Strategies for microarray analysis of limiting amounts of RNA.

One of the critical limitations of current microarray technologies for use in expression analyses is the relatively large amount of input RNA required to generate labelled cDNA populations for array analysis. In situations where RNA is limiting, the options for expression profiling are to increase cDNA labelling and hybridisation efficiency, or to use an amplification strategy to generate enough RNA/cDNA for use with a standard labelling method. Sample amplification approaches must preserve the representation of the relative abundances of the different RNAs within the starting population and must also be highly reproducible. This review evaluates current signal and sample amplification technologies, including those that can be used to generate labelled cDNA populations for array analysis from as little as a single cell.     

RNA partitioning accompanied by adsorption: high-molecular-mass RNA adsorbed at the interface like a particle

In a potassium phosphate-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) system, RNA partitioning was accompanied by adsorption at the interface, depending on the molecular mass. Low-molecular-mass RNA showed the typical partition behavior of a soluble substance. Conversely, high-molecular-mass RNA was significantly adsorbed at the interface in the potassium phosphate-PEG1500 system. The adsorbed amount was proportional to the added amount, regardless of the phase volume ratio. The partitioning of high-molecular-mass RNA showed an amount-ratio-dependent distribution like that of a particle.     

The pollen-specific LIM protein PLIM-1 from sunflower binds nucleic acids in vitro

The protein PLIM-1 (formerly SF3) from sunflower is expressed exclusively in mature, free pollen. It contains two LIM domains associated with an acidic C-terminus comprising six copies of the pentapeptide motif (A,T,S) (E,D) TQN. We have expressed the pollen protein as well as some of its mutant forms inEscherichia coli and have used the bacterially produced proteins to study interactions with nucleic acids. Our studies show that the protein binds DNA and RNA in vitro to form large complexes, while mutant polypeptides containing either a single LIM domain or a destabilized first or second LIM domain do not. Although these data suggest that the biological function of PLIM-1 involves interactions with nucleic acids, its role in pollen development remains unclear.     

反义RNA技术在植物基因工程领域中的应用

反义RNA技术在植物基因工程领域中的应用包括：a．番茄和其他水果的成熟控制;b．植物的抗病性;c．改变花卉的颜色;d．植物淀粉合成的控制;e．油料植物种子中脂肪酸合成的控制;f．杂交种子生产中雄性不育性的控制;g．其他.     

栝楼核糖核酸酶在RNA序列分析中的应用

栝楼核糖核酸酶（RNase TCS）对U碱基具有高度的专一性,在无脲、pH3.5、50℃时,它几乎都在-NP ↓ U-处裂解RNA.它与RNase T1,U₂和有限的碱水解一起,可用于直接的酶法RNA序列分析．     

铽离子与RNA的荧光反应及RNA测定的研究

核糖核酸（ＲＮＡ）与稀土铽离子在ｐＨ５．０～６．５条件下能形成具有较强荧光的络合物,其激发峰在２８８ｎｍ处,发射峰为４９４ｎｍ及５４５ｎｍ处．ＲＮＡ在０．１～１０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内与其荧光强度呈线性关系,其检出限为６．０×１０￣（－８）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ．腺苷酸,尿苷酸,胞苷酸对ＲＮＡ的干扰比较小,因此可在其存在下选择性地测定ＲＮＡ．     

Manipulating photosynthesis

The levels of individual photosynthetic proteins can be independently decreased by theAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants with antisens RNA constructs. Protocols for the introduction of such constructs intoAgrobacterium, theAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco leaf disks, and the screening and analysis of the transgenic plants produced are described.     

In vitro and in vivo action of antisense RNA

The transient or permanent expression of antisense RNA represents one option to apply antisense techniques in biotechnology and medical research. Despite the increasing importance and use of antisense nucleic acids as well as their significant antisense-specific phenotypic effects in vivo, there is an obvious lack of explanation for the mechanism of their action. By studying naturally occurring antisense RNA and analyzing their mechanism of action we attempt to learn more about the design, the use, and the critical parameters of artificial antisense RNA. Attempts to derive models from biochemical and structural studies for the interactions between antisense RNAs and their targets will be discussed.     

有机盐对基因启动子的σ因子选择性的影响

用σ￣（７０）或σ￣（３８）和核心酶（Ｅ）组成的大肠杆菌ＲＮＡ聚合酶全酶（Ｅσ）对四种启动子进行了体外转录。结果表明：ｌａｃＵＶ５,ｒｐｌＪ主要被Ｅσ￣（７０）识别,ｋａｔＥ主要被Ｅσ￣（３８）识别,ｆｉｃ在低盐浓度时被Ｅσ￣（７０）识别,在高浓度盐时被Ｅσ￣（３８）识别;Ｅσ￣（３８）转录特异性启动子所需酶量大于Ｅσ￣（７０）转录特异性启动子的酶量;在含有分别对σ￣（７０）或σ￣（３８）亲和性大的混和启动子的体外转录中,启动子之间不存在干扰和竞争,转录水平与启动子浓度成正相关。     

Enzymatic labeling of nucleic acids

Enzymatic labeling of nucleic acids is a fundamental tool in molecular biology with virtually every aspect of nucleic acid hybridization technique involving the use of labeled probes. Different methods for enzymatic labeling of DNA, RNA and oligonucleotide probes are available today. In this review, we will describe both radioactive and nonradioactive labeling methods, yet the choice of system for labeling the probe depends on the application under study.