代谢工程改造酿酒酵母提高法尼醇产量

【目的】法尼醇(FOH,C_(15)H_(26)O)是一种具有芳香气味的非环状倍半萜醇,被广泛应用于化妆品和医学药物的工业化生产,也可作为航空燃料的理想替代品。具有食品级安全性的酿酒酵母细胞能够合成内源性法尼醇,但其产量很低,无法满足工业生产的需要。因此,需要采用代谢工程手段,改造法尼醇合成途径,以有效提高法尼醇在酿酒酵母中的产量。【方法】以酿酒酵母工业菌株CEN.PK2-1D为底盘细胞,强化甲羟戊酸途径中关键酶的表达水平和弱化麦角固醇合成分支途径,以提高法尼醇合成所需的直接前体物质法尼基焦磷酸(FPP);并分别表达催化FPP合成法尼醇的五种内源磷酸酶和两种异源合酶,筛选能高效合成法尼醇的磷酸酶或合酶。【结果】通过在CEN.PK2-1D(法尼醇产量0.1mg/L)中强化表达甲羟戊酸途径中截短形式的HMG-CoA还原酶(tHMGR1)和FPP合酶(ERG20),使法尼醇产量提高约50.8倍,达到5.08 mg/L;使用HXT1启动子替换鲨烯合酶编码基因ERG9启动子以下调其表达水平,使法尼醇产量进一步提升47.1倍,达到239.17 mg/L。在此基础上,筛选发现,表达酿酒酵母内源性磷酸酶PAH1时,获得最高产量法尼醇,达到393.13 mg/L。【结论】采用代谢工程策略对酿酒酵母法尼醇合成途径进行改造,有效提高法尼醇产量至393.13 mg/L,为目前报道的在酿酒酵母中摇瓶培养条件下的最高产量。     

红豆杉细胞非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶基因dxr的克隆与分析

近几年的研究表明,非甲羟戊酸途径可能是紫杉醇合成的主要途径,通过对各种不同来源的非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶5-磷酸脱氧木酮糖还原异构酶(DXR)基因同源区域进行比较,设计出简并引物,利用RT-PCR技术从中国红豆杉(Taxus chinensis)悬浮细胞中扩增出535bp的基因片段。同源序列比对发现,推断的蛋白质序列与Arabidopsis thaliana(Q9XFS9)、Mentha x piperita(Q9XES0)、Synechococcus elongatus(Q8DK30)、synechocystis sp．PCC 6803(Q55663)、Nostoc sp．PCC7120(QSYP49)、Synechococcus leopoliensis(Q9RKT1)的一致性分别达到95％、94％、80％、78％、78％和73％。结合蛋白质保守区、特征区以及进化树分析,证实该基因确为dxr基因,首次报道从裸子植物中克隆到非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶的基因片段。     

代谢途径抑制剂及前体对海洋红树林内生真菌No.1403产抗肿瘤化合物1403C的影响

采用酶抑制剂法和前体喂养试验法初步研究了结构新颖的活性蒽醌化合物1403C的合成途径.研究表明,甲羟戊酸合成途径的关键酶抑制剂邻氨基苯甲酸、柠檬酸三钠对单位菌体1403C产量影响比较小;莽草酸途径关键酶氨基苯甲酸合成酶的抑制剂三甲胺在低浓度时(3、6 mmol/L)对单位菌体1403C产量没有影响,而高浓度(12 mmol/L)时由于较大程度改变发酵液pH而降低了单位菌体1403C产量;莽草酸途径中间产物莽草酸的添加对单位菌体1403C产量没有明显的影响;添加聚酮合成途径聚酮合酶的专一性抑制剂碘乙酰胺对1403C的合成产生强烈的抑制,抑制程度达94.2%;添加丙二酸对1403C的合成有较大的促进作用,单位菌体1403C产量最大增加了59.2%.乙酸钠和丙二酸混合比例为1∶ 4时对单位菌体1403C产量具有最大促进作用,最大提高量为102.7%.由此推断Halorosellinia sp.(No.1403)可能通过聚酮途径合成1403C.     

