The potential use of DNA probes to identify and type strains within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

DNA was extracted and purified from 11 strains of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from cattle in Ireland. After digestion with restriction endonuclease PvuII and electrophoresis on an agarose gel, the separated DNA fragments were transferred to a nylon membrane and sequentially hybridized with three DNA probes derived from BCG.
None of the three probes detected restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) within the 11 M. bovis strains, indicating a very close genetic relationship. One probe, pBCG12, detected RFLPs between the M. bovis strains and a reference PvuII digest of DNA from M. tuberculosis R37Rv, confirming that M. bovis and M. tuberculosis are closely related though genetically distinct.     

Cloning of an endo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase gene from Clostridium josui and its expression in Escherichia coli.

The gene for carboxymethyl cellulose-degrading enzyme (endoglucanase) from Clostridium josui (FERM P-9684) was cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 with pBR322. A 5.6-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment encoding an endoglucanase was hybridized with C. josui chromosomal DNA. The size of the cloned DNA fragment was reduced with PvuII, and the resulting active fragment (2 kilobase pairs, with restriction sites of EcoRI and PstI) was ligated into pUC118 at the SmaI sites (pUCJ1). The endoglucanase production by E. coli JM103(pUCJ1) in Luria-Bertani broth was enhanced up to approximately three times by maintaining the pH at 6.5 and using 80 mM NaCl.     

Cloning of an endo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase gene from Clostridium josui and its expression in Escherichia coli

The gene for carboxymethyl cellulose-degrading enzyme (endoglucanase) from Clostridium josui (FERM P-9684) was cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 with pBR322. A 5.6-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment encoding an endoglucanase was hybridized with C. josui chromosomal DNA. The size of the cloned DNA fragment was reduced with PvuII, and the resulting active fragment (2 kilobase pairs, with restriction sites of EcoRI and PstI) was ligated into pUC118 at the SmaI sites (pUCJ1). The endoglucanase production by E. coli JM103(pUCJ1) in Luria-Bertani broth was enhanced up to approximately three times by maintaining the pH at 6.5 and using 80 mM NaCl.     

Organization of rRNA genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

The number of rRNA genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG was examined by Southern hybridization of end-labeled 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs with BamHI, PstI, and SalI digests of M. bovis BCG DNA. Each RNA probe gave only one radioactive band with three kinds of DNA digest. These results suggest that M. bovis BCG chromosomes may carry only a minimum set of rRNA genes. Hybridization of randomly labeled rRNAs with BamHI, PstI, SalI, BglII, and PvuII digests of DNA from the same organism supported these conclusions. The 6.4-kilobase-pair SalI fragment containing the entire structural genes for both 16S and 23S rRNAs was cloned into pBR322. The cloned fragment was characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping, DNA-RNA hybridization analysis, and the R-loop technique. The results indicated that the fragments contained rRNA genes in the following order: 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNA genes. No tRNA gene was detected in the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, but one was found downstream of the 23S rRNA and 5S rRNA genes.     

Construction and characterization of new cloning vehicles. IV. Deletion derivatives of pBR322 and pBR325

In vitro recombinant DNA experiments involving restriction endonuclease fragments derived from the plasmids pBR322 and pBR325 resulted in the construction of two new cloning vehicles. One of these plasmids, designated pBR327, was obtained after an EcoRII partial digestion of pBR322. The plasmid pBR327 confers resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin, contains 3273 base pairs (bp) and therefore is 1089 bp smaller than pBR322. The other newly constructed vector, which has been designated pBR328, confers resistance to chloramphenicol as well as the two former antibiotics. This plasmid contains unique HindIII, BamHI and SalI sites in the tetracycline resistance gene, unique PvuI and PstI sites in the ampicillin resistance gene and unique EcoRI, PvuII and BalI sites in the chloramphenicol resistance gene. The pBR328 plasmid contains approx. 4900 bp.     

Isolation, purification and properties of new restriction endonucleases from Bacillus badius and Bacillus lentus

We tentatively named two enzymes as BbaI and BleI, which were isolated and purified from Gram-positive mesophilic bacteria Bacillus badius 1458 and Bacillus lentus 1689 respectively, by ammonium sulphate precipitation, phosphocellulose and heparin-sepharose column chromatography. SDS-PAGE protein profiles for BbaI and BleI showed denatured molecular weights of 52 and 48 kDa, respectively. BbaI hydrolyzed pUC18 DNA into 1900 and 700 bp, pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 2800 and 1500 bp and Φ×174 DNA into 3800 and 1600 bp. BleI hydrolyzed pUC18 DNA into 1800 and 800 bp, pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 2700 and 1600 bp and Φ×174 DNA into 3700 and 1700 bp. The effects of temperature, ionic strength, pH and Mg²⁺ ion concentrations were studied to demonstrate some biochemical properties of BbaI and BleI. Maximum activities of these enzymes were observed at 37 °C (pH 8.0) with 100 mM NaCl and 10 mM Mg²⁺ concentrations.     

