古菌Pyrococcus furiosus嗜热α-淀粉酶基因在酿酒酵母中的表达

用PCR方法从嗜热古菌Pyrocccus furiosus的基因组DNA中扩增出胞外α-淀粉酶成熟肽结构基因,插入pUC19中构建成质粒pUC19-amy,将pUC19-amy外源片段接入酿酒酵母表达载体pXY212多克隆位点,构建成载体pYX212-amy,电转化酿酒酵母W303-1A,转化子成功表达出有活性的高嗜热α-淀粉酶,重组酶具有P.furiosus产生的胞外α-淀粉酶相似的酶学性质,最适pH为5.0,最适温度约为90℃,在121℃下热处理30min酶活仍能保持50%以上。     

来源于Pyrococcus furiosus的耐高温α-淀粉酶基因在衣藻叶绿体中的表达

来源于Pyrococcusfuriosus的耐高温α-淀粉酶是一种重要的酒精工业用酶,在植物中表达耐高温α-淀粉酶可以大大降低用植物秸秆生产酒精的成本。选择衣藻叶绿体基因组同源片段clpP-trnL-petB-chlL-rpl23-rpl2和壮观霉素抗性基因,构建了来源于Pyrococcusfuriosus的耐高温α-淀粉酶基因的衣藻叶绿体表达载体p64A。通过基因枪将其导入衣藻叶绿体中,经壮观霉素抗性(100mg/L)筛选,获得了9个抗性衣藻转化子。转化子经过抗性继代筛选后,经PCR、Southernblot检测分析及暗培养,证实耐高温α-淀粉酶基因已整合到衣藻叶绿体基因组中并得到表达。酶活性检测表明,转基因衣藻表达产物具有耐高温α-淀粉酶活性,每克鲜重衣藻最高达77.5u。实验结果证明在植物叶绿体中表达工业酶制剂是可行的。     

诱导溶源性嗜盐古生菌产生噬菌体的方法

目的:用简单易行的诱导手段,从溶源性的嗜盐古生菌中诱导产生新的噬菌体,为分离嗜盐古生菌噬菌体提供一种新的途径.方法:分别用紫外线与丝裂霉素C对10株对数期的嗜盐古生菌菌株进行诱导,上清液采用双层平板法进行噬菌斑鉴定,并用脉冲场凝胶电泳对噬菌体基因组进行分析.结果:经1 μg/mL丝裂霉素C诱导的嗜盐古生菌融合子F5产生了一株新的嗜盐古生菌噬菌体SNJ1,该噬菌体能感染Natrinema属的菌株J7.结论:丝裂霉素C能诱导原噬菌体从宿主中分离,为嗜盐古生菌噬菌体分离提供了一条新的途径.     

丰富的古生菌

为确定土壤中存在的氨氧化古生菌（AOA）数量,挪威卑尔根大学的Christa Schleper等人从三个气候区的12种类型的土壤中筛出amoA——编码一个关键性氨氧化酶的一个亚单位的基因。PCR检测揭示土壤中古生菌amoA的含量超过细菌amoA3,000倍,颠覆了几十年来的细菌是土壤硝化的最大贡献者的观点。     

不同类型菌根菌对烟草幼苗生理代谢的影响

在自然土壤中以VA菌根菌接种烟草幼苗,测得叶片中N、P、K、叶绿素含量,硝酸还原酶活性及蛋白质含量均高于对照;与对照相比,接种的幼苗中丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢（H2O2）含量减少,超氧物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性增加,同时以外生菌根菌两个菌株分别接种,与所测指标变化趋势相同,而且其中的Calvatia lilacina菌株超过VA菌根菌接种的效果。     

具有真细菌和真核生物融合特征的古生菌转录系统

古生菌是一类区别于真细菌和真核生物的第三域生命形式 ,转录是生物体遗传信息传递系统中的一个中心环节。近年来研究结果表明 ,古生菌的转录系统具有真细菌和真核生物的融合特征 :古生菌的基本转录装置包括RNA聚合酶、基本转录因子、启动子元件等与真核生物相似 ;而古生菌的转录调控机制却更加类似于真细菌 ,在古生菌中发现并鉴定了许多类似于真细菌的转录调控蛋白。另外古生菌还具有某些独特的转录调控方式     

