Cloning of hexokinase structural genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants with regulatory mutations responsible for glucose repression.

The regulatory hexokinase PII mutants isolated previously (K.-D. Entian and K.-U. Fröhlich, J. Bacteriol. 158:29-35, 1984) were characterized further. These mutants were defective in glucose repression. The mutation was thought to be in the hexokinase PII structural gene, but it did not affect the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Hence, a regulatory domain for glucose repression was postulated. For further understanding of this regulatory system, the mutationally altered hexokinase PII proteins were isolated from five mutants obtained independently and characterized by their catalytic constants and bisubstrate kinetics. None of these characteristics differed from those of the wild type, so the catalytic center of the mutant enzymes remained unchanged. The only noticeable difference observed was that the in vivo modified form of hexokinase PII, PIIM, which has been described recently (K.-D. Entian and E. Kopetzki, Eur. J. Biochem. 146:657-662, 1985), was absent from one of these mutants. It is possible that the PIIM modification is directly connected with the triggering of glucose repression. To establish with certainty that the mutation is located in the hexokinase PII structural gene, the genes of these mutants were isolated after transforming a hexokinaseless mutant strain and selecting for concomitant complementation of the nuclear function. Unlike hexokinase PII wild-type transformants, glucose repression was not restored in the hexokinase PII mutant transformants. In addition mating experiments with these transformants followed by tetrad analysis of sporulated diploids gave clear evidence of allelism to the hexokinase PII structural gene.     

Intragenic recombination and a chimeric outer membrane protein in the relapsing fever agent Borrelia hermsii.

The spirochete Borrelia hermsii, a relapsing fever agent, evades the host's immune response through multiphasic antigenic variation. Antigen switching results from sequential expression of genes for serotype-specific outer membrane proteins known as variable major proteins (Vmp's); of the 25 serotypes that have been identified for the HS1 strain, serotypes 7 and 21 have been studied in greatest detail. In the present study, an atypical variant was predominant in the relapse from a serotype 21 infection in mice; relapse cells were bound by monoclonal antibodies specific for Vmp21 as well as antibodies specific for Vmp7. In Western blots (immunoblots), the variant had a single Vmp that was reactive with monoclonal antibodies representing both serotypes. The gene encoding this Vmp, vmp7/21, was cloned and characterized by restriction mapping and sequence analysis to determine the likely recombination event. Whereas the 5' end of vmp7/21 was identical to that of vmp21, its 3' end and flanking sequences were identical to the 3' end of vmp7. Unlike other vmp genes examined thus far, the vmp7/21 gene existed only in an expressed form; a silent, storage form of the gene was not detected. We conclude that the vmp7/21 gene was created by an intragenic recombination between the formerly expressed vmp21 gene and a silent vmp7 gene. This finding suggests that the lack of cross-reactivity between variants, which is usually observed, results from immunoselection against variants possessing chimeric Vmp's rather than from a switching mechanism that excludes partial gene replacements.     

Cloning of hexokinase isoenzyme PI from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: PI transformants confirm the unique role of hexokinase isoenzyme PII for glucose repression in yeasts

Summary Hexokinase isoenzyme PI was cloned using a gene pool obtained from a yeast strain having only one functional hexokinase, isoenzyme PI. The gene was characterized using 20 restriction enzymes and located within a region of 2.0 kbp. The PI plasmid strongly hybridized with the PII plasmids isolated previously (Fröhlich et al. 1984). Hence there was a close relationship between the two genes, one of which must have been derived from the other by gene duplication. In conrrast, glucose repression was restored only in hexokinase PII transformants; PI transformants remained non-repressible. This observation provided additional evidence for the hypothesis of Entian (1980) that only hexokinase PII is necessary for glucose repression. Furthermore, glucose phosphorylating activity in PI transformants exceeded that of wild-type cells, giving clear evidence that the phosphorylating capacity is not important for glucose repression.     

