Epitranscriptomic technologies and analyses

RNA can interact with RNA-binding proteins(RBPs), mRNA, or other non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs) to form complex regulatory networks. High-throughput CLIP-seq, degradome-seq, and RNA-RNA interactome sequencing methods represent powerful approaches to identify biologically relevant ncRNA-target and protein-ncRNA interactions. However, assigning ncRNAs to their regulatory target genes or interacting RNA-binding proteins(RBPs) remains technically challenging. Chemical modifications to mRNA also play important roles in regulating gene expression. Investigation of the functional roles of these modifications relies highly on the detection methods used. RNA structure is also critical at nearly every step of the RNA life cycle. In this review, we summarize recent advances and limitations in CLIP technologies and discuss the computational challenges of and bioinformatics tools used for decoding the functions and regulatory networks of ncRNAs. We also summarize methods used to detect RNA modifications and to probe RNA structure.     

DNA sequencing: the key to unveiling genome

正The genome, containing total genetic material in the organism, i.e., DNA, and RNA for some viruses, encodes the information needed for all life activity. Besides the DNA in cell nucleus, mitochondrial DNA and chloroplast DNA are also important components of the genome. Using high-throughput sequencing, a tremendous amount of genomic data has been obtained. Currently, 1,704 archaeal, 26,075 bacterial,     

微区XRF技术分析无机元素在植物中的原位分布

植物的无机元素分布特征对植物生理过程具有重要的指标作用, 可揭示营养物质分布、代谢途径及毒理耐受性等多种生命过程。用微区XRF技术测试样品中无机元素的分布, 具有原位无损、可进行较大面积样品连续成像分析以及前处理过程简单等诸多优势。将微区XRF技术应用于植物样品不同器官的无机元素分布检测, 旨在探讨该技术在植物样品测试中的仪器参数选择、样品前处理方法和数据后处理手段等对测试结果的影响。为得到可靠的实验结果, 对不同含水量的器官进行不同的前处理, 并比较不同驻留时间、测试腔体真空与否等仪器条件对测试结果的影响, 同时对数据处理方法进行探索, 包括对获得的数据进行图像叠加及对不同元素浓度比例进行半定量分析。研究结果表明, 微区XRF技术测试植物样品中无机元素分布具有一定的技术优势。     

Activation of the bitter taste sensor TRPM5 prevents high salt-induced cardiovascular dysfunction

Science China Life Sciences - High salt intake is a known risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Our recent study demonstrated that long-term high salt intake impairs transient receptor potential...     

Could urinary ACE2 protein level help identify individuals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and complication?

Science China Life Sciences -     

Polymorphism analysis and supertype definition of swine leukocyte antigen class I molecules in three-way crossbred (Landrace,Duroc, and Yorkshire) pigs: implications for the vaccine development of African swine fever virus

正Dear Editor,Swine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a highly polymorphic gene in pigs and is also called swine leukocyte antigen (SLA)(Fan et al., 2018). SLA is divided into three major categories, SLA Ⅰ (SLA-1,-2,-3), SLA Ⅱ, and SLA Ⅲ(Smith et al., 2005). SLA Ⅰ plays an important role in cellular immunity which can eliminate viruses and other foreign     

360度群体遗传变异扫描——大豆泛基因组研究

大豆(Glycine max)是重要的油料和蛋白作物, 其丰富的遗传变异为生物学性状挖掘和育种改良提供了重要的资源基础。然而, 单个基因组信息无法全面揭示种质资源的遗传变异, 泛基因组研究为解决这一不足提供了新方案。近日, 中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所田志喜和梁承志研究团队从2 898份大豆种质中选取26份代表性材料, 并整合已有的3个基因组, 构建了包含野生和栽培大豆的泛基因组和图基因组(graph-based genome), 鉴定了整个群体的绝大多数结构变异数据集, 确定了大豆种质的核心、非必需和个体特异的基因集。利用这些数据系统地揭示了生育期位点E3的等位基因变异和基因融合事件、种皮颜色基因I的单体型和演化关系以及结构变异对铁离子转运基因表达和地区适应性选择的影响。该研究为作物基因组学研究提供了一个新的模式, 同时将加速推动大豆遗传变异的鉴定、性状解析和种质创新。