Correlation of activity with phenotypes of Escherichia coli partial function mutants of rnh, the gene encoding RNase H

Summary The rnh gene of Escherichia coli encodes RNase H. rnh mutants display at least two phenotypes: (1) they require functional RecBCD enzyme for growth; thus rnh-339::cat recB270 (Ts) and rnh-339::cat recC271 (Ts) strains are temperature sensitive for growth; (2) rnh mutants permit replication that is independent of the chromosomal origin, presumably by failing to remove RNA-DNA hybrids from which extra-original replication can be primed. We report here that manifestation of these two phenotypes occurs at different levels of RNase H function; we have examined partially functional rnh mutants for their in vitro RNase H activity, their ability to rescue viability in recB or recC cells and their ability to permit growth of mutants incapable of using oriC [dnaA (Ts)].     

High efficiency transformation of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhi by electroporation

Summary Salmonella typhimurium and S. typhi were transformd with high efficiency by electroporation. Transformation efficiencies of up to 10¹⁰ transformants per g of pBR322 were obtained. In contrast to chemical transformation methods, neither the smooth lipopolysaccharide of S. typhimurium nor the Vi capsular polysaccharide of S. typhi greatly affected transformation efficiency. The introduction of a galE mutation slightly improved transformation efficiency in S. typhimurium (< tenfold) while the Vi antigen of S. typhi had no detectable effect. The transformation efficiency of S. typhimurium with DNA derived from Escherichia coli was increased greatly by the removal of the hsd restriction system (100-fold). Under these conditions electroporation can be used for the routine and direct transformation of Salmonella strains with partially purified (alkaline lysis) plasmid DNA from E. coli.     

The yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae,RNase P/MRP ribonucleoprotein endoribonuclease family

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is a ribonucleoprotein responsible for the endonucleolytic cleavage of the 5-termini of tRNAs. Ribonuclease MRP (RNase MRP) is a ribonucleoprotein that has the ability to cleave both mitochondrial RNA primers presumed to be involved in mitochondrial DNA replication and rRNA precursors for the production of mature rRNAs. Several lines of evidence suggest that these two ribonucleoproteins are related to each other, both functionally and evolutionarily. Both of these enzymes have activity in the nucleus and mitochondria. Each cleave their RNA substrates in a divalent cation dependent manner to generate 5-phosphate and 3-OH termini. In addition, the RNA subunits of both complexes can be folded into a similar secondary structure. Each can be immunoprecipitated from mammalian cells with Th antibodies. In yeast, both have been found to share at least one common protein. This review will discuss some of the recent advances in our understanding of the structure, function and evolutionary relationship of these two enzymes in the yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Abbreviations LRI long range interaction - mt mitochondrial - MRP mitochondrial RNA processing - NME nuclear mitochondrial endonuclease - POP processing of precursor - RNase ribonuclease - SNM suppressor of NME - RNP ribonucleoprotein     

Purification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase H(70) and identification of the corresponding gene

We purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNase H(70) to homogeneity, using an optimized chromatographic purification procedure. Renaturation gel assay assigned RNase H activity to a 70 kDa polypeptide. Sequencing of tryptic peptides identified the open reading frame YGR276c on chromosome VII of the S. cerevisiae genome as the corresponding gene, which encodes a putative polypeptide of molecular mass of 62849. We therefore renamed this gene RNH70. Immunofluorescence microscopy using a RNH70-EGFP fusion construct indicates nuclear localization of RNase H(70). Deletion of RNH70 from the yeast genome did not result in any serious phenotype under the conditions tested. Homology searches revealed striking similarity with a number of eukaryotic proteins and open reading frames, among them the chimpanzee GOR protein, a homolog of a human autoimmune antigen, found to elicit autoimmune response in patients infected with hepatitis C virus.     

