川芎咖啡酸-O-甲基转移酶基因密码子偏好性与进化分析

咖啡酸-O-甲基转移酶(COMT)是苯丙烷类代谢途径中的一个关键酶,研究其密码子偏好性对开展该基因的异源表达与分子调控研究有重要指导意义.利用Codon W、EMBOSS、SPSS与Origin等在线服务器及软件,首先分析川芎等不同植物来源COMT基因的密码子偏好性,随后以川芎COMT为重点,比较其与大肠杆菌、酵母、拟南芥与烟草等模式生物的密码子使用频率.结果表明,单子叶植物COMT基因的密码子偏好性较强,而低等植物与双子叶植物COMT基因的密码子偏好性较弱.分析COMT基因密码子偏好性与核酸序列,发现亲缘关系较近的物种不仅具有较高的核酸序列相似度,并且具有相似的密码子偏好性,推测这种现象是由于密码子偏好性的形成主要受到自然选择的影响. COMT作为一个起源古老的基因,分析其密码子偏好性对了解植物进化关系有一定作用.川芎COMT体现出与其他双子叶植物相近的密码子偏好性,其GC含量与GC3s均小于50%,偏好以A/T编码,偏好性极强(RSCU 2)的密码子有7个,ENc为51.38,整体密码子偏好性较弱.与大肠杆菌相比较,酵母可能是其更好的外源表达系统.较之拟南芥,烟草更合适作为川芎COMT的遗传转化受体.本研究表明拟南芥、烟草都可作为Lc COMT遗传转化受体系统的候选;并且烟草COMT与Lc COMT在进化树上显示出较近的亲源关系,所以烟草可能是LCCOMT相对更好的遗传转化受体;结果可为COMT基因的遗传进化研究、川芎COMT的功能验证及转基因植物培育等奠定理论基础.(图4表2参33)     

橄榄查尔酮异构酶基因CHI的密码子偏好模式

黄酮类化合物是橄榄[Canarium album(Lour.)Raeusch]的重要活性成分,而查尔酮异构酶(Chalcone isomerase,CHI)是黄酮合成的关键酶类之一,了解橄榄查尔酮异构酶基因CHI的密码子偏好模式可为其功能和分子进化研究提供科学依据.采用Codon W和EMBOSS分析橄榄CHI的密码子偏好性参数,并通过有效密码子数(Effective number of codon,ENc)绘图、中性绘图和偏倚分析探讨单双子叶植物CHI密码子偏好性形成的可能因素,同时分别采用SPSS19.0和MEGA5.2基于密码子偏好性和序列相似性进行聚类分析.结果显示:橄榄CHI ENc值、G和C的含量(GC)以及密码子第3位上G和C含量(GC3s)分别为50.89、0.451和0.465,表明其密码子偏好性较弱,但倾向使用富含A和U,并以A或U结尾的密码子;单子叶植物CHI的密码子偏好性普遍高于双子叶植物,基于密码子偏好性和核酸序列相似性均能将单双子叶植物进行较准确的归类;密码子碱基成分和相关性分析发现,物种间CHI密码子偏好性受编码区长度的影响较小,而与碱基的组成密切相关;此外,橄榄CHI与模式生物拟南芥、烟草、大肠杆菌和酵母菌基因组均存在较大的密码子偏好性差异.本研究表明突变压力是单双子叶植物间CHI严格的密码子偏好规律形成的主要作用力,而橄榄CHI外源表达和遗传转化时需要根据宿主基因组偏好模式进行密码子优化和改造.     

