枣树肌动蛋白基因cDNA片段的克隆及其表达分析

根据GenBank中登录的植物肌动蛋白基因同源核苷酸保守序列设计引物,以壶瓶枣(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.Hupingzao)刚萌发结果枝构建的cDNA文库为模板,利用PCR技术得到了一个478 bp的cDNA片段.与其它植物同源序列进行分析表明,其核苷酸序列的同源性在70%以上,氨基酸序列的同源性在85%以上,证明它是肌动蛋白基因在枣树中的同源cDNA片段,命名为ZjAT1(Ziziphus jujuba actin1),GenBank登录号为EU251882.DNA印迹分析结果表明,ZjAT1在枣树基因组中以单拷贝的形式存在.对不同发育阶段的不同器官组织进行了RT-PCR分析,结果显示ZjAT1基因只在花和幼果中有明显表达,在毛根、幼茎、叶片、成熟茎尖、成熟茎段以及成熟果实的果肉和种仁中都没有检测到表达.     

mRNA翻译起始区的结构改变对几个外源基因翻译的影响

为观察ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区结构与基因表达的关系,利用密码子的简并性,在不改变表达产物氨基酸序列的前提下定点突变几个外源基因的５′端若干位点,使基佤表达载体重组后转录形成的ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区结构发生改变。经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ等分析证实这些改变大大提高了外源基因的表达水平,ＲＮＡｄｏｔｂｌｏｔ表明突变与非突变基因转录水平差别不大,表达水平的提高主要由于翻译效率的提高,ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区二级结构预测提示其生     

优化mRNA翻译起始区提高人粒－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子在E．coli中的表达

人粒－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ）是一种重要的造血生长因子．利用基因重组技术构建两个ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ表达菌株,一个为在不改变氨基酸顺序的前提下,对ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区核苷酸顺序进行优化突变（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｍ））,另一个为未突变的对照（ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ））．经酶切电泳、ＤＮＡ测序、ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ等分析鉴定,证明两者均能表达特异性的１４．６ｋＤｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ,但ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｍ）的表达水平较ｈＧＭ－ＣＳＦ（Ｎ）提高了１．２６倍,占菌体总蛋白的１６．９％．ｍＲＮＡ翻译起始区二级结构预测分析表明,优化突变后生成自由能ΔＧ从原来的－１０．２提高至－９．４Ｋｃａｌ,ＡＵＧ从部分配对状态变为非配对状态．     

Baculovirus-mediated Expression of p35 Confers Resistance to Apoptosis in Human Embryo Kidney 293 cells

Baculovirus has many advantages as vectors for gene transfer.We demonstrated that recombinant baculovirus vectors expressing p35(Ac-CMV-p35) and eGFP(Ac-CMV-GFP) could be transduced into human kidney 293 cells efficiently.The level of transgene expression was viral dose dependent and high-level expression of the target gene could be achieved under the heterogonous promoter.MTT assay suggested that both Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac-CMV-GFP did not have cytotoxic effect on human embryo kidney 293 cells.Cell growth curve showed the Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac-CMV-GFP transduced and non-transduced cells had similar proliferation rate,so baculovirus-mediated p35 expression had no adverse effect on cell proliferation.In addition,baculovirus-mediated p35 gene expression protected human embryo kidney 293 cells against apoptosis induced by various apoptosis inducers such as Actinomycin D,UV or serum-free media.These results suggested that the baculovirus vector mediated p35 gene expression was functional and it could be widely used in molecular research and even gene therapy.     

Baculovirus-mediated expression of p35 confers resistance to apoptosis in human embryo kidney 293 cells

Baculovirus has many advantages as vectors for gene transfer. We demonstrated that recombinant baculovirus vectors expressing p35 (Ac-CMV-p35) and eGFP (Ac-CMV-GFP) could be transduced into human kidney 293 cells efficiently. The level of transgene expression was viral dose dependent and high-level expression of the target gene could be achieved under the heterogonous promoter. MTT assay suggested that both Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac-CMV-GFP did not have cytotoxic effect on human embryo kidney 293 cells. Cell growth curve showed the Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac-CMV-GFP transduced and non-transduced cells had similar proliferation rate, so baculovirus-mediated p35 expression had no adverse effect on cell proliferation. In addition, baculovirus-mediated p35 gene expression protected human embryo kidney 293 cells against apoptosis induced by various apoptosis inducers such as Actinomycin D, UV or serum-free media. These results suggested that the baculovirus vector mediated p35 gene expression was functional and it could be widely used in molecular research and even gene therapy. Foundation items: National Nature Science Foundations of China (30325002, 30670077) and Innovative Foundations Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS (020208)     

