Parametric sensitivity of stoichiometric flux balance models applied to wild-type Escherichia coli metabolism

The esterification of lauric acid with geraniol catalyzed by the commercially immobilized lipase preparation from Mucor miehei, Lipozyme(R), was studied in well-stirred flasks. The enzyme support was characterized in terms of its internal and external surface area, protein location, and protein content. It was found that the enzyme was mainly located on the external surface of the support, therefore, internal diffusional limitations were not important. It was also shown that the protein content of the support depends on the size of the particle, with smaller particles containing higher amounts of protein per unit weight. Under the conditions studied, the reaction was not under external mass transfer limitations, and the initial reaction rate depended on the size of the support particles. This was mainly due to the different protein contents on the support as a function of particle size and not to internal or external mass transfer limitations. Also, it was found that the inhibition exerted by water was predominantly a physical effect due to its accumulation around the enzyme. It was also found that the reaction was substrate inhibited by lauric acid, but not by geraniol. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

中国家蚕抗菌肽ABP-CM4在E.coli中的融合表达及活性分析

参照天然抗菌肽CM4(ABP-CM4)氨基酸序列和大肠杆菌偏爱密码子,采用rPCR法获得CM4基因后重组到表达载体pET32a上,在E.coli中融合表达。表达产物以可溶性存在,经Ni2 -NTA琼脂糖亲和层析获得融合蛋白,再经甲酸切割、亲和层析和阳离子交换层析,得到纯化的重组抗菌肽。琼脂糖扩散法和液相测定法证明了纯化的抗菌肽具有抗菌活性。     

大肠埃希菌TA系统mazEF的研究进展

大部分细菌的遗传物质中含有毒素-抗毒素系统(TA)的遗传基因.mazEF是大肠埃希菌染色体上的一对毒素抗毒素基因,由毒素基因mazF和抗毒素基因mazE组成.其在细菌的生长调控和细胞程序性死亡中发挥了重要的作用.环境压力激活mazEF后,MazF可以通过对mRNA的剪切作用造成翻译停止.mazEF的存在可以增加细菌对环境压力的耐受性、保持细菌遗传物质的稳定、参与抗生素引起的细胞死亡、也在细菌的耐药性中发挥重要作用.     

The incoherent feed‐forward loop can generate non‐monotonic input functions for genes

Gene regulation networks contain recurring circuit patterns called network motifs. One of the most common network motif is the incoherent type 1 feed‐forward loop (I1‐FFL), in which an activator controls both gene and repressor of that gene. This motif was shown to act as a pulse generator and response accelerator of gene expression. Here we consider an additional function of this motif: the I1‐FFL can generate a non‐monotonic dependence of gene expression on the input signal. Here, we study this experimentally in the galactose system of Escherichia coli, which is regulated by an I1‐FFL. The promoter activity of two of the gal operons, galETK and galP, peaks at intermediate levels of the signal cAMP. We find that mutants in which the I1‐FFL is disrupted lose this non‐monotonic behavior, and instead display monotonic input functions. Theoretical analysis suggests that non‐monotonic input functions can be achieved for a wide range of parameters by the I1‐FFL. The models also suggest regimes where a monotonic input‐function can occur, as observed in the mglBAC operon regulated by the same I1‐FFL. The present study thus experimentally demonstrates how upstream circuitry can affect gene input functions and how an I1‐FFL functions within its natural context in the cell.     

The expression of an R3 lipopolysaccharide-core by pathotypes of Escherichia coli

AIMS: To investigate the incidence of an R3 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-core amplicon in a range of pathotypes of Escherichia coli, including Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 100 strains of E. coli belonging to a range of pathotypes, including 41 strains of VTEC, were screened for the genes encoding the R3 LPS-core using PCR. Fifty-four per cent produced an amplicon with the R3 primer set. Of the 41 VTEC, 66% had an R3 LPS-core with a PCR product being observed with all strains belonging to serotypes O26:H11, O111ac:H- and O145:H25. However, 46% of enteroaggregative E. coli and 50% of enteropathogenic E. coli were also shown to have an R3 LPS-core structure. CONCLUSIONS: Strains with an R3 LPS-core are widely distributed within the species E. coli. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Strains of E. coli with an R3 LPS-core structure appear not to be associated with a specific pathotype.     

