Expression and stabilization of microinjected plasmids containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene and polyoma virus DNA in mouse cells

Gene transfer vectors based on Sendai virus

A gene delivery system is a fundamental technology used in human gene therapy. In order to treat patients suffering from incurable metabolic diseases, we must be able to deliver genes efficiently in situ and induce stable gene expression in non-dividing tissue cells. However, none of the current gene transfer systems (both viral and non-viral) satisfies this goal. In order to develop a novel gene delivery system that is free from the defects of existing gene transfer vectors, we analyzed natural biological phenomena that involve gene transfer and expression, and made artificial components that mimic the functioning of these systems. Our recent results shed light on three major aspects of gene transfer and expression: (1) the direct delivery of DNA into cytoplasm using fusogenic liposomes, (2) the transfer of DNA from cytoplasm to nucleus with a nuclear localization signal, and (3) the stabilization of DNA in the nucleus as an independent replicon. The possible development of a hybrid vector by combining these components is discussed.

Visualization of mitochondrial protein import in cultured mammalian cells with green fluorescent protein and effects of overexpression of the human import receptor Tom20

The presequence of the ornithine transcarbamylase precursor (pOTC) was fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP), yielding pOTC-GFP and pOTCN-GFP containing the presequence plus 4 and 58 residues of mature ornithine transcarbamylase, respectively. When GFP cDNA was transfected into COS-7 cells, the cytosol and nucleus were fluorescent. On the other hand, pOTC-GFP cDNA gave strong fluorescence of a unique mitochondrial pattern. After fractionation of cells expressing pOTC-GFP with digitonin, fluorescence was recovered mostly in the particulate fraction. Immunoblot analysis showed that processed GFP was present in the particulate fraction, whereas pOTC-GFP was recovered in both the soluble and particulate fractions. pOTC-GFP and pOTCN-GFP synthesized in vitro were imported efficiently into the isolated mitochondria. Single and triple amino acid mutations in the presequence resulted in impaired mitochondrial import and in a loss of mitochondrial fluorescence. Perinuclear aggregation of fluorescent mitochondria was observed when the human mitochondrial import receptor Tom20 (hTom20) was coexpressed with pOTC-GFP. Overexpression of hTom20 (not DeltahTom20, which lacks the anchor sequence) resulted in stimulated mitochondrial import of pOTC-GFP in COS-7 cells. When pOTC-GFP cDNA was microinjected into nuclei of human fibroblast cells, mitochondrial fluorescence was detected as early as 2-3 h after injection. These results show that GFP fusion protein can be used to visualize mitochondrial structures and to monitor mitochondrial protein import in a single cell in real time.

An ERCC5 gene with homology to yeast RAD2 is involved in group G xeroderma pigmentosum

We have isolated a human excision repair gene ERCC5 which complements the defect of the mouse UV-sensitive mutant XL216 (rodent complementation group 5). Here we report cDNA cloning of human and mouse ERCC5 genes using an exon containing an ERCC5 fragment as a probe. The ERCC5 cDNA encodes a predicted 133-kDa nuclear protein that shares some homology with the product of the yeast DNA repair gene RAD2. Transfection with mouse ERCC5 cDNA restored normal levels of UV resistance to XL216 cells. Microinjection of ERCC5 cDNA specifically restored the defect of xeroderma pigmentosum group G cells (XP-G) as measured by unscheduled DNA synthesis, and XP-G cells stably transformed with ERCC5 cDNA showed nearly normal UV resistance.

Escherichia coli RecA protein modified with a nuclear location signal binds to chromosomes in living mammalian cells

We tried to make a well-characterized bacterial protein function in mammalian cell nuclei. For this purpose we chose Escherichia coli RecA protein and fused its carboxy terminus to the nuclear location signal of SV40 large T-antigen by oligonucleotide-dependent modification of the gene. When injected into the cytoplasm, the modified RecA protein (T-RecA for the T-antigen signal) accumulated efficiently in the nuclei, whereas the wild-type RecA protein remained in the cytoplasm. The T-RecA protein retained its original in vivo activity, judging from the finding that uv-sensitive bacteria (recA- E. coli) became uv-resistant on transformation with the T-recA plasmid as well as the recA plasmid. For expression of the T-recA gene in mammalian cells, the 5' region was replaced by the chicken beta-actin promoter and Kozak's initiation signal. A high level of expression was observed when Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells were transfected with this plasmid. Indirect immunofluorescence examination revealed that the T-RecA protein in nuclei of mammalian cells bound to chromatin.

