苏云金芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发相关基因gerM的克隆及功能研究

依照蜡状芽孢杆菌gerM基因的保守序列设计引物,从苏云金芽孢杆菌中扩增出640bp的DNA片段。以此为探针,从苏云金芽孢杆菌部分基因组酶切文库中成功地克隆到了一个4·5kb的DNA片段。序列分析表明,该片段包含一个完整的开放阅读框,其预测的编码产物与枯草芽孢杆菌GerM蛋白具有很高的同源性,将该基因命名为gerM。RT-PCR分析表明,gerM基因仅在芽孢形成的过程中表达。通过同源重组的策略构建了gerM基因的阻断突变株。研究表明,gerM基因的破坏影响苏云金芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发的速率和比例。     

重水对萎缩芽孢杆菌芽孢萌发的影响

本研究快报报道了重水对细菌芽孢的萌发及其可培养性的抑制作用. 在常温条件下,用L-丙氨酸触发细菌芽孢的萌发,并用Tb-DPA荧光法、相差显微镜观测法和光密度测定法监测萌发过程,用最终萌发水平、萌发半期、萌发速度3个参数来表征萌发过程. 除此之外,我们还用菌落形成单位的个数来评估萌发后芽孢的可培养性. 结果表明,重水对整个萌发过程有抑制作用,同时降低了萌发后芽孢的可培养性,但对最终萌发水平无影响. 我们推测这是因为重水增强了一些芽孢特异性信号蛋白的稳定性.     

蜡样芽孢杆菌ATCC14579核黄素操纵子的克隆及在枯草芽孢杆菌中的表达

利用BLAST从B．cereus ATCC14579的基因组中找到一段与枯草芽孢杆茵核黄素操纵子具有较高相似性的4．6kb大小的基因组DNA片段,该片段中含有完整的核黄素操纵子。该操纵子结构基因的编码产物的氨基酸序列与枯草芽孢杆菌核黄素操纵子相应结构基因的编码产物的氨基酸序列具有99％的同源性。该片段被克隆到大肠杆茵一枯草芽孢杆茵穿梭载体pHP13M中。表达分析的结果表明B．cereus ATCC14579核黄素操纵子可在大肠杆茵和枯草芽孢杆菌中表达。利用PCR方法用来自枯草杆菌的sac B基因的启动子替换B．cereus ATCC14579核黄素操纵子原有的启动子使其更好表达。替换启动子后的核黄素操纵子在本文使用的发酵条件下有较好的表达,核黄素产量从39．5mg／L增加到61．7mg/L.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌双组份信号转导系统的生物信息学分析

苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)能产生杀虫晶体蛋白等多种活性成分,是目前应用最广泛的微生物杀虫剂。本文采用生物信息学方法,系统分析了由本实验室完成全基因组测序的苏云金芽孢杆菌YBT-1520、CT-43和BMB171 3个菌株的双组分信号转导系统(Two-componentsignal transduction system,TCS)的分布、结构及功能,并初步构建了部分TCS的调控网络关系图。本研究旨在为深入研究苏云金芽孢杆菌的生长、代谢以及毒力因子的表达与调控,全面了解伴孢晶体的形成机制开辟新的研究方向。     

我国森林土壤中苏云金芽孢杆菌生态分布的研究

从我国8个森林立地带(寒温带、中温带、暖温带、北亚热带、中亚热带、南亚热带、高原亚热带、热带)所属的13个自然保护区,采集了0—5cm土层林下土壤样品384个.测定了土壤pH、水分和养分.从中分离观察芽孢杆菌菌落1873个,分离出苏云金芽孢杆菌79株,并对其所属亚种进行了初步鉴定.其平均出土率和分离率分别为14.32%和4.21%.研究了芽孢杆菌和苏云金芽孢杆菌在森林土壤中生态分布的规律及苏云金芽孢杆菌对6种昆虫的室内毒力测定,从中筛选出不少的高效菌株.为研究苏云金芽孢杆菌在我国森林生态系中资源的保护、开发和利用,具有重要意义.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌以色列亚种130kDa杀蚊蛋白基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的表达

