家蝇新型抗菌肽Muscin的基因克隆、表达模式及抑菌活性

【目的】鉴定家蝇 Musca domestica (Linnaeus)中一种新型抗菌肽(Muscin)基因,并分析其功能。【方法】通过数字基因表达谱和生物信息学分析,在家蝇转录组中筛选得到一条抗菌肽基因,命名为 muscin。以实时荧光定量PCR技术研究该基因的组织分布以及用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus混合细菌刺激后的表达量变化。并对合成肽Muscin进行抑菌活性检测及溶血率测定。【结果】muscin基因cDNA序列全长379 bp,包含完整的开放阅读框153 bp。推导Muscin多肽序列由50个氨基酸残基组成,N端含有由25个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽。成熟肽中富含疏水性氨基酸残基和带正电荷的氨基酸残基,理论等电点为9.39。基因定量结果显示 muscin 基因在血细胞和脂肪体中表达量最高。通过细菌刺激进行免疫诱导后,幼虫体内该基因的表达水平明显上调,并在6 h达到高峰。抑菌和溶血实验显示c-Muscin对革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌具有广谱抑菌活性,且溶血活性较低。【结论】Muscin是一种新型的广谱抗菌肽,可能参与家蝇抗菌免疫反应,且具有一定药物开发潜质。     

中国林蛙皮肤抗菌肽基因的cDNA克隆及抗菌、抗癌和溶血活性的测定

采用RT-PCR和3￠RACE方法, 从中国林蛙皮肤总RNA中克隆出了6条编码不同抗菌肽前体的cDNA序列, 分别命名为: preprotemporin-1CEa、preprotemporin-1CEb、preprotemporin-1CEc、preprobrevinin-1CEa、preprobrevinin-1CEb和preprochensinin-1。cDNA碱基序列全长为289~315 bp, 编码59~65个氨基酸。6个抗菌肽前体由3部分结构域组成: 22个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽、多个酸性氨基酸残基组成的中间序列、高度变异的成熟肽。preprotemporin-1CEa、preprotemporin-1CEb和preprotemporin-1CEc属于temporin-1家族抗菌肽前体, 具有肽链短, C-端酰胺化的特点; preprobrevinin-1CEb和preprobrevinin-1CEa属于brevinin-1家族抗菌肽前体, 在肽链的C-端含有RANA盒结构, 可在2个半胱氨酸残基间形成二硫键, 组成7肽环; preprochensinin-1在已知多种数据库中没有发现序列同源的多肽, 被鉴定为新抗菌肽。人工合成temporin-1CEa、temporin-1CEb、brevinin-1CEa和chensinin-1四种中国林蛙皮肤抗菌肽, 活性检测结果表明: 它们对金黄葡萄球菌等3种革兰氏阳性细菌的生长具有明显抑制作用, 同时抑制乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和宫颈癌HeLa细胞生长。     

凡纳对虾SWD抗菌肽基因的克隆与性质研究

目的:为了进一步探索抗菌肽分子的作用机制,我们以凡纳对虾具有单个WAP结构域的抗菌肽基因作为研究对象,进行分子生物学方面的分析。方法:通过cDNA全长序列的扩增,以及氨基酸序列的比较分析、系统进化树的分析以及分子结构的初步预测,我们对凡纳对虾SWD分子的结构进行了详细分析。结果:Lv-SWD的cDNA序列全长为434bp,编码92个氨基酸;Lv-SWD存在由24个氨基酸残基形成的信号肽序列,以及由8个保守存在的半胱氨酸残基形成的WAP结构域和一段富含脯氨酸的结构基序。结论:通过这些分子结构的研究,以及与其他SWD分子的比较,作者推测Lv-SWD分子是一种具有抑菌活性的抗菌肽分子,它在凡纳对虾的先天免疫系统中应该发挥着重要的免疫功能。     

