Survival strategy of the salt-tolerant lactic acid bacterium,Tetragenococcus halophilus,to counteract koji mold,Aspergillus oryzae,in soy sauce brewing

In soy sauce brewing, the results of the fermentation of lactic acid greatly affect the quality of soy sauce. The soy sauce moromi produced with Aspergillus oryzae RIB40 allows the growth of Tetragenococcus halophilus NBRC 12172 but not T. halophilus D10. We isolated and identified heptelidic acid (HA), an inhibitor of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), produced by A. oryzae RIB40 as the growth inhibitor of the salt-tolerant lactic acid bacteria. The growth inhibition of T. halophilus D10 by HA was suggested to be associated with the direct inhibition of GAPDH activity under high salt environment. The difference in the susceptibility to HA among various strains of T. halophilus was caused by the mutations in the gene encoding GAPDH.     

Heterologous expression system in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus oryzae</Emphasis> for fungal biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites

Fungal secondary metabolites have been considered promising resources in the search for novel bioactive compounds. Given the high potential of fungi as genetic resources, it is essential to find an efficient way to link biosynthetic genes to the product in a heterologous system, because many genes for the secondary metabolite in the original strain are silent under standard laboratory conditions. In a previous study, we constructed a heterologous expression system for a biosynthetic gene cluster using Aspergillus oryzae as the host. To make the host more versatile for the expression of secondary metabolism genes, the expression levels of a global regulator, laeA, were increased by placing the A. oryzae laeA gene under the control of the constitutive active pgk promoter. In the A. oryzae overexpressing laeA, two clusters of heterologous biosynthetic genes [the monacolin K (MK) gene cluster from Monascus pilosus and the terrequinone A (TQ) gene cluster from Aspergillus nidulans] were successfully overexpressed, resulting in the production of the corresponding metabolite, MK or TQ. The successful production of secondary metabolites belonging to different structural groups, namely MK as a polyketide and TQ as a hybrid of amino acid and isoprenoid, indicated that the laeA-enriched A. oryzae was a versatile host for the heterologous expression of the biosynthetic gene cluster.     

蛇足石杉内生真菌产黄青霉菌MT-40中xanthocillin类似物生物合成基因簇的挖掘及鉴定

Xanthocillin具有显著的抗菌活性,结构中含有独特的异腈基。本文通过对蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrata)内生真菌产黄青霉菌(Penicillium chrysogenum)MT-40基因组的测序分析,利用本地BLAST等生物信息学分析工具挖掘具有合成xanthocillin类似物潜力的基因簇,结合米曲霉(Aspergillus oryzae)NSAR1异源表达技术实现基因簇中关键基因的功能鉴定。结果成功从内生真菌P.chrysogenum MT-40中发现一个合成xanthocillin类似物的生物合成基因簇(命名为for),for基因簇中的关键生物合成基因forB编码的异腈基合成酶可以催化合成2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid,基因forG编码的P450酶可以催化2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid的二聚化生成xanthocillin类似物N,N′-(1,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene-2,3-diyl)diformamide。本文研究结果为进一步从真菌中发现xanthocillin类似物提供参考。     

卡伍尔氏链霉菌NA4的Ⅱ型聚酮基因簇的靶向激活及其产物鉴定

【目的】以基因组信息为导向,定向激活海洋来源卡伍尔氏链霉菌（Streptomyces cavourensis） NA4中沉默的Ⅱ型聚酮类次级代谢产物生物合成基因簇,鉴定新产生的次级代谢产物的结构和抑菌活性。【方法】通过添加启动子和敲除负调控基因的方法激活实验室培养条件下沉默或低表达的生物合成基因簇,并完成目标化合物的分离与纯化,通过电喷雾质谱（electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry,ESI-MS）和核磁共振（nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR）数据分析鉴定目标化合物结构,对目标化合物进行抑菌活性鉴定,基于生物信息学信息推导化合物的生物合成途径。【结果】根据基因组生物信息学分析,从海洋来源链霉菌Streptomyces cavourensis NA4中选取一个编码PKSⅡ型次级代谢产物的生物合成基因簇开展研究,成功激活目标基因簇,从中分离到1个PKSⅡ型化合物,推导了其生物合成途径并进行了抑菌活性鉴定。【结论】基因组导向下的天然产物挖掘,可以目标明确地分离产物,充分挖掘链霉菌编码次级代谢产物的潜力。     

