外源H2O2对盐碱胁迫下苹果矮化砧木幼苗生理特性的影响

以2年生苹果矮化砧木M9 T337为试材,采用盆栽试验法,设置浇灌清水(CK)和盐碱胁迫(0.1 mol/L NaCl+NaHCO₃溶液)+ 喷施5种浓度的H₂O₂ ［0(T₁)、0.2 mmol/L(T₂)、0.4 mmol/L(T₃)、0.6 mmol/L(T₄)、0.8 mmol/L(T₅)］ 处理,测定各处理叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数、渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化酶活性和细胞膜透性,并利用相关性与主成分分析进行综合评价,以探讨外源过氧化氢(H₂O₂)增强其盐碱耐性的生理机制。结果表明：(1)随着盐碱胁迫(T₁)的时间延长,M9 T337幼苗叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)含量、叶绿素b (Chl b)含量、叶绿素总量(Chl t)、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量均呈逐渐下降趋势;胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、可溶性总糖(TSS)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性、相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量均呈上升趋势;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈先升后降趋势。(2)与CK相比,盐碱胁迫+外源H₂O₂(T₂- T₅)处理后M9 T337幼苗叶片各指标均呈现不同幅度变化,且存在明显浓度效应,并以T₃(0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂)处理叶片的Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP和G_s降幅最小,C_i、REC、MDA升幅最小,TSS、Pro、APX升幅最大。(3)M9 T337幼苗叶片P_n与T_r、G_s、Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP、SOD、POD呈显著正相关,与C_i、MDA、CAT、APX、REC呈显著负相关。(4)综合评价表明,各处理对M9 T337幼苗叶片生理特性的效应依次为：CK>T₃>T₄>T₂>T₅>T₁。研究发现,叶面喷施适宜浓度H₂O₂可有效改善盐碱胁迫下M9 T337幼苗光合能力,显著提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的含量,降低细胞膜透性,从而达到缓解盐碱胁迫的作用,并以0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂处理效果最佳。     

人副流感病毒3型HN蛋白十一肽重复序列保守氨基酸突变分析

为确定人副流感病毒3型(Human parainfluenza virus type 3,hPIV3)病毒包膜表面血凝素神经氨酸酶(Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase,HN)糖蛋白茎部区十一肽重复序列中保守氨基酸中具有关键性作用的位点,进一步探讨HN蛋白茎部区在融合机制中的重要作用。结合定点突变和同源重组技术将HN蛋白茎部区十一肽重复序列中5个保守氨基酸位点(I102、P111、L114、S119、I125)突变为丙氨酸(Alanine,A),通过痘苗病毒-T7聚合酶系统在BHK-21细胞中表达突变蛋白,定性定量检测各突变体蛋白的促细胞融合活性、受体结合活性、神经氨酸酶活性和半融合活性。突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的促细胞融合活性均有不同程度下降,依次为野生型的6%、16%、14%、87%和4%,除S119A外其余4个突变型与野生型相比差别均具有统计学意义(P0.01);突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的受体结合活性也出现不同程度下降,依次分别为野生型的32.2%、77.4%、74.2%、83.9%和38.7%,其中I102A和I125A的受体结合活性与野生型相比差别具有统计学意义(P0.01);突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的神经氨酸酶活性分别为野生型的66.5%、73.1%、69.1%、76.1%和72.8%,与野生型相比差别无统计学意义(P0.05)。结果表明:茎部区十一肽重复序列对hPIV3HN蛋白的促细胞融合活性和受体结合活性具有重要意义。该区域氨基酸I102、P111、L114、I125具有关键作用,推测其能通过影响头部区受体结合活性或是与融合蛋白的相互作用等不同方式导致HN蛋白结构功能发生改变。     

调宁蛋白T184的定点突变、表达、纯化和鉴定

为增强调宁蛋白对平滑肌收缩的抑制作用,用PCR重叠延长法使调宁蛋白基因中编码第184位苏氨酸的ACT突变为编码丙氨酸的GCC,将此PCR的突变产物装入到质粒载体pAED₄后,转化至E.coli BL₂₁(DE₃)中, 构建的重组转化子用酶切和测序鉴定.诱导含有重组转化子的E.coli获得高效表达,经SDS-PAGE和蛋白质印迹鉴定后,采用反复冻融法及葡聚糖凝胶层析柱分离,初步纯化出调宁蛋白突变体T184A.     

