Divergent Wnt8a Gene Expression in Teleosts

The analysis of genes in evolutionarily distant but morphologically similar species is of major importance to unravel the changes in genomes over millions of years, which led to gene silencing and functional diversification. We report the analysis of Wnt8a gene expression in the medakafish and provide a detailed comparison to other vertebrates. In all teleosts analyzed there are two paralogous Wnt8a copies. These show largely overlapping expression in the early developing zebrafish embryo, an evolutionarily distant relative of medaka. In contrast to zebrafish, we find that both maternal and zygotic expression of particularly one Wnt8a paralog has diverged in medaka. While Wnt8a1 expression is mostly conserved at early embryonic stages, the expression of Wnt8a2 differs markedly. In addition, both genes are distinctly expressed during organogenesis unlike the zebrafish homologs, which may hint at the emergence of functional diversification of Wnt8a ligands during evolution.     

A General Mechanism for Viral Resistance to Suicide Gene Expression

Bacteriophage T7 was challenged with either of two toxic genes expressed from plasmids. Each plasmid contained a different gene downstream of a T7 promoter; cells harboring each plasmid caused an infection by wild-type T7 to abort. T7 evolved resistance to both inhibitors by avoidance of the plasmid expression system rather than by blocking or bypassing the effects of the specific toxic gene product. Resistance was due to a combination of mutations in the T7 RNA polymerase and other genes expressed at the same time as the polymerase. Mutations mapped to sites that are unlikely to alter polymerase specificity for its cognate promoter but the basis for discrimination between phage and plasmid promoters in vivo was not resolved. A reporter assay indicated that, relative to wild-type phage, gene expression from the plasmid was diminished several-fold in cells infected by the evolved phages. A recombinant phage, derived from the original mutant but lacking a mutation in the gene for RNA polymerase, exhibited intermediate activity in the reporter assay and intermediate resistance to the toxic gene cassettes. Alterations in both RNA polymerase and a second gene are thus responsible for resistance. These findings have broad evolutionary parallels to other systems in which viral inhibition is activated by viral regulatory signals such as defective-interfering particles, and they may have mechanistic parallels to the general phenomena of position effects and gene silencing. Received: 18 July 2000 / Accepted: 8 February 2001     

携带人二氢叶酸还原酶基因慢病毒表达载体构建及鉴定

目的:构建携带人二氢叶酸还原酶(DHFR)基因的慢病毒表达载体pWPI。方法:采用PCR方法扩增二氢叶酸还原酶cDNA全长,与EZ-T克隆载体连接,HindIII及BamHI-HF限制性内切酶双酶切回收的PCR片段并补平其缺口。慢病毒系统载体使用pWPI系统,采用PmeI酶切载体后回收片段,将其磷酸化,T4酶连接载体与目的基因。表达载体鉴定均采用核苷酸序列测定,重组质粒采用脂质体转染293T包装细胞后获得包装的病毒颗粒。结果:成功扩增二氢叶酸还原酶全长并连接入pWPI载体构建成重组表达载体DHFR-pWPI,重组质粒测序结果显与DHFR基因的同源性达100%,按标准生产程序转染293T后有DHFR基因的表达。结论:成功采用慢病毒载体系统构建了二氢叶酸还原酶重组慢病毒转基因,为探讨DHFR在肿瘤多药耐药过程中的分子机理奠定基础。     

PEX慢病毒载体构建及其在293FT细胞中的分泌表达

目的 构建含人MMP-9信号肽-MMP-2-PEX片段的重组慢病毒,并在293FT细胞中分泌表达PEX蛋白.方法 利用RT-PCR、基因重组等技术,构建含MMP-9信号肽-MMP-2-PEX片段的重组慢病毒表达载体pBPLV-signal-PEX,在脂质体介导下与包装质粒（pLP1、pLP2）、包膜质粒（pLP/VSVG）共转染293FT细胞,包装产生慢病毒并进行滴度测定.慢病毒感染2931;3＂细胞后,Western印迹法检测293FI＂细胞培养上清中PEX的表达.结果 酶切和DNA测序表明慢病毒表达载pBPLV-signal-PEX构建正确,四质粒共转染293FT细胞成功获得慢病毒;慢病毒感染293FT细胞后,在细胞培养卜清中可检测到PEX蛋白的表达.结论 成功构建了含人PEX的重组慢病毒,在体外有效感染293fT细胞并持续分泌表达目的 蛋白,为进一步研究PEX在肿瘤侵袭与转移中的作用提供实验基础.     

