Phylogenetically Distinct Cellulose Synthase Genes Support Secondary Wall Thickening in Arabidopsis Shoot Trichomes and Cotton Fiber

Through exploring potential analogies between cotton seed trichomes (or cotton fiber) and arabidopsis shoot trichomes we discovered that CesAs from either the primary or secondary wall phylogenetic clades can support secondary wall thickening. CesA genes that typically support primary wall synthesis, AtCesA1,2,3,5, and 6, underpin expansion and secondary wall thickening of arabidopsis shoot trichomes. In contrast, apparent orthologs of CesA genes that support secondary wall synthesis in arabidopsis xylem, AtCesA4,7, and 8, are up-regulated for cotton fiber secondary wall deposition. These conclusions arose from: (a) analyzing the expression of CesA genes in arabidopsis shoot trichomes; (b) observing birefringent secondary walls in arabidopsis shoot trichomes with mutations in AtCesA4, 7, or 8; (c) assaying up-regulated genes during different stages of cotton fiber development; and (d) comparing genes that were co-expressed with primary or secondary wall CesAs in arabidopsis with genes up-regulated in arabidopsis trichomes, arabidopsis secondary xylem, or cotton fiber during primary or secondary wall deposition. Cumulatively, the data show that: (a) the xylem of arabidopsis provides the best model for secondary wall cellulose synthesis in cotton fiber; and (b) CesA genes within a "cell wall toolbox" are used in diverse ways for the construction of particular specialized cell walls.     

Gene expression profiles in different stem internodes reveal the genetic regulation of primary and secondary stem development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula platyphylla</Emphasis>

Secondary growth of stems is an important process for the radial increase of trees. To gain an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying stem development from primary to secondary growth and to provide information for molecular research and breeding in Betula platyphylla (birch), the gene expression profiles of material from the first, third, and fifth internodes (IN) of 3-month-old seedlings were analyzed. Compared with the first IN, 177 genes were up-regulated and 157 genes down-regulated in the third IN; in the fifth IN, 180 genes were up-regulated and 275 genes were down-regulated. The expressions of 24 genes were up-regulated and 6 genes were down-regulated in the fifth IN relative to the third IN. The differentially expressed genes were annotated as having roles in cambium, xylem, and phloem development and formation; including cell wall expansion, cellulose biosynthesis, lignin biosynthesis and deposition, xylem extension, cell wall modification, and growth hormone responses. The expressions of genes related to cell wall expansion and cellulose biosynthesis in the primary cell wall were down-regulated in the third and fifth IN relative to the first IN. Genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, xylem extension, and cellulose synthesis in the secondary cell wall were up-regulated in the third and fifth IN relative to the first IN. These results described the patterns of gene expression during stem development in birch and provided candidate genes for further functional characterization.     

CWI和HOG信号通路基因在斑玉蕈不同发育阶段的表达模式

为了更清楚地了解MAPK信号通路中的细胞壁完整性信号通路（cell wall integrity,CWI）和高渗透压甘油（high-osmolarity glycerol pathway,HOG）信号通路对斑玉蕈菌丝成熟、原基形成和子实体发育过程的影响及调节作用,对MAPK信号通路中的CWI和HOG信号通路基因在斑玉蕈不同菌丝培养时间（40、60、80和100d）和不同生长发育关键时期（24h、菌丝恢复期、菌丝转色期、原基期和子实体期）的表达模式进行分析,以期揭示这两条信号通路基因参与调节斑玉蕈菌丝的生长、子实体的形成和发育的作用。在斑玉蕈的CWI和HOG信号通路中经分析鉴定一共获得了15个关键基因。CWI信号通路基因表达分析表明：在菌丝培养的40-100d的过程中,大部分CWI信号通路基因在第60天时表达量最高,其中rho1、ssk1、ssk2和ste20的基因表达量上调了2-5倍,在第80-100天时出现持续下降。在HOG信号通路中的大部分基因也在菌丝培养的第60天表达量达到最高。其中sho1、ste20、ssk1和ssk2基因的表达量上调最为显著,而hog1基因的表达量在菌丝培养的第40-100天呈持续下降。子实体形成过程中两条通路的大部分基因在原基形成时期表达量最高,而在子实体时期表达量下调。其中HOG信号通路中的ssk2基因表达量上调最为显著。以上结果说明在菌丝生长过程中第60天时菌丝细胞生长增殖最为旺盛,而在第80天开始菌丝细胞基本开始停止生长,菌丝也逐渐达到成熟。同时在菌丝增殖生长过程中,斑玉蕈持续地上调CWI信号通路基因的表达来调控菌丝细胞壁的完整性,从而控制菌丝细胞壁的形成。其中bck1、mkk1和slt2基因可能对斑玉蕈菌丝细胞的分裂增殖和细胞壁的形成以及诱导子实体形成起到关键作用。     

