山羊MSH4和MSH5基因的cDNA克隆、序列分析及组织表达

以低繁藏山羊和高繁金堂黑山羊为研究对象,分别提取处于发情期的5只藏山羊和5只金堂黑山羊的卵巢、子宫、输卵管、垂体的总RNA,并通过RT-PCR技术对MSH4、MSH5基因c DNA进行克隆、序列分析,以Real-time PCR技术对其进行组织表达研究。结果表明,藏山羊和金堂黑山羊MSH4基因编码区均长2 499 bp,编码832个氨基酸,两品种基因编码区有5处碱基不同,并导致3处氨基酸的差异;MSH5基因编码区均长2 496 bp,编码831个氨基酸,两品种基因编码区有9处碱基不同,并导致5处氨基酸的差异。藏山羊MSH4基因编码区核苷酸序列与金堂黑山羊、山羊、绵羊、牛、马、小鼠、褐家鼠、人的同源性分别为:99.8%、99.8%、99.4%、98.1%、94.4%、85.1%、84.7%和93.5%;藏山羊MSH5基因编码区核苷酸序列与金堂黑山羊、山羊、牛、家犬、小鼠、褐家鼠、人的同源性分别为:99.6%、99.6%、97.3%、88.0%、85.8%、85.3%和90.2%。MSH4和MSH5基因m RNA在两个山羊品种的卵巢、子宫、输卵管、垂体中均有表达,但两品种间无显著性差异(P0.05)。说明MSH4和MSH5基因在动物进化中比较保守,与山羊多羔性状的相关性有待进一步研究。     

藏山羊KLF8基因克隆及组织表达分析

本试验旨在获得藏山羊KLF8基因序列,并分析其生物学特征,同时阐明该基因在不同组织中的表达情况。利用RT-PCR技术克隆藏山羊KLF8基因序列,利用实时荧光定量PCR (quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)检测其在藏山羊各个组织中的表达丰度。结果表明,获得藏山羊KLF8基因序列1 069 bp,其中包含CDS区1 008 bp,5'UTR序列28 bp和3'UTR序列33 bp,共编码335个氨基酸,为不稳定亲水碱性蛋白。KLF8基因在藏山羊的肺脏组织中表达水平最高,极显著高于其他组织(p<0.01)。本研究为进一步阐明KLF8基因在藏山羊中的生物学功能提供了依据。     

藏山羊GEM基因克隆及组织表达分析

本研究旨在克隆获得藏山羊GEM基因序列,预测其生物学功能,并阐明其组织表达特征。利用TA法克隆获得藏山羊GEM基因序列,并利用qPCR技术检测该基因在不同组织中的表达丰度。结果显示,藏山羊GEM基因序列1 096 bp,CDS区为936 bp,共编码311个氨基酸;GEM蛋白具有磷酸化位点和糖基化位点共33个,为不稳定碱性疏水蛋白质,主要在细胞核发挥生物学作用;藏山羊GEM基因的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列均与反刍动物的序列具有很高的同源性;GEM基因在藏山羊肺组织中高表达(p0.01),其次高表达于脾组织(p0.01),均极显著高于其他组织。本研究为进一步了解藏山羊GEM基因功能提供基础数据。     

藏山羊FGF1基因克隆、生物学特征及组织表达分析

本研究旨在克隆藏山羊FGF1基因的CDS序列,并获得其生物学特征,同时阐明其组织表达规律。选取2.5周岁健康公藏山羊6头,采集皮下脂肪、背最长肌、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏和肾脏组织样品,提取组织总RNA,利用RT-PCR方法克隆FGF1基因序列,同时利用实时定量PCR检测其m RNA在不同组织中的表达水平。结果表明,获得藏山羊FGF1基因序列1 165 bp(Gen Bank登陆号:KX509990),其中CDS为468 bp,5'UTR 255 bp和3'UTR 422 bp,编码155个氨基酸,藏山羊FGF1基因与山羊(KT899959)的核苷酸同源性为99.57%,氨基酸同源性为99.35%。FGF1 m RNA在藏山羊皮下脂肪组织中的表达水平较高,极显著高于其他组织(p0.01)。本研究将为进一步研究藏山羊FGF1基因的结构和功能提供参考资料。     

藏山羊KLF6基因克隆及组织表达分析

本试验旨在获得藏山羊KLF6基因序列,并分析其序列生物学特征,同时阐明该基因在不同组织中的表达情况。利用RT-PCR技术克隆藏山羊KLF6基因序列,利用实时荧光定量PCR检测其在藏山羊各个组织中的表达丰度。结果表明,获得藏山羊KLF6基因序列1012 bp(登录号:KY677697),其中包括5'UTR序列3 bp和3'UTR序列154 bp,CDS为855 bp,编码284个氨基酸,为无信号肽序列和跨膜结构域的稳定亲水酸性蛋白。KLF6基因在藏山羊的肺脏组织中表达水平最高,极显著高于其他组织(p0.01),在脾脏和脂肪组织中也存在较高水平的表达。本研究为进一步阐明KLF6基因在藏山羊中的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

