Effects of mancozeb and other dithiocarbamate fungicides on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>: the role of mitochondrial petite mutants in dithiocarbamate tolerance

Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model system was used to evaluate the occurrence of resistant mutants and adaptation mechanism to mancozeb (MZ), a widespread fungicide of the dithiocarbamate class with a broad spectrum of action and multiple cell targets. We were unable to isolate mutants resistant to inhibitory concentration of MZ but found an unusually large number of mitochondrial defective petite mutants among cells incubated in the presence of subinhibitory MZ concentration. Similar results were obtained with two other dithiocarbamate fungicides. Comparison of wild type and petite mutants showed that the latter were more resistant to toxic effects of MZ, highlighting the role of mitochondria in MZ-tolerance. The data suggest that petite cells, arising by exposure to sub-inhibitory MZ concentration, are not induced by fungicides but are spontaneous mutants already present in the population before the contact with the fungicide.     

Detection of streptococcal mutants presumed to be defective in sugar catabolism.

The tetrazolium method for detection of bacterial mutants defective in sugar catabolism was modified for use with streptococci. The critical factors were (i) the concentration of tetrazolium, which must be titrated to determine the optimum concentration for each species or even strain, and (ii) anaerobic incubation of tetrazolium-containing agar plates. When used with standard mutagenesis protocols, this method yielded lactose-negative mutants of nine streptococcal strains representing six species. A collection of lactose-negative mutants of streptococcus, sanguis Challis was characterized and contained phospho-beta-galactosidase, lactose phosphotransferase, and general phosphotransferase mutants.     

Detection of streptococcal mutants presumed to be defective in sugar catabolism

The tetrazolium method for detection of bacterial mutants defective in sugar catabolism was modified for use with streptococci. The critical factors were (i) the concentration of tetrazolium, which must be titrated to determine the optimum concentration for each species or even strain, and (ii) anaerobic incubation of tetrazolium-containing agar plates. When used with standard mutagenesis protocols, this method yielded lactose-negative mutants of nine streptococcal strains representing six species. A collection of lactose-negative mutants of streptococcus, sanguis Challis was characterized and contained phospho-beta-galactosidase, lactose phosphotransferase, and general phosphotransferase mutants.     

Biochemical characterization of N-methyl N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced cadmium resistant mutants ofAspergillus niger

Two cadmium resistant mutants (Cd₁ and Cd₂) ofAspergillus niger, among the six isolated by mutagenization with N-methyl N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) at pH 6.4 were selected for the study. Analysis of lipid composition of the mutants and the wildtype indicated that total lipid as well as individual lipids of the cadmium resistant mutants were changed as compared with that of the wildtype. The increased activities of metal-lothionein and reduced activities of D-xylose isomerase and L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase in cell free extract of the cadmium resistant mutants suggested that mutants could allow high concentration of cadmium salt as compared with that of the wildtype. The respiratory activity and intracellular as well as extracellular Cd²⁺ concentration of the mutants reflected the high tolerance of the Cd mutants to cadmium ion.     

基于光谱法-图像灰度法高通量筛选高效固定CO2的苯甲酸脱羧酶*

目的:苯甲酸脱羧酶能够催化羧化反应固定CO₂,为了获得高效的苯甲酸脱羧酶,需要利用高通量分子克隆与突变体筛选系统对产生的大量突变体进行筛选,因此建立、开发高效的筛选评价方法对于获得高羧化效率的突变体至关重要。方法:利用2,3-二羟基苯甲酸脱羧酶催化邻苯二酚固定CO₂的反应体系,建立了光谱法-图像灰度法高通量筛选和评价固定CO₂的苯甲酸脱羧酶突变体。利用分光光度法在308 nm快速定量羧化产物2,3-二羟基苯甲酸。同时利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)法对分光光度法的测定结果进行了校正,确定了分光光度法估算的2,3-二羟基苯甲酸浓度与HPLC方法测定的准确浓度之间具有良好的线性关系(R² = 0.996)。利用HPLC-分光光度法的相关性可以获得实际样品中准确的2,3-二羟基苯甲酸浓度。利用Image J软件获得蛋白质标准品和突变体的灰度均值,根据灰度法定量蛋白质标准品的标准曲线计算突变体的蛋白质表达量。利用单位酶量催化邻苯二酚获得2,3-二羟基苯甲酸的浓度比较突变体的催化活性。结果:纯酶和粗酶体系下HPLC法测定的2,3-二羟基苯甲酸浓度与分光光度法测定的吸光度值的关系分别为C₁=0.500A₁-0.010(R² = 0.996)和C₂=1.458A₂+0.431 9(R² = 0.991)。从13个突变体中获得了两个正向突变体,羧化活性分别是WT的3.5倍和1.7倍。结论:基于光谱法-图像灰度法可以实现高通量筛选固定CO₂的苯甲酸脱羧酶,该方法可用于具有相似功能的苯甲酸脱羧酶对其他取代基的酚类和水杨酸类似物的底物选择性筛选。     

