Molecular genetic identification of Saccharomyces sensu stricto strains from African sorghum beer

Genetic relationships of 24 phenotypically different strains isolated from sorghum beer in West Africa and the type cultures of the Saccharomyces sensu stricto species were investigated by universally primed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, microsatellite fingerprinting and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers. The results demonstrate that internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR-RFLP analysis with the endonucleases HaeIII, HpaII, ScrFI and TaqI is useful for discriminating S. cerevisiae, S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae from one another and from the S. bayanus/S. pastorianus and S. cariocanus/S. paradoxus pairs. The sorghum beer strains exhibited the same restriction patterns as the type culture of S. cerevisiae CBS 1171. PCR profiles generated with the microsatellite primer (GTG)(5) and the universal primer N21 were almost identical for all isolates and strain CBS 1171. Despite phenotypic peculiarities, the strains involved in sorghum beer production in Ghana and Burkina Faso belong to S. cerevisiae. However, based on sequencing of the rDNA ITS1 region and Southern hybridisation analysis, these strains represent a divergent population of S. cerevisiae.     

Isolation and characterization of the HO gene from the yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus

A DNA fragment homologous to the homothallism (HO) gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was isolated from Saccharomyces paradoxus and was found to contain an open reading frame that was 90.9% identical to the coding sequence of the S. cerevisiae HO gene. The putative HO gene was shown to induce diploidization in a heterothallic haploid strain from S. cerevisiae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the coding and 5'-upstream regulatory regions from five Saccharomyces sensu stricto HO genes have coevolved, and that S. paradoxus is phylogenetically closer to S. cerevisiae than to S. bayanus. Finally, heterothallic haploid strains were isolated from the original homothallic type strain of S. paradoxus by disrupting the S. paradoxus HO gene with the S. cerevisiae URA3 gene.     

A Structural and Phylogenetic Study of the HO Gene from Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum

A novel HO gene (Uv-HO) was cloned from the Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum (abbreviated as S. uvarum in this study) type strain. The coding region of Uv-HO showed relatively high homology (95%) to that of the Sb-HO gene (S. bayanus var. bayanus HO), but not to the HO genes of other Saccharomyces sensu stricto species. However, the 5′ and 3′ non-coding region of Uv-HO showed less similarity (79% and 76% respectively) even to those of the most homologous gene Sb-HO. Motifs of the mating-type control and the cell-cycle control were conserved in the 5′ non-coding region of Uv-HO, but numbers and positions of motifs were different from those of Sb-HO. CHEF-Southern analysis showed that all tested strains of S. bayanus species, including S. uvarum, carried the HO gene on the 1,100-kb chromosome. By HO-typing PCR using mixed primers, which provided a rapid and convenient tool for yeast identification, either the Uv-HO gene or the Sb-HO gene was detected in strains of S. bayanus species, but two strains were found to have both types of HO gene in each genome. These results suggest that S. uvarum has a unique sequence, but might share the same chromosome constitution within S. bayanus species, and that S. bayanus is a heterogeneous species, of which some strains might be natural hybrid.     

Differentiation of six sibling species in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and UP-PCR analysis

UP-PCR analysis and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis were used to characterize 37 strains of the sibling species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. bayanus, S. cariocanus, S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae and S. paradoxus. The results demonstrate that both molecular approaches are useful for discriminating between these phenotypically indistinguishable Saccharomyces species. The data obtained are in excellent agreement with previously reported genetic analyses, sequencing of the 18S rRNA and ITS regions, and DNA-DNA reassociation data. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii alters the course of murine Lyme borreliosis

Ixodes ricinus ticks and mice can be infected with both Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii. The effect of coinfection with these two Borrelia species on the development of murine Lyme borreliosis is unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether coinfection with the nonarthritogenic B. garinii strain PBi and the arthritogenic B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strain B31 alters murine Lyme borreliosis. Mice simultaneously infected with PBi and B31 showed significantly more paw swelling and arthritis, long-standing spirochetemia, and higher numbers of B31 spirochetes than did mice infected with B31 alone. However, the number of PBi spirochetes was significantly lower in coinfected mice than in mice infected with PBi alone. In conclusion, simultaneous infection with B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto results in more severe Lyme borreliosis. Moreover, we suggest that competition of the two Borrelia species within the reservoir host could have led to preferential maintenance, and a rising prevalence, of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in European I. ricinus populations.     

