Rcs双组分调节系统对细菌环境应答的分子调控研究进展

荚膜异多糖酸合成调节(Regulator of Capsule Synthesis,Rcs)系统是存在于许多肠杆菌科细菌中非典型的双组分调节系统,由3种核心蛋白(跨膜感应激酶RcsC、跨膜蛋白RcsD和响应调节剂RcsB)及多种辅助蛋白共同构成.Rcs系统能整合环境信号、调节基因表达并改变细菌的生理行为.近年来,对细菌...     

群体感应QseB/QseC系统对外界环境变化的响应机制

细菌群体感应(quorum sensing, QS)是一种细菌种群之间和与环境之间的相互作用机制，不仅可以评估其自身物种的种群密度，还可以评估给定环境中其他细菌物种的种群密度，是维持细菌感知并响应环境变化的重要协调途径。编码鞭毛表达和组装以及运动性的基因是潜在的毒力相关因子，受细菌种群密度调节，利用群体感应激活。QseB/QseC双组分系统是参与鞭毛和运动基因调节的群体感应调节级联反应的一个重要组成部分。本文综述了细菌群体感应系统的种类及其作用，将近年来有关QseB/QseC双组分系统介导的群体感应系统结构功能、QseB/QseC信号转导调控机制以及QseB/QseC双组分系统在调控细菌致病性、生物膜形成、鞭毛运动性等方面所发挥的作用进行整理、归纳和总结，并对目前研究不足的地方作出了展望，希望能找出下一个研究的方向。对QseB/QseC信号系统介导的群体感应机制的深入研究，不仅为解决细菌耐药及致病机制等问题提供新思路，还可能为开发疫苗和药物提供新靶点。     

细菌双组分信号转导系统

细菌能感应外界环境各种不同信号,调控菌体内相关基因表达,以适应不断变化的环境。其中双组分信号转导系统广泛存在于各种原核生物中,其基本结构为一个组氨酸蛋白激酶和一个反应调节蛋白。由于双组分系统在结构和作用机制上与人类细胞的信号转导系统有本质的不同,因而在抗微生物感染方面有着诱人的应用前景。     

群体感应系统在合成生物学中的应用*

群体感应(quorum sensing, QS)是一种广泛存在于多种微生物中的胞间通信系统,细菌产生的自诱导物随着种群密度的增加而积累,诱导细菌对种群密度的响应,调节生物膜的形成或特定基因的表达。近年来,随着群体感应系统原理与关键元件的逐渐清晰,应用合成生物学手段进行多技术联合以及多系统间正交性设计具有极大的发展潜力,群体感应系统已成为合成生物学家动态调控胞间通信常用的重要手段之一。在群体感应是细胞-细胞间通信系统的基础上,对多种群体感应系统的联合设计在生物基化学品生产中自动化调控的研究进展进行综述;并针对群体感应系统在生物电化学转化领域实现双向生物信息交流的应用进行总结;同时归纳了医学领域中群体感应系统的动态调控功能与多种疾病诊断及治疗结合的研究进展,讨论了群体感应系统在多细胞通信和实际应用等方面的发展前景。     

细菌Cpx信号转导系统的功能及调控机制研究进展

Cpx (conjugative pilus expression)双组分信号转导系统是革兰阴性细菌中一种复杂的包膜应激系统,能感应从不同信号传输点传入的多种包膜信号。位于胞质中的反应调节子CpxR磷酸化后能够调节众多编码内外膜上相关蛋白基因的表达。Cpx系统的激活还能调节细菌对抗生素和酸等压力的抵抗性。本文介绍了Cpx系统的组成,重点对Cpx系统的信号感应及调控机制进行综述,以期为Cpx系统的调控网络及其调节细菌重要生理过程的研究提供参考依据。     

