Identification of differentially expressed genes by restriction endonuclease-based gene expression fingerprinting.

A novel method for identification of differentially expressed genes has been developed. It is based on the consecutive restriction digestions of 3' terminal cDNA fragments to produce a fingerprint of gene expression. cDNA molecules are synthesized using a biotinylated oligo(dT) primer, digested with a frequently cutting restriction endonuclease and the 3'-terminal restriction fragments are isolated using streptavidin microbeads. After amplification by PCR, cDNA fragments are immobilized again on streptavidin beads, radiolabeled and treated sequentially with a set of restriction endonucleases. The products of individual enzymatic reactions from two or more different RNA populations are resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and compared to reveal differentially expressed genes. This strategy enabled us to identify and clone the fragments of five genes expressed differentially in murine thymus and spleen. One of the genes was found to encode terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase; others are apparently previously unknown genes.     

Isolation of developmentally regulated genes by differential display screening of cDNA libraries.

mRNA differential display RT-PCR has been extensively used for the isolation of genes differentially expressed between RNA populations. We have assessed its utility for the identification of developmentally regulated genes in plasmid cDNA libraries derived from individual tissues dissected from early mouse embryos. Using plasmid Southern blot hybridisation as a secondary screen, we are able to identify such genes and show by whole-mount in situ hybridisation that their expression pattern is that expected from the differential display profile.     

基因差异表达分析技术进展

比较了目前几种主要的基因差异表达分析技术并简要地归纳了各种基因差异表达分析方法的特点,重点介绍了经典的基因差异表达分析技术———差异显示技术及其改进与完善,最后根据差异显示技术在高等植物方面已取得的成就乐观地展现了该技术在园艺植物研究上的应用前景.     

Molecular cloning,polymorphism and association analyses of a novel differentially expressed porcine mRNA

The mRNA differential display technique was performed to investigate the differences of gene expression in the longissimus muscle tissues from Meishan and Large White pigs. One novel mRNA that was differentially expressed was identified through semi-quantitative RT-PCR and the full-length cDNA sequence was then obtained using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The nucleotide sequence of the mRNA is not homologous to any of the known porcine genes. Sequence prediction analysis revealed that this mRNA is no-coding mRNA. Polymorphism analyses revealed that there was a C-T mutation on the position of 505 bp and PCR-HhaI-RFLP analyses revealed that Chinese indigenous pig breeds and exotic pig breeds displayed obvious genotype and allele frequency differences at this locus. Association analyses revealed that this polymorphic locus was significantly associated with the drip loss rate, water holding capacity, dressing percentage, rib numbers, lean meat percentage, estimated lean meat percentage, loin eye width and loin eye area (P < 0.05).     

Analysis of the methylation status of imprinted genes based on methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography

A procedure for the analysis of the methylation status of imprinted genes is described. The method offers a rapid and reliable alternative to conventional methods such as Southern blots and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (i.e., allele-specific methylation-specific PCR). The efficient resolution of the differentially methylated alleles is demonstrated for three human imprinted genes: SNRPN, LIT1 (alias KCNQ1OT1), and H19. Abnormal imprinting of SNRPN is associated with the Angelman/Prader-Willi syndromes, and that of LIT1 and H19 with the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. The method is based on methylation-specific PCR followed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (MSP/DHPLC). Briefly, genomic DNA is initially subjected to an in vitro bisulfite treatment, whereby unmethylated cytosines are deaminated. Subsequent PCR amplifications, using primers specific for modified DNA, are aimed at DNA segments that show parent-of-origin-specific methylation. PCR conditions are chosen that allow an efficient amplification of both alleles. The PCR products representing the two alleles are identical in size; they differ, however, at a number of positions within the amplified DNA segment. The DHPLC analysis allows very efficient resolution of the two populations of PCR products, providing qualitative and quantitative results.     

Microarray analysis for identification of Plasmodium-refractoriness candidate genes in mosquitoes.

The identification and cloning of genes conferring mosquito refractoriness to the malaria parasite is critical for understanding malaria transmission mechanisms and holds great promise for developing novel approaches to malaria control. The mosquito midgut is the first major site of interaction between the parasite and the mosquito. Failure of the parasite to negotiate this environment can be a barrier for development and is likely the main cause of mosquito refractoriness. This paper reports a study on Aedes aegypti midgut expressed sequence tag (EST) identification and the determination of genes differentially expressed in mosquito populations susceptible and refractory to the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum. We sequenced a total of 1200 cDNA clones and obtained 1183 high-quality mosquito midgut ESTs that were computationally collapsed into 105 contigs and 251 singlets. All 1200 midgut cDNA clones, together with an additional 102 genetically or physically mapped Ae. aegypti clones, were spotted on single arrays with 12 replicates. Of those interrogated microarray elements, 28 (2.3%) were differentially expressed between the susceptible and refractory mosquito populations. Twenty-seven elements showed at least a two-fold increase in expression in the susceptible population level relative to the refractory population and one clone showed reduced expression. Sequence analysis of these differentially expressed genes revealed that 10 showed no significant similarity to any known genes, 6 clones had matches with unannotated genes of Anopheles gambiae, and 12 clones exhibited significant similarity to known genes. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR of selected clones confirmed the mRNA expression profiles from the microarray analysis.     

PCR-generated cDNA library of transition-stage maize embryos: cloning and expression of calmodulin genes during early embryogenesis

One hundred maize zygotic embryos microdissected at the transition stage were used to construct a cDNA library after non-selective PCR (NS-PCR) amplification of whole cDNA populations. The library contains 2.3 × 10⁵ recombinants and two different calmodulin cDNAs were cloned using a heterologous probe from petunia. Calmodulin expression was confirmed throughout maize embryogenesis at the mRNA, amplified cDNA and protein levels. Sequence analysis suggests a maize origin for both clones and negligible nucleotide changes linked to PCR. This library is the first described for early plant embryos and represents a breakthrough to isolate genes involved in embryo differentiation.     

茶树花粉特异蛋白基因CsPSP1的分离及序列分析

利用cDNA-AFLP技术比较了茶树[Camellia sinensis(L.)O.Kuntze cv.Wulong]花蕾发育早期和晚期的基因表达,结果表明存在明显差异。以E12和M20为引物对在晚期发育花蕾中筛选出一条281 bp特异表达的差异条带TDF53(transcipt-derived-fragment,TDF)。RT-PCR分析表明该片段只在晚期发育花蕾中特异表达。用RACE方法延伸其末端序列,克隆并测序获得全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:DQ887753)。该基因全长2079 bp,开放阅读框1701 bp,编码567个氨基酸,其分子量为63 kDa。序列和结构的同源性分析表明:该基因编码的氨基酸序列与烟草、油菜的花粉特异蛋白等同源性较高,由此推定,该基因为编码茶树花粉特异蛋白的基因,并将分离到的花粉特异蛋白基因命名为CsPSP1。