pRNA的结构、功能及其研究近况

在噬菌体phi29中, 基因组DNA的包装需要由病毒基因组编码的pRNA参与, 6个pRNA分子通过由pRNA分子间相互作用形成的六聚体来启动DNA转运马达, 这个过程由ATP提供能量。RNA纳米技术将pRNA与siRNA、核酶、反义RNA等分子稳定结合, pRNA作为一种载体把它们准确运输到癌细胞和病毒感染细胞的作用靶点, 从而发挥它们各自的功能。作为一种非编码RNA, 对pRNA的深入研究将有助于我们了解生命起源问题, 并有着广阔的应用前景。     

PEG修饰对PLL-EGF基因载体靶向结合作用的影响

聚阳离子基因载体系统由于安全性好和便于设计等优点,近年来在基因治疗中的应用发展迅速.在进行基因药物的体内靶向输送时,目前国际上主要通过在基因输送系统中修饰聚乙二醇(PEG)和靶向分子来提高体内输送的稳定性和靶向性.PEG的修饰可能会遮蔽靶向分子的功能呈现,因此建立定量分析方法评价PEG修饰对靶向结合作用的影响非常重要.将连接有表皮生长因子(EGF)的聚赖氨酸(PLL)基因载体作为研究模型,建立BIAcore检测方法,比较PLL-EGF,PEG7000修饰的PLL-EGF,PEG20000修饰的PLL-EGF对表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)的结合和解离速率,评价PEG修饰对PLL-EGF靶向功能呈现的影响.结果表明,PEG7000的修饰降低了EGF和EGFR之间的结合速率,提高了解离速率,整体减弱了靶向分子的靶向结合能力.PEG20000的修饰进一步减弱靶向分子功能的呈现.因此在进行靶向型聚阳离子基因输送系统设计时,考察PEG修饰对靶向结合能力的影响程度非常重要.该研究结果也对其他基因载体系统的设计提供必要的参考.     

当前肿瘤基因治疗中存在的主要问题及其解决途径

本文概述了当前肿瘤基因治疗研究中存在的一些主要问题,如绝大多数治疗方案中目的基因只有一个,肿瘤基因治疗缺乏靶向性,基因转移载体的效率、安全性及容量等问题。讨论了解决这些问题的主要途径,即肿瘤多基因联合治疗、直接体内途径基因治疗与靶向基因治疗、基因转移载体的改造。     

腺相关病毒的受体研究进展

腺相关病毒的安全与长效特点,使其成为基因治疗中最有前景的病毒载体之一。虽然第一个以该病毒为载体的基因药物Glybera已在欧盟获批上市,然而如何进一步提高载体的靶向性与产品纯度仍是当务之急。腺相关病毒的受体是介导病毒与靶细胞结合的分子基础,其与病毒的结合具有很强的特异性,因此相关受体的研究不仅有助于改善基因治疗的靶向性,亦能为高纯度病毒的亲和纯化带来希望。目前已有11种腺相关病毒的受体被发现,本文就其受体的发现过程、结构特点、功能应用等方面展开综述,为今后相关研究提供一些思路。     

pRNA导入型Ribozyme的设计和体外转录制备

目的:枯草杆菌的包装RNA分子pRNA是新型纳米分子载体,将其同锤头型核酶Ribozyme重组可以构建结构稳定、能进入细胞、主动识别结合和剪切基因RNA的pRNA-Ribozyme.由于目前100 nt以上的RNA分子采用化学合成制备较为困难,实验采用基因重组构建并体外转录制备170 nt的pRNA-Ribozyme....     

结肠癌靶向治疗的研究进展

结肠癌目前被认为是世界第三大癌症,其临床表现隐匿,诊断发现时已大多出现肝脏转移,故化疗被视为最重要的传统治疗方法。然而,化疗的局限性不容忽视,如选择性低、肿瘤组织浓度不足、耐药性以及全身毒性等。因此,只有研制出能够特异性阻止结肠癌细胞增殖并不损伤正常细胞的靶向药物,才能从根本上控制肿瘤细胞的转移。目前,结肠癌靶向治疗从分子水平逐步走向靶向性更强的基因治疗,并意识到基因治疗在实际应用过程中最大的障碍是缺乏高效、导向的载体系统。文章就近年来结肠癌分子靶向药物及基因治疗运载系统的研究进行综述。     

