Expression of multiple delta-protocadherins during feather bud formation

The expression of the chicken delta-protocadherin (Pcdh) subfamily was investigated in the developing feather buds of the chicken. The expression profiles of the eight investigated Pcdhs in the cells and tissues of the feather buds differ from each other. Pcdh1, Pcdh7, Pcdh8 and Pcdh10 are differentially expressed in the epidermis of the feather bud. Expression of Pcdh1 and Pcdh10 is restricted to the periderm and Pcdh17 expression to the epidermis of interbud region. Pcdh19 is mostly expressed at the anterior side of epidermis as well as in the blood vessels of the feather buds. Furthermore, Pcdh9 and Pcdh18 both are regionally expressed in the dermis of the feather bud. These results suggest that Pcdhs may play a variety of roles during avian feather bud formation.     

藤茶香树脂醇合成酶基因编码区克隆及表达分析

为研究藤茶(Ampelopsis grossedentata)三萜类化合物的生物合成,采用RT-PCR方法,从藤茶叶片cDNA中扩增得到香树脂醇合成酶(amyrin synthase)基因,命名为AgAS。该基因编码区长2 250bp,编码750个氨基酸,与葡萄的同源蛋白亲缘关系最近。亚细胞定位和Southern blot结果表明,AgAS编码蛋白主要定位于细胞核与细胞膜,在藤茶基因组中存在2个拷贝。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,AgAS基因在紫芽藤茶的根、茎和叶均有表达,其中叶片中表达最高,茎次之,根中表达量最少,且随着叶片成熟程度的增加,表达量呈先升后降趋势;而在绿芽藤茶中,AgAS基因在叶片中的表达量随着成熟程度的增加呈上升趋势,根与茎中表达量相对较少。     

中国水仙NtSOC1基因克隆及亚细胞定位

以中国水仙‘金盏银台’为实验材料,采用RACE和RT-PCR技术获得1个与开花相关的转录因子(SOC1)的同源基因NtSOC1。NtSOC1的cDNA全长1 603bp,含有1个687bp开放阅读框,编码228个氨基酸。生物信息学分析表明,NtSOC1与单子叶植物的SOC1同源基因的氨基酸序列较为相似,且在C末端同样含有一个保守性很高的SOC1motif序列,说明NtSOC1是属于SOC1/TM3亚家族基因。荧光定量PCR分析显示,NtSOC1在花芽分化阶段的表达量随着花芽的分化而升高,花芽分化结束时减少,表明NtSOC1基因可能参与中国水仙的花芽分化。成功构建了NtSOC1基因表达载体pCAMBIA1302-NtSOC1,通过农杆菌转化洋葱表皮对编码蛋白进行亚细胞定位结果显示,NtSOC1基因编码蛋白定位于细胞核,符合转录因子的亚细胞定位特征。该实验结果为进一步研究NtSOC1基因的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

