Role of histone H3 lysine 27 methylation in Polycomb-group silencing

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins play important roles in maintaining the silent state of HOX genes. Recent studies have implicated histone methylation in long-term gene silencing. However, a connection between PcG-mediated gene silencing and histone methylation has not been established. Here we report the purification and characterization of an EED-EZH2 complex, the human counterpart of the Drosophila ESC-E(Z) complex. We demonstrate that the complex specifically methylates nucleosomal histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3-K27). Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we show that H3-K27 methylation colocalizes with, and is dependent on, E(Z) binding at an Ultrabithorax (Ubx) Polycomb response element (PRE), and that this methylation correlates with Ubx repression. Methylation on H3-K27 facilitates binding of Polycomb (PC), a component of the PRC1 complex, to histone H3 amino-terminal tail. Thus, these studies establish a link between histone methylation and PcG-mediated gene silencing.     

褐飞虱海藻糖酶基因在表皮几丁质代谢中的调控作用

【目的】昆虫海藻糖酶能够调控几丁质代谢并控制蜕皮过程。本研究通过TRE表达被抑制后,检测褐飞虱(Nilaparvata lugens)蜕皮状况、几丁质含量及几丁质合成酶(chitin synthase,CHS)和几丁质酶(chitinase,Cht)基因表达情况,探究不同的海藻糖酶(trehalase,TRE)在褐飞虱表皮中对几丁质代谢的调控作用。【方法】采用RNAi技术,以实验室饲养种群褐飞虱为材料,通过向其体内注射双链RNA(dsRNA)分别抑制单个海藻糖酶基因或同时抑制多个海藻糖酶基因,注射48 h后通过Trizol法提取褐飞虱总RNA,反转录试剂盒合成第一链DNA后采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术检测该基因的表达情况,确定RNAi效果。氢氧化钾法测定48 h褐飞虱整体几丁质含量变化并对蜕皮困难虫体进行拍照;最后采用qRT-PCR检测褐飞虱CHS和Cht在mRNA水平上的相对表达量变化,分析TRE在调控几丁质代谢中的作用。【结果】与注射dsGFP相比较,其余各注射组褐飞虱整体几丁质含量显著下降,其中dsTRE1混合注射组与Validamycin注射组呈极显著下降,同时褐飞虱出现蜕皮困难等现象。qRT-PCR检测结果显示单个TRE的dsRNA注射后该基因的表达被抑制,但是部分TRE的表达有互补性上升。其中TRE1-2和TRE2在各注射组处理下表达均下降,dsTRE1s对TRE2的表达也有抑制效果,整体上dsTRE1混合注射组和海藻糖酶抑制剂Validamycin抑制效果明显;dsTRE注射组抑制CHS表达效果不明显,Validamycin能够显著降低CHS1和CHS1a在表皮中的表达,且2种dsTRE1注射后CHS1表达在上升,dsTRE1-2注射后表皮中的CHS1a的表达上升;Cht1和Cht8在dsTRE各注射组及Validamycin处理中表达下降或显著下降,dsTRE1-1注射后Cht2和Cht5表达显著上升;dsTRE1-2注射后Cht1、Cht6和Cht8表达下降,Cht2和Cht4表达显著上升;dsTRE2处理组中Cht1、Cht8和Cht10表达下降而Cht9表达显著上升;dsTRE1s注射后,Cht1和Cht5表达显著下降,而Cht9表达显著上升;Validamycin注射组中10个几丁质酶基因表达都显著或者极显著下降。【结论】TRE能够通过调控褐飞虱几丁质代谢途径来控制几丁质的合成,结果可为开展和筛选有效的海藻糖酶抑制剂控制褐飞虱等害虫提供理论依据。     

高迁移率族核小体结合蛋白及其应用潜能

高迁移率族核小体结合蛋白(High-mobility group nucleosome-binding proteins,HMGN)几乎存在于所有哺乳动物和多数脊椎动物的细胞核中,属于HMG蛋白家族。HMGN是现在唯一已知的特异性结合在核小体上的非组蛋白,能够改变染色质的结构、增强染色质模板的转录/复制,参与DNA复制/表达、细胞分化、器官发育及基因表达调控等细胞的生命活动。目前,HMGN包括HMGN1、HMGN2、HMGN3、HMGN4和HMGN5。研究显示,HMGN1据其所在位置的不同,有着截然不同的功能。在细胞核内,HMGN1作为一种特殊定位的生物蛋白,与核小体直接结合而调节基因的转录和影响染色质的结构;在细胞外环境,HMGN1通过toll样受体4(Toll-like receptor 4,TLR4)促进抗原提呈细胞(Antigen-presenting cells,APCs)的活化和补充,从而促进特定抗原免疫应答。警报素(Alarmins)是一种内源性介质,当机体受到危险信号刺激时,它能快速的释放到细胞外,招募并激活APCs增强特异性免疫和非特异性免疫反应。认识HMGN及其作用对其在多方面的应用有重要意义。     

A mutant Drosophila insulin receptor homolog that extends life-span and impairs neuroendocrine function

The Drosophila melanogaster gene insulin-like receptor (InR) is homologous to mammalian insulin receptors as well as to Caenorhabditis elegans daf-2, a signal transducer regulating worm dauer formation and adult longevity. We describe a heteroallelic, hypomorphic genotype of mutant InR, which yields dwarf females with up to an 85% extension of adult longevity and dwarf males with reduced late age-specific mortality. Treatment of the long-lived InR dwarfs with a juvenile hormone analog restores life expectancy toward that of wild-type controls. We conclude that juvenile hormone deficiency, which results from InR signal pathway mutation, is sufficient to extend life-span, and that in flies, insulin-like ligands nonautonomously mediate aging through retardation of growth or activation of specific endocrine tissue.