Expression of a bacterial gene in mammalian cells

Transfection of cultured monkey kidney cells with recombinant DNA constructed with a cloned Escherichia coli gene that codes for xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and several different SV40 DNA-based vectors, results in the synthesis of readily measurable quantities of the bacterial enzyme. Moreover, the physiological defect in purine nucleotide synthesis characteristic of human Lesch-Nyhan cells can be overcome by the introduction of the bacterial gene into these cells.     

Mitochondrial DNA in yeast and some mammalian species

Yeast DNA, in a cesium chloride density gradient, shows a minor or satellite band with a density lower than that of the main nuclear component. The DNA isolated from purified mitochondria of yeasts corresponds in density to this satellite band. In solution, this DNA more easily undergoes renaturation as compared to DNA from cell nuclei. The ease of this renaturation is presumably due to a homogeneity greater than that of nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial DNA isolated from several mammalian species has the same or higher density than nuclear DNA, but differs in its ready renaturability.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces a yeast substance that exhibits estrogenic activity in mammalian systems

Partially purified lipid extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain a substance that displaces tritiated estradiol from rat uterine cytosol estrogen receptors. The yeast product induces estrogenic bioresponses in mammalian systems as measured by induction of progesterone receptors in cultured MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and by a uterotrophic response and progesterone receptor induction after administration to ovariectomized mice. The findings raise the possibility that bakers' yeast may be a source of environmental estrogens.     

Control of yeast mating signal transduction by a mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptor and Gs alpha subunit

To facilitate functional and mechanistic studies of receptor-G protein interactions, [corrected] the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor (h beta-AR) has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This was achieved by placing a modified h beta-AR gene under control of the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter. After induction by galactose, functional h beta-AR was expressed at a concentration several hundred times as great as that found in any human tissue. As determined from competitive ligand binding experiments, h beta-AR expressed in yeast displayed characteristic affinities, specificity, and stereoselectivity. Partial activation of the yeast pheromone response pathway by beta-adrenergic receptor agonists was achieved in cells coexpressing h beta-AR and a mammalian G protein (Gs) alpha subunit-demonstrating that these components can couple to each other and to downstream effectors when expressed in yeast. This in vivo reconstitution system provides a new approach for examining ligand binding and G protein coupling to cell surface receptors.     

Evidence for mating of the "asexual" yeast Candida albicans in a mammalian host

Since its classification nearly 80 years ago, the human pathogen Candida albicans has been designated as an asexual yeast. In this report, we describe the construction of C. albicans strains that were subtly altered at the mating-type-like (MTL) locus, a cluster of genes that resembles the mating-type loci of other fungi. These derivatives were capable of mating after inoculation into a mammalian host. C. albicans is a diploid organism, but most of the mating products isolated from a mouse host were tetrasomic for the two chromosomes that could be rigorously monitored and, overall, exhibited substantially higher than 2n DNA content. These observations demonstrated that C. albicans can recombine sexually.     

Correction of CD18-deficient lymphocytes by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) is an inherited disorder of leukocyte function caused by derangements in CD18 expression. The genetic and functional abnormalities in a lymphocyte cell line from a patient with LAD have been corrected by retrovirus-mediated transduction of a functional CD18 gene. Lymphocytes from patients with LAD were exposed to CD18-expressing retrovirus and enriched for cells that express CD11a and CD18 (LFA-1) on the cell surface. Molecular and functional analyses of these cells revealed (i) one copy of proviral sequence per cell, (ii) viral-directed CD18 RNA that exceeded normal endogenous levels, (iii) normal quantities of CD11a and CD18 protein on the cell surface, and (iv) reconstitution of LFA-1-dependent adhesive function.     

番茄一个褪黑素合成基因的cDNA克隆与表达分析

为深入研究褪黑素的分子生物学功能,根据番茄基因组数据库的SlSNAT基因序列信息设计引物,以耐盐番茄材LA1401(PI365967)叶片RNA反转录得到的cDNA为模板,利用高保真酶克隆了番茄的褪黑素合成酶基因SlSNAT,基因CDS(coding sequence)序列全长为768 bp,共编码255个氨基酸。利用酶切连接的方法,构建了该基因的超表达载体。实时定量PCR结果表明,SlSNAT基因在叶片中的表达量最高,显著高于其在花、果实、根、种子和萼片中的表达量。在不同非生物逆境处理下的表达结果显示,在干旱处理条件下的表达量最高,其次是在甘露醇的渗透胁迫逆境,在这2种胁迫条件下的表达量均显著高于其在过氧化氢、氯化钠、低温和褪黑素诱导下的表达量。另外,在盐胁迫条件下,SlSNAT基因在根部的表达量受到明显抑制。     

The origins of gene instability in yeast

Two unstable mutations at the his4 locus of yeast are due to the insertion of the transposable elements Ty912 and Ty917 into the his4 regulatory region. The two transposons are related, one being derived from the other by a substitution of 4000 base pairs of DNA. Element Ty912 includes identical terminal repeats, whereas the terminal repeats of Ty917 are not identical. Transposition of Ty912 or Ty917 generates 5-base-pair duplications of the target DNA at either end of the element. Expression and reversion of a his4 gene containing Ty912 or Ty917 is controlled by three unlinked regulatory genes. The properties of these regulatory genes are similar to those described for the controlling elements in maize.     

