An efficient method for constructing a random insertional mutant library for forward genetics in Nannochloropsis oceanica

Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.

Analysis of BAC_5 mcAb-Related Epitope Using Random Peptide library

Objective To identify epitope relating to BAC 5 mcAb, a kind of monoclonal antibody (mcAb) located on the surface of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. Methods Using BAC 5 mcAb as a selected target, the 3 rounds of biopanning to a 12 mer random peptide library (RPL) presented by M13 phages were carried out. The positive M13 phage clones were chosen and confirmed with sandwich ELISA for antibody capture and competitive assay. The exogenous DNA fragments in the positive/negative M13 phages were sequenced to deduce and compare the order of the amino acids of exogenous peptides among the phage clones. Results 77% (35/45) of the phages eluted from the 3rd round of biopnning could be captured by BAC 5 mcAb. The 3 kinds of the peptides were displayed by M13 phages from the 8 positive clones identified with competitive assay. The same character of '-P-V-'structure existed near N-terminus of the 3 different peptides, i.e. -H-Q-S-H-Y-P-Y-P-V-V-S-L- (4/8) -Q-N-Q-A-W-F-S-Q-P-V-R-M- (3/8) and T-Q-A-Y-K-G-F-P-V-L-P-S- (1/8) in comparison with the peptide ' -N-H-Q-S-T-F-W-Q-K-W-T-A-' displayed by M13 phages from the negative clones (6/6). Conclusion BAC 5 mcAb can recognize the 3 kinds of the peptides with-P-V-structure near N-terminus. These peptides mimic the structure of the epitope on the surface of NPC cells recognized by BAC 5 mcAb.

Screening and Identification of a Novel Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Binding Peptide by Using a Phage Display Library

The purpose of this study was to screen peptides that can specifically bind to human hepatocellular carcinoma （hHCC） cells using phage display of random peptide library in order to develope a peptide-based carrier for the diagnosis or therapy of hHCC. A peptide 12-mer phage display library was employed and 4 rounds of subtractive panning were performed using the hHCC cell line HepG2 as the target. After panning, the phages that specifically bound to and internalized in hHCC cells were selected. The selected phages demonstrated highly specific affinity to HepG2 cells analyzed by ELISA and immunofluorescence analysis. 57.3% of the selected phage clones displayed repeated sequence FLLEPHLMDTSM, and 4 amino acid residues, FLEP were extremely conservative. Based on the sequencing results, a 16-mer peptide （WH-16） was synthesized. The competitive EL1SA showed that the binding of the phage clones displayed sequence FLLEPHLMDTSM to HepG2 cells was efficiently inhibited by WH-16. Our findings indicate that cellular binding of phage is mediated via its displayed peptide and the synthesized 16-mer peptide may have the potential to be a delivery carrier in target diagnosis or therapy for hHCC.

Identification and Characterization of Peptides Binding AgEG1 from a Phage Display Library

Endoglucanases are the main cellulolytic enzymes digestion as well as its good kinetic properties make it an attractive of Anoplophora glabripennis. Their high activities in cellulose target for development of cellulase inhibitors. In this study, random pepfide phage display technology was employed to identify peptides that bound the AgEG1, a member of endoglucanase isozymes. Phage clones with peptide LPPNPTK and XPP （X is residue T, L, A or H） motif frequently occurred in the selected phage population and showed a higher phage recovery than other clones. Peptide LPPNPTK was chemically synthesized and characterized tor its binding activities to AgEG1. The synthetic peptide exhibited high specificity for AgEG1. The peptide LPPNPTK has the potential to be developed into inhibitors of the endoglucanase of A. glabripennis.

