小鼠PC-1蛋白兔多克隆抗体的制备及初步应用

目的:获得小鼠PC1蛋白的兔多克隆抗体,检测其在小鼠器官中的表达谱。方法:以纯化后的小鼠PC1蛋白及其N端45个氨基酸与GST的融合蛋白(GSTMPC1、GSTMPC145)为抗原,制备了它们的兔多克隆抗体。进一步应用饱和硫酸铵沉淀法、DEAE52和ProteinA亲和层析法对这两个抗体进行了纯化,Westernblot检测了PC1蛋白在昆明白小鼠七个组织中的表达情况。结果:两个兔多克隆血清的效价分别为1∶20000和1∶200000,并能与人工合成的人PC1蛋白N端的46个氨基酸发生良好的交叉反应。PC1蛋白在结肠中有表达,在肾中有微弱表达,而在心、肺、肝、胃、脾中没有表达。结论:获得小鼠PC1蛋白的兔多克隆抗体,PC1蛋白在结肠中有表达,在肾中有微弱表达,而在心、肺、肝、胃、脾中没有表达 。     

人CNTF突变体(CNTFM)基因的克隆、表达和产物纯化及活性鉴定

采用PCR的方法对睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)基因进行改造,获得CNTF突变体基因(CNTFM) ,将CNTFM基因克隆入表达载体pBV2 2 0 ,在大肠杆菌BL 2 1(Gold)中进行了表达.目的蛋白占细胞总蛋白5 5 %左右,以包涵体形式存在,经Superdex 75凝胶过滤柱一步纯化和复性,获得纯度达90 %目的蛋白.纯化的重组CNTFM蛋白能促进培养的鸡胚背根神经节长出神经突起,能明显减轻实验小鼠的体重,表明CNTFM具有良好的体内、体外生物学活性,为开发新型高效的减肥药奠定了基础.     

鲫Nub1基因的克隆及特征分析

Nub1(NEDD8 Ultimate Buster-1)是近年来发现的一种干扰素诱导表达基因,过量表达该基因能抑制细胞生长。研究通过RACE-PCR方法从产生干扰素的鲫囊胚培养细胞(Carassius auratus blastulae embryonic cells,CAB)中克隆出鲫Nub1基因。鲫Nub1全长cDNA为2298bp,编码一个由589个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白。推导的鲫NUB1蛋白具有哺乳类同源蛋白保守的结构域,包括N端的UBL结构域和C端两个UBA结构域,与已知的哺乳类包括人和小鼠、鸟类和两栖类的同源蛋白具有41%-45%的相似性。诱导表达分析显示PolyI:C和LPS均能诱导CAB细胞Nub1mRNA的上调,表明Nub1基因在鱼类的抗病免疫反应中发挥某种重要作用。       

非天然氨基酸突变的小鼠RANKL蛋白原核表达及抗血清制备

目的:研究非天然氨基酸突变的小鼠RANKL(m RANKL)蛋白的原核表达,并以表达的蛋白制备抗m RANKL蛋白的抗血清。方法:从小鼠的骨髓中提取总RNA,经PCR扩增m RANKL的胞外段,逆转录合成目的 DNA片段。将目的基因中编码第234位酪氨酸的密码子(TAT)突变成可编码非天然氨基酸p-硝基苯丙氨酸(p NO2Phe)的琥珀密码子(TAG),构建p ET28a-p NO2Phe234m RANKL重组表达载体,与p EVOL质粒共转化至表达菌E.coli BL-21(DE3),诱导表达并纯化。以纯化的蛋白免疫小鼠,制备小鼠抗m RANKL抗血清。采用ELISA测定抗血清效价,用Western Blot测定其特异性。结果:RT-PCR扩增出750bp的RANKL基因,并成功构建了p ET28a-p NO2Phe234m RANKL重组表达载体;p-硝基苯丙氨酸突变的m RANKL蛋白获得成功表达和纯化;以纯化的蛋白免疫小鼠,获得抗m RANKL抗血清,ELISA检测效价为1:6400,Western Blot结果显示该抗血清既可与p-硝基苯丙氨酸突变的m RANKL结合,也可与野生型m RANKL结合。结论:原核表达并纯化了p-硝基苯丙氨酸突变的m RANKL,制备了小鼠抗m RANKL的抗血清,为进一步研究阻断RANKL-RANK通路的新方法奠定了基础。     

