谷氨酸棒杆菌/大肠杆菌穿梭型启动子探测载体构建

从质粒pXZ10145和pUC19出发,构建了一个谷氨酸棒杆菌/大肠杆菌穿梭载体pAK6。pAK6的大小为5684bp,带有卡那霉素和氨苄青霉素抗性选择标记,以及多克隆位点。在pAK6基础上,构建了以氯霉素乙酰转移酶为报告基因的启动子探测载体pAKC6,pAKC6的大小为6474bp。采用鸟枪法,将经Sau3AI消化的谷氨酸棒杆菌基因组片段连入pAKC6;根据谷氨酸棒杆菌对氯霉素的抗性,从中分离出两个具有启动子功能的插入片段。通过测定报告基因氯霉素乙酰转移酶的活性,对两个启动子片段在谷氨酸棒杆菌中的强度进行了初步的判断;测序后,用启动子预测软件对其结构进行了预测,证实了启动子序列的存在。     

腐蹄病致病因子节瘤拟杆菌蛋白酶在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及其启动子分析

节瘤拟杆菌是羊腐蹄病的主要致病因子,它能产生细胞外蛋白酶。本文所报道的是其中的一种蛋白酶(40 kDa)基因的亚克隆、在大肠杆菌中的高效表达以及N-末端多肽序列。用Spbl+ScaI酶切原克隆(插入片段约为15kh),鸟枪法克隆于pTZ18R载体,用免旋学方法筛选其亚克隆文库,并用SDS／聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测其表达。然后纯化其亚克隆DNA片段,用Sau3A1消化,克隆于pKK232-2启动子选择载体,进行启动子的分离和分析。用分光光度计方法定量测定CAT(氯霉素乙酰转移酶)活性,从而确定其启动子的强弱。     

谷氨酸棒杆菌内源表达元件的筛选

【目的】构建谷氨酸棒杆菌表达元件探测载体,筛选能够启动蛋白表达的序列片段。【方法】基于谷氨酸棒杆菌表达载体p XMJ19,利用Golden Gate新型克隆方法构建表达元件插入位点,使筛选的片段能够与报告基因快速无缝衔接,同时避免残留额外的序列对表达元件效果测试产生可能存在的干扰。对本课题组前期的谷氨酸棒杆菌BZH001高、中、低溶氧条件下的发酵样品转录组数据进行分析,筛选出稳定于高转录水平的6个基因,通过软件预测每个基因的启动子区域和5′UTR区域,两者构成能够启动基因表达的功能性元件,并将其从基因组中克隆出来。以增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因egfp作为报告基因,快速测量出表达元件的效果。【结果】获得5个不同效果的内源性表达元件,最好的元件插入探测载体后在谷氨酸棒杆菌中表达的荧光强度大于3 500 RFU/OD600。【结论】通过结合转录组数据,探测载体能够快速有效筛选表达元件,为将来人们对谷氨酸棒杆菌基因工程改造和生物系统的构建提供更多基础材料。     

谷氨酸棒状杆菌启动子在枯草芽孢杆菌中的克隆及其序列分析

利用枯草芽孢杆菌启动子探针质粒pPL 603为载体,从谷氨酸棒状杆菌1014—6染色体DNA上克隆到一个有较强启动功能的DNA片段。生物素标记的DNA—DNA分子杂交实验证明该片段确实来自谷氨酸棒状杆菌1014—6染色体DNA。在绘制该片段限制酶酶切图谱的基础上,经另一个启动子探针质粒pPL 703的亚克隆,将其启动子功能区定位在Bamm酶切片段中。对后者进行了核苷酸序列分析,发现它具有棒状杆菌类启动子的－35区和－10医序列。     

棒杆菌启动子片段的酶谱分析及定位

用大肠杆菌启动子探测质粒pSDS I (Ap^r,Tc^s)从钝齿棒杆菌(Corynebacterium crenatum)6282染色体的HindⅢ酶切片段中,克隆到两个具有启动功能的DNA片段,分别将两个重组质粒命名为pSDB5和pSDB21。含有这两个质粒的菌株均可以在含300μg/ml Tc的平板上生长。通过酶切分析,pSDB5的插入片段为1.6kb,pSDB21的插入片段为3.4kb,并分别作出了它们的限制性酶切图谱。对pSDB21利用其EcoR Ⅰ和BglⅡ位点,通过亚克隆删除了与启动功能无关片段,构建成pSDB210和pSDB211,从而使启动子定位于约0.1kb的BglⅡ/HindⅢ外源片段上。分子杂交实验证明所得到的这两个具有启动功能的DNA片段确实来源于钝齿棒杆菌6282的染色体DNA。     

盐生盐杆菌RM07 DNA片段在大肠杆菌中的定点诱变和启动子功能分析

将来源于嗜盐古生菌——盐生盐杆菌(Halobacterium halobium)基因组的RM07 DNA片段以正反两个方向分别插入大肠杆菌启动子探针载体pKK232-8携带的报告基因——氯霉素抗性基因(cat)的上游,得到RM07-cat融合的质粒pRM07-1( )和pRM07-1(-),将其分别转入大肠杆菌HB101,进而检测了不同转化子菌株的氯霉素抗性水平和细胞内氯霉素乙酰转移酶蛋白质浓度。结果表明：正向的RM07片段在真细菌(大肠杆菌)中具有启动子活性,能够驱动cat报告基因的表达;而反向的RM07片段在大肠杆菌中不具有启动子活性。对RM07片段进行了定点诱变分析,检测了特定核苷酸突变对启动子活性的影响,结果进一步精确定位了RM07片段中对在大肠杆菌中的启动子功能有重要作用的关键碱基,并且通过改造RM07片段的碱基组成成分大幅提高了其在大肠杆菌中的启动子活性。     

中间载体pBz6102的构建及CAT基因在转化烟草中的表达

来源于细菌的新霉素磷酸转移酶基因(NPT),氯霉素乙酰转移酶基因(CAT)以及来源于昆虫的荧光素酶基因等都是用于研究根癌农杆菌转化植物的良好标记。我们利用氯霉素乙酰转移酶嵌合基因和来源于Ti质粒T-区DNA的tmr基因,构建了中间载体pBZ 6102,并通过植物基因工程载体pGV 3850,将氯霉素乙酰转移酶嵌合基因和tmr基因引入了植物细胞,并测到了表达,在抗氯霉素植物中测到了氯霉素乙酰转移酶活性。中间裁体pBZ 6102上还有Pst Ⅰ,Xba Ⅰ等单一的限制性内切酶位点,外源基因极易插入。转化植物F_1代的种子抗性分析表明,80%左右的种子都能在含氯霉素的培养基上正常萌发,它们的幼苗中都有氯霉素乙酰转移酶活性,证明CAT基因通过了减数分裂稳定地保留在植物细胞的基因组内。     

在枯草杆菌中有启动子功能的噬菌体T5 DNA片段的克隆

用启动子探针质粒pTG 402为载体,用鸟枪射击法克隆了噬菌体T5 DNA的片段。克隆中的2％含有具启动子功能的插入片段,其中pTG 402-20含有启动功能最强的插入片段。DNA-DNA分子杂交实验结果表明,pTG 402-20的插入片段能与T5 DNA Hind Ⅲ酶切的G和B片段杂交。这个插入片段的大小约为0.84kb。     

原子力显微镜力谱研究大肠杆菌启动子与RNA聚合酶的相互作用

【目的】本研究通过原子力显微镜(AFM)力谱技术研究了大肠杆菌启动子与RNA聚合酶(RNAp)间的相互作用,目的是建立一种高效的体外表征启动子的新方法。【方法】优化了用于单分子AFM力谱分析的蛋白固定化策略,建立AFM力谱分析启动子的策略,以缺失识别启动子序列的σ亚基核心RNA聚合酶(RNAp-C)为对照,研究启动子/RNAp间相互作用的特异性。最后比较了序列较典型的Ls1启动子和缺失–10区的Ls2启动子的力谱。【结果】基于建立的方法,验证了Ls1与大肠杆菌RNAp结合的特异性,其相互作用力为(331.10±5.10)p N。与Ls1相比,Ls2启动子与RNAp结合显著减少。利用启动子探针质粒,以报告基因cat的表达产物氯霉素乙酰转移酶(CAT)的酶活验证Ls1、Ls2启动子强度,分别为(181.70±4.10)、(0.30±0.20)U/mg。【结论】本研究建立的基于AFM力谱技术的启动子分析技术,是一种高效的、直接定量表征启动子活性的新方法。     

利用大肠杆菌质粒检测与分离痘苗病毒的启动子

本文发现,痘苗病毒DNA一些巳知的启动子序列和一些功能尚不清楚的DNA片段,可以在大肠杆菌中起始氯霉素乙酰基转移酶(Chloramphenicol Acetyltrsnsferase,简称CAT)基因的转录和表达,使转化细菌呈现氯霉素抗性表型,这一结果证明,痘苗病毒的启动子可以被大肠杆菌的RNA多聚酶所识别并有效工作。同时发现不同启动子具有不同的强度,利用大肠杆菌质粒分离和检测痘苗病毒的启动子序列,不仅可以研究痘苗病毒基因组的表达调节特点,而且也为组建痘苗病毒表达载体提供了一个快速、简便可靠的方法。     

