Flexible chromosome painting based on multiplex PCR of oligonucleotides and its application for comparative chromosome analyses in Cucumis

Chromosome painting is a powerful technique for chromosome and genome studies. We developed a flexible chromosome painting technique based on multiplex PCR of a synthetic oligonucleotide (oligo) library in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., 2n = 14). Each oligo in the library was associated with a universal as well as nested specific primers for amplification, which allow the generation of different probes from the same oligo library. We were also able to generate double‐stranded labelled oligos, which produced much stronger signals than single‐stranded labelled oligos, by amplification using fluorophore‐conjugated primer pairs. Oligos covering cucumber chromosome 1 (Chr1) and chromosome 4 (Chr4) consisting of eight segments were synthesized in one library. Different oligo probes generated from the library painted the corresponding chromosomes/segments unambiguously, especially on pachytene chromosomes. This technique was then applied to study the homoeologous relationships among cucumber, C. hystrix and C. melo chromosomes based on cross‐species chromosome painting using Chr4 probes. We demonstrated that the probe was feasible to detect interspecies chromosome homoeologous relationships and chromosomal rearrangement events. Based on its advantages and great convenience, we anticipate that this flexible oligo‐painting technique has great potential for the studies of the structure, organization, and evolution of chromosomes in any species with a sequenced genome.     

氮源对阿维菌素合成的影响及基于二氧化碳释放速率的阿维菌素发酵调控

中国是世界上最大的也是唯一的阿维菌素原料生产国,但在工业规模生产中与同类型大环内酯类抗生素相比其产量相对偏低。文中通过研究不同氮源对阿维链霉菌生长、代谢的影响,发现氮源在发酵中后期对菌丝活性、菌丝浓度以及阿维菌素B1a的合成都有较为显著的影响。在100 L生物反应器中,于发酵中后期基于二氧化碳释放速率(CER)控制补入酵母粉,效价达到8697mg/L,与原工艺相比,提高了26.9%。这一结论若在实际工业生产中应用,有望带来实际的经济效益。     

金色链霉菌DM-1全基因组序列测定及去甲金霉素合成基因簇分析

金色链霉菌Streptomyces aureofaciens DM-1是去甲基金霉素的高产菌株。通过Genome Sequencer FLX系统进行测序,得到一条完整的线性基因组序列,长度为6 824 334 bp,GC含量为72.6%。结合软件glimmer 3.02、Genemark和Z-Curve program进行基因预测,最终在其基因组中鉴定出6 431个基因。应用AntiSMASH软件预测其基因组中存在28个次级代谢生物合成基因簇,其中包含了去甲基金霉素生物合成基因簇。其中甲基转移酶CtcK因移码突变提前终止翻译,很可能是去甲基金霉素相对金霉素 (CTC) 缺失一个甲基的根本原因。研究结果为S. aureofaciens DM-1的功能基因组学和去甲基金霉素高产菌株育种提供了研究基础。     

基于转录组测序的Cd胁迫下芹菜细胞自噬相关基因的筛选

细胞自噬是植物逆境应答过程中最常见的保护机制之一。动物中,自噬相关基因抵御镉(Cd)毒害的功能研究较清楚,但植物却知之甚少。文中以芹菜品种‘皇后’为试材,采用外源Cd(终浓度为0、2、4、8mg/L)添加营养液水培处理,利用转录组测序(RNA-seq)技术筛选细胞自噬相关差异基因并进行q RT-PCR验证。结果表明Cd胁迫对芹菜植株产生了明显的毒害作用,并与浓度间产生了量效关系。在筛选的8个差异表达的自噬相关基因中,ATG8a、ATG8f、ATG13、AMPK-1、AMPK-2基因随Cd浓度升高表达上调,ATG12、VPS30和VPS34则先上调后下降,说明自噬相关基因可能通过表达上调增加了自噬小体结构以抵御Cd毒性作用;而高浓度Cd(8mg/L)可能超出芹菜的耐受范围,导致多个自噬基因又出现表达下调趋势。以上结果有助于后期自噬相关基因的功能研究,为进一步探讨芹菜对Cd胁迫的耐性机制提供参考依据。