棉花nodulin-like基因及其启动子的结构特征和遗传表达

用同尾酶反向PCR技术(Ⅱ-PCR)和快速分离目的基因cDNA 5'未知序列方法(RICUP)首次从陆地棉品种Y18(Gossypium arboreum L.Y18)中分离到nodulin-like基因的全长cDNA、DNA和启动子序列.结果表明,该基因全长为2 353 bp,具有5个内含子和6个外显子.cDNA全长1480 bp,含有一个1125 bp的ORF结构,编码375个氨基酸,在GenBank nr数据库中没有与之同源的基因序列,在EST数据库中仅有一条733 bp的亚洲棉纤维EST序列(GenBank登录号:BF271235)与之有92%的同源性.Nodulin-like基因的启动子全长1 969 bp,启动子区域具有Initiator、TATA box、CAAT-like box和富含AT序列等启动子特征序列.Southern blot结果表明:该基因在棉花基因组中有一个拷贝.Northern blot结果表明:该基因在棉花的蕾、花、纤维和铃壳等生殖器官中呈优势表达.本研究有望为改良棉花生殖器官的农艺性状提供靶基因,并为解决目前转基因抗虫棉"前期抗虫性强、后期抗虫性弱"这一生产实际问题提供有效的表达调控元件.     

棉花腺苷酸核糖基化作用因子1(arf1)的结构特征、替换剪接和遗传表达分析

用已建立的新型染色体步移技术同尾酶反向PCR和快速分离目的基因cDNA 5′未知序列方法从陆地棉品种Y18中分离到腺苷酸核糖基化作用因子1(arf1)的全长cDNA、DNA和启动子序列。结果表明,该基因全长4360bp,具有6个内含子和7个外显子,在第一个内含子处存在替换剪接现象,使该基因在棉花中分别形成1026、1103和1544bp的3种mRNA。该基因编码181个氨基酸,转录起始位点上游具有转录起始子、TATA盒、CAAT盒、GC盒、多个正向重复序列和反向重复序列,在转录起始位点下游具有富含AT序列和回文结构等启动子特征序列。Southern杂交结果表明：该基因在棉花基因组中有两个拷贝。Northern杂交结果表明：该基因在棉花的蕾、花、纤维和铃壳等生殖器官中呈优势表达。     

一个棉花生殖器官优势表达基因的启动子功能分析

用棉花生殖器官优势表达启动子替代CaMV35S启动子是解决目前转基因抗虫棉存在“前期抗虫性强, 后期抗虫性弱”这一生产实践问题的关键. 运用反向PCR技术从陆地棉中分离到一个棉花生殖器官优势表达基因——腺苷酸核糖基化作用因子1 (Arf1)基因的启动子序列. 该启动子具有独特的结构特征, 不仅同时包含有转录起始子(initiator), TATA box, CAAT box和GC box这四种特异元件, 而且还包含有一个5′非翻译区的内含子. 通过构建四个启动子缺失突变体, 定向替换植物表达载体pBI121上的CaMV35S启动子, 并与GUS基因融合, 构建了4个植物表达载体. 用花粉管通道技术将它们导入到棉花中, 转基因棉花后代的GUS染色和荧光定量分析结果表明: Arf1启动子是一个典型的棉花生殖器官优势表达启动子, 它为棉花生殖器官性状的分子设计和抗虫棉的再创新提供了有用的工具.     

心脏特异新基因Lrrc10的分子克隆与特性分析

采用表达序列标签(EST)介导的基因克隆和表达谱分析,从小鼠心脏克隆了一个心脏特异新基因Lrrc10（GenBank Acc No. AF527781）.该基因cDNA全长为1 410 bp,定位于小鼠染色体10D2,在基因组中无内含子.Lrrc10的最大开放阅读框编码的假想蛋白由274个氨基酸组成,含有7个亮氨酸重复基序.同源性检索未发现有整体同源性的已知基因.EST数据库中支持该基因cDNA序列的全部18条EST均来自小鼠心脏组织.对小鼠的不同组织cDNA的RT-PCR检测证实该基因主要在心脏中强表达,在肺低表达,而在其他组织中不表达或表达很弱.因此该基因是心脏特异的富亮氨酸重复超家族新成员.     