薇甘菊花芽分化前后内源激素及相关基因表达的研究

以云南省瑞丽市勐秀林场扦插种植的薇甘菊为试材,采用液相色谱串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)技术对花芽未分化期和花序原基分化期花芽中的生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)、脱落酸(ABA)、反式玉米素(tZ)、异戊烯腺嘌呤(IP)、1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC)、茉莉酸(JA)和水杨酸(SA)含量进行定量分析,同时基于转录组基因功能注释数据对内源激素合成、代谢及信号转导途径相关基因进行表达分析,以探讨不同内源激素对薇甘菊花芽形成的调控作用,以及内源激素合成和信号转导途径相关基因调控薇甘菊花芽分化的机制,为后期通过外源激素调控薇甘菊内源激素水平的方式来控制薇甘菊的有性繁殖提供理论和技术支持。结果表明：(1)薇甘菊未分化期花芽中GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ETH含量低于花序原基分化期,而未分化期花芽中两种细胞分裂素tZ和IP含量显著高于花序原基分化期。(2)基于RNA-seq测序结果,在薇甘菊两个花芽分化时期共获得7 116个差异表达基因(DEGs),其中上调3 907个,下调3 209个。(3)在内源激素合成方面,参与GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ACC合成的大量DEGs在花序原基分化期上调表达,这与它们在薇甘菊花序原基分化期的高含量趋势相一致;参与IAA合成的YUCCA基因家族和ACC合成的ACS基因在花序原基分化期的高表达也可能参与促进薇甘菊花芽分化。(4)在植物激素转导途径中,在花序原基分化期,生长素信号转导途径通过AUX/IAA(gene-E3N88_07743)的下调表达和ARF(gene-E3N88_41119)的上调表达,乙烯信号转导途径通过ERF(gene-E3N88_41547)的上调表达,赤霉素信号转导途径通过GID1(gene-E3N88_19448)基因的上调表达,细胞分裂素信号转导途径通过B-ARR(gene-E3N88_28086)和A-RRR(gene-E3N88_40764)基因的下调表达,脱落酸途径通过AREB(gene-E3N88_18558)基因的上调表达,茉莉酸信号转导途径通过JAZ(gene-E3N88_05628)的上调表达和MYC2(gene-E3N88_32405)的下调表达来调控薇甘菊花芽分化。研究发现,高水平的GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ACC有利于薇甘菊的花芽分化;薇甘菊在花芽分化过程中通过改变不同种类内源激素合成、代谢基因的表达来调控激素浓度,而激素又通过信号转导途径引起下游基因的表达,进而调控薇甘菊的花芽分化。     

BMP signalling in early Xenopus development

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are typically members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family with diverse roles in embryonic development. At least five genes with homology to BMPs are expressed during Xenopus development, along with their receptors and intracellular signalling pathways. The evidence suggests that BMPs have roles to play in both mesoderm induction and dorsoventral patterning. Studies in Xenopus have also identified a number of inhibitory binding proteins for the classical BMPs, encoded by genes such as chordin and noggin. These proteins appear to be responsible for establishing a morphogen gradient of BMP4 activity, which specifies different dorsoventral fates in early gastrulae. An emerging theme is that inhibition of BMP signalling is an important mechanism regulating cell fate decisions in early development. BioEssays 21:751–760, 1999. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Tissue-specific and constitutive expression of a hypothetical gene At2g37610 in transgenic Arabidopsis

Hypothetical genes should play important roles in plant growth and development, although their biological functions await elucidation. One of these genes, namely At2g37610, caught our attention during the gene cloning of several salt-tolerant mutants. Promoter-GUS fusion analysis indicated a unique tissue-specific expression pattern of At2g37610 in Arabidopsis. Constitutive expression of the gene under 35S promoter caused obvious morphological changes in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, such as curled rosette leaves and bushy phenotype at maturity. Phenotypic characterization revealed that the cause of the bushy phenotype was the enhanced lateral bud outgrowth at the bottom region of the primary inflorescence, which is different from that of reported mutant plants (bushy or branched) such as max, axr1, and bus mutants. Together, these data suggest that At2g37610 is a possible novel gene related to the regulation of leaf development and shoot patterning.     

文心兰COL基因的分离及其表达分析

CONSTANS(CO)及CONSTANS-like(COL)基因在光周期调控植物开花中起到重要的作用。该研究以文心兰(Oncidium)品种‘金辉’为材料,分离了CO同源基因OnCOL2及另外2个COL基因(OnCOL8和OnCOL9),它们分别编码326、411和291个氨基酸;生物信息分析预测它们均定位于细胞核;OnCOL2、OnCOL8有2个锌指B-box结构域和1个CCT结构域,而OnCOL9缺少B-box结构域。多序列比对及进化树分析结果表明,所有COL蛋白可划分为3组,OnCOL2与OnCOL8、OnCOL9分到了2个不同组中。OnCOL2与建兰(Cymbidium ensifolium)CeCOL(90.77%)高度相似;OnCOL8与OnCOL9在进化关系上更为接近,分别与拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)AtCOL9和AtCOL10关系最近,它们在B-box和CCT结构域都极为保守。表达分析结果表明OnCOL2、OnCOL8与OnCOL9分别在花、根和假鳞茎中表达量最高,在叶片中的表达呈周期性变化趋势,且在长、短日照条件下表达的峰值及时间均存在差异,在花芽分化时期的叶片中表达量均显著上调。研究表明,OnCOL2、OnCOL8与OnCOL9基因均受到生物钟和日长调节,在光周期途径中,可能通过上调它们的表达以促进文心兰花芽的形成。该研究结果为进一步研究基因功能及光周期调控文心兰开花机制奠定了基础。     

