Expression of beta-galactosidase in recombinant nonintegrated plasmids in evaluating the functional activity of vaccinia virus promoters

The recombinant plasmids pVL1 and pVL2 were constructed for insertion and expression of alien genetic information in HindIII-F fragment of vaccinia virus DNA under the control of the strong early-late promoter of the protein 7.5. The late promoter of the main late protein 11K of vaccinia virus was cloned. These as well as other vector plasmids have been used to express the procaryotic beta-galactosidase gene. Functional activity of the genetic engineering constructions was estimated by transitory expression of beta-galactosidase after plasmid DNA transfection into the chicken fibroblasts embryo culture infected with vaccinia virus. The promoters of the genes for 7.5K and 11K proteins permitted the high level of beta-galactosidase expression. Using of the early promoter of the central part of HindIII-F fragment DNA from vaccinia virus was less efficient for expression of the enzyme.     

Increased expression of a cloned gene by local mutagenesis of its promoter and ribosome binding site.

A strategy for local mutagenesis of DNA has been developed. The lac promoter in phage M13mp9 was replaced with the E. coli trp promoter. A restriction fragment bearing only the trp promoter region was mutagenized with nitrous acid, religated to the unmutagenized vector and transfected into E.coli. Several clones which give darker blue plaques on indicator media, suggesting increased beta-galactosidase synthesis, were selected for DNA sequencing. One clone has a G leads to A transition on the 3' side of the 'Pribnow box' which results in a constitutive promoter. Two clones have different point mutations (C leads to T and T leads to C) between the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and initiation codon which raise expression of beta-galactosidase two-fold. A secondary structure model suggests that the latter two mutations could exert their effect by destabilizing base-pairing of the lac Z coding region with the ribosome binding site (RBS), thereby allowing easier access to ribosomes. Support for the model comes from the finding that neither of the RBS mutations increase expression of a different downstream gene which forms no obvious secondary structure with the RBS region, whether or not the mutations are present. These results strengthen the hypothesis that secondary structure masking is a major determinant of RBS strength.     

lac Up-promoter mutants with increased homology to the consensus promoter sequence.

Four lac promoter mutants were constructed. The mutations increased the homology between the lac promoter and the consensus promoter sequences by introducing the consensus -10 and -35 regions and the consensus spacing of 17 residues between these two regions. The promoter mutants were cloned into a pBR322-derivatized vector upstream from the lacZ gene, and levels of beta-galactosidase were an indication of promoter activity. All mutants exhibited higher activity than did the wild-type promoter.     

Construction of fowlpox virus vectors with intergenic insertions: expression of the beta-galactosidase gene and the measles virus fusion gene.

A DNA fragment from fowlpox virus cloned on a plasmid vector was modified to contain foreign DNA inserts within an intergenic region. In a first step, a 32-base-pair intergenic region from the fowlpox virus genome corresponding to the position of the thymidine kinase locus in the vaccinia virus genome was enlarged to 55 base pairs by site-directed mutagenesis. A unique restriction endonuclease site introduced upstream of the intergenic region was then used to insert various foreign DNA fragments. The lacZ gene encoding beta-galactosidase and the measles virus gene encoding the fusion protein were positioned downstream of two vaccinia virus p7.5 promoter elements in either a direct repeat or inverted repeat orientation. Foreign DNA inserts contained within the fowlpox virus sequence were transferred to the viral genome by homologous recombination occurring in cells infected with a fowlpox virus temperature-sensitive mutant and transfected with both wild-type viral DNA and plasmid DNA. Recombinant viruses were selected for the expression of beta-galactosidase activity by screening for blue plaques in the presence of a chromogenic substrate. Stable recombinants expressing both the lacZ gene and the unselected measles gene were obtained when the p7.5 promoter was present as an inverted repeat. However, when the p7.5 promoter was in the direct repeat orientation, viral recombinants which initially expressed both gene inserts readily deleted the lacZ gene flanked by the promoter repeat. The methods described enable precise insertion and deletion of foreign genes in the fowlpox virus genome and could be applied to other intergenic regions of the same virus as well as other poxviruses.     

