Metabolic Engineering of Plants to Produce Very Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) are essential for human health and well-being. However, the current sources of these valuable compounds are limited and may not be sustainable in the long term. Recently, considerable progress has been made in identifying genes involved in the biosynthesis of VLCPUFAs. The co-expression of these genes in model systems such as plant embryos or yeast provided many valuable insights into the mechanisms of VLCPUFA synthesis. The recent successful reconstitution of pathways leading to the synthesis of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and finally docosahexaenoic acid in oil-seed plants indicates the feasibility of using transgenic crops as alternative sources of VLCPUFAs. The various approaches used to attain these results and the specific constraints associated with each approach are discussed.     

Docosahexaenoic acid but not eicosapentaenoic acid withstands dietary cholesterol-induced decreases in platelet membrane fluidity

To determine the differenetial effects of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid on platelet membrane fluidity under hypercholesterolemic conditions. DHA and EPA were orally administered (300 mg/kg body weight^.day) to hypercholesterolemic rats for 12 weeks. Membrane fluidity, evaluated by fluorescence polarization of nonpolar 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), of the platelets of high cholesterol (HC; 1%)-fed rats decreased significantly compared with that of the platelets of normocholesterolemic rats. In HC-fed rats, dietary administration of DHA, unlike that of EPA, significantly increased platelet membrane fluidity. A high cholesterol diet significantly increased platelet aggregation, compared with the platelet aggregation of normocholesterolemic rats. DHA administration significantly decreased the aggregation, whereas EPA had no effect. Levels of EPA in the platelets of the EPA-fed HC rats and those of DHA in the platelets of the DHA-fed HC rats increased by 482 and 174%, respectively, compared with those in the platelets of the HC-fed rats. The unsaturation index and the ratio of saturated to (poly)unsaturated fatty acid of the platelet membrane increased only in the DHA-fed rats. The phospholipid content in platelet membranes remained unaltered in all groups, whereas the cholesterol content decreased significantly in DHA-fed rats, resulting in a significant decrease in the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio only in the platelet membranes of DHA-fed rats. These results suggest that DHA is a more potent membrane-fluidizer than EPA in withstanding cholesterol-induced decreases in platelet membrane fluidity and a stronger ameliorative modulator of platelet hyperaggregation.     

二十碳五烯酸和二十二碳六烯酸的生物合成途径研究进展

以二十碳五烯酸(EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)为代表的长链多不饱和脂肪酸,对人体心血管系统、神经系统、抗炎免疫系统等有着理想的功效,因而倍受研究者关注。我们从结构、生物来源和合成、生理功能及生物工程途径的研究现状等方面阐述了EPA和DHA的相关信息,并对其生成途径中涉及的酶进行了简要概述。     

Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched phosphatidylcholine liposomes enhance the permeability, transportation and uptake of phospholipids in Caco-2 cells

The influence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)- and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched phosphatidylcholine (PC) on the permeability, transport and uptake of phospholipids was evaluated in Caco-2 cells. The cells were grown on permeable polycarbonate transwell filters, thus allowing separate access to the apical and basolateral chambers. The monolayers of the cells were used to measure lucifer yellow permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Transcellular transportation of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) labeled-PC small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) from the apical to basolateral chamber, and uptake of the same SUV was monitored in the cell monolayers. Cell-membrane perturbation was evaluated to measure the release of lactate dehydrogenase and to determine the cell viability with sodium 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl) -5-(2, 4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium dye reduction assay. The lucifer yellow flux was 1.0 and 1.5 nmol/h/cm² with 50 μM PC, and 17.0 and 23.0 nmol/h/cm² with 100 μM PC when monolayers of Caco-2 cells were treated with DHA- and EPA-enriched PC, respectively. TEER decreased to 24 and 27% with 50 and 100 μM DHA-enriched PC, and to 25 and 30% with 50 and 100 μM EPA-enriched PC, respectively. Our results show that DHA- and EPA-enriched PC increases tight junction permeability across the Caco-2 cell monolayer whereas soy PC has no effect on tight junction permeability. Transportation and uptake of DHA- and EPA-enriched PC SUV differed significantly (P < 0.01) from those of soy PC SUV at all doses. We found that PC SUV transported across Caco-2 monolayer and was taken up by Caco-2 cells with very slight injury of the cell membrane up to 100 μM PC. Lactate dehydrogenase release and cell viability did not differ significantly between the treatment and control, emphasizing that injury was minimal. Our results suggest that DHA- and EPA-enriched PC enhance the permeability, transport and uptake of PC SUV across monolayers of Caco-2 cells. (Mol Cell Biochem xxx: 1–9, 2005)     

