糖基转移酶基因双敲除对依博素生物合成的影响

以往研究已确定链霉菌胞外多糖依博素的生物合成基因簇(ste), ste15 和ste22 分别编码葡萄糖糖基转移酶和鼠李糖糖基转移酶。现通过基因同源重组双交换,在ste15基因缺失突变株Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste15-) 基础上,再进行ste22 基因阻断,经Southern 杂交验证,得到了ste15 和ste22 双基因缺失突变株Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste15-ste22-),并对该菌株进行了基因互补研究。双基因缺失株产生的胞外多糖与依博素相比,葡萄糖与鼠李糖含量明显降低,分子量下降,生物活性明显变弱。基因互补株产生的胞外多糖中葡萄糖与鼠李糖含量基本恢复至依博素水平,生物活性也显著提高。因此,进一步阐明了ste15和ste22基因参与了依博素生物合成中葡萄糖和鼠李糖重复单元序列的形成过程,在依博素的生物合成中起重要作用,变株产生的依博素新衍生物体内外生物学活性正在深入研究中。     

链霉菌UDP-葡萄糖脱氢酸编码基因Ste6的克隆表达和性质研究

链霉菌139能够产生一种全新的胞外多糖——依博素（139A）,该多糖体内具有显著抗类风湿性关节炎活性。其生物合成基因簇（GenBank Accession Number：AYl31229）已被鉴定约31．3kb,包含22个开放阅读框（ste1—ste22）。以pET-30a为载体,克隆并在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中进行了ste6基因的表达,对该基因的克隆、表达与性质进行了研究。亲和层析法证实,纯化后重组蛋白具有催化UDP-葡萄糖脱氢变成UDP-葡萄糖醛酸的活性。这表明ste6编码产物是葡萄糖脱氢酶。为了证实ste6基因与依博素生物合成的关系,采用单交换基因破坏策略构建了ste6基因阻断突变株。结果初步显示ste6和依博素生物合成相关。     

ste7与ste15双基因敲除对依博素生物合成的影响

摘要：【目的】研究ste7和ste15基因双敲除对依博素生物合成的影响。【方法】通过基因同源重组双交换,对ste15基因缺失突变株Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste15 -)再进行ste7基因的敲除,经Southern杂交验证,获得了ste7和ste15双基因缺失变株Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste7 - ste15 -)。对该突变株进行了基因互补。气相色谱分析ste7和ste15双基因缺失突变株及互补株产生的胞外多糖单糖组分,排阻色谱测定衍生物的重均分子量,ELISA法     

链霉菌来源的UDP-葡萄糖-4-差向异构酶基因的克隆表达及酶性质研究

经同源性比较,链霉菌139(Streptomycessp.139)产生胞外多糖依博素的生物合成基因簇中ste19基因编码的蛋白Ste19与UDP_葡萄糖_4_差向异构酶有较高同源性。将ste19基因克隆至质粒pET30a,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中进行了异源表达。产生的可溶性Ste19重组蛋白,占细胞总蛋白的26%,说明该基因高GC含量(73.8%)及第三位碱基偏向使用GC(96.2%)并未影响其高效表达。SDS_PAGE结果显示重组蛋白的分子量约37kD,与理论推测值基本相同。经亲和层析纯化后得到了较高纯度的重组蛋白,经HPLC分析纯度为92.9%。酶活性分析表明:Ste19蛋白可将UDP_葡萄糖转化为UDP_半乳糖,因此,Ste19蛋白是UDP_葡萄糖_4_差向异构酶,它可能参与了依博素的生物合成。     

链霉菌来源的UDP_葡萄糖_4_差向异构酶基因的克隆表达及酶性质研究

经同源性比较,链霉菌139（Streptomyces sp.139）产生胞外多糖依博素的生物合成基因簇中ste19 基因编码的蛋白Ste19与UDP_葡萄糖_4_差向异构酶有较高同源性。将ste19 基因克隆至质粒pET30a,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中进行了异源表达。产生的可溶性Ste19重组蛋白,占细胞总蛋白的26%,说明该基因高GC含量（73.8%）及第三位碱基偏向使用GC(96.2%)并未影响其高效表达。SDS_PAGE结果显示重组蛋白的分子量约37kD,与理论推测值基本相同。经亲和层析纯化后得到了较高纯度的重组蛋白,经HPLC分析纯度为92.9%。酶活性分析表明：Ste19蛋白可将UDP_葡萄糖转化为UDP_半乳糖,因此,Ste19蛋白是UDP_葡萄糖_4_差向异构酶,它可能参与了依博素的生物合成。     

