Identification and expression of a cDNA clone encoding aspartate aminotransferase in carrot

A full-length cDNA clone encoding aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) has been identified from a carrot root cDNA library. Degenerate oligo primers were synthesized from the known amino acid sequence of AAT form I from carrot (Daucus carota L. cv Danvers). These primers were utilized in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify a portion of a carrot AAT gene from first strand cDNA synthesized from poly(A)⁺ RNA isolated from 5-d-old cell suspension cultures. The resulting 750-bp fragment was cloned, mapped, and sequenced. The cloned fragment, mpAAT1, was used as a probe to identify a full-length cDNA clone in a library constructed from poly(A)⁺ RNA isolated from carrot roots. A 1.52-kb full-length clone, AAT7, was isolated and sequenced. AAT7 has 54% nucleotide identity with both the mouse cytoplasmic and mitochondrial AAT genes. The deduced amino acid sequence has 52 and 53% identity with the deduced amino acid sequences of mouse cytoplasmic and mitochondrial AAT genes, respectively. Further analysis of the sequence data suggests that AAT7 encodes a cytoplasmic form of carrot AAT; the evidence includes the (a) absence of a transit or signal sequence, (b) lack of “m-residues,” or invariant mitochondrial residues, in the carrot AAT sequence, and (c) high degree of sequence similarity with the amino acid sequence previously obtained for form I of carrot, a cytoplasmic isoenzyme. High- and low-stringency hybridizations to Southern blots of carrot nuclear DNA with AAT7 show that AAT is part of a small multigene family. Northern blot analysis of AAT7 suggests that AAT is expressed throughout cell culture up to 7 d and is highly expressed in roots but not in leaves.     

中国首次分离的辛德毕斯病毒XJ-160病毒株感染性全基因组cDNA克隆的构建与分析

报告了中国首次分离的辛德毕斯病毒XJ-160株的感染性全基因组cDNA克隆的构建与鉴定。利用RT—PCR方法获得覆盖病毒全长基因组的cDNA片段,以低拷贝质粒pBR322作为骨架,将基因组cDNA置于SP6RNA聚合酶启动子之后,基因组3’末端带有35个连续的A,通过DNA重组技术组装成病毒基因组全长cDNA克隆。该克隆可在大肠杆菌DH5a中稳定扩增。经体外转录,RNA转录体转染BHK-21细胞,细胞发生病变,恢复病毒滴度达到10^7～10^8PFU／ml。全基因组cDNA克隆构建过程中引入的沉默突变(8453位核苷酸由C变为T)产生XbaⅠ酶切位点作为遗传标记,在子代恢复病毒的基因组中稳定存在。从细胞病变的特征、BHK-21细胞的空斑形态、病毒的抗原性、病毒在细胞中的生长动力学特征以及对乳鼠的致病性等方面比较,恢复病毒和亲本病毒XJ-160没有显著区别,提示获得了具有感染性的XJ-160病毒全长cDNA克隆。该病毒感染性全基因组cDNA克隆可以作为反向遗传学系统,为进一步研究病毒复制和致病机制,以及开发相应的载体表达系统提供分子生物学工具。     

Cloning, sequencing and expression of cDNA encoding growth hormone from Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

A tissue-specific cDNA library was constructed using polyA⁺ RNA from pituitary glands of the Indian catfishHeteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and a cDNA clone encoding growth hormone (GH) was isolated. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers representing the conserved regions of fish GH sequences the 3′ region of catfish GH cDNA (540 bp) was cloned by random amplification of cDNA ends and the clone was used as a probe to isolate recombinant phages carrying the full-length cDNA sequence. The full-length cDNA clone is 1132 bp in length, coding for an open reading frame (ORF) of 603 bp; the reading frame encodes a putative polypeptide of 200 amino acids including the signal sequence of 22 amino acids. The 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of the cDNA are 58 bp and 456 bp long, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequence ofH. fossils GH shared 98% homology with other catfishes. Mature GH protein was efficiently expressed in bacterial and zebrafish systems using appropriate expression vectors. The successful expression of the cloned GH cDNA of catfish confirms the functional viability of the clone.     

含RGD受体结合位点口蹄疫病毒Asia1/JS/China/2005株的拯救及初步鉴定

摘要：【目的】构建含有RGD受体结合位点口蹄疫病毒（FMDV）Asia1/JS/China/2005株的全长感染性cDNA克隆。【方法】采用定点突变方法,构建Asia1型FMDV含有预期突变的全长cDNA克隆pFMDV-RGD。pFMDV-RGD重组质粒经NotI线化后,与表达T7 RNA聚合酶的真核质粒pcDNAT7P共转染BHK-21细胞,进行FMDV-RGD病毒拯救。【结果】序列测定结果表明成功构建了FMDV含有RGD受体位点的Asia1/JS/China/2005全长cDNA克隆。共转染实验获得拯救病毒,对拯救的病毒分别进行序列测定、间接免疫荧光、电子显微镜观察和乳鼠致病性分析,表明成功拯救了含有RGD受体结合位点的Asia1/JS/China/2005株FMDV。【结论】该实验为进一步研究含有RGD和RDD受体结合位点2个拯救病毒生物学特性的差异奠定了基础。     

含RGD受体结合位点口蹄疫病毒Asial/JS/China/2005株的拯救及初步鉴定

[目的]构建含有精氨酸.甘氨酸.天冬氨酸(RGD)受体结合位点口蹄疫病毒(FmDV)Asial/JS/Chind2005株的全长感染性cDNA克隆.[方法]采用定点突变方法,构建Asial型FMDV含有预期突变的全长cDNA克隆pFMDV-RGD.pFMDV-RGD重组质粒经NotI线化后,与表达T7 RNA聚合酶的真核质粒peDNATIP共转染BHK-21细胞,进行FMDV-RGD病毒拯救.[结果]序列测定结果表明成功构建了FMDV含有RGD受体位点的Asial/JS/China/2005全长cDNA克隆.共转染试验获得拯救病毒,对拯救的病毒分别进行序列测定、间接免疫荧光、电子显微镜观察和乳鼠致病性分析,表明成功拯救了含有RGD受体结合位点的Asial/JS/China/2005株FMDV.[结论]该试验为进一步研究含有RGD和RDD受体结合位点2个拯救病毒生物学特性的差异奠定了基础.     

Introduction and Expression of Cowpea Trypsin Inhibitor (CpTI) Gene in Transgenic Tobacco

A trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor (CpTI) was purified from mature cowpea seeds. A full length cDNA clone encoding the trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor protein was isolated from a cDNA library that was constructed using poly(A⁺) RNA from developing seeds. Tobacco protoplasts were transformed with a construct composed of CaMV 35S promoter, NPTII gene, CpTI gene, and NOS terminator, using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated direct gene transfer. The CpTI gene has been integrated into the plant genome, and the expressed CpTI protein from transgenic plants was catalytically active.     

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Reverse genetics, an approach to rescue infectious virus entirely from a cloned cDNA, has revolutionized the field of positive-strand RNA viruses, whose genomes have the same polarity as cellular mRNA. The cDNA-based reverse genetics system is a seminal method that enables direct manipulation of the viral genomic RNA, thereby generating recombinant viruses for molecular and genetic studies of both viral RNA elements and gene products in viral replication and pathogenesis. It also provides a valuable platform that allows the development of genetically defined vaccines and viral vectors for the delivery of foreign genes. For many positive-strand RNA viruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), however, the cloned cDNAs are unstable, posing a major obstacle to the construction and propagation of the functional cDNA. Here, the present report describes the strategic considerations in creating and amplifying a genetically stable full-length infectious JEV cDNA as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) using the following general experimental procedures: viral RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, cDNA subcloning and modification, assembly of a full-length cDNA, cDNA linearization, in vitro RNA synthesis, and virus recovery. This protocol provides a general methodology applicable to cloning full-length cDNA for a range of positive-strand RNA viruses, particularly those with a genome of >10 kb in length, into a BAC vector, from which infectious RNAs can be transcribed in vitro with a bacteriophage RNA polymerase.     

Feline calicivirus VP2 is essential for the production of infectious virions

The third open reading frame (ORF3) located at the 3′ end of the genomic RNA of feline calicivirus (FCV) encodes a small (12.2-kDa) minor structural protein of 106 amino acids designated VP2. Point mutations and deletions were introduced into an infectious FCV cDNA clone in order to evaluate the functional importance of ORF3 and its encoded protein, VP2. Deletion of the entire ORF3 sequence was lethal for the virus, and evidence was found for strong selective pressure to produce the VP2 protein. Extended deletions in the 5′ end and small deletions in the 3′ end of ORF3, as well as the introduction of stop codons into the ORF3 sequence, were tolerated by the viral replication machinery, but infectious virus could not be recovered. Infectious virus particles could be rescued from a full-length FCV cDNA clone encoding a nonfunctional VP2 when VP2 was provided in trans from a eukaryotic expression plasmid. Our data indicate that VP2, a protein apparently unique to the caliciviruses, is essential for productive replication that results in the synthesis and maturation of infectious virions and that the ORF3 nucleotide sequence itself overlaps a cis-acting RNA signal at the genomic 3′ end.     

A Rapid and Improved Method to Generate Recombinant Dengue Virus Vaccine Candidates

Dengue is one of the most important mosquito-borne infections accounting for severe morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, the tetravalent chimeric live attenuated Dengue vaccine Dengvaxia^® was approved for use in several dengue endemic countries. In general, live attenuated vaccines (LAV) are very efficacious and offer long-lasting immunity against virus-induced disease. Rationally designed LAVs can be generated through reverse genetics technology, a method of generating infectious recombinant viruses from full length cDNA contained in bacterial plasmids. In vitro transcribed (IVT) viral RNA from these infectious clones is transfected into susceptible cells to generate recombinant virus. However, the generation of full-length dengue virus cDNA clones can be difficult due to the genetic instability of viral sequences in bacterial plasmids. To circumvent the need for a single plasmid containing a full length cDNA, in vitro ligation of two or three cDNA fragments contained in separate plasmids can be used to generate a full-length dengue viral cDNA template. However, in vitro ligation of multiple fragments often yields low quality template for IVT reactions, resulting in inconsistent low yield RNA. These technical difficulties make recombinant virus recovery less efficient. In this study, we describe a simple, rapid and efficient method of using LONG-PCR to recover recombinant chimeric Yellow fever dengue (CYD) viruses as potential dengue vaccine candidates. Using this method, we were able to efficiently generate several viable recombinant viruses without introducing any artificial mutations into the viral genomes. We believe that the techniques reported here will enable rapid and efficient recovery of recombinant flaviviruses for evaluation as vaccine candidates and, be applicable to the recovery of other RNA viruses.     

Alphavirus Transducing System: Tools for Visualizing Infection in Mosquito Vectors

Alphavirus transducing systems (ATSs) are important tools for expressing genes of interest (GOI) during infection. ATSs are derived from cDNA clones of mosquito-borne RNA viruses (genus Alphavirus; family Togaviridae). The Alphavirus genus contains about 30 different mosquito-borne virus species. Alphaviruses are enveloped viruses and contain single-stranded RNA genomes (~11.7 Kb). Alphaviruses transcribe a subgenomic mRNA that encodes the structural proteins of the virus required for encapsidation of the genome and maturation of the virus. Alphaviruses are usually highly lytic in vertebrate cells, but persistently infect susceptible mosquito cells with minimal cytopathology. These attributes make them excellent tools for gene expression in mosquito vectors. The most common ATSs in use are derived from Sindbis virus (SINV). The broad species tropism of SINV allows for infection of insect, avian, and mammalian cells8. However, ATSs have been derived from other alphaviruses as well^9,10,20. Foreign gene expression is made possible by the insertion of an additional viral subgenomic RNA initiation site or promoter. ATSs in which an exogenous gene sequence is positioned 5'' to the viral structural genes is used for stable protein expression in insects. ATSs, in which a gene sequence is positioned 3'' to the structural genes, is used to trigger RNAi and silence expression of that gene in the insect.ATSs have proven to be valuable tools for understanding vector-pathogen interactions, molecular details of viral replication and maintenance infectious cycles^3,4,11,19,21. In particular, the expression of fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters has been instrumental tracking the viral infection in the vector and virus transmission^5,14-16,18. Additionally, the vector immune response has been described using two strains of SINV engineered to express GFP^2,9.Here, we present a method for the production of SINV containing a fluorescent reporter (GFP) from the cDNA infectious clone. Infectious, full-length RNA is transcribed from the linearized cDNA clone. Infectious RNA is introduced into permissive target cells by electroporation. Transfected cells generate infectious virus particles expressing the GOI. Harvested virus is used to infect mosquitoes, as described here, or other host species (not shown herein). Vector competence is assessed by detecting fluorescence outside the midgut or by monitoring virus transmission⁷. Use of a fluorescent reporter as the GOI allows for convenient estimation of virus spread throughout a cell culture, for determination of rate of infection, dissemination in exposed mosquitoes, virus transmission from the mosquito and provides a rapid gauge of vector competence.Download video file.^{(46M, mov)}     

