PCR Amplification and Bioinformatics Analysis of IL-7 Gene in Tibetan Sheep

In order to get the interleukin-7 (IL-7) gene sequence of Tibetan sheep, and research the characteristics of this sequence and structure and function of encoding protein, IL-7 gene was amplified from Tibetan sheep by RT-PCR. The nucleotide sequence,amino acid sequence, homology and phylogenetic tree were analyzed by the DNAStar software. The secondary and tertiary structures, hydrophilicity, signal peptide and post-translational modification site of the encoding protein were predicted by DNAStar software and online servers. The results showed that the length of IL-7 gene was 531 bp (contained termination codon), and encoded 176 amino acids. Compared with IL-7 gene of Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Pantholops hodgsonii, Bubalus bubalis, Bos indicus, Bison bison bison, Bos taurus and Bos mutus, IL-7 gene of Tibetan sheep showed a great similarity from 97.2% to 99.8%, the amino acid sequence homology varied from 94.9% to 99.4%, and the relationship was the closest between Tibetan sheep and Ovis aries. Result from protein structure prediction indicated that the IL-7 protein was mainly composed of α-helix, it was a hydrophilic and secretory protein. Furthermore, it had six kinds of post translational modification sites, including one N-myristoylation site, one amidation site, one cAMP-and cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site, three N-glycosylation sites, four protein kinase C phosphorylation sites and six casein kinase Ⅱ phosphorylation sites. These results might provide references for further study and clinical application of IL-7 gene in Tibetan sheep.     

藏羊白细胞介素-7基因的PCR扩增及生物信息学分析

为了获得藏羊白细胞介素-7（interleukin-7,IL-7）基因序列,并研究其序列特征及编码蛋白的结构和功能,本试验采用RT-PCR方法,从藏羊脾脏中扩增了IL-7基因,应用DNAStar软件分析该基因的核苷酸和氨基酸序列,与经BLAST比对后的参考序列进行同源性比对,并构建系统进化树,同时利用DNAStar软件和在线服务器预测该基因编码蛋白的二级结构、三级结构、亲水性、信号肽和蛋白翻译后修饰位点。结果表明,藏羊IL-7基因长度为531 bp（含终止密码子）,编码176个氨基酸。藏羊IL-7基因与绵羊、山羊、藏羚羊、水牛、瘤牛、美洲草原野牛、黄牛和牦牛的IL-7基因核苷酸序列同源性在97.2%~99.8%之间,氨基酸序列同源性在94.9%~99.4%之间,藏羊与绵羊的亲缘关系最近。蛋白结构预测结果表明,IL-7蛋白主要由α螺旋组成,是一种亲水性和分泌型蛋白。该蛋白含有6种蛋白质翻译后修饰位点,包括1个N-豆蔻酰化位点、1个酰胺化位点、1个cAMP和cGMP依赖性蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、3个N-糖基化位点、4个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点、6个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点。本研究结果可为藏羊IL-7基因的进一步研究与临床应用提供参考。     

Effects of Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta infection on lambs selected for high fleece weight

The physiological processes leading to the expression of the resilient phenotype, which allow animals to maintain a relatively higher production level during infection, have been investigated in lambs from a closed flock selected for 40 generations for high fleece weight (HFW), but with higher FEC and worm burdens than their unselected control (C) flock run in parallel. After recovery from surgery to implant abomasal cannulae, eight parasite-naïve lambs from each flock were infected intraruminally at 4.5 months-of-age with 50,000 Teladorsagia circumcincta L3. Blood, abomasal fluid and faecal samples were collected daily for measurement of serum gastrin and pepsinogen concentrations, blood eosinophils, abomasal pH and FEC. Four lambs from each flock were euthanased on Day 8 post-infection and the other four on Day 28 post-infection. At necropsy, abomasal contents and tissues were collected for worm counts, abomasal lymph nodes and fundic tissue for cytokine gene expression and fundic tissue for histopathology. Expression of resilience appeared to be age-dependent as there were no significant differences in either FEC or worm burden between lambs from the two flocks, unlike older HFW lambs in a previous study. Abomasal secretion did not differ between flocks. Histopathological changes were typical of parasitism: inflammatory cells, mainly eosinophils and lymphocytes, were numerous in nodular areas and there were fewer TGF-α positive parietal cells, many of which were vacuolated. By Day 28 p.i., globule leucocytes were present. Mucosal thickness was significantly greater on Day 8 than Day 28 p.i. (p = 0.000) and in C than HFW lambs. There were fewer parietal cells on Day 28 than on Day 8 p.i. (p = 0.003) for pooled data. Circulating eosinophil counts increased moderately in both groups, significantly less in the HFW lambs. Fewer tissue and blood eosinophils in the HFW than C group on Day 8 p.i. were consistent with cytokine gene expression patterns, particularly lower IL-5 levels. Worm count decreased by 90% by Day 28 p.i., along with declining tissue eosinophil counts and IL-13 gene expression and increasing IL-10 and IL-4 gene expression. Food intake was depressed less in the HFW lambs, suggesting that maintenance of appetite could be an important aspect of the physiological basis for resilience. Although the resilient phenotype was not apparent at the younger age, lesser effects on food intake, differences in ALN cytokine profiles and lower blood and tissue eosinophil numbers in the HFW lambs may lead to the expression of resilience when older.     