Heterologous gene expression in Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis and other gastrointestinal tract Bacteroides are unusual gram-negative eubacteria in that genes from other gram-negative eubacteria are not expressed when introduced into these organisms. To analyze gene expression in Bacteroides, expression vector and promoter probe (detection) vector systems were developed. The essential feature of the expression vector was the incorporation of a Bacteroides insertion sequence element, IS4351, which possesses promoter activity directed outward from its ends. Genes inserted into the multiple cloning site downstream from an IS4351 DNA fragment were readily expressed in B. fragilis. The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) structural gene from Tn9 was tested and conferred chloramphenicol resistance on B. fragilis. Both chloramphenicol resistance and CAT activity were shown to be dependent on the IS4351 promoters. Similar results were obtained with the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene (uidA) but activity was just 30% of the levels seen with cat. Two tetracycline resistance determinants, tetM from Streptococcus agalactiae and tetC from E. coli, also were examined. tetC did not result in detectable tetracycline resistance but the gram-positive tetM gene conferred high-level resistance to tetracycline and minocycline in Bacteroides hosts. Based on the cat results, promoter probe vectors containing the promoterless cat gene were constructed. These vectors were used to clone random B. fragilis promoters from partial genomic libraries and the recombinants displayed a range of CAT activities and chloramphenicol MICs in B. fragilis hosts. In addition, known E. coli promoters (Ptet, Ptac, Ptrc, Psyn, and P1P2rrnB) were tested for activity in B. fragilis. No chloramphenicol resistance or CAT activity was observed in B. fragilis with these promoters.     

多个顺式作用元件调节血管紧张素原基因表达

血管紧张素原是最强的血管活性物质——血管紧张素Ⅱ的唯一前体,在不同的生理和病理条件下,其水平各异．为了研究血管紧张素原基因表达的调控,将人血管紧张素原基因５′端侧翼序列１．２ｋｂ同氯霉素乙酰转移酶（ＣＡＴ）基因编码序列连接,构成表达载体,并且在此基础上构建５′端系列缺失的突变表达载体,用这些表达载体转染ＨｅｐＧ２和ＣＯＳ－７,确定了正负调控元件;同时应用ＤＮＡ－蛋白质凝胶泳动检测技术,发现核蛋白质与该顺式元件的结合,从而证明多个顺式作用元件调节血管紧张素原基因的表达．     

Functional redundancy of the DE-1 and alpha A-CRYBP1 regulatory sites of the mouse alpha A-crystallin promoter.

Previous studies have implicated the DE-1 (-111/-106) and alpha A-CRYBP1 (-66/-57) sites for activity of the mouse alpha A-crystallin promoter in transiently transfected lens cells. Here we have used the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene to test the functional importance of the putative DE-1 and alpha A-CRYBP1 regulatory elements by site-specific and deletion mutagenesis in stably transformed alpha TN4-1 lens cells and in transgenic mice. FVB/N and C57BL/6 x SJL F2 hybrid transgenic mice were assayed for CAT activity in the lens, heart, lung, kidney, spleen, liver, cerebrum, and muscle. F0, F1, and F2 mice from multiple lines carrying single mutations of the DE-1 or alpha A-CRYBP1 sites showed high levels of CAT activity in the lens, but not in any of the non-lens tissues. By contrast, despite activity of the wild-type promoter, none of the mutant promoter/CAT constructs were active in the transiently transfected and stably transformed lens cells. The mice carrying transgenes with either site-specific mutations in both the DE-1 and alpha A-CRYBP1 sites or a deletion of the entire DE-1 and part of the alpha A-CRYBP1 site (-60/+46) fused to the CAT gene did not exhibit CAT activity above background in any of the tissues examined, including the lens. Our results thus indicate that the DE-1 and alpha A-CRYBP1 sites are functionally redundant in transgenic mice. Moreover, the present data coupled with previous transfection and transgenic mouse experiments suggest that this functional redundancy is confined to lens expression within the mouse and is not evident in transiently transfected and stably transformed lens cells, making the cultured lens cells sensitive indicators of functional elements of crystallin genes.     

The impact of PHB accumulation on L-glutamate production by recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum

Corynebacterium glutamicum, a gram-positive soil bacterium, has been used extensively for the industrial production of l-glutamate and other amino acids. In this study, an Escherichia coli-C. glutamicum shuttle expression plasmid harboring polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis genes, phbCAB from Ralstonia eutropha, was constructed under the Ptrc promoter. C. glutamicum harboring this plasmid accumulated 3-13% PHB with a weight average molecular mass of 125,400 and a polydispersity of 11.3 when grown on glucose. PHB synthesis related enzyme activities including beta-ketothiolase (PhbA), acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (PhbB) and PHB synthase (PhbC) were found to be constitutively produced independent of IPTG. l-Glutamate production increased 39-68% in two C. glutamicum strains harboring PHB synthesis genes compared with their parent strains in shake flask experiments. In fermentor studies, the recombinant produced approximately 23% more l-glutamate compared with that of the wild type, and yielded less intermediate metabolites or by-products including alpha-ketoglutarate, l-glutamine and lactate. These results suggested that the expression of phbCAB genes in C. glutamicum could help regulate glutamate production metabolism. This demonstrated that the expression of PHB synthesis genes has a positive effect on l-glutamate production in C. glutamicum.     

