哺乳类细胞基因表达系统

真核基因的转录和转译调控是哺乳类细胞基因表达系统建立和发展的基础,外源基因的表达水平不仅决定于启动子/增强子的强弱,还与剪接信号、终止信号和poly(A)信号以及质粒的拷贝数等因素有关。另外,在基因治疗的研究中,也已寻找到多种具有组织或肿瘤特异性的启动子,来达到特异性肿瘤基因治疗的目的。     

应用2A肽策略构建双基因共表达转基因斑马鱼的研究

目的以Tol2为骨架载体,以绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)、Cherry为报告基因,探讨采用2A肽双基因载体构建策略构建单启动子双基因共表达质粒的方法;将B细胞刺激因子(BAFF)分别置于2A序列前后位置,分析位置效应对跨膜融合蛋白的表达与剪切的影响,探讨多基因共表达转基因斑马鱼构建技术。方法以In Fusion法将GFP-2A-Cherry序列构建到Tol2质粒上,所得p Tol-GFP-2A-Cherry质粒转染He La细胞、显微注射1-细胞期斑马鱼受精卵;倒置荧光显微镜观察He La细胞、斑马鱼幼鱼体内GFP与Cherry蛋白的表达,Western blot法验证GFP和Cherry蛋白的表达量与剪切情况;分别构建p Tol2-GFP-2A-BAFF与p Tol2-BAFF-2A-Cherry质粒,Western blot法检查BAFF的表达与剪切情况。结果 p Tol2-GFP-2A-Cherry质粒转染的He La细胞,GFP与Cherry均可单独表达且表达呈现时空一致性;GFP-2A-Cherry融合蛋白可被剪切为GFP与Cherry,且成等比例表达趋势。p Tol2-GFP-2A-Cherry质粒显微注射1-细胞期斑马鱼受精卵可获得可单独表达GFP与Cherry蛋白的转基因斑马鱼;p Tol2-GFP-2A-BAFF与p Tol2-BAFF-2A-Cherry于斑马鱼体内均有融合蛋白的表达,且BAFF序列位于2A序列后更易于融合蛋白的剪切。结论通过2A肽策略构建可实现在斑马鱼体内单一载体、单一启动子调控双基因表达目的。发现编码跨膜分泌蛋白的功能基因位于2A序列的不同位置会直接影响蛋白的剪切,功能基因位于2A序列后易于跨膜蛋白的剪切。     

受溶氧浓度调控的新型大肠杆菌表达系统

利用透明颤菌(Vitreoscilla sp.)的血红蛋白基因在大肠杆菌中的转录过程受环境溶氧浓度调控,在贫氧条件下基因转录被激活的性质,构建了一个在贫氧条件下能高效表达外源基因的新型大肠杆菌表达系统。该表达系统包括一个古血红蛋白基因启动子元件控制T7RNA聚合酶基因表达的低拷贝质粒的宿主菌GJ100和另一个T7启动子控制外源基因表达的质粒载体。研究结果表明大肠杆菌本身的硫氧还蛋白,原核生物的金黄色葡萄球菌A蛋白IgG结合区(ZZ),真核生物的蛇神经毒素融合蛋白,鲑鱼降钙素六聚体,人白细胞介素Ⅱ和人尿激酶原等基因均能在该系统中获得高效表达。重组蛋白表达的水平可达细胞总蛋白的30％以上。     

转座子介导的多角体基因表达及提高病毒粒子的感染效率

现行的杆状病毒表达外源基因的方法是将外源基因取代病毒中的多角体基因,因而得到的重组杆状病毒感染活体时不能经口感染,只能进行针刺注射,效率低且易引起活体感染其他疾病。将家蚕核型多角体病毒(Bombyx mor inucleopolyhedrovirus,BmNPV)中的多角体基因(polyhedrin,poly)及其启动子片段克隆到转座子载体pigA3GFP中,将其与辅助质粒pHA3PIG利用脂质体介导法导入家蚕细胞中,经过多次筛选获得稳定的转基因家蚕细胞。之后先将BmPAK6(含LacZ)及BmGFP(含GFP)重组病毒分别感染转基因细胞,再将得到的重组病毒经口感染5龄家蚕幼虫。结果显示,重组杆状病毒可以经口感染家蚕幼虫。这些研究表明来自于转基因家蚕细胞的poly基因表达产物可以提高重组杆状病毒经口感染家蚕率,为解决杆状病毒表达系统中重组病毒不能经口感染家蚕幼虫的问题提供新思路。     

