Immobilization of genetically engineered cells: a new strategy for higher stability

The r-DNA clones improve the bioprocess and provide better economics, if and when properly developed. In recent times, many approaches were made to improve the stability of recombinants in a reactor which includes both genetic and environmental methods, but many of them were proved to be unsuccessful in the scale-up process. The immobilization technique, exploited recently for the cultivation of recombinants, in many cases gave high cell concentrations, better expression of cloned gene products and also maintained plasmid stability for longer periods in a host under continuous operation in comparison to a free cell system. Many plasmids and hosts were tested for improved stabilities. So far, no explanation was provided for higher stability in the immobilized system. However, it was observed to reduce the competition between the plasmid harboring and plasmid free cells in a matrix. The stability of recombinant strains under immobilization technique is affected by various factors, and these are important parameters for the commercial process. Thus, the immobilization system is promising for the successful cultivation and scale-up of genetically engineered cells.

Expression of human glutathione S-transferases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confers resistance to the anticancer drugs adriamycin and chlorambucil

Adaptation and resistance to chemicals in the environment is a critical part of the evolutionary process. As a result, a wide variety of defence systems that protect cells against chemical insult have evolved. Such chemical resistance mechanisms appear to play a central role in determining the sensitivity of human tumours to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. The glutathione S-transferases (GST) are important detoxification enzymes whose over-expression has been associated with drug-resistance. In order to evaluate this possibility we have expressed the human Alpha-class and Pi-class GST cDNAs that encode GST B1B1 and GST pi in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression of GST B1B1 or GST pi resulted in a marked reduction in the cytotoxic effects of chlorambucil, a bifunctional alkylating agent, and an anthracycline, adriamycin. These data provide direct evidence that the over-expression of GST in cells can confer resistance to anticancer drugs.

Expression in Escherichia coli of rat liver cytosolic glutathione S-transferase Yc cDNA

An expression plasmid, pKK-GTB2, containing the complete coding sequence of a rat liver glutathione S-transferase Yc subunit was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The entire Yc cDNA sequence from plasmid pGTB42 (Telakowski-Hopskins et al., 1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260, 5820-5825) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, subcloned into modified expression vector A6316 (Schoner et al., 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 8506-8510 and Linemeyer et al., 1987, Bio/Technology 5, 960-965) and transformed into E. coli strain AB1899. The colonies were screened by hybridization to pGTB42 and the production of Yc subunit was detected by immunoblot analysis. The purified recombinant Yc subunit was active in the conjugation and peroxidation reactions, and appeared homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Amino acid sequencing of the expressed Yc subunit revealed that about 40% of the expressed protein was blocked at the N-terminus. Approximately 25% of the sequenceable protein (15% of total protein) contained the initiation methionine residue at the amino terminus whereas the rest of the sequenceable protein had proline as the N-terminus. In contrast, only one molecular species with Pro as the first amino acid was identified when the inducer isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside was omitted in the growth medium. Our observation indicated that under certain growth conditions, the enzymes responsible for protein maturation were not able to complete the processing of the overproduced recombinant Yc in E. coli.

Synthesis and expression in Escherichia coli of DNA encoding the murine lambda 1 chain of a monoclonal antibody specific for Salmonella serotype B O-antigen

A 658 bp DNA sequence corresponding to the murine lambda 1 chain of a monoclonal antibody, Se155-4, specific for the Salmonella serotype B O-antigen, was designed using Escherichia coli preferred codons and chemically synthesized by ligation of synthetic fragments into a linearized plasmid followed by transformation into E. coli. A synthetic signal peptide (ompA) was fused to express the L chain as a free polypeptide into the periplasm of E. coli cells. After isolation and purification, heterologous recombination of the E. coli L chain with mouse H chain gave an active antigen-binding protein. The activity was 15-20% when compared to protein created by an equivalent association of isolated natural mouse L and H chains as measured by a direct EIA assay. In inhibition experiments with the polysaccharide antigen, the two proteins showed identical titration curves and 50% inhibition points, indicating comparable KA values.

