PD-L1基因敲除小鼠构建及初步表型验证

目的 程序性死亡配体-1(PD-L1)是免疫调节途径的重要因子,是抗肿瘤免疫疗法中重要的靶标之一。利用CRISPR/Cas9技术成功构建PD-L1基因敲除小鼠模型,并初步分析其表型。方法 构建Cas9和sgRNA载体,并转录获得RNA,通过显微注射方式将RNA注射到C57BL/6小鼠受精卵中,经过鉴定获得F₀代阳性小鼠。F₀代小鼠与野生型C57BL/6小鼠交配获得F₁代杂合子小鼠,再通过F₁代小鼠自交获得F₂代纯合子小鼠品系。随后通过Real-Time PCR和流式实验分别检测PD-L1基因在mRNA和蛋白质水平上的表达情况。结果 Real-Time PCR和流式实验检测结果显示与野生型C57小鼠相比,PD-L1纯合子小鼠的PD-L1 mRNA相对表达水平和细胞上的蛋白质表达均有显著性下降,仅测定到本底的信号,证实已成功构建PD-L1基因敲除小鼠品系,为PD-L1体内基因功能研究提供了新的小鼠模型。     

斑马鱼gpr98基因敲除试验模型的构建

gpr98基因突变与多种疾病相关,该基因在人类和斑马鱼中高度保守。建立斑马鱼gpr98基因突变体稳定系,可为阐释gpr98基因功能提供良好的动物模型和研究基础。本文利用CRISPR/Cas9基因敲除技术在斑马鱼gpr98基因2号外显子上选取两个相距42bp的靶位点,分别体外合成sgRNA,并与Cas9 mRNA一起共注射至斑马鱼胚胎单细胞期的胚胎内。随机挑选发育72h胚胎提取基因组DNA进行PCR分析,结果表明:除了有野生型DNA带外,部分胚胎有一条比野生型DNA小的带;进一步将F0代阳性个体与野生型的斑马鱼杂交,对杂交后代进行基因型分析,并成功筛选到缺失48bp(Δ48bp)的稳定遗传突变的gpr98基因敲除斑马鱼模型。该试验模型的构建为研究gpr98基因在心血管以及骨骼等组织器官的发育及相关疾病发生中的作用奠定了重要基础。     

斑马鱼hoxa1a基因调控颅面骨骼发育的功能研究*

hox基因编码一类高度保守的转录因子家族,人类HOXA1的突变会导致阿萨巴斯卡发育不良综合征 (Athabascan brainstem dysgenesis syndrome, ABDS),使人出现因颅骨异常导致的面部畸形和面部麻痹等症状。利用模式生物斑马鱼研究其同源基因hoxa1a的功能机制。首先利用CRISPR/Cas9技术对斑马鱼hoxa1a进行基因编辑,获得了hoxa1a基因突变,T7E1酶切结果显示F₀酶切效率平均为70%。F₁进一步筛选到两种突变类型,分别是插入了8 bp和删除了7 bp的杂合突变体。杂合子自交得到hoxa1a F₂纯合突变体,并且测序验证hoxa1a基因突变成功。5 dpf时,hoxa1a纯合突变体出现颅面发育异常。阿尔新蓝软骨染色和茜素红硬骨染色结果表明,hoxa1a突变体中颅骨发育异常、筛骨板断裂,鳃弓发育出现缺损。成功在斑马鱼中构建ABDS疾病模型,表明hoxa1a突变会造成斑马鱼颅面骨骼发育异常,为其功能机制研究奠定了基础,为人类ABDS疾病的致病机制研究提供了新的思路。     

