Oncogenicity of DNA in vivo: Tumor induction with expression plasmids for activated H-ras and c-myc

All vaccines and other biological products contain contaminating residual DNA derived from the production cell substrate. Whether this residual cell-substrate DNA can induce tumors in vaccine recipients and thus represent a risk factor has been debated for over 50 years without resolution. As a first step in resolving this issue, we have generated expression plasmids for the activated human H-ras oncogene and for the murine c-myc proto-oncogene. Their oncogenic activity was confirmed in vitro using the focus-formation transformation assay. Two strains of adult and newborn immune-competent mice were inoculated with different amounts of either plasmid alone or with a combination of the H-ras and c-myc plasmids. Tumors developed only in mice inoculated with both plasmids and only at the highest amount of DNA (12.5 microg of each plasmid). The NIH Swiss mouse was more sensitive than the C57BL/6 mouse, and newborn animals were more sensitive than adults. Cell lines were established from the tumors. PCR and Southern hybridization analyses demonstrated that both inoculated oncogenes were present in all of the tumor-derived cell lines and that the cells in the tumors were clonal. Western analysis demonstrated that both oncoproteins were expressed in these cell lines. These results demonstrate that cellular oncogenes can induce tumors following subcutaneous inoculation. Such information provides a possible way of evaluating and estimating the theoretical oncogenic risk posed by residual cell-substrate DNA in vaccines.     

Chromium(VI) reduction in a membrane bioreactor with immobilized Pseudomonas cells

Chromate reduction was studied in a membrane bioreactor under action of Pseudomonas bacteria immobilized in agar–agar films on the surface of synthetic membrane. Immobilized cells are protected from the excessive toxic action at high chromate concentration that improves cell activity compared with free cells. Almost complete chromate reduction was observed at stepwise introducing of chromate in feed solution allowing maintenance of optimal chromate concentration. Reduction is suppressed by high metabolite concentrations, which reached on the sixth step of chromate adding in studied system. Cell ability to reduce chromate is restored after changing of feed and receiving solutions allowing remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated water in semi-batch operation of membrane bioreactor.     

How does plasmid DNA penetrate cell membranes in artificial transformation process of Escherichia coli?

Artificial transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmid DNA in presence of CaCl2 is a widely used technique in recombinant DNA technology. However, exact mechanism of DNA transfer across cell membranes is largely obscure. In this study, measurements of both steady state and time-resolved anisotropies of fluorescent dye trimethyl ammonium diphenyl hexatriene (TMA-DPH), bound to cellular outer membrane, indicated heat-pulse (0 degrees C42 degrees C) step of the standard transformation procedure had lowered considerably outer membrane fluidity of cells. The decrease in fluidity was caused by release of lipids from cell surface to extra-cellular medium. A subsequent cold-shock (42 degrees C0 degrees C) to the cells raised the fluidity further to its original value and this was caused by release of membrane proteins to extra-cellular medium. When the cycle of heat-pulse and cold-shock steps was repeated, more release of lipids and proteins respectively had taken place, which ultimately enhanced transformation efficiency gradually up to third cycle. Study of competent cell surface by atomic force microscope showed release of lipids had formed pores on cell surface. Moreover, the heat-pulse step almost depolarized cellular inner membrane. In this communication, we propose heat-pulse step had two important roles on DNA entry: (a) Release of lipids and consequent formation of pores on cell surface, which helped DNA to cross outer membrane barrier, and (b) lowering of membrane potential, which facilitated DNA to cross inner membrane of E. coli.     

Band 3 tyr-phosphorylation in normal and glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase-deficient human erythrocytes

Artificial transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmid DNA in presence of CaCl₂ is a widely used technique in recombinant DNA technology. However, exact mechanism of DNA transfer across cell membranes is largely obscure. In this study, measurements of both steady state and time-resolved anisotropies of fluorescent dye trimethyl ammonium diphenyl hexatriene (TMA-DPH), bound to cellular outer membrane, indicated heat-pulse (0°C→42°C) step of the standard transformation procedure had lowered considerably outer membrane fluidity of cells. The decrease in fluidity was caused by release of lipids from cell surface to extra-cellular medium. A subsequent cold-shock (42°C→0°C) to the cells raised the fluidity further to its original value and this was caused by release of membrane proteins to extra-cellular medium. When the cycle of heat-pulse and cold-shock steps was repeated, more release of lipids and proteins respectively had taken place, which ultimately enhanced transformation efficiency gradually up to third cycle. Study of competent cell surface by atomic force microscope showed release of lipids had formed pores on cell surface. Moreover, the heat-pulse step almost depolarized cellular inner membrane. In this communication, we propose heat-pulse step had two important roles on DNA entry: (a) Release of lipids and consequent formation of pores on cell surface, which helped DNA to cross outer membrane barrier, and (b) lowering of membrane potential, which facilitated DNA to cross inner membrane of E. coli.     

