Unwinding of duplex DNA from the SV40 origin of replication by T antigen

The T antigen specified by SV40 virus is the only viral-encoded protein required for replication of SV40 DNA. T antigen has two activities that appear to be essential for viral DNA replication: specific binding to duplex DNA at the origin of replication and helicase activity that unwinds the two DNA strands. As judged by electron microscopy, DNA unwinding is initiated at the origin of replication and proceeds bidirectionally. Either linear or circular DNA molecules containing the origin of replication are effective substrates; with closed circular DNA, a topoisomerase capable of removing positive superhelical turns is required for an efficient reaction. Presence of an origin sequence on duplex DNA and a single-strand DNA-binding protein appear to be the only requirements for T antigen to catalyze unwinding. This reaction mediated by T antigen defines a likely pathway to precise initiation of DNA replication: (i) the sequence-specific binding activity locates the origin sequence, (ii) the duplex DNA is unwound at this site, and (iii) the DNA polymerase and primase begin DNA replication. A similar pathway has been inferred for the localized initiation of DNA replication by bacteriophage lambda and by Escherichia coli in which a sequence-specific binding protein locates the origin and directs the DnaB helicase to this site. Observations with the SV40 system indicate that localized initiation of duplex DNA replication may be similar for prokaryotes and eukaryotes.     

An origin unwinding activity regulates initiation of DNA replication during mammalian cell cycle

An in vitro assay was developed to study the positive factors that regulate the onset of DNA replication during the mammalian cell cycle. Extracts prepared from cells at defined positions in the cell cycle were used to examine the replication of SV40 DNA in a cell free system. Extracts prepared from S phase cells were ten times more efficient at initiating replication at the SV40 origin than were extracts from G1 cells, whereas elongation rates were similar in G1 and S reactions. At a discrete point in the cell cycle, just before the cell's entry into S, an activity appeared that was required, in conjunction with SV40 T antigen, for site specific initiation at the SV40 origin. This factor had a role in unwinding DNA at the replication origin.     

苦瓜α-苦瓜素基因启动子克隆与单倍型分析

为探明α-苦瓜素基因的表达调控规律,从苦瓜种质Y5中克隆了α-苦瓜素基因上游包括起始密码子在内的1 620 bp序列,选取转录起始位点上游1 500 bp序列,利用PlantCARE在线启动子预测工具进行分析。结果表明,α-苦瓜素启动子除了含有TATA-box和CAAT-box等核心元件外,还含有光响应元件、赤霉素响应元件、热胁迫响应元件、干旱应答元件、水杨酸应答元件、茉莉酸应答元件等。以28份苦瓜种质为材料,分析了α-苦瓜素启动子区域SNP和InDel分布情况,共发现24个SNP位点和1个InDel,28份苦瓜种质资源共存在4种单倍型。3个SNP位于转录因子结合位点,可能对α-苦瓜素基因的表达调控有重要作用。     

Making sense of eukaryotic DNA replication origins

DNA replication is the process by which cells make one complete copy of their genetic information before cell division. In bacteria, readily identifiable DNA sequences constitute the start sites or origins of DNA replication. In eukaryotes, replication origins have been difficult to identify. In some systems, any DNA sequence can promote replication, but other systems require specific DNA sequences. Despite these disparities, the proteins that regulate replication are highly conserved from yeast to humans. The resolution may lie in a current model for once-per-cell-cycle regulation of eukaryotic replication that does not require defined origin sequences. This model implies that the specification of precise origins is a response to selective pressures that transcend those of once-per-cell-cycle replication, such as the coordination of replication with other chromosomal functions. Viewed in this context, the locations of origins may be an integral part of the functional organization of eukaryotic chromosomes.     

高尔基体驻膜糖蛋白GP73启动子克隆

[目的]寻找并克隆有活性的高尔基体膜蛋白GP73的启动子。[方法]对GP73基因转录起始位点上游1 000 bp至下游400 bp序列进行软件分析预测,以肝癌细胞系Huh7基因组DNA为模板,扩增目标片段,构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)为报告基因的重组质粒,转染细胞后在荧光显微镜下观察EGFP的表达,并采用流式细胞仪定量检测转染细胞的荧光强度。[结果]发现GP73转录起始位点上游980到下游330 bp长1 310 bp的序列具有启动子功能。该区域可能具有两个核心启动子序列和多个保守序列,包括TATA box和NF-κB、AP1、GC-SP1等DNA结合序列。[结论]该研究为探讨GP73的转录机制提供了参考。     

