藤黄微球菌Rpf活性蛋白的制取及其对红球菌VBNC菌体的复苏作用

【目的】克隆藤黄微球菌Micrococcus luteus IAM 14879(=NCIMB 13267)的复苏促进因子Rpf(resuscitation promoting factor)的基因,在大肠杆菌中表达获取基因重组蛋白,考察对近缘高GC革兰氏阳性菌红球菌Rhodococcus sp.DS471活的非可培养VBNC(viable but non-culturable)菌体的复苏促进生长能力。【方法】抽提制备藤黄微球菌的DNA,确定rpf基因引物进行PCR扩增,利用pET15b质粒载体并转化大肠杆菌DE3表达,以SDS-PAGE检验获取纯化重组蛋白;在培养基中添加Rpf,以MPN(most probable number)法计数、评价对VBNC状态菌体的复苏促进生长效果。【结果】基因测序证实获得藤黄微球菌的rpf基因并在大肠杆菌中表达;SDS-PAGE分析表明获得rpf基因的重组蛋白;该蛋白对处于VBNC状态的红球菌具有近100倍的复苏促进生长能力。【结论】成功克隆了藤黄微球菌的rpf基因,在大肠杆菌中获得了表达,表明了Rpf蛋白对处于VBNC状态的红球菌具有复苏促进生长效果。     

红平红球菌复苏促进因子基因克隆及功能域分析

复苏促进因子(Rpf)广泛存在于高G+C含量的革兰氏阳性细菌中,与细菌生长及抵抗不良环境有关,不同细菌Rpf种类和数量有一定差异。红平红球菌(Rhodococcus erythropolis)KB1分离自石油污染土壤,具有高效石油降解能力和环境适应性。为探索Rpf在红平红球菌KB1适应环境过程中作用,设计了复苏因子基因特异引物,从红平红球菌KB1基因组DNA扩增出4种rpf基因。序列分析发现4种基因分别与藤黄微球菌(Micrococcus luteus)rpf基因,结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)rpfB、rpfC及链霉菌(Streptomyces coelicolor)rpfB相似性较高。4个rpf基因编码蛋白都有一个类似Mt细胞复苏促进因子Rpf域,由大约70个氨基酸组成。其中Rpf-1与结核分枝杆菌、链霉菌RpfC相似,只含1个Rpf结构域;Rpf-2与结核分枝杆菌RpfB相似,含有1个Rpf域、1个G5域和2个DUF348;Rpf-3与链霉菌RpfB相似,含有1个Rpf域、G5域和3个DUF348;Rpf-4与藤黄微球菌Rpf相似,含1个Rpf域和1个LysM域。Rpf-2、Rpf-3含信号肽序列,Rpf-1、Rpf-4不含信号肽。     

Rpf蛋白：一种激活休眠状态放线菌的复苏促进因子

放线菌能产生多样性丰富的小分子化合物，但大多数放线菌因为处于“活的尚未培养”状态而无法分离培养。造成“活的尚未培养”状态的原因之一可能是由于一些环境因素，例如有机物、重金属、抗生素等胁迫使细胞处于休眠保护状态，直到遇到适宜的条件才能继续复苏生长。复苏促进因子（Resuscitation-Promoting Factor，Rpf）是由某些放线菌分泌的一类蛋白质，首次在藤黄微球菌（Micrococcus luteus）中发现，之后人们对Rpf蛋白的功能和分布给予了更多的关注。Rpf蛋白能促进一些休眠的革兰氏阳性细菌复苏，这为“活的尚未培养”放线菌的分离培养提供了可能性。同时，针对一些致病放线菌物种，开发Rpf蛋白抑制物为相关疾病的治疗也提供了一条新的途径。基于此，本文对Rpf蛋白的结构组成、特征功能、作用机制及应用前景进行了简要的概述。     

细菌复苏促进因子--Rpf

细菌复苏促进因子Rpf是第一个被发现的原核生物自分泌生长因子,该因子在放线菌门细菌中广泛存在,具有促进细菌休眠体复苏的作用.Rpf在细菌生长代谢过程中所发挥的重要调节作用,使其具有潜在的应用价值.     

