Homology modeling of Ferredoxin-nitrite reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Different subtypes of Influenza A virus are associated with species specific, zoonotic or pandemic Influenza. The cause of its severity underlies in complicated evolution of its segmented RNA genome. Although genetic shift and genetic drift are well known in the evolution of this virus, we reported the significant role of unique RNA palindromes in its evolution. Our computational approach identified the existence of unique palindromes in each subtype of Influenza A virus with its absence in Influenza B relating the fact of virulence and vigorous genetic hitchhiking in Influenza A. The current study focused on the re-assortment event responsible for the emergence of pandemic-2009 H1N1 virus, which is associated with outgrow of new palindrome and in turn, changing its RNA structure. We hypothesize that the change in RNA structure due to the presence of palindrome facilitates the event of re-assortment in Influenza A. Thus the evolutionary process of Influenza A is much more complicated as previously known, and that has been demonstrated in this study.     

The Fungal Pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa Has Genes Similar to Plant PR-1 That Are Highly Expressed during Its Interaction with Cacao

The widespread SCP/TAPS superfamily (SCP/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7) has multiple biological functions, including roles in the immune response of plants and animals, development of male reproductive tract in mammals, venom activity in insects and reptiles and host invasion by parasitic worms. Plant Pathogenesis Related 1 (PR-1) proteins belong to this superfamily and have been characterized as markers of induced defense against pathogens. This work presents the characterization of eleven genes homologous to plant PR-1 genes, designated as MpPR-1, which were identified in the genome of Moniliophthora perniciosa, a basidiomycete fungus responsible for causing the devastating witches'' broom disease in cacao. We describe gene structure, protein alignment and modeling analyses of the MpPR-1 family. Additionally, the expression profiles of MpPR-1 genes were assessed by qPCR in different stages throughout the fungal life cycle. A specific expression pattern was verified for each member of the MpPR-1 family in the conditions analyzed. Interestingly, some of them were highly and specifically expressed during the interaction of the fungus with cacao, suggesting a role for the MpPR-1 proteins in the infective process of this pathogen. Hypothetical functions assigned to members of the MpPR-1 family include neutralization of plant defenses, antimicrobial activity to avoid competitors and fruiting body physiology. This study provides strong evidence on the importance of PR-1-like genes for fungal virulence on plants.     

The Contribution of Transposable Elements to Expressed Coding Sequence in Arabidopsis thaliana

The goal of this study was to assess the extent to which transposable elements (TEs) have contributed to protein-coding regions in Arabidopsis thaliana. To do this, we first characterized the extent of chimeric TE-gene constructs. We compared a genome-wide TE database to genomic sequences, annotated coding regions, and EST data. The comparison revealed that 7.8% of expressed genes contained a region with close similarity to a known TE sequence. Some groups of TEs, such as helitrons, were underrepresented in exons relative to their genome-wide distribution; in contrast, Copia-like and En/Spm-like sequences were overrepresented in exons. These 7.8% percent of genes were enriched for some GO-based functions, particularly kinase activity, and lacking in other functions, notably structural molecule activity. We also examined gene family evolution for these genes. Gene family information helped clarify whether the sequence similarity between TE and gene was due to a TE contributing to the gene or, instead, the TE co-opting a portion of the gene. Most (66%) of these genes were not easily assigned to a gene family, and for these we could not infer the direction of the relationship between TE and gene. For the remainder, where appropriate, we built phylogenetic trees to infer the direction of the TE-gene relationship by parsimony. By this method, we verified examples where TEs contributed to expressed proteins. Our results are undoubtedly conservative but suggest that TEs may have contributed small protein segments to as many as 1.2% of all expressed, annotated A. thaliana genes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Aluminum Induces Oxidative Stress Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

Changes in gene expression induced by toxic levels of Al were characterized to investigate the nature of Al stress. A cDNA library was constructed from Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings treated with Al for 2 h. We identified five cDNA clones that showed a transient induction of their mRNA levels, four cDNA clones that showed a longer induction period, and two down-regulated genes. Expression of the four long-term-induced genes remained at elevated levels for at least 48 h. The genes encoded peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, blue copper-binding protein, and a protein homologous to the reticuline:oxygen oxidoreductase enzyme. Three of these genes are known to be induced by oxidative stresses and the fourth is induced by pathogen treatment. Another oxidative stress gene, superoxide dismutase, and a gene for Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor were also induced by Al in A. thaliana. These results suggested that Al treatment of Arabidopsis induces oxidative stress. In confirmation of this hypothesis, three of four genes induced by Al stress in A. thaliana were also shown to be induced by ozone. Our results demonstrate that oxidative stress is an important component of the plant's reaction to toxic levels of Al.     

