Histone methylation and ubiquitination with their cross-talk and roles in gene expression and stability

Methylation of lysine residues of histones is associated with functionally distinct regions of chromatin, and, therefore, is an important epigenetic mark. Over the past few years, several enzymes that catalyze this covalent modification on different lysine residues of histones have been discovered. Intriguingly, histone lysine methylation has also been shown to be cross-regulated by histone ubiquitination or the enzymes that catalyze this modification. These covalent modifications and their cross-talks play important roles in regulation of gene expression, heterochromatin formation, genome stability, and cancer. Thus, there has been a very rapid progress within past several years towards elucidating the molecular basis of histone lysine methylation and ubiquitination, and their aberrations in human diseases. Here, we discuss these covalent modifications with their cross-regulation and roles in controlling gene expression and stability. Received 24 September 2008; received after revision 21 November 2008; accepted 28 November 2008     

Genus Baseodiscus (Nemertea: Heteronemertea): Molecular identification of a new species in a phylogenetic context

A new heteronemertean, Baseodiscus jonasii sp. nov., is described from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. It resembles B. delineatus in inner morphology but can be distinguished from this species by its different colour pattern and differences in the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. The monophyletic status of the genus is investigated by reconstructing the phylogeny of six specimens from four species assigned to this genus, together with 22 specimens from nine other heteronemertean genera, using parsimony and Bayesian analysis. The results imply that Baseodiscus is a monophyletic group while several other heteronemertean genera are non‐monophyletic.     

Ancient DNA sequences of rice from the low Yangtze reveal significant genotypic divergence

Rice (Oryza sativa) was first domesticated in the lower and middle Yangtze regions of China, and rice remains have been found in many Chinese archaeological sites. Until now, only phenotypic archeobotanical evidence, such as the spikelet bases of ancient grains, has been used to speculate on the domestication process and domestication rate of rice. In this study, we sequenced 4 genomic segments from rice remains in Tianluoshan, a site of the local Hemudu Neolithic culture in the low Yangtze and two other archaeological sites (~2400 and 1200 BC, respectively). We compared our sequences with those of the current domesticated and wild rice (O. rufipogon) populations. At least two genotypes were found in the remains from each site, suggesting a heterozygotic state of the rice seeds. One ancient genotype was not found in the current domesticated population and might have been lost. The rice remains belonged to the japonica group, and most if not all were japonica-type, suggesting that the remains might be at an early stage of indica-japonica divergence or an indica-japonica mixture. We also identified sequences with significant similarity to those from species of Sapindales, Zygophyllales, and Brassicales, which is consistent with the identification of other plant remains in the Tianluoshan site and the common rice field weeds such as mustards in southern China.     

基于批分离实验的最大独立集问题DNA算法

根据解决最大独立集问题的需要,讨论了简化的粘贴模型,该模型只由单链DNA的存储链和分离板组成.以分离实验为基础提出了批分离实验和生化操作过程,该实验可以快速分离存储链.基于批分离实验设计了最大独立集问题的DNA算法,并给出其生化实现过程:先形成所有顶点子集的初始解空间;接着用批分离实验对每个顶点进行检测,筛选全部满足不相邻要求的顶点子集,从而得到全部独立集;然后通过电泳实验得到全部最大独立集;最后通过检测实验输出实验结果.讨论并证明了算法的正确性和复杂性,算法的操作次数是线性的,通过仿真实验说明了算法的有效性和可行性.     

模板甲基化水平对鼠肝RNA聚合酶体外转录活性的影响

利用３Ｈ－ＵＴＰ同位素参入法，研究了大鼠肝细胞ＲＮＡ聚合酶在核内外的转录活性，结果表明：在细胞核内的转录活性明显低于在无核抽提物中的转录活性。利用自身的ＤＮＡ模板，优于利用外加的ＤＮＡ模板。并比较了不同ＤＮＡ甲基化水平的模板对ＲＮＡ聚合酶体外转录活性的影响，发现模板的甲基化水平与其体外转录水平呈反相关。     

Gene inactivation triggered by recognition between DNA repeats

This chapter focuses on phenomena of gene inactivation resulting from the presence of repeated gene copies within the genome of plants and fungi, and on their possible relationships to homologous DNA-DNA interactions. Emphasis is given to two related premeiotic processes: Methylation Induced Premeiotically (MIP) and Repeat-Induced Point mutation (RIP) which take place in the fungiAscobolus immersus andNeurospora crassa, respectively. The relationships between these processes and genetic recombination are discussed.