人EGFR显性负性突变体对胃癌细胞体内成瘤及淋巴结转移的影响

为了研究人表皮生长因子显性负性突变体(dominant negative mutant of EGFR, dnEGFR)对胃癌细胞体内成瘤及淋巴结转移的影响,用目的质粒pEGFPN1 dnEGFR,空质粒载体pEGFP N1分别转染胃癌细胞NCI-N87.筛选出稳定转染株,实验共分3组：NCI-N87细胞未转染组（untreated NCI-N87,UN组）,NCI-N87细胞pEGFP-N1转染组（EN组）;NCI-N87细胞pEGFPN1-dnEGFR转染组（DN组）.将3组细胞接种于裸鼠右后足垫,6周后测量移植瘤大小及对应腹股沟转移淋巴结数目,HE染色验证,real-time PCR和Western 印迹检测3组细胞中AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白的表达改变.结果发现,DN组移植瘤较UN、EN组明显缩小（P<0.05）,且右腹股沟转移淋巴结数目较UN、EN组减少（P<0.05）.DN组细胞中,AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白水平较UN、EN组降低（P<0.05）.提示pEGFPN1-dnEGFR可抑制裸鼠体内胃癌细胞成瘤及淋巴结转移,AKT1及MAPK3信号通路可能参与其中.     

人EGFR显性负性突变体负调控内源性EGFR功能的机制分析

通过定向克隆法构建真核表达载体pEGFPN1-DNEGFR,脂质体介导下转染体外培养的SGC-7901细胞,应用Western blotting检测DNEGFR-EGFP蛋白的表达,激光共聚焦显微镜对DNEGFR-EGFP亚细胞结构定位检测;并经RT-PCR、Western blotting检测DNEGFR-EGFP对内源性EGFRmRNA水平、蛋白及磷酸化水平的影响.成功检测到DNEGFR-EGFP蛋白的表达,DNEGFR-EGFP蛋白主要定位于细胞膜,DNEGFR-EGFP能降低内源性EGFR蛋白磷酸化水平,而对内源性EGFRmRNA水平及蛋白水平无影响.研究证明DNEGFR通过降低内源性EGFR蛋白磷酸化水平负调控EGFR功能,为靶向EGFR显性负性策略在肿瘤生物治疗中的进一步研究打下基础.     

靶向表皮生长因子受体的全新小分子配体筛选

肿瘤靶向分子的筛选一直是肿瘤治疗和早期诊断的研究热点 . 表皮生长因子受体 (EGFR) 在很多肿瘤细胞表面过量表达,是一个理想的药物输送靶点 . 选择了 EGFR 表面不同于表皮生长因子 (EGF) 结合位点的一个凹陷部位作为计算机模拟筛选的结合位点,然后使用 DOCK 软件包对 DTP-Plated 有机小分子数据库进行了两遍筛选,最后选择了 7 个有机小分子作为可能的靶向分子 . BIAcore 体外结合实验对所选择的小分子样品进行了进一步的验证,结果表明,小分子 NSC51186 能特异地与 EGFR 结合 . 小分子 NSC51186 和 EGFR 之间的动力学常数也得到进一步的测定 . 新的靶向分子和药物、纳米粒子或者基因载体相连,将有可能用于靶向于 EGFR 的肿瘤治疗和诊断 .     

人EGFR显性负性突变体对胃癌细胞在裸鼠体内成瘤性及淋巴结转移的影响

为了研究人表皮生长因子显性负性突变体(dominant negative mutant of EGFR,dnEGFR)对胃癌细胞体内成瘤及淋巴结转移的影响,用目的质粒pEGFPN1-dnEGFR,空质粒载体pEGFP-N1分别转染胃癌细胞NCI-N87.筛选出稳定转染株,实验共分3组:NCI-N87细胞未转染组(untreated NCI-N87,UN组),NCI-N87细胞pEGFP-N1转染组(EN组);NCI-N87细胞pEGFPN1-dnEGFR转染组(DN组).将3组细胞接种于裸鼠右后足垫,6周后测量移植瘤大小及对应腹股沟转移淋巴结数目,HE染色验证,real-time PCR和Western印迹检测3组细胞中AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白的表达改变.结果发现,DN组移植瘤较UN、EN组明显缩小(P0.05),且右腹股沟转移淋巴结数目较UN、EN组减少(P0.05).DN组细胞中,AKT1、MAPK3 mRNA和蛋白水平较UN、EN组降低(P0.05).提示pEGFPN1-dnEGFR可抑制裸鼠体内胃癌细胞成瘤及淋巴结转移,AKT1及MAPK3信号通路可能参与其中.     

