核酸疫苗双表达载体的构建及表达

将微小病毒内部核糖体进入位点(IRES)基因克隆到质粒pVAXI载体多克隆位点,构建出核酸疫苗双表达载体pVI。将绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因和新霉素磷酸转移酶(neor)基因作为报告基因,连接到pVI载体IRES基因的前后两处多克隆位点,构建出表达载体pEIN。通过脂质体介导的方法将该载体转染COS-7细胞,筛选到同时表达绿色荧光蛋白和新霉素磷酸转移酶的表达株,表明成功地构建了核酸疫苗双表达载体,为构建多价核酸疫苗及带有分子佐剂的核酸疫苗打下了基础。     

一种原位示踪外源目的基因表达载体的构建

应用分子克隆技术 ,分别将增强型绿色荧光蛋白 (enhancedgreenfluorescentprotein ,EGFP)、内部核糖体进入位点 (internalribosomeentrysite,IRES)和编码H-ras基因C端 2 0个氨基酸的DNA(rasc2 0 )片段插入真核表达载体pcDNA3,构建真核重组表达载体并将其命名为pZX。通过脂质体介导将该载体转染人宫颈癌细胞系HeLa ,培养过夜后在荧光显微镜下观察绿色荧光蛋白在细胞内的分布 ,并与pEGFP-C3质粒DNA转染该细胞系进行比较。结果表明 ,转染pZX载体的实验组细胞膜发出绿色荧光 ,而对照组绿色荧光则均匀弥散于整个细胞中 ,工具性载体pZX已构建成功     

应用绿色荧光蛋白研究外源基因在造血细胞的表达调控

以增强型绿色荧光蛋白为报道分子,研究双基因逆转录病毒载体介导小鼠骨髓细胞的基因转移中,SV(simianvirus)40启动子和内部核糖体进入位点(internalribosomeentrysite,IRES)对双基因共表达的影响。构建双基因中间序列分别为SV40启动子和IRES的载体pLESN和pLEIN。经包装获得较高滴度的病毒上清,以共培养的方式感染5-氟尿嘧啶预刺激的小鼠骨髓细胞。流式细胞仪检测表明转染效率约25%,PCR证明EGFP基因整合至骨髓细胞基因组。半固体培养转基因细胞7d,LEIN组获得具有G418抗性的集落中98%表达绿色荧光,而LESN组54%。结果表明:在双基因逆转录病毒载体介导的小鼠骨髓细胞的基因转导中,IRES与内部SV40启动子相比,更能保证双基因的共同表达。     

一种新的双元表达质粒pCMV-Myc-IRES-EGFP的构建及其表达

为了研究基因的特征、理化特性及其功能机制,通常需要构建多个真核表达载体,涉及到多次的引物设计、酶切、连接和鉴定等繁琐的亚克隆过程。构建携带易于多种实验研究的多用或通用载体是基因工程载体的发展方向。为此,利用pIRES载体为骨架质粒,在A和B多克隆位点上分别插入c-Myc标签蛋白序列和增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)序列,从而构建了一个包含c-Myc标签蛋白序列并携带有核糖体结合位点(IRES)介导的增强型绿色荧光蛋白的真核表达载体pCMV-Myc-IRES-EGFP。通过荧光检测和免疫印迹实验证实该载体能在哺乳细胞中表达。该载体可用于监测细胞的转染效率、分选稳定表达的阳性细胞群体、体外转录和翻译、检测或纯化目的蛋白以及捕获相关作用蛋白等多种实验研究,为基因功能研究提供了便利。     

