Cloning and ontogenetic expression of the uncoupling protein 1 gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">UCP1</Emphasis> in sheep

The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is an indicator of brown adipocytes and is involved in the control of body temperature and regulation of energy balance. It abundantly expresses in newborns and has important functions in adults. However, little information was known on UCP1 gene expression in young and adolescent sheep. In this study, we cloned and identified the full-length DNA and cDNA sequences of the ovine UCP1 gene, which were 6659 bp and 1621 bp, respectively, and predicted the location of the gene on chromosome 17. Forty-eight animals with an equal number of males and females each for both Guangling Large Tail sheep (GLT) and Small Tail sheep Han (STH) sheep were used to study the ontogenetic expression of UCP1 mRNA in eight adipose tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the mRNA was expressed in all tissues studied and at all stages from 2 to 12 months of age. Nevertheless, the mRNA in perirenal fat was expressed significantly higher than that in other tissues and lower in superficial fat than in deep deposits. The highest expression was observed in animals at 2 months of age and then decreased gradually with age. Global expression in GLT was significantly higher than that in STH. Interactions between tissue and breed and age also influenced the mRNA expression significantly. In addition, the mRNA expression was associated with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotypes detected in the cDNA of the gene.     

我国蒙古羊系统不同生态型绵羊品种遗传多样性及距离隔离机制的研究

以我国主要地方绵羊品种湖羊、同羊、小尾寒羊、滩羊和洼地绵羊为研究对象,检测位于不同染色体的微卫星位点的基因频率分布,进行比较分析.结果表明 1) 就本研究涉及的微卫星标记而言,湖羊处于Hardy-Weinberg极不平衡状态 (P ＜ 0.01),而其余群体包括同羊、小尾寒羊、滩羊和洼地绵羊却处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡 (P ＜ 0.05).2) 就本研究涉及的微卫星标记而言,平均杂合度、多型信息含量和有效等位基因数三个遗传变异指标的方差分析表明不同群体间杂合度、多型信息含量均不存在显著差异 (P ＞ 0.05),有效等位基因数遗传变异指标在、滩羊、湖羊、同羊和洼地羊相互之间以及洼地羊与小尾寒羊之间亦差异不显著(P ＞ 0.05),但是有效等位基因数在前3个群体与后2个群体之间存在显著差异 (0.01 ＜ P ＜ 0.05).5个绵羊群体的变异水平以小尾寒羊最高,其次为洼地绵羊、同羊和滩羊,最低的是湖羊.3) 本研究涉及的我国蒙古羊系统内5个绵羊群体间的系统发生关系不满足距离隔离模式,绵羊群体间的遗传分化关系的远近与其地理分布并未表现出紧密的线性相关.这与5个绵羊起源于不同时期的蒙古羊始祖群体,同时在品种间存在一定程度的基因交流,并在各自特有的生态环境中经历不同程度的自然选择和人为选择品种培育史实相符.     

cDNA genes formed after infection with retroviral vector particles lack the hallmarks of natural processed pseudogenes.

Retroviral proteins can encapsidate RNAs without retroviral cis-acting sequences. Such RNAs are reverse transcribed and inserted into the genomes of infected target cells to form cDNA genes. Previous investigations by Southern blot analysis of such cDNA genes suggested that they were truncated at the 3' and the 5' ends (R. Dornburg and H. M. Temin, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:2328-2334, 1988). To analyze such cDNA genes further, we cloned three cDNA genes (derived from a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene) in lambda vectors and analyzed them by DNA sequencing. We found that they did not correspond to the full-length mRNA: they were truncated at both the 3' and the 5' ends, did not contain a poly(A) tract, and were not flanked by direct repeats. The 3'-end junctions to chromosomal DNA of five more cDNA genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned in pUC vectors, and sequenced. All of these cDNA genes had 3'-end truncations, and no poly(A) tracts were found. Further polymerase chain reaction experiments were performed to detect hygromycin B phosphotransferase cDNA genes with a poly(A) tract in DNA extracted from a pool of about 500 colonies of cells containing cDNA genes. No hygromycin B phosphotransferase cDNA gene with a poly(A) tract was found. Investigation of two preintegration sites by Southern analysis revealed that deletions were present in chromosomal DNA at the site of the integration of the cDNA genes. Naturally occurring processed pseudogenes correspond to the full-length mRNA, contain a poly(A) sequence, and are flanked by direct repeats. Our data indicate that cDNA genes formed by infection with retrovirus particles lack the hallmarks or natural processed pseudogenes. Thus, it appears that natural processed pseudogenes were not generated by retrovirus proteins.     

