Identification of ubiquitously expressed transcript as the potential interactor of hepatitis B virus polymerase / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the function of hepatitis B virus polymerase (HBV Pol) in the viral life cycle by screening the proteins interacting with HBV polymerase.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HBV Pol gene was constructed into the pGBKT7 vector. GAL4 yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen the human liver cDNA library to obtain proteins which interacted with HBV Pol. GST-pull down assay was applied to confirm the protein interactions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ubiquitously expressed transcript (UXT) was selected by the yeast two-hybrid system. GST-pull down assay confirmed the in vitro interaction between HBV Pol and UXT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>UXT is a potential interactor of HBV Pol, and this protein interaction may provide clues of the function of HBV Pol in HBV life cycle.</p>

Mutation analysis of the MMACHC gene in a pedigree with methylmalonic aciduria / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the mutation of the methylmalonic aciduria (cobalamin deficiency) CblC type, with homocystinuria (MMACHC) gene in a pedigree with methylmalonic aciduria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The MMACHC gene mutation was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The MMACHC gene of 50 healthy people was also sequenced as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A new mutation of 146_154 del CCTTCCTGG was found in the patient and his father, and was absent in the controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A new mutation (146_154 del CCTTCCTGG) in the MMACHC gene was detected in a Chinese family with methylmalonic aciduria.</p>

Recombinant Adenovirus Vector Mediated Expression of HCMV UL49 Gene in Mice / 中国生物工程杂志

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is extremely species specific and does not replicate in experimental animal tissues.To overcome the problem and establish suitable animal models for studying antiviral strategies,the expression of HCMV UL49 gene was explored in mice.UL49-GFP gene was subcloned into the adenovirus shuttle plasmid pDC316,the products(pDC316-UL49-GFP)were co-transfected with helper plasmid pBHGloxE1,3Cre into HEK293 cell lines by liposome reagent,recombinant adenovirus(Ad-UL49-GFP) was generated and confirmed by PCR and Western blot.Ad-UL49-GFP was propagated in 293 cells and purified.The titer of viral stocks was determined by end-point dilution assay.The purified adenoviruses were delivered into mice via the tail vein injection.Fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot experiments were used to examine the tissue distribution and duration of UL49 gene expression.The results showed that the recombinant adenovirus were present in vivo.The expression level in tissues arranged in descending order was liver,spleen,kidney,heart and lung.3 days after injection,the liver,spleen,kidney,heart and lung expressed protein UL49 in high lever and then declined gradually.14 days after injection,UL49 protein expression was disappear in some organs except liver and spleen.In conclusion,transgene animal model carrying UL49 gene was successfully established.Therefore,the system may be suitable for selecting anti-HCMV drugs targeting UL49 gene.

Colon-specific delivery tablets of sodium 4-aminosalicylic acid / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To prepare a new oral colon-specific delivery formulation and to investigate the release profile in vitro and the colon-specific delivery property in vivo in dogs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sodium 4-aminosalicylic acid was selected as the model drug. The combination of Eudragit RL30D and RS30D were used as sustained-release film, and Eudragit FS30D used as enteric film, which was expected to release drug depending on pH and time. The release profile of tablets was studied in three phosphate buffers with the pH 6.5, 7.0 or 7.4 for 12 h after a simulated gastric presoak for 2 h in 0.1 mol x L(-1) HCl. The tablets were radiolabelled with 99mTc to make their release times and positions in the gastrointestinal tract be followed using a gamma camera.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For the in vitro study, there was no drug released in 0.1 mol x L(-1) HCl for 2 h, and release occurred slowly when pH was above 6.5. Drug was released faster while pH was higher. For the in vivo study, the coated tablets remained intact in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and drug release began after the colonic arrival. The uncoated tablets, however, disintegrated in the stomach of the dogs rapidly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The coating could protect the drug until the tablets reached the ascending colon, where drug was released slowly for over 10 h.</p>

Screening and detecting of proteins interacting with mPem / 生物工程学报

mPem, a homeobox gene, is expressed in a time and stage specific manner during murine ontogeny. Pem transcripts are abundant in 7- and 8-day mouse embryos, but decrease precipitously thereafter. On Day 9 they become abundant in placenta and yolk sac, persisting there until parturition. Although Pem transcripts are not detectable in most of adult tissues, they are present in reproductive system such as testis, epididymis and ovary. This indicates a important role for Pem during embryogenesis and reproductive development. To study the function of mPem protein, we used a GAL4 based yeast two-hybrid assay to screen a 7-day mouse embryo library with full-length of mPem. 3 proteins were found interacting with mPem protein. One of theses is Mdfic. We confirmed the interaction between mPem and Mdfic in yeast and in vitro. Mdfic, MyoD family inhibitor domain containing, encodes the myoD family inhibitor domain (I-mfa domain). The interaction between mPem and Mdfic suggested they maybe form the transcriptional regulator complex to regulate embryo differentiation.

The relationship between the variants in 5' upstream core promoter A(-6)G and A(-20)C of angiotensinogen gene and essential hypertension in Kazakans of Xinjiang / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the variants A(-6)G and A(-20)C of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene are involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension in Kazakans.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>T his case control study recruited 125 subjects with hypertension and 74 normotensive subjects from Kazakans of Xinjiang. Genomic DNA from leukocytes was analyzed for genetic variants A(-6)G and A(-20)C in 5' upstream core promoter of AGT gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and automatic sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)There were only A(-6)G and A(-20)C variants in the -164 to +73 region of Kazakans' AGT gene. (2) The distributions of genotypes AA, AG, GG at locus -6 of AGT gene showed significant difference between the hypertensive group (0.39, 0.45, 0.16) and the normotensive group (0.49, 0.49, 0.02; Chi2=8.56, P=0.014). There were evident differences in the frequencies of the -6A and the -6G allele of the two groups (0.62, 0.38 and 0.73, 0.27; Chi2=5.35, P=0.021). (3) No significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes AA, AC, CC at locus -20 of AGT gene between the hypertensive group (0.69, 0.26, 0.05) and the normotensive group (0.65, 0.32, 0.03; Chi2=2.42, P=0.30). There was no distinct difference in the frequencies of the -20A allele and the -20C allele of the two groups (0.82, 0.18 and 0.82, 0.18; Chi2=0, P=0.99). (4) No significant difference was found at the levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the groups corresponding to genotypes at the loci -6 and -20 of AGT gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that the polymorphism of A(-6)G in 5' upstream core promoter of the AGT gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension in Kazakans, while the A(-20)C variant may not play an important role in the etiology of essential hypertension in Kazakans.</p>

Construction of M1GS for Targeted Cleavage of HCMV UL54 mRNA Segments / 微生物学通报

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a DNA virus and serious opportunistic pathogen for both newborn and immunocompromised individuals.To research technique for gene silence and antiviral agents, ribozyme M1GS-T6 was constructed from external guide sequences(EGSs)that consist of a sequence complementary to HCMV UL54 gene RNA and M1 RNA, the catalytic RNA subunit of RNase P from Escherichia coli. The results showed that M1GS can efficiently cleave the mRNA sequence encoding UL54 protein in vitro.