杂色鲍HSP90基因启动子的功能分析

为探索启动子在热休克蛋白90表达调控中的作用,本研究在课题组已有杂色鲍HSP90基因cDNA的基础上,通过Genome walking、Tail-PCR和常规PCR等技术克隆获得该基因的5′调控区序列。在翻译起始位点(ATG)和第一外显子(长度94 bp)之间有一个809bp的内含子,第一外显子之前的5′调控区共2800 bp,从预测的转录起始位点(A)起,共2811 bp。在转录起始位点(A)上游–30 bp处存在TATA box。潜在的转录因子结合位点包括ATF、TBP、Sp1、Oct-1、C/EBPalpha、NF-1、NF-κappa B、GATA-1、Sox-2等。CpG岛预测软件分析其含1个CpG岛,长度为131 bp。实验构建了8个启动子缺失片段的萤火虫荧光素酶表达载体,通过瞬时转染293T细胞并进行双荧光素酶报告基因活性检测,确定杂色鲍HSP90基因核心启动子区位于–98~83 bp。在–624~–539 bp,Oct-1、C/EBPalpha、NF-1这3个转录因子都起到一定的抑制作用。     

华贵栉孔扇贝MSTN基因启动子的功能分析

为了解肌肉生长抑制素myostatin (MSTN)在华贵栉孔扇贝(Chalmys nobilis)闭壳肌肌肉生长和发育过程中所起的负调控作用,对华贵栉孔扇贝的MSTN启动子序列进行了生物信息学分析。结果显示,MSTN启动子序列长1 358 bp,有4个转录起始位点。核心启动子区为–100～–51 bp。有1个TATA-box (–92～–86 bp)和2个Ebox等顺式作用元件;潜在的转录因子结合位点有MEF2、MEF3、FoxO、MTBF和MyoD等;启动子区域无CpG岛。成功构建了6个MSTN启动子不同长度片段的荧光素酶表达载体,瞬时转染到293T细胞并进行双荧光素酶报告基因活性检测,表明6个启动子片段均有转录活性,PGL-534的活性最高,其次为PGL-274、PGL-22和PGL-102,最低的为PGL-995。–216～–364区域可能存在负调控基因表达的转录因子结合位点,–364～–825区域可能存在正调控基因表达的转录因子结合位点。     

牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus) Activin 基因两种β亚基的启动子克隆及生物信息学分析

以牙鲆为研究对象,利用染色体步移(Genome walking)获得了 Activin 两个β亚基基因的上游部分启动子序列,并对其进行了转录调控元件的生物信息学预测分析。获得了 Activin βA 和βB两个亚基的启动子部分序列,长度分别约为2.7 kb 和2.4 kb;在预测的 Activin βB 转录起始位点(+1位)的上游31 bp 处有1个典型的 TATA box,而在 Activin βA 中未发现 TATA box 的存在。两个基因的启动子上发现了多个转录因子 Sp1、Oct-1、C/EBP、CREB、GATA-1、HNF-3、HNF-1、USF 等结合位点,还发现了与内分泌相关的 Pit-1、ER、PR、GR、RAR、RXR 等结合位点,但肌性转录因子 MyoD、myogenin 和雄性的性别决定基因 SRY 结合位点仅在 Activin βA 启动子中发现。生物信息学分析显示,牙鲆 Activin βA 和βB 表达受到多种潜在因子的调控,二者在调控上有所差异。     

牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus) Activin基因两种β亚基的启动子克隆及生物信息学分析

