一种双顺反子表达载体的构建及应用的研究

将表达载体pEC34中的一段寡核苷酸序列,其中包括翻译增强子序列、SD序列、终止码、起始码及两端的限制性内切酶位点,插入GST基因后,构建成双顺反子的表达载体．利用此载体表达了非融合的人骨形成蛋白2A(hBMP2A)和人骨形成蛋白3(hBMP3)C端肽段,将第一顺反子基因（GST基因）切小到原来的1／3时,则位于下游的第二顺反子基因编码的蛋白质在大肠杆菌中的表达量增加一倍。     

构建多顺反子表达载体的有效工具——FMDV 2A

近年来肿瘤多基因治疗倍受关注,然而目前缺少一种有效的构建多顺子的工具。传统的构建多顺反子的工具,如IRES等,由于存在结构大,上下游基因表达差异显著等缺陷,严重限制了其应用。FMDV2A,因其具有结构小、剪切效率高等优点为多基因治疗带来了新的希望。主要介绍了FMDV2A的特性、"剪切"活力及其在构建多顺反子载体中的应用。     

基于IRES序列的多基因共表达载体构建

目的:构建一个IRES序列介导的多基因共表达载体,实现两个目的基因和筛选标记基因共用一个启动子高效表达,提高多基因稳定共表达细胞株的筛选效率。方法:以实验室前期构建的载体pLV-MCS-Puro为骨架,设计并全基因合成双基因克隆表达元件,连接到骨架载体,构建多基因共表达载体pLV-2MCS-Puro,以DsRed2和EGFP荧光蛋白基因验证该载体用于多基因稳定共表达细胞株筛选的效率。结果:成功构建了pLV-2MCS-Puro载体以及DsRed2和EGFP共表达重组质粒pLV-DsRed2-EGFP-Puro。瞬时转染实验证明该载体能介导多基因共表达。抗性筛选获得了MDCK和HeLa两种细胞的多基因稳定共表达细胞池。细胞池涂片荧光显微镜观察和计数表明抗性细胞池DsRed2和EGFP双阳率接近100%。基因组和转录水平PCR及蛋白质免疫印迹实验表明,DsRed2和EGFP稳定整合到抗性细胞基因组,并且两种蛋白质表达水平较为一致。结论:成功构建了多基因共表达载体pLV-2MCS-Puro,实现了两个目的基因和抗性基因串联共表达,并且具有高效的多基因稳定共表达细胞株筛选效率。该载体在研究蛋白质相互作用及工程细胞构建等方面具有一定的应用前景。     

人TNF-α双顺反子逆转录病毒载体的构建及其在成纤维细胞中的表达

利用脑炎心肌炎病毒的内核糖体进入位点连接人ＴＮＦ－αｃＤＮＡ和选择基因ＮｅｏＲ基因,使ＴＮＦ－α及ＮｅｏＲ基因均受控于病毒ＬＴＲ启动子,将两基因同时转录至同一ｍＲＮＡ,从而构建成人ＴＮＦ－α双顺反子逆转录病毒载体ｐＧＣＥＮ／ＴＮＦ－α．在ＬｉｐｏｆｅｃｔＡＭＩＮＥ介导下将其导入包装细胞ＰＡ３１７,Ｇ４１８筛选得单克隆,病毒滴度为１０６ＣＦＵ／ｍｌ重组病毒分泌的细胞株．经ＰＣＲ证明外源基因已整合至细胞基因组,Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹显示出单一ＬＲＴ转录本．持续Ｇ４１８筛选能明显促进目的基因ＴＮＦ－α的表达．用重组病毒上清感染小鼠成纤维细胞ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３,Ｇ４１８筛选获得的混合抗性克隆持续高表达ＴＮＦ－α,４０Ｇｙγ线照射后能维持高效表达至７ｄ．实验结果表明,含ＩＲＥＳ的双顺反子逆转录病毒载体将是一个很好的基因转移载体．     

大肠杆菌双顺反子表达载体中绿色荧光蛋白表达水平的研究

构建了一系列含有编码硫氧还蛋白(Trx)和绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因的双顺反子重组表达质粒,重点考察双顺反子间紧密相连和重迭的间隔序列.诱导表达后,对表达的GFP进行荧光检测,利用GFP的荧光强度来反映蛋白质的表达水平.结果表明各表达载体所表达的GFP的平均荧光强度差距很大,表明双顺反子间的间隔序列对报告基因表达水平有一定的影响,为实现不同功能基因表达的精确调控奠定了基础.     