Transient Expression of Proteins by Hydrodynamic Gene Delivery in Mice

Efficient expression of transgenes in vivo is of critical importance in studying gene function and developing treatments for diseases. Over the past years, hydrodynamic gene delivery (HGD) has emerged as a simple, fast, safe and effective method for delivering transgenes into rodents. This technique relies on the force generated by the rapid injection of a large volume of physiological solution to increase the permeability of cell membranes of perfused organs and thus deliver DNA into cells. One of the main advantages of HGD is the ability to introduce transgenes into mammalian cells using naked plasmid DNA (pDNA). Introducing an exogenous gene using a plasmid is minimally laborious, highly efficient and, contrary to viral carriers, remarkably safe. HGD was initially used to deliver genes into mice, it is now used to deliver a wide range of substances, including oligonucleotides, artificial chromosomes, RNA, proteins and small molecules into mice, rats and, to a limited degree, other animals. This protocol describes HGD in mice and focuses on three key aspects of the method that are critical to performing the procedure successfully: correct insertion of the needle into the vein, the volume of injection and the speed of delivery. Examples are given to show the application of this method to the transient expression of two genes that encode secreted, primate-specific proteins, apolipoprotein L-I (APOL-I) and haptoglobin-related protein (HPR).     

慢病毒介导绿色荧光蛋白基因转染大鼠软骨细胞表达研究

目的:慢病毒载体是一种逆转录病毒载体,可将目的基因稳定整合入宿主基因组、感染非分裂期细胞,现已成为基因工程中转移目的基因的理想载体.软骨细胞可定向成软骨,是软骨基因工程中理想的靶细胞.本文以绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)基因作为报告基因,探讨慢病毒介导的GFP基因转染大鼠膝关节软骨细胞的最适病毒感染复数(multiplicity of infection,MOI)、转染效率,以及转染GFP后是否对关节软骨细胞增殖代谢活动产生影响,为下一步实验提供理论基础.方法:常规大鼠膝关节软骨细胞原代、传代培养,应用携带GFP基因的慢病毒载体转染软骨细胞.在软骨细胞培养状态最佳时,以不同MOI值(分别设定为10,20,50,100)进行慢病毒转染实验,96h后在荧光显微镜下观察GFP在软骨细胞中的表达情况,确定最佳MOI值,流式细胞术检测慢病毒转染效率,MTT法绘制生长曲线比较携带GFP基因的慢病毒对软骨细胞增殖能力的影响,以评价GFP慢病毒载体系统转染大鼠膝关节软骨细胞的高效性和稳定性.结果:置荧光显微镜下,转染96 h后,部分软骨细胞可见绿色荧光.其中当MOI=50时,慢病毒转染软骨细胞效率最高,且对软骨细胞生长状态无显著性影响,GFP阳性细胞率(转染效率)为90.1％,MTT法测生长曲线结果显示,与未转染GFP基因的对照组相比,慢病毒转染组对软骨细胞增殖活性没有显著影响(P＞0.05).结论:慢病毒介导的GFP基因转染大鼠膝关节软骨细胞的最适MOI值为50,携带GFP基因的慢病毒能高效转染大鼠膝关节软骨细胞并稳定表达,同时不影响其生物学特性,为将来应用慢病毒载体对大鼠软骨细胞进行基因改造提供了理论基础,也可作为可靠的转基因研究示踪方法,为进一步研究关节软骨疾病的治疗提供了有力依据.     

cis-Acting Signals in Bromovirus RNA Replication and Gene Expression: Networking with Viral Proteins and Host Factors

Bromoviruses are representative members of the alphavirus-like superfamily of animal and plant positive-strand RNA viruses. Tractable biochemical and genetic features have made bromoviruses useful systems forin vivoandin vitrostudies ofcis-acting RNA sequences andtrans-acting factors in RNA replication, subgenomic mRNA synthesis, translation, encapsidation, and virus–host interactions. Among other findings, bromoviruscis-acting RNA replication signals are large, structurally complex, and conserve potential conformational switches that may coordinate RNA replication with other infection processes. The tRNA-like 3′ ends of bromovirus RNAs are required for negative-strand synthesis and recognized by multiple tRNA-specific host enzymes. The presence of additional host regulatory sequence motifs in other bromoviruscis-acting regions suggests that their function also involves interaction with host as well as viral factors.     

Structures and Mechanisms of Viral Membrane Fusion Proteins: Multiple Variations on a Common Theme

Recent work has identified three distinct classes of viral membrane fusion proteins based on structural criteria. In addition, there are at least four distinct mechanisms by which viral fusion proteins can be triggered to undergo fusion-inducing conformational changes. Viral fusion proteins also contain different types of fusion peptides and vary in their reliance on accessory proteins. These differing features combine to yield a rich diversity of fusion proteins. Yet despite this staggering diversity, all characterized viral fusion proteins convert from a fusion-competent state (dimers or trimers, depending on the class) to a membrane-embedded homotrimeric prehairpin, and then to a trimer-of-hairpins that brings the fusion peptide, attached to the target membrane, and the transmembrane domain, attached to the viral membrane, into close proximity thereby facilitating the union of viral and target membranes. During these conformational conversions, the fusion proteins induce membranes to progress through stages of close apposition, hemifusion, and then the formation of small, and finally large, fusion pores. Clearly, highly divergent proteins have converged on the same overall strategy to mediate fusion, an essential step in the life cycle of every enveloped virus.     

