Bulk pollen pollination in maize for efficient construction of introgression populations with high genome coverage

Introgression populations consist of a set of introgression lines or families, constructed by continuous backcrossing to the recurrent parent, while carrying a limited number of chromosome segments from a donor parent in their genomes. Increasing the genome coverage is an important aim when constructing introgression population. In this study, we proposed bulk pollen pollination (BPP) method and used it to increase the genome coverage of a maize introgression population. The results showed that the genome coverage of the introgression population constructed using BPP method reached 100% at BC₃ generation, which accorded with the simulation result. The BPP‐based BC₃F_1:2 population could identify most quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected using the F_2:3 population, especially major QTL. Simulation analysis showed that the genome coverage of introgression population increased with the increase of population size and the number of bulked plants, and decreased with the increase of backcross generation. Our results proved the reliability of the BPP‐based introgression population in increasing genome coverage and detecting QTL, and provided references for constructing high‐coverage introgression populations.     

二穗短柄草叶绿体RNA编辑位点的预测及其鉴定

RNA编辑是陆生植物叶绿体转录后基因表达调控的一种重要方式。为进一步探讨单子叶植物RNA编辑功能及其发生机制,本研究通过生物信息学方法,对二穗短柄草叶绿体的81个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点进行了预测和鉴定分析,结果发现78个基因存在编辑位点,共检测到176个编辑位点,都是C到U的转换。其中ndhB最多,为14个编辑位点。为验证预测结果,利用blast工具比对了NCBI的二穗短柄草EST数据库,最终确定存在于17个基因中的34个编辑位点是真实存在的,其中19个为沉默编辑,15个为有效编辑。与5个不同单子叶禾本科物种18个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点的比较发现,在rpoB-206位点,只有二穗短柄草发生了编辑,且只有ndhD-295(293)为部分编辑位点。     

Putative virulence-related genes in Vibrio anguillarum identified by random genome sequencing

The genome of Vibrio anguillarum strain H775-3 was partially determined by a random sequencing procedure. A total of 2,300 clones, 2,100 from a plasmid library and 200 from a cosmid library, were sequenced and subjected to homology search by the BLAST algorithm. The total length of the sequenced clones is 1.5 Mbp. The nucleotide sequences were classified into 17 broad functional categories. Forty putative virulence-related genes were identified, 36 of which are novel in V. anguillarum, including a repeat in toxin gene cluster, haemolysin genes, enterobactin gene, protease genes, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes, capsule biosynthesis gene, flagellar genes and pilus genes.     

Detection and characterization of a rhabdovirus causing mortality in black bullhead catfish,Ameiurus melas

This study fully describes a severe disease outbreak occurred in 2016 in black bullhead catfish farmed in Italy. Affected fish showed nervous clinical signs as well as emaciations and haemorrhagic petechiae on the skin at the fin bases, abdomen and gills. Viral isolation in cell culture allowed the subsequent identification of a rhabdovirus, tentatively named ictalurid rhabdovirus (IcRV), through electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The newly isolated virus, together with 14 additional viral strains stored in our repository and detected during similar mortality episodes in the period 1993–2016, was phylogenetically analysed on the basis of the nucleoprotein and the glycoprotein nucleotide and amino acid sequences. The genetic distances among Italian IcRV strains were also estimated. Our results show that all the IcRV strains belong to the genus Sprivivirus and are closely related to the tench rhabdovirus (TenRV). Italian catfish production is constantly decreasing, mainly due to viral infections, which include the newly characterized IcRV. Data presented in this work will assist to investigate the molecular epidemiology and the diffusive dynamics of this virus and to develop adequate surveillance activities.     

脊尾白虾不同发育期mtDNA拷贝数变化特征分析

为了解脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)在不同发育期线粒体基因组(mtDNA)拷贝数的变化特征,本研究共采集其8个时期(受精卵期、溞状幼体Ⅰ期、溞状幼体Ⅱ期、溞状幼体Ⅲ期、溞状幼体Ⅳ期、溞状幼体Ⅴ期、仔虾期和成虾期)的DNA样品,利用TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR技术,对上述各发育期单个细胞中的mtDNA拷贝数进行了测定。检测结果显示,脊尾白虾受精卵期、溞状幼体Ⅰ期、溞状幼体Ⅱ期、溞状幼体Ⅲ期、溞状幼体Ⅳ期、溞状幼体Ⅴ期、仔虾期和成虾期的mtDNA拷贝数的均值分别为2366、2648、2644、2873、3559、9948、6452和8872。进一步统计分析结果显示,mtDNA拷贝数与发育时间存在正相关性,相关系数为0.83。研究表明,随着脊尾白虾不断生长,其单个细胞中mtDNA拷贝数总体呈上升趋势。     

