重组HIV-1壳体蛋白在转基因枸杞根系中的分泌表达

P24壳体蛋白（capsid, CA）是HIV¬-1早期感染的一个重要标志.用含有植物表达载体pCAMBIA 1305.2- MA4-CA（包含GRP信号肽和MA4-CA融合基因）的农杆菌菌株侵染枸杞,将转有MA4-CA融合基因的转化株诱导生根，并进行毛状根的培养; western blot证实根系及培养液中的MA4-CA融合蛋白以二聚体的形式存在，分子量为50 kDa；免疫组织化学显示，CA定位在细胞浆、细胞壁和细胞间隙中，充分证实了利用GRP信号肽可以引导重组蛋白分泌表达。建立枸杞中HIV-1壳体蛋白的根分泌表达系统，为研究植物HIV-1 CA-病毒样颗粒（VLPs）疫苗奠定基础。     

表达HIV壳体蛋白转基因枸杞悬浮细胞的培养与鉴定

枸杞是我国珍贵的中药材,利用枸杞作为转基因材料具有易于遗传操作,生物性状稳定的优点。将携有人类免疫缺陷病毒I型（HIV-1）壳体蛋白基因的植物表达载体导入根瘤农杆菌EHA105中,并通过农杆菌侵染枸杞叶片,诱导产生抗性愈伤组织,利用抗性愈伤组织作为材料进行悬浮细胞的培养并对转基因枸杞悬浮细胞鉴定。PCR结果表明已获得遗传转化的转基因枸杞悬浮细胞系。免疫组织化学检测结果表明HIV壳体蛋白已在转基因枸杞悬浮细胞中表达。     

转基因枸杞中蛋白酶体糜蛋白酶样活性的研究

利用提取的转基因枸杞和正常枸杞蛋白与蛋白酶体的特异性荧光底物Suc-LLVY-AMC室温孵育,于360nm（激发光）/460nm（发射光）波长下测定荧光值的方法,研究了转基因枸杞和正常枸杞中蛋白酶体糜蛋白酶活性的差异及其特异性抑制剂MG115对枸杞中蛋白酶体活性的影响。结果表明表达H IV壳体蛋白的转基因枸杞蛋白酶体活性是空载体对照转基因枸杞蛋白酶体活性的3.6倍,是正常枸杞的4.2倍。10μM的MG115对表达H IV壳体蛋白的转基因枸杞蛋白酶体活性抑制率为87%,携带空载体对照的转基因枸杞抑制率为74%,而对正常枸杞抑制率仅为8.6%;50μM的MG115抑制作用与10μM的相比没有明显变化。这一结果将为利用蛋白酶体抑制剂提高转基因枸杞悬浮细胞H IV-1CA含量的研究提供理论依据。     

CT358蛋白在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位及特性分析

确定沙眼衣原体CT358蛋白在衣原体感染细胞中的位置并初步鉴定其生物学功能．采用PCR方法从D型沙眼衣原体的基因组中扩增CT358基因,并克隆入pGEX和pDSRedC1表达载体中．将重组质粒pGEX-CT358转化到XL1-blue宿主菌,并诱导表达融合蛋白GST-CT358．纯化后的CT358融合蛋白免疫小鼠制备抗体,应用间接免疫荧光技术对CT358蛋白在衣原体感染细胞内的定位及表达模式进行分析．同时,pDSRedC1-CT358重组质粒瞬时转染HeLa细胞,观察CT358蛋白对衣原体感染的影响．实验结果证明CT358蛋白为沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白．该蛋白质在衣原体感染12 h后就表达定位于包涵体膜上,直至持续到整个感染周期,转基因在胞浆表达的CT358融合蛋白不影响其后的衣原体感染．该研究为深入研究衣原体与宿主细胞间相互作用提供了新的线索,并可为衣原体性的治疗、预防提供新方向．     

腹水离心石蜡切片联合免疫组化检测CA125、CK7、Ki67对卵巢癌的诊断价值

目的:探讨腹水离心石蜡切片及免疫组织化学在卵巢癌诊断中的价值.方法:对30例腹水标本离心收集细胞沉渣,经自动脱水机脱水后石蜡包埋,切片进行免疫组织化学检测CA125、CK7、Ki67表达.结果:腹水离心石蜡切片细胞形态清晰,着色鲜艳,免疫组织化学阳性定位准确.结论:腹水离心石蜡切片联合免疫组织化学检测CA125、CK7、Ki67对卵巢癌具有临床诊断价值.     