结肠癌细胞株和组织中EGFR、p-EGFR和p-IGFR-1β的表达及意义

目的：研究EGFR、p-EGFR和p-IGFR-1β在结肠癌细胞株的表达及其与吉非替尼敏感性的关系,以及在肿瘤组织中的表达状况、相关性及其与临床病理参数的关系。方法：以western blot检测EGFR、p-EGFR和p-IGFR-1β在结肠癌细胞株和组织中的表达,以Quantity One软件测量各蛋白条带的灰度值。结果：EGFR、p-EGFR在Lovo细胞中表达量最高（P〈0.05）,EGFR在SW620细胞中的表达最低（P〈0.05）,在HCT116、HT29、LS174T和SW480细胞中的表达差异不显著。p-IGFR-1β在Lovo、HT29和SW480细胞中表达较弱,且在Lovo细胞中表达更弱,但在HCT116、LS174T和SW620细胞中的表达均较强（P〈0.05）。结肠癌组织中EGFR表达率为55.6%（10/18）,癌旁正常组织为37.5%（3/18）,肿瘤组织中有表达增高的趋势;p-EGFR在结肠癌组织表达率为33.3%（6/18）,较正常组织的5.6%（1/18）明显增高（P〈0.05）;p-IGFR-1β在结肠癌组织表达率为44.4%（8/18）,较正常组织的11．1％（2／18）明显增高（P〈0．05）。EGFR、P-EGFR和P-IGFR-1β相互之间的表达无明显相关性;EGFR、P-EGFR表达与各临床病理参数无明显相关;P．IGFR-1β在淋巴结转移患者中的表达显著增高（P〈0．05）,且在分期晚的患者中也可观察到这种趋势。结论：结合我们以往的研究结果,P．EGFR表达高伴p-IGFR-1β表达低提示结肠癌细胞对吉非替尼的敏感性好。P-EGFR和P—IGFR-1β在结肠癌组织中的表达较正常组织明显增高,且p-IGFR．1B表达高可能预示结肠癌患者有较高的转移风险。     

抗EGFRvIII噬菌体抗体库的构建和筛选

目的：应用噬菌体展示技术筛选针对表皮生长因子受体突变体Ш (epidermal growth factor receptor variant type Ⅲ, EGFRvIII)的单链抗体 (single chain Fv, scFv)。方法：利用原核表达纯化的人EGFRvIIIex蛋白和高表达EGFRvIIIex的小鼠成纤维细胞系NIH3T3免疫小鼠,扩增VH和VL片段并拼装成scFv 基因,连接至噬菌粒pCANTAB 5E,电击转化Hpd3cells,构建噬菌体单链抗体库,并进行3轮富集筛选。在第4轮筛选时,采用了降低抗原浓度的方法。然后将筛选得到的阳性克隆测序分析,转化E.coli HB2151,IPTG 诱导可溶性scFv 的表达。结果：构建了库容为7.9×107 的噬菌体单链抗体库。经过第4轮低浓度抗原筛选,得到了较高亲和力的克隆。取单个阳性克隆测序分析结果表明,该抗EGFRvIII scFv 基因序列长807 bp,编码268个氨基酸。IPTG诱导后表达的可溶性scFv 可分别与纯化的EGFRvIIIex抗原以及细胞表面的EGFRvIIIex结合。结论：利用噬菌体抗体库筛选得到了高亲和力的抗EGFRvIII scFv,为开发针对EGFRvIII的抗体药物提供了靶向载体分子。     

