Rice bicoid－related cDNA sequence and its expression during early embryogenesis

INTRODUCTIONThe establishment of embryonic polarity is oneof the critical events in embryogenesis. The polar distribution of maternal mRNA can be tracedto the unfertilized egg cell. After fertilization, itstranslational products trigger the zygotic targetgenes which define the embryonic region and fUIther direct the pattern formation and body planduring embryogenesis. In Drosophila, Bicoid is oneof the important maternal genes involved in thecontrol of embryo polarity and larvae segmen…     

Expression in Escherichia coli of Three Different Soybean Late Embryogenesis Abundant （LEA） Genes to Investigate Enhanced Stress Tolerance

In order to identify the function of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes, in vitro functional analyses were performed using an Escherichia coli heterologous expression system. Three soybean late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes, PMll (GenBank accession No. AF004805; group 1), PM30(AF117884; group 3), and ZLDE-2 (AY351918; group 2), were cloned and expressed in a pET-28a system.The gene products were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by mass spectrometry. E. coli cells containing the recombinant plasmids or empty vector as controls were treated by salt and low temperature stress. Compared with control cells, the E. coli cells expressing either PMll or PM30 showed a shorter lag period and improved growth when transferred to LB (Luria-Bertani) liquid media containing 800 mmol/L NaC1 or 700 mmol/L KC1 or after 4℃ treatment. E. coli cells expressing ZLDE-2 did not show obvious growth improvement both in either high KC1 medium or after 4℃ treatment. The results indicate that the E. coli expression system is a simple, useful method to identify the functions of some stress-tolerant genes from plants.     

Functional expression of opioid receptor—like receptor and its endogenous specific agonist nociceptin／orphanin FQ during mouse embryogenesis

INTRODUCTIONOpioidreceptorsbelongtotheG-protein-coupledreceptorfamilythatischaracterizedbytheseventransmembranespanningdomainsinstructure.Threesubtypesoftheopioidreceptors(H,6,andK)havebeenclonedandcharacterizedthroughtheir1.CorrespondingauthorFunctionalexpressionofORLIandN/OFQduringmouseembryogenesisdistinctaffinitiesfordifferentopioidligands.TheseopioidreceptorsareallcoupledtotheinhibitoryGprotein(Gi)andnegativelyregulateadenylatecyclase[1].Opioidreceptor--likereceptor(ORLI),anew…     

Overexpression of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.（SAMDC） in Xeno-pus embryos activates maternal program of apoptosm as a “fail-safe”mechanism of early embryogenesis

In Xenopus, injection of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) mRNA into fertilized eggs or 2-cell stage embryos induces massive cell dissociation and embryo-lysis at the early gastrula stage due toactivation of the maternal program of apoptosis. We injected SAMDC mRNA into only one of the animalside blastomeres of embryos at different stages of cleavage, and examined the timing of the onset of theapoptotic reaction. In the injection at 4-and 8-cell stages, a considerable number of embryos developed intotadpoles and in the injection at 16-and 32-cell stages, all the embryos became tadpoles, although tadpolesobtained were sometimes abnormal. However, using GFP as a lineage tracer, we found that descendant cellsof the blastomere injected with SAMDC mRNA at 8-to 32-cell stages are confined within the blastocoel atthe early gastrula stage and undergo apoptotic cell death within the blastocoel, in spite of the continued development of the injected embryos. These results indicate that cells overexpressed with SAMDC undergo apoptotic cell death consistently at the early gastrula stage, irrespective of the timing of the mRNA injection.We assume that apoptosis is executed in Xenopus early gastrulae as a “fall-safe“ mechanism to eliminate physiologically-severely damaged cells to save the rest of the embryo.     

Expression of non-structural protein NS3 gene of Bombyx mori densovirus （China isolate）

The invertebrate parvovirus Bombyx mori Densonucleosis Virus type 3 (China isolate),named BmDNV-3,is a kind of bidensovirus.It is a new type of virus with unique replication mechanisms.To investigate the effects of the NS3 gene during viral DNA replication,a pair of primers was designed for amplifying NS3 gene of Bombyx mori densovirus (China isolate).Gene NS3 amplified was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pET-30a and the donor plasmid pFastBacHTe,respectively.The NS3 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21.The pFastBacHTe-NS3 was transformed to E.coli DH10Bac.The recombinant bacmid baculoviruses (rBacmid-EGFP-NS3)isolated from the white colonies were transfected into BraN-4 cells using a transfection reagent.BmN-4 cells were infected with recom-binant virus to express fusion proteins.The expression of fusion protein around 30 kDa in E.coli BL21 was identified by SDS-PAGE,Western blotting,and mass spectrometry.The expressed NS3 protein by B.mor/nucleopolyhedrovirus bacmid system was confirmed byWestern blotting using an anti-NS3 polyclonal antibody.And about 45 kDa protein was found.The expressed fusion protein was smalleithan the expected size of EGFP-NS3,55 kDa.Western blotting analysis indicated that EGFP-NS3 protein was expressed in infected lar-vae with smaller molecular size.     

