Characterization of functionally active interleukin‐18/eGFP fusion protein expression during cell cycle phases in recombinant chicken DF1 Cells

The dependence of foreign gene expression on cell cycle phases in mammalian cells has been described. In this study, a DF1/chIL‐18a cell line that stably expresses the fusion protein chIL‐18 was constructed and the enhanced green fluorescence protein connected through a (G₄S)₃ linker sequence investigated the relationship between cell cycle phases and fusion protein production. DF1/chIL‐18a cells (1 × 10⁵) were inoculated in 60‐mm culture dishes containing 5 mL of media to achieve 50%–60% confluence and were cultured in the presence of the cycle‐specific inhibitors 10058‐F4, aphidicolin, and colchicine for 24 and 48 h. The percentage of cell density and mean fluorescence intensity in each cell cycle phase were assessed using flow cytometry. The inhibitors effectively arrested cell growth. The fusion protein production rate was higher in the S phase than in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. When cell cycle progression was blocked in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases by the addition of 10058‐F4, aphidicolin, and colchicine, respectively, the aphidicolin‐induced single cells showed higher fusion protein levels than did the 10058‐F4‐ or colchicine‐induced phase cells and the uninduced control cells. Although the cells did not proliferate after the drug additions, the amount of total fusion protein accumulated in aphidicolin‐treated cells was similar to that in the untreated cultures. Fusion protein is biologically active because it induces IFN‐γ production in splenocyte cultures of chicken. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:581–591, 2016     

Nisin production of Lactococcus lactis N8 with hemin‐stimulated cell respiration in fed‐batch fermentation system

In this study, nisin production of Lactococcus lactis N8 was optimized by independent variables of glucose, hemin and oxygen concentrations in fed‐batch fermentation in which respiration of cells was stimulated with hemin. Response surface model was able to explain the changes of the nisin production of L. lactis N8 in fed‐batch fermentation system with high fidelity (R² 98%) and insignificant lack of fit. Accordingly, the equation developed indicated the optimum parameters for glucose, hemin, and dissolved oxygen were 8 g L^?1 h^?1, 3 μg mL^?1 and 40%, respectively. While 1711 IU mL^?1 nisin was produced by L. lactis N8 in control fed‐batch fermentation, 5410 IU mL^?1 nisin production was achieved within the relevant optimum parameters where the respiration of cell was stimulated with hemin. Accordingly, nisin production was enhanced 3.1 fold in fed‐batch fermentation using hemin. In conclusion the nisin production of L. lactis N8 was enhanced extensively as a result of increasing the biomass by stimulating the cell respiration with adding the hemin in the fed‐batch fermentation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:678–685, 2015     

NaCS‐PDMDAAC immobilized cultivation of recombinant Dictyostelium discoideum for soluble human Fas ligand production

Dictyostelium discoideum is a promising eukaryotic host for the expression of heterologous proteins requiring post‐translational modifications. However, the dilute nature of D. discoideum cell culture limits applications for high value proteins production. D. discoideum cells, entrapped in sodium cellulose sulfate/poly‐dimethyl‐diallyl‐ammonium chloride (NaCS‐PDMDAAC) capsules were used for biosynthesis of the heterologous protein, soluble human Fas ligand (hFasL). Semi‐continuous cultivations with capsules recycling were carried out in shake flasks. Also, a scaled‐up cultivation of immobilized D. discoideum for hFasL production in a customized vitreous airlift bioreactor was conducted. The results show that NaCS‐PDMDAAC capsules have desirable biophysical properties including biocompatibility with the D. discoideum cells and good mechanical stability throughout the duration of cultivation. A maximum cell density of 2.02 × 10⁷ cells mL^?1 (equivalent to a maximum cell density of 2.22 × 10⁸ cells mL^?1 in capsules) and a hFasL concentration of 130.40 μg L^?1 (equivalent to a hFasL concentration of 1434.40 μg L^?1 in capsules) were obtained in shake flask cultivation with capsules recycling. Also, a maximum cell density of 1.72 × 10⁷cells mL^?1 (equivalent to a maximum cell density of 1.89 × 10⁸ cells mL^?1 in capsules) and a hFasL concentration of 106.10 μg L^?1 (equivalent to a hFasL concentration of 1167.10 μg L^?1 in capsules) were obtained after ～170 h cultivation in the airlift bioreactor (with a working volume of 200 mL in a 315 mL bioreactor). As the article presents a premier work in the application of NaCS‐PDMDAAC immobilized D. discoideum cells for the production of hFasL, more work is required to further optimize the system to generate higher cell densities and hFasL titers for large‐scale applications. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:424–430, 2015     

