基于合成生物学策略实现糖胺聚糖的微生物合成

糖胺聚糖广泛应用于化妆品和保健品领域以及血栓、骨关节炎、癌症等临床医疗.目前,商品化糖胺聚糖依赖于动物组织提取,产品存在均一性差、有潜在致病因子等缺点.采用合成生物学策略合成糖胺聚糖及其寡糖可避免上述问题,且可实现精准控制硫酸化程度及产品分子量分布.随着基因组学和合成生物学的发展,透明质酸、软骨素、肝素前体、硫酸软骨素及肝素等的合成途径被阐释,多种平台菌株的遗传操作体系不断完善.基于合成生物学策略构建微生物细胞工厂合成糖胺聚糖已成为未来发展趋势.本文主要综述了近年来生产糖胺聚糖及其寡聚糖的生物策略尤其是相关合成生物学手段,以期为未来研究提供新思路.     

糖胺聚糖降解菌株的筛选及鉴定

以土壤为材料,用透明质酸和硫酸软骨素为唯一碳源富集分离菌株,通过BSA-乙酸平板显色法及比色定糖法进行筛选。从80份土壤中筛选出13株糖胺聚糖降解活性的菌株并对其进行了16S rDNA测序鉴定。结果表明,筛选到13株糖胺聚糖降解菌株均具有透明质酸酶和硫酸软骨素酶活性;获得8株尚未报导过的产糖胺聚糖降解酶活性菌株。本研究为开发新型的糖胺聚糖降解酶提供参考。     

基于工程化毕赤酵母一锅法合成硫酸软骨素A北大核心CSCD

硫酸软骨素(chondroitin sulfate,CS)是一种线性多糖,广泛应用于医疗和保健等领域。相比于传统动物组织提取法,微生物合成硫酸软骨素具有可控、易规模化放大等优势。为实现硫酸软骨素A(CSA)的高效合成,本研究首先通过整合软骨素合酶编码基因kfoC、kfoA以及UDP-葡萄糖脱氢酶编码基因tuaD至毕赤酵母GS115基因组中,构建了以甘油为唯一碳源发酵生产软骨素的毕赤酵母工程菌株。通过进一步优化软骨素合成途径,软骨素分批补料发酵水平达到2.6 g/L。在进一步整合表达软骨素-4-O-磺基转移酶的基础上,本研究通过向生产软骨素毕赤酵母工程菌株破碎液中添加3′-磷酸腺苷-5′-磷酰硫酸和软骨素-4-O-磺基转移酶,成功建立了CSA的一锅法生物合成体系。通过优化,最终实现0-40%不同磺酸化水平CSA的可控合成。本研究中CSA的一锅法生物合成体系操作简便、易放大,更适用于工业化大规模生产。本研究结果也为肝素等其他糖胺聚糖的合成提供了思路。     

人血清脂蛋白与糖胺聚糖及人主动脉蛋白聚糖的相互作用

本文报道了在[Ca~(2+)]=30mmol/L时,人血清或人血清脂蛋白与各种糖胺聚糖(GAG)及人主动脉两种蛋白聚糖(PG)的相互作用。GAG与血清的作用能力为6—硫酸软骨素(C6—S)>肝素(Hep)>4—硫酸软骨素(C4—S)>透明质酸(HA)>硫酸皮肤素(DS)。极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL)及低密度脂蛋白(LDL)可与肝素作用形成不溶性复合物,而高密度脂蛋白(HDL)则不能。人主动脉硫酸软骨素—PG(CS—PG)、硫酸皮肤素—硫酸软骨素—PG(DS—CS—PG)与血清形成不溶性复合物的曲线类型不同,后者的类型似有利于DS—CS—PG与血清脂蛋白结合从而使之在动脉壁沉积。     

硫酸软骨素在癌症治疗领域的研究进展

硫酸软骨素是一种硫酸化的糖胺聚糖,其在恶性肿瘤组织中的含量、结构、硫酸化位点等与正常组织存在显著差异,在癌症的迁移,侵袭,血管生成过程中发挥重要调控作用,在癌症的临床研究中具有很大潜力。该文对硫酸软骨素的生物合成进行归类分析,对近几年硫酸软骨素与肿瘤入侵和转移的相关临床研究以及分子机制研究做出综述,以期为开发硫酸软骨素潜在的临床价值和肿瘤治疗靶点研究提供理论依据,为恶性肿瘤的早期诊断和预后评估提供思路。     

