Improvement of xylose utilization in Clostridium acetobutylicum via expression of the talA gene encoding transaldolase from Escherichia coli

Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 was metabolically engineered for improved xylose utilization. The gene talA, which encodes transaldolase from Escherichia coli K-12, was cloned and overexpressed in C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Compared with C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824 (824-WT), the transformant bearing the E. coli talA gene (824-TAL) showed improved ability on xylose utilization and solvents production using xylose as the sole carbon source. During the fermentation of xylose and glucose mixtures with three xylose/glucose ratios (approximately 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1), the rate of xylose consumption and final solvents titers of 824-TAL were all higher than those of 824-WT, despite glucose repression on xylose uptake still existing. These results suggest that the insufficiency of transaldolase in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) of C. acetobutylicum is one of the bottlenecks for xylose metabolism and therefore, overexpressing the gene encoding transaldolase is able to improve xylose utilization and solvent production.     

聚苹果酸生产菌出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223的全基因组测序及序列分析

【目的】解析出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223的基因组序列信息,分析其代谢产物聚苹果酸、黑色素、普鲁兰多糖合成相关基因,为深入研究遗传多样性和代谢工程改造提供序列背景信息。【方法】使用Illumina Hi Seq高通量测序平台对出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223菌株进行全基因组测序,并对测序数据进行序列拼接,基因预测与功能注释,COG/GO聚类分析,比较基因组学分析等。下载其他5株出芽短梗霉基因组序列,比较分析6株菌的种内同源基因、全基因组进化以及代谢产物合成相关基因。【结果】出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223基因组序列全长30756831 bp,GC含量47.49%,编码9452个基因。比较基因组分析表明出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223的基因组组装长度最长,6株菌的同源基因数达到7092个,普鲁兰多糖和聚苹果酸合成相关基因的蛋白序列有很高的保守性。出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223和Aureobasidium pullulans var.melanogenum亲缘关系最近,而这2株菌的黑色素合成相关基因的蛋白序列有一些插入和突变。【结论】本研究解析了出芽短梗霉CCTCC M2012223的基因组序列信息,获得黑色素、普鲁兰多糖和聚苹果酸合成相关基因,为后续的代谢机制解析和改造提供相关依据。     

芦荟苷A、B以及异芦荟色苷D的同时分离纯化

首次采用反相中压制备色谱从芦荟中一次分离制备得到芦荟苷A、B以及异芦荟色苷D。以库拉索芦荟丙酮粗提物为原料,采用中压制备色谱系统:SCO色谱柱(40 cm×26 cm,30～50μm),流动相甲醇-0.5%乙酸水(33∶67,V/V),流速20 mL/min,等度洗脱方式,柱温室温,检测波长254 nm,收集波长356 nm对芦荟样品进行分离制备,得到三种化合物单体。经高效液相色谱、紫外、红外、质谱及核磁共振等方法分析表明所得到的三种化合物分别是异芦荟色苷D、芦荟苷A和芦荟苷B,其纯度分别达到了98.0%,96.0%和98.9%。该方法简便,产品质量高,一次制备可以得到多种单体,为芦荟成分的测定与药理活性的研究提供了条件。     

Oxidative toxicity in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease: mechanisms behind ROS/ RNS generation

Reactive oxidative species (ROS) toxicity remains an undisputed cause and link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Patients with both AD and T2DM have damaged, oxidized DNA, RNA, protein and lipid products that can be used as possible disease progression markers. Although the oxidative stress has been anticipated as a main cause in promoting both AD and T2DM, multiple pathways could be involved in ROS production. The focus of this review is to summarize the mechanisms involved in ROS production and their possible association with AD and T2DM pathogenesis and progression. We have also highlighted the role of current treatments that can be linked with reduced oxidative stress and damage in AD and T2DM.     

Antitumor mechanism of Se-containing polysaccharide, a novel organic selenium compound

Recent studies on the inhibition of tumor growth by Se-containing polysaccharide were reviewed. Meanwhile, the possible molecular mechanisms of the inhibition of tumor cell growth through antioxidation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, blockade of cell cycle, and enhancement of immunity by Se-containing polysaccharide were proposed. In the end, the potential application of Se-containing polysaccharide in the prevention and treatment of tumor was elucidated.     

海洋芽孢杆菌（Bacillus marinus）B-9987菌株抑制病原真菌机理的研究

摘要：【目的】：探讨海洋芽孢杆菌（Bacillus marinus）B-9987菌株的代谢产物BMME-1,对植物病原真菌茄链格孢菌的抑菌作用机理。【方法】分别使用分光光法、气相色谱-质谱GC-MS联用技术、红外光谱法等,检测了BMME-1处理病原真菌后,菌体渗透性、细胞壁及细胞膜成份的变化。【结果】BMME-1对茄链格孢菌的抑菌中浓度（MIC50）为6.2 mg/L,最小杀菌浓度（MFC）为50 mg/L,在MIC50浓度或高于此浓度处理靶标菌,将导致菌体蛋白质、核酸等大分子物质的外流;处理菌株葡聚糖结     

玉米雄穗性状遗传结构与形成分子机制*

玉米为雌雄同株异花植物,其雄穗着生于植株顶部,雌穗腋生。雄穗一方面需产生足量花粉以保证雌穗授粉结实,另一方面由于对下部叶片的遮蔽作用和自身营养需求,其生长发育会同时影响叶片光合作用效率和能量分配,因此优化雄穗结构是提高玉米产量的重要措施之一。玉米雄穗性状包括雄穗分枝数、雄穗分枝长度、雄穗主轴长度、雄穗分枝总长度、雄穗分枝角度等,均为多基因控制的数量性状。自20世纪90年代,研究者开始利用数量性状位点(quantitative trait locus,QTL)定位方法解析玉米雄穗性状遗传结构;随着玉米自交系B73等参考基因组释放,以及DNA微阵列、基因组重测序等高通量基因分型技术的日益成熟,全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study, GWAS)成为数量性状遗传研究的主流方法,目前已鉴定出大量玉米雄穗性状遗传位点。通过总结雄穗性状遗传定位研究结果,构建一致性图谱并挖掘定位热点区间,有助于进一步了解雄穗性状遗传结构特征及指导雄穗性状候选基因克隆。此外,通过对调控雄穗发育的已知基因进行功能分类,可为解析玉米雄穗发育的遗传网络和调控通路提供理论支撑。