Spin coupling between electron carriers in the dehydrogenase segments of the respiratory chain.

The $\text{in vitro}$ RNA synthesis and poly(A) synthesis catalyzed by cauliflower RNA polymerase are stimulated by an addition of polyethylenimine (PEI) at a low concentration to the reaction medium. Evidence is presented that PEI exerts its stimulative effect on a reaction coexisting of enzyme, template, and substrate, and not on the template or enzyme alone.     

哺乳动物细胞中重组蛋白瞬时表达技术(TGE)的研究进展

近年来越来越多的重组蛋白,尤其是单克隆抗体,作为生物药应用于医疗。临床及实验室研究中,经常要求在短时间内生产一定量的候选蛋白供应研究需求。经典的建立稳定细胞系生产重组蛋白过程复杂冗长,而作为替代方法,瞬时基因表达技术在数周内即可生产数十至数百毫克重组蛋白,得到广泛应用。本文将总结近年来工业及学术上,在哺乳动物细胞尤其是人胚胎肾细胞(HEK293)及中国仓鼠卵巢细胞(CHO)中瞬时表达重组蛋白的一系列研究,概述瞬时表达技术在宿主细胞改造、表达载体最优化设计、瞬时转染条件等方面的研究进展,并展望其未来发展方向。     

哺乳动物细胞中重组蛋白瞬时表达技术（TGE）的研究进展

近年来越来越多的重组蛋白,尤其是单克隆抗体,作为生物药应用于医疗。临床及实验室研究中,经常要求在短时间内生产一定量的候选蛋白供应研究需求。经典的建立稳定细胞系生产重组蛋白过程复杂冗长,而作为替代方法,瞬时基因表达技术在数周内即可生产数十至数百毫克重组蛋白,得到广泛应用。本文将总结近年来工业及学术上,在哺乳动物细胞尤其是人胚胎肾细胞（HEK293）TL中国仓鼠卵巢细胞（CHO）中瞬时表达重组蛋白的一系列研究,概述瞬时表达技术在宿主细胞改造、表达载体最优化设计、瞬时转染条件等方面的研究进展,并展望其未来发展方向。     

Labeling of Polyethylenimine with Fluorescent Dye to Image Nucleus,Nucleolus, and Chromosomes in Digitonin-Permeabilized HeLa Cells

The effect of a koji (Aspergillus awamori mut.) extract on the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives purified from sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves was examined to develop the mass production of caffeic acid. A koji extract hydrolyzed the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid, to caffeic acid. Furthermore, the koji extract also converted the major polyphenolic components from sweetpotato, burdock (Arctium lappa L.), and mugwort (Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii) leaves to caffeic acid. These results suggest that the production of caffeic acid from plant resources containing caffeoylquinic acid derivatives is possible.     

Haloalkane hydrolysis with an immobilized haloalkane dehalogenase.

Haloalkane dehalogenase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous was covalently immobilized onto a polyethyleneimine impregnated gamma-alumina support. The dehalogenating enzyme was found to retain greater than 40% of its original activity after immobilization, displaying an optimal loading (max. activity/supported protein) of 70 to 75 mg/g with an apparent maximum (max. protein/support) of 156 mg/g. The substrate, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, was found to favorably partition (adsorb) onto the inorganic alumina carrier (10 to 20 mg/g), thereby increasing the local reactant concentration with respect to the catalyst's environment, whereas the product, 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol, demonstrated no affinity. Additionally, the inorganic alumina support exhibited no adverse effects because of solvent/component incompatibilities or deterioration due to pH variance (pH 7.0 to 10.5). As a result of the large surface area to volume ratio of the support matrix and the accessibility of the bound protein, the immobilized biocatalyst was not subject to internal mass transfer limitations. External diffusional restrictions could be eliminated with simple agitation (mixing speed: 50 rpm; flux: 4.22 cm/min). The pH-dependence of the immobilized dehalogenase was essentially the same as that for the native enzyme. Finally, both the thermostability and resistance toward inactivation by organic solvent were improved by more than an order of magnitude after immobilization.     