Two steps away from novelty--principles of bacterial DNA uptake

Transport of DNA across bacterial membranes during natural transformation is a fascinating and elaborate process. It requires the functional integrity of huge multi-protein complexes present in the bacterial envelope at distinct loci. After successful mapping of essential gene products involved in natural transformation, current research focuses on the functional interplay of these components in order to understand the mechanisms how DNA enters the bacterium. Here, we discuss the model of a two-step DNA uptake process in competent Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The first step comprises the transfer of DNA from the bacterial surface to the cytoplasmic membrane. For this purpose, bacteria use a variety of machineries, mostly, but not necessarily, sharing key homologous components. The second step is the translocation of DNA across the cytoplasmic membrane, a tight barrier at which ion gradients are established for energization of the cell. Crossing the latter is mediated by a protein complex harbouring a highly conserved membrane channel. On the basis of current data, at least the first step is uncoupled from the second. This review intends to highlight mechanistic features of both steps of bacterial DNA uptake by the integrative interpretation of genetic, biochemical and biophysical data.     

Plasmid transformation of Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) occurs by circular and linear molecules

Summary Transformation of Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) by antibiotic resistance plasmids has shown that (a) competente developed with identical kinetics for chromosomal and plasmid DNA; (b) dependence of transformant yield on plasmid DNA concentration was second order; (c) open circular plasmid DNA transformed Challis, although at reduced frequency; (d) linearization of plasmid DNA by restriction enzymes cutting at unique sites inactivated the transforming capacity; (e) transforming activity was restored when linear plasmid molecules generated by different restriction enzymes were mixed; (f) restoration of transforming activity depended on the distance between the linearizing cuts, i.e. on the presence of sufficiently long overlapping homologous sequences; (g) when linear deletion mutants were mixed with linear parental plasmids the smaller plasmid was restored with significantly higher frequency.Based on these data, a model for plasmid transformation of Challis is proposed according to which circular plasmid is linearized during binding and uptake. One DNA strand enters the cell and restoration of circular plasmids inside the cell occurs by annealing of complementary single strands from two different donor molecules. Implications of this model for recombinant DNA experiments in streptococci are discussed.     

氩离子注入介导麻黄基因组DNA转化获得产麻黄碱重组酵母菌

通过氩离子(Ar )注入介导蓝麻黄基因组DNA在异常汉逊酵母(Hansenula anomala)中随机转化,转化后的酵母菌经BTB指示性辅助筛选、斜面传代、液体培养、铜铬盐定性检识和RP-HPLC定量检测,获得了遗传稳定的以葡萄糖为碳源、NaNO3为氮源生物合成麻黄碱和(或)伪麻黄碱的重组酵母菌3株。液体培养72h,RP-HPLC测试胞外麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的最高产量分别为11.87mg/L和4.11mg/L;胞内伪麻黄碱最高含量为294.86mg/g干细胞,胞内麻黄碱未检出。分析了Ar 注入介导蓝麻黄基因组DNA在酵母菌中的遗传转化效率,探讨了麻黄基因组DNA大分子的完整性对其在酵母菌中遗传转化的影响。     

Genetic transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single-stranded circular DNA vectors

We asked if single-stranded vector DNA molecules could be used to reintroduce cloned DNA sequences into a eukaryotic cell and cause genetic transformation typical of that observed using double-stranded DNA vectors. DNA was presented to Saccharomyces cerevisiae following a standard transformation protocol, genetic transformants were isolated, and the physical state of the transforming DNA sequence was determined. We found that single-stranded DNA molecules transformed yeast cells 10- to 30-fold more efficiently than double-stranded molecules of identical sequence. More cells were competent for transformation by the single-stranded molecules. Single-stranded circular (ssc) DNA molecules carrying the yeast 2 μ plasmid-replicator sequence were converted to autonomously replicating double-stranded circular (dsc) molecules, suggesting their efficient utilization as templates for DNA synthesis in the cell. Single-stranded DNA molecules carrying 2 μ plasmid non-replicator sequences recombined with the endogenous multicopy 2 μ plasmid DNA. This recombination yielded either the simple molecular adduct expected from homologous recombination (40% of the transformants examined) or aberrant recombination products carrying incomplete transforming DNA sequences, endogenous 2 μ plasmid DNA sequences, or both (60% of the transformants examined). These aberrant recombination products suggest the frequent use of a recombination pathway that trims one or both of the substrate DNA molecules. Similar aberrant recombination products were detected in 30% of the transformants in cotransformation experiments employing single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules, one carrying the 2 μ plasmid replicator sequence and the other the selectable genetic marker. We conclude that single-stranded DNA molecules are useful vectors for the genetic transformation of a eukaryotic cell. They offer the advantage of high transformation efficiency, and yield the same intracellular DNA species obtained upon transformation with double-stranded DNA molecules. In addition, single-stranded DNA molecules can participate in a recombination pathway that trims one or both DNA recombination substrates, a pathway not detected, at least at the same frequency, when transforming with double-stranded DNA molecules     

