Enzymatic synthesis of water-soluble derivatives of salicylic acid in organic media

A novel enzymatic method for preparing water-soluble derivatives of salicylic acid catalyzed by immobilized lipase was described. This study is the first to describe the enzymatic transesterification of methyl salicylate in organic solvents with different hydroxyl donors. The acyl-transfer between methyl salicylate and sorbitol was best supported by solvents of log P values –0.33 to 1.4. With Candida antarctica lipase in tert-amyl alcohol, a sorbitol conversion yield of 98% can be obtained by transesterification with sorbitol and methyl salicylate in one step.     

Regio- and enantio-selective acetylation of 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-arylpropane-1,2-diols using Candida antarctica lipase

Of nine commercially available lipases, lipase SP 435 from Candida antarctica, showed moderate enantioselectivity (E=17) for acetylation of racemic 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-phenylpropane-1,2-diol, 2, with vinyl acetate in diisopropyl ether (S selectivity). The other eight had low selectivities, with E values below 10. The selectivity and reactivity of SP 435 for 2 was markedly improved in dichloroethane (E=41). Moreover, SP 435 had moderate to high selectivity for the related compounds 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-(1-naphthyl)-propane-1,2-diol, 4, (E=20), 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-(indol-3-yl)propane-1,2-diol, 6, (E=80), and 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-(pyrrol-2-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, 8, (E=17).     

Aminolysis of 2-hydroxy esters catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase

Candida antarctica lipase catalyzed the aminolysis of 2-hydroxy esters with amines in organic solvents to yield the corresponding 2-hydroxy amides. The reactions proceeded at 28–30 °C in dioxane for 6 h with 3 mM substrates with yields ranging between 45% (w/w) (for branched substrates) to 88% (w/w) (for linear substrates). Although the reaction was not enantioselective, because of its simplicity it represents an alternative method for the synthesis of functionalised amides.     

Development of recombinant Aspergillus oryzae whole-cell biocatalyst expressing lipase-encoding gene from Candida antarctica

To expand the industrial applications of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), we developed Aspergillus oryzae whole-cell biocatalyst expressing the lipase-encoding gene from C. antarctica. A. oryzae niaD300, which was derived from the wild type strain RIB40, was used as the host strain. The CALB gene was isolated from C. antarctica CBS6678 and expression plasmids were constructed with and without secretion signal peptide. The lipase gene was expressed under the control of improved glaA and pNo-8142 promoters of plasmids pNGA142 and pNAN8142, respectively. The Southern blot analysis demonstrated the successful integration of the CALB gene in the genome of A. oryzae. To determine the role of signal peptide, the expression plasmids were constructed with homologous and heterologous secretion signal sequences of triacylglycerol lipase gene (tglA) from A. oryzae and lipase B (CALB) from C. antarctica, respectively. The C-terminal FLAG tag does not alter the catalytic properties of the lipase enzyme and Western blotting analysis using anti-FLAG antibodies demonstrated the presence of cell wall and membrane bound lipase responsible for the biocatalytic activity of the whole-cell biocatalyst. The resultant recombinant A. oryzae was immobilized within biomass support particles (BSPs) made of polyurethane foam (PUF) and the BSPs were successfully used for the hydrolysis of para-nitrophenol butyrate (p-NPB) and for the optical resolution of (RS)-1-phenyl ethanol by enantioselective transesterification with vinyl acetate as acyl donor.     

Enzymatic esterification of bixin by l-ascorbic acid

Bixin, a carotenoid, was esterified by l-ascorbic acid using immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica. The conversion of l-ascorbic acid was 25% under atmospheric pressure. Ester production was twice higher when working under reduced pressure and was third lower when norbixin was used as a substrate-acyl donor due to lipase specificity, leading to a conversion of l-ascorbic acid of 50% and 8%, respectively.     

Regioselective acylation of flavonoids catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase under reduced pressure

A single-step acylation of rutin and naringin, catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B in 2-methyl-2-butanol, occurred preferentially on the primary hydroxyl group. Using palmitic methyl ester as acyl donor, the acylation rate of naringin was 10-fold higher than that of rutin. Under optimal conditions, i.e. a molar ratio acyl donor/naringin of 7:1 and 200 mbar, 92% naringin was acylated.     

Solvent-free synthesis of glyceryl ferulate using a commercial microbial lipase

A process was optimized for the enzymatic synthesis of glyceryl ferulate with a yield of up to 96% using a vacuum-rotary evaporation strategy under following conditions: 15 mmol glycerol, 1.5 mmol ethyl ferulate, 170 mg Candida antarctica lipase, at 60°C for 10 h and under a vacuum of 10 mm Hg. The immobilized lipase can be used 10 times.     

