厚壳贻贝新型抗菌肽myticalin和mytimacin的分子鉴定

从厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)血细胞转录组数据中鉴定到两种新型抗菌肽, 分别为myticalin和mytimacin。为了解两种抗菌肽的结构与功能, 以及在贻贝免疫过程中的响应模式, 采用固相化学合成技术获得两种抗菌肽化合物, 在此基础上开展了抑菌活性测试, 红细胞毒性测试及对微生物抑制作用机理的扫描电镜观察。此外, 研究了贻贝在不同微生物诱导下, 两种抗菌肽的表达模式。研究结果表明, 化学合成的myticalin和mytimacin均具有抑菌活性, 但抑菌谱有所差异。两种抗菌肽尽管结构差异较大, 但对金黄葡萄球菌和溶藻弧菌的作用机制类似, 均能导致细菌表面形态结构发生变化。此外, mytimacin对白色念珠菌表现出明显抑制作用, 且其作用机制不同于金黄葡萄球菌和溶藻弧菌, 能导致白色念珠菌表面出现孔洞, 而myticalin则无此现象。两种抗菌肽在不同微生物诱导后, 其表达量均明显上调, 但myticalin表现出对革兰氏阳性菌诱导的敏感性, 而mytimacin表现出对真菌和革兰氏阳性菌诱导的敏感性。研究为深入了解贻贝抗菌肽的分子多样性及其抑菌活性机制, 以及贻贝抗菌肽的分子工程研究奠定了基础。     

一种新型贻贝抗菌肽的分离纯化及鉴定

厚壳贻贝（Mytilus coruscus）广泛分布于我国东部海域,其体内富含各种抗菌肽分子,是研究软体动物免疫防御机制以及开发抗菌肽来源的新型生物抗生素的重要对象。采用多步反相高效液相色谱对厚壳贻贝血清进行分离纯化,获得一种分子量为6261.55 D的具有抗菌活性的多肽成分;经多肽N端测序和基因克隆,结果表明该抗菌肽由55个氨基酸残基构成,含6个半胱氨酸并形成三对二硫键。结构域分析表明该抗菌肽具有几丁质结合结构域（Chitin-biding domain）,因此将该抗菌肽命名为mytichitin-A。Mytichitin-A对革兰氏阳性菌具有较强的抑制作用,同时对真菌及革兰氏阴性菌也具有抑制作用。荧光定量PCR检测表明,mytichitin-A主要在厚壳贻贝的性腺组织中表达且在细菌诱导后12h其表达量达到峰值。研究为深入了解厚壳贻贝抗菌肽的分子多样性及免疫机制奠定了基础。       

基于厚壳贻贝Mytilin-1的抗菌肽设计、固相合成及抗菌谱分析

贻贝抗菌肽Mytilin是贻贝免疫系统的重要组成部分,对其结构与功能的研究表明,其序列中连接两段β-折叠的发夹区域是其抗菌功能的关键所在。为验证该区域是否具有抗菌活性,通过对厚壳贻贝Mytilus coruscus抗菌肽Mytilin进行空间结构模拟,选取其中β-发夹部分肽段,采用了固相化学合成的方法合成了两条10肽,分别命名为Mytilin Derived Peptide-1(MDP-1)和Mytilin Derived Peptide-2(MDP-2)。高效液相色谱以及质谱检测结果表明,合成是成功的。抗菌谱研究表明,MDP-1和MDP-2对革兰氏阳性菌、阴性菌以及真菌均具有明显的抑制作用,同时,合成的MDP由于序列短且有两对二硫键,因此对于温度及人血浆均表现出很强的稳定性。上述研究结果为深入了解厚壳贻贝抗菌肽Mytilin的抗菌机制以及在此基础上开发具有应用价值的新型抗菌肽奠定了基础。     

