小熊猫精原干细胞的分选与培养

野生动物的保护手段主要包括就地保护、易地保护与离体保护。精原干细胞（SSCs）是雄性动物维持生殖能力的根本,既能通过自我更新产生新细胞,也能通过分化产生精子,在小熊猫（Ailurus fulgens）离体保护方面具有广阔的应用前景。动物睾丸中精原干细胞数量极少,分离纯化与体外培养对于其研究和应用至关重要。本研究选择整合素α6（ITGA6）蛋白作为精原干细胞分子标记,采用免疫磁珠分选（MACS）技术富集了3月龄小熊猫睾丸中的ITGA6阳性细胞。流式细胞术检测发现分选后ITGA6阳性细胞纯度可达74.27% ± 8.73%,显著高于分选前（32.60% ± 3.06%）。将分选后的细胞接种到层粘连蛋白包被的细胞培养板中,用含胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF）、表皮细胞生长因子（EGF）与成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）的培养基进行体外培养。培养10 d后,在显微镜下可观察到典型的精原干细胞集落,结合逆转录PCR（RT-PCR）和细胞免疫荧光染色发现这些细胞集落特异性表达精原干细胞分子标记蛋白ITGA6、早幼粒细胞白血病锌指蛋白（PLZF）和胸腺细胞分化抗原1（THY1）,同时也表达生殖细胞标记蛋白VASA和DAZL。本研究结果证实,ITGA6可作为小熊猫精原干细胞的分子标记用于细胞分选富集,同时初步建立的培养体系也为小熊猫精子发生机制与应用研究提供材料。     

体内外精原干细胞介导大群生产转基因鸡

本研究以重组的绿色荧光蛋白基因为标记,采用公鸡睾丸内转染精原干细胞（spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs）和体外转染SSCs再移植的方法,探索家禽转基因新方法．同时比较了公鸡接受不同剂量外源基因的转基因效率．结果显示：（i）接受外源基因剂量分别为50,100,150和200μg／mL时,48h后睾丸细胞显示绿色荧光的比率分别为4．0％,8．7％,10．2％和13．6％,差异显著（P〈0．05）．睾丸内注射外源基因第25天后,随着时间的增长,精子表达绿色荧光的百分率逐渐提高,到第70天后表达率达到高峰,且趋于稳定,4个剂量组分别为12．7％,12．8％,15．9％和19．1％．差异显著（P〈0．05）;（ii）第70天的睾丸冰冻切片观察,曲精细管周边均有荧光表达;（iii）F1代中,56．2％（254／452）的胚盘表达绿色荧光．活鸡血样PCR检测56．5％（13／23）为阳性,Southern blot检测证明外源基因已整合到鸡基因组;F2代中,53．2％（275／517）的胚盘表达绿色荧光．活鸡血样PCR检测52．9％（9／17）为阳性;（iv）F,代和F2代鸡心、肝、肾和肌肉等组织冰冻切片观察和PCR检测,绿色荧光阳性率在50．0％～66．7％之间;（v）体外SSCs转染外源基因后移植,可在受体公鸡睾丸中生长发育,正常产生精子．后代中,12．5％（8／64）的胚盘表达绿色荧光,活鸡血样PCR检测11．1％（2／18）为阳性．结果证明精原干细胞介导转基因是一种简单、高效、可大群体生产转基因鸡的有效途径．     

小鼠精原干细胞在三种培养基中的生长行为

目的：建立小鼠精原干细胞（SSCs）的体外长期培养体系。方法：用分别添加了等量的胶质细胞源神经营养因子（GDNF）、可溶性GFRα1和hFGF的DMEM／F12、KSR和StemPro-34 SFM三种无血清培养基和MEF饲养层分别培养经差异贴壁分选富集的小鼠SSCs,通过形态观察、标志基因的RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学分析检测其SSCs本原。结果：DMEM／F12与KSR可支持小鼠SSCs在体外存活6-7d,而StemPro-34 SFM能能维持SSCs体外增值一个月。结论：StemPro-34 SFM支持小鼠SSCs的体外增殖。     

