Degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals by genetic transformants with two lignin degrading enzymes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlebia tremellosa</Emphasis>

A white rot fungus Phlebia tremellosa produced lignin degrading enzymes, which showed degrading activity against various recalcitrant compounds. However, manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity, one of lignin degrading enzymes, was very low in this fungus under various culture conditions. An expression vector that carried both the laccase and MnP genes was constructed using laccase genomic DNA of P. tremellosa and MnP cDNA from Polyporus brumalis. P. tremellosa was genetically transformed using the expression vector to obtain fungal transformants showing increased laccase and MnP activity. Many transformants showed highly increased laccase and MnP activity at the same time in liquid medium, and three of them were used to degrade endocrine disrupting chemicals. The transformant not only degraded bisphenol A and nonylphenol more rapidly but also removed the estrogenic activities of the chemicals faster than the wild type strain.     

启动子替代构建糙皮侧耳漆酶高产菌株

POXC是糙皮侧耳合成最多的一种漆酶。应用启动子替代技术,用构巢曲霉的甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶基因（gpd）启动子替代POXC基因的启动子,构建了超量表达POXC糙皮侧耳转化子。转化子中POXC基因表达量比出发菌株提高了0.72–3倍。在PDA平板培养、PD摇瓶培养和棉籽壳试管培养条件下,转化子漆酶活力显著提高,比出发菌株提高了1.5倍以上。用棉籽壳栽培,转化子菇产量比出发菌株提高了16.2%,培养料中木质素含量比出发菌株减少21%。结果表明,应用高效启动子替代能够显著提高糙皮侧耳漆酶基因的表达量、漆酶活力及其木质纤维素降解能力。     

Overproduction of recombinant laccase using a homologous expression system in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriolus versicolor</Emphasis>

One of the major extracellular enzymes of the white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor is laccase, which is involved in the degradation of lignin. We constructed a homologous system for the expression of a gene for laccase III (cvl3) in C. versicolor, using a chimeric laccase gene driven by the promoter of a gene for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) from this fungus. We transformed C. versicolor successfully by introducing both a gene for hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) and the chimeric laccase gene. In three independent experiments, we recovered 47 hygromycin-resistant transformants at a transformation frequency of 13 transformants g^–1 of plasmid DNA. We confirmed the introduction of the chimeric laccase gene into the mycelia of transformants by a polymerase chain reaction in nine randomly selected transformants. Overproduction of extracellular laccase by the transformants was revealed by a colorimetric assay for laccase activity. We examined the transformant (T2) that had the highest laccase activity and found that its activity was significantly higher than that of the wild type, particularly in the presence of copper (II). Our transformation system should contribute to the efficient production of the extracellular proteins of C. versicolor for the accelerated degradation of lignin and aromatic pollutants.     

Growth inhibition of the yeast transformant by the expression of a chitinase from Coprinellus congregatus

Coprinellus congregatus generates several chitinases during its entire life cycle: at the growing hyphal stage and at the mushroom autolysis stage. We have isolated a chitinase gene (chi1) from the mushroom tissue at the autolysing stage, and constructed a chitinase expression vector to get large amount of enzyme protein. Chitinase 1 (chi1) cDNA was heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by gal1 promoter. The transformants showed no specific change in growth characteristics under normal growth conditions. However the expression of the gene by the gal1 promoter in the yeast transformants resulted in complete growth inhibition, while laccase expression by the gal1 promoter showed normal growth. The chitinase activities from the transformants were also more than 3 times higher than that of the recipient strain, and the chitinase expression by the real time-PCR also showed increased expression of the chi1 in the yeast transformant. Expression of a chitinase which was produced at the mushroom autolysing stage of C. congregatus resulted in yeast growth inhibition.     

