Molecular transfer of a species-specific behavior from Drosophila simulans to Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila males modulate the interpulse intervals produced during their courtship songs. These song cycles, which are altered by mutations in the clock gene period, exhibit a species-specific variation that facilitates mating. We have used chimeric period gene constructs from Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans in germline transformation experiments to map the genetic control of their song rhythm difference to a small segment of the amino acid encoding information within this gene.     

快速获得果蝇唾腺体的技巧和方法

解剖了三龄幼虫,获取唾腺体是果蝇唾腺染色体制片和观察的第一步。在长期的实验准备中,虽提供大量的三龄幼虫,但在解剖幼虫时因切入点不精确,且操作工具不当,最后较难得到理想的唾腺体,影响后期唾腺的染色体制片和观察。经过大量的实验,对解剖幼虫时的切入点和操作工具以及操作角度进行探索和改进。最终证明,改进后的方法不但能够节约时间,节省材料,而且能够快速地获得完整的唾腺体,大大提高染色体制片和观察的效果。     

Molecular identification of a taste receptor gene for trehalose in Drosophila

The molecular nature of sweet taste receptors has not been fully explored. Employing a differential screening strategy, we identified a taste receptor gene, Tre1, that controls the taste sensitivity to trehalose in Drosophila melanogaster. The Tre1 gene encodes a novel protein with similarity to G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors. Disruption of the Tre1 gene lowered the taste sensitivity to trehalose, whereas sensitivities to other sugars were unaltered. Overexpression of the Tre1 gene restored the taste sensitivity to trehalose in the Tre1 deletion mutant. The Tre1 gene is expressed in taste sensory cells. These results provide direct evidence that Tre1 encodes a putative taste receptor for trehalose in Drosophila.     

植物水平基因转移研究进展

水平基因转移,一般分为细胞内部或者跨越物种边界的遗传物质交流。跨界直接介导方式,包括共生、内共生、寄生、嫁接等。细胞内的基因转移,主要包括细胞核与细胞器基因组间的相互渗透;跨越物种边界的遗传物质交流,主要涉及寄生与寄主植物的基因横向转移,寄主与寄生植物mRNA也会发生大规模的水平转移。基于基因组学研究进展,本研究综述了植物水平基因转移的迁移序列类型、迁移方向及迁移机制:首先,植物细胞的线粒体基因组能够整合细胞核转座元件以及叶绿体起源的tRNA基因,线粒体和叶绿体基因组的功能基因及间区序列能够迁移到核基因组;其次,植物种间,通过寄生、嫁接等方式转移大量的DNA(如线粒体基因、叶绿体基因和转座元件)和RNA(如mRNA)序列;迁移机制涉及到DNA介导和RNA介导方式,迁移方向包括单向和双向转移。迁移序列的基因功能活性研究是重要的后续研究方向。     

Chromosomal gene transfer in Spiroplasma citri

The study of resistance marker rearrangement in Spiroplasma citri mutants provides evidence of transfer of chromosomal information followed by recombination. This is the first report of such a transfer in vivo in the mollicutes--that is, in the smallest self-replicating organisms. The double-resistant phenotypes obtained are stable even without selection pressure. The mechanism of gene transfer is insensitive to deoxyribonuclease, requires contact, and possibly, areas of fusion of the cell membranes; it shares properties with the transfer by protoplast fusion in Gram-positive bacteria. The extensive degenerative evolution of mollicutes has retained, in S. citri, bacterial functions of chromosomal transfer and recombination.     

Pesticide resistance via transposition-mediated adaptive gene truncation in Drosophila

To study adaptation, it is essential to identify multiple adaptive mutations and to characterize their molecular, phenotypic, selective, and ecological consequences. Here we describe a genomic screen for adaptive insertions of transposable elements in Drosophila. Using a pilot application of this screen, we have identified an adaptive transposable element insertion, which truncates a gene and apparently generates a functional protein in the process. The insertion of this transposable element confers increased resistance to an organophosphate pesticide and has spread in D. melanogaster recently.     

