Nav1.5/SCN5A基因新的变构体编码人脑组织Nav1.5 Na+通道

河豚毒-抵抗性(TTX-R)Nav1.5 Na 通道是心肌的特异性Na 通道,虽然研究发现神经元中也存在河豚毒-抵抗性Na 电流及Nav1.5/SCN5A mRNA的表达,但其确切的cDNA序列尚不清楚.采用RT-PCR法对人脑组织Nav1.5/SCN5A基因cDNA进行克隆发现:人脑组织Nav1.5/SCN5A基因cDNA有2种变构体,hB1和hB2(accession number EF629346,EF629347),其中hB1全长6201个碱基,其开放读码框架(ORF)参与编码2016个氨基酸,和人心肌Nav1.5 Na 通道氨基酸序列相同率高达98%,共有28个不同的氨基酸,其中7个集中位于第6A外显子与第6外显子编码区.与人心肌Nav1.5/SCN5A基因cDNA不同的是,在对人脑组织Nav1.5/SCN5A基因cDNA的克隆中未发现该基因第18外显子的选择性剪接,但却发现其第24外显子的选择性剪接,2种选择性剪接体(hB1和hB2)在脑组织中基本同时表达,表达比率接近1∶1,但在心脏中二者的表达比率却与年龄有关.人Nav1.5/SCN5A基因的第24外显子定位于染色体3P21区,共有54个碱基,参与编码18个氨基酸.RT-PCR法证实第24外显子的选择性剪接也可发生在大鼠心脑之外的其他组织中,竞争性PCR法证明,不同组织中2种选择性剪接体的表达比率不同,且随着周龄的增加,2种选择性剪接体在各组织中表达的变化趋势不同.此外,RT-PCR法还发现Wistar大鼠全身16种组织中均可检测到Nav1.5/SCN5A mRNA的表达.上述实验结果说明,Nav1.5 Na 通道在全身组织中分布广泛,但编码人脑组织Nav1.5 Na 通道与心肌组织该离子通道的cDNA序列不同,是Nav1.5/SCN5A基因的2种变构体,这为深入研究不同组织中Nav1.5 Na 通道的功能提供了基础.     

大鼠脑组织Nav1.5钠通道的基因克隆及分布分析

为了阐明大鼠脑组织Nav1.5钠通道α亚单位的编码基因、分子特性及其在不同发育阶段各脑叶的分布差异,应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法,对大鼠脑组织Nav1.5钠通道α亚单位进行了克隆(命名为rN1),并比较其在不同发育阶段各脑叶的分布情况.rN1基因编码2016个氨基酸残基,序列分析显示,其与rH1氨基酸相似性为96.53%,与hNbR1相似性为96.13%.在DI-S3～S4发现与rH1不同的一个新的外显子(第7外显子),同时发现DⅡ～Ⅲ选择性剪切了第20外显子(53个氨基酸残基)的异构体(命名为rN1-2).分布结果显示,大鼠脑组织Nav1.5钠通道α亚单位在不同发育阶段各脑叶分布有明显的差异,研究证实,Nav1.5钠通道在大鼠脑组织显著表达,存在脑叶的分布差异,而且随着脑组织的发育,其表达逐渐趋于稳定,实验证实Nav1.5钠通道基因编码了一个新的外显子而且其表达范围更加广泛.     

In-Fusion 技术构建Ⅰ型钠通道与绿色荧光蛋白融合表达及其突变载体

目的：构建Ⅰ型钠通道(Nav1.1)与绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）融合表达载体及其突变载体。方法：利用In-Fusion 技术将SCN1A 基 因亚克隆到绿色荧光蛋白真核细胞融合表达载体（pAcGFP1-C In-Fusion Ready Linear Vector）。PCR 扩增SCN1A 基因（与线性载 体对应两端有15 个相同碱基）,In-Fusion 技术进行融合即得到pCMV-GFP-C-SCN1A。将其转染HEK293T 细胞,Western blot 检 测Nav1.1 的表达。定点诱变试剂盒对其进行定点诱变。结果：1.成功构建Nav1.1 与GFP 融合表达载体pCMV-GFP-C-SCN1A;2. DNA 测序表明：在预期位点已经发生突变,SCN1A 基因第190 位色氨酸密码子(TGG)突变为终止密码子(TGA)。结论：Nav1.1 与 GFP 融合表达载体及其突变载体的构建成功,为进一步研究该突变位点导致Nav1.1 功能的改变奠定了基础。     

