用SELEX技术筛选核酸适配子的原理及应用

SELEX技术是一项新的体外筛选技术,它是用体外合成的、库容为10^14-15左右的随机寡核苷酸库与靶物质结合,通过数轮的筛选与扩增,筛选到靶物质的目的的DNA或RNA片段,在疾病的诊断与治疗方面起着重要的作用,为核心酸的结构和功能的研究,提供了一个有效的方法。     

丙型肝炎病毒北京株NS3基因的克隆及测序

用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法从北京株丙型肝炎病毒中扩增出ＮＳ３区基因片段,该片段经ｐＧＥＸ－Ｔ载体克隆到大肠杆菌ＤＨ５α菌株中．经自动序列分析仪测出ＮＳ３基因的７２８ｂｐ长的核酸序列．发现在该片段中第３１位核苷酸发生Ａ→Ｔ突变,产生一个终止突变．这表明,丙型肝炎病毒北京株存在一定的变异,产生缺陷型病毒,这类缺陷型病毒的出现可能是丙型肝炎病毒持续性感染的原因之一．     

随机单链DNA文库SELEX筛选寡核苷酸适配子方法的建立

指数富集配基的系统进化(SELEX)技术是一种新的组合化学技术.体外构建了一个长度为81 nt、含有35个随机序列的单链DNA(ssDNA)文库,优化了ssDNA文库扩增为双链DNA (dsDNA)文库的PCR反应条件.通过对比不对称PCR和生物素-链亲和素磁珠分离方法制备ssDNA文库的效果,确定了以生物素-链亲和素磁珠分离方法制备ssDNA.由于脱氧核糖核酸的疏水性导致ssDNA文库与硝酸纤维素滤膜的结合背景过高,因此选择以微孔板为介质,分离与靶蛋白结合的适配子.经过9轮循环筛选,随机ssDNA文库与丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)核心蛋白(C蛋白)的结合率从0.5%上升到32.5%.     

丙型肝炎病毒准种在NS2区的变异状况初探

探讨HCV准种在NS2区的基因结构特征及变异状况。利用逆转录－巢式PCR从1份HCV慢性携带者的阳性血清及1份丙肝患者的血清中获得HCV NS2全长cDNA,将其克隆于T载体,各随机挑取5个阳性克隆进行序列测定,结果显示克隆到HCV NS2全长基因,所测克隆在核苷酸水平和氨基酸水平互不相同。该慢性携带者HCV NS2区序列以完整读码框架（ORF）为主,一个于HCV多聚蛋白第835位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,而该丙型肝炎患者以NS2N端发现终止信号的序列为主,其中三个于第835位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,一个于第887位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,仅一个克隆的序列为完整ORF。对ORF完整的序列进行比较,发现丙型肝炎患者氨基酸变异主要集中于N端,蛋白二级结构模拟显示丙肝患者NS2与慢性携带者的优势二级结构类似,研究表明从我们选择的两种感染者的HCV NS2序列看,不同临床类型的HCV病人体内的HCV准种在NS2区存在差异,这种差异可能与病毒存在于机体的状态一定的一致性。     

反义寡核苷酸对丙型肝炎病毒调控基因表达的体外抑制活性研究

为探讨反义寡核苷酸对丙型肝炎病毒的抑制活性,研究和开发新型抗ＨＣＶ药物。采用ＨＣＶ５’ＮＣＲ调控荧光素酶基因的稳定表达细胞株ＨｅｐＧ２．９７０６,评价了３条针对ＨＣＶ调控基因的ＡＳＯＤＮ,即ＨＣＶ３６３,ＨＣＶ３４９及ＨＣＶ２７９。将Ｌｉｐｏｆｅｃｔｉｎ包封的ＡＳＯＤＮ与ＨｅｐＧ２．９７０６细胞株每天作用５小时,连续３天后检测荧光素酶活性。     

丙型肝炎病毒的非结构蛋白3抑制剂

丙型肝炎严重威胁人类健康,非结构蛋白3（NS3）在丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）多聚蛋白水解过程中起重要作用,被公认为治疗丙型肝炎的有效药物靶标。该文介绍目前国内外有关NS3蛋白酶抑制剂（包括寡肽类抑制剂和非肽小分子抑制剂）的研究进展。     

丙型肝炎病毒NS3蛋白酶的研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒感染常呈慢性化,且易使病情进一步发展为肝硬化和肝细胞癌。其基因的多变性使得疫苗研究进展缓慢,鉴于NS3蛋白酶在病毒体的成熟和复制中所起的重要作用,阐明结构和功能,寻找其抑制剂可能对抗病毒治疗有重要意义。     

