高山被孢霉产花生四烯酸及其遗传改造的研究进展

花生四烯酸作为一种重要的多价不饱和脂肪酸,因其具有多种生理功能而被认为是潜在的食品添加剂和药物。近年来,利用高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸已成为研究热点。前期相关研究主要集中在菌种选育及发酵调控方面。随着研究的不断深入,关于高山被孢霉合成花生四烯酸的代谢途径的研究取得了较大进展。以下简要概述前期工作进展,着重论述花生四烯酸合成途径的关键酶及其高山被孢霉的遗传改造的研究情况,包括生物合成花生四烯酸代谢途径、关键酶及其应用、高山被孢霉的遗传操作系统的构建以及遗传改造的应用,并对其研究前景进行了展望。     

过表达亚甲基四氢叶酸脱氢酶对高山被孢霉脂质合成的影响

高山被孢霉是一种富含多不饱和脂肪酸的丝状真菌,但其脂质过程中NADPH的来源还没有研究透彻。以高山被孢霉(尿嘧啶营养缺陷型)作为出发菌株,研究亚甲基四氢叶酸脱氢酶(MTHFD1)对高山被孢霉脂质合成的影响。首先构建了过表达载体pBIG2-ura5s-MTHFD1,采用根癌土壤杆菌介导转化真菌的方法,将二元表达载体转化进高山被孢霉CCFM501中,在筛选培养基SC-CS平板上进行筛选,进而得到稳定遗传MTHFD1基因的过表达菌株(MA-MTHFD1);其次提取MA-MTHFD1菌株基因组进行PCR鉴定,并结合qPCR分析结果,表明MTHFD1基因成功在高山被孢霉中实现了过量表达;最后通过对MA-MTHFD1中的脂肪酸含量、NADPH含量及NADPH合成途径中相关基因转录水平进行分析,研究MTHFD1基因过表达对脂质合成的影响。实验结果表明,过表达MTHFD1基因可以提高高山被孢霉脂质合成能力。与原养型高山被孢霉相比,MA-MTHFD1菌株中脂肪酸含量提高了40.13%,NADPH的含量提高了26.45%,而且NADPH合成途径中其他相关基因苹果酸酶(ME)和异柠檬酸脱氢酶(IDH)的转录水平也发生了上调。这一系列研究结果表明,在高山被孢霉脂质合成还原力形成中,MTHFD1基因起到了关键作用。这为解析高山被孢霉中NADPH来源及深入研究脂质合成机制,从而对其胞内脂肪酸代谢通路进行分子水平上的改建提供了一定的理论依据。     

高山被孢霉Δ~6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在红冬孢酵母中的表达

以绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)作为报告基因,将质粒pRH2304转化红冬孢酵母YM25235进行表达分析,荧光显微观察结果表明GFP在YM25235获得表达,建立了红冬孢酵母YM25235遗传转化方法。在此基础上,以高山被孢霉Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因取代pRH2304中的GFP基因,构建重组质粒pRH2304MAD6,将其转化红冬孢酵母YM25235进行表达分析。PCR结果表明,高山被孢霉Δ6-脂肪酸脱氢酶基因已经整合到YM25235基因组中,进一步的脂肪酸气相色谱分析结果表明,该基因编码产物催化n-6途径中的亚油酸转化成γ-亚麻酸,占细胞总脂肪酸的4.35%,但没有检测到催化n-3途径中的α-亚麻酸转化成十八碳四烯酸。     

高山被孢霉亚甲基四氢叶酸脱氢酶的克隆、表达和功能鉴定

叶酸代谢途径中的亚甲基四氢叶酸脱氢酶（MTHFD）可将5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸氧化为5,10-甲炔基四氢叶酸,此过程会生成NADH或NADPH。对高山被孢霉中的MTHFD基因进行克隆、表达和功能鉴定,可进一步阐明脂质合成所需还原力NADPH的来源。首先对MTHFD序列进行分析,并以pET28a（+）质粒为载体构建了MTHFD的表达载体,然后转化至大肠杆菌BL21中进行诱导表达。进一步利用Ni金属螯合层析纯化目的蛋白,采用比色法分析酶反应产物,表明纯化蛋白质具有MTHFD活性。高山被孢霉MTHFD对NAD⁺和NADP⁺均具有催化能力,但更偏好于将NADP⁺转化为NADPH。最后对高山被孢霉进行发酵培养,发现MTHFD的转录水平在脂质开始积累后发生了明显的上调,表明MTHFD在高山被孢霉脂质合成过程中发挥重要作用,很可能是脂质合成所需NADPH的关键来源。这为对高山被孢霉进行分子改造,使之成为高产各种多不饱和脂肪酸的细胞工程提供了理论依据。     

