脯氨酸转运相关基因的研究进展

作为植物中普遍存在的一种逆境适应机制, 脯氨酸积累一直被认为是其合成和降解调控的结果。然而越来越多的研究表明, 脯氨酸转运也可能在其积累过程中起重要作用。在植物中, 有多个氨基酸转运蛋白家族, 如氨基酸通透酶家族(AAPs)、赖氨酸组氨酸转运蛋白家族(LHTs)和脯氨酸转运蛋白家族(ProTs)参与脯氨酸在各个器官间的运输。该文对参与脯氨酸运输的基因家族成员的表达模式、生理功能及表达调控进行了综述, 以期为脯氨酸运输与积累在植物抗逆方面的研究提供参考。     

植物抗坏血酸的生物合成、转运及其生物学功能

抗坏血酸是高等植物中普遍存在的小分子物质,在植物细胞对氧化胁迫的抵抗、细胞分裂和伸长中发挥着重要作用。它在线粒体中合成,然后被转运到其他细胞区间以发挥生理作用。在不同生物膜上可能存在不同的ASC转运体,这些转运体的存在可使ASC及其不同氧化还原态形式根据细胞生理状况的需要而在不同细胞区间转运。ASC的重要生理功能是与其氧化还原状态以及生物合成、代谢、再生和转运的相关酶类活性的变化密切相关的。本文简要综述了近年来人们在植物抗坏血酸生物合成、代谢、转运、逆境响应与植物生长发育中的研究进展。     

高等植物脯氨酸代谢研究进展

很多植物在胁迫条件下可以通过增加合成、减少降解而在体内累积大量脯氨酸,这对于调节渗透平衡、防止渗透胁迫对植物造成伤害、清除自由基、保护细胞结构具有重要意义。脯氨酸合成、降解相关酶的编码基因大都已经克隆到,但对脯氨酸在植物发育中的具体作用、胁迫条件下脯氨酸累积的分子机理了解还比较少。概述了植物控制脯氨酸合成、降解相关酶的编码基因的研究进展情况。     

真菌中一氧化氮生物合成、降解及功能的研究进展

一氧化氮是一个有较高活性的自由基气体分子,无论在动植物还是微生物中,作为一个细胞内和细胞间的信号传导分子,它在许多的生理和病理过程中都发挥着双向的调节作用.研究发现真菌细胞可以合成一氧化氮,适当浓度的一氧化氮在真菌细胞内发挥多种重要的生物学功能,一旦一氧化氮过量累积,这个自由基分子会对细胞造成伤害,导致细胞凋亡.一氧化氮介导生成的环鸟苷酸(cGMP)作为一种重要的第二信使分子涉及到真菌细胞内多种信号途径的调控,调节了整个真菌类群的生长发育、形态发生、孢子形成和萌发、繁殖和细胞凋亡的过程,影响了真菌整个生命周期的生理活动.到目前为止,尽管一氧化氮在动植物中作用的机制得到了广泛的研究,但一氧化氮在真菌中的研究报道很有限.关于一氧化氮在真菌中的合成和降解途径,一氧化氮介导的信号传导机制的研究还不透彻,它在真菌细胞内的功能和毒理还有待于更深入的研究.     

脯氨酸代谢与植物抗渗透胁迫的研究进展

脯氨酸被认为是植物和细菌内的一种相容渗透剂,有助于植物和细菌抵御渗透胁迫。本文就近年来有关植物体内脯氨酸合成和代谢、脯氨酸含量受渗透胁迫的影响情况、脯氨酸合成降解有关的酶及其基因、脯氨酸在细胞中的运输和定位、ＡＢＡ与脯氨酸的诱导合成以及脯氨酸和植物抗渗透胁迫关系的研究进展作了简要综述。     

植物谷胱甘肽的生物合成及其生物学功能

谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)是硫酸根还原同化途径中主要的含硫非蛋白终端产物,在生物中以还原型谷胱甘肽(reduced glutathione,GSH)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(oxidized glutathione,GSSG)存在。因其在植物体中的广泛存在和独特的还原能力得到广泛关注。本文从谷胱甘肽在植物体内的生物合成,谷胱甘肽的区划、运输和降解以及在非生物胁迫条件下的生物学功能等方面论述了近年来国内外对谷胱甘肽的研究进展。     

榆钱菠菜脯氨酸转运蛋白基因的克隆及转基因拟南芥的耐盐性

脯氨酸是自然界中分布最广泛,作用最重要的渗透保护剂之一,同时又是高等植物中一类重要的碳源和氮源物质.为了解环境胁迫下脯氨酸的转运调节,从一个典型的盐生植物榆钱菠菜( Atriplex hortensis L.)中通过cDNA文库筛选和5′-RACE的方法获得了一个全长的cDNA (AhProT1),其编码蛋白与脯氨酸转运蛋白有60%～69%的同源性,含有11个跨膜结构域.聚类分析表明,微生物和高等植物的脯氨酸转运蛋白同源程度相对高于哺乳动物.为进一步分析脯氨酸转运蛋白在植物中的功能,将AhProT1置于35S启动子下转入拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana).通过同位素示踪法发现, 与对照植物相比, 转基因植物在根中积累更多的脯氨酸;在一系列不同浓度的盐胁迫试验中,转基因植株最高可耐受200 mmol/L NaCl,并可持续生长,而对照植株在150 mmol/L NaCl下即已死亡.     

