Identification of active site residues of the inverting glycosyltransferase Cgs required for the synthesis of cyclic beta-1,2-glucan, a Brucella abortus virulence factor

Brucella abortus cyclic glucan synthase (Cgs) is a 320-kDa (2868-amino acid) polytopic integral inner membrane protein responsible for the synthesis of the virulence factor cyclic beta-1,2-glucan by a novel mechanism in which the enzyme itself acts as a protein intermediate. Cgs functions as an inverting processive beta-1,2-autoglucosyltransferase and has the three enzymatic activities required for the synthesis of the cyclic glucan: initiation, elongation, and cyclization. To gain further insight into the protein domains that are essential for the enzymatic activity, we have compared the Cgs sequence with other glycosyltransferases (GTs). This procedure allowed us to identify in the Cgs region (475-818) the widely spaced D, DxD, E/D, (Q/R)xxRW motif that is highly conserved in the active site of numerous GTs. By site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro and in vivo activity assays, we have demonstrated that most of the amino acid residues of this motif are essential for Cgs activity. These sequence and site-directed mutagenesis analyses also indicate that Cgs should be considered a bi-functional modular GT, with an N-terminal GT domain belonging to a new GT family related to GT-2 (GT-84) followed by a GH-94 glycoside hydrolase C-terminal domain. Furthermore, over-expression of inactive mutants results in wild-type (WT) production of cyclic glucan when bacteria co-express the mutant and the WT form, indicating that Cgs may function in the membrane as a monomeric enzyme. Together, these results are compatible with a single addition model by which Cgs acts in the membrane as a monomer and uses the identified motif to form a single center for substrate binding and glycosyl-transfer reaction.     

The Action of Rice Branching Enzyme I (BEI) on Starches

The rice branching enzyme I (BEI) overproduced in Escherichia coli cells was investigated with respect to action on starches. BEI treatment decreased the turbidity of starch suspensions with distinct pasting behaviors from a native starch. This result suggests the great potential of BEI as a molecular tool for the production of a novel glucan polymer.     

环糊精葡萄糖基转移酶的性质、应用与固定化研究进展

本文总结了环糊精葡萄糖基转移酶的性质、应用与固定化研究的进展情况,引用文献４７篇。     

Application of autolysin and deoxyribonuclease profiles generated by renaturing SDS-PAGE in the comparison of selected Proteobacteria

SDS-PAGE of cell-free extracts in gels containing bacterial murein or DNA allowed, after enzyme renaturation and staining of nonhydrolysed substrate, the detection of multiple autolysin or deoxyribonuclease activities directly in the gel as zones of clearing. Enzyme profiles of Proteobacteria which are, or were at one time, classified in the genus Pseudomonas were compared. For each species, a relatively large number of autolysin and deoxyribonuclease activities were detected. The distribution, numbers and intensities of zones of clearing in the gel provided complex species-specific patterns. Extensive data from two fundamental, and presumably evolutionarily distinct classes of enzymes were thus generated for purposes of comparison. Neither analysis suggested that these bacteria could represent a single natural cluster of species, lending support to their present multigeneric status. Ethidium-bromide-stained gels could be subsequently stained with Coomassie blue. This allowed the mapping of many deoxyribonuclease activities to particular peptides in the cell-free extract. In addition, modification of the substrate or renaturation buffer enabled a preliminary characterisation of several deoxyribonucleases in terms of their stability, substrate specificity, and other parameters expected to affect enzyme activity. Individual deoxyribonucleases could be located and screened for desired properties without prior purification. Received: 16 December 1996 / Accepted: 20 January 1997     

基于454焦磷酸测序分析虾夷扇贝外套膜菌群多样性

运用454焦磷酸测序技术分析了健康虾夷扇贝和缺刻症状虾夷扇贝外套膜细菌多样性,分别从健康和缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中获得20872和16333条有效序列.结果表明： 缺刻虾夷扇贝样品菌群丰度和多样性分别高于健康虾夷扇贝样品;两个样品中细菌可以分为8个门,即变形菌门、厚壁菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、蓝细菌门、浮霉菌门、螺旋体门和柔膜菌门,其中前7个门类的细菌在健康和缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中均有分布;在健康虾夷扇贝样品中,变形菌门占绝对优势,占整个菌群的97.7%,次优势类群厚壁菌门占0.8%;缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中,优势类群为厚壁菌门,占整个菌群的52.2%,次优势类群变形菌门占47.7%.     