日本蟾蜍聚集素cDNA的克隆与序列分析

为研究蟾酥、蟾衣、蟾皮中多肽类有效成分,通过菌落PCR对日本蟾蜍(Bufo japonicus formosus)皮肤cDNA质粒文库进行了筛选,获得了聚集素(clusterin,CLU)全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号为JX035891)并对其进行了生物信息学分析。日本蟾蜍clucDNA全长为1 616 bp,包括1 332 bp的开放阅读框(open reading frame,ORF)、5’端30 bp及3’端254 bp的非翻译区(untranslated region,UTR)。根据cDNA序列推导的日本蟾蜍CLU前体蛋白由443个氨基酸残基组成,其中含20个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽,6个糖基化位点,10个可形成二硫键的半胱氨酸残基和2个卷曲螺旋区域。氨基酸序列同源性分析显示,日本蟾蜍CLU与非洲爪蟾(Xenopus laevis)的同源性为65%,与其他7种动物的同源性则介于41%-48%之间。     

东北林蛙皮肤中一类新抗菌肽cDNA的克隆及成熟肽的预测

为进一步研究和开发高效广谱天然抗生素的抗菌肽,本文克隆东北林蛙(Rana dybowskii)的抗菌肽基因,并预测其成熟肽的有关性质。根据蛙属抗菌肽信号肽末端序列设计简并引物,以RT-PCR技术扩增皮肤中抗菌肽的cDNA,并进行克隆测序。用生物信息学软件分析cDNA序列特点,预测成熟肽的理化性质。研究发现一种长度为28个氨基酸残基的新抗菌肽dybowsin-1,该肽具有Rana box结构;与已发现的抗菌肽仅有35%的同源性;理论等电点在9.70-10.01之间;均呈阳离子性;从第3或4个氨基酸开始到第16个氨基酸形成α-螺旋结构,极性氨基酸位于螺旋轮的一侧,非极性氨基酸位于螺旋轮的另一侧;具有N-端疏水、C-端亲水的两亲性。一个个体表达5条cDNA序列编码3种不同的dybowsin-1分子,显示出该抗菌肽表达的多样性。序列分析显示,该抗菌肽可能由多基因座位编码。     

一种新型贻贝抗菌肽的分离纯化及鉴定

厚壳贻贝（Mytilus coruscus）广泛分布于我国东部海域,其体内富含各种抗菌肽分子,是研究软体动物免疫防御机制以及开发抗菌肽来源的新型生物抗生素的重要对象。采用多步反相高效液相色谱对厚壳贻贝血清进行分离纯化,获得一种分子量为6261.55 D的具有抗菌活性的多肽成分;经多肽N端测序和基因克隆,结果表明该抗菌肽由55个氨基酸残基构成,含6个半胱氨酸并形成三对二硫键。结构域分析表明该抗菌肽具有几丁质结合结构域（Chitin-biding domain）,因此将该抗菌肽命名为mytichitin-A。Mytichitin-A对革兰氏阳性菌具有较强的抑制作用,同时对真菌及革兰氏阴性菌也具有抑制作用。荧光定量PCR检测表明,mytichitin-A主要在厚壳贻贝的性腺组织中表达且在细菌诱导后12h其表达量达到峰值。研究为深入了解厚壳贻贝抗菌肽的分子多样性及免疫机制奠定了基础。       

九香虫抗菌肽CcAMP1的分离纯化和抗菌活性检测

【目的】从药用昆虫九香虫 Coridius chinensis 中分离纯化抗菌肽,为进一步开发九香虫抗菌肽资源及深入挖掘九香虫的药用功能奠定基础。【方法】用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli 和金黄色葡萄球菌 Staphylococcus aureus 混合物作诱导源刺激九香虫产生抗菌肽,对血淋巴进行提取、凝胶过滤层析、固相萃取及反相色谱纯化,活性组分经质谱测定。对分离得到的这种抗菌肽进行人工合成,并进行抗菌活性检测。【结果】本研究获得一种九香虫抗菌肽CcAMP1,由17个氨基酸残基组成,分子量为1 997.37 u,带1个正电荷,表面有5个疏水氨基酸。对人工合成的CcAMP1进行抗菌活性检测表明,该抗菌肽与九香虫血淋巴一样对金黄色葡萄球菌等革兰氏阳性菌和大肠杆菌等革兰氏阴性菌都有较好的抗菌活性,且对革兰氏阴性菌的抗菌活性更强。【结论】从九香虫中分离得到具有较强抗菌活性的阳离子抗菌肽CcAMP1,有较大的开发利用价值。     

绞股蓝鲨烯环氧酶基因的克隆与序列分析

根据已报道植物鲨烯环氧酶(squalene epoxidase,SE)基因cDNA序列的保守区域设计引物,利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,对绞股蓝SE基因进行克隆及序列分析.结果表明,绞股蓝SE基因cDNA全长为1 818 bp,编码一个由525个氨基酸残基组成的多肽.绞股蓝SE基因编码的氨基酸序列中含有52.4%的非极性疏水性氨基酸,26.1%极性中性氨基酸,9.0%酸性氨基酸,12.6%碱性氨基酸.Blast结果显示,绞股蓝SE基因核苷酸序列与其他已报道的植物SE基因相似性为73%～82%,推导的氨基酸序列相似性为63.2%～79.4%.SE氨基酸序列进化分析发现,绞股蓝SE与绿珊瑚、拟南芥亲缘关系较近.     

凡纳对虾对虾素基因的克隆与抗菌性质分析

目的:抗菌肽分子在无脊椎动物的先天免疫系统中,发挥着重要的抗菌作用;为了不断完善无脊椎动物先天免疫系统的抗菌机制,作者以凡纳对虾的对虾素基因作为研究对象,进行分子生物学方面研究。方法:以凡纳对虾的对虾素基因———penaeidin 4抗菌肽基因(Lva-pen 4)作为研究对象,主要进行了基因克隆、氨基酸序列比对、系统进化关系分析以及分子结构初步预测等研究内容。结果:Lva-pen 4的cDNA序列全长624bp,开放阅读框包括204bp,演绎67个氨基酸残基;在Lva-pen 4分子一级结构的氨基酸序列中,存在一个对虾素结构域,其中包括8个保守存在的半胱氨酸残基和6个脯氨酸残基。结论:根据分子结构的分析结果,推测Lva-pen 4是一个重要的免疫反应相关基因,在先天免疫系统中发挥着重要作用。     

基于cDNA演绎的驴血清白蛋白序列特性

由驴血清白蛋白(DkSA)的cDNA的基因序列获得演绎的驴血清白蛋白序列.以驴的肝细胞总RNA为模板,根据已有血清白蛋白基因序列的同源性,设计合成了特异性引物,通过3′RACE和RT-PCR进行扩增,测序.结果表明,由cDNA演绎的驴血清白蛋白序列有607个氨基酸组成,其中包括信号肽18个氨基酸残基,前肽6个氨基酸残基,成熟蛋白质含有583个氨基酸.该蛋白质序列与人、马、牛、羊和猪血清白蛋白氨基酸序列相似性分别为77·1%、98·5%、74·1%、75·7%和76·8%.其中驴血清白蛋白和马血清白蛋白序列只有8个氨基酸不同.本研究结果已被GenBank收录并贮存,编号为AY754333,为驴血清白蛋白的活性应用研究奠定了基础.     

Two novel families of antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of the Chinese torrent frog, Amolops jingdongensis

The characterization of new natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can help to solve the serious problem of bacterial resistance to currently used antibiotics. In the current study, we analyzed two families of AMPs from the Chinese torrent frog Amolops jingdongensis with a range of bioactivities. The first family of peptides, named jindongenin-1a, is 24 amino acids in length; a BLAST search of jindongenin-1a revealed no sequence similarity with other AMPs. The second family consists of two peptides containing 29 amino acid residues each. These peptides have high sequence similarity with the AMPs of palustrin-2 and are therefore designated palustrin-2AJ1 and palustrin-2AJ2. The cDNA sequences encoding these AMPs have been cloned and the deduced protein sequence of each AMP has been determined by protein sequencing. Sequence and structural analysis showed that each precursor is composed of a putative signal peptide, an N-terminal spacer, a processing site and a disulfide-bridged heptapeptide segment at the C-terminus. We synthesized jindongenin-1a and palustrin-AJ1 to test their antimicrobial, hemolytic, antioxidative and cytotoxic activities. These two peptides showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity to standard and clinically isolated strains of bacteria. In addition, they exhibited weak hemolytic activity to human and rabbit erythrocytes under our experimental conditions. Moreover, these peptides also displayed cytotoxic activity against the K562 and HT29 mammalian cell lines and low anti-oxidant activity. These findings provide helpful insight that will be useful in the design of anti-infective peptide agents.     

cDNA cloning of halocidin and a new antimicrobial peptide derived from the N-terminus of Ci-META4

Halocidin is an antimicrobial peptide, which is isolated from hemocytes from the tunicate, Halocynthia aurantium. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of halocidin from pharyngeal tissue, using a combination of RT-PCR and 5′-RACE-PCR. The observed cDNA structure indicated that halocidin is synthesized as a 10.37 kDa prepropeptide. Based on the cDNA structure and the known amino acid sequence of the mature peptide, it was concluded that the precursor of halocidin contains a 21-residue signal peptide, followed by the 18 residues of the mature peptide, and a 56-residue anionic C-terminal extension, which is removed later on in the process. The signal sequence of halocidin exhibited a high degree of similarity with the corresponding portion of the Ci-META4 protein, which had been previously discovered in the coelomic cells of another tunicate, Ciona intestinalis, and is considered to play a role in metamorphosis. However, in several respects, the cDNA structure of Ci-META4 suggested that it might constitute a precursor for an antimicrobial peptide. Thus, we prepared a synthetic peptide, which was comprised of 19 N-terminal amino acid residues in the predicted mature region of Ci-META4, and tested it with regard to its antimicrobial activity. As a result, we confirmed that the synthetic peptide exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Gram (+) and (−) bacteria, while evidencing no hemolytic activity toward human erythrocytes.     

Conformation-dependent antibiotic activity of tritrpticin,a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide

Tritrpticin, a Trp-rich cationic antimicrobial peptide with a unique amino acid sequence (VRRFPWWWPFLRR), is found in porcine cathelicidin cDNA. Tritrpticin has a broad spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal activities and hemolytic activity comparable to that of indolicidin. To investigate the mechanism of the bacterial killing action of tritrpticin and to identify structural features important for bacterial cell selectivity, we designed several tritrpticin analogs with amino acid substitutions of the Pro and Trp residues. Circular dichroism studies revealed that the substitution of Pro-->Ala (TPA) or Trp-->Phe (TWF) leads to significant conformational changes in SDS micelles, converting the beta-turn to alpha-helix or to poly-L-proline II helix, respectively. Compared to tritrpticin, TPA retained most of its antimicrobial activity, but showed enhanced hemolytic and membrane-disrupting activities. In contrast, TWF showed a 2-4-fold increase in antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, but a marked decrease in both hemolytic and membrane-disrupting activities. Taken together, our findings suggest that compared with the beta-turn and alpha-helical structures, the poly-L-proline II helix is crucial for effective bacterial cell selectivity in tritrpticin and its analogs.     

A novel antimicrobial peptide from skin secretions of the earthworm, Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelsen)

A novel lumbricin-like antimicrobial peptide named lumbricin-PG was isolated from skin secretions of the earthworm, Pheretima guillelmi (Michaelsen), using a procedure of one step Sephadex G-50 gel filtration and one step C₈ reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequence was determined as FSRYARMRDSRPWSDRKNNYSGPQFTYPPEKAPPEKLIKWNN EGSPIFEMPAEGGHIEP by Edman degradation combined with cDNA cloning and mass spectrometry analysis. The cDNA encoding lumbricin-PG was cloned by cDNA library screening. The predicted protein from the cDNA sequence was composed of 73 amino acid residues including a mature lumbricin-PG and predicted signal peptide. It showed similarity with lumbricin antimicrobial peptide from the earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus by BLAST search. Purified lumbricin-PG exerted potential antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi; it showed weak hemolysis activity against human and rabbit red cells.     

Cupiennin 1, a new family of highly basic antimicrobial peptides in the venom of the spider Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae).

