一种水稻蛋白酶抑制剂基因的克隆及其结构分析

参照水稻蛋白酶抑制剂部分氨基酸序列 ,利用水稻偏爱密码子设计引物 ,经 PCR扩增 ,从我国水稻 (Oryza sativa)品种“中花 8号”中克隆到一个长 40 8bp的基因。序列测定和分析表明 ,克隆到的是一个未见报道的新的水稻蛋白酶抑制剂基因 ,该基因编码了一个由 1 33个氨基酸组成 ,具有重复双功能结构域和以抑制胰蛋白酶为主的活性中心的包曼 -伯克 (Bowman- Birk)型蛋白酶抑制剂 ,该基因推导的氨基酸序列与大麦、小麦、豆类等的某些蛋白酶抑制剂的氨基酸序列具有较高的同源性 ,与该家族的水稻的一种胰蛋白酶抑制剂氨基酸全序列同源性高达 75%。     

普通烟草K^＋通道基因NKT4的克隆、序列和表达分析

通过比对拟南芥、胡萝卜、番茄和马铃薯的K+通道氨基酸序列得到了保守序列,设计1对简并引物,利用RT-PCR获得3条490bp的普通烟草K+通道基因中间片段.以其中一条中间片段设计特异性引物,应用RACE方法得到5′末端和3′末端cDNA序列.通过拼接并结合全长克隆及测序验证,获得一个未报道的普通烟草K+通道基因,并将其命名为NKT4(GenBank登录号为FJ233071).NKT4的cDNA全长为2937bp,其中5′非编码区45bp、编码区2679bp、3′非编码区213bp;编码区编码892个AA.构建了一个烟草、拟南芥及相关植物K+通道蛋白的系统进化树.基因表达分析表明,NKT4主要在烟草主根和侧根中表达,在烟草叶中也有少量表达.     

紫花苜蓿果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶基因全长克隆及分析

根据已知的与盐胁迫相关的EST序列,采用SMART RACE方法克隆了紫花苜蓿果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶(ALD)全长cDNA,命名为MsALD(GenBank accession No.FJ896113).序列分析结果表明,该cDNA全长1 487 bp,包含一个1 194 bp的最大开放阅读框,编码398个氨基酸.经同源比对和进化树分析,MsALD基因编码的氨基酸与红三叶草、马铃薯、烟草等的果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶(ALD)氨基酸序列一致性高达90%以上,确定其属于第Ⅰ类果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶.半定量RT-PCR分析表明,MsALD基因可能与紫花苜蓿抗盐机理相关.     

野生种马铃薯PHYA基因cDNA的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术从野生种马铃薯（Solanum pinnatisectum Dun）中克隆到1个光敏色素基因PHYA,其cDNA全长为3466bp,含有一个3 372bp的完整开放阅读框,编码一条长1123个氨基酸的蛋白,分子量为125kDa,等电点为5．8-该基因编码的蛋白序列与栽培种马铃薯、番茄和烟草基因编码的氧基酸序列同源性分别为96％、94％和91％。半定量RT-PCR分析表明,PHYA在根、茎和芽中的表达量较高;光对PHYA表达的作用在地上部器官中表现为抑制,而在地下部器官中则促进。     

野生种马铃薯SpPHYB基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术从野生种马铃薯中克隆到一个光敏色素基因PHYB,其cDNA全长为3470bp。含有一个3393 bp的完整开放阅读框,编码一条长1130个氨基酸的蛋白,分子量为125kDa,等电点为5.6。该基因编码的蛋白序列与栽培种马铃薯、番茄和烟草同源基因编码的氨基酸序列一致性分别为98%、95%、92%,命名为SpPHYB.半定量PCR分析表明,根、茎、叶和芽中SpPHYB表达水平较高且相似,但在花和块茎成熟器官中表达量稍低.     

烟草黄酮醇合成酶基因的克隆及其序列分析

根据已知的黄酮醇合成酶cDNA保守序列设计引物,用RT-PCR技术从烟草叶片中扩增获得黄酮醇合成酶cDNA片段,再用RACE方法得到其两端序列。根据获得的序列,设计引物分离得到完整的1188bp的黄酮醇合成酶基因,其开放阅读框编码346个氨基酸。序列分析显示,烟草黄酮醇合成酶与高杯花、矮牵牛和马铃薯的同源性分别为87％、86％和84％,与其它物种中的同源性也在80％左右,表明不同物种中黄酮醇合成酶基因具有高度同源性。此外,在氨基酸水平上,该酶与其它依赖于2-酮戊二酸的双加氧酶及其相关酶也具有同源性。     

