Cell differentiation features in embryos resulting from interphylum nuclear transplantation: echinoderm nucleus to ascidian zygote cytoplasm

When an echinoderm nucleus was transplanted into an ascidian zygote cytoplast there was developmental cooperation at the cellular level between nucleus and cytoplasm of these normally nonhybridizable species. A blastula stage nucleus from the sand dollar Echinarachnius parma was injected into an activated but nonnucleate egg fragment of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. During culture, some of the "hybrid" embryos displayed ultrastructural evidence of cellular differentiation. Two recognizable features were (1) extracellular matrix components, and (2) neural cell characteristics, including elaboration of associated cilia. Nonnucleate zygote fragments alone, and such fragments injected with seawater or punctured by glass needle, did not develop organized subcellular structures. Morphologic expressions resulting from nuclear transplantations between these two phyla (Echinodermata and Chordata) seemingly indicate functional interactions at a gene regulatory level. Creation of such nuclear-cytoplasmic hybrids suggests thereby a means of exploring the nature of the egg cytoplasmic agents in ascidian embryos that appear to determine gene expression related to histospecific differentiation products.     

Maternal information and localized maternal mRNAs in eggs and early embryos of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi

Summary

The mosaic behavior of blastomeres isolated from ascidian embryos has been taken as evidence that localized ooplasmic factors (cytoplasmic determinants) specify tissue precursor cells during embryogenesis. Experiments involving the transfer of egg cytoplasm have revealed the presence and localization of various kinds of cytoplasmic determinants in eggs of Halocynthia roretzi. Three cell fates, epidermis, muscle and endoderm, are fixed by cytoplasmic determinants. The three kinds of tissue determinants move in different directions during ooplasmic segregation. Prior to the onset of the first cleavage the three kinds of determinants reside in egg regions that correspond to the future fate map of the embryo and then they are differentially partitioned into specific blastomeres. In addition to tissue-specific determinants, there is evidence suggesting that ascidian eggs contain localized cytoplasmic factors that are responsible for controlling the cleavage pattern and morphogenetic movements. Transplantation of posterior-vegetal egg cytoplasm to an anterior-vegetal position causes a reversal of the anterior-posterior polarity of the cleavage pattern. Localized cytoplasmic factors in the posterior-vegetal region are involved in the generation of a unique cleavage pattern. When vegetal pole cytoplasm is transplanted to the animal pole or equatorial position of the egg, ectopic gastrulation occurs at the site of transplantation. This finding supports the idea that vegetal pole cytoplasm specifies the site of gastrulation. Recently, we started a cDNA project to analyze maternal mRNAs. An arrayed cDNA library of fertilized eggs of H. roretzi was constructed, and more than 2000 clones have been partially sequenced so far. To estimate the proportion of the maternal mRNAs that are localized in the egg and embryo, 150 randomly selected clones were examined by in situ hybridization. We found eight mRNAs that are localized in the eight-cell embryo, of which three were localized to the myoplasm (a specific region of the egg cytoplasm that is partitioned into muscle-lineage blastomeres) of the egg, and then to the postplasm of cleavage-stage embryos. These results indicate that the proportion of localized messages is much higher than we expected. These localized maternal messages may be involved in the regulation of various developmental processes.     

Deficient induction response in a Xenopus nucleocytoplasmic hybrid

Incompatibilities between the nucleus and the cytoplasm of sufficiently distant species result in developmental arrest of hybrid and nucleocytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) embryos. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain their lethality, including problems in embryonic genome activation (EGA) and/or nucleo-mitochondrial interactions. However, conclusive identification of the causes underlying developmental defects of cybrid embryos is still lacking. We show here that while over 80% of both Xenopus laevis and Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis same-species androgenetic haploids develop to the swimming tadpole stage, the androgenetic cybrids formed by the combination of X. laevis egg cytoplasm and X. tropicalis sperm nucleus invariably fail to gastrulate properly and never reach the swimming tadpole stage. In spite of this arrest, these cybrids show quantitatively normal EGA and energy levels at the stage where their initial gastrulation defects are manifested. The nucleocytoplasmic incompatibility between these two species instead results from a combination of factors, including a reduced emission of induction signal from the vegetal half, a decreased sensitivity of animal cells to induction signals, and differences in a key embryonic protein (Xbra) concentration between the two species, together leading to inefficient induction and defective convergence-extension during gastrulation. Indeed, increased exposure to induction signals and/or Xbra signalling partially rescues the induction response in animal explants and whole cybrid embryos. Altogether, our study demonstrates that the egg cytoplasm of one species may not support the development promoted by the nucleus of another species, even if this nucleus does not interfere with the cytoplasmic/maternal functions of the egg, while the egg cytoplasm is also capable of activating the genome of that nucleus. Instead, our results provide evidence that inefficient signalling and differences in the concentrations of key proteins between species lead to developmental defects in cybrids. Finally, they show that the incompatibilities of cybrids can be corrected by appropriate treatments.     