Production of an anti-mouse MHC class II monoclonal antibody with biological activity in transgenic tobacco

To produce a monoclonal antibody specific to a mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II protein, we synthesized the complementary DNAs for the heavy and light chains of a monoclonal antibody by PCR amplification. These cDNAs were then introduced separately into tobacco plant cells. After performing Northern blot analysis to confirm the expression of each of the chain genes in the transformed plants, we constructed transgenic plants expressing both the heavy and light chains by sexual crossing. The expression of the heavy and light chain genes in the sexually crossed plant was confirmed by Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively. Fluorocytometric analysis showed that the plant-derived antibodies, which we purified using a protein G affinity column, bound specifically to target cells that expressed the cognate MHC class II molecules on their cell surfaces. The results of this study demonstrate that a monoclonal antibody against mouse MHC class II proteins can be expressed in transgenic plants. They also show the specific binding activity of plant-derived antibodies to cognate antigens.     

Monoclonal antibodies demonstrate multiple epitopes on the O antigens of Salmonella typhimurium LPS

To investigate the complexity of the antigenic determinants presented on the surface of Salmonella typhimurium, a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies was generated and characterized. Hybridomas specific for S. typhimurium (strain TML, O antigens 1, 4, 12) were produced by immunization with acetone-killed and dried bacteria and standard fusion procedures. In this report, 15 such monoclonal antibodies, all of which bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from S. typhimurium, are described. The fine specificity of these antibodies was assessed by examining the differential binding of each antibody to a panel of Salmonella strains, which selectively express different O antigenic determinants. This analysis defined several distinct categories of monoclonal antibodies of varying isotypes. Four anti-O:4-specific antibodies were identified. Two were specific for O:1. One antibody appears to react with the core polysaccharide of S. typhimurium LPS. Several of the monoclonal antibodies recognized LPS determinants that are presumably created by a combination of O antigens. For instance, one bound only to Salmonella strains that expressed both O:1 and O:12, whereas another bound only to those strains which expressed both O:4 and O:12. A group of three antibodies bound to any strain that simultaneously expressed O:1, O:4, and O:12. A distinct group of three monoclonal antibodies also bound strains that expressed O:1, O:4, and O:12, but only when the O:5 antigenic determinant was not present. The latter are, in that respect, S. typhimurium strain TML LPS-specific. The results of this analysis suggest that the epitopes of the S. typhimurium LPS molecule that are recognized by the host are considerably more complex than has been previously indicated by classical serology.     

汉坦病毒H8205株G1P基因片段重组杆状病毒表达载体的构建及表达

将汉坦病毒H8205株G1P基因的保守序列(约1000bp)作为目的基因插入到BactoBac杆状病毒表达系统的pFastBacHTb供体质粒中,利用Tn7转座子同BacmidDNA同源重组,获得了含目的基因片段的重组杆状病毒DNA,并利用其转染Sf9昆虫细胞,72h后收集细胞悬液,再用该悬液侵染Sf9昆虫细胞,48h后收获病毒.采用IFA分析收获的产物,观察到了特异性的荧光,并且采用SDSPAGE和Western印迹也获得了与预期一致的结果.证明感染后的Sf9昆虫细胞所表达的蛋白中含有能与抗汉坦病毒H8205株多克隆抗体特异性结合目的蛋白.研究表明,采用杆状病毒表达系统可以成功表达出汉坦病毒H8205株包膜糖蛋白G1基因片段,为开发适合的以G1P为抗原的汉坦病毒诊断试剂进行了前期的探索.     

Isolation of a full-length mouse cDNA clone coding for an immunologically distinct p53 molecule.

