WEB2基因在酿酒酵母S期检查点通路上调控RNR3基因表达

WEB2基因参与酿酒酵母S期检查点调控机制,而RNR3基因位于该调控通路末端,DNA损伤或合成阻断时,S期检查点通路诱导RNR3过度表达。因此,通过确定WEB2在该检查点通路上是否参与调控RNR3基因的表达,将有助于进一步明确WEB2基因在检查点通路上的工作位点,了解WEB2基因如何发挥检查点调控功能。构建RNR3-LacZ基因融合质粒,用于检测酵母细胞内RNR3基因的诱导性。诱导性可以通过测定β-半乳糖苷酶的活性而得知。利用DNA损伤药物甲磺酸甲酯(MMS)及DNA合成阻断剂羟基脲(HU)处理酵母细胞,测定WEB2基因突变株和野生株细胞内RNR3基因的诱导性。结果,WEB2突变株细胞中诱导活性分别增加(8.27±0.38)倍和(9.55±0.24)倍,而野生株分别增加了(83.32±2.42)倍和(124.67±2.87)倍。反映RNR3基因在WEB2突变株中的诱导性低于野生株。同RAD53突变株相比,后者的RNR3基因的诱导性更低,仅为(2.37±0.18)倍和(2.91±0.13)倍。说明WEB2基因突变影响S期检查点通路的信号传递至RNR3基因,所以在酿酒酵母S期检查点通路上,WEB2工作在RNR3基因上游,参与调控RNR3的表达,但调控能力不如RAD53基因强。     

WEB2基因参与酿酒酵母S期检查点调控

WEB2基因编码产物为一种DNA解链酶。WEB2突变株经hydroxyurea阻断DNA合成后,经流式细胞仪检测DNA含量、纺锤体微管间接免疫 荧光染色及存活率测定,结果显示WEB2突变株表现S期检查点缺失。推测WEB2除了具有解链酶作用外,还参与酿酒酵母S期检查点调控机制,位于已建立的S期检查点信号传导通路模型上。本研究有助于加深对真核细胞检查点调控的了解,为研究肿瘤的发生机制提供线索。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒ORF5基因在昆虫细胞中的高效融合表达

对杆状病毒BactoBac表达系统的转座质粒pFastbac1进行改造,即在其多角体蛋白启动子下游插入谷胱苷肽S转移酶（glutathioneStransferase, GST）基因,构建GST融合表达转座质粒pFGST。通过转座和转染Sf9细胞,证实该系统能高水平表达GST。采用PCR方法从pMTgp51质粒中扩增截去N端信号肽序列的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）YA株ORF5基因,并将截短的ORF5基因片段克隆到pFGST中,使之与GST融合,构建的重组转座质粒pFGST53转染DH10Bac,提取大分子Bacmid DNA,转染Sf9细胞,获得能表达融合蛋白的高滴度重组病毒rvGST53。rvGST53感染Sf9细胞,SDSPAGE和Western印迹分析表明：与GST融合的ORF5基因在Sf9细胞中获得高效表达,表达产物分子量为45kD,能与抗PRRSV E蛋白单克隆抗体发生特异性反应。将表达产物免疫小白鼠,经间接免疫荧光检测,免疫血清能使PRRSV YA株感染的MARC145细胞呈较强的荧光着色,证实表达的融合蛋白具有良好的免疫原性。     

酵母DNA修复基因RAD16温度敏感突变株的分离及人类互补基因的鉴定

用PCR介导的基因重组法敲除酵母RAD16基因, 用羟胺处理酵母RAD16基因表达质粒, 获得RAD16基因突变库,并将其转化RAD16基因敲除的酵母细胞. 用平皿复制法获得温度敏感突变株 rad16-ts2,经互补试验证实,该突变表型为RAD16基因突变所致.将人cDNA表达文库转化rad16-ts2后筛选温度敏感拯救(rescue)表型, 回收拯救表型酵母细胞中的质粒. 测序结果表明,所获得的人cDNA克隆为HLTF/Zbu1/SMACA3基因.比较分析显示,人类该基因编码蛋白质氨基酸序列与酵母Rad16的同一性为32%,相似性则达50%.人HLTF/Zbu1/MACA3基因在HeLa细胞中过表达,可显著抑制过氧化氢损伤和UV照射诱导的细胞凋亡.     