可用于辅助蛋白功能研究的人呼吸道合胞病毒双顺反子微型基因组的构建及拯救

【目的】构建可表达增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)报告基因的人呼吸道合胞病毒(human respiratory syncytial virus,RSV)双顺反子微型基因组cDNA克隆及重组质粒,并进行拯救,以探讨并验证RSV的聚合酶蛋白或辅助蛋白在RSV反向遗传学操作中的作用。【方法】利用全基因合成和分子生物学相结合的方法,在获得可分别表达EGFP和无生物活性蛋白的单顺反子微型基因组质粒pUC57-RSV-EGFP和pUC57-RSV-ORF1的基础上,进一步克隆至pBR322B载体,获得编码EGFP及无生物活性蛋白的双顺反子微型基因组质粒,经限制性内切酶和核酸序列分析正确后,与可表达4种辅助蛋白的辅助质粒共转染至BHK-T7细胞,通过荧光显微镜观察EGFP的表达以及RT-qPCR对EGFP mRNA的转录水平进行定量分析。【结果】成功构建了编码EGFP和无生物活性蛋白的RSV双顺反子微型基因组质粒pBR322B-RSVⅡ-EGFP,经与编码4种辅助蛋白的辅助质粒共转染至BHK-T7细胞,发现4种辅助蛋白对EGFP的表达具有不同的功能活性。【结论】以可表达EGFP报告基因的RSV双顺反子微型基因组重组质粒,实现了对4种辅助蛋白的功能验证,其中M2-1蛋白在双顺反子微型基因组拯救过程中具有转录延长的生物学活性。     

利用Tol2转座子构建斑马鱼心脏组织特异表达转基因载体及其表达分析

为了制备用于在斑马鱼心脏中特异表达目的基因的转基因载体,通过分子克隆的方法对能够在斑马鱼心脏中特异表达EGFP报告基因的Tol2载体进行了改造,在原有的CMLC2启动子与EGFP编码区之间插入带有多克隆位点的IRES序列,获得pTol2-CMLC2-IRES-EGFP转基因表达载体,该载体可以实现在同一个启动子CMLC2的驱动下分别同时表达目的基因和EGFP;为了验证该表达载体的有效性,进一步在CMLC2启动子与IRES序列之间插入DsRed-Monome编码区,利用得到的pTol2-CMLC2-RED-IRES-EGFP转基因载体显微注射到斑马鱼单细胞期胚胎中进行表达分析,结果表明外源目的基因DsRed-Monome和报告基因EGFP均能以相同的表达模式在斑马鱼心脏组织中特异表达。pTol2-CMLC2-IRES-EGFP转基因表达载体的成功构建对于建立心脏发育候选基因的斑马鱼转基因实验模型具有重要意义。     

中蜂囊状幼虫病毒非编码区对蛋白翻译的影响

RNA病毒非编码区对病毒RNA的转译起始、稳定及病毒蛋白表达等方面均起着重要作用,为研究中蜂囊状幼虫病毒（Chinese sacbrood virus,CSBV）非编码区（Untranslated region,UTR）是否对蛋白翻译存在作用,将CSBV 5’UTR和3’UTR分别插入报告基因绿色荧光蛋白（Enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP）5’端,通过观察绿色荧光强度研究CSBV非编码区对蛋白翻译的影响。此外,利用双荧光素酶检测试剂盒检测5’UTR和3’UTR对荧光素酶活性的影响。结果表明：CSBV 5’UTR和3’UTR能够有效抑制绿色荧光蛋白EGFP表达,其中3’UTR抑制绿色荧光蛋白表达作用更强;经双荧光素酶报告系统检测,质粒pGLl-3’UTR和pGL3-5’UTR中报告基因相对活性分别为对照质粒pGL3-control的0.39和0.69,差异极其显著（P<0.001）。由此可见,CSBV 5’UTR和3’UTR对其蛋白翻译存在抑制作用,且3’UTR作用更加明显。通过本研究,为深入认识CSBV 5’UTR和3’UTR在病毒复...     

核因子-κB反应性不稳定增强型绿色荧光蛋白报告系统的建立与应用

建立核因子-κB(NF-κB)反应性不稳定增强型绿色荧光蛋白(d2EGFP)报告系统,作为筛选NF-κB拮抗药物及研究其相关信号转导途径的工具.分别以EGFP与d2EGFP为报告基因、neo^r为筛选基因,构建成4×κB基序为增强子、SV40为基本启动子的报告基因载体p4κB-EGFP和p4κB-d2EGFP.两载体分别与p65载体瞬时共转染HEK293细胞,通过比较不同时相点EGFP和d2EGFP的调控表达,证明p4κB-d2EGFP是较理想的NF-κB反应性绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)报告基因载体.将p4κB-d2EGFP稳定转染HEK293细胞,从而获得NF-κB反应性报告细胞株HEK-d2EGFP.应用NF-κB“圈套”寡核苷酸(TFD)与p65载体瞬时共转染HEK-d2EGFP,1 mg/L NF-κB和2 mg/L NF-κB TFD组对p65蛋白诱导调控表达的d2EGFP具有明显拮抗作用.结果表明,NF-κB反应性d2EGFP报告系统可特异、灵敏、动态地反映和监测NF-κB的活性变化.     

