红平红球菌复苏促进因子基因克隆及功能域分析

复苏促进因子(Rpf)广泛存在于高G+C含量的革兰氏阳性细菌中,与细菌生长及抵抗不良环境有关,不同细菌Rpf种类和数量有一定差异。红平红球菌(Rhodococcus erythropolis)KB1分离自石油污染土壤,具有高效石油降解能力和环境适应性。为探索Rpf在红平红球菌KB1适应环境过程中作用,设计了复苏因子基因特异引物,从红平红球菌KB1基因组DNA扩增出4种rpf基因。序列分析发现4种基因分别与藤黄微球菌(Micrococcus luteus)rpf基因,结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)rpfB、rpfC及链霉菌(Streptomyces coelicolor)rpfB相似性较高。4个rpf基因编码蛋白都有一个类似Mt细胞复苏促进因子Rpf域,由大约70个氨基酸组成。其中Rpf-1与结核分枝杆菌、链霉菌RpfC相似,只含1个Rpf结构域;Rpf-2与结核分枝杆菌RpfB相似,含有1个Rpf域、1个G5域和2个DUF348;Rpf-3与链霉菌RpfB相似,含有1个Rpf域、G5域和3个DUF348;Rpf-4与藤黄微球菌Rpf相似,含1个Rpf域和1个LysM域。Rpf-2、Rpf-3含信号肽序列,Rpf-1、Rpf-4不含信号肽。     

结核分枝杆菌RPF样蛋白家族及其功能

上世纪末,Mukamolova等从藤黄微球菌（Micrococcus luteus）发现一种分泌蛋白-复苏促进因子（Rpf）.该因子在皮摩尔浓度下能促进休眠期的藤黄微球菌及其他数种高G＋C含量的革兰氏阳性菌复苏和生长.结核分枝杆菌全基因组发现和该因子同源性较高的5个基因,预测产物都是分泌蛋白,一级结构都含有一个转糖基域.5个基因有一个共同的功能未知的域,3级结构预测该保守结构域和溶菌酶同源.重组表达的Rpf对不同种均有活性.5个rpf在不同生长时期均有表达,但调控有差异.     

小菜蛾溶菌酶Pxlys的基因克隆及其 重组蛋白的抗菌活性分析

【目的】本研究旨在通过研究小菜蛾Plutella xylostella溶菌酶的功能,进一步认识小菜蛾的免疫防御机理,为小菜蛾的生物防治提供新的思路。【方法】利用RACE技术克隆小菜蛾溶菌酶基因。构建原核表达载体pET-29a-Pxlys,利用原核表达系统表达并用镍柱亲和层析纯化重组蛋白Pxlys。利用牛津杯法检测重组蛋白Pxlys对停滞棒杆菌Corynebacterium stationis、藤黄微球菌Micrococcus luteus、金黄色葡萄球菌Staphyloccocus aureus、大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、志贺氏菌Shigella sp.、沙门氏菌Salmonella sp.和苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis的抑菌活性,并利用扫描电子显微镜观察重组蛋白Pxlys对停滞棒杆菌和大肠杆菌的溶菌特征。【结果】克隆获得开放阅读框长423 bp的小菜蛾溶菌酶基因Pxlys(GenBank登录号： MN702780)序列,它编码140个氨基酸,相对分子质量为15.79 kD。抑菌试验表明,重组蛋白Pxlys不仅对革兰氏阳性细菌的停滞棒杆菌、藤黄微球菌和金黄色葡萄球菌有较强的抑菌活性(抑菌圈直径分别为20.0±1.1, 19.0±0.5和16.5±0.5 mm),而且对革兰氏阴性细菌大肠杆菌、志贺氏菌和沙门氏菌也有抑菌活性(抑菌圈直径分别为16.3±0.5, 15.0±0.5和14.0±1.1 mm),重组蛋白Pxlys对革兰氏阳性细菌比对革兰氏阴性细菌表现出更强的抑菌活性。另外,重组蛋白Pxlys还表现出对苏云金芽胞杆菌的抑菌活性。扫描电子显微镜下,经重组蛋白Pxlys处理过的停滞棒杆菌和大肠杆菌的溶菌特征不同。【结论】Pxlys具有广谱的抗微生物活性,其对革兰氏阳性细菌和革兰氏阴性细菌的抑菌机理可能存在不同。研究结果为深入研究小菜蛾免疫防御系统提供基础。     