以牙鲆为研究对象,利用染色体步移(Genome walking)获得了Activin两个β亚基基因的上游部分启动子序列,并对其进行了转录调控元件的生物信息学预测分析。获得了Activin βA和βB两个亚基的启动子部分序列,长度分别约为2.7 kb和2.4 kb;在预测的Activin βB转录起始位点(+1位)的上游31 bp处有1个典型的TATA box,而在Activin βA中未发现TATA box的存在。两个基因的启动子上发现了多个转录因子Sp1、Oct-1、C/EBP、CREB、GATA-1、HNF-3、HNF-1、USF等结合位点,还发现了与内分泌相关的Pit-1、ER、PR、GR、RAR、RXR等结合位点,但肌性转录因子MyoD、myogenin和雄性的性别决定基因SRY结合位点仅在Activin βA启动子中发现。生物信息学分析显示,牙鲆Activin βA和βB表达受到多种潜在因子的调控,二者在调控上有所差异。     

牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)Activin基因两种β亚基的启动子克隆及生物信息学分析

以牙鲆为研究对象,利用染色体步移(Genome walking)获得了Activin两个β亚基基因的上游部分启动子序列,并对其进行了转录调控元件的生物信息学预测分析。获得了ActivinβA和βB两个亚基的启动子部分序列,长度分别约为2.7 kb和2.4 kb;在预测的ActivinβB转录起始位点(+1位)的上游31 bp处有1个典型的TATA box,而在ActivinβA中未发现TATA box的存在。两个基因的启动子上发现了多个转录因子Sp1、Oct-1、C/EBP、CREB、GATA-1、HNF-3、HNF-1、USF等结合位点,还发现了与内分泌相关的Pit-1、ER、PR、GR、RAR、RXR等结合位点,但肌性转录因子Myo D、myogenin和雄性的性别决定基因SRY结合位点仅在ActivinβA启动子中发现。生物信息学分析显示,牙鲆ActivinβA和βB表达受到多种潜在因子的调控,二者在调控上有所差异。     

大黄鱼slitrk3基因启动子克隆及转录调控分析

神经突触相关蛋白Slitrk3具有调节抑制性突触发育的作用。研究大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)神经突触黏附分子slitrk3基因的转录调控机制,可为解决大黄鱼养殖面临的生长、应激及抗逆等问题提供新思路。通过生物信息学方法对大黄鱼及其他物种的Slitrk3氨基酸进行多重序列比对和系统进化树分析,并预测大黄鱼slitrk3基因启动子区域相关的调控元件,采用双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测大黄鱼slitrk3基因启动子区域的转录活性。生物信息学分析结果显示,Slitrk3氨基酸序列在鱼类中具有较高的保守性;大黄鱼slitrk3基因启动子区域预测存在2个潜在的转录起始位点、2个CpG岛以及Sp1、GR、C/EBPα和C/EBPβ等多种转录因子结合位点。双荧光素酶报告基因系统结果显示,大黄鱼slitrk3基因启动子区域的-1 970—-1 614 bp、-1 210—-667 bp存在正调控元件,-1 614—-1 210 bp、-667—-376 bp、-376—-147bp存在负调控元件,推测-147—+16 bp为核心启动子。     

稀有鱼句鲫β肌动蛋白启动子的克隆及其驱动活性的初步检测

稀有鮈鲫是一种新型的模式实验鱼,具有利用转基因技术培育开发成为观赏性鱼类的潜在可能。本实验采用PCR方法,从稀有鮈鲫基因组DNA中分离得到大小为1584bp的β肌动蛋白(β-actin)基因片段。序列分析表明,该片段包括长为1507bp的启动调控区和77bp的部分转录区序列。启动调控区包括一段长为109bpβ-actin基因上游调控序列,不翻译的外显子1和内含子1。上游调控序列中含有TATAbox,CAATbox和CArGbox等与转录活性密切相关的作用元件,并且在稀有鮈鲫β-actin基因第一个内含子中也含有1个CArG调控元件。将该启动子片段克隆到绿色荧光表达载体(pAcGFP1-1)上,显微注射入稀有鮈鲫的受精卵中,通过荧光显微镜能观察到绿色荧光蛋白的表达。本实验成功分离了具有驱动活性的稀有鮈鲫β-actin基因启动子。     

