胭脂素的生物合成及应用研究进展

由于合成色素对人类健康具有潜在危害,天然色素逐渐受到青睐.胭脂素作为类胡萝卜素物质是世界第二大天然色素,其生物合成途径是国际研究热点,目前尚未被完整解析.文中综述了胭脂素的化学特性与提取方法、合成途径研究及应用现状,比较传统提取方法与新提取技术的特点,阐述胭脂素合成通路相关基因及非生物胁迫对合成通路的影响,介绍胭脂素在...     

Absorbance Changes of Carotenoids in Different Solvents

Carotenoids are typically measured in tissues with the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quantitation is usually done by calibrating with stock solutions in solvents. Four carotenoids including lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and β-carotene were dissolved in hexane and methanol respectively, and their absorbance characteristeris were compared. Lutein shows absorbance spectra that are almost independent of solvents at various concentrations. Spectra of zeaxanthin, lycopene and β-carotene were found to be more solvent-dependent. The absorbance of zeaxanthin at λ_max is about 2 times larger in methanol than in hexane at the higher concentrations, and increased non-linearly with increasing concentration in hexane. The absorbance of lycopene at λ_max in hexane is 4 fold larger than in methanol, but the absorbance of the methanol sample can be recovered by re-extracting this sample in hexane. The absorbance of β-carotene in hexane is larger than in methanol, and increased linearly with increasing concentration. But β-carotene showed a non-linear concentration effect in methanol. There are very small variations in λ_max for all four carotenoids between hexane and methanol, due to differences in molar extinction coefficients. The non-linear concentration effects for these carotenoids are probably due to differences in solubility leading to the formation of microcrystals. Thus, care should be taken with quantitation of tissue carotenoid values, when they depend on measurement of concentrations in stock solutions.     

鸟类羽毛色素的合成机理与调控机制

鸟类作为色彩最丰富的陆生脊椎动物,其体表覆盖着颜色多样的羽毛,在伪装、择偶、信号识别等多方面具有重要功能,因此羽毛颜色引起了研究者的极大兴趣。羽毛颜色总体分为由化学物质产生的色素色和由物理结构产生的结构色,其中常见色素有两大类。根据近年来对羽毛色素的研究进展,本文总结了黑色素和类胡萝卜素的类型、合成途径、获取途径以及相关基因,为深入研究羽毛色素合成、代谢的分子调控机制提供科学依据。     

The P450-type carotene hydroxylase PuCHY1 from Porphyra suggests the evolution of carotenoid metabolism in red algae

Carotene hydroxylases catalyze the hydroxylation of a-and b-carotene hydrocarbons into xanthophylls. In red algae, b-carotene is a ubiquitously distributed carotenoid, and hydroxylated carotenoids such...     

Production of phytoene by herbicide-treated microalgae Dunaliella bardawil in two-phase systems

In the present study we have optimized the concentration of the bleaching herbicide norflurazon to obtain Dunaliella bardawil cells able to accumulate phytoene without losing viability. The highest concentration of phytoene 10.4 g/gChl was obtained for a concentration of norflurazon of 10 microg/mL. Norflurazon-treated Dunaliella bardawil cells are able to accumulate high concentrations of phytoene if the carotenogenic pathway is stimulated, but the lack of colored carotenoids make these cells particularly sensitive to high light intensities and to UVB radiation, so other stimuli, such as nitrogen starvation, have to be used to force the accumulation of phytoene. Detailed time-course evolution of the carotenoids lutein, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, phytene and beta-carotene and the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll was followed upon transfer of Dunaliella bardawil cells to nitrogen starvation in presence and absence of norflurazon. The combined use of the carotenogenic pathway inhibitor norflurazon and biphasic aqueous/organic systems to force the excretion of phytoene into the culture medium has been investigated. Cells cultured in the biphasic system were viable and able to produce phytoene during 3 days. Futhermore the productivity increased from 0.14 g/gChl . h in the aqueous culture to 0.18 g/gChl . h in the biphasic system. About 15% of the total phytoene produced by Dunaliella bardawil was excreted and immediately partionated into the organic phase. The concentration of phytoene in the decane phase was 2.05 g/gChl after 72 h, this means that about 47 g of phytoene per litre of culture were in the organic phase.     

