一株分离自美国龙虾的麦氏弧菌的鉴定及其低温状态下细胞脂肪酸的变化

[目的]对从美国龙虾(Homarus americanus)中分离的菌株F5-1进行种属鉴定并分析其低温状态下脂肪酸组成变化.[方法]通过VITEK 2 Compact全自动微生物鉴定仪分析菌株的生理生化特征和进行药敏试验;16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析确定该菌株的系统发育学地位;通过气相色谱和质谱联用法(GC-MS)分析菌株的全细胞脂肪酸.[结果]菌株F5-1为革兰氏阴性菌,对弧菌抑制剂O/129敏感,对青霉素有耐药性;生理生化特征与麦氏弧菌(Vibrio metschnikovii)的相似性为96％,16S rRNA序列与麦氏弧菌(GenBank No.HQ658055)的相似性为99％;菌株的主要脂肪酸组成为C12∶0、C14∶0、C16∶0和C16∶1(n-7),不饱和脂肪酸(棕榈油酸)相对含量达34％,低温培养状态下,不饱和脂肪酸(棕榈油酸)相对含量增加至40％.[结论]将美国龙虾中分离的菌株F5-1鉴定为麦氏弧菌,该菌对多种药物敏感,菌细胞脂肪酸组成与来源于俄罗斯海参威某饮用水水库中分离的麦氏弧菌有较大差异.     

贝莱斯芽孢杆菌RJW-5-5的分离鉴定及细菌素、抗菌肽基因簇挖掘

[背景]化学防治污染日益严重,作物抗性、农药残留、病害再生现象越来越普遍,因此筛选新型生防菌株及研究其抗菌物质已成为热点.[目的]筛选出一株对禾旋孢腔菌等植物病原菌具有生防功能的贝莱斯芽孢杆菌,挖掘其调控合成细菌素、抗菌肽(RiPPs)的基因簇.[方法]通过分离筛选、对峙培养等方法筛选出菌株,通过全细胞脂肪酸和Biol...     

一株镰刀菌的分离鉴定及变温发酵条件对其脂肪酸合成的影响

为筛选产多不饱和脂肪酸新资源,从葡萄园土壤中分离到一株真菌,通过对菌株进行菌落特征、显微特征和18S r DNA序列分析,将该菌株鉴定为镰刀菌一个新种(Fusarium sp.JM)。为研究菌株油脂生产能力,通过两阶段变温发酵,分析发酵条件对菌体油脂和脂肪酸合成的影响。结果表明,镰刀菌油脂中脂肪酸组成丰富,其中C16脂肪酸和C18脂肪酸的含量约占总脂肪酸的90%,采用25℃,4 d/18℃,3 d二阶段发酵条件,菌体生物量为9.8 g/L,油脂产量1.42 g/L,油脂中多不饱和脂肪酸含量占总脂肪酸含量的46%以上。推测利用镰刀菌发酵生产多不饱和脂肪酸具有一定的可行性。     

一株原油降解菌的分离鉴定及降解特性研究

[目的]对从大连湾原油污染海域生长的海绵中分离的原油降解菌2-9进行鉴定及降解特性研究.[方法]采用16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析、生理生化指标测定、DNAG+C含量测定、全细胞脂肪酸组成测定、碳源利用实验等多种方法对该菌株进行鉴定,并通过降解实验测定其对原油的降解情况.[结果]菌株2-9鉴定为Nitratireductor basaltis,革兰氏阴性,接触酶和氧化酶阳性.在GenBank中与其16S rRNA基因序列相似度最高的模式株为Nitratireductor basaltis J3T,相似性为99％.可生长的pH范围为6.0-10.0,最适生长pH值为8.0;可生长温度范围为15℃-42℃,最适生长温度为30℃; NaCl浓度生长范围是0-8％(W/V),最适生长盐度为2％.该菌株可以利用多种糖和有机酸的碳源,其DNA G+C含量为57.29 mol％,主要脂肪酸组成为ω7c-十八碳单不饱和脂肪酸(63.61％)、ω8c型环式十九碳饱和脂肪酸(16.97％)、饱和十八碳脂肪酸(4.28％)和十六碳饱和脂肪酸(3.39％).同时,考察了该菌株对原油的降解效果,在人工海水培养基中,14d内对原油(初始浓度为1 g/L)的平均降解率为63.5％.[结论]菌株2-9是一株具有开发潜力的原油降解菌.     

