耐辐射球菌辐射耐受机制的研究进展

耐辐射球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans,Dr)是迄今为止地球上发现的最具辐射抗性的生物之一,对紫外线、干旱和诱变剂等损伤因子均表现出极强的抗性,备受世界各国科学家的广泛关注。目前关于其抗辐射机理已有大量的文献报道。根据国内外最新的研究成果,从DNA损伤修复机制、抗氧化防御系统、特殊的生存方式及细胞净化系统等方面,对耐辐射球菌辐射抗性机理的研究进行了简单的概述,并对未来Dr耐辐射机制的研究趋势进行了展望,以期为进一步研究该菌的辐射耐受机制奠定基础。     

重离子射线照射后抗辐射菌基因组DNA的损伤修复

研究了不同种类的重离子射线及同一射线的不同剂量照射后引起的抗辐射菌(Deinococcus radiodu-rans)R1的DNA二条链的切断损伤修复时间。结果表明,抗辐射菌经重离子射线照射后所引起的DNA二条链的切断损伤经过培养能被修复;切断的DNA二条链的修复时间随着照射剂量的增加而延长;高LET的重离子射线照射所引起的损伤修复比低LET的重离子射线需要更长的时间,损伤修复的时间与射线的LET之间存在一定的依存性。由此认为:抗辐射菌经照射后引起的DNA二条链切断损伤与射线的种类及照射的剂量有关,照射的剂量越大,射线的LET越高,则DNA二条链的切断损伤越多,损伤修复所需要的时间越长。     

抗辐射菌中DNA损伤修复主要基因群的研究进展

抗辐射红色球菌对电离辐射具有很高的放射线抵抗性,该菌具有惊人的DNA的二条链切断的修复能力,由辐射等引起的切断损伤DNA在几至十几小时内能高效正确地进行完全修复。在对切断的双链DNA进行修复时,除了大肠杆菌等生物在切断的双链DNA修复时出现的蛋白质以外,还有该菌所特有的修复蛋白质也参与修复。本文对该菌所特有的DNA二条链的切断损伤修复的主要基因及其相互作用进行了简要介绍。     

调控DNA损伤修复基因的微小RNA

随着对DNA损伤修复基因研究的深入,其信号转导路径及调控网络也进一步明了,调控DNA损伤修复基因的微小RNA(miRNA)也越来越多地被认识和发现。简要综述了DNA损伤途径中调控主要的损伤修复基因的miRNA,有助于深入阐明DNA损伤修复机制,为开发抗辐射药物和临床上DNA损伤修复异常相关肿瘤的基因治疗提供新的靶点。     

抗辐射茵(Deinococcus radiopugnance)的质粒pUE30的克隆及序列分析

抗辐射菌(Deinococcus radiopugnance)ATCC 19172株中存在约14.6 kb、8.7 kb、7.0 kb、3.65 kb、及2.45 kb等5种以上的隐秘性质粒,对其中的约2.45 kb的小型质粒pUE30进行了序列测定与分析,该质粒由2 467 bp的碱基对组成,其中包含了267 nt及1 068 nt的2个开放阅读框架(open reading frame,ORF)和一个AT-rich领域。经过与GenBank的数据库分析,其中267 nt的ORF(repC)与豆科根瘤菌(Rhizobium leguminosa-rum)及根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)由来的质粒的RepC蛋白质具有一定的同源性;1 068 nt的ORF(repD)与抗辐射菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)Sark株的质粒pUE10的RepU蛋白质、嗜热菌(Thermus sp.)ATCC27737株由来的质粒pMY1的RepA蛋白质具有较高的同源性。研究结果对于利用该小型质粒构建大肠杆菌-抗辐射菌属间的穿梭载体,表明抗辐射菌高效正确的DNA损伤修复机理等具有重要的意义。     