ACA基因启动子的克隆及功能初探

根据已知的ACA基因的5’端序列设计三个基因特异的反向引物(GSP-1,GSP-2,GSP-3)分别与11个简并引物(AD1-AD11)配对,进行热不对称嵌套PCR(Thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR,TAIL-PCR)扩增,获得了ACA基因起始密码子上游约700bp的片段。为检测其表达特性,构建了该片段与Gus嵌合基因的表达载体pBpAG,在真空条件下通过农杆菌介导,转化了植物的叶、果实、种子三种不同组织,Gus瞬时表达染色结果显示,该DNA片段具有种子特异的启动子活性?对该启动子的一些顺式元件进行了讨论。     

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。     

MDR1基因单靶点双荧光素酶报告基因系统的建立

目的通过构建以MDR1启动子为启动序列的双荧光素酶报告基因系统并进行活性分析,为MDR1基因表达的单靶点调控研究和逆转剂的筛选提供一种有效的方法。方法从HCT-8细胞中提取DNA并克隆含有MDR1基因启动子中Y—box序列。将该序列重组到萤光素酶报告基因载体pGL-3．Basic的启动区域中,从而构建报告基因载体pGL-MDR1。将pGL-MDR1和pRL-TK载体共转染到HCT-8和HCT-8／VCR细胞中。通过调节不同载体的比例来优化转染效率。利用MDRI基因激活剂（热诱导）和抑制剂（EGCG）等处理来分析其启动转录活性受外界因素的影响。结果通过直接测序法验证了pGL-MDR1含有MDR1基因启动子Y—box序列且没有出现碱基突变。在pGL-MDR1和pRL-TK的转染比例为5：5时,转染效率最高并具有最高的萤光素酶活性。通过MDR1基因激活处理后表现为时间依赖性地激活MDR1基因的表达,而MDR1基因抑制剂的作用则相反。结论MDR1启动子为启动序列的双荧光素酶报告基因系统建立成功。该系统不但可以用于研究活体生物发光成像和MDRI基因表达的机理,而且可用于单靶点的多药耐药抑制剂的筛选。     

六倍体大小麦tritordeum花药组织特异性启动子的鉴定与分离

启动子是基因表达调控的重要顺式元件,也是基因工程表达载体的一个重要元件。一个无启动子的带有UidA基因的质粒pPLGUS通过基因枪转化进tritordeum材料中,对转基因材料的多种不同组织进行了X-gluc显色来检测不同组织中的GUS活性,有一个株系的花药组织特异性启动子已被证明成功捕获,并通过PCR方法将其分离。提取叶片的总DNA作模板,上游使用水稻花药启动子分离的引物P1,以UidA基因的部分序列为下游引物P2,PCR扩增UidA基因的上游旁侧序列。已经获得一条长667 bp的目的片断,含有部分UidA基因的序列和一段UidA基因的上游旁侧序列,该序列中具有植物启动子的一些必备元件,初步断定它是一段花药组织特异性启动子序列。     

斑马鱼心肌特异性启动子的克隆及其功能鉴定*

目的:探讨心室肌球蛋白重链(vmhc)基因启动子的心肌组织特异性.方法:利用PCR技术从斑马鱼基因组中克隆了vmhc编码区5’上游大小为1952bp的调控区域,应用酶切连接方法将vmhc启动子插入pGEFP-N1质粒,成功构建pEGFP-vmhc重组载体.再应用高保真DNA聚合酶PCR扩增包含vmhc启动子序列,增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因序列及3'UTR序列的基因片段,经过纯化后通过显微注射将vmhc-EGFP基因片段导入斑马鱼受精卵中.结果:注射后的斑马鱼心脏中出现绿色荧光,而其他部位无荧光出现.结论:vmhc启动子能够正确有效地驱动外源基因在斑马鱼心脏中特异表达,适合应用于心血管疾病的基因功能研究,基因靶向治疗等.     

Plasmid vectors designed for high-efficiency expression controlled by the portable recA promoter-operator of Escherichia coli

A novel expression vector using the 236-bp promoter-operator fragment of the recA gene (recApo) of Escherichia coli has been constructed. This DNA fragment contains complete signals for the initiation of RNA synthesis, as well as for regulation by the lexA product, but lacks the coding sequence for the RecA protein. The strength of the recA promoter was examined by assaying beta-galactosidase activity expressed from a cro-lacZ fused gene placed downstream of the promoter. Under noninducing conditions, the promoter was regulated by the LexA protein, and the fused gene was expressed only weakly. Upon induction by nalidixic acid in a recA+ strain, high expression was observed for an extended period. After 5 h under inducing conditions, as much as 11% of the total cellular protein was cro-lacZ product. The expression level was higher than that from promoters of lac, trp, and lambda early genes.     

