植物线粒体RNA编辑调控研究进展

植物线粒体作为细胞中半自主性细胞器之一,在植物的生长发育过程扮演重要角色,是植物的能量工厂。RNA编辑是近些年来线粒体RNA出现的一种转录后调控,是指在RNA水平进行碱基的改变,从而形成可能性质完全不同的氨基酸,因此这种修饰后的基因表达不能忠实地反映DNA信息。目前植物中的五肽重复(pentatricopeptide repeat, PPR)基因已被大量挖掘出来且相关研究结果证实RNA编辑主要发生在线粒体、叶绿体等细胞器中,并与细胞器的功能有着密切联系,相应的分子机理研究也在不断深入。本综述主要归纳植物线粒体RNA编辑的研究进展以及总结有关线粒体RNA编辑的最新研究成果,希望为后续的研究与应用提供一定的理论参考。     

水稻齿叶矮缩病毒Pns10蛋白在水稻原生质体内的表达

【目的】水稻齿叶矮缩病毒(Rice ragged stunt virus,RRSV)Pns10蛋白在介体昆虫细胞内可形成类似病毒原质(viroplasm)的内含体,是RRSV侵染介体所必需。然而Pns10蛋白在水稻寄主中是否具有类似功能及其表达情况如何未见报道。【方法】利用大肠杆菌系统表达Pns10蛋白,免疫家兔制备多克隆抗体;通过水稻原生质体病毒侵染体系,利用免疫荧光技术分析Pns10蛋白在水稻原生质体内的分布情况,利用实时定量PCR技术和Western blot技术分别检测Pns10 RNA和Pns10蛋白在水稻原生质体内的积累情况。【结果】将Pns10基因克隆到Gateway系统原核表达载体p DEST17中,IPTG诱导表达成功后,制备融合蛋白抗血清。Western blot检测显示,该抗血清可检测感病水稻叶片中的Pns10蛋白。病毒侵染水稻原生质体后,Pns10蛋白可形成类似病毒原质的内含体;Pns10 RNA在病毒接种8 h后开始积累,24 h后达到最大值,随后开始下降;Pns10蛋白在24 h后开始表达,之后维持较高水平,60 h后略有下降。【结论】成功获得了Pns10抗血清;Pns10在水稻原生质体内成功表达,可形成类似病毒原质的内含体,并且Pns10 RNA的表达先于其蛋白的表达。     

Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: Ten years of the GPC-B1 gene

To provide food and nutrition security for a growing world population, continued improvements in the yield and nutritional quality of agricultural crops will be required. Wheat is an important source of calories, protein and micronutrients and is thus a priority to breed for improvements in these traits. The GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT-B1 (GPC-B1) gene is a positive regulator of nutrient translocation which increases protein, iron and zinc concentration in the wheat grain. In the ten years since it was cloned, the impacts of GPC-B1 allelic variation on quality and yield traits have been extensively analyzed in diverse genetic backgrounds in field studies spanning forty environments and seven countries. In this review, we compile data from twenty-five studies to summarize the impact of GPC-B1 allelic variation on fifty different traits. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the functional copy of the GPC-B1 gene is associated with consistent positive effects on grain protein, Fe and Zn content with only marginally negative impacts on yield. We conclude that the GPC-B1 gene has the potential to increase nutritional and end use quality in a wide range of modern cultivars and environments and discuss the possibilities for its application in wheat breeding.     

Transgenic sorghum with suppressed synthesis of kafirin subclasses: Effects on flour and dough rheological characteristics

Arising from work showing that conventionally bred high protein digestibility sorghum types have improved flour and dough functionality, the flour and dough properties of transgenic biofortified sorghum lines with increased protein digestibility and high lysine content (TG-HD) resulting from suppressed synthesis of several kafirin subclasses, especially the cysteine-rich γ-kafirin, were studied. TG-HD sorghums had higher flour water solubility at 30 °C (p < 0.05) and much higher paste viscosity (41% higher) than their null controls (NC). TG-HD doughs were twice as strong as their NC and dynamic rheological analysis indicated that the TG doughs were somewhat more elastic up to 90 °C. CLSM of doughs and pastes indicated that TG-HD had a less compact endosperm protein matrix surround the starch compared to their NC. The improved flour and dough functional properties of the TG-HD sorghums seem to be caused by reduced endosperm compactness resulting from suppression of synthesis of several kafirin subclasses which modifies protein body and protein matrix structure, and to improved protein-starch interaction through hydrogen bonding specifically caused by reduction in the level of the hydrophobic γ-kafirin. The improved flour functionality of these transgenic biofortified sorghums can increase their commercial utility by complementing their improved nutritional quality.     

