带Tat标记质粒载体的构建及其转导融合蛋白进入细胞的研究

采用点突变技术构建了带 6×His、Tat和Flag多个标记的pET HTF的质粒载体 ,利用基因重组技术构建pET HTF EGFP融合蛋白载体 .酶切和DNA测序证明 ,所构建的pET HTF和pET HTF EGFP载体正确 .BL2 1(DE3)表达融合蛋白 ,用Ni2 + 分离柱纯化His Tat Flag EGFP蛋白 ,并加入培养的NIH3T3细胞 .荧光显微镜观察显示 ,His Tat Flag EGFP融合蛋白进入细胞 .带His、Tat和Flag标记的质粒载体pET 14b HTF表达的融合蛋白能够进入细胞 ,该载体为进行蛋白质功能研究和基因治疗研究提供了一个重要工具     

HIV-1 Tat蛋白在细胞核中的功能

HIV-1 Tat蛋白是HIV-1病毒基因表达的重要调控蛋白,其通过与不同的细胞分子及信号通路相互作用来调控细胞过程。Tat蛋白由感染细胞产生,也可由感染细胞产生后分泌而作用于其他细胞;因此,它既能影响感染细胞,也能影响未感染细胞。Tat蛋白积聚在细胞核中,但根据其表达水平的不同,其可能会定位于核质或核仁,并发挥不同的核效应。该文针对Tat蛋白的结构、核输入机制及细胞核效应的研究进展进行概述。     

bc-2核酶与Bax在诱导食管癌细胞凋亡中的协同作用

为了同时调节二种凋亡相关蛋白的表达诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,探索肿瘤基因治疗的可能性,同时转入可诱导表达的特异性切割bcl-2的核酶基因及bax基因,间接免疫荧光标记法检测Bcl-2及Bax蛋白的表达量,用TUNEL、流式细胞术及琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测细胞凋亡.共转染后Bcl-2蛋白表达下降,同时Bax蛋白表达升高,导致30%左右细胞凋亡,并可使细胞对紫杉醇的敏感度增加近4倍,使紫杉醇有效作用时间缩短近一倍.同时调节二个凋亡相关基因可导致细胞凋亡,并能有效促进化疗药物诱导的凋亡.同时校正多个基因的异常表达,比仅仅改变单个基因可更有效地达到治疗肿瘤的目的.     

bcl-2核酶与Bax在诱导食管癌细胞凋亡中的协同作用

为了同时调节二种凋亡相关蛋白的表达诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡 ,探索肿瘤基因治疗的可能性 ,同时转入可诱导表达的特异性切割 bcl- 2的核酶基因及 bax基因 ,间接免疫荧光标记法检测 Bcl- 2及Bax蛋白的表达量 ,用 TUNEL、流式细胞术及琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测细胞凋亡 .共转染后 Bcl- 2蛋白表达下降 ,同时 Bax蛋白表达升高 ,导致 30 %左右细胞凋亡 ,并可使细胞对紫杉醇的敏感度增加近4倍 ,使紫杉醇有效作用时间缩短近一倍 .同时调节二个凋亡相关基因可导致细胞凋亡 ,并能有效促进化疗药物诱导的凋亡 .同时校正多个基因的异常表达 ,比仅仅改变单个基因可更有效地达到治疗肿瘤的目的 .     

bcl-2核酶(Ribozyme)促进紫杉醇诱导的细胞凋亡

用核酶技术阻断或降低抗凋亡蛋白 Bcl- 2的表达以促进化疗药物紫杉醇诱导的食管癌细胞凋亡 ,探索克服耐药、提高紫杉醇疗效的新途径 .将特异性切割 Bcl- 2 m RNA的核酶克隆至含MTII启动子并可为 Zn SO4 诱导表达的真核表达载体中 ,通过脂质体转入食管癌鳞状上皮细胞系Eca 1 0 9中 ,经 G41 8筛选得到稳定抗性细胞株 X1 0 9R,挑取单细胞株扩大培养 ,1 40μmol/L Zn SO4诱导 3d,用 Northern- blot、免疫荧光、流式细胞仪鉴定核酶及 Bcl- 2蛋白表达情况 ,用 TUNEL标记及流式细胞术检测凋亡细胞的比例 .bcl- 2核酶在不同单细胞株中有不同程度的表达 ,其中一株X1 0 9R1 4表达最高 .测定其中 Bcl- 2蛋白含量 ,发现 Bcl- 2蛋白表达大为降低 .加入紫杉醇后 ,TUNEL标记及凋亡峰测定结果都表明同一条件下凋亡率升高 .结果提示 ,转入特异性切割 bcl- 2m RNA的核酶可有效地阻断 Bcl- 2蛋白合成 .Bcl- 2蛋白表达降低可明显促进紫杉醇诱导的细胞凋亡 .说明 Bcl- 2蛋白在细胞产生耐药过程中起着重要作用     

