Carp growth hormone: molecular cloning and sequencing of cDNA

cDNA clones of the fish Cyprinus carpio growth hormone (GH) mRNA have been isolated from a cDNA library prepared from carp pituitary gland poly(A)+RNA. The nucleotide sequence of one of the carp GH cDNA clones containing an insert of 1164 nucleotides (nt) was determined. The cDNA sequence was found to encode a polypeptide of 210 amino acids (aa) including a signal peptide of 22 aa and to contain 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the mRNA of 36 and 498 nt, respectively. The carp GH presents a 63% amino acid sequence homology with the salmon GH, has structural features common with other GH polypeptides of mammalian or avian origin and contains domains of conserved sequence near the N- and C-terminal regions. Southern blot hybridization of carp genomic DNA with GH cDNA probes shows the presence of at least two GH-coding sequences in the fish genome.     

鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio)生长激素基因克隆及原核表达

采用逆转录—聚合酶链式反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）方法,从鲤鱼脑垂体总ＲＮＡ中扩增出编码鲤鱼生长激素（ＧＨ）成熟肽基因序列．定向克隆至质粒ｐＵＣ１８,克隆的鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ不含信号肽序列并以新的起始密码子ＡＴＧ取代鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ第１个密码子ＴＣＡ．序列分析表明,与Ｋｏｒｅｎ报道的鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ相比有两个碱基差异,但推断的氨基酸序列完全一致．将鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ定向克隆至原核表达载体ｐＢＶ２２０,构建成重组鲤鱼ＧＨ基因表达载体ｐＢＶｃＧＨ８．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和薄层扫描分析表明：经４２℃诱导,ｐＢＶｃＧＨ８在大肠杆菌中可表达一分子量约２２０００的特异蛋白,表达量占细胞总蛋白的２９．２％．该基因重组的鲤鱼ＧＨ添加到饲料中投喂罗非鱼,证实有明显的促进生长作用     

Cloning, sequencing and expression of cDNA encoding growth hormone from Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

A tissue-specific cDNA library was constructed using polyA⁺ RNA from pituitary glands of the Indian catfishHeteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and a cDNA clone encoding growth hormone (GH) was isolated. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers representing the conserved regions of fish GH sequences the 3′ region of catfish GH cDNA (540 bp) was cloned by random amplification of cDNA ends and the clone was used as a probe to isolate recombinant phages carrying the full-length cDNA sequence. The full-length cDNA clone is 1132 bp in length, coding for an open reading frame (ORF) of 603 bp; the reading frame encodes a putative polypeptide of 200 amino acids including the signal sequence of 22 amino acids. The 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of the cDNA are 58 bp and 456 bp long, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequence ofH. fossils GH shared 98% homology with other catfishes. Mature GH protein was efficiently expressed in bacterial and zebrafish systems using appropriate expression vectors. The successful expression of the cloned GH cDNA of catfish confirms the functional viability of the clone.     

Molecular cloning of growth hormone encoding cDNA of Indian major carps by a modified rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategy

A modified rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategy has been developed for cloning highly conserved cDNA sequences. Using this modified method, the growth hormone (GH) encoding cDNA sequences ofLabeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala andCatla catla have been cloned, characterized and overexpressed inEscherichia coli. These sequences show 96–98% homology to each other and are about 85% homologous to that of common carp. Besides, an attempt has been made for the first time to describe a 3-D model of the fish GH protein.     

Molecular cloning of growth hormone encoding cDNA of Indian major carps by a modified rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategy

A modified rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategy has been developed for cloning highly conserved cDNA sequences. Using this modified method, the growth hormone (GH) encoding cDNA sequences ofLabeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala andCatla catla have been cloned, characterized and overexpressed inEscherichia coli. These sequences show 96–98% homology to each other and are about 85% homologous to that of common carp. Besides, an attempt has been made for the first time to describe a 3-D model of the fish GH protein.     