Purification and properties of recombinant rat catalase produced in Escherichia coli

Catalase is a characteristic enzyme of peroxisomes. To study the molecular mechanisms of the biogenesis of peroxisomes and catalase in a less complex system than rat liver cells, we expressed recombinant rat catalase in Escherichia coli, which has no peroxisomes. The concentration of recombinant catalase produced in E. coli transformed with the expression vector carrying the complete coding region of rat catalase cDNA was about 0.1% of the total soluble protein. The recombinant catalase was purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography followed by acidic ethanol precipitations. The properties of rat liver catalase and those of the recombinant were similar with respect to molecular mass, catalytic properties, profiles of absorption spectra, and iron contents. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified recombinant catalase, as determined by Edman degradation, was in complete agreement with the amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence of rat catalase cDNA, except that the first initiator methionine was not detected. The COOH-terminal amino acid sequence was determined by carboxypeptidase A digestion and the sequence, -Ala-Asn-Leu-OH, matched the predicted COOH-terminal amino acid sequence of rat catalase. Recombinant rat catalase gave almost the same multiple protein bands on native polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing as observed with authentic rat liver catalase.

The molecular genetics of cancer. Introduction to principles of recombinant DNA technology

There is now firm evidence that human cancers arise from derangements of a relatively restricted and well-defined set of genes. I summarize the principles one must master in order to understand the mechanisms by which these genes disrupt normal regulation of cell growth.

A retrovirus vector which transduces a functional estrogen receptor gene at high efficiency

A high titer retroviral vector containing the cDNA of human estrogen receptor (hER) was generated and used to transfer the hER gene into the rat 208F cell line. Southern blot analysis showed the integration of the provirus to be at a unique site and that the provirus was intact in the genome of recipient cells. The expression of the integrated hER gene in the infected rat cells was detected by Northern blot analysis and by a functional assay in which the hER gene product stimulated the production of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene under the control of an estrogen-responsive element. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using a retroviral vector system to introduce a functional ER gene into cultured cells lacking this receptor.

Construction of large DNA segments in Escherichia coli

Recombinant DNA clones containing large pieces of DNA are useful in the study of large genetic units, but these are difficult to make in most bacterial cloning vectors. A strategy is described that uses general and site-specific recombination to construct large pieces of eukaryotic DNA from smaller cloned segments. The large clones are propagated on F factor-based plasmids in Escherichia coli. They can be easily modified to introduce mutations or rearrangements. These techniques were applied to the construction of large DNA segments from the bithorax complex of Drosophila.

Expression in Escherichia coli of the human fibrinogen B beta chain and its cleavage by thrombin

The human fibrinogen B beta chain was expressed in Escherichia coli to study the functions of fibrinogen associated with this subunit. Recombinant B beta chains were expressed at 100 ng/mL in an IPTG-dependent manner. A first cistron sequence, inserted into the expression vector 5' to the B beta chain cDNA, was required to express the protein. Recombinant B beta chains were expressed within five minutes after induction with IPTG and were soluble in physiologic buffers. The recombinant B beta chains migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) at a rate identical to B beta chains from fibrinogen treated with N-glycanase. Recombinant B beta chains were cleaved by thrombin, as demonstrated by the loss of cross-reactivity with a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) specific for the undigested B beta 1-42 fragment. The levels of expression of the B beta chain were much lower than those reported previously for the gamma chain of fibrinogen expressed in a similar vector in E coli. However, these levels are sufficient to allow further characterization of this fibrinogen subunit.

Replication of recombinant phi 29 DNA molecules in Bacillus subtilis protoplasts

Recombinant phi 29 DNA molecules of different sizes and containing terminal protein at one or both ends, or without terminal protein, were prepared and their replication in Bacillus subtilis protoplasts was studied. Only phi 29 DNA molecules containing terminal protein at both ends replicate in vivo. The replication of symmetric DNA recombinant molecules (dimers) gives rise to displaced strands which by self-annealing create monomers with the two DNA strands covalently linked. Viral proteins p2, p3, and p6 are essential for replication of phi 29 DNA molecules in this system. Protein p17 is not essential, but stimulates the efficiency of replication. This stimulation depends on the host used.