表皮葡萄球菌 YycG单克隆抗体抗生物膜活性的研究

YycFG双组分信号转导系统调控葡萄球菌细胞壁合成、代谢及生物膜形成,PAS是组氨酸激酶YycG的胞外信号感应区域。本研究针对胞外PAS区域制备抗YycG‐PAS单克隆抗体（YycG‐PAS MAb ）。免疫鉴定结果表明,YycG‐PAS MAb可与重组YycG‐PAS蛋白和表皮葡萄球菌菌体 YycG蛋白结合,属于IgG2a亚型,效价为log 215。YycG‐PAS MAb（80μg／ml）与表皮葡萄球菌 RP62A菌株共培养24 h ,对细菌生物膜形成的抑制率达46．5％,与 mIgG （80μg／mL ）组相比有显著差异（ P＜0．05）。YycG‐PAS MAb （80μg／ml）与低浓度万古霉素（1μg／ml）联用可增强对24 h细菌生物膜的抑制作用,抑制率由57．6％提高至93．0％（P＜0．01）。YycG‐PAS MAb对浮游状态表皮葡萄球菌的生长及存活无显著影响。本研究为YycG‐PAS MAb在抗生物膜感染中的潜在应用价值奠定了一定基础。     

真菌群体感应现象的研究进展

群体感应是细菌中普遍存在的细胞与细胞间的通讯系统,即细菌可通过向环境释放可扩散的信号分子来感知细胞群体密度并调控自身的某些生理行为。近年来研究发现,真菌中也存在类似于细菌群体感应信号分子的信息素,并参与调节真菌诸如菌相转化、致病性及次级代谢产物产生等生理行为。主要综述了目前真菌中群体感应系统的研究进展。     

mTOR信号通路调节细胞能量代谢的机制

细胞正常代谢过程需要持续的能量供给,而线粒体是细胞内氧化磷酸化和合成ATP的主要场所.m TOR作为细胞营养感应和能量调节因子,调控细胞的新陈代谢以及细胞周期进程和细胞生长.本文综述了m TOR对细胞线粒体功能的调控机制,m TOR与AMPK在细胞内交互调控能量平衡以及m TOR整合氨基酸和能量感应通路,以期为营养学或药理学中对癌症以及肥胖和糖尿病等代谢性疾病的干预和治疗提供指导.     

非编码RNAs在细菌代谢网络调控中的研究进展

非编码RNAs(non-coding RNAs,ncRNAs)是一类非常重要的调节子,此类调节子能够使细胞通过调节它们的生理特性而适应环境的改变。已有的研究表明ncRNAs在细菌的蔗糖代谢、细胞外膜应激反应、群体感应和细菌毒力等方面发挥了重要的调节作用,其调控模式已经成为细菌调控网络中的重要“分支”。本文综述了细菌ncRNAs近年来的研究进展,详细介绍了细菌ncRNAs的合成及调控机制,由于ncRNAs结构的独特性及调控网络的复杂性,因此ncRNAs的功能研究已经成为近几点的研究热点之一。     

肺炎链球菌pcsB组成型表达的yycF缺陷菌株的构建及其致病能力

【背景】YycFG双组分系统是肺炎链球菌(Streptococcus pneumoniae,S. pn)应对外界环境的重要信息传递系统,其中表达反应调节子YycF的编码基因是肺炎链球菌生长的必需基因,但其是否调控细菌毒力尚不清楚。【目的】构建肺炎链球菌pcsB组成型表达及yycF缺陷菌,分析YycF对肺炎链球菌生物学特征和毒力的影响。【方法】采用Janus cassette (JC)反选的方法构建pcsB组成型表达菌株(Pc-PcsB~+),从该菌株出发用替代失活的方法构建yycF缺陷菌株(Pc-PcsB~+DyycF),比较野生株D39rpsl41、pcsB组成型表达株及yycF缺陷株的生长特性、荚膜多糖(capsular polysaccharide,CPS)含量、粘附侵袭能力和致病性的差异。【结果】成功构建pcsB组成型表达的yycF缺陷菌株(Pc-PcsB+DyycF);yycF缺陷导致细菌生长缓慢、分裂异常、胞内荚膜多糖和小分子荚膜多糖增多;体外实验结果显示,yycF缺陷菌株粘附能力较Pc-PcsB~+菌株减弱(P=0.006)。体内毒力实验显示,感染野生菌的小鼠全部死亡,感染Pc-PcsB+和Pc-PcsB~+DyycF菌株的小鼠死亡率分别为91.7%、75%,二者没有统计学差异(P=0.183),但Pc-PcsB~+DyycF菌株感染组有降低趋势;定殖结果显示,yycF缺陷菌株感染组的肺匀浆菌载量显著低于对照组(P=0.033)。【结论】成功构建yycF缺陷菌株,并初步证明yycF基因会影响肺炎链球菌的生物性状和致病能力,为后续探讨YycFG双组分系统对肺炎链球菌致病能力调控机制的研究奠定了基础。     

Bacterial observations: a rudimentary form of intelligence?