Transfection of a cloned p53 gene into a p53 nonproducer Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed cell line, L12, reconstituted p53 expression. The protein expressed in these cells was indistinguishable from that naturally expressed in p53 producer tumor cells. Conversely, p53 protein expressed in L12-derived clones that were established by transfection with a full-length p53 cDNA clone (pM8) exhibited a discrete immunological form. Immunoprecipitation of p53 with a panel of monoclonal anti-p53 antibodies showed that L12-derived clones that were transfected with the genomic p53 clone contained the same antigenic determinants as those found in the p53 protein expressed in tumor cells. These p53 proteins bound all monoclonal antibody types as well as the polyclonal anti-p53 tested. However, L12-derived clones established by transfection of the p53 cDNA clone (pM8) expressed a p53 protein that bound the RA3-2C2 and PAb200.47 anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies as well as polyclonal anti-p53 serum but totally lacked the antigenic receptor for the PAb122 and PAb421 monoclonal antibodies. The p53 proteins expressed by either genomic or cDNA p53 clones exhibited the same apparent molecular sizes and identical partial peptide maps. We suggest that transfection of the p53 gene induced expression of the entire group of the possible mRNA species, whereas cloned p53 cDNA (pM8) represented a single mRNA molecule that codes for a discrete species of p53 protein.     

Comparison of the established standard complement-dependent cytotoxicity and flow cytometric crossmatch assays with a novel ELISA-based HLA crossmatch procedure

The detection of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies by standard procedures such as complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay (CDC) or flow cytometric (FACS) analysis is limited by its low sensitivity and the quality of the donor cells. Therefore, an ELISA-based technique was employed using solid phase-immobilized monoclonal antibodies to capture HLA class I or class II molecules of the donor, respectively. In this HLA class I and class II antibody monitoring system (AMS) the donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies from the sera of recipients bind to the HLA molecules of the donor which have been immobilized by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognizing non-polymorphic epitopes. Upon binding of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies they are recognized by secondary enzyme-conjugated anti-human immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies. A newly established modification of the standard protocol allows the differentiation between bound antibodies of the IgG and IgM isotype. Furthermore, this assay was adapted for investigating small amounts of solid tissue of donors from whom no other cells (e.g. from blood) were available. We here provide an overview of the classical crossmatch methods with their advantages and limits. In addition, the design of the novel AMS-ELISA is described in terms of quality and sensitivity of the approach using exemplary cases of different application. The selected cases show that the AMS-ELISA represents a valuable tool for the post-transplantation monitoring of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies during reaction crisis, after transfusion reactions and in particular cases of tissue transplantations lacking single cells.     

SARS-CoV单克隆抗体的制备及抗原表位的初步鉴定

参照已发表的SARS冠状病毒BJ01株基因序列 ,利用计算机软件预测并选取该病毒S、M、N三种主要结构蛋白部分抗原性优势区域 ,以编码Gly-Pro-Gly序列相连接合成两段嵌合基因A和B。并分别克隆于pGEX -6p- 1载体上用IPTG进行诱导表达 ,以纯化的嵌合蛋白A和B为抗原 ,分别免疫BALB c小鼠制备单克隆抗体。利用单克隆抗体亚型检测试剂盒和SARS CoV商品化ELISA检测试剂盒对其进行亚型和特异性鉴定。结果表明融合表达两段嵌合基因产物 ,其大小分别为 34kD和35kD ,Westernblot分析证实两种表达产物都能被SARS病人康复期血清所识别。获得了 6株能稳定分泌特异性抗体的阳性细胞克隆株。亚型鉴定结果除D3C5为IgG2a外其他单抗均为IgG1,而且所有单抗的轻链均为κ链。特异性鉴定发现除D3D1外 ,其余的 5株单抗均能与SARS CoV商品化ELISA检测试剂盒发生特异性反应。将D3D1与灭活后经超声波裂解的SARS CoV进行Westernblot分析 ,发现它能特异性识别 180kD的蛋白带。分别融合表达了 6个S蛋白的寡肽 (S1- S6 ) ,并对筛选出的单克隆…     

Genetic and biochemical analysis of phosphatase activity of Escherichia coli NRII (NtrB) and its regulation by the PII signal transduction protein

