Amphotericin B Resistance Assay for the Detection of Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors

Three different types of cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors, lovastatin, ketoconazole, and 25-hydroxycholesterol, showed their respective resistance against amphotericin B (AmB) cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. The negative correlation between the acquisition of AmB resistance and the decrease of cellular cholesterol content by the inhibitor was confirmed.     

Quantitative Analysis of the Sex Pheromone of Several Phycitid Moths by Electron-capture Gas Chromatography

β-Phenetyl alcohol and procaine hydrochloride are known to alter membrane structure. Their effects on the syntheses of tyramine oxidase and arylsulfatase were studied in Klebsiella aerogenes. β-Phenetyl alcohol inhibited the syntheses of membrane-bound tyramine oxidase and arylsulfatase, located in the periplasm, under non-repressing and derepressing conditions, but did not affect the syntheses of β-galactosidase and histidase, which are located internally. In contrast, procaine hydrochloride stimulated the synthesis of tyramine oxidase and derepressed the synthesis of arylsulfatase, but inhibited non-repressed synthesis of arylsulfatase. Thus, derepressed synthesis of cellular arylsulfatase was affected by the level of tyramine oxidase synthesis. Structural alterations in the cell membrane seem to impair the formation of active-arylsulfatase protein in the periplasmic space.     

Binding of monoclonal antibody 4B1 to homologs of the lactose permease of Escherichia coli.

The conformationally sensitive epitope for monoclonal antibody (mAb) 4B1, which uncouples lactose from H+ translocation in the lactose permease of Escherichia coli, is localized in the periplasmic loop between helices VII and VIII (loop VII/VIII) on one face of a short helical segment (Sun J, et al., 1996, Biochemistry 35;990-998). Comparison of sequences in the region corresponding to loop VII/VIII in members of Cluster 5 of the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS), which includes five homologous oligosaccharide/H+ symporters, reveals interesting variations. 4B1 binds to the Citrobacter freundii lactose permease or E. coli raffinose permease with resultant inhibition of transport activity. Because E. coli raffinose permease contains a Pro residue at position 254 rather than Gly, it is unlikely that the mAb recognizes the peptide backbone at this position. Consistently, E. coli lactose permease with Pro in place of Gly254 also binds 4B1. In contrast, 4B1 binding is not observed with either Klebsiella pneumoniae lactose permease or E. coli sucrose permease. When the epitope is transferred from E. coli lactose permease (residues 245-259) to the sucrose permease, the modified protein binds 4B1, but the mAb has no significant effect on sucrose transport. The studies provide further evidence that the 4B1 epitope is restricted to loop VII/VIII, and that 4B1 binding induces a highly specific conformational change that uncouples substrate and H+ translocation.     

A comparison of enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli pathogenesis

This review covers enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections, focusing on differences in their virulence factors and regulation. While Shiga-toxin expression from integrated bacteriophages sets EHEC apart from EPEC, EHEC infections often originate from asymptomatic carriage in ruminants whereas human EPEC are considered to be overt pathogens and more host-restricted. In part, these differences reflect variation in adhesin repertoire, type III-secreted effectors and the way in which these factors are regulated.     

Structure of the cyclomodulin Cif from pathogenic Escherichia coli

Bacterial pathogens have evolved a sophisticated arsenal of virulence factors to modulate host cell biology. Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) use a type III protein secretion system (T3SS) to inject microbial proteins into host cells. The T3SS effector cycle inhibiting factor (Cif) produced by EPEC and EHEC is able to block host eukaryotic cell-cycle progression. We present here a crystal structure of Cif, revealing it to be a divergent member of the superfamily of enzymes including cysteine proteases and acetyltransferases that share a common catalytic triad. Mutation of these conserved active site residues abolishes the ability of Cif to block cell-cycle progression. Finally, we demonstrate that irreversible cysteine protease inhibitors do not abolish the Cif cytopathic effect, suggesting that another enzymatic activity may underlie the biological activity of this virulence factor.     

Heterologous expression of functionally active enterolysin A, class III bacteriocin from Enterococcus faecalis, in Escherichia coli

The heterologous expression of enterolysin A (EnlA), heat-labile class III bacteriocin from Enterococcus faecalis II/1 with anti-listerial activity, was studied in Escherichia coli. The PCR amplified products of enterolysin A structural gene, N-terminal part of EnlA with endopeptidase-like activity and C-terminal part of EnlA similar to a lysis gene of bacteriophage, were cloned in prelinearized pQE-30UA expression vector. The expression of EnlA structural gene led to the synthesis and secretion of functional-active His-tagged enterolysin A protein, which was purified to homogeneity using His-Select™ Cartridge and was shown to be fully active against the indicator strain. The expression of N-terminal or C-terminal part of EnlA and deletion of last 58 amino acids from C-terminal domain of EnlA led to the synthesis of biologically non-active proteins.     