两种免疫磁珠分离法分选小鼠骨髓粒-单核祖细胞的效率比较

摘要 目的：提取小鼠骨髓细胞（bone marrow cell, BMC）,用两种不同的免疫磁珠分离（magnetic activated cell sorting, MACS）试剂盒从小鼠BMC中分选提纯粒-单核祖细胞（granulocyte-monocyte progenitor, GMP）,比较这两种免疫磁珠的分选效率。方法：从小鼠股骨和胫骨中提取BMC,通过两种不同的MACS试剂盒,即Lineage阳性细胞清除试剂盒和CD117阳性细胞分选试剂盒,分别得到Lineage-细胞群和CD117⁺细胞群,用代表GMP细胞表面标志物的荧光抗体标记,孵育后通过流式细胞荧光分选技术得到GMP细胞,并且对比得到GMP细胞的效率。结果：每2只野生型C57BL/6J小鼠可共收集骨髓细胞（7.02±1.24）×10⁷个,细胞活力为（91.86±5.24）%。经过Lineage阳性细胞清除试剂盒得到的细胞数量为（5.71±2.86）×10⁶个;经过CD117阳性细胞分选试剂盒得到的细胞数量为（2.70±0.56）×10⁶个。Lineage磁珠分选纯化得到的GMP细胞数占总细胞数的比例为（10.90±1.37）%,CD117磁珠分选纯化得到的GMP细胞数占总细胞数的比例为（4.83±2.08）%。结论：Lineage阳性细胞清除试剂盒能更有效分选小鼠骨髓细胞中的粒-单核祖细胞。     

BLOC1S1促进山羊精原干细胞增殖

随着基因编辑技术迅速发展,研究精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells, SSCs)对精子发生及其调控机制研究、转基因动物研发、基因治疗和不孕不育症的治疗以及珍稀物种的保护均具有重要意义。溶酶体相关细胞器生物合成复合体1亚基1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1subunit 1, BLOC1S1)具有抗布鲁氏菌的潜能,研究BLOC1S1对山羊SSCs的影响不仅能探究BLOC1S1促进SSCs增殖的能力,还能为其抗病育种研究提供细胞学基础。本研究通过同源重组构建BLOC1S1过表达载体,通过慢病毒包装、转染与嘌呤霉素筛选成功构建了山羊精原干细胞BLOC1S1过表达细胞株。通过实时荧光定量PCR (real time quantitative PCR, RT-qPCR)检测BLOC1S1的过表达效率为18倍,同时细胞生长曲线、流式细胞术检测细胞周期、5-乙炔基-2’脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine, EdU)染色等实验结果表明,BLOC1S1能显著增加山羊SSCs...     

造血干细胞衰老体外模型构建及其生物学研究初探

造血干细胞（HSC）衰老与机体衰老密切相关。HSC衰老研究中的关键问题是HSC衰老模型的构建,迄今还未有公认的HSC衰老的体外模型,建立HSC衰老体外模型可为深入研究HSC衰老的生物学机理及调控机制奠定基础。本实验运用免疫磁珠分选法分离纯化小鼠Soft-1^＋ HSC,流式细胞术鉴定分选细胞的纯度达85％,免疫荧光示大量带绿色荧光Sca-1^＋细胞,     

