低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型的构建

目的：构建低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型。方法将 Cchl1a3-knock-in打靶载体电转染ES细胞,经过G418和Ganciclovoir筛选阳性ES细胞克隆并用PCR和DNA测序法鉴定。将阳性ES克隆注射到小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。通过杂交获得的杂合子小鼠与FLP小鼠交配繁育获得去neo杂合子小鼠,并用PCR和DNA测序进行鉴定。将去neo杂合子小鼠交配得到纯合子后代,进行生长发育等方面的观察。结果打靶载体成功转染ES细胞,PCR和DNA测序法证实9个ES细胞克隆发生正确的同源重组。通过显微注射获得7只嵌合体小鼠。将嵌合体小鼠交配繁育的杂合子小鼠和FLP小鼠交配获得9只去neo杂合子小鼠,最终得到15只去neo纯合子小鼠。该小鼠在发育至性成熟阶段,精神、饮食及活动状态良好,但是在4个月龄时逐渐出现脱毛,皮肤破溃甚至死亡。结论成功构建Cchl1a3基因 R528H 突变的纯合子小鼠,为研究人类CACNA1S基因功能和阐明低钾型周期性麻痹发生的分子机制奠定了基础。     

BPOZ基因剔除小鼠模型的建立

BPOZ是在卵巢癌等肿瘤组织中表达下调的细胞生长抑制基因,建立BPOZ基因剔除小鼠模型,可以为在体研究BPOZ基因的生物学功能及其与肿瘤发生的关系创造条件.运用生物信息学手段确定小鼠BPOZ基因组序列,设计基因剔除策略,构建完成了基因剔除载体XpPNT-BPOZ.以电穿孔方法将基因剔除载体导入ES细胞,用G418和Ganciclovoir进行正负筛选,获得抵抗克隆,PCR和DNA印迹鉴定出正确同源重组的ES细胞克隆.将同源重组的ES细胞注入小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠.嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠交配后获得Aguoti毛色的小鼠30只,其中15只为BPOZ基因剔除杂合子小鼠,阳性率为50%.在雌雄杂合子交配的后代中获得纯合子小鼠.初步的表型观察发现BPOZ基因剔除小鼠发育正常,有繁殖能力,进一步的表型分析工作正在进行之中.     

小鼠锌指蛋白基因ZF-12基因剔除的ES细胞系的建立

利用小鼠锌指蛋白ZF－12基因组DNA片段,构建了针对小鼠ZF－12基因座的替换型打靶载体pSSC-TV-10.5。经限制性核酸内切酶酶切及部分测序鉴定其结构正确后,通过电穿孔将线性化打靶载体导入ES人,经G418／GANC双药筛选和分子鉴定,获得4个ZF－12^ /-基因的ES细胞杂合子克隆,其生长状态良好,为进一步建立ZF－12基因剔除的小鼠动物模型创造了条件。     

Adiponectin 基因剔除LacZ基因敲入小鼠模型的建立

adiponectin是脂肪细胞特异分泌的一种活性蛋白质,具有增加胰岛素敏感性、抗炎及抗动脉硬化等活性.建立adiponectin基因剔除β-半乳糖苷酶基因(LacZ)敲入小鼠模型,可为整体动物水平研究adiponectin基因功能及其表达调控机制等提供理想工具.根据生物信息学方法获得adiponectin基因组序列,设计基因剔除及敲入策略,在adiponectin基因第2和第3号外显子剔除的同时,在其ATG和信号肽序列后顺接LacZ基因完整编码序列,构建完成了Adipo-LacZ-XpPNT基因剔除质粒.通过电穿孔将打靶质粒转入ES细胞,以G418和ganciclovir进行药物筛选,获得药物抗性的ES细胞克隆,PCR和DNA印迹鉴定出正确同源重组克隆.将同源重组的ES细胞克隆注入小鼠囊胚得到嵌合体小鼠,嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠交配产生杂合子小鼠,杂合子间交配获得adiponectin基因剔除LacZ基因敲入纯合子小鼠.经RT-PCR、RNA印迹和ELISA检测证实纯合子小鼠脂肪和血清中adiponectin基因表达呈阴性.RT-PCR、RNA印迹及蛋白质印迹检测发现,LacZ基因在突变小鼠脂肪组织中有特异性表达,其表达谱与内源性adiponectin基因的表达谱一致.但在脂肪组织及外周血中未能检测到LacZ活性,且血清中LacZ蛋白亦呈阴性.由此成功建立了adiponectin基因完全灭活及LacZ基因以内源性adiponectin基因表达谱表达的小鼠模型,为进一步研究该基因功能及其表达调控创造了有利条件.     