[DNA repair defect in xeroderma pigmentosum]

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an autosomal recessive human disease, clinically characterized by the early onset of severe photosensitivity of exposed skin to sunlight, a very high incidence of skin cancers and frequent neurological abnormalities. Cells from XP patients are hypersensitive to killing by UV-light, because they have a defect in repair of UV-light induced DNA damage. Genetic complementation analysis by cell fusion has led to the identification of at least ten genetic complementation groups, designated as group A through I, and a variant. However, the genetic basis of the physiological defect of XP has not yet been characterized. For isolation of the gene responsible for XP complementation group A, the pSV2gpt and genomic DNA from a mouse embryo were co-transfected into XP2OSSV group A XP cells. Two primary UV-resistant XP transfectants were isolated from about 1.6 X 10(5) pSV2gpt transformed XP colonies. The pSV2gpt and genomic DNA from the primary transfectants were again co-transfected into XP2OSSV cells, and a secondary UV-resistant XP transfectant was obtained by screening about 4.8 X 10(5) pSV2gpt transformed XP colonies. The secondary transfectant retained fewer mouse repetitive sequences. A mouse gene that complements the defect of XP2OSSV cells was cloned into EMBL3 vectors from the secondary transfectant. Transfections of the cloned DNA also conferred UV-resistance on another group A XP cell line, but not on group C, D, F or G XP cell lines, suggesting that the cloned DNA repair gene is specific for group A XP and may be the mouse counterpart of the group A XP human gene.

Construction and properties of replication-competent murine retroviral vectors encoding methotrexate resistance

A series of replication-competent Moloney murine leukemia virus vectors was constructed in which each vector contained a mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA insert in the U3 region of the viral long terminal repeat. Two of the resulting viruses, MLV (murine leukemia virus) DHFR*-5 and MLV DHFR*-7, were able to stably transfer methotrexate resistance to infected fibroblast cells upon multiple rounds of virus replication and in the absence of drug selection. Cell lines producing recombinant virus with high titers were established, which indicated that the insert did not grossly interfere with viral replication functions. These vectors should be useful for introducing and expressing foreign genes in vivo in tissues and whole animals in which virus spread is needed for efficient infection.

Replication of single-stranded porcine circovirus DNA by DNA polymerases alpha and delta

Porcine circovirus is the only mammalian DNA virus so far known to contain a single-stranded circular genome (Tischer et al. (1982) Nature 295, 64-66). Replication of its small viral DNA (1.76 kb) appears to be dependent on cellular enzymes expressed during S-phase of the cell cycle (Tischer et al. (1987) Arch. Virol. 96, 39-57). In this paper we have exploited the porcine circovirus genome to probe for in vitro initiation and elongation of DNA replication by different preparations of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and delta as well as by a partially purified preparation from pig thymus. The results indicated that three different purification fractions of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and one from pig thymus initiate DNA synthesis at several sites on the porcine circovirus DNA. It appears that the sites at which DNA primase synthesizes primers are not entirely random. Subsequent DNA elongation by a highly purified DNA polymerase alpha holoenzyme which had been isolated by the criterion of replicating single-stranded M13 DNA (Ottiger et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 4789-4807) is very efficient. Complete conversion to the double-stranded form is obtained in less than 1 min. When the DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha is blocked with the DNA polymerase alpha specific monoclonal antibody SJK 132-20 after initiation by DNA primase, DNA polymerase delta can efficiently replicate from the primers. This in vitro DNA replication system may be used in analogy to the bacteriophage systems in E. coli to study initiation and elongation of DNA replication.

Identification and characterization of oriLyt, a lytic origin of DNA replication of Epstein-Barr virus

We have identified a cis-acting element of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that mediates viral DNA replication during the lytic phase of this virus's life cycle. This lytic origin of DNA replication, termed oriLyt, is complex in structure in that it contains multiple regions that are required for replication and additional DNA sequences that increase replication. One of the required regions of oriLyt can be functionally substituted by a transcriptional enhancing element. DNA replication mediated by oriLyt depends on EBV DNA polymerase and yields a concatemeric molecule. A vector, which contains both oriP (the EBV plasmid origin of replication) and oriLyt, can be maintained as a plasmid in latently EBV-infected cells and can be amplified 100- to 1000-fold in cells in which the lytic phase of the viral life cycle is induced.

Site-directed mutagenesis to fine-tune enzyme specificity

We have used a combination of a genetic selection and oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to introduce a series of amino acid replacements for a single residue into Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. The mutant enzymes mischarge supF tRNA(Tyr), with glutamine, to varying degrees depending on the polarity of the side chain introduced but apparently not depending on the size or shape of the side chain. These results indicate that repulsive charge-charge interactions may be important for specific recognition of nucleic acids by proteins and illustrate how a mutant, derived from genetic selection, may be further modified in activity by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis.

