大肠杆菌rhtA缺失对血红素合成的影响

【背景】Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)是基因工程的常用宿主,以C5途径合成5-氨基乙酰丙酸(5-Aminolevulinicacid,ALA),ALA是合成血红素的重要前体物质,但ALA分泌对血红素合成的影响尚不清楚。【目的】阐明参与ALA外运的RhtA在血红素合成途径中的作用。【方法】利用Red同源重组,敲除Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)的rhtA,同时构建重组质粒pEA过表达血红素合成途径中的关键酶基因hemA,检测分析血红素及其前体物质含量,以及血红素合成途径中10个关键基因的表达水平。【结果】敲除rhtA对菌体生长没有显著影响,敲除菌株BL21(DE3)Δrht A与原始菌株BL21(DE3)比较,ALA的胞外含量下降23%,血红素含量提高12%,尿卟啉III (Uroporphyrin III,UIII)、粪卟啉III (Coproporphyrin III,CIII)和原卟啉IX (Protoporphyrin IX,PPIX)的含量分别提高25%、15%和18%;敲除rhtA同时过表达hemA的菌株BL21(DE3)ΔrhtA/pEA与仅过表达hemA的菌株BL21(DE3)/pEA比较,胞外ALA减少了16%,血红素含量提高了24%,UIII和CIII含量分别提高55%和64%,PPIX含量显著增加,约为4.7倍。实时定量PCR结果表明,rhtA缺失后,hemC基因转录水平下调,其余9个基因转录水平均有不同程度的上调。【结论】rhtA敲除减少了ALA的外运,使得胞内血红素产量得到提高。     

谷氨酸代谢调控及hemA过表达促进大肠杆菌血红素合成

【背景】大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)以谷氨酸为前体经C5途径合成有限的血红素。【目的】探究胞内谷氨酸代谢及谷氨酰-tRNA还原酶基因(hem A)过表达对5-氨基乙酰丙酸(5-Aminolevulinic Acid,ALA)和血红素合成的影响。【方法】通过Red同源重组敲除与谷氨酸代谢有关的mscS与aroG,构建hemA表达载体并导入基因缺失菌株中。【结果】mscS单敲除或mscS与aroG双敲除对菌体生长无显著影响。与出发菌株相比,单敲除与双敲除菌株的谷氨酸含量均有所增加,ALA含量略微下降,血红素含量分别增加了11.6%和35.7%。在双敲除菌株中进一步过表达hemA后,胞内血红素含量增至47.603μmol/L。【结论】通过调控谷氨酸代谢流量与过表达hemA可促进血红素的合成,该结果为增强C5途径的血红素合成提供了新的思路。     

鸭疫里氏杆菌hemH基因功能初步鉴定及其缺失株的转录组学分析

血红素是绝大多数细菌生长繁殖所必需的一种营养物质,其参与了细菌多种重要的生理过程。细菌可以通过自身合成和从外界摄取2种方式获得血红素。然而过多的血红素对细菌是有毒性的,细菌则会利用外排、螯合和降解等多种方式减轻血红素毒性。鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer, RA)是一种感染禽类的革兰氏阴性菌,前期研究表明该菌可通过转运的方式从外界环境摄取血红素。然而,是否该菌也可以自身合成血红素未知。基因组分析发现鸭疫里氏杆菌ATCC11845菌株中的基因RA0C＿RS08070编码铁螯合酶(ferrochelatase) HemH,是参与将铁插入卟啉中心,形成血红素的关键酶。hem H缺失后会导致铁离子和卟啉的积累,对细菌造成毒性。【目的】为鉴定Hem H在合成血红素中的功能及查找参与鸭疫里氏杆菌铁离子和卟啉解毒相关基因。【方法】本研究构建了RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失株,并检测亲本株和hem H缺失株在GCB以及GCB添加血红蛋白液体培养基中的生长情况;随后对亲本株和hem H缺失株进行转录组测序并进行比较分析。【结果】RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失...     

改造大肠杆菌卟啉代谢途径对重组过氧化物酶活性的影响

【目的】原核表达某些需辅因子的外源蛋白时往往酶活偏低,为提高酶活和减少外加辅因子的成本,我们尝试在大肠杆菌中表达外源过氧化氢-过氧化物酶的同时提高大肠杆菌中与该酶辅因子相关的合成代谢。【方法】本研究克隆了中度嗜盐菌Halomonas elongata DSM2581的过氧化氢-过氧化物酶CAT-POD(catalase-peroxidase)编码基因kat G的ORF,构建原核表达载体p ET28a-kat G,实现了CAT-POD在大肠杆菌中的重组表达。由于CAT-POD活性依赖其活性中心血红素,而血卟啉是血红素的骨架,通过构建原核表达载体p UC19-tac-hem A,将编码5-氨基乙酰丙酸合成酶的hem A基因在大肠杆菌中过量表达,提高卟啉的含量,从而提高重组蛋白CAT-POD的酶活。【结果】最终的CAT酶活达到了377 U/m L,为对照组的7.5倍。【结论】本研究为工业生产高活性CAT-POD提供了有效的方案,也为体外重组表达含辅因子的蛋白提供可借鉴的思路。     

