Genome-wide comparative in silico analysis of calcium transporters of rice and sorghum

The mechanism of calcium uptake, translocation and accumulation in Poaceae has not yet been fully understood. To address this issue, we conducted genome-wide comparative in silico analysis of the calcium (Ca(2+)) transporter gene family of two crop species, rice and sorghum. Gene annotation, identification of upstream cis-acting elements, phylogenetic tree construction and syntenic mapping of the gene family were performed using several bioinformatics tools. A total of 31 Ca(2+) transporters, distributed on 9 out of 12 chromosomes, were predicted from rice genome, while 28 Ca(2+) transporters predicted from sorghum are distributed on all the chromosomes except chromosome 10 (Chr 10). Interestingly, most of the genes on Chr 1 and Chr 3 show an inverse syntenic relationship between rice and sorghum. Multiple sequence alignment and motif analysis of these transporter proteins revealed high conservation between the two species. Phylogenetic tree could very well identify the subclasses of channels, ATPases and exchangers among the gene family. The in silico cis-regulatory element analysis suggested diverse functions associated with light, stress and hormone responsiveness as well as endosperm- and meristem-specific gene expression. Further experiments are warranted to validate the in silico analysis of the predicted transporter gene family and elucidate the functions of Ca(2+) transporters in various biological processes.     

Cloning and in silico Mapping of Resistance Gene Analogues Isolated from Rice Lines Containing Known Genes for Blast Resistance

We amplified resistance gene analogues (RGAs) from the genomic DNA of 10 rice lines having varying degree of resistance to Magnaporthe grisea by using degenerate primers and various RGAs were mapped in silico on different rice chromosomes. The amplified products were grouped into 3–8 restriction fragment length polymorphic classes by using Mbo1 and Alu1 restriction enzymes. Of 98 RGAs obtained in this study, 65 RGA clones showed more than 95% homology with various RGAs sequences present in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of these RGAs formed 11 groups. Using sequence homology approach, RGAs isolated in this study were physically mapped on 23 loci on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Twenty RGAs were mapped near to the chromosomal regions containing known genes/QTLs for rice blast, bacterial leaf blight and sheath blight resistance. Thirty‐nine RGA sequences also contained open reading frame representing signature of potential disease resistance genes.     

高粱抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因的电子克隆及序列分析

利用高粱EST数据库及电子克隆等技术克隆了高粱APX基因,其开放阅读框大小为753bp,编码250个氨基酸残基,推导的蛋白质分子量为27.1kDa,等电点约为5.135.它与C4植物玉米的胞质APX(ACG41151)在进化上的距离最短,亲缘关系最近.高粱APX无信号肽,是亲水性蛋白,推测它定位于细胞质中.第33-44氨基酸片段为其过氧化物酶活性区域,第155-165氨基酸片段则是其与亚铁血红素配基结合的区域.预测的二级结构及三级结构都表明高粱APX含有较多的不规则卷曲和α螺旋,三级结构上呈椭球体.     

水稻线粒体丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶基因的电子克隆

采用基于EST的电子克隆方法得到了一段长1611bp的cDNA序列,以此为信息探针搜索HTGs数据库,找到一个与之高度匹配的基因组DNA序列——OSJNBa0057G07克隆。用FGENESH分析该克隆中的联配区域得到一个包含14个外显子和13个内含子的基因。该基因位于水稻第3染色体物理图谱的136．0～137．6cM区域。推导的ORF编码498个氨基酸,经BLASTP搜索SWISS-PROT数据库和蛋白序列的亚细胞定位显示,该基因编码水稻的线粒体丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶(mSHMT)。该基因受到EST序列的完全支持,其中不乏来自盐胁迫、稻瘟病菌侵染等逆境处理的EST序列,推测该基因与水稻对逆境的应答反应有关。     

Genome-Wide Survey and Comparative Analysis of LTR Retrotransposons and Their Captured Genes in Rice and Sorghum

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are the major class I mobile elements in plants. They play crucial roles in gene expansion, diversification and evolution. However, their captured genes are yet to be genome-widely identified and characterized in most of plants although many genomes have been completely sequenced. In this study, we have identified 7,043 and 23,915 full-length LTR retrotransposons in the rice and sorghum genomes, respectively. High percentages of rice full-length LTR retrotransposons were distributed near centromeric region in each of the chromosomes. In contrast, sorghum full-length LTR retrotransposons were not enriched in centromere regions. This dissimilarity could be due to the discrepant retrotransposition during and after divergence from their common ancestor thus might be contributing to species divergence. A total of 672 and 1,343 genes have been captured by these elements in rice and sorghum, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that no over-represented GO term was identified in LTR captured rice genes. For LTR captured sorghum genes, GO terms with functions in DNA/RNA metabolism and chromatin organization were over-represented. Only 36% of LTR captured rice genes were expressed and expression divergence was estimated as 11.9%. Higher percentage of LTR captured rice genes have evolved into pseudogenes under neutral selection. On the contrary, higher percentage of LTR captured sorghum genes were under purifying selection and 72.4% of them were expressed. Thus, higher percentage of LTR captured sorghum genes was functional. Small RNA analysis suggested that some of LTR captured genes in rice and sorghum might have been involved in negative regulation. On the other hand, positive selection has been observed in both rice and sorghum LTR captured genes and some of them were still expressed and functional. The data suggest that some of these LTR captured genes might have evolved into new gene functions.     