Expression profile of active genes in human periodontal ligament and isolation of PLAP-1, a novel SLRP family gene

Periodontal ligament (PDL) is one of the most important tissues in maintaining the homeostasis of tooth and tooth-supporting tissue, periodontium. In this study, we investigated the expression profile of active genes in the human PDL obtained by collecting sequences with a 3'-directed cDNA library, which faithfully represents the composition of the mRNA population. We succeeded in obtaining a total of 1752 cDNA sequences by sequencing randomly selected clones and identified a total of 1318 different species as gene signatures (GS) by their sequence identity, 344 of which were known genes in the GenBank, and 974 of which were new genes. The resulting expression profile showed that collagen type I and type III were the most abundant genes and that osteogenesis-related proteins, such as SPARC/osteonectin and osteoblast specific factor 2, were highly expressed. By comparing the expression profile of PDL with 44 profiles similarly obtained with unrelated human cell/tissue, nine novel genes, which are probably expressed specifically in PDL, were discovered. Among them, we cloned a full-length cDNA of GS5096, which is frequently expressed in freshly-isolated periodontal tissue. We found that it encodes a novel protein, which is a new member of the class I small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan family, and designated it PLAP-1 (periodontal ligament associated protein-1). PLAP-1 mRNA expression was confirmed in in vitro-maintained PDL cells and was enhanced during the course of the cytodifferentiation of the PDL cells into mineralized tissue-forming cells such as osteoblasts and cementoblasts. These findings suggest the involvement of PLAP-1 in the mineralized matrix formation in PDL tissues.     

兜兰DEFICIENS(DEF)-和GLOBOSA(GLO)-like基因的克隆及表达分析

以‘同色兜兰’品种为材料,采用RT-PCR和RACE技术获得了DEFICIENS(DEF)-和GLOBOSA(GLO)-like基因的cDNA全长,命名为PcDEF和PcGLO,并用半定量RT-PCR和实时PCR研究了PcDEF和PcGLO在花芽发育过程和不同组织部位的表达特性。结果表明,PcDEF和PcGLO的全长cDNA分别为1 039bp和934bp,分别编码224和210个氨基酸;蛋白比对表明,PcDEF和PcGLO蛋白都具有典型MADS-box蛋白的MADS和K结构域;蛋白同源性分析显示,PcDEF和PcGLO与已登录的其它兰科植物的DEF/AP3和GLO/PI蛋白的相似性分别在75%～96%和87%～98%;系统进化树分析表明,PcDEF和PcGLO分别属于B类MADS-box蛋白家族的AP3和PI亚家族。表达分析显示,PcDEF和PcGLO在花芽发育中均有表达,PcDEF在成熟花、唇瓣和花瓣中的表达量高,在蕊柱、萼片、苞叶和根中次之,在花茎和叶中较低,在子房中几乎不表达;PcGLO在各组织中均有不同丰度的表达。     

Functional identification of sterol-4alpha-methyl oxidase cDNAs from Arabidopsis thaliana by complementation of a yeast erg25 mutant lacking sterol-4alpha-methyl oxidation.

Specific primers derived from both genomic sequence data and EST cDNA sequences were used to polymerase chain reaction amplify two full-length cDNA sequences (AtSMO1 and AtSMO2), 801 and 783 bp, respectively, from an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA library. The predicted proteins show 32 and 29% identity to the ERG25 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which encodes the sterol-4alpha-methyl oxidase (SMO), a membrane-bound non-heme di-iron oxygenase involved in lipid metabolism. Heterologous expression of AtSMO1 and AtSMO2 in a yeast erg25 ergosterol auxotroph, lacking SMO activity, restored growth and endogenous ergosterol synthesis. These results represent the first functional identification of SMO genes from plants.     

绵羊肌球蛋白轻链2基因的分子克隆与表达分析

肌球蛋白轻链2蛋白是哺乳动物肌球蛋白的重要成员之一。获得其基因序列,并对其特征和表达进行分析,可为进一步研究功能奠定基础。本研究以小尾寒羊背最长肌为试验材料,采用RACE等方法对绵羊肌球蛋白轻链2基因的cDNA序列进行克隆和测序、利用相关生物学软件对所得cDNA序列进行生物信息学预测、并利用qRT-PCR和Western印迹法对其在绵羊各种组织中的表达进行分析。结果获得该基因cDNA序列全长为776 bp,提交至GenBank中获得相应的登录号为KJ710702;该序列中的498 bp的开放读码框编码含有166个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。预测发现该蛋白质无信号肽和二硫键,但存在N-糖基化和磷酸化位点;二级结构中以α-螺旋为主;蛋白质序列比较发现绵羊MYL2与小鼠、人、大鼠、猪、牛等哺乳动物的同源性均在95%以上。mRNA和蛋白质表达谱均显示该基因在绵羊心肌中表达量最高,其次为背最长肌。     

利用cDNA-AFLP技术分析旱作促进水稻种子根伸长过程中的基因表达

短期旱作促进水稻种子根的伸长。利用cDNA—AFLP技术分析种子根根尖在旱作条件下差异表达的基因,同时比较这些基因在种子根尖、侧根和不定根原基区的表达差异。在1640个片段中,70个在种子根根尖中受旱作诱导,其中24个被克隆并测序。2个基因分别编码丙酮酸脱氢酶激酶(PDK)和腺嘌吟转磷酸核糖基酶(APRT),并用电子拼接技术获得水稻的APRT全长cDNA;另一个经cDNA末端快速扩增法延长后仍无同源序列。Northern杂交验证了这3个基因的cDNA—AFLP表达谱。这是首次报告使用cDNA—AFLP技术研究水稻根组织的差异表达基因。     

