多肽串联基因构建策略

构建串联表达载体可有效提高小分子重组蛋白（肽）表达量和结构稳定性,并能屏蔽毒蛋白对宿主的伤害作用,因而被广泛采用。比较分析和综述了非对称粘性末端互补法、接头连接法、同尾酶法、表达盒串联法等4种多聚体、多拷贝基因串联表达载体的构建方法特点和适用范围。从效率、精度和产物切割等方面阐述了串联表达载体构建策略的选择依据。     

多拷贝策略在增强目的基因表达中的应用

作为基因工程领域增强目的基因表达的一种有效手段,多拷贝策略日益受到分子生物学研究者的青睐。该策略分为3种方式:表达盒多拷贝、目的基因多拷贝和启动子多拷贝,目前基因工程领域3种方式均有运用。实现多拷贝的方法有5种,分别是随机定向串联法、PCR扩增串联法、接头连接法、同尾酶法和化学合成法。多拷贝策略是通过分子生物学手段对基因工程菌目的蛋白质表达进行改良的一种方法,已有多项研究证明了该策略的可行性,该策略对基因工程起到了良好的补充作用,使得转基因产物产量更符合工业生产的需要。     

一种小肽的多顺反子串联表达方法

目的：构建蛇毒锯鳞蝰素(Echistatin,简写为Ecs) 多顺反子串联多拷贝基因。方法：以pMD18T-Ecs为模板,利用三对引物分别扩增Ecs基因,每个Ecs基因都有独立的起始和终止密码子,然后通过三个Ecs基因之间合适的酶切位点使之串联,再与表达载体pET30a连接后得到三拷贝重组质粒,在三个Ecs基因之间分别有SD序列和SD间隔序列。将质粒转化E.coli BL21(DE3)后IPTG诱导表达,18% SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定结果。结果：Ecs的表达量占全菌总蛋白的18%,实现了Ecs的串联表达。结论：Ecs多顺反子的串联表达为小分子蛋白的体外制备提供了一种全新的思路和方法。     

鲑鱼降钙素串联基因的克隆、表达及重组蛋白的生物学活性

目的：将鲑鱼降钙素(salmon calcitoni,sCT)基因以同向串联方式连接,构建串联多拷贝基因的表达质粒pHis-nCT(n≤3),并在原核中表达,研究表达产物的降钙活性。方法：采用半化学半酶促法合成sCT基因,利用基因的特点及特殊的酶切位点NdeI和SamI在表达载体pTrcHisC中进行sCT基因与载体基因的融合及sCT基因的串联,并在TOP10中表达串联多拷贝基因。表达产物形成包含体,对包含体变性、复性后,以Ni-Chelating Sepharose亲和纯化。用血清钙浓度测定法研究串联表达产物及裂解产物的降钙活性。结果：重组菌表达的串联融合蛋白经过变性、复性及亲合层析,纯度达到90％以上。活性试验表明,串联融合蛋白及其裂解产物可以抑制破骨细胞,降低血清钙浓度,且呈剂量效应关系。结论：原核表达质粒pTreHisC可以有效表达串联的sCT基因,重组的串联蛋白及裂解产物均有降钙活性。     

可剪切多拷贝抗菌肽融合表达载体的构建

抗菌肽是生物体防御系统产生的一类对外源病菌具有高效杀灭活性的小分子多肽, 在植物抗病基因工程中具有重要的应用价值。Thanatin是刺肩蝽(Podisus maculiventris)成虫经诱导产生的一种抗菌肽, 由21个氨基酸残基组成, 该抗菌肽对革兰阳性、革兰阴性菌以及真菌都有很强的抗菌活性。为研究该抗菌肽转入油菜对菌核病抗性提高的效果, 采用同尾酶反复酶切连接的方法构建了分别含1~5拷贝的Thanatin串联融合表达载体, 并导入农杆菌用于油菜的遗传转化。研究采用引物重叠法扩增并克隆了抗菌肽基因, 并采用了一种在植物体内可被特异性切割的短肽作为连接肽, 使多拷贝融合表达的抗菌肽在植物体内可自动剪切为有功能活性的单个抗菌肽单元, 以增加抗菌肽表达丰度和抗菌肽的稳定性。研究还采用了大豆几丁质酶的信号肽作为引导肽引导多拷贝融合表达的抗菌肽分泌到细胞间隙, 以增强抗菌肽作用效果。     

