JPWO2015115610A1 - Expression cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is represented by the formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ], A novel expression cassette comprising the nucleotide sequence represented by the following formula, an expression induction system using the cassette, and a method for screening a candidate substance for a drug resistance inhibitor.

Description

  The present invention relates to an expression cassette that enables a novel expression induction system, a protein expression method using the same, and a method for screening candidate substances for drug resistance inhibitors.

  Currently, recombinant protein expression techniques are used in various fields. For example, in the pharmaceutical field, protein preparations such as insulin are produced by expressing them from genes introduced into E. coli or yeast. In addition, recombinant protein expression technology is also used for preparing proteins used for antibody production, protein functional analysis, protein tertiary structure analysis, and the like.

  However, when the target protein is expressed in bacteria such as Escherichia coli, cell growth may be inhibited by the function of the protein, and as a result, the target protein may not be obtained efficiently. Therefore, a system is usually used in which the expression of the target protein is induced after the bacteria have grown to some extent (Non-patent Document 1).

  For example, a system is known in which IPTG is activated during the logarithmic growth phase of bacteria to activate an IPTG-responsive promoter (such as a lac promoter) to induce protein expression. As another example, a system is known in which protein expression is induced by switching the carbon source to be used accompanying bacterial growth by culturing in a medium containing two types of carbon sources.

  Since the various expression induction systems have different principles, the expression induction period, the ratio of induced bacteria, the influence of expression induction on bacterial growth, and the like are different. For example, in the expression induction system using IPTG, protein expression is induced simultaneously in all bacteria in culture by the addition of IPTG, so that induction occurs relatively rapidly. In addition, in the expression induction system by switching the carbon source used, protein expression is sequentially induced from the bacteria that have switched the carbon source used, so that induction occurs relatively slowly. Such characteristics of each expression induction system are thought to affect the final yield of the target protein, whether it can be recovered without denaturation, and the like.

On the other hand, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a resident bacterium present in the natural environment and is a causative bacterium of opportunistic infections. It is known that resistance to drugs such as disinfectants and antibiotics is inherently high, and therefore there are fewer types of drugs that exert antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to other bacteria. Specifically, it is known that β-lactam antibacterial agents such as penicillin and cephem do not exhibit antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

  Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be easily and highly tolerated by drug exposure. For example, in wild strains, there are mutants showing resistance to new quinolone antibacterials, chloramphenicol, imipenem, etc. that exhibit antibacterial effects, and resistance to all three of these antibacterials The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains (NfxC type mutants) is a problem. The so-called “weasel play” problem of the development of such drugs and the emergence of resistant bacteria against them is a very serious problem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which originally has few effective drugs.

  The NfxC type mutant is one of the resistant bacteria often isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease of 1 in 2500 Westerners. The NfxC type mutant expresses an RND type drug efflux pump (MexEF-OprN), and as a result, is known to acquire drug resistance performance. In the mutant strain, the ORF of the mexT gene is deleted by 8 bp and the frame is shifted, and the active MexT protein (transcription factor) expressed as a result activates the expression of the RND type drug efflux pump ( Non-patent document 2).

  However, it has not been known at all whether or not the 8 bp deletion is caused by a randomly occurring deletion. Furthermore, even if some sequence is involved, what kind of sequence contributes to the 8 bp deletion, whether the deletion occurs in other organisms, and further contributes to the deletion The details of the drug resistance mechanism, such as whether a deletion occurs as long as it has the sequence to do, were not known at all.

Hiroki Higahata, “Iroha with high expression of heterologous proteins using E. coli as host,” Biotechnology Vol. 91, No. 2, pp. 96-100 FEMS Microbiology Letters, Vol.192, Issue.1, 2000, pp107-112

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel expression induction system. It is another object of the present invention to provide a protein expression method using the system.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a screening method for drug resistance inhibitor candidate substances in order to solve the so-called “weasel play” problem of drug development and the emergence of resistant bacteria. Furthermore, it aims at providing the method of performing this screening more simply and efficiently.

  The present inventors have analyzed the mechanism of drug resistance of bacteria. Surprisingly, in bacteria in general, an array of XYX and an array of XYX overlapped in X (XYXYX; hereinafter, We found that there is a rule that the non-overlapping sequence (XY) in the sequence (sometimes referred to as “overlapping direct repeat”) is deleted. The present inventors have also found that there is a rule that a base sequence represented by X-Y is inserted adjacent to the 5 'side of the sequence X-Y-X to create an overlapping direct repeat. Furthermore, by using an expression cassette comprising overlapping direct repeats or the sequence XYX, for example, using a frameshift caused by the deletion or insertion, or a change in the transcriptional activity of the promoter caused by the deletion or insertion It has also been found that the expression of the target protein can be induced using the amino acid deletion or insertion caused by the above deletion or insertion.

  Furthermore, since the deletion or insertion was a cause of drug resistance, it became clear that a candidate substance for a drug resistance inhibitor can be screened using inhibition of the deletion or insertion as an index. As a result of further research based on these findings, the present invention was completed.

  That is, the present invention includes the following aspects.

Item 1.
Formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] The expression cassette containing the base sequence shown by this.
Item 2.
The number of bases in the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (1) is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer), and the number of bases in the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (2) The expression cassette according to Item 1, wherein is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (p is an integer).
Item 3.
Item 3. The expression cassette according to Item 1 or 2, wherein an initiation codon is arranged on the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2).
Item 4.
Item 4. The expression cassette according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein a promoter is arranged on the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2).
Item 5.
The expression cassette according to any one of Items 1 to 4, wherein a promoter, a start codon, and the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2) are arranged in this order from the 5 ′ side.
Item 6.
Item 6. The expression cassette according to Item 1, comprising a promoter comprising the base sequence represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2).
Item 7.
Item 7. The expression cassette according to any one of Items 4 to 6, wherein the promoter is a stimulus-responsive promoter.
Item 8.
Item 8. The expression cassette according to any one of Items 1 to 7, wherein an ORF is arranged on the 3 ′ side of the base sequence represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2).
Item 9.
An expression vector comprising the expression cassette according to any one of Items 1 to 8.
Item 10.
In order from the 5 ′ side, formula (1): X—Y—X—Y—X (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] The protein expression method including the process of culture | cultivating the transformant containing the base sequence shown by this, and the expression cassette by which ORF is arrange | positioned.
Item 11.
The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter, an initiation codon, a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2), and an ORF are arranged in this order from the 5 ′ side,
When the base sequence represented by formula (1) is arranged,
The number of base sequences in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) Is 3n + 1 (where n is an integer), or the base number of the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula ( 1) The number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by 3) is 3n + 2 (where n is an integer),
When the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged,
The number of bases in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 2 (where p is an integer), or the base number of the base sequence between the initiation codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula ( 2) The number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by 2) is 3p + 1 (where p is an integer),
Item 11. The protein expression method according to Item 10.
Item 12.
The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which an ORF is arranged in order from the 5 ′ side, a promoter comprising the base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2),
When the promoter is deleted from the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) A promoter whose transcriptional activity is changed by inserting the base sequence represented by XY,
Item 11. The protein expression method according to Item 10.
Item 13.
Item 13. A method for producing a protein, comprising a step of recovering the protein expressed by the method according to any one of Items 10 to 12.
Item 14.
(Step a) In order from the 5 ′ side, the formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] A step of bringing a transformant containing an expression cassette in which an ORF is placed and a test substance into contact with each other,
(Step b) Base sequence represented by the above formula (1) in a transformant contacted with a test substance (test transformant) and a transformant not brought into contact with the test substance (control transformant) Deletion rate of the base sequence represented by X—Y or the rate of insertion of the base sequence represented by X—Y adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) (insertion rate) And (step c) when the deletion rate or insertion rate in the test transformant is lower than the deletion rate or insertion rate in the control transformant, the test substance is made drug resistant. Selecting as a candidate inhibitor substance,
A method for screening candidate substances for drug resistance inhibitors comprising
Item 15.
The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter, a start codon, a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2), and an ORF are arranged in order from the 5 ′ side, wherein X in the formula (1) The base number of the base sequence represented by -Y is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer), and the base number of the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (2) is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (p Item 15. The screening method according to Item 14, wherein is an integer.
Item 16.
Item 15. The screening method according to Item 14, wherein the expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter and an ORF including the base sequence represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2) are arranged in this order from the 5 ′ side.
Item 17.
Item 16. The screening method according to Item 15, wherein the number of bases in the base sequence between the initiation codon and the ORF is 3 m (where m is an integer of 3 or more).
Item 18.
In the expression cassette, the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged,
The number of base sequences in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) Item 16. The screening method according to Item 15, wherein the number of bases is 3n + 1.
Item 19.
In the expression cassette, the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged,
The number of bases in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) Item 16. The screening method according to Item 15, wherein the number of bases is 3n + 2.
Item 20.
In the expression cassette, the base sequence represented by the formula (2) is arranged,
The number of bases in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Item 16. The screening method according to Item 15, wherein the number of bases is 3p + 2.
Item 21.
In the expression cassette, the base sequence represented by the formula (2) is arranged,
The number of bases in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Item 16. The screening method according to Item 15, wherein the number of bases is 3p + 1.
Item 22.
When the promoter is deleted from the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by formula (1) or adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by formula (2), X Item 17. The screening method according to Item 16, which is a promoter whose transcriptional activity is changed by insertion of a base sequence represented by -Y.
Item 23.
Item 23. The screening method according to any one of Items 17 to 22, wherein the ORF is an ORF encoding a reporter protein.
Item 24.
Item 24. The screening method according to Item 23, wherein the deletion rate or insertion rate in step b is measured by measuring the proportion of transformants that emit reporter signals.
Item 25.
Item 23. The screening method according to any one of Items 17 to 22, wherein the ORF is an ORF encoding a drug resistance protein.
Item 26.
Item 26. The screening method according to Item 25, wherein the measurement of the deletion rate or the insertion rate in the step b is performed by measuring the proportion of transformants exhibiting drug resistance.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the expression cassette which enables a novel expression induction system, and the protein expression method using the same can be provided. This expression induction system aims at sequential deletion from bacteria where deletion of overlapping direct repeats and non-overlapping sequences occurred, or the XYX sequence was inserted adjacent to the 5 'side of the XYX base sequence. It is a system based on an unprecedented principle that protein expression occurs. Therefore, by using the expression cassette of the present invention, it becomes possible to more efficiently express a protein that could not be expressed efficiently by the conventional expression induction system. In addition, since the above deletion or insertion occurs naturally by culturing the bacterium containing the expression cassette of the present invention, it is possible to induce the expression simply and efficiently without requiring extra operations. It is.

  Further, according to the present invention, in a transformant containing an expression cassette having an overlapping direct repeat or XYX sequence, the deletion rate of non-overlapping sequences or the insertion rate of the base sequence indicated by XY is used as an index. Candidate substances for resistance inhibitors can be screened. Furthermore, drug resistance inhibitors can be screened more simply and efficiently by designing the expression cassette so that the expression level and activity of the protein from the expression cassette are changed by the deletion or the insertion. In addition, since the above deletion occurs in bacteria in general, screening can be performed using a suitable bacterium from the viewpoint of ease of handling.

  The drug-resistant candidate substance selected by the screening method of the present invention can suppress the appearance of drug-resistant strains, thus eliminating the so-called “weasel play” problem of drug development and the emergence of resistant bacteria against it. Can do.

An overlapping direct repeat (X-Y-X-Y-X) in the mexT gene is shown. A tac promoter sequence (upper part) in pMMB67EH and a modified promoter sequence (lower part) in pSdmexTCM-24bp in which the spacer region (16 bp) of the tac promoter is replaced with a longer sequence (24 bp) are shown. The construction scheme of the assay plasmid of Example 2 is shown. The analysis result of the influence which transcription efficiency has on deletion efficiency is shown (Example 5). (Example 6) which shows the expression of the fluorescent protein by deletion of the non-overlapping sequence of the overlapping direct repeats. A creation phenomenon of overlapping direct repeats is shown (Example 7).

  In the present invention, the “expression cassette” refers to a DNA region that is introduced into a cell and used for the purpose of expressing the target mRNA in the cell (transformant), or a DNA containing the DNA region is introduced into the cell. Means a DNA region capable of expressing mRNA. Hereinafter, for convenience, the former is referred to as “extracellular expression cassette (or“ isolated expression cassette ”)” and the latter as “intracellular expression cassette”.

  As long as the extracellular expression cassette is used for the above purpose, it does not need to contain elements such as a promoter and ORF. When the element is not included, it is preferable to introduce the element after inserting the element. From this viewpoint, the extracellular expression cassette preferably has a multicloning site (MCS) so that the above-described elements such as a promoter and ORF can be easily inserted. Examples of the extracellular expression cassette include a DNA region composed of a promoter, a region encoding a protein tag, and MCS for ORF insertion in various commercially available expression vectors. This DNA region does not contain an ORF, but is used by inserting the ORF into the MCS before introduction into the cell. As described above, the extracellular expression cassette includes any protein that can be used for the purpose of expressing mRNA encoding the target protein after being finally introduced into the cell even if the protein cannot be expressed as it is. The

  The intracellular expression cassette is not particularly limited as long as it meets the above definition. For example, when an extracellular expression cassette capable of expressing mRNA is introduced into a cell, the extracellular expression cassette means an intracellular expression cassette as it is. As another example, when an extracellular expression cassette not containing a promoter is introduced into a cell, and the extracellular expression cassette is incorporated downstream of the promoter in the genomic DNA of the cell, the promoter and the extracellular expression cassette are The combined DNA region means an intracellular expression cassette.

(1) Expression cassette (extracellular expression cassette)
The present invention is represented by the formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] It is related with the expression cassette containing the base sequence shown. This expression cassette is a DNA (extracellular expression cassette) used for the purpose of introducing into a cell and expressing the target mRNA in the cell (transformant). Hereinafter, this expression cassette may be referred to as “the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention”. As will be described later, by using the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention, for example, using the frame shift caused by the deletion, or utilizing the change in the transcriptional activity of the promoter caused by the deletion, the target protein Can be induced.

  In the formulas (1) and (2), X and Y are arbitrary base sequences having one or more bases, and are different from each other. The number of bases of X is 2-15, for example, preferably 2-12, more preferably 2-10, more preferably 3-9, more preferably 4-8, even more preferably 5-7, particularly preferably 6. Can be. The number of bases of Y is, for example, 2 to 15, preferably 2 to 12, more preferably 2 to 10, more preferably 2 to 5, more preferably 2 to 4, still more preferably 2 to 3, particularly preferably 2. Can be. The combination of the number of X bases and the number of Y bases (preferably the combination of the number of X bases and the number of Y bases in formula (1)) is preferably such that the number of X bases is 3 to 9 and the number of Y bases Is a combination in which the number of bases of X is 4 to 8 and the number of bases of Y is 2 to 4, more preferably, the number of bases of X is 5 to 7 and A combination in which the number of bases is 2 to 3, particularly preferably a combination in which the number of X bases is 6 and the number of Y bases is 2.

  Specific examples of the base sequence represented by the formula (1) include SEQ ID NOs: 1, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Specific examples of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) include SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 23.

  As long as the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention is introduced into a cell and used for the purpose of expressing the target mRNA in the cell (transformant), the extracellular sequence cassette other than the base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2) Other elements may be included. Examples of other elements include promoter, start codon, ORF, MCS, operator region, SD sequence and the like.

