A Dual Role for Microbial Pathogen-Derived Effector Proteins in Plant Disease and Resistance

Many proteins from plant pathogens affecting the interaction with the host plant have dual functions: they promote virulence on the host species and they function as avirulence determinants by eliciting defense reactions in host cultivars expressing the appropriate resistance genes. In viruses all proteins encoded by the small genomes can be expected to be essential for viral development in the host. However, in different plants surveillance systems have evolved that are able to recognize most of these proteins. Bacteria and fungi have specialized pathogenicity and virulence genes. Many of the latter were originally identified through the resistance gene-dependent elicitor activity of their products. Their role in virulence only became apparent when they were inactivated or transferred to different microbes or after their ectopic expression in host plants. Many microbes appear to maintain these genes despite their disadvantageous effect, introducing only few mutations to abolish the interaction of their products with the plant recognition system. This has been interpreted as been indicative of a virulence function of the gene products that is not impaired by the mutations. Alternatively, in particular in bacteria there is now evidence that pathogenicity was acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Genes supporting virulence in the donor organism's original host appear to have traveled along. Being gratuitous in the new situation, they may have been inactivated without loss of any beneficial function for the pathogen.     

Putative novel Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium species isolated from root nodules of Chamaecytisus ruthenicus

In this study, the diversity and the phylogenetic relationships of bacteria isolated from root nodules of Chamaecytisus ruthenicus growing in Poland were investigated using ERIC-PCR fingerprinting and by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). Two major clusters comprising 13 and 3 isolates were detected which 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified as Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium. The results of phylogenetic analysis of individual and concatenated atpD, gyrB and recA gene sequences showed that the studied strains may represent novel species in the genera Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium. In the phylogenetic tree based on the atpD-gyrB-recA concatemers, Bradyrhizobium isolates were split into two groups closely related to Bradyrhizobium algeriense STM89^T and Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3^T. The genus Phyllobacterium isolates formed a separate cluster close to Phyllobacterium ifriqiyense LMG27887^T in the atpD-gyrB-recA phylogram. Analysis of symbiotic gene sequences (nodC, nodZ, nifD, and nifH) showed that the Bradyrhizobium isolates were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium algeriense STM89^T, Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3^T and Bradyrhizobium retamae Ro19^T belonging to symbiovar retamae. This is the first report on the occurrence of members of symbiovar retamae from outside the Mediterranean region. No symbiosis related genes were amplified from Phyllobacterium strains, which were also unable to induce nodules on C. ruthenicus roots. Based on these findings Phyllobacterium isolates can be regarded as endophytic bacteria inhabitating root nodules of C. ruthenicus.     

Phylogenetically diverse groups of Bradyrhizobium isolated from nodules of tree and annual legume species growing in Ethiopia

Bacteria belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium nodulate various leguminous woody plants and herbs, including economically important crops such as soybean, peanut and cowpea. Here we analysed 39 Bradyrhizobium strains originating from root nodules of the leguminous trees and crops Acacia saligna, Faidherbia albida, Erythrina brucei, Albizia gummifera, Millettia ferruginea, Cajanus cajan, Vigna unguiculata and Phaseolus vulgaris, growing in southern Ethiopia. Multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of the 16S rRNA, glnII, recA, gyrB and dnaK genes and the ITS region grouped the test strains into seven well-supported genospecies (I–VII), six of which occupied distinct positions excluding all hitherto defined Bradyrhizobium species. Analyses of the nodA, nodC and nifH genes suggested different evolutionary history of the chromosomal and symbiosis-related genes. Our study corroborates earlier findings that Ethiopia is a hotspot for rhizobial biodiversity, justifying further search for novel strains from this region and calling for intensified research on the ecology and biochemistry of these organisms.     