Mutant forms of Escherichia coli NRII (NtrB) were isolated that retained wild-type NRII kinase activity but were defective in the PII-activated phosphatase activity of NRII. Mutant strains were selected as mimicking the phenotype of a strain (strain BK) that lacks both of the related PII and GlnK signal transduction proteins and thus has no mechanism for activation of the NRII phosphatase activity. The selection and screening procedure resulted in the isolation of numerous mutants that phenotypically resembled strain BK to various extents. Mutations mapped to the glnL (ntrB) gene encoding NRII and were obtained in all three domains of NRII. Two distinct regions of the C-terminal, ATP-binding domain were identified by clusters of mutations. One cluster, including the Y302N mutation, altered a lid that sits over the ATP-binding site of NRII. The other cluster, including the S227R mutation, defined a small surface on the "back" or opposite side of this domain. The S227R and Y302N proteins were purified, along with the A129T (NRII2302) protein, which has reduced phosphatase activity due to a mutation in the central domain of NRII, and the L16R protein, which has a mutation in the N-terminal domain of NRII. The S227R, Y302N, and L16R proteins were specifically defective in the PII-activated phosphatase activity of NRII. Wild-type NRII, Y302N, A129T, and L16R proteins bound to PII, while the S227R protein was defective in binding PII. This suggests that the PII-binding site maps to the "back" of the C-terminal domain and that mutation of the ATP-lid, central domain, and N-terminal domain altered functions necessary for the phosphatase activity after PII binding.     

Vegetative expression of the delta-endotoxin genes of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki total DNA was digested with BglII and cloned into the BamHI site of plasmid pUC9 in Escherichia coli. A recombinant plasmid, pHBHE, expressed a protein of 135,000 daltons that was toxic to caterpillars. A HincII-SmaI double digest of pHBHE was then ligated to BglII-cut plasmid pBD64 and introduced into Bacillus subtilis by transformation. The transformants were identified by colony hybridization and confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. A 135,000-dalton protein which bound to an antibody specific for the crystal protein of B. thuringiensis was detected from the B. subtilis clones containing the toxin gene insert in either orientation. A toxin gene insert cloned into a PvuII site distal from the two drug resistance genes of the pBD64 vector also expressed a 135,000-dalton protein. These results suggest that the toxin gene is transcribed from its own promoter. Western blotting of proteins expressed at various stages of growth revealed that the crystal protein expression in B. subtilis begins early in the vegetative phase, while in B. thuringiensis it is concomitant with the onset of sporulation. The cloned genes when transferred to a nonsporulating strain of B. subtilis also expressed a 135,000-dalton protein. These results suggest that toxin gene expression in B. subtilis is independent of sporulation. Another toxin gene encoding a 130,000- to 135,000-dalton protein was cloned in E. coli from a library of B. thuringiensis genes established in lambda 1059. This gene was then subcloned in B. subtilis. The cell extracts from both clones were toxic to caterpillars. Electron microscope studies revealed the presence of an irregular crystal inclusion in E. coli and a well-formed bipyramidal crystal in B. subtilis clones similar to the crystals found in B. thuringiensis.     

Context-dependent functions of the PII and GlnK signal transduction proteins in Escherichia coli

Two closely related signal transduction proteins, PII and GlnK, have distinct physiological roles in the regulation of nitrogen assimilation. Here, we examined the physiological roles of PII and GlnK when these proteins were expressed from various regulated or constitutive promoters. The results indicate that the distinct functions of PII and GlnK were correlated with the timing of expression and levels of accumulation of the two proteins. GlnK was functionally converted into PII when its expression was rendered constitutive and at the appropriate level, while PII was functionally converted into GlnK by engineering its expression from the nitrogen-regulated glnK promoter. Also, the physiological roles of both proteins were altered by engineering their expression from the nitrogen-regulated glnA promoter. We hypothesize that the use of two functionally identical PII-like proteins, which have distinct patterns of expression, may allow fine control of Ntr genes over a wide range of environmental conditions. In addition, we describe results suggesting that an additional, unknown mechanism may control the cellular level of GlnK.     

