基因表达与mRNA结构的关系

基因的转录调控和转录后水平的调控在基因表达过程中起着重要作用。mRNA的结构与基因表达调控的关系非常密切。目前对于mRNA结构对表达的影响因素,主要集中于起始密码子和S-D序列的结构和间隔长度、基因和基因间的间隔区序列和长度,5’末端与3’末端非翻译区、多聚（A）尾、内含子序列对翻译起始效率、发夹结构对mRNA的稳定性的影响和mRNA翻译起始区等对基因表达影响。     

Biogenesis of short intronic repeat 27-nucleotide small RNA from endothelial nitric-oxide synthase gene

Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) is a constitutively expressed gene in endothelium that produces NO and is critical for vascular integrity. Previously, we reported that the 27-nucleotide (nt) repeat polymorphism in eNOS intron 4, a source of 27-nt small RNA, which inhibits eNOS expression, were associated with cardiovascular risk and expression of the eNOS gene. In the current study, we investigated the biogenesis of the intron 4-derived 27-nt small RNA. Using Northern blot, we showed that the eNOS-derived 27-nt short intronic repeat RNA (sir-RNA) expressed only in the eNOS expressing endothelial cells. Cells containing 10 x 27- or 5 x 27-nt repeats produced higher levels of 27nt sir-RNA and lower levels of eNOS mRNA than the cells with 4 x 27-nt repeats. The 27nt sir-RNA was mostly present within the endothelial nuclei. When the splicing junctions of the 27-nt repeat containing intron 4 in the full-length eNOS cDNA vector were mutated, 27nt sir-RNA biogenesis was abolished. Suppression of Drosha or Dicer diminished the biogenesis of the 27nt sir-RNA. Our study suggests that the 27nt sir-RNA derived through eNOS pre-mRNA splicing may represent a new class of small RNA. The more eNOS is transcribed or higher number of the 27-nt repeats, the more 27nt sir-RNA is produced, which functions as a negative feedback self-regulator by specifically inhibiting the host gene eNOS expression. This novel molecular model may be responsible for quantitative differences between individuals carrying different numbers of the polymorphic repeats hence the cardiovascular risk.     

tPA K_2编码区mRNA二级结构对其在大肠杆菌中表达的影响研究

序列分析中发现ｔＰＡＫ２编码区结构基因中存在一段反转重复序列,富含Ｇ、Ｃ。利用计算机预测ｔＰＡｍＲＮＡ二级结构证明ｔＰＡｍＲＮＡ在此处可以形成△Ｇｍ＝－２５．５ＫＣａｌ／ｍｏｌ的发夹结构。本研究利用定点突变技术消除了这段反转重复序列,在大肠杆菌中进行了消除前后ｔＰＡ转录和翻译水平的比较。结果表明消除之后,细菌总ＲＮＡ中ｔＰＡ特异ｍＲＮＡ含量减少,细菌表达产物中ｔＰＡ蛋白占破菌沉淀物的百分比却基本不变。提示大肠杆菌中基因编码区ｍＲＮＡ二级结构一般不构成转录的终止,但有利于ｍＲＮＡ的稳定性,对翻译表达无影响。     

Simple RNAi vectors for stable and transient suppression of gene function in rice

Since the recent sequencing of the rice genome, the functional identification of rice genes has become increasingly important. Various tagged lines have been generated; however, the number of tagged genes available is not sufficient for extensive study of gene function. To help identify the functions of genes in rice, we developed a Gateway vector, pANDA, for RNA interference of rice genes. This vector can be used for Agrobacterium transformation of rice and allows easy and fast construction of efficient RNAi vectors. In the construct, hairpin RNA derived from a given gene is transcribed from a strong maize ubiquitin promoter, and an intron is placed 5' upstream of inverted repeats to enhance RNA expression. Analysis of rice genes using this vector showed that suppression of mRNA expression was observed in more than 90% of transgenic plants examined, and short interfering RNA indicative of RNA silencing was detected in each silenced plant. A similar vector, pANDA-mini, was also developed for direct transfer into leaf cells or protoplasts. This vector can be used for transient suppression of gene function in rice. These vectors should help identify the functions of rice genes whose tagged mutants are not available at present and complement existing methods for functional genomics of rice.