运用MSAP技术测定谷子基因组DNA胞嘧啶甲基化水平

DNA甲基化是真核生物一种重要的表观修饰形式。为了探讨谷子基因组DNA胞嘧啶甲基化的水平和模式,以谷子Setaria italica的两个品种朝谷58号和豫谷1号为实验材料,利用Eco RⅠ和HpaⅡ/MspⅠ双酶切建立适合于谷子基因组的甲基化敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)分析体系。结果表明,从100对MSAP选扩引物中,筛选出32对MSAP引物组合,在朝谷58号和豫谷1号中分别扩增产生1 615、1 482条清晰可辨且可重复的DNA条带,其中包括3种类型的甲基化条带,朝谷58号和豫谷1号的基因组中CCGG序列胞嘧啶甲基化水平分别为6.93%和8.77%。这种谷子不同品种间甲基化水平和分布位点的差异为从表观遗传学的角度培育新品种提供了初步的理论依据和参考。     

大花蕙兰子房授粉前后基因组DNA 胞嘧啶甲基化状态的MSAP 分析

应用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(Methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism, MSAP) 技术分析了大花蕙兰( Cymbidium hybridium) 授粉前后子房DNA 甲基化状态的变化(甲基化水平和甲基化差异模式) 。采用72 对引物进行选择性扩增, 共得到5892 条带, 其中748 条带为甲基化多态性带。结果显示DNA 甲基化在大花蕙兰子房发育过程中发生频繁, 从授粉前后子房的总扩增位点甲基化水平(14%和11. 4%) 和全甲基化率(9.5%和7.8% ) 来看, 授粉后都略低于未授粉子房, 表明子房在授粉后的发育过程中在某些位点发生了去甲基化。除甲基化水平有变化外, 大花蕙兰子房授粉前后的DNA 甲基化模式也存在较大差异, 共检测到14 种带型, 分为两大类( Ⅰ 和Ⅱ 型)。其中, 授粉前后DNA 甲基化状态保持不变的位点少, 只占25.6% , 归为Ⅰ型; 大部分检测位点( 占74.4% , 归为Ⅱ型) 的DNA 甲基化模式在授粉前后存在显著差异。上述结果表明, 大花蕙兰子房发育过程中以DNA 甲基化为代表的表观遗传调控起重要作用。本研究的开展将促进对与大花蕙兰子房发育相关的甲基化差异片段及受DNA 甲基化调控的关键基因的克隆, 进而为从表观遗传学这一新角度揭示大花蕙兰子房发育的分子机制奠定基础。     

大花蕙兰子房授粉前后基因组DNA胞嘧啶甲基化状态的MSAP分析

应用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(Metyhfion sensitive amplified polymorphism,MSAP)技术分析了大花蕙兰(Cymbidium hybridium)授粉前后子房DNA甲基化状态的变化(甲基化水平和甲基化差异模式).采用72对引物进行选择性扩增,共得到5892条带,其中748条带为甲基化多态性带.结果显示DNA甲基化在大花蕙兰子房发育过程中发牛频繁,从授粉前后子房的总扩增位点甲基化水平(14%和11.4%)和全甲基化率(9.5%和7.8%)来看,授粉后都略低于未授粉子房,表明子房在授粉后的发育过程中在某些位点发生了去甲基化.除甲基化水平有变化外,大花蕙兰子房授粉前后的DNA甲幕化模式也存在较大差异,共榆测到14种带型,分为两大类(Ⅰ和Ⅱ型).其中,授粉前后DNA甲基化状态保持不变的位点较少,只占25.6%,归为Ⅰ型;大部分榆测位点(占74.4%,归为Ⅱ型)的DNA甲基化模式在授粉前后存在显著差异.上述结果表明,大化蕙兰子房发育过程中以DNA甲基化为代表的表观遗传调控起重要作用.本研究的开展将促进对与大花蕙兰子房发育相关的甲基化差异片段及受DNA甲基化调控的关键基因的克隆,进而为从表观遗传学这一新角度揭示大花蕙兰子房发育的分子机制奠定基础.     

低剂量重离子辐射对水稻种子和幼苗DNA甲基化的影响

为了研究低剂量重离子辐射对植物产生的表观遗传学效应,采用高传能线密度（62．2keV／μm）和低剂量（2Gy）的放射性束流^12C对水稻（Oryzasativa,japonica）的干种子和幼苗进行辐射。采用甲基化敏感限制性酶切多态性分析（MSAP）的方法对材料基因组CCGG位点的甲基化状态进行检测。共选用12对选择性引物扩增了共800个条带,其中有65个条带（8．13％）在种子辐射后发现呈多态性,而只有10个条带（1．3％）在幼苗辐射后发现呈多态性。统计学分析显示高能量低剂量的重离子对水稻种子和幼苗的基因组甲基化状态都产生了影响,而且种子受到辐射后产生的甲基化改变明显高于幼苗（P=0．011）。另外,甲基化和去甲基化变化类型的分析也表明种子和幼苗辐射后发生甲基化变化的趋势也不相同。     

病毒侵染对西伯利亚百合DNA甲基化的影响

采用基于AFLP的甲基化敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)技术,用10对引物对侵染百合花叶病毒和丛簇病毒的西伯利亚百合植株和无毒植株进行DNA甲基化水平和模式分析.结果发现,西伯利亚百合无毒植株和病毒侵染植株的平均甲基化水平分别为40.1%和31.5%;平均全甲基化率分别为13.0%和9.7%;半甲基化率分别为27.1%和21.8%.研究表明,百合DNA甲基化多以半甲基化的形式存在;病毒侵染导致百合植株DNA甲基化水平降低,且对整体甲基化水平、全甲基化水平和半甲基化水平均产生了影响;说明病毒侵染百合后植株出现的症状在一定程度上与DNA甲基化存在关联.     

光暗条件下大蒜DNA甲基化差异的初步研究

用甲基敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)技术分析光暗条件下生长的大蒜DNA甲基化水平差异。结果表明,用8对引物组合扩增出343条带,完全一致的带型240条,不一致的103条。在不一致的条带中,光照条件下相同的47条带与黑暗条件下相同的带型有差异,与黑暗相比光照下出现的去甲基化带28条,有56条差异带在2个处理内个体间也有差异。总的趋势是光照引起大蒜DNA去甲基化。     

镉胁迫下萝卜基因组DNA甲基化敏感扩增多态性分析

应用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)技术分析了重金属镉(cd)胁迫处理后萝卜基因组DNA甲基化程度的变化。结果表明,经50、250和500mg/L CdCl_2处理后,MSAP比率分别为37%、43%和51%,均高于对照(34%);全甲基化率(双链C~mCGG)分别为23%、25%和27%,而其对照为22%,表明重金属CdCl_2胁迫后,某些位点发生了重新甲基化。萝卜叶片DNA中总甲基化水平的增加与CdCl_2处理浓度呈显著正相关。甲基化变异可分为重新甲基化、去甲基化、不定类型以及与对照相同的甲基化模式等类型,Cd胁迫处理引起的植株基因组DNA甲基化程度的提高主要是重新甲基化。     

橡胶树体细胞胚发生过程中DNA甲基化分析

为探讨巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)自根幼态无性系与供体间差异产生的原因,应用甲基化敏感扩增多态性扩增技术,对巴西橡胶树体细胞胚发生过程中基因组DNA 胞嘧啶甲基化程度和模式进行了分析。结果表明,在巴西橡胶树体细胞胚发生过程中不同阶段的DNA 甲基化程度不同,以花药的DNA 甲基化程度最高,体细胞胚的DNA 甲基化水平最低。在体细胞胚发生过程中出现了I、Ⅱ和Ⅲ 3 种类型的甲基化多态性带型的改变,包括他们的出现与消失。因此,橡胶树体细胞胚发生过程中可能通过DNA 甲基化甲基化和去甲基化来调控基因的表达。     

拟南芥幼苗超低温保存后DNA甲基化的遗传变异

运用MSAP技术分析了拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）幼苗超低温保存后DNA甲基化的遗传变异情况。结果表明,在扩增的662条带中,对照和2个处理及其第2代间完全一致的带型有598条：发生变化的带型有64条,其中能遗传给第2代的有48条,占变异条带的75％。与对照相比,经超低温保存的样品新产生的甲基化位点有14个,而去甲基化的位点有22个。经过处理但未冷冻的与冷冻处理组之间带型一致的有624条,差异条带有38条,占5.7％,而对照与未冷冻处理组的差异率是7．45％,对照与冷冻处理组之间的差异率是6。63％。可见,拟南芥在超低温保存中,无论是经液氮冷冻还是未经冷冻处理,对材料的甲基化状态均有影响,而这种甲基化变化大部分是可以遗传的。     

拟南芥幼苗超低温保存后DNA甲基化的遗传变异

运用MSAP技术分析了拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)幼苗超低温保存后DNA甲基化的遗传变异情况。结果表明, 在扩增的662条带中, 对照和2个处理及其第2代间完全一致的带型有598条; 发生变化的带型有64条, 其中能遗传给第2代的有48条, 占变异条带的75%。与对照相比, 经超低温保存的样品新产生的甲基化位点有14个, 而去甲基化的位点有22个。经过处理但未冷冻的与冷冻处理组之间带型一致的有624条, 差异条带有38条, 占5.7%, 而对照与未冷冻处理组的差异率是7.45%, 对照与冷冻处理组之间的差异率是6.63%。可见, 拟南芥在超低温保存中, 无论是经液氮冷冻还是未经冷冻处理, 对材料的甲基化状态均有影响, 而这种甲基化变化大部分是可以遗传的。     

Effect of Penicillin on Staphylococcus aureus Cultivated at High Atmospheric Pressure

Staphylococcus aureus showed decreased penicillin susceptibility at high atmospheric pressure (0.3% O₂ in He, 1,000 psi). High pressure may have protected the bacteria by osmotic stabilization.     

DNA甲基化在细胞衰老中的作用

衰老是一种不可抗拒的生理现象,衰老过程伴随着复杂的生理生化改变,经常伴有一系列基因表达的变化。DNA甲基化作为哺乳动物细胞基因组修饰和表达调控的后遗传方式,在细胞的衰老过程中其总体水平降低,但同时又伴随着某些基因的高甲基化。衰老细胞的DNA甲基化改变可能是多种蛋白质参与的复杂过程。其甲基化模式与肿瘤细胞具有相似性,提示二者联系密切。     

DNA 甲基化及其对肿瘤的作用

DNA甲基化是一种重要的表遗传修饰,在肿瘤细胞中表现为基因组整体水平的低甲基化和一些特定区域的高甲基化,发生低甲基化的序列主要是一些高度和中度重复序列,而发生高甲基化序列通常是跨越管家基因和肿瘤抑制基因启动子的CpG岛,它们在肿瘤的发生发展中起重要的作用,本文就这些序列的异常甲基化和其对肿瘤作用一些进展和观点作一介绍。     

Direct Analysis of Single Cells by Mass Spectrometry at Atmospheric Pressure

Analysis of biochemicals in single cells is important for understanding cell metabolism, cell cycle, adaptation, disease states, etc. Even the same cell types exhibit heterogeneous biochemical makeup depending on their physiological conditions and interactions with the environment. Conventional methods of mass spectrometry (MS) used for the analysis of biomolecules in single cells rely on extensive sample preparation. Removing the cells from their natural environment and extensive sample processing could lead to changes in the cellular composition. Ambient ionization methods enable the analysis of samples in their native environment and without extensive sample preparation.¹ The techniques based on the mid infrared (mid-IR) laser ablation of biological materials at 2.94 μm wavelength utilize the sudden excitation of water that results in phase explosion.² Ambient ionization techniques based on mid-IR laser radiation, such as laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) and atmospheric pressure infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (AP IR-MALDI), have successfully demonstrated the ability to directly analyze water-rich tissues and biofluids at atmospheric pressure.^3-11 In LAESI the mid-IR laser ablation plume that mostly consists of neutral particulate matter from the sample coalesces with highly charged electrospray droplets to produce ions. Recently, mid-IR ablation of single cells was performed by delivering the mid-IR radiation through an etched fiber. The plume generated from this ablation was postionized by an electrospray enabling the analysis of diverse metabolites in single cells by LAESI-MS.¹² This article describes the detailed protocol for single cell analysis using LAESI-MS. The presented video demonstrates the analysis of a single epidermal cell from the skin of an Allium cepa bulb. The schematic of the system is shown in Figure 1. A representative example of single cell ablation and a LAESI mass spectrum from the cell are provided in Figure 2.     

