Octapamine N-acetyltransferase activity from the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus

The metabolism of octopamine in the tick, Boophilus microplus, was studied by incubating synganglia, excised from adult females, with [³H]octopamine. The major metabolite co-chromatographed with N-acetyloctopamine and was predominantly found outside the nervous tissue in the surrounding saline. The N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity was measured in enzyme preparations from adult synganglia using [³H]octopamine as the substrate and acetyl CoA as a co-factor. Under the assay conditions employed, the V_max was 7 nmol/h/mg of protein and the apparent K_m for octopamine was 4 μM. The N-acetylation of octopamine was inhibited by divalent cations (Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺), β-carbolines, imipramine and a number of biogenic amines.

NAT activity towards octopamine was also found in enzyme preparations from larvae of B. microplus and this enzyme had similar K_m and V_max values (4 μM and 10 nmol/h/mg of protein, respectively) to the neural enzyme and was inhibited both by β-carbolines and biogenic amines. These results suggest that N-acetylation is a key reaction in the metabolism of octopamine in the nervous system of the tick and may also play an important role in the metabolism of octopamine and other biogenic amines in larval stages of this acarine.     

Binding of antigens to tissues: The example of Boophilus microplus and bovine skin

Two antigens from the tick Boophilus microplus, one an esterase, the other an inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes, may have a pronounced tendency to aggregate or bind non-specifically to other proteins. It is suggested that this may be important in enhancing their retention in the tick's feeding lesion on the host. Using [¹²⁵J] labelled proteins it was shown that the tick proteins when injected into bovine skin were retained there significantly longer than were model proteins from non-parasitic sources. It was shown that the tick esterase contained three free sulphydryl groups per molecule and evidence was obtained that these could contribute to binding of the protein in bovine skin.     

Deinococcus misasensis and Deinococcus roseus, novel members of the genus Deinococcus, isolated from a radioactive site in Japan

Two gamma- and UV-radiation resistant, Gram-positive, red- or pink-pigmented, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterial strains, TDMA-25^T and TDMA-uv51^T, were isolated from fresh water collected at Misasa, a radioactive site in Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed both in a distinct lineage in the family Deinococcaceae, and the highest degrees of sequence similarity determined belonged to Deinococcus maricopensis LB-34^T (88.8–89.3%), Deinococcus pimensis KR-235^T (86.4–86.7%) and Deinococcus yavapaiensis KR-236^T (86.1%). The DNA G+C content of the strains was 53–58 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-8. The predominant fatty acids were C_15:0 iso, C_16:0 iso, C_13:0 iso, C_17:0 iso, C_16:0, C_13:0 anteiso, C_15:0 and C_12:0 iso. The strains degraded gelatin, casein, starch and Tween 80. Unique physiological characteristics, differences in their fatty acid profiles, and genotypic and phylogenetic features, differentiated strains TDMA-25^T and TDMA-uv51^T from closely related Deinococcus species. Hence, the two strains are described as novel species of the genus Deinococcus. The names Deinococcus misasensis sp. nov. (type strain TDMA-25^T=JCM 14369=NBRC 102116=CCUG 53610) and Deinococcus roseus sp. nov. (type strain TDMA-uv51^T=JCM 14370=NBRC 102117=CCUG 53611) are proposed.     

Direct selection of recombinant plasmids in Bacillus subtilis

A system is described which permits the direct, positive selection of recombinant plasmids in Bacillus subtilis. This system relies on the plasmid pBD214 which confers chloramphenicol (Cm) resistance and carries a thy gene, and on BD393, a highly competent B. subtilis thy A thy B host. Thy⁻ strains are resistant to trimethoprim (Tmp), and Thy⁺ strains are sensitive. Inactivation of the pBD214 thy determinant by insertion of a DNA fragment permits selection of Cm^r Tmp^r clones, all of which carry recombinant plasmids. This insertional inactivation can be accomplished using the unique EcoRl, Bell, Pvull, or EcoRV sites, all of which are located within the thy gene on pBD214. Some properties of this selective system are described, and its uses for molecular cloning are discussed     