里氏木霉组成型表达siRNA干扰cre1基因对纤维素酶表达的调控作用

使用组成型siRNA干扰载体对里氏木霉碳阻遏抑制因子CRE1进行siRNA干扰以研究其对里氏木霉纤维素酶基因表达的调控作用。根据里氏木霉cre1基因序列设计siRNA干扰片段。利用里氏木霉组成型表达载体将干扰片段分别构建至里氏木霉cre1干扰载体并将其转化里氏木霉QM9414。分别在48和144 h对各转化子进行纤维素酶酶活力测试(CMC酶活力测试和滤纸酶活力测试)及利用qPCR检测相关基因的表达。在诱导144 h时转化子的两种酶活力平均约比出发菌株高出1倍。qPCR检测cre1基因的表达结果表明,转化子的cre1表达量比出发菌株平均降低约50%,而ace1基因表达量变化不大。其他纤维素酶相关基因的表达水平也均高于出发菌株。通过组成型表达siRNA干扰里氏木霉cre1基因可以明显调控纤维素酶基因的表达,为研究纤维素酶的基因表达与调控提供参考。     

过表达漆酶基因Lelcc1的香菇菌株构建及表型分析

真菌漆酶（laccase）是一种多酚氧化酶,在真菌生长发育中具有重要作用。本研究采用根癌农杆菌介导转化的方法,以香菇Lentinula edodes菌株W1为受体菌株,在Leactin基因启动子调控下过表达Lelcc1基因;对其中7个单拷贝插入的转化子进行qRT-PCR分析,7个Lelcc1基因表达量较出发菌株W1均上调了1.5-8倍。进一步分析了这7个转化子的遗传稳定性;挑取了3个稳定的转化子进行表型分析,主要包括不同培养基中的生长速度、代料栽培过程中菌棒转色程度、以及透射电镜观察菌丝细胞的超微结构。发现转化子和受体菌株W1的生长速度无显著差异,但代料栽培过程中转化子较W1转色更快,菌棒表面颜色更深;透射电镜观察菌丝细胞的超微结构发现在细胞壁厚度、细胞膜形态等方面,其中两个超量表达转化子与W1间存在显著差异。结果表明,香菇Lelcc1基因可能参与了转色过程中色素合成或积累,也可能与细胞壁形成有关。     

Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol by white rot fungi under ligninolytic and nonligninolytic conditions

The roles of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase were investigated in the biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by several white rot fungi. The disappearance of pentachlorophenol from cultures of wild type strains,P. chrysosporium, Trametes sp. andPleurotus sp., was observed. The activities of manganese peroxidase and laccase were detected inTiametes sp. andPleurotus sp. cultures. However, the activities of ligninolytic enzymes were not detected inP. chrysosporium cultures. Therefore, our results showed that PCP was degraded under ligninolytic as well as nonligninolytic conditions. Indicating that lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase are not essential in the biodegradation of PCP by white rot fungi.     

Over-expression of gsh1 in the cytosol affects the photosynthetic apparatus and improves the performance of transgenic poplars on heavy metal-contaminated soil

Recent studies of transgenic poplars over‐expressing the genes gsh1 and gsh2 encoding γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ‐ECS) and glutathione synthetase, respectively, provided detailed information on regulation of GSH synthesis, enzymes activities and mRNA expression. In this experiment, we studied quantitative parameters of leaves, assimilating tissues, cells and chloroplasts, mesophyll resistance for CO₂ diffusion, chlorophyll and carbohydrate content in wild‐type poplar and transgenic plants over‐expressing gsh1 in the cytosol after 3 years of growth in relatively clean (control) or heavy metal‐contaminated soil in the field. Over‐expression of gsh1 in the cytosol led to a twofold increase of intrafoliar GSH concentration and influenced the photosynthetic apparatus at different levels of organisation, i.e., leaves, photosynthetic cells and chloroplasts. At the control site, transgenic poplars had a twofold smaller total leaf area per plant and a 1.6‐fold leaf area per leaf compared to wild‐type controls. Annual aboveground biomass gain was reduced by 50% in the transgenic plants. The reduction of leaf area of the transformants was accompanied by a significant decline in total cell number per leaf, indicating suppression of cell division. Over‐expression of γ‐ECS in the cytosol also caused changes in mesophyll structure, i.e., a 20% decrease in cell and chloroplast number per leaf area, but also an enhanced volume share of chloroplasts and intercellular airspaces in the leaves. Transgenic and wild poplars did not exhibit differences in chlorophyll and carotenoid content of leaves, but transformants had 1.3‐fold fewer soluble carbohydrates. Cultivation on contaminated soil caused a reduction of palisade cell volume and chloroplast number, both per cell and leaf area, in wild‐type plants but not in transformants. Biomass accumulation of wild‐type poplars decreased in contaminated soil by more than 30‐fold, whereas transformants showed a twofold decrease compared to the control site. Thus, poplars over‐expressing γ‐ECS in the cytosol were more tolerant to heavy metal stress under field conditions than wild‐type plants according to the parameters analysed. Correlation analysis revealed strong dependence of cell number per leaf area unit, chloroplast parameters and mesophyll resistance with the GSH level in poplar leaves.     