Improved peptide function from random mutagenesis over short 'windows'

We have applied random mutagenesis over short contiguous residue tracts ('windows') within an active peptide (the alpha-peptide of beta-galactosidase) such that all window residues are replaced simultaneously. A novel technique using mixed synthetic oligonucleotides and selection against an EcoK restriction site has allowed the construction of libraries of mutants for two separate windows, sites A and B. Mutant phenotypes can be easily assessed in vivo by a complementation test, and panels of mutants have been quantitatively tested in vitro. This allowed the rapid probing of structural requirements for each site. The two windows yielded markedly disparate results. Site B was much less stringent in its sequence requirements for significant function than Site A, and mutants with improved function were isolated at Site B alone. In addition, one Site B mutant with wild-type levels of activity showed enhanced stability to heat or a protein denaturant. We propose that short tracts with the characteristics of Site B constitute 'secondary' interaction sites which are more tolerant of sequence diversity. Random manipulation of such secondary sites is thus more likely to yield upmutations for standard or altered environments. Window mutagenesis can in principle be applied to any protein--protein or protein--ligand interaction.

Crystal structure of T4-lysozyme generated from synthetic coding DNA expressed in Escherichia coli

The polypeptide produced by expressing a chemically synthesized gene coding for the amino-acid sequence of T4-lysozyme has been crystallized and subjected to X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure has been refined to a standard R-factor of 0.191 for data between 8 and 2 A resolution. The refined model is essentially the same as the well-known structure of wild-type T4-lysozyme determined previously by Matthews et al. (1987). Some small changes in the C-terminal region, which is important in maintaining the folded structure, have been noted. In addition to confirming that the synthetic gene product is very close to the wild type, this structure provides a benchmark for protein engineering experiments on the folding and the catalytic activity of this molecule by the method of gene synthesis.

Computer simulation of DNA ligation: determination of initial DNA concentrations favouring the formation of recombinant molecules

A computer program was used to simulate the dynamic process of a ligation of DNA fragments. More specifically, the influence of the initial DNA fragments lengths and concentrations on the relative abundance of the various end-products was systematically investigated. Depending on the nature of the DNA extremities (asymmetric or symmetric, dephosphorylated or not), sets of initial conditions could be found that optimized the yield of active recombinant molecules. These results can be directly used to increase the efficiency of the ligation step, in particular for the construction of cDNA or genomic libraries.

Vaccinia virus recombinants expressing rabiesvirus glycoprotein protect against rabies

Six recombinants of New York Board of Health (NYBH) vaccinia virus containing cDNA for Challenge Virus Standard (CVS) rabiesvirus glycoprotein (G) were produced by directing gene insertion into the vaccinia thymidine kinase (TK) locus. To regulate expression of G the promoter P7.5 (functions at early and late times postinfection) from the gene for the vaccinia 7.5 kilodalton (kD) protein was used in two of the recombinants; late promoter P11 of the vaccinia 11 kD protein was used in four recombinants. The six differed in nucleotide sequences flanking the translation start codon; in two constructs the encoded signal peptide of G was fused to several additional amino acids. Cells infected with each recombinant made G that reacted with G-specific antibodies, comigrated with authentic G, and was transported to the plasma membrane. The highest amounts of G were made with fusion or standard versions of G with P11 provided that the mRNA leader sequences were identical to the natural gene. Each recombinant in mice and one in dogs induced rabiesvirus neutralizing antibodies and protection against lethal rabiesvirus challenge.

c-myc protein can be substituted for SV40 T antigen in SV40 DNA replication

Replicating activity of SV40 origin-containing plasmid was tested in human cells as well as in monkey CosI cells. All the plasmids possessing SV40 ori sequences could replicate, even in the absence of SV40 T antigen, in human HL-60 and Raji cells which are expressing c-myc gene at high level. The copy numbers of the replicated plasmids in these human cells were 1/100 as high as in monkey CosI cells which express SV40 T antigen constitutively. Exactly the same plasmids as the transfected original ones were recovered from the Hirt supernatant of the transfected HL-60 cells. Furthermore, replication of the SV40 ori-containing plasmids in HL-60 cells was inhibited by anti-c-myc antibody co-transfected into the cells. These results indicate that the c-myc protein can be substituted for SV40 T antigen in SV40 DNA replication.

[A new approach to DNA synthesis from synthetic oligonucleotides. Synthesis of DNA coding for the repeated antigenic determinant of foot and mouth disease virus]

A rapid method for assembly of DNA from synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides has been developed which involves separate ligation of top- and bottom-strand oligonucleotides followed by filling in 3'-ends of the duplex formed, blunt end cloning into a specialized vector pBBV, and recovery of the synthetic DNA from the recombinant plasmid by means of restriction nuclease BbvII. The method allows for many oligonucleotides to be ligated at once, with no intermediates being isolated, and any DNA to be recovered on cloning, no matter what the sequences of its termini are. Ten oligodeoxynucleotides (I)-(X) have been chemically synthesised and used to prepare, by this method, a 60-membered duplex with complementary tetranucleotide 5'-protrusions (DNA I) which comprises the cDNA sequence 3397-3456 of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain O1K. Self-ligation of the duplex in the head-to-tail manner yielded 120 to 900 bp long synthetic DNAs (DNA II-DNA XV) coding for oligomers of the major antigenic determinant (the amino acid sequence 141-160 of protein VP1) of FMDV. The synthetic hexamer (DNA VI) was fused to gene lacZ' on plasmid pBBV21 and expressed in E. coli. The fusion was found to complement the lacZ deletion M15, from which it follows that the fused protein associated with the alpha-deficient beta-galactosidase to yield a tetramer carrying, on its N-termini, 24 antigenic determinants of FMDV.

Molecular studies on DNA sequences coding for factor VII and factor XII of human coagulation

In this paper are described the immunological and molecular procedures that have allowed the identification and the nucleotide sequence characterization of recombinant cDNA coding for factor XII of human coagulation and have suggested the possible identification of other cDNA clones as coding for factor VII of human coagulation.

Negative control of DNA replication in composite SV40-bovine papilloma virus plasmids

To identify DNA sequences that function in the control of DNA replication, we designed a hybrid replicon consisting of linked SV40 and BPV DNA sequences. In the composite SV40-BPV plasmid negative control encoded by BPV is dominant over the uncontrolled replication encoded by the positive factor, SV40 T antigen. Using a transient replication assay, we show that replication control requires three BPV elements. Two cis-acting sequences are closely linked to BPV replication origins. A third trans-acting element is encoded within the 5' part of the BPV E1 open reading frame (ORF) and is separable from the positive replication factor encoded within the 3' part of the same ORF. The controlled replication of SV-BPV composite replicons has enabled us to create permanent COS cell lines that stably maintain these plasmids as episomes.

The minimal replicon of a streptomycete plasmid produces an ultrahigh level of plasmid DNA

A functional map of Streptomyces coelicolor plasmid SCP2* was deduced from derivatives constructed by in vitro deletions. Functions were analyzed on bifunctional shuttle plasmids that contained pBR322 for selection and replication in Escherichia coli and fragments of SCP2* for replication in Streptomyces griseofuscus C581 and strains of Streptomyces lividans. The aph gene for neomycin resistance from Streptomyces fradiae and the tsr gene for thiostrepton resistance from Streptomyces azureus were incorporated as selectable antibiotic resistance markers in streptomycetes. An 11.8-kb sequence bounded by EcoRI and KpnI restriction sites contains the information for self-transfer and normal replication of the plasmid. A 5.9-kb EcoRI-SalI fragment contains all of the information for normal replication. Partial digestion generated a 2.2-kb Sau3A fragment that is sufficient for replication but it produces ten times higher plasmid copy number than the basic replicon. pHJL400 and PHJL401 are useful shuttle vectors containing the moderate-copy-number streptomycete plasmid combined with the E. coli plasmid pUC19. A 1.4-kb BclI-Sau3A fragment with an additional internal BclI site contains the minimal replicon but it produces 1000 times higher plasmid copy number than the basic replicon. pHJL302 is a useful shuttle vector containing the ultrahigh-copy-number streptomycete plasmid combined with the E. coli plasmid pUC19.

Construction of poliovirus intertypic recombinants by use of cDNA

We investigated the use of infectious cDNA for the production of poliovirus type 1-type 3 recombinants. One such recombinant virus was produced, but a second construct involving the transfer of part of the capsid protein region was not infectious. Our results suggest that the approach may prove valuable but that not all cDNA constructs will give rise to viable viruses.