Docosahexaenoic acid, but not eicosapentaenoic acid, reduces the early inflammatory response following compression spinal cord injury in the rat

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 : 5) are omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) with distinct anti-inflammatory properties. Both have neuroprotective effects acutely following spinal cord injury (SCI). We examined the effect of intravenous DHA and EPA on early inflammatory events after SCI. Saline, DHA or EPA (both 250 nmol/kg) were administered 30 min after T12 compression SCI, to female Sprague-Dawley rats. DHA significantly reduced the number of neutrophils to some areas of the injured epicentre at 4 h and 24 h. DHA also reduced C-reactive protein plasma levels, whereas EPA did not significantly reduce neutrophils or C-reactive protein. Laminectomy and SCI elicited a sustained inflammatory response in the liver, which was not reversed by the PUFAs. The chemokine KC/GRO/CINC and the cytokine IL-6 provide gradients for chemotaxis of neutrophils to the epicentre. At 4 h after injury, there was a significant increase in IL-6, KC/GRO/CINC, IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α in the epicentre, with a return to baseline at 24 h. Neither DHA nor EPA returned their levels to control values. These results indicate that the acute neuroprotective effects of n-3 PUFAs in rat compression SCI may be only partly attributed to reduction of some of the early inflammatory events occurring after injury.     

Purification of Spider Silk-elastin from Transgenic Plants and Application for Human Chondrocyte Proliferation

Research on spider silk proteins has led to the possibility of designing genetically engineered silks according to defined material properties. Here we show the efficient and stable production of spider silk-elastin fusion proteins in transgenic tobacco and potato plants by retention in the ER. The proteins were purified by a simple method, using heat treatment and 'inverse transition cycling'. Laboratory scale extraction of 1 kg tobacco leaf material leads to a yield of 80 mg pure recombinant spider silk-elastin protein. As a possible application, as well as to demonstrate biocompatibility, the growth of anchorage-dependent mammalian cells on spider silk-elastin coated culture plates was compared with conventional coatings such as collagen, fibronectin and poly-D-lysine. The anchorage-dependent chondrocytes showed similar growth behaviour and a rounded phenotype on collagen and on spider silk-elastin coated plates and the proliferation was remarkably superior to untreated polystyrene plates.     

A Simple Set of Plasmids for the Production of Transgenic Plants

A new set of plasmids for plant transgenic studies was developed. Its strong point is that independent gene cassettes are connected within one binary vector by the restriction endonuclease-based technique only. Using the set, two overexpressing cassettes and three RNA interference (RNAi) cassettes were successfully introduced into rice. Our plasmid set is useful for producing commercial transgenic plants, especially in the case of rice.     

Evaluation of suppressive and pro-resolving effects of EPA and DHA in human primary monocytes and T-helper cells

Despite their beneficial anti-inflammatory properties, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may increase the infection risk at high doses, likely by generating an immune-depressed state. To assess the contribution of different immune cell populations to the immunomodulatory fatty acid effect, we comparatively investigated several aspects of inflammation in human T-helper (Th) cells and monocytes. Both fatty acids, but DHA to a lesser extent compared with EPA, selectively and dose-dependently reduced the percentage of cytokine-expressing Th cells in a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ-dependent fashion, whereas the expression of the cell surface marker CD69 was unaltered on activated T cells. In monocytes, both EPA and DHA increased interleukin (IL)-10 without affecting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6. Cellular incorporation of EPA and DHA occurred mainly at the expense of arachidonic acid. Concomitantly, thromboxane B (TXB)2 and leukotriene B (LTB)4 in supernatants decreased, while levels of TXB3 and LTB5 increased. This increase was independent of activation and in accordance with cyclooxygenase expression patterns in monocytes. Moreover, EPA and DHA gave rise to a variety of mono- and trihydroxy derivatives of highly anti-inflammatory potential, such as resolvins and their precursors. Our results suggest that EPA and DHA do not generally affect immune cell functions in an inhibitory manner but rather promote pro-resolving responses.     

