Cre/lox位点特异性重组系统在高等真核生物中的研究进展

来自于P1噬菌体的Cre/lox系统通过位点特异性重组可以迅速而有效地实现各种生理环境下的基因定点插入、删除、替换和倒位等操作。Cre/lox系统作为目前基因打靶技术的核心工具, 已被广泛应用于拟南芥、水稻、小鼠、果蝇、斑马鱼等高等真核模式生物。文章较为全面地介绍了Cre/lox系统的基本概况及其在高等真核生物中的应用, 讨论了Cre/lox系统在研究中存在的主要问题和今后的发展方向, 为利用该系统在不同高等生物中进行基因操作提供有用的参考。     

Cre/lox位点特异重组系统在转基因植物中的应用

位点特异重组系统由重组酶和相应的重组酶识别位点组成,通过两者间的相互作用,实现外源基因精确整合与切除等一系列遗传操作.主要可分为Cre/lox系统、FLP/frt系统、R/RS系统和Gin/gix系统.目前,研究最充分应用最广泛的位点特异重组系统为Cre/lox系统.此系统为位点特异重组系统家族中的一员,由38.5kDCre重组酶和34bplox位点组成,最早被应用于动物转基因研究,包括基因敲除、基因激活、基因易位等.近年来,随着研究的深入,Cre/lox系统被逐步应用到植物研究中,并在诸多领域取得重大进展.本文总结归纳了Cre/lox系统在定点整合、定点切除以及叶绿体转化等方面的最新研究成果,旨在为利用Cre/lox系统构建环境安全和高效表达的植物遗传转化体系提供参考.     

去除选择标记基因的Cre/lox重组系统在植物中的应用

获得无选择标记基因的转基因植物越来越受到研究者的重视。目前,应用得较广泛的去除选择标记基因的方法有共转化法和位点特异性重组法,其中位点特异性重组系统中Cre/lox重组系统研究最多。以下介绍了Cre/lox位点特异性重组系统的原理、特点及其近几年在植物中的应用,针对本实验室在这一领域的研究情况,重点阐述了Cre/lox系统的应用前景。随着植物反应器研究领域的不断壮大,去除筛选标记基因是植物反应器研究的必然趋势。     

Cre/lox位点特异重组系统在植物基因工程中的应用

Cre/lox位点特异重组系统是植物基因工程中的重要工具,利用其可以在转基因植物中对目的基因实现精确删除和定点整合。概述Cre/lox系统的基本结构及作用方式,并以基因删除和定点整合为重点,详细介绍该系统在这两方面的应用。     

利用Cre/lox重组系统建立反义基因工程雄性不育恢复系

利用Cre/lox重组系统中的Cre重组酶能特异性识别并介导两个同向lox位点之间DNA序列发生重组删除的特点,将TA29驱动下的反义豌豆卷须肌动蛋白基因置于两个同向lox位点之间并与Bar基因连锁,转化烟草Wisconsin 38后获得抗除草剂Basta的转基因植株.将Cre基因导入烟草Wisconsin 38建立雄性不育工程恢复系.反义Actin转基因植株与Cre转基因植株杂交获得F1,通过Cre重组酶将F1中的反义肌动蛋白基因表达盒删除实现育性的恢复.结果显示:来自豌豆卷须的肌动蛋白基因在Wisconsin 38烟草绒毡层中反义表达但未能导致明显的雄性不育,转基因植株在花器官形态、花粉形状、活力、结实、结籽等方面与野生型植株间无明显的差异.而获得的烟草Cre转基因工程恢复系除少量植株出现叶片褪绿、结果少等异常外,绝大多数植株形态结构及开花结果习性与野生型一致;其中3个Cre转基因工程恢复系与Actin反义肌动蛋白转基因植株TAA-3杂交后,杂交后代中的绝大多数反义肌动蛋白基因表达盒均被精确删除,表明将Cre/lox重组系统用于建立基于反义基因工程雄性不育的恢复系是可行的.     