HIV-1 B’/C亚型Rev蛋白的表达、纯化与抗体制备

目的:为方便实验室工作中对HIV-1 B’/C亚型Rev蛋白的检测,制备相应的Rev蛋白及其抗体。方法:将我国HIV-1 B’/C亚型流行株的rev基因按大肠杆菌优势密码子进行改造后人工合成,在原核系统中与pET30a(+)载体中的His.Tag、Trx.Tag及S.Tag进行融合表达,目的蛋白经Ni2+金属螯合层析柱纯化后用于免疫家兔,制备多克隆抗体。结果与结论:合成基因在原核系统中融合表达得到相对分子质量约18×103的融合蛋白,目的蛋白的表达量约占菌体总蛋白量的36%;用纯化后的融合蛋白免疫家兔,制备了多克隆抗体,Western印迹及间接免疫荧光检测结果显示,获得的多克隆抗体与HIV-1 B’/C亚型的Rev蛋白能产生特异性反应,可用于检测HIV-1 B’/C亚型Rev蛋白的表达。     

HIV-1B′/C亚型Rev蛋白的表达、纯化与抗体制备

目的:为方便实验室工作中对HIV-1 B′/C亚型Rev蛋白的检测,制备相应的Rev蛋白及其抗体.方法:将我国HIV-1 B′/C亚型流行株的rev基因按大肠杆菌优势密码子进行改造后人工合成,在原核系统中与pET30a(+)载体中的His·Tag、Trx·Tag及S·Tag进行融合表达,目的蛋白经Ni2+金属螯合层析柱纯化后用于免疫家兔,制备多克隆抗体.结果与结论:合成基因在原核系统中融合表达得到相对分子质量约18×103的融合蛋白,目的蛋白的表达量约占菌体总蛋白量的36%;用纯化后的融合蛋白免疫家兔,制备了多克隆抗体,Western印迹及间接免疫荧光检测结果显示,获得的多克隆抗体与HIV-1 B′/C亚型的Rev蛋白能产生特异性反应,可用于检测HIV-1 B′/C亚型Rev蛋白的表达.     

FHL1在胸主动脉瘤发病机制中的初步研究

目的:研究FHL1蛋白在胸主动脉瘤发病机制中的作用。方法:利用Western Blotting分析胸主动脉瘤患者与正常人主动脉组织中FHL1蛋白表达的情况,利用免疫组织化学检测FHL1蛋白在主动脉组织中的定位,并进一步分析该蛋白在两组中的表达情况,结合文献报道分析FHL1蛋白在胸主动脉瘤发病机制中的作用。结果:Western Blotting、免疫组织化学分析均表明FHL1蛋白在胸主动脉瘤患者主动脉组织表达水平较正常人明显降低,FHL1蛋白主要定位于主动脉血管平滑肌细胞的细胞质中。结论:FHL1蛋白在胸主动脉瘤患者主动脉组织中明显降低,这可能导致主动脉血管平滑肌细胞增殖能力下降,从而在胸主动脉瘤的发病中发挥重要的作用。     

Paxillin在大鼠胰腺发育不同时期表达的研究

目的:研究桩蛋白(Paxillin,Pxn)在胰腺发育不同阶段的表达和细胞定位.方法:运用RT-PCR技术检测Pxn在大鼠胰腺发育不同阶段的mRNA表达水平;运用免疫组织化学检测不同时期桩蛋白在胰腺的定位.结果:RT-PCR结果显示Pxn的mRNA表达量胚胎期高于新生和成年期;免疫组织化学结果显示在不同发育时期桩蛋白不仅在外分泌胰腺有表达,而且在胰岛也有表达.结论:具有调节细胞聚集、粘附迁移功能的桩蛋白可能参与出生后胰岛重塑.     

