特异亲和活性蓝染料的小分子RNA的SELIEX筛选

化学合成含有２０个核苷酸随机序列,长度为７３个核苷酸的单链ＤＮＡ随机 ;ＰＣＲ扩增和双链化后,Ｔ７ ＲＮＡ聚合酶体外转录得到单链ＲＮＡ随机库,以活性蓝染料凝胶柱为筛选介质,体外进化方法筛选特异亲和活性蓝染料的ＲＮＡ分子。经８轮循环筛选,ＲＮＡ群体亲和染料的比例从小于０．０３％上升至２２．４％。     

非连续多核苷酸定点突变的方法

以人粒巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ｈＧＭ-ＣＳＦ）、人α８干扰素（ｈＩＦＮ-α８）和分裂细胞核抗原（ＰＣＮＡ）的ｃＤＮＡ定点突变为例,建立了一种新的大区域非连续多核苷酸同步定点突变的方法。经碱变性后的质粒ＤＮＡ,先用突变引物延伸单链,然后通过ＰＣＲ扩增得到突变双链ＤＮＡ。用该方法成功地改造了ｈＧＭ-ＣＳＦ基因５′端３６个核苷酸中的９个位点、ＩＦＮ-α８基因５′端３９个核苷酸中的９个位点和ＰＣＮＡ基因ＳＤ顺序两侧６个和７个核苷酸。与经典的含Ｕ单链寡核苷酸定点突变方法相比,本方法突变效率高,并省去了对突变克隆杂交筛选的操作     

固定化枯草杆菌色氨酰tRNA合成酶(英文)

为研究ｔＲＮＡＴｒｐ 与色氨酰ｔＲＮＡ合成酶（ＴｒｐＲＳ） 的相互识别及其结构、功能关系, 纯化了枯草杆菌ＴｒｐＲＳ并用溴化氰活化的Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４Ｂ 将ＴｒｐＲＳ固定化, 固定化ＴｒｐＲＳ的蛋白质回收率为９５ ．５ ％ , 活力回收率为３１．３％ 。研究了固定化ＴｒｐＲＳ的酶学性质, 其热稳定性和贮存稳定性方面均比液相ＴｒｐＲＳ有了较大的提高, 最适温度、最适ｐＨ 均有一定程度的增大, 工作稳定性良好。以固定化ＴｒｐＲＳ为亲和层析介质, 对含有２０ 个核苷酸随机序列、长度为５６ 个核苷酸的单链ＲＮＡ 随机库进行了３ 轮筛选,ＲＮＡ 群体亲和固定化ＴｒｐＲＳ的比例从４ ．３ ％ 上升至１４ ．７ ％ 。筛选得到了与ｔＲＮＡＴｒｐ 氨基酸接受茎类似的ＲＮＡ二级结构。实验结果表明固定化ＴｒｐＲＳ可以作为ＳＥＬＥＸ 亲和层析介质, 进行模拟ｔＲＮＡＴｒｐ 分子的ＲＮＡ 随机库的ＳＥＬＥＸ 筛选。     

RecA蛋白介导的三链核酸结构形成及其序列提取

人工合成的单链DNA分子经PCR扩增形成双链DNA分子。将RecA蛋白与生物素标记的寡聚核酸探针序列在ATPγS存在的情况下共同哺育,使RecA蛋白包裹寡聚核酸探针,然后加入含同源序列的上述双链DNA分子经适当环境哺育形成了稳定的局部三链核酸结构。通过加入链亲和素包裹的磁珠吸附生物素化的探针,这样同源双链DNA分子与寡聚核酸探针形成的局部三链核酸结构也被吸附在磁珠上。使用磁分离装置提取这一结构,逐步降低盐离子浓度以洗脱双链DNA分子。将洗脱液中残留的蛋白质去除,经PCR扩增可获得目的DNA序列。同时使用同源探针和非同源探针在其它序列中提取目的DNA序列,结果显示目的DNA序列只被同源探针提取。实验结果显示了这一三链核酸结构形成的序列特异性,并且其稳定性随盐离子浓度降低而下降。提示在这一结构中同源的寡聚核酸单链与双链DNA分子形成了氢键结合,同时提示使用文中描述的方法可以提取特异的序列,用以克隆相应的基因。     

