Biochemical properties of a thermostable phytase from Neurospora crassa

A gene (Ncphy) encoding a putative phytase in Neurospora crassa was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris, and the biochemical properties of the recombinant protein were examined in relation to the phytic acid hydrolysis in animal feed. The recombinant phytase (rNcPhy) hydrolyzed phytic acid with a specific activity of 125 U mg-1, Km of 228 micromol L-1, Vmax of 0.31 nmol (phosphate) s-1 mg-1, a temperature optimum of 60 degrees C and a pH optimum of 5.5 and a second pH optimum of 3.5. The enzyme displayed pH stability around pH 3.5-9.5 and showed satisfactory thermostability at 80 degrees C. The phytase from N. crassa has potential for improving animal feed processing at higher temperatures.     

粗糙脉孢霉酸性蛋白酶基因的克隆与鉴定

以粗糙脉胞霉CICIM F00021染色体DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增得到粗糙脉胞霉酸性蛋白酶结构基因。对其序列进行了测定和分析,表明扩增得到的片段为酸性蛋白酶基因。将扩增出的酸性蛋白酶基因克隆入酵母表达载体中获得重组质粒pPIC9K-ap。将其转化入毕赤氏酵母获得重组菌NA3。重组酸性蛋白酶在pH4．0和45℃下表现出最高活性。     

Oxidative stress and differentiation in Neurospora crassa

Environmental stress factors induce oxidative stress in fungi by increasing the intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the mycelium, ROS act as signal molecules needed for cytodifferentiation at certain stages of the development of fungi. Generation of ROS in cells induces the activation of antioxidant protective mechanisms. The purpose of this communication is to analyze the role of ROS in light signal transduction, mediated in Neurospora crassa cells by the White Collar Complex.     

粗糙脉孢菌(Neurospora crassa)木糖发酵的研究

研究了不同通氧条件和培养基初始pH等对粗糙脉孢菌(Neurospora crassa)AS3．1602木糖发酵的影响。结果表明,粗糙脉孢菌具有较强的发酵木糖产生乙醇及木糖醇的能力。通气量对木糖发酵有较大的影响。乙醇发酵适合在半好氧条件下进行,此时乙醇的转化率达到63．2％。木糖醇发酵适合在微好氧的条件下进行,转化率达到31．8％。木糖醇是在培养基中乙醇达到一定浓度后才开始积累。培养基的初始pH对木糖发酵产物有较大的影响,乙醇产生最适pH5．0,木糖醇产生最适pH4．0。在培养基pH为碱性条件时,木糖发酵受到很大的抑制。初始木糖浓度对产物乙醇及木糖醇的产率有很大的影响。葡萄糖的存在会抑制木糖的利用,对乙醇和木糖醇的产生也有很大的影响。     

Zinc resistance in Neurospora crassa

Three non-identical Zn-resistant strains of Neurospora crassa have been isolated. ZNR-1 and ZNR-2 strains were obtained after repeated subculturing of wild type N. crassa on Zn-containing agar media (8mM and 16mM), while ZNR-3 was isolated after mutagenesis with diethyl sulfate, followed by selection on Zn agar plates (16mM). All three ZNR strains showed two- to threefold resistance to Zn in liquid media when compared with the wild type. However, growth measured by hyphal elongation clearly distinguished between the resistant strains (ZNR-3>ZNR-2>ZNR-1wild). The ZNR-2 and ZNR-3 strains were also cross-resistant to Co, while ZNR-2 alone was cross-resistant to Cu. Both Mg and Fe reversed the growth inhibition caused by Zn; Mg by suppression of Zn uptake and Fe without affecting the same. Assay of catalase, iron-binding siderophores and glutathione in Zn toxicity revealed significant increases in catalase and glutathione levels in the ZNR-2 strain when compared with the wild type. Kinetics of Zn uptake by preformed mycelia showed a rapid initial phase of uptake followed by a slower phase. The rates of Zn uptake measured after leaching surface-bound metal with EDTA revealed that ZNR strains have significantly reduced Zn uptake rates when compared with the wild type. The overall data suggest a partial transport block for Zn uptake as the major mechanism for resistance in ZNR strains. Genetic analysis of ZNR strains showed that in the ZNR-3 strain the znr locus maps close to the mating type locus (mt) of N. crassa LG I, while that of ZNR-1 and ZNR-2 is linked to LG IV associated with chromosomal aberration.     

