Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel ABC transporter gene in the human pathogen Trichophyton rubrum.

A gene encoding an ABC transporter in the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum, TruMDR1, was cloned by PCR using degenerate primers. The open reading frame of TruMDR1 is 4838 bp long and the deduced amino acid sequence shows high homology with ABC transporters involved in drug efflux of other fungi. The effect of chemicals on the expression level of mRNAs of this gene was analysed by Northern blot. An increase in expression level was observed when the fungus was exposed to ethidium bromide, ketoconazole, cycloheximide, fluconazole, griseofulvin, imazalil and itraconazole, suggesting the participation of this gene in drug efflux in this dermatophyte. The identification of a gene potentially involved in cellular detoxification in a pathogenic fungus is the first step towards knowing molecular events related to antifungal resistance.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human gene homologous to the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor.

A novel human cDNA homologous to the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor was cloned from a cDNA library derived from a human T-cell line. The human cDNA is highly homologous to the murine counterpart (87.6% amino acid identity), and its sequence predicts a protein with 629 amino acids (approximately 68 kDa), which is 7 amino acids more than the murine counterpart (622 amino acids). The predicted protein is highly hydrophobic and contains 14 potential transmembrane-spanning domains. No other gene and protein with significant homology to the cloned human gene and the predicted protein were identified by a computer-based search of sequence data banks other than the murine T-cell early activation gene (52.5% amino acid identity) and the murine ecotropic retroviral receptor gene. The human gene is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues and conserved among mammalian species. The genomic gene was also isolated from a cosmid library derived from human lymphocytes, and its organization was elucidated. The gene mapped to human chromosome 13.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel lactate dehydrogenase gene from Clonorchis sinensis

From a Clonorchis sinensis adult worm cDNA library, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding a novel lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) gene which encoded a putative protein with a predicted molecular weight of 35.6 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme were 7.5 and 50°C in the pyruvate reduction while 11 and 80°C in the lactate oxidation reaction, respectively. CsLDH showed no substrate inhibition by high lactate and NAD⁺ concentration, and the optimal pyruvate and optimal NADH concentrations were 10 and 0.5 mmol/l, respectively. The relative activities of these 2-oxocarboxylic acids were pyruvic acid>2-ketobutyrate>oxalacetic acid>α-ketoglutaric acid>phenylpyruvate. The cofactor 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide was much more effective than NAD⁺. The cofactor analogs in which the nicotinamide ring is replaced by 3-pyridinealdehyde were lower activity cofactors, while the nicotinamide ring is replaced by nicotinic acid or thionicotinamide which is not a cofactor to CsLDH. The succinic acid and malic acid are not substrates of CsLDH. Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Zn²⁺ greatly inhibited the CsLDH activity both in the direction of pyruvate reduction and in the direction of lactate oxidation. The inhibition of CsLDH by gossypol may make gossypol a potential therapy drug or a lead compound for C. sinensis. Accordingly, the CsLDH may be a novel potential drug target.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of human RAB23, a member of the group of Rab GTPases

The RAB small G protein family is composed of approximately 40 members. Many of them are ubiquitous and are expressed and participate in transport processes, such as endocytosis and exocytosis, whereas others are expressed only within a specific cell group carrying out specific functions. In the current study, we present the molecular characterisation and chromosomal location of the human RAB23 gene, a new member of the RAB family. This gene, expressed in retina, is composed of 7 exons spanning 34 kb of genomic DNA and located in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 6 between microsatellite markers D6S257 and D6S1695, within the critical region of RP25. Since proteins belonging to the Rab family have already been related to retinal degeneration we considered RAB23 an interesting candidate for the RP25 locus. However the absence of pathogenic variations after molecular analysis of the coding sequence in the index patients of RP25 linked families would be consistent with the exclusion of RAB23 as responsible for RP25 phenotype.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of porcine Mx2 gene

Mx, an interferon-inducible protein, is found in various vertebrates and confers resistance to several RNA viruses. At least two Mx proteins occur in vertebrates, and these proteins are key components of innate defense against viral infection. In mice and humans, the two Mx genes have different antiviral activities. Both Mx1 and Mx2 have also been detected in pigs, although only a partial sequence of porcine Mx2 has been reported, and there is no information on its antiviral activity. Here, we report the structure of the intact porcine Mx2 gene having an open reading frame of 2136 bp. We also determined the sequence of the genomic region containing the entire porcine Mx2 gene in addition to Mx1 gene. A weak constitutive expression of porcine Mx2 mRNA and endogenous Mx2 protein was observed in interferon-untreated cells. Porcine endogenous Mx2 protein showed nuclear localization. Furthermore, assays using NIH3T3 cells transfected with Mx genes showed that porcine Mx2 possessed antiviral activity against influenza, although this activity was lower than that of human MxA. This report is the first to describe the intact porcine Mx2 gene, which is a functional gene that may play a key role in the clearance of viruses in pigs.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel adenylate kinase 3 gene from Clonorchis sinensis

Adenylate kinase (AK) is a ubiquitous enzyme that contributes to the homeostasis of adenine nucleotides in living cells. AK catalyzes reversible high energy phosphoryl transfer reactions between ATP (or GTP) and AMP to generate ADP (or GDP). From a Clonorchis sinensis adult worm cDNA library, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding a novel AK3 isozyme. The 956 bp cDNA encodes a putative protein of 228 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 26.2 kDa. The recombinant CsAK3 protein produced in Escherichia coli can be refolded into a functional protein with AK3 activity. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme are 8.5 and 40°C, respectively. The calculated activation energy is 56.04 kJ mol^–1. The K_m of the CsAK3 for AMP and GTP are 118 M and 359 M, respectively. CsAK3 is inhibited by Ap₅A (>70% inhibition by 2.0 mM AP₅A). Ap₅A may be a potential lead compound acting on C. sinensis in which AK3 as a drug target.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a hemolysin gene from Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae.

This article describes the molecular cloning and expression of a hemolysin gene from a serotype 1 strain of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The hemolysin was a thermolabile protein with an apparent molecular weight of 29,500 (29.5K hemolysin). Unlike expression of the recently described 105K hemolysin of A. pleuropneumoniae (J. Frey and J. Nicolet, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 55:41-46, 1988), expression of this hemolysin was not regulated by Ca2+. Antiserum prepared against the 105K hemolysin did not neutralize the activity of the 29.5K hemolysin; conversely, antiserum prepared against the 29.5K hemolysin did not neutralize the activity of the 105K hemolysin. The hemolytic activity was not neutralized with antisera against hemolytic Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, or purified streptolysin O, but antisera prepared against recombinants containing the 29.5K gene and convalescent pig sera abrogated hemolytic activity. Although hemolytic activity could be detected in several strains of E. coli K-12 and in minicells expressing several different constructs encoding the 29.5K hemolysin, we could not rigorously exclude the possibility that the gene which we have isolated encodes a regulator of hemolytic activity rather than a hemolysin per se.     

人类胚胎干细胞特异表达新基因HPESCRG1的克隆和特性分析

目的克隆一个人类胚胎干细胞特异表达的新基因并对其特性进行分析。方法从一个在人类胚胎干细胞(embryonicstem,ES)中特异表达的表达序列标签CF948547出发,应用生物信息学方法和分子生物学技术克隆一个新基因,采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应分析新基因的表达谱,并应用增强型绿色荧光蛋白真核表达系统分析新基因的亚细胞定位。结果成功克隆了一个新基因HPESCRG1,GenBank登录号为AY283672。该基因cDNA长1395bp,包含9个外显子和8个内含子,开放阅读框为250～1146bp,定位在3q13.13,预测编码297个氨基酸,预计分子量为33784,等电点为9.35。其编码蛋白有一个SAP功能域,该蛋白定位在细胞核内。该基因仅在人类ES细胞中表达,而在其分化细胞不表达,在人胚胎成纤维细胞、人间充质干细胞、成人和流产胚胎的多种正常组织中不表达。结论HPESCRG1基因是一个人类ES细胞中表达特异性新基因,很可能与人类ES细胞的自我更新和维持其未分化状态密切相关。     

Molecular cloning,mapping and characterization of a human CK1gamma1 gene

We isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone coding a human protein kinase CK1 (casein kinase 1) by screening a human fetal brain cDNA library. This new cDNA clone of 1756 bp contained an open reading frame, encoding a protein of 438 amino acids with a molecular weight of 50,272 Da and an isoelectric point of 9.37. The entire amino acid sequence of the novel human CK1 was 94% homologous to that of rat CK1gamma1. Northern blot analysis indicated that the human CK1gamma1 was highly expressed in the liver, skeletal muscle, heart and kidney. Furthermore, the human CK1gamma1 gene was mapped to chromosome 15q22 between STS marker D15S159 and D15S125 by polymerase chain reaction analysis of human/rodent hybrid cell panels.     

Molecular cloning of a novel human gene (SIRP-B2) which encodes a new member of the SIRP/SHPS-1 protein family

A full-length cDNA encoding a novel protein was isolated and sequenced from a human placental cDNA library. This cDNA consists of 1735 base pairs and has a predicted open reading frame (ORF) encoding 354 amino acids. It possesses a putative signal sequence, a long extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, a short intracellular domain, and no catalytic domain, which is highly homologous to signal-regulatory protein (SIRP)-β, suggesting that it seems to be a new member of the SIRP family. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mapping with both a monochromosomal hybrid panel and radiation hybrid cell panels placed the gene to human chromosome 20p13 near the marker D20S906. Received: August 11, 2000 / Accepted: September 21, 2000     

