西方蜜蜂表皮蛋白基因apd-like转录起始位点的定位及cDNA序列的分析

Apidermin蛋白家族是根据蜜蜂表皮蛋白apidermin 1-3（APD 1-3）而命名的一个新型的昆虫结构性表皮蛋白家族。为了鉴定西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera基因组序列上毗邻基因簇apd 1-3的一个预测基因座LOC727145是否为一个新的apd基因,本研究在用5′LongSAGE标签定位该基因的转录起始位点（TSS）的基础上,利用其中的3条5′LongSAGE标签序列作为上游引物,通过RT-PCR方法克隆了该基因的cDNA序列（GenBank登录号： GU358197, GU358199, GU358198）。生物信息学分析发现,基因座LOC727145含有2个外显子和1个“GT-AG”型内含子,其cDNA序列富含GC（70％）,可编码一条长152 aa残基的高度疏水性多肽。此多肽序列的氨基酸组成与蜜蜂APD 1-3表皮蛋白类似, 富含Ala, Gly, Pro, Leu 和Val 5种氨基酸（占77％）, 其中Ala残基含量最高（29％）。该多肽序列与蜜蜂APD-1表皮蛋白序列的相似性为50％, 且其N末端的预测信号肽序列与APD 蛋白的信号肽序列类似。5′LongSAGE标签的基因组定位结果显示,基因座LOC727145在雄蜂头部中表达丰度很高,RNA PolⅡ可从6个不同的TSS上以不同效率起始转录,其中由一个优势TSS上起始了90％的转录。本研究为apidermin表皮蛋白家族增添了一个新成员, 命名为apidermin-like (apd-like)。     

基于遗传片段分析系统的转录起始位点分析技术:从预测到结果评估

【目的】以遗传片段分析仪内标法替代传统放射性标记引物延伸技术进行样本转录起始位点(TSS)分析,并弥补引物延伸技术应用于未知样本缺乏前期预测和后期评估环节,形成一套基于遗传片段分析仪内标法分析未知样品TSS的完整技术方案。【方法】以粘球菌Myxococcus DK1622来源的双拷贝Gro ELs基因为素材;首先从预测出发,利用数据库进行启动子和转录起始位点预测;其次,根据预测结果设计合成荧光标记引物进行靶标m RNA的反转录;再次,应用遗传片段分析技术内标法鉴定分析粘球菌来源的双拷贝Gro ELs基因转录起始位点(TSS)及其丰度;最后,应用正态分布理论进行鉴定结果评估。【结果】明确了转录起始位点的数量、转录丰度及最可能的TSS位点:粘球菌DK1622基因组中Gro EL1拷贝存在1个启动子,TSS位点为TSS_(286);Gro EL2拷贝存在2个启动子,TSS位点分别为TSS_(548)和TSS_(502),其中TSS_(548)转录丰度是TSS_(502)的13.8倍,Gro EL1的TSS_(286)丰度是gro EL2的TSS_(548)丰度的14.3倍。【结论】预测结果指明了实验设计的范围,遗传片段分析仪内标检测法替代传统放射性标记法使实验更加简便、安全、自动、准确,正态分布理论进一步评估了实验结果的可信度,三者接合形成了完善的转录起始位点鉴定技术方案。     

Genome-wide analysis of transcription factor E2F1 mutant proteins reveals that N- and C-terminal protein interaction domains do not participate in targeting E2F1 to the human genome

Previous studies of E2F family members have suggested that protein-protein interactions may be the mechanism by which E2F proteins are recruited to specific genomic regions. We have addressed this hypothesis on a genome-wide scale using ChIP-seq analysis of MCF7 cell lines that express tagged wild type and mutant E2F1 proteins. First, we performed ChIP-seq for tagged WT E2F1. Then, we analyzed E2F1 proteins that lacked the N-terminal SP1 and cyclin A binding domains, the C-terminal transactivation and pocket protein binding domains, and the internal marked box domain. Surprisingly, we found that the ChIP-seq patterns of the mutant proteins were identical to that of WT E2F1. However, mutation of the DNA binding domain abrogated all E2F1 binding to the genome. These results suggested that the interaction between the E2F1 DNA binding domain and a consensus motif may be the primary determinant of E2F1 recruitment. To address this possibility, we analyzed the in vivo binding sites for the in vitro-derived consensus E2F1 motif (TTTSSCGC) and also performed de novo motif analysis. We found that only 12% of the ChIP-seq peaks contained the TTTSSCGC motif. De novo motif analysis indicated that most of the in vivo sites lacked the 5' half of the in vitro-derived consensus, having instead the in vivo consensus of CGCGC. In summary, our findings do not provide support for the model that protein-protein interactions are involved in recruiting E2F1 to the genome, but rather suggest that recognition of a motif found at most human promoters is the critical determinant.