异源表达的幽门螺杆菌cag4蛋白有溶菌糖基转移酶活性

摘要【目的】构建融合基因原核表达载体pET-28a- cag4,并表达重组融合蛋白cag4,分析重组融合蛋白的酶活性,为新型抗生素（或是抗菌药物）的研发提供作用靶位。【方法】本研究利用PCR技术从幽门螺杆菌NCTC11637中克隆了cag4基因;经T-A克隆,酶切鉴定,构建了原核表达载体pET-28a- cag4;经测序鉴定正确后,转化进入大肠埃希菌 BL21(DE3)进行异源表达。利用IPTG体外诱导后,经SDS-PAGE和Western Bolt鉴定目的蛋白表达后,采用Ni2＋-NTA柱在变性条件下纯化目的蛋白,并对重组蛋白进行透析复性处理。将SDS煮沸法获得的溶壁微球菌肽聚糖掺入SDS-PAGE作为底物,进行酶谱分析。【结果】在大肠埃希菌 BL21(DE3)中获得高效表达的重组蛋白; 经SDS-PAGE和Western Bolt鉴定表达后,采用Ni2＋-NTA柱在变性条件下纯化,并进行透析复性处理。将SDS煮沸法获得的溶壁微球菌肽聚糖掺入SDS-PAGE作为底物,进行酶谱分析,表明目的蛋白具有明显的肽聚糖水解活性; 通过监测浊度下降速率,比较其在不同pH条件下活性的变化,即?A/（min?mg protein）,结果表明,幽门螺杆菌cag4蛋白具有溶菌糖基转移酶活性。【结论】幽门螺杆菌cag4蛋白具有溶菌糖基转移酶活性。     

活的但非可培养功能菌群对多氯联苯降解的探索进展

活的但非可培养(“viable but non-culturable”,简称VBNC)状态是微生物应对各种环境压力的一种生存机制.面对日益严重的异生质污染问题,研究污染胁迫下VBNC状态菌的潜在环境功能具有重要意义.该文阐述了VBNC状态菌的研究现状,针对多氯联苯微生物降解存在的问题,重点介绍环境中潜在VBNC功能菌群的复苏培养.提出利用藤黄球菌(Micrococcus luteus)复苏促进因子(resuscitation-promoting factor,简称Rpf)探索具有潜在多氯联苯降解功能的VBNC状态菌群,为多氯联苯高效降解菌群的筛选提供新思路.同时,结合VBNC状态菌絮凝、硝化除臭等方面的探索研究,对VBNC状态菌的潜在环境功能进行了展望.     

家蚕丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂20的表达特征分析

【目的】原核表达家蚕Bombyx mori丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂20(Serine proteinase inhibitor 20,Bm Serpin-20),分析Bm Serpin-20基因和蛋白组织表达分布特点,以及不同外源病原物刺激家蚕后Bm Serpin-20基因的表达模式。【方法】利用p ET-28a表达载体在大肠杆菌Transetta(DE3)中融合表达Bm Serpin-20蛋白,利用纯化的重组蛋白作为抗原免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体,利用实时定量PCR技术及Western blot方法分别分析Bm Serpin-20基因和蛋白的组织表达水平,以及病原物免疫刺激后的表达模式。【结果】在大肠杆菌中正确表达和纯化了融合Bm Serpin-20蛋白,并制备了多克隆抗体;Bm Serpin-20基因和蛋白在脂肪体、中肠、血细胞、马氏管、表皮、睾丸、卵巢中均有表达,且在表皮中表达量最高;家蚕5龄幼虫经核型多角体病毒(Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses)、藤黄微球菌Micrococcus luteus、大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、白僵菌Beauveria bassiana处理后,Bm Serpin-20基因表达量先下调而后上调,但不同病原物在不同时间的影响不尽相同。【结论】研究了Bm Serpin-20基因和蛋白的表达模式,为下一步研究其在家蚕免疫系统中的作用奠定了基础。     

