胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(ΔN39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子 (GDNF) 在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段. 将HIV-1 Tat 蛋白转导区 (protein transduction domain,PTD) 的9个碱性氨基酸⁴⁹RKKRRQRRR⁵⁷模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(ΔN39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(ΔN39)-R9融合蛋白. 将GDNF、GDNF(ΔN39)、GDNF(ΔN39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRα1和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性. 运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(ΔN39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力. 结果显示：GDNF(ΔN39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

盐穗木病程相关蛋白HcPR10抗血清的制备及鉴定

病程相关蛋白(PRs)在植物抗病抗逆过程中发挥重要作用。盐穗木病程相关蛋白基因HcPR10(GenBank:KF673356)来自盐穗木(Halostachys capsica)在600 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下的盐抑制差减文库。为探究盐穗木病程相关蛋白HcPR10发挥生物学功能的机制,该研究通过体外表达和纯化HcPR10重组蛋白制备特异性的HcPR10多克隆抗体。并采用双酶切构建原核重组表达载体pET28a-HcPR10,转化至大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21诱导表达,通过正交分析优化重组蛋白可溶性诱导表达的条件,利用Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化融合蛋白,免疫BALB/c小鼠制备多克隆抗体,基于纯化获得的His-HcPR10重组蛋白和转HcPR10拟南芥总蛋白,分别利用ELISA和Western Blotting检测抗血清效价和特异性。结果表明:成功构建重组表达载体pET28a-HcPR10; 正交结果显示诱导温度27 ℃,诱导转速200 r·min^-1,IPTG浓度0.7 mmol·L^-1,诱导时间6 h条件下可诱导表达大量可溶性目的蛋白; ELISA检测抗HcPR10血清效价达1:243 000,Western Blotting印迹结果显示制备的抗血清可以与重组蛋白和转基因拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中异源表达的HcPR10蛋白特异性结合。该研究获得了效价高、特异性强的盐穗木病程相关蛋白HcPR10抗血清,为进一步研究HcPR10的亚细胞定位及生物学功能奠定了基础。     

胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(△N39)-R9神经营养活性和透过血脑屏障的研究

为了研究胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)在中枢神经系统疾病中的治疗应用,运用基因突变、蛋白质融合表达和蛋白质纯化技术获得分子质量较小的GDNF(△N39)活性片段.将HIV-1 Tat蛋白转导区(protein transduction domain,PTD)的9个碱性氨基酸49RKKRRQRRR57模拟物9个精氨酸(R9)与GDNF(△N39)活性片段融合表达,获得纯度达95%以上的GDNF(△N39)-R9融合蛋白.将GDNF、GDNF(△N39)、GDNF(△N39)-R9分别加入原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和转染GDNF受体GFRαl和Ret的PC12细胞中,观察它们的神经营养活性和毒性.运用脑微血管内皮细胞株B-Endo 3,观察GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白穿越血管内皮细胞膜的功能;运用脑血管内皮细胞和Matrigel铺板模拟血脑屏障,Transwell法检测Tat-GDNF(△N39)蛋白穿越脑血管内皮细胞和外周胶质膜的能力.结果显示:GDNF(△N39)-R9蛋白具有类似GDNF的神经营养活性,促进原代培养的中脑多巴胺能神经元和稳定表达GFRα1和Ret受体的PC12-GFRα1-Ret细胞株的存活,没有显示毒性,并且能很好地穿过脑微血管内皮细胞层和模拟的血脑屏障.     

人4-1BBL胞外区/抗CD20 Fab''融合蛋白的构建和表达

研究共刺激分子4-1BBL在肿瘤靶向治疗方面的作用,用PCR和overlap PCR方法构建人4-1BBL胞外区/抗CD20 Fab'融合蛋白表达载体,并用双脱氧终止法测定DNA序列;采用亲和层析法纯化该产物,并用SDS-PAGE和HPLC鉴定纯化产物;采用玫瑰花环试验鉴定纯化产物与靶细胞的结合活性.DNA序列测定结果表明:人4-1BBL胞外区/抗CD20 Fab'融合蛋白已构建成功.表达可溶性产物的产量达200 μg/L以上,纯度较高.具有与激活的Jurkat(4-1BBL )和Raji细胞(CD20 )结合的活性.这将为非何杰金氏淋巴瘤免疫治疗、靶向治疗提供新的思路.     

