甘蓝型油菜PEP基因片段的克隆和种子特异性反义表达载体的构建及转基因油菜的获得

丙酮酸羧化酶(PEP)是控制油菜蛋白质/油脂含量比例的一个种子的含油量.本研究利用PCR法从甘蓝型油菜花油5号(H045)克隆了PEP基因片段,并与载体pBI121-B构建了反义PEP基因的种子特异性植物表达载体,通过激光微束穿刺法将其转化到甘蓝型油菜中,目前已获得了转基因植株.     

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (BjFAE1) Gene of Brassica juncea

The Brassica juncea homologue of Arabidopsis thaliana FAE1 gene, which is responsible for elongation of fatty acid chain length from C18 to C20 and C22 was amplified via PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) using heterologous primers. The PCR product was cloned into pGEM-T vector, subcloned and sequenced. The BjFAE1 has 1536-nucleotides and shares 93.6% homology with the A. thaliana counterpart. Southern analysis, using the PCR product as probe, indicated that FAE1 gene is of the same size in all the cultivated Brassica species, i.e. B. juncea, B. nigra, B. campestris, B. oleracea, B. napus and B. carinata. It expresses strongly only in the developing seed and podwall.     

改良红鲫Dmc1基因编码阅读框的克隆及表达

Dmc1基因是一个在减数分裂前期Ⅰ表达的基因,其表达产物为减数分裂时同源染色体配对所必需。本实验根据普通红鲫Dmc1基因编码阅读框(ORF)序列设计引物,克隆了改良红鲫Dmc1基因(命名为IRCC-Dmc1)的ORF序列并将之插入到cDNA5-FRT/TO载体中,构建了改良红鲫Dmc1基因表达载体FRT/TO-IRCC-Dmc1-Myc。以FRT/TO-IRCC-Dmc1-Myc质粒转染HEK293T细胞,蛋白印迹杂交实验检测到改良红鲫Dmc1基因在HEK293T细胞中有着正确的表达。本文为将来进一步研究改良红鲫Dmc1基因的功能打下了基础。     

The Random Nature of Genome Architecture: Predicting Open Reading Frame Distributions

Background

A better understanding of the size and abundance of open reading frames (ORFS) in whole genomes may shed light on the factors that control genome complexity. Here we examine the statistical distributions of open reading frames (i.e. distribution of start and stop codons) in the fully sequenced genomes of 297 prokaryotes, and 14 eukaryotes.

Methodology/Principal Findings

By fitting mixture models to data from whole genome sequences we show that the size-frequency distributions for ORFS are strikingly similar across prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Moreover, we show that i) a large fraction (60–80%) of ORF size-frequency distributions can be predicted a priori with a stochastic assembly model based on GC content, and that (ii) size-frequency distributions of the remaining “non-random” ORFs are well-fitted by log-normal or gamma distributions, and similar to the size distributions of annotated proteins.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest stochastic processes have played a primary role in the evolution of genome complexity, and that common processes govern the conservation and loss of functional genomics units in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.     

pax2启动子的克隆及其在人胚胎肾293T细胞中的转录活性

目的:克隆paired box2(pax2)基因的启动子,插入荧光素酶报告基因载体中,并检测其活性。方法:采用PCR技术从人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7基因组中扩增出pax2启动子,插入荧光素酶报告基因载体pGL3-basic中,确定所扩增的DNA序列。将重组的报告基因瞬时转染人胚胎肾293T细胞,检测pax2启动子活性。结果:测序结果显示扩增的pax2启动子序列正确;活性实验表明构建的报告基因具有启动子活性,雌激素受体α(ERα)能以剂量依赖的方式升高pax2报告基因的转录。结论:克隆了pax2启动子,为ERα共调节子的功能研究提供了重要基础。     

Cloning, Sequencing and Characterization of FAE1 Genes of Brassica juncea cv Pusa Bold and the Mutant fae1 of B. rapa cv Tobin

Level of erucic acid (22:1), the major storage fatty acid of oil seed Brassica, is controlled by the activity of the Fatty Acid Elongation1 (FAE1) gene. Southern hybridization revealed the presence of two FAE1 genes in B. juncea. The two FAE1 genes of B. juncea and the mutant fae1 of B. rapa cv Tobin were isolated from genomic libraries of the respective species and sequenced. The two BjFAE1 gene sequences shared more than 98% homology and contained ORF capable of coding for 509/510 amino acid polypeptides. One of the FAE1 genes of B. juncea was found to be nearly identical (99.6%) to the mutant formof B. rapa suggesting its origin from the later species. Comparison of the sequences generated with one another and with other FAE1 sequences in the database revealed that substitution of C₂₃₃ (cysteine) with G (glycine) might be responsible for the loss of enzyme activity in B. rapa cv Tobin.     

