苜蓿中华根瘤菌fabA和fabB基因功能的鉴定

在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)脂肪酸合成酶体系中,fabA基因编码有双功能的3-羟基脂酰ACP脱水异构酶,其异构产物能被fabB基因编码的3-酮基脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅰ延伸,合成不饱和脂肪酸,该FabA-FabB途径被认为是缺氧条件下不饱和脂肪酸合成的经典途径．生物信息学分析发现,苜蓿中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium meliloti)的SmFabA与EcFabA相似性达到60.6%,具有相同的保守活性位点和两个保守的α螺旋结构;SmFabB与EcFabB相似性达到61.1%,具有相同的Cys-His-His活性中心．用携带SmfabA和SmfabB的质粒载体遗传互补大肠杆菌温度敏感突变株CY57和CY242,在添加三氯森(TCL)抑制烯脂酰ACP还原酶活性的条件下,转化子能在42℃恢复生长,且放射性薄层层析能检测到转化子中不饱和脂肪酸棕榈油酸(Δ9C16:1)和十八碳烯酸(Δ11C18:1)的合成．体外重建脂肪酸合成反应表明,SmFabA能催化羟脂酰ACP的脱水反应且能够使反-2-癸烯酰ACP异构化,SmFabB能催化不同链长的脂酰ACP和丙二酸单酰ACP的聚合反应．另外,未得到SmFabA和SmFabB的突变株,表明SmFabA和SmFabB可能是苜蓿中华根瘤菌脂肪酸合成酶系中必不可少的关键蛋白．上述结果证实了苜蓿中华根瘤菌fabA和fabB两个基因在不饱和脂肪酸合成中的功能．     

粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis)β酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅱ同源蛋白功能分析

FabB 和FabF是大肠杆菌(Escherichia. coli)脂肪酸合成的关键酶. 生物信息学分析显示，粪肠球菌基因组中有2个与大肠杆菌fabF同源的基因：fabF1和fabF2，缺少与fabB同源的基因. 用粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis)V583总DNA为模板，PCR扩增 fabF1和 fabF2基因， 以pBAD24为载体，构建了重组质粒pHW13(fabF1)和pHW14(fabF2). 体内体外研究显示： fabF1基因能互补大肠杆菌fabB突变， FabF1具有β酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅰ(FabB)活性；fabF2能互补大肠杆菌fabF突变，FabF2 具有β酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅱ(FabF)活性. 同时发现粪肠球菌FabF2不同于大肠杆菌FabF，它还拥有微弱β酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅰ(FabB)活性，可使大肠杆菌fabB突变株产生少量的不饱和脂肪酸. 上述结果表明，FabF类酶 (FabF like enzyme) 同样可以具有β酮脂酰ACP合成酶Ⅰ(FabB) 活性.     

流产布氏杆菌烯脂酰ACP还原酶的鉴定

烯脂酰ACP还原酶是细菌脂肪酸合成的关键酶之一．流产布氏杆菌基因组有2个注释为烯脂酰ACP还原酶基因fabI的同源基因：fabI1和fabI2．由这2个fabI同源基因编码的蛋白质分别与大肠杆菌FabI有50%和51%的同源性,且都拥有与大肠杆菌FabI一样的催化中心Tyr-(Xaa)₆-Lys序列．分别用携带这2个同源基因的质粒载体转化大肠杆菌fabI温度敏感突变菌株JP1111．转化子能在42℃生长,表明这2个基因均能遗传互补大肠杆菌fabI突变,并使此菌株恢复脂肪酸的合成．另外,体外酶学分析显示,由这2个同源基因编码的蛋白质都拥有烯脂酰ACP还原酶活性,均能参与细菌脂肪酸合成．上述结果证实,流产布氏杆菌同时拥有2个同种类型的烯脂酰ACP还原酶,是一种新的烯脂酰ACP多样性的表现．     

过表达乙酰辅酶A乙酰基转移酶2基因(RKAcat2)对红冬孢酵母产类胡萝卜素的影响

[背景] 乙酰辅酶A乙酰基转移酶（Acetyl Coenzyme A Acyltransferase,Acat）是硫解酶家族的一员,分为I型和II型,而II型作为甲羟戊酸（Mevalonate,MVA）途径的第一个限速酶,其表达水平和催化活性会影响萜类及其衍生物的合成量。[目的] 分析Acat II型基因的过表达对红冬孢酵母产类胡萝卜素的影响。[方法] 从红冬孢酵母YM25235菌株中克隆编码Acat II型的基因RKAcat2,将其回转到红冬孢酵母YM25235菌株中,构建一株RKAcat2基因过表达菌株进行分析。[结果] 与对照菌株相比,RKAcat2基因过表达使YM25235菌株中类胡萝卜素含量提高了50.53%,而菌株中油脂含量降低了22.80%,脂肪酸组成中油酸含量显著下降了17.78%,而且菌株中乙酰辅酶A （Coenzyme A,CoA）的含量也下降了13.64%。[结论] 过表达RKAcat2基因促进更多乙酰CoA进入MVA途径中,从而提高了类胡萝卜素的合成水平,这与部分MVA途径和类胡萝卜素合成途径中基因的转录分析结果一致。研究结果可为进一步通过代谢工程手段提高产油红酵母中类胡萝卜素及其特定组分含量的研究提供参考。     

