DIF-1 induces the basal disc of the Dictyostelium fruiting body

The polyketide DIF-1 induces Dictyostelium amoebae to form stalk cells in culture. To better define its role in normal development, we examined the phenotype of a mutant blocking the first step of DIF-1 synthesis, which lacks both DIF-1 and its biosynthetic intermediate, dM-DIF-1 (des-methyl-DIF-1). Slugs of this polyketide synthase mutant (stlB⁻) are long and thin and rapidly break up, leaving an immotile prespore mass. They have ∼ 30% fewer prestalk cells than their wild-type parent and lack a subset of anterior-like cells, which later form the outer basal disc. This structure is missing from the fruiting body, which perhaps in consequence initiates culmination along the substratum. The lower cup is rudimentary at best and the spore mass, lacking support, slips down the stalk. The dmtA⁻ methyltransferase mutant, blocked in the last step of DIF-1 synthesis, resembles the stlB⁻ mutant but has delayed tip formation and fewer prestalk-O cells. This difference may be due to accumulation of dM-DIF-1 in the dmtA⁻ mutant, since dM-DIF-1 inhibits prestalk-O differentiation. Thus, DIF-1 is required for slug migration and specifies the anterior-like cells forming the basal disc and much of the lower cup; significantly the DIF-1 biosynthetic pathway may supply a second signal - dM-DIF-1.     

A Dictyostelium SH2 adaptor protein required for correct DIF-1 signaling and pattern formation

Dictyostelium is the only non-metazoan with functionally analyzed SH2 domains and studying them can give insights into their evolution and wider potential. LrrB has a novel domain configuration with leucine-rich repeat, 14-3-3 and SH2 protein–protein interaction modules. It is required for the correct expression of several specific genes in early development and here we characterize its role in later, multicellular development. During development in the light, slug formation in LrrB null (lrrB-) mutants is delayed relative to the parental strain, and the slugs are highly defective in phototaxis and thermotaxis. In the dark the mutant arrests development as an elongated mound, in a hitherto unreported process we term dark stalling. The developmental and phototaxis defects are cell autonomous and marker analysis shows that the pstO prestalk sub-region of the slug is aberrant in the lrrB- mutant. Expression profiling, by parallel micro-array and deep RNA sequence analyses, reveals many other alterations in prestalk-specific gene expression in lrrB- slugs, including reduced expression of the ecmB gene and elevated expression of ampA. During culmination ampA is ectopically expressed in the stalk, there is no expression of ampA and ecmB in the lower cup and the mutant fruiting bodies lack a basal disc. The basal disc cup derives from the pstB cells and this population is greatly reduced in the lrrB- mutant. This anatomical feature is a hallmark of mutants aberrant in signaling by DIF-1, the polyketide that induces prestalk and stalk cell differentiation. In a DIF-1 induction assay the lrrB- mutant is profoundly defective in ecmB activation but only marginally defective in ecmA induction. Thus the mutation partially uncouples these two inductive events. In early development LrrB interacts physically and functionally with CldA, another SH2 domain containing protein. However, the CldA null mutant does not phenocopy the lrrB- in its aberrant multicellular development or phototaxis defect, implying that the early and late functions of LrrB are affected in different ways. These observations, coupled with its domain structure, suggest that LrrB is an SH2 adaptor protein active in diverse developmental signaling pathways.     

CBP1 Associates with the Dictyostelium Cytoskeleton and Is Important for Normal Cell Aggregation under Certain Developmental Conditions

In cells of the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum, at least eight small, four-EF-hand Ca²⁺-binding proteins of unknown function are expressed at specific times during development. One of these proteins, calcium-binding protein 1 (CBP1), first appears just prior to cell aggregation and then is present at relatively constant levels throughout development. To determine a role for CBP1 during development, the protein was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen to reveal putative CBP1-interacting proteins. Two proteins identified in this screen were the actin-binding proteins, protovillin and EF-1α. Using an in vitro binding assay, both of these proteins were found to interact with CBP1 in the absence of Ca²⁺, but the interaction of CBP1 with EF-1α was increased substantially by Ca²⁺. CBP1 was also shown by fluorescence microscopy and by binding assays to associate with the actin cytoskeleton of Dictyostelium cells during development, and these interactions were partially Ca²⁺-dependent. cbpA-null cells grew normally, but under certain developmental conditions, cell aggregation was prolonged and irregular. This defect in aggregation appeared to be related to a general reduction in cell motility rather than to a decrease in the ability of the cells to respond to the chemoattractant cAMP. Together, these results suggest that CBP1 might function to help regulate the reorganization of the Dictyostelium actin cytoskeleton during cell aggregation.     