抗EGFRvⅢ噬菌体抗体库的构建和筛选

目的:应用噬菌体展示技术筛选针对表皮生长因子受体突变体Ш(epidermal growth factorreceptor variant typeⅢ,EGFRvIII)的单链抗体(single chain Fv,scFv)。方法:利用原核表达纯化的人EGFRvIIIex蛋白和高表达EGFRvIIIex的小鼠成纤维细胞系NIH3T3免疫小鼠,扩增VH和VL片段并拼装成scFv基因,连接至噬菌粒pCANTAB5E,电击转化Hpd3cells,构建噬菌体单链抗体库,并进行3轮富集筛选。在第4轮筛选时,采用了降低抗原浓度的方法。然后将筛选得到的阳性克隆测序分析,转化E.coliHB2151,IPTG诱导可溶性scFv的表达。结果:构建了库容为7.9×107的噬菌体单链抗体库。经过第4轮低浓度抗原筛选,得到了较高亲和力的克隆。取单个阳性克隆测序分析结果表明,该抗EGFRvIII scFv基因序列长807bp,编码268个氨基酸。IPTG诱导后表达的可溶性scFv可分别与纯化的EGFRvⅢex抗原以及细胞表面的EGFRvⅢex结合。结论:利用噬菌体抗体库筛选得到了高亲和力的抗EGFRvⅢ scFv,为开发针对EGFRvⅢ...     

绵羊皮肤中GHR、IGF-1和IGF-1R基因表达的发育性变化及品种特点

采用相对定量反转录多聚酶链式反应 (RT-PCR)方法, 以18S rRNA作内标, 研究了罗米丽(Romilly Hillys)×中国美利奴(新疆军垦型)杂交一代优质细毛羊和哈萨克粗毛羊皮肤中生长激素受体(GHR)、胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)和胰岛素样生长因子1受体(IGF-1R) mRNA发育性变化并进行了品种间比较。分别于30、60、90、135、180和255日龄称重、采毛样, 并于30、90、135和255日龄采皮样。结果表明: 粗毛羊和细毛羊体重、羊毛生长的发育模式没有明显的差异, 30~135日龄体重迅速增加, 135~255日龄增重十分缓慢; 30~135日龄羊毛日增长逐渐增加, 135~180日龄羊毛生长十分缓慢, 而180~255日龄又上升到较高水平。粗毛羊皮肤中GHR mRNA在30~90日龄显著增加 (P<0.05), 90日龄达到高峰, 此后显著下降(P<0.05); 细毛羊在135日龄时GHR mRNA极显著地升高(P<0.01), 此后又极显著地下降。粗毛羊皮肤中IGF-1、IGF-1R mRNA 30~90日龄上升, 90日龄之后极显著下降(P<0.01); 细毛羊皮肤中IGF-1、IGF-1R mRNA出生时较高, 然后逐渐下降。品种之间比较, 细毛羊GHR mRNA出现高峰晚于粗毛羊, 135日龄高峰时显著地高于粗毛羊; 粗毛羊IGF-1、IGF-1R mRNA在90日龄出现高峰, 并极显著或显著地高于细毛羊; 粗毛羊90日龄前GHR、IGF-1和IGF-1R mRNA高于细毛羊, 之后低于细毛羊。结果提示: 绵羊皮肤中GHR、IGF-1和IGF-1R基因表达有特定的发育模式, 并存在品种差异。     

水稻斑点叶突变体spl101和spl102的筛选及候选基因鉴定

斑点叶突变体是指植物在正常生长条件下叶片或叶鞘上自发形成、且与病原菌侵染产生的病斑类似的一类突变体,筛选并研究斑点叶突变体对揭示植物抗病反应机理具有重要意义。为了进一步研究斑点叶的形成机制,本文通过EMS诱变品种宽叶粳(KYJ),筛选得到两个斑点叶突变体spl101和spl102。这两个突变体在生长发育晚期(抽穗期以后)形成严重的类病斑。遗传分析表明,spl101和spl102均受隐性单基因控制。利用Mutmap方法对候选基因进行克隆,结果显示,spl101和spl102的候选基因均为OsEDR1,该基因与类病斑发生有关。在spl101中,OsEDR1基因突变发生在第6外显子和第6内含子的交接处,该突变导致第6内含子的错误识别,最终造成移码突变。在spl102中,OsEDR1基因突变发生在第10外显子上,导致一个苯丙氨酸(F)变成半胖氨酸(C)。因此,本研究鉴定了两个新的OsEDR1等位突变,对OsEDR1抗病反应机理的进一步研究及丰富水稻种质资源具有积极意义。同时验证了利用Mutmap方法克隆水稻突变基因的有效性。     

