SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION OF HUMAN ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A chemically synthesized α-hANP gene was inserted into plasmid YFD18, which was an expression-secretion vector of yeast. The recombinant then transformed in the yeast Y33. The expression level of yeast transformants was about 700 μg ANP/L detected by RIA. More than 99% of expression products were secreted in the culture medium. N-terminal analysis of purified product showed that the first 4 amino acid residues of α-hANP were deleted.     

STUDY ON THE CONDUCTIVITY OF A COMPLEX INORGANIC ION EXCHANGER—α—ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE MIXED WITH SILICA

The composite of α-ZrP and fumed silica was prepared by dispersing predetermined molar ratios of polycrystalline α-ZrP in water.Admittance measurement of the samples was made in the frequence range from 5Hz to 1MHz and the temperature range from -20℃ to 20℃.The activation energy in conduction of the composites,with different molar fraction of α-ZrP,is about 5.9KJ/mol at 60% and 40% relative humidities.The results show that the charge transport mechanism was not changed after mixing fumed silica into α-ZrP and the charge transport medium is water in α-ZrP and the composites.     

STUDY ON THE CONDUCTIVITY OF A COMPLEX INORGANIC ION EXCHANGER-a-ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE MIXED WITH SILICA

The composite of α-ZrP and fumed silica was prepared by dispersing predetermined molar ratios of polycrystalline α-ZrP in water. Admittance measurement of the samples was made in the frequence range from 5Hz to 1MHz and the temperature range from -20℃ to 20℃. The activation energy in conduction of the composites, with different molar fraction of α-ZrP, is about 5. 9KJ/moL at 60% and 40 % relative humidities. The results show that the charge transport mechanism was not changed after mixing fumed silica into α-ZrP and the charge transport medium is water in α-ZrP and the composites.     

Expression and Characterization of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein in Pichia Pastoris

To obtain a sufficient amount of glycoprotein for further studying the structure and function of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, amplified and modified HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gene which recombined subtypes（850 amino acids） from Guangxi in China was inserted into Pichia pastoris expression vector pPICZαB; then the recombinant plasmid was transported into the yeast cells to induce the expression of Env protein with methanol. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot indicate that the envelope glycoprotein could be expressed in Pichia pastoris with productions of a 120000 glycoprotein and a 41000 glycoprotein, which showed satisfactory immunogenicity by indirect ELISA.     

EXPRESSION OF A PARTIAL SYNTHETIC HUMAN TNF cDNA IN E. coli

A recombinant human tumour necrosis factor (rhTNF) cDNA was constructed. The TNF gene was isolated from a human genomic gene library. There are four exons in the TNF gene. The fourth exou codes for 140 amino acids of the TNF matured protein which is composed of 157 amino acids. A major portion of the fourth exon was isolated and then ligated to a synthesized DNA fragment coding for the remaining amino acids. The partial synthetic hTNF (rhTNF) cDNA thus generated was subcloned into a vector and successfully expressed in E. coli. 5-1 fer1entator was used to produce rhTNF. About 20g (wet weight) of bacterial pellet per liter medium and 106—10~7 units of cytotoxicity to L929 cells per milliliter medium were obtained. rhTNF was purified by HPLC and dried with a freeze dryer, rhTNF with a purity of about 95% in the form of white powder was obtained. The sequence of ten amino acids at the amino terminus of the rhTNF was determined. The result showed that it was identical with that of the natural human TNF.     

RECOGNITION SEQUENCE SPECIFICITY OF SIGNAL PEPTIDASE I AND THE ROLE OF SIGNAL PEPTIDE IN SECRETION OF PROTEIN IN Bacillus subtilis

By recombinant DNA technology, the N-terminal of the β-protein encoding region of plasmid pUBHO is fused with the structure gene of α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis. This gene fusion is called βAmy. It is able to transcribe and translate in phase. Protein fusion can be secreted into the medium mediated by β-signal peptide. The efficiency of secretion is about 10% of the synthesized pre-α-amylase. By comparing the secretion capacities and analysing the restriction sites on β-Amy genes and the molecular weights of the mature α-amylase secreted by B. subtilis harbouring different plasmids, it is indicated in vivo that the recognition and cleavage sequence for signal peptidase I of B. subtilis is Ala-Ala-Ala Ala. The results also indicate that the secretion of the α-amylase in B. subtilis is in accordance with the post-translational transportation mode.     

