Expression and anti-apoptoticmechanism of Spodoptera lit-toralis NucleopolyhedrovirusP49 protein

A novel cloned Spodoptera littoralis Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SlNPV) p49 gene is able to suppress apoptosis of insect cells Sf9 triggered by virus. The amino acid sequence of P49 expressed in baculovirus expression system is the same as predicted, indicating that the expression of P49 is correct. Metabolic labeling revealed that p49 was able to be expressed both in the early and late phases after the viral infection, and only in the late phase was the expression driven by polyhedra promoter, but the amount of expression was higher than that of wtSlNPV. In summary, the early gene of SlNPV p49 as well as p35 of AcMNPV is able to be expressed in the late phase, but its promoter is weaker compared with polyhedra promoter. In vitro, P49 can be cut by Bm caspase and human caspase-3, yielding 10 and 40 ku fragments. Purified P49 blocks the substrate cleavage by Bm caspase and human caspase-3, showing that P49 inhibits downstream caspases in the apoptotic pathway.     

Identification of Caspasecleavage site in the apoptosis suppressor protein P49 from the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera littoralis</Emphasis> nucleopolyhedrovirus

The p49 gene from baculovirus Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SINPV) was able to suppress apoptosis of 5~9 cells induced by virus infection. Ectopically expressed P49 protein had the capacity to inhibit the activity of Caspases, being the executioner of apoptosis. Digestion of P49 with human Caspase or Bm-Caspase both yielded 10 and 40 kD fragments. Checking the sequence of P49, we found that the motif 91-TVTDG-95 of P49 was the sequence recognized by Caspases. The mutant of P49, Asp94Ala, could not be cut by both caspases and lost its caspases inhibition.Meanwhile, Thr91Ala mutant permitted the cleavage and partially retained its activity of caspases inhibition. We also found that P49 was a substrate of upstream initiator caspase and downstream effector Caspases, indicating that P49 was a broad specificity Caspase inhibitor.     

枯草芽孢杆菌麦芽糖诱导型启动子Pglv-M1的改造

通过定点突变对麦芽糖诱导型启动子Pglv-M1进行改造,提高启动子启动能力。分析Pglv-M1的Sextama-35区与Pri-bmow-10区,通过对这些区域模拟随机突变,软件打分后获得最高分的新片段。将新启动子与载体p HCMC04-sva连接,并在枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis 1A857中诱导表达,每12 h取粗酶液进行酶活测定。研究结果表明:除突变启动子Pglv-35以外,其余突变体启动效果均有所下降,有突变体构成的表达载体Pglv-35-pHCMC04-sva诱导表达后,得到的单位粗酶活力最高点出现在36 h处,较突变前提高1.31倍。PglvM1作为诱导型启动子Pglv的改造产物,其各个区域的相互影响较为紧密。通过对启动子关键区域单独或同时突变,仅获得一组启动能力有所提高的启动子Pglv-35,这为今后针对启动子的思考、研究方向提供参考。     

Construction and function of recombinant AcMNPV with double copies of v-cath gene

Two recombinant baculoviruses, dciAcMNPV and dcdAcMNPV in which another copy of the v-cath gene controlled by ie1 promoter and polh promoter was inserted, were respectively constructed by the Bac-to-Bac system. The expression of the v-cath gene of the recombinant baculoviruses in Sf9 cells at different phases was investigated by SDSPAGE and Western blot. The results showed that only recombinant virus dciAcMNPV containing late gene v-cath driven by early gene promoter could express V-CATH protein, cathepsin encoded by virus genome, 12 h post-infection and dcdAcMNPV containing late gene v-cath driven by late and very late gene promoters could express more V-CATH protein. Negative control ncAcMNPV, a mutant deleted vcath gene, could not express V-CATH protein at all. The Spodopera exigua larvae were infected with viruses respectively and the results showed that the toxicity was as follows: dcdAcMNPV>dciAcMNPV>wtAcMNPV>ncAcMNPV. The toxicity of recombinant viruses and the characters of dead larvae showed that the v -cath gene was relative to viral toxicity and host liquefaction. Recombinant baculovirus dcdAcMNPV might be used as a new kind of safe viral-pesticide, because of its high toxicity obtained by adding another gene copy and changing the expression level of its own gene relative to virulence.     

