Biochemical characterization of a novel 2-Cys peroxiredoxin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Antrodia camphorata</Emphasis>

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play important roles in antioxidation and cell signaling. A gene encoding a novel 2-Cys Prx was identified based on sequence homology in an expressed sequence tag database of the Antrodia camphorata, a medicinal mushroom found only in Taiwan. The 2-Cys Prx cDNA (940 bp) encodes a protein of 188 amino acid residues with calculated molecular mass of 20,965 Da and a pI of 5.89. The coding region was subcloned into pAVD10, transformed into Escherichia coli, and expressed as a His-tagged fusion protein. The purified enzyme was characterized under various conditions. The Prx retained 68% activity after being heated at 60°C for 2 min. It was stable under a broad pH range from 5 to 11. The enzyme activity was slightly decreased in the presence of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme was somewhat susceptible to chymotrypsin treatment but resistant to digestion by trypsin. Jenq-Kuen Huang, Chuian-Fu Ken, and Hui-Ming Huang contributed equally to this paper.     

Improvement of Freezing Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Leaves by Expressing the hiC6 Gene

A cryoprotective protein, HIC6, was expressed transgenically in tobacco, a cold-sensitive plant, and the localization of the protein within the cell as well as freezing tolerance of the transgenic tobacco was investigated. For constitutive expression of HIC6 in tobacco, its corresponding gene was subcloned into pBI121. Through the transformation with pBI121/hiC6, fifteen transgenic tobacco lines were acquired, out of which twelve lines expressed the HIC6 protein. None of the transgenic tobacco lines, however, showed significant differences in freezing tolerance from the control plants (wild-type and transformed with pBI121) at ?1, ?3, and ?4°C, with the exception that their freezing temperature was ?2°C. In order to increase the accumulation level of HIC6, pBE2113 with a stronger promoter was used. Eight lines expressed the protein out of thirteen lines transformed with pBE2113/hiC6. The accumulation levels of the protein were clearly higher in the tobacco plants transformed with pBE2113/hiC6 than in those with pBI121/hiC6. The HIC6 protein seemed to be localized in mitochondria of the transgenic tobacco plants. Freezing-tolerance test at ?1 - ?4°C showed that the degree of electrolyte leakage was significantly lower in the plants with pBE2113/hiC6 than in the control plants. A leaf browning observation also showed that high accumulation of HIC6 significantly suppressed injury caused by freezing to the transgenic tobacco at ?3°C.     

Effective Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Inhibitors Isolated from Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Two effective cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors were isolated from tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus. Their structures were spectroscopically identified as 2E,4E-undeca-2,4-diene-8,10-diynoic acid isobutylamide (1) and 2E,4E-undeca-2,4-diene-8,10-diynoic acid piperidide (2). Both compounds had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on CYP3A4 activity with IC₅₀ values of 10.0 ± 1.3 µM for compound 1 and 3.3 ± 0.2 µM for compound 2, and exhibited mechanism-based inhibition. This is the first reported isolation of effective CYP inhibitors from tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) purchased from a Japanese market.     

蒲公英提取物对普通小球藻Hg^2＋毒害保护作用的研究

本文研究了Hg^3 对普通小球藻的致毒效应与蒲公英提取物的保护作用,试验显示,普通小球藻的生理代谢活动对H^2 g敏感,单H^2 g处理系列组,随着H^2 g浓度提高,普通小球藻生长量降低,叶绿素A含量降低,自发荧光度强度减弱,显示出H^2 g的毒害效应,H^2 g加蒲公英物取复合处理普通小球藻结果表明,蒲公英提取物可以显著提高普通小球藻的生物量,促进普通小球藻的生长,提高普通小球藻叶绿素a含量与其自发荧光强度,从而显著减轻H^2 g的毒害作用,藻公英叶提取物作用效果最好,花序次之,根相对较弱。     

A novel glycoprotein obtained from Chlorella vulgaris strain CK22 shows antimetastatic immunopotentiation