新基因hKCNE4的克隆、表达及功能

KCNE4是KCNE家族中的一员,编码电压依赖性钾通道的B亚基。KCNE1、KCNE2、KCNE3均在人类基因组发现,并且有重要的生理功能,而KCNE4只是在鼠文库中得到,在人类cDNA文库中没有相关报道。本研究应用生物信息学分析,通过RT-PCR和RACE方法,从人类心脏cDNA文库中获取人类hKCNE4全长cDNA序列。其全长1188bp,编码170个氨基酸,和鼠KCNE4蛋白具有90％同源性。Northern Blot结果表明该基因在心脏、骨骼肌和肾脏高度表达。通过电子PCR方法将hKCNE4基因定位在2q35—36。亚细胞定位表明该基因的编码产物定位在细胞膜上,但体外电生理实验证明HERG基因同hKCNE4没有相互作用。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a gene encoding methionine aminopeptidase 2 of Schistosoma japonicum

Methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MAP2) is an essential enzyme that is involved in protein maturation. It plays a key role in the removal of the initiating methionine residue from nascent polypeptide chains. In the present study, a gene encoding methionine aminopeptidase 2 of Schistosoma japonicum (SjMAP2) was cloned and characterized. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that this was expressed in each testing developmental stage in S. japonicum, but more highly expressed at 42 days in male adult worm, suggesting this gene as male differentially expressed. The results also showed that the gene was differentially expressed in worms from three different host species. It was highly expressed in worms from the schistosome-susceptible mouse, expressed at a lower level in worms from the less susceptible rat, and at an even lower level in worms from the non-permissive host Microtus fortis. The expression of the gene was affected significantly when the hosts were treated with praziquantel: Expression was down-regulated by 92.17% and 49.01%, respectively, in treated male and female adult worms in comparison with untreated worms. An immuno-experiment in mice indicated that vaccination with recombinant SjMAP2 could induce partial protective efficacy against schistosome infection. The data presented here suggest that SjMAP2 is an important molecule in the development of the schistosome and that it may be a potential new drug target or vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis.     

一株新型鼠抗人PD-L2单克隆抗体的研制及其生物学特性的鉴定

为了研制特异性识别人PD-L2(B7-DC,CD273)的鼠单克隆抗体,并对其生物学特性和PD-L2分子的表达特性进行初步分析。以高表达人PD-L2分子的基因转染细胞L929/PD-L2作为免疫原,常规免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术进行细胞融合,以L929/PD-L2作为抗体筛选细胞,L929/mock为对照细胞,经间接免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术分析、反复筛选和多次克隆化培养,筛选出分泌特异性鼠抗人PD-L2单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株;采用Western blot、Ig亚型快速定性试纸法、间接免疫荧光法和竞争结合抑制实验对单抗进行生物学特性的分析,继而利用该单抗进行免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术检测PD-L2在肿瘤细胞株和免疫细胞上的表达特性。结果显示,通过多次融合和反复筛选,成功获得一株特异性鼠抗人PD-L2(B7-DC)的杂交瘤,该杂交瘤分泌的单克隆抗体能特异识别人PD-L2分子。继而利用上述研制获得的单克隆抗体8F2进行免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术检测发现,PD-L2上调性表达在成熟的树突状细胞和调节性T细胞上。提示,成功地获得一株特异性鼠抗人PD-L2单克隆抗体,并对其生物学特性和表达谱进行初步分析,证明其识别抗原表位不同于商品化抗体,是一株新型鼠抗人PD-L2单抗,这为进一步研究PD-1/PD-L2信号通路在免疫应答中的生物学作用提供了有价值的物质基础。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cathepsin B from Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Cysteine proteases, a superfamily of hydrolytic enzymes, have numerous functions in parasites. Here, we reported the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a cathepsin B (AcCPB) from Angiostrongylus cantonensis fourth-stage larvae cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicated AcCPB is related to other cathepsin B family members with an overall conserved architecture. AcCPB is evolutionarily more close to other parasitic nematode cathepsin B than the ones from hosts, sharing 43–53% similarities to the homologues from other organisms. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that AcCPB was expressed significantly higher in the fourth-stage larvae (L4) and the fifth-stage larvae (L5) than that in the third-stage larvae (L3) and adult worms (Aw). Unexpectedly, AcCPB was expressed at a higher level in L4 and L5 derived from mice than the larvae at the same stages derived from rats. The protease activity of recombinant AcCPB (rAcCPB) expressed in Escherichia coli showed high thermostability and acidic pH optima. The role in ovalbumin digestion and enzyme activity of rAcCPB could be evidently inhibited by cystatin from A.cantonensis. Furthermore, we found rAcCPB increased the expression levels of CD40, MHC II, and CD80 on LPS-stimulated dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, we provided the first experimental evidence for the expression of cathepsin B in A.cantonensis. Besides its highly specific expression in the stages of L4 and L5 when the worms cause dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier of hosts, AcCPB displayed different expression profiles in non-permissive host- and permissive host-derived larval stages and was involved in the maturation of DCs, suggesting a potential role in the central nervous system invasion and the immunoregulation during parasite–host interactions.