Isolation, sequence and expression of a cDNA encoding the alpha-chain of the feline CD8.

We have cloned, sequenced and expressed a cDNA encoding the alpha-chain of feline CD8. This clone, named FT8-10, has an open reading frame with 720 nucleotides in length encoding a protein with 239 amino acid residues. Sequence analysis has revealed that the feline CD8 alpha-chain (CD8 alpha) shares significant homology with human (T8/Leu-2), bovine (BoCD8), rat (MRC OX8) and mouse (Lyt-2) CD8 alpha subunits. Cysteine residues as well as the tyrosine kinase p56lck binding site are well conserved. Besides, no putative N-linked glycosylation site was found. Interestingly, immunofluorescence analysis of COS-7 cells transfected with feline CD8 alpha expression plasmid driven by SR alpha promoter showed that the expressed feline CD8 alpha cross-reacted with an anti-human CD8 alpha monoclonal antibody OKT8, but did not react with an anti-feline monoclonal antibody, FT-2, which is thought to recognize the feline analogue of the human T8/Leu-2 and murine Lyt-2 molecules expressed on cytotoxic/suppressor T cells.     

Molecular cloning and expression of bovine interleukin-8

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a neutrophil and T-lymphocyte chemotactic and activating factor. This cytokine is produced by many cell types including macrophages in response to a variety of microbial and non-microbial agents. In the present study, we determined the nucleotide sequence for bovine IL-8 cDNA. The amino acid sequence encoded by this cDNA shares 76 and 87% homology with the human and swine IL-8 proteins, respectively. Bovine IL-8 cDNA was expressed inEscherichia colias a β-galactosidase fusion protein. Western blotting demonstrates that this fusion protein, but not β-galactosidase cross-reacts with monospecific anti-human IL-8 antiserum. We also studied the induction of IL-8 mRNA synthesis in bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) stimulated with heat-killedPasteurella haemolytica. IL-8 mRNA was induced in BAM as early as 1 h and was detectable at high levels 12 h post-stimulation withP. haemolytica. A dose titration ofP. haemolyticaandE. coliendotoxins showed that a relatively low level ofP. haemolyticaendotoxin induced high levels of bovine IL-8 mRNA. The significance of these findings in the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonia caused byP. haemolyticais discussed.     

Molecular cloning of the feline CD8 beta-chain.

Human mouse and rat CD8 have been described as being disulphide-linked heterodimers of alpha and beta chains. More recently the chicken alpha and beta chains were described. In the bovine and feline immune system only the z-chain was reported. In this study we have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the beta-chain of the feline T-cell surface antigen CD8. Using a nested polymerase chain reaction- (PCR) and two primer pairs designed from the human CD8 beta cDNA nucleotide sequence, we amplified a 430 base pair fragment from a feline thymus cDNA library which was used as a probe for screening the feline library at high stringency. After three rounds of screening, five clones were isolated. A clone, named FTb-6, containing a 3.8 kilobase pair insert was mapped, sequenced and compared with the published sequences of the genes encoding the human, mouse, rat and avian CD8 beta. We have determined the primary structure of the feline CD8 beta. The feline CD8 beta has an open reading frame, 630 nucleotides in length encoding a protein with 210 amino acid residues and its composition showed that the feline molecule is a member of the immunoglobulin gene super family.     

Molecular cloning,sequence analysis and expression of the gene encoding an antifungal-protein from Aspergillus giganteus

The gene encoding the precusor of a small secretory protein with antifungal activity was isolated from A. giganteus and characterized by restriction mapping, hybridization and nucleotide sequencing. The promoter contains a typical TATA-box at a distance of 135 bp upstream of the open reading frame. The open reading frame is interrupted by two small introns with conserved splice sites. The precursor of the antifungal protein (AFP) consists of 94 amino acids and appears to be processed to the mature AFP of 51 amino acids by a two-step process. Transfer of the gene into A. niger yielded only transformants with a very low expression level, probably because high-expression transformants were counterselected by the antifungal activity of the recombinant protein.     

用标记磁微粒技术克隆牛CD14基因

为获得牛ＣＤ１４ 的全长编码基因，以探讨牛ＣＤ１４ 基因结构与功能的关系，进一步阐明其作用机理，我们用抗牛ＣＤ１４ 的单克隆抗体（ｍＡｂ）ＣＣＧ３３ 标记的磁微粒作为探针，从转染有牛肺泡巨噬细胞ｃＤＮＡ文库的ＣＯＳ７细胞中进行筛选。并对获得的牛ＣＤ１４ ｃＤＮＡ进行了克隆和序列分析。结果表明，牛ＣＤ１４ 基因全长为１１２２ ｂｐ，共编码３７３ 个氨基酸，其中含有信号肽序列和３ 个可识别的Ｎ连接糖基化位点，但缺少穿膜结构域及细胞内区。证实牛ＣＤ１４ 以糖基磷脂酰肌醇（ＧＰＩ） 锚定在靶细胞膜上；其氨基酸序列与人和小鼠ＣＤ１４ 的同源性分别为７３－５ ％ 和６１－４ ％ ，三者共有的保守序列约为５５％ 。     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding LipL41, a surface-exposed lipoprotein of pathogenic Leptospira species.

