Plasmid-coded degradation of ethylbenzene and 1-phenylethanol in Pseudomonas fluorescens

Abstract Pseudomonas fluorescens EB carries genes for the catabolism of ethylbenzene and 1-phenylethanol on a plasmid. The size of the plasmid as measured by analysis of agarose electrophoresis gels after restriction endonuclease hydrolysis, was 253–267 kb. By treatment with Mitomycin C, mutants of EB strain were obtained bearing a plasmid which had undergone an extensive deletion of about 80 kb. These mutants have lost the ability to grow on ethylbenzene and 1-phenylethanol as well as to synthesize meta-cleavage enzymes.     

Osa protein encoded by plasmid pSa is located at the inner membrane but does not inhibit membrane association of VirB and VirD virulence proteins in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Abstract The osa gene of IncW plasmid pSa encodes a 21-kDa protein that completely abolishes the oncogenic activity encoded by virulence genes in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. osa is the last gene of a four-gene operon in pSa, the expression of which appears to be highly regulated since the Osa protein is absent when either pSa or the osa operon is present in the Agrobacterium cell. When the osa gene alone or together with upstream genes within the operon are expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter, Osa protein is produced, enabling us to determine its subcellular location. Immunoblot analyses located Osa protein at the inner membrane of both A. tumefaciens and Escherichia coli . Because Osa inhibits oncogenicity of A. tumefaciens , and because alterations of the products of the virB and virD genes affect oncogenicity, studies were conducted to determine if there are changes in their specific association with the membranes in the presence Osa. Immunoblot analyses of VirB2, VirB3, VirB4, VirB9, and VirD4 in the presence and absence of Osa revealed no differences between the two treatments in these Vir protein associations with the membranes. These results indicate that both virB and virD gene products are produced in the presence of Osa; that they appear unaffected in their association with the membranes; and that Osa is associated with the inner membrane, where VirB2, VirB4, and VirD4 proteins are also located.     

Construction and preliminary characterisation of mini-derivatives of a large (107-kb) cryptic plasmid of the sulfur bacterium Thiobacillus versutus

Abstract Several mini-replicons, derivatives of a large (107-kb) cryptic Thiobacillus versutus pTAV1 plasmid, were obtained. The pTAV1 derivatives confer all functions sufficient for autonomous replication in T. versutus but they cannot be maintained in Escherichia coli . The fragment of pTAV1 (4-kb) included in the smallest mini-replicon, pTAV202, encodes for two proteins of approximately 26 and 45 kDa. The region responsible for stable maintenance of pTAV1 derivatives (and presumably entire pTAV1) was located in defined 14-kb fragment of pTAV1 genome. Hybrid plasmids composed of E. coli vectors (pBGS18 or pWSK29) and pTAV202 replicon were constructed and their activity in both hosts tested.     

Facile cruciform formation by an (A-T)34 sequence from a Xenopus globin gene

We have studied the structure adopted by an (A-T)34 sequence from a Xenopus globin gene when present in a negatively supercoiled plasmid. A variety of enzyme and chemical probing experiments and electrophoretic migration shift methods reveal that the sequence adopts cruciform geometry at moderate levels of supercoiling. The structure has the lowest free energy of formation yet observed for a cruciform, and no detectable kinetic barrier preventing rapid interconversion between extruded and unextruded conformations. Analysis of band-shift experiments reveals a twist change on cruciform formation of -5.8, slightly smaller than the -6.5 we would predict on the basis of a transition from B DNA. An attractive explanation consistent with this discrepancy is that the (A-T)34 stretch is locally underwound to about 11.7 base-pairs/helical turn at low levels of supercoiling. This calculation is made on the assumption that the cruciform junction is structurally similar to those examined previously, which is supported by the nuclease digestion results. This perturbed helical structure could be of considerable biological significance.     

小鼠pEGFP-Hoxa11真核表达载体的构建及表达

目的 构建和鉴定Hoxa11和EGFP双基因共表达真核载体.方法 采用DNA重组技术,将目的 基因Hoxa11克隆至含有报告基因EGFP的pEGFP-N1真核表达载体中,构建的真核表达载体pEGFP-Hoxa11经PCR,双酶切及基因测序鉴定;转染至CHO细胞,荧光显微镜下观察重组质粒的表达,提取细胞蛋白Western印迹检测蛋白表达.结果 pEGFP-Hoxa11重组质粒构建成功.构建的真核表达载体pEGFP-Hoxa11能在CHO细胞中有效表达.结论 成功构建了共表达Hoxa11和EGFP的真核表达载体,并能在CHO细胞中有效表达.为进一步研究Hoxa11的功能提供实验基础.     

