一种高效提取棉花RNA的改良方法

与其他植物相比,棉花组织中含有较多的酚类、萜类和多糖等次生代谢物,这些物质严重影响棉花细胞中RNA的分离。针对棉花富含次生代谢物的特点,同时简化操作步骤,摸索出一种高效提取棉花RNA的方法,该方法具有提取RNA完整性好、纯度高和操作简单等特点,可适用于提取棉花等多糖多酚类植物的RNA。     

Isolation of High Quality RNA from Oilseeds of Jatropha curcas

High quality RNA with good yield is a prerequisite for carrying out several molecular biology studies. Recalcitrant tissues such as oilseeds pose several problems while isolating good quality RNA. We have standardized a fast and simple protocol for RNA isolation from the seeds of Jatropha curcas, which gives good quality RNA without compromising for the yield. By including pre wash of seed powder with acetone and removal of polysaccharides through selective precipitation, we have been regularly isolating good quality total RNA in the range of 300–450 μg g^?1 depending upon tissue type. The RNA isolated by this procedure is devoid of any contaminating DNA. The RNA preparations have been subjected to cDNA synthesis and PCR, and found suitable for these studies. This method also works satisfactorily with groundnut and mustard seeds.     

Stability of RNA isolated from human trabecular bone at post-mortem and surgery

To determine the reliability of gene expression studies in human post-mortem bone, it is important to evaluate the stability of RNA isolated from such tissues as a function of the post-mortem interval. The stability of total RNA and bone-specific mRNA species was examined in bone samples obtained from routine autopsies and at surgery. The optimal temperature for any storage and transport of the bone before RNA isolation was shown to be 4 degrees C, and RT-PCR analysis is the preferred technique for the analysis of gene expression in post-mortem bone as it tolerates partial RNA degradation. For gene expression studies in bone, post-mortem cases, with a post-mortem interval of less than 48 h, should be selected, and the time that bone is stored after retrieval at autopsy or surgery should be kept to a minimum. Overall, our findings indicate that with appropriate storage and handling, RNA can be reliably isolated from human bone obtained at post-mortem and surgery to study ex vivo the pattern of gene expression in healthy individuals and in patients with musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.     

一种快速、高效的橡胶树胶乳总RNA 提取方法

胶乳是橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)乳管中特殊的细胞质, 主要由橡胶粒子、黄色体、F-W粒子和普通细胞质成分构成, 其中橡胶粒子占20%-40%, 蛋白含量高达1%-2%。由于高比例橡胶粒子和蛋白质的干扰, 目前使用的胶乳RNA提取方 法都具有步骤繁琐、胶乳需求量大、操作技巧性强不易掌握等缺点。为快速、高效地获取高质量的胶乳RNA, 我们在现有方法的基础上摸索出一套步骤简单、容易操作、快速、高效提取橡胶树胶乳总RNA的简易方法, 获得了较好的实验效果。紫外分光光度计、RT-PCR和RACE分析结果表明, 使用该方法提取的胶乳RNA质量完全能够满足相应的分子操作, 但所需时间仅为目前常用方法的50%, RNA获得率提高了2-3倍, 操作难度大大降低。     

Improved technique for isolating RNA from tobacco tissues

We have developed a much-improved method for isolating RNA from tobacco tissue. The novel component of the described RNA isolation method is the addition of lithium chloride to the extraction buffer. Following that, the RNA was homogenized with phenol/chloroform and precipitated in ethanol. This isolation technique provided highly reproducible and good quality RNA within 2 h.     

Elimination of oxalate contamination in RNA isolation from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex obtusifolius</Emphasis>

Many plant RNA isolation techniques aim to prevent contamination by means of secondary phenolics, carbohydrates, RNase, and other chemicals. However, when applied in our laboratory to the isolation of RNA fromRumex obtusifolius, these protocols failed to produce good quality RNA. A major problem was contamination of the RNA samples with the secondary metabolite oxalate. The relative quantities of guanidine isothiocyanate extraction buffer to plant tissue used in the protocol had significant effects on oxalate contamination. An increase in extraction buffer, from 1.5 mL in the original method to 15 mL per 200–300 mg of tissue in our protocol, removed the oxalate from the RNA. This RNA was of a good quality and was suitable for molecular biology applications.     

