基于全基因组数据华根霉产真菌毒素分析

【目的】在对中国传统优势浓香型白酒产业中重要功能微生物华根霉菌株CCTCCM201021全基因组测序的基础上,以生物信息学的方法和手段主要针对真菌毒素的合成代谢途径及关键基因进行分析,考察微生物在食品工业应用中的安全性。【方法】应用Illumina平台Solexa测序技术对华根霉进行基因组测序,运用SOAPdenovo组装软件进行拼接,并进行一系列生物信息分析,考察根霉素、小孢根霉素及典型丝状真菌毒素代谢的主要途径及相关基因,包括PKS、NRPS与PKS-NRPS混合代谢途径;萜类化合物代谢和其他代谢途径等,判断华根霉是否具有产真菌毒素的潜在危害性。【结果】测序结果表明华根霉全基因组大小为45.70 Mb左右,GC含量为36.99%。通过基因预测软件分析得到基因17 676个,共注释基因13 243个。通过进化树与同源基因比较分析,与目前基因组测序完成的仅有的3株接合菌基因组相比,序列相似性普遍偏低,与华根霉存在较为显著的差异,但同源基因的相似性在60%左右。代谢分析表明,华根霉中仅存在较少聚酮合成、萜类化合物合成途径代谢基因,存在大量异源物质降解途径基因。【结论】华根霉基本不具备产目前已知的真菌毒素的关键基因或合成能力,可以认为其发酵产品是相对安全的。在酿造过程中,不仅可作为糖化菌,在混菌发酵时,对部分具有抑菌能力的抗生物质具有降解功能,是发酵工业中应用的相对安全的重要生产菌。     

半导体矿物介导非光合微生物利用光电子新途径

自然界中微生物按其能量代谢途径主要分为两种:光能营养微生物和化能营养微生物.化能营养微生物作为非光能营养微生物长期被排除在以日光为能量来源的能量利用途径之外.本文介绍了一种新的微生物能量利用途径,即非光能营养微生物通过半导体矿物光催化作用来利用太阳能进行生长.实验室模拟体系中,金属氧化物、金属硫化物等天然半导体矿物在模拟日光激发下产生的光电子促进了化能自养与异养微生物的生长.研究结果表明微生物的生长与光子能量和光子数量密切相关,同时不同波长光辐照下的微生物生长情况与矿物的光吸收谱相吻合.这一能量利用途径的光能-生物能转化效率为0.13‰-1.90‰.在含有天然半导体矿物与天然微生物的红壤体系中,进一步发现半导体矿物光催化能够明显改变环境微生物的种群结构.已有的研究揭示了一种新发现并极有可能长期在地球上存在的微生物能量利用途径,即通过自然界中半导体矿物日光催化作用产生的光电子能够促进非光能营养微生物的生长代谢活动.     

铅锌尾矿中耐重金属镉的丝状真菌的分离鉴定

【目的】旨在从重金属污染地分离出耐重金属镉真菌, 获得耐受重金属镉污染的高效菌株, 为重金属污染微生物修复提供菌种资源。【方法】利用稀释平板涂布法, 采用4种培养基对粤东北梅州市梅县铅锌尾矿废弃地9个样品进行分离, 并结合形态学和ITS rDNA基因序列分析, 鉴定分离到的耐镉真菌, 最后对分离到的耐镉真菌进行最小抑制浓度 (MIC) 检测。【结果】从粤东北梅州市梅县铅锌尾矿废弃地分离出72株丝状真菌, 经形态学和分子技术鉴定, 它们主要属于曲霉属(Aspergillus)、青霉属(Penicillium)、枝孢属(Cladosporium)、油瓶霉属(Lecythophora)、拟青霉属(Paecilomyces)、镰刀孢属(Fusarium)等。MIC检测发现有4株丝状真菌耐镉浓度较高, Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson (6?20 p), Penicillium pinophilum Hedgcock (6?16 p), Penicillium rolfsii Thom (6?16 m) 和Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. (8?11 p) 分别为200、40、25和15 mmol/L。【结论】从粤东北梅州市梅县铅锌尾矿废弃地分离到的72株丝状真菌, 不同程度耐受重金属镉, 在重金属污染的治理中有可能发挥作用。本研究为镉污染环境的微生物修复提供了重要菌株。     

Leukotriene D4 induces amyloid-β generation via CysLT1R-mediated NF-κB pathways in primary neurons