体细胞核移植生产绵羊转hALR基因囊胚

扩增人肝细胞再生增强因子(human augmenter of liver regeneration,ALR)基因,利用质粒pIRES2-EGFP 构建新霉素(Neo)、增强绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescence protein,EGFP)双标记基因且EGFP和ALR基因为双顺反子的真核表达载体.LipofectAMINETM介导其转染体外培养的绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞(sheep fetal fibroblast cells,sFFCs);经G418筛选转基因细胞;激光共聚焦显微镜挑选绿色荧光单克隆细胞.PCR、RT-PCR和免疫组织化学方法进一步检测ALR基因及其表达;稳定表达外源基因的sFFCs作供体,移入去核的绵羊卵母细胞中,进行体细胞核移植.通过激光共聚焦显微镜和ALR抗体检测EGFP、ALR基因在胚胎水平上的表达,其结果表明:由IRES连接的EGFP和ALR基因可在绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞内同时表达,由此细胞核移植产生的转基因胚胎在发育的各阶段均可见绿色荧光;囊胚中所有细胞表达EGFP基因;发绿色荧光的胚胎中ALR基因同时存在.因此,由IRES连接标记基因和目的基因,以标记基因指示目的基因的表达,可简化检测目的基因的繁琐手段;用筛选的转基因早期胚胎进行移植,可提高制备转基因动物的效率.     

表达EGFP报告基因口蹄疫病毒亚基因组复制子的构建

【目的】构建含有EGFP报告基因的口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)亚基因组复制子系统。【方法】利用融合PCR方法,将EGFP报告基因替换O型FMDV全长c DNA克隆中的前导蛋白Lb和结构蛋白P1基因,构建含有EGFP报告基因的FMDV亚基因组复制子FMDV-EGFP。复制子质粒连续转化、测序检验复制子载体的稳定性。Not I线性化的复制子FMDV-EGFP用脂质体介导法转染表达T7 RNA聚合酶的BSR/T7细胞后,不同时间段观察EGFP荧光表达情况。转染的细胞用流式、间接免疫荧光、RT-PCR和Western blot检测该复制子载体的自主复制能力和口蹄疫病毒蛋白的表达情况。【结果】复制子质粒的连续转化及测序表明报告基因可以稳定存在。FMDV-EGFP复制子转染BSR/T7细胞3 h后在荧光显微镜下能够看到绿色荧光,EGFP荧光信号随着转染时间的延长逐渐增加,并且荧光信号可持续6 d以上。转染24 h后的细胞流式分析显示转染的细胞中有6.0%发出荧光,说明构建的复制子载体能够有效表达EGFP蛋白。另外,间接免疫荧光、RT-PCR和Western blot方法也检测到该复制子RNA在BSR/T7细胞中能够进行自主复制,并且能够表达病毒的非结构蛋白。【结论】含有EGFP报告基因的FMDV亚基因组复制子的成功构建为进一步研究病毒复制、翻译机制及筛选抗病毒药物等奠定了坚实的基础。     

Assessing IRES activity in the HIF-1alpha and other cellular 5' UTRs

Dicistronic reporter plasmids, such as the dual luciferase-containing pR-F plasmid, have been widely used to assay cellular and viral 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) for IRES activity. We found that the pR-F dicistronic reporter containing the 5' UTRs from HIF-1alpha, VEGF, c-myc, XIAP, VEGFR-1, or Egr-1 UTRs all produce the downstream luciferase predominantly as a result of cryptic promoter activity that is activated by the SV40 enhancer elements in the plasmid. RNA transfection experiments using dicistronic or uncapped RNAs, which avoid the complication of cryptic promoter activity, indicate that the HIF-1alpha, VEGF, c-myc, and XIAP UTRs do have some IRES activity, although the activity was much less than that of the viral EMCV IRES. The translation of transfected monocistronic RNAs containing these cellular UTRs was greatly enhanced by the presence of a 5' cap, raising questions as to the strength or mechanism of IRES-mediated translation in these assays.     

