Dynamic Changes in Protein Functional Linkage Networks Revealed by Integration with Gene Expression Data

Response of cells to changing environmental conditions is governed by the dynamics of intricate biomolecular interactions. It may be reasonable to assume, proteins being the dominant macromolecules that carry out routine cellular functions, that understanding the dynamics of protein∶protein interactions might yield useful insights into the cellular responses. The large-scale protein interaction data sets are, however, unable to capture the changes in the profile of protein∶protein interactions. In order to understand how these interactions change dynamically, we have constructed conditional protein linkages for Escherichia coli by integrating functional linkages and gene expression information. As a case study, we have chosen to analyze UV exposure in wild-type and SOS deficient E. coli at 20 minutes post irradiation. The conditional networks exhibit similar topological properties. Although the global topological properties of the networks are similar, many subtle local changes are observed, which are suggestive of the cellular response to the perturbations. Some such changes correspond to differences in the path lengths among the nodes of carbohydrate metabolism correlating with its loss in efficiency in the UV treated cells. Similarly, expression of hubs under unique conditions reflects the importance of these genes. Various centrality measures applied to the networks indicate increased importance for replication, repair, and other stress proteins for the cells under UV treatment, as anticipated. We thus propose a novel approach for studying an organism at the systems level by integrating genome-wide functional linkages and the gene expression data.     

转录因子XBP1S基因表达谱差异分析

目的 应用基因表达谱芯片技术了解XBP1S在肝细胞中可能上调或下调的基因,了解其可能的调节功能线索.方法 构建pcDNA3.1（-）-XBP1S真核表达载体,转染HepG2细胞,同时以空载体pcDNA3.1（-）处理相同细胞系作为对照.48 h后制备细胞裂解液,提取mRNA,应用基因表达谱芯片技术对差异表达mRNA进行检测和分析.结果 构建的表达载体经过限制性内切酶分析和DNA序列测定,证实准确无误,提取高质量的总mRNA并进行逆转录成为cDNA,进行基因表达谱芯片技术分析.经过差异基因表达谱的筛选,发现HepG2细胞转染XBP1S以后,有38个基因表达水平显著上调,30个基因表达水平显著下调.结论 成功构建XBP1S的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（-）-XBP1S,运用基因表达谱芯片技术成功筛选了XBP1S转染细胞后的差异表达基因,这些差异表达基因包括细胞周期、蛋白质的翻译合成及运输、能量代谢、体内免疫调节、细胞凋亡及细胞内的信号转导等方面起重要作用及肿瘤发生相关的基因,为进一步阐明XBP1S可能存在的调控机制及XBP1S蛋白可能的生物学功能提供理论依据.     

Detecting Protein Complexes in Protein Interaction Networks Modeled as Gene Expression Biclusters

Developing suitable methods for the detection of protein complexes in protein interaction networks continues to be an intriguing area of research. The importance of this objective originates from the fact that protein complexes are key players in most cellular processes. The more complexes we identify, the better we can understand normal as well as abnormal molecular events. Up till now, various computational methods were designed for this purpose. However, despite their notable performance, questions arise regarding potential ways to improve them, in addition to ameliorative guidelines to introduce novel approaches. A close interpretation leads to the assent that the way in which protein interaction networks are initially viewed should be adjusted. These networks are dynamic in reality and it is necessary to consider this fact to enhance the detection of protein complexes. In this paper, we present “DyCluster”, a framework to model the dynamic aspect of protein interaction networks by incorporating gene expression data, through biclustering techniques, prior to applying complex-detection algorithms. The experimental results show that DyCluster leads to higher numbers of correctly-detected complexes with better evaluation scores. The high accuracy achieved by DyCluster in detecting protein complexes is a valid argument in favor of the proposed method. DyCluster is also able to detect biologically meaningful protein groups. The code and datasets used in the study are downloadable from https://github.com/emhanna/DyCluster.     

