Spontaneous Germinal Activation of Quiescent Uq Transposable Elements in Zea Mays L

The spontaneous germinal activation of quiescent Uq transposable elements is reported. Thirty-nine spotted exceptions were observed at a rate of about 2 x 10(-4) from 687 otherwise colorless ears produced from the cross of a-ruq/a-ruq (colorless or occasionally sectored) X an a-ruq tester (colorless). All exceptions had spotting patterns distinct from the pattern of our original standard Uq (Uq1)-a-ruq spotting. From these spotted exceptions five new Uq elements (Uq2, Uq3, Uq4, Uq5 and Uq6) have been isolated. Genetic evidence for the Uq nature of the five germinal isolates is presented. First, each of the five spotted exceptions was homozygous for the a-ruq reporter allele. Second, four new Uq isolates (Uq2, Uq3, Uq4 and Uq5), after being reconstituted into a alpha degrees sh2/alpha degrees sh2 (no Uq) line, could transactivate the standard a-ruq allele and continue to produce their distinct spotting phenotypes. Third, these five new Uqs are also capable of transactivating the c-ruq65 and c-ruq67 alleles. However, the transactivation of c-ruq is generally weaker than that of a-ruq.     

Spontaneous Activation of Quiescent Uq Transposable Elements during Endosperm Development in Zea Mays

This study addresses the question of the activation of quiescent transposable elements in maize breeding lines. The a-ruq reporter allele of the Uq transposable element system expresses Uq activity (spots or sectors of spots in otherwise colorless aleurone tissue) when exposed to various genotypes of assorted maize inbred lines lacking any active Uq element. This activation of quiescent Uq elements occurs randomly during the growth of the endosperm. It is concluded that there are components in the genome that enhance the rare activation of quiescent Uq elements. Further, it seems that this activation occurs in the absence of any stress-inducing treatment, but that normal growth conditions provide sufficient stimulus for such activation.     

The Mu Transposable Elements of Maize: Evidence for Transposition and Copy Number Regulation during Development

The Mu transposon of maize exists in a highly mutagenic strain called Robertson's Mutator. Plants of this strain contain 10-50 copies of the Mu element, whereas most maize strains and other plants have none. When Mutator plants are crossed to plants of the inbred line 1S2P, which does not have copies of Mu, the progeny plants have approximately the same number of Mu sequences as did their Mutator parent. Approximately one-half of these copies have segregated from their parent and one-half have arisen by transposition and are integrated into new positions in the genome. This maintenance of copy number can be accounted for by an extremely high rate of transposition of the Mu elements (10-15 transpositions per gamete per generation). When Mutator plants are self-pollinated, the progeny double their Mu copy number in the first generation, but maintain a constant number of Mu sequences with subsequent self-pollinations. Transposition of Mu and the events that lead to copy number maintenance occur very late in the development of the germ cells but before fertilization. A larger version of the Mu element transposes but is not necessary for transposition of the Mu sequences. The progeny of crosses with a Mutator plant occasionally lack Mutator activity; these strains retain copies of the Mu element, but these elements no longer transpose.     

Characterization of Transposable Elements in the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Laccaria bicolor

Background

The publicly available Laccaria bicolor genome sequence has provided a considerable genomic resource allowing systematic identification of transposable elements (TEs) in this symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungus. Using a TE-specific annotation pipeline we have characterized and analyzed TEs in the L. bicolor S238N-H82 genome.

Methodology/Principal Findings

TEs occupy 24% of the 60 Mb L. bicolor genome and represent 25,787 full-length and partial copy elements distributed within 171 families. The most abundant elements were the Copia-like. TEs are not randomly distributed across the genome, but are tightly nested or clustered. The majority of TEs exhibits signs of ancient transposition except some intact copies of terminal inverted repeats (TIRS), long terminal repeats (LTRs) and a large retrotransposon derivative (LARD) element. There were three main periods of TE expansion in L. bicolor: the first from 57 to 10 Mya, the second from 5 to 1 Mya and the most recent from 0.5 Mya ago until now. LTR retrotransposons are closely related to retrotransposons found in another basidiomycete, Coprinopsis cinerea.

Conclusions

This analysis 1) represents an initial characterization of TEs in the L. bicolor genome, 2) contributes to improve genome annotation and a greater understanding of the role TEs played in genome organization and evolution and 3) provides a valuable resource for future research on the genome evolution within the Laccaria genus.     