肿瘤基因治疗的靶向策略

对肿瘤组织的靶向性可以提高基因治疗的效果 ,避免对正常组织的损伤 ,并且能降低作为载体的微生物对机体的危害。对于瘤内注射的给药方法 ,靶向性似乎显得不是特别重要 ,但是如果要系统给药 ,靶向性是很关键的一个问题。靶向基因治疗肿瘤可以通过靶向基因导入和靶向基因表达来实现。近年来 ,在靶向基因导入方面的研究有很多进展 ,例如 ,用双亲性的桥连分子协助腺病毒和逆转录病毒靶向转导 ;在各种病毒载体的衣壳蛋白中插入靶向性的小肽或较大的多肽靶向结构域 ;增殖病毒作为一种很有前途的抗肿瘤制剂可有效地靶向杀伤肿瘤细胞。受体介导的DNA或DNA 脂质体复合物的靶向系统和其他一些靶向性的有疗效的载体 ,如细菌 ,也处于研究中。其中的一些载体已经进入临床实验。为了实现基因的靶向可调控表达 ,组织或肿瘤特异性的启动子和人工合成的可调控表达系统被用来调控治疗基因的表达。反义核酸、核酶以及脱氧核酶 (DNAzyme)被用来靶向抑制与肿瘤发生密切相关基因的表达。     

当前肿瘤基因治疗中存在的主要问题及其解决途径

本文概述了当前肿瘤基因治疗研究中存在的一些主要问题,如绝大多数治疗方案中目的基因只有一个,肿瘤基因治疗缺乏靶向性,基因转移载体的效率、安全性及容量等问题。讨论了解决这些问题的主要途径,即肿瘤多基因联合治疗、直接体内途径治疗与靶向基因治疗、基因转移载体的改造。     

腺病毒载体的高分子修饰

腺病毒载体是基因治疗的常用载体之一,已经广泛应用于肿瘤和遗传疾病等的基因治疗研究中.但是临床发现腺病毒载体有较高的免疫原性,同时缺乏组织或细胞特异性,制约了其在临床上的应用.通过共价键结合或者静电力作用,将高分子修饰到病毒衣壳上,利用高分子的特殊性质可以降低载体的免疫原性和提高载体的靶向性,同时载体保持了较高的转染能力...     

基因治疗的输送屏障及输送载体的研究

基因治疗是将可具有治疗性的基因导入病变细胞以达到治疗遗传性疾病或获得性功能缺损疾病的治疗手段,是一种极具潜力的新型治疗方法。然而基因治疗面临着一系列一陆床应用障碍,其中缺乏理想的基因输送载体是首要问题。绝大多数基因治疗方案受困缺乏安全有效的基因输送手段,载体要达到目的地发挥作用,需要克服一系列复杂的体内生物屏障,包括细胞外屏障和细胞内屏障。目前基因输送载体主要分为病毒载体和非病毒载体,其中病毒载体天然进化至可进入宿主细胞,具有输送效率高,靶向性好的特点,但存在长期安全性的缺点。非病毒载体主要包括阳离子脂质体和阳离子聚合物,由于易于制备和无免疫原性、安全性好,被认为是更有潜力的输送载体,是目前研究的重点。本文结合基因治疗输送屏障的理论基础及临床研究,对基因输送载体系统的现状进行了综述。     

The procapsid binding domain of phi29 packaging RNA has a modular architecture and requires 2'-hydroxyl groups in packaging RNA interaction

The phi29 packaging RNA (pRNA) is an essential component in the phi29 bacteriophage DNA packaging motor, the strongest biomolecular motor known today. Utilizing Mg2+-dependent intermolecular base pairing interactions between two 4-nucleotide loops within the pRNA procapsid binding domain, multiple copies of pRNA form a ring-shaped complex that is indispensable for packaging motor function. To understand pRNA structural organization and pRNA/pRNA interaction, studies were carried out on pRNA closed dimers, the simplest functional pRNA complex believed to be the building blocks for assembling the oligomeric ring. Tertiary folding and interactions in various pRNA mutants were evaluated based on measured closed dimer affinity that is directly linked to the proper positioning of the interacting loops. The data revealed that the procapsid binding domain contains two autonomous modules that are capable of interacting noncovalently to form a fully active species in pRNA/pRNA interaction. Deleting the 2'-hydroxyl groups in one of the interacting loops weakens the dimer affinity by 125-fold, suggesting potential tertiary interactions involving these 2'-hydroxyl groups. The results provide evidence that nonbase functional groups are involved in pRNA folding and interaction and lead to a simple model that describes the pRNA monomer configuration in terms of three arms spanning a hinge. The functional constructs developed here will aid biophysical and biochemical investigations of pRNA structure and function, as well as developments of pRNA-based technology for nanoscience and gene therapy.     

