极端嗜酸热古菌Acidianus manzaensis硫氧化模型构建

为了解极端嗜酸热古菌硫氧化代谢途径,基于Acidianus manzaensis YN-25全基因组信息,通过NCBI数据库比对初步筛选了20个可能与硫氧化相关的基因,并通过实时定量PCR(RT-qPCR)比较了所筛选基因在以单质硫(S~0)和亚铁(Fe2+)两种不同能源底物培养下的表达差异。结果表明,A.manzaensis菌中存在至少15个与硫氧化相关的基因,经过比对分析,它们包括5个编码氧化单质硫(S~0)及含硫中间产物的酶基因、4个编码末端氧化酶基因、1个编码硫酸根转运蛋白酶基因、1个编码电子传递蛋白基因,以及4个编码与硫氧化密切相关的硫还原蛋白家族(Sulfur reduction protein)的dsr E基因。基于上述实验分析结果,拟构建极端嗜酸热古菌A.manzaensis的硫氧化模型,即胞外的S~0跨膜转运进入细胞内后,经硫氧化蛋白(SOR)氧化还原生成S_2O_3~(2-),SO_3~(2-)和H_2S等含硫中间产物。接着,细胞内通过其他相关硫氧化酶的作用将这些中间产物进一步氧化,并将氧化得到的电子传递给细胞膜上的氧化型醌(Q~(2+)),使其形成还原型的醌(QH_2),QH_2最终被末端氧化酶氧化形成NADH和ATP,从而为细胞生长提供能量。     

氧化亚铁硫杆菌亚铁氧化系统的研究进展

氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans)为无机化能自养菌,革兰氏阴性,能在极端酸性环境中生长.由于在生物冶金中的应用及特殊的生理学效应,该菌受到研究者的广泛关注.A.ferrooxidans能氧化亚铁、元素硫及还原态硫化物获得电子,并通过一系列电子载体将电子传递给氧生成水,同时释放能量供生命活动需要.目前对A.ferrooxidans电子传递系统的研究主要集中于亚铁氧化电子传递系统,已发现多种与亚铁氧化电子传递相关电子载体和操纵子,如电子载体铜蓝蛋白(Rustocyanin,Rus)、细胞色素C(Cytochrome C,Cyc)、细胞色素C氧化酶(Cytochrome Coxidase,Cox)、亚铁氧化酶(Iro)、细胞色素bc1复合物(cytochrome bc1 complex,bc1)等,以及rus操纵子和pet操纵子.综述了近年来有关A.ferrooxidans 亚铁氧化电子传递链相关蛋白载体,rus和pet操纵子结构与功能及表达调控等方面的研究进展.     

海底热液环境中嗜中性微需氧铁氧化菌的多样性、生物矿化作用及其代谢特征

铁元素是深海热液活动产物的主要成分之一,也是热液喷口处化能自养微生物生态系统的重要驱动元素。以Zetaproteobacteria为典型代表的嗜中性微需氧铁氧化菌是海底喷口及其周围环境中生物介导的Fe²⁺氧化这一生物矿化作用的主要驱动者。这些铁氧化菌通过氧化Fe²⁺获取维持自身代谢所必需的能量,同时分泌有机质将氧化后的不溶铁（氧化物或氢氧化物）沉淀于细胞外,形成具有螺旋丝带状、中空长杆状、分叉管状以及其他具有特殊形貌特征的显微结构体,进而堆积成广泛分布于海底的富铁氧化物/氢氧化物。越来越多的研究表明,编码细胞色素孔蛋白的cyc2基因是Zetaproteobacteria铁氧化菌进行Fe²⁺氧化的关键基因,而细胞色素c或其他周质细胞色素则是Fe²⁺氧化过程中的关键电子传递载体。基于宏基因组分析的系列研究揭示了Zetaproteobacteria普遍具有多种与氮、硫、氢以及砷元素循环密切相关的功能基因与代谢途径,暗示了其在上述元素循环过程中的潜在作用。本文系统地总结了海底热液喷口及其周围环境中发现的嗜中...     