高山被孢霉发酵生产花生四烯酸的宏观形态

采用图像处理技术对高山被孢霉(Mortierella alpina)发酵过程中的不同形态进行分析,并对其产花生四烯酸(ARA)能力进行了比较。研究发现:复合N源中蛋白胨与酵母粉比例是影响高山被孢霉宏观形态的重要因素,球形形态生长的菌体中ARA产量较分散,菌丝体中ARA产量高;在球形形态中,空心球的菌体生物量低,ARA比例低,蓬松球可以兼顾菌体高生物量、高油脂比例及高ARA比例。产ARA能力由生物量、油脂比例及油脂中ARA比例共同决定。结果表明:直径大约4 mm、成核区域面积大约为43.6%、紧密度为71.36的蓬松球形态,是高山被孢霉一种相对较佳的发酵形态,其菌体产ARA能力分别是空心球和分散丝状菌体产ARA能力的2.01和2.70倍。     

高山被孢霉ATCC 32222中细胞色素b5还原酶I的克隆、表达和功能鉴定

【目的】鉴定产油微生物高山被孢霉ATCC 32222中细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ的功能。【方法】将高山被孢霉ATCC 32222中膜结合细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ基因与人可溶性细胞色素b_5还原酶基因序列比对,去除该基因N端穿膜区域后,与人可溶性细胞色素b_5基因分别在大肠杆菌中异源表达;通过钴离子亲和层析、离子交换和分子排阻色谱等方法对表达产物进行纯化;以2,6-二氯靛酚钠(DCIP)为底物,测定细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ的体外活性及其对NADH和NADPH的偏好性;在反应体系中存在NADH时,通过全波长扫描方法检测细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ与细胞色素b_5的相互作用。【结果】高山被孢霉ATCC 32222中膜结合细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ被成功可溶表达,经纯化后检测到体外活性:使用NADH时酶活为564.57 U,使用NADPH时为51.97 U;在NADH存在时,细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ能够还原细胞色素b_5,其吸收峰从411 nm偏移至422 nm,并在521 nm和554 nm处吸光值增加。【结论】细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ N端穿膜区域的去除增加了其可溶性,并保持了蛋白质活性;高山被孢霉ATCC 32222中细胞色素b_5还原酶Ⅰ基因编码的是一种NADH-细胞色素b_5还原酶,其在体外能与细胞色素b_5相互作用。     

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.     

高山被孢霉中二酰甘油酰基转移酶2同源基因的克隆、表达和活性分析

[背景] 高山被孢霉（Mortierella alpina）是一种可积累大量花生四烯酸（Arachidonic Acid,AA）的产油丝状真菌,其所产脂肪酸主要被组装到甘油骨架上以三酰甘油（Triacylglycerol,TAG）形式存在。二酰甘油酰基转移酶（Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase,DGAT）是TAG生物合成途径的关键酶,对于高山被孢霉TAG的生产具有重要意义。[目的] 通过探究高山被孢霉DGAT2在TAG生物合成方面的功能特点,以期为提高产油真菌的TAG产量及改善TAG的脂肪酸组成提供参考。[方法] 利用序列比对在高山被孢霉ATCC32222基因组中筛选出2个编码DGAT2的候选基因MaDGAT2A/2B,在酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）中异源表达后进行功能分析,并在外源添加AA条件下通过检测TAG产量进一步分析MaDGAT2A/2B的活性,最后在高山被孢霉中同源过表达MaDGAT2A/2B,通过检测重组菌总脂肪酸产量及组分以分析MaDGAT2A/2B的体内活性。[结果] MaDGAT2A在S. cerevisiae中异源表达时,重组酵母菌TAG的产量达到细胞干重的3.06%,为对照组的4.91倍;而MaDGAT2B未明显提高重组酵母菌TAG的产量。在外源添加AA时,MaDGAT2A/2B均可显著促进重组酵母菌中TAG合成,表达MaDGAT2A的重组酵母菌TAG含量为对照组的3.67倍,表达MaDGAT2B的重组酵母菌TAG含量为对照组的2.61倍。MaDGAT2A/2B在高山被孢霉中过表达对其总脂肪酸产量无显著影响,但可显著提高总脂肪酸中AA的含量,AA占总脂肪酸比例最高达到39.15%,相比对照组提高16.14%。[结论] MaDGAT2A/2B可以参与TAG的生物合成,表明2个候选基因编码的蛋白具有DGAT活性,并且可提高高山被孢霉脂肪酸中AA的含量,对于改善产油真菌的脂肪酸组成从而提高其应用价值具有重要意义。     

