高山松及其亲本种油松和云南松DHAR基因的功能分化

高山松(Pinus densata)是油松(P. tabulaeformis)与云南松(P. yunnanensis)自然杂交产生的同倍性杂种, 分布于青藏高原东南缘, 占据了油松和云南松两个亲本种都不能正常生长的高海拔地带。为了揭示高山松、油松和云南松脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)基因的组成和功能分化, 分别从高山松、油松和云南松中克隆到2类DHAR基因(DHAR1与DHAR2)。组织表达模式分析表明, 这6个基因在根、韧皮部、叶和芽中均有表达; 通过系统发育分析发现, 高山松在物种形成过程中保留了油松的DHAR1拷贝以及云南松的DHAR2拷贝; 酶学性质分析则表明, 高山松与油松DHAR1蛋白对底物具有相似的催化活性、催化效率、最适pH和热力学稳定性, 但其催化活性比云南松DHAR1蛋白高约300倍。高山松DHAR2蛋白对底物的催化活性和热力学稳定性均高于油松DHAR2蛋白。高山松DHAR基因在生化功能上显示出优于或类似亲本DHAR, 这种优势功能的选择与杂种独特的生态适应性可能有重要的相关性。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a rice dehydroascorbate reductase

Plant dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), which re-reduces oxidized ascorbate to maintain an appropriate level of ascorbate, is very important, but no gene or cDNA for plant DHAR has been cloned yet. Here, we describe a cDNA for a rice glutathione-dependent DHAR (designated DHAR1). A recombinant Dhar1p produced in Escherichia coli was functional. The expression sequence tag database suggests that Dhar1p homologs exist in various plants. Furthermore, the rice Dhar1p has a low similarity to rat DHAR, although the rice enzyme has a considerably higher specific activity than the mammalian one. The mRNA level of DHAR1, the protein level of Dhar1p and the DHAR activity in rice seedlings were elevated by high temperature, suggesting the protection role of DHAR at high temperature.     

Enhanced tolerance to ozone and drought stresses in transgenic tobacco overexpressing dehydroascorbate reductase in cytosol

Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a potent antioxidant protecting plants against oxidative damage imposed by environmental stresses such as ozone and drought. Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR; EC 1.8.5.1) is one of the two important enzymes functioning in the regeneration of ascorbate (AsA). To examine the protective role of DHAR against oxidative stress, we developed transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing cytosolic DHAR gene from Arabidopsis thaliana . Incorporation of the transgene in the genome of tobacco plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis, and its expression was confirmed by Northern and Western blot analyses. These transgenic plants exhibited 2.3–3.1 folds higher DHAR activity and 1.9–2.1 folds higher level of reduced AsA compared with non-transformed control plants. The transgenic plants showed maintained redox status of AsA and exhibited an enhanced tolerance to ozone, drought, salt, and polyethylene glycol stresses in terms of higher net photosynthesis. In this study, we report for the first time that the elevation of AsA level by targeting DHAR overexpression in cytosol properly provides a significantly enhanced oxidative stress tolerance imposed by drought and salt.     

Enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress in transgenic tobacco plants expressing three antioxidant enzymes in chloroplasts

The effect of simultaneous expression of genes encoding three antioxidant enzymes, copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and dehydroascorbate (DHA) reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), in the chloroplasts of tobacco plants was investigated under oxidative stress conditions. In previous studies, transgenic tobacco plants expressing both CuZnSOD and APX in chloroplast (CA plants), or DHAR in chloroplast showed enhanced tolerance to oxidative stresses, such as paraquat and salt. In this study, in order to develop transgenic plants that were more resistant to oxidative stress, we introduced the gene encoding DHAR into CA transgenic plants. Mature leaves of transgenic plants expressing all three antioxidant genes (CAD plants) had approximately 1.6–2.1 times higher DHAR activity, and higher ratios of reduced ascorbate (AsA) to DHA, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione (GSH) compared to CA plants. CAD plants were more resistant to paraquat-induced stress, exhibiting only 18.1% reduction in membrane damage relative to CA plants. In addition, seedlings of CAD plants had enhanced tolerance to NaCI (100 mM) compared to CA plants. These results indicate that the simultaneous expression of multiple antioxidant enzymes, such as CuZnSOD, APX, and DHAR, in chloroplasts is more effective than single or double expression for developing transgenic plants with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses.     