SlyA, a regulatory protein from Salmonella typhimurium, induces a haemolytic and pore-forming protein in Escherichia coli

A chromosomal fragment from Salmonella typhimurium, when cloned in Escherichia coli, generates a haemolytic phenotype. This fragment carries two genes, termed slyA and slyB. The expression of slyA is sufficient for the haemolytic phenotype. The haemolytic activity of E. coli carrying multiple copies of slyA is found mainly in the cytoplasm, with some in the periplasm of cells grown to stationary phase, but overexpression of SlyB, a 15 kDa lipoprotein probably located in the outer membrane, may lead to enhanced, albeit unspecific, release of the haemolytic activity into the medium. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a purified SlyA-HlyA fusion protein identified the over-expressed monomeric 17 kDa SlyA protein mainly in the cytoplasm of E. coli grown to stationary phase, although smaller amounts were also found in the periplasm and even in the culture supernatant. However, the anti-SlyA antibodies reacted with the SlyA protein in a periplasmic fraction that did not contain the haemolytic activity. Conversely, the periplasmic fraction exhibiting haemolytic activity did not contain the 17 kDa SlyA protein. Furthermore, S. typhimurium transformed with multiple copies of the slyA gene did not show a haemolytic phenotype when grown in rich culture media, although the SlyA protein was expressed in amounts similar to those in the recombinant E. coli strain. These results indicate that SlyA is not itself a cytolysin but rather induces in E. coli (but not in S. typhimurium) the synthesis of an uncharacterised, haemolytically active protein which forms pores with a diameter of about 2.6 nm in an artificial lipid bilayer. The SlyA protein thus seems to represent a regulation factor in Salmonella, as is also suggested by the similarity of the SlyA protein to some other bacterial regulatory proteins. slyA- and slyB-related genes were also obtained by PCR from E. coli, Shigella sp. and Citrobacter diversus but not from several other gram-negative bacteria tested.     

The Escherichia coli recA gene increases resistance of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation

Summary The Escherichia coli recA protein coding region was ligated into an extrachromosomally replicating yeast expression vector downstream of the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase promoter region to produce plasmid pADHrecA. Transformation of the wild-type yeast strains YNN-27 and 7799-4B, as well as the recombination-deficient rad52-t C5-6 mutant, with this shuttle plasmid resulted in the expression of the bacterial 38 kDa RecA protein in exponential phase cells. The wild-type YNN27 and 7799-4B transformants expressing the bacterial recA gene showed increased resistance to the toxic effects of both ionizing and ultraviolet radiation. RecA moderately stimulated the UV-induced mutagenic response of 7799-4B cells. Transformation of the rad52-t mutant with plasmid pADHrecA did not result in the complementation of sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Thus, the RecA protein endows the yeast cells with additional activities, which were shown to be error-prone and dependent on the RAD52 gene.     

Differential expression of two genes encoding isoforms of the ATPase involved in sodium efflux in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The ENA2 gene encoding a P-type ATPase involved in Na⁺ and Li⁺ effluxes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been isolated. The putative protein encoded by ENA2 differs only in thirteen amino acids from the protein encoded by ENA1/PMR2. However, ENA2 has a very low level of expression and for this reason did not confer significant Li⁺ tolerance on a Li⁺ sensitive strain. ENA1 and ENA2 are the first two units of a tandem array of four highly homologous genes with probably homologous functions.     

Man8GlcNAc2糖基化的酿酒酵母菌株的构建

酿酒酵母糖蛋白的N-糖基化经过高尔基体的修饰后形成聚合度约150-200的甘露寡糖,高尔基体N-糖基化的糖基转移酶Mnn1p和Och1p在甘露寡糖的形成过程中起关键作用。通过同源重组置换敲除了酵母中的MNN1和OCH1基因阻断高尔基体N-糖基化修饰,分离纯化了mnn1 och1突变株中的N-糖蛋白,糖酰胺酶PNGaseF酶解释放的N-糖链经过2-氨基吡啶衍生后,利用HPLC和MALDITOF/MS结合的方法分析了突变株糖蛋白上的N-糖链。结果显示mnn1 och1突变株中的糖蛋白的N-糖链为结构单一的糖链,分子量为1794.66,推测为Man₈GlcNAc₂。     

