Somatic Cell Hybrid Mapping of Expressed Sequence Tags For Genes Showing Early Embryonic Death-Associated Changes of Expression Patterns in the Fetal Placenta of the Cow Carrying Somatic Nuclear-Derived Cloned Embryo

We previously detected 368 expressed sequence tags showing early embryonic death-associated changes of expression patterns in the fetal placenta of the cow carrying somatic nuclear-derived cloned embryo. In the present study 7 (presumed expressed sequence tags for HYPC, SPTBN1 and TNNC2, and four expressed sequence tags for unknown novel genes) out of the 368 expressed sequence tags were mapped to bovine chromosomes by analyzing deoxyribonucleic acids of bovine/murine somatic cell hybrid panel with polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for those bovine genes.     

Somatic cell hybrid mapping of expressed sequence tags for genes showing early embryonic death-associated changes of expression patterns in the fetal placenta of the cow carrying somatic nuclear-derived cloned embryo

We previously detected 368 expressed sequence tags showing early embryonic death-associated changes of expression patterns in the fetal placenta of the cow carrying somatic nuclear-derived cloned embryo. In the present study 7 (presumed expressed sequence tags for HYPC, SPTBN1 and TNNC2, and four expressed sequence tags for unknown novel genes) out of the 368 expressed sequence tags were mapped to bovine chromosomes by analyzing deoxyribonucleic acids of bovine/murine somatic cell hybrid panel with polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for those bovine genes.     

Serial analysis of gene expression in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The silkworm Bombyx mori is one of the most economically important insects and serves as a model for Lepidoptera insects. We used serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) to derive profiles of expressed genes during the developmental life cycle of the silkworm and to create a reference for understanding silkworm metamorphosis. We generated four SAGE libraries, one from each of the four developmental stages of the silkworm. In total we obtained 257,964 SAGE tags, of which 39,485 were unique tags. Sorted by copy number, 14.1% of the unique tags were detected at a median to high level (five or more copies), 24.2% at lower levels (two to four copies), and 61.7% as single copies. Using a basic local alignment search tool on the EST database, 35% of the tags matched known silkworm expressed sequence tags. SAGE demonstrated that a number of the genes were up- or down-regulated during the four developmental phases of the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Furthermore, we found that the generation of longer cDNA fragments from SAGE tags constituted the most efficient method of gene identification, which facilitated the analysis of a large number of unknown genes.     

三角帆蚌精氨酸酶基因的cDNA克隆与组织表达分析

精氨酸酶(Arginase,Arg)是生物体尿素循环当中一种标志性的酶类,它不但与生物体许多疾病相关,而且是目前用于治疗肿瘤和癌症的一种重要的工具酶。根据三角帆蚌消减杂交cDNA文库获得的EST序列,运用cDNA末端快速扩增(Rapid amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)技术获得三角帆蚌精氨酸酶基因的全长cDNA序列。生物信息学方法分析表明精氨酸酶基因cDNA序列长1720 bp,开放阅读框(651072)1008 bp,编码335个氨基酸,5端非编码区为64 bp,3端非编码区为648 bp,软件推测其编码蛋白相对分子量为36.81 kD。研究采用实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)方法分析该基因在不同组织中的表达规律,结果表明,该基因在肝脏、胃、肠、鳃、心脏、外套膜、斧足共7个组织中都有表达,但主要集中在肝脏、胃和肠消化器官中表达。这可能说明低等的无脊椎动物三角帆蚌的精氨酸酶兼具有Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型精氨酸酶的特征和功能,既可以参与尿素循环,又可以在生理和病理过程中发挥重要作用,但还需进一步验证。       

表达序列标签及基因芯片技术在植物抗性基因研究中的应用

表达序列标签和基因芯片技术是基因组学研究的重要手段。表达序列标签是cDNA的3’或5’端的一段序列,通过表达序列标签可以寻找在某种胁迫条件下特异表达的基因并推测其可能的功能。基因芯片技术是指将大量基因探针分子固定于载体上并与标记的样品分子进行杂交,通过检测每个探针分子的杂交信号强度获取样品分子数量和序列信息,通过基因芯片技术,可以研究基因在不同的条件下的表达量,进而研究植物抗性机理。     

Optimal cDNA microarray design using expressed sequence tags for organisms with limited genomic information

Background  

Expression microarrays are increasingly used to characterize environmental responses and host-parasite interactions for many different organisms. Probe selection for cDNA microarrays using expressed sequence tags (ESTs) is challenging due to high sequence redundancy and potential cross-hybridization between paralogous genes. In organisms with limited genomic information, like marine organisms, this challenge is even greater due to annotation uncertainty. No general tool is available for cDNA microarray probe selection for these organisms. Therefore, the goal of the design procedure described here is to select a subset of ESTs that will minimize sequence redundancy and characterize potential cross-hybridization while providing functionally representative probes.     