稀有鮈鲫β-肌动蛋白启动子的克隆及其驱动活性的初步检测

稀有鮈鲫是一种新型的模式实验鱼,具有利用转基因技术培育开发成为观赏性鱼类的潜在可能。本实验采用PCR方法,从稀有鮈鲫基因组DNA中分离得到大小为1584bp的β肌动蛋白(β-actin)基因片段。序列分析表明,该片段包括长为1507bp的启动调控区和77bp的部分转录区序列。启动调控区包括一段长为109bpβ-actin基因上游调控序列,不翻译的外显子1和内含子1。上游调控序列中含有TATAbox,CAATbox和CArGbox等与转录活性密切相关的作用元件,并且在稀有鮈鲫β-actin基因第一个内含子中也含有1个CArG调控元件。将该启动子片段克隆到绿色荧光表达载体(pAcGFP1-1)上,显微注射入稀有鮈鲫的受精卵中,通过荧光显微镜能观察到绿色荧光蛋白的表达。本实验成功分离了具有驱动活性的稀有鮈鲫β-actin基因启动子。     

虹鳟免疫诱导型基因Cathelicidin2启动子功能分析

本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR实验对虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)Cathelicidin2(Cath2)基因的转录模式进行了分析。结果显示,该基因在鳃、头肾等与机体免疫防御功能密切相关的组织内转录,在细菌和病毒感染后,转录水平均显著升高。对基因上游调控序列进行启动子和转录因子结合位点预测,发现该启动子具有真核生物典型的TATA盒和CAAT盒结构,基因上游直至第一内含子区域内,密集存在多个免疫相关转录因子结合位点,其中,2个核因子κB(Nuclear factor kappa B,NFκB)预测结合位点均位于核心启动子正链区域。在草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)肾组织细胞系内,绿色荧光蛋白和萤火虫荧光素酶基因都能够在该启动子驱动下表达,表明其具有启动子活性,且启动子活性在受到免疫诱导后增强,包括细菌脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharides,LPS)模拟的细菌感染和聚肌胞苷酸(Polyinosinic polycytidylic acid,Poly I:C)模拟的病毒感染。双荧光素酶报告基因检测显示,启动子活性在与NFκB转录因子表达时,增强至4.39倍,证明Cath2基因受NFκB通路调控。研究表明,虹鳟Cath2基因能够在多种免疫刺激诱导下表达,其启动子可以应用为免疫诱导型的基因工程元件,驱动外源免疫基因在鱼体内适时表达,抵御外界病原感染,同时,避免非必要条件下的过度表达形成生长负担。     

鲤胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-2和-3基因启动子克隆与序列分析

胰岛素样生长因子(insulin-like growth factors,IGFs)系统对鱼类的生长和繁殖有着重要的作用。利用PCR方法克隆获得了鲤胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白(insulin-like growth factor binding protein,IGFBP)-2和-3基因的上游启动子部分序列,长度分别是1142bp和1067bp。Igfbp-2启动子区域没有TATA框和CAAT框。同时,Igfbp-3中只含有TATA框,但没有CAAT框。研究结果表明,二者启动子不具备典型的启动子特征,同时,在二者启动子上还发现了cAMP应答元件和肝细胞核因子结合位点,以及Pit-1、Oct-1、RXR和GR等结合位点。研究认为,鲤Igfbp-2和-3基因的表达受到潜在的多因子调控。     

柱状黄杆菌强毒株和弱毒株胞外蛋白中差异蛋白的初步鉴定

柱状黄杆菌(Flavobacterium columnare)是一种世界范围的水产动物致病菌,是中国重要养殖鱼类草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)、鳜(Siniperca chuatsi)等烂鳃病的病原。本研究以1972年从患"烂鳃病"草鱼上分离的两株冻干柱状黄杆菌G4和G18菌株为研究对象,并将G4株再次分离纯化得纯化菌株,命名为G4R3。对草鱼鱼苗浸泡攻毒结果显示,G4R3的LD50至少比G18的高3个数量级,因此G4R3为"强毒株",G18为"弱毒株"。利用蛋白质组学方法分析柱状黄杆菌强毒株G4R3和弱毒株G18的胞外蛋白,经过双向电泳并结合图像分析,共发现了34个点是差异表达的蛋白。胶内酶解、肽质量指纹图谱和串联质谱分析后,鉴定出其中的7个蛋白点,代表滑动蛋白K、腺酐甲硫氨酸合成酶和一种可能的膜蛋白等3种蛋白,它们可能是柱状黄杆菌的毒力因子。     

The influence of salmon surface mucus on the growth of Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease. The presence of lesions on the gills, skin and fins of diseased fish suggests that F. columnare is able to utilize fish skin mucus as a substrate for growth and that exposure to this material would alter the expression of genes involved in the colonization of the outer surfaces of the fish. Growth, biofilm formation, extracellular protease production and changes in protein expression of F. columnare strain C#2 cultured in media supplemented with juvenile Atlantic salmon skin mucus were compared with the same media without mucus. C#2 was able to grow by using mucus as the sole nutrient source. Growth in mucus-containing media induced cells to grow as a biofilm and extracellular protease activity increased in mucus-containing cultures. SDS-PAGE protein profiles showed that expression of six extracellular proteins increased in mucus-containing media. These results demonstrate that salmon surface mucus promotes the growth of F. columnare and that exposure to mucus alters the growth characteristics of this bacterium with regard to protease production and biofilm formation. Further characterization of mucus-induced physiological changes will increase our understanding of the basis of virulence of this economically important fish pathogen.     

Characterization of two membrane-associated protease genes obtained from screening out-membrane protein genes of Flavobacterium columnare G4

In order to identify genes encoding the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of the myxobacter Flavobacterium columnare G(4), the expression library of the bacterium was screened by using rabbit antisera developed against its OMPs. Positive colonies of Escherichia coli M15 containing fragments encoding the bacterial OMPs were selected for cloning the relevant genes by genomic walking methods. Two genes encoding a membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease and prolyl oligopeptidase are reported in this paper. The membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease gene (map) is 1800 bp in length, coding for 449 amino acids (aa). Despite the presence of a conserved motif HEXXH for all metalloproteases, the special HEXXH approximately 32 aa approximately E motif of the F. columnare G(4) Map and its low level of identity with other reported zinc-containing metalloproteases may imply that the membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease of F. columnare G(4) represents a new family of zincins. The gene encoding prolyl oligopeptidase (Pop), a serine proteinase, is 2352 bp in length, coding for 649 aa. Sequence homology analysis revealed that the Pop is also novel as it has < 50% identity with other reported prolyl oligopeptidase family proteins. The present study represents the first to employ anti-fish bacterial OMP sera to screen genes of membrane-associated proteases of fish pathogenic bacteria, and to provide necessary information for the examination of the role of the two genes in the infection and pathogenesis of F. columnare.     

Proteomic analysis of the sarcosine-insoluble outer membrane fraction of Flavobacterium columnare

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of bacteria are key molecules interacting with the host environment. Flavobacterium columnare, a pathogen-causing columnaris disease of fish worldwide, was studied in order to understand the composition of its OMPs. The sarcosine-insoluble membrane fraction of the OMPs was analysed using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in combination with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC MS/MS). Thirty-six proteins were identified, including proteins involved in cell wall/membrane biogenesis, specific transport of various nutrients and in essential metabolism. The present study is the first report on the OMPs of F. columnare, and may serve as the basis for understanding the pathogenesis of the bacterium.     

