一种适于家蚕细胞激素研究的双荧光素酶报告基因系统的内参质粒的构建（英文）

双荧光素酶报告基因系统能够提供灵敏的读数,但该系统需要依赖组成型表达的内参对读数进行归一化。然而,大多数内参并不是在所有条件下都组成型表达。为此,文中建立了一个有效的方法制备适于家蚕细胞双荧光素酶报告基因系统的内参质粒。首先,突变BmV gP78启动子上的激素应答相关元件,获得了在家蚕细胞中稳定表达的组成型启动子BmV gP78M;然后,用BmV gP78M替换pRL-SV40质粒上的SV40启动子和嵌合内含子序列,成功构建了pRL-V gP78M内参质粒;最后,通过细胞转染实验证实pRL-V gP78M内参在家蚕细胞系中稳定表达,并且pRL-V gP78M内参的表达活性不受蜕皮激素、保幼激素及激素相关转录因子的影响。最终,获得了在家蚕细胞中稳定表达且表达量适中的内参质粒pRL-V gP78M。该内参可以有效地作为双荧光素酶报告基因系统的内参质粒用于家蚕细胞系中激素的研究。同时,该内参质粒的构建方法也为构建适于其他物种细胞系的双荧光素酶报告基因系统的内参质粒提供了参考。     

用于细胞水平家蚕转录调控元件研究的简单基础启动子的构建

【目的】本研究致力于构建一种能够在家蚕Bombyx mori细胞水平稳定表达的简单基础启动子,从而更准确地反映单一转录调控元件对基因启动子活性的影响,为研究家蚕乃至其他昆虫的基因转录调控奠定基础。【方法】本研究在本课题组已报道的能在家蚕细胞中稳定表达且基本不含上游转录调控元件的BmVgP78M启动子的基础上,通过PCR技术在其上游添加一定长度的间隔序列和能够应答20-羟基蜕皮激素(20E)且增强启动子活性的BrC-Z2转录因子结合基序(BrC-Z2 element, BrC-Z2E);通过基因克隆技术构建细胞转染载体;通过细胞转染技术和双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测启动子活性的变化。【结果】通过在BmVgP78M启动子上游添加28 bp间隔序列,成功构建了一个简单基础启动子,命名为VgP78ML,并证明其为可用于研究目标转录调控元件的简单基础启动子。经实验验证表明,该简单基础启动子不仅可以在家蚕细胞中稳定表达,且其本身活性不受20E及转录因子BrC-Z2的影响;当该启动子上游连接BrC-Z2E时,可以显著地应答20E及BrC-Z2转录因子,从而调控报告基因的表达。【结论】VgP78ML能够作为简单基础启动子应用于细胞水平对家蚕基因转录调控进行研究。同时,其构建方法也为其他物种构建研究转录调控的简单基础启动子提供了参考。     

本期重点推介

<正>家蚕Bombyx mori是重要的经济昆虫,也是重要的鳞翅目模式昆虫,研究家蚕中转录因子及其调控元件,可为阐明家蚕功能基因的调控机制、开发特异基因启动子奠定基础,进而能为家蚕生物反应器和鳞翅目害虫防治等提供有价值的参考。西南大学家蚕基因组生物学国家重点实验室顾健健和林英等在已报道的能在家蚕细胞中稳定表达且基本不含上游转录调控元件的BmVgP78M启动子的基础上,通过PCR技术在其上游添加一定长度的间隔序列和能够应答20-羟基蜕皮激素(20E)且增强启动子活性的BrC-Z2转录因子结合基序(BrC-Z2E),通过基因克隆技术构建细胞转染载体,通过细胞转染技术和双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测启动子     

