Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the cell surface glycoprotein of Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1

The triangular disk-shaped halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1 has a glycoprotein on its cell surface. The complete gene encoding the cell surface glycoprotein (CSG) was cloned and sequenced. The gene has an open reading frame of 2586 bp, and a potential archaeal promoter sequence approximately 150 bp upstream of the ATG initiation codon. The mature CSG is composed of 828 amino acids and is preceded by a signal sequence of 34 amino acid residues. A hydropathy analysis showed a hydrophobic stretch at the C-terminus, that probably serves as a transmembrane domain. The amino acid sequence of the Ha. japonica CSG showed 52.1% and 43.2% identities to those from the Halobacterium halobium and Haloferax volcanii CSGs, respectively. Five potential N-glycosylation sites were found in the mature Ha. japonica CSG, sites that were distinctly different from those in Hb. halobium and Hf. volcanii. The Ha. japonica CSG gene was expressed in Escherichia coli. Received: 20 September 1996 / Accepted: 9 October 1996     

Purification and characterization of a ferredoxin from Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1

A ferredoxin (Fd) was purified from the extremely halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula japonica strain TR- 1, to electrophoretic homogeneity. The apparent molecular weight (M _r) of the Fd was estimated to be 24,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The amino acid composition analysis revealed that the Fd composed of a number of acidic amino acids (uncorrected for amides). The N-terminal amino acid sequence (30 residues) was determined to be: PTVEYLNYEVVDDNGWDMYDDDVFAEASDM. The iron content was 3.42±0.04 mol/mol-Fd on the basis of the apparent M _r value. The absorption and ESR spectra of the Fd showed similarity to those of Fds from plant and Halobacterium halobium. These results led us to conclude that the H. japonica Fd contained a [2Fe-2S] cluster.     

Cloning and expression of the ferredoxin gene from extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1

The gene encoding a ferredoxin (Fd) from Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1 was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of the cloned Ha. japonica Fd gene revealed that the structural gene consisted of an open reading frame of 387 nucleotides encoding 129 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of Ha. japonica Fd showed 84 to 98% identity with corresponding sequences in other extremely halophilic archaea. The Ha. japonica Fd gene was inserted into the shuttle vector pWL102 and used to transform Ha. japonica. Ha. japonica Fd could then be produced as a fusion with HisTag (6xHis) in Ha. japonica host cells. The absorption and ESR spectra of the Fd/HisTag fusion protein revealed the presence of a [2Fe-2S] cluster which is characteristic of native Ha. japonica Fd.     

Molecular cloning of A1-ATPase gene from extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1.

The genes encoding A1-ATPase A- and B-subunits were cloned from Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the A1-ATPase gene revealed that the A- and B-subunits consisted of 586 and 473 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the A- and B-subunits of Ha. japonica showed high identities with those of Halobacterium salinarum and Haloferax volcanii. The consensus ATP-binding motif was found in the A-subunit.     

Cloning and sequencing of ftsZ homolog from extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1.

The gene encoding FtZ was cloned from triangular disc-shaped extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the possible ftsZ gene revealed that the structural gene consisted of an open reading frame of 1,182 nucleotides encoding 394 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Ha. japonica FtsZ showed high identities with those Halobacterium salinarom, Haloferax volcanii and Haloferax mediterranei FtsZs.     

An extracellular halophilic protease SptA from a halophilic archaeon Natrinema sp. J7: gene cloning, expression and characterization

A gene encoding an extracellular protease, sptA, was cloned from the halophilic archaeon Natrinema sp. J7. It encoded a polypeptide of 565 amino acids containing a putative 49-amino acid signal peptide, a 103-amino acid propeptide, as well as a mature region and C-terminal extension, with a high proportion of acidic amino acid residues. The sptA gene was expressed in Haloferax volcanii WFD11, and the recombinant enzyme could be secreted into the medium as an active mature form. The N-terminal amino acid sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of the purified SptA protease indicated that the 152-amino acid prepropeptide was cleaved and the C-terminal extension was not processed after secretion. The SptA protease was optimally active at 50°C in 2.5 M NaCl at pH 8.0. The NaCl removed enzyme retained 20% of its activity, and 60% of the activity could be restored by reintroducing 2.5 M NaCl into the NaCl removed enzyme. When the twin-arginine motif in the signal peptide of SptA protease was replaced with a twin-lysine motif, the enzyme was not exported from Hfx. volcanii WFD11, suggesting that the SptA protease was a Tat-dependent substrate.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorised users in the online version of this article at .     

AMP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase from the extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula marismortui: purification, identification and expression of the encoding gene, and phylogenetic affiliation

Halophilic archaea activate acetate via an (acetate)-inducible AMP-forming acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), (Acetate + ATP + CoA Acetyl-CoA + AMP + PP_i). The enzyme from Haloarcula marismortui was purified to homogeneity. It constitutes a 72-kDa monomer and exhibited a temperature optimum of 41°C and a pH optimum of 7.5. For optimal activity, concentrations between 1 M and 1.5 M KCl were required, whereas NaCl had no effect. The enzyme was specific for acetate (100%) additionally accepting only propionate (30%) as substrate. The kinetic constants were determined in both directions of the reaction at 37°C. Using the N-terminal amino acid sequence an open reading frame — coding for a 74 kDa protein — was identified in the partially sequenced genome of H. marismortui. The function of the ORF as acs gene was proven by functional overexpression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was reactivated from inclusion bodies, following solubilization in urea and refolding in the presence of salts, reduced and oxidized glutathione and substrates. Refolding was dependent on salt concentrations of at least 2 M KCl. The recombinant enzyme showed almost identical molecular and catalytic properties as the native enzyme. Sequence comparison of the Haloarcula ACS indicate high similarity to characterized ACSs from bacteria and eukarya and the archaeon Methanosaeta. Phylogenetic analysis of ACS sequences from all three domains revealed a distinct archaeal cluster suggesting monophyletic origin of archaeal ACS.     

