过表达tRNA基因tL(CAA)K提高酿酒酵母乙酸耐受性

乙酸是木质纤维素类生物质水解液中的常见毒性抑制物,选育乙酸耐受性好的酿酒酵母菌株,有利于高效利用木质纤维素类生物质,发酵生产生物燃料和生物基化学品。目前对酿酒酵母抗逆性的研究多集中在转录水平,但对转运RNA (Transfer RNA,tRNA) 在耐受性中的作用研究较少。在对酿酒酵母抗逆性研究过程中发现,一些转运RNA基因在耐受性好的酿酒酵母菌株中转录明显上调。本文深入分析了精氨酸tRNA基因tR(ACG)D和亮氨酸tRNA基因tL(CAA)K过表达对酿酒酵母耐受木质纤维素水解液的影响。结果表明,在4.2 g/L乙酸胁迫条件下进行乙醇发酵时,过表达tL(CAA)K的菌株生长和发酵性能均优于对照酵母菌株,乙醇生产强度比对照菌株提高了29.41%,但过表达tR(ACG)D基因的菌株生长和代谢能力较对照菌株明显降低,体现了不同tRNA的不同调控作用。进一步分析发现,过表达tL(CAA)K的重组酵母菌株乙酸耐受性调控相关基因HAA1、MSN2和MSN4等胁迫耐受性相关转录因子编码基因的转录水平上调。本文的研究为选育高效利用木质纤维素资源进行生物炼制的酵母菌株提供了新的改造策略,也为进一步揭示酿酒酵母tRNA基因表达调控对抗逆性的影响提供了基础。     

Genetic dissection of ethanol tolerance in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Uncovering genetic control of variation in ethanol tolerance in natural populations of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for understanding the evolution of fermentation, the dominant lifestyle of the species, and for improving efficiency of selection for strains with high ethanol tolerance, a character of great economic value for the brewing and biofuel industries. To date, as many as 251 genes have been predicted to be involved in influencing this character. Candidacy of these genes was determined from a tested phenotypic effect following gene knockout, from an induced change in gene function under an ethanol stress condition, or by mutagenesis. This article represents the first genomics approach for dissecting genetic variation in ethanol tolerance between two yeast strains with a highly divergent trait phenotype. We developed a simple but reliable experimental protocol for scoring the phenotype and a set of STR/SNP markers evenly covering the whole genome. We created a mapping population comprising 319 segregants from crossing the parental strains. On the basis of the data sets, we find that the tolerance trait has a high heritability and that additive genetic variance dominates genetic variation of the trait. Segregation at five QTL detected has explained approximately 50% of phenotypic variation; in particular, the major QTL mapped on yeast chromosome 9 has accounted for a quarter of the phenotypic variation. We integrated the QTL analysis with the predicted candidacy of ethanol resistance genes and found that only a few of these candidates fall in the QTL regions.     

利用人工锌指文库选育高乙醇耐受性工业酵母菌株

选育高乙醇耐性的酿酒酵母菌株对提高燃料乙醇的发酵效率具有重要意义.锌指蛋白广泛存在于多种生物中,对基因的转录和翻译起重要的调节作用.利用人工设计的锌指蛋白可定向设计锌指序列及其排列顺序,实现对细胞内多个基因的全局调控.由于与环境胁迫反应相关的基因很多,因此可利用人工锌指蛋白技术获得耐受性提高的微生物重组菌.文中将人工锌指文库转入到酿酒酵母模式菌株S288c,选育了具有高乙醇耐受性的重组菌株M01,并分离了与乙醇耐受性提高相关的人工锌指蛋白表达载体pRS316ZFP-M01,转入工业酿酒酵母Sc4126,在含有不同浓度乙醇的平板上,工业酵母Sc4126的重组菌株表现出显著的耐受性提高.在高糖培养基(250 g/L)条件下进行乙醇发酵,发现重组菌的乙醇发酵效率明显快于野生型,发酵时间提前24 h,且发酵终点乙醇浓度提高6.3％.结果表明人工锌指文库能够提高酵母的乙醇耐受性,为构建发酵性能优良的酵母菌种奠定了基础.     

