白桦肌动蛋白(Actin)基因全长cDNA克隆与序列分析

以白桦(Betula platyphylla Suk.)次生木质部为材料,用改良CTAB方法提取总RNA。根据植物肌动蛋白(Actin)基因编码区的保守序列设计引物后进行RT-PCR,并采用RACE技术扩增出Actin基因全长序列。该基因cDNA全长1 785 bp,序列分析表明,该基因编码区1 134 bp,编码377个氨基酸,5′非编码区157 bp,3′非编码区495 bp。所得序列与GenBank中注册的其它植物肌动蛋白核苷酸序列的相似性均在80%以上,氨基酸序列的相似性高达96%以上。此基因已在GenBank注册（EU588981）。根据高等植物肌动蛋白相似性构建了进化树,表明白桦肌动蛋白与蓖麻肌动蛋白之间的亲缘关系最为密切,在进化中分化时间最为接近。     

斑茅δ-OAT基因克隆及其序列分析

利用RT-PCR和RACE技术从斑茅（Erianthus arundinaceus）中分离出编码鸟氨酸-δ-氨基转氨酶基因的全长cDNA序列,序列全长1 680 bp,编码454个氨基酸。通过对哺乳动物、高等植物、微生物的δ-OAT基因编码的氨基酸序列进行同源比对,发现斑茅δ-OAT基因同其近缘属植物甘蔗的同源性最高（87%）,同其他高等植物的同源性次之（约为70%）,而同动物的同源性最低（约为60%）。在斑茅δ-OAT基因编码的氨基酸序列的5′端未发现线粒体定位序列,同甘蔗δ-OAT基因一样。斑茅δ-OAT基因具有完整的鸟氨酸转氨酶功能区rocD。利用定量RCR（real-time PCR）对30%PEG胁迫下的斑茅δ-OAT基因表达量进行研究,结果表明δ-OAT基因在胁迫12 h表达量达到最高,约为对照的4.1倍;胁迫2 h δ-OAT基因表达量反而有所降低。     

茶树肌动蛋白基因（CsActin1）全长cDNA克隆与生物信息学分析

以茶树（Camellia sinensis）萌动芽为材料,根据茶树萌动芽芽抑制消减杂交文库中分离得到的肌动蛋白（actin）基因的5′-片段设计引物,利用3′-RACE技术克隆了其cDNA全长序列,该基因cDNA全长1 470 bp,命名为CsActin1（GenBank登录号HQ235647）。序列分析表明,CsActin1开放阅读框长1 134 bp,编码377个氨基酸,5′非编码区100 bp,3′非编码区236 bp。推测的蛋白质分子量为41.70 kD,等电点约为5.31,具有肌动蛋白家族的特征信号序列（YVGDEAQs.KRG和WIAKaEYDE）和肌动蛋白相关蛋白的特征信号序列（LLTEApLNPkaNR）。CsActin1与GenBank中注册的其它植物肌动蛋白核苷酸序列的相似性在80%以上,氨基酸序列相似性在95%以上。与其它植物肌动蛋白的进化树分析结果表明,茶树肌动蛋白与杨树的两个肌动蛋白间的亲缘关系最为密切。并对推导的蛋白结构进行了分析。     

小苍兰ACC合成酶FhACS1基因的克隆与序列分析

以小苍兰品种“上农金皇后”为研究对象,利用PCR技术和染色体步移技术首次克隆到了ACC合成酶FhACS1基因的全长序列和编码序列。结果表明：FhACS1基因全长为2 576 bp,包含长为433 bp的5′端非编码区序列（5′-UTR）以及长为373 bp的3′端非编码区序列（3′-UTR）;开放读码框（ORF）长度为1 371 bp,推定编码457个氨基酸。分析表明,该基因包含3个内含子和4个外显子。序列分析结果显示,FhACS1推导蛋白具备ACS蛋白的7个保守结构域;在氨基酸水平上,FhACS1与小果芭蕉的同源性最高（85%）;系统进化分析表明,FhACS1与孟宗竹BaACS（BAC56949.1）、水稻OsACS1（AAA33888.1）、小果芭蕉MaACS1（AAQ13435）的亲缘关系最近。在其已知启动子区域,发现有多个对脱落酸、赤霉素、细胞分裂素等激素响应的顺式元件,以及对干旱和低温等逆境胁迫响应的顺式元件。     

