Reversal of neurological defects in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder caused by mosaic expression of mutant copies of the X-linked MECP2 gene in neurons. However, neurons do not die, which suggests that this is not a neurodegenerative disorder. An important question for future therapeutic approaches to this and related disorders concerns phenotypic reversibility. Can viable but defective neurons be repaired, or is the damage done during development without normal MeCP2 irrevocable? Using a mouse model, we demonstrate robust phenotypic reversal, as activation of MeCP2 expression leads to striking loss of advanced neurological symptoms in both immature and mature adult animals.     

多启动子驱动苘麻epsps优化基因植物表达载体的构建及其转化

转基因抗草甘膦作物是商业化最广泛的转基因作物之一,但是棉花的雄蕊对草甘膦敏感,在四叶期后喷施草甘膦会造成抗草甘膦棉花雄性败育,不能正常授粉,最终导致产量降低。为降低草甘膦对棉花育性的不良影响,有针对性的构建了棉花生殖器官优势表达的arf1启动子、棉花草甘膦高效诱导表达的ag2启动子和组成型启动子CaMV35S驱动苘麻epsps优化基因的串联三表达盒植物表达载体,采用农杆菌喷花法将其转入棉花,对T0代喷施草甘膦筛选获得8株对草甘膦有较强抗性并且生殖发育正常的植株;PCR和RT PCR分析表明外源基因已整合至棉花基因组并正确表达。为探索用不同类型启动子驱动相同基因以扩大外源基因在植物中的表达范围和培育具有自主知识产权的抗草甘膦转基因棉花打下基础。     

Activity-dependent transfer of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to postsynaptic neurons

Neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are thought to be transferred from post- to presynaptic neurons and to be involved in the formation and plasticity of neural circuits. However, direct evidence for a transneuronal transfer of BDNF and its relation to neuronal activity remains elusive. We simultaneously injected complementary DNAs of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged BDNF and red fluorescence protein into the nucleus of single neurons and visualized expression, localization, and transport of BDNF in living neurons. Fluorescent puncta representing BDNF moved in axons in the anterograde direction, though some moved retrogradely, and transferred to postsynaptic neurons in an activity-dependent manner.     

Genetic variant BDNF (Val66Met) polymorphism alters anxiety-related behavior

A common single-nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, a methionine (Met) substitution for valine (Val) at codon 66 (Val66Met), is associated with alterations in brain anatomy and memory, but its relevance to clinical disorders is unclear. We generated a variant BDNF mouse (BDNF(Met/Met)) that reproduces the phenotypic hallmarks in humans with the variant allele. BDNF(Met) was expressed in brain at normal levels, but its secretion from neurons was defective. When placed in stressful settings, BDNF(Met/Met) mice exhibited increased anxiety-related behaviors that were not normalized by the antidepressant, fluoxetine. A variant BDNF may thus play a key role in genetic predispositions to anxiety and depressive disorders.     

水稻OsCERK2转基因植株的获得及初步分析

以水稻粳稻品种日本晴为研究材料,利用拟南芥CERK1的蛋白质序列检索,在水稻基因组候选了与拟南芥CERK1同源的水稻基因OsCERK2,通过RT-PCR分离了该基因的全长cDNA。生物信息学分析显示,OsCERK2是一种含有信号肽的质膜蛋白,胞外结构域含有LsyM基序,激酶结构域含有酪氨酸蛋白激酶结构域。构建了由35S启动子驱动该基因的过表达遗传转化载体和由玉米的泛素基因的启动子驱动的RNA干涉（RNAi）的遗传转化载体,利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化技术,将OsCERK2基因导入水稻,得到T0代转基因植株。对T0代植株进行了PCR检测和半定量RT-PCR检测,获得了OsCERK2有效表达的转基因植株。     

大白菜开花基因 LFY的克隆及dsRNA抑制载体的构建

以中国大白菜花蕾为材料,通过RT-PCR方法,参照GeneBank公布的序列克隆了Leafy(简称LFY)基因片段,测序分析结果表明,该基因与国外已经报道的序列具有94％的同源性。将此序列以相反方向插入到植物表达载体pROK2 35S启动子之间,并在2反向重复片段之间插入小麦乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的第20内舍子,从而构建了dsRNA抑制双元载体,该载体的构建为通过农杆菌介导转化大白菜进而解决早春扣反季栽培大白菜的先期抽薹问题创造了条件。     

