玉米蛋白磷酸酶2C基因ZmPP2C26两个可变剪接体的功能分析

【目的】探讨蛋白磷酸酶2C在植物生长发育和逆境抗性中的作用。【方法】利用逆转录PCR扩增玉米蛋白磷酸酶2C基因ZmPP2C26的两个可变剪接体,用生物信息学工具预测其推导蛋白的特性后,转化野生型拟南芥,并进行功能验证和亚细胞定位。【结果】在较短剪接体中切除的213nt第一内含子,在较长剪接体中被保留。第一个内含子的剪接位点为5′-CC..CG-3′,与植物中通常的组成型剪接位点5′-GT..AG-3′不同。保留内含子及其侧翼序列的G/C含量较高,相当于其他内含子及其侧翼序列的2倍。两个剪接体在野生型拟南芥中的异源表达均可增加其对干旱胁迫的敏感性。两个剪接体推导蛋白的预测三维结构均与PP2C相似,较长剪接体保留内含子编码的71个冗余氨基酸序列保持随机螺旋状态,预测为叶绿体定位信号肽。绿色荧光蛋白标记法定位表明,较长剪接体定位于细胞核、细胞膜和细胞器,而较短剪接体定位于细胞核和细胞膜。【结论】ZmPP2C26基因转录后加工过程中发生内含子保留型可变剪接。第一个内含子的保留没有改变其编码蛋白的PP2C功能,但有可能使其作用由细胞核和细胞膜延伸至叶绿体。     

真核生物pre-mRNA剪接的研究进展

Pre-mRNA剪接,即把内含子去除并把外显子序列连接成为成熟的mRNA,是基因表达与调控的重要环节之一。本文在概述真核基因mRNA剪接反应机制的基础上,主要讨论pre-mRNA的剪接机器,剪接体如何催化pre-mRNA剪接反应和pre-mRNA选择性剪接等方面的研究进展。     

崂山奶山羊不同泌乳期乳腺组织可变剪接的鉴定与分析

本研究对崂山奶山羊泌乳初期、高峰期和末期乳腺组织RNA-Seq数据进行可变剪接分析,共鉴定到151 503个可变剪接事件,对应17 627个可变剪接基因,6 323个差异剪接基因,显著富集到细胞器、蛋白质结合、mRNA加工和RNA剪接等相关GO条目,主要参与催产素信号通路、钙信号通路、内质网中的蛋白质加工等,与乳腺组织生理活性密切相关的KEGG通路,筛选出PTEN作为参与乳腺发育及泌乳相关生理过程中调控网络的核心基因。研究结果表明,可变剪接在奶山羊不同泌乳期的乳腺组织具有发育阶段特异性,特有可变剪接基因与乳腺组织生理活性特点密切相关,在调控奶山羊乳腺组织发育及泌乳生理中发挥重要作用。本研究可为探究可变剪接机制调控奶山羊乳腺发育与泌乳性状的分子机理提供理论依据。     

简州大耳羊早期胎儿到新出生阶段背最长肌中可变剪接的鉴定与分析

可变剪接广泛存在于动植物的各个组织中,是形成动植物体内蛋白质多样性和复杂性的重要机制之一。以简州大耳羊为研究对象,采集母羊妊娠期第45天、60天、105天胎儿以及出生后第3天羔羊的背最长肌组织,进行转录组测序。测序数据经比对、组装后,共鉴定出来自于4 562个(16.77%)已注释基因的137 308个可变剪接事件。其中,所占比例最高的类型为外显子跳跃(30.64%),而3′端可变剪接位点、内含子保留、5′端可变剪接位点的比例分别为19.47%、18.07%和10.92%。对RBMs、HNRNPs和SRSFs 3类可变剪接调控因子中58个基因表达量分析表明,19个基因的表达量呈现显著差异(P0.05);其中15个基因在妊娠期第45天和第60天的表达量显著高于其他2个阶段。GO功能注释和富集分析结果表明,4个阶段均发生可变剪接的基因显著富集在细胞表达调控和物质合成等过程(P0.05)。值得注意的是,在妊娠期第60天,可变剪接事件、可变剪接基因的数量和可变剪接因子表达量均显著高于其他阶段,并且特异性基因显著富集在有丝分裂和大分子合成相关过程。上述结果表明,妊娠期第60天胎儿的成肌过程非常活跃,暗示可变剪接在山羊背最长肌发育过程中具有重要作用,为深入探索可变剪接在山羊肌肉发育中的作用提供理论依据。     

