种子特异启动子调控ipt基因表达对烟草种子发育的影响

细胞分裂素（cytokinin，CTK）是五大类植物激素之一，它参与了植物许多生理过程与代谢的调控，主要有促进细胞的分裂和扩大，诱导芽、根和叶绿体的分化，促进种子与果实的发育，解除顶端优势，延缓叶片衰老及增强植物胁迫抗性，调节叶绿体发育基因、营养代谢基因及其它功能基因的表达，调控营养物质的运输和分配等。其调节的植物生理过程也受到其他不同因素的影响。细胞分裂素也是参与植物信号途径间相互作用的一类重要激素。 早期有关细胞分裂素生理作用的研究是基于外源激素的施用来进行的。由于通过外源施用细胞分裂素，其在植物体内的吸收，转运及代谢过程的复杂性和未知性，使得实验研究的因果关系难以确定。随着分子生物学的发展和植物转基因技术的日趋成熟，采用基因工程的方法来研究和探讨细胞分裂素对植物生长发育的调节作用及作用机理是近年来研究的热点，同时也为应用植物激素进行遗传育种提供了广阔的前景。 近年来，越来越多的真核生物启动子的分离克隆，促进了细胞分裂素基因工程的发展。利用具有组织特异性、发育特异性的启动子调控ipt基因，可使ipt基因在植物的特定组织或某一发育阶段进行表达。从而可根据不同的研究目的调控植物转化体中细胞分裂素合成的部位、时间和表达水平。尽管应用一些组织特异启动子融合ipt基因进行了一些细胞分裂素有关生理作用的研究，但是，有关细胞分裂素在胚和种子发育过程中的细胞学方面的研究还很少。 为研究ipt基因在种子发育过程中的作用，我们用大豆种子特异启动子-lectin融合ipt基因转化烟草，获得再生烟草植株。从生理学和细胞学上分析了ipt基因在lectin启动子的控制下的基因表达对种子生长发育的影响。发现在转基因烟草中，lectin-ipt基因的表达促进了种子胚及胚乳的细胞分裂，促使种子胚的生长加快，种子胚的增大为物质的贮存提供了条件，使营养物质更多的向种子运输，主要是可溶性蛋白质含量增加。由此进一步提高了转基因烟草种子干重的增加，种子的萌发与幼苗生长的加快，幼苗鲜重增加。

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of a putative C-type lectin (Fclectin) gene in Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis

Lectin is regarded as a potential molecule involved in immune recognition and phagocytosis through opsonization in crustacean. Knowledge on lectin at molecular level would help us to understand its regulation mechanism in crustacean immune system. A novel C-type lectin gene (Fclectin) was cloned from hemocytes of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by 3' and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA consists of 1482 bp with an 861 bp open reading frame, encoding 287 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contains a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids. It also contains two carbohydrate recognition domains/C-type lectin-like domains (CRD1 and CRD2), which share 78% identity with each other. CRD1 and CRD2 showed 34% and 30% identity with that of mannose-binding lectin from Japanese lamprey (Lethenteron japonicum), respectively. Both CRD1 and CRD2 of Fclectin have I I amino acids residues, which are relatively invariant in animals' C-type lectin CRDs. Five residues at Ca2+ binding site I are conserved in Fclectin. The potential Ca2+/carbohydrate-binding (site 2) motif QPD, E, NP (Gln-Pro-Asp, Glu, Asn-Pro) presented in the two CRDs of Fclectin may support its ability to bind galactose-type sugars. It could be deduced that Fclectin is a member of C-type lectin superfamily. Transcripts of Fclectin were found only in hemocytes by Northern blotting and RNA in situ hybridization. The variation of mRNA transcription level in hemocytes during artificial infection with bacteria and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was quantitated by capillary electrophoresis after RT-PCR. An exploration of mRNA expression variation after LPS stimulation was carried out in primarily cultured hemocytes in vitro. Expression profiles of Fclectin gene were greatly modified after bacteria, LPS or WSSV challenge. The above-stated data can provide us clues to understand the probable role of C-type lectin in innate immunity of shrimp and would be helpful to shrimp disease control. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Cor15a-IPT Gene Expression on Leaf Senescence in Transgenic Petunia x hybrida and Dendranthema x grandiflorum.