丙型肝炎病毒 NS3 蛋白促进人源肝细胞的增殖及其相关机制研究

丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV) NS3 蛋白与肝癌细胞 (HCC) 的发生密切相关,但其机制尚不清楚 . 既往体外研究极少采用 HCV 的自然宿主细胞———人肝细胞作为研究体系,故所获研究结果有待进一步探讨和证实 . 构建了表达 HCV NS3 蛋白的真核质粒,通过稳定转染人源永生化肝细胞系 QSG7701 ,建立了稳定表达 HCV NS3 蛋白的人源永生化肝细胞系 QSG7701/NS3 ,以此为实验平台,检测了细胞增殖的变化,丝裂原蛋白激酶 (MAPK) 通路激酶磷酸化水平的改变及转录因子 AP-1 、 NF-κB 和 STAT3 的活性变化 . 结果表明： HCV NS3 蛋白可促进人源永生化肝细胞 QSG7701 的增殖, HCV NS3 蛋白激活 ERKs/AP-1 可能是其促进细胞增殖的重要机制,并通过上调转录因子 NF-κB 和 STAT3 的活性,诱导宿主细胞急性炎症损伤 .     

丙型肝炎病毒准种在NS2区的变异状况初探

探讨HCV准种在NS2区的基因结构特征及变异状况.利用逆转录-巢式PCR从1份HCV慢性携带者的阳性血清及1份丙肝患者的血清中获得HCVNS2全长cDNA,将其克隆于T载体,各随机挑取5个阳性克隆进行序列测定.结果显示克隆到HCVNS2全长基因,所测克隆在核苷酸水平和氨基酸水平互不相同.该慢性携带者HCVNS2区序列以完整读码框架(ORF)为主,一个于HCV多聚蛋白第835位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,而该丙型肝炎患者以NS2N端发现终止信号的序列为主,其中三个于第835位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,一个于第887位氨基酸的位置出现终止信号,仅一个克隆的序列为完整ORF.对ORF完整的序列进行比较,发现丙型肝炎患者氨基酸变异主要集中于N端,蛋白二级结构模拟显示丙肝患者NS2与慢性携带者的优势二级结构类似.研究表明从我们选择的两例感染者的HCVNS2序列看,不同临床类型的HCV病人体内的HCV准种在NS2区存在差异,这种差异可能与病毒存在于机体的状态有一定的一致性.     

丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS2的研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis C virus,HCV）是一种严重危害人类健康的病原体,全球感染率约3％,中国普通人群抗HCV阳性率约3．2％。然而,到目前为止,HCV感染还没有有效的治疗方法。近年的研究发现,HCV非结构蛋白NS2在HCV感染中扮演着重要角色,具有许多重要功能。NS2可以在HCV病毒的包装过程中发挥其功能,还可调节宿主细胞的基因表达及凋亡过程。此外,NS2蛋自还可参与NS5A磷酸蛋白的高度磷酸化修饰过程及为感染性HCV病毒粒子产生所必需。本文综述近几年来关于NS2蛋白的研究进展。     

Fuel Specificity of the Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Helicase

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein is a helicase capable of unwinding duplex RNA or DNA. This study uses a newly developed molecular-beacon-based helicase assay (MBHA) to investigate how nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) fuel HCV helicase-catalyzed DNA unwinding. The MBHA monitors the irreversible helicase-catalyzed displacement of an oligonucleotide-bound molecular beacon so that rates of helicase translocation can be directly measured in real time. The MBHA reveals that HCV helicase unwinds DNA at different rates depending on the nature and concentration of NTPs in solution, such that the fastest reactions are observed in the presence of CTP followed by ATP, UTP, and GTP. 3′-Deoxy-NTPs generally support faster DNA unwinding, with dTTP supporting faster rates than any other canonical (d)NTP. The presence of an intact NS3 protease domain makes HCV helicase somewhat less specific than truncated NS3 bearing only its helicase region (NS3h). Various NTPs bind NS3h with similar affinities, but each NTP supports a different unwinding rate and processivity. Studies with NTP analogs reveal that specificity is determined by the nature of the Watson-Crick base-pairing region of the NTP base and the nature of the functional groups attached to the 2′ and 3′ carbons of the NTP sugar. The divalent metal bridging the NTP to NS3h also influences observed unwinding rates, with Mn²⁺ supporting about 10 times faster unwinding than Mg²⁺. Unlike Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ does not support HCV helicase-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis in the absence of stimulating nucleic acids. Results are discussed in relation to models for how ATP might fuel the unwinding reaction.     

