Rapid and sensitive detection of enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in paraffin sections by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Various forms of green fluorescent protein (GFP) have become important reporters of gene transfer and expression after transfection or infection of cells in cell culture. Frequently, molecular biological assays (Northern blots, PCR) are applied to detect reporter gene expression in target organs. However, these methods are not suitable for evaluation of tissue- or cell-specific expression which would be of great interest especially in case of using tissue-specific promoters. Therefore, organs of transgenic mice with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter were processed for histology by formaldehyde fixation and embedding in paraffin. Sections were deparaffinized, mounted and evaluated for fluorescence in a confocal laser scanning microscope. This method combines the advantages of direct exploitation of tissue sections without further staining procedures with evaluable tissue-, cell-, and even subcellular-specific distribution patterns of EGFP expression in tissues. Results obtained by direct evaluation of EGFP fluorescence in paraffin sections were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-EGFP. In the present report, we demonstrate that application of confocal microscopy on routinely processed histological preparations is very suitable for determining gene transfer efficiency and promotor activities.     

Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin resistant (Neo(R)) genes in porcine embryos following nuclear transfer with porcine fetal fibroblasts transfected by retrovirus vector

In this study, we demonstrated expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin resistant (Neo(R)) genes in porcine embryos following nuclear transfer from porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFFs) transduced with the EGFP and Neo(R) genes by retrovirus-mediated infection. Nuclear transfer of the nonstarved transfected PFF into enucleated oocytes was accomplished by cell to cell fusion. Out of 188 porcine eggs reconstructed by nuclear transfer, 116 (61.7%) eggs cleaved and 25 (13.3%) developed to morula and blastocyst stages. Of these 25 morulae and blastocysts, 25 (100%) embryos emitted green fluorescence. Expression of the both EGFP and Neo(R) genes was detected as early as the 2-cell stage. As determined by EGFP gene expression, mosaicism was not observed in any embryo. These results suggest that porcine oocytes reconstructed by nuclear transfer with transfected PFFs can successfully develop to the blastocyst stage. In addition, this approach might be applicable to the production of transgenic pigs with complex genetic modifications.     

Production of rabbit chimeric embryos by aggregation of zona-free nuclear transfer blastomeres

The objective of this study was to compare in vitro developmental capacity of zona-free aggregated rabbit chimeric embryos and the allocation of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) gene expression to the inner cell mass (ICM). We produced chimeric embryos by synchronous aggregation of zona-free blastomeres from embryonic cell nuclear transfer (EMB-NT) or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SC-NT) and blastomeres from normal zona-free embryos (N) at the 16-cell stage. In the control group, transgenic (TR) and normal zona-free embryos were used to produce chimeric embryos (TR<>N). EMB-NT embryos were produced by fusion of enucleated oocytes with embryonic cells, which were derived from 32-cell stage transgenic embryos bearing the EGFP gene. The SC-NT embryos were produced by fusing enucleated oocytes with cumulus cells, which were derived from homozygotes transgenic for the EGFP gene female oocytes at 16h post-coitum. Nuclei of transgenic blastomeres emitted a green signal under fluorescence microscopy. Zona-free EMB-NT or zona-free SC-NT rabbit embryos, both with EGFP fluorescence, as well as TR and zona-free rabbit embryos with no fluorescence (EMB-NT<>N, SC-NT<>N, TR<>N) were aggregated on day 2.5 and evaluated on day 5. The proportion of EMB-NT<>N embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher compared with SC-NT derived cells (p < 0.05), but significantly lower than in TR<>N chimeric blastocysts (p < 0.001). Similarly, a higher proportion (p < 0.001) of EGFP-positive cells allocated to ICM of chimeric blastocysts was revealed in TR<>N chimeras (55%), compared with EMB-NT<>N (35%) and SC-NT<>N (21%). Our results indicate that synchronous chimeric embryos reconstructed from TR embryos were better able to develop and colonize the ICM area than EMB-NT and SC-NT embryos. In this study we have demonstrated for the first time that rabbit NT-derived embryos are able to develop into chimeric blastocysts and participate in the ICM area.     

