Expression and anti-apoptotic mechanism of Spodoptera littoralis Nucleopolyhedrovirus P49 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.     

具全期启动子盒的杆状病毒高效表达载体的组建与应用

通过ＰＣＲ扩增，得到苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒（ＡｕｔｏｇｒａｐｈａｃａｌｉｆｏｒｎｉｃａＮｕｃｌｅａｒＰｏｌｙｈｅｄｒｏｓｉｓＶｉｒｕｓ，ＡｃＮＰＶ）具早晚期启动子元件的ｐ３５基因启动子，将其插入到杆状病毒转移载体质粒ｐＳＸＩＶＶＩ＋Ｘ３多克隆位点上游，使之与ｐＳＸＩＶＶＩ＋Ｘ３质粒中的人工合成后期启动子（ＰＳｙｎ）、多角体ＸＩＶ启动子（ＰＸＩＶ）串联构成早期、晚期、极晚期能持续启动外源基因表达的转移载体质粒ｐＳＸ３５．将ｐＳＸ３５用于组建含ＨＢｓＡｇ基因并形成多角体的重组ＴｎＮＰＶ，ＨＢ－ｓＡｇ基因的表达量显著提高，表达时间亦明显提前，从而实现了外源基因在杆状病毒表达系统的全期、高效表达．ｍＲＮＡ引物延伸试验结果显示，Ｐｐ３５在重组病毒中可产生２套转录本，分别于病毒感染的早期和晚期起始ＨＢｓＡｇ基因的表达．     

绵羊乳腺特异表达人肝细胞再生增强因子载体的构建及表达

用PCR技术分别从人和绵羊基因组DNA中扩增人肝细胞再生增强因子(Human augmenter of liver regeneration,hALR)基因和绵羊β-乳球蛋白(sheep beta-lactoglobulin,BLG)基因启动区序列,从pEGFP-C1质粒中扩增增强绿色荧光蛋白(Enhanced Green fluorescence protein,EGFP)基因及其表达调控元件．由质粒p7zf( )构建成ALR基因乳腺特异表达、EGFP基因非组织特异性表达载体．同时体外培养绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞(sheep fetal fibroblast cells,SFFCs),脂质体介导载体DNA转染SFFCs,激光共聚焦显微镜观察和PCR检测转基因细胞,结果表明,增强绿色荧光蛋白基因在SFFCs中表达,转基因细胞中可扩增出BLG、ALR、EGFP基因条带．     

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 SDS- PAGE 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 v- cath 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-pes- ticide, because of its high toxicity obtained by adding another gene copy and changing the expression level of its own gene relative to virulence.     

CPUY013对胰腺癌Capan2的生长抑制与诱导凋亡作用

探讨CPUY013对体外培养人胰腺癌细胞Capan2生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用.采用MTT法、克隆原形成法检测CPUY013对Capan2细胞生长的抑制作用,采用流式细胞仪分析CPUY013对细胞周期的影响,Western Blot法检测TopoⅠ、野生型p53、caspase-3、bcl-2和bax蛋白表达的变化.MTT法、集落形成试验结果显示,CPUY013对体外培养的人胰腺癌细胞Capan2有明显的生长抑制作用,处理72 h的IC50值为7.3×10^-7mol/L（MTT法）,CPUY013在8.0×10^-8mol/L浓度可以明显抑制Ca-pan2细胞的集落形成,抑制率为69.6%.同时,CPUY013可剂量依赖地降低Capan2细胞G1期细胞的比例,升高S期细胞的比例,呈现明显的S期阻滞.CPUY013可下调TopoⅠ蛋白的表达,上调细胞中p53、caspase-3、bax蛋白表达,下调bcl-2蛋白表达,并呈剂量依赖性.CPUY013对Capan2细胞具有明显的生长抑制作用,阻滞细胞周期进程,诱导Capan2细胞凋亡,其可能与降低细胞内TopoⅠ蛋白表达,增加p53、caspase-3、bax蛋白表达,降低bcl-2蛋白表达有关.     

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.     

Covalent inhibition revealed by the crystal structure of the caspase-8/p35 complex

Apoptosis is a highly regulated process that is crucial for normal development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. The p35 protein from baculoviruses effectively prevents apoptosis by its broad-spectrum caspase inhibition. Here we report the crystal structure of p35 in complex with human caspase-8 at 3.0 A resolution, and biochemical and mutagenesis studies based on the structural information. The structure reveals that the caspase is inhibited in the active site through a covalent thioester linkage to p35, which we confirmed by gel electrophoresis, hydroxylamine treatment and mass spectrometry experiments. The p35 protein undergoes dramatic conformational changes on cleavage by the caspase. The repositioning of the amino terminus of p35 into the active site of the caspase eliminates solvent accessibility of the catalytic dyad. This may be crucial for preventing hydrolysis of the thioester intermediate, which is supported by the abrogation of inhibitory activity through mutations at the N terminus of p35. The p35 protein also makes conserved contacts with the caspase outside the active-site region, providing the molecular basis for the broad-spectrum inhibitory activity of this protein. We demonstrate a new molecular mechanism of caspase inhibition, as well as protease inhibition in general.     

Promoter of soybean early nodulin gene<Emphasis Type="Italic">enod2B</Emphasis> is induced by rhizobial Nod factors in transgenic rice

Nod factors, which are signaling molecules produced by Rhizobia, are the principal determinants of host specificity in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Nod factors can elicit a number of characteristic developmental responses in the roots of legumes, such as depolarization of the membrane potential in epidermal cells, specific expression of early nodulin genes and changes in the flux of calcium in root hairs, deformation of root hairs, cell division in the root cortex and formation of the nodule primordinm. Whether the rice plant can respond to signaling molecules (i.e. Nod factors) is an important question, as it could establish the potential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in rice. The promoter of the soybean (Glycine max) early nodulin gene Gmenod2B fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was used as a molecular marker to explore whether Nod factors can be recognized by rice cells as signaling molecules. Transgenic rice plants harboring the chimeric gene Gmenod2BP-GUS were obtained via an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated system. NodNGR factors produced by a broad-host-range Rhizobium strain NGR234(pA28) were used as probes to investigate the activity of the Gmenod2B promoter in rice. Our results showed that the early nodulin gene Gmenod2B promoter was induced by NodNGR factors in transgenic rice, and that it was specifically expressed in rice plant roots. Moreover, GUS gene expression driven by the Gmenod2B promoter in transgenic rice was regulated by nitrogen status. These findings indicated that rice possessed the ability to respond to Nod factor signals, and that this signal transduction system resulted in activation of the Gmenod2B promoter. Thus, we predict that the Nod-factor inducible nodulin expression system, which is similar to Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, may also exist in rice.     

多能硫杆菌RubisCO基因的亚克隆及各种启动子对其表达的影响

将多能硫杆菌（Ｔｈｉｏｂａｃｉｌｕｓｖｅｒｓｕｔｕｓ）ＲｕｂｉｓＣＯ基因从两个方向亚克隆到ｐＢＲ３２２和ｐＫＫ２２３－３载体上,通过酶切的方法对各种质粒的插入方向进行了确证．并进一步对这两种插入方向的质粒在大肠杆菌（Ｅｓｃｈｅｒｉｃｈｉａｃｏｌｉ）中的表达情况进行了酶活性的测定,该基因片段在ｐＫＫ２２３－３载体的ｔａｃ启动子的启动下,表达活性比ｌａｃ启动子以及ｐＢＲ３２２载体上的Ｐ１和Ｐ２启动子高．     

伤寒沙门菌激活TRAIL信号通路促进巨噬细胞凋亡

为探究伤寒沙门菌对巨噬细胞凋亡及肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand,TRAIL)信号通路的影响,对伤寒沙门菌感染THP-1细胞早期和后期提取细胞RNA进行转录组测序(RNA-seq).通过定量PCR(qPCR)技术...     

Coat protein promoter from cotton leaf curl virus is not a tissue-specifically expressed promoter

Geminivirus is a kind of single-stranded DNA virus. Experimental results from tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) showed that expression pattern of coat protein gene (cp) promoter was phloem specifically expressed. In this note, the studies oncp promoter of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) which is found and identified recently suggest that the promoter is not phloem specifically expressed. The expressing activity ofgus gene driven by the promoter exists not only in phloem but also in mesophyll tissues and root tip meristem. Transient expression suggests thatcp promoter transactivated by AC2 shows expressing activity in mesophyll and vascular tissue of leaf vein.     

拟南芥HSP70基因启动子表达载体的构建及在烟草BY2细胞中的应用

探讨了拟南芥的HSP70基因在液体悬浮培养的烟草BY2细胞中的表达及应用.用PCR扩增的方法从拟南芥col生态型基因组中扩增获得HSP70基因启动子序列,将其连入p1300表达载体且以GFP为报告基因,将该表达载体采用农杆菌转基因转入液体悬浮培养的烟草BY2细胞中,观察转基因细胞中报告基因GFP的表达情况.结果显示:HSP70:GFP转基因液体悬浮培养的烟草BY2细胞中有GFP的表达.该表达载体可在液体悬浮培养的BY2细胞中正常表达,且可在较短时间内获得大量实验材料,对拟南芥的HSP70基因启动子的进一步研究提供理论依据和丰富的实验材料,且可明显缩短实验周期.     

维、汉族妇女宫颈病变进程与雌激素受体1（ESR1）蛋白表达缺失的关系

 以往的报道显示宫颈癌组织内的雌激素受体1（Estrogen Receptor 1,ESR1）基因启动子发生高度甲基化,并提示其基因表达水平可能下降或基因休眠。本研究从蛋白质水平观察ESR1表达缺失与宫颈病变进程的关系及其维、汉妇女族群差异。收集维吾尔族和汉族妇女宫颈炎、宫颈内上皮瘤样病变（Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia,CIN）I/II/III和宫颈鳞癌患者的福尔马林浸泡与石蜡包埋宫颈组织标本共180例,采用免疫组织化学方法鉴定ESR1蛋白表达水平。结果显示,ESR1蛋白在宫颈上皮和间质细胞均有表达,但是随着CIN和宫颈鳞癌的发病进程,其在上皮细胞内的表达逐渐发生缺失;ESR1蛋白表达缺失率在宫颈炎和CIN I组较低（22%）,CIN II/III组明显升高（64%）,宫颈鳞癌达到最高（76%）,各组之间差异显著（P＜0.01）,但是在个体年龄之间无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。维、汉妇女族群ESR1表达缺失率的变化趋势有共性,其族群差异也无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。由此表明,ESR1表达缺失可能是宫颈鳞癌的早期预警指标,这为揭示该基因高度甲基化相关的表观遗传学机制提供了重要依据。