A miniature insertion element transposable in Microcystis sp. FACHB 854

A 186-bp sequence with imperfect terminal inverted repeats and target direct repeats but without any transposase-encoding capacity was found to be transposable in an isolate derived from Microcystis sp. FACHB 854. This miniature insertion element, designated as ISM854-1, and with its homologues present at least 10 copies in the genome of Microcystis FACHB 854, is inserted into the 8-bp long and AT-rich target sequences, but none or few in other Microcystis strains. A variant of ISM854-1, denoted ISM854-1A, has perfect inverted repeat sequences and may transpose in pairs in a structure like a composite transposon. This is the first report of non-autonomous transposition of a mini-IS in a cyanobacterium.     

脑膜炎奈瑟菌致蒙医未成熟热、成熟热期发热模型建立研究

目的：建立脑膜炎奈瑟菌致家兔蒙医未成熟热期、成熟热期模型。方法：将16只家兔随机分为模型组8只和空白组8只,模型组经小脑延髓池内注入脑膜炎奈瑟菌混悬液,空白组注射等量生理盐水,正常饮食和活动,两组每隔20min测量体温、对照观察两组家兔症候表现。结果：造模之后模型组体温迅速上升,约2小时达高峰,高热持续约4小时,6小时后体温开始逐渐下降。观察其发热过程中的精神状态、活动、寒战、发热、被毛、呼吸、心跳、耳部血管、眼、鼻、舌、进食及进水量、尿色、气味、粪便颜色及软硬度等,个别还出现打喷嚏、抽搐等症候。其体温上升时期症候符合蒙医温病未成熟热期表现,高热平台期症候符合蒙医温病成熟热期表现。结论：脑膜炎奈瑟菌致蒙医未成熟热期、成熟热期模型符合蒙医温病病机变化特点,可作为蒙医温病未成熟热期、成熟热期相关性实验研究模型。     

水稻亚种间基因组水平微卫星多态性分析

从公布的水稻两个亚种（籼稻9311和粳稻Nipponbare）基因组草图序列中,搜寻了所有的完整微卫星位点,发现单碱基重复中A/T重复占大多数,二碱基重复中AT/TA、GA/TC、AG/CT重复居多,三碱基中GGC/GCC、GCG/CGC、CCG/CGG重复较多。通过相互比较,不同基序和基因区域的微卫星多态性有较大差异：内含子和基因间区中微卫星的多态性较高（分别约为45%和40%）,外显子中的微卫星多为三碱基重复,而且多态性较低（约为25%）;两个亚种具多态性的微卫星间距平均约为12.7 kb和16.4 kb。     

油茶基因组微卫星特征分析

对油茶基因组约10%覆盖度的DNA序列进行微卫星查找,共获得11 344个重复单元长度为1～6碱基的微卫星。在此基础上,通过对这些微卫星序列分析发现:在油茶基因组中长度为二核苷酸的微卫星重复单元最为丰富,占27.1%;在单碱基重复和二碱基重复这两种类型中,最主要的优势重复单元分别是A/T以及AT/TA、AG/TC。三碱基、四碱基、五碱基重复类型中,(AAN)n、(AAAN)n和(AAAAN)n为对应的优势重复单元,这些优势重复单元中富含碱基A和T。油茶基因组中变异程度高的微卫星(长度≥20 bp)约占11.7%。分析还发现,除单核苷酸重复微卫星外,油茶基因组微卫星长度的变异速率与重复单元长度呈负相关,即油茶基因组中长度较短的微卫星变异速率较快,而较长的重复单元变异速度较慢,相对较为稳定。     

Crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of the bile acid sodium symporter ASBT