Complete cDNA sequences and phylogenetic analyses of the Th1 and Th2 cytokines of the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The complementary DNAs of the Th1 (IL-2, IL-12p35, and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) cytokine genes of the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) were cloned, sequenced, and analyzed. IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-13, and IFN-gamma were found to have 465, 402, 537, 669, 411, and 501 bp length open reading frames with 154, 133, 178, 222, 136, and 166 amino acid encodings, respectively. The homology ranged from 58.8% to 100% between the nucleotide sequences of the camel cytokine genes and the published sequences of other mammalian genes, including the llama, pig, cow, horse, human, and mouse. The cDNA had highest homology with orders Artiodactyla (pigs and cattle) and Perissodactyla (horses), especially to the recently cloned llama sequences.     

猪细小病毒非结构蛋白NS1基因的克隆、序列分析及蛋白质结构预测

根据GenBank登录的猪细小病毒NADL-2株和China株序列,利用Oligo 6.0软件设计1对扩增NS1全基因的特异性引物,对从贵州省安顺地区检测到的PPV的NS1基因进行扩增、克隆、测序、序列分析和蛋白质结构预测分析。测序结果表明,扩增的目的基因长度为1986 bp,共编码659个氨基酸,其中NS1基因的1287、1288和1298位碱基发生了缺失,导致429、430和433位氨基酸发生缺失。系统发生树结果表明,本试验测序的NS1基因与NADL-2弱毒株处在同一进化分支;氨基酸同源性与NADL-2弱毒株和Kresse毒株最高,均为98.6%。蛋白质结构预测分析结果表明,非结构蛋白NS1的分子质量为75269.76 u,理论等电点pI为7.25,不稳定系数为41.57,推测其为不稳定蛋白质;脂肪指数为73.58,总体平均亲水性为-0.565,推测该蛋白质是一种亲水性蛋白质;该蛋白质含有丰富的α-螺旋、β-折叠、β-转角和无规则卷曲,柔性区域较多,呈连续分布;非结构蛋白NS1无跨膜区和信号肽;预测非结构蛋白NS1含有3个N-糖基化位点、3个cAMP和cGMP依赖性蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、5个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点、22个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、1个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点、8个N-肉豆蔻酰化位点、1个酰胺化位点及1个ATP/GTP结合位点基序A(P-环);该蛋白质抗原表位较多,存在10个主要的抗原表位。     

藏羊IFN-γ基因的扩增、序列分析及蛋白结构预测

为了研究藏羊IFN-γ基因的功能,提取藏羊脾脏总RNA,通过RT-PCR扩增藏羊IFN-γ基因并测序,应用DNA Star软件进行序列分析及编码蛋白结构预测。结果表明,藏羊IFN-γ基因长度为429bp,其中腺嘌呤和胸腺嘧啶含量较高,该基因编码143个氨基酸,其中疏水性氨基酸和亲水性氨基酸的含量较高。藏羊IFN-γ基因与参考绵羊、山羊、藏羚羊和牛IFN-γ基因的核苷酸序列同源性依次为100%、99.3%、99.1%和97.2%,氨基酸序列同源性依次为100%、99.3%、99.3%和95.8%。IFN-γ蛋白主要由α螺旋组成,亲水性较高,含有5种蛋白质功能位点,分别为1个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、1个酰胺化位点、2个N-糖基化位点、2个cAMP和cGMP依赖的蛋白激酶磷酸化位点和3个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点。     

