NisinZ的定点突变及突变体性质的研究

以本实验室构建的含nisZ基因的质粒pHJ201为模板,采用定点突变技术将乳链菌肽Z分子中B环第8位Thr突变为Ser（T8S）、将第2位Dhb突变为Dha和第31位His突变为Lys（T2S/H31K）以及将第27位Asn突变为Lys和第31位His突变为Lys（N27K/H31K）,以pMG36e为载体,电击转化乳酸乳球菌（L.lactis）NZ9800进行表达。对表达产物性质的研究结果表明,3个突变体的抑菌谱和溶解度未发生变化,其抑菌活性略有下降,但它们的稳定性表现各不相同：N27K/H31K的稳定性与NisinZ几乎一致,而T8S和T2S/H31K的稳定性有明显提高,在pH9条件下100℃加热5min仍不丧失抑菌活性。     

H7N9禽流感病毒野生或突变神经氨酸酶对奥司他韦及扎那米韦敏感性的研究

本文研究了野生和突变H7N9禽流感病毒神经氨酸酶(Neuraminidase,NA)对奥司他韦羧酸盐及扎那米韦的敏感性。将密码子优化的H7N9(A/Hangzhou/1/2013)病毒神经氨酸酶DNA克隆到pcDNA3.1/His载体(简称NAH7N9-WT质粒)后,将该质粒转染293T细胞,48h后裂解收集上清液,得到野生型H7N9神经氨酸酶。利用一步PCR突变法,在NAH7N9-WT质粒中引入H274Y和R292K突变(NA以N2编号),简称NAH7N9-H274Y、NAH7N9-R292K质粒,测序确认正确后将两种突变质粒转染293T细胞,48h后裂解收集上清液,获得突变H7N9神经氨酸酶。Western blot鉴定野生和突变NA的表达。以4-MUNANA为底物检测野生及突变NA活性,检测奥司他韦羧酸盐和扎那米韦对野生及突变NA的抑制活性。结果显示,野生及突变NA质粒转染细胞后均获得了分子量约为70kD的目标蛋白,但H274Y突变酶的表达量显著低于野生酶及R292K突变酶;所表达的NAH7N9-WT、NAH7N9-H274Y和NAH7N9-R292K均有活性;奥司他韦羧酸盐对NAH7N9-WT、NAH7N9-H274Y和NAH7N9-R292K的半数抑制浓度分别为1.6nM、15.1nM和大于1 000nM,耐药倍数分别为9和大于625倍;扎那米韦对NAH7N9-WT、NAH7N9-H274Y和NAH7N9-R292K的半数抑制浓度分别为1.1nM、1.4nM和38.0nM,耐药倍数分别为1.3和34倍。本研究结果表明奥司他韦和扎那米韦可显著抑制NAH7N9-WT活性,NAH7N9-R292K对奥司他韦和扎那米韦有显著的耐药性(耐药倍数34~625倍),NAH7N9-H274Y对奥司他韦和扎那米韦敏感(耐药倍数1~9倍)。结果提示,临床感染H7N9的患者可用扎那米韦或奥司他韦治疗,但当该病毒发生NAH7N9-R292K突变时,建议停止使用这两种药物。     

葡萄球菌肠毒素C2突变体的构建及其体外抗肿瘤活性分析

目的:利用基因定点突变的方法将葡萄球菌肠毒素C2(SEC2)的31位定点突变,以获得抑瘤效果增强的肠毒素。方法:利用基因定点突变的方法,将SEC2中31位的His用Asn替代,转入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,采用CM弱阳离子层析柱纯化蛋白,并用SDS-PAGE和Western印迹对其进行鉴定,通过MTS法检测其体外抗肿瘤活性。结果:构建了突变体蛋白SEC2(H31N),并在大肠杆菌中实现了高效表达。体外实验表明,在相同浓度下,SEC2(H31N)对多种肿瘤细胞的抑制作用明显优于野生型SEC2,尤其在低浓度下此现象更为明显。对于5个受试细胞株,SEC2(H31N)的IC50均低于SEC2;SEC2(H31N)浓度分别为0.01~10、0.01和0.1 ng/mL时,对肿瘤细胞SMMC-7721、HepG2、A549的生长抑制率与SEC2相比均显著提高。结论:同野生型SEC2相比,突变体蛋白SEC2(H31N)对肿瘤生长的抑制作用得到了提高。     

