The Rad9 Gene of Coprinus Cinereus Encodes a Proline-Rich Protein Required for Meiotic Chromosome Condensation and Synapsis

The rad9 gene of Coprinus cinereus is essential for the normal completion of meiosis. We examined surface-spread preparations of wild-type and rad9-1 nuclei from the meiotic stages of karyogamy through metaphase I, and we determined the primary sequence, structure, and meiotic expression of the rad9 gene. In wild-type C. cinereus, karyogamy is followed by condensation and alignment of homologous chromosomes. Condensation and axial core development largely precede synapsis, which often initiates at telomeres. A diffuse diplotene phase coincides with dissolution of the synaptonemal complex, and subsequently chromosomes further condense as the cells progress into metaphase I. In contrast, although karyogamy and nucleolar fusion are apparently normal in rad9-1 basidia, only short stretches of synaptonemal complex form. These correlate with stretches of condensed chromatin, mostly at apparent chromosome ends, and regions of presumptive triple synapsis are numerous. rad9-1 basidia enter the diffuse stage of early diplotene, and then 50% of these cells enter metaphase I by the criteria of nucleolar elimination and at least some chromatin condensation. rad9 gene expression is induced after gamma irradiation and during meiosis. The gene has 27 exons and encodes a predicted protein of 2157 amino acids, with a proline-rich amino terminus.     

新疆无苞芥锌指蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

利用同源克隆法从新疆无苞芥中克隆获得1个锌指蛋白基因(OpZFP)。序列分析表明,OpZFP基因的开放阅读框为684bp,推测编码含227个氨基酸的蛋白质。生物信息学分析显示,OpZFP蛋白含有1个典型的C2H2型锌指结构,在C端含有一个可能具有转录抑制功能的EAR结构域。系统进化树分析表明OpZFP编码产物与拟南芥AtZFP1、琴叶拟南芥AlZFP1的进化关系较近。分离了OpZFP基因2 095bp的启动子序列,发现该启动子与拟南芥AtZFP1基因的启动子序列只有84.4%的相似性,启动子分析表明二者存在多处不同的顺式作用元件。半定量RT-PCR分析表明,OpZFP在根、茎、叶、花和果荚中均有表达,在根中的表达量最高。OpZFP基因受高盐、干旱和低温等胁迫的诱导表达,表明该蛋白涉及多种胁迫相关的信号传导途径。     

A Microtubule-Associated Zinc Finger Protein,BuGZ, Regulates Mitotic Chromosome Alignment by Ensuring Bub3 Stability and Kinetochore Targeting

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The Role of Topoisomerase II in Meiotic Chromosome Condensation and Segregation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Topoisomerase II is able to break and rejoin double-strand DNA. It controls the topological state and forms and resolves knots and catenanes. Not much is known about the relation between the chromosome segregation and condensation defects as found in yeast top2 mutants and the role of topoisomerase II in meiosis. We studied meiosis in a heat-sensitive top2 mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Topoisomerase II is not required until shortly before meiosis I. The enzyme is necessary for condensation shortly before the first meiotic division but not for early meiotic prophase condensation. DNA replication, prophase morphology, and dynamics of the linear elements are normal in the top2 mutant. The top2 cells are not able to perform meiosis I. Arrested cells have four spindle pole bodies and two spindles but only one nucleus, suggesting that the arrest is nonregulatory. Finally, we show that the arrest is partly solved in a top2 rec7 double mutant, indicating that topoisomerase II functions in the segregation of recombined chromosomes. We suggest that the inability to decatenate the replicated DNA is the primary defect in top2. This leads to a loss of chromatin condensation shortly before meiosis I, failure of sister chromatid separation, and a nonregulatory arrest.     