卡伍尔氏链霉菌NA4生物合成巴弗洛霉素前体甲氧基丙二酰ACP来源的研究

巴弗洛霉素（bafilomycin）是一类由I型聚酮合成酶装配合成的具有十六元大环内酯骨架的化合物,是研发农药和医药的良好母体。深海来源的卡伍尔氏链霉菌(Streptomyces cavourensis) NA4能产生巴弗洛霉素,而较低的发酵产量限制了巴弗洛霉素产业化应用。明确前体来源是理性构建高产菌株的基础,为了确定卡伍尔氏链霉菌NA4中合成巴弗洛霉素重要前体甲氧基丙二酰ACP的来源,构建了甲氧基丙二酰ACP生物合成部分基因bafB-E缺失突变株。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现野生株NA4中bafB mRNA表达水平随培养时间延长而不断增强,突变株则检测不到bafB mRNA的表达,显示ΔbafB-E突变株构建成功。进一步HPLC-UV分析结果显示,相比野生株NA4,ΔbafB-E突变株不再产生巴弗洛霉素。提示野生株NA4中bafB-F编码的合成途径是巴弗洛霉素装配前体甲氧基丙二酰ACP的唯一来源。将为通过强化前体供应策略理性构建巴弗洛霉素高产菌株提供参考。     

藜麦CqSAP8基因克隆及其在非生物胁迫下的表达分析

该研究根据NCBI公布的藜麦胁迫相关蛋白(SAP)基因CqSAP8序列进行克隆,利用生物信息学分析CqSAP8蛋白序列、理化性质和结构特点,并采用qRT PCR方法检测CqSAP8基因表达的组织特异性及在非生物胁迫下的相对表达。结果表明：(1)藜麦CqSAP8基因CDS全长528 bp,编码175个氨基酸;预测CqSAP8蛋白分子量为18.73 kD,理论等电点为7.46,属于稳定的亲水性蛋白质;CqSAP8蛋白在N端和C端分别含有A20和AN1保守域,是SAP蛋白最典型的类型。(2)序列比对与进化分析显示,藜麦CqSAP8与甜菜BvSAP8、菠菜SoSAP8亲缘关系最近,序列相似性分别为89.66%和89.47%。(3)qRT PCR分析表明,藜麦CqSAP8基因在根、茎、叶、花和种子中均有表达,且在种子中表达量最高;CqSAP8基因在干旱和高温胁迫12 h表达量达到最大值,分别是对照的13.09和17.47倍,高盐和低温胁迫下的最大表达量均为对照的3.91倍,说明藜麦CqSAP8基因响应多种非生物胁迫应答;另外,藜麦CqSAP8的表达量在ABA胁迫下24 h急剧升高,推测CqSAP8基因在非生物胁迫前期的响应不依赖ABA。该研究为进一步研究CqSAP8基因功能及抗逆分子机制奠定了基础。     

续随子ElSAD2基因的克隆与功能分析

Δ₉ 硬脂酰 ACP脱氢酶(SAD)是参与植物不饱和脂肪酸生物合成的关键酶。该研究从续随子(Euphorbia lathyris)种子转录组数据库中筛选得到续随子ElSAD2基因序列,对其序列表达特性进行分析,并鉴定ElSAD2基因的功能。结果显示：(1)续随子ElSAD2的 cDNA全长1 665 bp,ORF为1 194 bp,编码397个氨基酸残基;系统进化分析显示ElSAD2蛋白与蓖麻(Ricinus communis)RcSAD1蛋白等亲缘关系较近。(2)ElSAD2在续随子各器官中均有表达,其中在花后30 d种子中表达量最高。(3)在BY4389缺陷型酵母中过表达ElSAD2,使缺陷酵母不饱和脂肪酸含量升高。(4)本氏烟草瞬时表达ElSAD2,使得烟草叶片总油脂和油酸含量分别提高2.46%和2.1%。研究发现,ElSAD2能催化单不饱和油酸的生物合成,可进一步应用于油料植物油脂产量和品质改良。     