Characterization of new SSR‐EST markers in cod,Gadus morhua

For years, fishermen have noted that cod (Gadus morhua) within the Georges Bank Atlantic fishery spawn multiple times annually with peaks in the spring and in the fall. To evaluate the hypothesis that these differences in reproductive behaviour reflect genetically different spawning populations, we identified eight polymorphic simple sequence repeats within expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Previously, only a few genetic markers have been informative for distinguishing between cod populations of the Northwest Atlantic. The development of additional markers from ESTs will be a valuable tool to improve our understanding of population structure in this commercially important species.     

The Dugesia ryukyuensis database as a molecular resource for studying switching of the reproductive system

The planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis reproduces both asexually and sexually, and can switch from one mode of reproduction to the other. We recently developed a method for experimentally switching reproduction of the planarian from the asexual to the sexual mode. We constructed a cDNA library from sexualized D. ryukyuensis and sequenced and analyzed 8,988 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). The ESTs were analyzed and grouped into 3,077 non-redundant sequences, leaving 1,929 singletons that formed the basis of unigene sets. Fifty-six percent of the cDNAs analyzed shared similarity (E-value<1E -20) with sequences deposited in NCBI. Highly redundant sequences encoded granulin and actin, which are expressed in the whole body, and other redundant sequences encoded a Vasa-like protein, which is known to be a component of germ-line cells and is expressed in the ovary, and Y-protein, which is expressed in the testis. The sexualized planarian expressed sequence tag database (http://planaria.bio.keio.ac.jp/planaria/) is an open-access, online resource providing access to sequence, classification, clustering, and annotation data. This database should constitute a powerful tool for analyzing sexualization in planarians.     

Generation of 7137 non-redundant expressed sequence tags from a legume, Lotus japonicus.

For comprehensive analysis of genes expressed in a model legume, Lotus japonicus, a total of 22,983 5' end expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were accumulated from normalized and size-selected cDNA libraries constructed from young (2 weeks old) plants. The EST sequences were clustered into 7137 non-redundant groups. Similarity search against public non-redundant protein database indicated that 3302 groups showed similarity to genes of known function, 1143 groups to hypothetical genes, and 2692 were novel sequences. Homologues of 5 nodule-specific genes which have been reported in other legume species were contained in the collected ESTs, suggesting that the EST source generated in this study will become a useful tool for identification of genes related to legume-specific biological processes. The sequence data of individual ESTs are available at the web site: http://www.kazusa.or.jp/en/plant/lotus/EST/.     

Expressed sequence tags and chromosomal localization of cDNA clones from a subtracted retinal pigment epithelium library.

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) provide useful molecular landmarks for physical mapping and identify the position of an expressed region in the genome. The use of subtracted cDNA libraries enriched for tissue-specific genes as a source of ESTs should reduce the repetitive isolation of constitutively expressed sequences. We report here the sequence tags from the 3'-end region of 58 new directionally cloned cDNAs from a subtracted human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line library. Eight of the cDNAs have been assigned to human chromosomes using PCR-based EST assays. Chromosomal mapping of subtracted RPE cDNA clones may also help in identifying candidate genes for inherited eye diseases.     

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of Gregarine gametocyst development

Gregarines are protozoan parasites of invertebrates in the phylum Apicomplexa. We employed an expressed sequence tag strategy in order to dissect the molecular processes of sexual or gametocyst development of gregarines. Expressed sequence tags provide a rapid way to identify genes, particularly in organisms for which we have very little molecular information. Analysis of approximately 1800 expressed sequence tags from the gametocyst stage revealed highly expressed genes related to cell division and differentiation. Evidence was found for the role of degradation and recycling in gametocyst development. Numerous additional genes uncovered by expressed sequence tag sequencing should provide valuable tools to investigate gametocyst development as well as for molecular phylogenetics, and comparative genomics in this important group of parasites.     

Use of differential expression data for identification of novel immune relevant expressed sequence tag-linked microsatellite markers in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Despite the large number of genes contributing to the immune response, wildlife immunogenetic studies have tended to focus mostly on the major histocompatibility complex-related genes. Here, we utilized previously published microarray and competitive RNA hybridization information to identify 3750 immune relevant Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) expressed sequence tags. We then identified those expressed sequence tags containing microsatellites and subsequently designed 48 primer pairs and tested them for polymorphism in Atlantic salmon. Altogether, 16 polymorphic markers were characterized, with allele numbers ranging from two to 18, and these 16 loci were further tested in five other salmonid species.