牛RPLP1基因的克隆和生物信息学分析

采用RT-PCR法克隆牛RPLP1基因,利用生物信息学分析软件对该基因进行生物信息学分析,应用半定量RT-PCR方法对该基因的组织表达谱进行分析。结果表明,牛RPLP1基因全长为502 bp,包含345 bp的编码区序列,编码114个氨基酸;拓扑预测表明,RPLP1蛋白可能存在3个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点,2个豆蔻酰化位点,含有一个Ribosomal-P1保守结构域;牛RPLP1基因在多种组织中均表达,在骨骼肌、肝脏和心肌中表达量较高。     

陆川猪黑皮质激素受体4基因克隆及序列分析

试验旨在对陆川猪黑皮质激素受体4（melanocortin-4 receptor,MC4R）基因进行克隆及相关信息学分析。通过提取陆川猪背最长肌总RNA,采用RT-PCR、克隆等方法获得含目的基因MC4R的质粒pMD18-T-MC4R,经菌落PCR和测序鉴定正确后,应用相关生物信息学软件对陆川猪MC4R基因的理化性质、蛋白质的结构、修饰结构和亚细胞定位等进行预测分析。结果表明,MC4R基因CDS区长999 bp,编码332个氨基酸,与NCBI上公布的野猪MC4R基因序列中的CDS区存在4个碱基差异,其中175和906 bp处为同义突变,110和278 bp处为错义突变,分别引起第37位谷氨酸变为甘氨酸和第93位缬氨酸变为丙氨酸。同源性比对结果发现,MC4R基因在不同物种及进化的过程中具有较高的保守性。陆川猪MC4R蛋白有明显的疏水区域,不存在信号肽,但有7个跨膜结构域,其编码蛋白的二级结构元件有α-螺旋、延伸链、β-转角和无规则卷曲。修饰结构预测表明,MC4R蛋白存在多处N糖基化位点,但无O糖基化位点,可能主要分布于内质网和囊泡。本研究成功克隆了陆川猪MC4R基因,为更好地开发利用地方品种陆川猪及其繁育奠定理论基础。     

Cloning and sequence analysis of llama cytokines related to cell-mediated immunity

In order to characterize the T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines of llama, we have cloned several llama cytokine genes and compared them to those of other mammalian species. The cDNAs encoding for interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)gamma, IL-12p35 and IL-12p40 were amplified using specific primers designed from reported sequences of bovine cytokine genes. The cDNAs for llama IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-12 p35 and IL-12p40 were found to be 465, 501, 669 or 993 bp in length, with open reading frames encoding 154, 166, 222 or 330 amino acids, respectively. Homology analyses of nucleotide and deduced amino sequences of llama IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-12p35 and IL-12p40 and phylogenetic analysis based on their nucleotide sequences indicated the close relationship in these cytokine genes between llama and eutherian mammalian order Artiodactyla, which includes pig and cattle.     

荷包猪SLA-DRa基因的克隆及序列分析

为研究中国特色品系荷包猪SLA-DRa基因(又称SLA-DRa-HB),本试验设计引物,RT-PCR扩增3个个体荷包猪SLA-DRa全基因编码区,并克隆至pMD18-T载体,转化大肠杆菌JM109感受态细胞,经酶切鉴定后筛选阳性克隆测序,比较分析与其他SLA-DRa等位基因的差异,并绘制分子进化树。结果显示,RT-PCR成功扩增出目的基因条带,大小约800bp。经克隆测序后分析,SLA-DRa-HB基因全长为779bp,编码区为1—759,共编码252个氨基酸。序列对比分析结果显示,SLA-DRa-HB的特征性变异集中在135、159、202位点。而穿膜区和胞浆功能区(203—252)变异位点为206、248。分子进化树分析显示,SLA-DRa-HB自成一系,且与其他等位基因的进化关系较近。本研究成功克隆荷包猪SLA-DRa基因,为进一步研究其功能奠定基础。     

猪白细胞介素-10的分子克隆与序列测定

从LPS活化的猪外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）提取总RNA，用RT-PCR方法扩增出猪白细胞介素-10（IL-10）的编码基因，将其连接到pUC18质粒上，然后进行BamHI和HindⅢ双酶切鉴定筛选阳性克隆，序列分析结果表明该基因开放阅读框由528个核苷酸组成，推测产生的编码产物由175个氨基酸组成。猪IL-10基因与人、大鼠和小鼠基因序列的同源性分别为84%、79%和795，与国外报道的猪IL-10基因序列完全一致，试验成功克隆到了猪IL-10基因。     

Cloning and Protein Structure Analysis of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α Gene in Yak

In this study,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) gene was cloned from yak spleen by RT-PCR,and it was divided into two sections for amplification.The sequence and protein structure were analyzed using related bioinformatics tools.The length of the coding region was 2 472 bp,which encoded 823 amino acids.Its molecule mass was 92.13 ku,and PI was 5.09.It displayed as a hydrophilic protein,whose secondary structure was mainly composed of random coil and α-helix.It had 69 phosphorylation sites and 4 N-glycosylation sites.Phylogenetic tree displayed that Maiwa yak,Bos grunniens,Bos mutus and Bos taurus gathered into one cluster.Maiwa yak HIF-1α gene was successfully cloned in this study,it provided a viable reference for further study of genetic characteristics of HIF-1α.     