新型PEI 衍生物在COS-7 细胞中的转染与毒性研究

目的:寻找一种新型的转染效率高,毒性低的非病毒基因载体.方法:通过化学方法合成Polyimine-MPEI,然后以不同质量比包裹绿色荧光蛋白质粒,检测在COS-7细胞中的转染效率和毒性.结果:在比例从5到100之间,转染效率均比较理想,能达到1.00E+07以上,Polyimine-MPEI的毒性也很小,细胞的生长率均在80％以上,明显高于PEI25KDa对照组.结论:Polyimine-MPEI是一个很有研究前景的聚合物载体,具有高转染效率低毒性的特点,可以通过延长反应时间,增加分子量,增大转染能力.     

聚乙二醇化学修饰的聚乙烯亚胺衍生物的制备及其细胞毒性研究

目的:合成聚乙二醇(PEG)化的聚乙烯亚胺衍生物(PEI-Et)基因输送载体PET 1和PET 2,并考察两个载体材料在He La细胞、MCF-7细胞中的细胞毒性及在He La细胞中的转染效率。方法:将亚乙基二氯甲酸酯与PEI 800 Da交联制备成交联PEI衍生物PEI-Et,进一步将PEI-Et与聚乙二醇(PEG)以不同摩尔比例(1:1,2:1)交联连接,得到PEG化的PET 1和PET 2。采用MTT法检测PEI-Et、PET 1、PET 2对He La细胞、MCF-7细胞的细胞毒性。检测单位质量的荧光强度测定转染效率。结果:PET的细胞毒性随浓度增大而增大,在同一浓度下PET的细胞毒性小于PEI 25 KDa(P0.01);并且与DNA复合后,复合物细胞毒性随质量比的增高而增大,在同一质量比下PET的细胞毒性小于PEI 25 KDa(P0.01),特别是PET 1。并且最佳比例时,PET 1的转染活性最高。结论:作为非病毒基因载体,PET 1具有高的转染效率及低的细胞毒性。     

Recombinant collagen for animal product-free dextran microcarriers

Manufacturers of vaccines and other biologicals are under increasing pressure from regulatory agencies to develop production methods that are completely animal-component-free. In order to comply with this demand, alternative cell culture substrates to those now on the market, primarily collagen or gelatin, must be found. In this paper, we have tested a number of possible substitutes including recombinant collagen, a 100-kDa recombinant gelatin fragment and a peptide derived from a cell-binding region of type I collagen. The small 15-amino acid peptide did not support attachment of human fibroblasts in monolayer culture. The 100-kDa gelatin fragment supported cell attachment in monolayer culture, but was significantly less active than intact porcine gelatin. Recombinant type I collagen was as successful in promoting cell attachment as native collagen, and both were more effective than porcine gelatin. Based on these data, dextran microspheres were treated with the same attachment proteins—porcine gelatin, native collagen, or recombinant collagen. The same trends were observed as in monolayer culture. Concentrations of the recombinant collagen (as well as native collagen) supported cell attachment on dextran microspheres at concentrations as low as 0.01 μg/cm². Treatment of the dextran with a low level of polyethylenimine, a cationic moiety, further enhanced attachment when used in conjunction with the low concentration of recombinant collagen. Where there was increased cell attachment, increased proliferation followed. We are confident, based on these findings, that a fully recombinant substitute could replace gelatin in current microcarrier preparations without losing the cell growth benefits provided by the native protein.     

瞬时基因表达可溶性的VEGFR2: I-IV

通过RT-PCR的方法从三个月的流产绒毛组织中克隆目的基因VEGFR2 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, 血管内皮细胞生长因子受体2) 胞外I-IV区, 连接到真核表达载体上构建了重组表达载体。首先在无血清悬浮培养的HEK293细胞中, 使用报告基因GFP(Green fluorescence protein, 绿色荧光蛋白)优化转染条件, 发现在转染时DNA: PEI=1:2 (W/W)、1.5 mg DNA/106 cells及开始转染4 h内使用无血清、摇床(120 r/min)时可以达到最佳的转染效率和细胞数量。在确定转染条件之后, 将构建的表达载体分别在HEK293细胞、COS-7细胞和CHO-K1细胞中进行瞬时转染表达, 结果发现仅在CHO-K1细胞的培养上清中检测到目的蛋白的表达。瞬时转染CHO-K1细胞至总体积约为1.5 L, 由于目的蛋白的羧基端有8-His标签, 通过Ni2+-IDA柱纯化得到5 mg左右的目的蛋白。     

