Enhancer Chip: Detecting Human Copy Number Variations in Regulatory Elements

Critical functional properties are embedded in the non-coding portion of the human genome. Recent successful studies have shown that variations in distant-acting gene enhancer sequences can contribute to disease. In fact, various disorders, such as thalassaemias, preaxial polydactyly or susceptibility to Hirschsprung’s disease, may be the result of rearrangements of enhancer elements. We have analyzed the distribution of enhancer loci in the genome and compared their localization to that of previously described copy-number variations (CNVs). These data suggest a negative selection of copy number variable enhancers. To identify CNVs covering enhancer elements, we have developed a simple and cost-effective test. Here we describe the gene selection, design strategy and experimental validation of a customized oligonucleotide Array-Based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH), designated Enhancer Chip. It has been designed to investigate CNVs, allowing the analysis of all the genome with a 300 Kb resolution and specific disease regions (telomeres, centromeres and selected disease loci) at a tenfold higher resolution. Moreover, this is the first aCGH able to test over 1,250 enhancers, in order to investigate their potential pathogenic role. Validation experiments have demonstrated that Enhancer Chip efficiently detects duplications and deletions covering enhancer loci, demonstrating that it is a powerful instrument to detect and characterize copy number variable enhancers.     

人管家基因启动子序列中的组合转录调控元件分析

研究表明,第一内含子可能参与基因转录调控.利用统计方法提取人管家基因上游至第一内含子序列中潜在的组合转录调控模体,分析模体间的距离、区域分布等特征,探讨内含子参与基因转录调控的可能性及其参与方式.在管家基因中共获得960对潜在转录调控模体对,其中57%与实验已知的具有转录相互作用的因子对吻合,共涉及12组因子对.分析发现,绝大多数模体对(80%)偏向于上游区域及"上游-内含子"区域,进一步支持了内含子参与基因转录调控的假设,并据此推测内含子与上游序列之间具有转录协同作用,模体在基因转录起始位点(TSS)附近较为集中,模体对的两个模体之间距离较近,60%左右距离在200 bp以内,特别地,65%的模体对特征距离在100 bp以内,短距离间隔有利于转录因子间的协同作用.这些结果将有助于对人基因转录调控机制及内含子功能的深入认识.     

Genome-Wide Analysis of Repetitive Elements in Papaya

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is an important fruit crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. A first draft of its genome sequence has been recently released. Together with Arabidopsis, rice, poplar, grapevine and other genomes in the pipeline, it represents a good opportunity to gain insight into the organization of plant genomes. Here we report a detailed analysis of repetitive elements in the papaya genome, including transposable elements (TEs), tandemly-arrayed sequences, and high copy number genes. These repetitive sequences account for ～56% of the papaya genome with TEs being the most abundant at 52%, tandem repeats at 1.3% and high copy number genes at 3%. Most common types of TEs are represented in the papaya genome with retrotransposons being the dominant class, accounting for 40% of the genome. The most prevalent retrotransposons are Ty3-gypsy (27.8%) and Ty1-copia (5.5%). Among the tandem repeats, microsatellites are the most abundant in number, but represent only 0.19% of the genome. Minisatellites and satellites are less abundant, but represent 0.68% and 0.43% of the genome, respectively, due to greater repeat length. Despite an overall smaller gene repertoire in papaya than many other angiosperms, a significant fraction of genes (>2%) are present in large gene families with copy number greater than 20. This repeat database clarified a major part of the papaya genome organization and partly explained the lower gene repertoire in papaya than in Arabidopsis.     

