Cloning and expression of a gene encoding an integrin-like protein in Candida albicans.

The existence of integrin-like proteins in Candida albicans has been postulated because monoclonal antibodies to the leukocyte integrins alpha M and alpha X bind to blastospores and germ tubes, recognize a candidal surface protein of approximately 185 kDa, and inhibit candidal adhesion to human epithelium. The gene alpha INT1 was isolated from a library of C. albicans genomic DNA by screening with a cDNA probe from the transmembrane domain of human alpha M. The predicted polypeptide (alpha Int1p) of 188 kDa contains several motifs common to alpha M and alpha X: a putative I domain, two EF-hand divalent cation-binding sites, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail with a single tyrosine residue. An internal RGD tripeptide is also present. Binding of anti-peptide antibodies raised to potential extracellular domains of alpha Int1p confirms surface localization in C. albicans blastopores. By Southern blotting, alpha INT1 is unique to C. albicans. Expression of alpha INT1 under control of a galactose-inducible promoter led to the production of germ tubes in haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in the corresponding ste12 mutant. Germ tubes were not observed in haploid yeast transformed with vector alone, in transformants expressing a galactose-inducible gene from Chlamydomonas, or in transformants grown in the presence of glucose or raffinose. Transformants producing alpha Int1p bound an anti-alpha M monoclonal antibody and exhibited enhanced aggregation. Studies of alpha Int1p reveal novel roles for primitive integrin-like proteins in adhesion and in STE12-independent morphogenesis.     

Eliminated chromatin of Ascaris contains a gene that encodes a putative ribosomal protein.

Chromatin diminution in the nematodes Parascaris equorum and Ascaris lumbricoides leads to the formation of somatic cells that contain less DNA than the germ-line cells. We present molecular evidence for the coding potential of germ-line-specific DNA. We report on a cDNA clone that codes for a putative ribosomal protein (ALEP-1, for A. lumbricoides eliminated protein 1). That the corresponding gene is located in the eliminated portion of the genome indicates a difference in germ-line and somatic ribosomes of A. lumbricoides and P. equorum. Elimination of the ALEP-1 gene from all somatic cells in its fully active state may represent an alternative way to gene regulation.     

贝氏柯克斯体热休克蛋白B基因的克隆与表达

目的克隆贝氏柯克斯体(Coxiellaburnetii)热休克蛋白B(HspB)基因并在大肠杆菌细胞内高效表达。方法采用PCR方法,从贝氏柯克斯体新桥株基因组DNA中扩增出HspB的基因片段,鉴定后将目的片段与原核表达载体pQE30连接,构建重组表达质粒pQE30/hspB,IPTG诱导该重组质粒转化的大肠杆菌产生HspB重组蛋白。结果(1)PCR扩增获得长约1556bp的hspB基因片段。(2)SDS-PAGE证明,HspB重组蛋白的分子量为53.7kDa。(3)经薄层扫描分析,表达蛋白约占全菌体蛋白的71.2%。结论贝氏柯克斯体hspB基因在大肠杆菌中获得了高效表达,为Q热疫苗的研制提供了一易于获得的候选蛋白分子。     

An rhs gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes a virulence protein that activates the inflammasome

The rhs genes are a family of enigmatic composite genes, widespread among Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we characterized rhsT, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhs gene that encodes a toxic protein. Expression of rhsT was induced upon contact with phagocytic cells. The RhsT protein was exposed on the bacterial surface and translocated into phagocytic cells; these cells subsequently underwent inflammasome-mediated death. Moreover, RhsT enhanced host secretion of the potent proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in an inflammasome-dependent manner. In a mouse model of acute pneumonia, infection with a P. aeruginosa strain lacking rhsT was associated with less IL-18 production, fewer recruited leukocytes, reduced pulmonary bacterial load, and enhanced animal survival. Thus, rhsT encodes a virulence determinant that activates the inflammasome.     

白念珠菌mp65基因真核质粒的构建及免疫原性研究

目的构建以白念珠菌甘露糖蛋白65(MP65)编码基因mp65为目的基因真核重组表达质粒,并对其免疫原性进行分析。方法PCR法自白念珠菌标准菌株ATCC64550中获取mp65基因,分别插入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1中,将真核表达经质粒大抽提并定量后免疫BALB/c小鼠,ELISA法检测抗体产生水平,流式检测细胞免疫。结果PCR法克隆出全长为1140bp的mp65基因,构建出pcDNA3.1-mp65真核表达质粒,pcDNA3.1-mp65免疫小鼠能诱导产生效价为1∶800的IgG抗体,同时诱导CD4+T和CD8+T细胞百分含量增高。结论白念珠菌真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-mp65成功构建并能诱导小鼠的体液免疫和细胞免疫。     

Developmentally regulated gene from Leishmania encodes a putative membrane transport protein.

We have cloned a developmentally regulated gene from the parasitic protozoan Leishmania enrietti. The mRNA from this gene accumulates to a much higher level in the promastigote stage of the parasite life cycle that lives in the gut of the insect vector than in the amastigote stage of the parasite that lives inside the macrophages of the mammalian host. The predicted protein encoded by this gene is homologous to the human erythrocyte glucose transporter and to several sugar-transport proteins from Escherichia coli. These structural similarities strongly suggest that the cloned gene encodes a membrane transport protein that is developmentally induced when the parasite enters its insect vector. Regulated membrane transporters may be required for the parasite to adapt to the environment of the insect gut.     

Cloning and analysis of murine cDNA that encodes a fibrogenic lymphokine, fibrosin.

Tissue fibrosis that complicates chronic inflammation can be a cause of serious morbidity. The molecular links between inflammation and fibrosis appear to be a variety of proteins produced by activated chronic inflammatory cells. Collectively, these fibrogenic cytokines promote the growth of fibroblasts and the production of extracellular matrix that are the characteristic features of fibrotic tissue. In an attempt to clone cDNA for a fibrogenic lymphokine that we had isolated, we transfected COS-7 cells with a cDNA library derived from concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte line CDC25. Conditioned medium from the transfected COS-7 cells but not from sham-transfected cells stimulates fibroblast proliferation in vitro. We used heterologous expression in COS-7 cells of pools of CDC25 cDNA and screening for biological activity in conditioned medium to enrich for the cDNA clone(s) that encodes this activity. With this strategy of sib selection we isolated clone 2B3. The culture supernatants of 2B3-transfected COS-7 cells exert maximum growth-stimulating effects on fibroblasts at a dilution of 1:20,000. The isolated cDNA has one open reading frame (216 nucleotides) that has no significant homology with nucleotide sequences that encode other proteins. A synthetic peptide constructed from the deduced amino acid sequence is biologically active in picomolar concentrations, even though it may represent only a portion of the native fibrosin. This lymphokine, which we designate fibrosin, may play a role in regulating fibrogenesis in certain chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Cloning, expression, and localization of a rat brain high-affinity glycine transporter.

A cDNA clone encoding a glycine transporter has been isolated from rat brain by a combined PCR and plaque-hybridization strategy. mRNA synthesized from this clone (designated GLYT1) directs the expression of sodium- and chloride-dependent, high-affinity uptake of [3H]glycine by Xenopus oocytes. [3H]Glycine transport mediated by clone GLYT1 is blocked by sarcosine but is not blocked by methyl-aminoisobutyric acid or L-alanine, a substrate specificity similar to that described for a previously identified glycine-uptake system called system Gly. In situ hybridization reveals that GLYT1 is prominently expressed in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem, two regions of the central nervous system where glycine is a putative neurotransmitter. GLYT1 is also strongly expressed in the cerebellum and olfactory bulb and is expressed at lower levels in other brain regions. The open reading frame of the GLYT1 cDNA predicts a protein containing 633 amino acids with a molecular mass of approximately 70 kDA. The primary structure and hydropathicity profile of GLYT1 protein reveal that this protein is a member of the sodium- and chloride-dependent superfamily of transporters that utilize neurotransmitters and related substances as substrates.     

结核分枝杆菌蛋白Hsp16.3的基因克隆以及表达

目的克隆结核分枝杆菌蛋白Hsp16.3的基因,在大肠杆菌中进行表达。方法以结核分枝杆菌H37Rv基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR方法对Hsp16.3的基因进行扩增,以pET30a为载体构建重组质粒,再转化到表达宿主菌BL21(DE3)中,以IPTG诱导表达。聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS PAGE)分析蛋白表达形式。结果构建了具有正确基因序列的Hsp16.3重组表达质粒,重组蛋白在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达。结论目的基因克隆入宿主菌中并表达成功,为深入研究该蛋白的生物学、免疫学活性奠定了基础。     

Developmental regulation of a gene that encodes a cysteine-rich intestinal protein and maps near the murine immunoglobulin heavy chain locus.

Mouse and rat small intestinal cDNA libraries were screened for recombinants derived from mRNAs whose concentration changed during the transition from suckling to weaning. cDNAs transcribed from a 570-nucleotide-long mRNA were isolated. Dot blot hybridization analyses of RNA recovered at various stages of rat gastrointestinal ontogeny indicated that the concentration of this mRNA begins to increase during the mid-suckling period, reaching a peak during weaning. There is considerable variation in the relative amount of this mRNA in adult tissues, with highest levels encountered in the rat small intestine and colon. Its concentration in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum is approximately the same. It is more concentrated in villi than in crypts. The rat mRNA encodes a 77 amino acid, 8.55-kDa polypeptide that has seven cysteine residues. This cysteine-rich intestinal protein (named CRIP) has two internal repeated sequence blocks. Computer-assisted comparisons of CRIP to proteins of known function disclosed that it is homologous to certain ferredoxins. Southern blot analyses revealed that sequences homologous to the rat gene are present in sea squirt, fish, bird, and human DNA, indicating that this gene is highly conserved and that related proteins may be present in many if not all vertebrates. Recombinant inbred mouse strains were utilized to show that the CRIP gene is closely linked to the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region locus, Igh-c, on chromosome 12. CRIP mRNA is a molecular marker for the suckling-to-weaning transition of rodent intestinal development. The cloned cDNA may be a useful probe for identifying factors that regulate intestinal development during this period.     

A pituitary gene encodes a protein that produces differentiation of breast and prostate cancer cells

A cDNA clone of 1.1 kb encoding a 108-aa polypeptide was isolated from a human pituitary cDNA library by expression cloning. This protein was named tumor differentiation factor (TDF). The recombinant TDF protein and a 20-aa peptide, P1, selected from the ORF of the gene, induced morphological and biochemical changes consistent with differentiation of human breast and prostate cancer cells. Fibroblast, kidney, hepatoma, and leukemic lymphocytic cell lines were unaffected. Breast and prostate cancer cells aggregated in spheroid-like structures within 24 h of exposure to TDF. This effect was abrogated by a specific affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal anti-P1 Ab. E-cadherin expression was increased in a dose-dependent manner by TDF. Treatment of MCF7 cells with TDF led to production of a lactalbumin-related protein. Peptide P1 significantly decreased the growth of androgen-independent DU145 prostate cancer in severe combined immunodeficient mice. The presence of TDF protein in human sera was detected by the anti-P1 Ab, suggesting a role of TDF in endocrine metabolism. The fact that all activities of TDF can be mimicked by a peptide derived from the encoding TDF sequence opens the possibility of therapeutic applications.     

Stimulation of Candida albicans transition by human chorionic gonadotrophin and a bacterial protein.

Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus, is involved commonly in human infections with the mycelium form more associated with pathogenicity. The influence of various hormones and a bacterial protein on the transition from blastospore to mycelium was assessed. Human luteinizing hormone (hLH), chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and an hCG-like material purified from a bacteria, Xanthomonas maltophilia (PCG), were able to increase the rate of transition when compared with the controls. The effect of the two hormones and the bacterial peptide were specific, as human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (hTSH), growth hormone (hGH), prolactin (hPrl) and rat and bovine LH (rLH, bLH), and bovine albumin and gamma globulin did not affect the transition. The binding of 125I-hCG or 125I-LH to spheroplasts of Candida albicans were competitively displaced by hCG, hLH, and PCG. Scatchard analysis of binding of all three ligands revealed two binding sites with a high-affinity nM Kd. Thus, hCG, hLH, and PCG induce transition of Candida albicans from a blastospore state to a mycelium form, suggesting that these hormones may modify the pathogenicity of Candida albicans.     

Cloning and expression of the Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein gene in Escherichia coli.

Sau 3A1 partial digestion fragments from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 plasmid DNA were ligated into the BamHI site of the cloning vector pBR322 and transformed into Escherichia coli strain HB101. Colonies presumed to contain recombinant plasmids were screened for production of an antigen that would react with antibody made against B. thuringiensis crystals. One strain, ES12, was isolated by using this procedure. ES12 contains a plasmid of Mr 11 X 10(6) that has DNA sequence homology with pBR322 as well as with Mr 30 X 10(6) and Mr 47 X 10(6) plasmids of B. thuringiensis. It makes a protein antigen, detected by antibodies to crystal, which has the same electrophoretic mobility as the B. thuringiensis crystal protein. Protein extracts of ES12 are toxic to larvae of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta.