黄鳝Hprt基因的克隆及表达分析

次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶(Hprt)参与嘌呤核苷酸的补救合成。采用RACE技术克隆了黄鳝的次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶基因,它的全长cDNA 为1 452 bp,预测编码218个氨基酸,与人类、小鼠、鸡和斑马鱼等脊椎动物Hprt氨基酸序列之间的同源性超过76.7％。基于该基因氨基酸序列构建了进化树,显示与斑马鱼Hprt基因更同源。RT-PCR表明黄鳝Hprt基因在多种组织中广谱表达,表明黄鳝该基因在功能和进化上的保守性。      

利用酵母双杂交技术筛选棉铃虫触角内与G蛋白q家族α亚基（Gqα）互作的蛋白（英文）

G蛋白在信号转导中起着重要的作用, 许多研究表明Gq蛋白还具有其他功能。为了明确Gqα 在信号转导中的具体作用, 本研究以Gqα为诱饵, 利用酵母双杂交技术对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera （Hübner）触角cDNA文库进行筛选。结果表明: 信息素结合蛋白（PBP）、 3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶 (GAPDH)、 核糖体蛋白S20、细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅰ、 促咽侧体神经肽前体 (AT2)、 翻译控制的肿瘤蛋白 (TCTP)、体液凝集素前多肽原和糖基化天冬酰胺酶等10多种蛋白与Gqα发生结合。据此推断: Gqα可能在信号转导过程中发挥多种作用; 在多种功能中, Gqα最可能参与嗅觉信号传导中的信息素识别。这些研究结果可能为将来建立棉铃虫完整的信号网络提供基础。     

蜕皮激素诱导下家蚕CYP3基因家族的表达变化

为了研究家蚕Bombyx mori CYP3家族基因经蜕皮激素诱导后的表达变化, 用蜕皮激素溶液（2×10^-3 μg/μL）浸泡的桑叶喂食家蚕B. mori 5龄幼虫, 以不用蜕皮激素处理的桑叶喂食家蚕为对照, 采用双跟踪标定定量PCR（dual-spike-in qPCR）方法, 检测在蜕皮激素诱导下家蚕中肠和脂肪体内CYP3基因家族的转录水平。结果表明: 与对照相比, 在蜕皮激素诱导下家蚕幼虫体内脂肪体中CYP302, CYP306和CYP339的转录水平分别上升了191.4, 7.4和421倍, 在中肠中变化不显著; 其余基因转录水平变化不明显或检测不到转录活性。结果说明CYP339基因有可能参与家蚕蜕皮激素的代谢, 这为进一步研究P450基因与内源物质的关系提供理论基础。     

灰飞虱体内WO噬菌体和Wolbachia的侵染关系

WO噬菌体是侵染节肢动物体内感染的Wolbachia的细菌病毒, 人们推测WO噬菌体可能参与了寄主遗传变异的过程。我们对采自中国境内4个地理种群（上海闵行、 云南普洱、 山东济宁和宁夏青铜峡）的灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus 1~2龄若虫用抗生素HCl-tetracycline处理过的水稻饲养, 每隔20 d取样测定并比较其体内Wolbachia和WO噬菌体的感染率, 以此来初步研究灰飞虱体内WO噬菌体与Wolbachia的侵染关系, 结果表明: WO噬菌体感染率的变化趋势与其宿主Wolbachia的基本一致, 都随着时间推移逐步下降。我们进一步对未经HCl-tetracycline处理的灰飞虱, 用实时定量PCR的方法对WO噬菌体和Wolbachia在不同日龄灰飞虱雌虫体内的菌量进行测定, 结果显示, 二者菌量都随着日龄的增长有所变化, 在第8天达到最大, 二者的变化趋势基本一致。由此我们推断WO噬菌体是侵染胞内共生菌Wolbachia的专性病毒, 并且感染Wolbachia的WO噬菌体很可能是溶原性的噬菌体。     

基于线粒体DNA COⅡ基因的亚洲玉米螟中国不同地理种群遗传分化及基因流研究

本文通过对中国亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)17个地理种群的线粒体COⅡ基因进行序列分析, 对中国亚洲玉米螟种群间的遗传分化程度和基因流水平进行了初步研究。在获得的413条序列样本中共发现了34个变异位点、35种单倍型。总体单倍型多样性指数Hd为0.811, 种群内单倍型多样度在0.424~0.862范围内。17个种群间的平均基因流(Nm)为2.02。总群体的固定系数Fst为0.234。AMOVA分子方差分析结果表明中国玉米螟的遗传分化主要来自种群内部(76.45%)。各种群的Tajima’s D值中性检验符合中性突变, 说明中国亚洲玉米螟在历史上没有出现群体扩张, 群体大小稳定。各地理种群的遗传距离与地理距离间不具有显著的相关性。各地理种群中的单倍型在系统发生树上散布在不同的分布群中, 缺乏明显的地理分布格局。     

