N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶AiiA的分子改造及酶学特性

革兰氏阴性细菌的群体感应系统利用N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acyl-homoserine lactone,AHL)作为主要信号分子诱导致病因子表达,造成细菌性病害.N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶(N-acylhomoserine lactonase,AHLase)能水解AHL分子的内酯键,减弱致病菌的危害.本研究利用从苏云金芽孢杆菌克隆的N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因(auto inducer inactivation A,aiiA),根据Swiss-model模拟aiiA所编码的AiiA蛋白三维结构,预测可能形成的分子内盐桥、活性中心位点等,利用环状诱变方法对AiiA进行定点突变,以期提高其酶活力和热稳定性等酶学性能.对AiiA及其突变蛋白酶学特性分析结果发现,突变体AiiA-N65K-A206E酶活力要比野生型AiiA-wild提高87.4%,并表现出良好的热稳定性和储存稳定性;37℃温浴30 min后酶活力剩余73.9%,比AiiA-wild有了大幅提高;4℃储存120 h后酶活力剩余12.9%,而AiiA-wild丧失酶活力.酶动力学分析表明,AiiA-N65KA206E酶促反应的米氏常数Km为1.23 mmol/L,与野生型相当;最大反应速率Vmax为32.36μmol/L/min,比野生型有较大提高.本研究表明,利用定点突变技术改造AiiA的分子结构,可有效提升AiiA酶活力、热稳定性和储存稳定性.本研究结果为进一步阐明AiiA结构与功能的关系,促进AiiA在植物病害生物防治上的应用,提供了有益的参考和新的思路.     

定点突变提高N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶酶活和温度稳定性

【目的】提高N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶(N-acylhomoserine lactonase,AiiA)酶活及温度稳定性。【方法】本研究基于AiiA同源蛋白的三维结构对AiiA进行定点突变,分析野生型AiiA及其突变蛋白酶活和温度稳定性。【结果】野生型AiiA较不稳定,在45℃下温浴30 min,或4℃储存5 d后均失去降解N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acylhomoserine lactone,AHL)的活性。但是突变AiiA蛋白(N65K,T195R和A206E)的酶活力较野生型AiiA均提高了20%以上,且4℃储存时间延长到7 d。此外,突变株N65K比野生型AiiA对高温具有更强的耐受性,在45℃温浴后剩余酶活力达到45%以上,55℃温浴30 min后仍保留5.0%的酶活力。【结论】通过定点突变改造AiiA蛋白结构,提升了AiiA蛋白的酶活和温度稳定性。     

芽孢杆菌酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因的克隆及表达

N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N—acyl—homoserine hctones．AHLs)作为细菌群体应答系统(Quorum—sensing)中的关键信号分子,其浓度是决定许多动、植物病原菌致病基因的表达的关键因子,酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因可以水解AHk丹子的内酯键,使．MILs失去生物活性,从而减弱致病菌的危害．该研究旨在从芽孢杆菌中克隆酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因并获得纯化蛋白。根据已知酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因的保守序列设计引物,利用PCR方法从2株芽孢杆菌的基因组DNA中克隆出阿个基因SS1和SS10。利用在基因库中进行同源比对．结果表明SS1和SS10编码的蛋白产物SS1和SS10均为酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶。将两个基因在大肠杆菌中诱导表达,通过亲和层析获得了纯化蛋白。     

密码子优化提高aiiaB546毕赤酵母表达活性

N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶是一类特异性降解N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯类信号分子(AHLs)的蛋白水解酶,通过水解AHLs生成酰基高丝氨酸,使AHLs失去活性,从而阻断病原菌的群体感应路径,使病原菌失去致病能力,其广泛存在于多种微生物中[1,2]。近年来N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶作为一种新型抗菌策略(群体感应淬灭策略)的工具酶而成为水产养殖防治细菌性疾病研究的热点[3—5]。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌aiiA的5'端侧翼序列的克隆与功能鉴定