慈竹C3H基因克隆及其生物信息学分析

香豆酸-3-羟化酶(C3H)是调控植物木质素生物合成的关键酶,本文以慈竹为材料,利用RT-PCR技术克隆慈竹C3H基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析,为通过基因工程手段降低工业用竹木质素含量奠定基础。结果表明,该cDNA序列全长为1 581 bp,编码区为1 539 bp,编码512个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为58.33KD,等电点为9.09;氨基酸序列和结构分析显示C3H有一个保守区域,即P450结构域。系统进化分析表明,该基因与毛竹和水稻的C3H基因具有很高的同源性。慈竹与毛竹和水稻C3H基因编码蛋白为亲水性蛋白,这三种编码蛋白很可能定位在内质网(膜)上,其编码蛋白的二级结构及三级结构都含有丰富的α-螺旋和无规卷曲,β-转角和延伸链的含量较少,都含有2个相对保守的无序化区域。该基因已在GenBank上注册,基因序列登录号为JF693629,可能与慈竹木质素的生物合成有关。     

茶树脂氢过氧化物裂解酶基因CsiHPL1的克隆及表达

根据茶树基因CsiHPL1的cDNA序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR方法从茶树品种龙井43′中克隆了CsiHPL1序列,并分析了CsiHPL1在生物和非生物胁迫下的诱导表达情况及亚细胞定位。结果表明,CsiHPL1包含一个1 476 bp的最大开放阅读框,编码491个氨基酸,预测为13-HPL基因。Real-Time PCR分析结果表明,CsiHPL1的表达受到茶尺蠖取食、机械损伤和茉莉酸的诱导;构建了CsiHPL1与绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因的重组表达载体,经农杆菌瞬时转化烟草叶片,利用激光共聚焦显微镜在叶绿体中观察到GFP荧光,表明CsiHPL1编码的蛋白质为叶绿体蛋白质。     

白木香 3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶 A 合酶(AsHMGS)基因的克隆与表达分析简

以白木香（Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.) Gilg）茎cDNA为模板,采用反转录PCR及RACE技术分离得到HMGS基因cDNA全长。序列分析表明该基因序列全长1 831 bp,共编码465个氨基酸,推导的蛋白质分子量为51.4 kD,理论等电点6.25,命名为AsHMGS。推导的AsHMGS蛋白质序列具有植物HMGS酶的典型结构,并预测出HMGS酶的活性中心。系统进化树分析表明,AsHMGS蛋白与拟南芥、琴叶拟南芥、芥菜的相应蛋白相似度最高,其次为人参、喜树和野茶树。荧光定量PCR结果显示,茉莉酸甲酯能诱导白木香AsHMGS的表达。     

