雨生红球藻虾青素酰基转移酶的鉴定与功能研究

为研究雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)的甘油二酯酰基转移酶(Diacylglycerol acyltransferase, DGAT)是否具有催化虾青素酰基化的功能, 首先通过雨生红球藻的cDNA库克隆得到了一个II型DGAT编码区全长序列(DGTT2)。在甘油三酯(Triacylglycerol, TAG)合成缺陷型酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae H1246中过表达DGTT2基因发现HpDGTT2不能回补H1246的表型, 即不具有典型的DGAT功能。利用分离得到的雨生红球藻的内质网成功地建立了一个体外的虾青素酰基转移酶酶活测定体系, 添加含有重组HpDGTT2的酵母细胞的微粒体后虾青素酯的含量显著高于对照, 初步表明HpDGTT2具有催化雨生红球藻中虾青素酰基化功能。以上结果为进一步探索雨生红球藻中DGTT2的功能及深入理解虾青素合成在代谢水平的调控奠定了基础。     

缺氮胁迫下雨生红球藻虾青素积累过程中的基因组MSAP分析

虾青素具有多种生物学活性,雨生红球藻为天然虾青素的最佳来源,缺氮胁迫会导致雨生红球藻积累虾青素。为了解缺氮条件下雨生红球藻虾青素积累的分子机制,该研究通过对雨生红球藻进行缺氮胁迫,结合MSAP法,研究了雨生红球藻在缺氮胁迫下虾青素积累过程中基因组甲基化水平的变化,结果表明:缺氮胁迫0~72 h期间,雨生红球藻生长速度减慢,而虾青素积累主要发生在缺氮处理12~24 h期间,随后积累速度减慢。同时,对缺氮胁迫0、24、72 h的雨生红球藻基因组DNA进行甲基化敏感扩增多态性分析,共得到了291个甲基化多态性位点,其中发生甲基化变化的位点在0~24 h和24~72 h分别占总位点的29.90%和53.95%。在缺氮胁迫24 h处DNA半甲基化率最大(为12.71%),全甲基化率最低(为26.80%);缺氮胁迫72 h处DNA全甲基化率最高(为28.52%),半甲基化率最低(为1.72%)。这表明DNA甲基化调节方式的改变是虾青素积累过程中的一种重要调控模式。     

外源2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚对非生物胁迫条件下雨生红球藻虾青素积累的影响

【背景】雨生红球藻是天然虾青素的最佳来源,广泛应用于虾青素的工业化生产。【目的】探究外源添加不同浓度的2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚(Butylated hydroxytoluene,BHT)对雨生红球藻虾青素积累的影响,以期建立BHT提高雨生红球藻虾青素产量的技术体系。【方法】选用不含硝态氮的BBM培养基,辅以强光照,培养雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)LUGU,测试不同浓度BHT对雨生红球藻生物量、虾青素含量、活性氧、抗氧化系统和虾青素合成相关酶基因的影响。【结果】在0-3 mg/L BHT范围内,2 mg/L BHT对雨生红球藻虾青素积累的促进效果最佳,达到31.66 mg/g。2 mg/L BHT有效降低了雨生红球藻内的活性氧水平,增加了细胞内NO水平,提高了藻细胞内过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)、过氧化物酶(Peroxidase,POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxidedismutase,SOD)活性以及谷胱甘肽(Glutathione,GSH)的含量,诱导了虾青素合成关键酶基因chy和lcy的高效表达。【结论】非生物胁迫条件下,外源添加适量的BHT能促进雨生红球藻中虾青素的积累,且与藻细胞内的信号分子活性氧(Reactive oxygen species,ROS)、NO水平及虾青素合成相关基因的表达调控相关。     

雨生红球藻质体球滴结构蛋白基因的克隆与原核表达

叶绿体或者有色体中的质体球滴结构(Plastoglobules)是多数植物的类胡萝卜素等次生代谢产物积累的场所,但在能大量积累虾青素的雨生红球藻中,这个结构一直没有得到确认。通过透射电子显微镜观察发现雨生红球藻的质体内确切存在plastoglobules结构;并通过RT-PCR结合RACE技术,从雨生红球藻cDNA文库中克隆到了与编码plastoglobules的结构蛋白(Plastoglobulin)具有高度同源性的基因序列全长,称做Hpgp基因;该基因的表达产物称之为雨生红球藻质体球滴蛋白(HPGP;Haematococcus plastoglobules pro-tein);并进一步利用原核表达系统将该编码基因进行原核诱导表达,用His-Tag蛋白分离纯化系统纯化到了目标蛋白,并用该His-Tag融合蛋白为抗原免疫实验兔,制备到了相应的一抗抗体,为下一步对该蛋白的功能阐明以及雨生红球藻的虾青素积累机制研究提供重要的基础。     

