Cysteine biosynthesis pathway in the archaeon Methanosarcina barkeri encoded by acquired bacterial genes?

The pathway of cysteine biosynthesis in archaea is still unexplored. Complementation of a cysteine auxotrophic Escherichia coli strain NK3 led to the isolation of the Methanosarcina barkeri cysK gene [encoding O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyase-A], which displays great similarity to bacterial cysK genes. Adjacent to cysK is an open reading frame orthologous to bacterial cysE (serine transacetylase) genes. These two genes could account for cysteine biosynthesis in this archaeon. Analysis of recent genome data revealed the presence of bacteria-like cysM genes [encoding O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyase-B] in Pyrococcus spp., Sulfolobus solfataricus, and Thermoplasma acidophilum. However, no orthologs for these genes can be found in Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, and Archaeoglobus fulgidus, implying the existence of unrecognizable genes for the same function or a different cysteine biosynthesis pathway.     

Increased resistance to oxidative stress in transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing bacterial serine acetyltransferase

Plant expression cassettes containing the Escherichia coli cysE gene alleles (encoding SAT) were constructed. After the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tobacco, we identified stable transformed plants containing several-fold higher SAT activity in comparison to the control plant. Determination of non-protein thiol contents indicated two- to threefold higher cysteine and glutathione levels in some of these transgenic plants. The maximal elevation of the cysteine level was about fourfold while that of GSH was about twofold higher than in the controls. The most striking physiological consequence of the modification of sulfur metabolite levels in the transgenic plants, however, was their several-fold increased resistance to oxidative stress generated by exogenous hydrogen peroxide.     

利用酵母双杂交技术筛选与AtbZIP1相互作用的蛋白质

碱性亮氨酸拉链bZIP类转录因子在植物的生长发育、光形态建成、光信号传导及非生物胁迫反应中发挥重要的作用.为研究AtbZIP1基因的作用机理,本研究首先验证了该基因的自激活转录活性,通过缺失突变确定了该转录因子的转录激活结构域;以AtbZIP1缺失突变体AtbZ3为诱饵蛋白,采用Matchmaker Gold Yeast Two-Hybrid System(Clonetch),共筛选获得5个与诱饵蛋白相互作用的蛋白质;并通过AbA(Aureobasidin A)抗生素标记基因,His营养缺陷和LacZ蓝白斑检测验证了阳性克隆.亚细胞定位分析发现,AtbZIP1蛋白除了定位于细胞核外,还定位于叶绿体细胞.通过分析这些靶蛋白的已知功能,为研究AtbZIP1蛋白的未知生物学功能提供重要信息.     

Expression of a bacterial serine acetyltransferase in transgenic potato plants leads to increased levels of cysteine and glutathione

The coding sequence of the wild-type, cys-sensitive, cysE gene from Escherichia coli, which encodes an enzyme of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, namely serine acetyltransferase (SAT, EC 2.3.1. 30), was introduced into the genome of potato plants under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. In order to target the protein into the chloroplast, cysE was translationally fused to the 5'-signal sequence of rbcS from Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants showed a high accumulation of the cysE mRNA. The chloroplastic localisation of the E. coli SAT protein was demonstrated by determination of enzymatic activities in enriched organelle fractions. Crude leaf extracts of these plants exhibited up to 20-fold higher SAT activity than those prepared from wild-type plants. The transgenic potato plants expressing the E. coli gene showed not only increased levels of enzyme activity but also exhibited elevated levels of cysteine and glutathione in leaves. Both were up to twofold higher than in control plants. However, the thiol content in tubers of transgenic lines was unaffected. The alterations observed in leaf tissue had no effect on the expression of O-acetylserine(thiol)-lyase, the enzyme which converts O-acetylserine, the product of SAT, to cysteine. Only a minor effect on its enzymatic activity was observed. In conclusion, the results presented here demonstrate the importance of SAT in plant cysteine biosynthesis and show that production of cysteine and related sulfur-containing compounds can be enhanced by metabolic engineering.     

Identification and molecular genetic analysis of multiple loci contributing to high-level tellurite resistance in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1.