白藜芦醇对胰腺癌细胞增殖和凋亡影响的研究

为了研究白藜芦醇对人胰腺癌细胞增殖和存活的影响,利用不同浓度白藜芦醇处理PANC-1和Bx PC-3细胞,通过MTS和软琼脂集落实验检测白藜芦醇对胰腺癌细胞的停泊依赖和停泊非依赖增殖的抑制。同时,采用免疫印迹的方法,检测不同浓度白藜芦醇对胰腺癌细胞增殖相关信号通路的调控,及不同时间点凋亡激活相关蛋白分子的表达。结果发现白藜芦醇能剂量依赖性抑制PANC-1和Bx PC-3细胞增殖,并且这种增殖抑制作用与表皮生长因子受体(epithelial growth factor receptor,EGFR)及下游信号通路的抑制有关。一定浓度的白藜芦醇能诱导胰腺癌细胞发生凋亡,caspase3和caspase7被剪切活化。通过检测Bcl-2(B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2)促存活家族蛋白,证实白藜芦醇能有效抑制Mcl-1(myeloid cell leukemia-1,Mcl-1)的表达,并不改变Bcl-2和Bcl-XL的表达。实验结果初步表明,白藜芦醇抑制胰腺癌的增殖与存活与EGFR信号通路及促存活蛋白Mcl-1的表达下调有关。     

一种快速筛选海藻糖合成酶突变体体系的建立

利用λRed重组系统对大肠杆茵JM109的6-磷酸海藻糖合成酶基因OtsA和6-磷酸海藻糖酯酶基因otsB进行敲除,获得otsA和otsB基因失活的大肠杆菌突变体,该突变体由于对渗透压变得非常敏感,在舍5%NaCl和0.5%麦芽糖的培养基中生长缓慢,然而当导入有活力的外源海藻糖合成酶基因后,由于能在胞内合成海藻糖,增强了细胞抗高渗透压培养基的能力,因而可让otsA和otsB基因缺失后的JM109得以恢复其生长能力.通过比较它们在高渗透压的培养基中的生长速度,可以筛选出含有不同活力的海藻糖合成酶突变体.     

Bioactive recombinant neuregulin-1, -2, and -3 expressed in Escherichia coli

The neuregulins (NRGs) are a family of signaling proteins that are ligands for receptor tyrosine kinase of the ErbB family (namely ErbB3 and ErbB4). To date, four different neuregulin genes have been identified (neuregulin1-4). While NRG1 isoforms have been extensively studied, little is yet known about the other genes of the family. We report the expression of recombinant NRG1beta1, NRG2alpha, NRG2beta, and NRG3 as recombinant fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The cDNA encoding for the EGF-like domain of each protein was cloned from the mouse olfactory bulb and inserted into the pET-19b vector allowing for bacterial expression of the protein fused to an N-terminal His tag. The recombinant NRGs expressed in the inclusion bodies were solubilized under denaturing conditions, purified by affinity chromatography, and refolded via dialysis in the presence of reducing agents. Purified recombinant NRGs were active as they bound to their receptors and induced their phosphorylation. In particular, and in agreement with data on the native proteins, all the molecules were able to bind and activate ErbB4 while only the rNRG1 and the two rNRG2 (but not rNRG3) bound ErbB3.     

Identification of peptide epitopes of MAGE-1, -2, -3 that demonstrate HLA-A3-specific binding

 The MAGE gene family of tumour antigens are expressed in a wide variety of human cancers. We have identified 43 nonamer peptide sequences, from MAGE-1, -2 and -3 proteins that contain binding motifs for HLA-A3 MHC class I molecules. The T2 cell line, transfected with the cDNA for the HLA-A3 gene, was used in a MHC class I stabilisation assay performed at 37°C and 26°C. At 37°C, 2 peptides were identified that stabilised HLA-A3 with high affinity (fluorescence ratio, FR >1.5), 4 peptides with low affinity (FR 1.11 – 1.49) and 31 peptides that did not stabilise this HLA haplotype (FR <1.1). At 26°C, 12 peptides were identified that stabilised HLA-A3 with high affinity, 8 peptides with low affinity and 17 peptides that did not stabilise this HLA haplotype. Two peptides stabilised HLA-A3 at both temperatures. Small changes in one to three amino acids at positions distinct from the anchor residues altered peptide affinity. Data were compared to a similar study in which a peptide competition assay was used to investigate MAGE-1 peptide binding to several HLA haplotypes. This study demonstrates that anchor residues do not accurately predict peptide binding to specific HLA haplotypes, changes in one to three amino acids at positions distinct from anchor residues influence peptide binding and alternative methods of determining peptide binding yield different results. We are currently investigating the ability of these peptides to induce antitumour cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity as they may be of potential therapeutic value. Received: 4 January 1996 / Accepted: 20 March 1996     

