Cloning, characterization, and molecular application of a beta-agarase gene from Vibrio sp. strain V134

V134, a marine isolate of the Vibrio genus, was found to produce a new beta-agarase of the GH16 family. The relevant agarase gene agaV was cloned from V134 and conditionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzyme activity analysis revealed that the optimum temperature and pH for the purified recombinant agarase were around 40 degrees C and 7.0. AgaV was demonstrated to be useful in two aspects: first, as an agarolytic enzyme, the purified recombinant AgaV could be employed in the recovery of DNA from agarose gels; second, as a secretion protein, AgaV was explored at the genetic level and used as a reporter in the construction of a secretion signal trap which proved to be a simple and efficient molecular tool for the selection of genes encoding secretion proteins from both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

罗尼氏弧菌Vibrio shilonii BY新琼胶酶基因的克隆、序列分析及表达

【目的】从海洋来源的罗尼氏弧菌菌株BY中克隆得到一个具有琼胶酶活性的新基因,并对其进行重组表达。【方法】对实验室保藏的产琼胶酶菌株BY进行16S rRNA基因序列分析,并构建系统发育树。根据已报道的琼胶酶基因序列的同源性,设计简并引物,利用降落PCR (Touch-down PCR)及染色体步移技术扩增琼胶酶基因序列全长,对基因序列进行生物信息学分析。将目的基因插入pET22a(+)载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),对重组酶进行表达,利用DNS法测定了重组酶的酶活,对该重组琼胶酶酶学性质进行研究。【结果】克隆得到一条新的琼胶酶基因,命名为Vibrio sp. BY (GenBank登录号：AIW39921.1),Vibrio sp. BY基因序列全长2 232 bp,编码744个氨基酸,理论分子量为85 kD,Vibrio sp. BY的氨基酸序列基因库中与已知的琼胶酶氨基酸序列Vibrio sp. EJY3的相似度为86%。发酵液琼胶酶酶活力为71.73 U/mL,证明表达的蛋白为琼胶酶。酶学性质研究表明重组琼胶酶的最适温度及pH分别为50 °C和7.0,并且具有较好的稳定性。【结论】利用染色体步移技术克隆得到一条新的琼胶酶基因,并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中实现了重组表达,为琼胶酶的应用奠定了基础。     

Cloning, Characterization, and Molecular Application of a Beta-Agarase Gene from Vibrio sp. Strain V134

V134, a marine isolate of the Vibrio genus, was found to produce a new beta-agarase of the GH16 family. The relevant agarase gene agaV was cloned from V134 and conditionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzyme activity analysis revealed that the optimum temperature and pH for the purified recombinant agarase were around 40°C and 7.0. AgaV was demonstrated to be useful in two aspects: first, as an agarolytic enzyme, the purified recombinant AgaV could be employed in the recovery of DNA from agarose gels; second, as a secretion protein, AgaV was explored at the genetic level and used as a reporter in the construction of a secretion signal trap which proved to be a simple and efficient molecular tool for the selection of genes encoding secretion proteins from both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

Cloning and expression of an extracellular-agarase gene from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) in Streptomyces lividans 66

An extracellular agarase gene was cloned from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) strain M130 into S. lividans 66 using the multicopy plasmid vector pIJ702. Various deletion derivatives of the initial clone (pMT605) were obtained by in vitro and in vivo methods. This allowed the gene to be localised to a 1.9-kb segment of DNA. The agarase enzyme was overproduced (up to 500 times) and exported efficiently into the medium. The agarase protein was identified as a 28-kDal band after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE); in the case of one derivative, pMT608, this band accounted for nearly 50% of the total extracellular protein. Differences in agarase production between the deletion derivatives correlated well with plasmid stability.     

