Effect of recombinant crustacean hyperglycemic hormones rCHH‐B1 and rCHH‐B2 on lipid metabolism in the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The crustacean hyperglycemic hormones (CHH) are pleiotropic neuropeptides controlling diverse processes in the life cycle of crustaceans. In the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, CHH‐B1 and CHH‐B2 are generated by alternative splicing of the same gene, and the recombinant versions of these peptides have shown differential effects on glucose metabolism and osmoregulation in this species. In this work, we explored the role of both recombinant variants, expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris, on lipid metabolism. The results showed that rCHH‐B1 and rCHH‐B2 injections into eyestalk‐ablated shrimp significantly increased the phospholipid and triglyceride levels in haemolymph and restored free fatty acid levels, suggesting that these CHH variants mobilize lipid reserves in shrimp. The effects on lipids were concomitant to its hyperglycemic activity, suggesting that both variants, in addition to their hyperglycemic activity, have hyperlipidemic functions.     

Isolation and characterization of an additional crustacean hyperglycemic hormone from the greasyback shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metapenaeus ensis</Emphasis>

Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is released from the X-organ/sinus gland complex located in the eyestalks. In this study, the most abundant CHH in the sinus gland of the greasyback shrimp Metapenaeus ensis was purified by reversed-phase HPLC and identified by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Although two CHH molecules (Mee-CHH-A and Mee-CHH-B) have already been identified from M. ensis by cDNA cloning, this study revealed the presence of an additional CHH peptide based on differences in the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the CHH-A and CHH-B. Therefore, this novel CHH was designated as Mee-CHH-C. A cDNA encoding the Mee-CHH-C precursor was cloned by RT-PCR coupled with 5′- and 3′-RACE, and it was found that the mature Mee-CHH-C consisted of 72 amino acid residues containing 6 conserved cysteine residues and possessed an amidated C terminus. Mee-CHH-C had 62 and 68% identities with Mee-CHH-A and Mee-CHH-B, respectively, and was highly homologous to CHHs characterized from other penaeid shrimp species. The hyperglycemic activity of Mee-CHH-C was examined by an in vivo bioassay using the kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus. Injection of Mee-CHH-C increased hemolymph glucose levels significantly and dose-dependently. These results indicate that Mee-CHH-C is possibly one of the major molecules in M. ensis that regulate glucose levels in the hemolymph.     

A chimeric recombinant crustacean hyperglycemic hormone from Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad) obtained as C‐terminus fusion protein boost hemolymph glucose concentration in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

To date, no hormonal treatments are available for control of shrimp reproduction and only eyestalk ablation is of practical use. The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is the most abundant neuropeptide of the eyestalk CHH family. It plays an important role in the regulation of hemolymph glucose levels, as its principal function, but it is also implicated in additional physiological processes such as moulting and reproduction. In the present study, the cDNA encoding Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad) mature CHH was cloned into the Escherichia coli pTYB2 expression vector. Using this strategy we have obtained, for the first time, the recombinant CHH from L. schmitti with its C‐terminus fused to an intein tag. The expected fused protein of about 63 KDa was expressed in E. coli forming inclusion bodies. It was purified in a soluble form by electroelution following molecular size fractionation in sodium dodecil sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ability of the chimeric CHH protein to elevate glucose levels in the hemolymph of the eyestalk‐ablated Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) shrimps indicates that its biological activity as hyperglycemic protein is preserved. The results provide an alternative tool to obtain soluble recombinant proteins from the CHH family of neuropeptides to get a better understanding of shrimp endocrinology.     

中华绒螯蟹蜕皮抑制激素1(Ers-MIH1)-GST融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达