光照强度对雨生红球藻合成虾青素的影响

雨生红球藻（Haematococcus pluvialis）是一种单细胞绿藻,在强光照射条件下能够合成并大量积累具有强抗氧化性的次生类胡萝卜素-虾青素。然而,其合成机理目前还不明确,导致虾青素诱导合成过程中操作的盲目性,限制了虾青素产量的提高。     

UV-B对雨生红球藻生长及虾青素积累的影响

以雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)为材料, 研究不同强度的UV-B对雨生红球藻生长、光合作用及虾青素积累的影响和其作用机理。设置5种紫外线强度, 分别在正常光照培养条件下补充不同强度UV-B(100—500 lx), 标记为CK、U100、U200、U300、U400和U500六组。结果表明, 经UV-B辐射后雨生红球藻细胞密度、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)和叶绿素(Chl.a和Chl.b)含量等均呈现下降趋势, 且与辐射强度相关。相反, 虾青素含量在100—400 lx强度下随UV-B辐射强度的增加而升高。与对照相比, 高强度UV-B辐射(U400)36h和72h后藻细胞虾青素含量分别提高了35.68%和56.23%, 达到5.82和7.06 mg/L。qRT-PCR检测发现雨生红球藻虾青素合成关键酶基因(IPI、PSY、BCH和BKT)的表达量随紫外辐射强度和辐射时间的增加均有不同程度升高。UV-B辐射亦调控紫外光受体UVR8及其信号转导通路核心元件(COP1、SPA1、HYH和HY5)的基因表达, 暗示上述基因参与了UV-B诱导雨生红球藻虾青素积累的过程。研究揭示紫外光受体UVR8介导的信号转导通路可能参与虾青素合成的转录调控, 为建立应用UV-B辅助光源促进雨生红球藻富集虾青素的工艺提供了基础, 同时为解析光诱导雨生红球藻虾青素积累的转录调控机制提供了新的视角。     

雨生红球藻对环境胁迫的分子防御机制

虾青素是一种具有极强的生物抗氧化性的类胡萝卜素,在医药,食品等方面均有广阔的应用.雨生红球藻在逆境下能够大量积累虾青素,已成为目前研究的热点.从雨生红球藻生存的角度来看,虾青素的积累是细胞对逆境防御的方法之一.除此之外,雨生红球藻还通过调整相关酶的表达类来使细胞度过难关.主要综述了雨生红球藻对环境胁迫防御的两种分子机制,即早期机制和长期机制.     

雨生红球藻抗氧化系统对活性氧的清除机制

雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)是一种淡水单细胞绿藻,隶属绿藻门、团藻目、红球藻科、红球藻属。它受强光、氮饥饿、高盐等胁迫时积累大量的虾青素,含量可高达细胞干重的6.0%以上[1]。相关研究也显示来虾青素具有极强的抗氧化活性[2—4],它的抗氧化活性较α-生育酚强千倍[5],比维生素E高近百倍[6]。雨生红球藻产生     