嗜盐碱古生菌新种的系统分类学研究

从内蒙古乌都淖咸性盐湖分离到嗜盐碱菌菌株Y21。其形态为杆状,能运动,红色菌落,通过生理生化、极性脂成分、基于16SrRNA序列的系统发育学分析和DNADNA杂交同源性比较,发现菌株Y21是Natrilba属中一个与其它成员不同的新种,命名为Natrilbawudunaoensissp.nov.。     

嗜盐古生菌br基因的遗传分析

从新疆阿尔金山地区阿乌拉仔盐湖分离纯化到几株极端嗜盐古生菌AJ11, AJ12和AJ13, 采用PCR技术分别扩增了其16S rRNA基因(16S rDNA)和编码螺旋C至螺旋G的细菌视紫红质(bacteriorhodopsin, BR)蛋白基因片段, 测定了基因的核苷酸序列。基于16S rDNA序列的同源性比较以及系统发育学研究表明, 分离到的菌株是Natrinema属中成员, 并构成一个独立的微生物种群。随后的遗传分析, 包括GC含量、转换与颠换的比率、同义突变率分析, 表明br基因间具有较高的遗传分歧程度, 并面临着净化选择和偏倚突变压的双重抑制。研究为物种资源及BR蛋白资源的进一步利用打下基础。     

豆链格孢菌对白车轴草生理代谢及活性氧清除系统酶的影响

通过盆栽实验,研究了接种豆链格孢菌对白车轴草叶组织细胞膜透性、色素含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性的影响.结果表明,豆链格孢菌使白车轴草叶组织细胞膜透性上升,电导率显著升高,膜脂过氧化加强,MDA水平上升,色素含量下降.电导率和MDA含量均与感病时间呈显著正相关,而色素含量与感病时间呈显著负相关.豆链格孢菌刺激其寄主白车轴草叶片膜脂过氧化作用发生,积累大量的活性氧,使其超出防御酶的清除能力,致使活性氧清除系统遭到破坏,保护酶系统失衡,其中SOD和CAT活性显著下降,而POD活性明显上升.接种12d后,SOD和CAT分别降低了55.2%和37.8%,而POD比对照升高约1.6倍.     

Straight-chain fatty alcohols in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Two straight-chain fatty alcohols (n-hexadecanol and n-octadecanol) were found in the neutral lipid fraction extracted from Pyrococcus furiosus cells. They were identified by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography, mass and infrared spectra, and chemical modification. The fatty alcohols accounted for 54% of the neutral lipid of the cell. Received: March 8, 2000 / Accepted: May 8, 2000     

Purification and characterization of a cobalt-activated carboxypeptidase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

A novel metallocarboxypeptidase (PfuCP) has been purified to homogeneity from the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus, with its intended use in C-terminal ladder sequencing of proteins and peptides at elevated temperatures. PfuCP was purified in its inactive state by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) to purification buffers, and the activity was restored by the addition of divalent cobalt (K, = 24 +/- 4 microM at 80 degrees C). The serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) had no effect on the activity. The molecular mass of monomeric PfuCP is 59 kDa as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 58 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. In solution, PfuCP exists as a homodimer of approximately 128 kDa as determined by gel filtration chromatography. The activity of PfuCP exhibits a temperature optimum exceeding 90 degrees C under ambient pressure, and a narrow pH optimum of 6.2-6.6. Addition of Co2+ to the apoPfuCP at room temperature does not alter its far-UV circular dichroism (CD) or its intrinsic fluorescence spectrum. Even when the CoPfuCP is heated to 80 degrees C, its far-UV CD shows a minimal change in the global conformation and the intrinsic fluorescence of aromatic residues shows only a partial quenching. Changes in the intrinsic fluorescence appear essentially reversible with temperature. Finally, the far-UV CD and intrinsic fluorescence data suggest that the overall structure of the holoenzyme is extremely thermostable. However, the activities of both the apo and holo enzyme exhibit a similar second-order decay over time, with 50% activity remaining after approximately 40 min at 80 degrees C. The N-blocked synthetic dipeptide, N-carbobenzoxy-Ala-Arg (ZAR), was used in the purification assay. The kinetic parameters at 80 degrees C with 0.4 mM CoCl2 were: Km, 0.9 +/- 0.1 mM; Vmax, 2,300 +/- 70 U mg(-1); and turn over number, 600 +/- 20 s(-1). Activity against other ZAX substrates (X = V, L, I, M, W, Y, F, N, A, S, H, K) revealed a broad specificity for neutral, aromatic, polar, and basic C-terminal residues. This broad specificity was confirmed by the C-terminal ladder sequencing of several synthetic and natural peptides, including porcine N-acetyl-renin substrate, for which we have observed (by MALDI-TOF MS) stepwise hydrolysis by PfuCP of up to seven residues from the C-terminus: Ac-Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe-His-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Ser.     