人参皂苷等萜类化合物生物合成途径及HMGR的研究进展

人参皂苷是人参的主要有效成分之一,属典型的萜类化合物。本文对萜类生物合成途径及HMG-CoA还原酶进行了综述。人参皂苷等萜类生物合成分为甲羟戊酸和丙酮酸两种途径,两者都是以异戊烯基焦磷酸为主要的中间产物。大量研究资料表明HMG-CoA还原酶是甲羟戊酸途径的第一个限速关键酶,这对人参皂苷生物合成途径及其调控的深入研究具有一定的参考价值。     

解脂耶氏酵母中羽扇豆醇合成途径的构建与调控

羽扇豆醇因其具有抗癌抗炎等生理活性而广泛应用于医药领域。本研究分别利用源自木榄和蓖麻的羽扇豆醇合酶(LUS)在解脂耶氏酵母(Yarrowia lipolytica)中构建生物合成羽扇豆醇途径(GLU-1、GLU-2),并由对该途径中关键限速酶3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶a还原酶(tHMGR)和异戊烯基二磷酸异构酶(IDI)过表达的工程菌(GLU-1M、GLU-2M)调控MVA途径,实现了羽扇豆醇在解脂耶氏酵母中从无到有的生成,其产量为11.74 mg/L。为提高其产量而构建了过表达角鲨烯合成酶(SQS)及角鲨烯氧化酶(SQE)的工程菌(GLU-1MSS),羽扇豆醇的产量达到了24.62 mg/L,较前构建的工程菌(GLU-1M)产量提高了1倍。     

几种酶活抑制剂对红曲霉色素合成的影响

红曲色素是天然安全的色素和防腐剂,根据代谢数据库选择了6种代谢途径关键酶的抑制剂,在基本培养基中考察这些抑制剂对红曲霉生长和合成色素的影响。甲羟戊酸合成途径的抑制剂邻氨基苯甲酸和3,4-二羟苯甲酸对红曲霉生长和色素生物合成都没有影响;莽草酸途径关键酶氨基苯甲酸合成酶的抑制剂三甲胺不抑制红曲霉的生长和色素的合成。在不影响红曲霉生长的浓度范围内,聚酮途径中β-酮酯酰-ACP合成酶的专性抑制剂碘乙酰胺(0.5mmol/L)抑制红曲色素合成程度达64.7%,非专性抑制剂咪唑(1mmol/L)抑制幅度达60%,聚酮途径硫酯酶的抑制剂2,4-二硝基氟苯(0.5mmol/L)强烈抑制红曲霉合成色素的活性,抑制程度达91.5%。相关酶活抑制的试验数据显示红曲霉可能经过聚酮途径合成红曲色素。     

强化乙酰辅酶A供应对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸的影响

细胞液中乙酰辅酶A的持续供应是脂肪酸高效积累的必要条件。考虑到甲羟戊酸和脂肪酸合成途径共用相同的前体乙酰辅酶A,抑制甲羟戊酸途径可能促使更多的乙酰辅酶A流向脂肪酸合成。通过添加前体物质或/和甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂以强化乙酰辅酶A的供应,即在裂殖壶菌发酵起始或/和后期添加乙酸、发酵起始添加甲羟戊酸途径酶的抑制剂辛伐他汀或柠檬酸、发酵起始同时添加乙酸和辛伐他汀或柠檬酸并考察其对裂殖壶菌合成二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA)的影响,结果发现发酵起始同时添加6mmol/L的乙酸和1μmol/L的辛伐他汀时,DHA产量最高,达到13.21g/L,比对照提高了46.61%。     

抗生素AGPM生物合成途径的初步研究

采用前体添加实验法、静息细胞培养法以及酶抑制剂法对藤黄灰链霉菌中抗生素AG PM生物合成途径进行了初步探讨。研究表明能转化成聚酮合成所需活性前体的氨基酸如异亮氨酸、缬氨酸、蛋氨酸、谷氨酸等以及短链脂肪酸乙酸、丙酸、丁酸盐对抗生素AGPM合成均有明显促进作用 ;另外 ,在培养基中添加脂肪酸和聚酮生物合成途径的专一性抑制剂浅蓝菌素 (2 5μg mL)或脂肪酸合成抑制剂碘乙酰胺 (0 5mmol L)时 ,菌体生长不受影响 ,而抗生素AGPM合成受到强烈抑制 ,分别为对照的 35 3 %和 2 6 2 % ;     