为了研究苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶(N-acylhomoserine Lactonase,AiiA蛋白)表达调控机制,确定aiiA的启动子区域。本研究克隆了aiiA的5'端侧翼区(aP-1930--1),以gfp作为报告基因,分段克隆aiiA的5'侧翼区,鉴定启动子活性,并对aiiA启动子序列中的碱基对-150和-142之间的2个连续的TATA盒进行定点突变。结果显示,侧翼序列aP-295--101和aP-295--1可作为启动子,实现GFP在大肠杆菌中的异源表达,启动子序列aP-295--101比aP-295--1活性更强,aP-101--1序列不能启动GFP表达。定点突变pET28a-aP-295--101-gfp载体2个TATA盒显著降低GFP表达。表明-295--1bp为aiiA的启动子区,-429--296与-100--1序列是aiiA的负调控序列。-150--142 bp区域的2个TATA盒对aiiA的5'侧翼区域的启动子活性起关键的作用。     

微生物信号分子降解酶研究进展

微生物细胞之间存在的信息交流称为群体感应。群体感应在实现微生物的生物学功能方面具有重要作用,包括调节致病性、参与生物膜的形成等。微生物能够分泌特定的信号分子,通过对信号分子的检测及应答,调控目的基因的表达。抑制信号分子的积累,能够干扰群体感应系统,使微生物丧失生物学功能。研究较为全面的一类信号分子是酰基高丝氨酸内酯(acylhomoserine lactone,AHL),此类信号分子可以通过酶法降解。目前已鉴定出的AHL降解酶主要分为AHL内酯酶和AHL酰化酶两类。综述了信号分子降解酶的来源、筛选方法、纯化技术、酶学性质、作用机制及在病害防治方面的应用。对信号分子降解酶的研究有助于完善群体感应系统的调控机制,并为微生物疾病的防治提供新策略。     

细菌群体感应淬灭酶的研究进展*

细菌的群体感应系统(Quorum sensing,QS)参与许多生物学功能的调控,其中包括动植物病原细菌致病因子的生成以及人类某些病原细菌生物膜的形成。酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acylhomoserine lactone,AHL)是调控群体感应系统的关键信号分子。近年的研究表明,不同生物体包括细菌和真核生物中都存在类别不同的能够降解AHL的群体感应淬灭酶(Quorum-quenching enzyme)。在AHL依赖型致病菌和转基因植物中表达AHL降解酶能有效地抑制QS信号分子的积累,从而阻断了病原细菌的发     

枯草芽孢杆菌SS6N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因的克隆表达及其酶学特性

摘要:【目的】从一株具有细菌群体感应(Quorum Sensing,QS)信号分子淬灭活性的枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis) SS6中扩增N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶(N-acylhomoserine lactonase,AiiA)基因aiiASS6并异源表达,研究此信号降解酶的酶学特性。【方法】设计特异性引物,从B.subtilis SS6中克隆N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶基因aiiASS6,测序并进行生物信息学分析;将此基因克隆到表达载体pET28(a),构建重组菌株并提纯目的蛋白AiiASS6;然后用高效液相色谱(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)分析目的蛋白AiiASS6降解QS信号分子N-(3-Oxooctanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OOHL)的酶学特性。【结果】克隆得到基因片段,命名为 aiiASS6 (GenBank: KP125494),其编码一条含有297氨基酸残基的多肽,用pET28(a)成功构建重组质粒pET28-aiiASS6。生物信息学分析表明,AiiASS6的氨基酸序列含有N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯酶典型的“HXHXDH”基序和194 位的Tyr残基。在Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中异源表达AiiASS6,用Ni柱纯化后,AiiASS6含量达2.76 mg/mL。HPLC检测结果表明AiiASS6对OOHL具有很强的催化活性及耐热性,Km和Vmax分别为0.998 mmol/L和22.3 U/mg,最适pH为7.6,最适温度范围为50－90℃;此酶在4℃保存3个月后其残余活性仍达到86%,表现出较强的稳定性。【结论】从B．subtilis SS6中获得的QS淬灭酶AiiASS6表现出降解QS信号分子的高活性,其酶学特性表明它具有作为微生物制剂防控植物或水产养殖中基于QS调控的病原菌毒力的应用潜力。     