An in vivo study of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) liver during prolonged hypoxia

Hypoxia induced apoptosis has been studied extensively in many mammalian cell lines but there are only a few studies using whole animal models. We investigated the response of the intact liver to hypoxia in a hypoxia tolerant fish, the carp (Cyprinus carpio, L). We exposed carp to hypoxia for up to 42 days, using oxygen level (0.5 mgO₂/L) that were slightly higher than the critical oxygen level of carp. There was extensive DNA damage in liver cells, especially during the first week of exposure, indicated by a massive TUNEL signal. However there was no change in cell proliferation, cell number or size, no increase in caspase-3 activity, no increase in single stranded DNA and this, combined with a number of other observations, led us to conclude there was no increase in apoptosis in the liver during hypoxia. There was up-regulation of some anti-apoptotic genes and proteins (Bcl-2, HSP70, p27) and down-regulation of some pro-apoptotic genes (Tetraspanin 5 and Cell death activator). The cells appeared to enter cell cycle arrest, presumably to allow repair of damaged DNA. As there was no change in cell proliferation and cell number, the damaged cells were not entering apoptosis and must have recovered during prolonged hypoxia.     

dnaA suppressor (dasF) mutants of Escherichia coli are stable DNA replication (sdrA/rnh) mutants

Summary The possible allelic relationship between dasF (dnaA suppressor) and sdrA/rnh (stable DNA replication/RNase H) mutations was examined. dasF mutations could not only suppress various dnaA(ts) mutations, but also the insertional inactivation of the dnaA gene or deletion of the oriC sequence, as could sdrA mutations. dasF mutants were found to exhibit the stable DNA replication phenotype, and the sensitivity to rich media, of sdrA mutants. The dasF and sdrA mutations were mapped very closely between metD and proA on the E. coli genetic map. The mutations were recessive to the wild-type allele for all the above phenotypes. It was concluded that dasF is allelic to sdrA/mh.     

Role of membrane potential on artificial transformation of E. coli with plasmid DNA

The standard method of transformation of Escherichea coli with plasmid DNA involves two important steps: cells are first suspended in 100mM CaCl(2) at 0 degrees C (in which DNA is added), followed by the administration of a heat-pulse from 0 to 42 degrees C for 90s [Cohen, S., Chang, A., Hsu, L., 1972. Nonchromosomal antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 69, 2110-2114]. The first step makes the cells competent for uptake of DNA and the second step is believed to facilitate the DNA entry into the cells by an unknown mechanism. In this study, the measure of membrane potential of the intact competent cells, at different steps of transformation process, either by the method of spectrofluorimetry or that of flow cytometry, indicates that the heat-pulse step (0-->42 degrees C) heavily decreases the membrane potential. A subsequent cold shock (42-->0 degrees C) raises the potential further to its original value. Moreover, the efficiency of transformation of E. coli XL1 Blue cells with plasmid pUC19 DNA remains unaltered when the heat-pulse step is replaced by the incubation of the DNA-adsorbed competent cells with 10 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) for 90s at 0 degrees C. Since the CCCP, a well-known protonophore, reduces membrane potential by dissipating the proton-motive-force (PMF) across E. coli plasma membrane, our experimental results suggest that the heat-pulse step of the standard transformation procedure facilitates DNA entry into the cells by lowering the membrane potential.     