低表达线粒体蛋白ISCA2对线粒体功能影响的机制研究

该文探讨了ISCA2蛋白低表达对细胞内铁硫蛋白和能量代谢的影响。在HeLa细胞内将ISCA2基因敲低,通过免疫印迹、顺乌头酸酶胶内酶活性分析法分析线粒体内外铁硫蛋白水平和活性改变;用紫外–可见分光光度法检测细胞线粒体内氧化磷酸化复合体活性;用海马能量分析仪分析细胞内能量代谢的改变。结果表明,ISCA2蛋白低表达后,氧化磷酸化复合体中各铁硫蛋白亚基都出现不同程度的下调,且对于线粒体[4Fe-4S]型铁硫蛋白亚基影响显著,但对线粒体[2Fe-2S]型铁硫蛋白亚基以及胞质[4Fe-4S]型铁硫蛋白亚基影响较小。同时,ISCA2蛋白低表达后对线粒体复合体活性和线粒体能量代谢影响显著,细胞有氧呼吸降低,细胞外乳酸含量增加。这些结果表明,ISCA2蛋白低表达后抑制铁硫簇的组装,导致铁硫蛋白功能障碍,影响线粒体复合体活性和氧化磷酸化系统,使得细胞能量代谢紊乱。     

万座嗜酸两面菌硫代谢相关膜蛋白基因的筛选

活性巯基在浸矿微生物硫代谢的过程中起着重要的作用,半胱氨酸残基作为蛋白质中活性巯基的提供者,为筛选硫代谢相关蛋白质基因提供了依据。本研究以极端嗜酸热古菌万座嗜酸两面菌Acidianus manzaensis为研究对象,基于其全基因组注释信息,筛选出编码富半胱氨酸残基的潜在硫代谢相关膜蛋白基因,并通过RT-qPCR实验对筛选出来的基因进行表达水平验证,同时利用生物信息学方法对其进一步分析。研究表明,与在亚铁中生长的细胞相比,单质硫培养下的细菌中与能量代谢相关的β-葡糖苷酶,与电子传递相关的ATP合成酶、NADH-辅酶Q氧化还原酶基因均表达上调,说明硫代谢途径可能与能量代谢和电子传递有着重要的联系。此外,还有三个假定蛋白基因表达上调,这三个假定膜蛋白中,ARM75161.1、ARM75436.1中的半胱氨酸都位于保守区域,且均有一个半胱氨酸残基暴露于膜外,而ARM75580.1中的半光氨酸不位于保守区域。其中ARM75436.1具有CXXXC结构域,且该结构域中半胱氨酸残基处于同一个β-折叠中。这些假定蛋白可能参与A. manzaensis中硫代谢途径。     

铜对线粒体中铁硫蛋白功能的毒性机制研究

该文探讨了铜对线粒体内铁硫蛋白的毒性机理。通过包装慢病毒将Hep G2细胞中铜转运蛋白ATP7B(ATPase copper transporting beta)基因敲低,并用铜离子处理构建高铜细胞模型。通过免疫印迹、胶内酶活、紫外–可见光分光光度法检测细胞线粒体内铁硫蛋白、非铁硫蛋白及铁硫簇组装蛋白量和活性的改变;用电镜观察高铜模型中线粒体的形态改变;用海马能量代谢分析仪检测铜离子对细胞能量代谢的影响。结果发现,高铜细胞模型线粒体内铁硫簇组装蛋白ISCA2(ironsulfur cluster assembly 2)及ISCU(iron-sulfur cluster assembly enzyme)水平下降,抑制了铁硫簇的组装,并进一步影响了线粒体内[2Fe-2S]型及[4Fe-4S]型铁硫蛋白功能,但并不影响非铁硫蛋白。高铜状态也影响了呼吸链复合体活性及线粒体能量代谢,并导致线粒体形态发生改变。这些结果表明,异常累积的铜离子也会通过抑制线粒体中铁硫簇的组装,影响线粒体内铁硫蛋白的功能。     

梯棱羊肚菌AA1_2家族多铜氧化酶基因的异源表达与生化鉴定

典型的漆酶通常属于辅助活性酶第一家族第一亚族（auxiliary activity family 1 subfamily 1,简称AA1_1家族）,而AA1_2家族的多铜氧化酶通常拥有将二价铁氧化成三价铁的活性,部分AA1_2家族酶蛋白兼具漆酶活性。梯棱羊肚菌全基因组只有一个AA1_2家族酶基因,该基因编码的酶蛋白是否拥有漆酶功能尚未清楚。本研究主要从酶生化特性的角度,结合酶基因的表达规律,对该基因的功能进行初探。对该AA1_2家族基因在梯棱羊肚菌生长发育不同阶段的表达水平进行实时定量PCR检测;将该基因编码序列克隆到表达载体中在大肠杆菌中异源表达,层析获得纯化的酶蛋白,对酶蛋白的生化特性进行了鉴定。发现该AA1_2多铜氧化酶基因在外源营养袋和土壤中的营养菌丝里低表达,在菇原基和子实体中表达较活跃。异源表达获得纯化的酶蛋白分子量约64kDa,表现出亚铁氧化酶（EC 1.16.3.1）与漆酶（EC 1.10.3.2）双重活性。其亚铁氧化酶活性在pH 4最高,漆酶活性在pH 6最高。亚铁氧化酶活性与漆酶活性的最适温度均为30℃左右,在30℃温育16h后仍保留70%以上活性。亚铁氧化酶和漆酶活性受Mn ²⁺、Hg ²⁺和Pb ²⁺抑制。对蛋白质变性剂SDS、尿素的耐受性较强。本研究通过酶学证据证实了梯棱羊肚菌AA1_2家族多铜氧化酶基因编码的酶蛋白具有亚铁氧化酶-漆酶双重活性,系在子囊菌大型真菌中首次发现,为进一步研究铁元素代谢与漆酶活性在羊肚菌子实体形成与发育过程中的作用提供了启示。     

