青杄均一化cDNA文库构建及EST序列分析

以青杄花粉和针叶为材料,将青杄全长cDNA与Gateway供体载体pDONR222重组,构建了其非剪切型全长cDNA原始文库,利用基因组DNA饱和杂交技术对原始cDNA文库进行均一化处理,构建青杄的均一化全长cDNA文库。文库的总库容量为1.1×106CFU/mL,平均插入片段长度大于1.0 kb,重组率大于95%。定量RT-PCR检测表明,青杄高丰度表达基因EF1-α在均一化cDNA文库中的表达量下降了约41倍。接着对文库中随机的5 144个克隆进行了测序,获得高质量的有效EST(expressedsequence tag)序列为5 144条,经拼接共获得单一基因(unigene)为2 717个,其中包括片段重叠群(contig)628个和单一EST序列(singlet)2 089个。NCBI同源比对分析表明,其中1 887个序列unigenes获得分子功能注释,这些EST涉及细胞生长、信号转导、转录、抗逆、能量代谢等功能。这些数据有助于对青杄的相关功能蛋白及分子机制开展进一步的研究。     

热胁迫下中旬角蒿叶片SSH文库的构建及初步分析

高温可能是限制中甸角蒿（Incarvillea zhongdiannensis）向低海拔地区引种驯化的主要因素之一。为了从基因表达水平研究中甸角蒿高温胁迫响应的分子机制,本研究利用SSH技术构建了中甸角蒿对高温（30℃）处理响应的正反向抑制性差减杂交文库。文库质量检测表明抑制性差减杂交效率较高,质量较好。通过对正反向文库中部分EST进行序列测定,获得了60条高质量的表达序列标签,平均长度为537bp。对序列进行BLAST比对及功能注释,50条EST为功能已知的基因,分别参与信号转导与转录、植物抗逆性反应、光合作用、代谢与能量、蛋白质合成与转运、蛋白质命运、细胞结构和细胞生长等过程。6个EST与功能未知基因的同源性较高。获得的4个未匹配的EST推测为新基因,可能在植物热耐受性方面具有重要的作用。     

木榄幼苗叶片cDNA文库的构建及其表达序列标签分析

应用SMART技术构建了25‰盐度下生长4个月的木榄叶片的cDNA文库,文库滴度为10~6 cfu mL~(-1),重组率为94.4%,插入片断长度为1～2 kb.从cDNA文库中随机挑选了96个重组克隆进行序列分析,共获得94个表达序列标签(ESTs),经质量控制和聚类拼接后得到81个unigenes,包括5个片断聚合群和76个单一序列.Blastx分析结果表明这些unigencs与GenBank的Nr数据库中已报道的基因具有较高的同源性(E<10~(-5)),它们参与呼吸代谢、光合作用、糖代谢、氨基酸代谢、脂肪酸代谢以及不饱和脂肪酸生物合成等重要的生理过程,并与机体的损伤修复、胞吞作用以及PPAR信号途径等相关.     

Partial sequence analysis of randomly selected watermelon [Citrullus lanantus (Thunb.) Mansf.] cDNA clones

An expressed sequence tag (EST) is simply a segment of a sequence over 150 bp from a randomly selected cDNA. EST helps to quickly identify functions of expressed genes and to understand the complexity of gene expression with database comparison. Sequencing of random cDNA clones can be applicable to discovery of new genes, mapping of the genome, identification of coding regions in genomic sequences, and antisense method. To accomplish these goals, in this research, randomly selected cDNA sequencing was performed with watermelon plant. Among 30 clones picked up and analyzed, all clones had an insert length over 0.5 kb. The average size of insert was about 1.3 kb. The size range of most cDNA insert was 1.0–2.0 kb. For sequence comparison, data from the coding region at 5′ end of selected cDNA should be much more informative than those from the untranslated 3′ tail. Thirty clones were sequenced from one end (5′ end). Of these, 29 had no poly (A) tail in this direction, while only one was inverted. Thus, this library is over 96% unidirectional. Two clones had homologies to ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxigenase (Rubisco) small subunit precursor gene. Thirteen cDNAs had high degree of sequence similarity to genes from other organisms. The remaining cDNA clones seem to be new genes not only in watermelon but also in all organisms.     

