启动子Ptac与PsbA在鱼腥藻7120中表达hG-CSF的效率比较

为了比较外源性启动子Ptac与内源性启动子PsbA在鱼腥藻7120中表达外源基因时的效率,构建了分别含Ptac和PsbA两种启动子的穿梭表达载体pRL-PsbA-GCSF、pRL-Tac-GCSF;利用三亲结合转移法转化鱼腥藻7120,利用抗生素筛选,通过质粒提取和PCR方法鉴定,获得了分别由2种启动子驱动表达hG-CSF的转基因蓝藻,转基因藻中目的基因以质粒形式存在;利用半定量RT-PCR方法对2种转基因藻的hG-CSF转录水平进行比较,发现PsbA启动子驱动效率与Ptac启动子没有明显差异;利用ELISA方法比较hG-CSF蛋白表达量,发现PsbA启动的蓝藻中hG-CSF表达量是Ptac诱导条件下表达量的1.17倍。     

通过同源重组在聚球藻7002中表达小鼠金属硫蛋白-Ⅰ的初步研究

用PCR方法从海洋单细胞蓝藻聚球藻7002（Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002）基因组DNA中扩增得到藻蓝蛋白β亚基基因（cpcβ）的上游序列（Pcpcβ）,及编码谷氨酰胺合成酶的glnA基因片段．以Pcpcβ作为启动子、以glnA基因片段作为整合平台,构建含有小鼠金属硫蛋白-Ⅰ（mMT-Ⅰ）cDNA的同源整合表达载体pKGC-MT.通过自然转化法将整合表达载体导入聚球藻7002中,经氨苄青霉素筛选,得到遗传性状稳定的转基因藻.PCR检测证明mMT-Ⅰ基因已整合到蓝藻基因组DNA上;蛋白质印迹表明mMT-Ⅰ已在蓝藻中表达;ELISA结果显示mMT-Ⅰ在蓝藻中的表达量约为800 μg/g.     

解毒酶基因在蓝藻中的克隆与表达

用抗性库蚊酯酶基因B1的cDNA片段插入质粒pRL-439中的强启动子之后,再与穿梭表达载体pDC-8相连构建成大肠杆菌蓝藻穿梭表达载体pDC-B1,然后通过三亲接合转移法将pDC-B1转入蓝藻Synechococcus sp. PCC7942中,经新霉素筛选获遗传稳定的转基因藻株;纯化单藻落在液体中扩大培养,提取蓝藻质粒,Southern杂交确证B1cDNA已转入受体细胞;用酯酶的特异性底物β-乙酸萘酯(β-NA)检测B1的表达,转基因藻对β-NA的降解明显高于野生藻,证明酯酶B1基因在转基因藻中得到表达。     

T7 RNA聚合酶基因表达系统在鱼腥藻7120中构建及hG-CSF的表达

外源基因的表达效率低是蓝藻基因工程发展的瓶颈之一,T7 RNA聚合酶表达系统实现了大肠杆菌中外源基因的高效表达,蓝藻与大肠杆菌同为革兰氏阴性菌,具有较高的遗传同源性,在蓝藻中构建T7 RNA聚合酶表达系统有可能提高外源基因在蓝藻中的表达效率。为了在鱼腥藻7120中构建T7 RNA聚合酶表达系统,采用重叠延伸PCR技术和酶切连接等方法构建能够表达T7 RNA聚合酶的定点整合载体pEASY-T1-F1-TacT7RNAPCmR-F2以及由T7启动子驱动hG-CSF基因表达的穿梭表达载体pRL-T7-hG-CSF;采用电击转化法将定点整合载体导入野生型鱼腥藻中,通过三亲接合的方法将穿梭表达载体转入已定点整合T7 RNA聚合酶的转基因鱼腥藻中。利用PCR技术鉴定外源基因在蓝藻中的存在;RT-PCR方法检测外源基因在蓝藻中的转录情况;Western blotting实验检测外源基因在蓝藻中的蛋白表达情况。结果表明两种载体构建成功,T7 RNA聚合酶基因和hG-CSF基因被转入鱼腥藻中,两个基因均在藻中表达,T7 RNA聚合酶表达系统在鱼腥藻中构建成功,与传统蓝藻表达系统相比,文中在鱼腥藻中构建的T7表达系统使hG-CSF基因的表达量提高2倍。该表达系统将为蓝藻基因工程的应用提供更优的工具,将促进蓝藻作为底盘细胞在合成生物学等领域的发展。     

小鼠金属硫蛋白在聚胞藻中的金属诱导表达与纯化

应用蓝藻类金属硫蛋白基因启动子(smt O-P)的金属诱导性,在单细胞的聚胞藻PCC 6803中表达小鼠金属硫蛋白结构基因(mMT-1 cDNA)。在大肠杆菌HB 101中构建含有smt O-P和mMT1 cDNA的穿梭表达载体pKT-MRE,经质粒转移,链霉素筛选,Southern和Western杂交分析鉴定得稳定的转基因工程藻落。同时,做小批量锌诱导表达,并纯化了外源蛋白,5L培养液含鲜藻重5.0g,得到3.5mg mMT-1;转基因藻在高金属浓度下的耐受性测定表明,外源基因的表达提高了蓝藻对金属离子的抗性,约为野生藻的2倍。     

依赖PrfA转录调控的单核细胞增生李斯特菌毒力基因inlC启动子结构特点的初步研究

为了研究单核细胞增生李斯特菌毒力基因启动子的结构特点与转录调控因子PrfA蛋白之间的关系,应用PCR定点突变和重组PCR技术缺失了该菌毒力基因inlC启动子上可能与PrfA蛋白结合以及诱发转录起始相关的碱基序列,构建了一系列突变启动子与lacZ报告基因融合表达质粒, 使lacZ基因的表达置于inlC突变启动子下,并分别电转化单核细胞增生李斯特菌野生株P14、PrfA蛋白高表达突变株P14a 和prfA基因等位缺失突变株A42中,检测相应的β-半乳糖苷酶活性。结果表明：位于inlC启动子转录起始点下游22bp 处的一段17bp的类似PrfA蛋白结合序列TTAACAGCGTTTGTTAA并没有增强和抑制PrfA转录调控活性的功能;甚至将其改造成“完美的” PrfA蛋白结合序列TTAACATTTGTTAA后,也不影响inlC依赖于PrfA的转录活性地表达;但是,如果缺失inlC启动子上原始的PrfA蛋白结合序列,则使inlC依赖于PrfA的转录活性完全丧失;另外,单核细胞增生李斯特菌毒力基因inlC和plcA 依赖于PrfA的转录活性的表达也与启动子上PrfA蛋白结合区(PrfA-box)距离-10区的碱基个数有关:最适为22或23bp,长于23bp或短于22bp的突变启动子的依赖PrfA的转录活性大大降低,甚至没有活性。说明除PrfA蛋白结合序列外,受PrfA调控的毒力基因启动子上还可能存在其它尚未阐明的结构和序列影响PrfA蛋白的结合以及启动转录表达。     

人表皮生长因子（hEGF）基因在蓝藻中的表达

人表皮生长因子（hEGF)是由53个氨基酸组成的蛋白,在临床上内服与外敷可促进内外表皮细胞的生长。将人工合成的hEGF基因连接到质粒pRL-489上,位于启动子psb下游。验证连接成功后,用三亲接合转移方法将载体pRL-hEGF导入聚球藻Synechococcus sp.PCC7002和鱼腥藻Anabeana sp.PCC7120。由于pRL-hEGF没有能在单细胞蓝藻中自主复制的复制子,通过筛选,hEGF在聚球藻7002中是整合到蓝藻染色体上进行表达的。用PCR扩增的方法在两种转基因藻中均检测到hEGF基因的存在。放射免疫分析证明,hEGF基因在两种转基因藻中均得到了表达。而且,在聚球藻7002中是采用分泌形式将表达产物分泌到培养液中。     

金黄色葡萄球菌tst-1基因敲除菌株的构建

抽提金黄色葡萄球菌834菌株的基因组DNA,PCR克隆扩增tst-1及tst-1的上、下游基因,通过将tst-1上、下游基因分别重组到载体质粒pAULA中,形成同源重组质粒pAULA Δtst-1,将pAULA-Δtst-1电转入细菌内,进行同源重组,以PCR、Western blot鉴定tst-1基因敲除菌株无tst-1基因片段,且无TSST-1蛋白表达,表明已成功构建金黄色葡萄球菌tst-1基因的敲除菌株。     

沙柳SpsLAS基因超表达对拟南芥营养生长的影响

用沙柳SpsLAS基因构建35S∷SpsLAS超表达载体并转化野生型拟南芥,对转基因拟南芥进行表型观察,利用荧光定量PCR,对分枝、生长素及细胞分裂素相关基因进行表达分析。结果显示:(1)成功构建35S∷SpsLAS超表达载体,并获得9株纯合转基因株系,且转基因株系的萌芽速率快于野生型(对照),生活周期也较长;其中7个株系表现为生长迅速、株高增加、莲座叶叶片增大、分枝增加,2个株系表现为矮化、分枝增加、育性降低等一系列变化。(2)荧光定量PCR显示,与对照相比24h时转基因株系幼苗生长素及细胞分裂素途径关键基因无明显变化,4d时各基因在各转基因株系呈上调趋势;30d时分枝相关基因RAX1、RAX3表达量均上调,而MAX1、MAX3、REV、AXR1无明显变化。研究表明,SpsLAS基因过表达对拟南芥株型、莲座叶有明显影响,该研究结果为进一步研究该基因对分枝调控机制奠定了基础。     