纤维介素基因hfgl2启动子的SARS冠状病毒核心蛋白反应元件初步分析

 SARS冠状病毒核心蛋白对hfgl2纤维介素基因有激活作用,采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western印迹已验证了hfgl2基因在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达.为进一步明确在SARS冠状病毒核心蛋白刺激下,hfgl2纤维介素基因5′端非编码区对转录激活起重要作用的转录调控序列,构建了一系列hfgl2 基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因质粒,将其与SARS冠状病毒核心蛋白真核表达质粒共转染CHO细胞.结果表明,转染前3个质粒hfgl2p(－1334)LUC、hfgl2p(－997)LUC、hfgl2p(－816)LUC的细胞的相对荧光素酶活性无显著改变;但转染hfgl2p( 468)LUC 质粒的细胞荧光素酶的活性较前明显降低,说明在hfgl2 基因启动子－816位至－468位（相对于转录起始点）之间存在着激活该基因的调控序列.本研究在一定程度上从分子水平揭示了SARS冠状病毒蛋白与宿主纤维介素基因之间的关系.     

酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失突变株的构建

目的:构建酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失的突变株并研究其对甘油和乙醇产量的影响。方法:以PCR为基础,通过同源重组的方式使目的基因缺失。结果:通过设计含有与HOR2(GPP2)基因两侧序列同源的长引物,以质粒PUG6为模板进行PCR构建含有Cre/loxP系统的酿酒酵母HOR2基因敲除组件,转化酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)YS2,获得为loxP-kan-loxP序列组件所替换而产生kanr的阳性克隆子。然后再将质粒PSH65转入阳性克隆子诱导表达Cre酶切除筛选标记,在原ORF基因处保留一个loxP位点,丢失质粒后获得HOR2单倍体缺陷型菌株。重复转化敲除组件实现另一条等位基因的敲除。发酵实验表明,突变株甘油产量降低3.34%,乙醇产量提高1.96%。结论:成功获得了酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失的突变株,并命名为YS2-HOR2。     

酿酒酵母adh2和ald6双基因缺失突变株的构建

酿酒酵母乙醇合成代谢过程中, 阻断或削弱乙醛至乙酸代谢流不但能增强乙醇合成流, 同时还能降低发酵乙酸含量。本研究以乙醇脱氢酶Ⅱ(adh2)基因缺陷型酿酒酵母YS2-Dadh2为出发菌株, 应用长侧翼同源两步PCR(LFH-PCR)策略构建乙醛脱氢酶Ⅵ(ald6)基因敲除组件, 转化酿酒酵母YS2-Dadh2敲除ald6基因, 之后转入表达质粒pSH65到阳性克隆中, 半乳糖诱导表达Cre重组酶切除Kanr基因筛选标记, 最后, 传代丢失质粒pSH65获得单倍体ald6基因缺失突变株。利用同样的敲除组件和技术再次敲除其等位基因, 最终获得双基因缺失突变株YS2-△adh2-Dald6。发酵实验表明与出发菌株YS2相比, 突变株乙酸合成量降低18%, 乙醇最高产量提高12.5%。     

猪瘟病毒E2基因的定点突变、在大肠杆菌中的高效表达及表达产物的免疫原性

用重组PCR技术对猪瘟病毒石门株E2基因进行了定点突变, 然后将突变后的基因克隆至表达载体质粒pET-28a(+)中,构建成重组质粒pETE2。将pETE2转入受体菌BL21(DE3)plysS中,在IPTG的诱导下, 重组转化菌可高效表达目的基因, 表达量平均可达菌体蛋白总量的28%。免疫印迹和间接ELISA表明所表达的蛋白是CSFV特异性的。此重组蛋白免疫的家兔可抵抗猪瘟兔化弱毒的攻击。     