  The promoter is not particularly limited as long as it is a sequence necessary for initiation of transcription, and a known promoter can be employed. Examples thereof include stimuli-responsive promoters such as lac promoter, tac promoter, tet promoter, ara promoter and the like. Deletion efficiency of non-overlapping base sequences of overlapping direct repeats is proportional to the level of transcriptional activity, so it is possible to efficiently cause the above deletion by using a promoter with higher transcriptional activity. . In addition, when a stimuli-responsive promoter is used, the deletion can be induced by adding a substance that makes the promoter respond. By inducing the deletion in this way, it is possible to regulate the expression efficiency of the protein.

  The ORF is not particularly limited as long as it is an ORF that encodes a target protein to be expressed, and more specifically, as long as a reading frame including a codon composed of 3 bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF encodes the target protein. The codon composed of the 3 bases closest to the 5 'side of the ORF is not limited to the start codon. When the codon is not a start codon, the start codon only needs to be located 3 'to the transcription start point in the expression cassette and 5' to the ORF.

  The protein encoded by the ORF is not particularly limited, and a desired protein can be adopted. For example, modified proteins of these proteins such as enzyme proteins, structural proteins, transport proteins, storage proteins, contractile proteins, defense proteins, regulatory proteins and the like can be mentioned. Examples of the modified protein include a deletion protein in which a partial region is deleted, a protein in which amino acids are partially substituted, and the like.

  As a preferred embodiment (embodiment 1) of the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention, for example, deletion of the base sequence represented by XY in formula (1) or XY on the 5 ′ side of formula (2) Examples include an expression cassette in which a frame shift occurs due to insertion of the indicated base sequence. More specifically, for example, the number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY in formula (1) is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer, for example, an integer of 1 to 6), or formula (2 ) Is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (where p is an integer), and a start codon is arranged on the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by formula (1) An expression cassette may be mentioned. In embodiment 1, the ORF encoding the target protein (the reading frame including the codon composed of the 3 bases at the 5 ′ most side of the ORF encodes the target protein) is an ORF of the base sequence represented by the formula (1). Inserted (or arranged) on the side. In the aspect 1, preferably, a promoter is inserted (or arranged) on the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (1), more preferably in the order from the 5 ′ side, the promoter, the start codon, and the formula (1). The base sequence shown is arranged.

  In Aspect 1, the base sequence that is deleted based on the rule that the non-overlapping part of the overlapping direct repeats is deleted (the base sequence shown by XY), and the insertion on the 5 ′ side of formula (2) Since the base number of the base sequence (the base sequence shown by XY) is not a multiple of 3, the sequence on the 3 ′ side of the start codon is deleted or the sequence is 3 ′ on the start codon. When inserted, the reading frame starting from the start codon is shifted in the middle (frame shift). By utilizing this, in aspect 1, for example, by designing an expression cassette as shown in the following designs 1 and 2, it is translated in a reading frame including a codon composed of 3 bases at the 5 ′ most side of the ORF. Protein expression can be induced by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY.

  In the design 1, when the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged, the base sequence number between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula When the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by (1) is 3n + 1 and the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged, the start codon And the ORF has a base sequence number of 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more) and the base sequence of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 2 (where p is an integer). Note that m is not particularly limited as long as the ORF is translated. For example, m can be an integer of 3 to 100, preferably an integer of 3 to 50, more preferably an integer of 3 to 25, and still more preferably an integer of 3 to 15. Since the number of bases between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1, a frame shift of the ORF occurs in a state where the sequence represented by XY is not deleted or a sequence represented by XY is not inserted. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases from the third base from the 5 'end of the ORF. On the other hand, the state indicated by XY (number of bases is 3n + 1) arranged between the start codon and ORF is deleted, or the sequence indicated by XY (number of bases is 3p + 2) is inserted. In the state, the frame shift of the ORF is canceled. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF. Thus, in Design 1, a protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY. It becomes like this. In addition, when the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention does not contain an ORF, it is preferable to design a planned ORF insertion position such as MCS so that the above design is achieved when the ORF is inserted.

  In the design 2, when the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged, the base number of the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula When the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by (1) is 3n + 2 and the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged, the start codon And the ORF has a base sequence number of 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence number of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 1 (where p is an integer). Since the number of bases between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2, a frame shift of the ORF occurs in a state where the sequence represented by XY is not deleted or a sequence represented by XY is not inserted. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases from the second base from the 5 'end of the ORF. On the other hand, the state shown by XY (base number is 3n + 2) arranged between the start codon and ORF is deleted, or the sequence shown by XY (base number is 3p + 1) is inserted In the state, the frame shift of the ORF is canceled. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF. Thus, in Design 2, a protein translated in a reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY. It becomes like this. In addition, when the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention does not contain an ORF, it is preferable to design a planned ORF insertion position such as MCS so that the above design is achieved when the ORF is inserted.

  Another preferred embodiment (embodiment 2) of the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention includes, for example, an expression cassette comprising a promoter containing the base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2). In this expression cassette, there is a nucleotide sequence (base sequence represented by XY) that is deleted in the promoter, or a sequence that causes insertion of the base sequence represented by XY (formula (2)) in the promoter. ) Is present, the deletion or insertion of this sequence changes the promoter structure and changes the transcriptional activity. For example, the nucleotide sequence of a promoter element (-35 box, -10 box, other transcription activation elements) important for transcriptional activity due to the deletion of the nucleotide sequence represented by XY (and the change in the nucleotide sequence thereby) If the promoter is designed to appear, transcription activity can be increased by deleting the base sequence represented by XY. As another example, it is known that the −35 box and the −10 box are linked via a spacer sequence of about 16 to 19 bp so that transcription can be efficiently promoted. Is exemplified. Specifically, the −35 box and the −10 box are connected via a spacer sequence that is long enough to prevent transcription (for example, 20 bp or more, preferably 24 bp or more) and includes a base sequence represented by the formula (1). If the promoter is designed so that the length of the spacer sequence is about 16 to 19 bp due to the deletion of the base sequence represented by XY, the base sequence represented by XY is deleted. By doing so, transcriptional activity can be enhanced. Utilizing such a change in transcriptional activity, a protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion of the base sequence represented by XY Can be made. In addition, when the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention does not contain an ORF, it is preferable to design a planned ORF insertion position such as MCS so that the above design is achieved when the ORF is inserted.

  The extracellular expression cassette of the present invention can be easily obtained according to a known molecular biological technique. For example, it can be prepared using PCR, restriction enzyme cleavage, DNA ligation technology, and the like.

  The extracellular expression cassette of the present invention is inserted into a cell for expressing a protein of interest by inserting a promoter, an initiation codon, an ORF encoding the protein of interest, etc., if necessary, and further incorporated into an expression vector. Is done. By using in this way, for example, by utilizing the frame shift caused by the deletion of the base sequence represented by XY, or by the transcriptional activity of the promoter caused by the deletion of the base sequence represented by XY. Using the change, the expression of the target protein can be induced.

(2) Protein expression method In the present invention, in order from the 5 ′ side, the formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y are different base sequences having one or more bases. Indicates. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] The protein expression method including the process of culture | cultivating the transformant containing the base sequence shown by this, and the expression cassette by which ORF is arrange | positioned. In addition, the expression cassette of this method means the intracellular expression cassette contained in a transformant. Hereinafter, the expression cassette of the method may be referred to as the “intracellular expression cassette of the present invention”.

  The “transformant containing an expression cassette” is not particularly limited as long as it is a transformant having the intracellular expression cassette of the present invention on the genome or outside the genome (for example, on a plasmid).

  The “transformant containing an expression cassette” refers to the extracellular expression cassette of the present invention, in which a promoter, an initiation codon, an ORF encoding a target protein, etc. are inserted as necessary, and further incorporated into an expression vector. It can be obtained by introducing into a cell for expression.

