Reference genes identified in the silkworm Bombyx moil during metamorphism based on oligonucleotide microarray and confirmed by qRT-PCR

Gene expression quantification at mRNA level is very important for postgenomic studies, as gene expression level is the reflection of the special biological function of the target gene. Methods used for gene expression quantification, such as microarray or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR）, require stable expressed reference genes. Thus, finding suitable control genes is essential for gene quantification. In this study, a genome-wide survey of reference genes during metamorphism was performed on silkworm Bombyx mori. Twelve genes were chosen as putative reference genes based on a whole genome oligonucleotide microarray normalized by external controls. Then, qRT- PCR was employed for further validation and selection of potential reference gene candidates. The results were analyzed, and stable genes were selected using geNorm 3.4 and NormFinder software. Finally, considering factors from every aspect, translation initiation factor 4A, translation initiation factor 3 subunit 4, and translation initiation factor 3 subunit 5 （represented by sw22934, sw14876, and sw13956） were selected as reliable internal controls across the examined developmental stages, while cytoplasmic actin （sw22671）, the commonly used reference gene in a previous study was shown to vary drastically throughout the examined developmental stages. For future research, we recommend the use of the geometric mean of those three stable reference genes as an accurate normalization factor for data normalization of different developmental stages during metamorphism.     

紫花苜蓿逆境响应转录因子MsNAC3基因克隆及表达分析

该研究利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,克隆了1个紫花苜蓿NAC类转录因子新基因,命名为MsNAC3(GenBank登录号为KC491186)。多重比对发现,MsNAC3蛋白与蒺藜苜蓿MtNAC和鹰嘴豆CarNAC5蛋白的同源性较高,其N端含有典型的NAC保守结构域,C端高度变异;进化树聚类分析表明,MsNAC3与紫花苜蓿MsNAC2和油菜BnNAC3亲缘关系较近,属于NAC蛋白的ATAF亚家族。洋葱亚细胞定位分析表明,MsNAC3定位于细胞核。转录水平表达分析表明,MsNAC3受盐、干旱、ABA和冷害胁迫诱导而显著升高,并且MsNAC3在根中的表达量要明显高于叶中。研究表明,MsNAC3基因可能作为一个正向调控因子在逆境胁迫信号转导过程中发挥重要作用。     

食管癌病人运铁蛋白(Tf)和组特异性成份(Gc)亚型分布的研究

应用超薄层聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦电泳法, 分析了潮汕地区216例无血缘关系、临床上诊断为食管癌的病人和216例健康人的运铁蛋白(Tf)亚型分布情况, 结果发现:食管癌病人组TfC1C1纯合子频率为0.2639,Tf*Cl基因频率为0.4745,显著低于正常人组(分别为0.4352和0.6227,均为P<0.0 01);同时,食管癌病人组TfC2C2纯合子频率为0.2278,Tf*C2基因频率为0. 4977,显著高于正常对照组(分别为0.1852,P<0.05,和0.3634,P<0.001)。应用超薄层聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦结合免疫固定法,分析了潮汕地区21 7例无血缘关系的临床上诊断为食管癌病人和 217例健康人的组特异性成份(Gc)亚型的分布,发现两组间无显著性差异。     

家蚕性别及其决定基因的研究进展

家蚕作为模式生物和鳞翅目昆虫的典型代表,性别决定的分子机制是近年来的研究热点,其分子机制的阐明将为家蚕的雄蚕饲养和害虫的生物防治打下基础.主要对国内外家蚕性别决定、性染色体、家蚕性别决定基因的研究进展进行了综述,并对家蚕性别调控研究中存在的问题进行了分析和展望.     

Verification of elicitor efficacy of lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans on antibacterial peptide gene expression in Bombyx mori

We verified the efficacy of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in activating the cecropin B gene (CecB) in an immune-competent Bombyx mori cell line. Strong activation of CecB by the LPSs from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella minnesota were completely eliminated after digestion of the LPSs with muramidase. The results clearly indicate that a polymer form of PGN in the LPSs elicited CecB. An oligonucleotide microarray screen revealed that none of the 16,000 genes on the array were activated by LPS in the cells. In contrast, E. coli PGN strongly elicited five antibacterial peptide genes and numerous other genes, and PGN from Micrococcus luteus activated only several genes. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that all antibacterial genes activated by both PGNs, but the extents were 10–100 times higher with E. coli PGN. Similarly, higher elicitor activity of E. coli than M. luteus was indicated using peptidoglycan recognition protein gene, which is involved in pro-phenol oxidase cascade.     

