The lysyl hydroxylase isoforms are widely expressed during mouse embryogenesis, but obtain tissue- and cell-specific patterns in the adult

Lysyl hydroxylase catalyzes the hydroxylation of lysine residues in collagenous sequences. Three isoforms (LH1, LH2 and LH3) of lysyl hydroxylase have been characterized, and LH2 is present as two alternatively spliced forms. In order to better understand the functional differences between the isoforms in vivo, the expression of the different isoforms was studied in mouse embryos and adult tissues. Our data indicate a widespread expression of all isoforms during embryogenesis, whereas the expression profiles become more specialized in adult tissues. The expression of LH2 was more tissue-specific, whereas a uniform and housekeeping like behavior was observed for LH3. Some cells express both LH2 and LH3, while a clear cell specificity was seen in some tissues. Moreover, immunoelectron microscopy revealed differences in the localization of LH2 and LH3. LH2 was localized intracellularly in the ER in all tissues studied, whereas the localization of LH3 was either intracellular or extracellular or both, depending on the tissue. Furthermore, our data indicate that the alternative splicing of LH2 is developmentally regulated. The short form of LH2 (LH2a) is the predominant form until E11.5; the long form (LH2b) dominates thereafter and is the major form in many adult tissues. Interestingly, however, adult mouse kidney and testis express exclusively the short form, LH2a. The results reveal a specific regulation for the expression of LH isoforms as well as for alternative splicing of LH2 during embryogenesis and in different tissues.     

两个水稻GDP-甘露糖-3′, 5′-异构酶基因特征及表达模式的研究

GDP-甘露糖-3',5'-异构酶(GME)可以催化GDP-甘露糖转化为左旋GDP-半乳糖,该反应对于高等植物体内抗坏血酸的合成是非常重要的.但目前在分子水平上还没有对GME基因进行研究的报道.通过逆转录PCR(RT-RCR)技术从水稻成熟叶片中克隆到两个GME基因的cDNA序列,并与其他植物物种中的GMEs进行比对,结果显示,GME基因在所有植物物种中高度保守,尽管进化树分析表明单子叶植物GMEs和双子叶植物GMEs在进化上相互独立.同时,分析这两个水稻GME基因的剪切模式揭示了二者也存在高度相似性.采用半定量RT-PCR技术对两个GME基因在不同组织和不同胁迫条件下的表达模式进行研究表明,OsGME1基因在冷胁迫条件下表达水平上调,这和先前水稻冷胁迫蛋白质组学研究的结果是一致的.而OsGME2和OsGME1基因在用赤霉素处理条件下表达水平均下调,暗示赤霉素可能通过调节GME基因的表达来调控植物体内的抗坏血酸合成.     

两个水稻GDP-甘露糖-3'''',5''''-异构酶基因特征及表达模式的研究

GDP-甘露糖-3',5'-异构酶(GME)可以催化GDP-甘露糖转化为左旋GDP-半乳糖,该反应对于高等植物体内抗坏血酸的合成是非常重要的.但目前在分子水平上还没有对GME基因进行研究的报道.通过逆转录PCR(RT-RCR)技术从水稻成熟叶片中克隆到两个GME基因的cDNA序列,并与其他植物物种中的GMEs进行比对,结果显示,GME基因在所有植物物种中高度保守,尽管进化树分析表明单子叶植物GMEs和双子叶植物GMEs在进化上相互独立.同时,分析这两个水稻GME基因的剪切模式揭示了二者也存在高度相似性.采用半定量RT-PCR技术对两个GME基因在不同组织和不同胁迫条件下的表达模式进行研究表明,OsGME1基因在冷胁迫条件下表达水平上调,这和先前水稻冷胁迫蛋白质组学研究的结果是一致的.而OsGME2和OsGME1基因在用赤霉素处理条件下表达水平均下调,暗示赤霉素可能通过调节GME基因的表达来调控植物体内的抗坏血酸合成.     

产番茄红素基因工程菌的研究进展

番茄红素是一种重要的类胡萝卜素,具有许多生物功能和生物活性,尤其在保护人类健康方面起着重要的作用。随着番茄红素生物合成途径的阐明及其相关基因的克隆,运用基因工程手段调控番茄红素的合成已经成为可能。本文首先综述了番茄红素生物合成途径及合成途径中相关基因的克隆,然后对近年来构建的番茄红素基因工程菌进行了全面的总结,包括：运用DNA重组技术使异源微生物大肠杆菌、酵母等生产番茄红素,以及通过过表达特定基因从而提高霉菌等产番茄红素的量,最后分析了改造过程中存在的主要问题,并展望了未来的研究方向。     

细胞均一性对葡萄细胞生长和花青素合成的影响

通过色差筛选法建立了一个相对均一的葡萄细胞悬浮系E,其细胞团较小,在长期继代培养过程中花青素合成能力的变异系数为8.7%,重复摇瓶实验的变异系数为5%。以E为实验材料进行的各组前体饲喂、诱导子添加、光照等联合作用实验,其生物量和花青素合成的变异系数均可控制在12%以内,充分说明了培养体系的均一性对维持稳定生产的重要性;黑暗条件下添加30μmol/L苯丙氨酸(Phe)和218μmol/L茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)可使单位细胞花青素含量达到对照组的5.89倍,花青素产量为对照组的4.30倍,且连续5次继代培养过程中生物量和花青素合成的变异系数均比对照组降低。     

