Brownish Acidic Protein Induced in Pumpkin Callus by a High Concentration of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

An unknown brownish protein was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose column and hydroxyapatite column chromatographies from pumpkin callus treated with a high concentration of 2,4-D. The apparent molecular mass and isoelectric point of the purified protein were estimated to be 38 kD and 4.6, respectively. The absorption spectra of the protein showed a shoulder at around 280 nm and a sharp peak at 405 nm. In order to determine what the purified protein is, a cDNA library of the callus treated with a high concentration of 2,4-D was immunoscreened with antiserum raised against the purified protein. The obtained positive cDNA clone encoded a thioredoxin h having a predicted molecular mass of 13 123 D and a predicted isoelectric point of 5.24, suggesting that the purified protein might be a trimer that was formed by oxidative polymerization of the thioredoxin h. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

疣粒野生稻金属硫蛋白基因的获得及序列分析

对SMARTTM技术构建的疣粒野生稻叶片cDNA文库克隆进行随机测序,获得了疣粒野生稻金属硫蛋白基因的cDNA序列.该序列全长412 bp,开放阅读框长186 bp,编码62个氨基酸,10个半胱氨酸集中分布在肽链的N端和C端,该蛋白的分子量为6.4 kD,理论等电点(pI)为5.14.Blastp同源性分析表明其属于金属硫蛋白基因家族.     

柽柳(Tamarix androssowii)Tadir基因的克隆及分析

在柽柳cDNA文库测序中获得了Tadir基因的全长cDNA序列,去除PolyA后,该基因全长724bp。其中5′非翻译区26bp,3′非翻译区143bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长555bp,编码184个氨基酸。基因编码蛋白的分子量为19.69kD,理论等电点为6.96。疏水性分析表明,蛋白的前41个氨基酸为亲水性的。该基因的Genbank登录号为DQ462418(基因),ABE73781(蛋白)。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,0.4mol·L-1NaCl和NaHCO3胁迫后该基因表达量发生变化,其可能与柽柳的耐盐性有关。     

A novel alliinase from onion roots. Biochemical characterization and cDNA cloning

We have purified a novel alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) from roots of onion (Allium cepa L.). Two isoforms with alliinase activity (I and II) were separated by concanavalin A-Sepharose and had molecular masses of 52.7 (I) and 50.5 (II) kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 51 (I) and 57.5 (II) kD by gel filtration fast-protein liquid chromatography. Isoform I had an isoelectric point of 9.3, while isoform II had isoelectric points of 7.6, 7.9, 8.1, and 8.3. The isoforms differed in their glycosylation. Both contained xylose/fucose containing complex-type N-linked glycans, and isoform II also contained terminal mannose structures. Both isoforms had activity with S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides. Unlike other allium alliinases, A. cepa root isoforms had cystine lyase activity. We cloned a gene from A. cepa root cDNA and show that it codes for A. cepa root alliinase protein. Homology to other reported allium alliinase genes is 50%. The gene coded for a protein of mass 51.2 kD, with two regions of deduced amino acid sequence identical to a 25- and a 40-amino acid region, as determined experimentally. The A. cepa root alliinase cDNA was expressed mainly in A. cepa roots. The structure and function of the alliinase gene family is discussed.     

A Plastidial Lysophosphatidic Acid Acyltransferase from Oilseed Rape

The biosynthesis of phosphatidic acid, a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of lipids, is controlled by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, or 1-acyl-glycerol-3-P) acyltransferase (LPAAT, EC 2.3.1.51). We have isolated a cDNA encoding a novel LPAAT by functional complementation of the Escherichia coli mutant plsC with an immature embryo cDNA library of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Transformation of the acyltransferase-deficient E. coli strain JC201 with the cDNA sequence BAT2 alleviated the temperature-sensitive phenotype of the plsC mutant and conferred a palmitoyl-coenzyme A-preferring acyltransferase activity to membrane fractions. The BAT2 cDNA encoded a protein of 351 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 38 kD and an isoelectric point of 9.7. Chloroplast-import experiments showed processing of a BAT2 precursor protein to a mature protein of approximately 32 kD, which was localized in the membrane fraction. BAT2 is encoded by a minimum of two genes that may be expressed ubiquitously. These data are consistent with the identity of BAT2 as the plastidial enzyme of the prokaryotic glycerol-3-P pathway that uses a palmitoyl-ACP to produce phosphatidic acid with a prokaryotic-type acyl composition. The homologies between the deduced protein sequence of BAT2 with prokaryotic and eukaryotic microsomal LAP acytransferases suggest that seed microsomal forms may have evolved from the plastidial enzyme.     

A cherry protein and its gene, abundantly expressed in ripening fruit, have been identified as thaumatin-like.