NDRG2基因启动子甲基化与肺腺癌细胞中mRNA表达相关性的实验研究

目的:探讨肺腺癌细胞中NDRG2基因启动子甲基化状态及其与基因表达的关系。方法:甲基化焦磷酸测序技术检测启动子区域甲基化状态,荧光定量PCR技术检测不同药物浓度下培养细胞中NDRG2基因mRNA的表达水平,分析启动子区域甲基化与基因表达之间的关系。结果:在体外培养细胞中检测到NDRG2基因启动子区域呈现不同程度的甲基化,甲基化频率分别为肺癌A549细胞71.8%、GLC-82细胞86.1%、人脐静脉内皮ECV-304细胞36.8%、胃上皮GES-1细胞42.9%。NDRG2基因mRNA表达与其启动子甲基化程度成反比,甲基转移酶抑制剂5-杂氮-2-脱氧胞苷(5-Aza-CdR)作用于细胞后,A549和GLC-82细胞中NDRG2基因的mRNA转录明显上调,至72 h差异显著(P0.05)。结论:肺腺癌细胞中NDRG2基因启动子CpG岛存在高甲基化,甲基化程度与该基因的表达具有负相关性,5-Aza-CdR能在一定程度上提高NDRG2的转录水平。     

GFP用于单核细胞增生李斯特菌PrfA调控毒力基因actA转录表达的研究

PrfA是单核细胞增生李斯特菌(LM)中迄今为止发现的惟一个调控绝大多数毒力基因转录表达的蛋白因子.为了研究PrfA转录调控毒力基因表达的分子机制,将无启动子的绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因与毒力基因actA的启动子融合,连接到穿梭载体pLSV16质粒上,构建成表达融合载体pLSV16-PactA-gfp,然后将其电转化入LM野生株P14、PrfA高表达突变株P14a和prfA基因等位缺失突变株A42中表达.利用荧光显微镜和荧光酶标仪检测上述3株细菌中绿色荧光蛋白的不同表达强度,从而评价actA基因依赖于PrfA的转录活性强弱.结果显示,绿色荧光蛋白在P14a中发出的荧光强度最高,P14次之,A42最弱,两两比较均有显著差异(P＜0.01),表明毒力基因actA的转录水平高低与PrfA的活性成正相关,其转录表达依赖于PrfA的调控;该试验同时也显示GFP能方便、有效地用于研究PrfA调控LM不同毒力基因的转录表达水平.     

核定位信号筛选系统的构建

建立了一酵母克隆系统用于克隆含核定位信号 (NLS)的蛋白质的基因 .用表达转录因子GAL4 DNA结合域 - p53(GAL4- DBD- p53)融合蛋白的质粒转化酵母 HF7c,使 GAL4- DBD- p53可结合于报告基因的启动子但因无转录激活域而不能激活转录 .构建一酵母穿梭载体 ,可表达无NLS的 GAL4转录激活域 -大 T抗原 (GAL4- AD- LT)融合蛋白 .融合蛋白基因的下游插入一多克隆位点 .将 c DNA文库插入多克隆位点后 ,如果 c DNA片段可编码 NLS,则 GAL4- AD- LT分子可进入细胞核 ,并通过 LT与 p53的相互作用而使 GAL4- AD结合于启动子和激活报告基因的转录 .构建了这一克隆系统的各质粒 ,并用绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP)验证了其对核内蛋白和胞浆蛋白的甄别能力 .这一系统将有助于从 c DNA文库中筛选编码带有 NLS的蛋白质的基因     

