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北京生命科学研究所科研人员在秀丽线虫中发现一个新的聚疏蛋白复合物（PcG）基因，sor-1，该基因能抑制Hox基因的转录，具有RNA结合特性并在体内形成明显的核内小体。该文章发表在2006年第133期《Development》上。
PcG基因参与发育关键因子Hox基因表型沉默，以及细胞增殖、肿瘤发生、胚胎和成人干细胞维持的调节。本项研究对阐明其他生物体中PcG介导的表型基因沉默机制提供了思路，有助于揭示RNA和核内小体在PcG介导的表型基因沉默作用。
张婷婷、孙银燕和田娥为该文章的共同第一作者，参与该项工作的还有邓寒松、张玉霞、罗昕、蔡青春、王华翌和柴继杰，张宏研究员为通讯作者。此项研究为科技部863和北京市科委资助课题。
RNA-binding proteins SOP-2 and SOR-1 form a novel PcG-like complex in C. elegans
Tingting Zhang*, Yinyan Sun*, E Tian*, Hansong Deng, Yuxia Zhang, Xin Luo, Qingchun Cai, Huayi Wang, Jijie Chai and Hong Zhang
National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
Author for correspondence (e-mail: zhanghong@nibs.ac.cn)
Accepted 5 January 2006
We describe the identification and characterization of a novel PcG gene in C. elegans, sor-1, which is involved in global repression of Hox genes. sor-1 encodes a novel protein with an RNA-binding activity. We provide evidence that SOR-1 and the previously identified RNA-binding protein SOP-2 may constitute an RNA-binding complex in Hox gene repression. SOR-1 and SOP-2 directly interact with each other and are colocalized in nuclear bodies. The localization of SOR-1 depends on SOP-2. Surprisingly, homologs of SOR-1 and SOP-2 are not found in other organisms, including the congeneric species C. briggsae, suggesting an unexpected lack of evolutionary constraint on an essential global gene regulatory system.
Key words: sor-1, PcG, Nuclear bodies, SAM domain, C. elegans
张宏 博士
北京生命科学研究所研究员
Hong Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Investigator, NIBS, Beijing, China
教育经历 Education
1991
安徽大学生物化学系学士
B.S.Biochemistry, July 1991, Anhui University
2001
美国纽约 Albert Einstein College of Medicine 分子遗传学博士
Ph.D Molecular Genetics, January 2001, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. USA
工作经历 Professional Experience
2004-present
中国北京生命科学研究所工作
National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
2001- present
哈佛大学医学院、马萨诸塞总医院癌症中心研究员
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Research Fellow
研究概述 Research Description
该实验室的兴趣主要集中在研究PcG (Polycomb group)基因介导的表型基因沉默机理。众所周知，PcG蛋白可以维持关键的发育调节因子如Hox基因的准确表达模式。而且，现在越来越多的证据现实，PcG蛋白也参与了对细胞增殖和肿瘤发生的调节过程。然而，在果蝇和哺乳动物细胞中，PcG复合体的成分非常复杂，这就阻碍了我们对PcG介导基因沉默以及相关靶基因的研究。与此相反，在秀丽线虫(C. elegans)中，PcG复合体的成分相对简单。张宏博士实验室的工作就是利用秀丽线虫作为模式系统研究PcG复合体介导的基因调节作用并从而延伸到对哺乳动物的研究。
发表文章 Publications
1. Zhang, H., Christoforou, A., Aravind, L., Emmons, S.W., van den Heuvel, S., and Haber, D.A. (2004) The C. elegans Polycomb gene sop-2 encodes an RNA binding protein. Molecular Cell 14, 841-847.
2. Zhang, H., Smolen, G., Palmer, R., Christoforou, A., van den Heuvel, S., and Haber, D.A. (2004) SUMO modification is required for in vivo Hox gene regulation by the C. elegans Polycomb group protein SOP-2. Nature Genetics 36, 507-511.
3. Zhang, H., Palmer, R., Gao, X., Kreidberg, J., Gerald, W., Hsiao, L., Jensen, R.V., Gullans, S.R., and Haber, D.A. (2003) Transcriptional Activation of Placental Growth Factor by the Forkhead/Winged Helix Transcription Factor FoxD1. Current Biology 13, 1625-1629.
4. Zhang, H., Azevedo, R.B., Lints, R., Doyle, C., Teng, Y., Haber, D., and Emmons, S.W. (2003) Global regulation of Hox gene expression in C. elegans by a SAM domain protein. Developmental Cell 4, 903-915.
5. Palmer, R.E., Lee, S.B., Wong, J.C., Reynolds, P.A., Zhang, H., Truong, V., Oliner, J.D., Gerald, W.L., and Haber, D.A. (2002) Induction of BAIAP3 by the EWS-WT1 chimeric fusion implicates regulated exocytosis in tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell 2, 497-505.
6. Zhang, H., and Emmons, S.W. (2002) C. elegans unc-37/groucho interacts genetically with components of the transcriptional mediator complex. Genetics 160, 799-803.
7. Zhang, H., and Emmons, S.W. (2001) The novel C. elegans gene sop-3 modulates the Wnt signaling to regulate the expression and function of Hox genes. Development 128, 767-777.
8. Zhang, H., and Emmons, S.W. (2000) A C. elegans mediator protein confers regulatory stringency on lineage-specific expression of a transcription factor gene. Genes & Development 14, 2161-2172.
来源:北京生命科学研究所
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