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN EPHEDRA NEVADENSIS (EPHEDRACEAE): FURTHER EVIDENCE OF DOUBLE FERTILIZATION IN A NONFLOWERING SEED PLANT

Since the initial discovery of double fertilization in angiosperms in 1898, a number of reports of double fertilization-like events in the genus Ephedra have appeared. Until recently, convincing documentation of double fertilization in Ephedra had not been presented. In Ephedra nevadensis, following entry of a single binucleate sperm cell into the egg cell, one sperm nucleus migrates in a chalazal direction to fuse with the egg nucleus. Contemporaneous with this first fertilization event, the ventral canal nucleus regularly migrates from its initially apical position within the egg cell to a more central position within the egg cytoplasm, where it fuses with a second sperm nucleus. Based on quantitative microspectrofluorometric analysis, occasional supernumerary nuclei within the egg cell (derived by migration through pores in the cell walls between jacket cells and the central cell or egg cell) can be ruled out as participating in the second fertilization event. The evolutionary establishment of double fertilization in Ephedra (or its ancestors) was dependent on a number of specific developmental preconditions: 1) persistence of the ventral canal nucleus (which is degenerate in many groups of nonflowering seed plants) through the time of normal fertilization; 2) regular displacement of the ventral canal nucleus from its initially apical position within the egg cell to a position within the egg cytoplasm where fusion of the egg nucleus with the first sperm nucleus earlier occurred; 3) acquisition of egg-like features by the ventral canal nucleus that allow it to attract and fuse with a sperm nucleus; and 4) consistent entry of a second sperm nucleus into the archegonial cavity to participate in a second fertilization event. Although it cannot be determined definitively whether double fertilization in Ephedra is evolutionarily homologous with double fertilization in flowering plants, comparative evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that double fertilization arose in a common ancestor of the Gnetales and angiosperms.     

龙眼体细胞胚胎发生过程中DlWUS的克隆与表达分析

以龙眼‘红核子’LC2悬浮细胞系诱导的胚性愈伤组织为基本材料,按照龙眼体细胞胚胎同步化方法诱导获得龙眼体胚不同阶段材料,并以龙眼体细胞胚胎发生不同阶段混合材料作为试验材料,采用RT-PCR结合RACE技术分离并克隆龙眼中编码同源异型结构域蛋白的转录因子WUSCHEL(简称DlWUS)的cDNA全长及DNA序列,并进行序列分析与表达分析。结果表明:DlWUS的cDNA全长1 110bp,开放阅读框(ORF)858bp,共编码285个氨基酸(GenBank登录号为KM017506),DlWUS的DNA包含2个内含子。序列分析表明,DlWUS是一个不稳定的亲水蛋白,不含信号肽,亚细胞定位于细胞核,具跨膜结构和Homeodomain超级家族的保守结构域以及WUS转录因子家族特有的WUS box和EAR-like结构域,推测该目的基因确实为WUS转录因子。系统进化分析显示,龙眼DlWUS与脐橙WUS归为一个分支,亲缘关系较近。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,在龙眼体细胞胚胎发生整个过程中,DlWUS均有表达,但仅在球形胚时期表达量较高,说明DlWUS可能主要在球形胚阶段发挥作用,并且在一定浓度范围内,外源施加IAA和GA3能够促进DlWUS基因的表达,而外源施加SA则抑制DlWUS基因的表达。     

ORGANIZATION OF ISOLATED EMBRYO SACS AND EGGS OF PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA (PLUMBAGINACEAE) BEFORE AND AFTER FERTILIZATION