To prevent leaf senescence of young transplants or excised shoots during storage under dark and cold conditions, the cytokinin biosynthetic gene isopentenyl transferase (ipt) was placed under the control of a cold-inducible promoter cor15a from Arabidopsis thaliana and introduced into Petunia x hybrida 'Marco Polo Odyssey' and Dendranthema x grandiflorum (chrysanthemum) 'Iridon'. Transgenic cor15a-ipt petunia and chrysanthemum plants and excised leaves remained green and healthy during prolonged dark storage (4 weeks at 25 degrees C) after an initial exposure to a brief cold-induction period (4 degrees C for 72 h). However, cor15a-ipt chrysanthemum plants and excised leaves that were not exposed to a cold-induction period, senesced under the same dark storage conditions. Regardless of cold-induction treatment, leaves and plants of non-transformed plants senesced under prolonged dark storage. Analysis of ipt expression indicated a marked increase in gene expression in intact transgenic plants as well as in isolated transgenic leaves exposed to a short cold-induction treatment prior to dark storage. These changes correlated with elevated concentrations of cytokinins in transgenic leaves after cold treatment. Cor15a-ipt transgenic plants showed a normal phenotype when grown at 25 degrees C.

Characterization of polymorphisms in the mannose-binding lectin gene promoter among human immunodeficiency virus 1 infected subjects

ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the prevalence of mutations in the -550 (H/L) and -221 (X/Y) mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene promoter regions and their impact on infection by human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in a population of 128 HIV-1 seropositive and 97 seronegative patients. The allele identification was performed through the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction method, using primer sequences specific to each polymorphism. The evolution of the infection was evaluated through CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and plasma viral load. The allele and haplotype frequencies among HIV-1-infected patients and seronegative healthy control patients did not show significant differences. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts showed lower levels among seropositive patients carrying haplotypes LY, LX and HX, as compared to those carrying the HY haplotype. Mean plasma viral load was higher among seropositive patients with haplotypes LY, LX and HX than among those carrying the HY haplotype. When promoter and exon 1 mutations were matched, it was possible to identify a significantly higher viral load among HIV-1 infected individuals carrying haplotypes correlated to low serum levels of MBL. The current study shows that haplotypes related to medium and low MBL serum levels might directly influence the evolution of viral progression in patients. Therefore, it is suggested that the identification of haplotypes within the promoter region of the MBL gene among HIV-1 infected persons should be further evaluated as a prognostic tool for AIDS progression.

Polymorphism in the promoter region of the mannose-binding lectin gene among human T-cell lymphotropic virus infected subjects

ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the frequency of the mutations at positions -550 and -221 of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene in a sample of 75 human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infected patients and 96 HTLV seronegative controls, in order to evaluate the occurrence of a possible association between the polymorphism and HTLV infection. A sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction was used for discrimination of the polymorphism. The analysis of allele frequencies at position -550 did not show any significant differences between HTLV infected group and controls, but there was a significant difference at position -221. The comparative analysis of haplotypes frequencies were not significant, but the genotype frequencies between the two groups, revealed a higher prevalence of genotype LYLX (25.3%), associated with medium and low MBL serum levels among HTLV infected subjects. The odds ratio estimation demonstrated that the presence of genotype LYLX was associated with an increased risk of HTLV infection (p = 0.0096; 1.38 < IC95% < 7.7605). There was no association between proviral load and the promoter polymorphism, but when promoter and exon 1 mutations were matched, it was possible to identify a significant higher proviral load among HTLV infected individuals carrying haplotypes correlated to low serum levels of MBL. The present study shows that the polymorphism in the promoter region of the MBL gene may be a genetic marker associated with HTLV infection, and emphasizes the need for further studies to determinate if the present polymorphism have any impact on diseases linked to HTLV infection.

