重组质粒在减毒沙门氏菌中的稳定性及其对细菌侵袭力的影响

将含有外源基因的重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3-F和pCI-F转化减毒鼠伤寒门氏菌,探讨质粒类型和插入片段对重组质粒在细菌内的稳定性和细菌侵袭力的影响。结果表明,外源质粒可降低减毒沙门氏菌在体外的增殖能力和侵袭力,也影响细菌在鸡体内的存活力;就质粒类型而言,pCI的影响大于pcDNA3,而以携带外源基因的重组质粒影响较为显著;外源基因插入也影响质粒在宿主菌内的稳定性。提示利用减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌为载体传递DNA疫苗研究时,要考虑质粒类型与其在宿主菌内稳定性的关系、携带外源基因重组质粒对载体菌侵袭力和存活力的影响等问题。     

Functional characterization of a defense‐responsive bulnesol/elemol synthase from potato

Terpene synthases (TPSs) produce a variety of terpenoids that play numerous functional roles in primary and secondary metabolism, as well as in ecological interactions. Here, we report the functional characterization of an inducible potato TPS gene encoding bulnesol/elemol synthase (StBUS/ELS). The expression of StBUS/ELS in potato leaves was significantly induced in response to both bacterial (Pseudomonas syringae) and fungal (Alternaria solani) infection as well as methyl jasmonate treatment, indicating its role in defense. The leaves exhibited the highest StBUS/ELS expression followed by the stem with least and similar expression in tuber, sprout and root. Recombinant StBUS/ELS catalyzed the formation of different sesquiterpenes by utilizing farnesyl diphosphate as substrate, and the monoterpene geraniol from geranyl diphosphate. Among the sesquiterpenes formed by StBUS/ELS, elemol was the predominant product followed by α‐bulnesene, bulnesol and β‐elemene. Further gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of StBUS/ELS assay products at different injection temperatures revealed elemol and bulnesol as the major products at 275 and 200/150°C, respectively, without much change in the levels of minor products. This indicated thermal rearrangement of bulnesol into elemol at higher temperatures. Transient overexpression of StBUS/ELS in potato leaves conferred tolerance against the growth of bacteria P. syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum, and the fungus A. solani. Further, expression analysis of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes in StBUS/ELS overexpressing leaves showed no significant change in comparison to control, indicating a direct involvement of StBUS/ELS enzymatic products against pathogens. Overall, our study suggested that StBUS/ELS is a pathogen‐inducible TPS encoding bulnesol/elemol synthase and could provide a direct role in defense against biotic stress in potato.     

Identification of a second 16-hydroxytabersonine-O-methyltransferase suggests an evolutionary relationship between alkaloid and flavonoid metabolisms in Catharanthus roseus

Protoplasma - The medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus biosynthesizes many important drugs for human health, including the anticancer monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) vinblastine and vincristine....