力复霉素前体甲基丙二酰CoA合成途径的研究

力复霉素合成的碳前体之一(2R)—甲基丙二酰CoA至少可以有三条酶学合成途径。三条途径中的关键酶分别为甲基丙二酰CoA转羧基酶、丙二酰CoA羧化酶、甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶和甲基丙二酰CoA消旋酶。通过比较各个酶活性的时间进程和力复霉素合成时间的相关性,以及各个酶的底物亲合力,对它们在地中海拟无枝酸菌(Amycolatopsis mediterranei)甲基丙二酰CoA合成中的贡献作了排序,发现甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶途径是主要负责酶系。但是各个途径的贡献排序并不是固定不变的,能受到环境因素的调控,丙酸盐的加入将抑制甲基丙二酰CoA变位酶活力,而使得甲基丙二酰CoA转羧基酶成为主要酶系。甲基丙二酰CoA合成途径的多样性有助于细胞对环境变化的灵活反应。此外,对各个酶的调控特性也进行了研究。     

Biodegradation of the mixtures of 4-chlorophenol and phenol by Comamonas testosteroni CPW301

A 4-chlorophenol (4-CP)-degrading bacterium, strain CPW301, was isolated from soil and identified as Comamonas testosteroni. This strain dechlorinated and degraded 4-CP via a meta-cleavage pathway. CPW301 could also utilize phenol as a carbon and energy source without the accumulation of any metabolites via the same meta-cleavage pathway. When phenol was added as a additional substrate, CPW301 could degrade 4-CP and phenol simultaneously. The addition of phenol greatly accelerated the degradation of 4-CP due to the increased cell mass. The simultaneous degradation of the 4-CP and phenol is useful not only for enhanced cell growth but also for the bioremediation of both compounds, which are normally present in hazardous waste sites as a mixture.     

Function of the cytoskeleton in cells with microridges from the oral epithelium of the carp Cyprinus carpio

Superficial cells of the oral mucosal epithelium in the carp and the cytoskeleton of the epithelial cells are examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Microridges are formed on the surface of the epithelium. Epithelial cells contain two types of vesicles: mucous secretory vesicles and coated vesicles. Most of the mucous vesicles are situated in the center of the cell near the Golgi apparatus. In freeze-fracture replicas, intramembranous particles are abundant in the membranes of the secretory vesicles but rare in the apical plasma membrane. Coated vesicles are situated in the apical and subapical cytoplasm. A great number of thick filaments, considered to be keratin filaments, run randomly throughout the cell to form a meshwork. Thick filaments, which are sparse in the central cytoplasm, are connected to the membranes of the secretory vesicles and other membranous organelles. A layer of closely packed thin filaments, considered to be actin filaments, is found just beneath the apical plasma membrane. Microtubules also occur in the apical cytoplasm and run almost parallel to the cell surface. Both kinds of vesicles are connected to the thin and thick filaments. Their functional significance in the regulation of membrane at the free surface is discussed.     

Analysis of the distribution and phosphorylation state of ZO-1 in MDCK and nonepithelial cells

We have examined the distribution and extent of phosphorylation of the tight junction-associated protein ZO-1 in the epithelial MDCK cell line, and in three cell types that do not form tight junctions: S180 (sarcoma) cells, S180 cells transfected with E-cadherin (S180L), and primary cultures of astrocytes. In shortterm calcium chelation experiments on MDCK cells, removal of extracellular calcium caused cells to pull apart. However, ZO-1 remained concentrated at the plasma membrane and no change in ZO-1 phosphorylation was observed. Maintenance of MDCK cells in low calcium medium, conditions where no tight junctions are found, resulted in altered ZO-1 distribution and lower total phosphorylation of the protein. In S180 cells, ZO-1 was diffusely distributed along the entire cell surface, with concentration of the antigen in motile regions of the cell. Cell-cell contact was not a prerequisite for ZO-1 localization at the plasma membrane in this cell type, and the phosphate content of ZO-1 was found to be lower in S180 cells relative to MDCK cells. Expression of Ecadherin in S180L cells did not alter either the distribution or phosphorylation of ZO-1. In contrast to S180 cells, ZO-1 in primary cultures of astrocytes was concentrated at sites of cell-cell contact, and the phosphorylation state was the same as that in control MDCK cells. Comparison of one-dimensional proteolytic digests of ³²P-labeled ZO-1 revealed the phosphorylation of two peptides in control MDCK cells that was absent in both MDCK cells grown in low calcium and in S180 cells.We would like to thank Cheryl Richards for her help with the cell culture and immunohistochemistry; David Begg, Gary Firestone, Vik Maraj, Manijeh Pasdar and Colin Rasmussen for helpful discussions; Jaclyn Peebles and Greg Morrison for help with graphics and photography; and Grace Martin and Bob Campenot for rat tail collagen. We are grateful to all the members of our laboratories for their friendship, advice and support. This work was supported by an Establishment Award to B.R.S. from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and grants to B.R.S. from the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Medical Research Council of Canada. A.H. is funded by a Studentship from the AHFMR. K.L.S. was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (DK-42799) to Gary L. Firestone. B.R.S. is a Medical Research Council of Canada and AHFMR Scholar.     

