Molecular cloning and characterization of crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) interferon regulatory factor 7

Interferon (IFN) can induce an antiviral state via interferon-regulatory transcription factors (IRFs), which bind to and control genes directed by the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE). Here we describe a fish IRF, termed CaIRF7, cloned from a subtractive cDNA library which is constructed with mRNAs obtained from crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) blastulae embryonic (CAB) cells infected by UV-inactivated GCHV and mock-infected cells. CaIRF7 cDNA was found to be 1816 bp in length, with a 42 bp 5' UTR and a 508 bp 3' UTR. The open reading frame translates into 421 amino acids in which a DNA-binding domain (DBD) containing the repeated tryptophan motif and IRFs association domain have been identified. Like chicken GgIRF3, CaIRF7 was most similar to mammalian IRF7 with 27 to 30% identity overall and some 37% identity in their DBDs. A single transcript of 1.9 kb was detected in virally induced CAB cells by virtual Northern blotting. RT-PCR analysis revealed a wide tissue distribution of CaIRF7 constitutive expression, with detectable transcript in non-infected CAB cells and various tissues of healthy crucian carp. In addition, CaIRF7 expression was differentially increased by stimulation of the CAB cells with active GCHV, UV-inactivated GCHV or CAB IFN, indicating that the activation of CaIRF7 was directly regulated by IFN. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

cDNA cloning and characterization of a novel SNX gene differentially expressed in previtellogenic oocytes of gibel carp

To understand the molecular events governing fish oogenesis, a multiple technique was used to identify the genes differentially expressed at different phases during fish oogenesis. This technique is a combination of suppression subtractive hybridization, SMART cDNA synthesis and RACE-PCR. Here we report the cDNA cloning and expression characterization of a novel SNX gene based on its differential transcription between previtellogenic and fully mature oocytes in naturally gynogenetic gibel carp. First, a cDNA fragment selectively expressed in previtellogenic oocytes was identified and used to screen a SMART cDNA library prepared from the same mRNA sample by RACE-PCR for cloning fully length cDNA. The full length cDNA was 1392-bp long and coded for a novel SNX protein with 225 amino acids. The 5' UTR had 72 bp and 3' UTR had 642 bp. Unlike most of maternal genes that are transcribed after vitellogenesis and stored in oocytes, this gene is expressed at a higher level in the previtellogenic oocytes and at a much lower level in fully matured oocytes. However, RT-PCR analysis of tissues showed it was ubiquitous transcription. The novel gene is named fish sorting nexin (fSNX), because it contains a conserved PX domain. The fact which major expression of the gene occurs in the previtellogenic oocytes suggests that it might have an important function in the oogenesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cyclin A2 is differentially expressed during oocyte maturation between gynogenetic silver crucian carp and gonochoristic color crucian carp

Silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is a unique gynogenetic fish. Because of its specific genetic background and reproduction mode, it is an intriguing model system for understanding regulatory mechanism of oocyte maturation division. It keeps its chromosomal integrity by inhibiting the first meiotic division (no extrusion of the first pole body). The spindle behavior during oocyte maturation is significantly different from that in gonochoristic fish. The chromosomes are first arranged in a tripolar spindle, and then they turn around and are reunited mutually to form a normal bipolar spindle. A new member of the fish A-type cyclin gene, cyclin A2, has been isolated by suppression of subtractive hybridization on the basis of its differential transcription in fully-grown oocytes between the gynogenetic silver crucian carp and gonochoristic color crucian carp. There are 18 differing amino acids in the total 428 residues of cyclin A2 between the two forms of crucian carps. In addition, cDNAs of cyclin A1 and cyclin B have also been cloned from them. Thus two members of A-type cyclins, cyclin A1 and cyclin A2, are demonstrated to exist in fish, just as in frog, humans, and mouse. Northern blotting reveals that cyclin A2 mRNA is more than 20-fold and cyclin A1 mRNA is about 2-fold in fully grown oocytes of gynogenetic silver crucian carp compared to gonochoristic color crucian carp. However, cyclin B does not show such a difference between them. Western blot analysis also shows that the cyclin A2 protein stockpiled in fully grown oocytes of gynogenetic crucian carp is much more abundant than in gonochoristic crucian carp. Moreover, two different cyclin A2 expression patterns during oocyte maturation have been revealed in the two closely related crucian carps. For color crucian carp, cyclin A2 protein is translated only after hormone stimulation. For silver crucian carp, cyclin A2 protein can be detected throughout the process of maturation division. The different expression of cyclin A2 may be a clue to understanding the special maturation division of gynogenetic silver crucian carp.