藏系绵羊BMP2基因克隆及组织表达分析

本研究旨在克隆藏系绵羊BMP2基因序列,并获得其生物学特征,同时阐明其组织表达规律。提取藏系绵羊皮肤组织的总RNA,利用RT-PCR技术克隆BMP2基因序列,同时利用荧光定量PCR技术检测该基因在不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明,获得藏系绵羊BMP2基因序列1 217 bp,其中CDS区长度为1 188 bp,编码395个氨基酸。BMP2蛋白有36个磷酸化位、6个糖基化位点和1个跨膜结构,属于不稳定不溶性碱性蛋白,主要在细胞核和线粒体中发挥生物学作用。藏系绵羊BMP2氨基酸序列与山羊、绵羊和牛等的氨基酸同源性很高。BMP2基因在藏系绵羊肺脏组织中表达水平最高,极显著高于其他组织(p0.01)。本研究结果将为进一步研究藏系绵羊BMP2基因的结构和功能提供参考资料。     

成年核移植山羊生长相关基因的表达分析

体细胞核移植过程有可能影响克隆动物生长相关基因尤其是印迹基因的表达水平。本研究运用同源引物 PCR 扩增、RACE 技术并结合同源克隆策略, 克隆了 7 个山羊生长相关基因包括 3 个印迹基因(H19、IGF2 和 IGF2R)和 4 个非印迹基因(IGF1、IGF1R、GHR 和 GHSR)的完全 CDS 或者部分 cDNA 序列, 经生物信息学技术确认后, 用荧光实时定量 PCR 对 8只成年克隆山羊中这些基因的表达水平进行分析, 结果表明 3 个印迹基因中 IGF2R 基因表达水平极显著高于对照组的自然繁殖山羊(P<0.01), 而 H19 和 IGF2 的表达则没有很大区别; 4 个非印迹基因中只有 IGF1R 的表达水平极显著高于对照组(P<0.01), IGF1、GHR 和 GHSR 的表达与对照组相似。表明即使在表型正常的成年克隆动物也存在一定的表观遗传异常。通过对获得完全 CDS 和 3′UTR 的 IGF2 基因经过生物信息学分析表明, 山羊 IGF2 基因包含一个 540 bp 的开放阅读框 (ORF)编码 179 个氨基酸。IGF2 基因 cDNA 序列和氨基酸序列以及其它基因部分序列比较分析表明, 山羊所有这些基因与绵羊的同源性要高于同牛的同源性。     

山羊Wnt10b基因生物学特征及组织细胞表达模式分析

为了获得山羊Wnt10b基因序列,并阐明其组织表达谱及在前体脂肪细胞和成肌细胞分化过程中的表达模式。本研究利用胶原酶消化法获得山羊皮下和肌内前体脂肪细胞,利用组织块法获得成肌细胞;采用RT-PCR方法克隆山羊Wnt10b基因序列,荧光定量PCR技术检测该基因在各组织、前体脂肪细胞与成肌细胞诱导分化过程中的表达情况。由分析可知,获得山羊Wnt10b基因序列1 232 bp(Gen Bank登陆号:KU950832),其中CDS为1 176 bp,5'UTR 44 bp和3'UTR 12 bp,编码391个氨基酸残基,山羊Wnt10b氨基酸序列与绵羊的氨基酸序列同源性达98%;Wnt10b m RNA在山羊脂肪组织中表达水平最高,极显著高于其他组织(p0.01);Wnt10b m RNA随着山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞和成肌细胞的分化表达呈上升趋势,但其在皮下前体脂肪细胞中的表达模式却相反。结果表明,山羊Wnt10b基因在脂肪组织中表达水平最高,可能在脂肪沉积和脂代谢中发挥重要的调控作用,但在皮下和肌内前体脂肪细胞成脂分化的表达模式不同,提示该基因在山羊不同部位脂肪沉积中可能发挥不同的调控作用。     