Genome-wide expression profile of sake brewing yeast under shaking and static conditions

To identify the genes responsible for characteristics, that are different as between sake brewing yeasts and laboratory yeast strains, we used a DNA microarray to compare the genome-wide gene expression profiles of a sake yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae K-9 (kyokai 9), and a laboratory yeast, S. cerevisiae X2180-1A, under shaking and static conditions.The genes overexpressed in K-9 more than in X2180-1A were related to C-metabolism, including the HXT, ATP, and COX genes, ergosterol biosynthesis, ERG genes, and thiamine metabolism, THI genes. These genes may contribute to higher growth rates and fermentation ability and the ethanol tolerance of sake yeast.The genes underexpressed in K-9 more than in X2180-1A were CUP1-1 and CUP1-2, PHO genes, which may explain the low copper tolerance and low acid phosphatase activity of sake yeast. These underexpressed genes agree with the features and the alteration of the genome structure of sake yeast.     

Analysis of adaptation to high ethanol concentration in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> using DNA microarray

In industrial process, yeast cells are exposed to ethanol stress that affects the cell growth and the productivity. Thus, investigating the intracellular state of yeast cells under high ethanol concentration is important. In this study, using DNA microarray analysis, we performed comprehensive expression profiling of two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, i.e., the ethanol-adapted strain that shows active growth under the ethanol stress condition and its parental strain used as the control. By comparing the expression profiles of these two strains under the ethanol stress condition, we found that the genes related to ribosomal proteins were highly up-regulated in the ethanol-adapted strain. Further, genes related to ATP synthesis in mitochondria were suggested to be important for growth under ethanol stress. We expect that the results will provide a better understanding of ethanol tolerance of yeast. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Molecular mechanisms of yeast tolerance and in situ detoxification of lignocellulose hydrolysates

Pretreatment of lignocellulose biomass for biofuel production generates inhibitory compounds that interfere with microbial growth and subsequent fermentation. Remediation of the inhibitors by current physical, chemical, and biological abatement means is economically impractical, and overcoming the inhibitory effects of lignocellulose hydrolysate poses a significant technical challenge for lower-cost cellulosic ethanol production. Development of tolerant ethanologenic yeast strains has demonstrated the potential of in situ detoxification for numerous aldehyde inhibitors derived from lignocellulose biomass pretreatment and conversion. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in understanding mechanisms of yeast tolerance for tolerant strain development. Enriched genetic backgrounds, enhanced expression, interplays, and global integration of many key genes enable yeast tolerance. Reprogrammed pathways support yeast functions to withstand the inhibitor stress, detoxify the toxic compounds, maintain energy and redox balance, and complete active metabolism for ethanol fermentation. Complex gene interactions and regulatory networks as well as co-regulation are well recognized as involved in yeast adaptation and tolerance. This review presents our current knowledge on mechanisms of the inhibitor detoxification based on molecular studies and genomic-based approaches. Our improved understanding of yeast tolerance and in situ detoxification provide insight into phenotype-genotype relationships, dissection of tolerance mechanisms, and strategies for more tolerant strain development for biofuels applications.     

大肠杆菌色氨酸生物合成途径关键酶的调控

为了通过基因工程手段提高大肠杆菌色氨酸产量, 对色氨酸生物合成途径中的关键基因trpR、tnaA、aroG和trpED进行了改造.首先通过敲除trpR基因解除了基因组上色氨酸合成和转运关键酶受到的反馈阻遏调控, 进而又敲除了tnaA基因, 阻断了色氨酸的分解代谢.然后, 将色氨酸合成途径的关键酶aroGfbr和trpEDfbr基因串联表达, 以去除色氨酸生物合成途径的瓶颈.与对照MG1655相比, trpR基因单敲菌色氨酸浓度提高了10倍, 双敲菌色氨酸浓度提高了约20倍.pZE12-trpEDfbr转入双敲菌后色氨酸浓度提高到168 mg/L, 而将aroGfbr和trpEDfbr转入双敲菌后, 色氨酸浓度提高到820 mg/L.为构建色氨酸高产菌奠定了基础.     