人工转录因子促进外源基因在CHO细胞中的高效表达

以酵母转录因子GAL4中1-147位氨基酸序列为构建人工转录因子的DNA结合结构域,单纯疱疹病毒转录激活子VP16中12肽(DALDDFDLDMLG)的4个串联重复作为人工转录因子的功能结构域,用SV40的核定位序列(NLS)将两部分连接起来,构建了人工转录因子GVP4并将其克隆进入表达载体pcDNA3·1/Hygro( )中。将不同长度的人工转录因子结合序列构建在外源基因表达载体pcDNA3·1( )启动子CMV的上游,分别连接外源基因EGFP和tPA。用表达人工转录因子和外源基因的载体共转染CHO细胞,EGFP和tPA在含不同数量人工转录因子结合位点表达载体pcDNA3·1( )转染的CHO细胞中的表达水平呈现不同程度的提高。其中,以引入10个人工转录因子结合位点的表达载体的效果最明显,EGFP和t-PA的表达效率均提高2~3倍。结果表明,人工转录因子能有效地促进外源基因在哺乳动物细胞中的表达。     

Bacteriophage Transcription Factor Cro Regulates Virulence Gene Expression in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

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DREB2s转录因子基因的表达调控机制研究进展

DREB2s是植物特有的转录因子,隶属于AP2/EREBP转录因子家族,对干旱、高盐或低温、高温等非生物胁迫应答基因的表达有重要的调控作用。不同植物来源的DREB2在基因结构上有细微差异,对非生物胁迫的响应亦有不同表现。本文阐述了DREB2s的蛋白质结构特征及其对多种非生物胁迫的应答反应,并深入分析了DREB2s转录水平和转录后加工水平的表达调控分子机制的最新研究进展,为理解DREB2s基因功能、分子调控机制及作物抗逆基因工程提供理论依据。     

NTERA-2细胞中人类CDCA8基因的转录因子谱的芯片分析

为了研究细胞周期相关基因8（CDCA8）的转录调控机制,首先克隆了人类CDCA8基因5’端上游的1071 bp转录调控区。生物信息学预测发现,此区域存在一系列已知转录因子的可能结合位点。联合运用DNA pull-down和转录因子芯片技术分析发现共有114种转录因子在人恶性多发性畸胎瘤细胞（NTERA-2）中与该区域结合, 其中某些转录因子有预测的结合位点,其他没有预测结合位点的转录因子可能是以复合物的形式结合到CDCA8基因的转录调控区。     

杨树MYB转录因子家族基因应答盐胁迫表达特性分析

MYB转录因子家族是植物中数量最多的转录因子家族之一,在植物次生代谢调节、信号转导和抗逆等生物过程起重要作用。根据MYB转录因子结构域组成差异可分4个亚家族：即1R-MYB（MYB-relaed）、R2R3-MYB、3R-MYB和4R-MYB。其中,R2R3-MYB亚家族数量最多,可进一步分为22个亚组;利用生物信息学分析杨树MYB转录因子蛋白序列的保守结构域、系统发生、基因组定位、氨基酸组成和理化性质等;参照拟南芥MYB转录因子功能,预测杨树MYB转录因子功能;基于84K杨转录组测序和RT-qPCR分析,从301个杨树MYB转录因子基因中筛选出69个应答盐胁迫基因（P≤0.05）。其中,上调表达基因32个,下调表达基因37个。该研究可为进一步研究杨树MYB家族基因功能提供参考依据。     

玉米转录因子基因ZmMYB308的克隆及表达分析

MYB类转录因子广泛地参与了植物生长发育的许多重要过程,在调控木质素合成途径中也起着重要作用。为探索MYB转录因子在玉米发育中的功能,该研究利用玉米茎秆转录组测序数据,对玉米茎秆发育过程中差异表达的MYB转录因子进行筛选和分析,在此基础上,通过RT-PCR方法克隆获得了ZmMYB308基因。结果表明:(1)共检测到14个差异表达的MYB转录因子,其中10个下调表达,4个上调表达。(2)ZmMYB308基因包含一个747 bp的开放阅读框,可编码248个氨基酸,相对分子质量27.01 kD,等电点为9.17;系统进化树比对表明,玉米ZmMYB308蛋白和谷子SiMYB308蛋白的亲缘关系较近,相似性高达94%。(3)实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,ZmMYB308在玉米不同发育时期和不同组织中的表达差异显著,且ZmMYB308基因的表达随着玉米茎秆发育的推进呈先升高后降低的趋势,在吐丝期表达量达到最高,随后在灌浆期显著下降;不同组织定量分析显示,ZmMYB308基因在木质素含量高的茎秆和根中高表达。研究推测,ZmMYB308基因可能在玉米茎秆发育过程中起着重要作用,该研究结果为进一步探索玉米木质素合成的分子机制奠定了基础。