植物防御素基因家族结构、功能及调控研究进展

防御素(Defensins,DF)是抗菌肽家族中最古老的一员。植物防御素是一类包含45-54个氨基酸残基,含有半胱氨酸(Cys)稳定的αβ模序,与哺乳动物及昆虫抗菌肽的亲缘关系非常密切,大部分植物防御素在体内被合成为具有信号肽序列的前体,并被分泌到胞外空间。植物防御素在宿主防御系统中起重要作用,不仅可抑制一系列的植物、动物及人类体内的细菌、真菌,还可杀伤一些肿瘤细胞及病原虫。植物防御素广泛存在于植物的花、茎、叶、果实、根和种子中,具有抗菌、抗肿瘤、抑制酶活、作为离子阻断剂和增加耐受性的功能,可作为新型的杀菌剂或新型的抗生素类药物。随着抗生素导致的耐药菌株的出现,对植物防御素的研究就显得尤为重要,特别是因其有效的抗真菌活性,植物防御素在作物抗病基因工程方面具有巨大的潜力。主要介绍了其发现、结构、类型、逆境调控功能、作用机制以及外源表达植物防御素基因等方面的最新研究进展,有助于将来对植物防御素基因家族进行更深入和全面的研究。     

禽类的重要免疫因子--鸡β防御素

防御素是一种阳离子抗菌肽,是先天免疫的重要分子.鸡的防御素有13种,全部属于β防御素.该文介绍鸡β防御素的基因结构、蛋白质结构、组织分布、表达调控及其生物学功能.研究结果提示,鸡β防御素是一种重要的免疫因子,具有广谱抗病作用.对鸡β防御素的开发利用将主要集中在两个方面：一是作为家禽抗病力的指标之一,在培育家禽抗病品种（品系）方面起辅助作用;一是作为抗菌肽的开发利用.     

大弹涂鱼皮肤转录组测序及抗菌肽基因分析

抗菌肽是鱼类用于抵御外界微生物入侵的天然防御多肽,也是开发新型药物的重要先导分子。大弹涂鱼(Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)是一种特殊的可以营两栖生活的鱼类,其皮肤表面具有丰富的粘液,其中所含抗菌肽对其免疫防御和适应两栖生活具有重要意义。为深入了解大弹涂鱼皮肤组织基因表达谱并从中筛选抗菌肽相关基因,采用新一代Illumina高通量测序平台对大弹涂鱼皮肤组织进行了转录组测序。利用Trinity软件从头组装,从测得的78 608 366条双端测序读长(paired-end read)共计6 GB的序列数据中获得119 848条高质量的蛋白质编码基因(unigene)。经公共数据库序列检索和比对,发现7个unigene编码的多肽与已知的鱼类5大家族的抗菌肽高度同源,即β-防御素(β-defensin)、hepcidin、NK-lysin、piscidin和肝表达抗菌肽-2(liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2,LEAP-2)。最后,对上述抗菌肽相关unigene开展了组织表达差异分析、序列比对及进化树分析。研究结果为进一步了解大弹涂鱼适应两栖生活的免疫防御机制和利用新鉴定的抗菌肽开发新型抗菌药物奠定了基础。     

厚壳贻贝低分子量足丝蛋白的初步鉴定(英文)

足丝蛋白是贻贝科(Mytilidae)所特有一种在水环境中也能表现出强黏附功能的蛋白,也是目前开发新型生物黏附剂的主要候选分子。厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)广泛分布于我国东部沿海,是我国具有重要经济价值的贻贝,其足丝粗硬,黏附力强,关于厚壳贻贝的足丝蛋白的研究目前尚未见报道。通过醋酸抽提结合反相高效液相色谱分离,从厚壳贻贝足丝盘中分离纯化到数种低分子量足丝蛋白,经质谱鉴定和氨基酸序列测定,其中三种足丝蛋白(分子量6 kD左右)属于贻贝足丝蛋白-3(mytilus foot protein-3,mfp-3)家族,且序列中富含DOPA,另有三种足丝蛋白为未知新型足丝蛋白。石英晶体微天平分析表明,厚壳贻贝低分子量足丝蛋白在金表面有较强的吸附能力,这与其黏附功能是直接相关的。以上工作为深入了解厚壳贻贝低分子量足丝蛋白的分子多样性以及黏附机制奠定了基础。     

利用蛋白质组学手段鉴定新型贻贝足丝蛋白

贻贝通过足腺分泌特有的足丝并以此粘附于水下各种基质表面.贻贝足丝中富含各种粘附蛋白,其优异的水下粘附性能使其成为开发新型生物粘合剂的候选分子.厚壳贻贝足丝粘附能力强,本文采用尿素及盐酸胍抽提结合二维双向电泳技术（two-dimensional electrophoresis, 2-DE）,分别对厚壳贻贝足丝纤维和足丝盘的蛋白质进行分离及染色;采用串联质谱技术结合常规搜库和表达序列标签（EST) 数据库搜索,对分离获得的蛋白质点进行鉴定,从中获得了mfp-3、mfp-6、胶原蛋白以及3种未曾报道过的新型贻贝足丝蛋白成分.上述研究为深入了解厚壳贻贝足丝蛋白的分子多样性、探讨其粘附机理以及从中筛选具有应用前景的贻贝足丝蛋白奠定了基础.     