Purification and Characterization of Aminopeptidase B from Escherichia coli K-12

Aminopeptidase B, which is one of the four cysteinyl-glycinases of Escherichia coli K-12, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and its enzymatic characteristics were observed. Aminopeptidase B was activated by various divalent cations such as Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Cd²⁺, and lost its activity completely on dialysis against EDTA. This indicates that aminopeptidase B is a metallopeptidase. It was stabilized against heat in the presence of Mn²⁺ or Co²⁺. The activity of aminopeptidase B, which was saturated with one of above divalent cations, was enhanced on the addition of a very small amount of a second divalent cation. α-Glutamyl p-nitroanilide, leucine p-nitroanilide, and methionine p-nitroanilide were good substrates for aminopeptidase B, while native peptides, cysteinylglycine and leucylglycine, were far better substrates. The k_cat/K_m for cysteinylglycine was much bigger than those for leucylglycine or leucine p-nitroanilide.     

竹鼠源致病性大肠杆菌分离鉴定与耐药情况分析

【背景】随着竹鼠养殖业不断发展,人工养殖技术的限制导致细菌性疾病不断发生,其中大肠杆菌病成为防治的重点。【目的】分离导致四川绵阳某规模化竹鼠养殖场竹鼠死亡的病原菌,对病原菌进行遗传进化分析和耐药情况分析,为竹鼠细菌性疾病防治提供案例支撑。【方法】采用形态学观察与16SrRNA基因序列分析对病原菌进行鉴定,并进行病理组织学观察、遗传进化分析、药敏试验和耐药基因分析。【结果】从竹鼠肝脏中分离到一株致病性大肠杆菌,病理组织切片可见肺脏、肝脏、肾脏病变严重,脾脏组织病变程度不大;药敏试验表明该株大肠杆菌对丁胺卡那霉素、庆大霉素、大观霉素、氨苄西林、头孢他啶、头孢吡肟、头孢噻肟、多粘菌素、四环素、多西环素等10种药物高度敏感,对左氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星、恩诺沙星、新霉素、红霉素、氟苯尼考、复方新诺明等7种药物耐药;该菌携带氨基糖苷类耐药基因[aac(3)-II、aph(3′)-II]和氯霉素类耐药基因(cmlA、floR)。【结论】该竹鼠养殖场疾病由致病性大肠杆菌导致,该株致病性大肠杆菌携带氨基糖苷类耐药基因和氯霉素类耐药基因。     

A novel inhibitor protein of N-myristoyltransferase from Escherichia coli

Myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) catalyzes the covalent attachment of myristate to the N-terminal of the glycine residue of various eukaryotic and viral proteins of diverse functions. Earlier, we have demonstrated that NMT activity is elevated in colon and gall bladder cancer. Attenuation of NMT activity may prove a novel therapeutic protocol for cancer. We report here a novel inhibitor protein of NMT being expressed in Escherichia coli cells containing the human NMT gene on increasing the incubation period from 5 to 24h. The inhibitor protein was purified by SP-Sepharose column chromatography, heat treatment, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and Superose 12 HR/30 FPLC column chromatography. The inhibitor protein had an apparent molecular mass of 10kDa by gel filtration. It inhibited human NMT in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition at 640+/-4.68nM. The inhibitor protein showed no direct interaction with myristoyl-CoA and demonstrated no demyristoylase or protease activity. Therefore, we conclude that the inhibitor protein acts directly on NMT.     

Escherichia coli O157:H7 induces attaching-effacing lesions in large intestinal mucosal explants from adult cattle

Attaching-effacing (A/E) lesions following natural and experimental infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7 have been seen in neonatal and 3-4-month-old weanling but not older cattle. To test the hypothesis that the adult bovine large intestinal epithelium is resistant to the development of A/E lesions, colonic and rectal mucosal tissue explants from 18-month-old steers were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and examined. Epithelial cells of inoculated explants developed A/E lesions at the bacterial attachment sites, providing evidence that the large intestinal mucosal epithelium may be a site of infection that contributes to carriage of E. coli O157:H7 in adult cattle.     

A Transport System for C4-Dicarboxylic Acids in Isolated Membrane Preparations from Escherichia coli

To investigate the mechanism of succinate transport system in Escherichia coli, the isolated membranes were prepared from E. coli W2252 and T5, a mutant defective in succinate uptake derived from W2252. Uptakes of ¹⁴C-substrates by W2252 and T5 membranes and the dilution of accumulated radioactivity by unlabeled C₄-dicarboxylic acids, indicated that C₄-dicarboxylic acids in the tricarboxylic acid cycle are transported by the same system in E. coli which requires a suitable energy source such as NADH, D-lactate or reduced phenazine methosulfate. The uptakes of succinate by W2252 membranes were inhibited by an anaerobic incubation or some of the inhibitors of electron transport chain. Difference spectra of reduced versus oxidized membranes from W2252 and T5 indicated the reduction of flavoproteins and cytochromes by dithionite, NADH or D-lactate. From these results it was concluded that the uptake of the C₄-dicarboxylic acids in isolated membranes is coupled to an electron transport chain involving a specific dehydrogenase system.     

