Gene expression profiling in porcine mammary gland during lactation and identification of breed-and developmental-stage-specific genes

A total of 28941 ESTs were sequenced from five 5′-directed non-normalized cDNA libraries, which were assembled into 2212 contigs and 5642 singlets using CAP3. These sequences were annotated and clustered into 6857 unique genes, 2072 of which having no functional annotations were considered as novel genes. These genes were further classified into Gene Ontology categories. By comparing the expression profiles, we identified some breed-and developmental-stage-specific gene groups. These genes may be relative to reproductive performance or play important roles in milk synthesis, secretion and mammary involution. The unknown EST sequences and expression profiles at different developmental stages and breeds are very important resources for further research.     

Genome-wide identification and characterization of putative cytochrome P450 genes in the model legume <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago truncatula</Emphasis>

In plants, cytochrome P450 is a group of monooxygenases existing as a gene superfamily and plays important roles in metabolizing physiologically important compounds. However, to date only a limited number of P450s have been identified and characterized in legumes. In this study, data mining methods were used, and 151 putative P450 genes in the model legume Medicago truncatula were identified, including 135 novel sequences. These genes were classified into 9 clans and 44 families by sequence similarity, and among those 4 new clans and 21 new families not reported previously in legumes. By comparison of these genes with P450 genes in Arabidopsis and rice, it was found that most of the known P450 families in dicot species exist in M. truncatula. The representative protein sequences of putative P450s were aligned, and the secondary elements were assigned based on the known structure P450BM3. Putative substrate recognition sites (SRSs) and substrate binding sites were also identified in these sequences. In addition, the ESTs-derived expression profiles (digital Northern) of the putative P450 genes were analyzed, which was confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses of several selected P450 genes. These results will provide a base for catalogue information on P450 genes in M. truncatula and for further functional analysis of P450 superfamily genes in legumes.     

普通烟草ARF基因家族序列的鉴定与表达分析

ARF(AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR)基因含有一个B3功能域和具有转录激活或抑制活性的中心功能域,在植物发育过程中起到非常重要的作用。本研究采用生物信息学方法,根据拟南芥ARF基因序列鉴定了普通烟草基因组中的ARF基因,并对家族成员进行了序列特征、系统发生、亚细胞定位和表达模式分析。目前在普通烟草基因组中共得到50个ARF基因成员,其基因结构相对复杂,一般含有10个外显子。亚细胞定位结果表明,少数ARF蛋白定位到线粒体或叶绿体,大多数未检测到定位信号。转录组数据分析表明,ARF基因具有不同的组织表达模式,部分基因表现出组织特异性。这些研究结果为普通烟草ARF基因家族功能的深入研究奠定了基础。     

普通烟草LBD基因家族的全基因组序列鉴定与表达分析

LBD是一类具有LOB(lateral organ boundaries)结构域的基因家族,在植物发育过程中起到非常重要的作用。采用生物信息学方法,根据拟南芥LBD基因序列鉴定了普通烟草基因组中的LBD基因,并对家族成员进行了序列特征、系统发育和表达谱分析。结果表明:普通烟草基因组中共有98个LBD基因成员,其基因结构相对简单,一般含有1~3个外显子。LBD基因家族可分成I和II两大类,两类均含有CX_2CX_6CX_3C保守结构域,但II类不含有LX_6LX_3LX_6L形成的"卷曲螺旋"二级结构,根据与拟南芥LBD蛋白构建的系统发育树则可细分成5个亚家族(Ia、Ib、Ic、Id和II)。将LBD基因与表达序列标签(EST)比对,发现36个基因有EST证据;EST、芯片数据和转录组数据分析表明:LBD基因具有不同的组织表达模式,部分基因表现出组织特异性。这些研究结果为普通烟草LBD基因家族功能的深入研究奠定了基础。     