Molecular cloning of canine interleukin-31 and its expression in various tissues

The newly discovered cytokine, interleukin-31 (IL-31), belongs to the short-chain cytokine group. It was reported that transgenic expression of IL-31-induced pruritus, similar to atopic dermatitis, in mice, further, excessive amounts of IL-31 was also expressed in the skin from human patients with atopic dermatitis as compared to that from normal people. In this study, canine IL-31 was molecularly cloned from concanavalin A-stimulated canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Canine IL-31 contains 4 alpha-helix structures characteristic of the IL-31 family, and the amino acid identity of canine IL-31 with those of human or mouse is 54% and 28%, respectively. Furthermore, we detected low levels of canine IL-31 in the thymus, testis, spleen, and kidneys, but not in the skin of atopic dogs.     

牦牛低氧诱导因子-1α基因克隆及蛋白质结构分析

试验采用RT-PCR方法,以麦洼牦牛脾脏cDNA为模板扩增牦牛低氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)基因,并运用生物信息学软件对其序列进行分析。结果发现,扩增得到的麦洼牦牛HIF-1α基因编码区长为2 472 bp,编码823个氨基酸;蛋白质预测结果显示,该蛋白质分子质量为92.13 ku,等电点5.09,为亲水性蛋白,二级结构以随机卷曲和α-螺旋为主,有69个磷酸化位点和4个N-糖基化位点;系统进化树显示,麦洼牦牛与牦牛、野牦牛、普通牛亲缘关系最近。本试验成功克隆麦洼牦牛HIF-1α基因并对其序列进行了分析,为进一步研究HIF-1α基因的功能提供参考。     

牛ACTA1基因的生物信息学分析

应用RT-PCR方法克隆牛ACTA1基因,利用生物信息软件对该基因进行生物信息学分析。结果表明:牛ACTA1基因CDS为1134bp,编码377个氨基酸;拓扑预测表明,ACTA1编码的蛋白质可能存在4个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点,8个豆蔻酰化位点,含有1个ACTIN保守的结构域。研究结果为进一步了解牛ACTA1基因调控肉质性状的分子机理提供了有益参考。     

巴马小型猪主要细胞因子的克隆及序列分析

为了丰富广西巴马小型猪细胞因子生物学数据,本试验采取广西巴马小型猪的外周血,分离淋巴细胞,提取总RNA,利用设计的引物进行RT-PCR扩增,将克隆出的与目的基因大小相符的片段回收,再与T载体连接,转化到大肠杆菌DH5α中,筛选阳性克隆,将重组菌测序后提交NCBI,比较克隆序列与已知序列的同源性,并利用软件对克隆序列进行分析。结果表明,已克隆出的巴马小型猪细胞因子IL-2、IL-12、IFN-γ、TNF-α基因序列长度分别为338、377、380、402 bp,测序结果均与目的基因预期估计值吻合。序列分析结果发现与已知的家猪或野猪的相应基因同源性较高,IL-2、IL-12、IFN-γ、TNF-α序列同源性分别为98.9%、99.5%、99.2%、100%。研究巴马小型猪细胞因子基因序列不仅丰富了生物学数据,而且为细胞因子的功能研究提供了依据,也为细胞因子的定量检测奠定了基础。     

Investigation of the porcine PA28 activator γ-subunit (PSME3) gene: isolation, polymorphism and its chromosomal localization

The PA28 activator γ‐subunit encoded by the PSME3 gene is the third component of the PA28 activator complex, which is the 11S regulator of the 20S proteasome. The open reading frame (ORF) sequence of the porcine PSME3 gene encoding the proteasome activator γ‐subunits (or proteasome activator subunit 3) was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 100% identity with the corresponding human and murine sequence. Two single nucleotide substitutions, one located in intron 5 (I5), the other one in exon 8 (E8), were detected using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment‐length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). Analysis on allele frequencies of the two polymorphic sites determined in different pig breeds (Duroc, Tibet, Qingping, Meishan, Erhualian and Mingzhu) showed large differences between Duroc and Chinese indigenous pig breeds investigated. The PSME3 gene was physically assigned to SSC12p11 – (2/3) p13 in the vicinity of the GH gene. This result provides an additional type I marker to the GH linkage group on SSC12.     

