Jinxia Ma - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jinxia Ma

The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of t... more The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of the vassal state of Zhou, and the Zhou people lived in this area until the end of the Western Zhou. Serial samples of charcoal, bone, and charred millet were collected from the site and dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). A sequence model with 6 phases of the Western Zhou dynasty was constructed and the 14 C ages were calibrated with OxCal v 3.9. The results showed that the site was used from 1170-1070 BC until 825-755 BC, and the Conquest of Shang by King Wu most probably occurred during 1060-1000 BC.

Virology, 2009

Bacteriophage T4 terminase packages DNA in vitro into empty small or large proheads (esps or elps... more Bacteriophage T4 terminase packages DNA in vitro into empty small or large proheads (esps or elps). In vivo maturation of esps yields the more stable and voluminous elps required to contain the 170 kb T4 genome. Functional proheads can be assembled containing portal-GFP fusion proteins. In the absence of terminase activity these accumulated in esps in vivo, whereas wild-type portals were found in elps. By nuclease protection assay dsDNAs of lengths 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 5, 11, 20, 40 or 170 kb were efficiently packaged into wildtype elps in vitro, but less so into esps and gp20-GFP elps; particularly with DNAs shorter than 11 kb. However, 0.1 kb substrates were equally efficiently packaged into all types of proheads as judged by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. These data suggest the portal controls the expansion of the major capsid protein lattice during prohead maturation, and that this expansion is necessary for DNA protection but not for packaging.

Journal of Molecular Biology, 2010

Linear DNAs of any sequence can be packaged with high efficiency in vitro into empty viral procap... more Linear DNAs of any sequence can be packaged with high efficiency in vitro into empty viral procapsids by the phage T4 terminase. Packaging substrates of 5 and 50 kbps, terminated by energy transfer dye pairs, were constructed from plasmid and lambda phage DNAs. Nuclease and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) assays showed that ~20% of the substrate DNA was packaged and the DNA dye ends of the packaged DNA were protected from nuclease digestion. Both 5 and 50 kbp DNAs upon packaging produced comparable FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) between the Cy5 and Cy5.5 two-dye terminated DNAs. Single molecule FRET (smFRET) and photobleaching analysis shows that the FRET is intramolecular rather than intermolecular upon packaging of most procapsids and demonstrates that single molecule detection (SMD) allows mechanistic analysis of packaging in vitro. FCS-and sm-FRET measurements are comparable, and show that both the 5 and the 50 kbp packaged DNA ends are held within 8-9 nm of each other, within the dimensions of the long axis of the procapsid portal. The calculated distribution of FRET distances is relatively narrow for both FRET-FCS and sm-FRET, suggesting that the two packaged DNA ends are held at the same fixed distance relative to each other in most capsids. Because one DNA end is known to be positioned for ejection through the portal, it can be inferred that both DNAs ends are held in proximity to the portal entrance and ejection channel. The analysis suggests that a DNA loop rather than a DNA end is translocated by the packaging motor to fill the procapsid.

Plant Growth Regulation, 2007

We previously identified a 0.7 Kb cDNA fragment of Zm401, a novel pollen-specific gene in maize (... more We previously identified a 0.7 Kb cDNA fragment of Zm401, a novel pollen-specific gene in maize (Zea mays). However, little information is known about the function of Zm401 in pollen development. The full-length of Zm401 cDNA was amplified by 5′ RACE and 3′ RACE and both sequence analysis and in vitro translation of Zm401 showed that it belonged to an mRNA-like non-coding gene. To analyze its possible biological roles in pollen development, the Zm401 cDNA was overexpressed in transgenic maize under the control of a pollen specific promoter Zm13 or a CaMV 35S promoter. RT-PCR and RNA gel blot analysis indicated that the expression level of Zm401 in leaves and anthers of transgenic plants was much higher than that of non-transformants. Compared with the non-transformed maize, transgenic maize showed distinct phenotypes, such as abnormal tassels and degenerate anthers. The histological observation showed that the development of pollen grains and anthers in transgenic plants were abnormal. These abnormalities include delayed degradation of tapetum, asynchronous fusion of pollen sacs, and aborted pollen grain development. Furthermore, the pollen viability in six transgenic plants ranged from 1.24% to 6.63%. The reduced pollen viability cosegregated with the transgene in a selfed progeny. These results suggest that Zm401 is involved in the regulation of pollen development. This article demonstrated Zm401, as a non-coding RNA, plays an essential role in pollen development.

