转录因子ACZ影响冠突曲霉色素及产孢数量的研究

本实验室前期在高渗条件下筛选得到8个转录因子,其中ACZ (SI65-00458)基因表达量最高,推测ACZ基因在冠突曲霉中参与响应渗透压及调控孢子的产生。因而本研究利用同源重组原理,构建了ACZ基因敲除载体,通过农杆菌介导转化,筛选获得了ACZ敲除菌株,将敲除株分生孢子液接种在含不同浓度NaCl的MYA培养基上,以野生型冠突曲霉为对照,观察敲除株与野生型菌株的区别。研究发现:培养基中不加NaCl时色素有明显变化,野生型为黄色,敲除株为褐黄色;在低渗透压下,菌落边缘不规则;在高渗透压下,敲除株产生的分生孢子数量为野生型的4倍多;无论是在27℃还是在37℃培养,敲除株在低渗及高渗条件下,菌落直径都较野生型小,菌丝较稀疏。表明敲除ACZ基因会影响冠突曲霉菌丝生长、色素的合成及孢子的产生。     

谢瓦氏曲霉间型变种esdC基因的功能分析

为了研究谢瓦氏曲霉间型变种esd C基因的功能,构建该基因的敲除载体,通过农杆菌介导转化及筛选获得敲除突变体,并对突变体的形态进行了初步分析。生物学特性显示:△esd C突变子的子囊结构与野生型相似,子囊孢子均为球形或近球形,无性发育也与野生型无显著差异。但是,在MYA培养基上培养14d后,△esd C突变体菌落的渗出液相对野生型较少,且无皱褶,菌落表面干燥。这些结果表明esd C基因的缺失对孢子结构的影响不显著,为谢瓦氏曲霉间型变种有性调控机制的研究奠定了技术基础。     

禾谷镰孢菌蛋白激酶FgCdc15功能的研究

细胞分裂是真核细胞生长发育的重要环节。本研究利用生物信息学的方法,通过使用酵母菌Cdc15蛋白激酶序列比对,发现禾谷镰孢菌中只存在一个Cdc15蛋白激酶。基因缺失的功能研究表明FgCDC15（FGSG_10381）基因敲除后,突变体菌落生长速度减慢,对小麦和玉米无致病力。FgCDC15基因敲除突变体产生的分生孢子外观形态正常,但隔膜数量变少,同时发现该基因在分生孢子阶段表达量最高。在有性生殖阶段,FgCDC15基因敲除突变体可产生极少量的子囊壳,但不产生子囊和子囊孢子。本文研究表明,禾谷镰孢菌蛋白激酶FgCdc15可能参与了有性和无性阶段的细胞分裂和生长,同时影响禾谷镰刀菌的致病毒力。     

尖孢镰刀菌亚麻专化型Folprp4基因参与调控菌丝生长和分生孢子发生

目的: 通过对尖孢镰刀菌中Folprp4基因的鉴定,揭示其在尖孢镰刀菌中的功能及致病相关性。方法: 基于同源重组原理,根据测定出的Folprp4基因序列,应用Split-Marker重组技术构建含有潮霉素抗性基因(hph)的基因缺失盒。将基因缺失盒经PEG介导转化到野生型原生质体中,在含有潮霉素B的TCC培养基上筛选转化子,通过PCR正负筛查获得Folprp4基因缺失突变株(ΔFolprp4)。构建含有Folprp4基因的载体pZDH1,并将其转化到敲除突变体中进行互补测验。结果: 与野生型(hm)和异位插入突变体(ecFolprp4)相比,敲除突变体菌丝生长受到严重阻碍,当野生型和异位插入突变体长满整个平板时,敲除突变体菌落呈小点状。敲除突变体的另一个显著变化是ΔFolprp4的分生孢子产量显著下降。侵染实验表明,ΔFolprp4对亚麻幼苗的毒力显著降低。互补实验表明,该互补载体的回复子(Folprp4-C)在菌落形态、生长速率、分生孢子产量和毒力方面均恢复到了野生型菌株。结论: Folprp4基因与尖孢镰刀菌的菌丝生长、分生孢子发生和致病性有关。     

