Quantitative mass spectrometry identifies insulin signaling targets in C. elegans

DAF-2, an insulin receptor-like protein, regulates metabolism, development, and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. In a quantitative proteomic study, we identified 86 proteins that were more or less abundant in long-lived daf-2 mutant worms than in wild-type worms. Genetic studies on a subset of these proteins indicated that they act in one or more processes regulated by DAF-2, including entry into the dauer developmental stage and aging. In particular, we discovered a compensatory mechanism activated in response to reduced DAF-2 signaling, which involves the protein phosphatase calcineurin.     

桑树WRKY转录因子的全基因组鉴定及生物信息学分析

[目的]明确桑树基因组中WRKY转录因子家族结构及其功能特征,为进一步揭示WRKY转录因子家族生物学功能提供科学依据.[方法]利用生物信息学方法对桑树WRKY转录因子的数目、类型、结构、系统进化关系、保守结构域和密码子使用偏性等进行全面分析.[结果]基于桑树全基因组蛋白数据库,共鉴定出55个桑树WRKY转录因子家族基因,占桑树基因总数(29261)的1.88%.桑树WRKY转录因子存在6种内含子数量类型及15种内含子相位类型,其中27个基因含有2个内含子,25个基因的相位类型为2-2型.保守结构域系统进化分析结果显示,桑树WRKY转录因子家族蛋白主要分为三大类(Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ),Ⅰ类可分为ⅠN和ⅠC两个亚组,Ⅱ类根据聚类情况又可分为Ⅱa、Ⅱb、Ⅱc、Ⅱd和Ⅱe等5个亚组.桑树WRKY转录因子蛋白保守结构域分析发现有五类Motif的保守性较强,桑树WRKY转录因子蛋白中均包含C端Motif l,Ⅰ类蛋白同时含有N端Motif 3.桑树WRKY转录因子家族基因启动子区富含PBF(C2H2锌指因子)和AHL(拟南芥hook因子)元件.密码子使用偏性分析结果显示,桑树WRKY转录因子家族基因的有效密码子数(ENC)介于48.00~60.00,密码子第3位GC含量(GC3s)介于0.330~0.722,平均亲水性值(Gravy)均为负值;同义密码子相对使用度(RSCU)>1.000的密码子有29个,且以A(6个)或T(11个)结尾较G(4个)或C(8个)结尾的略多.[结论]桑树WRKY转录因子家族包含55个成员,内含子相位类型一致的同组成员可能来源于同一祖先基因,且与基因复制和基因组重排有关;蛋白序列高度保守,在植物抵御环境胁迫过程中发挥作用;基因密码子使用偏性较弱,主要受碱基突变选择压力影响.     

Autophagy genes are essential for dauer development and life-span extension in C. elegans

Both dauer formation (a stage of developmental arrest) and adult life-span in Caenorhabditis elegans are negatively regulated by insulin-like signaling, but little is known about cellular pathways that mediate these processes. Autophagy, through the sequestration and delivery of cargo to the lysosomes, is the major route for degrading long-lived proteins and cytoplasmic organelles in eukaryotic cells. Using nematodes with a loss-of-function mutation in the insulin-like signaling pathway, we show that bec-1, the C. elegans ortholog of the yeast and mammalian autophagy gene APG6/VPS30/beclin1, is essential for normal dauer morphogenesis and life-span extension. Dauer formation is associated with increased autophagy and also requires C. elegans orthologs of the yeast autophagy genes APG1, APG7, APG8, and AUT10. Thus, autophagy is a cellular pathway essential for dauer development and life-span extension in C. elegans.     

Extension of life-span by loss of CHICO, a Drosophila insulin receptor substrate protein

The Drosophila melanogaster gene chico encodes an insulin receptor substrate that functions in an insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, insulin/IGF signaling regulates adult longevity. We found that mutation of chico extends fruit fly median life-span by up to 48% in homozygotes and 36% in heterozygotes. Extension of life-span was not a result of impaired oogenesis in chico females, nor was it consistently correlated with increased stress resistance. The dwarf phenotype of chico homozygotes was also unnecessary for extension of life-span. The role of insulin/IGF signaling in regulating animal aging is therefore evolutionarily conserved.     

Calorie restriction promotes mammalian cell survival by inducing the SIRT1 deacetylase

A major cause of aging is thought to result from the cumulative effects of cell loss over time. In yeast, caloric restriction (CR) delays aging by activating the Sir2 deacetylase. Here we show that expression of mammalian Sir2 (SIRT1) is induced in CR rats as well as in human cells that are treated with serum from these animals. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) attenuated this response. SIRT1 deacetylates the DNA repair factor Ku70, causing it to sequester the proapoptotic factor Bax away from mitochondria, thereby inhibiting stress-induced apoptotic cell death. Thus, CR could extend life-span by inducing SIRT1 expression and promoting the long-term survival of irreplaceable cells.     

