Induction of apoptosis of human colon cancer cells by siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene

This study constructed siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene and observe the apoptosis induction effect of it in human colon cancer cells, siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene was constructed and transfected into human colon cancer cells. The effect of siRNA recombinant expression vector was detected by RT-PCR, Western blot, MTT reduction assay and flow cytometry. It was confirmed by restriction endonuclease and sequence analysis that siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene was constructed successfully. Inhibition rate of survivin siRNA at mRNA and protein levels was 36.33% and 44.65% respectively. Growth of cancer cells was inhibited and the apoptosis rate was （17.24±2.13）%. The siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene has been constructed successfully. It not only can inhibit the expression of survivin gene, but also can induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells remarkably.     

Knocking-down of Nogo-A Gene Expression in PC12 Cell Line by Plasmid-based RNAi

To study the inhibitory effect of Nogo-A shRNA on cell line PC12, the Nogo-A shRNA （short hairpin RNA, or shRNA） was designed and synthesized. The annealed shRNA template was inserted into plasmid pGenesil-1 containing enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） gene by gene cloning technique to generate eukaryotic expression vector. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into PC12 cells by lipofecamine2000 and the mRNA and protein expression level of Nogo-A gene was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting 48 h after the transfection. Gene sequencing showed that that the Nogo-A shRNA eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed. No significant change was found in the Nogo-A mRNA and protein expression level in empty vector-transfected group as compared with controls （P〉0.05）, while the expression level in shRNA-transfected group decreased significantly （P〈0.05）. It is concluded that the pGenesil-1/Nogo-AshRNA recombinant plasmid can effectively suppress the expression of Nogo-A gene in PC12 cells.     

Construction of Eukaryotic Expression Plasmid pcDNA3-FHIT and Its Transient Expression in COS-1 Cells

Objective: To construct eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3-fragile histidine triad(FHIT) and obtain its transient expression in COS-1 cells. Methods: FHIT gene was cloned from normal human thyroid tissue by RT-PCR and then inserted into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3. After the sequence was confirmed, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-FHIT was transfected into COS-1 cells by cation liposome. The transient expression in the cells was measured by immunocytochemistry. Results: The sequence of FHIT in pcDNA3 was correct and high expression was obtained in COS-1 cells. Conclusion: The eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3-FHIT was constructed successfully and could highly express FHIT protein in COS-1 cells. This will be potentially useful for the research on gene therapy.     

Construction and Expression of Bivalent Membrane-anchored DNA Vaccine Encoding Sj14FABP and Sj26GST Genes

In order to construct a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid containing membrane-anchored Sjc14FABP and Sjc26GST genes and identify their expression in vitro, Sj 14 and Sj26 genes were obtained by RT-PCR with total RNA of Schistosoma japonicum adult worms as the template and cloned into eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAC to construct recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sj14 and pVAC-Sj26. Then a 23 amino-acid signal peptide of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) upstream Sj14 or Sj26 gene and a membrane-anchored sequence containing 32 amino-acids of carboxyl-terminal of human plaeental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) downstream were amplified by PCR as the template of plasmid pVAC-Sj14 or pVAC-Sj26 only to get two gene fragments including Sj14 gene and Sj26 gene. The two modified genes were altogether cloned into a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid pIRES, resulting in another new recombinant plasmid pIRES-Sj26-Sj 14. The expression of Sl14 and Sl26 genes was detected by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescent assays (IFA) when the plasmid pIRES-Sj26-Sj14 was transfected into eukaryotic Hela cells. Restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and sequencing results revealed that the recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sj14, pVAC-Sj26 and pIRES-Sj26-Sj 14 were successfully constructed and the expression of modified Sj 14 and Sj26 genes could be detected by RT-PCR and IFA. A bivalent membrane-anchored DNA vaccine encoding Sj14 and Sj26 genes was acquired and expressed proteins were proved to be mostly anchored in cellular membranes.     

