腺相关病毒介导的RNA干扰抑制HeLa细胞中CTCF的表达

目的:利用RNA干扰(RNAi)稳定抑制HeLa细胞中CTCF的表达。方法:构建能够抑制转录因子CTCF表达的短发夹RNA(shRNA)的腺相关病毒载体,重组病毒感染HeLa细胞后挑取单克隆,用Western印迹法和实时荧光定量PCR检测CTCF的表达水平。结果:获得3株CTCF被显著抑制的HeLa细胞株,Western印迹法和实时荧光定量PCR结果均显示CTCF的表达水平被抑制,其中最明显的被下调76%。结论:shRNA病毒表达载体构建成功,HeLa细胞中CTCF的表达可被长期稳定地抑制。     

多功能转录因子CTCF结构域的转录活性研究

目的:CTCF是广泛存在于真核生物中的多功能转录因子。利用细胞瞬时表达实验在HeLa细胞系中研究CTCF各结构域的转录活性。方法:借用CheckMate哺乳动物双杂交系统的2个质粒pBIND和pG5LUC,将CTCF的N、M、C段及全长编码序列克隆至pBIND质粒的GAL4DNA结合结构域编码序列后的多克隆位点,将表达GAL4DNA结合结构域-CTCF融合蛋白的pBIND重组质粒与由腺病毒晚期主要启动子控制的报告基因质粒pG5LUC共转染HeLa细胞系,检测CTCF各结构域对报告基因表达水平的影响。结果:转染含CTCFN段的质粒可使报告基因的表达量增长至3.5倍以上;转染含CTCF其他片段的质粒对报告基因的表达没有明显的影响。结论:在HeLa细胞中,对启动子具有转录激活活性的主要是CTCF的N段,而M段和C段几乎没有转录激活活性。     

siRNA抑制c-myc基因的表达对宫颈癌细胞增殖的影响

目的:利用siRNA(small interference RNA)技术研究c-myc基因的对宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖的影响.方法:依据Promega公司在网上提供的设计软件,设计针对c-myc基因的siRNA,合成DNA模板,体外转录合成siRNA.通过阳离子聚合物jet-SITM-ENDO将合成的siRNA转染入HeLa细胞,以未转染细胞以及错义序列siRNA-scr转染细胞为对照.用细胞计数法检测siRNA对HeLa细胞增殖的影响.流式细胞法检测细胞周期及蛋白表达的变化,RT-PCR法比较转染前后c-myc mRNA表达水平的变化.结果:细胞计数法结果显示,转染24h后c-myc基因siRNA明显抑制MCF-7细胞增殖,转染48h后,抑制效率稳定.c-myc基因siRNA转染后能有效地抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,阻滞细胞周期于G0/G1期,siRNA转染组c-myc mRNA、蛋白的表达量明显低于空白对照组、错义序列组.结论:体外转录合成的siRNA可有效降低HeLa细胞c-myc基因的表达,抑制细胞增殖.     

CCCTC-结合因子的表达水平影响其在细胞内的分布

目的:研究CCCTC-结合因子(CTCF)的表达水平与其在HeLa和HepG2细胞内分布的关系。方法:利用小干扰RNA敲降CTCF的表达;利用免疫荧光染色检测CTCF在细胞内的分布。结果:在HeLa和HepG2细胞中下调CTCF的表达,检测到CTCF在细胞核内的分布比例减少,而在细胞质内的分布比例相应增加。结论:CTCF的表达水平会影响其在细胞内的分布。     

siRNA抑制c—myc基因的表达对宫颈癌细胞增殖的影响

目的：利用siRNA（small interference RNA）技术研究C-myc基因的对宫颈癌HeLa细胞增殖的影响。方法：依据Promega公司在网上提供的设计软件,设计针对C-myc基因的siRNA,合成DNA模板,体外转录合成siRNA。通过阳离子聚合物jet—SITM—ENDO将合成的siRNA转染入HeLa细胞,以未转染细胞以及错义序列siRNA—scr转染细胞为对照。用细胞计数法检测siRNA对HeLa细胞增殖的影响。流式细胞法检测细胞周期及蛋白表达的变化,RT—PCR法比较转染前后C-myc mRNA表达水平的变化。结果：细胞计数法结果显示,转染24h后c-myc基因siRNA明显抑制MCF-7细胞增殖,转染48h后,抑制效率稳定。c-myc基因siRNA转染后能有效地抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,阻滞细胞周期于G0／G1期,siRNA转染组c-myc mRNA、蛋白的表达量明显低于空白对照组、错义序列组。结论：体外转录合成的siRNA可有效降低HeLa细胞c-myc基因的表达,抑制细胞增殖。     

