Cloning of TPS gene from eelgrass species Zostera marina and its functional identification by genetic transformation in rice

The full-length cDNA sequence (2613 bp) of the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) gene of eelgrass Zostera marina (ZmTPS) was identified and cloned. Z. marina is a kind of seed-plant growing in sea water during its whole life history. The open reading frame (ORF) region of ZmTPS gene encodes a protein of 870 amino acid residues and a stop codon. The corresponding genomic DNA sequence is 3770 bp in length, which contains 3 exons and 2 introns. The ZmTPS gene was transformed into rice variety ZH11 via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. After antibiotic screening, molecular characterization, salt-tolerance and trehalose content determinations, two transgenic lines resistant to 150 mM NaCL solutions were screened. Our study results indicated that the ZmTPS gene was integrated into the genomic DNA of the two transgenic rice lines and could be expressed well. Moreover, the detection of the transformed ZmTPS gene in the progenies of the two transgenic lines was performed from T₁ to T₄ generations; and results suggested that the transformed ZmTPS gene can be transmitted from parent to the progeny in transgenic rice.     

Amphotericin B induces trehalose synthesis and simultaneously activates an antioxidant enzymatic response in Candida albicans

Background

Enzymes involved in trehalose metabolism have been proposed as potential targets for new antifungals. To analyse this proposal, the susceptibility to Amphotericin B (AmB) of the C. albicans trehalose-deficient mutant tps1Δ/tps1Δ, was examined.

Methods

Determination of endogenous trehalose and antioxidant enzymatic activities as well as RT-PCR analysis in cells subjected to AmB treatments was performed.

Results

Exponential tps1Δ null cultures showed high degree of cell killing upon exposure to increasing AmB doses respect to CAI.4 parental strain. Reintroduction of the TPS1 gene restored the percentage of cell viability. AmB induced significant synthesis of endogenous trehalose in parental cells, due to the transitory accumulation of TPS1 mRNA or to the moderate activation of trehalose synthase (Tps1p) with the simultaneous deactivation of neutral trehalase (Ntc1p). Since tps1Δ/tps1Δ mutant cells are highly susceptible to acute oxidative stress, the putative antioxidant response to AmB was also measured. A conspicuous activation of catalase and glutathione reductase (GR), but not of superoxide dismutase (SOD), was observed when the two cell types were exposed to high concentrations of AmB (5 μg/ml). However, no significant differences were detected between parental and tps1Δ null strains as regards the level of activities.

Conclusions

The protective intracellular accumulation of trehalose together with the induction of antioxidant enzymatic defences are worthy mechanisms involved in the resistance of C. albicans to the fungicidal action of AmB.

General significance

The potential usefulness of trehalose synthesis proteins as an interesting antifungal target is reinforced. More importantly, AmB elicits a complex defensive response in C. albicans.     

Trehalose metabolism in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus: Isolation of multiple structural cDNA isoforms of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and their expression in muscles

Adult blue crab Callinectes sapidus exhibit behavioral and ecological dimorphisms: females migrating from the low salinity water to the high salinity area vs. males remaining in the same areas. The flesh basal muscle of the swimming paddle shows a dimorphic color pattern in that levator (Lev) and depressor (Dep) of females tend to be much darker than those of males, while both genders have the same light colored remoter (Rem) and promoter (Pro). The full-length cDNA sequence of four structural isoforms of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) is isolated from chela muscles of an adult female, C. sapidus. Two isoforms of the C. sapidus TPS encode functional domains of TPS and trehalose-6-phosphorylase (TPP) in tandem as a fused gene product of Escherichia coli Ost A and Ost B. The other two isoforms contain only a single TPS domain. In both males and females, the darker (Lev + Dep) muscles exhibit greater amounts of trehalose, TPS and trehalase activities than the light colored (Rem + Pro). The fact that adult females show higher levels of trehalase activity in the basal muscles and of glucose in Lev + Dep than those of adult males suggests that there may be a metabolic dimorphism. Moreover, the involvement of trehalose in energy metabolism that was examined under the condition of strenuous swimming activity mimicked in adult females demonstrates the intrinsic trehalose metabolism in Lev + Dep, which subsequently results in hemolymphatic hyperglycemia and hyperlactemia. Our data support that trehalose serves as an additional carbohydrate source of hemolymphatic hyperglycemia in this species. Behavioral and ecological dimorphisms of C. sapidus adults may be supported by a functional dimorphism in energy metabolism.     