The microRNA expression profiles of mouse mesenchymal stem cell during chondrogenic differentiation

MicroRNAs are potential key regulators in mesenchymal stem cells chondrogenic differentiation. However, there were few reports about the accurate effects of miRNAs on chondrogenic differentiation. To investigate the mechanisms of miRNAs-mediated regulation during the process, we performed miRNAs microarray in MSCs at four different stages of TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation. We observed that eight miRNAs were significantly up-regulated and five miRNAs were downregulated. Interestingly, we found two miRNAs clusters, miR-143/145 and miR-132/212, kept on down-regulation in the process. Using bioinformatics approaches, we analyzed the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs and found a series of them correlated with the process of chondrogenesis. Furthermore, the qPCR results showed that the up-regulated (or down-regulated) expression of miRNAs were inversely associated with the expression of predicted target genes. Our results first revealed the expression profiles of miRNAs in chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs and provided a new insight on complicated regulation mechanisms of chondrogenesis.     

Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profiling of Clostridium perfringens SM101 during Sporulation Extends the Core of Putative Sporulation Genes and Genes Determining Spore Properties and Germination Characteristics

The formation of bacterial spores is a highly regulated process and the ultimate properties of the spores are determined during sporulation and subsequent maturation. A wide variety of genes that are expressed during sporulation determine spore properties such as resistance to heat and other adverse environmental conditions, dormancy and germination responses. In this study we characterized the sporulation phases of C. perfringens enterotoxic strain SM101 based on morphological characteristics, biomass accumulation (OD₆₀₀), the total viable counts of cells plus spores, the viable count of heat resistant spores alone, the pH of the supernatant, enterotoxin production and dipicolinic acid accumulation. Subsequently, whole-genome expression profiling during key phases of the sporulation process was performed using DNA microarrays, and genes were clustered based on their time-course expression profiles during sporulation. The majority of previously characterized C. perfringens germination genes showed upregulated expression profiles in time during sporulation and belonged to two main clusters of genes. These clusters with up-regulated genes contained a large number of C. perfringens genes which are homologs of Bacillus genes with roles in sporulation and germination; this study therefore suggests that those homologs are functional in C. perfringens. A comprehensive homology search revealed that approximately half of the upregulated genes in the two clusters are conserved within a broad range of sporeforming Firmicutes. Another 30% of upregulated genes in the two clusters were found only in Clostridium species, while the remaining 20% appeared to be specific for C. perfringens. These newly identified genes may add to the repertoire of genes with roles in sporulation and determining spore properties including germination behavior. Their exact roles remain to be elucidated in future studies.     