高浓度底物下青霉素扩环酶的活性评价与底物抑制现象

本文对青霉素扩环酶(Penicillin expandase,也称Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase,DAOCS)在高浓度青霉素G下的底物抑制现象进行初步评价与表征,筛选适合工业应用条件的高活力突变体。我们通过HPLC对已报道的几个DAOCS高活力突变体在青霉素G浓度5.6至500 mmol/L间的比活力进行定量测定,并与不同催化反应动力学模型的理论推测变化趋势比较,发现DAOCS野生型酶及高活力突变体H4、H5、H6与H7在高浓度青霉素G条件下均表现出明显的底物抑制现象,但是变化趋势不同。野生型酶与突变体H4的比活力先上升后下降,与竞争性抑制模型预测不符。突变体H5、H6与H7的比活力变化呈现更复杂的变化趋势。在所有测试的突变体中,H6的活性显著高于其他突变体酶。青霉素G对野生型DAOCS的底物抑制现象符合非竞争性抑制模型的预测。而部分突变体表现出复杂的底物抑制行为,表明其具有更复杂的作用机制。在高底物浓度下筛选具有较强催化活性的青霉素扩环酶突变体对于推动其在工业生产中的应用具有重要指导作用。     

Synergism of mutant frequencies in the mouse lymphoma cell mutagenicity assay by binary mixtures of methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate

The effect of mixed mutagen exposures on the rate and type of induced mutants was studied in the L5178Y/TK+/-----TK-/- mouse lymphoma cell mutagenicity assay. In this assay, exposure to ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) results in more mutants that form large colonies than small colonies. Exposure to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) results in more mutants that form small colonies than large colonies. Other reports in the literature suggest that large colony TK-/- mutants appear to result from small-scale, perhaps single-gene mutations, and that small-colony TK-/- mutants appear to be associated with chromosomal mutations. Treating cells for 4 h with simple, 2-component mixtures containing 6.45 micrograms/ml MMS and either 261, 392, 560 or 712 micrograms/ml EMS resulted in synergism of mutants at each mixture level. The frequencies of total mutants were synergized 12, 20, 35 and 72%, respectively, in mixed exposures with graded doses of EMS, above the sums of the mixture components. Small colony mutants were synergized to a greater extent than large colony mutants. The frequencies of small colony mutants in mixed exposures were increased 31, 54, 73 and 123%, respectively, while the frequencies of large colony mutants were increased -7, -6, 11 and 39%. Statistical analyses provide strong evidence of synergism (within the limits of the assay) for total and small-colony mutants at all doses of EMS tested, and for large-colony mutants above 400 micrograms/ml EMS. Similar magnitudes of synergism resulted when other constant levels of MMS (4.30 or 8.60 micrograms/ml) were mixed with the same graded doses of EMS. The degree of synergism was dependent on EMS concentration but not on MMS concentration.     