重组链激酶及其三种突变体的活性研究

利用PCR技术从Streptococucspyogenes的基因组DNA中扩增了链激酶的编码基因ska,并进行了序列分析 ,利用基因删除及定点位变技术获得了删除了C-末端 42个氨基酸残基编码区的突变链激酶基因skaΔC42 ,第 5 9位Lys残基突变为Glu的突变链激酶基因skaK5 9E以及删除C-末端 42个氨基酸且第 5 9位Lys残基突变为Glu的突变链激酶基因skaΔC42K5 9E ,将ska及其三种突变体分别克隆到表达载体pET 1 5b上 ,构建分别表达野生型链激酶 (SK)、C-末端缺失 42个氨基酸残基的突变体 (SKΔC42 )、第 5 9位Lys残基突变为Glu的突变体 (SKK5 9E)及C-末端缺失 42个氨基酸且第 5 9位Lys残基突变为Glu突变体 (SKΔC42K5 9E)的表达载体pSK ,pSKΔC42 ,pSK K5 9E ,pSKΔC42K5 9E ,分别转化E .coliBL2 1 (DE3) ,IPTG诱导后在大肠杆菌中实现了高效表达 ,经亲和层析、离子交换层析及分子筛层析 ,获得了rSK、rSKΔC42、rSKK5 9E及rSKΔC42K5 9E ,活性分析表明rSK与其三种突变体具有相同的比活性。     

通过定点突变提高乳链菌肽对热及pH的稳定性

【目的】通过定点突变技术改变乳链菌肽(nisin)特定位置氨基酸,获得性质改善的nisin突变体,为扩大其应用范围提供依据。【方法】在抑菌谱扩大的nisin单突变体M21K nisinZ的基础上,对M21K nisZ基因第29位丝氨酸密码子进行定点突变;将其克隆至乳酸菌表达载体pMG36e,并在Lactococcus lactis NZ9800中进行表达;双突变体M21K/S29K nisinZ经分离纯化后检测其在抑菌活性、抑菌谱和稳定性等方面的变化。【结果】与单突变体M21K nisinZ及野生型nisinZ(wild-type,WT)相比,双突变体M21K/S29K nisinZ对指示菌的抑菌活性虽有所下降,但其对温度及pH值的稳定性有显著提高。同时其抑菌谱与M21K nisinZ相同,可抑制革兰氏阴性菌,扩大了WT的抑菌谱。【结论】通过改变nisin分子特定位置的氨基酸可以改善nisin分子的理化性质,有可能得到应用范围更广的nisin品种。     

葡萄球菌肠毒素 B 突变体的构建及其抗肿瘤活性分析

目的：通过对葡萄球菌肠毒素B（SEB）32位His进行定点突变,获得抑瘤效果显著增强的SEB突变体。方法：利用基因定点突变的方法,将SEB的32位His替换为Asn,将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,用CM弱阳离子层析柱纯化获得重组蛋白,用SDS-PAGE和Western印迹对其进行鉴定,并用增殖实验检测其丝裂原活性,通过MTS法检测其体外抗肿瘤活性。结果：构建并高效表达了突变体蛋白SEB（H32N）,纯化获得了足够纯度的突变体蛋白;体外实验表明,在相同浓度下,SEB（H32N）的丝裂原活性及体外抗肿瘤活性明显优于野生型SEB。结论：同野生型SEB相比,突变体蛋白SEB（H32N）对肿瘤生长的抑制作用得到了提高。     