Identification and comparative analysis of the large subunit mitochondrial ribosomal proteins of Neurospora crassa

The mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) has highly evolved from its putative prokaryotic ancestor and varies considerably from one organism to another. To gain further insights into its structural and evolutionary characteristics, we have purified and identified individual mitochondrial ribosomal proteins of Neurospora crassa by mass spectrometry and compared them with those of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Most of the mitochondrial ribosomal proteins of the two fungi are well conserved with each other, although the degree of conservation varies to a large extent. One of the N. crassa mitochondrial ribosomal proteins was found to be homologous to yeast Mhr1p that is involved in homologous DNA recombination and genome maintenance in yeast mitochondria.     

Circadian Rhythms in Neurospora crassa: The Role of Mitochondria

Energy metabolism and mitochondria have been discussed with respect to their role in the circadian rhythm mechanism for some time. Numerous examples of inhibitors that affect the mitochondria of plants and animals and microorganisms are known, which cause large phase shifts in the rhythms of these organisms. Analogous studies on the role of mitochondria in the Neurospora circadian rhythm mechanism have also been reported and summarized. This communication differs from previous studies on other organisms in that it will focus on two lines of evidence derived from studies on Neurospora strains carrying mutations affecting the mitochondria, (a) Strains whose growth rate is resistant to oligomycin (oli^t) owing to an altered protein in the F₀ sector of the mitochondrial ATPase, showed no phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. Control strains (oli⁸) showed large phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. This indicates that the phase-shifting effect of oligomycin is due to the direct inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase and not some side effect of this inhibitor, (b) In Neurospora, many different strains are known that carry mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial genome that affect mitochondrially localized proteins. Some of these, such as oli', [MI-3], or cya-5, showed shorter (≥ 19-h) periods compared with the normal (21.5-h) period. Others showed little or no change in period. Those mutant strains exhibiting shorter periods also contained ≥60% more mitochondrial protein per gram total protein in extracts compared with the normal strains. Assays of the level of a mitochondrial-specific protein, acyl carrier protein, showed that the cellular content of this protein was approximately doubled. A parallel set of studies on the effects of antimycin or chloramphenicol on Neurospora demonstrated that these inhibitors also produced shorter periods as well as increased amounts of mitochondrial proteins. These two new lines of evidence may be interpreted to indicate that in Neurospora either some part of the oscillator is localized to the mitochondria and/or that mitochondria exert their effect on the clock mechanism through their effects on biosynthetic pathways or by their contribution in determining ion gradients.     

Circadian Rhythms in Neurospora crassa: The Role of Mitochondria

Energy metabolism and mitochondria have been discussed with respect to their role in the circadian rhythm mechanism for some time. Numerous examples of inhibitors that affect the mitochondria of plants and animals and microorganisms are known, which cause large phase shifts in the rhythms of these organisms. Analogous studies on the role of mitochondria in the Neurospora circadian rhythm mechanism have also been reported and summarized. This communication differs from previous studies on other organisms in that it will focus on two lines of evidence derived from studies on Neurospora strains carrying mutations affecting the mitochondria, (a) Strains whose growth rate is resistant to oligomycin (oli^t) owing to an altered protein in the F₀ sector of the mitochondrial ATPase, showed no phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. Control strains (oli⁸) showed large phase shifts when pulsed with oligomycin. This indicates that the phase-shifting effect of oligomycin is due to the direct inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase and not some side effect of this inhibitor, (b) In Neurospora, many different strains are known that carry mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial genome that affect mitochondrially localized proteins. Some of these, such as oli', [MI-3], or cya-5, showed shorter (≥ 19-h) periods compared with the normal (21.5-h) period. Others showed little or no change in period. Those mutant strains exhibiting shorter periods also contained ≥60% more mitochondrial protein per gram total protein in extracts compared with the normal strains. Assays of the level of a mitochondrial-specific protein, acyl carrier protein, showed that the cellular content of this protein was approximately doubled. A parallel set of studies on the effects of antimycin or chloramphenicol on Neurospora demonstrated that these inhibitors also produced shorter periods as well as increased amounts of mitochondrial proteins. These two new lines of evidence may be interpreted to indicate that in Neurospora either some part of the oscillator is localized to the mitochondria and/or that mitochondria exert their effect on the clock mechanism through their effects on biosynthetic pathways or by their contribution in determining ion gradients.     

