用于植物的铜诱导基因表达系统的改进

铜诱导基因表达系统已被用于植物转基因表达的时空调控.它由两部分构成:(1)组成型或器官专一性表达的acel基因编码铜反应性的转录因子;(2)融合启动子控制下的目的基因,融合启动子由含ACE1结合位点的金属反应元件(MRE)连接CaMV 35S(-90～+8)启动子组成.本实验测试了来自酵母金属硫蛋白基因5′调控区的两个不同的ACE1结合区域在转基因烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L. cv.W38)中的效果.结果表明,与MRE(-148～-105)相比,使用MRE(-210～-126)的铜诱导系统效率增加50%到100%.在植物生物技术中使用这一系统控制基因性状是很有潜力的.     

重金属增强核因子与水稻金属硫蛋白基因启动子的结合

植物金属硫蛋白(metallothioneins, MT)被认为在植物应答重金属胁迫方面发挥了重要作用,但该基因的转录调控机制目前仍不清楚.我们以前的研究初步鉴定出位于-331/-194的水稻MT基因(ricMT)启动子区对于金属激活ricMT的表达是必需的.为了明确 -331/-194启动子序列在控制ricMT表达中的作用,本课题开展了该序列 与核因子的结合特性研究.从2周龄水稻嫩叶中提取了几乎不含叶绿体污染的细胞核,并制备 了核蛋白用于凝胶阻滞实验,发现核因子能够与-331/-194启动子序列特异 结合.本研究还进一步考察了重金属对核因子结合活性的影响,发现在结合体系中去除重金 属离子,核因子与-331/-194序列的结合能力会丧失,而在结合体系中加入重金属离子, 结合能力则会随着外加的离子浓度提高而增强,证明这种结合确实依赖于重金属.这些证据 结合以前的结果表明,某些金属响应的核因子可能通过结合-331/-194启动子区域来调控 ricMT基因表达.     

植物逆境相关启动子及功能

启动子是调控基因表达的重要顺式元件, 在植物基因表达调控过程中起着重要作用。目前植物抗逆基因工程中, 人们大多使用组成型表达启动子驱动目的基因的表达。组成型表达启动子虽然能提高转基因植株的抗逆性, 但是其持续过量地表达转化的外源基因会阻碍植物的生长且减少其产量。因此, 只在胁迫条件下才会驱动外源基因表达的诱导型启动子的研究显得尤其重要, 已成为目前研究的热点。文章综述了受非生物逆境和生物逆境胁迫诱导的植物基因启动子的种类和功能, 并展望了植物逆境诱导启动子的研究方向和前景。     

病原物诱导型植物启动子的研究方法

植物启动子是控制基因转录的DNA序列之一,按其表达方法可分为组成型(或非特异性)表达和诱导型(或特异性)表达启动子两种类型.当受到病原物侵染时,植物通常通过诱导型启动子中的W-box、RAV1 AAT和WRKY等元件/位点、调控下游基因的表达,作出相应的应答反应.近年来,通过计算机预测与试验测定方法的有效结合,发掘和鉴定出了一些病原物诱导型启动子,并进行了调控功能的解析.此外,在通过转基因方法改良植物抗病性的途径中,利用病原物诱导型启动子可以实现对抗病功能相关基因表达的精准控制,避免由组成型启动子持续驱动基因表达、对植株本身带来的负效应.结合本室对水稻启动子OsBTF3-p的研究结果,重点对近年来国内外有关病原物诱导型启动子及其调控元件/位点的研究方法和应用进展作一综述.     

小鼠PD-1基因启动子克隆鉴定及转录调控分析

PD-1分子是一种重要的免疫调控因子,目前对其自身表达调控尚未有系统的研究.对PD-1启动子区域进行分析,克隆构建了含PD-1基因上游约2kb范围内含4种不同长度调控序列的双荧光素酶表达载体.通过FACS检测发现,小鼠T淋巴瘤EL4细胞稳定表达PD-1,而骨髓瘤Sp2/0-Ag细胞则在佛波酯(phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate,PMA)和离子霉素(ionomycin,IO)诱导后才表达PD-1.4种双荧光素酶报告系统在上述两种细胞中检测PD-1启动子各区段活性显示,-227～+49bp区域含有PD-1核心启动子,上游-1127～-716bp含有较强正性调节元件,而在-1685～-1128bp、-715～-228bp两个区域含有负性调节元件,这种正负调控区交错的启动子活性现象说明了PD-1基因表达调控的复杂性,这些结果为PD-1基因的表达调控提供了结构基础和依据.     

