灰色链霉菌启动子活性片段在大肠杆菌中的亚克隆及其序列分析

通过对重组质粒No.8-1的亚克隆,灰色链霉菌插入到大肠杆菌载体质粒中的序列已缩小到410bp,仍具有启动子功能。序列分析表明,启动子活性片段的G C碱基组成为50.5%。内含链霉菌启动子区域常有的正向重复序列;有1个Alul位点,1个Clal位点,2个Mbol位点,3个Nla Ⅲ位点,1个Pvu Ⅱ位点;具有类似于E.coli启动子的保守序列-10区和-35区,两者间隔18bp;在相应位置上分别有一段序列与E.coli的SD序列和在苄铅青链霉菌的SEP(Streptomyces-E.coil-type promoter)序列中存在的保守序列具有一定的相似性。     

拟南芥生长素受体基因TIR1启动子的克隆及序列分析

以野生型拟南芥 (Arabidopsis Columbia)基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增得到拟南芥生长素受体基因TIR1启动子2008片段,将该片断克隆到PGM-T载体上.序列分析表明,该启动子大小为2008bp,RNA聚合酶识别序列TATA-box,TIR1特异表达和增强序列CAAT-box皆完整,与已报道的序列比较仅有3个核苷酸发生改变,同源性为99.85%.将该启动子与GUS基因融合,构建成表达载体后,在拟南芥和烟草叶片中做瞬时表达,结果分析显示:拟南芥和烟草叶片中均有GUS 酶活性存在.     

黄鳝FOXL2启动子克隆和报告基因载体活性分析

本研究通过生物信息学软件预测黄鳝FOXL2 (Forkhead box L2)基因5′上游3 000 bp内的序列,通过聚合酶链反应从黄鳝的基因组DNA PCR扩增出启动子序列,并构建到PGL3-basic载体中,经KpnⅠ/HindⅢ双酶切和测序验证正确性,阳性克隆命名为pGL3-basic-FOXL2。将pGL3-basic-FOXL2和pRL-TK共转染HEK293细胞,采用双荧光素酶检测启动子活性。并采用gene-regulation.com网站的Alibaba2.1及The JASPAR database在线软件预测转录因子结合位点。结果表明成功克隆了FOXL2的启动子,荧光素酶检测结果表明启动子具有活性。同时预测了启动子上具有以下转录因子如GATA-1、Oct-1、AP-1、Sp1、C/EBPalpha、Ftz、Hb、GR、TBP、U SF、SOX9、E4、ER、RXR-beta、Pit-1a、HOX A4、HNF-1等的结合位点。为研究FOXL2参与细胞通路之间的调控研究提供了有力的工具。     

侧孢短芽孢杆菌X10启动子活性片段的克隆和序列分析

提取了侧孢短芽孢杆菌X10的基因组DNA,以绿色荧光蛋白基因(green fluorescent protein,gfp)为报告基因,以启动子探针pUC19-GFP为载体,通过鸟枪法在大肠杆菌DH5α中构建了X10的启动子文库,通过筛选获得了14个阳性克隆,编号为P1～P14.测定了阳性克隆子的荧光强度,结果表明P6中gfp基因的启动子活性最强,它的荧光强度达到了355.67,而P14中gfp基因的启动子活性最弱,它的荧光强度只有211.67.对P6克隆中的重组质粒的插入片段进行了测序和序列分析.     

毛柄金钱菌gpd-Fv启动子的克隆及序列分析

根据Genbank登陆的毛柄金钱菌gpd启动子序列设计引物,对毛柄金钱菌基因组DNA进行PCR扩增,扩增获得了2条特异片段gpd-Fv1和gpd-Fv2;回收特异片段后分别克隆进T-easy载体中并进行DNA序列测序,结果表明:gpd-Fv1和gpd-Fv2长度分别为1412 bp和752bp.通过同源性分析,结果表明:gpd-Fv1和gpd-Fv2的DNA序列与已报道的毛柄金钱菌gpd启动子(Genbank:AF515622.1)的同源性分别为95%和98%.进一步通过软件预测,结果表明克隆的2条片段具有基本的启动子结构,存在多个转录因子结合位点.根据启动子的序列特点,初步构建了毛柄金钱菌gpd启动子模型.     