Genome sequencing has revealed that signal transduction in bacteria makes use of a limited number of different devices, such as two-component systems, LuxI-LuxR quorum-sensing systems, phosphodiesterases, Ser-Thr (serine-threonine) kinases, OmpR-type regulators, and sigma factor-anti-sigma factor pathways. These systems use modular proteins with a large variety of input and output domains, yet strikingly conserved transmission domains. This conservation might lead to redundancy of output function, for example, via crosstalk (i.e. phosphoryl transfer from a non-cognate sensory kinase). The number of similar devices in a single cell, particularly of the two-component type, might amount to several dozen, and most of these operate in parallel. This could bestow bacteria with cellular intelligence if the network of two-component systems in a single cell fulfils the requirements of a neural network. Testing these ideas poses a great challenge for prokaryotic systems biology.     

Molecular mechanisms of cytokinin action.

Cytokinins have been implicated in many aspects of plant development, including a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation. Recent studies indicate that cytokinins may elevate cell division rates by induction of expression of CycD3, which encodes a D-type cyclin thought to play a role in the G1-->M transition of the cell cycle. Progress has also been made in our understanding of cytokinin perception as homologs of two-component phosphorelay systems have emerged as likely signaling elements.     

Chloroplast two-component systems: evolution of the link between photosynthesis and gene expression

Two-component signal transduction, consisting of sensor kinases and response regulators, is the predominant signalling mechanism in bacteria. This signalling system originated in prokaryotes and has spread throughout the eukaryotic domain of life through endosymbiotic, lateral gene transfer from the bacterial ancestors and early evolutionary precursors of eukaryotic, cytoplasmic, bioenergetic organelles—chloroplasts and mitochondria. Until recently, it was thought that two-component systems inherited from an ancestral cyanobacterial symbiont are no longer present in chloroplasts. Recent research now shows that two-component systems have survived in chloroplasts as products of both chloroplast and nuclear genes. Comparative genomic analysis of photosynthetic eukaryotes shows a lineage-specific distribution of chloroplast two-component systems. The components and the systems they comprise have homologues in extant cyanobacterial lineages, indicating their ancient cyanobacterial origin. Sequence and functional characteristics of chloroplast two-component systems point to their fundamental role in linking photosynthesis with gene expression. We propose that two-component systems provide a coupling between photosynthesis and gene expression that serves to retain genes in chloroplasts, thus providing the basis of cytoplasmic, non-Mendelian inheritance of plastid-associated characters. We discuss the role of this coupling in the chronobiology of cells and in the dialogue between nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic systems.     

Comprehensive DNA microarray analysis of Bacillus subtilis two-component regulatory systems.

It has recently been shown through DNA microarray analysis of Bacillus subtilis two-component regulatory systems (DegS-DegU, ComP-ComA, and PhoR-PhoP) that overproduction of a response regulator of the two-component systems in the background of a deficiency of its cognate sensor kinase affects the regulation of genes, including its target ones. The genome-wide effect on gene expression caused by the overproduction was revealed by DNA microarray analysis. In the present work, we newly analyzed 24 two-component systems by means of this strategy, leaving out 8 systems to which it was unlikely to be applicable. This analysis revealed various target gene candidates for these two-component systems. It is especially notable that interesting interactions appeared to take place between several two-component systems. Moreover, the probable functions of some unknown two-component systems were deduced from the list of their target gene candidates. This work is heuristic but provides valuable information for further study toward a comprehensive understanding of the B. subtilis two-component regulatory systems. The DNA microarray data obtained in this work are available at the KEGG Expression Database website (http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/expression).     

