基于粪便DNA 的九龙山黑麂种群的遗传多样性

近年来,由于人类活动的干扰使黑麂的栖息地明显减少并呈斑块状分布。因此,深入了解该物种各地理分布种群的遗传现状是制定保护及管理策略的重要科学依据。本研究运用非损伤取样技术在浙江省九龙山国家级自然保护区的黑麂分布区共采集61 份粪便样品、2 份肌肉样品和2 份皮张样品,采用8 个特异微卫星位点对61 份粪便样品中提取的DNA 进行检测,肌肉和皮张样品DNA 的检测结果作为对照,分析了九龙山国家级自然保护区黑麂种群的遗传多样性。经多次重复提取和PCR 扩增后,发现61 份粪便样本中有38 份可被稳定扩增,且不同样本间的条带大小有较大差异,因此我们认为38 份粪便样本来源于38 只不同的黑麂个体。8 个微卫星位点共检测到50 个等位基因,平均等位基因数(A)为6 (5 ～ 8);平均有效等位基因数(Ne)为5. 297 (4.031 ～6.353);平均期望杂合度(He) 为0.817 (0.763 ～ 0.855);平均多态信息含量(PIC ) 为0. 775 (0.709 ～0.822)。8 个位点的平均个体识别率(DP)为0.931,累积个体识别率(CDP)为0.999 9。有1 个微卫星位点(BM1706)极显著地偏离了Hardy-Weinberg 平衡(P < 0.01)。以上结果显示该分布区黑麂种群具有较高的遗传多样性。     

黑麂和费氏麂四种卫星DNA的克隆特征和染色体定位(英文）

近年来,分子细胞遗传学研究已基本证实了染色体的串联融合(端粒－着丝粒融合)是麂属动物核型演化的主要重排方式。尽管染色体串联融合的分子机制还不清楚,但通过染色体的非同源重组,着丝粒区域的卫星DNA被认为可能介导了染色体的融合。以前的研究发现在赤麂和小麂染色体的大部分假定的串联融合位点处存在着非随机分布的卫星DNA。然而在麂属的其他物种中,这些卫星DNA的组成以及在基因组中的分布情况尚未被研究。本研究从黑麂和费氏麂基因组中成功地克隆了4种卫星DNA（BMC5、BM700、BM1.1k和FM700）,并分析了这些卫星克隆的特征以及在小麂、黑麂、贡山麂和费氏麂染色体上的定位情况。结果表明,卫星I和II DNA (BMC5, BM700和FM700)的信号除了分布在这些麂属动物染色体的着丝粒区域外,也间隔地分布在这些物种的染色体臂上。其研究结果为黑麂、费氏麂和贡山麂的染色体核型也是从一个2n＝70的共同祖先核型通过一系列的串联融合进化而来的假说提供了直接的证据。     

黑麂和费氏麂四种卫星DNA的克隆特征和染色体定位

近年来,分子细胞遗传学研究已基本证实了染色体的串联融合(端粒-着丝粒融合)是麂属动物核型演化的主要重排方式。尽管染色体串联融合的分子机制还不清楚,但通过染色体的非同源重组,着丝粒区域的卫星DNA被认为可能介导了染色体的融合。以前的研究发现在赤麂和小麂染色体的大部分假定的串联融合位点处存在着非随机分布的卫星DNA。然而在麂属的其他物种中,这些卫星DNA的组成以及在基因组中的分布情况尚未被研究。本研究从黑麂和费氏麂基因组中成功地克隆了4种卫星DNA(BMC5、BM700、BM1.1k和FM700),并分析了这些卫星克隆的特征以及在小麂、黑麂、贡山麂和费氏麂染色体上的定位情况。结果表明,卫星I和IIDNA(BMC5,BM700和FM700)的信号除了分布在这些麂属动物染色体的着丝粒区域外,也间隔地分布在这些物种的染色体臂上。其研究结果为黑麂、费氏麂和贡山麂的染色体核型也是从一个2n=70的共同祖先核型通过一系列的串联融合进化而来的假说提供了直接的证据。     

一种高效的哺乳动物粪便DNA提取通用方法

以粪便为材料提取动物DNA进行动物保护遗传学和分子生态学研究的关键是能否提取到高质量的粪便DNA.然而提取方法通用性不好和产物质量不高等问题阻碍了粪便DNA分析技术的推广.本文介绍的改进型十六烷基三甲基溴化铵提取法可广泛适用于各食性哺乳动物粪便DNA提取,在11种不同食性动物的粪便DNA提取实验中验证了它的可靠性和通用性.本方法成本低廉(3元/样),用实验室常规试剂即可完成粪便DNA提取,其产物纯度高于专用试剂盒QIAamp DNA Stool Kit,在拥有超过专业试剂盒提取效果的同时尽可能的降低了实验成本,有利于粪便DNA技术的推广.     

黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons)栖息地片断化对种群基因流的影响

栖息地片断化可能影响种群的基因流,进而导致近交,降低个体生活力,是生物多样性丧失和物种绝灭的主要因素.被列为国家I级保护动物的黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons),由于自身目前的濒危状况和生物学特异性,使得栖息地片断化对其影响更甚.为了更好的保护该珍稀物种,研究运用地理信息系统划分了浙江遂昌的九龙山自然保护区和开化的古田山自然保护区黑麂栖息地的片断化斑块,并通过所得片断化斑块数据进行两个保护区在片断化程度的计算,同时从片断化斑块获取黑麂的组织、粪便样品,提取黑麂的线粒体DNA,估算其基因流大小.以此初步确定两个保护的黑麂栖息地片断化程度对种群基因流的影响.各项片断化指数均表明,九龙山自然保护区的黑麂栖息地片断化程度要小于古田山自然保护区.九龙山自然保护区黑麂片断化种群的平均基因流Nm达到了3.65,明显高于古田山自然保护区的1.12.结果表明,栖息地片断化可能对黑麂种群的基因流产生了一定的影响.应及时采取有效措施保护和恢复黑麂栖息地,否则将严重阻碍片断化种群间的个体迁移、扩散和基因交流.     

一种快速提取肠道微生物总DNA的方法

采集的兔肠道内容物及其粪便样品,通过分散浸泡、震荡洗涤、分级离心、滤器过滤、DNA提取试剂盒提取纯化,可以获得纯度很高的DNA样品。经0.8%琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测和紫外分光光度计测定,样品A260/A280的比值为1.72±0.02。分别以提取的DNA样品为模板,通过设计的细菌特异引物,对其16S rDNA基因进行PCR扩增,获得了1.6 kb大小特异性很好的预期条带。这为肠道微生物群落的分子生态学研究提供了一种简便、可靠的DNA提取方法。     

不同保存方法对川金丝猴粪便DNA提取效果的影响

目的:川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是我国特有珍稀物种,其粪便作为一种非损伤性样品,为珍稀濒危动物的种群数量调查、遗传多样性评价、亲缘关系、系统进化等研究带来了很大便利,本研究试图建立高效、简便的粪便样品保存方法。方法:在现有珍稀濒危动物粪便样品保存方法的基础上,分别使用干燥法、冷冻法和干燥-冷冻法保存川金丝猴的粪便样品,比较了不同保存方法的DNA提取效果,以及对mtDNA控制区片段的PCR扩增成功率和微卫星基因的PCR扩增效率。结果:干燥法、冷冻法和干燥-冷冻法三种不同保存方法保存粪便1周时间后,提取的粪便DNA样本扩增mtDNA片段的成功率均为92%,微卫星基因的扩增成功率分别为79%、78%、80%;保存2个月后,mtDNA片段扩增成功率分别为80%、76%和80%,微卫星基因扩增成功率分别为65%、61%、67%;保存6个月后,mtDNA片段扩增成功率分别为56%、52%和64%,微卫星基因扩增成功率分别40%、34%、46%。因此,随着保存时间的增长,三种方法的保存效率都将明显降低,但干燥-冷冻法得到的DNA样本扩增成功率相对较高。结论:粪便样品能够为川金丝猴的遗传多样性评价等相关研究提供有效信息,干燥-冷冻法保存能够更为有效的保证DNA的提取和基因扩增效率。     

粪便DNA分析技术在分子生态学研究中的机遇与挑战

随着粪便DNA分析技术的不断发展与完善,其越来越多地被应用于分子生态学研究中,特别是野生动物的遗传状况评估研究。粪便DNA的获取可以在不干扰,甚至无需观察到动物本身的情况下展开,因此避免了取样活动可能给野生动物带来的干扰或伤害,极大地促进了野生动物分子生态学的研究。虽然粪便DNA分析技术在其建立伊始因DNA质量问题而受到了一定的挑战,但自其建立至今,研究者发展了多种技术来克服这一问题。现已能获得较高质量的粪便DNA,并将基因分型错误率控制在较低水平。本文将结合我们在粪便DNA分析技术上所积累的经验,从粪便样品采集、保存、DNA提取、PCR扩增以及等位基因分型等各个环节对该技术进行详细探讨,以期阐明该技术在野生动物分子生态学研究中所面临的机遇与挑战,进一步推动其在我国野生动物保护研究中的应用与发展。     

