Mechanisms of evolution in Rickettsia conorii and R. prowazekii

Rickettsia conorii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Mediterranean spotted fever in humans. We determined the 1,268,755-nucleotide complete genome sequence of R. conorii, containing 1374 open reading frames. This genome exhibits 804 of the 834 genes of the previously determined R. prowazekii genome plus 552 supplementary open reading frames and a 10-fold increase in the number of repetitive elements. Despite these differences, the two genomes exhibit a nearly perfect colinearity that allowed the clear identification of different stages of gene alterations with gene remnants and 37 genes split in 105 fragments, of which 59 are transcribed. A 38-kilobase sequence inversion was dated shortly after the divergence of the genus.     

Genomics. Painting a picture of genome evolution

A new analysis of the genome sequences of two bacteria shows that genes can be lost as well as gained during evolution. Even more intriguingly, the work provides snapshots capturing gene decay in the act and thus illuminates the actual genomic changes that occurred over tens of millions of years of evolution. The research, which is described on page 2093, focuses on two pathogenic bacteria: Rickettsia conorii, the culprit in Mediterranean spotted fever, and R. prowazekii, which causes typhus.     

RNAi-mediated transgenic rice resistance to Rice stripe virus

Rice stripe virus(RSV) often causes severe rice yield loss in temperate regions of East Asia. Although the correlation of small interfering RNAs(si RNAs) with transgenic virus resistance of plants using RNA interference(RNAi) is known for decades, no systematical research has been done on the profiling of si RNAs from a genomic scale. Our research is aiming to systematically study the RNAi impact in RSV-resistant transgenic rice, which was generated by introducing an inverted repeat construct that targets RSV nucleocapsid protein(NCP) gene. In this paper, three independent RSV-retsistant transgenic rice lines were generated, their stable integration of the T-DNA fragment and the expression of si RNAs were confirmed by Southern blotting and Northern blotting analyses, and the majority of si RNAs were in lengths of 21, 22, and 24 nucleotides(nt), which have validated a connection between the presence of the RSV NCP homologous si RNAs and the RSV resistance in those transgenic rice lines. In one of these transgenic lines(T4-B1), the T-DNA fragment was found to have been inserted at chromosome 1 of the rice genome, substituting the rice genome fragment from 32 158 773 to 32 158 787 nt. Bioinformatics analysis of small RNA-Seq data on the T4-B1 line also confirmed the large population of NCP-derived si RNAs in transgenic plants, and the RSV-infected library(T4-B1-V) possessed more si RNAs than its mock inoculated libraries(T4-B1-VF), these results indicating the inverted repeat construct and RSV could introduce abundance of si RNAs in transgenic rice. Moreover, a varied expression level of specific si RNAs was found among different segments of the NCP gene template, about 47% of NCP-derived si RNAs reads aligned with the fragment from 594 to 832 nt(239 nt in length) in NCP gene(969 nt in length) in the T4-B1-V, indicating a potential usage of hotspot regions for RNAi silencing in future research. In conclusion, as the first study to address the si RNA profile in RSV-resistant transgenic plant using next generation sequencing(NGS) technique, we confirmed that the massive abundance of si RNA derived from the inverted repeat of NCP is the major reason for RSV-resistance.     

稻瘟菌品种特异性改变突变体筛选及其遗传分析

通过筛选稻瘟菌(Magnaporthe grisea)P131小种的REMI(Restriction enzyme mediated integration)转化体库,获得1株对水稻品种爱知旭品种特异性改变的突变体MS220。Southern及质粒拯救分析表明:外源质粒在基因组中的整合为单位点、双拷贝反向串联插入。以质粒拯救所获得的侧端序列为探针,通过对爱知旭的毒性菌株和无毒菌株在插入位点处的RFLP分析,结果表明:两者在SacI酶切的泳道内出现了明显的多态性,由此推测,控制野生型菌株P131的无毒相关基因,由于外源质粒插入而发生突变。因此,可以以此为标记,克隆控制该表型的基因。     

