Gene Knockout of the Intracellular Amylase Gene by Homologous Recombination in Streptococcus bovis

Streptococcus bovis expresses two different amylases, one intracellular and the other secreted. A suicide vector containing part of the intracellular α-amylase gene from Streptococcus bovis WI-1 was recombined into the S. bovis WI-1 chromosome to disrupt the endogenous gene. Recombination was demonstrated by Southern blot, and zymogram analysis confirmed the loss of the intracellular amylase. Amylase activity in cell-free extracts of the recombinant grown in the presence of 1% starch was only 7% of wild type. The rate of logarithmic growth of the recombinant was 15–20% of the wild type in medium containing either 1% glucose, starch, or cellobiose. Revertants and non-amylase control recombinants had logarithmic growth rates that were the same as wild type. Plasmid transformants containing multiple copies of the cloned gene expressed up to threefold higher levels of intracellular amylase activity than wild type but did not demonstrate elevated growth rates. These results suggest that a critical level of expression of the intracellular amylase gene may be important for rapid growth of the bacterium. Received: 26 August 1996 / Accepted: 18 December 1996     

转录后基因沉默系统研究烟草rbcS基因功能

初步建立了利用病毒载体诱导转录后基因沉默系统研究烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶／加氧酶小亚基(Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase／oxylase small subunit,rbcS)基因功能的模式。用携带与1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶／加氧酶小亚基基因同源的cDNA片段的烟草脆裂病毒载体(pTV．rbcS)侵染烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana),诱导内源rbcS基因沉默并在此基础上建立了研究rbcS基因功能的模式：初步进行了rbcS基因沉默后的表型分析、转录水平分析、蛋白质表达水平分析以及利用HPLC方法定量分析rbcS基因沉默后的光合色素变化。结果表明：病毒诱导基因沉默瞬时表达体系中烟草最佳侵染时期为苗龄21-24d,用于侵染的重组农杆菌的最佳浓度的OD值为1～1．5;烟草Rubisco小亚基的表达量可能调节Rubisco大亚基的表达量;烟草rbcS基因与光合作用中的光能收集无关。对rbcS基因沉默的烟草叶片及对照烟草叶片的部分重要光合作用指标分析表明,运用烟草脆裂病毒载体诱导转录后基因沉默系统研究烟草rbcS基因功能具有可行性,为进一步深入研究rbcS基因功能奠定了基础。     

Suppression of Nonsense Mutations in the Dystrophin Gene by a Suppressor tRNA Gene

Nonsense mutations in the dystrophin gene are the cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in 10–15% of patients. In such an event, one approach to gene therapy for DMD is the use of suppressor tRNAs to overcome the premature termination of translation of the mutant mRNA. We have carried out cotransfection of the HeLa cell culture with constructs containing a suptRNA gene (pcDNA3suptRNA) and a marker LacZ gene (pNTLacZhis) using their polymer VSST-525 complexes. It was found that the number of cells producing -galactosidase depends inversely on the dose of the suptRNA gene. A single in vivo injection of the construct providing for expression of the suptRNAochre gene into mdx mouse muscle resulted in the production of dystrophin in 2.5% of fibers. This suggests that suppressor tRNAs are applicable in gene therapy for hereditary diseases caused by nonsense mutations.     

精子介导GFP基因在小鼠早期胚胎中的表达

利用DIG末端标记技术和免疫组化技术分析了小鼠精子体外结合内化外源DNA的效率。试验结果表明,不同小鼠个体的精子结合外源DNA的阳性率有明显差异(P<0.01),平均为13%。利用考马斯亮蓝染色评价了小鼠精子顶体反应发生的情况,筛选出TYH培养液为较合适的体外受精液。利用小鼠体外受精技术,将体外转染GFP基因并获能的小鼠精子与成熟卵母细胞进行体外受精,受精卵进行体外培养,表达GFP胚胎的阳性率为4.7%。验证了精子介导制备转基因小鼠胚胎的可行性,并建立了利用精子载体法制备转基因小鼠胚胎的平台。     

精子介导GFP基因在小鼠早期胚胎中的表达

利用 DIG 末端标记技术和免疫组化技术分析了小鼠精子体外结合内化外源DNA的效率。试验结果表明,不同小鼠个体的精子结合外源DNA的阳性率有明显差异（P<0.01）,平均为13%。利用考马斯亮蓝染色评价了小鼠精子顶体反应发生的情况,筛选出TYH培养液为较合适的体外受精液。利用小鼠体外受精技术,将体外转染GFP基因并获能的小鼠精子与成熟卵母细胞进行体外受精,受精卵进行体外培养,表达GFP胎的阳性率为4.7%。验证了精子介导制备转基因小鼠胚胎的可行性,并建立了利用精子载体法制备转基因小鼠胚胎的平台。     

