Jekyll and Hyde in the microbial world

Fungi are nonmotile organisms that obtain carbon from compounds in their immediate surroundings. Confronted with nutrient limitation, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes a dimorphic transition, switching from spherical cells to filaments of adherent, elongated cells that can invade the substratum. A complex web of sensing mechanisms and cooperation among signaling networks (including a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase, and 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) elicits the appropriate changes in physiology, cell cycle progression, cell polarity, and gene expression to achieve this differentiation. Highly related signaling processes control filamentation and virulence of many human fungal pathogens.     

Role of the Arabidopsis glucose sensor HXK1 in nutrient,light, and hormonal signaling

Glucose modulates many vital processes in photosynthetic plants. Analyses of Arabidopsis glucose insensitive2 (gin2) mutants define the physiological functions of a specific hexokinase (HXK1) in the plant glucose-signaling network. HXK1 coordinates intrinsic signals with extrinsic light intensity. HXK1 mutants lacking catalytic activity still support various signaling functions in gene expression, cell proliferation, root and inflorescence growth, and leaf expansion and senescence, thus demonstrating the uncoupling of glucose signaling from glucose metabolism. The gin2 mutants are also insensitive to auxin and hypersensitive to cytokinin. Plants use HXK as a glucose sensor to interrelate nutrient, light, and hormone signaling networks for controlling growth and development in response to the changing environment.     

大麦CIPK基因家族鉴定及表达分析

钙调神经磷酸酶B样相互作用蛋白激酶(CIPK)蛋白家族是由Ca2+介导的植物信号通路中的关键蛋白家族,在植物抗逆和生长发育中起关键作用。本研究将生物信息学方法和转录组数据分析相结合,挖掘出大麦31个HvCIPK基因家族成员并将其分为5个亚家族。HvCIPKs基因家族成员具有CIPKs典型的N端激酶结构域和C端NAF调节结构域;蛋白质分子量在40302.27~89926.43KDa之间,为亲水性蛋白;启动子总共包含11种与非生物胁迫、激素调控以及生长发育相关的顺式作用元件;蛋白互作网络预测结果显示,HvCIPKs与Na+、K+转运体、ABA信号通路关键蛋白(SOS1、AKT1和ABL2)存在相互作用关系;转录组数据分析发现HvCIPK1、HvCIPK2、HvCIPK6、HvCIPK9、HvCIPK11受盐碱胁迫的诱导表达。该研究为进一步探索大麦HvCIPKs基因家族功能及调控机制提供理论依据。     

Autophagy and the nutritional signaling pathway

During their growth and development, animals adapt to tremendous changes in order to survive. These include responses to both environmental and physiological changes and autophagy is one of most important adaptive and regulatory mechanisms. Autophagy is defined as an autolytic process to clear damaged cellular organelles and recycle the nutrients via lysosomic degradation. The process of autophagy responds to special conditions such as nutrient withdrawal. Once autophagy is induced, phagophores form and then elongate and curve to form autophagosomes. Autophagosomes then engulf cargo, fuse with endosomes, and finally fuse with lysosomes for maturation. During the initiation process, the ATG1/ULK1 (unc-51-like kinase 1) and VPS34 (which encodes a class III phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase) complexes are critical in recruitment and assembly of other complexes required for autophagy. The process of autophagy is regulated by autophagy related genes (ATGs). Amino acid and energy starvation mediate autophagy by activating mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is the energy status sensor, the core nutrient signaling component and the metabolic kinase of cells. This review mainly focuses on the mechanism of autophagy regulated by nutrient signaling especially for the two important complexes, ULK1 and VPS34.     

Pht1家族在几种植物中的研究进展

植物磷转运蛋白是植物磷营养中必需的一种膜蛋白。植物磷转运子在植物根系中负责磷的吸收、转运,其表达受磷调控,磷元素广泛存在于动植物组织中,是植物生长所必需的大量无机营养元素之一,在诸多代谢过程中都起着举足轻重的作用。在植株中,磷素通过磷酸盐转运蛋白吸收和转运,该蛋白在调控植株对磷素吸收、利用效率等方面具有重要作用。植物基因组中含有大量推测的以基因家族的形式存在的编码磷转运蛋白基因。目前已知的磷转运子分为五大家族Pht1、Pht2、Pht3、Pho1和Pho2。文中主要综述了水稻、大豆、玉米、小麦、拟南芥、番茄、苜蓿、马铃薯中Pht1家族的结构、功能及表达调控方面的研究进展。     

