玉米遗传转化系统的研究进展

本文介绍了近年来玉米遗传转化系统的建立、基因导入手段、方法等方面的研究进展。 Abstract：This review introduced the research process of the establishement of genetic transformation system in Maize. The method and integration and expression of exogenous genes were also discussed.     

Advances in chloroplast engineering

The chloroplast is a pivotal organelle in plant cells and eukaryotic algae to carry out photosynthesis, which provides the primary source of the world＇s food. The expression of foreign genes in chloroplasts offers several advantages over their expression in the nucleus： high-level expression, transgene stacking in operons and a lack of epigenetic interference allowing stable transgene expression. In addition, transgenic chloroplasts are generally not transmitted through pollen grains because of the cytoplasmic localization. In the past two decades, great progress in chloroplast engineering has been made. In this paper, we review and highlight recent studies of chloroplast engineering, including chloroplast transformation procedures, controlled expression of plastid transgenes in plants, the expression of foreign genes for improvement of plant traits, the production of biopharmaceuticals, metabolic pathway engineering in plants, plastid transformation to study RNA editing, and marker gene excision system.     

Recombination and heterologous expression of allophycocyanin gene in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Heterogeneous expression of multiple genes in the nucleus of transgenic plants requires the introduction of an individual gene and the subsequent backcross to reconstitute multi-subunit proteins or metabolic pathways. In order to accomplish the expression of multiple genes in a single transformation event, we inserted both large and small subunits of allophycocyanin gene （apcA and apcB） into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast expression vector, resulting in papc-S. The constructed vector was then introduced into the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii by micro-particle bombardment. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis revealed that the two genes had integrated into the chloroplast genome. Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the two genes from the prokaryotic cyanobacteria could be correctly expressed in the chloroplasts of C. reinhardtii. The expressed foreign protein in transformants accounted for about 2%-3% of total soluble proteins. These findings pave the way to the reconstitution of multi-subunit proteins or metabolic pathways in transgenic C. reinhardtii chloroplasts in a single transformation event.     

双价抗虫基因叶绿体共转化植株抗虫性及其后代表型分析

利用基因枪法将含有水稻巯基蛋白酶抑制剂(Oryzacystatin,OC)基因烟草叶绿体表达载体和含有苏云金芽孢杆菌晶体毒蛋白基因(Bt cry IAc)烟草叶绿体表达载体,共转化烟草叶绿体,获得壮观霉素抗性植株。转基因植株抗棉铃虫试验表明,转双价抗虫基因植株比转单一抗虫基因植株具有更强的杀虫活性。转基因植株后代Southern检测及其遗传学分析试验证明,双价抗虫基因可以稳定地遗传给后代,且表现为叶绿体特有的母系遗传规律。 Abstract:The Bt gene and OC gene were cotransformed to tobacco chloroplast with particle bombardment method and spectinomycin resistance tobacco seedlings were obtained.Bioassays showed that the transgenic tobacco containing both genes had enhanced toxicity to the larvae of cotton bollworm (helicoverpa zea) by comparison with the plants containing only Bt or OC gene.Southern-blotting analysis and genetic analysis of progenies showed that the Bt and OC gene expressed and was inherited maternally to the progenies.     

Recombination and Heterologous Expression of Aliophycocyanin Gene in the Chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Heterogeneous expression of multiple genes in the nucleus of transgenic plants requires theintroduction of an individual gene and the subsequent backcross to reconstitute multi-subunit proteins ormetabolic pathways.In order to accomplish the expression of multiple genes in a single transformationevent,we inserted both large and small subunits of allophycocyanin gene (apcA and apcB) into Chlamydomonasreinhardtii chloroplast expression vector,resulting in papc-S.The constructed vector was then introducedinto the chloroplast of C.reinhardtii by micro-particle bombardment.Polymerase chain reaction and Southernblot analysis revealed that the two genes had integrated into the chloroplast genome.Western blot andenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the two genes from the prokaryotic cyanobacteria couldbe correctly expressed in the chloroplasts of C.reinhardtii.The expressed foreign protein in transformantsaccounted for about 2%-3% of total soluble proteins.These findings pave the way to the reconstitution ofmulti-subunit proteins or metabolic pathways in transgenic C.reinhardtii chloroplasts in a single transformationevent.     