人骨形成蛋白-2C端102肽的诱骨活性

为分析更短的Hbmp-2C端肽是否具有诱骨活性 ,寻求新型的有诱骨活性的基因工程Hbmp-2产品。利用温度诱导的大肠杆菌表达系统表达肽段长度为102个氨基酸的Hbmp-2C端肽及其Cys的突变体。表达产物经纯化复性后 ,植入小鼠肌袋模型中测试其诱骨活性。获得了能稳定表达Hbmp 2C端肽的工程菌 ,测序结果与预期的序列完全一致。表达产物以包涵体形式存在 ,表达量占细胞总蛋白的 3 0 %。产物经纯化复性后 ,小鼠肌袋模型测试结果表明 :Hbmp 2 10 2肽仍具有诱骨活性 ,而将C端第一位Cys突变的 10 2肽诱骨活性丧失。实验表明 :比Hbmp 2成熟肽 ( 114个氨基酸 )更短的C端 10 2肽仍具有良好诱骨活性 ,这 10 2肽N端第一个Cys对其诱骨活性可能是必需的。     

重组人睫状神经营养因子衍生物的构建、表达和活性分析

采用PCR定点突变技术对睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)基因进行改造,获得了CNTF衍生物(CNTF-D)基因序列分析证明其核苷酸序列符合设计要求,并在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达,CNTF-D表达量超过40%,复性后,经Q-Sepharose HP纯化,其纯度超过95%,体内法测定发现能明显降低实验小鼠的体重。表明CNTF-D在体内具有良好的生物学活性,为下游开发奠定了基础。     

大肠杆菌中高效表达rhBMP-4的探讨及初步活性测定

目的 在大肠杆菌中表达具有生物活性的rhBMP-4。方法 在不改变氨基酸序列的前提下,以全基因合成的方式对人BMP-4成熟肽基因全长进行定点突变,将之重组入pET-3c表达载体并转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE)plysS。IPTG诱导和包涵体复性后,利用C2C12细胞横向成骨细胞分化实验以及小鼠肌袋异位骨形成实验检测其活性。 结果 获得0.348 kb的BMP-4 DNA序列,表达的目的蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在。经纯化及复性后,体内与体外的活性检测表明rhBMP-4有良好的诱骨生成活性。结论 该方案能够实现rhBMP-4在大肠杆菌中的高效表达。     

人组织性纤溶酶原激活物衍生物在大肠杆菌硫氧化还原蛋白融合表达系统中的表达

目的:克隆含tPA中355个氨基酸密码子(1-3和176-527氨基酸)的cDNA序列(tPA355),将其在大肠杆菌融合蛋白表达系统中表达,并在体外复性使其具有激活纤溶酶原的生物活性。方法:采用RT-PCR技术从人黑色素瘤细胞Bowes中克隆出tPA355cDNA,然后在pET32a(+)BL21(DE3)大肠杆菌表达系统中表达,将表达出的融合蛋白Trx-tPA355(Thioredoxin,Trx)包涵体在体外进行变性、复性和纯化以使其具有激活纤溶酶原的生物活性。结果:测序结果表明本研究克隆的编码tPA中355个氨基酸密码子的cDNA序列与美国专利(公开号:5,587,159)中对应的序列完全一致,将其在pET32a(+)/BL21(DE3)大肠杆菌表达系统中表达可获得稳定表达的融合蛋白Trx-tPA355包涵体,该包涵体占菌体总蛋白的30%左右,此融合蛋白经变性、复性后具有激活纤溶酶原的生物活性。结论:含tPA中355个氨基酸密码子(1-3和176-527氨基酸)的cDNA在大肠杆菌Trx融合蛋白表达系统中可获得稳定表达,表达的融合蛋白产物在体外经变性、复性后具有激活纤溶酶原的生物活性。     

八肋游仆虫eRF3 C端的76个氨基酸对于释放因子eRF1a的结合不是必需的

以八肋游仆虫第二类肽链释放因子eRF3基因为模板,用PCR的方法获得eRF3的C端(eRF3C)和C端缺失76个氨基酸的突变体eRF3Ct片段,并构建重组表达质粒pGEX-6p-1-eRF3C和pGEX-6p-1-eRF3Ct,转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中获得了可溶性表达。通过Glutathione Sepharose 4B柱亲和层析纯化,重组蛋白GST-eRF3C和GST-eRF3Ct获得纯化。Western blotting分析表明获得的蛋白为目的蛋白。PreScission酶切割后得到eRF3C和eRF3Ct蛋白。体外pull down分析显示eRF3C和eRF3Ct均能与八肋游仆虫第一类释放因子eRF1a相互作用,这表明八肋游仆虫eRF3 C端的76个氨基酸对于释放因子eRF1a的结合不是必需的。     

