Cloning and expression of Burkholderia polyyne biosynthetic gene clusters in Paraburkholderia hosts provides a strategy for biopesticide development

Burkholderia have potential as biocontrol agents because they encode diverse biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for a range of antimicrobial metabolites. Given the opportunistic pathogenicity associated with Burkholderia species, heterologous BGC expression within non-pathogenic hosts is a strategy to construct safe biocontrol strains. We constructed a yeast-adapted Burkholderia-Escherichia shuttle vector (pMLBAD_yeast) with a yeast replication origin 2 μ and URA3 selection marker and optimised it for cloning BGCs using the in vivo recombination ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two Burkholderia polyyne BGCs, cepacin (13 kb) and caryoynencin (11 kb), were PCR-amplified as three overlapping fragments, cloned downstream of the pBAD arabinose promoter in pMLBAD_yeast and mobilised into Burkholderia and Paraburkholderia heterologous hosts. Paraburkholderia phytofirmans carrying the heterologous polyyne constructs displayed in vitro bioactivity against a variety of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens similar to the native polyyne producers. Thirteen Paraburkholderia strains with preferential growth at 30°C compared with 37°C were also identified, and four of these were amenable to genetic manipulation and heterologous expression of the caryoynencin construct. The cloning and successful heterologous expression of Burkholderia biosynthetic gene clusters within Paraburkholderia with restricted growth at 37°C opens avenues for engineering non-pathogenic biocontrol strains.     

Activating cryptic biosynthetic gene cluster through a CRISPR–Cas12a-mediated direct cloning approach

Direct cloning of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) from microbial genomes facilitates natural product-based drug discovery. Here, by combining Cas12a and the advanced features of bacterial artificial chromosome library construction, we developed a fast yet efficient in vitro platform for directly capturing large BGCs, named CAT-FISHING (CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated fast direct biosynthetic gene cluster cloning). As demonstrations, several large BGCs from different actinomycetal genomic DNA samples were efficiently captured by CAT-FISHING, the largest of which was 145 kb with 75% GC content. Furthermore, the directly cloned, 110 kb long, cryptic polyketide encoding BGC from Micromonospora sp. 181 was then heterologously expressed in a Streptomyces chassis. It turned out to be a new macrolactam compound, marinolactam A, which showed promising anticancer activity. Our results indicate that CAT-FISHING is a powerful method for complicated BGC cloning, and we believe that it would be an important asset to the entire community of natural product-based drug discovery.     

An integrated workflow for phenazine-modifying enzyme characterization

Increasing availability of new genomes and putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) has extended the opportunity to access novel chemical diversity for agriculture, medicine, environmental and industrial purposes. However, functional characterization of BGCs through heterologous expression is limited because expression may require complex regulatory mechanisms, specific folding or activation. We developed an integrated workflow for BGC characterization that integrates pathway identification, modular design, DNA synthesis, assembly and characterization. This workflow was applied to characterize multiple phenazine-modifying enzymes. Phenazine pathways are useful for this workflow because all phenazines are derived from a core scaffold for modification by diverse modifying enzymes (PhzM, PhzS, PhzH, and PhzO) that produce characterized compounds. We expressed refactored synthetic modules of previously uncharacterized phenazine BGCs heterologously in Escherichia coli and were able to identify metabolic intermediates they produced, including a previously unidentified metabolite. These results demonstrate how this approach can accelerate functional characterization of BGCs.     

Full-length RecE enhances linear-linear homologous recombination and facilitates direct cloning for bioprospecting

Functional analysis of genome sequences requires methods for cloning DNA of interest. However, existing methods, such as library cloning and screening, are too demanding or inefficient for high-throughput application to the wealth of genomic data being delivered by massively parallel sequencing. Here we describe direct DNA cloning based on the discovery that the full-length Rac prophage protein RecE and its partner RecT mediate highly efficient linear-linear homologous recombination mechanistically distinct from conventional recombineering mediated by Redαβ from lambda phage or truncated versions of RecET. We directly cloned all ten megasynthetase gene clusters (each 10–52 kb in length) from Photorhabdus luminescens into expression vectors and expressed two of them in a heterologous host to identify the metabolites luminmycin A and luminmide A/B. We also directly cloned cDNAs and exactly defined segments from bacterial artificial chromosomes. Direct cloning with full-length RecE expands the DNA engineering toolbox and will facilitate bioprospecting for natural products.     