黑麂（Muntiacus crinifrons）3个种群的遗传多样性

黑麂,为我国特有动物,被公认为目前世界上最珍稀的鹿科动物之一.为了更好地保护黑麂这一珍稀的濒危野生动物,基于黑麂线粒体控制区序列对遂昌分布中心的3个黑麂种群的遗传多样性和基因流进行了研究.结果显示,3个种群的36个个体中有13个变异位点,占分析序列长度的2.71%,且这13个变异位点皆为碱基置换,并未出现碱基插入或缺失的现象,并由此定义了12个单倍型.遗传多样性检测结果显示遂昌种群具有最高的遗传多样性,应予以优先保护.从Tajima′s D和Fu and Li′s D值的估算结果来看,这3个黑麂种群相对于中性进化的歧异度并没有明显的偏离(P＞0.1),没有明显的证据显示这3个黑麂种群间存在很强的平衡选择.3个种群间基因流 Nm均大于1,这3个黑麂种群间存在着较为丰富的基因流.3个黑麂种群单倍型间的序列差异为0.009,这表明这3个黑麂种群的单倍型未出现分化.     

银杏DNA提取及RAPD分析

采用SDS裂解液和苯酚/氯仿/异戊醇提取液从银杏叶中提取银杏总DNA,并进行DNA样品分光光度测定和琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析。通过引物筛选和反应参数优化,选用3个随机引物对DNA样品进行RAPD扩增,获得较为清晰并有一定多态性差异的扩增谱带,初步摸索出适合于以银杏叶为材料的DNA提取方法和RAPD扩增程序,为研究银杏遗传多态性及种质资源研究提供一种实用的分析方法。     

FBH1 Helicase Disrupts RAD51 Filaments in Vitro and Modulates Homologous Recombination in Mammalian Cells

Efficient repair of DNA double strand breaks and interstrand cross-links requires the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, a potentially error-free process that utilizes a homologous sequence as a repair template. A key player in HR is RAD51, the eukaryotic ortholog of bacterial RecA protein. RAD51 can polymerize on DNA to form a nucleoprotein filament that facilitates both the search for the homologous DNA sequences and the subsequent DNA strand invasion required to initiate HR. Because of its pivotal role in HR, RAD51 is subject to numerous positive and negative regulatory influences. Using a combination of molecular genetic, biochemical, and single-molecule biophysical techniques, we provide mechanistic insight into the mode of action of the FBH1 helicase as a regulator of RAD51-dependent HR in mammalian cells. We show that FBH1 binds directly to RAD51 and is able to disrupt RAD51 filaments on DNA through its ssDNA translocase function. Consistent with this, a mutant mouse embryonic stem cell line with a deletion in the FBH1 helicase domain fails to limit RAD51 chromatin association and shows hyper-recombination. Our data are consistent with FBH1 restraining RAD51 DNA binding under unperturbed growth conditions to prevent unwanted or unscheduled DNA recombination.     

Human HEL308 localizes to damaged replication forks and unwinds lagging strand structures

HEL308 is a superfamily II DNA helicase, conserved from archaea through to humans. HEL308 family members were originally isolated by their similarity to the Drosophila melanogaster Mus308 protein, which contributes to the repair of replication-blocking lesions such as DNA interstrand cross-links. Biochemical studies have established that human HEL308 is an ATP-dependent enzyme that unwinds DNA with a 3' to 5' polarity, but little else is know about its mechanism. Here, we show that GFP-tagged HEL308 localizes to replication forks following camptothecin treatment. Moreover, HEL308 colocalizes with two factors involved in the repair of damaged forks by homologous recombination, Rad51 and FANCD2. Purified HEL308 requires a 3' single-stranded DNA region to load and unwind duplex DNA structures. When incubated with substrates that model stalled replication forks, HEL308 preferentially unwinds the parental strands of a structure that models a fork with a nascent lagging strand, and the unwinding action of HEL308 is specifically stimulated by human replication protein A. Finally, we show that HEL308 appears to target and unwind from the junction between single-stranded to double-stranded DNA on model fork structures. Together, our results suggest that one role for HEL308 at sites of blocked replication might be to open up the parental strands to facilitate the loading of subsequent factors required for replication restart.     

