siRNA Mediated Knockdown of Tissue Factor Expression in Pigs for Xenotransplantation

Acute vascular rejection (AVR), in particular microvascular thrombosis, is an important barrier to successful pig‐to‐primate xenotransplantation. Here, we report the generation of pigs with decreased tissue factor (TF) levels induced by small interfering (si)RNA‐mediated gene silencing. Porcine fibroblasts were transfected with TF‐targeting small hairpin (sh)RNA and used for somatic cell nuclear transfer. Offspring were analyzed for siRNA, TF mRNA and TF protein level. Functionality of TF downregulation was investigated by a whole blood clotting test and a flow chamber assay. TF siRNA was expressed in all twelve liveborn piglets. TF mRNA expression was reduced by 94.1 ± 4.7% in TF knockdown (TFkd) fibroblasts compared to wild‐type (WT). TF protein expression in PAEC stimulated with 50 ng/mL TNF‐α was significantly lower in TFkd pigs (mean fluorescence intensity TFkd: 7136 ± 136 vs. WT: 13 038 ± 1672). TF downregulation significantly increased clotting time (TFkd: 73.3 ± 8.8 min, WT: 45.8 ± 7.7 min, p < 0.0001) and significantly decreased thrombus formation compared to WT (mean thrombus coverage per viewing field in %; WT: 23.5 ± 13.0, TFkd: 2.6 ± 3.7, p < 0.0001). Our data show that a functional knockdown of TF is compatible with normal development and survival of pigs. TF knockdown could be a valuable component in the generation of multi‐transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation.     

淋病奈瑟菌隐蔽性质粒的克隆及PCR的建立与应用

用分生物学方法自淋病奈瑟菌标准分离株中克隆４．２ｋｂ的隐蔽性质粒，并根据该质粒ＤＮＡ序列，设计引物，建立淋病奈瑟菌ＰＣＲ检测方法。该方法标处理简单、反应程序优化，可在２．５小时内完成一次检测。     

乙型肝炎病毒E抗原反式激活靶基因的克隆化研究

目的 应用抑制性消减杂交(SSH)技术及生物信息学技术(bioinfonnatics)筛选并克隆乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)e抗原(HBeAg)反式激活新型靶基因。方法 以HBeAg表达质粒pcDNA3．1(-)-HBeAg转染HepG2细胞,以空载体pcDNA3．1(-)为平行对照,提取mRNA并进行抑制性消减杂交(SSH)分析。对于所获基因片段序列分析表明,其中之一为新型基因片段,与GenBank中注册的已知功能基因序列没有同源性,利表达序列标签(EST)序列的搜索和比对,进行电子拼接,根据基因起始密码子的KozaK规则和终止密码子下游保守的多聚腺苷酸信号序列,确定新型基因序列。从HepG2细胞提取总RNA,以逆转录多聚酶链反应(RTPCR)技术扩增获得该新基因的全长序列,并测序证实,命名为HBeAgTP,在GenBank中注册,注册号为AY423624。结果 HBeAg TP基因的编码序列全长为324个核苷酸(nt),编码产物由107个氨基酸残基(aa)组成。结论 HBeAg反式激活新型靶基因HBeAg TP的筛选与克隆,为进一步研究。HBeAg在体内激活作用的分子生物学机制和探索新型治疗技术奠定基础。     

喹诺酮耐药基因qnrA的协同耐药分子机制研究

目的探讨喹诺酮类药物耐药基因qnrA介导的耐药性及其协同耐药分子机制。方法采用引物特异性PCR结合测序检测qnrA阳性株及gyraseA和parC基因变异情况,Phe-Aag-β-Naphthylamine(PAβN)抑制试验识别外排机制介导的耐药性,琼脂稀释法测定qnrA阳性株对喹诺酮类抗菌药的MIC值。结果QnrA阳性株对喹诺酮类抗菌药的耐药水平存在明显差异,gyraseA、parC基因变异或AcrAB-TolC外排泵等协同耐药机制存在与否与其关系密切。结论qnrA基因介导的耐药性存在协同机制,并加剧了qnrA阳性株的耐药性,给临床抗感染治疗带来严峻挑战。     

Some clinical implications of recombinant DNA technology with emphasis on prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies

Recombinant DNA technology has made possible remarkable advances in understanding the molecular genetics of human and other eucaryotic cells. This technology also has clinical applications, some of which may soon involve clinical laboratories. Restriction endonucleases and cloned DNA probes permit the direct analysis of cellular DNA to detect sequence abnormalities associated with particular genetic disorders. Use of this approach in the antenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies is now possible on a routine basis. The principles behind the methods are quite general and may be applied to other hereditary diseases once suitable DNA probes become available. The same approach may be used to detect carriers of recessive gene defects and so improve genetic counselling. Other clinically related applications of recombinant DNA technology include the production of antigens for vaccine preparation and of specific human proteins (e.g. interferon and human growth hormone) for therapeutic use, as well as the use of nucleic acid hybridization for identification of microbial pathogens. It seems likely that recombinant DNA technology will, in the future, play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human disease.     

