Evolutionary trajectory of phytoalexin biosynthetic gene clusters in rice

Plants frequently possess operon‐like gene clusters for specialized metabolism. Cultivated rice, Oryza sativa, produces antimicrobial diterpene phytoalexins represented by phytocassanes and momilactones, and the majority of their biosynthetic genes are clustered on chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively. These labdane‐related diterpene phytoalexins are biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl diphosphate via ent‐copalyl diphosphate or syn‐copalyl diphosphate. The two gene clusters consist of genes encoding diterpene synthases and chemical‐modification enzymes including P450s. In contrast, genes for the biosynthesis of gibberellins, which are labdane‐related phytohormones, are scattered throughout the rice genome similar to other plant genomes. The mechanism of operon‐like gene cluster formation remains undefined despite previous studies in other plant species. Here we show an evolutionary insight into the rice gene clusters by a comparison with wild Oryza species. Comparative genomics and biochemical studies using wild rice species from the AA genome lineage, including Oryza barthii, Oryza glumaepatula, Oryza meridionalis and the progenitor of Asian cultivated rice Oryza rufipogon indicate that gene clustering for biosynthesis of momilactones and phytocassanes had already been accomplished before the domestication of rice. Similar studies using the species Oryza punctata from the BB genome lineage, the distant FF genome lineage species Oryza brachyantha and an outgroup species Leersia perrieri suggest that the phytocassane biosynthetic gene cluster was present in the common ancestor of the Oryza species despite the different locations, directions and numbers of their member genes. However, the momilactone biosynthetic gene cluster evolved within Oryza before the divergence of the BB genome via assembly of ancestral genes.     

Phylogeny of Streptomyces species and evidence for horizontal transfer of entire and partial antibiotic gene clusters

The phylogenetic relationships of a collection of streptomycete soil isolates and type strains were resolved by sequence analysis of trpB,a housekeeping gene involved in tryptophan biosynthesis. The analysis confirmed that two isolates were recipients in a gene transfer event, demonstrated by phylogenetic incongruency between trpB and strB1 trees. One strain had acquired the entire streptomycin biosynthetic cluster, whilst the other contained only strRAB1, the resistance gene and two flanking genes from the cluster. Sequence analysis of trpB, as part of a polyphasic approach, was a useful tool in determining intra-generic relationships within the genus Streptomyces.     

Evolutionary process of amino acid biosynthesis in Corynebacterium at the whole genome level

Corynebacterium glutamicum, which is the closest relative of Corynebacterium efficiens, is widely used for the large scale production of many kinds of amino acids, particularly glutamic acid and lysine, by fermentation. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which is well known as a human pathogen, is also closely related to these two species of Corynebacteria, but it lacks such productivity of amino acids. It is an important and interesting question to ask how those closely related bacterial species have undergone such significant functional differentiation in amino acid biosynthesis. The main purpose of the present study is to clarify the evolutionary process of functional differentiation among the three species of Corynebacteria by conducting a comparative analysis of genome sequences. When Mycobacterium and Streptomyces were used as out groups, our comparative study suggested that the common ancestor of Corynebacteria already possessed almost all of the gene sets necessary for amino acid production. However, C. diphtheriae was found to have lost the genes responsible for amino acid production. Moreover, we found that the common ancestor of C. efficiens and C. glutamicum have acquired some of genes responsible for amino acid production by horizontal gene transfer. Thus, we conclude that the evolutionary events of gene loss and horizontal gene transfer must have been responsible for functional differentiation in amino acid biosynthesis of the three species of Corynebacteria.     

Impacts of anthropogenic activity on the ecology of class 1 integrons and integron-associated genes in the environment

The impact of human activity on the selection for antibiotic resistance in the environment is largely unknown, although considerable amounts of antibiotics are introduced through domestic wastewater and farm animal waste. Selection for resistance may occur by exposure to antibiotic residues or by co-selection for mobile genetic elements (MGEs) which carry genes of varying activity. Class 1 integrons are genetic elements that carry antibiotic and quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) resistance genes that confer resistance to detergents and biocides. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of class 1 integron and integron-associated QAC resistance genes in bacteria associated with industrial waste, sewage sludge and pig slurry. We show that prevalence of class 1 integrons is higher in bacteria exposed to detergents and/or antibiotic residues, specifically in sewage sludge and pig slurry compared with agricultural soils to which these waste products are amended. We also show that QAC resistance genes are more prevalent in the presence of detergents. Studies of class 1 integron prevalence in sewage sludge amended soil showed measurable differences compared with controls. Insertion sequence elements were discovered in integrons from QAC contaminated sediment, acting as powerful promoters likely to upregulate cassette gene expression. On the basis of this data, >1 × 10¹⁹ bacteria carrying class 1 integrons enter the United Kingdom environment by disposal of sewage sludge each year.     

昆虫水平基因转移及其研究进展

水平基因转移(horizontal gene transfer, HGT)是生物体获得遗传信息的方式之一,对生物体进化起重要作用。近年来,越来越多昆虫中的水平基因转移现象被报道,如在鳞翅目(如家蚕、甜菜夜蛾、小菜蛾、斜纹夜蛾)、半翅目(如柑橘粉蚧、烟粉虱)、鞘翅目(如咖啡果小蠹、米象、光肩星天牛)、膜翅目(如金小蜂)、双翅目(如果蝇、白纹伊蚊)等昆虫中广泛存在水平转移基因,且不同的水平转移基因对昆虫的营养合成与共生、吸收与消化、毒素产生与解毒、生长和发育、体色改变等方面有着重要作用。本文结合国内外专家学者的相关报道,就HGT的研究步骤与技术方法、评判HGT发生的方法、昆虫HGT的供体与功能几个方面进行了总结和讨论,以期更加深入地了解水平基因转移现象,为探究水平基因转移的作用机制、理解昆虫的进化、遗传和行为、并将水平基因转移应用到农业生产中为农业害虫的绿色防治提供更多思路。     

环境中抗生素抗性基因的水平传播扩散

抗生素抗性基因作为一类新型环境污染物,其在不同环境介质中的传播扩散可能比抗生素本身的环境危害更大,其中,水平基因转移是抗生素抗性基因传播的重要方式,是造成抗性基因环境污染日益严重的原因之一.本文系统阐述了抗生素抗性基因在环境中发生水平转移的主要分子传播元件及其影响因素,这对于正确揭示抗性基因的分子传播机制具有重要意义.结合多重抗药性的传播扩散机制,探讨了行之有效的遏制抗生素抗性基因传播扩散的方法和途径,并针对目前的污染现状,对今后有关抗生素抗性基因水平转移的研究重点进行了展望.     

Predictive modeling of non‐viral gene transfer

In non‐viral gene delivery, the variance of transgenic expression stems from the low number of plasmids successfully transferred. Here, we experimentally determine Lipofectamine‐ and PEI‐mediated exogenous gene expression distributions from single cell time‐lapse analysis. Broad Poisson‐like distributions of steady state expression are observed for both transfection agents, when used with synchronized cell lines. At the same time, co‐transfection analysis with YFP‐ and CFP‐coding plasmids shows that multiple plasmids are simultaneously expressed, suggesting that plasmids are delivered in correlated units (complexes). We present a mathematical model of transfection, where a stochastic, two‐step process is assumed, with the first being the low‐probability entry step of complexes into the nucleus, followed by the subsequent release and activation of a small number of plasmids from a delivered complex. This conceptually simple model consistently predicts the observed fraction of transfected cells, the cotransfection ratio and the expression level distribution. It yields the number of efficient plasmids per complex and elucidates the origin of the associated noise, consequently providing a platform for evaluating and improving non‐viral vectors. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010. 105: 805–813. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evidence for transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes in soil populations of streptomycetes

Phylogenetic analysis was used to evaluate the hypothesis of gene transfer in streptomycetes, many of which are antibiotic producers. The diversity and possible origins of streptomycin-resistance genes was investigated for a population of Streptomyces strains isolated from a site in Brazil where antibiotic production had previously been implicated. The analysis provides compelling evidence for the transfer of these genes. Examination of other Streptomyces -type strains also reveals a scattered distribution of streptomycin producers with respect to the overall phylogeny. These results suggest that horizontal gene transfer may be an important factor in the evolution of antibiotic genes in streptomycetes.     

