An integrated genomic analysis of human glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of brain cancer. To identify the genetic alterations in GBMs, we sequenced 20,661 protein coding genes, determined the presence of amplifications and deletions using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, and performed gene expression analyses using next-generation sequencing technologies in 22 human tumor samples. This comprehensive analysis led to the discovery of a variety of genes that were not known to be altered in GBMs. Most notably, we found recurrent mutations in the active site of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) in 12% of GBM patients. Mutations in IDH1 occurred in a large fraction of young patients and in most patients with secondary GBMs and were associated with an increase in overall survival. These studies demonstrate the value of unbiased genomic analyses in the characterization of human brain cancer and identify a potentially useful genetic alteration for the classification and targeted therapy of GBMs.     

Profiling essential genes in human mammary cells by multiplex RNAi screening

By virtue of their accumulated genetic alterations, tumor cells may acquire vulnerabilities that create opportunities for therapeutic intervention. We have devised a massively parallel strategy for screening short hairpin RNA (shRNA) collections for stable loss-of-function phenotypes. We assayed from 6000 to 20,000 shRNAs simultaneously to identify genes important for the proliferation and survival of five cell lines derived from human mammary tissue. Lethal shRNAs common to these cell lines targeted many known cell-cycle regulatory networks. Cell line-specific sensitivities to suppression of protein complexes and biological pathways also emerged, and these could be validated by RNA interference (RNAi) and pharmacologically. These studies establish a practical platform for genome-scale screening of complex phenotypes in mammalian cells and demonstrate that RNAi can be used to expose genotype-specific sensitivities.     

Germination and appressorium formation of Pyricularia oryzae Cavara can be inhibited by reduced concentration of Blasin®Flowable with carbon dioxide microbubbles

We investigated the possibility to reduce the usage of Blasin^®Flowable (BF), a disinfectant inhibiting the germination and appressorium formation of Pyricularia oryzae Cavara conidia, by using carbon dioxide microbubbles (CO₂MB). Germination was significantly inhibited by 10 000-fold diluted BF solution containing CO₂MB generated by the decompression-type generator compared to CO₂ millibubbles (CO₂MMB) and CO₂MB generated by the gas-water circulating-type generator. Appressorium formation in the 10 000-fold diluted BF solution containing both CO₂MBs was less than that in CO₂MMB. Scanning electron microscopy showed wrinkles and dents on the surface of conidia treated with 5 000-fold diluted BF solution containing both CO₂MBs. Via transmission electron microscopy, we observed the expansion of the vacuole and the intracellular space and bloated or absent lipid granules in the conidia treated with BF solution containing both CO₂MBs. Our results show that inhibition of the conidium germination and appressorium formation of P. oryzae Cavara by 10 000-fold diluted BF solution could be achieved by using the decompression-type CO₂MB.     

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Sweetpotato Storage Roots Between Kokei No. 14 and Its Mutant Nongdafu 14 Using PCR-Based cDNA Subtraction

The contents of carotenoids in the storage root of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. vary dramatically among different cultivars. However, so far little is known about the regulation of carotenoids synthesis in sweetpotato. In our laboratory, we identified a novel sweetpotato mutant, Nongdafu 14, which is a homogenous mutant derived from the wild type Kokei No. 14. The contents of carotenoids in the storage root of Nongdafu 14 were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and it was found that the amount of carotenoids, b-carotene, lutein and zeaxantion, three major types of carotenoids in sweetpotato storage roots, increased 2–26 folds in Nongdafu 14 compared to Kokei No. 14. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify genes that were differentially expressed in Nongdafu 14, and a differentially expressed cDNA library was constructed using the cDNA of Nongdafu 14 storage roots as tester and that of Kokei No. 14 storage roots as driver. Out of the 1 530 clones sequenced, we identified 292 nonredundant ESTs. GO and KEGG analyses of these differentially expressed ESTs indicated that diverse metabolism pathways were affected and candidate genes involved in regulation of carotenoids synthesis are suggested.     