  Since the law of deletion of overlapping non-overlapping sequences of direct repeats is conserved in bacteria in general, examples of organisms derived from transformants include Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Serratia, Sphingomonas) Bacteria, Brucella, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Burkholderia, Shigella, Salmonella, Acinetobacter, Vibrio choleritis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter, etc. , Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, etc.) can be widely used regardless of the type. Among these, Gram-negative bacteria and the like are preferable, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Serratia bacteria, Sphingomonas, and the like are more preferable. Is E. coli.

  The conditions of the culture are not particularly limited as long as deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY occurs in the intracellular expression cassette of the present invention. For example, it can be performed according to a known method according to the type of organism from which the transformant is derived. As an example, in the case of Escherichia coli, a method of shaking culture at about 30 to 40 ° C. in an LB liquid medium may be mentioned. The culture time is not particularly limited as long as the above deletion occurs. The culture time may be, for example, 6 to 36 hours, preferably about 10 to 24 hours.

  By such culture, deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY occurs, thereby inducing the expression of the protein translated in the reading frame including the codon composed of the 3 bases most 5 ′ of the ORF. can do. As the intracellular expression cassette, for example, by using the expression cassette according to aspect 1 (for example, designs 1 and 2) or aspect 2 described in the above “(1) expression cassette (extracellular expression cassette)”, the above can be efficiently performed. Protein expression can be induced.

  Furthermore, the protein can be produced by recovering the target protein (protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF) expressed by the above method.

  The recovery can be performed according to a known method. For example, a solution containing the target protein can be obtained by collecting transformants expressing the target protein and dissolving the transformant in an appropriate solution. Thereafter, a target protein with higher purity can be obtained through various purifications such as chromatography.

  According to the protein expression method described above, a bacterium in which a sequence of overlapping direct repeats that has not been overlapped or a XYX sequence adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the XYX sequence is inserted from the bacterium. The protein can be expressed by an unprecedented expression induction system in which expression of the target protein occurs. Therefore, by this method, it becomes possible to more efficiently express a protein that could not be expressed efficiently by the conventional expression induction system.

(3) Method for Screening Candidate Substances for Drug Resistance Inhibitors The present invention relates to a method for screening candidate substances for drug resistance inhibitors comprising steps a, b and c.

Step a
Step a is, in order from the 5 ′ side, formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] A step of bringing a transformant containing an expression cassette in which an ORF is placed and a test substance into contact with each other.

  The expression cassette in step a is an intracellular expression cassette contained in the transformant.

  In the expression cassette of step a, the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2) and the ORF are arranged in this order from the 5 'side. Both may be directly connected or may be connected via an arbitrary base sequence.

  The ORF is not particularly limited as long as it is an ORF that encodes a protein, and more specifically, as long as an open reading frame including a codon composed of 3 bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF encodes a protein. The codon composed of the 3 bases closest to the 5 'side of the ORF is not limited to the start codon. When the codon is not a start codon, the start codon only needs to be located 3 'to the transcription start point in the expression cassette and 5' to the ORF.

  The protein encoded by ORF is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include modified proteins of these proteins such as fluorescent proteins, enzyme proteins, structural proteins, transport proteins, storage proteins, contractile proteins, defense proteins, regulatory proteins, and the like. Examples of modified proteins include a deleted protein in which the N-terminal region that does not affect the function of the protein is deleted, or a protein whose function is improved (modified) by partial substitution of the amino acid. Etc. The protein encoded by the ORF is preferably a reporter protein and a drug resistant protein from the viewpoint that the measurement of the deletion rate in the below-mentioned step b can be performed more simply and efficiently.

  The reporter protein is not particularly limited as long as it is a protein that emits light (color develops) by reacting with a specific substrate or a protein that emits fluorescence by excitation light. Specific examples include fluorescent proteins such as GFP, β-galactosidase, luciferase, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, β-glucuronidase, and the like. Among these, a fluorescent protein is preferably used from the viewpoint that the measurement of the deletion rate in the step b described later can be performed more simply and efficiently.

  The drug resistant protein is not particularly limited as long as it can impart resistance to a drug such as an antibacterial drug to cells expressing it. Specifically, for example, a protein encoded by a chloramphenicol resistance gene (chloramphenicol resistance protein), a protein encoded by a tetracycline resistance gene (tetracycline resistance protein), a protein encoded by a neomycin resistance gene ( Neomycin resistance protein), protein encoded by erythromycin resistance gene (erythromycin resistance protein), protein encoded by spectinomycin resistance gene (spectinomycin resistance protein), protein encoded by kanamycin resistance gene (kanamycin resistance protein) Etc.

  The expression cassette of step a may contain other elements other than the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2) and the ORF, as necessary, in order to express mRNA from the expression cassette. Examples of other elements include a promoter, a start codon, MCS, an operator region, and an SD sequence. Among these, it is preferable that a promoter is included. The promoter is not particularly limited as long as it is a sequence necessary for initiation of transcription, and a known promoter can be employed. For example, tac promoter, tet promoter, ara promoter and the like can be mentioned. In addition, when the ORF does not include a start codon, it is preferable to include the start codon on the 5 'side of the ORF as another element.

  As a preferred embodiment of the expression cassette of step a, for example, the expression level or activity (fluorescence activity etc.) of the protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is represented by the formula ( Examples thereof include an expression cassette that changes due to deletion of the base sequence represented by XY in 1) or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY on the 5 ′ side of Formula (2). By using such an expression cassette, the deletion rate or insertion rate of the base sequence represented by XY is translated into a reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF. Can be evaluated using the expression level or activity (fluorescence activity, etc.) as an index. In particular, when the protein translated in the reading frame containing the codon composed of the 3 bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF is a fluorescent protein or a drug resistant protein, the amount of fluorescence and the appearance rate of the drug resistant strain are measured. By doing so, the deletion rate or insertion rate of the base sequence represented by XY can be measured more easily. As an aspect of such an expression cassette, for example, the base sequence represented by XY is deleted or inserted, whereby a frame shift of the ORF occurs, and the ORF is composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side. A mode (mode 3) in which a protein translated in a reading frame including a codon is expressed (or is not expressed) is exemplified. As another example, there is an embodiment (embodiment 4) in which the transcription amount from the expression cassette is changed by deleting or inserting the base sequence represented by XY. As another example, the activity of a protein translated in a reading frame including a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF by deleting or inserting the base sequence represented by XY. A mode (mode 5) in which is changed. Hereinafter, modes 3 to 5 will be described in detail.

  Aspect 3 of the expression cassette in step a is an expression cassette in which a promoter, a start codon, a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2), and an ORF are arranged in this order from the 5 ′ side. ) In which the number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer, for example, an integer of 1 to 6), or the base sequence represented by XY in formula (2) Is an expression cassette having 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (where p is an integer). In this expression cassette, a base sequence (base sequence indicated by XY) that is deleted based on the rule that the overlapping portion of the overlapping direct repeats is deleted, and on the 5 ′ side of the formula (2) Since the number of base sequences to be inserted (base sequence indicated by XY) is not a multiple of 3, the reading frame of the ORF is shifted (that is, a frame shift occurs) by deletion or insertion of this sequence. For this reason, the protein expressed from an expression cassette changes with the presence or absence of this sequence deletion or insertion. Utilizing this, in aspect 3, for example, by designing an expression cassette as shown in the following designs 3 to 5, it is translated in an open reading frame including a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF. The protein can be expressed (or not expressed) by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY.

