Changing oxidoreduction potential to improve water-soluble yellow pigment production with Monascus ruber CGMCC 10910

Malonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) is an important biosynthetic precursor in vivo. Although Escherichia coli is a useful organism for biosynthetic applications, its malonyl-CoA level is too low. To identify strains with the best potential for enhanced malonyl-CoA production, we developed a whole-cell biosensor for rapidly reporting intracellular malonyl-CoA concentrations. The biosensor was successfully applied as a high-throughput screening tool for identifying targets at a genome-wide scale that could be critical for improving the malonyl-CoA biosynthesis in vivo. The mutant strains selected synthesized significantly higher titers of the type III polyketide triacetic acid lactone (TAL), phloroglucinol, and free fatty acids compared to the wild-type strain, using malonyl-CoA as a precursor. These results validated this novel whole-cell biosensor as a rapid and sensitive malonyl-CoA high-throughput screening tool. Further analysis of the mutant strains showed that the iron ion concentration is closely related to the intracellular malonyl-CoA biosynthesis.     

MpigE, a gene involved in pigment biosynthesis in Monascus ruber M7

Monascus pigments (MPs) have been used as food colorants for several centuries in Asian countries. However, MP biosynthesis pathway is still a controversy, and only few related genes have been reported. In this study, the function of MpigE, a gene involved in MP biosynthesis in Monascus ruber M7, was analyzed. The results revealed that the disruption, complementation, and overexpression of MpigE in M. ruber M7 had very little effects on the growth and phenotypes except MPs. The MpigE deletion strain (?MpigE) just yielded four kinds of yellow MPs and very little red pigments, while the wild-type strain M. ruber M7 produced a MP complex mixture including three (orange, red, and yellow) categories of MP compounds. Two of the four yellow MPs produced by ?MpigE were the same as those yielded by M. ruber M7. The MpigE complementation strain (?MpigE::MpigE) recovered the ability to generate orange and red MPs as M. ruber M7. The MP types produced by the MpigE overexpression strain (M7::PtrpC-MpigE) were consistent with those of M. ruber M7, while the color value was about 1.3-fold as that of M. ruber M7 (3,129 U/g red kojic). For the production of citrinin, the disruption of MpigE almost had no influence on the strain, whereas the overexpression of MpigE made citrinin decrease drastically in YES fermentation. This work will make a contribution to the study on the biosynthesis pathway of MPs in M. ruber.     

红色红曲菌M7核型分析与桔霉素、色素基因簇的染色体定位

以红色红曲菌Monascus ruber M7菌株为研究对象,对其核型进行分析,并将桔霉素与色素合成基因簇定位于染色体。通过原生质体制备,以脉冲场凝胶电泳进行核型分析。在此基础上,通过Southern杂交将桔霉素与色素合成基因簇定位于染色体。脉冲场凝胶电泳结果显示,红色红曲菌M7包含大小依次为4.9,4.3,3.7,3.4,3.0,2.3,2.1Mb的7条(I-VII)染色体,基因组大小约为23.7Mb。Southern杂交结果表明,桔霉素合成基因簇位于第IV条染色体上,色素合成基因簇位于第V条染色体上。     

Kinetic analysis of red pigment and citrinin production by Monascus ruber as a function of organic acid accumulation

In submerged cultures performed in synthetic medium containing glucose and glutamate, the filamentous fungus Monascus ruber produced a red pigment and a mycotoxin, citrinin. In oxygen-limiting conditions, the production of these two metabolites was growth-associated, as was the production of primary metabolites. In oxygen-excess conditions, the profile of citrinin production was typical of a secondary metabolite, since it was produced mostly during the stationary phase. In contrast, the production of the pigment decreased rapidly throughout the culture, showing a profile characteristic of an inhibitory mechanism. The organic acids produced during the culture, L-malate and succinate, were shown to be slightly inhibitory against pigment production, while citrinin production was unaffected. However, this inhibition could not account for the observed profile of pigment production in batch cultures. Other dicarboxylic acids such as fumarate or tartrate showed a similar effect to that provoked by malate and succinate as regards pigment production. It was concluded that the decrease in red pigment production during the culture was due to the inhibitory effect of an unknown product whose accumulation was favored in aerobic conditions.     

