Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) participates in the heat-inducible expression of humanhsp90β gene

Human heat shock protein 90b gene ( hsp90b ) is a constitutively expressed heat shock gene existing in most of cell types tested that can be further induced by heat shock. Chloramphenical acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter plasmids driven by different regulatory fragments of hsp90b gene were constructed and transfected into Jurkat cells to explore the role of a cAMP response element (CRE) in the upstream of the gene. Results show that, in comparison with the wild type construct, a severe reduction (~2/3) in the increased folds of promoter activity induced by heat shock at 42℃ for 1 h was observed in a construct with CRE-containing fragment (-173/-91bp) deleted. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that phosphorylated CRE-binding protein (CREB) in the nuclear extract of heat shocked Jurkat cells is specifically bound to the fragment. Additionally, both of the phosphorylation on CREB and the activity of protein kinase A (PKA) were found in Jurkat cells to be enhanced with extending time of heat shock treatment. Our results indicate that in addition to the intronic HSE/HSF pathway, phosphorylated CREB also participates in the heat shock induced expression of human hsp90b gene via its interaction with CRE which may be regulated by PKA-sig- naling pathway.     

Effect of 5′-deletion ofArabidopsis profilin2 promoter on its vascular specific expression

Based on the published sequence of profilin2 promoter ofArabidopsis thaliana, a full-length promoter (1667 bp) was amplified by PCR. The 5′-end deletion fragments with length of 1380, 1153, 969 and 597 bp were then fused withgus (uidA) gene respectively. Constructed plant expression vectors were individually transferred intoKalanchoe laciniata and transgenic plants regenerated. GUS histochemical assay confirmed that the full-length promoter Pfn1.7 was vascular-specific. Deletion assays showed that profilin2 promoter could be divided into three parts. Deletion of fragment 1 (−1667—−1380 bp) resulted in constitutive expression, suggesting that element(s) responsible for vascular-specific expression might exist in this region. Fragment 2 located at −1153—−597 bp strongly inhibitedgus gene expression. Fragment 3 (−597—−1 bp) is considered as a basic domain of profilin2.     

Promoter activities of genes cpcT2 and cpcS2 in Nostoc PCC 7120

To study the promoter activities of genes cpcT 2 and cpcS 2,several upstream DNA fragments of these two genes with different lengths were selected.These fragments were fused with promoterless gfp(reporter gene) for constructing five recombinant plasmids.Then,these recombinant plasmids were transferred into Nostoc PCC 7120 by conjugation.The promoter activities of genes cpcT 2 and cpcS 2 were determined by observing the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein(GFP) with a fluorescence microscope.The result showed that the 1 300 bp(-1 300 to 0 bp) and 2 600 bp(-2 600 to 0 bp) upstream fragments of cpcT 2 had strong promoter activity and the promoter activity of the 680 bp(-680 to 0 bp) fragment was weaker than that of two above fragments of cpcT 2.The 2 000 bp(-2 000 to 0 bp) upstream fragment of cpcS 2 revealed weak promoter activity.This showed that a strong promoter of cpcT 2 was located in the upstream fragment between-680 and-1 300 bp.     

Construction and characterization of partiallyntrC-deleted mutants inAlcaligenes faecalis

To study the effect of ntrC gene product on the expression and regulation of other important nitrogen-fixing genes in Alcaligenes faecalis, partially ntrC-deleted mutants of A. faecalis have been generated. To start with, the ntrC gene of A. faecalis was cloned into a suicide plasmid pSUP202 to create a recombinant plasmid pSUM1. The ntrC gene in pSUM1 was then replaced by a lacZ-Km^r fragment resulted in the generation of a plasmid pSUM2. The lacZ fragment in pSUM2 was further removed and a plasmid pSUM3 produced. As a second step, the plasmid pSUM2 or pSUM3 was introduced into the wild type of A. faecalis A1501 by conjugation and two partially ntrC-deleted mutants A15CM1 (ntrC∷lacZ) and A15CM2 (ntrC ^- ) were obtained. To understand the regulatory effect of the NtrC on the expression of nifH and nifA, a nifH-lacZ gene or a nifH-lacZ gene was introduced into the ntrC^- mutant by conjugation. The results indicated that: (ⅰ) although the ntrC^-mutant was nif ⁺ , its nitrogen fixation activity was only 20% that of the wild type; (ⅱ) the ntrC^- mutant failed to grow on the medium containing nitrate as a sole nitrogen source; (ⅲ) the regulation of ntrC gene expression did not require its own product; (ⅳ) the expression of nifH in A . faecalis was positively regulated by the ntrC. Deletion of the ntrC resulted in the reduction of nifH expression or even totally inactivated nitrogen fixation; (ⅴ) there was no obvious influence on the expression of nifA in A. faecalis if the ntrC gene was deleted.     

Characterization of the flagellar biosynthesis regulatory geneflbD inAzospirillum brasilense

A flagellar gene cluster fragment includingflbD ofAzospirillum brasilense was cloned and sequenced. TheflbD mutant strain was found to be nonmotile—losing both polar and lateral flagella (Fla⁻Laf⁻). Motility and flagella were regained by complementation with plasmid-borne multicopyflbD, but altered with larger swarming circle and fewer lateral flagella on the semisolid plate. This result indicated that FlbD plays an important role in the regulation of both polar and lateral flagellar biosynthesis inA. brasilense.     

Cloning and sequencing of cDNA fragment of gene of wheat (Triticum aestivum. L) induced by dehydration

cDNA fragment of the gene (dehydration induced,di1) of wheat (Triticum aestivum. L) induced by 30% PEG-6000 (−1.13 MPa) treatment was isolated with mRNA differential display technique. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression ofdi1 gene improved at 10 h reached the highest at 48 h under 30% PEG-6000 treatment. cDNA fragment ofdi1 gene has been cloned and sequenced (211 bp). DNA sequence analysis shows that there is no homologue in GenBank todi1 cDNA.     

Effects of point mutation C→T at - 64 of human δ globin gene promoter on DNA binding proteins

By electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), the effect of point mutation C→T at - 64 of human δ-globin gene on its binding proteins has been studied. Two segments of 36 bp from - 83- - 48 bp of the 6 globin gene promoter, named WOG and MOG, were synthesized. WOG includes wild type CAAT-like box (CCAAC), while MOG includes the mutant CAAT-like box (CCAAT, -64 C→T). Results indicate that: ( i ) in erythroid cell lines MEL, K562 and Hemin induced K562, the affinity of MOG with CCAAT binding protein (CBF) and GATA-1 was greatly increased; ( ii ) in Hemin induced K562 cell line, there were another two novel specific DNA binding proteins, named C and D temporarily, besides the above two factors. The former was combined with WOG and MOG, likely indicating its relation with the increased gene expression after induction. The latter was only combined with MOG, which had possible relationship with the point mutation of - 64 C→T; ( iii ) EMSA also indicates that the suppression mechanisms of the expression of 6 globin gene is different in various periods of human developments. The result evidently supports the hypothesis that the defect CAAT-like box in human 6 globin gene contributes the main reason of its low level expression. The defect c/s-acting element CAAT-like box affects gene expression by its combination with the frans-acting element CBF and GATA-1.     

杨树木质部特异性定位表达4CL1启动子的结构与表达特性

4-香豆素COA连接酶(4CL1)是木质素代谢途径中的一个关键酶,对该基因启动子的表达特性与调控元件进行了研究:首先,对毛白杨4CL1启动子进行了生物信息学分析,结果表明该启动子包括3个顺式作用元件,box P(CCTTCACCAACCCCC),box A(CCGTTC),box L(TCTCACCAACC),这3个顺式作用元件在已知的木质素代谢途径相关酶系如苯丙氨合成酶(PAI)和4CL中普遍存在;其次,运用PCR方法对该启动子进行了剪切,获得一个长393 bp的启动子片断,该启动子片断包括以上3个顺式作用元件;最后,将该启动子片段与GUS报告基因构建了植物表达载体并转化烟草,成功获得转基因再生苗,结果发现转基因烟草的茎木质部呈现GUS染色阳性.研究结果表明,一个393 bp长度的4CL1启动子片断足以介导外源基因在木质部特异性定位表达.     

Expression of human β-subunit nerve growth factor (hNGFB) in yeast Pichia pastoris and E. coli

The gene hNGFB encoding the β subunit of human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was cloned intoP. pastoris secretive expression vector pHIL-S1 andE. coli expression vector pET-15b. The recombinant hNGFB vectors pSNGF and pET15b-NGF were transformed intoP. pastoris host cell GS115 (Mut⁺, His⁻) andE. coli strain BL21 (DE3) respectively. Expression and secretion of hNGFB inP. pastoris was attempted under the direction of the AOX1 promoter and PHO1 signal sequence. The positive colonies growing on medium without histidine were further selected by PCR. The yield of rehNGFB in GS115 was about 14.4% of total cellular secretive protein. The secreted protein was immunological active on Western blotting with rabbit anti-mNGFB antibodies. The fusion protein yield of rehNGFB inE. coli BL21 (DE3) was about 10.3% of total cellular protein after IPTG induction. Western blot detection showed its immunological activity.     

Structural analysis of the promoter of tomato 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate synthase 6 gene （Le-ACS6）

Ethylene plays an important role in the regulation of many growth and developmental processes of higher plants. In tomato, Le-ACS6, a member of the ACC synthase multigene family involved in system 1 ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening, is subject to negative feedback regulation by ethylene. To identify the cis-elements that are responsible for the negative feedback control, we established an in vitro transient assay system employing particle bombardment on mature-green tomato fruit pericarp to examine the expression of a luciferase （LUC） reporter gene driven by a 5＇-serially deleted Le-ACS6 promoter. The results localized putative cis-elements required for negative ethylene-response between -347 and -266 upstream from the translational start site ATG Several lines of stable transformation of the Le-ACS6 promoter and GUS reporter fusion gene containing internal deletion from -347 to -266 were generated. The expression pattern of the GUS reporter showed that removal of the nucleotides from -347 to -266 completely eliminated the response of the Le-ACS6 promoter to exogenous ethylene.     

A tumor suppressor genefhit prokaryotic expression and identification

The recombinant expression vector pGEMD-fhit which contains full encoding region offhit gene was constructed. The recombinant was introduced into the BL21 (DE3) strain ofE. coli and induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG to express a 29×10³ polypeptide offhit fusion protein. And the 29×10³ protein was sensitive and specific in reaction with anti-fhit antibody in Western blot. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (39770373) Biography: SUN Yan (1975−), female, Master of science, Research direction: gene engineering     

Engineering <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus radiodurans</Emphasis> into biosensor to monitor radioactivity and genotoxicity in environment

Based on a genetically modified radioresistant bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans, we constructed a real time whole cell biosensor to monitor radioactivity and genotoxicity in highly radioactive environment. The enhanced green fluorescence protein （eGFP） was fused to the promoter of the crucial DNA damage-inducible recA gene from D. radiodurans, and the consequent DNA fragment （PrecA-egfp） carried by plasmid was introduced into D. radiodurans R1 strain to obtain the biosensor strain DRG300. This engineered strain can express eGFP protein and generate fluorescence in induction of the recA gene promoter. Based on the correlation between fluorescence intensity and protein expression level in live D. radiodurans cells, we discovered that the fluorescence induction of strain DRG300 responds in a remarkable dose-dependent manner when treated with DNA damage sources such as gamma radiation and mitomycin C. It is encouraging to find the widely detective range and high sensitivity of this reconstructed strain comparing with other whole cell biosensors in former reports. These results suggest that the strain DRG300 is a potential whole cell biosensor to construct a detective system to monitor the biological hazards of radioactive and toxic pollutants in environment in real time.     

Cloning, sequencing and function ofsanB, a gene related to nikkomycin biosynthesis ofStreptomyces ansochromogenes

A 6.0 kb DNA fragment related to nikkomycin biosynthesis was cloned from nikkomycin-producingStreptomyces ansochromogenes 7100. Sequence analysis showed that the 1.9 kbTth111 I fragment, a part of the 6.0 kb DNA fragment, contains one complete ORF designatedsanB (GenBank accession No. AF224501), which is composed of 1740 bp encoding a protein consisting of 580 amino acid residues. Its start codon is GTG at 100 bp position and stop codon is TGA at 1840-bp position. Database searching indicated that the deduced protein ofsanB is homologous to the histidinol-phosphate aminotransferase inStreptomyces coelicolor with 31% identities and 47% positives. Gene disruption was performed to study the function ofsanB. It was found that disruptants ofsanB lost the ability to synthesize nikkomycin, which reveals thatsanB is a novel gene essential for nikkomycin biosynthesis.     

Determination of both jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate in plant samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

An efficient method for the simultaneous extraction and quantification of both jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) from a single plant sample was developed. Plant tissues were firstly extracted by using 100% cold methanol, then the Sep-pak C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were adopted for the purification of sample extract, and finally JA and MeJA were deter-mined by the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) system. It was found that the accuracy was improved by using the extra standard for the estimation and correction of JA and MeJA losses in the extraction and purification process. The detection limits for JA and MeJA were 0.03 and 0.075 ng mL⁻¹, respectively, and the average recovery rate of JA and MeJA was 92.48% and 94.30%. The method was found to be reproducible and selective, yielding well isolated and easily detectable peaks for both JA and MeJA and simplifying the time-consuming extraction and purification. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was employed as the control detection method for the LC-MS-MS system. The two systems were compared in their specificity and accuracy.     

SCFP,a novel fiber-specific promoter in cotton

To investigate the expression pattern of GhSCFP which was isolated from cotton fiber cDNA library, a 1006 bp upstream fragment of the gene was cloned by chromosome walking and fused to GUSand GFP respectively. Histochemical GUS and GFP fluorescence analysis revealed that the expression of the report genes driven by the promoter sequence was detectable only in outer layer cells during the seed development in the transgentic tobaccos. In transgenic cotton, strong GUS activity was observed in spherical protrusions on 0 dpa （days post anthesis） ovule surface, and in the 2-36 dpa fiber cells, while no GUS signals were detected in the root, leaves, stem, corolla, anther and stigma. Our data demonstrated that GhSCFP upstream sequence is a cotton fiber-specific promoter and this promoter will be useful in the molecular research on fiber cell development and in cotton fiber improvements by genetic modification.