Phospholipids of Five Pseudomonad Archetypes for Different Toluene Degradation Pathways

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS) was used to determine intact phospholipid profiles for five reference pseudomonad strains harboring different (aerobic) toluene catabolic pathways: Pseudomonas putida mt-2, Pseudomonas putida F1, Burkholderia cepacia G4, Burkholderia pickettii PKO1, and Pseudomonas mendocina KR1. These five strains contained a predominant pool of phosphatidylethanolamines. Other phospholipids identified include phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, and phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine. There was a clear separation in phospholipid profiles that allows for the differentiation between the Pseudomonas and Burkholderia genera. Factor analysis of the phospholipid profiles showed that B. cepacia G4, P. putida mt-2, and B. pickettii PKO1 were clearly separated, while P. putida F1 and P. mendocina KR1 were clustered as a group. These results suggest that intact phospholipid profiling could be used to evaluate the relative abundance of specific degraders in bioreactors or in aquifer material. Nevertheless, the usefulness of this technique for taxonomic characterization of such complex samples remains to be demonstrated because of potential confounding effects of overlapping profiles and potential changes in phospholipid composition due to different growth conditions.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of a novel thermal stable and short-chain alcohol tolerant lipase from Burkholderia cepacia strain G63

A lipase gene lipA and its chaperone gene lipB were cloned from Burkholderia cepacia strain G63. The lipA was composed of 1092 bp, encoding 363 amino acid residues, and the lipB composed of 1035 bp, corresponding to 344 amino acid residues. The significant amino acid similarity with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase revealed that this enzyme could be classified into the lipolytic subfamily I.2. The lipA and lipB genes were cloned into pBBR1Tp vector and conjugated into B. cepacia strains G63 with the help of pRK2013. The recombinant strain was fermented in 10 l bioreactor and the lipase was purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified lipase kept stable at a temperature range of 40–70 °C. After incubated at 70 °C, the optimal temperature of this enzyme, for 10 h it remained 86.1% of its activity. The enzyme was also highly tolerant to a series of organic solution. Incubated in 50% methanol solution up to 48 h, the enzyme still kept 98.3% of its activity. The transesterification activity of soybean oil to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) reached 87.8% after 72 h, indicating that it is a potential biocatalyzer for biodiesel production.     

Kinetic measurement of bacterial adherence to eukaryotic cells

We developed a kinetic assay using a monolayer of differentiated respiratory epithelium in culture to assess bacterial adherence. Mean residence time of bacteria in the tissue culture chamber was estimated from a model-independent (moment) analysis of the rate of bacterial washout from perfused Rose chambers. Results with this method compared favorably with visual assessment of adherence and double radiolabel method with H. influenzae. Adherence was assessed with low inoculae of H. influenzae, P. cepacia and P. aeruginosa avoiding cytotoxic effects seen when large inoculae are added to eukaryotic cells. This method will provide a means of assessing adherence of pathogenic respiratory bacteria to their cellular target at low inoculae.     

铜锈环棱螺对水华中常见藻类的抑制效应

藻类水华频发已成为全球性的水环境问题,近年来,生物控藻法因具有环境友好的特点而备受关注。本研究以我国富营养化湖泊中常见大型底栖动物铜锈环棱螺为操纵生物,通过室内培养试验,研究了其对水华水体中常见蓝藻铜绿微囊藻、绿藻普通小球藻和斜生栅藻生长及光合活性的影响,以期阐明螺-藻间相互作用关系,探究铜锈环棱螺作为生物操纵物种的可行性。结果表明: 铜锈环棱螺能在短时间内大量摄食藻细胞,其对铜绿微囊藻产毒株和不产毒株以及斜生栅藻的去除率均在12 h内达到最大值,分别为73.7%、73.2%和51.1%;其对普通小球藻的摄食强于其他藻类,至试验结束时去除率达到99.2%。产毒铜绿微囊藻产生的微囊藻毒素会在铜锈环棱螺体内累积并促发其肝脏病理学变化,进而阻碍铜锈环棱螺的摄食。试验后期各处理组藻细胞光合活性均显著低于对照组,表明铜锈环棱螺的摄食作用对藻细胞造成了损伤,抑制了其大量增殖。此外,当不产毒铜绿微囊藻与斜生栅藻混合时,铜锈环棱螺的选择摄食性导致微囊藻的优势地位被斜生栅藻所取代。因此,铜锈环棱螺可以通过摄食作用抑制藻类的光合活性并降低其生物量,从而在一定程度上抑制或减缓水华的形成。     

