Highly Efficient Transformation of the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum by Multi-Pulse Electroporation

In our previous studies, a strain of the nonpathogenic, anaerobic, intestinal bacterium, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), was found to be localized selectively and to proliferate within solid tumors after systemic administration. In addition, B. longum transformed with the shuttle-plasmid encoding the cytosine deaminase (CD) gene expressed active CD, which deaminated the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We also reported antitumor efficacy with the same plasmid in several animal experiments. In this study, we constructed a novel shuttle-plasmid, pAV001-HU-eCD-M968, which included the mutant CD gene with a mutation at the active site to increase the enzymatic activity.

In addition, the plasmid-transformed B. longum produces mutant CD and strongly increased (by 10-fold) its 5-FC to 5-FU enzymatic activity. The use of B. longum harboring the new shuttle-plasmid increases the effectiveness of our enzyme/prodrug strategy.     

叶绿体转化三角褐指藻表达外源蛋白

为建立三角褐指藻(Phaeodacty lum tricornutum)叶绿体表达体系,从其叶绿体基因组中克隆了rnS-trnI、trnAml序列作为遗传转化同源重组序列,并以氯霉素抗性基因(CAT)表达盒作为筛选标记,以及绿色荧光蛋白基因(GFP)表达盒作为报告基因.以TA克隆载体pMD19-T为基础,将CAT表达盒...     

Uptake of Nitrate by the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Ammonium-grown cells of P. tricornutum lack ability to takeup nitrate. This ability develops during 3 h of nitrogen-deprivation;development requires concurrent photosynthesis, and is inhibitedby cycloheximide. Nitrate is accumulated by cells with a developednitrate uptake mechanism. Nitrate uptake is inhibited by 10^–5M CCCP and, in darkness, by anaerobiosis; it therefore presumablyrequires ATP which can be supplied by either photophosphorylationor oxidative phosphorylation.     

三角褐指藻基因枪转化体系的建立

三角褐指藻具有较高的脂肪酸含量,是一种很有潜力的生物柴油生产原料。此外,它是多不饱和脂肪酸尤其是二十碳五烯酸（EPA）重要的来源。合适转化体系的缺乏限制了通过基因工程手段对其进行改造。首次采用基因枪方法成功地将外源基因转入三角褐指藻,转化细胞经染色后呈现蓝色,表明外源报告基因β-糖苷酸酶( GUS ) 基因得到了成功的表达。同时还进行了转化参数等因素对转化效率影响的分析,优化了转化条件。结果显示最佳的转化条件为: 每60 μg钨粉包被1 μg质粒DNA,样品室真空度为27英寸汞柱,可裂膜为1500psi,受体与阻挡网距离6 cm。此外,转化载体采用了三角褐指藻内源基因fcp的启动子,实现了外源基因在细胞内的表达。通过5种基因工程中常用抗生素对三角褐指藻生长抑制的研究发现,三角褐指藻对卡那霉素、氨苄青霉素、链霉素和新霉素不敏感,500 mg/L 的卡那霉素、氨苄青霉素和新霉素,以及1000 mg/L 链霉素仍不能抑制其生长;三角褐指藻对氯霉素非常敏感,130 mg/L的氯霉素可以完全抑制其生长,其半抑制浓度为60 mg/L。这为基因工程手段改造三角褐指藻脂肪酸代谢相关途径奠定了基础。     

Photochemical and Nonphotochemical Fluorescence Quenching Processes in the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching was found to exist in the dark-adapted state in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Pretreatment of cells with the uncoupler carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or with nigericin resulted in increases in dark-adapted minimum and maximum fluorescence yields. This suggests that a pH gradient exists across the thylakoid membrane in the dark, which serves to quench fluorescence levels nonphotochemically. The physiological processes involved in establishing this proton gradient were sensitive to anaerobiosis and antimycin A. Based on these results, it is likely that this energization of the thylakoid membrane is due in part to chlororespiration, which involves oxygen-dependent electron flow through the plastoquinone pool. Chlororespiration has been shown previously to occur in diatoms. In addition, we observed that cells treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea exhibited very strong nonphotochemical quenching when illuminated with actinic light. The rate and extent of this quenching were light-intensity dependent. This quenching was reversed upon addition of CCCP or nigericin and was thus due primarily to the establishment of a pH gradient across the thylakoid membrane. Preincubation of cells with CCCP or nigericin or antimycin A completely abolished this quenching. Cyclic electron transport processes around photosystem I may be involved in establishing this proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane under conditions where linear electron transport is inhibited. At steady state under normal physiological conditions, the qualitative changes in photochemical and nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching at increasing photon flux densities were similar to those in higher plants. However, important quantitative differences existed at limiting and saturating intensities. Dissimilarities in the factors that regulate fluorescence quenching mechanisms in these organisms may account for these differences.     