MC1R基因多态性与豚鼠隐性黄毛色的相关性分析

豚鼠Cavia porcellus的隐性黄毛色表型是由编码黑素皮质激素受体1(MC1R)的extension基因座位的等位基因e控制。本研究对野生型和黄毛色豚鼠MC1R基因位点所在区域进行PCR扩增与测序发现,在黄毛色豚鼠中存在1个2 760 bp的基因组缺失,该缺失涵盖了MC1R基因的整个编码区。采用三引物扩增体系对豚鼠MC1R基因缺失突变进行群体基因分型,在随机选择的58只野生型个体中,36只为EE纯合子,22只为Ee杂合子,而31只黄毛色个体均为ee纯合子;在15只测交后代中,8只黄毛色个体均为ee纯合子,而7只野生型个体均为Ee杂合子。基因分型结果表明,MC1R基因2 760 bp的缺失与隐性黄毛色完全相关。本研究为进一步探究MC1R基因在哺乳动物毛色遗传机制中的作用以及豚鼠的分子标记辅助育种提供了理论依据。     

一个新的水稻叶绿素缺失黄叶突变体的特征及基因分子定位

从粳稻“嘉花1号”⁶⁰Coγ射线辐照的后代中筛选到一个叶绿素缺失黄叶突变体(yl11), 与野生型“嘉花1号”相比该突变体表现为全生育期植株叶片呈黄色, 叶绿素含量以及净光合速率明显下降, 叶绿体发育不完善, 并且伴随着株高等主要农艺性状的变化。遗传分析表明, 该突变性状受一对隐性核基因(yl11)控制。该突变体与籼稻“培矮64S”杂交生产的F₂、F₃群体中的分离出突变体型920个单株作为定位群体, 利用SSR和InDel分子标记将yl11基因定位在水稻第11染色体长臂上的MM2199和ID21039分子标记之间, 其物理距离约为110 kb, 目前该区域内没有发现与水稻叶绿素合成/叶绿体发育相关已知功能基因。研究结果为今后对该基因的克隆和功能分析奠定了基础。     

斑马鱼tbx2b调控心脏房室间隔发育的功能研究*

tbx2是早期心脏发育的关键基因。为进一步探究其对房室间隔(AVC)发育的影响,研究利用CRISPR/Cas9介导的基因敲除技术,成功构建了斑马鱼tbx2b突变体。通过T7E1酶切对其F₀进行敲除效率检测,结果显示平均敲除效率约为57.5%。F₁进一步筛选获得tbx2b杂合突变体,测序结果显示突变类型为11 bp碱基缺失的移码突变。tbx2b杂合子内交获得纯合子,tbx2b纯合突变体在5 dpf死亡并出现早期心脏环化异常表型。斑马鱼整胚原位杂交实验显示在3 dpf tbx2b纯合突变体中, 心脏腔室分化特异性标志基因nppa、nppb表达上调并异位表达在AVC,而AVC发育关键基因has2的表达消失。高效构建tbx2b突变体并初探其对下游基因的影响,为后续深入研究tbx2b对心脏AVC发育的作用奠定了基础,同时加深了人们对早期心脏调控网络的认识。     

华南鲤选育群体不同世代遗传多样性与遗传结构的微卫星分析

为了解人工选育对华南鲤(Cyprinus carpio rubrofuscus)选育群体遗传结构的影响, 采用微卫星技术分析了华南鲤4个连续选育世代(F₁、F₂、F₃和F₄)的遗传多样性和遗传结构。结果显示:在4个选育群体中, 16对微卫星引物共扩增得到99个等位基因, 每个微卫星座位检测到的等位基因数为3—10个, 平均为6.1875个。随着人工连续选育的进行, F₁到F₄的平均等位基因数(N_a)从5.6875下降到4.6755, 平均观测杂合度(H_o)从0.7943下降到0.7135, 平均多态信息含量(PIC)从0.6577下降到0.5834。F₁与其后各代的遗传距离逐代增加(从0.1486上升到0.2181), 遗传相似系数逐代减小(从0.8619下降到0.8041), 而相邻世代间的遗传分化指数(F_st)逐代变小(F₁与F₂为0.062, F₂与F₃为0.058, F₃与F₄则为0.051), 遗传相似性逐步升高。世代间F_st值配对比较结果显示4个世代间的遗传分化处于中等水平, 表明人工选育已对华南鲤选育群体的遗传结构产生了影响。实验结果表明, 华南鲤经过4代选育后, 虽然遗传杂合度和遗传多样性存在下降的现象, 但遗传多样性水平依然较高, 还具有进一步选育的潜力。研究结果为下一步制定华南鲤新品种选育计划提供基础遗传数据。     