雌激素受体α磷酸化位点突变体T224A和S559A的构建及其转录激活活性检测

目的:构建雌激素受体α(ERα)T224A和S559A磷酸化位点突变体载体,在HEK293T细胞中检测其表达及突变体生物活性的改变。方法:以pc DNA3-Flag-ERα为模板,通过重组PCR技术扩增目的基因片段并突变碱基,插入pc DNA3-Flag载体;将构建的质粒转染HEK293T细胞进行瞬时表达,通过Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达,采用萤光素酶报告基因方法检测ERα突变体的活性改变。结果:T224A和S559A磷酸化位点突变体在HEK293T细胞中得到表达,相对分子质量为66×103。在无雌激素(E2)时,野生型ERα及T224A和S559A突变体的转录活性分别为空载体的1.94、1.49和1.84倍;在雌激素存在时,野生型ERα活性增强了1.57倍,T224A和S559A突变体活性分别增强了0.54和0.61倍。结论:224位Thr磷酸化修饰对ERα的活性起重要作用,且2个磷酸化位点突变体受雌激素调控减弱。     

通过易错PCR提高鼠伤寒沙门氏菌丙氨酸消旋酶催化活性

[目的] 通过易错PCR技术提高鼠伤寒沙门氏菌中丙氨酸消旋酶的催化活性。[方法] 利用易错PCR技术构建丙氨酸消旋酶基因alr_St的突变体文库,采用缺陷菌株UT5028筛选突变体基因,以D-氨基酸氧化酶偶联法检测各突变蛋白的活性,通过凝胶过滤层析法分析酶蛋白寡聚化状态,并采用HPLC检测酶蛋白的动力学参数。[结果] 经过易错PCR及定点突变技术最终获得了3个催化活性有所提高的突变体A3V、Y343H和A3VY343H,酶学特性分析发现,与野生型蛋白StAlr相比,突变体Y343H仅对底物L/D-丝氨酸的催化效率略有提高,k_cat/K_m值分别是StAlr的2.01和3.68倍;而突变体A3V则对底物L/D-丙氨酸或L/D-丝氨酸的K_m、k_cat和k_cat/K_m值均有较大幅度的改变,其k_cat/K_m值分别是StAlr的105.51、97.36、4.63和10.73倍。凝胶过滤层析结果显示,突变体A3V在蛋白含量极低时就呈现出单体和二聚体共存状态,且随着蛋白含量的增加,其向二聚体状态迁移的速率最为明显。[结论] 丙氨酸消旋酶StAlr的第3位点是影响其催化活性和低聚合状态的关键位点。     

对比分析丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液分别联合艾司氯胺酮、盐酸舒芬太尼在无痛胃肠镜检查中的应用

摘要 目的：探讨对比分析丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液分别联合艾司氯胺酮、盐酸舒芬太尼在无痛胃肠镜检查中的应用效果。方法：选取我院2022年1月到2022年12月收治的80例行无痛胃肠镜检查患者作为研究对象,应用随机数字表法将所有患者分为观察组与对照组,每组40例。对照组患者应用丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液+盐酸舒芬太尼进行静脉麻醉,观察组应用丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液+艾司氯胺酮进行静脉麻醉,对比两组患者入室时基础值（T₁）、开始镇静时（T₂）、胃镜置入后（T₃）、肠镜置入后（T₄）、操作结束即刻（T₅）五个不同时间血流动力学指标变化,并对比患者麻醉起效时间、麻醉药追加次数、追加麻醉药总量、意识恢复时间、PACU停留时间,对比检查不同时间认知功能情况以及不良反应发生率。结果：两组患者T₁时间舒张压（SBP）、收缩压（DBP）、平均动脉压（MAP）、心率（HR）对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,观察组患者同组间T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄、T₅时间SBP、DBP、MAP、HR对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,对照组T₁到T₂时间SBP、DBP、MAP、HR水平降低,到T₃和T₄时间升高,T₅时间恢复平稳,且观察组与对照组相比T₂、T₃、T₄时间SBP、DBP、MAP水平对比差异显著,观察组低于对照组,T₃时间观察组HR低于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组麻醉起效时间、麻醉药追加次数、追加麻醉药总量、意识恢复时间、PACU停留时间显低于对照组（P＜0.05）;两组患者检查后6 h S100B 蛋白明显升高,检查后1 d的S100B 蛋白逐渐降低,且观察组低于对照组,检查后6 h褪黑素明显降低,检查后1 d的褪黑素逐渐升高,观察组高于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组患者不良反应发生率明显低于对照组（P＜0.05）。结论：丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液联合艾司氯胺酮与丙泊酚/依托咪酯混合液联合盐酸舒芬太尼对于无痛胃肠镜检查麻醉效果显著,能够改善患者血流动力学指标波动,减少麻醉药追加次数,且麻醉起效快,苏醒质量好,另外能够进一步改善患者检查后认知功能情况,安全性较高。     