植物miRNA的生物学特性及在环境胁迫中的作用

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类在生物体内普遍存在的非编码、长度约为21 nt的小RNA分子,一般由内源基因编码,RNA聚合酶Ⅱ转录后,经过Dicer-Like酶等一系列的蛋白复合物将pre-miRNA(precursor miRNA)剪切成成熟miRNA,在转录及转录后水平介导靶mRNA转录沉默、降解或翻译抑制来调控基因的表达,是真核细胞基因表达的重要调控因子。第一个miRNA是在秀丽隐杆线虫(C.elegans)中发现的lin-4,与lin-14 mRNA 3′UTR的碱基序列部分互补,降解lin-14,从而抑制lin-14的表达。lin-4对靶基因lin-14的调控与线虫的生长发育密切相关。而第一个发现的植物miRNA是拟南芥mi R171,它靶向剪切编码基因Scarecrow-Like(SCL)家族的mRNA,调控其基因的表达,进而影响植物的生长发育。植物部分miRNA,如mi R156—mi R408在各植物物种中相对保守,而mi R408以后的miRNA具有物种特异性。植物在生长过程中会遭遇诸多不可预知(如同盐碱、干旱、重金属以及害虫和病原菌的侵扰等)的环境胁迫。固着生长的特性使得植物不能像动物那样通过移动来避免不利环境的影响,因此,需要自身特殊机制来应对这些环境胁迫。植物在长期逆境中已进化出极为精细复杂的生理和分子机制。miRNA与它作用的靶基因是响应环境胁迫的主要调控因子。miRNA参与了植物的生长发育、信号转导、蛋白质降解、营养胁迫、抗病原菌的入侵以及适应高盐和干旱等逆境胁迫过程,对于调节内源抗性基因表达具有一定意义。目前通过高通量测序、实时定量PCR检测和转基因等技术已经发现了很多与环境胁迫相关的miRNA,它们在逆境胁迫下的表达呈现显著差异性;miRNA的过表达植株经逆境胁迫处理可能表现出一定的抗逆或敏感性。同一家族的miRNA不同成员在响应环境胁迫时具有物种特异性。新疆地区是典型的大陆性干旱气候,降水量少,盐碱荒漠化地区多。在这样严酷的环境中顽强生存着许多盐生旱生类植物,这些植物的miRNA如何在逆境中发挥调控作用,依然需要更深入的探索。本文主要综述了现阶段植物miRNA生物合成、与靶基因作用方式、生物功能以及不同环境胁迫下对miRNA和作用的靶基因影响等方面的研究进展,以便更好地利用miRNA依据的生物技术开展研究和应用转化。     

Identification of SNPs and expression patterns of FZD3 gene and its effect on wool traits in Chinese Merino sheep(Xinjiang Type)

As a member of the Frizzled family, Frizzled3(FZD3) is a receptor of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and plays a vital role in mammalian hair follicle developmental processes. However, its effects on wool traits are not clear. The objectives of this study were to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) and the expression patterns of FZD3 gene, and then to determine whether it affected wool traits of Chinese Merino sheep(Xinjiang Type) or not. PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and sequencing were used to identify mutation loci, and general linear model(GLM) with SAS 9.1 was used for the association analysis between wool traits and SNPs. Quantitative real-time PCR(q RTPCR) was used to investigate FZD3 gene expression levels. The results showed that six exons of FZD3 gene were amplified and two mutation loci were identified in exon 1(NC_019459.2: g.101771685 TC(SNP1)) and exon 3(NC_019459.2: g.101810848, AC(SNP2)), respectively. Association analysis showed that SNP1 was significantly associated with mean fiber diameter(MFD)(P=0.04) and live weight(LW)(P=0.0004), SNP2 was significantly associated with greasy fleece weight(GFW)(P=0.04). The expression level of FZD3 gene in skin tissues of the superfine wool(SF) group was significantly lower(P0.05) than that of the fine wool(F) group. Moreover, it had a higher expression level(P0.01) in skin tissues than in other tissues of Chinese Merino ewes. While, its expression level had a fluctuant expression in skin tissues at different developmental stages of embryos and born lambs, with the highest expression levels(P0.01) at the 65 th day of embryos. Our study revealed the genetic relationship between FZD3 variants and wool traits and two identified SNPs might serve as potential and valuable genetic markers for sheep breeding and lay a molecular genetic foundation for sheep markerassisted selection(MAS).     

