显性白毛调控基因在不同毛色羊驼皮肤中表达差异的研究

为了研究KIT基因对羊驼毛色的影响及在不同毛色羊驼皮肤中的表达差异,实验在分析羊驼KIT基因结构的基础上,自行设计表达引物,将羊驼KIT基因exon10-exon14成功定向克隆入原核表达载体pET-32a( )中,构建了KIT基因的重组表达质粒pET-32a( )-KIT.同时进行诱导表达,并以纯化的重组蛋白为免疫原,采喟长程免疫程序免疫兔子,成功制备兔抗羊驼多克隆抗体,从而进行免疫组化分析.结果表明:(1)羊驼KIT基因exon10-exon14编码含138个氨基酸残基的蛋白;(2)SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示重组表达质粒pET-32a( )-KIT诱导下,表达的KIT蛋白为可溶性蛋白;(3)免疫组化研究表明,白毛色羊驼皮肤毛囊内根鞘周围组织有KIT蛋白的表达,外根鞘和结缔组织也有少量表达,而黄色羊驼皮肤毛囊周围即内外根鞘则不表达KIT蛋白.     

催乳素受体基因与羊驼繁殖性能关系的初探

通过氯仿/异戊醇法制备羊驼血液基因组DNA,采用PCR方法首次扩增出羊驼催乳素受体基因(prolactin receptor gene,PRLR)exon8-exon9序列(GenBank登录号为DQ198164),该片段长度为622bp。通过NCBI blast(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/)比较,结果表明:该序列包括exon8的82bp、intron8全序列472bp和exon9的68bp。同源性比较发现,羊驼PRLR基因exon8和exon9核苷酸序列与其它哺乳动物的相应区域的同源性特高,均≥92%;同时还发现羊驼exon8引物后第19个碱基为G,而其它哺乳动物(猪除外)均为A,猪则是在羊驼exon8引物后的第34个碱基处由G变为A,通过推导氨基酸序列分析发现,这种单碱基的突变使得羊驼与其它哺乳动物相比,该处的氨基酸由亮氨酸取代了异亮氨酸;在羊驼exon9引物前第22个碱基处也发生了A-G碱基替换现象,但这个碱基的突变发生在密码子的第3个碱基上,编码的氨基酸均为脯氨酸。在这些动物中只有羊驼为单胎动物,羊驼exon8核苷酸序列中A-G的碱基替换并引起编码氨基酸序列发生改变是否与羊驼繁殖性能有关还有待进一步研究。     

中华蜜蜂蜂毒镇静肽基因的cDNA克隆和表达

从中华蜜蜂 (Apisceranacerana)工蜂毒腺中快速抽提总RNA ,用RT PCR扩增得到大小约为2 5 0bp的cDNA片段 ,测序得到的片段长度为 2 34bp ,为蜂毒前镇静肽原 (preprosecapin)基因编码区的cDNA .以 3′RACE方法 ,扩增和测定了 3′端非编码区 2 19bp序列 .中蜂前镇静肽原cDNA序列与已报道的欧洲意蜂该基因cDNA序列具有 92 %同源性 ,氨基酸序列具有 87%同源性 .代表成熟肽镇静肽的最后 2 5个氨基酸序列 ,中蜂与意蜂同源性为 88% .3′端非编码区cDNA序列与欧洲意蜂序列有 73 1%同源性 .将中华蜜蜂蜂毒镇静肽成熟肽编码区与 3′非编码区部分克隆 ,构建了镇静肽与谷胱甘肽转移酶融合表达的载体pGEX AcSecapin .将载体转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)进行融合表达 .表达产物与抗GST抗体在 2 9kD处有很强的交叉反应 .大肠杆菌超声破碎后的上清液用SDS PAGE检测到表达的蛋白多为可溶性融合蛋白 ,通过亲和层析柱纯化和凝血酶的切割得到了镇静肽蛋白     

柞蚕14-3-3基因的鉴定及表达分析

14-3-3蛋白是一种可以改变其结合蛋白构象的酸性蛋白质.柞蚕14-3-3 cDNA序列全长1 220 bp,包括一个126 bp的5'非编码区和一个350 bp的3'非编码区.该基因的开放读码框长度为744 bp,编码247个氨基酸.序列比对结果表明,柞蚕14-3-3蛋白与家蚕的14-3-3蛋白具有高度同源性.此外对柞蚕14-3-3基因进行了原核表达和重组蛋白纯化.SDS-PAGE和免疫印迹结果表明,分子量大小约32 kD的重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中得到了成功表达.     

猪肌肉素基因的cDNA克隆与表达

从人肌肉素基因出发, 在dbEST数据库中进行同源性搜索, 找到七个有较高同源性的Expressed Sequence Tag(DY426490, CF787546, AJ660979, AJ664670, AJ663820, AJ680159, DN106254)。通过拼接和进一步RT-PCR实验验证, 获得猪肌肉素基因全长cDNA序列, 其全长651 bp, 开放阅读框为54~452 bp, 编码有132个氨基酸。同源性分析结果表明, 与人、小鼠和大鼠的肌肉素基因cDNA编码区(CDS)同源性分别为87.2%、77.6%和77.9%。利用克隆出的猪肌肉素cDNA, 构建表达载体pGEX-4T-1-musclin, 并在BL21大肠杆菌中成功表达和纯化了分子量为38.59 kD的融合蛋白GST-Musclin, 并运用蛋白印迹技术进行鉴定。     