半乳糖凝集素-1的融合克隆及纯化

目的：表达和纯化半乳糖凝集素-1融合蛋白。方法：用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增半乳糖凝集素-1编码序列,将其以正确相位与pGEX-KG载体中的GST编码序列融合,将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌DH5α后,用谷胱甘肽-Sepharose 4B纯化融合蛋白,并用Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达。结果：构建得到半乳糖凝集素-1的融合蛋白表达载体;Western印迹检测表明,GST-半乳糖凝集素-1融合蛋白成功表达,并纯化得到融合蛋白。结论：克隆和表达了半乳糖凝集素-1基因,并得到纯化的融合蛋白。     

重组刺桐胰蛋白酶抑制剂a的制备及其在tPA突变体纯化中的应用

将基因工程菌株E.coliBL21(DE3) pET22b-mETIa高密度发酵,用异丙基硫代-β-D-半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导,重组刺桐胰蛋白酶抑制剂a(rETIa)蛋白在E.coli中得到较高水平表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的40%以上.经菌体破碎、包涵体变性、复性,二步柱层析纯化得到电泳纯的rETIa蛋白.测得rETIa对t-PA突变体(NTA)的抑制平衡常数K_i为8.72×10^－8 mol/L.据此利用纯化的rETIa蛋白制备rETIa-Sepharose 4B亲和层析柱.直接一步纯化NTA复性液,纯化的NTA纯度达90 %以上,收率为96.2 %,纯化倍数为13.2,比活为(565.7±71.3) U/μg.     

GST-HRB融合蛋白的表达与纯化

构建GST-HRB重组质粒,进行融合蛋白的表达、纯化及鉴定.利用PCR扩增及基因重组技术,以pcDNA-3.1-HRB为模板扩增出HRB全基因序列,并将其插入带有GST(谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶)标签的原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1中,构建GST-HRB融合蛋白表达质粒.然后,将重组质粒GST-HRB转化至大肠杆菌Rosseta进行融合蛋白的表达.利用GST琼脂糖珠进行融合蛋白的纯化,最后应用SDS-PAGE电泳和Western blotting鉴定纯化的融合蛋白.结果表明,成功构建pGEX-6P-1-HRB原核表达载体,表达及纯化了GST-HRB融合蛋白.     

小鼠beta防御素2原核表达与抗菌作用的初步研究

构建小鼠β-防御素-2( mouse beta defensins 2,mBD2)原核表达质粒pET32/mBD2,进行蛋白诱导表达及纯化,测定并纯化蛋白的抗菌活性.旨在为选一步研究其生物学特性奠定基础.通过腹腔注射脂多糖(lipopoly-saccharide,LPS)建立小鼠急性时相反应,采用RT-PCR方法扩增mBD2成熟肽,经KpnⅠ和XhoⅠ双酶切后插入相同酶切的pET-32a(+)载体,构建的重组质粒.将鉴定正确的重组质粒转化大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21 (DE3),采用异丙基-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导融合蛋白的表达.通过镍亲和层析获得纯化的融合蛋白.将融合蛋白采用肠激酶酶切、洗脱并用滤纸片法测定目的蛋白的抗菌活性.成功构建了原核表达质粒pET32a(+)/mBD2,并转化工程菌BL21( DE3).在0.25 mmol/L IPTG、30℃诱导4h条件下获得的融合蛋白.采用抑菌试验证实蛋白具有一定的抑制革兰阳性菌及阴性菌生长的作用.本研究成功构建了pET32/mBD2原核表达质粒,得到了在大肠杆菌中稳定表达mBD2蛋白.     

