Protein trans-splicing based dual-vector delivery of the coagulation factor Ⅷ gene

A dual-vector system was explored for the delivery of the coagulation factor VIII gene,using intein-mediated protein trans-splicing as a means to produce intact functional factor VIII post-translationally.A pair of eukaryotic expression vectors,expressing Ssp DnaB intein-fused heavy and light chain genes of B-domain deleted factor VIII (BDD-FVIII),was constructed.With transient co-transfection of the two vectors into 293 and COS-7 cells,the culture supernatants contained (137±23) and (109±22) ng mL–1 spliced BDD-FVIII antigen with an activity of (1.05±0.16) and (0.79±0.23) IU mL–1 for 293 and COS-7 cells,respectively.The spliced BDD-FVIII was also detected in supernatants from a mixture of cells transfected with inteinfused heavy and light chain genes.The spliced BDD-FVIII protein bands from cell lysates were visualized by Western blotting.The data demonstrated that intein could be used to transfer the split factor VIII gene and provided valuable information on factor VIII gene delivery by dual-adeno-associated virus in hemophilia A gene therapy.     

On-column refolding of an insoluble His6-tagged recombinant EC-SOD overexpressed in Escherichia coli

The EC-SOD cDNA was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inserted into the Escherichia coli expression plasmid pET-28a( ) and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The corresponding protein that was overexpressed as a recombinant His6-tagged EC-SOD was present in the form of inactive inclusion bodies. This structure was first solubilized under denaturant conditions (8.0 M urea). Then, after a capture step using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), a gradual refolding of the protein was performed on-column using a linear urea gradient from 8.0 M to 1.5 M in the presence of glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). The mass ratio of GSH to GSSG was 4:1. The purified enzyme was active,showing that at least part of the protein was properly refolded. The protein was made concentrated by ultrafiltration, and then isolated using Sephacryl S-200 HR. There were two protein peaks in the A280 profile.Based on the results of electrophoresis, we concluded that the two fractions were formed by protein subunits of the same mass, and in the fraction where the molecular weight was higher, the dimer was formed through the disulfide bond between subunits. Activities were detected in the two fractions, but the activity of the dimer was much higher than that of the single monomer. The special activities of the two fractions were found to be 3475 U/mg protein and 510 U/mg protein, respectively.     

Recombination and heterologous expression of allophycocyanin gene in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Heterogeneous expression of multiple genes in the nucleus of transgenic plants requires the introduction of an individual gene and the subsequent backcross to reconstitute multi-subunit proteins or metabolic pathways. In order to accomplish the expression of multiple genes in a single transformation event, we inserted both large and small subunits of allophycocyanin gene （apcA and apcB） into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast expression vector, resulting in papc-S. The constructed vector was then introduced into the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii by micro-particle bombardment. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis revealed that the two genes had integrated into the chloroplast genome. Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the two genes from the prokaryotic cyanobacteria could be correctly expressed in the chloroplasts of C. reinhardtii. The expressed foreign protein in transformants accounted for about 2%-3% of total soluble proteins. These findings pave the way to the reconstitution of multi-subunit proteins or metabolic pathways in transgenic C. reinhardtii chloroplasts in a single transformation event.     

禽流感病毒M1蛋白的表达及其免疫反应性分析

根据已发表的禽流感病毒M1基因序列设计合成PCR克隆引物,自接种H5N1亚型病毒的鸡胚组织中提取RNA,反转录后采用高可信度DNA聚合酶(PyobestTMDNA Polymerase)经PCR扩增M1基因,采用Invitrogen定向表达系统(ChampionTMpET directional TOPO expression system)进行克隆表达,纯化获得N末端携带多聚组氨酸标签的重组蛋白,分子量约29.8 kDa。采用单克隆抗体和阳性血清经ELISA、阻断ELISA、免疫印迹分析重组蛋白的免疫反应性。结果发现:重组M1蛋白能与单克隆抗体和阳性血清发生特异性结合,且此结合能被天然病毒抗原阻断。研究表明:重组蛋白M1具有良好免疫反应性。     

CXCR4慢病毒载体的构建及其在人脐带血间充质干细胞的表达

目的：构建趋化因子CXC亚族CXCR4的慢病毒表达载体并观察其转染人脐带间充质干细胞后的表达。方法：用逆转录PCR方法获取CXCR4基因编码区片段,将构建的慢病毒载体质粒pLVTHM-EGFP-CXCR4与包装质粒psPAX2和包膜质粒pMD2．G共转染293T细胞,包装生产慢病毒。用相同滴度的慢病毒转导等量间充质干细胞（Mesenchymal Stem Cell,MSCs）,后采用Real time PCR检测CXCR4 mRNA、Western Blot方法检测蛋白质的表达。结果：PCR、酶切和测序结果表明成功的构建了CXCR4基因重组慢病毒载体。同时用该慢病毒载体转染MSCs后可有效地增加MSCs中CXCR4的表达。结论：成功构建了CXCR4的慢病毒表达载体并能在MSCs中表达,为进一步研究其在干细胞移植中的应用奠定基础。’     

