A 2-microm DNA-based marker recycling system for multiple gene disruption in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A molecular FRT (Flp recombinase recognition target)-based cassette system for multiple gene disruption in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was developed. FRT DNA sequences were designed with different core mutations and subsequently cloned in direct orientation upstream and downstream of a marker gene to serve as template for the amplification of a set of different gene disruption cassettes. After each disruption, the marker can be easily eliminated from its integration site by in vivo site-specific recombination between the two identical, mutated FRT sequences flanking the marker, leaving behind one FRT sequence with a particular point mutation. Since recombination between two FRTs with a different core mutation is extremely rare, the possibility of chromosome rearrangements, due to site-specific recombination between residual FRTs, is very low. In strains containing 2-microm ([cir+]) the site-specific reaction is catalysed by the endogenous Flp gene product, whereas in strains without 2-microm ([cir0]), the FLP gene is carried on the cassette, together with the marker gene. This system can be applied for haploid and diploid [cir+] and [cir0] strains.     

叶片衰老诱导FLP重组酶删除转基因烟草外源基因的研究

  目的   “Gene-deletor”系统可实现转基因植物中外源基因的清除。为了研究该系统在转基因烟草中对清除外源基因的作用并最终创制不含外源基因的烟草新种质。  方法   以含有“Gene-deletor”系统的转基因烟株为材料,分析外源筛合报告选融基因Bar::GUS、重组酶基因FLP在不同叶龄叶片中的表达水平,同时通过观察转基因烟草花粉中GUS蛋白的表达活性,分析外源基因GUS在花粉中的删除情况。  结果   （1）相同叶龄不同转基因烟株叶片均表现出GUS活性和对除草剂草铵膦抗性,且3个转基因烟草株系中GUS活性和对除草剂抗性都表现出随着叶龄增大而降低的特点。（2）Real-time PCR和RT-PCR结果进一步证明外源Bar::GUS基因表达水平随叶片发育成熟持续下降,而外源FLP基因的表达水平则出现先增后降的变化趋势,在测定后期两者的表达量均达到最低,（3）花粉GUS组织染色结果表明,“明,色结果降的变化趋势,特系统诱导各转基因植株中花粉外源基因清除效率不同,平均清除率分别78.3%,54.7%和75.2%。  结论   在转基因烟草中,叶片衰老特异表达基因SAG12基因启动子驱动“动启动子驱动达基因,平均清系统（LoxP/FRT）的表达不仅可引起转基因植株叶片中外源基因的特异性清除,还能诱导花粉中外源基因的删除,该技术可为进一步创制培育不含外源基因的烟草新种质提供参考。      

Yeast vectors for the integration/expression of any sequence at the TYR1 locus

We have constructed new yeast vectors for targeted integration and conditional expression of any sequence at the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TYR1 locus which becomes disrupted. We show that vector integration is not neutral, causing prototrophy for tyrosine and auxotrophy for the vector's selectable marker (uracil or leucine, depending on the vector used). This feature allows a double screening of transformed yeast cells, improving the identification of colonies with the desired chromosomal structure. The GAL10 gene promoter has been added to drive conditional expression of cloned sequences. Using these vectors, chromosomal structure verification of recombinant clones is no longer necessary, since the noise of non-homologous recombination, as well as spontaneous reversion of the selected phenotype, can easily be identified. The ability of the vector to conditionally control gene expression has been confirmed using the gene for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter.     

Expression and secretion of antifreeze peptides in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The antifreeze peptide AFP6 from the polar fish Pseudopleuronectus americanus has been expressed in and secreted by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a biologically active molecule. The gene for the 37 amino acid long peptide has been chemically synthesized using yeast preferred codons. Subsequently, the gene has been cloned into an episomal expression vector as well as in a multicopy integration vector, which is mitotically more stable. The expression is under the control of the inducible GAL7 promoter. The enzyme α-galactosidase has been investigated as a carrier protein to facilitate expression and secretion of AFP. In order to reach increased expression levels, tandem repeats of the AFP gene (up to eight copies) have been cloned. In most cases the genes are efficiently expressed and the products secreted. The expression level amounts to approximately 100 mg/l in the culture medium. In a number of genetic constructs the genes are directly linked and expressed as AFP multimers. In other constructs linker regions have been inserted between the AFP gene copies, that allow the peptide to be processed by specific proteinases, either from the endogenous yeast proteolytic system or from a non-yeast source. The latter requires a separate processing step after yeast cultivation to obtain mature AFP. In all these cases proteolytic processing is incomplete, generating a heterogeneous mixture of mature AFP, carrier and chimeric protein, and/or a mixture of AFP-oligomers. The antifreeze activity has been demonstrated for such mixtures as well as for AFP multimers.     