毛果杨全基因组ANK基因的鉴定及表达分析

锚蛋白重复序列(ankyrin repeats)是普遍存在于生物体中的介导蛋白与蛋白相互作用的一种结构域。具有这种结构域的蛋白参与转录的启动、细胞周期的调控、细胞骨架系统的形成及离子的运输和信号转导。利用生物信息学方法,以杨树最新基因及蛋白序列为基础,通过对毛果杨全基因组中ANK基因的鉴定,获得较为完整的ANK家族信息。同时,对该家族成员的分类、进化、定位、结构和表达进行全面分析,为下一步研究ANK基因的功能提供重要的生物信息依据。     

Structural evidence for evolution of the beta/alpha barrel scaffold by gene duplication and fusion

The atomic structures of two proteins in the histidine biosynthesis pathway consist of beta/alpha barrels with a twofold repeat pattern. It is likely that these proteins evolved by twofold gene duplication and gene fusion from a common half-barrel ancestor. These ancestral domains are not visible as independent domains in the extant proteins but can be inferred from a combination of sequence and structural analysis. The detection of subdomain structures may be useful in efforts to search genome sequences for functionally and structurally related proteins.     

球毛壳菌荧光标记与重寄生现象研究

    球毛壳菌是一种非常重要的生防真菌.为了从分子生物学水平研究球毛壳菌与立枯丝核菌的拮抗机制,选用GFP(green fluorescent protein)作为报告基因对球毛壳菌进行标记.通过构建和转化EGFP(Enhanced GFP)表达载体,得到氯嘧磺隆抗性的转化子.经过几轮验证筛选,包括选择性平板筛选、PCR扩增目的片段验证、Southern杂交、荧光镜检等,确认SUR基因和EGFP基因已经插入球毛壳菌的基因组并在其中表达标记.取一个确认为荧光标记转化子的菌株,进行生防特性分析.主要通过与病原真菌平板共培养、载玻片对峙培养等方法初步研究了球毛壳菌与立枯丝核菌的拮抗机理.结果发现,在对立枯丝核菌的抑制过程中,球毛壳菌的拮抗机理主要是重寄生作用.     

苹果基因组SSR位点分析与应用

 【目的】通过对‘金冠’苹果基因组SSR位点的统计分析,为蔷薇科果树应用SSR分子标记进行高通量的遗传分析提供理论与实践基础。【方法】运用NCBI数据库中‘金冠’苹果基因组数据,分析其SSR位点分布情况,并根据SSR位点的搜索结果,设计68对引物（每条染色体设计4对）,利用苹果品种对所设计引物进行应用性验证并利用梨杂交群体进行通用性检测。【结果】苹果基因组中SSR序列主要是完全重复型,17条染色体共存在163 426个SSR位点,平均每隔3.22 kb存在1个。单核苷酸至三核苷酸重复基序在染色体水平上分布较均匀,而四核苷酸至六核苷酸重复基序的分布差异较大。单核苷酸与二核苷酸重复基序所占比例最大,两者占基因组内SSR位点总数的91.67%,单核苷酸重复基序主要以A/T重复为主,二核苷酸的重复基序主要以AT/TA重复为主。在苹果品种中验证所设计的68对引物,有62对可以扩增出预期目的片段,37对存在扩增多态性。在梨杂交群体上应用所设计的68对引物,有40对具扩增目的片段,其中16对具扩增多态性。【结论】苹果基因组内SSR分布呈现一定的规律性,初步验证SSR位点在亲缘关系较近的物种间高度保守并可以通用,基于基因组数据发掘SSR位点用于后续的相关遗传研究具有可行性。     

花椒cpSSR标记开发及在种间、种内的通用性分析

叶绿体基因组为母系遗传,保守性高,因此叶绿体基因组中的简单序列重复（SSR）标记可在更高分类水平上进行种质资源鉴定和群体遗传结构分析。利用TRF软件和SSR Hunter软件相结合对花椒Zanthoxylum bungeanum叶绿体基因组中的SSR位点进行筛选。结果显示:花椒叶绿体基因组中共有144个SSR位点,位点间的平均分布距离为1 100.00 bp。基于检测软件设置参数,SSR重复类型主要集中在一、三核苷酸重复,二者占SSR位点总数的91.67%。此外,随机设计合成30对SSR引物对10份花椒种质、5份竹叶花椒Zanthoxylum armatum种质和1份日本花椒Zanthoxylum piperitum种质进行PCR扩增检测,共筛选出10对多态性引物,其中单核苷酸重复位点的多态性高于多核苷酸重复位点。本研究开发的叶绿体SSR标记可有效区分花椒、竹叶花椒和日本花椒,但在花椒种内并未检测出多态性。表明花椒叶绿体基因组的SSR标记可用于花椒属Zanthoxylum不同种间的遗传多样性分析。     