柞蚕免疫系统相关基因ApTOLL1的克隆及两种蚕微孢子虫感染下的诱导表达

[目的]鉴定柞蚕的免疫相关TOLL样受体家族基因,以期为进一步探讨柞蚕的免疫机制奠定基础。[方法]克隆了柞蚕免疫系统相关TOLL样受体家族基因,并进行序列和系统进化分析,同时,利用两种蚕微孢子虫侵染柞蚕,检测TOLL样受体相关基因的表达差异,分析不同病原微孢子虫感染柞蚕后所引起的免疫应激差异。[结果]通过cDNA克隆测序获得一个可能与柞蚕免疫相关的基因片段,序列及系统进化分析显示它与家蚕Toll信号通路中的Toll1基因最为同源,将其命名ApTOLL1基因。进一步对柞蚕蛹分别注射家蚕微孢子虫和柞蚕微孢子虫后,通过实时荧光定量PCR技术分析显示,注射家蚕微孢子虫2 h后蚕蛹内ApTOLL1大量表达,而注射柞蚕微孢子虫11 h后蛹内该基因才开始表达,这表明柞蚕Toll信号通路针对不同病原微孢子所诱导产生的免疫响应时间有所差异。[结论]该研究结果首次克隆了柞蚕ApTOLL1基因,并为进一步研究柞蚕的免疫机制提供了帮助。     

Comparison of birth weight and umbilical and placental characteristics of cloned and artificial insemination-derived piglets

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived piglets have significantly higher stillbirth rate and postnatal mortality rate than artificial insemination (AI)-generated piglets. The question whether the low survival rate of SCNT piglets was related to birth weight, umbilical cord or placenta development was investigated. In this study, stillbirth rate, neonatal death rate, birth weight, umbilical cord status, placental parameters and placental gene expression patterns were compared between SCNT and AI piglets. Results showed that mortality rates at birth and during the neonatal stage of SCNT piglets were significantly higher than those of AI piglets. The incidence of abnormal umbilical cord in SCNT and SCNT-liveborn (SCNT-LB) piglets was significantly higher than in AI and AI-liveborn (AI-LB) piglets. Birth weight, placental weight, placental surface area and placental efficiency in SCNT and SCNT-LB piglets were significantly lower than those of AI and AI-LB piglets. Placental expression profiles of imprinting, angiopoiesis and nutrient transport-related genes were defective in SCNT-LB piglets compared with those in AI-LB piglets. Thus, the low survival rate of SCNT piglets may be associated with abnormal umbilical cord and placenta development. These characteristics may have resulted from aberrant expression of angiogenesis, nutrient transport, and imprinting-related genes in the placentas.     

烟草WRKY-R1基因的克隆及瞬时表达分析

以烟草根尖组织cDNA为模板,RT-PCR结合电子克隆得到NtWRKY-R1基因的完整ORF,序列分析显示,NtWRKY-R1具有WRKY转录因子家族典型的WRKYGQK保守结构域及C2H2的锌指结构,属于WRKY转录因子家族第Ⅱ类。采用生物信息学方法对NtWRKY-R1蛋白的理化性质、进化关系和磷酸化位点进行预测和分析,结果表明,NtWRKY-R1与茄科植物保守结构域的同源性及系统进化关系最近;磷酸化位点分析显示该蛋白可能通过磷酸化作用修饰,进而对其相应的代谢活动进行调节。通过构建真核表达载体、建立瞬时表达分析体系,结果显示,NtWRKY-R1基因的过表达导致JA信号途径标记基因PDF1.2及烟碱合成关键酶基因PMT1表达量降低,推测NtWRKY-R1基因影响JA信号途径,进而调控烟碱合成。     