大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的生物信息学分析

GeBP转录因子调控植物表皮毛的生长发育,并且参与控制植物叶片的发育。该文利用生物信息学方法,在大豆全基因组范围内搜索GeBP基因家族,并从氨基酸理化性质、基因结构、染色体的物理分布、系统进化、序列比对、功能结构域、组织表达情况等基本特征方面对GmGeBP基因家族进行分析。结果表明:(1)共获得9个GmGeBP转录因子基因家族成员,其中仅2个基因含有内含子,且都只有1个内含子,表明该家族成员基因构造比较简单但稳定。(2)GmGeBP编码的蛋白分子量为39.65~49.24 kD,理论等电点为4.65~9.08;这些成员基本上都是酸性氨基酸,属于亲水性、不稳定蛋白。(3)这9个基因不均匀的分布于7条染色体上,10和20号染色体上分别分布2个GeBP基因,3、5、13、15、19号染色体上各分布1个基因。(4)系统进化分析表明,大豆与拟南芥对应的GeBP成员亲缘关系较近,分别聚类到4个分支,而与水稻的距离较远。(5)结构域分析表明,9个GmGeBP成员都包含DUF573结构域,推测该部分在GeBP转录因子中很可能是与靶标基因顺式作用元件互作的结构域。(6)通过分析大豆GmGeBP转录因子基因家族的组织表达,发现不同基因在大豆不同组织的表达量不同,具有一定的特异性。该文对大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的分析和鉴定为进一步研究大豆表皮毛发育的分子作用提供了理论基础。     

香菇HMG-box转录因子lelcrp1基因的功能

【目的】研究香菇(Lentinula edodes) HMG-box转录因子LELCRP1 (Lentinula edodes lignocellulase genes regulation protein 1)在木质纤维素降解相关酶基因表达中的功能与作用。【方法】通过double-joint及同源重组方法构建lelcrp1基因RNAi载体,采用根癌农杆菌介导转化的方法转入香菇异核菌株W1菌丝中,筛选得到RNAi转化子,通过Southern杂交检测插入片段在菌株W1基因组中的拷贝数量。采用荧光定量PCR检测RNAi转化子木质纤维素降解酶基因表达水平变化,并在含有3.5μg/mL潮霉素的MYG平板上测定RNAi转化子的菌丝生长速度。【结果】获得了4个lelcrp1基因表达水平与出发菌株W1相比显著下调6–7倍的RNAi转化子。Southern杂交结果显示,lelcrp1基因RNAi片段已成功整合至香菇菌株W1基因组内,并以单拷贝形式存在。对其中2个RNAi转化子的26个木质纤维素降解酶基因表达水平进行分析,发现其中9个纤维素酶基因、1个半纤维素酶基因、2个辅助酶AA9基因和1个锰过氧化物酶基因的表达水平均表现出明显的下调。平板生长试验表明,RNAi转化子菌丝生长速度均显著慢于出发菌株W1。【结论】通过RNAi技术成功抑制了香菇异核菌株中lelcrp1基因表达水平,并导致部分纤维素及木质素酶基因表达水平相应下调,首次发现HMG-box结构域的转录因子能调控木质纤维素降解相关酶基因表达。     

橄榄CaICE1基因的克隆和表达分析

为了解橄榄(Canarium album)抗寒相关转录因子ICE1的调控功能,采用RT-PCR技术克隆了‘福榄1号’的ICE1,命名为CaICE1,并进行生物信息学、qRT-PCR表达模式和相关miRNA预测分析。结果表明,CaICE1 cDNA序列的开放阅读框长度为1 650 bp,可编码549个氨基酸(GenBank登录号MG459422)。Ca ICE1为不稳定亲水性蛋白质,含有跨膜结构、磷酸化位点以及HLH保守结构域,定位于细胞核,与枳的ICE1亲缘关系较近。CaICE1密码子偏好性较弱,AGA、AGG、TGG和CCA可能为其最优密码子群。CaICE1主要在橄榄花、种子和叶中大量表达,-3℃低温胁迫下CaICE1表达水平比常温显著上升。psRNAtarget预测结果表明,CaICE1可能是miR825、miR477、miR5658、miR1436和miR394等多个逆境响应miRNA的靶基因。因此,CaICE1可能在橄榄低温胁迫过程中发挥重要调控作用,且可能受miRNA的调控。     

转录因子cpcR同源基因cpcR-c1和cpcR-t的功能鉴定

苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt） LM1212菌株与典型的Bt菌株表型不同,可分化形成芽胞、形成细胞和晶体产生细胞。在LM1212菌株中,转录因子CpcR不仅参与了细胞分化过程,而且能够激活晶体蛋白基因cry35-like的启动子(P₃₅)。【目的】筛选cpcR同源基因,验证其生物学功能。【方法】本研究克隆了2个cpcR同源基因,来源于蜡样芽胞杆菌的cpcR-c1和来源于东洋芽胞杆菌的cpcR-t,将cpcR及其同源基因分别构建在pHT304-P₃₅-gfp、pHT304-P₃₅-lacZ报告载体上,获得的重组质粒转入无cpcR基因且无晶体蛋白基因的Bt HD73^–菌株中。利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察重组菌HD^–(cpcR-c1-P₃₅-gfp)和HD^–(cpcR-t-P₃₅-gfp)的细胞表型并进行芽胞计数实验。测定HD^–(cpcR-c1-P_35<...     

