Large animal models for Huntington's disease research

Huntington'sdisease(HD)isahereditary neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no effectivetreatmentavailable.Consequently,the development of appropriate disease models is critical to thoroughly investigate disease progression.The genetic basis of HD involves the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin(HTT)gene,leading to the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the HTT protein.Mutant HTT carrying the expanded polyglutamine repeat undergoes misfolding and forms aggregates in the brain,which precipitate selective neuronal loss in specific brain regions.Animal models play an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as HD and in identifying potential therapeutic targets.Due to the marked species differences between rodents and larger animals,substantial efforts have been directed toward establishing large animal models for HD research.These models are pivotal for advancing the discovery of novel therapeutic targets,enhancing effective drug delivery methods,and improving treatment outcomes.We have explored the advantages of utilizing large animal models,particularly pigs,in previous reviews.Since then,however,significant progress has been made in developing more sophisticated animal models that faithfully replicate the typical pathology of HD.In the current review,we provide a comprehensive overview of large animal models of HD,incorporating recent findings regarding the establishment of HD knock-in(KI)pigs and their genetic therapy.We also explore the utilization of large animal models in HD research,with a focus on sheep,non-human primates(NHPs),and pigs.Our objective is to provide valuable insights into the application of these large animal models for the investigation and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Improvement in Tol2 transposon for efficient large-cargo capacity transgene applications in cultured cells and zebrafish(Danio rerio)

Most viruses and transposons serve as effective carriers for the introduction of foreign DNA up to 11 kb into vertebrate genomes.However,their activity markedly diminishes with payloads exceeding 11 kb.Expanding the payload capacity of transposons could facilitate more sophisticated cargo designs,improving the regulation of expression and minimizing mutagenic risks associated with molecular therapeutics,metabolic engineering,and transgenic animal production.In this study,we improved the Tol2 transposon by increasing protein expression levels using a translational enhancer(QBI SP163,ST)and enhanced the nuclear targeting ability using the nuclear localization protein H2B(SHT).The modified Tol2 and ST transposon efficiently integrated large DNA cargos into human cell cultures(H1299),comparable to the well-established super PiggyBac system.Furthermore,mRNA from ST and SHT showed a significant increase in transgene delivery efficiency of large DNA payloads(8 kb,14 kb,and 24 kb)into zebrafish(Danio rerio).This study presents a modified Tol2 transposon as an enhanced nonviral vector for the delivery of large DNA payloads in transgenic applications.

A chorismate mutase from Radopholus similis plays an essential role in pathogenicity

In the process of infecting plants, plant parasitic nematodes release a series of proteins that play an essential role in the successful infection and pathogenesis of plant cells and tissues through stylets or body walls. In this study,based on transcriptome data, a chorismate mutase gene of Radopholus similis(RsCM) was identified and cloned,which is a single copy gene specifically expressed in the oesophageal gland and highly expressed in juveniles and females. Transient expression of RsCM in tobacco leaves showed that it was localised in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tobacco leaf cells, which inhibited the pattern-triggered immunity(PTI) induced by flg22, including callose deposition and defence gene expression, and cell death induced by immune elicitors BAX, but could not inhibit cell death induced by immune elicitors Gpa2/RBP-1. The RNA interference(RNAi) transgenic tomato of RsCM obviously inhibited the infection, pathogenicity, and reproduction of R. similis. However, the resistance of the overexpression transgenic tomato of RsCM to R. similis infection was significantly reduced, and the expression levels of two salicylic acid(SA) pathway genes(PR1 and PR5) in roots infected by the nematode were significantly down-regulated,which indicated that RsCM might be involved in the inhibition of SA pathway. The results of this study demonstrate that RsCM suppresses the host immune system and might be a new target for the control of R. similis, which also provides new data for the function and mechanism of CM genes of migratory parasitic plant nematodes.

Selenocysteine methyltransferase SMT catalyzed the synthesis of Se-methylselenocysteine to regulate the accumulation of glucosinolates and sulforaphane in broccoli

Selenocysteine methyltransferase(SMT)is a key enzyme involved in the Se metabolism pathway,and it is responsible for the catalysis of Se-methylselenocysteine(SeMSC)compound formation.Previous studies showed that selenium treatment activated SMT expression and promoted the accumulation of glucosinolates(GSLs)and sulforaphane,but the roles and functional mechanisms of SMT in mediating GSLs and sulforaphane synthesis remain unclear.In this study,we identified the BoSMT gene in broccoli and uncovered its roles in mediating GSLs biosynthesis.Transgenic assays revealed that BoSMT is involved in SeMSC biosynthesis in broccoli.More importantly,the contents of GSLs and sulforaphane were significantly increased in the BoSMT-overexpressing broccoli lines but decreased in the knockdown lines,suggesting that BoSMT played a positive role in regulating GSLs and sulforaphane synthesis.Further evidence indicated that BoSMT-mediated overaccumulation of GSLs and sulforaphane might be due to the increase in the endogenous SeMSC content.Compared with the mock(water)treatment,selenite-induced significantly increases of the SeMSC content in the BoSMT-knockdown plants partially compensated the phenotype of GSLs and sulforaphane loss.Compared with the mock treatment,exogenous SeMSC treatment significantly increased the contents of GSL and sulforaphane and activated GSL synthesis-related gene expression,suggesting that SeMSC acted as a positive regulator for GSL and sulforaphane production.Our findings provided novel insights into selenium-mediated GSLs and sulforaphane accumulation.The genetic manipulation of BoSMT might be a useful strategy for improving the dietary nutritional values of broccoli.

Wheat kinase TaSnRK2.4 forms a functional module with phosphatase TaPP2C01 and transcription factor TaABF2 to regulate drought response

SNF1-related protein kinase 2(SnRK2)family members are essential components of the plant abscisic acid(ABA)signaling pathway initiated by osmotic stress and triggering a drought stress response.This study characterized the molecular properties of TaSnRK2.4 and its function in mediating adaptation to drought in Triticum aestivum.Transcripts of TaSnRK2.4 were upregulated upon drought and ABA signaling and associated with drought-and ABA-responsive cis-elements ABRE and DRE,and MYB and MYC binding sites in the promoter as indicated by reporter GUS protein staining and activity driven by truncations of the promoter.Yeast two-hybrid,BiFC,and Co-IP assays indicated that TaSnRK2.4 protein interacts with TaPP2C01 and an ABF transcription factor(TF)TaABF2.The results suggested that TaSnRK2.4 forms a functional TaPP2C01-TaSnRK2.4-TaABF2 module with its upstream and downstream partners.Transgene analysis revealed that TaSnRK2.4 and TaABF2 positively regulate drought tolerance whereas TaPP2C01 acts negatively by modulating stomatal movement,osmotic adjustment,reactive oxygen species(ROS)homeostasis,and root morphology.Expression analysis,yeast one-hybrid,and transcriptional activation assays indicated that several osmotic stress-responsive genes,including TaSLAC1-4,TaP5CS3,TaSOD5,TaCAT1,and TaPIN4,are regulated by TaABF2.Transgene analysis verified their functions in positively regulating stomatal movement(TaSLAC1-4),proline accumulation(TaP5CS3),SOD activity(TaSOD5),CAT activity(TaCAT1),and root morphology(TaPIN4).There were high correlations between plant biomass and yield with module transcripts in a wheat variety panel cultivated under drought conditions in the field.Our findings provide insights into understanding plant drought response underlying the SnRK2 signaling pathway in common wheat.

Barley chitinase genes expression revamp resistance against whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) in transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Background Chitinase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes chitin,a major component of the exoskeleton of insects,including plant pests like whiteflies.The present study aimed to investigate the expression of chemically synthesized barley ch1 and chi2 genes in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum)through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.Fifty-five putative transgenic cotton plants were obtained,out of which fifteen plants successfully survived and were shifted to the field.Using gene-specific primers,amplification of 447 bp and 401 bp fragments confirmed the presence of the ch1 and chi2 genes in five transgenic cotton plants of the T0 generation.These five plants were further evalu-ated for their mRNA expression levels.The T0 transgenic cotton plants with the highest mRNA expression level and better yield performance in field,were selected to raise their subsequent progenies.Results The T1 cotton plants showed the highest mRNA expression levels of 3.5-fold in P10(2)for the ch1 gene and 3.7-fold in P2(1)for the chi2 gene.Fluorescent in situ hybridization(FISH)confirmed a single copy number of ch1 and chi2(hemizygous)on chromosome no.6.Furthermore,the efficacy of transgenes on whitefly was evaluated through an insect bioassay,where after 96 h of infestation,mortality rates of whitefly were calculated to be 78%–80%in transgenic cotton plants.The number of eggs on transgenic cotton plants were calculated to be 0.1%–0.12 per plant compared with the non-transgenic plants where egg number was calculated to be 0.90–1.00 per plant.Conclusion Based on these findings,it can be concluded that the chemically synthesized barley chitinase genes(ch1 and chi2)have the potential to be effective against insects with chitin exoskeletons,including whiteflies.The transgenic cotton plants expressing these genes showed increased resistance to whiteflies,resulting in reduced egg numbers and higher mortality rates.

Fast,simple,efficient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system to non-heading Chinese cabbage with transgenic roots

Non-heading Chinese cabbage, a variety of Brassica campestris, is an important vegetable crop in the Yangtze River Basin of China. However,the immaturity of its stable transformation system and its low transformation efficiency limit gene function research on non-heading Chinese cabbage. Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated(ARM) transgenic technology is a rapid and effective transformation method that has not yet been established for non-heading Chinese cabbage plants. Here, we optimized conventional ARM approaches(one-step and two-step transformation methods) suitable for living non-heading Chinese cabbage plants in nonsterile environments. Transgenic roots in composite non-heading Chinese cabbage plants were identified using phenotypic detection, fluorescence observation, and PCR analysis. The transformation efficiency of a two-step method on four five-day-old non-heading Chinese cabbage seedlings(Suzhouqing, Huangmeigui, Wuyueman, and Sijiu Caixin) was 43.33%-51.09%, whereas using the stout hypocotyl resulted in a transformation efficiency of 54.88% for the 30-day-old Sijiu Caixin.The one-step method outperformed the two-step method;the transformation efficiency of different varieties was above 60%, and both methods can be used to obtain transgenic roots for functional studies within one month. Finally, optimized ARM transformation methods can easily,quickly, and effectively produce composite non-heading Chinese cabbage plants with transgenic roots, providing a reliable foundation for gene function research and non-heading Chinese cabbage genetic improvement breeding.

Application of transgenic mice to the molecular pathogenesis of cataract

One of the most prevalent disorders that cause blindness worldwide is cataract,and its essence is the visual disorder caused by the opacity of the lens.The significant degree of variation in cataracts and the fact that a variety of factors can impact a patient’s lens transparency make it especially crucial to investigate the pathogenesis of cataracts at the molecular level.It has been found that more than 60 genes are linked to the formation of cataracts,and the construction of a transgenic mouse model of cataract similar to the selection of human lens clouding due to a variety of causes has become an important means of studying the pathogenesis of cataract.Therefore,the research on the application of transgenic mice to the molecular pathogenesis of cataracts will be the main topic of this review of the literature.

Transfer of Lysine-rich Protein Gene into Rice and Production of Fertile Transgenic Plants

Lysine-rich protein gene (lys) was cloned from Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. A plant expression plasmid was constructed and lys gene was under the control of maize ubiquitin promoter which is the highest efficient monocotyledon promoter. The plasmid was introduced into rice embryogenic calli by microprojectile bombardment. The regenerated fertile plants were obtained by effective selection for hygromycin B resistance. Genomic PCR and Southern blotting analyses showed that the lys gene has been integrated into rice genome. Simultaneously, the results of GUS histochemical assay demonstrated that gus report gene is also expressed in leaves, stems and roots of the transgenic rice plants. Data analysis showed that lysine content in most of the 11 transgenic plants is differently improved, and in one of them increased by 16.04%.

Resistance Analysis of the Binary Insect-resistant Transgenic Soybean to Heliothis viriplaca

[Objective] The aim of the research was to analyze the resistance of binary insect-resistant transgenic soybean to Heliothis viriplaca.[Method]In this experiment, resistance analysis of the stabilized binary insect-resistant transgenic soybean to Heliothis viriplaca was conducted in lab and in field conditions.[Result] The results indicated that the leaves of insect-resistant transgenic soybeans T5-150 and T5-195 showed lighter damage than those of non-transgenic soybeans. Meanwhile, the Heliothis viriplaca larvae fed on leaves of these two transgenic soybeans were characterized by less leaf consumption, shortening survival day, slower development and less pupation.[Conclusion]It was concluded that insect-resistance of transgenic soybean to Heliothis viriplaca was increased dramatically and the research provided a reference for selecting binary insect-resistant transgenic soybean to Heliothis viriplaca.

Alterations of Root and Fiber in Transgenic Cotton Plants with Chimeric Ph/P-ipt Gene Expression

The seed_specific phaseolin promoter (Ph/P) was fused to an ipt gene, then was cloned to a plant expression vector containing a gus gene driven by a 35S promoter. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants were transformed through pollen tube pathway methods. After seed germination, histochemical staining of the roots demonstrated that 32 GUS positive plants were obtained and three of which contained the chimeric Ph/P_ ipt transgene as confirmed by PCR analysis. An immunosorbent assay showed that two of the three transgenic cotton lines contained higher levels of zeatin equivalents in seeds than the control. Seedling development of these two transgenic lines differed from the control in a reduction of the shoot growth, showing a stunted phenotype as expected, but a surprisingly developed root system with a 3-4 fold fast_growing lateral roots. In addition, fibers (seed_hairs) of the two transgenic cotton lines were considerably shorter than those of the control. These results indicate that genetic engineering may be used to manipulate the development of cotton plants, particularly cotton fibers.

Cloning of cDNA Encoding Choline Monooxygenase from Suaeda liaotungensis and Salt Tolerance of Transgenic Tobacco

Betaine is a very effective osmoprotectant found in many organisms. In high plants, betaine is synthesized by oxidation of choline in two sequential steps: choline-->betaine aldehyde-->betaine. The first step is catalyzed by choline monooxygenase (CMO). In this study, the full-length CMO cDNA (1 820 bp) was cloned from halophyte Suaeda liaotungensis Kitag by RT-PCR and RACE. It included a 123 bp 5' UTR, a 368 bp 3' UTR and a 1 329 bp open reading frame encoding a 442-amino-acid polypeptide with 77%, 72% and 74% sequence identity compared to CMOs from spinach, sugar beet and Atriplex hortensis, respectively. The CMO open reading frame (ORF) was cloned and the plant expression vector pBI121-CMO was constructed. It was transferred into tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. ev. 89) via Agrobacterium mediation. PCR and Southern blotting analysis showed that the CMO gene was integrated into tobacco genome. Transgenic tobacco plants contained higher amount of betaine than that of control plants and were able to survive on MS medium containing 250 mmol/L NaCl. Relative electronic conductivity demonstrated less membrane damage in transgenic plants as in the wild type.

Human Pro-insulin Transgenic Calf Derived from Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the possibility of producing a human pro-insulin transgenic cow by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer （SCNT）. A double selection system, Neomycin resistance （Neo^r） gene and enhanced green fluorescent protein （EGFP） gene linked through an inner ribosomal entry site （IRES） sequence directed by a Cytomegalovirus （CMV） promoter, was used for enrichment and selection of the transgenic cells and preimplantation embryos. Transgenes were introduced into bovine fetal fibroblast cells （BFF） cultured in vitro through electroporation （900 V/cm, 5 ms）. Transgenic bovine fibroblast cells （TBF） were enriched through addition of G418 in culture medium （800 μg/mL）. Before being used as a nuclear donor, the TBF cells were either cultured in normal conditions （10% FBS） or treated with serum starvation （0.5% FBS for 2-4 days） followed by 10 hours recovery for G1 phase synchronization. Transgenic cloned embryos were produced through GFP-expressing cell selection and SCNT. The results were the percentage of blastocyst development following SCNT was lower using TBF than BFF cells （23.2% VS 35.2%, P 〈 0.05）. No difference in the percentage of cloned blastocysts between the two groups of transgenic nuclear donor of normal and starvation cultures were observed （23.2% VS 18.9%, P 〉 0.05）. Two to four GFP-expressing blastocysts were transferred into the uterus of each synchronised recipient. One pregnancy from of seven recipients （21 embryos） was confirmed by rectum palpation 60 days after embryo transfer and one recipient has given birth to a calf at term. PCR and DNA sequencing analysis confirmed that the calf was produced using human proinsulin transgenic animal.

Aphid-resistant Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Modified gna Gene

A gene sequence coding for the precursor of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) was modified by site-directed mutagenesis to change very low usage bias codons to higher usage bias ones for improvement of the gene expression in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. Results from Western blot analysis of some of the transgenic tobacco plants showed that the expression level of GNA in plants transformed with the modified gene GNA34m reached 0.25% of total soluble proteins, while that of the GNA34 gene transgenic plants was 0.17%. Since the GNA expression level increased, the aphid resistance of GNA34m transgenic plants were also enhanced significantly as judged by a 71.0% aphid population inhibition in insect bioassay of GNA34m transformed plants and 63.7% for the plants transformed with the natural GNA34 gene.

Photosynthetic Characteristics of Transgenic Rice Plants Overexpressing Maize Phosphoenopyruvate Carboxylase

用转PEPC、PPDK、NADP_ME、PEPC +PPDK 双基因水稻 (OryzasativaL .)及原种为材料 ,以光合酶活性、饱和光合速率及PSⅡ光化学效率 (Fv/Fm)为指标 ,研究了转PEPC基因水稻的光合生理特征。结果如下 :转PEPC基因水稻PEPC活性比原种提高 2 0倍 ;饱和光合速率比原种高 5 5 % ;用高光强或人工光氧化剂甲基紫精 (MV)处理后 ,与原种相比 ,转PEPC基因水稻光化学效率下降较少 ,证明其耐光抑制、耐光氧化能力增强 ,测定其光合日变化看出 :在 1d中不同时间 ,转PEPC基因水稻的光合速率均高于原种 ,且与PEPC活性的日变化有相似的趋势。上述结果为转PEPC基因水稻的生理机制和育种研究提供了依据和途径。

Main Agronomic Characters and Grain Quality of Rice Blast Resistance Gene Pi-d2 Transgenic Rice

[Objective] The aim of this study was to provide metabolic evidence for the analysis of the ecological and safety assessment of Pi-d2-transgenic rice.[Method] The main agronomic characters of Pi-d2-transgenic rice were observed in field experiment and the grain chemical characters and amino acid content were measured.[Results] Introduction of foreign gene Pi-d2 resulted in stably hereditable variation in agronomic characteristics in the descents.Most of the transgenic lines grew normally and orderly.Compared with the control（wild type plants）,about half of transgenic plants showed an increased or reduced plant height.There was no observable difference between transgenic plants and controls in tiller number,length of panicle,panicles per plant,seed-setting rate and 1 000-grain weight.Total amino acid content in transgenic rice was reduced,while the starch content,GC and GT were not altered in comparison with the control.[Conclusion] Introduction of foreign gene Pi-d2 has remarkable influence on plant height,while little on grain chemical characters.

Insect Resistance of Different Tissues of Transgenic Cotton to Spodoptera exigua(Hbner)

[Objective] The aim was to learn the resistance of different tissues and organs of transgenic cotton to Spodoptera exigua （Hbner）. [Method] Flowers,the 1st,the 3rd,the 6th and the 14th leaves from the top of 33B,GK12 and SGK321 were used to feed S. exigua neonates respectively. Survival larvae and dead ones were counted on the 3rd,the 7th,the 10th,the 16th and the 19th day; meanwhile,the pupae amount was recorded,and the pupae weight was measured at the 24th h after pupation. [Result] The survival curves,pupation rates and pupae weights of S. exigua feeding on different tissues of transgenic cotton were not significantly different from those of S. exigua feeding on the corresponding tissues of conventional cotton; pupation rate of S. exigua feeding on different leaves of the same cotton variety were not significantly different from each other,but all higher than that of S. exigua feeding on the flowers of that cotton; and there were no differences among pupation weights of S. exigua feeding on different leaves or flowers of the same cotton variety. [Conclusion] Transgenic cotton showed weak resistance to S. exigua. Hence,in the transgenic cotton fields,more attention should be paid to occurrence trend of S. exigua and its control.

Novel Halophyte EREBP/AP2-type DNA Binding Protein Improves Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco

EREBP/AP2-type proteins are members of a large DNA binding protein (DBP) family found in plants. Some members like APETALA2 and AtDREB/CBF can regulate flower development and response to environmental stresses, respectively. To characterize transcription factors involved in plant responses to salt stress, we constructed cDNA library from salt-treated halophyte (Atriplex hortensis) and isolated a novel gene encoding EREBP/AP2-type protein from this library. This cDNA contained an ORF of 723 bp and a long 3'-Untranslated-Region (UTR) of 655 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence showed one conserved DNA binding domain of EREBP/AP2, thus the corresponding gene was named AhDREB1 with a calculated molecular mass of 26.1 kD. AhDREB1 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter was then transformed into tobacco and nine independent transgenic lines were obtained and subjected to long term salt stress. The results suggested that overexpression of AhDREB1 improved the salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco through functioning as a regulatory molecule in response to salt stress. Analysis of Arabidopsis genome in database resulted in dozens of EREBP/AP2-type homologous proteins, of which seven members showed high similarity to AhDREB1. Secondary structure analysis predicted similar arrangement of a-helix in their DNA binding domains.

Cotton Plants Transformed with the Activated Chimeric Cry1Ac and API-B Genes

A chimeric gene, Bt29K, composed of coding sequences of activated Cry1Ac insecticidal protein and an endoplasm reticulum-retarding signal peptide, was synthesized. A plant expression vector containing two expression cassettes for the Bt29K and API-B genes was constructed. These two insect-resistant genes were transferred into two cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties ( or lines) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and nine homozygous transgenic cotton lines showing a mortality of 90.0% - 99.7% to cotton ballworm (Heliothis armigera) larvae and good agronomic traits were selected through six generations. Molecular biology analysis revealed that one or two copies of the insecticidal protein genes were integrated into the transgenic cotton genome and activated Cry1Ac and API-B protein expression was at a level of 0.17% and 0.09% of the total soluble protein in the transgenic cotton leaves, respectively. Comparison of the insect-resistance of the homozygous lines expressing the activated chimeric Cry1Ac and API-B with that expressing Cry1Ac only revealed that the insect-resistance of the former is apparently higher than the latter. These results also indicate that the strategy to construct a plant expression vector expressing two different insect-resistant genes reported here is reasonable.

Virus Movement Protein Gene Mediated Resistance Against Cucumber Mosaic Virus Infection

Tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) “NC89” plants were transformed with deletion mutant of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) movement protein (MP) gene and full_length CMV MP gene, respectively. The transformed plants were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR_Southern, Southern and Western blots. R 0 generation of the transgenic plants were inoculated with CMV. Five out of 10 lines of tobacco plants (BMPK) transformed with CMV MP deletion mutant gene showed high resistance to CMV infection and remained symptomless for up to 50 days post_inoculation. In contrast, tobacco plants (BMPR) transformed with full_length CMV MP gene did not show resistance to CMV infection. However, most of the infected full_length CMV MP gene transgenic plants recovered by showing none or very mild mosaic symptoms in 40 days post_inoculation. The results of R 1 generation of the BMPK transgenic plants tested under field conditions showed that all 5 lines of transgenic plants could delay the virus disease development.