DNA methylation of fly genes and transposons

The use of anti-5-methylcytosine antibodies in affinity columns allowed the identification of methylated sequences in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster adults. In view of the presence of transposable elements amongst the identified sequences, it has been suggested that DNA methylation is involved in transposon control in the fly genome. On the contrary, a reanalysis of these data furnishes several intriguing elements that could raise new questions about the role that DNA methylation plays in the fly genome. The aim of the present paper is to discuss some features that emerge from the analysis of the identified methylated sequences. Received 26 January 2006; received after revision 8 May 2006; accepted 2 June 2006     

Cholera toxin structure, gene regulation and pathophysiological and immunological aspects

Many notions regarding the function, structure and regulation of cholera toxin expression have remained essentially unaltered in the last 15 years. At the same time, recent findings have generated additional perspectives. For example, the cholera toxin genes are now known to be carried by a non-lytic bacteriophage, a previously unsuspected condition. Understanding of how the expression of cholera toxin genes is controlled by the bacterium at the molecular level has advanced significantly and relationships with cell-density-associated (quorum-sensing) responses have recently been discovered. Regarding the cell intoxication process, the mode of entry and intracellular transport of cholera toxin are becoming clearer. In the immunological field, the strong oral immunogenicity of the non-toxic B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) has been exploited in the development of a now widely licensed oral cholera vaccine. Additionally, CTB has been shown to induce tolerance against co-administered (linked) foreign antigens in some autoimmune and allergic diseases. Received 25 October 2007; accepted 12 December 2007     

Endocrine-dependent expression of circadian clock genes in insects

Current models state that insect peripheral oscillators are directly responsive to light, while mammalian peripheral clock genes are coordinated by a master clock in the brain via intermediate factors, possibly hormonal. We show that the expression levels of two circadian clock genes, period (per) and Par Domain Protein 1 (Pdp1) in the peripheral tissue of an insect model species, the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, are inversely affected by contrasting photoperiods. The effect of photoperiod on per and Pdp1 mRNA levels was found to be mediated by the corpus allatum, an endocrine gland producing juvenile hormone. Our results provide the first experimental evidence for the effect of an endocrine gland on circadian clock gene expression in insects. Received 31 October 2007; received after revision 7 January 2008; accepted 9 January 2008 D. Dolezel, L. Zdechovanova: These authors contributed equally to this work.     

恶性肿瘤中IGFBP-rP1的抑癌基因作用机制及其可能的临床实用价值

胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白相关蛋白1(IGFBP-rP1)是近年来恶性肿瘤的研究热点.本文主要综述IGFBP-rP1在恶性肿瘤中的抑癌基因作用机制及可能的临床实用价值.IGFBP-rP1在恶性肿瘤中的作用广泛涉及细胞的增殖、衰老、凋亡、分化、血管生成等多方面,研究指出IGFBP-rP1可缩短细胞增殖周期并影响非停泊性生长从而抑制增殖,降低致瘤能力;调节BRAF-MEKERK信号通路及pRB、HSP60等相关蛋白的表达从而影响衰老及凋亡;主要通过IGF依赖方式抑制血管生成;而且IGFBP-rP1表达下降跟肿瘤细胞分化程度降低有关.研究显示IGFBP-rP1有一定的临床实用价值,如其表达量跟恶性肿瘤的进展相关,低表达提示某些化疗药物抵抗,可提示预后.而在恶性肿瘤中特异性地上调IGFBP-rP1,可抑制肿瘤增殖及血管生成、诱导细胞衰老凋亡、提高肿瘤分化程度及化疗敏感性,具有治疗意义,但研究者们还在努力探究,争取早日找到一种临床有效的靶向IGFBP-rP1的基因治疗方法.     

基于音乐基因的乐谱存储模型

本文提出一种基于音乐基因的乐谱存储模型S-MusicXML.将乐谱的存储和处理的基本单位由音阶提升到基因,有利于通过数据挖掘技术对音乐内涵的挖掘和存储.定义了旋律基因等概念,并通过实验进一步分析了挖掘音乐基因比挖掘音乐频繁模式更有优势.     