Effect of Bcl‐xL overexpression on sialylation of Fc‐fusion protein in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures

The sialic acid of glycoproteins secreted by recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells can be impaired by sialidase under culture conditions which promote the extracellular accumulation of this enzyme. To investigate the effect of Bcl‐x_L overexpression on the sialylation of glycoproteins produced in rCHO cell culture, two rCHO cell lines producing the same Fc‐fusion protein, which were derived from DUKX‐B11 and DG44, respectively, were engineered to have regulated Bcl‐x_L overexpression using the Tet‐off system. For both cell lines, Bcl‐x_L overexpression improved cell viability and extended culture longevity in batch cultures. As a result, a maximum Fc‐fusion protein titer increased by Bcl‐x_L overexpression though the extent of titer enhancement differed between the two cell lines. With Bcl‐x_L overexpression, the sialylation of Fc‐fusion protein, which was assessed by isoelectric focusing gel and sialic acid content analyses, decreased more slowly toward the end of batch cultures. This was because Bcl‐x_L overexpression delayed the extracellular accumulation of sialidase activity by reducing cell lysis during batch cultures. Taken together, Bcl‐x_L overexpression in rCHO cell culture increased Fc‐fusion protein production and also reduced the impairment of sialylation of Fc‐fusion protein by maintaining high viability during batch cultures. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1133–1136, 2015     

Oncolytic measles viruses produced at different scales under serum‐free conditions

Measles virus (MV) with attenuated pathogenicity has potential as oncolytic agent. However, the clinical translation of this therapy concept has one major hurdle: the production of sufficient amounts of infectious oncolytic MV particles. The current study describes oncolytic MV production in Vero cells grown on microcarrier using serum‐free medium. The impact of the number of harvests, cell concentration at infection (CCI), multiplicity of infection (MOI), and temperature on MV production was determined in different production scales/systems (static T‐flasks, dynamic spinner, and bioreactor system) and modes (batch, repeated‐batch, and perfusion). Cell growth, metabolic, and production kinetics were analyzed. It was found that the number of harvests had the strongest positive impact on MV yield in each production scale, and that high temperatures affected MV yield adversely. Moderate MV titers were produced in T‐ and spinner flasks at 37°C (～10⁷ TCID₅₀ mL^?1, where TCID₅₀ is tissue culture infective doses 50%), but stirred tank reactor (STR) MV production at 37°C yielded up to 10 000‐fold lower MV titers. In contrast, at lower temperatures (32°C, 27°C), 1.4 × 10⁷ TCID₅₀ mL^?1 were achieved in the STR. Variations in MOI and CCI had almost no influence on MV production yield. The current study improves oncolytic MV production process understanding and identifies process bottlenecks for large‐scale production.     

Production and scale‐up of a monoclonal antibody against 17‐hydroxyprogesterone

The hybridoma 192 was used to produce a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP), for possible use in screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The factors influencing the MAb production were screened and optimized in a 2 L stirred bioreactor. The production was then scaled up to a 20 L bioreactor. All of the screened factors (aeration rate, stirring speed, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and temperature) were found to significantly affect production. Optimization using the response surface methodology identified the following optimal production conditions: 36.8°C, pH 7.4, stirring speed of 100 rpm, 30% dissolved oxygen concentration, and an aeration rate of 0.09 vvm. Under these conditions, the maximum viable cell density achieved was 1.34 ± 0.21 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1 and the specific growth rate was 0.036 ± 0.004 h^?1. The maximum MAb titer was 11.94 ± 4.81 μg mL^?1 with an average specific MAb production rate of 0.273 ± 0.135 pg cell^?1 h^?1. A constant impeller tip speed criterion was used for the scale‐up. The specific growth rate (0.040 h^?1) and the maximum viable cell density (1.89 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1) at the larger scale were better than the values achieved at the small scale, but the MAb titer in the 20 L bioreactor was 18% lower than in the smaller bioreactor. A change in the culture environment from the static conditions of a T‐flask to the stirred bioreactor culture did not affect the specificity of the MAb toward its antigen (17‐OHP) and did not compromise the structural integrity of the MAb. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2013     

