构建重组枯草芽孢杆菌催化制备D-对羟基苯甘氨酸

目的: 在Bacillus subtilis中表达异源D-海因酶基因(hyd)和D-氨甲酰水解酶基因(adc),构建重组细胞作为催化剂,用于生产D-对羟基苯甘氨酸(D-HPG)。方法: 构建hyd表达质粒,考察培养基中二价金属离子对D-海因酶活性的影响。过表达acoR基因,考察AcoR蛋白胞内水平与P_acoA-hyd基因拷贝数的关系。筛选表达adc基因的启动子,构建hyd和adc基因共表达质粒,考察双酶活性菌株的催化特性。结果: 成功构建了海因酶表达质粒pHPS和pUBS,培养基中添加0.8mmol/L的MnCl₂·4H₂O,使168N/pUBS菌株的D-海因酶活性达到956U/gDCW。整合表达P_cdd-acoR基因,使LSL02/pUBS菌株的D-海因酶活性达到1 470U/gDCW。单拷贝P_AE-adc基因的表达水平相对最高。双酶共表达质粒pUBSC被成功构建,菌株LSL02/pUBSC的最适催化温度为40℃45℃,催化活性能够持续12h,当底物起始浓度为20g/L时,反应12h生成的D-HPG达到14.32g/L,转化率达到95%,收率超过80%。结论: 构建具有D-海因酶和D-氨甲酰水解酶双酶活性的重组Bacillus subtilis作为全细胞催化剂,用于海因酶法生产D-HPG,具有技术上的可行性和优势。     

Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) are commonly used to lessen symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). However, the effects of PPI therapy on the gastrointestinal microbiota in GERD patients remain unclear. We examined the association between the PPI usage and the microbiota present in gastric mucosal and fecal samples from GERD patients and healthy controls(HCs) using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. GERD patients taking PPIs were further divided into short-term and long-term PPI user groups. We showed that PPI administration lowered the relative bacterial diversity of the gastric microbiota in GERD patients. Compared to the non-PPIuser and HC groups, higher abundances of Planococcaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were found in the gastric microbiota from the PPI-user group. In addition, the Methylophilus genus was more highly abundant in the long-term PPI user group than in the short-term PPI-user group. Despite the absence of differences in alpha diversity, there were significant differences in the fecal bacterial composition of between GERD patients taking PPIs and those not taking PPIs. There was a higher abundance of Streptococcaceae, Veillonellaceae, Acidaminococcaceae,Micrococcaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae present in the fecal microbiota from the PPI-user group than those from the non-PPI-user and HC groups. Additionally, a significantly higher abundance of Ruminococcus was found in GERD patients on long-term PPI medication than that on shortterm PPI medication. Our study indicates that PPI administration in patients with GERD has a significant effect on the abundance and structure of the gastric mucosal microbiota but only on the composition of the fecal microbiota.     

Genome Characteristics and Evolution of Pseudorabies Virus Strains in Eastern China from 2017 to 2019

Since late 2011, outbreaks of pseudorabies virus(PRV) have occurred in southern China causing major economic losses to the pig industry. We previously reported that variant PRV forms and recombination in China could be the source of continued epidemics. Here, we analyzed samples from intensive pig farms in eastern China between 2017 and 2019, and sequenced the main glycoproteins(gB, gC, gD, and gE) to study the evolution characteristics of PRV. Based on the g C gene, we found that PRV variants belong to clade 2 and detected a founder effect during by the PRV epidemic. In addition,we detected inter-and intra-clade recombination; in particular, inter-clade recombination in the g B genes of strains FJ-ZXF and FJ-W2, which were recombinant with clade 1 strains. We also found specific amino-acid changes and positively selected sites, possibly associated with functional changes. This analysis of the emergence of PRV in China illustrates the need for continuous monitoring and the development of vaccines against specific variants of PRV.     

Autographa Californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus P48 (Ac103) Is Required for the Efficient Formation of Virus-Induced Intranuclear Microvesicles

Our previous study has shown that the Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus(AcMNPV) p48(ac103)gene is essential for the nuclear egress of nucleocapsids and the formation of occlusion-derived virions(ODVs). However,the exact role of p48 in the morphogenesis of ODVs remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that p48 was required for the efficient formation of intranuclear microvesicles. To further understand its functional role in intranuclear microvesicle formation, we characterized the distribution of the P48 protein, which was found to be associated with the nucleocapsid and envelope fractions of both budded virions and ODVs. In Ac MNPV-infected cells, P48 was predominantly localized to nucleocapsids in the virogenic stroma and the nucleocapsids enveloped in ODVs, with a limited but discernible distribution in the plasma membrane, nuclear envelope, intranuclear microvesicles, and ODV envelope. Furthermore,coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that among the viral proteins required for intranuclear microvesicle formation, P48 associated with Ac93 in the absence of viral infection.     

Arabidopsis AGC protein kinases IREH1 and IRE3 control root skewing

AGC protein kinases play important roles in plant growth and development.Several AGC kinases in Arabidopsis have been functionally characterized.However,the"AGC Other"subfamily,including IRE,IREH1,IRE3 and IRE4,has not been well understood.Here,we reported that ireh1 mutants displayed a root skewing phenotype,which can be enhanced by ire3 mutation.IREH1 and IRE3 were expressed in roots,consistent with their function in controlling root skewing.The fluorescence intensities of the microtubule marker KNpro:EGFP-MBD were decreased in ireh1,ire3 and ireh1 ire3 mutants compared to wild type.The microtubule arrangements in ireh1 and ireh1 ire3 mutants were also altered.IREH1 physically interacted with IRE3 in vitro and in planta.Thus,our findings demonstrate that IREH1 and IRE3 protein kinases play important roles in controlling root skewing,and maintaining microtubule network in Arabidopsis.     

Discovery of genomic regions and candidate genes controlling shelling percentage using QTL‐seq approach in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important grain legume providing high‐quality cooking oil, rich proteins and other nutrients. Shelling percentage (SP) is the 2nd most important agronomic trait after pod yield and this trait significantly affects the economic value of peanut in the market. Deployment of diagnostic markers through genomics‐assisted breeding (GAB) can accelerate the process of developing improved varieties with enhanced SP. In this context, we deployed the QTL‐seq approach to identify genomic regions and candidate genes controlling SP in a recombinant inbred line population (Yuanza 9102 × Xuzhou 68‐4). Four libraries (two parents and two extreme bulks) were constructed and sequenced, generating 456.89–790.32 million reads and achieving 91.85%–93.18% genome coverage and 14.04–21.37 mean read depth. Comprehensive analysis of two sets of data (Yuanza 9102/two bulks and Xuzhou 68‐4/two bulks) using the QTL‐seq pipeline resulted in discovery of two overlapped genomic regions (2.75 Mb on A09 and 1.1 Mb on B02). Nine candidate genes affected by 10 SNPs with non‐synonymous effects or in UTRs were identified in these regions for SP. Cost‐effective KASP (Kompetitive Allele‐Specific PCR) markers were developed for one SNP from A09 and three SNPs from B02 chromosome. Genotyping of the mapping population with these newly developed KASP markers confirmed the major control and stable expressions of these genomic regions across five environments. The identified candidate genomic regions and genes for SP further provide opportunity for gene cloning and deployment of diagnostic markers in molecular breeding for achieving high SP in improved varieties.     

Long‐term repopulation of aged bone marrow stem cells using young Sca‐1 cells promotes aged heart rejuvenation

Reduced quantity and quality of stem cells in aged individuals hinders cardiac repair and regeneration after injury. We used young bone marrow (BM) stem cell antigen 1 (Sca‐1) cells to reconstitute aged BM and rejuvenate the aged heart, and examined the underlying molecular mechanisms. BM Sca‐1⁺ or Sca‐1^? cells from young (2–3 months) or aged (18–19 months) GFP transgenic mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated aged mice to generate 4 groups of chimeras: young Sca‐1⁺, young Sca‐1^?, old Sca‐1⁺, and old Sca‐1^?. Four months later, expression of rejuvenation‐related genes (Bmi1, Cbx8, PNUTS, Sirt1, Sirt2, Sirt6) and proteins (CDK2, CDK4) was increased along with telomerase activity and telomerase‐related protein (DNA‐PKcs, TRF‐2) expression, whereas expression of senescence‐related genes (p16^INK4a, P19^ARF, p27^Kip1) and proteins (p16^INK4a, p27^Kip1) was decreased in Sca‐1⁺ chimeric hearts, especially in the young group. Host cardiac endothelial cells (GFP^?CD31⁺) but not cardiomyocytes were the primary cell type rejuvenated by young Sca‐1⁺ cells as shown by improved proliferation, migration, and tubular formation abilities. C‐X‐C chemokine CXCL12 was the factor most highly expressed in homed donor BM (GFP⁺) cells isolated from young Sca‐1⁺ chimeric hearts. Protein expression of Cxcr4, phospho‐Akt, and phospho‐FoxO3a in endothelial cells derived from the aged chimeric heart was increased, especially in the young Sca‐1⁺ group. Reconstitution of aged BM with young Sca‐1⁺ cells resulted in effective homing of functional stem cells in the aged heart. These young, regenerative stem cells promoted aged heart rejuvenation through activation of the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 pathway of cardiac endothelial cells.     

Population and Single-Cell Analysis of Human Cardiogenesis Reveals Unique LGR5 Ventricular Progenitors in Embryonic Outflow Tract

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Human NOC3 is essential for DNA replication licensing in human cells

Noc3p (Nucleolar Complex-associated protein) is an essential protein in budding yeast DNA replication licensing. Noc3p mediates the loading of Cdc6p and MCM proteins onto replication origins during the M-to-G₁ transition by interacting with ORC (Origin Recognition Complex) and MCM (Minichromosome Maintenance) proteins. FAD24 (Factor for Adipocyte Differentiation, clone number 24), the human homolog of Noc3p (hNOC3), was previously reported to play roles in the regulation of DNA replication and proliferation in human cells. However, the role of hNOC3 in replication licensing was unclear. Here we report that hNOC3 physically interacts with multiple human pre-replicative complex (pre-RC) proteins and associates with known replication origins throughout the cell cycle. Moreover, knockdown of hNOC3 in HeLa cells abrogates the chromatin association of other pre-RC proteins including hCDC6 and hMCM, leading to DNA replication defects and eventual apoptosis in an abortive S-phase. In comparison, specific inhibition of the ribosome biogenesis pathway by preventing pre-rRNA synthesis, does not lead to any cell cycle or DNA replication defect or apoptosis in the same timeframe as the hNOC3 knockdown experiments. Our findings strongly suggest that hNOC3 plays an essential role in pre-RC formation and the initiation of DNA replication independent of its potential role in ribosome biogenesis in human cells.