高质量抗体揭示Rad1蛋白在细胞中新的潜在活动机理（英文）

一组在进化上(从酵母到人)保守的基因Rad9、Rad1和Hus1在细胞周期监控点调控和DNA损伤修复中发挥重要作用.这三个蛋白可以形成环形异源三聚体,即9-1-1蛋白复合体.9-1-1复合体被认为是Rad9、Rad1和Hus1行使功能的主要形式.到目前为止,没有一个好的抗Rad1的抗体,严重阻碍了对Rad1和9-1-1复合体的研究.在本研究中,我们成功地制备了一株小鼠抗Rad1蛋白的单克隆抗体.这个抗体能够有效地检测小鼠和人的内源Rad1蛋白,可以用于酶联免疫吸附、蛋白质免疫印迹、免疫共沉淀和免疫荧光等实验.利用该抗体,我们发现在DNA损伤剂羟基脲(HU)的诱导下,小鼠Rad1蛋白在Rad9+/+小鼠胚胎干细胞中表达明显增加,而在Rad9-/-的小鼠胚胎干细胞中没有观察到该现象,这表明Rad9对Rad1的蛋白表达有调控作用.此外,内源的Rad1蛋白主要分布在细胞质中,在HU处理后并没有迁移进入细胞核的现象,这与先前广泛被人们所接受的在DNA损伤压力下Rad1和Hus1能够迁移进入细胞核并与Rad9形成9-1-1蛋白复合体的说法相矛盾.综合看来,Rad1和9-1-1蛋白复合体的分子作用机制比预期的要复杂,我们成功制备的Rad1单克隆抗体将成为研究Rad1以及9-1-1蛋白复合体的强有力的工具.     

LCB1基因表达对酵母神经酰胺合成的影响

酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)LCB1（Long chain base）基因被克隆到酵母诱导表达载体pYES2中,并转入到FY2中,用半乳糖诱导表达。与对照相比,质粒所含LCB1基因的表达,使酵母细胞干重略有下降,而神经酰胺的含量提高为对照的1.9倍。     

Activation of Rad53 kinase in response to DNA damage and its effect in modulating phosphorylation of the lagging strand DNA polymerase

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad53 protein kinase is required for the execution of checkpoint arrest at multiple stages of the cell cycle. We found that Rad53 autophosphorylation activity depends on in trans phosphorylation mediated by Mec1 and does not require physical association with other proteins. Uncoupling in trans phosphorylation from autophosphorylation using a rad53 kinase-defective mutant results in a dominant-negative checkpoint defect. Activation of Rad53 in response to DNA damage in G(1) requires the Rad9, Mec3, Ddc1, Rad17 and Rad24 checkpoint factors, while this dependence is greatly reduced in S phase cells. Furthermore, during recovery from checkpoint activation, Rad53 activity decreases through a process that does not require protein synthesis. We also found that Rad53 modulates the lagging strand replication apparatus by controlling phosphorylation of the DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex in response to intra-S DNA damage.     

Rad4TopBP1 associates with Srr2, an Spc1 MAPK-regulated protein, in response to environmental stress