Functional analysis of combinations in astaxanthin biosynthesis genes from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracoccus haeundaensis</Emphasis>

Carotenoids are important natural pigments produced by many microorganisms and plants. We have previously reported the isolation of a new marine bacterium,Paracoccus haeundaensis, which produces carotenoids, mainly in the form of astaxanthin. The astaxanthin biosynthesis gene cluster, consisting of six carotenogenic genes, was cloned and characterized from this organism. Individual genes of the carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster were functionally expressed inEscherichia coli and each gene product was purified to homogeneity. Their molecular characteristics, including enzymatic activities, were previously reported. Here, we report cloning the genes for crtE, crtEB, crtEBI, crtEBIY, crtEBIYZ, and crtEBI-YZW of theP. haeundaensis carotenoid biosynthesis genes inE. coli and verifying the production of the corresponding pathway intermediates. The carotenoids that accumulated in the transformed cells carrying these gene combinations were analyzed by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods.     

The Arabidopsis Spontaneous Cell Death1 gene, encoding a ζ-carotene desaturase essential for carotenoid biosynthesis, is involved in chloroplast development,photoprotection and retrograde signalling

Carotenoids, a class of natural pigments found in all photosynthetic organisms, are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including coloration, photoprotection, biosynthesis of abscisic acid （ABA） and chloroplast biogenesis. Although carotenoid biosynthesis has been well studied biochemically, the genetic basis of the pathway is not well understood. Here, we report the characterization of two allelic Arabidopsis mutants, spontaneous cell death1-1 （spcl-1） and spc1-2. The weak allele spc1-1 mutant showed characteristics of bleached leaves, accumulation of superoxide and mosaic cell death. The strong mutant allele spc1-2 caused a complete arrest of plant growth and development shortly after germination, leading to a seedling-lethal phenotype. Genetic and molecular analyses indicated that SPC1 encodes a putative ζ-carotene desaturase （ZDS） in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Analysis of carotenoids revealed that several major carotenoid compounds downstream of SPC 1/ZDS were substantially reduced in spc1-1, suggesting that SPC 1 is a functional ZDS. Consistent with the downregulated expression of CAO and PORB, the chlorophyll content was decreased in spc1-1 plants. In addition, expression of Lhcb1. 1, Lhcbl. 4 and RbcS was absent in spc1-2, suggesting the possible involvement of carotenoids in the plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. The spc1-1 mutant also displays an ABA-deficient phenotype that can be partially rescued by the externally supplied phytohormone. These results suggest that SPC1/ZDS is essential for biosynthesis of carotenoids and plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.     

类胡萝卜素代谢工程

类胡萝卜素能预防癌症和慢性病,并有很强的肿瘤抑制活性,对人体健康有着重要作用,其药用潜力引起人们极大关注。迄今已发现600多种天然类胡萝卜素,但绝大部分都是痕量中间产物,很难用化学法生产。大量类胡萝卜素生物合成基因的克隆为在细菌、酵母和植物中异源生产结构多样类胡萝卜素提供了基础。     

Creating Carotenoid Diversity in E. coli Cells using Combinatorial and Directed Evolution Strategies

Carotenoids represent a structurally diverse class of pigments with important biological functions and commercial applications. Biosynthesis of carotenoids has been studied on a molecular level for the core pathways and recombinant hosts have been engineered for heterologous carotenoid production. This paper summarizes our efforts on accessing novel carotenoid compounds in engineered E. coli by altering the catalytic activities of enzymes using in vitro evolution, by exploring the catalytic promiscuity of known carotenoid enzymes and by mining for novel enzymes in microbial genome sequences.     

Involvement of Streptomyces in the Deterioration of Cultural Heritage Materials Through Biomineralization and Bio-Pigment Production Pathways: A Review

Abstract

Streptomyces are involved in the deterioration of cultural heritage materials through several pathways, the most important of these are biomineralization and bio-pigment production. The biomineralization pathway can occur through the precipitation of calcite, silica, barytes, hydromagnesite and iron compounds on colonized paintings and on stone surfaces with paintings in relief. Streptomyces biomineralize boron although it was confirmed in biodeterioration of cultural heritage materials. The other pathway occurs via bio pigment production and the most common of these biopigments are melanin with colors ranging from black through brown to olive, carotenoids with colors ranging from red, yellow, and pink through to violet and thirdly, actinorhodin-related blue pigments.     