转基因枸杞表达HIV-1壳体蛋白病毒样颗粒疫苗表达载体的构建

利用PCR技术扩增出人免疫缺陷病毒HIV-1MA₄-CA融合基因,将其克隆到pGEM-T载体中,测定其核苷酸序列,并推导其氨基酸序列。该基因全长为450bp,与已发表的HIV-1的全序列基因(AF324493)完全同源,编码一个含150个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。将该基因与分泌型表达载体pCAMBIA1305.2连接,同时将水稻中富含甘氨酸蛋白的信号肽序列(GRP)引入MA₄-CA融合基因,构建了含MA₄-CA基因的植物分泌表达载体pCAMBIA1305.2-MA₄-CA。     

Assembly properties of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 CA protein

During retroviral maturation, the CA protein oligomerizes to form a closed capsid that surrounds the viral genome. We have previously identified a series of deleterious surface mutations within human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CA that alter infectivity, replication, and assembly in vivo. For this study, 27 recombinant CA proteins harboring 34 different mutations were tested for the ability to assemble into helical cylinders in vitro. These cylinders are composed of CA hexamers and are structural models for the mature viral capsid. Mutations that diminished CA assembly clustered within helices 1 and 2 in the N-terminal domain of CA and within the crystallographically defined dimer interface in the CA C-terminal domain. These mutations demonstrate the importance of these regions for CA cylinder production and, by analogy, mature capsid assembly. One CA mutant (R18A) assembled into cylinders, cones, and spheres. We suggest that these capsid shapes occur because the R18A mutation alters the frequency at which pentamers are incorporated into the hexagonal lattice. The fact that a single CA protein can simultaneously form all three known retroviral capsid morphologies supports the idea that these structures are organized on similar lattices and differ only in the distribution of 12 pentamers that allow them to close. In further support of this model, we demonstrate that the considerable morphological variation seen for conical HIV-1 capsids can be recapitulated in idealized capsid models by altering the distribution of pentamers.     

Structure of a monomeric mutant of the HIV-1 capsid protein

The capsid protein (CA) of HIV-1 plays a significant role in the assembly of the immature virion and is the critical building block of its mature capsid. Thus, there has been significant interest in the CA protein as a target in the design of inhibitors of early and late stage events in the HIV-1 replication cycle. However, because of its inherent flexibility from the interdomain linker and the monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution, the HIV-1 wild-type CA monomer has defied structural determinations by X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Here we report the detailed solution structure of full-length HIV-1 CA using a monomeric mutant that, though noninfective, preserves many of the critical properties of the wild-type protein. The structure shows independently folded N-terminal (NTD) and C-terminal domains (CTD) joined by a flexible linker. The CTD shows some differences from that of the dimeric wild-type CTD structures. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of the wild-type CA dimerization critical for capsid assembly. The monomeric mutant allows investigation of interactions of CA with human cellular proteins exploited by HIV-1, directly in solution without the complications associated with the monomer-dimer equilibrium of the wild-type protein. This structure also permits the design of inhibitors directed at a novel target, viz., interdomain flexibility, as well as inhibitors that target multiple interdomain interactions critical for assembly and interactions of CA with host cellular proteins that play significant roles within the replication cycle of HIV-1.     

Localization and functions of native and eGFP-tagged capsid proteins in HIV-1 particles

In infectious HIV-1 particles, the capsid protein (CA) forms a cone-shaped shell called the capsid, which encases the viral ribonucleoprotein complex (vRNP). Following cellular entry, the capsid is disassembled through a poorly understood process referred to as uncoating, which is required to release the reverse transcribed HIV-1 genome for integration into host chromatin. Whereas single virus imaging using indirect CA labeling techniques suggested uncoating to occur in the cytoplasm or at the nuclear pore, a recent study using eGFP-tagged CA reported uncoating in the nucleus. To delineate the HIV-1 uncoating site, we investigated the mechanism of eGFP-tagged CA incorporation into capsids and the utility of this fluorescent marker for visualizing HIV-1 uncoating. We find that virion incorporated eGFP-tagged CA is effectively excluded from the capsid shell, and that a subset of the tagged CA is vRNP associated. These results thus imply that eGFP-tagged CA is not a direct marker for capsid uncoating. We further show that native CA co-immunoprecipitates with vRNP components, providing a basis for retention of eGFP-tagged and untagged CA by sub-viral complexes in the nucleus. Moreover, we find that functional viral replication complexes become accessible to integrase-interacting host factors at the nuclear pore, leading to inhibition of infection and demonstrating capsid permeabilization prior to nuclear import. Finally, we find that HIV-1 cores containing a mixture of wild-type and mutant CA interact differently with cytoplasmic versus nuclear pools of the CA-binding host cofactor CPSF6. Our results suggest that capsid remodeling (including a loss of capsid integrity) is the predominant pathway for HIV-1 nuclear entry and provide new insights into the mechanism of CA retention in the nucleus via interaction with vRNP components.     