Molecular Properties and Functional Divergence of the Dehydroascorbate Reductase Gene Family in Lower and Higher Plants

Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), which reduces oxidized ascorbate, is important for maintaining an appropriate ascorbate redox state in plant cells. To date, genome-wide molecular characterization of DHARs has only been conducted in bryophytes (Physcomitrella patens) and eudicots (e.g. Arabidopsis thaliana). In this study, to gain a general understanding of the molecular properties and functional divergence of the DHARs in land plants, we further conducted a comprehensive analysis of DHARs from the lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii, gymnosperm Picea abies and monocot Zea mays. DHARs were present as a small gene family in all of the land plants we examined, with gene numbers ranging from two to four. All the plants contained cytosolic and chloroplastic DHARs, indicating dehydroascorbate (DHA) can be directly reduced in the cytoplasm and chloroplast by DHARs in all the plants. A novel vacuolar DHAR was found in Z. mays, indicating DHA may also be reduced in the vacuole by DHARs in Z. mays. The DHARs within each species showed extensive functional divergence in their gene structures, subcellular localizations, and enzymatic characteristics. This study provides new insights into the molecular characteristics and functional divergence of DHARs in land plants.     

重组毕赤酵母产青蛤Mytimacin抗菌肽的表达研究

Mytimacin是主要在无脊椎动物中表达的Macin抗菌肽家族中的一员,具有较强的抗病原微生物活性,是利用重组DNA技术开发天然抗菌剂的良好候选者。通过RT-PCR从青蛤(Cyclina sinensis)闭壳肌中克隆编码Mytimacin成熟肽的基因,经3次PCR在该基因的5’端添加Xho I限制性酶切位点和信号肽酶识别位点、3’端添加Xba I限制性酶切位点和6×His,获得目的基因"CsMm";以pPICZαA为表达载体、毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)X-33为工程菌,构建重组毕赤酵母X-33/pPICZαA-CsMm。通过高浓度博来霉素筛选高拷贝酵母转化子,在28℃、250 r/min条件下,使用1.5%的甲醇诱导表达72 h;使用固化金属离子亲和层析(IMAC)对表达产物进行纯化,并通过MALDI-TOF-TOF质谱分析对纯化产物进行鉴定。另外,通过涂布法和浊度法考察重组CsMm的抑菌活性。结果表明:基于X-33/pPICZαA-CsMm重组毕赤酵母的外源表达获得了表达量为25.6 mg/L的重组蛋白,经MALDI-TOF-TOF质谱鉴定其为分子量约7.8 kD的预期重组CsMm。抑菌试验证明重组CsMm对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)和副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio Parahemolyticus)具有明显的抑菌活性。构建的重组毕赤酵母X-33/pPICZαA-CsMm能有效合成具有生物学活性的重组青蛤Mytimacin,旨为贝类来源天然小分子抗菌剂的开发提供可资参考的技术途径。     

Dehydroascorbate reductase affects non-photochemical quenching and photosynthetic performance

Ascorbic acid (Asc) is a major antioxidant involved in photoprotection and photosynthetic function in plants. Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) catalyzes the regeneration of Asc from its oxidized state and serves as an important regulator of Asc recycling. In this work, we used a molecular biochemical approach to investigate how the efficiency of Asc recycling affects non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Suppression of DHAR expression resulted in a lower induction of NPQ that correlated with reductions in chlorophyll and xanthophyll pigments, quantum yield of photosystem II, and CO(2) assimilation, whereas the level of reactive oxygen species increased. The quickly reversible component of NPQ decreased and the slowly reversible or irreversible component of NPQ increased following a reduction in DHAR expression. Significant photoinhibition was also observed following exposure to high light. Direct feeding with Asc restored the appropriate induction of NPQ in DHAR-suppressed leaves. In contrast, increasing DHAR expression increased the pool size of xanthophyll and chlorophyll pigments as well as the rate of CO(2) assimilation, particularly at high light intensities, whereas the level of reactive oxygen species was reduced. Leaves with increased DHAR expression experienced less photoinhibition than did wild-type plants following exposure to high light. DHAR activity, therefore, can affect the appropriate induction of NPQ and level of photoprotection during exposure to high light.     

