四环素-绿色荧光蛋白融合蛋白的构建及其活性测定

将来源于水母的绿色荧光蛋白基因 (gfp)和来源于E .coli转座子Tn10的四环素阻遏蛋白基因 (tetR)共同构建到E .coli表达载体pET_30a +上 ,获得TetRC_端与GFPN_端融合蛋白。对经诱导表达并纯化后的融合蛋白 (TR∷GFP)进行荧光发射光谱分析表明 ,该融合蛋白保留了GFP的荧光特性 ,即在 395nm激发下 ,可在 5 10nm附近有特征发射峰。在加入四环素后 ,融合蛋白在 395nm激发下 ,在400nm～700nm范围内的发射光谱发生明显变化 ,荧光强度普遍增加 ,且以 510nm处最大发射峰增幅最大 ,由原来 1132增至 2214 ,而四环素对相同浓度的GFP与TetR荧光影响不大 ,结果表明该融合蛋白 ,能感受外界四环素 ,并产生一定的荧光变化。     

截短和融合的绿色荧光蛋白的表达及其荧光特性

水母Aequoreavictoria的绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP)是一种能发射强烈荧光的特殊蛋白质 ,其荧光的产生是由于内部第 6 5～ 6 7位的Ser -Tyr- Gly自身环化和氧化形成生色基团的缘故 .Ser6 5→Thr(简称S6 5T)突变型的荧光强度较野生型GFP高出6倍 ,并且其激发波更长 ,肉眼可见发出的强烈荧光 .将 gfp_S65TP基因从 3′端截短 36bp ,不影响GFPS65T的荧光特性 ,但当截短到 2 2 5bp时 ,几乎失去了荧光特性 .将HBVe抗原基因与突变型 gfp_S65TP融合 ,发现其激发光谱又回复到野生型状态 .虽然其荧光强度与 gfp_S65TP相似 ,但发射波谱变宽且肉眼不能观察 .若将表达这种融合蛋白的菌落在低温下存放数日 ,则又恢复了它肉眼可见的绿色荧光 .以上结果说明GFP的发光机制除与生色基团有关外 ,也与GFP分子的构象完整性和分子内微环境有关 ,野生型GFP与HCVCore抗原的融合也证实了这一点 .     

绿色荧光蛋白与 HCV 核心蛋白的融合及在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

利用基因工程重组技术获得了绿色荧光蛋白（ｇｆｐ）基因与ＨＣＶ核心蛋白基因的嵌合体,并在大肠杆菌中高效表达了４８ｋＤａ的融合蛋白,经Ｄｏｔ－ＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ免疫活性分析证实,融合蛋白仍具有ｃｏｒｅ抗原的三个免疫活性部位,同时用荧光显微镜观察并用荧光光度计测定了大肠直菌表达的融合蛋白的荧光光谱,结果证实,我们在大肠杆菌中表达的ＧＦＰ－ｃｏｒｅ融合蛋白既能发射易于检测的绿色荧光,又具     

绿色荧光蛋白与 HCV 核心蛋白的融合及在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

利用基因工程重组技术获得了绿色荧光蛋白（ｇｆｐ）基因与ＨＣＶ核心蛋白（ｃｏｒｅ）基因的嵌合体,并在大肠杆菌中高效表达了４８ｋＤａ的融合蛋白,经ＤｏｔＥＬＩＳＡ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ免疫活性分析证实,融合蛋白仍具有ｃｏｒｅ抗原的三个免疫活性部位,同时用荧光显微镜观察并用荧光光度计测定了大肠杆菌表达的融合蛋白的荧光光谱,结果证实,我们在大肠杆菌中表达的ＧＦＰｃｏｒｅ融合蛋白既能发射易于检测的绿色荧光,又具有ＨＣＶ核心蛋白的抗原活性,实现了用绿色荧光蛋白等分子标记抗原,为免疫诊断新方法的建立,打下了理论基础。     

橙色荧光蛋白的研究进展及其应用

荧光蛋白(Fluorescent protein,FPs)可作为探针用以探究细胞内分子间相互作用,追踪特定代谢物的代谢途径,对活细胞内的各种代谢过程和细胞通路进行详细、准确的描述。目前已有的FPs几乎已经覆盖了从紫外光到远红外光的所有光谱波段,这些FPs借助高分辨率显微技术应用于生命科学的诸多领域,为生物学的发展作出巨大贡献。橙色FPs通常指光谱区间在540–570nm的FPs,近几年来关于橙色FPs的研究进展较快,并且其作为标记蛋白以及荧光共振能量转移技术(Fluorescence resonance energy transfer,FRET)中的荧光受体在生物学及医学领域得到较多的应用。文中综述了近15年橙色FPs领域的相关研究,重点聚焦橙色FPs的发展和应用,为今后橙色FPs的研究提供依据。     

