牛DLK1基因的生物信息学分析

DLK1基因是位于DLK1-DIO3印记区域内一个父源表达的印记基因。本研究利用生物信息学方法对牛DLK1基因进行了分子进化分析、基因和蛋白质结构分析并预测了其启动子和CpG岛区域。对7种动物DLK1基因mR NA序列的分子进化分析结果显示,牛与羊的遗传距离最小,亲缘关系最近。蛋白质在线分析软件表明,DLK1蛋白由信号肽、EGF结构域以及跨膜区组成。牛DLK1基因包含5个外显子,且存在多种可变剪切体。启动子在线软件预测,牛DLK1核心启动子可能位于该基因起始密码子上游1 790~1 840 bp处。预测结果表明,人、小鼠和牛三个物种DLK1潜在的核心启动子区所处的位置具有一致性,并且三个物种的启动子区DNA序列具有高度保守性。以上研究结果为进一步阐明牛DLK1基因的生物学功能及其印记调控机理提供了参考依据。     

人TCF7L2基因启动子生物信息学分析

[目的]探讨人TCF7L2基因启动子特征。[方法]从UCSC数据库获得人TCF7L2基因5'调控区2 000 bp序列,利用多种在线软件对启动子、转录因子结合位点、Cp G岛、SNP等进行分析。[结果]5'调控区2 000 bp序列正义链上至少存在5个潜在的启动子,其中-242～-192 bp、-853～-803 bp之间可能包含核心启动子。查找到1个TATA盒,存在1个长度为499 bp的Cp G岛。Ali Baba2. 1、PROMO和JASPAR软件分别预测到241、944、1 035(正义链)个转录因子结合位点。利用conreal程序在人和小鼠TCF7L2基因启动子保守区域内预测到207个共同的转录因子结合位点,涉及到66种转录因子。启动子区发现2个SNP位点。[结论]对人TCF7L2基因启动子进行了生物信息学分析,获得了启动子特征。     

小鼠EDNRB基因启动子生物信息学分析

EDNRB/EDN3/ECE-1信号传导通路在胚胎发育期神经嵴细胞分化、迁移、发育为神经节细胞的过程中起到关键作用。采用进化足迹法,利用生物信息学在线软件分析先天性巨结肠相关EDNRB基因启动子序列,结果显示:小鼠EDNRB基因定位于14号染色体,编码442个氨基酸,分子量为:49430Da,转录起始点300bp左右可能为启动子区域,启动子区域包含长度为1473bp的CpG岛,存在两段保守序列,人类和小鼠保守区域内含有33个共同的转录因子结合位点。     

单纯性先天性心脏病中TBX5基因表达异常的机制

为探讨人类单纯性先天性心脏病患者中TBX5基因表达下调的可能原因, 应用变性高效液相色谱(DHPLC)方法检测100例单纯性先天性心脏病患者中TBX5基因上游1 200 bp调控区的突变情况; 应用甲基化敏感性限制性内切酶(MS-RE)法检测50例单纯性先天性心脏病患者和5例非先天性心脏病患者心肌组织TBX5基因启动子区两个CpG岛(转录起始点上游-49~-188 bp和-247~-464 bp处)的甲基化情况; 应用P-match软件预测小鼠Tbx5基因上游转录因子Nkx2-5的结合位点, 构建Nkx2-5表达载体转染小鼠H9C2(2-1)心肌细胞, RT-PCR及Western blotting检测Tbx5基因表达, 凝胶阻滞实验(EMSA)验证Nkx2-5和Tbx5基因的作用。结果在100例单纯性先天性心脏病患者中, 未检测到TBX5基因上游1 200 bp调控区突变; 非先天性心脏病患者和单纯性先天性心脏病患者在两个CpG岛存在相同的甲基化; 小鼠Tbx5基因转录起始点上游-312~-315 bp可能存在Nkx2-5的结合位点, 转染Nkx2-5表达载体后Tbx5基因在mRNA及蛋白质水平均有表达增高趋势, Nkx2-5在体外可以与Tbx5基因上游-312~-315 bp序列相结合。以上结果提示TBX5基因调控区突变和两个CpG岛的甲基化不是单纯性先天性心脏病患者心肌组织中TBX5基因表达下调的原因, TBX5基因表达下调可能由于NKX2-5的表达异常引起。     

人Toll样受体9基因启动子区的生物信息学分析

目的:探讨人Toll样受体9(TLR9)基因启动子区序列特征。方法:利用生物信息学技术预测人TLR9基因启动子区域、转录因子结合位点和CpG岛分布。结果:人TLR9基因启动子区有1434个转录因子结合位点,人和小鼠保守区域内存在23个共同的转录因子结合位点,人TLR9基因启动子区包含长572 bp的CpG岛。结论:人TLR9基因启动子区相关生物信息学的研究,提高了针对启动子的研究效率,并为预测基因启动子的功能提供了重要信息。     

