Lysine Succinylation of VBS Contributes to Sclerotia Development and Aflatoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophytic and pathogenic fungus, and its secondary metabolic pathways are one of the most highly characterized owing to its aflatoxin (AF) metabolite affecting global economic crops and human health. Different natural environments can cause significant variations in AF synthesis. Succinylation was recently identified as one of the most critical regulatory post-translational modifications affecting metabolic pathways. It is primarily reported in human cells and bacteria with few studies on fungi. Proteomic quantification of lysine succinylation (Ksuc) exploring its potential involvement in secondary metabolism regulation (including AF production) has not been performed under natural conditions in A. flavus. In this study, a quantification method was performed based on tandem mass tag labeling and antibody-based affinity enrichment of succinylated peptides via high accuracy nano-liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to explore the succinylation mechanism affecting the pathogenicity of naturally isolated A. flavus strains with varying toxin production. Altogether, 1240 Ksuc sites in 768 proteins were identified with 1103 sites in 685 proteins quantified. Comparing succinylated protein levels between high and low AF-producing A. flavus strains, bioinformatics analysis indicated that most succinylated proteins located in the AF biosynthetic pathway were downregulated, which directly affected AF synthesis. Versicolorin B synthase is a key catalytic enzyme for heterochrome B synthesis during AF synthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical studies revealed that versicolorin B synthase succinylation is an important regulatory mechanism affecting sclerotia development and AF biosynthesis in A. flavus. In summary, our quantitative study of the lysine succinylome in high/low AF-producing strains revealed the role of Ksuc in regulating AF biosynthesis. We revealed novel insights into the metabolism of AF biosynthesis using naturally isolated A. flavus strains and identified a rich source of metabolism-related enzymes regulated by succinylation.     

两种国兰C类花发育MADS基因的克隆与表达研究

该研究以蕙兰(Cymbidium faberi)和墨兰(Cymbidium sinense)为材料,利用RT-PCR对AGAMOUS(AG)基因进行克隆,并利用qRT-PCR进行组织表达。结果表明:(1)获得3个AG基因均属于植物特有的C类MIKC型MADS-box基因,其中2个蕙兰AG基因命名为CfAG1(登录号MW654188)和CfAG2(登录号MW654189),1个墨兰AG基因命名为CsAG1(登录号MW654190)。(2)CfAG1在盛花期合蕊柱中高丰度表达,在花蕾期花蕾和盛花期子房中中度表达;CfAG2在盛花期子房中高丰度表达,在盛花期合蕊柱中中度表达,花蕾期花蕾、盛花期花瓣(包含唇瓣)中少量表达;CsAG1在盛花期的合蕊柱中表达量最高,花蕾期花蕾、盛花期子房表达量次之,表达量最低的部位是盛花期萼片和叶片。研究认为,CfAG1和CsAG1表达特性相似,这3个基因均具有组织特异性,均能调控合蕊柱和子房的发育。该研究为后续探讨兰属植物花型发育与进化、分子育种及新品种培育奠定了基础。     

Calcium ions and osteoclastogenesis initiate the induction of bone formation by coral‐derived macroporous constructs

Coral-derived calcium carbonate/hydroxyapatite macroporous constructs of the genus Goniopora with limited hydrothermal conversion to hydroxyapatite (7% HA/CC) initiate the induction of bone formation. Which are the molecular signals that initiate pattern formation and the induction of bone formation? To evaluate the role of released calcium ions and osteoclastogenesis, 7% HA/CC was pre-loaded with either 500 μg of the calcium channel blocker, verapamil hydrochloride, or 240 μg of the osteoclast inhibitor, biphosphonate zoledronate, and implanted in the rectus abdominis muscle of six adult Chacma baboons Papio ursinus. Generated tissues on days 15, 60 and 90 were analysed by histomorphometry and qRT-PCR. On day 15, up-regulation of type IV collagen characterized all the implanted constructs correlating with vascular invasion. Zoledronate-treated specimens showed an important delay in tissue patterning and morphogenesis with limited bone formation. Osteoclastic inhibition yielded minimal, if any, bone formation by induction. 7% HA/CC pre-loaded with the Ca⁺⁺ channel blocker verapamil hydrochloride strongly inhibited the induction of bone formation. Down-regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) together with up-regulation of Noggin genes correlated with limited bone formation in 7% HA/CC pre-loaded with either verapamil or zoledronate, indicating that the induction of bone formation by coral-derived macroporous constructs is via the BMPs pathway. The spontaneous induction of bone formation is initiated by a local peak of Ca⁺⁺ activating stem cell differentiation and the induction of bone formation.     