1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase and plastid isoprenoid biosynthesis during tomato fruit ripening

The recently discovered 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for the biosynthesis of plastid isoprenoids (including carotenoids) is not fully elucidated yet despite its central importance for plant life. It is known, however, that the first reaction completely specific to the pathway is the conversion of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) into MEP by the enzyme DXP reductoisomerase (DXR). We have identified a tomato cDNA encoding a protein with homology to DXR and in vivo activity, and show that the levels of the corresponding DXR mRNA and encoded protein in fruit tissues are similar before and during the massive accumulation of carotenoids characteristic of fruit ripening. The results are consistent with a non-limiting role of DXR, and support previous work proposing DXP synthase (DXS) as the first regulatory enzyme for plastid isoprenoid biosynthesis in tomato fruit. Inhibition of DXR activity by fosmidomycin showed that plastid isoprenoid biosynthesis is required for tomato fruit carotenogenesis but not for other ripening processes. In addition, dormancy was reduced in seeds from fosmidomycin-treated fruit but not in seeds from the tomato yellow ripe mutant (defective in phytoene synthase-1, PSY1), suggesting that the isoform PSY2 might channel the production of carotenoids for abscisic acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the complete arrest of tomato seedling development using fosmidomycin confirms a key role of the MEP pathway in plant development.     

Carotenoid Mutants of Mucor circinelloides

The wild-type of the filamentous fungus Mucor circinelloides accumulates the yellow pigment β-carotene. At a continuous blue-light fluence rate of 0.1 W/m² the β-carotene content increases about eight fold over the dark controls. Among the mutants isolated after exposure of spores to either N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or ICR-170, a red mutant accumulating lycopene, white mutants accumulating phytoene and white mutants without carotenoids were found. The biosynthesis of carotenoids in M. circinelloides shows similarities with that of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus such as the presence of mutants in the same structural genes and the induction by light of the pathway. However, negative end-product regulation by β-carotene on the biosynthetic pathway, as in Phycomyces, is absent in M. circinelloides. In contrast to Phycomyces carB and carR mutants, carotenoids in corresponding mutants of M. circinelloides are photoinduced.     

高产虾青素红发夫酵母选育研究进展

虾青素是 60 0多种类胡萝卜素中的一种 ,具有抗氧化 ,抗肿癌和增强免疫力等许多重要的生理和生物学功能 ,在水产养殖、食品和医药等领域应用前景广阔。综述了虾青素的生物来源、生物转化途径以及高产虾青素红发夫酵母菌株的选育。     

Study on the interaction of β‐carotene and astaxanthin with trypsin and pepsin by spectroscopic techniques

β‐Carotene and astaxanthin are two carotenoids with powerful antioxidant properties, but the binding mechanisms of β‐carotene/astaxanthin to proteases remain unclear. In this study, the interaction of these two carotenoids with trypsin and pepsin was investigated using steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The experimental results indicated that the quenching mechanisms of trypsin/pepsin by the two carotenoids are static processes. The binding constants of trypsin and pepsin with these two carotenoids are in the following order: astaxanthin–trypsin > astaxanthin–pepsin > β‐carotene–trypsin > β‐carotene–pepsin, respectively. Thermodynamic investigations revealed that the interaction between the two carotenoids and trypsin/pepsin is synergistically driven by enthalpy and entropy, and hydrophobic forces and electrostatic attraction have a significant role in the reactions. In addition, as shown by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and CD, the two carotenoids may induce conformational and microenvironmental changes in trypsin/pepsin. The study provides an accurate and full basic data for clarifying the binding mechanisms of the two carotenoids with trypsin/pepsin and is helpful in understanding their effect on protein function and their biological activity in vivo. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

胶红酵母利用番茄渣和豆粕为原料发酵生产类胡萝卜素的研究

基于降低微生物类胡萝卜素生产成本的考虑,采用番茄渣、豆粕的纤维素酶酶解产物培养胶红酵母,以单位体积发酵液中的总类胡萝卜素浓度增量作为优化目标,先后运用逐步单因素法和均匀设计法系统性地考查了胶红酵母的总类胡萝卜素产量和增量与各个相关因素之间的关系。实验获得的总类胡萝卜素最大产量以及扣除了番茄渣中的类胡萝卜素含量而计算得到的增量分别为12.25 mg/L和10.25 mg/L。实验结果证明设计的生产工艺能够以较低的成本生产出富含类胡萝卜素的饲料,因而是经济可行的。     

