Multiple Changes of Gene Expression and Function Reveal Genomic and Phenotypic Complexity in SLE-like Disease

The complexity of clinical manifestations commonly observed in autoimmune disorders poses a major challenge to genetic studies of such diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects humans as well as other mammals, and is characterized by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patients’ sera and multiple disparate clinical features. Here we present evidence that particular sub-phenotypes of canine SLE-related disease, based on homogenous (ANA^H) and speckled ANA (ANA^S) staining pattern, and also steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) are associated with different but overlapping sets of genes. In addition to association to certain MHC alleles and haplotypes, we identified 11 genes (WFDC3, HOMER2, VRK1, PTPN3, WHAMM, BANK1, AP3B2, DAPP1, LAMTOR3, DDIT4L and PPP3CA) located on five chromosomes that contain multiple risk haplotypes correlated with gene expression and disease sub-phenotypes in an intricate manner. Intriguingly, the association of BANK1 with both human and canine SLE appears to lead to similar changes in gene expression levels in both species. Our results suggest that molecular definition may help unravel the mechanisms of different clinical features common between and specific to various autoimmune disease phenotypes in dogs and humans.     

A Screen for Modifiers of Deformed Function in Drosophila

Proteins produced by the homeotic genes of the Hox family assign different identities to cells on the anterior/posterior axis. Relatively little is known about the signalling pathways that modulate their activities or the factors with which they interact to assign specific segmental identities. To identify genes that might encode such functions, we performed a screen for second site mutations that reduce the viability of animals carrying hypomorphic mutant alleles of the Drosophila homeotic locus, Deformed. Genes mapping to six complementation groups on the third chromosome were isolated as modifiers of Deformed function. Products of two of these genes, sallimus and moira, have been previously proposed as homeotic activators since they suppress the dominant adult phenotype of Polycomb mutants. Mutations in hedgehog, which encodes secreted signalling proteins, were also isolated as Deformed loss-of-function enhancers. Hedgehog mutant alleles also suppress the Polycomb phenotype. Mutations were also isolated in a few genes that interact with Deformed but not with Polycomb, indicating that the screen identified genes that are not general homeotic activators. Two of these genes, cap `n' collar and defaced, have defects in embryonic head development that are similar to defects seen in loss of function Deformed mutants.     

猪瘟病毒E2基因在昆虫细胞/杆状病毒中的表达

目的利用昆虫细胞/杆状病毒系统表达猪瘟病毒(CSFV)E2蛋白,用于E2蛋白功能、开发CSF新型疫苗以及建立相关血清学诊断方法等研究。方法采用RT-PCR扩增CSFV E2基因,将PCR产物克隆到pGEM-T-Easy载体,将该基因插入到pFast-BacHT A载体中,构建重组转座载体后转化DH10Bac感受态细胞,获得重组Bacmid质粒后转染sf9昆虫细胞,传毒3代,对表达蛋白进行Western-blot及免疫组化鉴定。结果成功克隆CSFVE2基因,其核苷酸序列为1119 bp。SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示表达E2蛋白相对分子质量约为43×103,Western-blot和免疫组化结果证实表达蛋白能够被CSFV标准阳性血清识别。结论在Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒系统中的成功表达了CSFV E2蛋白,与CSFV标准阳性血清具有较好的反应性。     

A High-Throughput Fluorescence-Based Assay System for Appetite-Regulating Gene and Drug Screening

The increasing number of people suffering from metabolic syndrome and obesity is becoming a serious problem not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries. However, there are few agents currently approved for the treatment of obesity. Those that are available are mainly appetite suppressants and gastrointestinal fat blockers. We have developed a simple and rapid method for the measurement of the feeding volume of Danio rerio (zebrafish). This assay can be used to screen appetite suppressants and enhancers. In this study, zebrafish were fed viable paramecia that were fluorescently-labeled, and feeding volume was measured using a 96-well microplate reader. Gene expression analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf), knockdown of appetite-regulating genes (neuropeptide Y, preproinsulin, melanocortin 4 receptor, agouti related protein, and cannabinoid receptor 1), and the administration of clinical appetite suppressants (fluoxetine, sibutramine, mazindol, phentermine, and rimonabant) revealed the similarity among mechanisms regulating appetite in zebrafish and mammals. In combination with behavioral analysis, we were able to evaluate adverse effects on locomotor activities from gene knockdown and chemical treatments. In conclusion, we have developed an assay that uses zebrafish, which can be applied to high-throughput screening and target gene discovery for appetite suppressants and enhancers.     