Circadian Rhythms in Neurospora crassa: The Role of Mitochondria

Energy metabolism and mitochondria have been discussed with respect to their role in the circadian rhythm mechanism for some time. Numerous examples of inhibitors that affect the mitochondria of plants and animals and microorganisms are known, which cause large phase shifts in the rhythms of these organisms. Analogous studies on the role of mitochondria in the Neurospora circadian rhythm mechanism have also been reported and summarized. This communication differs from previous studies on other organisms in that it will focus on two lines of evidence derived from studies on Neurospora strains carrying mutations affecting the mitochondria, (a) Strains whose growth rate is resistant to oligomycin (oli^t) owing to an altered protein in the F₀ sector of the mitochondrial ATPase, showed no phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. Control strains (oli⁸) showed large phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. This indicates that the phase-shifting effect of oligomycin is due to the direct inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase and not some side effect of this inhibitor, (b) In Neurospora, many different strains are known that carry mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial genome that affect mitochondrially localized proteins. Some of these, such as oli', [MI-3], or cya-5, showed shorter (≥ 19-h) periods compared with the normal (21.5-h) period. Others showed little or no change in period. Those mutant strains exhibiting shorter periods also contained ≥60% more mitochondrial protein per gram total protein in extracts compared with the normal strains. Assays of the level of a mitochondrial-specific protein, acyl carrier protein, showed that the cellular content of this protein was approximately doubled. A parallel set of studies on the effects of antimycin or chloramphenicol on Neurospora demonstrated that these inhibitors also produced shorter periods as well as increased amounts of mitochondrial proteins. These two new lines of evidence may be interpreted to indicate that in Neurospora either some part of the oscillator is localized to the mitochondria and/or that mitochondria exert their effect on the clock mechanism through their effects on biosynthetic pathways or by their contribution in determining ion gradients.     

Schizosaccharomyces malidevorans and Sz. octosporus homologues of Sz. pombe rad9, a gene that mediates radioresistance and cell-cycle progression

The rad9 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is involved in promoting resistance to ionizing radiation and UV light, as well as regulating cell cycle progression after irradiation. We have isolated functional rad9 cognates from two other fission yeasts, Sz. malidevorans and Sz. octosporus, that can restore radioresistance and the radiation-induced G2 delay response to Sz. pombe rad9::ura4 cells. The Sz. pombe and Sz. malidevorans genes are identical at the nucleotide sequence level, which reflects their close evolutionary relationship. Each bears three introns and codes for a 47464-Da protein that contains 426 amino acids (aa). In contrast, Sz. octosporus rad9 contains five introns and codes for a 48210-Da protein that is 432-aa long. The Sz. pombe rad9 product is only 65% identical and 80% similar to the corresponding Sz. octosporus gene product. All of the strains synthesize a rad9 RNA of approx. 1.6 kb. The presence of a rad9-like gene in these yeasts suggests that the cellular process(es) mediated by rad9, and used by these organisms to increase survival and transiently delay cycling in G2 after irradiation, are conserved. The isolation, analyses and comparison of rad9 genes from different organisms should aid in elucidating the specific biological role of the corresponding protein and especially help pinpoint regions important for function.     

过表达钾转运蛋白基因trkH提高玉米的钾营养

钾是植物生长发育必须的营养元素,参与多种生理生化过程。土壤缺钾严重影响了玉米的产量和品质,通过遗传改良的方式提高玉米的钾营养是解决这个问题的有效途径。本实验室前期从海洋微生物宏基因组DNA中克隆得到细菌钾转运蛋白基因trkH,在酵母和烟草中验证了功能。为进一步分析trkH基因在玉米中的功能,以Hi-Ⅱ基因型玉米为转化受体,采用农杆菌介导法将trkH基因转入玉米,获得具有Baster抗性的独立转化苗21株。PCR检测结果表明trkH基因已成功转入到玉米基因组中。Bar试纸条检测结果表明Bar基因在蛋白水平上成功表达。将部分T₀代转基因植株与玉米骨干自交系PH6WC杂交,获得8个T₁代株系,半定量RT-PCR检测结果表明转基因植株在转录水平上均能表达。三叶一心期喷洒除草剂进行筛选,选择比例接近1：1的L3、L5和L7转基因株系进行PCR检测,统计检测结果并进行χ²测验,结果表明符合孟德尔分离定律。L3、L5和L7转基因株系玉米苗期的钾耗竭实验结果表明过表达trkH基因能够提高转基因玉米的K⁺吸收,为培育钾营养高效玉米新品种奠定基础。     