甘蓝型油菜PGK基因的克隆与表达分析

为研究甘蓝型油菜磷酸甘油酸激酶(PGK)基因表达特性,在对拟南芥PGK基因家族生物信息学分析的基础上,通过电子克隆方法获得3个甘蓝型油菜PGK基因(BnPGK1、BnPGK2、BnPGK3)。分别设计特异引物,以甘蓝型油菜雄性不育系09A和保持系09B的cDNA为模板克隆BnPGK基因全长序列。根据获得的cDNA序列设计实时荧光定量特异引物,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,研究油菜雄性不育系与保持系PGK基因表达差异。结果显示:BnPGK基因在甘蓝型油菜雄性不育系09A和保持系09B的根、茎、叶、花蕾中均有表达,属组成性表达。除茎中的BnPGK3外,BnPGK其它基因在根、茎、叶中的表达均表现为09A高于09B,而在花蕾中均为09B高于09A,BnPGK1和BnPGK3在09B中的表达量是09A中的2倍以上。     

铁皮石斛WOX转录因子的鉴定和分析

为了解铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale)WOX转录因子的功能,采用全基因组分析技术对铁皮石斛WOX家族成员进行鉴定,并进行生物信息学和表达模式分析.结果表明,铁皮石斛基因组中有9个WOX转录因子(DoWOX 1～DoWOX 9),大部分的DoWOXs含有2～3个外显子,启动子含有与激素诱导、逆境胁迫...     

Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

狭叶薰衣草的离体培养及挥发性成分的分析

为建立新疆狭叶薰衣草(Lavandula angustifolia)的快速繁殖体系,以种子、茎、叶为外植体,对种子萌发、愈伤组织诱导、丛芽分化和生根的最适培养条件进行了研究;用水蒸气蒸馏法提取狭叶薰衣草挥发油,采用气相色谱-质谱法测定挥发油成分。结果表明,种子浸泡的适宜时间为6 h,切开种皮培养,出芽时间最少为6 d;诱导种子出芽的适宜培养基为MS+6-BA2 mg/L;以茎为外植体诱导愈伤组织效果较好,适宜培养基为MS+6-BA 2 mg/L+2,4-D 1 mg/L;诱导分化丛芽的适宜培养基为MS+6-BA 1 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L;生根的适宜培养基为1/2MS+NAA 1 mg/L+6-BA 0.5 mg/L;盆栽薰衣草和无菌苗薰衣草的挥发油主要成分相差较大,离体培养的薰衣草的主要挥发性成分有叶绿醇、丁香油烃、氧化石竹烯等。     

植物生长调节剂对黑木相思优树腋芽增殖及生根的影响

为建立黑木相思(Acacia melanoxylon)快繁技术体系,以含1个腋芽的无菌茎段为材料,研究了植物生长调节剂对其增殖和生根的影响。结果表明,6-BA 极易诱导黑木相思愈伤组织形成,但芽长势较差,不利于腋芽增殖体系的建立。而生长素既能诱导黑木相思生根,又能诱导腋芽增殖;将无菌茎段接入MS+IAA 0.5 mg L^-1+IBA 0.5 mg L^-1培养基中培养20 d的生根率为98.41%,培养40 d的腋芽增殖倍数为2.36,单株繁殖系数为6.57。这是首次成功建立高效、简便的生根和增殖同步发生的黑木相思直接器官发生途径的组培技术体系。     

Generation of bioengineered feather buds on a reconstructed chick skin from dissociated epithelial and mesenchymal cells