We report the cloning of the gene encoding a surface-exposed leptospiral lipoprotein, designated LipL41. In a previous study, a 41-kDa protein antigen was identified on the surface of Leptospira kirschneri (D. A. Haake, E. M. Walker, D. R. Blanco, C. A. Bolin, J. N. Miller, and M. A. Lovett, Infect. Immun. 59:1131-1140, 1991). We obtained the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal V8 proteolytic-digest fragment in order to design an oligonucleotide probe.A Lambda ZAP II library containing EcoRI fragments of L. kirschneri DNA was screened, and a 2.3-kb DNA fragment which contained the entire structural lipL41 gene was identified. The deduced amino acid sequence of LipL41 would encode a 355-amino-acid polypeptide with a 19-amino-acid signal peptide, followed by an L-X-Y-C lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. A recombinant His6-LipL41 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli in order to generate specific rabbit antiserum. LipL41 is solubilized by Triton X-114 extraction of L. kirschneri; phase separation results in partitioning of LipL41 exclusively into the detergent phase. At least eight proteins, including LipL41 and the other major Triton X-114 detergent phase proteins, are intrinsically labeled during incubation of L. kirschneri in media containing [3H] palmitate. Processing of LipL41 is inhibited by globomycin, a selective inhibitor of lipoprotein signal peptidase. Triton X-100 extracts of L. kirschneri contain immunoprecipitable OmpL1 (porin), LipL41, and another lipoprotein, LipL36. However, in contrast to LipL36, only LipL41 and OmpL1 were exposed on the surface of intact organisms. Immunoblot analysis of a panel of Leptospira species reveals that LipL41 expression is highly conserved among leptospiral pathogens.     

Molecular cloning, sequence analysis, and expression of the gene encoding the immunodominant 32-kilodalton protein of Cowdria ruminantium.

Cowdria ruminatium, the causative agent of heartwater disease, expresses an immunodominant and conserved 32-kilodalton protein (MAP1; formerly called Cr32), which is currently in use for serodiagnosis of the disease. The gene encoding this protein, designated map1, was detected, cloned, and characterized. The gene is conserved between four different stocks of C. ruminantium originating from Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Homology searches revealed MAP1 to be homologous to the Anaplasma marginale surface protein MSP4, a potential protective antigen. The MAP1 protein, expressed in Escherichia coli fused with glutathione S-transferase, is specifically recognized by sera from animals infected with seven different stocks of C. ruminantium.     

Molecular cloning and expression of ptxA, the gene encoding the 120-kilodalton cytotoxin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2.

The genetic determinants of the 120-kDa cytotoxin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 were isolated from a lambda DNA library by a plaque immunoblot technique. Expression of the 120-kDa polypeptide was confirmed by Western immunoblot analysis of infected Escherichia coli cell lysates, which were shown to be toxic for porcine alveolar macrophages in vitro. The genetic determinants of the toxin were subcloned into the plasmid vector pUC18. This plasmid (pPTX1) directed the synthesis and secretion of the active 120-kDa cytotoxin in E. coli. The recombinant toxin was indistinguishable from native cytotoxin from A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 with respect to molecular size, reaction in Western blot analysis, heat lability, cytotoxic activity, and neutralization by serum antibody. A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of pPTX1 was prepared, and deletion mutants were used to locate the minimal region of DNA required for production of intracellular toxin; this gene was termed ptxA. Southern hybridization analysis with a 1.7-kb PvuII fragment located within the ptxA gene revealed sequences with a high degree of homology in serotype reference strains 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8. Other reference strains did not contain sequences that were recognized by this probe. However, related sequences (greater than 71% homology) were detected in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and A. equuli. Weak hybridization was observed between the ptxA probe and pLKT5, which carries the lktAC genes of Pasteurella haemolytica, and between the ptxA probe and pAPH1, which carries the structural gene for type II hemolysin from A. pleuropneumoniae. The isolation of the genetic determinants of this cytotoxin will enable investigations of the structure and organization of the ptx DNA region and further analysis of its role in the pathogenesis of pleuropneumonia.     

人CD28基因的分子克隆及其痘苗病毒载体介导的真核表达

用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法从人Ｊｕｒｋａｔ细胞克隆了ＣＤ２８ｃＤＮＡ，将ＣＤ２８全编码区基因片段重组入ＰＵＣ质粒，测序证实所获得的为人ＣＤ２８基因。以痘苗病毒天坛株为载体，构建表达人ＣＤ２８的重组痘苗病毒株，并在重组病毒感染的细胞膜上表达人ＣＤ２８膜抗原，拟用该抗原免疫小鼠以制备抗ＣＤ２８的抗体。     

纳豆激酶酶原基因的克隆、融合表达及活性测定

目的:利用基因工程技术, 构建表达具溶栓活性的纳豆激酶的大肠杆菌工程菌。方法:利用PCR方法扩增纳豆激酶酶原(pro-NK)基因, 并克隆到表达载体pET3c上, 构建表达pro-NK和载体上22氨基酸短肽的融合蛋白的表达质粒pENK;表达质粒pENK分别转化溶源化宿主菌BL21(DE3)pLysS^-和BL21(DE3)pLysS⁺, 获得表达菌pENK-(DE3)pLysS^-和pENK-(DE3)pLysS⁺。利用SDS-PAGE和纤维蛋白平板法检测目的蛋白的表达及活性。结果:SDS-PAGE显示两株菌株均表达42kD的目的蛋白。纤维蛋白平板法显示表达产物具溶栓的活性。在pENK-(DE3)pLysS^-中融合蛋白不需异丙基硫代-β-D-半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导就有基础表达, 融合蛋白的表达使表达菌细胞溶解, 菌落中空, 表明表达产物具细胞毒作用。结论:本研究成功实现了在大肠杆菌表达具有溶栓活性的pro-NK融合蛋白, 为开发纳豆激酶成为新一代溶栓药物的研究奠定基础。     

Molecular cloning, tissue expression, and chromosomal assignment of a novel gene encoding a subunit of the human signal-recognition particle

Human cancers derived from breast, esophageal, or ovarian tissues frequently show allelic losses on chromosome band 17q25. Moreover, a locus responsible for hereditary focal nonepidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma, a condition associated with esophageal cancer (TOC; tylosis with oesophageal cancer), has been mapped to the same band. During efforts to sequence, by shotgun methods, a 1-Mb target region that we had defined as the DNA segment harboring the putative tumor suppressor gene(s) involved in these events, we identified a novel cDNA. The full-length cDNA is 2495 bp long and is expressed predominantly in skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, and placenta. The predicted product, a 627-amino-acid protein, exhibited significant sequence homology to the canine 68-kd subunit of the signal recognition particle that has been implicated in the transport of secreted and membrane proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum for proper processing. We confirmed the location of this gene at chromosome 17q25.1 by radiation-hybrid mapping and by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Received: September 18, 2000 / Accepted: November 10, 2000     

Molecular cloning and expression of a gene encoding Cryptosporidium parvum glycoproteins gp40 and gp15

Cryptosporidium parvum is a significant cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. The specific molecules that mediate C. parvum-host cell interactions and the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis are unknown. In this study we have shown that gp40, a mucin-like glycoprotein, is localized to the surface and apical region of invasive stages of the parasite and is shed from its surface. gp40-specific antibodies neutralize infection in vitro, and native gp40 binds specifically to host cells, implicating this glycoprotein in C. parvum attachment to and invasion of host cells. We have cloned and sequenced a gene designated Cpgp40/15 that encodes gp40 as well as gp15, an antigenically distinct, surface glycoprotein also implicated in C. parvum-host cell interactions. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the 981-bp Cpgp40/15 revealed the presence of an N-terminal signal peptide, a polyserine domain, multiple predicted O-glycosylation sites, a single potential N-glycosylation site, and a hydrophobic region at the C terminus, a finding consistent with what is required for the addition of a GPI anchor. There is a single copy of Cpgp40/15 in the C. parvum genome, and this gene does not contain introns. Our data indicate that the two Cpgp40/15-encoded proteins, gp40 and gp15, are products of proteolytic cleavage of a 49-kDa precursor protein which is expressed in intracellular stages of the parasite. The surface localization of gp40 and gp15 and their involvement in the host-parasite interaction suggest that either or both of these glycoproteins may serve as effective targets for specific preventive or therapeutic measures for cryptosporidiosis.     

Molecular cloning of the bovine thymopoietin gene and its expression in different calf tissues: evidence for a predominant expression in thymocytes.

Thymopoietin (TP), a 49 amino acid peptide, is regarded as a thymic hormone, secreted specifically by some epithelial cells in the thymic stroma and exerting a multitude of effects on maturation and function of T lineage cells. As part of our study on the molecular biology of TP, we isolated cDNA clone coding for a bovine TP precursor and used it as a probe to analyze the presence of mRNA coding for TP in different tissues. The cDNA clone reported here is 1.1 kb long and contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 741 bp which corresponds to 247 amino acids. The 147 bp coding for the entire bovine TP are at the 5' end of the ORF. A DNA fragment coding for amino acids 1-42 of bovine TP was used as a probe to look for hybridizable RNA sequences, extracted from various calf tissues, by the S1 nuclease protection method. Our results indicate that the TP gene is expressed predominantly in lymphatic tissues. Lymphatic tissues with the highest levels observed were thymocytes and not thymic stroma. Lower, but still significant, amounts were present in tonsils, neck lymph nodes, and small intestine (probably because of its lymphatic part--the Peyer's patches), whereas cultured thymic stromal cells, spleen tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells displayed a low level of TP mRNA. The TP gene expression in all other (non-lymphatic) tissues tested, was weak, barely detectable or virtually absent. However, the cerebellum could be singled out with relatively strong expression of TP mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Organization and expression analysis of the zebrafish hepcidin gene, an antimicrobial peptide gene conserved among vertebrates

Hepcidin is an antimicrobial peptide and iron-regulatory molecule that is conserved among vertebrates. Mutations or over-expression of the human hepcidin gene have been found in patients with hemochromatosis and refractory anemia. To further understand the function and regulation of hepcidin, animal models are needed. We sequenced cDNA, genes and upstream regions of zebrafish hepcidin and analyzed gene expression by kinetic PCR. Zebrafish hepcidin genes consist of two introns and three exons that encode a prepropeptide (91 amino acids). The amino acid sequences and gene organization were remarkably conserved between zebrafish and other species. Elevated gene expression was observed in abdominal organs, skin, and heart in fish that developed signs of infection following bacterial injection. Zebrafish may be a suitable model organism for further study of hepcidin gene regulation.     

Molecular cloning of the ARG7 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encoding argininosuccinate lyase

Summary A gene bank of Sau3A partially restricted Schizosaccharomyces pombe DNA in YEp13 was used to transform an arg4 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One colony was recovered which contained the YEp13 plasmid bearing a large insert complementing the argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) mutation. As shown by restriction mapping and subcloning experiments, the DNA sequence required for complementation is localized on a 2 kb BamHI-BamHI fragment. The plasmid complemented several S. cerevisiae arg4 mutants of independent origin and a S. pombe arg7 mutant lacking ASL. Low but significant ASL activities were detected in crude extracts of these transformants. No complementation of the E. coli argH mutant was observed. Southern blot hybridizations showed that the insert originates from the S. pombe genome. No cross-hybridization was found between this sequence and S. cerevisiae DNA. It can be concluded that the cloned DNA fragment bears the S. pombe ARG7 gene coding for ASL.Abbreviations ASL argininosuccinate lyase - bp base pair - kb kilobase pair     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus mRNA encoding the major nucleocapsid protein

The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the major nucleocapsid (N) protein of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) has been determined. The N mRNA is 1196 nucleotides long with a single, large open reading frame. The derived polypeptide has 391 amino acids corresponding to a calculated molecular weight of 42,600 Da. This is in agreement with the molecular weight of 43,000 Da determined for the BRSV N protein by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of BRSV N gene with the sequence of the N gene of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) revealed a homology of 80.7%. There is a 93.3% homology at the amino acid level between the N proteins of BRSV and HRSV. The 5'- and 3'-terminal untranslated sequences that are conserved among HRSV mRNAs were also identified in the N mRNA of BRSV. The results indicate that the N genes are highly conserved in the bovine and human strains of respiratory syncytial virus.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and sequence of the pilin gene from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae M37.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae M37 adheres to human buccal epithelial cells and exhibits mannose-resistant hemagglutination of human erythrocytes. An isogenic variant of this strain which was deficient in hemagglutination was isolated. A protein with an apparent molecular weight of 22,000 was present in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel profile of sarcosyl-insoluble proteins from the hemagglutination-proficient strain but was absent from the profile of the isogenic hemagglutination-deficient variant. A monoclonal antibody which reacts with the hemagglutination-proficient isolate but not with the hemagglutination-deficient isolate has been characterized. This monoclonal antibody was employed in an affinity column for purification of the protein as well as to screen a genomic library for recombinant clones expressing the gene. Several clones which contained overlapping genomic fragments were identified by reaction with the monoclonal antibody. The gene for the 22-kDa protein was subcloned and sequenced. The gene for the type b pilin from H. influenzae type b strain MinnA was also cloned and sequenced. The DNA sequence of the strain MinnA gene was identical to that reported previously for two other type b strains. The DNA sequence of the strain M37 gene is 77% identical to that of the type b pilin gene, and the derived amino acid sequence is 68% identical to that of the type b pilin.