tRNAi(met) functions in directing the scanning ribosome to the start site of translation

The mechanism by which the scanning ribosome recognizes the first AUG codon nearest the 5' end of eukaryotic messenger RNA has not been established. To investigate this an anticodon change (3'-UCC-5') was introduced into one of the four methionine initiator (tRNAi(met) genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ability of the mutant transfer RNA to restore growth properties to his4 initiator codon mutant yeast strains in the absence of histidine was then assayed. Only the complementary codon, AGG, at the his4 initiator region supported His+ growth. The mutant transfer RNA also directed the ribosome to initiate at an AGG placed in the upstream region of the his4 message. Initiation at this upstream AGG precluded initiation at a downstream AGG in accordance with the "scanning" model. Therefore, an anticodon: codon interaction between tRNAi(met) as part of the scanning ribosome and the first AUG must function in directing the ribosome to the eukaryotic initiator region.     

NMR detection of structures in the HIV-1 5'-leader RNA that regulate genome packaging

The 5'-leader of the HIV-1 genome regulates multiple functions during viral replication via mechanisms that have yet to be established. We developed a nuclear magnetic resonance approach that enabled direct detection of structural elements within the intact leader (712-nucleotide dimer) that are critical for genome packaging. Residues spanning the gag start codon (AUG) form a hairpin in the monomeric leader and base pair with residues of the unique-5' region (U5) in the dimer. U5:AUG formation promotes dimerization by displacing and exposing a dimer-promoting hairpin and enhances binding by the nucleocapsid (NC) protein, which is the cognate domain of the viral Gag polyprotein that directs packaging. Our findings support a packaging mechanism in which translation, dimerization, NC binding, and packaging are regulated by a common RNA structural switch.     

Effect of the Flanking Sequence Architecture of Translation Initiation AUG Codon on Gene Expression Level in Rice

The relationship between the codon usage bias, gene expression level and the AUG context (from -20 to +6 positions relative to the initiator AUG codon) was examined in 541unigene sequences of rice. A significant correlation for CAI values (codon adaptation index) was observed at five nucleotide positions (-19, -18, -9, -4, +5), eight (-19, -18,-14, -9, -6, -4, -1, +5) for CPP (codon preference parameter), and seven (-18, -16, -15,-9, -7, -1, + 6) for mRNA abundance in the flanking sequence of the initiator AUG codon respectively, but a significantly positive correlation for both CAI and CPP at two positions (-4 and +5), indicating that both those positions are evolutionally under the natural selection constraint at the translational level. By site-directed mutagenesis at seven specific positions (-18, -16, -15, -9, -7, -1 and + 6) for allergenic protein that had the highest mRNA abundance in this study, its expression level decreased dramatically 63.3 and 72.5% respectively, indicating the importance of those 7 positions for gene expression. A highly positive correlation (r= 0.625, P＜ 0.01) between AUGCAI and GC content in the flanking sequence of the initiator AUG codon showed a more effective higher GC content on translation initiation efficiency. The strong preference for G or C at those 8 positions (-6, -5, -3, -2, -1, +4, +5 and +6) in the AUG context suggested that an important factor in modulation of the translation efficiency, as well as synonymous codon usage bias, particularly in highly expressed genes.     

起译密码子AUG侧翼序列对水稻基因表达水平的影响

 对541条水稻基因序列测定了其起译密码子AUG侧翼区序列(-20～+6)不同位点的同义密码子偏性及基因表达水平。结果表明,与密码子适应指数(CAI)和密码子偏好指数(CPP)、mRNA丰度呈显著或极显著相关的位点分别有5个(-19、-18、-9、-4和+5)、8个(-19、-18、-14、-9、-6、-4、-1和+5)和7个(-18、-16、-15、-9、-7、-1和+6),其中只有-4和+5位点与CAI和CPP的值正相关,表明上述位点在转录水平上处于有利进化的自然选择压。对高表达的变应原蛋白基因7个特殊位     

Human-proto-oncogene nucleotide sequences corresponding to the transforming region of simian sarcoma virus