家蝇抗菌肽Defensin基因同向串联表达载体的构建和鉴定

目的:构建家蝇抗菌肽Defensin基因多拷贝串联体,并克隆到甲醇酵母分泌表达载体pPIC9K上。方法:PCR法扩增家蝇抗菌肽Defensin基因成熟肽片断,目的片断的上游5′端带有EcoRⅠ和NheⅠ位点,下游5′端带有NotⅠ和XbaⅠ位点,目的片断首先克隆入pMD18-T载体,利用pMD18-T载体的NdeⅠ位点和目的片断上的一对同尾酶(NheⅠ和XbaⅠ),多次酶切连接,串联成多拷贝的Defensin成熟肽基因,再用EcoRⅠ和NotⅠ双酶切,最后克隆入甲醇酵母分泌表达载体pPIC9K。结果:PCR鉴定、酶切鉴定和DNA测序证明多拷贝基因重组质粒构建成功。结论:该方法能方便高效地获得所需的多拷贝基因,为进一步进行高效表达打下基础。     

人血清白蛋白融合技术研究进展

结合笔者所在课题组的实验研究成果,综述人血清白蛋白融合技术研究进展。人血清白蛋白融合技术是近些年来应用较多的用 于改造小分子蛋白和多肽药物的手段。但是众多的研究结果发现将小分子蛋白/多肽和人血清白蛋白融合后会出现一些共性的问题,例 如目标蛋白产率低、易降解等。这些共性问题可以通过融合蛋白的优化设计、蛋白酶缺陷宿主的构建、融合基因多拷贝以及与分子伴侣 共表达得以解决     

多拷贝异种化前列腺干细胞抗原融合基因片段的构建及真核表达

目的：构建一系列含有人前列腺干细胞抗原（PSCA）主要T细胞表位的多拷贝异种化融合基因片段,并分别在人胚肾293T细胞中表达。方法：通过重叠延伸PCR法合成单拷贝异种化PSCA基因片段PSCA1,随即应用同尾酶法将该片段串联形成2、3、4拷贝异种化PSCA基因片段PSCA2、PSCA3和PSCA4,并将上述4种基因片段分别插入真核表达载体pCI-Fc-GPI中,构建最终目的片段1～4拷贝异种化PSCA-Fc-GPI（即PSCA1-Fc-GPI～PSCA4-Fc-GPI）,随即分别将重组质粒pCI-PSCA1-Fc-GPI～PSCA4-Fc-GPI体外转染293T细胞,利用间接免疫荧光和流式细胞仪检测其表达情况。结果：测序证实PSCA1片段与设计一致,酶切鉴定证明目的基因片段PSCA1-Fc-GPI～PSCA4-Fc-GPI构建成功;间接免疫荧光和流式细胞仪的检测结果显示,在293T细胞中1～4拷贝异种化PSCA融合基因片段均获得较好表达。结论：构建了目的基因片段PSCA1-Fc-GPI～PSCA4-Fc-GPI,为以PSCA为靶抗原的抗前列腺癌DNA疫苗的构建及功能研究奠定了重要基础。     

果胶酶基因剂量效应与水解果胶的工艺研究

[目的]实现烟曲霉果胶酶AFPG基因在毕赤酵母表达并获得高产菌株;阐述果胶酶AFPG的基因剂量效应;探究果胶的水解工艺。[方法]采用PCR技术从烟曲霉扩增AFPG基因并克隆到p AO815载体;用同尾酶构建多拷贝串联表达盒,经线性化的质粒电转到毕赤酵母构建重组工程菌;采用实时荧光定量PCR检测AFPG基因拷贝数;用薄层层析(TLC)技术对果胶的酶解产物进行分析。[结果]SDS PAGE分析表明AFPG基因表达了一个约40 kDa的蛋白;拷贝数为2、3、5的重组子摇瓶发酵,蛋白含量分别为0.24 mg/mL、0.28 mg/mL、0.35 mg/mL;14 L高密度发酵比活为8783 U/mg;该酶最适温度和pH为70℃和5.0;在底物浓度0.7%(W/V),酶量20 U,水解果胶30 min,转化率达到12%。[结论]果胶酶AFPG的表达存在基因剂量效应,5拷贝是2拷贝表达量的1.5倍,可通过构建多拷贝获得高产菌株。果胶酶解效果明显,水解工艺研究为果胶酶的应用奠定基础。     

μ芋螺毒素基因的串联表达

芋螺毒素是一类小分子多肽,专性作用于生物系统的离子通道及其它神经递质。针对自然产芋螺毒素产量小、采集、提取困难等因素,采用基因表达的方法,将μ-芋螺毒素基因进行串联,在大肠杆菌中得到了有效地表达。     

An efficient fusion expression system for protein and peptide overexpression in Escherichia coli and NMR sample preparation

An efficient fusion expression system with a small fusion partner, His6-tagged N-terminal fragment of staphylococcal nuclease R, has been constructed and tested with two genes. The results show that the system is not only suitable for overexpression of small proteins and peptides but simplifies purification of target proteins and peptides. The study also provides a practical method for preparation of isotope-labeled protein sample for NMR analysis.     