Construction of cDNA libraries for highly efficient DNA sequencing from the 3' end of expressed genes

The majority of expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences available today have been derived from the 5' ends of cDNA clones. Obtaining high-quality DNA sequences from the 3' ends of oligo(dT)-primed cDNA on a large scale has been difficult because of slippage of the DNA polymerase enzyme used in direct PCR and cycle sequencing. With the completion of whole genome sequencing for more and more organisms, mRNA 3'-UTR sequences can be particularly useful for clustering large numbers of ESTs for the effective discrimination of individual genes and gene families. We have identified a flaw in the widely used oligo(dT) primers for cDNA synthesis, and here we describe an improved priming approach to effectively synthesize cDNA devoid of homopolymeric nucleotide stretches from mRNA poly(A) tails to enable highly efficient and reliable DNA sequence determination from 3' mRNA ends. Using this method, we produced a rat lung cDNA library and successfully sequenced the 3' ends of 98% of all attempted clones.     

达氏鲟生长激素基因cDNA克隆、表达及免疫荧光定位研究

为研究达氏鲟(Acipenser dabryanus)生长激素(Growth Hormone, GH)基因的功能, 合成了达氏鲟垂体SMART cDNA, 克隆得到GH全长cDNA序列。达氏鲟GH全长cDNA序列为1008 bp, 由52 bp的5'端非编码区(Untranslated region, UTR)、编码214个氨基酸的645 bp开放阅读框(Open reading frame, ORF)和311 bp的3'UTR构成。运用GH氨基酸序列构建进化树分析发现, 达氏鲟与两栖类、爬行类和哺乳类的一致性要高于真骨鱼类。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明, 达氏鲟GH mRNA主要在垂体和下丘脑中表达, 且垂体中GH的表达量约为下丘脑的110倍; Western-blot研究结果与qRT-PCR一致, 仅在垂体和下丘脑中检测到生长激素蛋白, 且垂体中GH的表达量远高于下丘脑。免疫荧光定位结果显示, GH主要定位于垂体中部, 下丘脑中也有少量荧光信号; 苏木精-伊红组织切片染色研究表明, GH主要是由嗜酸性的生长激素分泌细胞分泌。研究为深入研究脊椎动物生长激素基因的进化和人工养殖达氏鲟的生长调控提供了基础。       

Analysis of the 3' UTR of the ART3 and ART4 gene by 3' inverse RACE-PCR.

3' Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3' RACE) is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based technique which has been developed to analyse 3' ends of partially known cDNA sequences. To improve the effectiveness of the technique, many investigators have modified the RACE protocol. Here, we describe an alternative procedure for analysing 3' mRNA ends which is based on DNA ligase-mediated self circularization and inverse PCR. This technique is simple and characterized by the exclusive use of gene-specific primers and the absence of unspecific adaptor sequences to obtain highly specific PCR products. We applied the method to analyze the 3' UTR of human mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase (ART) 3 mRNA in testis and heart muscle and of ART4 mRNA in HEL cells. The obtained sequences of ART3 and ART4 mRNA corresponded to data base entries of the respective mRNAs. No adenylate/uridylate-rich elements (AREs) were found in the 3' UTR of ART3 mRNA while one ARE class I motif was detected in the 3' UTR of ART4 mRNA.     

Gene transfer, expression and inheritance of pRSV-rainbow trout-GH cDNA in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

A recombinant plasmid containing the Rous sarcoma virus-long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) promoter linked to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) growth hormone (GH) cDNA was microinjected into fertilized carp eggs. Genomic DNA extracted from pectoral fin of individual presumptive transgenic fish was analyzed by dot blot and Southern blot hybridization, using the RSV-LTR and/or the GH cDNA sequences as probes. Out of 365 presumptive transgenic fish analyzed, 20 individuals were found to contain pRSV-rtGH-cDNA sequence in the genomic DNA. Expression of the trout GH polypeptide was detected by immunobinding assay in the red blood cells of nine transgenic fish tested. The level of expression, however, varied among the transgenics and could not be correlated with exogenous DNA copy number. Although there was considerable variation in the sizes of the transgenic fish, those microinjected during the one-cell stage were (P less than 0.05) 22% larger, on the average, than their sibling controls. A randomly selected fraction of the progeny derived from crosses between transgenic males and non-transgenic females inherited the foreign DNA. These transgenic progeny grew faster (P less than 0.05) than their non-transgenic siblings.     