定向进化提高灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶染织废水脱色效率

【目的】获得染织废水脱色能力增强的灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶。【方法】使用基因合成及定点突变平台合成突变灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶基因CIPmt4(I49S、V53A、M166F和M242I),并调整密码子至毕赤酵母偏好性。以CIPmt4为模板进行定向进化,经过三轮易错PCR和高通量筛选得到一个酶学性质显著改善的突变体(CIPmt5)。通过3D建模和分子动力学模拟分析蛋白的结构及热稳定性,并进一步研究CIPmt5和野生型CIP对刚果红、氨基黑、甲基橙、次甲基蓝、苯胺蓝、结晶紫、溴酚蓝共7种染料的脱色能力。【结果】序列分析显示该突变体积累了I49S、V53A、T121A、M166F和Y272F共5个氨基酸突变,与野生型灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶相比,以ABTS为底物酶活性是野生型的2.01倍(24.44 U/mg),最适反应p H由5.0提高到6.5,最适反应温度由25°C提高到45°C。除次甲基蓝外对其它染料脱色的最适p H都往中、碱性方向偏移,脱色率普遍高于野生型。模型分析显示CIPmt5活性中心更开放,热稳定性增强。【结论】突变体酶CIPmt5能够更好地替代野生型灰盖鬼伞过氧化物酶应用于染织业染料脱色、化工废水和染织废水的生物修复。     

Thermobifida fusca角质酶突变体D204C/E253C高效可溶表达及其应用

Thermobifida fusca角质酶突变体D204C/E253C是通过在野生型角质酶中引入二硫键获得的热稳定性突变体.由于二硫键的引入,导致突变体D204C/E253C在表达过程中,易错误折叠形成大量包涵体,可溶表达比率极低.这极大地限制了其发酵制备以及在PET纤维改性中的应用.为了加强突变体D204C/E253C的可溶表达,本研究将突变体D204C/E253C和周质蛋白二硫键氧化还原酶DsbC在大肠杆菌突变株Es-cherichia coli Origami B(DE3)中共表达,来异构化异常的二硫键.实验结果表明,共表达的角质酶突变体D204C/E253C正常折叠表达,酶活为61 U/mL,是非共表达的6.8倍;共表达的突变体D204C/E253C在80℃的半衰期可达16 h,能够在80℃对PET纤维进行改性.本研究通过与分子伴侣蛋白DsbC在大肠杆菌突变株E.coli Origami B(DE3)中的共表达,实现角质酶突变体D204C/E253C的高效可溶表达,为大规模工业应用提供了一定的理论基础.     

