棉铃虫剂量补偿相关基因Hamsl1的鉴定与功能分析

【目的】棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的剂量补偿(dosage compensation, DC)分子机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在通过克隆棉铃虫雄性特异性致死(male specific lethal, msl) 基因Hamsl1,利用RNA干扰技术明确其是否参与调控棉铃虫剂量补偿。【方法】利用RT-PCR同源克隆棉铃虫Hamsl1基因全长cDNA; 利用qPCR技术研究Hamsl1基因在棉铃虫不同发育时期的表达谱;通过显微注射Hamsl1 siRNA到棉铃虫3龄幼虫中对Hamsl1基因进行RNA干扰后,利用qPCR技术检测15个Z染色体基因的表达情况,分析Hamsl1是否调控Z染色体基因剂量。【结果】成功克隆了棉铃虫Hamsl1基因的cDNA序列,鉴定出Hamsl1基因mRNA存在2种剪接体,分别命名为Hamsl1a(GenBank登录号: MK564008)和Hamsl1b(GenBank登录号: MK564009)。功能域分析发现HaMSL1含有典型的PEHE和coiled-coil功能域,具有MSL1蛋白的特征。qPCR分析表明,Hamsl1基因位于棉铃虫Z染色体上;棉铃虫Hamsl1a与Hamsl1b基因表达均具有发育时期特异性,在成虫期表达量最高,且雌雄化蛹后基因表达量差异显著,具有性别特异性。通过同源比对和qPCR分析,在DNA水平鉴定了15个Z染色体候选基因。显微注射Hamsl1 siRNA于3龄幼虫体内72 h,干扰效率为36.01%~64.27%,并未发生雄性致死现象;与对照组相比,Hamsl1 RNAi处理组中棉铃虫15个Z染色体基因在雄性个体中整体呈现表达量上调趋势,而在雌性个体中平均表达水平差异不显著。【结论】本研究初步探明Hamsl1基因位于棉铃虫Z染色体上,且该基因可能通过抑制雄性棉铃虫Z染色体基因表达,调控棉铃虫Z染色体剂量补偿。本研究为深入研究棉铃虫剂量补偿分子机制和绿色防控棉铃虫提供了理论基础。     

Development of special hyphal branches of Phyllactinia corylea on host and non-host surfaces

Hyphae of Phyllactinia corylea produce two kinds of special branches on the host surface: adhesion bodies which serve as fungal attachment and stomatopodia which enter the leaf through stomata. Conidial germination on host and non-host surfaces was examined with a scanning electron microscope to explain the stimuli responsible for development of the special branches, and the involvement of host recognition in the process. Conidia germinated within 4 h on host and non-host surfaces, but on non-host surfaces the emergence of the germ tube was not always directed towards the substratum. Adhesion bodies were formed from the tips of germ tubes at the first contact point on host and non-host surfaces. Development of stomatopodia was more specific and they were formed precisely over stomata on the host surface. Stomatopodia-like structures were occasionally formed over finely ridged leaf veins on the host surface and over some fine scratches on synthetic surfaces. The experiments showed that while conidial germination and development of adhesion bodies are in response to contact stimuli, the development of stomatopodia is a response to precise topographical signals, and the directional emergence and attached growth of germ tubes involve host recognition.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Differential pulse anodic voltammetric determination of pantoprazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human plasma using glassy carbon electrode

Pantoprazole is used as an anti-ulcer drug through inhibition of H(+), K(+)-adenosine 5(')-triphosphatase in gastric parietal cells. It reduces the gastric acid secretion regardless of the nature of stimulation. The use of differential pulse voltammetry for the determination of pantoprazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human plasma using a glassy carbon electrode has been examined. The best voltammetric response was reached for a glassy carbon electrode in Britton-Robinson buffer solution of pH 5.0 submitted to a scan rate of 20.0 mVs(-1) and a pulse amplitude of 50.0 mV. This electroanalytical procedure was able to determine pantoprazole in the concentration range 6.0 x 10(-6)-8.0 x 10(-4)M. Precision and accuracy of the developed method was checked with recovery studies. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were found to be 4.0 x 10(-7) and 9.0 x 10(-7)M, respectively. Rapidity, precision, and good selectivity were also found for the determination of pantoprazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human plasma. For comparative purposes high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array and UV/VIS detection at 290.0 nm determination also was developed.     

Production of recombinant proteins using multiple-copy gene integration in high-cell-density fermentations of Ralstonia eutropha

We have previously reported the development of a novel protein expression system based on Ralstonia eutropha. In this study we report on the influence of gene copynumber on recombinant protein expression in R. eutropha. We compare recombinant gene stability and expression levels of chromosomal integration with a plasmid-based expression system. Single, double, and triple copies of a gene encoding organophosphohydrolase (OPH), an enzyme prone to inclusion-body formation in E. coli, were integrated into the R. eutropha chromosome. A linear increase between the concentration of soluble, active OPH and gene copynumber was found. Using a triple-copy integrant, we were able to produce approximately 4.3 g/L of OPH in a high-cell-density fermentation. This represents the highest titer reported to date for this enzyme, and is approximately 30 times greater than expression levels reported in E. coli.     

