scholarly journals A simplified method to produce mRNAs and functional proteins from synthetic double-stranded DNA templates

BioTechniques ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-288
Author(s):  
John T Tossberg ◽  
Tashawna M Esmond ◽  
Thomas M Aune

We present a method to synthesize mRNAs from synthetic DNA templates that produce biologically active proteins. To illustrate utility, we constructed five unique synthetic DNA templates, produced mRNAs and demonstrated biologic activity of their translated proteins. Examples include secreted luciferase, enhanced green fluorescence protein, IL-4, and IL-12A and IL-12B to form active IL-12. We propose that this method offers a cost- and time-saving alternative to plasmid-based cloning.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Xu ◽  
Yue-Ying Jiao ◽  
Yuan-Hui Fu ◽  
Nan Jiang ◽  
Yuan-Bo Zheng ◽  
...  

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single most important cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children and a major viral agent responsible for respiratory tract disease in immunosuppressed individuals and the elderly, but no vaccines and antiviral drugs are available. Herein the recombinant RSV (rRSV) encoding enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP, rRSV-EGFP) was constructed and the potential for screening anti-RSV drugs was investigated. The recombinant plasmid of pBRATm-rRSV-EGFP, containing T7 transcription cassette composed of T7 promoter, RSV antigenomic cDNA with EGFP gene, HDV ribozyme (δ), and T7 terminator in the order of 5′ to 3′, was constructed and cotransfected into BHK/T7-9 cells together with helper plasmids encoding N, P, L, and M2-1 gene, respectively. The rescued rRSV-EGFP was confirmed by increasing expression of EGFP over blind passages and by RT-PCR. rRSV-EGFP was comparable to the other two recombinant RSVs encoding red fluorescent protein (RFP, rRSV-RFP) or luciferase (Luc, rRSV-Luc) in the growth kinetic, and there was a difference in sensitivity between them for screening anti-RSV agents based on infection of HEp-2 cells. The EGFP-encoding rRSV has been constructed and rescued successfully and has the potential for high-throughput anti-RSV drug screening in vitro.


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