银鲫HIRA多克隆抗体的制备及组织特异性表达分析

Hir/Hira基因家族的成员广泛存在于多种生物体中,但有关其在生物体发育过程中的具体功能还不甚清楚.对果蝇的研究表明,dHira基因产物可能在受精时精核的解凝过程和雄性原核的正常形成过程中起重要作用.本研究组前期已经分别克隆出雌核发育银鲫和两性生殖彩鲫的Hira基因(cagHira 和caHira),本实验在银鲫cagHira基因的特异区域,设计一对引物,以银鲫成熟卵母细胞总RNA逆转录出的cDNA为模板,扩增出cagHira的特异片段.再将该片段克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a上,转化BL21(DE3)菌株,经诱导后表达出融合蛋白.分析表明,该融合蛋白主要以包涵体形式表达.以纯化的融合蛋白作为抗原去免疫小鼠,制备多克隆抗血清,经蛋白质印迹分析检测,该抗血清(稀释到1:2000)与包涵体蛋白识别反应良好,确定获得了具有高效价的特异性银鲫CAGHIRA多克隆抗体,为进一步研究HIRA在鱼类发育和雌核生殖过程中的作用奠定了基础.对银鲫HIRA蛋白的组织特异性表达分析发现,该蛋白仅在成熟卵巢组织中特异表达,故表明HIRA可能对鱼类卵子发生和/或早期胚胎发育具有重要作用.     

MAPK在不同生殖特性鲫鲤杂交鱼性腺组织中的表达分析

运用Western-blot技术和免疫组织化学来检测丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinases,MAPKs)家族成员细胞外调节蛋白激酶(extracellular regulated protein kinase,ERK)和c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK)在不同生殖特性鲫鲤杂交鱼性腺组织中的表达。研究表明,JNK、ERK在鱼类性腺组织中均有较高量的表达,但在鱼类卵巢和精巢间、雌核发育二倍体鲫鲤和不同倍性鱼的性腺组织间,JNK或ERK的表达量并不存在明显的差异,而P-JNK在雌核发育二倍体鲫鲤性腺中的表达量远高于三倍体和四倍体鲫鲤的卵巢组织。此外,JNK和ERK在雌核发育二倍体鲫鲤早期性腺性原细胞中均有阳性表达。其中,JNK在10月龄雌核发育二倍体鲫鲤性腺中的阳性反应强度高于6、8月龄;而ERK在8月龄和10月龄的性腺中的阳性反应则弱于6月龄。结果表明JNK通路可能对雌核发育二倍体鲫鲤产生不减数配子具有重要调控作用。     

南方鲇Vasa基因两种亚型cDNA的克隆及其表达

采用RT-PCR和RACE相结合的方法,从南方鲇分离到Vasa基因的两个亚型scVasa和scVaga-s。它们是同一基因在5′端经选择性剪接的产物,其cDNA全长分别为2525bp和2438bp,编码662和641个氨基酸。两者均具有DEAD-box家族成员特有的8个保守基序和Vasa的典型特征。南方鲇Vasa与银鲫相似性最高（73．3％）。两个亚型均特异地表达于雌雄性腺中。原位杂交结果表明：scVasa主要在卵巢Ⅰ、Ⅱ时相的卵母细胞和精巢的精原细胞和初级精母细胞中表达。半定量PCR结果显示,在生殖周期中,两种亚型在以Ⅱ时相卵母细胞为主体的卵巢恢复期表达均高于以Ⅲ-Ⅳ时相卵母细胞为主体的卵黄生成期[动物学报54（6）：1051—1060,2008]。     

Hira基因产物在银鲫和彩鲫卵子发生过程中的动态变化

为进一步研究Hira基因在卵子发生和雌核发育过程中的作用,通过原位杂交和免疫荧光定位的方法检测了Hira mRNA和蛋白质在雌核发育银鲫和两性生殖彩鲫卵子发生过程中的动态变化。结果表明,银鲫和彩鲫卵子发生过程中Hira基因转录产物的变化基本一致,在Ⅰ期卵母细胞的细胞核中大量表达,至Ⅱ期卵母细胞时转至细胞质中均匀分布,在Ⅲ期卵母细胞中,杂交信号逐渐移向细胞的周边,到Ⅳ期时随着卵黄物质大量积累,杂交信号几乎不见。HIRA蛋白在银鲫和彩鲫卵子发生过程中的变化略有差别。HIRA蛋白在银鲫Ⅰ期卵母细胞中没有表达,在Ⅱ期卵母细胞的细胞质中有弱表达,在Ⅲ期早期卵母细胞的周边有强烈表达;而在彩鲫Ⅰ期卵母细胞中就有HIRA蛋白的弱表达,至Ⅱ期时HIRA蛋白在细胞质中大量表达,Ⅲ期早期卵母细胞的细胞质中有弱表达。在银鲫和彩鲫Ⅲ期末和Ⅳ期卵母细胞中都很难观察到荧光信号。Hira mRNA和蛋白质在银鲫和彩鲫早期卵母细胞中有较强表达,且在银鲫和彩鲫卵子发生过程中没有显著差异,说明其可能对于脊椎动物卵子发生和减数分裂没有显著影响,而是在受精和/或胚胎发育过程中起作用。       