植物细胞色素C家族蛋白的同源聚类分析

利用生物信息学数据库NCBI与EMBL,以截形苜蓿(Medicago truncatula L.)为基准,获得了一系列植物细胞色素C家族的成员蛋白,并对其进行多重序列对比,进而绘制了系统进化树及同源聚类分析。以期为细胞色素C家族蛋白结构与功能的研究提供理论依据。     

Bcl-2家族蛋白调控线粒体膜通透性和细胞色素C释放的新机制

Bcl-2家族蛋白在调控线粒体功能和细胞色素C释放中起重要作用。最近发现Bcl-2分子通过与其他促凋亡分子相互作用调控线粒体外膜通透性,其具体分子机制尚不完全清楚。本课题组采用化学生物学方法,在研究Bax/Bak非依赖的细胞凋亡途径中,发现了一些小分子化合物能够诱导Bim表达量急剧升高,Bim能转位到线粒体上,与Bcl-2相互作用增强,并直接促进Bcl-2构象变化。有意义的是,Bim可以诱导Bcl-2功能发生转换并能够形成大的复合体通道来介导细胞色素C释放。研究结果提示Bcl-2分子可变成促凋亡分子,参与Bax/Bak非依赖的细胞色素C释放和细胞凋亡。     

完全重瓣型山茶花品种‘红十八学士'CjHDEF基因cDNA的序列分析

我国完全重瓣型山茶花品种‘红十八学士’(Camellia japonica‘Hongshibaxueshi’)CjHDEF基因的cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:HM773024)生物信息学分析表明,该基因属于花发育B类功能基因的AP3基因家族成员,其cDNA全长1013bp中有一个完整的681bp开放阅读框,编码226个氨基酸。该基因编码蛋白质分子量26.09kD,理论等电点9.03;不稳定系数达43.20,表明该蛋白为不稳定蛋白;其编码蛋白属于MIKC型蛋白,该蛋白预测的二级结构和三级结构结果相符,主要以α-螺旋和无规卷曲为主,延伸链所占比重最小;含有6个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点,表明该基因与‘红十八学士’花器官发育的细胞生长和分化密切相关;有多达11个磷酸化特定位点,说明该基因在花器官发育的细胞信号传递过程中占有重要地位。     

Cytochromes c of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

The chemolithoautotrophic Gram-negative bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is versatile and can grow on a number of electron donors and acceptors. In the A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 genome, computer analysis identified 11 genes encoding putative cytochromes c. At least eight putative cytochromes c were differentiated on gels in ATCC 33020 cells grown on ferrous iron or sulfur. All these cytochromes were associated with the inner or the outer membranes. Lower levels of total cytochromes c were observed in sulfur- than in ferrous iron-grown cells. One cytochrome c was specific for sulfur conditions while three were specific for iron conditions, suggesting that cytochrome c synthesis is modulated depending on the electron donor.     

An exported rhodanese-like protein is induced during growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in metal sulfides and different sulfur compounds

By proteomic analysis we found a 21-kDa protein (P21) from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 19859 whose synthesis was greatly increased by growth of the bacteria in pyrite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, CuS, and ZnS and was almost completely repressed by growth in ferrous iron. After we determined the N-terminal amino acid sequence of P21, we used the available preliminary genomic sequence of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 to isolate the DNA region containing the p21 gene. The nucleotide sequence of this DNA fragment contained a putative open reading frame (ORF) coding for a 23-kDa protein. This difference in size was due to the presence of a putative signal peptide in the ORF coding for P21. When p21 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, the signal peptide was removed, resulting in a mature protein with a molecular mass of 21 kDa and a calculated isoelectric point of 9.18. P21 exhibited 27% identity and 42% similarity to the Deinococcus radiodurans thiosulfate-sulfur transferase (rhodanese; EC 2.8.1.1) and similar values in relation to other rhodaneses, conserving structural domains and an active site with a cysteine, both characteristic of this family of proteins. However, the purified recombinant P21 protein did not show rhodanese activity. Unlike cytoplasmic rhodaneses, P21 was located in the periphery of A. ferrooxidans cells, as determined by immunocytochemical analysis, and was regulated depending on the oxidizable substrate. The genomic context around gene p21 contained other ORFs corresponding to proteins such as thioredoxins and sulfate-thiosulfate binding proteins, clearly suggesting the involvement of P21 in inorganic sulfur metabolism in A. ferrooxidans.     

