真核基因可变剪接研究现状与展望

mRNA前体(pre-mRNA)的可变剪接是控制基因表达和产生蛋白质多样性的重要机制,是功能基因组时代的研究重点之一。生物信息学在识别可变剪接基因及其结构、分析可变剪接的功能和调控方式等方面具有重要作用。除了耗时的实验研究,识别可变剪接基因及其结构主要通过EST、mRNA等转录数据与基因组序列进行比对,获得同一基因的不同结构方式。分析蛋白质产物可对可变剪接的功能进行预测;潜在调控元件的统计分析则可为可变剪接调控机制的研究提供必要的数据。转录数据的时空信息以及比较基因组学对理解可变剪接信息的精确调控将提供重要资料。可变剪接及其调控机制的深入研究将为基因组和蛋白质组之间的对接提供重要的桥梁。     

八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶基因序列分析

氨酰-tRNA合成酶 (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, aaRS) 是蛋白质生物合成中的关键酶,能够催化特定的氨基酸和相应tRNA结合。为了研究八肋游仆虫氨酰 tRNA合成酶(Euplotes octocarinatus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, EoaaRS)基因的种类、数目、结构及起源,本研究利用生物信息学方法,对八肋游仆虫大核基因组编码的aaRS进行了系统分析。结果表明,八肋游仆虫大核基因组共包含45个aaRS基因,可编码20种不同的aaRS蛋白。其中,EoGlnRS和EoAlaRS仅由1个基因编码,其余EoaaRS均由多个基因编码。亚细胞定位分析显示,仅8个EoaaRS具有线粒体导肽,对应于6种EoaaRS。此外,基于核酸序列分析显示,多个EoaaRS在翻译过程中需要发生编程性核糖体移码,才能形成结构完整的蛋白质产物。结构域分析表明,部分EoaaRS存在特殊结构域,暗示其可能具有氨酰化以外的新功能。进化分析揭示,2个EoGlyRS起源于古菌,而2个EoLysRS起源于细菌。本研究为后续探讨低等真核生物aaRS的结构与功能奠定了基础。     

八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶基因序列分析北大核心CSCD

氨酰-tRNA合成酶(aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase,aaRS)是蛋白质生物合成中的关键酶,能够催化特定的氨基酸和相应tRNA结合。为了研究八肋游仆虫氨酰-tRNA合成酶(Euplotes octocarinatus aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase,EoaaRS)基因的种类、数目、结构及起源,本研究利用生物信息学方法,对八肋游仆虫大核基因组编码的aaRS进行了系统分析。结果表明,八肋游仆虫大核基因组共包含45个aaRS基因,可编码20种不同的aaRS蛋白。其中,Eo GlnRS和Eo AlaRS仅由1个基因编码,其余EoaaRS均由多个基因编码。亚细胞定位分析显示,仅8个EoaaRS具有线粒体导肽,对应于6种EoaaRS。此外,基于核酸序列分析显示,多个EoaaRS在翻译过程中需要发生编程性核糖体移码,才能形成结构完整的蛋白质产物。结构域分析表明,部分EoaaRS存在特殊结构域,暗示其可能具有氨酰化以外的新功能。进化分析揭示,2个Eo GlyRS起源于古菌,而2个Eo LysRS起源于细菌。本研究为后续探讨低等真核生物aaRS的结构与功能奠定了基础。     

叶绿体基因组结构与表达调控

植物叶绿体ＤＮＡ是存在核基因外的细胞质基因组,它是一种双链ＤＮＡ分子、在细胞内,与核基因协调编码与光合作用有关的蛋白质,叶绿体基因组中基因的结构与表达调控与原核生物相似,但也有一些区别,深入开展叶绿体基因组的基因,对探讨光合作用机理与细胞器的起源等问题具有重要意义。     