真菌发酵生产EPA及DHA影响因素的研究进展

对真菌发酵生产EPA及DHA的影响因素进行综述 ,介绍了菌种、碳源、氮源、C/N比、pH值、温度、发酵时间、通气量、代谢途径的调控、种龄和接种量等因素对EPA及DHA产量的影响。     

Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Conjugated Docosahexaenoic Acid in Vitro and in Vivo

The anti-angiogenic effects of conjugated docosahexaenoic acid (CDHA), which was prepared by an alkaline treatment of docosahexaenoic acid and contained conjugated double bonds, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. CDHA inhibited tube formation by the bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC), and also inhibited the proliferation of BAEC at a concentration of CDHA that suppressed tube formation, but did not influence cell migration. The inhibition of BAEC growth caused by CDHA was accompanied by a marked change in cellular morphology. Nuclear condensation and brightness were observed in Hoechst 33342-stained cells treated with CDHA, indicating that CDHA induced apoptosis in BAEC. We also evaluated the angiogenesis inhibition of CDHA in vivo. The vessel formation which was triggered by tumor cells was clearly suppressed in mice orally given CDHA. Our findings suggest that CDHA has potential use as a therapeutic dietary supplement for minimizing tumor angiogenesis.     

高赖氨酸蛋白基因导入水稻及可育转基因植株的获得

构建了一个植物高效表达质粒,使来源于四棱豆（Psophocarpus tetragonolobus(L.)DC)的高赖氨酸蛋白基因（lys）受控于单子叶植物ubiqutin强启动子下表达。用基因枪法将其导入水稻(Oryza sativa L.)幼胚诱导的愈伤组织,经潮霉素抗性筛选,得到可育的再生植株。经PCR和Southem blotting检测,表明该基因已整合到水稻的基因组织。GUS组织化学染色表明转基因水稻植株的叶、茎和根中均有gus基因的表达。测定112株转基因水稻叶片中赖氨酸叶量,大部分植株有不同程度的提高,最高幅度为16．04％。     

Incorporation and Accumulation of Docosahexaenoic Acid from the Medium by Pichia methanolica HA-32

Yeast species were screened for the incorporation and accumulation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with a yeast-malt medium containing 0.5% free fatty acid prepared from fish oil (DHA, 28% of total fatty acids in fish oil). The most suitable strain was Pichia methanolica HA-32. The optimum cultivation conditions for the accumulation of lipids and incorporation of DHA were as follows: 5% glucose, 20% yeast extract, and 3% free fatty acid in the medium, at pH 6.0 and with incubated at 25°C for 3 days. Under these conditions, about 200 mg of total lipids and 60 mg of DHA were recovered from 1 g of dry cells. The accumulation of DHA in cells increased in conjunction with the amount of yeast extract added to the medium. Vitamin B groups and minerals also had an effect on the accumulation of DHA. Choline and K₂HPO₄, which caused browning of the medium, promoted the accumulation of DHA in cells.     

Red Algae of Peter the Great Bay as a Source of Arachidonic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids

In order to find new sources of arachidonic (AA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids, the composition of fatty acids was studied and lipid concentrations were determined in the thalluses of 32 species of red algae from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. The greatest level of EPA and a small concentration of AA were registered in the thalluses of Corallina pilulifera, Palmaria stenogona, Halosaccion yendoi, and Laurencia nipponica. Taking into consideration the level of the lipid concentrations in the algae, as well as their biomass and frequency of occurrence, the algae C. pilulifera, P. stenogona, L. nipponica, and Polysiphonia morrowii may be of interest as potential sources of EPA. Among the examined algae, only Gracilaria verrucosa showed a high level of AA.     

转基因植物表达重组蛋白的研究进展

植物表达系统的一些潜在优点 ,如重组蛋白的高积累水平 ,糖基化 ,细胞内的定位和自然储藏的稳定性是目前植物生产重组蛋白系统研究成为热点的主要原因 .在研究和选择转基因植物表达系统的过程中 ,转化 ,转化后 ,翻译 ,翻译后等环节都会影响到最终产物的数量和质量 ,因此应该了解基因表达的规律 ,以制定植物生产重组蛋白合适的策略 ,重组蛋白积累水平是关键 ,但其它因素如植物的选择 ,转基因植物的处理 ,下游加工等同样重要 .某些情形下 ,仅下游加工的成本一项就影响到特定植物表达系统的实际应用价值 .     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in zooplankton: variation due to taxonomy and trophic position

1. Food quality has major effects on the transfer of energy and matter in food webs, and essential long‐chained polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can affect the quality of phytoplankton as food. In a study of oligotrophic lakes in north‐western Sweden, we investigated the fatty acid composition of four planktonic cladocerans and two calanoid copepods, representing herbivorous and carnivorous species. We also collected seston samples. 2. The proportions of long‐chain PUFAs in the organisms increased with their increasing trophic position. Thus, both their quality as food for other organisms, as well as their requirement for fatty acids (FAs), differed among taxa and depended on their trophic position. 3. We found taxon‐specific differences in the FA composition of zooplankton that were not related to sestonic FA composition. This implies that the variation in zooplankton FA composition is constrained by phylogenetic origin, life history characteristics, or both. 4. The cladoceran taxa contained 12–23% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) but only 0.9–2.1% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) of the total FA content. In contrast, the calanoid copepods contained 7–11% EPA and 14–21% DHA. Thus, our results show that differences in the PUFA content among zooplankton species could have repercussions for both food web structure and function.     