斑马鱼胚胎胚盾特异表达基因的鉴定

目的由于原肠期细胞的剧烈运动,在斑马鱼胚胎的背侧汇聚形成了称为胚盾(shield organizer)的结构,是胚胎发育的信号组织中心,在背腹轴建立和胚层诱导过程中具有关键作用。系统鉴定在胚盾特异表达的基因,可为进一步探讨胚盾形成的机制及其指导胚胎早期发育的分子机理提供参考。方法 Tg(gsc:GFP)转基因鱼在胚盾表达特异的绿色荧光。通过流式细胞分选技术分离富集GFP阳性细胞并提取总RNA进行RNA深度测序,检测可能在胚盾高水平表达的基因。然后利用荧光实时定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qRT-PCR)和原位杂交技术鉴定若干在胚盾特异表达的基因。结果从Tg(gsc:GFP)转基因鱼胚胎中分离富集到了纯度超过96%的GFP阳性细胞,RNA深度测序的结果显示有657个基因的表达水平比整胚细胞或GFP阴性细胞高2倍以上。最后,确认了KIAA1324、ripply1、twist2、isthmin1、nme4、zgc174153、rrbp1b等7个基因在胚盾特异表达。结论系统鉴定到了斑马鱼胚胎胚盾特异表达基因,为下一步研究这些基因的发育生物学功能奠定了基础。     

实时荧光定量PCR检测人肿瘤细胞NKG2D配体基因表达

目的：建立人肿瘤细胞NKG2D配体基因（MICA、MICB、ULBP1、ULBP2、ULBP3）表达的实时荧光定量PCR（real-time fluorescence quantitativePCR）检测方法。方法：根据NCBI基因库中NKG2D配体基因序列,设计合成引物。用Trizo1法从培养的肿瘤细胞（BEC-7402、HeLa、MDA-MB-435、XWLC-05）中提取总RNA,逆转录成eDNA,建立实时荧光定量PCR检测NKG2D配体基因表达的方法,并检测NKG2D配体在肿瘤细胞株中的表达。结果：经过琼脂糖凝胶电泳、熔解曲线和标准曲线分析,用所设计的引物和SYBR GreenI能够特异扩增和定量检测NKG2D配体基因的表达。该方法成功检测4种肿瘤细胞NKG2D配体基因的表达。结论：建立了人NKG2D配体基因表达的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,为进一步研究人NKG2D配体在肿瘤免疫中的作用提供了有效手段。     

基于流式细胞术分选的高效表达外源基因细胞的筛选

目的：以增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）作为报告基因,用流式细胞术筛选高表达EGFP的细胞,从而获得外源基因高效表达细胞株。方法：构建在EGFPC端编码区融合新霉素（neomycin）抗性基因的融合基因EGFP-Neomycin,将其插入pcDNA3.1（＋）载体,构建EGFP-Neomycin融合基因表达载体pcDNAEN,转染CHO-K1细胞,G418加压筛选和倒置荧光显微镜观察证实所表达的EGFP-Neomycin融合蛋白具有新霉素抗性和激发EGFP荧光双功能;将编码组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（tPA）的cDNA插入pcDNAEN中CMV启动子下游,构建表达tPA的表达载体pcDNAEN/tPA。结果：流式细胞术分析和tPA纤维蛋白溶解活性测定表明,pcDNAEN/tPA转染CHO-K1细胞的EGFP相对荧光强度（RFT）的自然对数值与tPA表达水平呈明显的直线相关关系,相关系数为0.983;比较部分未经流式细胞仪分选的pcDNAEN/tPA转染阳性细胞克隆和RFT分布在100～1000的pcDNAEN/tPA转染阳性细胞克隆的tPA表达水平,经流式细胞术分选获得的细胞克隆的tPA平均表达水平和最高表达水平分别是未经分选获得的细胞克隆的3.9倍和4.1倍。结论：构建的EGFP-Neomycin融合基因具有双功能,建立了利用流式细胞术筛选外源基因高效表达物细胞株的方法。     