改造地高辛标记DNA和检测试剂盒用于凝胶阻滞实验的新方法

凝胶阻滞实验（gel retardation）,又称为电泳迁移率变动实验（Electrophoretic mobility shift assay,EMSA）,是研究蛋白和DNA相互作用的一种技术。传统的³²P标记探针的凝胶阻滞实验,具有很高的灵敏度,然而也有接触危险性的放射性同位素且不容易定量分析的缺点。最近利用非放射性标记的凝胶阻滞实验,已有很多成功的报导,该方法快捷,安全,灵活,但非放射性标记探针的凝胶阻滞试剂盒的费用却很高。在论文中,我们提供了一种改造地高辛标记DNA和检测试剂盒用于凝胶阻滞实验的新方法。首先将双链DNA探针末端引入EcoRI 粘性末端以便进行3′末端标记,然后利用价格比较便宜的地高辛标记DNA和检测试剂盒(DIG High Prime DNA Labeling and Detection Starter Kit II, Rohe) 进行探针标记和凝胶阻滞信号检测。经过多次实验参数的摸索,最终得到了成功的结果,为利用地高辛标记DNA和检测试剂盒进行凝胶阻滞实验提供了成功的例子和方法。      

家蚕细胞色素P450基因Bmcyp6u1的克隆、序列分析与表达谱

细胞色素P450第6亚家族基因为昆虫所特有,与抗性相关。为了检测家蚕Bombyx mori cyp6u1基因是否与耐氟性相关,首先克隆了cyp6u1基因。采用生物信息学方法获得与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster cyp6u1基因同源的家蚕B. mori cyp6u1基因序列, 预测该序列的开放阅读框（ORF）为1 476 bp, 编码491个氨基酸, 推定的蛋白质分子质量为56.15 kD, 等电点为9.23。以家蚕5龄第3天幼虫精巢cDNA为模板, 设计特异引物PCR扩增出一条约1 500 bp的条带, 大小与家蚕cyp6u1序列的ORF预测值接近, 命名为Bmcyp6u1基因（GenBank登录号：HM130560）。同源性分析表明, Bmcyp6u1基因与蜜蜂Apis mellifera的同源基因cyp6AS13的相似性为56%, 与拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana的cyp72A82的相似性为48%, 与人Homo sapiens的cyp3A7基因的相似性为50%。芯片数据分析表明, Bmcyp6u1基因在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫各组织表达量很低, 只在精巢组织(5龄第3天)稍有表达, 推测该基因具有组织特异性。     

大分舌蜂营巢生物学

于2009和2010年对广东河源大分舌蜂Colletes gigas的巢穴结构及生物学习性进行了初步研究。对分布在同一区域大分舌蜂的巢穴进行了挖掘, 详细记录了两个巢穴的结构; 挖出的卵、 幼虫及蛹的形态进行了解剖镜和电镜观察, 并做了简要描述。另外, 还通过分子及形态学方法对与大分舌蜂共用筑巢场所的另一种分舌蜂进行了鉴定。研究发现大分舌蜂喜欢在沙土中筑巢, 并且有集中筑巢的习性。大分舌蜂的巢穴由一条主道和几条虫室道组成, 虫室建在主道及各个虫室道的末端。大分舌蜂往年的巢穴可以被翌年羽化的大分舌蜂再次利用, 沿主道重新建造自己的虫室道或扩展原有的虫室道。大分舌蜂在中国南方专性取食山茶科植物尤其是油茶的花粉及花蜜, 蜂粮由于花蜜含量较多而呈液体状。通过进一步比较COI与28S D2区数据, 甄别出同一巢区中还存在另一种分舌蜂属物种, 表明大分舌蜂可以与另一种分舌蜂Colletes sp.共用筑巢场所。     