苋菜AmMYB2基因密码子偏好性与进化分析

为了解苋菜AmMYB2基因的密码子使用偏好性、与不同物种中调控色素相关的R2R3-MYB基因的同源关系及异源表达受体,利用Codon W与EMBOSS程序及Excel、SPSS、Origin等软件,分析苋菜与其他物种中调控色素代谢的R2R3-MYB基因的密码子使用偏好性,比较苋菜AmMYB2基因与模式生物的密码子使用频率.结果显示:苋菜AmMYB2基因中,所有密码子的GC、GC1、GC2、GC3含量均低于50%,偏好性较强的密码子有17个(RSCU 1),偏好性最强的有7个(RSCU 2),其中以A/T结尾的密码子有19个,表明苋菜AmMYB2基因的密码子偏好以A/T结尾,一些氨基酸对密码子的使用具有较强的偏好性;苋菜AmMYB2基因密码子的有效密码子数(Effective number of codons,ENC)值为49.63,苋菜AmMYB2基因的密码子在ENC绘图中的基因位点更接近期望曲线,说明在进化过程中苋菜AmMYB2基因的密码子偏好性受突变压力的影响较大;苋菜基因与甜菜色素代谢相关的R2R3-MYB基因的密码子使用偏好性参数相近,同源关系较近物种密码子使用偏好性具有相似性;从密码子使用频率上分析得出,酵母菌表达系统更适合苋菜AmMYB2基因的异源表达,模式植物拟南芥、烟草、番茄均可作为苋菜AmMYB2基因的遗传转化受体,同苋菜代谢途径相似的甜菜也可以作为苋菜AmMYB2基因的瞬时表达受体.本研究可为苋菜AmMYB2基因功能的进一步研究提供重要参考.(图5表2参31)     

苋菜蓝光受体基因AmCRY1密码子使用模式及分析

为了解苋菜AmCRY1基因密码子的使用偏好性、与其他物种CRY1基因的同源关系及异源表达受体,利用CodonW与EMBOSS程序及Excel 2017、SPSS 24、Origin 2018等软件,分析苋菜与其他物种中的CRY1基因的密码子使用特性,比较苋菜AmCRY1基因与模式生物的密码子使用频率.结果表明:苋菜AmCRY1基因的密码子的有效密码子数(ENc)值为54.42,GC含量和GC3含量均低于50%,这表明苋菜AmCRY1偏好使用以A/T结尾的密码子,且在其编码区序列中A+T含量大于G+C;苋菜AmCRY1基因中,偏好性较强的密码子有29个(RSCU 1),偏好性最强的有1个(RSCU 2),其中以A/T结尾的密码子有22个,这表明苋菜AmCRY1基因的密码子偏好以A/T结尾,一些氨基酸对密码子的使用具有较强的偏好性;苋菜AmCRY1基因的密码子在ENc绘图中的基因位点更接近期望曲线,说明在进化过程中苋菜AmCRY1基因的密码子偏好性受突变压力的影响较大;苋菜AmCRY1基因的密码子使用偏好性参数与石竹目物种相近,同源关系较近物种密码子使用偏好性具有相似性;从密码子使用频率上分析得出,酵母菌表达系统更适合苋菜AmCRY1的异源表达,模式植物拟南芥、烟草、番茄均可作为苋菜AmCRY1基因的遗传转化受体,同苋菜代谢途径相似的甜菜也可以作为苋菜AmCRY1基因的瞬时表达受体.本研究表明苋菜AmCRY1密码子偏好以A/T结尾且受突变压力影响,结果可为进一步的功能研究尤其是异源表达验证提供参考.(图5表3参35)     

3种木薯全基因组的密码子偏好性模式与变异来源比较

密码子偏好性研究有利于了解基因表达特征、探索遗传进化规律及为分子育种提供依据.综合运用Perl语言和Codon W1.4.2、SPSS23.0等软件,系统分析3种木薯基因组的编码基因序列,从而得出密码子使用特征并明确影响密码子使用的变异来源.结果显示,3种木薯基因组的密码子在使用模式上具有较高的相似性:总碱基组成在3种木薯中差异较小,都是A/T含量较高,而G/C含量较低,且均偏好使用A/T结尾;通过RSCU(同义密码子相对使用度)值比较分析发现,3种木薯有27个共同的偏好密码子,其中以A/T结尾的密码子达85%以上;RFSC(同义密码子相对使用频率)值显示出3种木薯具有14个相同的高频密码子;其基因的异源表达受体优先选择拟南芥、烟草和毛果杨;密码子偏好性主要受自然选择影响,同时也受到突变压力等其他因素的影响.本研究表明3种木薯基因组的密码子使用模式高度相似且主要受自然选择影响,结果可为将来研究木薯的进化规律和提高外源基因表达效率提供重要依据.(图5表4参40)     