抗菌肽P7抑制大肠杆菌的非膜作用机制北大核心CSCD

【目的】研究抗菌肽P7抑制大肠杆菌的非膜作用机制。【方法】P7与溴化乙锭竞争结合大肠杆菌基因组DNA的荧光光谱,分析P7与DNA的结合方式;流式细胞术分析P7与大肠杆菌基因组DNA结合对细菌细胞周期的影响;采用磁珠富集和PCR扩增相结合的方法分析P7特异结合的DNA序列;通过实时荧光定量PCR分析P7对大肠杆菌DNA复制和SOS损伤修复基因表达的影响;核酸染料的荧光分析研究P7对大肠杆菌DNA和RNA合成的影响。【结果】P7以嵌插的方式作用于大肠杆菌基因组DNA碱基对并形成肽-DNA复合物,使溴化乙锭-DNA复合体系的荧光强度减弱。P7可以显著增加大肠杆菌细胞周期中S期细胞数目,抑制大肠杆菌DNA复制。P7特异性结合rnh A使该基因表达水平显著下调2.24倍。同时,在肽的影响下参与大肠杆菌DNA复制相关的ssb、dna G、lig B和rnh A基因的表达水平显著下调(P<0.05),DNA损伤修复的rec A和rec N基因显著上调(P<0.05)。P7可降低大肠杆菌DNA和RNA的合成。【结论】P7特异性地结合rnh A序列引起大肠杆菌DNA的损伤并抑制大肠杆菌的DNA复制。在P7的影响下,参与大肠杆菌DNA复制相关的基因的表达水平下调,DNA损伤修复基因显著上调,同时抑制大肠杆菌DNA和RNA的合成。     

Efficient enrichment of undifferentiated GFR alpha 1+ spermatogonia from immature rat testis by magnetic activated cell sorting

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are a documented source for adult multipotent stem cells. Thus, the isolation of SSCs is of great interest. However, the isolation of spermatogonia from mammalian testes is difficult because of their low total numbers and the lack of well-characterized cell surface markers. Glial-cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1) is expressed on undifferentiated mouse spermatogonia (including SSCs) and plays a crucial role, in rodents, for the maintenance of SSCs mediated by the Sertoli cell product GDNF. The present study has aimed to optimize the sorting efficiency and total cell yield of magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) with anti-GFRα1 antibodies. Because of the technical limitations intrinsic to the magnetic columns, various sorting setups and strategies were compared. Use of Mini-MACS (MS) columns for single cell suspensions from 7-day-old rat testes resulted in a three-fold enrichment of GFRα1-positive cells in sorted fractions versus presorted fractions. However, with this method, only 1.77% of cells loaded onto the column were recovered in the sorted fraction. A sequential two-step sorting approach did not improve this poor yield. We therefore evaluated cell separation by using larger volume Midi-MACS (LS) columns. Enrichment of GFRα1-positive cells in sorted fractions was four-fold, and 14.5% of cells loaded onto the column were directed to the sorted fraction. With this method, approximately half of all GFRα1-positive cells present in the sample were found in the sorted fraction. We conclude that GFRα1 serves as a suitable surface marker for the enrichment of rat spermatogonia, and that the large-volume Midi-MACS separation system is superior to the routinely used small-volume Mini-MACS separation system. This work was financially supported by startup funds from the University Münster, NIH grant U54 HD 008610, Center grant, project 1 (to S.S.), a doctoral scholarship from the Ernst Schering Research Foundation (to K.G.), and a Young Investigator Grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation (to J.E.).     

Fetal nucleated erythrocyte recovery: fluorescence activated cell sorting-based positive selection using anti-gamma globin versus magnetic activated cell sorting using anti-CD45 depletion and anti-gamma globin positive selection

BACKGROUND: Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)-based anti-gamma (gamma) positive selection and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS)-based anti-CD45 depletion followed by anti-gamma positive staining have been two of the most frequently used methods to isolate fetal cells from maternal blood. To date, there has been no direct comparison of fetal cell recovery by these two methods. This study was designed to address this issue. METHODS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on nucleated anti-gamma positive cells using X and Y probes. Twenty-four maternal blood samples were obtained immediately after elective termination of pregnancy to ensure a detectable number of fetal cells. RESULTS: The yield and purity of fetal nucleated erythrocytes (FNRBCs) was statistically higher in FACS sorted samples (P < 0.01). The specificity of staining for FNRBCs was statistically higher in MACS sorted samples (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study demonstrate that both techniques have benefits and limitations. FACS has the advantage of having higher yield, higher purity, higher FISH efficiency and ease in microscope analysis, and MACS has the advantage of having higher specificity and less cell loss during FISH.     