Translational efficiency of EMCV IRES in bicistronic vectors is dependent upon IRES sequence and gene location

The internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a popular RNA element used widely in experimental and pharmaceutical applications to express proteins in eukaryotic cells or cell-free extracts. Inclusion of the wild-type element in monocistronic or bicistronic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) confers a high level of cap-independent translation activity to appropriately configured cistrons. The history of this element and the experimental consequences of sequence derivations inherent to commercial IRES vectors are less well known. Compared head-to-head with dual-luciferase reporter constructs, a native EMCV IRES in a bicistronic configuration directed 8- to 10-fold more protein than a similarly configured pIRES vector. It also produced nearly twice as much protein as pCITE-1, an early monocistronic iteration, harboring a suboptimal A7 sequence in a crucial structural motif The results indicate that investigators should be aware of and carefully report the sequence of their IRES in any comparative study. The preferred IRES (viral bases 273-845) and the minimum IRES (viral bases 400-836) for optimum activity are illustrated.     

The polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) requirement for internal initiation of translation of cardiovirus RNAs is conditional rather than absolute.

Picornavirus RNAs are translated by an unusual mechanism of internal ribosome entry that requires a substantial segment of the viral 5'-untranslated region, generally known as the internal ribosome entry segment (IRES), and in some circumstances may require cellular trans-acting proteins, particularly polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB). It is shown here that for encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), the PTB dependence of IRES function in vitro is determined partly by the nature of the reporter cistron, and more especially by the size of an A-rich bulge in the IRES. With a wild-type EMCV IRES (which has a bulge of 6 As), translation is effectively independent of PTB provided the IRES is driving the synthesis of EMCV viral polyprotein. With an enlarged (7A) bulge and heterologous reporters, translation is highly dependent on PTB. Intermediate levels of PTB dependence are seen with a 7A bulge IRES driving viral polyprotein synthesis or a wild-type (6A) bulge IRES linked to a heterologous reporter. None of these parameters influenced the binding of PTB to the high-affinity site in the IRES. These results argue that PTB is not an essential and universal internal initiation factor, but, rather, that when it is required, its binding to the IRES helps to maintain the appropriate higher-order structure and to reverse distortions caused, for example, by an enlarged A-rich bulge.     

Translational efficiency of BVDV IRES and EMCV IRES for T7 RNA polymerase driven cytoplasmic expression in mammalian cell lines

Mammalian T7 polymerase-based cytoplasmic expression systems are common tool for molecular studies. The majority of these systems include the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). To carry out a cap-independent translation process, this type of IRES might require the expression of an extensive array of host factors, what is a disadvantage. Other IRESes might be less dependent on the host cell factors, but their biology is characterized to a lesser degree. Here, we compare the translational efficiencies of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) IRES with that of ECMV. Both IRESes were tested in reporter vectors containing the T7 promoter, an IRES of choice and the coding sequence of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). To provide for the expression of T7 RNA polymerase, the corresponding gene was isolated from Escherichia coli and inserted into pCDNA3.1-Hygro(+). After co-transfection of the T7 RNA polymerase encoding vector with either of the two IRES-containing reporter vectors into T7 baby hamster kidney (T7-BHK), human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and HeLa cells, the translational efficiency of the reporter construct was studied by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. In T7-BHK, HEK 293T and HeLa cells the translational efficiency of BVDV IRES was two to three times higher than that of EMCV IRES. In CHO cells, BVDV IRES and EMCV IRES were equally efficient. An analysis of the secondary structure of respective mRNAs showed that their ΔG values were–544.00 and–469.40 kcal/mol for EMCV IRES and BVDV IRES harboring molecules, respectively. As EMCV IRES-containing mRNA is more stable, it is evident that other, still unidentified factors should be held responsible for the enhanced translational efficiency of BDVD IRES. Taken together, our results indicate the potential of BVDV IRES as a replacement for EMCV IRES, which is now commonly used for T7 polymerase driven cytoplasmic expression of genes of interest or virus cDNA rescue experiments.     

Encephalomyocarditis virus internal ribosomal entry site RNA-protein interactions.