水稻OsWRKY89启动子紫外线-B反应元件区的鉴定

植物需要利用太阳光能进行光合作用,因而不可避免地受到紫外线-B(UV-B) 辐射的影响．为了鉴定水稻WRKY转 录因子OsWRKY89基因启动子中的UV-B反应相关元件,分析了转启动子不同缺失片段与gus融合基因的水稻幼苗,发现在该启动子中存在UV-B反应元件,位于基因翻译起始位点上游-1 213～-1 188之间的25 bp区域,碱基序列为AAGATCTACCATTGCTCTATAGCTT．结合OsWRKY89和UV-B诱导上调表达基因启动子序列分析发现,该元件区在水稻UV-B反应基因启动子上具有高度的保守性,而且与已知保守的光反应元件位置邻近,表明该区域在水稻UV-B反应的转录调控中可能具有重要功能．     

细胞因子对血管平滑肌细胞MMP-2基因表达的诱导及其作用机制研究

为了探讨血管平滑肌细胞 ( VSMC)基质金属蛋白酶 - 2 ( MMP- 2 )基因的表达调控机制 ,利用Northern印迹杂交和 MMP- 2活性酶图分析检查 b FGF、TNF- α和 IL- 1 β对 VSMC MMP- 2基因表达的影响 ,应用电泳迁移率改变实验 ( EMSA)和 CAT分析对其作用机制进行研究 .结果证实 ,3种细胞因子均能显著诱导 MMP- 2基因表达 ,其作用强度依次为 b FGF>TNF-α>IL - 1β.将 MMP-2基因 5′侧翼 - 61 9～ 1 9bp调控序列克隆进携带报告基因的重组质粒 p SV0 - CAT后 ,经转染VSMC及 CAT分析显示 ,在上述 3种细胞因子的作用下 ,该调控序列可激活 cat基因表达 ,三者促进 cat表达的活性与其诱导 VSMC表达 MMP- 2的结果相一致 ;EMSA结果显示 ,被 b FGF和TNF- α刺激的 VSMC中产生与该基因调控区序列特异结合的转录调控因子 .提示细胞因子除可激活 VSMC细胞周期调节基因表达外 ,还可通过诱导 MMP- 2表达而发挥其对细胞外基质代谢的调节作用及参与 VSMC迁移的启动过程 ;细胞因子对 VSMC MMP- 2基因表达的诱导作用是通过促进转录调控因子的合成或活化而实现的 .     

内含子数量改变GUS基因的瞬时表达调控

内含子是基因的重要组成部分,它与功能基因表达之间的关系越来越被重视.本研究以pCAMBIA3301为载体,利用玉米泛素启动子Ubi1和水稻肌动蛋白启动子Actin1构建两个GUS基因表达载体p33U1和p33A1,同时设置3个对照载体.通过基因枪轰击法将上述载体转入水稻胚性愈伤组织,探讨内含子对外源目的基因表达的调控作用.组织化学检测结果表明:CaMV35S启动子调控下的iGUS (带内含子)基因能够顺利表达;同样,Actin1启动子(带内含子)调控下的不带内含子的GUS基因也可以正常表达,而当Actin1启动子(带内含子)驱动iGUS基因时,则导致GUS染色反应不能发生.Ubi1启动子(带内含子)调控GUS基因的瞬时表达也得出类似结果,证明表达框中内含子的数量为1个或两个时,对GUS基因的表达起到了不同的调控作用.本研究结果对植物表达载体构建及功能基因表达都具有指导意义.     

mas双向启动子

农杆菌Ti质粒上存在甘露碱合成酶 (mannopinesynthase)基因mas1′和mas2′ ,两基因之间 479bp的间隔区即为由mas1′和mas2′基因共用的双向启动子 .由于mas启动子长度较短 ,且在各种类型的植物中能够高效表达 ,所以可用于许多植物基因表达载体的构建 .为确定mas1′启动子不同区段的作用 ,将不同缺失长度的mas1′启动子与GUS报告基因融合 .在转基因烟草中发现 ,随着mas1′启动子片段的缩短 ,GUS活性表达水平反而提高 ,但当缺失至 - 5 8时便没有了活性 .表明有多个DNA元件调节mas1′启动子的活性 .进一步分析发现 ,在- 10 0～ - 5 8之间存…     

棉花曲叶病毒互补链基因启动子功能区的缺失分析

棉花曲叶病毒(CLCuV)互补链基因启动子是一种新型的启动子,它能驱动外源基因在植物体内高效表达.为了研究其最佳启动子区域,对启动子5′端进行了一系列缺失,得到5种不同长度的启动子片段与gus 基因融合的植物表达载体.继而导入根癌农杆菌,采用叶盘法转化烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.cv.Xanthi),并检测转基因植株的GUS活性.实验结果表明,自启动子5′端缺失至转译起始位点上游-287,-271时启动子活性分别是全长启动子的5倍,3倍.-271～-176元件对启动子在韧皮部的表达活性起重要作用.自-176缺失至-141时,启动子的活性降低至全长启动子的1/30～1/20,启动子在根中失去表达活性,但在叶、茎中仍有微弱的活性.对棉花曲叶病毒互补链基因启动子的功能区进行了分析比较,发现缺失负调控元件的启动子比全长启动子具有更强的活性,平均活性是CaMV 35S启动子的12倍,暗示该启动子具有巨大的应用潜力.研究结果也为进一步了解双生病毒基因表达调控机制及病毒-植物间的相互作用提供了新的线索.     