不同寄主植物的烟粉虱（Bemisia tabaci）内共生菌传毒相关GroEL蛋白的一致性

通过对7种寄主植物上B型烟粉虱北京种群的内共生菌传毒相关groEL基因进行PCR扩增和测序,结合已有的相关序列,构建了groEL基因及其编码的GroEL蛋白的分子系统树。结果表明：烟粉虱内共生菌产生的groEL基因是一个非常保守的基因,北京不同寄主植物的烟粉虱内共生菌与Israel B型烟粉虱内共生菌的groEL基因亲源关系非常近,位于同一进化分支,其编码的GroEL蛋白的分子系统树也基本上是一致的。不同物种的groEL基因及其编码的GroEL蛋白分别位于不同的分支,说明groEL基因及其编码的GroEL蛋白的分子系统树可以用于分析物种间的进化关系。氨基酸序列比较表明：烟粉虱内共生菌GroEL具有原核GroEL的保守氨基酸、ATP酶活性位点、多肽结合位点和GroES连接位点,为典型的hsp60。不同来源烟粉虱内共生菌GroEL有少数几个保守氨基酸发生了置换,可能不是GroEL功能的重要位点。说明在容易变异的细菌基因组中,groEL基因为了维持其正常重要的生理功能,会通过保持功能位点的稳定性来应对不同生态因素的影响。     

丹参ACC氧化酶基因(SmACO1)的克隆与序列分析

依据丹参转录组数据库序列信息,采用RT-PCR和染色体步移技术从丹参中首次克隆得到ACC氧化酶基因,命名为SmACO1(GenBank注册号为JQ026111)。该基因gDNA序列长1 347 bp,由3个外显子和2个内含子组成;cDNA全长1 117 bp,包含945 bp的开放阅读框,编码314个氨基酸残基。生物信息学分析显示SmACO1为无信号肽与跨膜结构域,且定位于细胞质的稳定亲水蛋白,含有Fe²⁺依赖的加氧酶结构域。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,SmACO1基因在丹参不同组织器官中差异表达,花中表达量最高;其表达受到病原菌和茉莉酸甲酯的诱导,表明SmACO1基因可能在植物防御反应中发挥作用。     

千里光热激蛋白90-3(Hsp90-3)的生物信息学与功能分析

Hsp90是真核细胞重要的一类分子伴侣,与植物的生长发育、抗逆性、信号转导及生物进化等功能密切相关.为了深入理解高等植物Hsp90结构与功能的关系,该研究从千里光(Senecio scandens)全长cDNA文库中分离到Hsp90-3基因.序列分析结果表明,该基因编码699个氨基酸的多肽,与拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)AtHsp90-3(登录号:NP_200412.1)的同源性最高,为93.71％;预测蛋白质的分子量为79.78 kD,理论等电点为5.08.信号序列分析结果发现,该蛋白主要定位于细胞的细胞核、过氧化物酶体、叶绿体类囊体膜及叶绿体基质中,提示作为分子伴侣,高等植物Hsp90-3参与细胞内膜系统蛋白质的转运.结构与功能分析发现,该蛋白有3个结构域及1个连接区,推测Hsp90-3在真核细胞的信号转导、转录调控及胁迫表达等过程中发挥重要功能.     

千里光β-微管蛋白基因结构与功能的生物信息学分析

β-微管蛋白是影响细胞新陈代谢和行使功能的重要结构物质,研究β-微管蛋白基因的序列信息对揭示其蛋白结构与功能具有重要指导意义。从千里光全长cDNA文库中分离得到β-微管蛋白基因,并采用生物信息学软件进行序列分析。结果显示,该基因长度为1750 bp,编码的蛋白质长度为448个氨基酸,与柚子β-微管蛋白的同源性最高,达96%;其蛋白质分子量为50.01 kD,理论等电点为4.83。β-微管蛋白二级结构主要组成为无规则卷曲结构和α螺旋结构;结构域分析发现该蛋白具有两个保守结构域;三级结构预测为相对稳固的类球形结构;信号肽分析将该蛋白主要定位于细胞质、过氧化物酶体、线粒体基质等亚细胞器位置。将该基因序列上传至GenBank所获得的登录号为KF887495。本实验结果为千里光β-微管蛋白的作用机制揭示和应用研究提供了基础数据,也为植物β-微管蛋白基因的分子研究提供了理论依据及基础资料。     

The Giardia lamblia actin gene and the phylogeny of eukaryotes

The single-copy actin gene of Giardia lamblia lacks introns; it has an average of 58% amino acid identity with the actin of other species; and 49 of its amino acids can be aligned with the amino acids of a consensus sequence of heat shock protein 70. Analysis of the potential RNA secondary structure in the transcribed region of the G. lamblia actin gene and of the single-copy actin gene of nine other species did not reveal any conserved structures. The G. lamblia actin sequence was used to root the phylogenetic trees based on 65 actin protein sequences from 43 species. This tree is congruent with small-subunit rRNA trees in that it shows that oomycetes are not related to higher fungi; that kinetoplatid protozoans, green plants, fungi and animals are monophyletic groups; and that the animal and fungal lineages share a more recent common ancestor than either does with the plant lineage. In contrast to smalls-ubunit rRNA trees, this tree shows that slime molds diverged after the plant lineage. The slower rate of evolution of actin genes of slime molds relative to those of plants, fungi, and animals species might be responsible for this incongruent branching. Correspondence to: G. Drouin     

A mutation in actin associated with neoplastic transformation

A new protein was recognized in a chemically transformed human fibroblast cell line when its proteins labeled with [35S]methionine were compared with those from normal human fibroblasts by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The new protein was found in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction as well as in the Triton-soluble fraction, and it migrated very closely to beta- and gamma-actins on the gels. This new protein was identified as a variant form of actin by its reaction with antiactin antibody and its tryptic peptide pattern, which was identical to actin. mRNA coding for the variant actin was detected only in this particular transformed line. The size and cross- hybridizability with Dictyostelium actin cDNA of mRNA coding for the variant actin and complete amino acid sequence of the variant actin indicate that the new variant actin is the product of a mutated beta-actin gene. Only a single amino acid (glycine) at position 244 was replaced by aspartic acid. This substitution corresponds to a GC----AT transition, a point mutation. On the other hand, a highly malignant cell variant was isolated from the transformed line. The mutated beta-actin was further altered in this highly malignant subclone: it showed a more negative charge, rapid synthetic rate, and a short half-life in the cells. Incorporation into the cytoskeleton was significantly reduced in the mutated beta-actin. A hypothesis on the relationship between a mutation in the actin gene and oncogenic transformation was proposed.     

TaADF4, an actin‐depolymerizing factor from wheat,is required for resistance to the stripe rust pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

Actin filament assembly in plants is a dynamic process, requiring the activity of more than 75 actin‐binding proteins. Central to the regulation of filament assembly and stability is the activity of a conserved family of actin‐depolymerizing factors (ADFs), whose primarily function is to regulate the severing and depolymerization of actin filaments. In recent years, the activity of ADF proteins has been linked to a variety of cellular processes, including those associated with response to stress. Herein, a wheat ADF gene, TaADF4, was identified and characterized. TaADF4 encodes a 139‐amino‐acid protein containing five F‐actin‐binding sites and two G‐actin‐binding sites, and interacts with wheat (Triticum aestivum) Actin1 (TaACT1), in planta. Following treatment of wheat, separately, with jasmonic acid, abscisic acid or with the avirulent race, CYR23, of the stripe rust pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, we observed a rapid induction in accumulation of TaADF4 mRNA. Interestingly, accumulation of TaADF4 mRNA was diminished in response to inoculation with a virulent race, CYR31. Silencing of TaADF4 resulted in enhanced susceptibility to CYR23, demonstrating a role for TaADF4 in defense signaling. Using a pharmacological‐based approach, coupled with an analysis of host response to pathogen infection, we observed that treatment of plants with the actin‐modifying agent latrunculin B enhanced resistance to CYR23, including increased production of reactive oxygen species and enhancement of localized hypersensitive cell death. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that TaADF4 positively modulates plant immunity in wheat via the modulation of actin cytoskeletal organization.     

The complete amino acid sequence of actins from bovine aorta, bovine heart, bovine fast skeletal muscle, and rabbit slow skeletal muscle. A protein-chemical analysis of muscle actin differentiation.

