Identification of a coordinate regulator of interleukins 4, 13, and 5 by cross-species sequence comparisons

Long-range regulatory elements are difficult to discover experimentally; however, they tend to be conserved among mammals, suggesting that cross-species sequence comparisons should identify them. To search for regulatory sequences, we examined about 1 megabase of orthologous human and mouse sequences for conserved noncoding elements with greater than or equal to 70% identity over at least 100 base pairs. Ninety noncoding sequences meeting these criteria were discovered, and the analysis of 15 of these elements found that about 70% were conserved across mammals. Characterization of the largest element in yeast artificial chromosome transgenic mice revealed it to be a coordinate regulator of three genes, interleukin-4, interleukin-13, and interleukin-5, spread over 120 kilobases.     

Human-specific gain of function in a developmental enhancer

Changes in gene regulation are thought to have contributed to the evolution of human development. However, in vivo evidence for uniquely human developmental regulatory function has remained elusive. In transgenic mice, a conserved noncoding sequence (HACNS1) that evolved extremely rapidly in humans acted as an enhancer of gene expression that has gained a strong limb expression domain relative to the orthologous elements from chimpanzee and rhesus macaque. This gain of function was consistent across two developmental stages in the mouse and included the presumptive anterior wrist and proximal thumb. In vivo analyses with synthetic enhancers, in which human-specific substitutions were introduced into the chimpanzee enhancer sequence or reverted in the human enhancer to the ancestral state, indicated that 13 substitutions clustered in an 81-base pair module otherwise highly constrained among terrestrial vertebrates were sufficient to confer the human-specific limb expression domain.     

Ancient noncoding elements conserved in the human genome

Cartilaginous fishes represent the living group of jawed vertebrates that diverged from the common ancestor of human and teleost fish lineages about 530 million years ago. We generated approximately 1.4x genome sequence coverage for a cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii), and compared this genome with the human genome to identify conserved noncoding elements (CNEs). The elephant shark sequence revealed twice as many CNEs as were identified by whole-genome comparisons between teleost fishes and human. The ancient vertebrate-specific CNEs in the elephant shark and human genomes are likely to play key regulatory roles in vertebrate gene expression.     

Evolutionarily assembled cis-regulatory module at a human ciliopathy locus

Neighboring genes are often coordinately expressed within cis-regulatory modules, but evidence that nonparalogous genes share functions in mammals is lacking. Here, we report that mutation of either TMEM138 or TMEM216 causes a phenotypically indistinguishable human ciliopathy, Joubert syndrome. Despite a lack of sequence homology, the genes are aligned in a head-to-tail configuration and joined by chromosomal rearrangement at the amphibian-to-reptile evolutionary transition. Expression of the two genes is mediated by a conserved regulatory element in the noncoding intergenic region. Coordinated expression is important for their interdependent cellular role in vesicular transport to primary cilia. Hence, during vertebrate evolution of genes involved in ciliogenesis, nonparalogous genes were arranged to a functional gene cluster with shared regulatory elements.     

Accelerated evolution of conserved noncoding sequences in humans

Changes in gene regulation likely influenced the profound phenotypic divergence of humans from other mammals, but the extent of adaptive substitution in human regulatory sequences remains unknown. We identified 992 conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) with a significant excess of human-specific substitutions. These accelerated elements were disproportionately found near genes involved in neuronal cell adhesion. To assess the uniqueness of human noncoding evolution, we examined CNSs accelerated in chimpanzee and mouse. Although we observed a similar enrichment near neuronal adhesion genes in chimpanzee, the accelerated CNSs themselves exhibited almost no overlap with those in human, suggesting independent evolution toward different neuronal phenotypes in each species. CNSs accelerated in mouse showed no bias toward neuronal cell adhesion. Our results indicate that widespread cis-regulatory changes in human evolution may have contributed to uniquely human features of brain development and function.     

草菇钙调磷酸酶催化亚基(Vv-CNA)的序列与表达

[目的]分析草菇钙调磷酸酶催化亚基(Vv-CNA)的序列与表达,为进一步探究草菇生长发育及子实体开伞分子调控机理提供参考.[方法]通过生物信息学分析确定Vv-CNA基因的组成及保守结构,将ORF Finder预测的草菇CNA氨基酸序列与从NCBI下载的其他真菌CNA氨基酸序列进行比对,并通过荧光定量PCR检测Vv-CNA基因在草菇不同生长时期的相对表达量.[结果]Vv-CNA基因编码区为2503 bp,包含10个内含子(其中I2、I8、I9和I10存在内含子保留现象),编码610个氨基酸,GenBank登录号KX463514.将Vv-CNA氨基酸序列与动物(人、小鼠)、植物(拟南芥、水稻)和真菌(曲霉、酵母等)的CNA氨基酸序列进行同源比对分析,结果发现Vv-CNA蛋白有3个最保守的结构域,与密褐褶菌(Gloeophyllum trabeum)的亲缘关系最近.Vv-CNA基因在草菇子实体的蛋形期和伸长期高表达,以蛋形期的相对表达量最高.[结论]Vv-CNA基因编码钙调磷酸酶催化亚基,其高表达有利于草菇菌柄的伸长.     