斜带髭鲷线粒体DNA控制区序列的结构分析

采用PCR技术获得我国南海斜带髭鲷（Hapalogenys nitens）养殖及野生群体共50尾样品的mtDNA控制区全序列,长度范围788～790bp;测得序列与GenBank下载的其他鲈形目鱼类D-loop全序列利用CLUSTALX进行排序后,对控制区结构进行分析。识别了其终止结合序列区、中央保守区和保守序列区,指出了终止相关序列的主体是TACAT与其反向互补序列ATGTA以及一系列保守序列（CSB-F、CSB-E、CSB-D和CSB-1、CSB-2、CSB-3）,并给出了其一般形式;此外,基于斜带髭鲷D-Loop全长序列,利用贝叶斯法构建了分子系统进化树。结果显示,斜带髭鲷养殖群体与野生群体部分样品各自紧密聚成一小支,而在整棵进化树上,养殖样品与野生样品相互交错聚集在一起,可见本研究海区斜带髭鲷养殖群体与野生群体之间的遗传差异分化不显著。     

圆斑星鲽线粒体基因组全序列结构及其进化

利用圆斑星鲽(Verasper variegatus Temminck et Schlegel)和相关鱼类的部分线粒体基因序列,设计出6对扩增引物,通过PCR扩增产物直接测序和引物行走(Primer walking)法测定圆斑星鲽线粒体基因组全序列,并对其进行结构与进化分析。圆斑星鲽线粒体基因组序列长17273 bp,其基因序列及构成都与其他硬骨鱼基本相同,包括37个基因(2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因和13个蛋白质编码基因)和2个非编码区(控制区和WANCY区)。在22个tRNA基因中,tRNAGln、tRNAAla、tRNAAsn、tRNACys、tRNATyr、tRNASer(第2个)、tRNAGlu和tRNAPro的编码基因位于L链上,其余则位于H链上。在13个蛋白质编码基因中,除了COⅠ基因的起始密码子为GTG外,其余均以ATG为起始密码子。蛋白质编码基因包括具有完整TAA终止密码子的ND1,COⅠ,ATP8,ND4L,ND5,而其他蛋白编码基因则具有不完全终止密码子。在L链上,ND6是仅有的一个蛋白质编码基因。圆斑星蝶的控制区包含1个终止相关序列区(ETAS)、6个中央保守序列区(CSB-A、B、C、D、E、F)和3个保守序列区(CSB-1、2、3)以及长串联重复区(Tandemly repeat sequence)。用NJ法和MP法对5个目22种鱼mtDNA的13个蛋白质编码基因的氨基酸序列进行系统分析,结果显示,圆斑星蝶与石鲽关系最近,鲽形目的鲆、鲽类与鲈形目的科(Carangidae)、鲷科(Sparidae)鱼类亲缘关系较近,而同属于鲽形目的塞内加尔鳎(Solea senegalensis)没有和任何目聚在一起,成为一个独立的分支。圆斑星蝶的基因组全序列序列已提交到GenBank,登录号为DQ403797,控制区单元型序列的GenBank登录号为DQ834444~7。     

生物学自主设计型实验探索——以叶绿体DNA提取为例

指出了分子生物学是生命科学相关学科的主干课程,具有很强的实践性。同时,学生掌握分子生物学的实验方法和技术手段,对培养自身科研能力具有重要意义。结合当前高校对于绿色植物叶绿体DNA提取的实验,从丰富教学方法、更新教学手段、改进考核方式等方面进行了改革与探索。以期提高学生学习质量,强化实验技能及综合能力培养,为高校培养高素质创新型人才奠定基础。     

水产生物基因组研究进展与趋势

本文综述了水产生物基因组研究相关技术的发展历程和关键技术的应用。以二代测序技术的出现为分界点,首先回顾了早期水产养殖生物在遗传学和分子生物学方面的研究结果,以及为开展全基因组测序所做的相关基础研究,然后重点介绍了二代测序技术应用于水产生物全基因组测序和经济性状遗传基础解析的研究进展,最后展望了水产生物基因组研究发展趋势。水产生物经济性状遗传机制高度复杂,从全基因组角度阐明其遗传机制仍有很多难题,但基因决定性状是生物学法则之一,探索这一过程的奥秘引人入胜。