High level expression and purification of active recombinant human interleukin-8 in Pichia pastoris

Human interleukin-8 (hIL-8) is a member of interleukin family which functions as a chemotactic factor as well as an angiogenesis mediator. Previously, a study reported that hIL-8 could be purified from inclusion bodies using a prokaryotic expression system, however, the required re-naturation step limits the recovery of fully active protein. In this study, soluble recombinant hIL-8 was expressed as a secreted protein at high level in Pichia pastoris under the control of AOX1 (alcohol oxidase 1) promoter. A simple purification strategy was established to recover rhIL-8 from the fermentation supernatant. The process includes precipitation with 80% saturation ammonium sulfate and CM Sepharose ion exchange chromatography, yielding 30 mg/L purified rhIL-8 at over 95% purity. The obtained rhIL-8 displays high specific activity, stimulating the migration of mouse neutrophils at concentrations as low as 0.25 ng/mL. Our results demonstrate that P. pastoris expression system is an efficient tool for large-scale manufacture of active recombinant hIL-8 for various applications.     

The switching gene swi6 affects recombination and gene expression in the mating-type region of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Summary The products of 11 switching (swi) genes are required for efficient mating-type (MT) switching in homothallic (h ⁹⁰) strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The MT region of h ⁹⁰ comprises three cassette genes: the expression site mat1: 1 and two silent loci, mat2: 2 and mat3: 3. Besides reducing MT switching, the swi6 mutation leads to deletions in the MT region caused by intrachromosomal cross-overs between two paired cassettes. These deletions only arise if DNA double-strand breaks are present at mat1: 1, which initiate MT switching. Furthermore, swi6 allows meiotic recombination in the K region, a region of 16 kb between mat2: 2 and mat3: 3; in wild-type strains no recombination occurs in K. swi6 also allows the simultaneous expression of two different cassettes in the same haploid cell. Thus swi6 may have an influence on the general chromatin structure in the MT region.     

基于Cre/loxP系统的睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠模型的构建及敲除效率检测

极长链多不饱和脂肪酸(very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,VLC-PUFAs)是哺乳动物视网膜、睾丸等极少数组织中特有的脂肪酸,其生物合成的关键酶为极长链脂肪酸延长酶4(very long chain fatty acid elongase 4,Elovl4)。建立组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因的动物模型有利于深入研究VLC-PUFAs的生物学功能,因此,本研究基于Cre/loxP系统,先分别构建了Stra8-Cre小鼠和Elovl4 floxed小鼠,通过杂交获得(Elovl4[flox/+],Stra8-Cre)杂合子基因敲除小鼠,再选择雌鼠与Elovl4 floxed纯合子雄鼠即Elovl4 [flox/flox]雄鼠杂交,通过基因型鉴定筛选获得(Elovl4[flox/flox], Stra8-Cre)纯合子小鼠。利用RT-PCR、qRT-PCR、Western blotting、免疫组化和免疫荧光检测Elovl4在睾丸组织中的敲除效率,结果表明,无论是杂合子还是纯合子基因敲除小鼠,其睾丸组织中Elovl4的表达在mRNA及蛋白水平显著下调,但其他组织未受影响。本研究成功构建了睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠,为后续研究VLC-PUFAs对雄性小鼠生殖功能的影响及相关分子机制提供可靠的动物模型。     

Interleukin-8 gene polymorphism is associated with acute coronary syndrome in the Chinese Han population

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most common forms of heart disease. Recent studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-8 plays a key role in the development of atherosclerotic plaques, but the relationship between the common genetic variants of IL-8 and ACS has not been extensively studied.

Methods

This case-control study in the Chinese Han population included 675 patients with ACS and 636 age- and sex-matched controls. We investigated IL-8 polymorphisms and their association with susceptibility to ACS. The investigation was replicated in the second study comprising 360 cases and 360 control subjects. The plasma concentration of IL-8 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

IL-8 −251 A/T polymorphism was associated with increased susceptibility to ACS (P = 0.004; odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.12–1.53). The second study yielded similar results. An increased IL-8 level was found in the plasma of acute myocardial infarction patients, suggesting that IL-8 −251 A/T may affect the expression of IL-8.

Conclusion

IL-8 −251 A/T polymorphism is associated with ACS risk in the Chinese Han population and the A allele of IL-8 −251 A/T may be an independent predictive factor for ACS.     

