Expression of green fluorescent protein gene with baculovirus vector in insect cells

The green fluorescence of bioluminescent jellyfishAequorea victoria is due to the presence of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). To examine whether the GFP gene can be applied as a reporter gene in insect cells, a baculovirus transfer vector containing the neomycin resistance gene (neo) was established. The GFP gene was subcloned into the vector downstream of the polyhedrin gene (ocu) promoter. In the presence of G418, the recombinant virus can be purified. Expression of the GFP gene in the recombinant virus should give rise to synthesis of the GFP with a molecular weight of 30×10³ dalton, and is observable by the strong green light irradiated by ultraviolet or blue light in viable intact insect cells. The GFP produced in insect cells has typical fluorescent spectra indistinguishable from those of the purified native GFP. The GFP gene as a good reporter gene can be applied to the baculovirus-insect cell expression system. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Hu Jianhong: born in July, 1972, Master graduate student     

Cloning and expression of HIV-1 p24 gene in insect cells by using BAC-TO-BAC system

Recombinant transposing vector pFHIV24 was constructed by cloning the HIV-1 p24 gene into the Multiple cloning site (MCS) of the transposing vector pFastBac1 in the correct orientation with respect to the polyhedrin promoter. Recombinant bacmid bHIV24 was obtained by transposing a mini-att Tn7 element from the recombinant pFHIV24 to the mini-att Tn7 attachment site on the bacmid by Tn7 transposition functions provided by the helper plasmid. Minipreparation of recombinant bacmid DNA was transfected intoSpodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells to get the recombinant virus. Fresh insect Sf9 cells were infected with the recombinant virus containing p24 to express the target protein. The target protein expressed was analyzed on a 15% polyacrylamide gels and then used as antigen to check HIV-1 positive serum by ELISA. Our positive result shows that the expressed p24 protein could be used as standard antigen for HIV-1 diagnosis by ELISA and other reliable diagnostic methods of HIV-1 infection. Supported by the World Bank Boan Program Mallam Nock Joshua: born in 1967, Master of Science To whom correspondence should be addressed (027-7882712-2938)     

Cloning and expression of HIV-1 p24 gene in insect cells by using BAC-TO-BAC system

Recombinant transposing vector pFHIV24 was constructed by cloning the HIV-1 p24 gene into the Multiple cloning site (MCS) of the transposing vector pFastBac1 in the correct orientation with respect to the polyhedrin promoter. Recombinant bacmid bHIV24 was obtained by transposing a mini-att Tn7 element from the recombinant pFHIV24 to the mini-att Tn7 attachment site on the bacmid by Tn7 transposition functions provided by the helper plasmid. Minipreparation of recombinant bacmid DNA was transfected intoSpodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells to get the recombinant virus. Fresh insect Sf9 cells were infected with the recombinant virus containing p24 to express the target protein. The target protein expressed was analyzed on a 15% polyacrylamide gels and then used as antigen to check HIV-1 positive serum by ELISA. Our positive result shows that the expressed p24 protein could be used as standard antigen for HIV-1 diagnosis by ELISA and other reliable diagnostic methods of HIV-1 infection. Supported by the World Bank Boan Program Mallam Nock Joshua: born in 1967, Master of Science To whom correspondence should be addressed (027-7882712-2938)     

Mitochondrial response and calcium ion change in apoptotic insect cells induced by SfaMNPV

Mitochondrial responses and changes of calcium ions in apoptotic insect SL-1 cells induced by Syngrapha falcifera multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SfaMNPV) are reported in this paper. By using Rhodamine 123 as a fluorescent labeling probe, flow cytometry analysis and confocal laser scanning microscope observation we observed that the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (△ψm) began to decrease in SL-1 cells at 4 h post infection and △ψm reduced continuously with the extension of virus infection. Western blotting indicated that the Bcl-2 level in the mitochondria gradually declined and was down- regulated. Cells undergoing apoptosis were found to have an elevation of cytochrome c in the cytosol and a corresponding decrease in the mitochondria, which indicated that cytochrome c was released from mitochondria into cytosol. These results suggest that mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic signal transduction pathway exists in apoptotic insect cell induced by SfaMNPV. Cytosolic free calcium ([Ca^2 ]i) concentration rapidly increased after SfaMNPV infection and the elevated calcium was tested to come partly from extracelllular calcium ion influx. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the apoptosis in SL-1 cells was not influenced by established cytosolic calcium clamped conditions and the EGTA inhibiting calcium influx. Therefore, neither the elevation of cytosolic calcium ion nor extracellular calcium entry was the inducing factor of apoptosis, which hinted that the depletion of ER Ca^2 store contributed to SL-1 cell apoptosis induced by SfaMNPV.     

Expression of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase in insect cells using baculovirus expression system: Purification and biochemical characterizations

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA polymerase gene was overexpressed in insect cells using the baculovirus transfer system. A6. 2 kb HCMV Rsr II-EcoRI DNA fragment with intact HCMV pol gene coding sequence was engineered into NheI site of vector pBlueBac under the control of polyhedrin promoter of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). Recombinant AcNPV carried HCMV pol gene was generated by cotransfection of Spodoptera frugiperta cell (SF21) with AcNPV DNA and baculovirus transfer vector with HCMV pol gene. Infection of SF21 cell with recombinant virus lead to the expression of 140 kD peptide of HCMV specific DNA polymerase at the level approximately 2 mg per 10⁸ cells. The polypeptide was purified from the infected SF21 cells by a series of column chromatography to homogeneity. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 140 kD and reacted with antiserum specific for HCMV DNA polymerase. It exhibited both 3′–5′ and 5′–3′ exonuclease activities. This enzyme is also sensitive to phosphono acetate. Ye Linbai: born in Feb. 1948. Professor. Current research interest is in Vitology and Molecular Biology Supported by Public Health Service Grants CA21773, CA15036 and AI12717 from the National Institutes of Health     

大黄鱼Rnd1基因表达载体构建及表达模式分析

为探究Rnd1基因在大黄鱼免疫应答过程中的作用,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术（qRT-PCR）对该基因的表达模式进行分析,同时构建原核表达载体pET-28a-Rnd1,并转化进大肠杆菌后诱导该蛋白的融合表达。研究结果表明:大黄鱼Rnd1基因ORF为699 bp,编码232个氨基酸;经序列多重比对和进化树构建发现,Rnd1的氨基酸序列高度保守;在健康大黄鱼的8个免疫组织中,Rnd1在肝脏中相对表达量最高,其次为脑,而在肠中表达量最低;变形假单胞菌攻毒后,Rnd1在肝脏中48 h时达到最高值,为对照组的25倍;在脾脏中则持续上调表达,尤其在48 h后升高更为明显。     

卡门柏青霉-PG3脂肪酶基因的克隆、表达及活性分析

以卡门柏青霉-PG3为出发菌株,提取其总RNA,应用反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)扩增出860bp左右的片段,核苷酸序列分析表明其与甘油单-双酰酯脂肪酶(MDGL)基因（mdlA）一致。将此基因克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a中,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经诱导后,重组的脂肪酶（rMDGL）在宿主菌中得到表达,表达量可达菌体总蛋白量的45.2%。重组蛋白包涵体溶解、复性后用Ni²⁺组氨酸结合树脂螯合层析柱纯化,聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)显示为单一区带,其相对分子质量为41 000。以橄榄油为底物时没有检测到酶活性,以单硬脂酸甘油脂为底物时酶活性达到225nmol/s。该基因在原核系统中表达仍具有酶活性,说明MDGL的糖基化对其生物学活性并不是必不可少的。     

丙型肝炎病毒NS5A基因的克隆以及在原核和昆虫细胞中表达的研究

克隆了丙型肝炎病毒的NS5A基因，并在细菌和昆虫两种不同的系统中成功地进行了该基因的表达。利用PCR方法获得了NS5A完整的编码区并克隆到原核表达载体pGEX—KG上，在大肠杆菌中诱导表达了78kDa的NS5A与GST的融合蛋白。同时发现，融合蛋白被部分切割为50kDa的NS5A和28kDa的GST。在原核细胞中表达的78kDa和50kDa两种蛋白均具有较高的免疫原性，通过免疫家兔获得了高特异性的兔抗血清。另外，利用两种昆虫表达系统，即AcMN—PV和HaSNPV的Bac-to-Bac系统对NS5A进行了表达，表达产物为58kDa。     

淞江鲈HSP70基因cDNA部分序列克隆及其组织表达差异

为了研究HSP70(heat shock protein 70)是否可作为淞江鲈(Trachidermus fasciatus Heckel)养殖中的应激监测分子指标,根据鲤鱼热应激蛋白70基因序列(AYl20894)设计并合成引物,以淞江鲈肝脏组织总RNA为模板,获得淞江鲈HSP70基因cDNA部分序列,长度为480bp,GenBank登陆号为KC342053.序列分析结果显示此序列与红笛鲷(Lutjanus sanguineus)等有较高的同源性.同时,应用所获淞江鲈HSP70基因部分序列,以淞江鲈β-actin基因的序列(HM449124)为内参,利用荧光定量PCR技术,检测淞江鲈肌肉、肠、脑、皮肤、性腺、肝脏、心脏、鳃、鳍9个组织的表达差异.结果表明,HSP70在淞江鲈9个组织中普遍表达,其中在鳍中表达量最高,在性腺、鳃、脑、肌肉、肝脏、皮肤、肠中的表达量依次递减,在心脏中表达量最低.在鳍中HSP70的表达量可能成为衡量淞江鲈应激程度的指标.     

hIL-10在大肠杆菌中的表达及其生物学活性鉴定

构建了含有人白细胞介素-hIL-10（Human Interleukin10,hIL-10）基因的重组质粒,在大肠杆菌中的高效表达,并对其生物学活性进行了鉴定．用RT-PCR扩增hIL-10 cDNA,并插入原核表达载体PET-32b．将重组质粒转入BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,在37℃用IPTG诱导hIL-10表达．表达的重组蛋白经复性纯化后,用夹心ELISA法检测其对外周血单核细胞（PBMC）合成IFN-γ的抑制作用．重组质粒PET-32b／hIL-10的DNA序列分析显示,克隆的DNA序列和文献报道的hIL-10 cDNA序列一致．SDS-PAGE表明,重组蛋白相对分子质量为18000．活性测定结果显示,重组蛋白能显著抑制PBMC合成IFN-γ．这表明构建的PET-32b／hIL-10可以在大肠杆菌中高效表达,经复性和纯化后,获得了具有高纯度和活性的hIL-10