绿色荧光蛋白的发光机制

从多管水母（Ａｅｑｕｏｒｅａｖｉｃｔｏｒｉａ）中分离纯化的绿色荧光蛋白（ＧＦＰ）是由２３８个氨基酸残基组成的单链多肽,分子量约２７ｋＤ,１９９２年其ｃＤＮＡ被克隆［１］。１９９４年重组野生型ＧＦＰ（ＷｔＧＦＰ）在异源细胞中表达［２］。野生型ＧＦＰ被紫外光和蓝光激发后能发出绿色荧光,最大荧光吸收／激发峰在３９５ｎｍ,在４７５ｎｍ有一个肩峰,荧光发射峰为５０８ｎｍ。ＧＦＰ的结构和光致荧光非常稳定,而且因ＧＦＰ生色团的形成是自催化的,检测ＧＦＰ的光致荧光不需要外加底物和辅因子,便于活体观察［２］。如今…     

从超声波破碎的蓝藻类囊体膜中分离的叶绿素蛋白复合物

当蓝藻的类囊体膜用超声波进行破碎,并在4℃下用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳进行分离,有6条叶绿素带被分离出来,它们分别是 CPIa,CPIb,CP1,CPa1 CPa2,FC。CP1 在红区和蓝区的吸收峰分别位于674和435 nm 处。在液氮甲该组分在725和680 nm 处有两个荧光发射带。CPa1和 CPa2的吸收光谱相似,其红峰和蓝峰的位置分别位于667和431.5nm 处。它们在77 K 的荧光发射峰都位于684 nm 处。用超声破碎法分离的叶绿素蛋白复合物的光谱特性,除 CPa1和 CPa2在红峰和蓝峰的吸收位置蓝移了3—5 nm 之外,其余与用 SDS 增溶法分离的相应复合物相似。属于光系统Ⅰ的 CPIa-CPI 的叶绿素含量占总叶绿素的40.93%,而属于光系统Ⅱ的 CPa1和 CPa2的叶绿素则占总叶绿素的38.78%,二者之差仅有2.15%。     

绿色荧光蛋白及其应用

许多海洋无脊椎动物体内都含有绿色荧光蛋白,这种蛋白质结构很特殊,在受到激发时可以发射绿色或蓝色荧光。本文将就绿色荧光蛋白的结构,性质及其应用前景作一综述。     

绿色荧光蛋白

来源于水母Aequorea victoria的绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein, GFP)现已成为在生物化学和细胞生物学中研究和开发应用得最广泛的蛋白质之一. 其内源荧光基团在受到紫外光或蓝光激发时（λ_max=395 nm, 小峰在479 nm）可高效发射清晰可见的绿光. GFP的高分辨率晶体结构为了解和研究蛋白质结构和光谱学功能关系提供了一个极好的机会. GFP已成为一个监测在完整细胞和组织内基因表达和蛋白质定位的理想标记. 通过突变和蛋白质工程构建的GFP嵌合蛋白在生理指示剂、生物传感器、光化学领域以及生产发光纤维等方面展示了广阔前景.     

绿色荧光蛋白基因在昆虫细胞中的克隆与表达

将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因亚克隆到转移载体pVLneo的多角体蛋白基因(ocu)启动子下游,与杆状病素AcNPV DNA共转染昆虫细胞,通过同源重组和G418筛选,构建了整合有GFP基因的重组病毒。在昆虫细胞中表达的GFP,MW为30kDa,在荧光显微镜下呈现美丽的绿色,荧光光谱表明其激发波长395nm,发射波长509nm。Southern blot杂交证明,重组病毒的1kb EcoRI片段与GFP cDNA探针有很强的杂交信号,这是GFP基因在杆状病毒基因组中整合的直接证据。     

