Cloning, sequence, and phenotypic expression of katA, which encodes the catalase of Lactobacillus sake LTH677.

Lactobacillus sake LTH677 is a strain, isolated from fermented sausage, which forms a heme-dependent catalase. This rare property is highly desirable in sausage fermentation, as it prevents rancidity and discoloration caused by hydrogen peroxide. A gene bank containing MboI fragments of chromosomal DNA from Lactobacillus sake LTH677 in Escherichia coli plasmid pBR328 was constructed. The catalase gene was cloned by heterologous complementation of the Kat- phenotype of E. coli UM2. The catalase structural gene, designated katA, was assigned to a 2.3-kb region by deletion analysis of the originally cloned fragment in plasmid pHK1000. The original chromosomal arrangement was determined by Southern hybridization. Protein analysis revealed that the catalase subunit has a molecular size of 65,000 Da and that the active catalase possesses a hexameric structure. The molecular size of the subunit deduced from the nucleotide sequence was determined to 54,504 Da. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 65,000-Da protein corresponded to the one deduced from the DNA sequence. After recloning of katA in the E. coli-Lactococcus shuttle vector pGKV210, the gene was successfully transferred and phenotypically expressed in Lactobacillus casei, which is naturally deficient in catalase activity.     

Cloning, sequence, and phenotypic expression of katA, which encodes the catalase of Lactobacillus sake LTH677.

Lactobacillus sake LTH677 is a strain, isolated from fermented sausage, which forms a heme-dependent catalase. This rare property is highly desirable in sausage fermentation, as it prevents rancidity and discoloration caused by hydrogen peroxide. A gene bank containing MboI fragments of chromosomal DNA from Lactobacillus sake LTH677 in Escherichia coli plasmid pBR328 was constructed. The catalase gene was cloned by heterologous complementation of the Kat- phenotype of E. coli UM2. The catalase structural gene, designated katA, was assigned to a 2.3-kb region by deletion analysis of the originally cloned fragment in plasmid pHK1000. The original chromosomal arrangement was determined by Southern hybridization. Protein analysis revealed that the catalase subunit has a molecular size of 65,000 Da and that the active catalase possesses a hexameric structure. The molecular size of the subunit deduced from the nucleotide sequence was determined to 54,504 Da. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 65,000-Da protein corresponded to the one deduced from the DNA sequence. After recloning of katA in the E. coli-Lactococcus shuttle vector pGKV210, the gene was successfully transferred and phenotypically expressed in Lactobacillus casei, which is naturally deficient in catalase activity.     

Characterization of reutericyclin produced by Lactobacillus reuteri LTH2584

Lactobacillus reuteri LTH2584 exhibits antimicrobial activity that can be attributed neither to bacteriocins nor to the production of reuterin or organic acids. We have purified the active compound, named reutericyclin, to homogeneity and characterized its antimicrobial activity. Reutericyclin exhibited a broad inhibitory spectrum including Lactobacillus spp., Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria innocua. It did not affect the growth of gram-negative bacteria; however, the growth of lipopolysaccharide mutant strains of Escherichia coli was inhibited. Reutericyclin exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, Staphylococcus aureus, and B. subtilis and triggered the lysis of cells of L. sanfranciscensis in a dose-dependent manner. Germination of spores of B. subtilis was inhibited, but the spores remained unaffected under conditions that do not permit germination. The fatty acid supply of the growth media had a strong effect on reutericyclin production and its distribution between producer cells and the culture supernatant. Reutericyclin was purified from cell extracts and culture supernatant of L. reuteri LTH2584 cultures grown in mMRS by solvent extraction, gel filtration, RP-C(8) chromatography, and anion-exchange chromatography, followed by rechromatography by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Reutericyclin was characterized as a negatively charged, highly hydrophobic molecule with a molecular mass of 349 Da. Structural characterization (A. H?ltzel, M. G. G?nzle, G. J. Nicholson, W. P. Hammes, and G. Jung, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39:2766-2768, 2000) revealed that reutericyclin is a novel tetramic acid derivative. The inhibitory activity of culture supernatant of L. reuteri LTH2584 corresponded to that of purified as well as synthetic reutericyclin.     