Single-copy inverted repeats associated with regional genetic duplications in gamma fibrinogen and immunoglobulin genes

We have found that a portion (150 base pairs) of the seventh exon of the human gamma fibrinogen gene is duplicated in the preceding intron. This duplicated sequence, termed a "pseudoexon," is flanked on each side by a single-copy inverted repeat sequence consisting of 102 base pairs. Frequencies of point substitutions indicate that both the pseudoexon and the inverted repeat sequence arose approximately 10 to 20 million years ago. The generality of this type of duplication is suggested by the occurrence of a similar duplication in the mouse immunoglobulin mu-delta region. As in the fibrinogen pseudoexon, the portion of the immunoglobulin mu-delta region containing the duplication and the inverted repeat was reported to be single-copy in the mouse genome. Since both of the first two single-copy inverted repeats to be sequenced are associated with regional duplications, it is likely that many of the single-copy inverted repeat sequences, which make up 1 to 2 percent of the genome, are also associated with regional duplications.     

抗水稻黑条矮缩病毒和南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒的双价RNA沉默载体的构建

为利用RNAi技术获取抗水稻黑条矮缩病毒(RBSDV)和南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒(SRBSDV)植株,分别针对两种病毒的S6和S10基因构建RNA沉默载体。采用重组PCR方法将RBSDV S6基因片段(R6)和SRBSDVS6基因片段(SR6)进行融合,获得600 bp的R6-SR6融合基因;将RBSDV S10基因片段(R10)和SRBSDV S10基因片段(SR10)进行融合,获得600 bp的R10-SR10融合基因。融合基因以反向重复的方式连入pBS载体,并定向插入到pCAMBIA1301载体上,获取了含有发夹结构的植物表达载体pCAMBIA1301-hp(R6-SR6)和pCAMBIA1301-hp(R10-SR10)。抗RBSDV和SRBSDV RNA沉默载体的构建为利用RNA沉默进行植物抗病毒研究奠定了基础。     

大白菜功能基因编码区SSRs的分布规律研究

利用数据库中大白菜的部分基因组序列及其注释结果,对大白菜功能基因编码区分布的SSRs类型进行了分析。结果表明,编码区的SSRs以3核苷酸重复的最多,其次为6核苷酸重复的;各种基序的SSRs类型在基因编码区分布的数量有很大差异;另外编码氨基酸的三核苷酸SSRs在11944个基因编码区前100bp、中部及后100bp的分布也有较大差异。说明大白菜基因编码区的SSRs具有相位和极性,其原因在于编码氨基酸的需要。正是这种相位和极性引起大白菜基因编码区SSRs分布的不均一性。     

重组hIL-2表达载体的构建及在毕赤酵母中的表达

本试验根据hIL-2氨基酸序列、三维结构及其与受体IL-2R结合机制,设计并合成IL-2Rα亚基结合位点修饰性hIL-2基因片段。合成的修饰性hIL-2基因序列被插入真核表达载体pPIC9K,并转化入毕赤酵母基因组中。经筛选得到阳性重组子后,通过诱导培养得到了表达产物。对表达产物进行Elisa初步测定,结果成功表达出重组hIL-2,表达水平达0.93g/L。本项研究为进一步开展IL-2Rα结合位点修饰性hIL-2的生物活性研究奠定了基础。     

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.     

鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽的制备及其免疫反应

合成含有鸡法氏囊病毒抗原表位核酸序列的4条引物,利用SOE-PCR (重叠延伸PCR法)方法克隆得到含鸡法氏囊病毒多抗原表位串联肽的核酸序列。通过EcoR I和Sal I 两个酶切位点使该核酸序列插入原核表达载体(pET32a)。SDS-PAGE 实验结果表明鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽在大肠杆菌中的表达量为20%左右。Western blotting试验和免疫琼脂扩散沉淀试验（AGP）的结果均表明鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽具有明显的抗原性。     

Nonmethylated transposable elements and methylated genes in a chordate genome

The genome of the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis was found to be a stable mosaic of methylated and nonmethylated domains. Multiple copies of an apparently active long terminal repeat retrotransposon and a long interspersed element are nonmethylated and a large fraction of abundant short interspersed elements are also methylation free. Genes, by contrast, are predominantly methylated. These data are incompatible with the genome defense model, which proposes that DNA methylation in animals is primarily targeted to endogenous transposable elements. Cytosine methylation in this urochordate may be preferentially directed to genes.     

植物着丝粒区串联重复序列的研究进展

着丝粒是细胞染色体的重要结构组成,控制姊妹染色单体的结合、动粒的组装和纺锤丝的附着,确保真核生物细胞在有丝分裂和减数分裂过程中染色体的正常分离及遗传信息的稳定传递。植物着丝粒DNA序列主要由反转录转座子和串联重复序列构成。串联重复序列在着丝粒功能实现和基因组进化过程中起重要作用。随着测序技术的成熟,近年来对串联重复序列的研究取得了很大的进展。综述了植物串联重复序列结构、分析方法及在进化中的作用,以期为相关研究提供参考。     

减蛋综合征病毒NE4株全基因组序列测定与分析

根据减蛋综合征病毒(EDSV-76)AV-127株的全基因序列(序列号BK000404),用Premier5.0软件设计22对引物,利用PCR方法对EDSV-76病毒NE4株的全基因组进行了分段扩增、克隆和序列测定,并用DNAStar分析软件对各片段的测序结果进行拼接,将该序列与GenBank中已登录的相应序列进行同源性分析,并用六邻体蛋白构建进化树.结果表明:NE4株基因组序列全长33214bp,GC含量为43%,与国际标准株AV-127相比,核苷酸序列同源性为99.6%.碱基的插入或缺失主要在非编码区,在100K蛋白编码区距羧基端1/10处插入了1个碱基C,其ORF编码696个氨基酸,而AV-127株100K蛋白编码709个氨基酸,预计其发挥功能的基团在N端.蛋白同源性分析表明,EDSVNE4株主要蛋白与羊腺病毒OAV(Ovine adenovirusD)、牛腺病毒BAV(Bovine adenovi-rusD)和蛇腺病毒SAV(Snake adenovirus)有较高的同源性,而与禽腺病毒Ⅰ群(CELO)的同源性较低,说明NE4株与禽腺病毒Ⅰ群亲缘关系较远,进化树分析也证实了此特性.     

水稻RACK1基因过表达载体的构建与转化

利用过表达基因技术将从水稻中分离克隆的RACK1基因定向克隆至植物中间表达载体pCAMBIA1301中,构建了RACK1过表达融合基因植物表达载体pCAMBIA1301/R,通过根癌农杆菌EHA105将其导入水稻基因组。对获得的抗性植株的报告基因、基因组PCR及Southern Blotting进行检测分析。结果表明,该过表达基因已整合到水稻基因组中。     

灰盖鬼伞基因组中微卫星序列的组成

本研究利用已公布的灰盖鬼伞基因组测序结果,对该真菌基因组中的微卫星(microsatellite)或简单重复序列(simplesequence repeats,SSRs)进行了系统分析。结果表明,在已公布的36.2 Mb的基因组序列中,共有7 859个SSR序列(长度大于15bp,匹配值大于80%)。SSR的碱基总数达143 kb,约占整个基因组碱基数的0.40%,平均4.61 kb中就有1个大于15 bp的SSR序列。其中数量最多的是3碱基SSR,数量达到3 033个,其次为6碱基重复序列(2 121个)、5碱基重复序列(1 820个),这3种SSR总数达6 974个,占SSR总数的84.9%,单碱基重复序列数量最少,仅有285个。与子囊菌中的稻瘟病菌和粗糙脉孢菌相比,灰盖鬼伞菌基因组中每百万碱基中的SSR数量和密度都较小。这些研究结果可为该担子菌基因组的特征描述、注释及分子标记的筛选提供基础信息。