植物基因工程表达载体的改进和优化策略

外源基因在转基因植物中表达效率低一直是令相关研究者困扰的一个问题.转基因植物的生物安全性最近在全球范围内开始引起世人的担忧.本文简要介绍了近年来在植物表达载体构建方面所采用的一些新策略,这些策略有助于增强外源基因的表达水平、提高生物工程体的安全性。 Abstract:The low expression level of foreign genes in transgenic plants is a puzzling question for researchers in plant genetic engineering.The biosafety concern is now causing a growing public wariness of transgenic plants around the world.This article reviews the new strategies currently used in construction of plant expression vector for plant genetic engineering.These strategies are important for obtaining better expression of foreign genes and developing safer transgenic plants.     

How Sugars Might Coordinate Chloroplast and Nuclear Gene Expression during Acclimation to High Light Intensities

The concept of retrograde control of nuclear gene expression assumes the generation of signals inside the chloroplasts, which are either released from or sensed inside of the organelle. In both cases, downstream signaling path- ways lead eventually to a differential regulation of nuclear gene expression and the production of proteins required in the chloroplast. This concept appears reasonable as the majority of the over 3000 predicted plastidial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes. Hence, the nucleus needs information on the status of the chloroplasts, such as during acclimation responses, which trigger massive changes in the protein composition of the thylakoid membrane and in the stroma. Here, we propose an additional control mechanism of nuclear- and plastome-encoded photosynthesis genes, taking advantage of pathways involved in sugar- or hormonal signaling. Sugars are major end products of photosynthesis and their con- tents respond very sensitively to changes in light intensities. Based on recent findings, we ask the question as to whether the carbohydrate status outside the chloroplast can be directly sensed within the chloroplast stroma. Sugars might syn- chronize the responsiveness of both genomes and thereby help to coordinate the expression of piastome- and nuclear- encoded photosynthesis genes in concert with other, more specific retrograde signals.     

神经管畸形相关基因的研究进展

神经管畸形是由遗传和环境因素共同作用而导致的一种常见的出生缺陷。遗传因素中包括细胞增殖因子、转录因子及影响叶酸代谢的关键酶的基因。本文着重从动物模型和群体流行病学调查两方面,简述目前研究的热点基因及特定位点的遗传多态性与神经管畸形的关系,从而揭示多因素作用在神经管畸形病因学研究中的意义。 Progress in Researches on Neural Tube Defects Related the Genes QU Mei,LI Zhu Institute of Reproductive and Child Health of Peking University,National Reference Laboratory on Reproductive Health Research Ministry of Health,Beijing 100083,China Abstract:Neural tube defects are common birth defects which are ascribed to the combination of genetic and environmental factors.The genetic factors include cell growth factors,transformation factors and key enzymic genes involved in folate metabolism.This paper reviews the genes as focus of current investigantion and the relationship between the genetic polymorphism on the specific sites and neural tube defects based on animal model and population epidemiological study.It indicats that the multifactors play an important role in the etiology of neural tube defects. Key words：neural tube defects; genetic polymorphism     

Comparative Analysis of Codon Usage Patterns Among Mitochondrion, Chloroplast and Nuclear Genes in Triticum aestivum L.