Although the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is not clearly understood, neuroinflammation has been known to play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. To investigate a functional link between the neuroinflammation and AD, the effect of leukotriene D4 (LTD4), an inflammatory lipid mediator, was studied on amyloid-β generation in vitro. Application of LTD4 to cell monolayers at concentrations up to 40 nM LTD4 caused increases in the Aβ releases. Concentrations ?40 nM LTD4 decreased neuronal viability. Application of 20 nM LTD4 caused a significant increase in Aβ generation, as assessed by ELISA or Western blotting, without significant cytotoxicity. At this concentration, exposure of neurons to LTD4 for 24 h produced maximal effect in the Aβ generation, and significant increases in the expressions of cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor (CysLT₁R) and activity of β- or γ-secretase with complete abrogation by the selective CysLT₁R antagonist pranlukast. Exposure of neurons to LTD4 for 1 h showed activation of NF-κB pathway, by assessing the levels of p65 or phospho-p65 in the nucleus, and either CysLT₁R antagonist pranlukast or NF-κB inhibitor PDTC prevented the nuclear translocation of p65 and the consequent phosphorylation. PDTC also inhibited LTD4-induced elevations of β- or γ-secretase activity and Aβ generation in vitro. Overall, our data show for the first time that LTD4 causes Aβ production by enhancement of β- or γ-secretase resulting from activation of CysLT₁R-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings provide a novel pathologic link between neuroinflammation and AD.     

Development of thermodynamic optimum searching (TOS) to improve the prediction accuracy of flux balance analysis

Flux balance analysis (FBA) has been widely used in calculating steady‐state flux distributions that provide important information for metabolic engineering. Several thermodynamics‐based methods, for example, quantitative assignment of reaction directionality and energy balance analysis have been developed to improve the prediction accuracy of FBA. However, these methods can only generate a thermodynamically feasible range, rather than the most thermodynamically favorable solution. We therefore developed a novel optimization method termed as thermodynamic optimum searching (TOS) to calculate the thermodynamically optimal solution, based on the second law of thermodynamics, the minimum magnitude of the Gibbs free energy change and the maximum entropy production principle (MEPP). Then, TOS was applied to five physiological conditions of Escherichia coli to evaluate its effectiveness. The resulting prediction accuracy was found significantly improved (10.7–48.5%) by comparing with the ¹³C‐fluxome data, indicating that TOS can be considered an advanced calculation and prediction tool in metabolic engineering. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 914–923. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

8-Oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (ogg1) maintains the function of cardiac progenitor cells during heart formation in zebrafish

Genomic damage may devastate the potential of progenitor cells and consequently impair early organogenesis. We found that ogg1, a key enzyme initiating the base-excision repair, was enriched in the embryonic heart in zebrafish. So far, little is known about DNA repair in cardiogenesis. Here, we addressed the critical role of ogg1 in cardiogenesis for the first time. ogg1 mainly expressed in the anterior lateral plate mesoderm (ALPM), the primary heart tube, and subsequently the embryonic myocardium by in situ hybridisation. Loss of ogg1 resulted in severe cardiac morphogenesis and functional abnormalities, including the short heart length, arrhythmia, decreased cardiomyocytes and nkx2.5⁺ cardiac progenitor cells. Moreover, the increased apoptosis and repressed proliferation of progenitor cells caused by ogg1 deficiency might contribute to the heart phenotype. The microarray analysis showed that the expression of genes involved in embryonic heart tube morphogenesis and heart structure were significantly changed due to the lack of ogg1. Among those, foxh1 is an important partner of ogg1 in the cardiac development in response to DNA damage. Our work demonstrates the requirement of ogg1 in cardiac progenitors and heart development in zebrafish. These findings may be helpful for understanding the aetiology of congenital cardiac deficits.     

Dual Gating Mechanism and Function of P2X7 Receptor Channels

The ATP-gated P2X7 receptor channel (P2X7R) operates as a cytolytic and apoptotic receptor but also controls sustained cellular responses, including cell growth and proliferation. However, it has not been clarified how the same receptor mediates such opposing effects. To address this question, we have combined electrophysiological, imaging, and mathematical studies using wild-type and mutant rat P2X7Rs. Activation of naïve (not previously stimulated) receptors by low agonist concentrations caused monophasic slow desensitizing currents and internalization of receptors without other changes in the cellular morphology, much like other P2XRs. In contrast, saturating agonist concentrations induced high-amplitude biphasic currents, reflecting pore dilation and causing rapid cell swelling and lysis. The existence of these two signaling patterns was accounted for using a revised Markov-state model that included, in addition to naïve and sensitized states, desensitized states. Occupancy of one or two ATP-binding sites of naïve receptors favored a slow transition to desensitized states, whereas occupancy of the third binding site favored a transition to sensitized/dilated states. Consistent with model predictions, nondilating P2X7R mutants always generated desensitizing currents. These results suggest that the level of saturation of the ligand binding sites determines the nature of the P2X7R gating and cellular actions.     

