亚比棉基因组原位杂交及核型分析

亚比棉异源四倍体是山西农业大学棉花育种组于上个世纪80年代用A染色体组亚洲棉(Gossypium.arboreum)(迁西小黑籽)与G染色体组野生棉比克氏棉(G.bickii)杂交成异源二倍体后,又经过加倍而获得的.亚比棉异源四倍体不仅育性得到恢复、结铃正常,而且成功地将比克氏棉的优异性状--种子腺体延缓形成转育到亚比棉中.这为实现棉花综合利用和提高抗虫性创育了新的育种材料.在随后的多年中,山西农业大学棉花育种组对亚比棉异源四倍体进行了广泛的细胞形态学研究,对其核型做了分析.然而,仅依据形态学和普通的核型图像,还不能确定该异源四倍体棉种中比克氏棉G染色体(亚)组在核型中的表现.该文以比克氏棉gDNA为探针,亚比棉异源四倍体根尖体细胞染色体为靶细胞染色体,封阻材料为亚洲棉(迁西小黑籽),进行亚比棉基因组原位杂交(Genome in situ hybridization,GISH)及核型分析.从获得的图像中可以清晰地发现有52条染色体,其中有/无杂交信号的各一半,这直观地证实了人工复合亚比棉杂交种确为异源四倍体,而且是双二倍体.A亚组与G亚组染色体长度存在交替排列.亚比棉异源四倍体基于GISH图像的核型公式为2n=4x=52=46m(4sat)+6sm(4sat).A亚组和G亚组染色体上各有2对随体.G亚组染色体中至少有5对双重显色明显的染色体,意味着可能有A亚组染色体的交换,而A亚组染色体中只观察到或多或少的探针红色荧光信号,由于分辨率不够而难于定量分析.进一步以45SrDNA为探针,以鲑鱼精DNA作为封阻DNA,对亚比棉异源四倍体进行45SrDNA-FISH,实验表明,亚比棉异源四倍体有14个NOR(核仁组织区)信号,说明亚比棉异源四倍体有14个随体,即7对随体.比克氏棉对亚洲棉的GISH结果显示,在有亚洲棉DNA封阻的条件下,亚洲棉靶细胞染色体无任何杂交信号,说明比克氏棉与亚洲棉染色体之间不存在较大的同源或相似序列.     

PCR-RFLP and AP-PCR of rbcL and ITS of rDNA Show That × Taxodiomeria peizhongii (Taxodium x Cryptomeria) Is not an Intergeneric Hybrid

×Taxodiomeria peizhongiiZ. J. Ye, J. J. Zhang et S. H. Pan was regarded as a new intergeneric hybrid between Taxodium mucronatum Tenore (as the female donor) and Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibrenk ex Otto et Dietr (as the male donor). To confirm the authenticity of the intergeneric hybrid, we analyzed the rbcL gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of 26S-18S ribosomal RNA gene of the three species using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR), and obtained the following results: i) Taxodiomeria peizhongii had the same RFLP maps of the rbcL gene and the ITS as Taxodium mucronatum, but was different from C. fortunei; ii) a 311-bp PCR amplification product was obtained in C. fortunei by AP-PCR of ITS, but was not found in Taxodiomeria peizhongii. Our results have demonstrated that C. fortunei did not provide any genome for Taxodiomeria peizhongii, implying that T. peizhongii is not an intergeneric hybrid between the two species.     

X‐ray scattering reveals disordered linkers and dynamic interfaces in complexes and mechanisms for DNA double‐strand break repair impacting cell and cancer biology