The effect of M‐phase stage‐dependent kinase inhibitors on inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor 1 (IP3R1) expression and localization in pig oocytes

At fertilization, inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP₃R1) has a crucial role in Ca²⁺ release in mammals. Expression levels, localization and phosphorylation of IP₃R1 are important for its function, but it still remains unclear which molecule(s) regulates IP₃R1 behavior in pig oocytes. We examined whether there was a difference in localization of IP₃R1 after in vitro or in vivo maturation of pig oocytes. In mouse oocytes, large clusters of IP₃R1 were formed in the cortex of the oocyte except in a ring‐shaped band of cortex adjacent to the spindle. However, no such clusters of IP₃R1 were observed in pig oocytes and there was no difference in its localization between in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes. We next tried to clarify which factor(s) regulates IP₃R1 localization, phosphorylation and expression using M‐phase stage‐dependent kinase inhibitors. Our results show that treatments with roscovitine (p34^cdc2 kinase inhibitor) or U0126 (mitogen‐activated protein kinase inhibitor) did not affect IP₃R1 expression or localization in pig oocytes, although the latter strongly inhibited phosphorylation. However, treatment with BI‐2536, an inhibitor of polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1), dramatically decreased the expression level of IP₃R1 in pig oocytes in a dose‐dependent manner. From these results, it is suggested that Plk1 is involved in the regulation of IP₃R1 expression in pig oocytes.     

马鹿生长激素(GH)基因生物信息学预测及分析

为研究马鹿生长激素(GH)基因的结构和功能,从GenBank中下载马鹿、梅花鹿、鼷鹿、牛、山羊、绵羊、猪、人、黑猩猩、挪威大鼠、小家鼠、北极狐、狗、鸡和斑马鱼的GH基因完整编码区(CDS)及氨基酸序列,利用DNAStar 7.0、BioEdit 7.0生物软件与相关在线工具对马鹿GH基因核苷酸序列的基本信息及其编码蛋白的理化特性和结构特征进行了生物信息学预测及分析,对马鹿与其他14个物种GH基因的CDS序列及其编码氨基酸序列进行相似性分析,并基于氨基酸序列构建了15个物种的系统进化树。结果表明:马鹿GH基因DNA序列长度为2 100 bp,包括完整的5个外显子和4个内含子,部分5′UTR和3′UTR,CDS全长654 bp,编码217个氨基酸;其编码的蛋白是一种分子质量为24.588 4 ku,等电点为7.62的疏水性稳定碱性蛋白;存在2个强跨膜区、8个广泛磷酸化位点,二级结构元件以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主;该蛋白位于细胞外,含有1个信号肽,属一种分泌型蛋白;马鹿与梅花鹿、牛、绵羊、山羊和鼷鹿等动物的GH基因氨基酸序列相似性较高,亲缘关系最近。该研究结果可为马鹿GH基因的进一步分析提供详细的生物学基础信息。     

水牛脑源性神经营养因子基因克隆、序列分析及其在不同组织中的表达研究

本研究克隆了水牛脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)基因序列,并运用生物信息学方法对序列的同源性、生物进化树、蛋白的理化性质及二、三级结构等进行了分析预测,同时利用QRT-PCR方法研究了BDNF mRNA在胎儿水牛及成年水牛不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明,应用RT-PCR技术克隆获得了长800bp水牛BDNF基因序列,其中编码区全长753bp,编码250个氨基酸。多重序列比对分析显示,水牛BDNF核苷酸序列与黄牛、野猪、犬、人、马、小鼠同源性分别为99%、94%、93%、90%、90%和89%;生物进化树分析显示,BDNF基因在不同物种进化过程中具有较高的保守性;BDNF蛋白理论分子质量28 173.36u,等电点9.12;蛋白二级结构由多个α-螺旋、β-折叠、T-转角及无规则卷曲组成,三级结构由多个α-螺旋、3对反向平行的β-折叠结构等构成活性中心(即NGF功能结构域)。QRT-PCR结果显示,BDNF mRNA在胎儿水牛及成年水牛的心脏、肺脏、肾脏、大脑、肌肉、卵巢、睾丸组织中都有表达,且成年水牛的表达量高于胎儿水牛。