The molecular characterization of RNA segment S9 of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV), an aquareovirus

Although reovirus infection is one of the major virus diseases of grass carp in China, the available knowledge on the structure and function of genes and proteins of the virus is limited. The complete sequence of the S9 genome segment of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined. The segment consists of 1130 nucleotides and has a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 352 amino acids with predicted molecular mass of 37.7 kDa. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed that the deduced protein encoded by GCHV S9 is closely related to the sigma NS proteins of mammalian reovirus (MRV) and avian reovirus (ARV). Secondary structure analysis displayed that the form of alpha -helices (40.1%) and beta -sheets (49.4%) are the richest two contents in the protein encoded by S9, and this protein is predicted to be a nonstructural protein. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Differential expression and characterization analysis of a new gene with WD domains in fish oogenesis

A new gene with WD domains is cloned and characterized according to its differential transcription and expression between previtellogenic oocytes (phase I oocytes) and fully-grown oocytes (phase V oocytes) from natural gynogenetic silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) by using the combinative methods of suppressive subtraction hybridization, SMART cDNA synthesis and RACE-PCR. The full-length cDNA is 1870 bp. Its 5 ' untranslated region is 210 bp, followed by an open reading frame of 990 bp, which has the typical vertebrate initiator codon of ANNATG. The open reading frame encodes a protein with 329 amino acids. It has 670 bp of 3 ' untranslated region and an AATAAA polyadenylation signal. Because it has 92% homology to STRAP (serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein), a recently reported gene, we named it FSTRAP (fish STRAP). Virtual Northern blotting indicated that the FSTRAP was transcribed in fully-grown oocytes (phase V oocytes), but not in previtellogenic oocytes (phase I oocytes). RT-PCR analysis showed that FSTRAP was transcribed in brain, heart, kidney, muscle, ovary, spleen and testis, but not in liver. And its mRNA could be detected in the oocytes from phase II to phase V. Western blotting also showed that FSTRAP protein could be detected in brain, heart, kidney, muscle, ovary, spleen and testis except liver. Results of Western blotting on various oocytes were also similar to the RT-PCR data. FSTRAP protein was not expressed in the previtellogenic oocytes. Its expression initiated from phase II oocytes after vitellogenesis, and was consistent with the mRNA transcription.

Genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus encodes a virion protein

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined from cDNA corresponding to the viral genomic RNA. It is 1,287 nucleotides in length and contains a large open reading frame that could encode a protein of 409 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 44 kD. The S8 was expressed using the pET fusion protein vector and detected by Western blotting analysis using the chicken egg IgY against intact GCHV particles, indicating that S8 encodes a virion protein. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed that the protein encoded by S8 is closely related to protein alpha2 of mammalian reovirus, suggesting that the deduced protein of S8 is an inner capsid protein. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Utilization of several plant proteins by gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Six isonitrogenous (gross protein content 35%) and isoenergetic (gross energy content 17 kJ g(-1)) diets were formulated to investigate the effects of inclusion of plant proteins on the gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio L.). The plant proteins tested were: soybean cake (SBC), potato protein concentrate (PPC), peanut cake (PNC), cottonseed cake (CSC) and rapeseed cake (RSC). Fish meal (FM) was used as control. In each diet, 27% of the protein was supplied by fish meal, and the rest supplied by the plant protein tested. Each diet was fed to three groups of gibel carp for 8 weeks in a recirculation system. Specific growth rate (SGR) in fish fed the control diet was significantly higher than those in the other groups, and SGR in fish fed the PPC was significantly lower than in fish fed other plant proteins. There was no significant difference in SGR among the other groups. Feeding rates were ranked in the order: RSC > CSC > FM > PNC > SBC > PPC. Conversion efficiency was highest in groups fed FM, SBC and PNC, followed by groups fed CSC and RSC, and was lowest in the group fed PPC. The fish fed PPC showed lower protein retention than those fed FM and SBC. FM showed highest energy retention while PPC showed lowest, There was no significant relationship between SGR and intake of digestible protein (g g(-1) day(-1)), digestible lysine (g g(-1) day(-1)), digestible methionine (g g(-1) day(-1)) or digestible total essential amino acids (g g(-1) day(-1)), suggesting that the differences in SGR could not alone account for any of these variables.

Molecular characterization and expression of the M6 gene of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV), an aquareovirus - Brief report

7The complete nucleotide sequence of M6 gene of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined. It is 2039 nucleotides in length and contains a single large open reading frame that could encode a protein of 648 amino acids with predicted molecular mass of 68.7 kDa. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed that the protein encoded by GCHV M6 is closely related to the protein mul of mammalian reovirus. The M6 gene, encoding the major outer-capsid protein, was expressed using the pET fusion protein vector in Escherichia coli and detected by Western blotting using chicken anti-GCHV immunoglobulin (IgY). The result indicates that the protein encoded by M6 may share a putative Asn-42-Pro-43 proteolytic cleavage site with mul.