外来入侵物种的基因签名及其遗传多样性聚类分析

密码子的使用频率分布能够反映一定的生物特性,因而可作为一种基因签名。本文使用CGR方法来研究外来入侵物种不同组织序列的基因签名及遗传多样性聚类分析,首先得出了刺花莲子草(Alternanthera pungens),紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora),水葫芦(Eichhornia crassipes),微甘菊(Mikania micrantha),土荆芥(Chenopodium ambrosioides),一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis)等6种外来入侵植物的31条序列核苷酸字串长k=1到k=6的情况,并选取k=3,即基因序列的密码子,作为生物特性的一个重要表达。并且构造序列间的CGR欧式距离,进而对外来入侵植物序列遗传多样性进行了聚类分析。通过对所获得的6种外来入侵植物的31条序列的基因签名,得出如下结果：CGR是一种简便且计算量小的方法,且基于CGR方法的基因签名,具有典型的生物特性;入侵植物的基因序列在密码子的使用上是非均衡的,且物种亲缘关系近的,则基因签名相似越高;而且基因签名也揭示出了密码子的第三位碱基偏好使用碱基T的现象,与一般物种密码子第三位碱基偏好G/C情况有强烈反差。此外,从获得的6个物种的31条序列聚类谱系图可以直观看出,入侵植物间存在着一定的亲缘关系,遗传多样性较丰富。由于我们所建立的基于CGR方法的基因签名,不仅能够反映植物特性和进化关系,而且能揭示序列中密码子和碱基的偏好使用情况,因而该方法有利于对外来入侵物种的遗传多样性分析、风险评估及预防控制等提供科学依据。     

无指盘臭蛙皮肤抗菌肽Odorgrin A真核表达载体的构建与转化

根据无指盘臭蛙(Odorrana grahami)皮肤抗菌肽Odorgrin A的氨基酸序列,合成了以酵母偏爱密码子编码的Odorgrin A基因片段.目的片段从合成质粒上用XhoΙ和EcoRΙ双酶切下后,与经同样限制酶酶切的pPIC9K载体连接而成表达载体pPIC9K-Odo A.PCR扩增、酶切及测序检测的结果表明表达载体构建成功.线性化的pPIC9K-OdoA经电击法转化毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)GS115宿主菌,营养缺陷型筛选、遗传霉素抗性筛选、PCR扩增和测序检测的结果表明,表达载体pPIC9K-Odo A成功地转化并整合入酵母基因组.用甲醇对具遗传霉素G418高抗性的Odorgrin A重组酵母菌进行诱导表达,取酵母发酵液上清经SDS-PAGE电泳检测,结果初步表明,整合进酵母基因组的抗菌肽Odorgrin A基因已获得分泌表达,表达产物相对分子质量为3×103～4×103,与理论值相近.图10参17     

两栖动物线粒体基因组tRNA基因重复、丢失及其影响

在脊椎动物线粒体基因组中,偶有tRNA基因重复或丢失事件发生,这些事件因与相应氨基酸转运密切关联而凸显重要.两栖类中,这些重复或丢失相对多样,可为相关研究提供良好素材.为了解这些事件对氨基酸对应的密码子使用偏好是否产生影响,本文引入统计方法,检测10种两栖类mtDNA蛋白编码基因相对的同义密码子使用度(RSCU),并特别设计将发生tRNA基因重复或丢失物种与其近缘群进行对比分析.结果显示,tRNA基因的重复对密码子使用偏好没有显著的影响,推测可能与突变积累的时限和mtDNA紧凑性有关.另外,tRNA基因丢失也未使相应氨基酸密码子使用偏好产生明显的改变.推测在两栖类中,"tRNA转入"和"tRNA反密码子摆动位点的超级摆动"可能是tRNA基因丢失的补偿方式.     

34株假单胞菌的泛基因组分析

假单胞菌属在各种环境广泛分布且具有重要的生态应用价值,然而当前研究对其环境适应性遗传基础的解析尚不充分.选择33株有效发表且具有全基因组序列以及一株新分离的假单胞菌的全基因组进行泛基因组学分析.结果表明,选择的假单胞菌属菌株泛基因组含有173 271条蛋白序列,共有30 847个同源基因家族,包括1 505个核心基因,基因组呈开放型.通过分析不同基因组的基因组演化特征,发现通过基因水平转移获得的基因占整个基因组的比例为32%-48%,其平均基因岛数量为53个.发现假单胞菌属泛基因组的开发性与其频繁的基因水平转移事件和快速的基因进化有关.进一步分析表明,不同基因组中的功能基因家族按照菌株的环境分布进行聚类,表明对特殊环境的适应决定了假单胞菌的遗传特征.本研究初步揭示了假单胞菌属细菌遗传特征的共性与特性,结果可为解析假单胞菌属环境适应性的遗传基础与功能多样性的演化发生机制提供研究线索.(图8表1参37)     