Comparative challenge model of Flavobacterium columnare using abraded and unabraded channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

The early entry of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare and enhancement by abrasion was studied in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), using the polymerase chain reaction and a species-specific primer set for a bacterial 16S rRNA gene product. Evaluations were conducted following an abrasion bath immersion challenge with F. columnare. Abrasion, a practice which has historically been used prior to bacterial challenge, had significant effects on the early entry of the pathogen and on cumulative percent survival (CPS). The FvpF1-FvpR1 primer set was useful in detecting the early entry of F. columnare in mucus, skin, gill, blood, liver and trunk kidney tissues in both abraded and unabraded fish following immersion challenge at 29 +/- 2 degrees C. Bacteria were detected earlier in all tissues in abraded fish, except in the trunk kidney. These differences were not significant, except in the case of blood. Mucus, skin and gill tissues were positive for F. columnare earliest regardless of treatment (after 5 min in abraded fish and after 15 min in unabraded fish). CPS following challenge with F. columnare was significantly affected by abrasion, which supports the use of abrasion for the F. columnare challenge model for channel catfish.     

Molecular characterization,virulence profiling,antibiotic susceptibility,and scanning electron microscopy of Flavobacterium columnare isolates retrieved from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Aquaculture International - Columnaris is a common flavobacterial disease affecting tilapia aquaculture. Flavobacterium columnare has been identified as being responsible for the heavy mortalities...     

Comparison of lipopolysaccharide and protein profiles between Flavobacterium columnare strains from different genomovars

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and total protein profiles from four Flavobacterium columnare isolates were compar. These strains belonged to genetically different groups and/or presented distinct virulence properties. Flavobacterium columnare isolates ALG-00-530 and ARS-1 are highly virulent strains that belong to different genomovars while F. columnare FC-RR is an attenuated mutant used as a live vaccine against F. columnare. Strain ALG-03-063 is included in the same genomovar group as FC-RR and presents a similar genomic fingerprint. Electrophoresis of LPS showed qualitative differences among the four strains. Further analysis of LPS by immunoblotting revealed that the avirulent mutant lacks the higher molecular bands in the LPS. Total protein analysis displayed by immunoblotting showed differences between the strains analysed although common bands were present in all the isolates. FC-RR lacked two distinct common bands (34 and 33 kDa) shared by the other three isolates. Based on the difference of LPS and total protein profiles, it is possible to discriminate the attenuated mutant FC-RR from other F. columnare strains.     

Isolation and characterization of strains of Flavobacterium columnare from Brazil

Flavobacterium columnare is an important pathogen of freshwater fish, implicated in skin and gill disease, often causing high mortality. An outbreak of skin disease in fingerling and adult Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), cultivated in a recirculation system, was investigated. Four strains were isolated and characterized by biochemical reactions, enzyme production, fatty acid profile and analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region. All strains were identified as F. columnare. Experimental infection assays with one of these strains (BZ-5-02) were conducted and pathogenicity (by intramuscular route) was demonstrated in Nile tilapia and channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). This is the first report of characterization of Brazilian strains of F. columnare.     

Systemic and mucosal antibody response in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), following immunization with Flavobacterium columnare

Specific antibody responses to Flavobacterium columnare (isolate ATCC 23463T) were characterized in plasma and mucus of tilapia following intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or immersion immunization with formalin-killed sonicated or whole cell preparations. Fish (30 per treatment) received a primary immunization and were booster immunized 4 weeks later. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for detection and quantification of specific anti-F. columnare antibody, and it was found that formalin-killed sonicated cells in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) injected i.p. stimulated a significant systemic antibody response within 2 weeks (mean titre 11,200) which increased to 30,600 following secondary immunization. At 10 weeks post-immunization, the mean titre remained significantly elevated above the controls. Antibodies were also observed in cutaneous mucus of fish immunized i.p. with formalin-killed sonicated cells in FCA at 6 and 8 weeks post-immunization (mean titres 67 and 33, respectively). Although some individual fish responded, mean plasma and cutaneous mucus antibody titres were not significantly greater than controls in any of the other treatment groups. The results of this study demonstrate that tilapia can mount a significant humoral response in plasma and cutaneous mucus to F. columnare, but i.p. immunization with FCA is required to elicit this response.