大肠杆菌色氨酸生物合成途径关键酶的调控

为了通过基因工程手段提高大肠杆菌色氨酸产量, 对色氨酸生物合成途径中的关键基因trpR、tnaA、aroG和trpED进行了改造。首先通过敲除trpR基因解除了基因组上色氨酸合成和转运关键酶受到的反馈阻遏调控, 进而又敲除了tnaA基因, 阻断了色氨酸的分解代谢。然后, 将色氨酸合成途径的关键酶aroGfbr和trpEDfbr基因串联表达, 以去除色氨酸生物合成途径的瓶颈。与对照MG1655相比, trpR基因单敲菌色氨酸浓度提高了10倍, 双敲菌色氨酸浓度提高了约20倍。pZE12-trpEDfbr转入双敲菌后色氨酸浓度提高到168 mg/L, 而将aroGfbr和trpEDfbr转入双敲菌后, 色氨酸浓度提高到820 mg/L。为构建色氨酸高产菌奠定了基础。     

酵母SOD1基因缺失突变体应答刚果红胁迫的转录组学分析

SOD1基因编码的铜锌超氧化物歧化酶是酵母细胞中最重要的抗氧化酶. 前期研究发现,SOD1基因缺失(sod1Δ)导致酵母细胞对真菌细胞壁抑制剂刚果红(Congo red, CR)的敏感性增加,提示细胞抗氧化能力与细胞壁稳定性相关. 本研究采用酵母全基因组表达谱芯片,比较了CR胁迫条件下,野生型酵母细胞和sod1Δ酵母细胞的转录表达谱. 结果表明,与野生型酵母细胞相比,sod1Δ酵母细胞中260个基因发生了显著差异表达(140个基因表达上调、120个基因表达下调). 随机选取12个差异表达基因采用定量PCR验证,结果与芯片分析结果一致. 差异表达基因功能主要涉及细胞壁(几丁质合成)、细胞代谢、细胞防御(抗氧化和热冲击蛋白)、蛋白质合成以及大量功能未知基因. 进一步研究发现,CR处理后,细胞壁几丁质含量和细胞内氧化应激指标丙二醛(MDA)含量在sod1Δ酵母细胞中显著升高,而在野生型酵母细胞中无明显变化,与芯片筛选差异表达基因的生物学功能分析结果一致. 本研究提供了在全基因组水平上对SOD1基因与细胞壁应激反应之间关联的新认识.     

Transcriptome analysis identifies genes involved in ethanol response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Agave tequilana juice

During ethanol fermentation, yeast cells are exposed to stress due to the accumulation of ethanol, cell growth is altered and the output of the target product is reduced. For Agave beverages, like tequila, no reports have been published on the global gene expression under ethanol stress. In this work, we used microarray analysis to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes involved in the ethanol response. Gene expression of a tequila yeast strain of S. cerevisiae (AR5) was explored by comparing global gene expression with that of laboratory strain S288C, both after ethanol exposure. Additionally, we used two different culture conditions, cells grown in Agave tequilana juice as a natural fermentation media or grown in yeast-extract peptone dextrose as artificial media. Of the 6368 S. cerevisiae genes in the microarray, 657 genes were identified that had different expression responses to ethanol stress due to strain and/or media. A cluster of 28 genes was found over-expressed specifically in the AR5 tequila strain that could be involved in the adaptation to tequila yeast fermentation, 14 of which are unknown such as yor343c, ylr162w, ygr182c, ymr265c, yer053c-a or ydr415c. These could be the most suitable genes for transforming tequila yeast to increase ethanol tolerance in the tequila fermentation process. Other genes involved in response to stress (RFC4, TSA1, MLH1, PAU3, RAD53) or transport (CYB2, TIP20, QCR9) were expressed in the same cluster. Unknown genes could be good candidates for the development of recombinant yeasts with ethanol tolerance for use in industrial tequila fermentation.     