黄鳝转铁蛋白受体1基因的克隆及表达分析

旨在研究黄鳝转铁蛋白受体1基因的功能及其组织表达特异性,采用同源克隆结合RACE技术从黄鳝肝脏中分离其转铁蛋白受体1基因,用生物信息学方法对获得的氨基酸序列进行分析,用半定量RT-PCR技术研究各组织中Tf R1表达水平。结果表明,克隆获得黄鳝Tf R1,Gen Bank注册序列号为KF819396。该c DNA全长2 839 bp,5'UTR长134 bp,3'UTR长380 bp,编码一个长774个氨基酸的多肽链。氨基酸多序列比对结果表明,黄鳝Tf R1基因推断的氨基酸序列同其他鱼类的同源性较高,达55.68%-68.41%;而同哺乳动物的Tf R1基因同源性较低。半定量RT-PCR分析表明,黄鳝Tf R1基因转录本在不同组织表达量有明显差异;在血细胞中表达量最高,而在肾脏、脾脏和小肠中表达中等,在肝脏、胃、皮肤、脑、心脏和肌肉中表达量很低。     

家蚕淀粉酶基因的克隆、表达与分析

淀粉酶是家蚕体内比较重要的一种消化酶。利用real-time PCR技术对Bmamy5和Bmamy7基因在家蚕5龄3 d不同组织的mRNA转录水平进行了分析,结果显示Bmamy7只在家蚕5龄3 d中肠和马氏管组织中有转录,在中肠组织的转录高达3×10~9个拷贝/μg总RNA,在马氏管组织中的转录丰度较低,只有1.9×10~6拷贝/μg总RNA;Bmamy5只在中肠组织中有转录,转录水平为1.5×10~9个拷贝/μg总RNA。根据在家蚕转录组数据库中预测的编码家蚕淀粉酶的c DNA序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR技术克隆到两个家蚕淀粉酶基因Bmamy5和Bmamy7,Bmamy7基因长1 608 bp,ORF长1 512 bp,编码503个氨基酸;氨基酸序列分析表明Bmamy7具有典型的α-淀粉酶结构域。Bmamy5全长1 196bp,ORF长738 bp,编码245个氨基酸。对Bmamy5和Bmamy7进行了原核表达,Bmamy7重组蛋活性较弱,但未检测到Bmamy5重组蛋白的目的条带。研究结果为家蚕淀粉酶基因的研究与应用提供了参考。     

Apaf-1XL is an inactive isoform compared with Apaf-1L

Apaf-1 plays a crucial role in the cytochrome c/dATP-dependent activation of caspase-9 and -3. We found that the human myeloid leukemic K562 cells were more resistant to cytochrome c-induced activation of caspase-9 and -3 in a cell-free system compared with the human T-lymphoblastic subclone CEM/VLB(100) cells. Apaf-1 cDNA sequencing revealed an additional insert of 11 aa between the CARD and CED-4 (ATPase) domains in K562 cells, which was identical to the sequence of Apaf-1XL. Immunoprecipitation of Apaf-1 with caspase-9 after a cell-free reaction demonstrated that Apaf-1XL in the K562 cell line showed a lower binding ability to caspase-9 compared with Apaf-1L protein. The resistance of K562 cells to cytochrome c-dependent apoptosis may be partly due to this Apaf-1XL form. These results suggest that the additional insert between CARD and CED-4 domains might affect Apaf-1 recruitment of caspase-9 during apoptosis.     

Apaf-1 Deficiency Causes Chromosomal Instability

Apaf-1 is an essential component of the apoptosome, the molecular complex assembled in response to mitochondrial cytochrome c release that promotes caspase activation. Apaf-1 expression is suppressed in some malignant tumors, in particular melanoma as well as cervical and colorectal carcinoma, in which the loss of Apaf-1 expression marks tumor progression and poor prognosis. Recent results from our laboratory demonstrate that Apaf-1 has an apoptosis-unrelated function that may well account for its role as a tumor suppressor. The knockout of apaf-1 (in mice), the knockdown of Apaf-1 (in human cells) and loss of function mutations of ced-4 (the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of Apaf-1) compromise the arrest of DNA synthesis in response to DNA damage, in a context in which apoptosis does not occur. Here, we show that the depletion of Apaf-1 also sensitizes cells to chromosomalinstability induced by different types of DNA damage such as cisplatin, UVC light and &gamma;-irradiation. These results unravel a hitherto unsuspected role for Apaf-1 in the maintenance of genomic stability, independently from its function in the cell death machinery.     

Rapid folding and unfolding of Apaf-1 CARD

Caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) are members of the death domain superfamily and contain six antiparallel helices in an alpha-helical Greek key topology. We have examined the equilibrium and kinetic folding of the CARD of Apaf-1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), which consists of 97 amino acid residues, at pH 6 and pH 8. The results showed that an apparent two state equilibrium mechanism is not adequate to describe the folding of Apaf-1 CARD at either pH, suggesting the presence of intermediates in equilibrium unfolding. Interestingly, the results showed that the secondary structure is less stable than the tertiary structure, based on the transition mid-points for unfolding. Single mixing and sequential mixing stopped-flow studies showed that Apaf-1 CARD folds and unfolds rapidly and suggest a folding mechanism that contains parallel channels with two unfolded conformations folding to the native conformation. Kinetic simulations show that a slow folding phase is described by a third conformation in the unfolded ensemble that interconverts with one or both unfolded species. Overall, the native ensemble is formed rapidly upon refolding. This is in contrast to other CARDs in which folding appears to be dominated by formation of kinetic traps.     