Phenotypic expression of PCR-generated random mutations in a Pseudomonas putida gene after its introduction into an Acinetobacter chromosome by natural transformation

Localized sets of random point mutations generated by PCR amplification can be transferred efficiently to the chromosome of Acinetobacter ADP1 (also known as strain BD413) by natural transformation. The technique does not require cloning of PCR fragments in plasmids: PCR-amplified DNA fragments are internalized by cells and directly incorporated into their genomes by homologous recombination. Previously such procedures for random mutagenesis could be applied only to Acinetobacter genes affording the selection of mutant phenotypes. Here we describe the construction of a vector and recipient that allow for mutagenesis, recovery, and expression of heterologous genes that may lack a positive selection. The plasmid carries an Acinetobacter chromosomal segment interrupted by a multiple cloning site next to a kanamycin resistance marker. The insertion of heterologous DNA into the multiple cloning site prepares the insert as a target for PCR mutagenesis. PCR amplifies the kanamycin resistance marker and a flanking region of Acinetobacter DNA along with the insert of heterologous DNA. Nucleotide sequence identity between the flanking regions and corresponding chromosomal segments in an engineered Acinetobacter recipient allows homologous recombination of the PCR-amplified DNA fragments into a specific chromosomal docking site from which they can be expressed. The recipient strain contains only a portion of the kanamycin resistance gene, so donor DNA containing both this gene and the mutagenized insert can be selected by demanding growth of recombinants in the presence of kanamycin. The effectiveness of the technique was demonstrated with the relatively GC-rich Pseudomonas putida xylE gene. After only one round of PCR amplification (35 cycles), donor DNA produced transformants of which up to 30% carried a defective xylE gene after growth at 37 degrees C. Of recombinant clones that failed to express xylE at 37 degrees C, about 10% expressed the gene when grown at 22 degrees C. The techniques described here could be adapted to prepare colonies with an altered function in any gene for which either a selection or a suitable phenotypic screen exists.     

Genetics of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in a clinical isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae was shown to be due to the production of altered forms of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 2X and 1A. The cloned PBP2X gene from the resistant strain was able to transform a susceptible strain to an intermediate level of resistance. The resulting transformant could be transformed to the full level of resistance of the clinical isolate using the cloned PBP1A gene from the latter strain. Chromosomal DNA from the resistant strain (and from other resistant strains) could readily transform a susceptible strain to the full level of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (greater than 250-fold for cefotaxime; greater than 100-fold for ceftriaxone) in a single step (transformation frequency of about 10(-5)). The resistant transformants obtained with chromosomal DNA were shown by gene fingerprinting to have gained both the PBP1A and PBP2X genes from the DNA donor.     

重组人血清白蛋白-干扰素α2b融合蛋白在PichiaPink系统中的表达

目的:比较PichiaPink表达系统和巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115在表达外源蛋白方面的差异,对PichiaPink表达系统的潜在优点进行评价。方法:以重组人血清白蛋白-干扰素α2b融合蛋白(HSA-IFN-α2b)为报告蛋白,构建相关载体,分别转化PichiaPink系统菌株和巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115菌株,诱导HSA-IFN-α2b表达并测定表达水平;通过SDS-PAGE检测HSA-IFN-α2b在PichiaPink系统中的降解程度。结果:PichiaPink系统几乎所有的转化子都可以表达HSA-IFN-α2b,而GS115菌株只有60%的转化子能表达HSA-IFN-α2b;同一种Pink菌株中,整合有高拷贝数表达载体pPink-HC的菌株表达量高于整合有低拷贝数表达载体pPink-LC的菌株;Pink蛋白酶缺陷菌株在复杂培养基(YPD,BMMY)中HSA-IFN-α2b基本没有降解,而在合成培养基(BSM)中降解现象明显。结论:PichiaPink表达系统产生的转化子较GS115菌株产生的转化子易于筛选;PichiaPink系统蛋白酶缺陷菌株可明显减少外源蛋白降解。这些结果为利用PichiaPink表达系统高水平和大规模制备外源蛋白提供了实验依据。     

Use of electroporation to construct isogenic mutants of Haemophilus ducreyi.