拟南芥RopGEFs家族基因在外源脱落酸处理下的表达分析

ABA不同浓度和不同时间处理拟南芥野生型7天龄幼苗,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法,分析小G蛋白ROP10和ROP乌苷酸交换因子RopGEFs基因的表达水平差异。结果表明,RopGEF7-10,12及33没有检测到表达,而RopGEFI-6,11,14ROP10在ABA处理下表现出不同的应答趋势,其中RopGEF5基因的表达变化与ROP10的变化相似。推测RopGEF5有可能在ROP10介导的ABA信号转导途经中起调控作用。     

Touch-Inducible Genes for Calmodulin and a Calmodulin-Related Protein Are Located in Tandem on a Chromosome of Arabidopsis thaliana

Genes for calmodulin and calmodulin-related proteins in Arabidopsisare up-regulated by a variety of physical stimuli, which includerain, wind and touch [Braam and Davis (1990) Cell 60: 357].We have isolated five genes for calmodulin (AtCALl, 2, 3, 5,6) and one gene for a calmodulin-related protein (AtCAL4) froman Arabidopsis genomic library. Touch stimulus of Arabidopsisplants induces the accumulation of mRNA transcribed from AtCAL4andAtCAL5, but not from the other isolated genes. The two touch-induciblegenes are arrayed in tandem with a short intergenic region of700 bp but they show different organ-specific patterns of expression. (Received April 27, 1995; Accepted July 20, 1995)     

Classification of Genes Differentially Expressed during Water-deficit Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana: an Analysis using Microarray and Differential Expression Data

Many changes in gene expression occur in response to water-deficitstress. A challenge is to determine which changes support plantadaptation to conditions of reduced soil water content and whichoccur in response to lesions in metabolic and cellular functions.Microarray methods are being employed to catalogue all of thechanges in gene expression that occur in response to specificwater-deficit conditions. Although these methods do not measurethe amount or activities of specific proteins that functionin the water-deficit response, they do target specific biochemicaland cellular events that should be detailed in further work.Potential functions of approx. 130 genes of Arabidopsis thalianathat have been shown to be up-regulated are tabulated here.These point to signalling events, detoxification and other functionsinvolved in the cellular response to water-deficit stress. Asmicroarray techniques are refined, plant stress biologists willbe able to characterize changes in gene expression within thewhole genome in specific organs and tissues subjected to differentlevels of water-deficit stress.     

拟南芥中一个未知功能蛋白的叶绿体亚细胞定位研究

生物信息学分析表明, 模式植物拟南芥叶绿体中含有大约4 000多种蛋白质, 目前只分离得到1 000多种, 其他预测的叶绿体蛋白的实验验证对叶绿体功能研究有重要意义。本文对一个预测的叶绿体未知功能蛋白AT5G48790进行了亚细胞定位研究。我们克隆了该基因5'端长178 bp的DNA片段, 与绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因构建重组载体pMON530-cTP-GFP。转基因植株通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察, GFP只在叶绿体中特异表达。实验结果表明, AT5G48790的确为叶绿体蛋白。本实验方法也可用于其他预测的蛋白质的实验验证。     

拟南芥中一个未知功能蛋白的叶绿体亚细胞定位研究

生物信息学分析表明,模式植物拟南芥叶绿体中含有大约4000多种蛋白质,目前只分离得到1000多种,其他预测的叶绿体蛋白的实验验证对叶绿体功能研究有重要意义。本文对一个预测的叶绿体未知功能蛋白AT5G48790进行了亚细胞定位研究。我们克隆了该基因5端长178bp的DNA片段,与绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因构建重组载体pMON530-cTP-GFP。转基因植株通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察,GFP只在叶绿体中特异表达。实验结果表明,AT5G48790的确为叶绿体蛋白。本实验方法也可用于其他预测的蛋白质的实验验证。     

两个拟南芥未知功能蛋白的亚细胞定位研究

蛋白质的亚细胞定位对于深入了解该蛋白质所行使的生理功能具有重要意义。经生物信息学预测,两个拟南芥未知功能基因At4g16410与Atl gI8060编码蛋白含有叶绿体定位信息。我们分别克隆了这两个基因5’端长199bp与220bp的DNA片段,与绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因构建重组表达载体pMON530-cTP1-GFP与pMON530-cTP2-GFP,经农杆菌介导转化拟南芥。两种转基因植株经激光共聚焦显微镜观察,GFP荧光仅在叶绿体中观察到,表明所克隆的两段DNA序列编码的多肽能够将At4gl6410与Atlgl8060编码蛋白质引导进入叶绿体,确定这两个蛋白质均为叶绿体蛋白质。     