The Macroscopic Rate of Nucleic Acid Translocation by Hepatitis C Virus Helicase NS3h Is Dependent on Both Sugar and Base Moieties

The nonstructural protein 3 helicase (NS3h) of hepatitis C virus is a 3′-to-5′ superfamily 2 RNA and DNA helicase that is essential for the replication of hepatitis C virus. We have examined the kinetic mechanism of the translocation of NS3h along single-stranded nucleic acid with bases uridylate (rU), deoxyuridylate (dU), and deoxythymidylate (dT), and have found that the macroscopic rate of translocation is dependent on both the base moiety and the sugar moiety of the nucleic acid, with approximate macroscopic translocation rates of 3 nt s^− 1 (oligo(dT)), 35 nt s^− 1 (oligo(dU)), and 42 nt s^− 1 (oligo(rU)), respectively. We found a strong correlation between the macroscopic translocation rates and the binding affinity of the translocating NS3h protein for the respective substrates such that weaker affinity corresponded to faster translocation. The values of K_0.5 for NS3h translocation at a saturating ATP concentration are as follows: 3.3 ± 0.4 μM nucleotide (poly(dT)), 27 ± 2 μM nucleotide (poly(dU)), and 36 ± 2 μM nucleotide (poly(rU)). Furthermore, results of the isothermal titration of NS3h with these oligonucleotides suggest that differences in TΔS⁰ are the principal source of differences in the affinity of NS3h binding to these substrates. Interestingly, despite the differences in macroscopic translocation rates and binding affinities, the ATP coupling stoichiometries for NS3h translocation were identical for all three substrates (∼ 0.5 ATP molecule consumed per nucleotide translocated). This similar periodicity of ATP consumption implies a similar mechanism for NS3h translocation along RNA and DNA substrates.     

An RNA ligand inhibits hepatitis C virus NS3 protease and helicase activities

The hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 3 (HCV NS3) possesses both protease and helicase activities that are essential for viral replication. In a previous study, we obtained RNA aptamers that specifically and efficiently inhibited NS3 protease activity (G9 aptamers). In order to add helicase-inhibition capability, we attached (U)14 to the 3'-terminal end of a minimized G9 aptamer, DeltaNEO-III. NEO-III-14U was shown to inhibit the NS3 protease activity more efficiently than the original aptamer and, furthermore, to efficiently inhibit the unwinding reaction by NS3 helicase. In addition, NEO-III-14U has the potential to diminish specific interactions between NS3 and the 3'-UTR of HCV-positive and -negative strands. NEO-III-14U showed effective inhibition against NS3 protease in living cells.     

丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶瞬时表达小鼠模型的建立

目的:建立丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶体内活性评价模型。方法:利用NS4A/B是NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶作用底物的特性,构建融合基因NS3/NS4A/B-SEAP,底物片段NS4A/B插在NS3/4A和人分泌性碱性磷酸酶(SEAP)之间,融合基因表达后SEAP的分泌依赖于有活性的NS3/4A在NS4A/B位点的切割。将含融合基因的质粒NS3/4A(△4AB)SEAP通过水动力转染技术转染到小鼠体内,检测小鼠血清中SEAP的活性,高活性的SEAP是该评价体系成立的证据。结果与结论:在瞬时表达NS3/4A的小鼠血清中检测到了高活性的SEAP,建立了可用于评价抗NS3/4A的小鼠体内瞬时模型。     

A novel recombinant single-chain hepatitis C virus NS3-NS4A protein with improved helicase activity.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) has been shown to possess protease and helicase activities and has also been demonstrated to spontaneously associate with nonstructural protein NS4A (NS4A) to form a stable complex. Previous attempts to produce the NS3/NS4A complex in recombinant baculovirus resulted in a protein complex that aggregated and precipitated in the absence of nonionic detergent and high salt. A single-chain form of the NS3/NS4A complex (His-NS4A21-32-GSGS-NS3-631) was constructed in which the NS4A core peptide is fused to the N-terminus of the NS3 protease domain as previously described (Taremi et al., 1998). This protein contains a histidine tagged NS4A peptide (a.a. 21-32) fused to the full-length NS3 (a.a. 3-631) through a flexible tetra amino acid linker. The recombinant protein was expressed to high levels in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and examined for NTPase, nucleic acid unwinding, and proteolytic activities. The single-chain recombinant NS3-NS4A protein possesses physiological properties equivalent to those of the NS3/NS4A complex except that this novel construct is stable, soluble and sixfold to sevenfold more active in unwinding duplex RNA. Comparison of the helicase activity of the single-chain recombinant NS3-NS4A with that of the full-length NS3 (without NS4A) and that of the helicase domain alone suggested that the presence of the protease domain and at least the NS4A core peptide are required for optimal unwinding activity.     