黄脂菌素生物合成基因簇中调控基因xanR3的功能

【目的】研究黄脂菌素产生菌灰黄链霉菌中编码ArsR家族转录调控蛋白(Arsenical resistance regulator)的xanR3基因的功能。【方法】利用大肠杆菌和链霉菌双亲本接合转移的方法,构建xanR3基因缺失突变株及回补突变株。利用cDNA在相邻同方向的基因间隔区进行PCR确定黄脂菌素生物合成基因簇中的转录单元。利用荧光定量RT-PCR方法进行突变株中黄脂菌素生物合成基因簇转录水平的检测。【结果】对得到的xanR3基因缺失突变株及回补突变株进行发酵,发现xanR3基因缺失突变株产黄脂菌素能力下降,回补菌株中黄脂菌素产量相比缺失突变株有一定程度的恢复,但仍未达到野生型水平。经鉴定,黄脂菌素生物合成基因簇中共有18个共转录单元,其中4个共转录单元在?xanR3突变株中转录水平明显下降。【结论】ArsR家族转录调控基因xanR3是黄脂菌素生物合成的正调控基因。     

吸水链霉菌井冈变种的色素合成基因缺失对井冈霉素产量的影响北大核心CSCD

【目的】通过缺失井冈霉素高产菌株TL01中4个典型的色素合成基因簇来考察其对井冈霉素产量、菌体生长和发酵液颜色的影响。【方法】通过同源重组双交换对4个色素合成基因簇进行逐个同框缺失,HPLC检测突变株井冈霉素产量的变化,q RT-PCR检测突变株中井冈霉素合成基因转录变化,通过称量菌丝体干重来绘制其生长曲线。【结果】和出发菌株TL01相比,多巴类黑色素基因簇缺失株PY06中井冈霉素的发酵产量由原来的20.6 g/L上升至23.1 g/L,提高了12%;III型聚酮合酶编码的黑色素基因簇缺失株PY07产量无明显变化;II型聚酮合酶编码的孢子色素基因簇缺失和褐黄素基因簇缺失分别导致井冈霉素产量下降11.7%和17.2%。所有缺失突变株中井冈霉素基因簇转录水平和发酵液颜色均没有明显变化。【结论】不同色素基因的缺失对井冈霉素产量和菌株生物量积累具有不同的影响。多巴类黑色素与井冈霉素的生物合成过程竞争共同前体,将其中断后使前体流向井冈霉素生物合成,达到了进一步提高产量的目的。     

植物乳杆菌C88胞外多糖生物合成基因的克隆及序列比对

乳酸菌胞外多糖能显著改善发酵乳制品及食品的流变学和质构特性.为进一步了解乳酸菌胞外多糖的生物合成途径及调控机制,本研究对参与植物乳杆菌C88胞外多糖生物合成基因簇的部分序列进行了克隆和鉴定.根据GenBank中已报道植物乳杆菌基因序列的保守区域设计特异性引物,扩增出植物乳杆菌C88生物合成蛋白基因(cps4A)序列,并通过染色体步移方法克隆了植物乳杆菌C88 参与胞外多糖合成基因簇的部分序列(4.9 kb).利用生物信息学方法预测基因簇中6个阅读框的结构和功能,结果表明该序列与已报道的乳酸杆菌胞外多糖生物合成基因具有高度的同源性(>96%);对各阅读框功能预测分析发现,这6个基因主要编码参与胞外多糖合成中的多糖合成蛋白、糖链长度检测蛋白、UDP-葡萄糖-4-异构酶和糖基转移酶.本研究将为利用基因工程方法调控多糖的合成和产量提供理论依据.     