防御素在抗病毒免疫中的作用

防御素是由粒性白细胞和上皮细胞产生、富含半胱氨酸的内源性抗微生物肽。越来越多的证据表明防御素在抗病毒免疫中发挥重要作用,包括抗病毒作用和免疫调节。深入理解防御素在抗病毒免疫中的作用有助于预防和治疗病毒病。因此。该文重点综述防御素的抗病毒活性和免疫调节作用。     

昆虫抗菌肽的生理活性及其转基因应用前景

昆虫抗菌肽是昆虫免疫后存在于血淋巴中的一类活性肽。根据分子的结构可分为 5类 :天蚕素类、昆虫防御素、富含脯氨酸或精氨酸的抗菌肽、富含甘氨酸的抗菌肽、抗真菌肽。且具有广谱的抗菌、抗病毒、抑制肿瘤的生物活性。概述了昆虫抗菌肽的基因的克隆与表达及转基因研究方面的进展 ,并展望了抗菌肽在基因工程中的应用前景     

Original involvement of antimicrobial peptides in mussel innate immunity

Recently, the existence and extended diversity of antimicrobial peptides has been revealed in two mussel species. These molecules are classified into four groups according to common features of their primary structure: defensins, mytilins, myticins and mytimycin. In Mytilus galloprovincialis, gene structure reveals synthesis as precursors in circulating hemocytes. Synthesised even in absence of challenge, the precursors mature and the peptides are stored in granules as active forms. The different peptides are engaged in the destruction of bacteria inside phagocytes, before being released into hemolymph to participate in systemic responses. Such involvement in anti-infectious responses is unique, and apparently more related to those of mammalian phagocytes than to those of insects.     

厚壳贻贝鸟氨酸-尿素循环中的关键代谢物及基因分析

鸟氨酸-尿素循环(OUC)是生物新陈代谢过程中的重要循环过程,但在贝类中尚缺乏相关研究。为此,以厚壳贻贝为研究对象,分别采用氨基酸分析仪和荧光定量PCR研究了其外套膜和后闭壳肌组织中的鸟氨酸-尿素循环途径的主要代谢物和关键基因的含量及其表达量;进一步测试了在精氨酸注射条件下,各主要代谢物和关键基因的含量及表达量变化,以及¹³C标记尿素注射贻贝后,其贝壳中δ¹³C比值(¹³C/¹²C)变化。结果表明,厚壳贻贝外套膜和后闭壳肌均含有较高浓度的尿素;精氨酸注射导致其两种组织中尿素浓度显著上升(P<0.01),以及瓜氨酸浓度显著下降(P<0.01),但鸟氨酸浓度维持相对稳定的水平。精氨酸注射显著上调了两种组织中的脲酶基因的表达量(P<0.01),但其他基因表达量的变化在两种组织中存在差异,显示出鸟氨酸-尿素循环途径在其两种组织中具有复杂而不同的调控过程。¹³C标记尿素注射贻贝显著上调了贝壳中δ¹³C的比值(P <0.01),表明尿素分子可能参与了贻贝贝壳的生物矿化过程。上述研究为深入了解贻贝鸟氨酸-尿素途径与生物矿化之间的关联,以及探讨贻贝对海水酸化耐受性的内在分子机制奠定了基础。     

Environment-specific heterozygote deficiency and developmental instability in hybrid Mytilus

The multiple discrete hybrid zones that characterize Mytilus blue mussels allow a novel, non-manipulative, examination of the selective pressures that create and maintain species. If endogenous genetic incompatibility is solely responsible for post-zygotic isolation, then individuals of a specified hybrid genotype are expected to show similar average fitness across environments. However, if hybrid fitness differs across environments, then exogenous selection is implicated, either via ecological selection or environment-specific expression of intrinsic genetic incompatibilities. Correspondence between developmental instability of hybrids and heterozygote deficiency, estimated in two M. trossulus×M. galloprovincialis hybrid zones on the coast of North America, indicates that environment-dependent selection against hybrids may contribute to reproductive isolation among Pacific Mytilus species.     