山东省五个棉花产区绿盲蝽对药剂的敏感性检测（英文）

利用闪烁管药膜法测定了2009年山东省德州、滨州、梁山、曲阜和聊城5个棉花产区绿盲蝽Lygus lucorum Meyer-Dür对硫丹、马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、灭多威、丁硫克百威、吡虫啉、联苯菊酯和氟虫腈8种杀虫剂的敏感性,筛选出适合各地区的高效防治药剂。结果表明：5个地区绿盲蝽种群对马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、丁硫克百威、联苯菊酯和吡虫啉处于敏感性阶段。不同种群之间对灭多威、硫丹和氟虫腈的敏感性差异较大,其中聊城种群为最敏感种群,滨州种群对灭多威、 硫丹和氟虫腈的LC₅₀值分别为聊城种群的5.12,6.04和39.80倍;曲阜种群对灭多威、硫丹和氟虫腈的LC₅₀值分别为聊城种群的22.12,5.48和22.80倍。两种群对此3种药剂的敏感性下降,而其余种群仍处于较敏感阶段。8种药剂对绿盲蝽成虫的毒力按大小依次排序为：氟虫腈＞灭多威、联苯菊酯、硫丹＞马拉硫磷、毒死蜱＞丁硫克百威＞吡虫啉。2009年7-10月间德州夏津绿盲蝽种群对8种杀虫剂的敏感性变化极微。     

营养改变对潜蝇姬小蜂寄生行为和寄主取食行为的影响

为了研究营养状态对卵育型寄生蜂潜蝇姬小蜂Diglyphus isaea (Walker)雌蜂的寄主取食行为和产卵寄生行为及其二者行为权衡的影响, 在培养皿条件下, 比较了饥饿、加蜂蜜水和不加蜂蜜水3种营养状态的潜蝇姬小蜂雌蜂对美洲斑潜蝇Liriomyza sativae Blanchard各龄幼虫（低、中、高）的寄生、取食及致死能力。结果表明: 非选择条件下, 3种营养状态寄生蜂对高龄幼虫均具有较高的寄生率, 对中龄幼虫具有较高的取食率, 致死率和致死量之间存在显著性差异。3种状态的寄生蜂对低龄幼虫均没有表现出致死能力。有选择条件下, 饥饿状态的寄生蜂对寄主的寄生率最低（5.0%±1.6%）, 取食率最高（16.0%±2.9%）, 特别是对高龄幼虫的取食率占到了整个寄主食物取食率的91.9%; 加蜂蜜水状态下, 寄生蜂对寄主有最低的取食率（8.3%±0.9%）和致死率（17.7%±1.1%）; 不加蜂蜜水状态下, 寄生蜂对寄主有最高的寄生率（13.3%±1.1%）和致死率（28.4%±1.8%）。综合分析发现, 取食寄主的雌蜂比取食蜂蜜水的雌蜂具有更强的致死能力和活动能力。     

Pentatricopeptide repeat proteins and their emerging roles in plants.

Several protein families with tandem repeat motifs play a very important role in plant development and defense. The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family, one of the largest families, is the most perplexing one in plants. PPR proteins have been implicated in many crucial functions broadly involving organelle biogenesis and plant development. PPR motifs are degenerate motifs, each with 35-amino-acid sequences and are present in tandem arrays of 2-27 repeats per protein. Although PPR proteins are found in other eukaryotes, their large number is probably required in plants to meet the specific needs of organellar gene expression. The repeats of PPR proteins form a superhelical structure to bind a specific ligand, probably a single-stranded RNA molecule, and modulate its expression. Functional studies on different PPR proteins have revealed their role in organellar RNA processing, fertility restoration in CMS plants, embryogenesis, and plant development. Functional genomic techniques can help identify the diverse roles of the PPR family of proteins in nucleus-organelle interaction and in plant development.     

A combinatorial amino Acid code for RNA recognition by pentatricopeptide repeat proteins

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) is a helical repeat motif found in an exceptionally large family of RNA-binding proteins that functions in mitochondrial and chloroplast gene expression. PPR proteins harbor between 2 and 30 repeats and typically bind single-stranded RNA in a sequence-specific fashion. However, the basis for sequence-specific RNA recognition by PPR tracts has been unknown. We used computational methods to infer a code for nucleotide recognition involving two amino acids in each repeat, and we validated this model by recoding a PPR protein to bind novel RNA sequences in vitro. Our results show that PPR tracts bind RNA via a modular recognition mechanism that differs from previously described RNA-protein recognition modes and that underpins a natural library of specific protein/RNA partners of unprecedented size and diversity. These findings provide a significant step toward the prediction of native binding sites of the enormous number of PPR proteins found in nature. Furthermore, the extraordinary evolutionary plasticity of the PPR family suggests that the PPR scaffold will be particularly amenable to redesign for new sequence specificities and functions.     