基于RNA-seq数据分析玉米抗虫响应基因的可变剪接事件

采用Illumina Hiseq~(TM)分别对黏虫取食的玉米叶片及对照组材料进行转录组测序,鉴定和分析响应黏虫取食基因的可变剪接事件。结果表明,对照组中鉴定出15 701个基因对应79 363个可变剪接事件,黏虫取食组中鉴定到11 791个基因的39 385个可变剪接事件。2组玉米基因组在不同的可变剪接类型中,均是以第1个外显子可变剪切、最后1个外显子可变剪切、单内含子滞留和可变5′或3′端剪切4种类型为主。对2组发生可变剪接事件的基因进行比对发现,黏虫处理组新增加了1 121个可变剪接基因,差异表达分析鉴定出177个表达显著差异的可变剪接基因。GO功能富集分析表明,发生可变剪接的差异基因主要富集于氧化还原酶活性、转移酶活性、DNA结合、ATP结合、代谢过程、以DNA为模板的转录及调控相关的功能,表明这些可变剪接差异表达基因参与了玉米的抗虫响应过程。     

意大利蜜蜂幼虫肠道响应球囊菌胁迫的可变剪接基因分析

为探讨可变剪接基因在宿主响应球囊菌(Ascosphaera apis)胁迫过程中的作用,基于前期已获得的意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera ligustica)幼虫肠道转录组数据进行可变剪接基因分析。在正常的意蜂4日龄幼虫肠道(AmCK),球囊菌胁迫的意蜂4、5和6日龄幼虫肠道(AmT1、AmT2、AmT3)中共鉴定出55 895个可变剪接事件,以外显子跨越和可变3′端剪接为主。各样品的共有可变剪接基因数为8 157个,AmT1、AmT2、AmT3的特有可变剪接基因数分别为207、334和542个。GO分类结果显示共有可变剪接基因分布在50个GO条目。KEGG代谢通路富集分析结果显示,共有可变剪接基因富集在290个pathway,基因富集数最多的是内质网蛋白加工、RNA运输和碳代谢。上述分析结果揭示了可变剪接基因在意蜂幼虫肠道响应球囊菌胁迫过程中的重要作用,为深入研究可变剪接基因的功能打下了基础。     

大白菜BrSPS1Fb基因剪接受体位点变异及其对剪接的影响

为研究剪接受体位点变异对剪接方式与效率的影响,对大白菜材料He2进行重测序,发现BrSPS1Fb-He2第6个内含子(I6)的剪接受体位点由AG突变为AC。对大白菜材料He2花瓣进行转录组测序并分析BrSPS1Fb-He2 read数据,结果显示,BrSPS1Fb-He2在pre-mRNA加工过程中发生了选择性剪接。BrSPS1Fb-He2可选择3个位置(A1、A2和A3)作为受体进行剪接,产生3种剪接异构体(S1、S2和S3),或者保留I6整个内含子,形成S4剪接异构体。大白菜BrSPS1Fb-He2的成熟mRNA中保留部分I6(S1和S2)或全部I6(S4),或者缺失部分E7外显子序列(S3)。综上,BrSPS1Fb剪接受体位点的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNP)变异对其转录后剪接产生了显著影响。     

玉米ZmcpSRP54基因可变剪接分析

cpSRP54基因在植物叶绿体发育中发挥重要作用。本研究用生物信息学方法对玉米ZmcpSRP54蛋白进行了进化分析,利用RT-PCR方法对玉米ZmcpSRP54基因全长cDNA进行了克隆,进而对其进行可变剪接分析。结果表明,玉米ZmcpSRP54蛋白与其它7个物种的cpSRP54蛋白有很高的相似性。鉴定到玉米ZmcpSRP54基因25个不同转录本,1个为标准剪接转录本,其它24个为可变剪接转录本。24个可变剪接转录本共使用了17种非标准剪接位点,4种可变剪接方式,主要以可变的3′端位点、可变的5′端位点和外显子跳跃3种可变剪接方式为主。预测出18种不同长度的ORF,编码18种不同长度的多肽。11个多肽其保守结构域氨基酸序列发生部分缺失,6个多肽其保守结构域氨基酸序列发生全部缺失,1个编码全新的多肽。这些结果将为玉米ZmcpSRP54基因的功能研究提供重要信息。     

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.     