Various kinds of in vitro culture systems of tissues and organs have been developed, and applied to understand multicellular systems during embryonic organogenesis. In the research field of feather bud development, tissue recombination assays using an intact epithelial tissue and mesenchymal tissue/cells have contributed to our understanding the mechanisms of feather bud formation and development. However, there are few methods to generate a skin and its appendages from single cells of both epithelium and mesenchyme. In this study, we have developed a bioengineering method to reconstruct an embryonic dorsal skin after completely dissociating single epithelial and mesenchymal cells from chick skin. Multiple feather buds can form on the reconstructed skin in a single row in vitro. The bioengineered feather buds develop into long feather buds by transplantation onto a chorioallantoic membrane. The bioengineered bud sizes were similar to those of native embryo. The number of bioengineered buds was increased linearly with the initial contact length of epithelial and mesenchymal cell layers where the epithelial‐mesenchymal interactions occur. In addition, the bioengineered bud formation was also disturbed by the inhibition of major signaling pathways including FGF (fibroblast growth factor), Wnt/β‐catenin, Notch and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein). We expect that our bioengineering technique will motivate further extensive research on multicellular developmental systems, such as the formation and sizing of cutaneous appendages, and their regulatory mechanisms.     

qPCR in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Evaluation of reference genes and expression analysis of KIT and the alternative receptor tyrosine kinases FLT3, CSF1-R, PDGFRB, MET and AXL

Background  

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) represent the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. About 85% carry an activating mutation in the KIT or PDGFRA gene. Approximately 10% of GIST are so-called wild type GIST (wt-GIST) without mutations in the hot spots. In the present study we evaluated appropriate reference genes for the expression analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and fresh frozen samples from gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We evaluated the gene expression of KIT as well as of the alternative receptor tyrosine kinase genes FLT3, CSF1-R, PDGFRB, AXL and MET by qPCR. wt-GIST were compared to samples with mutations in KIT exon 9 and 11 and PDGFRA exon 18 in order to evaluate whether overexpression of these alternative RTK might contribute to the pathogenesis of wt-GIST.     

Cloning of noggin gene from hydra and analysis of its functional conservation using Xenopus laevis embryos

SUMMARY Hydra, a member of phylum Cnidaria that arose early in evolution, is endowed with a defined axis, organized nervous system, and active behavior. It is a powerful model system for the elucidation of evolution of developmental mechanisms in animals. Here, we describe the identification and cloning of noggin‐like gene from hydra. Noggin is a secreted protein involved at multiple stages of vertebrate embryonic development including neural induction and is known to exert its effects by inhibiting the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐signaling pathway. Sequence analysis revealed that hydra Noggin shows considerable similarity with its orthologs at the amino acid level. When microinjected in the early Xenopus embryos, hydra noggin mRNA induced a secondary axis in 100% of the injected embryos, demonstrating functional conservation of hydra noggin in vertebrates. This was further confirmed by the partial rescue of Xenopus embryos by hydra noggin mRNA from UV‐induced ventralization. By using animal cap assay in Xenopus embryos, we demonstrate that these effects of hydra noggin in Xenopus embryos are because of inhibition of BMP signaling by Noggin. Our data indicate that BMP/Noggin antagonism predates the bilaterian divergence and is conserved during the evolution.     

Homologs of the yeast neck filament associated genes: isolation and sequence analysis of Candida albicans CDC3 and CDC10

Morphogenesis in the yeast Saccharomyes cerevisiae consists primarily of bud formation. Certain cell division cycle (CDC) genes, CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, CDC12, are known to be involved in events critical to the pattern of bud growth and the completion of cytokinesis. Their products are associated with the formation of a ring of neck filaments that forms at the region of the mother cell-bud junction during mitosis. Morphogenesis in Candida albicans, a major fungal pathogen of humans, consists of both budding and the formation of hyphae. The latter is thought to be related to the pathogenesis and invasiveness of C. albicans. We have isolated and characterized C. albicans homologs of the S. cerevisiae CDC3 and CDC10 genes. Both C. albicans genes are capable of complementing defects in the respective S. cerevisiae genes. RNA analysis of one of the genes suggests that it is a regulated gene, with higher overall expression levels during the hyphal phase than in the yeast phase. Not surprisingly, DNA sequence analysis reveals that the proteins share extensive homology at the amino acid level with their respective S. cerevisiae counterparts. Related genes are also found in other species of Candida and, more importantly, in filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa. A database search revealed significant sequence similarity with two peptides, one from Drosophila and one from mouse, suggesting strong evolutionary conservation of function.