 A glycoprotein extract (CVS), derived from the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris, strain CK22, exhibited a pronounced antitumor effect against both spontaneous and experimentally induced metastasis in mice. Inhibition of tumor metastasis was enhanced when intratumor administration of CVS was followed by s.c. injection of CVS. Anti-metastatic immunopotentiation was observed in euthymic mice, but not in athymic nude mice. The antitumor activity of CVS was reflected in antigen-specific, T-cell-mediated immunity. Both CD4 and CD8 T cells contributed to the antimetastatic effects, as shown by in vivo depletion experiments with anti-T-cell subset antibodies. Furthermore, CVS caused the recruitment of T cells to the regional lymph nodes and their proliferation in these organs. The CD4-positive population, following CVS injection at the time of tumor rechallenge, displayed a pronounced increase in the proportion of T cells that were CD18 bright, CD44 bright, CD25⁺, CD54⁺, CD69⁺ or CD71⁺ in the lymph nodes. Thus, CVS induces T cell activation in peripheral lymph nodes in tumor-bearing mice. We conclude that CVS augments antimetastatic immunity through T cell activation in lymphoid organs and enhances recruitment of these cells to the tumor sites. Presurgical treatment with CVS might prevent metastasis or tumor progression. Received: 5 June 1997 / Accepted: 12 September 1997     

A novel membrane-bound flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase from the colourless sulfur bacterium Thiobacillus sp. W5

A novel membrane-bound sulfide-oxidizing enzyme was purified 102-fold from the neutrophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic Thiobacillus sp. W5 by means of a six-step procedure. Spectral analysis revealed that the enzyme contains haem c and flavin. SDS-PAGE showed the presence of two types of subunit with molecular masses of 40 and 11 kDa. The smaller subunit contains covalently bound haem c, as was shown by haem staining. A combination of spectral analysis and the pyridine haemochrome test indicated that the sulfide-oxidizing heterodimer contains one molecule of haem c and one molecule of flavin. It appeared that the sulfide-oxidizing enzyme is a member of a small class of redox proteins, the flavocytochromes c, and is structurally most related to the flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase of the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium limicola. The pH optimum of the enzyme is 8.6. At pH 9, the V _max was 2.1 ± 0.1 μmol cytochrome c (mg protein)^–1 min^–1, and the K _m values for sulfide and cytochrome c were 1.7 ± 0.4 μM and 3.8 ± 0.8 μM, respectively. Cyanide inhibited the enzyme by the formation of an N-5 adduct with the flavin moiety of the protein. On the basis of electron transfer stoichiometry, it seems likely that sulfur is the oxidation product. Received: 15 October 1996 / Accepted: 7 January 1997     

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase from Thiobacillus A2. Its purification and properties

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) from Thiobacillus A2 has been purified to homogeneity on the basis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and U.V. analysis during sedimentation velocity studies. The enzyme had an optimum pH of about 8.2 with Tris-HCl buffers. The molecular weight was about 521000 with an S _rel. of 16.9. K _m for RuBP was 122 M, for total CO₂ it was 4.17 mM, and for Mg²⁺ 20.0 M. The absolute requirement for a divalent cation was satisfied by Mg²⁺ which was replaceable to a certain extent by Mn²⁺. Activity was not significantly affected by SO ₄ ^2- , SO ₃ ^2- , or S₂O ₃ ^2- at 1.0 mM. At this concentration S^2- caused a 27% stimulation. All mercurials tested were inhibitory. pHMB was the most potent causing about 60% inhibition at 0.01 mM. This inhibition was reversible by low concentrations of cysteine. Cyanide was also inhibitory. Its mode of inhibition with respect to RuBP was un-competitive and with a K _i of 20 M. Lost activity could be restored partially by GSH or Cu²⁺. Although azide at the concentration tested had no significant effect on enzyme activity, 2,4-dinitrophenol at 1.0 mM caused 91% inhibition. Finally, activity was also affected by energy charge.Abbreviations ATP adenosine-5-triphosphate - GAPDH glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase - GSH (reduced) glutathione - G6P glucose-6-phosphate - NAD⁺ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide - NADP⁺ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate - pHMB parahydroxymercuribenzoate - 6PG 6-phosphogluconate - 3-PGA 3-phosphoglycerate - PGK phosphoglyceratekinase - RuBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate     

A Novel Kauranoid Isolated from Gibberella fujikuroi

A novel arseno-sugar was isolated from the brown alga Sargassum thunbergii. Instead of the dimethylarsinoyl group reported for algal arseno-sugars, this has a tri-methylarsonium group, which is borne by arsenobetaine, a ubiquitous organoarsenic compound in marine animals. This may be an intermediate between arseno-sugars and arsenobetaine.     

