Dual-tagging gene trap of novel genes in Drosophila melanogaster

A gene-trap system is established for Drosophila. Unlike the conventional enhancer-trap system, the gene-trap system allows the recovery only of fly lines whose genes are inactivated by a P-element insertion, i.e., mutants. In the gene-trap system, the reporter gene expression reflects precisely the spatial and temporal expression pattern of the trapped gene. Flies in which gene trap occurred are identified by a two-step screening process using two independent markers, mini-w and Gal4, each indicating the integration of the vector downstream of the promoter of a gene (dual tagging). mini-w has its own promoter but lacks a polyadenylation signal. Therefore, mini-w mRNA is transcribed from its own promoter regardless of the vector integration site in the genome. However, the eyes of flies are not orange or red unless the vector is incorporated into a gene enabling mini-w to be spliced to a downstream exon of the host gene and polyadenylated at the 3' end. The promoter-less Gal4 reporter is expressed as a fusion mRNA only when it is integrated downstream of the promoter of a host gene. The exons of trapped genes can be readily cloned by vectorette RT-PCR, followed by RACE and PCR using cDNA libraries. Thus, the dual-tagging gene-trap system provides a means for (i) efficient mutagenesis, (ii) unequivocal identification of genes responsible for mutant phenotypes, (iii) precise detection of expression patterns of trapped genes, and (iv) rapid cloning of trapped genes.     

Characterization of Growth and Reproduction Performance,Transgene Integration,Expression, and Transmission Patterns in Transgenic Pigs Produced by piggyBac Transposition-Mediated Gene Transfer

Previously we successfully produced a group of EGFP-expressing founder transgenic pigs by a newly developed efficient and simple pig transgenesis method based on cytoplasmic injection of piggyBac plasmids. In this study, we investigated the growth and reproduction performance and characterized the transgene insertion, transmission, and expression patterns in transgenic pigs generated by piggyBac transposition. Results showed that transgene has no injurious effect on the growth and reproduction of transgenic pigs. Multiple copies of monogenic EGFP transgene were inserted at noncoding sequences of host genome, and passed from founder transgenic pigs to their transgenic offspring in segregation or linkage manner. The EGFP transgene was ubiquitously expressed in transgenic pigs, and its expression intensity was associated with transgene copy number but not related to its promoter DNA methylation level. To the best of our knowledge, this is first study that fully described the growth and reproduction performance, transgene insertion, expression, and transmission profiles in transgenic pigs produced by piggyBac system. It not only demonstrates that piggyBac transposition-mediated gene transfer is an effective and favorable approach for pig transgenesis, but also provides scientific information for understanding the transgene insertion, expression and transmission patterns in transgenic animals produced by piggyBac transposition.     

准噶尔雅罗鱼β-肌动蛋白基因启动子的克隆及其活性功能初步检测

以开发利用新疆濒危鱼类准噶尔雅罗鱼(Leuciscus merzbacheri)基因资源为研究目的, 利用PCR技术克隆准噶尔雅罗鱼的β-actin 基因, 得到的β-actin 基因片段SZ21包含启动调控区, 大小为2 398 bp。SZ21的启动调控区包括β-actin 基因上游调控序列、第1、第2、第3和第4外显子部分序列。上游调控序列中含有对转录起重要作用的CAAT框、TATA 框和CArG 框等元件。对启动子序列在线分析表明, 获得的启动子含有E-box、RU49、ZBPF、CEBP、CREB等多个重要转录因子结合位点。用AatⅡ破坏真核表达载体pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ中的CMV启动子, 将准噶尔雅罗鱼的SZ21启动调控区克隆到载体pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ(CMV坏)上, 构建成重组表达载体β2 pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ。脂质体转染BHK-21细胞。结果表明, 克隆的准噶尔雅罗鱼β-actin基因启动子SZ21具有启动EGFP报告基因在哺乳动物细胞中表达的活性。通过BHK-21绿色荧光细胞的传代证实, 克隆的启动子具有持续启动蛋白基因表达的活性, 在细胞传代中可以遗传。PCR检测传代的BHK-21绿色荧光细胞基因组DNA, 均能检测到SZ21目的片段。文章成功分离了具有活性功能的准噶尔雅罗鱼β-actin基因启动子。     

利用 CRISPR/Cas9 系统定向编辑黑腹果蝇Osiris24基因

Osiris基因在几丁质沉积过程中表达,可能参与昆虫表皮的发育。本研究利用CRISPR/Cas9 基因编辑系统对Osiris24基因进行编辑,进而观察Osiris24突变体果蝇的性状并且检测Osiris24的表达特征。在Osiris24第1外显子设计2个sgRNA靶位点,插入到pCFD4敲除载体骨架中,同时构建酵母Gal4蛋白序列的供体(donor)载体,将2个载体同时注射到nos-Cas9胚胎中获得G0代转基因果蝇。结果显示,G0代基因编辑阳性率为92.8%,Osiris24纯合突变体在胚胎或1龄幼虫期致死,杂合突变体未观察到可见表型。将阳性G0代雄虫与UAS-GFP雌虫杂交,检测不同龄期和不同组织GFP信号表达情况。结果发现,Osiris24在不同龄期幼虫中均有表达,幼虫期主要在体壁、气管、前肠和后肠高表达,蛹期主要在体壁和翅上表达,推测其在果蝇发育中发挥重要作用,本研究为深入探究Osiris基因功能提供了研究模型。     