宁夏枸杞DFR基因的克隆与序列分析

根据已报道植物二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶(dihydroflavonol 4-reductase,DFR)基因cDNA序列的保守区域设计引物,对宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)DFR基因进行克隆及序列分析.结果表明,宁夏枸杞DFR基因cDNA全长1140个碱基,有一个1116个核苷酸的开放阅读框,编码一个长372个氨基酸的蛋白质;氨基酸序列的聚类分析显示,宁夏枸杞LbDFR1与马铃薯、烟草、蕃茄等茄科植物的DFR亲缘关系较近,其中与马铃薯DFR亲缘关系最近,相似性为92％;通过编码蛋白的三级结构预测,该蛋白为单体模式,具有酶学的生物特征;宁夏枸杞LbDFR1在宁夏枸杞的根、茎、叶等组织中广泛表达,为组成表达型基因.     

马铃薯Alfin1-like锌指蛋白基因克隆与序列分析

利用紫花苜蓿盐胁迫相关锌指结构蛋白Alfin1基因cDNA序列,通过电子克隆在GenBank中对马铃薯同源EST序列进行查询比较和拼接,获得了1个含有完整编码区的cDNA序列,并通过RT-PCR成功获得了该序列.获得的全长cDNA序列中包含1个747 bp的最大读码框,编码248个氨基酸,将其命名为Stfin1.氨基酸序列分析表明存在典型的Cys4-His-Cys3锌指结构,与Alfin1一致性达93.09%.从结构分析结果推测Stfin1与Alfin1在功能上具有一定的相关性.     

金银花黄酮醇合成酶基因全长克隆及其序列分析

根据已知的其它物种黄酮醇合成酶cDNA保守序列设计引物,用RT-PCR技术从金银花叶片中扩增获得黄酮醇合成酶基因部分eDNA序列,再用RACE技术获得其两端序列.序列拼接得到完整的1 248bp的黄酮醇合成酶基因,根据获得的序列,设计引物扩增获得1 001 bp的开放阅读框,编码333个氨基酸.序列分析显示,金银花黄酮醇合成酶与烟草、马铃薯和桔梗的同源性分别为86％、83％和80％,与其它物种的同源性也在80％左右,表明不同物种中黄酮醇合成酶基因具有高度同源性.     

竹叶青蛇毒丝氨酸蛋白酶的分子克隆和序列比较

利用逆转录酶与聚合酶链反应相结合的RT—PCR法,扩增出5个竹叶青(Trimeresurus stejnegeri)蛇毒丝氨酸蛋白酶的cDNAs;将扩增的cDNA片段克隆入pGEM-T载体中,筛选得到它们的基因,分别命名为TSSP-1、TSSP-2、TSSP-3、TSSP-4和TSSP-5。经末端终止法测定核苷酸序列,推导出5个丝氨酸蛋白酶的全序列;结合纯化的蛋白酶N-末端序列测定结果,推导TSSP-2、-3和-4分别编码凝血酶样酶stejnobin、纤溶酶stejnefibrase 1和2。5个丝氨酸蛋白酶分别含有1～6个N-型糖基结合位点,表明它们的计算分子量与纯化蛋白表观分子量之间的差异是由糖含量的不同造成,而其氨基酸序列相似度在60％～90％。TSSP-1和-2编码的成熟蛋白酶由236个氨基酸残基组成,TSSP-3、-4和-5的则由234个氨基酸残基组成。TSSP-1编码的蛋白酶在组成丝氨酸蛋白酶三联体催化活性中心产生了His^41-Arg^41的天然突变,这与其他自然界已发现的丝氨酸蛋白酶明显不同。     

Proteinase inhibitors from Nicotiana alata enhance plant resistance to insect pests

The ornamental tobacco (Nicotiana alata) produces one 6-kDa chymotrypsin inhibitor and four 6-kDa trypsin inhibitors from a single 40.3-kDa precursor protein. Three different approaches have been used to assess the potential of these proteinase inhibitors (PIs) in insect control. The first was an in-vitro approach in which all five inhibitors, the single chymotrypsin inhibitor or three of the four trypsin inhibitors were tested for their ability to inhibit gut protease activity in insects from four orders. The second approach was to incorporate the N. alata PIs in the artificial diet of the native budworm (Helicoverpa punctigera) and the black field cricket (Teleogryllus commodus). H. punctigera larvae and T. commodus nymphs had a significant (P<0.01) reduction in growth after ingestion of the PI and were more lethargic than insects on the control diet. Several of the H. punctigera larvae also failed to complete moulting at the third or fourth instar. The third approach was to express the N. alata PIs in transgenic tobacco under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter. When H. punctigera larvae were fed tobacco leaves expressing the N. alata PIs at 0.2% soluble protein, significant (P<0.01) differences in mortality and/or growth rate were observed.     