蜕皮抑制激素(molt—inhibiting hormone，MIH)属甲壳动物高血糖激素(crustacean hyperglycemic hormone，CHH)家族。MIH抑制Y-器官蜕皮激素的合成。以中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir japonica sinensis)眼柄总RNA为模板，根据中华绒螯蟹蜕皮抑制激素1(Eriocheir japonica sinensis molt—inhibiting hormone-1，Ers—MIH1)基因序列设计引物，用RT—PCR的方法获得了Ers—MIH1基因成熟肽的cDNA片段。序列分析表明，Ers—MIH1基因成熟肽编码区含有228bp，编码75个氨基酸残基，与已发表的序列一致。将该cDNA片段插入到中间载体pMD18-T中，酶切后再将该片段插入到pGEX-4T-1表达载体中，构建成表达质粒pGEX-4T—MIH1。在BL21细胞中经IPTG诱导表达，得到GST—MIH1的融合蛋白。SDS—PAGE分析表明，经0．1mmol／L IPTG诱导4h，发现大量GST—MIH1融合蛋白表达，在分子量(Mr)为34kD处有1条特异的蛋白质条带。中华绒螯蟹蜕皮抑制激素1融合蛋白的成功表达为进一步深入研究MIH在中华绒螯蟹蜕皮过程中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

斑点叉尾NK-lysin成熟肽在毕赤酵母中的表达

NK-lysin是毒性T淋巴细胞和自然杀伤细胞产生的具有抗菌作用的多肽,在机体免疫系统中发挥重要作用,被认为是抗生素的理想替代品。NK-lysin的生物学功能主要由其成熟肽(m NK-lysin)决定。本文在已有斑点叉尾(Ictalurus punctatus)NK-lysin成熟肽原核重组表达载体p ET-32a(+)-m NK-lysin的基础上,通过PCR在m NK-lysin的5’端和3’端分别添加EcoRI和Xba I酶切位点,并在3’端添加6×His标签以便于纯化;扩增到的片段与表达载体p PICZαA连接构建重组表达载体p PICZαA-m NK-lysin,转化至毕赤酵母X-33细胞中,通过博来霉素筛选以及对酵母转化子基因组的PCR鉴定得到高拷贝酵母转化子;在29℃,250 rpm,采用0.5%甲醇进行诱导表达;表达产物经固化金属离子亲和层析(IMAC)获得纯化的重组体m NK-lysin。经Tricine-SDS-PAGE分析,其分子量约为11.5 k D;经Western blot分析,证明m NK-lysin在毕赤酵母中成功表达。     

大菱鲆红体病虹彩病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因在毕赤酵母中的重组分泌表达

依据大菱鲆红体病虹彩病毒（Turbot viral reddish body iridovirus，TRBIV）主要衣壳蛋白（Major capsid protein，MCP）基因序列，设计了一对特异性引物，并在正反向引物中分别引入EcoR Ⅰ和Not Ⅰ酶切位点，从而将PCR扩增得到的TRBIV MCP基因双酶切后定向克隆到真核表达载体pGAPZαA的GAP启动子的下游位点，并电转化入大肠杆菌DH5α宿主菌内。经抗生素Zeocin筛选、PCR、EcoR Ⅰ和Not Ⅰ双酶切以及测序分析，构建了含有α-factor信号肽的真核重组表达载体pGAPZαA MCP。重组表达质粒pGAPZαA MCP经Avr Ⅱ单酶切后电转导入毕赤酵母X-33中，挑选阳性克隆，提取表达上清经SDS-PAGE和Western-blot免疫印迹分析。结果显示，TRBIV MCP基因在酵母中成功实现分泌表达。阳性重组酵母菌经过72h诱导培养后，重组TRBIV MCP的表达量高达60.2μg/ml左右。     

Protection of Procambarus clarkii against white spot syndrome virus using recombinant subunit injection vaccine expressed in Pichia pastoris

ABSTRACT:   The potentiality of injection vaccine against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in crayfish Procambarus clarkii was investigated. WSSV envelope proteins VP19 and VP28 were expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris GS115. The purified recombinant proteins (2 µg/g of crayfish) were injected intramuscularly, and the same dose injected as a booster shot on fifth day after vaccination. The vaccinated crayfish were divided into two even groups and later challenged orally by WSSV-infected dead crayfish muscle (2 g/individual) on the third and 21st days after the booster shot. The relative percent survival (RPS) in the third-day group was the highest in VP28 (91%), followed by VP19 + VP28 (84%), and VP19 (45%). The RPS for the 21st-day group was the highest in VP28 (78%), followed by VP19 + VP28 (76%), and VP19 (17%). Development of vaccine by using recombinant proteins VP19 and VP28 expressed in yeast is feasible.     