The nucleotide sequences of the six regions within the normal human cellular locus (c-sis) that correspond to the entire transforming region of the simian sarcoma virus (SSV) genome (v-sis) were determined. The regions are bounded by acceptor and donor splice sites and, except for region 6, resemble exons. Region 6 lacks a 3' donor splice site and terminates -5 base pairs from the 3' v-sis-helper-viral junction. This is consistent with a model proposing that SSV was generated by recombination between proviral DNA of a simian sarcoma associated virus and proto-sis and that introns were spliced out subsequently from a fused viral-sis messenger RNA. This also suggests that the 3' recombination occurred within an exon of the woolly monkey (Lagothrix) genome. The open reading frames predicting the v-sis and c-sis gene products coincide with the stop codon of c-sis located 123 nucleotides into the fifth region of homology. The overall nucleotide homology was 91 percent with substitutions mainly in the third codon positions within the open reading frame and with greatest divergence within the untranslated 3' portion of the sequences. The predicted protein products for v-sis and c-sis are 93 percent homologous. The predicted c-sis gene product is identical in 31 of 31 amino acids to one of the published sequences of platelet-derived growth factor. Thus, c-sis encodes one chain of human platelet-derived growth factor.     

苹果Ty1-copia类逆转座子LTR10序列及其在苹果属植物中的遗传多样性分析

应用改良的Pearce方法分离苹果Ty1-copia类逆转座子RNaseH-LTRs,分离到的RNaseH-LTR_(10)序列已在GenBank注册(登录号DQ534515),该序列长度为299 bp。分析结果表明其5′端为含有终止密码子的RNaseH基因,PPT(polypurinetract)之后是3′-LTR,PPT起始于终止密码子内10 bp处,3′-LTR的起始标志末端倒转重复序列(inverted repeat,IR)TG紧随其后。LTR_(10)的正链和反链均含有多个启动子的特征结构TATA box和CAAT box,α-淀粉酶启动子的保守序列及受不同胁迫条件作用的调控元件,如AuxRE、ABRE、HSE等。利用A-SAP技术研究了LTR_(10)逆转座子在苹果属8个野生种和22个栽培品种中的遗传多样性,多态性片段比例为86.5%;品种长祝较祝光少1条约400 bp的特异性扩增条带。     

新疆盐生植物猪毛菜逆向运输蛋白基因SaNHX1 3’-RACE的克隆及序列分析

以新疆盐生植物猪毛菜(Salsola collina Pall.)为材料提取总RNA,根据NHX1家族同源序列保守区设计1对简并引物,进行RT-PCR扩增,得到猪毛菜逆向运输蛋白基因cDNA中间一段619 bp序列。再用快速扩增cDNA 3’末端(3’RACE)方法,得到约1 000 bp 3’末端序列。将两段序列进行拼接,得到猪毛菜长为1 585bp(Gen Bank登陆号为EU072932)的逆向运输蛋白基因(SaNHX1)cDNA序列,编码370个氨基酸,其编码序列、氨基酸序列与同科耐盐植物盐角草相应序列同源性为85%和87%,研究为进一步克隆猪毛菜NHX1全基因序列和研究其功能打下基础。     

Constitutive display of cryptic translation products by MHC class I molecules

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules display tens of thousands of peptides on the cell surface, derived from virtually all endogenous proteins, for inspection by cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). We show that, in normal mouse cells, MHC I molecules present a peptide encoded in the 3' "untranslated" region. Despite its rarity, the peptide elicits CTL responses and induces self-tolerance, establishing that immune surveillance extends well beyond conventional polypeptides. Furthermore, translation of this cryptic peptide occurs by a previously unknown mechanism that decodes the CUG initiation codon as leucine rather than the canonical methionine.     

少根根霉Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在转基因油菜中的表达

 【目的】验证少根根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在转基因油菜中的表达情况，为进一步基因工程化生产γ-亚麻酸打下基础。【方法】将少根根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因和植物表达载体pCPN2301连接，构建重组表达质粒pCPNRAD6，采用农杆菌介导的油菜子叶节转化法，将该基因导入甘蓝型油菜H165，获得转基因植株，最后通过气相色谱检测基因的表达情况。【结果】PCR、GUS组织化学染色和Southern杂交分析结果表明，目的基因已经整合到油菜基因组中，Northern杂交分析进一步表明目的基因在RNA水平获得表达，气相色谱分析检测到转基因油菜叶片中γ-亚麻酸和十八碳四烯酸生成，证明目的基因获得功能表达。同样，用改变少根根霉Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的转译起始密码子周边序列的基因RAD6-1所构建的转基因酵母中，也得到类似的结果，而且各种目的脂肪酸的含量均有提高。【结论】初步建立了少根根霉△6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在转基因油菜中的表达体系。     

