基于CRISPR/Cas系统的多重基因编辑与调控技术

规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, CRISPR)及其相关Cas蛋白所构建的CRISPR/Cas系统是古细菌或细菌中特有的一种获得性免疫系统。研究人员将其开发成基因编辑工具之后,凭借其高效、精准和通用性强等优点迅速成为合成生物学领域的热门研究方向,在生命科学、生物工程技术、食品科学及农作物育种等多个领域引发了革命性的影响。目前基于CRISPR/Cas系统单基因编辑与调控技术日益完善,但在多重基因编辑和调控方面仍存在挑战。本文聚焦基于CRISPR/Cas系统的多重基因编辑与调控技术开发及应用,针对单个细胞内实现多位点基因编辑或调控和细胞群体内实现多位点基因编辑或调控技术,依据作用原理对其进行了系统总结和阐述,包括基于CRISPR/Cas系统的双链断裂、单链断裂以及多重基因调控技术等。这些工作丰富了多重基因编辑与调控的工具,为CRISPR/Cas系统在多领域的应用作出了贡献。     

基于转录组测序的宁夏枸杞不同品种果实活性成分合成差异表达基因分析

为探究不同品种宁夏枸杞果实活性成分生物合成相关基因的表达水平,筛选关键差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs),揭示宁夏枸杞品种间活性成分含量差异的分子机制,本研究采用Illumina NovaSeq 6000高通量测序技术,对宁夏枸杞‘宁杞1号’和‘宁杞7号’青果期、转色期及成熟期果实进行转录组测序,比较2个品种果实不同发育期相关基因表达谱的变化。结果显示:转录组测序共获得811818178条clean reads,有121.76 Gb有效数据。‘宁杞1号’和‘宁杞7号’在青果期、转色期和成熟期差异表达基因分别有2827、2552和2311个;分别有2153、2050和1825个差异基因在基因本体论(gene ontology,GO)、京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)富集分析和同源蛋白簇(clusters of orthologous groups of proteins,KOG)分析等6个数据库中被成功注释。青果期、转色期和成熟期果实的差异表达基因,在GO数据库分别有1307、865和624个被富集到生物学过程、细胞组分及分子功能3个部分中;KEGG通路富集结果均集中在代谢途径、次生代谢物生物合成和植物-病原互作过程;在KOG数据库,3个发育期分别注释了1775、1751和1541个差异表达基因。对注释的基因进行PubMed数据库检索,在青果期、转色期和成熟期分别筛选到与枸杞活性成分合成相关的差异表达基因18、26和24个,这些基因主要参与类胡萝卜素、类黄酮、萜类、生物碱和维生素等代谢途径。选取7个差异表达基因进行RT-qPCR验证,结果与转录组测序数据表达趋势一致。本研究从转录水平为不同品种宁夏枸杞活性成分含量差异提供了初步证据,为进一步挖掘枸杞活性成分生物合成的关键基因及解析其表达调控机制提供了研究基础。     

生物可降解塑料单体二元羧酸的生物合成研究进展北大核心CSCD

塑料是最重要的聚合物材料之一,需求量巨大,但存在处理困难、污染大等缺点。环境友好型的生物可降解塑料有望成为目前塑料的替代品,以满足社会各界对于塑料制品日益增长的需求。二元羧酸是生物可降解塑料中重要的单体之一,可降解性强,应用广泛,并且可以通过全生物法合成。因此,本文重点选取了几种比较有代表性的二元羧酸,总结它们的生物合成途径以及其代谢改造手段,以期为中长链等复杂二元羧酸的生物法合成提供借鉴。     

利用酵母菌生产有机酸的研究进展

有机酸是含有一种或多种低分子量酸性基团(如羧基、磺酸基)的可生物合成的有机化合物,广泛应用于食品、农业、医药、生物基材料工业等领域。酵母菌具有生物安全、抗逆性强、底物谱广泛、方便遗传改造,以及大规模培养技术成熟等独特优点,因此利用酵母菌生产有机酸的研究日益受到国内外学者的关注。目前利用酵母生产有机酸还存在浓度低、副产物多,以及发酵效率低等缺陷。随着酵母菌代谢工程和合成生物学技术的发展,利用酵母菌生产有机酸取得了快速进展。本文总结了利用酵母合成11种有机酸的研究,包括内源和异源合成的大宗羧酸和高价值有机酸,并对该领域的未来研究方向进行了展望。     