Induction of a wheat Em promoter by ABA and optically pure ABA analogs in white spruce (Picea glauca) protoplasts

In white spruce ( Picea glauca ) protoplasts, abscisic acid (ABA) and optically pure ABA analogs induced expression of a reporter gene under regulation of a wheat ABA-responsive promoter. A fusion of a 650 bp promoter fragment from the wheat Em gene promoter and the Escherichia coli uidA sequence encoding β -glucuronidase (GUS) was linked in the plasmid pBM 113Kp. Expression of the Em-uidA fusion varied among 6 white spruce genotypes. Protoplasts from 4-day-old embryogenic suspension cultures gave the highest GUS activity relative 10 other stages in the 7-day growth cycle of suspension cultures. Racemic ABA [R.S-(±)-ABA] induced a significant increase of protoplast GUS activity over background at a concentration of 1 × 10⁻⁵ M , but maximum GUS activity was found at 1 × 10⁻³ M , ABA stereochemistry had a significant effect on gene expression. The natural isomer of ABA [S-(+)-ABA] was an effective inducer at a concentration as low as 1 × 10⁻⁷ M , but a concentration of greater than 1 × 10⁻⁴ M was required for induction by [R-(—)-ABA]. Moreover, analogs with the same configuration at C-l¹ as that of natural ABA were more effective for induction of expression from the Em-uidA . insert at 1 × 10⁻⁴ M than were their enamiomers. Plasnud pBI511. carrying the chloramphenicol acety] transferase (CAT) gene driven by the constitutively expressed, tandemly duplicated cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, was co-electroporated with pBM113Kp for monitoring Ihe influence of addition of exogenous ABA or ABA analogs on heterologous gene expression in protoplasts. CAT activity was not significantly affected by the presence or absence of ABA or the analogs used.     

Cloning and study of Corynebacterium glutamicum genes complementing ilvA and thrA2 mutations in Escherichia coli

Molecular cloning and expression of Corynebacterium glutamicum genes complementing Escherichia coli mutations thrA2 and ilvA was performed. It was demonstrated that the thrA2 gene of C. glutamicum is located close to thrB on EcoRI DNA fragment 4.1 kb long. The fragment was cloned in pUC18 vector. The thrA2 gene is expressed in the recombinant plasmid pOBT3 under control of the vector pUC18 Plac promoter. In E. coli minicells, the genes thrA2 and thrB determined synthesis of proteins of Mr 43kD and 25 kD, respectively. A gene complementing ilvA mutation of E. coli was identified in a library of EcoRI C. glutamicum DNA fragments. This library was constructed using plasmid vector. It was shown that the ilvA gene of C. glutamicum is located inside the 3.6 kb EcoRI fragment and is expressed using its own promoter.     

Identification and characterization of novel and potent transcription promoters of Francisella tularensis

Two alternative promoter trap libraries, based on the green fluorescence protein (gfp) reporter and on the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) cassette, were constructed for isolation of potent Francisella tularensis promoters. Of the 26,000 F. tularensis strain LVS gfp library clones, only 3 exhibited visible fluorescence following UV illumination and all appeared to carry the bacterioferritin promoter (Pbfr). Out of a total of 2,000 chloramphenicol-resistant LVS clones isolated from the cat promoter library, we arbitrarily selected 40 for further analysis. Over 80% of these clones carry unique F. tularensis DNA sequences which appear to drive a wide range of protein expression, as determined by specific chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) Western dot blot and enzymatic assays. The DNA sequence information for the 33 unique and novel F. tularensis promoters reported here, along with the results of in silico and primer extension analyses, suggest that F. tularensis possesses classical Escherichia coli σ(70)-related promoter motifs. These motifs include the -10 (TATAAT) and -35 [TTGA(C/T)A] domains and an AT-rich region upstream from -35, reminiscent of but distinct from the E. coli upstream region that is termed the UP element. The most efficient promoter identified (Pbfr) appears to be about 10 times more potent than the F. tularensis groEL promoter and is probably among the strongest promoters in F. tularensis. The battery of promoters identified in this work will be useful, among other things, for genetic manipulation in the background of F. tularensis intended to gain better understanding of the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and virulence, as well as for vaccine development studies.