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent probe based on 7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole skeleton for the rapid determination of vitamin B12 in pharmaceuticals

A new fluorescent probe, 4‐N,N‐di(2‐hydroxyethyl)imino‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazole (HINBD) was synthesized in a single step with reasonably good yield. The water‐soluble HINBD emits strongly in the visible region (λ_ex = 479 nm, λ_em = 545 nm) and is stable over a wide range of pH values. It was found that vitamin B₁₂ (VB₁₂) had the ability to quench the fluorescence of HINBD, and the quenched fluorescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of VB₁₂. A method for VB₁₂ determination based on the quenching fluorescence of HINBD was thus established. Interference effects of various substances, including sugars, vitamins, amino acids, inorganic cations and some organic substances have been studied. Under optimal conditions, the linear range is 0.0–2.4 × 10^–5 mol/L. The determination limit is 8.3 × 10^–8 mol/L. The method was applied to measure VB₁₂ in pharmaceutical preparations with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Caveolin‐1 down‐regulation is required for Wnt5a‐Frizzled 2 signalling in Ha‐RasV12‐induced cell transformation

Caveolin‐1 (Cav1) is down‐regulated during MK4 (MDCK cells harbouring inducible Ha‐Ras^V12 gene) transformation by Ha‐Ras^V12. Cav1 overexpression abrogates the Ha‐Ras^V12‐driven transformation of MK4 cells; however, the targeted down‐regulation of Cav1 is not sufficient to mimic this transformation. Cav1‐silenced cells, including MK4/shCav1 cells and MDCK/shCav1 cells, showed an increased cell area and discontinuous junction‐related proteins staining. Cellular and mechanical transformations were completed when MDCK/shCav1 cells were treated with medium conditioned by MK4 cells treated with IPTG (MK4+I‐CM) but not with medium conditioned by MK4 cells. Nanoparticle tracking analysis showed that Ha‐Ras^V12‐inducing MK4 cells increased exosome‐like microvesicles release compared with their normal counterparts. The cellular and mechanical transformation activities of MK4+I‐CM were abolished after heat treatment and exosome depletion and were copied by exosomes derived from MK4+I‐CM (MK4+I‐EXs). Wnt5a, a downstream product of Ha‐Ras^V12, was markedly secreted by MK4+I‐CM and MK4+I‐EXs. Suppression of Wnt5a expression and secretion using the porcupine inhibitor C59 or Wnt5a siRNA inhibited the Ha‐Ras^V12‐ and MK4+I‐CM‐induced transformation of MK4 cells and MDCK/shCav1 cells, respectively. Cav1 down‐regulation, either by Ha‐Ras^V12 or targeted shRNA, increased frizzled‐2 (Fzd2) protein levels without affecting its mRNA levels, suggesting a novel role of Cav1 in negatively regulating Fzd2 expression. Additionally, silencing Cav1 facilitated the internalization of MK4+I‐EXs in MDCK cells. These data suggest that Cav1‐dependent repression of Fzd2 and exosome uptake is potentially relevant to its antitransformation activity, which hinders the activation of Ha‐Ras^V12‐Wnt5a‐Stat3 pathway. Altogether, these results suggest that both decreasing Cav1 and increasing exosomal Wnt5a must be implemented during Ha‐Ras^V12‐driven cell transformation.     