Resistivity of Spores to Ultraviolet and γ Radiation while Exposed to Ultrahigh Vacuum or at Atmospheric Pressure

Viability studies were conducted on microbial spores subjected to ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) in the 10^-9 to 10^-10 torr range. After 5 to 7 days in vacuum, they were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) or to γ radiation either while still under vacuum or in the presence of dried air. Among the four test organisms subjected to UHV and ultraviolet radiation, Aspergillus niger was the most resistant; Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis var. niger, and B. stearothermophilus were about equally less resistant. All four spores were more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation when UHV-dried than when desiccant-dried. Of the four test organisms subjected to UHV and γ radiation, B. megaterium proved to be the most resistant; A. niger was the least resistant; and the remaining two organisms were of intermediate resistivity. All four organisms were less radiation resistant when UHV-dried than when irradiated in their normally hydrated state, and all showed an increased radiosensitivity after vacuum drying when oxygen was present. In addition, spores of B. subtilis var. niger and A. niger were less radiosensitive when UHV-dried and irradiated in vacuum than when “wet” and irradiated in air, whereas the reverse relationship was observed for the remaining two organisms. Based on the fact that microbial contaminants can be readily shielded from UV light by soils, metal particles, etc., and considering that the levels of ionizing radiations reported to be present in interstellar space are generally lower than those used in these experiments, the decrease in radioresistivity imparted by UHV drying is not of a sufficient magnitude to sterilize dependably portions of a spacecraft while on a mission.     

单能质子辐射致质粒DNA链断裂的剂量效应

利用16.4 MeV的质子在不同的剂量下辐照质粒DNApUC19溶液。凝胶电泳技术的分析结果表明随着辐照剂量的增加,DNA损伤变得越来越严重,使线性DNA成分明显增加。当添加了自由基清除剂甘露醇后,DNA的损伤明显减轻,线性DNA片段不再出现,但开环形态DNA的变化依然明显。与较早的重离子7Li和γ射线致DNA损伤的研究结果相比较,表明质子辐射中还是存在着一定的直接作用,在此次实验的能量和LET值范围内,质子的直接电离作用是高于γ射线而低于7Li离子的。     

Heating of Plasma Electrons by Laser Radiation under Parametric Resonance Conditions in Strong Magnetic Field

Plasma Physics Reports - Heating of plasma electrons by an extraordinary laser wave at the double upper hybrid frequency in a strong magnetic field is studied numerically by the particle-in-cell...     

Effect of Methylation on Local Mechanics and Hydration Structure of DNA

Cytosine methylation affects mechanical properties of DNA and potentially alters the hydration fingerprint for recognition by proteins. The atomistic origin for these effects is not well understood, and we address this via all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the stiffness of the methylated dinucleotide step changes marginally, whereas the neighboring steps become stiffer. Stiffening is further enhanced for consecutively methylated steps, providing a mechanistic origin for the effect of hypermethylation. Steric interactions between the added methyl groups and the nonpolar groups of the neighboring nucleotides are responsible for the stiffening in most cases. By constructing hydration maps, we found that methylation also alters the surface hydration structure in distinct ways. Its resistance to deformation may contribute to the stiffening of DNA for deformational modes lacking steric interactions. These results highlight the sequence- and deformational-mode-dependent effects of cytosine methylation.