转录组分析揭示东方蜜蜂微孢子虫侵染意大利蜜蜂的分子机制

【目的】本研究旨在通过差异表达基因(differentially expressed gene, DEG)分析以及毒力因子和其他侵染相关因子分析,在转录组水平揭示东方蜜蜂微孢子虫Nosema ceranae侵染意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica的分子机制。【方法】基于前期已获得高质量的东方蜜蜂微孢子虫纯化孢子(NcCK)及侵染意大利蜜蜂工蜂7和10 d的东方蜜蜂微孢子虫(分别为NcT1和NcT2)转录组数据,根据P≤0.05且|log_2(Fold change)|≥1的标准,通过比较分析筛选出NcCK vs NcT1, NcCK vs NcT2和NcT1 vs NcT2比较组的DEG。通过相关生物信息学软件对上述DEG进行Venn分析、GO分类和KEGG代谢通路富集分析。根据Nr和KEGG数据库注释信息和相关文献进行对东方蜜蜂微孢子虫的毒力因子和侵染相关因子的统计和分析。通过RT-qPCR验证转录组数据及DEG表达趋势。【结果】从NcCK vs NcT1, NcCK vs NcT2和NcT1 vs NcT2比较组分别鉴定出1 397, 1 497和52个DEG。Venn分析结果显示各比较组共有的上调和下调基因分别为10和1个。GO分类结果显示,NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中DEG富集数最多的功能条目为代谢进程、细胞进程、单组织进程、细胞、细胞组件、细胞器、催化活性和结合,而NcT1 vs NcT2中DEG富集数最多的是代谢进程、细胞进程、单组织进程、催化活性和结合。KEGG代谢通路富集分析结果显示,NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中DEG分别富集到80和79条通路;富集在糖酵解/糖异生和MAPK信号通路的上调基因数量多于下调基因。毒力因子分析结果显示,孢壁蛋白9基因和孢壁蛋白12基因在NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中均下调表达,孢壁蛋白8基因仅在NcCK vs NcT1中表达量下调;此外孢壁蛋白前体基因、孢壁和锚定盘复合蛋白基因、几丁质合酶基因、极管蛋白基因、蓖麻毒素B凝集素基因的表达水平在NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中表现为上调。侵染相关因子分析结果表明,糖酵解途径的3个关键酶基因在NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中上调表达;3个涉及ATP/ADP移位酶的基因在NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中上调表达,但有1个表达量下调;2个涉及ABC转运蛋白的基因在NcCK vs NcT1和NcCK vs NcT2中上调表达,另有4个下调表达。RT-qPCR结果证实了本研究中转录组数据及DEG表达趋势的真实可靠性。【结论】本研究通过比较分析解析东方蜜蜂微孢子虫侵染意大利蜜蜂工蜂过程的转录组动态,揭示了孢壁蛋白、孢壁和锚定盘复合蛋白、几丁质酶、极管蛋白和蓖麻毒素B凝集素等毒力因子编码基因,以及己糖激酶、丙酮酸激酶、6-磷酸果糖激酶、ATP/ADP移位酶和ABC转运蛋白等侵染相关因子编码基因在病原增殖中扮演重要角色,为阐明东方蜜蜂微孢子虫的侵染机制提供了基础。     

Monitoring expression profiles of Arabidopsis genes during cold acclimation and deacclimation using DNA microarrays

A comparative analysis of gene expression profiles during cold acclimation and deacclimation is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cold stress responses in higher plants. We analyzed gene expression profiles in the process of cold acclimation and deacclimation (recovery from cold stress) using two microarray systems, the 7K RAFL cDNA microarray and the Agilent 22K oligonucleotide array. By both microarray analyses, we identified 292 genes up-regulated and 320 genes down-regulated during deacclimation, and 445 cold up-regulated genes and 341 cold down-regulated genes during cold acclimation. Many genes up-regulated during deacclimation were found to be down-regulated during cold acclimation, and vice versa. The genes up-regulated during deacclimation were classified into (1) regulatory proteins involved in further regulation of signal transduction and gene expression and (2) functional proteins involved in the recovery process from cold-stress-induced damages and plant growth. We also applied expression profiling studies to identify the key genes involved in the biosynthesis of carbohydrates and amino acids that are known to play important roles in cold acclimation. We compared genes that are regulated during deacclimation with those regulated during rehydration after dehydration to discuss the similarity and difference of each recovery process.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary materials are available for this article at     

Tight clustering: a resampling-based approach for identifying stable and tight patterns in data

In this article, we propose a method for clustering that produces tight and stable clusters without forcing all points into clusters. The methodology is general but was initially motivated from cluster analysis of microarray experiments. Most current algorithms aim to assign all genes into clusters. For many biological studies, however, we are mainly interested in identifying the most informative, tight, and stable clusters of sizes, say, 20-60 genes for further investigation. We want to avoid the contamination of tightly regulated expression patterns of biologically relevant genes due to other genes whose expressions are only loosely compatible with these patterns. "Tight clustering" has been developed specifically to address this problem. It applies K-means clustering as an intermediate clustering engine. Early truncation of a hierarchical clustering tree is used to overcome the local minimum problem in K-means clustering. The tightest and most stable clusters are identified in a sequential manner through an analysis of the tendency of genes to be grouped together under repeated resampling. We validated this method in a simulated example and applied it to analyze a set of expression profiles in the study of embryonic stem cells.