Characterization of Reutericyclin Produced by Lactobacillus reuteri LTH2584

Lactobacillus reuteri LTH2584 exhibits antimicrobial activity that can be attributed neither to bacteriocins nor to the production of reuterin or organic acids. We have purified the active compound, named reutericyclin, to homogeneity and characterized its antimicrobial activity. Reutericyclin exhibited a broad inhibitory spectrum including Lactobacillus spp., Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria innocua. It did not affect the growth of gram-negative bacteria; however, the growth of lipopolysaccharide mutant strains of Escherichia coli was inhibited. Reutericyclin exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, Staphylococcus aureus, and B. subtilis and triggered the lysis of cells of L. sanfranciscensis in a dose-dependent manner. Germination of spores of B. subtilis was inhibited, but the spores remained unaffected under conditions that do not permit germination. The fatty acid supply of the growth media had a strong effect on reutericyclin production and its distribution between producer cells and the culture supernatant. Reutericyclin was purified from cell extracts and culture supernatant of L. reuteri LTH2584 cultures grown in mMRS by solvent extraction, gel filtration, RP-C₈ chromatography, and anion-exchange chromatography, followed by rechromatography by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Reutericyclin was characterized as a negatively charged, highly hydrophobic molecule with a molecular mass of 349 Da. Structural characterization (A. Höltzel, M. G. Gänzle, G. J. Nicholson, W. P. Hammes, and G. Jung, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 39:2766–2768, 2000) revealed that reutericyclin is a novel tetramic acid derivative. The inhibitory activity of culture supernatant of L. reuteri LTH2584 corresponded to that of purified as well as synthetic reutericyclin.     

乳酸杆菌基因表达系统的研究进展

乳酸杆菌是人及动物肠道中重要的益生菌,被公认为安全级(generally recognized as safe,GRAS)微生物。乳酸杆菌表达系统是近几年发展起来的一种表达系统,随着乳酸杆菌分子生物学的发展、各类表达调控元件的分离,相继发展了乳酸杆菌的克隆载体、表达载体和整合载体。乳酸杆菌具有免疫佐剂、吸附黏膜、抗胆汁酸能力,以乳酸杆菌为载体,作为外源基因的传递和表达系统,研制口服疫苗,刺激黏膜免疫系统产生有效的免疫应答,具有重要开发前景。     

SREBP介导的基因表达的调控(英文)

SREBP转录因子是脂类代谢的重要调节者。当细胞有脂类需求时,在内质网膜上的SREBP前体通过蛋白水解被激活。然后,氨基端的SREBP片段被运到细胞核内激活靶基因的转录。细胞培养和转基因小鼠模型的研究已经证明,SREBP的主要靶基因包括负责脂肪和胆固醇合成的酶,以及低密度脂蛋白受体。早期对SREBP的研究相当完善地揭示了其前体被激活的机理。最近的研究又使我们认识了细胞核内SREBP的调控机理。在细胞核中,SREBP会结合特定的转录辅助因子,刺激或抑制其靶基因的转录,这些转录辅助因子包括CBP/p300和Mediator蛋白复合体。此外,细胞核内SREBP的稳定性受磷酸化和乙酰化的调节。细胞核内SREBP的这种蛋白质相互作用和修饰,使细胞内外信号(如胰岛素或氧化应激)更好地控制脂类合成。在正常生理状态下,脂质动态平衡是严格保持着的,然而,在有些病理条件下,如肥胖、二型糖尿病、心血管疾病和脂肪肝,SREBP往往会失调。因此,SREBP的新调控机制可能对治疗代谢性疾病提供新的机遇。     

Cloning and Heterologous Expression of Hematin-Dependent Catalase Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum CNRZ 1228

Lactobacillus plantarum CNRZ 1228 exhibited heme-dependent catalase activity under environmental conditions similar to those encountered during sausage fermentation. The 1,455-bp catalase gene (katL) was cloned and encoded a protein of 484 amino acids. Expression of katL in a heterologous host showed that katL encodes a functional catalase. PCR screening of selected strains of lactic acid bacteria for katL indicated the presence of similar genes in other strains of lactobacilli.     

Identification of Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatus by multiplex PCR-based restriction enzyme analysis

Two closely related lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatus, are very difficult to be rapidly differentiated. Here we report multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction enzyme analysis that is useful for rapid and reliable identification of these two species. This method employs both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis (REA). First, multiplex-PCR using three primers that were designed from 16S rDNA sequence produces two bands, a 433-bp and a 623-bp band. A 433-bp band represents only L. sakei and L. curvatus among lactobacilli and genetically related bacteria, and a 623-bp band is used for further identification by restriction analysis. Second, restriction analysis of 623-bp band using Hind III restriction enzyme discriminates L. sakei from L. curvatus. This method could identify 28 strains as L. sakei or L. curvatus, which were frequently isolated from kimchi, a traditional fermented cabbage product in South Korea. Therefore, these results suggest that this method is simple, rapid, and reliable for the identification of L. sakei and L. curvatus species.     

核糖开关与基因表达调控

核糖开关(riboswitch)是近几年基因表达调控研究的一个热点.核糖开关位于mRNA的非翻译区(untranslated regions, UTR),能够直接感受胞内外信号并引起自身二级结构的变化,在转录或后转录（翻译和mRNA稳定性）水平实现对下游相关基因的表达调控,该过程不依赖于包括蛋白质在内的其它任何因子的作用. 根据现已发现的核糖开关所能识别的信号因子类型,可以将其分为4类,即小分子代谢物、金属离子、环境因素及空载tRNA敏感的核糖开关;其中,小分子代谢物敏感的核糖开关是发现和研究最多且最深入的一类. 随着研究的深入,将会有更多的核糖开关被发现,这不仅有助于理解生物进化与环境适应性,而且在生物学基础研究,新型药物的开发以及工业生产领域都将发挥重要作用.     