IL-37基因启动子的克隆及其荧光素酶报告基因载体的构建

[目的]克隆白介素-37(IL-37)基因启动子,构建其荧光素酶报告基因载体,并分析活性。[方法]用PCR方法扩增IL-37基因5'端上游区3个不同长度的启动子片段,分别克隆入荧光素酶报告基因载体p GL3,构建IL-37基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因质粒。将所构建的质粒转染HEK-293细胞,通过双荧光素酶报告基因系统分析启动子的转录活性。[结果]754、1 017、2 043 bp等3个IL-37启动子片段正确亚克隆入荧光素酶报告基因载体,重组质粒转染HEK-293细胞后,双荧光素酶活性分析显示1 017 bp的启动子片段具有较强转录活性,约为对照组(空载体p GL3-basic)的10.9倍。[结论]成功克隆IL-37基因启动子,构建了大小为1 017 bp的IL-37基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体,为IL-37表达的调控机制的研究提供有效的工具。     

稳定表达ALB启动子及荧光素酶报告基因的肝干细胞株的构建

目的构建稳定表达ALB启动子及荧光素酶报告基因的肝干细胞株。方法PCR扩增获得ALB启动子,并与pBGLuc连接获得携带ALB启动子及荧光素酶报告基因的pBGLuc—ALB质粒,脂质体转染质粒到不同细胞,ALB—GLuc活性检测功能。构建逆转录病毒,感染HP14．5肝干细胞株获得携带ALB启动子及荧光素酶报告基因的稳定细胞株,经Dex、HGF体外诱导后第3、6、9、12天ALB—GLuc检测荧光素酶活性,免疫荧光检测ALB的表达。结果PCR、酶切及测序结果显示ALB启动子正确插入至荧光素酶GLuc基因上游,HEK293、HP14．5、LC14d及Hepa1-6细胞中ALB—GLuc活性与免疫荧光结果一致。HP14．5ALB—Gluc稳定细胞株在高浓度的稻瘟菌素中存活,免疫荧光结果显示Dex、HGF诱导后细胞中ALB的表达逐渐增强,并与ALB—Gluc活性升高一致。结论成功构建了稳定表达ALB启动子及荧光素酶报告基因的肝干细胞株,为研究肝干细胞的体外成熟分化提供了重要的细胞手段。     

小鼠TIE2基因启动子的克隆及转录活性分析

克隆小鼠TIE2基因的启动子并分析其转录活性.设计并合成引物,以小鼠肝脏组织DNA为模板,巢式PCR扩增小鼠TIE2基因启动子区.将扩增获得的系列截短片段克隆入荧光素酶(Luc)报告基因表达载体pGL3-Basic中,构建系列启动子区转录活性报告质粒pGL3-TIE2-Luc.报告质粒与内参质粒共转染SVEC4-10、NIH3T3、HUVEC及NIT-1细胞系,48h后收获细胞检测双荧光素酶的表达情况.构建的pGL3-TIE2-Luc系列报告质粒经过酶切鉴定及DNA测序分析都显示正确;转染4种细胞系后进行双荧光素酶活性检测的结果表明,TIE2基因启动子区域(-2056-+1)具有较强的转录活性.成功构建小鼠TIE2基因启动子报告质粒,证实TIE2基因上游区域(-2056-+1)具有较强的启动子活性.     