一个新的麻疯树毒蛋白基因(Curcin-L2)的克隆和表达分析

麻疯树毒蛋白为I型核糖体失活蛋白(RIPs),目前已从麻疯树中克隆了3个毒蛋白基因。通过搜索麻疯树全基因组序列,找到了12个RIPs的编码基因,半定量RT-PCR结果表明,其中1个基因是叶特异表达基因。通过设计全长引物克隆得到了这个新的RIP编码基因,命名为Curcin-L2。序列分析表明,基因无内含子,ORF长945 bp,编码一个长314个氨基酸的蛋白质。蛋白质结构分析表明,Curcin-L2具有一个保守的RIP结构域。进一步分析了Curcin-L2的启动子序列,结果表明该基因含有激素、热胁迫、光、蔗糖等调控元件。     

Study on the Polymorphisms of Porcine Myostatin Gene in Promoter Region by PCR-RFLPS

In order to further study functions of the porcine myostatin gene, we analyzed the polymorphisms of porcine myostatin gene in promoter region among different breeds including Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, Junmu, Min pig and Sanjiang white pig by PCR-RFLPs. The allele T dominated in the imported lean-type pig breeds such as Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc. No allele A was detected in Junmu and Sanjiang white pig, and the frequencies of three genotypes were about equal in Min pig. The result using X^2 analysis showed that the distribution of three genotypes was related to pig breeds.     

果蔗Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子RT基因的多样性分析

【目的】分析Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子反转录酶基因（RT）序列特征、多样性、系统进化关系及转录活性，为深入研究果蔗Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子全长序列、转录转座活性及生物学功能提供理论参考。【方法】以果蔗品种拔地拉为试材，根据Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子RT基因保守区设计简并引物对，利用其进行PCR扩增，将目的条带回收纯化后连接至pMD18-T载体，并转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞，挑取阳性克隆进行测序。依据测序结果对RT基因序列进行生物信息学分析。【结果】从果蔗拔地拉中扩增获得51条序列（SoRT4-1~SoRT4-51），去除重复序列和非RT基因序列后共获得44条RT基因序列，长度为423~433 bp，AT含量为56.84%~64.97%，AT:GC比值为1.32~1.85，核苷酸序列间相似性为44.4%~99.3%，其编码的氨基酸序列间相似性为10.8%~100.0%，说明氨基酸序列比核苷酸序列表现出更高异质性。44条RT基因序列被划分为4个家族，其中Ⅰ和Ⅲ为主要家族。44条RT基因编码的氨基酸序列中有20条发生了无义突变，说明其突变率较高。44条RT基因编码蛋白序列存在5种保守基序，其中，有29条序列同时包含Motif 1~Motif 4，其余15条序列的保守基序变异较大，说明保守基序存在一定异质性。4个家族代表性序列编码蛋白的三级结构在氢键和转角的数量方面差异较大；系统发育进化树分析结果显示，44条RT基因序列被分为七大类，Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类中的果蔗RT基因序列分别占序列总数的40.91%和27.27%，Ⅱ类和Ⅵ类中的部分果蔗RT基因序列与拟南芥的BAB40828.1、粳稻的BAB40824.1、菠菜的BAB40833.1和大豆的BAB40834.1亲缘关系较近，推测这些物种在进化过程中发生了Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子的横向传递。初步发现1条Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子（SoRT4-40）具有转录活性。【结论】获得44条果蔗Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子RT基因序列，其中仅有1条序列具有转录活性，这些RT基因序列可用于开发基于Ty3-gypsy类反转录转座子的甘蔗分子标记。     

Adult neural function requires MeCP2

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a postnatal neurological disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, encoding the epigenetic regulator methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). The onset of RTT symptoms during early life together with findings suggesting neurodevelopmental abnormalities in RTT and mouse models of RTT raised the question of whether maintaining MeCP2 function exclusively during early life might protect against disease. We show by using an inducible model of RTT that deletion of Mecp2 in adult mice recapitulates the germline knock-out phenotype, underscoring the ongoing role of MeCP2 in adult neurological function. Moreover, unlike the effects of other epigenetic instructions programmed during early life, the effects of early MeCP2 function are lost soon after its deletion. These findings suggest that therapies for RTT must be maintained throughout life.     

新型毕赤酵母分泌表达载体的构建与功能验证

巴斯德毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)是目前应用最广泛的外源蛋白表达系统之一。用于毕赤酵母表达系统的表达载体种类繁多,却因需要甲醇诱导表达或者基因转化过程中引入抗生素基因而限制了其在食品行业中的应用。研究设计以毕赤酵母组成型启动子-GAP启动子替换毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9上的甲醇诱导型启动子AOX,成功构建了毕赤酵母组成型表达载体pGAPHα。并以里氏木霉木聚糖酶基因xyn2为报告基因进行功能验证,结果表明,该载体可实现xyn2基因在毕赤酵母中的高效表达。在此基础上以经密码子优化后的克鲁维酵母菊粉酶基因信号肽INU替换载体上原有的α-Factor信号肽,结果表明,INU信号肽能够有效引导XYNII的分泌。     

Cell type-specific loss of BDNF signaling mimics optogenetic control of cocaine reward

