Part:BBa_K404107

Beta-Globin-Intron

Usage and Biology

beta-globin intron
BioBrick Nr.	BBa_K404107
RFC standard	RFC 10
Requirement	pSB1C3
Source	pAAV_MCS
Submitted by	[http://2010.igem.org/Team:Freiburg_Bioware FreiGEM 2010]

Providing an element assumed to be an enhancer of transgene expression (Nott, Meislin, & Moore, 2003), the iGEM team Freiburg presents a beta-globin intron derived from the human beta globin gene which can be fused upstream of the desired gene of interest.
Introns are non-coding sequences that are spliced after gene transcription. Apart from the possibility of alternative splicing which leads to an increased variability of translated proteins from one single gene, additional functions of introns have been found. They regulate and enhance gene expression at multiple levels such as initiating transcription, gene editing and polyadenylation of pre-mRNA (Nott, Le Hir, & Moore, 2004).In Valencia, Dias, & Reed (2008) the authors described the influence of splicing transgenes containing one intron at the 5´ and 3´ position, respectively. They demonstrated that splicing promotes the nuclear export of mRNA and that the spliceosome is cross-coupled to the mRNA export machinery.

Characterization

The BioBrick part beta-globin intron consists partially of a chimeric CMV promoter, followed by the intron II of the beta-globin gene. The 3´end of the intron is fused to the first 20 nucleotides of exon 3 of the beta globin gene. Our BioBrick part beta globin intron is assumed to enhance eukaryotic gene expression.
AAV-293 cells were transfected with all genes necessary for producing viral particles encapsidating two different rAAV genomes with and without beta-globin intron respectively. mVenus expression was determined by flow cytometry 24-hours post infection of HT1080 cells. The rAAV genomes missing the beta-globin intron showed a negligible difference in mVenus expression compared to viral genomes containing the beta-globin intron. Considering these results, we suggest using the beta-globin intron in dependence on the size of your transgene.

Figure 9: Flow cytometry analysis of vectorplasmids without (left) and with (right) beta-globin intron. For viral particle production, AAV-293 cells were transfected with the reassembled vector plasmid (BBa_K404119) or the reference plasmid, respectively. A: Gating non transduced cells (control); subcellular debris and cellular aggreates can be distinguished from single cells by size, estimated forward scatter (FS Lin) and granularity, estimated side scatter (SS Lin) B: Non-transduced cells plotted against cells expressing mVenus (Analytical gate was set such that 1% or fewer of negative control cells fell within the positive region (R5) C: Gating transduced cells (R2 ≙ R14) (plasmids used for transfection: pGOI: pSB1C3_lITR_CMV_beta-globin_mVenus_hGH_rITR (pSB1C3_mVenus: BBa_K404119), pHelper, pRC. D: Transduced cells plotted against cells expressing mVenus. R10 comprises transduced cells detected by mVenus fluorescence. E: Overlay of non-transduced (red) and transduced (green).

F: Gating non-transduced cells (control). G: Non-transduced cells plotted against cells expressing mVenus (R5). H: Gating transduced cells (R14 ≙ R2) (plasmids used for transfection: pGOI: pAAV_mVenus, pHelper). I: Transduced cells plotted against cells expressing mVenus. R10 comprises transduced cells detected by mVenus fluorescence. J: Overlay of non-transduced (red) and transduced (green) cells plotted against mVenus expression.

Figure 2: Flow cytometry analysis of vectorplasmids with and without beta-globin intron. 48-hours post transfection, viral particles were harvested by freeze-thaw lysis and centrifugation followed by HT1080 transduction. YFP expression of vectorplasmids was determined by flow cytometry 24-hours post infection. The vectorplasmid missing the beta-globin intron showed a negligible difference in mVenus expression compared to viral plasmid containing the beta-globin intron.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

References

Nott, A., Le Hir, H., & Moore, M. J. (2004). Splicing enhances translation in mammalian cells: an additional function of the exon junction complex. Genes & development, 18(2), 210-22. doi: 10.1101/gad.1163204.
Nott, A., Meislin, S. H., & Moore, M. J. (2003). A quantitative analysis of intron effects on mammalian gene expression. RNA (New York, N.Y.), 9(5), 607-17. doi: 10.1261/rna.5250403.et.
Valencia, P., Dias, A. P., & Reed, R. (2008). Splicing promotes rapid and efficient mRNA export in mammalian cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(9), 3386-91. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800250105.