红豆杉细胞非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶基因dxr的克隆与分析

近几年的研究表明,非甲羟戊酸途径可能是紫杉醇合成的主要途径,通过对各种不同来源的非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶5_磷酸脱氧木酮糖还原异构酶（DXR）基因同源区域进行比较,设计出简并引物,利用RT_PCR技术从中国红豆杉（Taxus chinensis）悬浮细胞中扩增出535bp的基因片段。同源序列比对发现,推断的蛋白质序列与Arabidopsis thaliana (Q9XFS9)、Mentha x piperita (Q9XES0)、Synechococcus elongatus (Q8DK30)、Synechocystissp. PCC 6803 (Q55663)、Nostocsp. PCC 7120 (Q8YP49)、Synechococcus leopoliensis (Q9RKT1)的一致性分别达到95%、94%、80%、78%、78%和73%。结合蛋白质保守区、特征区以及进化树分析,证实该基因确为dxr基因,首次报道从裸子植物中克隆到非甲羟戊酸途径关键酶的基因片段。     

植物类萜生物合成途径及关键酶的研究进展

萜类化合物是植物中广泛存在的一类代谢产物,在植物的生长、发育过程中起着重要的作用。植物中的萜类化合物有两条合成途径:甲羟戊酸途径和5-磷酸脱氧木酮糖/2C-甲基4-磷酸-4D-赤藓糖醇途径。这两条途径中都存在一系列调控萜类化合物生成、结构和功能各异的酶,其中关键酶的作用决定了下游萜类化合物的产量。植物类萜生物合成途径的调控以及该途径中关键酶的研究已成为目前国内外生物学领域的一大热点。综述了植物类萜生物合成途径和参与该途径的关键酶及其基因工程的研究进展,并展望了其应用前景。     

Source of isopentenyl diphosphate for taxol and baccatin III biosynthesis in cell cultures of Taxus baccata

To achieve a better understanding of the metabolism and accumulation of taxol and baccatin III in cell cultures of Taxus, three cell lines (I, II and III) of T. baccata were treated (on day 7) with several concentrations of fosmidomycin (100, 200 and 300 μM), an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate branch of the terpenoid pathway, or mevinolin (1, 3 and 5 μM), an inhibitor of the mevalonate branch, in both cases in presence and absence of 100 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJ). They were compared with lines treated only with the elicitor MeJ as well as an untreated control with respect to growth, viability and production of taxol and baccatin III. The results show that the cell line type was an important variable, mainly for taxane accumulation. The blocking effect of fosmidomycin on taxane production was significantly greater than that of mevinolin in all the cell lines, clearly suggesting that the isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) used for the taxane ring formation was mainly formed via the non-mevalonate pathway. However, the significant reduction in the content of taxol (on average 3.8-fold) and baccatin III (on average 4.3-fold) in line I when treated with the elicitor together with mevinolin concentrations of 5 and 1 μM, respectively, also suggests that both non-mevalonate and mevalonate pathways are involved in the biosynthesis of the two taxanes as a result of cytosolic IPP and/or other prenyl diphosphate transport to the plastids. The observation that the inhibitory effect of fosmidomycin or mevilonin on taxol and baccatinn III yield does not interfere with methyl jasmonate elicitation is discussed.     

Evidence of artemisinin production from IPP stemming from both the mevalonate and the nonmevalonate pathways

The potent antimalarial sesquiterpene lactone, artemisinin, is produced in low quantities by the plant Artemisia annua L. The source and regulation of the isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) used in the biosynthesis of artemisinin has not been completely characterized. Terpenoid biosynthesis occurs in plants via two IPP-generating pathways: the mevalonate pathway in the cytosol, and the non-mevalonate pathway in plastids. Using inhibitors specific to each pathway, it is possible to resolve which supplies the IPP precursor to the end product. Here, we show the effects of inhibition on the two pathways leading to IPP for artemisinin production in plants. We grew young (7–14 days post cotyledon) plants in liquid culture, and added mevinolin to the medium to inhibit the mevalonate pathway, or fosmidomycin to inhibit the non-mevalonate pathway. Artemisinin levels were measured after 7–14 days incubation, and production was significantly reduced by each inhibitor compared to controls, thus, it appears that IPP from both pathways is used in artemisinin production. Also when grown in miconazole, an inhibitor of sterol biosynthesis, there was a significant increase in artemisinin compared to controls suggesting that carbon was shifted from sterols into sesquiterpenes. Collectively these results indicate that artemisinin is probably biosynthesized from IPP pools from both the plastid and the cytosol, and that carbon from competing pathways can be channeled toward sesquiterpenes. This information will help advance our understanding of the regulation of in planta production of artemisinin.     