Isolation and characterization of Neurospora crassa mutants resistant to antifungal plant defensins

Twenty-five Neurospora crassa mutants obtained by chemical mutagenesis were screened for increased resistance to various antifungal plant defensins. Plant defensin-resistant N. crassa mutants were further tested for their cross-resistance towards other families of structurally different antimicrobial peptides. Two N. crassa mutants, termed MUT16 and MUT24, displaying resistance towards all plant defensins tested but not to structurally different antimicrobial peptides were selected for further characterization. MUT16 and MUT24 were more resistant towards plant defensin-induced membrane permeabilization as compared to the N. crassa wild-type. Based on the previously demonstrated key role of fungal sphingolipids in the mechanism of growth inhibition by plant defensins, membrane sphingolipids of MUT16 and MUT24 were analysed. Membranes of these mutants contained structurally different glucosylceramides, novel glycosylinositolphosphorylceramides, and an altered level of steryl glucosides. Evidence is provided to link these clear differences in sphingolipid profiles of N. crassa mutants with their resistance towards different plant defensins.     

Defensins in granules of phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells

Antimicrobial proteins stored in lysosome-like granules of neutrophils and macrophages probably play an important role in killing phagocytosed microbes after delivery to the phagolysosome. Among the granules' antimicrobial armamentarium are defensins, peptides that kill a broad spectrum of microorganisms in vitro. Antimicrobial defensins were recently also isolated from non-phagocytic granulocytes of the mouse small intestinal epithelium, from where they are secreted into the lumen to function extracellularly. Clarification of the antimicrobial mechanisms of defensins in intracellular and extracellular environments will provide a key to understanding peptide-mediated host defence.     

Binding of Ala-scanning analogs of omega-conotoxin MVIIC to N- and P/Q-type calcium channels

We report the isolation and characterization of a novel human peptide with antimicrobial activity, termed LEAP-1 (liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide). Using a mass spectrometric assay detecting cysteine-rich peptides, a 25-residue peptide containing four disulfide bonds was identified in human blood ultrafiltrate. LEAP-1 expression was predominantly detected in the liver, and, to a much lower extent, in the heart. In radial diffusion assays, Gram-positive Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus carnosus, and Gram-negative Neisseria cinerea as well as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae dose-dependently exhibited sensitivity upon treatment with synthetic LEAP-1. The discovery of LEAP-1 extends the known families of mammalian peptides with antimicrobial activity by its novel disulfide motif and distinct expression pattern.     

Defensins: antimicrobial peptides for therapeutic development

A novel class of endogenous antimicrobial peptides called defensins has shown great versatility in their activity against a diverse range of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Their mode of action of bacterial cell lysis seems largely nonspecific and so promises to avert the development of resistance. These two features have made them an area of intense research activity and growing commercial interest. A successful multidisciplinary effort to investigate and develop novel defensins analogues has been established in Singapore that involves computer modeling, biochemistry, proteomics, chemical synthesis, molecular biology and clinical sciences.     

Structure prediction of LDLR-HNP1 complex based on docking enhanced by LDLR binding 3D motif

Human antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including defensins, have come under intense scrutiny owing to their key multiple roles as antimicrobial agents. Not only do they display direct action on microbes, but also recently they have been shown to interact with the immune system to increase antimicrobial activity. Unfortunately, since mechanisms involved in the binding of AMPs to mammalian cells are largely unknown, their potential as novel anti-infective agents cannot be exploited yet. Following the reported interaction of Human Neutrophil Peptide 1 dimer (HNP1) with a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), a computational study was conducted to discover their putative mode of interaction. State-of-the-art docking software produced a set of LDLR-HNP1 complex 3D models. Creation of a 3D motif capturing atomic interactions of the LDLR binding interface allowed selection of the most plausible configurations. Eventually, only two models were in agreement with the literature. Binding energy estimations revealed that only one of them is particularly stable, but also interaction with LDLR weakens significantly bonds within the HNP1 dimer. This may be significant since it suggests a mechanism for internalisation of HNP1 in mammalian cells. In addition to a novel approach for complex structure prediction, this study proposes a 3D model of the LDLR-HNP1 complex which highlights the key residues which are involved in the interactions. The putative identification of the receptor binding mechanism should inform the future design of synthetic HNPs to afford maximum internalisation, which could lead to novel anti-infective drugs.