禾谷镰刀菌中FgPDE1基因的敲除及其功能的研究

目的:旨在敲除禾谷镰刀菌Fusarium graminearum Fg PDE1基因,确定其缺失突变体表型,从而分析该基因的生物学功能。方法:应用Split-marker技术构建含有潮霉素基因敲除盒,通过PEG介导原生质体转化,PCR筛查抗潮霉素转化子以获得缺失突变体ΔFg PDE1,根据突变体表型变化及致病性的检测对Fg PDE1基因的功能进行分析。结果:采用Split-marker技术,成功构建了Fg PDE1基因敲除盒;PEG介导转化禾谷镰刀菌原生质体后成功获得转化子。经PCR筛查,得到3个PCR确认的敲除突变体;表型观察发现,ΔFg PDE1菌落的外型及菌落生长速度与野生型没有明显差异。孢子侵染西红柿果实实验证明:以西红柿为侵染宿主,相对于野生型,突变体致病性没有明显减弱;但突变体分生孢子产量显著下降。结论:Fg PDE1基因可能与禾谷镰刀菌分生孢子的形成有关。     

非编码小RNA(sraB)调控肠炎型沙门菌的抗蛋清抑菌作用

【目的】肠炎型沙门菌是一种食源性人畜共患病病原菌,可在禽蛋中存活并传播。sRNA为新近发现的基因表达调控分子,本实验以sRNA(sraB)为对象,探索sRNA与肠炎型沙门菌在禽蛋中存活的相关性,及研究其在细菌抵抗蛋清抑菌作用中的调控功能。【方法】参考已报道的沙门菌全基因组及sraB序列,设计并扩增sraB突变用基因片段,运用Red重组系统(red recombination system)对肠炎沙门菌野生株(SE2472)sraB基因进行定点敲除,构建出sraB敲除株(SE2472ΔsraB)。分析比较sraB敲除对沙门菌在蛋清中存活的影响;另构建表达sraB的回复表达质粒pHDB3-sraB,将其转入sraB敲除株构建回复株SE2472ΔsraB-comp,以回复表达sraB,分析sraB表达对沙门菌敲除株的回复作用;并分别以野生株、敲除株及回复株研究sraB在抵抗蛋清中几种抑菌因子(如溶菌酶和卵转铁蛋白)作用中可能的调控作用。【结果】敲除株在蛋清中存活率为野生型的61%-70%,回复株相比野生型的存活率比敲除株提高10%-33%;在转铁蛋白抑菌实验中,孵育8h和24h,敲除株的存活率分别为野生型存活率的38%和23%,孵育8h回复株相比野生型的存活率比敲除株提高15%,但孵育24h回复株的存活率未见提高;在溶菌酶抑菌实验中,孵育8h和24h后,敲除株存活率分别为野生型的41%和27%,回复株相比野生型的存活率分别比敲除株提高35%和23%。【结论】通过比较sraB敲除与否,研究肠炎型沙门菌在禽蛋中的存活及对抑菌因子的抵抗作用,结果表明sraB在肠炎沙门菌抵抗蛋清抑菌作用中起着重要调控功能。     

红曲霉繁殖相关brlM基因鉴定及功能分析

brlA作为曲霉分生孢子形成的中心调控路径中最上游的转录因子,能够诱导下游特异基因的表达调控分生孢子的产生,brlA缺失将导致曲霉无法产生分生孢子,同时生长代谢发生改变,但对不同菌种的影响有显著差异。【目的】探究brlA同源基因brlM在红曲霉中的基因功能,探索红曲霉繁殖调控机制。【方法】从紫色红曲霉Mp-21菌株中克隆了brlA同源基因brlM。利用同源重组原理,用农杆菌介导转化法构建了brlM基因缺失突变株(△brlM),分析△brlM和野生菌株Mp-21在菌落表型、显微结构、生长速率和次生代谢产物等方面的差异,明确brlM基因在红曲霉中的主要功能。【结果】在形态水平上,brlM基因缺失菌株导致菌丝生长更加旺盛,赋予菌落更加蓬松的表型;显微观察发现△brlM失去了有性繁殖产生闭囊壳的能力,但却提升了无性繁殖产生分生孢子的能力;同时代谢产物红曲色素、莫纳可林K和桔霉素产量显著下降。【结论】红曲霉brlM基因的功能与曲霉属中的brlA并不相同,brlM基因在红曲霉有性繁殖中的作用不可替代。本研究的结果对进一步探索丝状真菌繁殖调控机制提供了新的思路。     

湖南地区茯砖茶中金花菌的分离鉴定

对湖南地区茯砖茶上＂金花菌＂的菌落特征、形态特征进行了研究,并运用扫描电镜观察了其子囊孢子和分生孢子的发育过程,鉴定其为冠突散囊菌（Eurotium cristatum）。     