Expression of a Bacillus subtilis pectate lyase gene in Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is an attractive heterologous protein expression host, mainly for genes from higher eukaryotes. However, no successful examples for the expression of bacterial gene encoding pectate lyase in P. pastoris have been reported. The present study reports for the first time the cloning and functional expression of the bacterial Bacillus subtilis gene encoding alkaline pectate lyase in P. pastoris. A molecular weight of 43,644 Da was calculated from the deduced amino acid sequence. A pectate lyase activity as high as 100 U/ml was attained in the fermentation broth of P. pastoris GS 115, which was about 10 times higher than when the gene is expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant pectate lyase was purified to homogeneity and maximal activity of the enzyme was observed at 65 °C, and pH 9.4. The recombinant enzyme showed a wider pH and thermal stability spectrum than the purified pectate lyase from B. subtilis WSHB04-02. Pectate lyase activity slightly increased in the presence of Mg²⁺ (ion) but decreased in the presence of other metal ions. Analysis of polygalacturonic acid degradation products by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry revealed that the degradation products were unsaturated trigalacturonic acid and unsaturated bigalacturonic acid, which confirms that the enzyme catalyzes a trans-elimination reaction.     

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase gene from Bacillus sphaericus

The gene encoding the meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase of Bacillus sphaericus was cloned into E. coli cells and its complete DNA sequence was determined. The meso-diaminopimelate dehydrogenase gene consisted of 978 nucleotides and encoded 326 amino acid residues corresponding to the subunit of the dimeric enzyme. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the enzyme gene of B. sphaericus showed 50% identity with those of the enzymes from Corynebacterium glutamicum and Brevibacterium flavum. The enzyme gene from B. sphaericus was highly expressed in E. coli cells. We purified the enzyme to homogeneity from a transformant with 76% recovery. The N-terminal amino acid of both the enzyme from B. sphaericus and the transformant were serine, indicating that the N-terminal methionine is removed by post-translational modification in B. sphaericus and E. coli cells.     

An efficient system for catalyzing ester synthesis using a lipase from a newly isolated Burkholderia cepacia strain

The synthesis of ethyl-oleate by the lipase from the newly isolated strain Burkholderia cepacia LTEB11 in three different systems has been studied - immobilization on a hydrophobic support (Accurel EP 100®), encapsulation in reverse micelles, and direct addition of powdered free enzyme to the reaction medium. The immobilized enzyme performed best, giving a 70% ester yield in 10 h, this yield being five-fold greater than that obtained for reversed micelles, and two and a half times greater than that obtained for direct addition. An increase in the amount of immobilized enzyme preparation added gave a 100% ester yield in 3 h. The immobilized preparation was quite stable, giving a 100% yield of ethyl-oleate during 11 repeated reactions, and 50% yield after 24 reactions. These results suggest that the lipase of our strain of B. cepacia LTEB11 immobilized on Accurel has good potential for application in biocatalysis in organic media.     

Schistosoma bovis: Variability of cercarial production as related to the snail hosts: Bulinus truncatus, B. wrighti and Planorbarius metidjensis

Development of Schistosoma bovis from Spain in different species or genus of intermediate hosts (Bulinus truncatus, B. wrighti and Planorbarius metidjensis) modifies cercarial productivity and its dynamics. From B. truncatus to B. wrighti and to P. metidjensis, cercarial productivity decreases while the length of the production period is increased. Variations in the dynamics are less obvious between the two species of Bulinus than between Bulinus spp. and P. metidjensis. In the latter the emission pattern is characterized by a 45–48-day production rhythm. These differences are explained in terms of larval demographic strategies and biotic capacities of the hosts. The validity of employing cercarial production as an indicator of host-parasite compatibility is discussed.     

Cloning and sequencing of the leucine dehydrogenase gene from Bacillus sphaericus IFO 3525 and importance of the C-terminal region for the enzyme activity

The structural gene (leudh) coding for leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus sphaericus IFO 3525 was cloned into Escherichia coli cells and sequenced. The open reading frame coded for a protein of 39.8 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of the leucine dehydrogenase from B. sphaericus showed 76–79% identity with those of leucine dehydrogenases from other sources. About 16% of the amino acid residues of the deduced amino acid sequence were different from the sequence obtained by X-ray analysis of the B. sphaericus enzyme. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity with a 79% yield. The enzyme was a homooctamer (340 kDa) and showed the activity of 71.7 μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹) of protein. The mutant enzymes, in which more than six amino acid residues were deleted from the C-terminal of the enzyme, showed no activity. The mutant enzyme with deletion of four amino acid residues from the C-terminal of the enzyme was a dimer and showed 4.5% of the activity of the native enzyme. The dimeric enzyme was more unstable than the native enzyme, and the K_m values for -leucine and NAD⁺ increased. These results suggest that the Asn-Ile-Leu-Asn residues of the C-terminal region of the enzyme play an important role in the subunit interaction of the enzyme.     