Root nodules of Genista germanica harbor Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium bacteria exchanging nodC and nodZ genes

A collection of 18 previously unstudied strains isolated from root nodules of Genista germanica (German greenweed) grown in southeast Poland was evaluated for the level of genetic diversity using the BOX-PCR technique and the phylogenetic relationship based on both core (16S rRNA, dnaK, ftsA, glnII, gyrB, recA, rpoB) and nodulation (nodC and nodZ) gene sequences. Each of the 18 G. germanica root nodule isolates displayed unique BOX-PCR patterns, indicating their high level of genomic heterogeneity. Based on the comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis, 12 isolates were affiliated to the Bradyrhizobium genus and the other strains were most similar to Rhizobium species. Phylogenetic analysis of the core gene sequences indicated that the studied Bradyrhizobium bacteria were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium japonicum, whereas Rhizobium isolates were most closely related to Rhizobium lusitanum and R. leguminosarum. The phylogenies of nodC and nodZ for the Rhizobium strains were incongruent with each other and with the phylogenies inferred from the core gene sequences. All Rhizobium nodZ gene sequences acquired in this study were grouped with the sequences of Bradyrhizobium strains. Some of the studied Rhizobium isolates were placed in the nodC phylogenetic tree together with reference Rhizobium species, while the others were closely related to Bradyrhizobium bacteria. The results provided evidence for horizontal transfer of nodulation genes between Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium. However, the horizontal transfer of nod genes was not sufficient for Rhizobium strains to form nodules on G. germanica roots, suggesting that symbiotic genes have to be adapted to the bacterial genome.     

Conservation of the RD-BF-C2 organization in the pig MHC class-III region: mapping and cloning of the pig RD gene

The RD gene, named after the arginine (R) and aspartic acid (D) repeat in the central part of its protein, was initially mapped in the mouse H-2S subregion between C4 and BF. It was later mapped in the same position in the human MHC and here we show it is also conserved in the pig MHC class III region, close to the complement BF gene. A pig RD genomic clone was isolated from a γ-phage library. Hybridizations on genomic DNA separated with pulsed field gel electrophoresis identified common 220kb Nrul, 130 kb EagI and 200 kb Mlul bands for RD, BF and C2. The RD gene has also a 17 kb Kpnl and 11 kb Sad fragment in common with BFbut not with C2. The close linkage of the RD and BF genes was further established by hybridization of BF to a genomic γ-phage clone also containing the RD gene. This genomic RD clone overlaps with a γ -phage clone previously isolated and containing the complete BF gene and the 3' part of C2. The distance between RD and BF is about 6 kb. The junction between the two complement genes BF and C2 was sequenced and the BF 5' promoter region, overlapping the 3' noncoding region of C2, was compared with that of the human BF promoter. The overall homology was about 80% and all but one identified promoter elements were found in the same position in both genes. The results obtained demonstrate the RD-BF-C2 organization is strongly conserved between human, mouse and pig. No polymorphisms were detected in either the RD gene or in the BF promoter region using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment polymorphism analysis.     

抗虫基因研究及在芸薹属作物上的应用

芸薹属作物属十字花科,包括多种重要的蔬菜和油料作物。该类作物易受病虫害侵袭,造成品质和产量严重受损。化学方法防治害虫不仅破坏环境而且费用昂贵,所以培育抗虫品种成为既经济又环保的措施之一。但由于目前抗虫资源匮乏,难以通过常规育种培育出抗虫的品种,植物基因工程技术的应用,能加快育种进程,提高育种效率。简要介绍近年来抗虫基因的发掘及其在芸薹属中的应用进展。     

杜氏盐藻分子生物学最新进展及展望

杜氏盐藻是一种无细胞壁的单细胞双鞭毛真核藻类,是一种十分重要的藻类资源。过去对杜氏盐藻的研究多集中在形态学、耐盐机理及β-胡萝卜素等方面,近年来,随着藻类基因工程的快速发展,本研究课题组及国内外在杜藻盐藻分子生物学方面做了大量工作,现就杜氏盐藻在这一领域的研究进展进行综述,主要是重要功能基因的克隆与分析、杜氏盐藻调控序列的研究以及杜氏盐藻作为宿主表达外源基因等。     