Computational design of peptide ligands

Peptides possess several attractive features when compared to small molecule and protein therapeutics, such as high structural compatibility with target proteins, the ability to disrupt protein-protein interfaces, and small size. Efficient design of high-affinity peptide ligands via rational methods has been a major obstacle to the development of this potential drug class. However, structural insights into the architecture of protein-peptide interfaces have recently culminated in several computational approaches for the rational design of peptides that target proteins. These methods provide a valuable alternative to experimental high-resolution structures of target protein-peptide complexes, bringing closer the dream of in silico designed peptides for therapeutic applications.     

Current strategies for the development of peptide-based anti-cancer therapeutics.

The completion of the human genome sequence and the development of new techniques, which allow the visualisation of comprehensive gene expression patterns, has led to the identification of a large number of gene products differentially expressed in tumours and corresponding normal tissues. The task at hand is the sorting of these genes into correlative and causative ones. Correlative genes are merely changed as a consequence of transformation and have no decisive effects upon transformation. In contrast, causative genes play a direct role in the process of cellular transformation and the maintenance of the transformed state, which can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes are prime targets for the development of new inhibitors and gene therapeutic strategies. However, many target oncogene products do not exhibit enzymatic activity that can be inhibited by conventional small molecular weight compounds. They exert their functions through regulated protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions and might require other compounds for efficient interference with such functions. Peptides are emerging as a novel class of drugs for cancer therapy, which could fulfil these tasks. Peptide therapy aims at the specific inhibition of inappropriately activated oncogenes. This review will focus on the selection procedures, which can be employed to identify useful peptides for the treatment of cancer. Before peptide-based therapeutics can become useful, it will be necessary to increase their stability by modifications or the use of scaffolds. Additionally, various delivery methods including liposomes and particularly the use of protein transduction domains (PTDs) have to be explored. These strategies will yield highly specific and more effective peptides and improve the potential of peptide-based anti-cancer therapeutics.     

A single gene encodes multiple neuropeptides mediating a stereotyped behavior

Egg laying in Aplysia is characterized by a stereotyped behavioral array which is mediated by several neuroactive peptides. We have sequenced two genes encoding the A and B peptides thought to initiate the egg-laying process, as well as a gene encoding egg-laying hormone (ELH) which directly mediates the behavioral array. The three genes share 90% sequence homology and are representatives of a small multigene family. Each gene encodes a protein precursor in which the active peptides are flanked by internal cleavage sites providing the potential to generate multiple small peptides. Each of the three genes consists of sequences homologous to A or B peptide as well as ELH. Although these genes share significant nucleotide homology, they have diverged such that different member genes express functionally related but nonoverlapping sets of neuroactive peptides in different tissues.     

抗菌肽的基因工程研究进展

近年来细菌耐药性问题日趋严峻,寻找新型抗生素已迫在眉睫。抗菌肽是生物体产生的一种阳离子短肽,具有天然的抗菌活性。由于抗菌肽具有与传统抗生素不同的作用机制,不产生耐药性,因而具有重要的临床应用价值。但实践表明,抗菌肽的开发并非易事。针对近年来抗菌肽开发的基因工程策略和实践,尤其是大肠杆菌表达系统和酵母表达系统,进行了简要综述。     

Identification of MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by CD4+ T cells

CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating host immune responses against cancer as well as autoimmune and infectious diseases. Identification of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted helper T peptides is important for development of effective vaccines. The lack of effective methods to identify such T-cell peptides is a major hurdle in the use of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in cancer vaccines. Here we describe a genetic targeting expression system for cloning genes encoding for MHC class II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by tumor-reactive CD4+ T cells. Helper T peptides are subsequently identified by using synthetic peptides to test their ability to stimulate CD4+ T cells.     

MicroRNAs研究方法与技术

MicroRNAs简称miRNAs(微小RNAs),是真核生物、原核生物以及病毒中由非编码蛋白基因转录的初级microRNAs加工成的调控因子.在转录后水平和蛋白质翻译水平,microRNAs通过降解或翻译抑制甚至激活来调控靶mRNA.实验和计算机方法已应用于microRNAs和靶基因的鉴定.大规模测序技术使得microRNAs在不同物种的多样性分析得以实现.着重介绍microRNAs、靶基因及其功能研究的实验技术和计算机方法,以及基于microRNAs的保守性,借助模式生物中已知的microRNAs,研究其在其他生物中的功能和作用.     

Polyps, peptides and patterning

Peptides serve as important signalling molecules in development and differentiation in the simple metazoan Hydra. A systematic approach (The Hydra Peptide Project) has revealed that Hydra contains several hundreds of peptide signalling molecules, some of which are neuropeptides and others emanate from epithelial cells. These peptides control biological processes as diverse as muscle contraction, neuron differentiation, and the positional value gradient. Signal peptides cause changes in cell behaviour by controlling target genes such as matrix metalloproteases. The abundance of peptides in Hydra raises the question of whether, in early metazoan evolution, cell-cell communication was based mainly on these small molecules rather than on the growth-factor-like cytokines that control differentiation and development in higher animals.