In vitro evolution suggests multiple origins for the hammerhead ribozyme.

The hammerhead ribozyme was originally discovered in a group of RNAs associated with plant viruses, and has subsequently been identified in the genome of the newt (Notophthalamus viridescens), in schistosomes and in cave crickets (Dolichopoda species). The sporadic occurrence of this self-cleaving RNA motif in highly divergent organisms could be a consequence of the very early evolution of the hammerhead ribozyme, with all extant examples being descended from a single ancestral progenitor. Alternatively, the hammerhead ribozyme may have evolved independently many times. To better understand the observed distribution of hammerhead ribozymes, we used in vitro selection to search an unbiased sample of random sequences for comparably active self-cleaving motifs. Here we show that, under near-physiological conditions, the hammerhead ribozyme motif is the most common (and thus the simplest) RNA structure capable of self-cleavage at biologically observed rates. Our results suggest that the evolutionary process may have been channelled, in nature as in the laboratory, towards repeated selection of the simplest solution to a biochemical problem.     

A pseudoknot-like structure required for efficient self-cleavage of hepatitis delta virus RNA

Hepatitis delta virus genomic and antigenomic RNAs contain a self-cleavage site hypothesized to function in processing the viral RNA during replication. Self-cleavage requires only a divalent cation and is mediated at the genomic site by a sequence of less than 85 nucleotides. We propose that the genomic self-cleaving sequence element and a corresponding sequence from the anti-genomic RNA could generate related secondary structures. The region of the antigenomic sequence, predicted from the proposed structure, was synthesized and shown to be sufficient for self-cleavage. Evidence for two stems which form a tertiary interaction was obtained by site-specific mutagenesis of the antigenomic sequence. Efficient self-cleavage in 10 M formamide or 5 M urea, also a property of the genomic sequence, was dependent on base-pairing in both stems. But in the absence of denaturants, the stem distal to the site of cleavage was not required, suggesting that the tertiary interaction stabilizes the structure required for self-cleavage.     

靶向肿瘤多药耐药基因mdr1的siRNA的构建与鉴定

mdr 1基因及其表达产物P-gp是引起肿瘤细胞多药耐药(MDR)的主要原因,抑制mdr 1基因的表达可用于逆转MDR.RNAi可用于特异抑制靶基因的表达,本研究的目的是构建获得可特异有效靶向mdr 1基因的siRNA元件.应用siRNA设计软件与mRNA结构分析软件设计构建了3个分别靶向mdr 1基因mRNA环结构和茎结构的siRNA元件,同时构建了携带mdr1基因序列的luc报告质粒,通过siRNA表达质粒与携带靶序列的报告质粒的共转染抑制实验检测不同siRNA的抑制效率,结果显示靶向环结构siMDR1B具有较好的抑制效率和特异性.进一步将siMDR1B表达载体与mdr1基因表达载体共转染细胞,应用免疫流式细胞术检测显示,相比对照细胞,siMDR1B可显著抑制其转染后mdr1基因产物P-gp蛋白的表达活性.同时采用CCK-8细胞活性检测试剂评价了siMDR1B对细胞活性的影响,结果显示siMDR1B不会影响细胞活性,具有良好的特异性.本研究获得的可有效靶向mdr 1基因的siRNA元件可为进一步开展逆转MDR研究提供重要基础.     

The essential role of the CopN protein in Chlamydia pneumoniae intracellular growth

Bacterial virulence determinants can be identified, according to the molecular Koch's postulates, if inactivation of a gene associated with a suspected virulence trait results in a loss in pathogenicity. This approach is commonly used with genetically tractable organisms. However, the current lack of tools for targeted gene disruptions in obligate intracellular microbial pathogens seriously hampers the identification of their virulence factors. Here we demonstrate an approach to studying potential virulence factors of genetically intractable organisms, such as Chlamydia. Heterologous expression of Chlamydia pneumoniae CopN in yeast and mammalian cells resulted in a cell cycle arrest, presumably owing to alterations in the microtubule cytoskeleton. A screen of a small molecule library identified two compounds that alleviated CopN-induced growth inhibition in yeast. These compounds interfered with C. pneumoniae replication in mammalian cells, presumably by 'knocking out' CopN function, revealing an essential role of CopN in the support of C. pneumoniae growth during infection. This work demonstrates the role of a specific chlamydial protein in virulence. The chemical biology approach described here can be used to identify virulence factors, and the reverse chemical genetic strategy can result in the identification of lead compounds for the development of novel therapeutics.     