银鲫转录调控因子lbh-b cDNA克隆与表达分析

Lbh (Limb-bud and heart)基因是脊椎动物中高度保守的转录调控因子, 在早期胚胎发育及某些人类疾病的发病过程中发挥着重要作用。我们前期在银鲫(Carassius gibelio)垂体转录组中筛选到一个在垂体中大量表达的基因lbh-b。为了进一步研究lbh基因在银鲫的表达特征, 首先采用RACE方法克隆了银鲫lbh基因家族的成员lbh-b基因(Cglbh-b)。Cglbh-b的cDNA全长1526 bp, 开放阅读框549 bp, 共编码182个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明CgLbh-b蛋白与其他脊椎动物的Lbh蛋白同源性在68%以上, 可能也是无序蛋白质家族的成员之一。成体组织RT-PCR分析表明Cglbh-b仅在银鲫的垂体、端脑、卵巢及眼睛中表达。不同胚胎发育时期的表达分析表明, 在受精卵至原肠胚中Cglbh-b转录产物是以母源形式存在的mRNA, 其合子转录起始于尾芽期。胚胎整体原位杂交结果显示从受精后2d到受精后3d, Cglbh-b大量表达于脑和眼睛。此外, 随着卵子成熟Cglbh-b在银鲫垂体中的表达上调。这些结果暗示, Cglbh-b可能在调控银鲫脑和眼睛的发育以及卵子成熟过程中发挥着重要作用。     

九孔鲍卵子发生及卵巢发育的组织学观察

采用组织学方法研究了九孔鲍(Haliotis diversicolor supertexta)的卵子发生、卵巢结构及其发育.根据卵细胞的大小、形状,核仁的形态,卵黄颗粒的积累情况,滤泡的结构等.将九孔鲍卵子的发生分为卵原细胞、卵黄发生前的卵母细胞和卵黄发生期的卵母细胞3个时期;卵巢壁由外膜及内生殖上皮构成,生殖上皮分化产生卵原细胞和滤泡细胞;卵巢的结构单位是滤泡.根据卵巢的外部形态和内部组织结构,将九孔鲍的卵巢发育分为休止期、增殖期、生长期、成熟期和排放期共5期.     

多倍体银鲫nanos2等位多态性、共线性和表达模式分析

为研究生殖干细胞(Germline stem cells, GSCs)的标记基因nanos2的功能, 在银鲫(Carassius gibelio)中克隆了两个nanos2的同源基因(Homologs), 将其命名为Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b, 等位、系统进化树和共线性分析表明, 在银鲫进化历程中发生了额外的两轮多倍化事件, 是一个异源六倍体。qPCR分析表明Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b在5月龄银鲫精巢中的表达水平最高, 其次是卵巢; 对在孵化后25—190d的卵巢中的表达动态分析表明, 孵化后25d的卵巢中的Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b转录水平最高, 随后表达水平急剧下降; 并且Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b呈现出偏向表达的特征。切片RNA原位杂交实验结果表明, Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b均特异地在银鲫卵巢邻近生殖上皮的胞囊(Cyst)中一类直径小于20 μm的细胞中表达, Cgnanos2a在精巢精小囊边缘一类单个或两个紧紧相邻的细胞中高表达, 推测是银鲫的GSCs。此外, 还可在精原细胞和初级精母细胞中检测到Cgnanos2a和Cgnanos2b的转录本。研究通过对nanos2阳性细胞的追踪描绘了银鲫卵巢早期胞囊的发育过程, 为后续分离银鲫GSCs奠定了基础; 同时对银鲫nanos2两个歧化的部分同源基因的序列特征、进化及表达特征分析, 为研究鱼类多次多倍化事件后重复基因的进化提供了一个典型例子。     

