携带不同数量增强子的嵌合型肝脏特异性启动子的构建及其体外实验研究

通过PCR手段成功获得肝细胞特异性启动子人α1-抗胰蛋白酶启动子hAATp(human α1-antitrypsin promoter,hAATp)及具有增强子功能的肝脏特异的肝调控区HCR (hepatic control region,HCR)。在此基础上,通过分子克隆手段构建获得携带有不同数量的HCR增强子的嵌合型肝脏特异性hAAT启动子,并在下游连入报告基因Luciferase,然后将重组质粒转染人肝癌细胞系HepG2、小鼠肝癌细胞系Hepa1-6、人胚肾细胞系HEK293和人脑星形胶质母细胞瘤细胞系U87-MG,通过检测Luciferase表达活性分析携带不同数量增强子的肝脏特异性启动子的启动活性及其组织特异性。结果表明,携带有3个增强子的嵌合型肝脏特异性启动子活性及特异性最好,为肝脏类疾病的靶向性治疗研究奠定了基础。     

PI3K/AKT信号通路调控Myogenin和MCK基因的表达

骨骼肌分化过程受多个信号通路调控, PI3K/AKT信号通路是其中最重要的信号转导通路之一。PI3K/AKT信号通路可以调控骨骼肌分化, 但在染色质水平上的调控机制还不是很清楚。文章以小鼠成肌细胞(C2C12)为研究材料, 采用免疫印迹、染色质免疫共沉淀(Chromatin immunoprecipitation, ChIP)、定量PCR (Q-PCR)的方法研究PI3K/AKT信号通路调控Myogenin和MCK基因的表达。研究发现, C2C12细胞分化过程中添加PI3K/AKT信号通路激活剂处理24 h, Myogenin和MCK蛋白表达水平显著升高, 组蛋白H3K27me3去甲基化酶UTX的表达也升高, H3K27me3在Myogenin基因启动子区和MCK基因启动子及增强子区的富集与对照组相比显著降低。用PI3K/AKT信号通路抑制剂处理, 结果相反。因此, PI3K/AKT信号通路可能通过调控组蛋白去甲基化酶UTX的表达活性改变靶基因的H3K27me3的富集进而调控骨骼肌分化。     

人凝血因子ⅨcDNA在C2C12成肌细胞及C3H小鼠中的高效表达

以小鼠C2C12成肌细胞为对象开展血友病B基因治疗研究.除已有的XLIX,LNCIX和GlNaCIX反转录病毒载体外,又首次将微小MCK(muscle creatinekinase)增强子顺序构建到hCMV(human cytomegalovirus)启动子上游,共同控制FIXcDAN的转录.用带有上述4种载体的病毒悬液分别感染C2C12细胞后,ELISA检测结果发现,FIX蛋白离体表达水平为:G1NaMCIX>GlNaCIX>LNCIX>XLIX.其中C2C12/G1NaMCIX混合克隆高达640ng/(10~6细胞·24h).C2C12/G1NaMCIX细胞注射C3H小鼠后肢骨骼肌肉组织,人FIX蛋白持续表达35d,其中最高表达峰达206ng/mL血浆.此结果对于研究FIX cDNA在脱细胞中的表达调控以及采用成肌细胞移植途径开展血友病B基因治疗研究有重要意义.     

染色质调节元件与不同启动子的相互作用对基因表达调控的影响

为探究DNA序列元件对不同启动子调节转基因稳定表达的影响,利用遍在染色质开放元件 (Ubiquitous chromatin opening elements,UCOE) 和基质黏附序列 (Scaffold/matrix-attachment regions,MAR) 分别与含增强子的oct4基因启动子、含CpG岛的sox2基因启动子和不含调控元件的nanog基因启动子以及同时包含增强子和CpG岛的CMV启动子组合构建pOCT4-MAR、pOCT4-UCOE、pSOX2-MAR、pSOX2-UCOE、pNANOG-MAR、pNANOG-UCOE、pCMV-UCOE、pCMV-MAR等质粒,分析这些质粒稳定转染后的表达量和嵌合表达差异。结果发现,UCOE与含增强子元件的oct4启动子组合能较稳定高效表达,而MAR与含CpG岛的sox2启动子组合能较稳定高效表达。利用排除位置效应原因的嵌合表达对染色质高级结构调控基因表达的稳定性分析表明：(1) 通常情况下UCOE比MAR调节的表达载体的表达更高效和更稳定;UCOE连接含CpG岛的启动子形成开放染色质调节的高表达更稳定;(2) MAR与启动子上TATA盒或增强子可能通过染色质环产生高表达,但相对不稳定。结论：染色质调节元件UCOE和MAR与启动子调控元件之间能通过染色质开放状态或染色质环调控基因稳定表达。     