转基因植物中RNA介导的病毒抗性机制

介绍了近年来转基因植物中RNA介导的抗性特征和解释这种抗性机制的两种模型,一种是阈值模型,一种是质量模型,并对这两种模型的优缺点进行了讨论.     

耐盐转基因植物研究进展

高盐是限制作物生长、发育和产量的最严重的非生物胁迫之一。长期以来,改善作物的耐盐性一直是一个伟大的目标。然而,由于耐盐反应是一个极为复杂的过程,过去,通过传统的育种和遗传工程取得的成功有限。近十年来,由于分子生物学的发展,发现了一些与耐盐相关的新基因,对于这些基因的表达方式及其在耐盐反应中的作用已逐步得到了解,这为转基因工程提供了新的材料。通过控制耐盐相关基因在植物体内的表达,已获得了一些提高耐盐性的转基因植物,展示了诱人的前景,但该领域研究仍然存在许多困难和问题,文章重点讨论耐盐转基因植物的进展。     

Production and Characterization of Transgenic Mice Harboring Mutant Human UMOD Gene

Familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy is caused by mutations in the UMOD gene encoding uromodulin. A transgenic mouse model was developed by introducing a human mutant UMOD (C148W) cDNA under control of the mouse umod promoter. Uromodulin accumulation was observed in the thick ascending limb cells in the kidney of transgenic mice. However, the urinary excretion of uromodulin in transgenic mice did not decrease and LC-MS/MS analysis indicated it was of mouse origin. Moreover, the creatinine clearance was not different between wildtype and transgenic animals. Consequently, the onset of the disease was not observed in transgenic mice until 24 weeks of age.     

Taxonomic differences in the essential fatty acid composition of groups of freshwater zooplankton relate to reproductive demands and generation time

1. Marked differences were observed in the total fatty acid concentrations and essential fatty acid (EFA) distributions of co-existing freshwater copepods and cladocerans in four large lake systems (lakes Michigan, Erie, Ontario and Champlain) over two growing seasons. These patterns appeared independent of lake seston EFA composition.
2. Compared to the cladocerans, calanoid and cyclopoid copepods contained significantly higher concentrations of total fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an EFA abundant in fish. Calanoids and cladocerans contained similar levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), but cladocerans showed EPA : DHA ratios consistently greater than those of the available seston food source. Alpha-linolenic acid was most abundant in the herbivorous cladocerans, Daphnia and Holopedium , while the highest concentrations of arachidonic acid were found in the predatory cladocerans, Bythotrephes longimanus and Leptodora kindtii .
3. The distinct EFA accumulation patterns between cladoceran and copepod zooplankton suggest metabolic regulation of certain EFAs to meet the particular physiological demands and ecological strategies of these different zooplankton groups. Cladocerans may accumulate EPA directly from their diet, or through transformation of dietary materials to facilitate rapid somatic growth and enhance reproduction due to their short generation time. In contrast, copepods may retain DHA to increase their cell membrane fluidity in order to remain active over the winter due to their longer generation time and life cycle.
4. Consistent EFA differences between zooplankton groups may have implications regarding the somatic growth and reproductive success of different zooplankton taxa as well as the nutritional value of various zooplankton groups for larval and planktivorous fish.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Thraustochytrid-like Microorganism that Efficiently Produces Docosahexaenoic Acid

A thraustochytrid-like microorganism (strain 12B) was isolated from the mangrove area of Okinawa, Japan. On the basis of its ectoplasmic net structure and biflagellate zoospores we determined strain 12B to be a novel member of the phylum Labyrinthulomycota in the kingdom Protoctista. When grown on glucose/seawater at 28 °C, it had a lipid content of 58% with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n−3) at 43% of the total fatty acids. It had a growth rate of 0.38 h⁻¹. The DHA production rate of 2.8 ± 0.7 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹ is the highest value reported for any microorganism. Received 7 October 2005; Revisions requested 7 October 2005; Revisions received 15 November 2005; Accepted 15 November 2005