茶陵野生稻冷响应基因OrCr3的克隆及其生物信息学分析

OrCr3(Oryza rufipogon cold responsive gene 3)是一个从茶陵野生稻中发现的受低温诱导表达的基因.以茶陵野生稻为材料克隆了其cDNA及其启动子区域序列,生物信息学分析表明,该基因的完整ORF(open reading frame)长为1 110 bp,推测编码一个由369个氨基酸残基组成的山梨糖醇脱氢酶蛋白,理论相对分子质量为39.3 kD,pI值为6.03;山梨糖醇脱氢酶具有催化山梨糖醇向果糖转变的作用;对OrCr3的启动子区域进行分析,发现多种可能与逆境应答相关的顺式作用调控元件;该基因编码的蛋白在不同物种中存在高度相似性.以上结果说明OrCr3基因可能是一个保守的耐逆相关基因.     

SAGEmap分析及DNA序列染色体定位的电子自动化实现

通过一组Perl模块(命名为SLtools)实现自动化SAGEmap序列表达谱分析及核酸序列的自动化染色体定位分析,从而使这两种重要的生物学功能的高通量分析成为可能。程序具有良好的可移植性和适应性,可以直接在Windows和Linux系统下使用,无须作任何改动。只须简单编写Perl程序,向该模块提交核酸序列或者序列注册号,就可以得到一系列相应的分析结果。模块可以免费下载:http://bioinfor.cicams.ac.cn/SLtools.tar.gz。     

转高粱C4型NADP-ME基因水稻植株的光合生理特征

NADP-苹果酸酶(NADP-ME)是C4型植物C4光合途径的一个分离得到了编码高梁(Sorghum vuklgare L.)C4型NADP-ME的全长cDNA.该cDNA全长为2 139 bp,其开放可读框为1 911bp,共编码636个氨基酸和一个终止密码子(GenBank登录号为AY274836).利用农杆菌介导的转化系统将其转入水稻品种"农垦58".经Southern杂交、Northern杂交和酶活性检测表明,高粱C4型NADP-ME可以在水稻中有效表达,酶活性可被提高1～7倍.对转基因水稻进行光合生理检测表明,转NADP-ME基因水稻CO2交换特征没有明显改变,但是在中午强光条件下光抑制加剧.     

两种鲤鱼胰凝乳蛋白酶原基因的电子克隆及分析

为研究胰凝乳蛋白酶原在鱼类中的生理功能和作用机制,利用生物信息学的方法,成功获得了鲤鱼两种胰凝乳蛋白酶原的cDNA序列(ccCHTR1和ccCHTR2)并对其进行序列分析。结果显示,ccCHTR1 cDNA含有792 bp的开放阅读框,编码263个氨基酸;ccCHTR2 cDNA含有798 bp的开放阅读框,编码265个氨基酸。二者氨基端均含有18个氨基酸组成的信号肽,同时,在成熟肽的第15和16个氨基酸(R-I)之间存在一个切割位点。氨基酸比对结果显示,ccCHTR1和ccCHTR2具备胰凝乳蛋白酶原的保守结构特征,同时二者有72.8%的同源性,且都与斑马鱼有最高的同源性,分别是93.3%和73.5%。进化分析显示,二者分别与斑马鱼和鳕鱼亲缘关系最近,与哺乳动物的亲缘关系较远。     

转高粱C4型NADP-ME基因水稻植株的光合生理特征

NADP-苹果酸酶(NADP-ME)是C4型植物C4光合途径的一个关键酶。利用RT-PCR结合筛选cDNA文库技术,分离得到了编码高粱(SorghumvulgareL.)C4型NADP-ME的全长cDNA。该cDNA全长为2139bp,其开放可读框为1911bp,共编码636个氨基酸和一个终止密码子(GenBank登陆号为AY274836)。利用农杆菌介导的转化系统将其转入水稻品种“农垦58”。经Southern杂交、Northern杂交和酶活性检测表明,高粱C4型NADP-ME可以在水稻中有效表达,酶活性可被提高1~7倍。对转基因水稻进行光合生理检测表明,转NADP-ME基因水稻CO2交换特征没有明显改变,但是在中午强光条件下光抑制加剧。     

