HCV-C蛋白抗原在人肝细胞株中的表达和鉴定

目的:构建HCV-C蛋白基因的真核表达载体,并在正常人肝细胞HL-7702中表达与鉴定。方法:从含有丙肝病毒全长基因的重组质粒pBRTM/HCV1-3011质粒中,扩增HCVcore基因片段,构建pcDNA3.1(-)/core重组真核表达质粒。然后采用阳离子多聚体将其转染人正常肝细胞HL-7702,用免疫组化染色(SP)法检测HCVC蛋白的表达,并通过Westernblot进行鉴定。结果:所克隆的HCV-C基因片段的大小为573bp,序列正确。成功地构建了pcDNA3.1(-)/core重组表达质粒。以其转染HL-7702细胞后,用SP免疫组化染色法检测到了C蛋白的表达。Westernblot显示,其相对分子质量(Mr)约为21000。结论:构建的真核表达载体pcD-NA3.1(-)/core在人肝细胞中能有效表达HCV-C蛋白,为以后相应抗体的制备打下了基础。     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白在QSG7701细胞中的表达和鉴定

目的：进行丙型病毒肝炎核心蛋白真核表达载体的构建，并在人源肝细胞QSC7701中进行表达与鉴定。方法：从含有丙肝病毒全长基因的重组质粒pBRTM／HCV1—3011质粒中扩增出HCV核心（core）基因片段，构建peDNA3．1（-）／core重组真核表达质粒。然后采用阳离子多聚体将其转染人肝细胞QSG7701，用免疫组织化学SP法检测丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白的表达，再通过Western blot印迹法进行鉴定。结果：所克隆的core片段大小正确，序列正确；成功的构建了pcDNA3．1（-）／core重组表达质粒，瞬时转染QSG7701细胞，用SP免疫组化检测到了核心蛋白的表达，Western blot印迹法显示其分子量约为21000。结论：丙型病毒肝炎核心蛋白的真核表达载体pcDNA3．1（-）／core在人肝细胞中能有效表达HCV核心蛋白，从而为进一步研究和解析核心蛋白在肝细胞癌变机制中的所起的作用提供了良好的核心蛋白表达系统，同时也为开发丙型肝炎DNA疫苗提供了前期条件。     

β-淀粉样蛋白真核表达质粒的构建及鉴定

目的构建β-淀粉样蛋白真核表达质粒,为进一步开展老年性痴呆DNA疫苗的保护性研究打下基础。方法提取Tg2576转基因鼠基因组DNA,PCR扩增β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ1-42)基因,用限制性内切酶KpnⅠ/XhoⅠ分别对扩增产物和真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1酶切,将目的基因定向克隆到pcDNA3.1载体上;对重组质粒进行双酶切初步鉴定后进行序列测定。结果特异扩增出Aβ1-42片段,大小为126bp,片段成功插入pcDNA3.1载体中。经双酶切及序列测定结果表明Aβ1-42目的基因正确重组入pcDNA3.1载体中。结论成功构建Aβ1-42真核表达质粒。     

人骨形成蛋白2基因克隆及真核表达载体的构建

在大肠杆菌中克隆人骨形成蛋白2基因并获得真核表达载体。由人成骨瘤细胞中提取总RNA，利用逆转录PCR方法扩增获得人骨形成蛋白2基因cDNA；将此基因片段重组到pGEM-T克隆载体中，转化到大肠杆菌DH5α后，蓝白斑筛选阳性克隆，利用限制性酶切、PCR扩增和核苷酸序列分析鉴定重组质粒；将pGEM-T克隆载体中人骨形成蛋白2基因重组到pcDNA3．1真核表达载体中，用限制性酶切和PCR扩增鉴定重组质粒。结果表明：重组在两种质粒中的基因片段为人骨形成蛋白2基因全编码序列。克隆获得人骨形成蛋白2基因．并得到此基因的真核表达载体，为人骨形成蛋白2的表达打下了基础。     

人神经营养素-3基因真核表达载体的构建和鉴定

目的：构建含有人NT-3基因真核表达载体pcDNA3．1-NT-3。方法：采用PCR技术，扩增编码神经营养素-3基因，克隆到PMD18-T载体上，再亚克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3．1的Hind Ⅲ和BamHI位点。结果：重组真核表达载体pcDNA3．1-NT-3经酶切鉴定证明NT-3基因正向插入真核表达载体中，碱基序列的测定证明重组质粒中含有人的NT-3基因序列。结论：构建的真核表达载体携有人NT-3cDNA序列，并且含有巨细胞病毒强启动子、ploy(A)加尾信号和neo标志基因，可能具有转染多种哺乳类细胞通用性，可用于NT-3基因的真核表达及基因治疗的研究。     

人类基因XAPC7真核表达载体的构建及其在SMMC-7721细胞中的表达

目的:构建pcDNA3.1(-)/XAPC7真核表达载体并检测其在人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721中的表达.方法:采用PCR法从pET28b/XAPC7重组质粒中克隆得到XAPC7 cDNA全长序列,将之与pMD18-T载体连接、测序后将该片段亚克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)中.构建好的pcDNA3.1(-)/XAPC7真核表达质粒经酶切鉴定后,采用脂质体法将该重组质粒转染人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721,经G418筛选,得到阳性克隆细胞株,再应用半定量RT-PCR技术检测转染前后该细胞株XAPC7基因的mRNA表达水平.结果:pcDNA3.1(-)/XAPC7经酶切鉴定及DNA测序证实,目的基因XAPC7的序列完全正确,真核表达载体构建成功;经RT-PCR检测,重组质粒转染株的XAPC7基因mRNA表达水平高于对照组,证实XAPC7基因已经稳定转染到SMMC-7721细胞中并得到表达.结论:成功地建立了人基因XAPC7的稳定转染细胞株,为进一步研究XAPC7的功能奠定了实验基础.     

HCV NS5A基因在hepG2细胞中的表达以及对PI3K的影响

目的：探讨HCV—NS5A对PI3K表达的影响。方法：应用PCR技术从含有HCV全长开放阅读框的质粒中获得NS5A全长基因片段，利用基因重组技术将其克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3．0（-）中。通过酶切、PCR及测序鉴定，NS5A基因已正确插入到pcDNA3．0（-）中，再利用脂质体转染HepG2细胞。结果：经RT—PCR及Western blot检测，HCV的NS5A基因在HepG2细胞中获得表达，而且在表达重组NS5A的转染HepG2细胞中，检测到PI3K蛋白的表达。结论：NS5A可在体外激活PI3K及其信号通路。     

人sTNFR1真核表达载体构建及体外抑制TNF-α细胞毒效应

目的构建人可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体1基因(sTNFR1)的真核表达载体,研究sTNFR1对TNF-α细胞毒效应的抑制作用。方法以HeLa细胞的总RNA为模板,用RT-PCR方法扩增人sTNFR1全编码区基因片段,构建含有目的片段的T载体克隆及真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)重组质粒亚克隆,用脂质体法将重组质粒pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1瞬时转染QSG7701细胞,半定量PT-PCR法检测sTNFR1mRNA的表达,MTT法检测sTNFR1对TNF-α细胞毒效应的抑制作用。结果人sTNFR1基因被正确克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-);通过与3-磷酸甘油醛(GAPDH)比较,pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1转染的QSG7701细胞中sTNFR1mRNA表达量明显高于空载体对照组和空细胞对照组(P<0.05);pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1瞬时转染QSG7701细胞,TNF-α对其细胞毒性作用受到抑制,当TNF-α浓度为100μg/L时pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1/QSG7701的细胞毒性较QSG7701下降64.8%。结论成功地构建真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1,TNF-α对瞬时转染pcDNA3.1(-)-sTNFR1/QSG7701的细胞株细胞毒性作用受到抑制。     

SIRT1及其突变体T200I、E420K真核表达载体的构建及鉴定

目的 克隆沉默信息调节因子1（SIRTl）基因的全长cDNA,构建含有SIRT1基因及其突变体T200I、E420K的重组真核表达载体,为进一步研究SIRT1基因功能奠定基础.方法 采用RT-PCR方法扩增SIRT1基因的全长cDNA,扩增产物通过双酶切将全长cDNA克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（＋）,得到pcDNA3.1 （＋）-SIRT1重组质粒;同时采用定点突变法构建其突变体pcDNA3.1 （＋）-T200I和pcDNA3.1（＋）-E420K表达载体.重组质粒经酶切鉴定和DNA序列测定,筛选出重组成功的真核表达载体.结果 成功克隆了SIRT1基因全长cDNA,并成功构建了pcDNA3.1 （＋）-SIRT1及其突变体的真核表达载体;阳性重组质粒酶切后经测序比对鉴定,与预期序列完全相符,转染293T细胞后可以表达带有HIS标签的SIRT1蛋白.结论 此方法可成功构建重组质粒pcDNA3.1（＋）-SIRT1及其突变体pcDNA3.1（＋）-T200I、pcDNA3.1（＋）-E420K真核表达载体,为SIRT1基因及其突变体T200I、E420K的生物学功能研究提供了基因材料.     

甲型流感病毒M2e与CtB基因融合表达及其免疫特性初步研究

目的: 构建真核表达重组质粒pcDNA3.1a( )-M2e/CtB, 并初步研究其在NIH3T3细胞中的表达特性及免疫特性.方法: 重叠PCR法扩增甲型流感病毒M2e基因和霍乱毒素CtB基因, 将扩增得到的融合基因片段M2e-CtB定向克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1a( )中, 再转化E.coli JM109.将酶切鉴定、 PCR扩增及序列鉴定正确的重组质粒命名为pcDNA3.1a( )-M2e/CtB.用KEGEN TRANS Ⅲ阳离子聚合物将重组质粒pcDNA3.1a( )-M2e/CtB转染NIH3T3细胞, 经免疫荧光、 RT-PCR产物序列分析、 Western blot检测其稳定表达产物.结果: 重组质粒pcDNA3.1a( )-M2e/CtB含完整的M2e和CtB基因, 与相对应基因的序列同源性分别为100%.重组质粒转染NIH3T3细胞后获得了有效表达, 并且稳筛株细胞裂解物和上清均能用抗霍乱毒素抗体和抗流感病毒抗体检测到Mr约18 000的蛋白条带.结论: 成功构建了真核表达重组质粒pcDNA3.1a( )-M2e/CtB, 初步证明其在体外表达的重组蛋白可分泌至胞外, 且有M2e和CTB的双特异反应原性和免疫原性, 为流感病毒核酸疫苗的进一步研究奠定了坚实基础.     

HCV NS3 N末端部分氨基酸缺失对NS3/NS3与NS3/NS4A分子间相互作用的影响

目的旨在弄清ＮＳ３参与分子间相互作用的确切区段，为研究针对ＮＳ３的抗ＨＣＶ寡肽小分子药物的设计提供依据。方法参照ＨＣＶ中国河北株序列设计ＮＳ３引物，将其Ｎ末端的前１５个和前３０个氨基酸分别缺失掉。然后用酵母双杂交系统检测ＮＳ３／ＮＳ３及ＮＳ３／ＮＳ４Ａ分子间相互作用强度在缺失前后的变化，从而判明ＮＳ３Ｎ末端氨基酸在分子间相互作用中的意义。核苷酸序列分析采用ＡｐｐｌｉｅｄＢｉｏｓｙｓｔｅｍ３７３Ａ型自动测序仪。结果ＮＳ３Ｎ末端氨基酸缺失前后，ＮＳ３／ＮＳ３分子间及ＮＳ３／ＮＳ４Ａ分子间相互作用的强度相差有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１），但缺失１５个氨基酸和缺失３０个氨基酸对上述相互作用强度的影响差异无显著性（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论ＮＳ３Ｎ末端的１～３０个氨基酸在ＮＳ３／ＮＳ３及ＮＳ３／ＮＳ４Ａ分子间相互作用中有一定意义，其Ｎ末端前１５个氨基酸（ＡＰＩＴＡＹＳＱＱＴＲＧＬＬＧ）对于分子间相互作用更为关键。本研究结果将为抗ＮＳ３丝氨酸蛋白酶活性的寡肽抑制物的研究打下基础，并为抗ＨＣＶ的寡肽小分子药物的设计提供依据     

Complex formation between hepatitis C virus NS2 and NS3 proteins

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS2 and NS3 proteins as well as the NS3 protease cofactor NS4A are essential for the replication of the virus. The presence of in vivo heterodimeric complex between HCV NS2 and NS3 has been suggested by biochemical studies. Detailed characterization of the interactions between these viral proteins is of great importance for better understanding their role in viral replication cycle and represents attractive target for antiviral agents. In this study, we demonstrated in vivo interactions between HCV NS2 and NS3 proteins using an epitope tagging technique. For this purpose NS2, NS3 and NS4A were expressed in fusion with two different tags in Cos7 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis and co-immunoprecipitation with tag-specific antibodies revealed the existence of biologically important NS3/NS4A and NS3/NS2 complexes. Similar complexes were detected also in Huh7 cells infected with Semliki Forest virus vectors expressing NS2 and NS3 or NS23 precursor polyprotein. The formation of complex between NS2 and NS3 was found not to depend on whether the proteins were expressed individually or in form of common precursor. This observation suggests the existence of direct interaction between these two proteins that may have importance for the formation of the whole HCV replication complex.     

Functional determinants of NS2B for activation of Japanese encephalitis virus NS3 protease

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, causing severe central nerve system diseases without specific treatments. The NS2B-NS3 protease of flaviviruses mediates several cleavages on the flavivirus polyprotein, being believed to be a target for antiviral therapy. NS2B is the cofactor of the viral serine protease, correlating with stabilization and substrate recognition of the NS3 protease. In this study, we investigate the functional determinants in the JEV NS2B for the activation of the NS3 protease. Cis- and trans-cleavage assays of the deletions at the N-terminal of NS2B demonstrated that the NS2B residues Ser(46) to Ile(60) were the essential region required for both cis and trans activity of the NS3 protease. In addition, alanine substitution at the residues Trp53, Glu55, and Arg56 in NS2B significantly reduced the cis- and trans-cleavage activities of the NS3 protease. Sequence alignment and modeled structures suggested that functional determinants at the JEV NS2B residues Ser46 to Ile60, particularly in Trp53, Glu55 and Arg56 could play an important configuration required for the activity of the flavivirus NS3 protease. Our results might be useful for development of inhibitors that block the interaction between NS2B and NS3.     

Hepatitis C virus core, NS3, NS5A, NS5B proteins induce apoptosis in mature dendritic cells

Although reasons for hepatitis C virus (HCV) persistence are still unknown, specific cellular immune responses appear to influence the pathogenesis and outcome of the infection. Apoptosis of cells infected by viruses may appear suicidal to the viruses that induce programmed cell death of its host. However, apoptosis has been suggested to be a response to virus infection as a mean of facilitating virus dissemination. Annexin V-propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation, were used to show that expression of the core, NS3, NS5A, or NS5B protein induces apoptosis in mature dendritic cells. In addition, immunoblotting was used to demonstrate that expression level of p21waf1/cip1 protein decreased in cells expressing one of these HCV proteins. No expression of p53 could be detected and expression of Akt was independent of HCV proteins expression. These results suggest that the effect of these HCV proteins on HCV associated pathogenesis may be linked (at least partially) to its ability to modulate apoptosis pathways in mature dendritic cells.     

Abundant drug-resistant NS3 mutants detected by deep sequencing in hepatitis C virus-infected patients undergoing NS3 protease inhibitor monotherapy

The high genetic variation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in rapid selection of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) during monotherapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). It has been proposed that each possible single mutant preexists in infected individuals; however, the levels of preexisting DRMs are too low to be directly quantified in most patients using current techniques. In this study, we evaluated the presence of DRMs in HCV-infected patients treated with the HCV protease inhibitors GS-9256 or GS-9451 as monotherapy using deep sequencing in 137 longitudinal samples from 45 patients. Software was developed to analyze deep-sequencing results with an assay cutoff of 0.25%. No NS3 DRMs that confer resistance to GS-9256 and GS-9451 (R155K, A156T, and D168V/E) were observed in 33 baseline samples at >0.25%. In contrast, these and other substitutions at NS3 positions 155, 156, and 168 were detected in 19/27 patients at day 2 (24 h) and 21/21 at day 4 (84 h) of monotherapy but not in placebo-treated patients. Based on the DRM growth kinetics during drug treatment, pretreated NS3 mutations at amino acids 155, 156, and 168 were estimated on average at 0.025% and 0.015% per genotype 1a and 1b HCV-infected patients, respectively. Relative fitness of the DRM viruses was shown to be significantly lower than the wild type. Deep-sequencing analyses of NS3 protease inhibitor-treated HCV-infected patients suggest a limit of HCV viral load suppression of 3.6 to 3.8 log(10) with NS3 protease inhibitor monotherapy that does not suppress the identified preexisting NS3 DRMs and thus a need for a combination therapy.     

