转录因子结合位点生物信息学研究进展

By using genome in situ hybridization (GISH) on root somatic chromosomes of allotetraploid derived from the cross Gossypium arboreum × G. bickii with genomic DNA (gDNA) of G. bickii as a probe, two sets of chromosomes, consisting of 26 chromosomes each, were easily distinguished from each other by their distinctive hybridization signals. GISH analysis directly proved that the hybrid G.arboreum×G. bickii is an allotetraploid amphiploid. The karyotype formula of the species was 2n = 4x = 52 = 46m (4sat) + 6sm (4sat). We identified four pairs of satellites with two pairs in each sub-genome. FISH analysis using 45S rDNA as a probe showed that the cross G. arboreum×G. bickii contained 14 NORs. At least five pairs of chromosomes in the G sub-genome showed double hybridization (red and blue) in their long arms, which indicates that chromatin introgression from the A sub-genome had occurred.     

结合基因表达数据和ChIP-chip数据的酵母转录调控模块的识别

活细胞依赖其众多的转录调控模块来实现复杂的生物功能,识别转录调控模块对深入理解细胞的功能及其转录机制有着重要的意义。本文结合酵母基因表达数据和ChIP-chip数据,提出了一种转录调控模块识别算法。该算法通过采用不同的P值阈值分别得到了核心集和粗糙集,然后对核心集和粗糙集进行判别,最后对基因进行扩展之后得到基因转录调控模块。将该算法运用到两个酵母基因表达数据中,得到了一些具有显著生物学意义的基因转录调控模块。与其它算法相比,该算法不仅可以识别含有较多基因的转录调控模块,而且可以识别一些其它算法不能识别的基因转录调控模块。识别得到的基因转录调控模块有着不同的生物学功能,并且有助于进一步理解酵母的转录调控机制。     

ChIP技术及其在基因组水平上分析DNA与蛋白质相互作用

染色质免疫沉淀(Chromatin immunoprecipitaion, ChIP)技术是分析细胞内生理状态下DNA结合蛋白与基因组DNA相互作用的技术。ChIP与高密度芯片(ChIP-chip)或高通量测序(ChIP-Seq)相结合能产生大量的研究数据, 在细胞的基因表达调控网络研究中发挥重要作用。文章主要介绍ChIP、ChIP-chip和ChIP-Seq的技术特点以及发展趋势, 重点讨论了ChIP-Seq数据分析方法及相关的应用实例。