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Jing-Lun Xue

Publications and source records attributed to Jing-Lun Xue.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Cloning, expression and functional study of translation elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in zebrafish.

We have identified translation elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in zebrafish (GenBank Accession No. AAQ91234). Analysis of the DNA sequence of zebrafish EF-2 shows that the 2826 bp cDNA spans an open reading frame between nucleotide 55 to 2631 and encodes a protein of 858 amino acids. Zebrafish EF-2 protein shares 92%, 93%, 93% and 92% identity with the corresponding amino acid sequence in human, mouse, Chinese hamster and Gallus EF-2, respectively. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that zebrafish EF-2 was a developmentally regulated gene and might play important roles during the early development of zebrafish embryos. Therefore, we further studied the function of EF-2 during early embryogenesis. Using morpholino antisense oligo knockdown assays, anti-MO injected embryos were found to display abnormal development. The yolk balls were larger than normal and the melanophores spreading on their bodies became fewer. Furthermore, their tails were incurvate and their lenses were much smaller than those of the normal embryos. However the EF-2 overexpression data showed that extra EF-2 protein had no obvious effect on zebrafish embryonic development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification, expression pattern, and subcellular location of human RIP isoforms.

XRIP alpha was identified as an adapter protein involved in RAP nuclear import. Several homologs were reported in mammal EST analysis, but the expression pattern and genomic organization of hRIP isoforms were not clarified yet. We isolated nine isoforms of hRIP from a premade human fetal brain library. hRIP alpha is the longest isoform with 219 residues, containing a N-terminal arginine-rich basic region, followed by an acidic region and two C-terminal Zn finger-like structures. hRIP beta deletes one Zn-finger-like structure. Three hRIP alpha isoforms and four hRIP sigma isoforms express truncated proteins due to frame shift. hRIP gamma isoforms lost the C-terminal Zn-finger-like structure. hRIP delta isoforms only contain the N-terminal arginine-rich basic region and the core sequence of the acidic region. The genomic organization of hRIP was identified by bioinformatic analysis. hRIP, containing seven exons, is located at human chromosome 17p13. hRIP was expressed in all 16 detected human tissues with a similar pattern. All EGFP-hRIP fusion proteins were located at the nucleus in the HEK293 cell. The two-polar molecular structure of hRIP might be involved in the basic cell function, and plays a role in the alternative nuclear ingress.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Insulin expression in livers of diabetic mice mediated by hydrodynamics-based administration.

AIM: Transfer and expression of insulin gene in vivo are an alternative strategy to improve glycemic control in type 1 diabetes. Hydrodynamics-based procedure has been proved to be very efficient to transfer naked DNA to mouse livers. The basal hepatic insulin production mediated by this rapid tail vein injection was studied to determine its effect on the resumption of glycemic control in type 1 diabetic mice. METHODS: Engineered insulin cDNA was inserted into plasmid vectors under a CMV promoter, and transferred into STZ induced diabetic mice by hydrodynamic procedure. Glucose levels, body weight of treated mice, insulin levels, immunohistology of the liver, and quantity of insulin mRNA in the liver were assayed to identify the improvement of hyperglycemic complication after plasmid administration. Sleeping Beauty, a transposon system, was also used to prolong the insulin expression in the liver. RESULTS: After plasmid administration, Plasma insulin was significantly increased in the diabetic mice and the livers were insulin-positive by immunostaining. At the same time the hyperglycemic complication was improved. The blood glucose levels of mice were reduced to normal. Glucose tolerance of the treated diabetic mice was improved. Body weight loss was also ameliorated. The rapid tail vein injection did not cause any fatal result. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that insulin gene could be efficiently transferred into the livers of diabetic mice via rapid tail vein injection and it resulted in high level of insulin expression. The basal hepatic insulin production mediated by hydrodynamics-based administration improved the glycemic control in type 1 diabetes dramatically and ameliorated diabetic syndromes. Hydrodynamics-based administration offers a simple and efficient way in the study of gene therapy for type 1 diabetes.