The nucleus accumbens is a key mediator of cocaine reward, but the distinct roles of the two subpopulations of nucleus accumbens projection neurons, those expressing dopamine D1 versus D2 receptors, are poorly understood. We show that deletion of TrkB, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor, selectively from D1+ or D2+ neurons oppositely affects cocaine reward. Because loss of TrkB in D2+ neurons increases their neuronal excitability, we next used optogenetic tools to control selectively the firing rate of D1+ and D2+ nucleus accumbens neurons and studied consequent effects on cocaine reward. Activation of D2+ neurons, mimicking the loss of TrkB, suppresses cocaine reward, with opposite effects induced by activation of D1+ neurons. These results provide insight into the molecular control of D1+ and D2+ neuronal activity as well as the circuit-level contribution of these cell types to cocaine reward.     

含绿色荧光蛋白及trp3iar基因的草菇表达载体的构建

分别用限制性内切酶EcoR I和HindIII酶切质粒pBGgHg,将切下的含双孢蘑菇gpd启动子、EGFP基因和35S终止子的碱基序列连接到含Ap抗性的pBSK II上,再将这一段序列切下连接到含kan抗性的pCAMBIA1300载体上,形成中间质粒载体YH2873。用限制性内切酶HindIII分别酶切质粒YH2873和质粒pDB06,将从pDB06切下的trp3iar基因连接到中间质粒载体YH2873上,得到表达载体pSAGF。中间载体pYH2873经限制性内切酶EcoR I和HindIII酶切,电泳后显示1.3 kb的目的片断和9 kb的载体片断,表达载体pSAGF经限制性内切酶HindIII酶切,电泳后显示4 kb的trp3iar基因的目的片断和10 kb的载体片断,进一步测序证明重组质粒连接正确,成功构建了草菇的表达载体pSAGF。     

含绿色荧光蛋白及trp3iar基因的草菇表达载体的构建

分别用限制性内切酶EcoR I和HindIII酶切质粒pBGgHg,将切下的含双孢蘑菇gpd启动子、EGFP基因和35S终止子的碱基序列连接到含Ap抗性的pBSK II上,再将这一段序列切下连接到含kan抗性的pCAMBIA1300载体上,形成中间质粒载体YH2873。用限制性内切酶HindIII分别酶切质粒YH2873和质粒pDB06,将从pDB06切下的trp3iar基因连接到中间质粒载体YH2873上,得到表达载体pSAGF。中间载体pYH2873经限制性内切酶EcoR I和HindIII酶切,电泳后显示1.3 kb的目的片断和9 kb的载体片断,表达载体pSAGF经限制性内切酶HindIII酶切,电泳后显示4 kb的trp3iar基因的目的片断和10 kb的载体片断,进一步测序证明重组质粒连接正确,成功构建了草菇的表达载体pSAGF。     

烟草花叶病毒移动蛋白基因转化烟草及在转基因烟草中的表达

根据烟草花叶病毒蚕豆株系（TMV-B）的已知序列合成引物，经PCR扩增获得TMV-B的移动蛋白（MP）基因。该基因测序验证后，分别以正、反向克隆到植物表达载体pBI121中，并置于CaMV35S启动子控制之下，通过三亲交配及叶盘转化，将MP基因导入烟草。经卡那霉素抗性筛选，PCR扩增，Southern点杂交,Northern点杂交及Westernblot检测，获得了正义表达MP基因及反义表达MP基因的转基因烟草，分别命名为pTMP（+）烟草和pTMP（-）烟草。     

花生AhFAD2A基因启动子的克隆与序列分析

利用染色体步移技术,从花生品种鲁花14中克隆到716 bp的AhFAD2A基因启动子片段。序列分析表明,该启动子中含有多种种子特异性表达的元件,如GCN4基序、AGCCCA序列元件、Skn-1基序等,可能与AhFAD2A基因在种子中有较高的表达水平有关。启动子中预测的调控元件的功能还需进一步实验验证。     

鸡TGF-β2基因启动子区多态性分析

为了研究鸡TGF-β2基因启动子区的SNP及其对启动子功能元件的影响,采用PCR-SSCP方法对16个鸡种的TGF-β2启动子区的554~824 bp(即3号染色体的19 433 476~19 433 746 bp)进行基因分型,经测序,共检测到3个有效的SNPs位点,分别是679位点的C/G,699位点的G/A,774位点的T/C。其中大骨鸡和太湖鸡在3个位点均检测到SNP存在,AA鸡在3个位点都没有发现SNPs。分别利用生物信息学软件JASPAR和MethPrimer预测TGF-β2基因启动子区转录因子结合位点和CpG岛,发现SNP位点可改变转录因子结合位点且位于CpG岛上,表明TGF-β2启动子区SNPs可能通过不同方式影响基因表达调控。