微生物发酵法生产花生四烯酸油脂的研究进展

花生四烯酸(ARA)是一种重要的脂肪酸,现在主要由生物法生产,本文综述了高山被孢霉发酵生产花生四烯酸油脂的菌落形态控制及其代谢途径,以期为相关的研究者提供参考。     

高山被孢霉的红四氮唑染色程度与菌体油脂中花生四烯酸含量的关系

研究了高山被孢霉菌体被红四氮唑(TTC)染色的条件,并探讨了染色程度与菌体油脂中花生四烯酸含量的关系．高山被孢霉的种子菌体被TTC染色的程度随种龄增加而增加,而种子中的油脂含量和油脂中的花生四烯酸含量也都随种龄增加而增加．在发酵过程中,菌体被TTC染色的程度和菌体中的油脂含量以及油脂中的花生四烯酸含量随培养时间增加而增加．三株具有相似油脂含量、不同花生四烯酸含量的高山被孢霉以及一株不产花生四烯酸的鲁氏毛霉的染色结果显示菌体被红四氮唑染色的程度与菌体油脂中的花生四烯酸含量具有正相关性．该发现有助于花生四烯酸高产菌的快速筛选．     

Polyunsaturated fatty acid-specific elongation enzymes

We have isolated a novel gene (GLELO) from Mortierella alpina and its homologue (CEELO1) from Caenorhabditis elegans and demonstrate the involvement of their encoded proteins in the elongation of C(18) polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

Production of very long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in plants

We report the production of two very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in substantial quantities in a higher plant. This was achieved using genes encoding enzymes participating in the omega3/6 Delta8 -desaturation biosynthetic pathways for the formation of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arabidopsis thaliana was transformed sequentially with genes encoding a Delta9 -specific elongating activity from Isochrysis galbana, a Delta8 -desaturase from Euglena gracilis and a Delta5 -desaturase from Mortierella alpina. Instrumental in the successful reconstitution of these C20 polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic pathways was the I. galbana C18-Delta9 -elongating activity, which may bypass rate-limiting steps present in the conventional Delta6 -desaturase/elongase pathways. The accumulation of EPA and AA in transgenic plants is a breakthrough in the search for alternative sustainable sources of fish oils.     

Cloning and functional characterisation of polyunsaturated fatty acid elongases of marine and freshwater teleost fish

Enzymes that lengthen the carbon chain of polyunsaturated fatty acids are key to the biosynthesis of the highly unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids from linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. A Mortierella alpina cDNA polyunsaturated fatty acid elongase sequence identified mammalian, amphibian, zebrafish and insect expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in GenBank. Consensus primers were designed in conserved motifs and used to isolate full length cDNA from livers of several fish species by Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). The amplified cDNAs encoded putative open reading frames (ORFs) of 288-294 amino acids that were highly conserved among the fish species. Heterologous expression in yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, demonstrated that all of the ORFs encoded elongases with the ability to lengthen polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates with chain lengths from C18 to C22 and also monounsaturated fatty acids, but not saturated fatty acids. There were differences in the functional competence of the elongases from different fish species. Most of the fish elongases showed a pattern of activity towards different fatty acid substrates in the rank order C18>C20>C22, although the tilapia and turbot elongases had similar activity towards 18:4n-3 and 20:5n-3. The fish elongases generally showed greater activity or similar activities with n-3 than with n-6 homologues, with the exception of the cod enzyme which was more active towards n-6 fatty acids.     