家蚕滞育关联山梨醇脱氢酶基因的启动子活性分析

【目的】明确家蚕Bombyx mori滞育关联基因山梨醇脱氢酶基因BmSDH(BmSDH-1,BmSDH-2a和BmSDH-2b)的转录特性。【方法】用5'RACE技术确定家蚕3个BmSDH基因的转录起始位点。利用PCR技术克隆3个BmSDH基因约1 kb及BmSDH-2a不同长度的启动子区序列,分别构建带有萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因的载体pGL3-BmSDH-P-luc,并与pRL-CMV报告质粒(含海肾荧光素酶报告基因)共转染家蚕BmN细胞,通过双荧光素酶检测系统检测BmSDH基因启动子活性;分别在BmN细胞培养基中添加昆虫保幼激素、蜕皮激素和滞育激素,通过双荧光素酶检测系统检测不同浓度激素处理对BmSDH-2a基因启动子活性的影响。【结果】BmSDH-1的转录起始位点为A(-41),BmSDH-2a的转录起始位点为C(-41),BmSDH-2b的转录起始位点为A(-40)(翻译起始位点为+1)。双荧光素酶检测结果表明,BmSDH-2a启动子活性极显著高于BmSDH-1和BmSDH-2b启动子,BmSDH-2a 355 bp长度片段的启动子活性极显著高于674 bp和1 117 bp长度片段。用不同浓度滞育激素处理BmN细胞后,BmSDH-2a的1 117 bp启动子活性随着滞育激素浓度的升高有上升的趋势,当浓度高于100 ng/mL时启动子活性有所降低但仍保持在较高水平;用保幼激素进行处理后,随着激素浓度的升高启动子活性逐渐降低;蜕皮激素处理后,0.1 ng/mL激素显著增强启动子活性,当激素浓度继续升高启动子活性逐渐降低。【结论】确定了BmSDH基因的转录起始位点。BmSDH-2a启动子活性显著高于BmSDH-1和BmSDH-2b启动子,一定浓度的蜕皮激素能显著提高BmSDH-2a启动子活性。研究结果有助于阐明BmSDH基因在家蚕滞育中的功能。     

人肝癌细胞LASP1 启动子的克隆及其核心调控区域的初步鉴定

目的:克隆人肝癌细胞的LASP1基因的启动子区域并找出该基因启动子的核心调控区域。方法:提取肝癌Hep G2细胞总DNA,PCR扩增不同长度的LASP1启动子片段,克隆至PGL3-Basic载体中构建重组表达载体PGL3-P1(2059 bp)、PGL3-P2(1123bp)、PGL3-P3(909 bp)、PGL3-P4(574 bp)和PGL3-P5(159 bp),转化入大肠埃希菌(E.coli)DH5α中,提取质粒经双酶切、PCR及测序鉴定阳性克隆并测序。将构建的重组表达载体、PGL3-Basic载体分别与内参质粒PRL-Tk共转染Hep G2细胞,48 h后经双荧光素酶报告基因检测试剂盒检测其活性。结果:PCR结果、双酶切结果以及DNA测序结果表明成功构建了LASP1启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体;双荧光素酶报告基因检测结果显示,与PGL3-Basic组相比,重组载体PGL3-P1、PGL3-P2、PGL3-P3、PGL3-P4均具有较强的启动子活性(P0.01),其中,PGL3-P4的活性最强。结论:成功构建了人肝癌细胞不同截断长度的LASP1基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体,确定了LASP-1基因启动子的核心区域(-581 bp~-8 bp),为进一步研究LASP1基因在肝癌细胞中表达的关键调节因素及分子机制奠定了基础。     

大鼠GluR2基因启动子控制的萤火虫荧光素酶表达载体的构建

目的构建大鼠GluR2基因启动子控制的萤火虫荧光素酶表达载体,并检测其在神经元中的表达。方法采用PCR方法获得GluR2基因启动子区目的片段（-298～＋283）,双酶切后插入到pGL3-Basic载体中构成重组表达载体,使萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因的表达受GluR2启动子控制。将构建的重组表达载体或pGL3-Basic载体分别与内参质粒pRL—CMV（表达海肾荧光素酶）共转染原代培养皮质神经元,24h后用双荧光检测试剂盒测定萤火虫荧光素酶及海肾荧光素酶活性。结果重组表达载体经双酶切及测序鉴定证明构建正确,该重组表达载体在神经元中特异性高表达萤火虫荧光素酶。结论成功构建大鼠GluR2基因启动子控制的萤火虫荧光素酶表达载体,并检测到该载体在神经元中的特异性表达。     