Identification of a missense mutation in the factor VIII gene of a mild hemophiliac

DNA probes derived from the cloned factor VIII gene can be used to detect mutations in the factor VIII gene of hemophiliacs. DNA hybridization analysis led to the identification of two contrasting point mutations in the same codon. In a severe hemophiliac with no detectable factor VIII activity, the normal arginine codon (number 2307) is converted to a stop codon, while in a mild hemophiliac with 10 percent of normal activity, this same codon is converted to glutamine.     

Leucine-tRNA initiates at CUG start codons for protein synthesis and presentation by MHC class I

Effective immune surveillance by cytotoxic T cells requires newly synthesized polypeptides for presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. These polypeptides are produced not only from conventional AUG-initiated, but also from cryptic non-AUG-initiated, reading frames by distinct translational mechanisms. Biochemical analysis of ribosomal initiation complexes at CUG versus AUG initiation codons revealed that cells use an elongator leucine-bound transfer RNA (Leu-tRNA) to initiate translation at cryptic CUG start codons. CUG/Leu-tRNA initiation was independent of the canonical initiator tRNA (AUG/Met-tRNA(i)(Met)) pathway but required expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 2A. Thus, a tRNA-based translation initiation mechanism allows non-AUG-initiated protein synthesis and supplies peptides for presentation by MHC class I molecules.     

猪圆环病毒同义密码子的使用模式及其影响因素

[目的]揭示猪圆环病毒(PCV)基因组的进化特点和遗传多样性。[方法]通过计算PCV基因组的相对同义密码子使用频率(RSCU)、有效密码子数目(ENC)和核苷酸含量等指标,对PCV基因组的密码子使用模式进行了综合分析。[结果]PCV基因组具有较低的GC含量和低的密码子偏好性,不同基因型的PCV在密码子使用上具有显著差异,并且PCV与圆环病毒科中的其他病毒的密码子使用模式也存在差异。PCV与其宿主的密码子使用模式存在一定程度的相似性。此外,地理因素、蛋白质总的平均疏水性和芳香性等可能与PCV的密码子使用模式的形成有关。[结论]PCV基因组的密码子使用模式的形成是突变压力与自然选择相互作用的结果。该研究对阐明PCV的密码子使用规律以及分子进化过程提供了最新的信息。     

20个物种同义密码子偏性的比较分析

对6种双子叶植物、4种单子叶植物、7种多细胞真核动物、2种单细胞真核生物及1种原核生物(大肠杆菌)的编码序列(CodingDNASequence,CDS)进行了比较研究。结果发现,各供试物种密码子的用法存在明显的位置依赖,编码区域不同区段对密码子选择使用的程度差异很大,表明基因的同义密码子偏性与其编码区不同区域的碱基环境密切相关;基因组差异是造成密码子使用偏性的首要因素。对"翻译起始区"和"翻译终止区"的特征分析发现,大部分供试物种编码序列中的"翻译起始区"碱基偏置强烈,"翻译终止区"相对较弱,暗示"翻译起始区"的密码子使用对提高蛋白翻译的效率和精确性更为重要。不同物种中G+C含量对其同义密码子偏性的贡献率差异很大,但并非是影响同义密码子使用偏性的唯一因素。可以认为,基因编码区域密码子偏性的研究能为搜寻物种进化的分子机理提供线索。     

