Optimalized transient transfection of chondrogenic primary cell cultures

We aimed to find a transfection method which provides high efficiency with minimal cytotoxic and/or apoptotic effects for gene transfer into multilayer primary chondrogenic cell cultures. The pEGFP-C1 plasmid was introduced into the cell culture and the efficiency of transformation quantified by GFP fluorescence; the resulting nucleofection was effective but resulted in severe apoptosis. Two liposomal reagents designed to allow transfection into adherent cells did not deliver the plasmids sufficiently and cartilage formation did not occur. In addition, a third liposomal compound, recommended for transfection into either adherent or suspension cell cultures, lead to acceptable transfection efficiency but no cartilage formation. When an amphiphilic reagent was used however, there was acceptable transfection efficiency as well as cartilage formation. The viability of the cells which were transfected using the amphiphilic reagent remained unaffected but proliferation was severely diminished, particularly in the presence of GFP. In addition, the amount of cartilage decreased when GFP was expressed, despite unchanged levels of mRNAs of sox9 and aggrecan core protein, factors reflecting on the efficiency of chondrogenesis. Overexpression of both the constitutively active delta and gamma isoforms of catalytic subunit of calcineurin, a protein phosphatase described as a positive regulator of chondrogenesis, decreased protein level of Sox9 and subsequent cartilage formation. In conclusion, we found that amphiphilic reagent applied prior to the adhesion of cells provides a useful means to transfer plasmids to primary differentiating chondrogenic cells.     

The repair of UV-irradiated plasmids transfected into cultured fish cells

UV-irradiated plasmids (pNPV B and pBSCATSV) were transfected into RBCF-1 cells derived from a goldfish (Carassius auratus) and into a xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) cell line, XP20SSV. The frequency of stable neor transformation by pNPV B decreased in a dose-dependent manner. However, in spite of large differences in UV sensitivity detected in the colony formation assay, the dose-response curves of RBCF-1 cells and XP20SSV cells were almost the same. The photorecovery (PR) of transforming activity of UV-irradiated plasmids was confirmed in RBCF-1 cells but its extent was much smaller than that observed in the survival assay. The expression of the transfected cat (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase; CAT) gene after 24-h incubation in the dark was much more sensitive to UV irradiation when compared with the stable transformation assay. The extent of PR of cat gene expression in RBCF-1 cells was high and comparable with that of the survival assay. The CAT value of RBCF-1 cells transfected with UV-irradiated plasmids relative to that of unirradiated controls increased as incubation time in the dark after transfection became longer. This suggests that the UV lesions on the plasmids transfected in the RBCF-1 cells were repaired in the dark. The cat gene expression of UV-irradiated plasmids in XP20SSV was very low and independent of incubation time after transfection.     

马立克氏病病毒pp38基因和1.8kb转录子之间双向启动子的特性研究

从马立克氏病病毒(MDV)基因组DNA复制原点区某一点,将介于MDVpp38基因和1 8kb转录子之间的双向启动子分割成两个单方向的启动子。以pp38为报告基因,pUC18质粒为载体,构建了含不同方向完整启动子序列的pProfpp38和pProrpp38质粒,以及含分割后单方向启动子序列的pdProfpp38和pdProrpp38质粒。4种质粒分别转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(Chickenembryofibroblast,CEF)后,均能检测到pp38基因的表达。进一步以氯霉素乙酰转移酶(Chloramphenicolacetyltransferase,CAT)为报告基因,构建了含不同方向完整双向启动子的pProfCAT和pProrCAT质粒,以及含分割后单方向启动子序列的pdProfCAT和pdProrCAT质粒。通过转染试验,定量分析了完整启动子和分割后启动子在两个方向上的启动活性。实验结果表明,分割后的启动子在两个方向上的启动活性均比相应方向上完整启动子的活性低,其中1 8kb转录子方向上的活性下降了4 1倍     

Secretion of Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by mammalian cells

We show here that expression of the Escherichia coli cat gene in mammalian cells results in accumulation of enzymatically active CAT in the culture media as well as in the cytoplasm. We call the extracellular product secreted CAT (sCAT). Three to four days after introduction of cat-expressing plasmids into mouse L cells by transient transfection, total extracellular sCAT activity exceeds total cytoplasmic CAT activity. As sCAT levels increase, substantially more CAT is found outside the cells than inside at later times. Comparison of different populations of cat-expressing cells shows that, at any given time, the level of sCAT is proportional to the level of intracellular CAT. Thus, assay of sCAT provides a convenient, non-invasive alternative to assay of intracellular CAT. The molecular sizes of sCAT and intracellular CAT are indistinguishable, suggesting that the protein is not cleaved or glycosylated during secretion. Several observations, including a lack of sensitivity to drugs which inhibit Golgi activity, suggest that CAT may be secreted via an unusual pathway.     

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase enzymatic assay in transient transfection experiments using thymidine kinase-deficient cells.

An enzymatic assay for herpes virus simplex type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) that was sensitive enough to quantitate intracellular levels of enzyme transiently expressed after transfection of HSV-TK vectors into TK-deficient cells using the DNA-calcium phosphate coprecipitation technique is described. TK activity in extracts of transfected cells was determined by binding of [methyl-3H]thymidylate product to thin layers of polyethyleneimine (PEI)-impregnated cellulose. The assay used high-specific-activity [methyl-3H]thymidine as substrate, which required removal of anionic material on a column of PEI-cellulose to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. The assay was linear over a wide range with respect to the amount of HSV-TK plasmid transfected or content of HSV-TK enzyme in cell extracts. To validate the assay in transient expression experiments, HSV-TK and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) plasmids were cotransfected into NIH/3T3 tk- fibroblasts. Transient TK and CAT levels were concordant in cell extracts prepared from replicate plates of transfected cells. Normalizing the transient TK activity for CAT activity from the cotransfected "internal standard" CAT plasmid improved precision significantly, reducing the sample-to-sample coefficient of variation from 41 to 19%. CAT normalization reduced experimental variability mostly by correcting outlying results in transfection efficiency. The HSV-TK reporter gene system based on TK enzymatic assay was thus subject to experimental variation similar to that of the well-established CAT reporter function, demonstrating its utility in transient gene expression analysis.     

Yolk polypeptide gene expression in culturedDrosophila cells

Summary The transfer of chimaeric plasmids toDrosophila melanogaster cell lines has been examined as a system for investigation of the hormonal regulation of the genes coding forD. melanogaster yolk polypeptide 1 (YP1) andLocusta migratoria vitellogenin B (VgB). Constructs containing promoters and putative 5′-regulatory sequences from these genes, ligated to bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) coding DNA, were transfected intoDrosophila Kc (Kc-H) and S3 cells, and transient expression of CAT was assayed. Activity was expressed both from the homologous promoter of pYP1CAT and from the heterologous locust promoter of pVgCAT at comparable levels. In S3 cells, with calcium phosphate-mediated transfer of pYP1CAT there was a twofold induction of CAT activity after the addition of 10⁻⁶ M ecdysterone, but no hormonal stimulation was noted when the polycation polybrene was used to achieve transfection. For Kc cells, calcium phosphate was ineffective for transfection, and after transfection with polybrene neither pYP1CAT nor pVgCAT was induced by the juvenile hormone (JH) analog methoprene. It is concluded that S3 cells may be useful for investigating the molecular basis of gene regulation by ecdysteroids, but conditions suitable for the analysis of JH action have not yet been established. This work was supported by a graduate scholarship to M.S. and grants to V.K.W. and G.R.W. by NSERC (Canada).     

Production of lentiviral vectors by large-scale transient transfection of suspension cultures and affinity chromatography purification

The use of lentiviral vectors as gene delivery vehicles has become increasingly popular in recent years. The growing interest in these vectors has created a strong demand for large volumes of vector stocks, which entails the need for scaleable vector manufacturing procedures. In this work, we present a simple and robust process for the production of lentiviral vectors using scaleable production and purification methodologies. Lentivirus particles were produced by transient transfection of serum-free suspension-growing 293 EBNA-1 cells with four plasmids encoding the vector components using linear polyethylenimine (PEI) as transfection reagent. This process was successfully scaled-up from shake flasks to a 3-L bioreactor from which 10(10) IVP were recovered. In addition, an affinity chromatography protocol designed for purification of bioactive oncoretroviral vectors has been adapted in this work for the purification of VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral vectors. Using heparin affinity chromatography, lentiviral particles were concentrated and purified directly from the clarified supernatants. During this step, a recovery of 53% of infective lentiviral particles was achieved while removing 94% of the impurities contained in the supernatant.     