A 29-kD polypeptide is the most abundant soluble protein in ripe cherry fruit (Prunus avium L); accumulation begins at the onset of ripening as the fruit turns from yellow to red. This protein was extracted from ripe cherries and purified by size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. Antibodies to the purified protein were used to screen a cDNA library from ripe cherries. Numerous recombinant plaques reacted positively with the antibodies; the DNA sequence of representative clones encoded a polypeptide of 245 amino acid residues. A signal peptide was indicated, and the predicted mature protein corresponded to the purified protein in size (23.3 kD, by mass spectrometry) and isoelectric point (4.2). A search of known protein sequences revealed a strong similarity between this polypeptide and the thaumatin family of pathogenesis-related proteins. The cherry thaumatin-like protein does not have a sweet taste, and no antifungal activity was seen in preliminary assays. Expression of the protein appears to be regulated at the gene level, with mRNA levels at their highest in the ripe fruit.     

小麦盐胁迫相关基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR方法,从小麦中克隆获得1个盐诱导小麦MYB类转录因子基因TaSIM（Triticum aestivum salt-induced MYB）,该基因cDNA全长1 213bp,具有1个831bp的开放阅读框,编码276个氨基酸,预测分子量约为29.903kD,等电点为10.12,推测的氨基酸序列中含有2个高度保守的SANT结构域。系统发生树分析表明,TaSIM与二穗短柄草XP₀03576185亲缘关系最近。半定量RT-PCR检测结果显示,TaSIM基因受盐胁迫诱导表达。亚细胞定位结果显示,TaSIM-hGFP融合蛋白定位于细胞核中。研究结果表明,小麦TaSIM基因编码的蛋白可能在细胞核内参与小麦对盐胁迫的应答反应。     

Molecular characterization of a polygalacturonase inhibitor from Pyrus communis L. cv Bartlett.

A polygalacturonase inhibitor glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 43 kD was purified from pear (Pyrus communis L. cv Bartlett) fruit. Chemical deglycosylation of this protein decreased the molecular mass to 34 kD. Gas chromatographic analysis suggests that N-linked glycosylation accounts for the majority of sugar moieties. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of the purified polygalacturonase inhibitor protein provided information used to amplify a corresponding cDNA by polymerase chain reactions. Multiple cloned products of these reactions were sequenced and the same open reading frame was identified in all of the products. It encodes a 36.5-kD polypeptide containing the amino acid sequences determined by protein sequencing and predicts a putative signal sequence of 24 amino acids and seven potential N-glycosylation sites. The expression of polygalacturonase inhibitor is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Activity and mRNA level were much higher in fruit than in flowers or leaves.     

Isolation of a full-length cDNA encoding polyphenol oxidase from sugarcane, a C4 grass

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in sugarcane (a C4 grass) was highest in the growing point and declined down the stalk. Sugarcane PPO with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa was purified to homogeneity from immature stem tissue. Western analysis of sugarcane extracts with a polyclonal antibody raised to this protein suggested it resulted from cleavage of a 60 kDa protein during purification. The antibody was used to screen a sugarcane stem cDNA library. A full-length PPO clone (sugppol) was characterised and shown to encode a 67 kDa precursor protein comprising a plastid transit sequence of 8 kDa and a mature PPO protein of 59 kDa. High levels of expression ofsugppol were detected in the growing point of the stalk and in the immature tissue immediately below it, but no message was detected in RNA from mature stem or leaf. Comparison with other PPO sequences indicated thatsugppol was significantly different to PPO genes in C3 dicotyledonous plants.     

The 24kDa outer envelope membrane protein from spinach chloroplasts: molecular cloning,in vivo expression and import pathway of a protein with unusual properties

The 24 kDa outer envelope membrane protein of spinach chloroplasts (omp24) represents a major constituent of this membrane. Sequences of tryptic and endoprotease Glu-C peptides derived from omp24 allowed the design of oligonucleotides which were used to generate a DNA fragment by polymerase chain reaction using spinach cDNA as template. This fragment served as a probe to screen a cDNA library for a full-length clone of the omp24 coding sequence. The protein predicted from the complete sequence only has 148 amino acids and a molecular mass of 16294 Da. It is an acidic protein (calculated isoelectric point 4.8) with a high content of proline residues. Expression of the coding sequence in Escherichia coli and characterization of the purified recombinant protein produced revealed that the overestimation of its molecular mass by SDS-PAGE (ca. 25 kDa) is due to its abnormal amino acid composition. Despite its rather low hydrophobicity (polarity index 49%), omp24 appears to be deeply embedded in the outer membrane. Insertion of omp24 into the membrane proceeds almost independently of surface receptors or targeting sequence but, in contrast to other known outer envelope membrane proteins, is stimulated by ATP.Abbreviations CNBr cyanogen bromide - IP isoelectric point - NCS N-chlorosuccinimide - NTA nitrilotriacetic acid - omp24 outer envelope membrane protein of spinach chloroplasts - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SV8 protease Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease (Endoprotease Glu-C) - TPT chloroplast triose phosphate/phosphate translocator     

