Identification and expression of two novel cytochrome P450 genes, belonging to CYP4 and a new CYP331 family, in the polychaete Capitella capitata sp.I

The polychaete Capitella capitata sp.I has a high capacity to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are among the most hazardous environmental pollutants with significant biological effects. In the present study, two novel cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes were identified in this species. One was named CYP331A1, the first member of a new family of CYP331, and the other CYP4AT1 is the first member of a new subfamily CYP4AT. Both of these genes are constitutively expressed in the worms and detectable by RT-PCR. The expression of CYP331A1 mRNA was observed to be more sensitive to PAH exposure than CYP4AT1, which indicated that CYP331A1 should play a more important role than CYP4AT1 in PAH metabolism in this species. Considering the importance of C. capitata sp.I in taking up PAH and other organic pollutants from contaminated marine sediments with the potential for subsequent food-chain transfer, our results are important for understanding the molecular basis of biotransformation and detoxification in this invertebrate, and also have evolutionary significance for understanding the diversity and history of the CYP superfamily.     

Cloning and characterization of two cellulase genes from Lentinula edodes

The effect of overproduction of the Hsp70 system proteins (DnaK, DnaJ, GrpE) and/or ClpB (Hsp100) from plasmids on the process of formation and removal of heat-aggregated proteins from Escherichia coli cells (the S fraction) was investigated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Two plasmids were employed: pKJE7 carrying the dnaK/dnaJ/grpE genes under the control of the araB promoter and pClpB carrying the clpB gene under the control of its own promoter (sigma(32)-dependent). In the wild-type cells the S fraction after 15 min of heat shock amounted to 21% of cellular insoluble proteins (IP), and disappeared 10 min after transfer of the culture to 37 degrees C. In contrast to this, in the clpB mutant the S fraction was larger (35% IP) and its elimination was retarded, nearly 60% of the aggregated proteins remained stable 30 min after heat shock. This result points to the importance of ClpB in removal of the heat-aggregated proteins from cells. Overproduction of the Hsp70 system proteins (exceeding by about 1.5-fold that of wild-type) in wild-type and DeltaclpB cells completely prevented the formation of the S fraction during heat shock. Overproduction of ClpB (exceeding by about eight-fold that of wild-type) in the same background did not prevent protein aggregation after heat shock and only partly compensated for the effect of the mutation in the clpB gene. Monitoring the S fraction during co-production of DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE and ClpB in the DeltaclpB mutant revealed that both the levels of expression and the ratios of ClpB to Hsp70 system proteins had a significant effect on the formation and removal of protein aggregates in heat-shocked E. coli cells. In the presence of excess ClpB, an increase in the levels of DnaK, DnaJ and GrpE was required to prevent aggregate formation upon heat shock or to efficiently remove protein aggregates after heat shock. Therefore, it is supposed that a high level of ClpB under some conditions, especially at insufficient levels of Hsp70 system proteins, may support protein aggregation resulting from heat shock and may lead to stabilization of hydrophobic aggregates.     

东亚飞蝗细胞色素P450基因的克隆及表达分析

本文克隆了东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen)细胞色素P450(cytochrome P450)基因全长,表达重组蛋白,并对其可溶性进行了分析。通过提取东亚飞蝗总的RNA,反转录成cDNA,设计特异性引物,PCR克隆东亚飞蝗细胞色素P450基因,将测序正确的目的片段克隆至原核表达载体pET-28a中,在大肠埃希菌Escherichia coli Rosetta中用异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导表达。用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)检测重组蛋白表达结果。结果表明:东亚飞蝗细胞色素P450基因开放阅读框全长为1 551 bp,编码516个氨基酸,与GenBank中已登录的东亚飞蝗细胞色素P450基因(HM153426)的同源性为99%,重组质粒pET-28a-P450在E.coli Rosetta中获得高效表达,重组蛋白相对分子质量(Mr)约为53 000,主要以包涵体的形式存在。     

赤点石斑鱼两种芳香化酶cDNA的克隆及其表达的组织特异性

以赤点石斑鱼 (Epinephelusakaara)脑垂体中提取的RNA为模板 ,根据芳香化酶的保守序列设计引物 ,利用GeneRacerTM 技术 ,克隆出两种芳香化酶即脑芳香化酶 (P4 5 0aromB)和性腺芳香化酶 (P4 5 0aromA)的cDNA ,其全长分别为 190 1bp (编码 5 0 9aa)和 1833bp (编码 5 18aa)。序列分析结果表明 ,赤点石斑鱼两种芳香化酶cDNA序列的同源性为 5 1 6 % ,氨基酸序列之间同源性为 6 2 5 % ,与斜带石斑鱼两种芳香化酶氨基酸同源性分别为 94 7%和 97 9%。对 8个科的 10种鱼进行了分子系统进化树分析 ,结果与根据传统的形态学和生化特征分类进化地位基本一致。以特异性引物扩增雌、雄赤点石斑鱼各种组织 (垂体、嗅球、端脑、下丘脑、中脑、后脑、延脑、心脏、肾脏、肝脏、脾脏、性腺、鳃、胃、肠、皮肤、脂肪、肌肉、头肾、胸腺、鳔 ) ,以β actin作内标比较各组织芳香化酶基因表达量的差异 ,结果表明 ,赤点石斑鱼脑芳香化酶 (P4 5 0aromB)有广泛的组织分布 ,脑和垂体的表达量很高 ,各组织表达量有明显的雌、雄差异 ;而性腺芳香化酶 (P4 5 0aromA)表达主要集中于垂体和性腺 ,且不论雌雄 ,其性腺表达量均高于脑垂体 ,和P4 5 0aromB的表达模式明显不同 ,表现为在脑部 ,P4 5 0aromB表达量高于P4 5 0aromA ,而在性腺 ,     

Expression and characterization of a rabbit liver cytochrome P450 belonging to P450IIB subfamily with the aid of the baculovirus expression vector system

Using baculovirus a cDNA for cytochrome P450 (P450F1) belonging to rabbit P450IIB subfamily was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda cells, where P450F1 was located on electron-dense structures (derived from the endoplasmic reticulum) present in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Partially purified P450F1 exhibited absorption spectra similar to those of P450(1), the major phenobarbital-inducible form in rabbit liver. Like P450(1), P450F1 could oxidize aminopyrine, benzphetamine, 7-ethoxycoumarin, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropropane, though its activities toward benzphetamine and 7-ethoxycoumarin were about 50 and 5%, respectively, of those of P450(1). It is concluded that the members of P450IIB subfamily can act on a variety of xenobiotics, although substrate preferences are different among them.     

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding beta subunit of mitochondrial processing peptidase from the basidiomycete Lentinula edodes

We have isolated the gene encoding the beta subunit of mitochondrial processing peptidase (β-MPP) from the shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes. It is a nuclear gene with two small introns. Comparison with known β-MPP genes revealed that the L. edodes gene is most closely related with that from Neurospora crassa, with 60.8% identities and 87% similarity in the amino-acid sequences. The deduced L. edodes β-MPP peptide sequence contains the inverse zinc-binding motif (H–X–E–H) that has been found in a large family of zinc-binding metalloproteinases including bacterial proteinases, insulin degrading enzymes and β-MPPs. The two histidines are thought to contribute two of the three residues for zinc binding. The expression of L. edodes β-MPP is higher during the development of the fruiting bodies, suggesting that higher mitochondrial activities may be required to meet the energy demand in the rapid growth of the fruiting bodies.     

绿盲蝽P450基因的克隆及增效醚对P450酶活性的抑制作用

为探讨P450介导的绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum(Meyer-Dür)抗药性机制,合理使用杀虫药剂,本研究通过活体和离体抑制实验发现,增效醚(PBO)对绿盲蝽P450酶活性有显著的抑制作用:在处理时长为24h时,P450酶活性由未处理时的12.02pmol/min/mgPro.下降至1.63pmol/min/mgPro.,PBO对P450酶的抑制中浓度为0.256mmol/L。生物测定结果表明,PBO对三氟氯氰菊酯具有显著增效作用,增效7.2倍,而对吡虫啉、灭多威、马拉硫磷无显著增效作用。利用RT-PCR及RACE技术对绿盲蝽P450基因进行克隆,获得了2条CYP4家族基因,全长均为1631bp,含有完整的开放阅读框,编码501个氨基酸;序列比对表明这是一对等位基因,含有CYP4家族所有保守特征序列;同源性比较及系统发育分析显示这2个基因编码的氨基酸序列与褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens CYP4CE1亲缘关系最近,同源性分别为41.5%和41.1%。     