Adenovirus－mediated expression of pig α（1，3）galactosyltransferase reconstructs Gal α（1,3） Gal epitope on the surface of human tumor cells

Gal alpha(1, 3) Gal (gal epitope) is a carbohydrate epitope and synthesized in large amount by alpha(1, 3) galactosyltransferase [alpha(1, 3) GT] enzyme on the cells of lower mammalian animals such as pigs and mice. Human has no gal epitope due to the inactivation of alpha(1, 3) GT gene but produces a large amount of antibodies (anti-Gal) which recognize Gal alpha(1, 3) Gal structures specifically. In this study, a replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector Ad5sGT containing pig alpha(1, 3) GT cDNA was constructed and characterized. Adenoviral vector-mediated transfer of pig alpha(1, 3) GT gene into human tumor cells such as malignant melanoma A375, stomach cancer SGC-7901, and lung cancer SPC-A-1 was reported for the first time. Results showed that Gal epitope did not increase the sensitivity of human tumor cells to human complement-mediated lysis, although human complement activation and the binding of human IgG and IgM natural antibodies to human tumor cells were enhanced significantly after Ad5sGT transduction. Appearance of gal epitope on the human tumor cells changed the expression of cell surface carbohydrates reacting with Ulex europaeus I (UEA I) lectins, Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA), Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA), and Glycine max agglutinin (SBA) to different degrees. In addition, no effect of gal epitope on the growth in vitro of human tumor cells was observed in MTT assay.     

G418和潮霉素B双重抗性小鼠胚胎干细胞饲养层的制备

通过脂质体转染的方法,先后将含有neo基因的质粒pWL／neo和含有潮霉素基因的质粒导入NIH3T3细胞中,利用G418和潮霉素B的药物选择特性,对转染细胞进行压力筛选,经500μg／ml的G418和300μg／ml潮霉素B压力筛选后,获得了具有G418和潮霉素B双重抗性细胞克隆。抗性NIH3T3细胞的形态和生长速度与正常NIH3T3细胞没有差异,用PCR法特异性核苷酸引物检测抗性细胞基因组DNA,可以扩增出对应的核苷酸片段。生长在双抗NIH3T3细胞饲养层上ES细胞基本保持正常ES细胞特征,成功地培育了G418和潮霉素双重抗性的NIH3T3细胞,为进行pTet-on和pTRE-H-Insulin目的基因电转染ES细胞的阳性细胞克隆筛选打下了基础。     

Transformed phenotype conferred to NIH/3T3 cells by ectopic expression of heparin-binding growth factor 1/acidic fibroblast growth factor

Summary Heparin-binding growth factor 1 (HBGF-1), also known as acidic fibroblast growth factor, is a potent mitogen and angiogenic factor found in tissues such as brain, kidney and heart. The genomic and cDNA sequences indicate that HBGF-1 does not have a typical signal peptide sequence. HBGF-1 was shown to be localized to the extracellular matrix of cardiac myocytes, but the mechanism of secretion is not presently known. We have cloned the HBGF-1 cDNA which allowed us to directly test the biological activity, mechanism of secretion and transforming potential of the recombinant protein. A previous report showed that the truncated HBGF-1 confers partial transformed phenotype to the recipient fibroblasts. However, expression of full-length HBGF-1 has not been reported. The HBGF-1 coding sequence was cloned into the retroviral expression vector, SVX, and transfected into NIH/3T3 cells. Transfectants expressing full-length HBGF-1 protein at high levels form foci and grow to a higher cell density than the parental NIH/3T3 cells. Western blotting analysis showed that the recombinant HBGF-1 is a unique band of approximately 20 kDa and can be detected in the cell homogenate but not in the conditioned medium. NIH/3T3 cells were conferred anchorage independence when HBGF-1 was provided exogenously. We showed the transformed cells are capable of growing on soft agar even in the absence of exogenously-provided HBGF-1. Transfected cells expressing HBGF-1 also induced tumor formation when injected into nude mice. Thus, NIH/3T3 cells acquired a full spectrum of transformed phenotype when full length HBGF-1 was expressed at high levels. This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (RO1 CA45611), The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (No. 6-549) and The Ohio Cancer Research Associates, Inc. I.-M.C. is a recipient of The Research Career Development Award (KO4 CA01369) from the National Institutes of Health.     