An interspecies conserved antigen ofPlasmodium falciparum containing clusters of asparagine residues

An interspecies conservedPlasmodium asparagine rich antigen, designated as ARK26, was isolated by immunoscreeningP. falciparum genomic DNA expression library with mouse convalescent anti-P. yeolii serum. Partial DNA sequence analysis reveals that ARK26 contains clusters of asparagines and no randomly repeated amino acid sequence motifs are observed. A 65×10³ GST fusion protein is expressed by recombinant plasmid PGEX-5X-1 (ARK26) inE. coli C strain ABLE-K. Computer programs predict that two asparagine rich regions are among the possible antigenic epitopes of p37 encoded by ARK26. Interestingly, the sequence of ARK26 displays significant similarity to yeast and several other species’ mitochondrial genes, and its possible function is discussed. Supported by a fellowship offered by International Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology(ICGEB) Ma Donghui: born in 1969, Graduate student     

Identification of a disulfide bonded protein from cytoplasm ofBacillus subtilis

Conclusion In this study, P23 was found to be a disulfide-bonded cytoplasmic protein, abundant in late exponential phase and stationary phase cells, and was hardly detected in early exponential phase cells, the cells of sporulation process and spores. Therefore, synthesis of P23 was regulated by some specific factors or/and cellular environment. Conclusively, cytoplasm has a mechanism to catalyze the formation of disulfide bonds, which is consistent with Dermanet al. ’s conclusion from mutation experiment^[1].     

Green fluorescent protein （GFP） as a vital marker for studying the interaction of Phytophthora sojae and soybean

Transgenic Phytophthora sojae strains that produce green fluorescent protein （GFP） were obtained after stable DNA integration using the Hsp70 promoter and the Ham34 terminator of Bremia lactucae. The expression of GFP during different developmental stages of P. sojae was observed using fluorescent microscopy. Based on this reporter system, the histopathologic events caused by the pathogen in soybean leaves, hypocotyls and roots were monitored. Meanwhile, the difference in resistance between different soybean cultivars against P. sojae was analyzed microscopically in roots. The results indicate that GFP can be stably expressed in zoosporangia, zoospores, cysts, hyphae and oospores of P. sojae. Using the GFP marker, the infecting pathogens in leaves, hypocotyls and roots of host could be distinctly visualized. The germ tube length of cysts germinating on the roots of resistant cultivar Nannong 8848 was longer than that on the roots of susceptible cultivar Hefeng 35. These results show for the first time that this eukaryotic reporter can be used in P. sojae as a stable and vital marker, allowing the study of genetics of this hemibiotrophic pathogen.     

基于数据库分析FOXG1在非小细胞肺癌中的表达和临床意义及稳定过表达FOXG1肺癌细胞株A549的构建

通过TCGA数据库分析FOXG1在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及预后相关性，建立稳定过表达人源FOXG1基因的肺癌细胞株A549。利用TCGA数据库中下载基因表达数据和临床信息，分析FOXG1在非小细胞肺癌和正常组织的表达差异、FOXG1表达水平与临床病理特征及生存预后的相关性并进行基因集富集分析。通过HEK-293T包装慢病毒表达载体，收集病毒上清液侵染A549细胞,嘌呤霉素筛选稳定过表达FOXG1的A549细胞株。细胞核染色鉴定外源FOXG1表达定位，Western blot检测外源FOXG1的表达情况。结果发现FOXG1在非小细胞肺癌组织中高表达，且FOXG1高表达能够降低患者总体生存率。FOXG1的表达水平与患者年龄相关，与性别，分级以及TMN分期无关；细胞周期、P53、Notch等信号通路在高表达FOXG1的非小细胞肺癌组织中被激活；慢病毒表达载体共转染HEK-293T细胞成功；病毒上清液侵染A549细胞，24 h后可见绿色荧光表达，72 h后对照组空载体病毒颗粒侵染效率高达80%左右，实验组过表达FOXG1病毒颗粒侵染效率为50%~60%；经嘌呤霉素筛选培养后，对照组和实验组荧光效率均达到90%以上；细胞核染色外源FOXG1基因定位在细胞核中，Western blot结果显示外源FOXG1在细胞中正确表达。因此可以认为FOXG1基因在非小细胞肺癌患者中高表达，其表达水平与患者总体预后有关且稳定表达FOXG1的A549肺癌细胞株构建成功。     

