果蝇求偶行为分子调控机制的研究进展

果蝇(Drosophila)的求偶行为受多个基因调控,例如fruitless(fru)、dissatisfaction(dsf)和retained(retn)等。它们通过不同的剪切方式产生特异性产物,利用这些产物来控制雌雄果蝇的求偶行为,它们的剪切方式是雌雄果蝇求偶行为和性别决定所必需的。主要阐述了这些基因在果蝇求偶行为方面的分子调控机制,为进一步研究果蝇的求偶行为和性别决定提供理论依据。     

反义RNA介导的大肠杆菌非必需基因rpsF的基因沉默

【目的】探讨反义RNA技术介导的大肠杆菌非必需基因rpsF基因沉默导致菌体生长受抑制的原因。【方法】将rpsF基因5'端41-230 bp的片段反向插入带有末端配对结构的反义表达载体pHN678,获得重组质粒,导入大肠杆菌宿主获得反义RNA菌株Escherichia.coli/pHNF,并用诱导剂IPTG诱导反义RNA表达,通过与对照菌E.coli/pHN678的液体生长状态差异判断菌体生长表型;采用Real time RT-PCR方法跟踪分析转录水平。【结果】构建了针对rpsF的反义RNA菌株,且其生长受抑制程度与IPTG浓度呈正相关。IPTG浓度为100μmol/L时,菌体生长未受抑制,但靶基因rpsF的mRNA量降低了36%,而rpsR是位于同一操纵子下游的必需基因,其转录水平却未受影响;IPTG浓度为200μmol/L时,菌体生长明显受抑制,经分析发现rpsR转录水平降低了12%。【结论】反义RNA菌株E.coli/pHNF生长受抑制的原因是由于此反义RNA引起了同一操纵子下另一必需基因rpsR的转录水平降低。     

母子分离应激对complexin Ⅱ基因缺陷鼠快速移动行为的影响

本文旨在探讨母子分离应激对complexin Ⅱ基因缺陷(Cplx2-/-)小鼠快速移动行为的影响。实验分4组:应激Cplx2-/-组、应激Cplx2+/+组、无应激Cplx2-/-组和无应激Cplx2+/+组。无应激组小鼠正常饲养,应激组小鼠从出生后第2日至第21日每天施加母子分离应激。小鼠生长到第4周时,利用聚合酶链反应技术检测其基因型。4组小鼠腹腔注射激动剂去氧麻黄碱或生理盐水后,采用EthoVision系统对小鼠快速移动行为进行记录。结果显示,应激Cplx2-/-组、应激Cplx2+/+组、无应激Cplx2-/-组和无应激Cplx2+/+组注射去氧麻黄碱后,与生理盐水对照组相比,均出现快速移动行为不同程度的增多(P<0.01);与无应激Cplx2-/-组相比较,应激Cplx2-/-组注射去氧麻黄碱后快速移动行为增多更为明显(P<0.001);与应激Cplx2+/+组相比,应激Cplx2-/-组注射去氧麻黄碱后的快速移动行为增多更为明显(P<0.001)。本实验证实小鼠的行为可能受母子分离应激和Cplx2基因等因素的多重影响。     

1α羟化酶活性和血钙水平对24羟化酶基因表达的影响

目的:研究肾脏24羟化酶基因表达的影响因素。方法:采用两种基因敲除小鼠。每种小鼠又分两种饲养方式。用生化分析仪测定小鼠血钙浓度。用半定量RT-PCR法研究小鼠肾脏组织中1α羟化酶和24羟化酶基因的表达。结果:1α羟化酶基因敲除小鼠体内血钙低于野生型小鼠(78±10.4 mg/Lvs111±16.5 mg/L,P<0.05.),测不出24羟化酶基因表达。维生素D受体基因敲除小鼠有很高的1α羟化酶表达,小鼠血钙也显著低于野生型小鼠(68±9.8 mg/Lvs111±16.5 mg/L,P<0.05),测不出24羟化酶表达。但给予高乳糖饲料后,两种基因敲除小鼠血钙都上升到与野生型小鼠一致水平。此时,24羟化酶基因的表达与野生型也基本一致。结论:血钙是调节24羟化酶基因表达的直接因素,1α羟化酶对24羟化酶的正向调节作用是通过升高血钙来实现的。     