菊芋HtCCR1基因的克隆与表达分析

肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶(cinnamoyl-CoA reductase,CCR)是木质素合成代谢的关键酶。该研究以菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus L.)‘廊芋8号’为材料,克隆到1个菊芋的CCR基因,命名为HtCCR1(GenBank登录号为MN205540),其开放阅读框(ORF)长975bp,编码324个氨基酸,其中含有FR_SDR_e保守结构域。系统进化分析表明,HtCCR1与向日葵CCR蛋白(XP_021989763.1)共聚于一支,二者亲缘关系最近。实时定量PCR分析表明,HtCCR1基因在菊芋茎和叶中的表达量显著高于在根和块茎中;盐(150mmol·L-1 NaCl)胁迫处理6、12和24h后,处理组HtCCR1基因的表达量均显著高于对照组;干旱(20%PEG6000)胁迫6和12h后,处理组HtCCR1基因的表达较对照组均显著上调。成功构建pET-28a-HtCCR1原核表达载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)并诱导出了符合预期大小的蛋白,表明HtCCR1重组蛋白已成功表达。该研究结果为进一步研究HtCCR1基因的功能及利用基因工程手段调节菊芋中木质素的生物合成奠定了基础。     

马铃薯硝态氮转运蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以马铃薯双单倍体‘DM’为材料,克隆到高亲和性硝态氮转运蛋白基因StNRT2.1的全长cDNA(JGI登录号PGSC0003DMT400002924),并对其进行表达模式和生物信息学分析,为深入探索StNRT2.1基因的生物学功能以及提高马铃薯对氮素的利用效率奠定理论基础。结果表明:(1)通过同源克隆与PCR扩增获得StNRT2.1基因cDNA全长片段,并构建pCEGFP-StNRT2.1表达载体;测序结果显示其实际所编码的蛋白质序列与数据库中目的基因蛋白质序列完全一致,表明成功克隆到StNRT2.1基因且未出现错义突变。(2)StNRT2.1基因位于马铃薯第11号染色体,cDNA序列全长1 593 bp,编码530个氨基酸,预测蛋白相对分子质量约为57.60 kD,理论等电点为9.36。(3)生物信息学分析显示,StNRT2.1由20种氨基酸组成,其中甘氨酸(Gly)所占比例最多,达到10.8%,并且主要由228个α-螺旋、27个β-折叠、87个延伸链和188个无规则卷曲构成;StNRT2.1存在功能保守结构MFS_1(PF07690)和12个跨膜螺旋结构域,且N端和C端均位于细胞膜内; StNRT2.1位于质膜上且不具有信号肽,可能为非分泌型膜蛋白。(4)以氮充足(7.5 mmol/L)水平作为对照,马铃薯幼苗经无氮(0 mmol/L)和低氮(0.75 mmol/L)处理3周后呈现出叶片发黄及植株矮化等明显表型差异。(5)qRT-PCR结果显示,在无氮条件下,马铃薯根组织中StNRT2.1基因表达量升高3.98倍,说明StNRT2.1可能为诱导型高亲和转运蛋白。     

Splice variant specific increase in Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase 1‐gamma mRNA expression in response to acute pyrethroid exposure

In mammals, pyrethroids are neurotoxicants that interfere with ion channel function in excitable neuronal membranes. Previous work demonstrated increases in the expression of Ca²⁺/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase 1‐gamma (Camk1g) mRNA following acute deltamethrin and permethrin exposure. In the rat, this gene is expressed as two distinct splice variants, Camk1g1 and Camk1g2. The present study tests the hypothesis that changes in Camk1g mRNA expression in the rat following acute pyrethroid exposure are due to a specific increase in the Camk1g1 splice variant and not the Camk1g2 splice variant. Long‐Evans rats were acutely exposed to permethrin, deltamethrin, or corn oil vehicle. Frontal cortex was collected at 6 h postdosing. In addition, rats were exposed to permethrin (100 mg/kg) or deltamethrin (3 mg/kg), and frontal cortex was collected at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 24 h along with time‐matched vehicle controls. Expression of Camk1g1 and Camk1g2 mRNA was measured by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR and quantified using the 2^{‐Δ Δ C}T method. Dose‐dependent increases in Camk1g1 mRNA expression were observed for both pyrethroids at 6 h. In addition, a dose‐dependent increase in Camk1g2 was observed at 6 h although it was very small in magnitude. The increases in Camk1g1 expression for deltamethrin and permethrin peak between 3 and 6 h postexposure and returns to control levels by 9 h. There was no increase in CAMK1G1 protein as measured with Western blots. The present data demonstrate that pyrethroid‐induced changes in Camk1g are driven mainly by increased expression of the Camk1g1 splice variant. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 24:174–186, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20324