PEG and ABA trigger methyl jasmonate accumulation to induce the MEP pathway and increase tanshinone production in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots

Tanshinones, a group of active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza, are derived from at least two biosynthetic pathways, which are the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in the cytosol and the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids. Abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) are two well-known plant hormones induced by water stress. In this study, effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), ABA and MJ on tanshinone production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were investigated, and the role of MJ in PEG- and ABA-induced tanshinone production was further elucidated. The results showed that tanshinone production was significantly enhanced by treatments with PEG, ABA and MJ. The mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A reductase (HMGR), 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS), as well as the enzyme activities of HMGR and DXS were stimulated by all three treatments. PEG and ABA triggered MJ accumulation. Effects of PEG and ABA on tanshinone production were completely abolished by the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor [tungstate (TUN)] and the MJ biosynthesis inhibitor [ibuprofen (IBU)], while effects of MJ were almost unaffected by TUN. In addition, MJ-induced tanshinone production was completely abolished by the MEP pathway inhibitor [fosmidomycin (FOS)], but was just partially arrested by the MVA pathway inhibitor [mevinolin (MEV)]. In conclusion, a signal transduction model was proposed that exogenous applications of PEG and ABA triggered endogenous MJ accumulation by activating ABA signaling pathway to stimulate tanshinone production, while exogenous MJ could directly induce tanshinone production mainly via the MEP pathway in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots.     

Inhibition of paclitaxel and baccatin III accumulation by mevinolin and fosmidomycin in suspension cultures of Taxus baccata

To achieve a better understanding of the metabolism and accumulation of paclitaxel and baccatin III in cell cultures of Taxus, inhibitors of the early steps in the terpenoid pathway were applied to a cell suspension culture of Taxus baccata: fosmidomycin as an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate branch of the pathway, and mevinolin as an inhibitor of the mevalonate branch. Synthesis of both taxanes in the cell suspension was first increased when cultured in the product formation medium supplemented with methyljasmonate (100 microM). The product formation medium was selected after assaying 24 different culture media. When fosmidomycin (200 microM) was added to the product formation medium together with the elicitor, the accumulation of paclitaxel and baccatin III was reduced by up to 3.0 and 1.5 times, respectively, whereas the inhibitory effect of mevinolin (1 microM) was only clearly exerted in the case of paclitaxel. Under the conditions of our experiment, we conclude that in the synthesis of both taxanes, the non-mevalonate pathway is the main source of the universal terpenoid precursor isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP).     

Salicylic acid-induced taxol production and isopentenyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis in suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis var. mairei

The influences of salicylic acid (SA) on taxol production and isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) biosynthesis pathways in suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis var. mairei were investigated by adding SA and mevastatin (MVS), a highly specific inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase in the mevalonate pathway for IPP biosynthesis, into the culture systems. The cell death and taxol production were induced upon the introduction of SA, and 20mg/l was proved to be the optimal SA concentration in terms of the less damage to Taxus cells and marked activation of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). In the coexistence of SA (20mg/l) and MVS (100 nmol/l), the taxol content (1.626 mg/g dry wt) was higher than that (0.252 mg/g dry wt) of the MVS-treated system but almost equal to that (1.581 mg/g dry wt) of the SA-treated system. It is thus inferred that the activated non-mevalonate pathway should be responsible for the formation of IPP in taxol biosynthesis in the presence of SA.     