艾司氯胺酮联合舒芬太尼对剖宫产围手术期镇痛、应激指标及抑郁评分的影响

摘要 目的：探究艾司氯胺酮联合舒芬太尼对剖宫产围手术期镇痛、应激指标及抑郁评分的影响。方法：选取2021年1月~2021年10月期间我院收治的行剖宫产手术的180例产妇,采用随机数字表法分为A组、B组、C组各60例。A组胎儿娩出后即刻静脉输注艾司氯胺酮,术后艾司氯胺酮联合舒芬太尼静脉自控镇痛;B组和C组胎儿娩出后不给予艾司氯胺酮,用生理盐水代替;B组术后静脉自控镇痛与A组相同,C组术后给予舒芬太尼静脉自控镇痛。比较三组产妇术后4 h（T₁）、8 h（T₂）、12 h（T₃）、24 h（T₄）、48 h（T₅）疼痛程度[简化McGill疼痛问卷（SF-MPQ）评分]、镇静程度（Ramsay镇静评分）,记录三组术前1 d和术后1 d的应激指标[去甲肾上腺素（NE）、皮质醇（Cor）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）]水平,比较三组术前1 d和术后3、7 d抑郁程度[爱丁堡产后抑郁量表（EPDS）],比较三组不良反应发生情况。结果：T₁、T₂、T₃时A组视觉模拟评分（VAS）明显低于B、C组（P均<0.05）,T₁、T₂时A组痛分级指数（PRI）感觉分明显低于B、C组（P均<0.05）,T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄、T₅时A组PRI情感分明显低于B、C组（P均<0.05）,T₁时A组现时疼痛强度（PPI）评分明显低于B、C组（P均<0.05）。T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄、T₅时,三组Ramsay镇静评分比较差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。术后1 d,三组NE、Cor、ACTH水平均较术前1 d显著升高（P均<0.05）,术前1 d和术后1 d,三组NE、Cor、ACTH水平比较差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）;术后3、7 d时A组EPDS评分明显低于术前1 d和同时间B、C组（P均<0.05）;三组不良反应发生情况对比无显著性差异（P均>0.05）。结论：艾司氯胺酮联合舒芬太尼在剖宫产围术期镇痛中应用效果良好,能够减轻产妇术后早期抑郁程度。     

白色念珠菌CYP51蛋白功能性氨基酸残基定点突变、蛋白表达及活性测定

实验设计了白色念珠菌CYP51蛋白功能性氨基酸残基突变体Y118A、Y118F、Y118T、S378A、S378T、H310A、H310R, 并转入基因工程菌D12667中表达。用Western及紫外分光光度法定性、定量检测蛋白, 用GC-MS法测定蛋白代谢活性。结果表明, 成功表达目标蛋白, 蛋白诱导表达量接近微粒体蛋白总量的25%。活性测定表明, 表达的野生型蛋白保持其对天然底物的代谢能力; 相较于野生型蛋白, 突变体蛋白代谢活性不同程度改变, 最多可下降1/2左右。因此, 本研究中成功表达了野生型和     

Structural changes in the O-decay accelerated mutants of pharaonis phoborhodopsin

pharaonis phoborhodopsin ( ppR, also called pharaonis sensory rhodopsin II, psRII) is a receptor for negative phototaxis in Natronomonas pharaonis. The X-ray crystallographic structure of ppR is very similar to those of the ion-pumping rhodopsins, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and halorhodopsin (hR). However, the decay processes of the photocycle intermediates such as M and O are much slower than those of BR and hR, which is advantageous for the sensor function of ppR. Iwamoto et al. previously found that, in a quadruple mutant (P182S/P183E/V194T/T204C; denoted as SETC) of ppR, the decay of the O intermediate was accelerated by approximately 100 times ( t 1/2 approximately 6.6 ms vs 690 ms for the wild type of ppR), being almost equal to that of BR (Iwamoto, M., et al. (2005) Biophys. J. 88, 1215-1223). The mutated residues are located on the extracellular surface (Pro182, Pro183, and Val194) and near the Schiff base (Thr204). The present Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of SETC revealed that protein structural changes in the K and M states were similar to those of the wild type. In contrast, the ppR O minus ppR infrared difference spectra of SETC are clearly different from those of the wild type in amide-I (1680-1640 cm (-1)) and S-H stretching (2580-2520 cm (-1)) vibrations. The 1673 (+) and 1656 (-) cm (-1) bands newly appear for SETC in the frequency region typical for the amide-I vibration of the alpha II- and alpha I-helices, respectively. The intensities of the 1673 (+) cm (-1) band of various mutants were well correlated with their O-decay half-times. Since the alpha II-helix possesses a considerably distorted structure, the result implies that distortion of the helix is required for fast O-decay. In addition, the characteristic changes in the S-H stretching vibration of Cys204 were different between SETC and T204C, suggesting that structural change near the Schiff base was induced by mutations of the extracellular surface. We conclude that the lifetime of the O intermediate in ppR is regulated by the distorted alpha-helix and strengthened hydrogen bond of Cys204.     