抗结核分枝杆菌RpfB结构域单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

目的:制备抗结核分枝杆菌Rpf B结构域单克隆抗体。方法:将p PRO-EXHT-Rpf B domain原核表达载体接种于大肠杆菌DH5中,用IPTG诱导表达Rpf B结构域蛋白,以纯化的Rpf B结构域蛋白作为免疫原,皮下包埋免疫小鼠3次,每次间隔2周;分离小鼠的脾细胞,与Sp2/0细胞融合,克隆化制备抗Rpf B结构域单抗,ELISA检测其效价,鉴定其特异性和相对亲和力,观察制备的抗Rpf B结构域单抗对Rpf家族其他蛋白的识别能力及其对结核分枝杆菌和藤黄微球菌的生长抑制作用。结果:制备了3株抗Rpf B结构域单抗,特异性高,亲和力较强,均能特异性识别Rpf B结构域。经小鼠腹腔注射制备腹水并纯化,获得了较高纯度的单抗,所制备的抗Rpf B结构域多肽的单克隆抗体可以识别多种Rpf样蛋白及其结构域蛋白。在抗体滴度为1∶1000时可有效抑制Rpf B结构域对结核分枝杆菌H37Ra和藤黄微球菌的生长促进作用,提示抗Rpf B结构域单抗可能会抑制进入机体内生长停滞或潜伏感染的结核分枝杆菌的再次激活,可能具有预防隐性感染复发的作用。结论:抗Rpf B结构域单抗的制备为进一步研究Rpf B结构域的生物学和免疫特性提供了实验工具。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv1009的生物信息学分析及克隆、表达

以往在对藤黄微球菌的研究中发现了促进复活因子(RPF),该因子可以有效促进休眠期的多种革兰氏阳性细菌复活和生长。生物信息学分析表明在多种革兰氏阳性细菌的基因组中均存在编码RPF样蛋白的基因。从GeneBank中获得了结核分枝杆菌、麻风分枝杆菌、谷氨酸棒杆菌和微链霉菌等革兰氏阳性细菌的多种RPF样蛋白相关信息,通过同源性分析发现这些蛋白均含有一个由75个氨基酸残基构成的高度保守序列,即RPF作用域。进一步对结核分枝杆菌H37Rv株的Rv1009进行了分析,并用PCR法克隆了其编码基因全长,定向克隆至pGEX 4T-2,在大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3)中获得了Rv1009-GST融合蛋白的高效表达,为深入探讨其生物学功能奠定了基础。     

复苏促进因子结合蛋白A的原核表达及对耻垢分枝杆菌的促生长作用

目的:在大肠埃希氏菌中表达结核分枝杆菌复苏促进因子结合蛋白A(resuscitation-promoting factor-interacting protein A,RipA),观察该蛋白对耻垢分枝杆菌的促生长作用.方法:采用PCR方法,从结核分枝杆菌H37Rv的DNA中扩增出编码RipA蛋白的Rv1477基因,测序正确后克隆入原核表达载体pProEx HTa,构建重组表达质粒pProEx HTa-RipA.以重组质粒转化大肠杆菌DH5a,筛选阳性重组菌株,经异丙基硫代-β-D半乳糖苷(Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside IPTG)诱导RipA表达,在变性条件下对目的蛋白进行亲和层析纯化.将纯化的RipA蛋白加入到耻垢分枝杆菌中,分光光度法测定细菌的A600,观察RipA蛋白的促生长作用.结果:成功扩增了Rv1477基因,并克隆于表达载体pProEx HTa中,经酶切鉴定获得阳性克隆.经诱导在大肠杆菌中表达出相对分子量为52kDa的目的蛋白,Western-blot结果显示该蛋白与6x His单抗有特异性的反应条带.采用Ni+-NTA柱可获得纯化的目的蛋白.10%M的RipA蛋白可显著促进耻垢分枝杆菌休眠菌的复苏和生长.结论:Papa蛋白在大肠杆菌中成功表达,并能有效促进耻垢分枝杆菌的生长.     