  Design 3 is a design in which the number of base sequences between the start codon and the ORF is 3 m (where m is an integer of 3 or more). Note that m is not particularly limited as long as the ORF is translated. For example, m can be an integer of 3 to 100, preferably an integer of 3 to 50, more preferably an integer of 3 to 25, and still more preferably an integer of 3 to 15. Since the number of bases between the start codon and ORF is 3 m, the ORF frame shift does not occur in the state where the sequence represented by XY is not deleted or the sequence represented by XY is not inserted. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF. On the other hand, the state indicated by XY (base number is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2) arranged between the initiation codon and ORF is deleted, or XY (base number is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2) is inserted In the state, an ORF frame shift occurs. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of 2 bases from the 5 'end of the ORF or 3 bases from the 3rd base. Thus, in Design 3, a protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases on the 5 ′ most side of the ORF is expressed by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY. Disappear.

  In the design 4, when the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged, the base sequence number between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula When the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by (1) is 3n + 1 and the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged, the start codon And the ORF has a base sequence number of 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more) and the base sequence of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 2 (where p is an integer). Since the number of bases between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1, a frame shift of the ORF occurs in a state where the sequence represented by XY is not deleted or a sequence represented by XY is not inserted. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases from the third base from the 5 'end of the ORF. On the other hand, the state indicated by XY (number of bases is 3n + 1) arranged between the start codon and ORF is deleted, or the sequence indicated by XY (number of bases is 3p + 2) is inserted. In the state, the frame shift of the ORF is eliminated. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF. Thus, in Design 4, a protein translated in a reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY. It becomes like this.

  In the design 5, when the base sequence represented by the formula (1) is arranged, the base sequence number between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula When the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by (1) is 3n + 2 and the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged, the start codon And the ORF has a base sequence number of 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence number of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 1 (where p is an integer). Since the number of bases between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2, a frame shift of the ORF occurs in a state where the sequence represented by XY is not deleted or a sequence represented by XY is not inserted. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases from the second base from the 5 'end of the ORF. On the other hand, the state shown by XY (base number is 3n + 2) arranged between the start codon and ORF is deleted, or the sequence shown by XY (base number is 3p + 1) is inserted In the state, the frame shift of the ORF is eliminated. Therefore, the reading frame of the ORF in this state is a reading frame including a codon composed of three bases on the most 5 'side of the ORF. Thus, in Design 5, a protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion or insertion of the base sequence represented by XY. It becomes like this.

  A fourth embodiment of the expression cassette in step a includes an expression cassette in which the promoter and ORF including the base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2) are arranged in this order from the 5 'side. In this expression cassette, there is a nucleotide sequence (base sequence represented by XY) that is deleted in the promoter, or a sequence that causes insertion of the base sequence represented by XY (formula (2)) in the promoter. ) Is present, the deletion or insertion of this sequence changes the promoter structure and changes the transcriptional activity. For example, a promoter designed such that the base sequence represented by XY constitutes all or part of a promoter element (-35 box, -10 box, other transcription activation elements) important for transcription activity. For example, transcription activity can be reduced by deletion of the base sequence represented by XY. As another example, it is known that the −35 box and the −10 box are linked via a spacer sequence of about 16 to 19 bp so that transcription can be efficiently promoted. Is exemplified. Specifically, the −35 box and the −10 box are connected via a spacer sequence that is long enough to prevent transcription (for example, 20 bp or more, preferably 24 bp or more) and includes a base sequence represented by the formula (1). If the promoter is designed so that the length of the spacer sequence is about 16 to 19 bp due to the deletion of the base sequence represented by XY, the base sequence represented by XY is deleted. By doing so, transcriptional activity can be enhanced. Utilizing such a change in transcriptional activity, a protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is expressed by deletion of the base sequence represented by XY (Or prevent it from appearing).

  Aspect 5 of the expression cassette in step a includes an expression cassette in which an ORF including a promoter and a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2) is arranged in this order from the 5 'side. In this expression cassette, there is a base sequence (base sequence indicated by XY) that is deleted in the ORF, or a sequence that causes insertion of the base sequence indicated by XY in the ORF (formula (2)) ), The deletion or insertion of this sequence changes the activity of the protein encoded by the ORF. This change in activity may occur without a frame shift. For example, it is known that fluorescence activity disappears when an amino acid is inserted into a specific site in a fluorescent protein such as EGFP.

  The “transformant containing an expression cassette” in step a is not particularly limited as long as it is a transformant having the expression cassette on the genome or outside the genome (for example, on a plasmid).

  Since the law of deletion of overlapping non-overlapping sequences of direct repeats is conserved in bacteria in general, examples of organisms derived from transformants include Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Serratia, Sphingomonas) Bacteria, Brucella, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Burkholderia, Shigella, Salmonella, Acinetobacter, Vibrio choleritis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter, etc. , Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, etc.) can be widely used regardless of the type. Among these, Gram negative bacteria etc. are mentioned preferably, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Serratia bacteria, Sphingomonas etc. are mentioned more preferably, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli etc. are mentioned more preferably.

  A transformant containing an expression cassette can be easily obtained according to a known molecular biological technique. For example, it can be obtained by introducing an extracellular expression cassette prepared using PCR, restriction enzyme cleavage, DNA ligation technique, etc. into bacteria according to a known method.

  The test substance is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a compound such as a low molecular compound or a high molecular compound (including biopolymer compounds such as peptides, proteins and sugar chains). Moreover, the composition which mixed not only the refined compound but various compounds, and the extract of animals and plants can also be used.

  The method for bringing the transformant containing the expression cassette into contact with the test substance may be any method as long as they are in contact with each other. A typical example is a method of mixing a test substance with a solution containing a transformant containing an expression cassette (such as a culture solution).

  After such contact, it is preferable to further culture the transformant containing the expression cassette. By culturing a transformant containing the expression cassette, the deletion rate of the base sequence represented by XY in the expression cassette is increased. Accordingly, it is easy to detect a decrease in the deletion rate due to the test substance. Culturing can be performed according to a known method according to the type of organism from which the transformant is derived. For example, in the case of Escherichia coli, a method of shaking culture at about 30 to 40 ° C. in an LB liquid medium can be mentioned. The culture time is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 6 to 36 hours, preferably about 10 to 24 hours.

Step b
Step b is a base sequence represented by the formula (1) in a transformant contacted with a test substance (test transformant) and a transformant not brought into contact with the test substance (control transformant) Deletion rate of the base sequence represented by X—Y or the rate of insertion of the base sequence represented by X—Y adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) (insertion rate) ).

  The test transformant is a transformant containing the expression cassette brought into contact with the test substance in the above step a. A control transformant is a transformant containing the expression cassette not contacted with a test substance. The control transformant is preferably subjected to the same treatment as the test transformant except that it is not contacted with the test substance.

  The method for measuring the deletion rate or insertion rate of the base sequence represented by XY is not particularly limited as long as it is a method that can evaluate the change in the deletion rate or insertion rate due to contact with the test substance. For example, the following method is mentioned. First, the test transformant group and the control transformant group (the transformant in which the base sequence represented by XY is deleted or inserted, and the sequence is not deleted) Alternatively, DNA containing an expression cassette is extracted from a mixture of inserted transformants) and digested with an appropriate restriction enzyme. Next, this digested fragment is developed on a gel by electrophoresis. Finally, a band on the gel that appears due to the deletion or insertion of the base sequence indicated by XY (the digested fragment band shortened or lengthened by the number of bases of the base sequence indicated by XY) The ratio of transformants in which the base sequence represented by XY is deleted or inserted in the transformant population, that is, the deletion rate or the insertion rate can be measured. it can.

  As a preferred embodiment, the expression level of the protein translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF as the expression cassette of step a is the base sequence represented by XY. By using an expression cassette (such as embodiments 3 to 5) that changes due to deletion, the deletion rate can be more easily measured using the expression level as an index. For example, the following method is mentioned. First, from each of the test transformant group and the control transformant group, a fraction containing a protein to be translated in an open reading frame containing a codon composed of 3 bases on the 5 ′ most side of the ORF is extracted. Next, this fraction is developed on a gel by electrophoresis, and then Western blotting is performed with an antibody capable of specifically detecting the protein. Finally, by measuring the intensity of the band detected by Western blot, the proportion of transformants in which the base sequence represented by XY is deleted or inserted in the population of transformants, that is, lacking. Loss rate or insertion rate can be measured.

