青蒿过氧化物酶的克隆及其在体外对青蒿素生物合成的影响

用RACE方法从青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)高产株系001中克隆了一个过氧化物酶。将此基因在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS细胞中进行原核表达得到重组蛋白(APOD1),表达的蛋白分别以抗坏血酸、愈创木酚为底物进行过氧化反应,结果显示,APOD1催化愈创木酚的活力是抗坏血酸的1.8倍左右,由此表明,克隆的APOD1类属于植物经典过氧化物酶(第三大类过氧化物酶)。经与其他植物过氧化物酶同源性比较分析,推测APOD1的氨基酸序列与白羽扇豆(Lupinus albus)、辣根菜(Armoracia rusticana)、小麦(Triticum aestivum)、烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)和蕃茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)的一致性分别为42.0％、36.2％、38.9％、33.6％和32.8％。Northern杂交分析表明,此基因在青蒿的根、茎和叶中均有表达。加入APOD1至青蒿细胞提取液有利于青蒿酸向青蒿素的生物转化,但APOD1并不能直接以青蒿酸作为氧化底物。     

一个新高产青蒿倍半萜合酶基因的克隆、表达和分析

用RACE方法从青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)高产株系001中克隆了一个新的1 886 bp的全长倍半萜合酶cDNA.克隆的倍半萜合酶氨基酸序列与烟草马兜铃烯合酶、莨菪岩兰螺旋二烯合酶、棉花杜松烯合酶的一致性分别为39%、38%和41%;与青蒿柏木脑合酶、紫穗槐二烯合酶和一个推测的倍半萜合酶克隆cASC125的一致性为50%、48%和59%.cDNA编码区序列被克隆进原核表达载体pET-30a,并在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,但过量表达的蛋白主要是以不溶性蛋白形式存在.Northern blotting分析表明此基因在茎、叶和花中表达,在根中没有表达.     

植物维生素C过氧化物酶研究进展

维生素C过氧化物酶(ascorbate peroxidase,APX)是植物体内的重要酶系,是植物AsA-GSH氧化还原途径的重要组分,是清除H2O2(特别是叶绿体中的H2O2)的关键酶.本文综述了维生素C过氧化物酶表达调控方面的研究进展,包括逆境(干旱胁迫、空气污染、微量元素缺乏、离子胁迫、过度光强、照射以及盐胁迫等)与APX的表达调控、植物细胞程序性死亡(PCD)与APX的表达调控、植物生长发育与APX的表达调控、植物进化与APX表达调控等.植物体内的APX基因包括基质和类囊体两类,不同的APX基因序列存在一定差异,本文还综述了这两类APX基因在植物方面的分离和克隆进展情况,同时对APX基因的遗传转化进行了简要回顾,最后指出了APX今后的研究方向.     

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)APX 基因的克隆及盐胁迫下的表达

从盐地碱蓬 (Suaedasalsa)中克隆了抗坏血酸过氧化物酶 (ascorbateperoxidase ,APX)的全长cDNA(SsAPX) ,基因注册号为AY0 34 893。SsAPX全长 1.1kb ,推导的氨基酸序列长为 2 5 0个氨基酸残基。BLAST同源性分析表明 ,该cDNA与已报告的菠菜(Spinaciaoleracea)细胞质抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因同源性最高 ,在核苷酸水平上一致性为 87% ,在氨基酸水平上一致性为 89%。Southern杂交表明APX基因在盐地碱蓬基因组中只有 1个拷贝。盐 (NaCl 40 0mmol/L)处理不同时间后的Northern杂交分析表明盐地碱蓬中SsAPX基因在盐胁迫下表达量增加 ,而且在盐胁迫下抗坏血酸过氧化物酶的活性也显著地增加 ,说明该基因受盐诱导。推测抗坏血酸过氧化物酶可能在保护盐地碱蓬免受氧化损伤的过程中起到一定作用     

一个新高产青蒿倍半萜合酶基因的克隆、表达和分析

用RACE方法从青蒿（Artemisia annua L.)高产株系001中克隆了一个新的1886bp的全长倍半萜合酶cDNA。克隆的倍半萜合酶氨基酸序列与烟草马兜铃烯合酶,莨菪岩兰螺旋二烯合酶,棉花杜松烯合酶的一致性分别为39％,38％和41％;与青蒿柏木脑合酶,紫穗槐二烯合酶和一个推测的倍半萜合酶克隆cASC125的一致性为50％,48％和59％。cDNA编码区序列被克隆进原核表达载体pET-30a,并在大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli)BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,但过量表达的蛋白主要是以不溶性蛋白形式存在。Northern blotting分析表明此基因在茎,叶,花中表达,在根中没有表达。     