紫杉醇调节TIMP-1启动子活性及TIMP-1降低紫杉醇对乳腺癌细胞增殖抑制作用的研究

目的 探讨TIMP-1在降低MCF-7对紫杉醇敏感性中的作用。方法 采用DNA重组技术构建含timp-1基因启动子的荧光素酶报告质粒并瞬时转染MCF-7细胞,在撤血清条件下测定荧光素酶的相对活性,以验证重组质粒的有效性;重组质粒瞬时转染入MCF-7细胞中,经紫杉醇处理后,测定荧光素酶的相对表达活性;检测在紫杉醇作用下,TIMP-1过表达克隆与对照克隆细胞增殖的情况。结果 酶切、PCR及测序鉴定结果证实成功构建带有TIMP-1启动子的报告基因表达质粒;且撤血清条件下TIMP-1启动子转录活性显著增强,1000nmol／L紫杉醇处理的MCF-7细胞中TIMP-1启动子调控的荧光素酶活性显著降低;紫杉醇对TIMP-1过表达克隆的细胞增殖抑制作用显著低于对照克隆。结论 成功地构建了含timp-1基因启动子的荧光素酶报告质粒,准确地评价TIMP-1启动子在紫杉醇作用过程中的活性变化,并进一步阐明TIMP-1在降低乳腺癌细胞对紫杉醇敏感性中的作用。     

CHRNA9基因绝对定量PCR标准曲线的建立

[目的]为研究乙酰胆碱受体(nicotine acetylcholine receptor,nAChR)α9亚基基因(CHRNA9)的mRNA,在人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和人正常乳腺上皮细胞系MCF-10A中的差异表达情况,建立了CHRNA9基因转录本拷贝数的绝对定量标准曲线。[方法]培养并收集细胞,提取总RNA,反转录合成cDNA。以cDNA为模板,扩增CHRNA9基因171bp的特征片段,亚克隆到pMD-18T载体中,并进行测序鉴定。以梯度稀释的质粒为模板,进行荧光定量PCR来建立标准曲线,进一步对上述细胞系中CHRNA9的初始拷贝数进行定量分析。[结果]成功地对人正常乳腺上皮细胞系MCF-10A,人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7中的α9 nAChR亚基基因的mRNA水平表达量,即反转录生成的cDNA拷贝数进行了定量,mRNA拷贝数分别为712.61.31和2 236.55个。经统计分析,二者之间CHRNA9基因的表达量差异达到了极显著水平(p0.01),即α9 nAChR亚基基因在乳腺癌细胞MCF-7中显著高于乳腺正常上皮细胞MCF-10A。[结论]研究所获得的CHRNA9基因的绝对荧光定量标准曲线,可用于不同乳腺癌细胞系α9 nAChR亚基基因表达量的检测,而α9 nAChR作为一个理想的、特异性的潜在药物作用靶点,这为相应种类的乳腺癌发病机理研究和靶向治疗药物的研发提供基础。     

Enhanced gene transfer and cell death following p53 gene transfer using photochemical internalisation of glucosylated PEI-DNA complexes

BACKGROUND: p53 is frequently mutated in many cancers including human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. In tumor models, wild-type (wt) p53 gene transfer induces apoptosis and tumor regression in vivo, justifying the extensive clinical investigation of p53 gene therapy. METHODS: p53 nonviral-mediated gene transfer was achieved using glucosylated polyethylenimine (PEI) in conjunction with photochemical internalisation (PCI). Experimental conditions were optimised using the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter. p53 gene transfer was then evaluated using semi-quantitative RT-PCR in p53-deleted PANC3 and p53-mutated FaDu cell lines. Following gene transfer, induction of apoptosis was investigated using phosphatidylserine externalisation and nuclear fragmentation assays. Induction of long-term cell death was analysed using colony-forming assays. RESULTS: PCI was found to enhance GFP gene transfer after 48 h in both cell lines. Whether using glucosylated-PEI alone or associated with PCI, p53 gene transfer was achieved with subsequent recovery of p53 mRNA expression in PANC3 cells and a significant 4-fold increase in p53 mRNA expression in FaDu cells. PCI was found to further enhance p53 mRNA expression by 2.3-fold in PANC3 cells. Spontaneous induction of apoptosis following wt-p53 gene transfer was achieved in both cell lines. PCI was found to enhance apoptosis up to levels similar to those achieved with chemotherapy. As a consequence, long-term cell death was significantly enhanced after wt-p53 gene transfer when PCI was used in both cell lines, yielding up to 60% cell death. CONCLUSIONS: PCI increases glucosylated-PEI-mediated p53 gene transfer, apoptosis as well as cell death in mutant p53 human cancer cells.     

