油茶脂酰辅酶A脱氢酶基因的克隆与表达分析

以国审油茶(Camellia oleifera)良种‘华硕’种子为材料,在已构建的转录组和表达谱数据库基础之上,采用RACE技术,克隆获得油茶脂酰辅酶A脱氢酶基因的全长c DNA序列,命名为Co ACAD(基因登录号KJ910338)。该基因c DNA全长为2702 bp,含有2487 bp的开放读码框,编码828个氨基酸,分子量为92.4113 k D,理论等电点p I为8.47,具有2个比较明显的跨膜区和酪氨酸蛋白激酶活性位点LVHGDFRIDNLVF,存在5个亚结构域;在Co ACAD基因c DNA全长序列的基础上构建表达载体,其中原核表达载体在宿主细胞BL21(DE3)中成功诱导表达,获得表观分子量约为93 k D的目的蛋白;实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,Co ACAD基因在果实膨大期和成熟期上调表达,预示着Co ACAD基因可能在种子发育过程中参与能量供应过程的调控。     

采后晾晒对油茶种仁油脂产量及组分的影响

油茶(Camellia oleifera)是我国大力推广的优质油料树种。本研究分别取花后150和170 d油茶果实,比较新鲜提取、自然晾晒及不同光质晾晒后种仁含油率及脂肪酸含量,旨在为合理采收处理提供科学依据。结果表明,晾晒能够显著提高花后150 d油茶种仁出油率,其中‘华鑫’种仁出油率的增加达5.35%。覆盖蓝色膜晾晒最有利于花后150 d的‘华硕’油茶油脂采后合成,种仁出油率高达52.42%。晾晒对花后170 d油茶种仁出油率影响不大。无论晾晒与否,脂肪酸成分不变,花后170 d较花后150 d油茶种仁中硬脂酸和油酸含量均有增加,但是品种间差异不显著。     

基于转录组测序对油茶角鲨烯合酶基因的克隆及分析

油茶是中国重要的木本油料树种,而角鲨烯在茶籽油中含量多少是茶油品质的重要指标,为提高油茶角鲨烯含量,以油茶种子转录组测序为基础,根据Unigene设计SQS基因RACE引物,克隆出基因全长共1 490 bp,开放阅读框1 266 bp,编码422个氨基酸,将氨基酸序列与其他植物SQS进行比对,构建进化树,分析物种间进化关系,进行蛋白质的生物信息学分析,包括蛋白质结构特点、理化性质、氨基酸组成及稳定性分析; 跨膜区域分析; 信号肽识别位点; 磷酸化位点; 二级结构及功能; 结构域分析。通过转录组测序和荧光实时定量分析了SQS基因在油茶种子发育各时期表达量变化规律,并提取各时期油脂,测定角鲨烯含量,发现两种基因表达量分析方法的结果有一致的变化趋势,且与各月份间角鲨烯含量有相同的变化规律。证明了转录组测序的有效性,并推测油茶角鲨烯合酶基因的表达量变化与角鲨烯含量的多少有直接关系,为后续从分子手段提高茶籽油中角鲨烯含量提供了理论基础。     

金花茶查尔酮合成酶基因全长克隆与序列分析

利用RT-PCR和RACE方法,从我国珍稀植物金花茶(Camellia nitidissima)花瓣中获得了查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)基因的cDNA全长,命名为Cn-CHS,GenBank登录号HQ269804.碱基序列分析表明,Cn-CHS全长1 454bp,包含77 bp的5'非翻译区、207 bp的3'非翻译区和一个长为1 170 bp编码389个氨基酸的开放阅读框.氨基酸序列分析显示该基因编码的蛋白具有CHS家族保守存在的所有功能活性位点和特征性多肽序列.氨基酸序列比对分析表明,CnCHS与蔷薇科、杜鹃花科、茄科等植物的CHS相似性都在92%以上;与山茶科山茶属物种山茶(C.japonica)CHS完全一致;与茶(C.sinensis)CHS相似性达99%,有5个氨基酸位点存在差异,其中包括一个功能性位点.     

