西瓜食酸菌RND蛋白家族外排转运体cusB基因抗铜功能研究

【目的】研究RND外排泵中cus B基因突变对西瓜食酸菌抗铜性的影响。【方法】采用Tn5转座子随机插入基因组制备筛选得到突变体,通过双亲杂交的方法构建功能互补菌株,并从西瓜食酸菌抗铜性、胞外纤维素酶和胞外蛋白酶分泌、胞外多糖产生、生物膜形成、致病性及过敏性反应等方面阐明RND外排泵中MFP蛋白亚基对西瓜食酸菌的影响。【结果】突变体Δcus B在含有1.25 mmol/L或2.5 mmol/L Cu SO4的KMB平板上不能生长,cus B基因的突变导致西瓜食酸菌的胞外多糖分泌和生物膜形成与野生型有差异,但不影响胞外纤维素酶、胞外蛋白酶、致病性及过敏性反应。【结论】RND外排泵相关基因cus B的突变会影响西瓜食酸菌的某些生物学特性,并导致病菌对铜十分敏感。研究以RND外排泵转运重金属为导向初步解析了西瓜食酸菌的抗铜机制。     

新生隐球菌一个新的产孢相关蛋白Srp1的鉴定与功能分析

【目的】研究产孢相关蛋白Srp1在新生隐球菌有性产孢和致病性中的作用及机理。【方法】采用基因枪转化技术构建新生隐球菌SRP1基因缺失突变体及其互补菌株,并通过小鼠致病性实验和菌株交配实验检测Srp1在新生隐球菌有性产孢和致病性中的作用。【结果】与野生型菌株相比,srp1Δ突变体小鼠致病性无差异;srp1Δ突变体能够交配并形成双核菌丝,但丧失产生担孢子的能力;初步机理分析表明srp1Δ突变体交配后其减数分裂过程被阻断,从而导致srp1Δ突变体不能产生担孢子。【结论】产孢相关蛋白Srp1不影响新生隐球菌的致病性,但可通过调控减数分裂过程影响新生隐球菌的有性生殖。     

大丽轮枝菌 VdCPMO基因克隆与功能分析

大丽轮枝菌 Verticillium dahliae是一种典型的土传病原真菌,可侵染400多种植物引致黄萎病,造成巨大的经济损失。微菌核是大丽轮枝菌的特殊休眠结构,能够在土壤中存活14年之久,是病害的主要初侵染来源。本研究在前期微菌核萌发表达谱的基础上,选择上调倍数最高的环戊酮1,2-单加氧酶基因（ VDAG_03943）,进行克隆与功能分析。结果表明,该基因全长1 929bp,cDNA序列全长1 668bp,编码555个氨基酸组成的蛋白,命名为 VdCPMO。与野生型菌株JY相比,敲除突变体菌株的菌落生长减慢,微菌核萌发率显著降低,芽管平均长度明显较短,而互补突变体菌株与野生型菌株JY间无显著性差异。致病力测定结果显示,敲除突变体菌株的微菌核丧失了对棉花的致病力。     

水稻白叶枯病菌TonB-Dep-Rec蛋白家族成员Tdrxoo的功能鉴定

【目的】旨在揭示水稻白叶枯病菌(Xanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae,Xoo)致病性和运动性及其基因表达的调控途径。【方法】本研究通过基因克隆、序列分析和缺失突变方法,对与应答调节子GacAxoo互作的Tdrxoo的分子特征和功能进行了鉴定。【结果】利用序列特异性引物进行基因扩增,成功地从野生型菌株PXO99A中克隆了tdrxoo基因。Tdrxoo与其它病原黄单胞菌的同源序列高度保守,具有TonB-Dependent-Receptor(TDR)结构域,推测其是位于细菌外膜、可能接收来自细菌体外环境信号的蛋白。用基因标记交换法,构建了△tdrxoo基因缺失突变体。与PXO99A相比,Δtdrxoo在人工培养条件下的生长受到影响,致病性完全丧失,胞外纤维素酶和木聚糖酶活性和运动能力显著减弱,基因互补可以使之恢复;Δtdrxoo嗜铁素产生无明显改变。【结论】Tdrxoo作为一种细胞外膜蛋白,可能参与调控了病菌的生长、致病性、胞外酶活性和运动性等表型。     