Direct cloning and transplanting of large DNA fragments from Escherichia coli chromosome

We applied a resistance split-fusion strategy to increase the in vivo direct cloning efficiency mediated by Red recombination. The cat cassette was divided into two parts: cma (which has a homologous sequence with cmb) and cmb, each of which has no resistance separately unless the two parts are fused together. The cmb sequence was integrated into one flank of a target cloning region in the chromosome, and a linear vector containing the cma sequence was electroporated into the cells to directly capture the target region. Based on this strategy, we successfully cloned an approximately 48 kb DNA fragment from the E. coli DH1-Z chromosome with a positive frequency of approximately 80%. Combined with double-strand breakage-stimulated homologous recombination, we applied this strategy to successfully replace the corresponding region of the E. coli DH36 chromosome and knock out four non-essential genomic regions in one step. This strategy could provide a powerful tool for the heterologous expression of microbial natural product biosynthetic pathways for genome assembly and for the functional study of DNA sequences dozens of kilobases in length.     

真菌天然产物异源生产研究进展

真菌天然产物是天然药物的重要来源之一,大规模真菌基因组序列测序的完成表明真菌具有产生丰富的次级代谢产物的潜能。然而,许多真菌或生长缓慢,或不适宜在实验室条件下培养,或难以进行遗传操作,或化合物产量极低等,这些因素导致大量有价值的真菌天然产物无法获得。利用异源表达系统对真菌天然产物进行生产是发现新天然产物及解析其生物合成途径的有效手段,并为定向的以合成生物学的手段去合成重要活性分子奠定基础。本文对目前用于真菌天然产物生产的各种异源表达系统进行了综述,并结合最新的DNA组装技术展望了异源表达系统在真菌天然产物研究中的应用价值和前景。     

适用于链霉菌大片段基因组DNA 克隆和异源表达的细菌人工染色体(BAC)载体的构建及应用

【目的】很多链霉菌来源的天然产物的生物合成基因簇往往很大,用传统的cosmid载体很难完整的克隆和异源表达。本研究通过载体改造,成功构建出一个新的细菌人工染色体(BAC)载体,用于链霉菌来源的天然产物生物合成基因簇的克隆及异源表达实验。【方法】从复合型载体pCUGIBAC1出发,通过λRED介导的PCR-targeting方法,用链霉素抗性基因替换掉原有的氯霉素抗性基因标记,同时插入链霉菌中常用的安普拉霉素抗性标记、转移起始位点oriT、φC31整合酶基因int、整合位点attP等元件。【结果】成功构建出可装载链霉菌大片段DNA的BAC载体pMSBBACs。使用pMSBBACs构建出链霉菌U27的基因组BAC文库,平均插入片段大小为100 kb。选取其中一个大小为140 kb的BAC质粒进行功能验证,实验证明通过接合转移和原生质体转化的方法都能够将这个大型BAC质粒导入链霉菌模式菌株,并通过位点特异性重组整合到染色体中进行异源表达。【结论】BAC载体pMSBBACs可成功用于放线菌大片段基因组DNA的克隆和异源表达实验。     

Protocols for RecET-based markerless gene knockout and integration to express heterologous biosynthetic gene clusters in Pseudomonas putida

