Vernalization-mediated epigenetic silencing by a long intronic noncoding RNA

Vernalization is an environmentally-induced epigenetic switch in which winter cold triggers epigenetic silencing of floral repressors and thus provides competence to flower in spring. In Arabidopsis, winter cold triggers enrichment of tri-methylated histone H3 Lys(27) at chromatin of the floral repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), and results in epigenetically stable repression of FLC. This epigenetic change is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved repressive complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Here, we show that a long intronic noncoding RNA [termed COLD ASSISTED INTRONIC NONCODING RNA (COLDAIR)] is required for the vernalization-mediated epigenetic repression of FLC. COLDAIR physically associates with a component of PRC2 and targets PRC2 to FLC. Our results show that COLDAIR is required for establishing stable repressive chromatin at FLC through its interaction with PRC2.     

不同生态型拟南芥FLC基因的序列分析

[目的]对拟南芥春化作用相关基因FLC的序列分析。[方法]先期经过对拟南芥自然群体的春化反应的QTL分析,发现拟南芥5号染色体上有一个与开花有关的QTL,本实验就是运用序列分析确定它与FLC基因是否具有同源性。[结果]意大利拟南芥与瑞典拟南芥在第27位、第461位、第501位、第638位、第738位、第884位碱基上不同。虽然这些碱基有所不同,但是密码子编码出来的第9个氨基酸、第167个氨基酸、第246个氨基酸,由于密码子的简并性,编码的蛋白质均相同。[结论]拟南芥具有丰富的遗传多样性,其FLC基因序列长度高度保守、碱基变异位点丰富密码子的简并性它们均编码同一种氨基酸对拟南芥生长没有影响。这表明拟南芥的基因序列会受到环境的影响。     

Role of histone H3 lysine 27 methylation in Polycomb-group silencing

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins play important roles in maintaining the silent state of HOX genes. Recent studies have implicated histone methylation in long-term gene silencing. However, a connection between PcG-mediated gene silencing and histone methylation has not been established. Here we report the purification and characterization of an EED-EZH2 complex, the human counterpart of the Drosophila ESC-E(Z) complex. We demonstrate that the complex specifically methylates nucleosomal histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3-K27). Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we show that H3-K27 methylation colocalizes with, and is dependent on, E(Z) binding at an Ultrabithorax (Ubx) Polycomb response element (PRE), and that this methylation correlates with Ubx repression. Methylation on H3-K27 facilitates binding of Polycomb (PC), a component of the PRC1 complex, to histone H3 amino-terminal tail. Thus, these studies establish a link between histone methylation and PcG-mediated gene silencing.     

孕鼠DEHP暴露影响胎儿早期卵母细胞H3K27me3表达的研究

本文以胎鼠卵母细胞为研究对象,分析了妊娠母鼠孕期暴露邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基)己酯(DEHP)对胎鼠卵母细胞早期发育过程中组蛋白甲基化修饰程度的影响,结果发现:妊娠母鼠在12.5 dpc到16.5 dpc 期间暴露40 μg/kg DEHP,第一次减数分裂前期的胎鼠雌性生殖细胞的H3K27me3表达受到了显著影响,导致H3K27me3强阳性细胞比例显著减少.该研究结果说明DEHP可通过孕鼠影响胎鼠卵母细胞早期发育过程中的组蛋白甲基化修饰.     

AT-hook基因AHL27过量表达延迟拟南芥开花

拟南芥中有29个被称为AHL的蛋白质 (AT-hook motif nuclear localized protein),但是大多数AT-hook蛋白的功能未知,其中AHL27蛋白含有一个AT-hook基序和一个PPC结构域。AHL27在不同器官的mRNA表达和GUS 组织化学染色分析表明,AHL27主要在根和花中表达;GFP-AHL27亚细胞定位显示AHL27蛋白是一个核定位蛋白。AHL27基因的过量表达,可抑制开花基因FT的表达,同时促进FLC的表达,从而延迟拟南芥在长日和短日条件下的开花时间。研究表明,AHL27基因在拟南芥的生长发育中起重要作用。     

萝卜属抽薹开花相关基因FLC的预测及分析

以控制拟南芥春化途径的关键基因FLC全长CDS为参考序列,在萝卜属(Raphanus) EST数据库中进行BLASTN检索,得到具备Score≥100、E value≤10-10和coverage ≥70%条件的70条萝卜ESTs作为候选的拟南芥FLC基因的同源ESTs,并进行序列聚类拼接、注释及分析。结果显示: 在普通萝卜和野生萝卜中各发现两个旁系同源基因(RsFLCa和RsFLCb及RrFLCa和RrFLCb)。RFLCs与拟南芥FLC间在核酸水平上的一致性为787%～869%;RFLCs旁系同源基因间的一致性为759%～934%;RFLCs与芸薹属FLC直系同源基因间的一致性绝大多数维持在85%以上,且高于与拟南芥直系同源基因间的一致性。系统进化分析发现,与白菜、甘蓝及甘蓝型油菜中FLC多拷贝产生的机制可能类似,萝卜属FLC基因的多拷贝现象可能也是伴随萝卜基因组的多倍化而产生的。     