Yeasts as biological agents to control Botrytis cinerea

Yeasts, isolated from different sources, were identified and tested for inhibition using YMA-MB plates seeded with Botrytis cinerea strains. A total of 42 yeast strains of 20 different species were tested in vitro for antagonism against 18 pathogenic B. cinerea strains. Pichia membranifaciens, P. anomala and Debaryomyces hansenii displayed the most important inhibitory effect against Botrytis strains. In small-scale trials, post-harvest application of P. membranifaciens CYC 1106 to apple wounds inhibited B. cinerea CYC 20010. Purified killer toxin from P. membranifaciens CYC 1106 inhibited B. cinerea CYC 20010. Results indicated that certain yeasts, or their toxins such us P. membranifaciens CYC 1106 killer toxin, might have potential as novel agents to control B. cinerea.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems with C-3′ or C-7 catechol or related aromatics

A series of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems with C-3′ catechol-containing (pyridinium-4-thio)methyl groups and 2-isocephems with C-7 catechol related aromatics have been prepared and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. It turns out that these compounds have highly potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria, especially resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most active compound of the series was (6S,7S)-7-[2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-[(Z)-[(1,5-dihydroxy-4-pyridon-2-yl)methoxy] imino]acetamido]-3-[[[(4-methyl-5-carboxymethyl)thiazol-2-yl]thio]methyl]-8-oxo-1-aza-4-thiabicyclo [4.2.0] oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid which exhibited potent in vitro activity against clinically isolated P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii which is also resistant to many anti-infectives, and good in vivo efficacy against clinically isolated P. aeruginosa.

A series of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems and C-3′ or C-7 catechol or related aromatics have been prepared and evaluated for antibacterial activity.     

Do aphids infected with entomopathogenic fungi continue to produce and respond to alarm pheromone?

The response of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, to aphid alarm pheromone was not modified by infection with Beauveria bassiana. Approximately 50% of uninfected and infected aphids responded to synthetic alarm pheromone. The simulated attack of aphids infected with B. bassiana did not elicit a response in uninfected aphids. Preliminary air entrainment experiments of both uninfected aphids and aphids at different stages of B. bassiana (generalist pathogen) or P. neoaphidis (obligate pathogen of aphids) demonstrated that B. bassiana infected aphids produced less alarm pheromone than uninfected aphids and, conversely, P. neoaphidis infected aphids produced more alarm pheromone than uninfected aphids. These results are discussed with particular emphasis on the different life history strategies of these two pathogens. We hypothesise that the obligate, specialist pathogen, P. neoaphidis, is under greater selection pressure to increase pathogen transmission and survival resulting in modified host behaviour, than the generalist pathogen, B. bassiana.     

Enzymatic properties of a novel highly active and chelator resistant protease from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa PD100

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PD100 capable of producing an extracellular protease was isolated from the soil collected from local area (garbage site) from Shivage market in Pune, India. The purified protease showed a single band on native and SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 36 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH value and temperature range were found to be 8 and 55–60 °C, respectively. The enzyme exhibited broad range of substrate specificity with higher activity for collagen. The enzyme was inhibited with low concentration of Ag²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺. β-Mercaptoethanol was able to inactivate the enzyme at 2.5 mM, suggesting that disulfide bond(s) play a critical role in the enzyme activity. Studies with inhibitors showed that different classes of protease inhibitors, known to inhibit specific proteases, could not inhibit the activity of this protease. Amino acid modification studies data and pK_a values showed that Cys, His and Trp were involved in the protease activity. P. aeruginosa PD100 produces one form of protease with some different properties as compared to other reported proteases from P. aeruginosa strains. With respect to properties of the purified protease such as pH optimum, temperature stability with capability to degrade different proteins, high stability in the presences of detergents and chemicals, and metal ions independency, suggesting that it has great potential for different applications.     