ZmFBL41 Chang7-2: 玉米抗纹枯病的关键利器

由真菌Rhizoctonia solani引起的纹枯病严重危害玉米(Zea mays)和水稻(Oryza sativa)等作物的安全生产。R. solani的宿主范围广且抗源少, 加之相关的抗性机制研究有限, 导致纹枯病的危害长期得不到有效控制。近期, 中国科学家通过对318份玉米自交系进行全基因组关联分析, 筛选到1个与纹枯病抗性相关的、编码F-box结构域蛋白的候选基因ZmFBL41 (GRMZM2G109140)。ZmFBL41蛋白是SCF (SKP1-Cullin-F-box) E3泛素连接酶复合体的一员, 能介导复合体对肉桂醇脱氢酶ZmCAD的降解, 从而降低木质素的积累, 使玉米易感纹枯病。玉米抗病自交系Chang7-2中, 蛋白ZmFBL41 ^Chang7-2因2个关键氨基酸的变异, 不能结合并降解底物ZmCAD, 使木质素含量增加, 从而提高玉米对纹枯病的抗性。该研究率先揭示了SCF复合体可通过降解肉桂醇脱氢酶来调控植物免疫反应的新型分子机制, 为提高玉米及其它作物对纹枯病的抗性提供了重要理论依据和基因资源。     

ZmFBL41 Chang7-2: 玉米抗纹枯病的关键利器

由真菌Rhizoctonia solani引起的纹枯病严重危害玉米(Zea mays)和水稻(Oryza sativa)等作物的安全生产。R. solani的宿主范围广且抗源少, 加之相关的抗性机制研究有限, 导致纹枯病的危害长期得不到有效控制。近期, 中国科学家通过对318份玉米自交系进行全基因组关联分析, 筛选到1个与纹枯病抗性相关的、编码F-box结构域蛋白的候选基因ZmFBL41 (GRMZM2G109140)。ZmFBL41蛋白是SCF (SKP1-Cullin-F-box) E3泛素连接酶复合体的一员, 能介导复合体对肉桂醇脱氢酶ZmCAD的降解, 从而降低木质素的积累, 使玉米易感纹枯病。玉米抗病自交系Chang7-2中, 蛋白ZmFBL41 ^Chang7-2因2个关键氨基酸的变异, 不能结合并降解底物ZmCAD, 使木质素含量增加, 从而提高玉米对纹枯病的抗性。该研究率先揭示了SCF复合体可通过降解肉桂醇脱氢酶来调控植物免疫反应的新型分子机制, 为提高玉米及其它作物对纹枯病的抗性提供了重要理论依据和基因资源。     

New member of the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family identified in Amblyomma variegatum tick

Ticks belonging to arthropoda are blood feeding, geographically widespread ectoparasites of mammals, reptiles and birds. Their saliva contains active substances that protect them from host immune attack and allow for transmission of various pathogens during the feeding process. Characterization of tick saliva components can therefore contribute to the development of effective methods for the control of tick-borne diseases.

Here we describe the identification and basic characterization of a gene encoding a 55 kDa protein found in the salivary glands (SG) of Amblyomma variegatum tick. Based on the primary structure and homology to the family of protein disulfide isomerases (PDI; EC 5.3.4.1) the gene was named AvPDI. The 1461 nt long AvPDI open reading frame codes for a 487 amino acid protein. In vitro expressed AvPDI was exclusively localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that AvPDI expression is not restricted to the SG of the tick. More detailed analysis on tissue slides from SG detected an AvPDI specific signal in granular cells of the acini type II and III. Finally, reductase activity of AvPDI was confirmed in an insulin assay. The structural and functional characteristics suggest that AvPDI is another member of the PDI protein family and represents the first more closely characterized PDI in the ticks.     