Tissue-specific transcription initiation and effects of growth hormone (GH) deficiency on the regulation of mouse and rat GH-releasing hormone gene in hypothalamus and placenta

Hypothalamic GRH gene expression has been shown to be negatively regulated by GH in both rat and mouse. The recent reports of different 5' untranslated sequences in mouse GRH cDNA from hypothalamus and placenta have raised the possibility of tissue-specific regulation of the GRH gene. To provide support for this possibility, we have studied rodent models with GH deficiency due to genetic defects in the pituitary. Complementary DNA probes for the hypothalamic and placental 5' regions were used to determine the tissue specificity of each mRNA. Although the hypothalamic form of GRH mRNA was detected in placenta, it constituted less than 0.7% of total placental GRH mRNA. A placental 5' probe (based on the previously reported sequence) hybridized only with a larger mRNA species and was not tissue specific, indicating that it was not related to GRH and was derived possibly from a cloning artifact. The correct 5' sequence of mouse placental GRH cDNA was determined and shown to be distinct from both that previously reported and the hypothalamic sequence. Although the placental form of GRH mRNA was detected in hypothalamus using the polymerase chain reaction, its levels were undetectable by Northern blotting. The 5' end of rat placental GRH cDNA was similarly sequenced and shown to exhibit no homology with the rat 5' hypothalamic sequence, but a high degree of homology with the corresponding mouse placental sequence. In GH-deficient dwarf (dw/dw) rats, hypothalamic GRH mRNA levels were significantly increased above control levels in both females and males, and pregnancy did not alter the levels in either (dw) or control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Uracil DNA glycosylase-mediated cloning of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA: application to genomic and cDNA cloning.

A simple and rapid method for cloning of amplification products directly from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed. The method is based on the addition of a 12-base dUMP-containing sequence (CUACUACUACUA) to the 5' end of PCR primers. Incorporation of these primers during PCR results in the selective placement of dUMP residues into the 5' end of amplification products. Selective degradation of the dUMP residues in the PCR products with uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) disrupts base pairing at the termini and generates 3' overhangs. Annealing of 3' protruding termini to vector DNA containing complementary 3' ends results in chimeric molecules which can be transformed, with high efficiency, without in vitro ligation. Directional cloning of PCR products has also been accomplished by incorporating different dU-containing sequences at the end of each PCR primer. Substitution of all dT residues in PCR primers with dU eliminates cloning of aberrant "primer dimer" products and enriches cloning of genuine PCR products. The method has been applied to cloning of inter-Alu DNA sequences from human placental DNA. Using a single primer, DNA sequences between appropriately oriented Alu sequences were amplified and cloned. Cloning of cDNA for the glyceraldehyde-3'-phosphate dehydrogenase gene from rat brain RNA was also demonstrated. The 3' end region of this gene was amplified by the 3' RACE method and the amplified DNA was cloned after UDG digestion. Characterization of cloned DNAs by sequence analysis showed accurate repair of the cloning junctions. The ligase-free cloning method with UDG should prove to be a widely applicable procedure for rapid cloning of PCR-amplified DNA.     