HCV E2区基因在原核系统中的表达

用提取的重组表达载体pET-E2转化BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,经IPTG诱导,再进行SDS－PAGE,可得到有一条约34kDa的表达带,与理论推测的蛋白分子量一致,通过Western-blot鉴定,证明此带即为目的蛋白带。该产物有一个六聚组氨酸尾,主要以包涵体形式存在;计算机扫描分析考马斯亮兰染色后的蛋白胶显示：目的蛋白占整个菌体蛋白的36％以上,经Ni-柱纯化的E2蛋白纯度可达95％以上;以纯化的E2蛋白为抗原,用ELISA方法检测了20份抗HCV阳性血清,结果表明15份抗HCV阳必血清中检出5份E2抗体阳性血清,而5份抗HCV阴性血清中没有检测到E2抗体。     

巴斯德毕赤酵母表达系统研究进展

巴斯德毕赤酵母外源基因表达系统是近年来发展的一种优秀的真核表达系统 ,与传统的大肠杆菌和酿酒酵母表达体系相比 ,其具有的诸多优势使之研究价值及应用价值不断体现。综述了其在生物学特性、表达载体、基因整合、外源蛋白的分泌、诱导表达及发酵等方面的基础研究及新近研究进展。     

RNA干扰抑制SiHaB2细胞中Bcl-2基因的表达

Bcl-2基因作为细胞凋亡的一个潜在抑制剂调节细胞的死亡,抑制恶性肿瘤细胞中Bcl-2基因的表达可促进肿瘤细胞的凋亡。采用RNA干扰技术,合成了含有21个核苷酸的小双链干扰RNA（siRNA．Bcl-2）,并构建了含有19个核苷酸基因的质粒载体（pSilencer2．1-U6-Bcl-2）,把合成的siRNA．Bcl-2和pSilencer2．1-U．Bcl-2分别转导入Bcl-2高表达的细胞株SiHaB2中,通过Western印迹检测,免疫荧光法检测及DNA梯（ladder）检测,可观察到在导入siRNA．Bcl-2和pSilencer2．1-U．Bcl-2的SiHaB2细胞被培养72h后,可以明显抑制Bcl-2蛋白的表达。     

High Throughput Screening of Gene Expression Signatures

This paper focuses on microarray image analysis and discusses a completely automated approach to image processing, which eliminates human intervention. A system for automated image processing is described, which is capable of processing image files in a batch-mode thus allowing high-throughput of microarray image analysis. Grid-placement and spot finding are achieved without operator's help. The software eliminates noise signals from the data analysis process and minimizes operator's involvement in the procedure.     

核桃JrGRAS2基因响应热胁迫的表达及功能分析

GRAS转录因子在植物响应逆境中起重要作用。为更好的了解核桃（Juglans regia）在逆境胁迫下的适应机制,本研究从‘香玲’核桃转录组中克隆获得一条GRAS基因（命名为JrGRAS2）,对其在不同高温胁迫下的表达进行分析,并将该基因插入酵母表达载体pYES2中构建重组载体pYES2-JrGRAS2,将pYES2-JrGRAS2转入酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）INVSCI,同时以转化pYES2的重组酵母作为阴性对照,在酵母表达系统中研究该基因的抗热胁迫功能。结果显示,该基因开放读码框（ORF）全长1296bp,拟推导的蛋白分子量为47405.83Da,含有氨基酸数为431,理论等电点为5.66。在热胁迫下,JrGRAS2基因被显著诱导,特别是在36℃胁迫0.5h的茎内,其表达相对于对照被上调了335.5倍。对两种酵母进行热胁迫,发现转JrGRAS2基因酵母表现出较对照更高的生存活性。表明JrGRAS2基因具有响应热胁迫的能力,且能提高酵母的抗性,JrGRAS2基因可作为核桃逆境应答的重要候选基因。     

The Fibrillin-1 RGD Integrin Binding Site Regulates Gene Expression and Cell Function through microRNAs

