Phylogenetic relationships of the garter snakes based on DNA sequence and allozyme variation

We estimated phylogenetic relationships among 26 species of garter snakes (genus Thamnophis ) using allozyme and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequence variation. Parsimony analyses of the two data sets give substantially different estimates of phylogeny. Several lines of evidence indicate that much of this conflict is due to error associated with the restricted number of characters in each data set. Such sampling error may be reduced by combining all the characters; we therefore present an estimate of phylogeny based on parsimony analysis of all the data combined. All our analyses support several conclusions in conflict with previous views: a very distant relationship between T.errans and T. elegans , non-monophyly of the elegans group (even excluding T: errans ), and nesting of the form validus (previously considered a member of the genus Nerodia ) within Thamnophis.
The combined analysis gives an almost fully resolved tree. However, bootstrapping indicates only weak support for many clades in this tree. Furthermore, paraphyly of the assemblages of cytochrome b gene lineages within T. elegans and T. radix indicate the potential for discordance between the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and species phylogenies through the sorting of ancestral mtDNA polymorphisms. These problems suggest the need for assaying additional characters, especially ones likely to be independent of those used in the present study.     

转译优化对EPO基因在COS7细胞中表达的影响

利用ＣＯＳ７细胞暂时表达系统,研究转译起始序列对ＥＰＯ－ｃＤＮＡ表达的影响。通过ＤＮＡ重组技术,构建了原ＥＰＯ－ｃＤＮＡ表达载体ｐＣＳＶ－ＥＰＯ（１）,其转译起始序列为５＇ＡＡＴＴＣＡＴＧＧ３＇。同时通过定点突变技术,将起始序列改变成５＇ＣＣＡＣＣＡＴＧＧ３＇,而构建了另一表达载体ＰＣＳＶ－ＥＰＯ（２）。后经序列分析证明无误后和前均通过ＤＥＡＥ－ｄｅｘｔｒａｎ法转染ＣＯＳ７细胞上清,测定结果为     

Intergenic spacers of rRNA genes in three species of theCynareae (Asteraceae)

Intergenic spacers of the rRNA genes of three species of theCynareae tribe:Cynara cardunculus subsp.scolymus (artichoke),Onopordum acanthium, andO. illyricum were cloned in the plasmid pGEM-7zf(+). Detailed restriction mapping and partial sequencing of the IGSs were carried out. The structural analysis showed a clear diversity betweenCynara andOnopordum, while a high degree of homology was found between the twoOnopordum spp. In all three species a fragment of about 450 bp from the 5 end of 18S to the Acc I site with a high sequence homology was present. Nucleotide sequences upstream from the above mentioned Acc I site show a gradual decrease of homology betweenCynara andOnopordum.     

葡萄叶绿体rbcL基因的结构分析

以玫瑰香葡萄（Ｖｉｔｉｓｖｉｎｉｆｅｒａ Ｌ．）为材料,克隆了含有叶绿体ｒｂｃ Ｌ基因的３．１ ｋｂ Ｂａｍ ＨⅠ片段,构建了该基因的限制性酶切图谱,测定了该基因的核苷酸序列。所测的核苷酸序列总长度为２００４ ｂｐ,其中基因的编码区为１４２８ ｂｐ,编码一个含４７５ 个氨基酸的蛋白质,其分子量约为５３ ｋＤ;测定基因的５上游含启动子的部分共３５８ ｂｐ,包括－ １０ 区（ＴＡＡＡＡＴ）、－ ３５区（ＴＴＧＣＧＣ）和ＳＤ 序列（ＧＧＡＧＧ）;基因的３下游区共２１８ ｂｐ,含有３ 个转录茎环终止结构。玫瑰香葡萄ｒｂｃ Ｌ基因编码区的核苷酸序列与烟草、矮牵牛、菠菜、苜蓿、水稻和玉米之间的同源性分别为９１．５％ 、９１．４％ 、９０．２％ 、８９．８％ 、８６．３％ 和８４．５％ ;推导出的氨基酸序列的同源性分别为９２．２％ 、９１．６％ 、９２．２％ 、９３．７％ 、９３．５％ 和９０．１％ 。     

