The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum is often associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs). This species consists of many strains that differ in their ability to produce toxins but have similar morphology, making ide...The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum is often associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs). This species consists of many strains that differ in their ability to produce toxins but have similar morphology, making identification difficult. In this study, species-specific rRNA probes were designed for whole-cell fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to distinguish A. minutum from two phylogenetic clades. We acquired the complete SSU to LSU rDNA sequences (GenBank accession numbers JF906989-JF906999) of 11 Alexandrium strains and used these to design rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes. Three ribotype-specific probes, M-GC-1, M-PC-2, and M-PC-3, were designed. The former is specific for the GC clade ("Global clade") of A. minutum, the majority of which have been found non-toxic, and the latter two are specific for the PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning)-producing PC clade ("Pacific clade"). The specificity of these three probes was confirmed by FISH. All cells in observed fields of view were fluorescently labeled when probes and target species were incubated under optimized FISH conditions. However, the accessibility of rRNA molecules in ribosomes varied among the probe binding positions. Thus, there was variation in the distribution of positive signals in labeled cells within nucleolus and cytosol (M-GC-1, M-PC-3), or just nucleolus (M-PC-2). Our results provide a methodological basis for studying the biogeography and population dynamics of A. minutum, and providing an early warning of toxic HABs.展开更多
Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gene changes from Barrett＇s esophagus （BE） to esophageal adenocarcinoma by cDNA microarray. Methods： The cDNA retro-transcribed from equa...Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gene changes from Barrett＇s esophagus （BE） to esophageal adenocarcinoma by cDNA microarray. Methods： The cDNA retro-transcribed from equal quantity mRNA from esophageal carcinoma and BE tissues as well as control normal epithelium of esophagus which were from one patient with esophageal adenocarcinoma were labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescence as probes. The mixed probes were hybridized with two pieces gene chip respectively. It was scanned by laser scanner Scan Array 4000. The acquired images were analyzed by software GenePix Pro 3.0. Results： A total of 214 genes were screened out which expression levels were more than 2 times in hybridization of esophageal adenocarcinoma vs normal epithelium of esophagus, whereas 90 genes in hybridization of BE vs normal epithelium. A parallel comparison among these two gene profiles showed that a total of 45 genes with 24 downregulation and 21 up-regulation which expression levels were more than 2 times between the BE and the esophageal adenocarcinoma. Among these, there were 27 genes with 18 downregulafion and 9 up-regulation which implicated the tendencies progressing from BE to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Conclusion： These genes or their products which implicate the tendencies can be chosen as indicators of carcinogenesis with high risk index for BE.展开更多
The BRCA1 （Breast Cancer Anti-estrogen resistance-I）, early-onset gene is expressed in cells of breast and other tissue and helps to repair damaged DNA or destroy cells in cases DNA cannot be repaired. When the BRCA...The BRCA1 （Breast Cancer Anti-estrogen resistance-I）, early-onset gene is expressed in cells of breast and other tissue and helps to repair damaged DNA or destroy cells in cases DNA cannot be repaired. When the BRCA1 gene is damaged, then the DNA is not repaired appropriately and this enhances the risk for cancer. Fluorescence and UV-visible thermal studies were performed for WT （wild type） and MT （mutant type targets） full systems. The target DNAs used were in the form of short oligonucleotides, genomic DNA. The probe system was used for detection of WT and SNP alleles of human BRCAI [（170-190, G---~T） and （290-310, G---~T）]. The Cy5 dye attached to a probe oligonucleotide （10-mer） undergoes a fluorescence intensity change on hybridisation of the probe to the WT compared to MT targets. Our results indicate that the system consisting of the target sequence and the one probe oligonucleotides bearing the Cy5 dye assemble correctly at the specified target. Once the full system （probe and target） is arranged under suitable conditions, a red-shift emission and change in fluorescence intensity are seen at a suitable wavelength. Thermal studies also showed significant differences in T,, between WT and MT. The results suggest that the differences in the fluorescence intensity at 665 nm and the spectrophotometric T,,,cs） for the WT and MT can be attributed to the type of binding of the probe to the target. The systems were sensitive to single nucleotide polymorphisms and this may help in high throughput applications in genetic testing and molecular diagnostics.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41006082)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.20090461272)the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Creative Research Groups(No.40821004)