The organization of isolated embryo sacs and eggs of Plumbago zeylanica was described before and after fertilization using microscopic cytochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. Major developmental events of fertilization, including preferential fertilization and early embryogenesis, are described in isolated embryo sacs. The two sperms, one unassociated with vegetative nucleus (S_ua) and the other physically associated with the vegetative nucleus (S_vn), fuse with nuclei of egg and central cell, respectively. The zygote divides asymmetrically to form a two-celled embryo, consisting of a massive suspensor occupying most of the micropylar portion of the embryo during early embryogenesis. Plastids are distributed in the perinuclear and micropylar regions of the egg cell and in cytoplasmic strands of the central cell before fertilization. Calcofluor white-positive fibrillar material in the filiform apparatus (presumed β-1,4 linked glucans) was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The egg of P. zeylanica can easily be divided into three cytologically distinct regions: 1) perinuclear cytoplasm, 2) lateral cytoplasm, and 3) micropylar cytoplasm. Cytological differences are evident in the organization of the cell walls, general degree of vacuolization, and the distribution of heritable organelles, storage bodies, and microtubules. The present study supports the concept that the egg of P. zeylanica plays combined synergid and gamete functions.     

Structure of the coding region and mRNA variants of the apyrase gene from pea (Pisum sativum)

Partial amino acid sequences of a 49 kDa apyrase (ATP diphosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.5) from the cytoskeletal fraction of etiolated pea stems were used to derive oligonucleotide DNA primers to generate a cDNA fragment of pea apyrase mRNA by RT-PCR and these primers were used to screen a pea stem cDNA library. Two almost identical cDNAs differing in just 6 nucleotides within the coding regions were found, and these cDNA sequences were used to clone genomic fragments by PCR. Two nearly identical gene fragments containing 8 exons and 7 introns were obtained. One of them (H-type) encoded the mRNA sequence described by Hsieh et al. (1996) (DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Z32743), while the other (S-type) differed by the same 6 nucleotides as the mRNAs, suggesting that these genes may be alleles. The six nucleotide differences between these two alleles were found solely in the first exon, and these mutation sites had two types of consensus sequences. These mRNAs were found with varying lengths of 3′ untranslated regions (3′-UTR). There are some similarities between the 3′-UTR of these mRNAs and those of actin and actin binding proteins in plants. The putative roles of the 3′-UTR and alternative polyadenylation sites are discussed in relation to their possible role in targeting the mRNAs to different subcellular compartments. Sequence data from this article were deposited with the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under Accession Nos. Genomic sequences of pea apyrase: AB023621, AB030444, AB030445, AB038554, AB038555. cDNA sequences of pea apyrase: AB022319, AB027614, AB038668, AB038669.     

Lipovitellins derived from two forms of vitellogenin are differentially processed during oocyte maturation in haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

In the process of cloning vitellogenin (Vtg) cDNAs from haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), two related, but distinct, mRNAs were identified. Full-length cDNA sequences were determined for both Vtg types (Had1 and Had2), and the deduced amino acid sequences were found to be 54% identical to each other and 48-58% identical to other teleost Vtgs. To investigate the expression of the two Vtg mRNAs, proteins from prehydrated oocytes and fertilized eggs were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Only a single lipovitellin I band was detected in each sample, and the egg lipovitellin I was smaller (97 vs. 110 kDa) than the oocyte protein, indicative of proteolytic processing during oocyte hydration. Mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOFMS and tandem mass spectrometry) analyses of tryptic fragments from the haddock oocyte and egg lipovitellin I revealed that the lipovitellin I from prehydrated oocytes contained tryptic fragments that matched the sequences of both types of Vtg, suggesting that there were two proteins in this band, while the egg lipovitellin I contained tryptic fragments that only matched the Had1 cDNA sequence, indicating that the Had2 lipovitellin had been degraded during hydration. Physiological data from haddock oocytes and eggs demonstrate that, as in other marine fish that spawn pelagic eggs, the free amino acid content increases during oocyte hydration and apparently contributes to hydration by driving the osmotic uptake of water. The correlation of the disappearance of one lipovitellin I with the increase of free amino acids in the oocyte suggests that this protein is a major source of the free amino acids for oocyte hydration.     