人类α-actin 启动子真核表达载体的构建

目的 利用PCR技术克隆了人类α-actin 基因的启动子(约450 bp).方法 将PCR产物连接到pMD-18T载体上,酶切鉴定后测序,并进行软件分析.结果与结论 序列分析表明,扩增片段虽然与GenBank里登陆的序列同源性仅为72%,但包含有完整的启动子元件和转录专一调节因子相应的识别序列.用去掉启动子的pEGFP-N1作为框架结构,尝试构建真核表达载体,并获得了含人类心肌α-actin启动子的真核表达载体pEGFP-N1-α-actin-P.     

拟南芥生长素受体基因TIRl启动子的克隆及序列分析

以野生型拟南芥（Arabidopsis Columbia）基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增得到拟南芥生长素受体基因TIRI启动子2008片段,将该片断克隆到PGM-T载体上。序列分析表明,该启动子大小为2008bp,RNA聚合酶识别序列TATA-box,TIR1特异表达和增强序列CAAT-box皆完整,与已报道的序列比较仅有3个核苷酸发生改变,同源性为99．85％。将该启动子与GUS基因融合,构建成表达载体后,在拟南芥和烟草叶片中做瞬时表达,结果分析显示：拟南芥和烟草叶片中均有GUS酶活性存在。     

Col生态型拟南芥AP3基因启动子克隆及植物表达载体构建

隶属于MADS-Box基因家族的拟南芥花器官B类特征基因APETALA3 (AP3)在花瓣和雄蕊中特异性地表达;AP3基因编码转录因子,与A类和C类特征基因协同作用控制双子叶植物花瓣和雄蕊的发育.研究表明AP3基因启动子为花特异表达启动子.因此,AP3基因启动子的克隆及功能鉴定对于园林植物与花相关的商业性状的定向改良具有重要作用.本文根据GenBank数据库报道的Ler生态型拟南芥(Arabido-psis thaliana) AP3基因启动子序列(U30729)设计了一对特异性扩增引物,基于PCR技术,用高保真的KOD-plus DNA聚合酶扩增了长度为1 767 bp的Col生态型拟南芥AP3基因启动子,并命名为pAtAP3,其GenBank登录号为FJ619533.Bl2seq在线分析表明pAtAP3与U30729序列的相似性达98%,与Col生态型拟南芥BAC克隆T12E18 (AL132971) 9 264～11 030之间的碱基序列相似性达100%,且该段序列的下游基因编码AP3蛋白(CAB81799),说明克隆序列为Col生态型拟南芥AP3基因的启动子.PLACE在线分析表明pAtAP3具有基本的启动子元件TATA-box和CAAT-box,还包含大量与花特异表达相关的顺式元件CArG1、CArG2、CArG3和anther-box等.本试验进一步构建了植物表达载体pAtAP3::GUS,为该启动子的功能鉴定奠定了基础.     

含G0S2基因启动子的荧光素酶报告基因载体的构建

目的:克隆人G0S2基因启动子并构建荧光素酶报告基因载体,为进一步研究G0S2基因转录调控提供质粒。方法:利用PCR技术从人胚肾293A细胞基因组DNA中克隆获得G0S2基因启动子的DNA片段,将其克隆至pGL3-basic表达载体中,并转化人大肠杆菌DH5α,经限制性内切酶酶切、PCR及测序鉴定得到确认;将重组载体质粒与半乳糖苷酶表达质粒psV-β-Galactosidase共转染至大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC),检测细胞中荧光素酶的活性。结果:pGL3-G0S2-Promoter重组质粒插入片段和相邻序列正确,克隆的G0S2基因片段有启动子活性(P0.05)。结论:成功构建了pGL3-G0S2-Promoter报告基因质粒,为进一步研究G0S2基因的表达奠定了基础。     

高等植物启动子克隆方法的研究进展

启动子是植物基因工程中一个重要的研究对象,文章简述了启动子的定义、分类和启动子的研究策略,从组成型启动子、组织特异型启动子和诱导型启动子3个方面介绍了它们的功能和结构的研究现状。启动子的克隆对于构建基因工程载体,表达目的蛋白有着重要的意义。着重介绍了启动子克隆的方法,从常用的利用启动子探针型载体筛选启动子到PCR方法的应用,及此后相继出现的一些基于PCR法的克隆启动子技术,像I-PCR,P-PCR,SSP-PCR,YADE,TAIL-PCR等,为克隆启动子提供了更可靠,更合理的方法。     