Efficient selection of transgenic mouse embryos using EGFP as a marker gene

We have established a reliable method that uses the EGFP (Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein) gene as a marker for selecting transgenic embryos from preimplantation embryos. Embryos that were subjected to the pronuclear microinjection of the CMV/β‐actin/EGFP fusion gene were cultured in vitro until they developed into the morulae‐ or blastocyst‐stage. The expression of EGFP was easily observed by a fluorescent microscopy. There appeared to be no damage to the in vivo developmental ability of the embryos in response to the EGFP excitation light, which utilized an IB filter for a period of 30 min. Modified PCR analysis using Dpn I and Bal 31 digestion of the embryonic DNA showed that all of the embryos expressing EGFP in all their cells were transgenic, while more than half with mosaic expression of EGFP were not transgenic. Approximately 77% of pups born from the embryos that uniformly expressed the EGFP gene were transgenic, while 21.4% of pups from the embryos with mosaic expression were transgenics. The results showed that the use of EGFP as a marker is very useful and reliable for selecting transgenic embryos, and that it is important to transfer the embryos expressing EGFP in all their cells to obtain truly transgenic animals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 54:43–48, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Obtainment of chimeric blastocysts of mice by methods of laser nanosurgery

The procedure of obtainment of chimeric blastocysts of mice by laser nanosurgery methods with-out using any other techniques is described. To perform the experiments, a special laser micromanipulator was invented. The murine embryonic stem cells (ESC), which were transformed with pEF-GFP vector, encoding the green fluorescent protein, were used in the experiments. ESC were introduced into the perivitelline space of murine embryos at the stage of 8 cells using the laser micromanipulator. The operated embryos were cultured in vitro until the stage of emergence from zona pellucida. The fluorescence and its precise localization were registered using a confocal microscope. It was shown for the first time that the inclusions of ESC introduced with the lased micromanipulator were found not only in the inner cell mass (ICM) but also in the trophectoderm of the chimeric blastocyst. The technology of nanosurgical operations at early stage preimplanted mammalian embryos using laser techniques opens great opportunities not only for solution of fundamental tasks of experimental embryology of mammals but also for obtainment of chimeric and transgenic animals with predetermined genotype.     

人P2X7真核表达载体的构建及稳定转染细胞株的建立

目的：构建人P2X7基因的真核表达载体,并通过转染获得稳定表达P2X7分子的HEK293细胞株。方法：以人脑组织P2X7cDNA为模板扩增出P2X7基因,插入到真核表达载体pEGFP-N1中,构建重组质粒pEGFP-N1/P2X7。用X-fect试剂盒将重组质粒转染HEK293细胞,通过G418辅助荧光筛选建立稳定表达P2X7-EGFP细胞株。经流式细胞仪、Western blot和激光共聚焦显微镜检测,了解人P2X7在HEK293细胞中的表达水平及细胞内定位。结果：重组质粒pEGFP-N1/P2X7构建正确,建立了稳定表达人P2X7的HEK293细胞系。Western blot和流式细胞仪检测证实,P2X7在HEK293细胞系中成功表达,激光共聚焦显微镜检测显示P2X7-EGFP定位在细胞膜上。结论：重组载体pEGFP-N1/P2X7构建成功并建立了稳定表达人P2X7的HEK293细胞系,为进一步研究P2X7离子通道结构和功能奠定基础。     

Birth of calves expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein after transfer of fresh or vitrified/thawed blastocysts produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer

The present study examined effects of genetic manipulation and serum starvation on in vitro developmental potential of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos and vitrification on in vivo developmental competence of transgenic SCNT blastocysts. Fetal oviduct epithelial cells (FOECs) were isolated from the oviduct of a Day 147 bovine fetus and transfected with a plasmid (pCE-EGFP-IRES-NEO) containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin-resistant (Neor) genes. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in cleavage rates or development rates to the blastocyst stage for SCNT embryos derived from FOECs (72.5 and 47.8%, respectively) or transfected FOECs (TFOECs, 73.8 and 47.7%, respectively); nor from serum-fed (73.6 and 47.2%, respectively) or serum-starved (72.7 and 48.3%, respectively) cells. Seventeen of Day 7 GFP-embryos (eight fresh blastocysts and nine vitrified/thawed blastocysts ) were transferred to recipients with one embryo per recipient. Two (25%) recipients were confirmed pregnant at Day 60 in fresh blastocysts group, and three recipients (33%) were confirmed pregnant at Day 60 in vitrified/thawed blastocysts group. Two healthy calves (25%) were obtained from fresh blastocysts and one (11%) from vitrified/thawed blastocysts. Microsatellite analysis confirmed that the three clones were genetically identical to the donor cells. Moreover, PCR and Southern blot demonstrated integration of transgene in genomic DNA of all three cloned calves. Expression of GFP in skin biopsies isolated from transgenic cloned calves and fibroblasts derived from the skin biopsies revealed the activity of EGFP gene, and G418 resistance in vitro of these fibroblasts confirmed the activity of Neor gene. Our results show that genetic manipulation and serum starvation of donor cells (FOECs) do not affect in vitro developmental competence of bovine SCNT embryos, and vitrified transgenic SCNT blastocysts can develop to term successfully.     

