Constitutive expression of feedback-insensitive cystathionine γ-synthase increases methionine levels in soybean leaves and seeds

Soybean （Glycine max （L.） Merr.） is a major crop that provides plant-origin protein and oil for humans and livestock. Al- though the soybean vegetative tissues and seeds provide a major source of high-quality protein, they suffer from low con- centration of an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, methionine, which significantly limits their nutritional quality. The level of methionine is mainly controlled by the first unique enzyme of methionine synthesis, cystathione y-synthase （CGS）. Aiming to elevate methionine level in vegetative tissues and seeds, we constitutively over-expressed a feedback-insensitive Arabidopsis CGS （AtD-CGS） in soybean cultivars, Zigongdongdou （ZD） and Jilinxiaoli 1 （JX）. The levels of soluble methionine increased remarkably in leaves of transgenic soybeans compared to wild-type plants （6.6- and 7.3-fold in two transgenic ZD lines, and 3.7-fold in one transgenic JX line）. Furthermore, the total methionine contents were significantly increased in seeds of the transgenic ZD lines （1.5- to 4.8-fold increase） and the transgenic JX lines （1.3- to 2.3-fold increase） than in the wild type. The protein contents of the transgenic soybean seeds were significantly elevated compared to the wild type, suggesting that the scarcity of methionine in soybeans may limit protein accumulation in soybean seeds. The increased protein content did not alter the profile of major storage proteins in the seeds. Generally, this study provides a promising strategy to increase the levels of methionine and protein in soybean through the breeding programs.

Deletion of 93 bp Far-upstream Fragment of Rice Cytosolic Fructose- 1, 6-Bisphosphatase Promoter Completely Alter Its Expression Pattern

The 1 195 bp 5′ flanking region of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) cytosolic fructose_1, 6_bisphosphatase (cyFBPase) can direct tissue, cell specific expression in transgenic rice. In order to identify sequence elements responsible for the regulation of mesophyll_specific expression, the 5′ flanking regions of -1 195 bp, -1 102 bp, -768 bp, and -644 bp upstream of the translation initiation ATG codon were fused to the reporter gene encoding β_glucuronidase (GUS) and transferred to rice via particle bombardment. Analysis of the 5′ promoter deletions identified that a 93 bp fragment between -1 195 bp and -1 102 bp is essential for directing mesophyll specific expression. High constitutive expression of GUS reporter gene was found in the -768 deletion lines and another two deletion series. These results indicate the great potential utility of the promoter in rice biotechnology.

Exploring valid internal-control genes in Porphyra yezoensis(Bangiaceae) during stress response conditions

To screen the stable expression genes related to the stress （strong light, dehydration and temperature shock） we applied Absolute real-time PCR technology to determine the transcription numbers of the selected test genes in Porphyra yezoensis, which has been regarded as a potential model species responding the stress conditions in the intertidal. Absolute real-time PCR technology was applied to determine the transcription numbers of the selected test genes in Porphyra yezoensis, which has been regarded as a potential model species in stress responding. According to the results of photosynthesis parameters, we observed that Y（II） and Fv/Fm were significantly affected when stress was imposed on the thalli of Porphyra yezoensis, but underwent almost completely recovered under normal conditions, which were collected for the following experiments. Then three samples, which were treated with different grade stresses combined with salinity, irradiation and temperature, were collected. The transcription numbers of seven constitutive expression genes in above samples were determined after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Finally, a general insight into the selection of internal control genes during stress response was obtained. We found that there were no obvious effects in terms of salinity stress （at salinity 90） on transcription of most genes used in the study. The 18S ribosomal RNA gene had the highest expression level, varying remarkably among different tested groups. RPS8 expression showed a high irregular variance between samples. GAPDH presented comparatively stable expression and could thus be selected as the internal control. EF-la showed stable expression during the series of multiple-stress tests. Our research provided available references for the selection of internal control genes for transcripts determination of P. yezoensis.

Constitutive expression of human coagulating factor IX in HeLa cells by homologous recombination of the promoter

Constitutive expression of hFIX protein in nonhepatocytes wasstudied. The gene targeting vector was constructed and transferred into HeLa cells. With the detection system of PCR, we demonstrated that the endogenous hFIX promoter was replaced with an hCMV promoter when targeted insertion of the constructor was directed by the sequence homology. The expression of hFIX in the modified HeLa cells, 11.2 ng/106 cell/24 h, strongly suggested that hFIX gene could be activated by a powerful promoter in nonhepatocytes. The results would make it possible to examine the feasibility of re-regulate gene expression by promoter replacement.

