阿维链霉菌中aveD基因缺失对阿维菌素合成的影响

利用aveD基因的缺失载体pCZ8(pKC1139∷△aveD)对阿维菌素(Avermectin)产生菌阿维链霉菌(Streptomyces avermitilis)76\|9的aveD基因进行缺失获得aveD缺失突变株。经摇瓶发酵和HPLC检测,发现该突变株只产生阿维菌素B组分。说明将阿维链霉菌的aveD基因缺失,并不影响下游aveF的表达。缺失突变株的阿维菌素的总产量与出发菌株的总产量基本相同,突变株中B1的产量略有提高,阿维菌素B2的含量显著提高。     

阿维莲霉菌中aveD基因缺失对阿维菌素合成的影响

利用aveD基因的缺失载体pCZ8(pKC1139::△aveD)对阿维菌素（Avermectin）的产生菌阿维链霉菌（Streptomyces avermitilis)76-9的aveD基因进行缺失获得aveD缺失突变株。经摇瓶发酵和HPLC检测,发现该突变株只产生阿链菌素B组分。说明将阿维链霉菌的aveD基因缺失,并不影响下游aveF的表达。缺失突变株的阿维菌素的总产量与出发菌株的总产量基本相同,突变株中B1的产量略有提高,阿维菌素B2的含量显著提高。     

阿维链霉菌bkdAB的基因中断对阿维菌素合成的影响

以阿维菌B组分菌株Streptomyces avermitilis Bjbm0006为出发菌株,用PCR的方法构建bkdAB基因簇(Ｂranched_chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase gene AB) 的基因置换质粒pHJ5821 (pHZ1358∷bkdAB&erm),并对其进行基因中断,得到重组菌株Bjbm5821。Bjbm5821的发酵产物经HPLC检测发现,除了产生B1a和B2a外,还产生一种原菌株没有的新组分,3个组分的总含量只有出发菌株Bjbm0006的25%。结果表明bkdAB的中断不仅部分阻断了阿维菌素的合成,还阻断了阿维菌素b组分的合成,可以推测bkdAB的产物在阿维菌素合成途径中主要承担了α-酮基异戊酸脱氢酶 (α-ketoisovaleric acid dehydrogenase) 角色。     

透明颤菌血红蛋白在肉桂地链霉菌中的表达对其细胞生长及抗生素合成的影响

肉桂地链霉菌(S.cinnamonensis)是莫能菌素(Monensin)的产生菌。大肠杆菌链霉菌穿梭表达载体pHZ1252中的透明颤菌血红蛋白基因(vhb)位于硫链丝菌素诱导启动子P_tipA之下,它在肉桂地链霉菌中的结构不稳定,发生了重组缺失,缺失的片段包括大肠杆菌质粒部分和vhb基因。但来自阿维链霉菌(S.avermitilis)中缺失了大肠杆菌质粒部分却保留了完整的vhb基因及tipA启动子的pHZ1252,可在肉桂地链霉菌中稳定复制,不再发生缺失,经硫链丝菌素诱导表达出了有生物活性的VHb蛋白。摇瓶发酵实验证明,VHb蛋白在氧限条件下可明显促进肉桂地链霉菌的菌体生长和抗生素合成。     

透明颤菌血红蛋白基因在阿维链霉菌中的表达

将含有自身启动子的透明颤菌血红蛋白基因（ ｖｈｂ） 克隆至大肠杆菌—链霉菌穿梭质粒载体ｐＩＪ６５３ 中构建成表达载体ｐ ＷＹ１０１ 和ｐ ＷＹ１０２ ,用它们转化阿维菌素（ａｖｅｒｍｅｃｔｉｎｓ） 产生菌———阿维链霉菌（ Ｓｔｒｅｐｔｏｍｙｃｅｓ ａｖｅｒｍｉｔｉｌｉｓ） ,经Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔｔｉｎｇ 分析并未检测到ｖｈｂ 基因表达,但用穿梭载体ｐＨＺ１２５２（ 其中的ｖｈｂ 基因位于受硫链丝菌素诱导的链霉菌强启动子ＰｔｉｐＡ之下） 转化阿维链霉菌并经硫链丝菌素诱导,则在该菌中表达出了有活性的ＶＨｂ 蛋白。ｐＨＺ１２５２ 在阿维链霉菌中发生了重组缺失,但缺失的ｐＨＺ１２５２ 上仍含有完整的ｖｈｂ 基因及诱导型强启动子,且可在阿维链霉菌中稳定遗传,却不能再转化大肠杆菌。     