甲型肝炎减毒活疫苗(H2株)快速繁殖株不同代次全基因序列比较

为探索甲型肝炎减毒活疫苗 (H2株 )细胞适应的分子机制 ,将甲型肝炎减毒活疫苗毒株(HAVH2K7)在人胚肺二倍体细胞KMB17上快速连续系列传代增强适应 ,繁殖周期由原来的 2 8d缩短为 14d ,连续传代后抗原滴度和感染性滴度不断增加 ,传至 2 2代抗原滴度达 1∶10 2 4 ,感染性滴度lgCCID50 (每ml)为 7 83 .分别将第 6代和第 2 2代病毒用AC PCR法和PCR法扩增 .扩增片段分别与pGEM T载体连接得到重组质粒 ,测定cDNA插入片段的序列 .对 2个不同代次全基因序列及氨基酸序列比较分析表明 ,HAVH2K7适应至第 6代时 ,整个基因组有 6个核苷酸变异 ,全部位于编码区内 ,变异率为 0 0 7% ,导致 3个氨基酸变化 ,分别位于VP2 (A S) ;2C(N H) ;3A(R C) .适应至第 2 2代时 ,整个基因组出现 18个核苷酸突变 ,变异率为 0 2 4 % ,13个是该代次产生的 ,变异最大区域 5′端非编码区 (5′UTR)有 5个核苷酸变异 .编码区突变导致 7个氨基酸变化 ,其中 4个氨基酸变化是该代次在 6代基础上特有的变异 (2C ,Q P ;3A ,A S ;3C ,T A ;3D ,V G) .2C区是编码区变异最多区域 ,共有 4个核苷酸突变 ,在 6代变异基础上出现 3个新突变 ,导致 1个氨基酸变异 .说明 5′UTR的2C区变异对病毒的翻译效率、感染性滴度提高具有重要作用 .     

基于磷脂酶水解圈定向筛选高效聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯降解酶

【目的】目前自然环境中聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(polyethylene terephthalate, PET)废弃物的积累严重威胁生态健康,因此PET的降解问题已成为全球性的热点问题。生物酶法降解PET技术以其绿色环保而备受关注,但天然PET降解酶的催化活性普遍偏低,亟待进一步定向改造。现阶段定向进化为快速提高PET降解酶催化性能提供了可能,其中筛选方法是成功获得高性能突变体的关键所在。本研究旨在提出一种新型高效灵敏的筛选方法并应用于褐色喜热裂孢菌(Thermobifida fusca)来源角质酶Tfu-0883的定向改造,以期快速获得PET降解活性提高的突变体。【方法】基于易错PCR构建突变体文库,涂布于卵黄磷脂平板,以水解圈的大小作为筛选指标获得PET降解活性提高的突变体;对突变体进行酶学定性并筛选出潜在的分子改造位点,最终获得高性能突变体。【结果】从卵黄磷脂平板中挑取水解圈直径最大的单菌落,即突变体H10(N2D/D94H/A149E),其PET降解能力是野生型的1.5倍,最适温度与pH分别为60℃和8.0。突变体H10中第2位和第149位氨基酸残基远离底物结合凹槽,其突变会导致酶蛋白稳定性下降;第94位氨基酸残基则位于底物结合凹槽附近,由负电荷氨基酸Asp突变为正电荷氨基酸His,有利于吸附在带负电荷的PET表面,是突变体H10降解能力提升的关键因素;随后将野生型的第94位氨基酸残基Asp分别突变为His及同为正电荷且空间位阻更小的Lys和Arg,突变体D94H、D94K和D94R对PET降解能力均有提升,其中,突变体D94K降解PET能力是野生型的3.6倍。【结论】本研究基于磷脂酶水解圈构建了一种新的PET降解酶定向筛选方法,以此获得了降解活性提高的突变体,并证实角质酶Tfu-0883第94位氨基酸残基位点具有提升其PET降解活性的潜在能力。     

干扰素α-2bHis89/His159的分子获得及性能分析

目的：通过结构分析和定点突变,构建干扰素α-2bHis89/His159(IFNα-2bHis89/His159),以期获得高性能干扰素突变体。方法：采用PCR体外定点突变技术,使干扰素α-2b基因的第89位密码子由编码酪氨酸的TAC突变为编码组氨酸的CAC,第159位密码子由编码谷氨酸的GAA突变为编码组氨酸的CAC。将扩增片段克隆入pET23b表达载体,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)。表达的IFNα-2bHis89/His159经包涵体变性、复性、DEAE层析和CM层析纯化后,用WISH-VSV系统进行生物活性测定。以SD大鼠进行初步药代动力学研究。结果：IFNα-2bHis89/His159主要以包涵体形式表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的40%以上。纯化后,IFNα-2bHis89/His159的纯度大于95%,比活性大于2.8×108IU/mg。相对于IFNα-2b较短的消除半衰期,IFNα-2bHis89/His159的消除半衰期得到延长,为2.34±0.27h。结论：构建了IFNα-2bHis89/His159的重组表达载体,并成功地在大肠杆菌中实现了高效表达,建立了IFNα-2bHis89/His159的纯化工艺,获得了体外活性增高并且体内稳定性得到改善的新型干扰素α-2b突变体。     

