X-ray crystal structure of aristolochene synthase from Aspergillus terreus and evolution of templates for the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate

Aristolochene synthase from Aspergillus terreus catalyzes the cyclization of the universal sesquiterpene precursor, farnesyl diphosphate, to form the bicyclic hydrocarbon aristolochene. The 2.2 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of aristolochene synthase reveals a tetrameric quaternary structure in which each subunit adopts the alpha-helical class I terpene synthase fold with the active site in the "open", solvent-exposed conformation. Intriguingly, the 2.15 A resolution crystal structure of the complex with Mg2+3-pyrophosphate reveals ligand binding only to tetramer subunit D, which is stabilized in the "closed" conformation required for catalysis. Tetramer assembly may hinder conformational changes required for the transition from the inactive open conformation to the active closed conformation, thereby accounting for the attenuation of catalytic activity with an increase in enzyme concentration. In both conformations, but especially in the closed conformation, the active site contour is highly complementary in shape to that of aristolochene, and a catalytic function is proposed for the pyrophosphate anion based on its orientation with regard to the presumed binding mode of aristolochene. A similar active site contour is conserved in aristolochene synthase from Penicillium roqueforti despite the substantial divergent evolution of these two enzymes, while strikingly different active site contours are found in the sesquiterpene cyclases 5-epi-aristolochene synthase and trichodiene synthase. Thus, the terpenoid cyclase active site plays a critical role as a template in binding the flexible polyisoprenoid substrate in the proper conformation for catalysis. Across the greater family of terpenoid cyclases, this template is highly evolvable within a conserved alpha-helical fold for the synthesis of terpene natural products of diverse structure and stereochemistry.     

水稻EPSP合酶cDNA克隆、序列分析及其拷贝数测定

根据本室分离的水稻EPSP合酶基因的基因组序列设计一对引物 ,利用RT_PCR方法首次从水稻 (Oryzasati vaL .subsp .indica)叶片的RNA中扩增获得了水稻编码EPSP合酶的全长为 15 85bp的cDNA片段 ,它含有一个完整的开放读码框 ,编码 5 11个氨基酸 ,包括 44 4个氨基酸组成的成熟肽序列以及N端的 6 7个氨基酸组成的叶绿体转运肽序列。成熟肽氨基酸序列对比表明 ,除真菌来源的EPSP合酶变异较大外 ,其他来源的EPSP合酶同源性较高 ,均在 5 1%以上。而叶绿体转运肽氨基酸序列同源性较低。Southern杂交表明水稻EPSP合酶基因在水稻基因组中以单拷贝形式存在。RT_PCR分析表明 ,水稻EPSP合酶基因在根、未成熟种子和叶片中均有转录表达 ,在叶片中表达量最高     

孔石莼凝集素蛋白基因的克隆与表达

根据孔石莼(Ulva pertusa)凝集素(Lectin)蛋白cDNA全长序列(GenBank登录号:AY433960)设计引物,以其总DNA为模板,采用PCR技术扩增蛋白DNA序列,经克隆、测序获得基因序列。结果表明,孔石莼凝集素蛋白(UPL)基因序列长约为670 bp,含有一个大小为56 bp的内含子。此外,设计带酶切位点的引物,以UPL-cDNA为模板,扩增其开放阅读框,并与表达载体pGEX-2T连接,构建原核表达载体pG2T-UPL,并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中成功表达大小约为47 kD的目的蛋白。     

3-Ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is not similar to other condensing enzymes of fatty acid synthase.