Matefin/SUN-1 Phosphorylation Is Part of a Surveillance Mechanism to Coordinate Chromosome Synapsis and Recombination with Meiotic Progression and Chromosome Movement

Faithful chromosome segregation during meiosis I depends on the establishment of a crossover between homologous chromosomes. This requires induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), alignment of homologs, homolog association by synapsis, and repair of DSBs via homologous recombination. The success of these events requires coordination between chromosomal events and meiotic progression. The conserved SUN/KASH nuclear envelope bridge establishes transient linkages between chromosome ends and cytoskeletal forces during meiosis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this bridge is essential for bringing homologs together and preventing nonhomologous synapsis. Chromosome movement takes place during synapsis and recombination. Concomitant with the onset of chromosome movement, SUN-1 clusters at chromosome ends associated with the nuclear envelope, and it is phosphorylated in a chk-2- and plk-2-dependent manner. Identification of all SUN-1 phosphomodifications at its nuclear N terminus allowed us to address their role in prophase I. Failures in recombination and synapsis led to persistent phosphorylations, which are required to elicit a delay in progression. Unfinished meiotic tasks elicited sustained recruitment of PLK-2 to chromosome ends in a SUN-1 phosphorylation–dependent manner that is required for continued chromosome movement and characteristic of a zygotene arrest. Furthermore, SUN-1 phosphorylation supported efficient synapsis. We propose that signals emanating from a failure to successfully finish meiotic tasks are integrated at the nuclear periphery to regulate chromosome end–led movement and meiotic progression. The single unsynapsed X chromosome in male meiosis is precluded from inducing a progression delay, and we found it was devoid of a population of phosphorylated SUN-1. This suggests that SUN-1 phosphorylation is critical to delaying meiosis in response to perturbed synapsis. SUN-1 may be an integral part of a checkpoint system to monitor establishment of the obligate crossover, inducible only in leptotene/zygotene. Unrepaired DSBs and unsynapsed chromosomes maintain this checkpoint, but a crossover intermediate is necessary to shut it down.     

苦荞锌指蛋白基因FtLSD1的克隆及其对非生物胁迫的应答

根据苦荞(Fagopyrum tataricum)花期转录组数据,分别以苦荞DNA和cDNA为模板,克隆得到1个苦荞C2C2型锌指蛋白基因FtLSD1(GenBank登录号KP252134)的DNA序列和cDNA序列,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法,研究了FtLSD1基因在非生物胁迫下的表达模式。结果显示:苦荞FtLSD1基因DNA全长2 427bp,由6个外显子和5个内含子构成,符合GU-AG剪切原则;cDNA序列包含一个528bp开放阅读框,编码175个氨基酸,具有LSD1家族的典型结构域;UV-B照射和水杨酸处理均能使FtLSD1基因的表达量上升,且UV-B处理在6h达到最大,为0h(CK)的3.84倍;水杨酸处理于10h达到最大,为0h(CK)的3.44倍,而4℃冷胁迫下该基因表达量保持稳定。推测该基因可能参与苦荞抗UV-B和高浓度水杨酸等非生物胁迫的应答反应,为苦荞的抗逆性研究提供新的视角。     

一个麻疯树RING型锌指蛋白基因JcRFP1的克隆及表达

首次从麻疯树胚乳cDNA丈库中克隆得到一个RJNG型锌指蛋白基（GenBank登录号为JF920726）,命名为JcRFP1。该cDNA长度为728bp,包含编码JcRFP1蛋白的完整开放阅读框（516bp）。脚,基因在麻疯树各器官中均检测到表达且表达量依次为：叶〉茎〉花〉果实〉种子〉根。将克隆到的JcRFP1基因的cDNA序列连接到表达载体pET32a（＋）上,导入BL21（DE3）pLysS菌株,成功诱导表达相对分子质量为33．2kDa的可溶性融合蛋白。该融合蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,得到效价为1：6500的抗血清。研究表明,JcRFP1蛋白具有体外泛素连接酶E3活性,在麻疯树体内可能参与油菜素甾醇信号转导途径。     

苹果一个锌指蛋白基因的cDNA克隆及其表达特性分析(英文)