大肠杆菌pqqL基因敲除与功能分析

【目的】通过构建大肠杆菌pqqL基因缺陷突变株,研究大肠杆菌pqqL基因的功能。【方法】首先通过PCR扩增得到pqqL基因和kan抗性基因,在体外构建线性打靶片段pqqL-kan-pqqL。然后通过Red同源重组敲除大肠杆菌的pqqL基因,构建大肠杆菌缺失突变体DH5αΔpqqL。在此基础上通过DCIP法检测山梨糖脱氢酶活性来比较大肠杆菌突变株与亲本株中PQQ合成的情况。【结果】成功敲除了大肠杆菌的pqqL基因,DCIP法检测结果显示大肠杆菌pBCP162/DH5αΔpqqL和pMD19T Simple-pqqABCDE/DH5α能够合成PQQ,而大肠杆菌pMD19T Simple-pqqABCDE/DH5αΔpqqL不能合成PQQ。【结论】大肠杆菌pqqL基因和pqqF基因具有同样的功能。     

鸭疫里氏杆菌hemH基因功能初步鉴定及其缺失株的转录组学分析

血红素是绝大多数细菌生长繁殖所必需的一种营养物质,其参与了细菌多种重要的生理过程。细菌可以通过自身合成和从外界摄取2种方式获得血红素。然而过多的血红素对细菌是有毒性的,细菌则会利用外排、螯合和降解等多种方式减轻血红素毒性。鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)是一种感染禽类的革兰氏阴性菌,前期研究表明该菌可通过转运的方式从外界环境摄取血红素。然而,是否该菌也可以自身合成血红素未知。基因组分析发现鸭疫里氏杆菌ATCC11845菌株中的基因RA0C_RS08070编码铁螯合酶(ferrochelatase)HemH,是参与将铁插入卟啉中心,形成血红素的关键酶。hem H缺失后会导致铁离子和卟啉的积累,对细菌造成毒性。【目的】为鉴定Hem H在合成血红素中的功能及查找参与鸭疫里氏杆菌铁离子和卟啉解毒相关基因。【方法】本研究构建了RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失株,并检测亲本株和hem H缺失株在GCB以及GCB添加血红蛋白液体培养基中的生长情况;随后对亲本株和hem H缺失株进行转录组测序并进行比较分析。【结果】RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失株不能在GCB培养基中生长,而在GCB培养基补充血红蛋白后生长良好。转录组测序及比较分析发现,与亲本株相比,hem H缺失株中有354个显著差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs)。基因本体论(gene ontology,GO)功能富集分析发现差异表达基因主要富集在催化活性、生物调节和代谢过程等途径,京都基因和基因组百科全书(Kyotoencyclopediaofgenesandgenomes,KEGG)通路富集分析发现差异表达基因主要富集在氨基酸代谢、氧化磷酸化和三羧酸循环(tricarboxylic acid cycle,TCA cycle)等途径。【结论】Hem H参与了血红素的合成,hem H缺失后导致大量的基因表达改变来适应代谢的改变,为进一步研究鸭疫里氏杆菌的Hem H的功能奠定基础。     

鸭疫里氏杆菌B739＿RS00825基因缺失株抗血红素毒性和氧化应激损伤以及定殖能力分析

【目的】血红素可作为细菌重要的铁离子来源,然而转运过多的血红素也会对细菌造成毒性。细菌通过调节、外排、螯合等多种方式减轻血红素毒性作用。鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer, RA)是一种感染鸭及其他禽类的革兰氏阴性病原菌。前期研究表明,该菌编码血红素转运系统,且能够从血红蛋白获取血红素,然而该菌是否编码血红素解毒蛋白未知。本研究以编码一氧化氮合成酶的基因B739＿RS00825为研究对象,分析其在抗血红素毒性和氧化应激损伤以及定殖能力中的功能。【方法】构建B739＿RS00825缺失株,并通过测定生长曲线、细菌存活率、毒力及定殖等试验方法鉴定其在抗血红素毒性、抗氧化应激损伤、宿主致病中的功能。【结果】与RA CH-1相比,RA CH-1ΔB739＿RS00825在添加过量血红素的培养基中生长不受影响;然而与RACH-1Δfur相比,RACH-1ΔfurΔB739＿RS00825在含血红素培养基中的生长明显受到抑制且对H₂O₂的抵抗力降低;B739＿RS00825基因在氧化应激条件下及fur缺失株中明显上调;与RA ...     