A cDNA clone encoding spinach (Spinacia oleracea) 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (KAS III), which catalyzes the initial condensing reaction in fatty acid biosynthesis, was isolated. Based on the amino acid sequence of tryptic digests of purified spinach KAS III, degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed and used to amplify a 612-bp fragment from first-strand cDNA of spinach leaf RNA. A root cDNA library was probed with the PCR fragment, and a 1920-bp clone was isolated. Its deduced amino acid sequence matched the sequences of the tryptic digests obtained from the purified KAS III. Northern analysis confirmed that it was expressed in both leaf and root. The clone contained a 1218-bp open reading frame coding for 405 amino acids. The identity of the clone was confirmed by expression in Escherichia coli BL 21 as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. The deduced amino acid sequence was 48 and 45% identical with the putative KAS III of Porphyra umbilicalis and KAS III of E. coli, respectively. It also had a strong local homology to the plant chalcone synthases but had little homology with other KAS isoforms from plants, bacteria, or animals.     

Yellow head virus from Thailand and gill-associated virus from Australia are closely related but distinct prawn viruses.

Corresponding genomic regions of isolates of yellow head virus (YHV) from Thailand and gill-associated virus (GAV) from Australia were compared by RT-PCR and sequence analysis. PCR primers designed from sequences in the GAV ORF1b polyprotein gene amplified the corresponding 577 nucleotide region of the YHV genome. Comparison of the amplified region indicated 85.1% nucleotide and 95.8% amino acid sequence identity. YHV PCR primers designed to amplify a 135 nucleotide product previously described as a YHV diagnostic probe failed to amplify the corresponding product from GAV RNA. However, the cognate GAV sequence for this and another recently reported YHV sequence were located in an upstream region of the ORF1b gene. A comparison of these sequences indicated identities of 83.0 and 80.9% at the nucleotide level and 86.7 and 86.5% at the amino acid level, respectively. The data indicate that GAV and YHV are closely related but distinct viruses for which differential diagnostic probes can be applied.     

Isolation and functional analysis of a cDNA encoding a myrcene synthase from holm oak (Quercus ilex L.).

An 859-bp cDNA segment of a terpene synthase gene was amplified by PCR from the evergreen sclerophyllous holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) using heterologous primers for conserved regions of terpene synthase genes (TPS) in dicotyledonous plants. Based on the sequence of this segment, homologous primers were designed for amplification by RACE-PCR of a cDNA segment carrying the monoterpene synthase gene myrS. The gene encodes a protein of 597 amino acids including an N-terminal putative plastid transit peptide. The gene without the segment encoding the transit peptide was cloned by PCR into a bacterial expression vector. Expression in Escherichia coli yielded an active monoterpene synthase, which converted geranyl diphosphate (GDP) predominantly into the acyclic monoterpene myrcene and to a very small extent into cyclic monoterpenes. Sequence comparison with previously cloned monoterpene synthases revealed that the myrcene synthase from Q. ilex belongs to the TPSb subfamily.     

An efficient approach for cloning the dNDP-glucose synthase gene from actinomycetes and its application in Streptomyces spectabilis, a spectinomycin producer

Specifically designed PCR primers were applied to amplify a segment of dTDP-glucose synthase gene from six actinomycete strains. About 300-bp or 580-bp DNA fragments were obtained from all the organisms tested. By DNA sequence analysis, seven amplified fragments showed high homology with dTDP-glucose synthase genes that participate in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites or in deoxy-sugar moieties in lipopolysaccharides. In addition, we have cloned a 45-kb region of DNA from Streptomyces spectabilis ATCC27741, a spectinomycin producer which contained the dTDP-glucose synthase and dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase genes named spcD and spcE, respectively. The spcE gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the activity was assayed in cell extracts. The enzyme showed substrate specificity only to dTDP-glucose.     

