人类性别决定和性别分化研究进展

SRY基因在人类性别分化中起着关键作用,目前研究认为SRY仅是涉及性别决定过程的基因之一,其他基因和SRY相关基因SOX9,抗副中肾激素基因AMH,编码缁类因子的基因SF1,X－连锁的DAX基因,wilm‘s肿瘤抑制基因WT1等基因都参与了人类性腺分化和发育,本文拟就人类性别决定基因的研究进展及其与人类性别分化的关系作一综述。     

哺乳动物性别决定的研究进展

近年来,人们对与哺乳动物性别决定相关的SRY、SOX9、SF-1、WT1和DAX-1基因的结构、功能和产物之间的相互作用进行了一系列的研究,使人们对哺乳动物的性别决定分子机制的探索又向前推进了一步,这将对发育生物学和性别决定的进化研究起到推动作用。     

性别决定基因的研究进展

SRY基因在哺乳动物性别分化中起着关键作用,目前研究认为SRY仅是性别决定过程的基因之一,其他基因如SOX基因家族、MIS、SF-1、DAX1、DSS等基因都参与了性腺分化与发育。性别决定研究取得很大进展并建立了一些假说,但仍有一些问题有待于进一步研究。Abstract:In mammals the male sex determination switch is controlled by a single gene on the Y chromosome SRY.Apart from SRY,other genes,such as SOX gene family、MIS、SF-1、DAX1、DSS also take part in sex determination.Scientists have made great progress in research on sex determination and proposed some hypotheses.,but there are still many questions to be solved.     

性别决定基因SRY的研究进展

SRY基因是哺乳动物性别决定过程中的主宰基因,其表达产物SRY蛋白是一种DNA结合蛋白,该蛋白含有一个HMG盒,能够以序列特异性结合到DNA双螺旋链的一侧,起到转录因子的作用。调节或协同下游基因如SOX9、AMH等基因的表达,使胚胎发育向雄性方向发展。     

绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠模型的建立及胚胎冷冻保种

目的建立绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠模型,并采取胚胎冷冻的方法进行保种。方法通过原核显微注射法,把线性化、纯化后的外源基因pEGFP注射入BDF1小鼠受精卵中,胚胎移植给同期发情的假孕受体母鼠,获得子代小鼠。经鉴定对有表达的转基因鼠进行胚胎冷冻保种。结果移植注射胚胎385枚给30只假孕小鼠共出生了306只后代鼠,经PCR和southern blot检测得到5只阳性小鼠。F2代转基因鼠胚胎冷冻240枚胚胎。结论通过显微注射法使外源基因pEGFP在小鼠基因组中得到整合,建立了转pEGFP的转基因小鼠模型。     

用鼻咽相对特异性调控区建立N-LMP1转基因小鼠

为了研究EBV LMP1在鼻咽癌发生发展中的作用 ,构建了EDL 2、PLUNC p双启动子调控鼻咽癌来源的LMP1(latentmembraneprotein 1,潜伏膜蛋白 1)的表达载体 ,采用受精卵前核显微注射法构建转基因小鼠。结果表明 ,在所获得的 5 8只转基因首建鼠中 ,4只整合阳性 ,其中的一只转基因小鼠在鼻咽、前胃、舌根等部位检测到了外源基因的表达。     

Regulation of human SRY subcellular distribution by its acetylation/deacetylation

SRY, a Y chromosome-encoded DNA-binding protein, is required for testis organogenesis in mammals. Expression of the SRY gene in the genital ridge is followed by diverse early cell events leading to Sertoli cell determination/differentiation and subsequent sex cord formation. Little is known about SRY regulation and its mode of action during testis development, and direct gene targets for SRY are still lacking. In this study, we demonstrate that interaction of the human SRY with histone acetyltransferase p300 induces the acetylation of SRY both in vitro and in vivo at a single conserved lysine residue. We show that acetylation participates in the nuclear localisation of SRY by increasing SRY interaction with importin beta, while specific deacetylation by HDAC3 induces a cytoplasmic delocalisation of SRY. Finally, by analysing p300 and HDAC3 expression profiles during both human or mouse gonadal development, we suggest that acetylation and deacetylation of SRY may be important mechanisms for regulating SRY activity during mammalian sex determination.     

Green fluorescent protein as a marker in transgenic mice

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) found in Aequorea victoria absorbs blue light and emits green fluorescence without exogenous substrates or co-factors. We studied the possibility of using the GFP as a marker in mammals. Transgenic mice were produced using the GFP coding sequence, ligated with the chicken beta-actin promoter. Green fluorescence was observed in muscle, pancreas, kidney, heart and other organs in all the three transgenic mouse lines. Detection of the transgenic mouse was possible by observing a tail or fingers of new born pups under a fluorescent microscope. The marker also enabled us to detect localized expression of the transgene in intact tissues without preliminary steps. It was also demonstrated that the GFP expression could be quantified by measuring the fluorescence in tissue extracts.     

哺乳动物性别决定和性反转

目前已知SRY仅是涉及性别决定过程的基因之一.近年来又发现和克隆了许多可能参与性腺分化与发育的基因,如副中肾抑制基因MIS,也称抗副中肾激素基因AMH;SRY相关基因SOX9;编码甾类因子的基因SFI;X-连锁的DAX基因;Wilm′s肿瘤抑制基因WTI;以及X-连锁的剂量敏感基因DSS等,并新建立了性别决定的Z-基因模型,DSS-基因模型和Jimenez等的模型,较合理地解释了哺乳动物性别决定的分子机理和以前难以解释的各种奇特的性反转现象,使性别决定的研究取得了长足的进展,但仍有一些悬而未决的问题有待于进一步探索.     

