奶牛朊病毒基因克隆与序列分析

根据已报道正常牛朊蛋白(PrP^c)基因(PRNP)序列设计引物，采用PCR法扩增了6头荷斯坦奶牛的PRNP基因，将其克隆到T-Vector。序列测定及分析表明所克隆的奶牛PRNP基因片段为795bp，该基因内无内含子，包含了牛PRNP完整编码区序列，编码264个氨基酸的前体蛋白，推测其分子量约34ku。其中2头共同含有未曾报道的牛PRNP多态性位点M120I，无义突变G234A，但未引起酶切位点变异，未发现插入或缺失变异；与已报道牛PRNP序列(GenBank收录号为DI0613)相比，两者核苷酸序列同源性为99％，其编码的氨基酸同源性为99％。     

Technical note: determination of alleles of the ovine PRNP gene using PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis

Susceptibility to scrapie in sheep is linked to variation at codons 136, 154, and 171 in the host prion protein gene (PRNP). A number of techniques are available for detecting these polymorphisms, but none allow for a rapid and accurate determination of genotype. Here we describe PCR coupled with single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, which allows for the accurate identification of ovine PRNP alleles. A gene region including codons 136 to 171 was amplified by PCR, and the amplimers were then denatured and subjected to electrophoresis in a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel. Nine unique SSCP patterns, representing nine different alleles of the ovine PRNP gene, could be resolved. A new polymorphism (I/T) at codon 142 also was detected. The profiles produced by SSCP allowed for the accurate differentiation of PRNP alleles and could be employed to genotype PRNP in sheep.     

牛朊蛋白基因多态性对疯牛病影响的研究进展

朊蛋白(prion protein,PRNP)是近年来已证明的人和部分哺乳动物传染性海绵状脑病(transmissible spongiform encephalopathy,TSE)的主要根源,该蛋白编码基因的多态性显著影响了人和动物对TSE的易感性或抗病性。牛传染性海绵状脑病俗称"疯牛病"。作者分析了疯牛病的起源、监测和预防措施;简要介绍了牛PRNP基因的结构与功能;系统分析了牛科动物PRNP基因非编码区多态性与抗病性作用;总结了牛科动物PRNP基因启动子区域内23 bp插入/缺失和第1内含子区域内12 bp插入/缺失对疯牛病易感性的影响,为牛的抗病分子育种提供指导。     

杂交牛(大额牛×云南黄牛)朊蛋白基因 的分子克隆及其序列分析

朊蛋白(prion protein,PRNP)基因编码朊蛋白,是引起疯牛病的主效基因。本研究利用PCR方法首次从杂交牛(大额牛×云南黄牛)基因组中扩增了PRNP基因,GenBank登录号为HQ875337。PCR产物直接双向测序表明,该序列包含杂交牛PRNP基因795 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码264个氨基酸前体蛋白。生物信息学分析结果发现,该蛋白包含1个信号肽、3个α螺旋、2个β折叠、6个八肽重复序列、1个疏水区域、1个二硫键和1个糖基磷脂酰肌醇锚定位点。与已报道的其他牛PRNP基因进行序列比对分析,核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性均在97%以上。     

梅花鹿朊蛋白基因(PRNP)的克隆及序列分析

根据GenBank中鹿朊蛋白基因序列设计特异性扩增引物，采用PCR方法从中国梅花鹿基因组中扩增得到梅花鹿的朊蛋白基因，采用PCR产物直接测序，并将其克隆到pGEM—TEasy载体中测序进行进一步确认，通过分析表明所克隆的梅花鹿朊蛋白基因的ORF基因片段包含771bp，编码256个氨基酸的前体蛋白，相对分子质量约为28200。与已报道的其他品种鹿朊蛋白基因序列进行对比分析，核苷酸及氨基酸序列的同源性均在98％以上。本试验为进一步研究中国梅花鹿朊蛋白的多态性提供了数据。     