重组人淋巴毒素随机点突变组合文库的构建

构建重组人淋巴毒素（rhLT）随机点突变组合文库以进行体外分子进化及结构和功能的研究。应用含随机核苷酸序列的引物,通过Overlap PCR的方法分别对rhLT 的46、106和130位氨基酸进行定点随机突变,获得各单点随机突变体库。通过基因操作将这三个单点随机突变体库拼接并克隆于Pmd_18T载体建立三点组合突变体文库,DNA测序鉴定突变位点的随机性和多样性,原核表达该变异体库,体外测定生物学活性。成功获得rhLT三点随机点突变组合文库,其转化克隆数达到1.5×10⁵,是多样性理论值的4.5倍。50个样品的序列分析显示各个位点的核苷酸和氨基酸序列的突变都呈随机性分布。对原核表达的30个样品进行生物学活性测定,结果70%(21个)的样品无活性、23.3%(7个)的样品活性低于rhLT、6.7%(2个)的样品活性高于rhLT。成功构建了rhLT随机点突变组合文库,该库不仅在一级结构上具有良好的随机性和多样性,而且具有生物学活性的多样性,为应用噬菌体展示等高通量筛选策略对淋巴毒素进行体外分子进化和结构与功能的深入研究打下了基础。     

人分裂细胞核抗原基因片段的筛选、测序及对启动子的分析

经６．６×１０５个克隆筛选,从装在λ噬菌体载体Ｃｈａｒｏｎ３０中的人基因库中筛选到了一个含人分裂细胞核抗原（ＰＣＮＡ）基因的克隆。经Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交分析插入基因长约１４ｋｂ,有较长的５＇上游区,但３＇端缺少一部分。经亚克隆和测序已确定从５＇上游１２６３ｂｐ到３＇端与λ载体接点共４９６９ｂｐＰＣＮＡ基因片段的核苷酸序列。将ＰＣＮＡ基因启动子核苷酸序列与ＤＮＡ聚合酶α,拓扑异构酶Ⅱα,胸苷酸激酶基因的启动子进行比较有３０％以上同源性,具有“看家基因”特征。在转录起始点的５＇上游几百ｂｐ的范围内都有与ＣＡＴ,ＳＰ１,Ｅ２Ｆ,ＮＦＨＢ,Ｏｃｔ１和ＡＴＦ等转录因子的结合位点相似的核苷酸序列。     

噬菌体6肽随机表面表达文库的构建

体外合成编码６肽的随机ＤＮＡ片段以及用于随机ＤＮＡ片段扩增了一对ＰＣＲ引物,再经ＰＣＲ扩增,ＢｇＩＩ酶切扩增产物,获得编码６肽的随机ＤＮＡ克隆片段,并利用已构建的噬菌体表面表达载体,经抗性和插入复活筛选,获得１．６×１０＾８个独立克隆,构成库的克隆经酶切,ＰＣＲ扩增,斑点杂交,序列测定,亲和素富集等方法的综合鉴定和评定,以及６肽随机克隆体外增殖和表达特性观察,结果均表明,我们成功构建了编码６肽的     

HGV广东株和香港株NS5区部分基因的克隆及序列分析

采用ＨＧＶＮＳ５特异的２对引物,对两个香港株和一个广东株ＨＧＶＲＮＡ进行逆转录套式ＰＣＲ扩增,ＰＣＲ产物克隆入ｐＵＣ１９,重组质粒转化ＤＨ５α和ＪＭ１０９菌株。ＰＣＲ和酶切法鉴定阳性克隆,双脱氧链末端终止法测定核苷酸序列并进行同源性分析。结果发现核苷酸变异呈散在分布,三株间核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为９３．３％～９４％及９７％～９９．２％,与已报道的中国株（ＣＮ）相比,则同源性分别为９０％～９１．２％和９４％～９６．３％,与美国株（ＰＮＦ２１６１及Ｒ１０２９１）相比,为８７．１％～８９．５％和９５．２％～９７％,而与西非株（ＧＢＶＣ）相比,则达９１．４％～９３．８％和９７％～９７．９％。提示ＨＧＶＮＳ５区核苷酸和氨基酸序列相对保守,不同ＨＧＶ株存在一定的地区差异。     

噬菌 展示法筛选与EphB2结合的短肽

酷氨酸蛋白激酶受体ＥｐｈＢ２的Ｉｇ类似区,克隆到融合表达闰载体ｐＥＴ２８ａ中,阳性克隆经ＩＰＴＧ诱导,表达出氨基端带６个连续组氨酸残基的融合蛋白。利用Ｎｉ－ＮＴＡ金属螯合亲和层析法有变性条件下对表达的蛋白进行纯化,纯度大于９４％。以此纯化蛋白为靶,将其包被于ＥＬＩＳＡ板上,经过三轮亲和筛选,从噬菌体随机７肽库中筛选到１９个具有ＥｐｈＢ２活性的重组噬菌体克隆,对阳性噬菌体克隆的短肽序列进行了分析。     