In many organisms, the difference in codon usage patterns among genes reflects variation in local base compositional biases and the intensity of natural selection. In this study, a comparative analysis was performed to investigate the characteristics of codon bias and factors in shaping the codon usage patterns among mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes in common wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）. GC contents in nuclear genes were higher than that in mitochondrion and chloroplast genes. The neutrality and correspondence analyses indicated that the codon usage in nuclear genes would be a result of relative strong mutational bias, while the codon usage patterns of mitochondrion and chloroplast genes were more conserved in GC content and influenced by translation level. The Parity Rule 2 （PR2） plot analysis showed that pyrimidines were used more frequently than purines at the third codon position in the three genomes. In addition, using a new alterative strategy, 11, 12, and 24 triplets were defined as preferred codons in the mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes, respectively. These findings suggested that the mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes shared particularly different features of codon usage and evolutionary constraints.     

小球藻的分子生物学研究进展

单细胞真核藻类—小球藻是一种重要的微藻资源。近年来,随着藻类生物技术的迅速发展,有大量关于小球藻的研究工作被报道。在分子生物学领域,研究则集中在小球藻的核基因组和叶绿体基因组、重要功能基因的克隆和分析以及以小球藻为载体的基因工程研究等方面,本文仅就此方面的进展作一综述。Abstract: Unicellular green alga Chlorella is a kind of important eukaryotic microalga. A lot of work about Chlorella was reported in recent years with the rapid development of algal biotechnique. In the area of molecular biology, studies of Chlorella focus on the nuclear and chloroplast genome, cloning and analysis of important genes and genetic engineering using Chlorella as vector. This review reports the research progress in these aspects.     

叶绿体转化及其用于疫苗表达研究的最新进展

随着植物转基因研究的不断深入,核基因组转化的转基因沉默现象严重影响了基因工程的应用效果。植物叶绿体遗传转化以叶绿体基因组为平台对植物进行遗传操作,外源基因定点整合及母性遗传特性能较好地解决"顺式失活"和"位置效应"等类的基因沉默问题和转基因逃逸等安全问题,成为植物基因工程发展的新方向,在工业、农业及医药生物领域发挥了重要作用,也为生产廉价、安全的植物疫苗提供了新思路。本文在简要介绍叶绿体转化的原理、转化方法与优势的基础上,重点综述了近年来通过该技术表达的一些重要的病毒抗原和细菌抗原。最后,对叶绿体转化技术在表达外源基因方面存在的问题进行分析。未来随着叶绿体基因表达、调控机制研究的逐渐深入及相关技术体系的日臻完善,叶绿体转化有望成为疫苗生产的生力军。     

高等植物叶绿体表达重组蛋白研究进展

近年来,基因工程技术发展迅速,许多重组蛋白得以表达。其中利用植物生物反应器表达特异药物蛋白为人类一些重要疾病的预防和治疗提供了新途径。植物叶绿体遗传转化和表达系统成为目前植物生物反应器的研究热点。因结构和遗传上的特殊性,高等植物叶绿体在重组蛋白表达方面具有独特优势,外源基因表达量高、定点整合,而且叶绿体母系遗传特性保证了生物安全性。很多重要药用蛋白质在植物叶绿体中表达成功。烟草作为高等植物叶绿体转化模式植物,在疫苗抗原、抗体等药物蛋白和其他重要重组蛋白表达方面取得显著进展。高等植物叶绿体遗传转化也为叶绿体基因的表达和调控机制的研究提供新的技术和方法。文中从叶绿体遗传转化原理、载体构建、重组蛋白和重要药物蛋白在叶绿体中的表达以及重组蛋白表达对植物代谢和性状影响等多个角度,对高等植物叶绿体遗传转化体系研究的新进展进行了综述,以期为叶绿体表达平台的开发和重要药用蛋白质的表达提供新思路。     

叶绿体遗传转化研究中的选择标记

叶绿体遗传转化研究需要有合适的选择标记作为辅助手段,多种选择标记已经在叶绿体转化中得到应用。本文综述了国内外叶绿体转化研究中主要使用的选择标记,并着重介绍了非抗生素选择标记－甜菜碱醛脱氢酶和选择标记的删除体系。     