两株希木龙假丝酵母14α-去甲基化酶基因(ERG11)的克隆及其功能初步验证

为探讨希木龙假丝酵母(假丝酵母又称念珠菌)的耐药机制,首先克隆出两株希木龙念珠菌ERG11基因,初步验证其功能,从而为后续研究奠定基础。从美国国家生物技术信息中心(National Center of Biotechnology Information,NCBI)基因数据库中获取白念珠菌、热带念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌和光滑念珠菌Erg11蛋白的保守序列,设计简并引物,聚合酶链反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)扩增获得希木龙念珠菌ERG11cDNA部分片段;用快速cDNA末端扩增法(rapid amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)分别扩增其5′和3′端,获得完整的ERG11编码序列(coding sequence,CDS);将CDS克隆到pYES2表达载体中,在尿嘧啶营养缺陷型酿酒酵母中过表达ERG11;用微量液基稀释法检测转化后的酿酒酵母对氟康唑的敏感性,初步验证其功能。结果显示,简并PCR扩增获得预期708bp片段,5′RACE和3′RACE分别获得385bp和1 336bp片段,经纯化、克隆、测序、比对分析,获得两株菌的ERG11CDS;比对其编码的蛋白,与其他念珠菌的Erg11蛋白高度同源;分别检测克隆了这两株希木龙念珠菌ERG11CDS表达载体的酿酒酵母对氟康唑的敏感性,发现过表达ERG11明显降低其对氟康唑的敏感性。结果提示,简并PCR联合RACE能准确有效地克隆出希木龙念珠菌ERG11基因,用pYES2酿酒酵母表达系统能初步验证其功能。     

Aromatase gene and its effects on growth, reproductive and maternal ability traits in a multibreed sheep population from Brazil

We determined the polymorphism C242T of the aromatase gene (Cyp19) and its allelic frequency, as well as the effect of the variants on productive and reproductive traits in 71 purebred Santa Inês sheep, 13 purebred Brazilian Somali sheep, nine purebred Poll Dorset sheep, and 18 crossbred 1/2 Dorper sheep. The animals were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP technique. The influence of the animal's genotype on its performance or on the performance of its lambs was analyzed by the least square method. Another factor assessed was the importance of the animal's genotype in analysis models for quantitative breeding value estimates, and whether there were differences among the averages of breeding values of animals with different genotypes for this gene. In the sample studied, no AA individuals were observed; the AB and BB frequencies were 0.64 and 0.36, respectively. All Brazilian Somali sheep were of genotype BB. All 1/2 Dorper BB animals presented a lower age at first lambing, and the Santa Inês BB ewes presented a lower lambing interval. In these same genetic groups, AB ewes presented higher litter weight at weaning. This is evidence that BB ewes have a better reproductive performance phenotype, whereas AB ewes present a better maternal ability phenotype. However, in general, animals with genotype AB presented better average breeding values than those with genotype BB.     

鹅掌楸DHHC型锌指蛋白家族基因的克隆及表达分析

棕榈酰化修饰是一种最普遍且唯一可逆的翻译后脂质修饰方式,赋予蛋白质多样化的生理功能。DHHC( Asp-His-His-Cys)蛋白家族是一类与棕榈酰化修饰相关的蛋白,多数DHHC蛋白家族成员具有蛋白质酰基转移酶( protein S-acyltransferase,PAT)活性。该研究以鹅掌楸叶芽为材料,采用RT-PCR和RACE技术,克隆获得了3个鹅掌楸DHHC蛋白家族基因cDNA全长,命名为LcPAT7、LcPAT22、LcPAT23。序列分析结果表明：LcPAT7、LcPAT22、LcPAT23基因全长分别为1933、2592、2217 bp,各包含1332、1839、1662 bp的开放阅读框( Open Reading Frame,ORF),编码433、612、533个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量分别为40.04、67.3、60.57 kDa,理论等电点为9.15、9.03、7.29。3个基因编码的蛋白均有4个跨膜区,并且都在跨膜域( transmembrane domain, TM) TM2和 TM3之间存在一个 DHHC 蛋白家族典型的 DHHC-CRD 结构域。同源性分析表明：鹅掌楸LcPAT7、LcPAT22、LcPAT23编码的氨基酸序列与其他植物中预测的PAT具有较高的相似性。利用荧光定量PCR技术检测3个基因在鹅掌楸不同组织中的表达特性,发现3个基因在不同组织中均有表达,但表达量具有明显区别。同一家族基因表达模式的变化表明其功能非冗余。该研究结果将为鹅掌楸生长发育与形态建成,以及逆境响应信号传导等相关基因的调控研究提供了参考。