大丽轮枝菌毒素的多糖组份对棉花致萎作用的研究

用β-葡萄糖苷酶水解大丽轮枝菌(Verticillium dahliae Kleb.)毒素中的多糖组份。发现经酶处理后的5个不同致病力类型的棉花黄萎病菌(大丽轮枝菌)菌株毒素都不能影响整个毒素复合物对棉花的致萎作用,表明毒素中的多糖组份在棉花的致萎作用中不占有重量地位。     

水稻条斑病菌pilT基因在致病性中的功能分析

【目的】本实验室前期研究发现水稻条斑病菌(Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzicola,Xoc)RS105菌株中pil T基因Tn5转座子插入突变体在寄主水稻上致病性明显降低,在非寄主烟草上激发过敏反应(hypersensitive response,HR)的能力也明显减弱。为了揭示pilT基因在Xoc菌株中的功能,本文进行了深入研究。【方法】本实验通过无标记双交换敲除的方法获得Xoc RS105菌株pil T基因缺失突变体RΔpilT,并对该突变体的游动性以及生物膜等表型进行了检测。【结果】与野生型RS105菌株相比,敲除突变体RΔpilT不仅在感病水稻IR24上的致病性显著降低,在非寄主烟草上产生过敏反应的能力减弱,而且突变体游动性降低,生物膜含量增加,互补子能够恢复上述缺陷至野生型水平。qRT-PCR结果显示,在RΔpil T中,hrpG、hrpX、hrcC、clp、rpfG、pilA、pilC基因表达量明显降低。【结论】Xoc中pilT为重要的毒性相关基因,其致病性与游动性和生物膜含量变化相关,并且受clp、rpfG、pilA、pilC等基因调控。pil T基因编码的Pil T蛋白是构成IV型菌毛的亚基之一,为菌体运动提供能量。本文对pilT基因的功能研究,为进一步分析IV型菌毛在Xoc中的功能提供了线索。     

过量表达GhPFN2基因增强棉花对大丽轮枝菌的抗性

越来越多的研究表明,微丝骨架参与植物先天免疫过程,但是其作用机制尚不明确.本研究发现,棉花(Gossypium spp.)的profilin基因(GhPFN2)在大丽轮枝菌(Verticillium dahliae)侵染条件下表达水平上调,推测GhPFN2可能参与棉花应答黄萎病过程.当棉花根部侵染大丽轮枝菌后,根表皮细胞中微丝的密度和成束度显著增加.与野生型相比,过量表达GhPFN2棉花对黄萎病的耐受性提高,并且棉花根部微丝骨架高级结构与野生型受到大丽轮枝菌侵染后的表型一致.这些结果表明,GhPFN2能够介导微丝骨架的重排,进而参与棉花抵御大丽轮枝菌的侵染过程.     

大丽轮枝菌VdSCH9基因的功能研究

大丽轮枝菌是一种土传性植物病原真菌,可侵染多种植物并引发黄萎病。目前,人们关于大丽轮枝菌的侵染和致病机制的了解还很不深入。本文通过敲除大丽轮枝菌编码丝氨酸/苏氨酸的蛋白激酶基因VdSCH9,阐明了其在大丽轮枝菌生长发育及致病过程中的作用。SCH9基因在酵母中的表达与cAMP-PKA途径和TOR信号通路相关,对酵母的生长、压力响应和寿命等有重要作用。大丽轮枝菌VdSCH9敲除突变体的生长速率显著下降,菌落边缘菌丝更为稀疏,菌丝分枝减少,对棉花植株为害的平均病情指数为56.6,显著低于野生型和互补突变体的平均病情指数90.5和82.8,对茄子植株为害的平均病情指数为65.9,也显著低于野生型和互补突变体的平均病情指数91.1和89.8。另外,敲除突变体对于高渗透压、氧化还原压力、细胞膜和细胞壁完整性等压力条件的敏感性增强。因此,VdSCH9对于大丽轮枝菌的生长、压力响应及致病力均有重要作用。     

