System of oligonucleotide primers for detection and amplification of the emoA gene encoding bacterial ethylenediaminetetraacetate monooxygenase

A system of primers was designed on the basis of analysis of nucleotide sequences of the emoAgene encoding ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) monooxygenase, which are deposited in GenBank. This system of primers makes it possible to obtain emoA gene fragments approximately 750 bp long for bacterial destructors of EDTA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of total DNA isolated from enrichment and pure cultures showed that this system can be effectively used for detecting the emoAgene in representatives of Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. Partial sequences of emoA genes of bacteria of the genera Chelativorans and Stenotrophomonas, which are able to degrade this pollutant, have been sequenced and deposited in GenBank.     

Cloning, sequencing, and characterization of a gene cluster involved in EDTA degradation from the bacterium BNC1

EDTA is a chelating agent, widely used in many industries. Because of its ability to mobilize heavy metals and radionuclides, it can be an environmental pollutant. The EDTA monooxygenases that initiate EDTA degradation have been purified and characterized in bacterial strains BNC1 and DSM 9103. However, the genes encoding the enzymes have not been reported. The EDTA monooxygenase gene was cloned by probing a genomic library of strain BNC1 with a probe generated from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the monooxygenase. Sequencing of the cloned DNA fragment revealed a gene cluster containing eight genes. Two of the genes, emoA and emoB, were expressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene products, EmoA and EmoB, were purified and characterized. Both experimental data and sequence analysis showed that EmoA is a reduced flavin mononucleotide-utilizing monooxygenase and that EmoB is an NADH:flavin mononucleotide oxidoreductase. The two-enzyme system oxidized EDTA to ethylenediaminediacetate (EDDA) and nitrilotriacetate (NTA) to iminodiacetate (IDA) with the production of glyoxylate. The emoA and emoB genes were cotranscribed when BNC1 cells were grown on EDTA. Other genes in the cluster encoded a hypothetical transport system, a putative regulatory protein, and IDA oxidase that oxidizes IDA and EDDA. We concluded that this gene cluster is responsible for the initial steps of EDTA and NTA degradation.     

A system of oligonucleotide primers for amplifying nifH genes from various taxonomic groups of prokaryotes

Based on the analysis of the nifH gene nucleotide sequences from GenBank, a system of primers was developed that makes it possible to obtain 370- and 470-bp PCR fragments of the nifH gene of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and archaea. The effectiveness of the proposed system for revealing the presence of nifH genes was demonstrated by PCR on the DNA isolated from nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes for which the primary structure of these genes is known and which belong to different taxonomic groups. nifH sequences of nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes of the genera Xanthobacter, Beijerinckia, and Methanosarcina, for which the capacity for nitrogen fixation was demonstrated earlier, but no data existed on the nucleotide composition of these genes, were determined and deposited in GenBank.     

A System of Oligonucleotide Primers for the Amplification of nifH Genes of Different Taxonomic Groups of Prokaryotes

Based on the analysis of the nifH gene nucleotide sequences from GenBank, a system of primers was developed that makes it possible to obtain 370- and 470-bp PCR fragments of the nifH gene of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and archaea. The effectiveness of the proposed system for revealing the presence of nifH genes was demonstrated by PCR on the DNA isolated from nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes for which the primary structure of these genes is known and which belong to different taxonomic groups. nifH sequences of nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes of the genera Xanthobacter, Beijerinckia, and Methanosarcina, for which the capacity for nitrogen fixation was demonstrated earlier, but no data existed on the nucleotide composition of these genes, were determined and deposited in GenBank.     

三浅裂野牵牛NBS类抗病基因同源序列的克隆与分析

NBS类植物抗病基因保守结构域的克隆为利用简并引物扩增抗病基因同源序列提供了可能.根据抗病基因Gro1-4、Gpa2、N等的P-loop和GLPL保守结构域设计简并引物,分离甘薯近缘野生种三浅裂野牵牛NBS类型抗病基因同源序列,共获得6条相关序列,核苷酸序列的相似性为48%~97%,推测氨基酸序列的相似性在25.2%~95.1%之间.系统进化分析表明,6条三浅裂野牵牛RGA序列可分为2个不同的类群:TIR-NBS和non-TIR-NBS.三浅裂野牵牛RGA序列与源自甘薯的RGA序列有很高的相似性,这在一定程度上反映了三浅裂野牵牛与甘薯之间的亲缘关系.分离的6条RGA序列分别命名为ItRGA1~ItRGA6,GenBank登录号分别为DQ849027~DQ849032.     