鸭疫里默氏杆菌自然转化的发现及机制研究进展

自然转化(natural transformation)是微生物水平基因转移的一种重要机制,其在遗传多样性的产生或修复DNA损伤等方面发挥着重要作用,并且与耐药基因、毒力因子的扩散息息相关。鸭疫里默氏杆菌(Riemerellaanatipestifer,RA)是威克斯菌科中第一个被发现可以发生自然转化的细菌,本文作者利用此特点建立了多种基因编辑的方法,促进了对其遗传多样性和致病机理的研究进程。通过系统性地研究影响鸭疫里默氏杆菌自然转化的因素,鉴定出了参与该菌自然转化的营养物质;通过筛选转座子插入突变体文库,鉴定出了参与该过程的必需基因;最终,在该菌发现了一种新型的自然转化系统。本文结合其他细菌自然转化研究进展,针对以上研究结果进行综述,以期对该菌的自然转化机制有更深入的理解,也为更进一步探明该菌的耐药和毒力基因获得机制提供参考。     

抗辐射菌属-大肠杆菌间的穿梭载体的构建及荧光基因的表达

摘要：【目的】构建抗辐射菌属一大肠杆菌间的穿梭载体,通过此载体使荧光素酶基因在大肠杆菌中得到表达。【方法】以质粒pUE30、pGBM5及pKatCAT为基础,构建抗辐射菌属一大肠杆菌间的穿梭载体,将groEL启动子和荧光素酶基因lux+插入到构建的穿梭载体中得到穿梭表达载体,并将该载体转化大肠杆菌诱导荧光素酶基因的表达。【结果】成功构建了大小约为5.8 kb的抗辐射菌属一大肠杆菌间的穿梭载体pZT17,该载体在没有抗生素的非选择性培养基中能稳定存在。在穿梭载体pZT17的EcoRV部位插入含有groEL启动子和荧光素酶基因lux+的DNA片段,构建得到了穿梭表达载体pZTGL2;利用该表达载体在大肠杆菌中可诱导表达荧光素酶基因。【结论】构建的穿梭表达载体为以后用大肠杆菌高效表达来源于抗辐射菌的基因、特别是DNA损伤修复蛋白基因,提供了可能。     

极端嗜热古菌核酸内切酶Ⅲ的研究进展

胸腺嘧啶乙二醇(thymine glycol,Tg)是常见的氧化性DNA损伤碱基之一。DNA中的Tg能够分别阻止DNA聚合酶和RNA聚合酶进行DNA复制和转录,导致相应的生物学过程终止,进而会引起细胞的死亡,因此DNA中的Tg需要被修复。核酸内切酶Ⅲ(endonuclease Ⅲ,EndoⅢ)是一种双功能DNA糖苷酶,能够切除DNA中的Tg,从而启动碱基切除修复途径进行修复DNA中的Tg。细菌、古菌和真核生物的基因组序列中均存在有EndoⅢ蛋白的编码基因。目前,源自于细菌和真核生物的EndoⅢ已有较多的研究,而古菌EndoⅢ的研究相对较少。基于目前已有的极端嗜热古菌EndoⅢ的研究报道,本文综述了极端嗜热古菌EndoⅢ的研究进展,并展望了今后的研究方向。     

线粒体DNA复制及其调控

从线粒体DNA复制的模型与机制、复制的调控、复制忠实性及其损伤修复3个方面对近年来的研究文献进行了总结.在复制的模型与机制方面,对传统的D环复制的细节有了更深入的了解,新的实验方法的结果显示,在哺乳动物中还存在着链结合单向复制和链结合双向复制2种模型.在线粒体DNA复制的调控方面,近年来研究较多的调控因子主要包括mtDNA聚合酶γ、线粒体单链结合蛋白(mtSSB)、引物酶、解旋酶、连接酶、拓扑异构酶、转录因子mtTFA等,介绍了这些因子的最新研究进展及调控机制;对mtDNA复制时期和拷贝数量调控机制的研究也有突破,确定了Abf2p是mtDNA复制时期与拷贝数目的调控因子.在mtDNA复制的忠实性及其损伤修复研究方面,主要涉及到DNA Polγ的校正功能、错配修复、重组修复、DNA切除修复等,在mtDNA损伤修复中仅存在碱基切除修复机制,缺少核苷酸切除修复机制.     