Evolutionary selection ensures specificity and efficiency in dynamic metastable macromolecular machines that repair DNA damage without releasing toxic and mutagenic intermediates. Here we examine non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ) as the primary conserved DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair process in human cells. NHEJ has exemplary key roles in networks determining the development, outcome of cancer treatments by DSB‐inducing agents, generation of antibody and T‐cell receptor diversity, and innate immune response for RNA viruses. We determine mechanistic insights into NHEJ structural biochemistry focusing upon advanced small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) results combined with X‐ray crystallography (MX) and cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM). SAXS coupled to atomic structures enables integrated structural biology for objective quantitative assessment of conformational ensembles and assemblies in solution, intra‐molecular distances, structural similarity, functional disorder, conformational switching, and flexibility. Importantly, NHEJ complexes in solution undergo larger allosteric transitions than seen in their cryo‐EM or MX structures. In the long‐range synaptic complex, X‐ray repair cross‐complementing 4 (XRCC4) plus XRCC4‐like‐factor (XLF) form a flexible bridge and linchpin for DNA ends bound to KU heterodimer (Ku70/80) and DNA‐PKcs (DNA‐dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit). Upon binding two DNA ends, auto‐phosphorylation opens DNA‐PKcs dimer licensing NHEJ via concerted conformational transformations of XLF‐XRCC4, XLF–Ku80, and LigIV^BRCT–Ku70 interfaces. Integrated structures reveal multifunctional roles for disordered linkers and modular dynamic interfaces promoting DSB end processing and alignment into the short‐range complex for ligation by LigIV. Integrated findings define dynamic assemblies fundamental to designing separation‐of‐function mutants and allosteric inhibitors targeting conformational transitions in multifunctional complexes.     

A strong quantitative trait locus for wing length on chromosome 2 in a wild population of great reed warblers

Wing length is a key character for essential behaviours related to bird flight such as migration and foraging. In the present study, we initiate the search for the genes underlying wing length in birds by studying a long-distance migrant, the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). In this species wing length is an evolutionary interesting trait with pronounced latitudinal gradient and sex-specific selection regimes in local populations. We performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) scan for wing length in great reed warblers using phenotypic, genotypic, pedigree and linkage map data from our long-term study population in Sweden. We applied the linkage analysis mapping method implemented in GridQTL (a new web-based software) and detected a genome-wide significant QTL for wing length on chromosome 2, to our knowledge, the first detected QTL in wild birds. The QTL extended over 25 cM and accounted for a substantial part (37%) of the phenotypic variance of the trait. A genome scan for tarsus length (a body-size-related trait) did not show any signal, implying that the wing-length QTL on chromosome 2 was not associated with body size. Our results provide a first important step into understanding the genetic architecture of avian wing length, and give opportunities to study the evolutionary dynamics of wing length at the locus level.     

蒙古狼线粒体基因组序列分析及其系统发育地位

应用Long-PCR和克隆测序法得到蒙古狼(Canis lupus chanco)线粒体基因组全序列,结合GenBank中现有犬科动物线粒体基因组数据,应用最大简约法(MP)、最大似然法(ML)和Bayesian分析法对蒙古狼的系统发育地位进行了探讨。结果如下:蒙古狼线粒体基因组全长16709bp,包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和1个非编码区。序列碱基的组成存在明显的A-T偏好性。tRNA基因中除tRNA-Ser(AGY)缺少双氢尿嘧啶(DHU)臂以外,其余均能折叠成典型的三叶草二级结构。大多数蛋白质编码基因的起始和终止密码子与犬科动物有报道相同,COXⅡ基因的起始密码子为ATA,与其他犬科动物不同。基于12S rRNA+16S rRNA+H链上的12个蛋白质编码基因的联合数据的系统发育分析发现,在已报道的狼亚种数据中,西藏狼(Canis lupus laniger)的分化时间最早,其次为阿拉伯狼(Canis lupus arabs),蒙古狼与欧亚狼(Canis lupuslupus)的系统发育地位最为接近。     

重复基因的进化一回顾与进展

基因重复是普遍存在的生物学现象, 是基因组和遗传系统多样化的重要推动力量, 在生物进化过程中发挥着极其重要的作用。基因重复有何利弊, 基因发生重复后, 2个重复子拷贝的保留在基因功能方面是否存在偏好性, 子拷贝在表达和进化速率上如何分化, 以及重复基因为什么会被保留下来一直是进化生物学领域研究的热点问题之一。该文对以上重复基因研究的热点问题进行了介绍, 并对重复基因的进化机制和理论模型及其近年来的一些主要研究进展进行了综述。     