细菌胞外多糖的生物合成与基因控制

细菌胞外多糖是指细菌在生长发育过程中合成并分泌到细胞外的长链,高分子糖类聚合物。细菌胞外多糖的生物合成途径涉及装配、多聚化及运输三个过程,是多种酶和转运系统的结果,其发生的部位包括胞内和胞外,有些合成过程会发生在细胞壁上,对于胞外多糖合成相关基因的报道,发现控制胞外多糖合成是一大类基因簇,不同的菌株其基因簇的数量和种类各不相同。这些研究的不断更新为将来胞外多糖的应用提供了更加广阔的前景。     

格尔德霉素基因工程高产菌株的构建和培养

在格尔德霉素产生菌吸水链霉菌17997(Streptomyces hygroscopicus 17997)中存在两种3-氨基-5-羟基苯甲酸(3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid, AHBA)的生物合成基因簇, 根据同源性可分为苯醌类和萘醌类。已证明其中苯醌类的AHBA生物合成基因簇负责格尔德霉素(geldanamycin, Gdm)起始单位的合成, 而萘醌类的AHBA基因簇可能参与未知安莎化合物的生物合成。为提高吸水链霉菌17997菌种的Gdm发酵产量, 并研究高产菌种在固体培养基上孢子的生长周期。采用基因阻断技术, 将吸水链霉菌17997中的萘醌类AHBA生物合成基因簇(shnSOP)进行破坏, 以获得DSOP菌株, 从而减少对合成所需共同底物AHBA的争夺。HPLC分析结果表明DSOP菌株Gdm的发酵产量比原株提高185%。同时, 通过孢子计数发现该菌株在固体培养基上的孢子生长经历2个周期, 第2代孢子菌种的Gdm产量较高。     

Quallen an Nord‐ und Ostseeküste

Jellyfishes in the North and the Baltic Sea Jellyfish masses are not only a nuisance for bathers but have significant negative effects on marine ecosystems and economy. The causes of worldwide increasing jellyfish mass occurrences are not fully understood until today. Anthropogenic influences as submarine constructions, overfishing, eutrophication and climate warming are assumed as possible causes. Jellyfish and their relatives have fascinating capabilities and features, including their amazing regeneration potential, a high adaptability on changing environments and especially their weapons, the stinging capsules. Despite the simplicity of their nervous system jellyfish have astonishing perception senses.     

ste20基因突变抑制葡萄糖诱导的酿酒酵母细胞凋亡

近年来,酿酒酵母的细胞调亡研究取得了很大进展。多种因素可以诱导其调亡,譬如过氧化氢（H2O2）、醋酸、高渗透压和高盐浓度等。葡萄糖是酿酒酵母生长所必须的重要营养物质之一。同时,在其他营养元素缺乏的条件下,只用葡萄糖培养将迅速的诱导酿酒酵母的细胞凋亡。Ste20是PAK（p21 activated kinase）家族的成员,它参与酿酒酵母的信息素应答、假菌丝生长和侵入生长等途径。有研究表明,ste20突变株能抵抗由信息素和过氧化物诱导的细胞调亡。我们发现STE20基因突变也能抑制葡萄糖诱导的凋亡,用葡萄糖处理时,与野生型相比,ste20突变株细胞能保持完整的细胞膜和细胞核结构。H2O2诱导酿酒酵母细胞凋亡时,需要Ste20激酶磷酸化组蛋白H2B第十号丝氨酸（S10）。因此,葡萄糖诱导的酿酒酵母细胞凋亡作用可能通过类似于过氧化氢诱导的酿酒酵母细胞凋亡的途径进行的。     

Disruption of ste23 gene affects composition profile and bioactivity of exopolysaccharide produced by Streptomyces sp. 139

AIMS: To study the function of the gene ste23 involved in the biosynthesis of Ebosin. METHODS AND RESULTS: In search of databases, the deduced product of the gene ste23 showed high homology to dTDP-4-dehydrorhamnose 3,5-epimerases. ste23 was replaced by a kanamycin resistance gene through double crossover. Compared with Ebosin, an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by wild-type Streptomyces sp. 139, the EPS produced by the ste23 mutant (designated EPS1) had a remarkably different monosaccharide composition and significantly diminished rhamnose content, though the molecular mass of EPS1 was similar to that of Ebosin. In addition, EPS1 lost the interleukin 1 (IL-1) antagonist activity in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: ste23 may be involved in the Ebosin biosynthesis in S. sp. 139. and its bioactivity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first genetic work investigating functions of genes involved in EPS production in streptomyces by gene replacement of the pathway genes.     