四倍体补偿技术的建立及其应用

常规基因剔除小鼠的获得主要是利用ES细胞的全能性先获得嵌合体小鼠,再利用:ES细胞的生殖系传递能力,通过嵌合体与野生型小鼠的交配获得杂合子小鼠.而四倍体补偿技术则可绕过嵌合体小鼠阶段,直接获得基因修饰杂合子小鼠.利用电融合技术和Piezoelectric microinjecfion显微注射技术建立了四倍体补偿技术,小鼠四倍体胚胎的获得率(电融合率)为(93.01±l.37)%,经体外培养囊胚形成率为(82.49±2.08)%.通过显微注射方法将2种129品系小鼠来源的ES细胞(CJ7和SCR012)注射到四倍体囊胚腔中,获得了完全ES细胞来源的小鼠,ES鼠的获得率分别为2.7%和8.3%.经微卫星DNA检测,成体小鼠的10个被检测组织均为129小鼠来源的.同时,也利用基因修饰的ES细胞进行了研究,获得了2种基因修饰的完全ES细胞来源的杂合子小鼠,部分小鼠具有繁殖能力,经繁育已获得了纯合子,其中凝血因子Ⅷ基因敲除小鼠获得了预期的血友病小鼠表型.上述结果说明四倍体补偿技术可应用于基因修饰小鼠的制备.     

黏蛋白1基因敲除小鼠模型的构建

黏蛋白1(MUC1)属黏蛋白家族成员,分布于上皮细胞膜表面,由于在免疫炎症反应以及肿瘤发生中的重要作用而日益受到重视.为了进一步深入研究MUC1的生物学功能,构建了Muc1基因敲除小鼠模型.首先,根据小鼠Muc1基因组序列设计基因剔除策略,将2个loxP位点分别插在外显子2和3两侧,构建基因剔除载体Muc1-ABRLFn-pBR322.以电穿孔方法将载体导入胚胎干细胞(ES细胞),用G418和更昔洛韦进行正负筛选获得4个同源重组的ES细胞克隆.挑选其中一个阳性ES克隆行囊胚显微注射,获得16只嵌合率大于50%的雄鼠;其次,利用嵌合雄鼠与C57BL/6J野生型雌鼠交配后获得11只floxP杂合子小鼠(10雄1雌),通过杂合子小鼠回交,并进一步与EⅡa-Cre小鼠交配,最终成功得到Muc1全身敲除小鼠,其中纯合子小鼠未出现胚胎致死现象.初步表型观察未发现Muc1基因敲除相关器官组织结构的异常改变.本研究为MUC1的生物学功能的挖掘,尤其是MUC1在肿瘤发生转移中的作用机制的揭示提供了实验平台.     

SHBG基因敲除小鼠模型的建立及其表型分析

目的:建立性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)基因条件敲除小鼠模型,为探讨胎盘组织中SHBG在体内的生理功能及其与妊娠期糖尿病发病关系提供实验手段。方法:首先运用生物信息学手段确定小鼠SHBG基因组序列,构建SHBG打靶载体,以电穿孔方法将其导入小鼠ES细胞,筛选培养阳性ES细胞并行PCR鉴定,并将正确同源重组的ES细胞注射进小鼠囊胚,移入受体小鼠子宫;将获得的嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠交配,筛选后获得Flox小鼠,该小鼠与EIIa-Cre转基因小鼠杂交,子代多次自交获得SHBG全身基因敲除(SHBG~(-/-))的小鼠。结果:运用同源重组及ES细胞技术建立了SHBG基因的Flox小鼠,并利用Cre/Loxp重组酶系统建立了SHBG基因全身敲除小鼠模型,PCR方法从基因水平证明了SHBG基因Flox小鼠及SHBG基因全身敲除小鼠模型建立成功。对基因敲除鼠进行初步表型分析发现:SHBG基因全身敲除小鼠的生长发育与野生型小鼠相比无明显肉眼所见异常,SHBG基因全身敲除雌雄小鼠均具有生殖能力。结论:成功建立SHBG基因全身敲除小鼠模型,通过对基因敲除鼠进行初步表型分析,发现SHBG基因全身敲除小鼠外观上发育正常,为进一步研究SHBG在妊娠期糖尿病中的作用奠定了基础。     

Smad3基因剔除小鼠的繁殖与基因型鉴定

目的为进一步深入研究Smad3基因在脊椎动物发育中的重要作用,对Smad3基因剔除小鼠进行保种和繁育研究.方法采用基因剔除杂合子小鼠进行保种,通过PCR和Southern杂交对杂合子小鼠交配所产生的后代进行基因型鉴定,纯合子小鼠和野生型小鼠用于表型分析,杂合子小鼠用于留种和繁殖生产.结果采用PCR方法对278只子代小鼠进行了基因型鉴定,83只为野生型,133只为杂合子,62只为纯合子.结论Smad3基因剔除突变能稳定遗传.采用杂合子小鼠保种,子代小鼠三种基因型比例符合孟德尔遗传定律.     

