B族G蛋白偶联受体PAC1的N端基序HSDCIF对其二聚化和上膜运输的影响

B族G蛋白偶联受体（G protein-coupled receptors, GPCRs）PAC1是垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽（pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide, PACAP）的特异受体,介导PACAP神经保护等功能,是神经系统疾病药物开发的重要靶点之一. HSDCIF（His-Ser-Asp-Cys-Ile-Phe）为位于PAC1的N端胞外1区（extracellar domain 1, EC1）的一段短肽序列,与特定负责激活PAC1受体的激动域PACAP（1-6）具有极高的同源性.利用基因敲除技术构建出缺陷HSDCIF基序的PAC1突变体（简称D PAC1）|利用基因工程原理和技术构建系列真核表达重组载体,包括融合了增强型黄色荧光蛋白（enhanced yellow fluorescent protein, EYFP）的表达载体D-PAC1-EYFP|用于生物发光能量转移（bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, BRET）检测的D-PAC1-Rluc|以及用于双分子荧光互补（bimolecular fluorescence complementation, BiFC）实验的D-PAC1-EYFP/N和D-PAC1-EYFP/C.免疫荧光检测（immunofluorescence assay）测定D PAC1的表达|荧光共聚焦显微观察D-PAC1的细胞运输,然后通过 Western印迹、BRET与BiFC方法来检测D PAC1的二聚化情况,综合评价HSDCIF基序对PAC1二聚化和在细胞中定位的影响.检测结果显示,缺陷HSDCIF基序的突变体D PAC1不能发生二聚化,也不能正常的进行上膜运输,而是滞留在内质网中,同时外源化学合成的寡肽HSDCIF可以竞争性地抑制正常PAC1的二聚化.     

鼻咽癌相关新基因NPCEDRG表达对CNE2细胞生长的影响

为研究鼻咽癌相关新基因NPCEDRG的功能,探讨其对鼻咽癌细胞生长特性的影响,利用Tet-on调控系统,建立受强力霉素(deoxycycline,Dox)诱导NPCEDRG基因表达的CNE2细胞系.运用RT-PCR选择背景表达低、诱导活性高的细胞克隆,以不同浓度Dox诱导CNE2/Tet/TRE-NPCEDRG细胞,确定Dox的最佳诱导浓度.借助形态学观察、细胞生长曲线、软琼脂克隆形成试验和流式细胞仪分析等方法,对Dox诱导NPCEDRG高表达后CNE2细胞的生物学行为进行了检测.结果显示,NPCEDRG高表达后CNE2细胞增殖速度显著减慢(P<0.05),克隆形成能力显著降低(P<0.01),瘤细胞群体中处于G0/G1期细胞数增加,S期细胞数减少,细胞阻滞于G0/G1期.Tet调控NPCEDRG基因表达CNE2细胞系成功建立,恢复NPCEDRG表达能部分逆转CNE2的恶性表型,证明NPCEDRG是一个鼻咽癌相关的抑瘤基因.     

重组PAC1-EC1(N)对表达不同PAC1变体的细胞系细胞活性的影响

垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽(pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide,PACAP)特异受体PAC1(normal型)N端胞外域[简称PAC1-EC1(N)]具有调控PAC1活性的作用.为研究PAC1-EC1(N)对表达不同PAC1变体的细胞系活性的影响,利用基因...     

