珙桐中一个与低温相关基因的克隆及其表达研究

低温诱导膜蛋白是由低温诱导表达蛋白基因编码的一类疏水性蛋白,在植物抵御寒冷环境时起着一定的保护作用。从珙桐cDNA文库中获得一个未知基因（DiRCI）,该基因长539bp,其中包括174bp的开放阅读框,92bp的5′末端非编码区和273bp的3′末端非编码区,编码57个氨基酸残基蛋白,在氨基酸水平上同源性较高的是车前草的低温诱导膜蛋白（登入号：ACA66247.1）,其相似性为89.5%。半定量RT-PCR分析发现,25℃以上,该基因在珙桐各器官中基本上均未表达,但经8℃低温处理时,在成熟叶片、叶柄和成熟未萌发的种子中均有表达,但是在根中基本没有表达,进一步研究发现该基因在24h～48h内表达量增多并达到最高值,48h后其表达量逐渐减弱直至消失,说明该基因确实与低温诱导相关,从而初步推测该基因为低温诱导膜蛋白基因。该基因的克隆丰富和保存了珙桐基因资源,并为进一步研究冷胁迫的分子机制奠定了基础。     

球毛壳菌（Chaetomium globosum）过氧化物膜蛋白过敏原基因克隆、序列分析及原核表达

以球毛壳菌cDNA文库中获得过氧化物膜蛋白（pero）基因片段（GenBank Accn:BP099709）为基础,用RACE 技术获得该基因的全长cDNA序列。序列长747bp,由412bp的3′RACE产物和508bp的5′RACE产物拼接而成。开放阅读框501bp,编码166个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为17.5kD,理论等电点为5.75。利用cDNA两侧非编码区序列作引物克隆出该基因的DNA序列,序列分析表明该基因由2个内含子和3个外显子组成。ClustalX多序列比对表明：该基因与粗糙脉孢菌（Neurospora crassa）的过氧化物膜蛋白过敏原同源性最高（83%）。将pero基因编码区克隆到原核表达载体pET28a中,构建成表达质粒pET28a-pero并转化大肠杆菌BL21,IPTG诱导后SDS-PAGE检测表达情况,结果发现在21kD处有一特异性融合蛋白带,大小与预期相符,说明该基因已经在大肠杆菌中表达。克隆的cDNA序列、DNA序列及推测的氨基酸序列在GenBank登录(登录号分别为AY555771,AY584753,AAS66898)。     

Characterization of a partial alpha-amylase clone from red porgy (Pagrus pagrus): expression during larval development

A partial alpha-amylase cDNA was isolated from red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, Teleostei: Sparidae) and its tissue specific expression during larval development was examined. The cDNA was 949 bp long and showed 90% identity with other fish amylases. A 545 bp fragment was used to study amylase expression using in situ hybridization and RT-PCR techniques. Both methods showed a similar pattern: high and relatively constant expression for the first 30 days after hatching (dah), subsequently decreasing until the end of the experiment at 60 dah. The goal of this work was to extend the existing knowledge of the functionality of larval fish digestive systems and to provide new information about alpha-amylase gene expression.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a rice mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel and its gene expression studied upon plant development and osmotic stress

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) of mitochondria forms a large pore in the outer envelope membrane. Here, the full Oryza sativa OSVDAC1 cDNA was sequenced and is shown to belong to a small multigene family in the rice genome. This cDNA is 1093 bp long and codes for a protein of 274 amino acids. Expression studies of the osvdac1 gene show a regulation of its level in function of the plantlets maturation and organs. In contrast with several bacterial porins, osmotic stress does not have any effect on the plant osvdac1 gene expression.     

Human endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase is a Golgi-resident type II membrane protein

The cDNA for human endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase was reconstructed using two independent EST-clones and its properties characterized. The 2837 bp cDNA construct contained a 1389 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding for 462 amino acids and an approximately 53.6 kDa protein, respectively. Hydrophobicity analysis of this amino acid sequence, as well as proteolytic degradation studies, indicate that the enzyme is a type II protein, anchored in the membrane via a 19 amino-acid long apolar sequence close to the N-terminus. Human endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase displays a high degree of sequence identity with the catalytic domain of the homologous rat liver endo-enzyme, but differs substantially in the N-terminal peptide region, which includes the transmembrane domain. No sequence similarity exists with other processing alpha-glycosidases. Based on sequence information provided by the 2837 bp construct, the cDNA consisting of the complete 1389 bp ORF was amplified by RT-PCR using human fibroblast RNA. Incubation of E. coli lysates with this cDNA, previously modified for boost translation by codon optimization, resulted in the synthesis of an approximately 52 kDa protein which degraded [(14)C]Glc(3)-Man(9)-GlcNAc(2) efficiently, indicating that the catalytic domain of the enzyme folds correctly under cell-free conditions. Transfection of the endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase wild-type cDNA into COS 1 cells resulted in a moderate (approximately 1.5-fold) but reproducible increase of activity compared with control cells, whereas >18-fold increase in activity was measured after expression of a chimera containing green-fluorescent-protein (GFP) attached to the N-terminus of the endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase polypeptide. This, together with the observation that GFP-endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase is expressed as a Golgi-resident type II protein, points to enzyme-specific parameters directing folding and membrane anchoring, as well as Golgi-targeting, not being affected by fusion of GFP to the endo-alpha1,2-mannosidase N-terminus.     

Identification and characterisation of a homolog of an activation gene for the recombination activating gene 1 (RAG 1) in amphioxus

Expression of recombination activating genes (RAG) involved in the V (D) J recombination is regulated by the RAG1 gene activator (RGA) in mammals. The sequence of a cDNA clone from an amphioxus cDNA library was found to be homologous to that of RGA from mouse stromal cells with 45% identity. The full-length cDNA sequence comprises 1119 bp and encodes a putative protein of 210 amino acid residues. Characterisation of the amino acid sequence revealed that two MtN3 domains and seven transmembrane spans are present in this protein, indicating a potential role as a plasma membrane protein. This gene is expressed in many tissues and at differential developmental stages. A high expression level of RGA is detected in gonad tissues, and gastrula embryo and adult stages. The presence of the RGA gene in amphioxus suggests that the signal pathway required for the expression of RAG could exist in this primitive protochordate. It also implies that in the related molecules, primitive adaptive immunity may have existed in cephalochordate although the complete machinery of VDJ rearrangement may not be formed.     

Human leukocyte formin: a novel protein expressed in lymphoid malignancies and associated with Akt

The very large family of Formin proteins is involved in processes such as morphogenesis, embryonic differentiation, cell polarity, and cytokinesis. A novel human gene from the Formin family, denominated human leukocyte formin gene, was cloned. The cDNA of the gene was determined to be 3959bp long with an open reading frame of 3302bp and computational analysis located this gene on chromosome 17, suggesting that it is composed of 27 exons. Northern blot analysis revealed a restricted expression of mRNA in the thymus, spleen, and peripheral blood leukocytes in normal human tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the protein encoded by this gene is overexpressed in lymphoid malignancies; cancer cell lines and peripheral blood leukocyte from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Furthermore, the human leukocyte formin protein was observed to associate with Akt, a critical survival regulator in many different cell types.     

Identification of a receptor-like protein kinase gene rapidly induced by abscisic acid, dehydration, high salt, and cold treatments in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A cDNA clone for a receptor-like protein kinase gene (RPK1) was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. The clone is 1952 bp long with 1623 bp of an open reading frame encoding a peptide of 540 amino acids. The deduced peptide (RPK1) contains four distinctive domains characteristic of receptor kinases: (a) a putative amino-terminal signal sequence domain; (b) a domain with five extracellular leucine-rich repeat sequences; (c) a membrane-spanning domain; and (d) a cytoplasmic protein kinase domain that contains all of the 11 subdomains conserved among protein kinases. The RPK1 gene is expressed in flowers, stems, leaves, and roots. Expression of the RPK1 gene is induced within 1 h after treatment with abscisic acid (ABA). The gene is also rapidly induced by several environmental stresses such as dehydration, high salt, and low temperature, suggesting that the gene is involved in a general stress response. The dehydration-induced expression is not impaired in aba-1, abi1-1, abi2-1, and abi3-1 mutants, suggesting that the dehydration-induced expression of the RPK1 gene is ABA-independent. A possible role of this gene in the signal transduction pathway of ABA and the environmental stresses is discussed.     

Molecular cloning, identification and characteristics of a novel isoform of carbamyl phosphate synthetase I in human testis

A gene coding a novel isoform of carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS1) was cloned from a human testicular library. As shown by cDNA microarray hybridization, this gene was expressed at a higher level in human adult testes than in fetal testes. The full length of its cDNA was 3831 bp, with a 3149 bp open reading frame, encoding a 1050-amino-acid protein. The cDNA sequence was deposited in the GenBank (AY317138). Sequence analysis showed that it was homologous to the human CPS1 gene. The putative protein contained functional domains composing the intact large subunit of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, thus indicated it has the capability of arginine biosynthesis. A multiple tissue expression profile showed high expression of this gene in human testis, suggesting the novel alternative splicing form of CPS1 may be correlated with human spermatogenesis.     

