Dhrs3 Protein Attenuates Retinoic Acid Signaling and Is Required for Early Embryonic Patterning

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) is an important morphogen involved in many developmental processes, including neural differentiation, body axis formation, and organogenesis. During early embryonic development, atRA is synthesized from all-trans-retinal (atRAL) in an irreversible reaction mainly catalyzed by retinal dehydrogenase 2 (aldh1a2), whereas atRAL is converted from all-trans-retinol via reversible oxidation by retinol dehydrogenases, members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. atRA is degraded by cytochrome P450, family 26 (cyp26). We have previously identified a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase 3 (dhrs3), which showed differential expression patterns in Xenopus embryos. We show here that the expression of dhrs3 was induced by atRA treatment and overexpression of Xenopus nodal related 1 (xnr1) in animal cap assay. Overexpression of dhrs3 enhanced the phenotype of excessive cyp26a1. In embryos overexpressing aldh1a2 or retinol dehydrogenase 10 (rdh10) in the presence of their respective substrates, Dhrs3 counteracted the action of Aldh1a2 or Rdh10, indicating that retinoic acid signaling is attenuated. Knockdown of Dhrs3 by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides resulted in a phenotype of shortened anteroposterior axis, reduced head structure, and perturbed somitogenesis, which were also found in embryos treated with an excess of atRA. Examination of the expression of brachyury, not, goosecoid, and papc indicated that convergent extension movement was defective in Dhrs3 morphants. Taken together, these studies suggest that dhrs3 participates in atRA metabolism by reducing atRAL levels and is required for proper anteroposterior axis formation, neuroectoderm patterning, and somitogenesis.     

A Novel p53 Mutant Found in Iatrogenic Urothelial Cancers Is Dysfunctional and Can Be Rescued by a Second-site Global Suppressor Mutation

Exposure to herbal remedies containing the carcinogen aristolochic acid (AA) has been widespread in some regions of the world. Rare A→T TP53 mutations were recently discovered in AA-associated urothelial cancers. The near absence of these mutations among all other sequenced human tumors suggests that they could be biologically silent. There are no cell banks with established lines derived from human tumors with which to explore the influence of the novel mutants on p53 function and cellular behavior. To investigate their impact, we generated isogenic mutant clones by integrase-mediated cassette exchange at the p53 locus of platform (null) murine embryonic fibroblasts and kidney epithelial cells. Common tumor mutants (R248W, R273C) were compared with the AA-associated mutants N131Y, R249W, and Q104L. Assays of cell proliferation, migration, growth in soft agar, apoptosis, senescence, and gene expression revealed contrasting outcomes on cellular behavior following introduction of N131Y or Q104L. The N131Y mutant demonstrated a phenotype akin to common tumor mutants, whereas Q104L clone behavior resembled that of cells with wild-type p53. Wild-type p53 responses were restored in double-mutant cells harboring N131Y and N239Y, a second-site rescue mutation, suggesting that pharmaceutical reactivation of p53 function in tumors expressing N131Y could have therapeutic benefit. N131Y is likely to contribute directly to tumor phenotype and is a promising candidate biomarker of AA exposure and disease. Rare mutations thus do not necessarily point to sites where amino acid exchanges are phenotypically neutral. Encounter with mutagenic insults targeting cryptic sites can reveal specific signature hotspots.     

日本血吸虫中国大陆株28kDa GST基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

在大肠杆菌ＴＢ１中表达含日本血吸虫中国大陆株２８ｋＤａ抗原基因的重组质粒，表达产物是融合蛋白，分子量来３３ｋＤａ。采用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖亲和层析柱纯化表达产物。２，４－二硝基氯苯／谷胱甘肽分光光度测定法和琼脂糖－淀粉凝胶电泳显示重组抗原具有较高的谷胱甘肽Ｓ－转移酶活力。     

基于PacBio测序数据的蜜蜂球囊菌转录因子、融合基因及RNA编辑事件的鉴定

【目的】本研究旨在利用已获得的PacBio单分子实时(single molecule real-time, SMRT)测序数据对蜜蜂球囊菌Ascosphaera apis菌丝(AaM)和孢子(AaS)中的转录因子(TF)、融合基因和RNA编辑事件进行鉴定和分析,以期丰富蜜蜂球囊菌的相关信息,并为进一步探究它们的功能提供理论依据。【方法】利用BLASTx工具将AaM和AaS的全长转录本序列比对到Nr, Swiss-Prot和KEGG数据库以获得一致性最高的蛋白序列,再利用hmmscan软件将上述蛋白序列比对到Plant TFdb数据库以获得TF的分类及注释信息。采用TOFU软件中的fusion_finder.py程序进行融合基因的预测,进而分析融合基因的序列和位置信息。使用SAMtools预测AaM和AaS中的RNA编辑事件,再利用ANNOVAR软件对RNA编辑事件进行注释,进而采用相关生物信息学软件对RNA编辑位点基因进行GO功能和KEGG通路注释。【结果】在AaS中共鉴定到17个TF家族的213个TF,其中C2H2家族包含的TF成员最多。在AaM和AaS中分别鉴定到921和510个融合基因,二者共有的融合基因为510个,特有的融合基因分别为411和0个。在AaM和AaS中分别鉴定到547和191次RNA编辑事件,其中AaM中同义单核苷酸突变的数量最多,AaS中非同义单核苷酸突变的数量最多。此外,在AaM中鉴定到12种碱基替换类型,其中发生C->T的RNA编辑事件数量最多,达到158次;在AaS中鉴定到9种碱基替换类型,其中发生C->T和G->T的RNA编辑事件数量最多,均有42次。AaM和AaS中RNA编辑位点基因分别涉及19和24个GO功能条目;此外还能注释到11和20条KEGG通路。【结论】蜜蜂球囊菌的菌丝和孢子中含有丰富的TF、融合基因和RNA编辑位点;转录因子C2H2家族与蜜蜂球囊菌菌丝和孢子的生长发育和细胞活动具有潜在关联;RNA编辑事件的碱基替换类型在蜜蜂球囊菌和其他物种中具有物种特异性;RNA编辑可能在蜜蜂球囊菌菌丝和孢子的生长和代谢中发挥作用。     

First detection and molecular characterization of grapevine phytoplasmas in Kosovo

A search for phytoplasma-associated diseases was conducted for the first time in the main grapevine-growing localities of the Dukagjini plain in Kosovo. A total of 144 samples were collected from grapevine cultivars displaying leaf yellowing, reddening, discolouration and irregular wood ripening, and analysed using nested and quantitative PCR assays. These assays showed that 35.4% of samples belonging to eight cultivars were positive to the presence of phytoplasmas in the 16SrXII group. The 16S rDNA phytoplasma sequences obtained from 15 samples shared identity greater than 99.5% with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’. Sequence analysis of the tuf gene showed that the strains found in Kosovar grapevines are in the tuf-type b1 group, sharing 99.6% to 99.8% identity with ‘Ca. P. solani'-related strains associated with the “bois noir” grapevine disease in many European countries; the secY gene sequences, on the other hand, shared 100% identity with ‘Ca. P. solani' strains from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Turkey. This study constitutes the first report on the presence and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas in Kosovar vineyards. Based on these results, it is recommended that testing for phytoplasma be included in the certification program for grapevine in Kosovo.     

乙烯诱导水仙成花相关代谢物和基因的筛选与分析

为了解乙烯诱导水仙(Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis)成花的生理和分子机制,利用代谢组和转录组测序技术,筛选乙烯诱导水仙成花的差异表达代谢物和基因。结果表明,乙烯处理的侧芽检测到12个差异表达代谢物(DEM),包括7个上调,5个下调,其中,(±)7-表茉莉酸、多巴胺、亚精胺可能与乙烯诱导水仙成花正相关,而吲哚及其衍生物呈负相关。转录组共获得1 021个差异表达基因(DEG),包括615个上调,406个下调,在DEG中鉴定筛选了45个与乙烯信号传导和开花相关的差异表达基因。乙烯诱导水仙成花启动可能先激活水仙鳞茎内源植物激素(尤其乙烯)信号通路的变化,与开花促进基因FPF1和MADS15的上调表达密切相关。9个基因的qRT-PCR结果验证了RNA-Seq的正确性。这些差异表达的代谢物和基因在水仙成花启动过程中可能具有重要作用。