单胚RT-PCR：基因表达动态研究及应用技术探讨

为进一步探讨单胚RT-PCR技术的适用性,我们测试了3个特定的基因STM、MP和ASKη在拟南芥(Arabidopsisthaliana(L.)Heynh.)早期胚胎发生过程中的动态表达情况。进一步证实以该技术研究某些特定基因的表达动态是可行的。着重探讨了扩增产量与模板量的对应关系、基因组DNA的干扰以及DNaseⅠ处理过程中的mRNA降解等主要技术问题。结果表明:材料制备时显微操作技术的稳定是确保单胚RT-PCR结果稳定的关键。应尽量缩短DNaseⅠ处理时间,以避免mRNA降解。     

甲胎蛋白基因的DNase Ⅰ敏感性和超敏感区与基因表达的关系

我们用大鼠AFP基因cDNA pRAF 87和5'端基因克隆片段为探针,分别探测了AFP基因活跃表达的胚肝组织、具表达潜能的成年肝组织以及不表达的肾组织AFP基因转录区和调控区的DNase Ⅰ敏感性和超敏感区。结果表明;胚肝组织和成年肝组织AFP基因在转录区和5'端调控区都显示出较高的DNase Ⅰ敏感性,而肾组织则不敏感。胚肝组织AFP基因存在三个DNase Ⅰ超敏感区:基因转录起始区,离转录起始区上游约-3 kb左右区域,另一超敏感区位于基因内部4.1 kb EcoR Ⅰ片段内。成年肝组织在转录起始区也存在一超敏感区,在基因内部4.1 kb EcoR Ⅰ片段显示较高的DNase Ⅰ敏感性。推测AFP基因上游-3 kb区域(1.5 kb HindⅢ片段区)DNase Ⅰ超敏感区可能与增强基因转录活性相关,而转录起始区超敏感区可能是维持细胞组织专一性表达所必需,基因转录区域内部DNase Ⅰ超敏感区可能与AFP基因维持具活跃表达或潜能表达的染色质空间结构相关。     

凡纳滨对虾DNaseⅠ基因的克隆及原核表达

利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)肝胰腺中克隆了DNaseⅠ基因的全长cDNA序列。该序列全长1614bp,包含1209bp的开放阅读框,编码一个含403个氨基酸的蛋白;5′非翻译区为116bp,3′非翻译区为289bp。实时定量PCR分析结果表明,DNaseⅠ基因在肝胰腺的表达量是其他器官表达量的16～162倍,表明凡纳滨对虾DNaseⅠ基因属于胰腺型表达。本研究还利用酶切重组构建原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中成功表达出了有活性的重组DNaseⅠ蛋白。     

用半定量RT-PCR方法分析小麦TaMlo-A1c基因的表达

以小麦稳定表达的肌动蛋白基因(Actin)作为对照,利用半定量反转录聚合酶链式反应(Semi-QRT-PCR)技术,对与抗白粉病有关的小麦(TriticumaestivumL.)TaMlo-A1c基因的表达进行了研究。结果发现:TaMlo-A1c基因在小麦的叶、茎、根中均表达,穗中不表达,在白粉菌(Blumeriagraminis(DC.)E.O.Speerf.sp.triticiEm.Marchal,Bgt)诱导不同时间后小麦叶片中的表达稍微有所增强。研究表明,用半定量RT-PCR技术研究小麦基因表达,具有特异性高、操作简便和可靠性强的优点。     

FoxO1抑制猪骨骼肌MyHC Ⅰ的表达

为研究FoxO1与骨骼肌纤维类型之间的关系,本试验以大白猪为实验材料,利用RT-PCR和Western印迹技术,检测了FoxO1与肌纤维类型标志基因MyHCⅠ、MyHCⅡa、MyHCⅡb和MyHCⅡx在特定骨骼肌中的表达规律,以及调控肌纤维类型关键基因Mef2c和NFAT的表达,并用Wortmannin处理原代培养的猪骨骼肌成肌细胞,检测了FoxO1与肌纤维类型相关基因的表达.结果显示,FoxO1在不同骨骼肌类型中mRNA表达差异不显著(P0.05),其蛋白表达与MyHC各亚型显著相关.Wortmannin处理结果显示,在处理的第3和5d,FoxO1蛋白与MyHCⅡb,MyHCⅡx和NFAT表达显著正相关,而与MyHCⅠ,MyHCⅡa和Mef2c表达显著负相关.结果表明,FoxO1通过抑制MyHCⅠ的表达调控肌纤维类型.     