银鲫ZP3的表达特征和卵壳ZP3蛋白的分离

克隆得到银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)ZP3基因全长cDNA,在体外表达出银鲫的ZP3融合蛋白,并制备出多抗血清;通过免疫印迹和RT-PCR分析,研究了银鲫ZP3在卵子发生过程中的表达特征和在早期发育胚胎中的状态变化。研究结果表明,银鲫ZP3的转录发生在卵黄发生以前,而ZP3蛋白的翻译起始于卵黄形成阶段,且随着卵母细胞进一步成熟,其含量不断增加。ZP3蛋白的存在状态在受精后和早期胚胎发育过程中发生了明显变化。在受精后5-30min期间,抽提液中原始的ZP3蛋白带迅速消失,取而代之的是分子量大约为90KD以及更高分子量的蛋白带;而在受精后80min和8-16胞期的胚胎抽提液中,二聚体和多聚体复合体蛋白带也相继消失。这种状态变化意味着ZP3蛋白在卵子受精后有可能与自身或其他蛋白共价结合转变成了二聚体和多聚体。接着,用获得的ZP3抗体作为检测指标,通过卵壳蛋白的凝胶分离,从卵壳中分离纯化出银鲫ZP3蛋白。       

雌核发育和两性融合发育鱼卵调控精核受精发育的生化特性研究

两性融合生殖的鱼卵受精后,精核能疏松、解凝,形成雄性原核：雌核发育银鲫卵子受精后,精核发育受到抑制,无法形成原核。采用显微注射去膜精核以及细胞学和电镜观察的方法,本文对两类鱼卵受精后精核早期发育的生化性质进行了初步探讨,并着重研究了雌核发育银鲫卵子控制精核发育的生化特征。实验结果显示,两性融合生殖鱼类卵质中,一定量的Ｃａ２＋的存在,二硫键的还原作用对于精核的发育显然是必要的;而在雌核发育银鲫卵中,Ｃａ２＋的功能和二硫键的还原作用与精核发育受到抑制之间并无直接联系。银鲫卵质中似乎显示出异常的磷酸酶脂解活性,导致磷酸化过程无法进行,使精核解凝受到阻碍。另外,两性融合生殖的鱼卵重质层中具有大量诱导精核原核化的有关因子,而银鲫卵质中则缺少该因子（或活性极低）。银鲫卵质中还可能缺乏某些与雄性原核的核膜重组装有关的大分子物质。     

雌核发育银鲫卵抑制异源精子原核化的作用模式初探

雌核发育银鲫卵能抑制异源精子原核化,其个体发育完全由雌核控制。本实验通过去核、卵质转移和去除卵膜等手段,初步揭示了银鲫卵抑制异源精子原核化的作用,提出了双重控制的假说,即银鲫卵对异源精子具有初级控制和次级控制功能。初级控制可能是由于在精子进入卵子深部的通道上存在着某种特殊的抑制物的缘故,而次级控制的产生则可能是因为银鲫卵质中缺少某种两性融合生殖鱼类卵质所具有的促精子核化物质。     

中华鳖vasa基因克隆及在卵母细胞中的表达分析

研究利用中华鳖为研究模型进行爬行类生殖细胞发育分化成熟等生物学研究,克隆了中华鳖vasa基因的cDNA序列,全长3865 bp,包括5'端非编码区90 bp,3'端非编码区1699 bp,开放阅读框长2076 bp,共编码691个氨基酸。中华鳖Vasa氨基酸序列包含DEAD-box家族蛋白8个保守保守功能域,在N末端有4个RGG重复序列和2个GG富集区,与小鼠Vasa蛋白的同源性较高（72%）。荧光定量PCR的结果表明,中华鳖vasa mRNA主要精巢和卵巢中表达,其他体组织中均难检测到表达。卵巢冰冻切片原位杂交结果显示:中华鳖vasa mRNA在生殖细胞中特异表达;在卵子发生过程中的不同发育期卵母细胞中呈现动态的变化。即vasa mRNA在初级卵母细胞及生长期卵母细胞中表达最强,且均匀分布在细胞质中,随着卵母细胞的逐渐增大,信号逐渐减弱,直至在成熟的卵母细胞中几乎检测不到表达信号,说明vasa可能在中华鳖早期卵母细胞发育中起重要作用。同时,vasa基因可作为中华鳖生殖细胞分子标记物,根据其mRNA的表达水平来鉴别不同发育时期的卵母细胞。研究结果为进一步开展中华鳖胚胎生殖细胞发育及配子生成,特别是研究中华鳖,乃至爬行类原始生殖细胞（Primordial Germ Cells,PGCs）的起源、迁移、分化等研究奠定了基础。     

Expression and intracellular localization of mouse Vasa-homologue protein during germ cell development

To demonstrate the cellular and subcellular localization of mouse vasa homologue protein during germ cell development, specific antibody was raised against the full-length MVH protein. The immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that MVH protein was exclusively expressed in primordial germ cells just after their colonization of embryonic gonads and in germ cells undergoing gametogenic processes until the post-meiotic stage in both males and females. The co-culture of EG cells with gonadal somatic cells indicated inductive MVH expression caused by an intercellular interaction with gonadal somatic cells. In adult testis, MVH protein was localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogenic cells, including chromatoid bodies in spermatids, known to be a perinuclear nuage structure which includes polar granules that contain VASA protein in Drosophila.     