利用Tol2转座子构建斑马鱼心脏组织特异表达转基因载体及其表达分析

为了制备用于在斑马鱼心脏中特异表达目的基因的转基因载体,通过分子克隆的方法对能够在斑马鱼心脏中特异表达EGFP报告基因的Tol2载体进行了改造,在原有的CMLC2启动子与EGFP编码区之间插入带有多克隆位点的IRES序列,获得pTol2-CMLC2-IRES-EGFP转基因表达载体,该载体可以实现在同一个启动子CMLC2的驱动下分别同时表达目的基因和EGFP;为了验证该表达载体的有效性,进一步在CMLC2启动子与IRES序列之间插入DsRed-Monome编码区,利用得到的pTol2-CMLC2-RED-IRES-EGFP转基因载体显微注射到斑马鱼单细胞期胚胎中进行表达分析,结果表明外源目的基因DsRed-Monome和报告基因EGFP均能以相同的表达模式在斑马鱼心脏组织中特异表达。pTol2-CMLC2-IRES-EGFP转基因表达载体的成功构建对于建立心脏发育候选基因的斑马鱼转基因实验模型具有重要意义。     

人CD46启动子真核表达载体的构建

为了构建人CD46（hCD46）启动子指导目的基因表达的真核表达载体,提取HeLa细胞基因组DNA,用PCR扩增出hCD46基因的启动子区域,序列分析结果表明其与GenBank中hCD46基因5’端某片段的同源性为99.9％。用此启动子替换pcDNA3EGFP中的CMV启动子,并在hCD46启动子和EGFP基因之间插入兔β-球蛋白基因第二内含子（RGI）,得到的重组表达载体转染CHO和SP2/0两种鼠源细胞,流式细胞术检测表明CHO细胞EGFP的表达量高于SP2/0细胞,表达特性与人体CD46相似;RGI可以增强EGFP的表达量,但不改变其表达的组织特异性,提示克隆的hCD46启动子可以用于研制模拟人体CD46基因表达特性的转基因小鼠。     

乙型肝炎病毒蛋白和绿色荧光蛋白的共表达研究

目的：构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）标记的乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）真核表达载体,并研究其在真核细胞和小鼠体内的共表达。方法：以质粒pBR322-HBVadr2．0和pCX-EGFP为基础,构建含有双拷贝HBV全基因组DNA和EGFP基因的真核表达载体pCX-EGFP-HBVadr2．0,分别转染真核细胞和小鼠肝组织,建立体外、体内表达系统,研究GFP和HBV基因的表达。结果：构建了真核表达载体pCX-EGFP-HBVadr2．0,EGFP和HBV病毒蛋白在体内和体外均可表达。结论：构建的pCX-EGFP-HBVadr2．0真核表达载体可以GFP作为HBV存在与否的报告基因,提高了培育检测转基因小鼠的效率,为转基因小鼠的制备及后续研究奠定了基础。     

siRNA表达载体的构建及其表达

本研究用限制性内切酶消化质粒pCMV-tag-2B,除去巨细胞病毒(Cytomegalovirus,CMV)启动子核苷酸序列,剩下的核苷酸序列作为构建表达siRNA(Small interfering RNA,siRNA)载体的前体。依据文献提供的扩增H1RNA启动子核苷酸序列的引物序列合成一对引物,以带有H1RNA启动子序列的质粒DNA为模板扩增HIRNA启动子序列,插入前体,构建SiRNA的表达载体pCH1。另外将H1RNA启动子插入pGEM．1lfz相应位点,构建瞬时表达载体pGHl。依据EGFP的有效SiRNA抑制位点,合成两条分别为64bp的核苷酸链,通过体外退火,形成双链,然后插入已构建的两个表达载体。将这两个载体分别与表达EGFP蛋白的质粒pEGFP．N3共转染Bel．7402细胞,观察siRNA对EGFP的抑制效应。研究结果表明构建的载体有效表达了siRNA,这些载体可以用于与siRNA相关抗病毒治疗性试验研究。     

Utilization of the Bombyx mori heat shock protein 70 promoter for screening transgenic silkworms

