Effects of histone hypomethylation induced by alcohol during pregnancy on overexpression of cardiomyogenesis genes offspring mice

AIM:To investigate the effects of histone methylation on the abnormal expression of cardiomyogenesis genes caused by alcohol during pregnancy and the regulatory mechanism, and to provide a new idea and intervention targets for preventing and curing congenital heart disease. METHODS:The alcohol (56%, 5 mL/kg) and G9a-histone methyltransferases (HMT) inhibitor BRD4770 (1 mg/kg) were given by gavage in Kunming mice during embryo (E) 0.5~14.5 d, and the hearts of the mice in E14.5, E16.5 and post neonatal 0.5 d (PND0.5) were collected. The mRNA expression of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC genes was detected by RT-qPCR. The activity of HMT was measured by colorimetry. Meanwhile, the protein expression of histone H3K9me3, G9a-HMT, Cx43 and β-MHC was determined by Western blot. RESULTS:The results of colorimetry showed that the activity of HMT in the heart of the offspring mice treated with alcohol during pregnancy was decreased significantly compared with normal saline group (P<0.05), and Western blot data showed that the expression of G9a-HMT and histone H3K9me3 were apparently decreased in the same samples (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC in alcohol group were apparently increased compared with normal saline group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the protein levels of Cx43 and β-MHC were increased significantly in the same samples (P<0.05). However, BRD4770, a G9a-HMT inhibitor, further attenuated the level of histone H3K9me3, and further upregulated the expression of Gata4, Cx43 and β-MHC in the heart of the the mice treated with alcohol (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Histone methylation modification imbalance induced by G9a-HMT may be involved in the abnormal expression of cardiomyogenesis genes in the heart of offspring mice caused by alcohol during pregnancy.     

Correlation of gene modification between histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation and DNA methylation in IgA nephropathy patients

AIM: To investigate the correlation of gene modification between histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) trimethylation and DNA methylation in IgA nephropathy patients. METHODS: H3K4 trimethylation variations were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 40 IgAN patients and 40 healthy controls by the method of chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays (ChIP-chip). ChIP real-time PCR was used to validate the microarray results. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to analyze mRNA expression. DNA methylation in 4 selected positive genes was analyzed by the method of methylated DNA immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (MeDIP-qPCR). RESULTS: IgAN patients displayed higher H3K4 trimethylation level and lower DNA methylation level than those of the healthy controls. There were significant differences in DNA methylation and H3K4 trimethylation of 4 selected genes between IgAN patients and the healthy controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our studies indicate that significant alterations of H3K4 trimethylation and DNA methylation exist in IgAN patients. There is a correlation of gene modification between DNA mathylation and histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation in IgAN patients.     

Effect of pollination on cell division,cell enlargement,and endogenous hormones in fruit development in a gynoecious cucumber

To study the effect of pollination on fruit development in gynoecious and parthenocarpic cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L. cv. NK × AN8), the number of cells, cell size, mitotic index, histone H4 gene expression, and concentrations of endogenous cytokinins and auxin were compared in fruits that had developed from pollinated and non-pollinated flowers. Fresh weight was more in the pollinated group 4–12 days after anthesis (DAA) in both winter and spring, and 2–6 DAA in the summer. In winter, mitotic index increased from anthesis to 2 DAA and then decreased gradually in the pollinated group but immediately after anthesis in the non-pollinated group. Histone H4 gene in the pericarp zone was expressed more strongly during the period from pre-anthesis to 2 DAA in the pollinated group in summer. Concentrations of zeatin, isopentenyladenine, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were higher in the non-pollinated group 2 and 4 DAA and peaked 4 DAA in spring whereas isopentenyladenine and IAA showed no distinct peaks in the pollinated group. These results are incompatible with the idea that pollination activates cell division by stimulating the synthesis of cytokinins and auxin in cucumber fruits.     

乙酰化处理对樟子松木材耐光性和热稳定性的影响

【目的】探讨乙酰化处理对人工林木材耐光性和热稳定性的影响,为木材颜色调控技术及高耐光染色木材的研发提供理论依据。【方法】以樟子松木粉为试样,加入乙酸酐和二甲苯溶液,在120℃条件下分别反应5,10,20,40,60 min,测试乙酰化处理时间对木粉增重率的影响;分别称取1 g经不同时间乙酰化处理的木粉和未处理木粉,置于 UV老化试验箱内辐射100 h,利用红外光谱分析 UV辐射前后乙酰化木粉化学官能团的变化,通过热重和扫描电镜分析乙酰化木粉的热稳定性及其形貌变化。【结果】随着乙酰化处理时间的延长,樟子松木粉的增重率呈现先增加后降低的趋势,在处理40 min 时木粉增重率最大;乙酰化木粉在1741 cm －1和1385 cm －1处的CO,C—H特征吸收峰强度均大于原木粉,处理时间40 min 时木粉的吸收峰强度最大;UV 辐射后,乙酰化木粉在1508 cm －1处木质素苯环特征吸收峰强度明显大于原木粉,处理时间40 min 时木粉的吸收峰强度最大,表明木粉经乙酰化处理后光稳定性得到提升;热重分析显示,经乙酰化处理后,木粉热分解所需的温度明显提高,表明乙酰化木粉的热稳定性好于原木粉;扫描电镜分析表明,乙酰化处理可增强木粉微观构造抵抗光劣化的能力。【结论】乙酰化处理能有效抑制樟子松木材的光降解反应并提升其热稳定性。     

