嗜热四膜虫两类不同金属硫蛋白的功能补偿分析简

为了分析嗜热四膜虫两类金属硫蛋白之间的关系,研究分别构建了MTT1-MTT3和MTT2-MTT4的基因敲除载体,通过同源重组获得敲除大核MTT1-MTT3和MTT2-MTT4的两种嗜热四膜虫突变体细胞株△MTT1-MTT3和△MTT2-MTT4。两种突变体细胞株暴露在Cd2+、Cu2+和H2O2的生长表现出显著不同,△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞对Cd2+的耐受性显著下降,而△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞对Cu2+和H2O2的耐受性均显著下降。实时荧光定量PCR分析不同突变体中其他MTT基因的表达变化,在△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞株中,MTT5的表达水平下调,在500μmol/L Cu2+处理后,△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞中MTT1、MTT3和MTT5表达相对野生型分别上调6.1、9.5和8.5倍。在△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞中,MTT2、MTT4和MTT5的表达水平下调,当5μmol/L Cd2+处理后,△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞株MTT5表达水平相对野生型上调2.9倍,而MTT2和MTT4表达水平相对野生型分别下降了4.9倍和2.5倍。结果表明嗜热四膜虫中的金属硫蛋白MTT1、MTT3和MTT5主要参与细胞的重金属解毒功能;而MTT2和MTT4主要参与细胞内正常的新陈代谢功能,不同的金属硫蛋白基因之间的表达存在相互调控和功能补偿。     

嗜热四膜虫两类不同金属硫蛋白的功能补偿分析

为了分析嗜热四膜虫两类金属硫蛋白之间的关系,研究分别构建了MTT1-MTT3和MTT2-MTT4的基因敲除载体,通过同源重组获得敲除大核MTT1-MTT3和MTT2-MTT4的两种嗜热四膜虫突变体细胞株△MTT1-MTT3和△MTT2-MTT4。两种突变体细胞株暴露在Cd2+、Cu2+和H2O2的生长表现出显著不同,△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞对Cd2+的耐受性显著下降,而△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞对Cu2+和H2O2的耐受性均显著下降。实时荧光定量PCR分析不同突变体中其他MTT基因的表达变化,在△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞株中,MTT5的表达水平下调,在500 mol/L Cu2+处理后,△MTT2-MTT4突变体细胞中MTT1、MTT3和MTT5表达相对野生型分别上调6.1、9.5和8.5倍。在△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞中,MTT2、MTT4和MTT5的表达水平下调,当5 mol/L Cd2+处理后,△MTT1-MTT3突变体细胞株MTT5表达水平相对野生型上调2.9倍,而MTT2和MTT4表达水平相对野生型分别下降了4.9倍和2.5倍。结果表明嗜热四膜虫中的金属硫蛋白MTT1、MTT3和MTT5主要参与细胞的重金属解毒功能;而MTT2和MTT4主要参与细胞内正常的新陈代谢功能,不同的金属硫蛋白基因之间的表达存在相互调控和功能补偿。       

底物种类和浓度对污泥重金属生物淋滤效果的影响

以生污泥为材料,研究单质硫(浓度分别为5、10、20 g/L)、FeSO4?7H2O (浓度分别为10、20 g/L）和硫代硫酸钠（浓度分别为10、20 g/L）三种底物的不同浓度对污泥中Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Cr和Ni六种重金属生物淋滤效果的影响。结果表明：单质硫的致酸性最好,第4天pH值就达到2.0左右,Zn、Cu、Pb、Cr和Ni的滤出量最大（原污泥Cd未检出）,并以底物投放浓度在10～20 g/L为佳。FeSO4?7H2O的致酸性和重金属滤出量较单质硫弱。硫代硫酸钠在浓度10 g/L时,致酸性和重金属的滤出量介于单质硫和FeSO4?7H2O之间,但浓度20 g/L时滤液呈碱性,重金属难于滤出甚至不滤出。     

