Somatic cloning has been succeeded in some species, but the cloning efficiency is very low, which limits the application of the technique in many areas of research and biotechnology. The cloning of mammals by somatic ...Somatic cloning has been succeeded in some species, but the cloning efficiency is very low, which limits the application of the technique in many areas of research and biotechnology. The cloning of mammals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) requires epigenetic reprogramming of the differentiated state of donor cell to a totipotent, embry-onic ground state. Accumulating evidence indicates that in-complete or inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming of do-nor nuclei is likely to be the primary cause of failures in nu-clear transfer. This review summarizes the roles of various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, te-lomere maintenance and expressions of development-related genes on somatic nuclear transfer.展开更多
ZAG2 has been identified as a maternally expressed imprinted gene in maize endosperm.Our study revealed that paternally inherited ZAG2 alleles were imprinted in maize endosperm and embryo at 14 days after pollination(...ZAG2 has been identified as a maternally expressed imprinted gene in maize endosperm.Our study revealed that paternally inherited ZAG2 alleles were imprinted in maize endosperm and embryo at 14 days after pollination(DAP), and consistently imprinted in endosperm at 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 DAP in reciprocal crosses between B73 and Mo17. ZAG2 alleles were also imprinted in reciprocal crosses between Zheng 58 and Chang7-2 and between Huang C and 178. ZAG2 alleles exhibited differential imprinting in hybrids of 178 × Huang C and B73 × Mo17, while in other hybrids ZAG2 alleles exhibited binary imprinting. The tissue-specific expression pattern of ZAG2 showed that ZAG2 was expressed at a high level in immature ears, suggesting that ZAG2 plays important roles in not only kernel but ear development.展开更多
The effects of PEG10 on hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）-induced apoptosis in human normal liver cell line L02 were investigated. The PEG10 gene was transfected into L02 cells by lipofectamine, the positive clone was screen...The effects of PEG10 on hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）-induced apoptosis in human normal liver cell line L02 were investigated. The PEG10 gene was transfected into L02 cells by lipofectamine, the positive clone was screened by G418 and defined as L02/PEG10, while the cell transfected with empty expression vector （pEGFP-N1） was defined as L02/vector. L02/vector and parental L02 cells served as control. RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of target genes. H2O2 （50–400 mmol/L） was administered to induce the apoptosis of L02 cells. Cells viability was measured by MTT and the morphological changes of apoptotic cells were determined by fluorescence microscopy using hoechst33342 nuclei staining. DNA fragmentation was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. PEG10 mRNA and protein levels in L02/PEG10 cells were significantly increased as compared with those in the control cells. After treatment with 400 mmol/L H2O2 for 24 h, the cellular growth inhibition rate of L02/PEG10 cells was significantly lower （58.2%） than that of L02 （92.5%） and L02/vector （88%）. Distinct morphological changes characteristic of cell apoptosis such as karyopyknosis and conglomeration were not observed in L02/PEG10. Ladder-like DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner was observed in both L02 and L02/vector cell lines, but not in L02/PEG10. PEG10 over-expression significantly inhibited cytotoxicity induced by H2O2 on human normal liver cell line L02 by antagonizing H2O2-induced apoptosis.展开更多
Histones package DNA in all eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. Approximately 150 base pairs of DNA wraps around an octamer of core histones to form the nucleosome, the basic unit of chromatin...Histones package DNA in all eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. Approximately 150 base pairs of DNA wraps around an octamer of core histones to form the nucleosome, the basic unit of chromatin. Linker histones compact chromatin further by binding to and neutralizing the charge of the DNA between nucleosomes. It is well established that chromatin packing is regulated by a complex pattern of posttranslational modifications （PTMs） to core histones, but linker histone function is less well understood. In this review, we describe the current understand- ing of the many roles that linker histones play in cellular processes, including gene regulation, cell division, and devel- opment, while putting the linker histone in the context of other nuclear proteins. Although intriguing roles for plant linker histones are beginning to emerge, much of our current understanding comes from work in animal systems. Many unanswered questions remain and additional work is required to fully elucidate the complex processes mediated by linker histones in plants.展开更多
Allele-specific DNA methylation is the most important imprinting marker localized to differentially methylated regions(DMRs),and aberrant genomic imprinted DNA methylation is associated with some human diseases,includ...Allele-specific DNA methylation is the most important imprinting marker localized to differentially methylated regions(DMRs),and aberrant genomic imprinted DNA methylation is associated with some human diseases,including Prader-Willi syndrome and cancer.Thus,the development of an effective strategy for the precise editing of allele-specific methylated genes is essential for the functional clarification of imprinting elements and the correction of imprinting disorders in human diseases.To discover a feasible allele-specific genome editing tool based on the CRISPR/Cas system,which is an efficient genetargeting technique in various organisms,we examined the targeting efficiency of Staphylococcus aureus Cas9(SaCas9)and Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9(SpCas9)in response to DNA methylation interference.We found that the targeting efficiency of SaCas9,but not SpCas9,was enhanced by targeted DNA demethylation using the d Cas9-Tet1 catalytic domain(CD)but suppressed by targeted DNA methylation using Dnmt3l-Dnmt3a-d Cas9.An in vitro cleavage assay further demonstrated that SaCas9 nuclease activity was inhibited by 5-methylcytosine(5mC)in a synthesized Cp G-containing context.Further analysis with Ch IP-Q-PCR demonstrated that the non-methylated sequence targeting of Sa Cas9 depends on the binding preference of SaCas9 to non-methylated sequences.Taking advantage of this feature of SaCas9,we have successfully obtained non-methylated allele-biased targeted embryos/mice for two imprinting genes,H19 and Snrpn,with relatively high efficiencies of 28.6%and 47.4%,respectively.These results indicate that the targeting efficiency of SaCas9 was strongly reduced by DNA methylation.By using SaCas9,we successfully achieved allele-specific genome editing of imprinting genes by preferentially targeting non-methylated loci.展开更多
The endosperm plays essential roles in embryogenesis and seed germination and provides abundant resources for human food and industrial products. Identification of genes regulating the development of the endosperm and...The endosperm plays essential roles in embryogenesis and seed germination and provides abundant resources for human food and industrial products. Identification of genes regulating the development of the endosperm and elucidation of their functions is of great importance for maize genetics and breeding. This study showed that the genespecific imprinted gene, ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE 2-like(EIN2-like), is maternally expressed in both endosperm and embryo. The maternally expressed pattern was maintained throughout later seed developmental stages. Bisulfite sequencing using DNA obtained from hybrid endosperm tissues showed that the upstream regions of the alleles of EIN2-like were highly methylated at symmetrical sites(CG and CHG). A differentially methylated region in the upstream part of the maternal allele of EIN2-like was identified and found to be hypomethylated. Expression analysis showed that EIN2-like was highly expressed in the maize endosperm as well as at different stages of cell differentiation(8–12 days after pollination) in the hybrid endosperm. These results suggest that the maternally expressed gene EIN2-like may play crucial roles in the regulation of seed development.展开更多