Stabilization of Taq DNA polymerase at high temperature by protein folding pathways from a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus

Pyrococcus furiosus, a hyperthermophilic archaeon growing optimally at 100 degrees C, encodes three protein chaperones, a small heat shock protein (sHsp), a prefoldin (Pfd), and a chaperonin (Cpn). In this study, we report that the passive chaperones sHsp and Pfd from P. furiosus can boost the protein refolding activity of the ATP-dependent Cpn from the same hyperthermophile. The thermo-stability of Taq polymerase was significantly improved by combinations of P. furiosus chaperones, showing ongoing protein folding activity at elevated temperatures and during thermal cycling. Based on these results, we propose that the protein folding apparatus in the hyperthermophilic archaeon, P. furiosus can be utilized to enhance the durability and cost effectiveness of high temperature biocatalysts.     

Structure determination of fibrillarin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

The methyltransferase fibrillarin is the catalytic component of ribonucleoprotein complexes that direct site-specific methylation of precursor ribosomal RNA and are critical for ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and archaea. Here we report the crystal structure of a fibrillarin ortholog from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus at 1.97A resolution. Comparisons of the X-ray structures of fibrillarin orthologs from Methanococcus jannashii and Archaeoglobus fulgidus reveal nearly identical backbone configurations for the catalytic C-terminal domain with the exception of a unique loop conformation at the S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) binding pocket in P. furiosus. In contrast, the N-terminal domains are divergent which may explain why some forms of fibrillarin apparently homodimerize (M. jannashii) while others are monomeric (P. furiosus and A. fulgidus). Three positively charged amino acids surround the AdoMet-binding site and sequence analysis indicates that this is a conserved feature of both eukaryotic and archaeal fibrillarins. We discuss the possibility that these basic residues of fibrillarin are important for RNA-guided rRNA methylation.     

Pyruvate metabolism of the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus

The hyperthermophilic anaerobe Pyrococcus furiosus was found to grow on pyruvate as energy and carbon source. Growth was dependent on yeast extract (0.1%). The organism grew with doublings times of about 1 h up to cell densities of 1–2×10⁸ cells/ml. During growth 0.6–0.8 mol acetate and 1.2–1.5 mol CO₂ and 0.8 mol H₂ were formed per mol of pyruvate consumed. The molar growth yield was 10–11 g cells(dry weight)/mol pyruvate. Cell suspensions catalyzed the conversion of 1 mol of pyruvate to 0.6–0.8 mol acetate, 1.2–1.5 mol CO₂, 1.2 mol H₂ and 0.03 mol acetoin. After fermentation of [3-¹⁴C]pyruvate the specific radioactivities of pyruvate, CO₂ and acetate were equal to 1:0.01:1. Cellfree extracts contained the following enzymatic activities: pyruvate: ferredoxin (methyl viologen) oxidoreductase (0.2 U mg^-1, T=60°C, with Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin as electron acceptor; 1.4 U mg^-1 at 90°C, with methyl viologen as electron acceptor); acetyl-CoA synthetase (ADP forming) [acetyl-CoA+ADP+Piacetate+ATP+CoA] (0.34 U mg^-1, T=90°C), and hydrogen: methyl viologen oxidoreductase (1.75 U mg^-1). Phosphate acetyl-transferase activity, acetate kinase activity, and carbon monoxide:methyl viologen oxidoreductase activity could not be detected. These findings indicate that the archaebacterium P. furiosus ferments pyruvate to acetate, CO₂ and H₂ involving only three enzymes, a pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, a hydrogenase and an acetyl-CoA synthetase (ADP forming).Non-standard abbreviations DTE dithioerythritol - MV methyl viologen - MOPS morpholinopropane sulfonic acid - Tricine N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylglycine Part of the work was performed at the Laboratorium für Mikrobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Karlvon-Frisch-Strasse, W-3550 Marburg/Lahn, Federal Republic of Germany     