Transient expression of HPV16 E7 peptide (aa 44-60) and HPV16 L2 peptide (aa 108-120) on chimeric potyvirus-like particles using Potato virus X-based vector

The optimized expression of recombinant Potato virus A coat protein (ACP) carrying two different epitopes from Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) was developed. Epitope derived from minor capsid protein L2 was expressed as N-terminal fusion with ACP while an epitope derived from E7 oncoprotein was fused to its C-terminus. The construct was cloned into Potato X potexvirus (PVX) based vector and transiently expressed in plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated inoculation. To increase the level of expressed protein the transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing Potato virus A HC-Pro gene and transgenic Nicotiana tabacum, cv. Petit Havana SR1 carrying Potato virus A P3 protein gene were tested. Synergistic infection of host plants with PVX carrying the construct and Potato virus Y(O) (PVY(O)) increased the expression of L2ACPE7 in N. tabacum and in transgenic N. benthamiana carrying potyviral HC-Pro gene as compared to control plants infected with L2ACPE7 only.     

The Carboxyl-Terminus of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Circulating Recombinant form 01_AB Capsid Protein Affects Sensitivity to Human TRIM5α

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 shows limited geographical distribution compared with HIV type 1. Although 8 genetic groups of HIV type 2 (HIV-2) have been described, recombinant viruses between these groups are rarely observed. Recently, three HIV-2 patients in Japan were described with rapidly progressive, acquired immunodeficiency. These patients were infected with an A/B inter-group recombinant designated CRF01_AB. Here, we characterize the capsid protein (CA) encoded by the viruses from these patients. HIV-2 CRF01_AB CA showed unique amino acid sequence almost equally distinct from group A and group B viruses. Notably, HIV-2 CRF01_AB CA showed potent resistance to human TRIM5α. In addition to the previously identified amino acid position 119 in the N-terminal domain of CA, we found that HIV-2 CRF01_AB-specific amino acid substitutions in the C-terminal domain also were necessary for resistance to human TRIM5α. These results indicate that retroviruses can evade TRIM5α by substitution at residues within the C-terminal domain of CA.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protein Vif inhibits the activity of HIV-1 protease in bacteria and in vitro.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif is required for productive infection of T lymphocytes and macrophages. Virions produced in the absence of Vif have abnormal core morphology and those produced in primary T cells carry immature core proteins and low levels of mature capsid (M. Simm, M. Shahabuddin, W. Chao, J. S. Allan, and D. J. Volsky, J. Virol. 69:4582-4586, 1995). To investigate whether Vif influences the activity of HIV-1 protease (PR), the viral enzyme which is responsible for processing Gag and Gag-Pol precursor polyproteins into mature virion components, we transformed bacteria to inducibly express truncated Gag-Pol fusion proteins and Vif. We examined the cleavage of polyproteins consisting of matrix to PR (Gag-PR), capsid to PR (CA-PR), and p6Pol to PR (p6Pol-PR) and evaluated HIV-1 protein processing at specific sites by Western blotting using antibodies against matrix, capsid, and PR proteins. We found that Vif modulates HIV-1 PR activity in bacteria mainly by preventing the release of mature MA and CA from Gag-PR, CA from CA-PR, and p6Pol from p6Pol-PR, with other cleavages being less affected. Using subconstructs of Vif, we mapped this activity to the N-terminal half of the molecule, thus identifying a new functional domain of Vif. Kinetic study of p6Pol-PR autocatalysis in the presence or absence of Vif revealed that Vif and N'Vif reduce the rate of PR-mediated proteolysis of this substrate. In an assay of in vitro proteolysis of a synthetic peptide substrate by purified recombinant PR we found that recombinant Vif and the N-terminal half of the molecule specifically inhibit PR activity at a molar ratio of the N-terminal half of Vif to PR of about 1. These results suggest a mechanism and site of action of Vif in HIV-1 replication and demonstrate novel regulation of a lentivirus PR by an autologous viral protein acting in trans.