兔植入前移核胚中发育相关基因的差异表达分析

与早期胚胎发育相关的一些重要基因异常表达致使克隆胚细胞核的再程序化过程受阻,是导致动物克隆失败的重要原因.为了分离鉴定再程序化相关基因,我们改进了mRNA差异显示技术,成功地建立了单胚差示技术体系.以不同发育时期的兔克隆胚（MⅡ卵、2细胞、4细胞、8～16细胞克隆胚胎）为材料进行单胚差示, 分离了80个差异片段.经反向RNA印迹验证、亚克隆、序列分析及NCBI GenBank数据库检索, 结果表明：A028片段与CstF3基因有93％的同源性, 在早期胚胎发育过程中的表达有阶段特异性, 该基因在兔克隆胚的早期发育过程中起重要作用.RNA印迹显示：该基因在所检测的组织中,只在卵巢中有表达.这项研究为再程序化相关基因全长的克隆及功能研究奠定了良好的基础.     

以点杂交方法对人β型血珠蛋白基因的染色质结构与功能进行的研究

我采用点杂交的方法,对人β型血珠蛋白基因簇的染色质结构与基因转录活性之间的关系进行了研究。以对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性作为染色质的结构参数,我将β型血珠蛋白基因簇中11个区域之间以及其与不表达基因区(乳糖白蛋白和免疫球蛋白不变区λ轻链基因)的染色结构进行比较。实验的细胞系统为K 562红白血病细胞与人胚皮肤细胞株(HES)。所获得的结果提示,在细胞核内,表达基因的染色质结构疏松,对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性远较不表达基因区的为高。此外,本文还对有关点杂交的方法学问题进行了较为详尽的讨论。     

瑞氏木霉EG I 3＇-UTR 对基因在酿酒酵母中表达的影响

将纤维素降解菌丝状真菌瑞氏木霉内切葡聚糖酶I(EGI)全长cDNA克隆于酿酒酵母H158中得到表达.重组酿酒酵母产生的EG Ⅰ的最适pH值为5.0,最适作用温度为50℃～60℃.EGI cDNA中的3＇-非翻译区(3＇-UTR)序列的删除导致EGI基因在酵母菌中没有活性产物表达.通过RT-PCR技术检测EGI mRNA转录水平的结果表明,带有3＇-UTR的EG[cDNA在酿酒酵母中具有明显的转录产物生成,但删除3＇-UTR之后的EG I cDNA却检测不到转录产物.这说明EG Ⅰ的3＇-UTR对基因在酵母菌中的表达具有重要作用.     

番茄SlmiR393基因超表达载体的构建及其靶基因鉴定

为研究番茄(Lycopersicum esculentum)的SlmiR393基因功能,采用生物信息学方法从番茄基因组数据库中获得SlmiR393的前体序列及其潜在的靶基因。以基因组DNA为模板,克隆了番茄SlmiR393前体基因并整合到pLP35S-100植物表达载体;采用5′ RACE RT-PCR技术验证SlmiR393对预测靶基因mRNA的剪切作用,采用定量PCR技术检测SlmiR393及其靶标基因在番茄不同组织的表达。结果表明,SlmiR393的前体序列含有完整的茎环结构;成熟miR393与3个生长素受体同源基因(SlTIR1、SlTIR1-like1和SlAFB)之间具有识别作用位点。SlmiR393可对番茄3个靶基因的转录本进行剪切降解;SlmiR393与3个不同靶基因(SlTIR1、SlTIR1-like1和SlAFB)的表达模式在叶和茎、花蕾、花中存在一定的互补关系。因此,推断番茄中的SlmiR393可能在特定的组织或发育时期介导特定的靶基因mRNA的剪切降解, 初步证实生长素受体同源基因为SlmiR393的靶基因。此外,成功构建以CaMV 35S为启动子的植物表达载体pLP35S-pre-SlmiR393, 为深入研究SlmiR393在番茄生长素信号转导中的功能奠定了基础。     

抑制Rent1表达对HeLa细胞黏附能力的影响

Rent1是无义介导的mRNA降解(NMD)通路中的关键因子之一,通过引导含有提前出现的终止密码子(PTC)的mRNA至P-body,从而引发mRNA降解.为了进一步研究Rent1的生理功能,应用RNA干扰(RNAi)技术抑制Rent1的表达.试验发现,抑制Rent1的表达能够增强HeLa细胞对纤维粘连蛋白的黏附能力,另外,抑制Rent1的表达能够增加整合素基因ITGA2、ITGA3、ITGA6、ITGB5的表达.     

Establishment of a reproducible tissue culture system for the induction of Arabidopsis somatic embryos

Somatic embryogenesis is an example of totipotency and is used as a model system for studying embryogenesis. A reproducible tissue culture system was established for the large-scale induction of Arabidopsis somatic embryos. The method allows maintenance of high embryogenic competence over a one-year period. Using this tissue culture system, the expression of embryo-specific genes (ABI3, LEC1, FUS3) was detected in embryogenic cells and somatic embryos. Exogenous application of abscisic acid enhanced the expression of some late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) protein genes in somatic embryos. The experiments show that the method can be used to obtain sufficient amounts of embryogenic material for basic molecular analyses.     

