XerCD/dif位点特异性重组

大约10%~15%的大肠杆菌在染色体复制过程中会形成染色体二聚体。大肠杆菌染色体编码的重组酶XerC和XerD作用于染色体复制终点区的dif序列,以同源重组的方式将染色体二聚体解离为单体,使细菌得以正常复制分裂。编码霍乱毒素的噬菌体CTXΦ以位点特异的方式整合入霍乱弧菌染色体,但其基因组中不含有任何重组酶基因,其整合过程需要细菌染色体编码的XerC和XerD重组酶,且整合位点与大肠杆菌dif序列相似。XerCD重组酶基因和dif位点在细菌染色体广泛存在,表明其可能是染色体二聚体解离,噬菌体及其他外源基因成分整合入染色体过程中一种广泛存在的途径。文章对XerCD/dif位点特异性重组在细菌染色体二聚体解离、外源基因整合的研究进展进行综述。     

稳定遗传的染色体组合整合酿酒酵母重组菌株的构建

染色体整合表达可获得稳定遗传的基因工程菌,是工业酿酒酵母育种的重要手段。pAUR135整合载体是抗生素标记基因可循环使用的载体,添加特定的同源臂后可构建在酵母染色体上稳定遗传的菌株。目前对酵母菌的分子育种常需要对多个基因进行过表达,利用pAUR135载体可将不同基因分别整合在不同染色体或相同染色体的不同位点,这种组合整合表达方法可对不同基因的表达强度比例进行调节,构建表型优化的工业酿酒酵母菌株。本研究以木糖代谢途径基因为例,构建了3个pAUR135整合载体,将3个木糖代谢基因依次整合到工业酿酒酵母染色体的不同位点,获得了染色体组合整合表达的代谢工程菌株。与将这3个基因整合在同一个位点的对照重组菌株相比,染色体组合整合的重组菌株木糖利用率提高了24.4%–35.5%。多基因染色体组合整合方法从新的角度对工业酵母进行代谢工程改造,所获得的工程菌株不带有任何外来基因和选择标记,可以保持性状的稳定,是工业酿酒酵母分子育种的新方法。     

细菌染色体第1类整合子捕获耐药性基因盒反应模型的构建

【背景】整合子在细菌耐药性的获得及传播中占据重要地位,对于整合反应检测方法的改良及反应机制的研究,可以加深我们对细菌耐药性产生和播散的理解,为遏制耐药菌株的产生和播散提供新的途径。【目的】在细菌染色体上构建第1类整合子反应模型,用于评价整合酶介导的基因盒位点特异性重组。【方法】 PCR分别扩增含氯霉素耐药基因cat的CM片段、含基因盒aadA5的LacA5片段、含整合子重组位点attI1及强可变区启动子的PcS片段和插入位点两侧的同源臂,重叠延伸聚合酶链反应连接上述5个片段制备整合子模型插入片段,通过同源重组将构建好的整合子模型片段插入大肠埃希菌JM109染色体中。转入高表达第1类整合酶的质粒pHSint,在链霉素平板上筛选发生整合的菌株,并经聚合酶链反应和测序验证。【结果】构建的整合子模型片段经测序与预期一致,整合子模型片段成功插入大肠埃希菌JM109染色体中。转入高表达整合酶的质粒pHSint后,在链霉素平板上成功筛选出基因盒aadA5发生整合的菌株,经聚合酶链反应扩增并测序与预期一致。【结论】在大肠埃希菌染色体上成功构建第1类整合酶介导基因盒位点特异性重组反应模型,为进一步揭示整合子捕获耐药性基因盒的反应机制奠定基础。     

位点特异性重组系统的机理和应用

位点特异性重组酶识别特定的位点形成联会复合体, 并发生DNA链的切割与交换, 实现靶位点之间的整合、切离或倒位. 这一过程由位于重组酶催化活性中心的酪氨酸或丝氨酸向DNA磷酸骨架发起攻击, 形成共价中间体, 不需要高能量辅助因子的参与. 由于位点特异性重组系统具有高效精确的优点, 在基因工程领域得到了广泛的应用. 本文从识别位点的性质、重组酶的组成与结构及催化反应的特点三方面对位点特异性重组的机理进行了全面的阐述, 并对当前重组酶的应用研究之现状、热点及存在的问题作了深入剖析, 并讨论了未来的发展趋势.     

