Rapid method for altering bacterial ribosome-binding sequences for overexpression of proteins in Escherichia coli.

In an Escherichia coli expression system, two genes, one from an anaerobic intestinal bacterium and one from E. coli, were overexpressed following the alteration of ribosome-binding (Shine-Dalgarno) sequences. For both genes, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to modify the ribosome-binding sequence and, at the same time, provide restriction endonuclease sequences at each end of the gene. These restriction endonuclease sequences were used for inserting the DNA into the E. coli plasmid vector pGEM2, which has the T7 promoter upstream from its multiple cloning sites. Each chimeric plasmid, made by ligating the PCR product into pGEM2, was transformed into E. coli strain HMS174(DE3) which, when induced, produces T7 RNA polymerase for regulated overexpression. The gene isolated from the anaerobic intestinal bacterium, a 27-kDa polypeptide gene from Eubacterium sp. strain 12708, when expressed using this system, produced about one-third of the total cell protein as measured in Coomassie-stained protein gels and confirmed by Western blots with rabbit antibody. The E. coli enzyme, a 28.4-kDa tRNA methylation enzyme, was increased fivefold in activity of cell extracts over that of the best previous strain.     

Enzyme-free cloning: a rapid method to clone PCR products independent of vector restriction enzyme sites.

We describe a simple method for the cloning of PCR products without the need for post-amplification enzymatic treatment. Tailed PCR primer sets are used to create complementary staggered overhangs on both insert and vector by a post-PCR denaturation-hybridisation reaction. The single-stranded overhangs are designed to allow directional cloning in a ligase-free manner. This 'enzyme-free cloning' procedure is highly efficient, and is not constrained by the need for the presence of suitable restriction enzyme sites within the plasmid vector. The avoidance of post-amplification enzymatic procedures makes the technique rapid and reliable, avoiding the need for multiple sub-cloning steps.     

肠膜明串珠菌葡聚糖蔗糖酶基因的克隆与表达

利用PCR方法从肠膜明串珠菌葡聚糖亚种(Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp dextranicum)基因组DNA中扩增出了葡聚糖蔗糖酶基因dsrD并将其连接到表达栽体pET-30(a),得到重组质粒pET-30-dsrD,将重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌菌株Rosetta中,重组菌株SDS-PAGE结果显示有明显的170kD特异蛋白条带出现.经测定酶活力达1.2U/mL,约是原始菌株的30倍.     

E．coli分泌表达载体的构建和人表皮生长因子在E．coli中的分泌性表达

采用ＰＣＲ技术从Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ基因组片段中克隆出碱性磷酸酯酶（ＰｈｏＡ）的启动子和信号肽序列．在ＰｈｏＡ启动予５＇端设计了ＥｃｏＲⅠ酶切位点,在信号肽编码序列３＇端设计了ＨｉｎｄⅢ酶切位点．将ＰＣＲ产物酶切后ＥｃｏＲⅠ－ＨｉｎｄⅢ片段克隆至ｐＢＲ３２２的ＥｃｏＲⅠ－ＨｉｎｄⅢ位点,组构出含有ＰｈｏＡ启动子和信号肽序列的分泌表达载体ｐＢＭ－Ｐｈｏ－１．之后将人表皮生长因子的成熟肽基因克隆至该载体,使之在Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ中获得分泌表达,另采用ｐＩＮⅢ载体系统以分泌方式表达了人表皮生长因子。     

Assisted large fragment insertion by Red/ET-recombination (ALFIRE)--an alternative and enhanced method for large fragment recombineering

