Identification and characterisation of microRNAs and Piwi-interacting RNAs in cockerels’ spermatozoa by Solexa sequencing

1. There has been substantial research focused on the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) derived from mammalian spermatozoa; however, comparatively little is known about the role of spermatozoa-derived miRNAs and piRNAs within breeding cockerels’ spermatozoa.

2. A small RNA library of cockerels’ spermatozoa was constructed using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. Unique sequences with lengths of 18–26 nucleotides were mapped to miRBase 21.0 and unique sequences with lengths of 25–37 nucleotides were mapped to a piRNA database. A total of 1311 miRNAs and 2448 potential piRNAs were identified. Based on stem-loop qRT-PCR, 8 miRNAs were validated.

3. Potential target genes of the abundant miRNAs were predicted, and further Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were performed, which revealed that some candidate miRNAs were involved in the spermatogenesis process, spermatozoa epigenetic programming and further embryonic development.

5. GO and KEGG analyses based on mapping genes of expressed piRNAs were performed, which revealed that spermatozoal piRNAs could play important regulatory roles in embryonic development of offspring.

6. The search for endogenous spermatozoa miRNAs and piRNAs will contribute to a preliminary database for functional and molecular mechanistic studies in embryonic development and spermatozoa epigenetic programming.     

Differential gene expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP with high or low number of embryos in pigs during implantation

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether mRNA and protein expressions of implantation‐related genes (erythropoietin‐producing hepatocellular receptor–ligand A1, Eph‐ephrin A1 and leptin receptor–leptin, LEPR‐LEP) differed between pigs with high and low number of embryos, and whether these differences in gene expression might affect embryo implantation. Experimental pig groups (n = 24) for high and low number of embryos were prepared by altering the number of eggs ovulated in pre‐pubertal gilts treated with 1.5 × (High) or 1.0 × (Low) PG600 ([400 IU PMSG + 200 IU hCG]/dose, AKZO‐NOBEL). Gilts expressing oestrus were artificially inseminated twice and maintained in breeding and gestation until the reproductive tract was collected on day 22 of pregnancy. At slaughter, the reproductive tracts from each pregnant gilt from each treatment were immediately processed to collect samples for RNA and protein analysis. Within each gilt, three conceptus points were sampled, one from each horn and then a random conceptus within the tract. At each conceptus point, endometrial attachment site, chorion–allantois and embryo were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Number of corpus luteum (CL) (35.4 vs. 12.6) and total embryo number (18.8 vs. 10.2) were greater in the high‐embryo compared to the low‐embryo group, respectively (p < .05). Real‐time qPCR results showed that Eph‐ephrin A1 mRNA expression was less in the high‐embryo (p < .05) compared to the low‐embryo group. In addition, Western blotting analysis indicated that Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEP protein expression at endometrial attachment site in high‐embryo was less (p < .05) compared to low‐embryo group. It was also noted that mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP was greater in pregnant than non‐pregnant gilts (p < .05). Moreover, mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 (p < .05) and LEPR‐LEP was greatest at endometrial attachment site among all three tissues. There was a positive correlation between expressions of Eph‐ephrin A1, LEPR‐LEP and embryo length with the correlation coefficient 0.31–0.59. For Eph‐ephrin A1, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between Eph A1 expression and normal embryo number, between ephrin A1 expression and embryo length. For LEPR‐LEP, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between LEPR‐LEP expression and ovary weight (0.79 for both, p < .05), followed by embryo length and weight. The results of this study suggest that low expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP is somehow related to increased embryo number during implantation and that endometrial attachment site might be the main target tissue of these gene products. Yet, the increased expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP appeared associated with increased embryo growth (length and weight) and ovary weight, Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP might play roles in the regulation of embryo implantation in pigs.     