PHAPI, CAS, and Hsp70 promote apoptosome formation by preventing Apaf-1 aggregation and enhancing nucleotide exchange on Apaf-1

During apoptosis, cytochrome c is released from mitochondria to the cytosol, where it binds Apaf-1. The Apaf-1/cytochrome c complex then oligomerizes either into heptameric caspase-9-activating apoptosome, which subsequently activates caspase-3 and caspase-7, or bigger inactive aggregates, depending on the availability of nucleotide dATP/ATP. A tumor suppressor protein, PHAPI, enhances caspase-9 activation by promoting apoptosome formation through an unknown mechanism. We report here the identification of cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein (CAS) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) as mediators of PHAPI activity. PHAPI, CAS, and Hsp70 function together to accelerate nucleotide exchange on Apaf-1 and prevent inactive Apaf-1/cytochrome c aggregation. CAS expression is induced by multiple apoptotic stimuli including UV irradiation. Knockdown of CAS by RNA interference (RNAi) in cells attenuates apoptosis induced by UV light and causes endogenous Apaf-1 to form aggregates. These studies indicated that PHAPI, CAS, and Hsp70 play an important regulatory role during apoptosis.     

Bcl-xL does not inhibit the function of Apaf-1

Bcl-2 and its relative, Bcl-xL, inhibit apoptotic cell death primarily by controlling the activation of caspase proteases. Previous reports have suggested at least two distinct mechanisms: Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL may inhibit either the formation of the cytochrome c/Apaf-1/caspase-9 apoptosome complex (by preventing cytochrome c release from mitochondria) or the function of this apoptosome (through a direct interaction of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL with Apaf-1). To evaluate this latter possibility, we added recombinant Bcl-xL protein to cell-free apoptotic systems derived from Jurkat cells and Xenopus eggs. At low concentrations (50 nM), Bcl-xL was able to block the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. However, although Bcl-xL did associate with Apaf-1, it was unable to inhibit caspase activation induced by the addition of cytochrome c, even at much higher concentrations (1-5 microM). These observations, together with previous results obtained with Bcl-2, argue that Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 cannot block the apoptosome-mediated activation of caspase-9.     

Decreased expression of Apaf-1 with progression of melanoma

Defects in apoptotic system may contribute in the pathogenesis and resistance of malignant melanoma cells to chemotherapy. Apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is a cell death effector that acts with cytochrome c and caspase-9 to mediate apoptosis. Recently it was shown that metastatic melanomas often lose Apaf-1 and are concomitantly resistant to apoptosis. It is not known, however, whether Apaf-1 protein is lost during melanoma progression from localized to metastatic tumor. To this end, we evaluated Apaf-1 protein expression by immunohistochemistry in 10 cases of human nevi, 11 melanomas in situ, 26 primary melanomas and 15 metastases. Significant decreases in Apaf-1 expression was observed when comparing nevi and melanomas (chi-square = 33.719; P < 0.0001). Moreover, primary melanomas with greater tumor thickness showed lesser expression of Apaf-1 (chi-square = 16.182; P < 0.003). Intriguingly, we were unable to detect Apaf-1 expression in lesions of metastatic melanomas. These data demonstrated that there is an inverse correlation between Apaf-1 expression and pathologic stage of melanoma. This suggests that the decreased expression of Apaf-1 seen in correlation with melanoma progression renders melanoma more resistant to chemotherapy.     

Adult Apaf-1-deficient mice exhibit male infertility

Release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and subsequent binding to apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), is a key trigger of apoptotic events. A complex composed of Apaf-1, dATP, and cytochrome c activates a series of cytoplasmic proteases called caspases, leading to apoptotic cell death. We have disrupted the Apaf-1 gene in the mouse. Like previous reports on this knockout model, we find that most Apaf-1 mutants die perinatally and frequently exhibit exencephaly and cranioschesis. We additionally find that the neural lesions that develop in the knockout are due to an excess of neural progenitor cells that manifests as early as embryonic day 9.5 in development. In contrast to previous reports on the Apaf-1 knockout mice, we find that 5% of the mutants successfully survive to adulthood. In these survivors, the brain develops normally, but in males, there is degeneration of spermatogonia resulting in the virtual absence of sperm. Thus, cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis is not absolutely required for normal neural development, but is essential for spermatogenesis. These findings strongly suggest that alternative apoptotic pathways work in conjunction with and parallel to Apaf-1 and can modify its effect on programmed cell death.