甲基丙二酰辅酶A 变位酶表达载体的构建及初步表达

目的:克隆表达甲基丙二酰辅酶A变位酶(MCM)蛋白,为进一步研究相关基因突变对功能的影响机制奠定基础。方法:自人外周血淋巴细胞中提取总RNA、逆转录,并与pET32a构建融合蛋白原核表达载体;优化蛋白表达诱导条件;经SDS-PAGE、WesternBlot检测目的蛋白的表达。结果:经酶切鉴定并经测序证实获得全长2210bp的甲基丙二酰辅酶A变位酶基因(MUT),并成功构建融合蛋白原核表达载体,SDS-PAGE在102 kDa处获得目的条带,Western Blot检测确定为MCM表达蛋白。结论:成功克隆表达出MCM表达蛋白。     

工程改造龟裂链霉菌提高土霉素产量

土霉素是由龟裂链霉菌合成的一类广谱性抗生素,前期研究工作证明其生物合成受其自身途径特异性调控蛋白OtcR的直接调节,OtcR能够激活和促进土霉素合成基因簇的转录表达。在龟裂链霉菌M4018宿主内利用强启动子单独过表达OtcR蛋白,使土霉素的产量提高到原来产量的4倍;为了进一步提高土霉素产量,在M4108宿主内表达乙酰辅酶A羧化酶基因,提高其胞内土霉素合成的前体物丙二酸单酰辅酶A的含量。对出发菌株M4018进行工程改造,同时过表达途径特异性调控蛋白OtcR和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶,发酵检测改造后的重组工程菌株土霉素的产量由1.37g/L提高到9.09g/L,该研究策略对工程改造龟裂链霉菌提高土霉素的产量具有重要的指导意义。     

乙酰辅酶A合成代谢对酿酒酵母生理功能的影响

【目的】研究酿酒酵母(Saccharomycesc erevisiae)中乙酰辅酶A合成酶基因ACS1和ACS2的生理作用。【方法】将来源于S.cerevisiae的ACS1和ACS2分别进行过量表达,研究过量表达ACS1和ACS2后S.cerevisiae胞内乙酰辅酶A含量、ATP水平、甲羟戊酸途径转录和乙醇耐受性等生理学特性变化。【结果】与出发菌株相比,过量表达ACS1和ACS2使得:(1)胞内乙酰辅酶A含量提高了2.19倍(ACS1)和5.02倍(ACS2);(2)胞内ATP含量提高了3.93倍(ACS1)和2.05倍(ACS2);(3)甲羟戊酸途径8个关键基因表达量显著上调;(4)S.cerevisiae对乙醇胁迫抵御能力显著增强。过量表达ACS1对乙醇胁迫的耐受能力强于过量表达ACS2。【结论】增加胞内乙酰辅酶A的含量可以显著增加甲羟戊酸途径碳代谢流量,并增强S.cerevisiae对发酵过程主要副产物乙醇的耐受能力。     

提高光滑球拟酵母乙酰辅酶A水平促进a-酮戊二酸合成

【目的】为了了解光滑球拟酵母中乙酰辅酶A含量对其碳代谢及其通量的影响。【方法】将来源于酿酒酵母中编码乙酰辅酶A合成酶ACS2基因过量表达于发酵法生产丙酮酸的生产菌株Torulopsis glabrata中,获得了一株乙酰辅酶A合成酶活性提高9.2倍(1.20 U/mg protein)的重组菌T. glabrata ACS2-1。【结果】与出发菌株WSH-IP303相比,重组菌T. glabrata ACS2-1：(1)能以乙酸为唯一碳源在胞内积累0.94 mmol/(L·g DCW)的乙酰辅酶A;(2)以葡萄糖为唯一碳源时胞内乙酰辅酶A浓度、a-酮戊二酸产量和Ca-KG/Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303 的3.22、2.05和2.52倍;(3)在葡萄糖培养基中添加4 g/L乙酸,使乙酰辅酶A浓度、a-酮戊二酸产量和Ca-KG/Cpyr是出发菌株WSH-IP303的4.55、2.47和3.75倍,a-酮戊二酸浓度达到17.8 g/L。【结论】这一结果表明,改变细胞内关键辅因子的浓度能使碳代谢流的流向与通量发生改变,从积累丙酮酸转向过量积累a-酮戊二酸。     

热稳定酯酰辅酶A合成酶的异源表达及酶学特性

【目的】为寻找能合成丙酰辅酶A和丁酰辅酶A等聚酮合成前体的生物催化剂,用体外酶学实验对一个酯酰辅酶A合成酶进行了表征。【方法】利用丙二酰辅酶A合成酶作为输入序列,通过BLAST程序在Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis OL的基因组中找到1个酯酰辅酶A合成酶基因。在大肠杆菌中进行了异源表达,并通过亲和层析进行纯化。底物谱、最适反应条件、稳定性和动力学参数通过体外酶学实验进行表征,而定点突变则用于活性中心的氨基酸残基的分析。【结果】该酶具有较好的底物宽泛性,可识别丙酸、丁酸、2-甲基丙酸、戊酸、3-甲基丁酸、2-甲基丁酸以及环己甲酸等一系列单酸。反应最适温度为30°C,最适p H为7.0。70°C保温8 h后仍有45%的活性残留,表明该酶相对比较稳定。通过活性中心3个位点的定点突变可以改变酶的底物特异性。【结论】C.owensensis OL来源的酯酰辅酶A合成酶是潜在的生物催化剂,可以用于聚酮前体的合成。     

乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中保守的色氨酸残基的生化功能（英文）北大核心CSCD

甲烷菌与甲烷八叠球菌是仅有的两种已知利用乙酸盐进行甲烷生成的菌属。稻田以及厌氧的废物分解物是甲烷生物生成的主要来源。甲烷菌在自然界广泛分布,相比甲烷八叠球菌,在低乙酸盐的环境中对乙酸盐仍有高亲和力。在甲烷生成第一步即将乙酸盐转化为乙酰辅酶A的过程中,与甲烷八叠球菌利用乙酸激酶与磷酸转乙酰酶激活途径不同,甲烷菌通过腺嘌呤形成乙酰辅酶A合成酶进行催化。在甲烷菌一属(Methanosaeta concilii)中,共发现5个乙酰辅酶A合成酶的编码基因,其中3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的生化及酶活特性已被确定。该3种乙酰辅酶A合成酶均以乙酸盐为其最优底物。尽管在短链乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族中,发现酰基底物结合位点高度保守,但乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酰基底物范围极为广泛。本研究对甲烷菌中不同种乙酰辅酶A合成酶的酰基底物结合位点的关键氨基酸进行识别与比较,从而对乙酰辅酶A合成酶家族的酶活特性有更全面深入的了解。首先,我们对甲烷菌一属中乙酰辅酶A合成酶4进行生化性质测定。结果表明,该酶无催化一系列酰基底物为酰基辅酶A或其中间产物酰基腺苷酸的活性。通过序列对比发现,嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中高度保守的416位色氨酸残基在甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中被替换成528位苯丙氨酸残基。将甲烷菌一属的乙酰辅酶A合成酶4中的528位苯丙氨酸残基点突变为色氨酸残基后,进行酶学性质测定,未检测到该突变体具有乙酰辅酶A/乙酰腺苷酸合成活性。我们进一步对嗜热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1中的416位色氨酸残基点突变为苯丙氨酸残基,酶活性质结果显示,突变酶对于乙酸盐以及丙酸盐作为底物时的活性未有明显差异。然而,以丙酸盐为底物时,释放丙酰腺苷酸中间产物。该结果表明,热自养甲烷杆菌的乙酰辅酶A合成酶1对于底物乙酸盐或丙酸盐的催化作用不甚相同,苯丙氨酸中的苯甲酰环降低该酶保留中间产物丙酰腺苷酸,从而转化为丙酰辅酶A的能力。     

强化乙酰辅酶A供应对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸的影响

细胞液中乙酰辅酶A的持续供应是脂肪酸高效积累的必要条件。考虑到甲羟戊酸和脂肪酸合成途径共用相同的前体乙酰辅酶A,抑制甲羟戊酸途径可能促使更多的乙酰辅酶A流向脂肪酸合成。通过添加前体物质或/和甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂以强化乙酰辅酶A的供应,即在裂殖壶菌发酵起始或/和后期添加乙酸、发酵起始添加甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂辛伐他汀或柠檬酸、发酵起始同时添加乙酸和辛伐他汀或柠檬酸并考察其对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA)的影响,结果发现发酵起始同时添加6mmol/L的乙酸和1μmol/L的辛伐他汀时,DHA产量最高,达到13.21g/L,比对照提高了46.61%。     

乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在治疗肥胖中的潜在作用

肥胖作为一种疾病引起了世界各国越来越多的重视。目前,对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的研究表明,该酶和肥胖的发生有着重大关系．脂肪的代谢异常是导致肥胖的重要原因之一。乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是脂肪代谢过程中的一种重要的调节酶．它的产物丙二酰辅酶A的含量在一定程度上控制着脂肪酸的代谢。因此对乙酰辅酶A羧化酶的深入研究很可能为肥胖的治疗提供新的医疗手段。该文介绍乙酰辅酶A羧化酶在脂肪代谢中的作用、分类与调控．以及当前国际上对其研究的最新进展。     

力复霉素前体甲基丙二酰CoA合成途径的研究

力复霉素合成的碳前体之一(2R)—甲基丙二酰CoA至少可以有三条酶学合成途径。三条途径中的关键酶分别为甲基丙二酰CoA转羧基酶、丙二酰CoA羧化酶、甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶和甲基丙二酰CoA消旋酶。通过比较各个酶活性的时间进程和力复霉素合成时间的相关性,以及各个酶的底物亲合力,对它们在地中海拟无枝酸菌(Amycolatopsis mediterranei)甲基丙二酰CoA合成中的贡献作了排序,发现甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶途径是主要负责酶系。但是各个途径的贡献排序并不是固定不变的,能受到环境因素的调控,丙酸盐的加入将抑制甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶活力,而使得甲基丙二酰CoA转羧基酶成为主要酶系。甲基丙二酰CoA合成途径的多样性有助于细胞对环境变化的灵活反应。此外,对各个酶的调控特性也进行了研究。     

前体代谢工程提高红霉素产量的研究进展

红霉素是十四元大环内酯类抗生素,具有广泛的医药价值和巨大的新药开发潜力。红霉素的主要成分红霉素A由丙酰辅酶A和甲基丙二酰辅酶A作为前体通过聚酮合酶合成大环内酯骨架,再经羟基化、糖基化、甲基化等一系列修饰合成。根据红霉素A的生物合成路线,我们从前体喂养途径、糖基化和甲基化优化等方面,简要综述近年来利用前体代谢工程手段提高红霉素产量的研究进展。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.

     

New geographical distribution and host records of rust fungi from northern Thailand

Ten species of rust fungi (Crossopsora 2, Maravalia 1, Pileolaria 1, Puccinia 1, Ravenelia 1, Sphaerophragmium 1, Uredo 2, and Uromyces 1) are newly recorded together with six new host plants in Thailand.Contribution no. 194, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.