花生LEC1基因的克隆及表达研究

通过构建花生未成熟种子cDNA文库,结合大规模EST测序,从花生中克隆了LEC1基因2个成员的全长cDNA序列.序列分析表明,花生中LEC1的2个成员的序列在B结构域高度保守,属于LEC1型HAP3亚基.不同植物中LEC1基因在B结构域以外的序列差异很大.利用花生cDNA芯片和半定量RT-PCR对花生LEC1进行表达研究表明,LEC1在种子中高水平表达,在种子发育的不同时期表达有差异.     

麻风树LEC1基因的生物信息学分析

LEC1是调控植物种子发育过程和油脂产量的重要基因。本文选择功能已知的拟南芥LEC1基因为参考序列,对麻风树LEC1基因开展了蛋白组分和理化性质分析,蛋白结构和功能预测,系统进化分析等生物信息学研究,为进一步研究麻风树LEC1基因的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

油菜蔗糖转化酶基因的电子克隆和生物信息学分析

运用电子克隆技术获得油菜中一个蔗糖转化酶基因eDNA序列,同时根据此段序列设计引物以油菜eDNA为模板进行扩增。经测序得到证实。采用生物信息学方法,对该基因编码蛋白从氨基酸组成、基本理化性质、跨膜结构域、信号肽导肽、疏水性／亲水性、二级结构、亚细胞定位等方面进行了预测和分析。结果表明：该基因eDNA序列长度为2150bp,包含一个1779bp开放阅读框,编码592个氨基酸;该编码蛋白含有蔗糖转化酶的多个典型的保守结构域。同源比对分析显示,该基因编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥等植物的蔗糖转化酶基因具有高度的相似性,进一步确定该蛋白为蔗糖蛋白酶。研究结果为该基因进一步的实验克隆,表达分析,功能鉴定奠定基础。     

大豆GmDAO1基因的功能预测及表达分析

本研究通过在大豆基因组数据库中检索拟南芥AtDAO1在大豆中的同源基因,获得了GmDAO1基因序列。通过对GmDAO1基因编码的氨基酸序列及启动子序列进行生物信息学分析,我们发现GmDAO1基因CDS序列全长951bp,编码316个氨基酸。GmDAO1编码的蛋白为亲水性蛋白,具有1个N-糖基化位点、3个激酶磷酸化位点与1个豆蔻酰化位点。结构域分析表明GmDAO1含有双加氧酶与2OG-Fe(II)加氧酶结构域,是2-酮戊二酸依赖性双加氧酶基因(2-ODD)家族的成员。GmDAO1预测的启动子区域含有与激素、胁迫、光应答、生物钟调控和转录因子结合相关的顺式作用元件。系统进化分析结果表明DAO1在豆科植物进化过程中比较保守。组织特异性表达分析结果显示GmDAO1在叶片中表达量最低,在根中表达量最高。因此我们推测其可能参与生长素的代谢途径。     

油棕WRKY转录因子的全基因组鉴定与分析

该研究从NCBI网站下载油棕全基因组序列信息,从The Arabidopsis Information Resource(TAIR)数据库中下载得到拟南芥WRKY转录因子序列,并在油棕基因组数据库中进行BLAST同源序列比对分析,通过NCBI在线工具CDD和PFAM数据库进行蛋白结构与分析,剔除无WRKY结构域的系列,利用生物信息学方法对油棕WRKY转录因子进行分析及功能预测。结果表明:(1)从油棕基因组数据库中发掘WRKY转录因子95个,该WRKY转录因子蛋白质所编码氨基酸大小为116～1 303 bp,95个均为亲水性蛋白,总体为不稳定蛋白(EgWRKY25和EgWRKY56除外),60个蛋白以α-螺旋为主要二级结构元件,35个以无规卷曲为主要二级结构元件。(2)保守结构域系统进化树结果表明,油棕WRKY转录因子家族蛋白主要分为三大类,即I、Ⅱ和Ⅲ类,其中I类分为I C、I N亚类,Ⅱ类分为Ⅱa、Ⅱb、Ⅱc和Ⅱd亚类。(3)内含子和外显子结构显示,EgWRKY基因结构进化高度保守。以上结果为油棕WRKY转录因子的挖掘、功能分析及分子生物学研究奠定了基础,同时为分子育种和遗传改良提供了参考。     

黑腹果蝇CG18853基因编码蛋白的生物信息学分析

目的:利用生物信息学方法分析黑腹果蝇CG18853基因编码蛋白的结构和功能。方法:基于NCBI数据库中黑腹果蝇CG18853基因编码蛋白的氨基酸序列,从蛋白质的理化性质、跨膜区、信号肽、亚细胞定位、结构域、三维结构及不同物种间同源蛋白进化关系等方面进行分析。结果:果蝇CG18853蛋白的理论分子量约38.5 kDa,理论等电点为8.80。CG18853蛋白为不稳定亲水性蛋白,无跨膜区和信号肽,具有DNA光修复酶FAD结合结构域。果蝇CG18853蛋白与模板3umv.1.A有60.87%的氨基酸序列一致;CG18853蛋白与长鼻袋鼠、金鱼、拟南芥、粳稻的编码产物高度同源。结论:黑腹果蝇CG18853蛋白具有DNA光修复酶家族的典型结构,可能在细胞核中参与DNA损伤修复过程。     

拟南芥与水稻之间简单重复序列的比较分析

利用Peri,C 语言编写了鉴定和分析简单重复序列的一系列程序,在全基因组水平上分析了拟南芥(Arabidopsisthaliana L.)简单重复序列的分布及简单重复序列和基因的关系.共发现5 652个简单重复序列(≥20bp),大约每20.6kb有1个简单重复序列.拟南芥各染色体之间简单重复序列的密度基本一致.拟南芥的27 480条编码序列中,只有677条编码序列含有725个简单重复序列,其中的3碱基简单重复序列多数对应的是小的亲水性的氨基酸.在拟南芥和水稻(Oryza sativa L.)第4号染色体的高度保守的基因中,简单重复序列却并不保守.通过比较拟南芥和水稻之间简单重复序列的差异,推论出:水稻的全基因组和基因中简单重复序列的密度都比拟南芥大,这可能是水稻基因组序列比拟南芥大的原因之一,水稻基因组中0.21%来自简单重复序列,而拟南芥中只有0.13%;不但不同物种的基因组对简单重复序列的偏好性不同,而且不同物种的基因对简单重复序列的偏好性也不同.在水稻和拟南芥中部发现了一些嵌套性的卫星序列.     

植物同源结构域指蛋白在拟南芥等十字花科植物春化作用途径中的功能

春化低温处理可以使拟南芥等十字花科植物提前开花,该过程中涉及到一个重要的植物同源结构域指(PHD-finger)蛋白VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE3(VIN3)。PHD-finger结构域是真核生物中一种进化保守的锌指结构域,通常参与蛋白质之间的相互作用,特别是对核小体组蛋白进行甲基化、乙酰化、磷酸化等修饰。在春化处理过程中,VIN3及其同源基因编码的蛋白都具有PHD-finger结构域,该结构域通过对开花抑制基因FLOWERING LOCUS C染色质组蛋白进行H3K9、H3K27甲基化、H3K9和H3K14去乙酰化等修饰,调节FLC染色质结构状态,使其从松弛状态转变为高度凝缩状态而关闭其功能,从而影响FLC转录活性进而促进开花。以下综述了拟南芥等十字花科植物春化作用途径中PHD-finger蛋白的功能,并且概述了春化作用机制。     

小麦泛素融合降解蛋白基因的克隆及特征分析

酵母UFD1基因编码的泛素融合降解蛋白是泛素依赖性降解系统或泛素融合降解途径中的一个关键因子。利用RT-PCR技术在小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)中分离到一个UFD1类似基因。该基因的编码区长948 bp,编码长315个氨基酸的多肽,其氨基酸序列与GenBank中登录的一个拟南芥UFD1类似蛋白有74％的同源性。在多肽链的N-端具有在真核生物中高度保守的UFD1结构域。我们将该基因定位在小麦的第六染色体群并将其命名为了UFD1。Southern杂交和数据库搜索表明植物的UFD1基因是单拷贝或低拷贝的。无论是在单子叶中还是在双子叶植物中,UFD1蛋白都高度同源。除了N端UFD1结构域外,该类蛋白还有3个高度保守的C端结构域。TUFD1基因在小麦幼苗的根、茎、胚芽鞘、叶片以及幼穗和腊熟期子粒中呈组成性表达。     

小麦泛素融合降解蛋白基因的克隆及特征分析

酵母UFD1基因编码的泛素融合降解蛋白是泛素依赖性降解系统或泛素融合降解途径中的一个关键因子.利用RT-PCR技术在小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)中分离到一个UFD1类似基因.该基因的编码区长948 bp,编码长315个氨基酸的多肽,其氨基酸序列与GenBank中登录的一个拟南芥UFD1类似蛋白有74%的同源性.在多肽链的N-端具有在真核生物中高度保守的UFD1结构域.我们将该基因定位在小麦的第六染色体群并将其命名为TUFD1.South-ern杂交和数据库搜索表明植物的UFD1基因是单拷贝或低拷贝的.无论是在单子叶中还是在双子叶植物中,UFD1蛋白都高度同源.除了N端UFD1结构域外,该类蛋白还有3个高度保守的C端结构域.TUFD1基因在小麦幼苗的根、茎、胚芽鞘、叶片以及幼穗和腊熟期子粒中呈组成性表达.     

A divergent Sm fold in EDC3 proteins mediates DCP1 binding and P-body targeting

Members of the (L)Sm (Sm and Sm-like) protein family are found across all kingdoms of life and play crucial roles in RNA metabolism. The P-body component EDC3 (enhancer of decapping 3) is a divergent member of this family that functions in mRNA decapping. EDC3 is composed of a N-terminal LSm domain, a central FDF domain, and a C-terminal YjeF-N domain. We show that this modular architecture enables EDC3 to interact with multiple components of the decapping machinery, including DCP1, DCP2, and Me31B. The LSm domain mediates DCP1 binding and P-body localization. We determined the three-dimensional structures of the LSm domains of Drosophila melanogaster and human EDC3 and show that the domain adopts a divergent Sm fold that lacks the characteristic N-terminal α-helix and has a disrupted β4-strand. This domain remains monomeric in solution and lacks several features that canonical (L)Sm domains require for binding RNA. The structures also revealed a conserved patch of surface residues that are required for the interaction with DCP1 but not for P-body localization. The conservation of surface and of critical structural residues indicates that LSm domains in EDC3 proteins adopt a similar fold that has separable novel functions that are absent in canonical (L)Sm proteins.     

Fibroblast growth factor receptors have different signaling and mitogenic potentials.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors (FGFRs) are structurally related receptor protein tyrosine kinases encoded by four distinct genes. Activation of FGFR-1, -2, and -3 by FGFs induces mitogenic responses in various cell types, but the mitogenic potential of FGFR-4 has not been previously explored. We have compared the properties of BaF3 murine lymphoid cells and L6 rat myoblast cells engineered to express FGFR-1 or FGFR-4. Acidic FGF binds with high affinity to and elicits tyrosine phosphorylation of FGFR-1 or FGFR-4 receptors displayed on BaF3 cells, but only FGFR-1 activation leads to cell survival and growth. FGFR-4 activation also fails to elicit detectable signals characteristic of the FGFR-1 response: tyrosine phosphorylation of SHC and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) proteins and induction of fos and tis11 RNA expression. The only detected response to FGFR-4 activation was weak phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma. A chimeric receptor containing the extracellular domain of FGFR-4 and the intracellular domain of FGFR-1 confers FGF-dependent growth upon transfected BaF3 cells, demonstrating that the intracellular domains of the receptors dictate their functional capacity. Activation of FGFR-1 in transfected L6 myoblasts induced far stronger phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma, SHC, and ERK proteins than could activation of FGFR-4 in L6 cells, and only FGFR-1 activation induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a characteristic 80-kD protein. Hence, the signaling and biological responses elicited by different FGF receptors substantially differ.     

The Parkinson disease gene LRRK2: evolutionary and structural insights

Mutations in the human leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are associated with both familial and sporadic Parkinson disease (PD). LRRK2 belongs to a gene family known as Roco. Roco genes encode for large proteins with several protein domains. Particularly, all Roco proteins have a characteristic GTPase domain, named Roc, plus a domain of unknown function called COR. In addition, LRRK2 and several other Roco proteins also contain a protein kinase domain. In this study, I use a combination of phylogenetic and structural analyses of the COR, Roc, and kinase domains present in Roco proteins to describe the origin and evolutionary history of LRRK2. Phylogenetic analyses using these domains demonstrate that LRRK2 emerged from a duplication that occurred after the protostome-deuterostome split. The duplication was followed by the acquisition by LRRK2 proteins of a specific type of N-terminal repeat, described here for the first time. This repeat is absent in the proteins encoded by the paralogs of LRRK2, called LRRK1 or in protostome LRRK proteins. These results suggest that Drosophila or Caenorhabditis LRRK genes may not be good models to understand human LRRK2 function. Genes in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum with structures very similar to those found in animal LRRK genes, including the protein kinase domain, have been described. However, phylogenetic analyses suggest that this structural similarity is due to independent acquisitions of distantly related protein kinase domains. Finally, I confirm in an extensive sequence analysis that the Roc GTPase domain is related but still substantially different from small GTPases, such as Rab, Ras, or Rho. Modeling based on known kinase structures suggests that mutations in LRRK2 that cause familiar PD may alter the local 3-dimensional folding of the LRRK2 protein without affecting its overall structure.     

Homology modeling and docking studies of human Bcl-2L10 protein

Cancer, an unrestrained proliferation of cells, is one of the lead cause of death. Nearly 12.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, 7.5 million people die of which 2.5 million cases are from India. Major cause for cancer is restriction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Multiple signaling pathways regulate apoptosis. Bcl-2 (B - Cell Lymphomas-2) family proteins play a vital role as central regulators of apoptosis. Bcl-2L10, a novel anti-apoptotic protein, blocks apoptosis by mitochondrial dependent mechanism. The present study evaluates the 3D structure of Bcl-2L10 protein using homology modeling and aims to understand plausible functional and binding interactions between Bcl-2L10 with BH3 domain of BAX using protein - protein docking. The docking studies show binding of BH3 domain at Lys 110, Trp-111, Pro-115, Glu-119 and Asp-127 in the groove of BH 1, 2 and 3 domains of Bcl-2L10. Heterodimerization of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and BH3 domain of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins instigates apoptosis. Profound understanding of Bcl-2 pathway may prove useful in identification of future therapeutic targets for cancer.