High cholesterol levels greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. About 50 per cent of cholesterol is eliminated from the body by its conversion into bile acids. However, bile acids released from the bile duct are constantly recycled, being reabsorbed in the intestine by the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT, also known as SLC10A2). It has been shown in animal models that plasma cholesterol levels are considerably lowered by specific inhibitors of ASBT, and ASBT is thus a target for hypercholesterolaemia drugs. Here we report the crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of ASBT from Neisseria meningitidis (ASBT(NM)) at 2.2??. ASBT(NM) contains two inverted structural repeats of five transmembrane helices. A core domain of six helices harbours two sodium ions, and the remaining four helices pack in a row to form a flat, 'panel'-like domain. Overall, the architecture of the protein is remarkably similar to the sodium/proton antiporter NhaA, despite having no detectable sequence homology. The ASBT(NM) structure was captured with the substrate taurocholate present, bound between the core and panel domains in a large, inward-facing, hydrophobic cavity. Residues near this cavity have been shown to affect the binding of specific inhibitors of human ASBT. The position of the taurocholate molecule, together with the molecular architecture, suggests the rudiments of a possible transport mechanism.     

Sequence of Plasmodium falciparum chromosome 12

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the death of more than a million people every year. To stimulate basic research on the disease, and to promote the development of effective drugs and vaccines against the parasite, the complete genome of P. falciparum clone 3D7 has been sequenced, using a chromosome-by-chromosome shotgun strategy. Here we report the nucleotide sequence of the third largest of the parasite's 14 chromosomes, chromosome 12, which comprises about 10% of the 23-megabase genome. As the most (A + T)-rich (80.6%) genome sequenced to date, the P. falciparum genome presented severe problems during the assembly of primary sequence reads. We discuss the methodology that yielded a finished and fully contiguous sequence for chromosome 12. The biological implications of the sequence data are more thoroughly discussed in an accompanying Article (ref. 3).     

Analysis of tandem repeats in the genome of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis

Through random sequencing, we found a total of 884000 base-pairs （bp） of random genomic sequences in the genome of Chinese shrimp （Fenneropenaeus chinensis）.Using bio-soft Tandem Repeat Finder （TRF） software, 2159 tandem repeats were found, in which there were 1714 microsatellites and 445 minisatellites, accounting for 79.4% and 20.6% of repeat sequences, respectively. The cumulative length of repeat sequences was found to be 116685 bp, accounting for 13.2% of the total DNA sequence; the cumulative length of microsatellites occupied 9.78% of the total DNA sequence, and that of minisatellites occupied 3.42%. In decreasing order, the 20 most abundant repeat sequence classes were as follows： AT （557）, AC （471）, AG （274）, AAT（92）, A （56）, AAG （28）, ATC （27）, ATAG （27）, AGG （18）, ACT（15）, C （11）, AAC （11）, ACAT （11）, CAGA （10）, AGAA （9）,AGGG （7）, CAAA （7）, CGCA （6）, ATAA （6）, AGAGAA （6）.Dinucleotide repeats, not only in the aspect of the number,but also in cumulative length, were the preponderant repeat type. There were few classes and low copy numbers of repeat units of the pentanucleotide repeat type, which included only three classes： AGAGA, GAGGC and AAAGA. The classes and copy numbers of heptanucleotide, eleven-nucleotide and thirteen-nucleotide primer-number-composed repeats were distinctly less than that of repeat types beside them.     

闽南地区紫石斑(Epinephelus lanceolatus)幼鱼爆发性传染病的病原学研究

应用RT-PCR技术．检测了福建南部石斑鱼育苗场患病紫石斑鱼的病原．结果检出神经坏死病毒；对该病毒的RT-PCR产物进行了核酸测序和序列分析．与基因库中马拉巴斑和紫石斑神经坏死病毒编码病毒核衣壳蛋白的基因片段序列的同源性大于97％．病原菌分离鉴定结果．有2菌株分别是溶藻弧菌和豚鼠气单胞菌．对实验动物有一定的毒力．药敏试验表明这些菌株对常用抗生素表现耐药．临床症状和实验结果都表明．神经坏死病毒感染是导致石斑鱼大批死亡的主要原因．而溶藻弧菌和豚鼠气单胞菌应为继发感染．加重了病情．使更多的石斑鱼死亡．     