番茄LeABI3基因的生物信息学分析

对所克隆到的番茄LeABI3基因测序结果进行序列分析,发现得到LeABI3基因的2种转录本.应用生物信息学的方法和工具对LeABI3蛋白质的理化性质、跨膜区域、疏水性/亲水性、二级结构、结构功能域和同源树进行分析,结果表明此蛋白是包含一个保守B3结构功能域的亲水性不稳定蛋白,相对分子量为65.4 kD,等电点为6.54,可能存在2个跨膜区域.蛋白质二级结构中的主要构成元件是α-螺旋和不规则卷曲,蛋白质同源分析发现番茄LeABI3和马铃薯vp1-ABI3类蛋白相似度最高,同源性为89%.     

一类依赖于NAD的玉米胞质型苹果酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及其序列分析

苹果酸脱氢酶普遍存在于各种生物中,它负责催化草酰乙酸和苹果酸之间的相互转换.根据其辅酶的特异性和在细胞内的分布及其生理功能的不同,苹果酸脱氢酶在高等植物中可以区分出不同的类型,依赖于NAD的细胞质型苹果酸脱氢酶是其中研究较少的一类.根据已发表的其他高等植物的依赖于NAD的胞质型苹果酸脱氢酶基因的保守序列,运用SMART RACE RT-PCR技术,从玉米叶片中分离了cyMDH 的1 264 bp全长cDNA序列,通过生物信息学分析发现,该序列含有一个999 bp的完整的开放阅读框,其共编码332个氨基酸(GenBank登陆号 EU625276).序列联配与树状分析结果表明,该玉米cyMDH 序列与多个物种的cyMDH 基因具有高度的同源性.组织特异性表达分析显示MDH基因在玉米叶片中表达量最高,在茎、根中亦有低水平表达.本研究将为更深入的研究玉米cyMDH 基因的分子调控机理奠定基础.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Chitinase and its cDNA Clone from Rice

A 35 kD chitinase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from extracts of rice bran of cv New Bonnet by ammonium sulfate fractionation, chitin affinity chromatography, cation exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose and gel filtration. The purified enzyme has an isoelectric point of 8.8. The enzyme inhibited the growth of Rhizoctonia solani (the sheath blight pathogen), Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, Fusarium graminaerum and F. culmorum in vitro. A cDNA clone for chitinase was isolated from a developing rice seed cDNA library by probing with a barley chitinase cDNA probe. The nucleotide sequence of this 654 bp clone was determined, it contains an open reading frame of 519 nucleotides. The protein product encoded by this clone is homologous to chitinases from tobacco, bean and barley. Southern blot analysis of rice genomic DNA with this probe revealed that chitinases are encoded by a small multi-gene family in the rice genome.     

Cloning and Expression Analysis of GpUCH Gene in Grimmia pilifera

A drought resistance gene was cloned from drought cDNA library of Grimmia pilifera, the gene relatived to ubiquitin carboxy terminal hydrolytic enzymes (UCH), named GpUCH. The cDNA fragment of GpUCH was cloned from Grimmia pilifera through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). To further study the function of GpUCH gene, it was necessary to describe the sequence characteristics, evolutionary relationship and gene expression. The full length cDNA was 951bp with an pen reading frame of 711bp which encoded 237 amino acid with a molecular weight of 257kD, and the isoelectric point is 467. The result of bioinformatics showed that this protein was unstable transmembrane protein and had no signal peptide. The phylogenetic tree showed that GpUCH and Physcomitrella patens UCH protein had a close relationship. QRT PCR analysis showed that the expression of GpUCH gene was induced in both rehydration and dehydration.Under different conditions the expression of GpUCH were obviously varius. The results suggested that GpUCH gene might play an important role in drought stress.     

Purification and characterization of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta produced in Escherichia coli

Recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) produced in Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity by a combination of mass ion exchange column chromatography, ion exchange and gel filtration high performance liquid chromatography. The purified rIL-1 beta had a molecular weight of 18 kD on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an isoelectric point of 6.9 on analytical isoelectric focusing. These values were almost same as those of natural interleukin-1 beta. The amino acid composition and amino acid sequence of the amino terminal region were consistent with those deduced from the cDNA sequence. In addition, the primary structure was confirmed by peptide mapping with lysyl-endopeptidase on reverse phase HPLC. Besides rIL-1 beta with amino terminal Ala, two molecular species, [Met0] rIL-1 beta and [desAla1] rIL-1 beta, were also obtained. Biological and physicochemical properties of the three species of rIL-1 beta were compared.