Expression of aminoglycoside phosphotransferase gene is under the control of recA promoter

A novel expression vector using the 300 bp promotor-operator fragment of the recA gene of Escherichia coli has been constructed. The strength of the recA promotor was examined by assaying aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (APT) activity expressed from APT gene placed downstream of the promotor. We have observed, that some plasmids, containing N-portion of recA gene caused a large increase in radiosensitivity of host bacteria cells.     

Creation of artificial hybrid operons with partially overlapping genes to achieve an expression of heterologous genes in Escherichia coli cells

A new method of optimization of foreign gene expression in E. coli, based on the construction of hybrid operons with partially overlapping genes is described. The partial overlapping of the translation termination and initiation sites in the formed operon must provide translational coupling of appropriate gene product synthesis. Such an approach has provided the synthesis of human interferon alpha F in E. coli cells under the control of the lacUV5-promotor up to about (3-4).10(7) units per liter of bacterial culture. The reinitiation of the distal gene translation is shown to take place in the intercistronic region. Substitution of the lacUV5 promotor by the more efficient tac one allowed to increase the synthesis level of interferon alpha F to (1-2).10(8) units per liter. The conclusion is made about the equimolarity of distal and proximal to the promotor genes products syntheses when the intercistronic region of E. coli trpE-trpD genes are used for translational coupling.     

A simple and accurate two-step long DNA sequences synthesis strategy to improve heterologous gene expression in pichia

In vitro gene chemical synthesis is a powerful tool to improve the expression of gene in heterologous system. In this study, a two-step gene synthesis strategy that combines an assembly PCR and an overlap extension PCR (AOE) was developed. In this strategy, the chemically synthesized oligonucleotides were assembled into several 200-500 bp fragments with 20-25 bp overlap at each end by assembly PCR, and then an overlap extension PCR was conducted to assemble all these fragments into a full length DNA sequence. Using this method, we de novo designed and optimized the codon of Rhizopus oryzae lipase gene ROL (810 bp) and Aspergillus niger phytase gene phyA (1404 bp). Compared with the original ROL gene and phyA gene, the codon-optimized genes expressed at a significantly higher level in yeasts after methanol induction. We believe this AOE method to be of special interest as it is simple, accurate and has no limitation with respect to the size of the gene to be synthesized. Combined with de novo design, this method allows the rapid synthesis of a gene optimized for expression in the system of choice and production of sufficient biological material for molecular characterization and biotechnological application.     

Improved PCR-based gene synthesis method and its application to the Citrobacter freundii phytase gene codon modification

Gene synthesis technologies provide a powerful tool for increasing protein expression through codon optimization and gene modification. Here we describe an improved PCR-based gene synthesis technology, which is accurate, simple and cheap. The improved PCR-based gene synthesis (IPS) method consists of two steps. The first one is the synthesis of 300-400 bp fragments by PCR reaction with Pfu DNA polymerase from 60-mer and 30-mer oligonucleotides with a 15 bp overlap. The second one is assembling of fragments from the first step into the full-length gene by PCR reaction. Using this approach, we have successfully synthesized a modified phytase gene with 1256 bp in length with optimal codons for expression in Pichia pastoris. P. pastoris strain that expressed the modified phytase gene (phyA-mod) showed a 50% increase in phytase activity level. In addition, we propose an inexpensive method for error correction, based on overlap-extension PCR (OE-PCR).     

Cloning a defined region of DNA using a limited action of DNA polymerase: application to dissection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene

Using dodecadeoxynucleotides as primers for DNA synthesis and 3'-o-chlorophenyl-phosphorylated dodecadeoxynucleotides as "stoppers" for chain elongation, pre-defined regions of a gene previously cloned in M13 single-stranded (ss) DNA phage were converted into double-stranded (ds) DNA utilizing the action of the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (PolIk). The resulting ds DNA was freed from the ss region by S1 nuclease treatment. This method can be used to obtain DNA fragments of any size with pre-defined 5' and 3' ends. About 15% of the input ss DNA template molecules are converted into ds DNA fragments. This technique was used to synthesize several DNA fragments from different portions of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene. The products were then ligated into a yeast plasmid vector that carries the E. coli lacZ gene which is located downstream from the yeast acid-phosphatase promotor. Using this system, several fragments of HBsAg were produced in the form of beta-galactosidase fused protein.     

Analysis of expression of adenovirus DNA (fragments) by microinjection in Xenopus oocytes. Independent synthesis of minor early region 2 proteins

Injection of whole adenovirus DNA into Xenopus oocytes results in the synthesis of large amounts of the early region 2A DNA-binding protein (E2A-DBP) and smaller amounts of polypeptide IX. The lack of synthesis of any functional messenger RNAs transcribed from the major late promotor at 16.3 map units is remarkable. Cleavage of the adenovirus DNA outside the E2A gene proper by restriction enzymes decreases synthesis of the DBP to about 10% of the amount produced after injection of intact DNA. On the other hand, presence of the terminal (Bellett) protein on the injected template enhances DBP synthesis considerably. Experiments with injected DNA restriction fragments, as well as reconstructed genes cloned into pBR322, indicate that efficient synthesis of DBP in oocytes requires the presence of either or both of the two main promoters from which the E2A gene is transcribed plus an intact 3' end of the gene. In the absence of any known promotor, 100-fold lower amounts of otherwise normal DBP are produced. Unlike in a regular infection, synthesis of DBP in oocytes does not require the product of the E1A gene. The same series of experiments also demonstrates that the DBP, a phosphoprotein, is the substrate of a cellular rather than a virus-encoded protein kinase. Two minor E2A proteins, although colinear with the major DBP, are synthesized independently. Synthesis of a 44,000 Mr protein, probably corresponding to the carboxy-terminal 360 amino acid residues of the DBP, is not decreased after injection of "promotorless" E2A genes. Unlike the 44,000 Mr protein, production of a 67,000 Mr protein (carboxy-terminal 483 amino acid residues) by one DNA-construct is probably directed by a T-A-T-A-A-A-T-A sequence in the vector DNA.     

Construction of synthetic genes using PCR after automated DNA synthesis of their entire top and bottom strands.

A new method is described for the direct construction of synthetic genes by applying a modified version of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to crude oligonucleotide mixtures made by automated solid phase DNA synthesis. Construction of the HIV-1 393 bp rev gene and the 655 bp nef gene by this method is illustrated. The sequences for the entire top and bottom strands of rev were each programmed into an automated DNA synthesizer. Following DNA synthesis, the two crude oligonucleotide solutions were mixed together, specific primers were added, and the target gene was amplified by a modified PCR technique. Although the longer (greater than 200 bases) strands comprise a very small percentage of the total DNA after solid phase synthesis, this method uses PCR to 'find' and amplify such strands to create the target gene. The rev gene constructed by this method was found to contain 4 sequence errors, which were subsequently corrected by site-directed mutagenesis. In order to evaluate the source of sequence errors, several nef genes were made from the top and bottom strand DNA synthesis solutions using independent PCR's. Results suggest that sequence errors arose from both DNA synthesis and PCR. The utility of this method in producing a functional gene is demonstrated by expression of rev in E.coli.     

绿色荧光蛋白GFP基因与新生隐球菌荚膜基因的融合表达系统

目的构建新生隐球菌荚膜基因与绿色荧光蛋白的融合表达系统。方法PCR法扩增CAP60基因片段,测序验证其准确性。将其与多个必需基因共同连人穿梭质粒。结果获得6150bps大小的质粒,该质粒含有荚膜基因启动子、终止子及荧光蛋白的基因。结论将新生隐球菌荚膜基因与荧光蛋白基因融合表达,将会有利于对荚膜的生化合成途径作进一步研究。     

应用PCR-酶切连接法合成全长sFat1基因

人工合成基因在生命科学研究中有着重要的意义, 因此基因合成是一项常用技术。长片段基因的合成比较困难, 常常因为合成中碱基序列的错配、突变等原因而导致失败。研究者们所熟知的几种现行的方法仍然难以解决该问题。本研究在作者自身的工作经验中建立了一种新的基因合成方法, 即PCR-酶切连接法。应用该方法成功地将化学合成的27个寡聚核苷酸片段(每个片段长60～68 bp)拼接组装起来, 获得了完整的总长为1 226 bp的基因sFat-1。整个过程仅采用3轮PCR(共7个反应)、2轮的酶切连接(3个反应), 而且未曾出现任何偏离预期基因序列的差错。该方法步骤较少, 技术简单, 出错极少, 是合成长基因序列很好的选择。     

The serC-aro A operon of Escherichia coli. A mixed function operon encoding enzymes from two different amino acid biosynthetic pathways.