结合SSR标记和STS标记对家蚕无鳞毛翅基因的定位

家蚕突变表型无鳞毛翅(non-lepis wing, nlw)由隐性基因nlw控制。由于家蚕雌性不发生交换, 文章采用有鳞毛翅品系P50和无鳞毛翅品系U06两个品系组配F1代及BC₁回交群体, (U06×P50)×U06和U06×(U06×P50)分别记作BC₁F和BC₁M, 根据已经构建的家蚕SSR分子标记连锁图谱及已经发表的有关序列对nlw基因进行了连锁及定位分析。得到8个与nlw基因连锁的SSR(Simple sequence repeat)标记和1个STS(Sequence-tagged sites)标记。BC₁F群中的所有正常翅个体均表现出与(U06×P50)F₁相同的杂合带型; 而所有无鳞毛个体带型与亲本U06一致, 为纯合型。利用BC₁M群体构建了关于nlw基因的遗传连锁图, 连锁图的遗传距离为125.7 cM, 与nlw基因最近的引物为STS标记cash2p, 图距为11.4 cM。     

大黄鱼耐低温性状相关微卫星标记的筛选

鱼类的耐低温性状是一种重要的经济性状。为了初步分析大黄鱼的耐低温性状, 文章采用15对荧光微卫星标记, 以SSR-PCR方法对大黄鱼低温耐受组和正常对照组F₁代共40个个体进行了耐低温性状遗传差异分析。结果显示, 标记LYC0002在两组样品中共扩增出5个等位基因(片段大小分别为112 bp、110 bp、108 bp、106 bp和104 bp), 其中LYC00021_{12 bp}等位基因在低温耐受组的出现频率达60%, 而在正常对照组中的频率为零, 表明该等位基因对大黄鱼的温度敏感特性有较明显的偏好性, 可能与某种耐低温基因存在一定的连锁关系。此外, 对LYC0002_{106 bp、}LYC0002_{108 bp}、LYC0002_{110 bp} 和 LYC0002_{112 bp} 4个等位基因分别进行了回收、克隆及测序。序列比对结果显示, LYC0002_{112 bp}等位基因含有10个(CA)重复单元, 而其他3个等位基因依次缺失1个(CA)重复单元, 说明LYC0002在本研究样本中的突变方式为微卫星逐步突变模型(Stepwise mutation model, SMM)。     

The retinoic acid signaling pathway regulates anterior/posterior patterning in the nerve cord and pharynx of amphioxus,a chordate lacking neural crest

Amphioxus, the closest living invertebrate relative of the vertebrates, has a notochord, segmental axial musculature, pharyngeal gill slits and dorsal hollow nerve cord, but lacks neural crest. In amphioxus, as in vertebrates, exogenous retinoic acid (RA) posteriorizes the embryo. The mouth and gill slits never form, AmphiPax1, which is normally downregulated where gill slits form, remains upregulated and AmphiHox1 expression shifts anteriorly in the nerve cord. To dissect the role of RA signaling in patterning chordate embryos, we have cloned the single retinoic acid receptor (AmphiRAR), retinoid X receptor (AmphiRXR) and an orphan receptor (AmphiTR2/4) from amphioxus. AmphiTR2/4 inhibits AmphiRAR-AmphiRXR-mediated transactivation in the presence of RA by competing for DR5 or IR7 retinoic acid response elements (RAREs). The 5' untranslated region of AmphiTR2/4 contains an IR7 element, suggesting possible auto- and RA-regulation. The patterns of AmphiTR2/4 and AmphiRAR expression during embryogenesis are largely complementary: AmphiTR2/4 is strongly expressed in the cerebral vesicle (homologous to the diencephalon plus anterior midbrain), while AmphiRAR expression is high in the equivalent of the hindbrain and spinal cord. Similarly, while AmphiTR2/4 is expressed most strongly in the anterior and posterior thirds of the endoderm, the highest AmphiRAR expression is in the middle third. Expression of AmphiRAR is upregulated by exogenous RA and completely downregulated by the RA antagonist BMS009. Moreover, BMS009 expands the pharynx posteriorly; the first three gill slit primordia are elongated and shifted posteriorly, but do not penetrate, and additional, non-penetrating gill slit primordia are induced. Thus, in an organism without neural crest, initiation and penetration of gill slits appear to be separate events mediated by distinct levels of RA signaling in the pharyngeal endoderm. Although these compounds have little effect on levels of AmphiTR2/4 expression, RA shifts pharyngeal expression of AmphiTR2/4 anteriorly, while BMS009 extends it posteriorly. Collectively, our results suggest a model for anteroposterior patterning of the amphioxus nerve cord and pharynx, which is probably applicable to vertebrates as well, in which a low anterior level of AmphiRAR (caused, at least in part, by competitive inhibition by AmphiTR2/4) is necessary for patterning the forebrain and formation of gill slits, the posterior extent of both being set by a sharp increase in the level of AmphiRAR. Supplemental data available on-line     