Cloning and characterization of seven cDNAs for hyperosmolarity-responsive (HOR) genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast cells can respond and adapt to osmotic stress. In our attempt to clarify the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to osmotic stress, we cloned seven cDNAs for hyperosmolarity-responsive (HOR) genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a differential screening method. Structural analysis of the clones revealed that those designated HOR1, HORS, HOR4, HOR5 and HOR6 encoded glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpd1p), glucokinase (Glklp), hexose transporter (Hxtlp), heat-shock protein 12 (Hsp12p) and Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺-ATPase (Enalp), respectively. HOR2 and HOR7 corresponded to novel genes. Gpdlp is a key enzyme in the synthesis of glycerol, which is a major osmoprotectant in S. cerevisiae. Cloning of HOR1/GPD1 as a HOR gene indicates that the accumulation of glycerol in yeast cells under hyperosmotic stress is, at least in part, caused by an increase in the level of GPDH protein. We performed a series of Northern blot analyses using HOR cDNAs as probes and RNAs prepared from cells grown under various conditions and from various mutant cells. The results suggested that all the HOR genes are regulated by common signal transduction pathways. However, the fact that they exhibited certain distinct responses indicated that they might also be regulated by specific pathways in addition to the common pathways. Ca²⁺ seemed to be involved in the signaling systems. In addition, Hog1p, one of the MAP kinases in yeast, appeared to be involved in the regulation of expression of HOR genes, although its function seemed to be insufficient for the overall regulation of expression of these genes.     

Specific chromosomal sites enhancing homologous recombination in Escherichia coli mutants defective in RNase H

To clone new replication origin(s) activated under RNase H-defective (rnh ^–) conditions in Escherichia coli cells, whole chromosomal DNA digested with EcoRI was to with a Km^r DNA fragment and transformed into an rnh^– derivative host. From the Kmr transformants, we obtained eight kinds of plasmid-like DNA, each of which contained a specific DNA fragment, termed Hot, derived from the E. coli genome. Seven of the Hot DNAs (HotA-G) mapped to various sites within a narrow DNA replication termination region (about 280 kb), without any particular selection. Because Hot DNA could not be transformed into a mutant strain in which the corresponding Hot region had been deleted from the chromosome, the Hot DNA, though obtained as covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA, must have arisen by excision from the host chromosome into which it had initially integrated, rather than by autonomous replication of the transformed species. While Hot DNA does not have a weak replication origin it does have a strong recombinational hotspot active in the absence of RNase H. This notion is supported by the finding that Chi activity was present on all Hot DNAs tested and no Hot-positive clone without Chi activity was obtained, with the exception of a DNA clone carrying the dif site.     

双孢蘑菇酪氨酸酶基因在酿酒酵母中的异源表达及其酶学特性

【目的】在酿酒酵母中异源表达双孢蘑菇来源的酪氨酸酶基因PPO2,并研究酪氨酸酶在酿酒酵母胞内及胞外的酶学特性。【方法】提取双孢蘑菇总RNA,通过RT-PCR克隆酪氨酸酶基因PPO2,构建表达载体pSP-G1-PPO2,并转化至酿酒酵母进行表达,采用镍亲和层析纯化蛋白并研究其酶学性质。【结果】在酿酒酵母中正确表达了大小为65 kDa的酪氨酸酶蛋白。重组酶能催化底物酪氨酸产生黑色素。体外活性测定表明,酪氨酸酶催化最适温度为45°C,以酪氨酸和多巴为底物时最适pH分别为7.0和8.0。在酿酒酵母中测得底物酪氨酸浓度低于2.5 mg/mL时,黑色素的产量与底物浓度呈现正相关性。【结论】来源于双孢蘑菇的酪氨酸酶基因PPO2在酿酒酵母中成功表达,重组酶具有良好的酶学特性。利用酪氨酸酶产物黑色素的产量与底物浓度呈现正相关性这一特性,可将其作为细胞酪氨酸产量的传感器,为高通量筛选酪氨酸高产菌株提供了思路。     

鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株的构建及其耐药性

[背景]鼠伤寒沙门氏菌（Salmonella typhimurium）是一种重要的人兽共患病原菌,其多重耐药性问题日益严重,双组分系统可调控鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的耐药性。[目的]通过构建鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株及回补株探究BaeSR双组分系统对鼠伤寒沙门氏菌耐药性的影响。[方法]在BaeSR双组分系统和AcrB外排泵双缺失株（CRΔbaeSRΔacrB）的基础上构建baeR过表达株（CRpbaeRΔbaeSRΔacrB）及baeR回补株（CRcbaeRΔbaeSRΔacrB）,测定双缺失株、回补株和过表达株的最小抑菌浓度（minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC）,并对其生长特性、生物膜形成能力及运动性进行分析。采用转录组学技术筛选与耐药相关的差异表达基因,RT-qPCR验证耐药相关基因。[结果]构建了鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株和baeR回补株。与双缺失株相比,过表达株对氧氟沙星、恩诺沙星、氟苯尼考、乙酰甲喹、头孢他啶、头孢噻呋、阿莫西林和氨苄西林的MIC分别升高2-256倍,对大观霉素、安普霉素的MIC下降了50%;与双缺失株相比,回补株对头孢他啶...     