Characterization of pyrolysin, a hyperthermoactive serine protease from the archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus

Abstract From the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus an oxygen-stable, extremely thermostable protease activity, which we designate pyrolysin, has been identified and characterized. Pyrolysin is a cell-envelope associated protease activity high thermo-activity and stability. The temperature optimum is 115°C and half-life values in the absence of substrate are: at least 96 h at 80°C, 9 h at 95°C, 4h at 100°C, 20 min at 105°C and 3 min at 110°C. Pyrolysin is active at a broad pH range between 6.5 and 10.5, and was classified as a serine-type protease activity. Zymogram staining showed the presence of multiple protease bands of about 140, 130, 115, 100 and 65 kDa.     

Formation of l-alanine as a reduced end product in carbohydrate fermentation by the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus was found to form substantial amounts of l-alanine during batch growth on either cellobiose, maltose or pyruvate. Acetate, CO₂ and H₂ were produced next to alanine. The carbon- and electron balances were complete for all three substrates. Under standard growth conditions (N₂/CO₂ atmosphere) an alanine/acetate ratio of about 0.3 was found for either substrate. The alanine /acetate ratio was influenced, however, by the hydrogen partial pressure. In the presence of S⁰ or in coculture with Methanococcus jannaschii this ratio was only 0.07, whereas under a H₂/CO₂ atmosphere this ratio could amount up to 0.8. Alanine formation was also aflected by the NH _inf4 ^sup+ concentration, i.e. below 4 mM, NH _inf4 ^sup+ becomes limiting to alanine formation. Alanine formation was shown to occur via an alanine aminotransferase, which exhibited a specific activity in cell-free extract of up to 6.0 U/mg (90°C; direction of pyruvate formation). The alanine aminotransferase probably cooperates with glutamate dehydrogenase (up to 23 U/mg; 90°C) and ferredoxin: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (up to 0.7 U/mg, using methyl viologen; 90°C) to recycle the electron acceptors involved in catabolism. Thus, the existence of this unusual alanine-forming branch enables P. furiosus to adjust its fermentation, depending on the redox potential of the terminal electron acceptor.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - MV methyl viologen - AAT alanine aminotransferase - GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - MV: NADP⁺ OR methyl viologen: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase     

Phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase (PpsA) was purified from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate and ATP to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), AMP, and phosphate and is thought to function in gluconeogenesis. PpsA has a subunit molecular mass of 92 kDa and contains one calcium and one phosphorus atom per subunit. The active form has a molecular mass of 690 ± 20 kDa and is assumed to be octomeric, while approximately 30% of the protein is purified as a large (~1.6 MDa) complex that is not active. The apparent K_m values and catalytic efficiencies for the substrates pyruvate and ATP (at 80°C, pH 8.4) were 0.11 mM and 1.43 × 10⁴ mM⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and 0.39 mM and 3.40 × 10³ mM⁻¹ · s⁻¹, respectively. Maximal activity was measured at pH 9.0 (at 80°C) and at 90°C (at pH 8.4). The enzyme also catalyzed the reverse reaction, but the catalytic efficiency with PEP was very low [k_cat/K_m = 32 (mM · s)⁻¹]. In contrast to several other nucleotide-dependent enzymes from P. furiosus, PpsA has an absolute specificity for ATP as the phosphate-donating substrate. This is the first PpsA from a nonmethanogenic archaeon to be biochemically characterized. Its kinetic properties are consistent with a role in gluconeogenesis, although its relatively high cellular concentration (~5% of the cytoplasmic protein) suggests an additional function possibly related to energy spilling. It is not known whether interconversion between the smaller, active and larger, inactive forms of the enzyme has any functional role.