Advances in Pollen Mediated Genetic Transformation

植物遗传转化技术是植物科学基础理论与应用研究的有力武器,已成为植物遗传改良的重要途径之一。但是、目前遗传转化所采用的受体系统,大都需要体外培养和植株再生过程,才能获得转基因植株。其中、基因型限制和遗传变异是该技术不可逾越的两大障碍。花粉管通道法可省去转化体的离体培养,不过、多数植物受花器结构的限制而难以经花柱注射ＤＮＡ,只能向子房注射,并不是真正的“花粉管通道”。又由于此法外源基因的导入发生在授粉之后,因此该方法亦不属于花粉遗传转化。利用小孢子胚胎发生体系进行遗传转化与利用花粉作为外源ＤＮＡ的媒介,继而、通过授粉受精获得转基因种子,是目前花粉遗传转化的两个重要方面和活跃的研究方向。前者仍需要离体再生系统,后者则可以利用植物自身的再生机制,本文称之为花粉介导法（ｐｏｌｅｎ－ｍｅｄｉａｔｅｄｔｒａｎｓｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ）。该方法通过自然的胚胎发育过程获得转基因子代,避免了组织培养过程中的遗传变异和转基因植株的嵌合现象。可望成为简便快速的植物遗传转化体系。目前对花粉介导的遗传转化进行专门评述的文献较少,本文对该领域的研究分三个层次进行了综述。一、外源基因转化方法小孢子或由小孢子形成的胚状体是很有潜力的遗传转化受体     

Sizes of G1 and G2 populations in starved Tetrahymena

Feulgen cytophotometry and autoradiography were used to study DNA content and DNA synthesis in starved and starved-refed Tetrahymena pyriformis GL-C. It was found that (1) the cell population shows a limited increase in cell number during starvation and this increase is restricted to the first 7 h of starvation; (2) at the end of starvation, there is a portion of the cell population whose DNA content is similar to that for standard G2 cells; (3) a significant portion of the dividing cells at the first division following refeeding in the presence of [³H]TdR are unlabeled; (4) these unlabeled cells are among the first to divide and, upon division, generally enter into a cell cycle either lacking a G1 phase or with a shortened G1 phase.     

Suppressor mutations (rin) that specifically suppress the recA+ dependence of stable DNA replication in Escherichia coli K-12

Summary The sdrA102 mutation confers upon cells the ability to replicate DNA in the absence of protein synthesis. This mutation was combined with the recA200 mutation, which renders the recA protein thermolabile, and had little effect on normal replication. However, the sdrA102 recA200 double mutant exhibited temperature-sensitive stable DNA replication: it replicated DNA continuously in the presence of chloramphenicol at 30°C, whereas at 42°C DNA replication ceased after the DNA content increased only 40–45%. Suppressor mutants (rin; recA-independent) capable of stable DNA replication at 42°C were isolated from the double mutant. The suppressor mutant retained all other recA ^– characteristics, i.e., deficient general recombination, severe UV-sensitivity, and incapability of prophage induction in lysogens. This indicates that the rin mutation specifically suppresses the recA ⁺ dependency of stable DNA replication. It is suggested that the recA ⁺ protein stabilizes a specific structure, similar to an intermediate in recombination, which may function in the initiation of stable DNA replication.     

A competence specific inducible protein promotes in vivo recombination in Streptococcus sanguis

Summary We describe the first example of a recombination-specific protein induced during the development of competence for transformation in Streptococcus sanguis. Elaborated in response to stimulation by competence-protein, the 51,000 Molecular Weight (MW) polypeptide is one of at least 10 new polypeptides transiently induced during the competence phase. Biochemical and genetic analyses of the parental, cipA⁺ (competence specific inducible polypeptide A), and mutant, cipA, strains have shown that the 51,000 MW polypeptide has two roles: its low level constitutive synthesis is required for repair of damage to DNA due to UV light and methylmethane sulfonate; its induced synthesis (3–6x10⁴ copies/cell) during the competence phase is essential for promoting recombination between donor single-stranded DNA and the recipient chromosome. Also, ccc plasmid donor DNA transformation, which occurs as a decreasing probability of the increasing donor plasmid MW, requires the inducible function specified by the 51,000 MW polypeptide. The MW independent low level transformation with ccc plasmids, the inheritance of plasmids by conjugation, and the stable maintenance of plasmids introduced by transformation and conjugation, respectively, are independent of the function specified by the 51,000 MW polypeptide.     

Electroporation of cells

By measuring uptake of the membrane impermeable dye. phenosafranine, it can be shown that the plasma membrane of intact cells within cell aggregates can be reversibly permeabilized by electroporation. However, the plant cell wall is a barrier to DNA uptake by intact cells, although under certain circumstances expression of DNA, electroporated into intact cells, can be demonstrated. The level of expression is about 20–50 times lower than that obtained by electroporation of protoplasts, and depends on cell wall properties and pretreatments of cell aggregates. In contrast, efficient transformation of whole cells of bacteria and yeasts can be achieved by electroporation. Factors which influence DNA transfer into whole plant cells and the possibility of stable transformation are discussed.     

