Characterization of polygalacturonase-overproducing Aspergillus niger transformants

Summary Aspergillus niger pyrA co-transformants with multiple copies of the gene (pgaII) encoding the major endopolygalacturonase were characterized in detail. Typically, these transformants produced tenfold or more polygalacturonase from plasmids that had integrated in most cases at ectopic sites, in comparison to the untransformed strain. Some mitotic instability was observed upon application of a positive selection procedure for reversion of the pyrA marker. Analysis of these strains indicated that the most frequent event involved is the excision of part of the array of tandemly integrated plasmids, without scrambling of the plasmids remaining in the chromosome. From promoter deletion analysis it was concluded that the pgaII gene is subject to positive control. The putative positive regulatory protein appears not to be limiting for overexpression of the pgaII gene. Correspondence to: J. Visser     

Plasmid-encoded hygromycin B resistance: the sequence of hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene and its expression in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The plasmid-borne gene hph coding for hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPH) in Escherichia coli has been identified and its nucleotide sequence determined. The hph gene is 1026 nucleotides long, coding for a protein with a predicted Mr of 39 000. The hph gene was placed in a shuttle plasmid vector, downstream from the promoter region of the cyc 1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and an hph construction containing a single AUG in the 5' noncoding region allowed direct selection following transformation in yeast and in E. coli. Thus the hph gene can be used in cloning vectors for both pro- and eukaryotes.     

Purification and characterization of a hygromycin B phosphotransferase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus

A hygromycin B phosphotransferase activity from Streptomyces hygroscopicus has been highly purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by affinity column chromatography through Sepharose-6B-hygromycin-B. The combined active fractions showed a single protein band (41 kDa) when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. When gel electrophoresis was performed under non-denaturing conditions, the single protein band promoted in situ phosphorylation of hygromycin B, indicating that this protein corresponded to the purified hygromycin B phosphotransferase. The enzyme has been purified 236-fold and approximate Km values of 0.56 microM for hygromycin B and ATP, respectively, were deduced.     

Analysis of Aspergillus niger transformants for single site integration and vector recombination

Summary In order to understand the mechanism of integrative transformation, bulk DNA from several transformants of Aspergillus niger was assaved for the presence of the heterologous vector p3SR2. In all cases vector sequences and recombinant vector fragments were found. Transformant T31-6 containing seven plasmid-probed bands was studied in detail. Recloning of six of these plasmids in Escherichia coli revealed that internal recombination events had produced deletions and insertions. Only one plasmid was isolated among 402 analysed clones that had involved A. niger DNA. Sequence analysis revealed that the integration of vector p3SR2 occurred via its A. nidulans amdS ⁺ sequence. These data support the assumption that the integration of multiple copies of p3SR2 occurred at a single genomic site.Offprint requests to: K. Esser     

Genetic analysis of amdS transformants of Aspergillus niger and their use in chromosome mapping

Summary TheAspergillus nidulans gene coding for acetamidase (amdS) was introduced intoA. niger by transformation. Twelve Amd⁺ transformants were analysed genetically. TheamdS inserts were located in seven different linkage groups. In each transformant the plasmid was integrated in only a single chromosome. Our (non-transformed)A. niger strains do not grow on acetamide and are more resistant to fluoroacetamide than the transformants. Diploids hemizygous for theamdS insert have the Amd⁺ phenotype. We exploited the opportunity for two-way selection inA. niger: transformants can be isolated based on the Amd⁺ phenotype, whereas counter-selection can be performed using resistance to fluoroacetamide. On this basis we studied the phenotypic stability of the heterologousamdS gene inA. niger transformants as well as in diploids. Furthermore, we mapped the plasmid insert of transformant AT1 to the right arm of chromosome VI betweenpabA1 andcnxA1, providing evidence for a single transformational insert. The results also show that theamdS transformants ofA. niger can be used to localize non-selectable recessive markers and that the method meets the prerequisites for efficient mitotic mapping. We suggest the use ofamdS transformants for mitotic gene mapping in other fungi.     