茉莉C病毒侵染性克隆的构建及CP基序分析

【目的】构建茉莉C病毒(JaVC)福建分离物基因组全长cDNA侵染性克隆,克隆9省JaVC分离物的CP基因并比较分析基序差异,调查JaVC在我国茉莉产区的分布和传播情况。【方法】提取JaVC检测呈阳性的茉莉叶片总RNA,以反转录后的cDNA为模板扩增获得JaVC基因组全长序列并构建全长cDNA克隆pXT-JaVC-FJ;同时构建了外壳蛋白(coatprotein,CP)融合红色荧光蛋白mCherry的克隆(pXT-JaVC CP-mCherry)。利用农杆菌浸润法侵染本生烟,通过RT-PCR检测法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察法验证JaVC侵染性。克隆其他8省JaVC分离物的3′末端包含CP的片段并测序分析CP基序差异。通过田间调查明确JaVC在茉莉上的发生情况和其传播介体。【结果】pXT-JaVC-FJ浸润本生烟可引起系统侵染,说明该克隆具有侵染活性。所有JaVC分离物的CP均编码296个氨基酸,JaVC中国台湾分离物的CP与各分离物核苷酸序列相似性为82.27%-91.36%,与广东分离物相似性最高;氨基酸序列相似性为92.23%-96.82%,与云南分离物相似性最高;各分离物CP的氨...     

Generation of an infectious clone of VR-2332, a highly virulent North American-type isolate of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

A full-length cDNA clone of the prototypical North American porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate VR-2332 was assembled in the plasmid vector pOK(12). To rescue infectious virus, capped RNA was transcribed in vitro from the pOK(12) clone and transfected into BHK-21C cells. The supernatant from transfected monolayers were serially passaged on Marc-145 cells and porcine pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Infectious PRRSV was recovered on Marc-145 cells as well as porcine pulmonary macrophages; thus, the cloned virus exhibited the same cell tropism as the parental VR-2332 strain. However, the cloned virus was clearly distinguishable from the parental VR-2332 strain by an engineered marker, a BstZ17I restriction site. The full-length cDNA clone had 11 nucleotide changes, 2 of which affected coding, compared to the parental VR-2332 strain. Additionally, the transcribed RNA had an extra G at the 5' end. To examine whether these changes influenced viral replication, we examined the growth kinetics of the cloned virus in vitro. In Marc-145 cells, the growth kinetics of the cloned virus reflected those of the parental isolate, even though the titers of the cloned virus were consistently slightly lower. In experimentally infected 5.5-week-old pigs, the cloned virus produced blue discoloration of the ears, a classical clinical symptom of PRRSV. Also, the seroconversion kinetics of pigs infected with the cloned virus and VR-2332 were very similar. Hence, virus derived from the full-length cDNA clone appeared to recapitulate the biological properties of the highly virulent parental VR-2332 strain. This is the first report of an infectious cDNA clone based on American-type PRRSV. The availability of this cDNA clone will allow examination of the molecular mechanisms behind PRRSV virulence and attenuation, which might in turn allow the production of second-generation, genetically engineered PRRSV vaccines.