酵母基因上游序列中潜在的转录正调控位点分析

前期研究表明,高效转录酵母基因内含子在序列长度、寡核苷酸使用、以及位置分布等方面都有着区别于低转录内含子的特征 . 进一步观察发现：上游基因间区域的序列长度与基因转录频率也有与内含子序列相同的现象,转录频率高的上游基因间序列一般都比转录频率低的长 . 对高效转录和低效转录上游基因间序列的寡核苷酸使用频率进行统计比较分析,抽提出高转录基因上游区可能的转录正调控元件 . 与酵母的所有非编码序列比较,这些可能的正调控元件基本上也是过表达的 (over-represented) ,其中多数和实验所得的一些位点特征相吻合 . 这些元件富含 G 、 C ,这与内含子中可能的正调控元件在碱基组成上有一定的互补性 . 从这些特征看,高效转录基因上游的序列结构确实有利于基因的转录 .     

核小体定位的转录调控功能研究进展

核小体是真核生物染色质的基本组成单位,组蛋白八聚体在DNA 双螺旋上精确位置称为核小体定位．核小体定位已被证实在基因转录调控、DNA复制与修复、调控进化等过程中扮演着重要的角色．随着染色质免疫共沉淀-芯片(ChIP-chip)与染色质免疫共沉淀-测序(ChIP-seq)等高通量技术的出现,已测定了多种模式生物全基因组核小体定位图谱,掀起了一股核小体定位及其功能的研究热潮,并取得了一定的成果．本文介绍了核小体定位的概念,总结了核小体在启动子与编码区域内定位的基本模式．在此基础上,综述了核小体定位在转录起始、转录延伸、基因表达模式多样化以及可变剪接等方面的功能研究进展．     

Mitochondrial Genomes of Flor Yeast Strains Are Characterized by Low Genetic Variability

Russian Journal of Genetics - High concentrations of ethanol and oxidative stress can cause a mutagenic effect on mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs) of flor yeasts. We performed a comparative analysis...     

酵母基因中转录正调控内含子序列特征的统计分析

大量实验研究显示,真核基因的许多内含子具有调控转录的功能,但是对此问题尚缺乏全面的研究.观察一些酵母基因的转录频率与基因的内含子序列后,发现一个值得注意的现象：转录频率高的基因内含子序列一般都比较长,而转录频率低的基因内含子一般都比较短.这提示高效转录基因的较长内含子中可能含有某些增强基因转录的特征性结构.于是选取两组酵母基因的内含子进行详细研究,第一组的基因具有较高的转录频率（>30）,第二组的基因转录频率较低（≤10）.对寡核苷酸（主要是四核苷酸、五核苷酸）的出现频率进行统计比较分析,探测到一批寡核苷酸,它们在第一组内含子中出现的频率显著高于在第二组内含子中出现的频率,同时也显著高于与第一组内含子相邻的外显子中的出现频率.其中一些寡核苷酸与实验研究得到的转录调控元件相同.从这批寡核苷酸在内含子和外显子序列中的分布看,高效转录基因内含子的序列结构确实有利于基因的转录.     

The Composition,Functions, and Regulation of the Budding Yeast Kinetochore

The propagation of all organisms depends on the accurate and orderly segregation of chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis. Budding yeast has long served as an outstanding model organism to identify the components and underlying mechanisms that regulate chromosome segregation. This review focuses on the kinetochore, the macromolecular protein complex that assembles on centromeric chromatin and maintains persistent load-bearing attachments to the dynamic tips of spindle microtubules. The kinetochore also serves as a regulatory hub for the spindle checkpoint, ensuring that cell cycle progression is coupled to the achievement of proper microtubule–kinetochore attachments. Progress in understanding the composition and overall architecture of the kinetochore, as well as its properties in making and regulating microtubule attachments and the spindle checkpoint, is discussed.     

Differential Regulation of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Genes Modulates Respiratory Capacity and Stress Tolerance in Yeast

Mpc proteins are highly conserved from yeast to humans and are necessary for the uptake of pyruvate at the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is used for leucine and valine biosynthesis and as a fuel for respiration. Our analysis of the yeast MPC gene family suggests that amino acid biosynthesis, respiration rate and oxidative stress tolerance are regulated by changes in the Mpc protein composition of the mitochondria. Mpc2 and Mpc3 are highly similar but functionally different: Mpc2 is most abundant under fermentative non stress conditions and important for amino acid biosynthesis, while Mpc3 is the most abundant family member upon salt stress or when high respiration rates are required. Accordingly, expression of the MPC3 gene is highly activated upon NaCl stress or during the transition from fermentation to respiration, both types of regulation depend on the Hog1 MAP kinase. Overexpression experiments show that gain of Mpc2 function leads to a severe respiration defect and ROS accumulation, while Mpc3 stimulates respiration and enhances tolerance to oxidative stress. Our results identify the regulated mitochondrial pyruvate uptake as an important determinant of respiration rate and stress resistance.