猪肥胖基因在大肠杆菌中的高效融合表达

采用PCR方法扩增猪肥胖基因编码原成熟蛋白cDNA序列,并在5′端加上BamHⅠ位点,3′端加上EoRⅠ位点,将5′端密码子CCC转变为大肠杆菌常见密码子CCG,扩增得到459bp的片段,克隆于融合表达载体p GEX-2TBamHⅠ和EcoRⅠ位点,酶切、测序正确,经0．1mmol/LIPTG诱导表达出一条约42kD的融合蛋白,其中26kD为pGEX-2T中带有的谷胱苷肽转移酶,16kD是猪肥胖基因表达产物瘦蛋白。利用非融合表达产品制备抗血清,检测融合表达的重组蛋白,Western-blot为阳性。     

真核生物细胞中的无义介导mRNA降解机制

真核生物细胞具有不同的机制用于监视转录本的准确性以保证翻译产物的完整性与正确性．无义介导mRNA降解(NMD)的作用对象主要是由于编码氨基酸的密码子突变为终止密码子,而使翻译提前终止的无义mRNA,其降解方式是直接进行5′端脱帽和5′→3′方向的水解。     

天花粉胰蛋白酶抑制剂基因的合成与克隆

天花粉胰蛋白酶抑制剂是从中药天花粉中分离出来的一种新的胰蛋白酶抑制剂,其结构最近被测定为含有三对二硫键的27肽,它也是目前发现的最小的多肽类蛋白酶抑制剂。本文报导了天花粉胰蛋白酶抑制剂基因的合成及克隆。设计的合成基因采用了大肠杆菌偏爱的密码子,全长为108个碱基对,它包括了起始密码子ATG,终止密码子TAG和两端的HindⅢ和BamH Ⅰ的识别顺序。整个基因的合成分为两步,首先用化学方法合成四个DNA片段(F1,38mer;F2,30mer;F3,30mer和F4A,46mer),再经连接酶连接成为两个3′端彼此互补的DNA片段(F1+F2,68mer和F3+F4,76mer),最后从两个互为引物的3′端用Klenow酶聚合补齐得到双链基因。同时,用在基因3′端有两个碱基改变的F4B代替F4A,使基因的终止密码子(TAG)变为甲硫氨酸密码子(ATG),并使基因的阅读框架与质粒pUC19中的LaeZ基因相一致,从而实现该基因与LaeZ基因的融合表达。合成基因经DNA序列分析证明其结构正确。     

真核mRNA的3′非翻译区转录后水平调控作用研究进展

真核生物mRNA的3′非翻译区(3′-UTR)在基因表达的转录后调控中起着重要作用:3′-UTR内存在末端加工信号以指导mRNA3′末端的加工;3′-UTR不但控制mRNA的稳定性及降解速率、协助辨认特殊密码子,而且还控制着mRNA的翻译时间、位点及控制其翻译起始及效率等。     

真核mRNA的3′非翻译区转录后水平调控作用研究进展

真核生物mRNA的3′非翻译区(3′_UTR)在基因表达的转录后调控中起着重要作用:3′_UTR内存在末端加工信号以指导mRNA3′末端的加工;3′_UTR不但控制mRNA的稳定性及降解速率、协助辨认特殊密码子,而且还控制着mRNA的翻译时间、位点及控制其翻译起始及效率等。     

古菌信使RNA 5′和3′非编码区特性研究

利用x^2分析方法,对6种古菌起始密码子上游和终止密码子下游各50位非编码区进行了分析。结果表明,Methanopyrus kandleri和Aeropyrum pernix中存在一个与大肠杆菌SD序列极为相似的高保守区（φ区）。但φ区的核苷酸并不能和其16S rRNA 3′端序列的反SD序列很好的配对;Pyrobaculum aerophilum缺乏φ区,但在其起始密码子上游20～30核苷酸处却存在另一个高度保守的区域,该区域在大肠杆菌和酵母中均缺乏;而其它3种古菌却同时存在这2个区域。6种古菌在终止密码子下游第一位的核苷酸非常保守,存在四核苷酸终止信号;在终止密码子后约20个核苷酸范围内保守性相对较高,其中某些核苷酸在翻译终止过程中可能发挥调控作用。     