华蟾素诱导人胃癌MKN-45细胞凋亡

本研究旨在探讨华蟾素诱导人胃癌MKN-45细胞凋亡及其机制.分别用终浓度0、60、70、80μg/L的华蟾素作用于人胃癌MKN-45细胞48 h,采用激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞形态结构,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率、线粒体膜电位,RT-qPCR和Western blot分别检测Bax、Bcl-2、Cy tC、Caspase 9和Caspase 3基因表达水平.结果显示,与对照组相比,0、60、70、80μg/L的华蟾素作用人胃癌MKN-45细胞48h,呈现细胞皱缩、细胞核裂解、染色质凝集等形态学变化,早期凋亡细胞和晚期凋亡细胞所占百分比均显著增加,线粒体膜电位(ΔΨm)显著降低.Bax、Cyt C、Caspase 9和Caspase 3基因的mRNA及蛋白表达水平随着药物浓度的升高均显著升高(P＜0.01),Bcl-2基因mRNA及蛋白表达水平随着药物浓度的升高显著降低(P＜0.01),提示华蟾素可通过上调Bax、Cyt C、Caspase 9和Caspase 3基因表达,下调Bcl-2基因表达诱导人胃癌MKN-45细胞凋亡.     

RNA结合域决定JDV Tat具有较强的激活能力

为分析JDV与BIV、HIV-1 LTR和Tat相互激活能力差异的原因,在氨基酸序列对比及HIV-1 Tat功能域划分的基础上构建了JH、HJ、JB、BJ几种嵌合Tat蛋白,并克隆到真核表达载体.将上述表达质粒与以JDV、BIV和HIV-1 LTR为启动子,以luc为报告基因的质粒共转染Hela细胞,证实了三种不同Tat激活能力的差异主要来自其结合域RNA结合能力的差异,排除了结构域不完整和细胞因子缺乏造成JH不激活HIV-1 LTR的可能性.     

细胞色素c的释放是多巴胺诱导PC12细胞凋亡的重要环节

通过末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导dUTP缺口翻译法和DNA凝胶电泳观察多巴胺(DA)对PC12细胞凋亡的诱导作用, 并经蛋白质印迹法检测胞浆细胞色素c、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白以及活化型半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(caspase-3)水平. 结果表明, 在DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡的过程中, 可见PC12细胞中活化型caspase-3蛋白表达, 胞浆中细胞色素c水平明显增高, 同时Bcl-2蛋白水平下降, 而Bax蛋白水平明显增加. 环孢菌素A预处理对细胞色素c释放和caspase-3激活有明显的抑制作用, 而对Bcl-2和Bax蛋白影响不明显. 结果提示, Bcl-2和Bax蛋白、细胞色素c以及caspase-3可能参与DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡, 线粒体细胞色素c向胞浆释放可能是其中的中心环节.     

香菇Latcripin-8蛋白诱导HepG-2细胞凋亡的 机制研究

目的探讨香菇Latcripin-8蛋白对HepG-2肝癌细胞凋亡的诱导作用及其机制。方法运用倒置显微镜、透射电镜、吉姆萨染色法和流式细胞仪法对细胞凋亡进行检测。采用Western blot法检测JAK3、STAT3和P53等凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平。采用Caspase-8活性检测盒检测Caspase-8活性。结果 HepG-2细胞经Latcripin-8蛋白作用后,倒置显微镜、透射电镜和吉姆萨染色等检测显示在形态学上Latcripin-8蛋白结构域抑制HepG-2细胞生长,并伴有凋亡小体产生。流式细胞仪检测显示该蛋白诱导HepG-2细胞凋亡。Western blot法检测结果显示JAK3和STAT3等蛋白的表达水平随药物浓度的增加而下降,而P53随药物浓度增加其表达量上升;凋亡相关因子Caspase-8的活性与对照组相比也均有不同程度的提高。结论香菇Latcripin-8蛋白结构域可能是通过JAK-STAT信号通路来诱导HepG-2肝癌细胞凋亡。     

二氢杨梅素通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡

本文探讨二氢杨梅素(dihydromyricetin,DHM)是否通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡.使用四甲基偶氮唑盐法(MTT)检测PC12细胞活力;流式细胞仪检测PC12细胞早、晚期凋亡及死亡细胞率;Hoechst 33258染色观察凋亡细胞核变化;蛋白质印迹法(Western blotting)检测PC12细胞凋亡相关蛋白(Bax、Bcl-2、cleaved-Caspase-3)和p-JNK蛋白的表达.结果发现,不同浓度的葡萄糖(4.5、9.0、13.5、18.0 g/L)分别处理PC12细胞24、48、72、96 h后,发现浓度为13.5 g/L的高糖处理PC12细胞72 h可明显改变细胞形态、降低细胞活力、增加细胞凋亡率,同时促凋亡蛋白(Bax、Caspase-3)表达增加、抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达降低,提示:长时间高糖处理可诱导PC12细胞凋亡.DHM(15μmol/L)预处理能明显改善高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡,降低高糖诱导的PC12细胞中JNK和p-JNK蛋白的表达;进一步用JNK激动剂(茴香霉素)处理能取消DHM对高糖诱导PC12细胞凋亡的保护作用.综上,得出结论:DHM通过下调JNK信号拮抗高糖诱导的PC12细胞凋亡.     

