Strategies for optimizing DNA hybridization on surfaces

Specific and predictable hybridization of the polynucleotide sequences to their complementary counterparts plays a fundamental role in the rational design of new nucleic acid nanodevices. Generally, nucleic acid hybridization can be performed using two major strategies, namely hybridization of DNA or RNA targets to surface-tethered oligonucleotide probes (solid-phase hybridization) and hybridization of the target nucleic acids to randomly distributed probes in solution (solution-phase hybridization). Investigations into thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of these two strategies showed that hybridization on surfaces is less favorable than that of the same sequence in solution. Indeed, the efficiency of DNA hybridization on surfaces suffers from three constraints: (1) electrostatic repulsion between DNA strands on the surface, (2) steric hindrance between tethered DNA probes, and (3) nonspecific adsorption of the attached oligonucleotides to the solid surface. During recent years, several strategies have been developed to overcome the problems associated with DNA hybridization on surfaces. Optimizing the probe surface density, application of a linker between the solid surface and the DNA-recognizing sequence, optimizing the pH of DNA hybridization solutions, application of thiol reagents, and incorporation of a polyadenine block into the terminal end of the recognizing sequence are among the most important strategies for enhancing DNA hybridization on surfaces.     

Topology of syngameons

Syngameons are sets of species linked by interspecific hybridization. Common observations regarding the structure of syngameons are that hybridization propensity is not uniform across species and that patterns of hybridization are dominated by a few species. I use computer simulations to test these claims in naturally occurring syngameons selected from the literature and from personal observation. Natural syngameons, especially those involving plants, typically exhibit nonrandom structure: The first three order statistics for the number of hybrid partners and the variance in the number of hybrid partners are larger than chance alone would predict. The structure of two insect syngameons examined is not significantly different from random. To test a hypothesis that variation in hybridization propensity across species in natural syngameons is simply an artifact of hybridization opportunity, I examine the structure of four artificial syngameons (fertility relationships) produced by full diallel crosses. Three of four artificial syngameons exhibit nonrandom structure, as the observed variation in number of successful crosses is larger than chance alone would predict. In general, there are no significant results involving the order statistics. Finally, I discuss biogeographic, ecological, and phylogenetic hypotheses for variation in hybridization propensity across species in natural syngameons.     

Effects of various fluorochromes and competition between labeled oligonucleotides on their hybridization to oligonucleotides immobilized on biological microchips

Some technical tips are described on how to improve the discrimination between perfect and imperfect duplexes formed by hybridization of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides to biological microchips. Model experiments were performed to assess the precision of the method. Effects of labeling on the efficiency of hybridization and some properties of competitive hybridization were studied using short synthetic oligonucleotides and three most popular fluorochromes as examples.     

秀丽隐杆线虫经福尔马林处理后上调表达基因的分析

秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)是一种重要的模式生物,目前已经被广泛应用到生物对各种驱虫剂抗性机制的研究中。福尔马林被普遍用于鱼类寄生虫病的防治中,但是由于长期的应用,许多寄生虫对它产生了一定的抗药性。研究以秀丽隐杆线虫为研究对象,分析了它在福尔马林刺激下基因表达的改变情况。结果显示,经福尔马林处理后差异表达的有676个克隆,通过斑点杂交技术进一步筛选,对其中差异显著的161个克隆进行了测序分析。测序结果经BLAST分析发现:(1)细胞凋亡相关基因的表达发生上调,这些基因编码包括线粒体呼吸链相关蛋白、含TPR序列的蛋白SGT-1、热休克蛋白、氧化应激相关蛋白、胞吞过程相关蛋白、DNA复制和修复相关蛋白以及其他一些重要的凋亡相关蛋白;(2)编码重要的转录调节因子和信号转导相关蛋白如转录激活因子FosB/c-Fos、G蛋白、细胞周期蛋白B、钙结合蛋白、核小体装配蛋白NAP-1等的基因的表达发生上调;(3)能量代谢和蛋白质、脂肪、氨基酸代谢途径中的有些基因的表达也发生上调;(4)除了以上已知功能的基因外,还有一些未命名蛋白质基因。这说明福尔马林对秀丽隐杆线虫的影响除了诱导细胞凋亡之外,还影响其他细胞代谢活动的改变。实验为进一步研究生物体对福尔马林的抗性机制奠定了一定的基础。       

