Characterization, molecular cloning, and differential expression analysis of laccase genes from the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes.

The effect of different substrates and various developmental stages (mycelium growth, primordium appearance, and fruiting-body formation) on laccase production in the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes was studied. The cap of the mature mushroom showed the highest laccase activity, and laccase activity was not stimulated by some well-known laccase inducers or sawdust. For our molecular studies, two genomic DNA sequences, representing allelic variants of the L. edodes lac1 gene, were isolated, and DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that lac1 encodes a putative polypeptide of 526 amino acids which is interrupted by 13 introns. The two allelic genes differ at 95 nucleotides, which results in seven amino acid differences in the encoded protein. The copper-binding domains found in other laccase enzymes are conserved in the L. edodes Lac1 proteins. A fragment of a second laccase gene (lac2) was also isolated, and competitive PCR showed that expression of lac1 and lac2 genes was different under various conditions. Our results suggest that laccases may play a role in the morphogenesis of the mushroom. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the cloning of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation in this economically important edible fungus.     

Characterization, Molecular Cloning, and Differential Expression Analysis of Laccase Genes from the Edible Mushroom Lentinula edodes

The effect of different substrates and various developmental stages (mycelium growth, primordium appearance, and fruiting-body formation) on laccase production in the edible mushroom Lentinula edodes was studied. The cap of the mature mushroom showed the highest laccase activity, and laccase activity was not stimulated by some well-known laccase inducers or sawdust. For our molecular studies, two genomic DNA sequences, representing allelic variants of the L. edodes lac1 gene, were isolated, and DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that lac1 encodes a putative polypeptide of 526 amino acids which is interrupted by 13 introns. The two allelic genes differ at 95 nucleotides, which results in seven amino acid differences in the encoded protein. The copper-binding domains found in other laccase enzymes are conserved in the L. edodes Lac1 proteins. A fragment of a second laccase gene (lac2) was also isolated, and competitive PCR showed that expression of lac1 and lac2 genes was different under various conditions. Our results suggest that laccases may play a role in the morphogenesis of the mushroom. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the cloning of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation in this economically important edible fungus.     

Increase of yeast survival under oxidative stress by the expression of the laccase gene from Coprinellus congregatus

Coprinellus congregatus secreted a laccase isozyme when the culture was transferred to an acidic liquid medium (pH 4.1). The laccase cDNA gene (clac2) was used as a probe for cloning of the genomic laccase gene (lac2) including the promoter (Plac2). The open reading frame (ORF) of lac2 had 526 deduced amino acids and four conserved copper binding domains as other fungal laccases. Recombinant plasmid (pRSlac2p-cDNA) of lac2 cDNA with its own promoter was transformed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of the transformed lac2 gene was induced by oxidative stress (H2O2) in yeast and the survival rate of the transformed yeast strain was greatly increased when compared with that of the control strain transformed with pRS316 yeast vector.     

Molecular cloning and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of a laccase gene from the ascomycete Melanocarpus albomyces

The lac1 gene encoding an extracellular laccase was isolated from the thermophilic fungus Melanocarpus albomyces. This gene has five introns, and it encodes a protein consisting of 623 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the laccase was shown to have high homology with laccases from other ascomycetes. In addition to removal of a putative 22-amino-acid signal sequence and a 28-residue propeptide, maturation of the translation product of lac1 was shown to involve cleavage of a C-terminal 14-amino-acid extension. M. albomyces lac1 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the inducible GAL1 promoter. Extremely low production was obtained with the expression construct containing laccase cDNA with its own signal and propeptide sequences. The activity levels were significantly improved by replacing these sequences with the prepro sequence of the S. cerevisiae alpha-factor gene. The role of the C-terminal extension in laccase production in S. cerevisiae was also studied. Laccase production was increased sixfold with the modified cDNA that had a stop codon after the native processing site at the C terminus.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of a Laccase Gene from the Ascomycete Melanocarpus albomyces

The lac1 gene encoding an extracellular laccase was isolated from the thermophilic fungus Melanocarpus albomyces. This gene has five introns, and it encodes a protein consisting of 623 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the laccase was shown to have high homology with laccases from other ascomycetes. In addition to removal of a putative 22-amino-acid signal sequence and a 28-residue propeptide, maturation of the translation product of lac1 was shown to involve cleavage of a C-terminal 14-amino-acid extension. M. albomyces lac1 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the inducible GAL1 promoter. Extremely low production was obtained with the expression construct containing laccase cDNA with its own signal and propeptide sequences. The activity levels were significantly improved by replacing these sequences with the prepro sequence of the S. cerevisiae α-factor gene. The role of the C-terminal extension in laccase production in S. cerevisiae was also studied. Laccase production was increased sixfold with the modified cDNA that had a stop codon after the native processing site at the C terminus.     

Molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding laccase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus I-937 and expression in Pichia pastoris.