Bt基因甜菜叶绿体转化载体构建及毒蛋白表达

利用植物叶绿体基因组在进化中高度保守的特点,根据烟草、菠菜、水稻叶绿体基因组全序列资料设计合成引物,PCR扩增并克隆了甜菜叶绿体两个重要功能基因rbcL和atpB(GenBank登录号分别为DQ067450和DQ067451),并以其作为定点整合外源基因的同源重组片段,构建了Bt基因CryIAc甜菜叶绿体定点转化载体pSKARBt,酶切鉴定表明:所构建载体符合预期设计。对克隆菌菌体总蛋白进行了生物杀虫试验,结果表明:Bt基因CryIAc能够在叶绿体特异性启动子及终止子的调控下表达,并对二龄末甘蓝夜蛾有很强的毒杀作用。该载体构建对培育甜菜高抗虫品种具有重要应用价值。叶绿体转化及后续工作正在进行中。     

Efficient Transformation System for Propionibacterium freudenreichii Based on a Novel Vector

A 3.6-kb endogenous plasmid was isolated from a Propionibacterium freudenreichii strain and sequenced completely. Based on homologies with plasmids from other bacteria, notably a plasmid from Mycobacterium, a region harboring putative replicative functions was defined. Outside this region two restriction enzyme recognition sites were used for insertion of an Escherichia coli-specific replicon and an erythromycin resistance gene for selection in Propionibacterium. Hybrid vectors obtained in this way replicated in both E. coli and P. freudenreichii. Whereas electroporation of P. freudenreichii with vector DNA isolated from an E. coli transformant yielded 10 to 30 colonies per μg of DNA, use of vector DNA reisolated from a Propionibacterium transformant dramatically increased the efficiency of transformation (≥10⁸ colonies per μg of DNA). It could be shown that restriction-modification was responsible for this effect. The high efficiency of the system described here permitted successful transformation of Propionibacterium with DNA ligation mixtures.     

The Effects of Excess Irradiance on Photosynthesis in the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The response of Phaeodactylum tricornutum to excess light was remarkably similar to that observed in higher plants and green algae and was characterized by complex changes in minimal fluorescence yields of fully dark-adapted samples and declines in maximum variable fluorescence levels and oxygen evolution rates. In our study the parallel decreases in the effective rate constant for photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry, the variable fluorescence yield of a dark-adapted sample, and light-limited O2 evolution rates after short (0-10 min) exposures to photoinhibitory conditions could not be attributed to damage or down-regulation of PSII reaction centers. Instead, these changes were consistent with the presence of nonphotochemical quenching of PSII excitation energy in the antennae. This quenching was analogous to that component of nonphotochemical quenching studied in higher plants that is associated with photoinhibition of photosynthesis and/or processes protecting against photoinhibition in that it did not relax readily in the dark and persisted in the absence of a bulk transthylakoid proton gradient. The quenching was most likely associated with photoprotective processes in the PSII antenna that reduced the extent of photoinhibitory damage, particularly after longer exposures. Our results suggest that a large population of damaged, slowly recovering PSII centers did not form in Phaeodactylum even after 60 min of exposure to excess actinic light.     

