A high‐throughput BAC end analysis protocol (BAC‐anchor) for profiling genome assembly and physical mapping

Traditional approaches for sequencing insertion ends of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries are laborious and expensive, which are currently some of the bottlenecks limiting a better understanding of the genomic features of auto‐ or allopolyploid species. Here, we developed a highly efficient and low‐cost BAC end analysis protocol, named BAC‐anchor, to identify paired‐end reads containing large internal gaps. Our approach mainly focused on the identification of high‐throughput sequencing reads carrying restriction enzyme cutting sites and searching for large internal gaps based on the mapping locations of both ends of the reads. We sequenced and analysed eight libraries containing over 3 200 000 BAC end clones derived from the BAC library of the tetraploid potato cultivar C88 digested with two restriction enzymes, Cla I and Mlu I. About 25% of the BAC end reads carrying cutting sites generated a 60–100 kb internal gap in the potato DM reference genome, which was consistent with the mapping results of Sanger sequencing of the BAC end clones and indicated large differences between autotetraploid and haploid genotypes in potato. A total of 5341 Cla I‐ and 165 Mlu I‐derived unique reads were distributed on different chromosomes of the DM reference genome and could be used to establish a physical map of target regions and assemble the C88 genome. The reads that matched different chromosomes are especially significant for the further assembly of complex polyploid genomes. Our study provides an example of analysing high‐coverage BAC end libraries with low sequencing cost and is a resource for further genome sequencing studies.     

Psoralen attenuates bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice through inhibiting myofibroblast activation and collagen deposition

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and chronic inflammation with limited therapeutic options. Psoralen, a major active component extracted from Psoralea corylifolia L. seed, has several biological effects. However, the role of psoralen in IPF is still unclear. Here, we hypothesized that psoralen played an essential role in IPF in the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory response. A murine model of IPF was established by injecting bleomycin (BLM) intratracheally, and psoralen was administered for 14 days from the 7^th to 21^st day after BLM injection. Our results demonstrated that psoralen treatment reduced body weight loss and improved the survival rate of mice with IPF. Histological and immunofluorescent examination showed that psoralen alleviated BLM‐induced lung parenchymal inflammatory and fibrotic alteration. Furthermore, psoralen inhibited proliferation and collagen synthesis of mouse fibroblasts and partially reversed BLM‐induced expression of α‐smooth muscle actin at both the tissue and cell level. Moreover, psoralen decreased the expression of transforming growth factor‐β1, interleukin‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in the lungs of BLM‐stimulated mice. Our results reveale for the first time that psoralen exerts therapeutic effects against IPF in a BLM‐induced murine model.     

Extraordinarily conserved chromosomal synteny of Citrus species revealed by chromosome‐specific painting

Reliable identification of individual chromosomes in eukaryotic species is the foundation for comparative chromosome synteny and evolutionary studies. Unfortunately, chromosome identification has been a major challenge for plants with small chromosomes, such as the Citrus species. We developed oligonucleotide‐based chromosome painting probes for all nine chromosomes in Citrus maxima (Pummelo). We were able to identify all C. maxima chromosomes in the same metaphase cells using multiple rounds of sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization with the painting probes. We conducted comparative chromosome painting analysis in six different Citrus and related species. We found that each painting probe hybridized to only a single chromosome in all other five species, suggesting that the six species have maintained a complete chromosomal synteny after more than 9 million years of divergence. No interchromosomal rearrangement was identified in any species. These results support the hypothesis that karyotypes of woody species are more stable than herbaceous plants because woody plants need a longer period to fix chromosome structural variants in natural populations.     

蛹虫草菌生物合成虫草素的研究进展

蛹虫草Cordyceps militaris是我国传统的药用真菌,虫草素是蛹虫草的主要活性成分,具有抗癌、抗肿瘤、抗病毒等多种生理功能。蛹虫草菌液体发酵是最有希望实现高效生产虫草素的途径,但现阶段生产强度低,亟需应用发酵工程及代谢工程手段提高虫草素产量。文中对液体发酵体系中培养基组分(碳/氮源、前体物质、金属离子等)和培养条件(pH、溶氧量、光照等)对虫草素产量的影响进行了总结,并对虫草素的分离纯化、生物合成基因簇及合成代谢途径进行了阐述,最后探讨了实现虫草素高效生产的关键环节。     

小麦TaWRKYⅢ-A37和TaWRKYⅡc-D2基因的克隆与表达分析

为了探究小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)WRKY基因的功能,采用同源克隆的方法,从小麦品种‘科农199’中克隆得到2个WRKY基因,分别命名为TaWRKYⅢ-A37和TaWRKYⅡc-D2,并对其进行生物信息学分析和不同逆境胁迫下的表达分析。生物信息学分析显示,TaWRKYⅢ-A37和TaWRKYⅡc-D2基因都含有2个内含子和3个外显子,分别编码206和138个氨基酸,编码蛋白都属于亲水性不稳定非分泌型的核蛋白。系统进化分析表明,TaWRKYⅢ-A37蛋白与其两个同源拷贝的亲缘关系最近,而TaWRKYⅡc-D2蛋白与粗山羊草亲缘关系最近。qRT-PCR结果表明,TaWRKYⅢ-A37和TaWRKYⅡc-D2基因在小麦根、茎和叶中均有表达,前者在根中表达量最高,后者在叶中表达量最高,二者均在茎中低表达;在苗期TaWRKYⅢ-A37基因受到PEG、H_2O_2和ABA胁迫后表达上调,NaCl处理后4～8 h内表达下调且低于对照表达水平,而且在灌浆期受到PEG、NaCl、H_2O_2和ABA胁迫后表达均上调;苗期TaWRKYⅡc-D2基因在NaCl、H_2O_2和ABA胁迫后表达下调,PEG处理2 h时表达上调且高于对照表达水平,并且在灌浆期经PEG和NaCl胁迫后表达下调,受H_2O_2和ABA胁迫后表达上调。该研究结果为深入探究TaWRKYⅢ-A37和TaWRKYⅡc-D2基因的抗逆功能奠定了理论基础。     

AlCl3 exposure regulates neuronal development by modulating DNA modification

BACKGROUNDAs the third most abundant element, aluminum is widespread in the environment. Previous studies have shown that aluminum has a neurotoxic effect and its exposure can impair neuronal development and cognitive function.AIMTo study the effects of aluminum on epigenetic modification in neural stem cells and neurons. METHODSNeural stem cells were isolated from the forebrain of adult mice. Neurons were isolated from the hippocampi tissues of embryonic day 16-18 mice. AlCl₃ at 100 and 200 μmol/L was applied to stem cells and neurons. RESULTSAluminum altered the differentiation of adult neural stem cells and caused apoptosis of newborn neurons while having no significant effects on the proliferation of neural stem cells. Aluminum application also significantly inhibited the dendritic development of hippocampal neurons. Mechanistically, aluminum exposure significantly affected the levels of DNA 5-hydroxy-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, and N⁶-methyladenine in stem cells and neurons. CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that aluminum may regulate neuronal development by modulating DNA modifications.