杉木EST-SSR与基因组SSR引物开发

利用已经公布的杉木444条EST序列和未公布的杉木基因组文库中1 142条基因序列,进行引物开发效率的比较。去冗余后,利用MISA 搜索SSR 位点,分别得到109个和39个含有SSR的 位点。杉木EST序列中SSR分布密度为964.58个/Mbp,基因组中平均每Mbp出现1 037.24个SSR。在两个独立来源的数据库序列中,六核苷酸重复均为最多的重复类型,且AT-rich的重复类型占较大比例。AGC/CTG是杉木EST序列和基因组库中最多的三碱基重复,通过Primer 3.0分别设计出SSR引物95对和37对。为考察设计引物在杉木不同种源(群体)中的有效性,取12个种源(个体)的优良个体, 利用随机抽取的10个EST-SSR和8个gSSR(基因组SSR)进行引物筛选,结果表明:EST-SSR和gSSR各有4对引物在12个种源(个体)中表现出明显的多态性,多态率分别为40%和50%。8对多态性的SSR引物共扩增出 25 个多态性等位位点,平均每个引物产生 3.125 个多态性等位位点,平均有效的等位位点为2.399 5,PIC平均值为0.519 1; Hot平均为0.307 4。其中gSSR标记在检测群体间存在较大的分化,4个gSSR比4个EST-SSR扩增出更多的等位位点数、平均等位位点数,以及更大的PIC值。     

The genome of the simian and human malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

Plasmodium knowlesi is an intracellular malaria parasite whose natural vertebrate host is Macaca fascicularis (the 'kra' monkey); however, it is now increasingly recognized as a significant cause of human malaria, particularly in southeast Asia. Plasmodium knowlesi was the first malaria parasite species in which antigenic variation was demonstrated, and it has a close phylogenetic relationship to Plasmodium vivax, the second most important species of human malaria parasite (reviewed in ref. 4). Despite their relatedness, there are important phenotypic differences between them, such as host blood cell preference, absence of a dormant liver stage or 'hypnozoite' in P. knowlesi, and length of the asexual cycle (reviewed in ref. 4). Here we present an analysis of the P. knowlesi (H strain, Pk1(A+) clone) nuclear genome sequence. This is the first monkey malaria parasite genome to be described, and it provides an opportunity for comparison with the recently completed P. vivax genome and other sequenced Plasmodium genomes. In contrast to other Plasmodium genomes, putative variant antigen families are dispersed throughout the genome and are associated with intrachromosomal telomere repeats. One of these families, the KIRs, contains sequences that collectively match over one-half of the host CD99 extracellular domain, which may represent an unusual form of molecular mimicry.     

An SNP map of human chromosome 22

The human genome sequence will provide a reference for measuring DNA sequence variation in human populations. Sequence variants are responsible for the genetic component of individuality, including complex characteristics such as disease susceptibility and drug response. Most sequence variants are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), where two alternate bases occur at one position. Comparison of any two genomes reveals around 1 SNP per kilobase. A sufficiently dense map of SNPs would allow the detection of sequence variants responsible for particular characteristics on the basis that they are associated with a specific SNP allele. Here we have evaluated large-scale sequencing approaches to obtaining SNPs, and have constructed a map of 2,730 SNPs on human chromosome 22. Most of the SNPs are within 25 kilobases of a transcribed exon, and are valuable for association studies. We have scaled up the process, detecting over 65,000 SNPs in the genome as part of The SNP Consortium programme, which is on target to build a map of 1 SNP every 5 kilobases that is integrated with the human genome sequence and that is freely available in the public domain.     

Genome sequence of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague

The Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of the systemic invasive infectious disease classically referred to as plague, and has been responsible for three human pandemics: the Justinian plague (sixth to eighth centuries), the Black Death (fourteenth to nineteenth centuries) and modern plague (nineteenth century to the present day). The recent identification of strains resistant to multiple drugs and the potential use of Y. pestis as an agent of biological warfare mean that plague still poses a threat to human health. Here we report the complete genome sequence of Y. pestis strain CO92, consisting of a 4.65-megabase (Mb) chromosome and three plasmids of 96.2 kilobases (kb), 70.3 kb and 9.6 kb. The genome is unusually rich in insertion sequences and displays anomalies in GC base-composition bias, indicating frequent intragenomic recombination. Many genes seem to have been acquired from other bacteria and viruses (including adhesins, secretion systems and insecticidal toxins). The genome contains around 150 pseudogenes, many of which are remnants of a redundant enteropathogenic lifestyle. The evidence of ongoing genome fluidity, expansion and decay suggests Y. pestis is a pathogen that has undergone large-scale genetic flux and provides a unique insight into the ways in which new and highly virulent pathogens evolve.     

