Asynchronous replication of imprinted genes is established in the gametes and maintained during development.

Genomic imprinting is characterized by allele-specific expression of multiple genes within large chromosomal domains that undergo DNA replication asynchronously during S phase. Here we show, using both fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and S-phase fractionation techniques, that differential replication timing is associated with imprinted genes in a variety of cell types, and is already present in the pre-implantation embryo soon after fertilization. This pattern is erased before meiosis in the germ line, and parent-specific replication timing is then reset in late gametogenesis in both the male and female. Thus, asynchronous replication timing is established in the gametes and maintained throughout development, indicating that it may function as a primary epigenetic marker for distinguishing between the parental alleles.     

Specific expression of an elastase-human growth hormone fusion gene in pancreatic acinar cells of transgenic mice

Transfection of genes into tissue culture cell lines has demonstrated that relatively short DNA sequences can allow expression of immunoglobulin, insulin and chymotrypsin genes in their appropriate cell types. A definitive test of cell-specific gene expression, however, requires testing genes in every possible cell type, an experiment performed easily by introducing the gene in question into the germ line of an animal. Transfer of intact genes into mice has demonstrated that a mouse immunoglobulin kappa gene is expressed specifically in B lymphocytes, a rat elastase I gene is expressed specifically in pancreas and a chicken transferrin gene is expressed preferentially in liver. Mouse metallothionein-growth hormone fusion genes introduced into mice are preferentially expressed in the liver, consistent with the expression of endogenous metallothionein genes, but initial experiments with beta-globin genes have not revealed proper regulation. To identify the DNA elements required for pancreas-specific expression of the rat elastase I gene, we joined the 5'-flanking region of this gene to the human growth hormone (hGH) structural gene and introduced the fusion gene into mice. Here we demonstrate that a fusion gene containing only 213 base pairs (bp) of elastase I gene sequence directs expression of hGH in pancreatic acinar cells.     

Requirement for ras proto-oncogene function during serum-stimulated growth of NIH 3T3 cells

Human tumours often contain DNA sequences not found in normal tissues which are able to transform cultured NIH 3T3 cells. In some tumours the gene responsible for this transformation belongs to the cellular ras gene family. A specific type of mutation is responsible for converting the cellular proto-oncogene into a ras oncogene capable of inducing transformation. In a study of the function of a cellular ras gene, its protein product (produced in a bacterial cell) was microinjected into NIH 3T3 cells; the recipient cells became morphologically transformed and were induced to initiate DNA synthesis in the absence of added serum, but only when cellular ras protein was injected at much higher concentrations than required with protein of the transforming ras gene. To further analyse the function of the cellular ras gene, we have now injected monoclonal antibodies against ras proteins into NIH 3T3 cells. We report here that NIH 3T3 cells induced to divide by adding serum to the culture medium are unable to enter the S phase of the cell cycle after microinjection of anti-ras antibody, showing that the protein product of the ras proto-oncogene is required for initiation of the S-phase in NIH 3T3 cells.     

Regulation of DNA replication fork progression through damaged DNA by the Mec1/Rad53 checkpoint

The checkpoint kinase proteins Mec1 and Rad53 are required in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to maintain cell viability in the presence of drugs causing damage to DNA or arrest of DNA replication forks. It is thought that they act by inhibiting cell cycle progression, allowing time for DNA repair to take place. Mec1 and Rad53 also slow S phase progression in response to DNA alkylation, although the mechanism for this and its relative importance in protecting cells from DNA damage have not been determined. Here we show that the DNA-alkylating agent methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) profoundly reduces the rate of DNA replication fork progression; however, this moderation does not require Rad53 or Mec1. The accelerated S phase in checkpoint mutants, therefore, is primarily a consequence of inappropriate initiation events. Wild-type cells ultimately complete DNA replication in the presence of MMS. In contrast, replication forks in checkpoint mutants collapse irreversibly at high rates. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of MMS in checkpoint mutants occurs specifically when cells are allowed to enter S phase with DNA damage. Thus, preventing damage-induced DNA replication fork catastrophe seems to be a primary mechanism by which checkpoints preserve viability in the face of DNA alkylation.     

Elevated c-myc expression facilitates the replication of SV40 DNA in human lymphoma cells

The v-myc oncogene can induce tumours in haematopoietic, mesenchymal and epithelial tissues. The corresponding c-myc proto-oncogene can contribute to the genesis and/or the progression of an equally wide variety of tumours when activated by retroviral insertions, chromosomal translocations or gene amplification. The c-myc gene product is a DNA-binding, nuclear phosphoprotein that is involved in the control of cell proliferation and possibly in DNA synthesis. The replication of Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a useful model system to study eukaryotic DNA replication as the virus relies almost entirely on cellular DNA replication apparatus. The SV40-based vector, pSVEpR4, replicates poorly in the human BJAB lymphoma line and in most human cells, but replicates well in Burkitt lymphoma lines, which have fused immunoglobulin and c-myc genes, resulting in high c-myc expression. Cotransfection of the BJAB cells with a c-myc-expressing construct (pI4-P6) increased the replication of pSVEpR4 tenfold. Our findings indicate that overexpression of the c-myc gene product allows the replication of SV40 in human lymphoma cells, suggesting that c-myc is involved in the control of replication.     

CUL-4 ubiquitin ligase maintains genome stability by restraining DNA-replication licensing

To maintain genome stability, DNA replication is strictly regulated to occur only once per cell cycle. In eukaryotes, the presence of 'licensing proteins' at replication origins during the G1 cell-cycle phase allows the formation of the pre-replicative complex. The removal of licensing proteins from chromatin during the S phase ensures that origins fire only once per cell cycle. Here we show that the CUL-4 ubiquitin ligase temporally restricts DNA-replication licensing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Inactivation of CUL-4 causes massive DNA re-replication, producing cells with up to 100C DNA content. The C. elegans orthologue of the replication-licensing factor Cdt1 (refs 2, 3) is required for DNA replication. C. elegans CDT-1 is present in G1-phase nuclei but disappears as cells enter S phase. In cells lacking CUL-4, CDT-1 levels fail to decrease during S phase and instead remain constant in the re-replicating cells. Removal of one genomic copy of cdt-1 suppresses the cul-4 re-replication phenotype. We propose that CUL-4 prevents aberrant re-initiation of DNA replication, at least in part, by facilitating the degradation of CDT-1.     

绿色荧光蛋白基因在大黄鱼体内的表达

以绿色荧光蛋白基因为报告基因，以pIRESnco为载体质粒，制备含有报告基因的质粒，以肌肉注射的方式导入大黄鱼体内，每隔一周用荧光显微镜观察绿色荧光蛋白基因在鱼体不同部位的表达情况。结果表明，绿色荧光蛋白基因可以大黄鱼体内得到表达，表达时间高达28d以上。绿色荧光蛋白基因不仅可以在肌肉注射部都组织细胞得到表达，而且在其它部位的肌肉、肝脏、肾脏和心脏等组织中也有表达，但表达水平低于肌肉注射部位组织。     

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．     

Phosphorylation of Sld2 and Sld3 by cyclin-dependent kinases promotes DNA replication in budding yeast

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) drive major cell cycle events including the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication. We identified two S phase CDK (S-CDK) phosphorylation sites in the budding yeast Sld3 protein that, together, are essential for DNA replication. Here we show that, when phosphorylated, these sites bind to the amino-terminal BRCT repeats of Dpb11. An Sld3-Dpb11 fusion construct bypasses the requirement for both Sld3 phosphorylation and the N-terminal BRCT repeats of Dpb11. Co-expression of this fusion with a phospho-mimicking mutant in a second essential CDK substrate, Sld2, promotes DNA replication in the absence of S-CDK. Therefore, Sld2 and Sld3 are the minimal set of S-CDK targets required for DNA replication. DNA replication in cells lacking G1 phase CDK (G1-CDK) required expression of the Cdc7 kinase regulatory subunit, Dbf4, as well as Sld2 and Sld3 bypass. Our results help to explain how G1- and S-CDKs promote DNA replication in yeast.     

Partial inhibition of CDK4 gene expression leads to the extension of G1 phase of V79-8 cells

V79-8 is an abnormal cell line which does not have detectable G1 and G2 phases in its cell cycle. This cell line is derived from V79 cell line which has Gl phase but lacks G2 phase. By using an anti-sense approach, CDK4 gene expression was partially inhibited to find whether CDK4 might contribute to the lack of Gl phase in V79-8 cells. Anti-CDK4 anti-sense plasmid was constructed and used to transfect V79-8 cells. Clones of transfected cells (V79-8-asCDK4) were examined, in comparison with V79-8 cells, to determine its growth curve, cell doubling-time (GT), the level of CDK4 gene expression and the levels of expression of some other growth related genes. V79-8-asCDK4 cells showed a slower growth rate with a doubling time 2.5-h longer than that of V79-8 cells. A flow cytometry (FCM) analysis demonstrated that the 2.5 h increase of the doubling time of V79-8-asCDK4 cells was mainly due to the appearance of Gl phase because its G2 + M phase was not significantly different from that of V79-8 cells. The decrease of CDK4 gene expression in V79-8-asCDK4 cells was shown by Northern-blot. Changes in the expression levels of the growth-related genes TGF-β, cyclin D1 and Rb were also detected in V79-8-asCDK4 cells. CDK4 functions mainly in G1 and at the transition between G1 and S phases. Expression of an anti-sense CDK4 gene fragment reduces the levels of endogenous CDK4, CDK4/cyclinD kinase activity and the phosphorylation of Rb. These events may postpone the inactivation of the check-point leading to the delay of entry into S phase and the reappearance of G1 phase in V79-8-asCDK4 cells.     

Functional identity of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and a DNA polymerase-delta auxiliary protein

The mechanism of replication of the simian virus 40 (SV40) genome closely resembles that of cellular chromosomes, thereby providing an excellent model system for examining the enzymatic requirements for DNA replication. Only one viral gene product, the large tumour antigen (large-T antigen), is required for viral replication, so the majority of replication enzymes must be cellular. Indeed, a number of enzymatic activities associated with replication and the S phase of the cell cycle are induced upon SV40 infection. Cell-free extracts derived from human cells, when supplemented with immunopurified SV40 large-T antigen support efficient replication of plasmids that contain the SV40 origin of DNA replication. Using this system, a cellular protein of relative molecular mass 36,000 (Mr = 36K) that is required for the elongation stage of SV40 DNA replication in vitro has been purified and identified as a known cell-cycle regulated protein, alternatively called the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or cyclin. It was noticed that, in its physical characteristics, PCNA closely resembles a protein that regulates the activity of calf thymus DNA polymerase-delta. Here we show that PCNA and the polymerase-delta auxiliary protein have similar electrophoretic behaviour and are both recognized by anti-PCNA human autoantibodies. More importantly, both proteins are functionally equivalent; they stimulate SV40 DNA replication in vitro and increase the processivity of calf thymus DNA polymerase-delta. These results implicate a novel animal cell DNA polymerase, DNA polymerase-delta, in the elongation stage of replicative DNA synthesis in vitro.     

Effect of P15INK4b expression on the cell cycle and G1 phase related regulatory genes in human melanoma cells

Using the transfeetion teehnique. P15INK4b was introduced into P15INk4b gene deleted human melanoma A375 cells,and a cell model MLED6 overexpressing P15INK4b WAS CONSTRUCTED.Comparing with the control cells MLC2,MLEK6cells in G1phase increased by 11%,but those in Sphase decreased by 15%by FCM.By the method of thymidine(TdR)and N2O arresting,the proportions of synchronized Mphase cells of MLEK6 ana MLC23 were measured and found to be 89.1% and 76.8%respectively ,and the cells in G1phase were 74.3% for MLID6 AND 76. 4% forMLC2.The result of3 H-TdR incorporation indicated that the transition of G1/Sof MLEK6 cell was delayed 2h as compared with that of MLC2 cells,and incorporation rate also decreased.The observation on exprissions of some G1/ S-resates relatory rigusating genes showed that in MLIK6 cells the protein leves of P27KIPI increased with the decreasing expressions of cyclinD1,cyclinE and c-myc,especially cyclinD1 in late G1phade.The expression of cyclinE obviously decreased at G1/S transition ,and c-myc wad inhibited throughout all the process of G1 S phase.All the risults suggest that P15INK4b can delayG1/S transition of MLEK6 cells by inhibiting the cell cycle engine ,and by increasing the expression of Cdk ingibitor P27KIPI in different stages of G1 phase.     

一个新的PMA诱导相关基因在Pichia pastoris酵母系统中的表达

利用包含 40 96条各种人类基因的DNA芯片研究了代谢增强剂PMA(phorbolmyristateacetate)激活的人单核巨噬细胞HTP 1的早期应答基因 ,根据已有的旧基因信息 ,实验结果基本反映了人单核巨噬细胞早期应答基因的表达谱 .选取其中一条候选早期应答基因为后续研究对象 ,并进行蛋白质的酵母表达 ,为下游的基因功能研究奠定一定的基础 .     

XCDT1 is required for the assembly of pre-replicative complexes in Xenopus laevis

In eukaryotic cells, chromosomal DNA replication begins with the formation of pre-replication complexes at replication origins. Formation and maintenance of pre-replication complexes is dependent upon CDC6 (ref. 1), a protein which allows assembly of MCM2-7 proteins, which are putative replicative helicases. The functional assembly of MCM proteins into chromatin corresponds to replication licensing. Removal of these proteins from chromatin in S phase is crucial in origins firing regulation. We have identified a protein that is required for the assembly of pre-replication complexes, in a screen for maternally expressed genes in Xenopus. This factor (XCDT1) is a relative of fission yeast cdt1, a protein proposed to function in DNA replication, and is the first to be identified in vertebrates. Here we show, using Xenopus in vitro systems, that XCDT1 is required for chromosomal DNA replication. XCDT1 associates with pre-replicative chromatin in a manner dependent on ORC protein and is removed from chromatin at the time of initiation of DNA synthesis. Immunodepletion and reconstitution experiments show that XCDT1 is required to load MCM2-7 proteins onto pre-replicative chromatin. These findings indicate that XCDT1 is an essential component of the system that regulates origins firing during S phase.