丙型肝炎病毒结构蛋白E1在昆虫细胞中的表达及定位

本文在大肠杆菌中表达了与GST融合无跨膜区的丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C Virus,HCV)E1蛋白,并通过免疫兔制备了兔抗E1的抗血清。然后利用Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统构建了含有HCV结构蛋白E1基因的重组杆状病毒vAcHCVE1。通过Western blot分析,E1蛋白在Sf9细胞中表达分子量大小为30kDa大于预测的20kDa,表明存在翻译后修饰如糖基化等。通过Confocal显微镜观察当感染48h后E1蛋白定位在细胞质和细胞膜上。     

Inhibition of fungal ABC transporters by unnarmicin A and unnarmicin C, novel cyclic peptides from marine bacterium

Novel inhibitors of fungal ATP-binding cassette transporters were obtained by screening compounds and crude extracts from marine-derived fungi and bacteria using disk diffusion assays of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains overexpressing a variety of fungal multi-drug efflux pumps. The cyclodepsipeptides unnarmicin A and unnarmicin C were able to sensitize cells overexpressing azole drug pumps ScPdr5p, CaCdr1p, CgCdr1p, and CgPdh1p to sub-MIC concentrations of fluconazole without affecting the growth of CaCdr2p and CaMdr1p overexpressing cells. Unnarmicin A and unnarmicin C were potent inhibitors of rhodamine 6G efflux of CaCdr1p expressing cells with IC₅₀ values of 3.61 and 5.65 μM, respectively. They inhibited the in vitro CaCdr1p ATPase activity at IC₅₀ values of 0.495 and 0.688 μM, respectively. And most importantly, they were able to sensitize azole-resistant Candida albicans clinical isolates to fluconazole. Unnarmicin A and unnarmicin C are candidate efflux pump inhibitors with the potential to be used as adjuvants for antifungal chemotherapy.     

Proteome analysis of Rickettsia felis highlights the expression profile of intracellular bacteria

The proteome of Rickettsia felis, an obligate intracellular bacterium responsible for spotted fever, was analyzed using two complementary proteomic approaches: 2-DE coupled with MALDI-TOF, and SDS-PAGE with nanoLC-MS/MS. This strategy allowed identification of 165 proteins and helped to answer some questions raised by the genome sequence of this bacterium. We successfully identified potential virulence factors including two putative adhesins, four proteins of the type IV secretion system, four Sca autotransporters, four components of ABC transporters, some R. felis-specific proteins, and one antitoxin of the toxin-antitoxin system. Notably, the antitoxin was the first to be identified in intracellular bacteria. Only one protein containing rickettsia palindromic repeats was found, whereas none of the split genes, transposases, or tetratricopeptide/ankyrin repeats were detectably expressed. Comparison of the protein expression profiles of R. felis and 23 other bacterial species according to functional categories showed that intracellular bacteria express more proteins related to translation, especially ribosomal proteins. However, the remaining bacteria express more proteins related to energy production and carbohydrate/amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, this study reveals R. felis virulence factor expression and highlights the unique protein expression profile of intracellular bacteria.     

利用短短小芽孢杆菌启动子和信号肽编码序列构建穿梭分泌表达载体

以短短小芽孢杆菌B15的总DNA为模板,利用PCR技术克隆到其细胞壁蛋白基因串联启动子和信号肽编码序列,测序分析后提交GenBank,登录号为AY956423。重新设计引物扩增该片段并在PCR产物两侧引入BamHⅠ和PstⅠ酶切位点,将PCR产物双酶切后克隆至穿梭载体pP43NMK的相应位点构建分泌表达载体pP15MK,插入片段置于该载体中mpd基因的上游,并使信号肽编码序列与去除了自身信号肽编码序列的mpd基因阅读框恰好融合。将pP15MK导入枯草杆菌构建表达菌株1A751(pP15MK),在短短小芽孢杆菌启动子和信号肽元件的带动下,mpd基因能够在表达菌株的对数生长期和稳定期持续性高效分泌表达,表达产物结合在细胞膜上;发酵液在48h酶活达到最高值7.79U/mL,是出发菌株邻单胞菌M6表达量的8.1倍。     