Fitting discrete probability distributions to evolutionary events

The assumptions underlying the use of the Poisson distribution are essentially that the probability of an event is small but nearly identical for all occurrences and that the occurrence of an event does not alter the probability of recurrence of such events. These assumptions do not seem to be met for evolutionary events since (i) the probability of fixing nucleotide codon substitutions is not equal for all substitutions at a codon, and probably varies for the same substitution in different lineages; (ii) the probability of fixing codon substitutions varies among positions of a cistron; and (iii) the fixation of a nucleotide codon substitution at one position in a cistron modifies, and may even promote, the fixation of a codon substitution elsewhere along the cistron. Natural selection presumably is the causative factor that acts to modify the probability of a nucleotide codon substitution's being fixed in a population. The use of the negative binomial distribution is consistent with the evidence that selective pressure on amino acid or nucleotide codon positions varies both among codon positions of a cistron and at a particular position during evolutionary time. If the number of fixations of nucleotide codon substitutions per position of cistrons encoding cytochromes c are phyletically inferred (phylogeny based on a paleontological record) rather than phenetically inferred (based on paired comparisons of extant species' differences in the absence of a phylogeny) the distribution of these fixation data cannot be described adequately by a single Poisson distribution. The fit of these same data to a negative binomial distribution is very satisfactory. It has been argued that the fit of phenetically inferred fixation data, which do not take account of parallel or reverse fixations, to the Poisson distribution was supportive evidence for the hypothesis that protein evolution results from the fixation of selectively neutral codon substitutions. This argument now appears to be undercut by the evidence that data on nucleotide codon fixation are more probably distributed according to the negative binomial distribution. The fact that fixation data can be described by a particular discrete probability distribution does not of itself provide insight into the mechanisms of the evolutionary process. However, the facts-(i) that the assumptions underlying the use of the negative binomial distribution adequately deal with the varying probability of fixing amino acid or nucleotide codon substitutions at and among the positions of a cistron and (ii) that the negative binomial distribution provides an excellent fit for the phyletically inferred fixation data-suggest that the negative binomial is a very appropriate discrete probability distribution for describing evolutionary events. Amino acids or their nucleotide codon substitutions may be fixed at a position of a cistron as though selectively neutral relative to the codon being replaced, even though the codon position will not be selectively neutral, since many amino acids cannot function there. The negative binomial distribution treats this situation well whereas a single Poisson distribution could only be satisfactory if all codon positions that could vary were selectively neutral.     

西藏牦牛mtDNA COⅢ全序列测定及系统进化关系

 【目的】探讨西藏牦牛的遗传多样性和类群间的系统进化关系,为西藏牦牛遗传资源的合理保护和利用提供理论依据。【方法】对11个西藏牦牛类群111个个体的mtDNA COⅢ的全序列进行测定,用多种生物信息学软件分析牦牛类群的遗传多样性和它们间的亲缘关系及分类。【结果】①西藏11个牦牛类群的mtDNA COⅢ全序列长度均为781 bp,基因间没有内含子,共编码260个氨基酸,启始密码子AUG(ATG),含一个游离碱基。4种核苷酸的平均比例分别为29.2%（T）、29.4%（C）、26.1%（A）和15.2%（G）,有一定的偏倚性。②发现西藏牦牛的mtDNA COⅢ共有18种单倍型,11个牦牛类群的单倍型多样性值在0.378—0.844。表明,西藏牦牛具有较丰富的mtDNA COⅢ遗传多样性。③在mtDNA COⅢ的20种氨基酸组成中,亮氨酸平均含量最多,为11.92%,赖氨酸和半胱氨酸平均含量最少,为0.77%。碱性氨基酸、酸性氨基酸、亲水性氨基酸和疏水性氨基酸的含量分别为11.15%、4.62%、29.61%和54.61%。④从mtDNA COⅢ来看,西藏11个牦牛类群可分为3大类,即帕里牦牛（PL）系、巴青牦牛（BQ）系、斯布牦牛（SB）系。【结论】西藏牦牛有丰富的遗传多样性,可分为3大类;结果支持将牦牛划分为牛亚科中一个独立属（牦牛属,Poephagus）的观点。     

