U2AF65蛋白表达水平影响基因UBQLN1的可变剪接

目的:研究U2AF65蛋白的表达水平对基因UBQLN1可变剪接的影响。方法:应用pSR-GFP/Neo载体构建2个U2AF65-siRNA干扰载体,转染293T细胞,通过Western印迹、QRT-PCR检测干扰效果,RT-PCR验证基因UBQLN1的可变剪接。结果:利用设计的U2AF65-siRNA能够干扰细胞中U2AF65的表达;RT-PCR结果显示U2AF65表达水平的下降促使UBQLN1第8外显子的跳跃增加。结论:U2AF65可以通过表达水平的变化参与调控基因UBQLN1的可变剪接。     

癌症与可变剪接

可变剪接在发育、分化和癌症等过程中发挥着非常重要的作用。近年来,越来越多的研究表明可变剪接与癌症有着密切的关系,许多癌症相关基因受可变剪接调控。由于癌症特异性的剪接变体具有明显的诊断价值,使得对癌症与可变剪接的研究成为热点。简要概述了癌症相关基因的可变剪接、可变剪接变体的鉴定方法、可变剪接与癌症治疗等研究进展。     

大鼠Mocs2基因跳跃型外显子可变剪接保留率的检测

可变剪接是真核生物基因表达调控的一种重要方式,它通过剪接位点调控ORFs (Open reading frames)区域外显子或内含子的表达,产生不同的mRNA剪接体,进一步翻译成具有相同或不同功能的蛋白质,从而对诸如发育、疾病、环境响应等生物学过程产生重要影响.已有文献报道,人类Mocs2基因exon 1a与exon 1b外显子发生互斥型可变剪接,产生的两个剪接体分别编码钼喋呤合酶的大小亚基,参与钼辅因子生物的合成过程.基于本课题组前期大鼠肺部组织RNA-seq测序的结果,发现Mocs2基因2号外显子转录后可被剪接或保留,产生两个不同的剪接体.为验证测序结果的准确性,本研究利用半定量PCR与实时荧光定量PCR两种方法检测大鼠脑、海马、肺组织中Mocs2基因2号外显子的保留率.半定量PCR方法检测大鼠肺、海马、大脑组织中Mocs2基因的保留率分别为(88.28±3.09)％、(99.44±0.24)％、(99.54±0.19)％.实时荧光定量PCR检测的保留率分别为(66.76±20.47)％、(75.60±12.44)％、(87.28±16.4)％.实验结果表明,Mocs2基因2号外显子在大鼠中存在可变剪接现象,且不同组织具有一定差异.本工作进一步验证了两种PCR方法检测前体mRNA可变剪接保留率的可行性.     

高温胁迫对花生幼苗光合速率、叶绿素含量、叶绿体Ca2+-ATPase、Mg2+-ATPase及Ca2+分布的影响

将水培后盆栽的花生幼苗,置于培养箱42℃高温培养,定时测定幼苗叶光合速率、叶绿素含量和叶绿体Ca²⁺-ATPase、Mg²⁺-ATPase的相对活性,并观察幼叶细胞内Ca²⁺分布的变化。试验结果表明：高温胁迫过程中,光合速率及叶绿素含量都随处理时间的延伸而下降,并呈显著正相关;叶绿体Ca²⁺-ATPase和Mg²⁺-ATPase高温胁迫过程中相对活性呈先升后降趋势,Ca²⁺-ATPase热敏性高于Mg²⁺-ATPase;高温胁迫过程中,Ca²⁺具有从胞外转运到胞质内和叶绿体中的趋势,Ca²⁺能够稳定高温胁迫下叶肉细胞膜和叶绿体的超微结构。     

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫基因的可变剪接及可变腺苷酸化解析

本研究旨在基于已获得的第三代纳米孔全长转录组数据对东方蜜蜂微孢子虫Nosema ceranae基因的可变剪接(alternative splicing,AS)和可变多聚腺苷酸化(alternative polyadenylation,APA)进行分析.通过Astalavista软件鉴定东方蜜蜂微孢子虫基因的AS事件类型...     