菘蓝CYP83B1基因的克隆与表达分析

对菘蓝（Isatis indigotica Fort.）CYP83B1基因进行了克隆与表达模式分析。结果显示,IiCYP83B1基因全长为1652 bp,包含2个外显子和1个内含子;cDNA全长为1500 bp,编码499个氨基酸。IiCYP83B1编码的蛋白没有跨膜结构域和信号肽,主要定位于内质网膜,属于亲水性蛋白,二级结构主要由无规则卷曲螺旋和α-螺旋组成,与萝卜（Raphanus sativus Linn.）、欧洲油菜（Brassica napus L.）、甘蓝（Brassica oleracea L.）和芜菁（Brassica rapa L.）等植物的CYP83B1蛋白具有较高的同源性。qRT-PCR分析结果表明,IiCYP83B1基因在菘蓝的根、茎、叶、花和果中均有表达,且以叶中的表达量最高;在幼苗期、生长期和花期稳定表达且均显著高于萌芽期;茉莉酸甲酯（methyl jasmonate,MeJA）和葡萄糖（glucose,Glu）能够显著促进该基因的表达,而低温（4℃）和水杨酸（salicylic acid,SA）处理对其表达具有一定的抑制效应。本研究结果可为进一步探讨IiCYP83B1基因的功能提供参考。     

西方蜜蜂Lozenge基因的克隆鉴定及时空表达分析

Lozenge蛋白（Lz蛋白）是昆虫的重要转录因子,在昆虫胚胎发育过程中发挥重要作用。为研究Lozenge在西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera中的作用,本研究克隆了Lozenge基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析,同时基于荧光定量PCR技术检测该基因在西方蜜蜂不同发育时期（卵期、幼虫期、蛹期和成年蜂）和10日龄哺育蜂各组织的表达谱。生物信息学分析结果显示,Lozenge基因的开放阅读框（ORF）为1 554 bp,共编码517个氨基酸,预测分子量为54.63918 kDa,等电点为6.08;结构域预测分析发现Lozenge蛋白含有一个Runt结构域,多物种蛋白序列对比发现该蛋白同源性高。时期表达谱表明,该基因在第1日卵和第2日卵的表达量远高于其他时期,在卵期表达量随时间依次递减,幼虫期表达量极低,蛹期表达量呈先增后减的趋势,而成年蜂中均有表达;组织表达谱显示,该基因在哺育蜂头部、上颚腺中的表达量较高,而在腹部的表达量低。这些结果表明,Lozenge基因可能在西方蜜蜂胚胎期细胞发育过程、哺育蜂蜂王浆合成和分泌过程中发挥重要作用,这些结果为该基因功能的深入研究提供了重要的理论参考。     

肺炎链球菌假想的溶菌酶样蛋白的活性分析和鉴定

目的 探索肺炎链球菌中一种假想的溶菌酶样蛋白的活性.方法 生物信息学分析该基因的功能结构域;利用长臂同源PCR对该基因进行敲除,观察D39野生菌和缺陷菌在生物学性状的改变;利用底物PNP-（GIcNAc）和溶壁微球菌,构建过表达载体,绘制生长曲线,对截断和全长蛋白的溶菌酶活性进行鉴定.结果 生物信息学分析结果显示该基因的编码产物为β-1,4-N-乙酰胞壁酸糖苷酶,属于糖基水解酶25家族;野生菌为长链生长,缺陷菌呈短链状;溶菌酶和假想的溶菌酶样蛋白均可使底物释放出游离的对硝基苯酚,A405nm吸光度值分别为1.166和0.792;同时也可使得溶壁微球菌发生溶解;含过表达质粒的肺炎链球菌较之野生菌,溶解较快.结论 假想的溶菌酶样蛋白具有溶菌酶活性,是一种新的溶菌酶.     

Changes in lactate dehydrogenase activity in chicken tissues in hyperthyreosis in ontogenesis

The lactate dehydrogenase activity in reactions of lactate oxidation and synthesis was studied in subfractions of the chicken brain, heart and liver at the embryonal, early postembryonal and adult stages of development after thyroxine administration. It has been shown that during embryogenesis thyroxine predominantly enhanced the rate of lactate oxidation in the mitochondrial tissues. A marked increase in the lactate synthesis was found in cytoplasm of the adult chicken tissues. Specificity of enzyme activity alterations was detected in the chicken brain during ontogenesis after thyroxine administration.     

Scurvy in capybaras bred in captivity in Argentine

In order to determine if the absence of vitamin C in the diet of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) causes scurvy, a group of seven young individuals were fed food pellets without ascorbic acid, while another group of eight individuals received the same food with 1 g of ascorbic acid per animal per day. Animals in the first group developed signs of scurvy-like gingivitis, breaking of the incisors and death of one animal. Clinical signs appeared between 25 and 104 days from the beginning of the trial in all individuals. Growth rates of individuals deprived of vitamin C was considerably less than those observed in the control group. Deficiency of ascorbic acid had a severe effect on reproduction of another population of captive capybaras. We found that the decrease in ascorbic acid content in the diet affected pregnancy, especially during the first stages. The results obtained suggest that it is necessary to supply a suitable quantity of vitamin C in the diet of this species in captivity.     