CMV早期转录增强子对人癌胚抗原启动子效率的作用研究

为了探讨人巨细胞病毒(CMV)早期转录增强子用于癌胚抗原(CEA)阳性肿瘤的靶向基因治疗的意义,我们参考有关文献利用PCR法分别克隆了369 bp的人CEA启动子和531 bp的CMV早期转录增强子,构建了相应的pGL4.10荧光素酶报告基因载体,与内参照pGL4.74质粒共转染CEA阳性的人肠癌细胞LoVo、HT-29、SW620、肺癌细胞A549、乳腺癌细胞MCF7和CEA阴性的肠癌细胞SW480、宫颈癌细胞HeLa、人肺成纤维细胞LL47,利用双荧光素酶检测系统检测分析了这些细胞中CEA重组启动子的效率。结果表明,CMV增强子能够明显增强CEA启动子在CEA阳性细胞中的效率(提高7.46至70.16倍),但是也能提高CEA启动子在CEA阴性细胞中的效率(提高24.01至76.40倍)。因此上述CMV增强子虽然可以大大提高CEA启动子的效率,但是对特异性有影响,在将其用于CEA阳性肿瘤基因治疗时还需采用其它保证特异性的手段。     

肌肉LIM蛋白增强生肌素对AChRγ启动子的反式激活作用

采用RT PCR技术克隆了大鼠肌肉LIM蛋白 (MLP) 6 40bp的全长cDNA序列 .以此cDNA为探针进行的Northern印迹表明 ,MLP于C2C12细胞在分化的第 3d至第 5d表达 .将MLPcDNA亚克隆至pcDNA3,构建真核表达质粒pcDNA3 MLP ,同时构建AChRγ启动子序列 (96 0bp)调控的荧光素酶报告基因真核表达质粒pGL3 γ .C2C12细胞转染及荧光素酶活性分析表明 ,复合转染pcD NA3 MLP和pGL3 γ的分化肌细胞表达的荧光素酶活性约为对照的 4倍 ;而在 3T3或未分化肌细胞复合转染pcDNA3 MLP和pGL3 γ均未检出报告基因表达 ,说明MLP可促进生肌素对AChRγ亚基基因启动子的反式激活作用 .     

磷酸钙纳米介导自杀基因载体的构建及其应用研究

构建由CEA启动子、CMV增强子驱动的融合自杀基因PCDNA3.1(-)CVyCDglyTK表达载体和分别由CEA启动子和巨细胞病毒(CMV)增强子驱动的融合自杀基因PCDNA3.1(-)CEAyCDglyTK、PCDNA3.1(-)CMVyCDglyTK表达栽体.以磷酸钙纳米为载体分别转染CEA阳性的人结肠癌细胞株LOVO细胞和CEA阴性的HeLa细胞,Lovo细胞在感染以上3种质粒表达栽体后均有yCDglyTK mRNA表达,且对5-FC的敏感性明显增强:HeLa细胞在纳米PCDNA3.1(-)CMVyCDglyTK复合物感染后有yCDglyTK mRNA表达,对5-FC的敏感性增强,而在另外两种复合物感染后则没有yCDglyTK mRNA表达,5-Fc对其亦无杀伤作用,结果表明靶向性基因治疗栽体能使融合自杀基因在CEA阳性细胞中专一性表达,达到靶向治疗肿瘤的目的.     

肝特异性表达HCV5＇NCR调控荧光素酶质粒的构建及表达

小鼠白蛋白是肝组织特异性表达的蛋白,这种特异性是由白蛋白启动子所介导的.以2235A-1质粒为模板,通过PCR扩增获得小鼠白蛋白启动子/增强子基因片段,用小鼠白蛋白启动子/增强子基因片段取代pHCV-neo4质粒(含HCV5＇NCR调控荧光素酶基因)的CMV启动子,构建了一种白蛋白启动子启动转录的HCV5＇NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒(pA1b-HCV).该质粒能在小鼠肝癌细胞中表达且较小鼠其它癌细胞中表达水平明显增高,表明成功地构建了肝特异性表达的HCv5＇NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒.该研究为建立肝特异性表达的HCV5＇NCR转基因小鼠模型奠定了基础,对评价HCV特异性反义药物及肝靶向性运载系统的作用具有重要的实际意义.     

肝特异性表达HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶质粒的构建及表达

小鼠白蛋白是肝组织特异性表达的蛋白 ,这种特异性是由白蛋白启动子所介导的 .以2 2 35A- 1质粒为模板 ,通过 PCR扩增获得小鼠白蛋白启动子 /增强子基因片段 ,用小鼠白蛋白启动子 /增强子基因片段取代 p HCV- neo4质粒 (含 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶基因 )的 CMV启动子 ,构建了一种白蛋白启动子启动转录的 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒 (p A1 b- HCV) .该质粒能在小鼠肝癌细胞中表达且较小鼠其它癌细胞中表达水平明显增高 ,表明成功地构建了肝特异性表达的 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒 .该研究为建立肝特异性表达的 HCV5′NCR转基因小鼠模型奠定了基础 ,对评价 HCV特异性反义药物及肝靶向性运载系统的作用具有重要的实际意义     