表位九肽库的构建及人Ⅳ型胶原酶特异结合肽的筛选

将人工合成的编码九肽的随机序列DNA片段克隆进丝状噬菌体表达载体FUSE5,经多次电击转化和表达,获得肽段与噬菌体pⅢ蛋白融合并展示在噬菌体表面的随机序列九肽表位肽库。库容量达10 10个克隆。以Ⅳ型胶原酶为靶蛋白,采用亲和纯化筛选模式,从中筛选出Ⅳ型胶原酶结合肽。进一步ELISA检测筛选出与Ⅳ型胶原酶特异结合的20个阳性克隆。序列分析发现一组肽含有WDXXD的共同序列,一组含有WVGXXR的共同序列。其中WDXXD的序列与Ⅳ型胶原酶单链抗体可变区序列同源。结果表明,多肽库是筛选蛋白特异结合肽的有力工具,表位九肽库的构建和筛选方法的建立为进一步应用筛选具有高亲和力的特异结合肽奠定了基础。     

一种结合SELEX与二代测序技术筛选RNA结合蛋白特异识别序列新方法的建立

RNA结合蛋白通过特异识别RNA底物发挥重要的生物学作用。指数富集的配体系统进化(Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment,SELEX)技术是一种体外筛选核酸底物的基本方法,SELEX技术通过重复多轮筛选从随机核酸序列库中筛选出特异性与靶物质高度亲和的核酸底物,本研究将利用该技术与二代高通量测序(NGS)相结合,体外合成含有20个随机碱基的RNA文库,将所要研究的蛋白构建到带有可被链亲和酶素磁珠捕获的SBP标记的载体上去,显著提高筛选效率,仅需1轮筛选即可获得所需RNA底物motif。通过该方法获得了人的hn RNP A1的UP1结构域特异识别AGG和AG二种RNA序列,并通过EMSA实验证实其可以与获得的RNA motif结合。这一方法的建立对于研究RNA结合蛋白识别底物的序列特异性,并进一步了解其在生物体内的调控机制有重要意义。     

Hypothesis of initiation of DNA methylation de novo and allelic exclusion by small RNAs

We have established that 5′-CG-3′ dinucleotide and 5′-CNG-3′ trinucleotide are found in published sequences of small interfering RNA and microRNA more often than they should be in random DNA sequences. This circumstance indicates the important biological role played by 5′-CG-3′ dinucleotides and 5′-CNG-3′ trinucleotides in small RNA sequences. We suggest that small RNAs containing these di- and trinucleotides participate in the creation of chromatin marks of epigenetic information through a highly specific search for repressible DNA sequences and through the initiation of the methylation de novo of 5′-CG-3′ and 5′-CNG-3′ sites in DNA fragments appearing to be bound complementary to small RNAs. Several genes can be inactivated simultaneously if they contain the motif recognized by small RNA. Allelic exclusion appears, in our opinion, as a result of initiation by small RNAs of DNA methylation de novo of all but one of the alleles that exist in the cell. The predecessor of this small RNA is transcribed from the antiparallel allele chain. Alleles whose antiparallel chains are less actively read by RNA polymerase, which, as we suggest, in the process of transcribing, releases DNA from small RNA bound to it, are inactivated. However, the quantity of small RNA transcribed from only one allele is insufficient to overcome the level above which the repression process of this allele is initiated de novo.     

Structure of RNAs replicated by the DNA-dependent T7 RNA polymerase.

The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of bacteriophage T7 efficiently and specifically replicates two structurally related RNAs, termed X and Y RNAs. Replication of both RNAs involves synthesis of complementary strands initiated with pppC and pppG. RNAs transcribed from DNA template containing the established sequences of X and Y RNAs were efficiently replicated by T7 RNA polymerase. Both RNAs possess palindromic sequences with a dual axis of symmetry, permitting formation of hairpin-, dumbbell-, or cloverleaf-type structures. The template must consist of RNA and not DNA sequence, and the terminal unpaired dinucleotides of the RNA are necessary for replication. Nucleotidyl transferase activity of E. coli adenylates the unpaired CCOH dinucleotide at the 3' end of a C strand of X RNA. This feature, as well as the length (64 nucleotides) and compact structure of X and Y RNAs, suggests that they may resemble tRNA molecules and tRNA-like structures at the 3' termini of many plant viral RNA genomes.     