HIV-1 tat基因改造及其蛋白表达、纯化与抗体制备

目的:为了方便实验室工作中HIV-1B'/C亚型及C亚型Tat蛋白的检测,制备了相应的Tat蛋白及其抗体。方法:将我国HIV-1B'/C亚型流行株tat基因的第1个外显子和HIV-1C亚型tat基因的第2个外显子融合在一起,将密码子替换为大肠杆菌的优势密码子,通过合成引物、PCR拼接的方法,获得目的基因序列;在原核系统中与pET32a 载体中的His·Tag、Trx·Tag及S·Tag进行融合表达;目的蛋白经Ni 金属螯合层析柱纯化后,用于免疫家兔,制备多克隆抗体。结果:PCR拼接获得306bp的目的基因序列;在原核系统中融合表达得到相对分子质量约31000的融合蛋白,占菌体总蛋白的21%。纯化后的融合蛋白免疫家兔,制备了多克隆抗体,Western印迹结果显示,获得的多克隆抗体与HIV-1B'/C亚型的Tat蛋白反应良好;间接免疫荧光结果表明,获得的多克隆抗体与HIV-1B'/C亚型和C亚型的Tat蛋白都能产生特异性反应。结论:制备的多克隆抗体能够使用间接免疫荧光方法检测HIV-1C亚型的Tat蛋白,使用Western印迹方法和间接免疫荧光方法都能检测HIV-1B'/C亚型的Tat蛋白。     

Gene Expression in Developing Zea mays Embryos: Regulation by Abscisic Acid of a Highly Phosphorylated 23- to 25-kD Group of Proteins

We have earlier identified a set of proteins of 23 to 25 kilodaltons (kD), covering an isoelectric point (pI) range of 6.2 to 8.2, which accumulate gradually during normal embryogenesis of Zea mays and disappear in early germination. These polypeptides can be induced prematurely in immature embryos by abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. We report here that the more acidic protein forms are due to post-translational phosphorylation of at least two polypeptides of 23 kD, pI 8.2 and 25 kD, pI 8.0. A polyclonal antiserum was obtained which recognizes all forms of both the 23-kD and 25-kD polypeptides. Recovery of cDNA clones corresponding to these proteins was accomplished by hybridization with cDNA made from size-selected mRNA enriched for these sequences. Hybrid selection experiments demonstrate that clone MA12 specifically hybridizes with mRNAs encoding the 23-kD and 25-kD protein set which are recognized by the antiserum. By Northern hybridization analysis, the RNA encoded by clone MA12 is shown to accumulate in mature embryos and to be induced in young embryos upon ABA incubation.     

The Complete Sequence of the Acacia ligulata Chloroplast Genome Reveals a Highly Divergent clpP1 Gene

Legumes are a highly diverse angiosperm family that include many agriculturally important species. To date, 21 complete chloroplast genomes have been sequenced from legume crops confined to the Papilionoideae subfamily. Here we report the first chloroplast genome from the Mimosoideae, Acacia ligulata, and compare it to the previously sequenced legume genomes. The A. ligulata chloroplast genome is 158,724 bp in size, comprising inverted repeats of 25,925 bp and single-copy regions of 88,576 bp and 18,298 bp. Acacia ligulata lacks the inversion present in many of the Papilionoideae, but is not otherwise significantly different in terms of gene and repeat content. The key feature is its highly divergent clpP1 gene, normally considered essential in chloroplast genomes. In A. ligulata, although transcribed and spliced, it probably encodes a catalytically inactive protein. This study provides a significant resource for further genetic research into Acacia and the Mimosoideae. The divergent clpP1 gene suggests that Acacia will provide an interesting source of information on the evolution and functional diversity of the chloroplast Clp protease complex.     

Identification of a Highly Conserved Surface on Tat Variants

Extracellular Tat is suspected to protect HIV-1-infected cells from cellular immunity. Seropositive patients are unable to produce neutralizing antibodies against Tat, and Tat is still secreted under antiviral treatment. In mice, the Tat OYI vaccine candidate generates neutralizing antibodies such as the mAb 7G12. A peptide called MIMOOX was designed from fragments of Tat OYI identified as the possible binding site for mAb 7G12. MIMOOX was chemically synthesized, and its structure was stabilized with a disulfide bridge. Circular dichroism spectra showed that MIMOOX had mainly β turns but no α helix as Tat OYI. MIMOOX was recognized by mAb 7G12 in ELISA only in reduced conditions. Moreover, a competitive recognition assay with mAb 7G12 between MIMOOX and Tat variants showed that MIMOOX mimics a highly conserved surface in Tat variants. Rat immunizations with MIMOOX induce antibodies recognizing Tat variants from the main HIV-1 subtypes and confirm the Tat OYI vaccine approach.