微生物发酵法生产S-腺苷甲硫氨酸的研究进展

S-腺苷甲硫氨酸(S-adenosyl-l-methionine, SAM)广泛存在于生物体内,主要参与生物体内的转甲基过程、转硫过程及转氨丙基过程,具有重要的生理功能,其生产备受重视。目前SAM生产的研究主要集中于微生物发酵法,该方法与化学合成法和酶催化法相比,成本较低且更容易实现工业化生产。随着需求量的迅速增加,通过菌种改良提高SAM产量备受关注。当前SAM生产菌种改良的主要策略包括常规育种和代谢工程。本文综述了提高微生物生产SAM能力的近期研究进展并探讨了SAM生产中的瓶颈问题及解决方法,以期为进一步提高SAM产量提供思路。     

谷氨酸棒杆菌代谢工程高效生产L-缬氨酸北大核心CSCD

L-缬氨酸作为一种支链氨基酸,广泛应用于医药和饲料等领域。本研究借助多种代谢工程策略相结合的方法,构建了生产L-缬氨酸的微生物细胞工厂,实现了L-缬氨酸的高效生产。首先,通过增强糖酵解途径、减弱副产物代谢途径相结合的方式,强化了L-缬氨酸合成前体丙酮酸的供给;其次,针对L-缬氨酸合成路径关键酶—乙酰羟酸合酶进行定点突变,提高了菌株的抗反馈抑制能力,并利用启动子工程策略,优化了路径关键酶的基因表达水平;最后,利用辅因子工程策略,改变了乙酰羟酸还原异构酶和支链氨基酸转氨酶的辅因子偏好性,由偏好NADPH转变为偏好NADH,从而提高了L-缬氨酸的合成能力。在5L发酵罐中,最优谷氨酸棒杆菌工程菌株Corynebacterium glutamicum K020的L-缬氨酸产量、得率和生产强度分别达到了110g/L、0.51g/g和2.29 g/(L·h)。     

Atypical lipomatous tumour/well-differentiated liposarcoma found in the buccal mucosa: A rare case report

Oral liposarcomas are uncommon diseases, the most predominant histopathological subtype being atypical lipomatous tumour/well-differentiated liposarcoma. In regard to its clinical aspects in the oral cavity, it is challenging to confirm a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. In this case report, we present a rare case of atypical lipomatous tumour/well-differentiated liposarcoma in the right cheek of a 77-year-old male patient. Conservative surgery was performed considering the histopathological subtype of the neoplasm. Knowledge of the clinical and histopathological characteristics of this rare disease is essential to maintaining function and aesthetics through conservative treatment in older patients.     

Metabolic defects shared by Alzheimer's disease and diabetes: A focus on mitochondria

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are two global epidemics that share several metabolic defects, such as insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial defects. Importantly, strong evidence demonstrates that T2D significantly increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, particularly AD. Here, we provide an overview of the metabolic defects that characterize and link both pathologies putting the focus on mitochondria. The biomarker potential of mitochondrial components and the therapeutic potential of some drugs that target and modulate mitochondria are also briefly discussed.     

Ter-Seq: A high-throughput method to stabilize transient ternary complexes and measure associated kinetics

Regulation of biological processes by proteins often involves the formation of transient, multimeric complexes whose characterization is mechanistically important but challenging. The bacterial toxin CcdB binds and poisons DNA Gyrase. The corresponding antitoxin CcdA extracts CcdB from its complex with Gyrase through the formation of a transient ternary complex, thus rejuvenating Gyrase. We describe a high throughput methodology called Ter-Seq to stabilize probable ternary complexes and measure associated kinetics using the CcdA-CcdB-GyrA14 ternary complex as a model system. The method involves screening a yeast surface display (YSD) saturation mutagenesis library of one partner (CcdB) for mutants that show enhanced ternary complex formation. We also isolated CcdB mutants that were either resistant or sensitive to rejuvenation, and used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with purified proteins to validate the kinetics measured using the surface display. Positions, where CcdB mutations lead to slower rejuvenation rates, are largely involved in CcdA-binding, though there were several notable exceptions suggesting allostery. Mutations at these positions reduce the affinity towards CcdA, thereby slowing down the rejuvenation process. Mutations at GyrA14-interacting positions significantly enhanced rejuvenation rates, either due to reduced affinity or complete loss of CcdB binding to GyrA14. We examined the effect of different parameters (CcdA affinity, GyrA14 affinity, surface accessibilities, evolutionary conservation) on the rate of rejuvenation. Finally, we further validated the Ter-Seq results by monitoring the kinetics of ternary complex formation for individual CcdB mutants in solution by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies.