转录因子Foxo3a高表达对小鼠T淋巴瘤EL-4细胞周期和凋亡的影响

为了研究转录因子Foxo3a高表达对小鼠T淋巴瘤EL-4细胞周期和凋亡的影响,采用电穿孔法将真核表达载体pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a转染小鼠T淋巴瘤细胞系EL-4细胞,并通过聚合酶链式反应和免疫印迹法分别检测Foxo3a mRNA及蛋白表达。转录因子Foxo3a高表达后,采用细胞计数法绘制其细胞生长曲线;采用荧光显微镜法及流式细胞仪定性和定量观察典型EL-4细胞凋亡形态特征、细胞凋亡百分率及细胞周期变化情况。结果表明,转录因子Foxo3a真核表达质粒pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a经酶切鉴定及测序检测序列正确。转染pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a的小鼠EL-4细胞表达Foxo3a mRNA和蛋白水平显著升高。Foxo3a高表达明显抑制EL-4细胞的增殖能力,并使EL-4细胞发生明显G2期阻滞(P<0.001)。Foxo3a基因高表达后,荧光显微镜可以观察到典型凋亡的细胞形态。同时,EL-4细胞凋亡百分率显著升高(P<0.01)。结果提示,Foxo3a高表达可以有效抑制小鼠T淋巴瘤细胞体外细胞增殖,使细胞周期G2时相阻滞,并具有诱导细胞凋亡的作用。     

Over-expression of ζ glutathione S-transferase in transgenic rice enhances germination and growth at low temperature

To develop a rice cultivar that would be suitable for direct-seedingcultivation in cooler temperate regions, we generated transgenic rice plants inwhich a rice encoding a -class glutathioneS-transferase (GST) under the control of a maize ubiquitinpromoter. GSTs have been suggested to be responsible for tolerance to variousstresses such as cold, salt and drought by detoxification of xenobioticcompounds and reactive oxygen species. A total of 87 R₀ transgenicrice plants harboring a chimeric GST gene were generatedusing Agrobacterium mediated transformation. ThreeR₂ lines homozygous for the transgene were assayed for GST activityand had higher GST and glutathione peroxidase activities thannon-transformants.Seedlings of the transgenic lines demonstrated greatly enhanced germination andgrowth rates at low temperature grown under submergence. The GST transgeniclines should be useful for breeding rice cultivars suitable for direct-seedingcultivation in cooler temperate regions.     

Functional expression and direct visualization of the human alpha 2B -adrenergic receptor and alpha 2B -AR-green fluorescent fusion protein in mammalian cell using Semliki Forest virus vectors

The alpha 2B -adrenergic receptor ( alpha 2B -AR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, was expressed at high levels from Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors in mammalian cells. Constructs were engineered by fusing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the SFV capsid to opposite ends of the alpha 2B -AR. The receptor fusions alpha 2B -AR-eGFP and CAP- alpha 2B -AR expressed in CHO-K1 cells generated alpha 2B values of 176 and 122pmol/mg of membrane protein, respectively, and showed similar ligand binding characteristics, alpha 2B -AR subtype-selectivity, and G protein activation as reported for stable expression in CHO-K1 cells. Cryo-electron microscopy and eGFP-based fluorescence indicated the same subcellular receptor distribution. SFV expression is well suited for studies on the pharmacology, biochemistry, and cell biology of GPCRs, and for large-scale recombinant protein production in mammalian suspension culture to generate sufficient receptor quantities for structural biology.     

The novel neurotrophin-regulated neuronal development-associated protein, NDAP, mediates apoptosis

We identified a novel gene and named it, "neuronal development-associated protein (NDAP)". We detected NDAP mRNA presence in most tissues including the brain where it was present in the area from the external granular layer to the multiform layer in the cerebral cortex, and in CA1, CA2, CA3 and the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Its expression increased transiently in primary cultures of 2-4 day neurons and 1-2 week astrocytes and was significantly reduced in older cultures. Treatment by the neurotrophin, NT-3, significantly attenuated the decline of NDAP in neurons from days 2 to 10, whereas growth factors such as GDNF and insulin, and high potassium levels did not. To elucidate the effects of neurotrophins, we treated day 5 neurons with NT-3, BDNF or NGF for 48 h. NT-3 and BDNF both inhibited downregulation of NDAP mRNA levels but NGF slightly enhanced the already present downregulation; this effect of NGF was significant when examined in day 3 neurons. To investigate the potential function of NDAP, we over-expressed an NDAP-EGFP fusion protein in 4-week-old astrocytes. The newly expressed NDAP gradually aggregated into membrane-bound structures and eventually led to cell death through apoptosis by 24 h. Significant levels of cell death were also observed in NDAP-EGFP transfected HEK293 cells. Thus maintenance of high NDAP levels may cause apoptosis. The different regulations of NDAP expression by neurotrophins indicate that the expression of NDAP might be a checkpoint for apoptosis during neuronal development.     