大肠杆菌TdcC、SstT和LIV-1系统缺失对胞外L-苏氨酸积累的影响

【目的】比较分析苏氨酸吸收系统TdcC、SstT和LIV-1缺失对大肠杆菌吸收和积累胞外苏氨酸的影响。【方法】从菌株E.coli W3110出发,敲除tdcC、sst T和liv J基因,构建Tdc C、SstT和LIV-1系统单缺失和多缺失菌株,将过量表达苏氨酸操纵子基因的重组质粒pKKthr AC1034TBC分别转入原始菌和重组菌,考察各菌株吸收和积累胞外苏氨酸的能力。【结果】敲除tdc C和sst T基因的重组菌T04的苏氨酸吸收能力比原始菌W3110降低了43.28%,T04(pKKthr AC1034TBC)胞外苏氨酸积累量最高达到1.09 g/L,比对照菌W3110(pKKthr AC1034TBC)高出172.5%。敲除tdcC、sstT和livJ基因的重组菌T07的苏氨酸吸收能力比T04降低了12.97%,然而T07(pKKthr AC1034TBC)胞外苏氨酸积累量最大为0.63 g/L,与T04(pKKthr AC1034TBC)相比降低了42.2%。【结论】阻断Tdc C和Sst T系统,能有效降低大肠杆菌吸收苏氨酸的能力,提高苏氨酸的胞外积累量。阻断LIV-1系统,虽然能减少大肠杆菌对苏氨酸的吸收,却不利于菌株积累胞外苏氨酸。     

应用基因敲除快速构建大肠杆菌突变体改造脂肪酸代谢途径

【目的】基因敲除技术是研究基因功能的重要手段。我们试图建立一种快速、高效的大肠杆菌基因敲除方法。【方法】利用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BW25113单基因缺失体Keio文库,将经典的Red同源重组技术与P1噬菌体转导技术相结合,对E.coli MG1655脂肪酸代谢基因进行快速敲除。【结果】获得了大肠杆菌β-氧化途径的缺失菌株△fadD、△fadE和△fadD-△fadE;脂肪酸合成途径缺失菌株△fabH、△fabF和△fabH-△fabF。敲除fadD和fadE对生长情况没有影响;敲除fabH后,生长速度明显减慢;敲除fabF对生长几乎没有影响。FadD、FadE及双敲缺失体的脂肪酸含量18.2 mg/L、20.0mg/L和19.2 mg/L,略高于野生型17.5 mg/L;FabH、FabF及双敲缺失体的含量分别为12.6 mg/L、15.2 mg/L和11.2 mg/L,明显低于野生型。【结论】在单基因突变体文库基础上,利用P1噬菌体转导、Red同源重组和抗性基因消除进行基因敲除,简化了构建大肠杆菌单基因和多重突变体的方法。     

基于转录物组学的大肠杆菌血红素过氧化物酶EfeB的生理功能解析

大肠杆菌血红素过氧化物酶EfeB属于染料脱色过氧化物酶超家族。该家族的酶类一般具有良好的合成染料降解能力,但是其在生物体内的功能尚不清楚。为了深入研究EfeB的生理功能,本文通过同源重组的方法构建了efeB敲除菌株Eco△efeB,比较了亲本菌株E.coli BL21和Eco△efeB在基因组转录水平上、不同条件下的细胞生长以及对铁离子应答上的差异。结果表明:efeB基因的缺失引起了菌体1 765个基因的差异表达,这些基因主要与菌体的细胞代谢途径、细胞膜合成和鞭毛运动有关;在pH为7.0时,BL21和EcoΔefeB的生长无显著差异,但在pH4.5时BL21的生长明显优于EcoΔefeB,efeB基因的功能性表达可以支持大肠杆菌在低pH下的生存;当培养环境中有Fe²⁺存在时,efeB显著上调。以上结果为EfeB生理功能的认知和利用提供了一定的理论依据。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

Fungal Thyroiditis: An Overview

The authors review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal thyroiditis cases previously reported in the medical literature. Aspergillus was by far the most common cause of fungal thyroiditis. Immunocompromised patients, such as those with leukemia, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and organ-transplant patients on pharmacological immunosuppression were particularly at risk. Fungal thyroiditis was diagnosed at autopsy as part of disseminated infection in a substantial number of patients without clinical manifestations and laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Local signs and symptoms of infection were indistinguishable from other infectious thyroiditis and included fever, anterior cervical pain, thyroid enlargement sometimes associated with dysphagia and dysphonia, and clinical and laboratory features of transient hyperthyroidism due to the release of thyroid hormone from follicular cell damage, followed by residual hypothyroidism. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal thyroiditis was made by direct microscopy and culture of a fine-needle aspirate, or/and biopsy in most cases. Since most patients with fungal thyroiditis had disseminated fungal infection with delay in diagnosis and treatment, the overall mortality was high.     

安徽牯牛降的丝孢菌Ⅰ

本文报导作者采自安徽枯牛降自然保护区的18种丝孢菌,分属于5个属,其中有3个新种:牛皮冻生尾孢(Cercospora paederiicola),山鸡椒假尾饱(Pseudocercospora litseae-cubebae),鸡血藤生假尾孢(P. millettiicola)和2个中国新纪录。文中对新种进行了描述及绘图,新记录种作了简要说明。研究的标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.