Translational initiation of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) mRNA occurs by ribosomal entry into the 5' nontranslated region of the EMCV mRNA, rather than by ribosomal scanning. Internal ribosomal binding requires a cis-acting element termed the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). IRES elements have been proposed to be involved in the translation of picornavirus mRNAs and some cellular mRNAs. Internal ribosome binding likely requires the interaction of trans-acting factors that recognize both the mRNA and the ribosomal complex. Five cellular proteins (p52, p57, p70, p72, and p100) cross-link the EMCV IRES or fragments of the IRES. For one of these proteins, p57, binding to the IRES correlates with translation. Recently, p57 was identified to be very similar, if not identical, to polypyrimidine tract-binding protein. On the basis of cross-linking results with 21 different EMCV IRES fragments and cytoplasmic HeLa extract or rabbit reticulocyte lysate as the source of polypeptides, consensus binding sites for p52, p57, p70, and p100 are proposed. It is suggested that each of these proteins recognizes primarily a structural feature of the RNA rather than a specific sequence.     

Mutational analysis of the J-K stem-loop region of the encephalomyocarditis virus IRES.

Cap-independent translation of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) RNA is controlled by a segment of the 5' untranslated region termed the internal ribosomal entry site, or IRES. The IRES contains a series of stem-loop structural elements. The J and K stems (EMCV bases 682 to 795), near the center of the IRES, are well conserved among all cardio-, aphtho-, and hepatoviruses. We have examined the biological roles of these elements by constructing mutations within the J-K sequences of EMCV and testing the mutations for activity in translation, translation competition, UV cross-linking, and viral infectivity assays. Mutations near the helical junction of J and K proved severely detrimental to both cellular translation and cell-free translation of downstream cistrons. The same mutations reduced the ability of the IRES to compete for cellular factors in competition assays and reduced the infectivity of viral genomes carrying these lesions. A mutation in the terminal loop of J gave similar results. In contrast, mutations within the terminal loop of K had minimal impact on in vitro translation activity and IRES competitive ability. However, in vivo analysis of the K-loop mutations revealed deficiencies during cellular translation and further showed markedly reduced infectivity in HeLa cells. UV cross-linking experiments identified a 49-kDa protein which interacts strongly with the J-K region, but the identity of this protein and its contribution to IRES activity are unclear.     

A Small Yeast RNA Blocks Hepatitis C Virus Internal Ribosome Entry Site (HCV IRES)-Mediated Translation and Inhibits Replication of a Chimeric Poliovirus under Translational Control of the HCV IRES Element

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently leads to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver and has been linked to development of hepatocellular carcinoma. We previously identified a small yeast RNA (IRNA) capable of specifically inhibiting poliovirus (PV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation. Here we report that IRNA specifically inhibits HCV IRES-mediated translation both in vivo and in vitro. A number of human hepatoma (Huh-7) cell lines expressing IRNA were prepared and characterized. Constitutive expression of IRNA was not detrimental to cell growth. HCV IRES-mediated cap-independent translation was markedly inhibited in cells constitutively expressing IRNA compared to control hepatoma cells. However, cap-dependent translation was not significantly affected in these cell lines. Additionally, Huh-7 cells constitutively expressing IRNA became refractory to infection by a PV-HCV chimera in which the PV IRES is replaced by the HCV IRES. In contrast, replication of a PV-encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) chimera containing the EMCV IRES element was not affected significantly in the IRNA-producing cell line. Finally, the binding of the La autoantigen to the HCV IRES element was specifically and efficiently competed by IRNA. These results provide a basis for development of novel drugs effective against HCV infection.     

NMD resulting from encephalomyocarditis virus IRES-directed translation initiation seems to be restricted to CBP80/20-bound mRNA

Nonsense-mediated messenger RNA decay (NMD) generally degrades mRNAs that prematurely terminate translation as a means of quality control. NMD in mammalian cells targets newly spliced mRNA that is bound by the cap-binding protein heterodimer CBP80/20 and one or more post-splicing exon junction complexes during a pioneer round of translation. NMD targets mRNA that initiates translation using the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES), therefore NMD might target not only CBP80/20-bound mRNA but also its remodelled product, eIF4E-bound mRNA. Here, we provide evidence that NMD triggered by translation initiation at the EMCV IRES, similar to NMD triggered by translation initiation at an mRNA cap, targets CBP80/20-bound mRNA but does not detectably target eIF4E-bound mRNA. We show that EMCV IRES-initiated translation undergoes a CBP80/20-associated pioneer round of translation that results in CBP80/20-dependent and Upf factor-dependent NMD when translation terminates prematurely.