Immunopurification of highly specific antibodies to calmodulin from Neurospora crassa

Abstract Highly specific antibodies against calmodulin from Neurospora crassa were produced in rabbits. These antibodies were immunopurified by chromatography on Neurospora calmodulin-Sepharose, and had a titer for purified calmodulin from Neurospora crassa and bovine testis of 80 ng/ml and 2.5 μg/ml respectively. By immunoblot, as little as 8 ng of pure Neurospora calmodulin could be detected, and the antibodies revealed calmodulin in crude homogenates from Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus nidulans while in homogenates from Allomyces arbuscula, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dictyostelium discoideum and bovine testis, calmodulin remained undetected.     

粗糙脉孢菌(Neurospora crassa)纤维素酶液体发酵培养基的优化

粗糙脉孢菌是天然纤维素降解真菌,具有产纤维素酶能力,国内外对其纤维素降解机理和发酵产酶有一定的研究,但对其产酶的条件优化研究得不多,其产酶潜力需要进一步挖掘。以粗糙脉孢菌基因组测序菌株FGSC 2489为对象,采用响应面分析法对Neurospora crassa摇瓶发酵产纤维素酶进行培养基优化。采用Plackett-Burman(PB)实验设计考察发酵培养基中关键参数对产酶条件的影响,进而采用最陡爬坡实验逼近最大响应区域,并结合中心组合实验(central composite design,CCD)和响应面分析法对两个显著因素进行分析。PB实验结果显示:Peptone、Yeast extract对产纤维素酶有显著影响。通过响应面分析得到一元二次方程,对方程求解得到Peptone 7.27g/L、Yeast extract 5.51g/L。采用该优化培养基,最大纤维素酶活可达1.27FPU/ml,较优化前提高了2.03倍;CMC酶活14.15IU/ml,比优化前提高1.88倍;木聚糖酶活24.13IU/ml,比优化前提高1.86倍;葡萄糖苷酶酶活1.22IU/ml比优化前提高2.08倍。     

Purification of a 47-kDa calmodulin-binding polypeptide as an actin-binding protein from Neurospora crassa

We have enriched a 47-kDa polypeptide (p47) from Neurospora crassa on the basis of its affinity to calmodulin. The p47 was purified to homogeneity by chromatography on a Mono S cation exchange column and evidence is presented that the polypeptide co-sediments specifically with F-actin. The intracellular distribution of p47 and actin was also examined using indirect double immunofluorescence staining of cells at different stages of development. Our results suggest that by altering the conformation binding site of actin to p47, calmodulin could play a regulatory role in the polarized hyphal growth of N. crassa.     

全基因组水平扫描鉴定粗糙脉孢菌糖转运蛋白及其在酿酒酵母己糖发酵中的评价

木质纤维素降解真菌粗糙脉孢菌天然具有吸收利用多种单糖和寡糖的能力,但是目前基因组中注释的预测糖转运蛋白仍然有过半功能未知。本研究从全基因组水平系统分析了粗糙脉孢菌预测糖转运蛋白的转运底物。研究发现两个转运蛋白(NCU01868和NCU08152)具有转运多种己糖底物的功能,因此分别命名为NcHXT-1和NcHXT-2。利用荧光共振能量转移技术(FRET)确认了NcHXT-1/-2具有葡萄糖转运功能。在己糖转运蛋白全缺酿酒酵母EBY.VW4000中分别过表达NcHXT-1/-2,能恢复其在葡萄糖、半乳糖或甘露糖的液体培养基中生长并生成乙醇的能力。NcHXT-1/-2在很多纤维素降解真菌中均具有保守的同源蛋白。本研究通过全基因组扫描鉴定,发现了两个保守的丝状真菌己糖转运蛋白,为真菌降解利用木质纤维素及酵母利用单糖发酵提供了新的改造靶点。     

The respiratory response to heat shock in Neurospora crassa

A sharp decrease in oxygen uptake occurred in Neurospora crassa cells that were transferred from 30 degrees C to 45 degrees C, and the respiration that resumed later at 45 degrees C was cyanide-insensitive. Energization of mitochondria, measured in vivo with fluorescence microscopy and a carbocyanine dye, also declined sharply in cells at 45 degrees C. Electron microscopy showed no changes in mitochondrial complexity; however, the cytoplasm of heat-shocked cells was deficient in glycogen granules.     