Cloning of the Gene Cluster Responsible for Biosynthesis of KS-505a (Longestin), a Unique Tetraterpenoid

KS-505a (longestin), produced by Streptomyces argenteolus, has a unique structure that consists of a tetraterpene (C40) skeleton, to which a 2-O-methylglucuronic acid and an o-succinyl benzoate moiety are attached. It is a novel inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase, which is representative of a potent anti-amnesia drug. As a first step to understanding the biosynthetic machinery of this unique and pharmaceutically useful compound, we cloned a KS505a biosynthetic gene cluster. First we searched for a gene encoding octaprenyl diphosphates, which yielded a C40 precursor by PCR, and four candidate genes were obtained. Among these, one was confirmed to have the expected enzyme activity by recombinant enzyme assay. On the basis of an analysis of the flanking regions of the gene, a putative KS-505a biosynthetic gene cluster consisting of 24 ORFs was judged perhaps to be present on a 28-kb DNA fragment. A gene disruption experiment was also employed to confirm that the cluster indeed participated in KS-505a biosynthesis. This is believed to be the first report detailing the gene cluster of a cyclized tetraterpenoid.     

Identification of AHBA Biosynthetic Genes Related to Geldanamycin Biosynthesis in Streptomyces hygroscopicus 17997

To clone and study the geldanamycin biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces hygroscopicus 17997, we designed degenerate primers based on the conserved sequence of the ansamycin 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA) synthase gene. A 755-bp polymerase chain reaction product was obtained from S. hygroscopicus 17997 genomic DNA, which showed high similarity to ansamycin AHBA synthase genes. Through screening the cosmid library of S. hygroscopicus 17997, two loci of separated AHBA biosynthetic gene clusters were discovered. Comparisons of sequence homology and gene organization indicated that the two AHBA biosynthetic gene clusters could be divided into a benzenic and a naphthalenic subgroup. Gene disruption demonstrated that the benzenic AHBA gene cluster is involved in the biosynthesis of geldanamycin. However, the naphthalenic AHBA genes in the genome of Streptomyces hygroscopicus 17997 could not complement the deficiency of the benzenic AHBA genes. This is the first report on the AHBA biosynthetic gene cluster in a geldanamycin-producing strain. W. He and L. Wu contributed equally to this work.     

金霉素生物合成基因簇中调控基因ctcB的功能

【目的】研究金霉素产生菌中SARP家族转录调控基因ctc B的作用。【方法】利用大肠杆菌、链霉菌的属间接合转移和同源重组双交换的方法,构建ctc B基因缺失突变株。通过c DNA在相邻同转录方向的基因间隔进行PCR验证,确定金霉素生物合成基因簇中的转录单元。利用荧光定量RT-PCR方法进行突变株金霉素生物合成基因簇的转录水平检测。随后,生物信息学预测分析了金霉素生物合成基因簇内Ctc B与DNA的结合位点。【结果】获得了ctc B基因缺失的双交换突变株。发酵结果显示,该突变株失去产生金霉素与四环素的能力。金霉素生物合成基因簇内有6个共转录单元,其中4个共转录单元在ctc B基因缺失突变株中转录水平明显下降。软件分析预测到一致性较高的Ctc B结合重复序列。【结论】ctc B正调控金霉素生物合成结构基因ctc G-D、ctc H-K、ctc N-P、ctc W-T 4个转录单元和ctc Q,为进一步研究ctc B调控机制奠定了基础。     

A fragmented aflatoxin-like gene cluster in the forest pathogen Dothistroma septosporum

The polyketide toxin dothistromin is very similar in structure to the aflatoxin precursor, versicolorin B. Dothistromin is made by a pine needle pathogen, Dothistroma septosporum, both in culture and in planta. Orthologs of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes have been identified that are required for dothistromin biosynthesis in D. septosporum. In contrast to the situation in aflatoxin-producing fungi where 25 aflatoxin biosynthetic and regulatory genes are tightly clustered in one region of the genome, the dothistromin gene cluster is fragmented. Three mini-clusters of dothistromin genes have been identified, each located on a 1.3-Mb chromosome and each grouped with non-dothistromin genes. There are no obvious patterns of repeated sequences or transposon relics to suggest recent recombination events. Most dothistromin genes within the mini-clusters are co-regulated, suggesting that coordinate control of gene expression is achieved despite this unusual arrangement of secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes.     