Constitutive expression of codon optimized Trichoderma reesei TrCel5A in Pichia pastoris using GAP promoter

To address the deficient activity of TrCel5A in naturally secreted cellulase preparation,this study used the GAP promoter to induce constitutive expression of Trichoderma reesei TrCel5A in Pichia pastoris.A recombinant TrCel5A was screened out after gene optimization,synthesis,and expression.The biochemical and enzymatic properties of the new recombinant were characterized.As a result,optimization of shake-flask fermentation of the recombinant was obtained at 28℃,2%inoculum volume,an initial pH of 6.0,as well as glycerol and Tween-80 additions of 30 g/L and 6 g/L,respectively.Under the above-optimized conditions,the recombinant produced 14.8 U/mL of the enzyme activity at 96 h of fermentation.To further enhance enzyme production,pilot-scale cultivation was evaluated using 5-L bioreactors.Using high-cell-density fermentation,the recombinant strain increased enzyme activity to 130.4 U/ml and protein content to 2.49 g/L.In addition,the kinetic factors,including K_(m) and V_(max) values for TrCel5A,were detected to be 5.1 mg/mL and 265.9μmol/(min.mg),respectively.Thus,TrCel5A was effectively expressed in P.pastoris under the GAP promoter,and it demonstrated its potential in commercially relevant enzyme hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass.

A finTRIM member 100 (FTR100) is unique to Otomorpha fish for constitutive regulation of IFN response

Vertebrate interferon(IFN)expression is fine-tuned in order to avoid excessive tissue injury under normal conditions and during virus infection.FinTRIM(fish novel TRIM,FTR)proteins are reported to regulate the fish IFN response.Here,we identify a novel finTRIM gene from yellow catfish(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco),which is sequentially named PfFTR100 according to the nomenclature rule in zebrafish.Genome-wide analyses reveal that FTR100 is unique to Otomorpha fish,with a single copy in spite of additional genome duplication in some fish species.Considering that few of the 99 finTRIM genes identified in zebrafish are conserved in main fish branches and most,such as FTR100,are unique to distinct branches due to lineage-specific expansion of finTRIM genes,we develop a nomenclature for newly cloned finTRIM genes from different fish species.PfFTR100 mRNA is not induced by virus infection,with a relatively high expression level comparable to that of cellular IFN and some IFN-stimulated genes(ISGs)in virally-infected tissues.However,ectopically-expressed PfFTR100 protein is attenuated in virally-infected cells through the proteasomal-dependent pathway.Overexpression of PfFTR100 promotes SVCV replication by downregulating the constitutive and inducible IFN response via a mechanism by which PfFTR100 targets IRF3 and IRF7 to attenuate their mRNA levels rather than their protein levels.Our results indicate that yellow catfish FTR100 is essential for homeostatic regulation of fish tonic IFN response.

Expression profiling-based clustering of healthy subjects recapitulates classifications defined by clinical observation in Chinese medicine

Differences between healthy subjects and associated disease risks are of substantial interest in clinical medicine. Based on clinical presentations, Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） classifies healthy people into nine constitutions： Balanced, Qi, Yang or Yin deficiency, Phlegm-dampness, Damp-heat, Blood stasis, Qi stagnation, and Inherited special constitutions. In particular, Yang and Yin deficiency constitutions exhibit cold and heat aversion, respectively. However, the intrinsic molecular characteristics of unbal- anced phenotypes remain unclear. To determine whether gene expression-based clustering can reca- pitulate TCM-based classification, peripheral blood mononudear cells （PBMCs） were collected from Chinese Han individuals with Yang/Yin deficiency （n = 12 each） and Balanced （n = 8） constitutions, and global gene expression profiles were determined using the Affymetrix HC-UI33A Plus 2.0 array. Notably, we found that gene expression-based classifications reflected distinct TCM-based subtypes. Consistent with the clinical observation that subjects with Yang deficiency tend toward obesity, series-clustering analysis detected several key lipid metabolic genes （diacylglycerol acyltransferase （DGAT2）, acyl-CoA synthetase （ACSL1）, and ATP-hinding cassette subfamily A member 1 （ABCAI）） to be down- and up- regulated in Yin and Yang deficiency constitutions, respectively. Our findings suggest that Yin]Yang deficiency and Balanced constitutions are unique entities in their mRNA expression profiles. Moreover, the distinct physical and clinical characteristics of each unbalanced constitution can be explained, in part, by specific gene expression signatures.

Characterization of two constitutive promoters RPS28 and EIF1 for studying soybean growth,development,and symbiotic nodule development

Native promoters that can drive high and stable transgene expression are important tools for modifying plant traits.Although several such promoters have been reported in soybean(Glycine max),few of them function at multiple growth and development stages and during nodule development.Here,we report that the promoters of 40S RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN SMALL SUBUNIT S28(RPS28)and EUKARYOTIC TRANSLATION INITIATION FACTOR 1(EIF1)are ideal for high expression of transgene.Through bioinformatic analysis,we determined that RPS28 and EIF1 were highly expressed during soybean growth and development,nodule development,and various biotic and abiotic stresses.Fusion of both RPS28 and EIF1 promoters,with or without their first intron,with the reporter geneβ-GLUCURONIDASE(uidA)in transgenic soybean,resulted in high GUS activity in seedlings,seeds,and nodules.Fluorimetric GUS assays showed that the RPS28 promoter and the EIF1 promoter yielded high expression,comparable to the soybean Ubiquitin(GmUbi)promoter.RPS28 and EIF1 promoters were also highly expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana.Our results indicate the potential of RPS28 and EIF1 promoters to facilitate future genetic engineering and breeding to improve the quality and yield of soybean,as well as in a wide variety of other plant species.