家蚕酪氨酸羟化酶基因BmTh的表达及功能

酪氨酸羟化酶作为儿茶酚胺合成的限速酶, 广泛存在于昆虫、哺乳动物和人类中, 是其新陈代谢不可缺少的酶类。在其他昆虫中, 酪氨酸羟化酶参与了黑色素的合成, 并在昆虫外骨骼的硬化过程中发挥关键作用。为了研究家蚕Bombyx mori酪氨酸羟化酶基因的生理生化功能, 本文对其基因结构、表达特征及功能进行了研究。基于家蚕基因组和基因芯片数据的生物信息学分析表明, BmTh位于家蚕1号染色体上, 含有8个外显子, 编码561个氨基酸。基因芯片数据显示在家蚕5龄第3天的头部和体壁组织中的表达量较高, RT-PCR验证结果与此一致。利用石蜡组织切片材料和RNA探针对BmTh进行表达定位, 原位杂交结果显示在家蚕头部边缘和体壁上有明显的杂交信号。在幼虫发育至熟蚕时注射酪氨酸羟化酶抑制剂3-indole-L-tyrosine （3-IT）, 20 mmol/L的浓度对幼虫几乎没有影响, 50 mmol/L的浓度导致幼虫变态不完全和化蛹困难, 100 mmol/L的浓度使幼虫致死且体色变黑。结果提示, BmTh对家蚕变态发育起重要作用, 是家蚕正常发育不可缺少的关键基因。     

家蚕Aly/REF的基因克隆、序列分析及其细胞定位

RNA和输出因子结合蛋白（RNA and export factor binding proteins, REF/Aly）参与RNA的稳定、加工和输出。本研究参照已公开的家蚕Bombyx mori aly序列（GenBank登录号： DQ497195.1）,通过RT-PCR克隆了家蚕aly/ref基因（Bmaly/ref）。测序结果显示,该基因的开放读码框为765 bp,编码254个氨基酸残基, BmAly/REF与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster、小鼠Mus musculus的同源体的氨基酸序列一致性分别为49.7%和52.7%。结构预测结果显示,BmAly/REF具有REF家族的与RNA结合的结构域RRM,N和C端分别具有REF-N和REF-基序。进化分析结果显示,昆虫的ALY/REF聚为一类,BmAly/REF与赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum、意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera的Aly/REF较为接近。将Bmaly/ref基因克隆进pGS21a(+)载体进行原核表达,重组蛋白免疫小鼠,获得鼠抗BmAly/REF多抗。免疫荧光实验结果显示,BmAly/REF在细胞质和细胞核中均有分布,但主要分布在细胞核中。芯片数据分析显示Bmaly/ref基因在家蚕幼虫5龄第3天各组织中均有较高水平的表达。研究结果显示BmAly/REF可能在RNA的核输出方面发挥作用,为进一步探讨BmAly/REF的功能奠定了基础。     

桑蚕金属硫蛋白基因在大肠杆菌中的克隆和表达

用%Bam%HⅠ和%Sac%Ⅰ双酶切质粒pCM1|1,获得酵母的MTI基因片段,用非放射性地高辛标记作为探针。提取桑蚕肥苏蚕卵的总DNA,分别用%Eco%RⅠ、%Bam%HⅠ和%Hin%dⅢ酶切,与MTI探针进行Southern杂交,出现较强的杂交信号。然后用%Eco%RⅠ完全酶切桑吞的总DNA,电洗脱法回收1～6kb的染色体片断,与%Eco%RⅠ酶切的M13-载体以3∶1比例连接,转化受体菌DH5α。筛选到4 000多个白色转化子,与探针MTI进行Southern杂交筛选阳性转化子,选择到有强杂交信号的三个转化子［编号为T1(pZHC|1),T5(pZHC|5),T7(pZHC|7)]。用12种限制性内切酶对pZHC|5重组质粒进行酶切分析表明插入片段约12kb,在基因内有一个%Hin%dⅢ位点。抗性测定表明受体菌DH5α在含有50mmol/L CuSO-4的培养基上生长,在含有52mmol/L CuSO-4的培养基上不生长,而转化子确能在含有52mmol/L CuSO-4以上的培养基上生长。上述研究结果表明12kb左右的插入片段含有桑吞的金属硫蛋白基因。     

家蚕雄dsx~(M3)异位表达对下游靶基因表达的影响

家蚕双性基因dsx通过雌雄特异选择性剪接并表达影响体细胞性别发育。在对Bmdsx的表达情况进行深入分析时发现了一个新的雄特异剪接体dsx~(M3),但其功能未知。为揭示Bmdsx~(M3)的生物学功能,首次通过转基因在雌蚕中异位表达Bmdsx~(M3),成功获得两个转基因品系T1和T2。在T1和T2中虽未出现发育异常和性反转事件,但在转基因雌性个体中,SP1和Vg的表达量都出现明显下调,而PBP的表达量也出现明显上调,表明新剪接体Bmdsx~(M3)能够调控Bmdsx下游靶基因的表达,暗示Bmdsx~(M3)同样参与家蚕体细胞性别发育。     

家蚕chi、gluE和fruA基因与微生物相应基因的同源性及基因水平转移初探

通过对家蚕(Bombyxm mori)大规模EST的分析,发现家蚕的chi、gluE和fruA基因分别与微生物的相应基因存在高度的氨基酸序列同源性,且进化关系很近,但与线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)、果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)、按蚊(Anopheles gamble)以及家蚕近缘昆虫的类似基因之间的相似性却非常低。这表明它们可能分别与微生物的同源基因具有共同的祖先,即微生物的基因水平转移给了家蚕,进化途径不属于垂直遗传。