Variants of Green Fluorescent Protein GFPxm

As research progresses, fluorescent proteins useful for optical marking will evolve toward brighter, monomeric forms that are more diverse in color. We previously reported a new fluorescent protein from Aequorea macrodactyla, GFPxm, that exhibited many characteristics similar to wild-type green fluorescent protein (GFP). However, the application of GFPxm was limited because GFPxm expressed and produced fluorescence only at low temperatures. To improve the fluorescent properties of GFPxm, 12 variants were produced by site-directed mutagenesis and DNA shuffling. Seven of these mutants could produce strong fluorescence when expressed at 37°C. The relative fluorescence intensities of mutants GFPxm16, GFPxm18, and GFPxm19 were higher than that of EGFP (enhanced GFP) when the expression temperature was between 25 and 37°C, and mutants GFPxm16 and GFPxm163 could maintain a high fluorescence intensity even when expressed at 42°C. Meanwhile, at least 4 mutants could be successfully expressed in mammalian cell lines. The fluorescence spectra of 6 of the 12 mutants had a progressive red shift. The longest excitation-emission maximum was at 514/525 nm. In addition, 3 of the 12 mutants had two excitation peaks including an UV-excitation peak, while another mutant had only one UV-excitation peak.     

Red fluorescent protein from Discosoma as a fusion tag and a partner for fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The biochemical and biophysical properties of a red fluorescent protein from a Discosoma species (DsRed) were investigated. The recombinant DsRed expressed in E. coli showed a complex absorption spectrum that peaked at 277, 335, 487, 530, and 558 nm. Excitation at each of the absorption peaks produced a main emission peak at 583 nm, whereas a subsidiary emission peak at 500 nm appeared with excitation only at 277 or 487 nm. Incubation of E. coli or the protein at 37 degrees C facilitated the maturation of DsRed, resulting in the loss of the 500-nm peak and the enhancement of the 583-nm peak. In contrast, the 500-nm peak predominated in a mutant DsRed containing two amino acid substitutions (Y120H/K168R). Light-scattering analysis revealed that DsRed proteins expressed in E. coli and HeLa cells form a stable tetramer complex. DsRed in HeLa cells grown at 37 degrees C emitted predominantly at 583 nm. The red fluorescence was imaged using a two-photon laser (Nd:YLF, 1047 nm) as well as a one-photon laser (He:Ne, 543.5 nm). When fused to calmodulin, the red fluorescence produced an aggregation pattern only in the cytosol, which does not reflect the distribution of calmodulin. Despite the above spectral and structural complexity, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants and DsRed was achieved. Dynamic changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations were observed with red cameleons containing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), or Sapphire as the donor and RFP as the acceptor, using conventional microscopy and one- or two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy. Particularly, the use of the Sapphire-DsRed pair rendered the red cameleon tolerant of acidosis occurring in hippocampal neurons, because both Sapphire and DsRed are extremely pH-resistant.     

Characterization of Novel Orange Fluorescent Protein Cloned from Cnidarian Tube Anemone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cerianthus</Emphasis> sp.

A novel orange fluorescent protein (OFP) was cloned from the tentacles of Cnidarian tube anemone Cerianthus sp. It consists of 222 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 25.1 kDa. A BLAST protein sequence homology search revealed that native OFP has 81% sequence identity to Cerianthus membranaceus green fluorescent protein (cmFP512), 38% identity to Entacmaea quadricolor red fluorescent protein (eqFP611), 37% identity to Discosoma red fluorescent protein (DsRed), 36% identity to Fungia concinna Kusabira-orange fluorescent protein (KO), and a mere 21% identity to green fluorescent protein (GFP). It is most likely that OFP also adopts the 11-strand β-barrel structure of fluorescent proteins. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that it has a wide absorption spectrum peak at 548 nm with two shoulders at 487 and 513 nm. A bright orange fluorescence maximum at 573 nm was observed when OFP was excited at 515 nm or above. When OFP was excited well below 515 nm, a considerable amount of green emission maximum at 513 nm was also observed. It has a fluorescence quantum yield (Φ) of 0.64 at 25°C. The molar absorption coefficients (ɛ) of folded OFP at 278 and 548 nm are 47,000 and 60,000 M-1⁻¹ • cm-1⁻¹, respectively. Its fluorescent brightness (ɛ Φ) at 25°C is 38,400 M⁻¹-1 • cm⁻¹-1. Like other orange-red fluorescent proteins, OFP is also tetrameric. It was readily expressed as soluble protein in Escherichia coli at 37°C, and no aggregate was observed in transfected HeLa cells under our experimental conditions. Fluorescent intensity of OFP is detectable over a pH range of 3 to 12.     