大麦黄矮病毒运动蛋白核定位信号对PVX病毒运动的影响

应用马铃薯X病毒(PVX)载体研究大麦黄矮病毒运动蛋白(BYDV-MP)核定位信号对PVX病毒运动的影响。我们将BYDV-MP克隆到PVX改造载体pGR107中,同时用GFP作为指示蛋白,研究BYDV-MP对异源病毒PVX系统运动的影响。侵染烟草发现BYDV-MP能够在PVX载体中表达并能加强病毒的系统侵染;将PVX编码系统运动蛋白25kD基因进行缺失突变,重复上述试验发现BYDV-MP能够补偿PVX系统运动;将BYDV-MP的N端的第五、六位氨基酸和第七位氨基酸进行替换突变,侵染烟草发现BYDV-MP的N端的第五、六位氨基酸突变不能完全抑制PVX系统运动,但是可以延迟并减弱PVX系统运动;BYDV-MP的N端的第七位氨基酸突变能够完全抑制PVX系统运动。     

人睫状神经营养因子突变体基因克隆及高效表达

为了提高人睫状神经营养因子（ＣＮＴＦ）的生物学活性,用ＰＣＲ方法获取Ｎ端缺失１４个氨基酸的ＣＮＴＦ基因片段,经酶切鉴定、核酸测序证实突变体的核苷酸序列,将其重组至表达质粒ｐＢＶ２２０,构建了ＣＮＴＦ突变体表达载体ｐＢＶ－ＣＮＴＦΔ．用ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测定其表达水平,鸡胚背根节无血清培养法检测表达蛋白的生物学活性．结果表明,ｐＢＶ－ＣＮＴＦΔ能表达生物学活性高于天然ＣＮＴＦ的约２６ｋＤ蛋白质,表达水平达３０％．为今后通过基因工程方法获得ＣＮＴＦ突变体,从而制备高效的ＣＮＴＦ制剂创造了条件．     

The SKHR motif is required for biological function of the VirR response regulator from Clostridium perfringens

The response regulator VirR and its cognate sensor histidine kinase, VirS, are responsible for toxin gene regulation in the human pathogen Clostridium perfringens. The C-terminal domain of VirR (VirRc) contains the functional FxRxHrS motif, which is involved in DNA binding and is conserved in many regulatory proteins. VirRc was cloned, purified, and shown by in vivo and in vitro studies to comprise an independent DNA binding domain. Random and site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify further amino acids that were required for the functional integrity of the protein. Random mutagenesis identified a unique residue, Met-172, that was required for biological function. Site-directed mutagenesis of the SKHR motif (amino acids 216 to 219) revealed that these residues were also required for biological activity. Analysis of the mutated proteins indicated that they were unable to bind to the DNA target with the same efficiency as the wild-type protein.     

Deletion of C-terminal 12 amino acids of GLUT1 protein does not abolish the transport activity.

We engineered the GLUT1 cDNA to delete C-terminal 12 amino acids of encoded GLUT1 protein. This mutated GLUT1 protein expressed in CHO cells by transfection of its cDNA was demonstrated to reside on the plasma membrane by cell surface labeling technique, and retain the transport activity, similar to that of the wild-type GLUT1. In addition, metabolic labeling of the intact cells with 35S indicated that the half-life of the mutated GLUT1 was not significantly different from that of the wild-type GLUT1. These results suggest that C-terminal 12 amino acids of GLUT1 are not important for the transport activity and the stability of the protein. Taken together with our previous results on the mutant without C-terminal 37 amino acids, the amino acids between the 37th and the 13th from the C-terminus appear to be essential for the transport activity.     

Epitope insertion into the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase protein and detection of the mutant protein by an anti-peptide antibody

The translational stop codon TAA of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) cDNA has been changed to GAA by site-specific mutagenesis. This modification extends the open reading frame to a downstream stop codon and results in the addition of a unique negatively charged hexapeptide to the C terminus of human HPRT protein. The mutated cDNA was transferred into HPRT-deficient rodent cells by retroviral vector infection, and the expressed enzyme was found to be fully active. An antibody against a synthetic octapeptide corresponding to the mutated HPRT C terminus precipitated the HPRT protein specifically from cells infected with the mutant virus and not infected with the wild-type HPRT virus. The technique of inserting a novel epitope into a protein by site-directed mutagenesis should be generally applicable in studies of the regulation of gene expression in vitro and in vivo.     

Human interferon gamma: significance of the C-terminal flexible domain for its biological activity

The significance of the C-terminal part of human interferon gamma (hIFNgamma) for its biological activity was studied by 3(')-end gene mutagenesis. A series of nine derivative genes obtained by systemic deletion of three codons was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli LE392. It was shown that the yield of recombinant protein gradually decreased and the solubility gradually increased with truncation of the C terminus. To avoid artifacts related to the imperfect folding of the proteins during purification, the biological activity of the hIFNgamma proteins was measured in clear cell lysates containing the soluble fractions only. The deletion of the C terminus had a two-step effect on both hIFNgamma antiviral and antiproliferative activities. Whereas the removal of the last 3, 6, and 9 C-terminal amino acids led to a gradual increase (up to 10 times) in biological activity of hIFNgamma, the deletion of more than 9 amino acids had an opposite effect. The truncation of the whole unstructured C-terminal domain resulted in a 10-fold decrease (but not in a complete loss) in biological activity of hIFNgamma. The latter was sequestered upon deletion of 24 amino acids, 3 of which belonged to the alpha-helical domain F.     

Recombinant Human and Rat Ciliary Neurotrophic Factors

The human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gene was identified and cloned, based on homology with the recently cloned rat cDNA. The gene encodes a protein of 200 amino acids, which shares about 80% sequence identity with rat and rabbit CNTF and, like these homologues, lacks an apparent secretion signal sequence. The human CNTF gene, like the rat gene, appears to contain a single intron separating two protein coding exons. An intronless human CNTF gene was constructed by the use of polymerase chain reactions and introduced into vectors designed for expression of foreign proteins in E. coli. The rat CNTF gene was also introduced into similar vectors. Both the human and rat proteins were expressed at exceptionally high levels, at 20-40% and 60-70% of total protein, respectively. Extraction of the recombinant proteins from inclusion bodies by guanidinium chloride, followed by two column chromatography steps, produced high yields of pure CNTF that supported survival and neurite outgrowth from embryonic chick ciliary neurons in culture. The biological activity of both recombinant proteins was comparable to that of native rat CNTF.     

Requirement of novel competence genes pilT and pilU of Pseudomonas stutzeri for natural transformation and suppression of pilT deficiency by a hexahistidine tag on the type IV pilus protein PilAI

The ubiquitous species Pseudomonas stutzeri has type IV pili, and these are essential for the natural transformation of the cells. An absolute transformation-deficient mutant obtained after transposon mutagenesis had an insertion in a gene which was termed pilT. The deduced amino acid sequence has identity with PilT of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (94%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (67%), and other gram-negative species and it contains a nucleotide-binding motif. The mutant was hyperpiliated but defective for further pilus-associated properties, such as twitching motility and plating of pilus-specific phage PO4. [(3)H]thymidine-labeled DNA was bound by the mutant but not taken up. Downstream of pilT a gene, termed pilU, coding for a putative protein with 88% amino acid identity with PilU of P. aeruginosa was identified. Insertional inactivation did not affect piliation, twitching motility, or PO4 infection but reduced transformation to about 10%. The defect was fully complemented by PilU of nontransformable P. aeruginosa. When the pilAI gene (coding for the type IV pilus prepilin) was manipulated to code for a protein in which the six C-terminal amino acids were replaced by six histidine residues and then expressed from a plasmid, it gave a nonpiliated and twitching motility-defective phenotype in pilAI::Gm(r) cells but allowed transformability. Moreover, the mutant allele suppressed the absolute transformation deficiency caused by the pilT mutation. Considering the hypothesized role of pilT(+) in pilus retraction and the presumed requirement of retraction for DNA uptake, it is proposed that the pilT-independent transformation is promoted by PilA mutant protein either as single molecules or as minimal pilin assembly structures in the periplasm which may resemble depolymerized pili and that these cause the outer membrane pores to open for DNA entry.     

Analysis of random and site-directed mutations in rhlI, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa gene encoding an acylhomoserine lactone synthase

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses two cell density-dependent genetic regulatory systems that control expression of a number of secreted virulence factors. These two systems, the lasI–lasR and rhlI–rhlR gene pairs, are members of the luxI–luxR family of quorum-sensing signal generators and signal receptors. The rhlI gene in P. aeruginosa encodes a 201-amino-acid protein that catalyses the synthesis of an autoinducer, butyrylhomoserine lactone. Through a programme of random and site-specific mutagenesis of rhlI we have gained a better understanding of how its protein product functions. Eight residues critical to butyrylhomoserine lactone synthesis by RhlI were identified by random mutagenesis, and all mapped to a conserved region that spans residues 24–104. Seven of the eight residues were charged amino acids and the other was a glycine. By using site-specific mutagenesis we showed that an active-site cysteine or serine was not required for butyrylhomoserine lactone synthesis, and that two conserved aromatic amino acids in the postulated active site region could be altered without complete loss of RhlI activity. Furthermore, two residues towards the C-terminus that align with critical residues in LuxI can be altered in RhlI without loss of activity. These studies suggest that as opposed to the current models for acyl substrate binding to quorum-sensing signal generators, charged amino acid residues participate directly in the catalysis of butyrylhomoserine lactone synthesis rather than cysteines, serines or hydrophobic amino acids.