转录靶向性KDR启动子调控双自杀基因治疗肺癌的实验研究

从人肺癌细胞株中克隆KDR基因的启动子(kinasedomainreceptorpromotor,KDRp),构建KDR基因启动子调控的双自杀基因(CDglyTK)真核表达质粒pcDNA3-KDRp-CdglyTK,将其导入ECV304、L9981和NL9980细胞,建立相应的转基因细胞系,并应用不同的前药处理。体内、外实验结果显示:KDR启动子调控的双自杀基因在KDR高表达人肺癌细胞和人脐静脉内皮细胞靶向表达,而在KDR不表达的正常细胞或正常血管内皮细胞中未检测到双自杀基因表达;联合应用5-FC和GCV处理,对转双自杀基因细胞的杀伤作用显著高于单独应用5-FC或GCV,且二者显示了良好的药物协同作用。     

基于CRISPR/Cas9的毛果杨bHLH106转录因子的功能研究

目的 采用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑系统创制毛果杨(Populus trichocarpa)bHLH106(Basic Helix-Loop-Helix 106)基因的突变体,分析植株的表型特征,初步揭示PtrbHLH106基因在毛果杨木材形成过程中的功能。方法 基于前期对毛果杨野生型(WT)茎干的不同细胞类型(形成层、木质部和韧皮部细胞)RNA-seq数据,克隆得到一个在形成层及木质部较高表达的bHLH基因PtrbHLH106。采用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术创制毛果杨PtrbHLH106的功能缺失突变体。对生长60、90、120 d的毛果杨ptrbhlh106突变体和WT植株进行表型观察;对生长120 d的植株各茎节进行石蜡切片,利用甲苯胺蓝染色观察并进行细胞统计分析。结果 获得毛果杨ptrbhlh106突变体;与WT相比,突变体植株的株高、地径无明显差异;在整个测量的生长周期中,第8茎节长度有缩短的趋势,茎节数量有增加的趋势;形成层细胞层数有增加的趋势但差异不显著,导管细胞孔径显著增大,纤维细胞数量显著减少。结论 ptrbhlh106突变体与WT植株在导管孔径和纤维细胞数量上存在差异,初步证明PtrbHLH106基因参与了调控毛果杨次生木质部的发育。     

太空诱变宫颈癌细胞的差异表达基因初探

将搭载于“神舟四号”飞船飞行返地后的宫颈癌Caski细胞进行单克隆化,筛选出生长速度快于对照组、编号为44F10的细胞克隆,G1期细胞减少,S期细胞增多,成瘤能力增强;编号为48A9的细胞克隆细胞学行为与之相反,与对照组差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。为了解太空诱变肿瘤细胞生物学行为改变的机制,从分子水平入手研究经太空诱变的宫颈癌细胞和地面对照细胞的差异表达基因。应用含2747个人类肿瘤相关基因的Oligo双通道芯片研究差异表达基因。分别抽提44F10、48A9组和地面对照细胞的总RNA,逆转录cDNA并标记探针。将实验组和对照组cDNA探针混合,分别与同一张芯片杂交后,用不同的波长扫描荧光强度,从而筛选出差异基因。44F10组有16个基因呈现差异表达,48A9组有36个基因呈现差异表达。差异性表达主要涉及细胞凋亡、细胞增殖、细胞周期调控和信号转导的基因。促进细胞增殖的基因在44F10组中表达上调,而在48A9组中限制细胞增殖的基因表达上调。研究表明,太空诱变宫颈癌细胞的差异表达基因导致了细胞生物学行为的改变。     

The radial self-positioning algorithm of intelligent ultrasonic probe array in oil/gas pipeline

The working principle of the pipeline intelligent pig and the structure of ultrasonic probe array used to detect defects in oil/gas pipeline are introduced.The effects of the array'S radial position in pipe on defect resolution are analyzed.The causes leading to radial positioning error are investigated.An algorithm for the radial self-positioning is presented.The experimental results show that the radial self-positioning algorithm can eliminate the array'S space position error effectively and improve the defect resolution.