Methodological optimization of polyethylenimine (PEI)-based gene delivery to the lungs of mice via aerosol application

BACKGROUND: Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been successfully used for gene delivery to the lungs of mice via aerosol application using a whole body nebulization device. In this report we optimized the design of such an aerosol device. METHODS: Aerosol devices were constructed as either serial inhalation apparatus or as a whole body nebulization chamber connected to an aerosol spacer placed in a horizontal or vertical position. PEI-based gene vectors were nebulized using a standard jet nebulizer and luciferase gene expression of various tissues was examined. RESULTS: Using a whole body aerosol device resulted in luciferase gene expression in the lungs of mice at the same level as compared with a serial inhalation apparatus. Whereas gene expression was enhanced in the presence of 5% CO(2)-in-air, anesthesia of mice strongly decreased gene expression even when mice were intubated with an intravascular cannula. Reduction of the median mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of the aerosol from 3.4 to 0.27 microm by interposition of an aerosol spacer increased gene expression significantly 3-fold. Drying of the aerosol by silica gel additionally increased gene delivery significantly 3-fold. Reporter gene expression mediated by branched PEI 25 kDa was 9- and 15-fold higher as compared with linear PEIs of 22 and 25 kDa, respectively, and was dependent on the DNA concentration. Gene expression was detectable as soon as 6 h after gene vector application and reached a maximum after 72 h but was still detectable after 14 days. The presence of Zn(2+) did not increase gene expression. CONCLUSION: We propose aerosol drying as a novel and simple method of optimizing PEI-based gene delivery to the lungs.     

Effect of polyethylenimine on recombinant adeno-associated virus mediated insulin gene therapy

BACKGROUND: Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is becoming a promising vector for gene therapy for type I diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporation of polyethylenimine (PEI) on rAAV-mediated insulin gene therapy in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Recombinant AAV vector, harboring the furin-mutated human insulin and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) genes, was constructed. The effect of complexation with PEI on rAAV-mediated gene transfer was examined in Huh7 human hepatoma cells. The transgene expression was also examined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic C57BL/6J mice by direct administration of rAAV into the livers of the animals, followed by monitoring changes in body weight and blood glucose levels. Secretion of human insulin was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemical staining in the livers. RESULTS: Complexation with PEI was shown to enhance rAAV-mediated transgene expression in Huh7 cells, resulting in higher transduction efficiency and enhanced production of immunoreactive human insulin. Heparin competition assay demonstrated that endocytosis of rAAV-PEI was partially inhibited by heparin. The enhancement of rAAV-mediated transgene expression was also demonstrated in the animals, showing lowering of blood glucose and longer duration of normoglycemia. Immunofluorescent staining of the liver sections demonstrated that PEI increased the uptake of rAAV and enhanced insulin secretion. The enhancement of PEI on rAAV-mediated insulin gene therapy was further confirmed by glucose challenge and a 10-h fasting blood glucose test. CONCLUSIONS: Results obtained in this study demonstrated that incorporation of PEI augmented rAAV-mediated insulin gene transfer and enhanced amelioration of hyperglycemia in the STZ-induced diabetic animals.     

瞬时基因表达可溶性的VEGFR2: I-IV

通过RT-PCR的方法从三个月的流产绒毛组织中克隆目的基因VEGFR2 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, 血管内皮细胞生长因子受体2) 胞外I-IV区, 连接到真核表达载体上构建了重组表达载体。首先在无血清悬浮培养的HEK293细胞中, 使用报告基因GFP(Green fluorescence protein, 绿色荧光蛋白)优化转染条件, 发现在转染时DNA: PEI=1:2 (W/W)、1.5 mg DNA/106 cells及开始转染4 h内使用无血清、摇床(120 r/min)时可以达到最佳的转染效率和细胞数量。在确定转染条件之后, 将构建的表达载体分别在HEK293细胞、COS-7细胞和CHO-K1细胞中进行瞬时转染表达, 结果发现仅在CHO-K1细胞的培养上清中检测到目的蛋白的表达。瞬时转染CHO-K1细胞至总体积约为1.5 L, 由于目的蛋白的羧基端有8-His标签, 通过Ni2+-IDA柱纯化得到5 mg左右的目的蛋白。     