Amino acid substitutions in Gag protein at non-cleavage sites are indispensable for the development of a high multitude of HIV-1 resistance against protease inhibitors.

Amino acid substitutions in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag cleavage sites have been identified in HIV-1 isolated from patients with AIDS failing chemotherapy containing protease inhibitors (PIs). However, a number of highly PI-resistant HIV-1 variants lack cleavage site amino acid substitutions. In this study we identified multiple novel amino acid substitutions including L75R, H219Q, V390D/V390A, R409K, and E468K in the Gag protein at non-cleavage sites in common among HIV-1 variants selected against the following four PIs: amprenavir, JE-2147, KNI-272, and UIC-94003. Analyses of replication profiles of various mutant clones including competitive HIV-1 replication assays demonstrated that these mutations were indispensable for HIV-1 replication in the presence of PIs. When some of these mutations were reverted to wild type amino acids, such HIV-1 clones failed to replicate. However, virtually the same Gag cleavage pattern was seen, indicating that the mutations affected Gag protein functions but not their cleavage sensitivity to protease. These data strongly suggest that non-cleavage site amino acid substitutions in the Gag protein recover the reduced replicative fitness of HIV-1 caused by mutations in the viral protease and may open a new avenue for designing PIs that resist the emergence of PI-resistant HIV-1.     

A novel proteinase inhibitor gene transiently induced by tobacco mosaic virus infection

A gene (NgPI) encoding a novel proteinase inhibitor (PI) has been isolated from tobacco leaves. Protein encoded by the gene consists of 241 amino acid residues having a predicted molecular mass of 26.7 kDa and a calculated pI of 8.7. A predicted N-terminal signal sequence followed by a vacuolar targeting signal and a peptide conserved in the Kunitz type PIs were identified. The deduced NgPI protein has sequence homology with aspartic and cysteine protease inhibitors. The gene is present as double copies in the Nicotiana glutinosa genome. Expression of the NgPI gene is rapidly and transiently induced by tobacco mosaic virus infection at a time earlier than apparent lesions of hypersensitive responses appear on the leaves.     

Diverse forms of Pin-II family proteinase inhibitors from Capsicum annuum adversely affect the growth and development of Helicoverpa armigera

Novel forms of Pin-II type proteinase inhibitor (PIs) cDNAs (CanPIs) having three or four inhibitory repeat domains (IRD) were isolated from the developing green fruits of Capsicum annuum. Deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the CanPIs showed up to 15% sequence divergence among each other or reported inhibitors (CanPI-1AF039398, CanPI-2AF221097). Amino acid sequence analysis of these CanPIs revealed that three IRD PIs have trypsin inhibitory sites, while four IRD CanPIs have both trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory sites. Four CanPIs, two having three IRD (CanPI-3AY986465 and CanPI-5DQ005912) and two having four IRD (CanPI-7DQ005913 and CanPI-9DQ005915), were cloned in Pichia pastoris to express recombinant CanPIs. Recombinant CanPIs inhibited 90% of bovine trypsin (TI), while chymotrypsin inhibition (CI) varied with the number of chymotrypsin inhibitory sites in the CanPIs. Recombinant inhibitors inhibited over 70% of the gut proteinase activity of Helicoverpa armigera. H. armigera larvae fed on recombinant CanPIs individually incorporated into artificial diet, showed 35% mortality; in addition, weight gain in H. armigera larvae and pupae was severely reduced compared to controls. Of the four CanPIs, CanPI-7, which has two sites for TI and CI, was the only one to have a consistently antagonistic effect on H. armigera growth and development. We conclude that among the four recombinant PIs tested, CanPIs containing diverse IRDs are best suited for developing insect-resistant transgenic plants.     

