Allelic exclusion of {alpha} chains in TCRs

Although the ß chains of ß⁺ T cells exhibitallelic exclusion it has recently been shown that 20–30%of such cells express both chain alleles on their surface.Potentially these cells have dual specificity, and it has beensuggested that they may play a role in autoimmunity and alloreactlvtty.The analysis presented in this paper examines critically thepossibility that the observed violation of allelic exclusionof chain expression arises as a natural consequence of a chainrearrangement and intrathymlc positive selection. It is concludedthat, subject to certain identified conditions being satisfied,the observed frequency of T cells expressing two chains iscompatible with such a mechanism. However, It is an essentialassumption of the theory that, of the two ß chaincomplexes on these cells, only one mediates positive selection.It follows that to what extent both receptors are actually functionaldepends on whether an ß chain complex that has failedto satisfy the criterion of positive selection can mediate antigenrecognition in the periphery. In principle the answer to thisquestion may be different if one is considering autoreactlvltyor alloreactlvlty. Finally, attention is drawn to the apparentdiscrepancy between the frequency of peripheral T cells expressingtwo chains and the failure to find T cell clones of this phenotype.Possible explanations are discussed.     

Comparative sequence analysis of the M gene among rabies virus strains and its expression by recombinant vaccinia virus

Nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences of the gene encoding the matrix (M) protein of the Nishigahara and the CVS strains of rabies virus have been determined. The M gene is 609 nucleotides long and is capable of coding for a peptide composed of 202 amino acids. Sequence comparison of these M genes with those of other stains [Pasteur (PV), ERA, Avol] revealed that there is 89.7–91.5% homology at the nucleotide level, and 90.1–92.1% homology at amino acid level, between almost all combinations of these strains. However, in the combinations of the PV and ERA strains, and the virulent CVS and the avirulent CVS-derived Avol strains, much higher homology was observed both at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. The predicted secondary structure and hydropathy profiles also exhibited similar features. Recombinant vaccinia virus containing the M gene was constructed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO₄)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the precipitates obtained by immune reaction of the recombinant virus-infected cell lysate with a monoclonal antibody against the M protein revealed that electrophoretic mobility of the expressed protein is indistinguishable from that of the authentic M protein from rabies virions.The nucleotide sequence data of the M genes of the CVS and Nishigahara (RCEH) strains reported in this paper will appear in the DDBJ, EMBL, and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession numbers D90450 and D90451.     

Molecular analysis of structural protein genes of the yamagata-1 strain of defective subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus. II. Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA corresponding to the P plus M dicistronic mRNA

The nucleotide sequence of a cloned cDNA corresponding to the P+M dicistronic mRNA of a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) virus was determined and compared with data of measles virus (MV). The dicistronic mRNA of the SSPE virus consisted of the 3 proximal 626 nucleotides of P mRNA, intercistronic trinucleotides, a full length of M mRNA, and 75 poly A nucleotides. The part encoding the P protein had a high homology to MV, except at the noncoding region. The terminating consensus sequence of the P gene and the intercistronic trinucleotides of the SSPE virus were CTAC(A)₆ and CCT; in MV they are TTAT(A)₆ and CTT, respectively. In the M gene, the starting consensus sequence was exactly the same as MV, but at the 5 proximal end, one third of this gene was different: The first ATG codon of the MV M gene signaling opening of the reading frame was changed to ACG in the SSPE virus and one long open reading frame started from the third ATG codon. The stop codon (TAG) of the MV M gene was also changed to CAG in the SSPE virus. Thus, the deduced SSPE-virus M protein lacked 50 amino acids at the amino terminal and had 15 extra amino acids at the carboxyl end when compared with the MV M protein.     

Development-dependent inheritance of 5-azacytidine-induced epimutations in triticale: analysis of rDNA expression patterns

Genomic imprinting of rye origin rDNA sequences in triticale is modulated by DNA methylation responsible for ontogenic expression patterns of those sequences. Considering the dynamic nature of these phenomena, we evaluated the influence of plant development on the inheritance of modified rye rDNA expression patterns. DNA hypomethylation was induced in triticale by 5-azacytidine (5AC) treatments at distinct developmental stages of M₁ plants, and expression patterns were analysed in M₂. The activity of rye origin rRNA genes in progeny of untreated and 5AC-treated plants was evaluated by silver staining in meristematic root tip cells and in meiocytes at diplotene. In the progeny of 5AC-treated plants, a significant increase in rye rDNA expression was observed, contrasting with the residual activity in untreated plants. Significant differential effects of 5AC treatments were observed in M₂ plants and correlated with the M₁ plant developmental stage in which DNA hypomethylation was induced. Hypotheses to explain the origin of those differences are discussed here.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

反义CD40RNA对EB病毒转化的B细胞CD40分子表达和增殖能力的影响

目的 :探讨瞬时表达的反义CD4 0RNA ,对EB病毒转化的健康人B细胞膜表面CD4 0分子表达和增殖能力的影响。方法 :应用T A克隆技术和亚克隆技术 ,构建人反义CD4 0RNA的真核表达载体pcDNA3/CD4 0 ,并以其转染本室建立的EB病毒转化的健康人B细胞。应用流式细胞仪 (FACS) ,检测B细胞膜上CD4 0分子表达的变化。应用MTT比色法检测反义CD4 0RNA对B细胞增殖能力的影响。结果 :与转染空载体pcDNA3组相比 ,转染pcDNA3/CD4 0细胞上CD4 0分子的表达降低 (P<0 .0 1) ,其增殖能力明显降低 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :反义CD4 0RNA技术 ,可作为有效的免疫调控手段。CD4 0基因本身在细胞的生长代谢中也起着重要作用     

Molecular and functional characterization of the first nucleobase transporter gene from African trypanosomes

African trypanosomes are unable to synthesize purines and depend upon purine nucleoside and nucleobase transporters to salvage these compounds from their hosts. To understand the crucial role of purine salvage in the survival of these parasites, a central objective is to identify and characterize all of the purine permeases that mediate uptake of these essential nutrients. We have cloned and functionally expressed in a purine nucleobase transport deficient strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae a novel nucleobase transporter gene, TbNT8.1, from Trypanosoma brucei. The permease encoded by this gene mediates the uptake of hypoxanthine, adenine, guanine, and xanthine with Kms in the low micromolar range. The TbNT8.1 protein is a member of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) family of permeases that occur in organisms as diverse as protozoa and mammals. TbNT8.1 is distinct from other ENT permeases that have been identified in trypanosomes in utilizing multiple purine nucleobases, rather than purine nucleosides, as substrates and is hence the first bona fide nucleobase permease identified in these parasites. Furthermore, unlike the mRNAs for other purine transporters, TbNT8.1 mRNA is significantly more abundant in insect stage procyclic forms than in mammalian stage bloodstream forms, and the TbNT8.1 permease thus may represent a major route for purine nucleobase uptake in procyclic trypanosomes.     

不同类型的HBsAg真核表达质粒在EBV永生化B淋巴母细胞中的表达

目的 探讨3种不同类型的HBsAg真核表达质粒在EBV永生化B淋巴母细胞中的表达。方法 用3种不同类型的质粒载体分别构建乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBsAg)真核表达质粒（pCI-S,pMEP4-S,pLXSN-S)；然后用阳离子脂质体介导的转染法分别转染正常人EBV永生化的B淋巴母细胞，经G418或HygromycinB筛选出抗性细胞克隆，用RT-PCR检测抗性细胞总RNA中目的基因在转录水平的表达；用ELISA检测抗性细胞培养上清和细胞裂解液中HB-sAg的含量。结果 3种不同类型HBsAg重组表达质粒转染的EBV永生化B淋巴母细胞，在转录水平上，可检出HB-sAgmRNA的表达；在蛋白水平上，细胞增养上清和细胞裂解液均可检出HBsAg；而以EB病毒表达质粒pMEP4-S表达最高，真核表达质粒pCI-S和逆转录病毒表达质粒pLXSN-S表达HBsAg的量无明显差异。结论 3种不同类型的HBsAg真核表达质粒均可在EBV永生化B淋巴母细胞中稳定表达，EB病毒表达质粒pMEP4-S表达的HBsAg明显高于真核表达质粒pCI-S和逆转录病毒表达质粒pLXSN-S。     

先天性巨结肠患者人类巨细胞病毒UL144基因多态性的研究

目的研究人类巨细胞病毒（human cytomegalovirus,HCMV）UL144基因在先天性巨结肠（Hirschsprung＇s disease,HD）临床株中的多态性,探讨HCMV UL144基因多态性与致病性之间的关系.方法随机选取53个先天性巨结肠患儿痉挛段结肠手术标本及经荧光定量PCR方法检测HCMV DNA为阳性的4个HD患儿的尿标本,对照组为无症状或仅有皮肤轻度黄疸的6个尿标本.应用巢式聚合酶链反应的方法,扩增HCMV UL144基因开放阅读框架（ORF）,扩增阳性的临床株进行双向DNA测序,最后通过DNAclub、Bioedit、DNAstar、GeneDoc等软件进行分析.结果23份HD痉挛段肠组织（46%）及4份尿标本HCMV UL144基因扩增阳性,并且完成测序.种系进化树分析结果显示25个HD患儿的DNA序列分为3个基因型,G1A型64.0%,G2型24%,G3型12%.与对照组比较,经χ^2检验,χ^2=10.93,P为0.012;其中HD临床株G1A和G3型基因经Fisher检验,P为0.015,差异具有统计学意义.全结肠型、长段型及普通型HD分散分布于UL144各个基因型中.结论HD与HCMV感染有关,HCMV可能是HD的病因之一;在HD患儿中,HCMV感染以UL144基因G1A型为主;HD的临床分型与HCMV UL144基因分型无关.     

小发卡RNA抗呼吸道合胞病毒效应的研究

目的 为从基因水平抑制呼吸道合胞病毒（respiratory syncytial virus，RSV）的复制，针对RSV的M2-2基因构建小发卡结构状RNA（short hairpin RNA，shRNA）重组质粒，在细胞水平观察shRNA对RSV复制的影响。方法 将成功构建的针对RSV M2-2基因的重组质粒pshRNA8260转染HEp-2细胞，利用光镜观察pshRNA8260对RSV致HEp-2细胞病变效应（cytopathogenic effect，CPE）的影响并计算CPE抑制率，空斑形成实验检测RSV滴度变化。结果 成功构建了针对人RSV M2-2基因mRNA的pshRNA8260重组质粒，研究发现pshRNA8260能明显改善RSV所致的病变效应，降低RSV在细胞内复制的病毒滴度。结论 针对RSV M2-2基因的pshRNA82（g）重组质粒具有明显的特异性抗RSV效应的作用。