斜带石斑鱼生长激素/催乳素家族基因cDNAs的分子克隆及其进化意义

从斜带石斑鱼垂体提取总。RNA,再取其50ng合成SMART cDNA。从所构建的垂体SMART cDNA质粒文库中筛选到生长激素／催乳素基因家族的2个成员的全长cDNA片段：生长激素(GH)基因全长为938bp,编码204个氨基酸;催乳素基因(PRI．)全长为1429bp,编码212个氨基酸。采用计算机软件Mega 2和CLUSTAL W1．64b对9种鱼的生长激素／催乳素基因家族的3个成员(GH、PRL和生长催乳素SL)的氨基酸序列进行系统分析,构建NJ分支系统树,对于序列中的插入／缺失位点则采用Pairaise Deletion,1000次自展(Bootstrap)分析计算各节点支持率。根据3个基因的氨基酸序列构建的系统树表明,石斑鱼与金头鲷、金鲈和牙鲆聚成一类,虹鳟与大马哈鱼聚成一类,鲫鱼与鲶鱼聚成一类,鳗鲡成另外一类。根据石斑鱼全长cDNA推断的氨基酸序列比较表明,SL相对GH和PRL有较高的保守性。石斑鱼的GH、PRL和SL的氨基酸同源性在24％～31％,但其C-端的氨基酸同源性较高,尤其是C-端的3个Cys是严格保守的。其中SL与GH的同源性(30．8％)高于与PRL的同源性(25．6％),GH和PRL的同源性最低(24．1％)。     

Molecular cDNA cloning and analysis of the organization and expression of the IL-1beta gene in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

The full-length cDNA sequence of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) from the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was determined by using PCR with primers designed from known fish IL-1beta sequences followed by elongation of the 5' and 3' ends using Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). The cDNA contains a 92-bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), a single open reading frame (ORF) of 732 bp that translates into a 243-amino acid molecule, a 341-bp 3' UTR with four cytokine RNA instability motifs (ATTTA), and a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA) at 15 nucleotides upstream of the poly(A) tail. The organization of the genomic IL-1beta based on the cDNA sequence appeared to be 4 introns and 5 exons. In comparison with known IL-1beta amino acid sequences, including human, catshark, trout, turbot, carp, sea bream, sea bass and goldfish, the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence of Nile tilapia showed different levels of identity ranging from 25.32% to 66.80% and homology ranging from 41.88% to 82.19%. Although the entire cDNA sequence of Nile tilapia IL-1beta showed from 49.45% to 67.05% identity to those of other reported IL-1beta cDNAs, each exon also showed different levels of identity to the corresponding exons of other reported IL-1beta cDNAs. The highest nucleotide sequence identity for exon 1 and exons 2-5 of Nile tilapia IL-1beta was found in the corresponding exons of sea bream and sea bass, respectively. After in vitro stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we found an increased level of IL-1beta expression in head kidney cells compared to that of unstimulated cells. However, this difference was no longer apparent after 4 h of stimulation, at which time the levels were similar in stimulated and unstimulated cells. Head kidney cells stimulated in vivo by an intraperitoneal injection of LPS showed a peak level of IL-1beta expression after 1 day and a decreased level after 3 days. At 7 days after stimulation, we were hardly able to detect IL-1beta expression.     

运用重叠延伸PCR技术构建在甘丙肽全长cDNA嵌入第二内含子的重构分子

构建嵌入第二内含子的甘丙肽(Galanin,GAL)全长基因组cDNA的重构分子。通过RT-PCR扩增出cDNA编区的序列,分别从基因组中扩增出cDNA的5′和3′端部分非编码序列;使用重叠延伸PCR(overlap extention PCR,OE-PCR)方法将三个片段重叠获得全长cDNA序列;再将全长cDNA从第三外显子第15个碱基处分成两部分,分开的cDNA前半部分和后半部分以及第二内含子进行重叠延伸获得重构分子,含有第二内含子的甘丙肽(GAL)全长基因组cDNA;将重构分子连入pMDI9-Tsimple载体。电泳分析观察到清晰的重构分子片段;测序显示重构分子由所设计的序列组成,第二内含子插入的位置准确,且无移码。使用重叠延伸PCR能够成功在cDNA中插入内含子获得一段重构基因。