中国6株狂犬病病毒街毒株全基因组测序与分析

实验研究中对分离于中国的6株狂犬病病毒街毒株进行了全基因组测序,对基因组的5个结构基因(N、P、M、G和L)的核苷酸和推断的氨基酸序列以及非编码区序列进行了分析与比较,并与来自GenBank的40株毒株从全基因组水平进行了分子进化分析。所测6株中国狂犬病病毒街毒株的全基因组核苷酸序列长度介于11 907 nt(CQ92)和11 924 nt(SH06和gg4)之间,基因组结构相同,用全基因组和不同的结构基因构建的进化树拓扑结构相似,基因组3′和5′末端高度保守而且末端11个核苷酸互补配对,5个结构基因的保守性依次是NLMGP,核苷酸同源性的最小值依次分别是81.9%、81.7%、80.7%、78.3%和76.7%。     

玉米叶绿体表达载体的构建及AsRED基因原核表达

从玉米幼嫩叶片中提取玉米叶绿体基因DNA,通过PCR克隆出叶绿体同源重组片段trnA和trnI、叶绿体特异性启动子Prrn以及终止子psbA.构建玉米叶绿体表达载体pBAIRTARED,含有一个人工操纵子,其中,筛选标记基因aadA和红色荧光蛋白报告基因AsRED处于Prrn启动子和psbA终止子控制.将构建的载体转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,观测到重组细胞呈现红色,表明构建的载体可以用于玉米叶绿体转化以及表达报告基因.     

Facilitation of Mitochondrial Outer and Inner Membrane Permeabilization and Cell Death in Oxidative Stress by a Novel Bcl-2 Homology 3 Domain Protein

We identified a sequence homologous to the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain of Bcl-2 proteins in SOUL. Tissues expressed the protein to different extents. It was predominantly located in the cytoplasm, although a fraction of SOUL was associated with the mitochondria that increased upon oxidative stress. Recombinant SOUL protein facilitated mitochondrial permeability transition and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and facilitated the release of proapoptotic mitochondrial intermembrane proteins (PMIP) at low calcium and phosphate concentrations in a cyclosporine A-dependent manner in vitro in isolated mitochondria. Suppression of endogenous SOUL by diced small interfering RNA in HeLa cells increased their viability in oxidative stress. Overexpression of SOUL in NIH3T3 cells promoted hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death and stimulated the release of PMIP but did not enhance caspase-3 activation. Despite the release of PMIP, SOUL facilitated predominantly necrotic cell death, as revealed by annexin V and propidium iodide staining. This necrotic death could be the result of SOUL-facilitated collapse of MMP demonstrated by JC-1 fluorescence. Deletion of the putative BH3 domain sequence prevented all of these effects of SOUL. Suppression of cyclophilin D prevented these effects too, indicating that SOUL facilitated mitochondrial permeability transition in vivo. Overexpression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L, which can counteract the mitochondria-permeabilizing effect of BH3 domain proteins, also prevented SOUL-facilitated collapse of MMP and cell death. These data indicate that SOUL can be a novel member of the BH3 domain-only proteins that cannot induce cell death alone but can facilitate both outer and inner mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and predominantly necrotic cell death in oxidative stress.     

Rab32 Modulates Apoptosis Onset and Mitochondria-associated Membrane (MAM) Properties

The mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) has emerged as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signaling hub that accommodates ER chaperones, including the lectin calnexin. At the MAM, these chaperones control ER homeostasis but also play a role in the onset of ER stress-mediated apoptosis, likely through the modulation of ER calcium signaling. These opposing roles of MAM-localized chaperones suggest the existence of mechanisms that regulate the composition and the properties of ER membrane domains. Our results now show that the GTPase Rab32 localizes to the ER and mitochondria, and we identify this protein as a regulator of MAM properties. Consistent with such a role, Rab32 modulates ER calcium handling and disrupts the specific enrichment of calnexin on the MAM, while not affecting the ER distribution of protein-disulfide isomerase and mitofusin-2. Furthermore, Rab32 determines the targeting of PKA to mitochondrial and ER membranes and through its overexpression or inactivation increases the phosphorylation of Bad and of Drp1. Through a combination of its functions as a PKA-anchoring protein and a regulator of MAM properties, the activity and expression level of Rab32 determine the speed of apoptosis onset.