扩展莫尼茨绦虫蛋白激酶C相互作用蛋白(PICK1)基因的克隆及序列分析

[目的]分离和鉴定扩展莫尼茨绦虫(Monieziaexpansa)新基因,为进一步研究该基因的功能奠定基础.[方法]构建扩展莫尼茨绦虫成虫cDNA文库,随机挑取重组阳性克隆进行测序,对部分序列进行引物步移法测序,获取其全长cDNA序列;采用生物信息学等分析技术对该cDNA序列进行开放阅读框(ORF)的寻找、编码氨基酸的推导、核苷酸和氨基酸同源性比较及蛋白质二级结构的初步预测.[结果]获得了1个扩展莫尼茨绦虫新基因蛋白激酶C相互作用蛋白,全长1 527 bp,编码447个氨基酸,CDS预测存在明显的BAR,PDZ结构域.编码蛋白的理论分子质量为50.173 3 ku,等电点为5.22.[结论]获得了扩展莫尼茨绦虫蛋白激酶C相互作用蛋白的全长cDNA序列,为该基因功能的试验性鉴定工作奠定基础.     

Maintenance of genome stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Most human cancer cells show signs of genome instability, ranging from elevated mutation rates to gross chromosomal rearrangements and alterations in chromosome number. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that generate this instability or how it is suppressed in normal cells. Recent studies of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have begun to uncover the extensive and redundant pathways that keep the rate of genome rearrangements at very low levels. These studies, which we review here, have implicated more than 50 genes in the suppression of genome instability, including genes that function in S-phase checkpoints, recombination pathways, and telomere maintenance. Human homologs of several of these genes have well-established roles as tumor suppressors, consistent with the hypothesis that the mechanisms preserving genome stability in yeast are the same mechanisms that go awry in cancer.     

影响高粱茎秆汁液含量基因的精细定位

无论是用作牲畜饲料或榨汁做糖,茎秆汁液含量对于甜高粱而言都是一个非常重要的农艺性状。本研究通过对两套独立的F2群体观察统计发现,影响高粱茎秆汁液含量(MCS)的基因Dd呈现质量性状基因的遗传规律,且干髓对多汁为显性。用SSR标记初定位表明该基因位于第6号染色体,扩大定位群体后,用群体F2 1将其定位在标记sm06068和sm06093之间,用群体F2 2将其定位在sm06068和sm06069之间,两个区段的物理距离均约为470 kb。为了进一步缩小定位区间,对定位群体的亲本进行了测序分析并开发了2个InDel标记。最终,目标基因被锁定在只包含6个候选基因的区间范围内。基因d的精细定位为该基因的克隆及今后分子育种中的应用打下基础。     

Distinct pathways of viral spread in the host determined by reovirus S1 gene segment

The genetic and molecular mechanisms that determine the capacity of a virus to utilize distinct pathways of spread in an infected host were examined by using reoviruses. Both reovirus type 1 and reovirus type 3 spread to the spinal cord following inoculation into the hindlimb or forelimb footpad of newborn mice. For type 3 this spread is through nerves and occurs via the microtubule-associated system of fast axonal transport. By contrast, type 1 spreads to the spinal cord through the bloodstream. With the use of reassortant viruses containing various combinations of double-stranded RNA segments (genes) derived from type 1 and type 3, the viral S1 double-stranded RNA segment was shown to be responsible for determining the capacity of reoviruses to spread to the central nervous system through these distinct pathways.     

中华蜜蜂幼虫肠道中微小RNA的鉴定及分析

[目的]利用small RNA-seq(sRNA-seq)技术和生物信息学方法对中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana,简称中蜂)幼虫肠道的微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)进行全转录组鉴定和分析,旨在丰富中蜂的miRNA信息,并为深入研究miRNA调控中蜂幼虫肠道发育的分子机理提供依据.[方法]利用s...     

Functional genomic analysis of RNA interference in C. elegans

RNA interference (RNAi) of target genes is triggered by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) processed by conserved nucleases and accessory factors. To identify the genetic components required for RNAi, we performed a genome-wide screen using an engineered RNAi sensor strain of Caenorhabditis elegans. The RNAi screen identified 90 genes. These included Piwi/PAZ proteins, DEAH helicases, RNA binding/processing factors, chromatin-associated factors, DNA recombination proteins, nuclear import/export factors, and 11 known components of the RNAi machinery. We demonstrate that some of these genes are also required for germline and somatic transgene silencing. Moreover, the physical interactions among these potential RNAi factors suggest links to other RNA-dependent gene regulatory pathways.     