番石榴实蝇性别决定基因 Bcotra 和 Bcotra-2 的克隆、序列特征及表达分析

【目的】对番石榴实蝇 Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi)性别决定基因 transformer 和 transformer 2 的cDNA和基因组DNA序列进行克隆和分析,明确这2个基因的结构特征及其在不同发育阶段和雌、雄成虫不同组织中的表达模式,为进一步的功能研究和番石榴实蝇遗传性别品系(genetic sexing strain, GSS)的建立奠定基础。【方法】利用PCR结合RACE技术克隆番石榴实蝇2个性别决定基因的cDNA全长和内含子序列,利用不同的生物信息学软件对序列进行结构预测、序列比对和进化树分析;利用半定量RT-PCR检测这2个基因在番石榴实蝇的不同发育阶段及雌、雄成虫不同组织(精巢、卵巢、中肠和脂肪体)中的表达分布。【结果】克隆得到番石榴实蝇 transformer 和 transformer 2 的cDNA全长序列,分别命名为 Bcotra 和 Bcotra-2 。 Bcotra 存在性别特异剪接,雌虫 Bcotra 的cDNA全长1 673 bp,其开放读码框(ORF)为1 242 bp,编码413个氨基酸(GenBank登录号为KP712876);雄虫Bcotra cDNA全长2 025 bp,比雌虫多2个外显子,但由于外显子上有多个终止密码子,因此,不能编码完整的有功能的Tra蛋白(GenBank登录号为KP712877)。 Bcotra-2 不存在性别特异剪接,cDNA全长1 458 bp,其开放读码框(ORF)为756 bp,编码251个氨基酸,具有RNA结合蛋白的典型特征(GenBank登录号为KM658207)。Bcotra-2有8个外显子,7个内含子。氨基酸序列比对和系统进化关系表明,两个基因的系统发育关系一致,Tra-2与目前已报道的双翅目Tra-2具有很高的同源性,而Tra的保守性较Tra-2要低。半定量RT-PCR结果显示, Bcotra 和 Bcotra-2 在番石榴实蝇的不同发育阶段及雌、雄成虫不同组织中都有表达。【结论】本研究明确了Bcotra 和 Bcotra-2 的基因组DNA和cDNA结构特征,Bcotra 和 Bcotra-2 在番石榴实蝇的不同发育阶段和成虫不同组织中均有表达,序列分析发现这两个性别决定基因均具有Tra/Tra-2结合位点、内含子剪接抑制序列位点,其中 Bcotra 具有RNA结合蛋白的结合位点,暗示了这2个基因可能通过翻译后相互作用调控雌、雄体性发育。Bcotra 存在性别特异剪接,雌虫特有的一段963 bp的内含子序列可以用于番石榴实蝇遗传定性品系的载体构建。     

EMBRYO AND ORGAN CULTURES OF THE HORSESHOE CRAB,TACHYPLEUS TRIDENTATUS*

This paper deals with some preliminary technical experiments on cultures of the embryos and organs of Tachypleus tridentatus. In embryo culture, using the embryos at various stages of development, embryonic areas with hardly any yolk remaining in them were cultured in various media and by various methods (Series A); hemispheres of embryos containing the embryonic area (Series B) and whole embryos without egg membranes (Series C) were cultured in sterilized sea water. The suitability of the culture media and methods is described; the medium containing calf serum or 199, and the hanging-drop method were found to be the most appropriate of those used in respective series of experiments. The changes in external and internal structures of the explants from embryos at various developmental stages cultured in various media and by various methods are described; dorsal closure, secretion of inner egg membrane, thickening of the cell layer and the elongation of limb buds were all observed in the Series A experiments. In Series B and C, coelom formation and also normal development of the embryos cultured after the 2nd embryonic moulting were observed. In organ culture, fragments of the embryonic heart were cultured in various media and by various methods. The hanging-drop method resulted in longer survival than the method using agar media.     

雌核发育银鲫原肠期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎差异表达基因的呈现

构建了雌核发育银鲫原肠期胚胎和尾芽期胚胎间的抑制性差减杂交cDNA质粒文库。对原肠期’739个和尾芽期816个PCR阳性克隆进行斑点杂交,得到72个原肠期和98个尾芽期斑点杂交阳性克隆。测序和基因数据库比对结果表明：72个原肠期斑点杂交阳性克隆中,包括19个已知基因的cDNA片段和31个没有同源性的cDNA片段;98个尾芽期斑点杂交阳性克隆中,包括52个已知基因的cDNA片段和37个没有同源性的cDNA片段。采用虚拟Northern杂交和RT-PCR证实了部分基因在银鲫胚胎发育过程中的差异表达。这些差异表达基因的呈现为进一步研究银鲫胚胎发育的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Paternal cytoplasmic transmission in Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis)