家蚕MLP基因的克隆及其结构分析

利用生物信息学的方法快速获得家蚕MLP (Muscle LIM protein, MLP)基因cDNA电子序列, 经RT-PCR生物验证正确, 登录GenBank (No. DQ311195)。MLP基因cDNA长2 327 bp, ORF全长1 485 bp, 编码产生494个氨基酸。该MLP基因组DNA含有11个外显子, 10个内含子, 所有内含子/外显子边界都符合典型的GT/AG剪切模式。MLP基因编码的蛋白富含Gly (14.4%), 分子量约为53.03 kDa, 等电点(PI)为8.29。通过BLAST分析发现该基因编码的家蚕肌肉LIM蛋白, 含有5个保守的LIM结构域, 家蚕的另一种LIM蛋白(AAR23823)含一个LIM结构域, 两者可能是通过可变剪切产生; 后者可能通过竞争作用调节前者在肌细胞中的功能。MLP的克隆为进一步研究其体内功能奠定了基础。     

由不同细胞核背景引起的小麦细胞质雄性不育系(CMS)叶绿体蛋白质组的变化(简报)

叶绿体和线粒体是高等植物细胞内2种重要的细胞器。由于细胞质雄性不育(CMS)被认为是一种由线粒体基因编码的性状,因此,近10多年来,国内外研究者对线粒体基因组结构与功能、由线粒体基因编码的与CMS相关蛋白的研究积累了大量的资料。与线粒体相比,叶绿体与CMS关系的研究相对滞后。虽然一些研究者在核不育水稻中,观     

彩叶草中一个富亮氨酸重复相关蛋白基因SsLRP的克隆和分析

根据彩叶草叶片小型EST库中一条具有1个富亮氨酸重复（leucine-rich repeat,LRR）结构域的EST序列,采用RACE与文库结合的方法,克隆了1个具有5个LRR结构域的全长cDNA,SsLRP（LRR-Related Protein）（GenBank登录号FJ787729）。SsLRP cDNA全长1024bp,包含一个657bp的ORF框,编码218个氨基酸。其5’-UTR区含有2个终止子TAG,3’-UTR区具有推测的加尾信号AATAAA。SsLRP蛋白N端具有的信号肽和保守的亮氨酸拉链结构域,具有5个保守的LRR结构域,多个磷酸化位点和N-糖基化位点。多序列比对和系统进化分析表明,SsLRP与番茄SlLRP同源性最高。二级结构和三级结构预测表明,SsLRP的功能可能与保守的LRR结构域密切相关,推测该基因可能参与蛋白间的相互作用与信号识别。RT-PCR分析表明,SsLRP与番茄SlLRP具有相似的表达模式,在正常植株的根、茎、叶和花中都有表达,在受菌核病感染植株的茎和叶中表达上调。     

线粒体和细胞核的互作

线粒体是一个半自主的细胞器,它有自己的基因组,能进行ＤＮＡ的复制、转录和翻译,可以编码自身的ｒＲＮＡ、ｔＲＮＡ以及少量蛋白质。但这些过程并不是线粒体完全独立地进行的,它离不开核基因组的指导与调控。线粒体基因表达所必需的一些蛋白质,如ＲＮＡ聚合酶、核糖体大亚单位以及许多调控因子都是由核基因编码,在细胞质的核糖体上合成后,运输进线粒体后再起作用。线粒体功能的正常发挥需要线粒体基因组和核基因组的互作。组成呼吸链的一系列结构蛋白是由线粒体和细胞核共同编码的,这些蛋白质的正确组装,受核基因的控制。同时,研…     

叶绿体的遗传进化

叶绿体是半自主性细胞器,其生长和增殖受核基因组和自身的基因组2套遗传系统的控制、关于叶绿体的起源有2种学说,近年来．大量叶绿体基因组全序列被测定,以及分子生物学的研究结果为内共生起源学说提供了更多证据。相对于线粒体,叶绿体DNA的结构更趋于保守一,叶绿体与核基因组所编码的蛋白质互相协调来维持叶绿体的正常功能。在进化过程中,基因可能从叶绿体大量转移到细胞核中。叶绿体基因组的信息常常表现出“母性遗传”特征．因而,使之更具生物反应器的优势。     