The DDN Catalytic Motif Is Required for Metnase Functions in Non-homologous End Joining (NHEJ) Repair and Replication Restart

Metnase (or SETMAR) arose from a chimeric fusion of the Hsmar1 transposase downstream of a protein methylase in anthropoid primates. Although the Metnase transposase domain has been largely conserved, its catalytic motif (DDN) differs from the DDD motif of related transposases, which may be important for its role as a DNA repair factor and its enzymatic activities. Here, we show that substitution of DDN⁶¹⁰ with either DDD⁶¹⁰ or DDE⁶¹⁰ significantly reduced in vivo functions of Metnase in NHEJ repair and accelerated restart of replication forks. We next tested whether the DDD or DDE mutants cleave single-strand extensions and flaps in partial duplex DNA and pseudo-Tyr structures that mimic stalled replication forks. Neither substrate is cleaved by the DDD or DDE mutant, under the conditions where wild-type Metnase effectively cleaves ssDNA overhangs. We then characterized the ssDNA-binding activity of the Metnase transposase domain and found that the catalytic domain binds ssDNA but not dsDNA, whereas dsDNA binding activity resides in the helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain. Substitution of Asn-610 with either Asp or Glu within the transposase domain significantly reduces ssDNA binding activity. Collectively, our results suggest that a single mutation DDN⁶¹⁰ → DDD⁶¹⁰, which restores the ancestral catalytic site, results in loss of function in Metnase.     

Studies on human DNA polymerase epsilon and GINS complex and their role in DNA replication

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is carried out by the coordinated action of three DNA polymerases (Pols), Pol α, δ, and ε. In this report, we describe the reconstitution of the human four-subunit Pol ε and characterization of its catalytic properties in comparison with Pol α and Pol δ. Human Pol ε holoenzyme is a monomeric complex containing stoichiometric subunit levels of p261/Pol 2, p59, p17, and p12. We show that the Pol ε p261 N-terminal catalytic domain is solely responsible for its ability to catalyze DNA synthesis. Importantly, human Pol (hPol) ε was found more processive than hPol δ in supporting proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent elongation of DNA chains, which is in keeping with proposed roles for hPol ε and hPol δ in the replication of leading and lagging strands, respectively. Furthermore, GINS, a component of the replicative helicase complex that is composed of Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3, was shown to interact weakly with all three replicative DNA Pols (α, δ, and ε) and to markedly stimulate the activities of Pol α and Pol ε. In vivo studies indicated that siRNA-targeted depletion of hPol δ and/or hPol ε reduced cell cycle progression and the rate of fork progression. Under the conditions used, we noted that depletion of Pol ε had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cellular DNA replication than depletion of Pol δ. We suggest that reduction in the level of Pol δ may be less deleterious because of its collision-and-release role in lagging strand synthesis.     

Distributions of Topological States in Circular DNA

A distinctive feature of closed circular DNA molecules is their particular topological state, which cannot be altered by any conformational rearrangement short of breaking at least one strand. This topological constraint opens unique possibilities for experimental studies of the distributions of topological states created in different ways. Primarily, the equilibrium distributions of topological properties are considered in the review. It is described how such distributions can be obtained and measured experimentally, and how they can be computed. Comparison of the calculated and measured equilibrium distributions over the linking number of complementary strands, equilibrium fractions of knots and links formed by circular molecules has provided much valuable information about the properties of the double helix. Study of the steady-state fraction of knots and links created by type II DNA topoisomerases has revealed a surprising property of the enzymes: their ability to reduce these fractions considerably below the equilibrium level.     

Topoisomerase II Regulates the Maintenance of DNA Methylation

The maintenance of DNA methylation in nascent DNA is a critical event for numerous biological processes. Following DNA replication, DNMT1 is the key enzyme that strictly copies the methylation pattern from the parental strand to the nascent DNA. However, the mechanism underlying this highly specific event is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we identified topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) as a novel regulator of the maintenance DNA methylation. UHRF1, a protein important for global DNA methylation, interacts with TopoIIα and regulates its localization to hemimethylated DNA. TopoIIα decatenates the hemimethylated DNA following replication, which might facilitate the methylation of the nascent strand by DNMT1. Inhibiting this activity impairs DNA methylation at multiple genomic loci. We have uncovered a novel mechanism during the maintenance of DNA methylation.     