Response dynamics of 26-, 34-, 39-, 54-, and 80-kDa proteases in induced cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli

Several researchers have demonstrated that the presence of a heterologous protein in recombinant Escherichia coli elicits a response similar to the heat-shock response, which includes enhanced protease expression. The present work detects, quantifies, and characterizes intracellular protease activity in E. coli that are "shocked" by the induction of a recombinant protein, CAT, which is an endogenous protein in some E. coli strains. A novel, sodium dodecyl sulfate gelatin poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-GPAGE) method is used to detect, quantify, and characterize the presence of these proteases. A hypothesis is proposed which links the amplified protease activity to a temporary depletion of specific amino acid pools, and a stringent-like stress response. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

大肠杆菌半乳糖结合凝集素的提取纯化

采用琼脂糖凝胶CL-6B（Sepharose CL-6B）亲和层析以及Sephadex G-75凝胶分子筛等对大肠杆菌（Esche-richia coli,E.coli）半乳糖凝集素进行了纯化。结果显示,目标蛋白经简单的步骤即可以得到纯化,十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（SDS-PAGE）及凝血实验证明纯化蛋白为E.coli半乳糖凝集素,蛋白提取回收率为11.4%。研究首次从E.coli蛋白提取液中分离得到纯的半乳糖凝集素,且此方法简单快捷,优越性明显。应用此方法将有利于微生物半乳糖凝集素的深入研究。     

猪源大肠杆菌(ETEC、STEC、AEEC)毒力基因及其与O抗原型的关系

[目的]揭示从我国部分地区仔猪腹泻或水肿病病猪体内分离到的300个大肠杆菌分离株所属病原型(pathotype)、毒力基因及其与O血清型的关系.[方法]O血清型采用常规的凝集试验进行测定,毒力基因采用PCR方法检测.[结果]通过对这300个分离株的O血清型及其毒素、紧密素和黏附素基因进行鉴定,结果显示除50株未定型、17株自凝外,测定出233个分离株的血清型,这些分离株覆盖了45个血清型,其中以0149、0107、0139、093和091为主,共133株,占定型菌株的57.1%;拥有est Ⅰ、estⅡ、elt、stx2e和eae A基因的菌株分别为102(34.0%)、190(63.3%)、81(27.0%)、57(19.0%)和54(18.0%)株;分离株中有51株K88基因阳性(其中菌毛表达率为100%),75株F18基因阳性(其中菌毛表达率为50.7%),在K88菌株中,0149血清型与est Ⅰ或estⅡ elt密切相关,在F18菌株中,0107血清型与est Ⅰ或estⅡ、0139血清型与stx2e紧密相关.依其毒力特征可将这些分离株分为以下6种类型:ETEC、STEC、AEEC、ETEC/STEC、AEEC/ETEC和AEEC/ETEC/STEC,分别拥有190、24、36、32、17和1个菌株,占分离株的63.3%、8.0%、12.0%、10.7%、5.7%和0.3%.通过分析这些分离株的O血清型、毒素类型和黏附素型之间的相关性:猪源ETEC以0149、0107、093和098等血清型为主,0149:K88菌株主要与estⅡ或estⅡ elt肠毒素相关,0107:F18菌株主要与estⅡ相关,093和098血清型菌株主要与estⅡ肠毒素相关;STEC菌株以0139:F18血清型为主,拥有stx2e;AEEC菌株拥有紧密素,无明显优势血清型;ETEC/STEC菌株以0107:F18和0116:F18血清型为主,主要与est Ⅰ stx2e或estⅡ stx2e密切相关,ETEC/AEEC菌株以091和0107血清型为主,全部拥有肠毒素est Ⅰ和紧密素基因.[结论]我国至少存在6种病原型的猪肠道致病性大肠杆菌,其中ETEC为我国部分地区猪大肠杆菌病的主要病原,同时其病原型日益复杂.     

两次诱导实现重组大肠杆菌高密度、高表达研究

通过不同温度诱导模式对大肠杆菌高密度,高表达的研究,确定两次升温诱导模式实现大肠杆菌高密度、高表达重组人载脂蛋白的目的。实验证实两次诱导成功的避免了乙酸对高密度、高表达的影响,最终发酵的细胞密度OD600达150,蛋白表达量4.8g·L-1,证明两次升温诱导的发酵方法在高密度、高表达外源蛋白上是成功的,从而为基因工程菌规模化生产奠定了基础。     

大肠埃希菌Mn-SOD基因的克隆、表达及多克隆抗体制备

目的实现Mn-SOD基因在大肠埃希菌中的高可溶性表达,制备Mn-SOD的多克隆抗体。方法用PCR方法从一株野生型大肠埃希菌（E.coli）基因组中扩增Mn-SOD基因编码区．将它克隆到原核表达载体上进行大量表达和纯化,再用纯化的蛋白对新西兰大白兔进行背部多点注射,40d后取其血清,用Western-blot印迹实验测定抗体效果。结果SDS-PAGE分析表明SOD的表达量约为细菌总蛋白的50％;黄嘌呤氧化酶法测定表达蛋白活性,结果表明每毫克菌体可溶性总蛋白中表达产物酶比活为3921．77U／mg,是对照BL21的276．77倍;并制备了高效价的多克隆抗体。结论该研究成功地构建了大肠埃希菌Mn-SOD基因高效原核表达系统,所表达的Mn-SOD具有良好的免疫原性和免疫反应性。     