麦芽寡糖基海藻糖水解酶基因在巴斯德酵母中的表达及遗传稳定性

海藻糖是一种具有很多功能的非还原性二糖,在生物制品和食品等行业中具有较广泛的用途.对来自芝田硫化叶菌(Sulfolobus shibatae)B12海藻糖酶转化过程中的关键酶基因--麦芽寡糖基海藻糖水解酶(MTHase)基因进行了遗传密码子的人工改造,合成酵母偏爱密码子和修改基因遗传密码子中的A/T含量,然后将完整的MTHase基因克隆到酵母表达载体pPICZαA,筛选出重组载体并将其导入巴斯德酵母(Pichia pastoris)细胞进行重组表达以用于海藻糖的酶转化.最后获得了一株高效稳定表达MTHase的酵母菌株,分泌到表达培养基上清中的MTHase的酶活大于800U/mg(蛋白质),该重组菌株遗传稳定率达84%以上,为工业化酶法生产海藻糖奠定了一定基础.     

斜带石斑鱼alpha型与rho型GST基因cDNA全序列的克隆与分析

为从分子水平上研究II相去毒酶谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(Glutathione S-transferase,GST)在斜带石斑鱼(Epinephelus coioides)等海水鱼类机体内代谢去毒过程中的作用及机制,采用RT-PCR及RACE法,分离、克隆得到斜带石斑鱼肝脏alpha-GST(GSTA)、rho-GST(GSTR)基因cDNA全序列.序列分析结果表明,斜带石斑鱼肝脏GSTA基因cDNA全长1008bp,编码223个氨基酸;GSTR基因cDNA全长1002bp,编码225个氨基酸.构建系统进化树发现,斜带石斑鱼与鲤鱼、斑马鱼GSTA氨基酸同源性较高,而GSTR为鱼类所特有并共同占据进化树上独立的分枝,与大鼠、小鼠、人等哺乳动物GST现有所有类型同源性均较低.     

大凉疣螈脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)基因的克隆与序列分析

大凉疣螈 (Ｔｙｌｏｔｏｔｒｉｔｏｎｔａｌｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ)属于两栖纲有尾目蝾螈科 ,仅分布在我国四川省西南部 ,活动范围狭窄 ,数量有限 ,是我国二级保护动物[1] .两栖动物在生物进化中是承上启下的关键动物 ,它们开启了脊椎动物登上陆地的历史 ,而且是真正陆生脊椎动物—爬行动物的祖先 ,其生理、结构等方面与鱼类和爬行类都有着明显的差别 .脑源性神经营养因子 (ｂｒａｉｎ ｄｅｒｉｖｅｄｎｅｕｒｏｔｒｏｐｈｉｃｆａｃｔｏｒ,ＢＤＮＦ)是神经营养因子家族的一员 ,ＢＤＮＦ在脊椎动物胚胎神经系统的发育、分化及在成体神经系统维…     

嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌木聚糖酶基因的合成及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

来自嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌的木聚糖内切酶XT6在工业上有着重要的应用,已经成功应用于工业规模的生产试验.本文作者在合成XT6基因全序列的同时对其密码子进行了优化,且构建重组质粒在大肠杆菌中高表达.通过优化表达条件,功能正常的XT6基因在大肠杆菌中成功过量表达,蛋白表达量占细胞中总蛋白的65%.重组表达的木聚糖内切酶XT6特性和天然酶相似,以桦木木聚糖为底物测定细胞提取物中木聚糖酶活性,最大活性高达3 030 U/mL.本文首次报道了来自嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌中木聚糖酶基因全序列的合成和在大肠杆菌中成功过量表达.图6表1参19     

