Rescue of a tk-plasmid from transgenic mice reveals its episomal transmission

Summary This communication demonstrates the usefulness of the plamid rescue procedure for recovery of plasmids from transgenic mice. We have microinjected the plasmid pSK1 harbouring the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene into fertilized mouse oocytes and succeeded in recovering plasmids from newborns by transformation of E. coli either with HindIII cut cellular DNA or with uncut DNA. The majority of the rescued plasmids were indistinguishable from pSK1 by restriction analysis. The rescued plasmids proved to be functionally active in a transient expression assay in mouse Ltk^- cells. The pSK1 DNA sequences were inherited by up to 90% of the second generation progeny mice, which is not in agreement with a Mendelian transmission of heterozygous markers integrated into a single site of the chromosome.These data support the assumption that germ line transmission of non-integrated episomal plasmids can occur.     

Rearrangements of microinjected recombinant DNA in the genome of transgenic mice

Summary Previously, mouse zygotes were microinjected with the recombinant plasmid pMA3, which contains the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene attached to the promoter region of the Rous sarcoma virus (Gazaryan et al. 1984a). In the present work the pMA3 fragment with the flanking genomic sequences was isolated from the DNA of one transgenic F_o mouse by the plasmid rescue technique. The rescued plasmid (pMAR1) lacked all virus-specific sequences and retained only some pBR322 sequences. The flanking region at one end of the integrated pBR322-specific fragment contained a highly conserved mouse repetitive sequence. The possible mechanisms of rearrangement of foreign DNA in germ line cells are discussed.     

Restriction endonuclease BamHI cleaves bacteriophage Mu DNA within cistrons E and F

We have cleaved phage Mu DNA with restriction endonucleases EcoRI and BamHI and have cloned three specific DNA fragments from the middle of the Mu genome into vector plasmid pBR322. By marker rescue experiments, we have determined that the two BamHI cleavage sites in Mu DNA occur within cistrons E and F.     

Colonisation dynamics during range expansion is poorly predicted by dispersal in the core range

The potential ranges of many species are shifting due to changing ecological conditions. Where populations become patchy towards the range edge, the realised distribution emerges from colonisation–persistence dynamics. Therefore, a greater understanding of the drivers of these processes, and the spatial scales over which they operate, presents an opportunity to improve predictions of species range expansion under environmental change. Species reintroductions offer an ideal opportunity to investigate the drivers and spatial scale of colonisation dynamics at the range edge. To this effect, we performed and monitored experimental translocations of water voles to quantify how colonisation and local persistence were influenced by habitat quality and occupancy. We used a novel statistical method to simultaneously consider effects across a range of spatial scales. Densely occupied neighbourhoods were highly persistent and frequently colonised. Persistence was more likely in high quality habitat, whereas the influence of habitat quality on colonisation was less clear. Colonisation of suitable habitat in distant, sparsely occupied areas was much less frequent than expected from the well documented high dispersal ability of the species. Persistence of these distant populations was also low, which we attribute to the absence of a rescue effect in sparsely populated neighbourhoods. Our results illustrate a mismatch between the spatial scales of colonisation dynamics in the core and edge of a species’ range, suggesting that recolonisation dynamics in established populations may be a poor predictor of colonisation dynamics at the range edge. Such a mismatch leads to predictions of long lags between the emergence and colonisation of new habitat, with detrimental consequences for a species’ realised distribution, conservation status and contribution to ecosystem function. Conservation translocations that also reinforce existing populations at the range edge might stimulate the rescue effect and mitigate lags in expansion.     

Restoration of genetic diversity from soil seed banks in a threatened aquatic plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nymphoides peltata</Emphasis>

Populations of a threatened aquatic plant, Nymphoides peltata, have rapidly degenerated under the influence of recent artificial changes in Lake Kasumigaura of Japan. To estimate the potential of soil seed banks for genetic restoration of the species, we used 10 microsatellite markers to analyze the genetic variation in adults and in seedlings that emerged from soil seed banks. About 187 leaf samples from the cultured stocks that were collected in 17 adult subpopulations in 1995 and 2000 and from three subpopulations that were newly discovered in 2002 were analyzed. As a result, only 18 genets could be identified, suggesting that clonal diversity of the adult population had already become extremely low. Genetic tests were performed on 430 seedlings from seed banks at six locations of natural lakeshores and three of the restoration sites that were artificially constructed in an attempt to assign them to the remnant adult population; many of the seedlings showed genetic variation different from the adults. Furthermore, the seedlings preserved seven alleles that had been lost from remnant adults. However, they had lower average numbers of alleles and heterozygosity levels (NA = 1.5–3.1, H _E = 0.146–0.487) than the remnant adults (NA = 3.5, H _E = 0.539) and showed high inbreeding coefficients, suggesting that the seed banks were produced by inbreeding. Thus, although the seed banks had a certain potential to restore genetic diversity, the fitness reduction in seed banks caused by inbreeding could affect the success of restoration based on seed banks.     