大肠埃希菌临床分离株CTX—M型超广谱β-内酰胺酶基因型研究

目的了解我院临床分离大肠埃希菌产CTX-M型超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）的基因型分布情况。方法收集我院临床分离大肠埃希菌200株,按美国临床和实验室标准协会2006年制订的标准确定ESBLs表型。PCR扩增CTX—M耐药基因,扩增产物测序,测序结果与GenBank比对,确定CTX．M基因型。结果200株大肠埃希菌中有94株ESBLs阳性,其中92株CTX-M基因扩增阳性。测序结果表明,大肠埃希菌CTX．M基因型以CTX．M14为主,占67．4％,同时CTX—M3占27．2％,5株未分型。结论大肠埃希菌中产CTX．M型ESBLs的检出率较高,其基因型以CTX．M14和CTX．M3型为主。     

过量表达苹果酸酶对E.coli FMJ39厌氧混合酸发酵的影响

为了考察苹果酸酶对厌氧混合酸发酵影响,从E.coli DH5α中PCR扩增苹果酸酶（NAD+-dependent, E.C1.1.1.38）基因sfcA,插入质粒pTrc99a构建了表达质粒pTrc99a-sfcA,有氧和厌氧的条件下,IPTG诱导在E.coli FMJ39（ldh,pfl）中均获得大量表达,从而构建和加强了一条在厌氧混合酸发酵中微弱的代谢途径。厌氧发酵结果表明,过量表达苹果酸酶会影响混合酸发酵中甲酸、乙酸、丁二酸途径。重组FMJ39甲酸和乙酸的量分别比FMJ39提高了17.58%和15.27%,丁二酸的量降低了26.87%,柠檬酸的量变化不大。证实即使pfl基因缺陷,高浓度的L-Thr和L-Ser也会诱导Tdc 操纵元把丙酮酸转化为甲酸和乙酸。实验结果为进一步改造和利用FMJ39奠定了基础。     

Methanogenesis from acetate: Physiology of a thermophilic, acetate-utilizing methanogenic bacterium

Abstract The biosynthesis of K88, K99 and F41 fibrillae by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains was shown to be dependent on the growth phase of the cultures. An increase in adhesin production was observed, during exponential growth reaching its maximum at the end of this phase; thereafter adhesin production was arrested.
A simple and rapid purification procedure was developed for adhesins isolated from exponentially growing cells.     

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains may carry virulence properties of diarrhoeagenic E. coli

To analyze whether Escherichia coli strains that cause urinary tract infections (UPEC) share virulence characteristics with the diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes and to recognize their genetic diversity, 225 UPEC strains were examined for the presence of various properties of DEC and UPEC (type of interaction with HeLa cells, serogroups and presence of 30 virulence genes). No correlation between adherence patterns and serogroups was observed. Forty-five serogroups were found, but 64% of the strains belonged to one of the 12 serogroups (O1, O2, O4, O6, O7, O14, O15, O18, O21, O25, O75, and O175) and carried UPEC virulence genes (pap, hly, aer, sfa, cnf). The DEC genes found were: aap, aatA, aggC, agg3C, aggR, astA, eae, ehly, iha, irp2, lpfA(O113), pet, pic, pilS, and shf. Sixteen strains presented aggregative adherence and/or the aatA sequence, which are characteristics of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), one of the DEC pathotypes. In summary, certain UPEC strains may carry DEC virulence properties, mostly associated to the EAEC pathotype. This finding raises the possibility that at least some faecal EAEC strains might represent potential uropathogens. Alternatively, certain UPEC strains may have acquired EAEC properties, becoming a potential cause of diarrhoea.     

The detection of non-O157 E. coli in food by immunomagnetic separation

AIMS: To compare immunomagnetic separation (IMS) protocols (enrichment media and temperature) for the isolation of Escherichia coli serotypes O26 and O111 from four different foods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Foods (minced beef, cheese, apple juice and pepperoni) spiked with low numbers (<100 g(-1)) of stressed nalidixic mutant E. coli serotypes O26 and O111 were enriched in media based on buffered peptone water (BPW), tryptone soya and EC broths incubated at temperatures of 37 and 42 degrees C to optimize the IMS technique. BPW enrichments gave increased recoveries of both serotypes compared with tryptone soya and EC broths. Elevated temperatures of incubation at 42 degrees C were superior to 37 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Positive detection of low numbers of stressed target pathogens in all replicate tests was only possible using BPW enrichments. The majority of tests from alternative enrichments resulted in zero or single colonies recovered post-IMS. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The optimum IMS protocol would improve isolation rates of E. coli O26 and O111 from foods and lead to increased safety for the consumer. Sub-optimal IMS protocols could lead to foods being incorrectly labelled free from these pathogens.