VPAC2在CHO细胞的表达及鉴定

PAC2是垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽(Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide,PACAP)和血管活性肠肽(vasoactive intestinal peptide,VIP)的共同受体,介导多种重要生物学功能。为获得稳定特异表达VPAC2的中国仓鼠卵巢(Chinesehamsterovary,CHO)细胞,将pcDNA-VPAC2表达载体转染CHO细胞,G418筛选转染阳性克隆,PACAP38标准品诱导阳性克隆细胞的胞内cAMP生成,筛选出对PACAP38最为敏感的阳性单克隆细胞株(VPAC2-CHO),运用RT-PCR、Westernblot和免疫荧光法检测VPAC2受体表达情况,利用VPAC2受体特异激动剂通过竞争性结合试验和促进胞内第二信使cAMP生成的活性检测实验证实,VPAC2-CHO特异表达有功能的VPAC2。Scatchard作图分析显示VPAC2-CHO的VPAC2受体密度为(1.1±0.2)pmol/mg膜蛋白,PACAP38与VPAC2的解离常数Kd值为(0.55±0.10)nmol/L。特异表达VPAC2受体细胞系的构建为深入研究该受体理化性质、生物学功能以及筛选、开发VPAC2受体新型特异激动剂和拮抗剂等研究奠定了基础。     

人内皮素受体A基因克隆及表达

为了建立内皮素受体拮抗剂筛选系统,克隆人ET A基因,构建真核表达载体,并实现pTag-Lite SNAP-ET A在CHOK1细胞中的瞬时表达。从人肺腺癌细胞系A549中克隆人ET A基因,连接到pTag-Lite SNAP质粒,构建表达载体pTag-Lite SNAPET A,用FuGENER HD转染试剂将表达载体pTag-Lite SNAP-ET A转染入CHO-K1细胞内,通过荧光显微镜检测融合蛋白SNAP-ET A的表达。DNA测序结果表明pTag-Lite SNAP-ET A表达载体构建成功,荧光显微镜检测结果表明人ET A在CHO-K1细胞中有效表达。     

Tet调控STGC3基因表达CNE2细胞系的建立及其功能初步研究

利用Tet-on调控系统,建立受强力霉素诱导STGC3基因表达的CNE2细胞系,为进一步研究STGC3的功能提供了一个理想的实验平台.先后将调控质粒pTet-on和反应质粒pTRE-STGC3转染入CNE2细胞,并用G418和潮霉素分别进行两轮筛选,运用RT-PCR选择对强力霉素诱导敏感的细胞克隆.用不同浓度强力霉素诱导CNE2/Tet/pTRE-STGC3细胞,RT-PCR检测STGC3的表达,确定强力霉素的最佳诱导浓度.采用此浓度的强力霉素分别诱导CNE2、CNE2/Tet/pTRE、CNE2/Tet/pTRE-STGC3三组细胞,测定细胞的生长曲线、克隆形成率和细胞周期分布.诱导STGC3基因高表达,CNE2细胞增殖速度显著减慢(P<0.05),克隆形成能力显著降低(P<0.01);流式细胞仪检测结果显示,瘤细胞群体中处于G0/G1期细胞数增加,细胞阻滞于G0/G1期.Tet调控STGC3基因表达CNE2细胞系的成功建立,为进一步研究STGC3基因的功能提供一个理想的细胞模型.     

肌肉注射可调控胰岛素基因对糖尿病小鼠降糖作用

为研究四环素调控的胰岛素表达载体肌肉直接注射后对实验性糖尿病小鼠的降糖作用,构建了质粒prTA-tet4-rhINS.以链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导Balb/C小鼠成糖尿病模型,300 μg质粒注射至小鼠的股部肌肉,并同时在饮水中加入不同浓度强力霉素（Dox）,监测小鼠末梢血糖、体重,测定血清人胰岛素、C肽水平.用RT-PCR检测小鼠肌肉注射部位组织中人胰岛素原mRNA水平的表达情况.结果表明：质粒prTA-tet4-rhINS注射后,给予Dox可显著降低糖尿病小鼠的血糖,血清人胰岛素、C肽水平相应升高,体重增加.效果持续大约二周.小鼠肌肉组织中有人胰岛素原mRNA表达.降糖效果和基因表达程度随Dox浓度增加而增强.质粒prTA-tet4-rhINS对STZ诱导的糖尿病小鼠高血糖起到明显的降低作用.在糖尿病小鼠肌肉组织能很好地表达,并受Dox调控.     

