分析EST寻找小鼠胸腺基质细胞表达基因

网上生物信息量的膨胀导致新基因寻找手段的改变,借助mRNA差异显示技术获得的17个表达序列标签（EST）,通过对美国国家生物技术信息中心（NCBI）的非冗余序列库（NT）和小鼠EST库的BLAST同源检索,发现有4个序列与已知基因高度同源,其中的HDPs和Eps8两个基因是首次在小鼠胸腺基质细胞中发现,它们可能与T细胞在胸腺内的发育分化有关,其它EST则为新基因,本结果也为下一步新基因的克隆及功能研究提供了有益的线索。     

Transcriptomic analysis of epigenetic modification genes in the termite Reticulitermes speratus

Eusocial insects display a caste system in which different castes are morpho-logically and physiologically specialized for different tasks.Recent studies have revealed that epigenetic modifications,including DNA methylation and histone modification,me-diate caste determination and differentiation,longevity,and polyethism in eusocial insects.Although there has been a growing interest in the relationship between epigenetic mech-anisms and phenotypic plasticity in termites,there is ltte information about differential expression levels among castes and expression sites for these genes in termites.Here we show royaltissuc-specific expression of epigenetic modification genes in the termite Reticulitermes speratus.Using RNA-seq,we identified 74 genes,including three DNA methyltransferases,seven sirtuins,48 Trithorax group proteins,and 16 Polycomb group proteins.Among these genes,15 showed king-specific expression,and 52 showed age-dependent differential expression in kings and queens.Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that DNA methyltransferase 3 is expressed specifically in the king's testis and fat body,whereas some histone modification genes are remarkably expressed in the king's testis and queen's ovary.These findings imply that epigenetic modification plays important roles in the gamete production process in termite kings and queens.     

Phylogeny of symbiotic methanogens in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes speratus

Abstract The phylogeny of a symbiotic methanogen inhabiting the gut of a lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus , was analysed without cultivation. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrDNA) and a 640-bp portion of the gene encoding subunit A of methyl coenzyme M reductase ( mcrA ) were amplified from a mixed-population DNA of the termite gut by polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The nucleotide sequence of the ssrDNA and the predicted amino acid sequence of the mcrA product were compared with those of the known methanogens. Both comparisons indicated that the termite symbiotic methanogen belonged to the order Methanobacteriales but was distinct from the known members of this order.     

Applicability of Arginyl-tRNA: Protein Arginyltransferase in Peptide Synthesis

A monoclonal antibody (MAb 1C3) to bovine β-casein was prepared, and a peptide (from 184 to 202 residues of β-casein) that could bind this monoclonal antibody was separated from a tryptic digest of β-casein. Other β-casein fragments, the peptide from 193 to 202 and the one from 1 to 189 residues, were also prepared for comparison. MAb 1C3 belongs to the IgG₁ subclass with a κ chain and its pI was 5.9. The binding affinity of β-casein and β-casein fragments to the monoclonal antibody was investigated by a competitive radioimmunoassay, and the order of affinity was β-casein peptide from 193 to 202 > β-casein > β-casein peptide from 184 to 202 > β-casein peptide from 1 to 189. On the basis of the results, the mechanism for the interaction between MAb 1C3 and β-casein fragments is discussed.     

Identification of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of the highly transcribed genes in Aspergillus niger

Determined sequences of 285 randomly selected clones in a 3-directed cDNA library of Aspergillus niger could identify expressed seqeunce tags (ESTs) of genes highly expressed. One EST appeared seven times, one six times, one five times, four three times and 12 twice. Out of these 19 ESTs, ten were identified in GenBank, but none was of A. niger, suggesting that there are a lot of unidentified genes highly expressed in A. niger.     

A cDNA from pea petals with sequence similarity to pollen allergen, cytokinin-induced and genetic tumour-specific genes: identification of a new family of related sequences

A cDNA isolated from pea petals exhibits extensive similarity to pollen allergen genes, a cytokinin-regulated cDNA from soybean suspension cultures, a partial cDNA preferentially expressed in tobacco genetic tumours, four Arabidopsis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and fifteen rice ESTs. This diverse family of pollen allergen-likes genes may have a common ancestor or at least share common functional domains. Possession of a putative signal peptide and a presumed extracellular location is a common aspect of this family of sequences.     