综述: 高等植物转座元件功能研究进展

转座元件是指在基因组中能够移动、复制并重新整合到基因组新位点的DNA片段．转座元件一度被视为基因组内的“垃圾”或“自私DNA”,长期以来,转座元件的研究主要集中于阐释转座元件在宿主中的复制或表观沉默机制,而转座元件的调控功能并未得到全面探讨．已有研究表明,转座元件的比例与物种基因组大小存在正相关性,从而为C值悖论的解释提供了依据．近年来,越来越多的证据表明转座元件可以作为宿主基因组的“控制元件”发挥重要的调控作用．在作物中研究发现,转座元件既可以通过顺式或反式作用方式调控基因表达,也可以诱导表观等位基因的产生,从而促使固着生长的植物更好地适应外界环境的变化．本文拟就高等植物转座元件的作用及其对未来作物育种的意义进行总结．     

Genetic Differentiation of Transposable Elements under Mutation and Unbiased Gene Conversion

A model is developed to predict the extent of genetic differentiation in a family of transposable elements under the combined effects of genetic drift, transposition, mutation and unbiased gene conversion. The model is based on simplifying assumptions that are valid when transposition is always to new sites and copy number per site is low. In the absence of gene conversion, the degree of differentiation as measured by the probability of identity of different elements is the same as at a single locus with the same mutation rate but in a population of effective size Nc/2, where N is the population size and c is the number of copies per individual. The inclusion of unbiased gene conversion does not significantly change this result. If, as seems to be the case, families of transposable elements are relatively homogeneous, then the model implies either that mutation rates for transposable elements are much lower than at comparable single-copy loci or that some other force, such as natural selection or biased gene conversion, is at work. Transposition is a very ineffective force for homogenizing a family of transposable elements.     

The Tc3 Family of Transposable Genetic Elements in Caenorhabditis Elegans

We describe genetic and molecular properties of Tc3, a family of transposable elements in Caenorhabditis elegans. About 15 Tc3 elements are present in the genomes of several different wild-type varieties of C. elegans, but Tc3 transposition and excision are not detected in these strains. Tc3 transposition and excision occur at high frequencies, however, in strain TR679, a mutant identified because of its highly active Tc1 elements. In TR679, Tc3 is responsible for several spontaneous mutations affecting the unc-22 gene. Tc3-induced mutations are unstable, and revertants result from precise or nearly precise excision of Tc3. Although Tc3 is very active in TR679, it is not detectably active in several other mutator mutants, all of which exhibit high levels of Tc1 activity. Tc3 is 2.5 kilobases long, and except for sequences near its inverted repeat termini, it is unrelated to Tc1. The termini of Tc3 are inverted repeats of at least 70 base pairs; the terminal 8 nucleotides of Tc3 are identical to 8 of the terminal 9 nucleotides of Tc1.     

Frequent Loss of the En Transposable Element after Excision and Its Relation to Chromosome Replication in Maize (Zea Mays L.)

A model of En transposition during chromosome replication is presented following a study of somatic events associated with the transposition of En in the endosperm tissue of the maize kernel. Two supporting assays, the excision and the postexcision events, were used in following these events. The excision of the En transposon has been monitored in the starch-producing endosperm tissue by using the wx-844 autonomously mutable allele, and events after excision have been monitored by using various reporter alleles of the En-I (Spm-dSpm) system. The initial observations revealed an unusually large amount of loss of the En transposon following its excision from the wx-844 allele. Subsequent analysis of the somatic events using the a2-m1 reporter allele to monitor the dosage of En suggested that the large amount of loss would result from the transposition of En during chromosome replication. Transposition of En from a replicated segment of the chromosome to another site that has also undergone replication explains most of the somatic events observed.     

诱发小麦成熟胚愈伤组织及其再生植株抗盐性变异的研究

本研究以普通小麦成熟胚为起始材料,以平阳霉素(PYM)和正定霉素(ZDM)为诱变剂。发现不同基因型对药物的敏感性不同,其中对药物敏感的在含盐筛选培养基上的存活率高。在诱导培养基内添加一定量的诱变剂可以产生耐盐变异。这种抗性愈伤组织转入与筛选培养基含盐量相同的分化培养基,比较容易产生耐盐再生植株。其M_1、M_2代较亲本系表现株高降低,穗长变短、籽粒饱满度也差;M_1代的结实率仅有5.5%,M_2代恢复到40.9%。利用M_1代和亲本系实生苗叶片,进行脯氨酸含量测定。发现耐盐变异株在无盐的Hoagland溶液中,游离脯氨酸的含量超过亲本系,对盐胁迫不敏感,其耐受力强于对照,具有一定的抗盐稳定性。     

Chromatin Structure,Heterochromatin, and Transposable Genetic Elements: Are These Teammates?

Gene content proved to be less than expected in completely sequenced eukaryotic genomes. Moreover, gene number differs only three times between such distant organisms as human and Drosophila. Hence it is likely that the essential functional and structural differences between the two species mostly depend on the regulation of gene activity than on the set and quality of genes themselves. New data demonstrate that changes in chromatin structure play a greater role in the fine gene activity regulation than considered before. R.B. Khesin had foreseen many chromatin functions that only recently came to be recognized. Khesin was interested in genome inconstancy over his last years. A higher content of several important chromosomal proteins was recently revealed in chromatin of transposable genetic elements (TGE). The possible role of TGE in chromatin organization in the nucleus is considered.     