Microinjection of T4 endonuclease V produced by a synthetic denV gene stimulates unscheduled DNA synthesis in both xeroderma pigmentosum and normal cells

A structural gene for T4 endonuclease V was constructed by ligating synthetic oligonucleotides. The endonuclease V was overproduced in E. coli under control of the E. coli tryptophan promoter and purified to apparent homogeneity. The product had comparable DNA glycosylase and apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease activities to the natural enzyme in vitro. When this endonuclease V was microinjected into the cytoplasm of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells of complementation group A, B, C, D, F, G or H, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) above the residual level was detected in all the cells at a dose of about 10(3) molecules following UV irradiation. The gain numbers of UDS in these XP cells increased with increase in the dose of enzyme and reached a plateau at the normal cell level on introduction of about 10(4) molecules. Introduction of more enzyme into either XP cells or normal human cells did not increase the grain number under regular labelling conditions (2.5 h, 37 degrees C). In normal mouse cells, introduction of the enzyme increased the grain number more than 4-fold under the same conditions during at least 8.5 h following UV irradiation. Furthermore, with a labelling time of 30 min, the enzyme more than doubled the grain number even in normal human cells.

Reversible inhibition of protein import into the nucleus by wheat germ agglutinin injected into cultured cells

The importance of glycoproteins located in the nuclear envelope in nuclear transport was tested by microinjection of karyophilic proteins into the cytoplasm of cultured human cells together with various lectins. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) blocked the nuclear transport of nucleoplasmin, a nuclear protein of Xenopus laevis oocytes, and of nonnuclear proteins conjugated with a synthetic peptide containing the nuclear localization signal sequence for simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen. Its inhibitory activity persisted for about 1 h after its injection into the cells and then gradually decreased. Export of at least some kinds of RNA from the nucleus seemed not to be affected by WGA even when import of the proteins into the nucleus was completely blocked (within 1 h after WGA injection). Moreover, WGA did not inhibit the passive diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (average Mr 17,900) into the nucleus. Wistaria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), concanavalin A (Con A), and lentil lectin did not block nuclear transport. These results indicate that WGA specifically blocks active protein import, but not passive diffusion of materials into the nucleus.

The improved efficient method for introducing macromolecules into cells using HVJ (Sendai virus) liposomes with gangliosides

Macromolecules such as DNA and RNA can be entrapped within liposomes associated with gangliosides by reverse-phase evaporation. When these liposomes are incubated with HVJ2 (Sendai virus), they deliver their contents into cultured cells efficiently. More than 95% cells of a Ltk- cell line (thymidine kinase-deficient cells) transiently expressed thymidine kinase activity by thymidine kinase gene transfer using HVJ liposomes with gangliosides. Stable transformants could be obtained efficiently from various cell lines by use of HVJ liposomes containing the neoR gene. The neo+ transformants were obtained at frequencies of about 0.2-1.0, 0.06-0.25, and 0.06-0.1% in monolayers of L, CHO-Kl, and HeLa-S3 cells, respectively. Moreover, in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells which grow in suspension, the frequency was more than 0.01%. On introduction of plasmid pTK4 into Ltk- cells, about 0.5-1.0% TK+ transformants were obtained. Cosmid DNA containing the neoR gene (about 45 kbp) was also introduced into L cells by this method and neo+ transformants were obtained at a frequency of 0.1%. When rat liver mRNA was introduced into L cells by HVJ liposomes with gangliosides, immunoprecipitation studies showed that the L cells secreted rat albumin and some other proteins into the cultured medium. Moreover, using erythrocyte membrane vesicles containing IgM that had been incubated with HVJ empty liposomes with gangliosides, the IgM could be introduced into all the L cells.

