甲基对硫磷水解酶基因的克隆与融合表达

利用鸟枪法从甲基对硫磷降解菌DLL-1 Peudomonas putida）中克隆了甲基对硫磷水解酶基因(mpd)片段2．5kb,并进行了测序。通过软件分析开放阅读框和启动子序列,表明该序列中最可能为甲基对硫磷水解酶结构基因的阅读框为769—1794区域。软件分析还表明该水解酶前端45个氨基酸为典型的信号肽结构。通过PCR扩增了mpd结构基因,亚克隆到表达载体pET—32a中,构建了完整的融合表达载体pET—MP。转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),在IPTG的诱导下2～4h甲基对硫磷水解酶表达可以达到最高水平;同时还研究了乳糖的诱导效果,2％乳糖诱导2h就可以起到很好的效果。通过PCR反应验证了mpd基因定位于DLL-E4的染色体而不是质粒上。     

构建基于折叠核心的全α类蛋白取代矩阵

氨基酸残基取代矩阵是影响多序列比对效果的重要因素，现有的取代矩阵对低相似序列的比对性能较低.在已有的 BLOSUM 取代矩阵算法基础上，定义了基于蛋白质折叠核心结构的序列 结构数据块；提出一种新的基于全α类蛋白质折叠核心结构的氨基酸残基取代矩阵——TOPSSUM25，用于提高低相似度序列的比对效果.将矩阵TOPSSUM25导入多序列比对程序，对相似性小于25%的一组四螺旋束序列 结构数据块的测试结果表明，基于 TOPSSUM25的多序列比对效果明显优于BLOSUM30矩阵；基于一个BAliBASE子集的比对检验也进一步表明, TOPSSUM25在全α类蛋白质的两两序列比对上优于BLOSUM30矩阵.研究结果可为进一步的阐明低同源蛋白质序列 结构 功能关系提供帮助.     

利用序列比较寻找胰岛素基因表达启动区与DNA结合蛋白的结合位点

NDFl、IPFl和HNF4是与胰岛素基因表达有关的DNA结合蛋白,通过比较SWISSPROT蛋白质数据库中人类、小鼠、大鼠这三种核蛋白氨基酸一级序列、模体和结构域,发现其结构十分相似,根据蛋白质结构和功能的关系,推测这些DNA结合蛋白与胰岛素基因结合的核苷酸序列相似;从GenBanl(核酸数据库中获得人类、小鼠、大鼠胰岛素DNA序列,用ClustalW比较三者Promoter区的核苷酸序列,显示有一段核苷酸序列较为相似,同时搜索TRANSFAC基因转录数据库中NDFl、IPFl和NHF4蛋白核苷酸结合位点,发现核酸比对保守的部分序列与TRANSFAC数据库中这三个转录因子的DNA结合位点一致,另外一些核酸保守序列可能为其他未知DNA结合蛋白的结合位点。这种核酸序列比对设计为分子生物学实验寻找和验证胰岛素DNA结合蛋白与核苷酸的结合位点提供了简单而实用的方法。     

黑曲霉NRRL3135 bgl基因的克隆及序列分析

利用RT-PCR技术从黑曲霉菌株NRRL3135中扩增了β-葡萄糖苷酶(BGL)基因的全长cDNA序列,被命名为bgl3135(GenBank登录号:FN430671)。对该基因编码的BGL进行了同源性分析并预测了其三维构象。试验结果表明,bgl3135的全长cDNA为2598bp,含有一个2583bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码一个长度为860个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。同源性分析表明,该基因编码的蛋白与来自黑曲霉As3.350和CBS513.88的BGL(GenBank登录号分别为DQ655704和XM_001398779)的相似性最高,其氨基酸序列同源性分别达99%。参照已发表的β-葡萄糖苷酶(BGL)的氨基酸保守序列,判断本研究所克隆的bgl基因属于糖苷水解酶基因家族3的成员。三维结构预测表明,该BGL的立体构象中存在20个α-螺旋和15个β-折叠,对构成和维持酶的底物识别和催化活性位点可能起着重要作用。     

糖苷水解酶7家族蛋白在纤维素降解中作用的研究进展

糖苷水解酶7家族（glycoside hydrolase family, GH7）是一类来源于真菌的水解酶,作用于纤维素结晶区或不定形区的β-1,4 键,可用于高效降解纤维素转化为可发酵的糖。GH7的成员具有高度保守序列以及相似三维结构,其催化结构域是由多个loop区围绕反向平行的β 折叠形成的β 三明治结构。目前已有17个GH7成员的结晶结构得到解析,明确了酶的结构与催化功能之间的关联,对GH7的来源及分类、蛋白序列、结构特征与催化纤维素降解功能关系的研究进展进行阐述。     

红纹黄单胞菌a-氨基酸酯水解酶的克隆、序列分析及热稳定性提高

【目的】克隆红纹黄单胞菌α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因全序列,对序列进行生物信息学分析,并提高酶的热稳定性。【方法】利用多聚酶链式反应(PCR)克隆α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因全序列;应用生物信息学软件对获得的基因序列及编码的蛋白序列进行分析;通过同源建模,预测红纹黄单胞菌α-氨基酸酯水解酶的三维结构;通过定点突变替换氨基酸序列中高度柔性的位点,提高该酶的热稳定性。【结果】从红纹黄单胞菌(Xanthomonas rubrillineans)中扩增得到α-氨基酸酯水解酶基因aeh(GenBank登录号JF744990),核苷酸序列长度1 917 bp,编码638个氨基酸。序列比对和同源性分析显示,该酶与白纹黄单胞菌Xanthomonas albilineans str.GPE PC73的肽酶及地毯草黄单胞菌Xanthomonas axono-podis pv. citri str. 306的戊二酰-7-氨基头孢烷酸酰化酶氨基酸序列相似性最高,分别为91%和83%,系统进化分析表明,该酶与白纹黄单胞菌Xanthomonas albilineans str. GPEPC73的肽酶亲缘性最高。基于预测的三维模型,对高度柔性的位点进行饱和突变,从282株突变体中筛选得到3株T50较野生型高5°C以上的突变体。【结论】对红纹黄单胞菌AEH的氨基酸序列分析有助于探索同源蛋白的进化过程。对高度柔性位点进行饱和突变的策略可以用于提高热稳定性。     