Spectral and structural analysis of a red fluorescent protein from Acropora digitifera

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) possess a wide variety of spectral properties that make them of widespread interest as optical markers. These proteins can be applied as pH indicators or metal biosensors. The discovery and characterization of new fluorescent proteins is expected to further extend their application. Here, we report the spectral and structural analysis of a red fluorescent protein from Acropora digitifera (designated AdRed). This protein shows a tetrameric state and is red emitting, with excitation and emission maxima at 567 and 612 nm, respectively. Its crystal structure shows the tetrameric interface stabilized by hydrogen bonding and salt bridges. The electron density map of the chromophore, consisting of Asp66–Tyr67–Gly68, shows the decarboxylated side chain of Asp66. Ser223, located near the chromophore, has the role of bridging His202 and Glu221, and is part of the hydrogen bond network. Mutated AdRed with Cys148Ser reveals a blue shift in fluorescence excitation and emission. Our results provide insights into understanding the molecular function of AdRed and other FPs.     

Inactive and temperature-sensitive folding mutants generated by tryptophan substitutions in the membrane-bound d-lactate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli

A combination of site-specific mutagenesis and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to investigate the structural properties of D-lactate dehydrogenase, a membrane-associated enzyme of Escherichia coli. The protein (65,000 Da) has been labeled with 5-fluorotryptophan for 19F nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Tryptophan has been substituted for individual phenylalanine, tyrosine, isoleucine, and leucine residues at various positions throughout the enzyme molecule, and the fluorinated native and substituted tryptophan residues have been used as probes of the local environment. All 24 mutants thus generated are expressed in E. coli. Ten are fully active and purfiable following the usual procedure, while 14 either are inactive or produce low levels of activity. The amount of active enzyme produced from the low-yield mutants is dependent on the temperature at which synthesis is carried out, with more active enzyme produced at 18 degrees C than at 27, 35, or 42 degrees C. Cells grown at 27 degrees C and then incubated at 42 degrees C retain 90-100% of their activity. All of the expressed protein from the inactive mutants is Triton-insoluble, aggregated, and not readily purfiable; the inactive mutant protein appears to be improperly folded. Most of the expressed D-lactate dehydrogenase from the partially active mutants is also Triton-insoluble; a small fraction, however, is soluble in Triton and can be purified to yield active enzyme. All the purified enzymes from these low-yield mutants of D-lactate dehydrogenase have essentially normal VmaxS, and all but two have normal KmS. Once purified, the low-yield mutant enzymes are stable at 42 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The first mutant of the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein that forms a red chromophore

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a jellyfish, Aequorea victoria, and its mutants are widely used in biomedical studies as fluorescent markers. In spite of the enormous efforts of academia and industry toward generating its red fluorescent mutants, no GFP variants with emission maximum at more than 529 nm have been developed during the 15 years since its cloning. Here, we used a new strategy of molecular evolution aimed at generating a red-emitting mutant of GFP. As a result, we have succeeded in producing the first GFP mutant that substantially matures to the red-emitting state with excitation and emission maxima at 555 and 585 nm, respectively. A novel, nonoxidative mechanism for formation of the red chromophore in this mutant that includes a dehydration of the Ser65 side chain has been proposed. Model experiments showed that the novel dual-color GFP mutant with green and red emission is suitable for multicolor flow cytometry as an additional color since it is clearly separable from both green and red fluorescent tags.     

Improved secretory production of recombinant proteins by random mutagenesis of hlyB, an alpha-hemolysin transporter from Escherichia coli

Fusion proteins with an alpha-hemolysin (HlyA) C-terminal signal sequence are known to be secreted by the HlyB-HlyD-TolC translocator in Escherichia coli. We aimed to establish an efficient Hly secretory expression system by random mutagenesis of hlyB and hlyD. The fusion protein of subtilisin E and the HlyA signal sequence (HlyA(218)) was used as a marker protein for evaluating secretion efficiency. Through screening of more than 1.5 x 10(4) E. coli JM109 transformants, whose hlyB and hlyD genes had been mutagenized by error-prone PCR, we succeeded in isolating two mutants that had 27- and 15-fold-higher levels of subtilisin E secretion activity than the wild type did at 23 degrees C. These mutants also exhibited increased activity levels for secretion of a single-chain antibody-HlyA(218) fusion protein at 23 and 30 degrees C but unexpectedly not at 37 degrees C, suggesting that this improvement seems to be dependent on low temperature. One mutant (AE104) was found to have seven point mutations in both HlyB and HlyD, and an L448F substitution in HlyB was responsible for the improved secretion activity. Another mutant (AE129) underwent a single amino acid substitution (G654S) in HlyB. Secretion of c-Myc-HlyA(218) was detected only in the L448F mutant (AE104F) at 23 degrees C, whereas no secretion was observed in the wild type at any temperature. Furthermore, for the PTEN-HlyA(218) fusion protein, AE104F showed a 10-fold-higher level of secretion activity than the wild type did at 37 degrees C. This result indicates that the improved secretion activity of AE104F is not always dependent on low temperature.     