多拉菌素产生菌aveD基因缺失突变株的构建

阿维链霉菌(Streptomyces avermitilis)bkd76-3在发酵过程中添加环己羧酸(CHC)可产生抗寄生虫药物多拉菌素(doramectin,阿维菌素衍生物CHC-B1),但同时还产生其它三种无效组分CHC-B2、CHC-A1、CHC-A2。利用基因缺失载体pXJ04(pKC1139∷△aveD1+△aveD2)对该菌株的aveD基因进行缺失,获得的aveD缺失突变株经摇瓶发酵和HPLC检测,发现只存在2种产物,经LC/MS分析验证,这两种产物分别为CHC-B1和CHC-B2,表明该突变株完全丧失了合成CHC-A1和CHC-A2的能力。缺失突变株的CHC-B1产量较出发菌株提高了78.19%,CHC-B2的产量提高了602.3%,发酵产物中有效组分多拉菌素的比例增加了93.16%。该缺失突变是在染色体上通过同源双交换完成的,不会发生进一步的重组,因此突变株具有良好的遗传稳定性,在工业生产上具有应用价值。     

阿维链霉菌NRRL8165中bldAa的克隆及其对形态分化与阿维菌素合成的影响

bldA编码天蓝色链霉菌中唯一有效识别UUA亮氨酸密码的tRNA(Leu)UUA。通过构建阿维链霉菌NRRL8165基因组亚文库,筛选得到含有阿维链霉菌bldAa及其侧翼序列的克隆。利用λRED介导的PCRtargeting技术构建了bldAa的基因置换质粒pHL358,将其跨属接合转移进入阿维链霉菌NRRL8165,筛选得到bldAa基因置换菌株TW10。TW10表现为光秃表型,表明bldAa调控阿维链霉菌的形态分化。摇瓶发酵TW10菌株并对发酵产物进行HPLC分析,发现TW10菌株均不合成阿维菌素组分,提示阿维菌素的合成受bldAa调控;考察阿维菌素生物合成基因簇,其中aveA3和aveR含有TTA密码,它们的翻译可能受bldAa调控,与实验结果一致。     

阿维链霉菌NRRL8165中bldAA的克隆及其对形态分化与阿维菌素合成的影响

bldA编码天蓝色链霉菌中唯一有效识别UUA亮氨酸密码的tRNA（Leu）UUA。通过构建阿维链霉菌NRRL8165基因组亚文库,筛选得到含有阿维链霉菌bldA。及其侧翼序列的克隆。利用λRED介导的PCR targeting技术构建了bldA。的基因置换质粒pHL358,将其跨属接合转移进入阿维链霉菌NRRL8165,筛选得到bldA。基因置换菌株TW10。TW10表现为光秃表型,表明bldA。调控阿维链霉菌的形态分化。摇瓶发酵TW10菌株并对发酵产物进行HPLC分析,发现TW10菌株均不合成阿维菌素组分,提示阿维菌素的合成受bldA。调控;考察阿维菌素生物合成基因簇,其中areA3和aveR含有TTA密码,它们的翻译可能受bldA。调控,与实验结果一致。     

盐碱放线菌的分类研究

对分离自云南省盐碱土壤的39株嗜碱或耐碱放线菌进行了鉴定。根据形态学和化学分类特征(细胞壁化学组分、甲基萘醌组分和磷酸类脂组分)。将它们分别归入拟诺卡氏苗属(NoCARDIOPSIS)、糖丝菌属(Saccharothrix)、小单孢菌属(Micromonospora)和链霉菌属Streptomyces)。再根据其形态特征和生理生化特性定为12个种2个亚种．为云南盐碱土壤中放线菌组成提供了资料。     