胶孢炭疽菌CgRGS2基因的克隆及生物学功能

【目的】G蛋白信号调控因子(Regulators of G-protein signaling,RGS)是G蛋白的一类负调控因子,在植物病原菌生长发育及致病过程中发挥着重要的作用,然而目前还未有关于胶孢炭疽菌RGS蛋白生物学功能的研究。本试验的目的是克隆胶孢炭疽菌的一个RGS基因CgRGS2,并分析其生物学功能。【方法】利用PCR技术扩增CgRGS2的基因并进行生物信息学分析,利用同源重组的方法获得CgRGS2基因的敲除突变体,并在突变体的基础上获得互补株,通过表型分析确定该基因的生物学功能。【结果】通过PCR扩增获得了CgRGS2的基因,其编码一个574个氨基酸的蛋白,在N末端含有一个RGS功能域。该基因敲除突变体同野生型相比,表现为营养生长缓慢,气生菌丝浓密,分生孢子产量降低且孢子呈多端萌发,对氧化压力及SDS敏感,致病性减弱等。【结论】CgRGS2蛋白参与调控胶孢炭疽菌的营养生长,分生孢子产量及萌发,氧化应激反应及细胞壁完整性,对其致病性也具有一定的影响。     

Genetic connection between fatty acid metabolism and sporulation in Aspergillus nidulans

In the Ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the ratio of conidia (asexual spores) to ascospores (sexual spores) is affected by linoleic acid moieties including endogenous sporogenic factors called psi factors. Deletion of odeA (Delta odeA), encoding a Delta-12 desaturase that converts oleic acid to linoleic acid, resulted in a strain depleted of polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2 and 18:3) but increased in oleic acid (18:1) and total percent fatty acid content. Linoleic acid-derived psi factors were absent in this strain but oleic acid-derived psi factors were increased relative to wild type. The Delta odeA strain was reduced in conidial production and mycelial growth; these effects were most noticeable when cultures were grown at 26 degrees C in the dark. Under these environmental conditions, the Delta odeA strain was delayed in ascospore production but produced more ascospores than wild type over time. This suggests a role for oleic acid-derived psi factors in affecting the asexual to sexual spore ratio in A. nidulans. Fatty acid composition and spore development were also affected by veA, a gene previously shown to control light driven conidial and ascospore development. Taken together our results indicate an interaction between veA and odeA alleles for fatty acid metabolism and spore development in A. nidulans.     

The Neurospora crassa mutant NcΔEgt-1 identifies an ergothioneine biosynthetic gene and demonstrates that ergothioneine enhances conidial survival and protects against peroxide toxicity during conidial germination

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a histidine derivative with sulfur on the imidazole ring and a trimethylated amine; it is postulated to have an antioxidant function. Although EGT apparently is only produced by fungi and some prokaryotes, it is acquired by animals and plants from the environment, and is concentrated in animal tissues in cells with an EGT transporter. Monobromobimane derivatives of EGT allowed conclusive identification of EGT by LC/MS and the quantification of EGT in Colletotrichum graminicola and Neurospora crassa conidia and mycelia. EGT concentrations were significantly (α=0.05) higher in conidia than in mycelia, with approximately 17X and 5X more in C. graminicola and N. crassa, respectively. The first EGT biosynthetic gene in a fungus was identified by quantifying EGT in N. crassa wild type and knockouts in putative homologs of actinomycete EGT biosynthetic genes. NcΔEgt-1, a strain with a knockout in gene NCU04343, does not produce EGT, in contrast to the wild type. To determine the effects of EGT in vivo, we compared NcΔEgt-1 to the wild type. NcΔEgt-1 is not pleiotropically affected in rate of hyphal elongation in Vogel's medium either with or without ammonium nitrate and in the rate of germination of macroconidia on Vogel's medium. The superoxide-producer menadione had indistinguishable effects on conidial germination between the two strains. Cupric sulfate also had indistinguishable effects on conidial germination and on hyphal growth between the two strains. In contrast, germination of NcΔEgt-1 conidia was significantly more sensitive to tert-butyl hydroperoxide than the wild type; germination of 50% (GI(50)) of the NcΔEgt-1 conidia was prevented at 2.7 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide whereas the GI(50) for the wild type was 4.7 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide, or at a 1.7X greater concentration. In the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and the fluorescent reactive oxygen species indicator 5-(and-6)-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, significantly (P=0.0002) more NcΔEgt-1 conidia fluoresced than wild type conidia, indicating that EGT quenched peroxides in vivo. While five to 21-day-old conidia of both strains germinated 100%, NcΔEgt-1 conidia had significantly (P<0.001) diminished longevity. Linear regression analysis indicates that germination of the wild type declined to 50% in 35 days, in comparison to 25 days for the NcΔEgt-1, which is equivalent to a 29% reduction in conidial life span in the NcEgt-1 deletion strain. Consequently, the data indicate that endogenous EGT helps protect conidia during the quiescent period between conidiogenesis and germination, and that EGT helps protect conidia during the germination process from the toxicity of peroxide but not from superoxide or Cu(2+). Based on an in silico analysis, we postulate that NcEgt-1 was acquired early in the mycota lineage as a fusion of two adjacent prokaryotic genes, that was then lost in the Saccharomycotina, and that NcEgt-1 catalyzes the first two steps of EGT biosynthesis from histidine to hercynine to hercynylcysteine sulfoxide.     