陆地棉XTH基因家族全基因组鉴定及在纤维发育过程的表达分析

本研究从陆地棉TM-1基因组中鉴定出72个XTH家族基因,编码木葡聚糖内转糖苷酶/水解酶(XTH,xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase),分别命名为Gh XTH01~Gh XTH72,分析了其基因结构、保守基序、系统进化、理化性质、亚细胞定位,并探究其在棉纤维发育不同时期的表达规律。结果表明,XTH家族基因分布在除At 07、Dt 07以外的24条棉花染色体上,根据系统发育树,将XTH家族基因分为3个亚组;XTH氨基酸序列有3个保守基序,保守性较强;多数XTH蛋白定位在细胞外。根据XTHs在纤维发育不同时期的表达量变化,将其分为4类。通过构建陆地棉与拟南芥XTH氨基酸序列进化树,推测Gh XTH15、Gh XTH28、Gh XTH36、Gh XTH49、Gh XTH59、Gh XTH62、Gh XTH63等基因在棉纤维发育过程中发挥重要作用。通过比较XTH家族基因在不同纤维品质陆地棉品种中的表达差异,推测在优质棉花品种中优势表达基因Gh XTH03、Gh XTH12、Gh XTH17、Gh XTH22、Gh XTH23、Gh XTH28、Gh XTH33、Gh XTH44、Gh XTH46、Gh XTH59等在纤维发育伸长过程中可能发挥着重要作用。上述结果为研究陆地棉XTH基因家族在棉纤维发育中的功能提供了参考依据。     

Differential expression of immune-related genes and transposable elements in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) exposed to a range of environmental stressors

The health of aquatic species is dependent on interactions between the environment, pathogens and the host. Under intensive shrimp aquaculture, environmental conditions can degrade, causing significant stress to the cultured organisms. To investigate the effect of environmental stress on shrimp hemocyte gene expression profiles, we applied suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) in juvenile Penaeus monodon exposed to hyperthermal, hypoxic or hyposmotic conditions. Random sequencing of 258 clones from the SSH revealed 176 distinct sequences of which 58 shared high similarity to sequences in the public databases. The three most common groups of identifiable unique sequences in the SSH libraries were the POL region of non-LTR retrotransposons (31%), genes with immune or potential immune functions (30%), and genes involved in protein synthesis and processing (18%). Stress-regulated differential expression was further verified by quantitative qRT-PCR, with seven out of eight randomly selected genes showing qRT-PCR profiles that conformed to the patterns predicted by SSH. Hence this work provides a list of genes which appear to be up- or down-regulated in response to stress, providing a basis for studying the genetic response of shrimp to environmental stress.     

Genome-wide analysis and identification of stress-responsive genes of the CCCH zinc finger family in Solanum lycopersicum

Zinc finger genes comprise a large and diverse gene family. Based on their individual finger structures and spacing, zinc finger proteins are further divided into different families according to their specific molecular functions. Genes in the CCCH family encode zinc finger proteins containing a motif with three cysteines and one histidine. They play important roles in plant growth and development, and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the limited analysis of the genome sequence has meant that there is no detailed information concerning the CCCH zinc finger family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we identified 80 CCCH zinc finger protein genes in the tomato genome. A complete overview of this gene family in tomato was presented, including the chromosome locations, gene duplications, phylogeny, gene structures and protein motifs. Promoter sequences and expression profiles of putative stress-responsive members were also investigated. These results revealed that, with the exception of four genes, the 80 CCCH genes are distributed over all 12 chromosomes with different densities, and include six segmental duplication events. The CCCH family in tomato could be divided into 12 groups based on their different CCCH motifs and into eight subfamilies by phylogenetic analysis. Analysis showed that almost all CCCH genes contain putative stress-responsive cis-elements in their promoter regions. Nine CCCH genes chosen for further quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed differential expression patterns in three representative tomato tissues. In addition, their expression levels indicated that these genes are mostly involved in the response to mannitol, heat, salicylic acid, ethylene or methyl jasmonate treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a genome-wide analysis of the tomato CCCH zinc finger family. Our data provided valuable information on tomato CCCH proteins and form a foundation for future studies of these proteins, especially for those members that may play important roles in stress responses.     

