奥利亚罗非鱼DMRT1和DMRT4抗体制备及组织表达谱分析

DMRT1和DMRT4是DMRT基因家族的成员,该家族成员与果蝇的性别决定基因和线虫性别决定基因一样,所编码的蛋白质都包含一个具有DNA结合能力的保守基序,即DM结构域,并以锌指结构与特异DNA序列相结合,在性别决定和分化发育中起调控作用。采用RT-PCR方法分别从奥利亚罗非鱼卵巢和精巢中扩增克隆出DMRT1和DMRT4全长cDNA片段,构建表达载体,在大肠杆菌中表达了BMP-DMRT4和BMP-DMRT1蛋白。经Xa切割、Amylose-sepharose柱层析纯化后作为抗原免疫新西兰白兔制备了DMRT1和DMRT4多克隆抗体,并进行纯化。对纯化多抗进行Western blot分析,结果表明获得了高特异性的DMRT1和DMRT4抗体。为了观察DMRT1和DMRT4在组织中的表达谱,首先,我们通过实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测雌雄奥利亚罗非鱼多种组织mRNA的表达,仅在卵巢和脑中检测到DMRT4,在精巢中检测到DMRT1;其次,制备了多种组织匀浆蛋白,使用纯化的抗体进行Western blot分析,仅分别在卵巢和精巢中检测到DMRT4和DMRT1蛋白的表达;制备多种奥利亚罗非鱼组织切片,使用纯化的DMRT4和DMRT1多抗进行免疫组织化学分析,发现DMRT4仅在卵巢表达,而DMRT1仅在精巢表达。这些结果有助于阐明DMRT4和DMRT1的功能及在鱼类性别调控中的作用。     

用鼻咽相对特异性调控区建立N-LMP1转基因小鼠

为了研究EBV LMP1在鼻咽癌发生发展中的作用 ,构建了EDL 2、PLUNC p双启动子调控鼻咽癌来源的LMP1(latentmembraneprotein 1,潜伏膜蛋白 1)的表达载体 ,采用受精卵前核显微注射法构建转基因小鼠。结果表明 ,在所获得的 5 8只转基因首建鼠中 ,4只整合阳性 ,其中的一只转基因小鼠在鼻咽、前胃、舌根等部位检测到了外源基因的表达。     

人类性别决定和性别分化研究进展

SRY基因在人类性别分化中起着关键作用,目前研究认为SRY仅是涉及性别决定过程的基因之一,其他基因和SRY相关基因SOX9,抗副中肾激素基因AMH,编码缁类因子的基因SF1,X－连锁的DAX基因,wilm‘s肿瘤抑制基因WT1等基因都参与了人类性腺分化和发育,本文拟就人类性别决定基因的研究进展及其与人类性别分化的关系作一综述。     

Neural expression of alpha-internexin promoter in vitro and in vivo

alpha-Internexin is a 66 kDa neuronal intermediate filament protein found most abundantly in the neurons of the nervous systems during early development. To characterize the function of mouse alpha-internexin promoter, we designed two different expression constructs driven by 0.7 kb or 1.3 kb of mouse alpha-internexin 5'-flanking sequences; one was the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter for monitoring specific expression in vitro, and the other was the cre for studying the functional DNA recombinase in transgenic mice. After introducing DNA constructs into non-neuronal 3T3 fibroblasts and a neuronal Neuro2A cell line by lipofectamine transfection, we observed that the expression of EGFP with 1.3 kb mouse alpha-internexin promoter was in a neuron-dominant manner. To establish a tissue-specific pattern in the nervous system, we generated a transgenic mouse line expressing Cre DNA recombinase under the control of 1.3 kb alpha-Internexin promoter. The activity of the Cre recombinase at postnatal day 1 was examined by mating the cre transgenic mice to ROSA26 reporter (R26R) mice with knock-in Cre-mediated recombination. Analyses of postnatal day 1 (P1) newborns showed that beta-galactosidase activity was detected in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), such as cranial nerves innervating the tongue and the skin as well as spinal nerves to the body trunk. Furthermore, X-gal-labeled dorsal root ganglionic (DRG) neurons showed positive for alpha-Internexin in cell bodies but negative in their spinal nerves. The motor neurons in the spinal cord did not exhibit any beta-galactosidase activity. Therefore, the cre transgene driven by mouse alpha-internexin promoter, described here, provides a useful animal model to specifically manipulate genes in the developing nervous system.     

Studies of gonadal sex differentiation

Gonadal differentiation has a determinative influence on sex development in human embryos. Disorders of sexual development (DSD) have been associated with persistent embryonal differentiation stages. Between 1998 and 2015, 139 female patients with various (DSD) underwent operations at the Scientific Center of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perynatology in Moscow, Russia. Clinical investigations included karyotyping, ultrasound imaging, hormonal measurement and investigations of gonadal morphology. The male characteristics in the embryo are imposed by testicular hormones. When these are absent or inactive, the fetus may be arrested at between developmental stages, or stay on indifferent stage and become phenotypically female. A systematic analysis of gonadal morphology in DSD patients and a literature review revealed some controversies and led us to formulate a new hypothesis about sex differentiation. Proliferation of the mesonephric system (tubules and corpuscles) in the gonads stimulates the masculinization of gonads to testis. Sustentacular Sertoli cells of the testes are derived from mesonephric excretory tubules, while interstitial Leydig cells are derived from the original mesenchyme of the mesonephros. According of the new hypothesis, the original mesonephric cells (tubules and corpuscles) potentially persist in the ovarian parenchyma. In female gonads, some mesonephric excretory tubules regress and lose the tubular structure, but form ovarian theca interna and externa, becoming analogous to the sustentacular Sertoli cells in the testis. The ovarian interstitial Leydig cells are derived from intertubal mesenchyme of the mesonephros, similar to what occurs in male gonads (testis). Surprisingly, the leading determinative factor in sexual differentiation of the gonads is the mesonephros, represented by the embryonic urinary system.     