水稻突触融合相关蛋白基因(OsKNOLLE)在酵母中的异源表达及在非生物胁迫中的作用初探

突触融合相关蛋白属于多功能蛋白家族SNARE(SolubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment pro-tein receptor)的亚家族蛋白,这类家族在植物的许多生理过程中都起着非常重要的作用。为探明水稻突触融合相关蛋白OsKNOLLE(Syntaxin-related protein KNOLLE)的功能,文章从"中花11"水稻根中克隆OsKNOLLE基因的CDS序列并构建到酵母表达载体pYX212上,同时转化酿酒酵母菌株BY4741。通过比较不同酵母转化子在多种非生物因子胁迫下的表型,显示转OsKNOLLE酵母菌比对照菌适应逆境能力更强,表明OsKNOLLE与盐、Cu2+、H2O2、Cd2+、Hg2+胁迫相关,推测OsKNOLLE在植物对逆境的耐性中发挥重要作用。本研究为OsKNOLLE基因的研究提供方法支持,同时明确了其与不同非生物因子的相关性。     

镉和铜对嗜热四膜虫金属硫蛋白基因的诱导表达

本文在荧光定量PCR优化的基础上,利用该技术考察了不同浓度的重金属镉和铜对嗜热四膜虫金属硫蛋白基因(MTT1)诱导表达的变化规律。结果表明MTT1基因的表达对镉离子的诱导更灵敏,且在一定阈值浓度(≤35.2μmol/L)范围内,镉离子浓度升高会增加MTT1基因表达量,超过该阈值后表达量迅速下降;镉与铜同时诱导时MTT1基因的表达情况与镉单独诱导的类似,但阈值浓度减小为22μmol/L,表明二者的联合毒性为协同作用。镉离子浓度低于22μmol/L时,与铜离子的共同作用会大大增加MTT1基因的表达量,从而增强了四膜虫的解毒能力。     

木薯SWEETs基因家族生物信息学及表达特性研究

SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters)是植物中新发现的一类编码糖转运蛋白的基因,它在植物生长发育及糖代谢过程中发挥重要作用。该基因家族在木薯(Manihot esculenta)中尚未有详细的报道。本研究从Phytozome数据库获得了28个木薯SWEET候选基因并对其进行生物信息学分析,在华南124的木薯苗中通过荧光定量实验检测SWEET基因在旱胁迫下的表达水平。结果发现木薯SWEET基因被分为4簇,主要分布在第6条和第14条染色体上,编码234 aa与302 aa之间的氨基酸序列;木薯SWEET基因家族的表达在旱胁迫条件下发生了变化,其中明显上调的基因有9个,包括MeSWEET1b、MeSWEET2a、MeSWEET6、MeSWEET9a、MeSWEET9b、MeSWEET12、MeSWEET15a、MeSWEET15b和MeSWEET16c;而表达量明显下调的基因也有9个,为MeSWEET2b、MeSWEET3b、MeSWEET4、MeSWEET7、MeSWEET11、MeSWEET16a、MeSWEET16b、MeSWEET17a和MeSWEET17c。这些结果为进一步阐明SWEET基因家族在木薯中的功能提供理论依据。     

菜豆病程相关蛋白基因在重金属胁迫下的表达分析

为探讨植物抗重金属的分子机理 ,差别筛选了 Hg Cl2 胁迫的菜豆 ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.)叶片 c DNA库 ,分离出一个重金属胁迫响应基因 Pv SR4克隆 .c DNA和氨基酸序列分析表明 Pv SR4编码一种细胞内病程相关蛋白 ,该蛋白具有 RNase活性 .Northern blot分析表明 Pv SR4基因在正常生长条件下的叶片中不表达 ,重金属 ( Hg、Cd、As、Zn和 Cu等 )和水杨酸能强烈地诱导其基因的表达 ,受伤也能促进该基因的转录 ,而热胁迫几乎没有调节作用 .推测 Pv SR4蛋白在诱导植物的抗逆性和抵抗重金属胁迫方面有重要作用     