Genome-Wide Distribution of Transposed Dissociation Elements in Maize

The maize (Zea mays) transposable element Dissociation (Ds) was mobilized for large-scale genome mutagenesis and to study its endogenous biology. Starting from a single donor locus on chromosome 10, over 1500 elements were distributed throughout the genome and positioned on the maize physical map. Genetic strategies to enrich for both local and unlinked insertions were used to distribute Ds insertions. Global, regional, and local insertion site trends were examined. We show that Ds transposed to both linked and unlinked sites and displayed a nonuniform distribution on the genetic map around the donor r1-sc:m3 locus. Comparison of Ds and Mutator insertions reveals distinct target preferences, which provide functional complementarity of the two elements for gene tagging in maize. In particular, Ds displays a stronger preference for insertions within exons and introns, whereas Mutator insertions are more enriched in promoters and 5′-untranslated regions. Ds has no strong target site consensus sequence, but we identified properties of the DNA molecule inherent to its local structure that may influence Ds target site selection. We discuss the utility of Ds for forward and reverse genetics in maize and provide evidence that genes within a 2- to 3-centimorgan region flanking Ds insertions will serve as optimal targets for regional mutagenesis.     

MCF细胞中人干细胞因子基因新调控元件的鉴定

人干细胞因子（ｈｕｍａｎ ｓｔｅｍ ｃｅｌｌ ｆａｃｔｏｒ,ｈＳＣＦ）是一个多功能细胞生长因子,调节某些哺乳动物干细胞如原始胚细胞的增殖、分化和移居。为研究ｈＳＣＦ基因的转录调控机理,对ｈＳＣＦ基因５’旁侧序列不同长度片段进行亚克隆,构建系列重组ｐＧＬ２荧光素酶报告基因载体,转染人乳腺癌细胞株ＭＣＦ并检测ｌｕｃ基因一过性表达活性。然后应用电泳迁移率变动分析技术,鉴定活性片段与ＭＣＦ细胞核抽提蛋白质     

Genome-Wide Analysis of Human Metapneumovirus Evolution

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been described as an important etiologic agent of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, especially in young children and the elderly. Most of school-aged children might be introduced to HMPVs, and exacerbation with other viral or bacterial super-infection is common. However, our understanding of the molecular evolution of HMPVs remains limited. To address the comprehensive evolutionary dynamics of HMPVs, we report a genome-wide analysis of the eight genes (N, P, M, F, M2, SH, G, and L) using 103 complete genome sequences. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the eight genes from one HMPV strain grouped into the same genetic group among the five distinct lineages (A1, A2a, A2b, B1, and B2). A few exceptions of phylogenetic incongruence might suggest past recombination events, and we detected possible recombination breakpoints in the F, SH, and G coding regions. The five genetic lineages of HMPVs shared quite remote common ancestors ranging more than 220 to 470 years of age with the most recent origins for the A2b sublineage. Purifying selection was common, but most protein genes except the F and M2-2 coding regions also appeared to experience episodic diversifying selection. Taken together, these suggest that the five lineages of HMPVs maintain their individual evolutionary dynamics and that recombination and selection forces might work on shaping the genetic diversity of HMPVs.     

人类原钙粘蛋白基因簇调控元件的克隆及对其启动子活性的影响

人类原钙粘蛋白(Protocadherin,Pcdh)基因簇包含53个成串排列非常相似的基因,组成3个紧密相连的基因簇(α,β和γ)。原钙粘蛋白基因簇γ通过启动子选择性表达产生神经元细胞膜表面的分子多样性,但是,该多样性产生的分子机制还不清楚。调控元件HS7L和HS5-1aL作为候选的增强子可能具有调控Pcdhγ基因表达的作用。利用分子克隆的方法,将调控元件HS7L和HS5-1aL分别克隆至包含γa9、γa10、γb3、γb7和γc3启动子的荧光素酶报告基因的下游。通过荧光素酶报告基因试验检测其对该5种Pcdhγ启动子活性的影响,发现HS7L对5种启动子活性具有增强作用,HS5-1aL对γa10启动子活性具有增强作用。之后,通过基因沉默绝缘子CTCF,发现下调CTCF不仅降低γb1基因表达,而且能够显著降低γb1启动子报告基因活性。试验结果表明调控元件HS7L和HS5-1aL能够增强Pcdhγ启动子活性,推测可能通过CTCF介导的增强子-启动子相互作用调控Pcdhγ的细胞特异性基因表达。