Rad4(TopBP1) is a scaffold in a protein complex containing both replication proteins and checkpoint proteins and plays essential roles in both replication and checkpoint responses. We have previously identified four novel fission yeast mutants of rad4+(TopBP1) to explore how Rad4(TopBP1), a single protein, can play multiple roles in genomic integrity maintenance. Among the four novel mutants, rad4-c17(TopBP1) is a thermosensitive mutant. Here, we characterized rad4-c17(TopBP1) and identified a rad4-c17(TopBP1) allele specific suppressor named srr2+ (suppressor of Rad4(TopBP1) R2 domain). srr2+ has previously been identified as an environmental stress-responsive gene (GenBank accession number AL049644.1, locus spcc191.01). srr2+ null cells are sensitive to hydroxyurea (HU) at elevated temperatures. Deletion of srr2+ in rad4-c17(TopBP1) exacerbates the HU sensitivity of the mutant. Overexpression of srr2+ suppresses the rad4-c17(TopBP1) mutant sensitivity to temperature and HU and restores the compromised ability of rad4-c17(TopBP1) to activating Cds1 kinase in response to HU treatment. Furthermore, stress-activated MAPK, Spc1 (also known as StyI or Phh1), induces the expression and phosphorylation of the Srr2 protein. Significantly, environmental stress induces co-precipitation of Srr2 protein with Rad4(TopBP1), and the co-precipitation is compromised in the rad4-c17(TopBP1) mutant. These results have led us to propose a model; Rad4(TopBP1) exists in a large protein complex to coordinate genomic perturbations with checkpoint responses to maintain genomic integrity. In addition, when cells experience environmental stress, Rad4(TopBP1) associates with Srr2, an Spc1 MAPK-responsive protein, to survive the stress, potentially by providing a link of the Spc1 MAPK response to checkpoint responses.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae checkpoint genes RAD9, CHK1 and PDS1 are required for elevated homologous recombination in a mec1 (ATR) hypomorphic mutant

Specific ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) mutations confer higher frequencies of homologous recombination. The genetic requirements for hyper-recombination in ATR mutants are unknown. MEC1, the essential yeast ATR/ATM homolog, controls S and G2 checkpoints and the DNA damage-inducibility of genes after radiation exposure. Since the mec1-D (null) mutant is defective in both S and G2 checkpoints, we measured spontaneous and DNA damage-associated sister chromatid exchange (SCE), homolog (heteroallelic) recombination, and homology-directed translocations in the mec1-21 hypomorphic mutant, which is defective in the S phase checkpoint but retains some G2 checkpoint function. We observed a sixfold, tenfold and 30-fold higher rate of spontaneous SCE, heteroallelic recombination, and translocations, respectively, in mec1-21 mutants compared to wild type. The mec1-21 hyper-recombination was partially reduced in rad9, pds1, and chk1 mutants, and abolished in rad52 mutants, suggesting the hyper-recombination results from RAD52-dependent recombination pathway(s) that require G2 checkpoint functions. The HU and UV sensitivities of mec1-21 rad9 and mec1-21 rad52 were synergistically increased, compared to the single mutants, indicating that mec1-21, rad52 and rad9 mutants are defective in independent pathways for HU and UV resistance. G2-arrested mec1-21 rad9 cells exhibit more UV resistance than non-synchronized cells, indicating that one function of RAD9 in conferring UV resistance in mec1-21 is by triggering G2 arrest. We suggest that checkpoint genes that function in the RAD9-mediated pathway are required for either homologous recombination or DNA damage resistance in the S phase checkpoint mutant mec1-21.     

Accumulation of sumoylated Rad52 in checkpoint mutants perturbed in DNA replication

Checkpoints are cellular surveillance and signaling pathways that regulate responses to DNA damage and perturbations of DNA replication. Here we show that high levels of sumoylated Rad52 are present in the mec1 sml1 and rad53 sml1 checkpoint mutants exposed to DNA-damaging agents such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or the DNA replication inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU). The kinase-defective mutant rad53-K227A also showed high levels of Rad52 sumoylation. Elevated levels of Rad52 sumoylation occur in checkpoint mutants proceeding S phase being exposed DNA-damaging agent. Interestingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) on chip analyses revealed non-canonical chromosomal localization of Rad52 in the HU-treated rad53-K227A cells arrested in early S phase: Rad52 localization at dormant and early DNA replication origins. However, such unusual localization was not dependent on the sumoylation of Rad52. In addition, we also found that Rad52 could be highly sumoylated in the absence of Rad51. Double mutation of RAD51 and RAD53 exhibited the similar levels of Rad52 sumoylation to RAD53 single mutation. The significance and regulation mechanism of Rad52 sumoylation by checkpoint pathways will be discussed.     