Molecular architecture of the multiprotein splicing factor SF3b

The splicing factor SF3b is a multiprotein complex essential for the accurate excision of introns from pre-messenger RNA. As an integral component of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) and the U11/U12 di-snRNP, SF3b is involved in the recognition of the pre-messenger RNA's branch site within the major and minor spliceosomes. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the human SF3b complex by single-particle electron cryomicroscopy at a resolution of less than 10 angstroms, allowing identification of protein domains with known structural folds. The best fit of a modeled RNA-recognition motif indicates that the protein p14 is located in the central cavity of the complex. The 22 tandem helical repeats of the protein SF3b155 are located in the outer shell of the complex enclosing p14.     

Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein remodeling during catalytic activation of the spliceosome

Major structural changes occur in the spliceosome during its activation just before catalyzing the splicing of pre-messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Whereas changes in small nuclear RNA (snRNA) conformation are well documented, little is known about remodeling of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) structures during spliceosome activation. Here, human 45S activated spliceosomes and a previously unknown 35S U5 snRNP were isolated by immunoaffinity selection and were characterized by mass spectrometry. Comparison of their protein components with those of other snRNP and spliceosomal complexes revealed a major change in protein composition during spliceosome activation. Our data also suggest that the U5 snRNP is dramatically remodeled at this stage, with the Prp19 complex and other factors tightly associating, possibly in exchange for other U5 proteins, and suggest that after catalysis the remodeled U5 is eventually released from the postsplicing complex as a 35S snRNP particle.     

U1-specific protein C needed for efficient complex formation of U1 snRNP with a 5' splice site

One of the functions of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) in the splicing reaction of pre-mRNA molecules is the recognition of the 5' splice site. U1 snRNP proteins as well as base-pair interactions between U1 snRNA and the 5' splice site are important for the formation of the snRNP-pre-mRNA complex. To determine which proteins are needed for complex formation, the ability of U1 snRNPs gradually depleted of the U1-specific proteins C, A, and 70k to bind to an RNA molecule containing a 5' splice site sequence was studied in a nitrocellulose filter binding assay. The most significant effect was always observed when protein C was removed, either alone or together with other U1-specific proteins; the binding was reduced by 50 to 60%. Complementation of protein C-deficient U1 snRNPs with purified C protein restored their 5' splice site binding activity. These data suggest that protein C may potentiate the base-pair interaction between U1 RNA and the 5' splice site.     

An early hierarchic role of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein in spliceosome assembly

Splicing of nuclear precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) occurs on a large ribonucleoprotein complex, the spliceosome. Several small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP's) are subunits of this complex that assembles on the pre-mRNA. Although the U1 snRNP is known to recognize the 5' splice site, its roles in spliceosome formation and splice site alignment have been unclear. A new affinity purification method for the spliceosome is described which has provided insight into the very early stages of spliceosome formation in a yeast in vitro splicing system. Surprisingly, the U1 snRNP initially recognizes sequences at or near both splice junctions in the intron. This interaction must occur before the other snRNP's (U2, U4, U5, and U6) can join the complex. The results suggest that interaction of the two splice site regions occurs at an early stage of spliceosome formation and is probably mediated by U1 snRNP and perhaps other factors.     

An essential signaling role for the m3G cap in the transport of U1 snRNP to the nucleus

The major small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) U1, U2, U4 + U6, and U5 have to be transported from the cytoplasm, where they are synthesized, to the nucleus, where they splice pre-messenger RNAs. Since the free core snRNP proteins in the cytoplasm do not enter the nucleus on their own, the nuclear location signal must either reside on the snRNA or be created as a result of snRNA-protein interaction. Here the involvement by the 5'-terminal cap of snRNA molecules in the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of UsnRNPs has been studied by microinjection of synthetic U1 RNA molecules into frog oocytes; the U1 RNA bore either the normal cap (m3G) or a chemical derivative. Antibodies in the cytoplasm against the m3G cap inhibited the nuclear uptake of U1 snRNP. U1 RNA that was uncapped or contained an unnatural ApppG cap did not enter the nucleus, even though it carried a normal complement of protein molecules. When the ribose ring of the m3G cap was oxidized with periodate, nuclear transport of U1 snRNPs was severely inhibited. Finally, microinjection of m3G cap alone (but not m7G cap) into oocytes severely inhibited the transport of U1 snRNPs to the nucleus. These data suggest that one step in the nuclear uptake of U1 snRNPs involves the m3G cap structure.     

Analysis of Disequilibrium Hybridization in Hybrid and Backcross Progenies of Saccharum officinarum × Erianthus arundinaceus

Erianthus arundinaceus is an important, closely related genus of Saccharum officinarum L. It is therefore important to understand how the chromosomes are transmitted when it hybridizes with sugarcane. The hybrids and backcross progenies of S. officinarum and E. arundinaceus and their parents were used for Karyotype analysis and to study the law of chromosome transmission. The results showed that the somatic chromosome number of both of the E. arundinaceus Hainan92-105 and Hainan92-77 were 2n = 60 = 60sm, belonging to type 1 A, and the BC1 YC01-21 was 2n = 104 = 100m ＋ 4sm, belonging to type 2C. The other six tested clones belonged to type 2B. The both F1s YC96-66 and YC96-40 that originated from Badila （2n = 80 = 70m ＋ 10sm） with E. Arundinaceus were 2n = 70 = 68m ＋ 2sm, which suggests an n ＋ n transmission. The cross between YC96-66 （female parent） and CP84-1198 （male parent, 2n = 120 = 114m ＋ 6sm） also followed the same genetic law and the somatic chromosome number of their progeny, YC01-3 （2n = 105 = 95m ＋ 10sm）. The cross derived from YC96- 40 （female） and CP84-1198 （male）, YC01-21 had 2n = 104 = 100m ＋ 4sm chromosomes, following the same genetic law of n ＋ n. However, YC01-36 had 2n = 132 = 130m ＋ 2sm chromosomes, which suggests a 2n ＋ n chromosome transmission. It can be inferred that the inheritance of chromosomes was very complex in the BC1. The difference in chromosome number between clones was as high as 28. This could be explained by the 2n ＋ n transmission of chromosomes. In addition, as there was not be a regular number of haploids, this phenomenon is termed as disequilibrium hybridization.     

Improving winter wheat grain yield and water-/nitrogen-use efficiency by optimizing the micro-sprinkling irrigation amount and nitrogen application rate

Available irrigation resources are becoming increasingly scarce in the North China Plain (NCP),and nitrogen-use efficiency of crop production is also relatively low.Thus,it is imperative to improve the water-use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen fertilizer productivity on the NCP.Here,we conducted a two-year field experiment to explore the effects of different irrigation amounts (S60,60 mm;S90,90 mm;S120,120 mm;S150,150 mm) and nitrogen application rates (150,195 and 240 kg ha~(–1);denoted as N1,N2 and N3,respectively) under micro-sprinkling with water and nitrogen combined on the grain yield(GY),yield components,leaf area index (LAI),flag leaf chlorophyll content,dry matter accumulation (DM),WUE,and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP).The results indicated that the GY and NPFP increased significantly with increasing irrigation amount,but there was no significant difference between S120 and S150;WUE significantly increased first but then decreased with increasing irrigation and S120 achieved the highest WUE.The increase in nitrogen was beneficial to improving the GY and WUE in S60 and S90,while the excessive nitrogen application (N3) significantly reduced the GY and WUE in S120 and S150 compared with those in the N2 treatment.The NPFP significantly decreased with increasing nitrogen rate under the same irrigation treatments.The synchronous increase in spike number (SN) and 1 000-grain weight (TWG)was the main reason for the large increase in GY by micro-sprinkling with increasing irrigation,and the differences in SN and TGW between S120 and S150 were small.Under S60 and S90,the TGW increased with increasing nitrogen application,which enhanced the GY,while N2 achieved the highest TWG in S120 and S150.At the filling stage,the LAI increased with increasing irrigation,and greater amounts of irrigation significantly increased the chlorophyll content in the flag leaf,which was instrumental in increasing DM after anthesis and increasing the TGW.Micro-sprinkling with increased amounts of irrigation or excessive nitrogen application decreased the WUE mainly due to the increase in total water consumption (ET)and the small increase or decrease in GY.Moreover,the increase in irrigation increased the total nitrogen accumulation or contents (TNC) of plants at maturity and reduced the residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil (SNC),which was conducive to the increase in NPFP,but there was no significant difference in TNC between S120 and S150.Under the same irrigation treatments,an increase in nitrogen application significantly increased the residual SNC and decreased the NPFP.Overall,micro-sprinkling with 120 mm of irrigation and a total nitrogen application of 195 kg ha~(–1) can lead to increases in GY,WUE and NPFP on the NCP.     

Splicing of messenger RNA precursors

A general mechanism for the splicing of nuclear messenger RNA precursors in eukaryotic cells has been widely accepted. This mechanism, which generates lariat RNAs possessing a branch site, seems related to the RNA-catalyzed reactions of self-splicing introns. The splicing of nuclear messenger RNA precursors involves the formation of a multicomponent complex, the spliceosome. This splicing body contains at least three different small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs), U2, U5, and U4 + U6. A complex containing precursor RNA and the U2 snRNP particle is a likely intermediate in the formation of the spliceosome.