Smad7基因的克隆、表达及对c-myc基因的调控

Smad7是TGr-β家族信号转导通路的抑制分子,可反馈调节TGF-β／Smads信号转导通路,从功能推测,Smad7表达紊乱,可影响细胞对TGF-β的应答,从而促进细胞的恶性化进展,为了深入探讨Smad7基因功能,通过设计引物,用Touchdown巢式．PCR法从人胎脑文库中扩增Smad7基因编码区全长,回收产物,克隆并构建真核表达载体,同融合有报告基因的c-myc顺式增强子元件共转染BEP2D细胞,结果表明：TGF—p可抑制c．myc报告基因的活性,Smad7基因可正调控c．myc报告基因的表达,并拮抗TGF．B对该基因的抑制作用．由此得出结论：Smad7基因通过桔抗TGF．B来调控c．myc基因、     

Gene transfer by electroporation

Electroporation of cells in the presence of DNA is widely used for the introduction of transgenes either stably or transiently into bacterial, fungal, animal, and plant cells. A review of the literature shows that electroporation parameters are often reported in an incomplete or incorrect manner, forcing researchers to rely too much on a purely empirical trial and error approach. The goal of this article is to provide the reader with an understanding of electrical circuits used in electroporation experiments as well as physical and biological aspects of the electroporation process itself. Further, a simple paradigm is provided which unites all electroporation parameters. This article should be particularly useful to those new to the technique.     

Gene stacking by recombinases

Efficient methods of stacking genes into plant genomes are needed to expedite transfer of multigenic traits to crop varieties of diverse ecosystems. Over two decades of research has identified several DNA recombinases that carryout efficient cis and trans recombination between the recombination sites artificially introduced into the plant chromosome. The specificity and efficiency of recombinases make them extremely attractive for genome engineering. In plant biotechnology, recombinases have mostly been used for removing selectable marker genes and have rarely been extended to more complex applications. The reversibility of recombination, a property of the tyrosine family of recombinases, does not lend itself to gene stacking approaches that involve rounds of transformation for integrating genes into the engineered sites. However, recent developments in the field of recombinases have overcome these challenges and paved the way for gene stacking. Some of the key advancements include the application of unidirectional recombination systems, modification of recombination sites and transgene site modifications to allow repeated site‐specific integrations into the selected site. Gene stacking is relevant to agriculturally important crops, many of which are difficult to transform; therefore, development of high‐efficiency gene stacking systems will be important for its application on agronomically important crops, and their elite varieties. Recombinases, by virtue of their specificity and efficiency in plant cells, emerge as powerful tools for a variety of applications including gene stacking.     

Gene transduction by sonoporation

Gene transduction technologies are essential tools for understanding of gene functions or gene cascades underlying embryogenesis. In this review, we introduce a gene transduction method using microbubble and ultrasound (hereafter referred to as sonoporation). Sonoporation is carried out with relatively simple procedures and easily transduces genes into mesenchymal cells without significant damage to target tissues. Therefore, sonoporation is effective for gene transduction to study the molecular mechanisms of morphogenesis.     

glyA基因及其编码的丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶

glyA基因广泛存在于生物体中 ,其编码的丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶 (serinehydroxymethyltransferase,SHMT)催化丝氨酸和甘氨酸之间的相互转化 ,转化反应产生的 5,1 0 亚甲基四氢叶酸 (M THF)提供细胞新陈代谢—碳单位 ,此反应在细胞新陈代谢中处于重要地位。因此 ,研究 glyA基因及其编码的丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶具有重要的意义。介绍了 glyA基因的克隆、序列分析、调控组分和丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶的部分性质。     

Rb、P53调控平滑肌细胞c-fos和c-jun基因表达

为研究外源性Rb和P53基因导入血管平滑肌细胞后对c-fos和c-jun基因表达的调控作用,将Rb基因或P53基因重组腺病毒载体转染人脐动脉血管平滑肌细胞,应用RT-PCR和免疫组化法检测c-fos、c-jun的mRNA及蛋白质表达水平,以DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳和β-半乳糖苷酶染色分别观察细胞凋亡和细胞衰老.结果显示,野生型P53基因导入可诱导平滑肌细胞凋亡,c-fos和c-jun mRNA及蛋白质表达水平显著增高.外源性Rb基因导入能促进细胞衰老,下调c-fos基因表达,但对c-jun基因表达没有明显影响.     

Gene mapping by fluorescent in situ hybridization

We describe a new method for the mapping of mammalian genes, utilizing in situ hybridization of mRNA to DNA of chromosomes. It involves the hydrogen bonding of the polyadenylic acid at the 3' end of hybridized mRNA to the polyuridylic acid tail of a highly fluorescent latex microsphere. The resultant double hybrid can be visualized by fluorescence microscopy. The chromosomal localization of human alpha + beta globin genes has been explored by this method. Our data point ot the long arms of chromosomes 4 and 5 as the loci for the human globin genes.     

Gene mapping by in situ hybridization.

Genome maps with a resolution of approximately 50kb can now be produced by applying the technique of two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization to chromatin targets in varying stages of condensation, such as metaphase chromosomes, interphase nuclei and sperm pronuclei.