棉花生长素应答因子克隆和序列分析

通过电子克隆和RACE相结合的方法,从陆地棉中克隆到一个新ARF基因。序列分析表明,该基因序列全长为2393其中包括87bp的5′非编码区(5′UTR),1941bp的蛋白质编码区,终止密码子TAA和362bp的3′非编码区。该基因可编码647个氨基酸的蛋白质,分子量为71.9kD,等电点(PI)为8.2。该基因含有一个与拟南芥中ARF基因相似的B3结构域和一个Auxin_resp结合位点,表明该基因与拟南芥ARF基因有很高的同源性,推测具有相似或相同的功能。     

第一类肽链释放因子C端结构域参与调控终止密码子的识别过程

真核生物蛋白质翻译终止过程中,第一类肽链释放因子（eukaryotic polypeptide release factor, eRF1）利用其N端结构域识别终止密码子。eRF1的N结构域中的GTS、NIKS和YxCxxxF模体对于终止密码子的识别发挥重要作用。但至目前为止,eRF1识别终止密码子的机制,尤其是对于终止密码子的选择性识别机制仍不清楚。我们构建了四膜虫（Tetrahymena thermophilia）eRF1的N端结构域与酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）或裂殖酵母（Schizosaccharomyces pombe）eRF1的M和C结构域组成的杂合eRF1,即Tt/Sc eRF1 和Tt/Sp eRF1。双荧光素酶检测结果证实,两种杂合eRF1在细胞中识别终止密码子的活性具有显著差异。Tt/Sc eRF1仅识别UGA密码子,与四膜虫eRF1一致,具有密码子识别特异性;而Tt/Sp eRF1可以识别3个终止密码子,无密码子识别特异性。为解释这一现象,将Sp eRF1的C结构域中的1个关键的小结构域中的氨基酸进行突变,与Sc eRF1相应位点的氨基酸一致。分析结果显示,突变体Tt/Sp eRF1识别密码子UAA和UAG的性质发生显著变化,说明第一类肽链释放因子的C端结构域参与了终止密码子的识别过程。这提示,四膜虫eRF1识别终止密码子的特异性可能依赖于eRF1分子内的结构域间相互作用。本研究结果为揭示肽链释放因子识别终止密码子的分子机制提供了数据支持。     

RT-PCR法扩增的人溶菌酶cDNA的克隆及其核苷酸顺序分析

本文以人胎盘全RNA为底物进行逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR),制备出了人溶菌酶的cDNA片段。在限制性内切酶Sma Ⅰ存在的连接体系内,将此cDNA克隆入载体pUC12的Sma Ⅰ位点。用重组质粒双链DNA的末端终止法测定了其全部的核苷酸顺序,证明其全长为444bp,编码了18个氨基酸的信号肽和130个氨基酸的成熟蛋白组成的溶菌酶的前体蛋白,并证明已成功地在此cDNA的3′末端导入了两个终止密码子及一个限制性内切酶Sal Ⅰ的识别位点。由中国人溶菌酶cDNA推导出的氨基酸顺序与有关报道不同,有5个氨基酸的改变。表达蛋白的研究工作正在进行中。     

大肠杆菌、酵母和果蝇基因保守位点的信息熵分析

对大量的大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli)、酵母（Yeast)和果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）已知基因起始密码子和终止密码子上、下游各30个碱基序列,用重新定义单碱基信息冗余（记为D1(ι）,ι是位点）和紧邻碱基的信息冗余（记为D2（ι）,统计计算每个位点的D1（ι）和D2（ι）值。从结果看,双碱基比单碱基携带更多的信息;酵母和果蝇基因起始密码子上游－3位点D1（－3）和D2（－3）有一明显峰值;大肠杆菌基因起始密码子上游SD区域D1（ι）和D2（ι）有明显峰值,与他人结论相同。发现酵母基因起始密码子下游的＋4位点与＋5位点的紧邻碱基的D2（ι）有一峰值,其关联模式为TC（联合概率为0.211)。这说明用重新定义的信息冗余去确认DNA序列中存在的保守位点是完全可行的。     

Role of B7 costimulatory molecules in the adjuvant activity of the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli

Much interest has been directed at understanding the adjuvant properties of the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LT). In this study, we have assessed how LT compared with the nonenzymatic mutant LT (E112K) affect the level of B7-1 and B7-2 expression on APCs, and we determined how these costimulatory molecules influence their adjuvant properties. Analysis of B7-1 and B7-2 expression on B cells revealed that LT enhanced B7-2 but not B7-1, while LT (E112K) had no effect on the expression of either costimulatory molecule. Treatment of macrophage or dendritic cells with LT resulted in a predominant enhancement of B7-2, while LT (E112K) induced mainly B7-1 expression. Analysis of LT- and LT (E112K)-treated B cells, macrophage, and dendritic cells also revealed significant differences in their ability to enhance anti-CD3-stimulated CD4(+) T cell proliferative responses via B7-1 and B7-2. Furthermore, the ability of LT to enhance both Ab and CD4(+) T cell responses to a coadministered Ag was severely abrogated in B7-2- but not B7-1-deficient mice. In contrast, the in vivo adjuvant properties of LT (E112K) appeared to be mediated by both B7-1 and B7-2 for optimal CD4(+) T cell responses, while B7-1 appeared to be the predominant B7 molecule involved in the ability of LT (E112K) to augment Ab responses to a coadministered Ag. These findings demonstrate distinct differences in the ability of LT and LT (E112K) to enhance B7-1 and B7-2 on APC, as well as a dependence upon these costimulatory molecules for their adjuvant properties.     

Expression,refolding, purification,molecular characterization,crystallization, and preliminary X-ray analysis of the receptor binding domain of human B7-2

The cell-mediated immune response involves a series of specific molecular interactions between cell surface molecules on T cells and antigen-presenting cells. Of particular importance for the regulation of T cell activity is the interaction of the B7 isoforms, B7-1 and B7-2, with the T cell surface costimulatory receptors, CD28 and CTLA-4. The binding of CD28 by B7-1/B7-2 results in an enhancement of T cell responses initiated by the interaction between a clonotypic T cell receptor and its specific, antigenic MHC-peptide complex, whereas the subsequent engagement of CTLA-4 by B7-1/B7-2 leads to a down-regulation of the response. Here we report the expression, refolding, purification, characterization, and crystallization of the receptor-binding domain of human B7-2. The receptor-binding domain of human B7-2 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies, solubilized in 6 M guanidine-hydrochloride, and then refolded in vitro by rapid dilution into a renaturing buffer. Refolded B7-2 was subsequently purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography. Gel-filtration chromatography and native PAGE analysis showed that the receptor-binding domain of B7-2 is exclusively monomeric in solution. Purified B7-2 binds tightly to bacterially expressed monomeric and disulfide-linked homodimeric human CTLA-4 as shown by gel-filtration chromatography and native PAGE. This suggests that glycosylation is not important for the proper folding of the receptor-binding domain of B7-2 nor for its binding to CTLA-4. In addition, these results suggest that refolded B7-2 is biologically active and may be a useful therapeutic and experimental reagent for regulating T cell activity. Refolded and purified B7-2 was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method, allowing for the initiation of an X-ray crystallographic study.     

B7-1 costimulatory molecule is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Following immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR), MHC class II-restricted, AChR-specific CD4 cell activation is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in C57BL/6 mice. To study the contributions of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules in EAMG, B7-1, B7-2, and B7-1/B7-2 gene knockout (KO) mice were immunized with Torpedo AChR in CFA. Compared with wild-type C57BL6 mice, B7-1 and B7-1/2 KO mice were resistant to EAMG development. B7-1 KO mice had reduced anti-AChR Ab compared with C57BL/6 mice. However, neither B7-1 nor B7-2 gene disruption impaired AChR-induced or dominant alpha(146-162) peptide-induced in vitro lymphoproliferative responses. Blocking of the B7-1 or B7-2 molecule by specific mAbs in vivo led to a reduction in the AChR-specific lymphocyte response, and the reduction was more pronounced in mice treated with anti-B7-2 Ab. The findings implicate B7-1 molecules as having a critical role in the induction of EAMG, and the resistance of B7-1 KO mice is associated with suppressed humoral, rather than suppressed AChR-specific, T cell responses. The data also point to B7-2 molecules as being the dominant costimulatory molecules required for AChR-induced lymphocyte proliferation.     