Recombinant expression of Pleurotus ostreatus laccases in Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heterologous expression of Pleurotus ostreatus POXC and POXA1b laccases in two yeasts, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed. Both transformed hosts secreted recombinant active laccases, although K. lactis was much more effective than S. cerevisiae. rPOXA1b transformants always had higher secreted activity than rPOXC transformants did. The lower tendency of K. lactis with respect to S. cerevisiae to hyperglycosylate recombinant proteins was confirmed. Recombinant laccases from K. lactis were purified and characterised. Specific activities of native and recombinant POXA1b are similar. On the other hand, rPOXC specific activity is much lower than that of the native protein, perhaps due to incomplete or incorrect folding. Both recombinant laccase signal peptides were correctly cleaved, with rPOXA1b protein having two C-terminal amino acids removed. The availability of the established recombinant expression system provides better understanding of laccase structure–function relationships and allows the development of new oxidative catalysts through molecular evolution techniques.     

Improvement of ligninolytic properties by recombinant expression of glyoxal oxidase gene in hyper lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

Glyoxal oxidase (GLOX) is a source of the extracellular H₂O₂ required for the oxidation reactions catalyzed by the ligninolytic peroxidases. In the present study, the GLOX-encoding gene (glx) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was cloned, and bee2 promoter of P. sordida YK-624 was used to drive the expression of glx. The expression plasmid was transformed into a P. sordida YK-624 uracil auxotrophic mutant (strain UV-64), and 16 clones were obtained as GLOX-introducing transformants. These transformants showed higher GLOX activities than wild-type P. sordida YK-624 and control transformants harboring marker plasmid. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the increased GLOX activity was associated with elevated recombinant glx expression. Moreover, these transformants showed higher ligninolytic activity than control transformants. These results suggest that the ligninolytic properties of white-rot fungi can be improved by recombinant expression of glx.     

Improvement of Manganese Peroxidase Production by the Hyper Lignin-Degrading Fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 by Recombinant Expression of the 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Synthase Gene

The manganese peroxidase (MnP) gene (mnp4) promoter of Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 was used to drive expression of 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (als), which is a key heme biosynthesis enzyme. The expression plasmid pMnP4pro-als was transformed into P. sordida YK-624 uracil auxotrophic mutant UV-64, and 14 recombinant als expressing-transformants were generated. Average cumulative MnP activities in the transformants were 1.18-fold higher than that of control transformants. In particular, transformants A-14 and A-61 showed significantly higher MnP activity (approximately 2.8-fold) than wild type. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the increased MnP activity was caused by elevated recombinant als expression. These results suggest that the production of MnP is improved by high expression of als.     

