Structural analysis of alkaline β-mannanase from alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. N16-5: implications for adaptation to alkaline conditions

Significant progress has been made in isolating novel alkaline β-mannanases, however, there is a paucity of information concerning the structural basis for alkaline tolerance displayed by these β-mannanases. We report the catalytic domain structure of an industrially important β-mannanase from the alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. N16-5 (BSP165 MAN) at a resolution of 1.6 Å. This enzyme, classified into subfamily 8 in glycosyl hydrolase family 5 (GH5), has a pH optimum of enzymatic activity at pH 9.5 and folds into a classic (β/α)₈-barrel. In order to gain insight into molecular features for alkaline adaptation, we compared BSP165 MAN with previously reported GH5 β-mannanases. It was revealed that BSP165 MAN and other subfamily 8 β-mannanases have significantly increased hydrophobic and Arg residues content and decreased polar residues, comparing to β-mannanases of subfamily 7 or 10 in GH5 which display optimum activities at lower pH. Further, extensive structural comparisons show alkaline β-mannanases possess a set of distinctive features. Position and length of some helices, strands and loops of the TIM barrel structures are changed, which contributes, to a certain degree, to the distinctly different shaped (β/α)₈-barrels, thus affecting the catalytic environment of these enzymes. The number of negatively charged residues is increased on the molecular surface, and fewer polar residues are exposed to the solvent. Two amino acid substitutions in the vicinity of the acid/base catalyst were proposed to be possibly responsible for the variation in pH optimum of these homologous enzymes in subfamily 8 of GH5, identified by sequence homology analysis and pK _a calculations of the active site residues. Mutational analysis has proved that Gln91 and Glu226 are important for BSP165 MAN to function at high pH. These findings are proposed to be possible factors implicated in the alkaline adaptation of GH5 β-mannanases and will help to further understanding of alkaline adaptation mechanism.     

Protoplast transformation of recalcitrant alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. with methylated plasmid DNA and a developed hard agar regeneration medium

Among the diverse alkaliphilic Bacillus strains, only a little have been reported to be genetically transformed. In this study, an efficient protoplast transformation procedure was developed for recalcitrant alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. N16-5. The procedure involved polyethylene glycol-induced DNA uptake by the protoplasts and subsequent protoplast regeneration with a developed hard agar regeneration medium. An in vivo methylation strategy was introduced to methylate the exogenous plasmid DNA for improving the transformation efficiency. The transformation efficiency reached to 1.1×10(5) transformants per μg plasmid DNA with methylated plasmid pHCMC04 and the developed hard agar regeneration medium. This procedure might also be applicable to the genetic transformation of other Bacillus strains.     

Crystal structure of outer membrane protein NMB0315 from Neisseria meningitidis

NMB0315 is an outer membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NMB) and a potential candidate for a broad-spectrum vaccine against meningococcal disease. The crystal structure of NMB0315 was solved by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) at a resolution of 2.4 Å and revealed to be a lysostaphin-type peptidase of the M23 metallopeptidase family. The overall structure consists of three well-separated domains and has no similarity to any previously published structure. However, only the topology of the carboxyl-terminal domain is highly conserved among members of this family, and this domain is a zinc-dependent catalytic unit. The amino-terminal domain of the structure blocks the substrate binding pocket in the carboxyl-terminal domain, indicating that the wild-type full-length protein is in an inactive conformational state. Our studies improve the understanding of the catalytic mechanism of M23 metallopeptidases.     

Differential regulation and recovery of intracellular Ca2+ in cerebral and small mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells of simulated microgravity rat

Background

The differential adaptations of cerebrovasculature and small mesenteric arteries could be one of critical factors in postspaceflight orthostatic intolerance, but the cellular mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesize that there is a differential regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ determined by the alterations in the functions of plasma membrane Ca_L channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in cerebral and small mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of simulated microgravity rats, respectively.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 28-day hindlimb unweighting to simulate microgravity. In addition, tail-suspended rats were submitted to a recovery period of 3 or 7 days after removal of suspension. The function of Ca_L channels was evaluated by patch clamp and Western blotting. The function of ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases in response to caffeine were assessed by a laser confocal microscope. Our results indicated that simulated microgravity increased the functions of Ca_L channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases in cerebral VSMCs, whereas, simulated microgravity decreased the functions of Ca_L channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases in small mesenteric VSMCs. In addition, 3- or 7-day recovery after removal of suspension could restore the functions of Ca_L channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases to their control levels in cerebral and small mesenteric VSMCs, respectively.

Conclusions

The differential regulation of Ca_L channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ releases in cerebral and small mesenteric VSMCs may be responsible for the differential regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺, which leads to the altered autoregulation of cerebral vasculature and the inability to adequately elevate peripheral vascular resistance in postspaceflight orthostatic intolerance.     

A novel long non-coding RNA AC073352.1 promotes metastasis and angiogenesis via interacting with YBX1 in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer death worldwide in women. Patients with metastasis have poor prognosis and the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis are not completely understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have crucial roles in breast cancer development and progression. However, the underlying mechanisms by which lncRNA-driven breast cancer metastasis are unknown. The main objective of this paper is to explore a functional lncRNA and its mechanisms in breast cancer. Here we identified a novel lncRNA AC073352.1 that was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues and was associated with advanced TNM stages and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. In addition, AC073352.1 was found to promote the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and enhance breast cancer metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we elucidated that AC073352.1 interacted with YBX1 and stabilized its protein expression. Knock down of YBX1 reduced breast cancer cell migration and invasion and could partially reverse the stimulative effects of AC073352.1 overexpressed on breast cancer metastasis. Moreover, AC073352.1 might be packaged into exosomes by binding to YBX1 in breast cancer cells resulting in angiogenesis. Collectively, our results demonstrated that AC073352.1 promoted breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis via binding YBX1, and it could serve as a promising, novel biomarker for prognosis and a therapeutic target in breast cancer.Subject terms: Breast cancer, Cell invasion, Long non-coding RNAs     

2种调查方法对四川黑竹沟国家级自然保护区3种雉类种群密度调查的比较

种群数量是物种的重要生态学基础资料,合适的密度调查方法是数量估算的基础。2016年4—5月,采用广泛应用于鸡形目Galliformes鸟类种群密度调查的样线法和样点法,调查了四川黑竹沟国家级自然保护区3种鸡形目鸟类(白腹锦鸡Chrysolophus amherstiae、红腹角雉Tragopan temminckii和血雉Ithaginis cruentus)的种群密度。样线法和样点法估算的雄体密度分别是:白腹锦鸡1.20只/km²和(6.31±0.98)只/km²,红腹角雉5.41只/km²和(0.39±0.17)只/km²,血雉3.01只/km²和(5.97±2.70)只/km²。除红腹角雉外,样点法估算的白腹锦鸡、血雉种群密度均大于样线法。建议针对不同鸡形目鸟类采用不同的调查方法,并尽量扩大样本数量,从而提高调查结果的准确性。     

基于氢氧稳定同位素的黄河兰州段河岸植物水分来源

多枝柽柳和旱柳是北方地区河岸生态修复的良好树种,具有护河防洪、调节区域气候的作用和营造河岸地带植被景观的功能。本研究选取黄河兰州段沿岸2处样点,采集了多枝柽柳和旱柳木质部以及各潜在水源的样品,利用氧同位素直接对比法、贝叶斯混合模型MixSIAR和相似性比例指数(PS指数),分析了多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用率以及两者之间的水分利用关系。结果表明:在整个生长季,浅层土壤水(0～30 cm)是多枝柽柳和旱柳的主要水分来源,利用率分别为28.3%和24.4%,多枝柽柳对河水的利用率最小(16.6%),旱柳对地下水的利用率最小(17.9%);在土壤含水量较低的月份,植物会增加对河水和地下水的利用比例,样点S₁和S₂的PS指数分别为91.0%和87.7%,两个样点均在5月的PS指数最大,不同月份的水分利用关系存在一定的差异;处于河漫滩这一特殊地理位置,多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用比较平均,最大程度地获取各潜在水源的水分,是一种最优的吸水模式。本研究可为开展黄河兰州段河岸休闲旅游活动和黄河流域生态环境保护中植物水分管理提供一定的理论基础。     

Unveiling The Multifunction of Beaded Stream-Like Co9Se8 Catalysts for Water Splitting,Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging,and Hydrogen Anti-Inflammation

The electrocatalytic preparation of hydrogen at different pH values not only achieves excellent device performance but also promotes the application of reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance and hydrogen anti-inflammation. However, it is difficult to develop materials that simultaneously achieve these excellent properties. Herein, the preparation of beaded necklace-like Co₉Se₈ microspheres using a general and facile synthetic strategy is reported. The Co₉Se₈-modified electrode has three applications: efficient water splitting for enhanced performance, ROS scavenging, and hydrogen anti-inflammatory activity. Experiments, high-angle-annular-dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and density functional theory calculations indicate that the reconstructed Co(OH)₂ plays a vital role in the oxygen evolution reaction and that the transition from *O to *OOH is the actual rate-determining step. The Co₉Se₈ material, with its unique beaded necklace-like structure, exhibits exceptional hydrogen production capabilities in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4). In particular, hydrogen produce under neutral conditions can effectively reduce ROS levels and significantly inhibit inflammation-related pathological processes, playing a unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role at the cellular level. The obtained results indicate that the as-synthesized Co₉Se₈ is more suitable for water splitting, ROS scavenging, and hydrogen anti-inflammatory applications, outperforming other transition metal electrodes and rendering practical industrial and clinical applications.     

辽宁省食源性副溶血性弧菌毒力基因、血清分型及耐药性分析

研究辽宁省2017-2020年市售水产品及其制品中分离的158株副溶血性弧菌的毒力基因、血清分型和耐药性, 为食源性疾病的暴发和散发进行评估和预警。

采用多重荧光定量PCR技术对毒力基因tlh、tdh和trh进行检测, 同时检测血清分型; 采用肉汤稀释法测定副溶血性弧菌MIC值并分析其耐药性。

158株副溶血性弧菌中均携带tlh基因, 携带tdh基因的菌株2株, 携带trh基因的菌株2株, 同时携带tdh基因和trh基因的菌株1株; 158株中67株血清型为O2(含K不分型), 39株为O3(含K不分型), 携带tdh和trh毒力基因的菌株血清型均为O3;副溶血性弧菌122株(77.22%)对头孢唑啉耐药, 36株(22.78%)对头孢西丁耐药, 30株(18.99%)对氨苄西林耐药, 18株菌呈现耐受2类及以上的多重耐药性。携带毒力基因的5株副溶血性弧菌对头孢唑啉均耐药。

大多数食源性副溶血性弧菌不携带毒力基因, O2血清型(42.41%)是辽宁省食源性副溶血性弧菌的主要血清型, 其次为O3(24.68%); 副溶血性弧菌对头孢唑啉显著耐药, 少数菌表现出多重耐药, 提示应继续加强水产品及其生食制品中副溶血性弧菌的致病性和耐药性监测。