Mevalonic acid partially restores chloroplast and etioplast development in Arabidopsis lacking the non-mevalonate pathway

Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) is produced via two independent biosynthetic pathways in higher plants: the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in the cytoplasm and the non-mevalonate 2-C-methyl- D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in plastids. It has been previously suggested that IPP or IPP-derived products can be exchanged between the cytoplasm and plastids. However, the issue of whether the exchanged products reflect efficient synthesis of functional isoprenoids remains unresolved. We fed exogenous mevalonic acid to the Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. albino mutant cla1-1, a null mutant of the first-step enzyme in the MEP pathway. This resulted in the recovery of thylakoid membrane stacking in chloroplasts in the light, and the formation of prolamellar bodies and plastoglobuli in etioplasts in the dark. By contrast, exogenous lovastatin, an inhibitor of mevalonic acid biosynthesis, induced complete depigmentation and further inhibition of plastid development in both the light and the dark. These results suggest that mevalonic acid-derived products contribute to the formation of functional plastidic isoprenoids, such as the chlorophylls and carotenoids required for plastid development.     

A second target of the antimalarial and antibacterial agent fosmidomycin revealed by cellular metabolic profiling

Antimicrobial drug resistance is an urgent problem in the control and treatment of many of the world's most serious infections, including Plasmodium falciparum malaria, tuberculosis, and healthcare-associated infections with Gram-negative bacteria. Because the non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis is essential in eubacteria and P. falciparum and this pathway is not present in humans, there is great interest in targeting the enzymes of non-mevalonate metabolism for antibacterial and antiparasitic drug development. Fosmidomycin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent currently in clinical trials of combination therapies for the treatment of malaria. In vitro, fosmidomycin is known to inhibit the deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) enzyme of isoprenoid biosynthesis from multiple pathogenic organisms. To define the in vivo metabolic response to fosmidomycin, we developed a novel mass spectrometry method to quantitate six metabolites of non-mevalonate isoprenoid metabolism from complex biological samples. Using this technique, we validate that the biological effects of fosmidomycin are mediated through blockade of de novo isoprenoid biosynthesis in both P. falciparum malaria parasites and Escherichia coli bacteria: in both organisms, metabolic profiling demonstrated a block of isoprenoid metabolism following fosmidomycin treatment, and growth inhibition due to fosmidomycin was rescued by media supplemented with isoprenoid metabolites. Isoprenoid metabolism proceeded through DXR even in the presence of fosmidomycin but was inhibited at the level of the downstream enzyme, methylerythritol phosphate cytidyltransferase (IspD). Overexpression of IspD in E. coli conferred fosmidomycin resistance, and fosmidomycin was found to inhibit IspD in vitro. This work has validated fosmidomycin as a biological reagent for blocking non-mevalonate isoprenoid metabolism and suggests a second in vivo target for fosmidomycin within isoprenoid biosynthesis, in two evolutionarily diverse pathogens.     

Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway enhances carvacrol biosynthesis and DXR gene expression in shoot cultures of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad

Carvacrol is a major component of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (≤90%) that has significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Considering the specific capabilities of S. khuzistanica to produce highly pure carvacrol, this plant is an important potential source of carvacrol that could address the abundant consumption and increasing demand for this monoterpene in current world markets. This research was performed to better understand the process of biosynthesis and accumulation of carvacrol in S. khuzistanica. Tests were performed on shoot cultures of S. khuzistanica in Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium treated with different concentrations of fosmidomycin (an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate pathway) and mevinolin (an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway) for 21 days at the following concentrations: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM. The present study demonstrated that the MEP pathway is the major pathway that provides IPP for the biosynthesis of carvacrol, and the expression and activity levels of the DXR enzyme have a critical effect on carvacrol biosynthesis. Surprisingly, Mevinolin at concentrations of 75 and 100 μM increased the carvacrol content and the DXR activity and gene expression in S. khuzistanica plantlets.     

红豆杉细胞稳定生产紫杉醇中的同步化协同诱导作用

同步化协同诱导可以稳定提高曼地亚红豆杉细胞培养物中紫杉醇含量。细胞培养周期第8d的低温同步化处理可促使细胞达到最高同步化率（20.4%）,而茉莉酸甲酯（MJ）的协同诱导可提高紫杉醇产量,使紫杉醇产量最高值达到54.7mg·L^-1。在细胞生长周期第8d,未经低温同步化的红豆杉细胞中的关键酶基因DXR、HMGR、GGPPS和DBAT的表达量在MJ诱导24h后均迅速下降,但在低温同步化的细胞中紫杉醇表达量下降缓慢,60h后仍维持较高的水平。低温同步化和MJ协同诱导的红豆杉细胞中,紫杉醇合成关键酶基因高效稳定的表达可能是引起紫杉醇产量稳定提高的原因之一。