大头蛙4个Dmrt基因DM保守区的序列分析

Dm rt基因家族是新近发现的一个与性别决定相关的基因家族。该家族成员编码的蛋白质都含有一个具有DNA结合能力的保守基序?DM结构域,在性别决定和分化发育的调控中担负重要的功能。采用简并PCR技术扩增了大头蛙Dm rt基因的DM结构域,经序列分析,获得了Dm rt基因家族的4个成员LfDm rt1a,LfDm-rt1b,LfDm rt3,LfDm rt5。与其它动物相关的Dm rt基因进行氨基酸序列聚类分析,结果表明,不同进化地位动物的Dm rt基因DM域编码序列存在高度的同源性,显示Dm rt基因在系统进化上高度保守,序列上的相似性可能暗示它们在功能上的保守性。     

卤虫中编码DM结构域的DNA序列的克隆和初步研究（简报）

性别决定的分子机制复杂多样,但是处于动物性别决定的基因调控网络底部的一些调控基因具有相当高的保守性。doublesex(dsx)基因和male abnomal-3(mab-3)基因分别是果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)和线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)性别决定调控途径末端的重要基因,对这两个基因序列的比较导致了DM结构域的发现,它是已知在性别发育过程中最为保守的DNA结合结构域。目前,已     

大熊猫Dmrt基因家族4个成员基因的克隆

果蝇Doublesex基因、线虫Mab-3基因和人类DMRTI基因均含有一个新的具有DNA结合能力的保守基序,即DM结构域。它们在性别决定和分化发育的调控过程中具有相似的功能。通过简并PCR克隆技术,扩增和克隆了大熊猫基因组中的DM结构域,得到了4个具有不同DM序列的克隆。结果显示,在大熊猫基因组中存在Dmrt基因家族的多个成员。该基因家族在脊椎动物和非脊椎动物都具有高度的进化保守性。     

Expression of Dmrt1 in the genital ridge of mouse and chicken embryos suggests a role in vertebrate sexual development.

Sex-determining mechanisms are highly variable between phyla. Only one example has been found in which structurally and functionally related genes control sex determination in different phyla: the sexual regulators mab-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans and doublesex of Drosophila both encode proteins containing the DM domain, a novel DNA-binding motif. These two genes control similar aspects of sexual development, and the male isoform of DSX can substitute for MAB-3 in vivo, suggesting that the two proteins are functionally related. DM domain proteins may also play a role in sexual development of vertebrates. A human gene encoding a DM domain protein, DMRT1, is expressed only in the testis in adults and maps to distal 9p24.3, a short interval that is required for testis development. Earlier in development we find that murine Dmrt1 mRNA is expressed exclusively in the genital ridge of early XX and XY embryos. Thus Dmrt1 and Sry are the only regulatory genes known to be expressed exclusively in the mammalian genital ridge prior to sexual differentiation. Expression becomes XY-specific and restricted to the seminiferous tubules of the testis as gonadogenesis proceeds, and both Sertoli cells and germ cells express Dmrt1. Dmrt1 may also play a role in avian sexual development. In birds the heterogametic sex is female (ZW), and the homogametic sex is male (ZZ). Dmrt1 is Z-linked in the chicken. We find that chicken Dmrt1 is expressed in the genital ridge and Wolffian duct prior to sexual differentiation and is expressed at higher levels in ZZ than in ZW embryos. Based on sequence, map position, and expression patterns, we suggest that Dmrt1 is likely to play a role in vertebrate sexual development and therefore that DM domain genes may play a role in sexual development in a wide range of phyla.     

Mice mutant in the DM domain gene Dmrt4 are viable and fertile but have polyovular follicles

Proteins containing the DM domain, a zinc finger-like DNA binding motif, have been implicated in sexual differentiation in diverse metazoan organisms. Of seven mammalian DM domain genes, only Dmrt1 and Dmrt2 have been functionally analyzed. Here, we report expression analysis and targeted disruption of Dmrt4 (also called DmrtA1) in the mouse. Dmrt4 is widely expressed during embryonic and postnatal development. However, we find that mice homozygous for a putative null mutation in Dmrt4 develop essentially normally, undergo full sexual differentiation in both sexes, and are fertile. We observed two potential mutant phenotypes in Dmrt4 mutant mice. First, ovaries of most mutant females have polyovular follicles, suggesting a role in folliculogenesis. Second, 25% of mutant males consistently exhibited copulatory behavior toward other males. We also tested potential redundancy between Dmrt4 and two other gonadally expressed DM domain genes, Dmrt1 and Dmrt7. We observed no enhancement of gonadal phenotypes in the double mutants, suggesting that these genes function independently in gonadal development.     

Sex and the singular DM domain: insights into sexual regulation, evolution and plasticity

Most animals reproduce sexually, but the genetic and molecular mechanisms that determine the eventual sex of each embryo vary remarkably. DM domain genes, which are related to the insect gene doublesex, are integral to sexual development and its evolution in many metazoans. Recent studies of DM domain genes reveal mechanisms by which new sexual dimorphisms have evolved in invertebrates and show that one gene, Dmrt1, was central to multiple evolutionary transitions between sex-determining mechanisms in vertebrates. In addition, Dmrt1 coordinates a surprising array of distinct cell fate decisions in the mammalian gonad and even guards against transdifferentiation of male cells into female cells in the adult testis.     

胡子鲇Dmrt1基因全长cDNA克隆及其表达分析

以胡子鲇(Clarias fuscus)为研究对象,利用RT-PCR技术和SMART RACE技术克隆获得Dmrt1基因cDNA全长,并利用生物信息学分析其结构及功能;利用半定量RT-PCR技术检测胡子鲇性腺(精巢/卵巢)、肌肉、肠、肝脏、心脏、头肾、鳃丝、脑和眼等10种组织以及Ⅱ—Ⅴ期精巢中Dmrt1基因表达。结果表明:胡子鲇Dmrt1基因cDNA全长为1417 bp,其中5′非编码区(5′-UTR)为35 bp,3′非编码区(3′-UTR)为516 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)包含864 bp,编码287个氨基酸(aa),预测所编码DMRT1为主要位于细胞核内的不稳定性亲水蛋白。氨基酸序列比对显示,胡子鲇DMRT1与已公布的非洲胡子鲇、蟾胡子鲇、黄颡鱼等鲇形目鱼类的相似性为83.3%—96.1%。胡子鲇DMRT1中具有DMRT基因家族共有的、保守性很高的DM结构域,此结构域具有典型的"C2H2C4"锌指结构,与上述鲇形目鱼类的相似性达100%,与斑马鱼、青鳉、虹鳟等鱼类的相似性为91.9%—97.3%,而与鸡、鼠、猪人等的相似性达80%以上。组织表达显示,胡子鲇Dmrt1基因仅在精巢中表达,且Ⅱ期精巢(即精子发生期)中Dmrt1基因表达量显著高于Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ期精巢(P<0.05),而卵巢及其他8种组织中均无表达,表明Dmrt1是胡子鲇精巢特异性表达基因,可能与胡子鲇的雄性性别决定、精子发生及精巢发育密切相关。     

鲫Dmrt3基因的克隆和表达分析

DMRT家族是一个与性别决定相关的转录因子家族。为了研究家族成员之一的Dmrt3在我国重要养殖鱼类鲫胚胎发育、性别分化中的功能以及在育种中的作用,我们克隆了鲫Dmrt3基因的cDNA全长,并对Dmrt3基因在发育早期和不同组织中的表达进行了分析。结果显示:鲫Dmrt3基因cDNA全长为2182 bp,其中5￠端非编码区408 bp,3'端非编码区427 bp,开放阅读框1347 bp,编码448个氨基酸。蛋白结构预测显示DMRT3除了正常的DM结构域外,还有DMA结构域,在进化上与DMRT4和DMRT5的亲缘关系更近。巢式RT-PCR分析结果表明Dmrt3直到尾芽期才开始有微量表达,表达量在15体节期有明显增加但仍然处在一个较低的水平;在成体组织中只在精巢中检测到表达。这种表达时空模式提示Dmrt3可能在早期器官发生和雄性性腺发育调控中起作用。对Dmrt3启动子CpG岛的甲基化分析表明所检测的组织和配子中并不发生甲基化,说明这种雌雄特异性和组织特异性差异表达并不是通过对该基因启动子的差异甲基化修饰来调控的。此外,我们还发现了鲫Dmrt3的一个由逆转录产物形成的假基因pDmrt3。这些结果为进一步研究鲫Dmrt3在性别分化中的作用和评估其在鲫性别控制育种中的价值,以及分析DMRT家族的进化关系提供了基础资料。       

中华绒螯蟹Dmrt基因保守区段的克隆和序列分析

Dmrt基因家族是一个与性别决定和发育相关的基因家族,在不同进化类型的生物中具有相当的保守性。采用PCR技术,扩增了中华绒螯蟹Dmrt基因的DM结构域。经序列分析,获得了Dmrt基因家族的4个成员基因EsDmrt2a、EsDmrt2b、EsDmrt2c和EsDmrt5。结果表明,不同进化地位动物的Dmrt2和Dmrt2基因DM域编码序列存在高度的同源性,显示Dmrt基因在系统进化上高度保守,序列上的相似性可能暗示着它们在功能上的保守性。     

中国大鲵 Dmrt 基因 DM 结构域的克隆及序列分析

Dmrt 基因家族是一个与性别决定相关的基因家族,该家族成员共有一个具有 DNA 结合能力的保守基序-DM 结构域。为了进一步探讨该家族在系统进化中的保守性,本研究通过简并 PCR 技术,扩增并克隆了中国大鲵（Andrias davidianus）基因组中的 DM 结构域。序列分析显示,中国大鲵基因组中存在 Dmrt 基因的 DM 结构域。其核酸序列与猕猴、青鳉、人、小鼠、牛、热带爪蟾相应 Dmrt 基因 DM 结构域的相似性分别为 91%、92%、92%、89%、91%、84%。其蛋白序列与上述物种的相似性均为91%,表现为4个氨基酸的变异。即第 19、34、36 和 45 位的精氨酸分别由半胱氨酸、谷胱酰胺、色氨酸和谷胱酰胺所取代。这些氨基酸的变化对其蛋白总体的三维构型没有显著影响。聚类分析结果表明,不同进化地位物种的 Dmrt 基因 DM 结构域编码序列存在高度的同源性,显示 Dmrt 基因在系统进化上的高度保守。     

DMRT gene cluster analysis in the platypus: new insights into genomic organization and regulatory regions

We isolated and characterized a cluster of platypus DMRT genes and compared their arrangement, location, and sequence across vertebrates. The DMRT gene cluster on human 9p24.3 harbors, in order, DMRT1, DMRT3, and DMRT2, which share a DM domain. DMRT1 is highly conserved and involved in sexual development in vertebrates, and deletions in this region cause sex reversal in humans. Sequence comparisons of DMRT genes between species have been valuable in identifying exons, control regions, and conserved nongenic regions (CNGs). The addition of platypus sequences is expected to be particularly valuable, since monotremes fill a gap in the vertebrate genome coverage. We therefore isolated and fully sequenced platypus BAC clones containing DMRT3 and DMRT2 as well as DMRT1 and then generated multispecies alignments and ran prediction programs followed by experimental verification to annotate this gene cluster. We found that the three genes have 58-66% identity to their human orthologues, lie in the same order as in other vertebrates, and colocate on 1 of the 10 platypus sex chromosomes, X5. We also predict that optimal annotation of the newly sequenced platypus genome will be challenging. The analysis of platypus sequence revealed differences in structure and sequence of the DMRT gene cluster. Multispecies comparison was particularly effective for detecting CNGs, revealing several novel potential regulatory regions within DMRT3 and DMRT2 as well as DMRT1. RT-PCR indicated that platypus DMRT1 and DMRT3 are expressed specifically in the adult testis (and not ovary), but DMRT2 has a wider expression profile, as it does for other mammals. The platypus DMRT1 expression pattern, and its location on an X chromosome, suggests an involvement in monotreme sexual development.