Fibrillins are the major components of microfibrils in the extracellular matrix of elastic and non-elastic tissues. Fibrillin-1 contains one evolutionarily conserved RGD sequence that mediates cell–matrix interactions through cell-surface integrins. Here, we present a novel paradigm how extracellular fibrillin-1 controls cellular function through integrin-mediated microRNA regulation. Comparative mRNA studies by global microarray analysis identified growth factor activity, actin binding and integrin binding as the most important functional groups that are regulated upon fibrillin-1 binding to dermal fibroblasts. Many of these mRNAs are targets of miRNAs that were identified when RNA from the fibrillin-1-ligated fibroblasts was analyzed by a miRNA microarray. The expression profile was specific to fibrillin-1 since interaction with fibronectin displayed a partially distinct profile. The importance of selected miRNAs for the regulation of the identified mRNAs was suggested by bioinformatics prediction and the interactions between miRNAs and mRNAs were experimentally validated. Functionally, we show that miR-503 controls p-Smad2-dependent TGF-β signaling, and that miR-612 and miR-3185 are involved in the focal adhesion formation regulated by fibrillin-1. In conclusion, we demonstrate that fibrillin-1 interaction with fibroblasts regulates miRNA expression profiles which in turn control critical cell functions.     

GINS2基因对非小细胞肺癌的作用及功能分析

GINS2在多种侵袭性肿瘤中上调,然而,其在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)中的作用及功能仍有待阐明.本研究主要对GINS2在非小细胞肺癌中的作用及功能进行分析,通过肿瘤基因组图谱(TCGA)数据库分析发现,GINS2在NSCLC中显著上调.为了研究GINS2在NSCLC细胞中的作用及其功能,首先,采用小干扰RNA技术设计了该基因的siRNA,以此来沉默GINS2的mRNA,细胞水平转染后,该基因在非小细胞肺癌细胞系NCI-H292和A549中的表达降低;随后,采用实时细胞分析仪(real time cell analyzer,RTCA)和Tran-swell小室实验对细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭进行测定,最后采用流式细胞仪分析细胞的周期以及细胞凋亡.实验结果显示:在NCI-H292和A549两个细胞系中,用siRNA沉默GINS2的表达后,NCI-H292和A549细胞的生长能力、迁移能力和侵袭能力均会受到明显的抑制;此外,细胞的周期凋亡实验显示,在NCI-H292细胞系中,阻碍了细胞G1期向S期的转变;在A549细胞系中,阻碍了细胞S期向G2期的转变,同时在两个细胞系中均表现出促进细胞凋亡等功能.综上所述,敲低GINS2可抑制NCI-H292和A549细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭,并且能阻滞细胞周期促进细胞凋亡等.因此,研究该基因在NSCLC中的功能对于后续研究分子机制具有很大的意义,可能是未来的特异性治疗靶点.     

Ndrg2基因表达对胃癌细胞增殖调控及其机理的研究

为研究Ndrg2基因在人类肿瘤发生发展中的作用,以不表达Ndrg2基因的胃癌细胞系HGC-27和表达Ndrg2基因的胃癌细胞系SGC-7901作为对比材料,以Ndrg2基因转染HGC-27胃癌细胞系,以及用Ndrg2的反义寡核苷酸封闭SGC-7901胃癌细胞系中Ndrg2基因的表达.发现Ndrg2可以抑制HGC-27胃癌细胞的软琼脂集落形成,有一定诱导细胞凋亡的作用,对细胞周期蛋白E的表达有明显下调作用.当封闭了SGC-7901胃癌细胞中Ndrg2基因表达的软琼脂集落形成受到抑制,流式细胞仪检测发现此时的SGC-7901细胞周期被阻滞在G1期,细胞周期蛋白D1和E表达下调.Ndrg2基因对两种肿瘤细胞中的细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)和P38的表达也有不同的影响.     

HBV X基因的表达及在真核细胞中对内质网压力的作用

运用PCR技术获得HBx基因,分别克隆到原核表达载体pET-his和真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)上.重组质粒pET-his-HBx转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)后, IPTG诱导表达,利用Ni柱纯化后的蛋白免疫家兔,获得特异性的抗-HBx兔抗血清.重组质粒pcDNA3.1(-)-HBx分别转染HepG2和Hep3B细胞系后,经RT-PCR和Western blot检测,证明HBx可以在这两种细胞系中表达.通过报告基因的表达研究了HBx对XBP1和GRP78启动子的激活活性,结果表明瞬时转染HBx的细胞系中,XBP1和GRP78启动子介导的荧光素酶活性比相应的对照细胞增加了3～7倍.通过RT-PCR分析证明,转染了HBx的细胞中XBP1 mRNA发生了剪切.因此,可以初步推断HBx在HepG2和Hep3B细胞中的表达可以引起内质网压力反应,为进一步阐明HBx表达对内质网的影响和肝脏病原发生机制奠定了基础.     

HBV X基因的表达及在真核细胞中对内质网压力的作用

运用PCR技术获得HBx基因,分别克隆到原核表达载体pET-his和真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)上。重组质粒pET-his-HBx转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)后,IPTG诱导表达,利用Ni柱纯化后的蛋白免疫家兔,获得特异性的抗-HBx兔抗血清。重组质粒pcDNA3.1(-)-HBx分别转染HepG2和Hep3B细胞系后,经RT-PCR和Westernblot检测,证明HBx可以在这两种细胞系中表达。通过报告基因的表达研究了HBx对XBP1和GRP78启动子的激活活性,结果表明瞬时转染HBx的细胞系中,XBP1和GRP78启动子介导的荧光素酶活性比相应的对照细胞增加了3～7倍。通过RT-PCR分析证明,转染了HBx的细胞中XBP1mRNA发生了剪切。因此,可以初步推断HBx在HepG2和Hep3B细胞中的表达可以引起内质网压力反应,为进一步阐明HBx表达对内质网的影响和肝脏病原发生机制奠定了基础。     

Gene Expression Signature-Based Screening Identifies New Broadly Effective Influenza A Antivirals

Classical antiviral therapies target viral proteins and are consequently subject to resistance. To counteract this limitation, alternative strategies have been developed that target cellular factors. We hypothesized that such an approach could also be useful to identify broad-spectrum antivirals. The influenza A virus was used as a model for its viral diversity and because of the need to develop therapies against unpredictable viruses as recently underlined by the H1N1 pandemic. We proposed to identify a gene-expression signature associated with infection by different influenza A virus subtypes which would allow the identification of potential antiviral drugs with a broad anti-influenza spectrum of activity. We analyzed the cellular gene expression response to infection with five different human and avian influenza A virus strains and identified 300 genes as differentially expressed between infected and non-infected samples. The most 20 dysregulated genes were used to screen the connectivity map, a database of drug-associated gene expression profiles. Candidate antivirals were then identified by their inverse correlation to the query signature. We hypothesized that such molecules would induce an unfavorable cellular environment for influenza virus replication. Eight potential antivirals including ribavirin were identified and their effects were tested in vitro on five influenza A strains. Six of the molecules inhibited influenza viral growth. The new pandemic H1N1 virus, which was not used to define the gene expression signature of infection, was inhibited by five out of the eight identified molecules, demonstrating that this strategy could contribute to identifying new broad anti-influenza agents acting on cellular gene expression. The identified infection signature genes, the expression of which are modified upon infection, could encode cellular proteins involved in the viral life cycle. This is the first study showing that gene expression-based screening can be used to identify antivirals. Such an approach could accelerate drug discovery and be extended to other pathogens.     

A Versatile Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Gene Expression System for Herbaceous Plants and Trees

Plant transient expression is a powerful method used widely for the functional characterization of genes and protein production. In comparison with stable transformation, it has the advantages of being simple, quick, economical, and effective. In the present study, we developed a novel transient gene expression system based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. This system is simple and convenient and allows for high transient expression levels. Hyperosmotic pretreatment of plants significantly improved the transient expression in this system. Furthermore, other factors, including acetosyringone concentration, cocultivation time, and Agrobacterium cell density, significantly influenced transient expression efficiency. The results showed that this method is suitable for use with herbaceous plants (such as tobacco and Arabidopsis) and trees (such as birch, poplar, tamarisk, cork, willow, and aralia), suggesting that it may be applied widely in plant transient expression studies.