Smad5双等位基因剔除ES细胞的建立及其初步研究

Smad5是TGF-信号的细胞质内信号转导分子. Smad5的定位剔除导致小鼠胚胎期死亡. 为了进一步研究Smad5在组织器官发育中的功能, 利用同源重组技术获得了Smad5双等位基因剔除的胚胎干(ES)细胞. 首先利用Cre-LoxP系统删除了Smad5中靶ES细胞的抗性基因, 再用相同的打靶载体进行转染, 经Southern杂交筛选获得了Smad5双等位基因剔除的ES细胞. 嵌合体研究的结果表明, Smad5在心脏和神经管的正常发育中可能起重要的作用. Smad5双等位基因剔除ES细胞在裸鼠皮下可以形成畸胎瘤, 并可分化成包括神经细胞、肌肉细胞、软骨细胞、内皮细胞等在内的多种细胞, 因而Smad5双等位基因剔除的ES细胞可用于研究Smad5介导的TGF-信号在多种组织器官发育和ES细胞体外定向分化中的作用.     

基于Cre/LoxP系统的Smad2条件基因打靶小鼠的建立

Smads家族是转化生长因子TGF-b信号转导途径中一个重要的新基因家族.SMAD2属于受体激活的SMADs.Smad2基因在多种肿瘤中发生突变,是一种可能的肿瘤抑制基因. Smad2基因完全剔除导致小鼠在胚胎期6.5d死亡.为了研究Smad2在脊椎动物成体各组织器官及肿瘤发生中的可能作用,利用Cre/LoxP系统构建了Smad2条件基因打靶载体,将两个方向相同的LoxP序列置于编码SMAD2蛋白C末端功能域序列两侧的内含子中,并在组成型表达Cre重组酶的大肠杆菌中检测了LoxP位点的功能;用打靶载体电击转染小鼠胚胎干细胞,经Southern杂交筛选到3株发生正确同源重组的中靶ES细胞克隆;通过囊胚显微注射将中靶ES细胞导入受体小鼠囊胚腔,获得了ES细胞种系嵌合体;对高嵌合度小鼠与C57BL/6J的子代小鼠进行基因型鉴定,成功地获得了Smad2条件基因打靶小鼠.     

DEC1 and MIC-1

Comment on: Qian Y, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012; 109:11300-5.     

LINE-1编码蛋白L1-ORF1的原核表达纯化和多克隆抗体制备

目的: 制备具有肿瘤组织特异性表达的L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体并进行初步应用研究。方法:采取基因工程表达方法制备L1-ORF1蛋白,免疫家兔制备多克隆抗体,间接ELISA检测抗体效价,Western blot和细胞免疫荧光方法检测抗体特异性,免疫检测验证其识别肿瘤细胞内L1-ORF1蛋白的特异性。结果:制备的抗L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体具有很高的敏感性与特异性,免疫学检测表明该抗体不仅能检测出正常细胞中瞬时表达的L1-ORF1蛋白,而且可检测出肿瘤细胞中天然表达的L1-ORF1蛋白。结论:制备的多克隆抗体具有较高的敏感性与特异性,为以后该抗体的进一步应用奠定了基础。     

Role of the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal in Daxx trafficking and ASK1 oligomerization

Overexpression of JNK binding domain inhibited glucose deprivation-induced JNK1 activation, relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) oligomerization in human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells. However, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, did not prevent relocalization of Daxx and oligomerization of ASK1 during glucose deprivation. Studies from in vivo labeling and immune complex kinase assay demonstrated that phosphorylation of Daxx occurred during glucose deprivation, and its phosphorylation was mediated through the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal transduction pathway. Data from immunofluorescence staining and protein interaction assay suggest that phosphorylated Daxx may be translocated to the cytoplasm, bind to ASK1, and subsequently lead to ASK1 oligomerization. Mutation of Daxx Ser667 to Ala results in suppression of Daxx relocalization during glucose deprivation, suggesting that Ser667 residue plays an important role in the relocalization of Daxx. Unlike wild-type Daxx, a Daxx deletion mutant (amino acids 501-625) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, where it associated with ASK1, activated JNK1, and induced ASK1 oligomerization without glucose deprivation. Taken together, these results show that glucose deprivation activates the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 pathway, and the activated HIPK1 is probably involved in the relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The relocalized Daxx may play an important role in glucose deprivation-induced ASK1 oligomerization.     

Regulation of PCTAIRE1 protein stability by AKT1, LKB1 and BRCA1

PCTAIRE1, also known as CDK16, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that is regulated by cyclin Y. It is a member of the serine-threonine family of kinases and its functions have primarily been implicated in cellular processes like vesicular transport, neuronal growth and development, myogenesis, spermatogenesis and cell proliferation. However, as extensive studies on PCTAIRE1 have not yet been conducted, the signaling pathways for this kinase involved in governing many cellular processes are yet to be elucidated in detail. Here, we report the association of PCTAIRE1 with important cellular proteins involved in major cell signaling pathways, especially cell proliferation. In particular, here we show that PCTAIRE1 interacts with AKT1, a key player of the PI3K signaling pathway that is responsible for promoting cell survival and proliferation. Our studies show that PCTAIRE1 is a substrate of AKT1 that gets stabilized by it. Further, we show that PCTAIRE1 also interacts with and is degraded by LKB1, a kinase that is known to suppress cellular proliferation and also regulate cellular energy metabolism. Moreover, our results show that PCTAIRE1 is also degraded by BRCA1, a well-known tumor suppressor. Together, our studies highlight the regulation of PCTAIRE1 by key players of the major cell signaling pathways involved in regulating cell proliferation, and therefore, provide crucial links that could be explored further to elucidate the mechanistic role of PCTAIRE1 in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC₅₀s were obtained. All of these LC₅₀s were significantly higher than the expected LC₅₀s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC₅₀ of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm² of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC₅₀s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm² of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm² of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 toxins of bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC50s were obtained. All of these LC50s were significantly higher than the expected LC50s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC50 of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm2 of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC50s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm2 of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm2 of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Generation of 'humanized' hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) mouse line

Human/rodent CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 orthologs are well known to exhibit species-specific differences in substrate preferences and rates of metabolism. This lab previously characterized a BAC-transgenic mouse carrying the human CYP1A1_CYP1A2 locus; in this line, human dioxin-inducible CYP1A1 and basal vs dioxin-inducible CYP1A2 have been shown to be expressed normally (with regard to mRNAs, proteins and three enzyme activities) in every one of nine mouse tissues studied. The mouse Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes are oriented head-to-head and share a bidirectional promoter region of 13,954 bp. Using Cre recombinase and loxP sites inserted 3' of the stop codons of both genes, we show here a successful interchromosomal excision of 26,173 bp that ablated both genes on the same allele. The Cyp1a1/1a2(-) double-knockout allele was bred with the "humanized" line; the final product is the hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) line on a theoretically >99.8% C57BL/6J genetic background-having both human genes replacing the mouse orthologs. This line will be valuable for human risk assessment studies involving any environmental toxicant or drug that is a substrate for CYP1A1 or CYP1A2.     

Dial 9-1-1 for DNA damage: the Rad9-Hus1-Rad1 (9-1-1) clamp complex

Genotoxic stress activates checkpoint signaling pathways that block cell cycle progression, trigger apoptosis, and regulate DNA repair. Studies in yeast and humans have shown that Rad9, Hus1, Rad1, and Rad17 play key roles in checkpoint activation. Three of these proteins-Rad9, Hus1, and Rad1-interact in a heterotrimeric complex (dubbed the 9-1-1 complex), which resembles a PCNA-like sliding clamp, whereas Rad17 is part of a clamp-loading complex that is related to the PCNA clamp loader, replication factor-C (RFC). In response to genotoxic damage, the 9-1-1 complex is loaded around DNA by the Rad17-containing clamp loader. The DNA-bound 9-1-1 complex then facilitates ATR-mediated phosphorylation and activation of Chk1, a protein kinase that regulates S-phase progression, G2/M arrest, and replication fork stabilization. In addition to its role in checkpoint activation, accumulating evidence suggests that the 9-1-1 complex also participates in DNA repair. Taken together, these findings suggest that the 9-1-1 clamp is a multifunctional complex that is loaded onto DNA at sites of damage, where it coordinates checkpoint activation and DNA repair.