嗜热四膜虫可变剪接基因鉴定及功能分析

可变剪接是产生蛋白质组多样性和调节基因表达的重要机制,相关研究在高等真核生物中开展较多,而在单细胞真核生物中则较少,尤其是单细胞原生动物纤毛虫中,仅有少量报道。本文基于单细胞模式原生动物嗜热四膜虫种大量转录组数据,对其可变剪接基因进行了鉴定及分析。在嗜热四膜虫中共鉴定到2 894个可变剪接位点,涉及到2 698个可变剪接基因,可分为四类。考虑到转录本拼接的准确性,选择了其中464个与基因组预测模型完全一致的可变剪接基因进行深入分析,其中生长(growth)时期、饥饿(starvation)时期、接合生殖(conjugation)时期特异性的可变剪接基因分别为49个、79个和135个。对可变剪接基因的功能进行分析表明其涉及的功能广泛且显著富集于蛋白激酶过程,提示可变剪接基因在嗜热四膜虫蛋白磷酸化和信号传导中具有重要作用。     

Duplication of genes encoding non-clathrin coat protein gamma-COP in vertebrate, insect and plant evolution

Coatomer is a major component of COPI vesicles and consists of seven subunits. The gamma-COP subunit of the coatomer is believed to mediate the binding to the cytoplasmic dilysine motifs of membrane proteins. We characterized cDNAs for Copg genes encoding gamma-COP from mouse, zebrafish, Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori. Two copies of Copg genes are present in vertebrates and in B. mori. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two paralogous genes had been derived from a single ancestral gene by duplication independently in vertebrates and in B. mori. Mouse Copg1 showed ubiquitous expression with the highest level in testis. Zebrafish copg2 was biallelically expressed in hybrid larvae in contrast to its mammalian ortholog expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. A phylogenetic analysis with partial plant cDNA sequences suggested that copg gene was also duplicated in the grass family (Poaceae).     

The genome sequence of silkworm, Bombyx mori.

We performed threefold shotgun sequencing of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) genome to obtain a draft sequence and establish a basic resource for comprehensive genome analysis. By using the newly developed RAMEN assembler, the sequence data derived from whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing were assembled into 49,345 scaffolds that span a total length of 514 Mb including gaps and 387 Mb without gaps. Because the genome size of the silkworm is estimated to be 530 Mb, almost 97% of the genome has been organized in scaffolds, of which 75% has been sequenced. By carrying out a BLAST search for 50 characteristic Bombyx genes and 11,202 non-redundant expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in a Bombyx EST database against the WGS sequence data, we evaluated the validity of the sequence for elucidating the majority of silkworm genes. Analysis of the WGS data revealed that the silkworm genome contains many repetitive sequences with an average length of <500 bp. These repetitive sequences appear to have been derived from truncated transposons, which are interspersed at 2.5- to 3-kb intervals throughout the genome. This pattern suggests that silkworm may have an active mechanism that promotes removal of transposons from the genome. We also found evidence for insertions of mitochondrial DNA fragments at 9 sites. A search for Bombyx orthologs to Drosophila genes controlling sex determination in the WGS data revealed 11 Bombyx genes and suggested that the sex-determining systems differ profoundly between the two species.     

Mitochondrial genome nucleotide substitution pattern between domesticated silkmoth, Bombyx mori, and its wild ancestors, Chinese Bombyx mandarina and Japanese Bombyx mandarina

Bombyx mori and Bombyx mandarina are morphologically and physiologically similar. In this study, we compared the nucleotide variations in the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes between the domesticated silkmoth, B. mori, and its wild ancestors, Chinese B. mandarina (ChBm) and Japanese B. mandarina (JaBm). The sequence divergence and transition mutation ratio between B. mori and ChBm are significantly smaller than those observed between B. mori and JaBm. The preference of transition by DNA strands between B. mori and ChBm is consistent with that between B. mori and JaBm, however, the regional variation in nucleotide substitution rate shows a different feature. These results suggest that the ChBm mt genome is not undergoing the same evolutionary process as JaBm, providing evidence for selection on mtDNA. Moreover, investigation of the nucleotide sequence divergence in the A+T-rich region of Bombyx mt genomes also provides evidence for the assumption that the A+T-rich region might not be the fastest evolving region of the mtDNA of insects.     

