The epidemiology of HIV-1 varies in different areas of the world, and it is possible that this complexity may leave unique footprints in the viral genome. Thus, we attempted to find significant patterns in global HIV-...The epidemiology of HIV-1 varies in different areas of the world, and it is possible that this complexity may leave unique footprints in the viral genome. Thus, we attempted to find significant patterns in global HIV-1 genome sequences. By applying the rule inference algorithm RIPPER (Repeated Incremental Pruning to Produce Error Reduction) to multiple sequence alignments of Env sequences from four classes of compiled datasets, we generated four sets of signature patterns. We found that these patterns were able to distinguish southeastern Asian from non- southeastern Asian sequences with 97.5% accuracy, Chinese from non-Chinese sequences with 98.3% accuracy, African from non-African sequences with 88.4% accuracy, and southern African from non-southern African sequences with 91.2% accuracy. These patterns showed different associations with subtypes and with amino acid positions. In addition, some signature patterns were characteristic of the geographic area from which the sample was taken. Amino acid features corresponding to the phylogenetic clustering of HIV-1 sequences were consistent with some of the deduced patterns. Using a combination of patterns inferred from subtypes B, C, and all subtypes chimeric with CRF01_AE worldwide, we found that signature patterns of subtype C were extremely common in some sampled countries (for example, Zambia in southern Africa), which may hint at the origin of this HIV-1 subtype and the need to pay special attention to this area of Africa. Signature patterns of subtype B sequences were associated with different countries. Even more, there are distinct patterns at single position 21 with glycine, leucine and isoleucine corresponding to subtype C, B and all possible recombination forms chimeric with CRF01_AE, which also indicate distinct geographic features. Our method widens the scope of inference of signature from geographic, genetic, and genomic viewpoints. These findings may provide a valuable reference for epidemiological research or vaccine design.展开更多
Genomic clustering of non-homologous genes for the biosynthesis of plant defensive compounds is an emerging theme, but insights into their formation and physiological function remain limited. Here we report the identi...Genomic clustering of non-homologous genes for the biosynthesis of plant defensive compounds is an emerging theme, but insights into their formation and physiological function remain limited. Here we report the identification of a newly discovered hydroxycinnamoyl tyramine(HT) gene cluster in rice.This cluster contains a pyridoxamine 50-phosphate oxidase(Os PDX3) producing the cofactor pyridoxal50-phosphate(PLP), a PLP-dependent tyrosine decarboxylase(Os Ty DC1), and two duplicated hydroxycinnamoyl transferases(Os THT1 and Os THT2). These members were combined to represent an enzymological innovation gene cluster. Natural variation analysis showed that the abundance of the toxic tyramine intermediate of the gene cluster among different rice accessions is mainly determined by the coordinated transcription of Os Ty DC1 and Os THT1. Further pathogen incubation assays demonstrated that the end products of the HT gene cluster displayed enhanced resistance to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae(Xoo) and fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae(M. oryzae), and the enhanced resistance is associated with the boost of phytoalexins and the activation of defense response. The unique presence of the HT gene cluster in Oryza AA genome, together with the enrichment of transposon elements within this gene cluster region, provides an evolutionary background to accelerate cluster member combinations. Our study not only discovered a gene cluster involved in the phenylpropanoid metabolism but also addressed the key aspects of gene cluster formation. In addition, our results provide a new metabolic pool for plant defense against pathogens.展开更多
Mammalian testis development is a complex and highly sophisticated process. To study the dynamic change of normal testis development at the transcriptional level, we investigated mouse testes at three postnatal ages: ...Mammalian testis development is a complex and highly sophisticated process. To study the dynamic change of normal testis development at the transcriptional level, we investigated mouse testes at three postnatal ages: 6 days postnatal, 4 weeks old, and 10 weeks old, representing infant (PN1), juvenile (PN2), and adult (PN3) stages, respectively. Using ultra high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, we obtained 211 million reads with a length of 35 bp. We identified 18837 genes that were expressed in mouse testes, and found that genes expressed at the highest level were involved in spermatogenesis. The gene expression pattern in PN1 was distinct from that in PN2 and PN3, which indicates that spermatogenesis has commenced in PN2. We analyzed a large number of genes related to spermatogenesis and somatic development of the testis, which play important roles at different developmental stages. We also found that the MAPK, Hedgehog, and Wnt signaling pathways were significantly involved at different developmental stages. These findings further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate testis development. Our study also demonstrates significant advantages of RNA-seq technology for studying transcriptome during development.展开更多
