Production of monoclonal antibodies against 3α,20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Streptomyces hydrogenans

Abstract A procedure is described for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against 3α,20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α,20β-HSD) from the actinomycete Streptomyces hydrogenans ATCC 19631. Clones which were obtained after fusion of immune cells were screened by solid-phase ELISA and immunoblotting. About 5.2% of the clones secreted immunoglobulins with specificity for 3α,20β-HSD. The purified mAbs were found to belong to subclass IgG₁ and to recognize both the native enzyme as well as its identical subunits which were obtained by SDS denaturation. However, the activity of the tetrameric holoenzyme was only weakly diminished in the presence of these mAbs.     

Electrophoretic analysis of DNA-binding proteins during induction of 3α,20β- and 3β,17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in wild type and mutants of Streptomyces hydrogenans

Abstract Treatment of the wild-type strain HY 0 of Streptomyces hydrogenans with estradiol, a specific inducer of 3β,17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) formation, caused several soluble proteins to bind to DNA-cellulose with altered affinity. Hydrocortisone which induces biosynthesis of 3α,20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-HSD), and progesterone which induces production of both 17β- and 20β-HSD, had no effect on DNA-binding properties of the proteins. In mutants with altered activity/inducibility of 17β- and 20β-HSD only one DNA-binding protein (protein 23) still showed an altered DNA affinity in response to estradiol-treatment and this in only one strain. In other mutants the DNA affinity was not altered during induction with estradiol but the DNA affinity of protein 23 varied between low, low-and-high, and high affinity, depending on the strain. In the mutant where DNA affinity was altered by estradiol treatment the change was opposite to that found in the wild type.     

Isolation and study of two mutants of Streptomyces cattleya affected in DNA repair and genetic instability

Two mutants of Streptomyces cattleya affecting DNA repair were isolated. These mutants were analysed using spore survival curves and phage reactivation curves in the presence and absence of caffeine and arsenite. Two DNA repair systems (uvr1 and uvr2) were identified, the latter of which seems to influence genetic instability.     

链霉菌质粒的复制与进化

近年来, 随着大质粒提取和检测技术的发展, 尤其是高通量DNA测序技术的应用, 使得链霉菌大的环型质粒和线型质粒的研究取得了较快的进展。相比于研究透彻的细菌Theta型复制的质粒, 链霉菌Theta型质粒在复制区的结构、复制蛋白和调控蛋白作用的分子机理等方面具有多样性和新颖性。新鉴定的许多线型质粒的中心复制区表明中心复制的起始可以靠近端粒, 一个质粒也可以有2个以上的复制区。新分离的端粒序列显示端粒“折返”不是必需的, 而形成二级结构对于端粒复制是重要的。链霉菌环型和线型质粒的测序分析显示它们之间存在亲缘关系。环型质粒可以与噬菌体共整合, 实验证明它们在一定条件下可以相互转换。这些研究结果表明, 链霉菌环型、线型质粒和噬菌体从结构到功能到进化具有多样性、新颖性和亲缘关系。     

Regulation of amino acid transport in growing cells of Streptomyces hydrogenans

The uptake of various amino acids into Streptomyces hydrogenans grown in chemostatically and turbidostatically controlled steady state cultures has been investigated. A close correlation between transport capacity and the growth rates of the cells was found. As shown by kinetic analysis, the increased transport is due to elevated maximum uptake rates, the apparent Michaelis constants remaining unchanged. Analysis of the unidirectional fluxes of cycloleucine revealed that not only the influx is raised as the growth rate is increased but also the efflux. Hence, the conclusion is drawn that the growth-rate dependent modulation of transport capacity is, at least, partially due to the variation of the concentration of active transport components. Since the cells were grown in the absence of external amino acids the results suggest that amino acid transport into S. hydrogenans is under the control of endogenous effectors.List of Abbreviations AIB 2-aminoisobutyric acid - Cycloleucine 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid     

五个链霉菌线型质粒端粒的克隆和分析

本室从西藏采集的土壤样品中分离到了一批链霉菌,利用脉冲电泳确定了其中5株链霉菌含有较小的线型质粒。【目的】克隆、测序和分析5个线型质粒的端粒。【方法】采用改良的"在凝胶中进行DNA碱处理和限制性内切酶酶切"的方法来克隆线型质粒的端粒DNA。【结果】克隆和测序了5个线型质粒的端粒DNA。通过与链霉菌典型端粒进行比较,发现这5个新的线型质粒的端粒序列同样含有多个回文序列。但是有的端粒保守的回文序列I不一定能够"折返"与内部序列配对形成"超级发卡"结构,回文序列的"突出环"不一定都为3nt。【结论】采用改良的方法克隆和鉴定了5个线型质粒新的端粒序列,这些新端粒的特征暗示:回文序列I的"折返"和3nt的回文序列的"突出环"不是端粒复制必需的。     

Construction of two stable bifunctional plasmids for Streptomyces spp. and Escherichia coli

Two bifunctional plasmid vectors pZG5 (7.45 kb) and pZG6 (6.95 kb), for gene transfer between Streptomyces spp. and Escherichia coli have been constructed by fusion of the multicopy broad-host-range Streptomyces plasmid pIJ350 with E. coli plasmids Bluescribe M13- (pZG5) or pUC18 (pZG6). Both plasmids possess several unique restriction sites suitable for DNA cloning. Stable transformants of Streptomyces rimosus R6 and S. lividans 66 were obtained, harboring intact plasmids regardless of colony age or multiple subculturing. Moreover, pZG5 and pZG6 were successfully used to introduce several homologous transfer RNA genes into S. rimosus.     