TRANSFORMATION OF Lotus corniculatus L.MEDIATED BY Agrobacterium tumefaciens

A simple and effective system for the transformation and regeneration of a leguminous plant has been developed. The cotyledon explants of Lotus corniculatus (var. Leo) were infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens that contained a non-oncogenic Ti plasmid vector. The vector carried a chimaeric npt-Ⅱ gene and a nopaline synthase gene (nos). On the selective medium that contained kanamycin, 40% of the explants formed buds within 3 weeks. Developed shoots were cut off and transferred to rooting medium. Normal-looking plants were recovered and grew well after being transplanted into soil, bloomed and set seeds. Foreign genes were integrated onto the L. corniculatus genome, expressed, and inherited through sexual reproduction, which was proven by nopaline detection, NPT-Ⅱ enzyme activity detection and DNA hybridization test of the transformed plants and the nopaline detection of the progeny.     

Expression of Human Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Gene in Transgenic Tobacco

Expression of Human hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene in plant was reported for the first time. The recombinant plasmid pRoKⅡ-HBsAg was constructed by inserting HBsAg gene into the downstream of CaMV 35S promoter of binary vector pRoKⅡ and then introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. The kanamycin-resistant plants were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. It was shown that HBsAg gene was expressed in transgenic tobacco plants and their progenies by ELISA. The spherical particles of ψ 22 nm in the leaf extract of trangenic tobacco were observed by immunosorbent electron microscopy.     

BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF MODIFIED NUCLEOTIDES IN tRNA MOLECULES——SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE ANALOGUES OF YEAST ALANYL tRNA WITH I_(34) REPLACED BY A_(34) OR G_(34)

Analogues of yeast alanyl tRNA with I_(34) replaced by A_(34) or G_(34) were synthesized. Synthetic analoguesof yeast alanyl tRNT occupy the same position as the natural yeast alanyl tRNA on polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis, and their purity is about 95% after electrophoresis on a 10% or 20% polyacrylamide gel.The two terminal and nearest neighbour nucleotides of the analogues are all correct. The accepting acti-vity of the synthetic analogues is similar to that of the reconstituted natural yeast alanyl tRNA. The in-corporation activity of alanine into proteins of the synthetic analogues is about 30% of that of the naturalof reconstituted natural yeast alanyl tRNA when I_(34) is replaced by A, and is 90% when I_(34) is replaced byG.The reason of the variation in biological function of the analogues of yeast alanyl tRNA after I_(34) re-placed by A or G was discussed.     

Gene Sequence, Soluble Expression and Homologous Comparison of a D-Hydantoinase from Pseudomonas putida YZ-26

A 1440bp open-reading frame encoding D-hydantoinase from Pseudomonas putida YZ-26 was cloned and sequenced（ GenBank AY387829）. The DNA fragment was inserted into Nde and BamHI sites of vector pET-3a, yielding a recombinant plasmid, pET-HDT. After being transferred into the host strain, the artificial strain, pET-HDT/ E. coli BL21 can express the D-hydantoinase as the soluble form in the Lura-Bertani medium without addition of any inducers. The activity of the enzyme toward substrate DL-hydantoin can reach 3000-4000 IU per cells from one-liter bacterial culture incubated at 30 ℃ for 10-12 h. By the comparison of amino acid sequence homology, hydrophobic residues analysis and secondary structure prediction, it was found that D-hydantoinase reported herein is quite similar to that from Pseudomonas putdia CCRC12857, and alike to that from Pseudomonas putdia DSM84 or other bacteria. A rapid and efficient purification procedure of the enzyme was performed by a three-step procedure： ammonium sulfate fractionation, phenyl Sepharose hydrophobic interaction chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The molecular mass of the monomeric enzyme is 52042 Da as determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.     

EXPRESSION OF SYNTHESIZED HIRUDIN GENE IN YEAST

Hirudin is a sort of polypeptides secreted from the salivary gland of medicinal leech. It is of potential importance in medicine. We designed and synthesized the hirudin gene based on the amino acid sequence of hirudin HV2, and expressed it using the yeast alpha factor expression system. The yeast strain stably carrying the hirudin expression plasmid was deduced by mutagenesis. After its cultivation in rich nutritious medium for 36—48 h, the hirudin expression product secreted into the culture fluid was 10—20 ATU/ml. The HPLCpure hirudin product could be obtained through a simpler purification procedure, its N-terminal amino acid sequence was identical with the natural product, and it showed potent anticoagulant and antithrombin activity. About 3000 ATU of pure hirudin witha specific activity of 6600 ATU/mg could be obtained from 500 ml of culture fluid.     

Isolation of Trichoderma reesei pyrG Negative Mutant by UV Mutagenesis and Its Application in Transformation

Two uridine auxotrophic mutants of Trichoderma reesei were isolated by resistance to 5-fluoroorotic acid after UV mutagenesis. One mutant, called M23, was complemented with the Aspergillus niger pyrG gene carried by plasmid pAB4-1. A mutated pyrG gene of M23 was cloned and DNA sequencing analysis indicated that a cytosine was inserted into the 934―939 oligo dC position of the pyrG coding region, resulted in a frameshift mutation. Transformation efficiency was approximately 200―300 transformants per microgram of DNA with plasmid pAB4-1. Stable transformants were obtained by monosporic culture and showed to be prototroph after successive propagation. Vitreoscilla hemoglobin expression plasmid pUCVHb was cotransformed with plasmid pAB4-1 and attained a transformation efficiency of 71.8% or of 26.1% with pAN7-1. Southern blot analysis of the transformants demonstrated that plasmid pUCVHb was integrated into the chromosomal DNA. The experimental results demonstrated that the pyrG-based system was more efficient and timesaving than the conventional hygromycin B resistance-based transformation system.     

CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS AND CLONING OF SECRETIN GENE

A DNA duplex coding for the 27 amino acids of secretin has been synthesized and cloned. Indesigning the sequence of the gene, computer analysis has been applied. The following factors have beenconsidered: selection of codon usage in favour of expression in yeast; design of various sites useful ingene cloning, gene modification and expressed product purification; avoiding the repeat sequences whichmay interfere in the ligation of the synthetic fragments. The synthesis involved preparation of 12 oligo-deoxyribonucleotides (12-mer to 24-mer in length) by phosphate triester and phosphite triester method,purification by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). A new plasmid pWS1 was constructed by inser-tion of the enzymatic ligated gene fragment into plasmid pWR13.     

Expression of CTB-human Insulin(BA) Fusion Protein in Gynostemma Pentapyhllum Makino Callus Cells and Its Hypoglycemic Effect in Mice

The plant expression vector of choleratoxin B subunit(CTB)-human insulin(BA) fusion protein pBI121/(CTB-BA) was constructed first and then the Gynostemma Pentapyhllum Makino callus cell line that could express CTB-human insulin fusion protein was constructed and its hypoglycemic effect was evaluated in mice. The plant expression vector pBI121/(CTB-BA) was digested with both BamI and SacI. Agrobacterium tumerfaciens strain LBA4404 was transformed with previously constructed recombinant plasmid pBI121/(CTB-BA) via the freeze tha-wing method, then CTB-BA gene was integrated to G Pentapyhllum Makino callus cells by co-culturing the cells with the transformed LBA4404 strain. The transformed G Pentapyhllum Makino callus cells were identified by DNA se-quence assey and RT-PCR. The expressed product was identified by western-blot and its amount was tested by ELISA kit and its blood sugar decreasing effect was tested in mice.The sequences of synthetic CTB and human insulin genes(BA) were completely identical to those designed. Restriction map proved that the length of gene fragment in-serted into expression vector pBI121 was consistent with that expected. The sequence of genomic DNA of expressed product was completely identical to that designed. The result of RT-PCR was consistent with that expected. The ex-pressed product showed a specific band with a relative molecular mass of 17000 by Western-blot. The human insulin expression amount was 6.03 μIU/mL according to the ELISA result.The animal test showed that only the G Penta-pyhllum Makino callus cell line itself showed activity in decreasing the blood sugar of mice, however, the activity of the transformed G Pentapyhllum Makino callus cells was much higher. The plant expression vector pBI121/(CTB-BA) was constructed and expressed in the G Pentapyhllum Makino callus cells successfully for the first time. The trans-formed G Pentapyhllum Makino callus cells showed high activity in decreasing the blood sugar of mice. This study developed a new way for the development of oral administration insulin.     

INVESTIGATION OF POLYDL-LACTIDE-b-POLY（ETHYLENE GLYCOL）-b-POLYDL-LACTIDE MICROSPHERES CONTAINING PLASMID DNA

PolyDL-lactide (PDLLA) and the block copolymer, polyDL-lactide-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-polyDL-lactide (PELA) were used as the microsphere matrix to encapsulate plasmid DNA. The PDLLA, PELA, pBR322-1oaded PDLLA and pBR322-1oaded PELA microspheres were prepared by solvent extraction method based on the formation of multiple w1/o/w2 emulsion. The microspheres were characterized by surface morphology, mean particle size, particle size distribution and loading efficiency. The integrity of DNA molecules after being extracted from microspheres was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The result suggested that plasmid DNA molecules could retain their integrity after being encapsulated by PELA. The PELA microspheres could prevent plasmid DNA from being digested by DNase. The in vitro degradation and release profiles of plasmid DNA-loaded microspheres were measured in pH - 7.4 buffer solution at 37℃. The in vitro degradation profiles of the microspheres were evaluated by the deterioration in microspheres surface morphology, the molecular weight reduction of polymer, the mass loss of microspheres, the changes of pH values of degradation medium, and the changes of particle size. The in vitro release profiles of the microspheres were assessed by measurement of the amount of DNA presented in the release medium at determined intervals. The release profiles were correlation with the degradation profiles. The release of plasmid DNA from PELA microspheres showed a similar biphasic trend, that is, an initial burst release was followed by a slow, but sustained release.     

A highly efficient cathode catalyst γ-MnO_2@CNT composite for sodium-air batteries

The γ-MnO_2@CNT catalyst was prepared by in situ solid phase synthesis and first applied into sodium-air batteries(SABs). The initial discharge specific capacity of SABs with γ-MnO_2@CNT catalyst can reach 8804 mA h g~(-1) and the overpotential gap is only 140 m V, which is better than the batteries that is catalyzed by α-MnO_2@CNT and pure CNT. Besides, the batteries also exhibit excellent cycle performance, which can keep relatively stable for 246 cycles at 500 mA g~(-1) and 140 cycles at1000 mA g~(-1).     

VIRUS RESISTANCE OF TRANSGENIC TOBACCO PLANTS EXPRESSING TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS COAT PROTEIN GENE

An intermediate expressing vector carrying the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, Chinese common strain) coat protein (CP) gene was constructed by recombinant DNA techniques. The TMV-CP gene was transferred into the tobacco genome via Ti plasmid and a large number of regenerated plants, including both systemic and local lesion hosts for TMV, were obtained. Southern blot analysis revealed that 1-5 copies of the CP gene were integrated into the tobacco genome. RNA and protein analysis demonstrated that the TMV-CP gene was correctly expressed in the transgenic plants. The abundance of TMV-CP mRNA in total leaf RNA accounted for 0.005-0.01%, while the amount of coat proteins reached 0.05-0.2% of the total leaf soluble proteins. Virus challenge experiments showed that the symptom development of virus infection was markedly delayed and the replication as well as the spread of the virus was significantly inhibited in the transgenic plants expressing the TMV-CP gene. Three of these plants were completely protected afte     

Establishment of a Tumor-bearing Mouse Model Stably Expressing EGFP Labeled Human MUC1 VNTRs

Two eukaryotic vectors expressing 9 tandem repeats of human MUCI（VNTR）, VR1012-VNTR, and pEGFP-VNTR, were constructed by cloning VNTR gene into VR1012 and pEGFP, respectively. VNTR stably expressing murine Lewis lung carcinoma（LLC） cell line（VNTR^＋ LLC） was established by Lipofectamine-mediated transfection of pEGFP-VNTR into LLC cells. The EGFP expression was observed under a fluorescent microscope and VNTR expression in VNTR^＋ LLC cells was confirmed by means of Western blotting. A syngenic graft tumor model was generated by subcutaneous injection of VNTR^＋ LLC cells into C57/BL6 mice and tumor size increased rapidly with time and in a cell qumber dependent manner. VNTR mRNA expression in the tumor formed was confirmed by RT-PCR. After the third immunization mice were challenged subcutaneously with 5×10^5 VNTR^＋ LLC cells, a significant reduction of subcutaneous tumor growth was observed in the groups immunized with VNTR plasmid DNA compared with that in the groups immunized with the vector DNA alone. Thus, the suppression of subcutaneous tumor was antigen-specific. This model is useful for the development of tumor vaccines targeting MUCI VNTRs.