报春花属植物的育种研究进展

本文对报春花属植物引种的历史和现状、育种途径和育种成果进行了综述.报春花属是报春花科最大的属,全世界约500余种,我国有296种.国外在杂交育种、多倍体育种、组织培养和体细胞融合等方面取得了许多研究成果,而国内有关报春花属植物育种的研究相对较少.目前通过杂交育种或多倍体育种等手段已培育出众多花色丰富、花型各异或不含报春碱的报春花新品种.今后我国应在保护种质资源的基础上,加强报春花新品种的培育,并尽快实现产业化生产.     

Acute and Persistent Suppression of Preproenkephalin mRNA Expression in the Striatum Following Developmental Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury

Abstract: The striatum is vulnerable to hypoxic-ischemic injury during development. In a rodent model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia, it has been shown that striatal neurons are not uniformly vulnerable. Cholinergic neurons and NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons are relatively spared. However, it is unknown what classes of striatal neurons are relatively sensitive. One of the major classes of striatal neurons uses enkephalin as a neurotransmitter. We have studied the effect of early hypoxic-ischemic injury on this class of neurons using a quantitative solution hybridization assay for preproenkephalin mRNA in conjunction with in situ hybridization. Hypoxia-ischemia results in an early (up to 24 h) decrease in striatal preproenkephalin mRNA, which is shown by in situ hybridization to occur mainly in the dorsal portion of the striatum. By 14 days, whole striatal preproenkephalin mRNA and total enkephalin-containing peptide levels are normal. However, at 14 days, in situ hybridization reveals that regions of complete preproenkephalin mRNA-positive neuron loss remain in the dorsal region. Normal whole striatal levels are due to an up-regulation of preproenkephalin mRNA expression in the ventrolateral region of the injured striatum. Given the important role that the enkephalin-containing striatal efferent projection plays in regulating motor function, its relative loss may be important in the chronic disturbances of motor control observed in brain injury due to developmental hypoxic-ischemic injury.     

利用普通小麦与近缘属间的复合杂交创造小麦新种质

利用永368(普通小麦)与春品-11(白壳、六倍体小黑麦) 、人工合成小麦双二倍体、柱穗山羊草进行复合杂交,采用系谱法,按照宁夏小麦品种选育目标,经过连续十年的选择,培育出10个稳定优良品系,分别为春节1、2、3、4、5、6号和春山1、2、3、4号.它们与宁夏目前生产上的主栽品种宁春4号所属的遗传类群不同,品质也有明显改进.染色体组原位杂交和醇溶蛋白电泳鉴定结果表明,新创造的7个选系是黑麦染色体1B/1R易位系,另外一个品系是涉及黑麦其他染色体的易位系.     

不吸水链霉菌基因文库的构建及初步筛选

采用碱裂解法从不吸水链霉菌提取染色体DNA,用Sau3AI对染色体DNA进行部分水解,利用透析袋法回收3.5～9kb之间的DNA片段。以pUC18为载体,用BamHI对其进行酶切,再用热敏磷酸酶去磷酸化,酶切产物与外源DNA按一定比例混合后,加入T4DNA连接酶进行连接。连接产物用受体菌E.coliDH5α进行转化,根据α-互补性质产生的颜色反应,挑选白色菌落,构建了相应的不吸水链霉菌基因文库。分别利用特异性探针2-1-1及1-2-1对不吸水链霉菌基因文库进行筛选,利用DIG-Ⅱ-dUTP对特异性探针进行标记,与基因文库中的阳性转化子进行Southern杂交,通过显色反应对杂交结果进行检测,由于时间关系,暂未筛选出阳性克隆,但这些工作对以后的相关实验研究具有很好的借鉴作用。     