人干扰素α 2b-胸腺肽α 1融合基因在家蚕细胞中的表达和活性研究

根据细胞因子协同作用的特点,采用重组DNA技术构建了人干扰素(IFN)α2b-胸腺肽(THY)α1融合基因,克隆到pBacPAK8上,获得重组转移载体pBacPAK-IFN-THY.与线形化Bm-BacPAK6病毒基因组DNA共转染家蚕细胞,经过体内重组,筛选到重组病毒Bm-BacPAK-IFN-THY.将Bm-BacPAK-IFN-THY感染家蚕细胞进行表达.DNA印迹证明IFN-THY已插入Bm-BacPAK6中（4 kb左右的杂交带）;SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、蛋白质印迹证明IFN-THY在家蚕细胞中得到了表达（分子质量为23 ku左右）,且具有IFN蛋白的免疫原性;微量细胞病变抑制法和玫瑰花结法显示96 h的表达产物IFN活性为3.72×10⁴ U/ml,120 h表达产物IFN活性为3.10×10⁵ U/ml,48～72 h表达产物IFN活性较低;48～120 h表达产物的玫瑰花结形成率均在10％以上.结果表明融合基因在家蚕细胞中得到了高效表达,表达的融合蛋白具有IFN-α2b和THY-α1的双重生物活性.     

棉铃虫颗粒体病毒增效蛋白基因2.1kb片段在大肠杆菌中的表达

以棉铃虫颗粒体病毒(Helicoverpa armigera granulosis virus,简称HaGV)基因组DNA为模板,设计引物PCR扩增病毒增效蛋白(Enhancin)基因,然后经SacI/PstI双酶切消化,得到5′端截短的约2.1kb增效蛋白基因片段,再与pQE30质粒连接,构建了重组表达载体pQE/EnC,转化大肠杆菌M15(pREP4),在IPTG诱导下表达出分子量约为78×10³ D的融合蛋白并命名为P78,纯化的P78包涵体显示了明显的增效活性,可提高AcMNPV对小菜蛾幼虫的感染率27.88%～32.92%。     

Expression of the Arabidopsis AtAux2-11 auxin-responsive gene in transgenic plants

Five constructions containing deletions of the promoter from an auxin-inducible gene of Arabidopsis thaliana, AtAux2-11, were fused to the coding region of the reporter gene LacZ, which encodes -galactosidase, and a polyadenylation 3-untranslated nopaline synthase sequence from Agrobacterium. These chimeric genes were introduced into Arabidopsis by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and expression of the gene was examined by spectrophotometric and histochemical analyses. A 600 bp fragment from the AtAux2-11 promoter conferred histochemical patterns of staining similar to the longest 5 promoter tested, a 3.0 kb fragment. Localization of AtAux2-11/LacZ activity in the transgenic plants revealed spatial and temporal expression patterns that correlated with tissues and cells undergoing physiological processes modulated by auxin. LacZ activity was expressed in the elongating region of roots, etiolated hypocotyls, and anther filaments. Expression was detected in the vascular cylinder of the root and the vascular tissue, epidermis, and cortex of the hypocotyl, and filament. The AtAux2-11/LacZ gene was preferentially expressed in cells on the elongating side of hypocotyls undergoing gravitropic curvature. Expression of the chimeric gene in the hypocotyls of light-grown seedlings was less than that in etiolated seedling hypcotyls. The AtAux2-11/LacZ gene was active in the root cap, and expression in the root stele increased at sites of lateral root initiation. Staining was evident in cell types that develop lignified cell walls, e.g. trichomes, anther endothecial cells, and especially developing xylem. The chimeric gene was not expressed in primary meristems. While the magnitude of expression increased after application of exogenous auxin (2,4-D), the histochemical localization of AtAux2-11/LacZ remained unchanged.Transgenic plants with a 600 bp promoter construct (–0.6 kb AtAux2-11/LacZ) had higher levels of basal and auxin-inducible expression than plants with a 3.0 kb promoter construct. Transgenic plants with a –500 bp promoter had levels of expression similar to the –3.0 kb construct. The –0.6 kb AtAux2-11/LacZ gene responded maximally to a concentration of 5 × 10^–6 to 5 × 10^–5 M 2,4-D and was responsive to as little as 5 × 10^–8 M. The evidence presented here suggests that this gene may play a role in several auxin-mediated developmental and physiological processes.co-first authors     

Improved expression of streptomycin resistance in plants due to a deletion in the streptomycin phosphotransferase coding sequence

Summary Previous studies have shown that a chimeric streptomycin phosphotransferase (SPT) gene can function as a dominant marker for plant cell transformation. The SPT marker previously described by Jones and co-workers has a limited value since it conferred a useful level of resistance only to a fraction (10%) of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia transgenic lines. Expression of resistance was species specific: no such resistant transformants were found in N. tabacum. In this paper we describe an improved SPT construct that utilizes a mutant Tn5 SPT gene. The mutant gene, SPT ^*, encodes a protein with a two amino acid deletion close to its COOH-terminus. In N. tabacum cell culture the efficiency of transformation with the improved streptomycin resistance marker was comparable to kanamycin resistance. When the chimeric SPT ^* gene was introduced linked to a kanamycin resistance gene, streptomycin resistance was expressed in most of the transgenic N. tabacum lines.     

Induced expression of a chimeric gene construct in transgenic lettuce plants using tobacco pathogenesis-related protein gene promoter region

The expression of a stress- and salicylic acidinducible protein gene from tobacco, PR1a protein gene, was determined after its Introduction to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants. The 5 flanking 2.4 Kb fragment from PR1a gene was joined to the bacterial -glucuronidase (GUS) gene (PR-GUS) and introduced into lettuce cotyledons by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer using a binary vector containing a kanamycin-resistance gene as a selectable marker. As a control with constitutive expression, the chimeric gene consisting of CaMV 35S RNA promoter and GUS gene (35S-GUS) was used. An improved method for shoot formation directly from lettuce cotyledons was used effectively for transformation, shortening the time for regeneration. In 70% or more of kanamycin-resistant regenerated lettuce plants, into which PR-GUS or 35S-GUS was introduced, high GUS activity and integration of the chimeric gene into the lettuce genome were detected. By treatment with salicylic acid, GUS activity increased 3- to 50-fold in PR-GUS transformants, however, no increase was detected in 35S-GUS plants. These results showed that the promoter of the stress-inducible tobacco PR1a protein gene was introduced into lettuce plants, and the introduced chimeric gene was expressed normally under the regulated control of the PRla promoter.Abbreviations BA N6-benzyladenine - GUS -glucuronidase - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - Km kanamycin - Km^s kanamycin resistant - Km⁰ kanamycin sensitive - NPT- II neomycin phosphotransferase II - PR pathogenesis-related - SA salicylic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - NOS nopaline synthase     

Expression and regulation of the Escherichia coli glutamate dehydrogenase gene (gdh) in Rhizobium japonicum

The glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene of Escherichia coli was transferred into an ammonium assimilation deficient mutant (Asm^-) of Rhizobium japonicum (CJ9) using plasmid pRP301, a broad host range derivative of RP₄. Exconjugants capable of growth on ammonia as sole N-source occurred at a frequency of 6.8×10^-6. Assimilatory GDH (NADP⁺) activity was detected in the strain carrying the E. coli gdh gene and the pattern of ammonia assimilation via GDH was similar to that of the Asm⁺ wild type strain. However, GDH mediated ammonia assimilation was not subject to regulation by l-glutamate. Nitrogenase activity was expressed ex planta in R. japonicum CJ9 harbouring the gdh gene, however, the presence of the gdh gene did not restore symbiotic effectiveness to the CJ9 Asm^- strain in nodules. The gdh plasmid was maintained in approximately 90% of the isolates recovered from soybean nodules.Abbreviations gdh glutamate dehydrogenase - Asm^- mutant ammonia assimilation deficient mutant     

Adrenocorticotropin/α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (ACTH/MSH)-Like Peptides Modulate Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Brain Slices: Evidence for an ACTH/MSH Receptor-Coupled Mechanism