Extended life-span conferred by cotransporter gene mutations in Drosophila

Aging is genetically determined and environmentally modulated. In a study of longevity in the adult fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, we found that five independent P-element insertional mutations in a single gene resulted in a near doubling of the average adult life-span without a decline in fertility or physical activity. Sequence analysis revealed that the product of this gene, named Indy (for I'm not dead yet), is most closely related to a mammalian sodium dicarboxylate cotransporter-a membrane protein that transports Krebs cycle intermediates. Indy was most abundantly expressed in the fat body, midgut, and oenocytes: the principal sites of intermediary metabolism in the fly. Excision of the P element resulted in a reversion to normal life-span. These mutations may create a metabolic state that mimics caloric restriction, which has been shown to extend life-span.     

A gene controlling condensation of heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster

A temperature-sensitive lethal mutant of Drosophila melanogaster was used to identify an essential cell cycle function that is necessary for the mitotic condensation of heterochromatic but not of euchromatic portions of the genome. This mutant is an allele at a locus (mus-101) identified earlier by the use of mutagen-sensitive mutants. The data suggest that the mutagen-sensitive and repair-defective phenotypes of viable mus-101 mutants result from a disruption in chromosome organization.     

Chromosomal effects of rapid gene evolution in Drosophila melanogaster

Rapid adaptive fixation of a new favorable mutation is expected to affect neighboring genes along the chromosome. Evolutionary theory predicts that the chromosomal region would show a reduced level of genetic variation and an excess of rare alleles. We have confirmed these predictions in a region of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster that contains a newly evolved gene for a component of the sperm axoneme. In D. simulans, where the novel gene does not exist, the pattern of genetic variation is consistent with selection against recurrent deleterious mutations. These findings imply that the pattern of genetic variation along a chromosome may be useful for inferring its evolutionary history and for revealing regions in which recent adaptive fixations have taken place.     

Massive horizontal gene transfer in bdelloid rotifers

Horizontal gene transfer in metazoans has been documented in only a few species and is usually associated with endosymbiosis or parasitism. By contrast, in bdelloid rotifers we found many genes that appear to have originated in bacteria, fungi, and plants, concentrated in telomeric regions along with diverse mobile genetic elements. Bdelloid proximal gene-rich regions, however, appeared to lack foreign genes, thereby resembling those of model metazoan organisms. Some of the foreign genes were defective, whereas others were intact and transcribed; some of the latter contained functional spliceosomal introns. One such gene, apparently of bacterial origin, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and yielded an active enzyme. The capture and functional assimilation of exogenous genes may represent an important force in bdelloid evolution.     

农杆菌介导phyB基因转化枳壳研究

以枳壳(Poncirus trifoliate (L. ) Raf.)实生苗上胚轴为试材,利用农杆菌介导法将光敏色素基因phyB导入其中,建立了枳壳实生苗的遗传转化体系,共获得27株抗性植株,PCR检测结果表明其中有5株扩增出phyB基因的特异目的带;RT-PCR分析结果表明 phyB基因在phyB3,phyB4株系枳壳基因组中能表达;Li-6400光合测定仪对转基因枳壳进行的光合特性测定结果显示,转基因枳壳光合效率高于对照;转phyB基因枳壳植株在形态上与对照也存在差异,表现出植株矮化、节间缩短、叶面积变小.     

Gene co-inheritance and gene transfer

Functional transfer of mitochondrial genes to the nucleus is very common in some taxa but entirely lacking in others. Current evolutionary theories to account for this variation predict that outcrossing, which allows escape from Muller's ratchet and faster spread of beneficial mutations, should favor gene transfer. We find that functional gene transfer is more common in selfing or clonal plants than in outcrossing plants, a pattern opposite to prediction. We suggest that reproductive modes, such as selfing and vegetative reproduction, conserve adaptive mitonuclear gene combinations, allowing functional transfer, whereas outcrossing prevents transfer by breaking up these combinations.