Characterization of the immunoglobulin A heavy chain gene of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Immunoglobulin constant region heavy chain genes of the dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) have been described for IgM and IgG but not for IgA. Here, the heavy chain sequence of dolphin IgA has been cloned and sequenced as cDNA. RT-PCR amplification from blood peripheral lymphocytes was carried out using degenerate primers and a single sequence was detected. The inferred heavy chain structure shows conserved features typical of mammalian IgA heavy chains, including three constant (C) regions, a hinge region between constant region domain 1 (C1) and constant region domain 2 (C2), and conserved residues for interaction with the Fc alpha R1 and N-glycosylation sites. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequences of the IgA heavy chain for the dolphin and the evolutionarily related artiodactyl species showed high similarity. In cattle and sheep, as in dolphins, a single IgA subclass has been identified. Southern blot analysis as well as genomic PCR confirmed the presence of multiple IGHA sequences suggesting that IGHA pseudogenes may be present in the dolphin genome.     

Isolation of genes encoding bovine IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE chains

Bovine C mu, C gamma, C alpha and C epsilon genes were cloned in an EMBL4 recombinant phage library using rabbit immunoglobulin switch mu (Su) and human C gamma as probes. Restriction mapping and Southern blot analyses of these clones identified one clone which hybridized with rabbit C mu and JH probes. The HG and C mu regions were separated by 6 kb of DNA. One C alpha and one C epsilon gene were found on overlapping clones and were separated by approximately 15 kb of DNA. Southern blot analysis of germline DNA with a bovine C alpha associated probe (S alpha) indicated that the germline contains a single C alpha gene. Similar analyses with a bovine C epsilon probe indicated that the germline contains either one C epsilon gene with allelic restriction polymorphism or two C epsilon genes. Three C gamma genes were cloned and did not overlap with one another. Southern blot analyses of germline DNA with a bovine C gamma probe indicated that the germline contains a total of four C gamma genes. The genes cloned correspond to three of the four genes identified by Southern blot analysis. The orientation of each CH gene was assigned by hybridization with S mu or S gamma probes. The S gamma probe hybridized to DNA immediately adjacent to all three C genes; the S probe hybridized to DNA immediately adjacent to the C mu, C alpha and C epsilon genes. Unexpectedly, the S mu probe also hybridized with a segment of DNA approximately 7 kb downstream of the C mu gene. This may represent a switch region for C gamma.     

Preparation of heavy chain specific antisera to bovine IgA, IgM, IgG1 and IgG2

Goats, guinea pigs and rabbits were immunized with bovine IgM or with intact molecules, heavy chains, Fc portions or light chains of bovine IgG1 and IgG2. Rabbits and guinea pigs were immunized with bovine secretory IgA. Goats and guinea pigs produced heavy chain specific antisera to intact IgM whereas rabbits produced anti-light chain antibody and in one instance anti-alpha 2-macroglobulin antibody in addition to the anti-mu response. Goats and guinea pigs produced antisera to bovine IgG1 and IgG2 and their Fc portions that needed little absorption to render them monospecific for the heavy chain. In addition to antibody to the heavy chains, rabbits produced anti-light chain antibody when immunized with intact IgG1 or IgG2 molecules. These latter sera, and those produced by rabbits immunized with Fc portions of IgG1 or IgG2 required extensive absorption before they were monospecific for their respective heavy chains. Heavy chains were poor immunogens in all three species. Rabbits immunized with IgA produced both anti-alpha and anti-light chain antibodies while guinea pigs produced sera with antibody activity to the alpha chain only.     

Cloning and characterization of ovine immunoglobulin G Fc receptor III (FcγRIII)

Receptors for the Fc regions of immunoglobin G (IgG) play a critical role in immunoregulation and immune defenses against pathogens. In this study, we describe the cloning, eukaryotic expression and IgG subclass specificity of ovine Fc gamma receptor III (FcγRIII). The newly cloned ovine FcγRIII cDNA contains a 940 bp open-reading frame (ORF), and is predicted to encode a 250 amino acid transmembrane glycoprotein composed of two immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a transmembrane region and a short cytoplasmic tail. The overall identity of the ovine FcγRIII amino acid sequence to its cattle, pig and human counterparts was 83.2%, 62.0%, 60.7%, respectively. Overlapping PCR was performed with the extracellular domain of ovine FcγRIII and the transmembrane and intracellular region of ovine Fc gamma chain to construct a chimeric receptor. Rosetting analysis showed that transfected COS-7 cells required Fc receptor gamma chain for the expression of FcγRIII on the surface. COS-7 cells expressing FcγRIII were able to bind chicken erythrocytes sensitized with ovine IgG1, but not IgG2. Identification of ovine FcγRIII will further our understanding of the ovine immune system.     

Analysis of the expression of immunoglobulins throughout lactation suggests two periods of immune transfer in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

Marsupial young are born in an under-developed state without mature immune responses. Prior to the maturation of an immune system, marsupial young are heavily reliant upon immune factors secreted in the milk to defend them against potential microbial pathogens in the environment. In this study, we identified and characterized the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant regions, light chains, polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR), J chain, neonatal Fc receptor (alpha chain) (FcRn) and the chemokine CCL28 from the model marsupial species, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Low levels of conservation were seen in motifs in C and Cγ associated with receptor binding and or transcytosis, and this may have potential implications for functionality. We evaluated the expression of immunoglobulin genes in the tammar mammary gland throughout lactation and found that two periods of increased expression of immunoglobulin genes occur. These two periods coincide with the birth of the young, and with its first emergence from the pouch. This increased expression may represent a strategy for maternal immunological protection of the pouch young.     

家蚕丝素重链C末端序列分析、克隆及表达纯化

蚕丝主要由丝素和丝胶蛋白组成,其中丝素包括丝素重链,丝素轻链和P25蛋白。丝素重链蛋白分子量大,体外表达困难,难以分离纯化,很难对其结构进行研究。本文通过对丝素重链基因的分析,以家蚕5龄3d后部丝腺cDNA为模板,克隆获得了丝素重链C末端碱基序列,并将其构建到pET-50b(+)表达载体上,转入到大肠杆菌中进行表达,通过镍柱亲和层析纯化获得了丝素重链C末端的融合蛋白,为进一步研究蚕丝蛋白的折叠和组装奠定了研究基础。     

Characterization of serum immunoglobulin M of grouper and cDNA cloning of its heavy chain

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) from the whole serum of grouper fish, Epinephelus coioides was purified by affinity chromatography using protein A-Sepharose column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions revealed that the relative molecular masses (Mr) of the equimolar heavy and light chains of IgM were 78,000 and 27,000, respectively. The cDNAs encoding IgM heavy chain comprising its variable (VH) and constant (CH) regions have been cloned and sequenced from a grouper kidney cDNA library by antibody screening method. Five VH (130-142 amino acids) and four CH (450-454 amino acids) families were identified. The variable and constant regions were conserved with their putative domains. All the four constant region domains (CH1-CH2-CH3-CH4) contained each three conserved cysteine residues, which are considered to form the inter- and intra-chain disulfide bridges. There were three carbohydrate acceptor sites in the constant region. In general, the pattern of IgM gene organization seems to resemble that of other teleosts. Moreover, the CH genes in grouper IgM occur as multifamily as reported in Atlantic salmon and common carp.     

The immunoglobulin light chain locus of the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

To date, most jawed vertebrate species encode more than one immunoglobulin light (IgL) chain isotypes. It has been shown that several bird species (chickens, white Pekin or domestic duck, and zebra finches) exclusively express lambda isotype. We analyze here the genomic organization of another bird species turkey IgL genes based on the recently released genome data. The turkey IgL locus located on chromosome 17 spans approximately 75.2kb and contains a single functional V(λ) gene, twenty V(λ) pseudogenes, and a single functional J(λ)-C(λ) block. These data suggest that the genomic organization of bird IgL chain genes seems to be conserved. Ten cDNA clones from turkey Igλ chain containing almost full-length V(λ), J(λ) and C(λ) segments were acquired. The comparison of V(λ) cDNA sequences to all the germline V(λ) segments suggests that turkey species may be generating IgL chain diversity by gene conversion and somatic hypermutation like the chicken. This study provides insights into the immunoglobulin light chain genes in another bird species.     

猪肺巨噬细胞FcγR Ⅲ受体基因的克隆与序列分析

为研究猪肺巨噬细胞FcγR Ⅲ的生物学功能,本研究应用RT-PCR技术从猪肺巨噬细胞总RNA中克隆出猪FcγR Ⅲ的cDNA序列,并对其进行了分析。结果表明,克隆到的序列长820 bp,包含有1个771 bp完整开放阅读框(ORF),与GenBank中登录的猪FcγR Ⅲ序列(AF237453)的核苷酸同源性为99.9％;与人、牛、马、绵羊、猕猴、狗、猫、小鼠氨基酸同源性分别为61.6%、62.9%、55.3%、62.2%、63.0%、59.0%、61.8%和53.2%;蛋白质分子结构预测结果表明,该分子由信号肽（20个氨基酸）、胞外区(185个氨基酸)、跨膜区(23个氨基酸)和胞内区(28个氨基酸)组成,在胞外区存在2个Ig样结构域。猪肺巨噬细胞FcγR Ⅲ基因的成功克隆,为进一步研究其结构与功能奠定基础。     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分离株核衣壳基因克隆、序列分析和真核表达