青蒿鲨烯合酶基因的克隆、结构分析与大肠杆菌表达

用RT-PCR方法从青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)中克隆了一个1 539 bp全长鲨烯合酶cDNA.青蒿鲨烯合酶氨基酸序列与拟南芥、烟草、人类、酵母鲨烯合酶的一致性分别为70%、77%、44%和39%.青蒿鲨烯合酶基因组DNA结构很复杂,包括14个外显子和13个内含子.全长的或C末端截短的鲨烯合酶cDNA被克隆进原核表达载体pET30a并在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli) BL21(DE3)中诱导表达.但在含有全长的鲨烯合酶cDNA的大肠杆菌中并没有观察到预期大小的鲨烯合酶表达,而C末端截短疏水区30个氨基酸的鲨烯合酶可在大肠杆菌中过量表达.     

植物抗坏血酸过氧化物酶的表达调控以及对非生物胁迫的耐受作用

抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(Ascorbate peroxidase, APX)属于I型血红素过氧化物酶, 它催化H2O2依赖的L-抗坏血酸氧化作用, 对抗坏血酸表现出高度的专一性。植物APX基因家族由4个亚家族组成, 分别为细胞质、叶绿体、线粒体和过氧化物酶体基因亚家族, 每个亚家族中又含有不同的APX同工酶。作为植物抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中的一个关键组分, APX在细胞H₂O₂代谢过程中起着至关重要的作用。研究表明植物APX是氧化还原信号系统中调节细胞水平H₂O₂非常重要的一种酶, APX同工酶的表达机制非常复杂, 细胞质APX受多种信号调节表达, 两种叶绿体APX通过选择性剪接进行组织特异性调节。通过调控产生的APX可调节细胞中的氧化还原信号, 进而提高植物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。文章综述了植物APX的催化机制、表达调控机理以及响应植物非生物逆境胁迫的重要作用。     

朝鲜碱茅抗坏血酸过氧化物酶的基因克隆和表达

构建到酵母表达载体pYES2-PutAPx,并导入酵母IVSC1菌株后在半乳糖的诱导下分析具有抗氧化性.本研究成功克隆了抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因(PutA Px)编码区,并做了初步分析,为进一步研究逆境诱导的氧化胁迫的作用机理研究奠定了基础.     

辣椒冷诱导差异表达基因分析

采用cDNA-AFLP技术分析了4℃低温诱导前后耐寒辣椒(Capsicum annuum L.)品系P70的基因表达差异谱.结果获得了120个差异片段,对阳性克隆中的12个差异片段进行测序和Blast-x比对,发现其中有4个片段(KH-1、KH-2、KH-3和KH-4)与抗逆性相关,其碱基数分别为185、160、269和511 bp,4个片段分别与编码抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因的同源性达98%、与细胞色素p450基因的同源性达98%、与牛血清蛋白(BSA)基因的同源性达94%、与水孔通道蛋白(AQP)基因的同源性达90%.4个差异基因表达模式为:基因KH-1、KH-2、KH-3上调表达,KH-4下调表达.     

神经酰胺合酶-神经酰胺通路在青蒿琥酯抑制肝纤维化中的作用

目的: 探讨神经酰胺通路在青蒿琥酯(Art)抑制肝纤维化过程中的作用。方法: 将肝星状细胞(LX-2)分为细胞对照组、Art 350 μmol/L组、神经酰胺合酶阻断剂(FB1) 6 μmol/L组及FB1 6 μmol/L + Art 350 μmol/L合用组。每组7个复孔,作用24 h后,收集细胞及上清液进行检测。Western blot法测定神经酰胺合酶2(LASS2)、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体-γ(PPAR-γ)、Caspase-3蛋白的表达, HPLC-FLD法对神经酰胺(Cer)的含量进行测定,MTT法检测LX-2的增殖情况,酶消化法检测羟脯氨酸(Hyp)的含量。结果: 与细胞对照组比较,Art处理组神经酰胺合酶的蛋白表达、神经酰胺含量显著增加、LX-2细胞的增殖明显抑制、PPAR-γ和Caspase-3蛋白表达上调、羟脯氨酸分泌抑制 (P＜0.05);FB1处理组神经酰胺合酶的蛋白表达和神经酰胺含量显著降低、LX-2细胞增殖显著增加、PPAR-γ和Caspase-3蛋白表达下调、羟脯氨酸分泌增加(P＜0.05);与Art单用组比较,两药合用可显著降低Art对神经酰胺合酶蛋白的表达和神经酰胺含量升高的作用,减弱Art对LX-2细胞增殖、PPAR-γ、Caspase-3蛋白表达及羟脯氨酸分泌的作用(P＜0.05)。结论: 青蒿琥酯可通过神经酰胺合酶-神经酰胺通路增加细胞中神经酰胺水平,发挥抑制肝纤维化的作用。     