Medium-chain fatty acids affect citrinin production in the filamentous fungus Monascus ruber

During submerged culture in the presence of glucose and glutamate, the filamentous fungus Monascus ruber produces water-soluble red pigments together with citrinin, a mycotoxin with nephrotoxic and hepatoxic effects on animals. Analysis of the (13)C-pigment molecules from mycelia cultivated with [1-(13)C]-, [2-(13)C]-, or [1, 2-(13)C]acetate by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that the biosynthesis of the red pigments used both the polyketide pathway, to generate the chromophore structure, and the fatty acid synthesis pathway, to produce a medium-chain fatty acid (octanoic acid) which was then bound to the chromophore by a trans-esterification reaction. Hence, to enhance pigment production, we tried to short-circuit the de novo synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids by adding them to the culture broth. Of fatty acids with carbon chains ranging from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, only octanoic acid showed a 30 to 50% stimulation of red pigment production, by a mechanism which, in contrast to expectation, did not involve its direct trans-esterification on the chromophore backbone. However, the medium- and long-chain fatty acids tested were readily assimilated by the fungus, and in the case of fatty acids ranging from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, 30 to 40% of their initial amount transiently accumulated in the growth medium in the form of the corresponding methylketone 1 carbon unit shorter. Very interestingly, these fatty acids or their corresponding methylketones caused a strong reduction in, or even a complete inhibition of, citrinin production by M. ruber when they were added to the medium. Several data indicated that this effect could be due to the degradation of the newly synthesized citrinin (or an intermediate in the citrinin pathway) by hydrogen peroxide resulting from peroxisome proliferation induced by medium-chain fatty acids or methylketones.     

Agrobactrium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Monascus ruber

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was successfully applied to Monascus ruber. The optimum cocultivation time was 84 h with an efficiency of 900 to 1,000 transformants when 1x106 spores were used with the same volume of bacteria. The stability of transformants was over 98% after five generations. When M. ruber was transformed with A. tumefaciens YL-63 containing the green fluorescent protein gene (egfp), the green fluorescent signal was observed throughout hyphae, confirming expression of the gene. This efficient transformation and expression system of M. ruber by ATMT will facilitate the study of this fungus at a molecular genetic level.     

Deletion of the developmentally essential gene ATR in adult mice leads to age-related phenotypes and stem cell loss

Developmental abnormalities, cancer, and premature aging each have been linked to defects in the DNA damage response (DDR). Mutations in the ATR checkpoint regulator cause developmental defects in mice (pregastrulation lethality) and humans (Seckel syndrome). Here we show that eliminating ATR in adult mice leads to defects in tissue homeostasis and the rapid appearance of age-related phenotypes, such as hair graying, alopecia, kyphosis, osteoporosis, thymic involution, fibrosis, and other abnormalities. Histological and genetic analyses indicate that ATR deletion causes acute cellular loss in tissues in which continuous cell proliferation is required for maintenance. Importantly, thymic involution, alopecia, and hair graying in ATR knockout mice were associated with dramatic reductions in tissue-specific stem and progenitor cells and exhaustion of tissue renewal and homeostatic capacity. In aggregate, these studies suggest that reduced regenerative capacity in adults via deletion of a developmentally essential DDR gene is sufficient to cause the premature appearance of age-related phenotypes.     

Effect of rice--glycerol complex medium on the production of Lovastatin by Monascus ruber

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to study the effect of the composition of the rice-glycerol complex medium on the production of lovastatin (Lvs) by the ascomyceteMonascus ruber in mixed solid-liquid (or submerged) cultures at 25°C. Four components (rice powder, peptone, glycerol, glucose) were studied to evaluate, the approximate polynomial for all dependent variables, explaining their effects on the production of Lvs. The best composition derived from RSM regression was (in g/L) rice powder 34.4, peptone 10.8, , glucose 129, KNO₃ 8.0, MgSO₄·7H₂O 4.0 and glycerol 36.4 mL/L. With this composition, the Lvs production was 157 mg/L after 10 d of cultivation. In comparison with glycerol and glucose, the rice powder becomes a more suitable carbon source and represents a great potential for the production of Lvs.     

红色红曲菌M7中色素聚酮合酶基因敲除突变体的鉴定

摘要:【目的】研究红色红曲菌(Monascus ruber) M7中控制红曲色素合成的聚酮合酶基因(pksPT)的功能。【方法】对M7 中pksPT进行了生物信息学分析;借助农杆菌介导的红曲菌转化技术敲除M7中pksPT,获得pksPT缺失突变体(ΔpksPT),比较M7和ΔpksPT菌落形态、产孢能力、生长速度、色素和桔霉素产量的差异。【结果】pksPT全长8687 bp,编码蛋白含有2690个氨基酸,属于非还原Ⅲ型聚酮合酶,包括β-酮酯酰基合成酶(KS)、酰基载体蛋白(ACP)、酰基转移酶(AT)和甲基转移酶(ME)四种结构域,组合形式为KS-AT-ACPACP-ME。ΔpksPT的分析结果显示,pksPT的敲除不影响其产分生孢子和闭囊壳的能力;ΔpksPT不能产生任何一种红曲色素;其生长速度明显快于野生菌株M7;桔霉素产量较M7 提高了2.8倍。【结论】pksPT是M7中控制红曲色素合成的关键基因,红曲色素的合成显著影响红曲菌产桔霉素能力和生长速度。     

