Large-scale Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1 protein purification

The protein–DNA and protein–protein interactions of Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) are known to play an important role in the many functions of this viral protein. Large quantities of pure EBNA1 protein would be useful in biochemical assays to elucidate such interactions. In particular, the crystal structure of the full-length protein would be important to show possible regions of interaction and/or post-translational modification. Recently, we described a novel approach to overexpress and purify EBNA1 from Escherichia coli; however, it is not ideal for large-scale production of EBNA1. We were able to optimize this protocol by (1) adding a polyethyleneimine precipitation step prior to Ni–NTA chromatography to reduce complexity of the sample and remove nucleic acid, (2) optimizing the Ni–NTA gradient to further separate EBNA1 from impurities, and (3) concluding with a MonoS cation-exchange chromatography step to further purify and concentrate EBNA1. We were able to recover 10-mg quantities of pure EBNA1 protein.     

人骨髓间充质干细胞向神经细胞分化过程中Notch通路信号分子表达的变化

本研究探讨Noah信号通路在人骨髓间充质干细胞（human mesenchymal stem cells,hMSCs）体外增殖及向神经细胞分化过程中的作用。采集健康自愿者骨髓,体外培养获得hMSCs,取第3代hMSCs,在诱导剂（β-ME,DMSO,BHA）作用下向神经细胞分化。诱导后用免疫细胞化学鉴定神经元特异性烯醇化酶（neuron-specific enolase,NSE）和尼氏体的表达以确定诱导效果：用流式细胞术检测细胞生长周期时相的变化。在诱导前后,用免疫荧光和RT-PCR方法检测Notch通路中Notch1受体蛋白、配体Jagged1（JAG1）、调节蛋白活化相关物早老素1（presenilin 1,PS1）、靶基因hairy and enhancer of split1（HES1）信号分子表达的变化。结果显示：诱导前,处于G0/G1期的hMSCs占58．5％,S＋G2/M期的细胞占41．5％;诱导后,G0/G1期细胞比例升高,而S＋G2/M期细胞比例下降,NSE阳性细胞率达（77±0．35）％,细胞质中可见深蓝色的块状或颗粒状尼氏体。免疫荧光显示,诱导前后hMSCs内Notch1和JAG1均呈阳性表达,但RT-PCR检测发现诱导后Notch1、JAG1、PSl和HES1 mRNA表达量较诱导前明显降低（均P〈0．05）。结果表明,诱导hMSCs向神经细胞分化能抑制Notch信号分子表达,低水平的Notch信号激活可能有利于神经细胞的分化。     

bHLH Transcription factors and mammalian neuronal differentiation

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor Mashl is expressed in the developing nervous system. Null mutation of Mash1 results in loss of olfactory and autonomic neurons and delays differentiation of retinal neurons, indicating that Mash1 promotes neuronal differentiation. Other bHLH genes, Math/NeuroD/Neurogenin, all expressed in the developing nervous system, have also been suggested to promote neuronal differentiation. In contrast, another bHLH factor, HES1, which is expressed by neural precursor cells but not by neurons, represses Mash1 expression and antagonizes Mash1 activity in a dominant negative manner. Forced expression of HES1 in precursor cells blocks neuronal differentiation in the brain and retina, indicating that HES1 is a negative regulator of neuronal differentiation. Conversely, null mutation of HES1 up-regulates Mash1 expression, accelerates neuronal differentiation, and causes severe defects of the brain and eyes. Thus, HES1 regulates brain and eye morphogenesis by inhibiting premature neuronal differentiation, and the down-regulation of HES1 expression at the right time is required for normal development of the nervous system. Interestingly, HES1 can repress its own expression by binding to its promoter, suggesting that negative autoregulation may contribute to down-regulation of HES1 expression during neural development. Recent studies indicate that HES1 expression is also controlled by RBP-J, a mammalian homologue of Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)], and Notch, a key membrane protein that may regulate lateral specification through RBP-J during neural development. Thus, the Notch → RBP-J → HES1 ÷ Mash1 pathway may play a critical role in neuronal differentiation.     

RNA-dependent recruitment of the origin recognition complex

The origin recognition complex (ORC) has an important function in determining the initiation sites of DNA replication. In higher eukaryotes, ORC lacks sequence-specific DNA binding, and the mechanisms of ORC recruitment and origin determination are poorly understood. ORC is recruited with high efficiency to the Epstein-Barr virus origin of plasmid replication (OriP) through a complex mechanism involving interactions with the virus-encoded EBNA1 protein. We present evidence that ORC recruitment to OriP and DNA replication function depends on RGG-like motifs, referred to as LR1 and LR2, in the EBNA1 amino-terminal domain. Moreover, we show that LR1 and LR2 recruitment of ORC is RNA dependent. HMGA1a, which can functionally substitute for LR1 and LR2 domain, can also recruit ORC in an RNA-dependent manner. EBNA1 and HMGA1a RGG motifs bound to structured G-rich RNA, as did ORC1 peptides, which interact with EBNA1. RNase A treatment of cellular chromatin released a fraction of the total ORC, suggesting that ORC association with chromatin, and possibly cellular origins, is stabilized by RNA. We propose that structural RNA molecules mediate ORC recruitment at some cellular and viral origins, similar to OriP.     

泛素与EB病毒核抗原1融合基因的DNA免疫研究

构建了EB病毒核抗原1(EBNA1)基因的表达质粒pCI-EBNA1和泛素(ubiquitin,Ub)与EBNA1融合基因的表达质粒pCI-Ub-EBNA1.间接免疫荧光和Western blot分析表明,两重组质粒转染HeLa细胞后均能瞬时表达.两种质粒DNA肌肉注射免疫Balb/C小鼠后,分别检测小鼠血清抗EBNA1的抗体和特异性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)反应,比较单基因与融合基因DNA免疫所诱生免疫应答的强度.结果显示:二者诱生抗体的效率无明显差别,但泛素的融合使得针对EBNA1的特异性CTL反应明显增强.     

基于EBNA1和oriP的载体在基因治疗中的应用研究进展

非病毒载体用于基因治疗的主要问题是导入靶细胞的效率较低,目的基因表达水平低,疗效持续时间也较短。EBNA1和oriP元件使引入该元件的质粒在真核细胞内保持为游离体、转运入核、转录增强。质粒携带的目的基因能够获得较高的转染效率,高水平、持续的表达。基于EBNA1/oriP的质粒在肿瘤、单基因缺陷先天性疾病、TNF相关的炎性疾病的基因治疗中显示了良好的应用前景。EBNA1/oriP元件用于构建人工染色体,携带目的基因的调控序列,可望实现可调控的基因治疗。     

Enhancement of transient gene expression by fed-batch culture of HEK 293 EBNA1 cells in suspension

Enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) and erythropoietin (EPO) were used as reporters to assess and improve transient gene expression in HEK 293 EBNA1 cells. The production of EPO only lasted 3 days and reached 18.1 mg/l in suspension cultures in 1 l batch bioreactors. However, GFP expression examined in well-plate experiments persisted for 12 days in transfected cells but decreased rapidly within the next 15 days. These results suggest that the retaining of a plasmid in cells may not be a limiting factor for protein expression in large-scale transient transfection. To improve cell maintenance and protein expression, a fed-batch culture was performed using an enriched medium, a mixture of equal volumes of 293 SFM II medium and a 5 × amino acid solution prepared based on DMEM/F12 medium formula. EPO reached 33.6 mg/l, representing 86% increase over that of the batch culture. Moreover, the total amount of EPO produced was increased by 165% in view of the volume increase in the fed-batch culture. The serum-free medium used in this work enables cells growing well and transfection without medium change. Thus, the process reported here is simple and easy to scale up.     

EB病毒核抗原1羧基端的原核表达、纯化及其免疫学特性

为进一步研究EB病毒核抗原 1(EBNA1)的功能及提高EB病毒 (EBV)相关疾病辅助诊断的特异性 ,对EBNA1基因 3′端的部分片段进行了原核表达、纯化并初步研究其免疫学特性 .采用PCR法扩增了EBNA1基因编码区 ,经酶切鉴定、序列分析后 ,将其 3′端 5 73bp片段克隆至原核表达载体pET30a中 ,得到重组质粒pET30a SS5 80 .该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)感受态细胞并经异丙基 β D 硫代半乳糖苷 (IPTG)诱导表达出分子量约 2 5kD的融合蛋白 (2 5 kDEBNA1) .该蛋白以包涵体和可溶形式存在 ,均可用Ni2 + 离子亲和柱纯化 .Western印迹结果显示 ,该蛋白能与鼻咽癌 (NPC)病人血清发生特异性反应 .纯化的 2 5kDEBNA1蛋白免疫BALB c小鼠后 ,经ELISA检测获得了高效价的多克隆抗体 .免疫印迹和间接免疫荧光结果显示制备的免疫小鼠血清能够与HeLa细胞中瞬时表达的EBNA1蛋白发生特异性反应 ,且特异性优于鼻咽癌病人血清 .以上结果表明成功构建了EBNA1羧基端的原核表达质粒 ,并在大肠杆菌中高效表达了 2 5kDEBNA1蛋白 ,该蛋白具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性