Electric field promotion of the bacteriorhodopsin BR570 to BR412 photoconversion in films of Halobacterium halobium purple membranes

The combined action of electric field (10⁵–10⁷ V · m^?1) and light (380–580 nm, 80 W · m^?2) activating the photoenergetic reaction of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) in dry films of purple membranes from Halobacterium halobium was studied. A new stimulating effect of the field on the BR₄₁₂ intermediate accumulation in the normal photochromic cycle of BR₅₇₀ has been observed. The formation of the product BR₄₁₂ is supposed to be accompanied by specific rearrangements of certain charged, polar and polarizable groups in the BR pigment-protein matrix. Such an intrinsic polarization could be promoted by an external electric field, the displacement vector of those groups being oriented in the direction of the field. The dielectric polarization properties of the purple membranes have been demonstrated by electret-thermal analysis.     

Correlation of the O-intermediate rate with the pKa of Asp-75 in the dark, the counterion of the Schiff base of Pharaonis phoborhodopsin (sensory rhodopsin II)

Pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR), also called pharaonis sensory rhodopsin II, NpSRII, is a photoreceptor of negative phototaxis in Natronomonas (Natronobacterium) pharaonis. The photocycle rate of ppR is slow compared to that of bacteriorhodopsin, despite the similarity in their x-ray structures. The decreased rate of the photocycle of ppR is a result of the longer lifetime of later photo-intermediates such as M- (ppR(M)) and O-intermediates (ppR(O)). In this study, mutants were prepared in which mutated residues were located on the extracellular surface (P182, P183, and V194) and near the Schiff base (T204) including single, triple (P182S/P183E/V194T), and quadruple mutants. The decay of ppR(O) of the triple mutant was accelerated approximately 20-times from 690 ms for the wild-type to 36 ms. Additional mutation resulting in a triple mutant at the 204th position such as T204C or T204S further decreased the decay half-time to 6.6 or 8 ms, almost equal to that of bacteriorhodopsin. The decay half-times of the ppR(O) of mutants (11 species) and those of the wild-type were well-correlated with the pK(a) value of Asp-75 in the dark for the respective mutants as spectroscopically estimated, although there are some exceptions. The implications of these observations are discussed in detail.     

Expression of T Protein in the Primitive Streak Is Necessary and Sufficient for Posterior Mesoderm Movement and Somite Differentiation

A characteristic abnormality of chimeras composed of wildtype andT/T(Brachyury) mutant embryonic stem cells is the aggregation and accumulation of mutant cells in the primitive streak and its descendant, the tail bud (V. Wilson, L. Manson, W. C. Skarnes, and R. S. P. Beddington (1995).Development121, 877–886). To demonstrate that this aberrant behaviour of mutant cells in the streak is due only to the absence of wild-type T protein and to investigate dosage effects of T function on cell deployment during gastrulation, a vector expressingTunder the control of its own promoter (which results inTexpression in the primitive streak but not in the notochord) was introduced intoT/Tmutant ES cells carrying a ubiquitouslacZlineage marker. Four clones (TR clones) that express T appropriately in the streak and rescue abnormal chimeric morphology were recovered. In chimeras, these four clones fall into two distinct categories with respect to their ability to exit from the primitive streak and their subsequent tissue colonisation profile. TR1 and TR4 descendants no longer accumulated in the tail bud and gave rise to all types of mesoderm as well as colonising ventral neurectoderm. Interestingly, TR2 and TR5 cells (which express higher levels of T protein than TR1 and TR4in vitro) tended to exit the streak prematurely, showed a marked reduction in posterior mesoderm colonisation, and were virtually excluded from ventral neurectoderm. However, while descendants of all four TR clones can colonise dermomyotome at all axial levels, the parentT/Tmutant cells only contribute to this tissue rostral to the forelimb bud and are completely excluded from more caudal dermomyotome. These results show that the abnormal aggregation of mutant cells homozygous for theBrachyurydeletion (∼200 kb) can be ascribed solely to the lack of wild-type T protein, as can the failure ofT/Tcells to colonise caudal dermomyotome. They also suggest that patterns of cell recruitment from the streak can be influenced by the level of T expression.     