Euphytica, 2005

Our previous study shows that the maize zm401 cDNA is specifically expressed in maize pollens. Th... more Our previous study shows that the maize zm401 cDNA is specifically expressed in maize pollens. This evidence suggests that zm401 likely functions in pollen growth and/or development. To confirm its possible involvement in pollen development, the full length cDNA of zm40l was ectopically expressed in tobacco plants under the control of a pollen specific promoter ZM13 (from maize). RT-PCR amplification demonstrated that the ZM13-driven zm401 gene was spatially expressed in tobacco pollens. It was found that all transgenic tobacco plants expressing zm401 showed various levels of sterility, ranging from abortive flower development to male sterility. Further analyses on anther development of transgenic plants indicated multiple abnormalities in the late stages of anther development. These abnormalities include lagged degradation of the tapetum and connective tissue, failed deposition of fibrous bands in endothecium cells, and aborted pollen grain development. These results strongly suggest that zm401 plays an essential role in anther development. However the exact functions of zm401 is still unclear, and further analysis of zm401 is required to determine the exact mechanism involved in anther development.

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 2008

In flowering plants, pollen formation depends on the differentiation and interaction of two cell ... more In flowering plants, pollen formation depends on the differentiation and interaction of two cell types in the anther: the reproductive cells, called microsporocytes, and somatic cells that form the tapetum. Previously, we cloned a pollen specific gene, zm401, from a cDNA library generated from the mature pollen of Zea mays. Expression of partial cDNA of zm401 in maize and ectopic expression of zm401 in tobacco suggested it may play a role in anther development. Here we present the expression and functional characterization of this pollen specific gene in maize. Zm401 is expressed primarily in the anthers (tapetal cells as well as microspores) in a developmentally regulated manner. That is, it is expressed from floret forming stage, increasing in concentration up to mature pollen. Knockdown of zm401 significantly affected the expression of ZmMADS2, MZm3-3, and ZmC5, critical genes for pollen development; led to aberrant development of the microspore and tapetum, and finally male-sterility. Zm401 possesses highly conserved sequences and evolutionary conserved stable RNA secondary structure in monocotyledon. These data show that zm401 could be one of the key growth regulators in anther development, and functions as a short-open reading-frame mRNA (sORF mRNA) and/or noncoding RNA (ncRNA). J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 136–146, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of t... more The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of the vassal state of Zhou, and the Zhou people lived in this area until the end of the Western Zhou. Serial samples of charcoal, bone, and charred millet were collected from the site and dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). A sequence model with 6 phases of the Western Zhou dynasty was constructed and the 14 C ages were calibrated with OxCal v 3.9. The results showed that the site was used from 1170-1070 BC until 825-755 BC, and the Conquest of Shang by King Wu most probably occurred during 1060-1000 BC.

Virology, 2009

Bacteriophage T4 terminase packages DNA in vitro into empty small or large proheads (esps or elps... more Bacteriophage T4 terminase packages DNA in vitro into empty small or large proheads (esps or elps). In vivo maturation of esps yields the more stable and voluminous elps required to contain the 170 kb T4 genome. Functional proheads can be assembled containing portal-GFP fusion proteins. In the absence of terminase activity these accumulated in esps in vivo, whereas wild-type portals were found in elps. By nuclease protection assay dsDNAs of lengths 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 5, 11, 20, 40 or 170 kb were efficiently packaged into wildtype elps in vitro, but less so into esps and gp20-GFP elps; particularly with DNAs shorter than 11 kb. However, 0.1 kb substrates were equally efficiently packaged into all types of proheads as judged by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. These data suggest the portal controls the expansion of the major capsid protein lattice during prohead maturation, and that this expansion is necessary for DNA protection but not for packaging.

Journal of Molecular Biology, 2010

Linear DNAs of any sequence can be packaged with high efficiency in vitro into empty viral procap... more Linear DNAs of any sequence can be packaged with high efficiency in vitro into empty viral procapsids by the phage T4 terminase. Packaging substrates of 5 and 50 kbps, terminated by energy transfer dye pairs, were constructed from plasmid and lambda phage DNAs. Nuclease and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) assays showed that ~20% of the substrate DNA was packaged and the DNA dye ends of the packaged DNA were protected from nuclease digestion. Both 5 and 50 kbp DNAs upon packaging produced comparable FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) between the Cy5 and Cy5.5 two-dye terminated DNAs. Single molecule FRET (smFRET) and photobleaching analysis shows that the FRET is intramolecular rather than intermolecular upon packaging of most procapsids and demonstrates that single molecule detection (SMD) allows mechanistic analysis of packaging in vitro. FCS-and sm-FRET measurements are comparable, and show that both the 5 and the 50 kbp packaged DNA ends are held within 8-9 nm of each other, within the dimensions of the long axis of the procapsid portal. The calculated distribution of FRET distances is relatively narrow for both FRET-FCS and sm-FRET, suggesting that the two packaged DNA ends are held at the same fixed distance relative to each other in most capsids. Because one DNA end is known to be positioned for ejection through the portal, it can be inferred that both DNAs ends are held in proximity to the portal entrance and ejection channel. The analysis suggests that a DNA loop rather than a DNA end is translocated by the packaging motor to fill the procapsid.