Negligible induction of IFN-gamma, IL-12 and TNF-alpha by DNA-PEI 750 kDa/albumin complexes

A 750 kDa polyethylenimine (PEI 750 kDa) combined with albumin has been found to mediate in vivo a highly efficient transfection of small amounts of plasmid DNA. Using this exceptional carrier system we evaluated the inflammatory responses triggered by CpG sequences found in plasmid DNA. Using as little as 1 mug DNA transferred in vivo caused an almost negligible response from pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-12 and TNF-alpha), as assessed in serum with a commercially available kit. Administering 750 kDa PEI/albumin/plasmid DNA complexes every three days assured a high and prolonged in vivo expression of a reporter protein. A further increase in the level of such protein was obtained by administering the investigated complexes concurrently with dexamethasone. High gene transfer capability and a relatively low pro-inflammatory response of 750 kDa PEI/albumin/DNA complexes can be exploited for recurrent gene transfer into lungs to treat (via inhalation or instillation) cancer or genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis.     

A miniaturized nebulization catheter for improved gene delivery to the mouse lung

BACKGROUND: The available methods for administration of gene delivery systems to the lungs of small animals via nebulization have several drawbacks. These include lack of control over the delivered dose and a negative impact on the stability of the formulation. This paper describes a new nebulization catheter device for the administration of plasmid-based gene delivery systems (polyplexes) as aerosols to the mouse lung in vivo. METHODS: The physical stability of naked pDNA and polyplexes formulated with chitosan oligomers and PEI was examined following nebulization with the catheter device. We also examined the in vitro transfection efficiency of the polyplexes recovered after nebulization. Lung distribution and gene expression after administration of the selected gene delivery systems to the mouse lung were also investigated. RESULTS: In contrast to previously described nebulization methods, the structural integrity of the unprotected naked pDNA was maintained following nebulization by the catheter device, which indicates relatively mild nebulization conditions. In addition, the nebulization procedure did not affect the physical stability of the formulated polyplexes. Small volumes of the pDNA aerosol (10-20 microl) were delivered in a highly controlled and reproducible manner. The aerosol droplet size varied with the molecular weight of the polycations. Aerosol delivery via this method resulted in improved lung distribution of pDNA polyplexes and a six-fold increase in the efficiency of gene delivery in vivo over that seen with the commonly used intratracheal instillation method. CONCLUSION: The use of the nebulization catheter device provides a promising alternative for aerosol gene delivery to the mouse lung.     

新型可降解PEI衍生物的表征及其在Brl-3A细胞中的毒性和转染研究

目的:对新型可降解高分子进行表征,研究其在Brl-3A细胞中的毒性和转染效率,以及连接剂比例对以上方面的影响。方法:通过化学方法合成不同比例PEI-Tr高分子,考察其包裹质粒DNA形成纳米颗粒的粒径和电位,以CCK-8方法考察Brl-3A细胞中的细胞毒性,以荧光素酶质粒为报告基因考察Brl-3A细胞中的转染效率。结果:PEI-Tr材料能形成200 nm以下带20 mV左右正电荷的纳米颗粒,具有较好的细胞内吞能力和溶液稳定性,细胞毒性实验证明,随着浓度增加PEI-Tr材料显示了远低于PEI-25kDa的细胞毒性,细胞转染实验表明其拥有高效输送质粒的能力。结论:PEI-Tr是一种高效低毒的可降解聚阳离子载体,在基因输送领域有很大的潜力;连接剂的比例在聚阳离子功能中起到重要作用。     

Efficacious cellular codelivery of doxorubicin and EGFP siRNA mediated by the composition of PLGA and PEI protected gold nanoparticles

This study reports the simultaneous delivery of EGFP siRNA and the chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin by means of the composition that results from the electrostatic interaction between positively charged siRNA-complexes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with PEI, 25 kDa (P25-AuNPs) and negatively charged carboxymethyl cellulose formulated PLGA nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin. The nanoparticles and their facile interaction were studied by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, transmission electron microscopic (TEM) measurements. The flow cytometric and confocal microscopic analysis evidenced the simultaneous internalization of both labelled siRNA and doxorubin into around 55% of the HeLa cancer cell population. Fluorescence microscopic studies enabled the visual analysis of EGFP expressing HeLa cells which suggested that the composition mediated codelivery resulted in a substantial downregulation of EGFP expression and intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin. Interestingly, codelivery treatment resulted in an increased cellular delivery of doxorubicin when compared to PLGA-DOX alone treatment. On the other hand, the activity of siRNA complexes of PEI-AuNPs was completely retained even when they were part of composition. The results suggest that this formulation can serve as promising tool for delivery applications in combinatorial anticancer therapy.     

Direct determination of uracil in [32P,uracil-3H]poly(dA.dT) and bisulfite-treated phage PM2 DNA

A simple but effective technique for determining the presence of uracil existing as either A:U base pairs or G:U base pairs in DNA was developed. DNA is degraded to deoxynucleoside 3'-monophosphates by a combination of micrococcal nuclease and spleen phosphodiesterase. The monophosphates are converted to 5'-end-labeled 32P-labeled diphosphates in a reaction catalyzed by T4 polynucleotide kinase. The resultant product is then converted to 5'-end-labeled deoxynucleoside monophosphates by P1 nuclease digestion, which specifically removes 3'-phosphates. Successful separation of labeled dUMP from conventional bases in DNA is achieved by two-dimensional polyethyleneimine chromatography, with its detection determined by autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting. The sensitivity of the technique described can detect a minimum 1 X 10(-16) mol of dUMP in DNA. Additionally, the detection of 5-methylcytosine in placental DNA demonstrates the flexibility of the technique for the analysis of modified bases in DNA.     

PEI介导的大规模基因瞬时转染研究进展

基因重组蛋白具有巨大的商业和科研价值。近年来,大规模基因瞬时表达(large scale transient gene expression,TGE)技术的出现提供了一种相较于传统筛选稳定细胞株重组蛋白生产工艺而言更加高效(high efficient)和更加节约人力(labor consuming)、物力(cost effective)和时间(time consuming)的解决方案。通过基因瞬时表达技术,可以在短时间内获得毫克至克级别的在分子结构、理化特性和生物学功能等方面都接近于原始存在的蛋白质分子,可以满足细胞信号转导、新药筛选和临床前研究等药物研发前期的阶段对重组蛋白的巨大需求。因此,该技术成为当前研究的热点。阳离子聚合物-聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)是目前报道的工业化、大规模瞬时转染表达重组蛋白领域最广泛使用的基因载体和转染试剂。本文就近年来PEI介导的大规模瞬时转染的转染机理、宿主细胞选择以及转染优化措施等各方面的最新研究进展作一综述。     

Bcl-2 overexpression in CHO cells improves polyethylenimine-mediated gene transfection

Transient gene expression (TGE) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with polyethylenimine (PEI) as a transfection reagent has been considered as an attractive method to produce recombinant proteins rapidly for pre-clinical studies. A high level of transfection efficiency, which is required for high-level TGE in CHO cells, can be achieved by increasing the PEI concentration. However, PEI induces cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. To overcome this problem, Bcl-2 protein, an anti-apoptotic protein, was overexpressed in CHO cells (DG44). At a ratio of PEI to DNA (an N/P ratio) of 10, there were no significant differences in transfection efficiency and cell viability between Bcl-2 overexpressing and non-overexpressing cells. The transfection efficiency and cell viability were 2–11% and 83–92%, respectively. However, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the transfection efficiency and cell viability between them at a higher N/P ratio. At an N/P ratio of 40, the transfection efficiency and cell viability of Bcl-2 non-overexpressing cells were 24–38% and 35–40%, respectively, while those of Bcl-2 overexpressing cells were 48–53% and 43–56%, respectively. Furthermore, compared with Bcl-2 non-overexpressing cells, more DNAs entered the Bcl-2 overexpressing cells, resulting in a higher rate of TGE per cell. PE-Annexin V apoptosis revealed that Bcl-2 overexpression suppressed PEI-induced apoptotic cell death at high N/P ratios. Taken together, Bcl-2 overexpression in CHO cells suppresses apoptotic cell death during PEI-mediated transient transfection, resulting in enhanced transfection efficiency and TGE.