酵母PMT1和TED1基因在细胞壁应激反应中的作用

实验室前期研究表明,蛋白质O-甘露糖转移酶1 (Protein O-mannosyltransferase 1,Pmt1p) 和Ted1p（Traffcking of Emp24p/Erv25p-dependent cargo disrupted）在细胞寿命和内质网应激反应方面存在相互调控关系。进一步研究酵母Pmt1p和Ted1p在细胞壁应激反应中（诱导剂为荧光增白剂或刚果红）的作用。观察PMT1基因缺失（pmt1Δ）酵母菌株和TED1基因缺失（ted1Δ）酵母菌株,以及PMT1和TED1双基因缺失（pmt1Δ ted1Δ）酵母菌株在细胞壁应激反应条件下的克隆形成能力和细胞分裂增殖活性;qRT-PCR检测细胞壁应激反应通路中Slt2p、Ssd1p和Mpt5p等效应蛋白的转录水平。结果表明,在细胞壁应激反应条件下,与对照菌株的生长状态比较,pmt1Δ菌株生长缓慢,ted1Δ菌株生长较快;进一步缺失PMT1基因使得ted1Δ菌株生长缓慢。与对照菌株中效应蛋白的转录水平比较,pmt1Δ菌株和pmt1Δted1Δ菌株中SLT2、SSD1和MPT5基因的转录水平明显上调,ted1Δ菌株中的无明显变化;与pmt1Δ菌株比较,pmt1Δted1Δ菌株中SLT2和MPT5表达明显下调,SSD1表达无明显变化。缺失TED1基因增强酵母细胞对细胞壁应激反应的抵抗性;进一步缺失PMT1基因增强ted1Δ菌株对应激反应的敏感性,上调细胞壁应激反应通路中效应蛋白的转录表达水平。     

玉米ZmNPR1基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究从玉米高抗自交系D863F中克隆了ZmNPR1基因(GenBank登录号为MH619241)的gDNA和cDNA序列,开放阅读框长1 866 bp,编码621个氨基酸,相对分子质量67.61 kD,等电点为5.46。系统进化树比对表明,玉米ZmNPR1蛋白和高粱SbNPR1蛋白的亲缘关系较近,相似性高达97%。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,ZmNPR1在叶片中能够被水稻黑条矮缩病毒诱导并显著上调表达。同时ZmNPR1在玉米叶片、茎、根、雄穗、雌穗以及花丝中均有表达,在雌穗和叶片中的表达量较高。研究表明,ZmNPR1可能在玉米粗缩病抗病过程中起着重要作用。     

甜瓜自毒相关基因CmGST的克隆及其对自毒胁迫的响应

植物谷胱甘肽硫转移酶基因(GST)在清除生物和非生物胁迫产生的氧化损伤中扮演着重要的角色,为探究GST在根系分泌物介导的甜瓜自毒胁迫中的响应机制,该实验在转录组测序基础上,以甜瓜叶片cDNA为模板,采用RT PCR技术获得了一个根系分泌物介导的甜瓜自毒作用密切相关的GST基因,命名为CmGST(GenBank 登录号：AYU66762.1);对CmGST基因进行了相关生物信息学分析,同时对自毒胁迫过程中,CmGST的差异表达情况、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)活性和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量进行了相关测定。结果显示：(1)CmGST基因含有完整开放阅读框(ORF)654 bp,编码217个氨基酸;CmGST蛋白为酸性亲水蛋白,且较为稳定,具有GST家族Tau亚家族的2个典型的保守结构域;CmGST蛋白与黄瓜的亲缘关系较近。(2)亚细胞定位结果表明CmGST定位于细胞质中。(3)qRT PCR分析结果表明,CmGST在甜瓜根系和幼苗中均有表达,在正常生长的甜瓜幼苗中表达量相对稳定;自毒胁迫后在叶中的表达先降后升,后期迅速增加;在根系中变化趋势类似,但程度较为缓和。(4)GST活性和GSH含量分析表明,叶片中GST活性变化趋势与CmGST基因表达变化基本吻合;在根系中,GST活性呈现先升再降最后又升高的趋势;随胁迫时间增加,GSH含量在根系和叶片中均都有不同程度的增加,但根部含量低于叶片。研究认为,在自毒胁迫过程中,CmGST基因在甜瓜植株根和叶片均有相应表达水平的变化,参与了对根系分泌物介导的自毒胁迫响应。     