Auxotrophic mutants of the producer of the antibiotic mycoheptin Streptoverticillium mycoheptinicum

The lethal and mutagenic effects of N-nitrozo-N-methyl biuret (NMB), N-nitrozo-N-methyl urea (NMU) and UV light on Streptoverticillium mycoheptinicum, strains O883 and 852, were studied. The concentrations of NMB were 0.005, 0.1 and 0.25 per cent, the exposure time was 2, 4 and 6 hours. The concentration of NMU was 1 per cent and the exposure time was 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours. The dose of UV light was 2000 erg/mm2. When the spores of Streptoverticillium mycoheptinicum, strain O883, were treated with NMB, the frequency of auxotrophic mutants increased from 0.63 to 3.4 per cent with an increase of the mutagen concentration from 0.05 to 0.25 per cent and the exposure time from 2 to 6 hours. More than 80 auxotrophic mutants were selected. When Streptoverticillium mycoheptinicum, strain 852, was treated with NMU, the frequency of auxotrophic mutants ranged from 0.5 to 2.4 per cent. Fifty-seven auxotrophic mutants were selected. The majority of the auxotrophic mutants selected with the use of NMB and NMU was unstable. Exposure of Streptoverticillium mycoheptinicum, strains 852, 10/69 Met and 54/100 Lys to UV light resulted in formation of groups of polyauxotrophic mutants.     

拟南芥低盐敏感突变体的筛选

通过对ein3-1功能缺失型突变体种子进行EMS诱变,筛选到47株盐敏感突变体。根据对盐敏感程度的不同将其分为3类,分别为低盐超敏感突变体(low concentration of salt hyper-sensitive mutants,lsh),低盐中等敏感突变体(low con-centration of salt moderate-sensitive mutants,lsm)和低盐弱敏感突变体(lowconcentration of salt slight-sensitive mutants,lss)。以其中一株lss-3为例,进行了深入研究。根据遗传分析和生理试验表明,lss-3是以ein3-1为背景的隐性双突变体,而且具有比Col-0和ein3-1更加敏感的盐表型。三重反应表明,lss-3与ein3-1类似,表现出对ACC不敏感的表型。推测lss-3突变的基因可能与乙烯信号途径组分EIN3有关,也可能与之无关,仅是参与抗盐的一个新基因。     

Methionine-defective mutants inCandida utilis

Ethionine-resistant mutants ofCandida utilis CCY-158 overproducing methionine have been isolated. In these mutants the intracellular methionine concentration decreased significantly during the stationary phase. The wild-type strain CCY-158 and the ethionine-resistant mutants isolated were able to use methionine as the nitrogen source but not as the carbon source. From these ethionine-resistant mutants we isolated mutants unable to use methionine as nitrogen source (Mec^- mutants), the principal alteration being at the level of methionine uptake. Some of the Mec mutants lost also the ability to use other amino acids as nitrogen source.     

Inhibition of the growth of mammalian cells in cuture by amino acids and the isolation and characterization of L-phenylalanine transport.

Raising the concentration of phenylalanine and other amino acids in MEM leads to the inhibition of growth and in some cases to death of A9. Balb 3T3 , SV40 Balb 3T3 (SVT2), CHO, and WI38. All cells tested exhibited some similar senstivities to certain of the amino acids. but there were some unique differences. Phenylalanine-resistant mutants (Pher) of A9 were isolated that had modified phenylalanine-transport properties. These mutants can be isolated by a single-step selection procedure. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of initial rates of phenylalanine uptake by A9 and mutants showed a biphasic curve suggesting two transport systems. The Pher mutants had altered properties of both systems. It is suggested that the selection of clones resistant to high concentration of several of the natural amino acid may be used as a general method for the isolation of mutants affecting the various amino acid transport systems in mammalian cells.     

Membrane-associated phospholipase C of Drosophila retina

Phospholipase C activities against phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol have been examined using head homogenate of Drosophila visual mutants. In many mutants the enzyme activities were found to be reduced. The activities against both phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol were always affected in parallel among the mutants, while the activities of other enzymes related to phosphatidylinositol metabolism, such as diacylglycerol kinase, were not. The enzyme was concluded to be membrane-associated and was activated maximally at low Ca2+ concentration (10(-7) M), when phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was used as a substrate, while the activity obtained with phosphatidylinositol increased with the Ca2+ concentration up to 10(-4) M. The effects of pH on these two enzyme activities differed to some extent.     

Probing the role of the fully conserved Cys126 in triosephosphate isomerase by site-specific mutagenesis--distal effects on dimer stability

Cys126 is a completely conserved residue in triosephosphate isomerase that is proximal to the active site but has been ascribed no specific role in catalysis. A previous study of the C126S and C126A mutants of yeast TIM reported substantial catalytic activity for the mutant enzymes, leading to the suggestion that this residue is implicated in folding and stability [Gonzalez-Mondragon E et al. (2004) Biochemistry 43, 3255-3263]. We re-examined the role of Cys126 with the Plasmodium falciparum enzyme as a model. Five mutants, C126S, C126A, C126V, C126M, and C126T, were characterized. Crystal structures of the 3-phosphoglycolate-bound C126S mutant and the unliganded forms of the C126S and C126A mutants were determined at a resolution of 1.7-2.1 ?. Kinetic studies revealed an approximately five-fold drop in k(cat) for the C126S and C126A mutants, whereas an approximately 10-fold drop was observed for the other three mutants. At ambient temperature, the wild-type enzyme and all five mutants showed no concentration dependence of activity. At higher temperatures (> 40 °C), the mutants showed a significant concentration dependence, with a dramatic loss in activity below 15 μM. The mutants also had diminished thermal stability at low concentration, as monitored by far-UV CD. These results suggest that Cys126 contributes to the stability of the dimer interface through a network of interactions involving His95, Glu97, and Arg98, which form direct contacts across the dimer interface.     

Comparison of the mutagenic activity of N-ethyl- N-nitrosourea and N-methyl- N’- nitro- N- nitrosoguanidine inLens esculenta

Mutagenic activity of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and of N-methyl-N’-nitro-N--nitrosoguanidine (MNG) in lentil was studied. The highest proportion of segregating progenies with chlorophyll mutants and chimeric plants was 34.8% from the total number of analysed offsprings, ENU being applied in this case in the concentration of 0.005% for 20 h at 18 to 19 °C. When MNG was applied in the concentration of 0.001 % for 10h at 22 to 23 °C the proportion was 5.1%. Progenies segregating two or more chlorophyll mutants originated with ENU only; their relative frequencies varied from 1.4% to 7.1%. The number of different types of mutants or of their combinations segregating at the same time in the same progeny was shown to be dependent with the two agent tested on the mutagenic activity of the concentration used. The most efficient concentration of ENU induced the total of 8 different mutants at the same time, together with a combination of two or three mutant types in the same progeny. With MNG no combination of chlorophyll mutants in the same progeny was ever found simultaneously. The greatest number of mutants corresponding to 1 progeny M₁ was 0.53 when ENU was applied; with MNG the maximum values were approximately ten times lower. The maximum number M₂ of chlorophyll mutants and chimeric plants was 3.58% with ENU and 0.23 with MNG.     

Isolation and characterization of chlorate resistant mutants from nitrate-nonutilizing fungusPhycomyces blakesleeanus

Chlorate resistant mutants, which were first isolated in the zygomycetous fungusPhycomyces blakesleeanus, were found to be resistant up to a concentration of at least 300 mM of potassium chlorate. The dose-response relationship showed that although the mutants could be divided into two groups based on chlorate resistance in the mycelial elongation assay on the solid minimal medium, this was not observed in the assay using liquid culture. Genetic analysis of heterokaryons revealed the mutant alleles to be dominant. Enzymatic activities of three nitrate reductases and chlorate reductase were deficient in both the parent strain and the mutants. Intracellular incorporation of chlorate ion varied from strain to strain; however, the variation could not explain the mechanism of chlorate resistance. One unexpected characteristic of the mutants was that the intracellular sulfate ion concentration was 3.5 to 5.5 times higher than in the parent strain. We designated this mutant genotypecrw, chlorate resistant mutant from nitrate-nonutilizing wild type.     

Streptomycin resistance in Rhizobium japonicum

Mutants resistant to varying concentrations of streptomycin were recovered from two streptomycin-sensitive, effective nitrogen-fixing strains of Rhizobium japonicum. To determine if there were an upper limit of resistible antibiotic concentration, 3 mutants which were resistant to 10000 μg/ml were challenged by higher concentrations of streptomycin. Only one grew well at 25000 μg/ml, and none grew at 50000 μg/ml. All mutants maintained a smooth colonial morphology, and none exhibited streptomycin-dependence. Streptomycin-resistant mutants of both strains were examined for properties of infectivity and effectiveness. All mutants tested retained the symbiotic properties of the parental strains. The retention of these parental properties by the streptomycin-resistant mutants of R. japonicum is different from the properties described for phenotypically similar mutants in certain other rhizobial species.     

