内含肽介导三段vWF基因真核细胞转移的翻译后连接及其功能性多聚体形成

vWF(von Willebrand factor)是一种超大分子质量的血浆多聚体糖蛋白,在血栓形成和生理凝血过程中发挥重要作用,其质和/或量的缺陷导致血管性血友病(VWD),由于VWD为单基因病,且vWF为分泌性蛋白,基于基因转移的基因治疗无需特异的靶器官,因此VWD特别适合于基因治疗,但vWF基因过大(8.4 kb),难以为多数病毒载体特别是优点较多的腺相关病毒(AAV)载体承载.运用内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接功能,研究了三重载体真核细胞共转断裂3段的vWF基因,以期通过转基因翻译后的蛋白质剪接作用形成完整的功能性vWF蛋白.将vWF的cDNA于满足剪接所需的保守性氨基酸Cys1099、Ser2004的密码子前断裂为3段,分别与2种不同的内含肽即Ssp DnaE内含肽和Ssp DnaB内含肽编码序列融合,构建到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+),得到3个分别融合内含肽的vWF片段基因真核表达载体,共转染培养的293细胞,通过瞬时表达,电泳观察培养上清中的vWF多聚体形态,分析vWF蛋白量和凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)结合力;通过共转FⅧ基因,分析了培养上清中的FⅧ蛋白量及生物活性.结果显示,通过内含肽的蛋白质反式剪接作用,共转内含肽融合的三片段vWF基因细胞上清,表现与正常人血浆和转vWF基因阳性对照细胞相似的vWF多聚体模式和FⅧ结合力,而且可明显提高转FⅧ基因后表达的FⅧ蛋白的分泌量和活性,提示剪接vWF蛋白的FⅧ载体功能的恢复.结果表明,内含肽可作为一种有效的技术手段进行三重载体共转断裂的vWF基因,为进一步基于内含肽的三重AAV转断裂vWF基因应用于VWD基因治疗研究、克服AAV的容量限制提供了依据.     

vWF-ΔPro改善基于蛋白质剪接的双载体BDD-FVIII基因转移

多聚体von Willebrand因子(vWF)的功能之一是保护凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)免受蛋白水解引起的快速清除．前肽缺失突变体vWF (vWF-ΔPro)不能形成多聚体,但可以结合FⅧ蛋白．为探讨vWF-ΔPro对基于蛋白质反式剪接作用介导的双载体转FⅧ基因后连接的FⅧ蛋白的分泌和活性的影响,将vWF-ΔPro基因和融合Ssp DnaB内含肽的B结构域缺失型FⅧ(BDD-FⅧ)断裂基因共转染293细胞进行转基因的瞬时表达,用Western印迹检测了单独转染vWF-ΔPro基因细胞的vWF-ΔPro表达量和蛋白形式,并检测了其对FⅧ的结合力;用ELISA法观察分泌至培养上清中的剪接的BDD-FⅧ,并用Coatest法检测由其产生的生物活性．结果显示,vWF-ΔPro转基因细胞呈现二聚体蛋白表达形式,其结合FⅧ的能力与转野生型vWF基因细胞相近;vWF-ΔPro共转染细胞上清中剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白浓度为198±21 ng/mL,活性为1.78±0.18 IU/mL,明显高于未转染vWF-ΔPro基因的细胞对照(91±12 ng/mL和1.05±0.13 IU/mL),与共转染野生型vWF基因细胞对照相近(221±19 ng/mL和1.95±0.22 IU/mL),表明vWF-ΔPro可显著改善内含肽剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白的分泌和生物活性．为vWF-ΔPro转基因的基于蛋白质剪接技术双AAV载体转BDD-FⅧ基因动物体内实验提供了依据．     

内含肽介导的氯离子通道蛋白CFTR的反式剪接

研究利用内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接功能在大肠杆菌中对囊性纤维化跨膜传导调节因子(cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, CFTR)的反式剪接作用.CFTR基因突变导致一种常染色体隐性遗传疾病囊性纤维化(cystic fibrosis, CF).将CFTR的cDNA于剪接反应所需的保守性氨基酸残基Ser-660前断裂为N端和C端,分别与split mini Ssp DnaB 内含肽的106个氨基酸残基的N端和48个氨基酸残基的C端编码序列融合,构建到原核表达载体pBV220 诱导表达后SDS-PAGE可见预期大小剪接形成的CFTR蛋白条带,Western印迹用CFTR特异性抗体进一步证明为剪接所产生的CFTR蛋白,表明内含肽可有效催化CFTR的反式剪接.     

蓝细菌断裂DNA聚合酶DnaE的体内/外反式剪接分析

蓝细菌Anabaena PCC7120的DNA聚合酶DnaE由2个断裂基因dnaENI和dnaECI编码.通过纯化它们的部分基因在大肠杆菌中的表达产物DnaENI′和DnaECI′来免疫家兔获得抗体,用于对断裂的DnaE在体内和体外的反式剪接活性进行鉴定.在体外实验中,将2个断裂的DNA聚合酶DnaENI′和DnaECI′混合,进行反应,并利用它们的抗体对反应产物进行鉴定;在体内实验中,利用以上抗体对Anabaena PCC7120细胞总蛋白进行免疫杂交分析.实验结果表明,蓝细菌AnabaenaPCC7120中断裂的2个DnaE多肽在体内和体外均能进行反式剪接.体外实验中,纯化的DnaENI′和DnaECI′的混合反应产生新的蛋白产物,既有成熟的反式剪接产物DnaEN′-,又有剪切了内含肽后的副产物DnaEN′和DnaE,且DTT的存在对剪接反应具有促进作用;此外体内实验中,在Anabaena PCC7120细胞中既能检测到完整的DnaE,也能检测到未作用的DnaENI,但未能检测到DnaECI.     

基于蛋白质反式剪接的双载体凝血Ⅷ因子基因转移

以intein的蛋白反式剪接为工具,研究了运用双载体的真核细胞凝血Ⅷ因子（FⅧ）基因转移,通过翻译后剪接得到完整的功能性FⅧ蛋白.将B结构域大部分缺失（Δ761~1639）的人功能性FⅧ（BDD-FⅧ）cDNA于剪接所需保守残基Ser1657前断裂为重链和轻链,分别与106和48个氨基酸的mini Ssp DnaB intein的N端（IntN）和C端（IntC）编码序列融合,构建一对在质粒pcDNA3.1的强启动子CMV驱动下的真核表达载体.用脂质体共转染至293细胞和COS-7细胞,培养48h后,收集细胞上清,用ELISA检测培养上清中剪接形成的BDD-FⅧ蛋白水平,用Coatest法检测上清的功能性FⅧ生物活性,并用Western blot观察细胞内的BDD-FⅧ蛋白质剪接.结果显示,两种细胞培养上清中有较高水平的剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白形成,分别达到（137±23）和（109±22）ng/mL,由细胞内和细胞外（培养上清）的剪接共同组成 并检测到培养上清中较高水平的FⅧ生物活性,分别为（1.05±0.16）和（0.79±0.23）IU/mL,包括细胞内、外剪接产物BDD-FⅧ共同形成 细胞总蛋白的Western blot进一步显示共转染后细胞内高效剪接形成的BDD-FⅧ蛋白.表明intein可用于双载体系统真核细胞FⅧ基因转移,并不完全依赖细胞内的剪接产生具有高FⅧ生物活性的BDD-FⅧ蛋白,为进一步在甲型血友病基因治疗研究中应用双腺相关病毒载体（AAV）转运FⅧ基因,克服AAV载体的容量限制提供了依据.     

前肽缺失体vWF改善FⅧ基因断裂转移细胞的重链和活性分泌

通过转von Willebrand因子(vWF)的前肽缺失突变体(vWF-△Pro)基因,探讨了vWF-△Pro对双载体转凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)基因的影响.将vWF-△Pro基因和B-区缺失型FⅧ( BDD-FⅧ)的重、轻链基因共转染HEK293细胞48 h后,ELISA检测重链的分泌量为(142±29) ng/ml,明显高于未转vWF-△Pro基因细胞(87±15) ng/ml;未转vWF-△Pro基因时单独转重链基因的重链分泌水平很低,vWF-△Pro存在时重链分泌量明显提高,但不如共转基因时的重链分泌,提示轻链可反式促进重链分泌;单独转轻链或与重链共转基因时轻链分泌水平均较高,且不受vWF-△Pro影响;Coatest法检测分泌的凝血活性显示,转vWF-△Pro基因可使细胞分泌的凝血活性明显高于未转vWF-△Pro基因细胞(0.80±0.15 IU/ml vs 0.41±0.08 IU/ml).另外,转vWF-△Pro基因条件下,合并培养转重链和转轻链基因细胞的培养上清中,也检测到FⅧ凝血活性(0.23±0.09IU/ml),提示vWF-△Pro有助于分泌的重、轻链形成功能性异源二聚体.表明转vWF-△Pro基因可促进双链转FⅧ基因,为进一步动物体内实验奠定了基础.     

PRP8蛋白质反式剪接系统的建立

真菌病原体Cryptococcus neoformansAD血清型剪接体蛋白PRP8蛋白质内含子是目前 发现的第2个存在于真核生物体核基因组中的蛋白质内含子.它的宿主基因prp8编码的PRP 8蛋白作为剪接体的1个组分,是1个高度保守的mRNA剪接蛋白.将组氨酸标签插入克隆自真菌病原体Cryptococcus neoformans AD血清型的PRP8蛋白质内含子中,并将该蛋白质内含子进行人工断裂,获得断裂蛋白质内含子,在大肠杆菌中鉴定其剪接活性.研究结果表明：所获得的改造型蛋白质内含子均表现出高效的剪接活性.利用此Cryptococcus neoformansAD血清型PRP8 断裂蛋白质内含子,成功构建了蛋白质反式剪接系统.这一反式剪接系统可用于其他蛋白质的连接与合成,有望成为蛋白质工程中的一种有用工具.     

多种S1断裂内含肽的体内交叉反应

断裂内含肽含有两个独立分离的多肽片段(N端内含肽和C端内含肽),它催化蛋白质反式剪接反应,在蛋白质研究与蛋白质工程中已得到诸多实际应用.在蛋白质反式剪接过程中,内含肽的N端内含肽和C端内含肽通过结构互补特异性地非共价组合.然而,Ssp DnaX S1型断裂内含肽的较大C端内含肽片段近来被发现能够与源自其它内含肽的N端内含肽片段交叉反应,表明蛋白质内含子Ssp DnaX具有结构杂交特征.本研究对另外2种S1型内含肽Rma DnaB和Ssp GyrB的较大C端内含肽与不同S1型断裂内含肽的N 端内含肽交叉反应活性进行分析检测.目的是探讨S1型断裂内含肽的结构杂交特征是否具有普遍性.结果发现,Rma DnaB的S1 C端内含肽能够与Ssp GyrB的S1 N端内含肽交叉反应,却不能与Ssp DnaX的S1 N端内含肽交叉反应;与此相似,Ssp GyrB的S1 C端内含肽能够与Rma DnaB的 S1 N端内含肽交叉反应,却不能与Ssp DnaX的S1 N端内含肽交叉反应.此外,某些交叉反应表现出温度依赖性.这些结果对于内含肽的结构 功能关系以及S1型断裂内含肽的应用研究具有重要的意义.     

前肽缺失体vWF改善FVIII基因断裂转移 细胞的重链和活性分泌

通过转von Willebrand因子(vWF)的前肽缺失突变体(vWF-ΔPro)基因,探讨了vWF-ΔPro对双载体转凝血VⅢ因子(FVⅢ)基因的影响。将vWF-ΔPro基因和B-区缺失型FVⅢ(BDD-FVⅢ)的重、轻链基因共转染HEK293细胞48 h后,ELISA检测重链的分泌量为(142±29)ng/ml,明显高于未转vWF-ΔPro基因细胞(87±15)ng/ml;未转vWF-ΔPro基因时单独转重链基因的重链分泌水平很低,vWF-ΔPro存在时重链分泌量明显提高,但不如共转基因时的重链分泌,提示轻链可反式促进重链分泌;单独转轻链或与重链共转基因时轻链分泌水平均较高,且不受vWF-ΔPro影响;Coatest法检测分泌的凝血活性显示,转vWF-ΔPro基因可使细胞分泌的凝血活性明显高于未转vWF-ΔPro基因细胞(0.80±0.15 IU/ml vs 0.41±0.08 IU/ml)。另外,转vWF-ΔPro基因条件下,合并培养转重链和转轻链基因细胞的培养上清中,也检测到FVIII凝血活性(0.23±0.09IU/ml),提示vWF-ΔPro有助于分泌的重、轻链形成功能性异源二聚体。表明转vWF-ΔPro基因可促进双链转FVⅢ基因,为进一步动物体内实验奠定了基础。     

内含肽介导的生物学效应及其应用

蛋白质翻译产物在成熟过程中剪切释放出来的一段氨基酸序列称为“intein”---即内含肽。它与前体蛋白以框内融合的形式共同翻译,并内嵌于前体蛋白序列中。内含肽的解离以及内含肽两侧氨基酸序列的连接是在内含肽自身催化作用下完成的。本文将从内含肽的发现、结构特征和作用机理等方面对这种具有特殊意义的蛋白质成熟机制进行较为全面的论述,同时介绍了近年来发展起来的以内含肽介导的蛋白质剪接为基础的蛋白质纯化和改造技术。     

Establishing reference intervals for von Willebrand factor multimers

Backgroundvon Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers (VWF:MM) methodologies are technically difficult, laborious, time consuming, non-standardized and results vary between laboratories. A new semi automated VWF:MM assay is available for routine use (Sebia). Due to lack of reference values for VWF:MM fractions, results interpretation can be challenging in some cases. The aim of this study was to determine reference intervals for low molecular weight (LMWM), intermediate molecular weight (IMWM) and high molecular weight (HMWM) multimers.MethodsBy the international cooperation initiated between 4 countries (Estonia, Latvia, France, and USA) 131 samples of relatively healthy individuals were analyzed for VWF:MM (in total 51 males and 80 non-pregnant females aged 17-69 years). Reference intervals were calculated according to CLSI C28-A3 standard.ResultsThe proposed reference intervals for VWF:MM were calculated for LMWM 10.4-22.5%, IMWM 22.6-37.6%, HMWM 45.6-66.6%. Age related differences were seen in IMWM and HMWM (p<0.001 and 0.038). There was no gender related difference observed. Geographically LMWM results of France were different from the other regions (p<0.05).ConclusionsQuantification of VWF:MM fractions, in addition to qualitative assessment of VWF:MM patterns, has the potential to aid in differential diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) subtypes. The reference values calculated in this study can be used in future research to establish clinical decision limits.     

Structure and dynamics of the von Willebrand Factor C6 domain

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder with different levels of severity. VWD-associated mutations are located in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene, coding for the large multidomain plasma protein VWF with essential roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. On the one hand, a variety of mutations in the C-domains of VWF are associated with increased bleeding upon vascular injury. On the other hand, VWF gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the C4 domain have recently been identified, which induce an increased risk of myocardial infarction. Mechanistic insights into how these mutations affect the molecular behavior of VWF are scarce and holistic approaches are challenging due to the multidomain and multimeric character of this large protein. Here, we determine the structure and dynamics of the C6 domain and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant G2705R in C6 by combining nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and aggregometry. Our findings indicate that this mutation mostly destabilizes VWF by leading to a more pronounced hinging between both subdomains of C6. Hemostatic parameters of variant G2705R are close to normal under static conditions, but the missense mutation results in a gain-of-function under flow conditions, due to decreased VWF stem stability. Together with the fact that two C4 variants also exhibit GOF characteristics, our data underline the importance of the VWF stem region in VWF’s hemostatic activity and the risk of mutation-associated prothrombotic properties in VWF C-domain variants due to altered stem dynamics.     

血管性血友病因子裂解蛋白酶的稳定表达及其活性检测

本研究旨在得到重组的血管性血友病因子裂解蛋白酶(ADAMTS13),进一步研究其在血栓止血中的作用。利用脂质体将编码ADAMTS13全长序列的重组质粒pSecTag-ADAMTS13转染Hela细胞,用潮霉素(Hygromycin-B)筛选得到阳性克隆细胞株,并扩大培养,收集上清。利用Ni-NTA琼脂糖柱、梯度咪唑淋洗法纯化蛋白,SDS-PAGE和Westernblotting鉴定纯化产品纯度和免疫学活性,采用GST-His双抗夹心法测定蛋白剪切活性。结果显示,成功获得一株能恒定分泌重组ADAMTS13蛋白的细胞株ADAMTS2-4,每1L培养上清可纯化得到5.8mg重组蛋白。Western blotting结果显示,ADAMTS13多抗能与重组蛋白在190kDa处显单一条带,并且蛋白具有6.4U/mL的剪切活性(每毫升正常人混合血浆中ADAMTS13活性为1U)。重组蛋白具有较好的免疫原活性和酶活性,为进一步研究ADAMTS13作用机理和运用奠定了良好的基础。     

Evaluation of a new semi-automated Hydragel 11 von Willebrand factor multimers assay kit for routine use

BackgroundAccurate diagnosis and classification of von Willebrand disease (VWD) are essential for optimal management. The von Willebrand factor multimers analysis (VWF:MM) is an integral part of the diagnostic process in the phenotypic classification, especially in discrepant cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a new Hydragel 11VWF multimer assay (H11VW).MethodsAnalytical performance characteristics such as repeatability (intra-assay variability, in gel between track variation), reproducibility (inter-assay variability, between gel variation), sensitivity, EQA performance and differences between two commercially available VWF:MM kits (H5VW and H11VW) were analysed in healthy volunteers'' plasmas using in-house prepared reference plasma.ResultsRepeatability and reproducibility results of H11VW demonstrated acceptable and equivalent performance with previously verified H5VW. Participation in EQA was successful. No statistically significant difference was detected between H5VW and H11VW kits for different fractions of multimers: LMWM p=0.807; IMWM p=0.183; HMWM p=0.774.ConclusionsH11VW demonstrated acceptable analytical performance characteristics. H11VW kit conveniently offers a more significant number of samples on a single gel. H5VW and H11VW kits can be used in daily practice interchangeably.     

Experimental indication for the existence of multiple Trp rotamers in von Willebrand Factor A3 domain

The first step in both normal haemostasis and arterial thrombosis is the interaction between collagen, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and glycoprotein Ib. The A3 domain of vWF forms the principal binding site for collagen type I and type III. Inhibition of the vWF-collagen interaction by an anti-human vWF monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 82D6A3 can be a potential way to prevent arterial thrombosis. Identification of the epitope of MoAb 82D6A3 showed recently that the consensus sequence SPWR obtained by phage display could adopt the conformation of the discontinuous epitope. Modelling showed that Trp982 in the vWF had to obtain a more solvent accessible conformation. We performed a detailed fluorescence study of Trp982 in the vWF A3. Using the method described by Hellings et al. (Biophys J 2003;85:1894-1902), we were able to identify two different low-energy Trp982 rotamers and to link them with their experimentally derived fluorescence lifetimes. Fluorescence anisotropy showed no interconversion in the nanosecond timescale between the two different rotameric states. With these experiments, we gather strong indications for the existence of an exposed rotamer conformation and a rotamer that corresponds to the one observed in the X-ray structure. These results strongly support the modeling work (Vanhoorelbeke et al., J Biol Chem 2003;278:37815-37821).     

Stability of von Willebrand Factor secretion in different human endothelial hybrid cell lines

Endothelial cells form a highly differentiated tissue on the inner surface of blood vessels. One of the typical characteristics is the expression of von Willebrand Factor, a protein that participates in blood coagulation. Thein vitro cultivation of endothelial cells is limited by the fact that primary cells become senescent after 40 generation doublings. We have immortalized human endothelial cells by somatic cell hybridization. Primary cells were fused to different tumor cell lines of murine and human origin. The degree of differentiation of the resulting hybrids was analyzed by characterizing the expression of von Willebrand Factor. This protein was identified intracellularly and in the culture supernatant. During long-term cultivation the hybrid cells showed a tendency to lose this differentiated property even after several subcloning steps. However by fusing them with primary endothelial cells a second time, cell lines expressing von Willebrand Factor for more than 180 population doublings were generated.