Paradoxical effect of reduced costimulation in T cell-mediated colitis

B7-1 and B7-2 play different roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, but this is controversial. We analyzed colitis induced by transfer of CD45RB(high)CD4(+) T cells to RAG(-/-) recipients lacking B7-1 and/or B7-2. Surprisingly, disease was greatly accelerated in RAG(-/-) recipients deficient for either B7-1 or B7-2, especially in the B7-2(-/-) recipients. This accelerated colitis induction correlated with increased T cell division in vivo and production of Th1 cytokines. Although colitis pathogenesis following T cell transfer was inhibited in the absence of CD40L expression, CD40-CD40L interactions were not required in the B7-2(-/-) RAG(-/-) recipients. In vitro priming by APCs lacking either B7-1 or B7-2 caused decreased IL-2 production, which led to decreased CTLA-4 expression, although T cells primed in this way could respond vigorously upon restimulation by producing increased IL-2 and proinflammatory cytokines. Consistent with this mechanism, we demonstrate that blocking IL-2 early after T cell transfer accelerated colitis. Our data therefore outline a mechanism whereby synergistic costimulation by B7-1 and B7-2 molecules during priming is required for optimal IL-2 production. The consequent inhibitory effect of full CTLA-4 expression, induced by IL-2, may slow colitis, even in the absence of regulatory T cells.     

The resolution of relapsing fever borreliosis requires IgM and is concurrent with expansion of B1b lymphocytes

The rate of pathogen clearance is a critical determinant of morbidity and mortality. We sought to characterize the immune response responsible for the remarkably rapid clearance of individual episodes of bacteremia caused by the relapsing fever bacterium, Borrelia hermsii. SCID or Rag(-/-) mice were incapable of resolving B. hermsii infection, indicating a critical role for T and/or B cells. TCR(-/-) mice, which lack T cells, and IL-7(-/-) mice, which are deficient in both T cells and follicular B cells, but not in B1 cells and splenic marginal zone (MZ) B cells, efficiently cleared B. hermsii. These findings suggested that B1 cells and/or MZ B cells, two B cell subsets that are known to participate in rapid, T-independent responses, might be involved. The efficient resolution of the episodes of moderate level bacteremia by splenectomized mice suggested that MZ B cells do not play the primary role in clearance of this bacterium. In contrast, xid mice, which are deficient in B1 cells, suffered more severe episodes of bacteremia than wild-type mice. The hypothesis that B1 cells are critical for clearance of B. hermsii was further supported by a selective expansion of the B1b (i.e., IgM(high), IgD(-/low), Mac1(+) CD23(-), and CD5(-)) cell subset in infected xid mice, which coincided with the eventual resolution of infection. Finally, mice selectively incapable of secreting IgM, the dominant isotype produced by B1 cells, were completely unable to clear B. hermsii. Together these results support the model that B1b cells generate the T-independent IgM required for the control and resolution of relapsing fever borreliosis.     

Combined effect of concentrations of algal food (Chlorella vulgaris) and salt (sodium chloride) on the population growth of Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus (Rotifera)

Salinity is an important variable influencing the density and diversity of rotifers. Studies on salt tolerance of rotifers have so far concentrated on euryhaline species while very little information is available on non-euryhaline taxa. In the present work, we have evaluated the combined effects of Chlorella vulgaris and sodium chloride on the population growth of two freshwater rotifers B. calyciflorus and B. patulus. A 24 hr acute tolerance test using NaCl revealed that B. calyciflorus was more resistant (LC50 = 3.75 +/- 0.04 g l-1) than B. patulus (2.14 +/- 0.09 g l-1). The maximal population density (mean +/- standard error) for B. calyciflorus in the control at 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1 (algal level) was 80 +/- 5 ind. ml-1, which was nearly a fifth of the one for B. patulus (397 +/- 7 ind. ml-1) under comparable conditions. Data on population growth revealed that regardless of salt concentration, the density of B. calyciflorus increased with increasing food levels, while for B. patulus, this trend was evident only in the controls. Regardless of salt concentration and algal food level, the day of maximal population density was lower (4 +/- 0.5 days) for B. calyciflorus than for B. patulus (11 +/- 1 day). The highest rates of population increase (r values) for B. calyciflorus and B. patulus were 0.429 +/- 0.012 and 0.367 +/- 0.004, respectively, recorded at 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1 of Chlorella in the controls. The protective role of algae in reducing the effect of salt stress was more evident in B. calyciflorus than B. patulus.     

CD28-independent costimulation of T cells in alloimmune responses.