油茶Pht1;1基因克隆及其表达分析

以油茶‘湘林4号’为材料,通过 RT-PCR 和 RACE 的方法克隆出油茶磷酸转运子Pht1基因家族一个成员的全长cDNA序列,命名为CoPht1;1（GenBank登录号：JX403969）,通过实时定量 PCR 的方法检测了不同磷浓度下该基因在根系中的表达水平。结果表明：CoPht1;1 CDS长度为 1 626 bp,编码 542 个氨基酸,与其他物种的Pht1氨基酸序列具有较高的相似性,其中与夹竹桃科长春花的 Pht1相似性最高,达到 88%;蛋白质二级结构和拓扑结构预测表明,CoPht1;1具有跨膜蛋白的主要特征,与其他物种的Pht1具有一致性;实时定量 RT-PCR 结果表明,油茶Pht1基因的表达受低磷因素诱导,并随磷处理时间的不同而变化。     

油茶Pht1;2的克隆及生物信息学分析

目的:克隆和分析油茶高亲和磷转运蛋白基因,为研究其结构和功能打下基础。方法:以油茶品种‘华硕’为试材,通过RT-PCR和RACE的方法克隆出油茶磷酸转运子Pht1基因家族一个成员的全长cDNA序列,命名为CoPht1;2(GenBank登录号:JX412956.1),通过生物信息学技术对其序列的理化性质、结构与功能进行分析和预测。结果:CoPht1;2 CDS长度为1 590bp,编码530个氨基酸,与其它物种的Pht1氨基酸序列具有较高的相似性,其中与杨柳科毛果杨的Pht1相似性最高,达到77.5%;该基因所编码蛋白质的分子量为58.02 kDa,理论等电点pI为8.97,二级结构主要由α-螺旋、β-折叠和不规则卷曲构成,包含12个明显的跨膜螺旋拓扑结构。结论:预测显示该蛋白是一个疏水跨膜蛋白,具有磷转运蛋白的主要特征,初步判定其与油茶磷吸收有关,其功能有待进一步验证。     

耐冬山茶抗寒基因CjCor1的全长克隆与表达分析

COR基因是植物冷驯化过程中重要的功能基因。为研究Cor基因在耐冬山茶(Camellia japonica)抗寒方面的功能,采取同源克隆的方法,从自然低温条件下的耐冬山茶叶片中分离到了617 bp的耐冬山茶同源COR基因全长序列,命名为Cj Cor1。该序列全长完整,含有600 bp的开放阅读框。氨基酸序列分析显示,Cj Cor1基因编码的199个氨基酸蛋白质,含有冷驯化蛋白家族WCOR413 Superfamily特有的保守域结构,在同属物种中的保守性极高。荧光定量PCR结果表明,在低温(0℃以下时)条件下,相比南方山茶原种和常见栽培品种,Cj Cor1基因在耐冬山茶中具有较高表达量,且在耐寒性高的品种中的表达量也较高。     

苎麻植物螯合肽合成酶(BnPCS1)基因的克隆和表达

根据苎麻转录组测序中的PCS基因片段,利用RT-PCR结合RACE技术从中苎1号中克隆获得了该基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为BnPCS1。该基因的cDNA序列全长为1956 bp,其中开放读码框长1512 bp,编码503个氨基酸,预测其分子量和等电点分别为56.02 kD和7.01。与长喙田菁(ACT87974)、百脉根(Q2TSC7)、狼牙刺(AFM38979)、荷花(BAN08523)和杜梨(AEY68568)的PCS氨基酸序列相似性分别为74%、73%、75%、73%和77%。荧光定量PCR分析表明,BnPCS1在根、茎、茎尖、幼叶、成熟叶中均有表达,其中在成熟叶中的表达量最高,茎中表达量最低,并且该基因受镉和ABA诱导上调表达。BnPCS1基因的克隆将为苎麻抗重金属分子育种和进一步的功能分析奠定基础。     