日本对虾(Marsupenaeys japonicus)HsP70基因cDNA的克隆与序列分析

根据中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeuschinensis)Hsp70的cDNA序列及日本对虾(Marsupenaeusjaponicus)Hsp70cDNA序列片段设计引物,用RT-PCR方法,从经热休克处理的日本对虾鳃总RNA中克隆到长1992bp的Hsp70cDNA序列,包括长1959bp的完整编码序列(CDS)。根据编码序列推导出相应的652个氨基酸,与其他真核生物Hsp70家族成员进行同源性比较,发现与凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeusvannamei)、斑节对虾(PinaeusmonodonFabricius)、中国明对虾(Penaeuschinesis)的相似度分别为99.5%、99.4%、99.4%,与日本沼虾(Macrobrachiumnipponense)和罗氏沼虾(M.rosenbergii)的相似度分别为93.7%和92.9%,与虹鳟(Oncorhynchusmykiss)、原鸡(Callusgallus)、家鼠(Musmusculus)和人(Homosapiens)的相似度为89.2%、85.4%、88.3%和88.3%,表现出较高的保守性。分析表明所得到的日本对虾Hsp70是一种Dnak亚家族类型的细胞质Hsp70,拥有完整的N端ATP酶结构域(约45kDa)、底物肽结合结构域(18kDa)及C端结构域(10kDa)。以上结果说明我们所得到的序列是一条包含完整CDS的Hsp70基因序列。     

Human arylsulfatase B: MOPAC cloning, nucleotide sequence of a full-length cDNA, and regions of amino acid identity with arylsulfatases A and C

cDNAs encoding the human lysosomal hydrolase, arylsulfatase B (ASB; N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase, EC 3.1.6.1), were isolated from a hepatoma cell cDNA library using an ASB-specific oligonucleotide generated by the MOPAC (mixed oligonucleotide primed amplification of cDNA) technique. To facilitate cDNA cloning, human ASB was purified to apparent homogeneity and a total of 112 amino acid residues were microsequenced from the N-terminus and four internal tryptic peptides of the 47-kDa subunit. Based on the ASB N-terminal amino acid sequence, two oligonucleotide mixtures containing inosines to reduce the mixture complexity were constructed and used as primers to amplify an ASB-specific product from human placental cDNA by the polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequencing of this MOPAC product demonstrated colinearity with 21 N-terminal ASB amino acids. Based on this sequence and on codon usage for the adjacent conserved amino acids in human arylsulfatases A and C, a unique 66-mer was synthesized and used to screen a human hepatoma cell cDNA library. Four putative positive cDNA clones were isolated, and the largest insert (pASB-1) was sequenced in both orientations. The 1834-bp pASB-1 insert had a 1278-bp open reading frame encoding 425 amino acids that was colinear with 85 microsequenced amino acids of the purified enzyme, demonstrating its authenticity. Using the pASB-1 cDNA as a probe, a full-length cDNA clone, pASB-4, was isolated from a human testes library and sequenced in both orientations. pASB-4 had a 2811-bp insert containing a 559-bp 5' untranslated sequence, a 1602-bp open reading frame encoding 533 amino acids (six potential N-glycosylation sites), a 641-bp 3' untranslated sequence, and a 9-bp poly(A) tract. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of arylsulfatases A, B, and C revealed regions of identity, particularly in their N-termini.     

Penicillium roqueforti PR toxin gene cluster characterization

PR toxin is a well-known isoprenoid mycotoxin almost solely produced by Penicillium roqueforti after growth on food or animal feed. This mycotoxin has been described as the most toxic produced by this species. In this study, an in silico analysis allowed identifying for the first time a 22.4-kb biosynthetic gene cluster involved in PR toxin biosynthesis in P. roqueforti. The pathway contains 11 open reading frames encoding for ten putative proteins including the major fungal terpene cyclase, aristolochene synthase, involved in the first farnesyl-diphosphate cyclization step as well as an oxidoreductase, an oxidase, two P450 monooxygenases, a transferase, and two dehydrogenase enzymes. Gene silencing was used to study three genes (ORF5, ORF6, and ORF8 encoding for an acetyltransferase and two P450 monooxygenases, respectively) and resulted in 20 to 40% PR toxin production reductions in all transformants proving the involvement of these genes and the corresponding enzyme activities in PR toxin biosynthesis. According to the considered silenced gene target, eremofortin A and B productions were also affected suggesting their involvement as biosynthetic intermediates in this pathway. A PR toxin biosynthesis pathway is proposed based on the most recent and available data.