RTA2, a novel gene involved in azole resistance in Candida albicans

Widespread and repeated use of azoles, particularly fluconazole, has led to the rapid development of azole resistance in Candida albicans. Overexpression of CDR1, CDR2, and CaMDR1 has been reported contributing to azole resistance in C. albicans. In this study, hyper-resistant C. albicans mutant, with the above three genes deleted, was obtained by exposure to fluconazole and fluphenezine for 28 passages. Thirty-five differentially expressed genes were identified in the hyper-resistant mutant by microarray analysis; among the 13 up-regulated genes, we successfully constructed the rta2 and ipf14030 null mutants in C. albicans strain with deletions of CDR1, CDR2 and CaMDR1. Using spot dilution assay, we demonstrated that the disruption of RTA2 increased the susceptibility of C. albicans to azoles while the disruption of IPF14030 did not influence the sensitivity of C. albicans to azoles. Meanwhile, we found that ectopic overexpression of RTA2 in C. albicans strain with deletions of CDR1, CDR2 and CaMDR1 conferred resistance to azoles. RTA2 expression was found elevated in clinical azole-resistant isolates of C. albicans. In conclusion, our findings suggest that RTA2 is involved in the development of azole resistance in C. albicans.     

Comparative genomics of yeast species: new insights into their biology

The genomes of two hemiascomycetous yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans) and one archiascomycete (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) have been completely sequenced and the genes have been annotated. In addition, the genomes of 13 more Hemiascomycetes have been partially sequenced. The amount of data thus obtained provides information on the evolutionary relationships between yeast species. In addition, the differential genetic characteristics of the microorganisms explain a number of distinctive biological traits. Gene order conservation is observed between phylogenetically close species and is lost in distantly related species, probably due to rearrangements of short regions of DNA. However, gene function is much more conserved along evolution. Compared to S. cerevisiae and S. pombe, C. albicans has a larger number of specific genes, i.e., genes not found in other organisms, a fact that can account for the biological characteristics of this pathogenic dimorphic yeast which is able to colonize a large variety of environments.     

1-辛烯-3-醇防治采后桃果实软腐病的作用

【目的】桃果实易受匍枝根霉(Rhizopus stolonifer)侵染引起软腐病,导致果实采后腐烂损失严重。目前人工合成的化学杀菌剂是控制桃果实采后病害的主要方法,但长期使用容易带来食品安全隐患、病原菌抗药性和环境污染等问题。通过研究生物源抑菌成分1-辛烯-3-醇对桃果实软腐病的控制作用,为减少化学农药使用和控制采后桃果实软腐病提供理论基础。【方法】使用1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸接种匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)后的桃果实,对果实抗病相关基因表达和酶活性进行测定。通过离体试验,研究1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸对匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)菌丝和孢子的影响。【结果】55.80μg/mL 1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸处理可以显著降低桃果实的发病率和病斑直径(P<0.05),提高几丁质酶(chitinase,CHI)和β-1,3葡聚糖酶(β-1,3-glucanase,GLU)的活性以及病程相关基因非表达子1(nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related protein 1,NPR1)、病程相关蛋白1(pathogenesis-related protein 1,PR1)、CHI和GLU的基因表达量。离体试验结果显示,1-辛烯-3-醇可抑制平板上匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)菌丝的生长,使菌丝体细胞结构遭到破坏,同时显著降低麦角固醇含量(P<0.05),抑制孢囊孢子的萌发和芽管伸长,并通过破坏孢子的膜结构,引起活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)暴发与线粒体损伤。【结论】以上结果证实,1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸处理不仅能直接破坏匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)的菌丝与孢子,还可通过诱导桃果实的系统获得性抗性(systemic acquired resistance,SAR)抑制采后软腐病的蔓延。     

Enzymatic synthesis of short-chain diacylated alkylglycerols: A kinetic study

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 1-O-octadecyl glycerol (batyl alcohol) with ethyl butyrate has been studied. The effect of vacuum on the rate of both transesterification and distillation of ethyl butyrate has also been investigated and at different reaction conditions, more than 85% of 1-O-octadecyl glycerol was consumed in only 5 min giving rise to the monoester. Then the monoester is again acylated to produce the diesterified product. In addition, the transesterification reactions were effected in solvent free reaction medium and it has been scaled-up to produce up to ca. 500 g of 2,3-dibutyroil-1-O-alkylglycerols in three consecutive cycles reutilizing the same batch of lipase. An efficient evaporation of ethanol was necessary to significantly reduce the reaction times of the transesterification reaction. Finally, a kinetics model describing both the rate of transesterification and the rate of inactivation of the immobilized lipase has been developed. The results indicate that the operational stability of the immobilized lipase confined into the mesh baskets (according to the value of k_d attained), was very high and that provides a half-life of the lipase higher than 1500 h.The present procedure is intended to be used for the synthesis of homogeneous alkylglycerols with biological activities and/or precursors of structured alkylglycerols.     