复羽叶栾树叶绿体基因组密码子偏好性分析

为明确复羽叶栾树叶绿体基因组密码子的使用模式,以筛选到的52条CDS蛋白质编码序列为研究对象, 利用Codon W 1.4.2和在线软件CUSP等获取复羽叶栾树密码子的GC、RSCU、ENC等参数,并进行中性绘图、PR2−plot和最优密码子分析。结果表明：复羽叶栾树密码子不同位置上的GC含量表现为GC₁（47.27%）>GC₂（39.49%）>GC₃（29.84%）,且有29个密码子RSCU>1,其中有28个以A/U结尾,表明密码子偏好以A/U结尾。有效密码子数ENC值在36～61之间,密码子使用偏性较弱。ENC与GC₃间具有极显著的相关关系,表明密码子第3 位上的碱基组成影响密码子使用偏好性。中性分析结果显示,GC₃与GC₁₂间无显著的相关关系（r = 0.198,P>0.05）,回归系数为0.2652,说明选择对密码子使用偏好性有重要影响。ENC−plot分析和奇偶偏好性分析表明,密码子偏性也受到其他因素影响。综合分析发现复羽叶栾树叶绿体基因组密码子偏好性较弱,选择为主要影响因素,同时受到其他因素的影响。最终确定CUU、GUU、AGU、GCA、CAA、CAU、AAA、GAU、CGU、CGA、GGU、GGA共12个为最优密码子。     

人类1号染色体可变剪接与普通剪接基因同义密码子的使用分析I.同义密码子偏爱使用分析

人类1号染色体可变剪接(选择性剪接)基因344非冗余蛋白质编码序列(188183密码子)和普通剪接(非可变剪接)基因的386蛋白质编码序列(223116密码子)被用于研究人类密码子使用偏爱模式.全部密码子使用数据分析表明,人类可变剪接基因密码子的偏爱水平显著高于普通剪接基因.在人类1号染色体基因中,密码子第三位置的G C含量有很大的异质性(0.24～0.95),并且可变剪接基因密码子第三位置平均G C含量(64.66%)大于普通剪接基因(59.97%).Nc值对GC3s图显示密码子偏爱使用除了受核苷酸组成制约外,其它的因子可能也影响密码子的使用变化.此外,可变剪接基因中以G 或C结尾的密码子比普通剪接基因出现的频率高.密码子使用的差异可能是由可变剪接基因pre-mRNA特有的结构特征和多种剪接模式决定的.     

木兰科叶绿体基因组的密码子使用特征分析

木兰科植物是具有重要经济、药用和观赏等价值的原始被子植物,密码子是基因编码区蛋白翻译的核心元件,分析基因组编码区密码子的使用特征,对基因功能和系统进化研究具有重要意义。目前木兰科植物已有29个物种的叶绿体基因组被成功解析和注释。收集已有的木兰科植物叶绿体基因组,系统解析叶绿体基因组编码区的密码子使用特征,并阐释了木兰科植物间的亲缘进化关系。结果表明,29种木兰科植物的叶绿体基因组编码区的同义密码子和最优密码子使用偏好相同,均以A/U结尾,自然选择是叶绿体编码区密码子偏好形成的主要原因。此外,基于29种木兰科植物叶绿体基因组、CDS序列以及密码子偏好特征RSCU值分别构建了系统进化树,分析发现,基于密码子偏好特征的物种间进化关系明显不同于前两者,而叶绿体基因组和CDS序列构建的进化关系更接近物种的真实分类,该结果也进一步支持了位点突变特征和非编码区序列在生物体的进化过程中往往具有重要的作用。     

木兰科叶绿体基因组的密码子使用特征分析

木兰科植物是具有重要经济、药用和观赏等价值的原始被子植物,密码子是基因编码区蛋白翻译的核心元件,分析基因组编码区密码子的使用特征,对基因功能和系统进化研究具有重要意义。目前木兰科植物已有29个物种的叶绿体基因组被成功解析和注释。收集已有的木兰科植物叶绿体基因组,系统解析叶绿体基因组编码区的密码子使用特征,并阐释了木兰科植物间的亲缘进化关系。结果表明,29种木兰科植物的叶绿体基因组编码区的同义密码子和最优密码子使用偏好相同,均以A/U结尾,自然选择是叶绿体编码区密码子偏好形成的主要原因。此外,基于29种木兰科植物叶绿体基因组、CDS序列以及密码子偏好特征RSCU值分别构建了系统进化树,分析发现,基于密码子偏好特征的物种间进化关系明显不同于前两者,而叶绿体基因组和CDS序列构建的进化关系更接近物种的真实分类,该结果也进一步支持了位点突变特征和非编码区序列在生物体的进化过程中往往具有重要的作用。