超积累植物伴矿景天镉耐受基因SpMT2的分离及功能鉴定

超积累植物由于其对重金属具有地上部超积累以及超耐受等特性,不仅是研究植物离子转运及毒性耐受的理想模式,而且在植物修复的发展和应用中具有不可替代的作用。伴矿景天是近年在我国境内发现的一种景天科镉(Cd)/锌(Zn)超积累植物。为鉴定其富集和耐受Cd的关键基因,笔者构建了其酵母表达cDNA文库,利用酵母的遗传互补系统筛选到一个极大提高了酵母抗Cd能力的基因SpMT2。SpMT2属于富含半胱氨酸(Cys)的金属硫蛋白(Metallothionein)家族。亚细胞定位表明SpMT2表达于酵母细胞质中,并特异地提高酵母对Cd的抗性。进一步研究发现SpMT2的表达显著降低了酵母液泡中Cd含量,但酵母吸收的总Cd含量无显著变化。推测抗性增加是由于SpMT2在酵母细胞质中通过螯合Cd从而降低Cd对酵母的毒害。qRT-PCR分析表明SpMT2在伴矿景天的根和地上部都高丰度表达,且不受Cd诱导变化。鉴于SpMT2也定位于植物细胞质中,结合上述结果,推测SpMT2可能在伴矿景天细胞质中螯合Cd,在降低Cd毒害的同时可能还保持Cd在细胞质中的流动性,从而在Cd长途转运过程中也发挥重要作用。     

团头鲂foxO基因家族的序列特征及表达分析

为了研究鱼类foxO(Forkhead box O)基因的功能, 基于组学测序及PCR扩增获得了团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)foxO家族7个基因, foxO1a/b、foxO3a/b、foxO4和foxO6a/b的编码序列, 分别为1965、1892、1929、1959、1878、1803和2157 bp。SMART结构域分析显示该家族基因属于典型的FoxO家族蛋白, 具有保守的Forkhead、FOXO_KIX_bdg和 FOXO-TAD结构域。系统进化分析显示, 团头鲂FoxO与其他鲤科鱼类的同源基因具有较高的相似性。基于qPCR分析显示7个基因在所检测的9个组织中均有表达, 但在各组织间存在表达差异, 其中foxO4在血液中表达量最高, foxO6a在肝脏中表达量最高, 而foxO6b在脑中表达量最高。在胚胎早期发育过程中, foxO1a和foxO1b、foxO3a和foxO3b、foxO6a和foxO6b的表达模式类似; 而foxO4在发育早期, 除了体节出现期、眼色素沉淀晚期、体节生成期和受精后10d表达量高外, 其他时期表达量都比较低。经急性低氧处理后, 团头鲂foxO家族基因的表达水平在所检测的大部分组织中呈现显著上调趋势, 尤其是在肌肉组织中。基于JASPAR分析显示foxO家族基因都包含有Hif-1α结合位点, 利用双荧光素酶报告系统对foxO1b启动子进行了验证, 发现该基因受到Hif-1α调控。这些结果说明foxO基因可能通过Hif-1α介导的途径在团头鲂低氧应激中发挥重要作用。     

绿色荧光蛋白表达载体pXS75－GFP的构建及在嗜热四膜虫中的应用

为获得能够用于构建嗜热四膜虫蛋白定位的载体,该研究将GFP基因与镉（Cd2＋）诱导的四膜虫金属硫蛋白基因（MTTl）启动子序列和终止子序列融合,获得表达载体pXS75-GFP。通过同源重组和抗性筛选,pXS75-GFP载体携带的目的基因整合入四膜虫MTTl位点,在cd2＋诱导下实现GFP融合蛋白的可控表达。将α－tubulin基因ATUl克隆JN－pXS75－GFP中,重组质粒pXS75－GFP－ATUl通过基因枪转化入四膜虫细胞,在巴龙霉素筛选下获得稳定的α-tubulin－GFP过表达细胞株。激光共聚焦显微镜观察α－tubulin．GFP的定位,结果显示,α－tubulin—GFP融合蛋白在四膜虫细胞中表达并分布于皮层上,表明pXS75．GFP载体可用于嗜热四膜虫功能蛋白的定位分析。     

Induction of metallothionein-I mRNA in cultured cells by heavy metals and iodoacetate: evidence for gratuitous inducers.