Pore-forming Activity of the Escherichia coli Type III Secretion System Protein EspD

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli is a causative agent of gastrointestinal and diarrheal diseases. Pathogenesis associated with enterohemorrhagic E. coli involves direct delivery of virulence factors from the bacteria into epithelial cell cytosol via a syringe-like organelle known as the type III secretion system. The type III secretion system protein EspD is a critical factor required for formation of a translocation pore on the host cell membrane. Here, we show that recombinant EspD spontaneously integrates into large unilamellar vesicle (LUV) lipid bilayers; however, pore formation required incorporation of anionic phospholipids such as phosphatidylserine and an acidic pH. Leakage assays performed with fluorescent dextrans confirmed that EspD formed a structure with an inner diameter of ∼2.5 nm. Protease mapping indicated that the two transmembrane helical hairpin of EspD penetrated the lipid layer positioning the N- and C-terminal domains on the extralumenal surface of LUVs. Finally, a combination of glutaraldehyde cross-linking and rate zonal centrifugation suggested that EspD in LUV membranes forms an ∼280–320-kDa oligomeric structure consisting of ∼6–7 subunits.     

Polymyxin B nonapeptide sensitizes Escherichia coli to valinomycin and A23187 ionophores

Abstract Treatment of Escherichia coli cells with polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN) makes them susceptible to valinomycin and A23187 action. The sensitivity of the cells towards these ionophores is enhanced at least 50- or 100-fold, respectively. PMBN/ionophore treatment should make it possible to influence intracellular potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations of E. coli in vivo.     

Transformation of Aspergillus terreus with the hygromycin B resistance marker from Escherichia coli

Aspergillus terreus was transformed to hygromycin B resistance using a bacterial resistance gene under the control of Aspergillus nidulans regulatory sequences. Southern hybridization of transformants indicated that in most of the cases the vector DNA was integrated into the recipient chromosome in the form of tandem arrays. Transformants were mitotically stable in both selective and non-selective medium and retained their capacity to produce xylanase or glucoamylase activities.     

重组大肠杆菌不耐热肠毒素B亚单位基因表达系统构建

从E .coli 4 4 815株基因组DNA中扩增不耐热肠毒素B亚单位 (LTB)基因并分析了核苷酸序列 ,构建pET32a的LTB表达载体 ,在E .coliBL2 1DE3宿主菌中用不同浓度的IPTG诱导表达 ,采用SDS PAGE鉴定表达产物。克隆的LTB基因与报道的核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为 99.12 %～ 99.71%和 97.5 8%～ 99.19% ,pET32a LTB BL2 1DE3系统表达的rLTB量约占细菌总蛋白的 30 %。     

Production of a recombinant chitin oligosaccharide deacetylase from Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the culture medium of Escherichia coli cells

An open reading frame (ORF) encoding chitin oligosaccharide deacetylase (Pa-COD) gene and its signal sequence was cloned from the Vibrio parahaemolyticus KN1699 genome and its sequence was analyzed. The ORF encoded a 427 amino acid protein, including the 22 amino acid signal sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence was highly similar to several bacterial chitin oligosaccharide deacetylases in carbohydrate esterase family 4. An expression plasmid containing the gene was constructed and inserted into Escherichia coli cells and the recombinant enzyme was secreted into the culture medium with the aid of the signal peptide. The concentration of the recombinant enzyme in the E. coli culture medium was 150 times larger than that of wild-type enzyme produced in the culture medium by V. parahaemolyticus KN1699. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity from culture supernatant in an overall yield of 16%. Substrate specificities of the wild-type and the recombinant enzymes were comparable.     

一个高效表达、快速纯化大肠杆菌精氨酰-tRNA合成酶的新系统(英文)

编码大肠杆菌精氨酰ｔ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ 合成酶（ Ａｒｇ Ｒ Ｓ） 的基因ａｒｇ Ｓ 被克隆到ｐ Ｍ Ｆ Ｔ７５ 载体上。将此质粒转化的大肠杆菌 Ｊ Ｍ１０９（ Ｄ Ｅ３） 中, 该转化子粗抽液的比活是宿主菌的２ ５００ 倍。通过 Ｄ Ｅ Ａ Ｅ Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ Ｃ Ｌ６ Ｂ Ｆａｓｔ Ｆｌｏｗ 和 Ｂｌｕｅ Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ Ｃ Ｌ６ Ｂ两步柱层析在一天内即可将精氨酰ｔ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ 合成酶纯化至电泳一条带, 比活为３６ ０００ ｕ／ｍｇ , 总收率可达６９ ％ 。与以前报道的 Ａｒｇ Ｒ Ｓ的高表达质粒相比, 使用该重组质粒可以很方便地将昂贵的标记氨基酸高效地参入酶分子内。目前的研究结果表明,该新系统能够很方便地提供大量的更高比活的大肠杆菌精氨酰ｔ Ｒ Ｎ Ａ 合成酶以进行该酶的 Ｎ Ｍ Ｒ 和结晶学研究