The pio operon is essential for phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1

Phototrophic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria couple the oxidation of ferrous iron [Fe(II)] to reductive CO(2) fixation by using light energy, but until recently, little has been understood about the molecular basis for this process. Here we report the discovery, with Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 as a model organism, of a three-gene operon, designated the pio operon (for phototrophic iron oxidation), that is necessary for phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation. The first gene in the operon, pioA, encodes a c-type cytochrome that is upregulated under Fe(II)-grown conditions. PioA contains a signal sequence and shares homology with MtrA, a decaheme c-type cytochrome from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. The second gene, pioB, encodes a putative outer membrane beta-barrel protein. PioB is a homologue of MtrB from S. oneidensis MR-1. The third gene, pioC, encodes a putative high potential iron sulfur protein (HiPIP) with a twin-arginine translocation (Tat) signal sequence and is similar to the putative Fe(II) oxidoreductase (Iro) from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Like PioA, PioB and PioC appear to be secreted proteins. Deletion of the pio operon results in loss of Fe(II) oxidation activity and growth on Fe(II). Complementation studies confirm that the phenotype of this mutant is due to loss of the pio genes. Deletion of pioA alone results in loss of almost all Fe(II) oxidation activity; however, deletion of either pioB or pioC alone results in only partial loss of Fe(II) oxidation activity. Together, these results suggest that proteins encoded by the pio operon are essential and specific for phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation in R. palustris TIE-1.     

A new iron-oxidizing/O2-reducing supercomplex spanning both inner and outer membranes, isolated from the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

The iron respiratory chain of the acidophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans involves various metalloenzymes. Here we demonstrate that the oxygen reduction pathway from ferrous iron (named downhill pathway) is organized as a supercomplex constituted of proteins located in the outer and inner membranes as well as in the periplasm. For the first time, the outer membrane-bound cytochrome c Cyc2 was purified, and we showed that it is responsible for iron oxidation and determined that its redox potential is the highest measured to date for a cytochrome c. The organization of metalloproteins inside the supramolecular structure was specified by protein-protein interaction experiments. The isolated complex spanning the two membranes had iron oxidase as well as oxygen reductase activities, indicating functional electron transfer between the first iron electron acceptor, Cyc2, and the Cu(A) center of cytochrome c oxidase aa(3). This is the first characterization of a respirasome from an acidophilic bacterium. In Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,O(2) reduction from ferrous iron must be coupled to the energy-consuming reduction of NAD(+)(P) from ferrous iron (uphill pathway) required for CO(2) fixation and other anabolic processes. Besides the proteins involved in the O(2) reduction, there were additional proteins in the supercomplex, involved in uphill pathway (bc complex and cytochrome Cyc(42)), suggesting a possible physical link between these two pathways.     

Differential protein expression during growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on ferrous iron, sulfur compounds, or metal sulfides

A set of proteins that changed their levels of synthesis during growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 19859 on metal sulfides, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and ferrous iron was characterized by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-terminal amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis of these proteins allowed their identification and the localization of the corresponding genes in the available genomic sequence of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270. The genomic context around several of these genes suggests their involvement in the energetic metabolism of A. ferrooxidans. Two groups of proteins could be distinguished. The first consisted of proteins highly upregulated by growth on sulfur compounds (and downregulated by growth on ferrous iron): a 44-kDa outer membrane protein, an exported 21-kDa putative thiosulfate sulfur transferase protein, a 33-kDa putative thiosulfate/sulfate binding protein, a 45-kDa putative capsule polysaccharide export protein, and a putative 16-kDa protein of unknown function. The second group of proteins comprised those downregulated by growth on sulfur (and upregulated by growth on ferrous iron): rusticyanin, a cytochrome c(552), a putative phosphate binding protein (PstS), the small and large subunits of ribulose biphosphate carboxylase, and a 30-kDa putative CbbQ protein, among others. The results suggest in general a separation of the iron and sulfur utilization pathways. Rusticyanin, in addition to being highly expressed on ferrous iron, was also newly synthesized, as determined by metabolic labeling, although at lower levels, during growth on sulfur compounds and iron-free metal sulfides. During growth on metal sulfides containing iron, such as pyrite and chalcopyrite, both proteins upregulated on ferrous iron and those upregulated on sulfur compounds were synthesized, indicating that the two energy-generating pathways are induced simultaneously depending on the kind and concentration of oxidizable substrates available.