促髓细胞分化的锌指基因单向PCR扩增直接测序的研究

锌指基因是一种造血调节基因,编码锌指结构蛋白,主要在髓细胞中表达,促进髓细胞分化,在急性早幼粒白血病维甲酸治疗中,促使病情缓解。本文报道了我们从基因分子上研究锌指基因作用中,探索并建立了单向聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）扩增特定单链ＤＮＡ,直接测序的新方法。它能产生质和量均佳的单链ＤＮＡ,无需纯化即可直接用于测序,使复杂的测序研究简便易行,可在２,３天内完成。这种单向ＰＣＲ扩增特定单链ＤＮＡ直接测序的方法,经对锌指基因的ｃＤＮＡ测序,得到验证。此法不仅适用于疾病研究中的ＤＮＡ测序,还可制各单链ＤＮＡ探针,更利于基因结构组成的研究。     

Enhancing PCR amplification and sequencing using DNA-binding proteins

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful core molecular biology technique, which when coupled to chain termination sequencing allows gene and DNA sequence information to be derived rapidly. A number of modifications to the basic PCR format have been developed in an attempt to increase amplification efficiency and the specificity of the reaction. We have applied the use of DNA-binding protein, gene 32 protein from bacteriophage T4 (T4gp32) to increase amplification efficiency with a number of diverse templates. In addition, we have found that using single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) or recA protein in DNA sequencing reactions dramatically increases the resolution of sequencing runs. The use of DNA-binding proteins in amplification and sequencing may prove to be generally applicable in improving the yield and quality of a number of templates from various sources.     

A Novel Method for Generating Nested Deletions Using the in Vitro Bacteriophage T3 DNA Packaging System

To sequence a DNA segment inserted into a cosmid vector underthe directed sequencing strategy, we established a simple andrapid method for generating nested deletions which uses thein vitro packaging system of bacteriophage T3 DNA. The principleis based on the previous finding that this system can translocateany linear double-stranded DNA up to 40 kb into the phage capsidin a time-dependent manner and the encapsulated DNA becomesDNase-resistant. For this purpose, we constructed a cosmid vectorthat carries two different antibiotic selection markers at bothsides of the multiple cloning site, and after insertion of aDNA segment, the clone was linearized by -terminase at the cossite. After the packaging reaction in vitro followed by DNasetreatment, the encapsulated DNA was introduced into Escherichiacoli cells to give clones with unidirectional deletions by differentialantibiotic selection. Restriction and sequence analyses of deletionclones demonstrated that an ordered set of clones with nesteddeletions, ranging from less than 1 kb to 25 kb, was createdfrom either the end of the DNA segment. Thus, nested deletionclones that cover the entire region of a 40-kb cosmid insertcan be obtained by a single packaging reaction, and its restrictionmap can be simultaneously obtained.     

Evolution of thedec-1 eggshell locus inDrosophila. II. Intraspecific DNA sequence analysis reveals length mutations in a repetitive region inD. melanogaster

Summary Thedec-1 eggshell gene inDrosophila melanogaster encodes follicle cell proteins required for proper eggshell assembly. As shown by Southern and Northern analyses thedec-1 gene occurs in four alleles (Fcl-4) among wild-type strains. Its second exon has a distinct feature in the form of 12 repeats with 78–91 nucleotides; the first five show nearly 100% homology. DNA sequence comparison of the repeated region of the alleles revealed that the length polymorphisms are caused by changes in the numbers of the first five repeats. The results suggest that the alleles have been generated by unequal intragenic crossing-over and/or slippage during DNA replication and that the allelic length variants have arisen independently. The possiblilty that the most common allele,FC1, has a selective advantage over the other alleles is discussed.