家兔精子膜蛋白rsp10基因的克隆和特征分析

 sp10基因在精卵识别过程中起着重要作用 .从家兔睾丸cDNA文库中克隆了家兔的sp10基因 (rsp10 ) ,cDNA序列全长 12 82bp ,包含 10 0 5bp开放阅读框 .由开放阅读框推测出的氨基酸序列与人、狒狒、狐和小鼠的SP10氨基酸序列之间存在较高水平的同源性 ,同源性分别为 70 %、69%、68%和 61% .在大肠杆菌中表达rsp10基因 ,获得重组rSP10 .用重组rSP10免疫雌性母兔 ,得到rSP10专一性多抗 .对精子膜蛋白进行免疫印迹分析发现 ,rsp10基因在家兔睾丸中的表达呈现多态性 .rsp10基因在GenBank的登录号为 :AF2 51558.     

新疆准噶尔小胸鳖甲抗冻蛋白基因的克隆和抗冻活性分析

根据GenBank中已发表的昆虫抗冻蛋白基因的保守序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR技术结合3'-RACE扩增的方法,从新疆荒漠昆虫准噶尔小胸鳖甲 Microdera punctipenis dzunarica中获得了长约294 bp不含信号肽的抗冻蛋白cDNA片段,命名为MpAFP5,其全长序列为363 bp(GenBank注册号为：AY821792)。基因测序结果表明, MpAFP5-cDNA片段与加拿大拟步甲Dendroides canadensis AFP 8基因片段、黄粉甲Tenebrio molitor THP 4-9基因片段的核苷酸同源性分别达68.4%和71.8%,氨基酸序列同源性分别达70%和81%。将MpAFP5构建到原核表达载体pGEX4T-1中,重组质粒pGEX4T-1-MpAFP5在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中能够表达融合抗冻蛋白,SDS-PAGE分析显示融合蛋白的分子量约为37 kD,Western印迹分析证明MpAFP5在大肠杆菌中正确表达。细菌的抗冻实验结果显示准噶尔小胸鳖甲融合抗冻蛋白对细菌具有显著的抗冻保护作用,保护效果与抗冻蛋白剂量呈正相关性。     

鲤鱼肥胖基因的分子克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

为了研究鲤鱼肥胖基因的结构特点和体外表达产物的生物学活性 ,利用RT PCR技术从鲤鱼肠系膜脂肪组织中扩增出鲤鱼肥胖基因的cDNA编码序列 ,分析表明该cDNA序列由 4 38个核苷酸组成 ,编码 14 6个氨基酸组成的多肽 ,鲤鱼肥胖基因与人、猪、鼠的相比 ,核苷酸同源性分别为 :84 %、 86 %、 95 % ;氨基酸的同源性分别为 84 %、 82 %、 96 %。构建了原核表达载体 pET 2 8a li,利用IPTG在大肠杆菌中进行了诱导表达 ,并对表达产物进行了初步纯化和生物活性检测 ,结果表明 ,鲤鱼肥胖基因在大肠杆菌中进行了高效特异性融合表达 ,融合蛋白质分子量约为 2 0kD ,经薄层扫描分析 ,目的蛋白占菌体总蛋白的 2 0 3%。表达产物经过纯化和复性能够明显抑制小鼠的摄食和生长 ,说明表达产物Leptin具有明显的生物学活性     

铁皮石斛蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因的克隆与原核表达

应用同源序列克隆法克隆了铁皮石斛蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)基因cDNA全长,并进行了原核表达分析,为进一步研究该基因的时空表达、功能分析及多糖合成机理提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)铁皮石斛SPS基因cDNA全长3 502bp,编码区3 186bp,GenBank登录号JF423929。该基因编码1 061个氨基酸,与文心兰的SPS基因氨基酸序列的一致性最高为93%,与其他科植物SPS基因的氨基酸序列的一致性均高于60%。(2)原核诱导表达结果显示,SPS基因在大肠杆菌中的重组蛋白分子质量约为118.7kD,其表达与序列分析推测的结论一致。(3)生物信息学分析表明,铁皮石斛SPS基因的二级结构包括了螺旋、β-折叠和无规则卷曲,是非跨膜结构的亲水性不稳定蛋白,有2个功能结构域,分别是蔗糖合成功能域及糖基转移功能域。     

草鱼AMBP基因cDNA的克隆与序列分析

α1-微球蛋白和Bikunin是由同一基因翻译表达出的两种功能不相关联的血浆蛋白。本文通过快速扩增cDNA末端的方法,首次从草鱼肝脏组织克隆了α1-微球蛋白和Bikunin前体蛋白(α1-microglobulin/Bulinin precursor, AMBP）基因全长cDNA。其cDNA全长1230bp,包含5′非翻译区23 bp,3′非翻译区160 bp和开放读码框1047 bp。开放读码框编码348个氨基酸,包含182个氨基酸的α1-微球蛋白和145个氨基酸的Bikunin。草鱼AMBP与其他物种的氨基酸序列分析结果表明,它们具有较高的同源性(44.7%－84.4%),其中草鱼与斑马鱼同源性最高(84.4%)。结果表明AMBP序列结构和α1-微球蛋白与Bikunin共翻译表达特点在动物机体中具有着重要的生理意义。     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

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).     

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.