非核糖体多肽Surugamides生物合成基因簇镶嵌式结构的解析

【目的】多肽化合物Surugamides(sgm)生物合成基因簇包含4个非核糖体多肽合酶(NRPS)基因surA–D,负责2个NRPS生物合成途径。已有报道确认surA基因与SurugamideA产物相关,而surB基因与sgm F产物相关,但对surC和surD基因功能的归属尚没有实验证据。本工作拟在之前研究的基础上进一步确认surA和surD负责Surugamide A产物生物合成,为基因工程改造Surugamides生物合成途径以及研究其NRPS蛋白之间的识别机制提供理论依据。【方法】从海绵中分离放线菌并通过16S rRNA基因序列比对分析其分类单元。通过在线数据库antiSMASH分析基因组序列,发现天然产物生物合成基因簇。通过UPLC-Q-TOF-MS和~(13)CNMR鉴定化合物结构。把构建完成的同源重组双交换质粒导入链霉菌宿主后筛选基因缺失或替换突变株。【结果】从胄甲海绵来源链霉菌S.albidoflavus LHW3101基因组中发现了Surugamides生物合成基因簇,确认了该菌株发酵产物中的化合物sgmA和sgm F。构建了surB和surC基因同时缺失的突变株RJ9,发现RJ9不再产sgm F而仍然产Surugamide A。在缺失突变surB和surC基因的同时在surD基因前引入了组成型强启动子ermEp*,结果发现RJ9产SurugamideA水平是野生型菌株的约2倍。【结论】确认了surB和surC基因与sgmA产物无关。在surD基因前引入强启动子后显著提高了SurugamideA的产量,提示surD基因与sgmA产物相关,结合已报到surA基因与Surugamide A产物相关的证据,进一步确认了surA和surD基因负责Surugamide A生物合成的推论。     

水杨酸诱导下蝙蝠蛾拟青霉转录组分析及虫草酸代谢途径关键酶基因挖掘

【目的】虫草酸是虫草中重要的活性成分之一,但其低含量极大地限制了其工业应用。水杨酸(salicylic acid, SA)是一种非生物诱导子,可以显著提高蝙蝠蛾拟青霉中虫草酸的合成,但蝙蝠蛾拟青霉虫草酸代谢途径及其对水杨酸的响应尚不明确。本研究旨在获得蝙蝠蛾拟青霉响应SA处理的转录组学信息,挖掘蝙蝠蛾拟青霉中虫草酸代谢途径关键酶基因。【方法】采用SA诱导培养蝙蝠蛾拟青霉,8 h后选取诱导和未诱导的菌丝进行转录组高通量测序分析。【结果】测序最终获得40.37 Gb的clean data,拼接得到20 317条unigene,平均长度为1 357.13 bp,功能注释共获得13 592条unigene。差异基因分析共筛选出差异基因2 574个,其中有1 135个上调,1 439个下调。KEGG富集分析表明,差异基因主要富集于细胞周期、减数分裂、半乳糖代谢、DNA复制、糖醇脂类生物合成、甘油脂类代谢等KEGG通路中。进一步分析得到与虫草酸代谢相关的基因13条,其中参与虫草酸生物合成的基因glk、gpi、gla、mpi、fbp、mtld在SA处理后表达量上调,而涉及虫草酸消耗的基因mdh在SA...     

The role of absC,a novel regulatory gene for secondary metabolism,in zinc‐dependent antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The availability of zinc was shown to have a marked influence on the biosynthesis of actinorhodin in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Production of actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin was abolished when a novel pleiotropic regulatory gene, absC, was deleted, but only when zinc concentrations were low. AbsC was shown to control expression of the gene cluster encoding production of coelibactin, an uncharacterized non‐ribosomally synthesized peptide with predicted siderophore‐like activity, and the observed defect in antibiotic production was found to result from elevated expression of this gene cluster. Promoter regions in the coelibactin cluster contain predicted binding motifs for the zinc‐responsive regulator Zur, and dual regulation of coelibactin expression by zur and absC was demonstrated using strains engineered to contain deletions in either or both of these genes. An AbsC binding site was identified in a divergent promoter region within the coelibactin biosynthetic gene cluster, adjacent to a putative Zur binding site. Repression of the coelibactin gene cluster by both AbsC and Zur appears to be required to maintain appropriate intracellular levels of zinc in S. coelicolor.     