Functional genomics require manipulation and modification of large fragments of the genome. Such manipulation has only recently become more efficient due to the discovery of different techniques based on homologous recombination. However, certain limitations of these strategies still exist since insertion of homology arms (HAs) is often based on amplification of DNA sequences with PCR. Large quantities of PCR products longer than 4-5 kb can be difficult to obtain and the risk of mutations or mismatches increases with the size of the template that is being amplified. This can be overcome by adding HAs by conventional cloning techniques, but with large fragments such as entire genes the procedure becomes time-consuming and tedious. Second, homologous recombination techniques often require addition of antibiotic selection genes, which may not be desired in the final construct. Here, we report a method to overcome the size and selection marker limitations by a two- or three-step procedure. The method can insert any fragment into small or large episomes, without the need of an antibiotic selection gene. We have humanized the mouse luteinizing hormone receptor gene (Lhcgr) by inserting a approximately 55 kb fragment from a BAC clone containing the human Lhcgr gene into a 170 kb BAC clone comprising the entire mouse orthologue. The methodology is based on the rationale to introduce a counter-selection cassette flanked by unique restriction sites and HAs for the insert, into the vector that is modified. Upon enzymatic digestion, in vitro or in Escherichia coli, double-strand breaks are generated leading to recombination between the vector and the insert. The procedure described here is thus an additional powerful tool for manipulating large and complex genomic fragments.     

BALB/C鼠冷诱导RNA结合蛋白的原核表达、纯化及其单克隆抗体的制备

为了获得冷诱导RNA结合蛋白（CIRP）的单克隆抗体,本通过RT-PCR 方法从冷处理BALB/C小鼠睾丸的总RNA中扩增获得CIRP基因序列,克隆至pGEM-T载体,获得重组质粒pGEM-CIRP,并进行序列测定。将测序正确的CIRP序列插入质粒pQE-30-Xa,构建表达载体pQE-30-CIRP并转化E.coli M15,IPTG 诱导后SDS-PAGE分析表明CIRP基因在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达, 可溶性分析表明CIRP融合蛋白以包涵体形式表达。采用Ni-NTA亲和层析、电洗脱纯化融合蛋白CIRP,将纯化的蛋白免疫BALB/C小鼠,三次免疫后,间接ELISA测定小鼠效价,效价为1:105,采用杂交瘤技术融合,用间接ELISA法、有限稀释法筛选阳性杂交瘤细胞,通过Western blot对McAb特异性进行鉴定,利用间接ELISA方法对McAb的Ig亚类(型)、杂交瘤细胞上清、腹水效价进行测定。结果获得了1A6、2D3、3C5及4C4 4株稳定分泌CIRP McAb的杂交瘤细胞株,1A6、3C5、4C4产生的单克隆抗体亚类均为IgG2b,2D3产生的单抗亚类为IgG3,轻链均属κ链。4株单克隆细胞上清效价均在1:103以上,腹水效价均达1:107以上。Western-blot分析4株单抗均能与重组蛋白CIRP特异性结合,与空载体对照没有反应。以3C5细胞株的腹水为一抗,检测冷应激小鼠多种组织中天然CIRP蛋白表达,结果显示3C5细胞腹水能识别心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、睾丸等多种组织中天然CIRP,并与能之与结合。这证明该抗体具有良好特异性和结合活性,制备的单克隆抗体可以用于深入开展CIRP的功能性和应用性研究。     

痢疾福氏2a asd基因的克隆及其序列分析

本文根据大肠杆菌（Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ）Ｋ１２ａｓｄ基因两侧序列设计了一对引物,用全菌ＰＣＲ扩增了福氏２ａ Ｔ３２株的ａｓｄ基因及其两侧序列。对ＰＣＲ产物的初步结果表明,在ａｓｄ基因两端存在ＢａｍＨ Ｉ位点。为了防止由ＰＣＲ扩增带来的差错,我们又从福氏２ａ Ｔ３２株染色体中克隆了全长的ａｓｄ基因。序列分析了结果表明,福氏２ａＴ３２株ａｓｄ基因的序列与Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ Ｋ１２的完全一致,全长１６８０ｂｐ,其两侧     

Restriction site-free insertion of PCR products directionally into vectors

A restriction site-free cloning method has been developed for inserting a PCR product into a vector flexibly and precisely at any desired location with high efficiency. The method uses a pair of DNA integration primers with two portions. The 3' portion isolates the inserts by PCR, and the 5' portion integrates the PCR products into the homologous region of the vector. For mutagenesis, a third portion of mutation-generating sequences can be placed in between the 3' and 5' portions. This method has been used to clone the E. coli gene that codes for peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase, expressing it as a native protein and as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. It was also applied to convert a construct of the E. coli fatty acid biosynthesis protein with an N-terminal hexa-histidine tag into a construct with a C-terminal hexa-histidine tag.     