Specific Tandem 3'UTR Patterns and Gene Expression Profiles in Mouse Thy1+ Germline Stem Cells

A recently developed strategy of sequencing alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites (SAPAS) with second-generation sequencing technology can be used to explore complete genome-wide patterns of tandem APA sites and global gene expression profiles. spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) maintain long-term reproductive abilities in male mammals. The detailed mechanisms by which SSCs self-renew and generate mature spermatozoa are not clear. To understand the specific alternative polyadenylation pattern and global gene expression profile of male germline stem cells (GSCs, mainly referred to SSCs here), we isolated and purified mouse Thy1⁺ cells from testis by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then used the SAPAS method for analysis, using pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) as controls. As a result, we obtained 99,944 poly(A) sites, approximately 40% of which were newly detected in our experiments. These poly(A) sites originated from three mouse cell types and covered 17,499 genes, including 831 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes. We observed that GSCs tend to have shorter 3''UTR lengths while MEFs tend towards longer 3''UTR lengths. We also identified 1337 genes that were highly expressed in GSCs, and these genes were highly consistent with the functional characteristics of GSCs. Our detailed bioinformatics analysis identified APA site-switching events at 3''UTRs and many new specifically expressed genes in GSCs, which we experimentally confirmed. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to validate several events of the 334 genes with distal-to-proximal poly(A) switch in GSCs. Consistently APA reporter assay confirmed the total 3''UTR shortening in GSCs compared to MEFs. We also analyzed the cis elements around the proximal poly(A) site preferentially used in GSCs and found C-rich elements may contribute to this regulation. Overall, our results identified the expression level and polyadenylation site profiles and these data provide new insights into the processes potentially involved in the GSC life cycle and spermatogenesis.     

鸡胚ESC和SSCs特定基因表达差异的研究

目的:探讨鸡胚胎干细胞(ESC)和精原干细胞(SSCs)在基因表达水平上的差异.方法:传至二代的ESC和SSCs,采用免疫荧光和碱性磷酸酶检测法联合鉴定其干细胞特性,RT-PCR方法检测两者相关基因的表达差异.结果:两种处于未分化状态时的干细胞基因表达存在差异:未分化的ESC表达基因GDF3基因和Nanog基因;SSCs表达特定基因c-kit、Cvh和Stra8基因.结论:两种干细胞在基因表达水平上有差异,为ESC与SSCs在基因水平上的鉴定提供参考依据.     

Evaluation of membrane physiology following fluorescence activated or magnetic cell separation.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, cell separation technology has become an important tool in various fields of cell biology allowing for the analysis or subsequent cultivation of specific cell subsets. The objective of the present study was to evaluate if the established sorting techniques fluorescence-activated (FACS) and magnetic cell separation (MACS) affect cell membrane physiology in order to define the most non-perturbing application for the separation of tumor and stromal cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Membrane physiology was monitored in single cell suspensions of adherently grown BT474 breast tumor cells and N1 normal skin fibroblasts using flow cytometry. Cell membrane integrity was evaluated by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Microviscosity within the lipophilic membrane layer was determined by a monomer/excimer method utilizing pyrene decanoic acid, membrane potential measurements were carried out using the fluorescence indicator DiBAC4(3), and Annexin-V-staining reflected transversal membrane asymmetry, and an altered phospholipid distribution. RESULTS: Not only the number of preparative cycles prior to cell separation but also the sort conditions during FACS resulted in loss of membrane integrity of a certain cell fraction. If these PI-positive cells were excluded from further analysis, neither MACS nor FACS affected membrane microviscosity while a clear hyperpolarization in both cell types after MACS resulting from exposure to the ferromagnetic matrix of the depletion column and the inhomogeneous magnetic field was shown. In addition, cell sorting of BT474 tumor cells by MACS and FACS was accompanied by the generation of an Annexin-V-positive/PI-negative cell fraction with altered phospholipid distribution. Data were discussed with regard to the sort-induced "stress" conditions such as exposure to hydrodynamic forces or magnetic fields. CONCLUSIONS: Both separation procedures modify cell membrane with neither technique being physiologically preferable for subsequent analysis or recultivation of the sorted cells.     