线粒体和核基因密码子的若干统计特征及其关联

基于归1000密码子使用频次,从垂直和水平两个方向比较研究了不同进化阶层生物线粒体基因和核基因密码子使用的若干统计特征及其关联．结果表明：线粒体基因密码子多样性、相对分子质量和相对π电子共振能低于相应核基因且变异较大;不同进化阶层生物线粒体基因和核基因归1000密码子的相对π电子共振能呈极显著负相关且两者之和接近定值：真菌-真菌线粒体、植物-植物线粒体、无脊椎动物-无脊椎动物线粒体的密码子使用频次匹配较好;线粒体基因AU含量、密码子第三位碱基AU3s含量高于相应核基因;给出了密码子各位点碱基含量随进化以及在线粒体一核间的变化规律．由于线粒体环境不如核环境稳定,线粒体基因密码子的多个统计特征较核基因在不同进化阶层生物间变异较大,但二者在归1000密码子相对π电子共振能等若干特征方面仍存在明显关联．     

Evolutionary conservation and disease gene association of the human genes composing pseudogenes

Pseudogenes, the 'genomic fossils' present portrayal of evolutionary history of human genome. The human genes configuring pseudogenes are also now coming forth as important resources in the study of human protein evolution. In this communication, we explored evolutionary conservation of the genes forming pseudogenes over the genes lacking any pseudogene and delving deeper, we probed an evolutionary rate difference between the disease genes in the two groups. We illustrated this differential evolutionary pattern by gene expressivity, number of regulatory miRNA targeting per gene, abundance of protein complex forming genes and lesser percentage of protein intrinsic disorderness. Furthermore, pseudogenes are observed to harbor sequence variations, over their entirety, those become degenerative disease-causing mutations though the disease involvement of their progenitors is still unexplored. Here, we unveiled an immense association of disease genes in the genes casting pseudogenes in human. We interpreted the issue by disease associated miRNA targeting, genes containing polymorphisms in miRNA target sites, abundance of genes having disease causing non-synonymous mutations, disease gene specific network properties, presence of genes having repeat regions, affluence of dosage sensitive genes and the presence of intrinsically unstructured protein regions.     

长寿和衰老基因及相关基因研究进展

简要介绍了长寿和衰老基因及相关基因在酵母、线虫、果蝇和哺乳动物中的最新遗传学研究进展;概述了“生物钟”、端粒和端粒酶在人类长寿和衰老进程中的重要作用。相信随着人类遗传学和分子生物学研究的深入,将有更多的长寿和衰老基因及相关基因被发现,为揭示衰老机制和延年益寿提供依据。     

Hox and ParaHox genes: A review on molluscs

Hox and ParaHox genes are involved in patterning the anterior‐posterior body axis in metazoans during embryo development. Body plan evolution and diversification are affected by variations in the number and sequence of Hox and ParaHox genes, as well as by their expression patterns. For this reason Hox and ParaHox gene investigation in the phylum Mollusca is of great interest, as this is one of the most important taxa of protostomes, characterized by a high morphological diversity. The comparison of the works reviewed here indicates that species of molluscs, belonging to different classes, share a similar composition of Hox and ParaHox genes. Therefore evidence suggests that the wide morphological diversity of this taxon could be ascribed to differences in Hox gene interactions and expressions and changes in the Hox downstream genes rather than to Hox cluster composition. Moreover the data available on Hox and ParaHox genes in molluscs compared with those of other Lophotrochozoa shed light on the complex and controversial evolutionary histories that these genes have undergone within protostomes. genesis 52:935–945, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Connexin Genes in the Mouse and Human Genome