sporamin A ipt嵌合质粒的构建及其对马铃薯的转化

细胞分裂素在植物的生长、发育过程中起着重要的作用，来源于农杆菌Ti质粒上基因4区域的ipt基因特异地编码控制细胞分裂素生物合成中的关键酶－－异戊烯基转移酶。 启动子是一类非常重要的基因表达调控元件，在植物的生长、发育过程中控制着基因的时空及顺序表达。来源于甘薯的Sporamin有两种类型（A和B），它是甘薯块根中的主要贮藏蛋白，并且特异地在块根中表达。我们将sporamin A启动子和ipt基因嵌合构成双元载体pBz213，使之进入农杆菌，然后再转化马铃薯，已经得到了具有卡那霉素抗性的小植株，进一步的检测工作正在进行中。在马铃薯块茎中可望异戊烯基转移酶特异地合成，并且能够增加细胞分裂素的水平。

Characterization of mannose-binding lectin plasma levels and genetic polymorphisms in HIV-1-infected individuals

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo investigou a associação entre o polimorfismo no gene da lectina ligante de manose (MBL) e os níveis séricos da proteína com a infecção pelo HIV-1. MÉTODOS: As amostras de sangue (5mL) foram coletadas de 97 indivíduos infectados pelo HIV-1 residentes em Belém, Estado do Pará, Brasil, que frequentavam a Unidade de Referência Especial para Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias Especiais (URE-DIPE). Os níveis de linfócitos T CD4+ e da carga viral plasmática foram quantificados. Um fragmento de 349pb do exon 1 da MBL foi amplificado via PCR, utilizando DNA genômico extraído das amostras controles e dos indivíduos portadores do HIV-1, seguindo protocolos previamente estabelecidos. O nível plasmático de MBL nos pacientes foi quantificado usando kit de ensaio imunoenzimático. RESULTADOS: Dois alelos foram observados - MBL*O, com uma frequência de 26,3% em indivíduos infectados e o alelo selvagem MBL*A (73,7%). Frequências similares foram observadas no grupo controle (p > 0,05). As frequências genotípicas estavam em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg em ambos os grupos. A média dos níveis plasmáticos MBL variou por genótipo, com diferenças significativas entre os genótipos AA e AO (p < 0,0001), e AA e OO (p < 0,001), mas não entre AO e OO (p=0,17). Além disso, os linfócitos T CD4+ e os níveis plasmáticos de carga viral não diferiram significativamente de acordo com o genótipo (p>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados deste estudo não apoiam a hipótese de que o polimorfismo no gene MBL ou baixa concentração plasmática de MBL poderia ter uma influência direta sobre a infecção pelo HIV-1, embora um estudo com número maior de pacientes seja necessário.

Surface-epitope masking and expression cloning identifies the human prostate carcinoma tumor antigen gene PCTA-1 a member of the galectin gene family.

The selective production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reacting with defined cell surface-expressed molecules is now readily accomplished with an immunological subtraction approach, surface-epitope masking (SEM). Using SEM, prostate carcinoma (Pro 1.5) mAbs have been developed that react with tumor-associated antigens expressed on human prostate cancer cell lines and patient-derived carcinomas. Screening a human LNCaP prostate cancer cDNA expression library with the Pro 1.5 mAb identifies a gene, prostate carcinoma tumor antigen-1 (PCTA-1). PCTA-1 encodes a secreted protein of approximately 35 kDa that shares approximately 40% sequence homology with the N-amino terminal region of members of the S-type galactose-binding lectin (galectin) gene family. Specific galectins are found on the surface of human and marine neoplastic cells and have been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Primer pairs within the 3' untranslated region of PCTA-1 and reverse transcription-PCR demonstrate selective expression of PCTA-1 by prostate carcinomas versus normal prostate and benign prostatic hypertrophy. These findings document the use of the SEM procedure for generating mAbs reacting with tumor-associated antigens expressed on human prostate cancers. The SEM-derived mAbs have been used for expression cloning the gene encoding this human tumor antigen. The approaches described in this paper, SEM combined with expression cloning, should prove of wide utility for developing immunological reagents specific for and identifying genes relevant to human cancer.