Isolation, sequence, and expression in Escherichia coli of an unusual thioredoxin gene from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.

Two sequences with homology to a thioredoxin oligonucleotide probe were detected by Southern blot analysis of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 genomic DNA. One of the sequences was shown to code for a protein with 37% amino acid identity to thioredoxins from Escherichia coli and Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7119. This is in contrast to the usual 50% homology observed among most procaryotic thioredoxins. One gene was identified in a library and was subcloned into a pUC vector and used to transform E. coli strains lacking functional thioredoxin. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin gene did not complement the trxA mutation in E. coli. Transformed cells were not able to use methionine sulfoxide as a methionine source or support replication of T7 bacteriophage or the filamentous viruses M13 and f1. Sequence analysis of a 720-base-pair TaqI fragment indicated an open reading frame of 115 amino acids. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin gene was expressed in E. coli, and the protein was purified by assaying for protein disulfide reductase activity, using insulin as a substrate. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin exhibited the properties of a conventional thioredoxin. It is a small heat-stable redox protein and an efficient protein disulfide reductase. It is not a substrate for E. coli thioredoxin reductase. Chemically reduced Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin was able to serve as reducing agent for both E. coli and Anabaena strain 7119 ribonucleotide reductases, although with less efficiency than the homologous counterparts. The Anabaena strain 7120 thioredoxin cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies to Anabaena strain 7119 thioredoxin. However, this unusual thioredoxin was not detected in extracts of Anabaena strain 7120, and its physiological function is unknown.     

小鼠canstatin C端片段基因的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

为了构建小鼠canstatinC端片段的原核表达载体并在大肠杆菌中表达。以小鼠肝脏组织总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR扩增小鼠canstatinC端片段(mCan-C)基因,克隆到pMD18-T载体中并进行序列分析。将mCan-C基因定向克隆于原核表达载体pET30a(+)中,构建表达载体pET／mCan-C,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达。结果表明,小鼠canstatinC端片段的cDNA长度为399bp,含有1个终止密码,编码132个氨基酸,与已知的人canstatinC端片段氨基酸的同源性为61％。IPTG诱导mCan-C在大肠杆菌E．coliBL21中表达,表达量约占菌体总蛋白量的28％,重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在。首次克隆了小鼠canstatinC端片段的cDNA,IPTG诱导mCan-C在大肠杆菌E．coliBL21中高效表达。小鼠canstatinC端片段的cDNA序列已收入GenBank,接受号为:AY502947。     

植物乳杆菌JPP2胆盐水解酶相关基因克隆和表达

通过PCR方法从植物乳杆菌JPP2中扩增出胆盐水解酶（BSH）相关基因bsh3,利用中间克隆载体pMD19-T将其构建于表达载体pET-28b上,并转化入表达宿主菌E．coli BL21（DE3）,成功构建重组BSH的工程菌。核苷酸及推导的氨基酸序列分析表明,正确克隆出目的基因。诱导表达后,SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示出特异性蛋白质条带,其分子量约为38kDa。此单克隆体系的构建为进一步研究BSH的功能奠定基础。     

Universal restriction site-free cloning method using chimeric primers

A universal restriction site-free cloning method has been developed to precisely insert a DNA fragment into a vector at any desired location without altering any nucleotide(s) in either the DNA fragment or the vector. The technique employs two pairs of chimeric primers, each containing a ribonucleotide. One pair of primers is used to amplify a target DNA fragment and another is used to prepare a linear vector. The ribonucleotide is used as a specific site for cleavage promoted by rare-earth metal ions such as La3+ or Lu3+. Therefore, blunt-ended PCR products can be converted into a dsDNA with single-stranded 3'overhangs for efficient ligation. The primers are designed so that both the target DNA fragment and vector PCR products create defined 3' overhangs to permit the formation of a seamless plasmid during the subsequent ligation. This method has been used successfully to clone the E. coli gene coding for peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase.     