黑鲷DMRT1基因cDNA的克隆、组织表达谱及在性别逆转前后性腺中的表达

利用RT—PCR和3′-RACE的方法从黑鲷精巢中克隆丁DMRT1基因cDNA的部分序列。组织特异性表达分析表明DMRT1基因只在精巢中表达,半定量RT—PCR检测显示DMRT1基因在性别逆转前、性别逆转期和性别逆转后的精巢中的表达量无显著差异,在鱼类成体的精巢中,DMRT1的表达量可能不会因精巢结构或生理状态的改变而发生改变,而始终维持一定量的表达。     

Gonadal sex differentiation in Atlantic halibut

The process of gonadal sex differentiation in 338 Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus larvae, ranging in size from 10 mm L_s to 230 mm L _F, is described histologically. Gonadal sex differentiation occurred by 38.0 mm L _F, which coincided with the weaned, post-metamorphic, settled stage in the life cycle. This was a gradual process that coincided with other organogenesis in the developing larvae.     

Human FGF1 promoter is active in ependymal cells and dopaminergic neurons in the brains of F1B‐GFP transgenic mice

FGF1 is involved in multiple biological functions and exhibits the importance in neuroprotective effects. Our previous studies indicated that, in human brain and retina, the FGF1B promoter controlled the expression of FGF1. However, the exact function and regulation of FGF1 in brain is still unclear. Here, we generated F1B‐GFP transgenic mice that expressed the GFP reporter gene under the control of human FGF1B promoter (?540 to +31). Using the fresh brain sections of F1B‐GFP transgenic mice, we found that the F1B‐GFP cells expressed strong fluorescent signals in the ventricular system throughout the brain. The results of immunohistochemistry further showed that two distinct populations of F1B‐GFP⁺ cells existed in the brains of F1B‐GFP transgenic mice. We demonstrated that one population of F1B‐GFP⁺ cells was ependymal cells, which distributed along the entire ventricles, and the second population of F1B‐GFP⁺ cells was neuronal cells that projected their long processes into multiple directions in specific areas of the brain. The double labeling of F1B‐GFP⁺ cells and tyrosine hydroxylase indicated that a subpopulation of F1B‐GFP⁺‐neuronal cells was dopaminergic neurons. Importantly, these F1B‐GFP⁺/TH⁺ cells were distributed in the main dopaminergic neuronal groups including hypothalamus, ventral tegmental area, and raphe nuclei. These results suggested that human FGF1B promoter was active in ependymal cells, neurons, and a portion of dopaminergic neurons. Thus, the F1B‐GFP transgenic mice provide an animal model not only for studying FGF1 gene expression in vivo but also for understanding the role of FGF1 contribution in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 232–248, 2015     

鸟类性别决定候选基因在性反转鸡胚中的表达

DMRT1、PKCIW和FET1是鸟类性别决定过程中重要的候选基因。以芳香化酶抑制剂处理的鸡胚为实验材料, 对这3个基因的表达变化进行了研究。结果表明, 在整个性别决定关键时期(E4.5 ~ E10.5), DMRT1在雄性的表达量显著高于雌性, 并且在ZW性反转鸡胚中表达大幅上升, 表明DMRT1的上调表达是与睾丸形成相关的。PKCIW基因在雌性特异表达并在性反转鸡胚表达上升, 这可能与其特殊作用模式有关, 即使性反转鸡胚PKCIW代偿性的表达升高, 却也未能阻止睾丸的形成。此外, FET1为雌性特异表达, 但在性反转鸡胚中表达无变化。综上, 实验结果支持了DMRT1是鸟类睾丸发育决定因子的假说。     

雌激素对中华鳖性腺分化及DMRT1、SOX9基因表达的影响

中华鳖（Pelodiscus sinensis）性别决定的方式一直存在较大的争议,分子机制更是不清楚。在大部分脊椎动物中,雌激素在性别决定和性腺分化中扮演重要的调控作用。实验通过对性别分化前胚胎进行雌二醇（E2）和芳香化酶抑制剂（AI）处理,研究雌激素在中华鳖性腺分化中的作用及机理。实验结果显示,与对照组（雌性比例49%）相比,E2处理组中雌性中华鳖仔鳖比例显著增加,高达92.3%;而在AI处理组中,雌性比例显著下调至13.1%。HE染色分析表明,ZZ（雄性）和ZW（雌性）胚胎分别经过E2和AI处理后,ZZ和ZW性腺结构呈现明显的雌性化和雄性化特征。同时,通过RT-PCR和免疫荧光染色发现,E2能显著降低雄性性别关键因子DMRT1和SOX9 mRNA和蛋白表达水平;AI则表现相反的调节作用。综上所述,雌激素通过抑制雄性性别关键因子DMRT1和SOX9的表达来抑制雄性分化,促进雌性分化,揭示雌激素在中华鳖雌性性别分化中起着重要的调控作用。