Correction of murine beta-thalassemia by gene transfer into the germ line

A murine beta-thalassemia was corrected by the transfer of cloned beta-globin genes into the mouse germ line. The cloned mouse beta maj-globin gene or the cloned human beta-globin gene was introduced into mice deficient in beta-globin synthesis because of a deletion of the beta maj-globin gene. Both introduced genes produced functional beta-globin chains, leading to a reduction in one case, and elimination in another case, of the anemia and associated abnormalities of the red blood cells.     

Amplification of a gene related to mammalian mdr genes in drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains at least two genes related to the mammalian multiple drug resistance genes, and at least one of the P. falciparum genes is expressed at a higher level and is present in higher copy number in a strain that is resistant to multiple drugs than in a strain that is sensitive to the drugs.     

Genetic defect in biosynthesis of the precursor form of the fourth component of complement

Under cell-free conditions, liver polysomes from guinea pigs genetically deficient in the fourth component of complement (C4) did not synthesize pro-C4 (the precursor of C4), but did synthesize nascent C4 polypeptides which remained polysome bound. The defect was specific for pro-C4 synthesis since the amounts of total protein and albumin synthesis and release from C4-deficient polysomes were similar to that in normal guinea pig liver polysomes.     

抑制素基因重组质粒转染大肠杆菌菌种冷藏与冷冻保存的效果分析

通过平皿培养进行抑制素基因重组的质粒转染菌种的冷藏、冷冻两种保存方法与复苏实验,结果表明,冷冻保存方法对于保存抑制素转染菌种的效果好于冷藏保存方法.     

A yeast actin-binding protein is encoded by SAC6, a gene found by suppression of an actin mutation

The protein encoded by SAC6, a gene that can mutate to suppress a temperature-sensitive defect in the yeast actin gene, has been identified as a 67-kilodalton actin-binding protein (ABP 67) that associates with all identifiable actin structures. This finding demonstrates the in vivo functional importance of the actin-ABP 67 interaction previously established in vitro and illustrates the use of suppressor analysis to identify physically interacting proteins.     

Secretion of a bacterial cellulase by yeast

Gene fusions were constructed between a yeast expression plasmid and a Cellulomonas fimi DNA fragment encoding an endo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase or carboxymethylcellulase. Yeast transformed with the recombinant plasmids secreted carboxymethylcellulase activity. Secretion of active enzyme was greatly increased when the leader of a secreted yeast protein, the Kl toxin, was inserted immediately upstream of and in frame with the bacterial cellulase sequence. This is the first step in constructing a functional cellulase complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It also provides an excellent system for the detailed examination of the determinants of protein secretion because of the ease with which secreted cellulase can be detected.     

Correction of ADA-SCID by stem cell gene therapy combined with nonmyeloablative conditioning

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy for adenosine deaminase (ADA)-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has shown limited clinical efficacy because of the small proportion of engrafted genetically corrected HSCs. We describe an improved protocol for gene transfer into HSCs associated with nonmyeloablative conditioning. This protocol was used in two patients for whom enzyme replacement therapy was not available, which allowed the effect of gene therapy alone to be evaluated. Sustained engraftment of engineered HSCs with differentiation into multiple lineages resulted in increased lymphocyte counts, improved immune functions (including antigen-specific responses), and lower toxic metabolites. Both patients are currently at home and clinically well, with normal growth and development. These results indicate the safety and efficacy of HSC gene therapy combined with nonmyeloablative conditioning for the treatment of SCID.     

The yeast cell cycle gene CDC34 encodes a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme

Mutants in the gene CDC34 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are defective in the transition from G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. This gene was cloned and shown to encode a 295-residue protein that has substantial sequence similarity to the product of the yeast RAD6 gene. The RAD6 gene is required for a variety of cellular functions including DNA repair and was recently shown to encode a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. When produced in Escherichia coli, the CDC34 gene product catalyzed the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to histones H2A and H2B in vitro, demonstrating that the CDC34 protein is another distinct member of the family of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. The cell cycle function of CDC34 is thus likely to be mediated by the ubiquitin-conjugating activity of its product.     

AcMNPV-1A在转P35基因细胞系中连续传代的研究

报道了1株粉纹夜蛾转P35基因工程细胞系,命名为Tn5B-35。苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒(Au-tographacalifornicanuclearpolyhedrosisvirus,AcMNPV)在该细胞系中连续传代至25代,与原始细胞系Tn5B1-4相比较,其感染率、多角体产量、滴度以及杀虫毒力的变化趋势均比较平稳,并未出现"传代效应"。