Novel acetylated alpha-cyclosophorotridecaose produced by Ralstonia solanacearum

Alpha-cyclosophorotridecaose (alpha-C13) produced by Ralstonia solanacearum is isolated by trichloroacetic acid treatment and subjected to various chromatographic techniques. Here, we report for the first time that R. solanacearum produces acetylated alpha-C13. Structural analyses of the acetylated alpha-C13 were performed with 1D or 2D NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF MS and HPLC. The results show that the alpha-C13 is substituted by mainly one acetyl residue at the C-6 position of the glucose unit.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of the Brucella melitensis bp26 gene coding for a protein immunogenic in infected sheep

Abstract We have previously identified a Brucella melitensis 28 kDa cytosoluble protein (CP28) which was highly immunogenic in infected sheep and which in addition made possible the serological differentiation between infected and B. melitensis Rev.l vaccinated sheep. Monoclonal antibodies against CP28 were used to screen a B. melitensis 16M genomic library and to clone the corresponding gene. DNA sequencing of the gene encoding CP28 of B. melitensis 16M revealed that it was nearly identical to that of the recently published bp26 gene of Brucella abortus vaccine strain S19 coding for a periplasmic protein. The differences between the B. melitensis 16M gene and that of B. abortus S19 consisted of single nucleotide substitutions, one or two codon deletions, one codon addition, and most importantly a 21-bp deletion. The corresponding region of B. abortus S19 contains two 10-bp direct repeats which could have been involved in the genesis of the deletion. Expression of the B. melitensis 16M bp26 gene in Escherichia coli studied by the use of the monoclonal antibodies showed the same characteristics as reported for the B. abortus S19 bp26 gene, i.e. the presence of a higher molecular mass preprotein and a lower molecular mass band which probably corresponds to the mature protein exported to the periplasm. Immunoblotting performed with sera from either naturally infected or B. melitensis H38 experimentally infected sheep confirmed the importance of the B. melitensis CP28/BP26 protein as diagnostic antigen.     

滇西北兰坪金顶铅锌矿矿区可培养细菌多样性初步研究

目的对兰坪金顶铅锌矿矿区样品中的可培养细菌进行分离并对其多样性进行研究。方法采集云南兰坪金顶铅锌矿矿区土样和矿石样,采用固体肉汤培养基、卯黄培养基及PYGV培养基分离该矿区环境中的可培养细菌,利用16SrRNA基因序列分析构建系统发育树,并统计不同种属细菌的数量,初步评估细菌多样性。结果兰坪金顶铅锌矿矿区环境细菌的主要种群包括放线菌门、变形菌门和厚壁菌门的不同菌属：微球菌属、节杆菌属、假单胞菌属、短波单胞菌属、芽孢杆菌属、类芽孢杆菌属、考克菌属、葡萄球菌属、芽孢八叠球菌及Skermanella属的菌株,其中抗逆性较强的优势菌群为放线菌门的细菌。结论本研究初步证实兰坪金顶铅锌矿矿区可培养细菌种类丰富。     

The use of an arbitrarily primed PCR product for the specific detection of Brucella

A 1.3 kb Brucella-specific DNA fragment produced through the use of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was tested for its specificity by DNA–DNA hybridization to Brucella and non-Brucella bacteria. The digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled 1.3 kb DNA fragment hybridized with Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis but did not hybridize with other non-Brucella bacteria tested. The sensitivity of the reaction was determined; as little as 150 fg DNA or 30 Brucella cells could be detected. The specificity and sensitivity of the 1.3 kb DNA fragment combined with the simplicity and speed of the technique suggest the potential of this fragment as a DNA probe for the quick and reliable detection of Brucella organisms.     