应用基因敲除快速构建大肠杆菌突变体改造脂肪酸代谢途径

【目的】基因敲除技术是研究基因功能的重要手段。我们试图建立一种快速、高效的大肠杆菌基因敲除方法。【方法】利用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BW25113单基因缺失体Keio文库,将经典的Red同源重组技术与P1噬菌体转导技术相结合,对E.coli MG1655脂肪酸代谢基因进行快速敲除。【结果】获得了大肠杆菌β-氧化途径的缺失菌株△fadD、△fadE和△fadD-△fadE;脂肪酸合成途径缺失菌株△fabH、△fabF和△fabH-△fabF。敲除fadD和fadE对生长情况没有影响;敲除fabH后,生长速度明显减慢;敲除fabF对生长几乎没有影响。FadD、FadE及双敲缺失体的脂肪酸含量18.2 mg/L、20.0mg/L和19.2 mg/L,略高于野生型17.5 mg/L;FabH、FabF及双敲缺失体的含量分别为12.6 mg/L、15.2 mg/L和11.2 mg/L,明显低于野生型。【结论】在单基因突变体文库基础上,利用P1噬菌体转导、Red同源重组和抗性基因消除进行基因敲除,简化了构建大肠杆菌单基因和多重突变体的方法。     

北京西山侏罗纪大同锥叶蕨的研究

大同锥叶蕨Coniopteris tatungensis 是侏罗纪植物群常见的分子。由于对该植物特征认识的不同, 对其在分类上的归属有不同意见,或归入膜蕨型锥叶蕨C．hymenophylloides,或归入简单锥叶蕨C. simplex。通过对产自北京西山斋堂地区窑坡组下段的标本的深入研究,特别是用扫描电子显微镜对该 标本的孢子囊群和孢子囊的观察,确认大同锥叶蕨在锥叶蕨属的种级分类上的独立性。文中还初步讨论了其分类和地理分布。     

Analysis of variable sites between two complete South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) mitochondrial genomes

In order to investigate the mitochondrial genome of Panthera tigris amoyensis, two South China tigers (P25 and P27) were analyzed following 15 cymt-specific primer sets. The entire mtDNA sequence was found to be 16,957 bp and 17,001 bp long for P25 and P27 respectively, and this difference in length between P25 and P27 occurred in the number of tandem repeats in the RS-3 segment of the control region. The structural characteristics of complete P. t. amoyensis mitochondrial genomes were also highly similar to those of P. uncia. Additionally, the rate of point mutation was only 0.3% and a total of 59 variable sites between P25 and P27 were found. Out of the 59 variable sites, 6 were located in 6 different tRNA genes, 6 in the 2 rRNA genes, 7 in non-coding regions (one located between tRNA-Asn and tRNA-Tyr and six in the D-loop), and 40 in 10 protein-coding genes. COI held the largest amount of variable sites (9 sites) and Cytb contained the highest variable rate (0.7%) in the complete sequences. Moreover, out of the 40 variable sites located in 10 protein-coding genes, 12 sites were nonsynonymous.     

Disruption of YPS1 and PEP4 genes reduces proteolytic degradation of secreted HSA/PTH in Pichia pastoris GS115

Human serum albumin (HSA) and human parathyroid hormone (1-34) [PTH (1-34)] fusion protein [HSA/PTH (1-34)] is a promising long-acting form of PTH (1-34) for osteoporosis treatment. Secretory expression of intact HSA/PTH (1-34) in Pichia pastoris GS115 was accompanied by two degradation fragments, with molecular weights around 66 kDa, in addition to the well-known ~45 kDa HSA-truncated fragment, resulting in a low yield of intact protein. In this study, two internal cleavage sites were identified in the PTH (1-34) portion of the fusion protein by Western Blot analysis. To minimize proteolytic cleavages, several protease genes including PEP4 (encoding proteinase A), PRB1 (proteinase B) and seven YPSs genes (yapsin family members) were knocked out respectively by disruption of the individual genes and the selective combinations. Reduced degradation was observed by single disruption of either PEP4 gene or YPS1 gene, and the lowest level of degradation was observed in a pep4△yps1△ double disruptant. After 72 h of induction, more than 80 % of the HSA/PTH (1-34) secreted by the pep4△yps1△ double disruptant remained intact, in comparison to only 30 % with the wild-type strain.