OBJECTIVETo construct eukaryotic expression plasmids containing green fluorescent protein gene and CYP19 wild-type or its variants (W39R, R264C, W39R-R264C) and to observe its expression in MCF-7 and Bcap-37 cells.

METHODSThe aromatase WT cDNA sequence was obtained by RT-PCR amplification and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+). pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19-GFP plasmid was then used as the template for site-directed mutation to create variant constructs (W39R, R264C, W39R-R264C). pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19-GFP was transfected and expressed in MCF-7 and Bcap-37 cells.

RESULTThe construction of pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19-GFP plasmid was confirmed by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19(W39R)-GFP, pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19(R264C)-GFP, pcDNA3.1(+)- CYP19(W39R-R264C)-GFP plasmids were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The MCF-7 and Bcap-37 cells transfected with the pcDNA3.1(+)-CYP19-GFP plasmid expressed reporter gene of GFP.

CONCLUSIONThe eukaryotic expression plasmids have been constructed and expressed in MCF-7 and Bcap-37 cells successfully, which lays the foundation for the research of biological activities of CYP19 variant allozymes.