萘醌-氧吲哚生物碱coprisidins生物合成途径的研究

[目的] 新颖结构的天然萘醌-氧吲哚类生物碱coprisidins（A和B）分离自昆虫肠道相关链霉菌,具有预防癌症的活性。作为首例具有萘醌-氧吲哚骨架的生物碱,对其独特生物合成机理的研究可为II型聚酮类化合物生物合成途径提供新的认知。[方法] 本研究对coprisidins的产生菌Streptomyces sp.SNU607进行全基因组测序,并根据测序结果的生物信息学分析初步定位coprisidins的生物合成基因簇;通过基因敲除以及异源表达手段确定coprisidins的生物合成基因簇;基于体内遗传学实验与生物信息学分析初步推导coprisidins的生物合成途径。[结果] Streptomyces sp.SNU607中有23个基因簇可能参与次级代谢,其中4个基因簇与聚酮合酶（PKS）相关;通过基因敲除与异源表达实验,本研究证实1个II型PKS负责coprisidins的生物合成;基于生物信息学分析,我们推测copH/I/M/O/N构成了1个基因盒,并负责起始单元丁酰CoA的合成;KS_β（CopB）的序列比对表明coprisidins的II型PKS系统更倾向于合成C20的初始聚酮链。[结论] Coprisidins的萘醌-吲哚结构是由II型PKSs催化形成,我们推测丁酰CoA是coprisidins聚酮骨架的起始单元,在最小PKS、聚酮酶、环化酶的催化下先形成类似蒽环的四环系统,随后在后修饰酶与氧化重排的作用下生成萘醌-氧吲哚骨架。本研究为进一步探究萘醌-氧吲哚类生物碱的生物合成机制奠定了基础,同时增加了II型PKSs合成产物的结构多样性。     

陆地棉GhSAD2基因克隆与表达特征研究

Δ9硬脂酰 ACP 脱氢酶基因(GhSAD2)是脂肪酸合成代谢过程中关键的去饱和酶基因,为明确该基因在棉花脂肪酸合成代谢中的功能,该研究克隆了陆地棉GhSAD2基因,并对该基因的序列特征、进化关系及表达特性进行分析。序列分析显示,GhSAD2基因（GenBank登录号为KX197920）cDNA全长1 188 bp,编码396个氨基酸,具有脂肪酸去饱和酶家族2个高度保守的组氨酸簇EENRHG和DEKRH,分别位于氨基酸的185和271位。系统进化分析显示,GhSAD2基因与可可树的同源基因进化关系非常接近。qPCR分析显示,GhSAD2基因在叶中的表达量高于茎和根,且在花后25 d的种子中表达量达到最高值。低温胁迫诱导结果表明,GhSAD2基因在不同程度低温处理下均有上调表达,6 h表达量最大,之后逐渐下调。研究表明,GhSAD2基因可能对棉子油不饱和脂肪酸的合成具有重要作用,同时在棉花抗寒方面也起一定的生理作用。     

紫苏溶血磷脂酸酰基转移酶基因的克隆与功能分析

紫苏(Perilla frutescens)是一种重要食药同源油料作物,种子含油量高达46%−58%,其中α-亚麻酸(C18:3)含量占60%以上。溶血磷脂酸酰基转移酶(lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase,LPAT)是植物种子三酰基甘油组装过程中的一类关键限速酶。本研究从紫苏发育种子中克隆了其编码基因(PfLPAT2),并利用qRT-PCR技术检测PfLPAT2基因在紫苏不同组织及不同发育时期种子的表达特性。构建PfLPAT2/GFP融合表达载体并通过农杆菌介导瞬时侵染本氏烟草叶片,检测PfLPAT2蛋白的亚细胞定位。构建大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达载体、酵母表达载体和组成型植物过表达载体,分别转化大肠杆菌突变株SM2-1、酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)野生型菌株INVSc1和普通烟草(Nicotiana tabacum),分析PfLPAT2蛋白的酶活性及生物学功能。结果表明,紫苏PfLPAT2基因ORF为1 155 bp,编码384个氨基酸。功能结构域预测显示PfLPAT2蛋白具有溶血磷脂酸酰基转移酶典型的保守区。PfLPAT2基因在紫苏根、茎、叶、花和开花后10、20、30、40 d的种子中均有表达,且在开花后20 d的种子中高表达。亚细胞定位结果显示PfLPAT2蛋白定位于细胞质。大肠杆菌功能互补测试表明,PfLPAT2可恢复SM2-1细胞膜脂生物合成,具有LPAT酶活性。与非转基因对照相比,转PfLPAT2基因酵母的总油脂含量显著提高,且脂肪酸各组分的含量发生改变,油酸(C18:1)含量增加明显,预示PfLPAT2对C18:1具有较高的底物偏好性。转基因烟草叶片总脂肪酸含量比对照组提高了约0.42倍,C18:1含量增加了约1倍。转基因株系总脂提高和脂肪酸组分的改变表明PfLPAT2异源表达可以促进宿主油脂合成和健康有益型脂肪酸(C18:1和C18:3)的积累。本研究为深入解析紫苏油脂特别是不饱和脂肪酸合成的分子调控机制和改良油料作物油脂品质提供理论依据和基因元件。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.