Plant Growth Regulation, 2007

We previously identified a 0.7 Kb cDNA fragment of Zm401, a novel pollen-specific gene in maize (... more We previously identified a 0.7 Kb cDNA fragment of Zm401, a novel pollen-specific gene in maize (Zea mays). However, little information is known about the function of Zm401 in pollen development. The full-length of Zm401 cDNA was amplified by 5′ RACE and 3′ RACE and both sequence analysis and in vitro translation of Zm401 showed that it belonged to an mRNA-like non-coding gene. To analyze its possible biological roles in pollen development, the Zm401 cDNA was overexpressed in transgenic maize under the control of a pollen specific promoter Zm13 or a CaMV 35S promoter. RT-PCR and RNA gel blot analysis indicated that the expression level of Zm401 in leaves and anthers of transgenic plants was much higher than that of non-transformants. Compared with the non-transformed maize, transgenic maize showed distinct phenotypes, such as abnormal tassels and degenerate anthers. The histological observation showed that the development of pollen grains and anthers in transgenic plants were abnormal. These abnormalities include delayed degradation of tapetum, asynchronous fusion of pollen sacs, and aborted pollen grain development. Furthermore, the pollen viability in six transgenic plants ranged from 1.24% to 6.63%. The reduced pollen viability cosegregated with the transgene in a selfed progeny. These results suggest that Zm401 is involved in the regulation of pollen development. This article demonstrated Zm401, as a non-coding RNA, plays an essential role in pollen development.

Euphytica, 2005

Our previous study shows that the maize zm401 cDNA is specifically expressed in maize pollens. Th... more Our previous study shows that the maize zm401 cDNA is specifically expressed in maize pollens. This evidence suggests that zm401 likely functions in pollen growth and/or development. To confirm its possible involvement in pollen development, the full length cDNA of zm40l was ectopically expressed in tobacco plants under the control of a pollen specific promoter ZM13 (from maize). RT-PCR amplification demonstrated that the ZM13-driven zm401 gene was spatially expressed in tobacco pollens. It was found that all transgenic tobacco plants expressing zm401 showed various levels of sterility, ranging from abortive flower development to male sterility. Further analyses on anther development of transgenic plants indicated multiple abnormalities in the late stages of anther development. These abnormalities include lagged degradation of the tapetum and connective tissue, failed deposition of fibrous bands in endothecium cells, and aborted pollen grain development. These results strongly suggest that zm401 plays an essential role in anther development. However the exact functions of zm401 is still unclear, and further analysis of zm401 is required to determine the exact mechanism involved in anther development.

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 2008

In flowering plants, pollen formation depends on the differentiation and interaction of two cell ... more In flowering plants, pollen formation depends on the differentiation and interaction of two cell types in the anther: the reproductive cells, called microsporocytes, and somatic cells that form the tapetum. Previously, we cloned a pollen specific gene, zm401, from a cDNA library generated from the mature pollen of Zea mays. Expression of partial cDNA of zm401 in maize and ectopic expression of zm401 in tobacco suggested it may play a role in anther development. Here we present the expression and functional characterization of this pollen specific gene in maize. Zm401 is expressed primarily in the anthers (tapetal cells as well as microspores) in a developmentally regulated manner. That is, it is expressed from floret forming stage, increasing in concentration up to mature pollen. Knockdown of zm401 significantly affected the expression of ZmMADS2, MZm3-3, and ZmC5, critical genes for pollen development; led to aberrant development of the microspore and tapetum, and finally male-sterility. Zm401 possesses highly conserved sequences and evolutionary conserved stable RNA secondary structure in monocotyledon. These data show that zm401 could be one of the key growth regulators in anther development, and functions as a short-open reading-frame mRNA (sORF mRNA) and/or noncoding RNA (ncRNA). J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 136–146, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.