The procedure of somatic cell nuclear transfer （SCNT） is likely to affect the expression level of growth-related genes especially imprinting genes. In this study, expressions of growth-related genes including three ...The procedure of somatic cell nuclear transfer （SCNT） is likely to affect the expression level of growth-related genes especially imprinting genes. In this study, expressions of growth-related genes including three imprinting genes （H19, IGF2, and IGF2R） and four non-imprinting genes （IGF1, IGFIR, GHR, and GHSR） in adult nuclear transferred （NT） goats were investigated by real-time PCR. The expressions of these genes in adult clones were found largely normal, but IGF2R and IGFIR were more highly expressed in cloned goats than in non-NT goats （P 〈 0.01）. Analysis on mono-allelic expression pattern of imprinting genes indicated that mono-allelic expression patterns of H19 and IGF2 in cloned goats were similar to that in non-NT goats. In addition, the sequence of goat IGF2 gene and the putative amino acid sequence were obtained. The 986 nucleotide cDNA of goat IGF2 gene contained an open-reading frame of 540 nucleotides coding for 179 amino acids. Both cDNA sequence and amino acid sequence of IGF2 in goat showed their higher homology with that in sheep than in cattle; the partial cDNA fragments of H19, IGF2R, GHSR, IGFIR, and GHR in goat were also cloned and sequenced, which shared higher sequence identities with those in sheep than in cattle.展开更多
文摘Somatic cloning has been succeeded in some species, but the cloning efficiency is very low, which limits the application of the technique in many areas of research and biotechnology. The cloning of mammals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) requires epigenetic reprogramming of the differentiated state of donor cell to a totipotent, embry-onic ground state. Accumulating evidence indicates that in-complete or inappropriate epigenetic reprogramming of do-nor nuclei is likely to be the primary cause of failures in nu-clear transfer. This review summarizes the roles of various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, te-lomere maintenance and expressions of development-related genes on somatic nuclear transfer.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (XDJK2013C023)the Chongqing Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Xm201344)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2014M552303)the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Southwest University (SWU112037)the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (2011182120011)
文摘ZAG2 has been identified as a maternally expressed imprinted gene in maize endosperm.Our study revealed that paternally inherited ZAG2 alleles were imprinted in maize endosperm and embryo at 14 days after pollination(DAP), and consistently imprinted in endosperm at 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 DAP in reciprocal crosses between B73 and Mo17. ZAG2 alleles were also imprinted in reciprocal crosses between Zheng 58 and Chang7-2 and between Huang C and 178. ZAG2 alleles exhibited differential imprinting in hybrids of 178 × Huang C and B73 × Mo17, while in other hybrids ZAG2 alleles exhibited binary imprinting. The tissue-specific expression pattern of ZAG2 showed that ZAG2 was expressed at a high level in immature ears, suggesting that ZAG2 plays important roles in not only kernel but ear development.
基金supported by grants from National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No 30471983, 30872237)Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) (No 2007CB512900)
文摘The effects of PEG10 on hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）-induced apoptosis in human normal liver cell line L02 were investigated. The PEG10 gene was transfected into L02 cells by lipofectamine, the positive clone was screened by G418 and defined as L02/PEG10, while the cell transfected with empty expression vector （pEGFP-N1） was defined as L02/vector. L02/vector and parental L02 cells served as control. RT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of target genes. H2O2 （50–400 mmol/L） was administered to induce the apoptosis of L02 cells. Cells viability was measured by MTT and the morphological changes of apoptotic cells were determined by fluorescence microscopy using hoechst33342 nuclei staining. DNA fragmentation was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. PEG10 mRNA and protein levels in L02/PEG10 cells were significantly increased as compared with those in the control cells. After treatment with 400 mmol/L H2O2 for 24 h, the cellular growth inhibition rate of L02/PEG10 cells was significantly lower （58.2%） than that of L02 （92.5%） and L02/vector （88%）. Distinct morphological changes characteristic of cell apoptosis such as karyopyknosis and conglomeration were not observed in L02/PEG10. Ladder-like DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner was observed in both L02 and L02/vector cell lines, but not in L02/PEG10. PEG10 over-expression significantly inhibited cytotoxicity induced by H2O2 on human normal liver cell line L02 by antagonizing H2O2-induced apoptosis.