Genome-wide analysis of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Based on the advances in the silkworm genome project, a new genome-wide analysis of cytochrome P450 genes was performed. A total of 84 CYP-related sequences were identified and could be classified into 26 families and 47 subfamilies according to standard nomenclature. Seventy eight of the eighty four genes appear to be functional and six are probable pseudogenes. The distribution of Bombyx mori P450s in the genome shows that most of them are tandem arranged on chromosomes, only 34 genes are present as singletons, with 8 clusters including 3 or more than 3 genes. Sequence alignments were used to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and to analyze the intron-exon organizations of the functional genes. The conserved intron positioning agrees perfectly with their common grouping on the tree. The presence of three extremely ancient introns which are conserved across different clans indicates that a few introns are still highly conserved after they have undergone extensive evolutionary changes of B. mori P450 duplication and divergence. Comparison of the P450s from B. mori to the P450s from Drosophila melanogaster shows that the expansion is not uniform across the gene families. Remarkably, two mitochondrial families, the B. mori CYP333 and D. melanogaster Cyp12, formed two orthologous groups in the phylogenetic tree. All CYP333s can be proposed to be related to xenobiotic metabolism in accordance with the D. melanogaster Cyp12s. The characterization and evolutionary analysis of P450s from B. mori in the current study provide useful information for understanding the characteristics and diversity of P450s from B. mori and the baseline for functional analyses of individual P450s in this model Lepidopteran insect.     

Comparison of Bombyx mori and Helicoverpa armigera cytoplasmic actin genes provides clues to the evolution of actin genes in insects

The cytoplasmic actin genes BmA3 and BmA4 of Bombyx mori were found clustered in a single genomic clone in the same orientation. As a similar clustering of the two cytoplasmic actin genes Ha3a and Ha3b also occurs in another lepidopteran, Helicoverpa armigera, we analyzed the sequence of the pair of genes from each species. Due to the high conservation of cytoplasmic actins, the coding sequence of the four genes was easily aligned, allowing the detection of similarities in noncoding exon and intron sequences as well as in flanking sequences. All four genes exhibited a conserved intron inserted in codon 117, an original position not encountered in other species. It can thus be postulated that all of these genes derived from a common ancestral gene carrying this intron after a single event of insertion. The comparison of the four genes revealed that the genes of B. mori and H. armigera are related in two different ways: the coding sequence and the intron that interrupts it are more similar between paralogous genes within each species than between orthologous genes of the two species. In contrast, the other (noncoding) regions exhibited the greatest similarity between a gene of one species and a gene of the other species, defining two pairs of orthologous genes, BmA3 and HaA3a on one hand and BmA4 and HaA3b on the other. However, in each species, the very high similarities of the coding sequence and of the single intron that interrupts it strongly suggest that gene conversion events have homogenized this part of the sequence. As the divergence of the B. mori genes was higher than that of the H. armigera genes, we postulated that the gene conversion occurred earlier in the B. mori lineage. This leads us to hypothesize that gene conversion could also be responsible for the original transfer of the common intron to the second gene copy before the divergence of the B. mori and H. armigera lineages.     

Alanyl-tRNA synthetase genes of Vanderwaltozyma polyspora arose from duplication of a dual-functional predecessor of mitochondrial origin

In eukaryotes, the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of a given aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) are typically encoded by two orthologous nuclear genes, one of eukaryotic origin and the other of mitochondrial origin. We herein report a novel scenario of aaRS evolution in yeast. While all other yeast species studied possess a single nuclear gene encoding both forms of alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS), Vanderwaltozyma polyspora, a yeast species descended from the same whole-genome duplication event as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, contains two distinct nuclear AlaRS genes, one specifying the cytoplasmic form and the other its mitochondrial counterpart. The protein sequences of these two isoforms are very similar to each other. The isoforms are actively expressed in vivo and are exclusively localized in their respective cellular compartments. Despite the presence of a promising AUG initiator candidate, the gene encoding the mitochondrial form is actually initiated from upstream non-AUG codons. A phylogenetic analysis further revealed that all yeast AlaRS genes, including those in V. polyspora, are of mitochondrial origin. These findings underscore the possibility that contemporary AlaRS genes in V. polyspora arose relatively recently from duplication of a dual-functional predecessor of mitochondrial origin.