Bifunctional enzyme fusion of 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase

The formaldehyde-fixing enzymes, 3-Hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI), are the key enzymes catalyzing sequential reactions in the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway. In this study, we generated two fused gene constructs of the hps and phi genes (i.e., hps–phi and phi–hps) from a methylotrophic bacterium Mycobacterium gastri MB19. The gene product of hps–phi exhibited both HPS and PHI activities at room temperature and catalyzed the sequential reactions more efficiently than a simple mixture of the individual enzymes. The gene product of phi–hps failed to display any enzyme activity. Escherichia coli strains harboring the hps–phi gene consumed formaldehyde more efficiently and exhibited better growth in a formaldehyde-containing medium than the host strain. Our results demonstrate that the engineered fusion gene has the possibility to be used to establish a formaldehyde-resistance detoxification system in various organisms.     

The gene encoding the ribulose monophosphate pathway enzyme, 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase, from Aminomonas aminovorus C2A1 is adjacent to coding sequences that exhibit similarity to histidine biosynthesis enzymes.

In an attempt to understand better the organisation of genes encoding enzymes of the ribulose monophosphate pathway (RuMP), the 3-hexulose 6-phosphate synthase gene (hps) and flanking sequences were cloned from the obligate methylotroph Aminomonas aminovorus C2A1. To date only three hps containing gene clusters from methylotrophs have been characterised and these contain genes encoding other RuMP enzymes. However, hps from A. aminovorus C2A1 was shown to be adjacent to coding sequences for products with sequence similarity to histidine biosynthesis enzymes. Furthermore, none of the hps homologue containing gene clusters, from genome sequences previously analysed or analysed in this paper, were similar in organisation to that of A. aminovorus C2A1.     

条斑紫菜6-磷酸海藻糖合成酶基因全长cDNA的电子克隆

利用日本DDBJ数据库电子克隆了条斑紫菜的6-磷酸海藻糖合成酶基因（pytps）,得到全长cDNA序列2727bp;经过ORF finder分析,获得了相应蛋白质的全长序列908Aa,分子量约为101．8kD。将条斑紫菜的6-磷酸海藻糖合成酶与多种模式生物大肠杆菌、裂殖酵母、拟南芥、水稻、秀丽隐杆线虫、黑腹果蝇的同源蛋白进行序列比对得到了聚类分析图表明它们之间具有一定的进化相关性功能结构域预测分析显示PyTPS拥有两个功能结构域Glyco．transf 20 domain和Trehalose．PPase domain,这对于进一步分析蛋白质结构与功能的关系将有很大的启示。     

垫状卷柏海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因的克隆及功能分析

海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶(Trehalose-6-phosphate synthse, TPS)是植物海藻糖合成途径的关键酶, 在旱生卷柏等复苏植物对逆境胁迫应答中起重要作用。文章以我国特有旱生植物垫状卷柏(Selaginella pulvinata)为材料, 采用同源扩增与RACE技术相结合的方法克隆了海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因SpTPS1, cDNA全长3 223 bp, 包括一个2 790 bp的开放阅读框, 推导的氨基酸序列与模式物种的海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶具有较高的序列相似性, 催化活性中心保守位点基本一致。酵母功能互补实验证明, 用SpTPS1基因开放阅读框转化的海藻糖合成酶基因突变(tps1△)酵母菌株, 可恢复在以葡萄糖作为唯一碳源培养基上的生长, 说明垫状卷柏海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶基因SpTPS1的编码蛋白具有生物活性, 可应用于植物抗逆性的转基因改良。     

柿果实ACC合成酶cDNA的克隆及其序列分析

根据其它植物ACC合成酶（1－aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase,ACS)氨基酸保守区,设计1组简并引物,用RT－PCR法,从柿（Diospyros kaki Thunb.)果实扩增出3个约1kb左右的cDNA片段,将其克隆至pGEM-T载体上,对这些重组克隆进行序列测定和氨基酸序列推导,DK－ACS1由1101个碱基组成,编码364个氨基酸;DK－ACS2是1086个碱基,编码359个氨基酸;DK－ACS3为1089个碱基,编码363个氨基酸。它们均具有其它植物ACS合成酶中存在的7个保守区和11个不变氨基酸残基,且在多肽水平上有较高的同源性。与番茄LE－ACS2的同源性DK－ACS1是60.5A%,DK-ACS2是70.7%,DK－ACS3为66．9％,与甜瓜CM－ACS1的同源性依次分别是60．4％,72．1％和64．4％。     