A Modified Protocol for RNA Isolation from High Polysaccharide Containing Cupressus arizonica Pollen. Applications for RT–PCR and Phage Display Library Construction

RNA isolation is the first step in the study of gene expression and recombinant protein production. However, the isolation of high quantity and high-quality RNA from tissues containing large amounts of polysaccharides has proven to be a difficult process. Cupressus arizonica pollen, in addition to containing high polysaccharide levels, is a challenging starting material for RNA isolation due to the roughness of the pollen grain’s walls. Here, we describe an improved technique for RNA isolation from C. arizonica pollen grains. The protocol includes a special disruption and homogenization process as well as a two-step modified RNA isolation technique which consists of an acid phenol extraction followed by a final cleanup using a commercial kit. Resulting RNA proved to be free of contaminants as determined by UV spectrophotometry. The quality of the RNA was analyzed on a bioanalyzer and showed visible 25S and 18S bands. This RNA was successfully used in downstream applications such as RT–PCR and phage display library construction.     

快速提取棉花蕾期高质量RNA的改良方法

棉花组织中因富含棉酚、多糖和单宁等次生代谢物,RNA难分离,易降解,导致现有RNA快速提取试剂盒提取的棉花RNA产率低、质量差,无法应用于实验操作。针对棉花组织次生代谢物多的特点,以酸酚法为基础,结合RNA吸附柱,通过对幼苗期和蕾期棉花叶片RNA提取,总结出一种快速提取棉花组织RNA的方法。与热硼酸法、酸酚法及试剂盒法相比,所述方法具有步骤少、产率高、质量好等特点,操作简单、整个实验在1h内完成,可开发出提取多糖多酚类生物组织RNA试剂盒。     

Origins of inner ear sensory organs revealed by fate map and time-lapse analyses

The inner ear develops from a simple ectodermal thickening called the otic placode into a labyrinth of chambers which house sensory organs that sense sound and are used to maintain balance. Although the morphology and function of the sensory organs are well characterized, their origins and lineage relationships are virtually unknown. In this study, we generated a fate map of Xenopus laevis inner ear at otic placode and otocyst stages to determine the developmental origins of the sensory organs. Our lineage analysis shows that all regions of the otic placode and otocyst can give rise to the sensory organs of the inner ear, though there were differences between labeled quadrants in the range of derivatives formed. A given region often gives rise to cells in multiple sensory organs, including cells that apparently dispersed from anterior to posterior poles and vice versa. These results suggest that a single sensory organ arises from cells in different parts of the placode or otocyst and that cell mixing plays a large role in ear development. Time-lapse videomicroscopy provides further evidence that cells from opposite regions of the inner ear mix during the development of the inner ear, and this mixing begins at placode stages. Lastly, bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4), a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family, is expressed in all sensory organs of the frog inner ear, as it is in the developing chicken ear. Inner ear fate maps provide a context for interpreting gene expression patterns and embryological manipulations.     

A Modified Protocol for RNA Extraction from Different Peach Tissues Suitable for Gene Isolation and Real-Time PCR Analysis

RNA extraction is the first step in the study of gene isolation and expression. However, it is difficult to extract high quantity and quality RNA from tissues containing large quantities of polysaccharides and polyphenols. Peach (Prunus persica), in addition to containing high levels of polysaccharides and polyphenols, is a challenging starting material for RNA isolation using a single method because of different amounts of those substances in diverse tissues. Based on three reported methods, we developed a modified RNA isolation protocol to solve this problem, leading to high quality and quantity of total RNA from peach mesocarp tissues of fruits which were sampled from all developmental stages and different storage periods, as well as from other tissues including flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. With our modified method, 28–650 μg of total RNA was routinely obtained from per gram of fresh material, gave at least a 1.16-fold improvement by compared with those isolated by other seven methods. The RNA extracts were successfully used in downstream applications such as RT-PCR, RACE, and real-time PCR.     

Patterning and morphogenesis of the vertebrate inner ear

The positional cues for formation of individual inner ear components are dependent on pre-established axial information conferred by inductive signals from tissues surrounding the developing inner ear. This review summarizes some of the known molecular pathways involved in establishing the three axes of the inner ear, anterior-posterior (AP), dorsal-ventral (DV) and medial-lateral (ML). Signals required to establish the AP axis of the inner ear are not known, but they do not appear to be derived from the hindbrain. In contrast, the hindbrain is essential for establishing the DV axis of the inner ear by providing inductive signals such as Wnts and Sonic hedgehog. Signaling from the hindbrain is also required for the formation of the ML axis, whereas formation of the lateral wall of the otocyst may be a result of first establishing both the AP and DV axes. In addition, this review addresses how genes induced within the otic epithelium as a result of axial specification continue to mediate inner ear morphogenesis.