文摘Histones package DNA in all eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. Approximately 150 base pairs of DNA wraps around an octamer of core histones to form the nucleosome, the basic unit of chromatin. Linker histones compact chromatin further by binding to and neutralizing the charge of the DNA between nucleosomes. It is well established that chromatin packing is regulated by a complex pattern of posttranslational modifications （PTMs） to core histones, but linker histone function is less well understood. In this review, we describe the current understand- ing of the many roles that linker histones play in cellular processes, including gene regulation, cell division, and devel- opment, while putting the linker histone in the context of other nuclear proteins. Although intriguing roles for plant linker histones are beginning to emerge, much of our current understanding comes from work in animal systems. Many unanswered questions remain and additional work is required to fully elucidate the complex processes mediated by linker histones in plants.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFC0905901,2018YFC1004700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31471400)
文摘Allele-specific DNA methylation is the most important imprinting marker localized to differentially methylated regions(DMRs),and aberrant genomic imprinted DNA methylation is associated with some human diseases,including Prader-Willi syndrome and cancer.Thus,the development of an effective strategy for the precise editing of allele-specific methylated genes is essential for the functional clarification of imprinting elements and the correction of imprinting disorders in human diseases.To discover a feasible allele-specific genome editing tool based on the CRISPR/Cas system,which is an efficient genetargeting technique in various organisms,we examined the targeting efficiency of Staphylococcus aureus Cas9(SaCas9)and Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9(SpCas9)in response to DNA methylation interference.We found that the targeting efficiency of SaCas9,but not SpCas9,was enhanced by targeted DNA demethylation using the d Cas9-Tet1 catalytic domain(CD)but suppressed by targeted DNA methylation using Dnmt3l-Dnmt3a-d Cas9.An in vitro cleavage assay further demonstrated that SaCas9 nuclease activity was inhibited by 5-methylcytosine(5mC)in a synthesized Cp G-containing context.Further analysis with Ch IP-Q-PCR demonstrated that the non-methylated sequence targeting of Sa Cas9 depends on the binding preference of SaCas9 to non-methylated sequences.Taking advantage of this feature of SaCas9,we have successfully obtained non-methylated allele-biased targeted embryos/mice for two imprinting genes,H19 and Snrpn,with relatively high efficiencies of 28.6%and 47.4%,respectively.These results indicate that the targeting efficiency of SaCas9 was strongly reduced by DNA methylation.By using SaCas9,we successfully achieved allele-specific genome editing of imprinting genes by preferentially targeting non-methylated loci.
基金the Major Research Projects of Chongqing (CSTC2016shms-ztzx80013, CSTC2016shms-ztzx80016) for financial support
文摘The endosperm plays essential roles in embryogenesis and seed germination and provides abundant resources for human food and industrial products. Identification of genes regulating the development of the endosperm and elucidation of their functions is of great importance for maize genetics and breeding. This study showed that the genespecific imprinted gene, ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE 2-like(EIN2-like), is maternally expressed in both endosperm and embryo. The maternally expressed pattern was maintained throughout later seed developmental stages. Bisulfite sequencing using DNA obtained from hybrid endosperm tissues showed that the upstream regions of the alleles of EIN2-like were highly methylated at symmetrical sites(CG and CHG). A differentially methylated region in the upstream part of the maternal allele of EIN2-like was identified and found to be hypomethylated. Expression analysis showed that EIN2-like was highly expressed in the maize endosperm as well as at different stages of cell differentiation(8–12 days after pollination) in the hybrid endosperm. These results suggest that the maternally expressed gene EIN2-like may play crucial roles in the regulation of seed development.
文摘The procedure of somatic cell nuclear transfer （SCNT） is likely to affect the expression level of growth-related genes especially imprinting genes. In this study, expressions of growth-related genes including three imprinting genes （H19, IGF2, and IGF2R） and four non-imprinting genes （IGF1, IGFIR, GHR, and GHSR） in adult nuclear transferred （NT） goats were investigated by real-time PCR. The expressions of these genes in adult clones were found largely normal, but IGF2R and IGFIR were more highly expressed in cloned goats than in non-NT goats （P 〈 0.01）. Analysis on mono-allelic expression pattern of imprinting genes indicated that mono-allelic expression patterns of H19 and IGF2 in cloned goats were similar to that in non-NT goats. In addition, the sequence of goat IGF2 gene and the putative amino acid sequence were obtained. The 986 nucleotide cDNA of goat IGF2 gene contained an open-reading frame of 540 nucleotides coding for 179 amino acids. Both cDNA sequence and amino acid sequence of IGF2 in goat showed their higher homology with that in sheep than in cattle; the partial cDNA fragments of H19, IGF2R, GHSR, IGFIR, and GHR in goat were also cloned and sequenced, which shared higher sequence identities with those in sheep than in cattle.
