Riboswitches in eubacteria sense the second messenger cyclic di-GMP

Cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (di-GMP) is a circular RNA dinucleotide that functions as a second messenger in diverse species of bacteria to trigger wide-ranging physiological changes, including cell differentiation, conversion between motile and biofilm lifestyles, and virulence gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which cyclic di-GMP regulates gene expression have remained a mystery. We found that cyclic di-GMP in many bacterial species is sensed by a riboswitch class in messenger RNA that controls the expression of genes involved in numerous fundamental cellular processes. A variety of cyclic di-GMP regulons are revealed, including some riboswitches associated with virulence gene expression, pilus formation, and flagellum biosynthesis. In addition, sequences matching the consensus for cyclic di-GMP riboswitches are present in the genome of a bacteriophage.     

A glycine-dependent riboswitch that uses cooperative binding to control gene expression

We identified a previously unknown riboswitch class in bacteria that is selectively triggered by glycine. A representative of these glycine-sensing RNAs from Bacillus subtilis operates as a rare genetic on switch for the gcvT operon, which codes for proteins that form the glycine cleavage system. Most glycine riboswitches integrate two ligand-binding domains that function cooperatively to more closely approximate a two-state genetic switch. This advanced form of riboswitch may have evolved to ensure that excess glycine is efficiently used to provide carbon flux through the citric acid cycle and maintain adequate amounts of the amino acid for protein synthesis. Thus, riboswitches perform key regulatory roles and exhibit complex performance characteristics that previously had been observed only with protein factors.     

Heterochromatin and epigenetic control of gene expression

Eukaryotic DNA is organized into structurally distinct domains that regulate gene expression and chromosome behavior. Epigenetically heritable domains of heterochromatin control the structure and expression of large chromosome domains and are required for proper chromosome segregation. Recent studies have identified many of the enzymes and structural proteins that work together to assemble heterochromatin. The assembly process appears to occur in a stepwise manner involving sequential rounds of histone modification by silencing complexes that spread along the chromatin fiber by self-oligomerization, as well as by association with specifically modified histone amino-terminal tails. Finally, an unexpected role for noncoding RNAs and RNA interference in the formation of epigenetic chromatin domains has been uncovered.     

Heterologous expression of excitability proteins: route to more specific drugs?

Many clinically important drugs act on the intrinsic membrane proteins (ion channels, receptors, and ion pumps) that control cell excitability. A major goal of pharmacology has been to develop drugs that are more specific for a particular subtype of excitability molecule. DNA cloning has revealed that many excitability proteins are encoded by multigene families and that the diversity of previously recognized pharmacological subtypes is matched, and probably surpassed, by the diversity of messenger RNAs that encode excitability molecules. In general, the diverse subtypes retain their properties when the excitability proteins are expressed in foreign cells such as oocytes and mammalian cell lines. Such heterologous expression may therefore become a tool for testing drugs against specific subtypes. In a systematic research program to exploit this possibility, major considerations include alternative processing of messenger RNA for excitability proteins, coupling to second-messenger systems, and expression of enough protein to provide material for structural studies.     

Identifi cation of micro RNAs in two species of tomato,Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum habrochaites,by deep sequencing

Micro RNAs(mi RNAs) are ~21 nucleotide(nt), endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression in plants. Increasing evidence suggests that mi RNAs play an important role in species-specific development in plants. However, the detailed mi RNA profile divergence has not been performed among tomato species. In this study, the small RNA(s RNA) profiles of Solanum lycopersicum cultivar 9706 and Solanum habrochaites species PI 134417 were obtained by deep sequencing. Sixty-three known mi RNA families were identified from these two species, of which 39 were common. Further mi RNA profile comparison showed that 24 known non-conserved mi RNA families were species-specific between these two tomato species. In addition, six conserved mi RNA families displayed an apparent divergent expression pattern between the two tomato species. Our results suggested that species-specific, non-conserved mi RNAs and divergent expression of conserved mi RNAs might contribute to developmental changes and phenotypic variation between the two tomato species. Twenty new mi RNAs were also identified in S. lycopersicum. This research significantly increases the number of known mi RNA families in tomato and provides the first set of small RNAs in S. habrochaites. It also suggests that mi RNAs have an important role in species-specific plant developmental regulation.     

Complex riboswitches

Using simple biochemical tricks, metabolite-binding riboswitches take on gene control functions that have long been thought to be the work of protein factors. Although modern riboswitches might be the last holdouts of primitive genetic elements, some are capable of sensory and regulatory feats that are competitive with their protein counterparts.     