榆钱菠菜脯氨酸转运蛋白基因的克隆及转基因拟南芥的耐盐性

脯氨酸是自然界中分布最广泛 ,作用最重要的渗透保护剂之一 ,同时又是高等植物中一类重要的碳源和氮源物质。为了解环境胁迫下脯氨酸的转运调节 ,从一个典型的盐生植物榆钱菠菜 (AtriplexhortensisL .)中通过cDNA文库筛选和 5′_RACE的方法获得了一个全长的cDNA (AhProT1) ,其编码蛋白与脯氨酸转运蛋白有 6 0 %～ 6 9%的同源性 ,含有 11个跨膜结构域。聚类分析表明 ,微生物和高等植物的脯氨酸转运蛋白同源程度相对高于哺乳动物。为进一步分析脯氨酸转运蛋白在植物中的功能 ,将AhProT1置于 35S启动子下转入拟南芥 (Arabidopsisthaliana)。通过同位素示踪法发现 ,与对照植物相比 ,转基因植物在根中积累更多的脯氨酸 ;在一系列不同浓度的盐胁迫试验中 ,转基因植株最高可耐受 2 0 0mmol/LNaCl,并可持续生长 ,而对照植株在 15 0mmol/LNaCl下即已死亡。     

细菌降解萘、菲的代谢途径及相关基因的研究进展

多环芳烃(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)是一类在环境中广泛存在的具有毒性的污染物,微生物降解是其在自然界中降解的主要途径,因而尤为重要。随着研究的深入,关于微生物降解PAHs的分子降解机制、途径等的认识逐渐积累。以下对细菌降解萘、菲的研究进展进行了概述,介绍了萘的水杨酸降解途径,菲的水杨酸、邻苯二甲酸及其他降解途径,同时也包括降解过程中涉及的降解基因簇,如nah-like、phn、phd、nid和nag等以及细菌在PAHs胁迫条件下其他相关基因的表达与调节等方面的最新进展。这些进展可为降解菌株的分子及遗传机制研究提供理论依据,将促进通过基因工程优化降解菌、更有效地检测PAHs环境污染及实现PAHs污染的生物修复。     

Fasciolicidal potential of proline analogues and proline biosynthesis inhibitors

Sheers Marion, Campbell Anne J., Beames D. J., Edwards S. R., Moore R. J. and Montague P. E. 1982. Fasciolicidal potential of proline analogues and proline biosynthesis inhibitors. International Journal for Parasitology12: 47–52. Hydroxylamine HCl and thiazolidine-4'-carboxylic acid, known inhibitors of important enzymes of proline biosynthesis, inhibited to a similar extent the arginine-dependent proline production by the liver fluke Fasciola hepofica; in vitro there appeared to be no correlation between inhibition of proline synthesis and deterioration of the fluke. Another known inhibitor, thiosemicarbazide, had no effect on arginine-dependent proline production in vitro. None of these compounds was effective in vivo either as a flukicidal agent per se or in the prevention of the establishment of fluke in the bile duct of rats. A variety of proline analogues was also tested for flukicidal activity in vitro and in vivo as well as for their ability to inhibit the establishment of fluke in the bile duct of rats. Only one was effective in vitro and none was effective in vivo. Also continuous administration of l-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid failed to prevent the establishment of an infection of liver fluke in the bile duct. It is concluded that there is little prospect of a successful approach to chemotherapy of fascioliasis in this area.     

Effect of water stress on proline catabolism in tobacco leaves

Proline-[¹⁴C] infiltrated into leaf disks of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv BY-4) in the dark was converted to glutamic acid and then metabolized through the TCA cycle. A smaller amount of proline-[¹⁴C] was metabolized when the leaf disks were wilted than when turgid. During a 6 hr period following rehydration, disks converted a larger amount of proline-[¹⁴C] to oxidized products than when wilted, although the proline content of rehydrated disks had not declined. These results indicate that proline oxidation is inhibited by water stress.     

D-阿洛酮糖的功能及其生物合成研究进展

随着肥胖、糖尿病等代谢性疾病的发病率在全球范围急剧上升,人们对食品营养和健康等问题日益关注。D-阿洛酮糖作为重要的天然稀有己酮糖,不仅保持良好的甜度,而且具有降血糖、降血脂、抗氧化等功效,逐渐成为食品、保健和医疗领域的研究热点。文中阐述了D-阿洛酮糖的主要生理功能,综述了D-阿洛酮糖的生物合成研究进展及其酮糖3-差向异构酶的晶体结构,为筛选D-阿洛酮糖的产生菌株及提高合成酶的热稳定性和转化率提供理论指导,以满足工业化生产的需求。     

Proline porters effect the utilization of proline as nutrient or osmoprotectant for bacteria

Proline is utilized by all organisms as a protein constituent. It may also serve as a source of carbon, energy and nitrogen for growth or as an osmoprotectant. The molecular characteristics of the proline transport systems which mediate the multiple functions of proline in the Gram negative enteric bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, are now becoming apparent. Recent research on those organisms has provided both protocols for the genetic and biochemical characterization of the enzymes mediating proline transport and molecular probes with which the degree of homology among the proline transport systems of archaebacteria, eubacteria and eukaryotes can be assessed. This review has provided a detailed summary of recent research on proline transport in E. coli and S. typhimurium; the properties of other organisms are cited primarily to illustrate the generality of those observations and to show where homologous proline transport systems might be expected to occur. The characteristics of proline transport in eukaryotic microorganisms have recently been reviewed (Horak, 1986).     