Xylose isomerase from polycentric fungus Orpinomyces: gene sequencing, cloning, and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioconversion of xylose to ethanol

The cDNA sequence of the gene for xylose isomerase from the rumen fungus Orpinomyces was elucidated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The 1,314-nucleotide gene was cloned and expressed constitutively in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The deduced polypeptide sequence encoded a protein of 437 amino acids which showed the highest similarity to the family II xylose isomerases. Further, characterization revealed that the recombinant enzyme was a homodimer with a subunit of molecular mass 49 kDa. Cell extract of the recombinant strain exhibited high specific xylose isomerase activity. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 7.5, while the low temperature optimum at 37°C was the property that differed significantly from the majority of the reported thermophilic xylose isomerases. In addition to the xylose isomerase gene, the overexpression of the S. cerevisiae endogenous xylulokinase gene and the Pichia stipitis SUT1 gene for sugar transporter in the recombinant yeast facilitated the efficient production of ethanol from xylose.     

通过易错PCR提高鼠伤寒沙门氏菌丙氨酸消旋酶催化活性

[目的] 通过易错PCR技术提高鼠伤寒沙门氏菌中丙氨酸消旋酶的催化活性。[方法] 利用易错PCR技术构建丙氨酸消旋酶基因alr_St的突变体文库,采用缺陷菌株UT5028筛选突变体基因,以D-氨基酸氧化酶偶联法检测各突变蛋白的活性,通过凝胶过滤层析法分析酶蛋白寡聚化状态,并采用HPLC检测酶蛋白的动力学参数。[结果] 经过易错PCR及定点突变技术最终获得了3个催化活性有所提高的突变体A3V、Y343H和A3VY343H,酶学特性分析发现,与野生型蛋白StAlr相比,突变体Y343H仅对底物L/D-丝氨酸的催化效率略有提高,k_cat/K_m值分别是StAlr的2.01和3.68倍;而突变体A3V则对底物L/D-丙氨酸或L/D-丝氨酸的K_m、k_cat和k_cat/K_m值均有较大幅度的改变,其k_cat/K_m值分别是StAlr的105.51、97.36、4.63和10.73倍。凝胶过滤层析结果显示,突变体A3V在蛋白含量极低时就呈现出单体和二聚体共存状态,且随着蛋白含量的增加,其向二聚体状态迁移的速率最为明显。[结论] 丙氨酸消旋酶StAlr的第3位点是影响其催化活性和低聚合状态的关键位点。     

酿酒酵母全基因组范围内筛选MTM1基因的抑制基因

MTM1 基因对于维持锰超氧化物歧化酶的活性和线粒体正常功能十分重要,MTM1 基因的缺失会严重影响酵母锰超氧化物歧化酶活性,并损伤线粒体功能,因此在非发酵培养基上不能生长．利用MTM1 基因缺失的突变体在非发酵培养基上的生长缺陷,转入酵母基因组文库筛选MTM1 抑制基因,发现MTM1基因缺失造成的损伤一旦形成不可逆转,重新引入MTM1 基因也无法挽救,直接筛选无法得到抑制基因．为了避免MTM1缺失造成的不可逆损伤,在野生型酵母中先转入带有MTM1 基因的质粒,再敲除染色体上的MTM1 基因,随后转入基因组文库,再利用药物5-氟乳清酸(5-FOA)迫使细胞丢失表达MTM1基因的外源质粒,再筛选能在非发酵培养基上生长的转化子,通过这种方法筛选发现,POR2等5个基因的过表达可以挽救MTM1 基因缺失造成的非发酵培养基上的生长缺陷,为深入了解MTM1基因的功能提供了线索,对筛选其他造成不可逆损伤的突变基因的抑制基因提供了一条可行的研究思路．