X chromosome regulation of autosomal gene expression in bovine blastocysts

Although X chromosome inactivation in female mammals evolved to balance the expression of X chromosome and autosomal genes in the two sexes, female embryos pass through developmental stages in which both X chromosomes are active in somatic cells. Bovine blastocysts show higher expression of many X genes in XX than XY embryos, suggesting that X inactivation is not complete. Here, we reanalyzed bovine blastocyst microarray expression data from a network perspective with a focus on interactions between X chromosome and autosomal genes. Whereas male-to-female ratios of expression of autosomal genes were distributed around a mean of 1, X chromosome genes were clearly shifted towards higher expression in females. We generated gene coexpression networks and identified a major module of genes with correlated gene expression that includes female-biased X genes and sexually dimorphic autosomal genes for which the sexual dimorphism is likely driven by the X genes. In this module, expression of X chromosome genes correlates with autosome genes, more than the expression of autosomal genes with each other. Our study identifies correlated patterns of autosomal and X-linked genes that are likely influenced by the sexual imbalance of X gene expression when X inactivation is inefficient.     

Expression profile of two storage-protein gene families in hexaploid wheat revealed by large-scale analysis of expressed sequence tags

To discern expression patterns of individual storage-protein genes in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring), we analyzed comprehensive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of common wheat using a bioinformatics technique. The gene families for alpha/beta-gliadins and low molecular-weight glutenin subunit were selected from the EST database. The alignment of these genes enabled us to trace the single nucleotide polymorphism sites among both genes. The combinations of single nucleotide polymorphisms allowed us to assign haplotypes into their homoeologous chromosomes by allele-specific PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes showed that both storage-protein gene families rapidly diverged after differentiation of the three genomes (A, B, and D). Expression patterns of these genes were estimated based on the frequencies of ESTs. The storage-protein genes were expressed only during seed development stages. The alpha/beta-gliadin genes exhibited two distinct expression patterns during the course of seed maturation: early expression and late expression. Although the early expression genes among the alpha/beta-gliadin and low molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes showed similar expression patterns, and both genes from the D genome were preferentially expressed rather than those from the A or B genome, substantial expression of two early expression genes from the A genome was observed. The phylogenetic relationships of the genes and their expression patterns were not correlated. These lines of evidence suggest that expression of the two storage-protein genes is independently regulated, and that the alpha/beta-gliadin genes possess novel regulation systems in addition to the prolamin box.     

Variable expression patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS genes: evidence that PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 are inversely regulated in vivo

Evaluation of expression of 16 PE_PGRS genes present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis under various growth conditions demonstrated constitutive expression of 7 genes, variable expression of 7 genes, and no expression of 2 genes. An inverse expression profile for genes PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 was observed to occur in macrophages and in mice infected with M. tuberculosis. Variable expression of PE_PGRS proteins could have implications for their role in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis.     

用cDNA表达阵列分析遗传性癫痫易感大鼠海马和大脑皮质的基因表达

采用Atlas^TM Rat cDNA Expression Array建立遗传性癫痫易感性P77PMC大鼠和正常对照Wistar大鼠的海马与大脑皮质基因表达谱,用Eagle EyeⅡStill Video System(Stratagene)图象分析仪分析两者基因表达谱差异.结果发现海马和大脑皮质中各有15个差异表达基因.海马组织中,12个基因在P77PMC大鼠中高表达而在正常对照Wistar大鼠中低表达,3个基因在正常对照Wistar大鼠中高表达,而在P77PMC大鼠中低表达;大脑皮质中,13个基因在P77PMC大鼠中高表达,而在正常对照Wistar大鼠中低表达,2个基因在正常对照Wistar大鼠中高表达,而在P77PMC大鼠中低表达. 结果说明,P77PMC大鼠与正常对照Wistar大鼠海马和大脑皮质存在多个差异表达基因,这些差异表达基因可能在癫痫的发生中扮演了重要角色.     