Pseudomonas putida has emerged as a promising host for the production of chemicals and materials thanks to its metabolic versatility and cellular robustness. In particular, P. putida KT2440 has been officially classified as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) strain, which makes it suitable for the production of compounds that humans directly consume, including secondary metabolites of high importance. Although various tools and strategies have been developed to facilitate metabolic engineering of P. putida, modification of large genes/clusters essential for heterologous expression of natural products with large biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) has not been straightforward. Recently, we reported a RecET-based markerless recombineering system for engineering P. putida and demonstrated deletion of multiple regions as large as 101.7 kb throughout the chromosome by single rounds of recombineering. In addition, development of a donor plasmid system allowed successful markerless integration of heterologous BGCs to P. putida chromosome using the recombineering system with examples of – but not limited to – integrating multiple heterologous BGCs as large as 7.4 kb to the chromosome of P. putida KT2440. In response to the increasing interest in our markerless recombineering system, here we provide detailed protocols for markerless gene knockout and integration for the genome engineering of P. putida and related species of high industrial importance.     

Reconstruction of a hybrid nucleoside antibiotic gene cluster based on scarless modification of large DNA fragments

Genetic modification of large DNA fragments(gene clusters) is of great importance in synthetic biology and combinatorial biosynthesis as it facilitates rational design and modification of natural products to increase their value and productivity.In this study,we developed a method for scarless and precise modification of large gene clusters by using RecET/RED-mediated polymerase chain reaction(PCR) targeting combined with Gibson assembly.In this strategy,the biosynthetic genes for peptidyl moieties(HPHT) in the nikkomycin biosynthetic gene cluster were replaced with those for carbamoylpolyoxamic acid(CPOAA)from the polyoxin biosynthetic gene cluster to generate a~40 kb hybrid gene cluster in Escherichia coli with a reusable targeting cassette.The reconstructed cluster was introduced into Streptomyces lividans TK23 for heterologous expression and the expected hybrid antibiotic,polynik A,was obtained and verified.This study provides an efficient strategy for gene cluster reconstruction and modification that could be applied in synthetic biology and combinatory biosynthesis to synthesize novel bioactive metabolites or to improve antibiotic production.     

Development of platforms for functional characterization and production of phenazines using a multi-chassis approach via CRAGE

Phenazines (Phzs), a family of chemicals with a phenazine backbone, are secondary metabolites with diverse properties such as antibacterial, anti-fungal, or anticancer activity. The core derivatives of phenazine, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC), are themselves precursors for various other derivatives. Recent advances in genome mining tools have enabled researchers to identify many biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that might produce novel Phzs. To characterize the function of these BGCs efficiently, we performed modular construct assembly and subsequent multi-chassis heterologous expression using chassis-independent recombinase-assisted genome engineering (CRAGE). CRAGE allowed rapid integration of a PCA BGC into 23 diverse γ-proteobacteria species and allowed us to identify top PCA producers. We then used the top five chassis hosts to express four partially refactored PDC BGCs. A few of these platforms produced high levels of PDC. Specifically, Xenorhabdus doucetiae and Pseudomonas simiae produced PDC at a titer of 293 mg/L and 373 mg/L, respectively, in minimal media. These titers are significantly higher than those previously reported. Furthermore, selectivity toward PDC production over PCA production was improved by up to 9-fold. The results show that these strains are promising chassis for production of PCA, PDC, and their derivatives, as well as for function characterization of Phz BGCs identified via bioinformatics mining.     

基于CRISPR/Cas系统的天然产物生物合成基因簇克隆和编辑技术

合成生物学和基因组测序技术的快速发展使挖掘和高效合成天然产物进入了一个全新的时代。由于多数原始菌株生长缓慢、难以培养及遗传改造困难等问题,导致天然产物生物合成基因簇的激活和高效表达受到严重制约。基于此,将原始菌株来源的基因簇转移到操作简便、遗传背景清晰的模式宿主中进行异源表达成为天然产物发现和产量提高的一种有效手段。其中,基因簇的克隆与编辑是实现天然产物异源表达的一个主要限速步骤。CRISPR/Cas技术的应用极大地提高了大型基因簇克隆和编辑的效率,有效促进了微生物来源新药的发现。本文针对基于CRISPR/Cas开发的基因簇克隆和编辑技术进行了系统梳理和全面总结,探讨相关技术在天然产物挖掘和高效合成中的应用及其重要意义。     

Fungal artificial chromosomes for mining of the fungal secondary metabolome

Background

With thousands of fungal genomes being sequenced, each genome containing up to 70 secondary metabolite (SM) clusters 30–80 kb in size, breakthrough techniques are needed to characterize this SM wealth.