Genetics and the specificity of the aging process

The identification and study of long-lived mutant animals has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms that limit the life-span of organisms. Findings with the gene SIR2 suggest that the rate of aging can be regulated under certain conditions. Indeed, increased expression of SIR2 lengthens life-span by acting on biological processes that promote survival under conditions of scarcity. In addition, studies of mutant strains of Caenorhabditis elegans, in particular daf-2, clk-1, and isp-1 mutants, suggest that the biology of reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria and elsewhere might be the main determinant of life-span in this organism. Thus, the aging process may be more specific than previously anticipated on evolutionary grounds.     

玉米大斑病菌Homeobox转录因子家族全基因组鉴定及其表达规律分析

【目的】从全基因组水平上鉴定玉米大斑病菌(Setosphaeria turcica)Homeobox转录因子家族及其分布,阐明该家族的序列及进化特征,分析该家族基因在病菌不同生长发育时期的表达规律。【方法】利用生物信息学手段搜索玉米大斑病菌全基因组数据库,鉴定Homeobox转录因子家族;采用MEGA 5.0软件进行系统进化树分析;利用在线工具GSDS(gene structure display server)(http://gsds1.cbi.pku.edu.cn/index.php)绘制基因结构图;利用Clustal X 1.83软件分析Homeobox保守结构域(HOX保守结构域)的氨基酸序列特征;利用SOPMA(https://npsa-prabi.ibcp.fr/cgi-bin/npsa_automat.plpage=npsa_sopma.html)对Homeobox蛋白的二级结构进行在线预测;利用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)技术分析Homeobox转录因子家族在病菌不同发育时期的表达模式。【结果】在玉米大斑病菌中鉴定了8个Homeobox转录因子家族成员(St HTF1-8),根据基因结构及系统进化特征将其分为4类;亚细胞定位预测分析表明,这8个蛋白全部定位在细胞核中;该家族成员均含有HOX保守结构域,其二级结构具有特征性的"螺旋-转角-螺旋"(helix-turn-helix)结构;利用q RT-PCR技术对该家族成员在菌丝、分生孢子形成、芽管形成、附着胞及侵入丝形成等5个时期的表达规律分析,发现不同基因在病菌不同发育时期具有不同的表达水平,其中St HTF1在菌丝发育、分生孢子及附着胞形成等3个时期的表达水平相对较高,St HTF3、St HTF4在分生孢子形成时期表达水平最高,St HTF6在芽管形成时期的表达水平最高,St HTF2、St HTF5、St HTF7和St HTF8在附着胞形成时期的表达水平均较高。【结论】玉米大斑病菌包括Homeobox转录因子家族包含8个成员,在进化上分为4大类,全部成员均分布在细胞核内,其编码蛋白质均含有保守的HOX结构域及"螺旋-转角-螺旋"空间结构;该基因家族成员在病菌不同发育时期呈现不同的表达规律。     

观赏海棠McWRI1基因克隆与分析

【目的】WRI1是一个参与调控植物种子油脂合成的转录因子,其与下游靶基因启动子区域特异的DNA序列结合,调控植物种子油脂合成相关基因的表达,但其在植物表面蜡质合成中的功能很少报道。【方法】运用PCR技术克隆McWRI1基因全长的cDNA,实时荧光定量PCR测定McWRI1在苹果属花红、楸子、槟子以及新疆野苹果中的表达,选择楸子作为代表,测定McWRI1与蜡质合成相关基因,如McWAX,McKCS,McKPHMT,McPKM2,McLACS表达的关系,GC-MS测定果皮蜡质成分。【结果】结果表明,McWRI1基因全长1 221bp,共编码406个氨基酸;氨基酸序列比对、系统进化树分析表明McWRI1具有典型的AP2家族结构域;观赏海棠McWRI1与苹果MdWRI1的氨基酸序列一致性较高。在供试的4个苹果种果实中,花红的McWRI1表达量最高,新疆野苹果最低,槟子与楸子居中。以楸子为试材,设置低温处理组,可见低温处理抑制McWRI1的表达,同时下调McWAX,McKCS,McKPHMT和McLACS,并且导致二十三烷、二十九烷、亚油酸、油酸以及十六烷酸-十八烷酯的含量有明显的上升。分析认为,McWRI1可能直接和间接调控超长链脂肪酸的合成、蜡质的脂肪酸的合成以及CoA供给参与观赏海棠果实表面蜡质的合成。