Contribution of the intrinsic curvature to measured DNA persistence length

The persistence length of DNA, a, depends both on the intrinsic curvature of the double helix and on the thermal fluctuations of the angles between adjacent base-pairs. We have evaluated two contributions to the value of a by comparing measured values of a for DNA containing a generic sequence and for an "intrinsically straight" DNA. In each 10 bp segment of the intrinsically straight DNA an initial sequence of five bases is repeated in the sequence of the second five bases, so any bends in the first half of the segment are compensated by bends in the opposite direction in the second half. The value of a for the latter DNA depends, to a good approximation, on thermal fluctuations only; there is no intrinsic curvature. The values of a were obtained from measurements of the cyclization efficiency for short DNA fragments, about 200 bp in length. This method determines the persistence length of DNA with exceptional accuracy, due to the very strong dependence of the cyclization efficiency of short fragments on the value of a. We find that the values of a for the two types of DNA fragment are very close and conclude that the contribution of the intrinsic curvature to a is at least 20 times smaller than the contribution of thermal fluctuations. The relationship between this result and the angles between adjacent base-pairs, which specify the intrinsic curvature, is analyzed.     

A procedure for large-scale isolation of RNA-free plasmid and phage DNA without the use of RNase

A preparative procedure for the large-scale isolation of plasmid DNA without the use of RNAse is described. Crude plasmid DNA is prepared using a standard boiling method. High-molecular-weight RNA is removed by precipitation with LiCl, and low-molecular-weight RNA is removed by sedimentation through high-salt solution. The procedure is inexpensive, rapid, simple, and particularly suitable for processing several large-scale preparations simultaneously. A similar procedure has been developed for preparation of lambda-phage DNA.     

Formation of a stable RuvA protein double tetramer is required for efficient branch migration in vitro and for replication fork reversal in vivo

In bacteria, RuvABC is required for the resolution of Holliday junctions (HJ) made during homologous recombination. The RuvAB complex catalyzes HJ branch migration and replication fork reversal (RFR). During RFR, a stalled fork is reversed to form a HJ adjacent to a DNA double strand end, a reaction that requires RuvAB in certain Escherichia coli replication mutants. The exact structure of active RuvAB complexes remains elusive as it is still unknown whether one or two tetramers of RuvA support RuvB during branch migration and during RFR. We designed an E. coli RuvA mutant, RuvA2(KaP), specifically impaired for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions. As expected, the mutant protein is impaired for complex II (two tetramers) formation on HJs, although the binding efficiency of complex I (a single tetramer) is as wild type. We show that although RuvA complex II formation is required for efficient HJ branch migration in vitro, RuvA2(KaP) is fully active for homologous recombination in vivo. RuvA2(KaP) is also deficient at forming complex II on synthetic replication forks, and the binding affinity of RuvA2(KaP) for forks is decreased compared with wild type. Accordingly, RuvA2(KaP) is inefficient at processing forks in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that RuvA2(KaP) is a separation-of-function mutant, capable of homologous recombination but impaired for RFR. RuvA2(KaP) is defective for stimulation of RuvB activity and stability of HJ·RuvA·RuvB tripartite complexes. This work demonstrates that the need for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions for full RuvAB activity in vitro causes specifically an RFR defect in vivo.     

Translocation and Stability of Replicative DNA Helicases upon Encountering DNA-Protein Cross-links

DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are formed when cells are exposed to various DNA-damaging agents. Because DPCs are extremely large, steric hindrance conferred by DPCs is likely to affect many aspects of DNA transactions. In DNA replication, DPCs are first encountered by the replicative helicase that moves at the head of the replisome. However, little is known about how replicative helicases respond to covalently immobilized protein roadblocks. In the present study we elucidated the effect of DPCs on the DNA unwinding reaction of hexameric replicative helicases in vitro using defined DPC substrates. DPCs on the translocating strand but not on the nontranslocating strand impeded the progression of the helicases including the phage T7 gene 4 protein, simian virus 40 large T antigen, Escherichia coli DnaB protein, and human minichromosome maintenance Mcm467 subcomplex. The impediment varied with the size of the cross-linked proteins, with a threshold size for clearance of 5.0–14.1 kDa. These results indicate that the central channel of the dynamically translocating hexameric ring helicases can accommodate only small proteins and that all of the helicases tested use the steric exclusion mechanism to unwind duplex DNA. These results further suggest that DPCs on the translocating and nontranslocating strands constitute helicase and polymerase blocks, respectively. The helicases stalled by DPC had limited stability and dissociated from DNA with a half-life of 15–36 min. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the distinct stabilities of replisomes that encounter tight but reversible DNA-protein complexes and irreversible DPC roadblocks.