Suppression of transmitter release by Tat HPC-1/syntaxin 1A fusion protein.

It has been reported that the fusion protein with the protein transduction domain (PTD) peptide of HIV-1 Tat protein can be internalized through the cell membrane of intact cells, although the exact mechanism is unknown. In this report, we investigated whether this new method could be used for the molecular analysis of exocytosis via HPC-1/syntaxin 1A, which plays an important role in transmitter release. When applied to PC12 cells, Tat PTD fusion proteins were rapidly internalized into most cells. In order to show that the internalized protein remained biologically active, the H3 domain of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A was fused to Tat PTD (Tat-H3). Transmitter release in PC12 cells was suppressed by Tat-H3 treatment. These results indicate that the Tat fusion protein is a useful tool for analyzing the process of transmitter release.     

Characteristics of HIV-Tat protein transduction domain

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein transduction domain (PTD), which contains rich arginine and lysine residues, is responsible for the highly efficient transduction of protein through the plasma membrane. In addition, it can be secreted from infected cells and has the ability to enter neighboring cells. When the PTD of Tat is fused to proteins and exogenously added to cells, the fusion protein can cross plasma membranes. Recent reports indicate that the endogenously expressed Tat fusion protein can demonstrate biodistribution of several proteins. However, intercellular transport and protein transduction have not been observed in some studies. Therefore, this study examined the intercellular transport and protein transduction of the Tat protein. The results showed no evidence of intercellular transport (biodistribution) in a cell culture. Instead, the Tat fusion peptides were found to have a significant effect on the transduction and intercellular localization properties. This suggests that the HIV-1 PTD passes through the plasma membrane in one direction.     

Internalization of HIV-1 tat requires cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans

Tat, the transactivator protein of human immunodeficiency virus-1, has the unusual capacity of being internalized by cells when present in the extracellular milieu. This property can be exploited for the cellular delivery of heterologous proteins fused to Tat both in cell culture and in living animals. Here we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that cell membrane heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans act as receptors for extracellular Tat uptake. Cells genetically defective in the biosynthesis of fully sulfated HS are selectively impaired in the internalization of recombinant Tat fused to the green fluorescent protein, as evaluated by both flow cytometry and functional assays. In wild type cells, Tat uptake is competitively inhibited by soluble heparin and by treatment with glycosaminoglycan lyases specifically degrading HS chains. Cell surface HS proteoglycans also mediate physiological internalization of Tat green fluorescent protein released from neighboring producing cells. In contrast to extracellular Tat uptake, both wild type cells and cells genetically impaired in proteoglycan synthesis are equally proficient in the extracellular release of Tat, thus indicating that proteoglycans are not required for this process. The ubiquitous distribution of HS proteoglycans is consistent with the efficient intracellular delivery of heterologous proteins fused with Tat to different mammalian cell types.     

Enhanced uptake of a heterologous protein with an HIV-1 Tat protein transduction domains (PTD) at both termini

Poor membrane permeability of proteins is a major limitation of protein therapy. In a previous study, we showed that the minimal sequence required for efficient transduction of Tat-GFP is the basic domain from 49-57 of HIV-1 Tat called the protein transduction domain (PTD. Here we have generated HIV-1 Tat PTD GFP fusion proteins in which HIV-1 Tat PTD is fused with the N- and/or C-termini of GFP. The various GFP fusion proteins were purified from Escherichia coli and characterized for their ability to enter mammalian cells using Western blot analysis, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The GFP fusion protein with Tat PTD at its C-terminus was taken up as efficiently as the GFP fusion protein with Tat PTD at its N-terminus. However, the same protein with PTDs at its both termini was taken up even more efficiently. All the GFP fusion proteins were present in both the nucleus and cytosol of the transduced cells. Uptake was lower at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. The availability of the expression vectors developed in this study may help to devise novel strategies in the rational development of protein-based drugs.     

Selective isolation and purification of tat protein via affinity membrane separation

This work deals with the separation of Tat protein from a complex fermentation broth using an affinity membrane system. Tat is a regulatory protein that is critical for HIV-1 replication and thus a potential candidate for vaccine and drug development. Furthermore, Tat can facilitate transport of exogenous molecules across cell membranes and is implicated in pathogenesis of HIV dementia. Affinity membranes were prepared through coupling of avidin within a 4-stack membrane construct. Tat (naturally biotinylated) accessibility in the bacterial lysate feed was influenced by the presence of RNAse, protein concentration, and ionic strength. Enhanced accessibility translated to a marked increase in the overall product yield per pass. The purity of the membrane-isolated Tat was compared to that prepared via packed column chromatography through SDS-PAGE, Western blot, activity assay, and neurotoxicity studies. Tat protein produced via membrane separation yielded primarily monomeric forms of the oligopeptide sequence, whereas column chromatography produced predominately polymeric forms of Tat. These differences resulted in changes in the neurotoxicity and cellular uptake of the two preparations.     

Tat‐antioxidant 1 protects against stress‐induced hippocampal HT‐22 cells death and attenuate ischaemic insult in animal model

Oxidative stress‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) are responsible for various neuronal diseases. Antioxidant 1 (Atox1) regulates copper homoeostasis and promotes cellular antioxidant defence against toxins generated by ROS. The roles of Atox1 protein in ischaemia, however, remain unclear. In this study, we generated a protein transduction domain fused Tat‐Atox1 and examined the roles of Tat‐Atox1 in oxidative stress‐induced hippocampal HT‐22 cell death and an ischaemic injury animal model. Tat‐Atox1 effectively transduced into HT‐22 cells and it protected cells against the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)‐induced toxicity including increasing of ROS levels and DNA fragmentation. At the same time, Tat‐Atox1 regulated cellular survival signalling such as p53, Bad/Bcl‐2, Akt and mitogen‐activate protein kinases (MAPKs). In the animal ischaemia model, transduced Tat‐Atox1 protected against neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region. In addition, Tat‐Atox1 significantly decreased the activation of astrocytes and microglia as well as lipid peroxidation in the CA1 region after ischaemic insult. Taken together, these results indicate that transduced Tat‐Atox1 protects against oxidative stress‐induced HT‐22 cell death and against neuronal damage in animal ischaemia model. Therefore, we suggest that Tat‐Atox1 has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of oxidative stress‐induced ischaemic damage.     

Enhanced transduction of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase with HIV-1 Tat protein transduction domains at both termini

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein transduction domain (PTD) is responsible for highly efficient protein transduction across plasma membranes. In a previous study, we showed that Tat-Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Tat-SOD) can be directly transduced into mammalian cells across the lipid membrane barrier. In this study, we fused the human SOD gene with a Tat PTD transduction vector at its N- and/or C-terminus. The fusion proteins (Tat-SOD, SOD-Tat, Tat-SOD-Tat) were purified from Escherichia coli and their ability to enter cells in vitro and in vivo compared by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The transduction efficiencies and biological activities of the SOD fusion protein with the Tat PTD at either terminus were equivalent and lower than the fusion protein with the Tat PTD at both termini. The availability of a more efficient SOD fusion protein provides a powerful vehicle for therapy in human diseases related to this anti-oxidant enzyme and to reactive oxygen species.     

Trans-dominant Tat mutants with alterations in the basic domain inhibit HIV-1 gene expression

The Tat protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is required for efficient viral gene expression. By means of mutational analyses, several domains of the Tat protein that are required for complete activation of HIV-1 gene expression have been defined. These include an amino-terminal activating domain, a cysteine-rich dimerization domain, and a basic domain important in the binding of Tat to the trans-activation response element (TAR) and in Tat nuclear localization. Recently, we described a mutation, known as delta tat, which resulted in a protein with a truncated basic domain. This protein had a "trans-dominant" phenotype in that it inhibited wild-type Tat activation of the HIV-1 LTR. To further characterize the requirements for generating a Tat trans-dominant phenotype, we constructed a variety of Tat proteins with truncations or substitutions in the basic domain. A number of these proteins showed a trans-dominant phenotype. These Tat mutants also inhibited activation of the HIV-1 LTR by a protein composed of Tat fused to the prokaryotic R17 (phage MS2) RNA-binding protein in which the R17 recognition element was inserted in the HIV-1 LTR in place of TAR. Thus, an intact TAR element was not required for this inhibition. We also studied the cellular localization of Tat and a trans-dominant Tat mutant by means of immunofluorescence staining with the use of antibodies reactive to different domains of the Tat protein. The results indicated that Tat becomes localized predominantly in the nucleus both in the presence and absence of the trans-dominant Tat construct, suggesting that the trans-dominant mutant does not inhibit Tat nuclear localization. These studies further define the requirements for the creation of trans-dominant Tat mutants, and suggest that the mechanism of trans-dominant Tat inhibition may be either the formation of an inactive complex between wild-type and mutant Tat or sequestration of cellular factors involved in regulating HIV-1 gene expression.