阿特拉津降解菌Arthrobacter sp. AG1降解基因研究

菌株Arthrobacter sp. AG1能以4000 mg/L的阿特拉津（AT）为唯一碳源、氮源和能源生长。通过设计特异引物从AG1中扩增出阿特拉津氯水解酶基因trzN的全序列,该基因与已报道的trzN基因序列相似性为99%。AG1菌株中含有两个大于100kb的质粒,Southern杂交结果显示trzN和atzB基因均位于其中较大的一个质粒pAG1上。将AG1菌株在LB液体培养基中转接三代后,发现34%的细菌细胞丢失了降解活性,但却未发现丢失质粒,PCR扩增结果表明突变子丢失了trzN基因,但atzB和atzC基因未丢失,说明降解活性的缺失是trzN基因片段从质粒上丢失的结果,表明trzN基因在环境中存在水平转移现象,暗示菌株AG1中的阿特拉津降解基因是基因的水平转移重组的结果。     

阿特拉津降解菌Arthrobacter sp. AG1降解基因研究

菌株Arthrobacter sp. AG1能以4000 mg/L的阿特拉津（AT）为唯一碳源、氮源和能源生长。通过设计特异引物从AG1中扩增出阿特拉津氯水解酶基因trzN的全序列,该基因与已报道的trzN基因序列相似性为99%。AG1菌株中含有两个大于100kb的质粒,Southern杂交结果显示trzN和atzB基因均位于其中较大的一个质粒pAG1上。将AG1菌株在LB液体培养基中转接三代后,发现34%的细菌细胞丢失了降解活性,但却未发现丢失质粒,PCR扩增结果表明突变子丢失了trzN基因,但atzB和atzC基因未丢失,说明降解活性的缺失是trzN基因片段从质粒上丢失的结果,表明trzN基因在环境中存在水平转移现象,暗示菌株AG1中的阿特拉津降解基因是基因的水平转移重组的结果。     

玉米ZmSOD基因克隆及其在干旱胁迫下的表达

为探讨超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase，SOD)基因在玉米抗逆反应中的作用，研究选用2个抗旱性有明显差别的玉米品种为试验材料，采用RT-PCR、实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)及二维凝胶电泳(2-DE)耦联的基质辅助激光解吸电离/飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF)法，对ZmSOD基因的序列结构及其在干旱胁迫下的表达特性进行分析。结果表明：(1)从干旱敏感品种‘登海605’(DH605)和抗旱品种‘蠡玉35’(LY35)玉米叶片中分别成功克隆出ZmSOD1和ZmSOD2基因。DH605中ZmSOD1开放阅读框(ORF)全长456 bp，编码151个氨基酸，编码的蛋白等电点为5.76，分子量为15.05 kD。LY35中ZmSOD2ORF全长459 bp，编码152个氨基酸，编码的蛋白等电点为5.65，分子量为15.11 kD；ZmSOD1和ZmSOD2是亲水性稳定蛋白，都含有Cu/Zn-SOD结构域，蛋白序列N端无信号肽及无跨膜结构域。同源性和系统进化分析表明，玉米ZmSOD和谷子Cu/Zn-SOD2的亲缘关系最近，相似性高达96.05%。(2)在干旱条件下，ZmSOD1在DH605中转录水平明显降低，LY35中ZmSOD2转录水平显著升高；2-DE耦联的质谱分析显示：ZmSOD1在DH605中表达量明显降低，LY35中ZmSOD2表达量无显著性变化，却检测到Mn-SOD蛋白表达量显著增加。(3)相关分析显示，干旱条件下，DH605叶片中ZmSOD1转录水平和其蛋白丰度及SOD酶活性呈极显著性正相关，LY35叶片中ZmSOD2转录水平与SOD酶活性呈显著性正相关。研究结果为进一步探索SOD基因在调节玉米抗性以及逆境胁迫应答过程中的作用机制提供了基础。     

EB病毒LMP1-CTAR3对NP69细胞增殖和蛋白质表达的影响

为了探讨EB病毒潜伏性膜蛋白 1(LMP1)第三个功能活性区域(CTAR₃)在鼻咽上皮细胞NP69中的转化作用机制,采用逆病毒感染的方法,将浓缩的逆病毒RV-LMP1和RV-LMP1^Δ232～351分别感染鼻咽上皮细胞NP69,建立NP69-LMP1与NP69-LMP1^Δ232～351稳定表达细胞系．通过绘制生长曲线、平皿克隆形成试验和软琼脂集落形成试验比较野生型和突变型LMP1对NP69细胞增殖的影响,运用蛋白质组学方法鉴定NP69-LMP1与NP69-LMP1^Δ232～351细胞间的差异表达蛋白,选用实时荧光定量RT-PCR与Western blot对其中部分蛋白质点差异表达进行验证．结果发现：a．突变型LMP1^Δ232～351促NP69细胞增殖的能力较野生型LMP1明显降低(n=3,P < 0.05);b．鉴定了LMP1-CTAR₃在NP69细胞中参与调节的16个蛋白质(表达上调的蛋白质8个,下调的8个)．c．实时荧光定量RT-PCR和Western blot证实了部分上述蛋白质的差异表达．以上结果说明,LMP1-CTAR₃是其发挥促细胞增殖的重要活性部位,可能通过参与调节G蛋白和异柠檬酸脱氢酶等蛋白质的表达而起作用．     