利用Site-Finding PCR克隆琼胶酶基因

目的：新型琼胶酶基因的筛选。方法：根据α-琼胶酶基因序列的同源性,设计了兼并引物,利用兼并PCR对所筛选到的琼胶酶产生菌株进行筛选,阳性菌株进行16s rDNA序列测定并构建了进化树。利用染色体步移技术Site-finding PCR获得目的基因的上下游序列,经过拼接获得全长的目的基因序列,并利用Blast对其进行分析。将目的基因插入pET 24a（＋）载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,利用平板水解圈初步鉴定了重组酶的性质,并利用DNS法检测了重组酶发酵上清液的酶活。结果：获得了一株疑似α-琼胶酶产生菌株,16s rDNA序列鉴定显示为Thalassomonas sp.,命名为Thalassomonas sp.LD5。获得了一个新的基因,命名为agaD。agaD开放阅读框长4401 bp,编码1466个氨基酸,理论分子量为158.8kDa。序列分析表明,agaD编码的蛋白AgaD与已有的两种α-琼胶酶的相似性分别为89%和77%。重组AgaD经诱导后可以直接降解琼胶平板产生水解圈,其发酵上清液酶活为0.2 U.ml-1,说明该蛋白为琼胶酶。结论：采用分子克隆技术分离出新的琼胶酶基因,该基因的发现为活性寡糖的制备提供了新的工具。     

籼稻蜡质基因5＇上游区与GUS基因编码区融合基因的构建和在水稻中的瞬间表达

为了鉴定水稻蜡质基因５＇上游区的顺式作用因子与研究它们在组织专一性表达中的作用,我们对籼稻品种２３２的蜡质基因５＇上游－１１５至－２１２０的区域进行了顺序测定,并将此基因的５＇上游区同报告基因ＧＵＳ构建成融合基因,用基因枪粒子轰击的方法将此融合基因导入水稻未成熟种子的幼胚和糊粉层细胞中,瞬间表达检测的结果表明,我们构建的融合基因中蜡质基因５＇上游区的长度已足以使ＧＵＳ基因在上述组织中表达。     

Integration of Bacterial Expansin on Agarolytic Complexes to Enhance the Degrading Activity of Red Algae by Control of Gelling Properties

Expansin act by loosening hydrogen bonds in densely packed polysaccharides. This work characterizes the biological functions of expansin in the gelling and degradation of algal polysaccharides. In this study, the bacterial expansin BpEX from Bacillus pumilus was fused with the dockerin module of a cellulosome system for assembly with agarolytic complexes. The assembly of chimeric expansin caused an indicative enhancement in agarase activity. The enzymatic activities on agar substrate and natural biomass were 3.7-fold and 3.3-fold higher respectively than that of agarase as a single enzyme. To validate the effect on the agar degradation, the regulation potential of parameters related to gel rheology by bacterial expansin was experimentally investigated to indicate that the bacterial expansin lowered the gelling temperature and viscosity of agar. Thus, these results demonstrated the possibility of advancing more efficient strategies for utilizing agar as oligo sugar source in the biorefinery field that uses marine biomass as feedstocks.     

Secretion of a homodimeric V alpha C kappa T-cell receptor-immunoglobulin chimeric protein

Transfection into lymphoid cells of a chimeric T-cell receptor-immunoglobulin gene has been used to generate a secreted water-soluble form of the variable (V) domain of a human T-cell receptor alpha chain for use in structural (i.e. x-ray crystallographic) studies. The chimeric protein consists of the V alpha region of the T-cell receptor of a diphtheria toxoid-specific human T-cell clone fused to a human immunoglobulin kappa light chain constant (C) region. It is efficiently secreted by myeloma cells as a noncovalent homodimer of 65-kDa molecular mass in the absence of either immunoglobulin heavy or light chain. The V alpha C kappa protein is extensively glycosylated, and its secretion is glycosylation-dependent. Chimeric genes containing the V beta region of this particular T-cell receptor linked to immunoglobulin C kappa or C gamma 2 regions are expressed intracellularly, but the products, although glycosylated, are not secreted, nor do they assemble with the V alpha C kappa protein. This suggests that the chimeric beta chain-immunoglobulin proteins are incorrectly folded and/or processed due either to the design of the gene fusions themselves or to the absence of vital T-cell-specific accessory molecules in the myeloma host.     