AT2R载体可调控表达对大鼠颈动脉损伤后骨桥蛋白及新生内膜增生的影响

目的:血管紧张素Ⅱ 2型受体(AT2R)基因转染的骨髓间充质干细胞(MSC)在四环素可调控系统下作为载体,利用计算机图像分析系统研究新生内膜增生的情况,并探讨AT2R在体可调控表达对大鼠颈动脉损伤后骨桥蛋白(OPN)表达影响。方法:利用球囊损伤60只SD大鼠颈动脉,并随机将SD大鼠分为5组,分别为正常组(未行球囊扩张术)、对照组(球囊扩张术后注入PBS)、MSC组(球囊扩张术后注入常规MSC)、MSC转染组(球囊扩张术注入转染AT2R的MSC)、强力霉素(Dox)组(球囊扩张术后注入转染AT2R的MSC,术后当天至处死前三天通过尾静脉注射Dox 100μg/kg/d)。术后14及28天分别处死大鼠取材,光镜下观察血管内膜增生情况,Image pro plus 6.0计算机图像分析系统测量新生内膜面积(I/M),逆转录-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测AT2R及OPN在大鼠血管标本中的表达变化。结果:大鼠颈动脉AT2R在Dox组的表达显著增高,新的增生内膜面积较其它各损伤组显著降低(P≤0.01),并且OPN的表达显著低于其他各手术组。结论:AT2R基因在体可调控表达受到Dox的有效控制,AT2R基因可能抑制血管损伤后OPN的表达及新生内膜的过度增生。     

启动子荧光素酶报告系统检测低浓度过氧化氢激活神经肽PACAP特异受体PAC1-R启动子的作用

垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽（pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide,PACAP）特异受体PAC1-R (PACAP receptor 1)是神经系统疾病药物开发的重要靶点。为了研究其表达的生物学机制,本研究克隆了PAC1-R基因转录起始位点上游从-2 500到+26的2 526 bp启动子片段,构建PAC1-R启动子驱动的荧光素酶基因报告载体pGL3-PAC1-Rp,并确证PAC1-R启动子荧光素酶报告系统在小鼠脑神经瘤细胞Neuro-2a和人神经母细胞瘤细胞SH-SY5Y中工作正常。运用此PAC1-R启动子荧光素酶报告系统,首次发现低浓度过氧化氢（hydrogen peroxide,H2O2）有效激活PAC1-R启动子,此作用可被转录因子特化蛋白1（specificity protein 1,SP1）抑制剂光神霉素A（mithramycin A）所抑制,提示SP1参与介导H2O2对PAC1-R启动子的激活作用。生物信息学分析显示,PAC1-R启动子含有多个SP1结合位点。PAC1-R启动子的荧光素酶报告系统的构建为深入探索PAC1-R高表达的作用与机制奠定了基础,低浓度H2O2对PAC1-R启动子激活作用的发现有助于深入诠释低浓度活性氧的生理学作用。     

非转座子载体介导的稳定转化家蚕BmN细胞表达人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子

为了建立非转座子载体介导的持续表达外源基因的转化家蚕BmN细胞系,将家蚕核型多角体病毒极早期基因(ie-1)启动子控制的人粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(hGM-CSF)基因的表达盒克隆至pIZT/V5-His,获得重组载体pIZT-IE-hGM-CSF,该载体转染家蚕BmN细胞后,通过博莱霉素(Zeocin)筛选获得了稳定转化细胞系IE-hGM-CSF。转基因细胞基因组经PCR鉴定,成功检测到ie-hGM-CSF,Western blotting分析结果显示转化细胞表达的重组hGM-CSF的大小为22kDa,ELISA检测结果显示hGM-CSF在转化细胞系里的表达水平大约为2814.7pg/106个细胞。     

Dimer-Dependent Intrinsic/Basal Activity of the Class B G Protein-Coupled Receptor PAC1 Promotes Cellular Anti-Apoptotic Activity through Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways that Are Associated with Dimer Endocytosis