Laccases are multicopper-containing enzymes which catalyse the oxidation of phenolic and nonphenolic compounds with the concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen. In this study, a full-length cDNA coding for laccase (lac1) from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus I-937 was isolated and characterized. The corresponding open reading frame is 1557 nucleotides long and encodes a protein of 518 amino acids. The cDNA encodes a precursor protein containing a 21 amino-acid signal sequence corresponding to a putative signal peptide. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the encoded protein was similar to that of other laccase proteins, with the residues involved in copper coordination sharing the greatest extent of similarity. The cDNA encoding for laccase was placed under the control of the alcohol oxidase (Aox 1) promoter and expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris. The laccase leader peptide, as well as the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor signal peptide, efficiently directed the secretion into the culture medium of laccase in an active form. Moreover, the laccase activity was directly detected in plates. The identity of the recombinant product was further confirmed by protein immunoblotting. The expected molecular mass of the mature protein is 81 kDa. However, the apparent molecular mass of the recombinant protein is 110 k Da, thus suggesting that the protein expressed in P. pastoris may be hyperglycosylated.     

Isolation of laccase gene from Bacillus subtilis and analysis of its physicochemical properties

The present study reports the cloning and sequencing of lac2 from Bacillus subtilis. The gene is composed of 1542 bp and encodes a 514-amino acid protein. The gene has 86% homology with a published laccase with GeneID 936023. The lac2 gene was deposited in GenBank as a new nucleotide sequence. This new sequence was cloned into the multiple cloning site of pPIC9K to generate pPIC9K-lac2, which was then transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 via electroporation. The recombinant GS115 (pPIC9K-lac2) was grown initially in BMGY medium and transferred to BMMY to induce gene expression for 48 h. The recombinant Lac2 protein shows laccase activity with α-naphthol and guaiacol as substrates. The optimal pH is between 3.2 and 4.7, and the optimal temperature is 25 °C for enzyme reaction.     

Characterization of a laccase gene from the white-rot fungi Trametes sp. 5930 isolated from Shennongjia Nature Reserve in China and studying on the capability of decolorization of different synthetic dyes

Laccase belongs to a family of multi-copper oxidases which is especially useful for biotechnological and industrial applications. A laccase-producing white-rot fungi strain designated as Trametes sp. 5930 was nearly isolated from Shennongjia Nature Reserve in China. Trametes sp. 5930 had the high yield of laccase and was capable of decolorizing different dyes efficiently. Laccase played a very important role in the decolorization of different dyes by this fungus. The laccase gene lac5930-1 and its corresponding full-length cDNA were then cloned and characterized from Trametes sp. 5930. The 1563 bp full-length cDNA of lac5930-1 encoded a mature laccase protein consisting of 499 amino acids preceded by a signal peptide of 21 amino acids. lac5930-1 gene was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris, which verified the function of lac5930-1 encoding active laccase by means of gene expression. The recombinant laccase produced by the yeast transformant in which lac5930-1 was efficiently expressed, conferred the ability to decolorize different dyes. The capability of decolorizing different dyes was positively related to the laccase activity, which provided strong evidence for the important function of laccase used in decolorizing industrial dyes.     

Induction of laccase activity in the edible straw mushroom,Volvariella volvacea

Volvariella volvacea, strain V14, produces multiple forms of extracellular laccase when grown in submerged culture in a defined medium with glucose as sole carbon source, and on cotton waste 'compost' representative of the conditions used for industrial-scale mushroom cultivation. In liquid culture, enzyme synthesis is associated with the onset of secondary growth, and is positively regulated by copper (up to 200 microM CuSO(4)) and by various aromatic compounds. In solid-state systems, only low levels of laccase are detectable during the vegetative growth phase but enzyme activity increases sharply at the onset of fruiting and during sporophore development.     

毛木耳漆酶基因的克隆、序列分析及其鉴定

本文利用PCR和RACE技术首次从毛木耳AP4菌株中获得编码漆酶基因的cDNA及其基因组全长序列,基因组大小为2514 bp.通过比较该漆酶基因的cDNA和基因组DNA的全长序列,发现该基因包含14个外显子和13个内含子.cDNA序列的全长为1972 bp,其包含一个完整的ORE长度为1860 bp,编码619氨基酸,推测的分子量大小为68 kD,等电点pI为5.15.在氨基酸序列的氨基末端存在一个信号肽序列,同时该基因还包括含铜氧化酶的三个功能结构域KOG1263、SufI和pfam00394.氨基酸序列与GenBank中登录的真菌漆酶蛋白序列比对表明:该氨基酸序列与其它真菌漆酶蛋白序列有较高的同源性,氨基酸序列相同性最高达41%,相似性为58%,并且含有真菌漆酶的四个保守的Cu-bind结构域.将获得的漆酶基因lacl与毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9K连接,构建重组质粒pYH3660,将其转化到毕赤酵母中,经甲醇诱导该基因在第10天产酶高达123 IU/L,并通过Native SDS-PAGE电泳获得预期大小的漆酶蛋白条带.结构分析和功能验证均表明:本研究获得的基因lacl为漆酶基因.     