小鼠T-bet启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体的构建及活性鉴定

为了研究T-bet在T细胞中的转录调控机制,并研究其在多发性硬化症中的信号通路,本研究构建小鼠TBX21(编码T-bet)基因启动子区和增强子区萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因载体。在对小鼠TBX21基因5?侧翼区进行详尽生物信息学特征分析后,设计相应引物,用PCR的方法从小鼠基因组中扩增出TBX21基因5?侧翼区–1 000 bp-28 bp片段长为1 028 bp的启动子区(以翻译起始点ATG为+1)和–3 308 bp-–2 000 bp片段长为1308 bp的非编码区保守序列(No-coding conserved sequence,CNS),再用定向克隆的方法将这两个片段定向重组入专门用于启动子活性研究的萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因载体(p GL4.10)中,构建出包含小鼠TBX21基因启动子区和CNS区的萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因载体(p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS),电泳与测序鉴定,最后再将p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS与内参p RL-TK用lipofectamine 2000共转染293T细胞和Jurkat细胞中,通过双荧光素酶报告基因检测系统鉴定p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS的启动子和增强子活性,并用独立样本t检验方法进行统计分析。对照组共转染p GL4.10与内参p RL-TK。结果表明,成功构建出荧光素酶报告基因重组质粒p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS。与转染空质粒p RL-TK组相比,293T细胞(P=0.012 2)和Jurkat细胞(P=0.002 2)中转染p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS组荧光素酶活性升高。研究结果表明在293T细胞和Jurkat细胞中p GL4.10-TBX21pr-CNS可以表现出启动子活性,为后续小鼠T-bet转录调控研究提供了基本材料。     

Stable luciferase reporter cell lines for signal transduction pathway readout using GAL4 fusion transactivators

While GAL4 fusion activators have been widely used for dissecting signal transduction pathways in transient assays, there has been surprisingly little reported on utilizing cell lines with stably integrated fusion activators. To avoid problems with the efficiency and reproducibility inherent to transient transfection, we describe here the generation and characterization of HeLa reporter cell lines, which contain a stably integrated luciferase gene responsive to stably integrated and constitutively expressed GAL4-CREB or GAL4-Elk1 fusion activators. These cell lines exhibited extremely low basal luciferase expression but robust response to various extracellular stimuli or the expression of signaling molecules that resulted in elevated MAP kinase or PKA activities. This integrated two-component reporter system allows one to focus specifically on particular signaling pathway endpoints and the altered transactivation activity of either Elk1 or CREB. With the procedures described here, many novel cell-based assays can be developed by generating new reporter cell lines with medically important but difficult-to-transfect cell types, and by using different reporter genes or different fusion transactivator genes.     

HCVIRES介导萤火虫荧光素酶翻译的双顺反子载体的构建与在小鼠体内的表达

将HCVIRES插入双报告基因海肾荧光素酶 (Rluc)基因和萤火虫荧光素酶 (Fluc)基因之间 ,建立了“依赖帽子的扫描机制”翻译表达Rluc ,HCVIRES调控Fluc翻译的双顺反子表达载体pCI Rluc HCVIRES Fluc ,通过酶切反应及转染HepG2细胞鉴定双荧光素酶瞬间表达活性等试验 ,证实获得了表达双荧光素酶的双顺反子载体 .并应用水压转染法将双顺反子表达质粒导入小鼠体内 ,在小鼠肝脏检测到高水平表达的Rluc和Fluc .该研究成功构建一种HCVIRES介导萤火虫荧光素酶基因表达的双顺反子载体 ,并在HepG2细胞及小鼠体内进行了瞬时表达 ,为进一步建立稳定评价靶向HCVIRES药物作用的细胞及小动物模型研究奠定了基础     

A single secreted luciferase-based gene reporter assay

Promoter analysis typically employs a reporter gene fused to a test promoter combined with a second reporter fused to a control promoter that is used for normalization purposes. However, this approach is not valid when experimental conditions affect the control promoter. We have developed and validated a single secreted luciferase reporter (SSLR) assay for promoter analysis that avoids the use of a control reporter. The approach uses an early level of expression of a secreted luciferase linked to a test promoter as an internal normalization control for subsequent analysis of the same promoter. Comparison of the SSLR assay with the dual luciferase reporter (DLR) assay using HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase) and LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) promoter constructs, which are down-regulated by 25-hydroxycholesterol, show that both assays yield similar results. Comparison of the response of the HMGCR promoter in SSLR transient assays compared very favorably with the response of the same promoter in the stable cell line. Overall, the SSLR assay proved to be a valid alternative to the DLR assay for certain applications and had significant advantages in that measurement of only one luciferase is required and monitoring can be continuous because cell lysis is not necessary.     