Mechanistic insight into pentatricopeptide repeat proteins as sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins for organellar RNAs in plants

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family is highly expanded in terrestrial plants. Arabidopsis contains 450 PPR genes, which represents 2% of the total protein-coding genes. PPR proteins are eukaryote-specific RNA-binding proteins implicated in multiple aspects of RNA metabolism of organellar genes. Most PPR proteins affect a single or small subset of gene(s), acting in a gene-specific manner. Studies over the last 10 years have revealed the significance of this protein family in coordinated gene expression in different compartments: the nucleus, chloroplast and mitochondrion. Here, we summarize recent studies addressing the mechanistic aspect of PPR proteins.     

A pentatricopeptide repeat-containing gene that promotes the processing of aberrant atp6 RNA of cytoplasmic male-sterile rice

A fertility restorer gene (Rf-1) of [ms-bo] cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in rice has been reported to be responsible for the processing of RNA of aberrant atp6 of mitochondria. We have carried out map-based cloning of the Rf-1 gene and found that a 4.7-kb genomic fragment of a restorer line promoted the processing of aberrant atp6 RNA when introduced into a CMS line. The genomic fragment contained a single open reading frame encoding 18 repeats of the 35 amino acid pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motif. The cloned PPR gene is a possible candidate of Rf-1. A non-restoring genotype was identified to have deletions within the coding region.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of five genes encoding pentatricopeptide repeat proteins from Upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.)

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family is one of the largest and most complex families in plants. These proteins contain multiple 35-amino acid repeats that are proposed to form a super helix capable of binding RNA. PPR proteins have been implicated in many crucial functions broadly involving organelle biogenesis and plant development. In this study, we identified many genes encoding PPR protein in Upland cotton through an extensive survey of the database of Gossypium hirsutum. Furthermore, we isolated five full-length cDNA of PPR genes from G. hirsutum 0-613-2R which were named GhPPR1–GhPPR5. Domain analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequences of GhPPR1–5 contained from 5 to 10 PPR motifs and those PPR proteins were divided into two different PPR subfamilies. GhPPR1–2 belonged to the PLS subfamily and GhPPR3–5 belonged to the P subfamily. Phylogenetic analysis of the five GhPPR proteins and 18 other plant PPR proteins also revealed that the same subfamily clustered together. All five GhPPR genes were differentially but constitutively expressed in roots, stems, leaves, pollens, and fibers based on the gene expression analysis by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. This study is the first report and analysis of genes encoding PPR proteins in cotton.     

The evolution of RNA editing and pentatricopeptide repeat genes

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) is a degenerate 35-amino-acid structural motif identified from analysis of the sequenced genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. From the wealth of sequence information now available from plant genomes, the PPR protein family is now known to be one of the largest families in angiosperm species, as most genomes encode 400-600 members. As the number of PPR genes is generally only c. 10-20 in other eukaryotic organisms, including green algae, the family has obviously greatly expanded during land plant evolution. This provides a rare opportunity to study selection pressures driving a 50-fold expansion of a single gene family. PPR proteins are sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins involved in many aspects of RNA processing in organelles. In this review, we will summarize our current knowledge about the evolution of PPR genes, and will discuss the relevance of the dramatic expansion in the family to the functional diversification of plant organelles, focusing primarily on RNA editing.     

Identification and characterization of cDNAs encoding pentatricopeptide repeat proteins in the basal land plant, the moss Physcomitrella patens

A large gene family encoding proteins with a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motif exists in flowering plants but not in algae, fungi, or animals. This suggests that PPR protein genes expanded vastly during the evolution of the land plants. To investigate this possibility, we analysed PPR protein genes in the basal land plant, the moss Physcomitrella patens. An extensive survey of the Physcomitrella expressed sequence tag (EST) databases revealed 36 ESTs encoding PPR proteins. This indicates that a large gene family of PPR proteins originated before the divergence of the vascular plant and moss lineages. We also characterized five full-length cDNAs encoding PPR proteins, designated PPR513-10, PPR566-6, PPR868-14, PPR986-12, and PPR423-6. Intracellular localization analysis demonstrated two PPR proteins in chloroplasts (cp), whereas the cellular localization of the other three PPR proteins is unclear. The genes of the cp-localized PPR513-10 and PPR566-6 were expressed differentially in protonemata grown under different light-dark conditions, suggesting they have distinctive functions in cp. This is the first report and analysis of genes encoding PPR proteins in bryophytes.