双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体的构建及蚓激酶基因F238在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达

为了实现外源蛋白在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达,利用硫氧还蛋白作为分子伴侣构建双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体pDICT。将大肠杆菌硫氧还蛋白基因插入到pET22b载体NdeI和EcoR I位点之间,同时在硫氧还蛋白编码基因的终止密码子前加入核糖体结合位点,构建成双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体pDICT。将蚓激酶基因F238克隆到该载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)并诱导表达。SDS-PAGE结果表明,所表达的蚓激酶F238是可溶性蛋白。利用血纤维蛋白法对表达产物进行活性测定,重组蚓激酶F238不仅具有纤溶酶活性,而且具有激活纤溶酶原的激酶活性。该双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体的构建,为在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达外源蛋白提供了新方法。     

油菜叶绿体多顺反子定点整合表达载体的构建

根据拟南芥叶绿体基因组序列设计PCR引物,从我国甘蓝型油菜栽培品种F4叶绿体基因组中克隆了长度为1.5kb的trnI和trnA2个基因序列,核酸序列分析表明它们与拟南芥基因的同源性高达94%和99%,这两个克隆的油菜叶绿体基因组序列trnI和trnA被用于构建叶绿体定点整合表达载体。利用烟草叶绿体基因强启动子Prrn和终止子TpsbA,以及筛选标记基因aadA和目的基因HSA,构建了多顺反子表达盒Prrn-aadA-HSA-TpsbA,将表达盒置于油菜叶绿体trnI和trnA序列之间,最后构建成油菜叶绿体多顺反子定点整合表达载体pIPaHTA。酶切鉴定及序列分析证实,构建的表达载体具有预期的调控元件及结构,这为后期油菜叶绿体转化体系的建立奠定了基础。     

利用甘薯质体同源片段构建多顺反子表达载体

反子定点整合表达载体pSAG,酶切鉴定结果表明所构建的载体符合预期设计.这为后期甘薯质体转化体系的建立和通过质体基因工程手段将更多目的基因导入甘薯进行遗传改良奠定了基础.     

携带FMDV前导蛋白基因逆转录病毒载体的构建及其在牛肾细胞中的表达

以口蹄疫病毒株OA/58 RNA为模板, 反转录并扩增目的cDNA。通过分子克隆技术将前导蛋白编码序列Lab与逆转录病毒载体pBPSTR1连接, 将构建正确的重组载体命名为pBPSTR1-Lab。通过分别利用不同浓度的嘌呤霉素和四环素来确定最佳筛选浓度和最佳调控浓度, 结果显示嘌呤霉素的最佳筛选浓度为3 mg/mL, 四环素的最佳调控浓度为1 mg/mL。利用pBPSTR1-Lab和包装质粒pVSV-G双质粒瞬时转染Gp2-293包装细胞来获得重组逆转录病毒。利用重组逆转录病毒来感染牛肾细胞, 并连续筛选12天来获得阳性克隆。通过除去四环素来诱导目的基因在牛肾细胞中表达, 发现牛肾细胞病变死亡。经过PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹证实稳定表达前导蛋白的牛肾细胞系已经建立, 为今后研究前导蛋白致病机理提供了平台。     

Insert sequence length determines transfection efficiency and gene expression levels in bicistronic mammalian expression vectors

Bicistronic expression vectors have been widely used for co-expression studies since the initial discovery of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) about 25 years ago. IRES sequences allow the 5’ cap-independent initiation of translation of multiple genes on a single messenger RNA strand. Using a commercially available mammalian expression vector containing an IRES sequence with a 3’ green fluorescent protein fluorescent marker, we found that sequence length of the gene of interest expressed 5’ of the IRES site influences both expression of the 3’ fluorescent marker and overall transfection efficiency of the vector construct. Furthermore, we generated a novel construct expressing two distinct fluorescent markers and found that high expression of one gene can lower expression of the other. Observations from this study indicate that caution is warranted in the design of experiments utilizing an IRES system with a short 5’ gene of interest sequence (<300 bp), selection of single cells based on the expression profile of the 3’ optogenetic fluorescent marker, and assumptions made during data analysis.     

含口蹄疫病毒IRES RNA病毒样颗粒表达载体的构建

利用PCR技术扩增大肠杆菌MS2噬菌体的外壳蛋白和成熟酶蛋白基因,将其克隆到pET32a中构建中间载体pET32a-CP。将FMDV的内部核糖体结合位点（IRES）保守序列连接到中间载体噬菌体基因的下游,构建原核表达载体pCPES。将重组质粒pCPES转化宿主菌BL21(DE3),1 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达。蔗糖密度梯度离心纯化表达产物。透射电镜观察到直径大约26 nm的圆形病毒样颗粒。检测病毒样颗粒的稳定性并进行RT-PCR鉴定。结果表明该病毒样颗粒含口蹄疫病毒IRES RNA序列,并且稳定性良好,本研究构建的病毒样颗粒可以作为RNA病毒检测时的标准品和质控品使用。     

Construction of a bicistronic proangiogenic expression vector and its application in experimental angiogenesis in vivo

Manipulation of angiogenesis in vivo is an example of successful gene therapy strategies. Overexpression of angiogenic genes like VEGF, FGF or PDGF causes new vessel formation and improves the clinical state of patients. Gene therapy is a very promising procedure but requires large amounts of pharmaceutical-grade plasmid DNA. In this regard we have constructed a bicistronic plasmid DNA vector encoding two proangiogenic factors, VEGF165 and FGF-2. The construct (pVIF) contains the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the encephalomyocarditis virus (ECMV) which permits both genes to be translated from a single bicistronic mRNA. The IRES sequence allows for a high efficiency of gene expression in vivo. The pVIF vector was characterized in vitro and in vivo. In vivo angiogenesis studies showed that the bicistronic vector encoding two proangiogenic factors induces the formation of new vessels significantly more than pVEGF165 or pFGF-2 alone. In our opinion the combined proangiogenic approach with VEGF165 and FGF-2 is more powerful and efficient than single gene therapy. We also postulate that IRES sequence can serve as a useful device improving efficiency of gene therapy.     

Development of a murine prostatespecific 2-in-1 inducible bicistronic expression vector

Transgenic research often suffers from the lack of strong tissue specific promoters and the lack of suitable antibodies for transgene detection. We have now constructed a novel prostate specific 2-in-1 Tetracycline-off (Tet-off), bicistronic expression vector, designated PbTetOIE, for transgenic research. The vector allows potent induction as well as inducible suppression of transgene expression in the prostate epithelial cells, and also allows the detection of transgene expression at the cellular level through the detection of the internal enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) downstream of the transgene.     

A bicistronic baculovirus vector for transient and stable protein expression in mammalian cells

Baculoviruses are widely used for protein production in insect cells, and their potential for gene transfer to mammalian cells is increasingly being recognized. Here we describe a baculovirus vector with a bicistronic mammalian expression cassette and demonstrate its suitability for efficient transient and stable protein expression in human glioblastoma cells. Bicistronic baculovirus vectors are safe, cost efficient, and easy to produce; thus, they represent an excellent gene transfer system for mammalian cells.     

The use of IRES-based bicistronic vectors allows the stable expression of recombinant G-protein coupled receptors such as NPY5 and histamine 4

Stable expression of G protein coupled receptors in cell lines is a crucial tool for the characterization of the molecular pharmacology of receptors and the screening for new antagonists. However, in some instances, many difficulties have been encountered to obtain stable cell lines expressing functional receptors. Here, we addressed the question of vector optimization to establish cell lines expressing the human neuropeptide Y receptor 5 (NPY5-R) or histamine receptor 4 (HH4R). We have compared bicistronic vectors containing viral or cellular internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), co-expressing the receptor and the neomycine resistance gene from a single mRNA, to a bigenic vector containing two distinct promoters upstream each different genes. This study is the first one to validate the use of three cellular IRESs for long-term transgene expression. Our results demonstrate for both NPY5-R and HH4R that the bicistronic vectors with EMCV, VEGF, FGF1A or FGF2 IRES provide clones expressing functional receptors with yields between 25% and 100%. In contrast, the bigenic vector provided no functional clones, related to a low expression of NPY5R mRNA. The cell lines expressing active receptor were stable after more than 50 passages. These data indicate that IRES-based bicistronic vectors are particularly appropriate to establish cell clones expressing active G-coupled protein receptors with a high yield. In the case of NPY5, it was a new way to produce such a stable cell line. Furthermore, the characteristics-presented herein-of this receptor pharmacological property are perfectly in line with those reported in the literature.     

Long term expression of bicistronic vector driven by the FGF-1 IRES in mouse muscle

Background

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is an economically important soft fruit crop with polyploid genome which complicates the breeding of new cultivars. For certain traits, genetic engineering offers a potential alternative to traditional breeding. However, many strawberry varieties are quite recalcitrant for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and a method allowing easy handling of large amounts of starting material is needed. Also the genotyping of putative transformants is challenging since the isolation of DNA for Southern analysis is difficult due to the high amount of phenolic compounds and polysaccharides that complicate efficient extraction of digestable DNA. There is thus a need to apply a screening method that is sensitive and unambiguous in identifying the different transformation events.

Results

Hygromycin-resistant strawberries were developed in temporary immersion bioreactors by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Putative transformants were screened by TAIL-PCR to verify T-DNA integration and to distinguish between the individual transformation events. Several different types of border sequence arrangements were detected.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that temporary immersion bioreactor system suits well for the regeneration of transgenic strawberry plants as a labour-efficient technique. Small amount of DNA required by TAIL-PCR is easily recovered even from a small transformant, which allows rapid verification of T-DNA integration and detection of separate gene transfer events. These techniques combined clearly facilitate the generation of transgenic strawberries but should be applicable to other plants as well.