肝特异性表达HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶质粒的构建及表达

小鼠白蛋白是肝组织特异性表达的蛋白 ,这种特异性是由白蛋白启动子所介导的 .以2 2 35A- 1质粒为模板 ,通过 PCR扩增获得小鼠白蛋白启动子 /增强子基因片段 ,用小鼠白蛋白启动子 /增强子基因片段取代 p HCV- neo4质粒 (含 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶基因 )的 CMV启动子 ,构建了一种白蛋白启动子启动转录的 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒 (p A1 b- HCV) .该质粒能在小鼠肝癌细胞中表达且较小鼠其它癌细胞中表达水平明显增高 ,表明成功地构建了肝特异性表达的 HCV5′NCR调控荧光素酶表达质粒 .该研究为建立肝特异性表达的 HCV5′NCR转基因小鼠模型奠定了基础 ,对评价 HCV特异性反义药物及肝靶向性运载系统的作用具有重要的实际意义     

Synergistic up-regulation of muscle LIM protein expression in C2C12 and NIH3T3 cells by myogenin and MEF2C

Although the role of muscle LIM protein (MLP, also known as CRP3), a LIM-only protein of LIM domain-containing protein family, is well-characterized, the mechanism by which the MLP gene expresses remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that myogenin and myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) cooperate in activating the MLP gene in myogenesis. RT-PCR, real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that overexpression of myogenin or myogenin plus MEF2C led to induction of the MLP gene in differentiating C2C12 and NIH3T3 fibroblasts. By contrary, knocking-down of myogenin by RNA interference (RNAi) suppressed MLP expression in differentiating C2C12. Deletion and reporter enzyme assay revealed that the promoter activity was determined largely by the region extending from −260 to −173, which containing three E-box (CANNTG motif) candidates. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the E-box at position −186 to −180 was crucial for activating the promoter by myogenin. Furthermore, MEF2C could enhance myogenin-mediated activation of the promoter. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and re-ChIP showed that myogenin and MEF2C were associated with the activated MLP promoter. Together, these results suggest that myogenin and MEF2C cooperate in the MLP gene activation. The linking of the MLP gene activation with myogenin and MEF2C may facilitate myogenin-mediated differentiation of striated muscle.     

High expression of human clotting factor IX cDNA in myoblasts C2C12 cells and C3H mice

Mouse myoblast C2C12 cell was used as target cell for gene transfer study of human clotting factor IX (hFIX) cDNA. In addition to the previously constructed retroviral vectors XLIX, LNCIX and GINaCIX, GlNaMCIX with hFIX driven by muscle creatine kinase (MCK) enhancer and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was constructed, based on the retroviral vector GINa. These four retroviral vectors were used to transduce mouse my-oblasts C2C12. With ELISA assays, it has been found that the expression levels of human clotting factor IX detected in those transduced C2C12 cells are GlNaMCIX>GlNaCIX> LNCIX>XLIX. Mixed colonal cells transduced with GlNaMCIX expressed hFIX protein at the level of 640 ng/106 cell every 24 h. The modified C2C12 cells transduced with GlNaMCIX were implanted into skeletal muscle of the hindlegs of C3H mice; a stable expression of hFIX was detected and lasted for 35 d, with a maximum level of 206 ng/mL plasma. The regulation of hFIX cDNA expression in myoblasts was discussed and it was strongly sug     

Improved neuronal transgene expression from an AAV-2 vector with a hybrid CMV enhancer/PDGF-beta promoter

BACKGROUND: Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) vectors are highly promising tools for gene therapy of neurological disorders. After accommodating a cellular promoter, AAV-2 vectors are able to drive sustained expression of transgene in the brain. This study aimed to develop AAV-2 vectors that also facilitate a high level of neuronal expression by enhancing the strength of a neuron-specific promoter, the human platelet-derived growth factor beta-chain (PDGF) promoter. METHODS AND RESULTS: A hybrid promoter approach was adopted to fuse the enhancer of human cytomegalovirus immediately early (CMV) promoter to the PDGF promoter. In cultured cortex neurons, AAV-2 vectors containing the hybrid promoter augmented transgene expression up to 20-fold over that mediated by titer-matched AAV-2 vectors with the PDGF promoter alone and 4-fold over the CMV enhancer/promoter. Injection of AAV-2 vectors with the hybrid promoter into the rat striatum resulted in neuron-specific transgene expression, the level of which was about 10-fold higher than those provided by the two control AAV-2 expression cassettes at 4 weeks post-injection and maintained for at least 12 weeks. Gene expression in the substantia nigra through possible retrograde transport of the AAV-2 vectors injected into the striatum was not obvious. After direct injection of AAV-2 vectors into the substantia nigra, transgene expression driven by the hybrid promoter was observed specifically in dopaminergic neurons and its level was about 3 and 17 times higher than that provided by the PDGF promoter alone and the CMV enhancer/promoter, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced transgene capacity plus neuron-specificity of the AAV-2 vectors developed in this study might prove valuable for gene therapy of Parkinson's disease.