耐辐射奇球菌dps突变株的构建和蛋白功能初步研究

Dps(DNAprotection during starvation)蛋白是原核生物中特有的一类具有铁离子结合和抗氧化损伤功能的重要蛋白。利用体外PCR扩增技术和体内同源重组方法,获得了耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)dps全基因(DRB0092)缺失突变株。对突变株和野生型分别进行不同浓度过氧化氢(H₂O₂)处理,结果表明:与野生型菌株R1相比,dps突变株在低浓度H₂O₂(≤10mmol/L)条件下存活率急剧下降,而高浓度(≥30mmol/L)下则完全致死。Native-PAGE活性染色结果显示,稳定生长期dps突变株体内两种过氧化氢酶(KatA和KatB)的活性较野生型R1分别上调2.3倍和2.6倍。通过质粒构建和大肠杆菌诱导表达,获得可溶性Dps蛋白。体外结合和DNA保护实验结果显示:Dps具有明显的DNA结合功能,并能保护质粒DNA免受羟自由基攻击。本研究证明,Dps蛋白在耐辐射奇球菌抗氧化体系中发挥重要作用,可能对该菌极端抗性机制有重要贡献。     

耐辐射奇球菌recA基因的克隆、表达及其对recA缺损大肠杆菌辐射抗性的影响

将耐辐射奇球菌（Deinococcus radiodurans）的recA基因克隆到表达质粒pET15b中,并在Escherichia coli HMS(DE3)中高效表达了可溶性的RecA重组蛋白。同时将recA基因通过穿梭质粒pRADZ3导入recA缺损E. coli TG2细胞中,Western印迹实验显示RecA蛋白能够在不需要诱导剂IPTG的条件下稳定表达。辐射抗性实验表明,D. radiodurans的recA基因在E. coli细胞中的表达能够完全补偿recA缺损E. coli辐射抗性能力。     

耐辐射奇球菌recA基因的克隆、表达及其对recA缺损大肠杆菌辐射抗性的影响

将耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)recA基因克隆到表达质粒pET15b中,并在Escherichia coli HMS中高效表达了可溶性的RecA重组蛋白。同时将recA基因通过穿梭质粒pRADZ3导入recA缺损E.coli TG2细胞中,Western印迹实验显示RecA蛋白能够在不需要诱导剂IPTG的条件下稳定表达。辐射抗性实验表明,D.radiodurans的recA基因在E.coli细胞中的表达能够完全补偿recA缺损E.coli辐射抗性能力。     

类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌辐射抗性中的作用

为研究耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中类胡萝卜素的生化合成基因及其在该细菌抗辐射机制中的生物学作用,通过有机溶剂提取及LC-MS技术分析了D. radiodurans所产类胡萝卜素物质的主要组分,运用PCR及基因同源重组技术,对该菌中类胡萝卜素生化合成途径的八氢番茄红素合成酶(phytoene synthase,crtB)及八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(phytoene desaturase,crtI)基因进行了缺失突变,通过表型观察及HPLC定量分析突变株所产类胡萝卜素的组分变化确证突变株构建成功．野生株及crtB 与crtI基因缺失突变株对电离辐射和H₂O₂的敏感性差异比较分析显示,和野生株相比,两种突变株对不同剂量电离辐射和不同浓度H₂O₂的敏感性更强．crtB及crtI基因功能研究表明,这两个关键性合成基因的缺失,导致突变株不能催化合成类胡萝卜素生化合成途径中的重要中间体——番茄红素及一系列下游产物．通过λ原噬菌体紫外线诱导系统、电子自旋共振 (ESR)及DMPO自旋捕集技术,分别在体内和体外评价了其类胡萝卜素的抗氧化能力．结果表明,两种类胡萝卜素对超氧阴离子(O₂^·)及羟自由基(·OH)均表现出较强的清除作用．上述研究结果为探究D. radiodurans的类胡萝卜素合成基因和生物学功能,及类胡萝卜素在D. radiodurans抗辐射机制中的作用提供了新的直接实验证据．     

耐辐射奇球菌crtI基因缺失突变株的构建及其功能研究

利用PCR方法和体内同源重组技术,对耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中控制色素合成的关键基因———crtI进行缺失突变,成功获得红色色素缺失突变株M61。对突变株分别进行不同剂量电离辐射(IR)和不同浓度过氧化氢(H2O2)处理,结果表明:与野生型菌株R1相比,突变株M61对电离辐射的抗性降低;对过氧化氢的敏感性明显上升,在高浓度H2O2条件下表现异常敏感。HPLC分析结果显示,crtI基因的完全缺失对色素合成途径产生重要影响,导致番茄红素和其他红色类胡萝卜素的合成被抑制。证明crtI基因是耐辐射奇球菌中控制红色类胡萝卜素合成的一个关键基因。为阐明耐辐射奇球菌中类胡萝卜素参与的抗辐射和抗氧化机制奠定了一定基础,为进一步研究类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌中的合成途径及功能提供了思路。     