Heterologous Expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis AgSSB in Pichia pastoris

The DNA fragment encoding matureMycobacterium tuberculosis major secretory protein Ag85B was inserted into thePichia pastoris secretory expression vector pHBM905A, under the control of theAOX1 promoter. The recombinant plasmid pHBM905A-85B linearized bySal I was introduced intoPichia pastoris strain GS115 by PEG1000 transformation method. After phenotype screening and PCR identification, the resulting GS115-pHBM905A-85B strain was cultivated and induced with methanol. The recombinant Ag85B protein in secreted form was attained with molecular weight of 35×10³ approximately detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. ELISA experiment proved that the protein had good antigen specificity. Secretory expression of recombinantM. tuberculosis Ag85B inP. pastoris will open a door to mass production of the protein in heterologous host and allow ready evaluation of its immunological function. Foundation item: Supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Project of Wuhan(301121028) Biography: LIU Yan(1971-), female, Ph. D candidate, research direction: vaccine against tuberculosis.     

The foxtail millet Si69 gene is a Wali7 (wheat aluminum-induced protein 7) homologue and may function in aluminum tolerance

We isolated a clone, named Si69, from a foxtail millet immature seed cDNA library. The protein encoded by Si69 contains a conserved Wali7 (wheat aluminum induced protein 7) domain and shares high-level homology with aluminum-induced proteins from other species including rice and Arabidopsis. The Si69 gene presents as a single locus in foxtail millet genome and is globally expressed in all tissues examined. Its expression is up-regulated by aluminum. The sequence feature and expression pattern suggest that the Si69 gene is involved in aluminum tolerance or detoxification. To confirm its biological functions, Si69 controlled by the CaMV35S promoter was introduced into Arabidopsis. Transgenic plants did not show any visible morphological changes compared to wild-type plants under normal growth conditions. However, when treated with 20 or 50 μmol/L Aluminum (Al), the root apices of wild-type plants were heavily stained by hematoxylin, whereas those of Si69 transgenic plants were not stained when treated with 20 μmol/L Al and slightly stained when treated with 50 μmol/L Al. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results further demonstrated that the damage of the root apices was severer in wild-type plants than in transgenic plants. Inhibition of root growth and accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were lower in transgenic plants than in wild-type plants. The results show that overexpression of Si69 may increase Al tolerance in transgenic plants, indicating that a series of Wali7-containing genes may play similar roles in Al tolerance/detoxification.     

枯草芽孢杆菌表达系统及其启动子的研究进展

枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)是工业应用中一种重要的模式菌株,具有非致病性、遗传背景清晰、分泌蛋白能力强、容易分离培养等特性,是异源蛋白表达和分泌的理想宿主。高效可控的启动子是实现外源蛋白高效表达的关键因素之一。根据诱导机制,启动子可分为组成型启动子、诱导型启动子、自诱导启动子和时期特异性启动子。本文介绍了枯草芽孢杆菌表达系统、芽孢杆菌σ因子类型及枯草芽孢杆菌启动子的结构,比较了常用启动子的优缺点,总结了新启动子克隆和改造及生物信息学预测启动子的方法,并对枯草芽孢杆菌启动子未来的研究方向进行展望,为进一步研究启动子的结构和功能及工业生产外源蛋白奠定基础。     