Complete amino acid sequences for four mammalian muscle actins are reported: bovine skeletal muscle actin, bovine cardiac actin, the major component of bovine aorta actin, and rabbit slow skeletal muscle actin. The number of different actins in a higher mammal for which full amino acid sequences are now available is therefore increased from two to five. Screening of different smooth muscle tissues revealed in addition to the aorta type actin a second smooth muscle actin, which appears very similar if not identical to chicken gizzard actin. Since the sequence of chicken gizzard actin is known, six different actins are presently characterized in a higher mammal. The two smooth muscle actins--bovine aorta actin and chicken gizzard actin--differ by only three amino acid substitutions, all located in the amino-terminal end. In the rest of their sequences both smooth muscle actins share the same four amino acid substitutions, which distinguish them from skeletal muscle actin. Cardiac muscle actin differs from skeletal muscle actin by only four amino acid exchanges. No amino acid substitutions were found when actins from rabbit fast and slow skeletal muscle were compared. In addition we summarize the amino acid substitution patterns of the six different mammalian actins and discuss their tissue specificity. The results show a very close relationship between the four muscle actins in comparison to the nonmuscle actins. The amino substitution patterns indicate that skeletal muscle actin is the highest differentiated actin form, whereas smooth muscle actins show a noticeably cloer relation to nonmuscle actins. By these criteria cardiac muscle actin lies between skeletal muscle actin and smooth muscle actins.     

Occurrence of an actin-inserting domain in tensin.

We have previously described a protein called "insertin" that binds strongly to barbed ends of actin filaments and permits polymerization of actin filaments by insertion of actin monomers between the barbed ends and barbed end-bound insertin. We determined the amino acid sequence of insertin and found that the primary structure of insertin is almost identical to amino acid residues 862 to 1212 of the actin-binding protein tensin.     

Interaction between actin and the effector peptide of MARCKS-related protein. Identification of functional amino acid segments

It is widely assumed that the members of the MARCKS protein family, MARCKS (an acronym for myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate) and MARCKS-related protein (MRP), interact with actin via their effector domain, a highly basic segment composed of 24-25 amino acid residues. To clarify the mechanisms by which this interaction takes place, we have examined the effect of a peptide corresponding to the effector domain of MRP, the so-called effector peptide, on both the dynamic and the structural properties of actin. We show that in the absence of cations the effector peptide polymerizes monomeric actin and causes the alignment of the formed filaments into bundle-like structures. Moreover, we document that binding of calmodulin or phosphorylation by protein kinase C both inhibit the actin polymerizing activity of the MRP effector peptide. Finally, several effector peptides were synthesized in which positively charged or hydrophobic segments were deleted or replaced by alanines. Our data suggest that a group of six positively charged amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the peptide is crucial for its interaction with actin. While its actin polymerizing activity critically depends on the presence of all three positively charged segments of the peptide, hydrophobic amino acid residues rather modulate the polymerization velocity.     

Computational prediction of actin–actin interaction

Actin is one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells, where it plays key roles in cell shape, motility, and regulation. Actin is found in globular (G) and filamentous (F) structure in the cell. The helix of actin occurs as a result of polymerization of monomeric G-actin molecules through sequential rowing, is called F-actin. Recently, the crystal structure of an actin dimer has been reported, which details molecular interface in F-actin. In this study, the computational prediction model of actin and actin complex has been constructed base on the atomic model structure of G-actin. To this end, a docking simulation was carried out using predictive docking tools to obtain modeled structures of the actin–actin complex. Following molecular dynamics refinement, hot spots interactions at the protein interface were identified, that were predicted to contribute substantially to the free energy of binding. These provided a detailed prediction of key amino acid interactions at the protein–protein interface. The obtained model can be used for future experimental and computational studies to draw biological and functional conclusions. Also, the identified interactions will be used for designing next studies to understand the occurrence of F-actin structure.