本文将苏云金芽孢杆菌以色列亚种(Bacillus thuringiensis subsp.israelensis)130kDa杀蚊蛋白基因亚克隆到pNQ1 22载体上,通过枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)原生质体转化,得到Kmt Cm2的正反向克隆子(pFZl和pFZ2)。 Western—blotting免疫杂交证明130kDa杀蚊蛋白基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中表达了具有免疫活性的130kDa杀蚊蛋白。 所表达的杀蚊蛋白在实验中具有杀蚊活性。     

我国森林土壤中苏云金芽孢杆生态分布的研究

从我国８个森林立地带（寒温带、中温带、暖温带、北亚热带、中亚热带、南亚热带、高原亚热带、热带）所属的１３个自然保护区,采集了０－５ｃｍ土层林下土壤样品３８４个,测定了土壤ｐＨ、水分和养分,从中分离观察芽孢杆菌菌落１８７３个,分离出苏云金芽孢杆菌７９株,并对其所属亚种进行了初步鉴定,其平均出土率和分离率分别为１４．３２％和４．２１％。研究了芽孢杆菌和苏云金芽孢杆菌在森林土壤中生态分布的规律及苏云金芽     

枯草芽孢杆菌MH25 Iturin A操纵子的克隆与分析

根据已知非核糖体肽合成抗生素操纵子的保守序列设计引物,从对棉花立枯病有很好拮抗作用的枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)MH25菌株中克隆相关操纵子.获得了枯草芽孢杆菌MH25的一个非核糖体肽合成抗生素操纵子序列,其包括4个ORF(ORF1,ORF2,OKF3,ORF4),与枯草芽孢杆菌RB14的ituD,ituA,tiuB和ituC的同源性分别为99%,98.70%,98.99%和99.48%,4个ORF编码的氨基酸序列与ItuD,ItuA,ItuB,ItuC的相似性分别为98%,98.54%,98.69%和98%.然后将4个ORF分别进行结构域分析,ORF3的14 779～14 963序列与ituB相对应区域的相似性为86.24%.该操纵子的启动子区为TATACACA-16bp-TAGGAT,与σA-10和-35(TTGACA-17bp-TATAAAT)不同.枯草芽孢杆菌MH25的Iturin A操纵子序列已在GenBank中注册,登陆号为EU263005.     

用凝胶电泳方法鉴定苏云金芽孢杆菌溶源性菌株

根据原噬菌体的可诱导性,将苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,简称B t)培养液用丝裂霉素C(MMC)诱导,诱导液经高速离心除菌和2.5×SDS-EDTA染料混合液处理后,琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测有无DNA带,以确定菌株的溶源性。实验证明,该DNA为溶源菌诱导出的噬菌体DNA,而非溶源菌以同样方法不能获得DNA。用此方法,可作为鉴定B t溶源性菌株的一个手段,有助于B t工业发酵中噬菌体污染的预防。     

紫外线诱变苏云金芽孢杆菌最佳条件探索

为寻找高毒性的苏云金芽孢杆菌(BT菌)菌株,我们用紫外线对苏云金芽孢杆菌的库尔斯塔克亚种进行诱变,再对得到的突变菌株进行筛选,得到高毒性的菌株。本文设计实验,先对苏云金芽孢杆菌进行生长曲线的测定和表征,再通过控制变量法对苏云金芽孢杆菌进行外线诱变,最后总结出最佳的诱变条件。     

Effects of overexpression of nutrient receptors on germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis

The rates of germination of Bacillus subtilis spores with L-alanine were increased markedly, in particular at low L-alanine concentrations, by overexpression of the tricistronic gerA operon that encodes the spore's germinant receptor for L-alanine but not by overexpression of gerA operon homologs encoding receptors for other germinants. However, spores with elevated levels of the GerA proteins did not germinate more rapidly in a mixture of asparagine, glucose, fructose, and K(+) (AGFK), a germinant combination that requires the participation of at least the germinant receptors encoded by the tricistronic gerB and gerK operons. Overexpression of the gerB or gerK operon or both the gerB and gerK operons also did not stimulate spore germination in AGFK. Overexpression of a mutant gerB operon, termed gerB*, that encodes a receptor allowing spore germination in response to either D-alanine or L-asparagine also caused faster spore germination with these germinants, again with the largest enhancement of spore germination rates at lower germinant concentrations. However, the magnitudes of the increases in the germination rates with D-alanine or L-asparagine in spores overexpressing gerB* were well below the increases in the spore's levels of the GerBA protein. Germination of gerB* spores with D-alanine or L-asparagine did not require participation of the products of the gerK operon, but germination with these agents was decreased markedly in spores also overexpressing gerA. These findings suggest that (i) increases in the levels of germinant receptors that respond to single germinants can increase spore germination rates significantly; (ii) there is some maximum rate of spore germination above which stimulation of GerA operon receptors alone will not further increase the rate of spore germination, as action of some protein other than the germinant receptors can become rate limiting; (iii) while previous work has shown that the wild-type GerB and GerK receptors interact in some fashion to cause spore germination in AGFK, there also appears to be an additional component required for AGFK-triggered spore germination; (iv) activation of the GerB receptor with D-alanine or L-asparagine can trigger spore germination independently of the GerK receptor; and (v) it is likely that the different germinant receptors interact directly and/or compete with each other for some additional component needed for initiation of spore germination. We also found that very high levels of overexpression of the gerA or gerK operon (but not the gerB or gerB* operon) in the forespore blocked sporulation shortly after the engulfment stage, although sporulation appeared normal with the lower levels of gerA or gerK overexpression that were used to generate spores for analysis of rates of germination.     

Localization of GerAA and GerAC germination proteins in the Bacillus subtilis spore.

The GerAA, -AB, and -AC proteins of the Bacillus subtilis spore are required for the germination response to L-alanine as the sole germinant. They are likely to encode the components of the germination apparatus that respond directly to this germinant, mediating the spore's response; multiple homologues of the gerA genes are found in every spore former so far examined. The gerA operon is expressed in the forespore, and the level of expression of the operon appears to be low. The GerA proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. In an attempt to localize GerA proteins, spores of B. subtilis were broken and fractionated to give integument, membrane, and soluble fractions. Using antibodies that detect Ger proteins specifically, as confirmed by the analysis of strains lacking GerA and the related GerB proteins, the GerAA protein and the GerAC+GerBC protein homologues were localized to the membrane fraction of fragmented spores. The spore-specific penicillin-binding protein PBP5*, a marker for the outer forespore membrane, was absent from this fraction. Extraction of spores to remove coat layers did not release the GerAC or AA protein from the spores. Both experimental approaches suggest that GerAA and GerAC proteins are located in the inner spore membrane, which forms a boundary around the cellular compartment of the spore. The results provide support for a model of germination in which, in order to initiate germination, germinant has to permeate the coat and cortex of the spore and bind to a germination receptor located in the inner membrane.     

Role of ger proteins in nutrient and nonnutrient triggering of spore germination in Bacillus subtilis

Dormant Bacillus subtilis spores germinate in the presence of particular nutrients called germinants. The spores are thought to recognize germinants through receptor proteins encoded by the gerA family of operons, which includes gerA, gerB, and gerK. We sought to substantiate this putative function of the GerA family proteins by characterizing spore germination in a mutant strain that contained deletions at all known gerA-like loci. As expected, the mutant spores germinated very poorly in a variety of rich media. In contrast, they germinated like wild-type spores in a chemical germinant, a 1-1 chelate of Ca(2+) and dipicolinic acid (DPA). These observations showed that proteins encoded by gerA family members are required for nutrient-induced germination but not for chemical-triggered germination, supporting the hypothesis that the GerA family encodes receptors for nutrient germinants. Further characterization of Ca(2+)-DPA-induced germination showed that the effect of Ca(2+)-DPA on spore germination was saturated at 60 mM and had a K(m) of 30 mM. We also found that decoating spores abolished their ability to germinate in Ca(2+)-DPA but not in nutrient germinants, indicating that Ca(2+)-DPA and nutrient germinants probably act through parallel arms of the germination pathway.     

