基因捕获技术及其最新进展

基因捕获技术是目前最具应用前景的基因克隆方法之一。利用该技术建立的随机插入突变的突变体文库,可用于寻找、鉴定和研究大量末知功能和已知功能的活化基因,它是继自然突变、物理突变和化学突变之后发展起来的新的分子生物学方法。基因捕获载体是带有报告基因和/或选择标记基因的不完整的基因表达载体;这些载体所带的基因只有在整合到宿主功能基因内部且与融合的宿主基因编码框一致时才能得以表达。经典的基因捕获载体有：增强子捕获载体、基因捕获载体和启动子捕获载体。增强子载体只有一个最小化的启动子控制下游报告基因的表达活性。只有当启动子上游存在一个增强子时才能启动其下游基因的转录：而单独依靠这个启动了则不能转录。狭义的基因捕获载体是指插入到结构基因内部从而捕获该基因的载体,分为内含子捕获载体和外显了捕获载体。前者插入内含子,因此需要在无启动子的报告基因前面添加一个splice acceptor（SA）位点：后者插入外显子,因此不需SA位点就能产生融合蛋白mRNA。启动子捕获载体由一个无启动子的报告基因和选择标记基因组成,只有在捕状载体捕入到内源基因的外显子中,且两阅读框一致的时候才会有报告基因和被捕获的内源基因上游编码区的融合蛋白的表达。利用某些遗传元件的遗传特性也可以构建非常有用的捕获载体。常用的有：逆转录病毒介导的捕抉载体和转座子介导的捕荻载体等等。该文较为全面地概括了转座子介导的捕获载体的用途和研究现状。比如：在拟南芥中应用Ac／Ds转座子元件,存果蝇中应用P-element和piggyBac转座元件,在斑马鱼中应用T012转座了元件,在脊椎动物研究中应用Tc1/meriner转座了超家族,以及存哺乳动物和小鼠ES细胞中应用piggyBac转座子元件。还列举了设计新颖的载体优化策略,比如：发展新的选择标记基因,利用内源核糖体识别／结合位点（IRES）,去掉起始密码子和加一小段接头（1inker）等方法。最后介绍了几种针特定实验目的而设计的捕获载体。附录部分还列出了关于基因捕获技术的网络资源。     

几种肿瘤细胞中ezrin基因增强子区转录调控特性的研究

该文采用Western blot技术检测人食管癌EC109细胞、鼻咽癌CNE2细胞和宫颈癌HeLa细胞Ezrin蛋白的表达：采用DNA片段定向克隆技术构建一系列携带ezrin基因增强子区-1541／-706序列的报告基因表达载体,将载体瞬时转染EC109、CNE2和HeLa细胞,检测荧光素酶活性;研究肿瘤细胞中ezrin基因增强子区的转录调控特性。实验结果显示,在被检测的三种肿瘤细胞中,Ezfin蛋白的表达水平没有明显不同。Ec109细胞中,当ezrin基因-1541／-706N段正向位于无启动子的报告基因上游时,表现出类似启动子的转录激活作用：当这一片段反向连接时转录激活作用几乎消失。当-1541／-706片段正向位于ezrin启动子或SV40启动子上游时,显著增强荧光素酶表达;然而,当这一片段反向位于启动子上游以及正向或反向位于启动子控制的报告基因下游时,转录增强作用消失。ezrin基因-1541／-706N段在CNE2和HeLa细胞中的转录调控作用,与其在EC109细胞中的转录调控作用部分相似,但不完全相同。结果表明,ezrin基因增强子区具有转录激活和转录增强双重作用,这种作用具有DNA序列位置和方向依赖性以及细胞特异性。     

乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原基因在异源细胞中的表达研究

本研究构建了一系列乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)基因的表达载体,其中HBsAg基因的启动区被小鼠金属硫蛋白启动子取代;而对HBsAg基因下游非编码区的几种基因元件则进行了不同的删除,并且添加异源基因调控元件。利用Hela细胞瞬时表达系统对各种构建物的表达水平进行分析。实验发现：除了必须取代HBsAg基因原有的启动子外,乙型肝炎病毒(HBv)增强子Ⅰ及其多聚腺苷酸化(poly A)信号对HBsAg在非肝脏细胞中表达也至关重要。但HBsAg的poIy A信号可用异源的poly A信号及猴空泡病毒(sV 40)T抗原基因的剪接信号取代。在HeLa细胞表达系统中,这种取代可进一步提高HBsAg的表达水平。反之,HBV增强子Ⅱ在HeLa细胞中对HBsAg基因的表达无显著作用。实验结果提示：除了已报道的HBV增强子Ⅰ能激活基因本身的启动子外,很可能还存在另外的功能,即对HBsAg转录体起稳定作用。     

