Comparative genomics and regulatory evolution: conservation and function of the Chs and Apetala3 promoters

DNA sequence variations of chalcone synthase (Chs) and Apetala3 gene promoters from 22 cruciferous plant species were analyzed to identify putative conserved regulatory elements. Our comparative approach confirmed the existence of numerous conserved sequences which may act as regulatory elements in both investigated promoters. To confirm the correct identification of a well-conserved UV-light-responsive promoter region, a subset of Chs promoter fragments were tested in Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. All promoters displayed similar light responsivenesses, indicating the general functional relevance of the conserved regulatory element. In addition to known regulatory elements, other highly conserved regions were detected which are likely to be of functional importance. Phylogenetic trees based on DNA sequences from both promoters (gene trees) were compared with the hypothesized phylogenetic relationships (species trees) of these taxa. The data derived from both promoter sequences were congruent with the phylogenies obtained from coding regions of other nuclear genes and from chloroplast DNA sequences. This indicates that promoter sequence evolution generally is reflective of species phylogeny. Our study also demonstrates the great value of comparative genomics and phylogenetics as a basis for functional analysis of promoter action and gene regulation.     

以报告基因分析霍乱弧菌噬菌体VP1的预测启动子

VP1为感染并裂解霍乱弧菌的噬菌体,全基因组为环状双链DNA。通过测定该基因组序列,预测出15个可能的启动子区,利用报告基因质粒转化及全噬菌体共感染的策略分析了这些推测启动子在霍乱弧菌中的活性,将预测的启动子区分别克隆到启动子探测lacZ融合质粒载体pRS1274,在转化于大肠埃希氏菌受体菌株JM109中时,所有克隆子均呈现兰斑。同时将质粒电击到缺失了lacZ基因的霍乱弧菌菌株7743△Z,然后用噬菌体VP1感染转化菌株。在转化成功的13个含预测启动子片段的重组质粒中,通过检测β_半乳糖苷酶活性表达随感染后时间的变化,提示P17为早期启动子,P2、P3、P9等为中期启动子,P18为晚期启动子。