A cDNA library was created from stem apex tissue from Jonathan apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), harvested in June to August, during which the plant transitions from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. From this library, we isolated an expressed sequence tag (EST) sequence containing a zinc finger motif, using this sequence, a 779 bp cDNA fragment was obtained by using 5‘ RACE, and a final full-length cDNA encoding an apple zinc finger protein (named MdZF1; GenBank accession number AB116545) was obtained by further PCR. This zinc finger motif of MdZF1 has high homology with INOETERMINATE1 (ID1) gene from maize which seemed to be involved in the transition to flowering. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the MdZF1 expressed in the root, stem, leaves, shoot apex and floral organs of the apple, with expression levels higher in root, stem, leaves and floral shoot apex than that in floral organs (sepals, petals, stamens and pistils). Genomic Southern analysis showed that there was a single copy gene in apple genome.     

Y Chromosome Gene Expression in the Blood of Male Patients With Ischemic Stroke Compared With Male Controls

BackgroundSex is suggested to be an important determinant of ischemic stroke risk factors, etiology, and outcome. However, the basis for this remains unclear. The Y chromosome is unique in males. Genes expressed in males on the Y chromosome that are associated with stroke may be important genetic contributors to the unique features of males with ischemic stroke, which would be helpful for explaining sex differences observed between men and women.ObjectiveWe compared Y chromosome gene expression in males with ischemic stroke and male controls.MethodsBlood samples were obtained from 40 male patients ≤3, 5, and 24 hours after ischemic stroke and from 41 male controls (July 2003–April 2007). RNA was isolated from blood and was processed using Affymetrix Human U133 Plus 2.0 expression arrays (Affymetrix Inc., Santa Clara, California). Y chromosome genes differentially expressed between male patients with stroke and male control subjects were identified using an ANCOVA adjusted for age and batch. A P < 0.05 and a fold change >1.2 were considered significant.ResultsSeven genes on the Y chromosome were differentially expressed in males with ischemic stroke compared with controls. Five of these genes (VAMP7, CSF2RA, SPRY3, DHRSX, and PLCXD1) are located on pseudoautosomal regions of the human Y chromosome. The other 2 genes (EIF1AY and DDX3Y) are located on the nonrecombining region of the human Y chromosome. The identified genes were associated with immunology, RNA metabolism, vesicle fusion, and angiogenesis.ConclusionsSpecific genes on the Y chromosome are differentially expressed in blood after ischemic stroke. These genes provide insight into potential molecular contributors to sex differences in ischemic stroke.     

苹果一个锌指蛋白基因的cDNA克隆及其表达特性分析

采集了处于营养生长向生殖行长转化期(6~8月)的红玉苹果(Malus domestica Borkh.)茎顶,构建了其cDNA文库,并从中分离得到了一个具有锌指结构的EST序列,又通过5`RACE的方法,从cDNA文库中找到了其上游779bp的cDNA片段.最后用PCR的方法获得了苹果锌指蛋白的全长cDNA,并命为MdZF1.该cDNA序列已在GenBank登录,登录号为AB116545.MdZF1的锌指结构域与玉米的开花转换基因ID1有高度同源性.通过对苹果不同组织、器官的Northem和RT-PCR分析表明MdZF1在根、茎、叶、顶芽以及花器官(萼片、花瓣、雄蕊、雌蕊)中都有表达.Southern分析表明MdZF1的基因组中是以单拷贝存在的.     

The Gene Encoding Protein Kinase SEK1 Maps to Mouse Chromosome 11 and Human Chromosome 17

We report the mapping of the human and mouse genes encoding SEK1 (SAPK/ERK kinase-1), a newly identified protein kinase that is a potent physiological activator of the stress-activated protein kinases. The human SERK1 gene was assigned to human chromosome 17 using genomic DNAs from human–rodent somatic cell hybrid lines. A specific human PCR product was observed solely in the somatic cell line containing human chromosome 17. The mouseSerk1gene was mapped to chromosome 11, closely linked toD11Mit4,using genomic DNAs from a (C57BL/6J ×Mus spretus)F₁×M. spretusbackcross.