真核基因可变剪接研究现状与展望

mRNA前体(pre-mRNA)的可变剪接是控制基因表达和产生蛋白质多样性的重要机制,是功能基因组时代的研究重点之一。生物信息学在识别可变剪接基因及其结构、分析可变剪接的功能和调控方式等方面具有重要作用。除了耗时的实验研究,识别可变剪接基因及其结构主要通过EST、mRNA等转录数据与基因组序列进行比对,获得同一基因的不同结构方式。分析蛋白质产物可对可变剪接的功能进行预测;潜在调控元件的统计分析则可为可变剪接调控机制的研究提供必要的数据。转录数据的时空信息以及比较基因组学对理解可变剪接信息的精确调控将提供重要资料。可变剪接及其调控机制的深入研究将为基因组和蛋白质组之间的对接提供重要的桥梁。     

外源脯氨酸（Pro）对茶菱抗Cd2+胁迫能力的影响

以高等水生植物茶菱（Trapella sinensis Olive）为材料,研究了外施不同浓度的脯氨酸（Pro）对Cd²⁺毒害的缓解效应。结果表明,茶菱体内Pro含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下明显增加,外施Pro后,显著降低;叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下大幅下降,外施Pro后,失绿症状有所减轻;保护酶（SOD、CAT、POD）系统在单一Cd²⁺毒害下比例失调,平衡被打破,活性下降,外施Pro后,SOD、POD活性较对照升高,CAT持平,其比例维持在正常范围内;O^－₂产生速率在单一Cd²⁺毒害下大大加快,外施Pro后,其产生速率恢复正常水平;丙二醛（MDA）含量在单一Cd²⁺毒害下积累加剧,外施Pro后,积累程度有所降低。因此,外源Pro可以通过减轻叶绿素和可溶性蛋白的降解,促进蛋白合成,减缓MDA积累,降低O^－₂产生速率,增强保护酶活性来增强植物对重金属胁迫的抗性,增强植物对逆境的适应能力。本实验中Pro作用的最佳浓度范围为40~60 mg·L^-1。     

利用交错延伸剪接PCR技术扩增油菜花粉育性基因MS2Bnap全长cDNA序列

交错延伸剪接PCR是一种用于分子进化研究的DNA改组技术。本实验利用其原理,将已获得的油菜花粉育性MS2Bnap有部分序列重叠的三段PCR产物作为模板进行扩增,获得了花粉育性基因MS2Bnap的全长cDNA序列。     

剪接因子U2AF65相关蛋白的研究进展

U2核糖核蛋白小体辅助因子(U2AF)65是参与前体mRNA剪接的重要辅助因子,前体RNA生成之初,U1核糖核蛋白小体(snRNP)结合到内含子的5'剪接位点,U2AF65和U2AF35分别结合到多聚嘧啶序列和3'剪接位点,剪接因子1(SF1)结合到分支位点是剪接体形成的第一步。U2AF的存在又辅助U2snRNP代替SF1结合到分支位点,使剪接反应顺利进行。最近几年,发现基因组中存在一些U2AF65的旁系同源基因序列。这些旁系同源基因由祖先基因经连续复制而横向形成,复制出的基因副本经历了各自的进化途径,最终它们在结构和功能上有相似之处,又各有独特之处。我们简要讨论了U2AF65、PUF60、CAPERα和CAPERβ这4种同源蛋白的发现过程、结构特征、自身的多样性、基因的进化和生物学功能。     

可变剪接在植物免疫中的研究进展

可变剪接是生物重要的转录后修饰过程,是转录组和蛋白组多样性的重要来源.可变剪接参与了植物众多生理过程,包括植物昼夜节律、生长发育等,在植物响应生物和非生物胁迫过程中尤为普遍.近年来,可变剪接被认为是植物抵御病原菌侵染的重要调控机制.本文综述了可变剪接在植物免疫各个层面的调控作用,包括调节重要免疫受体、R基因、激素信号路...     

The role of U2AF35 and U2AF65 in enhancer-dependent splicing.

Splicing enhancers are RNA sequence elements that promote the splicing of nearby introns. The mechanism by which these elements act is still unclear. Some experiments support a model in which serine-arginine (SR)-rich proteins function as splicing activators by binding to enhancers and recruiting the splicing factor U2AF to an adjacent weak 3' splice site. In this model, recruitment requires interactions between the SR proteins and the 35-kDa subunit of U2AF (U2AF35). However, more recent experiments have not supported the U2AF recruitment model. Here we provide additional evidence for the recruitment model. First, we confirm that base substitutions that convert weak 3' splice sites to a consensus sequence, and therefore increase U2AF binding, relieve the requirement for a splicing activator. Second, we confirm that splicing activators are required for the formation of early spliceosomal complexes on substrates containing weak 3' splice sites. Most importantly, we find that splicing activators promote the binding of both U2AF65 and U2AF35 to weak 3' splice sites under splicing conditions. Finally, we show that U2AF35 is required for maximum levels of activator-dependent splicing. We conclude that a critical function of splicing activators is to recruit U2AF to the weak 3' splice sites of enhancer-dependent introns, and that efficient enhancer-dependent splicing requires U2AF35.     