Translational signals of a major head protein gene of bacteriophage lambda

Summary The D gene of bacteriophage which codes for a major head protein is expressed at a high level during growth. We have constructed a set of D-lacZ gene fusions in order to examine the factors determining the high efficiency of the D translational initiation signals. It was found that an integral sequence, 300 bp long and upstream of the ATG initiation codon, is required for maximal protein synthesis.     

Malignant transformation by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit p48 (eIF3e)

Several components of translation, e.g. eIF4E and PKR, are implicated in cancer. The e-subunit (p48) of mammalian initiation factor 3 is encoded by the Int6 gene, a common site for integration of the mouse mammary tumor virus genome, leading to the production of a truncated eukaryotic initiation factor-3e (eIF3e). Stable expression of a truncated eIF3e in NIH 3T3 cells causes malignant transformation by four criteria: foci formation; anchorage independent growth; accelerated growth; and lack of contact inhibition. Stable expression of full-length eIF3e does not cause transformation. The truncated eIF3e also inhibits the onset of apoptosis caused by serum starvation.     

Evolution of translational initiation: new insights from the archaea

Recent in silico and experimental data have shed new light on the mechanism and components of translational initiation in archaea. The available data about the structure of archaeal mRNAs, mRNA/ribosome interaction and archaeal translation initiation factors are reviewed and analyzed in the conceptual framework of the evolution of translational initiation. A model of the initiation step of translation in the Last Universal Common Ancestor of extant cells is presented and discussed.     

Differential inhibition of 30S and 70S translation initiation complexes on leaderless mRNA by kasugamycin

In contrast to canonical mRNAs, translation of leaderless mRNA has been previously reported to continue in the presence of the antibiotic kasugamycin. Here, we have studied the effect of the antibiotic on determinants known to affect translation of leadered and leaderless mRNAs. Kasugamycin did not affect the Shine-Dalgarno (SD)-anti-SD (aSD) interaction or the function of translation initiation factor 3 (IF3). Thus, the preferential translation of leaderless mRNA in the presence of kasugamycin can neither be attributed to an expanding pool of 30S subunits with a "blocked" aSD nor to a lack of action of IF3, which has been shown to discriminate against translation initiation at 5'-terminal start codons. Using toeprinting, we observed that on leaderless mRNA 70S in contrast to 30S translation initiation complexes are comparatively resistant to the antibiotic. These results taken together with the known preference of 70S ribosomes for 5'-terminal AUGs lend support to the hypothesis that translation of leaderless mRNAs may as well proceed via an alternative initiation pathway accomplished by intact 70S ribosomes.     

High efficiency single step production of expression plasmids from cDNA clones using the Flexi Vector cloning system

The success of structural genomics and proteomics initiatives is dependent on the availability of target genes in vectors suitable for protein production. Here, we compare two high-throughput methods for producing expression vectors from plasmid-derived cDNA fragments. Expression vectors were constructed for compatibility with the Gateway recombination cloning system and the Flexi Vector restriction-based cloning system. Cloning protocols for each system were conducted in parallel for 96 different target genes from PCR through the production of sequence-verified expression clones. The short nucleotide sequences required to prepare the target open reading frames for Flexi Vector cloning allowed a single-step PCR protocol, resulting in fewer mutations relative to the Gateway protocol. Furthermore, through initial cloning of the target open reading frames directly into an expression vector, the Flexi Vector system gave time and cost savings compared to the protocol required for the Gateway system. Within the Flexi Vector system, genes were transferred between four different expression vectors. The efficiency of gene transfer between Flexi Vectors depended on including a region of sequence identity adjacent to one of the restriction sites. With the proper construction in the flanking sequence of the vector, gene transfer efficiencies of 95-98% were demonstrated.     