Evolutionary discrimination of mammalian conserved non-genic sequences (CNGs)

Analysis of the human and mouse genomes identified an abundance of conserved non-genic sequences (CNGs). The significance and evolutionary depth of their conservation remain unanswered. We have quantified levels and patterns of conservation of 191 CNGs of human chromosome 21 in 14 mammalian species. We found that CNGs are significantly more conserved than protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAS (ncRNAs) within the mammalian class from primates to monotremes to marsupials. The pattern of substitutions in CNGs differed from that seen in protein-coding and ncRNA genes and resembled that of protein-binding regions. About 0.3% to 1% of the human genome corresponds to a previously unknown class of extremely constrained CNGs shared among mammals.     

6种模式生物热休克蛋白70家族的进化分析

[目的]研究柄海鞘和其他5个物种的热休克蛋白70家族的系统发育关系。[方法]通过在Ensembl中下载与筛选,获得柄海鞘和其他5种生物的热休克蛋白70家族的氨基酸序列,对其进行系统发育树和基因结构分析,并阐明其系统发育关系。[结果]经过筛选,共获得了来自线虫、果蝇、柄海鞘、斑马鱼、家鸡和人类6种生物的热休克蛋白70家族的33个氨基酸序列,其中25个具有明确的基因结构。系统发育分析表明,系统发育树并未完全按照来源物种聚类;6种生物热休克蛋白70的氨基酸序列相当保守,但其内含子插入位点并不整齐,表明热休克蛋白70家族是一个多基因、多结构的家族。[结论]这6个物种均发生了基因复制事件,新产生的基因仅仅是冗余的存在,还是具有新的功能,仍需作进一步的研究。     

MicroRNA expression in zebrafish embryonic development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, about 21 nucleotides in length, that can regulate gene expression by base-pairing to partially complementary mRNAs. Regulation by miRNAs can play essential roles in embryonic development. We determined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of 115 conserved vertebrate miRNAs in zebrafish embryos by microarrays and by in situ hybridizations, using locked-nucleic acid-modified oligonucleotide probes. Most miRNAs were expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner during segmentation and later stages, but not early in development, which suggests that their role is not in tissue fate establishment but in differentiation or maintenance of tissue identity.     

大鲵2个Sox基因HMG–box的克隆及分析

为探明Sox基因在物种进化中的保守性及其性别分型,以大鲵雌、雄个体为材料,参照Sox基因HMG-box保守区的序列,设计简并引物扩增,两因子均在雌、雄个体内得到217 bp PCR扩增产物,不存在性别差异.将二者编码的氨基酸序列与NCBI中其他物种Sox基因编码的氨基酸序列进行比对,其中一个基因与人、斑马鱼、家鼠、鸡、热带爪蟾、扬子鳄Sox11基因的同源性均为90％.另一个基因与罗非鱼、鸭嘴兽、家鼠、红鳍东方鲀、斑马鱼、鸡、人、非洲爪蟾和大鲵Sox14基因的同源性均为90％,故根据大鲵的学名,将这2个基因分别命名为adSox11和adSox14c.adSox11和adSox14c在大鲵精巢、卵巢、肾脏和心脏中均有不同程度表达,而在胃和肝脏中几乎不表达.     

Role for piRNAs and noncoding RNA in de novo DNA methylation of the imprinted mouse Rasgrf1 locus

Genomic imprinting causes parental origin-specific monoallelic gene expression through differential DNA methylation established in the parental germ line. However, the mechanisms underlying how specific sequences are selectively methylated are not fully understood. We have found that the components of the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway are required for de novo methylation of the differentially methylated region (DMR) of the imprinted mouse Rasgrf1 locus, but not other paternally imprinted loci. A retrotransposon sequence within a noncoding RNA spanning the DMR was targeted by piRNAs generated from a different locus. A direct repeat in the DMR, which is required for the methylation and imprinting of Rasgrf1, served as a promoter for this RNA. We propose a model in which piRNAs and a target RNA direct the sequence-specific methylation of Rasgrf1.     

巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的克隆和分析

[目的]获得巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[方法]以巴夫杜氏藻cDNA为模板,采用简并引物进行PCR扩增,获得533 bp特异cDNA片段。在此基础上,设计特异引物,采用5′-GenomeWalking和3′-RACE的方法,获得基因的5′-端DNA序列和3′-端cDNA序列,进而获得β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[结果]获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的特异cDNA片段、5′-端DNA和3′-端cDNA片段。经拼接后,扩增出全长cDNA。β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长1 754 bp,包括1 137 bp的开放读码框和617 bp的3′-非翻译区序列。氨基酸序列相似性分析发现,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白氨基酸序列与杜氏盐藻、莱茵衣藻等的同源性较高。系统发育分析表明,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白与杜氏盐藻的相似性最高。[结论]首次获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列并发现巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因非常保守。     

巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的克隆和分析

[目的]获得巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[方法]以巴夫杜氏藻cDNA为模板,采用简并引物进行PCR扩增,获得533bp特异cDNA片段。在此基础上,设计特异引物,采用5’-Genome Walking和3’-RACE的方法,获得基因的5’-端DNA序列和3’-端cDNA序列,进而获得β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[结果]获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的特异cDNA片段、5’-端DNA和3’-端cDNA片段。经拼接后,扩增出全长cDNA。β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长1754bp,包括1137bp的开放读码框和617bp的3’-非翻译区序列。氨基酸序列相似性分析发现,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白氨基酸序列与杜氏盐藻、莱茵衣藻等的同源性较高。系统发育分析表明,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白与杜氏盐藻的相似性最高。[结论]首次获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列,并发现巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因非常保守。     

巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的克隆和分析(英文)

[目的]获得巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[方法]以巴夫杜氏藻cDNA为模板,采用简并引物进行PCR扩增,获得533 bp特异cDNA片段。在此基础上,设计特异引物,采用5′-GenomeWalking和3′-RACE的方法,获得基因的5′-端DNA序列和3′-端cDNA序列,进而获得β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列。[结果]获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因的特异cDNA片段、5′-端DNA和3′-端cDNA片段。经拼接后,扩增出全长cDNA。β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长1 754 bp,包括1 137 bp的开放读码框和617 bp的3′-非翻译区序列。氨基酸序列相似性分析发现,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白氨基酸序列与杜氏盐藻、莱茵衣藻等的同源性较高。系统发育分析表明,巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白与杜氏盐藻的相似性最高。[结论]首次获得了巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因cDNA全长序列并发现巴夫杜氏藻β-肌动蛋白基因非常保守。     

Molecular cloning of complementary DNA encoding the avian receptor for vitamin D

Vitamin D3 receptors are intracellular proteins that mediate the nuclear action of the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. Two receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies were used to recover the complementary DNA (cDNA) of this regulatory protein from a chicken intestinal lambda gt11 cDNA expression library. The amino acid sequences that were deduced from this cDNA revealed a highly conserved cysteine-rich region that displayed homology with a domain characteristic of other steroid receptors and with the gag-erbA oncogene product of avian erythroblastosis virus. RNA selected via hybridization with this DNA sequence directed the cell-free synthesis of immunoprecipitable vitamin D3 receptor. Northern blot analysis of polyadenylated RNA with these cDNA probes revealed two vitamin D receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of 2.6 and 3.2 kilobases in receptor-containing chicken tissues and a major cross-hybridizing receptor mRNA species of 4.2 kilobases in mouse 3T6 fibroblasts. The 4.2-kilobase species was substantially increased by prior exposure of 3T6 cells to 1,25(OH)2D3. This cDNA represents perhaps the rarest mRNA cloned to date in eukaryotes, as well as the first receptor sequence described for an authentic vitamin.     

Diversity of circumsporozoite antigen genes from two strains of the malarial parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

The complete nucleotide sequence of the coding region of the circumsporozoite antigen gene (CS gene) of the Nuri strain of the malarial parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is presented. The gene from the Nuri strain exhibits a novel form of sequence diversity when compared to the CS gene from the H strain. Instead of the 12 tandem repeating 36-base pair units of the H strain, the Nuri strain contains 16 tandem repeating 27-base pair units of a different nucleotide sequence that encodes a different repeating peptide. In contrast, the 5' and 3' coding and noncoding sequences flanking the repeats are 98 percent conserved in both strains.