Gene Study and Application in China

1.China’s Human Genome DevelopmentThe international programe--sequencingof human genome, honored as the "MoonLanding Program" started in 1990, havingmany scientists from the United States,Japan, Germany, France and

Genome-wide association with transcriptomics reveals a shade-tolerance gene network in soybean

Shade tolerance is essential for soybeans in inter/relay cropping systems.A genome-wide association study(GWAS)integrated with transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify genes and construct a genetic network governing the trait in a set of recombinant inbred lines derived from two soybean parents with contrasting shade tolerance.An improved GWAS procedure,restricted two-stage multi-locus genome-wide association study based on gene/allele sequence markers(GASM-RTM-GWAS),identified 140 genes and their alleles associated with shade-tolerance index(STI),146 with relative pith cell length(RCL),and nine with both.Annotation of these genes by biological categories allowed the construction of a protein–protein interaction network by 187 genes,of which half were differentially expressed under shading and non-shading conditions as well as at different growth stages.From the identified genes,three ones jointly identified for both traits by both GWAS and transcriptome and two genes with maximum links were chosen as beginners for entrance into the network.Altogether,both STI and RCL gene systems worked for shade-tolerance with genes interacted each other,this confirmed that shadetolerance is regulated by more than single group of interacted genes,involving multiple biological functions as a gene network.

A correlation study between ITGA6 gene,chromosome 8q24,MSMB genes and prostate cancer

Objective To explore the correlation between IT-GA6 gene ( rs12621278, G ) , MSMB gene ( rs10993994,T) ,chromosome 8q24 9 ( rs10086908, T) and prostate cancer ( PCa) in Beijing residents,and to explore the correlation between genotype and pheno-

DCDC2 gene polymorphisms are associated with developmental dyslexia in Chinese Uyghur children

Developmental dyslexia is a complex reading and writing disorder with strong genetic components. In previous genetic studies about dyslexia, a number of candidate genes have been identified. These include DCDC2, which has repeatedly been associated with developmental dyslexia in various European and American populations. However, data regarding this relationship are varied according to population. The Uyghur people of China represent a Eurasian population with an interesting genetic profile. Thus, this group may provide useful information about the association between DCDC2 gene polymorphisms and dyslexia. In the current study, we examined genetic data from 392 Uyghur children aged 8–12 years old from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Participants included 196 children with dyslexia and 196 grade-, age-, and gender-matched controls. DNA was isolated from oral mucosal cell samples and fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms（rs6456593, rs1419228, rs34647318, rs9467075, rs793862, rs9295619, rs807701, rs807724, rs2274305, rs7765678, rs4599626, rs6922023, rs3765502, and rs1087266） in DCDC2 were screened via the SNPscan method. We compared SNP frequencies in five models（Codominant, Dominant, Recessive, Heterozygote advantage, and Allele） between the two groups by means of the chi-squared test. A single-locus analysis indicated that, with regard to the allele frequency of these polymorphisms, three SNPs（rs807724, rs2274305, and rs4599626） were associated with dyslexia. rs9467075 and rs2274305 displayed significant associations with developmental dyslexia under the dominant model. rs6456593 and rs6922023 were significantly associated with developmental dyslexia under the dominant model and in the heterozygous genotype. Additionally, we discovered that the T-G-C-T of the four-marker haplotype（rs9295619-rs807701-rs807724-rs2274305） and the T-A of the two-marker haplotype（rs3765502-1087266） were significantly different between cases and controls. Thus, we conclude that DCDC2 gene polymorphisms are associated with developmental dyslexia in Chinese Uyghur children.

Gene Action Studies in the Inheritance of Economic Traits in Diallel Cross of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

The present study was conducted in 4 × 4 half diallel cross fashion using the genotypes named as NL-2002, NL-2006, Punjab Masoor-2009 and Markaz-2009 for the evaluation of gene action in the inheritance of economic traits of lentil by following the Griffing (1956) Method of analysis. Minirap 13.1 Copyright© 2000, Minitab inc. Method II, Model I was used for the analysis and gene action was computed by variance component analysis using Mixed Model with GLM (general linear model) procedure. The F1 direct crosses along with the parental genotypes were then evaluated by framing the experiment in RCBD in 3 replications. The data were recorded for the characters which are under the study are, plant height (cm), number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod, seed yield per plant, biomass (gram), 100 seeds weight (gram), harvest index (%), yield per plant. The simple ANOVA for all the characters revealed that difference among genotypes was highly significant. As significant differences were present between the genotypes, it permitted subsequent analysis of the data. The Combining Ability (CA) results showed that value of variance for GCA (General Combining Ability) was significantly higher than that of those of the values of variance of SCA (Specific Combining Ability). Hence current results clearly depicted the role of additive type of gene action governing the characters under study.

A callus transformation system for gene functional studies in soybean

Obtaining transgenic plants is a common method for analyzing gene function. Unfortunately, stable genetic transformation is difficult to achieve, especially for plants（e.g., soybean）, which are recalcitrant to genetic transformation. Transient expression systems, such as Arabidopsis protoplast, Nicotiana leaves, and onion bulb leaves are widely used for gene functional studies. A simple method for obtaining transgenic soybean callus tissues was reported recently. We extend this system with simplified culture conditions to gene functional studies, including promoter analysis, expression and subcellular localization of the target protein, and protein-protein interaction. We also evaluate the plasticity of this system with soybean varieties, different vector constructs, and various Agrobacterium strains. The results indicated that the callus transformation system is efficient and adaptable for gene functional investigation in soybean genotype-, vector-, and Agrobacterium strain-independent modes. We demonstrated an easy set-up and practical homologous strategy for soybean gene functional studies.