负调节基因nsdA在链霉菌中同源性及激活沉默抗生素合成基因簇的研究

nsdA基因是在天蓝色链霉菌中发现的抗生素合成负调控基因。以nsdA基因片段为探针,通过Southern杂交发现nsdA存在于多种链霉菌中。根据天蓝色链霉菌和阿维链霉菌的nsdA序列设计PCR引物,扩增多种链霉菌中nsdA基因并测序。发现在不同链霉菌中nsdA基因的相似性高达77%～100%。其中变铅青链霉菌与天蓝色链霉菌A3(2)的nsdA序列100%一致。变铅青链霉菌通常不合成放线紫红素,中断nsdA获得的突变菌株WQ2能够合成放线紫红素;在WQ2中重新引入野生型nsdA,又失去产抗生素能力。表明nsdA的中断可以激活变铅青链霉菌中沉默的放线紫红素生物合成基因簇的表达;nsdA的广泛存在及其序列高度保守则提示可以尝试用于这些菌种的抗生素高产育种。     

甾醇C-22去饱和酶高表达对酵母细胞麦角甾醇合成的影响

通过PCR扩增克隆到酵母菌甾醇C-22去饱和酶基因(ERG5)的编码序列及其终止子序列,以大肠杆菌-酿酒酵母穿梭质粒YEp352为载体,以磷酸甘油酸激酶基因PGK1启动子为上游调控元件构建了酵母菌表达质粒pYPE5。以铜离子螯合蛋白基因CUP1替换ERG5基因内部序列获得ERG5破坏菌株YSE5,其中麦角甾醇的合成被阻断,而积累了甾醇中间体Ergosta-5,7-dien-3β-ol。表达质粒pYPE5转化破坏菌株后使细胞恢复了合成麦角甾醇的能力。说明表达质粒上的ERG5基因得到了功能性的表达。将表达质粒pYPE5转化酿酒酵母单倍体菌株YS58,通过营养缺陷互补筛选到重组菌株YS58(pYPE5)。对重组菌株、破坏菌株和互补菌株细胞甾醇组分和含量进行测定,发现重组菌株和互补菌株的麦角甾醇和总甾醇含量明显低于对照菌YS58(YEp352)。测定不同培养时间细胞的麦角甾醇含量,发现重组菌株的麦角甾醇含量始终低于对照菌YS58(YEp352)。可见,ERG5在酵母中的高表达导致细胞麦角甾醇含量降低。     

Mitochondrial NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase plays a crucial role in the reduction of D-erythroascorbyl free radical in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The relevance of NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase to the NADH-dependent reduction of D-erythroascorbyl free radical was investigated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. MCR1, which is known to encode NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase in S. cerevisiae, was disrupted by the insertion of URA3 gene into the gene of MCR1. In the mcr1 disruptant cells, the activity of NADH-D-erythroascorbyl free radical reductase almost disappeared and the intracellular level of D-erythroascorbic acid was about 11% of that of the congenic wild-type strain. In the transformant cells carrying MCR1 in multicopy plasmid, the intracellular level of D-erythroascorbic acid and the activity of NADH-D-erythroascorbyl free radical reductase increased up to 1.7-fold and 2.1-fold, respectively. Therefore, it indicated that the MCR1 product, mitochondrial NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase, plays a key role in the NADH-dependent reduction of D-erythroascorbyl free radical in S. cerevisiae. On the other hand, the mcr1 disruptant cells were hypersensitive to hydrogen peroxide and menadione, and overexpression of MCR1 made the cells more resistant against oxidative stress. These results suggested that the mitochondrial NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase functions as NADH-D-erythroascorbyl free radical reductase and plays an important role in the response to oxidative damage in S. cerevisiae.     