Three hydroxyproline-rich glycopeptides derived from a single petunia polyprotein precursor activate defensin I, a pathogen defense response gene

Hydroxyproline-rich glycopeptides (HypSys peptides) are recently discovered 16-20-amino acid defense signals in tobacco and tomato leaves that are derived from cell wall-associated precursors. The peptides are powerful wound signals that activate the expression of defensive genes in tobacco and tomato leaves in response to herbivore attacks. We have isolated a cDNA from petunia (Petunia hybrida) leaves encoding a putative protein of 214 amino acids that is a homolog of tobacco and tomato HypSys peptide precursors and is inducible by wounding and MeJA. The deduced protein contains a leader sequence and four predicted proline-rich peptides of 18-21 amino acids. Three of the four peptides were isolated from leaves, and each peptide contained hydroxylated prolines and glycosyl residues. Each of the peptides has a -GR- motif at its N terminus, indicating that it may be the substrate site for a processing enzyme. The peptides were active in a petunia suspension culture bioassay at nanomolar concentrations, but they did not induce the expression of defense genes that are directed against herbivores, as found in tobacco and tomato leaves. They did, however, activate expression of defensin 1, a gene associated with inducible defense responses against pathogens.     

Chloroplastic glutamine synthetase from tobacco leaves: a glycosylated protein

The amino acid and carbohydrate content of chloroplastic glutamine synthetase from tobacco leaves has been analysed. The enzyme subunit contanins 5% carbohydrate, mainly represented by glucosamine, galactosamine, glucose, galactose and mannose residues. The enzyme subunit displayed a single band of molecular mass 44000 Da after sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) electrophoresis. However, when isoelectrofocussing electrophoresis was performed, four subunits were evident differing by their charge. Furthermore, the four different subunits stained positively when tested with periodic acid Shiff reagent, showing that sugars and amino sugars were present within all the subunits.     

Structural and sequence diversity of the pathogenicity island of uropathogenic Escherichia coli which encodes the USP protein

A total of 321 uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains and 12 strains of E. coli isolated from stool samples of healthy individuals, which were previously shown to be positive in colony hybridization test using the usp (encoding for the uropathogenic-specific protein) DNA probe, were examined by PCR amplification to determine the size of the usp gene and the pathogenicity island (PI). Three types of size variation were observed for the usp gene and four types for the PI. Sequencing analysis of the PIs from seven representative strains (six UPEC and one from a normal healthy individual) revealed that the usp genes can be classified into two groups, each having different sequences in the 3'-terminal region. The peptides encoded by the three open reading frames (ORFs) downstream of usp had identical 23 amino acid residues in the C-terminal region. The subregion encoding these small ORFs has a mosaic structure constituted of six segments. The positions of these segments vary from strain to strain, and in some strains, two to four segments are deleted. This indicates that rearrangements occur frequently in this region and the mosaic arrangement apparently contributes to the size variation observed in the PCR examination of the usp genes and PIs.     

Tissue-specific,light-regulated and plastid-regulated expression of the single-copy nuclear gene encoding the chloroplast Rieske FeS protein of Arabidopsis thaliana

The single-copy PetC gene encoding the chloroplast Rieske FeS protein of Arabidopsis thaliana consists of five exons interrupted by four introns and encodes a protein of 229 amino acid residues with extensive sequence similarity to the chloroplast Rieske proteins of other higher plants. The N-terminal 50 amino acid residues constitute a presequence for targeting to the chloroplast and the remaining 179 amino acid residues make up the mature protein. Three of the introns are in identical positions in the PetC gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, suggesting that they are of ancient origin. RNA-blot hybridisation showed that the gene was expressed in shoots, but not roots, and was light regulated and repressed by sucrose. The expression of chimeric genes consisting of PetC promoter fragments fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was examined in A. thaliana and tobacco. In A. thaliana, GUS activity was detected in leaves, stems, flowers and siliques, but not in roots, and showed a strong correlation with the presence of chloroplasts. In transgenic tobacco, low levels of GUS activity were also detected in light-exposed roots. GUS activity in transgenic tobacco seedlings was light regulated and was decreased by norflurazon in the light suggesting regulation of PetC expression by plastid signals.     

The primary structure of ribosomal protein L2 from Bacillus stearothermophilus

The complete amino acid sequence of ribosomal protein L2 from the moderate thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus has been determined. This has been achieved by the sequence analysis of peptides derived by enzymatic digestion with Staphylococcus aureus protease, trypsin and chymotrypsin, as well as by chemical cleavage with o-iodosobenzoic acid. The protein contains 275 amino acid residues and has a calculated molecular mass of 30201 Da. Comparison of this sequence with sequences of the corresponding proteins from Escherichia coli and from spinach and tobacco chloroplasts reveals that 60% of the residues of protein L2 from B. stearothermophilus are identical to those of the protein from E. coli and 45% are identical to those found in the two chloroplast proteins. There are extended regions of totally conserved sequence at positions 54-58 (GGGHK), 81-86 (EYDPNR), and 224-230 (MNPVDHP) in all four proteins.