牛朊蛋白基因真核表达载体的构建及其在牛骨髓间充质干细胞中的稳定表达

试验构建牛朊蛋白(prion protein,PRNP)基因的真核表达载体,为进一步研究牛朊蛋白的生理功能和从细胞水平研究抗疯牛病转基因克隆牛奠定基础。采用重叠延伸PCR(splicing overlap extension PCR,SOE-PCR)法扩增获得牛PRNP基因序列,并克隆到带有DsRED2报告基因的真核表达载体pDsRED2-N1中,将双酶切、PCR、测序鉴定的阳性质粒经脂质体转染牛骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC);通过荧光显微镜观察转染细胞,并用800 μg/mL G418对转染的细胞进行药物筛选。琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示基因合成的片段大小和构建的载体大小与预期相符;重组表达载体转染BMSC后有红色荧光出现;通过药物筛选出了稳定转染的细胞单克隆。通过SOE-PCR成功扩增了牛PRNP基因序列,并构建成真核表达载体,得到稳定表达目的蛋白的BMSC细胞。     

Sequence variation of bovine prion protein gene in Japanese cattle (Holstein and Japanese Black)

To assess relationships between nucleotide polymorphisms of the prion protein (PRNP) gene and susceptibility to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), we investigated polymorphisms in the open reading frame (ORF) and 2 upper regions of the PRNP gene from 2 Japanese cattle breeds: 863 healthy Holstein cattle, 6 BSE-affected Holstein cattle, and 186 healthy Japanese Black (JB) cattle. In the ORF, we found single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at nucleotide positions 234 and 576 and found 5 or 6 copies of the octapeptide repeat, but we did not find any amino acid substitutions. In the upper region, we examined 2 sites of insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphisms: a 23-bp indel in the upper region of exon 1, and a 12-bp indel in the putative promoter region of intron 1. A previous report suggests that the 23-bp indel polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to BSE, but we did not find a difference in allele frequency between healthy and BSE-affected Holstein cattle. There were differences in allele frequency between healthy Holstein and JB cattle at the 23- and 12-bp indels and at the SNPs at nucleotide positions 234 and 576, but there was no difference in allele frequency of the octapeptide repeat. We identified a unique PRNP gene lacking a 288-bp segment (96 amino acids) in DNA samples stocked in our laboratory, but this deletion was not found in any of the 1049 cattle examined in the present study. The present results provide data about variations and distribution of the bovine PRNP gene.     

Frequencies of PRNP gene polymorphisms in Vietnamese dairy cattle for potential association with BSE

Summary Since 2004, significant associations between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) susceptibility in cattle and frequencies of insertion/deletion (ins/del; indel) polymorphisms within the bovine prion protein gene (PRNP) have been reported. In this study, we investigated the frequencies of indel polymorphisms within two variable sites, a 23-bp indel polymorphism in the promoter region (23indel) and a 12-bp indel polymorphism in intron 1 region (12indel), in the PRNP in 206 Vietnamese dairy cattle and seven Japanese BSE-affected cattle. In Vietnamese dairy cattle, the frequency distributions of del allele and del/del genotypic polymorphisms in the 23indel site, which are thought to be associated with BSE susceptibility, were significantly higher, whereas the frequencies of del allelic and del/del genotypic polymorphisms in the 12indel site, which have been reported to confer BSE susceptibility, were significantly lower. We have provided evidence that Vietnamese dairy cattle have a unique genetic background in the PRNP gene in comparison with cattle or sires previously reported in other countries.     

荷斯坦公牛PRNP多态性与精子活力相关性及抗病性评估

为分析荷斯坦公牛朊蛋白基因(PRNP)多态性与精子活力的关系,并对其抗病性进行评估,选育抗病公牛,本实验以公牛精液为样品,研究脚基因中12bp、23 bp和24 bp 3个片段的插入/缺失多样性、基因mRNA转录水平及其与精子活力等指标的关系.结果表明,12bp和23 bp在群体中均得到3种基因型,24 bp只有2种基因型.不同基因型群体的mRNA转录水平存在显著差异,而基因型与精液产量和活力等指标存在相关性,抗病力和精子活力指标存在负相关.本研究中3个片段的插入-缺失多样性可以作为公牛选育的辅助标记.     

新疆地方绵羊品种PRNP基因多态性研究

从新疆采取了8个地方绵羊品种的血液样品171份,提取绵羊基因组DNA,用PCR方法扩增绵羊PRNP基因,通过序列测定,对它们的PRNP基因型进行研究,确定了PRNP基因136、154、171位密码子的多态性为136(A/A),154(H/R)和171(Q/R/H/K),结果发现所检测的新疆地方绵羊品种PRNP基因136位密码子均为A,其基因型均为A型痒病抵抗性基因型。     

Effect of selection for scrapie resistance on genetic diversity in a rare and locally adapted sheep breed: The case of Sambucana

In Italy, since 2005 a breeding plan to increase scrapie resistance has been adopted. The impact of this selection on genetic diversity was assessed on Sambucana, an autochtonous sheep breed reared in southern Piedmont, by analysing the evolution of allele frequencies at different levels: PRNP (prion protein) gene, microsatellite loci on OAR13 (where PRNR maps), and microsatellite loci on other chromosomes, not subjected to selection for scrapie resistance. A total of 147 young rams, 80 born in 2004 and 67 in 2008–2009 were analysed. Evidence of diversity loss was observed for PRNP gene as a consequence of the directional selection. Diversity was affected in the immediate vicinity of PRNP but the effect on more distant loci on the same chromosome was trivial. With regard to neutral markers, lack of heterozygosis with no changeover of allele frequencies was observed suggesting an increase of inbreeding. Mating policies would be sufficient to solve these problems. A selection scheme based on genotyping rams and eliminating carriers of both susceptible and high susceptible alleles is the best way to improve natural resistance to scrapie with low costs and minimal problems in the current conservation programmes targeting rare breeds.     

Evaluation of associations between prion haplotypes and growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in a Dorset x Romanov sheep population

There is concern about potential antagonistic correlated responses due to intensive selection for scrapie-resistant haplotypes of the prion (PRNP) gene in sheep. The objective of the present research was to test for associations of PRNP haplotypes for codons 136, 154, and 171 with growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in an F2 Dorset x Romanov population (n = 415) segregating the 2 callipyge alleles. Haplotypes of the 3 PRNP codons were determined for each sheep, and breed of origin of each gamete was predicted by genotyping 6 microsatellite markers flanking the PRNP locus. Twenty-five growth, carcass, and meat quality traits were evaluated. Data were analyzed using a basic model consisting of fixed effects of year, sex, and callipyge genotype, the random effect of sire, and 7 covariates corresponding to the probability that a lamb inherited a specific PRNP haplotype of either Dorset or Romanov origin. A fixed effect of litter size was added to the model for growth traits. The model for carcass traits contained the linear and quadratic effects of chilled carcass weight and the interactions among callipyge genotype and linear and quadratic terms. For meat quality traits, the model contained chilled carcass weight as a covariate and the interaction between callipyge genotype and chilled carcass weight. A contrast between the resistant ARR haplotype and the average effect of other PRNP haplotypes was tested to investigate the effects of potential selection for ARR within each breed of origin (Dorset, ARR vs. ARQ, VRQ, and AHQ; Romanov, ARR vs. ARQ and VRQ). There was limited evidence that selecting for scrapie resistance would cause correlated responses due to linkage disequilibrium. Associations of only 3 traits with PRNP haplotypes were detected in either breed of origin. In Romanov, the ARR haplotype was associated with longer carcasses (P < 0.013), narrower rumps (P = 0.038), and less marbling (P = 0.022) than the average of ARQ and VRQ haplotypes. No significant contrasts were detected for Dorset. This study is the first to account for breed of origin while investigating haplotype associations in an F2 population. This study provided limited evidence of associations between PRNP haplotypes and growth, carcass, and meat quality traits.     

利用RNAi抑制牛骨髓间充质干细胞中朊蛋白基因（PRNP）的表达

利用RNAi技术，根据牛源PRNP基因eDNA设计3段siRNA序列和1个阴性对照序列，分别将其连接到RNA干扰载体pRNAT-U6．1／Neo上构建成shRNA载体，并将shRNA载体转染牛骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSC）；通过Real-timePCR和WesternBlotting筛选抑制效果最佳的载体；并用800mg／LG418对转染最佳载体的细胞进行药物筛选。结果显示：成功构建了3个靶向shRNA载体和1个阴性对照shRNA载体；转染后48h在荧光镜下检测各组均可观察到绿色荧光的表达；Real-timePCR和WesternBlotting结果显示，3个靶向shRNA载体在不同时间段均在一定程度上下调了PRNPmRNA的表达，抑制了朊蛋白PrP^c 的生成，得到了1个最佳干扰载体sh3；通过药物筛选出了稳定转染的细胞单克隆。本研究获得了1个有效抑制朊蛋白基因表达的shRNA载体，并筛选出稳定转染的细胞单克隆，上述结果可为抗疯牛病体细胞核移植提供供体细胞。     

Prion protein gene polymorphism and blood lymphocyte profile in cows naturally infected with bovine leukemia virus

The polymorphic loci of the bovine prion protein (PRNP) gene, comprising 23-bp insertion/deletion (23-bp indel) within the promoter sequence and 12-bp insertion/deletion (12-bp indel) within the intron 1 sequence, are located in regions which play a key role in gene expression. The objective of this study was to determine whether the 23-bp and 12-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism within the PRNP gene leads to significant differences in the blood lymphocyte profile and to investigate changes in the composition of these cells in cattle naturally infected with Bovine Leukemia Virus. An analysis of the effect of the bovine PRNP gene polymorphism on the blood lymphocyte profile revealed considerable differences between animals with the 23-bp indel genotypes, and small and statistically non-significant differences between those with the 12-bp indel genotypes. 23-bp del/del homozygotes had a significantly lower percentage of T lymphocytes with the phenotypes CD2 (P < 0.01), CD8 (P < 0.01) and WC1-N2 (P < 0.05), and a higher ratio of CD4 to CD8 T lymphocytes, compared to animals with the 23-bp ins/ins genotype. The obtained results indicate that the 23-bp indel polymorphism, in contrast to the 12-bp indel polymorphism, has a significant effect on changes in the blood lymphocyte profile. The size of blood lymphocyte subpopulations was also found to change under the influence of enzootic bovine leukosis. The direction of those changes in EBL-positive animals is consistent with that observed in 23-bp del/del homozygotes, which may testify to the adverse effect of this genotype on immunological efficiency.     

PRNP haplotype and genotype frequencies in Brazilian sheep: issues for conservation and breeding programs

Polymorphisms of PRNP gene have been strongly correlated to the susceptibility/resistance to scrapie in sheep. Variants at the coding positions 136, 154 and 171 have been the most frequently associated to susceptibility to classical scrapie. The aim of this study was to estimate PRNP haplotype and genotype frequencies in a sample of 1400 sheep from 13 different breeds that are representative of the main production regions in Brazil. A total of four different alleles (ARR, ARQ, AHQ and VRQ) and nine genotypes were observed at different frequencies among the investigated breeds. There were distinct patterns of allelic distribution between naturalized and commercial/specialized breeds and different geographic regions. These results will influence the development and management of breeding and conservation programs and will help to develop Brazilian efforts to avoid scrapie epidemics.     

东北虎朊病毒基因的克隆与序列分析

根据已报道的哺乳动物朊病毒基因序列设计引物，采用PCR方法扩增了25只东北虎的朊病毒基因，克隆、测序及序列分析表明，所得到的东北虎朊病毒基因片段为402bp，编码134个氨基酸的前体蛋白，核苷酸序列同源性为99．67％。共发现了4个核苷酸多态性（T423C，A501G，C511A，A610G），其中C511A和A610G的碱基突变导致K171Q和A204T氨基酸的变异。与已报道的猫、貂、绵羊、鼠和犬等哺乳动物的氨基酸序列比较，结果与猫（AF003087，97．3％）和绵羊（97．3％）的氨基酸同源性最高。     

牛源粪肠球菌人工感染BALB/c雌鼠肾脏组织过程中PRNP和PRND的表达变化研究

为了研究牛源粪肠球菌感染对小鼠PRNP和PRND基因表达水平的影响,用牛源粪肠球菌感染小鼠,在1～7 d内解剖小鼠,制作病理组织革兰氏染色及石蜡切片HE染色,最后通过荧光定量PCR检测感染后1～7 d内PRNP和PRND的表达情况.结果表明:牛源粪肠球菌感染BALB/c雌鼠后,肾脏组织病变较明显,实时荧光定量检测确实对...     