广州地区新型H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2基因进化和变异分析

比较和分析2009～2011年广州地区分离到的甲型H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2基因和世界各地甲型H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2基因的变异情况,为该蛋白的功能和作用机制奠定基础。对分离自中国广州地区2009～2011年人类感染的17株新型H1N1和1株季节性H1N1流感病毒进行了PB1-F2基因克隆和序列测定,通过与GenBank数据库中68株人类新型H1N1和季节性H1N1流感病毒参考株的PB1-F2基因进行比对。结果表明,甲型流感病毒的PB1-F2基因进化树形成了2个不同的进化分支。全部2009～2011年新型H1N1流感病毒为一分支。广州地区PB1-F2基因与其它地区分离到的新型H1N1流感病毒具有高度的同源性,均为截短型变异。本实验室分离的1株季节性H1N1流感病毒也发生了第12位氨基酸截短突变。广州地区新型H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2截短蛋白与其它地区病毒相比未发生氨基酸变异,季节性H1N1流感病毒发现类似新型H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2的截短变异,提示新型H1N1流感病毒和季节性H1N1流感病毒PB1-F2可能发生早期重组。     

蜡梅Chimonanthus praecox (L.) Link COR413蛋白基因(Cpcor413pm1)的分子特性与表达分析

为研究蜡梅冬季开花过程的抗寒分子机理,在构建蜡梅花cDNA文库及EST分析的基础上,通过随机克隆测序,克隆了1个蜡梅COR413蛋白的cDNA基因,命名为Cpcor413pm1.Cpcor413pm1 cDNA长946　bp,推测的编码蛋白CpCOR413PM1包含201个氨基酸.CpCOR413PM1蛋白N端保守性差,没有信号肽,具有5个保守的跨膜区,1个潜在的GPI锚点,具有可能对蛋白结构或活性十分重要的位置保守的7个Pro、1个Cys, 1个被富Gly区一分为二的α螺旋区域,以及Tyr、Thr、Ser磷酸化位点各1个.序列比较分析表明,Cpcor413pm1是首次从蜡梅中克隆到的COR413蛋白基因.RT-PCR分析表明, 该基因在蜡梅的萌动期、蕾期、露瓣期、初开期、盛开期、衰老期均有表达,但在初开期和盛开期表达丰度更高,推测Cpcor413pm1与蜡梅花的抗冻性有密切关系.     

一株分离于工业污水池的耐碱酵母

目的:从新疆温泉县一个碱性工业污水处理池中分离并鉴定耐碱酵母菌。方法:用稀释平板法分离菌种,通过形态学观察、生理生化特征及26S rDNA D1/D2区基因序列分析鉴定菌种。结果:从水样中分离得到一株耐碱酵母菌,它们能在pH3.5~11.0,12%NaCl,4~45℃生长,经形态观察及生理生化特征鉴定为酵母属,对其26S rDNA 5’端D1/D2区基因序列进行了PCR扩增并测序,GenBank注册号为DQ132884,同源序列分析结果表明该序列与酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)Sb4有99.8%的同源性,因此将其命名为酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)XJU-2,该菌种已保藏于中国微生物菌种保藏委员会普通微生物中心(CGM-CC),保藏号为CGMCC No.2.3095。结论:XJU-2的最高耐碱值可达pH 11.0,而且酸碱耐受范围很大,性能明显优于国内外已报道的酿酒酵母菌种。     

Cloning and Sequencing of Two New Verotoxin 2 Variant Genes of Escherichia coli Isolated from Cases of Human and Bovine Diarrhea

We cloned and sequenced two new Verotoxin 2 (VT2) variant genes: one from an Escherichia coli strain from a case of bovine diarrhea and the other from an E. coli strain from a patient with diarrhea. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these two genes were highly homologous with, but distinct from those of the VT2, VT2vha, VT2vhb, SLT-IIv (VT2vp1) and SLT-IIva (VT2vp2) genes. Their nucleotide sequences were much more closely homologous to that of VT2vh than to that of VT2vp. Search for these two new genes in other Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli strains resulted in the isolation of 2 strains carrying one of the new VT2 variant genes, one strain from Tokyo and the other from Canada.     

虎源猫瘟热病毒VP2蛋白基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

克隆了虎源猫瘟热病毒VP 2蛋白基因并首次在Pichia pastoris酵母中进行了分泌表达。用特异性引物从虎源FPV中扩增出VP 2基因,将其克隆到pGEM-T载体中,得到重组质粒pTVP 2进行测序。用EcoR I和NotI双酶切pTVP 2,回收目的基因VP 2片段将其定向克隆到pPICZαA中,构建出重组质粒pPICZαAVP 2。将pPICZαAVP 2用SacI内切酶线性化后,电转化毕赤酵母细胞GS115,PCR法筛选阳性重组酵母,并用1%甲醇诱导表达。结果在重组酵母菌培养物上清中经SDS-PAGE检测到相对分子量约为32 kD的重组蛋白,W estern-b lotting证实该重组蛋白可以与FPV多克隆抗体发生特异性血清学反应,表明重组VP 2蛋白具有正确的空间构象,有望作为虎FPV感染的诊断和免疫预防用抗原。     