Inheritance of a bacterial hygromycin phosphotransferase gene in the progeny of primary transgenic pea plants

Summary An analysis of the progeny of primary transgenic pea plants in terms of transmission of the transferred DNA, fertility and morphology is presented. A transformation system developed for pea that allows the regeneration of fertile transgenic pea plants from calli selected for antibiotic resistance was used. Expiants from axenic shoot cultures were co-cultivated with a nononcogenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain carrying a gene encoding hygromycin phosphotransferase as selectable marker, and transformed callus could be selected on callus-inducing media containing 15 mg/l hygromycin. After several passages on regeneration medium, shoot organogenesis could be reproducibly induced on the hygromycin resistant calli, and the regenerated shoots could subsequently be rooted and transferred to the greenhouse, where they proceeded to flower and set seed. The transmission of the introduced gene into the progeny of the regenerated transgenic plants was studied over two generations, and stable transmission was shown to take place. The transgenic nature of the calli and regenerated plants and their progeny was confirmed by DNA and RNA analysis. The DNA and ploidy levels of the progeny plants and primary regenerants were studied by chromosome analysis, and the offspring of the primary transformants were evaluated morphologically.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA 6-ben-zyladenine - hpt hygromycin phosphotransferase gene - IAA indole acetic acid, kin, kinetin - NAA -naphtalene acetic acid - picloram 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid     

Expression of the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene confers tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate

Escherichia coli cells and tobacco (cv. Xanthi) plants transformed with the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene were able to grow in culture medium containing glyphosate at 2.0 mM. The growth of tobacco calli in media containing increasing glyphosate concentrations was measured. The ID₅₀ for glyphosate was 1.70±0.03 mM for hygromycin-B resistant plants, and 0.45±0.02 mM for control plants. Regenerated plants and progeny selected for resistance to hygromycin B were tested for glyphosate tolerance by spraying them with Faena herbicide (formulated glyphosate with surfactant) at a dose equal to 0.24 kg/ha. This was two times the dose required to kill 100 percent of the control plants. Phosphotransferase activity was measured in the extracts of the transformed leaves by the incorporation of ³²P from [^–32P]ATP and it was observed that hygromycin B phosphotransferase was able to recognize the molecule of glyphosate as substrate.Abbreviations (Hyg) Hygromycin - (Km) Kanamycin - (Glp) Glyphosate - (Sarc) Sarcosine - (AMPA) Aminomethylphosphonic acid     

Recombinant bacterial hemoglobin alters metabolism of Aspergillus niger

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is used extensively for the production of enzymes and organic acids. A major problem in industrial fermentations with this fungus is to ensure sufficient supply of oxygen required for respiratory metabolism of the fungus. In case of oxygen limitation, the fungus will produce various by-products like organic acids and polyols. In order to circumvent this problem we here study the effects of the expression of a bacterial hemoglobin protein on the metabolism of A. niger. We integrated the vgb gene from Vitreoscilla sp. into the genome at the pyrA locus behind the strong gpdA promoter from Aspergillus nidulans. Analysis of secreted metabolites, oxygen uptake, CO(2) evolution and biomass formation points towards a relief of stress in the mutant expressing VHB when it is exposed to oxygen limitation. Our findings therefore point to an interesting strategy to attenuate unwanted side effects resulting from oxygen limitation during industrial fermentations with A. niger.     

Enzymatic analysis of a thermostabilized mutant of an Escherichia coli hygromycin B phosphotransferase

An Escherichia coli hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPH) and its thermostabilized mutant protein, HPH5, containing five amino acid substitutions, D20G, A118V, S225P, Q226L, and T246A (Nakamura et al., J. Biosci. Bioeng., 100, 158-163 (2005)), obtained by an in vivo directed evolution procedure in Thermus thermophilus, were produced and purified from E. coli recombinants, and enzymatic comparisons were performed. The optimum temperatures for enzyme activity were 50 and 55 degrees C for HPH and HPH5 respectively, but the thermal stability of the enzyme activity and the temperature for protein denaturation of HPH5 increased, from 36 and 37.2 degrees C of HPH to 53 and 58.8 degrees C respectively. Specific activities and steady-state kinetics measured at 25 degrees C showed only slight differences between the two enzymes. From these results we concluded that HPH5 was thermostabilized at the protein level, and that the mutations introduced did not affect its enzyme activity, at least under the assay conditions.     

产赭曲霉毒素A黑曲霉的PCR法检测

【目的】快速检测产赭曲霉毒素A(OTA)的黑曲霉。【方法】根据黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)CBS513.88中An15g07920基因编码聚酮合酶的酰基转移酶(AT)域设计引物,建立针对产OTA黑曲霉的聚合酶链式反应(PCR)检测方法。【结果】对72株曲霉属菌株(黑曲霉、炭黑曲霉、赭曲霉、佩特曲霉、寄生曲霉和塔宾曲霉)进行检测,发现产OTA的黑曲霉能够扩增出特异性条带,而产OTA的其它菌株不能扩增出条带;检测出3株假阳性的产OTA黑曲霉,实时定量PCR分析此3株菌中An15g07920的同源基因表达情况,发现在产毒条件下可正常表达,排除了因基因无法表达导致假阳性的可能。本方法的检测灵敏度为25 pg的DNA含量,在污染所试农产品孢子浓度大于4.0×10~4–4.0×10~5个/g时可有效检测出产毒菌株。【结论】本方法虽会产生4%的假阳性结果,但是仍可作为产毒黑曲霉有效的快速检测方法,并在农产品污染产毒黑曲霉时进行有效预警。     