Cloned proteolipid protein and myelin basic protein cDNA. Transcription of the two genes during myelination

cDNA clones of rat brain proteolipid protein (PLP), also named lipophilin, the major integral myelin membrane protein, and of myelin basic protein (MBP), the major extrinsic myelin protein, have been isolated from a rat brain cDNA library cloned into the PstI site of pBR322. Poly(A)+ RNA from actively myelinating 18-day-old rats has been reversely transcribed. Oligonucleotides synthesized according to the established amino-acid sequence of lipophilin and the nucleotide sequence of the small myelin basic protein of the N-terminal, the central and C-terminal region of their sequences were used as hybridization probes for screening. The largest insert in one of several lipophilin clones was 2,585 base pairs (bp) in length (pLp 1). It contained 521 bp of the C-terminal coding sequence and the complete 2,064 bp long non-coding 3' sequence. The myelin basic protein cDNA insert of clones pMBP5 and pMBP6 is 2,530 bp long and that of clones pMBP2 and pMBP3 640 bp. These clones were also characterized. pMBP2 was sequenced and used together with the lipophilin cDNA clones as hybridization probes to estimate the lipophilin and myelin basic protein mRNA levels of rat brain during the myelination period. The expression of the lipophilin and myelin basic protein genes during development of the myelin sheath appears to be strictly coordinated.     

Fasciola hepatica: heterologous expression and functional characterization of a thioredoxin peroxidase

A Fasciola hepatica cDNA clone of 779 bp was isolated from an adult worm cDNA expression library by immunological screening using a rabbit serum against the excretory-secretory antigens. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 582 bp which encoded a 194-amino-acid-residue polypeptide (M(r) 21,723 Da) showing a high degree of homology to thioredoxin peroxidases. This putative antioxidant protein gene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a GST fusion protein. The recombinant fusion protein showed in vitro antioxidant properties and protected rabbit muscle enolase and E. coli glutamine synthetase from inactivation by nonenzymatic Fe(3+)/O(2)/DTT or Fe(3+)/O(2)/ascorbate metal-catalyzed oxidation systems.     

Isolation and characterization of a sodium-dependent phosphate transporter gene in Dunaliella viridis

A sodium-dependent phosphate transporter gene, DvSPT1, was isolated from a cDNA library using a probe derived from a subtracted cDNA library of Dunaliella viridis. Sequencing analyses revealed a cDNA sequence of 2649 bp long and encoded an open-reading frame consisting of 672 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of DvSPT1 exhibited 31.2% identity to that of TcPHO from Tetraselmis chui. Hydrophobicity and secondary structure prediction revealed 11 conserved transmembrane domains similar to those found in PHO89 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and PHO4 from Neurospora crassa. Northern blot analysis indicated that the DvSPT1 expression was induced upon NaCl hyperosmotic stress or phosphate depletion. Functional characterization in yeast Na+ export pump mutant G19 suggested that DvSPT1 encoded a Na+ transporter protein. The gene sequence of GDvSPT1 (7922 bp) was isolated from a genomic library of D. viridis. Southern blot analysis indicated that there exist at least two homologous genes in D. viridis.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel WRKY gene from Brassica chinensis

A new WRKY gene was cloned from Brassica chinensis by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of BcWRKY was 1175 bp long and contained a 924 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative W-box-binding protein of 308 amino acids. The predicted BcWRKY protein was found to have a potential bipartite nuclear localization sequence (NLS-BP) in its N-terminal region followed by a WRKY DNA-binding domain. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that BcWRKY resembled other WRKY domain-containing proteins from Arabidopsis (AtWRKY18), tobacco (WIZZ), parsley (PcWRKY4) and wild oat (ABF2). Expression of the BcWRKY gene could be induced by salicylic acid (SA), and influenced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 infection and wounding treatment. Our study implies that BcWRKY might have similar functions possessed by other WRKY genes such as inducing the expression of some defense-related genes and increasing plant's disease resistance ability.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a CBF gene from Capsella bursa-pastoris.

A new CBF gene was cloned from Capsella bursa-pastoris(shepherd's purse) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of C. bursa-pastoris CBF gene (designated as Cbcbf) was 1034 bp long and contained a 657 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative DRE/CRT (LTRE)-binding protein of 219 amino acids. The predicted CbCBF protein was found to have a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) in its N-terminal region followed by an AP2 DNA-binding motif and an acidic C-terminal half that might act as an activator domain. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that Cbcbf strongly resembled other CBF genes from Arabidopsis thaliana (cbf1, cbf2, cbf3) and Brassica napus (Bncbf5, Bncbf 7, Bncbf16 and Bncbf17). Subsequent cold acclimation assay showed that Cbcbf was relevant to cold acclimation. Our study implies that Cbcbf might have similar functions possessed by other CBF genes such as inducing the expression of some cold-regulated genes and increasing plants' freezing tolerance.