A modified metabolic model for mixed culture fermentation with energy conserving electron bifurcation reaction and metabolite transport energy

A modified metabolic model for mixed culture fermentation (MCF) is proposed with the consideration of an energy conserving electron bifurcation reaction and the transport energy of metabolites. The production of H₂ related to NADH/NAD⁺ and Fdred/Fdox is proposed to be divided in three processes in view of energy conserving electron bifurcation reaction. This assumption could fine‐tune the intracellular redox balance and regulate the distribution of metabolites. With respect to metabolite transport energy, the proton motive force is considered to be constant, while the transport rate coefficient is proposed to be proportional to the octanol–water partition coefficient. The modeling results for a glucose fermentation in a continuous stirred tank reactor show that the metabolite distribution is consistent with the literature: (1) acetate, butyrate, and ethanol are main products at acidic pH, while the production shifts to acetate and propionate at neutral and alkali pH; (2) the main products acetate, ethanol, and butyrate shift to ethanol at higher glucose concentration; (3) the changes for acetate and butyrate are following an increasing hydrogen partial pressure. The findings demonstrate that our modified model is more realistic than previous proposed model concepts. It also indicates that inclusion of an energy conserving electron bifurcation reaction and metabolite transport energy for MCF is sound in the viewpoint of biochemistry and physiology. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1884–1894. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol is a major component of the male‐produced aggregation pheromone of Monochamus sutor

The small white‐marmorated longicorn beetle, Monochamus sutor (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia. It is a potential vector of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle, the causal agent of the devastating pine wilt disease. Volatiles were collected from both male and female beetles after maturation feeding. In analyses of these collections using gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry, a single male‐specific compound was detected and identified as 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol. In analyses by GC coupled to electroantennography the only consistent responses from both female and male antennae were to this compound. Trapping tests were carried out in Spain, Sweden, and China. 2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol was attractive to both male and female M. sutor beetles. A blend of the bark beetle pheromones ipsenol, ipsdienol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol was also attractive to both sexes in Spain and Sweden, and further increased the attractiveness of the 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol. The host plant volatiles α‐pinene, 3‐carene, and ethanol were weakly attractive, if at all, in all three countries and did not significantly increase the attractiveness of the blend of 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol and bark beetle pheromones. 2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol is thus proposed to be the major, if not only, component of the male‐produced aggregation pheromone of M. sutor, and its role is discussed. This compound has been reported as a pheromone of several other Monochamus species and is another example of the parsimony that seems to exist among the pheromones of many of the Cerambycidae. Traps baited with 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol and bark beetle pheromones should be useful for monitoring and control of pine wilt disease, should M. sutor be proven to be a vector of the nematode.     

贵州红壤水稻土淹水培养过程中Fe-氢酶微生物的多样性

【目的】研究水稻土淹水培养过程中Fe-氢酶微生物的多样性,对于揭示Fe-氢酶微生物的群落演替规律和产氢微生物的生化代谢机理具有重要的意义。【方法】采用PCR-变性梯度凝胶电泳和实时定量PCR技术进行基于梭菌属Fe-氢酶基因的多样性和丰度的分析。【结果】水稻土淹水培养过程中Fe-氢酶基因的变性梯度凝胶电泳图谱显示,培养1-5 d时Fe-氢酶基因条带数增加,10 d时Fe-氢酶基因条带数减少,20-40 d时Fe-氢酶基因条带数再次增加并保持稳定,对应的含Fe-氢酶微生物的群落结构随着培养过程的进行发生了显著变化。主成分分析表明,1 d与20 d、5 d与10 d、30 d与40 d的含Fe-氢酶微生物群落结构相似性较高,随着培养时间的增长含Fe-氢酶微生物群落结构趋于稳定。α多样性指数分析显示,1 d和10 d的丰富度指数(R)、Shannon-Weaver指数(H’)、Simpson指数(DS)与其他时间点相比较小,说明这2个时间点的Fe-氢酶多样性低,对应的含Fe-氢酶微生物群落结构较为简单,表明淹水培养过程中微生物的群落结构发生了演替变化。变性梯度凝胶电泳指纹图谱15个Fe-氢酶的优势条带测序后构建的系统发育树表明,培养前期的优势条带与梭菌属的Fe-氢酶关系较近,培养后期出现了非梭菌属的Fe-氢酶。淹水培养过程中Fe-氢酶基因的拷贝数在106/g干土的水平,占细菌的相对比例为1‰–2‰。【结论】水稻土淹水培养过程中发现了4种梭菌属Fe-氢酶和3种非梭菌属Fe-氢酶基因,对应的含Fe-氢酶微生物在培养前期群落结构发生显著演替变化,培养后期趋于稳定。