人LCRG1基因启动子的鉴定与初步分析

Laryngeal carcinoma related gene 1(LCRC1)是一个喉癌候选抑瘤基因,为进一步深入研究其转录调控机制,应用5'RACE技术确定了该基因的转录起始位点,然后在对人LCRG1基因进行生物信息学分析的基础上,通过PCR定向克隆和酶切亚克隆策略,构建了11种含不同长度LCRG1启动子荧光素酶报告基因重组体.启动子活性分析表明,-169～ 127区域的启动子活性最高.研究提示,LCRG1基因转录所必需的基因启动子序列在-169～ 127范围内.     

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.     

杆状病毒囊膜糖蛋白gp64基因启动子活性分析

GP64是杆状病毒在其发育循环第一时相所产生的芽生型病毒粒子（budded voirus,BV)的特异性囊膜糖蛋白。它在病毒入侵细胞过程中具有重要作用。为了探明杆状病毒gp64基因的表达调控。从所克隆的BmNPV和AcMNPVgp64基因ATG上游437-439bp启动子的序列分析发现。该启动子同时具有早期和晚期转录模体,将所构建的该启动子控制下荧光素酶报告基因（Luc)的非融合表达质粒分别转染Bm-N和Sf-21细胞进行瞬间表达分析,BmNPVgp64启动子能被允许宿主Bm-N细胞RNA聚合酶Ⅱ所识别,AcMNPVgp64启动子既能被允许宿主Sf-21又能被非允许宿主Bm-N细胞RNA聚合酶Ⅱ所识别,同时,这两个启动子的转录活性在各自的允许宿主细胞中被相应的病毒因子所反式激活2.4-4倍。将家吞核多角体病毒同源重复序列3（BmNPV homologous region-3,hr3)克隆到该启动子控制下的Luc报告基因下游,用所构建的质粒分别转染细胞,瞬间表达分析结果表达,BmNPVhr3能分别增强该启动子在Bm-N和Sf-21细胞中的转录活性13-22倍和7000-14000倍以上,同时,相应的病毒因子能反式激活插入了hr3的gp64启动子在各自允许宿主细胞中转录活性73-78倍,这暗示着BmNPVhr3除了具有病毒DNA复制原点和增强子的功能外,它在病毒的反式激活过程中起着重要的作用。     

A33启动子结肠癌特异性探究及SV40增强子对其转录活性影响

为了探究A33核心启动子结肠癌特异性及SV40增强子对其转录水平的影响,该研究通过构建A33核心启动子和带SV40增强子的A33核心启动子(eA33)的荧光素酶报告基因载体pGL3-A33和pGL3-eA33,与内参照pRL-SV40质粒共转染至不同的细胞系中,利用双荧光素酶检测系统检测分析了A33和eA33启动子在不同细胞系中的转录活性。结果显示,A33核心启动子在结肠癌细胞系中具有转录活性低,但结肠癌特异性好的特点,而在其他类型癌细胞中基本没有活性。同时发现,eA33在各类癌细胞中的转录水平与A33相比,均呈大幅度提高,有显著性差异(P<0.01),但SV40增强子能显著增强A33启动子转录活性的同时减低了其结肠癌特异性。这为靶向癌症基因—病毒治疗策略在结肠癌的生物治疗应用中寻找结肠癌特异性的启动子奠定了研究基础。     

鲤鱼金属硫蛋白基因启动区功能的研究

以氯霉素乙酰化酶作为报讯基因、利用草鱼肾培养细胞瞬时表达系统,对已克隆的鲤鱼金属硫蛋白基因５’－调节区１．６ｋｂ的序列进行了功能分析。从顺式效应和反式效应研究证明：所克隆的鲤鱼ＭＴ基因５‘－调节区具有典型ＭＴ启动子的特性实验发现哺乳动物病毒ＳＶ４０增强子要以加强鱼类ＭＴ启动子的活性,提示在系统进化上鱼类基因不但存在增强子元件,并具有哺乳动物增强子相似的作用方式,而且作用于增强子的反式效应因子也存在     