乙烯生物合成基因工程在果蔬保鲜中的应用

水果和蔬菜的成熟、衰老与乙烯密切相关。乙烯生物合成过程受到多种因素的综合调控。通过基因工程调节乙烯生物合成相关酶的含量或活性以阻断或减少果蔬中乙烯的产生,从而延缓果蔬成熟或衰老,是果蔬保鲜最重要的策略之一。多种果蔬ACC合成酶、ACC氧化酶与微生物ACC脱氨酶、SAM水解酶的基因已被克隆;采用基因工程调控这些酶基因在果蔬中的表达,可能延长果蔬的贮藏保鲜时间。乙烯生物合成基因工程在果蔬保鲜中具有良好的应用前景,少数耐贮藏转基因果蔬已经实现商品化生产。     

Role of Abscisic Acid in Seed Dormancy

Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait that improves survival of the next generation by optimizing the distribution of germination over time. The agricultural and forest industries rely on seeds that exhibit high rates of germination and vigorous, synchronous growth after germination; hence dormancy is sometimes considered an undesirable trait. The forest industry encounters problems with the pronounced dormancy of some conifer seeds, a feature that can lead to non-uniform germination and poor seedling vigor. In cereal crops, an optimum balance is most sought after; some dormancy at harvest is favored because it prevents germination of the physiologically mature grain in the head prior to harvest (that is, preharvest sprouting), a phenomenon that leads to considerable damage to grain quality and is especially prominent in cool moist environments. The sesquiterpene abscisic acid (ABA) regulates key events during seed formation, such as the deposition of storage reserves, prevention of precocious germination, acquisition of desiccation tolerance, and induction of primary dormancy. Its regulatory role is achieved in part by cross-talk with other hormones and their associated signaling networks, via mechanisms that are largely unknown. Quantitative genetics and functional genomics approaches will contribute to the elucidation of genes and proteins that control seed dormancy and germination, including components of the ABA signal transduction pathway. Dynamic changes in ABA biosynthesis and catabolism elicit hormone-signaling changes that affect downstream gene expression and thereby regulate critical checkpoints at the transitions from dormancy to germination and from germination to growth. Some of the recent developments in these areas are discussed.     

Overexpression and characterization of dark-operative protochlorophyllide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus

Dark-operative protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) plays a crucial role in light-independent (bacterio)chlorophyll biosynthesis in most photosynthetic organisms. However, the biochemical properties of DPOR are still largely undefined. Here, we constructed an overexpression system of two separable components of DPOR, L-protein (BchL) and NB-protein (BchN-BchB), in the broad-host-range vector pJRD215 in Rhodobacter capsulatus. We established a stable DPOR assay system by mixing crude extracts from the two transconjugants under anaerobic conditions. Using this assay system, we demonstrated some basic properties of DPOR. The Km value for protochlorophyllide was 10.6 μM. Ferredoxin functioned as an electron donor to DPOR. Elution profiles in gel filtration chromatography indicated that L-protein and NB-protein are a homodimer [(BchL)₂] and a heterotetramer [(BchN)₂(BchB)₂], respectively. These results provide a framework for the characterization of these components in detail, and further support a nitrogenase model of DPOR.     

冠毒素生物合成与调控的研究进展

冠毒素是80年代末发现的一种能引起多种植物弥散性黄萎病细菌毒素,它在结构和功能上与在胁迫反应中起作用的植物内源激素茉莉酸甲酯有显著的相似性。本文阐述了冠毒素在生物合成途径与遗传学研究及生物合成调控机制方面的研究进展。     

Biosynthesis of short-chain-length-polyhydroxyalkanoates during the dual-nutrient-limited zone by Ralstonia eutropha

Biosynthesis of PHAs by Raltonia eutropha during the dual nutrient-limitation-zone was investigated with mixed organic acids as carbon sources and (NH₄)₂SO₄ as nitrogen source. Two different methods of maintaining the dual-nutrient-limitation zone were adopted by feeding mixed acids and (NH₄)₂SO₄ at determined rates into the fermentation cultures which were initially free of carbon sources (method A) or nitrogen sources (method B). The results indicate that, firstly, with the increase of the width of the dual-nutrient-limitation zone, the yield of short-chain-length-polyhydroxyalkanoates also increases and it suggests that most of the short-chain-length-polyhydroxyalkanoates were biosynthesized during the dual-nutrient-limitation zone. Secondly, in contrast with the dual-nutrient-limitation method of limiting the nitrogen source first (method B), the dual-nutrient-limitation method of limiting the carbon source first (method A) was more favourable for the production of short-chain-length-polyhydroxyalkanoates, and the maximum production of short-chain-length-polyhydroxyalkanoates of these two methods are 3.72 and 2.55 g/l, respectively.