Resistance to classical scrapie in experimentally challenged goats carrying mutation K222 of the prion protein gene

ABSTRACT: Susceptibility of sheep to scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of small ruminants, is strongly influenced by polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Breeding programs have been implemented to increase scrapie resistance in sheep populations; though desirable, a similar approach has not yet been applied in goats. European studies have now suggested that several polymorphisms can modulate scrapie susceptibility in goats: in particular, PRNP variant K222 has been associated with resistance in case-control studies in Italy, France and Greece. In this study we investigated the resistance conferred by this variant using a natural Italian goat scrapie isolate to intracerebrally challenge five goats carrying genotype Q/Q 222 (wild type) and five goats carrying genotype Q/K 222. By the end of the study, all five Q/Q 222 goats had died of scrapie after a mean incubation period of 19 months; one of the five Q/K 222 goats died after 24 months, while the other four were alive and apparently healthy up to the end of the study at 4.5 years post-challenge. All five of these animals were found to be scrapie negative. Statistical analysis showed that the probability of survival of the Q/K 222 goats versus the Q/Q 222 goats was significantly higher (p = 0.002). Our study shows that PRNP gene mutation K222 is strongly associated with resistance to classical scrapie also in experimental conditions, making it a potentially positive target for selection in the frame of breeding programs for resistance to classical scrapie in goats.     

Gene and haplotype polymorphisms of the Prion gene (PRNP) in Japanese Brown, Japanese native and Holstein cattle

Polymorphisms in the prion protein gene ( PRNP ) are known to be associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in human, sheep and goats. There is tentative association between PRNP promoter polymorphism and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) susceptibility in cattle. In this study, we genotyped for six bovine PRNP polymorphic sites including a 23-bp indel in the promoter, a 12-bp indel in the intron 1, two nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), octapeptide repeats in the coding region and a 14-bp indel in the 3'-untranslated region in 178 animals representing Japanese Brown, Kuchinoshima feral, Mishima, Japanese Shorthorn and Holstein. In 64 Japanese Brown cattle, three indel sites were polymorphic. All of the six sites were monomorphic in Kuchinoshima. The 23-bp and 12-bp indel sites were polymorphic in Mishima cattle. The 23-bp and 14-bp indel sites were polymorphic in Japanese Shorthorn cattle. Both SNP sites were monomorphic in all cattle examined in this study. At the 23-bp indel site, the genotype frequencies of Japanese Brown and Holstein breeds were similar to that of BSE affected cattle. We estimated 12 different haplotypes from these genotypic data. A '23-12-K6S14+' haplotype was the major haplotype in all populations, whose frequencies ranged from 0.50 to 1.00.     

Prion genotypes of scrapie-infected Canadian sheep 1998-2008

This report describes the genetics of the prion protein gene (PRNP) at codons 136, 154, and 171 for sheep diagnosed with naturally acquired classical scrapie in Canada between 1998 and 2008. Genotyping analysis was performed on 249 sheep with confirmed classical scrapie infection representing 98 flocks from 6 provinces. A further case-control analysis of 3 of these flocks compared the genotypes between infected sheep (n = 72) and those of their healthy flockmates (n = 1990). The incidence of classical scrapie in the Canadian sheep population was highly associated with the ARQ haplotype (91.8%) and the ARQ/ARQ genotype (91.6%). In addition, the ARQ haplotype was found at significantly higher frequency in scrapie-infected sheep when compared with their healthy flockmates. Comparison with other published data suggests that the scrapie risk of PRNP genotypes differs between Canada and countries where the VRQ allele is associated with the highest susceptibility to infection.