两种菌株来源的glyA基因的克隆、表达及酶活性检测

采用PCR方法,分别从大肠杆菌和嗜热链球菌基因组DNA中扩增获得glyA基因,分别克隆入载体pET-28 a(+)中并进行表达,分离和纯化得到两种不同来源的SHMT,分别检测两种SHMT的逆向酶活。比较来源于大肠杆菌K12与嗜热链球菌AS1.2471中的glyA基因表达的丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶(SHMT)的活性,以获得高活性的SHMT。结果成功获得两种菌中的glyA基因,并表达出具有较高活性的SHMT,其中嗜热链球菌中glyA基因表达出的SHMT的酶活性大约为大肠杆菌的两倍。从嗜热链球菌中克隆表达的SHMT具有更高的催化活性及良好的工业应用前景。     

转柽柳eIF1A基因烟草的耐盐性分析

目的:验证柽柳eIF1A基因的功能,为通过基因工程手段培育耐盐植物提供基础资料。方法:对转eIF1A基因的烟草和对照烟草进行不同浓度NaCl胁迫实验,测定其相对电导率、SOD活性和丙二醛含量,统计生根率、生长量和盐害程度。结果:转基因烟草的相对电导率、丙二醛含量均随盐浓度的增加而增大,但都较非转基因对照烟草低。SOD活性随着盐浓度的升高而升高,相同浓度NaCl胁迫下各转基因烟草的SOD活性均高于对照烟草的SOD活性。NaCl浓度为240mmol/L时,非转基因对照烟草不能生根,盐害指数高达67.7%;而转基因烟草均能生根,大部分转基因株系的生根率大于50%。结论:柽柳eIF1A基因的转化提高了烟草的耐盐性。     

Genetic Diversity of Taenia asiatica from Thailand and Other Geographical Locations as Revealed by Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit 1 Sequences

Twelve 924 bp cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial DNA sequences from Taenia asiatica isolates from Thailand were aligned and compared with multiple sequence isolates from Thailand and 6 other countries from the GenBank database. The genetic divergence of T. asiatica was also compared with Taenia saginata database sequences from 6 different countries in Asia, including Thailand, and 3 countries from other continents. The results showed that there were minor genetic variations within T. asiatica species, while high intraspecies variation was found in T. saginata. There were only 2 haplotypes and 1 polymorphic site found in T. asiatica, but 8 haplotypes and 9 polymorphic sites in T. saginata. Haplotype diversity was very low, 0.067, in T. asiatica and high, 0.700, in T. saginata. The very low genetic diversity suggested that T. asiatica may be at a risk due to the loss of potential adaptive alleles, resulting in reduced viability and decreased responses to environmental changes, which may endanger the species.     

大肠杆菌O157噬菌体中vt2基因A、B亚单位的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank中毒素基因 vt1、vt2序列设计合成 4 对引物,以大肠杆菌 O157 菌株 DNA为模板,扩增 vt1、vt2,从只含有vt2的菌株中诱导释放噬菌体,以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,获得vt2、vt2 A、vt2 B 3条特异性DNA带;将 vt2 A、vt2 B扩增产物纯化后,分别插入 pMD18 T载体,测序结果与相应序列比较,vt2 A和 vt2 B亚单位的基因序列与 GenBank中编码 VT2 毒素的 A、B亚单位的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655, BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别为98%~99%、96%~100%,确定 vt2 位于噬菌体,并为进一步研究大肠杆菌 O157 中VT噬菌体的毒力转导、VT2毒素的表达和应用奠定基础。     

大肠杆菌O157噬菌体中vt2基因A、B亚单位的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank中毒素基因vt1、vt2序列设计合成4对引物,以大肠杆菌O157菌株DNA为模板,扩增vt1、vt2,从只含有vt2的菌株中诱导释放噬菌体,以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,获得vt2、vt2-A、vt2-B 3条特异性DNA带;将vt2-A、vt2-B扩增产物纯化后,分别插入pMD18-T载体,测序结果与相应序列比较,vt2-A和vt2-B亚单位的基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的A、B亚单位的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别为98%～99%、96%～100%,确定vt2位于噬菌体,并为进一步研究大肠杆菌O157中VT噬菌体的毒力转导、VT2毒素的表达和应用奠定基础.