Resistance gene analogue markers are mapped to homeologous chromosomes in cultivated tetraploid cotton

Degenerate primers designed from conserved motifs of known plant resistance gene products were used to amplify genomic DNA sequences from the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) resistance genetic source, Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivar Auburn 634 RNR. A total of 165 clones were isolated, and sequence analysis revealed 57 of the clones to be novel nucleotide sequences, many containing the resistance (R)-protein nucleotide-binding site motif. A cluster analysis was performed with resistance gene analogue (RGA) nucleotide sequences isolated in this study, in addition to 99 cotton RGA nucleotide sequences already deposited in GenBank, to generate a phylogenetic tree of cotton R genes. The cotton RGA nucleotide sequences were arranged into 11 groups and 56 sub-groups, based on genetic distances. Multiple sequence alignments were performed on the RGA sequences of each sub-group, and either the consensus sequences or individual RGA sequences were used to design 61 RGA-sequence-tagged site primers. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of cultivated tetraploid cotton was genotyped using RGA-specific primers that amplified polymorphic fragments between the two RIL parents. Nine RGA markers were mapped to homeologous chromosomes 12 and 26, based on linkage to existing markers that are located on these chromosomes.     

偶氮染料脱色菌株AZR偶氮还原酶基因的克隆及其序列分析

利用16S rRNA鉴定偶氮染料脱色菌株AZR属于葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)中的科氏葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus cohnii), 根据GeneBank上登录的葡萄球菌属的3个偶氮还原酶基因序列设计扩增引物, 从菌株AZR的基因组中扩增出偶氮还原酶基因, 其大小为567 bp, 编码188个氨基酸。GenBank搜索表明其为新基因, 递交GenBank数据库, 获得登录号为EU849488。通过互联网数据库及生物信息学分析工具进行初步分析表明, 该基因编码的蛋白属于黄素蛋白家族,     

PCR-generated artefact from 16S rRNA gene-specific primers

Artefacts consisting of concatenated oligonucleotide primer sequences were generated during sub-optimally performing polymerase chain reaction amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes using a commonly employed primer pair. These artefacts were observed during amplification for terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of complex microbial communities, and after amplification from DNA from a microbial culture. Similar repetitive motifs were found in gene sequences deposited in GenBank. The artefact can be avoided by using different primers for the amplification reaction.     

硝尔库勒湖沉积物中非培养放线菌多样性

[目的]认识和了解盐湖沉积环境中放线菌的多样性,为今后的开发和利用奠定基础.[方法]应用免培养技术和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析对新疆硝尔库勒盐湖沉积物中放线菌的多样性进行了研究.实验采用SDS-CTAB法提取土样中总DNA,利用放线菌特异性引物对土样总DNA进行16S rRNA基因扩增,并构建16S IRNA基因克隆文库;对随机挑选的160个克隆通过酶切筛选出51个不同图谱的重组克隆,并对其测序.[结果]所获得的51个克隆序列属于39个OTUs,其中52.9%的克隆序列分布于放线菌门(phylum Actinobacteria)放线菌亚(Actinobacteridae)的5个亚目和酸微菌亚纲(Acidimicrobidae)中,并且在这两个亚纲中有大量克隆序列属于放线菌的新类群,另外47.1%的克隆序列以极高的自展值在放线菌门内支持形成一个独立的大分支,极有可能代表一个新亚目或更高级分类单元的类群.[结论]这些研究结果说明硝尔库勒盐湖中存在有较为丰富的放线菌系统发育多样性,并且潜藏着新类型的放线菌资源.     

Gene Expression Analysis with No Sequence Data: Study on Reeves’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

Despite scientific progress, the gene sequences for many species not commonly used in research have not yet been analyzed. This makes it difficult to carry out molecular studies on such animals, as the sequence of genes is the basic information used in many techniques. In this study, we attempt to design primers for a real-time PCR analysis, basing on a comparative analysis of selected gene sequences of species related to Reeves’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and by identifying highly conservative regions. Results of PCR products sequencing and their alignment with the GenBank collection show that all selected primers gave products highly similar (> 90%) to the intended target (among compared species), which led us to the conclusion that our primers may be used for further analyses of gene expression.     