不动杆菌属中aidE基因编码高丝氨酸内酯酶

群体感应(Quorum sensing,QS)是细菌在进化过程中形成的依赖于群体密度的细菌间交流方式。许多革兰氏阴性细菌以N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(AHL)为信号分子,感应自身群体密度并调控致病基因表达。因此,淬灭AHLs信号分子可防治此类细菌引起的植物病害。本实验室前期已筛选得到了一株具有AHLs信号降解能力的不动杆菌菌株Acinetobacter sp.77,本研究通过基因组文库筛选,自菌株77中克隆得到具有AHLs降解活性的基因aidE。该基因编码268个氨基酸。序列一致性比较发现aidE的氨基酸序列与吉伦伯不动杆菌Acinetobacter gyllenbergii CIP110306中β-内酰胺酶一致性高达95%,但与已知的AHLs降解酶序列一致性较低,最高为缓黄分支杆菌Mycobacterium lentiflavum中AHL内酯酶Att M/Aii B家族蛋白(CQD23908.1),一致性仅为33%。通过高压液相色谱(HPLC)分析Aid E蛋白处理N-己酰基高丝氨酸内酯(C6-HSL)的反应产物,证明aidE为AHL内酯酶。序列比对研究发现,aidE基因在不动杆菌属中并不保守,其在菌株77基因组中的上下游的基因排列存在菌株水平的特异性,且aidE基因下游存在疑似IS插入序列,上述证据表明aidE基因有可能是通过水平转移进入Acinetobacter sp.77基因组中,或其在基因组中的位置发生过重排。表达aidE的软腐果胶杆菌Z3-3中完全检测不到AHLs信号产生,且致病力明显降低。综上所述,aidE为新发现的AHL内酯酶。在防治依赖QS系统表达致病性的细菌病害中具有应用潜力。     

高效表达N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶-木聚糖酶融合蛋白及其酶学性质

摘要: 【目的】构建N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶-木聚糖酶双酶活性表达毕氏酵母重组菌株,并对经纯化的重组蛋白SL2B 进行N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶及木聚糖酶酶学性质的研究。【方法】利用PCR 拼接技术得到N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶基因aiiA-B546 和木聚糖酶基因xynAS27cd 融合而成的基因Sl2b。构建重组表达载体pPIC9 / Sl2b 转化毕氏酵母,筛选得到同时具有木聚糖酶和N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶活性的重组子,随后对经硫酸铵沉淀、分子筛纯化后得到的重组蛋白SL2B 进行N-乙酰高丝氨酸内酯酶及木聚糖酶     

Quorum-sensing effects in the antagonistic rhizosphere bacterium Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48

The rhizosphere-associated bacterium Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48 is not only able to suppress symptoms caused by soil-borne pathogens but is also able to stimulate growth of plants. Detailed knowledge about the underlying mechanisms and regulation are crucial for the application in biocontrol strategies. To analyse the influence of N -acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated communication on the biocontrol activity, the AHL-degrading lactonase AiiA was heterologously expressed in the strain, resulting in abolished AHL production. The comparative analysis of the wild type and AHL negative mutants led to the identification of new AHL-regulated phenotypes. In the pathosystem Verticillium dahliae –oilseed rape, the essential role of AHL-mediated signaling for disease suppression was demonstrated. In vitro , the regulatory function of AHLs in the synthesis of the plant growth hormone indole-3-acetic acid is shown for the first time. Additionally, swimming motility was found to be negatively AHL regulated. In contrast, production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes is shown to be positively AHL-regulated. HRO-C48 emits a broad spectrum of volatile organic compounds that are involved in antifungal activity and, interestingly, whose relative abundances are influenced by quorum sensing (QS). This study shows that QS is crucial for biocontrol activity of S. plymuthica and discusses the impact for the application of the strain as a biocontrol agent.     

MomL,a Novel Marine-Derived N-Acyl Homoserine Lactonase from Muricauda olearia

Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules for interspecies communication, and AHL-dependent QS is related with virulence factor production in many bacterial pathogens. Quorum quenching, the enzymatic degradation of the signaling molecule, would attenuate virulence rather than kill the pathogens, and thereby reduce the potential for evolution of drug resistance. In a previous study, we showed that Muricauda olearia Th120, belonging to the class Flavobacteriia, has strong AHL degradative activity. In this study, an AHL lactonase (designated MomL), which could degrade both short- and long-chain AHLs with or without a substitution of oxo-group at the C-3 position, was identified from Th120. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that MomL functions as an AHL lactonase catalyzing AHL degradation through lactone hydrolysis. MomL is an AHL lactonase belonging to the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily that harbors an N-terminal signal peptide. The overall catalytic efficiency of MomL for C₆-HSL is ∼2.9 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ M⁻¹. Metal analysis and site-directed mutagenesis showed that, compared to AiiA, MomL has a different metal-binding capability and requires the histidine and aspartic acid residues for activity, while it shares the “HXHXDH” motif with other AHL lactonases belonging to the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily. This suggests that MomL is a representative of a novel type of secretory AHL lactonase. Furthermore, MomL significantly attenuated the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model, which suggests that MomL has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent.     

Communication systems in the genus Burkholderia: global regulators and targets for novel antipathogenic drugs.

The genus Burkholderia not only contains the primary pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei but also several species that have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in persons suffering from cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease and immunocompromised individuals. Burkholderia species utilize quorum-sensing (QS) systems that rely on N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules to express virulence factors and other functions in a population-density-dependent manner. Most Burkholderia species employ the CepIR QS system, which relies on N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone. However, some strains harbour multiple QS systems and produce numerous AHLs. QS systems have been demonstrated to be essential for full virulence in various infection models and, thus, these regulatory systems represent attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutics.     

A quorum-quenching approach to investigate the conservation of quorum-sensing-regulated functions within the Burkholderia cepacia complex

Taxonomic studies of the past few years have shown that the Burkholderia cepacia complex, a heterogeneous group of B. cepacia-like organisms, consists of at least nine species. B. cepacia complex strains are ubiquitously distributed in nature and have been used for biocontrol, bioremediation, and plant growth promotion purposes. At the same time, B. cepacia complex strains have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens of humans, particularly those with cystic fibrosis. All B. cepacia complex species investigated thus far use quorum-sensing (QS) systems that rely on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules to express certain functions, including the production of extracellular proteases, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity, in a population-density-dependent manner. In this study we constructed a broad-host-range plasmid that allowed the heterologous expression of the Bacillus sp. strain 240B1 AiiA lactonase, which hydrolyzes the lactone ring of various AHL signal molecules, in all described B. cepacia complex species. We show that expression of AiiA abolished or greatly reduced the accumulation of AHL molecules in the culture supernatants of all tested B. cepacia complex strains. Phenotypic characterization of wild-type and transgenic strains revealed that protease production, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and Caenorhabditis elegans killing efficiency was regulated by AHL in the large majority of strains investigated.     

N‐ACYL HOMOSERINE LACTONe LACTONASE,AiiA, INACTIVATION OF QUORUM‐SENSING AGONISTS PRODUCED BY CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYTA) AND CHARACTERIZATION OF aiiA TRANSGENIC ALGAE1

Eukaryotes such as plants and the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii P. A. Dang. produce and secrete compounds that mimic N‐acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) bacterial quorum‐sensing (QS) signals and alter QS‐regulated gene expression in the associated bacteria. Here, we show that the set of C. reinhardtii signal‐mimic compounds that activate the CepR AHL receptor of Burkholderia cepacia are susceptible to inactivation by AiiA, an AHL lactonase enzyme of Bacillus. Inactivation of these algal mimics by AiiA suggests that the CepR‐stimulatory class of mimics produced by C. reinhardtii may have a conserved lactone ring structure in common with AHL QS signals. To examine the role of AHL mimic compounds in the interactions of C. reinhardtii with bacteria, the aiiA gene codon optimized for Chlamydomonas was generated for the expression of AiiA as a chimeric fusion with cyan fluorescent protein (AimC). Culture filtrates of transgenic strains expressing the fusion protein AimC had significantly reduced levels of CepR signal‐mimic activities. When parental and transgenic algae were cultured with a natural pond water bacterial community, a morphologically distinct, AHL‐producing isolate of Aeromonas veronii was observed to colonize the transgenic algal cultures and form biofilms more readily than the parental algal cultures, indicating that secretion of the CepR signal mimics by the alga can significantly affect its interactions with bacteria it encounters in natural environments. The parental alga was also able to sequester and/or destroy AHLs in its growth media to further disrupt or manipulate bacterial QS.     