GDNF family receptor alpha1 phenotype of spermatogonial stem cells in immature mouse testes

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for spermatogenesis, and these adult tissue stem cells balance self-renewal and differentiation to meet the biological demand of the testis. The developmental dynamics of SSCs are controlled, in part, by factors in the stem cell niche, which is located on the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules situated among Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells produce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and disruption of GDNF expression results in spermatogenic defects and infertility. The GDNF signals through a receptor complex that includes GDNF family receptor alpha1 (GFRA1), which is thought to be expressed by SSCs. However, expression of GFRA1 on SSCs has not been confirmed by in vivo functional assay, which is the only method that allows definitive identification of SSCs. Therefore, we fractionated mouse pup testis cells based on GFRA1 expression using magnetic activated cell sorting. The sorted and depleted fractions of GFRA1 were characterized for germ cell markers by immunocytochemistry and for stem cell activity by germ cell transplantation. The GFRA1-positive cell fraction coeluted with other markers of SSCs, including ITGA6 and CD9, and was significantly depleted of KIT-positive cells. The transplantation results confirmed that a subpopulation of SSCs expresses GFRA1, but also that the stem cell pool is heterogeneous with respect to the level of GFRA1 expression. Interestingly, POU5F1-positive cells were enriched nearly 15-fold in the GFRA1-selected fraction, possibly suggesting heterogeneity of developmental potential within the stem cell pool.     

低氧对CD34^＋造血干／祖细胞增殖分化及其对细胞因子依赖性的影响

To elucidate the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and their response to cytokines, the cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood by using a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS). Mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34(+) cells were incubated in severe hypoxia (1% oxygen) culture system, and the colony forming cells and antigen expression were studied by colony forming assays and FACS analysis. The results showed that incubation in severe hypoxia increased the number of erythroid bursts (BFU-E) (324.8+/-41.4/10(4) cells) generated from CD34(+) cells (191.2+/-34.5/10(4) cells in the control group, P<0.01). Severe hypoxia also enhanced the maintenance and cloning efficiency of BFU-E in a liquid culture system without growth factors, the number of BFU-E (152.4+/-22.6/10(4)cells) was much bigger than that in the control group (74.2+/-9.3/10(4) cells, P<0.01). In cultures incubated in hypoxia, the percentage of CD34(+) cells was significantly higher (2.5+/-1.2-fold, P<0.05) than in those incubated in air. BFU-E cloning efficiency of MNC was not significantly affected by hypoxia. The above results show that hypoxia enhances the maintenance of erythroid progenitor cells generated from CD34(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, no matter growth factors are present or not. These positive effects of hypoxia did not occur for the other progenitors.     

Gene expression profiling revealed specific spermatogonial stem cell genes in mouse

Mammalian spermatogenesis originates from spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which undergo mitosis, meiosis and spermiogenesis in order to generate mature spermatozoa. SSCs are adult stem cells that can both self‐renew and differentiate. To maintain pluripotency, SSCs are regulated by both extrinsic factors secreted from surrounding somatic cells and intrinsic factors including specific gene expression programs. Using fluorescent labeled germ line stem cells, mouse gonocytes and SSCs were purified up to 97% by improved FACS method. Through microarray analyses, global gene expression profiles of gonocytes, SSCs, and differentiated cells were compared. A large number of distinctive genes were found to be enriched in respective cell populations, indicating different functional requirements of each cell type. Functional clustering analyses revealed that while gonocytes and SSCs preferentially express genes implicated in gene expression regulation and epigenetic modifications, differentiated cells including somatic cells are enriched with genes encoding proteins involved in various cellular activities. Further in situ hybridization and RT‐PCR experiments confirmed SSC specific expression of several genes of which functions have not been characterized in SSCs. The comparative gene expression profiling provides a useful resource for gene discovery in relation to SSC regulation and opens new avenues for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying SSC self‐renewal and differentiation. genesis 51:83–96, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Screening of peptide libraries against protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis in a disposable microfluidic cartridge