Identification and heterologous expression of the cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase from the white-rot basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor

A cDNA encoding cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) from the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Coriolus versicolor was identified using RT-PCR. The full-length cDNA consisted of 2,484 nucleotides with a poly(A) tail, and contained an open reading frame. The G+C content of the cDNA isolated was 60%. A deduced protein contained 730 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 80.7 kDa. The conserved amino acid residues involved in functional domains such as FAD-, FMN-, and NADPH-binding domains, were all found in the deduced protein. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that C. versicolor CPR is significantly similar to CPR of the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium and that they share the same major branch in the fungal cluster. A recombinant CPR protein was expressed using a pET/ Escherichia coli system. The recombinant CPR protein migrated at 81 kDa on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It exhibited an NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reducing activity.     

西花蓟马细胞色素P450基因cDNA片段克隆与mRNA表达分析

细胞色素P450介导的解毒作用增强是昆虫对杀虫剂产生抗性的重要机制。本文通过RT-PCR克隆了西花蓟马CYP4家族5个细胞色素P450基因c DNA片段。多重序列比对发现,这5个基因在氨基酸水平的一致性在40%-76%之间。采用实时荧光定量PCR对5个CYP4基因的mRNA表达水平的分析发现,阿维菌素抗性品系CYP4-1、CYP4-2和CYP4-5的表达水平分别是敏感品系的3.50、4.00和2.48倍,表明西花蓟马对阿维菌素的抗性可能与这3个CYP4基因的过量表达相关。     

Biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the xylotrophic basidiomycete Lentinula edodes

This is the first study to demonstrate that the medicinal basidiomycete Lentinula edodes can reduce gold (III) ions from hydrogen tetrachloaurate (chloroauric acid) H[AuCl₄] to the elementary state with the formation of spherical nanoparticles (nanospheres). When a culture was grown under submerged conditions in the presence of chloroauric acid, the appearance of an intense purple-red color of L. edodes filamentous hyphae was recorded, which indicates that gold ions were reduced to gold nanoparticles. Using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence, we observed accumulation of colloidal gold by the fungal mycelium in the form of electron-dense nanospheres of 5 to 50 nm in diameter on the surface and inside fungal cells.     

Cloning, sequence analysis and transcriptional expression of a ras gene of the edible basidiomycete Lentinus edodes

In the edible basidiomycete, Lentinus edodes, the presence of a high level of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) is closely related to the onset of fruiting and/or primordium formation. Since a close relationship between intracellular cAMP levels and expression of ras genes was reported for organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Dictyostelium discoideum, we have cloned and sequences a ras gene homologue from L. edodes (Le.), and analyzed its expression during development of the fungus. This gene, named Le.ras, has a coding capacity of 217 amino acids (aa) interrupted by six small introns. The deduced Le.Ras protein exhibited the highest homology to the Schizosaccharomyces pombe RAS protein (219 aa): 86% homology in the N-terminal 80-aa sequence and 74% homology in the next 80 aa. The Le.ras gene was transcribed at similar levels during mycelial development in fruiting-body formation, suggesting no direct correlation of Le.ras expression with intracellular cAMP levels in this organism.     

A new family of cytochrome P450 genes (CYP41) from the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus.

We isolated and sequenced a cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene that is sufficiently different from other CYP genes that a new CYP family, CYP41 was created. CYP41 encodes a protein of 518 residues and is most similar to genes from the family CYP3; it is 36% identical to CYP3A2 and 34% identical to CYP3A28. We hypothesise that CYP41 encodes an enzyme that metabolizes xenobiotic compounds i.e. compounds that are foreign to the cattle tick. The phylogenetic position of CYP41 could not be resolved because of the high level of sequence divergence at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels.