OBJECTIVETo express the L1 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in insect cell suspension culture system.

METHODSOptimized the conditions of suspension culture, recombinant virus amplification and protein expression. Determined the virus tilter by plague analysis and detected the target protein by SDS-PAGE and Western blot; The formation of VLPs by HPV16 L1 protein was observed with TEM.

RESULTSThe Sf9 cells could grow better in suspension culture with seeding density of 5 x 10-5 cell/mL and the maximum expression quantity was obtained by infection of cells with rBacV/HPV16L1 (MOI =10) and harvesting after 72-84 h. HPV16L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells observed with TEM.

CONCLUSIONThe conditions of cell culture, virus amplification and protein expression were optimized. HPV16 L1 protein could assemble into VLPs in Sf9 cells, which would provide a foundation for further study of the vaccine and diagnosis kits.

Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Spodoptera ; Suspensions ; Virion ; ultrastructure

This study was intended to establish a method of purification of HPV16 L1 protein expressed in a prokaryotic system and to obtain the purified protein. The prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-1-HPV16 L1 was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 cell, and induced by 1 mM IPTG to express HPV16L1 protein. The inclusion bodies were isolated and solubilized with 8 M urea. After the urea was removed by gradual dialysis, the denatured L1 protein were renatured and then were purified by affinity chromatography. The results showed that HPV16L1 protein formed inclusion bodies in bacterial expression system, suggesting that this assay can be used to purify HPV16L1 protein and hence provide a basis for studying the applications of HPV16 L1 protein.
Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cytokeratins and ret in thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) and their diagnostic value.

METHODSDuring the period of October 1999 to March 2002, 69 cases of TPC (42 cases with adjacent normal thyroid tissue) and 14 cases of nodular goiter with papillary hyperplasia were enrolled into the study. Immunohistochemistry for CK19, CK17, CK8, CK20 and ret was performed in all cases using EnVision and LSAB methods respectively.

RESULTSThe positive rates for CK19 and ret in TPCs were 85.5% and 68.1% respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in nodular goiter and normal thyroid tissue (25.0% and 5.4% respectively). The expression of CK17 was also observed in a few cases of TPCs (11/69, 15.9%), which was mainly localized in areas of squamous metaplasia, poorly differentiated carcinoma and/or in the small infiltrative foci. The positive rates for CK8 were 75.4% and 26.8% in TPCs and benign thyroid tissue respectively. All cases were negative for CK20.

CONCLUSIONSCK19, CK17 and ret expressions are significantly higher in TPCs than benign thyroid tissue; and this characteristic can have important diagnostic value.

Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

To construct and express a composite gene vaccine for human papillomavirus 58(HPV58)-associated cervical cancer, we inserted HPV58mE6E7 fusion gene into pCI-Fc-GPI eukaryotic expression vector, constructing a recombinant plasmid named pCI-sig-HPV58mE6E7-Fc-GPI. Then we further inserted fragment of sig-HPV58mE6E7Fc-GPI into the novel vaccine vector PVAX1-IRES-GM/B7, constructing PVAX1-HPV58mE6E7FcGB composite gene vaccine. PVAX1-HPV58mE6E7FcGB vaccine was successfully constructed and identified by restriction endonuclease and sequencing analysis. Eukaryotic expression of fusion antigen sig-HPV58mE6E7-Fc-GPI and molecular ad-juvant GM-CSF and B7. 1 were proved to be realized at the same time by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. So PVAX1-HPV58mE6E7FcGB can be taken as a candidate of therapeutic vaccine for HPV58-associated tumors and their precancerous transformations.
Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; Vaccines, DNA ; biosynthesis