根据GenBank公开序列自行设计一对引物，采用RT—PCR扩增出鸡传染性支气管炎病毒（Infectious bronchitis virus，IBV）W和C9001分离株完整的核衣壳（N）基因，并将其克隆至pMD18-T载体进行核苷酸序列测定和分析。结果表明，扩增的2个IBV分离株核衣壳基因片段长度均为1230bp，编码409个氨基酸，彼此间核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为88．0％和89．5％，与GenBank中有代表性的参考毒株相应基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列比较显示，w株核苷酸序列与GenBank中的广东分离株（AY646283）同源性最高，为94．1％，氨基酸序列同源性为94．6％；与国内部分毒株核苷酸序列同源性在86．1％～88．0％之间，氨基酸序列同源性在88．0％～90．7％之间；C9001株与国内部分毒株核苷酸序列同源性在86．4％～99．8％之间，氨基酸序列同源性在88．0％～99．8％之间。从核衣壳基因编码的氨基酸序列的系统进化树可见，W株与C9001株处于不同的进化分枝，亲缘关系较远。同时将核衣壳基因构建于真核表达质粒pVAX1中，用脂质体法将重组质粒转染入COS-7细胞中，间接免疫荧光检测出核衣壳蛋白的体外表达。研究结果为进一步研究IBV核衣壳蛋白的结构与功能以及基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Molecular characterization and B cell membrane expression analysis of Fc fragment gene of goose IgY

A novel goose immunoglobulin υ chain (Igυ) Fc fragment gene was cloned from splenic tissue mRNA using RT-PCR. Deduced amino acid sequence data from different vertebrates revealed high similarity to IgY-Fc fragments of duck (91%) and chicken (64%). Molecular characterization showed that the goose IgY-Fc fragment was consistent with the definition of immunoglobulin, and had the same antigenicity to natural IgY. Flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that the polyclonal antibody against GoυFc reacted with the membrane surface of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood, which indicates that IgY was expressed on the surface of B cells. Analyses of the gene sequence of the goose IgY-Fc fragment and expression of B cell membrane may provide insight into the evolution of the Ig heavy chain gene family and benefit future studies on the avian immune system.     

多浆旱生植物霸王液泡膜H+-PPase基因片段的克隆及序列分析

根据其他植物H⁺-PPase基因的保守序列设计一对简并性引物,以霸王叶片总RNA为模板,采用RT-PCR的方法扩增出H⁺-PPase基因片段并克隆到PUCm-T载体。阳性克隆经PCR鉴定后进行测序,序列分析结果表明,克隆到3个同源的序列片段(898 bp),编码299个氨基酸;所得序列与GenBank中注册的高等植物H⁺-PPase基因核苷酸序列的同源性均在69%以上、氨基酸序列的同源性达78%以上。     

也木勒羊抑制素α亚基基因克隆及其真核表达

为了克隆也木勒白羊抑制素α(inhibin α,INHα)亚基基因和表达其重组蛋白质,本试验采集发情期也木勒白羊卵巢组织,并从中快速抽提总RNA,以此作为模板并根据白羊INHα亚基基因编码区序列(GenBank登录号:XM_004004955.1)设计合成1对引物,经反转录扩增获得了也木勒白羊INHα亚基基因编码区全长序列.并将扩增产物克隆到表达载体(pEGFP-N1)的Scal Ⅰ和EcoR Ⅰ酶切位点之间,构建重组质粒pEGFP-INHα并转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,后进行鉴定、测序,证明成功构建了INHα亚基基因的真核表达载体.将也木勒白羊INHα亚基基因与人、大猩猩、牛等动物的INHα亚基基因序列进行同源性比对分析,相似度都在50%以上,说明了抑制素基因具有高度保守性.用RT-PCR和Western blotting方法验证了INHα亚基基因的真核表达载体在BHK细胞中的成功表达及蛋白表达.     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒S1基因与猪IgG Fc基因在HeLa细胞中的融合表达

根据GenBank中发表的猪的IgG Fc段基因及鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)S1基因序列,设计并合成引物.以猪肝组织总RNA为模板扩增出猪IgG Fc基因,以舍全长IBV M41 S基因的质粒为模板扩增出IBV S1基因,分别克隆至T裁体.DNA测序表明,所获得的IBV S1基因大小为1.5 kb,lgG Fc大小为1 kb,序列正确.将IBVS1与IgG Fc基因串连,插入舍有人组织型纤维蛋白溶酶原激活物分泌信号肽序列(tPA)的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-tPA上,在HeLa细胞上进行瞬时融合表迭.经免疫光和斑点杂交检测,表达产物同时具有IBV S1蛋白和IgG Fe活性.     

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。     

哺乳动物免疫球蛋白重链恒定区基因研究进展

免疫球蛋白分子是由2条相同的重链和2条相同的轻链所构成的多肽链结构,其中重链有5种,与之相应的免疫球蛋白分子为5类,整个免疫球蛋白分子可分为恒定区和可变区2部分。由于免疫球蛋白重链恒定区在免疫过程中起多种效应作用,目前已对多种动物的免疫球蛋白重链恒区基因进行了研究,如哺乳动物、鱼类、两栖类、爬行类、鸟类等。了解哺乳动物免疫球蛋白的结构、功能起到了重要的作用,也对了解免疫系统的起源和进化提供依据。