突变型人白细胞介素-2基因在巴斯德毕赤酵母中的表达

为了提高人重组白细胞介素 2的稳定性和活性以及减少毒副作用 ,有必要定向改造rhIL 2的分子结构 .用PCR法从白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )cDNA全序列中扩增成熟的肽基因片段 ,并利用定点突变技术将人重组白细胞介素 2第 12 5位游离的半胱氨酸编码序列突变为丙氨酸序列 .编码 18位亮氨酸的序列突变为蛋氨酸序列 ;编码 19位亮氨酸的序列突变为丝氨酸序列 .突变型人白细胞介素 2 (MvIL 2 )基因与表达载体pPIC9K重组 ,酶切线性化后用Invitrogen转化毕赤酵母试剂盒导入酵母细胞进行整合 ,经筛选得到一高表达白介素 2的克隆 .SDS PAGE显示 ,表达量约占总量的4 5 7% .经Western印迹验证 ,重组人白介素 2有免疫活性 ;与野生型IL 2相比 ,所获得的突变型IL 2纯品的比活性为 4 0× 10 7IU mg蛋白 ,比天然型IL 2高 4～ 5倍     

Improvement of solubility and stability of the antimicrobial peptide nisin by protein engineering.

Nisin is a 3.4-kDa antimicrobial peptide that, as a result of posttranslational modifications, contains unsaturated amino acids and lanthionine residues. It is applied as a preservative in various food products. The solubility and stability of nisin and nisin mutants have been studied. It is demonstrated that nisin mutants can be produced with improved functional properties. The solubility of nisin A is highest at low pH values and gradually decreases by almost 2 orders of magnitude when the pH of the solution exceeds a value of 7. At low pH, nisin Z exhibits a decreased solubility relative to that of nisin A; at neutral and higher pH values, the solubilities of both variants are comparable. Two mutants of nisin Z, which contain lysyl residues at positions 27 and 31, respectively, instead of Asn-27 and His-31, were produced with the aim of reaching higher solubility at neutral pH. Both mutants were purified to homogeneity, and their structures were confirmed by one- and two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. Their antimicrobial activities were found to be similar to that of nisin Z, whereas their solubilities at pH 7 increased by factors of 4 and 7, respectively. The chemical stability of nisin A was studied in the pH range of 2 to 8 and at a 20, 37, and 75 degrees C. Optimal stability was observed at pH 3.0. Nisin Z showed a behavior similar to that of nisin A. A mutant containing dehydrobutyrine at position 5 instead of dehydroalanine had lower activity but was significantly more resistant to acid-catalyzed chemical degradation than wild-type nisin Z.     

Structural determinants of Cys2His2 zinc fingers.

Two mutants of the zinc finger peptide Xfin-31 (Ac-YKCGLCERSFVEKSALSRHQRVHKN-CONH2) containing alterations to the conserved hydrophobic core have been constructed and their zinc-bound structures investigated by 1H NMR techniques. In the first (Xfin-31B) a double mutation R8F/F10G places the conserved core aromatic residue at position 8 rather than position 10. In the second (Xfin-31C), Phe-10 is replaced by Leu. A qualitative analysis of 1H chemical shifts, NOE connectivities and coupling constants indicates that the global folds of both mutants are similar to that of the wild-type protein. However, amide exchange rates suggest that the F10L mutant is much less stable than either the wild-type or the R8F/F10G mutant.     