Sub-cloning experiments aimed at precisely locating the E. coli aroA gene, which encodes the shikimate pathway enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase, showed that in certain constructions, which remain capable of complementing an auxotrophic aroA mutation, expression of aroA is reduced. DNA sequence analysis revealed that a sequence approx. 1200 base pairs (bp) upstream of aroA is necessary for its expression. An open reading frame was identified in this region which encodes a protein of 362 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 39,834 and which ends 70 bp before the start of the aroA coding sequence. This gene has been identified as serC, the structural gene for 3-phosphoserine aminotransferase, an enzyme of the serine biosynthetic pathway. Both genes are expressed as a polycistronic message which is transcribed from a promotor located 58 bp upstream of serC. Evidence is presented which confirms that the aroA and serC genes constitute an operon which has the novel feature of encoding enzymes from two different amino acid biosynthetic pathways.     

Effectiveness of expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene controlled by foreign regulator regions in Escherichia coli cells. II. Molecular cloning of promoters

The trpOP, lacUV5, tacOP, PR and PL-promotors were cloned in the previously obtained pML4 vector plasmid. The expression of structural gene cat was studied by the chloramphenicolacetyltransferase determination in cell extracts. The level of protein synthesis by appropriate recombinant plasmids was analysed in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the efficiency of the gene expression is determined by both the "strength" of the promotors and mRNA translation specificity. The obtained collection of the plasmids might be used for the determination of the promotor strength by the hybridization of pulse-labeled mRNA with DNA and an effective expression of the genes by means of "hybrid protein gene" and "hybrid operon" constructions.     

A simple,universal, efficient PCR-based gene synthesis method: Sequential OE-PCR gene synthesis

Herein we present a simple, universal, efficient gene synthesis method based on sequential overlap extension polymerase chain reactions (OE-PCRs). This method involves four key steps: (i) the design of paired complementary 54-mer oligonucleotides with 18 bp overlaps, (ii) the utilisation of sequential OE-PCR to synthesise full-length genes, (iii) the cloning and sequencing of four positive T-clones of the synthesised genes and (iv) the resynthesis of target genes by OE-PCR with correct templates. Mispriming and secondary structure were found to be the principal obstacles preventing successful gene synthesis and were easily identified and solved in this method. Compensating for the disadvantages of being laborious and time-consuming, this method has many attractive advantages, such as the ability to guarantee successful gene synthesis in most cases and good allowance for Taq polymerase, oligonucleotides, PCR conditions and a high error rate. Thus, this method provides an alternative tool for individual gene synthesis without strict needs of the high-specialised experience.     

苋菜凝集素基因的克隆及在转基因烟草中抗蚜性研究

通过ＰＣＲ从苋属植物千穗谷（Ａmaranthus hypochondriacus)的总ＤＮＡ中扩增出苋菜凝集素（ＡＨＡ）的核基因片段。序列分析结果表明该基因为２４５３bp,含有－１５３８bp的内含子和两个分别为２１２bp和７０３bp的外显子。采取反向ＰＣＲ的方法获得仅含该基因的编码区克隆。以此为基础与二元表达载体pBin438构建含内含子与不含内含子ＡＨＡ基因的植物表达载体pBAHAg和pBAHAc并通过土壤农杆菌介导转了化烟草,转化再生植株的ＰＣＲ和Southern blot分析表明,ＡＨＡ基因已整合到烟草的染色体中,有单贝和多拷贝的整合。用与ＡＨＡ蛋白高度同源的ＡＣＡ蛋白的抗血清进行了免疫斑点（Immunodot blot)检测,结果初步表明转基因烟草有ＡＨＡ蛋白的表达,虫试结果表明转pBAHAg和pBAHAc烟草对蚜虫的平均抑制率分别达５７．２％和４８．８％,有的高达９０％以上,含内含子和不含内含子的ＡＨＡ基因在转基因植株中的抗蚜性不同。     

A modified method for PCR-directed gene synthesis from large number of overlapping oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Here we report an improved, reproducible, simple, rapid, and cost-effective PCR-based DNA synthesis method using short (25–40 bp) overlapping oligodeoxyribonucleotides (oligos). The method involves two steps; (1) assembly of multiple/overlapping oligos by PCR to generate the template DNA and (2) amplification of the template DNA sequence with the two outermost oligos as primers. We have tested this method by synthesizing approximately 35 genes ranging in size between 300 bp and 1700 bp and G + C content from moderate (30%) to high (65%). In addition, we used the method to introduce 29 mutations simultaneously into a single gene. Key to the success of this method is the use of optimized oligo concentrations and the type of DNA polymerase used. This simplified and highly reproducible method is expected to be beneficial for the synthesis of a wide variety of genes.