     

Cloning of the human cDNA which can complement the defect of the yeast mannosyltransferase I-deficient mutant alg 1

The assembly of the lipid-linked oligosaccharide, Glc(3)Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol, occurs on the rough ER membrane in an ordered stepwise manner. The process is highly conserved among eukaryotes. In order to isolate the human mannosyltransferase I (MT-I) gene involved in the process, we used the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MT-I gene ( ALG1 ), which has already been cloned. On searching the EST database with the amino acid sequence of the ALG1 gene product, we detected seven related human EST clones. A human fetal brain cDNA library was screened by PCR using gene-specific primers based on the EST nucleotide sequences and a 430 bp cDNA fragment was amplified. The cDNA library was rescreened with this 430 bp cDNA, and two cDNA clones (HR1-3 and HR1-4) were isolated and sequenced. On a homology search of the EST database with the nucleotide sequence of HR1-3, we detected a novel human EST clone, AA675921 (GenBank accession number). Based on the nucleotide sequences of AA675921 and HR1-4, we designed gene-specific PCR primers, which allowed to amplify a 1.8 kb cDNA from human fetal brain cDNA. This cDNA was cloned and shown to contain an ORF encoding a protein of 464 amino acids. We designated this ORF as Hmat-1. The amino acid sequence deduced from the Hmat-1 gene showed several highly conserved regions shared with the yeast and nematode MT-I sequences. Furthermore, this 1.8 kb cDNA successfully complemented the S. cerevisiae alg1-1 mutation, indicating that the Hmat-1 gene encodes the human MT-I and that the function of this enzyme was conserved between yeast and human.     

Isolation and characterization of chitinases from Verticillium lecanii

Degenerate PCR primers corresponding to conserved domains of fungal chitinases were designed, and PCR was performed on genomic DNA of the entomogenous fungus Verticillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Viegas. Two distinct PCR fragments, chf1 and chf2, were isolated and used to identify two DNA contigs. Analyses of these two contigs revealed that we had obtained the full-length DNA sequence including the promoter, 5' untranslated region, open reading frame (ORF), and 3' untranslated regions for two distinct chitinase-like genes. These two genomic DNA sequences exhibited 51% identity at the amino acid (aa) level and were designed as acidic (chi1) and basic (chi2) chitinase-like genes. The isolated cDNA for chi1 gene is 1110 bp with a predicted protein of 370 aa and molecular mass of 40.93 kDa, and its ORF was uninterrupted in its corresponding genomic DNA sequence. The cDNA for the chi2 gene is 1269 bp, a predicted ORF of 423 aa and molecular mass of 45.95 kDa. In contrast, the ORF was interrupted by three introns in its corresponding genomic DNA. The basic chitinase gene (chi2) was successfully expressed in the Pichia pastoris system; optimum enzymatic activity was observed at 22 degrees C and at pH 7.5. CHI1 and CHI2 were clustered into two different phylogenetic groups according to their sequence alignments with 28 other fungal chitinases. A chitin-binding domain, comprising two sub-domains that exhibit similarities at the aa level to chitin binding domains in bacteria, was identified in 30 fungal chitinase sequences examined.     

Crystal structure determination of aristolochene synthase from the blue cheese mold, Penicillium roqueforti

The 2.5-A resolution crystal structure of recombinant aristolochene synthase from the blue cheese mold, Penicillium roqueforti, is the first of a fungal terpenoid cyclase. The structure of the enzyme reveals active site features that participate in the cyclization of the universal sesquiterpene cyclase substrate, farnesyl diphosphate, to form the bicyclic hydrocarbon aristolochene. Metal-triggered carbocation formation initiates the cyclization cascade, which proceeds through multiple complex intermediates to yield one exclusive structural and stereochemical isomer of aristolochene. Structural homology of this fungal cyclase with plant and bacterial terpenoid cyclases, despite minimal amino acid sequence identity, suggests divergence from a common, primordial ancestor in the evolution of terpene biosynthesis.     

Identification of two processed pseudogenes of the human Tom20 gene

The open reading frame (ORF) of the human Tom20 gene (hTom20) was amplified by PCR from a HeLa cDNA library using primers based on the sequence of HUMRSC145 and cloned into a pET15b vector. Amplification of human genomic DNA using these primers yielded a DNA fragment of the same size as that of the ORF of hTom20 cDNA. Sequencing of this fragment revealed that: (1) it has the same number of base pairs as the ORF of hTom20 cDNA (438 bp); and (2) the two sequences differ by 14 single base pair substitutions (97% similarity) causing eight changes in the amino acid sequence and two premature stop codons. Further amplification of human genomic DNA adaptor-ligated libraries using primers based on HUMRSC145 revealed three different sequence-related genomic regions; one corresponding to the fragment referred above, another corresponding to the hTom20 gene, and a third fragment of which the sequence differs from the ORF of hTom20 cDNA by only 22 base pair substitutions and a deletion of 4 bp. We conclude that, in addition to the hTom20 gene, there are two genomic DNA sequences (Ψ1Tom20 and Ψ2Tom20) that are processed pseudogenes of hTom20. Aspects concerning their evolutionary origin are discussed. Received: 12 September 1997 / Accepted: 29 November 1997     

Analysis of a gene (vch) encoding hemolysin isolated and sequenced from Vibrio campbellii

This study describes the amplification, localization, and sequence analysis of a hemolysin gene from type strain V. campbellii NBRC 15631--the first report of a full-length hemolysin gene for the species. An amplicon ( approximately 600 bp) of polymerase chain reaction performed using V. campbellii DNA template and primers previously designed to target a fragment of V. harveyi hemolysin gene (vhh) was shotgun-cloned and sequenced, generating 576 bp nucleotide sequences of the V. campbellii hemolysin gene. PCR primers designed based on these initial sequences were used to amplify a 551-bp V. campbellii hemolysin gene fragment that was used as probe in Southern hybridization, which localized the complete hemolysin gene within a 3.5-kb HindIII restriction fragment of the V. campbellii genomic DNA. To obtain the remaining DNA sequences upstream and downstream of the 576-bp hemolysin gene sequences, inverse PCR was performed using a self-ligated (circularized) V. campbellii HindIII restriction fragment as the template and PCR primers designed to amplify flanking regions of the 576-bp gene fragment. Nucleotide sequences from the terminal regions of the 3.1-kb product of inverse PCR provided the flanking sequences, resulting in the complete sequence for the V. campbellii hemolysin gene. A VCH PCR primer set was designed to amplify a 1.3-kb region containing the entire hemolysin gene even from other V. campbellii strains, which was sequenced to confirm the V. campbellii hemolysin gene sequence. An open reading frame (ORF) of 1,254 bp (designated as vch) was identified, sharing 79% sequence identity with V. harveyi hemolysin gene vhh, representing 262 base substitutions between V. campbellii and V. harveyi. The deduced amino acid sequence of V. campbellii hemolysin (VCH) shows homologies to the V. harveyi hemolysin (VHH), thermolabile hemolysin of V. parahaemolyticus, proteins such as phospholipase of V. vulnificus and lecithinases of V. mimicus and V. cholerae. The VCH primer set did not produce any amplicon in PCR using V. harveyi DNA, and may therefore be used to distinguish environmental strains of V. campbellii from V. harveyi.     

Genomic and cDNA Cloning,Expression, Purification,and Characterization of Chymotrypsin-Trypsin Inhibitor from Winged Bean Seeds

A 516-bp winged bean chymotrypsin-trypsin inhibitor (WbCTI) gene was amplified from genomic DNA and cDNA isolated from winged bean using a pair of degenerate primers designed on the basis of the amino acid sequences of WbCTI. The amplified PCR products were cloned and sequenced to confirm their authenticity. DNA sequence analysis of the genomic and cDNA clones of WbCTI revealed the same nucleotide sequence in the coding region and showed WbCTI to be an intron less gene. WbCTI was subcloned into pTrc99A and expressed in Escherichia coli to yield a recombinant protein (rWbCTI). rWbCTI was purified by a rapid and single step immunoaffinity chromatography method, with an overall yield of 1.1 mg/g of wet cells. The homogeneity of the purified protein was checked by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which showed the presence of a single protein band. Functionally rWbCTI is indistinguishable from WbCTI, since both inhibit bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin in a 1:1 molar ratio. FPLC binding studies also confirmed that rWbCTI binds the proteases in a 1:1 molar ratio.     