ZNF268基因启动子区的克隆及功能分析

锌指基因家族是人体中最大的基因家族,它参与细胞分化、胚胎发育,并与许多疾病的发生相关。人类ZNF268基因是一个在人胚肝中特异性表达的C2H2型锌指基因,并可能在人的早期肝脏发育中起重要作用。为了研究ZNF268基因表达调控的分子机制,以正常人总基因组为模板PCR扩增了ZNF268基因的5′调控区2533bp片段,并将此片段插入启动子缺失的EGFP(增强型绿色荧光蛋白)载体构建了重组质粒pZNF268—EGFP。用脂质体介导的方法将pZNF268—EGFP转染NIH／3T3、COS7、K562、HeLa4个细胞系。在激光共聚焦显微镜下观察绿色荧光的表达,发现在每个细胞系中,转染了重组质粒pZNF268—EGFP的细胞均有荧光表达,但其起始表达时间均晚于转染了阳性对照质粒pEGFP—C1的细胞且荧光较弱。这表明ZNF268基因的5′调控区2．5kb片段是一个有功能的启动子,但该启动子与CMV启动子相比活性较弱。选择易培养的HeLa细胞系用于缺失研究。将一系列5′端—2456bp至—20bp缺失、3′端均为 77bp的缺失片段插入启动子缺失的CAT(氯酶素酰胺转移酶)载体构建了一系列重组质粒。将这些重组质粒转染HeLa细胞系进行缺失分析,并通过共转染pCMV—Sport—βgal质粒校正转染效率。结果表明,ZNF268启动子—2456～—1639bp区域可能含有正调控元件,—1244～—1013bp和—525～—156bp区域可能含有负调控元件,ZNF268启动子激活转录的一个重要区域位于—156～—20bp。     

绿色荧光转基因大鼠模型的建立

目的随着干细胞研究的推进,大鼠干细胞的研究日趋迫切。本研究旨在为活体荧光影像系统、干细胞归巢、细胞移植体内示踪研究,提供绿色荧光蛋白EGFP转基因大鼠模型。方法通过显微注射方式获得EGFP转基因大鼠,采用活体荧光影像系统、激光共聚焦显微镜,对EGFP转基因大鼠各个组织的荧光表达水平进行比较;采用流式细胞术检测转基因大鼠血液和骨髓细胞、骨髓干细胞的荧光标记率,筛选骨髓干细胞高效标记绿色荧光的转基因大鼠。结果建立了心脏、肝脏、肌肉、肺、胰腺、脑、膀胱、胃、肾脏、肠和脾脏组织中,系统性表达EGFP的SD-TgN（ACT-EGFP-1）ZLFILAS转基因大鼠;流式细胞术检测表明,该品系血液细胞绿色荧光标记率为94.4%,骨髓干细胞绿色荧光标记率为97.8%。结论建立了多组织系统性高表达绿色荧光,骨髓干细胞荧光标记率高达95%以上的转基因大鼠,为影像分析,造血干细胞的归巢等研究提供了大鼠模型。     

Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein in porcine- and bovine-cloned embryos following interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer of fibroblasts transfected by retrovirus vector

Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) has emerged as an important tool for studying nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions and cloning of animals whose oocytes are difficult to obtain. This study was designed to explore the feasibility of employing transgenic fibroblasts as donor cells for iSCNT. The study examined the chromatin morphology, in vitro development, and expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene in porcine- and bovine-cloned embryos produced by iSCNT of fetal fibroblast transfected with a pLNbeta-EGFP retroviral vector. Parthenogenetic and transfected or nontransfected intraspecies SCNT embryos were used as controls for comparison. Analysis of data revealed that xenogenic oocyte was able to reprogram somatic cells of different genus and supports their in vitro development to the blastocyst stage. However, the developmental rates of transgenic iSCNT embryos to the blastocyst stage were significantly lower than those of intraspecies SCNT embryos. The reduction in development rates was however, not due to integration of the transgene as the lower (P < 0.05) development rates of the intraspecies SCNT porcine or bovine embryos did not differ between transgenic and nontransgenic groups. Expression of EGFP was observed in 100% of blastocysts and mosaicism was not observed. Furthermore, after iSCNT of porcine or bovine donor nuclei into xenogenic ooplasm, patterns of nuclear remodeling in reconstructed embryos were similar. In conclusion, our data demonstrated the feasibility of producing transgenic iSCNT embryos. To our knowledge, this is the first report of transgenic cloned embryo production by iSCNT approach. In the future, this may provide a powerful research tool for studying developmental events in domestic animals and provide marked cell lines for other genetic manipulations.     