Three Dynamin-Encoding Genes Are Differentially Expressed in Developing Rat Brain

Abstract: Dynamin proteins are members of a recently described family of GTPases involved in receptor-mediated processes. To date, three different dynamin-encoding genes have been identified in mammalian tissues. Dynamin I is expressed only in neurons, whereas dynamin II is ubiquitously expressed. A third isoform, dynamin III, was originally isolated from a rat testis cDNA library and shown to be testis-specific. However, here we report the cloning and characterization of dynamin III from brain and lung, demonstrating a more extended pattern of expression for this isoform. In addition, we have investigated the temporal pattern of expression of these three genes during brain development. We find that both dynamin I and dynamin III mRNA levels are up-regulated during embryogenesis, whereas dynamin II mRNA levels remain unchanged. From these results, we conclude that dynamin III is not a testis-specific isoform and, furthermore, that rat brain expresses three different dynamin-encoding genes that are differentially regulated during development. Therefore, this large isoform diversity of dynamin proteins in brain predicts a significant complexity in the understanding of dynamin-based processes in this tissue.     

拟南芥DNA探针的比较基因组原位杂交揭示的拟南芥与远缘植物基因组间的同源性

采用生物素标记的拟南芥基因组DNA探针在75%杂交严谨度下对双子叶植物番茄、蚕豆和单子叶植物水稻、玉米、大麦的染色体进行了比较基因组荧光原位杂交（comparative genomic in situ hybridization,cGISH）分析,以揭示拟南芥与远缘植物基因组间的同源性.cGISH信号代表了拟南芥基因组DNA中的重复DNA与靶物种染色体上同源序列的杂交.探针DNA在所有靶物种的全部染色体上都产生了杂交信号.杂交信号为散在分布,并呈现随基因组增大,杂交信号增多,且分布更加分散的趋势.所有靶物种的核仁组织区（NOR）都显示了明显强于其他区域的杂交信号,表明拟南芥基因组DNA探针可用于植物NOR的物理定位.在所有的靶物种中,信号主要分布在染色体的臂中间区和末端,着丝粒或近着丝粒区有少数信号分布.大麦染色体显示了与C-和N-带不同的独特的cGISH信号带型,表明此探针可用于不同植物染色体的识别.这些结果表明,拟南芥基因组与远缘植物基因组之间,除rDNA和端粒重复序列外,还存在其它同源的重复DNA;一些重复DNA序列在被子植物分歧进化为单子叶和双子叶植物之前就已存在,虽经历了长期的进化过程,至今在远缘物种之间仍保持了较高的同源性.结果还提示,大基因组中古老而保守的重复DNA在进化过程中发生了明显的扩增.     

Chromosomal Mapping of Genes in theRBCS Family in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis thaliana, four genes have been identified inthe RBCS gene family, one being assigned to subfamily RBCS-Aand the other three to subfamily RBCS-B (1B, 2B and 3B). Todetermine the chromosomal location ofthese genes, hybridizationanalysis with CIC YAC high-density filters was carried out forthe RBCS-A gene, and CAPS analysis for the three RBCS-B genes,based on the finding that restriction fragment length polymorphismis present in the upstream region of the gene RBCS-3B. The RBCS-Agene was mapped at 100.8 cM from the top of chromosome 1 andthe three RBCS-B genes at 62.70 cM from the top of chromosome5.     

拟南芥核苷糖转换相关基因研究进展

核苷糖是植物细胞壁多聚糖合成时的活化底物.综述了近年来拟南芥核苷糖转换相关基因的克隆及功能分析等方面的研究进展.使人们能够深入认识核苷糖转换酶在植物生长发育中的重要作用,并且为人工改造植物细胞壁提供了理论依据.然而,对核苷糖转换酶的转录调控和代谢调节等方面研究还有待加强.     

Inheritance Beyond Plain Heritability: Variance-Controlling Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

The phenotypic effect of a gene is normally described by the mean-difference between alternative genotypes. A gene may, however, also influence the phenotype by causing a difference in variance between genotypes. Here, we reanalyze a publicly available Arabidopsis thaliana dataset [1] and show that genetic variance heterogeneity appears to be as common as normal additive effects on a genomewide scale. The study also develops theory to estimate the contributions of variance differences between genotypes to the phenotypic variance, and this is used to show that individual loci can explain more than 20% of the phenotypic variance. Two well-studied systems, cellular control of molybdenum level by the ion-transporter MOT1 and flowering-time regulation by the FRI-FLC expression network, and a novel association for Leaf serration are used to illustrate the contribution of major individual loci, expression pathways, and gene-by-environment interactions to the genetic variance heterogeneity.