三种丙型肝炎病毒转基因小鼠系的同时制备

为研究丙型肝炎病毒的致病致瘤机理及结构基因与非结构基因3区(NS3)的功能及其在HCV感染致病中的作用,建立一个HCV分子治疗的动物模型,构建了含金属硫蛋白启动子和HCV结构基因或NS3基因的质粒,将两者等量混合后用显微注射法接种于昆明白小鼠受精卵内制备转基因小鼠.通过PCR筛选获得三种整合HCV结构基因或/和NS3基因的首建鼠.结果表明:a.注射后卵存活率与仔鼠出生率分别为81%、30%;b.检测60只G0代小鼠,结构基因整合鼠6只(10%),NS3基因整合鼠4只(6.7%),双基因整合鼠9只(15%),总整合率为31.7%;c.RT-PCR法检测阳性鼠肝中有靶基因mRNA的转录;d.4只首建鼠与正常鼠回交获得38只G1小鼠,其中20只为整合鼠,整合率为52.6%;e.转基因鼠表型迄今无明显异常.表明一次显微注射同时获得了三种整合HCV结构基因或/和NS3基因的转基因小鼠.     

Tet-on和Cre/loxP系统双重调控表达丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A蛋白酶三转基因小鼠的建立

目的:建立Tet-On调控系统和Cre/loxP基因剔除系统双重调控表达丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶三转基因小鼠。方法:选择适龄并经鉴定的在Tet-on系统调控下肝脏特异性表达Cre重组酶的双转基因小鼠Lap/LC-1与在Tet-on系统调控下肝脏特异性表达萤光素酶(Luc)的双转基因小鼠Lap/NS3/4A交配,子代小鼠经PCR检测、筛选基因组中NS3/4A、Lap、LC-1等3个转基因片段均阳性的小鼠。三阳性的NS3/4A/Lap/LC-1小鼠经多西环素(Dox)诱导1周后,以在体生物发光成像系统(BLI)检测报告基因Luc的表达,免疫组化检测小鼠体内Cre重组酶、HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶的表达状况。结果:NS3/4A/Lap/LC-1小鼠经Dox诱导后,BLI结果显示仅在小鼠肝脏部位有强烈的发光信号,表明这些小鼠肝细胞内报告基因Luc特异高效表达;免疫组化结果证实Cre重组酶、NS3/4A蛋白酶仅在经诱导后的小鼠肝细胞中特异性表达。结论:建立了Tet-On调控系统和Cre/loxP基因剔除系统双重调控下表达HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶的三转基因小鼠模型,为进一步研究HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶在HCV感染后与宿主相互作用的机制,以及抗NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶特异性抑制剂的筛选奠定了基础。     

Characterisation of the role of zinc in the hepatitis C virus NS2/3 auto-cleavage and NS3 protease activities

Cleavage of the hepatitis C virus polyprotein between the non-structural NS2 and NS3 proteins is mediated by a poorly characterised auto-proteolytic activity that maps to the C terminus of NS2 and the N terminus of NS3, but is distinct from the NS3 protease activity responsible for downstream cleavages in the polyprotein. We have exploited the fact that the minimal precursor (residues 904-1206 of the HCV polyprotein) can be expressed as an insoluble protein in Escherichia coli and subsequently refolded into a form active for both auto-cleavage and NS3 protease activity, to further characterise the NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity. We show that both activities are zinc-dependent and show an absolute requirement for cysteine residues 1123, 1125 and 1171 within NS3. In contrast cysteine 922 (within NS2) is only required for NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity and histidine 1175 is only required for NS3 activity. Although the complete NS3 protease domain (including the C-terminal alpha-helix) is required for NS2/3 auto-cleavage, the activity of the NS3 protease is not essential. Lastly we show that the NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity is more sensitive to zinc chelation by 1,10-phenanthroline than the NS3 protease activity. This observation is consistent with different conformations of the precursor competent for either NS2/3 auto-cleavage or NS3 protease activity; these two conformations can be distinguished by their relative strength and geometry of zinc coordination.     

Visualizing ATP-Dependent RNA Translocation by the NS3 Helicase from HCV

The structural mechanism by which nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) from the hepatitis C virus (HCV) translocates along RNA is currently unknown. HCV NS3 is an ATP-dependent motor protein essential for viral replication and a member of the superfamily 2 helicases. Crystallographic analysis using a labeled RNA oligonucleotide allowed us to unambiguously track the positional changes of RNA bound to full-length HCV NS3 during two discrete steps of the ATP hydrolytic cycle. The crystal structures of HCV NS3, NS3 bound to bromine-labeled RNA, and a tertiary complex of NS3 bound to labeled RNA and a non-hydrolyzable ATP analog provide a direct view of how large domain movements resulting from ATP binding and hydrolysis allow the enzyme to translocate along the phosphodiester backbone. While directional translocation of HCV NS3 by a single base pair per ATP hydrolyzed is observed, the 3′ end of the RNA does not shift register with respect to a conserved tryptophan residue, supporting a “spring-loading” mechanism that leads to larger steps by the enzyme as it moves along a nucleic acid substrate.