Sibling Cannibalism of Young Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, in Relation to Size Disparity and Metabolic Rates

Cannibalism is a leading cause of young mortality in the red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, culture, and size disparity is its primary causative factor. Cannibalism did not occur in young fish, graded by a difference of 0.5cm from 2.0 to 4.5cm in total length. There was a shift in the size distribution from unimodal (normal) when there was no cannibalism, to bimodal or trimodal when cannibalism occurred. The results suggested that the wider was the size disparity, the greater was the sibling cannibalism. Size disparity increased with growth and in turn with sibling cannibalism, which became insignificant when the young grew to a size of about 6cm. We present threshold levels of size disparity among siblings to prevent mutual cannibalism. We hypothesize that through sibling cannibalism a hierarchy may evolve in a red drum cohort, at which a stable population will form.     

Regulation and function of proline oxidase under nutrient stress

Under conditions of nutrient stress, cells switch to a survival mode catabolizing cellular and tissue constituents for energy. Proline metabolism is especially important in nutrient stress because proline is readily available from the breakdown of extracellular matrix (ECM), and the degradation of proline through the proline cycle initiated by proline oxidase (POX), a mitochondrial inner membrane enzyme, can generate ATP. This degradative pathway generates glutamate and α‐ketoglutarate, products that can play an anaplerotic role for the TCA cycle. In addition the proline cycle is in a metabolic interlock with the pentose phosphate pathway providing another bioenergetic mechanism. Herein we have investigated the role of proline metabolism in conditions of nutrient stress in the RKO colorectal cancer cell line. The induction of stress either by glucose withdrawal or by treatment with rapamycin, stimulated degradation of proline and increased POX catalytic activity. Under these conditions POX was responsible, at least in part, for maintenance of ATP levels. Activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), the cellular energy sensor, by 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR), also markedly upregulated POX and increased POX‐dependent ATP levels, further supporting its role during stress. Glucose deprivation increased intracellular proline levels, and expression of POX activated the pentose phosphate pathway. Together, these results suggest that the induction of proline cycle under conditions of nutrient stress may be a mechanism by which cells switch to a catabolic mode for maintaining cellular energy levels. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 759–768, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

细菌中RNase HI介导RNA降解的研究进展

在细菌细胞中,为了维持基因组稳定和正常的生命活动,RNase HI通常以降解RNA/DNA杂合链中RNA的方式来防止复制中引物的积累以及转录中R环的形成。RNase HI对底物的识别主要依赖于DNA与RNA结合槽,对底物的催化主要依赖于DEDD基序和位于活性位点附近柔性环中的一个组氨酸。以Mg²⁺为代表的金属离子在催化过程中发挥了至关重要的作用。杂交双链中ssDNA突出部分的类型决定了RNase HI的作用模式：在没有突出或在ssDNA的5′端存在突出部分的情况下,RNase HI作为一种非序列特异性核酸内切酶随机地降解RNA;当ssDNA的3′端存在突出部分时,RNase HI依靠5′核酸外切酶活性对RNA进行连续切割。RNase HI、Rep、DinG和UvrD通过与单链DNA结合蛋白(single-stranded DNA-binding protein, SSB)的C端尾部的6个残基相互作用被招募到复制叉附近,并可能以协作的方式解决复制-转录冲突。RNaseHI的缺失或活性降低将引起DNA结构不稳定、基因突变、转录装置回溯和复制不协调等一系列有害后果。RN...     

Phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and function in bacteria

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major membrane-forming phospholipid in eukaryotes and is estimated to be present in about 15% of the domain Bacteria. Usually, PC can be synthesized in bacteria by either of two pathways, the phospholipid N-methylation (Pmt) pathway or the phosphatidylcholine synthase (Pcs) pathway. The three subsequent enzymatic methylations of phosphatidylethanolamine are performed by a single phospholipid N-methyltransferase in some bacteria whereas other bacteria possess multiple phospholipid N-methyltransferases each one performing one or several distinct methylation steps. Phosphatidylcholine synthase condenses choline directly with CDP-diacylglycerol to form CMP and PC. Like in eukaryotes, bacterial PC also functions as a biosynthetic intermediate during the formation of other biomolecules such as choline, diacylglycerol, or diacylglycerol-based phosphorus-free membrane lipids. Bacterial PC may serve as a specific recognition molecule but it affects the physicochemical properties of bacterial membranes as well. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phospholipids and Phospholipid Metabolism.