CCCTC结合因子在HeLa细胞中调控X染色体连锁的凋亡抑制蛋白的表达

目的:确定HeLa细胞的CCCTC结合因子(CTCF)表达水平是否与细胞的抗凋亡能力相关,并研究其具体分子机制。方法:用顺铂和阿糖胞苷分别诱导HeLa细胞和CTCF敲降的HeLa-CTCF-II-11细胞凋亡,比较两者的凋亡率;用基因表达芯片检测CTCF敲降后HeLa细胞的表达谱变化,寻找并验证受CTCF调控的与凋亡相关的蛋白。结果:用顺铂和阿糖胞苷诱导后,HeLa-CTCF-II-11细胞的凋亡率显著高于HeLa细胞;HeLa细胞的CTCF敲降后,X染色体连锁的凋亡抑制蛋白(XIAP)的表达显著下降。结论:CTCF敲降使HeLa细胞的抗凋亡能力下降,CTCF对XIAP基因的表达调控在这个过程中起了重要作用。     

人TANK结合激酶1的基因克隆、表达及生物活性鉴定

目的:克隆人TANK结合激酶1(TBK1)基因,构建其真核表达载体,检测该基因在293细胞中的表达,并利用萤光素酶报告基因实验检测其生物活性。方法:应用RT-PCR方法,以HeLa细胞RNA为模板,扩增获得TBK1基因,定向克隆到pcDNA3-Flag载体中,以LipofectAMINE2000转染试剂转染pcDNA-Flag-TBK1至293细胞中进行瞬时表达,并利用萤光素酶报告基因实验检测诱导β干扰素(IFN-β)转录的情况。结果:测序结果表明,从人HeLa细胞总RNA中克隆到正确的TBK1基因全长编码序列,利用Western印迹检测其在293细胞中获得有效表达,利用萤光素酶报告基因实验检测TBK1可以诱导IFN-β转录激活。结论:真核表达的人TBK1具有相应的生物学活性,为研究其功能奠定了基础。     

敲低CTCF腺病毒表达载体的构建及效果检测

目的:获得敲低效果较好的CCCTC结合因子(CTCF)的RNA干扰腺病毒载体,以便于研究其在肿瘤发生发展中的作用。方法:从已发表文献中获得CTCF敲低靶序列,合成2对含有小发卡结构的寡核苷酸序列,将其进行退火磷酸化后,分别克隆到腺病毒包装载体上;将重组质粒转染人胚肾293A细胞,收获腺病毒;将收获的腺病毒分别感染人胚肾HEK293细胞和靶细胞人肺腺癌细胞A549,通过RT-PCR和Western印迹鉴定相关基因的表达变化。结果与结论:RT-PCR和Western印迹鉴定显示构建的表达CTCF短发夹RNA(shRNA)的腺病毒载体能够有效抑制CTCF转录和蛋白水平,为后续CTCF的生物学功能和机制研究奠定了基础。     

PLK1基因沉默抑制HeLa细胞凋亡

以高表达Polo样激酶1（Polo-like kinase 1,PLK1）的宫颈癌细胞系HeLa细胞为模型,观察针对PLK1基因的短发夹状RNA（short hairpin RNA,shRNA）对其凋亡和增殖的影响.设计并合成了针对PLK1的shRNA,将其导入构建的携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）的RNAi（RNA interference）表达载体中.通过 RT-PCR和Western 印迹分别检测HeLa细胞PLK1基因和蛋白水平的表达,以流式细胞仪和PI-Hochest双染法测细胞凋亡,MTT法检测细胞的增殖水平.成功构建了携带EGFP的RNAi表达载体pEGFP-H1.转染shRNA后,HeLa细胞PLK1的表达降低至30%.与对照组和空载体转染组相比,shRNA转染组的HeLa细胞凋亡率明显增加,其增殖活性则明显降低.本课题构建的RNAi表达载体便于观察靶基因的转染情况,且不影响H1启动子的体内转录.PLK1的基因沉默能明显增加HeLa细胞的凋亡,抑制该细胞的增殖,有可能为未来肿瘤的治疗找到新的靶点和有效途径.     

转录因子CTCF的克隆、表达及其抗体制备

用RT-PCR方法从HeLa细胞总RNA中扩增转录因子CTCF的cDNA序列,克隆至pGEM-TEasy载体上。将CTCF蛋白N段的编码序列亚克隆至pET22b( )载体中,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,并用镍柱进行亲和纯化。用纯化后的CTCFN段蛋白免疫家兔,获得CTCF的多克隆抗体,进而用于细胞内CTCF蛋白的免疫印迹检测。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.