胶原的分子类型、结构分级及与细胞外基质成分的关系

本文介绍了目前已发现的十一种胶原分子类型的多肽链组成、主要氨基酸数、组织分布及主要特征;胶原各种结构在光、电镜及肉眼下的分级;细胞外基质:非胶原性糖蛋白(纤维连接素、板连素、内胚素、连接素、β-半乳糖苷凝集素、骨连素、软骨连素、玻璃体连素)、糖胺聚糖(透明质酸)、蛋白聚糖(硫酸乙酰肝素、硫酸软骨素、硫酸皮肤素、硫酸角质素、肝素)的分布、功能、结构特点及与Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅳ型胶原间的一些关系。     

发酵法生产糖胺聚糖的研究进展

糖胺聚糖是一种具有多种生理功能的直链酸性黏多糖,广泛应用于化妆品、保健品和药品等行业。为了满足环境友好、生产安全和可持续发展的社会要求,利用微生物发酵法生产糖胺聚糖越来越受到人们的关注。本文中,笔者在总结糖胺聚糖生物合成路径的基础上,分析归纳了发酵法生产糖胺聚糖的生化工程和代谢工程策略,并展望了糖胺聚糖进一步高效生产的发展方向。     

几种动物肝脏糖胺聚糖的醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳分析

采用酶解和离子交换色谱的方法,从兔、鸡、猪和羊肝组织中提取和纯化得到了糖胺聚糖（GAGs）.通过比较透明质酸（HA）、硫酸软骨素A（CS-A）、硫酸软骨素C（CS-C）、硫酸皮肤素（DS）、肝素（HP）、硫酸乙酰肝素（HS）等标准品在醋酸钡、醋酸锌、吡啶-甲酸等几种不同缓冲体系下的醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳行为,结合灰度积分建立了适合于微量GAGs定性和定量分析的电泳方法.将从不同动物肝脏组织中提取的GAGs运用该方法进行分析,发现 不同动物肝脏组织中,GAG含量和组成均有较大差异：羊肝中GAGs含量最高（0.52 mg/g 组织干粉）,种类也最丰富,含有HA、HS、DS和CS,其中HA所占比例最高;鸡肝中GAGs含量最少（0.18 mg/g组织干粉）,主要含有HA和DS;兔肝GAGs种类与猪肝相似,均含有HA、HS和DS,但HS是猪肝GAGs的主要成分,DS是兔肝GAGs的主要成分.     

透明质酸生物合成途径及基因工程研究进展

透明质酸是由N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖和葡萄糖醛酸组成的双糖单位聚合而成的直链酸性黏多糖,已被广泛应用于药物、化妆品和食品添加剂。微生物发酵法是目前生产透明质酸最有效的方法。生物体内透明质酸的合成途径基本一致,均为Leloir途径。透明质酸合成操纵子由透明质酸合酶基因、尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶基因和尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶基因组成,其表达受Cov S/CovR和Lux S等多种调控系统调控。随着分子生物学技术的迅速发展以及对透明质酸合成相关基因了解的不断深入,人们从提高透明质酸安全性、提高透明质酸产量和调控透明质酸分子质量三个方面出发,通过基因工程手段构建出了高产、安全、一定分子质量范围的透明质酸生产菌株。就有关透明质酸生物合成途径、合成相关基因表达调控及生产菌株分子生物学改造的策略与研究进展进行综述和展望。     

透明质酸酶的研究进展

透明质酸酶是能降解透明质酸及部分糖胺聚糖的一类糖苷酶,可应用于医疗和美容等领域。透明质酸酶也可用于制备小分子糖胺寡糖,许多研究发现小分子糖胺寡糖具有比大分子糖胺聚糖更高的生物免疫活性。为便于研究人员对透明质酸酶进行进一步的基础研究及应用研究,本文介绍了透明质酸和透明质酸酶,梳理了透明质酸酶的分类、结构和催化机理,归纳总结了透明质酸酶的酶活力测定方法、重组表达、酶学性质和应用,展望了透明质酸酶的研究方向。     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS FROM BRAIN OF CHILDREN WITH PROTEIN-CALORIE MALNUTRITION