抗结核分枝杆菌RpfB结构域单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

目的:制备抗结核分枝杆菌Rpf B结构域单克隆抗体。方法:将p PRO-EXHT-Rpf B domain原核表达载体接种于大肠杆菌DH5中,用IPTG诱导表达Rpf B结构域蛋白,以纯化的Rpf B结构域蛋白作为免疫原,皮下包埋免疫小鼠3次,每次间隔2周;分离小鼠的脾细胞,与Sp2/0细胞融合,克隆化制备抗Rpf B结构域单抗,ELISA检测其效价,鉴定其特异性和相对亲和力,观察制备的抗Rpf B结构域单抗对Rpf家族其他蛋白的识别能力及其对结核分枝杆菌和藤黄微球菌的生长抑制作用。结果:制备了3株抗Rpf B结构域单抗,特异性高,亲和力较强,均能特异性识别Rpf B结构域。经小鼠腹腔注射制备腹水并纯化,获得了较高纯度的单抗,所制备的抗Rpf B结构域多肽的单克隆抗体可以识别多种Rpf样蛋白及其结构域蛋白。在抗体滴度为1∶1000时可有效抑制Rpf B结构域对结核分枝杆菌H37Ra和藤黄微球菌的生长促进作用,提示抗Rpf B结构域单抗可能会抑制进入机体内生长停滞或潜伏感染的结核分枝杆菌的再次激活,可能具有预防隐性感染复发的作用。结论:抗Rpf B结构域单抗的制备为进一步研究Rpf B结构域的生物学和免疫特性提供了实验工具。     

微生物VBNC状态形成及复苏机制

99%以上的微生物因处于活的但非可培养(viable but non-culturable,VBNC)状态而无法分离培养。复苏促进因子(resuscitation-promoting factors,Rpfs)是培养获取VBNC菌的最重要突破。结合课题组近十余年从环境功能视角利用Rpf复苏培养VBNC菌的研究,本文在阐述微生物VBNC状态的形成及复苏进展的基础上,从VBNC菌形成及复苏过程出发,探究"探索因子"与群体感应的内在关系。并总结了课题组利用Rpf所复苏培养的具有潜在环境功能的VBNC菌种。本论文将为揭示微生物VBNC状态的形成及复苏机制提供新的思路,并为认识和重新评价Rpf法复苏培养VBNC菌在污染环境微生物修复中的作用提供理论依据。     

Rpf蛋白：一种激活休眠状态放线菌的复苏促进因子

放线菌能产生多样性丰富的小分子化合物，但大多数放线菌因为处于“活的尚未培养”状态而无法分离培养。造成“活的尚未培养”状态的原因之一可能是由于一些环境因素，例如有机物、重金属、抗生素等胁迫使细胞处于休眠保护状态，直到遇到适宜的条件才能继续复苏生长。复苏促进因子（Resuscitation-Promoting Factor，Rpf）是由某些放线菌分泌的一类蛋白质，首次在藤黄微球菌（Micrococcus luteus）中发现，之后人们对Rpf蛋白的功能和分布给予了更多的关注。Rpf蛋白能促进一些休眠的革兰氏阳性细菌复苏，这为“活的尚未培养”放线菌的分离培养提供了可能性。同时，针对一些致病放线菌物种，开发Rpf蛋白抑制物为相关疾病的治疗也提供了一条新的途径。基于此，本文对Rpf蛋白的结构组成、特征功能、作用机制及应用前景进行了简要的概述。     

斜卧青霉L-06内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基因的克隆与表达

【目的】克隆斜卧青霉L-06的内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基因(egI),并实现其在大肠杆菌内的高效表达。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术克隆了斜卧青霉L-06的内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基因(egI),并将egI基因克隆到原核表达载体中,构建了重组质粒pET32a-egI。【结果】转化至大肠埃希菌Rosetta(DE3),经IPTG诱导重组蛋白表达,SDS-PAGE检测结果表明:重组表达产物的相对分子质量约为80 kD,与预期相符。重组表达的菌悬液,经破碎离心,取其上清液,进行纤维素酶活性染色,获得了活性条带。DNS法测得内切酶活力为2.56 IU/mL。【结论】构建了斜卧青霉L-06内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ的原核表达系统。     

Extracellular product of Nocardia amarae induces bacterial cell flocculation

The fact that Nocardia amarae YK1 produced a bacterial flocculation-inducing substance (designated as FIX) was discovered. FIX had a function of flocculating proliferous cells. FIX-induced flocculation was inhibited by making cells resting, but not completely by adding chloramphenicol. FIX worked widely on Gram-positive to -negative bacteria. In the presence of FIX, Achromobacter cycloclastus IAM1013, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus IAM1517, Bacillus subtilis IAM1069, Escherichia coli C600-1, E. coli IAM1239, Flavobacterium lutescens IAM1667, Klebsiella pneumoniae IAM1102, Micrococcus luteus IAM1313 and Pseudomonas putida IAM1002 formed flocs. B. cereus IAM1029, however, exhibited no flocculation.     