Differential screening and characterization analysis of the egg envelope glycoprotein ZP3 cDNAs between gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carp

Gynogenetic silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, is an intriguing model. system. In the present work, a systemic study has been initiated by introducing suppression subtractive hybridization technique into this model system to identify the differentially expressed genes in oocytes between gynogenetic silver crucian carp and its closely related gonochoristic color crucian carp. Five differential cDNA fragments were identified from the preliminary screening, and two of them are ZP3 homologues. Moreover, the full length ZP3 cDNAs were cloned from their oocyte cDNA libraries. The length of ZP3 cDNAs were 1378 bp for gyno-carp and 1367 bp for gono-carp, and they can be translated into proteins with 435 amino acids. Obvious differences are not only in the composition of amino acids, but also in the number of potential O-linked oligosaccharide sites. In addition, gyno-carp ZP3 amino acid sequence has an unexpected higher identity value with common carp (83.5%) than that with the closely related gono-carp (74.7%). The unique homology may be originated from the ancient hybridization. Northern blot analysis confirmed that expression of the ZP3 gene occurred exclusively in the oocytes. Because O-linked oligosaccharides on ZP3 have been demonstrated to play very important roles in fertilization, it is suggested that the extra O-linked glycosylation sites may be related to the unique sperm-egg recognition mechanism in gynogenesis.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the S10 genome segment of grass carp reovirus (GCRV)

Hemorrhagic disease, caused by the grass carp reovirus (GCRV), is one of the major diseases of grass carp in China. Little is known about the structure and function of the gene segments of this reovirus. The S10 genome segment of GCRV was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence is reported here. The S10 is 909 nucleotides long and contains a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 276 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of approximately 29.7 kDa. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequence of GCRV S10 with those of other reoviruses revealed no significant homologies. However, GCRV S10 shared a putative zinc-finger sequence and a similar distribution of hydrophilic motifs with the outer capsid proteins encoded by Coho salmon aquareovirus (SCSV) S10, striped bass reovirus (SBRV) S10, and mammalian reovirus (MRV) S4. It was predicted that this segment gene encodes an outer capsid protein.

多元氨基酸、肽体系中稀土存在形态及配位作用特点研究

本文研究了稀土在多元氨基酸小分子生物配体体系存在形态及其作用特点，探索了稀土元素在生物体内的分布、代谢及其生物效应的机理，同时研究了稀土与复杂的生物大分子作用及稀土氨基酸固体配合物。

土壤氨基酸微生物转化过程研究

摘 要 土壤氨基酸是土壤有机氮的主要组成成分，对土壤氮素供应和土壤碳、氮循环过程有重要影响。揭示土壤氨基酸的微生物转化和更新过程将为土壤有机碳、氮循环转化研究提供新的思路。 稳定同位素示踪技术是研究外加N源在土壤中循环转化的有力手段。而研究特定化合物如氨基酸的微生物转化过程还需与其它技术手段相结合。本研究首次建立了稳定同位素培养－液质联机技术测定土壤氨基酸同位素比例变化的新方法。对于15N和13C培养样品，由于氨基酸在测定过程中，其分子结构未被破坏，15N和13C掺入氨基酸的同位素比例均可通过[M+n]/[M]进行计算，其中[M]为氨基酸准分子离子峰的质荷比（m/z）, n为氨基酸分子中所含的C、N原子的个数。同位素富集用原子百分超（APE）表示。所建立方法具有较高的精密度和准确度，可以准确地反映土壤氨基酸同位素比例的动态变化。 利用上述方法，进行了土壤样品同位素培养与测定，通过跟踪测定土壤氨基酸微生物合成与代谢动态，进行土壤氨基酸的微生物转化与更新过程研究。主要结论如下： 1．葡萄糖为碳源时，微生物利用NH4＋-N合成氨基酸的速率大于NO3－-N。说明NH4＋-N是微生物更易于利用的氮源。不同N源对不同种类氨基酸合成速率影响不同,表明土壤中不同微生物类群对氮源的选择性利用性差异明显。 2. 两种N源对微生物所新合成氨基酸容量影响差异显示，微生物利用NH4+-N所合成氨基酸的数量大于NO3－-N，这与微生物利用两种N源合成氨基酸的APE结果一致。微生物利用两种N源所新合成氨基酸总量与氨基酸总量增量相比，新合成氨基酸总量均随着培养时间的延长而增加，而氨基酸总量增量在培养前期，呈增加趋势，到培养后期逐渐下降。微生物利用NO3－-N时下降更为明显。说明微生物利用外加氮源在培养前期以固持为主，到培养后期以矿化为主。 3.微生物利用U-13C-glucose-NH4+和glucose-15NH4+进行不同种类氨基酸合成时，不同氨基酸的13C和15N的APE变化规律相似。但相应的APE(13C)大于APE(15N)。说明葡萄糖更易于被微生物利用掺与到微生物细胞质结构中。 4.氮源的施加频率的降低使氨基酸的合成速率及容量均显著下降。说明N素的不足同样限制了微生物对氨基酸的合成，使微生物活性明显下降。 5.不同C/N底物对微生物合成氨基酸速率和容量的结果显示，随着C/N增加，微生物利用外加N源合成氨基酸速率和容量明显增加。说明C源的供给显著的提高的微生物的活性，并与碳源的数量呈显著的正相关。土壤微生物量N随着土壤中C源数量提高而显著提高的结果说明，土壤微生物的活性明显提高。进而提高了微生物利用土壤中无机态N向有机态N的转化速率和程度。速效N含量下降的结果表明，通过外加C源的调控，起到了调控N素转化过程的目的，C源浓度的提高显著降低了土壤中无机态N 的积累，降低了其损失的风险。 6. 利用有机物料和N素添加进行土壤样品培养时，土壤氨基酸总量在培养初期显著增加，而随着培养的进行略有下降。而各氨基酸15N APE值较低的结果表明，土壤氨基酸总量的增加主要来源于有机物料的降解，真正通过微生物转化而形成土壤氨基酸的比例很低。有机物料作为碳源时，微生物在利用外加N源合成氨基酸的速率和容量明显低于葡萄糖。说明C源的活性及其可利用性对微生物利用外加N有较大的影响。碳源能否促进微生物对N的利用不在于数量的多少，而在于碳的活性和可利用性。 在充足的能源和碳源条件下，微生物可快速利用外加氮源向土壤氨基酸态N进行转化。因此，氮肥高效利用调控实质是土壤氮素微生物转化过程的调控。提高无机氮素向土壤有机氮的转化速率和强度可以有效减少无机氮在土壤中积累。因此通过适当调节外加碳源的活性及数量，提高无机氮素微生物转化程度，而达到减少氮肥损失的目的。

