Adaptation of a luciferase gene reporter and lac expression system to Borrelia burgdorferi

The development of new genetic systems for studying the complex regulatory events that occur within Borrelia burgdorferi is an important goal of contemporary Lyme disease research. Although recent advancements have been made in the genetic manipulation of B. burgdorferi, there still remains a paucity of basic molecular systems for assessing differential gene expression in this pathogen. Herein, we describe the adaptation of two powerful genetic tools for use in B. burgdorferi. The first is a Photinus pyralis firefly luciferase gene reporter that was codon optimized to enhance translation in B. burgdorferi. Using this modified reporter, we demonstrated an increase in luciferase expression when B. burgdorferi transformed with a shuttle vector encoding the outer surface protein C (OspC) promoter fused to the luciferase reporter was cultivated in the presence of fresh rabbit blood. The second is a lac operator/repressor system that was optimized to achieve the tightest degree of regulation. Using the aforementioned luciferase reporter, we assessed the kinetics and maximal level of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-dependent gene expression. This lac-inducible expression system also was used to express the gene carried on lp25 required for borrelial persistence in ticks (bptA). These advancements should be generally applicable for assessing further the regulation of other genes potentially involved in virulence expression by B. burgdorferi.     

A 'phase-shift' fusion system for the regulation of foreign gene expression by lambda repressor in gram-negative bacteria

A 'phase-shift' translation fusion vector was constructed in which mutually compatible restriction sites BamHI, BclI and BglII are positioned in such a manner that the cut point is in a different reading frame, immediately following the ATG start codon and ribosome-binding site of the lambda cro gene. The lambda cro gene is expressed from promoter pR and controlled by a thermosensitive (cI857) lambda repressor. The usefulness of the expression vector was demonstrated using a galK gene lacking the ATG start codon and fusing this to the pR promoter and ATG start codon of the lambda cro gene, resulting in cI857-regulated expression of galactokinase. The vector is of general use for foreign gene expression in Escherichia coli when the target gene has a compatible cohesive end (5'-GATC-3') at the N terminus (provided, for example, by a BamHI linker). The lambda cI857-pR-cro-galK cassette was cloned into pJRD215, a wide-host-range plasmid and transferred by conjugation to a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. In all cases, thermosensitive regulation of galactokinase could be demonstrated, though the levels of induction varied considerably. These results show that the powerful lambda pR promoter and the efficient lambda repressor can be used to regulate expression of foreign genes in Gram-negative organisms other than E. coli.     

Heterologous gene expression in Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis and other gastrointestinal tract Bacteroides are unusual gram-negative eubacteria in that genes from other gram-negative eubacteria are not expressed when introduced into these organisms. To analyze gene expression in Bacteroides, expression vector and promoter probe (detection) vector systems were developed. The essential feature of the expression vector was the incorporation of a Bacteroides insertion sequence element, IS4351, which possesses promoter activity directed outward from its ends. Genes inserted into the multiple cloning site downstream from an IS4351 DNA fragment were readily expressed in B. fragilis. The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) structural gene from Tn9 was tested and conferred chloramphenicol resistance on B. fragilis. Both chloramphenicol resistance and CAT activity were shown to be dependent on the IS4351 promoters. Similar results were obtained with the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene (uidA) but activity was just 30% of the levels seen with cat. Two tetracycline resistance determinants, tetM from Streptococcus agalactiae and tetC from E. coli, also were examined. tetC did not result in detectable tetracycline resistance but the gram-positive tetM gene conferred high-level resistance to tetracycline and minocycline in Bacteroides hosts. Based on the cat results, promoter probe vectors containing the promoterless cat gene were constructed. These vectors were used to clone random B. fragilis promoters from partial genomic libraries and the recombinants displayed a range of CAT activities and chloramphenicol MICs in B. fragilis hosts. In addition, known E. coli promoters (Ptet, Ptac, Ptrc, Psyn, and P1P2rrnB) were tested for activity in B. fragilis. No chloramphenicol resistance or CAT activity was observed in B. fragilis with these promoters.     