The ability of the facultative photoheterotroph Rhodobacter sphaeroides to tolerate and reduce high levels of tellurite in addition to at least 10 other rare earth metal oxides and oxyanions has considerable potential for detoxification and bioremediation of contaminated environments. We report the identification and characterization of two loci involved in high-level tellurite resistance. The first locus contains four genes, two of which, trgAB, confer increased tellurite resistance when introduced into the related bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans. The trgAB-derived products display no significant homology to known proteins, but both are likely to be membrane-associated proteins. Immediately downstream of trgB, the cysK (cysteine synthase) and orf323 genes were identified. Disruption of the cysK gene resulted in decreased tellurite resistance in R. sphaeroides, confirming earlier observations on the importance of cysteine metabolism for high-level tellurite resistance. The second locus identified is represented by the telA gene, which is separated from trgAB by 115 kb. The telA gene product is 65% similar to the product of the klaB (telA) gene from the tellurite-resistance-encoding kilA operon from plasmid RK2. The genes immediately linked to the R. sphaeroides telA gene have no similarity to other components of the kilA operon. R. sphaeroides telA could not functionally substitute for the plasmid RK2 telA gene, indicating substantial functional divergence between the two gene products. However, inactivation of R. sphaeroides telA resulted in a significant decrease in tellurite resistance compared to the wild-type strain. Both cysK and telA null mutations readily gave rise to suppressors, suggesting that the phenomenon of high-level tellurite resistance in R. sphaeroides is complex and other, as yet uncharacterized, loci may be involved.     

Isolation of a gene encoding cysteine synthase from Flavobacterium K3–15

Abstract The cysteine synthase gene ( cysK ) from Flavobacterium K_3–15 was cloned and sequenced. The gene exhibits 30–50% identity to known cysteine synthases on both the DNA and the amino acid levels. The pyridoxal phosphate binding site of the enzyme is part of a conserved motif comprising seven amino acids (SIKDRIA). The lys31 residue of the flavobacterial enzyme is conserved in all known cysteine synthases. The cysK gene from Flavobacterium K_3–15 was heterologously expressed and the gene product identified by immunoblotting and determination of the enzyme activity.     

酵母双杂交技术筛选并回转验证在胞内与PML-C结构域相互作用的蛋白

目的 利用酵母双杂交技术在活细胞内筛选并回转验证与PML-C结构域相互作用的蛋白质.方法 通过诱饵质粒pGBKT7-PML-C,利用酵母双杂交系统从白血病细胞cDNA文库中筛选与PML-C结构域相互作用的蛋白质.结果 利用酵母双杂交技术筛选到43个能与PML-C结构域相互作用的克隆;经进一步的归类与酵母回转试验得到9个阳性克隆.结论 在细胞内PML-C结构域能与多种蛋白质有相互作用.中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶（neutrophil elastase,NE）介导的急性早幼粒细胞白血病的发生可能与这些相互作用所致的生物学功能改变有关.     

角质细胞生长因子-2与核糖体蛋白L22相互作用的发现及在哺乳动物细胞中的验证

通过聚合酶链式反应从人胎肝cDNA文库中钓取KGF-2 cDNA,构建诱饵蛋白载体pAS2-1-KGF-2并对其自身转录激活活性进行鉴定,利用酵母双杂交系统筛选人胎肝cDNA文库,挑选双阳性克隆.DNA序列分析和同源检索显示,所获侯选蛋白为人核糖体蛋白L22(RPL22).将KGF-2和侯选蛋白分别克隆至哺乳动物细胞双杂交的BD、AD质粒中,共同转染COS-7细胞,通过CAT分析验证了KGF-2和侯选蛋白之间的相互作用.为阐明KGF-2作用的分子机制提供有益线索.     

