Bioinformatic prediction of selenoprotein genes in the dolphin genome

Selenium (Se), an essential trace element in vivo, is present mainly as selenocystein (Sec) in various selenoproteins. The Sec residue is translated from an in-frame TGA codon, which traditionally functions as a stop codon. Prediction of selenoprotein genes is difficult due to the lack of an effective method for distinguishing the dual function of the TGA codon in the open reading frame of a selenoprotein gene. In this article a eukaryotic bioinformatic prediction system that we have developed was used to predict selenoprotein genes from the genome of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Sixteen selenoprotein genes were predicted, including selenoprotein P and glutathione peroxidase. In particular, a type II iodothyronine deiodinase was found to have two Sec residues, while the type I iodothyronine deiodinase gene has two alternative splice forms. These results provide important information for the investigation of the relationship between a variety of selenoproteins and the evolution of the marine-living dolphin.     

Identification of selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) element in eukaryotic selenoproteins by RNA Draw program

The computer program RNA Draw was used to identify the secondary structures in the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of the mRNAs from 46 eukaryotic selenoproteins among 7 species. The program found one or two possible SECIS elements in these selenoproteins. The SECIS element consists of a stem-loop or hairpin structure with three conserved sequences of AUGA-(A)AA-GA. SECIS element was not found by the RNA Draw program in randomly selected non-selenoproteins. The results showed that SECIS element is the unique character of the genes of eukaryotic selenoproteins. Thus it is possible to use RNA Draw to search the SECIS elements in gene bank for potential new selenoproteins.     

硒代半胱氨酸的生物合成及参入

硒代半胱氨酸是蛋白硒的主要存在形式，其合成和参入有不同于其它氨基酸的生物学特点系统．阐述了原核生物和真核生物的硒代半胱氨酸的合成途径和参入机制，并比较了原核生物和真核生物硒蛋白基因中硒代半胱氨酸插入序列元件的结构特点．     

植物体内含硒生物大分子基础与应用研究进展

植物硒主要以硒蛋白、硒多糖、硒核酸及硒酶等生物大分子形式存在，它们大多是低毒的生物活性物质．了解植物硒的分布规律、生理生化作用、测定方法等基础性研究和含硒生物大分子的研究进展，对于进一步开发利用植物中的硒具有重要意义。     

含硒生物大分子化合物研究进展

硒是人体必需的微量元素 ,对人类健康有着重要意义 .研究证明 :硒与多种疾病如心血管系统疾病、癌症、HIV感染等相关 ,硒是硒蛋白的组成成分 ,并且在硒酶的活性中心发现含有硒半胱氨酸 ,说明硒与某些含硒生物大分子的结构和硒酶活性有着密切联系 .对含硒的生物大分子 (硒蛋白、硒酶、含硒多糖、含硒核酸等 )已作了大量有意义的研究工作 ,认识它们的重要作用有助于进一步探明硒的生物学作用机理 ,并对含硒活性物质开发具有促进作用     

Seasonal variation of gut Cyanophyta contents and liver GST expression of mud carp （Cirrhina molitorella） and Nile tilapia （Oreochromis niloticus） in the tropical Xiangang Reservoir （Huizhou, China）

Liver glutathione S-transferase(GST) plays a major role in the detoxification of microcystins(MCs) via conjugation to glutathione(GSH).We evaluated the relationship between seasonal variation in fish gut contents and the expression of GST isoforms in mud carp(Cirrhina molitorella) and Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus).We quantified the abundance and diversity of plankton in the water column and foregut of mud carp and Nile tilapia in the tropical Xiangang Reservoir between October 2007 and July 2008.The mRNA expression of 7 liver GST isoforms was determined by real-time RT-PCR.The gut contents of both species were dependent on the amount and type of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the water.The expression of liver GST genes in Nile tilapia and mud carp was positively and negatively correlated,respectively,with the abundance of toxic cyanobacteria in the fore-gut.The expression of liver GST mRNA was correlated to the abundance of toxic cyanobacteria in the gut contents of both species,suggesting that mRNA expression of GST isoforms could be used as a biomarker in Nile tilapia and mud carp to monitor cyanobacteria blooms in reservoirs.     

硒对水生生物双重生物效应研究进展

硒是动物体必需的微量元素,但是硒含量过高或过低均可对生物体产生毒性效应. 文章阐述了硒在生物体内硒蛋白、抗氧化、免疫系统中的有益性及作用机制;总结了硒对水生生物氧化胁迫、胚胎畸形发育、母体传递等毒性效应机制;讨论了影响硒双重生物效应的因素. 通过综述近年来微量元素硒在水生生物体内（特别是鱼类）的双重生物效应,以及影响硒双重生物效应的关键因素等,进一步解析了硒在水生生物体内的累积、代谢、转化与复杂生物效应的关系,并为今后硒双重生物效应的深入研究和科学补硒提供科学依据.     