Enhanced stress-tolerance of transgenic tobacco plants expressing a human dehydroascorbate reductase gene

To analyze the physiological role of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) catalyzing the reduction of DHA to ascorbate in environmental stress adaptation, T1 transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) plants expressing a human DHAR gene in chloroplasts were biochemically characterized and tested for responses to various stresses. Fully expanded leaves of transgenic plants had about 2.29 times higher DHAR activity (units/g fresh wt) than non-transgenic (NT) plants. Interestingly, transgenic plants also showed a 1.43 times higher glutathione reductase activity than NT plants. As a result, the ratio of AsA/DHA was changed from 0.21 to 0.48, even though total ascorbate content was not significantly changed. When tobacco leaf discs were subjected to methyl viologen (MV) at 5 mumol/L and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 200 mmol/L, transgenic plants showed about a 40% and 25% reduction in membrane damage relative to NT plants, respectively. Furthermore, transgenic seedlings showed enhanced tolerance to low temperature (15 degrees C) and NaCl (100 mmol/L) compared to NT plants. These results suggest that a human derived DHAR properly works for the protection against oxidative stress in plants.     

酿酒酵母ATP-硫酸化酶在大肠杆菌中的表达纯化及其在焦测序中的应用

ATP-硫酸化酶(ATPS,EC2.7.7.4)是一种可逆催化ATP和SO42-反应生成腺嘌呤-5′-磷酸硫酸(APS)和焦磷酸盐(PPi)的酶,已经用于焦测序反应。以酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisias,CICC1202)基因组DNA为模板,用PCR扩增得到ATPS基因,并克隆到原核表达质粒pET28a( ),得到重组表达质粒pET28a( )-ATPS,在IPTG诱导下,携带pET28a( )-ATPS的大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)表达分子量约为60kD的带有His标签的ATPS酶,经镍亲和层析和超滤两步纯化后,可得到电泳纯级ATPS,比活达5.1×104u/mg,并成功应用于焦测序反应中。     

苯甘氨酸氨基转移酶基因hpgt的原核优化表达与酶动力学特性研究

苯甘氨酸氨基转移酶(4-Hydroxyphenylglycine aminotransferase)是假单胞菌所产生的一种能够合成D-苯甘氨酸的重要转氨酶。利用密码子优化技术,合成苯甘氨酸转移酶基因。构建原核重组质粒pCDF-hpgt,转入感受态细胞E.coli BL21(DE3),优化表达His-HpgT蛋白。利用Ni-NTA柱纯化技术获得高纯度的His-HpgT融合蛋白。分别测定融合蛋白在正反向反应中的酶活力单位及最佳的反应温度、pH值及其他动力学参数,并对该酶特性作相关的机理分析。测定结果表明,正向反应和反向反应的酶比活力分别为749mU/mg、2 257mU/mg,此酶分解苯甘氨酸的能力要强于合成苯甘氨酸;正向反应的最适温度与pH分别是35℃和8.0;由米氏方程得出该酶对苯甘氨酸的亲和力远大于谷氨酸;较低浓度的苯乙醛酸即可抑制反应的进行。     

江南卷柏脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶的分子特性

脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶 (DHAR) 在植物抗坏血酸?谷胱甘肽循环中发挥着重要作用。利用同源克隆技术从江南卷柏中克隆到2个脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶基因,分别命名为SmDHAR1和SmDHAR2。SmDHAR1和SmDHAR2分别编码218和241个氨基酸,预测分子量分别是23.97 kDa和27.33 kDa。基因组序列分析显示这2个基因分别含有5和6个内含子。器官表达模式分析发现这2个基因在根、茎、叶中均有表达,是组成型表达基因。在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化了2个基因的重组蛋白。酶活性分析显示SmDHAR1和SmDHAR2蛋白对底物DHA的活性有显著差异,分别是19.76和0.17 μmol/(min·mg)。热力学稳定性分析显示这2个重组蛋白的热力学稳定性具有明显差异。因此,基因结构与酶学性质的差异预示着这2个基因可能存在功能上的分化。     

Expression of a functional recombinant chimeric protein of human hepatitis A virus VP1 and an Fc antibody fragment in transgenic tomato plants

Transgenic tomato plants expressing the gene of a chimeric protein (HAV VP1-Fc) consisting of human hepatitis A virus (HAV) VP1 and an Fc antibody fragment have been obtained. Recombinant VP1-Fc protein with a molecular mass of approximately 68 kDa was purified from transgenic tomato plants using Protein A Sepharose affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein elicited production of specific IgG antibodies in the serum after intraperitoneal immunization of BALB/c mice. The antibodies produced by mice against transgenic plant-derived recombinant VP1-Fc most likely recognize epitopes in the HAV viral antigen. Following vaccination with recombinant VP1-Fc protein, expression of IFN-γ and IL-4 were increased in splenocytes at the time of sacrifice. Our findings indicate that transgenic tomato plants can provide a useful system for the production of HAV antigens.     