Overexpression of phospholipase <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>α gene enhances drought and salt tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis>

The cDNA of AtPLDa （Arabidopsis thaliana Phospholipase Da） gene was introduced into P. tomentosa （Populus tomentosa） under the control of the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Southern and Northern blot analyses suggested that the AtPLDa gene has been transferred into the P. tomentosa genome. No obvious morphological or developmental difference was observed between the transgenic and wild-type （WT） plants. Drought and salt tolerance and gene expression of seedlings of several transgenic lines and WT plants （control） were studied. The results showed that the rhizogenesis rate and the average root-length of transgenic lines were significantly higher than WT plants after mannitol and NaCI treatment under the same growth conditions. Northern blot analysis indicated that the higher the PLDa expression in the transgenic plants, the more tolerant the transgenic plants are to drought and salt treatment. Meanwhile, another group of these transgenic lines and WT plants （control） were treated with PEG6000 and NaCI separately. The contents of chlorophylls and the activities of some anti- oxidant enzymes （superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and catalase） as well as malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity were analyzed. Altogether, our results demonstrated that overexpression of the PLDa gene can enhance the drought and salt tolerance in transgenic P. tomentosa plants.     

Expression analysis ofgdcsP promoter from C3-C4 intermediate plantFlaveria anomala in transgenic rice

ThegdcsP promoter isolated from C₃-C₄ intermediate plantFlaveria anomala was fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. The chimeric gene was inserted into the binary vector pBin19 and introduced into the rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. 8706 byAgrobacteriummediated gene transfer. GUS activity can be detected in leaf, leaf sheath, stem and root tissues via fluorometric GUS assay. However, no GUS activity was found in mature endosperm. Histochemical localization revealed that GUS expression was exclusively restricted to vascular tissues in transgenic plants. This promoter also showed spatial-temporal expression patterns that GUS expression declined significantly with the maturity of plants. These expression patterns make thegdcsP promoter extremely valuable in the applied biotechnology that needs target gene expression restricted to vascular tissues.     

人WDR79基因启动子表达载体的构建及鉴定

人WDR79是一种重要的支架蛋白,在端粒酶组装、卡哈尔体(Cahar body)形成和DNA损伤修复等过程中发挥着重要作用。采用PCR扩增技术获得人WDR79基因启动子上游DNA序列,构建人WDR79基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因载体pGL3-WDR79-promoter;通过双酶切、琼脂糖凝胶电泳、DNA测序和荧光素酶活性测定等实验手段,验证质粒pGL3-WDR79-promoter构建的正确性及其表达活性。本研究结果为进一步探讨人WDR79基因表达的调控机制奠定实验基础。     

人MiTERF3基因启动子的克隆及其荧光素酶报告基因载体的构建

人MiTERF3基因编码线粒体基因转录和能量代谢的负调控因子。采用PCR技术对人MiTERF3基因5''侧翼上游1251 bp启动子序列进行扩增,并将其克隆至荧光素酶表达载体pGL6-TA,构建人MiTERF3基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因质粒。经酶切、测序鉴定后,将其用脂质体转染体外培养的HEK293细胞株,利用双荧光素酶测定系统检测其表达活性。研究结果表明,克隆获得的1251 bp DNA序列与GenBank报道的一致,且插入方向正确。含人MiTERF3基因启动子的报告基因荧光素酶的表达活性显著提高（P<0.05）,约为对照组（空载体pGL6-TA）的9.8倍。本研究通过对人MiTERF3基因启动子的克隆及其荧光素酶表达载体构建与表达活性的测定,为进一步阐明人MiTERF3基因表达的调控机制奠定实验基础。     

The role of CopG mediated DNA bending on the regulation of the σ^54-dependent promoters in E. coli