Plasmid R1 is present as clusters in the cells of Escherichia coli

Fluorescence microscopy was used to determine the location(s) of the replication origin of plasmid R1 in exponentially growing cells of Escherichia coli. The number of oriR1 foci per cell was smaller than the number of R1 copies per cell and was found to be the same for a copA mutant of R1 and for the wild-type plasmid. The intensities of individual foci were stronger for the cop mutant than for the wild type. We interpreted these results to imply that the plasmid DNA molecules were localized in small groups/clusters, a result that seems contrary to the earlier observations that plasmid R1 replicates randomly and segregates as a single-copy unit. The implications for the quantitative behavior of plasmid R1 in stability, incompatibility tests, replication, and partition experiments are discussed.     

Effect of Feeding Millet (Sorghum vulgarie) Protein on Growth,Nucleic Acids and Proteins of Liver and Plasma of Rats

Effect of feeding millet (Sorghum vulgarie) at 5, 10 and 15 per cent protein levels respectively for a period of six weeks to rats on their liver DNA, RNA and proteins of liver, its subcellular fractions and plasma has been studied, and results compared with rats fed casein at 10 per cent level. Both liver DNA and RNA of rats fed millet at 5 per cent protein level were significantly increased. Liver proteins (mg/l00 g body weight) of rats fed millet at 5 and 10 per cent protein level were significantly increased and plasma proteins decreased. Incorporation of leucine-I-¹⁴C into both liver and plasma proteins of rats fed millet was significantly higher than the control.     

带有IS1的mini—F质粒所发动的染色体复制对于recA基因的依赖性

我们曾报道整合的F′质粒所发动的大肠杆菌染色体复制依赖于recA基因,而整合的F质粒则不。构建带有IS1的mini-F质粒,它们的复制起点分别来自F或F′质粒。这些质粒的整合抑制菌株中都有约20％是recA依赖的,不管这一mini-F质粒的复制起点来自F或F′质粒,也不管这一质粒在游离状态中的复制方向是单向或双向。实验结果说明,质粒的整合位置是决定由整合质粒所发动的染色体复制对recA基因的依赖性的主要因素。     

小鼠pDsRed-Meis1真核表达载体构建及子宫内表达的鉴定

目的构建小鼠Myeloid ectropic viral integration site 1(Meis1)基因和红色荧光蛋白(Red fluorescence protein,RFP)真核表达质粒,为进一步研究Meis1在生殖系统中的功能提供基础。方法设计引物,扩增含Meis1片段的克隆质粒中的meis1基因片段,将其插入真核表达载体pDsRed-N1,重组质粒经酶切鉴定后测序,并转染至小鼠子宫;用Western blot及免疫组织化学方法鉴定外源基因Meis1的表达。结果酶切和测序结果表明,构建的pDsRed-Meis1重组质粒正确;West-ern blot结果显示,外源性Meis1高表达于孕D2的小鼠子宫;转染后冰冻切片结果显示,带红色荧光蛋白的阳性产物表达于孕D4的小鼠子宫内膜及全层;免疫组织化学结果显示,Meis1阳性产物主要表达于孕小鼠子宫上皮、腺体和基质细胞内。结论正确构建了pDsRed-Meis1真核表达质粒,并成功转染及高表达于小鼠子宫,为进一步探讨Meis1在生殖系统中的功能提供了有利工具。     

IFITM1基因真核表达质粒的构建及鉴定

目的:获得IFITM1基因片段并构建真核表达质粒.方法:采用RT-PCR技术扩增IFITM1,将扩增产物连接至pcDNA3.1载体,对重组质粒进行测序验证,结果:构建了真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-IFITM1,通过酶切、测序等方法验证完全正确.结论:成功构建了IFITM1基因的真核表达质粒,为下一步探讨IFITM1基因在子宫颈癌HeLa细胞中的作用提供了实验基础.     