大白菜碳酸酐酶基因的克隆与序列分析

以大白菜雄性不育系和保持系花蕾差异表达片段EST H9为信息探针,在GenBank数据库中进行同源EST序列检索,并对亲缘关系近的同源EST序列进行拼接,得到大白菜EST H9的5'-cDNA序列.根据拼接组装所得的5'-cDNA序列,进行3'-RACE引物的设计,经RACE扩增、测序,获得了大白菜α-碳酸酐酶3基因的cDNA全长序列并将其登录到GenBank(登录号为GU143061),命名为BrACA3.该cDNA全长998 bp,编码270个氨基酸.同源分析显示该cDNA序列推导的氨基酸序列与拟南芥α-碳酸酐酶3一致性达78%.氨基酸序列分析表明,该蛋白具备跨膜功能,在第19和20个氨基酸之间存在一个信号肽序列,存在丝氨酸、苏氨酸和酪氨酸磷酸化位点.在大白菜花蕾败育过程中α-碳酸酐酶3基因不表达,只在保持系B7的大花蕾时期表达.     

一个血清抑制基因的克隆

比较血清培养细胞和血清饥饿细胞的基因表达差异,获得了一段血清饥饿细胞中特异表达的cDNA序列,以此序列出发,通过搜索表达序列标签(EST),拼接出完整的基因序列,通过PCR分段克隆获得全长cDNA序列.该基因全长5 429 bp,编码框预测有791个氨基酸残基.GenBank搜索,该基因与已有的细胞周期调控基因没有同源性.所以,该基因是一个新的与细胞周期有关的基因（GenBank接受号：AY050169）.由于该基因最初发现在无血清培养条件下表达,故叫血清抑制基因（serum inhibit gene,Si-1基因）.     

柑橘钙结合蛋白基因的克隆及其在果皮褐变中的表达分析

从柑橘果皮褐变相关基因的差减cDNA文库中,筛选了一个与钙结合蛋白基因家族同源的EST片段,通过RACE技术克隆了其全长cDNA序列(CsCAB,GenBank登录号EF010854).CsCAB基因全长984 bp,含有一个621 bp的开放阅读框,编码207个氨基酸,预测蛋白质分子量为22.95 kD,理论等电点为4.5;序列分析结果显示CsCAB与钙结合蛋白具有很高的同源性,且具有钙结合蛋白的保守结构域EF-hand.Northern blot结果显示CsCAB在褐变果皮中上调表达,说明该基因与柑橘果实的果皮褐变有密切关系.     

成人视网膜假定蛋白基因ARHP的克隆及生物信息学分析

从UniGene库中选取编号为BG2 2 2 62 4来自人鼻咽组织的表达序列标签 (EST )序列 ,联网到NCBI调用Blast服务器分析 ,发现该EST序列是一个代表新基因的未知序列 .利用Blast检索GenBank的nr数据库和EST数据库 ,构建EST重叠群 ,联网到NCBI的ORFfinder服务器 ,分析发现该EST重叠群具有完整的阅读框架 .分别在cDNA序列阅读框架的起始密码子和终止密码子的两侧设计引物 ,以人胎脑cDNA文库为模板 ,进行PCR扩增 ,测序确定该基因的cDNA全长序列 .该基因cDNA序列全长为 1672bp ,阅读框架位于第 3 0 4～ 1557位之间 ,编码由 417个氨基酸组成 ,分子质量为 46 58ku的蛋白质 ,其理论 pI为 4 2 1.将蛋白质序列通过NCBI的Blast服务器进行序列相似性分析 ,发现该基因编码的蛋白质和成年小鼠视网膜未知蛋白 (BAB3 2 2 14 )同源 .经与国际人类基因组命名委员会协商定名为成人视网膜假定蛋白 (adultretinahypotheticalprotein ,ARHP) ,GenBank登录号为AY174896.生物信息学分析表明 ,该蛋白质可能为一参与转录调控的核蛋白 .ARHP基因定位在染色体 5q3 5,跨越 3 5163bp ,含 4个外显子和 3个内含子 .在基因的 5′非翻译区有 2个CpG岛     