Animals↗

Conditions affecting hydrodynamics-based gene delivery into mouse liver in vivo.

1. It has been demonstrated that the hydrodynamics-based procedure has high efficiency to deliver foreign genes into the liver. The widespread use of this procedure in gene function studies and as a treatment option for liver and other organ diseases puts considerable importance on the investigation of various conditions that affect hydrodynamics-based gene delivery into mouse liver in vivo. 2. Various conditions, including the volume, speed and solution of the injection and the state, gender and strain of the animal were manipulated to evaluate their effect on the expression levels in mice of human factor IX (hFIX) 8 h after tail vein injection of the plasmid pCMV-hFIX. 3. It was found that an injection volume of 2-2.5 mL and an injection speed of 5-7 s were very effective in delivering DNA into the mouse liver. Using Ringer's solution as an injection fluid increased the efficiency of hFIX expression. 4. Anaesthetized mice expressed higher hFIX than conscious mice. Males expressed higher hFIX than females. The ICR mouse strain demonstrated higher expression of the foreign gene than did the C57 strain. 5. The effects of these specific factors on hFIX expression may be caused by variations in hydrostatic pressure, the degree of liver damage and liver size. 6. It can be concluded that there are optimal conditions for hFIX expression in the liver. This information may be helpful for the application of hydrodynamics-based procedures in the investigation of gene expression and gene therapy.

Animals↗

Transfection of mEpo gene to intestinal epithelium in vivo mediated by oral delivery of chitosan-DNA nanoparticles.

AIM: To prepare the chitosan-pmEpo nanoparticles and to study their ability for transcellular and paracellular transport across intestinal epithelia by oral administration. METHODS: ICR mice were fed with recombinant plasmid AAV-tetO-CMV-mEpo (containing mEpo gene) or pCMVbeta(containing LacZ gene), whether it was wrapped by chitosan or no. Its size and shape were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to assess the efficiency of encapsulation and stability against nuclease digestion. Before and after oral treatmant, blood samples were collected by retro-orbital puncture, and hematocrits were used to show the physiological effect of mEpo. RESULTS: Chitosan was able to successfully wrap the plasmid and to protect it from DNase degradation. Transmission electron microscopy showed that freshly prepared particles were approximately 70-150 nm in size and fairly spherical. Three days after fed the chitosan-pCMVbeta complex was fed, the mice were killed and most of the stomach and 30% of the small intestine were stained. Hematocrit was not modified in naive and 'naked' mEpo-fed mice, a rapid increase of hematocrit was observed during the first 4 days of treatment in chitosan-mEpo-fed animals, reaching 60.9+/-1.2% (P<0.01), and sustained for a week. The second feed (6 days after the first feed) was still able to promote a second hematocrit increase in chitosan-mEpo-fed animals, reaching 65.9+/-1.4% (P<0.01), while the second hematocrit increase did not appear in the 'naked' mEpo-second-fed mice. CONCLUSION: Oral chitosan-DNA nanoparticles can efficiently deliver genes to enterocytes, and may be used as a useful tool for gene transfer.

Administration, Oral↗

Efficient delivery of human clotting factor IX after injection of lentiviral vectors in utero.

AIM: To explore gene transfer feasibility for human clotting factor IX (hFIX) mediated by recombinant lentivirus in utero. METHODS: ICR mice fetus at 17-19 d gestation were received lentiviral vectors carrying hFIX cDNA under the control of liver specific promoter by intrahepatic injection. The expression and distribution of hFIX cDNA and possible immune responses against the hFIX were assessed by ELISA, PCR, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: The serum hFIX protein were detected at different time points in all newborn mice, the highest level of hFIX was 50 microg/L and lasted for more than 30 d. Anti-hFIX antibody was not detected. hFIX cDNA was detected in liver, spleen, and heart. The expression of hFIX cDNA was only detected in liver. Besides, no germ line transmission was found at DNA and RNA levels, and no side effect associated with gene transfer was detected. CONCLUSION: The efficient delivery of hFIX can be achieved by prenatal gene transfer. It thus shows the feasibility of gene therapy for hemophilia in utero.