利用转座子Tn917构建单核细胞增生李斯特菌菌膜形成突变株

单核细胞增生李斯特菌菌膜形成相关基因和调控因子的分离和鉴定是阐明其菌膜形成分子机理的基础。利用原生质体转化这一方式,将带有转座子Tn917的质粒pTV1OK成功地转进了单核细胞增生李斯特菌。通过诱导Tn917转座,得到单核细胞增生李斯特菌Tn917插入突变库,转座率为10-7。经96孔细胞培养板筛选发现,菌株LM49形成菌膜能力明显大于野生型。该菌株在细胞培养板中培养４d后形成的紫色圆环的颜色明显深于野生型。用Tn917特异引物进行PCR扩增,结果显示只有以该突变株的DNA为模板才能得到相应大小的扩增产物,证实该菌株基因组中有Tn917插入。Tn917的插入使菌株LM49的菌膜形成能力增强。     

低温和外源不饱和脂肪酸对高山被孢霉脂肪酸脱氢酶基因表达的影响

[目的]在转录水平上研究低温和外源不饱和脂肪酸对于高山被孢霉脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的表达调控机制.[方法]通过实时定量PCR技术和启动子报告基因融合载体的方法,研究低温和外源不饱和脂肪酸对于高山被孢霉3种脂肪酸脱氢酶基因表达随时间进程的影响.[结果]实时定量PCR的结果表明:低温对于3种脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的转录具有激活作用,外源不饱和脂肪酸对基因转录起抑制作用,而且这两种作用都是快速响应的,随时间延长逐渐减弱并消失.脂肪酸组成测定结果证明了基因转录水平变化与对应产物变化之间没有相关性.低温能够在短时间内诱导pFAD6启动子活性增加,并随时间延长而持续增强 ;外源不饱和脂肪酸对pFAD6启动子活性起抑制作用,其不饱和度和浓度越高,抑制作用越强,而且抑制作用是快速且持续的.[结论]低温和外源不饱和脂肪酸除了在转录水平上调控高山被孢霉脂肪酸脱氢酶基因表达发生变化之外,可能主要在转录后水平上介导了胞内脂肪酸组成的变化.而且,脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的表达可能受到胞内脂肪酸组成变化的反馈调节作用.本文首次在转录水平上对高山被孢霉脂肪酸脱氢酶基因的表达调控机制进行了探索,为深入了解脂肪酸脱氢酶基因表达及多不饱和脂肪酸合成对外界信号的应答机制提供了有用信息,也对应用微生物发酵和转基因技术生产不饱和脂肪酸具有指导意义.     

假交替单胞菌LJ1菌株产褐藻胶裂解酶的培养条件优化及酶学性质

[目的]为了优化Lj1菌株的培养条件使之产生高活性的胞外褐藻胶裂解酶.[方法]通过富集培养技术从海带筛选到一株褐藻胶裂解酶产生菌Lj1,依据表型特征、脂肪酸组成分析及16S rRNA基因序列分析对该菌株进行鉴定.通过单因子和正交试验对Lj1菌株产胞外褐藻胶裂解酶的培养条件进行了优化.[结果]Lj1菌株属于假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas).该菌株产酶的最佳培养基组成为:褐藻胶3g/L、(NH4)2SO43 g/L、NaCl 20 g/L、KH2PO4 0.1 g/L、CaCl2 0.1 g/L;最佳培养条件为:250 mL三角烧瓶中装液量25 mL、接种量3%、摇瓶转速150 r/min、pH7.5、培养温度为28℃、培养时间为24 h.LJl菌株所产褐藻胶裂解酶的最适温度为40℃,最适pH7.6,最适NaCl浓度为0.3 mol/L.1 mol/1.金属离子Mg2+对酶活力有明显的促进作用,而C02+和Zn2+对酶活力有较强的抑制作用.[结论]LJ1菌株是Pseudoalteromonas新的胞外褐藻胶裂解酶产生菌,在最佳培养条件下,该菌株的酶活力提高了66%.     