Abstract: The regulation of adenylate cyclase activity by adrenocorticotropin/α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (ACTH/MSH)-like peptides was investigated in rat brain slices using a superfusion method. Adenylate cyclase activity was concentration-dependently increased by ACTH-(1–24), α-MSH (EC₅₀ values 16 and 6 nM, respectively), and [Nle⁴,D-Phe⁷]α-MSH (EC₅₀ value 1.6 nM), in the presence of forskolin (1 μM, optimal concentration). 1-9-Dideoxy-forskolin did not augment the response of adenylate cyclase to ACTH-(1–24). Various peptide fragments were tested for their ability to enhance [³H]cyclic AMP production. [Nle⁴,D-Phe⁷]α-MSH increased [³H]cyclic AMP formation with a maximal effect of 30% and was more potent than ACTH-(1–24), ACTH-(1–16)-NH₂, α-MSH, ACTH-(1–13)-NH₂, [MetO⁴]α-MSH, [MetO₂⁴,D-Lys⁸,Phe⁹]ACTH-(4–9), ACTH-(7–16)-NH₂, ACTH-(1–10), and ACTH-(11–24), in order of potency. This structure–activity relationship resembles that found for the previously described peptide-induced display of excessive grooming. ACTH-(1–24) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in both striatal (maximal effect, ?20%) and septal slices (maximal effect, ?40%), but not in hippocampal or cortical slices. Lesioning of the dopaminergic projections to the striatum did not result in a diminished effect of [Nle⁴,D-Phe⁷]α-MSH on [³H]cyclic AMP accumulation, which indicates that the ACTH/MSH receptor–stimulated adenylate cyclase is not located on striatal dopaminergic terminals. ACTH-(1–24) did not affect the dopamine D₁ or D₂ receptor–mediated modulation of adenylate cyclase activity. Based on the present data, we suggest that the binding of endogenous ACTH or α-MSH to a putative ACTH/MSH receptor in certain brain regions leads to the activation of a signal transduction pathway using cyclic AMP as a second messenger.     

Chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotide-directed gene targeting in rice

Site-specific mutagenesis in a rice genome was obtained by introducing chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotides (COs) by means of particle bombardment. Three COs were designed to target the independent codons for Pro-171, Trp-548 and Ser-627 of the endogenous rice acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene so it would confer resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Sequencing of the ALS gene of herbicide-resistant plants demonstrated that the ALS sequence was modified in a site-specific fashion. The efficiency of gene conversion mediated by COs was estimated to be 1×10^-4. These results demonstrate that CO-directed gene targeting is feasible in rice.Abbreviations ALS Acetolactate synthase - BS Bispyribac-sodium - Cf Chlorsulfuron - CO Chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotide Communicated by H. Uchimiya     

Auxin Levels Regulate the Expression of a Wound-Inducible Proteinase Inhibitor II-Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase Gene Fusion in Vitro and in Vivo

Proteinase inhibitor genes are expressed in solanaceous and leguminous plants following wounding of the foliage by mechanical methods. Previous studies have shown that a cloned proteinase inhibitor II-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (pin2-CAT) chimeric gene is regulated in a wound-inducible manner in transgenic plants. In this study, we analyzed transgenic plant tissues for expression of the pin2-CAT gene in response to various plant hormones. We found that CAT activity was induced in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) callus incubated in the absence of any plant growth regulators. Addition of growth regulators to the medium thus permitted us to measure the effects of these substances on the activity of the pin2-CAT gene construction. Cytokinin (BAP) and ethylene (ethophon) even at low concentrations stimulated the expression of CAT activity by 25 to 50%. Abscisic acid at concentrations up to 4.4 × 10⁻⁵ molar had no effect upon CAT activity, but increasing auxin (naphthalene acetic acid) levels completely inhibited the synthesis of CAT protein. Gibberellic acid had little effect except at very high concentration (2.9 × 10⁵ molar). The kinetics of activation of the pin2-CAT gene were quite long (5 to 7 days) when unwounded calli were plated on media lacking auxin. This effect was documented for calli derived from several transformed plants, containing the full, chimeric pin2-CAT (pRT45) gene. In addition, calli from tissues transformed with wild-type vectors or from several plants transformed with pRT50 (a noninducible derivative of pRT45) were not induced by plating on media lacking auxin. Other naturally occurring and synthetic auxins had similar effects to naphthalene acetic acid in inhibiting the induction of the chimeric gene fusion. Finally, leaf discs from transformed plants were induced by incubation in MS liquid medium in the presence and absence of naphthalene acetic acid. NAA was also effective in down regulating the chimeric gene in whole plant tissues.