Results

Here we describe a novel system-level methodology for unbiased cloning of intact large SM clusters from a single fungal genome for one-step transformation and expression in a model host. All 56 intact SM clusters from Aspergillus terreus were individually captured in self-replicating fungal artificial chromosomes (FACs) containing both the E. coli F replicon and an Aspergillus autonomously replicating sequence (AMA1). Candidate FACs were successfully shuttled between E. coli and the heterologous expression host A. nidulans. As proof-of-concept, an A. nidulans FAC strain was characterized in a novel liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and data analysis pipeline, leading to the discovery of the A. terreus astechrome biosynthetic machinery.

Conclusion

The method we present can be used to capture the entire set of intact SM gene clusters and/or pathways from fungal species for heterologous expression in A. nidulans and natural product discovery.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1561-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

染色体DNA琼脂糖包埋法辅助的ExoCET技术克隆放线菌天然产物生物合成基因簇

【目的】本研究旨在通过将琼脂糖包埋染色体DNA的方法与ExoCET重组技术相结合,建立放线菌天然产物生物合成基因簇的捕获方法。然后将克隆基因簇导入通用底盘宿主中,实现目标生物合成基因簇的异源表达。【方法】首先,利用低熔点琼脂糖包埋技术制备菌株的染色体基因组总DNA,再用限制性内切酶消化含有染色体DNA的琼脂块,获得线性化的DNA样品;然后利用ExoCET重组技术,以p15A线性载体片段将目标基因簇线性片段进行捕获;再通过PCR-targeting的方法向目标质粒中引入所需的接合转移DNA元件。接着,将改造质粒通过接合转移导入到Streptomyces coelicolor M1252宿主中,获得不同的重组菌株。最后,对不同的菌株进行发酵并提取化合物,最后进行活性检测以及质谱检测。【结果】通过该方法,从菌株S.lincolnensisNRR2936中成功获得了林可霉素生物合成基因簇(lmb-BGC),从菌株Nonomuraea nitratireducens WYY166^T中克隆得到了2个核糖体肽类化合物的生物合成基因簇(nioblantin,niob-BGC和nitblantin,nitb-BGC),并实现了lmb-BGC在天蓝色链霉菌M1252中的成功表达。【结论】本研究通过将低熔点琼脂糖包埋技术与ExoCET重组技术进行合理整合,定向克隆得到了林可霉素以及2个新颖的羊毛硫肽类化合物的生物合成基因簇。然后,分别对重组质粒改造后,在天蓝色链霉菌M1252宿主中进行表达,分别获得重组菌株MJX01、MJX02和MJX04。最后,利用质谱以及活性测试的手段对发酵提取物进行了检测,确定了林可霉素生物合成基因簇在天蓝色链霉菌M1252中成功表达。本研究为通过基因簇克隆和异源表达发掘新化合物奠定了基础。     

New strategies and approaches for engineering biosynthetic gene clusters of microbial natural products

With the rapidly growing number of sequenced microbial (meta)genomes, enormous cryptic natural product (NP) biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) have been identified, which are regarded as a rich reservoir for novel drug discovery. A series of powerful tools for engineering BGCs has accelerated the discovery and development of pharmaceutically active NPs. Here, we describe recent advances in the strategies for BGCs manipulation, which are driven by emerging technologies, including efficient DNA recombination systems, versatile CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools and diverse DNA assembly methods. We further discuss how these approaches could be used for genome mining studies and industrial strain improvement.     