Inactivation of dispatched 1 by the chameleon mutation disrupts Hedgehog signalling in the zebrafish embryo

Searches of zebrafish EST and whole genome shotgun sequence databases for sequences encoding the sterol-sensing domain (SSD) protein motif identified two sets of DNA sequences with significant homology to the Drosophila dispatched gene required for release of secreted Hedgehog protein. Using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides, we found that inhibition of one of these genes, designated Disp1, results in a phenotype similar to that of the "you-type" mutants, previously implicated in signalling by Hedgehog proteins in the zebrafish embryo. Injection of disp1 mRNA into embryos homozygous for one such mutation, chameleon (con) results in rescue of the mutant phenotype. Radiation hybrid mapping localised disp1 to the same region of LG20 to which the con mutation was mapped by meiotic recombination analysis. Sequence analysis of disp1 cDNA derived from homozygous con mutant embryos revealed that both mutant alleles are associated with premature termination codons in the disp1 coding sequence. By analysing the expression of markers of specific cell types in the neural tube, pancreas and myotome of con mutant and Disp1 morphant embryos, we conclude that Disp1 activity is essential for the secretion of lipid-modified Hh proteins from midline structures.     

Anatomical features of Leiopelma embryos and larvae: implications for anuran evolution

A controversial issue in anuran systematics is the relationship of Leiopelma to other anurans because recent phylogenetic constructions imply different relationships among the basal frogs. Of particular evolutionary interest is whether early development of Leiopelma resembles an ancestral salamander-like larva, an anuran tadpole, or neither. In the 1950s, Neville G. Stephenson hypothesized that direct development is the primary mode of development in amphibians, based on the fact that Leiopelma spp. lack a free-living (=feeding) larval stage. Although this hypothesis has not been generally accepted, it has not been formally refuted. We review Stephenson's work on Leiopelma and examine the anatomy of embryos/"larvae" of the four extant Leiopelma species for evidence of vestigial larval features that might refute the "direct-developing ancestor" hypothesis. We describe internal oral features in early developmental stages of Leiopelma and compare Leiopelma with a closely related basal anuran, Ascaphus, to assess whether their early developmental stages share any derived features. In Leiopelma hochstetteri, embryos/larvae have open gill slits and some faint rugosities around one gill slit that may be vestiges of gill rakers or filters. They also have more intestinal loops, indicative of an elongated alimentary tract, at earlier rather than late embryonic/larval stages. Collectively, these features support the view that the ancestor of Leiopelma had a free-swimming, free-feeding, aquatic larva. The palatoquadrate of Leiopelma archeyi reorients approximately 40 degrees from a more horizontal to a more vertical position through embryonic/"larval" development. This amount of cranial remodeling is intermediate between that seen in salamanders (17-27 degrees) and that reported for Ascaphus (64 degrees ) and other basal frogs (71-78 degrees) at metamorphosis. We found no internal oral features that Leiopelma shares specifically with Ascaphus. However, Leiopelma embryos have a ventrally positioned mouth and a downturned rostrum, characteristic of Ascaphus and other stream-adapted tadpoles.     

