Genetic approaches such as retrovirus-mediated mutagenesis and cDNA expression libraries have contributed greatly to our understanding of signal transduction in mammalian cells. However, previously described methods for retroviral insertional mutagenesis are hindered by low mutagenesis rates and diculties in cloning mutated genes. cDNA expression library methods are usually celltype dependent and bias towards abundant and short messages. With the near completion of the genome projects, alternative genetic methods are needed where large numbers of genes can be more easily isolated and biochemically studied. We have developed a novel retrovirus-mediated genetic screening method in cultured cells. To achieve ecient and regulated mutagenesis, we constructed Enhanced Retroviral Mutagen (ERM) vectors that contained several engineered sequences (e.g., an ERM Tag and a splice donor) controlled by a tetracycline-responsive promoter. Endogenous genes can thus be randomly activated and tagged in a conditional system. NIH3T3 cells were used to screen for focusforming genes using the ERM strategy. We showed that these added sequences increased the screening eciency by 410-fold, and allowed more direct identi®cation of the genes targeted. Sequence analysis of *10% of the 4600 focus clones recovered revealed both known oncogenes and novel factors such as protein kinases and GTP/GDP exchange proteins. The ERM strategy should help to facilitate large-scale gene identi®cation in diverse pathways and integrate both genetic (with the completion of the genome projects) and functional information more readily. Oncogene (2000) 19, 5964 ± 5972.
The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is a high-capacity C-type lectin receptor mainly expressed on mammalian hepatic cells. The physiological function of ASGPR has not been completely clarified and is thought to be specific binding and internalization of galactose (Gal) or N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-terminating glycoproteins by hepatocytes. The human ASGPR is comprised of two homologous polypeptides, H1 and H2. ASGPR H1 has two splice variants (H1a and H1b) and ASGPR H2 has three splice variants (H2a, H2b, and H2c). These variants have been discovered to exist both in human liver tissues and in human hepatoma cells. Variant H1b, which has an in-frame deletion of exon 2 resulting in the loss of the transmembrane domain and is secreted as a soluble protein, encodes functional soluble ASGPR (s- ASGPR). Based on our previous results, we proposed the possible physiological function of s-ASGPR, which is well interpreted in the Galactosyl Homeostasis Hypothesis proposed by Weigel. ASGPR is one of the most promising targets for hepatic delivery. In this review, the recent progresses of cationic polysomes and liposomes as effective non-viral delivery system via ASGPR are also presented.
miR-146a is an immunoregulatory microRNA closely associated with viral infection. This study investigated the expression changes of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients and the mechanism by which the THP-1 cells were stimulated with HCV core protein in vitro. It was found that in the peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients, miR-146a expression was upregulated. After treated by interferon/ribavirin, miR-146a expression was decreased when HCV RNA became undetectable. HCV core could directly stimulate THP-1 cells to produce miR-146a. Silencing TLR2 and MyD88 could significantly inhibit the expression of miR-146a. It was concluded that the expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients was abnormally increased. The TLR2-MyD88 signaling pathway may take part in the overexpression of miR-146a in monocytes stimulated with HCV core protein.
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