Summary. In this paper, the stages of normal sexual reproduction between pollen tube penetration of the archegonium and early embryo formation in Pinus tabulaeformis are described, emphasizing the transmission of parental cytoplasm, especially the DNA-containing organelles – plastids and mitochondria. The pollen tube growing in the nucellus contained an irregular tube nucleus followed by a pair of sperm cells. The tube cytoplasm contained abundant organelles, including starch-containing plastids and mitochondria. The two sperm cells differed in their volume of cytoplasm. The leading sperm, with more cytoplasm, contained abundant plastids and mitochondria, while the trailing one, with a thin layer of cytoplasm, had very few organelles. The mature egg cell contained a great number of mitochondria, whereas it lacked normal plastids. At fertilization, the pollen tube penetrated into the egg cell at the micropylar end and released all of its contents, including the two sperms. One of the sperm nuclei fused with the egg nucleus, whereas the other one was retained by the receptive vacuole. Very few plastids and mitochondria of male origin were observed around the fusing sperm and egg nuclei, while the retained sperm nucleus was surrounded by a large amount of male cytoplasm. The discharged tube cytoplasm occupied a large micropylar area in the egg cell. In the free nuclear proembryo, organelles of maternal and paternal origins intermingled in the neocytoplasm around the free nuclei. Most of the mitochondria had the same features as those of the egg cell, but some appeared to be from sperm cells and tube cytoplasm. Plastids were obviously of male origin, with an appearance similar to those of the sperm or tube cells. After cellularization of the proembryo, maternal mitochondria became more abundant than the paternal ones and the plastids enlarged and began to accumulate starch. The results reveal the cytological mechanism for paternal inheritance of plastids and biparental inheritance of mitochondria in Chinese pine. Correspondence and reprints: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of China.     

A comparison of transplantable bicoid activity and partial bicoid homeobox sequences in several Drosophila and blowfly species (Calliphoridae)

In order to test for bicoid-like activity in insects other than Drosophila melanogaster, anterior egg cytoplasm from the following species was injected into cleavage stage embryos from mutant D. melanogaster lacking a functional bicoid (bcd) product: six other Drosophila species, the housefly, three blowfly species, the primitive cyclorrhaphic dipteran Megaselia, and the honeybee Apis mellifera; preliminary tests were made with four lower dipterans (Nematocera). Rescue effects were only observed with the drosophilids, housefly, and two of the three blowfly species. Rescue was stronger with the drosophilids than with the other flies as donors. Where checked (D. pseudoobscura), a positive correlation was found between the amount of cytoplasm injected and the number of pattern elements formed, suggesting threshold effects upon target genes as with the endogenous bcd product. By polymerase chain reaction, fragments from a bcd-orthologous homeobox were cloned from the three blowfly species. The derived sequence of 43 amino acids was identical in all blowflies and the housefly but differed at 4 positions from the orthologous D. melanogaster sequence. Localization of the mRNA recognized by the respective fragments in the blowflies Lucilia and Phormia resembled that known from D. melanogaster, while Calliphora — the blowfly species lacking rescue activity —showed remarkable differences of localization in both ovarian follicles and the deposited egg cell. This surprising divergence within a morphologically rather uniform family of cyclorrhaphic dipterans should be of interest from both functional and evolutionary points of view.     

Developmental expression of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH3) in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is the primary enzyme responsible for metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde. One class of ADH has been described in fish, and has been found to be structurally similar to mammalian class III ADH (glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase) but functionally similar to class I ADH (primarily responsible for ethanol metabolism). We have cloned a cDNA by RT-PCR from zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver representing the zebrafish ADH3 gene product, with a coding region of 1131 nucleotides. The deduced amino acid sequences share 90% identity to ADH3 from the marine fish Sparus aurata, and 82 and 81% identity to the mouse and human sequences, respectively. Using a quantitative competitive RT-PCR assay, ADH3 mRNA was detected at all timepoints analyzed and was lowest between 8 and 24 h postfertilization. Thus, differential ADH3 expression may be at least partly responsible for temporal variations in the sensitivity of zebrafish embryos to developmental alcohol exposure.     