甘肃省甜瓜黄萎病的病原鉴定

【背景】2013年11月在甘肃省兰州市皋兰县的日光温室秋冬茬甜瓜种植棚发现黄萎症状的甜瓜植株,病株率约为1%。【目的】明确甜瓜黄萎病的病原。【方法】采用组织分离法进行病原菌分离;通过科赫氏法则(Koch’s法则)明确分出病菌的致病性;采用形态学和分子生物学方法对病原菌进行种类鉴定。【结果】分离得到轮枝菌属真菌8株,轮枝菌属真菌的病株分出率达100%;2个代表性菌株GLTG-2和GLTG-5(显微特征相似但菌落形态和生长速率不同),在温度18-24℃及昼/夜光周期为11.5 h/12.5 h的试验条件下,人工接种可引起甜瓜苗矮化、枯萎;接种后40 d,枯死株率分别为70%和40%;BLASTn分析结果显示,菌株GLTG-2的rDNA-ITS序列与Verticillium dahliae菌株MRHf7的序列相似性达99.78%,菌株GLTG-5的rDNA-ITS序列与V.dahliae菌株MRHf7和Vd414的序列相似性达100.00%。【结论】引起甜瓜黄萎病的病原菌被鉴定为大丽轮枝菌(V. dahliae),这是大丽轮枝菌引起甜瓜黄萎病在我国和亚洲地区的首次报道。     

胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌鞭毛钩基因flgK 的功能

【目的】为了研究鞭毛钩基因flgK在胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜亚种(Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp.carotovorum,P.c.c)的功能。【方法】本研究采用两亲同源交换法构建了基因缺失突变体ΔflgKpcc并构建了互补菌株ΔflgKpcc-KH,测定突变体及其互补菌株的菌体形态、运动性、致病因子、致病性等表型。【结果】与野生菌株PccS1相比,ΔflgKpcc鞭毛缺失,菌体易沉降,在0.3%半固体培养基上运动能力明显降低,生长速率无明显变化,但是纤维素酶和蛋白酶的活性、生物膜形成能力明显下降,对感病寄主的致病力显著减弱。基因互补可以使上述突变表型恢复。【结论】实验表明,鞭毛基因flgK突变导致了菌体的运动性降低、病原菌毒性相关的酶活力下降,从而导致致病力下降。     

Improvement of protein stability in protein microarrays

Protein stability in microarrays was improved using protein stabilizers. PEG 200 at 30% (w/v) was the most efficient stabilizer giving over 4-fold improvement in protein stability compared to without the stabilizer. PEG 200 above 10% (w/v) in the array solution prevented the evaporation of water in the sample and thereby improved protein stability in the microarray. When the streptavidin-biotin binding reaction was performed under optimized conditions, biotin-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was detected from 1 ng ml^–1 to 5 g ml^–1 by fluorescence analysis.     

Flexible ligand-flexible protein docking in protein kinase systems

Quite a few reviews on molecular docking have already appeared. This mini-review focuses on methods that incorporate protein flexibility in docking rather than those that treat protein targets as rigid molecules. This is still a challenging problem but there are encouraging recent advances. These methods will be reviewed particularly in light of their applications to protein kinases and phosphatases. In addition to obtaining correct docking pose, recent developments on exploring docking pathways are also highlighted.     

C-reactive protein reduces protein S-nitrosylation in endothelial cells

Glycodelin A (GdA) is a dimeric glycoprotein synthesized by the human endometrium under progesterone regulation. Based on the high sequence similarity with β-lactoglobulin, it is placed under the lipocalin superfamily. The protein is one of the local immunomodulators present at the feto-maternal interface which affects both the innate as well as the acquired arms of the immune system, thereby bringing about successful establishment and progression of pregnancy. Our previous studies revealed that the domain responsible for the immunosuppressive activity of glycodelin lies on its protein backbone and the glycans modulate the same. This study attempts to further delineate the apoptosis inducing region of GdA. Our results demonstrate that the stretch of amino acid sequence between Met24 to Leu105 is necessary and sufficient to inhibit proliferation of T cells and induce apoptosis in them. Further, within this region the key residues involved in harboring the activity were shown to be present between Asp52 and Ser65.     