三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)通用转化载体的构建

三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)是开展微藻生物柴油研究的理想材料。克隆了内源fcp基因簇的多个调控序列(启动子、终止子),构建了包括fcpB启动子-bar基因-fcpA终止子、以及fcpA启动子-多克隆位点(MCS)-fcpA终止子两个表达盒的通用转化载体pfcpA-MCS/fcpB-Bar,其特征是以bar基因作为选择标记,MCS区方便插入一至多个目的基因。新载体可用于三角褐指藻的重组蛋白表达、或油脂代谢相关基因的功能验证和代谢调控研究。     

Dynamics of Lipid Biosynthesis and Redistribution in the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Under Nitrate Deprivation

One approach to achieve continuous overproduction of lipids in microalgal ??cell factories?? relies upon depletion or removal of nutrients that act as competing electron sinks (e.g., nitrate and sulfate). However, this strategy can only be effective for bioenergy applications if lipid is synthesized primarily de novo (from CO₂ fixation) rather than from the breakdown and interconversion of essential cellular components. In the marine diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, it was determined, using ¹³C-bicarbonate, that cell growth in nitrate (NO ₃ ^? )-deprived cultures resulted predominantly in de novo lipid synthesis (60?% over 3?days), and this new lipid consisted primarily of triacylglycerides (TAGs). Nearly complete preservation of ¹²C occurred in all previously existing TAGs in NO ₃ ^? -deprived cultures and thus, further TAG accumulation would not be expected from inhibition of TAG lipolysis. In contrast, both high turnover and depletion of membrane lipids, phosphatidylcholines (PCs), were observed in NO ₃ ^? -deprived cultures (both the headgroups and fatty acid chains), while less turnover was observed in NO ₃ ^? replete cultures. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry mass spectra and ¹³C labeling patterns of PC headgroups provided insight into lipid synthesis in marine diatoms, including suggestion of an internal pool of glycine betaine that feeds choline synthesis. It was also observed that 16C fatty acid chains incorporated into TAGs and PCs contained an average of 14 ¹³C carbons, indicating substantial incorporation of ¹³C-bicarbonate into fatty acid chains under both nutrient states.     

Light-Harvesting Function in the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum: I. Isolation and Characterization of Pigment-Protein Complexes

Three pigment-protein complexes were isolated from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bohlin) by treatment of thylakoid membrane fragments with 1% Triton X-100 at 4°C followed by centrifugation on sucrose density gradients. The major complex contains chlorophyll a, c₁, c₂, and the carotenoid fucoxanthin (chlorophyll a: c₁: c₂: fucoxanthin = 1.0: 0.09: 0.28: 2.22) bound to an apoprotein doublet of 16.4 and 16.9 kilodaltons. This complex accounts for >70% of the total pigment and 20 to 40% of the protein in the thylakoid membranes. Efficient coupling of chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin absorption to chlorophyll a fluorescence supports a light-harvesting function for the complex. A minor light-harvesting complex containing chlorophyll a, c₁, and c₂ but no fucoxanthin (chlorophyll a: c₁: c₂ = 1.0: 0.23: 0.26) was also isolated at Triton: chlorophyll a ratios between 20 and 40. These pigments are bound to a similar molecular weight apoprotein doublet. The third complex isolated was the P700-chlorophyll a protein, the reaction center of photosystem I, which showed characteristics similar to those isolated from other plant sources. The yield of the chlorophyll a/c-fucoxanthin complex was shown to respond strongly to changes in light intensity during growth, accounting for most of the changes in cellular pigmentation.     

The Uptake of 63Ni by the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Kinetic studies of the uptake of ⁶³Ni by cultures of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin revealed that the uptake capacity of the cells depended strongly on their metabolic state. Phosphate-starved cells gave saturation-type uptake curves and had low nickel-binding capacity. This was increased markedly by the addition of phosphate to the cultures. When nickel ions were added before or together with the phosphate, the increase in nickel-binding capacity of phosphate-starved cells failed to appear more or less completely. Uptake of phosphate and formation of polyphosphate by the cells were not affected by the addition of nickel to the growth medium. The phosphate dependent synthesis of the principle involved in nickel binding was induced 15–20 h after the addition of phosphate to starved cells. Whether phosphate was directly or indirectly involved in this process could not be established.     