布鲁氏菌LS蛋白(BLS)研究进展

LS蛋白(2,4-二氧四氢蝶啶合成酶)广泛存在于动物、植物和微生物中,是催化核黄素生物合成的重要合成酶之一。该酶最显著的特征之一是其在不同物种中具有空间结构差异。布鲁氏菌LS蛋白(BLS)是布鲁氏菌的一种优势抗原,是由两个五聚体组成的结构稳定的十聚体。BLS是光滑型和粗糙型布鲁氏菌所共有的抗原,用于布鲁氏菌病的诊断可提高其敏感性;BLS可以激发抗原特异性细胞应答产生IFN-γ,从而对宿主产生保护力,是一种理想的布鲁氏菌病亚单位疫苗的候选蛋白。本文综述了BLS的结构特性及应用研究进展,旨在为BLS的深入研究和开发应用提供参考。     

亚位点?7处突变对碱性芽胞杆菌CGT酶产物特异性的影响

为了研究来源于碱性芽胞杆菌的γ-环糊精葡萄糖基转移酶(CGT酶)具有较高产物特异性的作用机理,对其氨基酸序列和模拟结构进行了分析,确定其亚位点7处氨基酸的缺失可能影响其产物特异性。运用重叠PCR的方法,在其亚位点7处添加缺失的6个氨基酸,造成插入突变。将突变基因与pET-20b(+)连接并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达。以可溶性淀粉为底物进行酶转化,HPLC分析转化产物中的环糊精含量。结果表明,相对于野生型γ-CGT酶,突变酶转化生成的3种环糊精中,γ-环糊精所占的比例从76.0%降至12.5%,α-、β-环糊精分别从8.7%和15.2%提高至37.5%和50%。分析其可能机理为:与α-、β-CGT酶相比,野生型γ-CGT酶的亚位点7处缺失6个氨基酸,该构象为葡萄糖的结合提供了更大的空间,从而更适合γ-环糊精的生成;而在其亚位点7处插入6个氨基酸,造成插入突变后,葡萄糖链结合的空间变小,这种构象不利于γ-环糊精的生成。     

Characterization of a glucansucrase from Lactobacillus reuteri E81 and production of malto-oligosaccharides

Abstract

Glucansucrases, which can be produced by different Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), catalyze the synthesis of α-glucans with different structures and properties using sucrose as substrate. In this study, a novel glucansucrase (GTFA) from Lactobacillus reuteri E81 was identified and heterologously expressed. Alignments of GTFA with other glucansucrases revealed its novelty and a putative 3D model structure was obtained. The biochemical properties of the truncated enzyme without the N-terminal variable region, GTFA-ΔN, was characterized. The K_m and V_max were found to be 7.5?mM and 1.49?IU/mg, respectively, and it showed optimum activities at pH 7 and at 50?°C. The GTFA-ΔN produced in vitro an α-glucan with (α1 → 3) and (α1 → 6) glycosidic linkages using sucrose as the substrate. Importantly, GTFA-ΔN synthesized DP = 9 oligosaccharides using sucrose and maltose as the donor and acceptor sugars, respectively, as detected by TLC, HPLC, LC-MS and NMR analysis.     

Characterization of a water-soluble glucan from angelica acutiloba

A water-soluble glucan, AR-Glucan, from the roots of Angelica acutiloba was obtained homogeneous as determined by ultracentrifugal analysis, electrophoresis, and gel filtration. AR-Glucan was composed Of d-glucose, and its MW was estimated to be 13 500. Methylation analysis indicated that AR-Glucan contained 4-O- and 4,6-di-O-substituted glucosyl residues. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data accorded with the results of methylation analysis, and the glycosidic linkages in AR-Glucan were shown to have the α-configuration. The results of β-amylase, α-amylase, and pullulanase treatments of AR-Glucan showed that it contained (1 → 4) linked α-d-glucosyl side chains of long chain length such as amylopectin. Thus, AR-Glucan is a (1 → 4) linked α-d-glucan to which are attached glucosyl side chains at O-6 of the glucosyl residues of the main chain.     