构建基于CRISPR/Cas9技术敲除ALOX5的质粒

旨在利用CRISPR/Cas9技术构建敲除花生四烯5-脂氧合酶基因(Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase gene,ALOX5)的重组质粒。设计合成3对靶向敲除ALOX5第六外显子的sgRNA,将其分别插入到CRISPR/Cas9质粒骨架pX458载体中,转化感受态大肠杆菌DH5α后挑取克隆,通过测序评估重组质粒是否构建成功。将构建好的重组质粒转染293T细胞,在荧光显微镜下观察转染效果,挑取转染成功的细胞,用试剂盒提取转染细胞基因组DNA,PCR扩增含敲除位点的DNA片段,用测序技术获得核苷酸序列,用DNAStar软件分析转染细胞中ALOX5基因敲除情况。测序结果表明2对双链sgRNA寡核苷酸已插入质粒,且序列正确,靶向ALOX5基因的重组质粒pX458-sgRNAs-ALOX5构建成功。其在293T细胞中的转染效率约为50%,用一代测序法未检测到sgRNAs的切割效果。初步表明利用CRISPR/Cas9技术成功构建靶向ALOX5基因的重组质粒pX458-sgRNAs-ALOX5。     

禽流感病毒HA基因真核表达质粒的构建与表达

血凝素蛋白（HA）基因是禽流感病毒（AIV）重要的保护性抗原基因.为了研究 HA基因疫苗,用PCR扩增H5亚型AIV HA基因,将其克隆到质粒pcDNA4/HisMax和pRc/CMV上得到真核表达质粒pC4H5和pCMVH5.采用Tfx^TM-20、Superfect转染试剂和电转染法转染HeLa细胞,转染后的HeLa细胞经蛋白质印迹和血凝试验检测HA蛋白及其活性.结果表明,Superfect转染和电转染均能正确表达HA蛋白并具有生物学活性,蛋白质印迹检测到HA和HA裂解的HA1和HA2,与AIV 的HA、HA1、HA2蛋白的分子质量一致.从血凝试验结果看,Superfect和电转染表达的HA均具有血凝活性,而经Superfect转染的pC4H5的表达量是pCMVH5的8倍,表明pC4H5是一高效的真核表达质粒.     

Transfection of cultured fish cells with exogenous DNA

We have applied to fish cell cultures the techniques used routinely to introduce exogenous genes into cultured mammalian cells. Using calcium phosphate-mediated transfection, a plasmid containing bacterial aminoglycoside phosphotransferase under the influence of the simian virus 40 early promoter and polyadenylation signal was introduced into several fish cell lines. The plasmid was expressed in these cells in a stable manner, with transfection occurring at a frequency comparable to that seen with mammalian cells. These results suggest that plasmids constructed for use in mammalian cells may be used efficiently in fish systems without further modification and indicate that the advantages of transfection procedures utilized in mammalian systems can also be applied to fish.     

NanoSMGT: transgene transmission into bovine embryos using halloysite clay nanotubes or nanopolymer to improve transfection efficiency

The objectives were to investigate whether: 1) nanotransfectants are more effective than other common transfection methods for SMGT; 2) NanoSMGT is able to transmit exogenous DNA molecules to bovine embryos; and 3) halloysite clay nanotubes (HCNs) can be used as a transfection reagent to improve transgene transmission. Four transfection systems were used: naked DNA (without transfectant), lipofection, nanopolymer, and halloysite clay nanotubes. Plasmid uptake by sperm and its transfer to embryos were quantified by conventional and real-time PCR, as well as EGFP expression by florescence microscopy. Furthermore, sperm motility and viability, and embryo development were investigated. Mean number of plasmids taken up was affected (P < 0.05) by transfection procedure, with the nanopolymer being the most effective transfectant (∼153 plasmids per spermatozoon). None of the treatments affected sperm motility or viability. The mean number of plasmids transmitted to four-cell stage embryos was higher (P < 0.05) in nanopolymer and HCNs than liposomes and naked DNA groups. The number of embryos carrying the transgene increased from 8–10% using naked DNA or liposomes to 40–45% using nanopolymer or HCN as transfectants (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among transfection procedures regarding blastocyst formation rate of resulting embryos. However, no EGFP-expressing embryo was identified in any treatment. Therefore, nanotransfectants improved transgene transmission in bovine embryos without deleterious effects on embryo development. To our knowledge, this was the first time that bovine embryos carrying a transgene were produced by NanoSMGT.     