Impairment of hepatitis B virus virion secretion by single-amino-acid substitutions in the small envelope protein and rescue by a novel glycosylation site

Mutations in the S region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope gene are associated with immune escape, occult infection, and resistance to therapy. We previously identified naturally occurring mutations in the S gene that alter HBV virion secretion. Here we used transcomplementation assay to confirm that the I110M, G119E, and R169P mutations in the S domain of viral envelope proteins impair virion secretion and that an M133T mutation rescues virion secretion of the I110M and G119E mutants. The G119E mutation impaired detection of secreted hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), suggesting immune escape. The R169P mutant protein is defective in HBsAg secretion as well and has a dominant negative effect when it is coexpressed with wild-type envelope proteins. Although the S domain is present in all three envelope proteins, the I110M, G119E, and R169P mutations impair virion secretion through the small envelope protein. Conversely, coexpression of just the small envelope protein of the M133T mutant could rescue virion secretion. The M133T mutation could also overcome the secretion defect caused by the G145R immune-escape mutation or mutation at N146, the site of N-linked glycosylation. In fact, the M133T mutation creates a novel N-linked glycosylation site ((131)NST(133)). Destroying this site by N131Q/T mutation or preventing glycosylation by tunicamycin treatment of transfected cells abrogated the effect of the M133T mutation. Our findings demonstrate that N-linked glycosylation of HBV envelope proteins is critical for virion secretion and that the secretion defect caused by mutations in the S protein can be rescued by an extra glycosylation site.     

Methylation by a mutant T2 DNA [N(6)-adenine] methyltransferase expands the usage of RecA-assisted endonuclease (RARE) cleavage

Properties of a mutant bacteriophage T2 DNA [N:(6)-adenine] methyltransferase (T2 Dam MTase) have been investigated for its potential utilization in RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage. Steady-state kinetic analyses with oligonucleotide duplexes revealed that, compared to wild-type T4 Dam, both wild-type T2 Dam and mutant T2 Dam P126S had a 1.5-fold higher k(cat) in methylating canonical GATC sites. Additionally, T2 Dam P126S showed increased efficiencies in methylation of non-canonical GAY sites relative to the wild-type enzymes. In agreement with these steady-state kinetic data, when bacteriophage lambda DNA was used as a substrate, maximal protection from restriction nuclease cleavage in vitro was achieved on the sequences GATC, GATN and GACY, while protection of GACR sequences was less efficient. Collectively, our data suggest that T2 Dam P126S can modify 28 recognition sequences. The feasibility of using the mutant enzyme in RARE cleavage with BCL:I and ECO:RV endonucleases has been shown on phage lambda DNA and with BCL:I and DPN:II endonucleases on yeast chromosomal DNA embedded in agarose.     

Proton translocation by bacteriorhodopsin in the absence of substantial conformational changes

Unlike wild-type bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the BR triple mutant D96G/F171C/F219L has been shown to undergo only minor structural rearrangements during its photocycle. Nonetheless, the mutant is capable of transporting protons at a rate of 125(+/-40) H+/BR per minute under light-saturating conditions. Light adaptation of the triple mutant's retinal proceeds in a pH-dependent manner up to a maximum of 63% all-trans. These two findings imply that the transport activity of the triple mutant comprises 66% of the wild-type activity. Time-resolved spectroscopy reveals that the identity and sequence of intermediates in the photocycle of the triple mutant in the all-trans configuration correspond to that of wild-type BR. The only differences relate to a slower rise and decay of the M and O intermediates, and a significant spectral contribution from a 13-cis component. No indication for accumulation of the N intermediate is found under a variety of conditions that normally favor the formation of this species in wild-type BR. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the M intermediate in the triple mutant resembles that of wild type. Minor changes in the amide I region during the photocycle suggest that only small movements of the protein backbone occur. Electron microscopy reveals large differences in conformation between the unilluminated state of the mutant protein and wild-type but no light-induced changes in time-resolved measurements. Evidently, proton transport by the triple mutant does not require the major conformational rearrangements that occur on the same time-scale with wild-type. Thus, we conclude that large conformational changes observed in the photocycle of the wild-type and many BR mutants are not a prerequisite for the change in accessibility of the Schiff base nitrogen atom that must occur during vectorial catalysis to allow proton transport.     