叶绿体基因工程研究进展

叶绿体是植物细胞和真核藻类执行光合作用的重要细胞器,在叶绿体中表达外源基因比在细胞核中表达具有一些独特优势。叶绿体基因工程涉及叶绿体的基因组特征、转化系统的优点、转化过程及方法等方面,叶绿体基因工程在提高植物光合效率、改良植物特性、生产生物药物及改善植物代谢途径等方面已得到应用。尽管叶绿体基因工程还存在同质化难度高、标记基因转化效率较低、宿主种类偏少等问题,但作为外源基因在高等植物中表达的良好平台其仍然具有广阔的发展和应用前景。     

叶绿体基因工程：一种植物生物技术的新方法

以叶绿体转化为主的叶绿体基因工程,与传统的基因工程技术细胞核转化相比,在外源基因表达水平和转基因植物安全性等方面有明显的优势, 尤其是在控制转基因沉默和遗传稳定性方面,可以互补核转化带来的局限性。因此,叶绿体基因工程是一种很具有发展前景的植物转基因技术,并在未来工农业生物技术领域发挥重要作用。本文着重在叶绿体转化技术主要特点,应用领域及其未来的发展前景等方面进行了简单评述。     

叶绿体转化体系研究进展

叶绿体转化具有表达效率高,安全性高,遗传稳定,以及多基因可以同时转化等特点。真核或原核的外源基因都能在叶绿体中进行成功表达,至少有20种植物成功的进行了叶绿体转化。叶绿体作为生物反应器具有广阔的应用前景。     

莱茵衣藻叶绿体生物反应器研究进展

莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinharditi)是一种遗传机制已研究比较清楚的模式植物。近年来,生物反应器是当今世界上各国生物技术研究的一个热点,随着生物技术的发展,已成功实现衣藻作为生物反应器生产重组蛋白及抗体,生产的部分产品已经实现了商品化,与其他生物反应器相比,其在外源基因表达水平和转基因植物安全性等方面有明显的优势,尤其是在控制转基因沉默和遗传稳定性方面展示了极大的优越性。因此,莱茵衣藻是一种具有很好发展前景的生物反应器,必将在未来的药用蛋白生物技术领域发挥重要作用。主要对提高基因在莱茵衣藻叶绿体中表达的策略,转化技术的特点及其未来的发展前景等方面进行了简单评述。     

The three genomes of Chlamydomonas

During the past 50 years, the green unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has played a key role as model system for the study of photosynthesis and chloroplast biogenesis. This is due to its well-established nuclear and chloroplast genetics, its dispensable photosynthetic function in the presence of acetate, and its highly efficient nuclear and chloroplast transformation systems. Considerable progress has been achieved in our understanding of the structure, function, inheritance, and expression of nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genes and of the molecular cross-talk between the nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genetic systems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transgenic plastids in basic research and plant biotechnology

Facile methods of genetic transformation are of outstanding importance for both basic and applied research. For many years, transgenic technologies for plants were restricted to manipulations of the nuclear genome. More recently, a second genome of the plant cell has become amenable to genetic engineering: the prokaryotically organized circular genome of the chloroplast. The possibility to directly manipulate chloroplast genome-encoded information has paved the way to detailed in vivo studies of virtually all aspects of plastid gene expression. Moreover, plastid transformation technologies have been intensely used in functional genomics by performing gene knockouts and site-directed mutageneses of plastid genes. These studies have contributed greatly to our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of biogenergetic processes inside the plastid compartment. Plastid transformation technologies have also stirred considerable excitement among plant biotechnologists, since transgene expression from the plastid genome offers a number of most attractive advantages, including high-level foreign protein expression and transgene containment due to lack of pollen transmission. This review describes the generation of plants with transgenic plastids, summarizes our current understanding of the transformation process and highlights selected applications of transplastomic technologies in basic and applied research.