Identification and characterization of a very long-chain fatty acid elongase gene in the methylotrophic yeast, Hansenula polymorpha

To understand the biosynthetic network of fatty acids in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha, which is able to produce poly-unsaturated fatty acids, we have attempted to identify genes encoding fatty acid elongase. Here we have characterized HpELO1, a fatty acid elongase gene encoding a 319-amino-acid protein containing five predicted membrane-spanning regions that is conserved throughout the yeast Elo protein family. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence suggests that HpELO1 is an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ELO3 gene that is involved in the elongation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). In the fatty acid profile of the Hpelo1Delta disruptant by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, the amount of C24:0 and C26:0 decreased to undetectable levels, whereas there was a large accumulation of C22:0, suggesting that the HpELO1 is involved in the elongation of VLCFAs and is essential for the production of C24:0. Expression of HpELO1 suppressed the lethality of the S. cerevisiae elo2Delta elo3Delta double disruptant and recovered the synthesis of VLCFAs. Similar to the S. cerevisiae elo3Delta strain, the Hpelo1Delta disruptant exhibited the extraordinary growth sensitivity to fumonisin B(1), a ceramide synthase inhibitor. Furthermore, cells of the Hpelo1Delta disruptant were more sensitive to Zymolyase and more flocculent than the wild-type cells, clumping together and falling rapidly out of suspension, suggesting that the Hpelo1Delta mutation causes changes in cell wall composition and structure.     

Genetic Transformation of a Clinical (Genital Tract), Plasmid-Free Isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis: Engineering the Plasmid as a Cloning Vector

Our study had three objectives: to extend the plasmid-based transformation protocol to a clinical isolate of C. trachomatis belonging to the trachoma biovar, to provide “proof of principle” that it is possible to “knock out” selected plasmid genes (retaining a replication competent plasmid) and to investigate the plasticity of the plasmid. A recently developed, plasmid-based transformation protocol for LGV isolates of C. trachomatis was modified and a plasmid-free, genital tract C. trachomatis isolate from Sweden (SWFP-) was genetically transformed. Transformation of this non-LGV C. trachomatis host required a centrifugation step, but the absence of the natural plasmid removed the need for plaque purification of transformants. Transformants expressed GFP, were penicillin resistant and iodine stain positive for accumulated glycogen. The transforming plasmid did not recombine with the host chromosome. A derivative of pGFP::SW2 carrying a deletion of the plasmid CDS5 gene was engineered. CDS5 encodes pgp3, a protein secreted from the inclusion into the cell cytoplasm. This plasmid (pCDS5KO) was used to transform C. trachomatis SWFP-, and established that pgp3 is dispensable for plasmid function. The work shows it is possible to selectively delete segments of the chlamydial plasmid, and this is the first step towards a detailed molecular dissection of the role of the plasmid. The 3.6 kb β-galactosidase cassette was inserted into the deletion site of CDS5 to produce plasmid placZ-CDS5KO. Transformants were penicillin resistant, expressed GFP and stained for glycogen. In addition, they expressed β-galactosidase showing that the lacZ cassette was functional in C. trachomatis. An assay was developed that allowed the visualisation of individual inclusions by X-gal staining. The ability to express active β-galactosidase within chlamydial inclusions is an important advance as it allows simple, rapid assays to measure directly chlamydial infectivity without the need for plaquing, fluorescence or antibody staining.     

Characterization of Bacillus subtilis ExoA protein: a multifunctional DNA-repair enzyme similar to the Escherichia coli exonuclease III.

To discover the physiological role of the Bacillus subtilis ExoA protein, which is similar in amino acid sequence to Escherichia coli exonuclease III, an exoA::Cm disruption was constructed in the chromosomal DNA of B. subtilis. There was no clear difference in tolerance to hydrogen peroxide and alkylating agents between the disruptant and the wild type strain. An expression plasmid of the ExoA in E. coli was constructed by inserting the exoA gene into the expression vector pKP1500. The purified ExoA was used to clarify enzymatic characterizations using synthetic DNA oligomers as substrates. A DNA oligomer containing a 1', 2'-dideoxyribose residue as an AP site, a DNA-RNA chimera oligomer, and a 3' end 32P-labeled oligomer were synthesized. It has been shown that the ExoA has AP endonuclease, 3'-5' exonuclease, ribonuclease H, and 3'-phosphomonoesterase activities. Thus, it has been confirmed that ExoA is a multifunctional DNA-repair enzyme in B. subtilis that is very similar to E. coli exonuclease III except that ExoA has lower 3'-5' exonuclease activity than that of E. coli exonuclease III.