An investigation into the feasibility of using azide-insensitive ATPase and ConA as yeast plasma membrane markers

Cytochemical localization of Concanavalin A binding sites in protoplasts of Candida tropicalis, investigated with glycosylated-ferritin and electron microscopy, showed that the lectin was specifically bound to the external protoplast surface. Thus, the plasma membranes have been labelled with ¹²⁵I-Concanavalin A and followed through the isolation procedure. Relative distribution of ¹²⁵I-radioactivity and azide-insensitive ATPase activity in the obtained fractions, suggested that this enzyme was an equivocal plasma membrane marker. Despite the presence of internal Concanavalin A binding sites, Concanavalin A could be used unambiguously as an exogenous plasma membrane marker of intact protoplasts.Abbreviations ConA Concanavalin A - MM -Methyl-D-Mannoside     

枸杞LbMYB103基因克隆及转化拟南芥的研究

以枸杞品种‘宁杞1号’花药为材料,采用 RT-PCR技术,分离了R2R3类MYB基因LbMYB103包含完整开放阅读框（ORF）的cDNA片段,碱基序列与已知基因HQ415755完全一致。运用Gateway技术构建LbMYB103基因植物过表达载体pMDC83-LbMYB103,利用基因枪法将融合有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）的过表达载体转入洋葱表皮细胞,将LbMYB103基因定位在细胞核。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现,LbMYB103基因在花药中优势表达,果实中表达量较低,在根、茎和叶中均未检测到其转录本,推测LbMYB103基因可能在花药发育过程中起重要作用。通过根癌农杆菌介导法将pMDC83-LbMYB103转入拟南芥（Col-0）,经筛选获得T₁代抗性再生植株52棵,PCR鉴定有41棵阳性植株,收获T₁代种子,经抗性筛选获得T₂代抗性植株29棵,PCR鉴定有23棵阳性植株。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,LbMYB103在拟南芥植株的基因组中正常表达。表型观察发现T₁和T₂代拟南芥花药发育异常,花发育迟缓,果荚短小无种子,进一步表明LbMYB103可能与植物的育性有关。该结果为进一步开展枸杞遗传转化,深入研究LbMYB103基因在枸杞花药发育过程中可能发挥的调控功能奠定了基础。     

A novel splicing variant of CADM2 as a protective transcript of psoriasis

CADM2, a candidate gene for psoriasis, was identified by a genome-wide association study using microsatellites in the Japanese population (561 cases and 561 controls). Moreover, haplotype analysis included an additional 68 SNPs and indicated that a 110-kb haplotype block was detected for the protective risk haplotype of psoriasis. We also identified an initial exon of novel splicing variants in this haplotype block. A functional analysis by qRT-PCR using RNAs from the blood of 56 cases and 64 controls significantly demonstrated an inverse correlation between expression frequencies in a novel splicing variant and the number of alleles associated with psoriasis. To confirm these results, we must perform replication studies using other ethnic groups and more functional analysis particularly for skin tissues.     

Dissemination of entomopathogenic fungi using Busseola fusca male as vector

The stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller), is an important pest of maize Zea mays L. and sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) in eastern and southern Africa. To control this pest, biological control methods including the use of entomopathogenic fungi are being considered. The pathogenicity of one isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. and one isolate of Beauveria bassiana Bals. (Vuill.) were first tested on different developmental stages of B. fusca including eggs, neonate, 2nd and 3rd-instar larvae. Both fungal isolates were pathogenic to all the stages tested. However, differences in mortality were observed among larvae that hatched from treated egg masses. Experiments were conducted thereafter to test whether B. fusca males could serve as a vector for fungal conidia to contaminate B. fusca females and subsequently eggs and larvae. Results demonstrated that B. fusca males successfully transferred inoculum to females during copulation, which in turn transmitted it to the eggs they laid on maize plants, resulting in the decrease of leaf damages.     

Cloning of the Bz2 locus of Zea mays using the transposable element Ds as a gene tag

Summary The Bz2 locus of Zea mays has been cloned, utilizing the presence of the transposable element Dissociation (Ds) at the locus as a gene tag. The Ds element inserted in the bz2-m allele was identified among many members of the Ac/Ds family in a Southern blot analysis of a population segregating for bz2-m and Bz2. After cloning a DNA fragment from the bz2-m allele, sequences flanking the Ds insertion were shown to be Bz2-specific and were used to isolate a homologous fragment from a wild-type Bz2 line. The Ds insertion in the bz2-m allele was found to be a Ds2 element identical to the Ds insertion in adh1-2F11.     

Transformation of arachidonic acid to 19-hydroxy- and 20-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids using Candida bombicola

Candida bombicola (ATCC 22214) and C. apicola (ATCC 96134), grown on glucose (100 g l^–1) and arachidonic acid (5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid; AA), 1.25 g l^–1, synthesized sophorolipid up to 0.93 g l^–1. Acid hydrolysis of sophorolipid yielded 19-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (19-HETE) and 20-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) which were identified by TLC and GC-MS; the ratio of synthesis was 73:27, respectively. Conversion of AA by immobilized Candida bombicola, suspended in beads of 2% (w/v) calcium alginate for 96 h, gave an 83% conversion of 1 g AA l^–1 to 19- and 20-HETE. There was no significant loss in the efficiency of the immobilized cells after ten uses.