Analysis of interactions between nutrient germinant receptors and SpoVA proteins of Bacillus subtilis spores

Yeast two-hybrid and Far Western analyses were used to detect interactions between Bacillus subtilis spores' nutrient germinant receptor proteins and proteins encoded by the spoVA operon, all of which are involved in spore germination and located in the spores' inner membrane. These analyses indicated that two subunits of the GerA nutrient germinant receptor interact, consistent with previous genetic data, and that some GerA proteins interact with SpoVAD and some with SpoVAE. SpoVA proteins appear to be involved in the release of the spore's dipicolinic acid during spore germination, an event triggered by the binding of nutrient germinants to their receptors. Consequently, these new findings suggest that nutrient germinant receptors physically contact SpoVA proteins, and presumably this is a route for signal transduction during spore germination.     

Characterization and cloning of the gerC locus of Bacillus subtilis 168

A Bacillus subtilis gerC spore germination mutant demonstrating a temperature-sensitive response to L-alanine as germinant has been characterized in detail. The gerC58 mutation is 50% cotransformed with aroB in the gene order gerC-aroB-trpC. The mutation is responsible for a severe growth defect which is manifest at all growth temperatures and is most extreme on rich media. A second, unlinked, mutation in the original strain suppressed this growth defect, but spores of the suppressed strain failed to germinate in alanine at 42 degrees C. As this germination defect is dependent on the presence of the gerC58 allele, it is likely to be the direct result of a mutant gerC protein. The gerC gene therefore appears to have a role in both spore germination and vegetative cell growth. A gene library of BclI-digested B. subtilis chromosomal DNA was constructed in phage vector phi 105J27. A derivative containing the gerC region was obtained by complementation of the growth defect of an unsuppressed gerC58 strain. This phage contained a 6.3 kb insert of bacterial DNA, which is above the reported packaging limit of the phage. It failed to form visible plaques, although it could be handled as a prophage and sufficient phage particles be isolated to allow characterization of the insert. A deletion derivative generated in vitro and carrying only 2.9 kb of insert DNA also complemented the gerC defect. This gerC locus is the second locus to be implicated in alanine-stimulated germination. The first, gerA, is a developmentally controlled operon whose gene products are present only in the spore. This study of gerC, in contrast, reveals a role in spore germination for a normally essential vegetative protein.     

Cooperativity between different nutrient receptors in germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis and reduction of this cooperativity by alterations in the GerB receptor

The GerA nutrient receptor alone triggers germination of Bacillus subtilis spores with L-alanine or L-valine, and these germinations were stimulated by glucose and K+ plus the GerK nutrient receptor. The GerB nutrient receptor alone did not trigger spore germination with any nutrients but required glucose, fructose, and K+ (GFK) (termed cogerminants) plus GerK for triggering of germination with a number of L-amino acids. GerB and GerA also triggered spore germination cooperatively with l-asparagine, fructose, and K+ and either L-alanine or L-valine. Two GerB variants (termed GerB*s) that were previously isolated by their ability to trigger spore germination in response to D-alanine do not respond to D-alanine but respond to the same L-amino acids that stimulate germination via GerB plus GerK and GFK. GerB*s alone triggered spore germination with these L-amino acids, although GerK plus GFK stimulated the rates of these germinations. In contrast to l-alanine germination via GerA, spore germination via L-alanine and GerB or GerB* was not inhibited by D-alanine. These data support the following conclusions. (i) Interaction with GerK, glucose, and K+ somehow stimulates spore germination via GerA. (ii) GerB can bind and respond to L-amino acids, although normally either the binding site is inaccessible or its occupation is not sufficient to trigger spore germination. (iii) Interaction of GerB with GerK and GFK allows GerB to bind or respond to amino acids. (iv) In addition to spore germination due to the interaction between GerA and GerK, and GerB and GerK, GerB can interact with GerA to trigger spore germination in response to appropriate nutrients. (v) The amino acid sequence changes in GerB*s reduce these receptor variants' requirement for GerK and cogerminants in their response to L-amino acids. (vi) GerK binds glucose, GerB interacts with fructose in addition to L-amino acids, and GerA interacts only with L-valine, L-alanine, and its analogs. (vii) The amino acid binding sites in GerA and GerB are different, even though both respond to L-alanine. These new conclusions are integrated into models for the signal transduction pathways that initiate spore germination.     