Habitat-induced reciprocal transformation in the root phenotype of Oriental ginseng is associated with alteration in DNA methylation

Oriental ginseng is an important medicinal plant that grows in 2 major forms or ecotypes, wild and domesticated. Each form differs conspicuously in root phenotype, but can be converted from one type to another by habitat. Here we show that the habitat-induced transformation of ginseng root phenotype was accompanied by alteration in cytosine methylation at a large number of 5′-CCGG-3′ sites detected by the methylation-sensitive polymorphism (MSAP) marker. The collective CG and CHG methylation levels of all 4 landraces of the domesticated form were significantly lower than those of the wild form. Interestingly, artificially transplanted ginseng plants recreated in both directions the methylation levels (at least in CHG) of their natural counterparts. The methylation differences between the 2 ginseng ecotypes were validated at 2 isolated MSAP loci bearing homology to a 5S rRNA gene or a copia retrotransposon. Our results implicate a link between epigenetic variation and habitat-induced phenotypic flexibility in Oriental ginseng.     

Assembly of yeast Sec proteins involved in translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum into a membrane-bound multisubunit complex

Secretory-protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is thought to be catalysed by integral membrane proteins. Genetic selections uncovered three Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes (SEC61, SEC62 and SEC63), mutations in which block import of precursor proteins into the ER lumen in vivo and in vitro. The DNA sequences of SEC62 and SEC63 predict multispanning membrane proteins, and biochemical characterization of the SEC62 protein (Sec62) confirms that it is an integral ER membrane protein. Here we show that Sec61, Sec62 and Sec63 are assembled with two additional proteins into a multisubunit membrane-associated complex. These results confirm previous predictions, based upon genetic interactions between the SEC genes, that Sec61, Sec62 and Sec63 act together to facilitate protein translocation into the ER.     

富硒乳酸菌抗肝损伤小鼠红细胞脂质过氧化作用

选择60只健康雌雄对半成年小鼠，随机分成对照组(C组)，富硒乳酸菌组(Se组)，CCl4-富硒乳酸菌组(CCl4-Se)，CCl4注射组(CCl4组)，通过腹腔注射CCl4诱发肝损伤，分别在第2、4、6周采集血样并测定红细胞溶血液中GSH-Px、GST和SOD活性及MDA含量．研究富硒乳酸菌对CCl4诱发肝损伤小鼠红细胞脂质过氧化损伤的保护作用．结果显示，在整个实验期内，SOD各组间未见明显差异；GST表现为Se组最高，呈上升趋势，且在第6周高于或明显高于其他符组，CCl4组低于或明显低于C组和CCl4-Se组，C组和CCl4-Se组相近；C组、Se组和CCl4-Se组GSH—Px活性无明显差异，而CCl4组随负荷时间呈下降趋势，第4周后明显低于其余三组．C组和CCl4-Se组的MDA无明显差异，Se组整体水平低于或明显低于其它三组，CCl4组高于或显著高于其它三组．提示CCl4诱发肝损伤小鼠红细胞脂质过氧化变化剧烈，富硒乳酸菌制剂能通过抗损伤保护以及增强抗氧化酶活性发挥有效作用．     

蚕蛹酶解蛋白中微量元素的质量分数分析

应用火焰原子吸收法(FAAS法)测定蚕蛹酶解蛋白中微量元素的含量.Na、K、Fe、Pb、Cu、Zn、Se、As的质量分数,结果表明:蚕蛹酶解蛋白中富含Na、K、Fe、Cu、Zn、Se等人体必需的微量元素,而有毒元素Pb、As的质量分数都远低于国家限量.     

硒蛋白分子生物学及其生理功能研究进展

在硒蛋白特别是硒酶的活性中心发现含有硒半胱氨酸,说明硒对硒蛋白的结构和硒酶的活性有着重要意义,研究发现,硒半胱氨酸是参入到蛋白质分子中的第21种氨基酸,硒是唯一受基因调控的微量元素,本文对硒蛋白分子生物学及其生理功能研究进展进行综述。     

Orientational domains at room temperature in La0.33Ca0.67MnO3 perovskite

Orientational domains at room temperature in orthorhombic perovskite La_0.33Ca_0.67MnO₃ were studied by group-theory and observed systematically using transmission electron microscopy. There are six orientational variants (A, A′, B, B′, C andC′) in orthorhombic perovskite La_0.33Ca_0.67MnO₃. Their orthorhombicb _o directions are parallel to thea _p,b _p andc _p directions of the cubic prototypic perovskite, respectively. In each case there are two orientational variants (e.g.,A andA′) with theira _o andc _o axes interchanged. Among the possible 15 boundaries between these 6 variants there are only two types of domain boundaries: (1) m<100>boundariesC′/C, A′/A, andB′/B. (2) m<110>boundaryiesC′/A, C′/A′, C′/B, C′/B′, C/A, C/A′, C/B, C/B′, B′/A, B′/A′, B/A, andB/A′. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19974031) and US DOE(DE-AC02-98CH10886) Biography: WANG Ren-hui (1937-), male, Professor.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of copper （Ⅱ） coordination polymer composed of helix-like chains： [Cu（NIeH）（bpy）]

Hydrothermal reactions of Cu （Ⅱ） acetate, 2,2＇-bipyridyl （bpy） with 5-nitroisophthalic acid （H2NIPH） resulted in a new coordination polymer [Cu（NIPH）（bpy）] 1. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment indicates that 1 possesses a single helixlike chains, of which Cu atoms are coordinated by NIPH ligands and bpy ligands. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group P2（ 1）/c, a = 0.955（19） nm, b = 1.259（3） nm, c = 1.3737（3） nm, ,6= 95.13（3）°, V= 1.6455（6） nm^3 and Z = 4. The TGA analysis shows that 1 has no remarkable weight loss up to 284℃, as a result of its high thermal stability. Magnetic measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic behavior of compound 1.     