芥菜型油菜BjuA09DFR基因及其启动子的克隆与转化和表达

该研究利用实时荧光定量(qRT-PCR)检测了BjuA09 DFR基因的时空表达特异性,并通过克隆BjuA09 DFR基因启动子片段,构建该基因的启动子GUS融合表达载体,利用农杆菌介导法将重组质粒转入野生型拟南芥,最后对拟南芥转基因材料不同发育时期的不同组织部位进行GUS组织化学染色,分析BjuA09 DFR基因启动子的表达模式,为BjuA09 DFR基因启动子功能的进一步研究提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)BjuA09 DFR基因在芥菜型油菜的多个组织部位都有表达,尤其是在叶、花、角果和授粉后15d种子中表达量较高。(2)成功构建了BjuA09 DFR基因启动子和GUS基因融合表达载体(pBjuA09 DFR∷GUS),采用农杆菌介导法将重组质粒转入野生型拟南芥,经卡那霉素筛选和PCR检测抗性苗,获得转基因拟南芥阳性苗。(3)GUS组织化学分析结果显示,转基因拟南芥材料的GUS活性具有明显的时空特异性,在叶、花、角果和种子中的染色较深,具有很强的GUS活性。     

Modification of the N-Terminal Nucleotide Sequence of Mature hGM-CSF Results in High Expression in the Foreign Host, Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120

Cloning and high foreign expression of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) gene were achieved in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 cells. To promote high expression of hGM-CSF in cyanobacterial cells, PCR primers were designed to modify the N-terminal cDNA sequence of mature hGM-CSF, including a GC rich region and some discriminating against codons according to the degeneracy codon rules, selecting for prokaryotic usage codons. The PCR product encoding the modified hGM-CSF was inserted downstream of the promoter, PpsbA of the shuttle vector pRL439, then ligated with pDC-08 to generate the shuttle expression plasmid, pDC-GM1. The resulting shuttle expression plasmid was transferred into the filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 using the tri-parental conjugation transfer method. The results of PCR amplification of wild type and transgenic cells indicated that the hGM-CSF gene was successfully cloned into Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of modified hGM-CSF in transgenic cells harboring pDC-GM1 was 136% higher than that of non-modified hGM-CSF in transgenic cells harboring pDC-GM0. Additionally, there were similar rate of growth and content of Chl a as compared to controls, suggesting that foreign hGM-CSF did not impair the photosynthetic activity of host cells. Taken together, the results indicate that modification of the N-terminal nucleotide sequence of mature hGM-CSF results in high expression in the transgenic cells.     

Construction of shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The construction of the shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 was reported. The 700-bp hTNF cDNA fragments have been recovered from plasmid pRL-rhTNF, then inserted downstream of the promoter PpsbA in the plasmid pRL439. The resultant intermediary plasmid pRL-TC has further been combined with the shuttle vector pDC-8 to get the shuttle, expression vector pDGTNF. The expression of the rhTNF gene inEscherichia coli has been analyzed by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer scanning, and the results show that the expressed TNF protein with these two vectors is 16.9 percent (pRL-TC) and 15.0 percent (pDC-TNF) of the total proteins in the cells, respectively, while the expression level of TNF gene in plasmid pRL-rhTNF is only 11.8 percent. Combined with the participation of the conjugal and helper plasmids, pDC-TNF has been introduced intoAnabaena sp PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer, and the stable transgenic strains have been obtained. The existence of the introduced plasmid pDC-TNF in recombinant cyanobacterial cells has been demonstrated by the results of the agarose electrophoresis with the extracted plasmid samples and Southern blotting with α-³²P labeled hTNF cDNA probes, while the expression of the hTNF gene inAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 has been confirmed by the results of Western blotting with extracted protein samples and human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. The cytotoxicity assays using the mouse cancer cell line L929 proved the cytotoxicity of the TNF in the crude extracts from the transgenic c~anobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 39280016).     