SARS—CoVSars7a和EGFP融合蛋白真核表达载体构建及其表达

根据SARS-CoV sars7a基因设计并化学合成部分重叠引物,经二轮PCR获得sars7a基因片段,以此片段为模板并利用一对带有Kozak序列及删除终止密码的引物进行PCR,获得产物与pEGFP-N1载体连接,使sars7a基因位于．EGFP的基因上游,得到含编码Sars7a-EGFP融合蛋白基因的哺乳动物细胞表达载体。采用细胞核转染技术将重组表达载体转染K562细胞,以流式细胞仪和共聚焦显微镜分析,可检测到EGFP的绿色荧光,表明Sars7a—EGFP得到表达,该蛋白分布于整个细胞,提示Sars7a并非膜蛋白,更可能是胞浆蛋白。此外,该蛋白的表达对K562细胞凋亡无明显影响。     

BTI基因转染诱导EC9706细胞凋亡及G_1阻滞

为了研究荞麦胰蛋白酶抑制剂(buckwheat trypsin inhibitor,BTI)对肿瘤细胞凋亡与细胞周期的影响,构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)与BTI融合蛋白真核表达质粒.将BTI基因成功克隆至pEGFP-N1中转染食管癌EC9706细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜镜检显示,BTI-EGFP获得良好表达.表达的融合蛋白大部分分布于细胞核,在细胞质中有少量分布.Western印迹检测可见约27kD和36 kD的特异性条带.流式细胞术分析结果显示,BTI能够诱导EC9706细胞发生凋亡,并使细胞停滞于G0/G1期.     

An approach for producing transgenic cloned cows by nuclear transfer of cells transfected with human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene

In an attempt to produce transgenic cloned cows secreting alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT) protein into milk, bovine cumulus cells were transfected with a plasmid containing an alpha1-AT gene and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene using Fugene 6 as a lipid carrier. The GFP-expressing cells were selected and transferred into enucleated bovine oocytes. Couplets were fused, chemically activated and cultured. Developmental competence was monitored and the number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in blastocysts were counted after differential staining. The percentage of blastocysts was lower (P < 0.05) in transgenic cloned embryos compared to non-transgenic cloned embryos (23% versus 35%). No difference in the numbers of ICM and TE cells between the two groups of embryos was observed. One or two GFP-expressing blastocysts were transferred into the uterus of each recipient cow. Out of 49 recipient cows, three pregnancies were detected by non-return estrus and rectal palpation. However, the pregnancies failed to maintain to term; two fetuses were aborted at Day 60 and 150, respectively, and one fetus at Day 240. The genomic DNA from the aborted fetus was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate integration of the transgene in the fetus. The expected PCR product was sequenced and was identical to the sequence of alpha1-AT transgene. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that developmental competence of cloned embryos derived from transgenic donor cells was lower than embryos derived from non-transfected donor cells. Although we failed to obtain a viable transgenic cloned calf, integration of alpha1-AT gene into the fetus presents the possibility of producing transgenic cloned cows by somatic cell nuclear transfer.     

辅助病毒依赖型腺病毒载体转基因的体外表达效率

构建可表达增强型绿色荧光蛋白 (Enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP) 的辅助病毒依赖型腺病毒载体 (Helper-dependent adenoviral vector,HDAd),并完成大量制备、纯化和体外表达鉴定。荧光显微镜证实HDAd/EGFP可表达,电镜下观察到经CsCl纯化后的腺病毒的典型形态。分光光度计法测定病毒的浓度为4.0×1012 颗粒数 (Virus particle,vp) /mL。与可表达EGFP的第一代腺病毒载体 (First generation adenoviral vector,FGAd) FGAd/EGFP进行了体外感染和转基因表达效率的比较研究,分别用约2 000 vp/细胞的HDAd/EGFP和FGAd/EGFP感染A549细胞,流式细胞仪检测EGFP的表达情况。通过相同时间点流式细胞仪分析EGFP的表达情况,可见HDAd/EGFP感染早期的A549细胞较FGAd/EGFP有更高的荧光表达率及更高的表达强度,显示HDAd载体具有转基因瞬时高表达的特性,是一种更有价值的疫苗载体。     