In prokaryotic cells, although the σ54 RNA poly- merase can stably bind to the σ54-dependent promoter without the enhancer-binding proteins (EBPs), it re- mains as a closed complex which is silent for transcrip- tion[1]. When binding to the enhancer-lik…     

S 100A8 mediates the activation of P65/HLA- B/S 100A8/BCL-2/Caspase-9 （-3） pathway in laryngeal carcinogenesis

S100 calcium binding protein A8 （S100A8）, a possible novel member of NF-kappa B signal pathway in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma （LSCC）, interacts with human leukocyte antigen B （HLA-B） which carries an NF-kappa B binding site within the enhancer A. The objective of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of S100A8 in laryngeal carcinogenesis. RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining were applied to evaluate the expression levels of IKKα, P65, REL-B, S100A8, APAF-1 and BCL-2 genes. The signal transduction passway in which S100A8 might participate was explored by RNA interference. Flow cytometry, TUNEL assay and cell invasion in vitro were used to detect the biological behavior of Hep2 cells induced by S100A8 gene. Our results showed that high expression of S100A8 was related to tumorigenesis in LSCC and negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation, indicating that S100A8 gene could inhibit apoptosis and promote metastasis in LSCC. Additionally, the suppression of S100A8 by RNA interference down-regulated BCL-2 but not APAF-1, P65 and IKKα, while, the suppression of P65 could significantly down-regulate the expression of S100A8 gene. In conclusion, S100A8 plays an important role in P65/HLA-B/S100A8/BCL-2/Caspase-9 （-3） pathway in laryngeal carcinoma.     

产丁醇大肠杆菌工程菌的构建

【目的】为了在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中导入改良的丁醇合成途径,使非生产菌株大肠杆菌具备产丁醇的能力。【方法】克隆大肠杆菌乙酰转移酶基因atoB和丙酮丁醇梭菌(Clostridium acetobutylicum)丁醇合成途径关键酶基因(crt、hbd、adhE),构建多顺反子表达质粒pSE380-atoB-adhE-crt-hbd;克隆齿垢密螺旋体(Treponema denticola)反式烯酰辅酶A还原酶基因ter,构建表达质粒pSTV29-ter,并将双质粒导入到大肠杆菌。【结果】构建的工程菌能半厌氧发酵产微量丁醇,产量为0.08g/L。【结论】大肠杆菌中的丁醇合成途径导入成功,构建了产丁醇的大肠杆菌工程菌。     

美洲大蠊多肽和顺铂联用对HepG2细胞凋亡及自噬的影响

采用MTT法检测美洲大蠊多肽（PAP-3）与不同浓度的顺铂（DDP）单用或联合使用对人肝癌HepG2细胞增殖的影响；采用流式细胞术检测PAP-3、DDP单独或联合给药干预对HepG2细胞凋亡的影响；Western Blot检测PAP-3、DDP单独或联合给药后HepG2细胞内自噬相关蛋白p62、LC3、Beclin-1、Atg5及PI3K的表达。实验结果显示，与DDP单独给药相比，PAP-3与DDP联合给药对HepG2的细胞的抑制作用更强；PAP-3与DDP联合给药组中细胞的凋亡率与DDP和PAP-3单独给药组相比均有升高（P ＜ 0.05)。与对照组相比，DDP组中，p62蛋白水平降低，LC3II蛋白水平升高，LC3II/I的比例也升高，表现出细胞自噬流的活化；与DDP组相比，联合给药组中p62蛋白水平回升，LC3II蛋白水平和LC3II/I的比例均有回落。且联合给药组中PI3K、Atg5、Beclin-1等自噬相关蛋白的量均较DDP组减少，而凋亡相关的Caspase-3蛋白的表达量则较DDP组增加。据此推测，PAP-3和DDP的联用可以通过抑制HepG2细胞自噬相关蛋白的表达水平，抑制DDP带来的细胞自噬水平的升高，增加细胞对DDP的敏感性，从而诱导HepG2细胞凋亡。