Construction of shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium,Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The construction of the shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 was reported. The 700-bp hTNF cDNA fragments have been recovered from plasmid pRL-rhTNF, then inserted downstream of the promoter PpsbA in the plasmid pRL439. The resultant intermediary plasmid pRL-TC has further been combined with the shuttle vector pDC-8 to get the shuttle, expression vector pDGTNF. The expression of the rhTNF gene inEscherichia coli has been analyzed by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer scanning, and the results show that the expressed TNF protein with these two vectors is 16.9 percent (pRL-TC) and 15.0 percent (pDC-TNF) of the total proteins in the cells, respectively, while the expression level of TNF gene in plasmid pRL-rhTNF is only 11.8 percent. Combined with the participation of the conjugal and helper plasmids, pDC-TNF has been introduced intoAnabaena sp PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer, and the stable transgenic strains have been obtained. The existence of the introduced plasmid pDC-TNF in recombinant cyanobacterial cells has been demonstrated by the results of the agarose electrophoresis with the extracted plasmid samples and Southern blotting with α-³²P labeled hTNF cDNA probes, while the expression of the hTNF gene inAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 has been confirmed by the results of Western blotting with extracted protein samples and human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. The cytotoxicity assays using the mouse cancer cell line L929 proved the cytotoxicity of the TNF in the crude extracts from the transgenic c~anobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120.     

Exogenous expression of the wheat chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase gene enhances photosynthesis in the transgenic cyanobacterium, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Anabaena</Emphasis> PCC7120

The paper reports a study on the genetic regulation of photosynthesis by introducing the gene encoding wheat chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) into the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120. The gene was RT-PCR amplified from wheat and modified by replacement of the 5′-terminal encoding sequence with optimal and A/T-rich codons to promote prokaryotic expression. The resultant FBPase gene was ligated downstream of the strong promoter, PpsbA of expression vector pRL-439, then inserted into of shuttle vector pDC-08. The resulting shuttle expression vector (pDC-fbp) was transferred into the filamentous, heterocystour cyanobacterium, Anabaena PCC7120, by the tri-parental conjugation transfer method. Protein expression of FBPase in the transgenic Anabaena was 126.5% higher than in wild type cells, and the enzyme activity of transgenic cells was 1.41-fold higher than that of wild type cells. Under atmospheric conditions of 360 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂, Anabaena cells overexpressing the FBPase gene further showed increases in net photosynthesis (117.2%) and true photosynthesis (122.5%) as compared to wild type cells. In addition, transgenic Anabaena grew faster and contained more Chl a than did wild type cells. Together, these results indicate that introduction of the wheat chloroplastic FBPase gene into Anabaena increase photosynthesis and cell growth; furthermore, these trends were more evident under stress condition (higher CO₂ concentration). This is the first report of enhanced photosynthesis in cyanobacteria expressing genes from higher plants.     

Organization of the nif genes in cyanobacteria in symbiotic association with Azolla and Anthoceros

The sizes of endonuclease digestion fragments of DNA from cyanobacteria in symbiotic association with Azolla caroliniana or Anthoceros punctatus, or in free-living culture, were compared by Southern hybridization using cloned nitrogenase (nif) genes from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 as probes. The restriction fragment pattern produced by cyanobacteria isolated from A. caroliniana by culture through symbiotic association with Anthoceros differed from that of the major symbiotic cyanobacterium freshly separated from A. caroliniana. The results indicate that minor cyanobacterial symbionts occur in association with Azolla and that the dominant symbiont was not cultured in the free-living state. Both the absence of hybridization to an xisA gene probe and the mapping of restriction fragments indicated a contiguous nifHDK organization in all cells of the symbiont in association with Azolla. On the other hand, in the cultured isolate from Azolla and in Nostoc sp. 7801, the nifD and nifK genes are nominally separated by an interval of unknown length, compatible with the interruption of the nifHDK operon by a DNA element as observed in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. In the above cultured strains, restriction fragments consistent with a contiguous nifHDK operon were also present at varying hybridization intensities, especially in Nostoc sp. 7801 grown in association with Anthoceros, presumably due to gene rearrangement in a fraction of the cells.Non-standard abbreviations bp base pairs - kb kilobase pairs - kd kilodaltons     

mrpA (all1838), a gene involved in alkali and Na sensitivity, may also have a role in energy metabolism in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

Anabaena sp. PCC7120 contains a gene, mrpA (all1838), which forms part of a seven gene-cluster (all1843–all1837) with significant sequence similarity to bacterial operons that putatively code for a multicomponent cation/proton antiporter involved in alkaline pH adaptation and salt resistance. We previously showed that growth and photosynthesis were inhibited in a strain mutated in mrpA, denoted as PHB11, particularly at alkaline pH. Here, we show that respiration was also impaired in the mutant independently of the external pH. In addition, at high pH, less ATP and vegetative cell ferredoxin were present in PHB11, which also showed lower levels of ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR). Ferredoxin and FNR are involved in the generation of reductant NADPH in cyanobacteria. These results suggest an energetic role of mrpA (and perhaps of the whole mrp-gene cluster) in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 that is further supported by the significant similarity of putative Anabaena Mrp proteins to membrane subunits of complex I.