Overexpression of an archaeal protein in yeast: secretion bottleneck at the ER

Archaeal enzymes have great potential for industrial use; however, expressing them in their natural hosts has proven challenging. Growth conditions for many archaea are beyond typical fermentation capabilities, and to compound the problem, archaea generally achieve much lower biomass yields than Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To determine whether a eukaryotic host, S. cerevisiae, would be a suitable alternative for archaeal protein production, we examined the expression of the tetrameric beta-glucosidase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. We engineered the beta-glucosidase to facilitate secretion into the culture medium and have demonstrated the beta-glucosidase's secretion and activity. We determined the dependence of beta-glucosidase secretion on gene copy number and obtained a transformant capable of secreting approximately 10 mg/L in batch culture. All transformants retained large intracellular fractions of beta-glucosidase, indicative of an intracellular bottleneck. Cell fractionation by sucrose density centrifugation and immunofluorescence identified the endoplasmic reticulum as the secretion bottleneck. Preliminary evidence indicates that the cause of this bottleneck is misfolding of the monomeric beta-glucosidase, rather than tetrameric association. Expression at moderately elevated temperatures (between 30 and 40 degrees C) improved beta-glucosidase yields, suggesting that higher temperature expression may improve folding and secretion yields.     

Schwann cell myelination requires timely and precise targeting of P(0) protein

This report investigated mechanisms responsible for failed Schwann cell myelination in mice that overexpress P(0) (P(0)(tg)), the major structural protein of PNS myelin. Quantitative ultrastructural immunocytochemistry established that P(0) protein was mistargeted to abaxonal, periaxonal, and mesaxon membranes in P(0)(tg) Schwann cells with arrested myelination. The extracellular leaflets of P(0)-containing mesaxon membranes were closely apposed with periodicities of compact myelin. The myelin-associated glycoprotein was appropriately sorted in the Golgi apparatus and targeted to periaxonal membranes. In adult mice, occasional Schwann cells myelinated axons possibly with the aid of endocytic removal of mistargeted P(0). These results indicate that P(0) gene multiplication causes P(0) mistargeting to mesaxon membranes, and through obligate P(0) homophilic adhesion, renders these dynamic membranes inert and halts myelination.     

Glossina morsitans morsitansandGlossina palpalis palpalis:Dosage Compensation Raises Questions about the Milligan Model for Control of Trypanosome Development

Gooding, R. H., and McIntyre, G. S. 1998.Glossina morsitans morsitansandGlossina palpalis palpalis: Dosage compensation raises questions about the Milligan model for control of trypanosome development.Experimental Parasitology90, 244–249. Evidence that dosage compensation occurs in tsetse flies was obtained by comparing the activities of X chromosome-linked enzymes, arginine phosphokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inGlossina m. morsitansand hexokinase and phosphoglucomutase inGlossina p. palpalis, with the activity of an autosome-linked enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, in each species. The shortcomings of the X chromosome model for the control ofTrypanozoonmaturation in tsetse are discussed in light of these findings and previously published reports on the lack of fitness effects of matureTrypanozooninfections in tsetse and on published results on antitrypanosomal factors in male and female tsetse flies.     

Allelic composition and genetic background effects on transgene expression and inheritance in white clover

Allelic composition and genetic background effects on GUS expression and inheritance using a chimeric (cauliflower mosaic virus 35Sp:uidA) transgene were investigated in white clover as a prelude to transgenic cultivar development. Stable expression and Mendelian inheritance of the uidA transgene was observed over two generations when the uidA transgene was maintained in a heterozygous state. Transgenic backcross progeny (BC1) were intercrossed to produce segregating F2 populations. GUS-positive F2 plants were test-crossed with a non-transgenic control plant to determine whether individuals were heterozygous or homozygous for the transgene. Both expected and distorted segregation ratios were observed. Distortion of the segregation ratio was not caused by transgene inactivation or rearrangement, but was influenced by genetic background. BC1, BC2 and F2 populations were found to have similar levels of uidA gene expression. Quantification of GUS expression from progeny of high and low GUS expressing plants indicate that it is possible to alter transgene expression through selection. No difference was found between the level of expression for F2 plants homozygous or heterozygous for the transgene. These results indicate that F2 plants, homozygous for a transgene, might be used to develop a transgenic cultivar. However, progeny testing to determine the influence of genetic background is a prerequisite to such a development.