Complete mtDNA of Meretrix lusoria (Bivalvia: Veneridae) reveals the presence of an atp8 gene, length variation and heteroplasmy in the control region

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the clam Meretrix lusoria (Bivalvia: Veneridae) was determined. It comprises 20,268 base pairs (bp) and contains 13 protein-coding genes, including ATPase subunit 8 (atp8), two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a non-coding control region. The atp8 encodes a protein of 39 amino acids. All genes are encoded on the same strand. A putative control region (CR or D-loop) was identified in the major non-coding region (NCR) between the tRNA^Gly and tRNA^Gln. A 1087 bp tandem repeat fragment was identified that comprises nearly 11 copies of a 101 bp motif and accounts for approximately 41% of the NCR. The 101 bp tandem repeat motif of the NCR can be folded into a stem–loop secondary structure. Samples of eight individuals from Hainan and Fujian provinces were collected and their NCR regions were successfully amplified and sequenced. The data revealed a highly polymorphic VNTR (variable number of tandem repeats) associated with high levels of heteroplasmy in the D-loop region. The size of the CR ranged from 1942 to 3354 bp depending upon the copy number of the repeat sequence.     

Genome Analysis inNeurospora crassa;Cloning of Four Lociarginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) and Associated Chromosome Walking

We have cloned fourNeurospora crassagenes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include thearginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of theNeurosporagenome is covered in these walks.     

甘蓝型油菜BnCYP78A8的克隆及序列分析

采用Genome walking方法,首次克隆到甘蓝型油菜BnCYP78A8的基因组序列,根据基因特异性引物克隆到其编码序列。基因组序列长1 679bp,有1个内含子和2个外显子。编码序列长1 605bp,编码534个氨基酸。序列比对分析表明,其氨基酸序列与拟南芥细胞色素P450单加氧酶基因(AtCYP78A8)的相似度高达88%。生物信息学分析显示,该蛋白含有1个细胞色素P450特有的亚铁血红素配合基结合位点和1个跨膜结构域。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,BnCYP78A8在甘蓝型油菜的各个器官组织均有表达,根中表达量最高,表明该基因可能参与根的生长发育。     

Two Pax2/5/8-binding sites in Engrailed2 are required for proper initiation of endogenous mid-hindbrain expression

During early brain development mouse Engrailed2 (En2) is expressed in a broad band across most of the mid-hindbrain region. Evidence from gene expression data, promoter analysis in transgenic mice and mutant phenotype analysis in mice and zebrafish has suggested that Pax2, 5 and 8 play a critical role in regulating En2 mid-hindbrain expression. Previously, we identified two Pax2/5/8-binding sites in a 1.0 kb En2 enhancer fragment that is sufficient to directed reporter gene expression to the early mid-hindbrain region and showed that the two Pax2/5/8-binding sites are essential for the mid-hindbrain expression in transgenic mice. In the present study we have examined the functional requirements of these two Pax2/5/8-binding sites in the context of the endogenous En2 gene for directing mid-hindbrain expression. The two Pax2/5/8-binding sites were deleted from the En2 locus and replaced with the bacterial neo gene by homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. After transmitting the mutation into mice, the neo gene was removed by breeding with transgenic mice expressing cre from a CMV promoter. Embryos homozygous for this En2 Pax2/5/8-binding site deletion mutation had a mild reduction in En2 expression in the presumptive mid-hindbrain region at the 5-7 somite stage, when En2 expression is normally initiated. However, from embryonic day 9.0 onwards, the mutant embryos showed En2 expression indistinguishable from that seen in wild type embryos. Furthermore, the mutants did not show the cerebellar defect seen in mice with a null mutation in En2. This result demonstrates that the two Pax2/5/8-binding sites that were deleted, while being required for mid-hindbrain expression in the context of a 1.0 kb En2 enhancer, are only required for proper initiation of expression of the endogenous En2 gene. Interestingly, a comparison of the lacZ RNA and protein expression patterns directed by the 1.0 kb enhancer fragment revealed that lacZ protein was acting as a lineage marker in the mid-hindbrain region by persisting longer than the mRNA. The transgene expression directed by the 1.0 kb enhancer fragment therefore does not mimic the entire broad domain of En2 expression. Taken together, these two studies demonstrate that DNA binding sites in addition to the two Pax2/5/8-binding sites must be necessary for En2 mid-hindbrain expression.     

罗布麻和大麻状罗布麻UV-B光受体UVR8基因的鉴定及表达分析

在植物响应紫外线B(ultraviolet-B,UV-B)的过程中,UV-B光受体UVR8(UV Resistance Locus 8)对植物的光形态建成和生长代谢等过程具有重要调控作用。为探究罗布麻属植物UV-B光受体信息,该研究通过罗布麻(Apocynum venetum)和大麻状罗布麻(A. cannabinum)全基因组数据进行UV-B光受体UVR8的筛选与生物信息学分析,同时利用转录组数据分析UV-B胁迫处理下的UVR8基因表达模式。结果表明:(1)罗布麻有6个UVR8基因,大麻状罗布麻有5个UVR8基因,前者分布在1、7、9和11号染色体上,后者分布在1、8和9号染色体上。(2)UVR8蛋白为亲水性稳定蛋白,定位在细胞核,不存在跨膜结构和信号肽,二级结构主要由延伸链、无规则卷曲、α-螺旋和β-转角构成。AvUVR8b和AcUVR8a蛋白三级结构与拟南芥UVR8(AtUVR8)最为类似,并且与小粒咖啡(CaUVR8)和伊德斯种咖啡(CeUVR8)的亲缘关系最近。同时发现罗布麻AvUVR8b和大麻状罗布麻AcUVR8a基因和蛋白结构与AtUVR8基因及蛋白高度相似。(3)当以一定剂量UV-B(17.52 kJ·m^-2·d^-1)处理两种罗布麻植株时,AvUVR8b和AcUVR8a的表达量上调。据此推测在响应UV-B时,AvUVR8b基因在罗布麻中起主要作用,AcUVR8a基因在大麻状罗布麻中起主要作用。(4)顺式作用元件分析结果表明,UVR8的表达受光照、温度、水分、氧气和激素等因素的调控。该研究将为进一步研究罗布麻属UVR8的基因功能奠定基础,同时为解析罗布麻属植物适应UV-B的分子机制提供线索。     

Cat-2 gene expression

Summary Poly(A)⁴ RNA was isolated from maize scutella of different stages of post-germinative development and translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte translation system. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with CAT-2-specific antibody was used to quantitate the relative levels of translatable CAT-2 mRNA at each stage. The results show a close correlation between the developmental profile of Cat2 gene expression and the profile of CAT-2 mRNA levels. Evidence that the levels of CAT-2 mRNA are regulated by a temporal regulatory gene (Car1) is presented and the possible mechanism(s) of this regulation discussed.This work was supported by Research Grants No. GM22733 and No. GM33817 from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service to J.G.S. This is paper No. 9933 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA     

地涌金莲MlCCD8b基因的克隆与表达分析

该研究以地涌金莲(黄色苞片型YN01和红色苞片型RD05)为材料,采用RACE技术克隆获得地涌金莲CCD8b基因的cDNA全长,进行氨基酸序列比对及系统进化树构建,并采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测MlCCD8b基因在不同地涌金莲类型和不同组织中的表达模式。结果表明：(1)序列分析显示,MlCCD8b的ORF全长1 671 bp,编码556个氨基酸,存在1个类胡萝卜素加氧酶家族的典型保守结构域RPE65,推测其相对分子量为61 574.26 Da,等电点6.61,亚细胞定位于叶绿体基质中的类囊体上,所编码的MlCCD8b蛋白为亲水性蛋白。(2)同源对比分析及构建系统进化树发现,地涌金莲MlCCD8b蛋白与小果野蕉亚种、凤梨等单子叶植物的CCD8b蛋白遗传关系最近。(3)荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,MlCCD8b在吸芽数量多的黄色苞片型YN01的所有组织中均有表达,而在吸芽数量少的红色苞片型RD05中,其苞片内未能检测到MlCCD8b的表达,但其他组织中皆有表达;MlCCD8b在2种类型地涌金莲中呈现一致的组织表达特异性,即在花序轴中的表达量最高,其次是吸芽芽点、根尖和叶片,在苞片中的表达量最低或不表达。(4)2种类型地涌金莲同一组织部位比较结果显示,RD05的花序轴、吸芽芽点、根尖和叶片中的MlCCD8b相对表达量分别是YN01的4.47、4.67、2.09和1.10倍。(5)利用高效液相色谱 串联质谱法测得RD05根尖部位的5 脱氧独脚金醇含量是YN01的15.57倍,与MlCCD8b在根尖的表达趋势一致。研究认为,MlCCD8b基因可能通过调控独角金内酯的合成,促进或抑制地涌金莲吸芽的萌生。该研究结果可为MlCCD8b基因的生物学功能研究提供依据,并为今后通过分子辅助育种调控MlCCD8b的表达,从而控制地涌金莲吸芽数量提供理论支持。     

转录因子cpcR同源基因cpcR-c1和cpcR-t的功能鉴定

苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt） LM1212菌株与典型的Bt菌株表型不同,可分化形成芽胞、形成细胞和晶体产生细胞。在LM1212菌株中,转录因子CpcR不仅参与了细胞分化过程,而且能够激活晶体蛋白基因cry35-like的启动子(P₃₅)。【目的】筛选cpcR同源基因,验证其生物学功能。【方法】本研究克隆了2个cpcR同源基因,来源于蜡样芽胞杆菌的cpcR-c1和来源于东洋芽胞杆菌的cpcR-t,将cpcR及其同源基因分别构建在pHT304-P₃₅-gfp、pHT304-P₃₅-lacZ报告载体上,获得的重组质粒转入无cpcR基因且无晶体蛋白基因的Bt HD73^–菌株中。利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察重组菌HD^–(cpcR-c1-P₃₅-gfp)和HD^–(cpcR-t-P₃₅-gfp)的细胞表型并进行芽胞计数实验。测定HD^–(cpcR-c1-P_35<...     

酿酒酵母SRP40基因对细胞耐受性影响的研究

【目的】本论文研究酿酒酵母srp40³⁹突变基因对酵母细胞异丁醇耐受性的影响。【方法】首先,以酿酒酵母野生型W303-1A和突变株EMS39染色体DNA为模板克隆野生型SRP40基因和srp40³⁹突变基因;然后,将野生型SRP40基因和srp40³⁹突变基因分别连接到质粒YCplac22上,构建质粒YCplac22-SRP40和YCplac22-srp40³⁹。将质粒YCplac22-SRP40、YCplac22-srp40³⁹以及YCplac22空质粒分别转化入野生型酿酒酵母W303-1A中,分别得到W303-1A-SRP40工程菌、W303-1A-srp40³⁹工程菌和W303-1A-control工程菌。将3株工程菌分别置于含1.0%异丁醇、1.3%异丁醇、8.0%乙醇和0.5%异戊醇的CM培养基中进行发酵,测定细胞密度(OD₆₀₀)和生长情况,并计算2–10 h的比生长速率（μ）。将3株工程菌于55°C热激4 min后做稀释...     

fliL基因显著影响艰难拟梭菌运动功能及产孢能力

鞭毛基底体相关FliL家族蛋白(flagellar basal body-associated FliL family protein,fliL)基因编码FliL蛋白,FliL是一种与鞭毛基体相结合的单跨膜蛋白。为研究艰难拟梭菌fliL基因功能,使用非等长同源臂偶联等位交换(allele-coupled exchange,ACE)方法成功构建了fliL基因缺失(ΔfliL)和回补(::fliL)突变株,研究突变菌株与野生型菌株(CD630)生长曲线、抗生素敏感性、pH耐受性、运动能力及产孢能力等表型的差异。结果显示,菌株ΔfliL生长速率及最大生物量均小于菌株CD630,::fliL回补菌株生长情况回复至野生型。与CD630菌株相比,ΔfliL对阿莫西林、氨苄青霉素、诺氟沙星的敏感性提高,对卡那霉素、四环素敏感性降低,::fliL抗生素敏感性部分回复至野生型水平。与CD630菌株相比,ΔfliL游泳运动能力显著降低,::fliL运动能力超越野生型菌株CD630。相比菌株CD630,菌株ΔfliL在pH值为5时耐受能力显著提高,在pH值为9时,耐受能力显著降低。除此之外,ΔfliL产孢能力较CD630显著降低,::fliL产孢能力部分恢复。以上结果表明,艰难拟梭菌fliL基因与其运动能力、抗生素敏感性、环境耐受能力和产孢能力密切相关,可能进一步影响艰难拟梭菌菌株的致病力。     

副溶血弧菌VP2918基因缺失株的构建及功能研究

[目的] 以副溶血弧菌VP2918为研究对象,研究其对副溶血弧菌的生物学特性和致病性的影响。[方法] 利用同源重组技术构建了vp2918基因的基因缺失株（Δvp2918）和互补株（CΔvp2918）,并对野生株、缺失株和互补株的细菌生长曲线、运动性、生物被膜形成能力、对HeLa细胞的黏附能力、细胞毒性、对小鼠的致死率和组织载菌量进行分析。[结果] 缺失vp2918基因不影响副溶血弧菌的生长特性、运动性、生物被膜形成能力以及对HeLa细胞的黏附能力。但与野生株相比,Δvp2918对HeLa细胞的毒性作用显著降低;感染Δvp2918的小鼠症状明显减轻,存活率更高;Δvp2918在小鼠脾脏和肝脏中的载菌量显著低于野生株,互补株毒力基本恢复至野生株水平。[结论] vp2918不参与副溶血弧菌的运动性和生物被膜形成能力等过程,但与该菌的致病性相关,为潜在的毒力因子。     

甘菊ClHSP70与ClHSP90基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以甘菊(Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium)为实验材料,通过RT-PCR方法从甘菊转录组数据中分离出热激蛋白合成相关基因,命名为ClHSP70和ClHSP90。序列分析表明,ClHSP70基因ORF全长为2 559bp,编码852个氨基酸,蛋白功能区预测表明含有典型的HSP70蛋白NBD和SBD保守结构域;ClHSP90基因ORF全长为2 094bp,编码697个氨基酸,含有HATPase结构域和HSP90保守结构域。生物信息学分析表明,甘菊ClHSP70与大豆(Glycine max)和烟草(Nicotiana tomentosiformis)HSP70蛋白有较高的一致性,ClHSP90基因编码的氨基酸序列与紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)HSP90高度相似;实时荧光定量表达分析表明,在42℃处理不同时间,甘菊叶片中ClHSP70和ClHSP90基因表达均在0.5h时显著增加,1h达到最大值,2h后缓慢下降;不同组织表达分析表明,甘菊在42℃处理1h后,ClHSP70在成熟叶中的表达量显著高于嫩叶和根等其他组织;ClHSP90在成熟茎中的表达量最高。研究说明,ClHSP70和ClHSP90基因具有热激蛋白特征,参与了甘菊热胁迫应答过程,该研究结果为以后深入研究其基因功能奠定了基础。     

基因CfATG6和CfATG14参与调控果生刺盘孢细胞自噬和致病力

【目的】炭疽病是油茶的主要病害,由刺盘孢属的多种真菌引起,其中果生刺盘孢分布范围最广、分离率最高,是油茶炭疽病的主要致病菌。研究自噬相关蛋白CfAtg6和CfAtg14的生物学功能,为进一步揭示果生刺盘孢通过细胞自噬调控致病的分子机制,并为油茶炭疽病的防治提供理论基础。【方法】根据同源重组原理,通过聚乙二醇(polyethylene glycol, PEG)介导的方法,在果生刺盘孢中敲除基因CfATG6和CfATG14,并进一步获得回补菌株ΔCfatg6-C和ΔCfatg14-C。【结果】酵母双杂交试验结果显示,果生刺盘孢蛋白CfAtg6和CfAtg14可能存在互作关系。生物学表型测定结果表明,相较于野生型和回补菌株,突变体ΔCfatg6和ΔCfatg14均表现出营养生长速率显著减慢,附着胞形成率分别只有野生型的5%和18%;突变体ΔCfatg6和ΔCfatg14致病力均极显著减弱,造成的油茶叶片病斑面积少于野生型和回补菌株的1/3;CfATG6和CfATG14基因缺失突变体均丧失转运和降解CfAtg8蛋白的能力,并对细胞壁胁迫更敏感。突变体ΔCfatg6的分生孢子产量显著降低,仅为野生型的20%左右;氧化胁迫试验结果表明,相较于野生型和回补菌株,过氧化氢对突变体的生长抑制率升高10%左右。内质网压力胁迫试验表明,ΔCfatg14对二硫苏糖醇抑制率升高5%以上。【结论】自噬相关基因CfATG6和CfATG14参与调控了果生刺盘孢生长发育、细胞自噬和致病力。     

草菇热激蛋白60基因(Vvhsp60)生物信息学分析及低温下的表达

【背景】生物受到温度胁迫时,热激蛋白被诱导并在短时间内大量产生,可以使受损的蛋白质恢复正常构象,增强生物对逆境胁迫的耐受性。【目的】初步探究草菇热激蛋白60(Vvhsp60)与低温耐受性的关系,为深入开展草菇不耐低温特性的遗传改良奠定理论基础。【方法】对Vvhsp60进行生物信息学分析,以低温敏感型草菇菌株V23及耐低温菌株VH3为实验材料,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析低温胁迫及热激诱导后在低温下草菇菌丝体中Vvhsp60基因的表达水平。【结果】草菇Vvhsp60编码蛋白不存在信号肽,不属于分泌蛋白,在线粒体和细胞质内发挥生物学作用,属于双向跨膜蛋白。低温处理显著提高了V23与VH3菌丝体中Vvhsp60基因的表达量,而且VH3中的表达量显著高于V23,推测Vvhsp60基因的表达量高可能有助于增强草菇对低温胁迫的耐受性。经热激处理后两菌株Vvhsp60基因的表达量显著高于各自未热激处理的对照组,表明热激处理可诱导Vvhsp60基因的表达。【结论】Vvhsp60与草菇低温耐受性相关,并且热激可以诱导Vvhsp60基因的表达。