AaeAP1 and AaeAP2: Novel Antimicrobial Peptides from the Venom of the Scorpion,Androctonus aeneas: Structural Characterisation,Molecular Cloning of Biosynthetic Precursor-Encoding cDNAs and Engineering of Analogues with Enhanced Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities

The main functions of the abundant polypeptide toxins present in scorpion venoms are the debilitation of arthropod prey or defence against predators. These effects are achieved mainly through the blocking of an array of ion channel types within the membranes of excitable cells. However, while these ion channel-blocking toxins are tightly-folded by multiple disulphide bridges between cysteine residues, there are additional groups of peptides in the venoms that are devoid of cysteine residues. These non-disulphide bridged peptides are the subject of much research interest, and among these are peptides that exhibit antimicrobial activity. Here, we describe two novel non-disulphide-bridged antimicrobial peptides that are present in the venom of the North African scorpion, Androctonus aeneas. The cDNAs encoding the biosynthetic precursors of both peptides were cloned from a venom-derived cDNA library using 3''- and 5''-RACE strategies. Both translated precursors contained open-reading frames of 74 amino acid residues, each encoding one copy of a putative novel nonadecapeptide, whose primary structures were FLFSLIPSVIAGLVSAIRN and FLFSLIPSAIAGLVSAIRN, respectively. Both peptides were C-terminally amidated. Synthetic versions of each natural peptide displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, but were devoid of antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. However, synthetic analogues of each peptide, engineered for enhanced cationicity and amphipathicity, exhibited increases in antimicrobial potency and acquired antiproliferative activity against a range of human cancer cell lines. These data clearly illustrate the potential that natural peptide templates provide towards the design of synthetic analogues for therapeutic exploitation.     

丹参晚期胚胎富集蛋白基因的克隆及表达模式分析

目的克隆丹参晚期胚胎富集蛋白(late embryogenesis abundant protein,LEA)基因,并进行生物信息学和表达模式分析。方法对丹参转录组数据库进行BLAST同源性比对,发现一条新的与LEA基因家族同源性较高的序列,命名为Sm LEA2,Gen Bank登录号为HQ676610。进一步利用PCR和RT-PCR技术从丹参g DNA以及c DNA水平克隆得到了Sm LEA2基因全长。采用软件分析蛋白质结构性质和系统进化关系。利用实时荧光定量PCR的方法对不同部位、不同发育时期以及不同处理丹参的Sm LEA2表达量进行检测。结果获得Sm LEA2 g DNA长1 961 bp,由1个外显子和1个内含子组成,并且内含子位于ATG的上游;开放阅读框长为960 bp,共编码319个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示,Sm LEA2是存在于细胞质中的亲水蛋白,无跨膜结构域和信号肽,其相对分子质量为35 340,等电点为4.77。该基因在丹参的根、茎、叶中均有表达,并且在茎中的表达量最高。随着花的成熟和种子的发育,该基因表达量逐渐升高,并且该基因的表达受茉莉酸甲酯(Me JA)以及脱落酸(ABA)的诱导作用影响。结论克隆得到的丹参Sm LEA2可能参与种子发育过程,并在丹参防御反应中发挥作用。     

红花天冬氨酸激酶基因片段的分离及表达分析

目的克隆红花种子中的天冬氨酸激酶(aspartokinase,AK)基因并研究其在种子不同发育时期的表达量。方法根据红花转录组文库注释信息筛选与红花天冬氨酸激酶(Ct AK)基因相关的Unigenes,设计引物,以红花种子总RNA为模板,采用RT-PCR的方法扩增Ct AK基因片段并连接到克隆载体上,经PCR及酶切鉴定,筛选阳性克隆进行测序。同时利用荧光定量PCR技术对其进行基因表达量的分析。结果克隆了红花Ct AK基因的核心片段,分离到486 bp的基因序列。根据Ct AK基因片段设计引物,对不同品种不同发育时期红花种子进行荧光定量PCR分析,Ct AK基因在红花品种川红1号初花后13 d表达量最高。结论系统发育树分析表明,该基因与其他物种的AK基因具有较高的同源性。     

铁皮石斛1-羟基-2-甲基-2-(E)-丁烯基-4-焦磷酸还原酶基因的克隆与表达分析

目的从铁皮石斛Dendrobium officinale中克隆1-羟基-2-甲基-2-(E)-丁烯基-4-焦磷酸还原酶[1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl-4-diphosphatereductase,HDR]基因,并分析其在铁皮石斛不同组织中的表达差异以及不同信号分子诱导下的表达模式。方法采用RT-PCR和RACE等方法获得铁皮石斛HDR基因(Do HDR)全长,利用DNAMAN和MEGA6.0对其他物种的HDR基因编码的氨基酸序列进行同源性分析和进化关系分析,使用实时荧光定量分析HDR基因的表达模式。结果成功获得Do HDR基因,Gen Bank登录号为KC344827,全长1 658 bp,编码460个氨基酸,与其他科属植物的同源性达到80%以上。Do HDR基因在铁皮石斛叶片中表达量最高,从高到低依次是根、茎、原球茎;且受到脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)、水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)信号分子的诱导。结论从铁皮石斛中获得Do HDR基因,为进一步阐明铁皮石斛萜类化合物合成途径中该基因的重要作用奠定了理论基础。     

红花栝楼鲨烯合酶基因的克隆及其序列分析

目的克隆红花栝楼鲨烯合酶(squalene synthase,SS)的基因并进行序列分析,为进一步研究葫芦科植物三萜合成通路关键酶SS的正选择位点与功能的关联性分析奠定基础。方法根据绞股蓝与罗汉果SS基因c DNA比对分析的结果,设计SS的5’端简并引物,采用3’RACE扩增红花栝楼SS全长c DNA基因。结果获得红花栝楼SS c DNA全长共1 466个核苷酸,其中包括一个含有1 254个核苷酸的开放读码框,编码417个氨基酸残基。通过NCBI的Blast比对,发现红花栝楼SS基因编码的氨基酸序列与已知植物SS基因编码的氨基酸序列同源性为78%~94%,核苷酸的同源性为74%~93%。结论成功克隆了红花栝楼SS的全长c DNA,为进一步研究红花栝楼SS基因结构、基因表达、基因突变提供了基础,并为葫芦科植物三萜合成通路关键酶SS的正选择位点与功能的关联性分析提供了数据支持。