GNIP, a novel protein that binds and activates glycogenin, the self-glucosylating initiator of glycogen biosynthesis

Glycogenin is a self-glucosylating protein involved in the initiation of glycogen biosynthesis. Self-glucosylation leads to the formation of an oligosaccharide chain, which, when long enough, supports the action of glycogen synthase to elongate it and form a mature glycogen molecule. To identify possible regulators of glycogenin, the yeast two-hybrid strategy was employed. By using rabbit skeletal muscle glycogenin as a bait, cDNAs encoding three different proteins were isolated from the human skeletal muscle cDNA library. Two of the cDNAs encoded glycogenin and glycogen synthase, respectively, proteins known to be interactors. The third cDNA encoded a polypeptide of unknown function and was designated GNIP (glycogenin interacting protein). Northern blot analysis revealed that GNIP mRNA is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. The gene for GNIP generates at least four isoforms by alternative splicing. The largest isoform GNIP1 contains, from NH(2)- to COOH-terminal, a RING finger, a B box, a putative coiled-coil region, and a B30.2-like motif. The previously identified protein TRIM7 (tripartite motif containing protein 7) is also derived from the GNIP gene and is composed of the RING finger, B box, and coiled-coil regions. The GNIP2 and GNIP3 isoforms consist of the coiled-coil region and B30.2-like domain. Physical interaction between GNIP2 and glycogenin was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, and in addition GNIP2 was shown to stimulate glycogenin self-glucosylation 3-4-fold. GNIPs may represent a novel participant in the initiation of glycogen synthesis.     

The plant biotin synthase reaction. Identification and characterization of essential mitochondrial accessory protein components

In plants, the last step of the biotin biosynthetic pathway is localized in mitochondria. This chemically complex reaction is catalyzed by the biotin synthase protein, encoded by the bio2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Unidentified mitochondrial proteins in addition to the bio2 gene product are obligatory for the reaction to occur. In order to identify these additional proteins, potato mitochondrial matrix was fractionated onto different successive chromatographic columns. Combination experiments using purified Bio2 protein and the resulting mitochondrial matrix subfractions together with a genomic based research allowed us to identify mitochondrial adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and cysteine desulfurase (Nfs1) proteins as essential components for the plant biotin synthase reaction. Arabidopsis cDNAs encoding these proteins were cloned, and the corresponding proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli cells and purified. Purified recombinant adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase proteins formed in vitro an efficient low potential electron transfer chain that interacted with the bio2 gene product to reconstitute a functional plant biotin synthase complex. Bio2 from Arabidopsis is the first identified protein partner for this specific plant mitochondrial redox chain.     

Molecular cloning of a novel ubiquitin-like protein, UBIN, that binds to ER targeting signal sequences

To identify proteins that interact with HSP47, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident molecular chaperone, a yeast two-hybrid screening was performed using mouse full-length HSP47 including an N-terminal signal sequence as a bait. Analysis of several positive clones led to the identification and cloning of a novel gene, ubin, encoding a ubiquitin-like protein. Unlike other ubiquitin-like proteins, UBIN was shown to interact with signal sequences of various secretory and ER-luminal proteins, including HSP47, but not interact with signal sequences of mitochondrial targeting in two-hybrid system. The possible function of UBIN will be discussed with regards to novel characteristics of binding to signal sequences for ER targeting.     

Interaction of a novel cysteine and histidine-rich cytoplasmic protein with galectin-3 in a carbohydrate-independent manner

We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to search for cytoplasmic proteins that might assist in the intracellular trafficking of the soluble beta-galactoside-binding protein, galectin-3. We utilised as bait murine full-length galectin-3 to screen a murine 3T3 cDNA library. Several interacting clones were found to encode a partial open reading frame and a full-length clone was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends methodology. In various assays in vitro the novel protein was shown to bind galectin-3 in a carbohydrate-independent manner. The novel protein contains an unusually high content of cysteine and histidine residues and shows significant sequence homologies with several metal ion-binding motifs present in known proteins. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of permeabilised 3T3 cells shows a prominent perinuclear, as well as cytoplasmic, localisation of the novel protein.     