Effects of five cryoprotectants on proliferation and differentiation‐related gene expression of frozen‐thawed bovine calf testicular tissue

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is a potential method for preserving male fertility. However, the effect of cryopreservation on bovine calf testicular tissue is scarce. This study investigated the effect of different cryoprotectants on bovine calf testicular tissue at the molecular level. Testicular tissue from ten immature bovine calves (6 months) was collected after slaughter and cryopreserved in an extender containing different concentrations of the following five cryopreservation solutions (CP): bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), trehalose with 5% DMSO, DMSO and glycerol and ethylene glycol (EG). After 7‐day cryopreservation, the expression levels of three spermatogonial stem cell (SSC)‐related genes, octamer‐4 (OCT4), KIT ligand (MGF/SCF) and kit oncogene (C‐KIT), were investigated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The cell viability was highest for the tissues preserved with 30 mg/ml BSA (77.82% ± 1.22) and 40 mg/ml trehalose (74.23% ± 1.16) compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and the level of expression of the three genes was highest with 30 mg/ml BSA (p < 0.05). Compared with other CPs, the 30 mg/ml BSA and 40 mg/ml trehalose have the better cryopreserve protection. The 30 mg/ml BSA is the most viable media for the cryopreservation of testicular tissue from cattle.     

Identification of organic acid-related genes and their expression profiles in two pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivars with difference in predominant acid type at fruit ripening stage

‘Yandangxueli’ is a pear cultivar with predominant citric acid in the ripe fruit, different from most of pear cultivars such as ‘Gengtouqing’ in which malic acid is the predominant acid type. It was found that ‘Yandangxueli’ accumulated citric acid for three times against that in ‘Gengtouqing’ at fruit ripening stage. To investigate the mechanism of citric acid accumulation in ‘Yandangxueli’, organic acids content, gene expression and enzyme activity were studied in both cultivars. Five genes, Pp:mtCs, Pp:cyAco, Pp:cyIdh, Pp:mtMdh and Pp:cyMe which encoded citric synthase (CS), cytosolic aconitase (cyACO), NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH), NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-MDH) and NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME) respectively, were identified from pear fruit. Their expression profiles and the corresponding enzyme activities were determined throughout fruit development in both cultivars. Results from these enzymes indicated that there were no strict relationship between gene expression, enzyme activity and citric acid accumulation. Expression analysis for two Py:vVAtp genes encoding vacuolar H⁺-ATPase A subunit and one Py:vVpp gene encoding Vacuolar H⁺-pyrophosphatase showed that they were all with up-regulated expression at the later development stage of ‘Yandangxueli’ but with down-regulated expression in ‘Gengtouqing’. Therefore, it is concluded that the different ability in citric acid transportation and storage might be involved in the high citric acid content in ‘Yandangxueli’.     

花生抗黄曲霉相关基因PnLOX2的原核表达及RNAi载体的构建与转化

本研究对利用基因芯片技术从抗、感黄曲霉花生品种中分离出的差异表达基因PnLOX2进行原核表达,得到分子量为121.5 kD的融合表达产物;构建了PnLOX2基因的3'端反向重复结构并转化花生,得到了转基因花生苗,为反向鉴定PnLOX2基因在花生抗黄曲霉侵染过程中的功能奠定基础。     

青花菜锌指蛋白基因BoCCCH1的克隆和表达分析

CCCH锌指蛋白广泛存在于真核生物中,在植物的生长、发育和逆境胁迫响应中起着重要作用。为获知青花菜CCCH转录因子基因的序列特征和表达特性,从青花菜叶片中克隆到1个CCCH基因,命名为Bo CCCH1,同时,利用RT-PCR方法研究了其在不同器官及霜霉菌侵染叶片中的表达模式。序列分析结果表明,Bo CCCH1的基因组全长为1 568 bp,包含1个长度为599 bp的内含子,2个长度分别为627 bp、342 bp的外显子,编码322个氨基酸,蛋白质的分子量与等电点分别为35 296.42 Da和8.47;Bo CCCH1有2个锌指结构,类型均为C-X8-C-X5-C-X3-H。系统发育分析结果表明,Bo CCCH1与其它植物的21条同源序列在进化树上分为6组,来自十字花科的CCCH与Bo CCCH1处于同一分支。基因表达结果表明,Bo CCCH1在叶、花茎、嫩角果、花蕾和花中表达,其中花茎和嫩角果的表达量最高,但在根中未检测到表达;在霜霉菌侵染下,叶片Bo CCCH1的表达量升高,到24 h和36 h时达到最大,推测Bo CCCH1与霜霉病抗性相关。本研究为进一步探明Bo CCCH1在霜霉病抗性反应中的功能奠定了基础。     

Cloning of Buffalo BMP1 Gene and its Expression Pattern Investigation in Different Tissues

Buffalo BMP1 gene was cloned in the present study, the BMP1 sequence was systemically analysed by bioinformatics techniques, and the expression level of BMP1 gene in different tissues were also assayed with Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR).The results showed that with RT-PCR a 3 195 bp buffalo BMP1 gene was cloned and sequenced, including the whole ORF of 2 967 bp (coding 988 amino acid).The sequence multialigned results showed that buffalo BMP1 gene shared 99%, 96%, 96%, 96% and 95% of similar amino acid sequence with Bos taurus, Sus scrofa, Equus, Homa sapiens and Mus musclus, respectively.It was predicted that buffalo BMP1 protein contained a signal peptide domain, a preregion, a metalloproteinases domain, five complement-Uegf-BMP-1 domain (CUB domain) and two epitheloid growth factor-like domain (EGF-like domain).In addition, we also analyzed the expression level in different tissues through QRT-PCR, the results showed that BMP1 gene mRNA existed in all nine tissues with the most abundant expression in heart, followed by testis, ovary, genital ridge, while with lower amount of bone and other tissues, the minimal expression in liver was observed.     

miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期的表达及其生物信息学分析与靶基因预测

为探究miR-18a-5p在鸡不同生长时期组织表达变化规律及其生物信息学特点,本研究以苏禽3号鸡为试验动物,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测不同生长时期鸡miR-18a-5p的组织表达变化。通过文献和miRBase检索脊椎动物的miR-18a-5p序列,利用Ensembl数据库确定miR-18a-5p在基因组中的位置,根据成熟序列构建系统进化树;使用miRmap、microT、miRanda和TargetScan网站预测miR-18a-5p靶基因,并进行GO和KEGG分析。组织表达分析结果显示,miR-18a-5p序列在鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏和下丘脑中的表达量显著高于除大脑以外的其他组织(P<0.05)。与3日龄雏鸡相比,90日龄鸡心脏、脾脏、肾脏、腿肌和下丘脑中miR-18a-5p的表达量均显著上升(P<0.05)。在50种脊椎动物中共发现52条miR-18a-5p序列,几乎所有物种都只有1条成熟序列;基因定位分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p位于1号染色体上的基因间隔区。多序列比对分析表明,不同物种miR-18a-5p的成熟序列同源性较高,物种间较为保守。系统进化树分析发现,鸡miR-18a-5p与原鸽、斑胸草雀等其他鸟类聚为一类,这表明miR-18a-5p进化过程中是保守的。靶基因预测和功能分析发现,miR-18a-5p共有121个靶基因。GO分析结果显示,靶基因主要富集到蛋白质泛素化、细胞周期阻滞、白细胞介素-6产生的负调控等功能。KEGG 通路分析表明,靶基因主要富集到细胞周期及Wnt和FoxO信号通路等。多个与肌肉生长及细胞增殖等相关的基因富集到相关通路之上。综上,鸡miR-18a-5p是组织广泛表达的miRNA,其可能通过Wnt及FoxO信号通路调控肌肉生长及细胞增殖分化。本研究为miR-18a-5p功能及调控机制的深入研究提供参考依据。