A dihydrofolate reductase gene from Candida albicans: molecular cloning

The dihydrofolate reductase gene from Candida albicans has been cloned and partially characterized. A genomic bank from C. albicans strain 10127/5 was constructed in Escherichia coli and screened for trimethoprim resistance. A plasmid pMF1, carrying the resistance marker was isolated and characterized by restriction mapping and Southern blotting. Cells harbouring pMF1 were as sensitive as the parental cells to a wide spectrum of antibacterial agents, except for trimethoprim; the dihydrofolate reductase activity from these cells was trimethoprim resistant.     

Enhancement of nematicidal potential through cloning and expression of chitinase gene from Bacillus subtilis subsp. Subtilis BTN7A strain

A gene encoding chitinase from B. subtilis has been isolated after optimization of PCR conditions. It was cloned with two different prometers, T7 promoter of the pJET1.2/blunt cloning vector and the SP6 promoter of pGEM®-T Easy vector. After transforming E. coli DH5α, two transformants were selected, CHI-NRC-4 from the first vector and T-CHI-NRC-6 from the second vector, and used for further studies. The complete CDS sequence of chitinase gene was determined and submitted to GenBank with the accession number KX268692.1. Culture supernatants of E. coli (CHI-NRC-4) and E. coli (T-CHI-NRC-6) were investigated for their inhibitory effect on M. javanica egg hatch under laboratory conditions. Result showed up to 96% inhibition in egg hatching due to both E. coli transformants as compared to control which reflect the same expression efficiency of both used prometers. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the nematicidal effect of culture supernatants of the two transformts E. coli (CHI-NRC-4) and E. coli (T-CHI-NRC-6) against M. javanica infected eggplant. Obtained results showed a significant reduction in nematode population in soil and roots and enhancement in eggplant growth parameters as compared to control.     

中华绒螯蟹蜕皮抑制激素1(Ers-MIH1)基因组DNA的分子克隆和序列分析

运用反向PCR (IPCR)技术首次克隆得到全长为 3 50 6bp的中华绒螯蟹 (Eriocheirjaponicasinensis)蜕皮抑制激素 1(MIH 1)基因组DNA序列 (GenBank检索号 :AY3 10 3 13 )。该序列包括 3个外显子、 2个内含子、 412bp的 5′端上游调控区和 917bp的 3′端UTR。编码区的第 1个内含子将信号肽分开 ,第 2个内含子将成熟肽分开。MIH 1基因的外显子和内含子接头区符合受体拼接点和供体拼接点的GT AG法则。MIH 1基因412bp的 5′端侧翼区含有和其它真核基因相似的启动子元件 ,即包括与其它节肢动物高度相似的起始子、TATA盒以及cAMP效应元件结合蛋白的结合位点序列。中华绒螯蟹MIH 1基因的组织方式与斑纹和食用黄道蟹的MIH基因相同。推导的多肽由 75个氨基酸的成熟肽和 3 5个氨基酸的信号肽组成 ,成熟肽的氨基酸序列和食用黄道蟹、三叶真蟹及美洲黄道蟹的一致性在 64% -65%之间     

Cloning and sequencing analysis of Trp1 gene of Flammulina velutipes

The genomic TRP1 gene from basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes was cloned by complementation of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae trp1 mutation. Sequencing analysis revealed that the TRP1 gene encoded a single protein consisting of three catalytic functional domains; glutamine amidotransferase, indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase ) and N-(5'-phosphoribosyl) anthranilate isomerase, in order of NH2-glutamine amidotransferase-indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase N-(5'-phosphoribosyl) anthranilate isomerase-COOH. The coding sequence of the TRP1 gene was interrupted by a single intron of 48 bases, the position and flanking sequences of which were highly homologous to those of basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium trpC.     

A novel esterase from Ralstonia sp. M1: gene cloning, sequencing, high-level expression and characterization

A newly isolated gene from Ralstonia sp. M1, encoding an esterase, was cloned in Escherichia coli and its nucleotide sequence determined. The 1.6kb insert revealed one complete open reading frame, predicted to encode an esterase (320 aa, 34.1kDa) with a pI of 9.86. EstR contained a putative oxyanion hole H36G37, a conserved pentapeptide G103HSLG107 and a conserved catalytic His265 and Asp237. The EstR sequence shared 64-70 and 44-48% identity with the hydrolases/acyltransferases from Burkholderia strains and from Ralstonia strains, respectively, 44 and 38% identity with the lactone-specific esterase from Pseudomonas fluorescens and Mesorhizobium loti, respectively. The esterase EstR was expressed with a high level of 41mg/g wet cells. The Ni-NTA-purified esterase EstR showed an optimal activity in the temperature range 60-65 degrees C and pH range 7.5-9.0 towards p-nitrophenyl caproate. The enzyme was found to be highly resistant to many organic solvents especially induced by ethanolamine. Metal ions showed slight effect on esterase activity. The inhibitor phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited strongly the esterase. Triton X-45 induced the activation of EstR, but other detergents slightly to strongly decreased or completely inhibited. Among tested p-NP esters, caproate was the most preferential substrate of this esterase.