水稻CesA4基因启动子与GUS基因融合表达

目的:利用GUS报告基因,研究水稻CesA4基因在水稻组织和器官的定位.方法:克隆水稻的CesA4基因的启动子并用GUS组织化学染色检测启动子与GUS基因融合表达情况.结果:成功克隆了水稻的CesA4基因的启动子,并发现水稻的CesA4基因在水稻的根、茎、叶、鞘、穗的纤维均有表达.结论:通过将水稻CesA4基因的启动子与GUS基因融合来分析水稻此基因的表达部位,是一种简便和有效方法.     

NFY结合位点缺失下调NPCEDRG基因启动子转录活性和效率

NPCEDRG基因是一个鼻咽癌(nasopharyngeal carcinoma, NPC)相关基因. NPCEDRG基因启动子为TATA-less启动子,其核心启动子区域位于-146 ～-8 bp区,该区域包含NFY、STAT1和cMYB等转录因子结合位点. 前期研究结果提示,转录因子NFY可能参与NPCEDRG基因的转录调控. 为明确NFY转录因子在NPCEDRG基因转录中的作用,本研究应用报告基因载体系统分析方法对NPCEDRG基因核心启动子区进行NFY结合位点（或CCAAT-box）缺失突变及其功能分析,分别构建NPCEDRG基因核心启动子区NFY结合位点缺失突变的Luc和EGFP报告基因表达载体. 比较核心启动子和NFY结合位点缺失突变体报告基因载体的转录活性和效率. 结果表明,在MCF7和CNE2细胞中,NFY结合位点缺失突变体的转录活性分别约为其核心启动子转录活性66.94%和75.72%,即NFY结合位点缺失致使该启动子转录效率在MCF7和CNE2细胞中分别降低了33.06%和24.28%;EGFP报告基因表达载体系统研究结果与Luc报告基因载体系统结果基本吻合. 本研究再次证实,转录因子NFY通过结合NPCEDRG基因启动子的核心元件NFY结合位点参与NPCEDRG基因的转录调控,并提高其基因转录活性和效率.     

Gene and enhancer trap tagging of vascular-expressed genes in poplar trees

We report a gene discovery system for poplar trees based on gene and enhancer traps. Gene and enhancer trap vectors carrying the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene were inserted into the poplar genome via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation, where they reveal the expression pattern of genes at or near the insertion sites. Because GUS expression phenotypes are dominant and are scored in primary transformants, this system does not require rounds of sexual recombination, a typical barrier to developmental genetic studies in trees. Gene and enhancer trap lines defining genes expressed during primary and secondary vascular development were identified and characterized. Collectively, the vascular gene expression patterns revealed that approximately 40% of genes expressed in leaves were expressed exclusively in the veins, indicating that a large set of genes is required for vascular development and function. Also, significant overlap was found between the sets of genes responsible for development and function of secondary vascular tissues of stems and primary vascular tissues in other organs of the plant, likely reflecting the common evolutionary origin of these tissues. Chromosomal DNA flanking insertion sites was amplified by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR and sequenced and used to identify insertion sites by reference to the nascent Populus trichocarpa genome sequence. Extension of the system was demonstrated through isolation of full-length cDNAs for five genes of interest, including a new class of vascular-expressed gene tagged by enhancer trap line cET-1-pop1-145. Poplar gene and enhancer traps provide a new resource that allows plant biologists to directly reference the poplar genome sequence and identify novel genes of interest in forest biology.     

Enhanced gene trapping in mouse embryonic stem cells

Gene trapping is used to introduce insertional mutations into genes of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). It is performed with gene trap vectors that simultaneously mutate and report the expression of the endogenous gene at the site of insertion and provide a DNA tag for rapid identification of the disrupted gene. Gene traps have been employed worldwide to assemble libraries of mouse ESC lines harboring mutations in single genes, which can be used to make mutant mice. However, most of the employed gene trap vectors require gene expression for reporting a gene trap event and therefore genes that are poorly expressed may be under-represented in the existing libraries. To address this problem, we have developed a novel class of gene trap vectors that can induce gene expression at insertion sites, thereby bypassing the problem of intrinsic poor expression. We show here that the insertion of the osteopontin enhancer into several conventional gene trap vectors significantly increases the gene trapping efficiency in high-throughput screens and facilitates the recovery of poorly expressed genes.     

