Plant gene responses to frequency-specific sound signals

We identified a set of sound-responsive genes in plants using a sound-treated subtractive library and demonstrated sound regulation through mRNA expression analyses. Under both light and dark conditions, sound up-regulated expression of rbcS and ald. These are also light-responsive genes and these results suggest that sound could represent an alternative to light as a gene regulator. Ald mRNA expression increased significantly with treatment at 125 and 250 Hz, whereas levels decreased significantly with treatment at 50 Hz, indicating a frequency-specific response. To investigate whether the ald promoter responds to sound, we generated transgenic rice plants harboring a chimeric gene comprising a fusion of the ald promoter and GUS reporter. In three independent transgenic lines treated with 50 or 250 Hz for 4 h, GUS mRNA expression was up-regulated at 250 Hz, but down-regulated at 50 Hz. Thus, the sound-responsive mRNA expression pattern observed for the ald promoter correlated closely with that of ald, suggesting that the 1,506 bp ald promoter is sound-responsive. Therefore, we propose that in transgenic plants, specific frequencies of sound treatment could be used to regulate the expression of any gene fused to the ald promoter.     

Profiles for the analysis of immunoglobulin sequences: comparison of V gene subgroups.

A format for the structure-oriented analysis of immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region sequences is presented and applied to generate sequence profiles for comparison of heavy- and light-chain subgroups. The profile allows simultaneous evaluation of sequences and structural information and can be used for a number of different applications.     

Chromosomal assignment of two putative canine keratin gene clusters

Mutations in keratin genes account for a number of inherited keratodermas in humans. The groups of basic and acidic keratin genes are clustered on human chromosomes 12 and 17, respectively. The present authors have assigned the two putative keratin gene clusters to canine chromosomes using canine cosmid clones. Successful fluorescence in situ hybridization mapped the putative cluster of canine acidic genes to dog chromosome 20 and the putative cluster of basic keratin genes to a small autosome not yet included in the partial canine standard karyotype.     

黑籽南瓜NBS类基因CfRFN2的克隆及VIGS验证

黑籽南瓜(Cucurbita ficifolia)是云南特有的具有高抗枯萎病遗传性状的瓜类种质资源。为鉴定黑籽南瓜中NBS-LRR类基因的抗病功能,该研究从其叶片中克隆了NBS类基因CfRFN2 (GenBank ID:MK618462),测序全长为4 303 bp,完整的编码框长度为4 092 bp,编码1 363个氨基酸残基,该基因注释为拟南芥抗病蛋白At4g27190类转录体X1的同源基因,含有1个NB-ARC和2个LRR结构域,属于具有信号肽的可溶性蛋白。核苷酸相似性分析显示,CfRFN2与其他瓜类NBS类基因相似性在87%～98%之间;系统进化树分析表明,CfRFN2蛋白和瓜类的其他NBS类抗病蛋白聚为一个分支,其中CfRFN2蛋白与中国南瓜和美洲南瓜的RPS2、印度南瓜的RPS2-like亲缘关系最近,其次是黄瓜的At4g27190和苦瓜的At4g27220,与甜瓜的Atg27190亲缘关系相对较远;组织表达特性分析表明,CfRFN2基因在黑籽南瓜叶片中表达量最高,其次是茎,而在果皮和根中表达量较低。该研究采用烟草脆裂病毒载体系统,构建了黑籽南瓜VIGS沉默载体pTRV2-CfRFN2,含沉默载体的农杆菌侵染黑籽南瓜幼苗后接种枯萎病菌,qRT-PCR检测表明,接种后2 d和4 d的转pTRV2-CfRFN2沉默组植株的CfRFN2基因表达量比接种后同时期的野生型植株显著降低(分别下降34.75%和98.27%),病情指数增加为野生型的1.32倍,初步证明黑籽南瓜CfRFN2基因具有抗枯萎病的功能,推测该基因可能在黑籽南瓜抗枯萎病防御过程中发挥着重要作用。该研究中NBS类基因CfRFN2的克隆和VIGS验证为黑籽南瓜更多优异基因的克隆和功能验证奠定了前期基础,也为发掘黑籽南瓜优异抗病基因和开展瓜类分子育种提供新信息。