Pd-1基因敲除小鼠构建及初步表型验证

目的:细胞程序性死亡蛋白(programmed death ligand-1,PD-1)是机体T细胞的免疫检查点,也是肿瘤治疗的重要靶点。采用CRISPR/Cas9技术,利用非同源重组修复引入突变的方式,使基因蛋白读码框移码造成PD-1功能缺失,建立Pd-1基因敲除小鼠模型,为深入探究Pd-1基因功能及作用机制提供基础。方法:针对Pd-1基因2-4号外显子设计并合成2对sgRNA片段,与编码Cas9片段共同体外转录,通过受精卵显微注射方法将两者mRNA混合注射到C57BL/6小鼠受精卵中,经PCR产物测序鉴定获得F0代小鼠,之后与野生型C57BL/6小鼠交配获得F1代杂合子小鼠,F1代小鼠自交即获得F2代纯合子小鼠品系(Pd-1^-/-)。刀豆蛋白(concanavalin A,ConA)刺激Pd-1^-/-小鼠后,通过实时荧光定量PCR和流式细胞技术在mRNA和蛋白水平上分别检测Pd-1^-/-小鼠中Pd-1基因在转录和翻译过程中的表达情况,并通过ELISA方法检测Pd-1^-/-小鼠血清中IL-6、IFN-γ、IL12/IL23及TNF-α等因子的表达水平,初步分析Pd-1通路在T细胞反应调控中的作用机制及对免疫刺激的响应情况。结果:PCR及测序结果表明在小鼠基因组中Pd-1基因2-4号外显子被成功敲除;Real-Time PCR实验和流式检测结果显示:与野生型小鼠相比,Pd-1^-/-小鼠脾、肠系膜淋巴结、胸腺和血液各组织中Pd-1表达水平均显著降低;双抗夹心ELISA测定结果显示:Pd-1敲除后经ConA刺激,血清中IL-6和IFN-γ表达上调。结论:成功构建Pd-1基因敲除小鼠模型。Pd-1缺失能够上调IL-6和IFN-γ对ConA刺激的响应,增加ConA引起的炎症反应,为Pd-1的体内基因功能研究提供了新的小鼠模型和研究思路。     

The bacterial paromomycin resistance gene, aphH, as a dominant selectable marker in Volvox carteri

The aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin that is highly toxic to the green alga Volvox carteri is efficiently inactivated by aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase from Streptomyces rimosus. Therefore, we made constructs in which the bacterial aphH gene encoding this enzyme was combined with Volvox cis-regulatory elements in an attempt to develop a new dominant selectable marker – paromomycin resistance (Pm^R) – for use in Volvox nuclear transformation. The construct that provided the most efficient transformation was one in which aphH was placed between a chimeric promoter that was generated by fusing the Volvox hsp70 and rbcS3 promoters and the 3′ UTR of the Volvox rbcS3 gene. When this plasmid was used in combination with a high-impact biolistic device, the frequency of stable Pm^R transformants ranged about 15 per 10⁶ target cells. Due to rapid and sharp selection, Pm^R transformants were readily isolated after six days, which is half the time required for previously used markers. Co-transformation of an unselected marker ranged about 30%. The chimeric aphH gene was stably integrated into the Volvox genome, frequently as tandem multiple copies, and was expressed at a level that made selection of Pm^R transformants simple and unambiguous. This makes the engineered bacterial aphH gene an efficient dominant selection marker for the transformation and co-transformation of a broad range of V. carteri strains without the recurring need for using auxotrophic recipient strains.     

Nonsense-mediated decay of mRNA for the selenoprotein phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase is detectable in cultured cells but masked or inhibited in rat tissues

Previous studies of mRNA for classical glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) demonstrated that hepatocytes of rats fed a selenium-deficient diet have less cytoplasmic GPx1 mRNA than hepatocytes of rats fed a selenium-adequate diet. This is because GPx1 mRNA is degraded by the surveillance pathway called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) when the selenocysteine codon is recognized as nonsense. Here, we examine the mechanism by which the abundance of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) mRNA, another selenocysteine-encoding mRNA, fails to decrease in the hepatocytes and testicular cells of rats fed a selenium-deficient diet. We demonstrate with cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts or H35 hepatocytes transiently transfected with PHGPx gene variants under selenium-supplemented or selenium-deficient conditions that PHGPx mRNA is, in fact, a substrate for NMD when the selenocysteine codon is recognized as nonsense. We also demonstrate that the endogenous PHGPx mRNA of untransfected H35 cells is subject to NMD. The failure of previous reports to detect the NMD of PHGPx mRNA in cultured cells is likely attributable to the expression of PHGPx cDNA rather than the PHGPx gene. We conclude that 1) the sequence of the PHGPx gene is adequate to support the NMD of product mRNA, and 2) there is a mechanism in liver and testis but not cultured fibroblasts and hepatocytes that precludes or masks the NMD of PHGPx mRNA.     

Molecular characterisation of the Stc mutation of Escherichia coli K-12

The previously described Stc ^- (suppressor of TolC) mutation modifies the phenotype of tolC mutants from OmpF⁻ to OmpF⁺. Restriction mapping of chromosomal DNA from Stc ⁺ and Stc⁻ strains was performed to investigate the nature of the mutation which was shown to be a deletion, upstream of the ompC gene. DNA from the region of the deletion was cloned into pUC18 and a 650-bp PstI-EcoRI fragment was sequenced. The deletion started 49 bp upstream of the AUG start codon of the ompC gene, thus removing part of the ompC promoter and the whole of the micF gene. We suggest that the deletion of micF gives rise to the Stc⁻ phenotype since the effect of micF expression is assumed to reduce ompF expression, and the Stc⁻ phenotype involves increase in ompF expression.     