耐辐射奇球菌代谢产物中的化学成分

通过甲醇提取、硅胶柱色谱、重结晶分离纯化,从耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)代谢产物中分离得到五个化合物,根据光谱数据鉴定为:腺嘌呤(1),胸腺嘧啶(2),尿嘧啶(3),腺苷(4)和L-丙氨酸(5)。所有成分均为首次从该细菌的代谢产物中得到。     

耐辐射奇球菌在放射性环境中的生物修复作用*

放射性废弃物污染治理是一项全球性课题,耐辐射奇球菌具有超强的辐射抗性,在放射性环境中,目前已经有一系列重金属抗性,还原以及有机物降解基因在耐辐射奇球菌中得到成功表达,显示出耐辐射奇球菌在放射性环境中行使生物修复功能的诱人前景,针对目前的进展及存在问题作一综述。     

耐辐射奇球菌crtⅠ基因缺失突变株的构建及其功能研究

利用PCR方法和体内同源重组技术,对耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中控制色素合成的关键基因--crtⅠ进行缺失突变,成功获得红色色素缺失突变株M61.对突变株分别进行不同剂量电离辐射(IR)和不同浓度过氧化氢(H2O2)处理,结果表明与野生型菌株R1相比,突变株M61对电离辐射的抗性降低;对过氧化氢的敏感性明显上升,在高浓度H2O2条件下表现异常敏感.HPLC分析结果显示,crtⅠ基因的完全缺失对色素合成途径产生重要影响,导致番茄红素和其他红色类胡萝卜素的合成被抑制.证明crtⅠ基因是耐辐射奇球菌中控制红色类胡萝卜素合成的一个关键基因.为阐明耐辐射奇球菌中类胡萝卜素参与的抗辐射和抗氧化机制奠定了一定基础,为进一步研究类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌中的合成途径及功能提供了思路.     

耐辐射奇球菌铁结合蛋白DRA0258的抗氧化功能

【目的】通过对极端环境耐受的耐辐射奇球菌Deinococcus radiodurans R1全基因组进行序列比对分析,获得具有铁储备蛋白Ferritin类似功能基序的未知功能蛋白DRA0258,采用分子生物学技术对该蛋白的功能和性质进行了验证和分析。【方法】首先对DRA0258进行克隆表达和纯化,并经络合物显色法测定蛋白上铁结合含量;通过三段连接敲除法构建dra0258突变株,检测突变株在双氧水协迫下的生存率、总抗氧化活性及过氧化氢酶活性;利用实时定量PCR检测突变株内抗氧化酶类及铁转运相关性调控蛋白的基因转录水平。【结果】经体内外蛋白铁含量检测证实DRA0258具有一定的铁结合能力;双氧水生存率实验表明dra0258的缺失导致细胞的抗氧化能力显著下降;过氧化氢酶活性、总抗氧化活性检测及抗氧化酶类的基因转录水平检测证实dra0258基因的缺失导致细胞内一些抗氧化基因转录水平下调,细胞的抗氧化应激系统受到损伤,并影响了一些铁调控网络蛋白的基因转录水平。【结论】本研究证实DRA0258是一种铁结合蛋白,该编码基因的缺失影响胞内铁转运系统并使细胞抗氧化能力下调。     

辐射过程中耐辐射奇球菌蛋白酶变化的检测与分析

采用明胶和酪蛋白底物酶谱法以及荧光酪蛋白底物对紫外线以及γ射线辐射后恢复期耐辐射奇球菌R1(Deinococcus radiodurans R1,DRR1)的蛋白酶变化进行了检测。结果发现,DRR1存在高活性大分子量组成性表达蛋白酶,与Karlin等［16］提出的DRR1蛋白酶为预测高表达蛋白(PHX)的设想一致。DRR1包含大量分子量大于140kD 的明胶降解酶和分子量大于120kD的酪蛋白降解酶,其中活性最高的174kD明胶酶在经SDS变性处理后仍有较高活性,该蛋白酶在DRR1受紫外线辐射和电离辐射后恢复期的表达模式存在差异,在γ射线电离辐射过程中以及电离辐射后恢复的晚期活性较高。此外,还发现一些蛋白酶特异性由辐射所诱导,表明这些蛋白酶可能参与细胞信号通路中蛋白的顺序降解,也提示DRR1损伤修复过程中细胞内存在一个精确的蛋白酶系统。这些蛋白酶的表达与细胞的营养状态相关。同时对一株由本实验室从北京地区土壤中分离到的杆状耐辐射菌RR533.2的明胶和酪蛋白蛋白酶谱进行了测定,结果发现其蛋白酶谱与DRR1相类似。     