植物WRKY转录因子研究进展

转录因子在植物的生长发育及其对外界环境的反应中起着重要的调控作用。典型的转录因子含有DNA结合域,转录调控域,寡聚化位点和核定位信号,转录因子通过这些结构域与相应的顺式元件相互作用调控基因的表达。WRKY转录因子是植物中特有的N-端含有WRKYGQK高度保守氨基酸序列的一种转录调控因子,它能够与(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box)发生特异性结合,从而调节启动子中含W-box元件的调节基因和/或功能基因的表达,参与植物的各种生理生化反应。文章主要论述近年来植物WRKY转录因子的相关研究进展。     

Static and initiator protein-enhanced bending of DNA at a replication origin

DNA bending has been suggested to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, initiation of DNA replication, DNA packaging, and the recognition of specific DNA sequences by proteins. It has recently been demonstrated that DNA bending can be sequence-directed. Bent DNA has also been observed as a consequence of sequence-specific binding of proteins to DNA. In this report DNA of plasmid pT181 is shown to contain a bend at the replication origin. Furthermore, this bend is enhanced by the binding of the pT181 replication initiator protein, RepC, to the origin.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞核心转录因子nanog靶基因Zbtb9的生物信息学分析

通过特异性引物用RT-PCR方法扩增Zbtb9基因。利用生物信息学对小鼠的Zbtb9基因启动子进行生物信息学分析,预测Zbtb9基因启动子位置和启动子区内含有的转录因子结合位点,以及nanog在Zbtb9基因转录调控中的作用及Zbtb9蛋白的基本性质。Zbtb9基因启动子区可能定位于转录起始点上游790 bp至1024 bp之间。启动子区内含有15个转录调控因子结合位点,nanog的作用靶序列位于Zbtb9基因启动子区与转录起始位点之间,提示nanog在Zbtb9基因转录调控中起作用,小鼠Zbtb9蛋白二级结构可能以螺旋为主,富含疏水性氨基酸;对Zbtb9基因疏水区的氨基酸进行跨膜区分析,提示可能是跨膜蛋白。经SMART分析,Zbtb9蛋白含有BTB/POZ结构域。     

Structural basis of DNA replication origin recognition by an ORC protein

DNA replication in archaea and in eukaryotes share many similarities. We report the structure of an archaeal origin recognition complex protein, ORC1, bound to an origin recognition box, a DNA sequence that is found in multiple copies at replication origins. DNA binding is mediated principally by a C-terminal winged helix domain that inserts deeply into the major and minor grooves, widening them both. However, additional DNA contacts are made with the N-terminal AAA+ domain, which inserts into the minor groove at a characteristic G-rich sequence, inducing a 35 degrees bend in the duplex and providing directionality to the binding site. Both contact regions also induce substantial unwinding of the DNA. The structure provides insight into the initial step in assembly of a replication origin and recruitment of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase to that origin.     

甘蓝型油菜FAD2基因调控序列的克隆及瞬时表达分析

油酸去饱和酶FAD2（fatty acid desaturase 2）是广泛存在于植物中的一种能催化油酸脱氢生成亚油酸的还原酶。根据GenBank上已知的甘蓝型油菜FAD2基因设计引物,以甘蓝型油菜（Brassica napus L.）叶片总DNA为模板,进行TAIL-PCR扩增,获得约1.4 kb片段并测序。序列比对结果说明该片段为已知的FAD2基因编码区上游序列。将该片段进行不同长度的5′端缺失,并用缺失后的序列替换pBI221-LUC质粒上的CaMV35S启动子,构建了甘蓝型油菜瞬时表达载体,进行油菜原生质体瞬时表达的初步研究,结果表明该序列5′端-669 bp至-1019 bp对报告基因表达水平有较大的影响。结合启动子预测分析结果,此片段中可能存在的赤霉素应答元件、光调控元件等顺式作用元件对FAD2基因的表达调控具有重要作用。     

毛白杨抗坏血酸过氧化物酶启动子克隆与分析

[目的]研究毛白杨抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的基因启动子在转录调控中的作用,为进一步探讨抗坏血酸过氧化物酶启动子在植物抗逆中的应用奠定基础.[方法]依据毛白杨与毛果杨基因的高度同源性,以毛果杨LG-IX染色体上抗坏血酸过氧化物酶启动子序列为模板设计引物,从毛白杨总DNA中克隆一段启动子序列.[结果]克隆出的抗坏血酸过氧化物酶启动子序列长1234 bp,与毛果杨同源基因的同源性高达81.96%.该启动子包含多种可能与胁迫相关的顺式作用元件保守序列,这些顺式作用元件参与光调节转录、激素信号和植物防御信号的应答,PpAPX-IX基因在老叶叶肉和老叶叶脉中表达较多,老叶中表达较多,在新叶中表达较少;在生长旺盛的部分比如根和形成层表达量很低或不表达.[结论]该启动子能为组织特异性启动子,受多种逆境胁迫产生的化学信号的诱导在成熟细胞中特异性表达,可以构建该启动子连接PBI101的表达载体.