  In the above preferred embodiment, when the protein translated in the reading frame containing the codon composed of the 3 bases at the most 5 ′ side of the ORF is a fluorescent protein or a drug resistant protein, the amount of fluorescence or the appearance of a drug resistant strain appears. By measuring the rate, the deletion rate or insertion rate of the base sequence represented by XY can be measured more easily. For example, when a drug resistant protein is employed, the measurement can be performed as follows. First, each of the test transformant population and the control transformant population is plated on a solid medium (such as an agar medium) containing a drug. Next, by measuring the number of colonies (drug resistant strains) appearing on the medium, the ratio of transformants in which the base sequence represented by XY is deleted or inserted in the population of transformants That is, the deletion rate or insertion rate can be measured.

  Techniques (DNA extraction, restriction enzyme digestion, electrophoresis, protein extraction, western blotting, acquisition of drug resistant strains and measurement of the number thereof) used for the above-described deletion rate or insertion rate measurement method can be performed according to known methods. it can.

Process c
Step c selects the test substance as a drug resistance inhibitor candidate substance when the deletion rate or insertion rate in the test transformant is lower than the deletion rate or insertion rate in the control transformant. It is a process.

  The determination of “low” may be made based on a certain standard, for example, a statistical standard. Specifically, a method of determining a significant difference when the p value is obtained by measuring a plurality of times and the p value is not more than a certain value, for example, not more than 0.05, may be mentioned. As a result of the determination, if there is a significant difference, the test substance is selected.

  The test substance selected in step c is a phenomenon called “deletion of non-overlapping sequence (base sequence indicated by XY) of overlapping direct repeats”, which is the cause of drug resistance, or XY— Since it is a substance selected using as an index the inhibition of the rule that a base sequence represented by XY is inserted adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the sequence X and an overlapping direct repeat is created, drug resistance It is useful as a candidate substance for inhibitor of anti-oxidation, particularly as a candidate substance for inhibiting drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The obtained drug resistance inhibitor candidate substance may be further subjected to screening for drug resistance inhibitors.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. The expression vectors shown below were prepared according to a known genetic engineering technique.

Example 1. Analysis of drug resistance mechanism The NfxC type mutant strain, which is a drug resistant bacterium, expresses an RND type drug efflux pump (MexEF-OprN), and as a result, it is known to acquire drug resistance performance. In the mutant strain, the ORF of the mexT gene is deleted by 8 bp and the frame is shifted, and the active MexT protein (transcription factor) expressed as a result activates the expression of the RND type drug efflux pump ( Non-patent document 2). However, it has not been known at all whether the deletion of 8 bp necessarily occurs or whether deletion of 6 bp or 7 bp can also occur. Therefore, the mechanism of the deletion was examined.

1-1. Discovery of overlapping direct repeats When analyzing the vicinity of the sequence where deletion occurs in the NfxC type mutant in the wild-type mexT gene sequence, the sequences XYX and XYX as shown in Fig. An overlapping sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1, overlapping direct repeat) was found. It was found that the non-overlapping sequence (XY) in this overlapping direct repeat was deleted in the NfxC type mutant (FIG. 1).

  From these findings, it was inferred that there is a rule that if there are overlapping direct repeats, the non-overlapping sequences are deleted.

1-2. Demonstration test of deletion of non-overlapping sequences of overlapping direct repeats The above demonstration test was conducted. As a summary, E. coli was produced for the first time by the deletion of the non-overlapping portion, and as a result, the drug resistance gene was expressed, and the presence or absence of the deletion was examined by measuring the drug resistance of the E. coli. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  First, the pMMB67EH vector was modified so that a chloramphenicol resistance gene was inserted into the MCS of the vector and a Psi I site was introduced into the promoter region of the gene (the plasmid name after modification was “pSCm” ). Next, the pSCm vector is cleaved at the Psi I site, and a synthetic nucleic acid is inserted into the cleaved site using the In-fusion HD Cloning Kit (Clontech), whereby −35 of the tac promoter upstream of the chloramphenicol resistance gene. The spacer region between the box and the -10 box was modified so as to be a 24 bp sequence (sequence 1: Table 1) in which 2 bp (CT) was added to the 22 bp direct repeat of the mexT gene (Fig. 2, Table 1). The modified plasmid name is “pSdmexTCM-24bp”). Separately from this, the spacer region is a sequence in which the non-overlapping sequence (CGGCCAGC) in the direct repeat overlapped in sequence 1 is deleted (sequence 2 (16 bp): Table 1). Sequence with 1 bp (G) added to the end (sequence 3 (17 bp): Table 1), or sequence 2 with 2 bp (GA) added to the 5 'end (sequence 4 (18 bp): Table 1) The plasmid modified so as to have the above was also prepared in the same manner as pSdmexTCM-24bp (Table 1).

  In pSdmexTCM-24bp, the sequence between the -35 box and the -10 box is too long, so that transcription does not occur, and as a result, the chloramphenicol resistance gene downstream of the promoter is not expressed, whereas pSdmexTCM- Since 16 bp, 17 bp, and 18 bp have a normal sequence length between the −35 box and the −10 box, a chloramphenicol resistance gene is expected to be expressed. In order to confirm this, these four types of plasmids were introduced into E. coli DH5α according to a standard method, and then the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chloramphenicol against these E. coli was measured according to the standard method. The results are shown in Table 2. As shown in Table 2, as expected, Escherichia coli introduced with pSdmexTCM-24bp had extremely low resistance to chloramphenicol, whereas Escherichia coli introduced with pSdmexTCM-16bp, 17bp, and 18bp acquired resistance.

  Next, E. coli into which pSdmexTCM-24bp was introduced was inoculated into 5 mL of a liquid medium (1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0, 0.5 mM IPTG) and cultured at 37 ° C. for 16 hours. The culture solution was diluted 1/100, and 100 μL of the diluted solution was added to agar medium containing chloramphenicol (10 μg / mL chloramphenicol, 1.5% agar, 1% Tryptone, 0.5%) on a 10 cm dish. Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0, 0.5 mM IPTG) and control agar medium (a composition in which chloramphenicol is removed from chloramphenicol-containing agar medium, or 50 μg / mL CAR instead of chloramphenicol) Having a composition containing) and culturing at 37 ° C. for 22 hours. After the cultivation, the appearance frequency of the chloramphenicol resistant strain was calculated from the number of colonies that appeared in each of the chloramphenicol-containing agar medium and the control agar medium. Furthermore, 100 colonies were picked up at random, and FASMAC was requested to sequence DNA extracted from the colonies according to a standard method, and the sequence between -35 box and -10 box was determined.

As a result, chloramphenicol resistant strains appeared at a frequency of 1.28 × 10 ⁻³ %. In addition, the sequence between the -35 box and the -10 box is sequence 2 in all 100 colonies, that is, a sequence in which the non-overlapping sequence (CGGCCAGC) in the direct repeat overlapped in the original sequence (sequence 1) is deleted. Met. From the above, it was shown that there is a rule that if there are overlapping direct repeats, the non-overlapping sequences are deleted. In addition, since DH5α introduced with pSdmexTCM-24bp in Table 2 (not subjected to liquid culture) does not show resistance to chloramphenicol, the above deletion is caused by liquid culture of E. coli introduced with pSdmexTCM-24bp. It was suggested that this was a natural occurrence.