基因拷贝数与染色体位置对酵母表达乙肝病毒融合表面抗原SA-28基因的影响

应用ＦＬＰ重组酶介导的染色体定点整合技术,将带有不同拷贝数的乙肝病毒融合表面抗原ＳＡ－２８基因表达单元的质粒整合在酵母不同的染色体位点,并测定了ＳＡ－２８基因的表达情况,初步研究了基因拷贝数与染色体位置对酵母表达外源基因的影响。结果表明ＳＡ－２８基因在ＨＩＳ３位点整 合时的表达水平随基因拷贝数的增加而提高,遵循基因剂量效应;在某些染色体位点整２合时,插入方向对其表达有不同程度的影响,呈现出明显的染     

卵母细胞特异表达ФC31整合酶载体pZP3－INT的构建及其在小鼠卵母细胞中的表达

链霉菌噬菌体ФC31整合酶是一种位点特异性重组酶（Site—specific recombinase,SSR）,可介导链霉菌噬菌体attP位点（Phage attachment site）和链霉菌基因组attB位点（Bacterial attachment site）闻的单向重组。为探讨它能否应用于卵母细胞特定基因的重组,文章采用卵巢针刺取卵法呆集生发泡（GV）期小鼠卵母细胞,将卵透明带糖蛋白3（ZP3）启动子驱动的ФC31整合酶表达载体pZP3－INT和检测qbC31整合酶位点特异性重组功能的重组质粒载体pBCPB^＋,通过显微注射导入到小鼠卵母细胞中。培养48h后,RT-PCR检测ФC31整合酶mRNA表达以及PCR检测pBCPB^＋载体发生重组的情况。结果表明：载体pZP3-INT在卵母细胞中表达ФC31整合酶mRNA;并且pBCPB^＋载体发生了位点特异性重组,提示ФC31整合酶在卵母细胞中可以介导位点特异性重组反应。     

卵母细胞特异表达φC31整合酶载体pZP3-INT的构建及其在小鼠卵母细胞中的表达

链霉菌噬菌体φC31整合酶是一种位点特异性重组酶(Site-specific recombinase,SSR),可介导链霉菌噬菌体attP位点(Phage attachment site)和链霉菌基因组attB位点(Bacterial attachment site)间的单向重组.为探讨它能否应用于卵母细胞特定基因的重组,文章采用卵巢针刺取卵法采集生发泡(GV)期小鼠卵母细胞,将卵透明带糖蛋白3(ZP3)启动子驱动φC31整合酶表达载体pZP3-INT和检测φC31整合酶位点特异性重组功能的重组质粒载体pBCPB+,通过显微注射导入到小鼠卵母细胞中.培养48 h后,RT-PCR检测φC31整合酶mRNA表达以及PCR检测pBCPB+载体发生重组的情况.结果表明:载体pzP3-INT在卵母细胞中表达φC31整合酶mRNA;并且pBCPB+载体发生了位点特异性重组,提示φC31整合酶在卵母细胞中可以介导位点特异性重组反应.     

Cre-LoxP重组系统的特点及其在抗体研究中的应用

Cre-LoxP系统是源于P1噬菌体的一个DNA重组体系,由Cre酶和相应的LoxP位点组成,它能导致重组发生在特定的DNA序列处(LoxP位点),该系统可以将外源基因定点整合到染色体上或将特定DNA片段删除,这种定位重组系统在大容量噬菌体抗体库,抗体重排,抗体的类型转换和抗体修饰等研究领域发挥了重要的作用.     