Effects of Metal Combinations on the Production of Phytochelatins and Glutathione by the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Copper, Cd and Zn can be found at elevated concentrations in contaminated estuarine and coastal waters and have potential toxic effects on phytoplankton species. In this study, the effects of these metals on the intracellular production of the polypeptides phytochelatin and glutathione by the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum were examined in laboratory cultures. Single additions of Cu and Cd (0.4 μM Cu² and 0.45 μM Cd²⁺) to the culture medium induced the production of short-chained phytochelatins ((γ-Glu-Cys)_n-Gly where n = 2–5), whereas a single addition of Zn (2.2 μM Zn²⁺) did not stimulate phytochelatin production. Combination of Zn with Cu resulted in a similar phytochelatin production compared with a single Cu addition. The simultaneous exposure to Zn and Cd led to an antagonistic effect on phytochelatin production, which was probably caused by metal competition for cellular binding sites. Glutathione concentrations were affected only upon exposure to Cd (85% increase) or the combination of Cd with Zn (65% decrease), relative to the control experiment. Ratios of phytochelatins to glutathione indicated a pronounced metal stress in response to exposures to Cu or Cd combined with Zn. This study indicates that variabilities in phytochelatin and glutathione production in the field can be explained in part by metal competition for cellular binding sites.     

Potassium and Photosynthesis in the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum as Related to Washes with Sodium Chloride

Three washes of Phaeodactylum tricornutum with potassium free sodium chloride solution reduced the potassium content of the cells to approximately 7% of the control value at pH 7.0. There was a concomitant reduction of the light induced evolution of oxygen to a value of approximately 20% of the control value. This reduction was less at pH 8.0. Addition of potassium to the washed cells gave rise, after 15 min, to a partial regain of the photosynthetic activity and of cellular potassium. Activities of the two photosystems as assayed here were not dependent on the maintainance of a high potassium content in the cells. The level of ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase activity was the same whether the cells had been washed with potassium free or potassium containing saline. Ruptured cells rapidly lost their ability to catalyse the photoreduction of dichlorophenolindophenol by water.     

水稻叶绿体16S启动子克隆改造、载体构建及转化研究

利用PCR方法从水稻叶绿体基因组DNA中分离16S启动子, 并在其下游加入rbcL基因SD序列,以增强该启动子的翻译能力;序列分析表明, 除加入的SD序列外, 扩增片段与水稻（Oryza sativa）叶绿体基因组DNA序列16S启动子相应区域同源性为100%。将16S启动子与bar基因和gfp基因的融合基因连接,以psbA基因的3′序列为终止子, 并以烟草叶绿体trnH-psbA和trnK为同源片段构建了烟草叶绿体表达载体pR16S。 用基因枪转化烟草, 转化植株经Southern、Northern检测及后代遗传学分析, 发现16S启动子具有启动活性, 融合基因已在烟草叶绿体中稳定整合并遵循母系遗传规律。     

水稻叶绿体16S启动子克隆改造、载体构建及转化研究

利用PCR方法从水稻叶绿体基因组DNA中分离16S启动子,并在其下游加入rbcL基因SD序列,以增强该启动子的翻译能力;序列分析表明,除加入的SD序列外,扩增片段与水稻(Oryza sativa)叶绿体基因组DNA序列16S启动子相应区域同源性为100％。将16S启动子与bar基因和gfp基因的融合基因连接,以psbA基因的3′序列为终止子,并以烟草叶绿体trnH—psbA和trnK为同源片段构建了烟草叶绿体表达载体pRl6S。用基因枪转化烟草,转化植株经Southern、Northern检测及后代遗传学分析,发现：16S启动子具有启动活性,融合基因已在烟草叶绿体中稳定整合并遵循母系遗传规律。     

Effects of Glycerol on the Fluorescence Spectra and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyta)

Responses of the photosynthetic activity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyta) to organic carbon glycerol were investigated. The growth rate, photosynthetic pigments, 77 K fluorescence spectra, and chloroplast ultrastructure of P. tricornutum were examined under photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic conditions. The results showed that the specific growth rate was the fastest under mixotrophic conditions. The cell photosynthetic pigment content and values of Chl a/Chl c were reduced under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. The value of carotenoid/Chl a was enhanced under mixotrophic conditions, but was decreased under photoheterotrophic conditions. In comparison with photoautotrophic conditions, the fluorescence emission peaks and fluorescence excitation peaks were not shifted. The relative fluorescence of photosystem (PS) Ⅰ and PS Ⅱ and the values of F6851F710 and F685/F738 were decreased. Chloroplast thylakoid pairs were less packed under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. There was a strong correlation between degree of chloroplast thylakoid packing and the excitation energy kept in PS Ⅱ. These results suggested that the PS Ⅱ activity was reduced by glycerol under mixotrophic conditions, thereby leading to repression of the photosynthetic activity.