西藏土壤中分离的链霉菌含有丰富的线型和环型质粒

【目的】研究极端自然环境对链霉菌线型和环型质粒分布的影响。【方法】从西藏高原采集了20份土壤样品,分离和初步鉴定链霉菌,提取和检测质粒DNA。【结果】从中分离到46株链霉菌,其中有23株菌含有1 4个线型质粒,大小在19 650 kb之间,8个菌株含有1 4个环型质粒,大小在4 80 kb之间。【结论】西藏土壤来源的链霉菌含有大量的、多样的线型质粒和环型质粒,暗示极端环境中诸如强紫外辐射等可能会引发DNA损伤和修复,进而造成质粒的多样性。     

一种产生纤溶酶的链霉菌C-3662的鉴定及发酵研究

对一株从土壤中分离的纤溶酶产生菌链霉菌C-3662的形态、培养、生理生化和化学分类特征进行了研究,发现其与泛温链霉菌(Streptomyces eurythermus Corbaz et al. 1968)的特征很相符。通过对链霉菌C-3662的16S rDNA序列进行测定与比对,发现它与泛温链霉菌的16S rDNA序列也有高达98.19%的同源性。根据多相分类原则,认为链霉菌C-3662属于泛温链霉菌。对链霉菌C-3662的发酵培养基组成等的研究表明,合适的发酵培养基中应含有氮源黄豆饼粉2.0%、碳源淀粉1.0%和葡萄糖2.5%以及少量的无机盐类如硫酸镁。链霉菌C3662的发酵过程研究表明,纤溶酶是在菌丝体生长停止之后才大量产生。     

Kinetic analysis of cephalosporin biosynthesis in Streptomyces clavuligerus

A kinetic model describing the cephalosporin biosynthesis in Streptomyces clavuligerus was developed. Using previously reported kinetic data of biosynthetic enzymes, we examined the kinetics of cephalosporin production. The predicted time profile of the specific production rate during a batch culture parallels that of experimental observation. Sensitivity analysis reveals that delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) synthetase is the rate-limiting enzyme. The effect of amplifying ACV synthetase on the specific production rate was analyzed theoretically. Increasing ACV synthetase enhances the production rate initially until ACV synthetase enhances the production rate initially until deacetocycephalosporin C hydroxylase becomes rate-limiting. Such kinetic analysis can provide a rational basis for modifying the biosynthetic machinery of cephalosporin through gene cloning.     

Efficient transposition of IS204-derived plasmids in Streptomyces coelicolor

In order to study functional gene expression in Streptomyces coelicolor, a mini-transposon encoding the apramycin resistance gene aac(3)IV within its inverted repeat (IR) boundaries was constructed based on IS204, which was previously identified in the genome of Nocardia asteroides YP21. The mini-transposon and IS204 transposase gene were then put on a kanamycin-resistant conjugative plasmid pDZY101 that can only replicate in Escherichia coli. After mating with S. coelicolor A3(2) M145, resistant colonies arose efficiently on both apramycin and kanamycin plates. Plasmid rescue indicated that entire plasmids were inserted into the M145 genome with cleavage at an inverted repeat junction formed by the right inverted repeat (IRR) and the last 18 bp of the transposase gene, while the left inverted repeat (IRL) was untouched. Southern blot analysis of the mutants using an aac(3)IV gene probe showed that transposition of plasmid pDZY101 was genetically stable, with a single-copy insertion within the S. coelicolor M145 genome. Several mutagenesis libraries of S. coelicolor M145 were constructed using plasmid pDZY101 derivatives and the transposon insertion site was determined. The correlation between novel mutant phenotypes and previously uncharacterized genes was established and these transposon locations were widely scattered around the genome.     

The 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Streptomyces hydrogenans

In addition to the well-known 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ('cortisone reductase'), Streptomyces hydrogenans produces a relatively stable, NAD-dependent 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of molecular mass approximately 48 kDa. This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of hydrogen from the 4-pro-S position of NADH.     

Transformation using in vivo and in vitro methylation in Streptomyces griseus

Streptomyces griseus does not readily take up foreign DNA isolated from other Streptomyces species or Escherichia coli, presumably due to its unique restriction-modification systems that function as a barrier for interspecific DNA transfer. To efficiently transform S. griseus by avoiding the restriction barriers, we methylated incoming DNA in vivo and in vitro and treated protoplasts with heat prior to transformation. Whereas heat treatment of protoplasts or methylation of the E. coli-Streptomyces shuttle vectors (pXE4 and pKK1443) did not prominently improve the transformation efficiency, HpaII methylation of the vectors from any E. coli strains tested in this study highly increased the transformation efficiency. The highest transformation efficiency was observed when the shuttle vectors were isolated from the dam, hsd strain of E. coli (GM161) and methylated by AluI and HpaII methyltransferases, and the efficiency was approximately the same as that of the vectors from S. griseus. We identified several restriction-modification systems that decrease the transformation efficiency. This research also led us to understand methylation profiles and restriction-modification systems in S. griseus.     

17Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in Streptomyces hydrogenans.

Streptomyces hydrogenans converts 17beta-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3-one (testosterone) to androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione) in good yields. Time-dependence of the conversion, steroid uptake and release have been studied in vivo. Steroid analysis was done by thin-layer chromatography and recrystallization to constant specific radioactivity. After sonification of the cells the postulated 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was recovered in the 105 000 g supernatant. The enzyme was enriched by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. It required NAD+ as cofactor. Its activity could be studied photometrically, because there are no further testosterone-netabolites. If S. hydrogenans was cultured in the presence of testosterone, estradiol or 5alphaH-dihydrotestosterone, the activity of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase increased.     

Characterization of L-aspartate uptake by Streptomyces hydrogenans.

Multiple transport systems for L-aspartic acid exist in Steptomyces hydrogenans. The intracellular accumulation of L-aspartate against a concentration gradient was immediately inhibited by proton conductors, such as carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol or nigericin. Transport activity was gradually lost when inhibitors of protein synthesis were added. L-Aspartate transport had two pH optima at 6.5 and 4.5. At pH 6.5, two saturable transport components with different Km and Vmax values could be resolved by kinetic studies. A high-affinity system (system I) preferred the L-isomers of the anionic forms of aspartic and glutamic acid. At the same pH, a second, low-affinity system (system II) operated, which was presumably less specific than system I and also able to accept, at high concentrations, neutral amino acids. At pH 4.5, the Lineweaver-Burk plot revealed only a single catalytic component, with Km and Vmax values similar to those of system II. Again, in contrast to system I, this component showed high affinity for neutral amino acids. The data suggest that L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid are transported by this system as neutral zwitterionic molecules.     

Giant linear plasmids of β-lactam antibiotic producing Streptomyces

Abstract A survey of the total cellular DNA from five β-lactam antibiotic-producing Streptomyces spp. by pulsed field gel electrophoresis was conducted to investigate the presence of linear plasmids. Streptomyces clavuligerus NRRL 3585 contained two giant linear plasmids of 120 and 430 kb, in addition to the well-characterized 11.7 kb linear plasmid. Streptomyces griseus NRRL 3851 contained a single giant linear plasmid of 120 kb, and Streptomyces jumonjinensis NRRL 5741 contained two giant linear plasmids (220 and 280 kb), and two smaller linear plasmids. No plasmids were identified in Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 3841 or Streptomyces lipmannii NRRL 3584. Southern hybridization did not reveal any homology shared by these plasmids, and β-lactam antibiotic synthesis gene clusters were located on the chromosome.     

亚硝基胍消除链霉菌FR-008的线性质粒

【目的】利用亚硝基胍(NTG)消除链霉菌FR-008线性质粒以简化其基因组,获得背景清晰的菌株,作为抗生素异源生物合成的底盘细胞。【方法】NTG溶液处理链霉菌FR-008孢子悬液,从存活的诱变株中筛选砷敏感的突变株,再通过脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)检测线性质粒是否被消除;用生测实验定性检测各个线性质粒消除突变株杀念菌素合成的能力,最后通过HPLC定量比较突变株和野生型产生杀念菌素的差异。【结果】从103个诱变株中筛选到3株砷敏感的突变株(10#、59#、115#)。PFGE检测发现它们均丢失了大线性质粒p SSFR1,此外,42#突变株的小线性质粒p SSFR2被消除,在此基础上,第二轮NTG诱变获得了双质粒消除的突变株。大线性质粒p SSFR1消除率约为3%,小线性质粒p SSFR2消除率约为1%。发酵结果显示:10#、115#突变株杀念菌素有效组分III产量分别提高了40%和30%。【结论】首次发现NTG是一种有效消除链霉菌线性质粒的诱变剂,2株大线性质粒消除的突变株杀念菌素的产量得到提高。此方法可以用来消除特定链霉菌菌株中的巨型线性质粒以高效简化其基因组,因而是一种有效的抗生素遗传育种的方法。     

Extracellular deoxyribonuclease production by a thermophile, Streptomyces thermonitrificans

A thermophilic bacterial strain, Streptomyces thermonitrificans, produced high levels of extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase) when grown on NBG medium (containing 1% peptone, 0.3% beef extract, 1% glucose and 0.5% NaCl). Maximum DNase activity (140 U ml⁻¹) was obtained, in 24 h, when the culture was grown on modified NBG medium (containing 1.3% beef extract, 1% glucose, 0.5% NaCl and 50 μM Mn²⁺ at 45°C. The crude enzyme showed higher activity on native DNA than on sonicated and heat denatured DNA. Moreover, addition of Mn²⁺ in the assay mixture resulted in a significant stimulation (10–15 fold) of the enzyme activity. Received 24 November 1998/ Accepted in revised form 25 April 1999