Females of four mole species of genus Talpa (Insectivora,mammalia) are true hermaphrodites with ovotestes

We studied the anatomical, histological, and genetic features of the sexual tract in four European mole species of the genus Talpa (Insectivora, mammalia): T. occidentalis, T. europaea, T. romana, and T. stankovici. All XY individuals had a normal male phenotype, whereas all XX individuals in all four species had features that identified them as intersexes. These individuals were nonetheless presumed to be functionally fertile females. Intersexuality was manifested mainly as gonadal hermaphroditism, with all females possessing bilateral ovotestes. The gonads were composed of a small portion of histologically normal ovarian tissue and a variably sized, generally large mass of disgenetic testicular tissue, accompanied by a small, rudimentary epididymis. The rest of the sexual tract was typically female, including oviducts, uterus, and vagina of normal appearance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blotting analyses showed that the mammalian testis-determining gene SRY is present in males but not in females. Part of the conserved sequence of the mole SRY gene was cloned and sequenced after PCR amplification in two of the four mole species (T. occidentalis from Spain and T. romana from Italy). Sequences were identical in these two species and were very similar to those of the human and mouse SRY gene. Our findings constitute the first evidence of the existence of a genus-specific case of true hermaphroditism, probably due to a very ancient mutation that fixed in populations of the ancestral species from which contemporary moles evolved. The possible nature of this mutation is discussed with regard to the cytologic, histologic, and genetic features of the gonads in Talpa females. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Kidney-Specific Activity of the Bovine Uromodulin Promoter

A 10-kilobase (kb) bacteriophage bovine genomic clone containing 5.4 kb of the 5-flanking region, exons, and introns of bovine uromodulin gene was isolated. Transgenic mice containing 3.9 kb of the bovine uromodulin promoter and a lacZ reporter gene were generated by pronuclear microinjection. RT-PCR and northern blot analyses of transgene expression in various tissues of founder and F1 mice showed that the transgene was expressed exclusively in the kidney. In situ hybridization and histochemistry for lacZ demonstrated that transgene expression was restricted to tubule epithelial cells of the loop of Henle in the kidney. Stepwise 5 deletion analysis revealed that transfection of luciferase reporter constructs fused to various proximal 5-flanking regions of the bovine uromodulin gene markedly increased luciferase activity in mouse renal epithelial cells but not in mesenchymal cells and that the most critical cis elements of the uromodulin gene are located within the 600 bp upstream region.     

Equine fetal sex determination using circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA)

In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reamplification of the first PCR product (2nd-PCR) and a qPCR assay were used to detect the sex determining region Y (SRY) gene from circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) in blood plasma of pregnant mares to determine fetal sex. The ccffDNA was isolated from plasma of 20 Thoroughbred mares (5-13 y old) in the final 3 mo of pregnancy (fetal sex was verified after foaling). For controls, plasma from two non-pregnant mares and two virgin mares were used, in addition to the non-template control. The 182 bp nucleotide sequence corresponding to the SRY-PCR product was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Based on SRY/PCR, 8 of 11 male and 9 of 9 female fetuses were correctly identified, resulting in a sensitivity of 72.7% (for male fetuses) and an overall accuracy of 85%. Furthermore, using SRY/2nd-PCR and qPCR techniques, sensitivity and accuracy were 90.9 and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, this study is apparently the first report of fetal sex determination in mares using ccffDNA.     

绿色荧光裸鼠血液生理生化指标检测分析

目的检测绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescenc eprotein,GFP）转基因裸鼠血液生理生化指标,为将来的研究提供基础参考值。方法实验选用6～8周GFP转基因裸鼠及对照组BABL／C裸鼠雌雄各30只,取血测定血生化和血常规指标。结果①GFP转基因裸鼠与对照组BABL／C裸鼠比较,白细胞总数（WBC）、尿素（URE）、平均血红蛋浓度（MCHC）、葡萄糖（GLU）差异极显著（P〈0．01）;血红蛋白（HGB）、红细胞分布宽度（RDW）、血小板计数（PLT）、尿酸（uA）差异显著（P〈0．05）,其它指标差异不显著。②GFP转基因裸鼠雌雄间比较,红细胞分布宽度（RDW）、平均血红蛋白含量（MCH）、平均血红蛋浓度（MCHC）、血小板计数（PLT）、球蛋白（G）、胆固醇（TC）、HDL-胆固醇（HDL—TC）差异极显著（P〈0．01）,白蛋白（ALB）、葡萄糖（GLU）差异显著（P〈0．05）,其它指标差异不显著。结论转基因GFP转基因裸鼠的生理生化指标值在雄雌间有一定的差异,为相关的生物医学研究提供了基础数据。     

Gene silencing in Xenopus laevis by DNA vector-based RNA interference and transgenesis

A vector-based RNAi expression system was developed using the Xenopus tropicalis U6 promoter, which transcribes small RNA genes by RNA polymerase Ⅲ. The system was first validated in a Xenopus laevis cell line, designing a short hairpin DNA specific for the GFP gene. Co-transfection of the vector-based RNAi and the GFP gene into Xenopus XR1 cells significantly decreased the number of GFP-expressing cells and overall GFP fluorescence. Vector-based RNAi was subsequently validated in GFP transgenic Xenopus embryos. Sperm nuclei from GFP transgenic males and RNAi construct-incubated-sperm nuclei were used for fertilization, respectively. GFP mRNA and protein were reduced by -60% by RNAi in these transgenic embryos compared with the control. This transgene-driven RNAi is specific and stable in inhibiting GFP expression in the Xenopus laevis transgenic line. Gene silencing by vector-based RNAi and Xenopus transgenesis may provide an alternative for ＇repression of gene function＇ studies in vertebrate model systems.