Protocols for yTREX/Tn5-based gene cluster expression in Pseudomonas putida

Bacterial gene clusters, which represent a genetic treasure trove for secondary metabolite pathways, often need to be activated in a heterologous host to access the valuable biosynthetic products. We provide here a detailed protocol for the application of the yTREX ‘gene cluster transplantation tool’: Via yeast recombinational cloning, a gene cluster of interest can be cloned in the yTREX vector, which enables the robust conjugational transfer of the gene cluster to bacteria like Pseudomonas putida, and their subsequent transposon Tn5-based insertion into the host chromosome. Depending on the gene cluster architecture and chromosomal insertion site, the respective pathway genes can be transcribed effectively from a chromosomal promoter, thereby enabling the biosynthesis of a natural product. We describe workflows for the design of a gene cluster expression cassette, cloning of the cassette in the yTREX vector by yeast recombineering, and subsequent transfer and expression in P. putida. As an example for yTREX-based transplantation of a natural product biosynthesis, we provide details on the cloning and activation of the phenazine-1-carboxylic acid biosynthetic genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in P. putidaKT2440 as well as the use of β-galactosidase-encoding lacZ as a reporter of production levels.     

Metabolic engineering of the heterologous production of clorobiocin derivatives and elloramycin in Streptomyces coelicolor M512

The aminocoumarin antibiotic clorobiocin is a potent inhibitor of bacterial gyrase. Two new analogs of clorobiocin could be obtained by deletion of a methyltransferase gene, involved in deoxysugar biosynthesis, from the biosynthetic gene cluster of clorobiocin, followed by expression of the modified cluster in the heterologous host Streptomyces coelicolor M512. However, only low amounts of the desired glycosides were formed, and aminocoumarins accumulated predominantly in form of aglyca. In the present study, we clarified the limiting steps for aminocoumarin glycoside formation, and devised strategies to improve glycosylation efficiency. Heterologous expression of a partial elloramycin biosynthetic gene cluster indicated that the rate of dTDP-l-rhamnose synthesis, rather than the rate of glycosyl transfer, was limiting for glycoside formation in this strain. Introduction of plasmid pRHAM which contains four genes from the oleandomycin biosynthetic gene cluster, directing the synthesis of dTDP-rhamnose, led to a 26-fold increase of the production of glycosylated aminocoumarins. Expression of the 4-ketoreductase gene oleU alone resulted in an 8-fold increase. Structural investigation of the resulting deoxysugars confirmed that both the endogeneous and the heterologous pathway involve a 3,5-epimerization of the deoxysugar, a hypothesis which had recently been questioned.     

Identification and characterization of suppressors of plant cell death (SPD) effectors from Magnaporthe oryzae

Phytopathogenic microorganisms, including the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, secrete a myriad of effector proteins to facilitate infection. Utilizing the transient expression of candidate effectors in the leaves of the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana, we identified 11 suppressors of plant cell death (SPD) effectors from M. oryzae that were able to block the host cell death reaction induced by Nep1. Ten of these 11 were also able to suppress BAX‐mediated plant cell death. Five of the 11 SPD genes have been identified previously as either essential for the pathogenicity of M. oryzae, secreted into the plant during disease development, or as suppressors or homologues of other characterized suppressors. In addition, of the remaining six, we showed that SPD8 (previously identified as BAS162) was localized to the rice cytoplasm in invaded and surrounding uninvaded cells during biotrophic invasion. Sequence analysis of the 11 SPD genes across 43 re‐sequenced M. oryzae genomes revealed that SPD2, SPD4 and SPD7 have nucleotide polymorphisms amongst the isolates. SPD4 exhibited the highest level of nucleotide diversity of any currently known effector from M. oryzae in addition to the presence/absence polymorphisms, suggesting that this gene is potentially undergoing selection to avoid recognition by the host. Taken together, we have identified a series of effectors, some of which were previously unknown or whose function was unknown, that probably act at different stages of the infection process and contribute to the virulence of M. oryzae.