茶树CsIDI1和CsIDI2基因的克隆及其表达分析

该研究在茶树转录组测序基础上,以铁观音品种茶树为材料,采用RT-PCR技术,克隆了茶树异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶(IDI)的2个编码基因(CsIDI1和CsIDI2)的cDNA全长序列。CsIDI1的全长为1 378bp,其开放阅读框(ORF)长度894bp,编码297个氨基酸,亚细胞定位预测位于叶绿体上,其氨基酸序列与葡萄IDI的相似性达95%;CsIDI2的全长为1 216bp,其ORF长度为717bp,编码238个氨基酸,亚细胞定位预测位于细胞质上,其氨基酸序列与芝麻IDI相似性达96%。CsIDI1和CsIDI2均含有典型的NUDIX水解酶域。荧光定量PCR结果表明,CsIDI1和CsIDI2基因在茶树地上部不同组织都有表达,但CsIDI2的表达量相对较高;品种间表达量分析显示,它们在父本黄旦品种及杂交后代高香型乌龙茶品种中的表达量显著高于母本铁观音品种,表现出香气上的杂种优势;在乌龙茶做青过程中,随着摇青的进行,CsIDI2的表达被显著诱导,表明CsIDIs在茶叶萜类香气物质形成中发挥重要功能。     

转录组测序揭示油桐脂肪酸的合成途径

油桐是我国重要的木本油料植物,过去对油桐的研究主要集中于栽培和常规育种,与油桐种仁油脂合成相关的分子机理研究还未见报道。本研究采用转录组测序（RNA-Seq）技术,比较了油桐种子油脂合成3个不同时期的转录组,获得了大量差异表达的Unigene序列。通过GO（GeneOntology）分类和代谢途径富集性分析将这些差异表达的Unigene归类于包含脂肪酸生物合成途径在内的128个代谢途径。随后将脂肪酸生物合成途径中的54个Unigene序列在KEGG（KyotoEncyclopediaofGenesandGenomes）数据库中进行比对,获得了14个关键酶的同源蛋白质。本研究通过对编码这些同源蛋白质的基因在油桐种子油脂合成期的表达模式进行分析,以期为油桐油脂合成,尤其是桐酸合成机理的解析提供理论参考,并为进一步的理论研究和油桐的遗传改良提供潜在的基因资源,从而提高油桐的单位面积产量。     

LINE-1编码蛋白L1-ORF1的原核表达纯化和多克隆抗体制备

目的: 制备具有肿瘤组织特异性表达的L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体并进行初步应用研究。方法:采取基因工程表达方法制备L1-ORF1蛋白,免疫家兔制备多克隆抗体,间接ELISA检测抗体效价,Western blot和细胞免疫荧光方法检测抗体特异性,免疫检测验证其识别肿瘤细胞内L1-ORF1蛋白的特异性。结果:制备的抗L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体具有很高的敏感性与特异性,免疫学检测表明该抗体不仅能检测出正常细胞中瞬时表达的L1-ORF1蛋白,而且可检测出肿瘤细胞中天然表达的L1-ORF1蛋白。结论:制备的多克隆抗体具有较高的敏感性与特异性,为以后该抗体的进一步应用奠定了基础。     

Role of the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal in Daxx trafficking and ASK1 oligomerization

Overexpression of JNK binding domain inhibited glucose deprivation-induced JNK1 activation, relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) oligomerization in human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells. However, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, did not prevent relocalization of Daxx and oligomerization of ASK1 during glucose deprivation. Studies from in vivo labeling and immune complex kinase assay demonstrated that phosphorylation of Daxx occurred during glucose deprivation, and its phosphorylation was mediated through the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal transduction pathway. Data from immunofluorescence staining and protein interaction assay suggest that phosphorylated Daxx may be translocated to the cytoplasm, bind to ASK1, and subsequently lead to ASK1 oligomerization. Mutation of Daxx Ser667 to Ala results in suppression of Daxx relocalization during glucose deprivation, suggesting that Ser667 residue plays an important role in the relocalization of Daxx. Unlike wild-type Daxx, a Daxx deletion mutant (amino acids 501-625) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, where it associated with ASK1, activated JNK1, and induced ASK1 oligomerization without glucose deprivation. Taken together, these results show that glucose deprivation activates the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 pathway, and the activated HIPK1 is probably involved in the relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The relocalized Daxx may play an important role in glucose deprivation-induced ASK1 oligomerization.     

DEC1 and MIC-1

Comment on: Qian Y, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012; 109:11300-5.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 toxins of bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC50s were obtained. All of these LC50s were significantly higher than the expected LC50s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC50 of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm2 of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC50s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm2 of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm2 of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Isolation and Characterization of Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme E1-domain Containing 1, UBE1DC1

Ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins play important roles in post-translational modification. They are phylogenetically well-conserved in eukaryotes. Activated by other proteins, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can covalently modify target proteins. The enzymes responsible for the activation of this modification have been known to include UBA1, SAE2, UBA3, SAE1 and ULA1. Here we report a new ubiquitin activating enzyme like cDNA, named ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-domain containing 1 (UBE1DC1), whose cDNA is 2654 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 404 amino acids. The UBE1DC1 gene consists of 12 exons and is located at human chromosome 3q22. The result of RT-PCR showed that UBE1DC1 is expressed in most of human tissues. These two authors contributed equally to this paper. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AY253672.     

Generation of 'humanized' hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) mouse line

Human/rodent CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 orthologs are well known to exhibit species-specific differences in substrate preferences and rates of metabolism. This lab previously characterized a BAC-transgenic mouse carrying the human CYP1A1_CYP1A2 locus; in this line, human dioxin-inducible CYP1A1 and basal vs dioxin-inducible CYP1A2 have been shown to be expressed normally (with regard to mRNAs, proteins and three enzyme activities) in every one of nine mouse tissues studied. The mouse Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes are oriented head-to-head and share a bidirectional promoter region of 13,954 bp. Using Cre recombinase and loxP sites inserted 3' of the stop codons of both genes, we show here a successful interchromosomal excision of 26,173 bp that ablated both genes on the same allele. The Cyp1a1/1a2(-) double-knockout allele was bred with the "humanized" line; the final product is the hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) line on a theoretically >99.8% C57BL/6J genetic background-having both human genes replacing the mouse orthologs. This line will be valuable for human risk assessment studies involving any environmental toxicant or drug that is a substrate for CYP1A1 or CYP1A2.     

Regulation of PCTAIRE1 protein stability by AKT1, LKB1 and BRCA1

PCTAIRE1, also known as CDK16, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that is regulated by cyclin Y. It is a member of the serine-threonine family of kinases and its functions have primarily been implicated in cellular processes like vesicular transport, neuronal growth and development, myogenesis, spermatogenesis and cell proliferation. However, as extensive studies on PCTAIRE1 have not yet been conducted, the signaling pathways for this kinase involved in governing many cellular processes are yet to be elucidated in detail. Here, we report the association of PCTAIRE1 with important cellular proteins involved in major cell signaling pathways, especially cell proliferation. In particular, here we show that PCTAIRE1 interacts with AKT1, a key player of the PI3K signaling pathway that is responsible for promoting cell survival and proliferation. Our studies show that PCTAIRE1 is a substrate of AKT1 that gets stabilized by it. Further, we show that PCTAIRE1 also interacts with and is degraded by LKB1, a kinase that is known to suppress cellular proliferation and also regulate cellular energy metabolism. Moreover, our results show that PCTAIRE1 is also degraded by BRCA1, a well-known tumor suppressor. Together, our studies highlight the regulation of PCTAIRE1 by key players of the major cell signaling pathways involved in regulating cell proliferation, and therefore, provide crucial links that could be explored further to elucidate the mechanistic role of PCTAIRE1 in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC₅₀s were obtained. All of these LC₅₀s were significantly higher than the expected LC₅₀s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC₅₀ of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm² of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC₅₀s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm² of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm² of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.