Identification and characterization of the retinoic acid response elements in the human RIG1 gene promoter.

The expression of retinoic acid-induced gene 1 (RIG1), a class II tumor suppressor gene, is induced in cells treated with retinoids. RIG1 has been shown to express ubiquitously and the increased expression of this gene appears to suppress cell proliferation. Recent studies also demonstrated that this gene may play an important role in cell differentiation and the progression of cancer. In spite of the remarkable regulatory role of this protein, the molecular mechanism of RIG1 expression induced by retinoids remains to be clarified. The present study was designed to study the molecular mechanism underlying the all-trans retinoic acid (atRA)-mediated induction of RIG1 gene expression. Polymerase chain reaction was used to generate a total of 10 luciferase constructs that contain various fragments of the RIG1 5'-genomic region. These constructs were then transfected into human gastric cancer SC-M1 and breast cancer T47D cells for transactivation analysis. atRA exhibited a significant induction in luciferase activity only through the -4910/-5509 fragment of the 5'-genomic region of RIG1 gene relative to the translation initiation site. Further analysis of this promoter fragment indicated that the primary atRA response region is located in between -5048 and -5403 of the RIG1 gene. Within this region, a direct repeat sequence with five nucleotide spacing, 5'-TGACCTctattTGCCCT-3' (DR5, -5243/-5259), and an inverted repeat sequence with six nucleotide spacing, 5'-AGGCCAtggtaaTGGCCT-3' (IR6, -5323/-5340), were identified. Deletion and mutation of the DR5, but not the IR6 element, abolished the atRA-mediated activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with nuclear extract from atRA-treated cells indicated the binding of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimers specifically to this response element. In addition to the functional DR5, the region contains many other potential sequence elements that are required to maximize the atRA-mediated induction. Taken together, we have identified and characterized the functional atRA response element that is responsible for the atRA-mediated induction of RIG1 gene.

[Analysis of heading time genotype for a rice photoperiod and thermo--sensitive male sterile line PeiAi64S].

PeiAi64S, a photoperiod and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile, has been wildly applied to hybrid rice seed production in China, but its photoperiod-sensitivity gene for heading date in this sterile line was still unknown. This definitely limited the further use of this sterile line in breeding practice and re-production of hybrid seeds. To solve this problem, using heading time nearly isogenic lines EGO - EG7, ER - LR, T65 - T65m and six heading date QTL-isogenic lines, NIL (Hd1) - NIL (Hd6) with the genes of Nipponbare but Hd1 - Hd6 genes from Kasalath respectively, we performed a genetic analysis of PeiAi64S with special reference to photoperiod-sensitivity loci, in natural long days at Nanjing (32 degrees N) where the average day-length is about 14 h and in natural short days at Linshui county, Hainan province(18 degrees 29'N), where the average day-length is about 11.6 h during the course of rice growing respectively. The F1 and F2 generations from the crosses 'PeiAi64S x heading time nearly isogenic lines' were subjected to genetic analyses. Experimental results showed that PeiAi64S carries photoperiod-sensitivity allele gene E1 and E3 and dominant earliness gene Ef-1 in E1 and E3 and Ef-1 loci, respectively, and a photoperiod insensitivity allele Se-1 degrees in Se-1 locus. Meanwhile, the photoperiod-sensitivity gene E1 and photoperiod-insensitivity gene Se-1e in PeiAi64S were also identified by crossing with the NIL(Hd1) and NIL(Hd4). In addition, a recessive inhibitor for photoperiod-sensitive gene E1 or Se-1(n) and other modified photoperiod-sensitive genes: i-Se-1, E3, Hd3 (En-Se-1), Hd5 and Hd6, were identified in PeiAi64S by crossing with QTL nearly isogenic lines: NIL(Hd2), NIL (Hd3), NIL (Hd5) and NIL( Hd6), The results indicated that the genotype of PeiAi64S's heading date was: E1E1e2e2E3E3Se-1(e)Se-1(e)Ef-1 Ef-1 i-Se-1 i-Se-1.

[QTL analysis for rice stripe disease resistance gene using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from crossing of Kinmaze and DV85].

Rice stripe disease transmitted by small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus Fall.) is one of the most serious viral diseases in East Asia. The disease is severely epidemic in most rice growing areas where the main cultivars are susceptible or moderately susceptible to rice stripe virus. In this research, a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population of 81 lines derived from a cross of Kinmaze (japonica)/DV85(indica) by the single seed descent method was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to rice stripe virus(RSV). The response of the two parents and 81 RILs to RSV were investigated by inoculating seedlings with viruliferous small brown planthopper insects, and scored by the disease rate index. The quantitative trait loci for rice stripe disease resistance were analyzed by QTL Cartographer software. Three QTL controlling RSV resistance were detected on chromosomes 1, 7 and 11, respectively. Individual QTL accounted for 19.8%-30.9% of the phenotypic variance in the RILs population. The direction of the additive gene effects at two loci qStv7 and qStv11 coincided with that predicted by phenotypes of the parents. At these two loci, the DV85 alleles increased the resistance to RSV, while at qStv1, the Kinmaze alleles increased the resistance to RSV.