Molecular Basis of the Essential S Phase Function of the Rad53 Checkpoint Kinase

The essential yeast kinases Mec1 and Rad53, or human ATR and Chk1, are crucial for checkpoint responses to exogenous genotoxic agents, but why they are also required for DNA replication in unperturbed cells remains poorly understood. Here we report that even in the absence of DNA-damaging agents, the rad53-4AQ mutant, lacking the N-terminal Mec1 phosphorylation site cluster, is synthetic lethal with a deletion of the RAD9 DNA damage checkpoint adaptor. This phenotype is caused by an inability of rad53-4AQ to activate the downstream kinase Dun1, which then leads to reduced basal deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) levels, spontaneous replication fork stalling, and constitutive activation of and dependence on S phase DNA damage checkpoints. Surprisingly, the kinase-deficient rad53-K227A mutant does not share these phenotypes but is rendered inviable by additional phosphosite mutations that prevent its binding to Dun1. The results demonstrate that ultralow Rad53 catalytic activity is sufficient for normal replication of undamaged chromosomes as long as it is targeted toward activation of the effector kinase Dun1. Our findings indicate that the essential S phase function of Rad53 is comprised by the combination of its role in regulating basal dNTP levels and its compensatory kinase function if dNTP levels are perturbed.     

Replication checkpoint protein Mrc1 is regulated by Rad3 and Tel1 in fission yeast

Fission yeast Mrc1 (mediator of replication checkpoint 1) is an adaptor checkpoint protein required for Rad3-dependent activation of the checkpoint kinase Cds1 in response to arrest of replication forks. Here we report studies on the regulation of Mrc1 by phosphorylation. Replication arrest induced by hydroxyurea (HU) induces Mrc1 phosphorylation that is detected by a change in Mrc1 electrophoretic mobility. Phosphorylation is maintained in cds1Delta, rad3Delta, and tel1Delta single mutants but eliminated in a rad3Delta tel1Delta double mutant. Mrc1 has two clusters of S/TQ motifs that are potential Rad3/Tel1 phosphorylation sites. Mutation of six S/TQ motifs in these two clusters strongly impairs Mrc1 phosphorylation. Two motifs located at S604 and T645 are vital for HU resistance. The T645A mutation strongly impairs a Cds1-Mrc1 yeast two-hybrid interaction that is dependent on a functional forkhead-associated (FHA) domain in Cds1, indicating that phosphorylation of T645 mediates Mrc1's association with Cds1. Consistent with this model, the T645 region of Mrc1 effectively substitutes for the T11 region of Cds1 that is thought to be phosphorylated by Rad3 and to mediate FHA-dependent oligomerization of Cds1. The S/TQ cluster that includes S604 is needed for Mrc1's increased association with chromatin in replication-arrested cells. These data indicate that Rad3 and Tel1 regulate Mrc1 through differential phosphorylation to control Cds1.     

Temperature-sensitive defects of the GSP1gene, yeast Ran homologue, activate the Tel1-dependent pathway

RanGTPase is involved in many cellular processes. It functions in nuclear-cytosolic transport and centrosome formation. Ran also localizes to chromatin as RCC1 does, its guanine nucleotide exchange factor, but Ran's function on chromatin is not known. We found that gsp1, a temperature-sensitive mutant of GSP1, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ran homologue, suppressed the hydroxyurea (HU) and ultra violet (UV) sensitivities of the mec1 mutant. In UV-irradiated mec1 gsp1 cells, Rad53 was phosphorylated despite the lack of Mec1. This suppression depended on the TEL1 gene, given that the triple mutant, mec1 gsp1 tel1, was unable to grow. The gsp1 mutations also suppressed the HU sensitivity of the rad9 mutant in a Tel1-dependent manner, but not the HU sensitivity of the rad53 mutant. These results indicated that Rad53 was activated by the Tel1 pathway in mec1 gsp1 cells, suggesting that Gsp1 helps regulate the role switching the ATM family kinases Mec1 and Tel1.