植物维生素B_6从头合成与代谢转换研究进展

维生素B6是一组可相互转换的吡啶衍生物的总称,包括吡哆醇、吡哆胺、吡哆醛、磷酸吡哆醇、磷酸吡哆胺和磷酸吡哆醛。其中,磷酸吡哆醛是140多种细胞酶的辅酶。至今发现两种VB6从头合成途径,DXP(1-脱氧-D-木酮糖-5-磷酸)依赖途径和DXP非依赖途径,前者仅存在于大肠杆菌和少量其他细菌,后者存在于其他所有VB6自养生物。除了VB6的从头合成,所有细胞生物体内还存在一条相似的补救途径,补救途径实现VB6各型的代谢转换。该文对近年来国内外有关植物VB6从头合成和代谢转换研究进展进行综述。     

家蚕磷酸吡哆醛激酶cDNA的克隆和酶活表征

吡哆醛激酶 (EC 2.7.1.35) 在 ATP 和 Zn2 的存在下,催化吡哆醛的磷酸化反应生成磷酸吡哆醛 (PLP)。在生物体内许多酶促反应中,PLP 是一种重要的辅酶因子。家蚕和哺乳动物一样,需依赖食物中的维生素 B6前体来合成 PLP。文章描述了利用家蚕基因组数据库序列信息及使用 PCR 方法,克隆出编码家蚕吡哆醛激酶的 cDNA (GenBank 登录号:DQ452397)。克隆到的 cDNA 含有一个 894 bp 的完整可读框,编码一条分子量为 33.1 kDa,含 298 个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。序列比对显示此蛋白质序列与人类吡哆醛激酶蛋白序列具有 48.6%的同一性,包含吡哆醛激酶家族共有的特征保守序列,但其氨基酸残基数比哺乳动物和植物克隆到的吡哆醛激酶残基数均少 10 多个残基。多序列比对结果显示,吡哆醛激酶中几个有关键功能且在哺乳动物和植物中均保守的氨基酸残基在此蛋白中被替换为其他种类氨基酸残基。采用 T7 启动子和 T7 聚合酶表达系统对克隆到的 cDNA 进行了原核表达并对表达粗提产物进行了酶活检测。实验结果显示表达得到的可溶性蛋白产物占其总蛋白量为 10%,细胞粗提物具有活力为 30 nmol/min/mg 的吡哆醛激酶活性,结果证实了克隆到的 cDNA 编码家蚕中的吡哆醛激酶。     

Double knock-in pig models with elements of binary Tet-On and phiC31 integrase systems for controllable and switchable gene expression

Inducible expression systems are indispensable for precise regulation and in-depth analysis of biological process. Binary Tet-On system has been widely employed to regulate transgenic expression by doxycycline. Previous pig models with tetracycline regulatory elements were generated through random integration. This process often resulted in uncertain expression and unpredictable phenotypes, thus hindering their applications. Here, by precise knock-in of binary Tet-On 3G elements into Rosa26 and ...     

Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in the fetal, neonatal and adult testis of the shiba goat.

The localizations of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and P450arom) in testes of Shiba goats were investigated by immunohistochemistry. P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and P450arom were detected in all Leydig cells of adults. P450scc and P450c17 were observed in most Leydig cells in the fetus (90 days) and neonate (15 days). 3betaHSD and P450arom were found in some Leydig cells of the fetus with weak immunostaining but the numbers of immunopositive Leydig cells and intense immunostaining were increased in Leydig cells of the neonate. These results suggest that Shiba goat testes have the ability to synthesize progestin, androgen and estrogen in the fetus, neonate and adult, and synthesis of these steroid hormones showed an age-related rise.     

人参皂苷Rb3糖基水解酶的纯化及其反应特性

人参皂苷Rb3是三七茎叶皂苷的主要成分。为了充分利用廉价的三七茎叶皂苷,该研究以微生物Aspergillus sp. P90r菌为对象,综合运用生物转化的方法,经过提取、分离纯化和酶活力测定等步骤,最终以确定酶反应途径的方式得到了所产的特异性人参皂苷Rb3糖基水解酶的相关性质和动力学等反应特性。结果表明:该酶比Absidia sp. GRB3-X8r菌产酶活力高15%~25%,SDS-PAGE电泳结果测得分子量约为65.6ku,纯化后酶蛋白的含量为0.237 mg·mL~(-1),蛋白比活力可达到169 U·mg~(-1),纯化倍数为13.70,回收率为9.39%。人参皂苷Rb3糖基水解酶在pH=5.0的偏酸性环境下酶活力很高,最适反应条件:pH=3.0~5.0,温度45℃,其中在pH=4.0~6.0范围内相对稳定。该酶在20 min时进入混合级反应,酶反应米氏常数Km值为8.77 mmol·L~(-1),V_(max)为57.44 mmol·L~(-1)·h~(-1),在60 min时反应速度达到最大,Vmax趋于稳定,为66.63mmol·L~(-1)·h~(-1)。通过对酶的催化特性研究表明,该酶先水解Rb3的20-O-木糖基,其次水解3-O-葡萄糖基,最终催化反应产物中有F2和C-K生成。综上结果,微生物Aspergillus sp. P90r菌酶具有能水解人参皂苷Rb3木糖基和葡萄糖基的特异性。     