抗冷冻蛋白基因遗传转化草菇的研究

采用RT PCR技术从瑞典的北极云杉卷叶蛾幼虫中扩增出抗冷冻蛋白基因 ,利用基因枪法遗传转化草菇。PCR检测和Southern杂交结果证明 ,抗冷冻蛋白基因已整合进草菇基因组。低温胁迫试验结果表明 ,转基因草菇具有较强的耐低温能力。转基因草菇生物学特性观测结果显示 ,大多数草菇转化子的生长速率明显地慢于对照的宿主菌株 ,多数转化子的菌丝也明显地比宿主菌丝细弱。转化子筛选结果表明 ,采用三轮的转化子筛选程序 ,即第一轮在固体培养基上筛选、第二轮和第三轮在液体培养基中筛选 ,有利于获得真实转化子和淘汰假转化子。转基因草菇一代低温胁迫结果证明 ,转基因草菇后代仍然具有较强的低温耐受能力 ,这说明转基因草菇的耐低温性能在世代之间是稳定的     

草菇基因组中11个漆酶同源基因的生物信息学分析及铜离子对其表达的影响

通过分析草菇基因组中11个漆酶同源基因所编码的蛋白的性质、转录调控元件和测定铜离子存在条件下的草菇漆酶活性及11个漆酶基因的转录水平,揭示了草菇漆酶基因的各自特性、差异以及基因功能与进化机制。分析表明,这11个漆酶同源基因编码的蛋白具有508–562aa个氨基酸,分子量和理论等电点分别为56.25–60.75kDa和4.51–6.18（未经翻译后修饰）,且都具有真菌漆酶铜离子结合区域的特征序列、4个能够结合催化底物的环形结构以及信号肽序列,都属于分泌性的胞外蛋白,但其底物结合位点数目、loop序列的一致性、跨膜区域数目和位置以及信号肽位置等存在较大差异。草菇11个漆酶起始密码子上游2 000bp的序列中含有真核生物的基本转录调控元件（TATA-box,CAAT-box及GC-box）和多个潜在的调控元件（MRE、XRE、STRE、HSE、ARE、TRE、NIT元件等）,但每个基因所含调控元件数目及种类各有不同。在液体培养条件下,铜离子能够诱导除vv-lac2、vv-lac3和vv-lac7之外的其余8个草菇漆酶基因的表达,且适宜浓度的铜离子有助于草菇漆酶活性的增加。     

Characterization and heterologous expression of laccase cDNAs from xylem tissues of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Four closely related cDNA clones encoding laccase isoenzymes from xylem tissues of yellow-poplar (Ltlacc2.1–4) were identified and sequenced. The inferred yellow-poplar laccase gene products were highly related to one another (79–91% at the amino acid level) and showed significant similarity to other blue copper oxidases, especially with respect to the copper-binding domains. The encoded proteins had N-terminal signal sequences and 17–19 potential N-linked glycosylation sites. The mature proteins were predicted to have molecular masses of ca. 61 kDa (unglycosylated) and high isoelectric points (pI 9.3–9.5). The canonical copper ligands were conserved, with the exception of a Leu residue associated with the axial position of the Type-1 cupric ion. The residue at this position has been proposed to influence the redox potential of Type-1 cupric ions. Northern blot analysis revealed that the yellow-poplar laccase genes are differentially expressed in xylem tissues. The genes were verified as encoding active laccases by heterologous expression in tobacco cells and demonstration of laccase activity in extracts from transformed tobacco cell lines.     

Cloning, in vitro expression and bioactivity of goose interferon-alpha

The cDNA of goose interferon-alpha (goIFN-alpha) was amplified from PHA stimulated PBMCs of goose by RT-PCR. The cDNA encodes a 30-amino acid signal peptide and a 161-amino acid mature protein, respectively. Recombinant mature goIFN-alpha (rgoIFN-alpha) expressed by prokaryotic and eukaryotic system possessed antiviral activity that was neutralized by rabbit anti-rgoIFN-alpha antibody in vitro. On the other hand, rgoIFN-alpha lacks intrinsic macrophage activating factor (MAF) activity, peripheral blood leukocyte-derived macrophages (PBLMs) could not produce nitric oxide (NO) by stimulate with rgoIFN-alpha as compared to stimulate with recombinant mature goIFN-gamma (rgoIFN-gamma) that was a powerful NO stimulant in vitro.     

Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding the laccase from Schizophyllum commune

We cloned and analyzed the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA that encodes polyphenol oxidase (laccase) from the white-rot basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune. The nucleotide sequence of the full-length cDNA contained a 1554-base open reading frame that encoded a polypeptide of 518 amino acid residues, including a putative signal peptide of 16 residues. It contained four highly similar regions that are conserved in the deduced amino acid sequences of other laccases, including the region thought to be involved in copper binding. Aspergillus sojae strain 1860 (which has low protease levels) was transformed with the plasmid lacAL/pTPT, which contained the laccase gene under the control of the tannase promoter from Aspergillus oryzae. Laccase was secreted into the medium when transformants A1 and A2 were cultured in tannic acid-containing medium.