Segment-specific mutagenesis of the regulatory region in the Escherichia coli galactose operon: isolation of mutations reducing the initiation of transcription and translation

Using hydroxylamine mutagenesis in vitro, mutations were introduced into a short DNA fragment containing the two overlapping promoters of the Escherichia coli galactose operon and the start of the first gal gene, galE. The mutagenised fragment was inserted into a lac expression plasmid. In such a vector, lac expression is controlled by the gal promoter region. Amongst eighteen candidates in which expression was reduced due to mutations in the gal fragment, twelve contained promoter mutations and six carried mutations that reduce the initiation of galE translation. The candidates in which promoter activity was reduced contained mutations affecting the promoter P1, which is dependent on the cyclic AMP-receptor protein complex (cAMP-CRP) for activation. All carried mutations in the sequence 5'GTGA3' at the CRP binding site. One of the twelve also contained a second mutation affecting the second promoter, P2, which normally functions in the absence of cAMP-CRP. Amongst the six candidates affecting galE translation, two contained a mutation that changes the initiator codon from AUG to AUA and almost completely suppresses galE expression. The mutations in the other four candidates affect the ribosome binding sequence, 5'GGAG3'. However, multiple mutations that abolish this sequence do not totally suppress galE expression, showing that there must be another way to guide ribosomes to the correct initiation site.     

Gassericin T基因的合成及其组成型表达载体的构建

目的:构建Gassericin T基因毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)组成型表达载体。方法:根据乳酸菌素Gassericin T的基因序列,把Gassericin T的结构基因gatA编码的氨基酸的密码子转换成P.pastoris偏爱的形式,设计了6条59nt的寡聚核苷酸引物,通过3次连续PCR反应,获得了250bp左右的gat A片段(简称gat基因)。应用PCR方法从P.pastoris染色体中扩增了GAP启动子,大小为500bp左右,以其取代诱导型表达载体pPIC9K上的pAOX1,构建了组成型表达载体pGAP9K。将合成的gat基因克隆到pGAP9K质粒的多克隆位点中。结果:获得的gat及gap基因与预期结果一致,序列无碱基突变,构建的表达载体pGAP9K-gat经PCR、酶切鉴定完全正确。结论:成功构建了Gassericin T基因P.pastoris组成型表达载体,为下一步高效表达Gassericin T蛋白,进一步研究其作用机理及应用价值打下基础。     

嗜盐古菌启动子DNA片段的功能检测

将来源于嗜盐古菌染色体DNA的启动子片段RM07或RM13插入到启动子探针载体pYLZ_2的报告基因lacZ之前,通过β_半乳糖苷酶酶活性的检测,进一步确证RM07和RM13片段在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中的启动功能。同时用微量热技术检测了大肠杆菌DH5α及其重组菌株在LB培养基中37℃生长过程的热输出功率。T2(pYLZ_2)、TE07(pYL726)、TE07_2(pYL702)、TE131(pYL131)和TE132(pYL132)菌株的生长速率分别比大肠杆菌DH5α降低了6.5%、11%4、1.1%4、7.5%和42.7%。当启动子启动了基因表达时,菌株的生长速率显著降低,热力学参数与酶活性检测结果有较好的一致性。微量热结果表明基因的表达比质粒DNA的复制过程需要消耗更多的能量,对细菌的生理代谢有较大改变。微量热技术为检测基因的表达和转录调控提供了新的方法和思路。     

Regulation of the ribonucleotide reductases in Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris

Lactococcus lactis has two essential ribonucleotide reductases for DNA biosynthesis and repair which are affected in the presence or absence of oxygen. Expression of glutaredoxin like protein (NrdH), the hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase, was found to be regulated by the FNR like proteins (FlpA and FlpB). Proteomics study demonstrated that expression level of NrdH significantly decreased in the flpA and flpAB deletion mutants. The nrdH gene is located in an nrdHIEF operon and encoding the NrdEF ribonucleotide reductase, which is active under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Regulation of expression of the nrdHIEF operons was investigated using beta-galactosidase as a reporter gene. The 588 bp fragment containing the nrdH promoter and gene cloned into the pORI vector immediately upstream of a promoterless lacZ gene. Constructed plasmid was transferred into wild type (MG1363), single mutant (flpA orflpB) and double mutant (flpAB). Aerobically, nrdH promoter activity is 15-fold higher than anaerobic expression.     

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...