The translational functions of embryonic poly(A)‐binding protein during gametogenesis and early embryo development

Embryonic poly(A)‐binding protein (EPAB) is an RNA‐binding protein that binds to the poly(A) tails and AU‐rich element at the 3′ ends of messenger RNA (mRNAs). The main functions of EPAB are to protect stored mRNAs from undergoing deadenylation and subsequent degradation and to be involved in their translational regulation during spermatogenesis, oogenesis, and early embryogenesis. Following the first characterization of Epab in the Xenopus oocytes and early embryos, spatial and temporal expression and potential roles of the Epab gene have been determined in the vertebrate germ cells and early embryos. In this review, we have comprehensively evaluated all studies in this field and discussed the particular functions of EPAB in the spermatogenic cells, oocytes, early embryos, and somatic cells in vertebrates.     

Aspects of cellular physiology that influence DNA-mediated gene transfer in NIH3T3 cells

Cellular physiology has a significant influence on the efficiency of various gene transfer procedures, as shown by the fact that transfection efficiency varies dramatically among different cell lines. However, the aspects of cellular physiology which influence the transfection process remain substantially uncharacterized. In this study, NIH3T3 cells were treated with inhibitors of protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and RNA synthesis to determine the importance of these processes in the calcium-phosphate transfection process. The results suggest that protein synthesis during the first 4 h after DNA addition enhances transfection. In contrast, inhibition of RNA synthesis has no effect on transfection during the first 24 h post-DNA addition. The DNA synthesis inhibitor results remain inconclusive due to a secondary inhibition of an unknown cellular factor. Secondly, agents that destabilize microtubules, microfilaments, and the golgi apparatus were used to determine whether these elements play a role in the transfection process. The results suggest that microtubules are not involved in the transfection process, microfilaments are important but not necessary for the transfection process, and a functional golgi apparatus is essential early in the transfection process. These studies provide a foundation from which further investigations into the cellular processes involved in the uptake and expression of exogenous DNA can proceed.     

具潮霉素B抗性的NIH3T3细胞饲养层的制备

[目的]建立具有潮霉素B(hygromycinB)抗性的3T3细胞系,用于转染目的基因(pTRE2-human-Ins)的ES阳性细胞克隆筛选的饲养层。[方法]通过脂质体转染的方法,将含有潮霉素B磷酸转移酶基因(hyg)的质粒pHyg导入NIH3T3细胞中,利用潮霉素B的药物选择特性,对转染细胞进行压力筛选,并对其进行PCR和southernblot鉴定。[结果]经300ug/ml的潮霉素B压力筛选后,获得了抗性细胞克隆。抗性NIH3T3细胞的形态和生长速度与正常NIH3T3细胞没有差异,特异性核苷酸引物检测抗性细胞基因组DNA,可以扩增出相应的核苷酸片段,Southernblot鉴定结果表明潮霉素基因片段已整合入潮霉素抗性NIH3T3细胞。[结论]本实验通过脂质体介导的方法成功地培育了潮霉素B抗性的NIH3T3细胞,为进行目的基因(pTRE2-human-Ins)转染ES细胞的阳性细胞克隆筛选打下了基础。     

EphA3基因稳定表达细胞模型的建立与分析

目的：建立稳定表达外源EphA3基因的小鼠成纤维细胞株模型,初步探讨EphA3基因表达对肿瘤发生、发展的影响。方法：通过脂质体介导的方法,将真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（-）/myc-his-EphA3转染NIH3T3细胞,用Western印迹确定外源EphA3基因表达;通过MTT实验、软琼脂集落形成实验,观察EphA3基因表达对NIH3T3细胞生物学特性的影响。结果：建立了稳定转染EphA3基因的NIH3T3细胞株;EphA3基因表达的小鼠成纤维NIH3T3细胞生长速度没有明显变化,但在软琼脂上锚着非依赖生长的能力加强。结论：建立了稳定表达外源EphA3基因的NIH3T3细胞株,EphA3基因稳定表达具有诱导正常NIH3T3细胞发生恶性转化的重要生物功能。     

人MCP cDNA在NIH3T3细胞中表达及功能研究

通过构建表达人膜辅因子蛋白ＭＣＰ编码区全长ｃＤＮＡ的重级载体ｐｃＤＮＡ３ＭＣＰ,以磷酸钙沉淀法转染ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞,用Ｇ４１８筛选阳性克隆,并鉴定ＭＣＰ ｃＤＮＡ在细胞中的表达。将血清梯度稀释并与细胞孵育,然后检测细胞活力：灭活的人血清不能引起对照细胞与ＭＣＰ转染细胞的胞毒作用,而新鲜人血清可使对照细胞发生补体依赖的细胞毒反应,ＭＣＰ转染细胞由于ＭＣＰ蛋白的合成,细胞受到保护不发生该反应。另外,Ｍ