玉米和水稻重要性状QTL的比较研究

在构建玉米分子标记连锁图和对重要性状进行QTL定位的基础上,以玉米和水稻的分子标记比较图谱为桥梁,分析了控制玉米和水稻F2：3群体重要农艺和产量性状QTL的共线性关系。研究结果表明：在玉米和水稻共线性的染色体区段,控制玉米株高、行数和行粒数的QTL与控制水稻株高、单株有效穗和每穗实粒数的QTL存在广泛的对应关系;在已定位的影响玉米株高等5个性状的45个QTL中,有16个与水稻“汕优63”群体中5个相同或相似性状所定位的38个QTL中的12个具有共线性关系。这一结果为利用水稻的基因组数据来定位、分离和克隆玉米重要性状的QTL提供了有益信息。同时发现,控制水稻某一个性状的QTL常常与控制玉米同一性状的两个QTL相对应,这一结果为玉米染色体是由水稻染色体加倍而来的理论假设提供了支持。研究还发现,不管是玉米还是水稻在染色体上都存在QTL的富集区域,而这些富集区域常常存在于相同的共线性区域,暗示着玉米和水稻控制相同或相似性状的QTL可能有着相同的起源。基于性状的比较基因组研究不但有助于新基因或QTL的发现、克隆和利用,同时还有助于研究不同物种间染色体的演变和进化规律。     

Genotypic Variations in Non-Structural Carbohydrate and Cell-Wall Components of the Stem in Rice,Sorghum, and Sugar Vane

We evaluated genetic variations in the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and the cell-wall components of stem in rice, sorghum, and sugar cane to assess the potential suitability of these gramineous crops for bioethanol production. For NSC, the maximum soluble sugar concentration was highest in sugar cane, followed by sorghum with sucrose. The major NSC in rice was starch, but there were wide variations in the starch to soluble sugar ratios among the cultivars. The total concentration of cell-wall components was negatively correlated with the NSC concentration, indicating competition for carbon sources. Among the cell-wall components, lignin was relatively stable within each group. The major sugar species composing hemicellulose was xylose in all crop groups, but there were differences in composition, with a higher fraction of arabinose and glucose in rice as compared to the other crops. In rice, there was less lignin than in sorghum or sugar cane; this might be advantageous for the efficient saccharification of cellulose.     

粳稻糙米钙含量QTL分析

以'十和田'为轮回亲本,'丽粳2号'为供体,培育出糙米钙含量近等基因系下的重组近交系261个BC_5F_6株系,采用BSA法从遍布水稻12条染色体上的600对SSR引物中筛选到1个与糙米钙含量有关联的SSR标记RM5536.进一步据其在水稻染色体上的位置,结合PCR找到了与糙米钙含量有关的3个SSR标记(RM5794、RM5362和RM12178).用MAPMAKER/EXP3.0软件做出了这4个标记的连锁群,最后采用混合线性模型找到了糙米钙含量QTL位点.QTL分析结果显示:该位点位于1号染色体引物RM12178和RM5362之间,贡献率为9.62%,为新发现的糙米钙含量QTL位点,暂命名为qBRCA-1.并发现与糙米锶含量有关的QTL位点,其位于标记RM5362和RM5794之间,贡献率为3.93%.同时本试验首次从分子水平上验证了偏相关比简单相关更准确解释元素间的相关性.     

温敏雄性核不育水稻可育花药与不育花药的钙分布

用焦锑酸盐沉淀法研究了温敏雄性核不育水稻在减数分裂时期和单核早期可育花药与不育花药的钙分布.结果表明：在减数分裂时期,可育花药小孢子母细胞和药室内的钙颗粒很少,而不育花药小孢子母细胞中分布许多的钙颗粒,特别是药室中的钙颗粒异常丰富,小孢子母细胞减数分裂异常,细胞质收缩退化.在单核早期,可育花药花粉内的钙颗粒极少,花粉表面分布许多钙颗粒,而不育花药花粉内分布许多钙颗粒,药室内的钙颗粒仍然非常丰富.可育花药维管束鞘细胞体积大且形状规则,细胞内的钙颗粒很少,而不育花药维管束鞘细胞体积小且形状不规则,细胞内的钙颗粒较多.     