Cre／lox介导剔除转双价抗虫sck＋cryIAc基因籼稻恢复系明恢86材料的选择标记基因

Cre/lox系统通过其Cre重组酶对lox序列进行切割和重新连接,介导lox序列发生特异性重组。利用重组报告基因系统Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA,对Cre/lox系统在水稻(Oryza　sativa　L.)中介导转基因的剔除进行了研究。Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA系统中选择标记hpt基因侧翼含两个同向lox位点,并位于水稻actin1启动子和gusA基因之间。当hpt在Cre酶作用下被剔除时,actin1启动子可以和gusA基因融合在一起从而驱动GUS表达。通过农杆菌介导获得了分别转cre基因、Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA结构和双价抗虫基因lox-hpt-lox-sck-cryIAc结构的水稻。利用有性杂交方法将cre基因导入到转化lox结构的植株中。在4个转Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA　T0植株×转cre　T0植株所配组合的30个杂交F1植株中,12个植株表达GUS活性,9个表现潮霉素敏感,表明hpt基因被剔除。研究进一步通过Cre/lox介导剔除转双价抗虫sck　 cryIAc基因籼稻恢复系明恢86材料基因组中的选择标记hpt基因。在9个转lox-hpt-lox-sck-cryIAc　T2代纯合植株×转creT2代纯合植株所配组合的77个杂交F1植株中,　56个植株表现潮霉素敏感。分子分析证实在这些对潮霉素敏感的植株中hpt基因已经被剔除。     

Cre/lox介导剔除转双价抗虫sck+cryIAc基因籼稻恢复系明恢86材料的选择标记基因

Cre/lox系统通过其Cre重组酶对lox序列进行切割和重新连接,介导lox序列发生特异性重组.利用重组报告基因系统Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA,对Cre/lox系统在水稻(Oryzasativa L.)中介导转基因的剔除进行了研究.Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA系统中选择标记hpt基因侧翼含两个同向lox位点,并位于水稻actinl启动子和gusA基因之间.当hpt在Cre酶作用下被剔除时,actinl启动子可以和gusA基因融合在一起从而驱动GUS表达.通过农杆菌介导获得了分别转cre基因、Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA结构和双价抗虫基因lox-hpt-lox-sck-cryIAc结构的水稻.利用有性杂交方法将cre基因导入到转化lox结构的植株中.在4个转Pactin-lox-hpt-lox-gusA T0植株×转cre T0植株所配组合的30个杂交F1植株中,12个植株表达GUS活性,9个表现潮霉素敏感,表明hpt基因被剔除.研究进一步通过Cre/lox介导剔除转双价抗虫sck cryIAc基因籼稻恢复系明恢86材料基因组中的选择标记hpt基因.在9个转lox-hpt-lox-sck-cryIAcT2代纯合植株×转creT2代纯合植株所配组合的77个杂交F1植株中,56个植株表现潮霉素敏感.分子分析证实在这些对潮霉素敏感的植株中hpt基因已经被剔除.     

利用Cre/loxP系统删除转Bt基因水稻中的选择标记基因

来源于噬菌体P1的Cre/loxP位点特异性重组系统是目前在植物遗传转化中应用较多,较成熟的一个标记基因删除系统。在这个系统中,Cre酶可以特异性的识别和切割位于两个lox位点之间的标记基因,整个系统重组仅需Cre和lox识别位点即可完成而无需其它辅因子的参加。利用农杆菌介导法成功地将cre基因导入供试材料"皖粳97",得到转hpt-cre基因水稻植株;将其与先期转基因育成的携带loxp-hpt-loxp-bt基因的"皖粳97"株系进行田间杂交,通过PCR分析,Cre/loxP重组系统定向删除了潮霉素抗性筛选标记基因。     

一种新的用于删除选择标记基因的Cre／lox系统

设计了一种新的诱导型Cre/lox系统,并在转基因烟草(NicotianatabacumL.)中进行了验证。在诱导剂的作用下,位于同向lox位点之间的选择标记基因(hpt)和重组酶基因(Cre)在烟草愈伤组织中被删除。在该系统中,Cre基因在玉米乙酰苯胺类化合物诱导启动子(In5-2)的控制下表达。对转基因后代的分子检测结果表明,不论是否加入了诱导剂,目的基因(gus)均被整合到烟草基因组中;在诱导剂处理的48株转基因烟草T0代中,45株的hpt基因被删除了。该系统只使用一个载体,克服了二次转化系统带来的问题。     

一种新的用于删除选择标记基因的Cre/lox系统

设计了一种新的诱导型Cre/lox系统,并在转基因烟草(Nicotianatabacum L.)中进行了验证.在诱导剂的作用下,位于同向lox位点之间的选择标记基因(hpt)和重组酶基因(Cre)在烟草愈伤组织中被删除.在该系统中,Cre基因在玉米乙酰苯胺类化合物诱导启动子(In5-2)的控制下表达.对转基因后代的分子检测结果表明,不论是否加入了诱导剂,目的基因(gus)均被整合到烟草基因组中;在诱导剂处理的48株转基因烟草To代中,45株的hpt基因被删除了.该系统只使用一个载体,克服了二次转化系统带来的问题.     