Peridinin-Chlorophyll a-Protein Is not Implicated in the Photosynthesis Rhythm of the Dinoflagellate Gonyaulax despite Circadian Regulation of its Translation

The levels of peridinin-chlorophyll a -protein (PCP) mRNA, apoprotein and protein bound with peridinin (holoprotein) were measured as a function of circadian time in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra to test involvement of this protein in the circadian oxygen evolution rhythm. This involvement was suggested by previous work showing that synthesis of PCP was rhythmic in vivo and in phase with the three-fold rhythm of oxygen evolution. However, Gonyaulax contains six PCP isoforms, only one of which was previously examined. In this report, we extend our analysis to two additional isoforms to encompass roughly 90% of the total cellular PCP. We confirm that synthesis of two additional PCP isoforms is rhythmic in vivo and show that this regulation appears to occur at a translational level as found for two other regulated proteins in this organism. However, PCP is unlikely to be implicated in the oxygen evolution rhythm since both PCP protein levels and the amount of chromophore (OD⁴⁸⁰) bound to protein (OD²⁸⁰) are constant over a circadian period.     

Enrichment of threonine content in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by pathway engineering

In a previous work, we have investigated the effect of amplifying individually the genes of the threonine biosynthetic pathway on threonine accumulation by yeast. Here, we present the results of the simultaneous amplification of these genes in strains with different genetic backgrounds. These strains carry a mutant HOM3-R2 allele (coding for a feedback-insensitive aspartate kinase), and/or a mutant cha1 allele that makes it defective in threonine degradation by the catabolic L-serine (L-threonine) deaminase. The results show that the amplification of the clustered genes affects threonine and homoserine accumulation only when it includes the HOM3 gene, or when combined with a HOM3-R2 mutation. Similarly, the cha1 mutation is only effective when a certain amount of threonine is reached. Threonine overproduction affects other cellular functions such as the accumulation of other amino acids, the cell growth and metabolite excretion, probably reflecting a redirection of the carbon flux in the central metabolism.     

拟南芥根毛功能基因AtGDPD-Like3关键氨基酸位点鉴定

AtGDPD-Like3是编码甘油磷酸二酯磷酸二酯酶（GDPD）类似基因,拟南芥该家族基因AtGDPD-Like3突变体shv3存在严重的根毛发育缺陷。为了鉴定AtGDPD-Like3关键氨基酸位点,我们构建S⁵³⁸A、V⁵⁵⁶A和D⁶²⁸A单点突变AtGDPD-Like3,分别转化atgdpdl3突变体并观察其恢复根毛缺陷程度。结果显示V⁵⁵⁶A、D⁶²⁸A位点突变AtGDPD-Like3完全恢复atgdpdl3根毛生长缺陷表型,但S⁵³⁸A突变AtGDPD-Like3只是部分恢复根毛缺陷。这些结果表明Ser⁵³⁸是AtGDPD-Like3较为关键的氨基酸位点,突变影响其蛋白质功能行使,同时暗示AtGDPD-Like3还存在其它的关键氨基酸位点。此研究结果为进一步探究AtGDPD-Like3蛋白功能行使的作用机制奠定了基础。     

The Aspergillus niger carbon catabolite repressor encoding gene, creA

In order to undertake a comparative analysis of carbon catabolite repression in two Aspergillus species, the creA gene has been isolated from A. niger by cross hybridization, using the cloned A. nidulans gene. The A. niger gene has been shown to be functional in A. nidulans by heterologous complementation of the creA204 mutation of A. nidulans. Overall, the genes show 90% sequence similarity (82% identity) at the amino acid (aa) level. There were some striking similarities between the aa sequences encoded by the two fungal creA genes and two genes involved in carbon catabolite repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The zinc-finger regions showed 96% similarity (84% identity) with the zinc-finger region of the MIG1 gene of S. cerevisiae. The CREA protein contains a stretch of 42 aa that is identical in A. niger and A. nidulans, and these show 81% similarity (33% identity) with a region of the S. cerevisiae RGR1 gene.