细菌双杂交筛选大豆GmWNK1互作蛋白系统的建立及应用

本研究利用大肠杆菌双杂交系统构建了一个高质量的大豆根系cDNA文库,同时利用大肠杆菌双杂交表达载体pBT构建了融合表达质粒pBT．GmWNK1,经酶切和测序鉴定、诱饵融合蛋白的表达检测及诱饵融合蛋白的自激活鉴定后作为诱饵,从大豆根部cDNA文库中筛选与GmWNK1发生互作的蛋白质,共获得18个阳性克隆。经测序和同源性比对发现,有10个阳性克隆编码已知蛋白,8个为假阳性。研究结果为揭示WNK基因家族的生物学功能和调控机制提供了重要的参考数据和研究材料。     

Cysteine biosynthesis in the Archaea: Methanosarcina thermophila utilizes O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase

Two pathways for cysteine biosynthesis are known in nature; however, it is not known which, if either, the Archaea utilize. Enzyme activities in extracts of Methanosarcina thermophila grown with combinations of cysteine and sulfide as sulfur sources indicated that this archaeon utilizes the pathway found in the Bacteria domain. The genes encoding serine transacetylase and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (cysE and cysK) are adjacent on the chromosome of M. thermophila and possibly form an operon. When M. thermophila is grown with cysteine as the sole sulfur source, O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase activity is maximally expressed suggesting alternative roles for this enzyme apart from cysteine biosynthesis.     

Serine acetyltransferase involved in cysteine biosynthesis from spinach: molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of cDNA encoding a plastidic isoform.

A cDNA clone that encodes a chloroplast-localizing isoform of serine acetyltransferase (SATase) (EC 2.3.1.30) was isolated from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 347 amino acids containing a putative transit peptide of ca. 60-70 amino acids at the N-terminal. Deduced amino acid sequence of SATase from spinach exhibited homology with other SATases from plants. DNA blot hybridization analysis showed the presence of 2-3 copies of Sat gene in the genome of spinach. RNA blot hybridization analysis indicated the constitutive expression of Sat gene in green and etiolated seedlings of spinach. Bacterial expression of the cDNA could directly rescue the cysteine auxotrophy of Escherchia coli caused by a lack of SATase locus (cysE). Catalytically active SATase protein was produced in E. coli cells. L-Cysteine, an end product of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway, inhibited the activity of recombinant spinach SATase, indicating the regulatory function of SATase in this metabolic pathway. A chloroplastic localization of this spinach SATase was revealed by the analyses of transgenic plant expressing transit peptide of SATase-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion protein, and transient expression using the transit peptide-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein. The result from in vitro translation analysis suggests that this cDNA may encode both plastidic and cytosolic SATases.     

Nucleotide sequence and genetic analysis of the Azotobacter chroococcum nifUSVWZM gene cluster, including a new gene (nifP) which encodes a serine acetyltransferase.

Nucleotide sequence was obtained for a region of 7,099 bp spanning the nifU, nifS, nifV, nifW, nifZ, and nifM genes from Azotobacter chroococcum. Chromosomal mutations constructed at several sites within the locus confirmed a requirement for this region for expression of the molybdenum nitrogenase in this organism. The genes are tightly clustered and ordered as in Klebsiella pneumoniae except for two additional open reading frames (ORFs) between nifV and nifW. The arrangement of genes in A. chroococcum closely matches that described for Azotobacter vinelandii. The polypeptide encoded by ORF4 immediately downstream from nifV is 41% identical over 186 amino acids to the product of the cysE gene from Escherichia coli, which encodes serine acetyltransferase (SAT), a key enzyme in cysteine biosynthesis. Plasmids which potentially express ORF4 complemented E. coli JM39, a cysteine auxotroph which lacks SAT. SAT activity was detected in crude extracts of one such complemented strain. A strain of A. chroococcum carrying a chromosomal disruption of ORF4 grew normally with ammonium as the N source but more slowly than the parental strain when N2 was the sole N source. These data suggest that ORF4 encodes a nif-specific SAT required for optimizing expression of nitrogenase activity. ORF4 was assigned the name nifP. nifP may be required to boost rates of synthesis or intracellular concentrations of cysteine or methionine. Sequence identity between nifV and leuA gene products suggests that nifV may catalyze a condensation reaction analogous to that carried out by isopropylmalate synthase (LEUA) but in which acetyl coenzyme and alpha-ketoglutarate are substrates for the formation of homocitrate, the proposed product of NIFV activity.