Complete reversal of coenzyme specificity by concerted mutation of three consecutive residues in alcohol dehydrogenase

Gastric tissues from amphibian Rana perezi express the only vertebrate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH8) that is specific for NADP(H) instead of NAD(H). In the crystallographic ADH8-NADP+ complex, a binding pocket for the extra phosphate group of coenzyme is formed by ADH8-specific residues Gly223-Thr224-His225, and the highly conserved Leu200 and Lys228. To investigate the minimal structural determinants for coenzyme specificity, several ADH8 mutants involving residues 223 to 225 were engineered and kinetically characterized. Computer-assisted modeling of the docked coenzymes was also performed with the mutant enzymes and compared with the wild-type crystallographic binary complex. The G223D mutant, having a negative charge in the phosphate-binding site, still preferred NADP(H) over NAD(H), as did the T224I and H225N mutants. Catalytic efficiency with NADP(H) dropped dramatically in the double mutants, G223D/T224I and T224I/H225N, and in the triple mutant, G223D/T224I/H225N (kcat/KmNADPH = 760 mm-1 min-1), as compared with the wild-type enzyme (kcat/KmNADPH = 133330 mm-1 min-1). This was associated with a lower binding affinity for NADP+ and a change in the rate-limiting step. Conversely, in the triple mutant, catalytic efficiency with NAD(H) increased, reaching values (kcat/KmNADH = 155000 mm-1 min-1) similar to those of the wild-type enzyme with NADP(H). The complete reversal of ADH8 coenzyme specificity was therefore attained by the substitution of only three consecutive residues in the phosphate-binding site, an unprecedented achievement within the ADH family.     

Cytochrome b5 reductase: role of the si-face residues, proline 92 and tyrosine 93, in structure and catalysis

The conserved sequence motif "RxY(T)(S)xx(S)(N)" coordinates flavin binding in NADH:cytochrome b(5) reductase (cb(5)r) and other members of the flavin transhydrogenase superfamily of oxidoreductases. To investigate the roles of Y93, the third and only aromatic residue of the "RxY(T)(S)xx(S)(N)" motif, that stacks against the si-face of the flavin isoalloxazine ring, and P92, the second residue in the motif that is also in close proximity to the FAD moiety, a series of rat cb(5)r variants were produced with substitutions at either P92 or Y93, respectively. The proline mutants P92A, G, and S together with the tyrosine mutants Y93A, D, F, H, S, and W were recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. Each mutant protein was found to bind FAD in a 1:1 cofactor:protein stoichiometry while UV CD spectra suggested similar secondary structure organization among all nine variants. The tyrosine variants Y93A, D, F, H, and S exhibited varying degrees of blue-shift in the flavin visible absorption maxima while visible CD spectra of the Y93A, D, H, S, and W mutants exhibited similar blue-shifted maxima together with changes in absorption intensity. Intrinsic flavin fluorescence was quenched in the wild type, P92S and A, and Y93H and W mutants while Y93A, D, F, and S mutants exhibited increased fluorescence when compared to free FAD. The tyrosine variants Y93A, D, F, and S also exhibited greater thermolability of FAD binding. The specificity constant (k(cat)/K(m)(NADH)) for NADH:FR activity decreased in the order wild type > P92S > P92A > P92G > Y93F > Y93S > Y93A > Y93D > Y93H > Y93W with the Y93W variant retaining only 0.5% of wild-type efficiency. Both K(s)(H4NAD) and K(s)(NAD+) values suggested that Y93A, F, and W mutants had compromised NADH and NAD(+) binding. Thermodynamic measurements of the midpoint potential (E degrees ', n = 2) of the FAD/FADH(2) redox couple revealed that the potentials of the Y93A and S variants were approximately 30 mV more positive than that of wild-type cb(5)r (E degrees ' = -268 mV) while that of Y93H was approximately 30 mV more negative. These results indicate that neither P92 nor Y93 are critical for flavin incorporation in cb(5)r and that an aromatic side chain is not essential at position 93, but they demonstrate that Y93 forms contacts with the FAD that effectively modulate the spectroscopic, catalytic, and thermodynamic properties of the bound cofactor.     

Active site mutations in CheA, the signal-transducing protein kinase of the chemotaxis system in Escherichia coli.

We investigated the functional roles of putative active site residues in Escherichia coli CheA by generating nine site-directed mutants, purifying the mutant proteins, and quantifying the effects of those mutations on autokinase activity and binding affinity for ATP. We designed these mutations to alter key positions in sequence motifs conserved in the protein histidine kinase family, including the N box (H376 and N380), the G1 box (D420 and G422), the F box (F455 and F459), the G2 box (G470, G472, and G474), and the "GT block" (T499), a motif identified by comparison of CheA to members of the GHL family of ATPases. Four of the mutant CheA proteins exhibited no detectable autokinase activity (Kin(-)). Of these, three (N380D, D420N, and G422A) exhibited moderate decreases in their affinities for ATP in the presence or absence of Mg(2+). The other Kin(-) mutant (G470A/G472A/G474A) exhibited wild-type affinity for ATP in the absence of Mg(2+), but reduced affinity (relative to that of wild-type CheA) in the presence of Mg(2+). The other five mutants (Kin(+)) autophosphorylated at rates slower than that exhibited by wild-type CheA. Of these, three mutants (H376Q, D420E, and F455Y/F459Y) exhibited severely reduced k(cat) values, but preserved K(M)(ATP) and K(d)(ATP) values close to those of wild-type CheA. Two mutants (T499S and T499A) exhibited only small effects on k(cat) and K(M)(ATP). Overall, these results suggest that conserved residues in the N box, G1 box, G2 box, and F box contribute to the ATP binding site and autokinase active site in CheA, while the GT block makes little, if any, contribution. We discuss the effects of specific mutations in relation to the three-dimensional structure of CheA and to binding interactions that contribute to the stability of the complex between CheA and Mg(2+)-bound ATP in both the ground state and the transition state for the CheA autophosphorylation reaction.     

Amino acids Thr56 and Thr58 are not essential for elongation factor 2 function in yeast

Yeast elongation factor 2 is an essential protein that contains two highly conserved threonine residues, T56 and T58, that could potentially be phosphorylated by the Rck2 kinase in response to environmental stress. The importance of residues T56 and T58 for elongation factor 2 function in yeast was studied using site directed mutagenesis and functional complementation. Mutations T56D, T56G, T56K, T56N and T56V resulted in nonfunctional elongation factor 2 whereas mutated factor carrying point mutations T56M, T56C, T56S, T58S and T58V was functional. Expression of mutants T56C, T56S and T58S was associated with reduced growth rate. The double mutants T56M/T58W and T56M/T58V were also functional but the latter mutant caused increased cell death and considerably reduced growth rate. The results suggest that the physiological role of T56 and T58 as phosphorylation targets is of little importance in yeast under standard growth conditions. Yeast cells expressing mutants T56C and T56S were less able to cope with environmental stress induced by increased growth temperatures. Similarly, cells expressing mutants T56M and T56M/T58W were less capable of adapting to increased osmolarity whereas cells expressing mutant T58V behaved normally. All mutants tested were retained their ability to bind to ribosomes in vivo. However, mutants T56D, T56G and T56K were under-represented on the ribosome, suggesting that these nonfunctional forms of elongation factor 2 were less capable of competing with wild-type elongation factor 2 in ribosome binding. The presence of nonfunctional but ribosome binding forms of elongation factor 2 did not affect the growth rate of yeast cells also expressing wild-type elongation factor 2.     

Atpase activity and multimer formation of Pilq protein are required for thin pilus biogenesis in plasmid R64

Plasmid R64 pilQ gene is essential for the formation of thin pilus, a type IV pilus. The pilQ product contains NTP binding motifs and belongs to the PulE-VirB11 family of NTPases. The pilQ gene was overexpressed with an N-terminal His tag, and PilQ protein was purified. Purified His tag PilQ protein displayed ATPase activity with a V(max) of 0.71 nmol/min/mg of protein and a K(m) of 0.26 mm at pH 6.5. By gel filtration chromatography, PilQ protein was eluted at the position corresponding to 460 kDa, suggesting that PilQ protein forms a homooctamer. To analyze the relationship between structure and function of PilQ protein, amino acid substitutions were introduced within several conserved motifs. Among 11 missense mutants, 7 mutants exhibited various levels of reduced DNA transfer frequencies in liquid matings. Four mutant genes (T234I, K238Q, D263N, and H328A) were overexpressed with a His tag. The purified mutant PilQ proteins contained various levels of reduced ATPase activity. Three mutant PilQ proteins formed stable multimers similar to wild-type PilQ, whereas the PilQ D263N multimer was unstable. PilQ D263N monomer exhibited low ATPase activity, while PilQ D263N multimer did not. These results indicate that ATPase activity of the PilQ multimer is essential for R64 thin pilus biogenesis.     