A normalization strategy applied to HiCEP (an AFLP-based expression profiling) analysis: Toward the strict alignment of valid fragments across electrophoretic patterns

Background  

Gene expression analysis based on comparison of electrophoretic patterns is strongly dependent on the accuracy of DNA fragment sizing. The current normalization strategy based on molecular weight markers has limited accuracy because marker peaks are often masked by intense peaks nearby. Cumulative errors in fragment lengths cause problems in the alignment of same-length fragments across different electropherograms, especially for small fragments (< 100 bp). For accurate comparison of electrophoretic patterns, further inspection and normalization of electrophoretic data after fragment sizing by conventional strategies is needed.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of lysozyme gene of bacteriophage SF6 ofBacillus subtilis

Digestion of bacteriophage SF6 (ofBacillus subtilis) DNA with restriction endonuclease Pst I generates seven fragments (A-G). These fragments were cloned in pBR322 DNA, and the recombinant clones carrying the lysozyme gene were identified by measuring lysozyme activity. The complete nucleotide sequence of 996 bp fragment D, containing lysozymze gene, was determined. One open reading frame was present at 13 bp, and the termination codons were present at 961 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lysozyme gene was also determined.     

Host-mediated modification of PvuII restriction in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Restriction endonuclease PvuII plays a central role in restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates with IS6110 as a genetic marker. We have investigated the basis for an apparent dichotomy in PvuII restriction fragment pattersn observed among strains of the M. tuberculosis complex. The chromosomal regions of two modified PvuII restriction sites, located upstream of the katG gene and downstream of an IS1081 insertion sequence, were studied in more detail. An identical 10-bp DNA sequence (CAGCTGGAGC) containing a PvuII site was found in both regions, and site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that this sequence was a target for modification. Strain-specific modification of PvuII sites was identified in DNA from over 80% of the nearly 800 isolates examined. Furthermore, the proportion of modifying and nonmodifying strains differs significantly from country to country.     

Rapid DNA fingerprinting of pathogens by flow cytometry

BACKGROUND: A new method for rapid discrimination among bacterial strains based on DNA fragment sizing by flow cytometry is presented. This revolutionary approach combines the reproducibility and reliability of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with the speed and sensitivity of flow cytometry. METHODS: Bacterial genomic DNA was isolated and digested with a rare-cutting restriction endonuclease. The resulting fragments were stained stoichiometrically with PicoGreen dye and introduced into an ultrasensitive flow cytometer. A histogram of burst sizes from the restriction fragments (linearly related to fragment length in base pairs) resulted in a DNA fingerprint that was used to distinguish among different bacterial strains. RESULTS: Five different strains of gram-negative Escherichia coli and six different strains of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus were distinguished by analyzing their restriction fragments with DNA fragment sizing by flow cytometry. Fragment distribution analyses of extracted DNA were approximately 100 times faster and approximately 200,000 times more sensitive than pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). When sample preparation time is included, the total DNA fragment analysis time was approximately 8 h by flow cytometry and approximately 24 h by PFGE. CONCLUSIONS: DNA fragment sizing by flow cytometry is a fast and reliable technique that can be applied to the discrimination among species and strains of human pathogens. Unlike some polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, sequence information about the bacterial strains is not required, allowing the detection of unknown, newly emerged, or unanticipated strains.     

Cloning of a Vero toxin (VT2) gene from a VT2-converting phage isolated from Escherichia coli 0157: H7

Abstract A Vero toxin (VT2 or Shiga-like toxin II)-converting phage was isolated from Escherichia coli 0157: H7 strain J-2. Nontoxigenic E. coli C600 produced VT2 when lysogenized with the toxin-converting phage. Eco RI fragments of the phage DNA were ligated with Eco RI-digested pBR322 or pUC118 and were transformed into E. coli MC1061 or MV1184. Transformants exhibiting VT2 production commonly contained a 4.6 kb Eco RI fragment. It was found that a 2.3 kb Kpn I- Sph I fragment coded VT2 production and that this fragment hybridized weakly with the 2.1 kb fragment encoding VT1.     

Molecular cloning of the complete Epstein-Barr virus genome as a set of overlapping restriction endonuclease fragments.