Changes in expression of cell‐cycle‐related genes in PC‐3 prostate cancer cells caused by ovine uterine serpin

The hormonal‐regulated serpin, ovine uterine serpin (OvUS), also called uterine milk protein (UTMP), inhibits proliferation of lymphocytes and prostate cancer (PC‐3) cells by blocking cell‐cycle progression. The present aim was to identify cell‐cycle‐related genes regulated by OvUS in PC‐3 cells using the quantitative human cell‐cycle RT² Profiler? PCR array. Cells were cultured ±200 µg/ml recombinant OvUS (rOvUS) for 12 and 24 h. At 12 h, rOvUS increased expression of three genes related to cell‐cycle checkpoints and arrest (CDKN1A, CDKN2B, and CCNG2). Also, 14 genes were down‐regulated including genes involved in progression through S (MCM3, MCM5, PCNA), M (CDC2, CKS2, CCNH, BIRC5, MAD2L1, MAD2L2), G₁ (CDK4, CUL1, CDKN3) and DNA damage checkpoint and repair genes RAD1 and RBPP8. At 24 h, rOvUS decreased expression of 16 genes related to regulation and progression through M (BIRC5, CCNB1, CKS2, CDK5RAP1, CDC20, E2F4, MAD2L2) and G₁ (CDK4, CDKN3, TFDP2), DNA damage checkpoints and repair (RAD17, BRCA1, BCCIP, KPNA2, RAD1). Also, rOvUS down‐regulated the cell proliferation marker gene MKI67, which is absent in cells at G₀. Results showed that OvUS blocks cell‐cycle progression through upregulation of cell‐cycle checkpoint and arrest genes and down‐regulation of genes involved in cell‐cycle progression. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 1182–1188, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Poly‐γ‐glutamic acid produced from Bacillus licheniformis CGMCC 2876 as a potential substitute for polyacrylamide in the sugarcane industry

As an environmentally friendly and industrially useful biopolymer, poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) from Bacillus licheniformis CGMCC 2876 was characterized by the high‐resolution mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR. A flocculating activity of 11,474.47 U mL^?1 obtained with γ‐PGA, and the effects of carbon sources, ions, and chemical properties (D‐/L‐composition and molecular weight) on the production and flocculating activity of γ‐PGA were discussed. Being a bioflocculant in the sugar refinery process, the color and turbidity of the sugarcane juice was IU 1,877.36 and IU 341.41 with 0.8 ppm of γ‐PGA, respectively, which was as good as the most widely used chemically synthesized flocculant in the sugarcane industry—polyacrylamide with 1 ppm. The γ‐PGA produced from B. licheniformis CGMCC 2876 could be a promising alternate of chemically synthesized flocculants in the sugarcane industry. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1287–1294, 2015     

Bh3 induced conformational changes in Bcl‐Xl revealed by crystal structure and comparative analysis

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a regulatory process in cells in response to stimuli perturbing physiological conditions. The Bcl‐2 family of proteins plays an important role in regulating homeostasis during apoptosis. In the process, the molecular interactions among the three members of this family, the pro‐apoptotic, anti‐apoptotic and BH3‐only proteins at the mitochondrial outer membrane define the fate of a cell. Here, we report the crystal structures of the human anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐X_L in complex with BH3‐only BID^BH3 and BIM^BH3 peptides determined at 2.0 Å and 1.5 Å resolution, respectively. The BH3 peptides bind to the canonical hydrophobic pocket in Bcl‐X_L and adopt an alpha helical conformation in the bound form. Despite a similar structural fold, a comparison with other BH3 complexes revealed structural differences due to their sequence variations. In the Bcl‐X_L‐BID^BH3 complex we observed a large pocket, in comparison with other BH3 complexes, lined by residues from helices α1, α2, α3, and α5 located adjacent to the canonical hydrophobic pocket. These results suggest that there are differences in the mode of interactions by the BH3 peptides that may translate into functional differences in apoptotic regulation. Proteins 2015; 83:1262–1272. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cloning,expression and characterization of endo‐β‐1,4‐mannanase from Aspergillus fumigatus in Aspergillus sojae and Pichia pastoris