Expression and function of interleukin-6 in epithelial cells

Epithelial cells both produce and are affected by interleukin-6 (IL-6). Experiments with an adenocarcinoma-derived cell line (HeLa) reveal that activation of the transfected human IL-6 promoter occurs largely through two partially overlapping second messenger (cAMP, phorbol ester)- and cytokine (IL-1, TNF, serum)-responsive enhancer elements (MRE 1, -173 to -151 and MRE II, -158 to -145). MRE I contains the typical GACGTCA cAMP and phorbol ester-responsive (CRE-TRE) motif, whereas MRE II defines a new CRE/TRE motif that contains an imperfect dyad repeat. The mechanism of dexamethasone-mediated repression of IL-6 gene expression in epithelial cells involves occlusion of the entire MRE enhancer region and of the core-promoter elements (TATA-box and RNA start site) by ligand-activated glucocorticoid receptor. Enhanced levels of IL-6 expression are observed in many solid tumors and in the hyperproliferative (and glucocorticoid-suppressible) lesions of psoriasis. In cell culture, IL-6 enhances, inhibits, or has no effect on the proliferation of epithelial cells depending upon the cell-type examined. IL-6 enhances proliferation of keratinocytes but inhibits that of breast carcinoma cell lines ZR-75-1 and T-47D. In these breast carcinoma cells, IL-6 elicits a major change in cell phenotype which is characterized by a fibroblastoid morphology, enhanced motility, increased cell-cell separation, and decreased adherens type junctions (desmosomes and focal adhesions). The new data identify IL-6 as a regulator of epithelial cell growth and of cell-cell association.     

Heavy metal-mediated activation of the rat Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene via a metal-responsive element

The Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide radicals produced in the course of biological oxidations. When placed under the control of the rat SOD1 gene promoter and transfected into human HepG2 hepatoma cells, the activity of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was found to increase three- to four-fold in the presence of heavy metals (cadmium, zinc and copper). Functional analysis of mutant derivatives of the SOD1 gene promoter and the use of a heterologous promoter system confirmed that the induction of the SOD1 gene by metal ions requires a metal-responsive element (MRE) located between positions −273 and −267 (GCGCGCA). It was also shown by gel mobility shift assays that an MRE binding protein is induced by the exposure of the human liver cell line HepG2 to heavy metals. These results suggest that the MRE participates in the induction of the SOD1 gene by heavy metals. Received: 5 February 1999 / Accepted: 21 May 1999     

The two positively acting regulatory proteins PHO2 and PHO4 physically interact with PHO5 upstream activation regions.

The repressible acid phosphatase gene PHO5 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the two positively acting regulatory proteins PHO2 and PHO4 for expression. pho2 or pho4 mutants are not able to derepress the PHO5 gene under low-Pi conditions. Here we show that both PHO2 and PHO4 bind specifically to the PHO5 promoter in vitro. Gel retardation assays using promoter deletions revealed two regions involved in PHO4 binding. Further characterization by DNase I footprinting showed two protected areas, one located at -347 to -373 (relative to the ATG initiator codon) (UASp1) and the other located at -239 to -262 (UASp2). Exonuclease III footprint experiments revealed stops at -349 and -368 (UASp1) as well as at -245 and -260 (UASp2). Gel retardation assays with the PHO2 protein revealed a binding region that lay between the two PHO4-binding sites. DNase I footprint analysis suggested a PHO2-binding site covering the region between -277 and -296.     

P53 mediated regulation of metallothionein transcription in breast cancer cells

Recent studies have shown that only breast cancer epithelial cells with intact p53 can induce metallothionein (MT) synthesis after exposure to metals. In this study, the potential role of p53 on regulation of MT was investigated. Results demonstrate that zinc and copper increased metal response elements (MREs) activity and MTF-1 expression in p53 positive MN1 and parental MCF7 cells. However, inactivation of p53 by treatment with pifithrin-alpha or the presence of inactive p53 inhibited MRE-dependent reporter gene expression in response to metals. MTF-1 levels remained unchanged after treatment with zinc in cells with nonfunctional p53. The introduction of wild-type p53 in MDD2 cells, containing nonfunctional p53, enhanced the ability of zinc to increase MRE-dependent reporter gene expression. The cellular level of p21Cip1/WAF1 was increased in MDD2 cells after p53 transfection, confirming the presence of active p53. The treatment of MN1 and parental MCF7 with trichostatin A led to a sixfold increase in the MRE activity in response to zinc. On the contrary, MRE activity remained unaltered in MDD2 cells with inactive p53. The above results demonstrate that activation of p53 is an important factor in metal regulation of MT.