Two isoforms of vasa homologs in a teleost fish: their differential expression during germ cell differentiation.

Two isoforms of vasa mRNA and protein are present in a teleost fish, tilapia. One (vas-s) lacks a part of the N-terminal region found in the other isoform (vas). Both isoforms are expressed in oocytes through the embryonic stage when primordial germ cells (PGCs) localize in the lateral plate mesoderm. After PGC localization in the gonadal anlagen, vas-s expression increased and vas expression became undetectable. Expression of both isoforms was observed again after morphological gonadal sex differentiation, irrespective of genotypic sex. In ovary, compared with vas expression vas-s expression predominated throughout oogenesis. In testis, vas expression was predominant compared with vas-s during spermatogenesis. These results indicate that relative expression of two vasa isoforms is dependent upon germ cell differentiation and sex.     

Vasa protein is localized in the germ cells and in the oocyte-associated pyriform follicle cells during early oogenesis in the lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podarcis sicula</Emphasis>

The vasa gene, first identified in Drosophila, is a key determinant for germline formation in eukaryotes. Homologs of vasa have been identified and linked to germline development, in many invertebrates and vertebrates. Here, we analyze the distribution of Vasa in early germ cells (oogonia and oocytes) and previtellogenic ovarian follicles of the lizard Podarcis sicula. During most of its previtellogenic growth, the oocyte in this lizard species is structurally and functionally integrated through intercellular bridges with special follicle cells called pyriform cells. The pyriform cells function similarly to Drosophila nurse cells, but are somatic in origin. In the oogenesis of P. sicula, Vasa is initially highly detected in the oogonia, but its levels decrease in early stage oocytes before the onset of pyriform cell differentiation. In the later stages of oogenesis, the high level of Vasa is related with the nurse function of the pyriform follicle cells. These observations suggest that cells of somatic origin are engaged in the synthesis of Vasa in the oogenesis of this lizard.     

Germ line development in the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria: vasa as a marker

Vasa is a widely conserved germline marker, both in vertebrates and invertebrates. We identify a vasa orthologue, Sgvasa, and use it to study germline development in the grasshopper Schistocerca gregaria, a species in which no germ plasm has been identified. In adults, Sgvasa is specifically expressed in the ovary and testis. It is expressed at high levels during early oogenesis, but no detectable vasa RNA and little Vasa protein are present in mature unlaid eggs. None appears to be localized to any defined region of the egg cortex, suggesting that germline specification may not depend on maternal germ plasm expressing vasa. Vasa protein is expressed in most cleavage energids as they reach the egg surface and persists at high levels in most cells aggregating to form the embryonic primordium. However, after gastrulation, Vasa protein persists only in extraembryonic membranes and in cells at the outer margin of the late heart-stage embryo. In the embryo, it then become restricted to cells at the dorsal margin of the forming abdomen. In older embryos, these Vasa-positive cells move toward the midline; Vasa protein accumulates asymmetrically in their cytoplasm, a pattern closely resembling that of germ cells in late embryonic gonads. Thus, we suggest that the Vasa-stained cells in the abdominal margin are germ cells, as proposed by Nelson (1934), and not cardioblasts, as has been proposed by others.     

Gonadal morphogenesis and sex differentiation in the viviparous fish Chapalichthys encaustus (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes, Goodeidae)

This study describes the structural and ultrastructural characteristics of gonadal sex differentiation and expression of Vasa, a germline marker, in different developmental stages of embryos and newborn fry of the barred splitfin Chapalichthys encaustus, a viviparous freshwater teleost endemic to Mexico. In stage 2 embryos, the gonadal crest was established; gonadal primordia were located on the coelomic epithelium, formed by scarce germ and somatic cells. At stage 3, the undifferentiated gonad appeared suspended from the mesentery of the developing swimbladder and contained a larger number of germ and somatic cells. At stages 4 and 5, the gonads had groups of meiotic and non-meiotic germ cells surrounded by somatic cells; meiosis was evident from the presence of synaptonemal complexes. These stages constituted a transition towards differentiation. At stage 6 and at birth, the gonad was morphologically differentiated into an ovary or a testis. Ovarian differentiation was revealed by the presence of follicles containing meiotic oocytes, and testicular differentiation by the development of testicular lobules containing spermatogonia in mitotic arrest, surrounded by Sertoli cells. Nuage, electron-dense material associated with mitochondria, was observed in germ cells at all gonadal stages. The Vasa protein was detected in all of the previously described stages within the germ-cell cytoplasm. This is the first report on morphological characteristics and expression of the Vasa gene during sexual differentiation in viviparous species of the Goodeidae family. Chapalichthys encaustus may serve as a model to study processes of sexual differentiation in viviparous fishes and teleosts.