To be utilized in biomass conversion, including ethanol production and galactosylated oligosaccharide synthesis, namely prebiotics, the gene of extracellular endo‐β‐1,4‐mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) of Aspergillus fumigatus IMI 385708 (formerly known as Thermomyces lanuginosus IMI 158749) was expressed first in Aspergillus sojae and then in Pichia pastoris under the control of the glyceraldehyde triphosphate dehydrogenase (gpdA ) and the alcohol oxidase (AOX1 ) promoters, respectively. The highest production of mannanase (352 U mL^?1) in A. sojae was observed after 6 days of cultivation. In P. pastoris, the highest mannanase production was observed 10 h after induction with methanol (61 U mL^?1). The fold increase in mannanase production was estimated as ～12‐fold and ～2‐fold in A. sojae and P. pastoris, respectively, when compared with A. fumigatus. Both recombinant enzymes showed molecular mass of about 60 kDa and similar specific activities (～350 U mg^?1 protein). Temperature optima were at 60°C and 45°C, and maximum activity was at pH 4.5 and 5.2 for A. sojae and P. pastoris, respectively. The enzyme from P. pastoris was more stable retaining most of the activity up to 50°C, whereas the enzyme from A. sojae rapidly lost activity above 40°C. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

Interface‐Engineered All‐Solid‐State Li‐Ion Batteries Based on Garnet‐Type Fast Li+ Conductors

All‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries based on Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) garnet structures require novel electrode assembly strategies to guarantee a proper Li⁺ transfer at the electrode–electrolyte interfaces. Here, first stable cell performances are reported for Li‐garnet, c‐Li_6.25Al_0.25La₃Zr₂O₁₂, all‐solid‐state batteries running safely with a full ceramics setup, exemplified with the anode material Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. Novel strategies to design an enhanced Li⁺ transfer at the electrode–electrolyte interface using an interface‐engineered all‐solid‐state battery cell based on a porous garnet electrolyte interface structure, in which the electrode material is intimately embedded, are presented. The results presented here show for the first time that all‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries with LLZO electrolytes can be reversibly charge–discharge cycled also in the low potential ranges (≈1.5 V) for combinations with a ceramic anode material. Through a model experiment, the interface between the electrode and electrolyte constituents is systematically modified revealing that the interface engineering helps to improve delivered capacities and cycling properties of the all‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries based on garnet‐type cubic LLZO structures.     

BIOSYNTHESIS OF POLY‐3‐HYDROXYBUTYRATE (PHB) IN THE TRANSGENIC GREEN ALGA CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII1

A cell‐wall deficient strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii P. A Dang. CC‐849 was cotransformed with two expression vectors, p105B124 and pH105C124, containing phbB and phbC genes, respectively, from Ralstonia eutropha. The transformants were selected on Tris‐acetate‐phosphate media containing 10 μg · mL^?1 Zeomycin. Upon further screening, the transgenic algae were subcloned and maintained in culture. PCR analysis demonstrated that both phbB and phbC genes were successfully integrated into the algal nuclear genome. Poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase activity in these transgenic algae ranged from 5.4 nmol · min^?1 · mg protein^?1 to 126 nmol · min^?1 · mg protein^?1. The amount of PHB in double transgenic algae was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) when comparing with PHB standard. In addition, PHB granules were observed in the cytoplasm of transgenic algal cells using TEM, which indicated that PHB was synthesized in transgenic C. reinhardtii. Hence, results clearly showed that producing PHB in C. reinhardtii was feasible. Further studies would focus on enhancing PHB production in the transgenic algae and targeting the chloroplast for PHB accumulation.     

Production of 3‐hydroxypropionic acid from glycerol by recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae ΔdhaTΔyqhD which can produce vitamin B12 naturally