茶树CsPLK基因的鉴定与表达分析

茶树中富含茶氨酸、儿茶素和咖啡碱等重要功能成分,具有较高的价值功效,茶树在生命周期中经常遭受逆境胁迫,维生素B6(VB6)在植物体内参与逆境应答,吡哆醛激酶(pyridoxal kinase,PLK)是VB6补救途径中的关键酶。为进一步了解PLK在茶树生物合成中的功能和作用机理,该研究基于茶树基因组数据库,以龙井43为材料,采用逆转录PCR(RT-PCR)的方法从茶树中克隆出CsPLK的基因。结果表明:该基因序列长为1 179 bp,编码393个氨基酸; CsPLK蛋白和已知物种中PLK蛋白具有较高的同源性,都是核糖激酶超家族成员;通过构建pET-CsPLK载体进行原核表达,并鉴定出重组蛋白有很强的催化活性;组织表达特异性分析表明,叶中的表达量比茎、根的高,在根中最低;荧光定量PCR表示,低温诱导CsPLK上调表达,干旱诱导CsPLK下调表达,发现该基因在茶树中有明显的逆境应答,推测CsPLK在茶树的生长发育、逆境胁迫发挥重要作用。     

Cryptosporidium parvum: identification of a new surface adhesion protein on sporozoite and oocyst by screening of a phage-display cDNA library

Cryptosporidium parvum is a significant cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. The specific molecules that mediate C. parvum-host interaction and the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis are unknown. In this study we described a novel phage display method to identify surface adhesion proteins of C. parvum. A cDNA library of the sporozoite and oocyst stages of C. parvum expressed on the surface of T7 phage was screened with intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from the newborn Cryptosporidium-free Holstein calves. Proteins that selectively and specifically bound to IECs were then enriched using a multi-step panning procedure. Two proteins of C. parvum were selected, one was previously reported (p23), which was an important surface adhesion protein; the other was a novel surface adherence protein (CP12). Sequence analysis showed that CP12 has a N-terminal signal peptide, a transmembrane region, a N-glycosylation site, a casein kinase II phosphorylation site and two N-myristoylation sites. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using antibody specific for rCP12 demonstrated that the antibody can specifically bind the surface of sporozoite and oocyst, especially apical region of sporozoite. The surface localization of CP12 and its involvement in the host-parasite interaction suggest that it may serve as an effective target for specific preventive and therapeutic measures for cryptosporidiosis.     

PI3‐kinase/Akt pathway‐regulated membrane transportation of acid‐sensing ion channel 1a/Calcium ion influx/endoplasmic reticulum stress activation on PDGF‐induced HSC Activation

Acid‐sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) allows Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ flow into cells. It is expressed during inflammation, in tumour and ischaemic tissue, in the central nervous system and non‐neuronal injury environments. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins that interferes with intracellular calcium homoeostasis. Our recent reports showed ASIC1a and ERS are involved in liver fibrosis progression, particularly in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. In this study, we investigated the roles of ASIC1a and ERS in activated HSC. We found that ASIC1a and ERS‐related proteins were up‐regulated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)‐induced fibrotic mouse liver tissues, and in patient liver tissues with hepatocellular carcinoma with severe liver fibrosis. The results show silencing ASIC1a reduced the expression of ERS‐related biomarkers GRP78, Caspase12 and IREI‐XBP1. And, ERS inhibition by 4‐PBA down‐regulated the high expression of ASIC1a induced by PDGF, suggesting an interactive relationship. In PDGF‐induced HSCs, ASIC1a was activated and migrated to the cell membrane, leading to extracellular calcium influx and ERS, which was mediated by PI3K/AKT pathway. Our work shows PDGF‐activated ASIC1a via the PI3K/AKT pathway, induced ERS and promoted liver fibrosis progression.