甘蓝型油菜BnGOLS1基因启动子的克隆、序列分析及瞬时表达

以甘蓝型油菜‘德油五号’基因组DNA为模板,通过反向PCR扩增得到肌醇半乳糖苷合成酶基因（BnGOLS1）启动子片段,长度为827bp。PLACE和PlantCARE启动子预测工具分析表明：序列中含有TATA-Box、CAAT-Box等基本转录元件,以及ABRE、DRE、HSE、w-Box等顺式作用元件。将克隆得到的BnGOLS1启动子取代pBI121中的CaMV35S启动子,构建BnGOLS1启动子控制报告基因的GUS表达载体pBI-GS-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的方法在油菜组织中进行瞬时表达。GUS染色结果表明BnGOLS1启动子可以驱动GUS基因在油菜组织中的表达。     

Identification, Cloning, and Characterization of a Novel Ketoreductase from the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7942

A new ketoreductase useful for asymmetric synthesis of chiral alcohols was identified in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942. Mass spectrometry of trypsin-digested peptides identified the protein as 3-ketoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] reductase (KR) (EC 1.1.1.100). The gene, referred to as fabG, was cloned, functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, and subsequently purified to homogeneity. The enzyme displayed a temperature optimum at 44°C and a broad pH optimum between pH 7 and pH 9. The NADPH-dependent KR was able to asymmetrically reduce a variety of prochiral ketones with good to excellent enantioselectivities (>99.8%). The KR showed particular high specific activity for asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (38.29 ± 2.15 U mg⁻¹) and 2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentafluoroacetophenone (8.57 ± 0.49 U mg⁻¹) to the corresponding (S)-alcohols. In comparison with an established industrial enzyme like the alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis, the KR showed seven-times-higher activity toward 2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentafluoroacetophenone, with a remarkably higher enantiomeric excess (>99.8% [S] versus 43.3% [S]).     

A Novel Mutation in the Upstream Open Reading Frame of the CDKN1B Gene Causes a MEN4 Phenotype

The CDKN1B gene encodes the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27^KIP1, an atypical tumor suppressor playing a key role in cell cycle regulation, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Impaired p27^KIP1 expression and/or localization are often observed in tumor cells, further confirming its central role in regulating the cell cycle. Recently, germline mutations in CDKN1B have been associated with the inherited multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 4, an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by varying combinations of tumors affecting at least two endocrine organs. In this study we identified a 4-bp deletion in a highly conserved regulatory upstream ORF (uORF) in the 5′UTR of the CDKN1B gene in a patient with a pituitary adenoma and a well-differentiated pancreatic neoplasm. This deletion causes the shift of the uORF termination codon with the consequent lengthening of the uORF–encoded peptide and the drastic shortening of the intercistronic space. Our data on the immunohistochemical analysis of the patient''s pancreatic lesion, functional studies based on dual-luciferase assays, site-directed mutagenesis, and on polysome profiling show a negative influence of this deletion on the translation reinitiation at the CDKN1B starting site, with a consequent reduction in p27^KIP1 expression. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to the previously described mechanisms leading to reduced p27^KIP1 activity, such as degradation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway or non-covalent sequestration, p27^KIP1 activity can also be modulated by an uORF and mutations affecting uORF could change p27^KIP1 expression. This study adds the CDKN1B gene to the short list of genes for which mutations that either create, delete, or severely modify their regulatory uORFs have been associated with human diseases.     

Cloning and characterization of a mitochondrial glyoxalase II from Brassica juncea that is upregulated by NaCl, Zn, and ABA

A cDNA (1061 bp) Bj glyII was cloned from a mannitol induced library of Brassica juncea. It encoded a protein of 335 amino acids with a molecular weight of 36.52 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of the clone showed 92% and 56% identity with Pennisetum and rice glyoxalase II, respectively, and 30% identity was observed with the human glyoxalase II. Search for the identical residues revealed the presence of highly conserved THHHXDH domain which is involved in zinc binding. p-NN and pSORT analysis of this sequence revealed a N-terminal mitochondrial target peptide. The cDNA was cloned in pMAL and a fusion protein with MBP (78 kDa) was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified approximately sixfold by affinity purification on amylose column and showed its pH optima at 7.0. The K(m) was determined to be 120 microM using S-d-lactoylglutathione as substrate. The expression of Bj glyII under various abiotic stress conditions showed that it is upregulated by salinity, heavy metal stress, and ABA.