Differences in membrane association and sub-cellular distribution between NS2-3 and NS3 of bovine viral diarrhoea virus

The sub-cellular location and mechanism of membrane association of NS3 and NS2-3 polypeptides of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) have been examined. Both NS3 and NS2-3 proteins were detected in post-nuclear membrane fractions but not in cytosolic fractions of BVDV infected cells; a proportion of NS3, but not NS2-3, could be dissociated from the membranes with 800 mM KCl or at pH 11. Following extraction with 1% Triton X-114, NS3 was predominantly present in the aqueous phase, but NS2-3 was only recovered in the detergent phase. Confocal microscopy showed that in BVDV infected cells, NS3 and/or NS2-3 co-localise with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein, ERP60, but not Golgi or lysosomal proteins. Sub-cellular fractionation analysis demonstrated that NS2-3 was almost exclusively associated with the rough ER membrane but a significant proportion of NS3 was present in the smooth ER membrane fractions in addition to the rough ER membrane. These differences in the distribution of NS2-3 and NS3 on ER membranes in cells infected with cytopathogenic (CP) strains of BVDV were also observed using confocal microscopy and antibodies that are specific to either NS2 or NS3. This distinct distribution of NS3 and NS2-3 on the ER membrane has revealed a further difference between CP and non-cytopathogenic (NCP) strains of BVDV.     

Recombinant HCV NS3 and NS5B enzymes exhibit multiple posttranslational modifications for potential regulation

Posttranslational modification (PTM) of proteins is critical to modulate protein function and to improve the functional diversity of polypeptides. In this report, we have analyzed the PTM of both hepatitis C virus NS3 and NS5B enzyme proteins, upon their individual expression in insect cells under the baculovirus expression system. Using mass spectrometry, we present evidence that these recombinant proteins exhibit diverse covalent modifications on certain amino acid side chains, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation. Although the functional implications of these PTM must be further addressed, these data may prove useful toward the understanding of the complex regulation of these key viral enzymes and to uncover novel potential targets for antiviral design.

     

Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of the non-structural proteins NS1, NS2 and NS3 of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV)

Three unique non-structural (NS) proteins are produced by Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) during infection of a host cell; NS1, NS2 and NS3. This study presents a complete genetic and phylogenetic analysis of these proteins (and the genes that code for them) to allow comparison of the selective pressures acting on each. Accession numbers, gene and protein sizes, ORF positions, G + C contents, terminal hexanucleotides, start and stop codons and phylogenetic relationships are all presented. Unlike the core, or outer-coat proteins, there are no characteristic genetic or phylogenetic traits common to all of the EHDV NS proteins; indicating that each is evolving under different selection pressures. These differences are discussed. Evidence of genetic recombination in genome segment 8 (coding for NS2) is also presented, together with evidence of gene duplication and mutation, suggesting the EHDV genome may have evolved using mechanisms such as these.     

Internal cleavages of hepatitis C virus NS3 induced by P1 mutations at the NS3/4A cleavage site

Despite being the focus of intensive investigation for its enzymatic activities and its roles in HCV virus replication, little is known about the internal processing of NS3. Here we show that single mutations at P1 position of the NS3/4A junction lead to alternative cleavages. Among the multiple novel cleavage products observed, there were two predominant species of about 12 kDa (p12) and 67 kDa (p67). This p12 species consists of the NS4A and about a 6 kDa long C-terminal region of NS3 and forms a complex with NS3. The remaining NS3 corresponds to the p67 species. This alternative cleavage is an NS3 protease-mediated intra-molecular event and more interestingly can also be induced with low concentrations of one NS3 protease inhibitor examined. Our results led us to propose a model explaining the alternative cleavage observed and its functional role.