Eukaryotic and archaeal translation initiation factor 2: A heterotrimeric tRNA carrier

Eukaryotic/archaeal translation initiation factor 2 (e/aIF2) is a heterotrimeric GTPase that plays a key role in selection of the correct start codon on messenger RNA. This review integrates structural and functional data to discuss the involvement of the three subunits in initiator tRNA binding. A possible role of the peripheral subunits in modulating the guanine nucleotide cycle on the core subunit is also addressed.     

Overview of vector design for mammalian gene expression

The expression of cloned genes in mammalian cells is a basic tool for understanding gene expression, protein structure, and function, and biological regulatory mechanisms. The level of protein expression from heterologous genes introduced into mammlaian cells depends upon multiple factors including DNA copy number, efficiency of transportation, mRNA processing, mRNA transport, mRNA stability, and translational efficiency, and protein processing, transport, and stability. Different genes exhibit different rate limiting steps for efficient expression. Multiple strategies are available to obtain high level expression in mammalian cells. This article reviews vector design for expression of foreign genes in mammalian cells.     

Gene expression enhancement mediated by the 5′ UTR intron of the rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">rubi3</Emphasis> gene varied remarkably among tissues in transgenic rice plants

Introns are important sequence elements that modulate the expression of genes. Using the GUS reporter gene driven by the promoter of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) polyubiquitin rubi3 gene, we investigated the effects of the 5' UTR intron of the rubi3 gene and the 5' terminal 27 bp of the rubi3 coding sequence on gene expression in stably transformed rice plants. While the intron enhanced GUS gene expression, the 27-bp fused to the GUS coding sequence further augmented GUS expression level, with both varying among different tissues. The intron elevated GUS gene expression mainly at mRNA accumulation level, but also stimulated enhancement at translational level. The enhancement on mRNA accumulation, as determined by realtime quantitative RT-PCR, varied remarkably with tissue type. The augmentation by the intron at translational level also differed by tissue type, but to a lesser extent. On the other hand, the 27-bp fusion further boosted GUS protein yield without affecting mRNA accumulation level, indicating stimulation at translation level, which was also affected by tissue type. The research revealed substantial variation in the magnitudes of intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression (IME) among tissues in rice plants and the importance of using transgenic plants for IME studies.     

The organization of the β-globin gene of the bivalve mollusc Anadara trapezia and its evolutionary relationship to other invertebrate and vertebrate globin genes

Three pairs of oligonucleotide primers based on partial DNA and amino acid sequences were used in a combination of PCR experiments to amplify the -globin gene of the bivalve mollusc Anadara trapezia. The sequence of 2,139 by presented contains the whole of the -globin gene with the exception of the 5 flanking sequence. This gene possesses the three-exon-and-two-intron gene structure typical of vertebrate globin genes but the lengths of the introns (762 by and 690 bp, respectively) are only approximately half the size of those present in a -variant gene previously characterized from this organism. The encoded amino acid sequence shows two changes when compared to the previously published amino acid sequence.Correspondence to: A.G. Mackinlay     

新型大肠杆菌高效表达载体pHsh的构建与应用

在现代生物学和生物技术研究中,通过基因的重组表达获得目标蛋白是一种应用最广泛的方法。因其培养简单、操作方便、遗传背景清楚、克隆表达系统成熟完善,大肠杆菌表达系统通常是人们表达重组蛋白的首选,而表达载体在重组蛋白的生产中起决定作用。pHsh及其衍生质粒是近年发展起来的新型大肠杆菌表达载体,其调控外源基因表达的原理不同于所有其他表达系统,并且具有表达水平高、成本低廉等特点。介绍大肠杆菌表达系统的组成和常用表达载体,并对由pHsh系列载体组成的Hsh表达体系的构建策略、表达调控机制及其使用方法进行综述。Hsh表达体系的建立和发展有望从一个不同的角度帮助解决基因的重组表达中常见的表达水平低、诱导剂成本高、包涵体形成等问题。