Role for dopamine in malonate-induced damage in vivo in striatum and in vitro in mesencephalic cultures

Defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism have been implicated in the pathology of several neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, the reactive metabolites generated from the metabolism and oxidation of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) are thought to contribute to the damage to neurons of the basal ganglia. We have previously demonstrated that infusions of the metabolic inhibitor malonate into the striata of mice or rats produce degeneration of DA nerve terminals. In the present studies, we demonstrate that an intrastriatal infusion of malonate induces a substantial increase in DA efflux in awake, behaving mice as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with tetrabenazine (TBZ) or the TBZ analogue Ro 4-1284 (Ro-4), compounds that reversibly inhibit the vesicular storage of DA, attenuates the malonate-induced DA efflux as well as the damage to DA nerve terminals. Consistent with these findings, the damage to both DA and GABA neurons in mesencephalic cultures by malonate exposure was attenuated by pretreatment with TBZ or Ro-4. Treatment with these compounds did not affect the formation of free radicals or the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation resulting from malonate exposure alone. Our data suggest that DA plays an important role in the neurotoxicity produced by malonate. These findings provide direct evidence that inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase causes an increase in extracellular DA levels and indicate that bioenergetic defects may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic neurodegenerative diseases through a mechanism involving DA.     

SSTR5 ablation in islet results in alterations in glucose homeostasis in mice

Somatostatin (SST) peptide is a potent inhibitor of insulin secretion and its effect is mediated via somatostatin receptor 5 (SSTR5) in the endocrine pancreas. To investigate the consequences of gene ablation of SSTR5 in the mouse pancreas, we have generated a mouse model in which the SSTR5 gene was specifically knocked down in the pancreatic beta cells (betaSSTR5Kd) using the Cre-lox system. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that SSTR5 gene expression was absent in beta cells at three months of age. At the time of gene ablation, betaSSTR5Kd mice demonstrated glucose intolerance with lack of insulin response and significantly reduced serum insulin levels. Insulin tolerance test demonstrated a significant increase of insulin clearance in vivo at the same age. In vitro studies demonstrated an absence of response to SST-28 stimulation in the betaSSTR5Kd mouse islet, which was associated with a significantly reduced SST expression level in betaSSTR5Kd mice pancreata. In addition, betaSSTR5Kd mice had significantly reduced serum glucose levels and increased serum insulin levels at 12 months of age. Glucose tolerance test at an older age also indicated a persistently higher insulin level in betaSSTR5Kd mice. Further studies of betaSSTR5Kd mice had revealed elevated serum C-peptide levels at both 3 and 12 months of age, suggesting that these mice are capable of producing and releasing insulin to the periphery. These results support the hypothesis that SSTR5 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of insulin secretion in the mouse pancreas.     

2016年中国植物科学若干领域重要研究进展

2016年中国植物科学持续稳步发展, 表现在中国植物科学家在国际主流高影响力学术期刊发表文章的数量稳中有升, 中国植物科学领域的期刊逆风出行, 进入研究性期刊世界前三甲行列。中国科学家在植物学诸多领域取得了丰硕的成果。水稻(Oryza sativa)产量性状杂种优势的分子遗传机制解析入选2016年中国科学十大进展; 植物受精过程中雌雄配子体信号识别机制的研究和独脚金内酯的受体感知机制入选2016年生命科学十大进展。我国植物科学, 特别是以水稻为代表的作物研究在国际学术界已占有一席之地。例如, 在水稻组学(如基因组和转录组等)资源和技术平台的建立、重测序的开发及功能基因的克隆和调控网络的解析方面取得了系列重要成果(如揭示了独脚金内酯信号转导的“去抑制化激活”机制、从分子水平上阐释了水稻籼粳杂种不育和广亲和性基因S5的作用机理及发现了控制水稻耐冷的基因组位点), 已经引领世界水稻乃至作物科学研究。该文对2016年中国本土植物科学若干领域取得的重要研究进展进行了概括性评述, 旨在全面追踪当前中国植物科学领域的发展前沿和研究热点, 与读者共享我国科学家所取得的杰出成就。