Pollen tube penetration and fertilization in Lilium longiflorum (Liliaceae)

The ultrastructure of the embryo sac, nucellus, and parts of the micropyle of Lilium longiflorum were studied both before and after pollen tube penetration to examine the interactions between ovule and pollen tube, using transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy. Before pollen tube penetration the egg cell and two synergids are similar. No filiform apparatus was detected and no synergid degeneration occurs prior to pollen tube penetration. The polar nuclei do not fuse until fertilization. No differences in embryo sac ultrastructure were detected between pollinated ovules unpenetrated by pollen tubes and unpollinated flowers of a comparable age. Shortly after the discharge of the pollen tube two enucleated cytoplasmic bodies with different ribosome densities were observed in the degenerated cytoplasm. These structures border both on the central cell and the egg cell as well as each other and are interpreted as remains of sperm cytoplasm after transmission of sperm nuclei. In the central cell both the sperm nucleus and the polar nuclei are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER is thought to be a transport mechanism to achieve contact between the haploid polar nuclei and the sperm nucleus. In the egg cell sperm nucleus alignment is not visibly achieved by ER. The persistent cells of the egg apparatus and the central cell appear to become more metabolically active after pollen tube penetration. Pollen tube penetration already occurs despite the absence of a filiform apparatus and a low level of differences between the cells of the egg apparatus.     

Developmental incompatibility between cell nucleus and cytoplasm as revealed by nuclear transplantation experiments in teleost of different families and orders

Teleosts from different families and orders were used as materials for nuclear transplantation experiments. (1) The nuclei of goldfish (Carassius auratus, family Cyprinidae, order Cypriniformes) were transplanted into the enucleated egg cytoplasm of loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus, family Cobitidae, order Cypriniformes) and vice-versa. (2) The nuclei of Tilapia (oreochromis nilotica, order Perciformes) were transplanted into the enucleated egg cytoplasm of goldfish (Carassius auratus, order Cypriniformes). The chromosome number of the nucleus donor fish is different from that of the cytoplasmic recipient fish in each of the two combinations. In the first case, only a few early nucleo-cytoplasmic hybrid (NCH) larval fish were obtained in each combination. In second case, even though a high percentage of NCH blastulas were also obtained, the majority of them died at the same developmental stage, except a few which survived until early gastrula stage. The examination of the metaphase chromosome figures of the NCH blastulas or embryos obtained in all three combinations indicated that they were of nucleus-donor type. The developmental rates of all the NCH eggs were similar to those of cytoplasmic-recipient type. Scanning electronmicroscopy examination showed that the morphology of NCH blastula cells, which were obtained from the combination of Tilapia nucleus and goldfish cytoplasm, manifested obviously abnormal features and the cells were arrested at different stages of cell disintegration. Two-dimension polyacrylamide gel electrophoretograms of the homogenates of Tilapia, goldfish and their NCH blastula cells showed that the protein synthetic pattern of NCH blastula was similar to that of Tilapia nucleus type. The results of experiments which failed to obtain NCH adult fish in all three combinations can be explained as a result of developmental incompatibility between the donor nucleus and the enucleated recipient egg cytoplasm, which were from distantly related fish species. And the chromosome numbers of all the component fish of the three combinations which were examined in the experiment and shown to be quite different from each other in the tested fish, should not be overlooked as one of the essential factors causing the developmental incompatibility in NCH fish in this experiment.     

高山植物黄管秦艽cDNA 文库构建与表达序列标签(EST) 分析

黄管秦艽( Gentiana officinalis) 是一种重要的藏药高山植物, 本研究构建了该物种开花期的cDNA 文库。经检测达到中等cDNA 文库水平, 文库滴度为1 . 2×107 pfu􊄯ml , 重组率95.9% , 插入片段平均长度大于500 bp。对343 个随机挑选的重组克隆进行部分测序, 获得的ESTs 经编辑后共有181 条有效序列。经生物信息学方法分析181 条表达序列标签(EST) 代表144 个单克隆序列, 其中55 个与已鉴定的基因同源, 35 个序列与未鉴定的EST 匹配, 54 个未找到同源序列; 后两者共有89 个EST 序列未发现功能相似的蛋白。对已鉴定的EST进行功能分析发现, 相关基因主要编码以下蛋白: 与蛋白表达相关的占35%; 光合作用相关的占22%; 新陈代谢相关的占18%; 抗性相关的占11%; 质膜运输和细胞分裂相关的分别占5% ; 染色体变化和细胞信号转导的分别占2%。根据有效EST 序列设计引物, 通过RT-PCR 进一验证了所得EST 的准确性。这些研究结果为将来研究黄管秦艽的功能基因以及该物种与相关物种的群体遗传学、进化生物学等方面提供了基础。