Silkworm transgenesis is now a routine method leading to a satisfactory yield of transformed animals and the reliable expression of transgenes during multiple successive generations. However, the screening of G1 transgenic individuals from numerous progeny has proved to be difficult and time‐consuming work. Previously, we characterized the promoter of heat shock protein 70 from Bombyx mori (bHsp70), which is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues and developmental stages. To investigate the utilization of the bHsp70 promoter to screen transgenic individuals, the EGFP marker gene was inserted into the piggyBac vector under the control of the bHsp70 promoter. Mixtures of the donor and helper vectors were micro‐injected into 3060 eggs of bivoltine silkworms (Keomokjam). EGFP fluorescence was observed in 17 broods of transgenic silkworms under a florescence stereomicroscope. Interestingly, this fluorescent marker protein was detected, not only in parts of the embryo segments on the seventh day of the G1 embryonic developmental stage, but also in a part of the body of G1 hatched larvae, in the middle silk gland of G1 fifth instar larvae, and in the wings of seven‐day‐old G1 pupae and G1 moths. Therefore, we suggest that the bHsp70 promoter can be used for the rapid and simple screening of transgenic silkworms.     

Stable and specific expression of 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene (4CL1) driven by the xylem-specific Pto4CL1 promoter in the transgenic tobacco

The ability of 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase promoter from Populus tomentosa (Pto4CL1p) to drive expression of the GUS reporter gene and 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene in tobacco has been studied using transgenic plants produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Intense GUS histochemical staining was detected in the xylem of stem in transgenic tobacco plants carrying the 1140 bp Pto4CL1p promoter. To further investigate the regulation function of the tissue-specific expression promoter, Pto4CL1p, a binary vector containing Pto4CL1p promoter fused with 4CL1 gene was transferred into tobacco. The activity of the 4CL1 enzyme doubled in the stems of transgenic tobacco but did not increase in the leaves. The content of lignin was increased 25% in the stem but there was no increase in the leaves of transgenic tobacco.     

Dual promoter expression system with insulator ensures a stringent tissue-specific regulation of two reporter genes in the transgenic fish

The precise control of spatiotemporal expression of target genes is crucial when establishing transgenic animals, and the introduction of genes for fluorescent marker proteins is inevitable for accelerating research at molecular levels. To assist this, we constructed a novel dual promoter expression vector for two independent reporter genes, green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein (mCherry). Their expression is designed under the control of two distinct tissue-specific promoters, e.g. zebrafish cardiac muscle-specific promoter (cmlc2) and medaka skeletal muscle-specific promoter (myl2) derived from the myosin light chain 2 genes, and they are placed in a head-to-head orientation. After microinjecting the dual promoter expression vector into fertilized eggs of medaka, the developing fish embryos and the resulting transgenic fish lines showed strong GFP signal in the whole body (skeletal muscle) and mCherry signal in the heart (cardiac muscle). However, weak GFP signal was observed in the heart, indicating a leakiness of the skeletal muscle promoter. To improve the stringency of dual promoter expression, we inserted two chicken-derived insulators, e.g. tandem copies of the core sequence (250 bp) of cHS4 (5′-hypersensitive site-4 chicken beta-globin insulator), in the boundary of two promoters. The dual promoter expression vector with insulator now ensured the stringent tissue-specific expression in the transgenic fish lines. Thus, our dual promoter expression system with insulator is compatible to the conventional IRES and fused reporter gene systems and will be an alternative method to produce the transgenic fishes.     

表达多肽抗生素apidaecin的转基因烟草及其抗病性的初步分析

将多肽抗生素apidaecin基因与病程相关蛋白的信号肽序列融合,构建了apidaecin的分泌型植物表达载体、apidaecin与另一多肽抗生素Shiva\|I的双价分泌型植物表达载体,以本实验室原来构建的Shiva-I分泌型植物表达载体做对照,转化了模式植物烟草。对3种转基因植物进行了分子检测,转化再生苗95%为PCR阳性,Southern杂交结果进一步证明外源基因已经整合到了烟草基因组中,RT-PCR检测表明外源基因可以在转基因烟草内正常转录。对T0代转基因烟草进行烟草野火病的抗病性实验,从3种转基因烟草中都得到了抗病植株,病情指数分析的初步结果显示,双价转基因烟草抗病性最好,apidaecin的次之,Shiva-I的最差。     

Herbicide-resistant tobacco plants expressing the fused enzyme between rat cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase.

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi) plants expressing a genetically engineered fused enzyme between rat cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase were produced. The expression plasmid pGFC2 for the fused enzyme was constructed by insertion of the corresponding cDNA into the expression vector pNG01 under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and nopaline synthase gene terminator. The fused enzyme cDNA was integrated into tobacco genomes by Agrobacterium infection techniques. In transgenic tobacco plants, the fused enzyme protein was localized primarily in the microsomal fraction. The microsomal monooxygenase activities were approximately 10 times higher toward both 7-ethoxycoumarin and benzo[a]pyrene than in the control plant. The transgenic plants also showed resistance to the herbicide chlortoluron.