Fluorescence imaging of cellular metabolites with RNA

Genetically encoded sensors are powerful tools for imaging intracellular metabolites and signaling molecules. However, developing sensors is challenging because they require proteins that undergo conformational changes upon binding the desired target molecule. We describe an approach for generating fluorescent sensors based on Spinach, an RNA sequence that binds and activates the fluorescence of a small-molecule fluorophore. We show that these sensors can detect a variety of different small molecules in vitro and in living cells. These RNAs constitute a versatile approach for fluorescence imaging of small molecules and have the potential to detect essentially any cellular biomolecule.     

RNA干扰用siRNA的体外转录合成

RNA干扰(RNA interference，RNAi)作为一种特异性沉默基因表达的方法，正在成为研究基因功能、胚胎发育及病毒性疾病治疗的重要工具，而获得符合干扰要求的短双链干扰RNA(small interference RNA，siRNA)是进行RNA；研究的首要步骤。本研究建立了体外转录合成siRNA方法。并用其生成的siRNA干扰鸡成纤维细胞外源绿荧光蛋白(GFP)基因和内源3—磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶(GAPDH)基因的表达。结果显示，siRNA能特异性降低鸡成纤维细胞中内外源基因的表达。本实验认为这种以DNA为模板体外转录合成siRNA方法操作简单、成本低、产物得率高，值得从事RNA研究者参考借鉴。     

Evolution of coral pigments recreated

In proteins homologous to the green fluorescent protein (GFP), formation of red fluorescence requires three autocatalytic steps, whereas only two are needed for green fluorescence. Multiple red/green color diversification events in the GFP superfamily may reflect convergent evolution of the more complex three-step pathway. In the great star coral Montastraea cavernosa, a recreated common ancestor of green and red proteins turned out to be green, indicating that in this case red proteins evolved their color independently from most other homologous red proteins. Furthermore, red color appears to have evolved gradually by small incremental transitions.     

Essential role for the SMN complex in the specificity of snRNP assembly

The Survival of Motor Neurons (SMN) protein, the product of the spinal muscular atrophy-determining gene, is part of a large macromolecular complex (SMN complex) that functions in the assembly of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Using cell extracts and purified components, we demonstrated that the SMN complex is necessary and sufficient to mediate the ATP-dependent assembly of the core of seven Sm proteins on uridine-rich, small nuclear ribonucleic acids (U snRNAs). In vitro experiments revealed strict requirements for ordered binding of the Sm proteins and the U snRNAs to the SMN complex. Importantly, the SMN complex is necessary to ensure that Sm cores assemble only on correct RNA targets and prevent their otherwise promiscuous association with other RNAs. Thus, the SMN complex functions as a specificity factor essential for the efficient assembly of Sm proteins on U snRNAs and likely protects cells from illicit, and potentially deleterious, nonspecific binding of Sm proteins to RNAs.     

The crystal structure of human Argonaute2

Argonaute proteins form the functional core of the RNA-induced silencing complexes that mediate RNA silencing in eukaryotes. The 2.3 angstrom resolution crystal structure of human Argonaute2 (Ago2) reveals a bilobed molecule with a central cleft for binding guide and target RNAs. Nucleotides 2 to 6 of a heterogeneous mixture of guide RNAs are positioned in an A-form conformation for base pairing with target messenger RNAs. Between nucleotides 6 and 7, there is a kink that may function in microRNA target recognition or release of sliced RNA products. Tandem tryptophan-binding pockets in the PIWI domain define a likely interaction surface for recruitment of glycine-tryptophan-182 (GW182) or other tryptophan-rich cofactors. These results will enable structure-based approaches for harnessing the untapped therapeutic potential of RNA silencing in humans.     

绿色荧光蛋白基因在植病研究中的应用

综述了绿色荧光蛋白基因在植物病害研究中的应用及进展。重点分析了绿色荧光蛋白基因在病原菌的检测、侵染与定殖、致病基因的表达及构建抗性植株的筛选中的应用,提出了绿色荧光蛋白基因在应用中存在的问题以及在植物病害研究领域展现出的巨大潜力。     

ApoB RNA编辑高效蛋白检测体系的构建

[目的]建立一个载脂蛋白B(apoB)RNA编辑蛋白检测体系。[方法]在慢病毒表达质粒载体pCSII-CMV-IRES-Neor中插入apoB RNA编辑保守序列,并在其2端嵌入红色荧光蛋白(DsRed)、绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)表达序列,以此慢病载体转染大鼠肝癌细胞系CBRH-7919获得稳定表达。采用共聚焦显微镜测序方法检测apoB RNA的编辑。[结果]目的指示基因能够在CBRH-7919细胞中稳定表达,表现出指征RNA编辑的多色特征。[结论]试验成功构建了在细胞水平上以颜色变化指示apoB RNA编辑的检测体系,该体系为快速检测以apoB RNA编辑为靶的降胆固醇药物筛选提供了基础。     