Biochemical characteristics and function of a threonine dehydrogenase encoded by ste11 in Ebosin biosynthesis of Streptomyces sp. 139

Aims:  Ebosin, a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Streptomyces sp. 139 has antagonistic activity for interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) in vitro and remarkable anti-rheumatic arthritis activity in vivo. Ebosin biosynthesis gene ( ste ) cluster has been identified in our laboratory. This paper reports our effort to characterize the function of ste11 gene.
Methods and Results:  After the ste11 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, the recombinant Ste11 was purified and found capable of catalyzing NAD⁺ and l -threonine to NADH and 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate, hence identified as a threonine dehydrogenase (TDH). To investigate its function in the biosynthesis of Ebosin, the ste11 gene was knocked out with a double crossover via homologous recombination. The monosaccharide composition of EPS produced by the mutant strain (EPS-m) was altered from that of Ebosin. The analysis of IL-1R antagonist activity for EPSs showed that the bioactivity of EPS-m was lower than Ebosin.
Conclusions:  ste11 gene encoding a TDH may function as a modifier gene of Ebosin during its biosynthesis.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  TDH encoded by ste11 is functional in Ebosin biosynthesis. It is the first characterized TDH in Streptomyces .     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae ste20 Mutant Showing Resistance to Glucose-Induced Cell Death

Glucose is one of the most important nutrients for yeast growth, which induces cell death of S. cerevisiae in the absence of other nutrients to support growth. In the present study, we reported that the S. cerevisiae ste20 mutant was resistant to glucose-induced cell death. Cells of ste20 mutant that were treated with glucose maintained intact membrane and nuclei. Ste20 kinase phosphorylates histone H2B at serine 10 (S10) during hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced cell death. Therefore, glucose-induced cell death (GICD) may be regulated via a similar pathway of H₂O₂-induced apoptosis.     

Identification and characterization of a novel spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase encoded by gene ste26 from Streptomyces sp. 139

Streptomyces sp. 139 produces a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) designated Ebosin which can bind IL-1R specifically and exhibits anti-rheumatic arthritis activity in vivo. With the Ebosin biosynthesis gene cluster (ste) consisting of 27 ORFs identified previously the focus of this study was to characterize the protein encoded by ste26 gene. After cloning and expressing ste26 in Escherichia coli BL21, we purified the recombinant Ste26 protein and revealed its ability of transferring the acetyl group from AcCoA to spermidine and spermine, with spermine being the preferred substrate. Therefore Ste26 has been determined to be a spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase which can use spermine (Km of 72.1 ± 7.4 μM), spermidine (Km of 147.2 ± 11 μM), AcCoA (Km of 45.7 ± 2.5 μM) and poly-l-lysine (Km of 99.7 ± 11 μM) as substrates. The optimum pH, temperature and time for the activity have been shown to be 7.5, 37°C and 10 min, respectively. This is the first spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase characterized in Streptomyces and its function in Ebosin biosynthesis is discussed.     

Die Bewaldung der Wüste

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Auf Schatzsuche an der Nordseeküste

Excursion to St. Peter‐Ording: Treasure‐seeking at the North Sea coast After westerly gales, there is a good chance to find amber at the North Sea beach of St. Peter‐Ording, located on the pensinsula Eiderstedt in the German state Schleswig‐Holstein. Depending on weather conditions and the time of the year, a great variety of marine animals and their remains are washed on to the sandy beaches (12 kilometers long). The coastal landscape of this location also contains tidal flat, salt marshes and dunes. It is very similar to the landscape of the barrier islands such as Sylt and Amrum because of the related post‐glacial history of origin. Especially the highly near‐natural salt marshes and some areas of the dunes show a very interesting vegetation with many endangered plant species.