T cell costimulation by B7 molecules plays an important role in the regulation of alloimmune responses. Although both B7-1 and B7-2 bind CD28 and CTLA-4 on T cells, the role of B7-1 and B7-2 signaling through CTLA-4 in regulating alloimmune responses is incompletely understood. To address this question, we transplanted CD28-deficient mice with fully allogeneic vascularized cardiac allografts and studied the effect of selective blockade of B7-1 or B7-2. These mice reject their grafts by a mechanism that involves both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Blockade of CTLA-4 or B7-1 significantly accelerated graft rejection. In contrast, B7-2 blockade significantly prolonged allograft survival and, unexpectedly, reversed the acceleration of graft rejection caused by CTLA-4 blockade. Furthermore, B7-2 blockade prolonged graft survival in recipients that were both CD28 and CTLA-4 deficient. Our data indicate that B7-1 is the dominant ligand for CTLA-4-mediated down-regulation of alloimmune responses in vivo and suggest that B7-2 has an additional receptor other than CD28 and CTLA-4 to provide a positive costimulatory signal for T cells.     

Functional equivalency of B7-1 and B7-2 for costimulating plasmid DNA vaccine-elicited CTL responses

A costimulatory signal in addition to an Ag-specific stimulus is required for optimal activation of T lymphocytes. CD28, the primary positive costimulatory receptor on T cells, has two identified ligands, B7-1 and B7-2. Whether B7-1 and B7-2 have identical, overlapping, or distinct functions remains unresolved. In this study, we show that mice lacking B7-2 were unable to generate CTL responses following immunization with a plasmid DNA vaccine. The ability of these B7-2-deficient mice to generate CTL responses following plasmid gp120 DNA vaccination was fully reconstituted by coadministering either a plasmid expressing B7-2 or B7-1. Moreover, the ability to generate CTL responses following plasmid DNA vaccination in mice lacking both B7-1 and B7-2 could be reconstituted by administering either plasmid B7-1 or plasmid B7-2 with the vaccine construct. These data demonstrate that either B7-1 or B7-2 administered concurrently with a plasmid DNA vaccine can fully costimulate vaccine-elicited CTL responses. Functional differences between B7-1 and B7-2 observed in vivo therefore may not reflect inherent differences in the interactions of CD28 with these ligands.     

A theoretical framework for quantitative analysis of the molecular basis of costimulation

We present a theoretical framework for simulating the synaptic accumulation of the costimulatory molecules CD28, CTLA-4, B7-1, and B7-2, based on a system of mean-field, ordinary differential equations, and rigorous biophysical and expression data. The simulations show that binding affinity, stoichiometric properties, expression levels, and, in particular, competition effects all profoundly influence complex formation at cellular interfaces. B7-2 engages 33-fold more CD28 than CTLA-4 at the synapse in contrast to B7-1, which ligates approximately 7-fold more CTLA-4 than CD28. Although B7-1 completely dominates interactions with CTLA-4, forming linear arrays of 7-18 receptor-ligand pairs, CTLA-4 is fully engaged by B7-2 when B7-1 is absent. Additional simulations reveal the sensitivity of CD28 interactions to modeled transport processes. The results support the concept that B7-2 and B7-1 are the dominant ligands of CD28 and CTLA-4, respectively, and indicate that the inability of B7-2 to recruit CTLA-4 to the synapse cannot be due to the differential binding properties of B7-1 and B7-2 only. We discuss the apparent redundancy of B7-1 in the context of a potentially dynamic synaptic microenvironment, and in light of functions other than the direct enhancement of T cell inhibition by CTLA-4.     

Hemagglutinating activity of the B subunit(s) of the heat-labile enterotoxin isolated from human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Abstract The hemagglutinating activity of the B subunit(s) of the heat-labile toxin (LT_h - B) produced by human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was studied by hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition. Very strong hemagglutination of both neuraminidase- and pronase-treated human erythrocytes was induced by the LT_h - B whereas that of intact ones was induced weakly or not at all by the LT_h - B at the highest concentration used. Enhancement in hemagglitination of these human erythrocytes by the LT_h - B was about 8- to 512-fold for type A and B erythrocytes and 16-fold for type O erthrocytes, respectively. On the other hand, no hemagglutination of intact and treated sheep erythrocytes was found by the LT_h - B at the highest concentration used. Hemagglutination of pronase-treated human type B erythrocytes by the LT_h - B was inhibited by galactose and melibiose among mono-, di- and polysaccharides used as inhibitors. These findings suggest that the LT_h - B is a bacterial lectin specific for galactose-linked residues.