Complete inhibition of virion assembly in vivo with mutant procapsid RNA essential for phage phi 29 DNA packaging.

A highly efficient method for the inhibition of bacteriophage phi 29 assembly was developed with the use of mutant forms of the viral procapsid (or packaging) RNA (pRNA) indispensable for phi 29 DNA packaging. Phage phi 29 assembly was severely reduced in vitro in the presence of mutant pRNA and completely blocked in vivo when the host cell expressed mutant pRNA. Addition of 45% mutant pRNA resulted in a reduction of infectious virion production by 4 orders of magnitude, indicating that factors involved in viral assembly can be targets for efficient and specific antiviral treatment. The mechanism leading to the high efficiency of inhibition was attributed to two pivotal features. First, the pRNA contains two separate, essential functional domains, one for procapsid binding and the other for a DNA-packaging role other than procapsid binding. Mutation of the DNA-packaging domain resulted in a pRNA with no DNA-packaging activity but intact procapsid binding competence. Second, multiple copies of the pRNA were involved in the packaging of one genome. This higher-order dependence of pRNA in viral replication concomitantly resulted in its higher-order inhibitory effect. This finding suggested that the collective DNA-packaging activity of multiple copies of pRNA could be disrupted by the incorporation of perhaps an individual mutant pRNA into the group. Although this mutant pRNA could not be used for the inhibition of the replication of other viruses directly, the principle of using molecules with two functional domains and multiple-copy involvement as targets for antiviral agents could be applied to certain viral structural proteins, enzymes, and other factors or RNAs involved in the viral life cycle. This principle also implies a strategy for gene therapy, intracellular immunization, or construction of transgenic plants resistant to viral infection.     

噬菌体phi29 pRNA载体在RNA干扰中的初步应用研究

RNA干扰是在细胞胞质中双链RNA(dsR-NA)介导的序列特异性mRNA的降解[1]。这个过程是由21~25个被称为小干扰RNA(si RNA)形成的dsRNA完成[2]。目前,这一技术已经广泛应用于研究基因的功能,病毒感染治疗等方面。但是,si RNA在体内容易降解,干扰作用持续的时间不长。新的研究表明枯     

乳酸乳球菌食品级诱导表达系统的构建及异源蛋白的表达

以α-aga基因为食品级选择标记构建了乳酸乳球菌食品级高效诱导细胞内和细胞壁锚定表达系统,并用这一表达系统表达了铜绿假单胞菌融合外膜蛋白基因OprF/H。首先以pRAF800和pNZ8048构建了含有α-aga、PnisA-MCS-TpepN和θ复制子的乳酸乳球菌食品级细胞内诱导表达载体pRNA48,再以pRNA48和pVE5524为出发载体构建了含有α-aga、PnisA-SPUsp45-nucA-CWAM6-t1t2和θ复制子的乳酸乳球菌细胞壁锚定诱导表达载体pRNV48。然后以食品级载体pRNA48和pRNV48为基础,构建了不含抗生素抗性选择标记的铜绿假单胞菌融合外膜蛋白基因的表达质粒pRNA48-OprF/H和pRNV48-OprF/H。利用nisin进行重组乳酸乳球菌菌株的诱导表达,通过SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析,检测到表达蛋白分别占细胞内可溶蛋白的9.6%和细胞壁锚定蛋白的9.8%,表达产物具有免疫原性,可与含OprF/H的乳球菌以及铜绿假单胞菌发生特异性的凝集反应。     

Gene-specific silencing induced by parallel complementary RNA in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

To investigate whether parallel complementary RNA (pRNA) could induce gene-specific silencing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pRNA of the mexA gene was expressed in it. Compared to the control strains, the strain expressing pRNA of mexA showed a 50% decrease in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of several antimicrobial agents and a twofold increase in the initial accumulation rate of ethidium bromide, all of which are substrates of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. These results suggest that gene-specific silencing was induced by pRNA. This is the first time that such a route for gene silencing has been reported in a bacterium other than Escherichia coli. Gene-specific silencing induced by pRNA may be useful as a novel biotechnology tool for gene regulation in prokaryotes.     

Counting of six pRNAs of phi29 DNA-packaging motor with customized single-molecule dual-view system

Direct imaging or counting of RNA molecules has been difficult owing to its relatively low electron density for EM and insufficient resolution in AFM. Bacteriophage phi29 DNA-packaging motor is geared by a packaging RNA (pRNA) ring. Currently, whether the ring is a pentagon or hexagon is under fervent debate. We report here the assembly of a highly sensitive imaging system for direct counting of the copy number of pRNA within this 20-nm motor. Single fluorophore imaging clearly identified the quantized photobleaching steps from pRNA labeled with a single fluorophore and concluded its stoichiometry within the motor. Almost all of the motors contained six copies of pRNA before and during DNA translocation, identified by dual-color detection of the stalled intermediates of motors containing Cy3-pRNA and Cy5-DNA. The stalled motors were restarted to observe the motion of DNA packaging in real time. Heat-denaturation analysis confirmed that the stoichiometry of pRNA is the common multiple of 2 and 3. EM imaging of procapsid/pRNA complexes clearly revealed six ferritin particles that were conjugated to each pRNA ring.     

Role of the CCA bulge of prohead RNA of bacteriophage ø29 in DNA packaging

The oligomeric ring of prohead RNA (pRNA) is an essential component of the ATP-driven DNA packaging motor of bacteriophage ?29. The A-helix of pRNA binds the DNA translocating ATPase gp16 (gene product 16) and the CCA bulge in this helix is essential for DNA packaging in vitro. Mutation of the bulge by base substitution or deletion showed that the size of the bulge, rather than its sequence, is primary in DNA packaging activity. Proheads reconstituted with CCA bulge mutant pRNAs bound the packaging ATPase gp16 and the packaging substrate DNA-gp3, although DNA translocation was not detected with several mutants. Prohead/bulge-mutant pRNA complexes with low packaging activity had a higher rate of ATP hydrolysis per base pair of DNA packaged than proheads with wild-type pRNA. Cryoelectron microscopy three-dimensional reconstruction of proheads reconstituted with a CCA deletion pRNA showed that the protruding pRNA spokes of the motor occupy a different position relative to the head when compared to particles with wild-type pRNA. Therefore, the CCA bulge seems to dictate the orientation of the pRNA spokes. The conformational changes observed for this mutant pRNA may affect gp16 conformation and/or subsequent ATPase-DNA interaction and, consequently, explain the decreased packaging activity observed for CCA mutants.     

Novel mechanism of hexamer ring assembly in protein/RNA interactions revealed by single molecule imaging

Many nucleic acid-binding proteins and the AAA+ family form hexameric rings, but the mechanism of hexamer assembly is unclear. It is generally believed that the specificity in protein/RNA interaction relies on molecular contact through a surface charge or 3D structure matching via conformational capture or induced fit. The pRNA of bacteriophage phi29 DNA-packaging motor also forms a ring, but whether the pRNA ring is a hexamer or a pentamer is under debate. Here, single molecule studies elucidated a mechanism suggesting the specificity and affinity in protein/RNA interaction relies on pRNA static ring formation. A combined pRNA ring-forming group was very specific for motor binding, but the isolated individual members of the ring-forming group bind to the motor nonspecifically. pRNA did not form a ring prior to motor binding. Only those RNAs that formed a static ring, via the interlocking loops, stayed on the motor. Single interlocking loop interruption resulted in pRNA detachment. Extension or reduction of the ring circumference failed in motor binding. This new mechanism was tested by redesigning two artificial RNAs that formed hexamer and packaged DNA. The results confirmed the stoichiometry of pRNA on the motor was the common multiple of two and three, thus, a hexamer.     

The RNA helicase DHX9 establishes nucleolar heterochromatin,and this activity is required for embryonic stem cell differentiation

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of chromatin conformation and epigenetic patterns. lncRNA expression levels are widely taken as an indicator for functional properties. However, the role of RNA processing in modulating distinct features of the same lncRNA is less understood. The establishment of heterochromatin at rRNA genes depends on the processing of IGS‐rRNA into pRNA, a reaction that is impaired in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and activated only upon differentiation. The production of mature pRNA is essential since it guides the repressor TIP5 to rRNA genes, and IGS‐rRNA abolishes this process. Through screening for IGS‐rRNA‐binding proteins, we here identify the RNA helicase DHX9 as a regulator of pRNA processing. DHX9 binds to rRNA genes only upon ESC differentiation and its activity guides TIP5 to rRNA genes and establishes heterochromatin. Remarkably, ESCs depleted of DHX9 are unable to differentiate and this phenotype is reverted by the addition of pRNA, whereas providing IGS‐rRNA and pRNA mutants deficient for TIP5 binding are not sufficient. Our results reveal insights into lncRNA biogenesis during development and support a model in which the state of rRNA gene chromatin is part of the regulatory network that controls exit from pluripotency and initiation of differentiation pathways.