Rearranged mitochondrial genes in the yeast nuclear genome

We have found a contiguous DNA sequence in the yeast nuclear genome with extensive homology to non-contiguous yeast mitochondrial DNA sequences. Closely linked to this nuclear sequence in some, but not all, yeast strains is a tandem pair of transposable (Ty) elements. Certain features of the content and organization of this nuclear DNA sequence suggest that it may have originated from petite mitochondrial DNA which integrated into the nuclear genome.     

The genome sequence of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni reveals hypervariable sequences

Campylobacter jejuni, from the delta-epsilon group of proteobacteria, is a microaerophilic, Gram-negative, flagellate, spiral bacterium-properties it shares with the related gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. It is the leading cause of bacterial food-borne diarrhoeal disease throughout the world. In addition, infection with C. jejuni is the most frequent antecedent to a form of neuromuscular paralysis known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Here we report the genome sequence of C. jejuni NCTC11168. C. jejuni has a circular chromosome of 1,641,481 base pairs (30.6% G+C) which is predicted to encode 1,654 proteins and 54 stable RNA species. The genome is unusual in that there are virtually no insertion sequences or phage-associated sequences and very few repeat sequences. One of the most striking findings in the genome was the presence of hypervariable sequences. These short homopolymeric runs of nucleotides were commonly found in genes encoding the biosynthesis or modification of surface structures, or in closely linked genes of unknown function. The apparently high rate of variation of these homopolymeric tracts may be important in the survival strategy of C. jejuni.     

Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog

Here we report a high-quality draft genome sequence of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), together with a dense map of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across breeds. The dog is of particular interest because it provides important evolutionary information and because existing breeds show great phenotypic diversity for morphological, physiological and behavioural traits. We use sequence comparison with the primate and rodent lineages to shed light on the structure and evolution of genomes and genes. Notably, the majority of the most highly conserved non-coding sequences in mammalian genomes are clustered near a small subset of genes with important roles in development. Analysis of SNPs reveals long-range haplotypes across the entire dog genome, and defines the nature of genetic diversity within and across breeds. The current SNP map now makes it possible for genome-wide association studies to identify genes responsible for diseases and traits, with important consequences for human and companion animal health.     

Pseudoautosomal DNA sequences in the pairing region of the human sex chromosomes

A DNA probe from a human Y chromosome-derived cosmid detects a single-copy genomic DNA fragment which can appear in different allelic forms shared by both sex chromosomes. Variants at this DNA locus show an autosomal pattern of inheritance, undergo recombination with sexual phenotype and can therefore be described as 'pseudoautosomal'. Another probe from the same cosmid detects a sequence repeated 15-20 times per haploid genome. These repeats also appear pseudoautosomal and map exclusively to the short-arm terminal region of each sex chromosome.     

Characterization, development and exploitation of EST-derived microsatellites in Gossypium raimondii Ulbrich

COTTON IS AN IMPORTANT GLOBAL CASH CROP. IN THE RECENTYEARS, MOLECULAR MARKER TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN WIDELY APPLIED TO SUCH STUDIES ON COTTON AS GENETIC MAP- PING[1―4], VARIETY PURITY DETECTION[5], GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS[6], MOLECULAR MARKER-ASSISTED BR…     

The DNA sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1

The reference sequence for each human chromosome provides the framework for understanding genome function, variation and evolution. Here we report the finished sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1. Chromosome 1 is gene-dense, with 3,141 genes and 991 pseudogenes, and many coding sequences overlap. Rearrangements and mutations of chromosome 1 are prevalent in cancer and many other diseases. Patterns of sequence variation reveal signals of recent selection in specific genes that may contribute to human fitness, and also in regions where no function is evident. Fine-scale recombination occurs in hotspots of varying intensity along the sequence, and is enriched near genes. These and other studies of human biology and disease encoded within chromosome 1 are made possible with the highly accurate annotated sequence, as part of the completed set of chromosome sequences that comprise the reference human genome.