定量蛋白质组分析蚯蚓血红蛋白样蛋白MSMEG_3312介导的分枝杆菌耐红霉素机制

[目的]细菌耐药机制是个复杂的机制,系统生物学是系统性揭示耐药机制的有力研究手段。我们课题组前期研究结果显示,蚯蚓血红蛋白样蛋白msmeg_3312基因敲除后能够增加耻垢分枝杆菌对红霉素的耐药性,本文系统研究MSMEG_3312参与红霉素耐药性形成的机制。[方法]首先纯化MSMEG_3312蛋白,利用光谱及圆二色谱描述MSMEG-3312蛋白。利用定量蛋白质组学的方法比较分析敲除菌株Δmsmeg_3312与野生型菌株mc² 155蛋白表达的差异,并通过qRT-PCR进行验证。利用红霉素ELASA试剂盒测定Δmsmeg_3312与mc² 155的胞内药物浓度。[结果]光谱及圆二色谱分析确定MSMEG_3312是蚯蚓血红蛋白样蛋白。定量蛋白质组学分析发现,红霉素未处理的条件下,相比于野生型菌株mc² 155,敲除菌株Δmsmeg_3312有包括3种转运蛋白在内的8种蛋白表达水平上调,14种蛋白表达下调;而红霉素处理后,Δmsmeg_3312中有448种蛋白差异表达,其中有11种转运蛋白表达上调,26种蛋白与氨基酸合成通路相关。胞内药物浓度检测显示敲除菌株Δmsmeg_3312的胞内红霉素浓度显著低于野生型菌株。[结论]蚯蚓血红蛋白样蛋白MSMEG_3312调控改变了细菌对红霉素药物处理的反应网络,其介导的红霉素耐药是一种集合抗生素耐受机制。     

烟草NtNHX1 3基因的克隆及表达特性

以栽培烟草‘云烟87’为材料,通过同源克隆方法分离了烟草NHX（Na⁺,K⁺/H⁺ exchanger）基因NtNHX1 3。结果表明：NtNHX1 3基因CDS长度1 617 bp,编码蛋白质长度为538 aa,蛋白理论等电点为8.67,分子量为59.34 kD。预测NtNHX1 3属于膜蛋白,含有11个跨膜区,且含有NHX类蛋白保守位点氨氯吡嗪咪结合位点。进化树分析显示,NtNHX1 3与菊苣、野菊花NHX遗传距离最近。qRT PCR组织特异性表达分析表明,NtNHX1 3在烟草叶片中表达量最高,根、茎、花中也有表达;盐胁迫处理后NtNHX1 3基因的表达上调,表明该基因参与了盐胁迫反应;打顶初期NtNHX1 3基因的表达呈逐渐上调的趋势,与该时期钾含量逐渐升高相吻合。研究推测,NtNHX1 3具有将钾离子从细胞质转运至液泡的功能。     

金边红苞凤梨叶片的超微观察和AbGLK1的克隆与表达分析

为了解Golden2-like (GLK)转录因子在金边红苞凤梨(Ananas comosus var. bracteatus ‘Chiyan’)绿白嵌合叶片形成中的作用,采用RT-PCR技术克隆得到了AbGLK1基因, 其开放阅读框全长1 371 bp,编码456个氨基酸,含有1个GARP-DNA结合域和1个C末端结构域GCT box (GOLDEN2 C-terminal box),属于GLK转录因子家族,在酵母中具有转录因子的转录激活活性。烟草亚细胞定位表明AbGLK1蛋白定位在细胞核。RT-qPCR分析表明,AbGLK1基因在金边红苞凤梨的根、茎、叶中均有表达,但具有组织器官差异性,在叶片中的表达量显著高于根和茎(P < 0.05)。AbGLK1基因在叶片边缘白化组织中的表达量显著低于绿色组织,约为绿色组织的1/3 (P < 0.05)。叶片白化组织叶绿体内膜系统模糊,无类囊体存在,含有大量囊状小泡,质体小球数量多且体积较大。因此,推测AbGLK1基因可能参与了金边红苞凤梨中的叶绿体发育,其下调表达可能导致叶片白化组织中叶绿体发育不成熟。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.