Example 2 Preservability in the general bacteria of the rule that the overlapping non-overlapping sequences of the direct repeats are deleted It was investigated whether the law shown in Example 1 above occurs in general bacteria. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  First, an assay plasmid was constructed according to the scheme shown in FIG. From the 5 ′ side, GAATTC (EcoR I site), 19 bp sequence (CCTGGAAACGAGGAACGCC), and sequence from the start codon of the mexT gene derived from the genomic DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild strain to the sal I site of the gene (SEQ ID NO: 6 (Including overlapping direct repeats) and a sequence (fragment 1), from the 5 'side, GTCGAC (Sal I site), one codon from the codon next to the ORF start codon of the chloramphenicol resistance gene The sequence up to the previous codon, the sequence encoding 6 × His tag, the TAA (end codon), and the sequence (fragment 2) linked by AAGCTT (Hind III site), and EcoR I site of MCS of pMMB67EH vector The Hind III site, and the Sal I site at the 3 ′ end of fragment 1 and the Sal I site at the 5 ′ end of fragment 2 were introduced in the state of being ligated into the MCS of the vector (for E. coli or Serratia fungus assay) vector). Since the number of bases between the start codon of fragment 1 and the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene of fragment 2 is 635 bp (3m + 2), the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene is not translated in the normal reading frame. If a frame shift occurs due to deletion of the overlapping non-overlapping sequence (8 bp (3n + 2)) in fragment 1, the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene is translated in the normal reading frame. Will be. Furthermore, the Escherichia coli or Serratia bacteria assay vector obtained above was treated with EcoR I and Hind III to cut out the ligation sequence of fragment 1 and fragment 2, and the ligation sequence was introduced into MCS of pVLT33 (Sphingomonas bacterium). Assay vector).

  Next, Escherichia coli or a Serratia bacteria assay vector was introduced into Escherichia coli according to a conventional method. The bacterium was inoculated into 5 mL of a liquid medium (1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0, 1 mM IPTG) and cultured at 37 ° C. for 16 hours. The culture solution was diluted to 1/1000, and 100 μL of the diluted solution was added to agar medium containing chloramphenicol (5 μg / mL chloramphenicol, 1.5% agar, 1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast) on a 10 cm dish. extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0, 1 mM IPTG) and control agar medium (chloramphenicol-containing agar medium excluding chloramphenicol, or 50 μg / mL CAR instead of chloramphenicol) And cultured at 37 ° C. for 22 hours.

  Experiments were also conducted on Serratia marcescens and Sphingomonas paucimobilis in the same manner as described above.

  If the law shown in Example 1 above is preserved in each bacterium, an 8 bp deletion should occur during the culture of the bacterium, and a chloramphenicol resistant strain should appear.

  As a result of the culture, colonies (chloramphenicol resistant strains) appeared for all of Escherichia coli, Serratia bacteria, and Sphingomonas bacteria. Furthermore, as a result of sequencing of DNA extracted from each colony according to a conventional method, it was confirmed that the sequence (8 bp) where the overlapping direct repeats did not overlap was surely deleted in each colony. From the above, it was shown that the law shown in Example 1 was preserved in general bacteria.

Example 3 Search for overlapping direct repeats in various organisms We searched for overlapping direct repeats in the genomes of various organisms. In this search, “overlapping direct repeat” is a sequence α ′ (6 bases) in which an arbitrary sequence α (8 bases or more) (for example, ABCDEFGH) is followed twice and then the 3 ′ base of α is deleted. The above is defined as a sequence consisting of ααα ′ followed by (for example, ABCDEF). Table 3 shows the search results.

  As shown in Table 3, it was clarified that overlapping direct repeats exist not only in bacteria such as Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria but also in eukaryotes.

Example 4 Analysis of Overlapping Direct Repeats Derived from Various Organisms It was examined whether or not deletion of non-overlapping sequences occurred from the overlapping direct repeats found in Example 3. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  First, an assay plasmid was constructed. From the 5 ′ side, GAATTC (EcoRI site), 19 bp sequence (CCTGGAAACGAGGAACGCC), start codon, CTGCAG (PstI site), GCGGCCGC, based on the “Escherichia coli or Serratia fungus assay vector” obtained in Example 2 (Not I site), GTCGAC (Sal I site), the sequence from the codon next to the start codon of the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene to the codon before the end codon, a sequence encoding 6 × His tag, A sequence in which TAA (end codon) and AAGCTT (Hind III site) were linked was obtained. This sequence was inserted between the EcoR I site and Hind III site of MCS of the pMMB67EH vector using a restriction enzyme site. The obtained vector (pLCM) was cleaved with Pst I and Sal I, and from there, CTGCAG (Pst I site), any of sequences 5 to 9 in Table 4 below, and GTCGAC (Sal I site) The fragment obtained by cleaving the ligated sequence with Pst I and Sal I was inserted to obtain an assay plasmid. Since the number of bases of sequences 5 to 9 is “multiple of 3 + 2”, the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene of the expression cassette is not translated in a normal reading frame, but overlapped in sequences 5 to 9 If a frameshift occurs due to deletion of a non-overlapping sequence (8 bp), the ORF of the chloramphenicol resistance gene is translated in a normal reading frame.

  Next, the assay plasmid was introduced into E. coli according to a standard method. The E. coli was plated and cultured on a chloramphenicol-containing agar medium in the same manner as in Example 1. The frequency of appearance of the chloramphenicol resistant strain was calculated from the number of colonies that appeared after the cultivation (colony of chloramphenicol resistant strain). Furthermore, 10 colonies were picked up at random, and DNA extracted from the colonies according to a conventional method was sequenced to identify the deleted sequence.

  The frequency of appearance of resistant strains is as shown in Table 5. In addition, as a result of sequencing, it was confirmed that the non-overlapping sequence (sequence indicated by the underline of “Sequence” in Table 4) in the overlapping direct repeats was deleted in all colonies. From the above, it has been shown that even in the case of overlapping direct repeats derived from various organisms, deletion of non-overlapping sequences occurs in the same manner as the repeats derived from the mexT gene.

Example 5. Analysis of the effect of transcriptional activity on deletion efficiency The effect of transcriptional activity on deletion efficiency was analyzed. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  From the genomic DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild strain, PCR using a primer set (mexT1-Bam (SEQ ID NO: 16) and mexT2-Hin (SEQ ID NO: 17)) with a restriction enzyme site was added to the mexT gene (overlapping direct). DNA fragment containing (including repeats) was amplified. The restriction enzyme site derived from the primer of the fragment was cleaved, and the obtained fragment was ligated downstream of the tac promoter of pMMB67EH to obtain an assay plasmid. The assay plasmid was introduced into Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1S-Lac).

  Since there are overlapping direct repeats in the mexT gene of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa assay plasmid, the active MexT protein translated in the normal reading frame is not expressed from the gene. However, if a frameshift occurs due to deletion of the non-overlapping sequence (8 bp) in the direct repeat, an active MexT protein that is translated in the normal reading frame is expressed, thereby causing RND-type drug excretion. The pump develops (ie drug resistance is acquired). On the other hand, since the tac promoter upstream of the mexT gene is positively regulated by IPTG, transcription activity can be regulated by the presence or absence of IPTG addition. Therefore, the effect of transcriptional activity on deletion efficiency can be examined by comparing the appearance rate of drug-resistant strains when IPTG is not added (transcriptional activity is low) and when IPTG is added (transcriptional activity is high). it can.

  Inoculate Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the assay plasmid into a liquid medium containing 2 mM IPTG (1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0), or 5 mL of liquid medium without IPTG, and 37 ° C. For 14 hours. The culture solution was diluted 1/10, and 100 μL of the diluted solution was added to agar medium containing chloramphenicol (500 μg / mL chloramphenicol, 1.5% agar, 1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast) on a 10 cm dish. extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0, 0 or 2 mM IPTG) and control agar medium (chloramphenicol-containing agar medium without chloramphenicol, or 150 μg / mL CAR instead of chloramphenicol) And has been cultured at 37 ° C. for 24 hours. From the obtained number of colonies, the appearance rate of the drug resistant strain (NfxC mutant) was determined. On the other hand, RNA was extracted from 100 μL of liquid culture solution, and the transcription amount of mexT gene was measured by real-time PCR.