Little is known about the genetics of Haemophilus ducreyi, the etiologic agent of chancroid. To develop a method for constructing isogenic mutants of this organism that could be utilized in pathogenesis-related studies, electroporation techniques were evaluated as a means of introducing DNA into this organism. Electroporation of the plasmid shuttle vector pLS88 into H. ducreyi yielded approximately 10(6) antibiotic-resistant transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA. Studies of the feasibility of moving mutated genes into H. ducreyi were initiated by using NotI linker insertion and mini-Tn10kan mutagenesis techniques to introduce insertion mutations into cloned H. ducreyi genes encoding cell envelope antigens. In the former case, a gene encoding chloramphenicol acetyltransferase was then inserted into the NotI linker site created in the cloned H. ducreyi gene. The recombinant Escherichia coli strains containing these mutated plasmids no longer expressed the homologous H. ducreyi cell envelope antigens, as evidenced by their lack of reactivity with monoclonal antibody probes for these H. ducreyi proteins. Subsequent electroporation of both circular and linearized forms of plasmids carrying these mutated H. ducreyi genes into the homologous wild-type strain of H. ducreyi yielded antibiotic-resistant transformants which also lacked reactivity with the cell envelope antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies. Southern blot analysis confirmed that homologous recombination had occurred in these monoclonal antibody-unreactive transformants, resulting in the replacement of the wild-type allele with the mutated allele. Allelic exchange was most efficient when linear DNA molecules were used for electroporation. These results indicate that electroporation methods can be utilized to construct isogenic mutants of H. ducreyi.     

抗传染性法氏囊病病毒VP5蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与初步应用

原核表达的IBDVGx-VP5蛋白经纯化后免疫8周龄的BALB/c雌性小鼠,三次基础免疫后,融合前加强免疫,取脾细胞在PEG(MW1500)的作用下与SP2/0小鼠骨髓瘤细胞融合,经过三次亚克隆筛选,获得稳定分泌抗VP5蛋白的杂交瘤细胞,分别命名为4B4、6D12、3E8,以三株杂交瘤细胞制备的腹水ELISA效价分别为5×104、3.5×104、3×104,特异性实验表明三株单抗能与IBDVGt株反应。以单抗介导的间接免疫荧光检测表达Gt-VP5的VeroE6细胞,可以见到特异的荧光,能做为特异性的检测VP5蛋白的工具,为今后IBDVVP5蛋白的研究打下基础。     

Tissue-Specific Expression Phenotypes of Hawaiian Drosophila Adh Genes in Drosophila Melanogaster Transformants

Interspecific differences in the tissue-specific patterns of expression displayed by the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genes within the Hawaiian picture-winged Drosophila represent a rich source of evolutionary variation in gene regulation. Study of the cis-acting elements responsible for regulatory differences between Adh genes from various species is greatly facilitated by analyzing the behavior of the different Adh genes in a homogeneous background. Accordingly, the Adh gene from Drosophila grimshawi was introduced into the germ line of Drosophila melanogaster by means of P element-mediated transformation, and transformants carrying this gene were compared to transformants carrying the Adh genes from Drosophila affinidisjuncta and Drosophila hawaiiensis. The results indicate that the D. affinidisjuncta and D. grimshawi genes have relatively higher levels of expression and broader tissue distribution of expression than the D. hawaiiensis gene in larvae. All three genes are expressed at similar overall levels in adults, with differences in tissue distribution of enzyme activity corresponding to the pattern in the donor species. However, certain systematic differences between Adh gene expression in transformants and in the Hawaiian Drosophila are noted along with tissue-specific position effects in some cases. The implications of these findings for the understanding of evolved regulatory variation are discussed.