RNAi-independent heterochromatin nucleation by the stress-activated ATF/CREB family proteins

At the silent mating-type interval of fission yeast, the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery cooperates with cenH, a DNA element homologous to centromeric repeats, to initiate heterochromatin formation. However, in RNAi mutants, heterochromatin assembly can still occur at low efficiency. Here, we report that Atf1 and Pcr1, two ATF/CREB family proteins, act in a parallel mechanism to the RNAi pathway for heterochromatin nucleation. Deletion of atf1 or pcr1 alone has little effect on silencing at the mating-type region, but when combined with RNAi mutants, double mutants fail to nucleate heterochromatin assembly. Moreover, deletion of atf1 or pcr1 in combination with cenH deletion causes loss of silencing and heterochromatin formation. Furthermore, Atf1 and Pcr1 bind to the mating-type region and target histone H3 lysine-9 methylation and the Swi6 protein essential for heterochromatin assembly. These analyses link ATF/CREB family proteins, involved in cellular response to environmental stresses, to nucleation of constitutive heterochromatin.     

Polycomb proteins targeted by a short repeat RNA to the mouse X chromosome

To equalize X-chromosome dosages between the sexes, the female mammal inactivates one of her two X chromosomes. X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is initiated by expression of Xist, a 17-kb noncoding RNA (ncRNA) that accumulates on the X in cis. Because interacting factors have not been isolated, the mechanism by which Xist induces silencing remains unknown. We discovered a 1.6-kilobase ncRNA (RepA) within Xist and identified the Polycomb complex, PRC2, as its direct target. PRC2 is initially recruited to the X by RepA RNA, with Ezh2 serving as the RNA binding subunit. The antisense Tsix RNA inhibits this interaction. RepA depletion abolishes full-length Xist induction and trimethylation on lysine 27 of histone H3 of the X. Likewise, PRC2 deficiency compromises Xist up-regulation. Therefore, RepA, together with PRC2, is required for the initiation and spread of XCI. We conclude that a ncRNA cofactor recruits Polycomb complexes to their target locus.     

不同生态型拟南芥FLC基因的序列分析

[目的]研究拟南芥春化作用相关基因FLC的序列。[方法]对拟南芥自然群体的春化反应进行QTL分析,发现拟南芥5号染色体上有一个与开花有关的QTL,再运用序列分析确定它与FLC基因的同源性。[结果]意大利拟南芥与瑞典拟南芥在第27、461、501、638、738、884位碱基上不同。但密码子编码的第9、167、246个氨基酸由于密码子的简并性,编码的蛋白质均相同。[结论]拟南芥具有丰富的遗传多样性,由于FLC基因序列长度高度保守、碱基变异位点丰富密码子的简并性,它们均编码同一种氨基酸,对拟南芥生长没有影响。     

Role of histone H3 lysine 27 methylation in X inactivation

The Polycomb group (PcG) protein Eed is implicated in regulation of imprinted X-chromosome inactivation in extraembryonic cells but not of random X inactivation in embryonic cells. The Drosophila homolog of the Eed-Ezh2 PcG protein complex achieves gene silencing through methylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3-K27), which suggests a role for H3-K27 methylation in imprinted X inactivation. Here we demonstrate that transient recruitment of the Eed-Ezh2 complex to the inactive X chromosome (Xi) occurs during initiation of X inactivation in both extraembryonic and embryonic cells and is accompanied by H3-K27 methylation. Recruitment of the complex and methylation on the Xi depend on Xist RNA but are independent of its silencing function. Together, our results suggest a role for Eed-Ezh2-mediated H3-K27 methylation during initiation of both imprinted and random X inactivation and demonstrate that H3-K27 methylation is not sufficient for silencing of the Xi.     

A histone acetyltransferase regulates active DNA demethylation in Arabidopsis

Active DNA demethylation is an important part of epigenetic regulation in plants and animals. How active DNA demethylation is regulated and its relationship with histone modification patterns are unclear. Here, we report the discovery of IDM1, a regulator of DNA demethylation in Arabidopsis. IDM1 is required for preventing DNA hypermethylation of highly homologous multicopy genes and other repetitive sequences that are normally targeted for active DNA demethylation by Repressor of Silencing 1 and related 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases. IDM1 binds methylated DNA at chromatin sites lacking histone H3K4 di- or trimethylation and acetylates H3 to create a chromatin environment permissible for 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases to function. Our study reveals how some genes are indicated by multiple epigenetic marks for active DNA demethylation and protection from silencing.     