Evidence for cryptic hybridization between different evolutionary lineages of the invasive clam genus Corbicula (Veneroida,Bivalvia)

We studied two Corbicula morphotypes in a syntopic population in the Rhine River in order to reveal their taxonomic, reproductive and phylogenetic relationship, using morphometrics, DAF‐fingerprinting, mitochondrial COI and nuclear ITS1 sequence variation. Morphometric analysis showed that two statistically distinguishable morphotypes with few intermediates were present.Mitochondrial sequence analysis detected two divergent clades. DAF‐fingerprinting revealed three highly distinctive multilocus genotypes. Two of the multilocus genotypes were significantly associated with different morphotypes and mitochondrial lineages. The third genotype B, however, was found in both morphotypes, intermediates and mitochondrial lineages. Conclusive evidence for hybridization came from RFLP analysis of the nuclear ITS1 locus. We interpret the hybrids as F1 hybrids between different evolutionary lineages. Integration of Corbicula sequences from all over the world into Maximum Parsimony analysis suggested a simultaneous radiation resulting in several evolutionary lineages whose species status remained doubtful. An unequivocal taxonomic assignment of the two evolutionary lineages in the Rhine population was therefore not possible.     

水稻体细胞杂交研究进展

水稻是世界重要的粮食作物,全世界约有120个国家种植水稻。水稻的近缘或远缘种具有一些优良性状,如抗病、抗虫、抗逆等。将这些性状导入水稻,是科学家们所希望的,但因用普通杂交方法存在交配系统的不亲和性等难题而进展不大。随着组织培养技术的发展,特别是植物原生质体培养技术的日趋成熟,使得人类能够在细胞水平通过体细胞杂交方法实现遗传信息的重组。     

Natural hybridization and introgression among sympatrically distributed Rhododendron species in Guizhou,China

Natural hybridizations occur among Rhododendron delavayi, R. decorum and R. irroratum, however, there was little study that had addressed the interbreeding behaviors when the three species grew in the same geographic areas. In this study, 37 accessions, containing the three species and the putative hybrids, were obtained from Baili Rhododendron Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China. Examinations of hybridization patterns with AFLP markers have led to a total of 107 diagnostic DNA fragments, which were analyzed with Principal Co-ordinate, Structure and NewHybirds analyses. The data confirmed that the existence of hybrids originated from the interbreeding between R. delavayi and R. irroratum in Baili Rhododendron Nature Reserve. R. decorum did not appear to be involved in the hybridization. Furthermore, most hybrids detected were a result of backcrossing, indicating that this hybrid differed from F1 dominant hybrids between R. delavayi and R. irroratum found in previous studies.     

Highly sensitive fluorescent-labeled probes and glass slide hybridization for the detection of plant RNA viruses and a viroid

In this study, a modified method of the conventional RNA dot-blot hybridization was established, by replacing ~(32)p labels with CY5 labels and replacing nylon membranes with positive-charged glass slides, for detecting plant RNA viruses and a viroid. The modified RNA dot-blot hybridization method was named glass slide hybridization. The optimum efficiency of RNA binding onto the surfaces of activated glass slide was achieved using aminosilane-coated glass slide as a solid matrix and 5×saline sodium citrate (SSC) as a spotting solution. Using a CY5-labeled DNA probe prepared through PCR amplification, the optimized glass slide hybridization could detect as little as 1.71 pg of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) RNA. The sensitivity of the modified method was four times that of dot-blot hybridization on nylon membrane with a ~(32)P-labeled probe. The absence of false positive within the genus Potyvirus [potato virus A, potato virus Y (PVY) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus] showed that this method was highly specific. Furthermore, potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was also detected specifically. A test of 40 field potato samples showed that this method was equivalent to the conventional dot-blot hybridization for detecting PVY and PSTVd. To our knowledge, this is the first report of using dot-blot hybridization on glass slides with fluorescent-labeled probes for detecting plant RNA viruses and a viroid.     