Modeling the initiation and progression of human acute leukemia in mice

Our understanding of leukemia development and progression has been hampered by the lack of in vivo models in which disease is initiated from primary human hematopoietic cells. We showed that upon transplantation into immunodeficient mice, primitive human hematopoietic cells expressing a mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion gene generated myeloid or lymphoid acute leukemias, with features that recapitulated human diseases. Analysis of serially transplanted mice revealed that the disease is sustained by leukemia-initiating cells (L-ICs) that have evolved over time from a primitive cell type with a germline immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene configuration to a cell type containing rearranged IgH genes. The L-ICs retained both myeloid and lymphoid lineage potential and remained responsive to microenvironmental cues. The properties of these cells provide a biological basis for several clinical hallmarks of MLL leukemias.     

Identifying SNPs associated with birth weight and days to 100 kg traits in Yorkshire pigs based on genotyping-by-sequencing

Birth weight(BW) and days to 100 kg(D100) are important economic traits that are both affected by polygenes. However, the genetic architecture of these quantitative traits is still elusive. Genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS) data containing a large number of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) have become a powerful tool in genomic analysis. To better understand their complex genetic structure, a total of 600 Yorkshire pigs were sequenced using GBS technology. After quality control, 279 787 SNPs were generated for subsequent genome-wide association study(GWAS). A total of 30 genome-wide SNPs(P1.79 E–07) were identified for D100. Furthermore, a total of 22 and 2 suggestive SNPs(P3.57 E–06) were detected for D100 and BW, respectively. Of these, one locus located on SSC12(position: 46 226 512 bp) were evaluated to affect both BW and D100 in Yorkshire pigs, indicating the pleiotropism in different traits. Considering the function of candidate genes, two genes, NSRP1 and DOCK7, were suggested as the most promising candidate genes involved in growth traits. Thus, use of GBS is able to identify novel variants and potential candidate genes for BW and D100, and provide an opportunity for improving pig growth traits using genomic selection in pigs.     

The control of the metabolic switch in cancers by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes

Cells from some tumors use an altered metabolic pattern compared with that of normal differentiated adult cells in the body. Tumor cells take up much more glucose and mainly process it through aerobic glycolysis, producing large quantities of secreted lactate with a lower use of oxidative phosphorylation that would generate more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), water, and carbon dioxide. This is the Warburg effect, which provides substrates for cell growth and division and free energy (ATP) from enhanced glucose use. This metabolic switch places the emphasis on producing intermediates for cell growth and division, and it is regulated by both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in a number of key cancer-producing pathways. Blocking these metabolic pathways or restoring these altered pathways could lead to a new approach in cancer treatments.     

2份春小麦种质资源成株期抗条锈病基因遗传分析

研究分析2份春小麦种质资源成株期的抗条锈病基因遗传规律,为春小麦抗条锈病基因利用提供理论依据.采用春小麦Taichung29与MY004730杂交、ZM018243与MY004730杂交的方式分别创建F2:3代分离群体进行2 a的田间测试,对抗条锈病基因遗传进行分析.结果表明,2个F2:3群体的病害严重度和反应型在2个...     

A systematic survey of loss-of-function variants in human protein-coding genes

Genome-sequencing studies indicate that all humans carry many genetic variants predicted to cause loss of function (LoF) of protein-coding genes, suggesting unexpected redundancy in the human genome. Here we apply stringent filters to 2951 putative LoF variants obtained from 185 human genomes to determine their true prevalence and properties. We estimate that human genomes typically contain ~100 genuine LoF variants with ~20 genes completely inactivated. We identify rare and likely deleterious LoF alleles, including 26 known and 21 predicted severe disease-causing variants, as well as common LoF variants in nonessential genes. We describe functional and evolutionary differences between LoF-tolerant and recessive disease genes and a method for using these differences to prioritize candidate genes found in clinical sequencing studies.