Extraction of lipids from Mortierella alpina and enrichment of arachidonic acid from the fungal lipids

Mortierella alpina is known as an arachidonic acid (AA) producing oleaginous fungus. Extraction of lipids from wet and dry M. alpina biomass was compared. Lipids yield of extraction from dry cells was higher than that of extraction from wet. Wet extraction mainly extracted lipid bodies and lipids in membranes did not extract effectively. Enrichment of AA from the fungal lipids by a urea inclusion method was studied. Most of the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, 93.0% and 84.6%, respectively, were removed by forming urea inclusion compounds. AA was concentrated after urea inclusion. Its content in total fatty acids increased 6.2-folds and reached 57.1% with a recovery of 81.9%.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids production with a solid-state column reactor

To investigate the potential production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a solid-state column reactor of rice bran with Mortierella alpina was used. The optimal conditions for PUFAs production were rice bran supplementation with 3.75% (ww(-1)) nitrogen source at initial moisture content 57%, initial pH 6-7, aeration, and incubation at 20 degrees C for 5 days and then at 12 degrees C for 7 days. Each gram of substrate carbon yielded 127 mg of total PUFAs, 12 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 6 mg of arachidonic acid (AA), 5mg of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and 117 mg of linoleic acid (LA) after 12 days incubation. Aeration enhanced the productions of AA, EPA, and total PUFAs. Supplementation of the nitrogen source on the fourth day and then a shift to lower temperature on the fifth day increased EPA production.     

Genetic analysis of cytochrome b5 from arachidonic acid-producing fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4: cloning, RNA editing and expression of the gene in Escherichia coli, and purification and characterization of the gene product.

Information on the amino acid sequences of the internal peptide fragments of cytochrome b5 from Mortierella hygrophila was used to prepare synthetic oligonucleotides as primers for the polymerase chain reaction. A 100-base DNA fragment was thus amplified, by using a genomic gene from Mortierella alpina 1S-4 as a template, which produced polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid. The amplified DNA fragment was used as the probe to clone both a 523-base cDNA fragment and a 2.1-kilobase SalI-NruI genomic fragment coding for the whole M. alpina 1S-4 cytochrome b5. On the basis of nucleotide sequences of both cytochrome b5 genomic gene and cDNA, the genomic cytochrome b5 gene was found to consist of four exons and three introns. A novel type of RNA editing, in which the cDNA included either guanine insertion or adenine-->guanine substitution at one base upstream of poly(A), was interestingly observed. The deduced amino acid sequence of M. alpina 1S-4 cytochrome b5 showed significant similarities with those of cytochrome b5s from other organisms such as rat, chicken, and yeast. The soluble form of the cytochrome b5 gene was expressed to 16% of the total soluble protein in Escherichia coli. The holo-cytochrome b5 accounted for 8% of the total cytochrome b5 in the transformants. The purified cytochrome b5 showed the oxidized and reduced absorbance spectra characteristic of fungal microsomal cytochrome b5.     

Improvement of the fatty acid composition of an oil-producing filamentous fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, through RNA interference with delta12-desaturase gene expression

An oleaginous fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, is used commercially for arachidonic acid production. Delta12-Desaturase, which desaturates oleic acid (18:1n-9) to linoleic acid (18:2n-6), is a key enzyme in the arachidonic acid biosynthetic pathway. To determine if RNA interference (RNAi) by double-stranded RNA occurs in M. alpina 1S-4, we silenced the Delta12-desaturase gene. The silenced strains accumulate 18:2n-9, 20:2n-9, and Mead acid (20:3n-9), which are not detected in either the control strain or wild type strain 1S-4. The fatty acid composition of stable transformants was similar to that of Delta12-desaturation-defective mutants previously identified. Thus, RNAi occurs in M. alpina and could be used to alter the types and relative amounts of fatty acids produced by commercial strains of this fungus without mutagenesis or other permanent changes in the genetic background of the producing strains.     

Effect of glutamate on arachidonic acid production from Mortierella alpina

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of glutamate on arachidonic acid production from Mortierella alpina. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cell growth, arachidonic acid production, proportions of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PuFAs) in fatty acids and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity were analysed when glutamate concentration was 0.8 g l(-1). Biomass and arachidonic acid production were higher in the culture containing glutamate than those in the control culture, and both reached their maximum of 25 g l(-1) and 1.4 g l(-1) after 7 d, respectively. The proportions of some PuFAs, oleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid were decreased while linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were enhanced by glutamate addition. Glutamate addition enhanced G6PDH activity compared with the control during the whole culture process. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of 0.8 g l(-1) glutamate was beneficial to enhance arachidonic acid production from Mortierella alpina, which was a result of activating the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that the addition of glutamate and regulation of PPP had a positive influence on arachidonic acid synthesis in Mortierella species.