Deletion of the chloroplast-localized AtTerC gene product in Arabidopsis thaliana leads to loss of the thylakoid membrane and to seedling lethality

Early seedling development in plants depends on the biogenesis of chloroplasts from proplastids, accompanied by the formation of thylakoid membranes. An Arabidopsis thaliana gene, AtTerC , whose gene product shares sequence similarity with bacterial tellurite resistance C (TerC), is shown to be involved in a critical step required for the normal organization of prothylakoids and transition into mature thylakoid stacks. The AtTerC gene encodes an integral membrane protein, which contains eight putative transmembrane helices, localized in the thylakoid of the chloroplast, as shown by localization of an AtTerC–GFP fusion product in protoplasts and by immunoblot analysis of subfractions of chloroplasts. T-DNA insertional mutation of AtTerC resulted in a pigment-deficient and seedling-lethal phenotype under normal light conditions. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed that mutant etioplasts had normal prolamellar bodies (PLBs), although the prothylakoids had ring-like shapes surrounding the PLBs. In addition, the ultrastructures of mutant chloroplasts lacked thylakoids, did not have grana stacks, and showed numerous globular structures of varying sizes. Also, the accumulation of thylakoid membrane proteins was severely defective in this mutant. These results suggest that the AtTerC protein plays a crucial role in prothylakoid membrane biogenesis and thylakoid formation in early chloroplast development.     

A fedbatch strategy for optimal red pigment production by monascus ruber

According to the measurement of the pigment production and some material balance treatments, the monosodium glutamate (MSG), which represents a main substrate involved in the production of red pigment by Monascus ruber, is recovered on-line. Fedbatch operation then represents an alternative for increasing the production of pigment. A nonlinear quotient control scheme is expressed to regulate the monosodium glutamate substrate at an optimal value determined from batch studies.List of Symbols A absorbancy units (AU) - L lightness parameter - Pig red pigment quantity (Gmol) - vol fermentor active volume (1) - empirical coefficient - MW _pig red pigment molecular weight (g) - E elementary matrix - E ^# pseudo-inverse elementary matrix - r conversion rates vector (g· l^–1·h^–1) - E _m measured part of the elementary matrix - r _m measured conversion rates vector - E _c non-measured part of the elementary matrix - r _c non-measured conversion rates vector - v fictitious controller input - h fictitious controller output - u controller input - y controller output - y controller setpoint - k ₁ controller parameter - k ₂ controller parameter - k time iteration - MSG monosodium glutamate concentration (g·l^–1) - MSG _init monosodium glutamate initial quantity (g) - MSG _added total quantity of monosodium glutamate added (g) - MSG _cons total quantity of monosodium glutamate consumed (g) - MW _msg monosodium glutamate molecular weight (g)     

Optimal C:N ratio for the production of red pigments by Monascus ruber

The carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio in the biomass of microfungi tends to be quite different (e.g. 10–15) compared with the C:N ratio in the red pigments (e.g. >20) of the fungus Monascus ruber. Therefore, determining an optimal C:N ratio in the culture medium for maximizing the production of the pigments is important. A culture medium composition is established for maximizing the production of the red pigment by the fungus M. ruber ICMP 15220 in submerged culture. The highest volumetric productivity of the red pigment was 0.023 AU L^?1 h^?1 in a batch culture (30 °C, initial pH of 6.5) with a defined medium of the following composition (g L^?1): glucose (10), monosodium glutamate (MSG) (10), MgSO₄·7H₂O (0.5), KH₂PO₄ (5), K₂HPO₄ (5), ZnSO₄·7H₂O (0.01), FeSO₄·7H₂O (0.01), CaCl₂ (0.1), MnSO₄·H₂O (0.03). This medium formulation had a C:N mole ratio of 9:1. Under these conditions, the specific growth rate of the fungus was 0.043 h^?1 and the peak biomass concentration was 6.7 g L^?1 in a 7-day culture. The biomass specific productivity of the red pigment was 1.06 AU g^?1 h^?1. The best nitrogen source proved to be MSG although four other inorganic nitrogen sources were evaluated.     

Deletion of the ecdysis-triggering hormone gene leads to lethal ecdysis deficiency.

At the end of each developmental stage, insects perform a stereotypic behavioral sequence leading to ecdysis of the old cuticle. While ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH) is sufficient to trigger this sequence, it has remained unclear whether it is required. We show that deletion of eth, the gene encoding ETH in Drosophila, leads to lethal behavioral and physiological deficits. Null mutants (eth(-)) fail to inflate the new respiratory system on schedule, do not perform the ecdysis behavioral sequence, and exhibit the phenotype buttoned-up, which is characterized by incomplete ecdysis and 98% mortality at the transition from first to second larval instar. Precisely timed injection of synthetic DmETH1 restores all deficits and allows normal ecdysis to occur. These findings establish obligatory roles for eth and its gene products in initiation and regulation of the ecdysis sequence. The ETH signaling system provides an opportunity for genetic analysis of a chemically coded physiological and behavioral sequence.     