Activation of an enhancerless gene by chromosomal integration

Expression of enhancerless (E-) and enhancer-containing (E+) genes that are chromosomally integrated was examined. An E- plasmid (pE-cat) containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene linked to the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter or its E+ counterpart plasmid (pE+-cat) containing the SV40 enhancer was cotransfected into thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient L cells with a cloned tk gene. A number of TK+ transformants were isolated, and expression of the cointegrated cat gene in these cell lines was quantitatively determined by the assay of CAT activity. The results indicated unexpectedly that the E- cat gene was as actively expressed as the E+ cat gene. Analysis of CAT mRNA by primer extension indicated that the E- cat gene, as well as the E+ cat gene, was transcribed from the "native" initiation site contained in the SV40 early promoter region. The active expression of the E- cat gene was maintained in secondary TK+ transformants that arose by transfection with genomic DNA from the primary transformant. These results suggest that expression of the integrated E- cat gene is activated by endogenous enhancer elements.

Activation of an enhancerless gene by chromosomal integration

Expression of enhancerless (E-) and enhancer-containing (E+) genes that are chromosomally integrated was examined. An E- plasmid (pE-cat) containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene linked to the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter or its E+ counterpart plasmid (pE+-cat) containing the SV40 enhancer was cotransfected into thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient L cells with a cloned tk gene. A number of TK+ transformants were isolated, and expression of the cointegrated cat gene in these cell lines was quantitatively determined by the assay of CAT activity. The results indicated unexpectedly that the E- cat gene was as actively expressed as the E+ cat gene. Analysis of CAT mRNA by primer extension indicated that the E- cat gene, as well as the E+ cat gene, was transcribed from the "native" initiation site contained in the SV40 early promoter region. The active expression of the E- cat gene was maintained in secondary TK+ transformants that arose by transfection with genomic DNA from the primary transformant. These results suggest that expression of the integrated E- cat gene is activated by endogenous enhancer elements.

Existence of high abundance antiproliferative mRNA's in senescent human diploid fibroblasts

Polyadenylated RNA isolated from senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) inhibited DNA synthesis in proliferation-competent cells after microinjection, whereas polyadenylated RNA from young HDF had no inhibitory effect. Polyadenylated RNA from young cells made quiescent by removal of serum growth factors had a slight inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis. The abundance level of inhibitor messenger RNA (mRNA) from senescent cells was estimated at 0.8 and that of quiescent cells at 0.005 percent. These results demonstrate the existence of one or more antiproliferative mRNA's in nonproliferating normal human cells; these RNA's code for factors that either work antagonistically to initiators of DNA synthesis or regulate the expression of the initiators in some way. The abundance level of the inhibitory mRNA in senescent cells indicates the feasibility of developing a complementary DNA probe that will be useful in studying cell cycle control mechanisms.

Microinjection of partially purified protein factor restores DNA damage specifically in group A of xeroderma pigmentosum cells

Microinjection of cell extracts prepared from both human placenta and HeLa cells into xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells of complementation group A restores unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in these cells after UV irradiation [de Jonge, A., Vermeulen, W., Klein, B. & Hoeijmakers, J. (1983) EMBO J. 2, 637-641]. These cells also showed normal resistance to UV irradiation. The half-life of the factors in the cell extracts corresponding to the UDS activity (factor A) was 14 hr in XP cells of group A, and the maximal level of UDS was exerted 2 hr after microinjection. The factors were sensitive to protease treatment but not to RNase treatment and were found to be approximately equal to 160 and approximately equal to 90 kDa by gel filtration. These two fractions of the factor(s) acted specifically in XP cells of complementation group A among complementation groups A, B, C, D, F, G, and probably E and H.