Bacterial surface peptide display has gained popularity as a method of affinity reagent generation for a wide variety of applications ranging from drug discovery to pathogen detection. In order to isolate the bacterial clones that express peptides with high affinities to the target molecule, multiple rounds of manual magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) followed by multiple rounds of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) are conventionally used. Although such manual methods are effective, alternative means of library screening which improve the reproducibility, reduce the cost, reduce cross contamination, and minimize exposure to hazardous target materials are highly desired for practical application. Toward this end, we report the first semi-automated system demonstrating the potential for screening bacterially displayed peptides using disposable microfluidic cartridges. The Micro-Magnetic Separation platform (MMS) is capable of screening a bacterial library containing 3×10¹⁰ members in 15 minutes and requires minimal operator training. Using this system, we report the isolation of twenty-four distinct peptide ligands that bind to the protective antigen (PA) of Bacilus anthracis in three rounds of selection. A consensus motif WXCFTC was found using the MMS and was also found in one of the PA binders isolated by the conventional MACS/FACS approach. We compared MMS and MACS rare cell recovery over cell populations ranging from 0.1% to 0.0000001% and found that both magnetic sorting methods could recover cells down to 0.0000001% initial cell population, with the MMS having overall lower standard deviation of cell recovery. We believe the MMS system offers a compelling approach towards highly efficient, semi-automated screening of molecular libraries that is at least equal to manual magnetic sorting methods and produced, for the first time, 15-mer peptide binders to PA protein that exhibit better affinity and specificity than peptides isolated using conventional MACS/FACS.     

逆转录病毒载体介导MGMT和MDR1基因增强人脐血CD34＋细胞对联合化疗抗性的研究

To explore whether human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cells transduced with human O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) and multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) increase resistance to 1,3-Bis(2-Chloroethy1)-1-Nitrosourea (BCNU) and P-glycoprotein effluxed drugs, the present authors obtained a full length cDNA fragment encoding MGMT from liver tissue of a patient with cholelithiasis by RT-PCR. A bicistronic retroviral vector G1Na-MGMT-IRES-MDR1 cDNA was constructed and transfected the packaging cell lines GP + E86 and PA317 by electric performation method, using the medium containing VCR and BCNU for cloning selection and ping-ponging supernatant infection between ecotropic producer clone and amphotropic producer clone, cord blood CD34+ cells were enriched with a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS), and then transfected repeatedly with supernatant of retrovirus containing human MGMT and MDR1cDNA under stimulation of hemapoietic growth factors. PCR, RT-PCR, Southern blot, Northern blot, Western blot, FACS and MTT assay were used to evaluate the transfer and expression of the double genes in cord blood CD34+ cells. The cDNA encoding MGMT was verified by DNA sequencing and the bicistronic retroviral vector was confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis. The purity of cord blood CD34+ cells was approximately 92% and recover rate was 75%, the highest titer of recombinant amphotropic retrovirus in the supernatant was up to 5.8 x 10(5) cfu/ml. The efficiency of gene transduction was 18% and 20% tested by colony formation and PCR, respectively. No helper virus was found by both nested PCR and rescue assay. The results showed that dual drug resistance genes have been integrated into the genomic DNA of cord blood CD34+ cells and expressed efficiently. The MTT analysis showed a 4.5 to 7.8-fold increase of resistance of transducted cells to BCNU and P-glycoprotein effluxed drug as compared with the nontransduced cells. This study provided a foundation for ameliorating combination chemotherapy toxicity in tumor clinical trial.