Expression vectors for human-mouse chimeric antibodies

The production of recombinant antibodies has been generally recognized as time-consuming and labor-intensive. The aim of our study is to construct mammalian expression vectors containing the cDNA encoding the human constant regions and murine variable regions to massively and cost-effectively produce full-length chimeric antibodies. Unique restriction sites flanking the Ig variable region were designed to allow for the replacement of variable regions generated by PCR. Western blot analysis of the chimeric antibodies revealed that the expressed products were of the predicted size, structure and specificity. The usefulness of the vectors was confirmed by construction of human-mouse chimeric antibody-HCAb which secretes murine antibody against the human colorectal cancer. Selected in medium containing gradually increasing methotrexate (MTX), clones with increased expression of the product gene can be efficiently generated. The secretion of recombinant chimeric antibody-HCAb yielded 30 pg cell(-1) day(-1) at 10(-6 )M MTX. With this high-level expression from pools, the convenient and rapid production of over 100 milligram amounts per liter of recombinant antibodies may be achieved, which indicates the significant roles of pYR-GCEVH and pYR-GCEVL in the production of chimeric antibodies.     

Prospecting for novel biocatalysts in a soil metagenome

The metagenomes of complex microbial communities are rich sources of novel biocatalysts. We exploited the metagenome of a mixed microbial population for isolation of more than 15 different genes encoding novel biocatalysts by using a combined cultivation and direct cloning strategy. A 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed the presence of hitherto uncultured microbes closely related to the genera Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Xanthomonas, Microbulbifer, and Janthinobacterium. Total genomic DNA from this bacterial community was used to construct cosmid DNA libraries, which were functionally searched for novel enzymes of biotechnological value. Our searches in combination with cosmid sequencing resulted in identification of four clones encoding 12 putative agarase genes, most of which were organized in clusters consisting of two or three genes. Interestingly, nine of these agarase genes probably originated from gene duplications. Furthermore, we identified by DNA sequencing several other biocatalyst-encoding genes, including genes encoding a putative stereoselective amidase (amiA), two cellulases (gnuB and uvs080), an alpha-amylase (amyA), a 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme (amyB), and two pectate lyases (pelA and uvs119). Also, a conserved cluster of two lipase genes was identified, which was linked to genes encoding a type I secretion system. The novel gene aguB was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the enzyme activities were determined. Finally, we describe more than 162 kb of DNA sequence that provides a strong platform for further characterization of this microbial consortium.     

Cloning and sequencing of agaA, a unique agarase 0107 gene from a marine bacterium, Vibrio sp. strain JT0107.

An agarase gene (agaA) was cloned from genomic DNA of Vibrio sp. strain JT0107. An open reading frame of 2,985 nucleotides gave a primary translation product composed of the mature protein, agarase 0107 (975 amino acid residues, with a molecular weight of 105,271) and a signal peptide of 20 amino acid residues at the N terminus. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of agarase 0107 with those of Streptomyces coelicolor and Pseudomonas atlantica suggests that these enzymes share two regions in common. The AgaA protein which was expressed in Escherichia coli had the agarase activity. Agarase 0107 hydrolyzes not only agarose but also neoagarotetraose [O-3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl (1-->3)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl(1-->4)-O-3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galact opy ranosyl (1-->3)-D-galactose] to yield neoagarobiose [O-3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl(1-->3)-D-galactose]. This is a quite unique characteristic for a beta-agarase.     

Intracellular Routing and Release of Caseins and Growth Hormone Produced into Milk from Transgenic Mice

Growth hormone (GH) secretion, in mammary tissue from transgenic mice, containing a chimeric gene composed of the regulatory region of whey acidic protein gene and the structural region of GH gene, was compared to casein secretion. GH was expressed in milk and for a small percentage (1:1000) in blood as revealed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radio-immunoassay. As attested by immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy, caseins and GH followed the same secretory pathway. However, contrary to caseins, which are essentially in micellar form, GH was detected in a nonaggregated form in secretory vesicles and in the lumen of the acini. Newly synthesized caseins and GH were carried simultaneously, mainly to the lumen of the acini, but also to the base of the cell. Secretion of newly synthesized proteins was increased by prolactin (PRL). As shown by immunoblotting, the proportion of GH versus other proteins, secreted in the presence of PRL was not modified, suggesting that GH secretion is subjected to the same hormonal regulation by PRL as other milk proteins. These results show that, in lactating mammary epithelial cells from transgenic mice, a recombinant GH and the caseins are carried simultaneously to the lumen and suggest that secretion of both proteins is increased by PRL during the same time course. Transport of these newly synthesized proteins occurs also to the base of the cell.     