电压-门控Na+通道α亚单位Nav1.5

Nav1.5α亚单位是电压-门控Nav1.5Na+通道发挥作用的核心亚单位,在心肌中首先被成功克隆,是心脏电生理活动最主要的Na+通道α亚单位.最新的研究发现,Nav1.5不仅可以在神经元等非心肌组织中表达,而且其表达的选择性剪接体的类型及电生理学特性与心肌Nav1.5亦不同.目前,不仅对Nav1.5发挥功能的调控机制及与心脏传导功能障碍等疾病的发病关系有了深入的了解,而且一些常见疾病,如肿瘤和癫痫等的发生也被认为可能和Nav1 .5有关. 本文结合国内外对Nav1.5的最新研究及本小组的工作,对Nav1.5的结构、选择 性剪接、基因定位、电生理学活性及与疾病的关系作一详细综述.     

水牛、大额牛和牦牛抑制素α亚基编码基因外显子1多态性分析

为了揭示牛科物种INHA基因的遗传特征,该文采用PCR产物直接测序法对水牛、大额牛和牦牛INHA基因外显子1及其侧翼序列进行多态性检测,并结合已发表的包括牛科物种在内的一些哺乳动物数据进行了比较分析。结果表明,在水牛INHA基因外显子1中存在c.73C>A替换,为同义替换,河流型和沼泽型水牛编码产物一致;在大额牛的INHA基因外显子1中发现c.62C>T、c.187G>A替换,分别引起INHA中氨基酸发生p.P21L、p.V63M改变,两者均为相同性质氨基酸的替换;在牦牛中发现c.62C>T、c.129A>G替换,前者也引起编码氨基酸发生p.P21L替换,后者为同义替换。在INHA基因5’侧翼区所测出的序列中,水牛、大额牛和牦牛等物种内均未发现SNP位点,但在种间发现存在c.-6T>G的替换,大额牛、牦牛和普通牛均为c.-6G,而水牛为c.-6T。在INHA基因内含子中,水牛的第31～36位核苷酸处发现有6个碱基的缺失,即c.262+31₂62+36delTCTGAC;该位点在河流型水牛中野生型（+/+）占主体,而在沼泽型水牛中则缺失型（-/-）占主体。在大额牛、牦牛和普通牛等其它牛科物种的内含子中均未发现该缺失,但与水牛相比,大额牛、牦牛和普通牛内含子中发现缺失c.262+78₂62+79delTG。序列比对显示,INHA基因外显子1序列中c.43A和c.67G为水牛中所特有,而c.173A和c.255G为大额牛、牦牛和普通牛所共有,c.24C、c.47G、c.174T和c.206T为山羊所特有。大额牛、牦牛和普通牛间INHA基因外显子1序列差异较小,而山羊和水牛与它们间的差异相对较大。     

猪MHC-Ⅱ类区DQA新等位基因及新突变位点的发现

根据猪SLA-DQA基因cDNA序列和人HLA-DQA基因组序列设计引物,在猪中成功扩增了一个731bD的片段,该片段包括猪SLA-DQA基因的大部分第2外显子、完整第2内含子和少部分第3外显子,通过克隆和PCR直接测序获得该片段的核苷酸序列。在家系中对第2外显子的核苷酸序列和其编码的α1结构域的氨基酸序列进行了分析,并与GenBank中所有的SLA-DQA第2外显子序列进行比较分析,发现有4个新突变位点和两个新等位基因存在。新等位基因分别是DQA—SLT26和DQA—TC 21—1。DQA—SLT26与单倍型c、d相比有8个核苷酸的差异和4个氨基酸的改变：单倍型c、d在60、65、81、93位的氨基酸分别是Val、Lys、Asp、Lys;而DQA—SLT 26相应的氨基酸是Ala、Glu、Gly、Ile。DQA—TC 21—1与单倍型c、d相比存在1个氨基酸的改变,由单倍型c和d中94位氨基酸His变为Tyr。     

一中国正常血钾周期性麻痹家系中的SCN4A基因的T704M突变

家族性周期性麻痹(periodic paralysis,PP)是以反复发作骨骼肌迟缓性瘫痪为特征的一组疾病。我们对一个来自湖北省的正常血钾周期性麻痹家系进行致病基因突变检测。应用微卫星标记对该家系进行连锁分析,证实致病基因可能同SCN4A连锁。对SCN4A基因全部外显子测序,发现患者在一个致病突变热点存在碱基替换C2188T。该突变导致编码氨基酸改变Thr704Met,经单链构象多态性分析证明该突变只存在于该家系患者,不存在于家系中健康人和100名无亲缘关系对照中,Thr704Met是该家系的致病突变。     