Molecular in silico structure and recombination analysis of betasatellite in Calotropis procera associated with begomovirus

The uncharacterised betasatellite of begomovirus associated with Calotropis procera was characterised by using molecular and in silico tools and techniques. Attempts to identify the presence of a DNA-β in the infected C. procera samples, using rolling circular amplification (RCA) followed by restriction digestion, produced a ca. 1.4 kb product, corresponding to that expected for a full-length amplicon from a betasatellite, which was sequenced (accession number HQ631430). During BLASTp, analysis of second reading frame of HQ631430 (HQ631430/2-f) against Protein Databank revealed 35% identity with Tryptophanyl–tRNA synthetase of Giardia lamblia (3FOC). Ramachandran plot of HQ631430/2-f.pdb had only 57.1% residues in the most favoured region while 3FOC.pdb had 94.2% residues in the most favoured region; therefore, only template 3FOC.pdb model could be placed in good quality category. The protein binding function was predicted for HQ631430/2-f as an important functional site of the model with 0.29 confidence level through 3d2GO. The Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite (GU111995 CroYVMB) serve as major parent and Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite-Panipat 8 (HM143908 PaLCuVM) as minor parent for HQ631430. Perhaps this is the first report of recombination in Croton yellow vein mosaic betasatellite (HQ631430).     

一组高度保守的水稻trs-like基因的鉴定与分析

基于对水稻基因组序列的注解和同源搜索的结果,用RT-PCR结合测序的方法证明了水稻中至少有10个具有转录活性的trs-like基因。这10个基因的编码产物与酵母TRAPP蛋白复合体已知10个亚基中的6个分别同源。其中4对基因是双拷贝的,另2个则是单拷贝的(基于已知的水稻基因组序列)。所有这10个基因均在不同时期的水稻组织中广泛表达,并与其他真核生物的trs-like基因在基因结构及编码蛋白质序列水平上高度保守。     

木薯HSP21基因的电子克隆与生物信息学分析

HSP21是植物响应高温胁迫的关键基因,在防止蛋白变性、保护细胞结构和维持植物正常生长发育等方面发挥重要作用,克隆HSP21基因是揭示木薯抵抗高温胁迫分子机制的基础。为得到木薯HSP21同源基因及分析其表达蛋白的性质,文中采用电子克隆技术对新基因进行组装和衍生,并使用生物信息学分析方法,对预测蛋白的一级至高级结构、亲水性/疏水性、信号肽、蛋白同源性和系统进化等进行全面解析。结果表明,HSP21基因含有969个碱基对,其开放阅读框有705个碱基,预测蛋白含234个氨基酸。预测蛋白是非跨膜蛋白,具有碱性和亲水性,主要定位于叶绿体内。通过多重序列比对和系统进化分析发现,木薯与巴西橡胶树、蓖麻和麻疯树等植物的HSP21蛋白同源性较高。结果可为该基因的克隆和转化提供参考依据。     

New in silico insight into the synteny between rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) highlights reshuffling and identifies new duplications in the rice genome

A unigene set of 1411 contigs was constructed from 2629 redundant maize expressed sequence tags (ESTs) mapped on the maizeDB genetic map. Rice orthologous sequences were identified by blast alignment against the rice genomic sequence. A total of 1046 (74%) maize contigs were associated with their corresponding homologues in the rice genome and 656 (47%) defined as potential orthologous relationships. One hundred and seventeen (8%) maize EST contigs mapped to two distinct loci on the maize genetic map, reflecting the tetraploid nature of the maize genome. Among 492 mono-locus contigs, 344 (484 redundant ESTs) identify collinear blocks between maize chromosomes 2 and 4 and a single rice chromosome, defining six new collinear regions. Fine-scale analysis of collinearity between rice chromosomes 1 and 5 with maize chromosomes 3, 6 and 8 shows the presence of internal rearrangements within collinear regions. Mapping of maize contigs to two distinct loci on the rice sequence identifies five new duplication events in rice. Detailed analysis of a duplication between rice chromosomes 1 and 5 shows that 11% of the annotated genes from the chromosome 1 locus are found duplicated on the chromosome 5 paralogous counterpart, indicating a high degree of re-organisations. The implications of these findings for map-based cloning in collinear regions are discussed.     

RT-PCR克隆籼稻叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因全长cDNA及序列的in silico分析

根据日本晴cab4基因序列(GenBank:AK104499.1)设计引物,用RT-PCR的方法从籼稻9311中克隆了叶绿素a/b结合蛋白基因的全长cDNA,命名为cab-9311(cab gene from 9311)。insilico分析表明:cab-9311与cab4基因同源性为99%,编码的蛋白含有244个氨基酸,与cab4基因编码的蛋白同源性为98%。蛋白分子质量为26.9kD,理论等电点为6.52。第54位～第216位氨基酸是一个典型的叶绿素a/b结合蛋白功能域(chlorophyll a/bbinding domain)。跨膜分析和蛋白质三级预测显示,该蛋白在C端有一个典型的跨膜区。亚细胞定位分析表明该蛋白定位于叶绿体,是一个叶绿体内囊体膜上的锚定蛋白。