Epigenetic Regulation of the ERβ Gene on the Estrogen Signal Transfection Pathway in Colon Cancer Cells

We studied the regulatory effects of the estragen receptorβ(ERβ)gene on the downstream estrogen signal transfection pathway in colon cancer cells and the possible mechanisms involved.A human ERβ gene recombinant expression plasmid,pEGFP-C1-ERβ,was constructed and transfected into the Caco-2 colon cancer cell line,a line with low ERβ gene expression.The expression of ERβ mRNA and protein was detected 72h after transfection.RT-PCR was used to examine the expression levels of the progesterone recepror(PR)gene ...     

Construction of eukaryotic expression vector encoding ATP synthase lipid-binding protein-like protein gene of Sj and its expression in HeLa cells

Objective： To clone and construct the recombinant plasmid containing ATP synthase lipid-binding protein-like protein gene of Schistosomajaponicum,（SjAslp） and transfer it into mammalian cells to express the objective protein. Methods： By polymerase chain reaction （PCR） technique, SjAslp was amplified from the constructed recombinant plasmid pBCSK＋/SjAslp, and inserted into cloning vector pUCm-T. Then, SjAslp was subcloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1（＋）. After identifying it by PCR, restrictive enzymes digestion and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmid was transfected into HeLa cells using electroporation, and the expression of the recombinant protein was analyzed by immunocytochemical assay. Results： The specific gene fragment of 558 bp was successfully amplified. The DNA vaccine of SjAslp was successfully constructed. Immunocytochemical assay showed that SjAslp was expressed in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells. Conclusion： SjAslp gene can be expressed in eukaryotic system, which lays the foundation for development of the SjAslp DNA vaccine against schitosomiasis.     

Construction of Sox9 gene eukaryotic expression vector and its inductive effects on directed differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells into precartilaginous stem cells in rats

Sox9 gene was cloned from immortalized precartilaginous stem cells and its eukaryotic expression vector constructed in order to explore the possibility of bone marrow-derived stromal cells differentiation into precartilaginous stem cells induced by Sox9. A full-length fragment of Sox9 was obtained by RT-PCR, inserted into pGEM-T Easy clone vector, and ligated with pEGFP-IRES2 expression vector by double digestion after sequencing. The compound plasmid was transfected into born marrow-derived stromal cells by Lipofectamine 2000, and the transfection efficacy and the expression of Sox9 and FGFR-3 were observed. Flow cytometry was used to identify the cell phenotype, and MTT was employed to assay proliferative viability of cells. Sequencing, restrictive endonuclease identification and RT-PCR confirmed that the expansion of Sox9 and construction of Sox9 expression vector were successful. After transfection of the recombinant vector into bone marrow-derived stromal cells, the expression of Sox9 and FGFR-3 was detected, and proliferative viability was not different from that of precartilaginous stem cells. It was concluded that Sox9 gene eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed, and the transfected bone marrow-derived stromal cells differentiated into the precartilaginous stem cells.     

Construction and Expression of Bivalent Membrane-anchored DNA Vaccine Encoding Sj14FABP and Sj26GST Gene

In order to construct a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid containing membrane-anchored Sjc14FABP and Sjc26GST genes and identify their expression in vitro, Sj 14 and Sj26 genes were ob- tained by RT-PCR with total RNA of Schistosoma japonicum adult worms as the template and cloned into eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAC to construct recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sjl4 and pVAC-Sj26. Then a 23 amino-acid signal peptide of human interleukin-2 （IL-2） upstream Sj 14 or Sj26 gene and a membrane-anchored sequence containing 32 amino-acids of carboxyi-terminal of human placental alkaline phosphatase （PLAP） downstream were amplified by PCR as the template of plasmid pVAC-Sj14 or pVAC-Sj26 only to get two gene fragments including Sj14 gene and Sj26 gene. The two modified genes were altogether cloned into a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid plRES, resulting in another new recombinant plasmid plRES-Sj26-Sj14. The expression of Sj 14 and Sj26 genes was detected by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescent assays （IFA） when the plasmid plRES-Sj26-Sj 14 was transfected into eukaryotic Hela cells. Restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and sequencing results revealed that the recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sj14, pVAC-Sj26 and plRES-Sj26-Sj 14 were successfully constructed and the expression of modified Sj 14 and Sj26 genes could be detected by RT-PCR and IFA. A bivalent membrane-anchored DNA vaccine encoding Sj 14 and Sj26 genes was acquired and expressed proteins were proved to be mostly anchored in cellular membranes.     

Construction of Eukaryotic Expression Plasmid of bFGF Gene in Rats and Its Expression in Tenocytes

The bFGF plays an important role in embryonic development of tendons and ligaments and in the healing of injuried tendons and ligaments. The eukaryotic expression plasmid of rat basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene was constructed in order to further investigate the bFGF func-tion in molecular regulatory mechanism in the repair of tendons and ligaments and to provide the foundation for the clinical application. The cDNA fragments of bFGF were cloned from the skin of rats by RT-PCR, and recombinated to the pMD18-T vector. The cDNA encoding bFGF was cloned from the pMD18-T vector by RT-PCR, digested with restriction enzyme EcoRⅠ, PstⅠ and bound to eukaryotic expression plasmid pIRES2-EGFP to construct eukaryotic expression plasmid pIRES2-EGFP-bFGF. The pIRES2-EGFP-bFGF was transfected into the tenocytes by lipid-mediated ransfection technique. MTT test was used to detect the biological activity of bFGF in supernatants after the transfection. The expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen genes was detected by using RT-PCR. It was verified that the pIRES2-EGFP-bFGF was successfully constructed, and its transfec-tion into tenocytes could significantly enhance the biological activity of bFGF, and increase the ex-pression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen mRNA, suggesting that pIRES2-EGFP-mediated bFGF gene therapy was beneficial to the repair of tendons and ligaments.     

Construction of a Targeting Adenoviral Vector Carrying Survivin Promoter for Expressing EGFP Gene in Laryngeal Carcinoma Cell Line Hep-2

In gene therapy for any type of malignancy, tumor specificity is of utmost importance. Here we constructed the adenoviral vector bringing EGFP gene under the control of survivin promoter for evaluation of the possibility of target gene therapy in laryngeal carcinoma. First, Survivin promoter （SP） was amplified by PCR in the replace of CMV promoter in the plasmid pShuttle. Enhanced green fluorescent protein gene （EGFP） digested from the plasmid pEGFP-CI was cloned into plasmid pShuttle. Further two genes were cloned to Adeno-X Viral DNA. The recombinant adenoviral plasmid was transferred to HEK293 cells by lipofectamine. After titrating the virus, the laryngeal carcinoma cells （Hep-2） were transfected by the adenovirus and the expression of EGFP gene was detected. The recombinant Ad-SP-EGFP was correctly constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing. After Hep-2 cells were transfected by the virus, RT-PCR showed that survivin mRNA was transcribed from the tumor cells. Western blot and fluorescent microscope showed EGFP protein was expressed in transgene Hep-2 cells. Present results suggest that survivin promoter may provide a new promising tool for target gene therapy of human malignancies.     

Inhibition of RAW264.7 Macrophage Inflammatory Cytokines Release by Small Haparin RNAi Targeting TLR4

In order to construct an expression vector carrying small hairpin (sh) RNA (shRNA) for toll-like receptor 4 mRNA and a reporter gene of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and study the inhibition of cytokine release by RAW264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation through transfection and expression of shRNA targeting TLR4 gene via the RNAi mechanism, the reporter gene plasmid pEGFP-C1 (4.7 kb) and psiRNA-hHlneo (2979 bp) were used. The H1 promotor and double Bbs I restrict endoenzyme site were cloned from plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo and reconstructed them into plasmid pEGFP-C1 in the Mlu I restrict endoenzymic site, forming plasmid pEGFP-H1/siRNA, which contained Bbs site and reporter EGFP gene. Then an oligonuclear hairpin sequence targeting TLR4 gene was designed by internet tool and inserted into the plasmid pEGFP-H1/siRNA forming plasmid pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA. After transfection of pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA into RAW264.7 cells, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release by the cells after stimulation by LPS was detected. The results showed that the constructed pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA carrying hairpin RNA for TLR4 gene and reporter EGFP gene were proven to be right by restriction endonuclease analysis. The expression of EGFP gene was (50.37±8.23) % and after transfection of the plasmid pEGFP-H1/ TLR4-siRNA the level of TNF-αreleased by RAW264.7 cell was down regulated. It was concluded that shRNA targeting TLR4 gene could inhibit the TNF-αrelease by RAW264.7 cells evoked by LPS.     

Packaging and Functional Identification of Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus Encoding cdc2-siRNA

Cyclin dependent kinases （cdks） play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. To explore the possibility of cdks-related gene therapy for neurodegen-erative diseases, we packed recombinant adeno-associated virus （rAAV） encoding cdc2-siRNA. The expressing plasmid pAAV-MCS-EGFP-U6-cdc2-siRNA was constructed by using molecular biological techniques. The rAAV encoding cdc2-siRNA （rAAV-EGFP-U6-cdc2-siRNA） was packed by calcium phosphate mediated co-transfection of the plasmid pAAV-MCS-EGFP-U6-cdc2-siRNA, p-RC and p-Helper into AAV-293 cells. DNA sequencing proved the successful construction of U6-cdc2-siRNA in pAAV-MCS-EGFP. Seventy-two h after packaging, the expression of EGFP could be detected in AAV-293 cells. Western blotting revealed that cdc2 gene expression in AAV-293 cells was down-regulated markedly after transfection with rAAV-EGFP-U6-cdc2-siRNA, which evidenced the satisfactory silencing effect of this virus. It was concluded that the packaging of rAAV encoding cdc2-siRNA was successful. rAAV encoding cdc2-siRNA could silence cdc2 gene effectively, which might offer a novel means for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Construction of Eukaryotic Expression Plasmid of Human PRX3 and Its Expression in HEK-293FT Cells

To construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid of human PRX3 and measure its expression in the HEK-293FT cells, the full-length coding region of human PRX3 was cloned by PCR and inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA4-Xpress (A). HEK-293FT cells were transiently transfected with the recombinant plasmid. Western blot and immuofluorescence were used to detect the expression of the fusion protein. In the experiment, restriction analysis identified the construction of the recombinant plasmid and the inserted sequence was identical with that published on GenBank. Western blot and immunofluorescence confirmed the expression of the recombinant protein in transfected HEK-293FT cells. It was concluded that the eukaryotic expression plasmid of human PRX3 was constructed successfully and the recombinant could he expressed efficiently in HEK-293FT cells, which provides a sound basis for the further study on human PRX3.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Biological Activity Analysis of Human Arresten Gene

To express recombinant arresten in Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and investigate its biological activity, prokaryotic expression vector of human arresten gene was constructed by gene engineering. Human arresten gene was amplified from recombinant plasmid pGEMArr by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pRSET containing T7 promoter. Restriction analysis and DNA sequencing verified that the arresten gene was correctly cloned into the expression vector. The recombinant plasmid pRSETAt was subsequently transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3), and the target gene was expressed under induction of IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the recombinant protein with a molecular weight of 29 kD (1 kD=0. 992 1 ku) amounted to 29% of the total bacterial proteins. After purification and renaturation, the recombinant protein could significantly suppress the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs). These results suggested that the expression of a biologically active form of human arresten in the pRSET expression system laid a foundation for further study on the mechanistic insight into arresten action on angiogenesis and the development of powerful anti-cancer drugs.     