The high expression of PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide)-preferring receptor PAC1 is associated with nerve injury and tumors. Our previous report (Yu R, et al. PLoS One 2012; 7: e51811) confirmed the dimerization of PAC1 and found that the M-PAC1 mutation in the N-terminal first Cys/Ala lost the ability to form dimers. In this study, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells overexpressing wild-type PAC1 (PAC1-CHO) had significantly higher anti-apoptotic activities against serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis associated with a lower caspase 3 activity and a higher Bcl-2 level in a ligand-independent manner than those of CHO cells overexpressing the mutant M-PAC1 (M-PAC1-CHO). PAC1-CHO had significantly higher β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-myc levels corresponding to the Wnt/β-catenin signal than did M-PAC1-CHO. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939 significantly inhibited the anti-apoptotic activities of PAC1-CHO. Top-flash assays demonstrated that PAC1-CHO had a significantly stronger Wnt/β-catenin signal than did M-PAC1-CHO. Acetylcysteine (NAC) as an inhibitor of the dimerization of PAC1 inhibited the anti-apoptotic activities that were endowed by PAC1 and decreased the Wnt/β-catenin signal in Top-flash assays. In the PAC1 Tet (tetracycline)-on inducible gene expression system by doxycycline (Dox), higher expression levels of PAC1 resulted in higher anti-apoptotic activities that were associated with a stronger Wnt/β-catenin signal. A similar correlation was also found with the down-regulation of PAC1 in the Neuro2a neuroblastoma cell. BiFC combined with fluorescence confocal imaging indicated that during serum-withdrawal-induced apoptosis, PAC1 dimers displayed significant endocytosis. These findings indicate that PAC1 has ligand-independent and dimer-dependent intrinsic/basal activity, conferring cells with anti-apoptotic activities against serum withdrawal, which is involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signal and is associated with the endocytosis of PAC1 dimers. The discovery and study of the dimer-dependent basal activity of PAC1 not only help us understand the physiological and pathological role of PAC1 but also promote the development of drugs targeting PAC1.     

The N-Terminal HSDCIF Motif Is Required for Cell Surface Trafficking and Dimerization of Family B G Protein Coupled Receptor PAC1

PAC1 is PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) preferring receptor belonging to class B G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) mediating the most effects of PACAP. The important role of G protein coupled receptor homo/heteromerization in receptor folding, maturation, trafficking, and cell surface expression has become increasingly evident. The bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay were used in this research to confirm the dimerization of PAC1 for the first time. The structure-activity relationship focused on the N-terminal HSDCIF motif, which locates behind the signal sequence and has high homology with PACAP (1–6), was assayed using a receptor mutant with the deletion of the HSDCIF motif. The fluorescence confocal microscope observation showed that the deletion of the HSDCIF motif impaired the cell delivery of PAC1. The results of BiFC, BRET and westernblot indicated that the deletion of HSDCIF motif and the replacement of the Cys residue with Ala in HSDCIF motif resulted in the disruption of receptor dimerization. And the exogenous chemically synthesized oligopeptide HSDCIF (100 nmol/L) not only down-regulated the dimerization of PAC1, induced the internalization of PAC1, but also inhibited the proliferation of CHO cells expressing PAC1 stably and decreased the activity of PACAP on the cell viability. All these data suggested that the N-terminal HSDCIF motif played key role in the trafficking and the dimerization of PAC1, and the exogenous oligopeptide HSDCIF had effects on the cell signaling, trafficking and the dimerization of PAC1.     

