Analysis of differentially expressed genes in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus under heat stress

The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus plays important roles in marine benthic ecosystem as environmental cleaners, and it is the important aquaculture species in China. High water temperature poses critical threat for the survival of A. japonicus, which has resulted in extensive death in summer. To explore the genes expression profiles under different levels of heat stress, the high-throughput RNA-seq was applied in this study. Our results revealed a total of 1 371, 1 225 and 1 408 differentia...     

Two CYP3A-like genes in the marine mussel Mytilus edulis: mRNA expression modulation following short-term exposure to endocrine disruptors

Members of the vertebrate CYP3A subfamily are involved in the metabolism of steroids and a wide range of xenobiotics. In this study two CYP3A-like mRNAs have been isolated from the mussel (Mytilus edulis), and their seasonal expression profile and modulation by estrogens examined. Sexual dimorphism of CYP3A-like mRNA expression was not observed in mussel gonads of individuals collected throughout a year. Nevertheless, natural variation in gonadal CYP3A-like mRNA expression was observed, with highest levels of CYP3A isoform1 and lowest levels of CYP3A isoform2 mRNA during the maturation and spawning season. Exposure to a 10% sewage treatment works extract did not result in any significant changes in mRNA expression of CYP3A-like. In contrast, exposure to E2 (200 ng/L) and TBT (100 ng/L) significantly down-regulated the expression of CYP3A-like isoform1 but not CYP3A-like isoform2 suggesting differential regulation.     

太平洋牡蛎幼体附着变态差异蛋白质组研究

太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea angulata)是中国主要的海洋养殖经济物种之一,具有重要的经济价值和商业价值,附着变态是牡蛎幼体从受精卵发育到成体所需的重要阶段,其分子机制的研究对牡蛎养殖育苗具有重要的指导意义.本研究利用双向电泳技术分离筛选牡蛎幼体附着变态过程中的差异表达的蛋白,进一步利用质谱技术鉴定幼体附着变态过程中发育相关的关键蛋白,共筛选出128个差异蛋白,鉴定并注释了39种蛋白.通过对差异表达蛋白功能分析,筛选获得了与纤毛组建相关的筑丝蛋白和与稳定钙离子胞内浓度相关的钙网蛋白,为揭示牡蛎幼体面盘组织及纤毛的退化消失和钙离子有效诱导幼体附着变态的机制提供分子数据.同时还获得了调节脂肪酸β-氧化、三羧酸循环和糖酵解重要生理功能的关键酶蛋白:乙酰辅酶A脱氢酶、异柠檬酸脱氢酶和3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶,以及调节无脊椎动物机体能量存储和释放的酶蛋白:精氨酸激酶和ATP合成酶,进一步阐明了牡蛎幼体在附着变态过程中能量调节的分子机制.     

Modulation of p53 gene expression in the intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus exposed to alkylphenols

The copepod, Tigriopus japonicus has been recognized as an excellent marine model species for ecotoxicological studies. The present study cloned and characterized the p53 gene of this copepod and studied its expression pattern. We discovered that p53 expression patterns varied among different developmental stages of the copepod, having the highest expression in the adult. Such variation was possibly associated with the molting cycle. By using real-time RT-PCR, we further investigated the modulatory pattern of the p53 gene in the copepod after exposure to three alkylphenols (i.e. nonylphenol, octylphenol, and bisphenol A) which are known as endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs). The results showed that the three alkylphenols significantly induced p53 gene expression in the copepod, indicating the involvement of p53 in such stress-responses. Thus, the copepod p53 gene provides one of the stress-response biomarkers for exposure to EDC-like compounds.     

应用同位素标记相对和绝对定量技术分析水蛭对IgA肾病血瘀证大鼠差异蛋白的表达

目的：运用同位素标记相对和绝对定量技术（iTRAQ）分析水蛭对IgA肾病血瘀证大鼠差异蛋白的表达,并从血清蛋白质水平阐释水蛭治疗IgA肾病血瘀证的作用机制。方法：选用6周龄的Wistar雄性大鼠80只,运用脂多糖牛血清白蛋白+脂多糖+四氯化碳方法建立实验性IgA肾病模型,造模成功后,随机分为模型对照组、强的松治疗对照组和水蛭治疗组,每组各20只,另取20只为空白对照组,给药喂养至14周末后进行采血,血液样本经过SDS-PAGE电泳后进行iTRAQ标记,运用离线二维液相色谱分离与点靶以及质谱分析及数据库检索对各组样本进行相对定量分析,并利用生物信息学软件进行分析,以上实验再重复进行2次。结果：取4组均有表达且差异倍数≥1.2或≤0.83为筛选标准的蛋白纳入数据分析,经水蛭治疗组治疗后下调的差异蛋白共21个,这些差异蛋白主要参与低密度脂蛋白颗粒受体分解代谢、脂肪酸体内平衡、胆固醇稳态以及线粒体分裂等生物过程,其差异可能与补体和凝血级联通路、代谢信号通路、嘌呤代谢和嘧啶代谢途径等有关。结论：应用iTRAQ标记方法可筛选出水蛭治疗IgA肾病血瘀证大鼠的差异蛋白表达,并能揭示水蛭治疗IgA肾病血瘀证的物质基础及活血祛瘀的疗效机制。     

Analysis of mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and Ki- and Ha-ras proto-oncogenes in hepatic tumors of European flounder (Platichthys flesus).

DNA from five tumors, three other-injured livers and two normal liver tissue samples from the European flounder were analyzed for mutations in exons 5-8 of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and at codons 12, 13 and 61 of Ha- and Ki-ras proto-oncogenes. No tumor-specific mutations were identified by direct sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism of these genes. A number of silent polymorphisms were noted in p53. In addition to a need for more extensive analyses of flounder liver tumor samples for ras or p53 mutations, other cancer-related genes should be investigated.