Effects of CENP-W down-regulation on human glioma U87 cells

AIM: To study the effect of centromere protein W (CENP-W) down-regulation on human glioma U87 cells.METHODS: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to inhibit the expression of CENP-W in the U87 cells. The interference effect of siRNA was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The proliferation of the cells was analyzed by MTT assay, BrdU staining and colony formation experiment. Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the invasion ability of the cells. The cell migration ability was measured by a scratch test. The changes of the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS: The results of MTT assay, colony formation experiment and BrdU staining showed that the cell proliferation and colony formation abilities in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group and negative control group. The results of Transwell and scratch experiments showed that the migration and invasion abilities in experimental group were weaker than those in blank control group and negative control group. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the cell cycle distribution in experimental group was arrested in G₀/G₁ phase. The percentage of apoptotic cells in experimental group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of CENP-W expression inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of human glioma cells and promotes the apoptosis of the cells, suggesting that CENP-W may be a potential target of gene therapy for human glioma.     

Screening of lentiviral vectors carrying effective siRNA targeting S1P2 gene

AIM:To screen the lentiviral vector carrying siRNA with higher efficiency of suppressing the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2(S1P2) gene expression in the primarily cultured corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).METHODS:SHR and SD rats (n=5 each) were used for primarily culturing corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.The cells were randomly divided into 6 groups:SHR siRNA-1,SHR siRNA-2,SHR siRNA-3,SHR GFP,SHR control (SHR non-transfection group),and SD control (SD rat control group).Each group had 5 samples with 1.0×10⁵ cells of each sample.At 72 h after transfection (MOI=60) with lentiviral vectors carrying S1P2 siRNA into the SHR corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells,the expression of GFP was observed under fluorescence microscope.The protein expression of S1P2,ROCK1,ROCK2 and eNOS in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells,and the mRNA expression of S1P2,ROCK1 and ROCK2 were determined by by Western blot and RT-PCR.RESULTS:The transfection efficiency of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in SHR siRNA-1,SHR siRNA-2,SHR siRNA-3 and SHR GFP groups were>80%.Compared with SHR control group,the mRNA levels and the protein expression of S1P2,ROCK1 and ROCK2 in SHR GFP group showed no remarkable changes,while those in SHR siRNA-1,SHR siRNA-2,SHR siRNA-3 and SD control groups were significantly lower than those in SHR control group (P<0.05).The protein expression of eNOS in SHR siRNA-1,SHR siRNA-2,SHR siRNA-3 and SHR GFP groups were not significantly changed as compared with SHR control group,but that in SD control group was significantly higher than that in SHR control group.CONCLUSION:Three groups of siRNA lentiviral vectors targeting S1P2 inhibit the expression of S1P2 in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of SHR,and by silencing the S1P2 expression,the expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 is inhibited.Among them,siRNA-1 has the highest inhibitory efficiency.     

寄主诱导的基因沉默提高植物真菌病害抗性研究进展

寄主诱导的基因沉默(host-induced gene silencing,HIGS)以病原菌生长发育、产孢繁殖、侵染或致病过程中的关键基因作为靶点,在寄主植物中表达针对靶基因的RNAi构建体,在病原菌侵染植物的过程中,摄入相应的ds RNA或si RNA分子,通过识别、结合特异核苷酸序列,干扰病菌靶基因表达,从而抑制病菌侵染和扩展,使植物表现抗病。这项技术为培育基于病原菌特异序列的植物抗病性奠定了基础,显示了巨大的应用潜力。本文综述了利用HIGS技术提高植物真菌病抗性的最新研究进展,总结了国内外利用这项技术改良植物真菌病害抗性的主要策略、技术路线,展望了发展应用前景。     

一种简单高效的真菌总RNA提取方法

介绍一种真菌总RNA的提取方法,此法无需特殊试剂和贵重仪器设备,可有效地排除真菌中大量存在的RNase以及多糖的干扰。此方法在变性剂存在的条件下,用酚/氯仿/异戊醇抽提,除去DNA和蛋白质,再用醋酸钠和无水乙醇沉淀RNA,去除多糖。用该方法提取的RNA样品,经核酸蛋白测定仪检测和1%琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测,RNA的均一性和完整性很好。