Construction of Recombinant Plasmid Harboring APP717 Mutation and Preliminary Study of APP Proteolysis

In order to investigate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease （AD） and study the enzymatic progress of amyloid precursor protein （APP）, the fluorescent eukaryotic expression plasmid of C99 was constructed containing APP717 mutation. The fragment encoding the last 99-aa of APP （which was named C99 containing APP717 mutation）, together with the fragment encoding yellow fluorescence protein （which was named YFP） were amplified by PCR. The two fragments （YFP and C99） were inserted into the vector pcDNA3.0. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-YFP-C99 was accomplished and its authenticity was confirmed by enzyme digestion and sequencing. Then SH-SY5Y cells were transiently transfected with the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-YFP-C99. The expression of the fusion gene was detected by laser confocalmicroscopy. Amyloid-β （Aβ） was detected by both microscopy and immunochemistry. The authenticity of the construct was confirmed by the endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing. The YFP fluorescence could be seen and proved the expression of fusion gene. Aβ labeled by YFP was detected by confocalmicroscopy and confirmed by immunocytochemistry. It was found that Aβ accumulated and deposited in the intracytoplasm, membrane and outside of the cell. Furthermore, Aβ accumulated mainly within the cell ahead of the deposition in the cell space and the cell shape was rough. It was suggested that Aβ could be generated within the cells. Aβ accumulated in the cell at the early stage before the deposition outside of the cells Intracellular Aβ accumulation induced the secondary damage to the cells and caused the cell shape rough. Taken together, the recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3.0-YFP-C99 could be a useful tool to further study the cleavage mechanism of APP and to explore the pathogenesis of AD.     

Construction of Smac gene-carrying and human uroplakin Ib promoter-Regulated Genetic Vector and its Expression

Objective： To construct an eukaryotic expression vector that contains Smac gene, which is regulated by human Uroplakin Ib （UpIb） promoter. Methods： For the directionality of Smac expression in the transitional cell carcinoma of bladder, internal CMV and T7 promoter sequences in eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-Smac were replaced with UpIb promoter to construct a new plasmid. The plasmid DNA was identified by gel electrophoresis after being double digested at respective sites, and then the sequence was analyzed. The expression of Smac mRNA and protein in BIU87 cell line were detected after the transfection by using the newly constructed vector. Results： The Smac gene-carrying and UpIb promoter-regulated eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-UpIb-promoter-Smac was successfully constructed. The expression of Smac mRNA was approximately increased by 2.1 times and the expression of Smac protein was increased in about 71% BIU87 cells. Conclusion： The new vector can be effectively expressed in bladder cancer cells and be of great significance for bladder cancer-targeted gene therapy.     

Construction and identification of eukaryotic eukaryotic expression plasmid pcdna3.1-bace and its transient expression in cells

Objective： To generate eukaryotic expression vector of pcDNA3.1-BACE and obtain its transient expression in COS-7 cells and high expression in the neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Methods： A 1503 bp cDNA fragment was amplified from the total RNA of human neuroblastoma by RT-PCR method and cloned into plasmid pcDNA3.1. The vector was identified by digestion with restriction enzymes BamHI and XhoI and sequenced by Sanger-dideoxy：mediated chain termination. The expression of BACE gene was detected by immunocytochemistry method. Results： The results showed that the cDNA fragment included 1503 bp total coding region. The recombinant eukaryotic cell expression vector of pcDNA3.1-BACE was constructed successfully, and the sequence of insert was identical to the published sequence. The COS-7 cells and the neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells transfected with the pcDNA3.1-BACE plasmid expressed high level of BACE protein in cytoplasm. Conclusion： The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-BACE can provide very useful tool for researching the mason of Alzheimer＇s disease and lays the important foundation for preventing the AD laterly.