Preparation and characterization of konjac glucomannan/poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) antibacterial blend films

A novel antibacterial film was prepared by blending konjac glucomannan (KGM) and poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) in an aqueous system. The antibacterial activity of the films against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Saccharomyces were measured by the halo zone test and the double plate method. The films exhibited an excellent antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus but not against E. coli, P. aeruginosa or Saccharomyces. The miscibility, morphology, thermal stability, water vapour permeability and mechanical properties of the blend films were investigated by density determination, SEM, ATR-IR, XRD, DSC, TGA, WVA and tensile tests. The results of density determination predicted that the blends of KGM and PDADMAC were miscible when the PDADMAC content was less than 70 wt%. Moreover, SEM and XRD confirmed the result. ATR-IR showed that strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions occurred between KGM and PDADMAC in the blends. The tensile strength and the break elongation of the blends were improved largely to 106.5 MPa and 32.04% and the water vapour permeability decreased when the PDADMAC content was 20 wt%. The thermal stability of the blends was higher than pure KGM. The blends should be good antibacterial materials.     

Bacillus megaterium spore protein C-3: nucleotide sequence of its gene and the amino acid sequence at its spore protease cleavage site

The nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus megaterium gene coding for spore-specific protein C-3 has been determined. The gene codes for 65 amino acids and the coding sequence is preceded by an efficient ribosome-binding site. The predicted protein C-3 sequence agrees with both the amino acid composition and the amino terminal sequence of protein C-3, and shows homology (approx. 65 % of all residues are identical) with the sequences of the analogous proteins A and C of B. megaterium. Protein C-3 is cleaved by the sequence-specific B. megaterium spore protease, and the amino acid sequence at the new amino-terminus generated is identical to that predicted from the gene sequence, and homologous to the spore protease cleavage sites in the A and C proteins. The protein C-3 gene also shares a number of features with the previously sequenced protein C gene in both upstream and downstream flanking sequence.     

典型黑土区主要树种根系构型特征及其对固土能力的影响

为量化典型黑土区主要树种根系构型特征,探究其对固土能力的影响,以该区分布较广的榆叶梅、小叶锦鸡儿、白桦、糖槭、红皮云杉、樟子松单株个体为研究对象,采用全根挖掘和WinRHIZO Pro LA2004分析系统相结合对其根系空间分布、几何形态、分形等特征进行测定,同时采用原位整株根系拉拔的方法量化根系垂直拉拔力.结果表明:...     

甘蓝型油菜BnMYB80基因的生物信息学分析

在高等植物花药发育和花粉形成中, MYB转录因子起着非常重要的作用, 其中MYB80是参与绒毡层发育及引起雄性不育的重要转录因子。该研究以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) AtMYB80为参考序列, 通过BLAST比对分析, 在白菜(Brassica rapa)、甘蓝(B. oleracea)和甘蓝型油菜(B. napus)中分别获得MYB80基因的2、2和6个同源序列, 运用生物信息学方法对其核苷酸序列及编码的氨基酸序列进行组成成分、亚细胞定位、磷酸化位点、疏水性/亲水性、蛋白质二级、三级结构和功能域分析。结果表明, MYB80转录因子亚细胞定位于细胞核, 具有多个不同的磷酸化位点, 肽链表现为亲水性; 二级、三级结构预测显示, MYB80蛋白以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主要结构元件; 保守结构域分析表明, 其N端具有2个串联的SANT功能域, 属于R2R3型MYB转录因子。多重序列比对和进化树分析结果表明, 甘蓝型油菜与白菜、甘蓝的序列相似性大于92%, 且MYB80转录因子的功能结构域具有较高的同源性和较强的序列保守性。该研究结果对深入解析甘蓝型油菜MYB80的生物学功能及育性调控的分子机理具有重要意义, 为甘蓝型油菜杂种优势利用提供了依据。     

小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌感染的免疫应答基因分析

通过室内生物测定,筛选对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella具有高毒力的球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana菌株,分析小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌浸染的免疫应答基因。采用新一代Illumina高通量测序技术对接种/感染48h与未接种的小菜蛾样品分别进行转录组测序,筛选差异表达基因;结合生物信息学分析差异表达基因的功能、分类及涉及的信号通路等。结果表明接种小菜蛾48h后诱导2 434个基因发生差异表达,包括1 080个上调基因和1 354个下调基因。GO分类结果表明,这些差异表达基因（DEGs）被注释到45个GO term中,包括23个生物学过程,12个细胞组分和10个分子功能。KEGG分析表明,1 308个DEGs被富集到25个功能途径,这些DEGs包括497个上调基因和811个下调基因。分析发现,DEGs编码蛋白包含肽聚糖识别蛋白、丝氨酸蛋白酶55、丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂以及细胞色素P450 6K1类的免疫相关蛋白。另外,组蛋白、磷酸泛酰半胱氨酸脱羧酶、双链RNA结合蛋白、黑芥子酶等基因在球孢白僵菌侵染过程中也高表达,推测这些基因可能参与小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌侵染的免疫反应。研究结果为进一步研究小菜蛾免疫相关基因的功能奠定了基础。