  The results are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, it has been clarified that the deletion efficiency increases as the transcription amount (transcription activity) increases by adding IPTG.

Example 6 Expression of fluorescent protein due to deletion of non-overlapping sequences of overlapping direct repeats First, in the EGFP expression vector, create direct repeats that overlap within the ORF of EGFP, insert this ORF into the vector for Pseudomonas aeruginosa assay, An assay plasmid was obtained. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  MCS (SEQ ID NO: 18) of pEGFP-C3 (Clontech) was removed by inverse PCR, and a 9-bp sequence (agcggccgc) containing Not I site was inserted at the position where MCS was removed. Insert a sequence consisting of tgaccaccc from the 5 ′ side adjacent to the upstream of the 14 bp sequence (SEQ ID NO: 19) in the EGFP ORF, and combine the 14 bp sequences to overlap the direct repeat (SEQ ID NO: 20). Created. The EGFP ORF thus modified was cloned into pMMB67EH at the EcoR I-Hind III site. At this time, a ribosome binding site + 8 bp sequence (SEQ ID NO: 21) of pET21 (a) was inserted adjacent to the upstream of the initiation codon of EGFP ORF. The resulting assay plasmid was introduced into Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

  A 9-bp sequence (tgaccaccc) is inserted into the EGFP ORF of the above-described assay plasmid. As a result, the EGFP expressed from the ORF has collapsed the three-dimensional structure of the active center, and thus does not show fluorescence. However, if the non-overlapping sequence (9 bp) in the overlapping direct repeat (SEQ ID NO: 20) created by the insertion of the 9 bp sequence is deleted, normal EGFP protein is expressed.

  Pseudomonas aeruginosa introduced with the assay plasmid was inoculated into 5 mL of a liquid medium (1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, 2 mM IPTG, pH 7.0) and cultured at 37 ° C. for 14 hours. Dilute the culture to 1/100000 and place 100 μL of the diluted solution on an agar medium (1.5% agar, 1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, 2 mM IPTG, pH 7.0) on a 10 cm dish. And cultured at 37 ° C. for 24 hours. After incubation, the dishes were observed with a blue LED transilluminator (Optbord, LEDB-SBOXH) (excitation wavelength: 470 nm, using the attached orange filter).

  The results are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the expression of fluorescent protein (one colony shining down in FIG. 5) due to the deletion of the overlapping non-overlapping sequences of the direct repeats could be observed. As a result of sequencing, it was confirmed that the non-overlapping sequence (tgaccaccc) in the overlapping direct repeat was deleted.

Example 7. Discovery of the creation of overlapping direct repeats In some clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, non-overlapping sequences in the overlapping direct repeats are deleted and the active MexT protein is expressed. Nevertheless, there are strains that do not show the NfxC type phenotype. In such strains, it has been clarified that the MexS protein suppresses the active MexT protein and exhibits a wild type phenotype.

  Therefore, it was examined whether NfxC type mutants appeared from the clinical isolates as described above by further mutation. Specifically, it was performed as follows.

  5 mL of the above clinical isolate (8380 strain: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Vol. 39, No. 3, p645-649, 1995.) in liquid medium (1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, pH 7.0) And inoculated at 37 ° C. for 15 hours. 100 μL of the culture solution was plated on an agar medium (1.5% agar, 1% Tryptone, 0.5% Yeast extract, 0.5% NaCl, 800 μg / mL chloramphenicol, pH 7.0) on a 10 cm dish at 37 ° C. For 20 hours. Since NfxC type mutants are highly resistant to chloramphenicol, the colonies obtained by this culture are considered to be NfxC type mutants that emerged from the above clinical isolates.

As a result, it became clear that NfxC type mutants appeared at a rate of 2.1 × 10 ⁻⁵ %. As a result of sequencing, all of the NfxC type mutants showed mutations in the mexS gene. This revealed that MexS was mutated and could not suppress the functional MexT, so that the MexEF-OprN drug efflux pump was expressed, indicating an NfxC type phenotype.

  Interestingly, in the NfxC type mutants that appeared, nucleotide sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 25) were inserted immediately upstream of specific sequences within the mexS gene (SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 23). Thus, it was clarified that MexS lost its function by creating an overlapping direct repeat sequence (SEQ ID NOs: 26 and 27) (FIG. 6).

Claims (15)

Formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] The expression cassette containing the base sequence shown by this. The number of bases in the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (1) is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer), and the number of bases in the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (2) The expression cassette according to claim 1, wherein is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (where p is an integer). The expression cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an initiation codon and / or promoter is arranged on the 5 'side of the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2). The expression cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a promoter, a start codon, and the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2) are arranged in this order from the 5 'side. The expression cassette according to claim 1, comprising a promoter comprising the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2). The expression cassette according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the promoter is a stimulus-responsive promoter. The expression cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an ORF is arranged on the 3 'side of the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or the formula (2). An expression vector comprising the expression cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 7. In order from the 5 'side, formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] ] The protein expression method including the process of culture | cultivating the transformant containing the base sequence shown by this, and the expression cassette by which ORF is arrange | positioned. The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter, an initiation codon, a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2), and an ORF are arranged in this order from the 5 ′ side,
When the base sequence represented by formula (1) is arranged,
The number of base sequences in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) Is 3n + 1 (where n is an integer), or the base number of the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula ( 1) The number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by 3) is 3n + 2 (where n is an integer),
When the base sequence represented by formula (2) is arranged,
The number of bases in the base sequence between the start codon and the ORF is 3m + 1 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (2) Is 3p + 2 (where p is an integer), or the base number of the base sequence between the initiation codon and the ORF is 3m + 2 (where m is an integer of 3 or more), and the formula ( 2) The number of bases of the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by 2) is 3p + 1 (where p is an integer),
The protein expression method according to claim 9. The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which an ORF is arranged in order from the 5 ′ side, a promoter comprising the base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2),
When the promoter is deleted from the base sequence represented by XY in the base sequence represented by the formula (1) or adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) A promoter whose transcriptional activity is changed by inserting the base sequence represented by XY,
The protein expression method according to claim 9. The manufacturing method of protein including the process of collect | recovering the protein expressed with the method in any one of Claims 9-11. (Step a) In order from the 5 ′ side, the formula (1): XYXYX (1) [wherein X and Y represent different base sequences having one or more bases. ] Or formula (2): XYX (2) [wherein X and Y are the same as defined above.] A step of bringing a transformant containing an expression cassette in which an ORF is placed and a test substance into contact with each other,
(Step b) Base sequence represented by the above formula (1) in a transformant contacted with a test substance (test transformant) and a transformant not brought into contact with the test substance (control transformant) Deletion rate of the base sequence represented by X—Y or the rate of insertion of the base sequence represented by X—Y adjacent to the 5 ′ side of the base sequence represented by the formula (2) (insertion rate) And (step c) when the deletion rate or insertion rate in the test transformant is lower than the deletion rate or insertion rate in the control transformant, the test substance is made drug resistant. Selecting as a candidate inhibitor substance,
A method for screening candidate substances for drug resistance inhibitors comprising The expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter, a start codon, a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2), and an ORF are arranged in order from the 5 ′ side, wherein X in the formula (1) The base number of the base sequence represented by -Y is 3n + 1 or 3n + 2 (where n is an integer), and the base number of the base sequence represented by XY in the formula (2) is 3p + 1 or 3p + 2 (p Is a whole number). The screening method according to claim 13, wherein the expression cassette is an expression cassette in which a promoter and an ORF including a base sequence represented by formula (1) or formula (2) are arranged in this order from the 5 'side.

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