An Alternative Approach in Gateway® Cloning when the Bacterial Antibiotic Selection Cassettes of the Entry Clone and Destination Vector are the Same

The Gateway^® recombination technology has revolutionized the method of gene cloning for functional analyses and high-throughput ORFeome projects. In general, Gateway cloning is highly efficient because after LR recombination and bacterial transformation, only cells containing the recombinant destination clone are selected on an antibiotic selection plate. However, when the antibiotic resistance gene for bacterial selection is the same in the entry and destination vectors, the direct selection of recombinant destination clones on an antibiotic plate is difficult. Here, we demonstrate an efficient and comprehensive approach to obtain positive destination clones directly on an antibiotic selection plate in this situation. The strategy involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated amplification of the entry clone using entry vector-specific primers that bind outside the attL sequences and the subsequent use of this purified PCR product for LR recombination with the destination vector. Our results suggest that cloning of linear DNA fragments into circular destination vectors through LR recombination is an efficient method for inserts up to 7 kb in size. Using this approach, the yield of colony PCR positive destination clones was 100 % for genes of various sizes tested in our experiments.     

On top of biosynthetic gene clusters: How epigenetic machinery influences secondary metabolism in fungi

Fungi produce an abundance of bioactive secondary metabolites which can be utilized as antibiotics and pharmaceutical drugs. The genes encoding secondary metabolites are contiguously arranged in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which supports co-regulation of all genes required for any one metabolite. However, an ongoing challenge to harvest this fungal wealth is the finding that many of the BGCs are ‘silent’ in laboratory settings and lie in heterochromatic regions of the genome. Successful approaches allowing access to these regions - in essence converting the heterochromatin covering BGCs to euchromatin - include use of epigenetic stimulants and genetic manipulation of histone modifying proteins. This review provides a comprehensive look at the chromatin remodeling proteins which have been shown to regulate secondary metabolism, the use of chemical inhibitors used to induce BGCs, and provides future perspectives on expansion of epigenetic tools and concepts to mine the fungal metabolome.     

Construction of new shuttle plasmid vectors for Escherichia coli-Bacteroides transgeneric cloning

Abstract An Escherichia coli-Bacteroides shuttle vehicle (pKBF367-1) was constructed by combining the pBR322 derivative pKC7 (5.9 kb) with [1] a 4.6 kb cryptic plasmid from Bacteroides fragilis ; and [2] the 4.2 kb Eco RI-B fragment of the B. fragilis plasmid pBFTM10. This latter component allowed selection of clindamycin-resistant transconjugants upon helper plasmid-mediated transfer to a recipient strain of Bacteroides distasonis . To improve the potential of pKBF367-1 (14.7 kb) as cloning vector, successive deletions generated derivatives of 12.8, 10.5 and 9.3 kb, which were still able to replicate in B. distasonis 419. These bifunctional vectors were successfully employed to introduce transposon Tn 501 (Hg^r) into B. distasonis 419, but expression of mercury resistance was not observed. This plasmid vehicles series may be useful for cloning Bacteroides genes in E. coli and studying their expression in a heterologous Bacteroides strain.     

Molecular cloning of fungal xylanases: an overview

Xylanases have received great attention in the development of environment-friendly technologies in the paper and pulp industry. Their use could greatly improve the overall lignocellulosic materials for the generation of liquid fuels and chemicals. Fungi are widely used as xylanase producers and are generally considered as more potent producers of xylanases than bacteria and yeasts. Large-scale production of xylanases is facilitated with the advent of genetic engineering. Recent breakthroughs in genomics have helped to overcome the problems such as limited enzyme availability, substrate scope, and operational stability. Genes encoding xylanases have been cloned in homologous and heterologous hosts with the objectives of overproducing the enzyme and altering its properties to suit commercial applications. Owing to the industrial importance of xylanases, a significant number of studies are reported on cloning and expression of the enzymes during the last few years. We, therefore, have reviewed recent knowledge regarding cloning of fungal xylanase genes into various hosts for heterologous production. This will bring an insight into the current status of cloning and expression of the fungal xylanases for industrial applications.