Gene Expression Variability in Human Hepatic Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters

Interindividual variability in the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters (DMETs) in human liver may contribute to interindividual differences in drug efficacy and adverse reactions. Published studies that analyzed variability in the expression of DMET genes were limited by sample sizes and the number of genes profiled. We systematically analyzed the expression of 374 DMETs from a microarray data set consisting of gene expression profiles derived from 427 human liver samples. The standard deviation of interindividual expression for DMET genes was much higher than that for non-DMET genes. The 20 DMET genes with the largest variability in the expression provided examples of the interindividual variation. Gene expression data were also analyzed using network analysis methods, which delineates the similarities of biological functionalities and regulation mechanisms for these highly variable DMET genes. Expression variability of human hepatic DMET genes may affect drug-gene interactions and disease susceptibility, with concomitant clinical implications.     

Transcription profiling during the cell cycle shows that a subset of Polycomb-targeted genes is upregulated during DNA replication

Genome-wide gene expression analyses of the human somatic cell cycle have indicated that the set of cycling genes differ between primary and cancer cells. By identifying genes that have cell cycle dependent expression in HaCaT human keratinocytes and comparing these with previously identified cell cycle genes, we have identified three distinct groups of cell cycle genes. First, housekeeping genes enriched for known cell cycle functions; second, cell type-specific genes enriched for HaCaT-specific functions; and third, Polycomb-regulated genes. These Polycomb-regulated genes are specifically upregulated during DNA replication, and consistent with being epigenetically silenced in other cell cycle phases, these genes have lower expression than other cell cycle genes. We also find similar patterns in foreskin fibroblasts, indicating that replication-dependent expression of Polycomb-silenced genes is a prevalent but unrecognized regulatory mechanism.     

Construction of mathematical model for high-level expression of foreign genes in pPIC9 vector and its verification

In this report, we introduced a mathematical model for high-level expression of foreign genes in pPIC9 vector. At first, we collected 40 heterologous genes expressed in pPIC9 vector, and these 40 genes were classified into high-level expression group (expression level >100mg/L, 12 genes) and low-level expression group (expression level <100mg/L, 28 genes). Then, the Naive Bayes method was used to construct the model with RNA secondary structure profile of 3'-end of foreign genes as features. The classification accuracy from leave-one-out cross-validation was 100%. Finally, another five genes collected from literatures were used to test the ability of the model. The results indicated that there were four genes correctly predicted. In addition, the model was also verified by expressing human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) gene with expression level more than 100mg/L. Therefore, we propose that the model can be used to predict the expression level of heterologous genes before experiments and optimize the experiment designs to obtain the high-level expression. Furthermore, we have developed a web server for evaluation and design for high-level expression of foreign genes, which is accessible at http://ppic9.med.stu.edu.cn/ppic9.     

Oligonucleotide microarray data mining: search for age-dependent gene expression

Information on gene expression in colon tumors versus normal human colon was recently generated by an oligonucleotide microarray study. We used the associated database to search for genes that display age-dependent variations in expression. Statistically significant evidence was obtained that such genes are present in both the tumor and normal tissue databases. Besides the analysis of all genes included in the database, three subsets of genes were analyzed separately: genes controlled by p53, and genes coding for ribosomal proteins and for nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. Among the genes controlled by p53 some show an age-dependent change in expression in tumor tissues, in the sense compatible with an activation of p53 at higher age. A decreased expression of some ribosomal genes at advanced age was detected both in tumor and normal tissues. No significant age-dependent expression could be detected for genes encoding mitochondrial proteins.     

Genome-wide germline-enriched and sex-biased expression profiles in Caenorhabditis elegans

We performed a genome-wide analysis of gene expression in C. elegans to identify germline- and sex-regulated genes. Using mutants that cause defects in germ cell proliferation or gametogenesis, we identified sets of genes with germline-enriched expression in either hermaphrodites or males, or in both sexes. Additionally, we compared gene expression profiles between males and hermaphrodites lacking germline tissue to define genes with sex-biased expression in terminally differentiated somatic tissues. Cross-referencing hermaphrodite germline and somatic gene sets with in situ hybridization data demonstrates that the vast majority of these genes have appropriate spatial expression patterns. Additionally, we examined gene expression at multiple times during wild-type germline development to define temporal expression profiles for these genes. Sex- and germline-regulated genes have a non-random distribution in the genome, with especially strong biases for and against the X chromosome. Comparison with data from large-scale RNAi screens demonstrates that genes expressed in the oogenic germline display visible phenotypes more frequently than expected.