Selectable subgenomic and genome-length dicistronic RNAs derived from an infectious molecular clone of the HCV-N strain of hepatitis C virus replicate efficiently in cultured Huh7 cells

Dicistronic, selectable subgenomic replicons derived from the Con1 strain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are capable of autonomous replication in cultured Huh7 cells (Lohmann et al., Science 285:110-113, 1999). However, adaptive mutations in the NS3, NS5A, and/or NS5B proteins are required for efficient replication of these RNAs and increase by orders of magnitude the numbers of G418-resistant colonies selected following transfection of Huh7 cells. Here, we demonstrate that a subgenomic replicon (NNeo/3-5B) derived from an infectious molecular clone of a second genotype 1b virus, HCV-N (Beard et al., Hepatology 30:316-324, 1999) is also capable of efficient replication in Huh7 cells. G418-resistant cells selected following transfection with NNeo/3-5B RNA contained abundant NS5A antigen and HCV RNA detectable by Northern analysis. Replicon RNA in one of three clonally isolated cell lines contained no mutations in the NS3-NS5B polyprotein, confirming that adaptive mutations are not required for efficient replication in these cells. However, the deletion of a unique 4-amino-acid insertion that is present within the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) of the NS5A protein in wild-type HCV-N drastically decreased the number of G418-resistant colonies obtained following transfection of Huh7 cells. This effect could be reversed by inclusion of a previously described Con1 cell culture-adaptive mutation (S2005-->I), confirming that this natural insertion has a controlling role in determining the replication capacity of wild-type HCV-N RNA in Huh7 cells. Additional selectable, dicistronic RNAs encoding NS2-NS5B, E1-NS5B, or the full-length HCV polyprotein were also capable of replication and gave rise to G418-resistant cell clones following transfection of Huh7 cells. We conclude that RNA derived from this documented infectious molecular clone has a unique capacity for replication in Huh7 cells in the absence of additional cell culture-adaptive mutations.     

Adaptor Protein 1A Facilitates Dengue Virus Replication

Rearrangement of membrane structure induced by dengue virus (DENV) is essential for replication, and requires host cellular machinery. Adaptor protein complex (AP)-1 is a host component, which can be recruited to components required for membrane rearrangement. Therefore, dysfunction of AP-1 may affect membrane organization, thereby decreasing replication of virus in infected cells. In the present study, AP-1-dependent traffic inhibitor inhibited DENV protein expression and virion production. We further clarified the role of AP-1A in the life cycle of DENV by RNA interference. AP-1A was not involved in DENV entry into cells. However, it facilitated DENV RNA replication. Viral RNA level was reduced significantly in Huh7 cells transfected with AP-1A small interfering RNA (siRNA) compared with control siRNA. Transfection of naked DENV viral RNA into Huh7 cells transfected with AP-1A siRNA resulted in less viral RNA and virion production than transfection into Huh7 cells transfected with control siRNA. Huh7 cells transfected with AP-1A siRNA showed greater modification of membrane structures and fewer vesicular packets compared with cells transfected with control siRNA. Therefore, AP-1A may partly control DENV-induced rearrangement of membrane structures required for viral replication.     

A recombinant replication-competent hepatitis C virus expressing Azami-Green, a bright green-emitting fluorescent protein, suitable for visualization of infected cells

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) production system consists of transfecting the human hepatoma cell line Huh7 with genomic HCV RNA (JFH1). To monitor HCV replication by fluorescence microscopy, we constructed a recombinant HCV clone expressing Azami-Green (mAG), a bright green fluorescent protein, by inserting the mAG gene into the nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) gene; the resultant clone was designated JFH1-hmAG. The Huh-7.5.1 (a subclone of Huh7) cells transfected with JFH1-hmAG RNA were found to produce cytoplasmic NS5A-mAG, as readily visualized by fluorescence microscopy, and infectious virus, as assayed with the culture supernatant, indicating that JFH1-hmAG is infectious and replication-competent. Furthermore, the replication of this virus was inhibited by interferon alpha in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that JFH1-hmAG is useful for studying HCV life cycle and the mechanism of interferon’s anti-HCV action and for screening and testing new anti-HCV drugs.     