猕猴桃果实成熟进程中木葡聚糖内糖基转移酶mRNA水平的变化

以中华猕猴桃（ActinidiachinensisPlanch．）果实为试材,木葡聚糖内糖基转移酶（XET）cDNA为探针,研究果实成熟进程中XETmRNA的变化规律,探讨XET在果实后熟软化过程的作用。结果表明,20℃下外源乙烯处理可促进XETmRNA的积累,且这种效应因乙烯处理时间的加长而加强,进而加速了果实软化;0℃处理可抑制XETmRNA的增加,延缓果实软化,但当果实转入20℃后熟时,果实硬度迅速下降,而XETmRNA水平变化不明显。认为XET可能只是一种诱导酶,由它引起的细胞壁解聚并非是猕猴桃果实后熟软化的关键因子。     

Predator-induced diapause in Daphnia magna may require two chemical cues

The production of diapausing eggs by Daphnia magna stimulated by fish exudates can be explained as an anti-predator defence ensuring genome protection in periods of high risk from fish predation. The combined effects on the induction of D. magna diapause of an “alarm” chemical originating from injured conspecific prey and fish kairomones were tested. The results of the experiment showed that the cues when present together promote both the production of ephippial eggs and male formation, indicating their role in the synchronization of the entire mode of Daphnia sexual reproduction. Ephippial eggs were only produced in the presence of both fish kairomone and conspecific alarm chemicals, while male offspring occurred in the treatments where both, one or none of the cues were present. However, production of males was the highest when both cues were provided. D. magna responded similarly to the tested cues whether or not the hypothetical alarm substance associated with predator odour came from Daphnia specimens actually eaten by fish or from crushed conspecific individuals. However, chemicals from crushed chironomid larvae combined with fish kairomones did not induce a similar response in D. magna. The relative advantage of utilization of alarm cues or predator kairomones in the induction of defence responses in prey organisms is discussed. Received: 8 June 1998 / Accepted: 11 January 1999     

Rapid and sensitive bioassay to study signals between root exudates and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi**

A sensitive bioassay was developed to provide a way to detect chemical signals from host plants which induce changes in hyphal growth patterns of germinated spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The assay can be used to test host root exudates, as well as particulate fractions (root cap border cells and root mucilage), for their ability to affect AM fungal growth. Hyphal branching, induced by various host root components, can be detected as early as 4 h although results of the bioassay were usually determined after 16 to 24 h. The type of branching pattern observed was dose-dependent.     

Highly efficient expression and purification system of small-size protein domains in Escherichia coli for biochemical characterization

It is often essential to focus the study on the small-size domains of large proteins in eukaryotic cells in the post-genomic era, but the low expression level, insolubility, and instability of the domains have been continuing to hinder the massive purification of domain peptides for structural and biological investigation. In this work, a highly efficient expression and purification system based on a small-size fusion partner GB1 and histidine tag was utilized to solve these problems. Two vectors, namely pGBTNH and pGBH, were constructed to improve expression and facilitate purification. The linker and thrombin cleavage site have been optimized for minimal degradation during purification process. This system has been tested for eight domain peptides varying in size, linker, hydrophobicity, and predicted secondary structure. The results indicate that this system is achievable to produce these domain peptides with high solubility and stability for further biochemical characterization. Moreover, the fusion protein without the linker and thrombin cleavage site is also suitable for spectroscopic studies especially for NMR structural elucidation, if the target peptide is prone to precipitation or easily degraded during purification. This system will be beneficial to the research field of structure and function of small domain and peptide fragment.     

乳酸菌用作口服疫苗传递载体的研究

乳酸菌是食品级安全菌,利用乳酸菌为表达载体制成的口服疫苗安全无毒,能诱导机体产生有效的免疫应答和免疫耐受。乳酸菌口服疫苗通过胃肠粘膜进行抗原呈递,使用方便,而且较传统注射途径的免疫效果和依从性好,是理想的疫苗,有广阔的发展前景。