人H1启动子转录shRNA的细胞种属特异性研究

利用siDirect软件预测绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因特异性小干扰RNA(siRNA),将人工合成的相应shRNA插入含人H1启动子的pSuper载体,获得表达载体pSuper-shRNA,再将H1-shRNA插入表达GFP基因的peGFP-N1载体,获得表达载体peGFP-H1-shRNA。分别以pSuper-shRNA peGFP-N1和peGFP-H1-shRNA转染COS-1、293-T、鸡胚肝(CEL)和鸡胚成纤维(CEF)细胞,根据相同条件下GFP阳性细胞数及荧光强度变化判断产生的siRNA对GFP基因表达的沉默作用,比较人H1启动子在哺乳动物和禽源细胞中的转录活性。结果表明:人H1启动子在2种哺乳动物细胞中能有效转录shRNA,但在2种禽源细胞中的转录活性很弱,提示在禽源细胞中表达siRNA和进行基因沉默研究应选用禽源启动子。     

Chiral-selective aminoacylation of an RNA minihelix

Amino acids in natural proteins have a chiral, asymmetric center at the alpha carbon that is of the L-configuration. The sugar backbone of natural RNAs are also homochiral, but of the D-configuration. Because protein synthesis requires the aminoacylation of RNA, it is this step that could have provided chiral selectivity. Here we show that an RNA minihelix was aminoacylated by an aminoacyl-phosphate-D-oligonucleotide with a clear preference for L- as opposed to D-amino acids. A mirror-image RNA system showed the opposite selectivity. These results suggest the possibility that the selection of L-amino acids for proteins was determined by the stereochemistry of RNA.     

Serine-7 of the RNA polymerase II CTD is specifically required for snRNA gene expression

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes genes that encode proteins and noncoding small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of mammalian RNA Pol II, comprising tandem repeats of the heptapeptide consensus Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7, is required for expression of both gene types. We show that mutation of serine-7 to alanine causes a specific defect in snRNA gene expression. We also present evidence that phosphorylation of serine-7 facilitates interaction with the snRNA gene-specific Integrator complex. These findings assign a biological function to this amino acid and highlight a gene type-specific requirement for a residue within the CTD heptapeptide, supporting the existence of a CTD code.     

The Piwi-piRNA pathway provides an adaptive defense in the transposon arms race

Increasingly complex networks of small RNAs act through RNA-interference (RNAi) pathways to regulate gene expression, to mediate antiviral responses, to organize chromosomal domains, and to restrain the spread of selfish genetic elements. Historically, RNAi has been defined as a response to double-stranded RNA. However, some small RNA species may not arise from double-stranded RNA precursors. Yet, like microRNAs and small interfering RNAs, such species guide Argonaute proteins to silencing targets through complementary base-pairing. Silencing can be achieved by corecruitment of accessory factors or through the activity of Argonaute itself, which often has endonucleolytic activity. As a specific and adaptive regulatory system, RNAi is used throughout eukarya, which indicates a long evolutionary history. A likely function of RNAi throughout that history is to protect the genome from both pathogenic and parasitic invaders.     

非洲绿猴肾细胞外源绿色荧光蛋白基因表达的RNA干扰

非洲绿猴肾细胞(Vero)是多种病毒的适应细胞。本研究将外源的绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因转染到Veto-E6中,并利用体外转录合成的绿荧光蛋白短双链干扰RNA(siGFP)其表达进行干扰。结果显示：siGFP能有效阻断外源的绿色荧光蛋白基因在Vero-E6细胞中的表达,而不相关的siRNA则对绿荧光蛋白基因的表达没有影响。这为利用RNAi技术在Vero-E6细胞中,抑制外源基因的表达以及通过RNAi技术进行抗病毒的研究奠定了一定的基础。     

南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒S6编码一个沉默抑制子

 【目的】分析南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒（SRBSDV）基因组S6编码的SP6蛋白的抑制子活性,明确SRBSDV是否编码RNA沉默抑制子来干扰植物的沉默。【方法】将分别含有SP6与GFP质粒的农杆菌共浸润转GFP基因的16c本氏烟纯合系,观察SP6对局部沉默和系统沉默的抑制作用;将含有SP6,GFP和dsGFP质粒的农杆菌三者共浸润,观察SP6对由dsRNA引起的沉默的抑制作用;在同一植株不同部位接种GFP和SP6,观察SP6对RNA沉默信号传导的影响;通过马铃薯X病毒（Potato virus X,PVX）在本氏烟上表达SP6,观察SP6是否能增强PVX的致病性。【结果】SP6能抑制由GFP正义RNA介导的沉默,但其抑制作用较弱,仅能延缓局部沉默和系统沉默的产生。SP6能灭活RNA沉默信号,阻止沉默信号的长距离传导,回复GFP的沉默,但不能抑制由dsRNA引起的沉默。利用PVX在本氏烟上表达SP6能增强PVX的致病性。【结论】SP6是病毒编码的RNA沉默抑制子,在RNA沉默的起始和信号传导阶段起作用。     

Argonaute2 is the catalytic engine of mammalian RNAi

Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) is carried out by RISC, the RNA-induced silencing complex. RISC contains two signature components, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Argonaute family proteins. Here, we show that the multiple Argonaute proteins present in mammals are both biologically and biochemically distinct, with a single mammalian family member, Argonaute2, being responsible for messenger RNA cleavage activity. This protein is essential for mouse development, and cells lacking Argonaute2 are unable to mount an experimental response to siRNAs. Mutations within a cryptic ribonuclease H domain within Argonaute2, as identified by comparison with the structure of an archeal Argonaute protein, inactivate RISC. Thus, our evidence supports a model in which Argonaute contributes "Slicer" activity to RISC, providing the catalytic engine for RNAi.