两个茄子品种的核型分析

对栽培茄的2个品种即屏东长茄和紫奇的核型进行分析,结果表明:屏东长茄的核型公式为2n=22m+2sm(2SAT),染色体相对长度组成为2n=10M1+14M2;紫奇的核型公式为2n=20m+4sm(2SAT),染色体相对长度组成为2n=14M1+10M2;两个品种的染色体数目均为2n=24,核型均属于2A型.     

Interactome for auxiliary splicing factor U2AF65 suggests diverse roles

U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein auxiliary factor (U2AF) is an essential component of the splicing machinery that is composed of two protein subunits, the 35 kDa U2AF³⁵ (U2AF1) and the 65 kDa U2AF⁶⁵ (U2AF2). U2AF interacts with various splicing factors within this machinery. Here we expand the list of mammalian splicing factors that are known to interact with U2AF⁶⁵ as well as the list of nuclear proteins not known to participate in splicing that interact with U2AF⁶⁵. Using a yeast two-hybrid system, we found fourteen U2AF⁶⁵-interacting proteins. The validity of the screen was confirmed by identification of five known U2AF⁶⁵-interacting proteins, including its heterodimeric partner, U2AF³⁵. In addition to binding these known partners, we found previously unrecognized U2AF⁶⁵ interactions with four splicing-related proteins (DDX39, SFRS3, SFRS18, SNRPA), two zinc finger proteins (ZFP809 and ZC3H11A), a U2AF⁶⁵ homolog (RBM39), and two other regulatory proteins (DAXX and SERBP1). We report which regions of U2AF⁶⁵ each of these proteins interacts with and we discuss their potential roles in regulation of pre-mRNA splicing, 3′-end mRNA processing, and U2AF⁶⁵ sub-nuclear localization. These findings suggest expanded roles for U2AF⁶⁵ in both splicing and non-splicing functions.     

PUF60: a novel U2AF65-related splicing activity

We have identified a new pyrimidine-tract binding factor, PUF, that is required, together with U2AF, for efficient reconstitution of RNA splicing in vitro. The activity has been purified and consists of two proteins, PUF60 and the previously described splicing factor p54. p54 and PUF60 form a stable complex in vitro when cotranslated in a reaction mixture. PUF activity, in conjunction with U2AF, facilitates the association of U2 snRNP with the pre-mRNA. This reaction is dependent upon the presence of the large subunit of U2AF, U2AF65, but not the small subunit U2AF35. PUF60 is homologous to both U2AF65 and the yeast splicing factor Mud2p. The C-terminal domain of PUF60, the PUMP domain, is distantly related to the RNA-recognition motif domain, and is probably important in protein-protein interactions.     

Somatic hybrid plants produced by electrofusion between Solanum melongena L. and Solanum torvum Sw

Summary Somatic hybrid plants between eggplant (Solanum melongena) and Solanum torvum have been produced by the electrofusion of mesophyll protoplasts in a movable multi-electrode fusion chamber. Using hair structure as a selection criteria, we identified a total of 19 somatic hybrids, which represented an overall average of 15.3% of the 124 regenerated plants obtained in the two fusion experiments. Several morphological traits were intermediate to those of the parents, including trichome density and structure, height, leaf form and inflorescence. Cytological analyses revealed that the chromosome numbers of the somatic hybrids approximated the expected tetraploid level (2n=4x=48). Fifteen hybrid plants were homogeneous and had relatively stable chromosome numbers (46–48), while four other hybrids had variable chromosome numbers (35–48) and exhibited greater morphological variation. The hybridity of these 19 somatic hybrid plants was confirmed by analyses of phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) and esterase zymograms.     

Production and characterization of fertile somatic hybrids of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) with Solanum aethiopicum L.

Summary In order to produce fertile somatic hybrids, mesophyll protoplasts from eggplant were electrofused with those from one of its close related species, Solanum aethiopicum L. Aculeatum group. On the basis of differences in the cultural behavior of the parental and hybrid protoplasts, 35 somatic hybrid plants were recovered from 85 selected calli. When taken to maturity either in the greenhouse or in the field, the hybrid plants were vigorous, all rapidly overtopping parental individuals. The putative hybrids were intermediate with respect to morphological traits, and all of their organs were larger, particularly the leaves and stems. DNA analysis of the hybrids using flow cytometry in combination with cytological analysis showed that 32 were tetraploids, 1 hexaploid and 2 mixoploids. The hybrid nature of the 35 selected plants was confirmed by a comparison of the isoenzyme patterns of isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-Pgd) and phosphoglucomutase (Pgm). Chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) restriction analysis using Bam HI revealed that among the 27 hybrid plants analyzed, 10 had S. aethiopicum patterns and the 17 remaining hybrids exhibited bands identical with those of eggplant without any changes. All of the somatic hybrid plants flowered. Both parental plants had 94% stainable pollen, while the hybrids varied widely in pollen viability ranging from 30% to 85%. The somatic hybrids showed high significant variation in fruit production. Nevertheless, there was a tendency for low fertility to be associated often with S. aethiopicum chloroplast type and/or with an abnormal ploidy level, while good fertility was mostly associated with the tetraploid level and eggplant chloroplasts. Interestingly, 2 tetraploid somatic hybrid clones were among the most productive, yielding up to 9 kg/plant. As far as the fertility of the F₁ sexual counterpart was concerned, only 2 fruits of 50 g were obtained. Hybrid fertility in relation to phylogenetic affinities of the fusion partners is discussed.     