Gridded usage inventories of chlordane in China

Chlordane (1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-octachloro-3a,4,7, 7a-tetra-hydro-4,7-methanoindane) is one of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) which has been listed as one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to be reduced and finally eliminated in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, because of its great persistence, toxicity, bio-accumulation and long-range transport potential. It is critical to create a national chlordane usage inventories for China to compile chlordane emission inventories, which is helpful for carrying out risk assessments and other researches related to chlordane in China. The annual data of chlordane usage was calculated and modified in accordance with the reported annual production of chlordane which was caculated on the basis of the termite distribution, the data of chlordane usage rate and the annual new construction area (NCA).With the help of Geographic Information System, the usage data of this NCA were allocated to a grid system then, with a 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution and a size for each grid cell of approximately 25 km by 25 km. Between 1988 and 2008, the total usage of chlordane in China was 2745 t, accounting for approximately 80% of the production in the same period. Zhejiang Province was the largest consumer of chlordane in China, whose usage adds up to 980 t, greatly exceeding other provinces/regions, followed by Jiangsu Province (534 t) and Sichuan Province (428 t). The region with the least usage of chlordane was Beijing. Provinces of Guizhou, Henan and Hebei did not use any chlordane, even though termites had occurred in these provinces. Gridded usage inventories showed that the intensive use of chlordane was concentrated in the southeast part of China, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta in particular. The satisfaction of the inventories was supported by the consistence between the estimated data of annual usage and the reported annual production of chlordane, and by the consistence between distribution pattern of chlordane’s usage and ambient air concentration.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌DC-4豆豉溶栓酶成熟肽编码序列的克隆及表达

利用PCR方法从解淀粉芽孢杆菌DC 4总DNA中扩增出豆豉溶栓酶 (DFE)成熟肽编码区片段 .测序结果表明 :DFE成熟肽编码区长 82 5bp,编码 2 75个氨基酸残基 ,分子量为 2 7.7× 10 3 ,推导的N’ -端氨基酸序列与豆豉溶栓酶N’ -端氨基酸测序结果完全一致 ,说明克隆到的基因确实是豆豉溶栓酶基因 .同源性分析表明 ,DFE成熟肽编码区的核苷酸和氨基酸序列与日本纳豆激酶的同源性分别为 80 .0 %和 86 .5 % ,这提示豆豉溶栓酶可能是一种新型的溶栓酶 .将表达质粒pET Nde转化E .coliBL2 1(DE3)中 ,IPTG可诱导表达大量的DFE融合蛋白 ,占菌体可溶性蛋白的 4 0 % ,主要以包涵体的形式存在 .图 3表 1参 19     

Sperm usage in honey bees

Sperm usage was investigated in a naturally mated honey bee queen. We collected worker progeny arising from eggs that were laid sequentially during three sampling periods. Paternity was determined by analysis of three polymorphic microsatellite loci, leading to the conclusion that the queen had mated with seven males. Direct analysis of the sperm from the spermatheca revealed no evidence that sperm from additional males was present inside the spermatheca. Frequencies of different subfamilies differed significantly and ranged from 3.8% to 27.3%. In the short term, the frequencies of subfamilies among the eggs laid did not change over time. The frequency of eggs of a particular subfamily was statistically independent of the previous egg's subfamily. Thus, there is no evidence for non-random fine-scale sperm usage, and we estimate the effect of sperm clumping to be less than 6%. We conclude that the sperm is mixed completely inside the queen's spermatheca. Our results suggest that taking brood samples from comb cells next to each other is a statistically correct way of independent sampling of subfamilies at a given time in honey bee colonies. Furthermore, any bias in subfamily frequencies in offspring queens due to sperm usage can be excluded. However, the analyses of progeny samples taken 12 months apart do not allow us to exclude moderate fluctuations of subfamily frequencies in the long-term. Received: 11 August 1997 / Accepted after revision: 14 November 1997     

Cooperatively breeding carrion crows adjust offspring sex ratio according to group composition

In cooperatively breeding species, parents should bias offspring sex ratio towards the philopatric sex to obtain new helpers (helper repayment hypothesis). However, philopatric offspring might increase within-group competition for resources (local resource competition hypothesis), diluting the benefits of helper acquisition. Furthermore, benefits of offspring sex bias on parents’ fitness may depend on different costs of production and/or different breeding opportunities of sons and daughters. Because of these counteracting factors, strategies of offspring sex allocation in cooperative species are often difficult to investigate. In carrion crows Corvus corone corone in northern Spain, sons are more philopatric and more helpful at the nest than daughters, which disperse earlier and have higher chances to find a breeding vacancy. Consistent with the helper repayment hypothesis, we found that crows fledged more sons in groups short of subordinate males than in groups with sufficient helper contingent, where daughters were preferred. Crow females also proved able to bias primary sex ratio, allocating offspring sex along the hatching sequence in a way that provided the highest fledging probability to sons in the first breeding attempt and to daughters in the following ones. The higher cost of producing male offspring may explain this pattern, with breeding females shifting to the cheapest sex (female) as a response to the costs generated by previous reproductive attempts. Our results suggest complex adjustments of offspring sex ratio that allowed crows to maximize the value of daughters and sons.     

非纯培养物细菌蛋白酶DNA片段的克隆与表达

为了构建更多的蛋白酶基因工程菌,以及进行蛋白酶基因的直接进化研究,从非纯培养细菌总DNA中扩增各种编码蛋白酶的DNA片段.根据MEROPS和GenBank数据库中的枯草杆菌类蛋白酶的编码区和成熟肽编码序列设计并合成了10条引物.富集培养胞外蛋白酶产生菌并提取了12个总DNA样品,分别用每对引物在降落PCR (TouchdownPCR, TD-PCR)条件下进行蛋白酶编码序列的扩增.选择了19个长800 ~1 200 bp的扩增片段测序,其结果为: 8个是蛋白酶DNA片段,它们应属于4种不同的蛋白酶基因序列;同一对引物扩增到的基因序列差异性可达到32%,说明只使用基于已知序列的PCR方法从混合菌中获得新蛋白酶基因是可行的.将克隆到的1个与碱性蛋白酶E (GenBank No.AJ539133)的编码区99%相似的蛋白酶DNA片段插入pTWIN1载体,在大肠杆菌ER2566中进行表达.结果表明,表达的成熟蛋白酶可分泌到培养基中,能在牛奶平板上产生水解圈,对大肠杆菌有致死作用.图5表3参14     

Laying-order effects on sperm numbers and on paternity: comparing three passerine birds with different life histories

In birds, the number of sperm trapped between the perivitelline membranes around the ovum is an estimate of sperm numbers present at the time and place of fertilisation in the female reproductive tract. Sperm numbers may vary among species and between eggs in a clutch and can provide information about sperm utilisation and mechanisms of sperm competition. Here, we describe patterns of variation in sperm numbers through the egg-laying sequence in three passerines in which extra-pair paternity is common, but copulation behaviour differs. Sperm numbers showed no systematic change across the laying sequence in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), but decreased significantly with laying order in bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) and tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) clutches. This is consistent with observations that blue tits regularly copulate throughout the laying sequence, while bluethroats stop mate guarding and tree swallows reduce their copulation frequency once the first egg is laid. Nevertheless, cases of a sudden increase in sperm numbers in clutches of bluethroats and tree swallows suggest that successful inseminations also occurred after laying started. In blue tits and bluethroats, sperm numbers were not higher on extra-pair sired eggs than on eggs sired by the social male, suggesting that extra-pair copulations are not timed to the period of peak fertility for each egg. More extra-pair offspring originated from eggs laid early in the sequence in blue tits, while there was no systematic bias in bluethroats. Our results suggest that copulations during the laying sequence are predominantly performed by within-pair males in our study species.     

Statistical treatment for the wet bias in tree-ring chronologies: a case study from the Interior West,USA

Dendroclimatic research has long assumed a linear relationship between tree-ring increment and climate variables. However, ring width frequently underestimates extremely wet years, a phenomenon we refer to as ‘wet bias’. In this paper, we present statistical evidence for wet bias that is obscured by the assumption of linearity. To improve tree-ring-climate modeling, we take into account wet bias by introducing two modified linear regression models: a linear spline regression (LSR) and a likelihood-based wet bias adjusted linear regression (WBALR), in comparison with a quadratic regression (QR) model. Using gridded precipitation data and tree-ring indices of multiple species from various sites in Utah, both LSR and WBALR show a significant improvement over the linear regression model and out-perform QR in terms of in-sample \({R}^{2}\) and out-of-sample MSE. This further shows that the wet bias emerges from nonlinearity of tree-ring chronologies in reconstructing precipitation. The pattern and extent of wet bias varies by species, by site, and by precipitation regime, making it difficult to generalize the mechanisms behind its cause. However, it is likely that dis-coupling between precipitation amounts (e.g., percent received as rain/snow or percent infiltrating the soil) and its availability to trees (e.g., root zone dynamics), is the primary mechanism driving wet bias.