Expression of hygromycin phosphotransferase alters virulence of Histoplasma capsulatum

The Escherichia coli hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) gene, which confers hygromycin resistance, is commonly used as a dominant selectable marker in genetically modified bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and mammalian cells. Expression of the hph gene has rarely been reported to induce effects other than those expected. Hygromycin B is the most common dominant selectable marker used in the molecular manipulation of Histoplasma capsulatum in the generation of knockout strains of H. capsulatum or as a marker in mutant strains. hph-expressing organisms appear to have no defect in long-term in vitro growth and survival and have been successfully used to exploit host-parasite interaction in short-term cell culture systems and animal experiments. We introduced the hph gene as a selectable marker together with the gene encoding green fluorescent protein into wild-type strains of H. capsulatum. Infection of mice with hph-expressing H. capsulatum yeast cells at sublethal doses resulted in lethality. The lethality was not attributable to the site of integration of the hph construct into the genomes or to the method of integration and was not H. capsulatum strain related. Death of mice was not caused by altered cytokine profiles or an overwhelming fungal burden. The lethality was dependent on the kinase activity of hygromycin phosphotransferase. These results should raise awareness of the potential detrimental effects of the hph gene.     

Measurement of hygromycin B phosphotransferase activity in crude mammalian cell extracts by a simple dot-blot assay.

Hygromycin B (Hy) resistance, encoded by the prokaryotic gene hph, is commonly used as a dominant selectable marker for gene transfer experiments in mammalian cells. We describe a simple, quantitative dot-blot assay for measuring the activity in crude mammalian cell extracts of Hy phosphotransferase, the product of the hph gene. The assay shows no cross interference with substrates for neomycin phosphotransferase II, the product of the commonly used marker gene neo; hph and neo may thus be useful as a set of two non-interfering selectable marker and reporter genes for gene transfer experiments in mammalian cells.     

Overproduction and characterization of xylanase B from Aspergillus niger

The xynB gene, which encodes endo-beta-1,4-xylanase XynB, in Aspergillus niger BRFM281 was amplified by RT-PCR using mRNA isolated from a culture containing sugar beet pulp as an inducer. The cDNA was cloned into an expression cassette under the control of the strong and constitutive glyceraldhehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene promoter. The expression system was designed to produce the recombinant enzyme XynB with a six-histidine peptide fused to the carboxy end of the protein. Homologous overproduction of XynB was successfully achieved in shake flask cultures, and the secretion yield was estimated to be 900 mg x L(-1). The recombinant XynB was purified 1.5-fold by immobilized metal affinity chromatography to homogeneity using a one-step purification protocol with 71% recovery. The purified recombinant enzyme was fully characterized and has a molecular mass of 23 kDa and an optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 50 degrees C with stability in the pH range 4.0-7.0 and temperature up to 50 degrees C. Using soluble oat spelts xylan, the determined Km and Vmax values were 7.1 mg x mL(-1) and 3881 U x mg(-1), respectively.     

Transformation and inheritance of a hygromycin phosphotransferase gene in maize plants

Embryogenic maize (Zea mays L.) callus cultures were transformed by microprojectile bombardment with a chimeric hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene and three transformed lines were obtained by selecting for hygromycin resistance. All lines contained one or a few copies of the intact HPT coding sequence. Fertile, transgenic plants were regenerated and the transmission of the chimeric gene was demonstrated through two complete generations. One line inherited the gene in the manner expected for a single, dominant locus, whereas two did not.     

Transformation of Aspergillus based on the hygromycin B resistance marker from Escherichia coli

A new, heterologous, dominant marker for selection of Aspergillus transformants is described. This marker is based on the Escherichia coli hygromycin B (HmB) phosphotransferase gene (hph). Expression of the hph gene is controlled by A. nidulans gpd and trpC expression signals. An Aspergillus transformation vector was constructed which contains this marker and confers HmB resistance to Aspergillus species. With both A. niger and A. nidulans, transformation frequencies of 5-20 transformants per micrograms vector DNA were obtained. Cotransformation with other vectors was shown to be very efficient in both species, when selection for HmB resistance was applied.     

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.