灵长类等TATA框折叠结构特征比较

通过对灵长类，啮齿类，无脊椎类三个物种各40个基因部分启动子系列的折叠结构进行分析研究，结果表明不同物种基因的TATA框在折叠结构模型中所表现的茎环结构特征的分布频率存在明显差异．     

盐藻启动子活性片段的克隆及序列分析

报道了以启动子探测质粒pECE7为载体克隆盐藻（Dunaliella salina)中具有启动子活性DNA片段的研究。经限制性内切酶EcoR I分别消化盐藻基因组DNA和质粒pECE7,并进行体外重组及转化筛选，得到一具有启动子活性的DNA片段Ped。经进一步氯霉素抗性筛选，证明此启动子具有较高的活性。测序结果显示Ped长243bp。对其序列分析表明它具有启动子初级结构的基本特征。Southern杂交显示此启动子片段确实来自于盐藻基因组，且其广泛存在于整个基因组中启动盐藻基因的表达。经推测，Ped中含有多种转录因子结合位点的同源序列，因此Ped可能参与了多基因表达的调控。     

Structural features of prions explored by sequence analysis. II. A PrP<Superscript>Sc</Superscript> model

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders associated with a conformational conversion of the prion PrP protein, in which the β-strand content increases and that of the α helix decreases. However, the structure of the pathogenous form PrP^Sc, occurring after conformational conversion of the normal cellular form PrP^C, is not yet known. From sequence analysis, we have previously proposed that helix H2 of the prion PrP^C structure might be a key region for this structural conversion. More recently, we identified the TATA box-binding protein fold as a putative scaffold that may locally satisfy the predicted secondary-structure organisation of PrP^Sc. In the present analysis, we detail the schematic construction of PrP^Sc monomeric and dimeric models, based on this hypothesis. These models are globally compatible with available data and therefore may provide further insights into the structurally and functionally elusive PrP protein. Some comments are also devoted to a comparison of the yeast Ure2p prion and animal prions. Received 29 July 2002; received after revision 24 October 2002; accepted 24 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

真核基因表达的转录调控

真核基因的表达受到多层次的调控,其中最为重要的是转录水平的调控。本文从三个方面—基因自身结构、特殊顺序的DNA结合蛋白、环境因子论述了基因表达的转录控制,以期提供一些重要线索。