The GerW Protein Is Not Involved in the Germination of Spores of Bacillus Species

Germination of dormant spores of Bacillus species is initiated when nutrient germinants bind to germinant receptors in spores’ inner membrane and this interaction triggers the release of dipicolinic acid and cations from the spore core and their replacement by water. Bacillus subtilis spores contain three functional germinant receptors encoded by the gerA, gerB, and gerK operons. The GerA germinant receptor alone triggers germination with L-valine or L-alanine, and the GerB and GerK germinant receptors together trigger germination with a mixture of L-asparagine, D-glucose, D-fructose and KCl (AGFK). Recently, it was reported that the B. subtilis gerW gene is expressed only during sporulation in developing spores, and that GerW is essential for L-alanine germination of B. subtilis spores but not for germination with AGFK. However, we now find that loss of the B. subtilis gerW gene had no significant effects on: i) rates of spore germination with L-alanine; ii) spores’ levels of germination proteins including GerA germinant receptor subunits; iii) AGFK germination; iv) spore germination by germinant receptor-independent pathways; and v) outgrowth of germinated spores. Studies in Bacillus megaterium did find that gerW was expressed in the developing spore during sporulation, and in a temperature-dependent manner. However, disruption of gerW again had no effect on the germination of B. megaterium spores, whether germination was triggered via germinant receptor-dependent or germinant receptor-independent pathways.     

Expression of genes coding for GerA and GerK spore germination receptors is dependent on the protein phosphatase PrpE

The ability of Bacillus subtilis to form spores is a strategy for survival under unfavorable environmental conditions. It is equally crucial to break spore dormancy and return to vegetative growth at the appropriate time. Here we present data showing that the PrpE phosphatase is involved in the control of expression of genes coding for GerA receptors, which are necessary for L-alanine-induced spore germination. Moreover, PrpE is also involved in aspartic acid, glucose, fructose, and potassium (AGFK)-induced spore germination by controlling expression of genes coding for GerK receptors. In the absence of PrpE, the production of spores was essentially normal. However, L-alanine-induced spore germination and, to a lesser extent, the AGFK-induced pathway were abolished. In contrast, the germination pathway dependent on Ca2+-dipicolinate or dodecylamine remained intact. A protein phosphatase PrpE-green fluorescent protein fusion was localized to the prespore and to the dormant spore, consistent with a role in controlling expression of genes coding for GerA receptors. We propose that PrpE is an important element in a signal transduction pathway in Bacillus subtilis that controls the expression of genes coding for germination receptors.     

Amino acid- and purine ribonucleoside-induced germination of Bacillus anthracis DeltaSterne endospores: gerS mediates responses to aromatic ring structures

Specific combinations of amino acids or purine ribonucleosides and amino acids are required for efficient germination of endospores of Bacillus anthracis DeltaSterne, a plasmidless strain, at ligand concentrations in the low-micromolar range. The amino acid L-alanine was the only independent germinant in B. anthracis and then only at concentrations of >10 mM. Inosine and L-alanine both play major roles as cogerminants with several other amino acids acting as efficient cogerminants (His, Pro, Trp, and Tyr combining with L-alanine and Ala, Cys, His, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, and Val combining with inosine). An ortholog to the B. subtilis tricistronic germination receptor operon gerA was located on the B. anthracis chromosome and named gerS. Disruption of gerS completely eliminated the ability of B. anthracis endospores to respond to amino-acid and inosine-dependent germination responses. The gerS mutation also produced a significant microlag in the aromatic-amino-acid-enhanced-alanine germination pathways. The gerS disruption appeared to specifically affect use of aromatic chemicals as cogerminants with alanine and inosine. We conclude that efficient germination of B. anthracis endospores requires multipartite signals and that gerS-encoded proteins act as an aromatic-responsive germination receptor.