Bacterial quorum sensing and nitrogen cycling in rhizosphere soil

Plant photosynthate fuels carbon-limited microbial growth and activity, resulting in increased rhizosphere nitrogen (N) mineralization. Most soil organic nitrogen is macromolecular (chitin, protein, nucleotides); enzymatic depolymerization is likely rate limiting for plant nitrogen accumulation. Analyzing Avena (wild oat) planted in microcosms containing sieved field soil, we observed increased rhizosphere chitinase and protease-specific activities, bacterial cell densities, and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) compared with bulk soil. Low-molecular-weight (MW) DON (<3000 Da) was undetectable in bulk soil but comprised 15% of rhizosphere DON. Extracellular enzyme production in many bacteria requires quorum sensing (QS), cell-density-dependent group behavior. Because proteobacteria are considered major rhizosphere colonizers, we assayed the proteobacterial QS signals N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which were significantly increased in the rhizosphere. To investigate the linkage between soil signaling and nitrogen cycling, we characterized 533 bacterial isolates from Avena rhizosphere: 24% had chitinase or protease activity and AHL production; disruption of QS in seven of eight isolates disrupted enzyme activity. Many Alphaproteobacteria were newly found with QS-controlled extracellular enzyme activity. Enhanced specific activities of nitrogen-cycling enzymes accompanied by bacterial density-dependent behaviors in rhizosphere soil gives rise to the hypothesis that QS could be a control point in the complex process of rhizosphere nitrogen mineralization.     

The role of AiiA, a quorum-quenching enzyme from Bacillus thuringiensis, on the rhizosphere competence

Bacteria sense their population density and coordinate the expression of target genes, including virulence factors in Gram-negative bacteria, by the N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs)-dependent quorum-sensing (QS) mechanism. In contrast, several soil bacteria are able to interfere with QS by enzymatic degradation of AHLs, referred to as quorum quenching. A potent AHL-degrading enzyme, AiiA, of Bacillus thuringiensis has been reported to effectively attenuate the virulence of bacteria by quorum quenching. However, little is known about the role of AiiA in B. thuringiensis itself. In the present study, an aiiA-defective mutant was generated to investigate the role of AiiA in rhizosphere competence in the root system of pepper. The aiiA mutant showed no detectable AHL-degrading activity and was less effective for suppression of soft-rot symptom caused by Erwinia carotovora on the potato slice. On the pepper root, the survival rate of the aiiA mutant significantly decreased over time compared with that of wild type. Interestingly, viable cell count analysis revealed that the bacterial number and composition of E. carotovora were not different between treatments of wild type and the aiiA mutant, although root application of the aiiA mutant in pepper failed to protect the plant from root rot. These results provide evidence that AiiA can play an important role in rhizosphere competentce of B. thuringiensis and bacterial quorum quenching to Gram-negative bacteria without changing bacterial number or composition.     

A Quorum-Quenching Approach To Investigate the Conservation of Quorum-Sensing-Regulated Functions within the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

Taxonomic studies of the past few years have shown that the Burkholderia cepacia complex, a heterogeneous group of B. cepacia-like organisms, consists of at least nine species. B. cepacia complex strains are ubiquitously distributed in nature and have been used for biocontrol, bioremediation, and plant growth promotion purposes. At the same time, B. cepacia complex strains have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens of humans, particularly those with cystic fibrosis. All B. cepacia complex species investigated thus far use quorum-sensing (QS) systems that rely on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules to express certain functions, including the production of extracellular proteases, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity, in a population-density-dependent manner. In this study we constructed a broad-host-range plasmid that allowed the heterologous expression of the Bacillus sp. strain 240B1 AiiA lactonase, which hydrolyzes the lactone ring of various AHL signal molecules, in all described B. cepacia complex species. We show that expression of AiiA abolished or greatly reduced the accumulation of AHL molecules in the culture supernatants of all tested B. cepacia complex strains. Phenotypic characterization of wild-type and transgenic strains revealed that protease production, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and Caenorhabditis elegans killing efficiency was regulated by AHL in the large majority of strains investigated.