Genes expressed in the ring gland,the major endocrine organ of Drosophila melanogaster.

We have used an enhancer-trap approach to begin characterizing the function of the Drosophila endocrine system during larval development. Five hundred and ten different lethal PZ element insertions were screened to identify those in which a reporter gene within the P element showed strong expression in part or all of the ring gland, the major site of production and release of developmental hormones, and which had a mutant phenotype consistent with an endocrine defect. Nine strong candidate genes were identified in this screen, and eight of these are expressed in the lateral cells of the ring gland that produce ecdysteroid molting hormone (EC). We have confirmed that the genes detected by these enhancer traps are expressed in patterns similar to those detected by the reporter gene. Two of the genes encode proteins, protein kinase A and calmodulin, that have previously been implicated in the signaling pathway leading to EC synthesis and release in other insects. A third gene product, the translational elongation factor EF-1alpha F1, could play a role in the translational regulation of EC production. The screen also identified the genes couch potato and tramtrack, previously known from their roles in peripheral nervous system development, as being expressed in the ring gland. One enhancer trap revealed expression of the gene encoding the C subunit of vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) in the medial cells of the ring gland, which produce the juvenile hormone that controls progression through developmental stages. This could reveal a function of V-ATPase in the response of this part of the ring gland to adenotropic neuropeptides. However, the gene identified by this enhancer trap is ubiquitously expressed, suggesting that the enhancer trap is detecting only a subset of its control elements. The results show that the enhancer trap approach can be a productive way of exploring tissue-specific genetic functions in Drosophila.     

Inducible gene trapping with drug-selectable markers and Cre/loxP to identify developmentally regulated genes

Gene trapping in mouse embryonic stem cells is an important genetic approach that allows simultaneous mutation of genes and generation of corresponding mutant mice. We designed a selection scheme with drug selection markers and Cre/loxP technology which allows screening of gene trap events that responded to a signaling molecule in a 96-well format. Nine hundred twenty gene trap clones were assayed, and 258 were classified as gene traps induced by in vitro differentiation. Sixty-five of the in vitro differentiation-inducible gene traps were also responsive to retinoic acid treatment. In vivo analysis revealed that 85% of the retinoic acid-inducible gene traps trapped developmentally regulated genes, consistent with the observation that genes induced by retinoic acid treatment are likely to be developmentally regulated. Our results demonstrate that the inducible gene trapping system described here can be used to enrich in vitro for traps in genes of interest. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the cre reporter is extremely sensitive and can be used to explore chromosomal regions that are not detectable with neo as a selection cassette.     

Combination of the ALCR/alcA ethanol switch and GAL4/VP16-UAS enhancer trap system enables spatial and temporal control of transgene expression in Arabidopsis

The experimental control of gene expression in specific tissues or cells at defined time points is a useful tool for the analysis of gene function. GAL4/VP16-UAS enhancer trap lines can be used to selectively express genes in specific tissues or cells, and an ethanol-inducible system can help to control the time of expression. In this study, the combination of the two methods allowed the successful regulation of gene expression in both time and space. For this purpose, a binary vector, 962-UAS::GUS, was constructed in which the ALCR activator and β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene were placed under the control of upstream activator sequence (UAS) elements and the alcA response element, respectively. Three different GAL4/VP16-UAS enhancer trap lines of Arabidopsis were transformed, resulting in transgenic plants in which GUS activity was detected only on ethanol induction and exclusively in the predicted tissues of the enhancer trap lines. As a library of different enhancer trap lines with distinct green fluorescent protein (GFP) patterns exist, transformation with a similar vector, in which GUS is replaced by another gene, would enable the control of the time and place of transgene expression. We have constructed two vectors for easy cloning of the gene of interest, one with a polylinker site and one that is compatible with the GATEWAY™ vector conversion system. The method can be extended to other species when enhancer trap lines become available.