The ASK1 and ASK2 genes are essential for Arabidopsis early development

The requirement of CUL1 for Arabidopsis embryogenesis suggests that Skp1-CUL1-F-box protein (SCF) complexes play important roles during embryo development. Among the 21 Arabidopsis Skp1-like genes (ASKs), it is unknown which ASK gene(s) is essential for embryo development. In this study, we demonstrate a vital role for ASK1 and ASK2 in Arabidopsis embryogenesis and postembryonic development through analysis of the ask1 ask2 double mutant. Our detailed analysis indicates that the double mutations in both ASK1 and ASK2 affect cell division and cell expansion/elongation and cause a developmental delay during embryogenesis and lethality in seedling growth. The expression patterns of ASK1 and ASK2 were examined further and found to be consistent with their roles in embryogenesis and seedling development. We propose that mutations in ASK1 and ASK2 abolish all of the ASK1- and ASK2-based SCF and non-SCF complexes, resulting in alteration of gene expression and leading to defects in growth and development.     

Single-embryo RT-PCR assay to study gene expression dynamics during embryogenesis in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

We have developed a single-embryo RT-PCR protocol for studying gene expression during plant embryogenesis. Four genes,glyceraldhyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPC), shoot-meristemless (STM), monopteros (MP), andshaggy-like kinase etha (ASKη), fromArabidopsis thaliana were used to test the sensitivity and reliability of this method by analyzing the differential signal intensities of their RT-PCR products. The method could detect genes expressed during embryogenesis at a single-embryo level and, therefore, can be used to identify phenotypes. When in vitro, embryogenesis also is used to control the time course of zygote development exactly. The single-embryo RT-PCR protocol becomes a powerful method to survey the dynamics of specific gene expression.     

Nucleostemin-like 1 is required for embryogenesis and leaf development in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis NSN1 encodes a nucleolar GTP-binding protein and is required for flower development. Defective flowers were formed in heterozygous nsn1/+?plants. Homozygous nsn1 plants were dwarf and exhibited severe defects in reproduction. Arrests in embryo development in nsn1 could occur at any stage of embryogenesis. Cotyledon initiation and development during embryogenesis were distorted in nsn1 plants. At the seedling stage, cotyledons and leaves of nsn1 formed upward curls. The curled leaves developed meristem-like outgrowths or hyperplasia tissues in the adaxial epidermis. Long and enlarged pavement cells, characteristic of the abaxial epidermis of wild type plants, were found in the adaxial epidermis in nsn1 leaves, suggesting a disoriented leaf polarity in the mutant. The important role of NSN1 in embryo development and leaf differentiation was consistent with the high level expression of the NSN1 gene in the developing embryos and the primordia of cotyledons and leaves. The CLAVATA 3 (CLV3) gene, a stem cell marker in the Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem (SAM), was expressed in expanded regions surrounding the SAM of nsn1 plants, and induced ectopically in the meristem-like outgrowths in cotyledons and leaves. The nsn1 mutation up-regulated the expression levels of several genes implicated in the meristem identity and the abaxial cell fate, and repressed the expression of other genes related to the specification of cotyledon boundary and abaxial identity. These results demonstrate that NSN1 represents a novel GTPase required for embryogenesis, leaf development and leaf polarity establishment in Arabidopsis.     

Auxin-induced WUS expression is essential for embryonic stem cell renewal during somatic embryogenesis in Arabidopsis

Somatic embryogenesis requires auxin and establishment of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). WUSCHEL ( WUS ) is critical for stem cell fate determination in the SAM of higher plants. However, regulation of WUS expression by auxin during somatic embryogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we show that expression of several regulatory genes important in zygotic embryogenesis were up-regulated during somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis. Interestingly, WUS expression was induced within the embryonic callus at a time when somatic embryos could not be identified morphologically or molecularly. Correct WUS expression, regulated by a defined critical level of exogenous auxin, is essential for somatic embryo induction. Furthermore, it was found that auxin gradients were established in specific regions that could then give rise to somatic embryos. The establishment of auxin gradients was correlated with the induced WUS expression. Moreover, the auxin gradients appear to activate PIN1 polar localization within the embryonic callus. Polarized PIN1 is probably responsible for the observed polar auxin transport and auxin accumulation in the SAM and somatic embryo. Suppression of WUS and PIN1 indicated that both genes are necessary for embryo induction through their regulation of downstream gene expression. Our results reveal that establishment of auxin gradients and PIN1-mediated polar auxin transport are essential for WUS induction and somatic embryogenesis. This study sheds new light on how auxin regulates stem cell formation during somatic embryogenesis.