异源位点特异性重组系统在植物中的研究

现在对位点特异性重组系统佃ie－sPec们crecombinationsystem）研究的很多,它们都源于低等生物,由于都有独特的位点重组特异性,所以吸引了大批研究人员在真核生物中进行了广泛的研究。本文主要综述了在高等物中研究的位点特异性重组系统的来源、重组机理、重组方式、重组中存在的问题及位点特异性重组系统研究应用前景和意义等。回位点特异性重组系统位点特异性重组是指在重组酶介导下,在特异的重组位点间发生重组,导致重组位点间交互交换的一种精确。组形式。位点特异性重组始于对人噬菌体溶源化过程的研究。又噬菌体通过自身位点att…     

卵母细胞特异表达fC31整合酶载体pZP3-INT的构建及其在小鼠卵母细胞中的表达

链霉菌噬菌体fC31整合酶是一种位点特异性重组酶(Site-specific recombinase, SSR), 可介导链霉菌噬菌体attP位点(Phage attachment site)和链霉菌基因组attB位点(Bacterial attachment site)间的单向重组。为探讨它能否应用于卵母细胞特定基因的重组, 文章采用卵巢针刺取卵法采集生发泡(GV)期小鼠卵母细胞, 将卵透明带糖蛋白3(ZP3)启动子驱动的fC31整合酶表达载体pZP3-INT和检测fC31整合酶位点特异性重组功能的重组质粒载体pBCPB⁺, 通过显微注射导入到小鼠卵母细胞中。培养48 h后, RT-PCR检测fC31整合酶mRNA表达以及PCR检测pBCPB⁺载体发生重组的情况。结果表明: 载体pZP3-INT在卵母细胞中表达fC31 整合酶mRNA; 并且pBCPB⁺载体发生了位点特异性重组, 提示fC31整合酶在卵母细胞中可以介导位点特异性重组反应。     

Capping DNA with DNA

Twelve classes of deoxyribozymes that promote an ATP-dependent "self-capping" reaction were isolated by in vitro selection from a random-sequence pool of DNA. Each deoxyribozyme catalyzes the transfer of the AMP moiety of ATP to its 5'-terminal phosphate group, thereby forming a 5',5'-pyrophosphate linkage. An identical DNA adenylate structure is generated by the T4 DNA ligase during enzymatic DNA ligation. A 41-nucleotide class 1 deoxyribozyme requires Cu(2+) as a cofactor and adopts a structure that recognizes both the adenine and triphosphate moieties of ATP or dATP. The catalytic efficiency for this DNA, measured at 10(4) M(-1) x min(-1) using either ATP or dATP as substrate, is similar to other catalytic nucleic acids that use small substrates. Chemical probing and site-directed mutagenesis implicate the formation of guanine quartets as critical components of the active structure. The observation of ATP-dependent "self-charging" by DNA suggests that DNA could be made to perform the reactions typically associated with DNA cloning, but without the assistance of protein enzymes.     

Eukaryotic DNA polymerases in DNA replication and DNA repair

DNA polymerases carry out a large variety of synthetic transactions during DNA replication, DNA recombination and DNA repair. Substrates for DNA polymerases vary from single nucleotide gaps to kilobase size gaps and from relatively simple gapped structures to complex replication forks in which two strands need to be replicated simultaneously. Consequently, one would expect the cell to have developed a well-defined set of DNA polymerases with each one uniquely adapted for a specific pathway. And to some degree this turns out to be the case. However, in addition we seem to find a large degree of cross-functionality of DNA polymerases in these different pathways. DNA polymerase α is almost exclusively required for the initiation of DNA replication and the priming of Okazaki fragments during elongation. In most organisms no specific repair role beyond that of checkpoint control has been assigned to this enzyme. DNA polymerase δ functions as a dimer and, therefore, may be responsible for both leading and lagging strand DNA replication. In addition, this enzyme is required for mismatch repair and, together with DNA polymerase ζ, for mutagenesis. The function of DNA polymerase ɛ in DNA replication may be restricted to that of Okazaki fragment maturation. In contrast, either polymerase δ or ɛ suffices for the repair of UV-induced damage. The role of DNA polymerase β in base-excision repair is well established for mammalian systems, but in yeast, DNA polymerase δ appears to fullfill that function. Received: 20 April 1998 / Accepted: 8 May 1998     

DNA supercoiling by DNA gyrase

Using purified DNA gyrase to supercoil circular plasmid pBR322 DNA, we examined how the linking number attained at the steady state (‘static head’) varies with the concentrations of ATP and ADP, both in the absence and presence of spermidine. In the absence of spermidine at total adenine nucleotide concentrations between 0.35 and 1.4 mM, the static-head linking number was independent of the sum concentration of ATP and ADP, but depended strongly on the ratio of their concentrations. We established that the same linking number was attained independent of the direction from which the steady state was approached. The decrease in linking number at static head is more extensive when spermidine is present in the incubation, but remains a function of the [ATP]-to-[ADP] ratio. These results are discussed in terms of various kinetic schemes for DNA gyrase. We present one kinetic scheme that accounts for the experimental observations. According to this scheme our experimental results imply that there is significant slip in DNA gyrase when spermidine is absent. It is possible that spermidine acts through adjustment of the degree of coupling of DNA gyrase.     

DNA topoisomerases and DNA repair

DNA topoisomerases are enzymes that can modify, and may regulate, the topological state of DNA through concerted breaking and rejoining of the DNA strands. They have been believed to be directly involved in DNA excision repair, and perhaps to be required for the control of repair as well. The vicissitudes of this hypothesis provide a noteworthy example of the dangers of interpreting cellular phenomena without genetic information and vice versa.     

DNA supercoiling inhibits DNA knotting

Despite the fact that in living cells DNA molecules are long and highly crowded, they are rarely knotted. DNA knotting interferes with the normal functioning of the DNA and, therefore, molecular mechanisms evolved that maintain the knotting and catenation level below that which would be achieved if the DNA segments could pass randomly through each other. Biochemical experiments with torsionally relaxed DNA demonstrated earlier that type II DNA topoisomerases that permit inter- and intramolecular passages between segments of DNA molecules use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to select passages that lead to unknotting rather than to the formation of knots. Using numerical simulations, we identify here another mechanism by which topoisomerases can keep the knotting level low. We observe that DNA supercoiling, such as found in bacterial cells, creates a situation where intramolecular passages leading to knotting are opposed by the free-energy change connected to transitions from unknotted to knotted circular DNA molecules.     

DNA杂交与DNA指纹技术

Southern印迹杂交和DNA指纹技术在分子生物学研究以及疾病的诊断、亲缘关系鉴定、犯罪分子确认等过程中发挥了重要作用。回顾了2种技术的发明、发展历程和在生命科学研究中的作用,并探讨了可能的发展方向,从中可以从一个侧面了解分子生物学的发展历程和体会科学家的智慧在科学技术发展中所起的重要作用。     

DNA knots and DNA supercoiling

Comment on: Witz G, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011; 108:3608-11.     

Active DNA demethylation and DNA repair

DNA methylation on cytosine is an epigenetic modification and is essential for gene regulation and genome stability in vertebrates. Traditionally DNA methylation was considered as the most stable of all heritable epigenetic marks. However, it has become clear that DNA methylation is reversible by enzymatic “active” DNA demethylation, with examples in plant cells, animal development and immune cells. It emerges that “pruning” of methylated cytosines by active DNA demethylation is an important determinant for the DNA methylation signature of a cell. Work in plants and animals shows that demethylation occurs by base excision and nucleotide excision repair. Far from merely protecting genomic integrity from environmental insult, DNA repair is therefore at the heart of an epigenetic activation process.