3‐Hydroxypropionic acid (3‐HP) is an important platform chemical that can be used to synthesize a range of chemical compounds. A previous study demonstrated that recombinant Escherichia coli stains can produce 3‐HP from glycerol in the presence of vitamin B₁₂ (coenzyme B₁₂), when overexpressed with a coenzyme B₁₂‐dependent glycerol dehydratase (DhaB) and an aldehyde dehydrogenase. The present study examined the production of 3‐HP in recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, which naturally synthesizes vitamin B₁₂ and does not require supplementation of the expensive vitamin. The NAD⁺‐dependent gamma‐glutamyl‐gamma‐aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase (PuuC) of K. pneumoniae alone or with its DhaB was overexpressed homologously, and two major oxidoreductases, DhaT and YqhD, were disrupted. Without vitamin B₁₂ addition, the recombinant K. pneumoniae ΔdhaTΔyqhD overexpressing PuuC could produce ～3.8 g/L 3‐HP in 12 h of flask culture. However, this was possible only under the appropriate aeration conditions; 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) (instead of 3‐HP) was mainly produced when aeration was insufficient, whereas a very small amount of both 3‐HP and 1,3‐PDO were produced when aeration was too high. The production of a small amount of 3‐HP under improper aeration conditions was attributed to either slow NAD⁺ regeneration (under low aeration) or reduced vitamin B₁₂ synthesis (under high aeration). In a glycerol fed‐batch bioreactor experiment under a constant DO of 5%, the strain, K. pneumoniae ΔdhaTΔyqhD, overexpressing both PuuC and DhaB could produce >28 g/L 3‐HP in 48 h with a yield of >40% on glycerol. Only small amount of 3‐HP was produced when cultivation was carried out at a constant aeration of 1 vvm or constant 10% DO. These results show that K. pneumoniae is potentially useful for the production of 3‐HP in an economical culture medium that does not require vitamin B₁₂. The results also suggest that the aeration conditions should be optimized carefully for the efficient production of 3‐HP while using this strain. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 511–524. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Expression of exo‐inulinase gene from Aspergillus niger 12 in E. coli strain Rosetta‐gami B (DE3) and its characterization

Inulin is a linear carbohydrate polymer of fructose subunits (2‐60) with terminal glucose units, produced as carbon storage in selected plants. It cannot directly be taken up by most microorganisms due to its large size, unless prior hydrolysis through inulinase enzymes occurs. The hydrolyzed inulin can be taken up by microbes and/or recovered and used industrially for the production of high fructose syrup, inulo‐oligosaccharides, biofuel, and nutraceuticals. Cell‐free enzymatic hydrolysis would be desirable for industrial applications, hence the recombinant expression, purification and characterization of an Aspergillus niger derived exo‐inulinase was investigated in this study. The eukaroyototic exo‐inulinase of Aspergillus niger 12 has been expressed, for the first time, in an E. coli strain [Rosetta‐gami B (DE3)]. The molecular weight of recombinant exo‐inulinase was estimated to be ～81 kDa. The values of K_m and V_max of the recombinant exo‐inulinase toward inulin were 5.3 ± 1.1 mM and 402.1 ± 53.1 µmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein, respectively. Towards sucrose the corresponding values were 12.20 ± 1.6 mM and 902.8 ± 40.2 µmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein towards sucrose. The S/I ratio was 2.24 ± 0.7, which is in the range of native inulinase. The optimum temperature and pH of the recombinant exo‐inulinase towards inulin was 55°C and 5.0, while they were 50°C and 5.5 towards sucrose. The recombinant exo‐inulinase activity towards inulin was enhanced by Cu²⁺ and reduced by Fe²⁺, while its activity towards sucrose was enhanced by Co²⁺ and reduced by Zn²⁺. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:629–637, 2016     

Two guard cell mitogen‐activated protein kinases,MPK9 and MPK12, function in methyl jasmonate‐induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) signalling cascades share several signalling components in guard cells. We previously showed that two guard cell‐preferential mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), MPK9 and MPK12, positively regulate ABA signalling in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we examined whether these two MAP kinases function in MeJA signalling using genetic mutants for MPK9 and MPK12 combined with a pharmacological approach. MeJA induced stomatal closure in mpk9‐1 and mpk12‐1 single mutants as well as wild‐type plants, but not in mpk9‐1 mpk12‐1 double mutants. Consistently, the MAPKK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited the MeJA‐induced stomatal closure in wild‐type plants. MeJA elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cytosolic alkalisation in guard cells of the mpk9‐1, mpk12‐1 and mpk9‐1 mpk12‐1 mutants, as well in wild‐type plants. Furthermore, MeJA triggered elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) in the mpk9‐1 mpk12‐1 double mutant as well as wild‐type plants. Activation of S‐type anion channels by MeJA was impaired in mpk9‐1 mpk12‐1. Together, these results indicate that MPK9 and MPK12 function upstream of S‐type anion channel activation and downstream of ROS production, cytosolic alkalisation and [Ca²⁺]_cyt elevation in guard cell MeJA signalling, suggesting that MPK9 and MPK12 are key regulators mediating both ABA and MeJA signalling in guard cells.