Recombinant industrial brewing yeast strains with ADH2 interruption using self-cloning GSH1+CUP1 cassette

A self-cloning module for gene knock-out and knock-in in industrial brewing yeast strain was constructed that contains copper resistance and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene cassette, flanked by alcohol dehydrogenase II gene ( ADH2 ) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The module was used to obtain recombined strains RY1 and RY2 by targeting the ADH2 locus of host Y1. RY1 and RY2 were genetically stable. PCR and enzyme activity analysis of RY1 and RY2 cells showed that one copy of ADH2 was deleted by GSH1 + CUP1 insertion, and an additional copy of wild type was still present. The fermentation ability of the recombinants was not changed after genetic modification, and a high level of glutathione (GSH) was secreted, resulting from GSH1 overexpression, which codes for γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase. A pilot-scale brewing test for RY1 and RY2 indicated that acetaldehyde content in fermenting liquor decreased by 21–22%, GSH content increased by 20–22% compared with the host, the antioxidizability of the recombinants was improved, and the sensorial evaluation was also better than that of the host. No heterologous DNA was harbored in the recombinants; therefore, they could be applied in the beer industry in terms of their biosafety.     

Cell death induced by Pteris semipinnata L. is associated with p53 and oxidant stress in gastric cancer cells

In this study, we demonstrated that Ent-11alpha-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F) had stronger cytotoxicity against MKN-45, a gastric cancer cell line bearing wild-type p53 than MKN-28, another gastric cancer cell line containing missense mutation in p53. The rapid increase of ROS level was involved in the mechanism of cytotoxicity. Classical features of apoptosis induced by 5F were observed in MKN-45 cells only or more significant in MKN-45 cells than MKN-28 cells. Translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria, reduction of delta psi m and DNA fragmentation were induced by 5F in the p53-dependent manner. We conclude that the expression of Bax and its downstream molecules requires the presentation of a wild-type p53 in the cells treated by 5F.     

Secretory delivery of heterologous proteins in attenuated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> for potential use in vaccine design

To synthesize and secrete heterologous proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential multivalent live vaccine development, different antigen-delivery systems based on bacterial-originated secretion signal peptides (SPs) were designed and identified in this work. Four SPs were derived from hemolysin of Escherichia coli, RTX protein of V. cholerae, hemolysin of V. anguillarum, zinc-metalloprotease of V. anguillarum, respectively, and their abilities to support secretion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in an attenuated V. anguillarum strain MVAV6203 were assayed. Immunodetection of GFP showed that the capability of the tested signal leaders to direct secretion of GFP varied greatly. Although all the four signal peptide-fused GFPs could be expressed correctly and trapped intracellularly in recombinant strains, only the EmpA signal peptide could confer efficient secretion to GFP. For the investigation of its potential application in live bacteria carrier vaccines, a heterologous protein EseB of Edwardsiella tarda was fused to the SP(empA) antigen-delivery system and introduced into the strain MVAV6203. Further analysis of EseB demonstrated that the constructed SP(empA) antigen-delivery system could be used to secrete foreign protein in attenuated V. anguillarum and be available for carrier vaccines development.     

一个α,β地中海贫血复合家系β珠蛋白基因的进一步研究

 前文~[1]曾报道广西一个α,β地中海贫血复合家系的血红蛋白组成及α珠蛋白基因分析结果,并讨论了各成员可能的β珠蛋白基因结构情况。本文利用先进的PCR即基因扩增技术,结合特异寡核苷酸探针斑点杂交及扩增后直接测定DNA序列的技术,进一步研究并彻底搞请了该家系各成员的β珠蛋白基因结构情况。结果显示:母亲及两个弟弟都是编码子41—42TTCT四个碱基缺失造成框架位移所致β地中海贫血的杂合子。父亲与先证者的β基因均属正常。前三个成员均为α地贫复合β地贫,其α与β珠蛋白链合成的不均衡状态得到改善,贫血症状也明显轻。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌S1478-1分离株的特性鉴定及cry1Ac同源基因克隆

本研究对从海南岛尖峰岭热带雨林自然保护区的土壤样品中分离出的Bt菌株S1478-1进行了特性鉴定,研究表明S1478-1分离株菌落形态和生长特征和Bt参照菌株HD73极其相似.16S rDNA序列分析表明,S1478-1分离株与其它B.thuringiensis、B.cereus和B.anthracis的16S rDNA序列相似性达到99%.分离株能产菱形伴胞晶体,SDS-PAGE蛋白电泳分析表明,菌株在生长后期,形成芽孢同时分泌130 kD大小的晶体蛋白.生物测定表明S1478-1分离株对小菜蛾具有很高的毒杀活性,LC50卯值高达5.159 ×108cfu/mL.初步显示S1478-1分离株可作为防治鳞翅目害虫的生物农药菌株.利用PCR-RFLP方法鉴定S1478-1分离株含有cry1Ac同源基因,以PCR粘性端克隆方法扩增全长基因,序列测定表明该基因ORF为3 537bp,编码1178个氨基酸,推定的编码蛋白分子量为133.3 kD,与其它cry1Ac基因序列最高达到99%同源,因此,该基因可作为杀虫工程菌及培育转基因抗虫作物的候选基因.     

Genetic differentiation and phylogeography of rotifer Polyarthra dolichoptera and P. vulgaris populations between Southeastern China and eastern North America: High intercontinental differences

Genetic differentiations and phylogeographical patterns of small organisms may be shaped by spatial isolation, environmental gradients, and gene flow. However, knowledge about genetic differentiation of rotifers at the intercontinental scale is still limited. Polyarthra dolichoptera and P. vulgaris are cosmopolitan rotifers that are tolerant to environmental changes, offering an excellent model to address the research gap. Here, we investigated the populations in Southeastern China and eastern North America and evaluated the phylogeographical patterns from their geographical range sizes, geographic–genetic distance relationships and their responses to spatial‐environmental factors. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene as the DNA marker, we analyzed a total of 170 individuals. Our results showed that some putative cryptic species, also known as entities were widely distributed, but most of them were limited to single areas. The divergence of P. dolichoptera and P. vulgaris indicated that gene flow between continents was limited while that within each continent was stronger. Oceanographic barriers do affect the phylogeographic pattern of rotifers in continental waters and serve to maintain genetic diversity in nature. The genetic distance of P. dolichoptera and P. vulgaris populations showed significant positive correlation with geographic distance. This might be due to the combined effects of habitat heterogeneity, long‐distance colonization, and oceanographic barriers. Furthermore, at the intercontinental scale, spatial distance had a stronger influence than environmental variables on the genetic differentiations of both populations. Wind‐ and animal‐mediated transport and even historical events of continental plate tectonics are potential factors for phylogeography of cosmopolitan rotifers.