A mouse hepatocyte cell line selected for growth in 80 microM CdSO4 (Cdr80 cells) was used to test the role of metallothioneins in heavy metal detoxification. The cadmium-resistant (Cdr80) cells have double minute chromosomes carrying amplified copies of the metallothionein-I gene and accumulate ca. 20-fold more metallothionein-I mRNA than unselected cadmium-sensitive (Cds) cells after optimal Cd stimulation. As a consequence, the amount of Cd which inhibits DNA synthesis by 50% is ca. 7.5-fold higher in Cdr80 cells than in Cds cells. Cds and Cdr80 cells were compared in terms of their resistance to other heavy metals. The results indicate that although Zn, Cu, Hg, Ag, Co, Ni, and Bi induce metallothionein-I mRNA accumulation in both Cdr80 and Cds cells, the Cdr80 cells show increased resistance to only a subset of these metals (Zn, Cu, Hg, and Bi). This suggests that not all metals which induce metallothionein mRNA are detoxified by metallothionein and argues against autoregulation of metallothionein genes. Metallothionein-I mRNA is also induced by iodoacetate, suggesting that the regulatory molecule has sensitive sulfhydryl groups.     

Two new members of the Tetrahymena multi-stress-inducible metallothionein family: Characterization and expression analysis of T. rostrata Cd/Cu metallothionein genes.

We report the cloning and characterization of two new metallothionein (MT) genes (TrosMTT1 and TrosMTT2), isolated as cDNAs, from the ciliated protozoa Tetrahymena rostrata. The TrosMTT1 inferred protein has been identified as a CdMT and included into the 7a subfamily of Tetrahymena MTs, while TrosMTT2 has been identified as a CuMT (including it into 7b subfamily), due to its similarity to TpigMT-2 and its significant induction by copper. TrosMTT1 protein sequence reveals a remarkably regular and hierarchical modular organization, as it is known for other Tetrahymena CdMTs, showing a bi-modular structure. TrosMTT2 presents a structural organization based on CKCX(2-5)CKC repeats, like it occurs in other Tetrahymena CuMTs, indicating that an evolutionary history based on intra-gene duplications might be also possible. Both are also multi-stress-inducible genes because they are induced by other heavy metals and stressors, as it has been shown by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. It is the first time that the gene expression of a putative Tetrahymena CuMT is analyzed by quantitative PCR, confirming it as a CuMT. These two new Tetrahymena MTs complete, at present, the actual view of this protein superfamily, and corroborate the unique features of ciliate MTs. Furthermore, both, a comparative analysis of relative gene expression values obtained by quantitative RT-PCR on other Tetrahymena MT genes and an analysis of the different Tetrahymena MTs based on the different Cys clusters of these proteins are carried out, which show an update view of Tetrahymena MT gene family.     

Displacement of zinc and copper from copper-induced metallothionein by cadmium and by mercury: in vivo and ex vivo studies

The in vitro affinity of metals for metallothionein (MT) is Zn less than Cd less than Cu less than Hg. In a previous study Cd(II) and Hg(II) displaced Zn(II) from rat hepatic Zn7-MT in vivo and ex vivo (Day et al., 1984, Chem. Biol. Interact. 50, 159-174). The ability of Cd(II) or Hg(II) to displace Zn(II) and/or Cu(II) from metallothionein in copper-preinduced rat liver (Zn, Cu-MT) was assessed. Cd(II) and Hg(II) can displace zinc from (Zn, Cu)-MT both in vivo and ex vivo. The in vitro displacement of copper from MT by Hg(II) was not confirmed in vivo and ex vivo. Cd(II) treatment did not alter copper levels in (Zn, Cu)-MT, as expected. Hg(II) treatment, however, did not decrease copper levels in MT, but rather increased them. The sum of the copper increase and mercury incorporation into MT matched the zinc decrease under in vivo conditions and actually exceeded the zinc decrease under ex vivo conditions. Short-term exposure of rat liver to exogenous metals can result in incorporation of these metals into MT by displacement of zinc from pre-existing MT. Displacement of copper from pre-existing MT by mercury, as predicted by in vitro experiments, was not confirmed under the conditions of our in vivo and ex vivo experiments. This result is explainable based on the differing affinities and/or preferences of the two metal clusters in MT.