Incidence of Prunus necrotic ring spot virus on Malus domestica in India

In surveys of apple (Malus domestica) orchards in various parts of Himachal Pradesh, samples from trees showing necrotic symptoms on the leaves were collected and tested for detection of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) initially by ELISA followed by RT‐PCR using coat protein gene primers. Positive results were obtained in samples from Kullu and Kalpa regions. The virus gene sequences showed 88–97% similarity to corresponding sequences of other PNRSV isolates deposited in the GenBank database using ncbi.nih.nlm.gov. Although the similarity was high, there were some distinct differences with the Spanish isolate. This is the first report of PNRSV in apple from India.     

Polymorphism within the bovine estrogen receptor-alpha gene 5'-region

Due to the functions that estrogens play in the regulation of reproduction, development of the mammary gland, growth and differentiation of cells, estrogen receptors and their genes are considered candidates for the markers of production and functional traits in farm animals, including cattle. In the present study, on the basis of the sequences of the human, ovine, and porcine ER genes, available in the GenBank database, sets of PCR primers were designed and used to amplify the bovine ERalpha gene 5'-region. Seven overlapping fragments of the 5' region of the bovine ERalpha gene were amplified and then sequenced. Altogether, these fragments were composed in the 2853-bp sequence which was deposited in the GenBank database under accession no. AY340597. The sequenced fragment included the noncoding exons A, B, C, their putative promoters, and a part of the coding exon 1. A polymorphism within the 5' region of the bovine ERalpha gene-A/G transition, which could be recognized with RFLP-BglI, lying upstream to the exon C, was identified for the first time using this sequence.     

Structure of the coding region and mRNA variants of the apyrase gene from pea (Pisum sativum)

Partial amino acid sequences of a 49 kDa apyrase (ATP diphosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.5) from the cytoskeletal fraction of etiolated pea stems were used to derive oligonucleotide DNA primers to generate a cDNA fragment of pea apyrase mRNA by RT-PCR and these primers were used to screen a pea stem cDNA library. Two almost identical cDNAs differing in just 6 nucleotides within the coding regions were found, and these cDNA sequences were used to clone genomic fragments by PCR. Two nearly identical gene fragments containing 8 exons and 7 introns were obtained. One of them (H-type) encoded the mRNA sequence described by Hsieh et al. (1996) (DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Z32743), while the other (S-type) differed by the same 6 nucleotides as the mRNAs, suggesting that these genes may be alleles. The six nucleotide differences between these two alleles were found solely in the first exon, and these mutation sites had two types of consensus sequences. These mRNAs were found with varying lengths of 3′ untranslated regions (3′-UTR). There are some similarities between the 3′-UTR of these mRNAs and those of actin and actin binding proteins in plants. The putative roles of the 3′-UTR and alternative polyadenylation sites are discussed in relation to their possible role in targeting the mRNAs to different subcellular compartments. Sequence data from this article were deposited with the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under Accession Nos. Genomic sequences of pea apyrase: AB023621, AB030444, AB030445, AB038554, AB038555. cDNA sequences of pea apyrase: AB022319, AB027614, AB038668, AB038669.     

辽宁发现库蚊黄病毒

2011年从辽宁省丹东地区蚊虫样品中分离到6株病毒,采用逆转录-聚合酶链式扩增(RT-PCR)检测方法,结果黄病毒属通用引物和库蚊黄病毒特异性引物均为阳性。6株病毒核苷酸序列经基因库(GenBank)比对后,证实6株病毒为库蚊黄病毒,为我国首次报道。将病毒NS5基因和E基因核苷酸序列与GenBank中10株库蚊黄病毒参考毒株核苷酸序列进行比较,并构建遗传进化树,结果显示本次分离的6株病毒与美国和日本的毒株亲缘关系较近。     

大菱鲆MC1R基因克隆与序列分析

黑素皮质素受体1(melanocortin-1-receptor,MC1R)是黑色素形成调控中的一个关键因子.MC1R通过调节色素产生的数量和类型,决定皮肤表型.本研究根据鱼类的MC1R基因保守区的核苷酸序列设计引物,利用PCR技术扩增出大菱鲆MC1R基因部分片段,纯化后进行克隆测序.经生物软件拼接后,得到大菱鲆MC1R基因编码区951 bp片段.序列分析表明:此片段与GenBank上公布的部分鱼类的MC1R基因序列同源性较高(97%～86%).本试验结果为进一步研究该基因的结构与生物学功能奠定了基础.     