Expanding the genetic toolbox for Leptospira species by generation of fluorescent bacteria

Our knowledge of the genetics and molecular basis of the pathogenesis associated with Leptospira, in comparison to those of other bacterial species, is very limited. An improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms requires reliable genetic tools for functional genetic analysis. Here, we report the expression of gfp and mRFP1 genes under the control of constitutive spirochetal promoters in both saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira strains. We were able to reliably measure the fluorescence of Leptospira by fluorescence microscopy and a fluorometric microplate reader-based assay. We showed that the expression of the gfp gene had no significant effects on growth in vivo and pathogenicity in L. interrogans. We constructed an expression vector for L. biflexa that contains the lacI repressor, an inducible lac promoter, and gfp as the reporter, demonstrating that the lac system is functional in Leptospira. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was induced by the addition of isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in L. biflexa transformants harboring the expression vector. Finally, we showed that GFP can be used as a reporter to assess promoter activity in different environmental conditions. These results may facilitate further advances for studying the genetics of Leptospira spp.     

大鼠β乳酪蛋白基因调控区的克隆和序列分析及乳腺定位表达载体的构建

将大鼠β乳酪蛋白的调控序列克隆于ｐＧＥＭ－４Ｚ,用ＳＰ６、Ｔ７正反向引物进行序列分析,证实其正确之后将该调控序列克隆于真核表达载体ｐＳＶＬ中,构建成功了乳腺定位表达载体。同时在其下游插入了荧光素酶报道基因,用于在乳腺细胞表达调控的研究。     

β-synuclein蛋白原核表达载体的构建与表达

目的构建人β-synuclein基因的原核表达载体,分析其在大肠杆菌中的表达。方法从人脑组织中提取总RNA,用RT-PCR方法获得人β-synuclein基因,克隆至pCUm-T载体中,PCR筛选阳性克隆并测序。将酶切后的目的片段克隆至原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1中,转化大肠杆菌BL21。IPTG诱导后,经SDS-PAGE电泳分析目的蛋白的表达。结果 RT-PCR扩增出人β-synuclein基因,将其亚克隆至pGEX-6P-1构建成重组表达质粒,并在BL21中表达了β-synuclein蛋白。结论成功构建人β-synuclein的原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌中表达了人β-synuclein融合蛋白,为进一步研究β-synuclein在帕金森病中的作用奠定了良好的基础。     

Tetracycline-regulated gene expression mediated by a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases in mammalian cells

Regulated gene expression will provide important platforms from which gene functions can be investigated and safer means of gene therapy may be developed. Histone deacetylases have recently been shown to play an important role in regulating gene expression. Here we investigated whether a more tightly controlled expression could be achieved by using a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases to a tetracycline-responsive promoter. This chimeric repressor was engineered by fusing the tetracycline repressor (TetR) with an mSin3-interacting domain of human Mad1 and was shown to bind the tetO(2) element with high affinity, and its binding was efficiently abrogated by doxycycline. The chimeric repressor was shown to directly interact with mSin3 of the histone deacetylase complex. This inducible system was further simplified by using a single vector that contained both a chimeric repressor expression cassette and a tetracycline-responsive promoter. When transiently introduced into mammalian cells, the chimeric repressor system exhibited a significantly lower basal level of luciferase activity (up to 25-fold) than that of the TetR control. When stably transfected into HEK 293 cells, the chimeric repressor system was shown to exert a tight control of green fluorescent protein expression in a doxycycline dose- and time-dependent fashion. Therefore, this novel chimeric repressor provides an effective means for more tightly regulated gene expression, and the simplified inducible system may be used for a broad range of basic and clinical studies.     