真核藻类WRKY基因家族的鉴定及表达分析北大核心CSCD

WRKY是植物特有的一个转录因子超家族,参与植物生长发育、物质代谢以及生物和非生物胁迫响应等多种生物学过程的调控。尽管WRKY转录因子基因已在高等植物广泛表征,然而有关真核藻类WRKY却知之甚少。采用多序列比对、系统进化和保守域分析等技术对30种真核藻类WRKY进行全基因组鉴定,共获得24个WRKY成员,均来自绿藻门(Chlorophyta)藻类。红藻门(Rhodophyta)、灰藻门(Glaucophyta)和硅藻门(Bacillariophyta)等藻类未检测到WRKY。24个WRKY成员均具有保守结构域七肽序列WRKYGQ(E/A/H/N)K和锌指基序C-X4-5-C-X22-23-H-X-H,分别归类于Ⅰ、Ⅱa、Ⅱb和R组。高含虾青素的雨生红球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)含有2个Ⅰ类WRKY成员(HaeWRKY-1和HaeWRKY-2)。进一步克隆HaeWRKY-1和HaeWRKY-2基因编码序列,构建原核表达载体在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,并通过Ni-NTA亲和层析获得纯化的HaeWRKY融合蛋白。雨生红球藻在正常培养条件下,HaeWRKY-1表达量显著高于HaeWRKY-2。高光逆境胁迫显著上调HaeWRKY-1表达和下调HaeWRKY-2表达。HaeWRKY基因启动子含有多个光、乙烯、脱落酸(abscisic acid, ABA)以及逆境响应顺式元件。特别在HaeWRKY-2启动子区未检测到W-box顺式元件,但HaeWRKY-1和控制虾青素生物合成关键酶基因HaeBKT、HaePSY基因启动子含有W-box元件。基于本研究及前人的发现,我们推测高光胁迫下HaeWRKY-2低表达可能导致HaeWRKY-1的上调表达,HaeWRKY-1进而上调虾青素合成关键基因(HaeBKT、HaePSY等)表达,促进虾青素合成积累。这为深入解析雨生红球藻高光胁迫响应及虾青素合成的调控机制提供了新思路。     

2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)对雨生红球藻中虾青素积累的影响

本文初步研究了一定浓度范围内的2,4-D对雨生红球藻积累虾青素的影响.在对数生长 期的藻液中分别加入一系列不同浓度的2,4-D溶液,然后进行胁迫培养(25℃、24h、5000Lx连续光照 营养盐饥饿),诱导细胞内虾青素的合成积累.在诱导过程中,显微观察不同浓度2,4-D处理后细胞形态和虾青素积累的动态变化,并定期取样测定虾青素含量.结果表明,20.0mg/L的2,4-D能够明显促进雨生红球藻中积累虾青素.它不仅可以加快虾青素积累进程(比对照提前15 d),而且比对照能提高13.4%的虾青素产量.     

雨生红球藻β－胡萝卜素酮化酶（bkt）启动子功能分析

单细胞绿藻———雨生红球藻在逆境条件下积累大量的虾青素。β-胡萝卜素酮化酶(bkt)催化在β-胡萝卜素和玉米黄素的β-紫罗酮环C-4位引入酮基的反应,是虾青素合成过程中的关键酶。我们利用凝胶阻滞的方法研究雨生红球藻中bkt基因309bp(-617/-309)启动子区域的转录因子结合位点并发现在-396/-338的59bp探针存在特异的核蛋白结合位点。通过序列分析,发现此59bp区域并不包含TATA或者CAAT-box,而是存在对光、缺氧、p-香豆酸及激素反应的G-box。     

Characterization of carotenoid hydroxylase gene promoter in Haematococcus pluvialis

Astaxanthin, a high-value ketocarotenoid is mainly used in fish aquaculture. It also has potential in human health due to its higher antioxidant capacity than beta-carotene and vitamin E. The unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis is known to accumulate astaxanthin in response to environmental stresses, such as high light intensity and salt stress. Carotenoid hydroxylase plays a key role in astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis. In this paper, we report the characterization of a promoter-like region (-378 to -22 bp) of carotenoid hydroxylase gene by cloning, sequence analysis and functional verification of its 919 bp 5'-flanking region in H. pluvialis. The 5'-flanking region was characterized using micro-particle bombardment method and transient expression of LacZ reporter gene. Results of sequence analysis showed that the 5'-flanking region might have putative cis-acting elements, such as ABA (abscisic acid)-responsive element (ABRE), C-repeat/dehydration responsive element (C-repeat/DRE), ethylene-responsive element (ERE), heat-shock element (HSE), wound-responsive element (WUN-motif), gibberellin-responsive element (P-box), MYB-binding site (MBS) etc., except for typical TATA and CCAAT boxes. Results of 5' deletions construct and beta-galactosidase assays revealed that a highest promoter-like region might exist from -378 to -22 bp and some negative regulatory elements might lie in the region from -919 to -378 bp. Results of site-directed mutagenesis of a putative C-repeat/DRE and an ABRE-like motif in the promoter-like region (-378 to -22 bp) indicated that the putative C-repeat/DRE and ABRE-like motif might be important for expression of carotenoid hydroxylase gene.     

Transformation of the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis with a phytoene desaturase for accelerated astaxanthin biosynthesis

Astaxanthin is a high-value carotenoid which is used as a pigmentation source in fish aquaculture. Additionally, a beneficial role of astaxanthin as a food supplement for humans has been suggested. The unicellular alga Haematococcus pluvialis is a suitable biological source for astaxanthin production. In the context of the strong biotechnological relevance of H. pluvialis, we developed a genetic transformation protocol for metabolic engineering of this green alga. First, the gene coding for the carotenoid biosynthesis enzyme phytoene desaturase was isolated from H. pluvialis and modified by site-directed mutagenesis, changing the leucine codon at position 504 to an arginine codon. In an in vitro assay, the modified phytoene desaturase was still active in conversion of phytoene to zeta-carotene and exhibited 43-fold-higher resistance to the bleaching herbicide norflurazon. Upon biolistic transformation using the modified phytoene desaturase gene as a reporter and selection with norflurazon, integration into the nuclear genome of H. pluvialis and phytoene desaturase gene and protein expression were demonstrated by Southern, Northern, and Western blotting, respectively, in 11 transformants. Some of the transformants had a higher carotenoid content in the green state, which correlated with increased nonphotochemical quenching. This measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence can be used as a screening procedure for stable transformants. Stress induction of astaxanthin biosynthesis by high light showed that there was accelerated accumulation of astaxanthin in one of the transformants compared to the accumulation in the wild type. Our results strongly indicate that the modified phytoene desaturase gene is a useful tool for genetic engineering of carotenoid biosynthesis in H. pluvialis.     

利用雨生血球藻(Haematococcus pluvialis)生产天然虾菁素的研究进展

本文综述了当前国内、外利用雨生血球藻生产天然虾菁素的优化条件、雨生血球藻的大规模培养方法以及虾菁素的最佳提取工艺。     

Comparative analysis of astaxanthin and its esters in the mutant E1 of Haematococcus pluvialis and other green algae by HPLC with a C30 column

A gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a C30 col-umn was developed for the simultaneous determination of astaxanthin, astaxanthin monoesters and astaxanthin diesters in the green algae Chlorococcum sp., Chlorella zofingiensis, Haematococcus plu-vialis and the mutant E1, which was obtained from the mutagenesis of H. pluvialis by exposure to UV-irradiation and ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) with subsequent screening using nicotine. The re-sults showed that the contents of total astaxanthins including free astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters ranged from 1.4 to 30.9 mg/g dry biomass in these green algae. The lower total astaxanthin levels (< 2 mg/g dry biomass) were detected in the green algae Chlorococcum sp. and C. zofingiensis. The higher total astaxanthin levels (>16 mg/g dry biomass) were found in the green alga H. pluvialis and its mutant E1. It is notable that the mutant E1 is found to have considerably higher amounts of total astaxanthin (30.9 mg/g) as compared to the wild strain of H. pluvialis (16.1 mg/g). This indicates that UV-irradiation and EMS compound mutagenesis with subsequent screening using nicotine is an effective method for breeding of a high-producing astaxanthin strain of H. pluvialis. In addition, the green alga C. zofingien-sis had a remarkably higher percentage of astaxanthin diesters (76.3% of total astaxanthins) and a re-markably lower percentage of astaxanthin monoesters (18.0% of total astaxanthins) in comparison with H. pluvialis (35.5% for diesters and 60.9% for monoesters), the mutant E1 (49.1% and 48.1%) and Chlorococcum sp. (18.0% and 58.6%).     

Multistage operation of airlift photobioreactor for increased production of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis

An internally radiating photobioreactor was applied for the production of astaxanthin using the unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis. The cellular morphology of H. pluvialis was significantly affected by the intensity of irradiance of the photobioreactor. Small green cells were widespread under lower light intensity, whereas big reddish cells were predominant under high light intensity. For these reasons, growth reflected by cell number or dry weight varied markedly with light conditions. Even under internal illumination of the photobioreactor, light penetration was significantly decreased as algal cells grew. Therefore, we employed a multistage process by gradually increasing the internal illuminations for astaxanthin production. Our results revealed that a multistage process might be essential to the successful operation of a photobioreactor for astaxnthin production using H. pluvialis.