Galactose-inducible Expression Systems in Candida maltosa using Promoters of Newly-isolated GAL1 and GAL10 Genes

The GAL1 and GAL10 gene cluster encoding the enzymes of galactose utilization was isolated from an asporogenic yeast, Candida maltosa. The structure of the gene cluster in which both genes were divergently transcribed from the central promoter region resembled those of some other yeasts. The expression of both genes was strongly induced by galactose and repressed by glucose in the medium. Galactose-inducible expression vectors in C. maltosa were constructed on low- and high-copy number plasmids using the promoter regions of both genes. With these vectors and the β-galactosidase gene from Kluyveromyces lactis as a reporter, galactose-inducible expression was confirmed. Homologous overexpression of members of the cytochrome P-450 gene family in C. maltosa was also successful by using a high-copy-number vector under the control of these promoters. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高效表达木糖醇脱氢酶基因酿酒酵母的构建及木酮糖发酵的初步研究

通过RT-PCR方法克隆得到Candida tropicalis木糖醇脱氢酶基因xyl2,将该基因连入酵母表达载体pYES2的诱导型启动子GAL1下,构建表达质粒pYES2-xyl2;同时用从Pichia pastoris中克隆获取的甘油醛磷酸脱氢酶基因GAP换下GAL1基因,构建含组成型启动子GAP基因的表达质粒pYES2-GAP-xyl2;通过电转化法将其依次转入酿酒酵母S.cerevisiae INVSc1,山梨醇培养基上筛选的转化子经木糖醇梯度驯化培养,筛选出1株耐木糖醇浓度为20%的酿酒酵母重组菌株ZCX4和1株在半乳糖诱导下耐木糖醇浓度为15%的重组菌株YDX2。酶活测定表明,重组菌株ZCX4比酶活0.621 U/mg(蛋白),是YDX2比酶活的2.29倍。摇瓶发酵结果显示,重组菌株ZCX4木糖醇消耗76.46 g/L,木糖醇消耗率为76.46%,是重组菌株YDX2木糖醇消耗率的1.63倍,说明木糖醇脱氢酶实现了高效表达。     

The regulatable MAL32 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: characteristics and tools to facilitate its use

Here we describe a set of tools to facilitate the use of maltose and the MAL32 promoter for regulated gene expression in yeast, alone or in combination with the GAL1 promoter. Using fluorescent protein reporters we find that under non‐inducing conditions the MAL32 promoter exhibits a low basal level of expression, similar to the GAL1 promoter, and that both promoters can be induced independently of each other using the respective sugars, maltose and galactose. While their repression upon glucose addition is immediate and complete, we found that the MAL32 and GAL1 promoters each exhibit distinct induction kinetics. A set of plasmids is available to facilitate the application of the MAL32 promoter for chromosomal modifications using PCR targetting and for plasmid based gene expression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于Red重组系统的阴沟肠杆菌基因重组技术

目的:开发一种基于Red重组系统的E.cloacae基因重组技术。方法:将Red重组酶基因连接于表达载体形成pSC-MSC-red,将Flp重组酶基因连接于表达载体形成pSC-MSC-flp。以budA基因(编码乙酰乳酸脱羧酶)为例,构建了不同长度同源臂的抗性盒。将这些DNA片段分别转化入携带pSC-MSC-red质粒的E.cloacae进行基因重组。结果:使用同源臂长度为39和100 bp的抗性盒不能得到重组子;同源臂长度为200 bp的抗性盒可以获得重组子E.cloacae ΔbudA-773,重组效率为6.1 CFU/μg DNA;同源臂长度为500 bp时,重组效率提高到131.5 CFU/μg DNA。将表达Flp重组酶的质粒pSC-MSC-flp转化入重组菌株中传代培养成功消除了抗性标记。对重组菌株E.cloacae ΔbudA进行发酵培养实验,菌株丧失了合成乙偶姻和2,3-丁二醇的能力,表明budA基因被成功敲除。结论:本文建立了一种适用于E.cloacae的基因重组方法。     

Puromycin‐ and methotrexate‐resistance cassettes and optimized Cre‐recombinase expression plasmids for use in yeast

Here we expand the set of tools for genetically manipulating Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that puromycin‐resistance can be achieved in yeast through expression of a bacterial puromycin‐resistance gene optimized to the yeast codon bias, which in turn serves as an easy‐to‐use dominant genetic marker suitable for gene disruption. We have constructed a similar DNA cassette expressing yeast codon‐optimized mutant human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which confers resistance to methotrexate and can also be used as a dominant selectable marker. Both of these drug‐resistant marker cassettes are flanked by loxP sites, allowing for their excision from the genome following expression of Cre‐recombinase. Finally, we have created a series of plasmids for low‐level constitutive expression of Cre‐recombinase in yeast that allows for efficient excision of loxP‐flanked markers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gene regulation in response to protein disulphide isomerase deficiency

We have examined the activities of promoters of a number of yeast genes encoding resident endoplasmic reticulum proteins, and found increased expression in a strain with severe protein disulphide isomerase deficiency. Serial deletion in the promoter of the MPD1 gene, which encodes a PDI1-homologue, revealed a cis-acting element responding to deficiency of protein disulphide isomerase activity (designated CERP). The presence of the sequence element is necessary and sufficient for the upregulation in response to disulphide isomerase deficiency, as measured by a minimal promoter containing the CERP element. The sequence (GACACG) does not resemble the unfolded protein response element. It is present in the upstream regions of the MPD1, MPD2, KAR2, PDI1 and ERO1 genes.     