Animals↗

Generation and characterization of transgenic mice expressing tamoxifen-inducible cre-fusion protein specifically in mouse liver.

AIM: To establish transgenic mice expressing tamoxifen-inducible Cre-ERt recombinase specifically in the liver and to provide an efficient animal model for studying gene function in the liver and creating various mouse models mimicking human diseases. METHODS: Alb-Cre-ERt transgenic mice were produced by microinjecting the construct with Cre-ERt fusion gene of DNA fragments into fertilized eggs derived from inbred C57BL/6 strain. Transgenic mice were identified by using PCR and Southern blotting. Expression of Cre-ERt fusion gene was analyzed in the liver, kidney, brain and lung from F1 generation transgenic mice at 8 weeks of age by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. RESULTS: Four hundred and fourteen fertilized eggs of C57 BL/6 mice were microinjected with recombinant Alb-Cre-ERt DNA fragments, and 312 survival eggs injected were transferred to the oviducts of 12 pseudopregnant recipient mice, 6 of 12 recipient mice became pregnant and gave birth to 44 offsprings. Of the 44 offsprings, two males and one female carried the hybrid Cre-ERt fusion gene. Three mice were determined as founders, and were back crossed to set up F1 generations with other inbred C57BL/6 mice. Transmission of Cre-ERt fusion gene in F1 offspring followed Mendelian rules. The expression of Cre-ERt mRNA was detected only in the liver of F1 offspring from two of three founder mice. CONCLUSION: Transgenic mice expressing tamoxifen-inducible Cre-ERt recombinase under control of the liver-specific promoter are preliminary established.

Animals↗

Conditional gene activation in cultured hepatocytes using a ligand-dependent chimeric Cre recombinase.

By combining liver-specific promoter and a chimeric Cre recombinase, conditional gene activation could be finely achieved in hepatocytes at selected time points. To this end, the expression vector of Cre-ERt under the control of the mouse albumin gene promoter/enhancer, alb-Cre-ERt, was constructed, and transfected into engineering BRL (Rat hepatocytes) and BRK (Rat kidney) reporter cells which carries a chromosomally integrated 'floxed' beta geo gene, which is inserted between the promoter and the human alkaline phosphatase( hAP) reporter gene, thereby preventing hAP reporter gene transcription, respectively. After treatment with 1 micromol/L 4-hydroxytamoxifen(4-OHT), a proportion of hAP staining positive cells were detected by hAP staining. It was further confirmed that 'floxed' beta geo cassette was removed by Cre excision by using PCR analysis of cellular DNA. No background recombinase activity could be detected in the absence of 4-OHT. Moreover, no hAP-positive cells could be detected in BHK cells untreated or treated with 4-OHT. These data suggested that alb-Cre-ERt expression vector was constructed successfully, and 4-OHT could induce Cre-mediated recombination only in hepatocytes expressing Cre-ERt, thereby activating a stably integrated hAP reporter gene. This provides a further foundation for producing transgenic mice expressing such an 4-OHT inducible Cre recombinase specifically in mouse liver.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Construction of a recombinant vector based on AAV carrying human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase gene.

AIM: To construct an AAV based vector carrying human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) cDNA and study its expression in vitro for future gene therapy. METHODS: eNOS cDNA was inserted into the EcoR I site of pSNAV-1 containing the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and inverted terminal repeat sequences of adeno-associated virus. The constructed vector was transfected into BHK and C2C12 cells. eNOS cDNA and mRNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. RESULTS: By restriction enzyme digestion analysis, it was proved that eNOS cDNA was inserted into pSNAV-1 in a proper direction. PCR detection demonstrated that pSNAV-eNOS was transferred into both BHK and C2C12 cells. RT-PCR analysis showed that these pSNAV-eNOS transfected cells could express eNOS mRNA. CONCLUSION: pSNAV-eNOS was successfully constructed with the ability to express human eNOS mRNA in cultured mammalian cells.

Animals↗