芪合酶基因Fm-STS在何首乌毛状根中的过量表达及dsRNA干扰

目的:建立一套探究植物基因功能的方法体系,验证由芪合酶基因保守序列通过RACE扩增技术在何首乌中得到的基因Fm -STS的功能.方法:由含CaMV 35S启动子驱动的gfp基因的植物转基因表达基础质粒pBIN-35S-GFP构建过表达质粒pBIN-35S-STS-GFP(阳性)和双链RNA干扰重组质粒pBIN-35S-正向-反向-GFP(阴性),并同空白表达质粒pBIN-35S-GFP(空白)均导入野生型发根农杆菌ATCC15834中,转化何首乌外植体,诱导生成毛状根并培养,对毛状根进行高效液相色谱分析以及实时荧光定量检测.结果:在过表达组、空白组和干扰组中毛状根中发根农杆菌Ri质粒中的rolB基因和外源基因gfp均有表达,高效液相色谱法分析芪合物二苯乙烯苷含量依次为4.67mg/g、2.18mg/g和0.65 mg/g,在mRNA水平上测试荧光定量检测基因Fm-STS表达量:RNAi组是空白组的1/433.53,过表达组是空白组的2.41倍.结论:结果表明过量表达与双链RNA干扰相结合在植物基因功能研究中有良好的应用,何首乌中芪合酶Fm-STS是二苯乙烯苷主要的合成酶.     

Over-expression of Ultrabithorax alters embryonic body plan and wing patterns in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana

In insects, forewings and hindwings usually have different shapes, sizes, and color patterns. A variety of RNAi experiments across insect species have shown that the hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is necessary to promote hindwing identity. However, it remains unclear whether Ubx is sufficient to confer hindwing fate to forewings across insects. Here, we address this question by over-expressing Ubx in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana using a heat-shock promoter. Ubx whole-body over-expression during embryonic and larvae development led to body plan changes in larvae but to mere quantitative changes to adult morphology, respectively. Embryonic heat-shocks led to fused segments, loss of thoracic and abdominal limbs, and transformation of head limbs to larger appendages. Larval heat-shocks led to reduced eyespot size in the expected homeotic direction, but neither additional eyespots nor wing shape changes were observed in forewings as expected of a homeotic transformation. Interestingly, Ubx was found to be expressed in a novel, non-characteristic domain – in the hindwing eyespot centers. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Ubx on the pupal wing activated the eyespot-associated genes spalt and Distal-less, known to be directly repressed by Ubx in the fly?s haltere and leg primordia, respectively, and led to the differentiation of black wing scales. These results suggest that Ubx has been co-opted into a novel eyespot gene regulatory network, and that it is capable of activating black pigmentation in butterflies.     

Chimeric gene construct coding for bi-functional enzyme endowed with endoglucanase and phytase activities

Phytase and endoglucanase enzymes are being widely used as feed additives in poultry industry. In our earlier studies, the Bacillus phytase, when expressed in Escherichia coli, was found in inclusion bodies, whereas endoglucanase was found in active soluble form. Herein, we report the development of a chimeric gene construct coding for ~73 kDa fusion protein and its over-expression in E. coli in soluble form. The novel enzyme exhibited both endoglucanase and phytase activities across broad pH (4.0–8.0) and temperature (25–75°C) ranges. As such, the bi-functional enzyme seems promising and might serve as a potential feed additive for enhanced nutrition uptake in monogastric animals.     

High-cell density shake-flask expression and rapid purification of the large fragment of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase I using a new chemically and temperature inducible expression plasmid in Escherichia coli

We have developed a new expression vector, pcI^ts ind⁺, based upon the powerful rightward promoter of bacteriophage lambda, which is controlled by a temperature-sensitive and chemically-inducible version of the lambda repressor on the same plasmid. Locating the repressor gene on the plasmid makes this vector “portable” in that it can be used to transform any strain of Escherichia coli. Hence, control over strains, induction conditions, and harvest times can be used to optimize yields of heterologous proteins. To provide a proof of concept, we show that E. coli recA⁺ and recA⁻ host cells transformed with pcI^ts ind⁺ modKlenTaq1 (a modified version of the large fragment of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase I) could be grown to high cell densities in multiple shake-flasks. A mutant version of modKlenTaq1 (V649C) could be induced by simply raising the thermostat setting from 30 to 37 °C and (in the case of recA⁺ cells) adding nalidixic acid to achieve full induction (12–13% of the total cellular protein). Using a rapid, two-step purification process, it was possible to purify nearly 300 mg of modKlenTaq1 V649C from six 2.8-L baffle-bottomed shake-flasks each holding 1.5 L of culture for a final yield of approximately 33 mg per liter or 3 mg of purified enzyme per gram of cells wet weight.     

Construction of new stable strain over-expressing the glucose isomerase of the Streptomyces sp. SK strain

In order to over express the xylA gene of Streptomyces sp. SK strain, it was cloned under the control of the constitutive ermE-up promoter. This construct was integrated through site-specific recombination process into the chromosome of a Streptomyces violaceoniger glucose isomerase deficient strain using the non-replicative vector pTS55. The resulting CBS4 strain shows a perfect stability in the absence of selection pressure. Its glucose isomerase activity was about four and nine-fold greater, than that obtained from Streptomyces sp. SK, respectively fully induced or not by xylose.