哺乳动物Gpx 基因家族进化选择和功能分歧研究 (动物科学)

研究哺乳动物谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因家族(Gpx)的亲缘关系和进化选择压力性质。从NCBI等网站获取哺乳动物Gpx基因编码区核酸序列和GPX蛋白氨基酸序列,并用MEGA、Clustal构建亲缘关系树,用SignalP和TargetP分析信号肽和亚细胞定位信息;用K estimator和PAML分析其Gpx基因家族进化先后顺序和选择压力;用Diverge分析GPX蛋白家族功能分歧。结果表明,GPX蛋白家族进化中形成两个亚类,其一包括GPX1和GPX2,其二包括GPX3、GPX5和GPX6;各GPX蛋白成员均有高度保守的GPX蛋白家族基序和高度保守的硒代半胱氨酸或半胱氨酸残基,氨基端信号肽分析显示,GPX1蛋白为胞浆线粒体型,其余家族成员均为胞外分泌型;哺乳动物Gpx1基因进化上受到严格的负选择作用,Gpx基因家族成员保守区也受到负选择作用,但用枝位点模型却检出了正选择作用,GPX蛋白家族内存在轻微的功能分歧。哺乳动物GPX蛋白家族的进化上的负选择作用表明其在哺乳动物清除自由基抗氧化方面的关键作用。     

Immuno-isolation of Sec7p-coated transport vesicles from the yeast secretory pathway.

The transport of proteins destined for post-endoplasmic reticulum locations in the secretory pathway is mediated by small vesicular carriers. Transport vesicles have been generated in cell-free assays from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and mammalian systems. Yeast genes encoding cytosolic components that participate in vesicular traffic were first identified from the collection of conditional-lethal sec-(secretory) mutants. Mutations in the yeast SEC7 gene disrupt protein transport in the secretory pathway at the nonpermissive temperature. The SEC7 gene product is a phosphoprotein of relative molecular mass 230,000 that functions from the cytoplasmic aspect of intracellular membranes. We report that in a yeast cell-free transport assay, the introduction of antibodies to Sec7 protein (Sec7p) results in the accumulation of transport vesicles. These vesicles are retrieved with Sec7p-specific antibodies by immuno-isolation for biochemical and electron microscopic characterization. Sec7p on the surface of the accumulated transport vesicles, in combination with previous genetic and biochemical studies, implicate Sec7p as part of a (non-clathrin) vesicle coat. This Sec7p-containing coat structure is proposed to be essential for vesicle budding at multiple stages in the yeast secretory pathway.     

Introns in higher plant genes

The intron is an important component of eukaryotic gene. Extensive studies have been conducted to get a better understanding of its structure and function. This paper presents a brief review of the structure and function of introns in higher plant genes. It is shown that higher plant introns possess structural properties shared by all eukaryotic introns, however, they also exhibit a striking degree of diversity. The process of intron splicing in higher plant genes involves interaction between multiple cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors, such as 5′ splicing site, 3′ splicing site and many protein factors. The process of intron splicing is an important level at which gene expression is regulated. Especially alternative splicing of intron can regulate time and space of gene expression. In addition, some introns in higher plant genes also regulate gene expression by affecting the pattern of gene expression, enhancing the level of gene expression and driving the gene expression.     

基于基因表达谱芯片杂交分析Lamprey-PHB2转染前后Chang liver细胞的基因表达差异

选取了10个物种与本课题组前期克隆得到的东北七鳃鳗抗增殖蛋白2(Lm-PHB2)进行氨基酸序列相似性对比,检测PHB2基因进化水平,结果表明各物种的PHB2氨基酸序列在PHB结构域处高度保守,但在N-端和C-端氨基酸序列保守性较低.将重组质粒pEGFP-N1-Lm-PHB2瞬时转染入张氏肝(CHL)细胞后,利用基因表达谱芯片技术分析基因的表达差异.结果显示CHL细胞中共有270条显著差异表达基因,其中显著上调基因共141条,显著下调基因共129条,涉及细胞信号转导、细胞周期调节、细胞增殖、细胞代谢和细胞凋亡等多个方面.通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(PCR)对基因表达谱芯片分析结果进行验证,结果显示转染pEGFP-N1-Lm-PHB2质粒后,细胞周期基因CDC25C、氧化应激相关基因(CAT,SOD,GST)和抗细胞凋亡基因HAX1均有显著性差异.