山羊早期胎儿组织TET1与Wnt通路基因的表达变化及其相关性

【目的】通过检测TET1和Wnt信号通路相关基因以及DKK家族基因在山羊胎儿发育早期的表达变化,分析TET1与Wnt通路基因的相关性,为TET1调控山羊胎儿发育研究提供理论依据。【方法】选取12只健康大足黑山羊母羊,自然发情后与同一只种公羊自然交配。采用剖腹产手术的方法,分别获得妊娠20、25、30、60和90d的胎儿,对胎儿的生长指标(体重、体长)进行统计,并采集了60和90d胎儿的组织器官样品(心、肝、肺、肾、脑、皮肤),通过Real-time PCR(RT-PCR)检测各样品中TET1基因,DKK家族基因(DKK1、DKK2、DKK3)和Wnt家族基因(Wnt2、Wnt2b、Wnt4、Wnt5a、Wnt5b、Wnt7b、Wnt16)的相对表达量。利用SPSS软件分析山羊胎儿发育早期不同阶段TET1与WNT信号通路相关基因相关性以及基因表达显著性(P0.05)。【结果】山羊妊娠早期胎儿生长在60d后有显著变化。荧光定量检测结果表明,TET1基因表达随妊娠天数的增加呈上升趋势。Wnt家族基因在山羊胎儿发育中都检测到表达(Wnt2,-2b,-4,-5a,-5b,-7b,-16)。其中,Wnt2和Wnt7b表达量随胎儿发育逐渐增高;Wnt2b、Wnt5a、Wnt5b、Wnt7b在妊娠30 d时有显著高表达(P0.05);Wnt4在胎儿发育20 d时表达显著(P0.05);Wnt16基因在妊娠25 d有显著高表达(P0.05)。DKK家族基因表达检测结果显示,DKK1在胎儿发育早期阶段都有表达,DKK2/3在妊娠初期表达量较低,后期表达增高。通过组织中基因表达检测显示,TET1在90d胎儿肝、肺、肾和脑中的表达水平相比于60d胎儿组织升高,肝中表达量显著(P0.05)。Wnt家族基因Wnt2在组织器官中有相对活跃的表达,妊娠90d胎儿肺中表达量极显著(P0.01);Wnt16基因在胎儿皮肤组织中表达显著(P0.05),且维持在一个较高的水平;Wnt5a和Wnt7b在肾中表达显著(P0.05),其他Wnt基因在组织中都有表达。相关性分析显示,胎儿生长指标(体重、体长)变化与TET1的表达呈极显著正相关(P0.01);TET1在胎儿发育早期的表达与Wnt2、Wnt7b、Wnt16呈现正相关,与Wnt2b、Wnt4、Wnt5a、Wnt5b呈负相关,其中与Wnt5b呈显著负相关(P0.05),与Wnt7b呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。Wnt通路基因之间也有相互关系,Wnt2与Wnt4呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。Wnt2与Wnt7b,Wnt2b与Wnt5a、Wnt5b,Wnt5a与Wnt5b呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。Wnt4与Wnt5a呈显著正相关(P0.05)。【结论】获得了TET1与Wnt基因在山羊胎儿发育早期的表达模式,并进行了相关性分析,填补了这些基因在山羊方面的研究空白;TET1与Wnt基因对山羊胎儿早期的发育和组织的形成是一个动态的调控变化过程;TET1基因表达与部分Wnt基因呈现显著正相关,部分呈现显著负相关;Wnt通路基因之间表达量呈现一定的相关性。这些数据为TET1与Wnt分子调控山羊早期胎儿发育的机制深入研究提供了参考。     

BSKs mediate signal transduction from the receptor kinase BRI1 in Arabidopsis

Brassinosteroids (BRs) bind to the extracellular domain of the receptor kinase BRI1 to activate a signal transduction cascade that regulates nuclear gene expression and plant development. Many components of the BR signaling pathway have been identified and studied in detail. However, the substrate of BRI1 kinase that transduces the signal to downstream components remains unknown. Proteomic studies of plasma membrane proteins lead to the identification of three homologous BR-signaling kinases (BSK1, BSK2, and BSK3). The BSKs are phosphorylated by BRI1 in vitro and interact with BRI1 in vivo. Genetic and transgenic studies demonstrate that the BSKs represent a small family of kinases that activate BR signaling downstream of BRI1. These results demonstrate that BSKs are the substrates of BRI1 kinase that activate downstream BR signal transduction.     