Molecular characterization of the Hansenula polymorpha FLD1 gene encoding formaldehyde dehydrogenase.

Glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FLD) is a key enzyme required forthe catabolism of methanol as a carbon source and certain primary amines, such as methylamine as nitrogen sources in methylotrophic yeasts. Here we describe the molecular characterization of the FLD1 gene from the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Unlike the recently described Pichia pastoris homologue, the H. polymorpha gene does not contain an intron. The predicted FLD1 product (Fld1p) is a protein of 380 amino acids (ca. 41 kDa) with 82% identity to P. pastoris Fld1p, 76% identity to the FLD protein sequence from n-alkane-assimilating yeast Candida maltosa and 63-64% identity to dehydrogenase class III enzymes from humans and other higher eukaryotes. The expression of FLD1 is strictly regulated and can be controlled at two expression levels by manipulation of the growth conditions. The gene is strongly induced under methylotrophic growth conditions; moderate expression is obtained under conditions in which a primary amine, e.g. methylamine, is used as nitrogen source. These properties render the FLD1 promoter of high interest for heterologous gene expression. The availability of the H. polymorpha FLD1 promoter provides an attractive alternative for expression of foreign genes besides the commonly used alcohol oxidase promoter.     

Good planning and serendipity: exploiting the Cre/Lox system in the testis

Over the past 20 years, genetic manipulation has revolutionised our understanding of male reproductive development and function. The advent of transgenic mouse lines has permitted elegant dissection of previously intractable issues. The development of the Cre/Lox system, which has permitted spatial and temporal localisation of genetic manipulation, has expanded upon this, and now makes up one of the primary approaches underpinning our increasing understanding of testis development and function. The success of conditional gene targeting is largely reliant upon the choice of Cre recombinase expressing mouse line, which is required to specifically target the correct cell type at the correct time. Presupposition that Cre lines will behave as expected has been one of the main oversights in the design of Cre/Lox experiments, as in practice, many Cre lines are prone to ectopic expression (both temporal and spatial), transgene silencing or genetic background effects. Empirical validation of the spatiotemporal profile of Cre expression prior to undertaking conditional gene targeting studies is essential and can be achieved through a combination of molecular and immunohistochemical approaches, along with in vivo examination of reporter gene expression in targeted tissues. This paper details the key considerations associated with exploitation of the Cre/Lox system and highlights a variety of validated Cre lines that have utility for conditional gene targeting within the testis.     

An improved tetO promoter replacement system for regulating the expression of yeast genes

Regulatable promoters are commonly used to control the expression of, especially, essential genes in a conditional manner. Integration of such promoters upstream of an ORF using one-step PCR-mediated homologous recombination should be particularly efficient. However, integration of the original KanMX4-tetO promoter cassette (Belli et al., 1998a) into the relatively short upstream regions of many yeast genes is often problematic, presumably due to the size (3.9 kb) of the replacement cassette. We have created a new, shorter, KanMX4-tetO cassette by removing the transactivator (tTA) sequence from the original cassette. The transactivator (tTA) has been integrated into the yeast genome to create a new strain for use with the new system, which has a greatly increased efficiency of promoter substitution. With it, we have been able to create strains that could not be made with the original cassette. To increase the throughput of promoter substitutions, we have developed a new assay for testing doxycycline sensitivity, based on liquid culture using microtitre trays. Altogether, the components of this new 'tool kit' greatly increase the efficiency of systematic promoter substitutions.     

Functional genomics of commercial baker's yeasts that have different abilities for sugar utilization and high-sucrose tolerance under different sugar conditions

In the modern baking industry, high-sucrose-tolerant (HS) and maltose-utilizing (LS) yeast were developed using breeding techniques and are now used commercially. Sugar utilization and high-sucrose tolerance differ significantly between HS and LS yeasts. We analysed the gene expression profiles of HS and LS yeasts under different sucrose conditions in order to determine their basic physiology. Two-way hierarchical clustering was performed to obtain the overall patterns of gene expression. The clustering clearly showed that the gene expression patterns of LS yeast differed from those of HS yeast. Quality threshold clustering was used to identify the gene clusters containing upregulated genes (cluster 1) and downregulated genes (cluster 2) under high-sucrose conditions. Clusters 1 and 2 contained numerous genes involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, respectively. The expression level of the genes involved in the metabolism of glycerol and trehalose, which are known to be osmoprotectants, in LS yeast was higher than that in HS yeast under sucrose concentrations of 5-40%. No clear correlation was found between the expression level of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of the osmoprotectants and the intracellular contents of the osmoprotectants. The present gene expression data were compared with data previously reported in a comprehensive analysis of a gene deletion strain collection. Welch's t-test for this comparison showed that the relative growth rates of the deletion strains whose deletion occurred in genes belonging to cluster 1 were significantly higher than the average growth rates of all deletion strains.