鸭FTO基因多态位点筛选和生物信息学分析

为挖掘FTO基因的SNP,为今后进一步研究该基因遗传变异奠定基础。本研究以樱桃谷鸭为试验对象,构建DNA池,对第2外显子、第4外显子和第5外显子直接测序,筛选与脂质性状相关的SNP位点。结果表明:FTO基因存在2个SNPs位点突变,在第5外显子发现1个SNP位点突变,另外一个在g.33942位点处,碱基A突变为碱基G,引起天冬氨酸(GAT)变为甘氨酸(GGT),在g.33781位点处,存在碱基T和A的突变(在内含子处,没有引起氨基酸的改变);RNA二级结构的最小自由能由-475.50 kcal/mol变为-477.40 kcal/mol。蛋白质二级结构分析发现,突变前后,α螺旋、β转角、延伸链和自由卷曲数值均有所改变。其中,α螺旋所占比例有所下降,但比重仍为最大,自由卷曲数量由原来的186个减少到185,比例由33.27%减少32.09%。突变前后多态位点导致FTO基因编码的蛋白三级结构也有所改变。FTO基因筛选出的SNP位点,引起RNA二级结构甚至是其编码的蛋白质结构的改变,可能进一步引起功能的改变。     

SCN5A基因突变与遗传性心脏疾病的相关关系

SCN5A基因编码心脏钠离子通道Nav1.5的α亚基,主要与心脏动作电位的快速去极化有关,是最早研究的离子通道之一。SCN5A的突变和众多遗传性心脏疾病的电生理和结构表型有很大的相关性。其功能丧失突变与Brugada综合征、进行性心脏传导障碍、病窦综合征、特发性心室颤动和心房静止有关,而功能获得突变与长QT综合征3型相关。其他与SCN5A相关的疾病,如心房颤动,婴儿猝死综合征,扩张型心肌病,以及致心律失常性右室心肌病,重叠综合症,都有更复杂的病理生理机制,涉及多种分子表型的变化。随着膜片钳技术和诱导多能干细胞定向分化为心肌细胞(i PSC-CMS)技术的发展,SCN5A基因突变导致遗传性心脏疾病的致病机制已取得较大进展,根据最近的发现,本文主要对近年来SCN5A基因突变导致各种遗传性心脏疾病中的研究进展做一总结。     

HLA-B*2736等位基因的序列分析

使用FLOW-SSO、PCR-SSP以及测序等分型技术, 发现一个与HLA-B*270401基因相关的未知基因。设计基因特异性引物单独扩增B*27基因的外显子2-5, 包括内含子2-4, 并进行双向测序, 分析与B*270401基因序列的差异。该基因的扩增产物为1 815 bp。与B*270401相比在外显子3和4共有10个碱基的改变, 从而使相应氨基酸发生错义或同义突变。碱基634 A→C (密码子130丝氨酸→精氨酸); 670 A→T (密码子142苏氨酸→丝氨酸); 683 G→T (密码子146色氨酸→亮氨酸); 698 A→T (密码子151谷氨酸→缬氨酸); 774 G→C (密码子176谷氨酸→天冬氨酸); 776 C→A (密码子177苏氨酸→赖氨酸); 781 C→G (密码子179谷氨酰胺→谷氨酸); 789 G→T (密码子181丙氨酸同义突变); 1 438 C→T (密码子206甘氨酸同义突变); 1 449 G→C (密码子210甘氨酸→丙氨酸)。在IMGT/HLA数据库中B*27组只有3个基因（B*270502 / 2706 / 2732）提交了内含子序列。该未知基因的内含子2序列与B*2706相同, 显示了与B*27组基因的同源性, 但其同源性在内含子3、4均未得到支持, 与B*27组基因相比, 内含子3的第106个碱基C→G, 碱基168缺失, 碱基179 G→A, 碱基536 G→A; 内含子4中碱基82 T→C。但其内含子3、4序列却与B*070201完全相同。该基因序列已提交GenBank, 编号为被DQ915176, 被WHO确认为HLA-B*2736等位基因。     

exonsampler: a computer program for genome‐wide and candidate gene exon sampling for targeted next‐generation sequencing

The computer program exonsampler automates the sampling of thousands of exon sequences from publicly available reference genome sequences and gene annotation databases. It was designed to provide exon sequences for the efficient, next‐generation gene sequencing method called exon capture. The exon sequences can be sampled by a list of gene name abbreviations (e.g. IFNG, TLR1), or by sampling exons from genes spaced evenly across chromosomes. It provides a list of genomic coordinates (a bed file), as well as a set of sequences in fasta format. User‐adjustable parameters for collecting exon sequences include a minimum and maximum acceptable exon length, maximum number of exonic base pairs (bp) to sample per gene, and maximum total bp for the entire collection. It allows for partial sampling of very large exons. It can preferentially sample upstream (5 prime) exons, downstream (3 prime) exons, both external exons, or all internal exons. It is written in the Python programming language using its free libraries. We describe the use of exonsampler to collect exon sequences from the domestic cow (Bos taurus) genome for the design of an exon‐capture microarray to sequence exons from related species, including the zebu cow and wild bison. We collected ~10% of the exome (~3 million bp), including 155 candidate genes, and ~16 000 exons evenly spaced genomewide. We prioritized the collection of 5 prime exons to facilitate discovery and genotyping of SNPs near upstream gene regulatory DNA sequences, which control gene expression and are often under natural selection.     

Retention of spliceosomal components along ligated exons ensures efficient removal of multiple introns

The majority of mammalian pre-mRNAs contains multiple introns that are excised prior to export and translation. After intron excision, ligated exon intermediates participate in subsequent intron excisions. However, exon ligation generates an exon of increased size, a feature of pre-mRNA splicing that can interfere with downstream splicing events. These considerations raise the question of whether unique mechanisms exist that permit efficient removal of introns neighboring ligated exons. Kinetic analyses of multiple intron-containing pre-mRNAs revealed that splicing is more efficient following an initial intron removal event, suggesting that either the recruitment of the exon junction complex (EJC) to ligated exons increases the efficiency of multiple intron excisions or that the initial definition of splice sites is sufficient to permit efficient splicing of introns neighboring ligated exons. Knockdown experiments show that the deposition of the EJC does not affect subsequent splicing kinetics. Instead, spliceosomal components that are not involved in the initial splicing event remain associated with the pre-mRNA to ensure efficient removal of neighboring introns. Thus, ligated exons do not require redefinition, providing an additional kinetic advantage for exon defined splice sites.     

Negative modulation of signal transduction via interleukin splice variation

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) belongs to a large group of secreted proteins called cytokines functioning to mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis with direct effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Along with the IL-6 protein, two of its splice variants, IL-6delta2 and IL-6delta4, were reported to be transcribed or expressed in vivo in human, and the mRNAs of IL-6delta3 and IL-6delta5 had been observed in mouse. While the existence of different splice variants of IL-6 has been shown, very little is known on how the structural modifications of IL-6 resulting from the formation of the different splice variants may alter cytokine functions. We have analyzed the potential effects splicing would have on interactions with the cell surface receptor complex. We (1) constructed three-dimensional structures of the IL-6 splice variants, IL-6delta2, IL-6delta3, and IL-6delta4, with the assumption that an interleukin splice variant as a folded protein should retain a functional hydrophobic core; (2) reconstructed the ternary structural complexes consisting of the modeled IL-6 splice variants, the IL-6 receptor molecule (IL-6R) and the dimeric signal-transducing protein, gp130, and (3) analyzed all complexes and made comparisons with the X-ray structure of the wild-type IL-6 complex. We identified three separate sites on IL-6 where interactions are made with IL-6R and with each of the two copies of gp130. The structural consequences of losing an exon lead to a unique pattern of lost interaction with different components of the receptor complex. Thus, in IL-6 and its splice variants, the exons appear to have compartmentalized roles contributing to the combined function of the cytokine. The modeled interactions suggest that splice variants could act as antagonists, and that IL-6delta2, missing the signal peptide, would be a cytoplasmic protein and be released and interact with nearby cell-surface receptors when cells are damaged. We argue that in the case of IL-6, helix E may act as a "silent secondary structure," which only has an active role when it substitutes for a part of the hydrophobic core, for example, replacing helix A in IL-6delta2.     