常用萃取剂提取福寿螺卵中类胡萝卜素的初步研究

【背景】福寿螺为世界性恶性入侵水生动物,也是我国公布的第一批外来人侵物种之一。福寿螺大量啃食为害水稻、茭白、白莲等重要农作物,对我国南方各省农业生产造成了巨大威胁,因此,预防和控制福寿螺灾害显得尤为重要。合理利用福寿螺能有效控制福寿螺的数量和危害,是生物防治的一个重要部分。福寿螺卵中含丰富的类胡萝卜素,充分利用螺卵中的类胡萝卜素能拓展福寿螺的利用途径和方法。【方法】为探寻福寿螺卵中类胡萝卜素的提取方法,本研究采用甲醇、无水乙醇、丙酮、乙酸乙酯、二氯甲烷、石油醚等6种常用萃取剂提取福寿螺卵中类胡萝卜素,用紫外可见光分光光度计测定其含量。【结果】结果显示,不同萃取剂中类胡萝卜素的提取量不同,醇类为较适合的提取液（甲醇〉无水乙醇〉丙酮）。【结论与意义】本研究对福寿螺卵中类胡萝卜素的提取方法进行了探索和研究,找出了合适的提取液,为拓展福寿螺的利用途径,以及福寿螺的综合防治提供了参考。     

Molecular Phylogenies and Evolution of crt Genes in Algae

ABSTRACT

The carotenoids constitute the most widespread class of pigments in nature. Most previous work has concentrated on the identification and characterization of their chemical physical properties and bioavailability. In recent years, significant amounts of research have been conducted in an attempt to analyze the genes and the molecular regulation of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids. However, it is important not to lose sight of the early evolution of carotenoid biosynthesis. One of the major obstacles in understanding the evolution of the respective enzymes and their patterns of selection is a lack of a well-supported phylogenic analysis. In the present research, a major long-term objective was to provide a clearer picture of the evolutionary history of genes, together with an evaluation of the patterns of selection in algae. These phylogenies will be important in studies characterizing the evolution of algae. The gene sequences of the enzymes involved in the major steps of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway in algae (cyanobacteria, rhofophyta, chlorophyta) have been analyzed. Phylogenetic relationships among protein-coding DNA sequences were reconstructed by neighbor-joining (NJ) analysis for the respective carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes (crt) in algae. The analysis also contains an estimation of the rate of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions per nonsynonymous site (d_N), synonymous nucleotide substitution per synonymous site (d_S), and the ratio of nonsynonmous (d_N/d_S) for the test of selection patterns. The phylogenetic trees show that the taxa of some genera have a closer evolutionary relationship with other genera in some gene sequences, which suggests a common ancient origin and that lateral gene transfer has occurred among unrelated genera. The d_N values of crt genes in the early pathway are relatively low, while those of the following steps are slightly higher, while the d_N values of crt genes in chlorophyta are higher than those in cyanobacteria. Most of the d_N/d_S values exceed 1. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that lateral gene transfer may have taken place across algal genomes and the d_N values suggest that most of the early crt genes are well conserved compared to the later crt genes. Furthermore, d_N values also revealed that the crt genes of chlorophyta are more evolutionary than cyanobacteria. The amino acids' changes are mostly adaptive evolution under the influence of positive diversity selection.     

Mechanistic understanding of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene in cancer prevention in animal models

To better understand the potential function of carotenoids in the chemoprevention of cancers, mechanistic understanding of carotenoid action on genetic and epigenetic signaling pathways is critically needed for human studies. The use of appropriate animal models is the most justifiable approach to resolve mechanistic issues regarding protective effects of carotenoids at specific organs and tissue sites. While the initial impetus for studying the benefits of carotenoids in cancer prevention was their antioxidant capacity and pro-vitamin A activity, significant advances have been made in the understanding of the action of carotenoids with regards to other mechanisms. This review will focus on two common carotenoids, provitamin A carotenoid β-cryptoxanthin and non-provitamin A carotenoid lycopene, as promising chemopreventive agents or chemotherapeutic compounds against cancer development and progression. We reviewed animal studies demonstrating that β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene effectively prevent the development or progression of various cancers and the potential mechanisms involved. We highlight recent research that the biological functions of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene are mediated, partially via their oxidative metabolites, through their effects on key molecular targeting events, such as NF-κB signaling pathway, RAR/PPARs signaling, SIRT1 signaling pathway, and p53 tumor suppressor pathways. The molecular targets by β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene, offer new opportunities to further our understanding of common and distinct mechanisms that involve carotenoids in cancer prevention.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.