Cell growth restoration and high level protein expression by the promoter of hexose transporter, HXT7, from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The promoters of high-affinity hexose transporter, HXT6 and HXT7, are sufficient for complementary expression of invertase to restore the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in raffinose medium. The HXT7 promoter produced higher invertase activity at 139- and 30-fold of the basal activity in strains GN 3C.2 and W303-1, respectively. In addition, the HXT7 promoter expressed 3- to 9-fold more of enhanced green fluorescent protein than that of the constitutive ADH1 in three different S. cerevisiae strains, even during short-term incubation in glucose medium. Therefore, HXT7 promoter could be used for heterologous protein expression in S. cerevisiae.     

Molecular divergence of the soil yeasts <Emphasis Type="Italic">Williopsis</Emphasis> sensu stricto

Fifty-three strains of Saturn-spored yeasts were analyzed by means of restriction analysis of the amplified fragment of rDNA comprising the 5.8S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2. The use of endonucleases HaeIII and MspI enabled clear differentiation of yeast species Williopsis mucosa, W. salicorniae, Zygowilliopsis californica, and Komagataea pratensis and the Williopsis sensu stricto complex. The minisatellite primer M13 was proposed for differentiation between sibling species of Williopsis sensu stricto, which have identical restriction profiles. PCR with primer M13 enabled reidentification of a number of collection strains, species identification of Saturn-spored isolates from the Far East, and detection of three strains affiliated to novel taxa. The latter have unique PCR profiles and differ in the nucleotide sequences of ITS1 and ITS2 fragments of rDNA. Possible variations in the results obtained with different molecular methods are discussed.Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 73, No. 6, 2004, pp. 768–776.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Naumova, Gazdiev, Naumov.     

Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto (Diptera: Culicidae) to human skin emanations

Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto (Diptera: Culicidae) to human skin emanations collected on glass beads were studied using a dual-port olfactometer and electroantannography. Glass beads to which skin emanations from human hands had been transferred elicited a level of attraction similar to a human hand. The attractiveness of these handled glass beads faded away 4 h after transfer onto the beads. Storage at -20 degrees C for up to 8 weeks showed a decreased but still attractive effect of the beads. In a choice test between one individual and four others, the emanations from the reference individual were significantly more attractive in three out of four cases. The headspace of handled glass beads elicited a dose-dependent EAG response. The substances causing EAG activity could be removed partially by dichloromethane, ethanol and pentane-ether. Glass beads provide a suitable neutral substrate for the transfer of human odour to enable chemical analysis of the human skin emanations for identification of kairomones of anthropophilic mosquitoes.     

Phylogenetic relationships within Pyrenodesmia sensu lato and the role of pigments in its taxonomic interpretation

Most lichens of the family Teloschistaceae (Ascomycota) produce yellow-orange-red anthraquinone pigments. However, the genus Pyrenodesmia encompasses species in which anthraquinones are absent and replaced by a gray pigment Sedifolia-gray. It was shown recently that these species are related to taxa with both anthraquinones and Sedifolia-gray (Caloplaca xerica group, C. haematites group, and C. cretensis) and to species with a brown pigment instead of both anthraquinones and Sedifolia-gray (C. demissa, C. obscurella, and C. reptans). Nevertheless, relationships between mentioned anthraquinone-containing and anthraquinone-lacking species remained unclear. In total, 8 DNA loci from 41 species were used here to resolve these uncertainties. We concluded that C. demissa, C. obscurella, and C. reptans are rather distant from the core of Pyrenodesmia, and we place them outside of Pyrenodesmia sensu lato. Within Pyrenodesmia sensu lato, three lineages were revealed and recognized on a generic level: the genus Pyrenodesmia sensu stricto (21 species), the genus Kuettlingeria (14 species), which is resurrected here, and the genus Sanguineodiscus (4 species), which is newly described here. The genus Pyrenodesmia includes taxa that never contain anthraquinones, but Sedifolia-gray. It matches with the former C. variabilis group. Taxa of the genera Kuettlingeria and Sanguineodiscus have anthraquinones in their apothecia and Sedifolia-gray in their thalli. The genus Kuettlingeria includes the former C. xerica group plus C. cretensis and C. diphyodes. The genus Sanguineodiscus includes the former C. haematites group and C. bicolor. The identity of Kuettlingeria (Caloplaca) diphyodes was clarified and the name Pyrenodesmia helygeoides was resurrected. Twenty-four new combinations were proposed.     