陆地棉GhCDPK1基因响应干旱胁迫的功能初探

钙依赖性蛋白激酶(CDPKs)是一类重要的钙信号感受蛋白和响应蛋白,在植物干旱、低温、盐碱等非生物胁迫应答中起着重要的调控作用。为探讨陆地棉GhCDPK1基因在干旱胁迫下所起的作用,该研究利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了PEG模拟干旱胁迫下该基因的表达量,发现GhCDPK1基因受干旱胁迫诱导。通过构建植物表达载体pCAMBIA2300-GhCDPK1,采用农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化模式植物烟草,发现干旱胁迫下转基因植株保水能力明显高于野生型植株,叶绿素、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白含量及POD、SOD活性也高于野生型植株,而丙二醛含量低于野生型植株。研究结果表明,GhCDPK1基因作为正向调控因子响应干旱胁迫诱导,过表达GhCDPK1基因可以使植株积累更多的渗透调节物质、增强抗氧化系统酶的活性和维持细胞膜的稳定性来提高植物抵御外界干旱胁迫的能力。     

Enhanced expression of laccase during the degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals in Trametes versicolor

A putative laccase cDNA from a white-rot basidiomycete, Trametes versicolor, that consisted of 1,769 nucleotides was cloned using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR method. The deduced amino acid sequence had 4 putative copper binding regions, which are common to fungal laccases. In addition, the sequence was 57 approximately 97 % homologous to sequences of other T. versicolor laccases. Additionally, the expression of laccase and manganese peroxidase in this fungus were both greatly increased under degrading conditions for bisphenol A, nonylphenol and two phthalic esters (benzylbutylphthalate and diethylphthalate), all of which are reportedly endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Furthermore, the estrogenic activities of the EDCs also decreased rapidly during incubation when examined in a two-hybrid yeast system. Finally, kojic acid inhibited the removal of estrogenic activities generated by bisphenol A and nonylphenol, which confirmed that laccase was involved in the degradation of EDCs in T. versicolor.     

Sequential reactors for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals by laccase immobilized onto fumed silica microparticles

Abstract

The main objective of this study is the evaluation of the capability of laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila immobilized on fumed silica microparticles (fsMP) for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in two enzymatic reactor configurations. This type of support can also be magnetized to allow the straightforward separation of the biocatalyst under a magnetic field. The support exhibited excellent biocompatibility with the enzyme, superior tolerance to pH and temperature as well as improved stability in comparison with the free enzyme, even in the presence of organic solvents and enzyme inhibitors. The technical feasibility of the removal of EDCs by immobilized laccase was assessed in two types of enzymatic reactors operated in sequential mode: a membrane reactor using fsMP-laccase and a reactor with magnetic separation using magnetized fsMP-laccase. The extent of transformation for the target compounds: bisphenol A (BPA) and 17β-estradiol (E2) was high and comparable to free laccase in both systems (up to 80%). The possibility of reusing the immobilized enzyme, especially for magnetized supports, offers an interesting approach in the development of enzyme based processes for the biotransformation of emerging pollutants.     

Gene Knockout of the Intracellular Amylase Gene by Homologous Recombination in Streptococcus bovis

Streptococcus bovis expresses two different amylases, one intracellular and the other secreted. A suicide vector containing part of the intracellular α-amylase gene from Streptococcus bovis WI-1 was recombined into the S. bovis WI-1 chromosome to disrupt the endogenous gene. Recombination was demonstrated by Southern blot, and zymogram analysis confirmed the loss of the intracellular amylase. Amylase activity in cell-free extracts of the recombinant grown in the presence of 1% starch was only 7% of wild type. The rate of logarithmic growth of the recombinant was 15–20% of the wild type in medium containing either 1% glucose, starch, or cellobiose. Revertants and non-amylase control recombinants had logarithmic growth rates that were the same as wild type. Plasmid transformants containing multiple copies of the cloned gene expressed up to threefold higher levels of intracellular amylase activity than wild type but did not demonstrate elevated growth rates. These results suggest that a critical level of expression of the intracellular amylase gene may be important for rapid growth of the bacterium. Received: 26 August 1996 / Accepted: 18 December 1996     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of a high oil-producing fil a m en to us fungusUmbelopsis isabellina

TheAgrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation procedure was developed by using the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) as a selective marker for the oil-producing fungusUmbelopsis isabellina. Different conditions were combined to increase the transformation efficiency. The highest efficiency was obtained by usingA. rhizogenes strain R105 and a vector with zygomycete promoter. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that 71 % of transformants contained random integrations of T-DNA sequences under optimal conditions. We randomly selected 115 positive transformants resistant to hygromycin to analyze the amount of total fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Six transformants produced a higher amount of total fatty acids than the wild strain, and one transformant also produced a higher level of GLA than the wild strain in gas chromatography analysis. This is the first report about usingA. rhizogenes strain R105 and germinated conidia to transform successfully the recalcitrant zygomycetes and to obtain transformants with a stable phenotype.     