roIC基因和MT基因特性及其表达的研究

植物种子萌发、开花结实和衰老等一系列生长发育过程，都受到植物激素的影响。细胞分裂素作为重要的生长调节物质，对其传统生物化学和生理学特性的研究已积累子大量资料。随着分子生物学的发展，对植物激素的研究又进一步从单纯的生物学描述阶段深入到分子水平研究的阶段。尤其是近年来对来自病原微生物植物激素相关基因的研究，为揭示细胞分裂素的作用机理和细胸分裂素的水平调节机制的阐明开辟了新的途径。 根瘤农杆菌T-DNA上ipt、iaaM和iaaH基因和发根农杆菌的rol基因表达产物与植物激素的代谢有关。rolC基因是位于发根农杆菌T-DNA区的12号开放读框，编码细胞分裂素-β-葡萄糖苷酶，水解结合态细胞分裂素为自由态细胞分裂素。ipt基因编码异戊烯基转移酶，是细胞分裂素合成过程中的关键酶。 本文用PCR方法从发根农杆菌（Agrobacterium rhizogenes）1601质粒中扩增 rolC基因，并构建CaMV 35S启动子驱动下的双元表达载体。以农杆菌介导的叶盘法，分别对野生型烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. W38）和已转入异戊烯基转移酶基因（ipt）的3F1和3F2烟草进行转达化。Southern blot和Northern Dot Blot分析表明，rolC基因已导入烟草植株，并具有转录活性。转基因烟草的形态特征与细胞分裂素过量表达的植株表现出的特征一致。 用ELISA方法测定转基因烟草植株中激素的含量，结果显示，单独转rolC基因烟草和同时转入rolC和ipt两个基因的烟草，细胞分裂素的水平有不同程度的提高。转基因烟草表现多芽、节间缩短、叶色深绿等现象。同时，转基因烟草内部发生生理变化，如总自由氨基酸、脯氨酸在正常情况下较对照减少，气孔延迟关闭。在干旱胁迫下，转基因烟草随水势的降低、总自由氨基酸和脯氨酸的变化与对照不同。转基因烟草在开始干旱阶段较对照的总自由氨基酸和脯氨酸含量低，随着干旱胁迫的加深，植物中自由氨基酸的含量增加，但转基因植物自由氨基酸的含量高峰值出现时间较对照推迟。干旱胁迫48小时后，恢复给水，转基因植物较对照易恢复正常生长状态，表明转细胞分裂素基因植物抗旱能力增强。另外，叶片总蛋白SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明，转基因植物蛋白质含量高于对照，某些蛋白组分所占比例也明显提高。 综上所述，转rolC和ipt基因烟草的形态和生理变化，是细胞分裂素过量表达引起植物体内激素失衡的结果。

Controlled Cytokinin Production in Transgenic Tobacco Using a Copper-Inducible Promoter

The cytokinin group of plant hormones regulates aspects of plant growth and development, including the release of lateral buds from apical dominance and the delay of senescence. In this work the native promoter of a cytokinin synthase gene (ipt) was removed and replaced with a Cu-controllable promoter. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv tabacum) transformed with this Cu-inducible ipt gene (Cu-ipt) was morphologically identical to controls under noninductive conditions in almost all lines produced. However, three lines grew in an altered state, which is indicative of cytokinin overproduction and was confirmed by a full cytokinin analysis of one of these lines. The in vitro treatment of morphologically normal Cu-ipt transformants with Cu2+ resulted in delayed leaf senescence and an increase in cytokinin concentration in the one line analyzed. In vivo, inductive conditions resulted in a significant release of lateral buds from apical dominance. The morphological changes seen during these experiments may reflect the spatial aspect of control exerted by this gene expression system, namely expression from the root tissue only. These results confirmed that endogenous cytokinin concentrations in tobacco transformants can be temporally and spatially controlled by the induction of ipt gene expression through the Cu-controllable gene-expression system.

Axillary bud outgrowth: sending a message

Mutants that branch profusely in the presence of a growing shoot tip have highlighted the role of graft-transmissible signals that are produced in roots and stem. Orthologous genes in Arabidopsis, pea and petunia are involved in the transmission of a novel long-distance message. These genes show varying degrees of regulation by auxin and an auxin-independent feedback system, and encode enzymes that might act on carotenoid-like substrates. Axillary bud outgrowth is under homeostatic control, involving developmental stages or checkpoints. Perturbation of the long-range messaging and auxin depletion does not guarantee that bud outgrowth will ensue at a particular node.