Role of two-component regulatory systems in intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The typical two-component regulatory systems (TCSs), consisting of response regulator and histidine kinase, play a central role in survival of pathogenic bacteria under stress conditions such as nutrient starvation, hypoxia, and nitrosative stress. A total of 11 complete paired two-component regulatory systems have been found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including a few isolated kinase and regulatory genes. Increasing evidence has shown that TCSs are closely associated with multiple physiological process like intracellular persistence, pathogenicity, and metabolism. This review gives the two-component signal transduction systems in M. tuberculosis and their signal transduction roles in adaption to the environment.     

Two-component systems in plant signal transduction

In plants, two-component systems play important roles in signal transduction in response to environmental stimuli and growth regulators. Genetic and biochemical analyses indicate that sensory hybrid-type histidine kinases, ETR1 and its homologs, function as ethylene receptors and negative regulators in ethylene signaling. Two other hybrid-type histidine kinases, CKI1 and ATHK1, are implicated in cytokinin signaling and osmosensing processes, respectively. A data base search of Arabidopsis ESTs and genome sequences has identified many homologous genes encoding two-component regulators. We discuss the possible origins and functions of these two-component systems in plants.     

Two-component signal transduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum and other corynebacteria: on the way towards stimuli and targets

In bacteria, adaptation to changing environmental conditions is often mediated by two-component signal transduction systems. In the prototypical case, a specific stimulus is sensed by a membrane-bound histidine kinase and triggers autophosphorylation of a histidine residue. Subsequently, the phosphoryl group is transferred to an aspartate residue of the cognate response regulator, which then becomes active and mediates a specific response, usually by activating and/or repressing a set of target genes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on two-component signal transduction in Corynebacterium glutamicum. This Gram-positive soil bacterium is used for the large-scale biotechnological production of amino acids and can also be applied for the synthesis of a wide variety of other products, such as organic acids, biofuels, or proteins. Therefore, C. glutamicum has become an important model organism in industrial biotechnology and in systems biology. The type strain ATCC 13032 possesses 13 two-component systems and the role of five has been elucidated in recent years. They are involved in citrate utilization (CitAB), osmoregulation and cell wall homeostasis (MtrAB), adaptation to phosphate starvation (PhoSR), adaptation to copper stress (CopSR), and heme homeostasis (HrrSA). As C. glutamicum does not only face changing conditions in its natural environment, but also during cultivation in industrial bioreactors of up to 500 m(3) volume, adaptability can also be crucial for good performance in biotechnological production processes. Detailed knowledge on two-component signal transduction and regulatory networks therefore will contribute to both the application and the systemic understanding of C. glutamicum and related species.     

Whole genome-based phylogenetic analysis of bacterial two-component systems

To adapt to their environment, bacterial strains have developed various environmental signal sensing systems or twocomponent systems. To evaluate the evolutionary relationship of two-component systems, 246 two-component system genes from KEGG were analyzed. Phylogenetic tree structure indicated that most two-component systems are strain specific. Most of two-component system genes have co-evolved, and some two-component system pairs have evolved via recruitment model. By two-component system gene content analysis, new aspect of cellular metabolism evolution was provided.     

Compilation of All Genes Encoding Bacterial Two-component Signal Transducers in the Genome of the Cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

Bacteria have devised sophisticated signaling systems for elicitinga variety of adaptive responses to their environment, whichare generally referred to as the "two-component regulatory system."The widespread occurrence of the two-component systems in bothprokaryotes and eukaryotes implies that it is a powerful devicefor a wide variety of adaptive responses of cells to their environment.The two-component signal transducers contain one or more ofthree conserved and characteristic phosphotransfer signalingdomains, named the "transmitter, receiver, and alternative transmitter."The recently determined entire genomic sequence of Synechocystissp. strain PCC 6803 allowed us to compile systematically a completelist of genes encoding such two-component signal transductionproteins. The results of such an effort, made in this study,revealed that at least 80 ORFs were identified as members ofthe two-component signal transducers in this single speciesof cyanobacteria.