Expression of soluble recombinant transglutaminase from Zea mays in Pichia pastoris

Transglutaminases (TGases) catalyze post-translational protein modifications by ε-(γ-glutamyl) links and covalent amide bonds. In plant, this enzyme is poorly studied and only the Zea mays TGase gene (tgz) has been cloned. The tgz had been expressed in Escherichia coli, but the recombinant protein was mainly present in inclusion bodies. Therefore, to obtain active, soluble protein, we optimized its coding sequence according to the codon bias of Pichia pastoris and synthesized the sequence with SOEing-PCR. The optimized fragment was successfully transformed into P. pastoris GS115 by electroporation. The optimal conditions for expression were under a final concentration of 0.5 % methanol and a time-course of 96 h. The synthesized recombinant Zea mays transglutaminase (TGZs) was purified by affinity method, its production was 4.4 mg/L, and the specific activity was 0.889 U/mg under optimal expression condition. Optimal activity for TGZs was observed at 37 °C and a pH of 8.0, respectively. The cross-linking reaction of TGZs to the casein was studied, and the result was same as the reaction of casein by microbial transglutaminase. These results indicated that an effective procedure for expressing and purifying TGZs in P. pastoris GS115 was established.     

小菜蛾溶菌酶Pxlys的基因克隆及其重组蛋白的抗菌活性分析

[目的]本研究旨在通过研究小菜蛾Plutella xylostella溶菌酶的功能,进一步认识小菜蛾的免疫防御机理,为小菜蛾的生物防治提供新的思路.[方法]利用RACE技术克隆小菜蛾溶菌酶基因.构建原核表达载体pET-29a-Pxlys,利用原核表达系统表达并用镍柱亲和层析纯化重组蛋白Pxlys.利用牛津杯法检测重组蛋...     

箭舌豌豆根系抗坏血酸及相关酶对镉胁迫的响应

以箭舌豌豆(Vicia sativa L.)品种L3(耐镉)和ZM(镉敏感)为材料,研究了不同程度镉胁迫下箭舌豌豆幼苗根系抗坏血酸(AsA)含量、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)同工酶活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)同工酶活性以及APX基因表达的变化。结果显示:(1)2个箭舌豌豆品种根系AsA和脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)含量在镉胁迫下显著升高;AsA/DHA比值在镉耐性品种L3中显著升高,在敏感品种ZM中显著下降;相同镉处理浓度下,L3根系AsA含量和AsA/DHA比值显著大于ZM。(2)2个品种根系DHAR的活性电泳共显示4条同工酶条带,它们的活性均随镉处理浓度的升高而升高;其中DHAR1只在L3显示,DHAR4只在ZM显示;相同镉处理浓度下,品种L3的DHAR的总活性大于品种ZM。(3)2个品种根系APX的活性电泳共显示11条同工酶条带,其中的APX1、2、4仅在敏感品种ZM中受镉胁迫诱导,APX 8在耐性品种L3中受到比敏感品种ZM更显著的诱导;克隆得到1个箭舌豌豆APX基因,荧光定量RT-PCR结果显示该基因的转录在L3和ZM根系均受镉处理诱导。研究表明,镉胁迫下2个箭舌豌豆品种根系AsA含量,AsA代谢相关酶DHAR和APX的活性以及APX的转录水平均显著升高;镉耐性品种L3较敏感品种ZM能更有效地促进AsA循环,维持更高的AsA水平,从而更有效地缓解镉胁迫诱导产生的氧化胁迫,这可能是L3较ZM具有更高镉耐性的重要机制之一。     

Cloning and Function Characterization of Two Dehydroascorbate Reductases from Kiwifruit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia chinensis</Emphasis> L.)

Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) plays a critical role in the regeneration of l-ascorbic acid (AsA). To date, there is virtually no information on the molecular characteristics of DHAR in kiwifruit, an economically and nutritionally important horticultural crop with remarkably high AsA concentration. Here, we isolated two cDNAs encoding putative DHARs (designated as AcDHAR1 and AcDHAR2) from Actinidia chinensis cv. Hongyang. Both in silico and subcellular localization analyses demonstrated that AcDHAR1 and AcDHAR2 were targeted to cytosol and chloroplast, respectively. The recombinant AcDHAR1 and AcDHAR2 were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. Enzymatic study shows both of them are thermostable and possess a relatively high affinity to dehydroascorbate with an optimal pH ranging from 6 to 8. In addition, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants separately expressing either AcDHAR1 or AcDHAR2 were shown to have significantly increased AsA concentration and enhanced tolerance to salinity. The present study suggested that AcDHAR1 and AcDHAR2 may play a protective role in response to environmental stimuli in kiwifruit.