IL35慢病毒质粒的提取

[目的]构建可以大规模提取IL35的新型质粒p LVX-IRES-Zs Green1-mus-IL35。[方法]质粒p LVX-IRES-Zs Green1和p UC57-mus-IL35-拼接用XhoⅠ和NotⅠ进行双酶切,将回收纯化的目的片段mus-IL35-拼接(NotⅠ/XhoⅠ)与回收纯化的载体p LVX-IRES-Zs Green1(NotⅠ/XhoⅠ)连接,连接产物命名为p LVX-IRES-Zs Green1-mus-IL35-拼接。连接产物转化DH5α感受态细胞,涂布LB Amp平板,37℃温箱培养过夜。[结果]检测慢病毒p LVX-IL35滴度为:6×10~7TU/ml,提取质粒浓度为1～2 mg/ml。鉴定引物为测序的通用引物,上游引物和下游引物离MCS区域加上目的序列,目的PCR条带大约1 600 bp,送鉴定正确菌液测序。测序结果比对正确。[结论]采用新型超量无内毒素质粒提试剂盒,可以大规模方便快速提取相关质粒。     

Frequent conjugative transfer accelerates adaptation of a broad-host-range plasmid to an unfavorable Pseudomonas putida host

IncP-1 plasmids are known to be promiscuous, but it is not understood if they are equally well adapted to various species within their host range. Moreover, little is known about their fate in bacterial communities. We determined if the IncP-1beta plasmid pB10 was unstable in some Proteobacteria, and whether plasmid stability was enhanced after long-term carriage in a single host and when regularly switched between isogenic hosts. Plasmid pB10 was found to be very unstable in Pseudomonas putida H2, and conferred a high cost (c. 20% decrease in fitness relative to the plasmid-free host). H2(pB10) was then evolved under conditions that selected for plasmid maintenance, with or without regular plasmid transfer (host-switching). When tested in the ancestral host, the evolved plasmids were more stable and their cost was significantly reduced (9% and 16% for plasmids from host-switched and nonswitched lineages, respectively). Our findings suggest that IncP-1 plasmids can rapidly adapt to an unfavorable host by improving their overall stability, and that regular conjugative transfer accelerates this process.     

Requirements for Rapid Plasmid ColE1 Copy Number Adjustments: A Mathematical Model of Inhibition Modes and RNA Turnover Rates

The random distribution of ColE1 plasmids between the daughter cells at cell division introduces large copy number variations. Statistic variation associated with limited copy number in single cells also causes fluctuations to emerge spontaneously during the cell cycle. Efficient replication control out of steady state is therefore important to tame such stochastic effects of small numbers. In the present model, the dynamic features of copy number control are divided into two parts: first, how sharply the replication frequency per plasmid responds to changes in the concentration of the plasmid-coded inhibitor, RNA I, and second, how tightly RNA I and plasmid concentrations are coupled. Single (hyperbolic)- and multiple (exponential)-step inhibition mechanisms are compared out of steady state and it is shown how the response in replication frequency depends on the mode of inhibition. For both mechanisms, sensitivity of inhibition is “bought” at the expense of a rapid turnover of a replication preprimer, RNA II. Conventional, single-step, inhibition kinetics gives a sloppy replication control even at high RNA II turnover rates, whereas multiple-step inhibition has the potential of working with unlimited precision. When plasmid concentration changes rapidly, RNA I must be degraded rapidly to be “up to date” with the change. Adjustment to steady state is drastically impaired when the turnover rate constants of RNA I decrease below certain thresholds, but is basically unaffected for a corresponding increase. Several features of copy number control that are shown to be crucial for the understanding of ColE1-type plasmids still remain to be experimentally characterized. It is shown how steady-state properties reflect dynamics at the heart of regulation and therefore can be used to discriminate between fundamentally different copy number control mechanisms. The experimental tests of the predictions made require carefully planned assays, and some suggestions for suitable experiments arise naturally from the present work. It is also discussed how the presence of the Rom protein may affect dynamic qualities of copy number control.     

人BRCA1 干涉慢病毒载体的构建与验证

目的:设计合成干涉BRCA1表达的小干扰RNA,并克隆入pLKO.1慢病毒表达载体,为研究基因BRCA1在乳腺癌细胞增殖中的作用提供基础。方法:根据人BRCA1的基因序列,设计合成三对BRCA1干涉片段(序列前后加入酶切位点EcoRI和AgeI),再利用酶切连接反应将其插入到慢病毒载体pLKO.1中,经过酶切鉴定及测序正确后,将重组质粒转染入MCF-7细胞,48h后提取蛋白质和RNA,通过蛋白印迹验证BRCA1的蛋白水平的表达情况,Realtime PCR验证BRCA1的RNA水平的表达变化。结果:重组质粒经酶切鉴定和测序比对完全正确,转染乳腺癌细胞48h后可见BRCA1表达的明显下调。结论:成功构建BRCA1干涉的慢病毒载体,并且转染MCF-7细胞证实其能够下调BRCA1的表达,为后续研究BRCA1在乳腺癌细胞的功能奠定了基础。     

质粒介导的黏菌素耐药基因mcr-1研究进展

mcr-1基因是迄今为止国际上首次发现的质粒介导的黏菌素耐药基因,可介导肠杆菌科细菌对多粘菌素类药物产生耐药并可通过质粒进行水平转移。最新研究表明该基因已通过IncI2、IncX4和IncHI2等流行性质粒以及可移动元件,在全球35个不同国家和地区的人、动物和环境源多种肠杆菌中广泛传播。这些研究对于深入了解mcr-1基因介导的黏菌素耐药和传播机制、全球流行分布特征奠定了基础,丰富了耐药性形成理论。文章主要介绍了不同来源肠杆菌科细菌中mcr-1的分布流行情况、耐药和传播机制、基因环境等方面的研究进展,探讨了其临床风险性以及后续应对措施,以期为相关科研人员和临床工作者提供参考,共同应对抗生素耐药日益严峻的局面。     

The P1 plasmid in action: time-lapse photomicroscopy reveals some unexpected aspects of plasmid partition

The prophage of bacteriophage P1 is a low copy number plasmid in Escherichia coli and is segregated to daughter cells by an active partition system. The dynamics of the partition process have now been successfully followed by time-lapse photomicroscopy. The process appears to be fundamentally different from that previously inferred from statistical analysis of fixed cells. A focus containing several plasmid copies is captured at the cell center. Immediately before cell division, the copies eject bi-directionally along the long axis of the cell. Cell division traps one or more plasmid copies in each daughter cell. These copies are free to move, associate, and disassociate. Later, they are captured to the new cell center to re-start the cycle. Studies with mutants suggest that the ability to segregate accurately at a very late stage in the cell cycle is dependent on a novel ability of the plasmid to control cell division. Should segregation be delayed, cell division is also delayed until segregation is successfully completed.     

从Staphylococcus simulans消除含有溶葡球菌酶基因质粒的研究

溶葡球菌酶是Staphylococcus simulans分泌的能分解葡萄球菌的酶,它的基因位于一个约40kb的质粒DNA上。为了探索用高拷贝质粒取代原有的质粒的可能性,本文首先进行了从该菌株中消除含有溶葡球菌酶基因质粒的实验研究,获得了相应的“消除”菌株。根据对目的菌株和原始菌株的比较分析,包括细胞蛋白质的SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,Western blot分析,质粒DNA的琼脂糖胶电泳、Southern Blot分析,质粒DNA的限制性内切核酸酶酶切分析以及对溶葡球菌酶作用敏感性的分析,都表明该目的菌株确系Staphylococcus simulans的衍生菌株,只是清除了其中含有溶葡球菌酶基因的质粒。在此基础上,本文也进行了转化实验。     

重组人CLK1的真核表达及鉴定

目的:合成真核细胞CLK1(Cdc2-like kinase 1)编码基因,构建CLK1/pEGFP-N2真核表达载体并在真核细胞HEK293A中过表达,为CLK1的生物学功能研究奠定基础。方法:从人脐静脉血管内皮细胞中提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR技术用已知引物合成cDNA,将CLK1基因扩增后插入真核细胞表达载体pEGFP-N2,将重组质粒热转化至大肠杆菌感受态Trans 10细胞中获得重组菌株,提取质粒进行酶切鉴定及插入基因测序;将构建的重组质粒转染HEK293A细胞,用Western印迹及免疫荧光检测CLK1的表达水平,同时对其下游的磷酸化SF2/ASF蛋白进行检测。结果:构建了CLK1/pEGFP-N2真核表达载体,将其转染HEK293A细胞后24 h,CLK1蛋白表达水平最高;同时,CLK1过表达后使得下游的SF2/ASF蛋白磷酸化水平升高。结论:构建了人CLK1基因的真核细胞表达载体CLK1/pEGFP-N2,并在HEK293A细胞中过表达,其生物活性也得到了验证。本研究为外源性CLK1基因在真核细胞中过表达提供了一种途径,为CLK1的生物学功能研究奠定了基础,也可为真核细胞其他蛋白表达体系的构建提供借鉴。