Global phylogeography and genetic diversity of the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1

Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) is the major cause of human cystic echinococcosis worldwide and is listed among the most severe parasitic diseases of humans. To date, numerous studies have investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of E. granulosus s.s. in various geographic regions. However, there has been no global study. Recently, using mitochondrial DNA, it was shown that E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 are distinct genotypes, but a larger dataset is required to confirm the distinction of these genotypes. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate the distinction of genotypes G1 and G3 using a large global dataset; and (ii) analyse the genetic diversity and phylogeography of genotype G1 on a global scale using near-complete mitogenome sequences. For this study, 222 globally distributed E. granulosus s.s. samples were used, of which 212 belonged to genotype G1 and 10 to G3. Using a total sequence length of 11,682?bp, we inferred phylogenetic networks for three datasets: E. granulosus s.s. (n?=?222), G1 (n?=?212) and human G1 samples (n?=?41). In addition, the Bayesian phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were performed. The latter yielded several strongly supported diffusion routes of genotype G1 originating from Turkey, Tunisia and Argentina. We conclude that: (i) using a considerably larger dataset than employed previously, E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 are indeed distinct mitochondrial genotypes; (ii) the genetic diversity of E. granulosus s.s. G1 is high globally, with lower values in South America; and (iii) the complex phylogeographic patterns emerging from the phylogenetic and geographic analyses suggest that the current distribution of genotype G1 has been shaped by intensive animal trade.     

Activity of plasma membrane H+-ATPase and expression of PMA1 and PMA2 genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells grown at optimal and low pH

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in media with an initial pH of 2.5–6.0, acidified with a strong acid (HCl), exhibited the highest plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase-specific activity at an initial pH of 6.0. At a lower pH (above pH 2.5) ATPase activity (62–83% of the maximum level) still allowed optimal growth. At pH 2.5, ATPase activity was about 30% of the maximum value and growth was impaired. Quantitative immunoassays showed that the content of ATPase protein in the plasma membrane was similar across the entire pH range tested, although slightly lower at pH 2.5. The decrease of plasma membrane ATPase activity in cells grown at low pH was partially accounted for by its in vitro stability, which decreased sharply at pH below 5.5, although the reduction of activity was far below the values expected from in vitro measurements. Yeast growth under acid stress changed the pattern of gene expression observed at optimal pH. The level of mRNA from the essential plasma-membrane-ATPase-encoding gene PMA1 was reduced by 50% in cells grown at pH 2.5 as compared with cells grown at the optimal pH 5.0, although the content of ATPase in the plasma membrane was only modestly reduced. As observed in response to other kinds of stress, the PMA2 promoter at the optimal pH was up to eightfold more efficient in cells grown at pH 2.5, although it remained several hundred times less efficient than that of the PMA1 gene. Received: 22 April 1996 / Accepted: 6 August 1996     

低频电磁场对酿酒酵母蛋白质表达及酶活性的影响

【背景】低频电磁场(Lowfrequencyelectromagneticfield,LF-EMF)可导致一系列健康效应的事实已被普遍接受。【目的】进一步探究LF-EMF辐射对细胞蛋白质表达及相关酶活性的影响。【方法】以酿酒酵母为研究对象,采用50HzLF-EMF对其进行持续暴露辐射,随后对其胞内蛋白质表达、相关酶活性进行分析。【结果】LF-EMF辐射对酿酒酵母超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)和苹果酸脱氢酶(Malate dehydrogenase,MDH)活性的影响存在先促进后抑制的趋势。辐射处理使SOD活性在72 h提高了43.18%,CAT活性在16 h提高了12.22%,MDH活性在20h提高了12.90%(P0.05);而LF-EMF辐射作用对乙醇脱氢酶(Alcohol dehydrogenase,ADH)和乳酸脱氢酶(Lactatedehydrogenase,LDH)的活性并未观察到显著的影响(P0.05)。此外,蛋白质电泳和蛋白质组学分析的结果表明,LF-EMF可改变酿酒酵母部分胞内蛋白质的表达水平,其中3种蛋白质的表达发生显著上调,9种蛋白质的表达发生显著下调(P0.05)。【结论】LF-EMF辐射可影响酿酒酵母的部分酶活性,改变其胞内部分蛋白质的表达水平。     