编码鹰爪虾蜕皮抑制激素基因的cDNA片段的克隆和序列分析

提取鹰爪是眼柄总RNA，以眼柄总RNA为模板，根据日本对虾的具有蜕皮抑制活性的神经肽Pej-SGP-Ⅳ的氨基酸设计兼并引物，进行RT-PCR扩增，在适宜条件下得到一特异性片段。将这一特异性片段克隆到载体中进行测序，测得鹰爪虾的特异性cDNA片段由213个碱基对组成，推测的氨基酸序列由71个氨基酸组成。序列比较发现许多甲壳动物的CHH家庭神经肽与它相似。在所有与该序列推测的氨基酸序列相似的甲壳动物CHH家族神经肽中，MIH与它的相似度最高，表明由鹰爪虾眼柄特异性cDNA片段椎定的氨基酸基酸序列可能是鹰爪虾的MIH片段，它相当于MIH成熟肽的第5至75个氨基酸。     

白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白vp28基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

白斑综合征病毒(whitespotsyndromevirus,WSSV)是危害东南亚及北美洲沿岸养殖对虾的重要病原。近十年来,国内外对该病毒的形态结构、基因组全序列、宿主范围、传播途径、致病性和组织细胞特异性等作了大量的研究[1-7],并已确定该病毒的侵染与其囊膜蛋白vp28有关[8]。实验根据已发表的白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白vp28基因序列[9]设计一对引物,通过PCR扩增出该囊膜蛋白的基因片段。将该片段连接到毕赤酵母表达载体pPICZ上,在大肠杆菌中筛选到含目的基因的重组质粒pPICZVP28,用电穿孔法将重组质粒转化到毕赤酵母菌株X33中,获得了转化子X33 …     

对虾白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白VP28和VP26的毕赤酵母组成型分泌表达

近年来,重组 VP28和 VP26蛋白作为蛋白亚单位疫苗,在增强对虾抗白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)感染的过程中具有重要作用。本研究根据GenBank中WSSV的基因序列设计引物,以WSSV粗提液为模板进行普通PCR扩增,得到VP28和VP26基因,再用引物悬挂法将EcoRⅠ和XbaⅠ酶切位点分别添加到 VP28和 VP26基因的5￠端和3￠端。目的基因经双酶切后插入到表达载体pGAPZαA,转化TOP10大肠杆菌,经博莱霉素(Zeocin)抗性筛选阳性重组酵母表达载体。AvrⅡ酶切线性化之后,电击转化 X-33毕赤酵母感受态细胞,经 Zeocin 抗性筛选得到阳性重组酵母。SDS-PAGE电泳分析重组酵母表达上清液的目的蛋白,没有检测到VP28和VP26重组蛋白。随后,采用蛋白质银染法,结果显示,与空载pGAPZαA组相比,VP28和VP26表达上清液组有明显的条带,证明VP28和VP26在毕赤酵母中成功表达,蛋白分子量大小约为32 kDa。     

大口黑鲈hepcidin真核表达载体构建及表达的初步研究

将大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)抗菌肽hepcidin cDNA定向插入真核表达载体pPICZαA,通过SacI酶切线性化重组表达质粒pPICZαA-hepcidin,电转化毕赤酵母P.pastoris GS115,PCR扩增筛选,甲醇诱导表达等进行了hepcidin真核表达工程菌株的构建及诱导表达。结果显示:hepcidin cDNA成功插入表达载体pPICZαA,并整合到酵母基因组中;经甲醇诱导,RT-PCR检测显示hepcidin cDNA在酵母细胞中成功转录。     

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone in the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and preparation of its recombinant peptide using an E. coli expression system

The cDNA encoding a precursor of Liv-SGP-G, the most abundant crustacean hyperglycemic hormone-family peptide in the sinus gland of the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, was cloned by RT-PCR coupled with 5′- and 3′-RACE. The determined cDNA sequence consisted of 621 nucleotides comprising a 69-bp 5′-untranslated region, a 357-bp open reading frame, and a 195-bp 3′-untranslated region. The deduced sequence of 72 amino acid residues corresponding to mature Liv-SGP-G was completely identical to that of natural Liv-SGP-G, determined in our previous study. The recombinant Liv-SGP-G was thereafter heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and its vitellogenesis-inhibiting activity in ex vivo cultured ovarian fragments was examined. The recombinant peptides inhibited vitellogenin gene expression with almost the same efficacy as that of natural Liv-SGP-G purified from sinus glands.     

