木薯SWEETs基因家族生物信息学及表达特性研究

SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters)是植物中新发现的一类编码糖转运蛋白的基因,它在植物生长发育及糖代谢过程中发挥重要作用。该基因家族在木薯(Manihot esculenta)中尚未有详细的报道。本研究从Phytozome数据库获得了28个木薯SWEET候选基因并对其进行生物信息学分析,在华南124的木薯苗中通过荧光定量实验检测SWEET基因在旱胁迫下的表达水平。结果发现木薯SWEET基因被分为4簇,主要分布在第6条和第14条染色体上,编码234 aa与302 aa之间的氨基酸序列;木薯SWEET基因家族的表达在旱胁迫条件下发生了变化,其中明显上调的基因有9个,包括MeSWEET1b、MeSWEET2a、MeSWEET6、MeSWEET9a、MeSWEET9b、MeSWEET12、MeSWEET15a、MeSWEET15b和MeSWEET16c;而表达量明显下调的基因也有9个,为MeSWEET2b、MeSWEET3b、MeSWEET4、MeSWEET7、MeSWEET11、MeSWEET16a、MeSWEET16b、MeSWEET17a和MeSWEET17c。这些结果为进一步阐明SWEET基因家族在木薯中的功能提供理论依据。     

脊椎动物FoxO基因亚族的进化

本研究以脊椎动物FoxO作为研究对象,选取NCBI上公布的多个FoxO基因编码蛋白的核苷酸序列,重点分析Fox O蛋白质结构和功能的相似性与差异性,重建FoxO基因的系统发育树并进行选择压力分析,对FoxO基因亚族的起源和进化进行研究分析。结果显示:脊椎动物FoxO蛋白间Forhead结构域十分保守但核定位信号区结构差异较明显,尤其是FoxO6蛋白,并且多个磷酸化位点在哺乳动物FoxO6中缺失,削弱核输出信号,但在斑马鱼和原鸡的FoxO6中未缺失这些位点,推测其胞质定位调控作用仍十分重要。FoxO3中多个磷酸化位点可能与寿命延长作用相关。系统发育树表明FoxO1是FoxO基因的祖先基因,不同FoxO基因进化速率不同。选择压力分析结果显示FoxO基因过程每个位点经历不同的选择压,并且获得25个正选择位点,这些正选择位点可能对FoxO不同基因的形成和新功能的产生中具有十分重要的作用。     

慢性酒精中毒大鼠在学习记忆方面差异基因的生物信息学分析

借助基因芯片获取慢性酒精中毒大鼠海马相关基因的表达数据集,通过生物信息学的分析方法对差异表达基因进行筛选与分析。从分子水平揭示慢性酒精中毒对大鼠大脑海马体的影响,为慢性酒精中毒的损伤机制以及相关疾病发病机制的基础研究与临床治疗提供新的方向。同时,还通过Y迷宫实验对实验大鼠的学习记忆功能进行了检测,借助电镜拍摄其线粒体。结果显示,我们一共筛选出208个差异表达基因,其中51个表达上调,157个表达下调。其中涉及的主要信号通路有氧化磷酸化通路、D-谷氨酰胺和谷氨酸代谢通路、阿尔茨海默病信号通路、帕金森病信号通路、膀胱癌信号通路、B细胞受体信号通路和亨廷顿病信号通路等。由此我们得出结论,慢性酒精中毒可能影响了海马多个基因的表达,其中包括Rpsa、Wdr31、Rps11、Rps9、Ndufa2、Mrto4、Rpl6、Dap3、Ndufb8、Ndufb6、Ephb2、Cox6c、Prkcd、Rela、Raf1、Ubd、Mrps28、Mrpl35等关键基因,进而损伤了电子传递链复合体Ⅰ,最终损伤线粒体,导致大鼠学习记忆能力的损伤。     

The first chromosome‐level genome for a marine mammal as a resource to study ecology and evolution

Marine mammals are important models for studying convergent evolution and aquatic adaption, and thus reference genomes of marine mammals can provide evolutionary insights. Here, we present the first chromosome‐level marine mammal genome assembly based on the data generated by the BGISEQ‐500 platform, for a stranded female sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Using this reference genome, we performed chromosome evolution analysis of the sperm whale, including constructing ancestral chromosomes, identifying chromosome rearrangement events and comparing with cattle chromosomes, which provides a resource for exploring marine mammal adaptation and speciation. We detected a high proportion of long interspersed nuclear elements and expanded gene families, and contraction of major histocompatibility complex region genes which were specific to sperm whale. Using comparisons with sheep and cattle, we analysed positively selected genes to identify gene pathways that may be related to adaptation to the marine environment. Further, we identified possible convergent evolution in aquatic mammals by testing for positively selected genes across three orders of marine mammals. In addition, we used publicly available resequencing data to confirm a rapid decline in global population size in the Pliocene to Pleistocene transition. This study sheds light on the chromosome evolution and genetic mechanisms underpinning sperm whale adaptations, providing valuable resources for future comparative genomics.     

Introgression lines of Solanum sitiens,a wild nightshade of the Atacama Desert,in the genome of cultivated tomato

The wild tomato relative Solanum sitiens is a xerophyte endemic to the Atacama Desert of Chile and a potential source of genes for tolerance to drought, salinity and low‐temperature stresses. However, until recently, strong breeding barriers prevented its hybridization and introgression with cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. We overcame these barriers using embryo rescue, bridging lines and allopolyploid hybrids, and synthesized a library of introgression lines (ILs) that captures the genome of S. sitiens in the background of cultivated tomato. The IL library consists of 56 overlapping introgressions that together represent about 93% of the S. sitiens genome: 65% in homozygous and 28% in heterozygous (segregating) ILs. The breakpoints of each segment and the gaps in genome coverage were mapped by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping using the SolCAP SNP array. Marker‐assisted selection was used to backcross selected introgressions into tomato, to recover a uniform genetic background, to isolate recombinant sub‐lines with shorter introgressions and to select homozygous genotypes. Each IL contains a single S. sitiens chromosome segment, defined by markers, in the genetic background of cv. NC 84173, a fresh market inbred line. Large differences were observed between the lines for both qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, suggesting that the ILs contain highly divergent allelic variation. Several loci contributing to unilateral incompatibility or hybrid necrosis were mapped with the lines. This IL population will facilitate studies of the S. sitiens genome and expands the range of genetic variation available for tomato breeding and research.