Yeast Ulp1, an Smt3-specific protease, associates with nucleoporins

Yeast Smt3 is a ubiquitin-like protein similar to the mammalian SUMO-1. Cdc3, a septin component, is known to be modified by Smt3. The level of this modification was affected by Smt3-specific protease mutation ulp1-ts or overexpression of ULP1. By two-hybrid screening, we isolated 5 UIP (Ulp1 interacting protein) genes. UIP1 was identical to NUP42 encoding a component of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Gle1, another NPC-associating component, also interacted with Ulp1 in the two-hybrid system and co-immunoprecipitation experiment. Thus Ulp1 associates with nucleoporins and may interact with septin rings in the telophase.     

Computational analysis of molecular basis of 1:1 interactions of NRG-1beta wild-type and variants with ErbB3 and ErbB4

The neuregulin/ErbB system is a growth factor/receptor cascade that has been proven to be essential in the development of the heart and the sympathetic nervous system. However, the basis of the specificity of ligand-receptor recognition remains to be elucidated. In this study, the structures of NRG-1beta/ErbB3 and NRG-1beta/ErbB4 complexes were modeled based on the available structures of the homologous proteins. The binding free energies of NRG-1beta to ErbB3 and ErbB4 were calculated using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) computational method. In addition, computational alanine-scanning mutagenesis was performed in the binding site of NRG-1beta and the difference in the binding free energies between NRG-1beta mutants and the receptors was calculated. The results specify the contribution of each residue at the interaction interfaces to the binding affinity of NRG-1beta with ErbB3 and ErbB4, identifying several important interaction residue pairs that are in agreement with previously acquired experimental data. This indicates that the presented structural models of NRG-1beta/ErbB3 and NRG-1beta/ErbB4 complexes are reliable and could be used to guide future studies, such as performing desirable mutations on NRG-1beta to increase the binding affinity and selectivity to the receptor and discovering new therapeutic agents for the treatment of heart failure.     

Establishment of an overall transformation system for an oil-producing filamentous fungus,Mortierella alpina 1S-4

Oil-producing fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4 is an industrial strain. To determine its physiological properties and to clarify the biosynthetic pathways for polyunsaturated fatty acids, a transformation system for this fungus was established using a derivative of it, i.e., a ura5^– mutant lacking orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRTase, EC.2.4.2.10) activity. Transformation with a vector containing the homologous ura5 gene as a marker was successfully performed using microprojectile bombardment, other methods frequently used for transformation, such as the protoplasting, lithium acetate, or electroporation methods, not giving satisfactory results. As a result, two types of transformants were obtained: a few stable transformants overexpressing the ura5 gene, and many unstable transformants showing OPRTase activity comparable to that of the wild-type strain. The results of quantitative PCR indicated that the stable transformants could retain the ura5 genes originating from the transformation vector regardless of the culture conditions. On the other hand, unstable transformants easily lost the marker gene under uracil-containing conditions, as expected. In this paper, we report that an overall transformation system for this fungus was successfully established, and propose how to select useful transformants as experimental and industrial strains.     

Enhanced internalization of ErbB2 in SK-BR-3 cells with multivalent forms of an artificial ligand

Targeting and down-regulation of ErbB2, a member of EGF receptor family, is regarded as one of the key aspect for cancer treatment because it is often overexpressed in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Although natural ligands for ErbB2 have not been found, unlike other ErbB receptors, EC-1, a 20-amino acid circular peptide, has been shown to bind to ErbB2 as an artificial ligand. Previously we showed EC-1 peptide did not induce the internalization of ErbB2 in SK-BR-3 cells. In this report, we designed divalent and multivalent forms of EC-1 peptide with the Fc portion of the human IgG and bionanocapsule modified with ZZ-tag on its surface to improve the interaction with ErbB2. These forms showed higher affinity to ErbB2 than that of EC-1 monomer. Furthermore, prominent endosomal accumulation of ErbB2 occurred in SK-BR-3 cells when stimulated with EC-Fc ligand multivalently displayed on the surface of the bionanocapsule, whereas SK-BR-3 cells as themselves displayed stringent mechanism against ErbB2 internalization without stimulation. The multivalent form of EC-1 peptide appeared to internalize ErbB2 more efficiently than divalent form did. This internalization was unaffected by the inhibition of clathrin association, but inhibited when the cholesterol was depleted which explained either caveolar or GPI-AP-early endocytic compartment (GEEC) pathway. Because of the lack of caveolin-1 expression, caveolar machinery may be lost in SK-BR-3 cell line. Therefore, it is suggested that the multivalent form of EC-1 induces the internalization of ErbB2 through the GEEC pathway.     