垫状卷柏海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因的克隆及功能分析

海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶(Trehalose-6-phosphate synthse, TPS)是植物海藻糖合成途径的关键酶, 在旱生卷柏等复苏植物对逆境胁迫应答中起重要作用。文章以我国特有旱生植物垫状卷柏(Selaginella pulvinata)为材料, 采用同源扩增与RACE技术相结合的方法克隆了海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因SpTPS1, cDNA全长3 223 bp, 包括一个2 790 bp的开放阅读框, 推导的氨基酸序列与模式物种的海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶具有较高的序列相似性, 催化活性中心保守位点基本一致。酵母功能互补实验证明, 用SpTPS1基因开放阅读框转化的海藻糖合成酶基因突变(tps1△)酵母菌株, 可恢复在以葡萄糖作为唯一碳源培养基上的生长, 说明垫状卷柏海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因SpTPS1的编码蛋白具有生物活性, 可应用于植物抗逆性的转基因改良。     

A secondary function of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase is required for resistance to oxidative and desiccation stress in Fusarium verticillioides

The disaccharide trehalose has long been recognized for its role as a stress solute, but in recent years some of the protective effects previously ascribed to trehalose have been suggested to arise from a function of the trehalose biosynthesis enzyme trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase that is distinct from its catalytic activity. In this study, we use the maize pathogenic fungus Fusarium verticillioides as a model to explore the relative contributions of trehalose itself and a putative secondary function of T6P synthase in protection against stress as well as to understand why, as shown in a previous study, deletion of the TPS1 gene coding for T6P synthase reduces pathogenicity against maize. We report that a TPS1-deletion mutant of F. verticillioides is compromised in its ability to withstand exposure to oxidative stress meant to simulate the oxidative burst phase of maize defense and experiences more ROS-induced lipid damage than the wild-type strain. Eliminating T6P synthase expression also reduces resistance to desiccation, but not resistance to phenolic acids. Expression of catalytically-inactive T6P synthase in the TPS1-deletion mutant leads to a partial rescue of the oxidative and desiccation stress-sensitive phenotypes, suggesting the importance of a T6P synthase function that is independent of its role in trehalose synthesis.     

Enhanced freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast by overexpressed trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS1) and deleted trehalase genes in frozen dough

Several recombinant strains with overexpressed trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS1) and/or deleted trehalase genes were obtained to elucidate the relationships between TPS1, trehalase genes, content of intracellular trehalose and freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast, as well as improve the fermentation properties of lean dough after freezing. In this study, strain TL301_TPS1 overexpressing TPS1 showed 62.92 % higher trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) activity and enhanced the content of intracellular trehalose than the parental strain. Deleting ATH1 exerted a significant effect on trehalase activities and the degradation amount of intracellular trehalose during the first 30 min of prefermentation. This finding indicates that acid trehalase (Ath1) plays a role in intracellular trehalose degradation. NTH2 encodes a functional neutral trehalase (Nth2) that was significantly involved in intracellular trehalose degradation in the absence of the NTH1 and/or ATH1 gene. The survival ratio, freeze-tolerance ratio and relative fermentation ability of strain TL301_TPS1 were approximately twice as high as those of the parental strain (BY6-9α). The increase in freeze tolerance of strain TL301_TPS1 was accompanied by relatively low trehalase activity, high Tps1 activity and high residual content of intracellular trehalose. Our results suggest that overexpressing TPS1 and deleting trehalase genes are sufficient to improve the freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast in frozen dough. The present study provides guidance for the commercial baking industry as well as the research on the intracellular trehalose mobilization and freeze tolerance of baker’s yeast.     