A complete collection of fragments of Epstein-Barr virus DNA, obtained by cleavage with restriction endonuclease Eco RI, has been cloned. Fourteen different internal fragments of the virus genome, derived from linear virion DNA of the B95-8 strain, and sequences corresponding to the terminal regions of virion DNA, derived from intracellular circular EBV DNA isolated from 895-8 cells, were cloned. Sizes of fragments were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and their sum leads to an estimated molecular weight of 110 x 10(6) for virion DNA. Large Eco RI DNA fragments of special interest were also cloned in cosmids using another source of EBV DNA, that is, to circular viral DNA derived from Raji cells. In order to provide a set of overlapping sequences, all the 29 internal Bam HI fragments of B95-8 virion DNA were cloned in pBR322. The map location within the viral genome of each cloned DNA fragment was identified by hybridizing to blots of virion DNA cleaved with several different restriction endonucleases.     

用富集文库克隆人胰岛素基因组基因

通过构建可富集人胰岛素基因的λ噬菌体文库,克隆了人胰岛素基因组基因．首先从中国人血液白细胞中提取到人基因组ＤＮＡ,用ＥｃｏＲⅠ和ＢｇｌⅡ对基因组ＤＮＡ进行全酶切,经０．４％琼脂糖凝胶电泳,特异回收９．５ｋｂ左右的ＤＮＡ片段．将该片段与λＥＭＢＬ３／ＢａｍＨⅠ臂连接,构建成一个特殊的人基因组λ噬菌体文库（富集文库）,效价为２×１０４．同时采用ＰＣＲ方法及用引物Ⅰ：５′ＧＧＡＣＡＧＧＣＴＡＣＡＴＣＡＧＧＡＡＧＡＧＧ３′,引物Ⅱ：５′ＣＴＧＣＧＴＣＴＡＡＴＴＧＣＡＧＴＡＧＴＴＣ３′,从人基因组ＤＮＡ中扩增出一段含胰岛素基因的１．３６ｋｂＤＮＡ片段,做为放射性标记探针,对文库进行了噬菌斑原位杂交筛选,从１×１０４个噬菌斑中筛选到一个含人胰岛素基因组基因的阳性克隆,并进一步完成了亚克隆和该基因１７３２ｂｐＤＮＡ序列的测定．结果该基因的１７３２ｂｐＤＮＡ序列包括部分５′端和３′端与国外发表的人胰岛素α型等位基因的序列相同     

Hydroxyethylcellulose as an effective polymer network for DNA analysis in uncoated glass microchips: optimization and application to mutation detection via heteroduplex analysis

The nature of the sieving matrix for DNA fragment separation is of immense importance in capillary and microchip electrophoresis. The chemical nature of the surface of the capillary or microchannel wall is equally as important, particularly with DNA electrophoresis where a substantial electroosmotic flow (EOF) may be detrimental to the separation. Although DNA analysis has been carried out successfully in both coated and uncoated capillaries, analysis of unpurified polymerase chain reaction products has been carried out primarily with covalently coated surfaces, especially with microchip electrophoresis. In this report, double-stranded (ds) DNA fragment analysis using hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) buffered in 1xTris-borate-EDTA is demonstrated both in uncoated capillaries and in microchips. EOF was suppressed 20% in the presence of 1.5% HEC, and the effectiveness of HEC as a polymer for dsDNA fragment analysis was dependent on the pH, with pH 8.6 being optimal. Using separation efficiency (number of theoretical plates) and resolution to gauge the effectiveness of a variety of polymers for the capillary separation of dsDNA fragments in the size range 60-587bp, HEC was found to be comparable in performance to polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), and superior to linear polyacrylamide and polyethylene oxide for DNA analysis. With respect to longevity and robust performance, HEC could be used effectively in an uncoated capillary for more than 40 runs and for more than 90 runs (without replenishing the polymer) in an uncoated microchip. Application of the optimized HEC conditions is demonstrated through its ability to facilitate heteroduplex analysis.     

多重等位基因特异性扩增—— 微流控芯片电泳法同时测定多个单核苷酸多态性位点

文章以微流控芯片电泳为检测平台, 建立了一种基于DNA适配器连接介导的多重等位基因特异性扩增同时测定多个单核苷酸多态性(SNP)位点的方法。以白细胞介素1β(IL1B)基因中的7个SNP位点(794C>T、1274C>T、2143T>C、2766T>del、3298G>A、5200G>A和5277C>T)为检测对象, 通过PCR预扩增得一段含该7个待测SNP位点的长片段; 用限制性内切酶MboⅠ将其消化成短片段, 再与DNA适配器(adapter)相连; 以连接产物为模板, 在两管中分别用7条等位基因特异性引物和一条公用引物进行7重等位基因特异性扩增; 最后用微流控芯片电泳法分离等位基因特异性扩增产物, 根据两管扩增产物的芯片电泳图谱中扩增片段的大小判断SNP的类型。采用本法成功测定了48名健康中国人的IL1B基因上的7个SNP位点, 与聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性法(PCR-RFLP)和测序法测定结果完全一致。本法结果准确, 可用于同时测定多个SNP位点; 以微流控芯片电泳作为检测平台, 分析速度快, 样品需要量少; 借助于自制筛分凝胶和重复使用芯片, 使得SNP分析成本大大降低。     