Cardiac and CNS defects in a mouse with targeted disruption of suppressor of fused

The hedgehog (Hh) pathway is conserved from Drosophila to humans and plays a key role in embryonic development. In addition, activation of the pathway in somatic cells contributes to cancer development in several tissues. Suppressor of fused is a negative regulator of Hh signaling. Targeted disruption of the murine suppressor of fused gene (Sufu) led to a phenotype that included neural tube defects and lethality at mid-gestation (9.0-10.5 dpc). This phenotype resembled that caused by loss of patched (Ptch1), another negative regulator of the Hh pathway. Consistent with this finding, Ptch1 and Sufu mutants displayed excess Hh signaling and resultant altered dorsoventral patterning of the neural tube. Sufu mutants also had abnormal cardiac looping, indicating a defect in the determination of left-right asymmetry. Marked expansion of nodal expression in 7.5 dpc embryos and variable degrees of node dysmorphology in 7.75 dpc embryos suggested that the pathogenesis of the cardiac developmental abnormalities was related to node development. Other mutants of the Hh pathway, such as Shh, Smo and Shh/Ihh compound mutants, also have laterality defects. In contrast to Ptch1 heterozygous mice, Sufu heterozygotes had no developmental defects and no apparent tumor predisposition. The resemblance of Sufu homozygotes to Ptch1 homozygotes is consistent with mouse Sufu being a conserved negative modulator of Hh signaling.     

The zebrafish mutants dre, uki, and lep encode negative regulators of the hedgehog signaling pathway

Proliferation is one of the basic processes that control embryogenesis. To identify factors involved in the regulation of proliferation, we performed a zebrafish genetic screen in which we used proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression as a readout. Two mutants, hu418B and hu540A, show increased PCNA expression. Morphologically both mutants resembled the dre (dreumes), uki (ukkie), and lep (leprechaun) mutant class and both are shown to be additional uki alleles. Surprisingly, although an increased size is detected of multiple structures in these mutant embryos, adults become dwarfs. We show that these mutations disrupt repressors of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. The dre, uki, and lep loci encode Su(fu) (suppressor of fused), Hip (Hedgehog interacting protein), and Ptc2 (Patched2) proteins, respectively. This class of mutants is therefore unique compared to previously described Hh mutants from zebrafish genetic screens, which mainly show loss of Hh signaling. Furthermore, su(fu) and ptc2 mutants have not been described in vertebrate model systems before. Inhibiting Hh activity by cyclopamine rescues uki and lep mutants and confirms the overactivation of the Hh signaling pathway in these mutants. Triple uki/dre/lep mutants show neither an additive increase in PCNA expression nor enhanced embryonic phenotypes, suggesting that other negative regulators, possibly Ptc1, prevent further activation of the Hh signaling pathway. The effects of increased Hh signaling resulting from the genetic alterations in the uki, dre, and lep mutants differ from phenotypes described as a result of Hh overexpression and therefore provide additional insight into the role of Hh signaling during vertebrate development.     

Dominant Gene cplsr1 Corresponding to Premature Leaf Senescence Resistance in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) premature leaf senescence-resistant inbred XLZ33 and senescencesusceptible inbred lines XLZ13 were selected and crossed to produce F1,F1-reciprocal,F2 and BC1 generations...     

水稻核不育系4个柱头性状的遗传分析

为改良水稻(Oryza sativa)核不育系柱头性状提供遗传信息, 调查了粳型核不育系7001S、籼型核不育系Z913S及其杂交、自交获得的F₁、F₂和F_2:3群体的4个柱头性状, 分析了4个性状间的相关性, 并利用主基因+多基因遗传模型对2个世代4个性状进行遗传分析。结果表明, 4个性状两两间呈极显著正相关, 相关系数介于0.274-0.897之间。除F_2:3群体中花柱长度和柱头外露率分别表现出受2对加性-显性主基因和1对负等效加性-显性主基因+多基因控制外, F₂和F_2:3群体的柱头长度、花柱长度、柱头-花柱总长度以及柱头外露率均表现出受2对主基因和多基因控制, 且F_2:3群体中控制花柱长度的主基因表现出加性-显性效应, 其余均表现出加性-显性-上位性效应。2个世代中4个性状均以主基因遗传为主。