ABSTRACT
Amphiphilic copolymers have a wide variety of medical and biotechnological applications, including DNA transfection in eukaryotic cells. Still, no polymer-primed transfection of prokaryotic cells has been described. The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymer synthesis technique and the reversible deactivation radical polymerization variants allow the design of polymers with well-controlled molar mass, morphology, and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity ratios. RAFT was used to synthesize two amphiphilic copolymers containing different ratios of the amphiphilic poly[2-(dimethyl-amino) ethyl methacrylate] and the hydrophobic poly [methyl methacrylate]. These copolymers bound to pUC-19 DNA and successfully transfected non-competent Escherichia coli DH5α, with transformation efficiency in the range of 103 colony-forming units per µg of plasmid DNA. These results demonstrate prokaryote transformation using polymers with controlled amphiphilic/hydrophobic ratios.
Subject(s)
Polymers , DNA/genetics , Bacteria , Transfection , CationsABSTRACT
To construct a pUCP18/lasRantisense plasmid carrying the reversed gene and analyze its effect on the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosus, LasR gene was amplified from the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosus by PCR and reversely recombined with plasmid pUCP18. The recombinant pUCP18/lasRantisense was verified by enzyme digestion, PCR and sequencing. The biological effects of pUCP18/lasRantisense were examined by using RT-PCR, NAD method and the assay of pyocyanin. Our results showed that the expected full length lasR fragment (721 bp) was extended from Pseudomonas aeruginosus gene with PCR. And it is consistent with LasR gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in GenBank (No. NC_002516). The recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed and transferred into Pseudomonas aeruginosus. The antisense nucleic acid of LasR gene could reduce the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosus and might serve as a new target site for treatment purpose.
ABSTRACT
The LasR gene was amplified from the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosus by PCR and recombined with plasmid pUCP18 reversely. The recombinant pUCP18/lasRantisense was verified with restriction analysis, PCR and sequence and was transformed in Pseudomonas aeruginosus. The biological effect of pUCP18/lasRantisense was detected by RT-PCR, NAD method and the assay of pyocyanin. The air tubes of rats were infected by pUCP18/lasRantisense strain and then carried on histopathologic slide check. Expected full length LasR fragment (721bp) can be extended from Pseudomonas aeruginosus gene with PCR technology. And it is consistent with LasR gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa covered in GenBank (NO. NC_002516). The recombinant plasmid was constructed and transformed into Pseudomonas aeruginosus sucessfully. Compared with the rats which were infected by standard strain, the bronchitis of the rats which were infected by pUCP18/lasRantisense strain was obviously eased. It can be concluded that the antisensenucleic acid of LasR gene can depress the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosus and reveal a new target site for treatment.