肺炎支原体P1蛋白羧基端基因片段在大肠杆菌中克隆的研究

在大肠杆菌中克隆肺炎支原体P1蛋白羧基端基因片段,为P1蛋白基因片段的扩增、表达及探讨羧基端基因片段功能打基础.采用PCR扩增方法获取P1结构基因.扩增产物用SalI和EcoRI酶切消化,回收1kb大小的DNA片段并与pUC19DNA连接,转入大肠杆菌JM109菌株.用X-gal平板及质粒图谱分析方法筛选重组克隆株,再用限制性核酸内切酶酶切图谱分析鉴定.经PCR扩增MPDNA获得1条5.0kbDNA片段.重组质粒限制性内切酶指纹图谱显示出2条带,1条为pUC19载体DNA带,另1条是1kb的插入片段.实验获得肺炎支原体P1蛋白结构基因及含P1蛋白羧基端DNA片段的重组克隆株.     

A method for the generation of small pre-determined deletions in plasmid DNA: deletion analysis of the tetR region of vector pBR322

A general method is described that allows precise deletion of a chosen restriction fragment(s) from a plasmid having many cleavage sites for that restriction enzyme. The DNA to be deleted is first separated from the rest of the plasmid on a larger DNA fragment contained between two different unique restriction sites. This fragment is then subdigested by the restriction endonuclease of interest, which recognises two or more tetranucleotide (cohesive end or blunt end) sequences on the fragment, and is recloned between the two original unique restriction sites. The method is rapid, efficient, and the results are predictable. Examples are given in which predetermined HpaII (9 bp, 147 bp), TaqI (141 bp) and AluI (15 bp, 403 bp) fragments have been selectively removed from the tetR region of plasmid pBR322.     

Cost-effective method to synthesize a fluorescent internal DNA standard for automated fragment sizing.

We describe a simple and cost-effective method for the synthesis of an internal fluorescently labeled DNA standard for fragment sizing using an automated DNA sequencer. A set of primer pairs labeled with ROX was developed to amplify 12 DNA fragments, 58-417 bp, derived from a conserved region of plant chloroplast DNA. These amplified fragments were mixed together, constituting a fluorescent internal DNA size marker. The precision of the size standard was evaluated by estimating the size of 20 alleles that were amplified at four dinucleotide microsatellite loci with the synthesized size standard and the commercial internal sizing standard, GeneScan Rox500. A number of intra-gel and inter-gel comparisons were run, and an analysis of variance was carried out. No significant difference was observed between the size estimates obtained with the synthesized DNA standard and the commercial standard. This facile and general PCR-based method for the synthesis of internal standards allows for significant savings in the implementation of large genotyping experiments using microsatellite or AFLP markers.     

Using universal degenerate primers for restriction digestion mapping by PCR.

In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is developed to determine the restriction map without using restriction endonucleases. A 937 bp fragment of pUC 19 which contained one cut site for EcoRI and two recognition sites for PvuII was used as a model. The PCR was carried out using designed degenerate primers and the products were analyzed on 1.5% agarose gel. The number of cut sites, length of fragments and the arrangement of the fragments from 3' or 5' end of desired sequence were determined.     

Cloning of the cellulase gene from Ruminococcus albus and its expression in Escherichia coli

The gene for cellulase from Ruminococcus albus F-40 was cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 with pBR322. A 3.4-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment encoding cellulase hybridized with the chromosomal DNA of R. albus. The Ouchterlony double-fusion test gave a single precipitation line between the cloned enzyme and the cellulase from R. albus. The size of the cloned fragment was reduced by using HindIII and EcoRI. The resulting active fragment had a size of 1.9 kilobase pairs; and the restriction sites EcoRI, BamHI, PvuII, EcoRI, PvuII, and HindIII, in that order, were ligated into pUC19 at the EcoRI and HindIII sites (pURA1). Cellulase production by E. coli JM103(pURA1) in Luria-Bertani broth was remarkably enhanced, up to approximately 80 times, by controlling the pH at 6.5 and by reducing the concentration of NaCl in the broth to 80 mM.