Functional genomics and the biosynthesis of artemisinin

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide derived from the glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) of Artemisia annua, provides the basis for the most effective treatments of malaria. The biology and biochemistry of GSTs of the Asteraceae and their biosynthesis of isoprenoids is reviewed. Recent efforts to understand the biosynthesis of artemisinin in A. annua GSTs are discussed in detail. This includes the development in the authors' laboratory of an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach to identifying the relevant biosynthetic genes using isolated GST as a source of mRNA. This has lead to the isolation of a cDNA encoding CYP71AV1, a multifunctional cytochrome P450 which catalyzes multiple oxidations of the sesquiterpene intermediate amorpha-4,11-diene to artemisinic acid. Further biochemical and molecular genetic work is required to elucidate the precise route from artemisinic alcohol to artemisinin and to engineer more efficient low cost production of artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs.     

The molecular cloning of artemisinic aldehyde Delta11(13) reductase and its role in glandular trichome-dependent biosynthesis of artemisinin in Artemisia annua

At some point during biosynthesis of the antimalarial artemisinin in glandular trichomes of Artemisia annua, the Delta11(13) double bond originating in amorpha-4,11-diene is reduced. This is thought to occur in artemisinic aldehyde, but other intermediates have been suggested. In an effort to understand double bond reduction in artemisinin biosynthesis, extracts of A. annua flower buds were investigated and found to contain artemisinic aldehyde Delta11(13) double bond reductase activity. Through a combination of partial protein purification, mass spectrometry, and expressed sequence tag analysis, a cDNA clone corresponding to the enzyme was isolated. The corresponding gene Dbr2, encoding a member of the enoate reductase family with similarity to plant 12-oxophytodienoate reductases, was found to be highly expressed in glandular trichomes. Recombinant Dbr2 was subsequently characterized and shown to be relatively specific for artemisinic aldehyde and to have some activity on small alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Expression in yeast of Dbr2 and genes encoding four other enzymes in the artemisinin pathway resulted in the accumulation of dihydroartemsinic acid. The relevance of Dbr2 to trichome-specific artemisinin biosynthesis is discussed.     

Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) trichome-specific cDNAs reveal CYP71AV1, a cytochrome P450 with a key role in the biosynthesis of the antimalarial sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide derived from the plant Artemisia annua, forms the basis of the most important treatments of malaria in use today. In an effort to elucidate the biosynthesis of artemisinin, an expressed sequence tag approach to identifying the relevant biosynthetic genes was undertaken using isolated glandular trichomes as a source of mRNA. A cDNA clone encoding a cytochrome P450 designated CYP71AV1 was characterized by expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and shown to catalyze the oxidation of the proposed biosynthetic intermediates amorpha-4,11-diene, artemisinic alcohol and artemisinic aldehyde. The identification of the CYP71AV1 gene should allow for the engineering of semi-synthetic production of artemisinin in appropriate plant or microbial hosts.     

微生物发酵青蒿叶和叶渣的研究

为扩大青蒿原料的应用途径,延伸青蒿产业链,对青蒿叶和叶渣进行发酵研究.拟开发可用于动物保健的青蒿来源的产品.采用微生物发酵青蒿及青蒿叶渣,检测枯草芽孢杆菌、酿酒酵母菌、植物乳杆菌等菌株发酵青蒿叶和叶渣后其粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维素以及青蒿素、青蒿乙素、双氢青蒿酸、青蒿酸含量变化.青蒿叶发酵产物及功效成分含量与对照组比较,...     

Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase catalyses the first probable step in artemisinin biosynthesis

The endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin and its derivatives are a promising new group of drugs against malaria. Artemisinin is a constituent of the annual herb Artemisia annua L. So far only the later steps in artemisinin biosynthesis--from artemisinic acid--have been elucidated and the expected olefinic sesquiterpene intermediate has never been demonstrated. In pentane extracts of A. annua leaves we detected a sesquiterpene with the mass spectrum of amorpha-4,11-diene. Synthesis of amorpha-4,11-diene from artemisinic acid confirmed the identity. In addition we identified several sesquiterpene synthases of which one of the major activities catalysed the formation of amorpha-4,11-diene from farnesyl diphosphate. This enzyme was partially purified and shows the typical characteristics of sesquiterpene synthases, such as a broad pH optimum around 6.5-7.0, a molecular mass of 56 kDa, and a K(m) of 0.6 microM. The structure and configuration of amorpha-4,11-diene, its low content in A. annua and the high activity of amorpha-4,11-diene synthase all support that amorpha-4,11-diene is the likely olefinic sesquiterpene intermediate in the biosynthesis of artemisinin.     

Exogenous GA<Subscript>3</Subscript> and flowering induce the conversion of artemisinic acid to artemisinin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia annua</Emphasis> plants

The contents of artemisinin and artemisinic acid were monitored in the Artemisia annua plants treated with GA₃ at vegetative and flowering initiation stages. The highest artemisinin content was observed at full bloom. The decrease in artemisinic acid content occurred during the transition from the vegetative stage to the beginning of flowering. Endogenous GA₃ content in the leaves peaked at full bloom. At the vegetative stage, in plants treated with various concentrations of GA₃ , the content of artemisinin increased while that of artemisinic acid decreased. Apparently, the rate-limiting step in artemisinin biosynthesis was from artemisinic acid to artemisinin. The bottleneck of artemisinin biosynthesis was probably unlocked during the flowering or in the vegetative plants treated with GA₃ , which triggered off the conversion of artemisinic acid to artemisinin.From Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2005, pp. 68–73.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Zhang, Ye, Liu, Wang, Li.This article was presented by the authors in English.     

Effects of Overexpression of the Endogenous Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase on the Artemisinin Content in Artemisia annua L.

Artemisinin is a novel effective antimalarial drug extracted from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. Owing to the tight market and low yield of artemisinin, there is great interest in enhancing the production of artemisinin. In the present study, farnesyi diphosphate synthase （FPS） was overexpressed in high-yield A. annua to Increase the artemisinin content. The FPS activity in transgenic A. ennue was twoto threefold greater than that In non-transgenic A. annua. The highest artemisinin content in transgenic A. annua was approximately 0.9% （dry weight）, which was 34.4% higher than that in non-transgenic A. annua. The results demonstrate the regulatory role of FPS in artemisinin biosynthesis.     

Artemisinin production by transformed roots of Artemisia annua

Summary Transformed root cultures of several strains of Artemisia annua were obtained by infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834. Production of artemisinin, measured by HPLC, ranged from 0–0.42 % of dry weight (DW) in 10 different clones. Artemistene, artemisinic acid, and arteannuin B were also measured. Comparisons to literature reports suggest that the commercial production of artemisinic compounds using transformed roots is feasible.     

The production of artemisinin precursors in tobacco

Artemisinin, in the form of artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs), is currently the most important compound in the treatment of malaria. The current commercial source of artemisinin is Artemisia annua, but this represents a relatively expensive source for supplying the developing world. In this study, the possibility of producing artemisinin in genetically modified plants is investigated, using tobacco as a model. Heterologous expression of A. annua amorphadiene synthase and CYP71AV1 in tobacco led to the accumulation of amorphadiene and artemisinic alcohol, but not artemisinic acid. Additional expression of artemisinic aldehyde Δ11(13) double‐bond reductase (DBR2) with or without aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) led to the additional accumulation dihydroartemisinic alcohol. The above‐mentioned results and in vivo metabolic experiments suggest that amorphane sesquiterpenoid aldehydes are formed, but conditions in the transgenic tobacco cells favour reduction to alcohols rather than oxidation to acids. The biochemical and biotechnological significance of these results are discussed.     

Artemisinic acid is a regulator of adipocyte differentiation and C/EBP δ expression

Adipocyte dysfunction is associated with the development of obesity. In this study, artemisinic acid, which was isolated from Artemisia annua L., inhibited adipogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and its mechanism of action was determined. The mRNA levels of peroxidase proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR) γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α, late adipogenic factors, were reduced by artemisinic acid. Moreover, the mRNA levels of the PPAR γ target genes lipoprotein lipase, CD36, adipocyte protein, and liver X receptor were down-regulated by artemisinic acid. Artemisinic acid reduced expression of the C/EBP δ gene without impacting C/EBP β. In addition, attempts to elucidate a possible mechanism underlying the artemisinic acid-mediated effects revealed that reduced expression of the C/EBP δ gene was mediated by inhibiting Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Additionally, artemisinic acid also reduced the expression of the adipogenesis-associated genes glucose transporter-4 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition to the interference of artemisinic acid with adipogenesis, artemisinic acid significantly attenuated tumor necrosis factor-α-induced secretion of interleukin-6 by undifferentiated hAMSCs, thus influencing insulin resistance and the inflammatory state characterizing obesity. Taken together, these findings indicate that inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of hAMSCs by artemisinic acid occurs primarily through reduced expression of C/EBP δ, which is mediated by the inhibition of JNK and suggest that aremisinic acid may be used as a complementary treatment option for obesity associated with metabolic syndrome.