植物转基因抗性策略研究进展

通过转基因技术使植物获得抗病性是控制植物病毒感染的一种重要技术途径。RNA干扰技术的出现为植物转基因抗性策略的研究提供了新思路。植物转基因抗性产生方法主要是通过表达不同的病毒蛋白(外壳蛋白、复制蛋白、运动蛋白及其他病毒蛋白)、RNAs(反义RNA、卫星RNA、缺陷干扰RNA、发夹RNA及人工微小RNA)、非病毒基因(核酸酶、抗病毒蛋白抑制子及植物体)、宿主来源的抗性基因(显性抗性基因和隐性抗性基因)及各种宿主防御反应因子等。介绍了以上几种抗性策略并分析了目前尚存在的问题,以期为植物转基因抗性策略研究的学者提供参考。     

Sindbis virus: an efficient, broad host range vector for gene expression in animal cells

Sindbis virus, an enveloped virus with a single-stranded RNA genome, was engineered to express a bacterial protein, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), in cultured insect, avian, and mammalian cells. The vectors were self-replicating and gene expression was efficient and rapid; up to 10(8) CAT polypeptides were produced per infected cell in 16 to 20 hours. CAT expression could be made temperature-sensitive by means of a derivative that incorporated a temperature-sensitive mutation in viral RNA synthesis. Vector genomic RNAs were packaged into infectious particles when Sindbis helper virus was used to supply virion structural proteins. The vector RNAs were stable to at least seven cycles of infection. The expression of CAT increased about 10(3)-fold, despite a 10(15)-fold dilution during the passaging. Sindbis virus vectors should prove useful for expressing large quantities of gene products in a variety of animal cells.     

Role of microRNAs in plant and animal development

Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), are key components of an evolutionarily conserved system of RNA-based gene regulation in eukaryotes. They are involved in many molecular interactions, including defense against viruses and regulation of gene expression during development. miRNAs interfere with expression of messenger RNAs encoding factors that control developmental timing, stem cell maintenance, and other developmental and physiological processes in plants and animals. miRNAs are negative regulators that function as specificity determinants, or guides, within complexes that inhibit protein synthesis (animals) or promote degradation (plants) of mRNA targets.     

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.     

小果野蕉microRNAs及其靶基因的生物信息学预测

通过基于表达序列标签（EST）、基因组勘测序列（GSS）和高通量测序基因组序列（HTGS）的同源序列比对搜索,以及一系列的标准筛选,最终预测到属于8个家族的10条小果野蕉miRNAs。在线软件psRNATarget预测到24对miRNAs与靶基因的互作,这些靶基因主要参与小果野蕉的新陈代谢、生长发育以及胁迫响应等过程。     

三种绿化树种叶片中氟含量的累积

[目的]筛选对氟污染抗性强的绿化树种。[方法]采集化肥厂周围柳树、松树及榆树的树叶,用氟离子选择电极法测定叶片中氟含量,了解不同树种对氟的富集累积情况。[结果]用高氯酸浸提法提取并用标准曲线回归方程计算的柳树、松树及榆树叶片中氟含量分别为13.38、14.31、15.32 mg/kg,硝酸-氢氧化钠浸提法的柳树、松树及榆树叶片中氟含量分别为11.90、13.28、14.40 mg/kg。试验加标回收率是97%~103%,相对标准偏差是4.19%,表明该方法测定氟含量准确性高,达到质控要求。[结论]3种绿化植物氟的富集能力大小为榆树>松树>柳树。     

Developmentally regulated piRNA clusters implicate MILI in transposon control

Nearly half of the mammalian genome is composed of repeated sequences. In Drosophila, Piwi proteins exert control over transposons. However, mammalian Piwi proteins, MIWI and MILI, partner with Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) that are depleted of repeat sequences, which raises questions about a role for mammalian Piwi's in transposon control. A search for murine small RNAs that might program Piwi proteins for transposon suppression revealed developmentally regulated piRNA loci, some of which resemble transposon master control loci of Drosophila. We also find evidence of an adaptive amplification loop in which MILI catalyzes the formation of piRNA 5' ends. Mili mutants derepress LINE-1 (L1) and intracisternal A particle and lose DNA methylation of L1 elements, demonstrating an evolutionarily conserved role for PIWI proteins in transposon suppression.     

氟对体外培养成骨细胞骨钙素基因表达的调控

 【目的】探讨氟对成骨细胞骨钙素(OCN)基因表达的影响。【方法】应用酶消化法分离初生小鼠头盖骨成骨细胞,取第3代成骨细胞,加入不同浓度（0～10-3mol?L-1）氟化钠,提取细胞总RNA,通过实时荧光定量PCR方法,观察成骨细胞OCN基因表达的变化。【结果】各浓度NaF均能刺激体外培养成骨细胞OCN基因的表达呈剂量依赖关系,当浓度为5×10-4mol?L-1时OCN基因表达量的增加最为明显,约为对照组的30倍。【结论】各浓度的NaF均能在基因水平刺激OCN的表达,OCN在氟中毒所致的骨相损害中起着重要的作用。