Isolation of specific and high-affinity RNA aptamers against NS3 helicase domain of hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-encoded nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) possesses protease, NTPase, and helicase activities, which are considered essential for viral proliferation. Thus, HCV NS3 is a good putative therapeutic target protein for the development of anti-HCV agents. In this study, we isolated specific RNA aptamers to the helicase domain of HCV NS3 from a combinatorial RNA library with 40-nucleotide random sequences using in vitro selection techniques. The isolated RNAs were observed to very avidly bind the HCV helicase with an apparent Kd of 990 pM in contrast to original pool RNAs with a Kd of >1 microM. These RNA ligands appear to impede binding of substrate RNA to the HCV helicase and can act as potent decoys to competitively inhibit helicase activity with high efficiency compared with poly(U) or tRNA. The minimal binding domain of the ligands was determined to evaluate the structural features of the isolated RNA molecules. Interestingly, part of binding motif of the RNA aptamers consists of similar secondary structure to the 3'-end of HCV negative-strand RNA. Moreover, intracellular NS3 protein can be specifically detected in situ with the RNA aptamers, indicating that the selected RNAs are very specific to the HCV NS3 helicase. Furthermore, the RNA aptamers partially inhibited RNA synthesis of HCV subgenomic replicon in Huh-7 hepatoma cell lines. These results suggest that the RNA aptamers selected in vitro could be useful not only as therapeutic and diagnostic agents of HCV infection but also as a powerful tool for the study of HCV helicase mechanism.     

Hypothesis of the initiation of DNA methylation de novo and allelic exclusion by small RNA

We have discovered that 5'-CG-3' dinucleotide and 5'-CNG-3' trinucleotide are found in published sequences of small interfering RNA and microRNA more often than they should be found in a random sequence. This circumstance is evidence of an important biological purpose of 5'-CG-3' dinucleotides and 5'-CNG-3' trinucleotides in small RNA sequences. We suppose that small RNAs containing mentioned di- and trinucleotides participate in creation of chromatin marks of epigenetic information through high-specific search of DNA sequences liable to repression and through initiation of the methylation de novo of 5'-CG-3' and 5'-CNG-3' sites in DNA fragments, which appeared to be bound complementary with small RNA. Several genes can be inactivated simultaneously when they contain the motif which is recognized by small RNA. Allelic exclusion appears, to our opinion, as a result of initiation by small RNA of de novo DNA methylation of all alleles but one that exist in the cell. The predecessor of this small RNA is transcribed from the antiparallel allele chain. Those alleles are inactivated which antiparallel chain is less actively read by RNA-polymerase, which, as we suppose, releases DNA from attached to it small RNA in the process of transcribing. But the quantity of small RNA which is transcribed from just one allele is insufficient to overcome the level when the repression process of this allele de novo starts.     

In vitro selected peptides bind with thymidylate synthase mRNA and inhibit its translation

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme for catalyzing the biosynthesis of thymidylate, is a critical therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that TS functions as an RNA-binding protein by interacting with two different sequences on its own mRNA, thus, repressing translational efficiency. In this study, peptides binding TS RNA with high affinity were isolated using mRNA display from a large peptide library (＞1013 different sequences). The randomized library was subjected up to twelve rounds of in vitro selection and amplification. Comparing the amino acid composition of the selected peptides (12th round, R12) with those from the initial random library (round zero, R0), the basic and aromatic residues in the selected peptides were enriched significantly, suggesting that these peptide regions might be important in the peptide-TS mRNA interaction. Categorizing the amino acids at each random position based on their physicochemical properties and comparing the distributions with those of the initial random pool, an obvious basic charge characteristic was found at positions 1, 12, 17 and 18, suggesting that basic side chains participate in RNA binding. Secondary structure prediction showed that the selected peptides of R12 pool represented a helical propensity compared with R0 pool, and the regions were rich in basic residues. The electrophoretic gel mobility shift and in vitro translation assays showed that the peptides selected using mRNA display could bind TS RNA specifically and inhibit the translation of TS mRNA. Our results suggested that the identified peptides could be used as new TS inhibitors and developed to a novel class of anticancer agents.     

In vitro selected peptides bind with thymidylate synthase mRNA and inhibit its translation

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme for catalyzing the biosynthesis of thymidylate, is a critical therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that TS functions as an RNA-binding protein by interacting with two different sequences on its own mRNA, thus, repressing translational efficiency. In this study, peptides binding TS RNA with high affinity were isolated using mRNA display from a large peptide library (＞1013 different sequences). The randomized library was subjected up to twelve rounds of in vitro selection and amplification. Comparing the amino acid composition of the selected peptides (12th round, R12) with those from the initial random library (round zero, R0), the basic and aromatic residues in the selected peptides were enriched significantly, suggesting that these peptide regions might be important in the peptide-TS mRNA interaction. Categorizing the amino acids at each random position based on their physicochemical properties and comparing the distributions with those of the initial random pool, an obvious basic charge characteristic was found at positions 1, 12, 17 and 18, suggesting that basic side chains participate in RNA binding. Secondary structure prediction showed that the selected peptides of R12 pool represented a helical propensity compared with R0 pool, and the regions were rich in basic residues. The electrophoretic gel mobility shift and in vitro translation assays showed that the peptides selected using mRNA display could bind TS RNA specifically and inhibit the translation of TS mRNA. Our results suggested that the identified peptides could be used as new TS inhibitors and developed to a novel class of anticancer agents.