基金the funding by the Chinese Key National Science and Technology Program in the 12th Five-Year Period, grant 2012ZX10001006-002
文摘The epidemiology of HIV-1 varies in different areas of the world, and it is possible that this complexity may leave unique footprints in the viral genome. Thus, we attempted to find significant patterns in global HIV-1 genome sequences. By applying the rule inference algorithm RIPPER (Repeated Incremental Pruning to Produce Error Reduction) to multiple sequence alignments of Env sequences from four classes of compiled datasets, we generated four sets of signature patterns. We found that these patterns were able to distinguish southeastern Asian from non- southeastern Asian sequences with 97.5% accuracy, Chinese from non-Chinese sequences with 98.3% accuracy, African from non-African sequences with 88.4% accuracy, and southern African from non-southern African sequences with 91.2% accuracy. These patterns showed different associations with subtypes and with amino acid positions. In addition, some signature patterns were characteristic of the geographic area from which the sample was taken. Amino acid features corresponding to the phylogenetic clustering of HIV-1 sequences were consistent with some of the deduced patterns. Using a combination of patterns inferred from subtypes B, C, and all subtypes chimeric with CRF01_AE worldwide, we found that signature patterns of subtype C were extremely common in some sampled countries (for example, Zambia in southern Africa), which may hint at the origin of this HIV-1 subtype and the need to pay special attention to this area of Africa. Signature patterns of subtype B sequences were associated with different countries. Even more, there are distinct patterns at single position 21 with glycine, leucine and isoleucine corresponding to subtype C, B and all possible recombination forms chimeric with CRF01_AE, which also indicate distinct geographic features. Our method widens the scope of inference of signature from geographic, genetic, and genomic viewpoints. These findings may provide a valuable reference for epidemiological research or vaccine design.
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (31625021)the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31821005)+1 种基金the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (31530052)the Hainan University Startup Fund (KYQD(ZR)1866)。
文摘Genomic clustering of non-homologous genes for the biosynthesis of plant defensive compounds is an emerging theme, but insights into their formation and physiological function remain limited. Here we report the identification of a newly discovered hydroxycinnamoyl tyramine(HT) gene cluster in rice.This cluster contains a pyridoxamine 50-phosphate oxidase(Os PDX3) producing the cofactor pyridoxal50-phosphate(PLP), a PLP-dependent tyrosine decarboxylase(Os Ty DC1), and two duplicated hydroxycinnamoyl transferases(Os THT1 and Os THT2). These members were combined to represent an enzymological innovation gene cluster. Natural variation analysis showed that the abundance of the toxic tyramine intermediate of the gene cluster among different rice accessions is mainly determined by the coordinated transcription of Os Ty DC1 and Os THT1. Further pathogen incubation assays demonstrated that the end products of the HT gene cluster displayed enhanced resistance to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae(Xoo) and fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae(M. oryzae), and the enhanced resistance is associated with the boost of phytoalexins and the activation of defense response. The unique presence of the HT gene cluster in Oryza AA genome, together with the enrichment of transposon elements within this gene cluster region, provides an evolutionary background to accelerate cluster member combinations. Our study not only discovered a gene cluster involved in the phenylpropanoid metabolism but also addressed the key aspects of gene cluster formation. In addition, our results provide a new metabolic pool for plant defense against pathogens.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2011CB944100,2011CB944101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (90919024)+1 种基金the Special Foundation Work Program of Ministry of Science and Technology (2009FY120100)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012AA020409)
文摘Mammalian testis development is a complex and highly sophisticated process. To study the dynamic change of normal testis development at the transcriptional level, we investigated mouse testes at three postnatal ages: 6 days postnatal, 4 weeks old, and 10 weeks old, representing infant (PN1), juvenile (PN2), and adult (PN3) stages, respectively. Using ultra high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, we obtained 211 million reads with a length of 35 bp. We identified 18837 genes that were expressed in mouse testes, and found that genes expressed at the highest level were involved in spermatogenesis. The gene expression pattern in PN1 was distinct from that in PN2 and PN3, which indicates that spermatogenesis has commenced in PN2. We analyzed a large number of genes related to spermatogenesis and somatic development of the testis, which play important roles at different developmental stages. We also found that the MAPK, Hedgehog, and Wnt signaling pathways were significantly involved at different developmental stages. These findings further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate testis development. Our study also demonstrates significant advantages of RNA-seq technology for studying transcriptome during development.