Effects of culture conditions on ergosterol biosynthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ergosterol is an essential component of yeast cells that maintains the integrity of the membrane. It was investigated as an important factor in the ethanol tolerance of yeast cells. We investigated the effects of brewing conditions on the ergosterol contents of S. cerevisiae K-9, sake yeast, several kinds of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that produce more than 20% ethanol, and X2180-1A, laboratory yeast. K-9 had a higher total ergosterol contents under all the conditions we examined than X2180-1A. Ethanol and hypoxia were found to have negative and synergistic effects on the total ergosterol contents of both strains, and significantly reduced the free ergosterol contents of X2180-1A but only slightly reduced those of K-9. The maintenance of free ergosterol contents under brewing conditions might be an important character of sake yeast strains. DNA microarray analysis also showed higher expression of ergosterol biosynthesis genes in K-9 than in X2180-1A.     

Comprehensive phenotypic analysis for identification of genes affecting growth under ethanol stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We quantified the growth behavior of all available single gene deletion strains of budding yeast under ethanol stress. Genome-wide analyses enabled the extraction of the genes and determination of the functional categories required for growth under this condition. Statistical analyses revealed that the growth of 446 deletion strains under stress induced by 8% ethanol was defective. We classified these deleted genes into known functional categories, and found that many were important for growth under ethanol stress including several categories that have not been characterized, such as peroxisome. We also performed genome-wide screening under osmotic stress and identified 329 osmotic-sensitive strains. We excluded these strains from the 446 ethanol-sensitive strains to extract the genes whose deletion caused sensitivity to ethanol-specific (359 genes), osmotic-specific (242 genes), and both stresses (87 genes). We also extracted the functional categories that are specifically important for growth under ethanol stress. The genes and functional categories identified in the analysis might provide clues to improving ethanol stress tolerance among yeast cells.     

絮凝酵母海藻糖合成酶基因TPS1启动子区的克隆和乙醇胁迫下启动子活性的变化

提高生物能源生产菌株对各种胁迫因素的耐受性对于提高生产过程的经济性和高效生产生物能源具有重要的意义。对酿酒酵母乙醇耐性的分子机制的研究,可揭示影响其耐受性的关键基因,并通过代谢工程操作定向提高酵母菌的乙醇耐受性,从而提高燃料乙醇的生产效率。海藻糖对酵母菌在多种环境胁迫下的细胞活性具有保护作用,但其对乙醇耐性分子机制的研究还不够深入。克隆了自絮凝酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae flo的海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因TPS1的启动子区域,利用pYES2.0载体骨架,构建了PTPS1启动绿色荧光蛋白EGFP标记基因的报告载体,并转化酿酒酵母ATCC4126。对酵母转化子在含有7%和10%乙醇的生长培养基中的EGFP的表达情况进行相对荧光定量分析,发现PTPS1活性在7%乙醇存在下受到强烈诱导。EGFP表达量对高温和高糖胁迫无明显差别,显示了TPS1启动子对乙醇浓度的特异响应。研究结果表明,絮凝酵母海藻糖的合成是对乙醇胁迫的保护性反应。     

Gene expression analysis of cold and freeze stress in Baker's yeast

We used mRNA differential display to assess yeast gene expression under cold or freeze shock stress conditions. We found both up- and down-regulation of genes, although repression was more common. We identified and sequenced several cold-induced genes exhibiting the largest differences. We confirmed, by Northern blotting, the specificity of the response for TPI1, which encodes triose-phosphate isomerase; ERG10, the gene for acetoacetyl coenzyme A thiolase; and IMH1, which encodes a protein implicated in protein transport. These genes also were induced under other stress conditions, suggesting that this cold response is mediated by a general stress mechanism. We determined the physiological significance of the cold-induced expression change of these genes in two baker's yeast strains with different sensitivities to freeze stress. The mRNA level of TPI1 and ERG10 genes was higher in freeze-stressed than in control samples of the tolerant strain. In contrast, both genes were repressed in frozen cells of the sensitive strain. Next, we examined the effects of ERG10 overexpression on cold and freeze-thaw tolerance. Growth of wild-type cells at 10 degrees C was not affected by high ERG10 expression. However, YEpERG10 transformant cells exhibited increased freezing tolerance. Consistent with this, cells of an erg10 mutant strain showed a clear phenotype of cold and freeze sensitivity. These results give support to the idea that a cause-and-effect relationship between differentially expressed genes and cryoresistance exists in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and open up the possibility of design strategies to improve the freeze tolerance of baker's yeast.