Altered expression of an L1-specific, O-linked cuticle surface glycoprotein in mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Mouse mAb M38 was used in indirect immunofluorescence experiments to detect a stage-specific antigen on the surface of the first larval stage (L1) of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and to detect alterations in the apparent expression of this antigen in two distinct classes of C. elegans mutants. In previously described srf-2 and srf-3 mutants (Politz S. M., M. T. Philipp, M. Estevez, P.J. O'Brien, and K. J. Chin. 1990. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87:2901-2905), the antigen is not detected on the surface of any stage. Conversely, in srf-(yj43) and other similar mutants, the antigen is expressed on the surface of the first through the fourth (L4) larval stages. To understand the molecular basis of these alterations, the antigen was characterized in gel immunoblotting experiments. After SDS-PAGE separation and transfer to nitrocellulose, M38 detected a protein antigen in extracts of wild-type L1 populations. The antigen was sensitive to digestion by Pronase and O-glycanase (endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase), suggesting that it is an O-linked glycoprotein. This antigen was not detected in corresponding extracts of wild-type L4s or srf-2 or srf-3 L1s, but was detected in extracts of srf-(yj43) L4s. The antigen-defective phenotype of srf-3 was epistatic to the heterochronic mutant phenotype of srf-(yj43) in immunofluorescence tests of the srf-3 srf-(yj43) double mutant, suggesting that srf-(yj43) causes incorrect regulation of a pathway of antigen formation that requires wild-type srf-3 activity.     

Altered -3 substrate specificity of Escherichia coli signal peptidase 1 mutants as revealed by screening a combinatorial peptide library

Signal peptidase functions to cleave signal peptides from preproteins at the cell membrane. It has a substrate specificity for small uncharged residues at -1 (P1) and aliphatic residues at the -3 (P3) position. Previously, we have reported that certain alterations of the Ile-144 and Ile-86 residues in Escherichia coli signal peptidase I (SPase) can change the specificity such that signal peptidase is able to cleave pro-OmpA nuclease A in vitro after phenylalanine or asparagine residues at the -1 position (Karla, A., Lively, M. O., Paetzel, M. and Dalbey, R. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 6731-6741). In this study, screening of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based peptide library revealed that the I144A, I144C, and I144C/I86T SPase mutants have a more relaxed substrate specificity at the -3 position, in comparison to the wild-type SPase. The double mutant tolerated arginine, glutamine, and tyrosine residues at the -3 position of the substrate. The altered specificity of the I144C/I86T mutant was confirmed by in vivo processing of pre-beta-lactamase containing non-canonical arginine and glutamine residues at the -3 position. This work establishes Ile-144 and Ile-86 as key P3 substrate specificity determinants for signal peptidase I and demonstrates the power of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based peptide library approach in defining the substrate specificity of proteases.     

Establishment of an in vitro reporter system for screening HBx-targeting molecules

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public health problem. HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a multifunctional regulator that is required to initiate and maintain productive HBV infection, and is involved in HBV-related hepatocellular carci noma (HCC). Inhibitors that in terfere with the functions of HBx could be useful not only for the inhibition of HBV replication but also for the prevention or treatment of HBV-related HCC. To screen molecules that target HBx on a large scale remains a tech nical challenge due to a lack of sensitive and high-throughput system .In this work, we established an in vitro bioluminescent reporter system for screening HBx-targeting molecules. The system is based on a secretory fusion protein that combines HBx and NanoLuc (HBx-Nluc). The measured activity of NanoLuc in the culture supernatant of HBx-Nluc-expressing cells directly reflects the level of secreted HBx-Nluc. HBx protein-targeting intracellular anti-HBx single-chain variable fragment and RNA-targeting shRNA significantly reduced the secreted NanoLuc activity in HBx-Nluc-expressing cells. This system is simple and sensitive, and compatible with continuous non-disruptive screening, suggesting its potential usefulness for highthroughput screening and evaluating HBx-targeting molecules.