Cell clones selected from the Huh7 human hepatoma cell line support efficient replication of a subgenomic GB virus B replicon

Tamarins (Saguinus species) infected by GB virus B (GBV-B) have recently been proposed as an acceptable surrogate model for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The availability of infectious genomic molecular clones of both viruses will permit chimeric constructs to be tested for viability in animals. Studies in cells with parental and chimeric constructs would also be very useful for both basic research and drug discovery. For this purpose, a convenient host cell type supporting replication of in vitro-transcribed GBV-B RNA should be identified. We constructed a GBV-B subgenomic selectable replicon based on the sequence of a genomic molecular clone proved to sustain infection in tamarins. The corresponding in vitro-transcribed RNA was used to transfect the Huh7 human hepatoma cell line, and intracellular replication of transfected RNA was shown to occur, even though in a small percentage of transfected cells, giving rise to antibiotic-resistant clones. Sequence analysis of GBV-B RNA from some of those clones showed no adaptive mutations with respect to the input sequence, whereas the host cells sustained higher GBV-B RNA replication than the original Huh7 cells. The enhancement of replication depending on host cell was shown to be a feature common to the majority of clones selected. The replication of GBV-B subgenomic RNA was susceptible to inhibition by known inhibitors of HCV to a level similar to that of HCV subgenomic RNA.     

The NS3 helicase and NS5B-to-3'X regions are important for efficient hepatitis C virus strain JFH-1 replication in Huh7 cells

The JFH-1 strain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genotype 2a strain that can replicate autonomously in Huh7 cells. The J6 strain is also a genotype 2a strain, but its full genomic RNA does not replicate in Huh7 cells. However, chimeric J6/JFH-1 RNA that has J6 structural-protein-coding regions and JFH-1 nonstructural-protein-coding regions can replicate autonomously and produce infectious HCV particles. In order to determine the mechanisms underlying JFH-1 RNA replication, we constructed various J6/JFH-1 chimeras and tested their RNA replication and virus particle production abilities in Huh7 cells. Via subgenomic-RNA-replication assays, we found that both the JFH-1 NS5B-to-3'X (N5BX) and the NS3 helicase (N3H) regions are important for the replication of the J6CF replicon. We applied these results to full-length genomic RNA replication and analyzed replication using Northern blotting. We found that a chimeric J6 clone with JFH-1 N3H and N5BX could replicate autonomously but that a chimeric J6 clone with only JFH-1 N5BX had no replication ability. Finally, we tested the virus production abilities of these clones and found that a chimeric J6 clone with JFH-1 N3H and N5BX could produce infectious HCV particles. In conclusion, the JFH-1 NS3 helicase and NS5B-to-3'X regions are important for efficient replication and virus particle formation of HCV genotype 2a strains.     

广西巴马小型猪小RNA启动子U6和7SK的克隆及功能验证

为了探讨巴马小型猪启动子U6和7SK的功能以及为生产GGTA1基因沉默的广西巴马小型猪奠定基础,文章克隆并分析了siRNA启动子U6和7SK,并分别连接pMD18-shEGFP载体,分别与PEGFP-N1共转猪肾细胞,进行RNAi实验。以pMD18-hU6-shEGFP为阳性对照,无启动子的pMD18-shEGFP载体为阴性对照,单独转染PEGFP-N1为第一组空白对照,以ddH2O替代质粒为第二组空白对照组,验证这两种启动子在猪细胞中的功能。结果表明:广西巴马小型猪RNA聚合酶III型siRNA启动子U6和7SK的序列全长分别为553 bp和437bp。成功构建了pMD18-pU6-shEGFP和pMD18-p7SK-shEGFP干扰载体,转染猪源PK-15细胞,证明U6以及7SK两个启动子具有较高的siRNA表达活性,可以用于α-1,3半乳糖转移酶等猪源基因的沉默实验。     

CD81 expression is important for the permissiveness of Huh7 cell clones for heterogeneous hepatitis C virus infection