Homologous recombination of polyoma virus DNA in mouse cells

We have produced nonviable deletion mutants of polyoma virus in order to study homologous recombination after DNA transfection into mouse cells. The frequency of recombination was determined by the formation of infectious virus. It was dependent on the amount of DNA transfected and the size of the region of homology between the mutations. Recombination frequencies were highest when both mutated genomes were transfected in closed circular form rather than after linearization of one or both of the recombination partners. The system described may be useful for a more detailed analysis of physiological and genetic conditions influencing the frequency of homologous recombination in mouse cells as well as to study enzymes involved and intermediates produced in this process.

Short-term, high-efficiency expression of transfected DNA

We have achieved high-efficiency uptake and expression of foreign DNA in mouse Ltk- cells by modifying the DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection method of McCutchan and Pagano (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 42:351-357, 1968) to include an initial incubation at elevated pH followed by a shock treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide. Up to 80% of mouse Ltk- cells transfected with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene expressed thymidine kinase as measured by autoradiography.

Promoter dependence of enhancer activity

The interaction of enhancers with different promoters was studied by measuring the influence of two enhancers (from simian virus 40 and from Harvey sarcoma virus) on the activity of expression vectors that are identical except for their promoter region. The promoters examined were from the simian virus 40 early region, with or without its own 72-base-pair repeat, and the mouse beta major-globin gene. It is clear that the promoter acted upon strongly influences the level of activity of an enhancer.

Promoter dependence of enhancer activity

The interaction of enhancers with different promoters was studied by measuring the influence of two enhancers (from simian virus 40 and from Harvey sarcoma virus) on the activity of expression vectors that are identical except for their promoter region. The promoters examined were from the simian virus 40 early region, with or without its own 72-base-pair repeat, and the mouse beta major-globin gene. It is clear that the promoter acted upon strongly influences the level of activity of an enhancer.

Short-term, high-efficiency expression of transfected DNA

We have achieved high-efficiency uptake and expression of foreign DNA in mouse Ltk- cells by modifying the DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection method of McCutchan and Pagano (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 42:351-357, 1968) to include an initial incubation at elevated pH followed by a shock treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide. Up to 80% of mouse Ltk- cells transfected with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene expressed thymidine kinase as measured by autoradiography.

Correlation of gene expression and transformation frequency with the presence of an enhancing sequence in the transforming DNA

The transformation frequency of cultured mammalian cells is increased 10- to 100-fold when certain DNA sequences are present in the transforming DNA. We wanted to determine whether enhancers, which stimulate gene expression, can cause this phenomenon. Three plasmids, each containing a galactokinase K (galK) gene, were used to transform galK- Chinese hamster cells. One plasmid has no enhancer, another has the simian virus 40 (72-base-pair repeat) enhancer, and the third has the Harvey sarcoma virus (73-base-pair repeat) enhancer. The presence of either enhancer significantly increased the appearance of GalK+ colonies. Galactokinase transient assays in this Chinese hamster strain in the presence of the same plasmids demonstrated an increase in GalK enzyme levels when either enhancer was present. These data indicate that there is a strong correlation between galK expression and transformation frequency that is dependent on the presence of an enhancer in the transforming DNA.

Correlation of gene expression and transformation frequency with the presence of an enhancing sequence in the transforming DNA

The transformation frequency of cultured mammalian cells is increased 10- to 100-fold when certain DNA sequences are present in the transforming DNA. We wanted to determine whether enhancers, which stimulate gene expression, can cause this phenomenon. Three plasmids, each containing a galactokinase K (galK) gene, were used to transform galK- Chinese hamster cells. One plasmid has no enhancer, another has the simian virus 40 (72-base-pair repeat) enhancer, and the third has the Harvey sarcoma virus (73-base-pair repeat) enhancer. The presence of either enhancer significantly increased the appearance of GalK+ colonies. Galactokinase transient assays in this Chinese hamster strain in the presence of the same plasmids demonstrated an increase in GalK enzyme levels when either enhancer was present. These data indicate that there is a strong correlation between galK expression and transformation frequency that is dependent on the presence of an enhancer in the transforming DNA.