The role of the high potential form of the cytochrome b559: Study of Thermosynechococcus elongatus mutants

Cytochrome b559 is an essential component of the photosystem II reaction center in photosynthetic oxygen-evolving organisms, but its function still remains unclear. The use of photosystem II preparations from Thermosynechococcus elongatus of high integrity and activity allowed us to measure for the first time the influence of cytochrome b559 mutations on its midpoint redox potential and on the reduction of the cytochrome b559 by the plastoquinone pool (or Q_B). In this work, five mutants having a mutation in the α-subunit (I14A, I14S, R18S, I27A and I27T) and one in the β-subunit (F32Y) of cytochrome b559 have been investigated. All the mutations led to a destabilization of the high potential form of the cytochrome b559. The midpoint redox potential of the high potential form was significantly altered in the αR18S and αI27T mutant strains. The αR18S strain also showed a high sensitivity to photoinhibitory illumination and an altered oxidase activity. This was suggested by measurements of light induced oxidation and dark re-reduction of the cytochrome b559 showing that under conditions of a non-functional water oxidation system, once the cytochrome is oxidized by P680⁺, the yield of its reduction by Q_B or the PQ pool was smaller and the kinetic slower in the αR18S mutant than in the wild-type strain. Thus, the extremely positive redox potential of the high potential form of cytochrome b559 could be necessary to ensure efficient oxidation of the PQ pool and to function as an electron reservoir replacing the water oxidation system when it is not operating.     

Perturbations of the T1 copper site in the CotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis: structural, biochemical, enzymatic and stability studies

Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace Met502 in CotA laccase by the residues leucine and phenylalanine. X-ray structural comparison of M502L and M502F mutants with the wild-type CotA shows that the geometry of the T1 copper site is maintained as well as the overall fold of the proteins. The replacement of the weak so-called axial ligand of the T1 site leads to an increase in the redox potential by approximately 100 mV relative to that of the wild-type enzyme (E ⁰=455 mV). However the M502L mutant exhibits a twofold to fourfold decrease in the k _cat values for the all substrates tested and the catalytic activity in M502F is even more severely compromised; 10% activity and 0.15–0.05% for the non-phenolic substrates and for the phenolic substrates tested when compared with the wild-type enzyme. T1 copper depletion is a key event in the inactivation and thus it is a determinant of the thermodynamic stability of wild-type and mutant proteins. Whilst the unfolding of the tertiary structure in the wild-type enzyme is a two-state process displaying a midpoint at a guanidinium hydrochloride concentration of 4.6 M and a free-energy exchange in water of 10 kcal/mol, the unfolding for both mutant enzymes is clearly not a two-state process. At 1.9 M guanidinium hydrochloride, half of the molecules are in an intermediate conformation, only slightly less stable than the native state (approximately 1.4 kcal/mol). The T1 copper centre clearly plays a key role, from the structural, catalytic and stability viewpoints, in the regulation of CotA laccase activity.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopy of Compound II and its decay in Mycobacterium tuberculosis catalase-peroxidase KatG and its isoniazid resistant mutant S315T

The reaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG and the mutant KatG(S315T) with two different organic peroxides is studied using resonance Raman spectroscopy. For the first time, an intermediate is observed in a catalase-peroxidase with vibrations that are characteristic of Compound II. The observation of this intermediate is consistent with photoreduction of Compound I and is in agreement with the formation of Compound I during the catalytic cycle of KatG. The same intermediate is detected in KatG(S315T), a mutant associated with resistance to isoniazid (INH), but with a lower yield, indicating that the organic peroxides cannot react with the heme iron in KatG(S315T) as efficiently as in wild-type KatG. Our results are consistent with catalytic competence of the S315T mutant and support the model that the S315T mutation confers antibiotic resistance by modifying the interaction between the enzyme and the drug.