Insertional mutagenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus

We have investigated transformation with heterologous DNA as a method for insertional mutagenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus. Two methods, polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation of protoplasts and electroporation of germinating spores, were used to establish conditions leading to single-copy integration of transforming DNA at different genomic sites. We have assessed the effect of restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) for both methods. Non-REMI protoplast transformation led to integration of multiple copies of transforming DNA in the majority of transformants. Results of REMI with protoplast transformation varied depending on the enzyme used. Low concentrations of several restriction enzymes stimulated transformation, but of ten enzymes investigated only REMI with XhoI and KpnI resulted in single-copy integration of transforming DNA for the majority of transformants. For protoplast transformation with XhoI- or KpnI-based REMI, 50% and 76% of insertions, respectively, were due to integrations at a genomic enzyme site corresponding to the enzyme used for REMI. Electroporation of spores without addition of restriction enzyme resulted in a high transformation efficiency, with up to 67% of transformants containing a single copy of transforming DNA. In contrast to protoplast transformation, electroporation of spores in the presence of a restriction enzyme did not improve transformation efficiency or lead to insertion at genomic restriction sites. Southern analysis indicated that for both protoplast transformation with REMI using KpnI or XhoI and for electroporation of spores without addition of restriction enzymes, transforming DNA inserted at different genomic sites in a high proportion of transformants. Received: 6 March 1998 / Accepted: 25 May 1998     

Control of membrane protein synthesis in bacillus subtilis

In synchronous cultures of Bacillus subtilis 168/S grown on succinate as a sole carbon source (mean generation time 115 min), chromosome initiation occurs at the beginning of the cell cycle but the rate of membrane protein synthesis doubles in mid-cycle more or less coincident with nuclear segregation. In glucose-grown cultures, the doubling in rate of membrane protein synthesis occurs at about the same time as nuclear segregation and DNA initiation at the beginning of the cycle. Control of the rate of membrane synthesis by the chromosome has been demonstrated by inhibiting DNA synthesis using thymine starvation and showing that membrane protein synthesis continues at a constant rate, whereas the rate of cytoplasmic protein synthesis almost doubles.I suggest that the replication of a region at or close to the chromosome terminus is required to allow the doubling in rate of membrane synthesis.     

Fate of plasmid DNA in transformation of Bacillus subtilis protoplasts

Summary Polyethylene glycol-treated protoplasts of B. subtilis can be transformed by plasmid DNA at very high frequencies (Chang and Cohen 1979). From analysis of plasmid mediated transformation of transformation-deficient mutants it appeared that mutants, reduced in the transformation by plasmid DNA in the competent state, were plasmid transformation-proficient when transformed as protoplasts. By means of CsCl-gradient centrifugation of re-extracted plasmid DNA it could be demonstrated that plasmid DNA enters the protoplasts in the double-stranded form. In addition, sucrose gradient centrifugation of the re-extracted plasmid DNA showed that the entered DNA is predominantly present as covalently closed circular DNA. The efficiency of plasmid transformation in protoplasts was found to be close to one (each plasmid molecule having entered into the protoplasts gives rise to a transformed cell). This is in good agreement with the observation that little, if any, damage is done to this DNA during or after entry into protoplasts.     

Inhibition of initiation of mini-F plasmid replication in temperature-sensitive mafA mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

When temperature-sensitive mafA mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 carrying mini-F plasmid (pSC138) are transferred from 30 to 42 °C, plasmid DNA replication as determined by incorporation of [³H]thymidine into covalently closed circular (CCC) mini-F DNA or by DNA-DNA hybridization is inhibited markedly within 10 min. The results of extensive pulse-chase experiments suggest that the initiation rather than the chain elongation step of plasmid replication is affected under these conditions. The replication inhibition in the mutant is accompanied by appearance of a class of plasmid DNA with a buoyant density higher than that of CCC DNA observed in the wild type, and is followed by gradual inhibition of host cell growth. The inhibition of plasmid replication is reversible at least for 60 min under the conditions used, and the recovery at low temperature (30 °C) depends on the synthesis of untranslated RNA. These results taken together with other evidence suggest that the mafA mutations primarily affect the initial step(s) of F DNA replication, presumably at or before the synthesis of untranslated RNA.