Use of synthetic lethal mutants to clone and characterize a novel CTP synthetase gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, CTP synthetase catalyses the conversion of uridine 5-triphosphate (UTP) to cytidine 5-triphosphate (CTP). In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the URA7 gene encoding this enzyme was previously shown to be nonessential for cell viability. The present paper describes the selection of synthetic lethal mutants in the CTP biosynthetic pathway that led us to clone a second gene, named URA8, which also encodes a CTP synthetase. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the products of URA7 and URA8 shows 78% identity. Deletion of the URA8 gene is viable in a haploid strain but simultaneous presence of null alleles both URA7 and URA8 is lethal. Based on the codon bias values for the two genes and the intracellular concentrations of CTP in strains deleted for one of the two genes, relative to the wild-type level, URA7 appears to be the major gene for CTP biosynthesis. Nevertheless, URA8 alone also allows yeast growth, at least under standard laboratory conditions.     

Efficiency of the tetracycline-dependent gene expression system: complete suppression and efficient induction of the rolB phenotype in transgenic plants

We have investigated the use of the tetracycline-dependent gene expression system to regenerate and propagate tobacco plants transformed with a gene whose product — when highly expressed — interferes with regeneration and/or further reproduction. Plants transformed with the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolB gene under the control of the tetracycline-dependent expression system were phenotypically indistinguishable from wild type owing to efficient repression of the promoter. Induction of the rolB gene with tetracycline led to high-level expression of the rolB mRNA, which resulted in extremely stunted plants with necrotic and wrinkled leaves that did not develop a floral meristem. Upon cessation of tetracycline treatment healthy shoots developed even from severely affected meristems. Data on the dose response of the rolB phenotype as a function of tetracycline concentration demonstrate that the tetracycline-dependent gene expression system can be used to modulate the manifestation of a particular phenotype.     

Leaf and twig anatomy of the Pterostemonaceae (Engl.) Small: ecological and systematic features

An anatomical investigation of the leaves and twigs of Pterostemonaceae (Engl.), a monogeneric family of two species, has been made. The following anatomical characters in the leaf are of particular interest: glandular hairs, hydathodes on the marginal dentations and secretory substances in the glands and palisade cells. Characters of interest in the twig xylem include: vessel lumina of very small tangential diameter and with simple perforation plates; fibriform vessels with scalariform plates having one to six bars and also plates with perforations in irregular patterns.     

Genetic interaction between the Ras-CAMP pathway and the Dis2s1/Glc7 protein phosphatase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DIS2S1/GLC7 gene encodes a type 1 protein phosphatase indispensable for cell proliferation. We found that introduction of a multicopy DIS2S1 plasmid impaired growth of cells with reduced activity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In order to understand further the interaction between the two enzymes, a temperature-sensitive mutation in the DIS2S1 gene was isolated. The mutant accumulated less glycogen than wild type at the permissive temperature, indicating that activity of the Dis2s1 protein phosphatase is attenuated by the mutation. Furthermore, the dis2s1 ^ts mutation was shown to be suppressed by a multicopy plasmid harboring PDE2, a gene for cAMP phosphodiesterase. These results indicate that the Ras-cAMP pathway interacts genetically with the DIS2S1/GLC7 gene.     

Genetics and biochemistry of phenol degradation byPseudomonas sp. CF600

Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600 is an efficient degrader of phenol and methylsubstituted phenols. These compounds are degraded by the set of enzymes encoded by the plasmid locateddmpoperon. The sequences of all the fifteen structural genes required to encode the nine enzymes of the catabolic pathway have been determined and the corresponding proteins have been purified. In this review the interplay between the genetic analysis and biochemical characterisation of the catabolic pathway is emphasised. The first step in the pathway, the conversion of phenol to catechol, is catalysed by a novel multicomponent phenol hydroxylase. Here we summarise similarities of this enzyme with other multicomponent oxygenases, particularly methane monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.25). The other enzymes encoded by the operon are those of the well-knownmeta-cleavage pathway for catechol, and include the recently discoveredmeta-pathway enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (acylating) (EC 1.2.1.10). The known properties of thesemeta-pathway enzymes, and isofunctional enzymes from other aromatic degraders, are summarised. Analysis of the sequences of the pathway proteins, many of which are unique to themeta-pathway, suggests new approaches to the study of these generally little-characterised enzymes. Furthermore, biochemical studies of some of these enzymes suggest that physical associations betweenmeta-pathway enzymes play an important role. In addition to the pathway enzymes, the specific regulator of phenol catabolism, DmpR, and its relationship to the XylR regulator of toluene and xylene catabolism is discussed.     

Microbial transformation of ethylpyridines

Pyridine and its derivatives have been found as pollutants in the environment. Although alkylpyridines constitute the largest class of pyridines contaminating the environment, little information is available concerning the fate and transformation of these compounds. In this investigation ethylpyridines have been used as model compounds for investigating the biodegradability of alkylpyridines. A mixed culture of ethylpyridine-degrading microorganisms was obtained from a soil that had been exposed to a variety of pyridine derivatives for several decades. The enrichment culture was able to degrade 2-, 3-, and 4-ethylpyridine (100 mg/L) at 28° C and pH 7 within two weeks under aerobic conditions. The degradation rate was greatest for 2-ethylpyridine and least for 3-ethylpyridine. Transformation of ethylpyridines was dependent on substrate concentration, pH, and incubation temperature. Studies on the metabolic pathway of 4-ethylpyridine revealed two products; these chemicals were identified by MS and NMR analyses as 4-ethyl-2(1H)-pyridone and 4-ethyl-2-piperidone. 6-Ethyl-2(1H)-pyridone was determined to be a product of 2-ethylpyridine degradation. These results indicate that the transformation mechanism of ethylpyridines involves hydroxylation and reduction of the aromatic ring before ring cleavage.