This study was aimed to identify pET21b-HPV16E2/BL21(DE3) strain and to optimize the expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E2 protein by orthogonal analysis. Four influence factors on two levels were selected to increase the target protein quantity. The four factors were induction time, induction temperature, inductor concentration and cell density. The quantity of HPV16 E2 protein was used as the evaluation parameter. Induced by IPTG, HPV16 E2 protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot. Target protein was analyzed by GIS imaging system to quantify the protein level. SPSS13. 0 software was applied to analyze the result. Data showed that the expression strain pET211rHPV16 E2/BL21(DE3) was identified correctly. HPV16 E2 protein expressed mainly at insoluble form. The 42KD protein band was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Orthogonal test was applied on influence factor analysis and expression optimization successfully. Main influence factors were inductor concentration and induction temperature. The optimimum condition of maximum expression quantity was 37 degrees C, 7h, 1.0 mmol/L IPTG and OD600 1.0. In this experiment, orthogonal test could not only be used to analyze the influential factors and promote the target protein expression, but also be used to provide a better experiment method for molecular biological study.
DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The heterologously expressed L1 protein of human papilomavirus 16 can assembly into virus-like particles (VLPs), which has been used as prophylactic vaccine for cervical carcinoma. To express L1 protein in Hansenula polymorpha, we analyzed the codon usage of the native gene of L1 protein and redesigned the encoding sequence according to the codon bias of H. polymorpha. We used assembly PCR to synthesize the native gene HPV16L1-N and the codon optimized gene HPV16L1. The synthesized genes were cloned into pMOXZa-A vector to generate plasmids pMOXZ-HPV16N and pMOXZ-HPV16. The expression cassettes MOXp-HPV16L1(N)-AOXTT were cloned into YEp352 vector and transferred into H. polymorpha. After methanol inducement, the expression of L1 protein in H. polymorpha was detected from the codon optimized gene HPV16L1 rather than the native gene HPVI6L1-N. The parameters for induced cultivation for strain HP-U-16L with HPV16L1 were investigated in shaking flask cultures. After induced cultivation in YPM (pH 7.0) medium supplemented with methanol to a final concentration of 1.0% every 12 h at 37 degrees C for 72 h, the recombinant produced 78.6 mg/L of L1 protein. This work offers the possibility for the production of prophylactic vaccine for cervical carcinoma by H. polymorpha.
Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Codon ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDA new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.

RESULTSAfter one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Neostriatum ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

deltaFosB, a naturally occurring truncated isform of fosB gene, existed in many tissues stably and played an important role in formation and differentiation of adipocyte and osteoblast. deltaFosB may be related to the metabolism of calcium in bone and mammary gland and regulate the signal pathway of calcium transfer from bone to mammary gland. We first sub-cloned deltafosB gene of goat into the vector pET32a to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-deltafosB. Then we induced for deltafosB gene expression efficiently by IPTG. Finally we immunized the adult rabbits with purified recombinant deltaFosB to prepare rabbit anti-goat deltaFosB polyclonal antibody. iELISA analysis showed the antibody with the titer of 1:51 200, and Western blotting result showed that the antibody could specifically detect the deltaFosB protein expressed in prokaryotic cell and HEK-293 cell, respectively. Further Western blotting assay showed that deltaFosB expressed in various tissues of goat in vivo.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Goats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Neuropeptides ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

T lymphocytes from patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) show reduced immune function and impaired activation of the transcription factor, NF-kappaB. We determined the mechanism of NF-kappaB suppression in T cells of RCC patient and determined whether supernatant fluid from RCC explants (RCC-S) induced the same phenotype of NF-kappaB suppression in normal T cells that is observed in patient T cells. The pattern of kappaB-binding activity in T cells of RCC patient was altered as compared to that seen in T cells obtained from normal volunteers. In some patients, no activation of RelA/NFkappaB1-binding activity was detectable, while in others kappaB-binding activity was modestly induced but the duration was reduced. IkappaBalpha was degraded normally following stimulation in both normal controls and T cells from RCC patients. RCC-S did not alter the cytoplasmic levels of RelA and NF-kappaB1 but did suppress their nuclear localization and inhibited the activation of RelA/NF-kappaB1 binding complexes. These results show that RCC-S can induce in normal T cells the same phenotype of impaired NF-kappaB activation that is detected in T cells of RCC patient. It also appears that NF-kappaB suppression by RCC-S may contribute to the immunosuppression of host immunity.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism* ; Culture Media, Conditioned/metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis ; Human ; Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Tissue Culture