细菌DNA损伤修复的诱导、调控及结局的研究进展

DNA损伤修复(SOS反应)是细菌适应环境、抵抗外界压力和修复自身损伤的重要机制.为了解SOS反应的过程,全面揭示细菌生存机制,本研究对DNA损伤修复的过程、调节及适应性变化进行文献综述.结果 表明,内源和外源的诸多压力都可以激活SOS反应,抗生素是激活该反应的主要因素.RecA在感知外界压力和系统启动过程中发挥重要作...     

Enzymes involved in DNA ligation and end-healing in the radioresistant bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus radiodurans</Emphasis>

Background  

Enzymes involved in DNA metabolic events of the highly radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans are currently examined to understand the mechanisms that protect and repair the Deinococcus radiodurans genome after extremely high doses of γ-irradiation. Although several Deinococcus radiodurans DNA repair enzymes have been characterised, no biochemical data is available for DNA ligation and DNA endhealing enzymes of Deinococcus radiodurans so far. DNA ligases are necessary to seal broken DNA backbones during replication, repair and recombination. In addition, ionizing radiation frequently leaves DNA strand-breaks that are not feasible for ligation and thus require end-healing by a 5'-polynucleotide kinase or a 3'-phosphatase. We expect that DNA ligases and end-processing enzymes play an important role in Deinococcus radiodurans DNA strand-break repair.     

DdrB stimulates single-stranded DNA annealing and facilitates RecA-independent DNA repair in Deinococcus radiodurans

The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans can survive extremely high exposure to ionizing radiation. The repair mechanisms involved in this extraordinary ability are still being investigated. ddrB is one gene that is highly up-regulated after irradiation, and it has been proposed to be involved in RecA-independent repair in D. radiodurans. Here we cloned, expressed and characterized ddrB in order to define its roles in the radioresistance of D. radiodurans. DdrB preferentially binds to single-stranded DNA. Moreover, it interacts directly with single-stranded binding protein of D. radiodurans DrSSB, and stimulates single-stranded DNA annealing even in the presence of DrSSB. The post-irradiation DNA repair kinetics of a ddrB/recA double mutant were compared to ddrB and recA single mutants by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). DNA fragment rejoining in the ddrB/recA double mutant is severely compromised, suggesting that DdrB-mediated single-stranded annealing plays a critical role in the RecA-independent DNA repair of D. radiodurans.     

Oxidative Stress Resistance in Deinococcus radiodurans

Summary: Deinococcus radiodurans is a robust bacterium best known for its capacity to repair massive DNA damage efficiently and accurately. It is extremely resistant to many DNA-damaging agents, including ionizing radiation and UV radiation (100 to 295 nm), desiccation, and mitomycin C, which induce oxidative damage not only to DNA but also to all cellular macromolecules via the production of reactive oxygen species. The extreme resilience of D. radiodurans to oxidative stress is imparted synergistically by an efficient protection of proteins against oxidative stress and an efficient DNA repair mechanism, enhanced by functional redundancies in both systems. D. radiodurans assets for the prevention of and recovery from oxidative stress are extensively reviewed here. Radiation- and desiccation-resistant bacteria such as D. radiodurans have substantially lower protein oxidation levels than do sensitive bacteria but have similar yields of DNA double-strand breaks. These findings challenge the concept of DNA as the primary target of radiation toxicity while advancing protein damage, and the protection of proteins against oxidative damage, as a new paradigm of radiation toxicity and survival. The protection of DNA repair and other proteins against oxidative damage is imparted by enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense systems dominated by divalent manganese complexes. Given that oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species is associated with aging and cancer, a comprehensive outlook on D. radiodurans strategies of combating oxidative stress may open new avenues for antiaging and anticancer treatments. The study of the antioxidation protection in D. radiodurans is therefore of considerable potential interest for medicine and public health.     