受强力霉素调节的自杀基因表达载体系统的构建和在乳腺癌细胞株(MCF-7)的表达

自杀基因治疗是恶性肿瘤基因治疗中最常用的途径之一,以递转录病毒载体-pRevTRE为基础进行载体构建,首先使用PCR技术对单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶基因（HSVtk)进行扩增,将HSVtk基因插入到pRe-vTRE,形成重组载体pRevTRE/HSVtk,用磷酸钙共沉淀法,经过两轮转染,分别将pRevTRE/HSVtk和pRevTet-On质粒导入乳腺癌细胞株（MCF-7）经过潮霉素B（HygromycinB)和G418筛选,建立了一株稳定的受四环素衍生物-强力霉素（Doxycycline,Dox)调控,表达HSVtk基因产物的人乳腺癌细胞株MCF/TRE/tk/Tet-On,HSVtk基因表达产物可以将无毒性的药物前体Ganciclovir(GCV)转变成一种有毒的代谢产物,从而杀死乳腺癌细胞株（MCF-7）,达到基因治疗的目的。     

Tightly Regulated and Homogeneous Transgene Expression in Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Lentivirus with Tet-Off System

Genetic modification of human adipose tissue–derived multilineage progenitor cells (hADMPCs) is highly valuable for their exploitation in therapeutic applications. Here, we have developed a novel single tet-off lentiviral vector platform. This vector combines (1) a modified tetracycline (tet)-response element composite promoter, (2) a multi-cistronic strategy to express an improved version of the tet-controlled transactivator and the blasticidin resistance gene under the control of a ubiquitous promoter, and (3) acceptor sites for easy recombination cloning of the gene of interest. In the present study, we used the cytomegalovirus (CMV) or the elongation factor 1 α (EF-1α) promoter as the ubiquitous promoter, and EGFP was introduced as the gene of interest. hADMPCs transduced with a lentiviral vector carrying either the CMV promoter or the EF-1α promoter were effectively selected by blasticidin without affecting their stem cell properties, and EGFP expression was strictly regulated by doxycycline (Dox) treatment in these cells. However, the single tet-off lentiviral vector carrying the EF-1α promoter provided more homogenous expression of EGFP in hADMPCs. Intriguingly, differentiated cells from these Dox-responsive cell lines constitutively expressed EGFP only in the absence of Dox. This single tet-off lentiviral vector thus provides an important tool for applied research on hADMPCs.     

PAC1 and PACAP expression,signaling, and effect on the growth of HCT8, human colonic tumor cells

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) type 1 receptor (PAC1) is a heptahelical, G protein-coupled receptor that has been shown to be expressed by non-squamous lung cancer and breast cancer cell lines, and to be coupled to the growth of these tumors. We have previously shown that PACAP and its receptor, PAC1, are expressed in rat colonic tissue. In this study, we used polyclonal antibodies directed against the COOH terminal of PAC1, as well as fluorescently labeled PACAP, Fluor-PACAP, to demonstrate the expression of PAC1 on HCT8 human colonic tumor cells, using FACS analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Similarly, anti-PACAP polyclonal antibodies were used to confirm the expression of PACAP hormone by this cell line. We then investigated the signal transduction properties of PAC1 in these tumor cells. PACAP-38 elevated intracellular cAMP levels in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal (EC(50)) stimulation of approximately 3 nM. In addition, PACAP-38 stimulation caused an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration [Ca(2+)](i), which was partially inhibited by the PACAP antagonist, PACAP-(6-38). Finally, we studied the potential role of PACAP upon the growth of these tumor cells. We found that PACAP-38, but not VIP, increased the number of viable HCT8 cells, as measured by MTT activity. We also demonstrated that HCT8 cells expressed the Fas receptor (Fas-R/CD95), which was subsequently down-regulated upon activation with PACAP-38, further suggesting a possible role for PACAP in the growth and survival of these tumor cells. These data indicate that HCT8 human colon tumor cells express PAC1 and produce PACAP hormone. Furthermore, PAC1 activation is coupled to adenylate cyclase, increase cytosolic [Ca(2+)](i), and cellular proliferation. Therefore, PACAP is capable of increasing the number of viable cells and regulating Fas-R expression in a human colonic cancer cell line, suggesting that PACAP might play a role in the regulation of colon cancer growth and modulation of T lymphocyte anti-tumoral response via the Fas-R/Fas-L apoptotic pathway.