Bisphenol A prevents MCF-7 breast cell apoptosis via the inhibition of progesterone receptor transactivation

2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A; BPA) is an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical. It mimics the effects of estrogen at multiple levels by activating estrogen receptors (ERs); however, BPA also affects the proliferation of human breast cancer cells independent of ERs. Although BPA inhibits progesterone (P4) signaling, the toxicological significance of its effects remain unknown. Tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) has been identified as a P4-responsive and apoptosis-related gene. Nevertheless, it has not yet been established whether exogenous chemicals change TRIM22 gene levels. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of BPA on P4 signaling and TRIM22 and TP53 expression in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. In MCF-7 cells incubated with various concentrations of P4, TRIM22 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels increased in a dose-dependent manner. P4 induced apoptosis and decreased viability in MCF-7 cells. The knockdown of TRIM22 abolished P4-induced decreases in cell viability and P4-induced apoptosis. P4 increased TP53 mRNA expression and p53 knockdown decrease the basal level of TRIM22 and P4 increased TRIM22 mRNA expression independent of p53 expression. BPA attenuated P4-induced increases in the ratio of cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, and the P4-induced decreases in cell viability was abolished in the presence of 100 nM and higher BPA concentrations. Furthermore, BPA inhibited P4-induced TRIM22 and TP53 expression. In conclusion, BPA inhibited P4-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via the inhibition of P4 receptor transactivation. TRIM22 gene has potential as a biomarker for investigating the disruption of P4 signaling by chemicals.     

The RNA surveillance protein SMG1 activates p53 in response to DNA double-strand breaks but not exogenously oxidized mRNA

DNA damage, stalled replication forks, errors in mRNA splicing and availability of nutrients activate specific phosphatidylinositiol-3-kinase-like kinases (PIKKs) that in turn phosphorylate downstream targets such as p53 on serine 15. While the PIKK proteins ATM and ATR respond to specific DNA lesions, SMG1 responds to errors in mRNA splicing and when cells are exposed to genotoxic stress. Yet, whether genotoxic stress activates SMG1 through specific types of DNA lesions or RNA damage remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that siRNA oligonucleotides targeting the mRNA surveillance proteins SMG1, Upf1, Upf2 or the PIKK protein ATM attenuated p53 (ser15) phosphorylation in cells damaged by high oxygen (hyperoxia), a model of persistent oxidative stress that damages nucleotides. In contrast, loss of SMG1 or ATM, but not Upf1 or Upf2 reduced p53 (ser15) phosphorylation in response to DNA double strand breaks produced by expression of the endonuclease I-PpoI. To determine whether SMG1-dependent activation of p53 was in response to oxidative mRNA damage, mRNA encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) transcribed in vitro was oxidized by Fenton chemistry and transfected into cells. Although oxidation of GFP mRNA resulted in dose-dependent fragmentation of the mRNA and reduced expression of GFP, it did not stimulate p53 or the p53-target gene p21. These findings establish SMG1 activates p53 in response to DNA double strand breaks independent of the RNA surveillance proteins Upf1 or Upf2; however, these proteins can stimulate p53 in response to oxidative stress but not necessarily oxidized RNA.Key words: DNA double strand breaks, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), oxidative stress, phosphatidylinositiol-3-kinase-like kinases (PIKKs), RNA damage     

The RNA surveillance protein SMG1 activates p53 in response to DNA double-strand breaks but not exogenously oxidized mRNA