脂联素基因剔除小鼠糖代谢和骨代谢的初步研究

目的:研究前期建立的脂联素基因剔除小鼠模型在基础状态的葡萄糖代谢及骨代谢状态。方法:采用长期追踪野生型和该基因剔除纯合子小鼠的体重和空腹血糖水平,并进行葡萄糖耐量(GTT)和胰岛素耐量(ITT)试验以评价该小鼠的葡萄糖代谢能力。对骨代谢的初步研究采用检测小鼠骨密度(BMD)的方式。结果:发现该基因剔除小鼠在6w时,出现空腹血糖比对照组显著低下的现象,而随着鼠龄的增长,血糖水平又趋于正常。GTT和ITT试验证明该基因剔除小鼠无糖尿病或胰岛素抵抗表型。BMD检测亦显示该小鼠在基础状态下无骨密度低下的现象。结论:脂联素基因剔除小鼠在基础状态下并无显著的糖代谢和骨代谢异常。     

RunX3对小鼠骨髓造血干细胞功能的影响

目的研究RunX3基因对造血干细胞自我更新和分化能力的影响。方法流式细胞术测定小鼠骨髓干细胞和外周血单个核细胞的比例;通过竞争性骨髓移植实验检测RunX3转基因小鼠骨髓干细胞的功能。结果移植后来源于RunX3-/-小鼠骨髓干细胞供体的外周血细胞占总外周血细胞的比例与野生对照鼠相比无明显差异,移植后来源于RunX3-/-小鼠骨髓干细胞供体的外周血中髓系细胞占总外周血髓系细胞的比例较野生型对照鼠高。结论RunX3基因缺失对骨髓造血干细胞的自我更新没有影响,但其可能参与了骨髓造血干细胞的分化过程。     

G protein signaling mediates developmental processes and pathogenesis of Alternaria alternata

A G protein alpha subunit gene (AGA1) has been cloned and characterized from a toxigenic and necrotrophic Alternaria alternata pathogen. Targeted disruption of AGA1 in the apple pathotype of A. alternata gave rise to mutants that differed in colony and conidial morphology as well as sporulation. The conidia of wild type and deltaAGA1 mutants showed equal germination on cellulose membranes. However, wild-type germ tubes formed readily from different points around the conidia, grew randomly, and were often branched, whereas those of the mutants formed only at one or both ends of the conidia and tended to grow in straight paths. Targeted disruption of AGA1 also resulted in reduction of pathogenicity on apple leaves, although the mutant produced host-specific AM-toxin, a fungal secondary metabolite associated with pathogenicity of the pathogen, at levels similar to the wild-type strain. Measurement of the intracellular cAMP levels of the mutant revealed that it was consistently higher than that of the wild type, indicating that AGA1 negatively regulates cAMP levels similar to mammalian Galphai systems. These results indicate that the signal transduction pathway represented by AGA1 appears to be involved in developmental pathways leading to sporulation and pathogenesis of A. alternata.     

斑马鱼心脏发育候选基因Titin-Cap的CRISPR/Cas9打靶有效性分析

CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术是近几年发展起来的一种高效率的定向打靶技术,被认为是遗传领域的革命性技术。Titin-Cap基因是本实验室已初步鉴定的斑马鱼心脏发育候选基因,且国内外目前尚无斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因的敲除品系。为了研究Titin-Cap基因在心脏发育过程中的作用机制,我们利用CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术建立斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因的敲除品系。测序结果显示,注射了CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA的胚胎出现双峰,说明在打靶位点附近出现了碱基缺失或插入,证明我们设计的gRNA是有效的。对F0代突变体成鱼的筛选中,测序结果同样显示有阳性结果。这些结果说明用CRISPR/Cas9基因打靶技术成功敲除了斑马鱼Titin-Cap基因,获得了Titin-Cap基因敲除的嵌合体斑马鱼。