Phylogeny of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes from oxic habitats of a tidal flat ecosystem

Bacteria of the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes are known to be the most prominent heterotrophic organisms in marine surface waters. In order to investigate the occurrence of these phyla in a coastal environment, the tidal flat ecosystem German Wadden Sea, we analyzed a clone library of PCR-amplified and sequenced 16S rRNA gene fragments and isolated 46 new strains affiliated with these phyla from the water column with various polymers and complex media as substrates. The phylogenetic affiliation of these strains was analyzed on the basis of sequenced 16S rRNA gene fragments. Subsequently, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes including available sequences from oxic habitats of earlier studies of this ecosystem was performed. Sequences of the earlier studies were derived from isolation approaches and from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of environmental samples and high dilution steps of MPN (most probable number) cultures. The majority of the 265 sequences included in this analysis affiliated with alpha-Proteobacteria (45.3%), gamma-Proteobacteria (31.7%), and Bacteroidetes (16.2%). Almost 7% belong to the delta-Proteobacteria and several of these clones affiliated with the Myxococcales, a group comprising obligate aerobic organisms. Within the alpha- and gamma-Proteobacteria specific clusters were identified including isolates from high dilution steps of dilution cultures and/or clones from the clone library or DGGE gels, implying a high abundance of some of these organisms. Within the gamma-Proteobacteria a new cluster is proposed, which consists of marine surface-attached organisms. This SAMMIC (Surface Attached Marine MICrobes) cluster comprises only uncultured phylotypes and exhibits a global distribution. Overall, the analysis indicates that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes of the Wadden Sea have a surprisingly high diversity, presumably a result of the signature of this ecosystem as a melting pot at the land-sea interface and comprising a great habitat variety.     

Structure of a polysaccharide of umbillicaria mammulata

The polysaccharide isolated from Umbillicaria mammulata is a β(1 → 6) linked glucan (degree of polymerization: ca 150) with 9% of the glucose units acetylated at C-3. It is very similar to a polysaccharide recently isolated from the related lichen Gyrophora esculenta.     

山豆根多糖的研究

从山豆根沸水提取物中用 DEAE- Cellulose离子交换柱层析及 Sephadex G- 1 0 0凝胶层析分离纯化得—水溶性多糖 SSP1,SSP1用 TFA全水解的产物经 PL C及 GC分析证明仅含葡萄糖 ,平均分子量为 2 .2 4× 1 0 4 ,比旋光 [α]2 0D=+ 68°( c 0 .75,H2 O) ,经高碘酸氧化、Smith降解、甲基化分析、红外光谱、1H及 13C NMR分析证明其化学结构为以α( 1→ 4)葡聚糖为主链 ,并且每 1 2个主链单元分别在 3- O及 6- O位有分枝的葡聚糖     

Identification of a unique gene cluster of Brucella spp. that mediates adhesion to host cells

Brucella, the causative agent of brucellosis, a major zoonotic disease affecting a broad range of mammals, is a gram-negative bacterium whose virulence is dependent on the capacity to attach and invade different cells of the host. The bacterium is able to infect through a diverse repertoire of epitheliums: skin, airways or gastric. Although much has been studied on the mechanisms Brucella uses to establish an intracellular replication niche, almost none is known on how the bacterium adheres and invades host cells. We report here the identification of a pathogenicity island that harbors a gene homologous to proteins with bacterial immunoglobulin-like domains present in other pathogens that play a role in attachment and invasion. Deletion of the entire island results in a mutant with a reduced attachment capacity measured by intracellular replication and adhesion assays. Intraperitoneal and oral experimental infection of mice strongly suggests that this island plays a role during the oral infection probably mediating attachment and trespassing of the gastric epithelium to establish a systemic infection.