Purification,crystallization, and preliminary crystallographic analysis of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli

The phenylalanine-regulated isozyme of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate- synthase (DAHPS) from Escherichia coli, its binary complexes with either substrate, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), or feedback inhibitor, Phe, and its ternary complexes with either PEP or Phe plus metal cofactor (either Mn²⁺, Cd²⁺, or Pb²⁺) were crystallized from polyethylglycol (PEG) solutions. All crystals of the DAHPS without Phe belong to space group C2, with cell parameters a = 213.5 Å, b = 54.3 Å, c = 149.0 Å, β = 116.6°. All crystals of the enzyme with Phe also belong to space group C2, but with cell parameters a = 297.1 Å, b = 91.4 Å, c = 256.5 Å, and β = 148.2°.     

Cloning of an Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase: sequence analysis and manipulation to obtain glyphosate-tolerant plants

Summary 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPs), the target of the herbicide glyphosate, catalyzes an essential step in the shikimate pathway common to aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. We have cloned an EPSP synthase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana by hybridization with a petunia cDNA probe. The Arabidopsis gene is highly homologous to the petunia gene within the mature enzyme but is only 23% homologous in the chloroplast transit peptide portion. The Arabidopsis gene contains seven introns in exactly the same positions as those in the petunia gene. The introns are, however, significantly smaller in the Arabidopsis gene. This reduction accounts for the significantly smaller size of the gene as compared to the petunia gene. We have fused the gene to the cauliflower mosaic virus 35 S promoter and reintroduced the chimeric gene into Arabidopsis. The resultant overproduction of EPSPs leads to glyphosate tolerance in transformed callus and plants.     

Cloning,sequence and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding phosphofructokinase from Bacillus macquariensis

A chromosomal DNA fragment containing the Bacillus macquariensis (Bm) ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase-encoding gene (pfk) was cloned from a subgenomic library in pUC19 using a PCR-derived probe. The region containing pfk, including flanking sequences, was sequenced and the deduced amino acid sequence (aa) was found to be homologous to other PFK, but it contained two single-aa changes conserved in a range of other organisms from pro- and eukaryotic origins. Enzymatic studies with PFK purified from overproducing Escherichia coli (Ec) host cells showed that the Bm enzyme is similar to B. stearothermophilus (Bs) PFK in many respects and that it is relatively cold stable.     

Cloning and overexpression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding citrate synthase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

The citrate synthase (CS) gene from the hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus has been cloned and sequenced. The gene encodes a polypeptide of 378 amino acids with a calculated polypeptide molecular mass of 42 679. High-level expression was achieved in Escherichia coli and the recombinant citrate synthase was purified to homogeneity using a heat step and dye-ligand affinity chromatography. This procedure yielded approximately 26 mg of pure CS per liter of culture, with a specific activity of 41 U/mg. The enzyme exhibited a half-life of 8 min at 95°C. A homology-modelled structure of the S. solfataricus CS has been generated using the crystal structure of the enzyme from the thermoacidophilic Archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum with which it displays 58% sequence identity. The modelled structure is discussed with respect to the thermostability properties of the enzyme. Received: August 10, 1997 / Accepted: October 23, 1997     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the putative rifamycin polyketide synthase gene cluster from Amycolatopsis mediterranei

The 54-kbp Type I polyketide synthase gene cluster, most probably involved in rifamycin biosynthesis by Amycolatopsis mediterranei, was cloned in E. coli and completely sequenced. The DNA encodes five closely packed, very large open reading frames reading in one direction. As expected from the chemical structure of rifamycins, ten polyketide synthase modules and a CoA ligase domain were identified in the five open reading frames which contain one to three polyketide synthase modules each. The order of the functional domains on the DNA probably reflects the order in which they are used because each of the modules contains the predicted acetate or propionate transferase, dehydratase, and β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase functions, required for the respective step in rifamycin biosynthesis.     

A yeast gene for trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and its complementation of an Escherichia coli otsA mutant

Abstract A Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene for trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS1) was sequenced. The gene appeared to code for a protein of 495 amino acid residues, giving the protein a molecular mass of 56 kDa. The TPS1 gene was able to restore both osmotolerance and trehalose accumulation during salt stress in an Escherichia coli strain mutated in the otsA gene encoding trehalose-6-phosphate synthase. Complementation studies with E. coli galU mutants showed that the TPS1-encoded trehalose-6-phosphate synthase is UDP-glucose-dependent. Sequence analysis and data base searches showed that TPS1 is allelic to GGS1, byp1, cif1 and fdp1 . A possible gene for trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was identified.     

Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the Dunaliella salina 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene in Escherichia coli

5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase, EC 2.5.1.19) is the sixth enzyme in the shikimate pathway which is essential for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids and many secondary metabolites. The enzyme is widely involved in glyphosate tolerant transgenic plants because it is the primary target of the nonselective herbicide glyphosate. In this study, the Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was cloned by RT-PCR approach. It contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 514 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 54.6 KDa. The derived amino acid sequence showed high homology with other EPSP synthases. The Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant EPSP synthase were identified by functional complementation assay.     

The cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Corynebacterium glutamicum 3-deoxy-d- arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase gene

Abstract The aro gene of Corynebacterium glutamucum CCRC 18310 encoding 3-deoxy- d -arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase was isolated by complementation of a DAHP synthase-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli AB3257. The specific activity of DAHP synthase was increased four-fold in a C. glutamicum strain harboring the cloned aro gene. The complete nucleotide sequence of the aro gene and 5' and 3' flanking regions has been determined. The sequence contained an open reading frame of 368 codons, from which a protein with a molecular mass of 39 340 Da could be predicted. The deduced amino acid sequence shows high identity with the aro gene products of E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium .     

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthetase from Escherichia coli.

The cloning of the gene for Escherichia coli PL-2 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octonate 8-phosphate synthetase is reported. Positive transformants showed an increase of approximately three-fold in specific activity of the enzyme both in E. coli and in Salmonella typhimurium as host cells. A subclone containing a 1.5-kilobase PvuII fragment overproduced active enzyme. Minicell experiments that allow the detection of plasmid encoded proteins revealed an insert-coded single protein band of 34 kilodaltons.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of the Escherichia coli gene encoding carnitine dehydratase.

Carnitine dehydratase from Escherichia coli O44 K74 is an inducible enzyme detectable in cells grown anaerobically in the presence of L-(-)-carnitine or crotonobetaine. The purified enzyme catalyzes the dehydration of L-(-)-carnitine to crotonobetaine (H. Jung, K. Jung, and H.-P. Kleber, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1003:270-276, 1989). The caiB gene, encoding carnitine dehydratase, was isolated by oligonucleotide screening from a genomic library of E. coli O44 K74. The caiB gene is 1,215 bp long, and it encodes a protein of 405 amino acids with a predicted M(r) of 45,074. The identity of the gene product was first assessed by its comigration in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with the purified enzyme after overexpression in the pT7 system and by its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified protein was found to be identical to that predicted from the gene sequence. Northern (RNA) analysis showed that caiB is likely to be cotranscribed with at least one other gene. This other gene could be the gene encoding a 47-kDa protein, which was overexpressed upstream of caiB.     

Genomic organization and biochemistry of the ribulose monophosphate pathway and its application in biotechnology

3-Hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI) are key enzymes catalyzing exergonic reactions of the formaldehyde-fixing reaction and the isomerization of sugar phosphate in the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway. This pathway, which was originally found in methylotrophic bacteria, is now recognized to be widespread in prokaryotes and has been shown to be involved not only in formaldehyde fixation and detoxification but also in pentose phosphate biosynthesis. In this review, we describe the genomic organization and regulation of the genes of the RuMP pathway and then discuss the physiological roles of this pathway in prokaryotes. We further describe the biochemical properties of HPS and PHI. Heterologous expression of HPS and PHI in various organisms allows them to metabolize and detoxify formaldehyde, and we also review recent progress in such applications in biotechnology.     

Cloning of the cellulase gene from Penicillium funiculosum and its expression in Escherichia coli

A gene of Penicillium funiculosum encoding an endoglucanase was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli using the lacZ promoter of vector pUC 18. The gene product hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose and showed strong cross reactivity with P. funiculosum anticellulases.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of Histoplasma capsulatum glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase gene fragment

The 3' part of the glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase gene from Histoplasma capsulatum was PCR amplified using degenerate primers designed from the known glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase gene sequences, cloned and sequenced. The computer analysis of the 676 bp sequence revealed the presence of two introns. The identities of the deduced amino acid sequence to the corresponding Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans fragment are 65 and 63.8%, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.