A new family of antimicrobial peptides was isolated from the venom of Cupiennius salei. The peptides were purified to homogeneity, and the sequence of cupiennin 1a was determined by Edman degradation: GFGALFKFLAKKVAKTVAKQAAKQGAKYVVNKQME-NH(2). The amino acid sequences of cupiennin 1b, c, and d were obtained by a combination of sequence analysis and mass spectrometric measurements of comparative tryptic peptide mapping. All peptides consist of 35 amino acid residues and are characterized by a more hydrophobic N-terminal chain region and a C terminus composed preferentially of polar and charged residues. The total charge of all cupiennins calculated under physiological conditions is +8, and their C terminus, formed by a glutamic acid residue, is amidated. Conformational studies of the peptides revealed a high helix forming potential. Antimicrobial assays on bacteria with cupiennin 1a, 1d, and synthesized cupiennins 1a* and 1d* showed minimal inhibitory concentrations for bacteria in the submicromolar range. Their lytic effect on human red blood cells was lower by a factor of 8 to 14 than the highly hemolytic melittin. Cupiennin 1a, 1b, 1d, 1a*, and 1d* showed pronounced insecticidal activity. The immediate biological effects and the structural properties of the isolated cupiennins indicate a membrane-destroying mode of action on prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic cells.     

Bactrocerin‐1: A novel inducible antimicrobial peptide from pupae of oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel

A novel antimicrobial peptide, Bactrocerin‐1, was purified and characterized from an immunized dipteran insect, Bactrocera dorsalis. Bactrocerin‐1 has 20 amino acid residues with a mass of 2,325.95 Da. The amino acid sequence of Bactrocerin‐1 showed very high similarity to the active fragment (46V‐65S‐NH₂) of Coleoptericin A. The composition of amino acid residues revealed that Bactrocerin‐1 is a hydrophobic, positively charged, and Lys/Ile/Gly‐rich peptide. Minimal growth inhibition concentration (MIC) measurements for synthesized Bactrocerin‐1 showed a very broad spectrum of anti‐microbial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, Gram‐negative bacteria, and fungi. Bactrocerin‐1 did not show hemolytic activity toward mouse red blood cells even at a concentration of 50 µM. Analysis of the Helical‐wheel projection and the CD spectrum suggested that Bactrocerin‐1 contains the amphipathic α‐helix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Identification and optimization of an antimicrobial peptide from the ant venom toxin pilosulin

A template based on positional residue frequencies in the N-terminal stretch of natural alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides was used to prepare sequence patterns and to scan the Swiss-Prot Database, using the ScanProsite tool. This search identified a segment in pilosulin 1, a cytotoxic peptide from the venom of the jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula, as a potential novel antimicrobial peptide sequence. This segment, corresponding to the 20 N-terminal residues, was synthesized and its structural properties and biological activities were investigated. It showed a potent and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity including standard and multi-drug resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans, confirming the validity of the search method. A rational redesign approach resulting in four amino acid substitutions yielded a variant with improved antibacterial and significantly reduced hemolytic activity.     

Structure–activity study of macropin,a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of solitary bee Macropis fulvipes (Hymenoptera: Melittidae)

A novel antimicrobial peptide, designated macropin (MAC‐1) with sequence Gly‐Phe‐Gly‐Met‐Ala‐Leu‐Lys‐Leu‐Leu‐Lys‐Lys‐Val‐Leu‐NH₂, was isolated from the venom of the solitary bee Macropis fulvipes. MAC‐1 exhibited antimicrobial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, antifungal activity, and moderate hemolytic activity against human red blood cells. A series of macropin analogs were prepared to further evaluate the effect of structural alterations on antimicrobial and hemolytic activities and stability in human serum. The antimicrobial activities of several analogs against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa were significantly increased while their toxicity against human red blood cells was decreased. The activity enhancement is related to the introduction of either l ‐ or d ‐lysine in selected positions. Furthermore, all‐d analog and analogs with d ‐amino acid residues introduced at the N‐terminal part of the peptide chain exhibited better serum stability than did natural macropin. Data obtained by CD spectroscopy suggest a propensity of the peptide to adopt an amphipathic α‐helical secondary structure in the presence of trifluoroethanol or membrane‐mimicking sodium dodecyl sulfate. In addition, the study elucidates the structure–activity relationship for the effect of d ‐amino acid substitutions in MAC‐1 using NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.