Specific expression of a foreign beta-globin gene in erythroid cells of transgenic mice

The globin gene family represents an attractive system for the study of gene regulation during mammalian development, as its expression is subject to both tissue-specific and temporal regulation. While many aspects of globin gene structure and expression have been described extensively, relatively little is known about the cis-acting DNA sequences involved in the developmental regulation of globin gene expression. To begin to experimentally define these regulatory sequences, we have taken the approach of introducing cloned globin genes into the mouse germ line and examining their expression in the resulting transgenic animals. Here we describe a series of transgenic mice carrying a hybrid mouse/human adult beta-globin gene, several of which express the gene exclusively or predominantly in erythroid tissues. These studies demonstrate that regulatory sequences closely linked to the beta-globin gene are sufficient to specify a correct pattern of tissue-specific expression in a developing mouse, when the gene is integrated at a subset of foreign chromosomal positions.     

Prevalence of off-target effects in Drosophila RNA interference screens

RNA interference (RNAi) in both plants and animals is mediated by small RNAs of approximately 21-23 nucleotides in length for regulation of target gene expression at multiple levels through partial sequence complementarities. Combined with widespread genome sequencing, experimental use of RNAi has the potential to interrogate systematically all genes in a given organism with respect to a particular function. However, owing to a tolerance for mismatches and gaps in base-pairing with targets, small RNAs could have up to hundreds of potential target sequences in a genome, and some small RNAs in mammalian systems have been shown to affect the levels of many messenger RNAs besides their intended targets. The use of long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in Drosophila, where Dicer-mediated processing produces small RNAs inside cells, has been thought to reduce the probability of such 'off-target effects' (OTEs). Here we show, however, that OTEs mediated by short homology stretches within long dsRNAs are prevalent in Drosophila. We have performed a genome-wide RNAi screen for novel components of Wingless (Wg) signal transduction in Drosophila S2R + cells, and found few, if any, legitimate candidates. Rather, many of the top candidates exert their effects on Wg response through OTEs on known pathway components or through promiscuous OTEs produced by tandem trinucleotide repeats present in many dsRNAs and genes. Genes containing such repeats are over-represented in candidate lists from published screens, suggesting that they represent a common class of false positives. Our results suggest simple measures to improve the reliability of genome-wide RNAi screens in Drosophila and other organisms.     

RNA silencing in plants

There are at least three RNA silencing pathways for silencing specific genes in plants. In these pathways, silencing signals can be amplified and transmitted between cells, and may even be self-regulated by feedback mechanisms. Diverse biological roles of these pathways have been established, including defence against viruses, regulation of gene expression and the condensation of chromatin into heterochromatin. We are now in a good position to investigate the full extent of this functional diversity in genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of genome control.     

hTR基因反义表达质粒构建及序列分析

从人的脐带血管内皮细胞中提取基因组 DNA,通过 PCR方法扩增得到了人端粒酶RNA成分 ( human telomere RNA,h TR)的基因片段 ,扩增产物经酶切克隆到逆转录病毒载体p LNCX上 ,构建了 h TR基因的反义表达质粒 .序列分析结果表明 ,PCR扩增得到的 h TR基因的 DNA序列与所发表的序列完全一致 .构建的反义表达载体中的目的基因正确地反向插入到逆转录病毒载体 p LNCX的克隆位点上 ,构成了 h TR基因的反义表达质粒     

增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因真核表达载体的构建

构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)基因的真核表达载体pCDNA3．1( )-EGFP,转染至培养的Hela细胞中成功表达,并发出绿色荧光,证明EGFP一种良好的报告基因和筛选标记．     

细胞凋亡的基因调控研究进展

细胞凋亡的调控是细胞生理死亡和肿瘤等疾病发生的重要机制。分别对线虫和哺乳类动物细胞凋亡的基因调控研究进展进行了综述 ,阐述了bcl 2基因家族、c myc基因、p5 3基因、白细胞介素Ⅰβ转化酶基因家族、Fas/FasL基因对细胞凋亡的调控作用。