Changes in the rRNA levels of specific microbial groups in activated sludge during sample handling and storage

AIMS: To quantitatively analyse the changes in group-specific rRNA levels in activated sludge as a function of sample handling and storage procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Quantitative membrane hybridizations with (32)P-labelled oligonucleotide probes were used to analyse the effects of different sample handling and storage conditions on the relative rRNA levels of the alpha, beta, and gamma-Proteobacteria, the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria group, and the mycolic acid-containing actinomycetes in activated sludge. Group-specific rRNA levels, expressed as percentages of total 16S rRNA detected with a universal probe, in samples maintained at room temperature significantly changed after 48 h. Group-specific rRNA levels in samples treated with chloramphenicol showed significant change after 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Sample storage at room temperature is a viable option if freezing or analysis can be performed within 24 h, while treatment with chlorampenicol can extend that time to at least 48 h. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Handling, shipping, and storage of environmental samples under several conditions may result in inaccurate determination of the microbial populations in microbial ecology studies.     

Nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) concerted evolution in natural and artificial hybrids of Armeria (Plumbaginaceae)

Nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences from artificial hybrids and backcrosses between Armeria villosa ssp. longiaristata and A. colorata were studied to assess the possible effects of concerted evolution in natural hybrids. F1 artificial hybrids show the expected pattern of additive polymorphisms for five of the six variable sites as estimated from direct sequences. However, homogenization of polymorphism is already observed in the F2, and is biased towards A. colorata except for one site. In backcrosses, an expected tendency towards homogenization of polymorphic sites in the direction of the recurrent parent is observed for five sites, although this does not necessarily imply concerted evolution. Conversely, the sixth site appears to elude such a mechanism and thus provides additional support for the occurrence of biased concerted evolution. Our findings are relevant to interpreting phylogeographic patterns involving gene flow and are also consistent with the hypothesis of a hybrid origin of A. villosa ssp. carratracensis.     

微芯片——生命科学领域的新工具

微芯片（有人称其为生物芯片biochip)是用硅、玻璃等材料,经光刻、化学合成等技术微加工而成的、大小1 cm²左右的芯片.它可以用来对生物样品进行分离、制备、预浓缩,还可以作为微反应池进行PCR(polymerase chain reaction)、LCR(ligase chain reaction)等反应.最为吸引人的是,芯片上制成多种不同的DNA阵列,即可用于核酸序列的测定及基因突变检测.对微芯片的制作、作用原理、性能及用途等进行了综述.     

The use of gene probes in the rapid analysis of natural microbial communities

Summary Hybridization probes produced from DNA sequences have proven to be a powerful tool in the rapid and sensitive analysis of natural microbial communities. By using function-specific probes, such as those identifying genes coding for photosynthesis, the potential a microbial community has for performing a given function may be rapidly determined. Gene probes have also been used in the identification and isolation of a specific catabolic genotype in less than one-fourth the time required for the conventional culture enrichment technique. Species-specific probes constructed from portions of genes coding for ribosomal RNA have been used for the rapid identification and enumeration of bacterial species in environmental samples. The use of reassociation kinetics as a measure of community diversity and complexity is also discussed. The successful application of this technique to community analysis may reduce the time required from 1 year, for conventional analysis, to 2 weeks.     

Nucleic acid hybridization and cell wall composition studies of pyogenic streptococci

Abstract DNA-rRNA and DNA-DNA hybridization studies indicate that the classical pyogenic streptococci can be divided into five homology clusters. Based on these studies the term pyogenic streptococci should be confined to the first cluster consisting of serological groups A, A-variant, C, G ('large' colony, type II) and L.
Streptococci of serological groups B and M form the second cluster. The third cluster is composed of streptococci of serological groups R and S and serological groups U, V and P are found in the fourth cluster. The fifth cluster comprises strains of Streptococcus anginosus S. intermedius, Streptococcus MG and serological groups G ('minute' colony, type I) and F (type I). Most of the test strains contain the peptidoglycan type Lys-Ala_1–3. Only streptococci of serogroups R and S reveal a directly cross-linked peptidoglycan. Rhamnose was found as characteristic component of all cell wall polysaccharides. The impact of our results on the systematics of classical pyogenic streptococci will be discussed.