药物靶标蛋白在蛋白网络中的分布

药物靶标发现是目前生物学研究领域的热点和难点问题。从已有药物靶标中寻找规律可以为新靶标的发现总结规律,提供依据。随着功能基因组学的发展,这种组学数据的积累为这一问题的研究提供了契机。本文研究了已有靶标在蛋白网络中的分布,并分析了它们的蛋白功能域组成情况。结果显示靶标基因倾向位于网络的核心区域,并且集中在一些特定蛋白家族中。这些规律的总结将对药物研发过程中药物靶点的选择提供一定的帮助。     

The protein as a variable in protein crystallization

Strategies for growing protein crystals have for many years been essentially empirical, the protein, once purified to a certain homogeneity, being mixed with a selection of crystallization agents selected in a more or less trial-and-error fashion. Screening for the correct conditions has been made easier through automation and by the introduction of commercially available crystallization kits. Many parameters can be changed in these experiments, such as temperature, pH, and ionic strength, but perhaps the most important variable has been ignored, namely the protein. The crystallization properties of a protein vary greatly: some crystallize readily, whereas others have proven extremely difficult or even impossible to obtain in a crystalline state. The possibility of altering the intrinsic characteristics of a protein for crystallization has become a feasible strategy. Some historical perspectives and advances in this area will be reviewed.     

Patterns of protein protein interactions in salt solutions and implications for protein crystallization

The second osmotic virial coefficients of seven proteins-ovalbumin, ribonuclease A, bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and catalase-were measured in salt solutions. Comparison of the interaction trends in terms of the dimensionless second virial coefficient b(2) shows that, at low salt concentrations, protein-protein interactions can be either attractive or repulsive, possibly due to the anisotropy of the protein charge distribution. At high salt concentrations, the behavior depends on the salt: In sodium chloride, protein interactions generally show little salt dependence up to very high salt concentrations, whereas in ammonium sulfate, proteins show a sharp drop in b(2) with increasing salt concentration beyond a particular threshold. The experimental phase behavior of the proteins corroborates these observations in that precipitation always follows the drop in b(2). When the proteins crystallize, they do so at slightly lower salt concentrations than seen for precipitation. The b(2) measurements were extended to other salts for ovalbumin and catalase. The trends follow the Hofmeister series, and the effect of the salt can be interpreted as a water-mediated effect between the protein and salt molecules. The b(2) trends quantify protein-protein interactions and provide some understanding of the corresponding phase behavior. The results explain both why ammonium sulfate is among the best crystallization agents, as well as some of the difficulties that can be encountered in protein crystallization.     

Beta-lactamase protein fragment complementation assays as in vivo and in vitro sensors of protein protein interactions

We have previously described a strategy for detecting protein protein interactions based on protein interaction assisted folding of rationally designed fragments of enzymes. We call this strategy the protein fragment complementation assay (PCA). Here we describe PCAs based on the enzyme TEM-1 beta-lactamase (EC: 3.5.2.6), which include simple colorimetric in vitro assays using the cephalosporin nitrocefin and assays in intact cells using the fluorescent substrate CCF2/AM (ref. 6). Constitutive protein protein interactions of the GCN4 leucine zippers and of apoptotic proteins Bcl2 and Bad, and the homodimerization of Smad3, were tested in an in vitro assay using cell lysates. With the same in vitro assay, we also demonstrate interactions of protein kinase PKB with substrate Bad. The in vitro assay is facile and amenable to high-throughput modes of screening with signal-to-background ratios in the range of 10:1 to 250:1, which is superior to other PCAs developed to date. Furthermore, we show that the in vitro assay can be used for quantitative analysis of a small molecule induced protein interaction, the rapamycin-induced interaction of FKBP and yeast FRB (the FKBP-rapamycin binding domain of TOR (target of rapamycin)). The assay reproduces the known dissociation constant and number of sites for this interaction. The combination of in vitro colorimetric and in vivo fluorescence assays of beta-lactamase in mammalian cells suggests a wide variety of sensitive and high-throughput large-scale applications, including in vitro protein array analysis of protein protein or enzyme protein interactions and in vivo applications such as clonal selection for cells expressing interacting protein partners.