Selection of the Mimic Epitopes of Antigens from Schistosoma japonicum by Using Phage Display Techniques

To obtain short peptides simulating antigenic epitopes related to natural resistance against Schistosoma japonicum (S.j) in rats, and to explore their immune protection against S.j in mice, phage random peptide library of 12 amino acids were screened with purified IgG from normal rat sera. Positive clones that were obtained after three rounds of biopanning were detected by ELISA, and two of them were sequenced. Kunming mice were immunized with mixed phage clones. Each mouse was challenged with 40±1 S.j cercariae, and all mice were perfused 45 days post-challenge. The worms and the liver eggs were counted. The results were that the specific phages binding to IgG were enriched 300 folds after three rounds of biopanning. Twenty clones were detected by ELISA and 19 of them bound to the specific IgG of rat sera. The sequence of two clones revealed no homology with other sequences in the GenBank. Compared with the control groups, the reduction rates of the worm burden and liver egg were 33.6% and 59.8%, respectively. It was concluded that the specific peptides, which simulate antigenic molecules correlated with natural resistance to S.j in rats could be obtained by immunosceening phage random peptide library and a protective immunity against S.j can be detected by these epitopes in mice.

Screening of Peptide Inhibitors of TACE from a Phage Display Random 15-Peptide Library by Recombinant TACE Ectodomain

Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α-converting enzyme(TACE)is the major protease responsible for processing pro-TNF-αfrom membrane-anchored precursors to secreted TNF-α.In the present study,a 15-peptide library was used to identify potential TACE antagonists.To obtain the recombinant TACE ectodomain and to use it as a selective molecule for the screening of peptide inhibitors of TACE,cDNA coding for the catalytic domain(T800)and full-length ectodomain(T1300)of TACE were amplified by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.The expression plasmid were constructed by inserting T800/T1300 into plasmid pET-28a/c respectively and were transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDSPAGE)andWestern blot analysis revealed that T800/T1300 were highly expressed in the form of an inclusion body induced by isopropylthiogalactoside.After Ni2+–NTA resin affinity chromatography,the purity of the recombinant T800/T1300 protein was more than 90%.T800 and T1300 proteins were used in the screening of T800/T1300-binding peptides from a phage display random 15-peptide library.After four rounds of biopanning,the positive phage clones were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,competitive inhibition assay(ELESA),and DNA sequencing.A common amino acid sequence(TRWLVYFS RPYLVAT)was confirmed and synthesized.A synthetic peptide was shown to bind to TACE and to inhibit TNF-αrelease from lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)by up to 60.3%.Fluorescence-activated cell sorter(FACS)analysis revealed that the peptide mediated the accumulation of TNF-αon an LPS-stimulated PBMC surface.These results demonstrate that the TACE-binding peptide is an effective antagonist of TACE and that the deduced motif might be applied to the molecular design of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Selection of Optimal Antisense Accessible Sites of Uroplakin Ⅱ mRNA for Bladder Urothelium

The optimal antisense accessible sites （AAS） of uroplakin Ⅱ （UP Ⅱ ） mRNA, a specific gene expressed in bladder urothelium, were selected in order to provide a novel method for targeted therapy of transitional cell carcinoma （TCC） of bladder. The 20 mer random oligonucleotide library was synthesized, hybridized with in vitro transcripted total UPⅡ cRNA, then digested by RNase H. After primer extension and autoradiography, the AAS of UPⅡ were selected. The RNADraw soft- ware was used to analyze and choose the AAS with obvious stem-loop structures, according to which the complementary antisense oligonucleotides （AS-ODN） were synthesized. With the AS-ODN0 designed only by RNADraw as a control, the AS-ODNs were transferred into UP Ⅱ highly-expressing cell line RT4. The cellular expression of UPⅡ mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Twelve AAS of UPⅡ mRNA were selected in vitro. Four AAS with stem-loop structures were chosen, locating at 558-577, 552-571, 217-236 and 97-116 bp of UP Ⅱ mRNA respectively. After transfection with the corresponding AS-ODN （AS-ODN1, AS-ODN2, AS-ODN3 and AS-ODN4） for 18 h, the UPⅡ mRNA levels in RT4cells were reduced by 29,3%, 82.7%, 71.3% and 70.9%, while UP Ⅱ protein levels were decreased by 20.2%, 78.5%, 65.2% and 64.4% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of AS-ODN0 （14.3%, 12.1% respectively） （P〈0.01）. The AAS of UPⅡ mRNA was effectively selected in vitro by random oligonucletide library/RNase H cleavage method in combination with computer software analysis, which had important reference values for further studying biological functions of UP Ⅱ gene and targeted therapeutic strategy for TCC of bladder.