噬菌体展示技术筛选抗轮状病毒多肽的试验研究

从噬菌体随机展示十五肽文库筛选出4个与轮状病毒粒子特异性结合多肽。经空斑减少抑制实验和MTT法分析表明其中3个多肽对病毒感染培养细胞具有抑制作用,其中序列为QSNPIHIITNTRNHP的C肽具有显著抑制作用,抑制效果达93%,另外2个多肽A和B抑制效果分别为40%与50%。经过多肽序列分析发现这3个十五肽具有2个保守序列,分别是第2至8个氨基酸残基SNPIHII和第12~15个氨基酸残基NIP。胰蛋白酶水解位点分析表明C肽无裂解位点,而A肽和B肽则分别具有3个和4个潜在水解位点。抑制病毒感染液中胰蛋白酶活性,发现A,B两肽也能显著地抑制病毒离体感染。说明所筛选的多肽2个保守序列的完整对抗病毒感染起着重要作用。C肽有望成为一种治疗轮状病毒感染的口服药物。     

噬菌体展示技术筛选抗轮状病毒多肽的试验研究

从噬菌体随机展示十五肽文库筛选出4个与轮状病毒粒子特异性结合多肽。经空斑减少抑制实验和MTT法分析表明其中3个多肽对病毒感染培养细胞具有抑制作用,其中序列为QSNPIHIITNTRNHP的C肽具有显著抑制作用,抑制效果达93%,另外2个多肽A和B抑制效果分别为40%与50%。经过多肽序列分析发现这3个十五肽具有2个保守序列,分别是第2至8个氨基酸残基SNPIHII和第12～15个氨基酸残基NIP。胰蛋白酶水解位点分析表明C肽无裂解位点,而A肽和B肽则分别具有3个和4个潜在水解位点。抑制病毒感染液中胰蛋白酶活性,发现A,B两肽也能显著地抑制病毒离体感染。说明所筛选的多肽2个保守序列的完整对抗病毒感染起着重要作用。C肽有望成为一种治疗轮状病毒感染的口服药物。     

新疆黄精凝集素基因的克隆、序列分析和表达

用百合科黄精属植物凝集素基因的保守序列为引物,从新疆黄精的叶中克隆出黄精凝集素的全长cDNA。序列分析表明, 克隆获得的新疆黄精凝集素(Polygonatum roseum agglutinin, PRA)基因完整的ORF片段大小为550 bp, 编码1 条长159个氨基酸肽链, 没有内含子, 其中N 端的28个氨基酸是信号肽。对新疆黄精凝集素cDNA 序列同源性的分析比较发现, 黄精属植物凝集素基因之间有很高的同源性(92%)。氨基酸序列比对和SWISS-MODEL同源模建分析表明, PRA由12个b-折叠片组成的b-桶结构, 具有与单子叶植物甘露糖结合凝集素相似的空间结构。重组质粒pGEX-4T-1-PRA 和pMAL-p2x-PRA, 分别转化E. coli BL21进行原核表达, 新疆黄精凝集素能够以可溶性融合蛋白形式表达, 分子量约为14 kD。构建真核表达载体pcDNA3-PRA, 免疫小鼠后获得了抗血清。免疫印迹结果显示为单一的条带, 证明该抗血清具有针对PRA抗原的专一性。新疆黄精凝集素基因的克隆、原核和真核的表达以及抗血清的制备, 为进一步研究凝集素蛋白的性质和功能, 并为植物抗病虫基因工程研究提供有用的实验材料。     

新疆黄精凝集素基因的克隆、序列分析和表达

用百合科黄精属植物凝集素基因的保守序列为引物,从新疆黄精的叶中克隆出黄精凝集素的全长cDNA。序列分析表明, 克隆获得的新疆黄精凝集素(Polygonatum roseum agglutinin, PRA)基因完整的ORF片段大小为550 bp, 编码1 条长159个氨基酸肽链, 没有内含子, 其中N 端的28个氨基酸是信号肽。对新疆黄精凝集素cDNA 序列同源性的分析比较发现, 黄精属植物凝集素基因之间有很高的同源性(92%)。氨基酸序列比对和SWISS-MODEL同源模建分析表明, PRA由12个b-折叠片组成的b-桶结构, 具有与单子叶植物甘露糖结合凝集素相似的空间结构。重组质粒pGEX-4T-1-PRA 和pMAL-p2x-PRA, 分别转化E. coli BL21进行原核表达, 新疆黄精凝集素能够以可溶性融合蛋白形式表达, 分子量约为14 kD。构建真核表达载体pcDNA3-PRA, 免疫小鼠后获得了抗血清。免疫印迹结果显示为单一的条带, 证明该抗血清具有针对PRA抗原的专一性。新疆黄精凝集素基因的克隆、原核和真核的表达以及抗血清的制备, 为进一步研究凝集素蛋白的性质和功能, 并为植物抗病虫基因工程研究提供有用的实验材料。     

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.