盐角草磷酸乙醇胺N-甲基转移酶基因（SePEAMT）启动子的克隆及瞬时表达

磷酸胆碱是合成磷脂酰胆碱和甘氨酸甜菜碱的重要前体,磷酸乙醇胺N-甲基转移酶（PEAMT）是磷酸胆碱合成的关键酶。根据已知的SePEAMT cDNA5'端序列设计两个基因特异的反向引物(PP1,PP2),通过锚定PCR获得了PEAMT起始密码子上游1249bp的序列。RLM-RACE反应确定其转录起始位点A位于起始密码子上游301bp处,由此获得了948bp的SePEAMT启动子序列。PlantCARE和PLACE在线启动子预测工具分析表明：该序列除了含有启动子的基本元件TATA-box和CAAT-box外,还含有一些胁迫诱导元件（如ABRE、HSE、LTR）和花粉特异的激活元件AGAAA。构建了SePEAMT启动子与报告基因GUS 融合的表达载体pPro,并通过农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化烟草,染色结果表明SePEAMT启动子可以有效地驱动GUS基因的瞬时表达。     

人PRL-3基因启动子的克隆及转录因子Snail结合位点的初步鉴定

促肝细胞再生磷酸酶-3(PRL-3)是重要的肿瘤转移相关基因,其转录调控机制一直未被阐明.应用TRED在线分析系统共获得3种可能的人PRL-3基因启动子区域.通过与人基因组序列进行比对,发现其中3号启动子序列距离人PRL-3基因距离最近,位于该基因上游约1 kb的DNA区域,与5′端非翻译区域邻接.在线Consite分析系统发现,-500 bp至-451bp之间存在Snail结合的核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG.运用分子克隆的方法获得PRL-3基因启动子2段区域-699 bp至299bp及-642 bp至-383 bp区域,后者具有Snail结合位点核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG.构建具有荧光素酶报告基因的pGL3载体并检测其启动子活性.-699～299 bp区域与-642～-383 bp区域的DNA片段在SW480、SW620、CNE2、293A细胞中均具有启动子活性,其中含有Snail结合位点核心寡核苷酸序列CACCTG的短片段活性强于较完整的序列.染色质免疫沉淀结合PCR扩增技术及凝胶迁移阻滞实验确定PRL-3基因启动子区域具有Snail结合位点.研究确定,PRL-3基因的启动子位于转录起始位点上游700 bp与下游300 bp的DNA区域,PRL-3基因启动子存在转录因子Snail结合元件.     

猪POU1F1基因5’侧翼区克隆及序列分析

POU1F1基因是POU基因家族的成员之一,对哺乳动物的早期发育和相关基因启动表达起重要的调控作用。本文利用染色体步移技术,从长白猪基因组中首次克隆到了约1．5kb的POU1F1基因5’侧翼区序列,并利用相关软件对其进行了序列分析和物种间POU1F1基因5’侧翼区序列比对及进化树构建。结果表明所克隆的片段中含典型的TATA盒（-57）和类CAAT盒序列（-87）。TESS软件分析发现在启动子附近有一系列潜在的重要的转录因子结合位点。序列比对结果表明不同物种POU1F1基因的转录起始点上游-150bp区域保守性较强,可能是启动子的核心序列。其中猪与牛的同源性最高,其次是黑猩猩、人、狗,与大鼠、小鼠和鸡同源性较低,与斑马鱼序列同源性最低。同源序列主要集中在转录起始点上游-150bp至-1000bp区域。Vista中的MLAGAN程序构建的系统进化树真实反应了物种间进化关系。     

泡桐丛枝和枣疯病植原体tuf基因上游序列结构、功能和遗传变异比较分析

【目的】探究泡桐丛枝和枣疯病植原体tuf基因上游序列结构、功能差异及其遗传多样性。【方法】利用热不对称交错式PCR(TAIL-PCR)扩增枣疯病植原体tuf基因上游未知序列,利用启动子探针载体pSUPV4构建了泡桐丛枝和枣疯病植原体tuf基因上游序列的大肠杆菌异源表达体系,分析泡桐丛枝、苦楝丛枝、莴苣黄化、桑萎缩、长春花绿变等16SrI组和枣疯病、樱桃致死黄化、重阳木丛枝等16SrV组株系tuf基因上游调控序列的遗传变异特征和启动子活性。【结果】泡桐丛枝等16SrI组植原体株系tuf基因和其上游fus A基因之间的间区序列长129-130 bp,预测有完整的启动子保守结构。泡桐丛枝植原体tuf基因上游130 bp片段具有启动子活性,此间区序列在5种35株16SrI组株系中存在4种变异类型;枣疯病植原体等16SrV组株系fusA和tuf基因间区长53-54 bp,未预测到完整启动子结构。枣疯病植原体tuf基因上游144 bp和346 bp片段均未检测到启动子活性,fus A和tuf基因间区序列在3种20株16SrV组株系中存在2种变异类型。fus A-tuf基因间区序列相对保守,基于此序列构建的进化树可清晰区分不同组别的植原体株系。【结论】研究方法和结果为深入研究植原体基因表达与调控、揭示植原体生长繁殖规律及其致病机理等奠定了良好的基础。     

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.     

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     

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.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒研究进展

传染性法氏囊病(Infection bursal disease, IBD)是由鸡传染性法氏囊病毒(Infectious bursal disease virus, IBDV)引起的鸡和火鸡的一种高度接触性传染病,给世界各国的禽养殖业带来了巨大损失.自IBDV发现至今新的变异株不断出现,分子结构的改变导致病毒致病力的改变及宿主对疫苗应答的改变,使得传统的疫苗已不能控制其流行,因此各国学者对其基因组结构和功能进行了广泛深入的研究,并积极研制新型有效的疫苗以达到防治的目的.     

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.     

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).     

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.