Separate Na,K-ATPase genes are required for otolith formation and semicircular canal development in zebrafish

We have investigated the role of Na,K-ATPase genes in zebrafish ear development. Six Na,K-ATPase genes are differentially expressed in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Antisense morpholino knockdown of Na,K-ATPase alpha1a.1 expression blocked formation of otoliths. This effect was phenocopied by treatment of embryos with ouabain, an inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase activity. The otolith defect produced by morpholinos was rescued by microinjection of zebrafish alpha1a.1 or rat alpha1 mRNA, while the ouabain-induced defect was rescued by expression of ouabain-resistant zebrafish alpha1a.1 or rat alpha1 mRNA. Knockdown of a second zebrafish alpha subunit, alpha1a.2, disrupted development of the semicircular canals. Knockdown of Na,K-ATPase beta2b expression also caused an otolith defect, suggesting that the beta2b subunit partners with the alpha1a.1 subunit to form a Na,K-ATPase required for otolith formation. These results reveal novel roles for Na,K-ATPase genes in vestibular system development and indicate that different isoforms play distinct functional roles in formation of inner ear structures. Our results highlight zebrafish gene knockdown-mRNA rescue as an approach that can be used to dissect the functional properties of zebrafish and mammalian Na,K-ATPase genes.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS第263—277位核苷酸缺失提高病毒对鸡的致病力

为研究2000年以来绝大多数H5N1亚型禽流感病毒分离株在非结构基因的第263—277位发生15个碱基缺失现象的生物学意义,构建H5N1A／D／SD／04株HA、NA、NS的全基因表达／转录载体,以及NS的删除突变载体（m248）,A/D/YZ/04株的NS基因表达／转录载体（848）和其补加15个核苷酸的NS突变载体（m848）。构建的载体分别与编码WSN（H1N1）内部基因载体进行组合转染,拯救获得4个具不同NS的重组的H5N1亚型流感病毒：RWSN-848和RWSN—m248在263-277位缺失15个碱基。RWSN-m848和RWSN-248则在相同位置不发生缺失。4个重组病毒的平均鸡胚繁殖效价（HA）、鸡胚的平均死亡时间（MDT）和鸡胚半数感染量（EID50）均无显著差异;但RWSN-848和RWSN-m248对6周龄SPF鸡的致病力明显高于RWSN—m848和RWSN-248。结果说明H5N1的NS基因在263～277位核苷酸发生缺失后,不影响重组H5N1在鸡胚中的繁殖性能,但提高了病毒对鸡的致病力。     

猪圆环病毒2型双拷贝感染性DNA的构建及体外拯救

感染性分子克隆是研究病毒复制和致病机制的有力工具。本研究应用PCR诱变技术解决了外源片段易于自连的难题,成功将2个PCV2SD1株全基因组(DQ346683)头尾相接插入到真核生物表达载体pSK的多克隆位点中,构建重组质粒pSK-2PCV2;另外课题组成功构建含单个PCV2全基因组的pSK-PCV2和自身环化质粒ds-PCV2。将所得3种质粒分别转染无PCV污染的PK-15细胞系,经10次连续传代后,间接免疫荧光试验检测显示三者均在细胞核中聚集大量的病毒抗原;经RT-PCR检测都有PCV2特异性基因转录;透射电镜下可观察到直径约为17～20nm的典型PCV2病毒粒子;经测序鉴定所拯救出的病毒与亲本病毒核苷酸同源性为100%。拯救出的PCV2与亲本病毒具有相同的病毒学及分子生物学特性。本研究应用PCR诱变技术成功构建PCV2双拷贝感染性克隆,并经体外拯救证实其具有感染性,为进行PCV2分子特性及致病机理研究打下了基础。