Studies on the inheritance of transgenic rice with bar gene

Bar gene driven under the control of CaMV35s promotor was delivered into the immatureembroys of a japonica rice cultivar Jingying 119through biolistic approach. Two putativetransgenic plants were produced, which ex-pressed Basta-resistance. One of the Basta-re-sistance transgenic rices was completely sterile(JY 119-3), the other was self-fertile (JY119-4).

Studies Shed Light on the Albinism Gene of Rhesus Monkey

A recent study by researchers at the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) identifies the albinism gene of rhesus monkeys using the method of molecular technology, and suggests the age of the albinism gene in rhesus monkeys should be roughly 800,000 years. The general albinism

Nitric Oxide:from a mysterious labile factor to the molecule of the Nobel Prize Recent progress in nitric oxide research

NO is now known to be an important messenger molecule in biology.It regulates a variety of functions within cells and tissues including vasodilation, neurotransmission and immunological process. This review will focus on the nitric oxide synthase gene family and recent progress on molecular genetic analysis of NOS1, NOS2 and N0S3 genes.

TaNRT2.1-6B is a dual-affinity nitrate transporter contributing to nitrogen uptake in bread wheat under both nitrogen deficiency and sufficiency

Multiple nitrate transporter(NRT)genes exist in the genome of bread wheat,and it is of great importance to identify the elite NRT genes for N-efficient wheat cultivar breeding.A candidate gene association study(CGAS)of six N use efficiency(NUE)related traits(grain N concentration(GNC),straw N concentration(SNC),grain yield(GY),grain N accumulation(GNA),shoot total N accumulation(STN)and N harvest index(NHI))was performed based on SNPs in 46 NRT2 genes using a panel composed of 286 wheat cultivars.CGAS identified TaNRT2.1-6B as an elite NRT gene that is significantly associated with four(NHI,SNC,GNA and GY)of the six NUE-related traits simultaneously.TaNRT2.1-6B is located on the plasma membrane and acts as a dual-affinity NRT.The overexpression of TaNRT2.1-6B increased the N influx and root growth of wheat,whereas gene silence lines resulted in the opposite effects.The overexpression of TaNRT2.1-6B also improved GY and N accumulation of wheat under either limited or sufficient N conditions.The data provide the TaNRT2.1-6B gene and the two associated SNP markers as promising powerful tools for breeding wheat cultivars with high N uptake ability and NUE.

Cloning of Ln Gene Through Combined Approach of Map-based Cloning and Association Study in Soybean

Increasing yield is one of the most important goals in crop breeding. Soybean （Glycine max L. Merr.）, one of the most economically important leguminous seed crops, provides the majority of plant proteins, and more than a quarter of the world＇s food and animal feed （Graham and Vance, 2003）. The yield of soybean is finally determined by the number of seeds per unit area, which affected by many characters, such as height, branching number, photosynthesis, seed size, seed number. The number of seeds per pod is taken for one of the critical components that related to yield （You et al., 1995）.

The Study of Apolipoprotein B Gene Polymorphisms by Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Two polymorphic sites of apolipoprotein B（apoB） gene-Xbal and EcoRI were examined in a sample of 103 patients with documented coronary heart disease （CHD） and 100 healthy individuals. It was demonstrated: （1） The frequencies of rare Xallele （presence of Xbal cutting site） and E-allele （absence of cutting site） were significantly higher in CHD patients than those in controls. It was suggested that these genetic variations were associated with CHD. （2） The patients with genotype of XXhad significantly lower

Studying gene duplication and genetic variation of budding yeast:a systems and interdisciplinary approach

Budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a single cell model organism that is amenable to genome wide experimental interrogation using high-throughput genomics, proteomics

An association study of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type R gene polymorphism and the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in major depressive disorder

Objective To explore the influence of a polymorphism of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type R(PTPRR)gene rs1513105 on abnormal brain activities in resting-state patients with major depressive disorder(MDD)using the gene-imaging technology.Methods 54MDD and 43 gender-,age-,and education-matched con-

Application of systems biology to the study of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease （CKD） is a major public health problem that affects about 10% of the general population. Current approaches to characterize the category and progression of CKD are normally based on renal histopathological results and clinical parameters. However, this information is not sufficient to predict CKD progression risk reliably or to guide preventive interventions. Nowadays, the appearance of systems biology has brought forward the concepts of ＂-omics＂ technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Systems biology, together with molecular analysis approaches such as microarray analysis, genome-wide association studies （GWAS）, and serial analysis of gene expression （SAGE）, has provided the framework for a comprehensive analysis of renal disease and serves as a starting point for generating novel molecular diagnostic tools for use in nephrology. In particular, analysis of urinary mRNA and protein levels is rapidly evolving as a non-invasive approach for CKD monitoring. All these systems biological molecular approaches are required for application of the concept of ＂personalized medicine＂ to progressive CKD, which will result in tailoring therapy for each patient, in contrast to the ＂one-size-fits-all＂ therapies currently in use.