中华猕猴桃WOX转录因子的生物信息学分析

WOX基因家族是植物特有的一类转录因子,在植物发育关键时期,如胚的形成、维持干细胞稳定性和器官形成过程中发挥重要调控作用。为探究WOX转录因子调控中华猕猴桃的生长发育的分子理论基础,该文利用ProtParam、Cell-PLoc2.0、SignalP4.1 Server等在线软件对中华猕猴桃的16个WOX转录因子进行理化特性、亚细胞定位和信号肽等详细的生物信息学分析。结果表明:(1)中华猕猴WOX转录因子的所有蛋白成员的氨基酸数目在138～371之间,分子量为16.222～42.185 kD,均定位于细胞核的不稳定亲水蛋白。(2)中华猕猴桃的16个WOX蛋白成员均属于Homodomain超家族,仅Achn362451是分泌蛋白,且仅Achn362451和Achn141001具有跨膜区。(3)大部分WOX蛋白成员的潜在磷酸化位点都位于丝氨酸处。(4)其二级结构主要以无规则卷曲为主,其次为α-螺旋。(5)保守基序分析结果表明中华猕猴桃的16个WOX蛋白成员均含有motif1。(6)系统进化分析结果表明中华猕猴桃与菠萝的亲缘关系最近,与番茄的亲缘关系最远。(7)在中华猕猴桃果实成熟过程中不同时期的转录组分析结果表明其WOX基因家族中4个成员Achn131681、Achn145561、Achn336591、Achn362451基因在授粉后20、120、127 d表达含量都较高,其他12个WOX基因成员表达含量低甚至不表达。该研究为进一步研究中华猕猴桃WOX转录因子在其生长发育过程中的分子机理提供了一定的参考依据。     

海南龙血树WD40转录因子基因DcWD40-1的克隆和表达分析

海南龙血树是国产血竭的主要基源植物,其血竭主要化学成分为类黄酮化合物。为进一步了解DcWD40-1在类黄酮生物合成中的潜在功能和作用机制,该研究根据海南龙血树转录组数据,利用RT-PCR技术在海南龙血树中克隆了一个WD40基因DcWD40-1,该基因全长1 550 bp,包含一个1 353 bp的开放阅读框,编码450个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量50.77 kD,理论等电点5.71。生物信息学分析显示,DcWD40-1属于WD40蛋白家族成员,具有5个保守的WD40结构域,和其他植物WD40蛋白同源性高,保守性强。利用Genome Walking方法分离了1 503 bp的DcWD40-1启动子序列,该区域具有典型真核生物启动子结构特征,并含有多个应答激素和胁迫的响应元件。表达分析显示,血竭诱导剂能够诱导Dc WD40-1的表达,DcWD40-1的变化与血竭形成及类黄酮积累正相关。此外,DcWD40-1也能对茉莉酸甲酯、细胞分裂素、油菜素内酯和UV-B处理做出积极响应。     

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶通过Akt和ERK抑制盘基网柄菌细胞的趋电性

目的 磷脂酰肌醇3激酶（PI3Ks）通过调控肌动蛋白在细胞定向运动中发挥重要作用。然而,PI3Ks的结构和功能很复杂,人们对PI3Ks在细胞趋电性运动中的作用并不完全清楚。因此,本文以模式生物盘基网柄菌细胞为实验材料,探究其中的PI3K1和PI3K2在细胞趋电性运动中的作用。方法 首先利用CRISPR/Cas9系统介导分别构建PI3K1编码基因pikA基因敲除突变株和PI3K2编码基因pikB基因敲除突变株;随后将2个突变株置于强度为12 V/cm的直流电场中,记录并分析两个突变株的趋电性。结果 数据分析显示,野生型细胞在直流电场中的方向指数为（0.86±0.03）,而pikA-和pikB-突变株在直流电场中的运动方向指数分别为（0.95±0.02）和（0.94±0.03）;此外,野生型细胞在电场中的平均轨迹速度（3.34±0.08）μm/min,而pikA-和pikB-突变株的平均轨迹速度分别为（4.85±0.20）μm/min和（5.48±0.15）μm/min,t检验表明突变株和野生型的方向性指数和运动速度都存在极显著的差异。蛋白质印迹实验结果显示,pikA-和pikB-突变株中...