黄海日照海域部分可培养细菌的分离、初步鉴定及产琼胶酶细菌的筛选

海洋细菌在海洋的物质与能量循环中起着非常重要的作用。为了适应复杂多变的海洋环境,海洋细菌在物种和基因方面表现出极高的丰富度。[目的] 对中国黄海日照海域部分可培养细菌进行分离、初步鉴定,同时筛选产琼胶酶菌株。[方法] 对从日照海域河流入海口和潮间带沙样和海水中分离到的73株细菌进行了16S rRNA基因序列测定,并进行序列同源性分析。同时检测了这些菌株对琼脂的降解能力。[结果] 结果显示,分离到的73株细菌属于4个门、13个科、34个属。18株细菌可能是新分类单元,其中16株为潜在新种,2株为可能的新属。73株细菌中,5株菌具有降解琼脂的能力,最高的琼胶酶活可达到2.17±0.04 U/mL,其中4株嗜琼胶属的细菌降解琼脂糖的产物均为新琼四糖。[结论] 本研究丰富了人们对黄海海域可培养细菌多样性的理解,为新物种和新酶的研究提供了基础,并为琼胶酶的提取提供了高产菌株。     

Cloning and expression of a chimeric antibody directed against the human transferrin receptor

The cloning, construction and expression of chimeric Ig genes, encoding a mAb directed against the human transferrin receptor, is described. From a mouse hybridoma cell line, secreting an antitransferrin receptor antibody, mRNA was prepared and converted into cDNA using Ig-specific oligonucleotides. H and L chain encoding cDNA fragments were isolated and sequenced. Chimeric genes were constructed by linking the murine V region cDNA fragments to human C region exons. After sequential transfection of nonproducing mouse hybridoma cells with the expression vectors containing the chimeric H and L chain genes, antibody secreting transfectomas were obtained. ELISA and immunoblot analysis clearly demonstrate the secretion of human kappa- and gamma-1 chain. Flow microfluorimetry analysis of the chimeric antibody shows that the Ag-binding capacity has been retained. The chimeric antibody most likely will be less immunogenic then the original mouse antibody when used in human cancer therapy.     

Isolation of a novel freshwater agarolytic Cellvibrio sp. KY-YJ-3 and characterization of its extracellular beta-agarase

A novel agarolytic bacterium KY-YJ-3, producing extracellular agarase, was isolated from the freshwater sediment of the Sincheon River in Daegu, Korea. On the basis of gram-staining data, morphology, and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence, the isolate was identified as Cellvibrio sp. By ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by Toyopearl QAE-550C, Toyopearl HW-55F, and Mono-Q column chromatography, the extracellular agarase in the culture fluid could be purified 120.2-fold with yield of 8.1%. The specific activity of the purified agarase was 84.2 U/mg. The molecular mass of the purified agarase was 70 kDa as determined by dodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The optimal temperature and pH of the purified agarase were 35 degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The purified agarase failed to hydrolyze the other polysaccharide substrates, including carboxymethyl (CM)-cellulose, dextran, soluble starch, pectin, and polygalacturonic acid. Kinetic analysis of the agarose-hydrolysis catalyzed by the purified agarase using thin layer chromatography (TLC) exhibited that the main products were neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarohexaose. These results demonstrated that the newly isolated freshwater agarolytic bacterium KY-YJ-3 was a Cellvibrio sp., and could produce an extracellular beta-agarase, which hydrolyzed agarose to yield neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose, and neoagarohexaose as the main products.     

Alteration of the carbohydrate-binding specificity of the Bauhinia purpurea lectin through the preparation of a chimeric lectin.

A chimeric lectin gene was constructed by using a cDNA clone coding the Bauhinia purpurea lectin (BPA) in which a part of the metal-binding region was replaced by the corresponding region of the mannose-binding Lens culinaris lectin (LCA). The chimeric lectin expressed in Escherichia coli was found to bind alpha mannosyl-bovine serum albumin (BSA) and this binding was inhibited by mannose.