Optimization of simultaneous production of tyrosinase and laccase by Neurospora crassa

Increasing demand for efficient and environmentally benign oxidation technologies has resulted in a focus on the use of oxidoreductases. Laccases and tyrosinases, which utilize molecular oxygen and produce water as by-product, are particularly attractive. Simultaneous production of laccase and tyrosinase was studied in Neurospora crassa FGSC #321 as the fungal strain which has the ability to produce tyrosinase intracellularly while producing laccase extracellularly. Using one-variable-at-a-time experiments and a Taguchi orthogonal L9 array demonstrated that a Vogel minimal medium containing 2.5% sucrose at pH 6.5 and 25?°C with no agitation or oxygen purging were the optimum conditions for N. crassa FGSC #321 growth. Conditions were adjusted to obtain the highest laccase and tyrosinase production. Results indicate that the control mechanisms for the production of both enzymes in N. crassa FGSC #321 are similar but not necessarily identical. Results revealed that transferring the harvested cells from the growth medium into the phosphate buffer (pH 6.8, 0.1M) containing cycloheximide (2?μM) and fluorouracil (2?mM) and increasing the temperature to 30?°C were the best conditions for simultaneous production of laccase and tyrosinase (1278 and 410?U/g of biomass, respectively). Nonetheless, starvation at 35?°C is proposed as the most cost-effective means for inducing laccase. The N. crassa laccase was characterized by using its molecular weight, pI value, optimal pH and temperature and stability.     

氧限制下粗糙脉孢菌乙醇发酵的数学模型及过程模拟

粗糙脉孢菌(Mzcrospora crassan)具有直接转化植物纤维性物质生产乙醇的能力。研究了不同氧限制条件对粗糙脉孢菌发酵葡萄糖生产乙醇的影响,构建了该过程的数学模型,并利用数学模型进行了模拟和预测研究。结果表明,数学模型能够很好地预测氧限制条件下乙醇的发酵过程,即使微量氧对乙醇发酵也有较大的负面影响。     

Purification and properties of a casein kinase II-like enzyme from Neurospora crassa

A serine/threonine protein kinase was partially purified from Neurospora crassa. Its physical and catalytic properties were typical of casein kinase II. In vitro, the kinase phosphorylated a calpain like protease from Allomyces arbuscula with higher affinity than a mixture of caseins.     

粗糙脉孢菌基因组分泌蛋白的初步分析

文章报道利用信号肽预测软件SignalP v3.0和PSORT,跨膜螺旋结构预测软件TMHMMv2.0和THUMBUP,GPI-锚定位点预测软件big-PI Predictor和亚细胞器中蛋白定位分布预测软件TargetP v1.01对粗糙脉孢菌全基因组数据库中已公布的10 082个氨基酸序列进行预测分析。结果表明在粗糙脉孢菌中有437个蛋白为分泌蛋白,编码这些蛋白最小的可读框（open reading frame,ORF）为252 bp,最大为6 604 bp,平均1 433 bp,分泌蛋白信号肽长度介于15~59个氨基酸之间。在437个分泌蛋白中,205个具有功能描述,主要包括各种酶类、细胞能量生成、运转以及自身修复、防卫等多种功能。这些蛋白所参与的生化过程可能发生在膜外的周质空间或是菌体外的场所,为该物种营养的摄取,以及对环境做出响应服务。      

粗糙脉孢菌纤维素酶液体发酵优良形态突变体筛选

丝状真菌被广泛地用于包括纤维素酶在内的工业酶生产过程。在液体深层发酵中,丝状真菌菌丝形态直接影响发酵液的流变特性,进而与目标酶蛋白产量存在着重要的关联。目前,针对丝状真菌工业酶液体发酵菌丝形态的研究依然是从传统的发酵工程学角度出发,对与发酵水平紧密相关的形态、粘度等性状相关基因的认识远远不够。为了挖掘深层发酵中对丝状真菌发酵产酶性能具有重要影响的形态发育相关基因,以粗糙脉孢菌Neurospora crassa单基因突变体库中的95株形态突变株为研究对象,在结晶纤维素为碳源的条件下进行筛选,探寻与野生型菌株蛋白产量有显著差异的突变株。同时,对这些突变株的内切-β-1,4-葡聚糖酶酶活、β-葡萄糖苷酶酶活、发酵液粘度和菌丝干重进行了测定,并观察了发酵液中突变株的菌丝形态。实验结果表明,与野生型菌株相比,突变株SZY32、SZY35、SZY39和SZY43发酵液中蛋白浓度显著降低,突变株SZY11、SZY63、SZY69和SZY87发酵液中蛋白浓度显著性提高。值得注意的是,突变株SZY11和SZY43发酵液菌丝体主要形态为菌球状,其发酵液粘度分别降低75%和50%,突变株SZY87在发酵液中呈长丝状,发酵液粘度显著升高至少2倍。这些与产酶水平相关的形态、粘度基因的获得将有助于丝状真菌纤维素酶等工业酶高产工程菌株的理性构建。