Lymphocyte chromatin changes in Down's disease detected by heat denaturation]

By using fluorescent microscopy and acridine orange staining it was shown in the studies on short-term culture of human cells that the melting patterns of chromatin DNA of intact lymphocytes of healthy individuals represented the curves with 6 maxima (F530) at the temperature ranges of 45 degrees C, 65 degrees C, 85 degrees C, and 92 degrees C (P less than 0.01). The melting patterns of lymphocytes from patients with Down's disease represented curves with 4 maxima at the temperature ranges of 65 degrees C, 85 degrees C, 88 degrees C, 92 degrees C (P less than 0.01). No decline in the fluorescence intensity at the temperature intervals of 78 degrees C-85 degrees C was apparently due to a greater degree of condensation of definite regions of the trisomal cell chromatin complex. Possible mechanisms accounting for structural readjustments of the interphasic human lymphocyte chromatin occurring under thermal effects are discussed.     

Cryptomonad algal phycobiliproteins as fluorochromes for extracellular and intracellular antigen detection by flow cytometry

BACKGROUND: Phycobiliproteins play an important role in fluorescent labeling, particularly for flow cytometry. The spectral properties of R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and allophycocyanin (APC) have made them the dominant reagents in this class of fluorochromes. In this study, we evaluate a lesser-known but potentially important series of low-molecular weight cryptomonad-derived phycobiliproteins (commercially termed the CryptoFluortrade mark dyes) for their applicability to flow cytometry, both in extracellular and intracellular labeling applications. METHODS: Several cell lines were labeled with biotin-conjugated antibodies against expressed extracellular surface proteins, followed by streptavidin conjugates of three cryptomonad phycobiliproteins (CryptoFluor-2, CryptoFluor-4, and CryptoFluor-5). Cells were then analyzed by flow cytometry using a variety of laser lines and emission filters to establish the optimal excitation/emission characteristics for each fluorochrome. Some cells were permeabilized and labeled for intracellular antigens, also using the cryptomonad fluorochromes. Where appropriate, parallel samples were labeled with other fluorochromes (including R-PE, APC, the cyanin dyes Cy3 and Cy5, and others) to gauge the performance of the cryptomonad fluorochromes against fluorescent labels previously evaluated for flow cytometry. RESULTS: CryptoFluor-2 possessed excitation/emission maxima similar to those of APC and Cy5, with good excitation in the red (HeNe laser 632 nm) and strong emission in the far red (660 nm). CryptoFluor-4 possessed excitation/emission maxima similar to those of Cy3, with optimal excitation in the green (Kr 530 nm) and strong emission in the yellow/orange (585 nm). CryptoFluor-5 possessed excitation/emission maxima similar to those of lissamine rhodamine, with optimal excitation in the yellow (Kr 568 nm) and emission in the orange (610 nm). All cryptomonad fluorochromes gave satisfactory results for both intracellular and extracellular labeling, with detection sensitivities that were comparable or better than traditional phycobiliproteins and low- molecular weight synthetic fluorochromes such as the cyanin dyes. CONCLUSIONS: The CryptoFluor fluorochromes were applicable to flow cytometric immunodetection, with excitation and emission conditions commonly found on multilaser instruments. Performance of several of these dyes was at least comparable to existing fluorescent labels. The low molecular weights (30-60 kd) of phycobiliproteins may make them particularly useful in intracellular antigen detection. Cytometry 44:16-23, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fluorescence emission properties of S-Layer enhanced green fluorescent fusion protein as a function of temperature, pH conditions, and guanidine hydrochloride concentration

The fluorescent properties of the S-layer enhanced green fluorescent fusion protein (rSbpA31-1068/EGFP) were investigated as a function of temperature, pH conditions, and guanidine hydrochloride concentration. These results were compared to the fluorescent properties of the recombinant enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and an equimolar mixture of the S-layer protein rSbpA and EGFP. The intensity of the fluorescence emission of the EGFP at 510 nm, after excitation at 490 nm, is not affected by the presence of rSbpA, either as a fusion partner or as a free protein in solution. In each of the three protein systems, the emission intensity at 510 nm reaches its maximum value between pH 7 and 9 at 20 degrees C and at 0 M guanidine hydrochloride. No fluorescence could be measured at pH 4 and 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. These results show that the S-layer fusion protein (rSbpA31-1068/EGFP) is a suitable candidate for future applications in nanobiotechonology at a wide range of pH, temperature, and guanidine hydrochloride concentrations.