糜子抗旱节水相关基因PmMYB的克隆及表达分析

根据在糜子抗旱节水分子基础研究中获得的一个糜子MYB基因的EST序列, 以其序列及水稻MYB18基因的序列为基础设计引物, 扩增得到1 739 bp的全长基因组序列。序列分析表明, 其包含121 bp(347~467 bp)和93 bp(599~691 bp)的两个内含子, 3个外显子; 全长cDNA序列为1 525 bp, 其中3′非翻译区为212 bp, 5′非翻译区为41 bp, 编码区为1 272 bp, 共编码424个氨基酸, C-端存在一个丝氨酸(Ser, S)丰富区。该基因具有两个典型的MYB类转录因子基因的DNA结合区(DNA-binding domain), 分别为13~63、66~114位氨基酸, 属于典型的R2R3-MYB转录因子。对其与水稻、玉米、火炬松、拟南芥、辣椒、陆地棉、大麦及茄子等9种植物的MYB基因的R2、R3重复区的氨基酸序列多重比较, 表明R2R3重复序列在植物中具有较高的保守性; 基于氨基酸序列的编码区系统进化树分析表明, 不同植物的MYB基因遗传分化很大, 序列相似性为32%~84%, 其中糜子MYB基因与水稻的MYB18相似程度最高(84%), 与大麦和玉米的相似性分别为46%和41%。通过半定量RT-PCR对其表达模式分析表明, 该基因在水分胁迫和干旱后复水条件下上调表达, 与糜子抗旱节水紧密相关。该基因的克隆为进一步探讨利用该基因改良其他植物的抗旱节水性奠定了良好的基础。     

cDNA cloning and expression analysis of a putative alternative oxidase HsAOX1 from wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum)

A novel alternative oxidase (AOX1) gene, designated HsAOX1 (GenBank accession number JF440341) was cloned by RT-PCR from wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). The full length of HsAOX1 is 1115 bp with an open reading frame of 987 bp, encoding a protein of 328 amino acids with molecular weight of 36.89 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.81. As found in other plant AOX1 proteins, sequence alignment showed that HsAOX1 had conserved metal binding and hydrophobic ??-helix regions and had high homology to other AOX1 in plants. The expression analysis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that HsAOX1 was induced in response to cold stress, H₂O₂ treatment, SA, antimycin A and KCN. These results showed that HsAOX1 functions not only during inhibition of cytochrome electron transport but also during oxidative stresses, thus suggesting a role of HsAOX1 in preventing the generation of free radicals by the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The cloning and characterization of the HsAOX1 gene will be useful for further studies of biological roles of HsAOX1 in plants.     

Cloning and heterologous expression of nitrate reductase genes from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dunaliella salina</Emphasis>

A cDNA corresponding to the nitrate reductase (NR) gene from Dunaliella salina was isolated by RT-PCR and (5′/3′)-RACE techniques. The full-length cDNA sequence of 3,694 bp contained an open reading frame of 2,703 bp encoding 900 amino acids, a 5′-untranslated region of 151 bp and a 3′-untranslated sequence of 840 bp with a poly (A) tail. The putative gene product exhibited 78%, 65%, 59% and 50% identity in amino acid sequence to the corresponding genes of Dunaliella tertiolecta, Volvox carteri, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and Chlorella vulgaris, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that D. salina NR clusters together with known NR proteins of the green algae. The molecular mass of the encoded protein was predicted to be 99.5 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 8.31. This protein shares common structural features with NRs from higher plants and green algae. The full-length cDNA was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein, and accumulated to up to 21% of total bacteria protein. Recombinant NR protein was active in an enzyme assay, confirming that the cloned gene from D. salina is indeed NR.     

Characterization of oxidative phosphorylation in the colorless chlorophyte Polytomella sp. Its mitochondrial respiratory chain lacks a plant-like alternative oxidase

The presence of an alternative oxidase (AOX) in Polytomella sp., a colorless relative of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, was explored. Oxygen uptake in Polytomella sp. mitochondria was inhibited by KCN (94%) or antimycin (96%), and the remaining cyanide-resistant respiration was not blocked by the AOX inhibitors salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) or n-propylgallate. No stimulation of an AOX activity was found upon addition of either pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, or AMP, or by treatment with DTT. An antibody raised against C. reinhardtii AOX did not recognized any polypeptide band of Polytomella sp. mitochondria in Western blots. Also, PCR experiments and Southern blot analysis failed to identify an Aox gene in this colorless alga. Finally, KCN exposure of cell cultures failed to stimulate an AOX activity. Nevertheless, KCN exposure of Polytomella sp. cells induced diminished mitochondrial respiration (20%) and apparent changes in cytochrome c oxidase affinity towards cyanide. KCN-adapted cells exhibited a significant increase of a-type cytochromes, suggesting accumulation of inactive forms of cytochrome c oxidase. Another effect of KCN exposure was the reduction of the protein/fatty acid ratio of mitochondrial membranes, which may affect the observed respiratory activity. We conclude that Polytomella lacks a plant-like AOX, and that its corresponding gene was probably lost during the divergence of this colorless genus from its close photosynthetic relatives.     

cDNA cloning and expression analysis of a mannose-binding lectin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinellia pedatisecta</Emphasis>

Pinellia pedatisecta agglutinin (PPA) is a very basic protein that accumulates in the tuber of P. pedatisecta. PPA is a hetero-tetramer protein of 40 kDa, composed of two polypeptide chains A (about 12 kDa) and two polypeptides chains B (about 12 kDa). The full-length cDNA of PPA was cloned from P. pedatisecta using SMART RACE-PCR technology; it was 1146 bp and contained a 771 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a lectin precursor of 256 amino acid residues with a 24 amino acid signal peptide. The PPA precursor contained 3 mannose-binding sites (QXDXNXVXY) and two conserved domains of 43% identity, PPA-DOM₁ (polypeptides A) and PPA-DOM₂ (polypeptides B). PPA shared varying identities, ranging from 40% to 85%, with mannose-binding lectins from other species of plant families such as Araceae, Alliaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae and Bromeliaceae. Southern blot analysis indicated that ppa belonged to a multi-copy gene family. Expression pattern analysis revealed that ppa expressed in most tested tissues, with high expression being found in spadix, spathe and tuber. Cloning of the ppa gene not only provides a basis for further investigation of its structure, expression and regulatory mechanism, but also enables us to test its potential role in controlling pests and fungal diseases by transferring the gene into plants in the future.     

Molecular cloning,refined chromosomal mapping and structural analysis of the human gene encoding aldehyde oxidase (AOX1), a candidate for the ALS2 gene

Summary

Aldehyde oxidase (AOX) is a member of the xanthine oxidase (XO) family of molybdenum hydroxylase, iron-sulfur flavoproteins and is involved in the metabolism of a wide range of native and xenobiotic compounds. The potentially toxic reduced oxygen intermediates (ROI), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (O₂^.-), are generated when reduced AOX becomes oxidized by molecular oxygen, raising the possibility for involvement of AOX in pathophysiology. Indeed, ROI generation by AOX has been directly implicated in hepatic ethanol toxicity. A cDNA encoding human AOX has been cloned, sequenced, and identified as AOX1. AOX1 was proposed as a candidate for an autosomal recessive form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS2) because a YAC carrying AOX1 was mapped to the ALS2 locus and was expressed in microglial cells of the spinal cord. As a source of H₂O₂, AOX could mediate motor neuron degeneration. To provide a basis for further analysis of AOX1 in pathophysiology, and to examine the relationship of the human AOX1 gene to the gene for human xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), we have studied the chromosomal locus encoding AOX1 in humans. In the present communication, we have analyzed P1 artificial chromosomes containing AOX1. Our refined chromosomal mapping by FISH locates AOX1 very centromere proximal in the 2q33 region at 2q32.3–2q33.1. We present the first complete structural map of an AOX gene and provide direct evidence that human XDH and AOX1 are related by a gene duplication event. In addition, 1500 bp of upstream DNA containing the putative AOX1 promoter were sequenced and expressed. In contrast to the amino acid coding regions, AOX1 and XDH promoter sequences exhibit marked divergence that reflects the differential activation of these closely related genes. Evidence is presented that AOX may be polygenic in humans as it is in plants, Dipterans, and mice.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a mannose-binding lectin gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinellia cordata</Emphasis>

Using RNA extracted from Pinellia cordata young leaves and primers designed according to the conserved regions of Araceae lectins, the full-length cDNA of Pinellia cordata agglutinin (PCL) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of pcl was 1,182 bp and contained a 768 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a lectin precursor of 256 amino acids. Through comparative analysis of pcl gene and its deduced amino acid sequence with those of other Araceae species, it was found that pcl encoded a precursor lectin with signal peptide. PCL is a mannose-binding lectin with three mannose-binding sites. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that pcl is expressed in all tested tissues including leaf, stem and bulbil, but with the highest expression in bulbil. PCL protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli with the molecular weight expected.     

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding phosphoketolase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leuconostoc mesenteroides</Emphasis> isolated from kimchi

The gene encoding phosphoketolase, which is 2749 bp long and contains 814 amino acid polypeptides with a total molecular mass of 91.9 kDa, was cloned from Leuconostoc mesenteroides C7 (LMC7) and expressed in Escherichia coli. It exhibited a homology of >58% with phosphoketolases from other lactic acid bacteria. The phosphoketolase of LMC7 belongs to the xylulose 5-phosphate (X5P)/fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) phosphoketolase (Xfp) family, which is an enzyme with dual specificity for X5P and F6P. The members of this family contain typical thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) binding sites as reported for other TPP-dependent enzymes, and several highly conserved regions as signature patterns for phosphoketolases. The plasmid pGPK containing the Xfp gene (xfp) exhibits phosphoketolase activity in E. coli. The specific activities of the enzyme from E. coli BL21 and E. coli EC101 harboring xfp were 0.28 and 0.14 units/mg, respectively. They both exhibited a 1.5-fold increase in the production of acetic acid from acetyl phosphate compared with their corresponding original strain.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Genomic Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Lectin Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zantedeschia aethiopica</Emphasis>

A new lectin gene was isolated by using genomic walker technology and revealed to encode a mannose-binding lectin. Analysis of a 2233 bp segment revealed a gene including a 1169 bp 5′ flanking region, a 417 bp open reading frame (ORF) and a 649 bp 3′ flanking region. There are two putative TATA boxes and eight possible CAAT boxes lie in the 5′ flanking region. The ORF encodes a 15.1 kDa precursor, which contains a 24-amino acid signal peptide. One possible polyadenylation signal is found in the 3′-flanking region. No intron was detected within the region of genomic sequence corresponding to zaa (Zantedeschia aethiopica agglutinin) full-length cDNA, which is typical of other mannose-binding lectin gene that have been reported. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lectin gene coding region shares 49–54% homology with other known lectins. The cloning of this new lectin gene will allow us to further study its structure, expression and regulation mechanisms.     

中国野生毛葡萄芪合成酶基因克隆及表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术克隆中国野生毛葡萄‘丹凤-2’芪合成酶基因,命名为VqDSTS1,并进行序列及表达模式分析.结果表明:VqDSTS1基因cDNA编码区全长为1 179bp,GenBank登录号为JQ342086,编码392个氨基酸;氨基酸序列分析表明,VqDSTS1含有芪合成酶基因家簇的特征识别序列‘IPNSAGAIAGN’和‘GVLFGFG-PGLT’;序列比对显示,VqDSTS1与其他葡萄种质的芪合成酶氨基酸序列一致性在95.2%～98.7%之间;半定量RT-PCR分析表明,VqDSTS1受白粉病诱导表达,呈双峰模式.为进一步研究中国野生毛葡萄‘丹凤-2’芪合成酶基因家族的表达及功能分析提供了基础.     

Cloning and characterization of a Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>/H<Superscript>+</Superscript> antiporter gene of the moderately halophilic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halobacillus aidingensis</Emphasis> AD-6<Superscript>T</Superscript>

A gene encoding a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter was obtained from the genome of Halobacillus aidingensis AD-6(T), which was sequenced and designated as nhaH. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene was 91% identical to the NhaH of H. dabanensis, and shared 54% identity with the NhaG of Bacillus subtilis. The cloned gene enable the Escherichia coli KNabc cell, which lack all of the major Na(+)/H(+) antiporters, to grow in medium containing 0.2 M NaCl or 10 mM LiCl. The nhaH gene was predicted to encode a 43.5 kDa protein (403 amino acid residues) with 11 putative transmembrane regions. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KNabc cells carrying NhaH exhibited Na(+)/H(+) as well as Li(+)/H(+) antiporter activity, which was pH-dependent with the highest activity at pH 8.0, and no K(+)/H(+) antiporter activity was detected. The deletion of hydrophilic C-terminal amino acid residues showed that the short C-terminal tail was vital for Na(+)/H(+) antiporter activity.     

棉花咖啡酰辅酶A-O-甲基转移酶基因的克隆及表达

根据棉花纤维特异表达cDNA文库分析得到的咖啡酰辅酶A-O-甲基转移酶(CCoAOMT)基因EST序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR技术首次从棉花中克隆了一个CCoAOMT基因,命名为GhCCoAOMT1(GenBank登录号为FJ848871).研究结果表明:GhCCoAOMT1基因cDNA全长960 bp,具有一个753 bp的开放阅读框,5'非编码区为9 bp,3'非编码区为198 bp,编码250个氨基酸,预测分子量约为28.306 kDa,等电点为5.39.利用PCR方法克隆了GhCCoAOMT1基因的基因组序列,长度为1 311 bp,包含5个外显子和4个内含子.氨基酸同源性分析发现,GhCCoAOMT1与来自毛白杨、烟草和苎麻的CCoAOMT同源性较高.半定量RT-PCR检测表明,GhCCoAOMT1基因在棉花各个组织中都有表达,其中茎部的表达量最高,其次表达量依次为根>花瓣>子叶>10 d纤维>雄蕊>胚珠>叶.