DNA damage, stalled replication forks, errors in mRNA splicing, and availability of nutrients activate specific phosphatidylinositiol-3 kinase-like kinases (PIKKs) that in turn phosphorylate downstream targets such as p53 on serine 15. While the PIKK proteins ATM and ATR respond to specific DNA lesions, SMG1 responds to errors in mRNA splicing and when cells are exposed to genotoxic stress. Yet, whether genotoxic stress activates SMG1 through specific types of DNA lesions or RNA damage remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that siRNA oligonucleotides targeting the mRNA surveillance proteins SMG1, Upf1, Upf2, or the PIKK protein ATM attenuated p53 (ser15) phosphorylation in cells damaged by high oxygen (hyperoxia), a model of persistent oxidative stress that damages nucleotides. In contrast, loss of SMG1 or ATM, but not Upf1 or Upf2 reduced p53 (ser15) phosphorylation in response to DNA double strand breaks produced by expression of the endonuclease I-PpoI. To determine whether SMG1-dependent activation of p53 was in response to oxidative mRNA damage, mRNA encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) transcribed in vitro was oxidized by Fenton chemistry and transfected into cells. Although oxidation of GFP mRNA resulted in dose-dependent fragmentation of the mRNA and reduced expression of GFP, it did not stimulate p53 or the p53-target gene p21. These findings establish SMG1 activates p53 in response to DNA double-strand breaks independent of the RNA surveillance proteins Upf1 or Upf2; however, these proteins can stimulate p53 in response to oxidative stress but not necessarily oxidized RNA.     

Numb在三阴乳腺癌中抑制HDM2泛素化降解p53

目的:探究Numb蛋白在三阴乳腺癌患者中的表达降低情况,及Numb蛋白在三阴乳腺癌中对抑癌因子p53蛋白水平的影响及调控机制,进一步研究Numb蛋白的降低与三阴乳腺癌发生发展的相关性,从而为缺乏有效治疗方法的三阴乳腺癌提供一个潜在的治疗新靶点。方法:40例三阴乳腺癌患者病理组织切片取自重庆医科大学临床病理诊断中心,采用免疫组化法检测Numb蛋白在三阴乳腺癌患者中的表达情况。MCF-10A细胞株和MDA-MB-231细胞株均为ATCC来源,采用qPCR和Western blot法检测对比Numb、HDM2、p53三者的转录水平和蛋白质水平在以上两个细胞株中差异。采用增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhance green fluorescent protein,EGFP)质粒转染的方法在MDA-MB-231细胞中重表达Numb,采用q PCR和Western blot法验证Numb、HDM2、p53三者表达的变化。结果:转染NUMB-EGFP后MDA-MB-231细胞中Numb的mRNA和蛋白质水平均明显上调,HDM2无显著改变,p53在转录水平无明显变化,但在蛋白质水平显著升高。在231细胞中上调Numb蛋白可以在转录后水平调节p53水平,使p53蛋白随之显著升高。结论:Numb蛋白在三阴乳腺癌患者中表达降低的比列很高,为55%,且Numb蛋白在三阴乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中可以调控抑癌因子p53蛋白水平,Numb蛋白水平与p53蛋白水平呈正相关。     

Dual requirement for yeast hnRNP Nab2p in mRNA poly(A) tail length control and nuclear export

Recent studies of mRNA export factors have provided additional evidence for a mechanistic link between mRNA 3'-end formation and nuclear export. Here, we identify Nab2p as a nuclear poly(A)-binding protein required for both poly(A) tail length control and nuclear export of mRNA. Loss of NAB2 expression leads to hyperadenylation and nuclear accumulation of poly(A)(+) RNA but, in contrast to mRNA export mutants, these defects can be uncoupled in a nab2 mutant strain. Previous studies have implicated the cytoplasmic poly(A) tail-binding protein Pab1p in poly(A) tail length control during polyadenylation. Although cells are viable in the absence of NAB2 expression when PAB1 is overexpressed, Pab1p fails to resolve the nab2Delta hyperadenylation defect even when Pab1p is tagged with a nuclear localization sequence and targeted to the nucleus. These results indicate that Nab2p is essential for poly(A) tail length control in vivo, and we demonstrate that Nab2p activates polyadenylation, while inhibiting hyperadenylation, in the absence of Pab1p in vitro. We propose that Nab2p provides an important link between the termination of mRNA polyadenylation and nuclear export.