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Sus Gene Family in Cotton

Sucrose synthase (Sus) is a key enzyme in plant sucrose metabolism. In cotton, Sus (EC 2.4.1.13) is the main enzyme that degrades sucrose imported into cotton fibers from the phloem of the seed coat. This study demonstrated that the genomes of Gossypium arboreum L., G. raimondii Ulbr., and G. hirsutum L., contained 8, 8, and 15 Sus genes, respectively. Their structural organizations, phylogenetic relationships, and expression profiles were characterized. Comparisons of genomic and coding sequences identified multiple introns, the number and positions of which were highly conserved between diploid and allotetraploid cotton species. Most of the phylogenetic clades contained sequences from all three species, suggesting that the Sus genes of tetraploid G. hirsutum derived from those of its diploid ancestors. One Sus group (Sus I) underwent expansion during cotton evolution. Expression analyses indicated that most Sus genes were differentially expressed in various tissues and had development-dependent expression profiles in cotton fiber cells. Members of the same orthologous group had very similar expression patterns in all three species. These results provide new insights into the evolution of the cotton Sus gene family, and insight into its members' physiological functions during fiber growth and development.     

Differential gene expression profiling between wild-type and ALAS2-null erythroblasts: identification of novel heme-regulated genes

To identify erythroid-specific heme-regulated genes, we performed differential expression analysis between wild-type and heme-deficient erythroblasts, which had been prepared from wild-type and erythroid-specific delta-aminolevulinate synthase-null mouse ES cells, respectively. Among 8737 clones on cDNA array, 40 cDNA clones, including 34 unknown ESTs, were first selected by their high expression profiles in wild-type erythroblasts, and evaluated further for their erythroid-lineage specificity, expression in hematopoietic tissues in vivo, and heme-dependent expression, which yielded 11, 4, and 4 genes, respectively. Because of the selection strategy employed, the final 4 were considered as the newly identified erythroid-specific heme-regulated genes. These 4 genes were uncoupling protein 2, nucleolar spindle-associated protein, cellular nucleic acid-binding protein, and a novel acetyltransferase-like protein. These findings thus suggest that heme may regulate a wide variety of hitherto unrecognized genes, and further analysis of these genes may clarify their role in erythroid cell differentiation.     

A comprehensive expression analysis of all members of a gene family encoding cell-wall enzymes allowed us to predict cis-regulatory regions involved in cell-wall construction in specific organs of Arabidopsis.

The Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequencing project has revealed that multigene families, such as those generated by genome duplications, are more abundant among plant genomes than among animal genomes. To gain insight into the evolutionary implications of the multigene families in higher plants, we examined the XTH gene family, a group of genes encoding xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, which are responsible for cell-wall construction in plants. Expression analysis of all members (33 genes) of this family, using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, revealed that most members exhibit distinct expression profiles in terms of tissue specificity and responses to hormonal signals, with some members exhibiting similar expression patterns. By comparing the flanking sequences of individual genes, we identified four sets of large-segment duplications and two sets of solitary gene duplications. In each set of gene duplicates, long nucleotide sequences, ranging from one to two hundred base pairs, are conserved. Furthermore, gene duplicates exhibit similar organ-specific expression profiles. These facts allowed us to predict putative cis-regulatory regions, particularly those responsible for cell-wall construction, and hence for morphogenesis, that are specific for certain organs or tissues in plants.     

Twist对小鼠乳腺癌细胞基因表达谱的调控研究

摘要 Twist是一个bHLH（basic Helix-loop-Helix）类型的转录因子,近年来研究发现,Twist在乳腺癌中的表达显著升高,并能促进乳腺癌的转移。为了探索Twist促进乳腺癌转移的分子机制,本文采用RNA干扰技术在小鼠乳腺癌细胞株4T1中沉默Twist的表达,通过全基因组基因芯片技术检测了Twist沉默前后4T1细胞基因表达谱的差异性。体内实验结果证明Twist表达被沉默后4T1细胞的肺转移能力明显被抑制。芯片结果表明：表达差异显著的基因有167条,其中与肿瘤相关的基因有26条,包括15条上调基因和11条下调基因。这些基因中可能存在能被Twist调控并与肿瘤转移相关的基因,为以后研究Twist影响乳腺癌转移的分子机制提供了帮助。