Optimisation of the expression of a Trametes versicolor laccase gene in Pichia pastoris

A cDNA encoding a laccase enzyme was isolated from a Trametes versicolor cDNA library. The gene was subcloned into the Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC3.5 and transformed into the P. pastoris strains KM71 and GS115. Laccase-secreting transformants were selected by their ability to oxidise the substrate ABTS. No difference in laccase activity was observed between culture supernatants from GS115 (proteolytic) and KM71 (nonproteolytic) strains. The presence of at least 200 μM copper was necessary for optimal laccase activity in the culture supernatants. During growth of P. pastoris on minimal medium the pH of the medium was reduced to <3.0. If alanine was added to the medium the pH reduction was not as pronounced and at alanine concentrations >0.6% w/v the pH was kept constant for >7 days. Cultures in which the pH was maintained by alanine metabolism produced higher levels of laccase activity than those grown in the absence of alanine. This study describes the development of a medium that allows convenient pH control of P. pastoris without the need for continuous neutralisation. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 29, 55–59 doi:10.1038/sj.jim.7000268 Received 08 August 2001/ Accepted in revised form 18 April 2002     

Establishment of a transgene expression system for the marine microalga Schizochytrium by 18S rDNA-targeted homologous recombination

Schizochytrium is an established candidate for commercial production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are important in human health and aquaculture. Genetic engineering technology has been applied successfully to increase the metabolites in many organisms. In order to use genetic engineering technology to enhance lipid accumulation in Schizochytrium for economically feasible PUFAs production, the transgene expression system should be established first. In the present study, we investigated a novel transgene expression system in Schizochytrium by 18S rDNA-targeted homologous recombination. The targeting vector pBS-18S-ZeoR contains a portion of 18S rDNA from Schizochytrium and the Zeocin resistance gene (Streptoalloteichus hindustanus bleomycin gene, Sh ble gene) expression cassette. This targeting vector was transformed into Schizochytrium by electroporation and the transformants were then selected on Zeocin-containing plates. The exogenous Sh ble gene has been incorporated into the genome of Schizochytrium according to PCR amplification. More importantly, the majority of the transformants showed similar biomass and total lipid to the wild type strain. Our results suggest that the 18S rDNA is a suitable recombination site and this system could be used to introduce new functional genes into Schizochytrium.     

转GhB301基因烟草的防御酶活性及抗病相关基因表达分析

为了明确棉花ERF-B3亚族转录因子基因GhB301在烟草异位表达后(抗枯萎病中)的功能,该研究以过表达GhB301基因烟草和野生型烟草为材料,采用枯萎病菌孢子悬浮液接菌方法,分析病原菌侵染前后防御酶活性变化以及防卫相关基因的表达变化与抗病性的关系。结果显示:(1)棉花枯萎病菌处理15d后,2个转基因株系烟草叶片黄化程度与野生型相比较轻。(2)棉花枯萎病菌处理后,过表达GhB301转基因烟草和野生型烟草叶片过氧化物酶(POD)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)的活性较未接菌对照显著提高,并且酶活峰值出现均早于野生型材料;转基因材料叶片的POD、PAL、PPO活性均在处理3d后达到峰值,而野生型材料叶片的POD、PAL活性在处理5d后才达到峰值。(3)接种棉花枯萎病菌后活性氧相关基因、乙烯(ET)/茉莉酸(JA)途径相关基因、病程相关基因的表达量在转基因株系OE1和OE2中均受到明显影响。研究推测,GhB301在烟草中的异位表达激活了防卫相关基因的表达,提高了防御酶的活性,从而增强了烟草对枯萎病菌的抗性。