CglI基因在大肠杆菌中的功能活性分析

通过PCR技术从谷氨酸棒杆菌基因组中扩增CglI基因,克隆到载体pMD18-T Simple后测序。将CglI基因亚克隆到表达载体pJL23,构建重组质粒pJL23-CglI,转化大肠杆菌HB101菌株,通过PCR反应筛选鉴定阳性克隆。通过噬菌体感染实验,初步分析了CglI基因在大肠杆菌中的功能活性。     

Reconstitution of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) from DNA cloned as a bacterial artificial chromosome and characterization of a glycoprotein B-negative MDV-1 mutant

The complete genome of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) strain 584Ap80C was cloned in Escherichia coli as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC). BAC vector sequences were introduced into the U(S)2 locus of the MDV-1 genome by homologous recombination. Viral DNA containing the BAC vector was used to transform Escherichia coli strain DH10B, and several colonies harboring the complete MDV-1 genome as an F plasmid (MDV-1 BACs) were identified. DNA from various MDV-1 BACs was transfected into chicken embryo fibroblasts, and from 3 days after transfection, infectious MDV-1 was obtained. Growth of MDV-1 recovered from BACs was indistinguishable from that of the parental virus, as assessed by plaque formation and determination of growth curves. In one of the MDV-1 BAC clones, sequences encoding glycoprotein B (gB) were deleted by one-step mutagenesis using a linear DNA fragment amplified by PCR. Mutant MDV-1 recovered after transfection of BAC DNA that harbored a 2.0-kbp deletion of the 2.6-kbp gB gene were able to grow and induce MDV-1-specific plaques only on cells providing MDV-1 gB in trans. The gB-negative virus reported here represents the first MDV-1 mutant with a deletion of an essential gene and demonstrates the power and usefulness of BACs to analyze genes and gene products in slowly growing and strictly cell-associated herpesviruses.     

Quick and clean cloning: a ligation-independent cloning strategy for selective cloning of specific PCR products from non-specific mixes

We have developed an efficient strategy for cloning of PCR products that contain an unknown region flanked by a known sequence. As with ligation-independent cloning, the strategy is based on homology between sequences present in both the vector and the insert. However, in contrast to ligation-independent cloning, the cloning vector has homology with only one of the two primers used for amplification of the insert. The other side of the linearized cloning vector has homology with a sequence present in the insert, but nested and non-overlapping with the gene-specific primer used for amplification. Since only specific products contain this sequence, but none of the non-specific products, only specific products can be cloned. Cloning is performed using a one-step reaction that only requires incubation for 10 minutes at room temperature in the presence of T4 DNA polymerase to generate single-stranded extensions at the ends of the vector and insert. The reaction mix is then directly transformed into E. coli where the annealed vector-insert complex is repaired and ligated. We have tested this method, which we call quick and clean cloning (QC cloning), for cloning of the variable regions of immunoglobulins expressed in non-Hodgkin lymphoma tumor samples. This method can also be applied to identify the flanking sequence of DNA elements such as T-DNA or transposon insertions, or be used for cloning of any PCR product with high specificity.     

Recombinant circle PCR and recombination PCR for site-specific mutagenesis without PCR product purification.

Two simple methods for site-specific mutagenesis are described and compared. In each method, the PCR is used in two separate amplifications to mutate the site of interest and to add ends to one PCR product that are homologous to the ends of the other PCR product. In the first method, the two products are combined, denatured and reannealed prior to transformation of E. coli in order to form recombinant circles in vitro, while in the second method, the two linear products are co-transfected directly into E. coli without prior manipulation, resulting in transformation of E. coli with the recombinant of interest by recombination in vivo. Each PCR amplification uses a plasmid template that has been linearized by restriction enzyme digestion outside the region to be amplified. This permits use of unpurified PCR products in these two protocols and generation of the mutant of interest with no other enzymatic manipulation in vitro apart from PCR amplification. In each protocol greater than or equal to 50% of the resulting clones contained the mutation of interest without detected errors.     