异源表达海苏特氏菌Argonaute蛋白基因提高酿酒酵母脂肪酸含量研究

Argonaute蛋白作为一类高度保守的蛋白,是小RNA调控代谢机制的重要参与者,是RNA干扰所必须的,然而此蛋白在酿酒酵母中却未被发现。为初步探究海苏特氏菌Argonaute蛋白基因对脂肪酸含量的影响,以海苏特氏菌全基因组为模板,克隆并表达了海苏特氏菌Argonaute蛋白基因的CDS区。生物信息学分析发现该基因具有基因沉默调节因子SIR2结构域。将海苏特氏菌Argonaute蛋白基因连接至载体p ZMG中获得重组载体p ZMG-Jm-Argonaute并转化至酿酒酵母BY4742中,GC-MS检测显示,重组菌株总脂肪酸含量相对于野生菌株显著提高了6. 4%,其中不饱和脂肪酸C161含量显著提高了8. 3%,结果表明Jm-Argonaute蛋白基因能够提高酿酒酵母BY4742不饱和脂肪酸C161的含量,从而为深入研究该基因在菌体内对脂肪酸代谢的调节机制提供参考。     

志贺毒素2型噬菌体ΦMin27的stx2基因突变株构建及其感染特性

[目的]通过构建一株stx2基因突变的志贺毒素2型噬菌体,来观察它对不同血清型大肠杆菌的感染特性.[方法]利用九噬菌体的Red重组系统,将氯霉素抗性基因(cat)插入到大肠杆菌O157:H7 Min27株的stx2基因中,获得O157:H7 Min27的突变菌株Min27(Astx::cat).用丝裂霉素对该突变菌株进行诱导,结合抗性标记和PCR方法筛选出一株突变的志贺毒素2型噬菌体,命名为ΦMin27(△stx::cat).采用双层琼脂平板法和氯霉素抗性筛选的方法,观察ΦMin27(△stx::cat)感染21株不同血清型大肠杆菌后的裂解和溶原转换情况.[结果]2株血清型分别为O 60和O 138的大肠杆菌可以被ΦMin27(△stx::cat)溶原感染,表现出对氯霉素的抗性,但没有形成噬菌斑,而大肠杆菌MG1655株既可以被溶原又可以被裂解.溶原的菌株经丝裂霉素诱导后,能释放出感染性的ΦMin27(△stx::cat)颗粒,并对大肠杆菌MC1061进行裂解形成噬菌斑.[结论]ΦMin27(△stx::cat)可以感染和溶原特定的大肠杆菌,且溶原菌株能释放出原感染性的噬菌体,显示出ΦMin27噬菌体具有携带外源基因在若干不同血清型的大肠杆菌间水平转移的能力,为进一步研究Stx噬菌体的感染机理和志贺毒素表达调控奠定了基础.     

一株产1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸脱氨酶的氢氧化细菌的分离鉴定及酶活力测定

[目的]以结瘤豆科植物紫花苜蓿根际土壤为研究材料,筛选具有ACC脱氨酶活力的氢氧化细菌,探索氢氧化细菌植物促生作用机制.[方法]利用持续通H2 的气体循环培养体系、矿质盐固体培养基,分离、培养氢氧化细菌,观察菌株形态并测定生理生化特征;16S rDNA序列分析法构建系统发育树;采用薄层层析法筛选ACC脱氨酶阳性菌株,茚三酮显色法测定ACC脱氨酶活力.[结果]分离的37株细菌中有8株菌氧化氢和自养生长能力较强,初步确定为氢氧化细菌,从中筛选出1株ACC脱氨酶阳性菌株WMQ-7.菌株WMQ-7的形态特征、生理生化特征与恶臭假单胞菌(Pseudomonas putida)的特征基本一致;16s rDNA序列(GenBank登录号为EU807744)在系统发育树中与恶臭假单胞菌同属一个类群,序列同源性99%.鉴定菌株WMQ-7为恶臭假单胞菌,其ACE脱氨酶活力为0.671 U/μg[结论]采用气体循环培养体系分离氢氧化细菌,克服了传统配气法的局限.ACC脱氨酶阳性菌株的筛选,为深入研究氢氧化细菌作为植物根际促生菌的菌株特性和促生机制提供理论依据.     

硬脂酰-辅酶A脱氢酶基因在食品级乳酸菌中的表达

为了实现硬脂酰-辅酶A脱氢酶1编码基因在乳酸乳球菌中的表达,采用PCR技术扩增获得人类scd1的编码序列。Nco I和Xba I双酶切后定向插入到食品级表达载体pNZ8149中,构建表达载体pNZ8149-scd1。电转化乳酸乳球菌NZ3900,经菌落PCR和测序鉴定scd1基因成功插入到乳酸乳球菌中。在乳链菌肽诱导下进行scd1的表达,转化株提取脂肪酸,进行脂肪酸含量的气相色谱分析。结果显示,SCD1转化菌株中的C16∶1n-7和C18∶1n-7脂肪酸组分比转化pNZ8149的对照组乳酸菌分别提高了92%~169%和53%~127%。文中以scd1基因为例,尝试并证明了脂肪酸脱氢酶类基因能够在食品级乳酸菌中有效表达,为后续研究奠定了基础。     

Shifts in the Membrane Fatty Acid Profile of Streptococcus mutans Enhance Survival in Acidic Environments

Acid adaptation of Streptococcus mutans UA159 involves several different mechanisms, including the ability to alter its proportion of long-chain, monounsaturated membrane fatty acids (R. G. Quivey, Jr., R. Faustoferri, K. Monahan, and R. Marquis, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 189:89-92, 2000). In the present study, we examined the mechanism and timing of changes in fatty acid ratios and the potential benefit that an increased proportion of long-chained fatty acids has for the organism during growth at low pH. Cells taken from steady-state cultures at intermediate pH values of 6.5, 6, and 5.5 showed incremental changes from the short-chained, saturated membrane fatty acid profile normally seen in pH 7 cultures to the long-chained, monounsaturated fatty acids more typically observed in acidic cultures (pH 5). Our observations showed that the bacterium was capable of effecting the majority of changes in approximately 20 min, far less than one generation time. However, reversion to the distribution of fatty acids seen in cells growing at a pH of 7 required a minimum of 10 generations. Fatty acid composition analysis of cells taken from cultures treated with chloramphenicol suggested that the changes in fatty acid distribution did not require de novo protein synthesis. Cells treated with the fatty acid biosynthesis inhibitor cerulenin were unable to alter their membrane fatty acid profiles and were unable to survive severe acidification. Results presented here indicate that membrane fatty acid redistribution is important for low pH survival and, as such, is a component of the S. mutans acid-adaptation arsenal.     

Beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (FabH) is essential for bacterial fatty acid synthesis

beta-Ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III (KAS III, also called acetoacetyl-ACP synthase) encoded by the fabH gene is thought to catalyze the first elongation reaction (Claisen condensation) of type II fatty acid synthesis in bacteria and plant plastids. However, direct in vivo evidence that KAS III catalyzes an essential reaction is lacking, because no mutant organism deficient in this activity has been isolated. We report the first bacterial strain lacking KAS III, a fabH mutant constructed in the Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis IL1403. The mutant strain carries an in-frame deletion of the KAS III active site region and was isolated by gene replacement using a medium supplemented with a source of saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids. The mutant strain is devoid of KAS III activity and fails to grow in the absence of supplementation with exogenous long-chain fatty acids demonstrating that KAS III plays an essential role in cellular metabolism. However, the L. lactis fabH deletion mutant requires only long-chain unsaturated fatty acids for growth, a source of long-chain saturated fatty acids is not required. Because both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are required for growth when fatty acid synthesis is blocked by biotin starvation (which prevents the synthesis of malonyl-CoA), another pathway for saturated fatty acid synthesis must remain in the fabH deletion strain. Indeed, incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into fatty acids in vivo showed that the fabH mutant retained about 10% of the fatty acid synthetic ability of the wild-type strain and that this residual synthetic capacity was preferentially diverted to the saturated branch of the pathway. Moreover, mass spectrometry showed that the fabH mutant retained low levels of palmitic acid upon fatty acid starvation. Derivatives of the fabH deletion mutant strain were isolated that were octanoic acid auxotrophs consistent with biochemical studies indicating that the major role of FabH is production of short-chain fatty acid primers. We also confirmed the essentiality of FabH in Escherichia coli by use of a plasmid-based gene insertion/deletion system. Together these results provide the first genetic evidence demonstrating that FabH conducts the major condensation reaction in the initiation of type II fatty acid biosynthesis in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.     

Eubacterium cellulosolvens Alters its Membrane Protein,Lipoprotein, and Fatty Acid Composition in Response to Growth on Cellulose

The cellulolytic bacterium, Eubacterium cellulosolvens, altered its cytoplasmic membrane protein composition in response to growth on specific energy substrates. Electrophoresis profiles obtained from membrane protein fractions of cellulose-grown cells were different from that obtained from cells cultivated with other carbohydrates, such as cellobiose or glucose. In addition, [³H]palmitic acid labelling of cellulose-grown E. cellulosolvens revealed two lipoproteins that were not detected in glucose- or cellobiose-grown cultures. These lipoproteins partitioned with the membrane fraction, indicating their association with the cytoplasmic membrane. Proteinase K treatment of whole cells further suggested that these lipoproteins were exposed to the surface of the cell envelope. These membrane proteins and lipoproteins appear to be under some substrate-specific regulatory control with distinct, but as yet undetermined, roles in cellulose utilization. In addition, cellulose-grown E. cellulosolvens was found to posses a higher ratio of oleic acid (C_18:1) to palmitic acid (C_16:0) than cells cultivated on soluble carbohydrates. This change in the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was consistent with a comparative increase of membrane fluidity. Further analysis of this shift in the fatty acid profile revealed a correlation with the appearance of protruberances on the cell surface. Such a shift of fatty acid composition may indicate that the assembly and function of proteins for cellulose utilization necessitates an increase of the membrane fluidity.     

肌肉脂肪酸转运膜蛋白及其相互关系

肌肉（骨骼肌）组织对脂肪酸的利用水平是影响机体能量稳态的关键因素.肌肉摄取的长链脂肪酸(long chain fatty acids,LCFAs)主要依赖细胞膜载体蛋白协助的跨膜转运过程.近年来,一系列与脂肪酸转运相关的膜蛋白被相继克隆鉴定,其中在肌肉中大量表达的有脂肪酸转运蛋白-1（fatty acid transport protein-1,FATP-1）、膜脂肪酸结合蛋白（plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein,FABPpm）、脂肪酸转位酶（fatty acid translocase,FAT/CD36）和小窝蛋白-1（caveolin-1）.研究上述肌肉脂肪酸转运膜蛋白的结构功能、调控机制及相互关系,可能为肥胖等脂类代谢紊乱疾病的诊治提供新的手段.     

乳杆菌代谢产物对化脓性链球菌的抑制作用

【目的】分析乳杆菌代谢产物对化脓性链球菌的抑制作用。【方法】基于双层平板打孔法,通过测量抑菌圈大小来检测乳杆菌代谢产物对化脓性链球菌的抑菌作用;然后分别采用高效液相色谱法和4-氨酰安替比林法检测乳杆菌代谢产物中的有机酸和H2O2含量;最后,检测乳酸、乙酸和H2O2对化脓性链球菌的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)、最小杀菌浓度(MBC)。【结果】对化脓性链球菌的抑菌效果以植物乳杆菌KLDS1.0667最好,副干酪乳杆菌KLDS1.0342-1次之,瑞士乳杆菌KLDS1.0203抑菌效果最差;乳酸和乙酸产量KLDS1.0667>KLDS1.0342-1>KLDS1.0203;H2O2产量KLDS1.0203>KLDS1.0667>KLDS1.0342-1。在抑菌试验中,乳杆菌的发酵上清液经去除H2O2处理后抑菌圈直径都减小;将发酵上清液的p H调至7.0后均检测不到抑菌圈。结果表明,乳杆菌代谢产物中对化脓性链球菌起抑制作用的主要物质为有机酸和H2O2,其中乳酸是产生抑菌作用的最主要物质。乳酸、乙酸和H2O2对化脓性链球菌的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)分别为1.28、0.64和0.008 g/L,对化脓性链球菌的最小杀菌浓度(MBC)分别为5.12、2.56和0.032 g/L。【结论】乳杆菌可利用其代谢产物对化脓性链球菌产生抑制作用,主要抑菌物质为有机酸和H2O2。     

Metabolism of tween-Fatty Acid esters by cultured soybean cells : kinetics of incorporation into lipids, subsequent turnover, and associated changes in endogenous Fatty Acid synthesis

Uptake of Tween-fatty acid esters and incorporation of the fatty acids into lipids by soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) suspension cultures was investigated, together with subsequent turnover of the incorporated fatty acids and associated changes in endogenous fatty acid synthesis. Tween uptake was saturable, and fatty acids were rapidly transferred from Tweens to all acylated lipids. Patterns of incorporation into glycerolipids were similar in cells treated with Tweens carrying [1-¹⁴C]-fatty acids and in cells treated with [1-¹⁴C]acetate, indicating that exogenous fatty acids were used for glycerolipid synthesis essentially as if they had been made by the cell. In Tween-treated cells neutral lipids (which include Tweens) initially accounted for the majority of lipid radioactivity. Radioactivity was then rapidly transferred to glycerolipids. A transient pool of free fatty acids accounting for up to 10% of lipid radioactivity was observed. This was consistent with the hypothesis that fatty acids are transferred from Tweens to lipids by deacylation of the Tweens, creating a pool of free fatty acids which are then used for lipid synthesis. Sterols were only slightly labeled in cells treated with Tweens, but accounted for nearly 50% of lipid radioactivity in cells treated with acetate. This suggested very little degradation and reutilization of the radioactive fatty acids in cells treated with Tweens. In cells treated with either [1-¹⁴C]acetate or Tween-[1-¹⁴C]-18:1, 70% of the initial fatty acid radioactivity remained in fatty acids after a 100 hour chase. By contrast, fatty acids not normally present disappeared more rapidly, suggesting differential treatment of such fatty acids compared with those normally present. Cells which had incorporated large amounts of exogenous fatty acids altered fatty acid synthesis in three distinct ways: (a) amounts of [1-¹⁴C]acetate incorporated into fatty acids were reduced; (b) cells incorporating exogenous unsaturated fatty acids increased the proportion of [1-¹⁴C]acetate partitioned into saturated fatty acids, while the converse was true of cells which had incorporated exogenous saturated fatty acids; (c) desaturation of 18:1 to 18:2 and 18:3 was reduced in cells which had incorporated unsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that Tween-fatty acid esters will be useful for supplying fatty acids to cells for a variety of studies related to fatty acid or membrane metabolism.     

Altered Microviscosity at Brain Membrane Surface Induces Distinct and Reversible Inhibition of Opioid Receptor Binding

In synaptosomal membranes from rat and monkey brain cortex, the addition of petroselenic (18:1, cis-delta 6) acid, oleic (18:1, cis-delta 9) acid, and vaccenic (18:1, cis-delta 11) acid or their corresponding methyl esters at 0.5 mumol/mg of membrane protein caused a similar 7-10% decrease in the microviscosity of the membrane core, whereas at the membrane surface the microviscosity was reduced 5-7% by the fatty acids but only 1% by their methyl esters. Concomitantly, the fatty acids, but not the methyl esters, inhibited the specific binding of the tritiated mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioids Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(Me)Phe-Gly-ol (DAMGO), [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE), and U69,593, respectively. As shown with oleic acid, the sensitivity of opioid receptor binding toward inhibition by fatty acids was in the order delta greater than mu much greater than kappa, whereby the binding of [3H]DPDPE was abolished, but significant inhibition of [3H]U69,593 binding, determined in membranes from monkey brain, required membrane modification with a twofold higher fatty acid concentration. Except for the unchanged KD of [3H]U69,593, the inhibition by oleic acid involved both the Bmax and affinity of opioid binding. Cholesteryl hemisuccinate (0.5-3 mumol/mg of protein), added to membranes previously modified by fatty acids, reversed the fluidization caused by the latter compounds and restored inhibited mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid binding toward control values. In particular, the Bmax of [3H]-DPDPE binding completely recovered after being undetectable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Expression and Purification of Integral Membrane Fatty Acid Desaturases

Fatty acid desaturase enzymes perform dehydrogenation reactions leading to the insertion of double bonds in fatty acids, and are divided into soluble and integral membrane classes. Crystal structures of soluble desaturases are available; however, membrane desaturases have defied decades of efforts due largely to the difficulty of generating recombinant desaturase proteins for crystallographic analysis. Mortierella alpina is an oleaginous fungus which possesses eight membrane desaturases involved in the synthesis of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Here, we describe the successful expression, purification and enzymatic assay of three M. alpina desaturases (FADS15, FADS12, and FADS9-I). Estimated yields of desaturases with purity >95% are approximately 3.5% (Ca. 4.6 mg/L of culture) for FADS15, 2.3% (Ca. 2.5 mg/L of culture) for FADS12 and 10.7% (Ca. 37.5 mg/L of culture) for FADS9-I. Successful expression of high amounts of recombinant proteins represents a critical step towards the structural elucidation of membrane fatty acid desaturases.     

Membrane Fatty Acid Modifications of PC12 Cells by Arachidonate or Docosahexaenoate Affect Neurite Outgrowth But Not Norepinephrine Release

The relationships between membrane fatty acid modification and neurite outgrowth and norepinephrine release were evaluated in PC12 cells. [³H]Norepinephrine release evoked by carbachol was unaffected by the modifications. Basal spontaneous release was elevated with increases in the degree of unsaturation using cells supplemented with n-3 fatty acids; a reverse correlation was observed for [³H]norepinephrine uptake. Supplementation of PC12 cells with either n-6 fatty acids or 18:1 also increased the basal release and decreased the uptake. Docosahexaenoic acid promoted and arachidonic acid suppressed neurite outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor. Choline acetyltransferase activity was slightly influenced by these fatty acids. Thus, modifications of PC12 cells with arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid had a relatively small effect on the degree of differentiation but had pronounced but opposite effects on neurite elongation. Ethanolamine glycerophospholipid synthesis was elevated during differentiation induced by nerve growth factor and it was suppressed by added arachidonic acid but not by docosahexaenoic acid. Our results raise the possibility that the decreased phospholipid synthesis caused by arachidonate may lead to the suppression of neurite elongation.