Multiple pathways for Cre/lox-mediated recombination in plastids

Plastid transformation technology involves the insertion by homologous recombination and subsequent amplification of plastid transgenes to approximately 10 000 genome copies per leaf cell. Selection of transformed genomes is achieved using a selectable antibiotic resistance marker that has no subsequent role in the transformed line. We report here a feasibility study in the model plant tobacco, to test the heterologous Cre/lox recombination system for antibiotic marker gene removal from plastids. To study its efficiency, a green fluorescent protein reporter gene activation assay was utilized that allowed visual observation of marker excision after delivery of Cre to plastids. Using a combination of in vivo fluorescence activation and molecular assays, we show that transgene excision occurs completely from all plastid genomes early in plant development. Selectable marker-free transplastomic plants are obtained in the first seed generation, indicating a potential application of the Cre/lox system in plastid transformation technology. In addition to the predicted transgene excision event, two alternative pathways of Cre-mediated recombination were also observed. In one alternative pathway, the presence of Cre in plastids stimulated homologous recombination between a 117 bp transgene expression element and its cognate sequence in the plastid genome. The other alternative pathway uncovered a plastid genome 'hot spot' of recombination composed of multiple direct repeats of a 5 bp sequence motif, which recombined with lox independent of sequence homology. Both recombination pathways result in plastid genome deletions. However, the resultant plastid mutations are silent, and their study provides the first insights into tRNA accumulation and trans-splicing events in higher plant plastids.     

Cre-lox-based system for multiple gene deletions and selectable-marker removal in Lactobacillus plantarum

The classic strategy to achieve gene deletion variants is based on double-crossover integration of nonreplicating vectors into the genome. In addition, recombination systems such as Cre-lox have been used extensively, mainly for eukaryotic organisms. This study presents the construction of a Cre-lox-based system for multiple gene deletions in Lactobacillus plantarum that could be adapted for use on gram-positive bacteria. First, an effective mutagenesis vector (pNZ5319) was constructed that allows direct cloning of blunt-end PCR products representing homologous recombination target regions. Using this mutagenesis vector, double-crossover gene replacement mutants could be readily selected based on their antibiotic resistance phenotype. In the resulting mutants, the target gene is replaced by a lox66-P(32)-cat-lox71 cassette, where lox66 and lox71 are mutant variants of loxP and P(32)-cat is a chloramphenicol resistance cassette. The lox sites serve as recognition sites for the Cre enzyme, a protein that belongs to the integrase family of site-specific recombinases. Thus, transient Cre recombinase expression in double-crossover mutants leads to recombination of the lox66-P(32)-cat-lox71 cassette into a double-mutant loxP site, called lox72, which displays strongly reduced recognition by Cre. The effectiveness of the Cre-lox-based strategy for multiple gene deletions was demonstrated by construction of both single and double gene deletions at the melA and bsh1 loci on the chromosome of the gram-positive model organism Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. Furthermore, the efficiency of the Cre-lox-based system in multiple gene replacements was determined by successive mutagenesis of the genetically closely linked loci melA and lacS2 in L. plantarum WCFS1. The fact that 99.4% of the clones that were analyzed had undergone correct Cre-lox resolution emphasizes the suitability of the system described here for multiple gene replacement and deletion strategies in a single genetic background.     

Cre/lox-mediated site-specific integration of Agrobacterium T-DNA in Arabidopsis thaliana by transient expression of cre

The Cre/lox system was used to obtain targeted integration of an Agrobacterium T-DNA at a lox site in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. Site-specific recombinants, and not random events, were preferentially selected by activation of a silent lox-neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) target gene. To analyse the effectiveness of Agrobacterium-mediated transfer we used T-DNA vectors harbouring a single lox sequence (this vector had to circularize at the T-DNA left- and right-border sequences prior to site-specific integration) or two lox sequences (this vector allowed circularization at the lox sequences within the T-DNA either prior to or after random integration, followed by targeting of the circularized vector), respectively. Furthermore, to control the reversibility of the integration reaction, Cre recombinase was provided transiently by using a cotransformation approach. One precise stable integrant was found amongst the recombinant calli obtained after transformation with a double-lox T-DNA vector. The results indicate that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation can be used as a tool to obtain site-specific integration.     

Cre/lox系统介导的位点特异性重组技术及其应用

Ｃｒｅ／ｌｏｘ系统是源于Ｐ１噬菌体的一个ＤＮＡ重组体系,它能导致在特定的ＤＮＡ序列（ｌｏｘＰ位点）处发生定点重组。该系统以将外源基因定点整合到染色体上或将特定ＤＮＡ片段删除;这种定位重组系统在遗传操作中发挥了重要的作用。