Histone H4 Modification During Mouse Spermatogenesis

The core histone is composed of four proteins (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). Investigation of the modification patterns of histones is critical to understanding their roles in biological processes. Although histone modification is observed in multiple cells and tissues, little is known about its function in spermatogenesis. We focused on the modification patterns of histone H4 during murine spermatogenesis. We demonstrated that the individual N-terminal sites of H4 show different modification patterns during the differentiation of male germ cells. The methylation pattern varied depending on the residues that were mono-, di-, or tri-methylated. All the H4 modifications were high during the meiotic prophase, suggesting that histone H4 modification plays an important role during this stage of spermatogenesis. Elongating spermatids showed increased acetylation of histone H4, which may be associated with a histone-to-protamine substitution. Our results provide further insight into the specific relationship between histone H4 modification and gene expression during spermatogenesis, which could help to elucidate the epigenetic disorders underlying male infertility.     

组蛋白乙酰化/去乙酰化与基因表达调控研究进展

在真核生物中,组蛋白是构成核小体的重要成分,其乙酰化与去乙酰化修饰在真核生物基因表达调控中起重要作用。组蛋白乙酰化异常(低乙酰化或高乙酰化)常会引起基因表达紊乱,进而引起疾病的发生。对组蛋白乙酰转移酶(Histone acetyltransferase,HAT)及组蛋白去乙酰化酶(Histone deacetylase,HDAC)的种类,组蛋白乙酰化与去乙酰化与基因表达调控、疾病发生的关系进行了综述。     

表观遗传学的分子机制及其研究进展

表观遗传学(epigenetics)是指不涉及DNA序列改变、可以通过有丝分裂和减数分裂进行遗传的基因表达变化的遗传学分支领域。目前研究主要集中在DNA甲基化、组蛋白密码、染色质重塑和非编码RNA调控等方面。副突变、亲代基因印记、性别相关性基因剂量补偿效应和转基因沉默等都是典型的表观遗传现象。相关研究有利于揭示生物生长发育、多倍体植物基因组进化、杂种优势以及人类疾病等许多生命现象的本质。     

动物组蛋白H3K4三甲基化转移酶MLL3的生物信息学分析

[目的]对动物组蛋白H3K4三甲基化转移酶MLL3进行生物信息学分析。[方法]利用生物信息学的方法,对小鼠MLL3的基因结构、氨基酸序列、系统进化树、染色体定位和共线性等问题进行分析。[结果]编码合成的小鼠MLL3蛋白质一级结构包括7个锌指结构域、1个HMG-box(高迁移率族蛋白)、1个FYRN(N-末端富含苯丙氨酸或酪氨酸区域)、1个FYRC(C-末端富含苯丙氨酸或酪氨酸区域)、1个SET域和1个postSET域;从序列对比和同源性上发现,该研究中的19种动物都基本上具有这些结构,说明这些结构在进化上是相对保守的,其中SET域具有高度的保守性,是维持组蛋白甲基化酶活性所必须的;从系统发生上看,19种动物在进化树上的位置与其分类地位相一致;在共线性分析中,虽然小鼠和人的MLL3基因位于不同的染色体上,但其上游和下游具有相同的基因,说明小鼠和人的MLL3基因具有共线性。[结论]不仅揭示了MLL3的核苷酸序列及其氨基酸序列的一级结构,为以后研究其高级结构和蛋白质的功能奠定了基础;同时也为后期进行小鼠MLL3基因的引物设计、启动子分析、基因的克隆、定位和表达的调控模式研究奠定了基础。     

无液氮冷冻小鼠精子的研究

目前实验室通常用液氮加冷冻保护剂法保存小鼠精子,这种方法操作复杂而且会带来一定的安全隐患。通过对受精能力、胚胎发育潜能和胚胎组蛋白H3第4位赖氨酸残基位点上三甲基化(H3K4-TriM)的比较,探讨-20℃不加冷冻保护剂冷冻小鼠精子的效果。结果表明,-20℃不加冷冻保护剂冷冻的精子能通过单精子卵胞浆内注射重建受精能力,保持较好的胚胎发育潜能,不改变其早期胚胎H3K4-TriM的组蛋白修饰模式。可见,-20℃保存小鼠精子的方法简单、有效,有一定的应用价值。