用cDNA-AFLP技术研究茶树种子在低温贮藏过程中差异基因的表达

以茶树无性系龙井43种子为材料,利用cDNA-AFLP差异显示方法,分析它在低温贮藏后的基因表达,为顽拗性植物种子的中长期保存提供理论依据。从64对引物筛选出的差异片段中克隆出10个低温差异表达片段,有7个在GenBank数据库中与小分子量热激蛋白、MYB类转录因子、衰老相关蛋白、F-box家族蛋白、蛋白激酶、磷酸二酯酶等基因有较高同源性。     

转录组荔枝Dof基因家族的鉴定及其表达

单锌指DNA结合蛋白(DNA binding with one finger,Dof)是植物中特有的一类转录因子,在植物生长发育与非生物胁迫响应中发挥非常重要的作用.利用妃子笑荔枝果实发育RNA-seq数据库,采用生物信息学分析方法,对荔枝Dof(LcDof)基因家族的基本理化特性,亚细胞定位,蛋白质保守结构域,进化关...     

杜梨根系铁吸收关键基因生物信息学分析及缺铁胁迫对其表达的影响

为了探究缺铁胁迫对杜梨根系铁吸收关键基因表达的影响,对杜梨根系铁吸收关键基因三价铁还原酶(Pb FRO2)基因和铁转运蛋白(Pb IRT1)基因的氨基酸序列进行了多重序列比对和进化树分析;采用改良的Hoagland营养液水培杜梨的方法,研究了缺铁胁迫对杜梨根系Pb FRO2和Pb IRT1基因相对表达量以及根系铁和锌含量的影响。结果表明,Pb FRO2蛋白具有还原酶特性,Pb IRT1蛋白属于二价金属离子转运蛋白家族—ZIP家族;缺铁胁迫9 d内,杜梨根系Pb FRO2和Pb IRT1的表达量整体上呈现出先升高后降低的趋势,胁迫3 d表达量达到最高点且与对照(加FeEDTA)差异显著;缺铁胁迫30 d,杜梨根系中铁含量比对照降低77.46%,而锌含量提高1 139.40%。综上可知,缺铁胁迫可诱导杜梨根系铁吸收关键基因表达量升高,进而促进二价金属离子转运蛋白的活性提高。     

杜仲CONSTANS-like全基因组鉴定、系统进化及表达模式分析

  目的  揭示CONSTANS-like在杜仲Eucommia ulmoides基因组中的分布、结构特征及表达模式。  方法  利用生物信息学方法，对杜仲CONSTANS-like基因家族进行鉴定及理化性质、进化关系、基因结构、启动子元件和表达模式分析。  结果  杜仲基因组中共鉴定到8个EuCOLs基因，分别命名为EuCOL1~EuCOL8，氨基酸数目为315~469，理论等电点分布范围为5.10~6.47，分子量为35.21~52.65 kDa。亚细胞定位预测均定位在细胞核中，为亲水性蛋白，分布于8条染色体。系统进化分为2个亚家族(群组Ⅰ和群组 Ⅲ)，分别包含2和6个EuCOLs蛋白，同一亚家族基序具有相似性。EuCOLs基因结构简单，启动子中含有多个光周期响应元件。表达模式分析显示:EuCOLs在杜仲叶片发育中表达水平相对较低，EuCOL7在杜仲胶形成中表达量最高，各家族成员表达特征存在差异。蛋白互作预测显示:EuCOL7可与多个光周期响应蛋白互作。  结论  杜仲CONSTANS-like基因家族含有典型的CCT和B-box结构域，可能参与叶片发育及杜仲胶的形成。图8表1参56     

SPA1, a WD-repeat protein specific to phytochrome A signal transduction

The five members of the phytochrome photoreceptor family of Arabidopsis thaliana control morphogenesis differentially in response to light. Genetic analysis has identified a signaling pathway that is specifically activated by phytochrome A. A component in this pathway, SPA1 (for "suppressor of phyA-105"), functions in repression of photomorphogenesis and is required for normal photosensory specificity of phytochrome A. Molecular cloning of the SPA1 gene indicates that SPA1 is a WD (tryptophan-aspartic acid)-repeat protein that also shares sequence similarity with protein kinases. SPA1 can localize to the nucleus, suggesting a possible function in phytochrome A-specific regulation of gene expression.