Deletion of the SELENOP gene leads to CNS atrophy with cerebellar ataxia in dogs

We investigated a hereditary cerebellar ataxia in Belgian Shepherd dogs. Affected dogs developed uncoordinated movements and intention tremor at two weeks of age. The severity of clinical signs was highly variable. Histopathology demonstrated atrophy of the CNS, particularly in the cerebellum. Combined linkage and homozygosity mapping in a family with four affected puppies delineated a 52 Mb critical interval. The comparison of whole genome sequence data of one affected dog to 735 control genomes revealed a private homozygous structural variant in the critical interval, Chr4:66,946,539_66,963,863del17,325. This deletion includes the entire protein coding sequence of SELENOP and is predicted to result in complete absence of the encoded selenoprotein P required for selenium transport into the CNS. Genotypes at the deletion showed the expected co-segregation with the phenotype in the investigated family. Total selenium levels in the blood of homozygous mutant puppies of the investigated litter were reduced to about 30% of the value of a homozygous wildtype littermate. Genotyping >600 Belgian Shepherd dogs revealed an additional homozygous mutant dog. This dog also suffered from pronounced ataxia, but reached an age of 10 years. Selenop^-/- knock-out mice were reported to develop ataxia, but their histopathological changes were less severe than in the investigated dogs. Our results demonstrate that deletion of the SELENOP gene in dogs cause a defect in selenium transport associated with CNS atrophy and cerebellar ataxia (CACA). The affected dogs represent a valuable spontaneous animal model to gain further insights into the pathophysiological consequences of CNS selenium deficiency.     

红曲菌利用生物柴油废液生产红曲色素

对生物柴油废液作简单处理,利用红曲茵发酵生物柴油废液中副产物甘油生产红曲色素。通过响应面方法确定最佳发酵培养基为：甘油48．49g/L,蛋白胨3．12g／L,K2HPO4·3H202．01g/L,MgSO4 0．48g／L,ZnSO4·7H2O 0．04g／L,MnSO4·H2O 0．03g／L,玉米浆13mL／L,植物油10mL／L,起始pH为6。发酵结果表明：在接种量6％（v／v）,转速140r／min,35℃的条件下发酵培养6d,红曲色素最高产量到达204U／mL。说明用生物柴油废液中的粗甘油为原料生产红曲色素是基本可行的。可望为生物柴油废液的资源化提供一条环境友好型的途径。     

Effect of pH and nitrogen source on pigment production by Monascus purpureus

The effect of pH and nitrogen source on pigment production by Monascus purpureus 192F using glucose as the carbon and energy source, was studied in pH-controlled, batch fermentor cultures using HPLC analysis to determine individual pigment concentrations. A maximum of four pigments were detected in fungal extracts. These were the yellow pigments monascin and ankaflavin, the orange rubropunctatin and the red pigment monascorubramine. Monascorubramine was present as the major product in all instances. Fungal growth and ankaflavin synthesis were favoured at low pH (pH 4.0), whereas production of the other pigments was relatively independent of pH. The nature of the nitrogen source affected fungal growth and pigment production, independent of pH. Ammonium and peptone as nitrogen sources gave superior growth and pigment concentrations compared to nitrate. Ankaflavin was not detected in nitrate cultures. The highest red pigment production was obtained using a glucose-peptone medium at pH 6.5, due to the secretion of red pigments into the medium under these conditions. Correspondence to: M. R. Johns     

Deletion of the sigB gene in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 leads to hydrogen peroxide hyperresistance

The sigB gene of Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 encodes the alternative sigma factor sigma(B). Deletion of sigB in B. cereus leads to hyperresistance to hydrogen peroxide. The expression of katA, which encodes one of the catalases of B. cereus, is upregulated in the sigB deletion mutant, and this may contribute to the hydrogen peroxide-resistant phenotype.     

红色红曲菌蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳体系的建立

红曲菌是一种具有较高食用和药用价值的丝状真菌,能够产生红曲色素、莫纳可林K等多种生理活性物质。通过分析比较培养基、蛋白质裂解液组成以及水化上样条件对双向电泳结果的影响,建立了红色红曲菌蛋白质组的双向凝胶电泳体系,为从蛋白质水平研究红曲菌及其次级代谢产物的生物合成提供依据。结果表明：用YES培养基培养红色红曲菌6 d,TCA 丙酮法提取菌体总蛋白质,蛋白质裂解液组分为8mol/L尿素,2mol/L硫脲,4 % CHAPS,1 % DTT和2 % Bio-lyte,可获得蛋白质样点数量多,清晰度高的双向电泳图像,为进一步研究红曲菌蛋白质组奠定了基础。