Abstract— The uronic acid containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were isolated from the brains of 1-year-old and 4-year-old kwashiorkor children and characterised by constituent analyses. A marked reduction is the total GAG concentration of brain was noticed in both cases of kwashiorkor. In the 1-year-old kwashiorkor brain, hyaluronic acid is the most predominant GAG (73.5 per cent) whereas heparan sulphate, chondroitin sulphates and low sulphated chondroitin sulphate constituted less than 10 per cent. In the 4-year-old kwashiorkor brain, the proportion of hyaluronic acid was 27.5 per cent, low sulphated chondroitin sulphate 31.2 per cent, chondroitin sulphates 28.3 per cent and heparan sulphate 10 per cent. This marked reduction in the concentration as well as qualitative changes in GAG in protein-calorie malnutrition as compared to the normal is discussed in relation to brain function.     

Hypoxia modifies the effect of PDGF on glycosaminoglycan synthesis by primary human lung cells

Hypoxia, a consequence of interstitial lung diseases, may lead to secondary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Hypoxia induces activation and proliferation of lung cells and enhances the deposition of extracellular matrix including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). To elucidate the cell biological mechanisms underlying the development of secondary pulmonary hypertension, we studied the effect of hypoxia on GAG synthesis by human lung cells. GAG synthesis was measured by incorporation of [(3)H]glucosamine; GAGs were isolated, purified, and characterized with GAG-degrading enzymes. Fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) synthesized hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfates, whereas dermatan sulfate was found only in fibroblasts. Hypoxia did not influence the size or charge of the individual GAGs. However, hypoxia inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-induced [(3)H]glucosamine incorporation in secreted GAGs, especially hyaluronic acid, in VSMCs. In contrast, it stimulated GAG secretion, specifically heparan sulfate, by fibroblasts. Our results indicate that hypoxia induces modifications in GAG synthesis by human lung VSMCs and fibroblasts that may be correlated to pathophysiological manifestations in lung diseases causing hypoxia.     

Characterization of the interaction of interleukin-8 with hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and their sulfated derivatives by spectroscopy and molecular modeling

The interactions between glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), important components of the extracellular matrix, and proteins such as growth factors and chemokines play critical roles in cellular regulation processes. Therefore, the design of GAG derivatives for the development of innovative materials with bio-like properties in terms of their interaction with regulatory proteins is of great interest for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Previous work on the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) has focused on its interaction with heparin and heparan sulfate, which regulate chemokine function. However, the extracellular matrix contains other GAGs, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), dermatan sulfate (DS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS), which have so far not been characterized in terms of their distinct molecular recognition properties towards IL-8 in relation to their length and sulfation patterns. NMR and molecular modeling have been in great part the methods of choice to study the structural and recognition properties of GAGs and their protein complexes. However, separately these methods have challenges to cope with the high degree of similarity and flexibility that GAGs exhibit. In this work, we combine fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR experiments, docking and molecular dynamics simulations to study the configurational and recognition properties of IL-8 towards a series of HA and CS derivatives and DS. We analyze the effects of GAG length and sulfation patterns in binding strength and specificity, and the influence of GAG binding on IL-8 dimer formation. Our results highlight the importance of combining experimental and theoretical approaches to obtain a better understanding of the molecular recognition properties of GAG-protein systems.     

Chimeric glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides synthesized by enzymatic reconstruction and their use in substrate specificity determination of Streptococcus hyaluronidase

A method was developed for the reconstruction of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) oligosaccharides using the transglycosylation reaction of an endo-beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, testicular hyaluronidase, under optimal conditions. Repetition of the transglycosylation using suitable combinations of various GAGs as acceptors and donors made it possible to custom-synthesize GAG oligosaccharides. Thus we prepared a library of chimeric GAG oligosaccharides with hybrid structures composed of disaccharide units such as GlcA-GlcNAc (from hyaluronic acid), GlcA-GalNAc (from chondroitin), GlcA-GalNAc4S (from chondroitin 4-sulfate), GlcA-GalNAc6S (from chondroitin 6-sulfate), IdoA-GalNAc (from desulfated dermatan sulfate), and GlcA-GalNAc4,6-diS (from chondroitin sulfate E). The specificity of the hyaluronidase from Streptococcus dysgalactiae (hyaluronidase SD) was then investigated using these chimeric GAG oligosaccharides as model substrates. The results indicate that the specificity of hyaluronidase SD is determined by the following restrictions at the nonreducing terminal side of the cleavage site: (i) at least one disaccharide unit (GlcA-GlcNAc) is necessary for the enzymatic action of hyaluronidase SD; (ii) cleavage is inhibited by sulfation of the N-acetylgalactosamine; (iii) hyaluronidase SD releases GlcA-GalNAc and IdoA-GalNAc units as well as GlcA-GlcNAc. At the reducing terminal side of the cleavage site, the sulfated residues on the N-acetylgalactosamines in the disaccharide units were found to have no influence on the cleavage. Additionally, we found that hyaluronidase SD can specifically and endolytically cleave the internal unsulfated regions of chondroitin sulfate chains. This demonstration indicates that custom-synthesized GAG oligosaccharides will open a new avenue in GAG glycotechnology.     

Specificity of glycosaminoglycan suppression of endothelin-1 production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide found in nature. Its production is stimulated by thrombin. By inhibiting thrombin we have previously shown that heparin, a highly negatively-charged glycosaminoglycan (GAG), suppresses the production of ET-1 by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The purpose of our study is to determine the effect of other GAGs and related compounds on ET-1 production. The GAGs and related compounds used in the study were: chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate B, chondroitin sulfate C, fucoidin, low molecular weight dextran sulfate, high molecular weight dextran sulfate, and hyaluronan. HUVEC were incubated for 48 hr with media containing these GAGs and related compounds and with media without GAG as control. ET-1 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. GAGs and related molecules with higher sulfate content, heparin, chondroitin sulfate B, low and high molecular weight dextran sulfates significantly suppressed ET-1 production by HUVEC. Fucoidin also suppressed ET-1 production despite its lower sulfate content, probably because of its structural similarity to heparin. These compounds may be useful for future in vivo studies.     

Changes in glycosaminoglycan expression in the rat developing intestine

Synthesis of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains was studied in the developing rat intestine. Intestinal segments, taken at various developmental stages, were exposed to 3H-glucosamine and 35S-sulfate for 6 hours. The amounts of 3H-GAGs (total GAGs) and of 35S-GAGs (sulfated GAGs) showed a clear age-dependence, with a broad maximum in the fetal period when dramatic growth and morphogenesis occur. Characterization of individual GAG species indicated that hyaluronic acid (HA), heparan and chondroitin sulfate (HS and CS) synthesis was modified quantitatively or qualitatively during development: decrease of HA with age; production of undersulfated HS molecules during embryonic life; shift towards a lower hydrodynamic form of HA and HS molecules after birth. We postulate that these alterations are crucial in the elaboration of an age-related specific extracellular microenvironment allowing intestinal growth and differentiation.     

Differential inhibition of retrovirus transduction by proteoglycans and free glycosaminoglycans.

We have previously shown that the efficiency of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer is limited in part due to the presence of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in virus stocks. In this study, we have used a model recombinant retrovirus encoding the Escherichia coli lacZ gene, bovine aorta chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), various free glycosaminoglycan chains (GAGs), and quantitative assays for retrovirus transduction to explore the mechanism by which proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans inhibit retroviruses. We found that CSPG and GAGs block an early step in virus-cell interactions but do not act by inactivating viruses or by reducing the growth rate of the target cells. CSPG and most of the GAGs tested (chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate B, heparin, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid) inhibited transduction, but with widely varying degrees of activity. The chemical structure of GAGs was found to be an important determinant of their inhibitory activity, which suggests that GAGs do not inhibit transduction simply because they are highly negatively charged polymers. When GAGs were used in combination with a cationic polymer (Polybrene), however, their inhibitory activity was neutralized, and interestingly, at optimal doses of GAG and Polybrene, transduction efficiency was actually enhanced by as much as 72%. In contrast, the inhibitory activity of CSPG, due to the influence of its core protein, was not substantially reduced by Polybrene. The importance of these findings to our understanding of retrovirus-cell interactions and to the development of more efficient retrovirus gene transfer protocols is discussed.     

Glycosaminoglycan composition of anguilliform and elopiform leptocephali

Whole-body glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition of leptocephalous larvae was studied in eight eel (Anguilliformes) species, representing five different families (Congridae, Moringuidae, Muraenidae, Nettastomatidae and Ophichthidae) and the bonefish (Elopiformes: Albulidae: Albula vulpes ). The extracted GAGs were identified by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, using standard GAGs as a reference, and by their susceptibility to GAG-degrading enzymes (keratanase, chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase AC and testicular hyaluronidase). The principal GAG in bonefish larvae was keratan sulphate. However, keratan sulphate was not the main GAG in any of the eel leptocephali studied, althoughit was present in small amounts in most species. The identities of the principal GAGs in eel leptocephali are still unknown, but the most likely possibilities include hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, and chrondroitin sulphate. In addition, a high degree of variability existed in the total amount of GAG that could be extracted from the different eel species and in the electrophoretic migration patterns of the extracted GAGs. Although a basic similarity is thought to exist in the body plan and developmental strategy of all leptocephali, the present results indicate that the GAG composition of the gelatinous body matrix is variable.     

Bronchial branching correlates with specific glycosidase activity, extracellular glycosaminoglycan accumulation, TGF beta(2), and IL-1 localization during chick embryo lung development.

During organ differentiation, cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions are required. The components of the ECM, such as glycosaminoglycans, fibronectin, laminin, and collagens, change in relation to cytokine and enzyme activity. Moreover, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are components of the ECM that play an important role in both cytokine regulation and cell activities. In this work we studied the accumulation of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (PGs), beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity, the presence of transforming growth factor beta(2) (TGF beta(2)), and interleukin-1 (IL-1), and the localization of fibronectin, laminin, and collagen I and IV during the early stages of chick embryo lung development. We also determined the levels of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and heparan sulfate GAGs and the activity of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase with biochemical methods. Our data show that beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity increases in each cell, especially in the epithelial growth front at the emergence of each bronchial bud, where hyaluronic acid and IL-1 are located in the surrounding mesenchymal areas. Chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate PGs, fibronectin, laminin, and collagen I and IV are evident in the area near the basal membrane along the sides where the forming structures are stabilized. Biochemical data show that beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity increases in cells during lung development and is related to GAG decrease and to modifications of the nonsulfated/sulfated GAG ratio. These modifications could change cytokine activity and play an important role in bronchial branching development.     

The Identification of Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycans in Archaeological Human Bones and Teeth

Bone tissue is mineralized dense connective tissue consisting mainly of a mineral component (hydroxyapatite) and an organic matrix comprised of collagens, non-collagenous proteins and proteoglycans (PGs). Extracellular matrix proteins and PGs bind tightly to hydroxyapatite which would protect these molecules from the destructive effects of temperature and chemical agents after death. DNA and proteins have been successfully extracted from archaeological skeletons from which valuable information has been obtained; however, to date neither PGs nor glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains have been studied in archaeological skeletons. PGs and GAGs play a major role in bone morphogenesis, homeostasis and degenerative bone disease. The ability to isolate and characterize PG and GAG content from archaeological skeletons would unveil valuable paleontological information. We therefore optimized methods for the extraction of both PGs and GAGs from archaeological human skeletons. PGs and GAGs were successfully extracted from both archaeological human bones and teeth, and characterized by their electrophoretic mobility in agarose gel, degradation by specific enzymes and HPLC. The GAG populations isolated were chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA). In addition, a CSPG was detected. The localization of CS, HA, three small leucine rich PGs (biglycan, decorin and fibromodulin) and glypican was analyzed in archaeological human bone slices. Staining patterns were different for juvenile and adult bones, whilst adolescent bones had a similar staining pattern to adult bones. The finding that significant quantities of PGs and GAGs persist in archaeological bones and teeth opens novel venues for the field of Paleontology.