TCDD suppresses insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT-4) gene expression through C/EBP nuclear transcription factors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

TCDD is known to reduce significantly the level of the functionally active form of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in vivo in adipose tissue and muscles. To study the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon, we conducted transient transfection and DNA deletion analysis in 3T3-L1 cells using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter plasmids containing the GLUT4 promoter joined to the bacterial CAT. It was found that in transfected control samples, CAT activity was significantly higher in cells transfected with p469CAT and p273CAT than those with p78CAT, indicating that the region between -78 and -273 contained elements that play major roles in transactivation of this gene. Treatment with TCDD decreased CAT activity with p469CAT and p273CAT, but not with p78CAT, indicating the same region to contain the element(s) affected by TCDD. A gel-shift (EMSA) analysis result indicated that TCDD shows the profound effect only on the nuclear proteins binding to the [(32)P]-labeled probe containing C/EBP response element equivalent of the -265 to -242 stretch of the GLUT4 promoter. The results of supershift analysis showed that TCDD caused a decrease in the tier of C/EBPalpha and an increase in that of C/EBPbeta among the proteins bound to this C/EBP response element. We studied the effect of TCDD in cells overexpressing either C/EBPalpha, C/EBPbeta, or C/EBPdelta through transient transfection of p273CAT or p469CAT. The results clearly showed that the effect of TCDD to suppress the CAT activity of p273 or p469 disappeared in those cells overexpressing C/EBPalpha or C/EBPbeta. These results implicate the C/EBP proteins to be the main mediator of suppressive action of TCDD on GLUT4 gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells.     

EL转染试剂转染食管鳞癌细胞的条件优化

该文探讨了关于EL转染试剂转染Hsa-miR-6743质粒至食管鳞癌细胞转染效果的影响因素.以食管鳞癌细胞株Eca-109、TE-1和Eca-9706为研究对象,GFP标记的Hsa-miR-6743为报告基因,通过倒置荧光显微镜检测荧光信号优化转染试剂和质粒比值.结果表明,食管鳞癌细胞的种类影响EL转染试剂的转染效果,...     

Use of bacterial and firefly luciferases as reporter genes in DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection of mammalian cells.

The aim of this study was to compare three different luciferase genes by placing them in a single reporter vector and expressing them in the same mammalian cell type. The luciferase genes investigated were the luc genes from the fireflies Photinus pyralis (PP) and Luciola mingrelica (LM) and the lux AB5 gene, a translational fusion of the two subunits of the bacterial luciferase from Vibrio harveyi (VH). The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was also included in this study for comparison. The performances of the assay methods of the corresponding enzymes were evaluated using reference materials and the results of the expressed enzymes following transfection were calculated using calibration curves. All of the bioluminescent assays possess high reproducibility both within and between the batches (less than 15%). The comparison of the assay methods shows that firefly luciferases have the highest detection sensitivity (0.05 and 0.08 amol for PP and LM, respectively) whereas the VH bacterial luciferase has 5 amol and CAT 100 amol. On the other hand, the transfection of the various plasmids shows that the content of the expressed enzyme within the cells is much higher for CAT than for the other luciferase genes. VH luciferase is expressed at very low levels in mammalian cells due to the relatively high temperature of growing of the mammalian cells that seems to impair the correct folding of the active enzyme. PP and LM luciferases are both expressed at picomolar level but usually 10 to 70 times less in content with respect to CAT within the transfected cells. On the basis of these results the overall improvement in sensitivity related to the use of firefly luciferases as reporter genes in mammalian cells is about 30 to 50 times with respect to that of CAT.