Exploring the potential environmental functions of viable but non-culturable bacteria

A conventional plate count is the most commonly employed method to estimate the number of living bacteria in environmental samples. In fact, judging the level of viable culture by plate count is limited, because it is often several orders of magnitude less than the number of living bacteria actually present. Most of the bacteria are in “viable but non-culturable” (VBNC) state, whose cells are intact and alive and can resuscitate when surrounding conditions are more favorable. The most exciting recent development in resuscitating VBNC bacteria is a bacterial cytokine, namely, the resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf), secreted by Micrococcus luteus, which promotes the resuscitation and growth of high G+C Gram-positive organisms, including some species of the genus Mycobacterium. However, most of studies deal with VBNC bacteria only from the point of view of medicine and epidemiology. It is therefore of great significance to research whether these VBNC state bacteria also possess some useful environmental capabilities, such as degradation, flocculation, etc. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible environmental role of the VBNC bacteria, rather than only considering their role as potential pathogens from the point view of epidemiology and public health. We have studied the resuscitation of these VBNC bacteria in polluted environments by adding culture supernatant containing Rpf from M. luteus, and it was found that, as a huge microbial resource, VBNC bacteria could provide important answers to dealing with existing problems of environmental pollution. This mini-review will provide new insight for considering the potentially environmental functions of VBNC bacteria.     

The rpf gene of Micrococcus luteus encodes an essential secreted growth factor

Micrococcus luteus secretes a small protein called Rpf, which has autocrine and paracrine signalling functions and is required for the resuscitation of dormant cells. Originally isolated from the supernatant of actively growing cultures, Rpf was also detected on the surface of actively growing bacteria. Most molecules may be sequestered non-productively at the cell surface, as a truncated form of the protein, encompassing only the 'Rpf domain' is fully active. The C-terminal LysM module, which probably mediates binding to the cell envelope, is not required for biological activity. Rpf was essential for growth of M. luteus. Washed cells, inoculated at low density into a minimal medium, could not grow in its absence. Moreover, the incorporation of anti-Rpf antibodies into the culture medium at the time of inoculation also prevented bacterial growth. We were unable to inactivate rpf using a disrupted form of the gene, in which most of the coding sequence was replaced with a selectable thiostrepton resistance marker. Gene disruption was possible in the presence of a second, functional, plasmid-located copy of rpf, but not in the presence of a rpf derivative whose protein product lacked the secretory signal sequence. As far as we are aware, Rpf is the first example of a truly secreted protein that is essential for bacterial growth. If the Rpf-like proteins elaborated by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria prove similarly essential, interference with their proper functioning may offer novel opportunities for protecting against, and treating, tuberculosis and other mycobacterial disease.     

Evaluation of Rpf protein of Micrococcus luteus for cultivation of soil actinobacteria

Rpf protein, a kind of resuscitation promoting factor, was first found in the culture supernatant of Micrococcus luteus. It can resuscitate the growth of M. luteus in “viable but non-culture, VBNC” state and promote the growth of Gram-positive bacteria with high G + C content. This paper investigates the resuscitating activity of M. luteus ACCC 41016^T Rpf protein, which was heterologously expressed in E. coli, to cells of M. luteus ACCC 41016^T and Rhodococcus marinonascens HBUM200062 in VBNC state, and examines the effect on the cultivation of actinobacteria in soil. The results showed that the recombinant Rpf protein had resuscitation effect on M. luteus ACCC 41016^T and R. marinonascens HBUM200062 in VBNC state. 83 strains of actinobacteria, which were distributed in 9 families and 12 genera, were isolated from the experimental group with recombinant Rpf protein in the culture medium. A total of 41 strains of bacteria, which were distributed in 8 families and 9 genera, were isolated from the control group without Rpf protein. The experimental group showed richer species diversity than the control group. Two rare actinobacteria, namely HBUM206391^T and HBUM206404^T, were obtained in the experimental group supplemented with Rpf protein. Both may be potential new species of Actinomadura and Actinokineospora, indicating that the recombinant expression of M. luteus ACCC 41016^T Rpf protein can effectively promote the isolation and culture of actinobacteria in soil.     