热胁迫下中甸角蒿叶片SSH文库的构建及初步分析

高温可能是限制中甸角蒿（Incarvillea zhongdiannensis）向低海拔地区引种驯化的主要因素之一。为了从基因表达水平研究中甸角蒿高温胁迫响应的分子机制,本研究利用SSH技术构建了中甸角蒿对高温（30℃）处理响应的正反向抑制性差减杂交文库。文库质量检测表明抑制性差减杂交效率较高,质量较好。通过对正反向文库中部分EST进行序列测定,获得了60条高质量的表达序列标签,平均长度为537bp。对序列进行BLAST比对及功能注释,50条EST为功能已知的基因,分别参与信号转导与转录、植物抗逆性反应、光合作用、代谢与能量、蛋白质合成与转运、蛋白质命运、细胞结构和细胞生长等过程。6个EST与功能未知基因的同源性较高。获得的4个未匹配的EST推测为新基因,可能在植物热耐受性方面具有重要的作用。     

穴蚁蛉幼虫全长均一化cDNA文库的构建

通过构建穴蚁蛉幼虫(俗称蚁狮)全长均一化cDNA文库,以期了解蚁狮的抗菌肽、毒素蛋白以及其它药用蛋白种类,为日后筛选、克隆表达和分离纯化这些药用蛋白奠定基础.用针刺诱导蚁狮产生抗茵物质后,分离纯化总RNA,结合SMART全长文库与DSN(duplex-specific nuclease)均一化技术,构建全长均一化cDNA文库,并通过平板计数和菌落PCR方法鉴定文库.随机挑选192个单克隆进行5′端测序,并与NCBI数据库进行比对分析.结果显示,构建出的文库平均插入片段长度为1 200bp,原始文库的滴度达到7.5×105 CFU/mL,而扩增文库则为1.95×1011CFU/mL.在所挑选的单克隆中,共获得190条有效序列,平均读长1 340 bp,文库重组率达到98.96%.与NCBI数据库比对后发现,这些序列可能是一些编码蚁狮免疫、消化及毒性蛋白的基因.     

新疆荒漠昆虫光滑鳖甲cDNA文库的构建及功能基因筛选

以过冬后早春的新疆荒漠拟步甲属昆虫光滑鳖甲(Anatolica Polita borealis)成虫为研究材料,应用SMARTTM cDNA Library Construction技术,通过总RNA提取,反转录合成cDNA,定向构建至噬菌体载体λTripEx2,经体外包装构建了光滑鳖甲的cDNA表达文库。测试结果表明库容量为2.2×106,重组率为84.8%。通过对cDNA文库克隆的序列测定和初步生物信息学分析,获得28个光滑鳖甲表达序列标签(ESTs),包括17个EST(60.7%)与NCBI中已注册的已知功能基因相似性较高,另外的11个EST(39.3%)则没有发现与之相似的序列,推测可能是功能未知的新基因。同时,利用PCR扩增文库技术从cDNA文库中克隆获得了光滑鳖甲的抗冻蛋白基因,初步表明光滑鳖甲cDNA表达文库构建的成功,为深入研究新疆荒漠昆虫的抗冻机理及发现新的昆虫功能基因奠定了基础。     

ES cell neural differentiation reveals a substantial number of novel ESTs

We have used a method for synchronously differentiating murine embryonic stem (ES) cells into functional neurons and glia in culture. Using subtractive hybridization we isolated approximately 1200 cDNA clones from ES cell cultures at the neural precursor stage of neural differentiation. Pilot studies indicated that this library is a good source of novel neuro-embryonic cDNA clones. We therefore screened the entire library by single-pass sequencing. Characterization of 604 non-redundant cDNA clones by BLAST revealed 96 novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and an additional 197 matching uncharacterized ESTs or genomic clones derived from genome sequencing projects. With the exception of a handful of genes, whose functions are still unclear, most of the 311 known genes identified in this screen are expressed in embryonic development and/or the nervous system. At least 80 of these genes are implicated in disorders of differentiation, neural development and/or neural function. This study provides an initial snapshot of gene expression during early neural differentiation of ES cell cultures. Given the recent identification of human ES cells, further characterization of these novel and uncharacterized ESTs has the potential to identify genes that may be important in nervous system development, physiology and disease. Electronic Publication     

Molecular identification of wheat endoxylanase inhibitor TAXI-I1, member of a new class of plant proteins

Triticum aestivum endoxylanase inhibitors (TAXIs) are wheat proteins that inhibit family 11 endoxylanases commonly used in different (bio)technological processes. Here, we report on the identification of the TAXI-I gene which encodes a mature protein of 381 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 38.8 kDa. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the recombinant protein had the specificity and inhibitory activity of natural TAXI-I, providing conclusive evidence that the isolated gene encodes an endoxylanase inhibitor. Bioinformatical analysis indicated that no conserved domains nor motifs common to other known proteins are present. Sequence analysis revealed similarity with a glycoprotein of carrot and with gene families in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, all with unknown functions. Our data indicate that TAXI-I belongs to a newly identified class of plant proteins for which a molecular function as glycoside hydrolase inhibitor can now be suggested.     

Characterization of the protein processing and secretion pathways in a comprehensive set of expressed sequence tags from Trichoderma reesei

Trichoderma reesei is a filamentous fungus widely used as an efficient protein producer and known to secrete large quantities of biomass degrading enzymes. Much work has been done aimed at improving the secretion efficiency of this fungus. It is generally accepted that the major bottlenecks in secretion are protein folding and ornamentation steps in this pathway. In an attempt to identify genes involved in these steps, the 5' ends of 21888 cDNA clones were sequenced from which a unique set of over 5000 were also 3' sequenced. Using annotation tools Gene Ontology terms were assigned to 2732 of the sequences. Homologs to the majority of Aspergillus niger's Srg genes as well as a number of homologs to genes involved in protein folding and ornamentation pathways were identified.     

Transferable EST-SSR markers for the study of polymorphism and genetic diversity in bread wheat

Nearly 900 SSRs (simple sequence repeats) were identified among 15,000 ESTs (expressed sequence tags) belonging to bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). The SSRs were defined by their minimum length, which ranged from 14 to 21 bp. The maximum length ranged from 24 to 87 bp depending upon the length of the repeat unit itself (1–7 bp). The average density of SSRs was one SSR per 9.2 kb of EST sequence screened. The trinucleotide repeats were the most abundant SSRs detected. As a representative sample, 78 primer pairs were designed, which were also used to screen the dbEST entries for Hordeum vulgare and Triticum tauschii (donor of the D-genome of cultivated wheat) using a cut-off E (expectation) value of 0.01. On the basis of in silico analysis, up to 55.12% of the primer pairs exhibited transferability from Triticum to Hordeum, indicating that the sequences flanking the SSRs are not only conserved within a single genus but also between related genera in Poaceae. Primer pairs for the 78 SSRs were synthesized and used successfully for the study of (1) their transferability to 18 related wild species and five cereal species (barley, oat, rye, rice and maize); and (2) polymorphism between the parents of four mapping populations available with us. A subset of 20 EST-SSR primers was also used to assess genetic diversity in a collection of 52 elite exotic wheat genotypes. This was done with a view to compare their utility relative to other molecular markers (gSSRs, AFLPs, and SAMPL) previously used by us for the same purpose with the same set of 52 bread wheat genotypes. Although only a low level of polymorphism was detected, relative to that observed with genomic SSRs, the study suggested that EST-SSRs can be successfully used for a variety of purposes, and may actually prove superior to SSR markers extracted from genomic libraries for diversity estimation and transferability.Communicated by R. Hagemann     

Identification and mapping of polymorphic SSR markers from expressed gene sequences of barley and wheat

The growing availability of EST sequences from a range of crop plantsprovides a potentially valuable source of new DNA markers. We have examined theInternational Triticeae EST Cooperative database for the presence ofdinucleotide and trinucleotide simple sequence repeats. Analysis of 24,344 ESTsidentified 388 dinucleotide repeats and 978 trinucleotide repeats in ESTs,representing 1.6% and 4.0% of the total number of ESTs, respectively. To testthe utility and cross-species transferability of EST-derived SSR markers,primers were designed to the flanking regions of 41 barley SSRs and used toscreen 11 barley and 15 wheat varieties. Sixteen of the barley SSR markers werepolymorphic in barley and five were polymorphic in wheat. This represents arelatively high level of transferability of SSR markers between barley andwheat, which has important implications for the development of new markers andcomparative mapping of barley, wheat and other cereals. An additional 56 SSRsfrom wheat ESTs were tested in the same barley and wheat varieties. Four wheatEST SSR markers were polymorphic in wheat and one in barley. Chromosomallocations in barley and wheat were determined for the majority of polymorphicmarkers.     

Frequency, type, distribution and annotation of simple sequence repeats in Rosaceae ESTs

Genomic resources for peach, a model species for Rosaceae, are being developed to accelerate gene discovery in other Rosaceae species by comparative mapping. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are an important tool for comparative mapping because of their high polymorphism and transportability. To accelerate the development of SSR markers, we analyzed publicly available Rosaceae expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for SSRs. A total of 17,284 ESTs from almond, peach and rose were assembled into putatively non-redundant EST sets. For comparison, 179,099 ESTs from Arabidopsis were also used in the analysis. About 4% of the assembled ESTs contained SSRs in Rosaceae, which was higher than the 2.4% found in Arabidopsis. About half of the SSRs were found in the putative UTR, and the estimated average distance between SSRs in the UTR was 5.5 kb in rose, 5.1 kb in almond, 7 kb in peach and 13 kb in Arabidopsis. In the putative coding region, the estimated average distance was two to four times longer than in the UTR. Rosaceae ESTs containing SSRs were functionally annotated using the GenBank nr database and further classified using the gene ontology terms associated with the matching sequences in the SwissProt database. The detailed data including the sequences and annotation results are available from .