Developmental rate and allocation of transgenic cells in rabbit chimeric embryos

The objective of this study was to compare developmental capacity of rabbit chimeric embryos and the allocation of the EGFP gene expression to the embryoblast (ICM) or embryonic shield. We produced chimeric embryos (TR< >N) by synchronous transfer of two or three blastomeres at the 16-cell stage from transgenic (TR) into normal host embryos (N) at the same stage. In the control group, two to three non-transgenic blastomeres were used to produce chimeric embryos. The TR embryos were produced by microinjection of EGFP into both pronuclei of fertilized rabbit eggs. The developmental rate and allocation of EGFP-positive cells of the reconstructed chimeric embryos was controlled at blastocyst (96 h PC) and embryonic shield (day 6) stage. All chimeric embryos (120/120, 100%) developed up to blastocyst stage. Using fluorescent microscope, we detected green signal (EGFP expression). In 90 chimeric (TR< >N) embryos (75%). Average total number of cells in chimeric embryos at blastocyst stage was 175+/-13.10, of which 58+/-2.76 cells were found in the ICM area. The number of EGFP-positive cells in the ICM area was 24+/-5.02 (35%). After the transfer of 50 chimeric rabbit embryos at the 16-cell stage, 20 embryos (40%) were flushed from five recipients on day 6 of pregnancy, of which five embryos (25%) were EGFP positive at the embryonic shield stage. Our results demonstrate that transgenic blastomeres in synchronous chimeric embryos reconstructed from TR embryos have an ability to develop and colonize ICM and embryonic shield area.     

ω-3多聚不饱和脂肪酸脱氢酶的真核表达及鉴定

目的：构建ω-3多聚不饱和脂肪酸脱氢酶真核表达载体,并在293T细胞（人胚肾细胞）中实现表达。方法：通过RT-PCR法扩增得到ω-3多聚不饱和脂肪酸脱氢酶基因fat1,构建重组真核表达载体pCMV－Myc－fat1,用脂质体法转染293T细胞,Western Blot检测fat1的表达,并用间接免疫荧光（IFA）确定其在293T细胞中的定位情况。结果：构建真核表达质粒pCMV－Myc－fat1,转染293T细胞后,可检测到细胞内有fat1的表达并确定其在细胞中的位置。结论：成功构建真核表达质粒pCMV－Myc－fat1,可检测出细胞内有fat1的表达并确定其在细胞膜和细胞质内均有表达,为进行fat1的功能研究奠定了基础。     

荧光转基因斑马鱼Tg(ttn.2:EGFP)的构建

为了建立一种用于研究肌肉和心脏发育及其相关疾病的绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)转基因斑马鱼品系,本研究使用斑马鱼ttn.2基因编码区上游启动子序列和绿色荧光蛋白基因编码序列构建了重组表达载体,并将该载体和Tol2转座酶的加帽mRNA显微共注射入斑马鱼1-细胞期胚胎,通过荧光检测、遗传杂交筛选和分子鉴定等方法,成功建立了能稳定遗传的Tg(ttn.2:EGFP)转基因斑马鱼品系。荧光表达分析及原位杂交分析结果表明,绿色荧光信号在斑马鱼肌肉和心脏组织中特异表达模式与ttn.2基因的mRNA表达一致。通过反向PCR鉴定转基因表达载体在F1代斑马鱼品系中的随机整合位点,结果表明:No.33转基因品系的EGFP基因整合在斑马鱼的4号和11号染色体上,No.34转基因品系则整合在1号染色体上。该荧光转基因斑马鱼品系Tg(ttn.2:EGFP)的成功构建为肌肉和心脏发育以及相关疾病研究提供了一个新的理想实验模型。此外,绿色荧光强烈表达的斑马鱼品系还可以作为一种新的观赏鱼。     

肿瘤相关抗原HCA520真核表达载体的构建及细胞内表达的定位分析

应用PCR技术获得肿瘤相关抗原HCA520编码基因,构建至pGEM-T Easy载体,测序正确后,亚克隆至pEGFP-N1载体,1％的琼脂糖电泳得到两条带,与预期结果相同;鉴定正确的基因一过性转染至CHO细胞,共聚焦显微镜观察HCA520基因编码蛋白主要位于胞浆靠近胞膜处,为HCA520功能的进一步研究打下了基础。