Muralytic activity of Micrococcus luteus Rpf and its relationship to physiological activity in promoting bacterial growth and resuscitation

The culturability of several actinobacteria is controlled by resuscitation-promoting factors (Rpfs). These are proteins containing a c. 70-residue domain that adopts a lysozyme-like fold. The invariant catalytic glutamate residue found in lysozyme and various bacterial lytic transglycosylases is also conserved in the Rpf proteins. Rpf from Micrococcus luteus, the founder member of this protein family, is indeed a muralytic enzyme, as revealed by its activity in zymograms containing M. luteus cell walls and its ability to (i) cause lysis of Escherichia coli when expressed and secreted into the periplasm; (ii) release fluorescent material from fluorescamine-labelled cell walls of M. luteus; and (iii) hydrolyse the artificial lysozyme substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-N,N',N'-triacetylchitotrioside. Rpf activity was reduced but not completely abolished when the invariant glutamate residue was altered. Moreover, none of the other acidic residues in the Rpf domain was absolutely required for muralytic activity. Replacement of one or both of the cysteine residues that probably form a disulphide bridge within Rpf impaired but did not completely abolish muralytic activity. The muralytic activities of the Rpf mutants were correlated with their abilities to stimulate bacterial culturability and resuscitation, consistent with the view that the biological activity of Rpf results directly or indirectly from its ability to cleave bonds in bacterial peptidoglycan.     

The glycosylated cell surface protein Rpf2, containing a resuscitation-promoting factor motif,is involved in intercellular communication of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium glutamicum</Emphasis>

The genome of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 contains two genes, rpf1 and rpf2, encoding proteins with similarities to the essential resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) of Micrococcus luteus. Both the Rpf1 (20.4 kDa) and Rpf2 (40.3 kDa) proteins share the so-called Rpf motif, a highly conserved protein domain of approximately 70 amino acids, which is also present in Rpf-like proteins of other gram-positive bacteria with a high G+C content of the chromosomal DNA. Purification of the C. glutamicum Rpf2 protein from concentrated supernatants, SDS-PAGE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identified modified Rpf2 variants with increased or reduced mobility when compared with the calculated size of Rpf2. A Western blot-based enzyme immunoassay demonstrated glycosylation of the Rpf2 variants with higher molecular masses. Galactose and mannose were identified as two components of the oligosaccharide portion of the Rpf2 glycoprotein by capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The Rpf2 protein was localized on the surface of C. glutamicum with the use of immuno-fluorescence microscopy. C. glutamicum strains with defined deletions in the rpf1 or rpf2 gene or simultaneous deletions in both rpf genes were constructed, indicating that the rpf genes are neither individually nor collectively essential for C. glutamicum. The C. glutamicum rpf double mutant displayed slower growth and a prolonged lag phase after transfer of long-stored cells into fresh medium. The addition of supernatant from exponentially growing cultures of the rpf double mutant, the wild type or C. glutamicum strains with increased expression of the rpf1 or rpf2 gene significantly reduced the lag phase of long-stored wild-type and rpf single mutant strains, but addition of purified His-tagged Rpf1 or Rpf2 did not. In contrast, the lag phase of the C. glutamicum rpf double mutant was not affected upon addition of these culture supernatants.     

Influence of stressors on formation of uncultured microorganism forms and their recovery

Data of the last decade on the studies of influence of various inductors of microorganism uncultured state and reasons of reversion that include not only effect of appropriate cultivation conditions but also simple cancellation of unfavorable effects are analyzed. Reasons for transition to uncultured state are discussed; those could be a variety of factors such as heat, alkaline, acid and osmotic stress. Factors that promote recovery from uncultured state with the main being Rpf (Resustication promoting factor) factor isolated from Micrococcus luteus and cancellation of endogenic peroxide effect by addition of catalase and sodium pyruvate are analyzed.     

Culturability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells isolated from murine macrophages: a bacterial growth factor promotes recovery

Very little is known about the culturability and viability of mycobacteria following their phagocytosis by macrophages. We therefore studied populations of the avirulent 'Academia' strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from murine peritoneal macrophage lysates several days post-infection in vivo. The resulting bacterial suspensions contained a range of morphological types including rods, ovoid forms and coccoid forms. Bacterial viability measured using the MPN method (dilution to extinction in liquid medium) was often much higher than that measured by CFU (plating on solid medium). Viability in the MPN assay was further enhanced when the Micrococcus luteus protein, Rpf, was incorporated into the liquid culture medium at picomolar concentrations. Rpf is an example of a family of autocrine growth factors found throughout the high G+C cohort of Gram-positive bacteria including M. tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis cells obtained from macrophages had altered surface properties, as compared with bacteria grown in vitro. This was indicated by loss of the ability to adsorb bacteriophage DS6A, a reduced tendency to form clumps, acquisition of ethidium bromide stainability following heat treatment, and loss of Rpf-mediated resuscitation following freezing and thawing. These results indicate that a proportion of 'unculturable' M. tuberculosis cells obtained from macrophages is either injured or dormant and that these cells may be recovered or resuscitated using Rpf in liquid medium.