Phosphorylation of human high mobility group N1 protein by protein kinase CK2

High mobility group (HMG) N1 protein, formerly known as HMG 14, is a member of the chromosomal HMG protein family. Protein kinase CK2 was previously reported to be able to phosphorylate bovine HMGN1 in vitro; Ser89 and Ser99, corresponding to Ser88 and Ser98 in human HMGN1, were shown to be major and minor recognition sites, respectively. In this report, we employed mass spectrometry and examined both the extent and the sites of phosphorylation in HMGN1 protein catalyzed by recombinant human protein kinase CK2. We found that five serine residues, i.e., Ser6, Ser7, Ser85, Ser88, and Ser98, in HMGN1 can be phosphorylated by the kinase in vitro. All five sites were previously shown to be phosphorylated in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vivo. Among these five sites, Ser6, Ser7, and Ser85 were new sites of phosphorylation induced by protein kinase CK2 in vitro.     

酿酒酵母乙醇脱氢酶2(ADH2)基因的克隆表达及活性验证

为了从酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae中克隆出乙醇脱氢酶2(Alcoholdehy drogenase2,ADH2)基因并使之在大肠杆菌中高效表达。以酿酒酵母细胞中提取的总RNA为模板,通过反转录获得酿酒酵母乙醇脱氢酶2基因,连接到表达载体pTAT上,得到重组表达质粒pTAT-ADH2,将此重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21中,重组工程菌株经IPTG诱导表达得到ADH2蛋白。将该蛋白纯化后,在体外进行活性检测和小鼠体内进行毒理试验,检测ADH2的酶活性。测序结果表明克隆的基因与GenBank中所报道的adh2基因序列有90%的同源性,经SDS-PAGE电泳分析,目的蛋白得到了有效表达,蛋白条带扫描分析表明,表达量占总蛋白的50%左右,纯化得到的蛋白在小鼠体内进行毒理试验,显示出一定的活性。酿酒酵母adh2基因的克隆正确,不仅在大肠杆菌中进行了高效表达而且表现出了较好的酶活性。     

Promoter characterization and expression of the gene coding for the human GM2 activator protein

Type 2 diabetes (or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM) is a common metabolic disease in man. The Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rat has been designed as a NIDDM model. Previous studies with this strain have shown differences at the mitochondrial level. The mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is a widely studied phenomenon but yet poorly understood, that leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. The aim of this work was to compare the differences in susceptibility of induction of the MPT with calcium phosphate in GK and Wistar rats. Our results show that heart mitochondria from GK rats are less susceptible to the induction of MPT, and show a larger calcium accumulation before the overall loss of mitochondrial impermeability.     

Comprehensive gene expression analysis of the response to straight-chain alcohols in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using cDNA microarray

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the gene expression profiles of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae subjected to straight-chain alcohols. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lipophilic alcohols with high log Pow values were more toxic to yeast than those with low log Pow values. Morphological changes after exposure to ethanol, 1-pentanol, 1-octanol were observed, whereas n-pentane as a model hydrocarbon affected the surface of the outer membrane, with little change in organelles. Using cDNA microarrays, quite a few up-regulated gene categories were classified into the category 'cell rescue, defence and virulence' by ethanol, and the category 'energy' and 'metabolism' by 1-pentanol. Meanwhile, the characteristic genes up-regulated by n-pentane were not observed, and the expression profile was distantly related to ethanol, 1-pentanol and 1-octanol. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that gene expression profiles at the whole genome level were intimately associated with the cell growth inhibition and morphological changes by straight-chain alcohols with differing log Pow values. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study of comprehensive gene expression profiles by cDNA microarrays elucidates the straight-chain alcohol adaptation mechanisms.