棉花咖啡酰辅酶A-O-甲基转移酶基因的克隆及表达

根据棉花纤维特异表达cDNA文库分析得到的咖啡酰辅酶A-O-甲基转移酶(CCoAOMT)基因EST序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR技术首次从棉花中克隆了一个CCoAOMT基因,命名为GhCCoAOMT1(GenBank登录号为FJ848871).研究结果表明:GhCCoAOMT1基因cDNA全长960 bp,具有一个753 bp的开放阅读框,5'非编码区为9 bp,3'非编码区为198 bp,编码250个氨基酸,预测分子量约为28.306 kDa,等电点为5.39.利用PCR方法克隆了GhCCoAOMT1基因的基因组序列,长度为1 311 bp,包含5个外显子和4个内含子.氨基酸同源性分析发现,GhCCoAOMT1与来自毛白杨、烟草和苎麻的CCoAOMT同源性较高.半定量RT-PCR检测表明,GhCCoAOMT1基因在棉花各个组织中都有表达,其中茎部的表达量最高,其次表达量依次为根>花瓣>子叶>10 d纤维>雄蕊>胚珠>叶.     

小鼠睾丸特异表达基因TSEG-1的克隆及序列分析

从表达序列标签(expressed sequence tags, ESTs)数据库ZooDDD中获得小鼠正常睾丸表达的EST, 通过dbEST数据库检索出与其高度同源的EST序列, 构建EST叠加群(contigs), Biolign软件拼接, GeneScan软件预测contigs对应的基因组序列中的外显子、内含子; 针对开放阅读框设计引物序列, 采用RT-PCR从小鼠睾丸组织中克隆新基因的cDNA, 分析该基因在小鼠各脏器中的mRNA表达, 并对测序结果进行生物信息学分析。结果表明: 在小鼠X染色体的1 668~2 011 kb间克隆出一新基因TSEG-1, 全长为510 bp, 开放阅读框为336 bp, 编码111氨基酸, 分子量12.84258 kDa, 等电点11.4000。RT-PCR证实该基因开放阅读框正确, 在小鼠睾丸组织中特异性表达, 且与小鼠其他cDNA 无同源性, 获得GenBank 登录号EU079024。功能区分析发现TSEG-1蛋白可能为一种跨膜蛋白, 跨膜区位于第41~61氨基酸残基。TSEG-1基因与人类睾丸特异性组蛋白2a变异体基因有较高同源性, 在TSEG-1基因5′-端非编码侧翼预测发现存在1个启动子区域, 范围为680 bp。 TSEG-1蛋白可能有4个抗原性位点, 2个特异性蛋白激酶的磷酸化位点, 其亚细胞定位可能位于线粒体。小鼠睾丸特异性基因TSEG-1的克隆为进一步研究其生物学功能和表达调控奠定了基础。     

白蚁与动物及微生物的共生类型及其机制

综述了白蚁螱客的主要种类、共生关系及相关机制的研究进展。白蚁螱客中,已报道的动物种类达170种。在与动物的共生关系中存在偏利共生（宾主共栖和异种共栖）、互利共生和无关共生三种;在与微生物的共生关系中,存在与内生菌（原生动物、细菌、真菌和放线菌）和外生菌（蚁巢伞菌等）间的互利关系。指出了白蚁与螱客研究中存在的问题,给出了解决方案,并提出了今后可能的研究热点或方向,为白蚁的综合利用（如纤维素酶）及今后研究物种间的协同进化提供了基础资料。     

New amino-dithiaphospholanes and phosphoramidodithioites and their rhodium and iridium complexes

New sulfur derivatives of phosphoramidite ligands were synthesized and the impact of the sulfur unit on the spectroscopic properties of their rhodium and iridium complexes was investigated. The new ligands Bn₂NPSCH₂CH₂S^a(P-S^a) (Bn = benzyl, 4), Bn₂NPSCHCHS^a(CH₂)₃C^aH₂(P-S^a)(C^a-S^a) (6) and Bn₂NP(4-XC₆H₄OMe)₂ (X = S, 7a; X = O, 7b) were converted to the rhodium and iridium complexes trans-[Rh(CO)Cl(L)₂] (L = 4, 6, 7), [RhCl(COD)(L)] (L = 4, 6, 7), [IrCl(COD)(7a)] and [IrCl₂Cp∗(6)]. For comparison, some phosphoramidite complexes of these formulations also were synthesized. The new metal complexes were spectroscopically analyzed. For the carbonyl complexes, the ν_CO IR stretching frequencies were lower than for the corresponding phosphite and phosphoramidite ligands. The ¹J_PRh coupling constants for the rhodium complexes with the new ligands were also smaller than for the respective phosphoramidite and phosphite complexes. Finally, the ¹J_PSe coupling constants of the selenides of the new ligands were lower than those of the phosphoramidite ligands but higher than for PPh₃. The spectroscopic data reveal that the new thio ligands 4, 6 and 7a are more electron donating than phosphites and phosphoramidites but less electron donating than PPh₃.     

Astrocytes and Synaptosomes Transport and Metabolize Lactate and Acetate Differently

Astrocytes transport the monocarboxylate acetate, but synaptosomes do not. The reason for this is unknown, because both preparations express monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The transport and metabolism of lactate, another monocarboxylate, was examined in these two preparations, and the results were compared to those for acetate. Lactate transport is more rapid in astrocytes than in synaptosomes, but of lower affinity (Kms of 17 and 4 mM, respectively). Lactate (0.2 mM) is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (rates of 0.37 and 0.07 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). The reason for this is unclear, but cellular differences in lactate dehydrogenase isotype expression may be involved. Acetate is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in astrocytes than in synaptosomes (rates of 0.43 and 0.02 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). This is likely due to cellular differences in the expression of monocarboxylate transporter subtypes.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.     

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in human iliac arteries with aging, the content of minerals was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bilateral common, internal, and external iliac arteries of 16 men and 8 women, ranging ages from 65 to 93 yr, were examined. It was found that an extremely high accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the common iliac artery at old age, being higher than that of the internal and external iliac arteries. It should be noted that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus is the highest in the common iliac artery among the human arteries examined to date. Regarding sexual differences, the content of calcium and phosphorus in the common and internal iliac arteries was higher in women than in men, whereas their content in the external iliac artery was lower in women than in men.     

Prostaglandin and thromboxane production by human and guinea-pig macrophages and leucocytes

The ability of partially purified human and guinea-pig haematogenous cell populations, when cultured in vitro, to metabolise arachidonic acid (AA) has been studied. Supernatants from 24 hour cell culture have been subjected to analysis for products of AA metabolism by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.The cell types studied were human peripheral blood monocytes (both glass adherent and non-adherent), neutrophils, eosinophils and leukemic leucocytes; thoracic duct lymphocytes and lung alveolar macrophages. From the guinea-pig, induced and non-induced macrophage or neutrophil enriched peritoneal exudate populations, lymph node cells, peritoneal eosinophils and peripheral blood platelets were examined. Supernatants were assayed for the presence of PGE₂, PGD₂, PGF_2α, TXB₂ and 6-keto-PGF_1α. In all types studied PGE₂ and TXB₂ were the major products formed. The identification of PGE₂ and TXB₂ was confirmed by GC/MS with multiple ion monitoring.The results have been compared with other reports and their possible significance discussed in relation to the proposed role of prostaglandins as mediators and modulators in immunopathology.     

Chemokines and cytokines: axis and allies in asthma and allergy

Allergic asthma can be precipitated by many factors. For the atopic person, fungus, pollen, dust mites, cockroach antigens, and diesel exhaust are all agents that may trigger an allergic attack. Cytokines and chemokines are integral mediators of fungal asthma. From the earliest time points, they recruit and activate the cells required for the clearance of fungus as well as being critical factors involved in the immunopathology of this disease. In the final analysis, it is clear that these mediators can act to the benefit or the detriment of the host.     

Oxidation and nitration of ribonuclease and lysozyme by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase

In spite of the many studies on protein modifications by reactive species, knowledge about the products resulting from the oxidation of protein-aromatic residues, including protein-derived radicals and their stable products, remains limited. Here, we compared the oxidative modifications promoted by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite in two model proteins, ribonuclease (6Tyr) and lysozyme (3Tyr/6Trp). The formation of protein-derived radicals and products was higher at pH 5.4 and 7.4 for myeloperoxidase and peroxynitrite, respectively. The main product was 3-nitro-Tyr for both proteins and oxidants. Lysozyme rendered similar yields of nitro-Trp, particularly when oxidized by peroxynitrite. Hydroxylated and dimerized products of Trp and Tyr were also produced, but in lower yields. Localization of the main modified residues indicates that peroxynitrite decomposes to radicals within the proteins behaving less specifically than myeloperoxidase. Nitrogen dioxide is emphasized as an important protein modifier.