Diverse genes of cellulase homologues of glycosyl hydrolase family 45 from the symbiotic protists in the hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes speratus

Diverse genes encoding cellulase homologues belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 45 were identified from the symbiotic protists in the hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes speratus through the use of consensus PCR and the screening of a cDNA library. Fifteen full-length cDNA clones were isolated and sequenced, which encoded polypeptides consisting of 218–221 amino acid residues showing up to 63% identity to known family 45 cellulases. The cellulase sequences of the termite symbiotic protists were phylogenetically monophyletic, showing more than 75% amino acid identity with each other. These enzymes consist of a single catalytic domain, lacking the ancillary domains found in most microbial cellulases. By whole-cell in situ hybridization using oligonucleotide probes specific for regions conserved in some of the sequences, the origin of the genes was identified as symbiotic hypermastigote protists. The presence of diverse cellulase homologues suggests that symbiotic protists of termites may be rich reservoirs of novel cellulase sequences. Received: July 10, 2000 / Accepted: August 15, 2000     

日本通草蛉cDNA文库构建及部分ESTs分析

本研究以日本通草蛉Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto)为材料,采用Oligo(dT)引物定向克隆构建cDNA文库并进行EST序列测定,旨在以基因库的形式进行种质资源的保存,为其遗传改良奠定基础,并为探讨其分类地位提供分子依据。对该文库质量分析表明：库容量为1.0×10⁶,重组率为80.0％,平均插入片段为512 bp。测序后最终成功得到323条表达序列标签（expressed sequence tags,ESTs）序列,经Phrap程序聚类拼接后得到236条单基因簇（unigene）,包括86个重叠群（congtigs）和150个单拷贝（singlets）。使用NCBI中的BlastN和BlastX程序对236条ESTs进行本地化搜索,BlastN的结果表明：180条ESTs（76.3%）没有注解,56条ESTs（23.7%）与GenBank上公布的序列有较高的同源性,其中一条序列被确定为该种的16S rRNA基因,利用MEGA软件构建了基于该16S rRNA序列草蛉科的系统发育树,结果显示通草蛉属Chrysoperla与叉草蛉属Dichochrysa、玛草蛉属Mallada、草蛉属Chrysopa的亲缘关系比较近,这与传统分类相吻合。BlastX的比对结果为197条ESTs（83.5%）有功能注解,39条ESTs（16.5%）无注解或score值小于100。使用GO(gene ontology)数据库对236条ESTs序列进行功能注释,结果表明：142条ESTs（59.7％）有注解,并表达出40多种基因产物。     

EST分析技术在鸡基因组学研究中的应用

表达序列标签（EST）是由大量随机取出的cDNA库克隆经测序得到的组织或细胞基因组的一段cDNA序列,一个EST代表生物体某种组织某一时期的一个表达基因。综述了EST分析技术在鸡基因组研究中的应用。如用于鉴定、发现和预测鸡的新基因,用于基因图谱的绘制,用于筛选基因的单核苷酸多态性（SNP）位点,用于基因表达分析和基因芯片制作等。EST数据库和生物信息学的联合分析技术在推动家鸡后基因组的研究中发挥着重要的作用。     

Expressed sequence tag analysis of the diapausing queen of the bumblebee Bombus ignitus

We constructed a full‐length cDNA library from diapausing queens of the bumblebee Bombus ignitus. A total of 480 randomly selected clones was sequenced by single‐run 5′‐end sequencing. Of these, there were 437 high quality clones, 23 poor quality clones and 20 read‐fail clones. Each high quality clone sequence was searched against a public protein database. The most frequently found matching genes were ribosomal proteins (12.5%), p10 (3.58%), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (3.13%) and sensory appendage protein (2.9%). Sequence similarity analysis between bumblebees and other insect species showed that 72 out of 437 (16.5%) bumblebee expressed sequence tags (EST) matched sequences of Apis mellifera, with matches to Drosophila melanogaster (6.6%), Caenorhabditis briggsae (6.2%), Lysiphlebus testaceipes (4.8%), Periplaneta americana (3.7%) and Anopheles gambiae (3.4%) following, suggesting that sequence similarity of bumblebee EST is closest to that of A. mellifera. Functional classification of EST based on Gene Ontology showed that most genes found by sequencing are associated with physiological processes in the bumblebee. The results of sequencing and analysis of our 437 cDNA demonstrated that high‐throughput EST sequencing and data analysis are powerful means for identifying novel genes and for expression profiling. Our bumblebee EST collection could be a useful platform for further studies of gene expression in diapausing bumblebees.     

Phylogenetic Identification of the Symbiotic Hypermastigote Trichonympha agilis in the Hindgut of the Termite Reticulitermes speratus Based on Small-Subunit rRNA Sequence

The phylogeny of a symbiotic hypermastigote Trichonympha agilis (class Parabasalia; order Hypermastigida) in the hindgut of the lower termite Reticulitermes speratus was examined by a strategy that does not rely on cultivation. From mixed-population DNA obtained from the termite gut, small subunit (16S-like) ribosomal RNA sequences were directly amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method using primers specific for eukaryotes. Comparative sequence analysis of the clones revealed two kinds of sequences, one from the termite itself and the other from a symbiotic protist. A fluorescent-labeled oligonucleotide probe for the latter sequence was designed and used in whole-cell hybridization experiments to provide direct visual evidence that the sequence originated from a large hypermastigote in the termite hindgut, Trichonympha agilis. According to the phylogenetic trees constructed, the hypermastigote represented one of the deepest branches of eukaryotes. The hypermastigote along with members of the order Trichomonadida formed a monophyletic lineage, indicating that this hypermastigote and trichomonads shared a recent common ancestry.     

Putative identification of expressed genes associated with attachment of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Because of its aggressive growth and firm attachment to substrata, the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) has caused severe economic and ecological problems since its invasion into North America. The nature and details of attachment of this nuisance mollusc remains largely unexplored. Byssus, a special glandular apparatus located at the root of the foot of the mussel produces threads and plates through which firm attachment of the mollusc to underwater objects takes place. In an attempt to better understand the adhesion mechanism of the zebra mussel, the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) assay was employed to produce a cDNA library with genes unique to the foot of the mussel. Analysis of the SSH cDNA library revealed the presence of 750 new expressed sequence tags (ESTs) including 304 contigs and 446 singlets. Using BLAST search, 365 zebra mussel ESTs showed homology to other gene sequences with putative functions. The putative functions of the homologues included proteins involved in byssal thread formation in zebra and blue mussels, exocrine gland secretion, host defence, and house keeping. The generated data provide, for the first time, some useful insights into the foot structure of the zebra mussel and its underwater adhesion.     

伴花生球蛋白cDNA克隆及其在花生发育种子中的表达

利用伴花生球蛋白多克隆抗体,免疫筛选花生品种汕油523成熟子叶中期cDNA文库得到6个阳性克隆.经过DNA序列测定和同源性分析确定为2组(Ahyα和Ahyβ) ,2组序列之间的同源性为97%.Ahyβ与花生过敏原Ara h1 p17以及Ahyα与花生过敏原Ara h1p41b的核苷酸相同性达到99%以上.以Ahy-βcDNA为探针的Northern blot分析结果表明,伴花生球蛋白基因在发育的花生种子中大量表达,而在幼苗的叶片中不表达.对成熟中期花生子叶表达序列标签(EST)分析,获得了包括5种花生球蛋白、2种伴花生球蛋白、6种conglutin蛋白的EST共70条,占总转录本的17%.     

Features of the expressed sequences revealed by a large-scale analysis of ESTs from a normalized cDNA library of the elite indica rice cultivar Minghui 63

The indica subspecies of cultivated rice occupies the largest area of rice production in the world. However, a systematic analysis of cDNA sequences from the indica subspecies has not been performed. The aim of the present study was to collect and analyze the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of indica rice on a large scale. A total of 39 208 raw sequences were generated from a normalized cDNA library prepared by use of 15 different tissues of the indica cultivar Minghui 63. After trimming, processing and analysis, 17 835 unique sequences were obtained, each of which presumably represents a unique gene. Of these sequences, 2663 were novel, and at least 70 were indica specific. Comparison of the Minghui 63 sequences with the ESTs/full-length cDNAs in GenBank revealed a large number of deletion/insertion/substitution (DIS) at both the inter- and intra-subspecific levels. The overall number of polymorphisms in the expressed sequences was higher in the inter-subspecific comparisons than in the intra-subspecific comparisons. However, the extent of DIS-based polymorphism was highly variable among different rice varieties. In total, 15 726 unique sequences, including 697 novel sequences, were assigned to regions where large numbers of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for agronomic traits had been detected previously. These results may be useful for developing new molecular markers for genetic mapping, detecting allelic polymorphisms associated with phenotypic variations between rice varieties, and facilitating QTL cloning by providing the starting points for candidate-gene identification.