土壤氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物的矿化过程研究

土壤中氨基酸和氨基糖是土壤有机氮的重要组成部分，对土壤氮素供给和土壤碳、氮循环过程有重要贡献。研究氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物的矿化，对于减少氮素损失，提高氮肥利用率能够提供一定的理论依据。 当向土壤中(本试验为黑土)同时添加葡萄糖和(15NH4)2SO4时，在土壤微生物的作用下，(15NH4)2SO4会被用以合成土壤15N-氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物。新合成的这部分氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物与土壤中原有氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物的性质是否不同并且是否受到外源底物的调控。为了解决上述问题，本试验将采用Stanford and Smith的间歇好气矿化淋洗培养法，结合高效液相色谱/质谱、气相色谱/质谱联机技术(HPLC/MS，GC/MS)跟踪测定土壤中15N-氨基酸和氨基糖的同位素富集比例及其含量的变化，探讨土壤中新合成15N-氨基聚合物的矿化特征，通过研究添加葡萄糖、玉米秸秆和无机氮肥对土壤中新合成15N-氨基聚合物矿化过程的影响以及对有机氮聚合物解聚的动力－酶活性的影响，从而阐明土壤氨基聚合物矿化的碳源营养调控机制和氮源反馈调节机制及其解聚机理。研究结果表明： 1. 土壤中新合成的氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物与土壤原有氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物相比具有较高的循环速率，并且不同种氨基酸和氨基糖也分别表现出不同的矿化特征。较高循环速率的存在，将为调控其矿化过程奠定基础，因为只有快速循环的氮素才能够被调控，而且调控新合成有机氮的矿化过程，可以不断地满足作物生长对氮素养分的需求。 2. 土壤中新合成氨基聚合物的矿化受到不同外源底物调控。其中碳源(葡萄糖和玉米秸秆)能够抑制氨基聚合物矿化，但是活性碳源葡萄糖的抑制程度高于活性较低的碳源玉米秸秆，表明氨基聚合物矿化受到不同碳源活性调控。不同浓度以及不同形式氮源也能够调控土壤氨基聚合物的矿化，并且适量氮肥的加入能够抑制土壤中新合成氨基聚合物的矿化，存在氮肥的反馈抑制机制。 3. 土壤中蛋白酶、芳基酰胺酶和几丁质酶活性受到不同碳源和氮源的影响。其中碳源表现为促进作用，而氮源则表现为抑制作用。氮源对土壤酶活性的反馈抑制作用是控制土壤氮素转化的关键，而碳源只是起到维持土壤酶活性的作用。三种酶活性对外源底物的敏感性，将对于调控土壤氮素循环奠定一定的理论依据。 4. 不同处理酶活性与有机氮矿化之间表现出不同的相关性，说明酶与氮矿化之间的关系受到多方面因素影响。总体来看，蛋白酶、芳基酰胺酶和几丁质酶在水解土壤氨基酸和氨基糖聚合物的过程中起到重要作用，是有机氮聚合物重要的解聚酶。