Physiologic Determinants of Radiation Resistance in Deinococcus radiodurans

Immense volumes of radioactive wastes, which were generated during nuclear weapons production, were disposed of directly in the ground during the Cold War, a period when national security priorities often surmounted concerns over the environment. The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is the most radiation-resistant organism known and is currently being engineered for remediation of the toxic metal and organic components of these environmental wastes. Understanding the biotic potential of D. radiodurans and its global physiological integrity in nutritionally restricted radioactive environments is important in development of this organism for in situ bioremediation. We have previously shown that D. radiodurans can grow on rich medium in the presence of continuous radiation (6,000 rads/h) without lethality. In this study we developed a chemically defined minimal medium that can be used to analyze growth of this organism in the presence and in the absence of continuous radiation; whereas cell growth was not affected in the absence of radiation, cells did not grow and were killed in the presence of continuous radiation. Under nutrient-limiting conditions, DNA repair was found to be limited by the metabolic capabilities of D. radiodurans and not by any nutritionally induced defect in genetic repair. The results of our growth studies and analysis of the complete D. radiodurans genomic sequence support the hypothesis that there are several defects in D. radiodurans global metabolic regulation that limit carbon, nitrogen, and DNA metabolism. We identified key nutritional constituents that restore growth of D. radiodurans in nutritionally limiting radioactive environments.     

Differential Radio-Tolerance of Nutrition-Induced Morphotypes of Deinococcus radiodurans R1

Deinococcus radiodurans R1 is a highly radio-tolerant bacterium. Depending on the nutrient availability D. radiodurans R1 exists in three morphologies viz. monococcal, diplococcal and tetracoccal. In this study, we examined whether nutrition-induced morphotypes of D. radiodurans showed similar DNA damage upon gamma radiation exposure. Total DNA damage after radiation exposure was estimated by comparing percent double-strand breaks (DSBs) in genomic DNA. It was found that all three morphotypes exhibited different radiation tolerances which were also dependent on the radiation dose given. Monococcal forms were found to be most radio-tolerant at most of the tested radiation doses. Results showed that these nutrient-starved-condition induced morphotypes show lesser DNA DSBs upon irradiation, hence show higher radio-tolerance.     

Repair of Oxidized Bases in the Extremely Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans

Deinococcus radiodurans is able to resist and survive extreme DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation and many other DNA-damaging agents. It is believed that it possesses highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms. To characterize the repair pathway of oxidized purines in this bacteria, we have purified, from crude extracts, proteins that recognize these oxidized bases. We report here that D. radiodurans possesses two proteins excising the oxidized purines (formamidopyrimidine and 8-oxoguanine) by a DNA glycosylase–a purinic/apyrimidine lyase mechanism. Moreover, one of those proteins is endowed with a thymine glycol DNA glycosylase activity. One of these proteins could be the homolog of the Escherichia coli Fpg enzyme, which confirms the existence of a base excision repair system in this bacteria.     

Deinococcus radiodurans YgjD and YeaZ are involved in the repair of DNA cross-links

Orthologs of Escherichia coli ygjD and yeaZ genes are highly conserved in various organisms. The genome of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans possesses single orthologs of ygjD (DR_0382) and yeaZ (DR_0756). Complete loss of either one or both genes did not result in any significant changes in cell growth efficiency, indicating that both genes are not essential for cell viability in D. radiodurans, unlike the case with other species such as E. coli, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Survival rates following DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), N-methyl-N??-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), ultra violet (UV) radiation, ??-rays, cisplatin and mitomycin C (MMC) were compared among the wild-type strain and D. radiodurans ygjD/yeaZ null mutants. Cell viability of the null mutants did not decrease following exposure to H₂O₂ or MNNG. In addition, the reduction in cell viability following exposure to ??-rays, UV radiation or cisplatin was marginal in the null mutants compared to the wild-type strain. Interestingly, the null mutants exhibited high sensitivity to MMC, which mainly causes interstrand DNA cross-links. The sensitivity of the null mutants to MMC was restored to that of the wild type by transformation with plasmids expressing these genes. These results suggest that D. radiodurans ygjD and yeaZ genes are involved in DNA repair and play a role in the repair of DNA cross-links.