Purification and Characterization of an X-Prolyl-Dipeptidyl Peptidase from Lactobacillus sakei

An X-prolyl-dipeptidyl peptidase has been purified from Lactobacillus sakei by ammonium sulfate fractionation and five chromatographic steps, which included hydrophobic interaction, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. This procedure resulted in a recovery yield of 7% and an increase in specificity of 737-fold. The enzyme appeared to be a dimer with a subunit molecular mass of approximately 88 kDa. Optimal activity was shown at pH 7.5 and 55°C. The enzyme was inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors and several divalent cations (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Zn²⁺). The enzyme almost exclusively hydrolyzed X-Pro from the N terminus of each peptide as well as fluorescent and colorimetric substrates; it also hydrolyzed X-Ala at the N terminus, albeit at lower rates. K_m s for Gly-Pro- and Lys-Ala-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin were 29 and 88 μM, respectively; those for Gly-Pro- and Ala-Pro-p-nitroanilide were 192 and 50 μM, respectively. Among peptides, β-casomorphin 1-3 was hydrolyzed at the highest rates, while the relative hydrolysis of the other tested peptides was only 1 to 12%. The potential role of the purified enzyme in the proteolytic pathway by catalyzing the hydrolysis of peptide bonds involving proline is discussed.     

Purification and Characterization of an Arginine Aminopeptidase from Lactobacillus sakei

An arginine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.6) that exclusively hydrolyzes basic amino acids from the amino (N) termini of peptide substrates has been purified from Lactobacillus sakei. The purification procedure consisted of ammonium sulfate fractionation and three chromatographic steps, which included hydrophobic interaction, gel filtration, and anion-exchange chromatography. This procedure resulted in a recovery rate of 4.2% and a 500-fold increase in specific activity. The aminopeptidase appeared to be a trimeric enzyme with a molecular mass of 180 kDa. The activity was optimal at pH 5.0 and 37°C. The enzyme was inhibited by sulfhydryl group reagents and several divalent cations (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Zn²⁺) but was activated by reducing agents, metal-chelating agents, and sodium chloride. The enzyme showed a preference for arginine at the N termini of aminoacyl derivatives and peptides. The K_m values for Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) and Lys-AMC were 15.9 and 26.0 μM, respectively. The nature of the amino acid residue at the C terminus of dipeptides has an effect on hydrolysis rates. The activity was maximal toward dipeptides with Arg, Lys, or Ala as the C-terminal residue. The properties of the purified enzyme, its potential function in the release of arginine, and its further metabolism are discussed because, as a whole, it could constitute a survival mechanism for L. sakei in the meat environment.     

植物叶绿体基因组基因表达调控的研究

叶绿体基因的表达在许多方面与原核基因表达相似,所以最早的理论认为叶绿体基因的表达与原核相似,是在转录起始水平上的调控,进一步的研究认为叶绿体基因表达调控是在不同水平上进行的如：转录水平的调节、转录后调节与修饰、翻译和翻译后修饰等。     

Abnormality in Translational Regulation of Catalase Expression in Disorders of Peroxisomal Biogenesis

Abstract: Peroxisomal disorders are a newly described group of inherited neurological diseases. In disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis, e.g., Zellweger syndrome, owing to the lack of peroxisomes, catalase, a peroxisomal enzyme, is found to be present in the cytoplasm instead. We observed higher catalase activity (7.59 ± 0.41 mU/mg of protein) in cultured skin fibroblasts from Zellweger patients than in control fibroblasts (4.45 ± 0.29 mU/mg of protein). Moreover, we also found that the majority of the catalase in Zellweger cells was present in the inactive form. The specific activities following reactivation in Zellweger and control cells were 12.1 and 4.9 mU/mg of protein, respectively. To understand the molecular basis of higher levels of catalase in Zellweger than control cells, we examined the rate of synthesis and turnover of catalase and levels of catalase mRNA and protein levels in Zellweger cells as compared with control cells. The initial rates of synthesis of catalase in Zellweger (1.68 ± 0.15 mU/mg of protein) and control (1.51 ± 0.14 mU/mg of protein) cells were similar. The rates of turnover of catalase in Zellweger (t_1/2 = 47 ± 8 h) and control (t_1/2 = 49 ± 7 h) were also similar. Consistent with the enzyme activity, the levels of catalase protein were higher in Zellweger cells as compared with control cells. On the other hand, there was no difference in the level of catalase mRNA between control and Zellweger cells. Although the rate of synthesis in Zellweger and control cells were initially similar, it was down-regulated to a lower level at ～72 h of culture in control fibroblasts as compared with Zellweger cells, which continued to synthesize catalase at the same rate up to 5 days in culture. The presence of similar levels of mRNA in control and Zellweger cells and continued synthesis of catalase in Zellweger cells at a higher level as compared with control cells suggest a loss of regulation at the translational level.