Alternative modes of binding by U2AF65 at the polypyrimidine tract

During initial recognition of an intron in pre-mRNA, the 3' end of the intron is bound by essential splicing factors. Notably, the consensus RNA sequences bound by these proteins are highly degenerate in humans. This raises the question of 3' splicing factor function in introns lacking canonical binding sites. Investigating the introns of the model organism Neurospora crassa revealed a different organization at the 3' end of the intron compared to most eukaryotic organisms. The predicted branch point sequences of Neurospora introns are much closer to the 3' splice site compared to those in human introns. In addition, Neurospora introns lack the canonical polypyrimidine tract found at the end of introns in most eukaryotic organisms. The large subunit of the U2 snRNP associated factor (U2AF65), which is essential for splicing of human introns and specifically recognizes the polypyrimidine tract, is also present in Neurospora. We show that Neurospora U2AF65 binds RNA with low affinity and specificity, apparently evolving with its disappearing binding site. The arginine/serine rich domain at the N-terminus of Neurospora U2AF65 regulates its RNA binding. We find that this regulated binding can be recapitulated in human U2AF65 which has been mutated to decrease both affinity and overall charge. Finally, we show that the addition of the small U2AF subunit (U2AF35) to U2AF65 with weakened RNA binding affinity significantly enhances the affinity of the resulting U2AF heterodimer.     

Genetic studies on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Summary The genetics of quantitative characters, namely, fruit shape, fruit weight, period from seeding to flowering, bunchiness and hairiness have been studied withGriffing's method of the constant parent regression analysis. There are arithmetically cumulative action with negative dominance in respect to genes for shape, and the genes for the period from seeding to flowering. The degree of dominance of genes for shape is very slight. The degree of dominance is highly variable in the genes for the length of the period between seeding and flowering, in some crosses even overdominance may be observed. In the case of the genes for weight a more adequate model of gene actions is logarithmic. The genes for bunchiness show no dominance so far as the present experiment is concerned, and the genes for hairiness show negative dominance.Contributions from the National Institute of Genetics, Japan, No. 44.     

Hybridization and fertility of hybrid derivatives of Solatium melongena L. and Solanum macrocarpon L.

Summary Eleven genotypes of Solanum melongena L. and one genotype tentatively identified as Solanum macrocarpon were reciprocally intercrossed. Three patterns of the crossability were determined: a) reciprocally crossable, b) reciprocally non-crossable, and c) unidirectionally crossable. In toto 524 F₁ interspecific hybrids were grown during one season under open pollination conditions in the field. A large proportion of the F₁ hybrids produced seed set. The highest degree of seed set was recorded in the reciprocal F₁ hybrid of S. melongena (cv. Burpee Hybrid) and S. macrocarpon (Acc. 21–73). In addition, a limited number of back-cross progeny have been produced. The germinating seeds produced an F₂ generation of which some recombinants showed a considerably higher degree of fertility than the F₁. This finding suggests the possibility of the transfer of genes for resistance to two-spotted spider mite from S. macrocarpon to S. melongena.This research was performed as part of NJAES Project No. 99201 (NE-9) supported by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Regional Hatch Funds. Paper of the Journal Series of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Please address reprint requests to Dr. C. Boyer     

Allozyme variation in the eggplant,Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae)

Enzyme electrophoretic studies were made in cultivated Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) and similar wild and weedy forms, several of which have been thought to be different species/taxa. Twenty-nine accessions of S. melongena, 33 accessions of weedy forms (referred to as insanum) and 2 accessions of wild forms (referred to as incanum) were surveyed for 29 isozyme loci. In S. melongena, 22 of the 29 loci were monomorphic, and nearly all of its genes were either also monomorphic or in similar frequencies in insanum and incanum. The results demonstrate that the three taxa have a very close genetic relationship. The high genetic identities between them (0.913–0.967) suggests that they are conspecific even though they include extensive morphological diversity.