柑桔原生质体融合再生叶肉亲本型植株的遗传分析

叶肉亲本（粗柠檬）型植株叶形指数、气孔特征与亲本粗柠檬无异,与同组合体细胞杂种差异显著。染色体计数为二倍体（２ｎ＝２ｘ＝１８）。过氧化物酶（ＰＯＸ）、多酚氧化酶（ＰＰＯ）、谷草转氨酶（ＧＯＴ）同工酶图谱与粗柠檬一致。ＲＡＰＤ分析表明,在具多态性的５４个随机引物中,大多数引物（５２个）上的图谱与粗柠檬相同。但ＯＰＷ－１２上,叶肉亲本型植株含有哈姆林甜检的特征谱带。ＯＰＶ－０４扩增产物显示,叶肉亲本型     

Callus Formation and Organ Regeneration in Tissue Culture of Woody Plants

The tumor-like callus, obtained usually from the surface of explant of woody plant, may be originated from various parts, involving especially epidermis or hypodermis, distal from the cut surface of the explant. These experimental evidences may be used to support the conception of that exogenous hormones play an important role in the induction of callus. The developmental stages of establishment of the callus may be characterized by changes in cell morphology and metabolic condition of the tissue. During the induction or activation phase, a regressive change appears in the peripheral layers of the explant, involving a progress return to a meristematic state denoted by increasing nucleus and nucleolus size and accmnulation of RNA and results in the dedifferentiation of the cells. This is followed by a division stage with substantial accumulation of RNA and active cell division, thus, the peripheral tissue of the explant has been activated and become embryonic tissue and then, the division stage cannot be considered as the phase of regressive change or dedifferentiation. The formation of meristematic nodules in a common feature in developing callus culture and they are originated at random from solitary parenchymatons cells, which by means of dediffercntiation have become meristematic in character. The meristematic     

毛竹微型颠倒重复序列的鉴定及分子标记开发

MITEs(miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements)又称颠倒重复序列,是缺少转座酶序列的非自主型转座子,在真核生物基因组含量丰富,是基因组多态性形成的重要驱动力之一.该研究利用MITE Tracker软件,在毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)新版基因...     

盾叶薯蓣花药培养及单倍体植株的获得

以处于单核期的盾叶薯蓣花药为材料,经愈伤组织途径成功获得单倍体盾叶薯蓣新材料。对盾叶薯蓣花药培养、植株再生过程的研究表明:来自不同居群的外植体对花药愈伤组织诱导有显著影响;W14是适合花药愈伤组织诱导的基本培养基;花药愈伤组织增殖和分化的适宜培养基为:MS基本培养基 BA2.0mg/L IAA0.2mg/L;生根培养基为添加了IBA2.0mg/L、NAA0.4mg/L和0.5g/L活性碳的MS培养基。以流式细胞仪和根尖染色体压片法检查花培植株的结果表明,有8%～12%的个体为单倍体。实验结果为进一步开展单倍体育种及相关理论研究提供了材料和技术基础。     

籼稻体细胞培养再生植株染色体变异的研究

以IR36及IR54等品种的成熟种子及幼穗为外植体,获得籼稻体细胞培养再分化植株,并研究了再生植株当代(即第一代,SC_1)的染色体变异。在319株SC_1植株中发现四倍体10株,占总数的3.1％。在二倍体中发现不育株7株(占2.2％),其中经细胞学分析发现2株(1984及1985年各发现1株)为多染色体相互易位杂合子。减数分裂的研究表明,MRT植株终变期时染色体构形呈十分复杂的情况。除正常的12 Ⅱ外,还呈现出一系列的多价体。配对最高价性为拾价体,7 Ⅱ+1Ⅹ的构形占各种染色体构形总数的50.7％,分布最多。在这类染色体构形中,拾价染色体或呈环形(以7 Ⅱ+1⑩表示),或呈链形(以7 Ⅱ+1(?)表示)。这表明该植株12对染色体中有5条非同源染色体发生了相互易位,而这两株植株正是这种染色体易位的杂合子。     

大豆未成熟种子芽的离体培养、植株再生和瓶内结实

1　植物名称　大豆 (Ｇｌｙｃｉｎｅｍａｘ)品种Ｋｕｎｉｔ 2。2　材料类别　未成熟种子芽。3　培养条件　大豆未成熟种子芽成苗培养基 :(1 )ＭＳ 6 ＢＡ 2ｍｇ·Ｌ-1(单位下同 ) ＫＴ 1 ＮＡＡ 0 .2。幼苗生长培养基 :(2 )ＨＢＷ培养基 (详见河北农业科学 ,第 3卷第 2期 2