Comparison of full-length genomics sequences between dengue virus serotype 3, parental strain,and its derivatives,and B-cell epitopes prediction from envelope region

Biological markers are normally used to evaluate the candidate of live-attenuated dengue vaccines. D3V 16562 Vero 23 and D3V 16562 Vero 33 which were derivatives of D3V 16562, parental strain, showed the similar biological data. We used molecular techniques and computational tools to evaluate these derivatives. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the derivatives were compared to their parent. The secondary structures of untranslated regions and B-cell epitopes were predicted. The results showed that nucleotide substitutions mostly occurred in NS5 and NS5 of V2 was unusual because of amino acid change at 3349 (tryptophan →stop codon). The nucleotide substitutions in 5''UTR, prM, E, NS1, NS2A, NS3, and 3''UTR were 4, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3, and 2, respectively. The secondary structure of 5''UTR of V2 was different from P and V1. The secondary structure of 3''UTR of V2 was similar to P and certainly distinct from V1. Furthermore, B-cell epitopes prediction revealed that there were 21 epitopes of envelope and the interesting epitope was at position 297-309 because it was in domain III in which the neutralizing antibody is induced. For this study, the attenuation of derivatives was caused by the nucleotide substitutions in 5''UTR, 3''UTR, and NS5 regions. The genotypic data and B-cell epitope make the derivatives attractive for the chimeric and peptide DENV vaccine development.     

植物非编码RNA调控春化作用的表观遗传

在自然界中许多高等植物需要通过冬季的低温阶段实现从营养生长到生殖生长的时期转化,这一生物学过程称作春化作用。小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)和油菜(Brassica napus L.)等作物以种子为产品器官,生产上往往通过茬口安排和栽培措施使植株尽早通过春化作用,以促进花芽形成和花器官发育,而大白菜(B rapa ssp.pekinenesis)和甘蓝(B.oleracea)等作物以叶球等营养器官作为产品器官,生产上则设法避免低温引起的春化作用,以保证产品器官的充分生长。FLOWERING LOCUS C(FLC)作为一种重要的开花抑制蛋白负调控春化作用,参与植株从营养生长向生殖生长的转化过程。文章综述了春化中FLC表达受抑制主要通过低温诱导表达FLC基因区域的非编码RNA以及VRN1、VRN2、VIN3等蛋白参与介导组蛋白甲基化,从而在表观遗传上控制春化作用的进程和产品器官的正常发育。     

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2膜蛋白对宿主细胞pre-mRNA 3\"UTR加工的影响

目的 研究严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）膜蛋白对宿主细胞mRNA前体（pre-mRNA）3\"非翻译区（UTR）加工的影响。方法 本研究以人肺上皮细胞系A549为模型,利用瞬时转染在细胞内过表达SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白;利用RNA-Seq测序技术及生物信息学分析方法,系统性描绘宿主细胞选择性多聚腺苷酸化（alternative polyadenylation,APA）事件;Metascape数据库对发生显著APA变化的基因进行功能富集分析;RT-qPCR验证靶基因3\"UTR长度变化;蛋白质免疫印迹（Western blot）检测目的蛋白表达水平。结果 SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白外源表达后宿主细胞内共813个基因发生显著APA变化。GO和KEGG分析显示,差异APA基因广泛参与有丝分裂细胞周期、调节细胞应激等生物过程,涉及病毒感染和蛋白质加工等。从中进一步筛选出AKT1基因,在IGV软件中显示3\"UTR延长;RT-qPCR验证AKT1基因的3\"UTR长度变化趋势;Western blot结果显示AKT1蛋白磷酸化水平增加。结论 SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白潜在影响宿主pre-mRNA的3\"UTR加工,其中参与多种病毒性生物过程的AKT1基因 3\"UTR延长,且其编码的蛋白质功能在细胞内被激活。     

A/U富集片段RNA结合蛋白的固相纯化与鉴定

RNA与细胞靶蛋白结合是RNA发挥其生物学功能的重要基础,因此,分离和鉴定RNA结合蛋白是研究RNA功能的必要步骤．目前,RNA结合蛋白的分离和鉴定方法较多,但各有优缺点．本实验利用可溶性碳二亚胺(EDC)介导的缩合反应,将A/U富集片段RNA共价偶联到固相介质amine M-270上,再用固定化RNA经亲和层析从细胞抽提物中分离纯化RNA结合蛋白,并以SDS-PAGE联合质谱分析和Western blotting等方法鉴定RNA特异性结合蛋白．最后通过荧光原位杂交和共聚焦显微镜证明这些RNA特异性结合蛋白确与RNA在细胞内结合．实践证明这一方法简单、高效、易于掌握．     

Mechanism of translational regulation by miR-2 from sites in the 5' untranslated region or the open reading frame

MicroRNAs (miRs) commonly regulate translation from target mRNA 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). While effective miR-binding sites have also been identified in 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) or open reading frames (ORFs), the mechanism(s) of miR-mediated regulation from these sites has not been defined. Here, we systematically investigate how the position of miR-binding sites influences translational regulation and characterize their mechanistic basis. We show that specific translational regulation is elicited in vitro and in vivo not only from the 3'UTR, but equally effectively from six Drosophila miR-2-binding sites in the 5'UTR or the ORF. In all cases, miR-2 triggers mRNA deadenylation and inhibits translation initiation in a cap-dependent fashion. In contrast, single or dual miR-2-binding sites in the 5'UTR or the ORF yield rather inefficient or no regulation. This work represents the first demonstration that 5'UTR and ORF miR-binding sites can function mechanistically similarly to the intensively investigated 3'UTR sites. Using single or dual binding sites, it also reveals a biological rationale for the high prevalence of miR regulatory sites in the 3'UTR.     

Bakuchalcone,a dihydrofuranochalcone from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia

A new dihydrofuranochalcone has been identified in seeds of Psoralea corylifolia and its structure confirmed by synthesis.