牛分枝杆菌mpb64基因的克隆、鉴定及其表达

以牛型分枝杆菌基因组DNA为模板,PCR方法扩增mpb64基因,纯化PCR产物并与pDM18-T载体连接、转化,经酶切及核苷酸序列鉴定为正确后,酶切产物亚克隆到原核表达载体pET30a(+)的KpnI／EcoRI位点,构建重组表达质粒pET30a+-mpb64,转化到大肠杆菌DE3内,以IPTG进行诱导,终浓度为1mmol／L,诱导产物进行SDS-PAGE电泳。结果表明,PCR方法成功扩增出mpb64基因,核苷酸序列测定验证了其正确性,重组表达质粒表达的pET30a+-mpb64融合蛋白相对分子量为30.4kDa,与实测相符。牛分枝杆菌pET30a+-mpb64的成功表达为牛结核病的诊断及新型疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene and features of the major outer membrane protein of a virulent Rickettsia prowazekii strain.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene for a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of apparent molecular weight 29.5 kD of the virulent Breinl strain of Rickettsia prowazekii. The gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 282-amino-acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 31549 daltons. A signal-like peptide sequence is found at the deduced N terminus. A heterologous 29.5-kD antigen expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to be secreted into the periplasm. A database search for similar protein sequences revealed considerable homology of the polypeptide with the E. coli peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase and related proteins of the parvulin family. The genes for MOMP of the virulent Breinl and EVir strains and the vaccine Madrid E strain were amplified using specific primers and cloned into expression vector pQE-30. We found that the polypeptides encoded by the recombinant DNAs do not differ in SDS-PAGE mobility, while the native MOMP of the Breinl strain is known to be different from the corresponding proteins of the Madrid E and EVir strains. Furthermore, no differences within the ORF for the 29.5-kD proteins of the three strains were found by restriction endonuclease analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. A possible role of parvulin-like protein (Plp) in the virulence of epidemic typhus agent and the nature of interstrain differences are discussed. Near the plp gene on the opposite strand, an origin of the gene that codes for the SecA subunit of a preprotein translocase was found.     

Ligase-free subcloning: a versatile method to subclone polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in a single day.

Often, it is convenient to subclone polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products into a plasmid vector for subsequent replication in bacteria, but conventional subcloning methods often fail. We report a rapid and versatile method to subclone PCR products directionally into a specific site of virtually any plasmid vector. The procedure requires only four primers, does not require DNA ligase, and may be accomplished in a single day. Ligase-free subcloning is performed by incorporating into the PCR primers sequences at the 5' ends that result in PCR products whose 3' ends are complementary to the 3' ends of the recipient linearized plasmid. The PCR product and the linearized plasmid are spliced together in a second PCR reaction in which Taq polymerase extends the complementary overlapping 3' ends (ligation by overlap extension). Denaturation followed by heterologous reannealing and cyclization results in a cyclic recombinant plasmid with two nicks that may be used directly to transform competent Escherichia coli. In our hands, ligase-free subcloning is rapid, and offers many advantages over existing strategies.     

A genomic library-based amplification approach (GL-PCR) for the mapping of multiple IS6110 insertion sites and strain differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Evidence suggests that insertion of the IS6110 element is not without consequence to the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains. Thus, mapping of multiple IS6110 insertion sites in the genome of biomedically relevant clinical isolates would result in a better understanding of the role of this mobile element, particularly with regard to transmission, adaptability and virulence. In the present paper, we describe a versatile strategy, referred to as GL-PCR, that amplifies IS6110-flanking sequences based on the construction of a genomic library. M. tuberculosis chromosomal DNA is fully digested with HincII and then ligated into a plasmid vector between T7 and T3 promoter sequences. The ligation reaction product is transformed into Escherichia coli and selective PCR amplification targeting both 5' and 3' IS6110-flanking sequences are performed on the plasmid library DNA. For this purpose, four separate PCR reactions are performed, each combining an outward primer specific for one IS6110 end with either T7 or T3 primer. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the PCR products generated from a single ligation reaction allowed mapping of 21 out of the 24 IS6110 copies of two 12 banded M. tuberculosis strains, yielding an overall sensitivity of 87,5%. Furthermore, by simply comparing the migration pattern of GL-PCR-generated products, the strategy proved to be as valuable as IS6110 RFLP for molecular typing of M. tuberculosis complex strains. Importantly, GL-PCR was able to discriminate between strains differing by a single IS6110 band.