Streptomycetes: Surrogate hosts for the genetic manipulation of biosynthetic gene clusters and production of natural products

Due to the worldwide prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and high incidence of diseases such as cancer, there is an urgent need for the discovery and development of new drugs. Nearly half of the FDA-approved drugs are derived from natural products that are produced by living organisms, mainly bacteria, fungi, and plants. Commercial development is often limited by the low yield of the desired compounds expressed by the native producers. In addition, recent advances in whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics have revealed an abundance of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters within microbial genomes. Genetic manipulation of clusters in the native host is commonly used to awaken poorly expressed or silent gene clusters, however, the lack of feasible genetic manipulation systems in many strains often hinders our ability to engineer the native producers. The transfer of gene clusters into heterologous hosts for expression of partial or entire biosynthetic pathways is an approach that can be used to overcome this limitation. Heterologous expression also facilitates the chimeric fusion of different biosynthetic pathways, leading to the generation of “unnatural” natural products. The genus Streptomyces is especially known to be a prolific source of drugs/antibiotics, its members are often used as heterologous expression hosts. In this review, we summarize recent applications of Streptomyces species, S. coelicolor, S. lividans, S. albus, S. venezuelae and S. avermitilis, as heterologous expression systems.     

Cloning of the organophosphorus pesticide hydrolase gene clusters of seven degradative bacteria isolated from a methyl parathion contaminated site and evidence of their horizontal gene transfer

Seven organophosphorus pesticide-degrading bacteria harboring the methyl parathion degrading (mpd) gene were isolated from a methyl parathion contaminated site. In this study, the 4.7 kb mpd gene cluster, conserved in all seven bacteria capable of degrading methyl parathion, was cloned and further analysis revealed that this cluster contained five ORFs and the mpd gene was associated with a mobile element, IS6100. In addition to mpd gene ORF and tnpA ORF, three other ORFs showed high homology to the permease component of ABC-type transport system, the general secretion pathway protein B, and the RNA polymerase sigma 70 factor, respectively. The mpd genes of these 7 strains were subcloned and expressed in E. coli, SDS-PAGE and zymogram analysis showed that two expression products of mpd genes in E. coli were found, but the one without signal peptide showed the hydrolytic activities. Our evidences collectively suggest that mpd gene cluster may be disseminated through horizontal gene transfer based on phylogenetic analysis of the cluster and their host bacterial strains, and comparisons of GC content of the cluster and respective host’s chromosome.     

病毒生态学研究进展

病毒是目前所知的最简单的生命单元,通常由外壳蛋白和包裹在外壳蛋白内的核酸两部分组成。病毒本身缺乏完整的酶系统及能量转化系统,当游离于环境中时,它只是一个有机大分子,只有侵染宿主后才具有生命特征,进行复制。病毒也是地球上最丰富的生物实体,是微生物群落和功能的重要影响因素。尽管病毒在生态系统中发挥着重要的作用,但因病毒间缺少通用的标记基因,病毒生态学的研究远远滞后于细菌和真核生物。近年来高通量测序技术的发展应用帮助人们发现和认识了许多未知的新病毒及其基因,极大地丰富了病毒基因数据库,直接推动了病毒生态学的发展。从生态学角度对病毒的结构与分类、病毒生态学研究方法、病毒的生态功能及土壤病毒生态学研究进展作一简要综述,并提出今后土壤病毒生态学研究的重点。