文摘The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum is often associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs). This species consists of many strains that differ in their ability to produce toxins but have similar morphology, making identification difficult. In this study, species-specific rRNA probes were designed for whole-cell fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to distinguish A. minutum from two phylogenetic clades. We acquired the complete SSU to LSU rDNA sequences (GenBank accession numbers JF906989-JF906999) of 11 Alexandrium strains and used these to design rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes. Three ribotype-specific probes, M-GC-1, M-PC-2, and M-PC-3, were designed. The former is specific for the GC clade ("Global clade") of A. minutum, the majority of which have been found non-toxic, and the latter two are specific for the PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning)-producing PC clade ("Pacific clade"). The specificity of these three probes was confirmed by FISH. All cells in observed fields of view were fluorescently labeled when probes and target species were incubated under optimized FISH conditions. However, the accessibility of rRNA molecules in ribosomes varied among the probe binding positions. Thus, there was variation in the distribution of positive signals in labeled cells within nucleolus and cytosol (M-GC-1, M-PC-3), or just nucleolus (M-PC-2). Our results provide a methodological basis for studying the biogeography and population dynamics of A. minutum, and providing an early warning of toxic HABs.
文摘Objective： The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gene changes from Barrett＇s esophagus （BE） to esophageal adenocarcinoma by cDNA microarray. Methods： The cDNA retro-transcribed from equal quantity mRNA from esophageal carcinoma and BE tissues as well as control normal epithelium of esophagus which were from one patient with esophageal adenocarcinoma were labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescence as probes. The mixed probes were hybridized with two pieces gene chip respectively. It was scanned by laser scanner Scan Array 4000. The acquired images were analyzed by software GenePix Pro 3.0. Results： A total of 214 genes were screened out which expression levels were more than 2 times in hybridization of esophageal adenocarcinoma vs normal epithelium of esophagus, whereas 90 genes in hybridization of BE vs normal epithelium. A parallel comparison among these two gene profiles showed that a total of 45 genes with 24 downregulation and 21 up-regulation which expression levels were more than 2 times between the BE and the esophageal adenocarcinoma. Among these, there were 27 genes with 18 downregulafion and 9 up-regulation which implicated the tendencies progressing from BE to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Conclusion： These genes or their products which implicate the tendencies can be chosen as indicators of carcinogenesis with high risk index for BE.
文摘The BRCA1 （Breast Cancer Anti-estrogen resistance-I）, early-onset gene is expressed in cells of breast and other tissue and helps to repair damaged DNA or destroy cells in cases DNA cannot be repaired. When the BRCA1 gene is damaged, then the DNA is not repaired appropriately and this enhances the risk for cancer. Fluorescence and UV-visible thermal studies were performed for WT （wild type） and MT （mutant type targets） full systems. The target DNAs used were in the form of short oligonucleotides, genomic DNA. The probe system was used for detection of WT and SNP alleles of human BRCAI [（170-190, G---~T） and （290-310, G---~T）]. The Cy5 dye attached to a probe oligonucleotide （10-mer） undergoes a fluorescence intensity change on hybridisation of the probe to the WT compared to MT targets. Our results indicate that the system consisting of the target sequence and the one probe oligonucleotides bearing the Cy5 dye assemble correctly at the specified target. Once the full system （probe and target） is arranged under suitable conditions, a red-shift emission and change in fluorescence intensity are seen at a suitable wavelength. Thermal studies also showed significant differences in T,, between WT and MT. The results suggest that the differences in the fluorescence intensity at 665 nm and the spectrophotometric T,,,cs） for the WT and MT can be attributed to the type of binding of the probe to the target. The systems were sensitive to single nucleotide polymorphisms and this may help in high throughput applications in genetic testing and molecular diagnostics.