Exclusion of m6A from splice-site proximal regions by the exon junction complex dictates m6A topologies and mRNA stability

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Introns in chloroplast protein-coding genes of land plants

Several protein-coding genes from land plant chloroplasts have been shown to contain introns. The majority of these introns resemble the fungal mitochondrial group II introns due to considerable nucleotide sequence homology at their 5 and 3 ends and they can readily be folded to form six hairpins characteristic of the predicted secondary structure of the mitochondrial group II introns. Recently it has been demonstrated that some mitochondrial group II introns are capable of self-splicing in vitro in the absence of protein co-factors. However evidence presented in this overview suggests that this is probably not the case for chloroplast introns and that trans-acting factors are almost certainly involved in their processing reactions.Abbreviations kop kilobase pairs - ORF Open Reading Frame - pre-RNA precursor ribonucleic acid     

Genscan for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> is a valuable tool for predicting sponge coding sequences

Although the first sponge genome project has already started releasing completed sequences, only a very small number of annotated sponge genomic sequences has so far been published. In addition, no gene-prediction software optimised for sponges is available yet. In the present paper, we present the performance of Arabidopsis-optimised Genscan as tested on sponge genes. All genes whose genomic and complete CDS sequences are deposited in the NCBI nucleotide database were retrieved and used as the test set. The 18 test genes are composed of 114 coding exons. The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of all exons were predicted with 83.3% and 79.2%, internal exons with 88.5% and 80.2%, donor with 93.8% and 85.7%, acceptor with 89.6% and 78.9%, initiation with 94.4% and 85%, and termination sites with 72.2% and 81.3%. The results are compared with prediction results obtained with Genscan for vertebrates and GeneMark.hmm ES-3.0 for Arabidopsis. The surprising finding is that although the animals are the source of sequences, the best results (more than 80% accuracy in predicting complete exons) were obtained by Genscan optimised for a plant A. thaliana. Although the sample is small, the results lead to the conclusion that Genscan for Arabidopsis is a valuable tool for predicting coding sequences in sponges and could be of great help in annotating sponge genes. Dedicated to Prof. Dr.Sc. Vera Gamulin, a remarkable lady who passed away too soon and suddenly.     

Population and evolutionary dynamics of Helitron transposable elements in Arabidopsis thaliana

Helitrons, a recently discovered superfamily of DNA transposons that capture host gene fragments, constitute up to 2% of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. In this study, we identified 565 insertions of a family of nonautonomous Helitrons, known as Basho elements. We aligned subsets of these elements, estimated their phylogenetic relationships, and used branch lengths to yield insight into the age of each Basho insertion. The age distribution suggests that 87% of Bashos inserted within 5 Myr, subsequent to the divergence between A. thaliana and its sister species Arabidopsis lyrata. We screened 278 of these insertions for their presence or absence in a sample of 47 A. thaliana accessions. With both phylogenetic and population frequency data, we investigated the effects of gene density, recombination rate, and element length on Basho persistence. Our analyses suggested that longer Basho copies are less likely to persist in the genome, consistent with selection against the deleterious effects of ectopic recombination between Basho elements. Furthermore, we determined that 39% of Basho elements contain fragments of expressed protein-coding genes, but all of these fragments were explained by only 5 gene-capture events. Overall, the picture of A. thaliana Helitron evolution is one of rapid expansion, relatively few gene-capture events, and weak selection correlated with element length.     

Mice with endogenous TDP‐43 mutations exhibit gain of splicing function and characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

TDP‐43 (encoded by the gene TARDBP) is an RNA binding protein central to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, how TARDBP mutations trigger pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, we use novel mouse mutants carrying point mutations in endogenous Tardbp to dissect TDP‐43 function at physiological levels both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, we find that mutations within the C‐terminal domain of TDP‐43 lead to a gain of splicing function. Using two different strains, we are able to separate TDP‐43 loss‐ and gain‐of‐function effects. TDP‐43 gain‐of‐function effects in these mice reveal a novel category of splicing events controlled by TDP‐43, referred to as “skiptic” exons, in which skipping of constitutive exons causes changes in gene expression. In vivo, this gain‐of‐function mutation in endogenous Tardbp causes an adult‐onset neuromuscular phenotype accompanied by motor neuron loss and neurodegenerative changes. Furthermore, we have validated the splicing gain‐of‐function and skiptic exons in ALS patient‐derived cells. Our findings provide a novel pathogenic mechanism and highlight how TDP‐43 gain of function and loss of function affect RNA processing differently, suggesting they may act at different disease stages.