转双价水解酶基因番茄植株对枯萎病抗性的提高

利用根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导,首次将莱豆几丁质酶和烟草β-1,3-葡聚糖酶双价水解酶基因导入番茄品种A53(Lycopersicon esculentum cv.A53)中,获得批量转基因再生植株。对外源基因的PCR和Southern杂交结果表明,外源基因已经整合到番茄基因组中,其拷贝数1-8个不等。Northern杂交和卡那霉素喷施表明目的基因和标记基因均已得到表达,抗病性鉴定初步表明转基因植株对枯萎病的抗性显著提高。     

向烟草导入抗真菌病基因的研究

用花粉管通道法向烟草中导入几丁质酶基因,通过PCR检测的106株植株有4株表现出阳性,经点杂交检测得到3株阳性植株,用花粉管通道法向烟草导入几丁质酶基因具有可行性。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of 58 kDa chitinase gene fromSerratia marcescens KCTC 2172

A chitinase gene (pCHi58) encoding a 58 kDa chitinase was isolated from theSerratia marcescens KCTC 2172 cosmid library. The chitinase gene consisted of a 1686 bp open reading frame that encoded 562 amino acids.Escherichia coil harboring the pChi58 gene secreted a 58 kDa chitinase into the culture supernatant. The 58 kDa chitinase was purified using a chitin affinity column and mono-S column. A nucleotide andN-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that the 58 kDa chitinase had a leader peptide consisting of 23 amino acids which was cleaved prior to the 24th alanine. The 58 KDa chitinase exhibited a 98% similarity to that ofS. marcescens QMB 1466 in its nuclotide sequence. The chitinolytic patterns of the 58 kDa chitinase released N,N′-diacetyl chitobiose (NAG2) as the major hydrolysis end-product with a trace amount ofN-acetylglucosamine. When a 4-methylumbellyferyl-N-acetylglucosamin monomer, dimmer, and tetramer were used as substrates, the 58 kDa chitinase did not digest the 4-Mu-NAG monomer (analogue of NAG₂), thereby indicating that the 58 kDa chitinase was likely an endochitinase. The optimum reaction temperature and pH of the enzyme were 50°C and 5.0, respectively.     

产几丁质酶褐色喜热裂孢菌的分离鉴定及产酶特性初步研究

采用选择性培养基从土壤中分离到1株产几丁质酶的微生物菌株YX,经形态和分子鉴定为褐色喜热裂孢菌(Thermobifida fusca)。进一步在摇瓶中比较了T.fusca YX在纤维二糖、几丁质、或羧甲基纤维素钠为碳源的培养基中的产酶特性,YX菌株在5 L发酵罐中以几丁质为碳源的培养基发酵到22 h左右时发酵液几丁质酶活即可达到1.7 U/m L。本文首次报道褐色喜热裂孢菌能够产生几丁质酶,具有潜在的应用价值。     

Characterization of a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Aspergillus fumigatus shows functional variation among family AA11 fungal LPMOs

The discovery of oxidative cleavage of recalcitrant polysaccharides by lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) has affected the study and industrial application of enzymatic biomass processing. Despite being widespread in fungi, LPMOs belonging to the auxiliary activity (AA) family AA11 have been understudied. While these LPMOs are considered chitin active, some family members have little or no activity toward chitin, and the only available crystal structure of an AA11 LPMO lacks features found in bacterial chitin-active AA10 LPMOs. Here, we report structural and functional characteristics of a single-domain AA11 LPMO from Aspergillus fumigatus, AfAA11A. The crystal structure shows a substrate-binding surface with features resembling those of known chitin-active LPMOs. Indeed, despite the absence of a carbohydrate-binding module, AfAA11A has considerable affinity for α-chitin and, more so, β-chitin. AfAA11A is active toward both these chitin allomorphs and enhances chitin degradation by an endoacting chitinase, in particular for α-chitin. The catalytic activity of AfAA11A on chitin increases when supplying reactions with hydrogen peroxide, showing that, like LPMOs from other families, AfAA11A has peroxygenase activity. These results show that, in stark contrast to the previously characterized AfAA11B from the same organism, AfAA11A likely plays a role in fungal chitin turnover. Thus, members of the hitherto rather enigmatic family of AA11 LPMOs show considerable structural and functional differences and may have multiple roles in fungal physiology.     

Effects of the Plant Defence Inducer, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl, on Hypocotyl Rot of Soybean Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-4

The plant defence inducer, acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (ASM) was tested for its ability to protect soybean against hypocotyl rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn AG‐4. ASM in vitro exhibited an antifungal dose‐dependant activity in the form of reduced mycelial growth. This inhibition reached 40% in comparison with the control at a concentration of 0.5 g/l ASM in the growth media. Seed imbibition with ASM at a concentration of 0.08 g/l and 0.5 g/l significantly induced a reduction of the intensity of hypocotyl rot symptoms caused by R. solani AG‐4 that was correlated with a stimulation of chitinase activity. The protective effect of ASM against R. solani AG‐4 is probably due to the combination of induced resistance and its effect on pathogen growth. Seed treatment with ASM affected also the growth of 2‐day‐old seedlings. A dose‐dependant inhibition of the seminal root growth was observed which reached 53% at a concentration of 0.5 g/l ASM. This growth reduction of soybean was transitional and was rapidly recovered in optimal growth conditions except at 0.5 g/l of ASM.     

Optimization of medium constituents for improved chitinase production by Paenibacillus sp. D1 using statistical approach

Aims:  Statistical optimization of medium components for improved chitinase production by Paenibacillus sp. D1.
Methods and Results:  Urea, K₂HPO₄, chitin and yeast extract were identified as significant components influencing chitinase production by Paenibacillus sp. D1 using Plackett–Burman method. Response surface methodology (central composite design) was applied for further optimization. The concentrations of medium components for improved chitinase production were as follows (g l⁻¹): urea, 0·33; K₂HPO₄, 1·17; MgSO₄, 0·3; yeast extract, 0·65 and chitin, 3·75. This statistical optimization approach led to the production of 93·2 ± 0·58 U ml⁻¹ of chitinase.
Conclusions:  The important factors controlling the production of chitinase by Paenibacillus sp. D1 were identified as urea, K₂HPO₄, chitin and yeast extract. Statistical approach was found to be very effective in optimizing the medium components in manageable number of experimental runs with overall 2·56-fold increase in chitinase production.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The present investigation provides a report on statistical optimization of medium components for improved chitinase production by Paenibacillus sp. D1. Paenibacillus species are gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria with several PGPR and biocontrol potentials. However, only few reports concerning mycolytic enzyme production especially chitinases are available. Chitinase produced by Paenibacillus sp. D1 represents new source for biotechnological and agricultural use.     

Influence of two FPLC fractions from Beauveria bassiana SFB-205 supernatant on the insecticidal activity against cotton aphid

The two FPLC fractions from Beauveria bassiana SFB-205 supernatant, displaying chitinase or Pr1/Pr2 protease activity were bioassayed against Aphis gossypii in different ratios. The decrease of the aphid population was more significantly influenced by the chitinase fraction in a dosage-dependent manner.     

Structure-based virtual screening of highly potent inhibitors of the nematode chitinase CeCht1

Nematode chitinases play vital roles in various physiological processes, including egg hatching, larva moulting, and reproduction. Small-molecule inhibitors of nematode chitinases have potential applications for controlling nematode pests. On the basis of the crystal structure of CeCht1, a representative chitinase indispensable to the eggshell chitin degradation of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we have discovered a series of novel inhibitors bearing a (R)-3,4-diphenyl-4,5-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazol-6(2H)-one scaffold by hierarchical virtual screening. The crystal structures of CeCht1 complexed with two of these inhibitors clearly elucidated their interactions with the enzyme active site. Based on the inhibitory mechanism, several analogues with improved inhibitory activities were identified, among which the compound PP28 exhibited the most potent activity with a K_i value of 0.18 μM. This work provides the structural basis for the development of novel nematode chitinase inhibitors.