Improved Inosine Production and Derepression of Purine Nucleotide Biosynthetic Enzymes in 8-Azaguanine Resistant Mutants of Bacillus subtilis

Improved inosine producers were found with a high frequency among the mutants resistant to a low concentration of 8-azaguanine derived from AMP deaminase negative adenine auxotrophs of Bacillus subtilis K strain. The best mutant accumulated 16~18 g/liter of inosine, 60~80% higher than the parent. PRPP amidotransferase and succino-AMP lyase of all of the improved inosine producers tested were not repressed by adenosine but still repressed by guanosine. Adenine permeability was suggested to be also altered in some of the mutants which produced inosine even in the presence of a high concentration of adenine. Adenine prototrophic revertants from all of the mutants tested accumulated a small amount of adenosine but not inosine.     

L—赖氨酸高产菌株选育的研究

L-赖氨酸产生菌钝齿棒杆菌（Corynebacteriumcrenatum）N30－25菌株经紫外线诱变处理,分别在含有不同浓度的七叶苷的培养基上进行筛选,经摇瓶多次复筛获得了3株高产变异菌株。对这3株菌在相同发酵条件下进行发酵生产L－赖氨酸,与出发菌株比较,产量提高了22－31％,经过3次传代,产生L－赖氨酸能力仍很稳定。     

Isolation and characterization of thymidylate synthetase mutants of Xanthomonas maltophilia

Thymidylate synthetase mutants of Xanthomonas maltophilia ATCC 13270 were isolated on a solid minimal medium containing 50 mg/l thymidine and a high concentration of trimethoprim (500 mg/l). It was found that a high concentration of trimethoprim was required to prevent background growth of the wild-type strain. The isolated mutants could grow on thymidine or dTMP at a concentration of 50 mg/l while they were unable to grow on 1000 mg/l thymine or 50 mg/l deoxyridine. Thymidylate synthetase activity was assayed in the wild-type cells and in the mutant cells but only the wild-type cells contained measurable enzyme activity.     

Glucose Utilization and Ethanolic Fermentation by Wild Type and Extrachromosomal Mutants of Neurospora crassa

Logarithmic growth rates, maximal biomass, specific glucose utilization rates, and ethanol accumulation were measured in aerobic cultures of wild type and extrachromosomal mutants of Neurospora crassa. Maximal biomass and ethanol accumulation of wild type and [mi-1] were proportional to the initial glucose concentration in the range of 2 to 10%. The specific rates of glucose utilization by the mutants were 13- to 20-fold greater than those of wild type in young cultures. The specific rates of glucose utilization by wild type, however, were increased threefold by increasing the ammonium ion concentration in the preculture medium. The suppressor gene f(+) suppressed the excessive glucose utilization and enhanced the growth rate and maximal biomass of [mi-1]. When the mutants were utilizing glucose at excessive rates, ethanol did not appear in the culture medium. Ethanol accumulation was maximum at stationary phase or thereafter, but there was little difference between the maxima of the mutants and wild type. The molar efficiency of the conversion of glucose to ethanol during the entire culture period of wild type and mutants was about 50% and, in the latter stages of fermentation, approached 100%. Replacement of ammonium ion by nitrate in the culture medium suppressed ethanol accumulation by wild type. The relationship of these results to previous observations on respiratory adaptation are discussed. We suggest that the Pasteur effect, the inhibition of fermentation by respiration, may be operative in N. crassa. Factors such as nitrogen source and concentration and oxygen tension, which may serve primarily to regulate the amount and form of respiration would, therefore, indirectly regulate fermentation. The mutants, although transiently deficient in terminal respiratory activity, do not accumulate more ethanol than wild type and, therefore, apparently do not ferment in excess to obtain additional adenosine 5'-triphosphate. We suggest that the excess activity of the alternate form of respiration of the mutants may be related to their excessive rate of glucose utilization by way of the pentose phosphate pathway and the oxidation of excess reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.