一种新型慢病毒载体制备体系的初步建立

为了建立新型、高产量的慢病毒载体制备体系,将构建好的主框架质粒pVECRNA、包装质粒pGAGPOL及包膜质粒pVSVG通过脂质体共转染至BHK21细胞.再用含有T7RNA聚合酶基因的重组痘苗病毒vTF-3感染细胞,培养4天后,收集培养上清.提取培养上清的RNA,进行RT-PCR反应,将培养上清进行免疫印迹鉴定,将培养上清感染正常的293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞,荧光显微镜下观察细胞GFP的表达情况,采取3×3×3析因分析方法,优化系统产量,Real-timePCR方法测定细胞培养上清中病毒载体的拷贝数,利用流式细胞术检测病毒载体滴度.RT-PCR及p24免疫印迹结果均提示在细胞上清中存在慢病毒载体;通过荧光显微镜观察到感染组293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞均表达绿色荧光蛋白GFP,说明此系统制备出的慢病毒载体具有感染性;系统经优化后,培养上清中慢病毒载体拷贝数达到1.1×1012/ml,培养上清原始滴度达到1.3×108tu/ml,高出目前常用制备体系产量1个数量级.上述结果表明,新型慢病毒载体制备体系已初步建立,为今后该系统的大规模应用提供客观的科学依据.     

Napsin A基因对A549细胞在上皮-间质转化中增殖的影响及其机制

采用慢病毒载体质粒PLJM1将NapsinA基因转染到人肺腺癌细胞——A549细胞中,获得稳定表达Napsin A蛋白的特性并鉴定,通过转化生长因子-β1刺激A549细胞发生上皮-间质转化,体外构建上皮-间质转化模型并鉴定。MTT法检测转基因前后A549细胞在上皮-间质转化过程中生长速率的变化;流式细胞术检测其细胞周期的改变,最后予Western blot检测黏着斑激酶的表达情况,探讨Napsin A基因对A549细胞在上皮-间质转化过程中增殖的影响及其机制。结果表明转染后的A549细胞表达Napsin A蛋白明显增加(P<0.01);A549细胞发生上皮-间质转化后细胞E钙蛋白表达下调(P<0.01),Ⅰ型胶原表达上调(P<0.01);转基因细胞在体外上皮-间质转化模型中增殖速度减慢(P<0.05),且细胞周期被阻滞在G_1期(P<0.01),其表达整合素信号传导通路的基础分子——黏着斑激酶的量显著下降(P<0.01)。提示Napsin A基因可以抑制A549细胞在上皮-间质转化过程中的进一步增殖,其机制可能与抑制整合素信号传导通路有关。     

MIR-122 慢病毒表达载体构建及稳定转染HepG2 细胞系

目的:构建人mir-122慢病毒表达载体,感染肝癌细胞HepG2,建立稳定表达mir-122的HepG2细胞系。方法:以人has-mir-122成熟序列,设计并合成引物,采用PCR的方法扩增目的基因,并连接到慢病毒表达质粒pGCSIL-GFP(含绿色荧光蛋白GFP基因)中。对重组质粒进行双酶切鉴定后,进行mir-122基因慢病毒(pGCSIL-GFP-miR-122)的包装及病毒滴度测定,用构建好的慢病毒表达载体感染HepG2细胞,qPCR检测感染后细胞中MIR-122的变化。通过流式细胞仪检测荧光蛋白GFP,westernblot检测mir-122靶分子CAT-1,验证pGCSIL-GFP-miR-122在HepG2细胞中的表达效果。结果:pGCSIL-GFP-miR-122经双酶切分析及测序,插入序列正确。qPCR检测显示转入病毒后mir-122在细胞中的表达显著提高。表明mir-122慢病毒表达载体构建成功。流式细胞仪根据GFP荧光筛选纯化感染后细胞,感染率达90%以上。Western blot显示mir-122明显抑制其靶分子表达。进一步验证pGCSIL-GFP-miR-122在细胞中的稳定表达。结论:成功构建mir-122慢病毒表达载体,并建立稳定表达的细胞系,为研究mir-122在人体所起的作用及功能机制打下基础。     

Tricellulin expression in brain endothelial and neural cells

Tricellulin is a tight junction (TJ) protein, which is not only concentrated at tricellular contacts but also present at bicellular contacts between epithelial tissues. We scrutinized the brain for tricellulin expression in endothelial and neural cells by using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analysis of cultured brain cells and paraffin sections of brain. Tricellulin mRNA was detected in primary cultures and in a cell line of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Protein expression was confirmed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, which further highlighted the localization of tricellulin in the cell membrane at tricellular and along bicellular contacts, and in the nucleus and perinuclear region. Compared with the well-studied TJ protein, zonula occludens-1, tricellulin expression was less marked at the cell membrane but more evident in the nuclear and perinuclear regions. The presence of tricellulin in cultured endothelial cells was corroborated by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining in brain blood vessels, where it was colocalized with another TJ protein, claudin-5. Tricellulin mRNA was detected in neurons and astrocytes, whereas protein expression was observed in astrocytes but not in neurons, as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. This study reveals the presence and subcellular distribution of tricellulin in brain endothelial cells, both in vitro and in situ and its colocalization with other relevant TJ proteins. Moreover, it demonstrates the expression of the protein in astrocytes opening new avenues for future research to establish the biological significance of tricellulin expression in glial cells.