Aggregation dependent enhancement of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) is one of the key subunits of the trehalose synthase complex, responsible for synthesis of trehalose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Different laboratories have tried to purify TPS, but have been unable to separate it from the complex. During the present study, active TPS has been isolated from the trehalose synthase complex as a free 59kDa protein. A 158 fold purification was achieved with over 84% recovery of active TPS. N-terminal sequence confirmed the 59kDa protein to be TPS. It was revealed to be a highly hydrophobic protein by amino acid analysis data. Activity of TPS was identified to be governed by association–dissociation of protein components. TPS activity of the isolated enzyme was highly unstable due to dissociation of the protein from the complex. Aggregation of active molecules was also seen to enhance as well as stabilize enzyme activity. This aggregation was concentration dependent and activity was seen to be enhanced by increasing the number of active molecules and fell with dilution. The association of the active complex was also found to be governed by ionic interactions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In silico</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> analysis reveal a novel gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> trehalose metabolism

Background

The ability to respond rapidly to fluctuations in environmental changes is decisive for cell survival. Under these conditions trehalose has an essential protective function and its concentration increases in response to enhanced expression of trehalose synthase genes, TPS1, TPS2, TPS3 and TSL1. Intriguingly, the NTH1 gene, which encodes neutral trehalase, is highly expressed at the same time. We have previously shown that trehalase remains in its inactive non-phosphorylated form by the action of an endogenous inhibitor. Recently, a comprehensive two-hybrid analysis revealed a 41-kDa protein encoded by the YLR270w ORF, which interacts with NTH1p.

Results

In this work we investigate the correlation of this Trehalase Associated Protein, in trehalase activity regulation. The neutral trehalase activity in the ylr270w mutant strain was about 4-fold higher than in the control strain. After in vitro activation by PKA the ylr270w mutant total trehalase activity increased 3-fold when compared to a control strain. The expression of the NTH1 gene promoter fused to the heterologous reporter lacZ gene was evaluated. The mutant strain lacking YLR270w exhibited a 2-fold increase in the NTH1-lacZ basal expression when compared to the wild type strain.

Conclusions

These results strongly indicate a central role for Ylr270p in inhibiting trehalase activity, as well as in the regulation of its expression preventing a wasteful futile cycle of synthesis-degradation of trehalose.

     

Regulation of growth by the trehalose pathway: Relationship to temperature and sucrose

Carbon signaling can override carbon supply in the regulation of growth. At least some of this regulation is imparted by the sugar signal trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) through the protein kinase, SnRK1. This signaling pathway regulates biosynthetic processes involved in growth under optimal growing conditions. Recently, using a seedling system we showed that under sub-optimal conditions, such as cold, carbon signaling by T6P/ SnRK1 enables recovery of growth following relief of the stress. The T6P/ SnRK1 mechanism thus could be selected as a means of improving low temperature tolerance. High-throughput automated Fv/Fm measurements provide a potential means to screen for T6P/ SnRK1, and here we confirm through measurements of Fv/Fm in rosettes that T6P promotes low temperature tolerance and recovery during cold to warm transfer. Further, to better understand the coordination between sugars, trehalose pathway, and temperature-dependent growth, we examine the interrelationship between sugars, trehalose phosphate synthase (TPS), and trehalose phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene expression and T6P content in seedlings. Sucrose, particularly when fed exogenously, correlated well with TPS1 and TPPB gene expression, suggesting that these enzymes are involved in maintaining carbon flux through the pathway in relation to sucrose supply. However, when sucrose accumulated to higher levels under low temperature and low N, TPS1 and TPPB expression were less directly related to sucrose; other factors may also contribute to regulation of TPS1 and TPPB expression under these conditions. TPPA expression was not related to sucrose content and all genes were not well correlated with endogenous glucose. Our work has implications for understanding acclimation to sink-limited growth conditions such as low temperature and for screening cold-tolerant genotypes with altered T6P/ SnRK1 signaling.     

The Arabidopsis thaliana trehalase is a plasma membrane-bound enzyme with extracellular activity

The lack of trehalose accumulation in most plant species has been partly attributed to the presence of an active trehalase. Although trehalose synthesis enzymes are thought to be cytosolic, and previous studies have indicated that trehalase activity is extracellular, the exact location of the enzyme has not yet been established in plant cell. We present evidence that the yet uncharacterised full-length Arabidopsis trehalase is a plasma membrane-bound protein, probably anchored to the membrane through a predicted N-terminal membrane spanning domain. The full-length AtTRE1, when expressed in yeast can functionally substitute for the extracellularly active trehalase Ath1p, by sustaining the growth of an ath1 null mutant strain on trehalose and at pH 4.8. We further demonstrate that AtTRE1 expressed in yeast is plasma membrane-bound as in plant cell. In light of these findings, the regulation of plant cell endogenous trehalose by trehalase is discussed.     

Human trehalase is a stress responsive protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Three trehalases ATH1, NTH1, and NTH2 have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ATH1, and NTH1 hydrolyze trehalose to glucose to provide energy and assist in recovery from stress. Human trehalase (TREH) is expressed in the intestine and kidney and probably hydrolyzes ingested trehalose in the intestine and acts as marker of renal tubular damage in kidney. Since trehalose is not present in circulation or kidney tubules, its renal effect suggests it has other yet unidentified actions. Here we examined the function of human trehalase in budding yeast. We constructed three yeast trehalase mutants (NTH1Δ, NTH2Δ, and ATH1Δ) and then transformed TREH into these mutants. NTH1Δ did not grow on media containing trehalose as the carbon source, and TREH did not rectify NTH1Δ dysfunction and also did not grow on trehalose medium, suggesting that TREH is not responsible for utilization of exogenous trehalose in yeast. In experiments involving exposure to heat, osmotic and oxidative stresses, NTH1Δ showed no recovery. Interestingly, ATH1Δ-TREH showed high sensitivity to all three stressors. ATH1Δ and NTH2Δ showed very low neutral trehalase activity and NTH1Δ did not show any neutral trehalase activity, and trehalose concentrations were higher. Increased neutral trehalase activity (equivalent to the wild type), reduction of trehalose content and brisk sensitivity to stressors were noted in TREH-ATH1Δ strain, but not in TREH-NTH1Δ or -NTH2Δ. Our results suggest that TREH acts as a stress-response protein in the kidney rather than involved in utilization of exogenous trehalose.     

Isolation of a novel rmn1 gene genetically linked to spnab2 with respect to mRNA export in fission yeast

In fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the spnab2 gene encodes an ortholog of the budding yeast nuclear abundant poly(A)⁺ RNA-binding protein 2 (Nab2) that is an essential protein required for both mRNA biogenesis and nuclear export of mRNA to the cytoplasm. We have previously isolated three mutants (SLnab1–3) that showed synthetic lethality under the repressed condition of spnab2 expression. In this study, we isolated a novel rmn1 gene as a multicopy suppressor that complemented the defects in growth and mRNA export of SLnab1 mutant cells. The rmn1 gene contained three introns and encoded a 589 amino-acid protein with the RNA recognition motif (RRM) in the central region. The Δrmn1 null mutant was viable but showed a s light mRNA export defect. However, its over-expression caused a deleterious effect on growth accompanied by intense accumulation of poly(A)⁺ RNA in the nucleus. The combination of Δrmn1 with Δspnab2 or Δspmex67 also inhibited growth. In addition, Rmn1p was associated with Rae1p in vivo. These results suggest that rmn1 is a novel gene that is functionally linked to spnab2.     

干旱诱导性启动子驱动的海藻糖－6－磷酸合酶基因载体的构建及转基因烟草的耐旱性

The trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen and the drought-responsive promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. have been cloned by PCR procedure. A plant expression vector with TPS under control of Prd29A has been constructed and used for the genetic transformation of tobacco. The transgenic tobacco with Prd29A/TSP demonstrated TPS expression with increased drought tolerance under drought stress. Some obvious morphological changes including dwarf and fine shoot, lancet-shaped leaves and vigorous auxiliary buds have been observed in a few transformed plants.     

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。