CD-1小鼠海马H3K9三甲基化水平的年龄化改变 及其与认知功能改变的相关性研究

探讨年龄对CD-1小鼠海马组蛋白H3K9三甲基化(H3K9me3)含量的影响及其与空间学习记忆能力改变的相关性。结果发现,18月和12月龄鼠在放射状水迷宫中学习期和记忆期的潜伏期、错误数均高于6月龄鼠(P_s0.05);18月龄鼠学习期及记忆期的错误数还高于12月龄鼠(P_s0.05)。18月龄鼠海马DG和CA1区H3K9me3水平高于12月龄鼠(P_s0.05),12月龄鼠也高于6月龄鼠(P_s0.05)。DG和CA1区H3K9me3相对含量与学习期的潜伏期和错误数以及记忆期错误数呈正相关(P_s0.05),而CA3区H3K9me3相对含量与学习期和记忆期的错误数、潜伏期之间无明显相关性(P_s0.05)。以上结果提示,CD-1小鼠年龄相关空间学习记忆损害可能与海马组蛋白H3K9me3升高有关。     

Metastable phases in polar stratospheric aerosols

Phase changes in stratospheric aerosols were studied by cooling a droplet of sulfuric acid (H(2)SO(4)) in the presence of nitric acid (HNO(3)) and water vapor. A sequence of solid phases was observed to form that followed Ostwald's rule for phase nucleation. For stratospheric partial pressures at temperatures between 193 and 195 kelvin, a metastable ternary H(2)SO(4)-HNO(3) hydrate, H(2)SO(4) . HNO(3) . 5H(2)O, formed in coexistence with binary H(2)SO(4) . kH(2)O hydrates (k = 2, 3, and 4) and then transformed to nitric acid dihydrate, HNO(3) . 2H(2)O, within a few hours. Metastable HNO(3) . 2H(2)O always formed before stable nitric acid trihydrate, HNO(3).3H(2)O, under stratospheric conditions and persisted for long periods. The formation of metastable phases provides a mechanism for differential particle growth and sedimentation of HNO(3) from the polar winter stratosphere.     

FSH处理对猪颗粒细胞中类固醇合成酶基因的表达及其调控区组蛋白H3修饰的影响

【目的】研究FSH处理对猪卵巢颗粒细胞类固醇合成酶、垂体激素受体、凋亡相关等基因表达的影响及此过程中组蛋白H3修饰的变化情况。【方法】首先,采集猪卵巢组织并用注射器抽取方法收集卵泡颗粒细胞,用含血清体系体外培养颗粒细胞至贴壁,血清饥饿16h后用终浓度5IU·mL~(-1)的FSH处理24h,并收集细胞。其次,提取细胞m RNA,采用qRT-PCR方法检测类固醇合成酶(STAR、CYP11A1、HSD3B和CYP19A1)、垂体激素受体(FSHR和LHR)、凋亡相关基因(XIAP和Fas L)m RNA的表达变化,最后,相同处理后固定细胞,采用染色质免疫沉淀结合q PCR(Ch IP-q PCR)方法检测类固醇合成酶基因STAR、CYP19A1和HSD3B上游转录调控区组蛋白H3修饰(H3K4me2、H3K4me3、H3K9ac和H3K14ac)状况。【结果】5IU·mL~(-1)的FSH处理引起类固醇合成酶基因STAR、CYP19A1和HSD3B分别为2倍(P0.01)、2.8倍(P0.01)和3.6倍(P0.05)的显著上调,而CYP11A1表达水平没有显著变化;FSH处理对垂体激素受体FSHR、LHR和凋亡相关基因XIAP、Fas L影响不显著。在上调的三个类固醇合成酶基因中,HSD3B调控区组蛋白H3修饰变化最为显著,H3K4me2、H3K4me3、H3K9ac和H3K14ac结合分别有14.7倍(P0.01)、13.6倍(P0.01)、19.7(P0.01)倍和2.5倍(P0.05)的显著上调;STAR基因调控区的H3K9ac在处理后有11.1倍的显著下降(P0.05);CYP19A基因调控区的H3K4me3和H3K9ac分别有0.5倍的上调(P0.01)和10.4倍(P0.01)的下降,其余组蛋白修饰在处理前后没有显著变化。【结论】FSH处理24h对颗粒细胞类固醇合成酶基因转录有显著上调作用,对其转录过程有H3组蛋白修饰参与,组蛋白修饰模式具有基因特异性。垂体激素受体和凋亡相关基因的应答可能需要FSH和其他因素的联合作用。