Gap junctions serve for direct intercellular communication by docking of two hemichannels in adjacent cells thereby forming conduits between the cytoplasmic compartments of adjacent cells. Connexin genes code for subunit proteins of gap junction channels and are members of large gene families in mammals. So far, 17 connexin (Cx) genes have been described and characterized in the murine genome. For most of them, orthologues in the human genome have been found (see White and Paul 1999; Manthey et al. 1999; Teubner et al. 2001; Söhl et al. 2001). We have recently performed searches for connexin genes in murine and human gene libraries available at EMBL/Heidelberg, NCBI and the Celera company that have increased the number of identified connexins to 19 in mouse and 20 in humans. For one mouse connexin gene and two human connexin genes we did not find orthologues in the other genome. Here we present a short overview on distinct connexin genes which we found in the mouse and human genome and which may include all members of this gene family, if no further connexin gene will be discovered in the remaining non-sequenced parts (about 1-5%) of the genomes.     

Regionalization and segmentation of the leech

Regionalization and segmentation of the leech body plan have been examined by numerous approaches over the years. A wealth of knowledge has accumulated regarding the normally invariant cell lineages of the leech and the degree of developmental plasticity that is possible in each cell line in early development and in neurogenesis. Homologues of genes that control regionalization and segmentation in Drosophila have been cloned from the leech and the expression patterns reveal conserved features with those in Drosophila and other organisms. Possible developmental functions of the en-class proteins in spatial and temporal modes of segment formation are discussed in light of leech and Drosophila development. Annelida and Arthropoda cell lineages of engrailed-class gene expression are compared in leech blast cell clones and crustacean parasegments. In addition, future directions for molecular analysis of segmentation of the leech are summarized. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌耐药基因和粘附基因检测及耐药性分析

目的了解凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（CoNS）耐药基因和粘附基因的分布及其耐药性情况。方法收集45株凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌临床分离株,采用PCR检测其耐药基因mecA和粘附基因c弘知如B,并分析其耐药性。结果（1）凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌中mecA、cva、fn6pB的阳性率依次为86．7％（39／45）、11．1％（5／45）、71．1％（32／45）。（2）凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌中耐甲氧西林凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（MRCoNS）的检出率为88．9％,对β-内酰胺类抗生素的耐药率都在80％以上,对利福平、左氧氟沙星、林可霉素的耐药率较低,未发现对万古霉素、利奈唑胺耐药菌株。结论CoNS中MRCoNS检出率很高,对常用抗生素耐药率高,且有一定的粘附能力,临床上应该根据药敏试验结果慎重及合理的使用抗生素。     

高等植物成花基因的研究

高等植物的成花可分为两个阶段：由茎顶端分生组织转变成花分生组织和花器官的形成。前者主要受成花计时基因的控制,而后一阶段主要由植物的同源（异型）框基因调控。本文综述了近年来对植物成花调控基因的研究,并着重对第一阶段成花基因的功能、它们间的相互作用和特点进行了总结。 Abstract:Plant flower can be divided into two phases——from stem apex meristem tissue into flower meristem tissue and floral apparatus.The flower time genes control the flower development and the homologous genes control flower apparatus identify.This paper summarizes recent studies on plant flower and emphasizes on the first phase flower control genes,theirs interaction and function,characteristic of the homologous genes.     

Codon usage and gene expression pattern of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia R551-3 for pathogenic mode of living

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain R551-3 is a multiple-antibiotic-resistant opportunistic human pathogen involved in nosocomial infections. It has a widely distributed GC-rich (>66%) genome. Analysis of differential expression of the genes of this genome reveals that majority of genes belonging to highly expressed category are mostly present on lagging strand without showing any strand specific codon usage bias. Relatively small number of lowly expressed genes is equally distributed on both leading and lagging strands with a difference in codon usage pattern between them. Among several multi drug resistance genes of S. maltophilia involving lowly expressed category some are predicted as horizontally transferred. It can be inferred that horizontally transferred genes may have been imported into this genome for their pathogenic mode of living. Our study may help to modify the expression level of the target genes of this human pathogen in order to control its infection.