水稻EPSP合酶cDNA克隆、序列分析及其拷贝数测定

根据本室分离的水稻EPSP合酶基因的基因组序列设计一对引物,利用RT-PCR方法首次从水稻(Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica)叶片的RNA中扩增获得了水稻编码EPSP合酶的全长为1 585 bp的cDNA片段,它含有一个完整的开放读码框,编码511个氨基酸,包括444个氨基酸组成的成熟肽序列以及N端的67个氨基酸组成的叶绿体转运肽序列.成熟肽氨基酸序列对比表明,除真菌来源的EPSP合酶变异较大外,其他来源的EPSP合酶同源性较高,均在51%以上.而叶绿体转运肽氨基酸序列同源性较低.Southern杂交表明水稻EPSP合酶基因在水稻基因组中以单拷贝形式存在.RT-PCR分析表明,水稻EPSP合酶基因在根、未成熟种子和叶片中均有转录表达,在叶片中表达量最高.     

金银花黄酮醇合成酶基因全长克隆及其序列分析

根据已知的其它物种黄酮醇合成酶cDNA保守序列设计引物,用RT-PCR技术从金银花叶片中扩增获得黄酮醇合成酶基因部分eDNA序列,再用RACE技术获得其两端序列.序列拼接得到完整的1 248bp的黄酮醇合成酶基因,根据获得的序列,设计引物扩增获得1 001 bp的开放阅读框,编码333个氨基酸.序列分析显示,金银花黄酮醇合成酶与烟草、马铃薯和桔梗的同源性分别为86％、83％和80％,与其它物种的同源性也在80％左右,表明不同物种中黄酮醇合成酶基因具有高度同源性.     

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding for a lysozyme from the gut of the reduviid bug Triatoma infestans

We have isolated and characterised a Triatoma infestans cDNA encoding a lysozyme. A 174-bp fragment was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers derived from the known amino acid sequences of lysozyme from other insects. This PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA gut library of T. infestans. A clone containing the 3'-end of the lysozyme cDNA (219 bp) was isolated and sequenced. RACE was used to amplify the 5'-end of the lysozyme cDNA. After sequencing the complete lysozyme cDNA, the deduced 417 amino acid sequence showed high identity (40-50%) with other chicken-type lysozymes. The amino acid residues responsible for the catalytic activity and the binding of the substrate were essentially conserved. The expression pattern of the lysozyme gene in bugs at different molting and feeding states showed that this gene was upregulated in the digestive tract directly after the molt and after feeding. Additionally, this lysozyme gene was expressed differently in the different regions of the digestive tract, strongly in the cardia and stomach, the anterior regions of the midgut, and only traces of lysozyme mRNA could be detected in the small intestine, the posterior region of the midgut.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase from the methylotrophic bacterium, Methylomonas aminofaciens 77a, and its expression in Escherichia coli

Abstract A DNA fragment of 550 bp was specifically amplified by PCR with primers based on the N-terminal sequence of the purified 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase from Methylomonas aminofaciens 77a and on that of a lysyl endopep(idase-derived peptide. Using this PCR product as a probe, a gene coding for 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase in M. aminofaciens 77a chromosomal DNA was cloned in Escherichia coli JM109. Sequencing analysis revealed that the gene encoding 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase contained a 624-bp open reading frame, encoding a protein composed of 208 amino acid residues with a calculated relative molecular mass of 21 224.