Huh7 cells constitute a permissive cell line for cell culture of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles. However, our Huh7 line shows limited permissiveness for HCV. Thus, in this study we set out to determine which host factors are important for conferring permissiveness. To analyze the limited permissiveness of our Huh7 cells, 70 clones were obtained after single-cell cloning of parental Huh7 cells. The cloned Huh7 cells exhibited various levels of HCV pseudoparticles and JFH-1 virus infection efficiency, and some clones were not permissive. A subgenomic replicon was then transfected into the cloned Huh7 cells. While the replication efficiencies differed among the cloned Huh7 cells, these efficiencies did not correlate with infectious permissibility. Flow cytometry showed that CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I, and low-density-lipoprotein receptor expression on the cell surfaces of the Huh7 clones differed among the clones. Interestingly, we found that all of the permissive cell clones expressed CD81 while the nonpermissive cell clones did not. To confirm the importance of CD81 expression for HCV permissiveness, CD81 was then transiently and stably expressed on a nonpermissive Huh7 cell clone, which was consequently restored to HCV infection permissiveness. Furthermore, permissiveness was down-regulated upon transfection of CD81 silencing RNA into a CD81-positive cell clone. In conclusion, CD81 expression is an important determinant of HCV permissiveness of Huh7 cell clones harboring different characteristics.     

Introduction of hepatitis delta virus into animal cell lines via cationic liposomes.

Cationic liposomes are known to facilitate efficient transfection of animal cells with DNA and even some viruses. As reported here, we have been able to use such a commercially available formulation (Lipofectamine) and introduce human hepatitis delta virus (HDV) into lines of cultured cells and demonstrate replication of the HDV genome both by immunofluorescence and by Northern (RNA) analysis. As much as 10% of the human hepatoma cell line Huh7 was transfected with HDV. Also transfected were the baby hamster kidney cell line BHK-21 and the Morris rat hepatoma line 7777. Two initial applications of HDV transfection have been made. (i) The ribonucleoprotein structure of HDV was isolated from disrupted virions and demonstrated as being sufficient to transfect Huh7 cells. In contrast, naked HDV RNA was not sufficient. (ii) From a study of cells transfected with HDV particles, it was found that, even after as long as 7 weeks and the associated replication of the transfected cells, the HDV RNA genome was still replicating. Apparently, HDV, in the absence of helper virus and in the absence of virus assembly, can maintain persistent replication and expression of the HDV genome. Transfection was also achieved with woodchuck hepatitis virus introduced into Huh7 cells. In summary, this transfection procedure should be of use for the study of these and maybe other recalcitrant animal viruses.     

Effects of mutations of the initiation nucleotides on hepatitis C virus RNA replication in the cell

Replication of nearly all RNA viruses depends on a virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Our earlier work found that purified recombinant hepatitis C virus (HCV) RdRp (NS5B) was able to initiate RNA synthesis de novo by using purine (A and G) but not pyrimidine (C and U) nucleotides (G. Luo et al., J. Virol. 74:851-863, 2000). For most human RNA viruses, the initiation nucleotides of both positive- and negative-strand RNAs were found to be either an adenylate (A) or guanylate (G). To determine the nucleotide used for initiation and control of HCV RNA replication, a genetic mutagenesis analysis of the nucleotides at the very 5' and 3' ends of HCV RNAs was performed by using a cell-based HCV replicon replication system. Either a G or an A at the 5' end of HCV genomic RNA was able to efficiently induce cell colony formation, whereas a nucleotide C at the 5' end dramatically reduced the efficiency of cell colony formation. Likewise, the 3'-end nucleotide U-to-C mutation did not significantly affect the efficiency of cell colony formation. In contrast, a U-to-G mutation at the 3' end caused a remarkable decrease in cell colony formation, and a U-to-A mutation resulted in a complete abolition of cell colony formation. Sequence analysis of the HCV replicon RNAs recovered from G418-resistant Huh7 cells revealed several interesting findings. First, the 5'-end nucleotide G of the replicon RNA was changed to an A upon multiple rounds of replication. Second, the nucleotide A at the 5' end was stably maintained among all replicon RNAs isolated from Huh7 cells transfected with an RNA with a 5'-end A. Third, initiation of HCV RNA replication with a CTP resulted in a >10-fold reduction in the levels of HCV RNAs, suggesting that initiation of RNA replication with CTP was very inefficient. Fourth, the 3'-end nucleotide U-to-C and -G mutations were all reverted back to a wild-type nucleotide U. In addition, extra U and UU residues were identified at the 3' ends of revertants recovered from Huh7 cells transfected with an RNA with a nucleotide G at the 3' end. We also determined the 5'-end nucleotide of positive-strand RNA of some clinical HCV isolates. Either G or A was identified at the 5' end of HCV RNA genome depending on the specific HCV isolate. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that replication of positive-strand HCV RNA was preferentially initiated with purine nucleotides (ATP and GTP), whereas the negative-strand HCV RNA replication is invariably initiated with an ATP.