Correct evaluation of reporter assays in different cell lines by direct determination of the introduced plasmid amount

Transfection efficiency in reporter gene assays is usually determined by cotransfection of a reference reporter gene under the control of a constitutively active strong promoter and determination of the reference enzyme activity. The SV40 promoter-driven beta-galactosidase reporter plasmid is frequently used as the reference reporter plasmid. Here we show that the beta-galactosidase expression in different cell lines does not correctly reflect the amount of plasmid taken up by cells and thus is not an accurate measure of transfection efficiency. The direct determination of introduced plasmid concentration in lysates of transfected cells is suitable for monitoring the transfection efficiency in reporter gene assays even if different cell lines are compared.     

Ecdysone-inducible foreign gene expression in stably-transformed lepidopteran insect cells

Cultured cell lines that can be stably transformed with inducible gene constructs could prove extremely valuable for the continuous and economical production of recombinant proteins. Toward this goal, we have established 11 clones (designated NISES-BoMo-DK1 to 11) from a previously reported silkworm cell line, NISES-BoMo-DZ. Nine of these clonal lines showed a distinct morphological change. i.e., cell aggregation, in response to treatment with 1 microM 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). DK10 cells transfected with various reporter assay plasmids under optimal conditions (i.e., 20-30% transfection efficiency) showed inducibility of gene expression by 20E. The 20E treatment of the prototypical DK10 cells resulted in a simultaneous, transient increase of the nuclear ecdysone (E) receptor levels. Further, this inducibility was also observed in a DK10 cell line stably transformed with the reporter plasmid that carries the hygromycin-resistance gene. This offers an opportunity to achieve efficient, continuous production of recombinant proteins. It could also allow high throughput screening for potential E agonists.     

Development of a luciferase reporter gene, luxCt, for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast

Luciferase reporter genes have been successfully used in a variety of organisms to examine gene expression in living cells, but are yet to be successfully developed for use in chloroplast. Green fluorescent protein (gfp) has been used as a reporter of chloroplast gene expression, but because of high auto-fluorescence, very high levels of GFP accumulation are required for visualization in vivo. We have developed a luciferase reporter for chloroplast by synthesizing the two-subunit bacterial luciferase (lux)AB, as a single fusion protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast codon bias. We expressed a chloroplast luciferase gene, luxCt, in C. reinhardtii chloroplasts under the control of the ATPase alpha subunit (atpA) or psbA promoter and 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) and the rubisco large subunit (rbcL) 3' UTR. We show that luxCt is a sensitive reporter of chloroplast gene expression, and that luciferase activity can be measured in vivo using a charge coupled device (CCD) camera or in vitro using a luminometer. We further demonstrate that luxCt protein accumulation, as measured by Western blot analysis, is proportional to luminescence, as determined both in vivo and in vitro, and that luxCt is capable of reporting changes in chloroplast gene expression during a dark to light shift. These data demonstrate the utility of the luxCt gene as a versatile and sensitive reporter of chloroplast gene expression in living cells.     

Chimeric receptors as a tool for luminescent measurement of biological activities of steroid hormones

Some applications of chimeric cellular models are presented to study the biological activities of steroid hormones. We have used several chimeric constructs encoding the DNA binding domain of Gal4 yeast protein fused to the hormone binding domain of various steroid receptors (MR, PR, GR and ER). Interactions of these chimeric receptors with a 17-mer DNA sequence, specific for Gal-4, control expression of the firefly luciferase as a reporter gene. Stable transfected cell lines expressing the firefly luciferase under the control of different steroids were established and an efficient and easy sub-cloning was allowed with the help of an imaging system using a single-photon-counting camera. In the cell lines obtained, the bioluminescent response can be easily measured and thus used to measure specific biological activities of steroid agonists or antagonists. We observed that the responses are effector-concentration-dependent and their biological activities will be compared to those of native receptors.