Secretion cloning vectors in Escherichia coli

The DNA fragment coding for the signal peptide of the OmpA protein, a major outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli, has been inserted into the high-level expression vectors, pIN-III. A foreign DNA fragment can be cloned in any one of the three reading frames at the unique EcoRI, HindIII or BamHI sites immediately after the ompA signal peptide coding sequence. The cloned foreign gene is under the control of both the lpp promoter and the lac promoter-operator. The expression of the gene is regulated by the lac repressor produced by the same vectors. Using the pIN-III-ompA vector, the DNA fragment coding for only the mature portion of beta-lactamase was inserted into the EcoRI site. Upon induction of gene expression, beta-lactamase was secreted into the periplasmic space. The ompA signal peptide was correctly removed resulting in the production of beta-lactamase with four extra amino acid residues (Gly-Ile-Pro-Gly) at its amino terminus due to the linker sequence in the vector. After a 3-h induction, beta-lactamase was accumulated to 20% of total cellular protein without any detectable accumulation of pro-beta-lactamase. Using oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis, we have also removed the linker sequence and upon induction of gene expression, beta-lactamase with the authentic NH2-terminal sequence was produced, in even larger amounts than the beta-lactamase with the linker sequence.     

A highly repeated retropseudogene-like sequence in DNA of the redbreasted merganser (Mergus serrator)

Two highly repeated nucleotide sequences (RBMI and RBMII) cloned from an EcoRI digest of DNA of the redbreasted merganser (Mergus serrator) account for approx. 5 to 10% of the DNA of M. serrator and the closely related Mergus merganser. Complete DNA digestion of seven members of the Mergini with EcoRI produces distinct, relatively species-specific patterns of a few high-Mr (greater than 1.5 kb) fragments of RBMI-like material. In such digests RBMII forms ladder-type patterns with monomers of approx. 200 bp. The sequence of a cloned 2.6-kb RBMI fragment from M. serrator contains several extended (up to 70 bp) and modified poly(dA) sequences, two open reading frames in opposite orientation to the longest poly(dA) sequence and two direct 10-bp repeats suggesting that RBMI is a rearranged retropseudogene-like element.     

C型产气荚膜梭菌α毒素基因的克隆与表达

利用PCR技术,从C型产气荚膜梭菌染色体基因组中扩增了1．2kb的α毒素基因,将纯化的PCR产物与载体pGEM-T连接,转化至受体菌JM109中,经NcoI／EcoRI和BamHI／EcoRI酶切鉴定及核苷酸序列测定证实,重组质粒pXCPAl中含有α毒素全基因。随后用NcoI／EcoRI酶切质粒pXCPAl,回收α毒素基因片段,插入到事先经同样酶切处理的载体pET-28c中相应酶切位点,构建了表达质粒pETXAl,经NcoI／EcoRI和BamHI／EcoRI酶切鉴定及核苷酸序列测定证实,表达质粒含有α毒素基因且基因序列和阅读框架正确。重组菌株BL21(DE3)(pETXAl)表达产物经ELISA检测和SDS-PAGE分析,重组菌株表达的α毒素蛋白能够被α毒素单抗识别,其表达量占菌体总蛋白相对含量的16．28％。     

C型产气荚膜梭菌β2毒素基因的克隆与表达

利用PCR技术,从C型产气荚膜梭菌染色体基因组中扩增了0．72kb的β2毒素基因,将纯化的PER产物与载体pGEM—T连接,转化至受体菌JM109中,经NcoI／Bam HI和Bam HI／Eco RI酶切鉴定及核苷酸序列测定证实,重组质粒pXCPB2中含有陡毒素基因。随后用Nco I／Bam HI酶切质粒pXCPB2,回收β2毒素基因片段,插入到事先经同样酶切处理的载体pET-28c中相应酶切位点,构建了表达质粒pETXB2,经Nco I／Bam HI和Nco I／Hind Ⅲ／Bam HI酶切鉴定及核苷酸序列测定证实,表达质粒含有陡毒素基因且基因序列和阅读框架正确。重组菌株BL21（DE3）（pETXB2）表达产物经ELISA检测和SDS—PAGE分析,重组菌株表达的β2毒素蛋白能够被如毒素抗体识别,其表达量占菌体总蛋白相对含量的13．26％。     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the genes coding for Eco57I type IV restriction-modification enzymes.

A 6.3 kb fragment of E.coli RFL57 DNA coding for the type IV restriction-modification system Eco57I was cloned and expressed in E.coli RR1. A 5775 bp region of the cloned fragment was sequenced which contains three open reading frames (ORF). The methylase gene is 1623 bp long, corresponding to a protein of 543 amino acids (62 kDa); the endonuclease gene is 2991 bp in length (997 amino acids, 117 kDa). The two genes are transcribed convergently from different strands with their 3'-ends separated by 69 bp. The third short open reading frame (186 bp, 62 amino acids) has been identified, that precedes and overlaps by 7 nucleotides the ORF encoding the methylase. Comparison of the deduced Eco57I endonuclease and methylase amino acid sequences revealed three regions of significant similarity. Two of them resemble the conserved sequence motifs characteristic of the DNA[adenine-N6] methylases. The third one shares similarity with corresponding regions of the PaeR7I, TaqI, CviBIII, PstI, BamHI and HincII methylases. Homologs of this sequence are also found within the sequences of the PaeR7I, PstI and BamHI restriction endonucleases. This is the first example of a family of cognate restriction endonucleases and methylases sharing homologous regions. Analysis of the structural relationship suggests that the type IV enzymes represent an intermediate in the evolutionary pathway between the type III and type II enzymes.     

Photosystem II of rye. Cloning and determination of the nucleotide sequence of chloroplast DNA fragments, comprising the psbA gene coding for D1 proteins

EcoRI and BamHI fragments of rye chloroplast DNA comprising psbA gene were cloned and a 2729 bp region was sequenced. Cloning of EcoRI fragment into pTZ19R plasmid led to a single nucleotide deletion in the coding region of psbA gene. A scheme of full-length psbA gene cloning is proposed, allowing one to escape the damage effect of the psbA gene expression product on the host cell. The differences between monocot and dicot in nucleotide sequences of DNA downstream of psbA genes are discussed. Gene rps19 is located 131 bp downstream from psbA gene on the complementary strand. The amino acid sequences of D1 and S19 proteins of different species are compared.     

C型产气荚膜梭菌β1毒素基因表达

利用PCR技术,从C型产气荚膜梭菌染色体DNA中扩增出β1毒素基因,然后用限制性核酸内切酶BamHI和EcoRI对其进行双酶切处理,回收0．95kb的β1毒素基因片段,最后将其定向克隆在事先经同样内切酶处理的载体pET-28c中相应位点上,转化至受体菌B121(DE3)qh。经BamHI和Eco RI双酶切鉴定和核苷酸序列测定证实,构建的重组质粒pETXBl含有B毒素基因,并且具有正确的基因序列和阅读框架。重组菌株BI21(DE3)(pETXB1)经IPIG诱导后,其表达产物经ELISA检测和SDS-PAGE分析,结果表明重组菌株可以高效表达β1毒素蛋白,该蛋白占菌体总蛋白相对含量的12．24％。