准噶尔雅罗鱼β-肌动蛋白基因启动子的克隆及其活性功能初步检测

以开发利用新疆濒危鱼类准噶尔雅罗鱼(Leuciscus merzbacheri)基因资源为研究目的, 利用PCR技术克隆准噶尔雅罗鱼的β-actin 基因, 得到的β-actin 基因片段SZ21包含启动调控区, 大小为2 398 bp。SZ21的启动调控区包括β-actin 基因上游调控序列、第1、第2、第3和第4外显子部分序列。上游调控序列中含有对转录起重要作用的CAAT框、TATA 框和CArG 框等元件。对启动子序列在线分析表明, 获得的启动子含有E-box、RU49、ZBPF、CEBP、CREB等多个重要转录因子结合位点。用AatⅡ破坏真核表达载体pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ中的CMV启动子, 将准噶尔雅罗鱼的SZ21启动调控区克隆到载体pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ(CMV坏)上, 构建成重组表达载体β2 pEGFP-N1-AFPⅢ。脂质体转染BHK-21细胞。结果表明, 克隆的准噶尔雅罗鱼β-actin基因启动子SZ21具有启动EGFP报告基因在哺乳动物细胞中表达的活性。通过BHK-21绿色荧光细胞的传代证实, 克隆的启动子具有持续启动蛋白基因表达的活性, 在细胞传代中可以遗传。PCR检测传代的BHK-21绿色荧光细胞基因组DNA, 均能检测到SZ21目的片段。文章成功分离了具有活性功能的准噶尔雅罗鱼β-actin基因启动子。     

苜宿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒vp39基因的克隆及其对S_f9细胞形态的影响

最近的研究发现：ＡｃＮＰＶ的ｖｐ３９基因与侵染密切相关［１］．在侵染过程中,ＶＰ３９蛋白与宿主的肌动蛋白结合,使其重排形成缆索（ｃａｂｌｅ）．导致细胞骨架发生变化有利于病毒编码的蛋白酶的水解．最后,子代病毒颗粒大量形成,宿主昆虫体全部液化成为脓水．可...     

Controlled expression of the transcriptional activator gene virG in Agrobacterium tumefaciens by using the Escherichia coli lac promoter

The Agrobacterium VirG protein is normally expressed from two promoters in response to multiple stimuli, including plant-released phenolics (at promoter P1) and acidic growth media (at promoter P2). To simplify the analysis of vir gene induction, we sought to create Agrobacterium strains in which virG could be expressed in a controllable fashion. To study the possibility of using the lac promoter and repressor, we constructed a plasmid containing the lac promoter fused to the lacZ structural gene. A derivative of this plasmid containing the lacIq gene was also constructed. The plasmid not containing lacIq expressed high levels of beta-galactosidase. The plasmid containing lacIq expressed beta-galactosidase at very low levels in the absence of o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG) and at moderate levels in the presence of IPTG. We also fused the lac promoter to a virG::lacZ translational fusion and found that IPTG elevated expression of this translational fusion to moderate levels, though not to levels as high as from the stronger of the two native virG promoters. Finally, the lac promoter was used to express the native virG gene in strains containing a virB::lacZ translational fusion. virB expression in this strain depended on addition of IPTG as well as the vir gene inducer acetosyringone. In a similar strain lacking lacIq, virB expression was greater than in a strain in which virG was expressed from its native promoters. Expression of virG from the lac promoter did not alter the acidic pH optimum for vir gene induction, indicating that the previously observed requirement for acidic media was not due solely to the need to induce P2.     

轮状病毒VP7基因的克隆与表达

应用聚合酶链式反应技术(PCR)扩增轮状病毒VP7基因,并将其克隆到pMD18-T simple载体上,对重组子进行PCR检测和限制性内切酶分析,并测定DNA全序列。结果显示,克隆片段全长为981 bp。将轮状病毒VP7基因定向的克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a启动子下游,构建原核表达载体pET-32aVP7。将质粒pET-32aVP7转化Transetta表达菌株进行诱导表达,裂解菌体细胞抽提蛋白质进行SDS-PAGE。结果表明,轮状病毒壳蛋白VP7基因在Transetta表达菌株内得到成功表达。