能的研究提供了理论依据。     

Sequences related to the ox pancreatic ribonuclease coding region in the genomic DNA of mammalian species

Mammalian pancreatic ribonucleases form a family of homologous proteins that has been extensively investigated. The primary structures of these enzymes were used to derive phylogenetic trees. These analyses indicate that the presence of three strictly homologous enzymes in the bovine species (the pancreatic, seminal, and cerebral ribonucleases) is due to gene duplication events which occurred during the evolution of ancestral ruminants.In this paper we present evidence that confirms this finding and that suggests an overall structural conservation of the putative ribonuclease genes in ruminant species.We could also demonstrate that the sequences related to ox ribonuclease coding regions present in genomic DNA of the giraffe species are the orthologues of the bovine genes encoding the three ribonucleases mentioned above.Correspondence to: A. Furia     

Genome-wide and molecular evolution analysis of the subtilase gene family in Vitis vinifera

Background

Vitis vinifera (grape) is one of the most economically significant fruit crops in the world. The availability of the recently released grape genome sequence offers an opportunity to identify and analyze some important gene families in this species. Subtilases are a group of subtilisin-like serine proteases that are involved in many biological processes in plants. However, no comprehensive study incorporating phylogeny, chromosomal location and gene duplication, gene organization, functional divergence, selective pressure and expression profiling has been reported so far for the grape.

Results

In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of the subtilase gene family in V. vinifera was performed. Eighty subtilase genes were identified. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that these subtilase genes comprised eight groups. The gene organization is considerably conserved among the groups. Distribution of the subtilase genes is non-random across the chromosomes. A high proportion of these genes are preferentially clustered, indicating that tandem duplications may have contributed significantly to the expansion of the subtilase gene family. Analyses of divergence and adaptive evolution show that while purifying selection may have been the main force driving the evolution of grape subtilases, some of the critical sites responsible for the divergence may have been under positive selection. Further analyses of real-time PCR data suggested that many subtilase genes might be important in the stress response and functional development of plants.

Conclusions

Tandem duplications as well as purifying and positive selections have contributed to the functional divergence of subtilase genes in V. vinifera. The data may contribute to a better understanding of the grape subtilase gene family.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1116) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.