Characterization of a Mn-dependent Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate Aldolase in Deinococcus radiodurans

The key enzyme of the glycolytic pathway of Deinococcus radiodurans, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, could be induced independently by glucose and Mn. The enzyme exhibited the characteristics of the metal-dependent Class II aldolases. Unlike most Class II aldolases, the deinococcal aldolase preferred Mn, not Zn, as a cofactor. The fbaA gene encoding the deinococcal aldolase was cloned and the protein overproduced in various Escherichia coli expression hosts. However, the overexpressed deinococcal enzyme aggregated and formed inclusion bodies. Dissolving these inclusion bodies by urea and subsequent purification by nickel affinity chromatography, resulted in a protein fraction that exhibited aldolase activity only in the presence of Mn. This active aldolase fraction exhibited masses of about 70 kDa and 35 kDa by gel filtration and by SDS gel electrophoresis, respectively, suggesting that the active aldolase was a dimer.     

耐辐射奇球菌中PprI蛋白的单分子动态作用机制

【背景】在日益严重的环境污染中,越来越多的生物受到核辐射、化学污染、生物污染等危害,严重影响到生态系统的平衡,而耐辐射奇球菌（Deinococcus radiodurans）具有强大的DNA修复能力,使它能在各种极端环境下生存。PprI蛋白作为D. radiodurans中DNA损伤修复过程的开关,异源表达后可以显著提高其他真核和原核生物在极端环境下的生存率。目前对PprI蛋白的研究大多局限于传统生化手段,在活细胞内实时动态观测单个PprI蛋白的反应过程仍然相对滞后。【目的】探究DNA损伤前后PprI蛋白在单分子水平的动态变化,从单分子角度精准揭示PprI蛋白在DNA损伤修复中的关键作用,为研究耐辐射奇球菌DNA修复机制奠定理论基础。【方法】利用光转换荧光蛋白mMaple3原位标记的PprI蛋白,通过基于全内反射荧光（total internal reflection fluorescent,TIRF）显微成像的单分子示踪光激活定位显微镜（single-particle tracking photoactivated localization microscopy,sptPALM）技术,持续激活低密度的mMaple3荧光蛋白,实现活细胞内PprI蛋白的单分子定位与示踪,明确PprI蛋白在DNA损伤前后的分子动力学特征。【结果】通过对PprI蛋白表观扩散系数分布的拟合,将其分为3种运动状态,即固定态（D*=0.07μm²/s）、缓慢扩散态（D*=0.21μm²/s）和快速扩散态（D*=0.65μm²/s）。发现在DNA受到损伤后的细胞中,PprI蛋白扩散态分子比例显著上升,而其固定态分子比例显著下降。【结论】利用单分子示踪技术精确表征了PprI蛋白在DNA受损后大部分蛋白运动速率偏向快速运动,表面DNA损伤释放了较大比例的结合态PprI蛋白。本研究可以深化PprI介导的DNA损伤修复系统的分子机制模型,也可以为利用单分子技术研究其他DNA修复反应提供技术参考。     

和厚朴酚对大肠埃希氏菌生物被膜形成的抑制机制

【目的】研究不同浓度的和厚朴酚(honokiol)抑制大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)的供试菌株10389生物被膜(biofilm,BF)形成的作用机制。【方法】用氯化三苯基四氮唑比色法(TTC)和四唑盐减低法(XTT)测定honokiol抑制E.coli10389生物被膜形成的药物最低抑菌浓度(MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(MBC)及其抑制作用与时间的关系;通过qRT-PCR法检测不同浓度的honokiol对E. coli 10389生物被膜形成基因和群体感应系统相关基因表达量的影响;通过生物发光法和qRT-PCR法检测亚-MIC honokiol对E. coli 10389呋喃糖基硼酸二酯(AI-2)及其调控的与生物被膜形成相关的下游基因表达量的影响。【结果】Honokiol能抑制E.coli10389生物被膜的形成,但不同浓度的honokiol抑制E. coli 10389 BF形成的作用机制不同。其中,与对照组相比,MIC的honokiol能使E. coli 10389 BF形成相关基因编码毒素(hha)和细菌酸性调节因子(ari R) mRNA的表达量显著提高,抗毒素...     

Pleiotropic effects of RecQ in Deinococcus radiodurans

In Deinococcus radiodurans, there is a unique RecQ homolog (DR1289) with three-tandem HRDC domains. Deletion of drrecQ resulted in a low doubling rate and sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. Here, we used cDNA microarray and biochemical assays to explore the physiological changes in the drrecQ mutant. The expressions of genes with predicted functions involved in iron homeostasis, antioxidant system, electron transport, and energy metabolism were significantly altered in response to drrecQ disruption. More reactive oxygen species (ROS) was accumulated in drrecQ mutant strain when compared to wild type. In addition, ICP-MS results showed that the intracellular level of iron was relatively higher, whereas the concentration of manganese was lower in drrecQ mutant than in wild type. Furthermore, our microarray data and pulsed-field gel results showed that DNA suffered more damage in drrecQ mutant than in wild type under 20 mM hydrogen peroxide stress. These results suggested that drrecQ is a gene of pleiotropic functions and contributes to the extraordinary resistance of D. radiodurans against stresses.     

Isolation of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli associated with diarrhoea in Malaysia containing plasmids showing homology with biotinylated Shiga-like toxin DNA gene probes

Three strains of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from patients with haemorrhagic colitis harboured plasmids ranging in size from 2.7 kb to 91.2 kb. Those plasmids ranging from 2.7 kb to 6.8 kb hybridized to Shiga-like toxin I and Shiga-like toxin II gene probes.R. Son and A. Ansary are with the Department of Genetics and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. G. Rusul and M.I.A. Karim are with the Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, University Pertanian Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia     

PhoN-expressing, lyophilized, recombinant Deinococcus radiodurans cells for uranium bioprecipitation

Employment of genetically engineered radiation resistant organisms to recover radionuclides/heavy metals from radioactive wastes is an attractive proposition. Cells of recombinant Deinococcus radiodurans strain expressing, a non-specific acid phosphatase encoding phoN gene, were lyophilized. Lyophilized recombinant Deinococcus cells retained viability and PhoN activity and could efficiently precipitate uranium from aqueous solutions for up to six months of storage at room temperature. Batch process for uranium removal using lyophilized cells was more efficient compared to a flow through system, in terms of percent uranium removed, substrate conservation and time taken. Lyophilized recombinant Deinococcus cells exhibited high loading of up to 5.7 g uranium/g dry weight of cells in a batch process at 20 mM input uranium concentration. Lyophilization deflated the cells but did not alter gross cell morphology or surface nucleation capability of cells for uranium precipitation. The precipitated uranyl phosphate remained tightly associated with the cell surface, thus facilitating easy recovery.     

Analysis of codon usage pattern in the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans

The main factors shaping codon usage bias in the Deinococcus radiodurans genome were reported. Correspondence analysis (COA) was carried out to analyze synonymous codon usage bias. The results showed that the main trend was strongly correlated with gene expression level assessed by the "Codon Adaptation Index" (CAI) values, a result that was confirmed by the distribution of genes along the first axis. The results of correlation analysis, variance analysis and neutrality plot indicated that gene nucleotide composition was clearly contributed to codon bias. CDS length was also key factor in dictating codon usage variation. A general tendency of more biased codon usage of genes with longer CDS length to higher expression level was found. Further, the hydrophobicity of each protein also played a role in shaping codon usage in this organism, which could be confirmed by the significant correlation between the positions of genes placed on the first axis and the hydrophobicity values (r=-0.100, P<0.01). In summary, gene expression level played a crucial role, nucleotide mutational bias, CDS length and the hydrophobicity of each protein just in a minor way in shaping the codon usage pattern of D. radiodurans. Notably, 19 codons firstly defined as "optimal codons" may provide useful clues for molecular genetic engineering and evolutionary studying.     

Mechanism of 2-aminopurine-stimulated mutagenesis in Escherichia coli

2-Aminopurine (2AP), a base analog, causes both transition and frameshift mutations in Escherichia coli. The analog is thought to cause mutations by two mechanisms: directly, by mispairing with cytosine, and indirectly, by saturation of mismatch repair (MMR). The goal of this work was to measure the relative contribution of these two mechanisms to the occurrence of transition mutations. Our data suggest that, in contrast to 2-aminopurine-stimulated frameshift mutations, the majority of transition mutations are a direct effect of base mispairing.