小麦NBS-LRR类抗病基因同源cDNA序列的分离与鉴定

利用抗病基因的保守结构设计引物,从抗叶锈病近等基因系材料TcLr24中扩增出一条703bp的条带RGAl,通过与GenBank比对,选取与RGAI高度同源的若干条带,在它们共有的保守序列位置设计引物,利用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE):ffL术扩增抗病同源基因cDNA全长.扩增到3条全长cDNA,经BLASTp比较,这些序列都舍有NBS保守结构域和多个LRR结构域.与很多已知植物抗病基因的功能相应区域一致.对FRGA-1,、FRGA-2和FRGA-3实时定量PCR分析,表明这3个基因在小麦叶片中都是组成型表达.本研究在小麦材料TcLr24中得到3条抗病基因同源cDNA全长,为研究小麦抗病基因奠定了基础.     

Use of DIR-PCR for elaboration of molecular markers of intraspecies bacterial groups as exemplified by Bacillus thuringiensis

A recently developed PCR-fingerprinting method, the so-called DIR (diverged inverted repeats)-PCR, was used for quick search for molecular markers of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies carrying the cry1 genes. The analysis of the fingerprints obtained by this method made it possible to reveal PCR fragments characteristic of the subspecies that produce proteins toxic for insects of the order Lepidoptera. Cloning and sequencing of these fragments allowed systems of SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) primers to be designed, which are specific to the above group of B. thuringiensis strains. Comparison of the specific fragments with sequences available in the GenBank database revealed their homology with the rpoC gene family and the adjacent spacer region, suggesting chromosomal localization of these markers. This increases the reliability of the designed system of SCAR primers, because plasmids may be lost or transferred by transformation between closely related strains. It was demonstrated that the DIR-PCR method allows markers to be developed that are linked to diagnostic genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of bacteria.     

Neospora caninum-like oocysts observed in feces of free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans)

The aim of this study was to examine the feces of free-ranging foxes and coyotes for the presence of Neospora caninum oocysts. Feces were collected from 271 foxes and 185 coyotes in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, processed by sucrose flotation, and examined by light microscopy for the presence of coccidian oocysts. In 2 fox and 2 coyote samples, oocysts morphologically and morphometrically similar to oocysts of N. caninum were observed. DNA was extracted from these samples and subjected to nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers to the N. caninum-specific Nc5 genomic sequence. Through DNA sequencing, alignment of the sequences of at least 3 clones from each isolate to sequences deposited in GenBank revealed 95-99% similarity to the Nc5 sequence of N. caninum. PCR using primers specific for Hammondia heydorni failed to yield an amplification product from these DNA samples.     

Endochitinase gene-based phylogenetic analysis of Trichoderma

DNA sequences of the single-copy gene coding for the 42 kDa endochitinase enzyme (EC 3.2.1.14) were used for phylogenetic analysis in Trichoderma. A set of 12 primers was developed and the entire gene was sequenced for 16 strains, and nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared to data from GenBank for additional Trichoderma strains. Analysis of the sequences revealed parsimony informative variation from 2.4 to 43.6% depending on the part of the gene (exons/introns) and the taxonomic level considered. Results are discussed in comparison to previous data from ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA sequencing and suggest the 42 kDa endochitinase gene as a potential molecular marker for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships in the genus Trichoderma at species level.     

太湖新银鱼m tDNA COII和Cytb基因的克隆与序列分析

设计了5对特异性引物,扩增、拼接并测定出太湖新银鱼线粒体tRNAAsp-COII-tRNALys和tRNAGlu-Cytb-tRNAThr两段基因序列片段。基因定位和序列分析发现,太湖新银鱼线粒体COII基因全序列长度为691 bp,序列AT含量为52.80%,编码230个氨基酸;线粒体Cytb基因序列全长为1141 bp,AT含量为48.90%,它编码380个氨基酸。分别位于线粒体COII和Cytb基因两翼的4个tRNA基因(tRNAAsp、tRNALys、tRNAGlu和tRNAThr)同时被测定出来。将太湖新银鱼与有明银鱼、小齿日本银鱼的同源序列进行比对分析,并基于线粒体COII Cytb基因合并数据的核苷酸和氨基酸两种序列形式,以黑斑蛙为外群,对10种鱼类进行分子系统树的构建,结果一致表明:小齿日本银鱼与有明银鱼的亲缘关系近于太湖新银鱼;鲱科与鲑科的亲缘关系近于银鱼科鱼类;此外在本研究硬骨鱼类的4个科中,白鲟科作为原始而古老的类群,是在系统进化的过程中首先分化出来的一支。