In vivo glycosylation suppresses the aggregation of amyloidogenic hen egg white lysozymes expressed in yeast

The mutant hen egg white lysozymes Ile55Thr and Asp66His, corresponding to human amyloidogenic mutant lysozymes Ile56Thr and Asp67His, respectively, were secreted in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The amyloidogenic mutants (I55T and D66H) of hen egg white lysozymes were remarkably less soluble than that of the wild-type protein. To enhance the secretion of these mutants, we constructed the glycosylated amyloidogenic lysozymes (I55T/G49N and D66H/G49N) having the N-glycosylation signal sequence (Asn-X-Ser) by the substitution of glycine with asparagine at position 49. The secretion of these glycosylated mutant proteins is greatly increased in S. cerevisiae, compared with that of non-glycosylated type. Both the glycosylated mutants retained about 40% enzymatic activity when incubated at pH 7.4 for 1 h at the physiological temperature of 37 degrees C whereas the non-glycosylated proteins eventually lost all activity under these conditions. These results suggest that the glycosylated chains could mask the beta-strand of amyloidogenic lysozymes from the intermolecular cross-beta-sheet association, thus improving the solubility of amyloidogenic lysozymes.     

Effects of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S12 mutations on cell-free protein synthesis.

We examined the effects of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S12 mutations on the efficiency of cell-free protein synthesis. By screening 150 spontaneous streptomycin-resistant isolates from E. coli BL21, we successfully obtained seven mutants of the S12 protein, including two streptomycin-dependent mutants. The mutations occurred at Lys42, Lys87, Pro90 and Gly91 of the 30S ribosomal protein S12. We prepared S30 extracts from mutant cells harvested in the mid-log phase. Their protein synthesis activities were compared by measuring the yields of the active chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Higher protein production (1.3-fold) than the wild-type was observed with the mutant that replaced Lys42 with Thr (K42T). The K42R, K42N, and K42I strains showed lower activities, while the other mutant strains with Lys87, Pro90 and Pro91 did not show any significant difference from the wild-type. We also assessed the frequency of Leu misincorporation in poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis. In this assay system, almost all mutants showed higher accuracy and lower activity than the wild-type. However, K42T offered higher activity, in addition to high accuracy. Furthermore, when 14 mouse cDNA sequences were used as test templates, the protein yields of nine templates in the K42T system were 1.2-2 times higher than that of the wild-type.     

Structure of the metal-water complex in Ras x GDP studied by high-field EPR spectroscopy and 31P NMR spectroscopy

The small GTPase Ras plays a key role as a molecular switch in the intercellular signal transduction. On Mg(2+) --> Mn(2+) substituted samples, the first ligand sphere of the metal ion in the inactive, GDP-bound Ras has been studied by continuous wave EPR at 94 GHz (W-band). Via replacement of normal water with (17)O-enriched water, the (17)O--(55)Mn superhyperfine coupling was used to determine the number of water ligands bound to the metal ion. In contrast to EPR data on frozen solutions and X-ray data from single crystals where four direct ligands to the metal ion are found, the wild-type protein has only three water ligands bound in solution at room temperature. The same number of water ligands is found for the mutant Ras(T35S). However, for the alanine mutant in position 35 Ras(T35A) as well as for the oncogenic mutant Ras(G12V), four water ligands can be observed in liquid solution. The EPR studies were supplemented by (31)P NMR studies on the Mg(2+) x GDP complexes of the wild-type protein and the three mutants. Ras(T35A) exists in two conformational states (1 and 2) with an equilibrium constant K(1)(1,2) of approximately 0.49 and rate constants k(1--1) which are much smaller than 40 s(-1) at 298 K. For wild-type Ras and Ras(T35S), the two states can also be observed with equilibrium constants K(1)(1,2) of approximately 0.31 and 0.21, respectively. In Ras(G12V), only one conformational state could be detected.