枯草芽孢杆菌壳聚糖酶基因在毕赤酵母中的表达及酶学性质

构建了枯草芽孢杆菌CH_2菌株(Bacillus subtilis CH_2)壳聚糖酶基因的真核表达载体p PIC9K-CH2-Cns,在毕赤酵母GS115(Pichia pastoris)中进行重组表达,获得了有生物学活性的重组壳聚糖酶,对重组壳聚糖酶的酶学特性及酶解产物进行了分析。结果显示,重组壳聚糖酶的分子量为29 k D,粗酶的比酶活达到133.60 U/mg,纯化后重组蛋白的比酶活为338.08 U/mg;该酶的最适作用温度为50℃,最适pH为4.5,酶动力学常数Vmax=24.39(μmol/mg)·min~(-1),Km=5.48 mg/m L;Fe2+、K+等对其酶活力有一定的激活作用,其中Mn~(2+)能使酶活力提升2.4倍,Ag~+、Mg~(2+)、Hg~(2+)、EDTA、EGTA和SDS等存在时则对其酶活力有强烈抑制作用。利用重组壳聚糖酶酶解壳聚糖,酶解产物主要为聚合度2~10的壳寡糖,且分布均匀。以上结果表明,枯草芽孢杆菌CH_2菌株壳聚糖酶基因在毕赤酵母GS115中成功表达,获得了一种内切型的高酶活力重组壳聚糖酶,该重组酶具有反应条件温和、酶解产物均一等特点,可被应用于海洋甲壳质加工应用中。     

反相高效液相色谱法分离中华绒螯蟹性腺抑制激素的初步研究

采用反相高效液相色谱层析法(RP-HPLC)分离中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)眼柄视上神经节中的性腺抑制激素,收集在高血糖激素家族区域内出峰的洗脱液组分,得到7组单一的样品组分。通过活体注射的方法,观察和统计每一组分对去眼柄中华绒螯蟹卵母细胞直径大小的影响,以检验每个分离组分的性腺抑制活性。结果发现,其中的第7组分对中华绒螯蟹的卵巢发育具有最强的抑制作用,推测这一组分为中华绒螯蟹的性腺抑制激素。     

中华绒螯蟹类浮舰蛋白基因Esflol的克隆和组织表达分析

甲壳动物高血糖激素家族目前仅被发现存在于节肢动物中,在血糖水平调节、蜕皮、应激反应等多种生理代谢活动中发挥着重要的作用。为了解这个家族中的重要一员--甲壳动物高血糖激素(crustacean hyperglycemic hormone, CHH)如何调节河蟹体内的血糖水平,我们前期进行了转录组和表达谱分析,最终选取Esflol(Eriocheir sinensis flotillin-1 like,Esflol)作为我们的研究对象。根据转录组数据提示,结合RACE方法首次从中华绒螯蟹肝胰腺组织中克隆得到Esflol基因并进行了序列及组织表达分析。结果显示Esflol基因开放阅读框(ORF)1281bp,编码426个氨基酸,具有典型的SPFH超家族和PHB结构域,不含信号肽序列。多重序列比对分析表明,Esflol氨基酸序列与中华绒螯蟹flotillin-1相似度最高,达到57%。荧光定量PCR结果显示成熟中华绒螯蟹Esflol基因在肝胰腺组织中的表达量最高,其次为肌肉,另外在心,鳃,肠,胸神经节和胃中均有一定量表达,在脑中表达量较低。上述实验结果为下一步继续研究中华绒螯蟹糖代谢的生理机制奠定了基础,也为其他养殖类甲壳动物糖类代谢的研究提供了重要参考。     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a homolog of actin-related protein 4 from a marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis

ABSTRACT:   A cDNA ( PyARP4 ) containing an open reading frame for a protein of 573 amino acids was identified in the marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis . The conceptual PyARP4 protein exhibits significant similarity to actin-related protein (ARP) 4 in the terrestrial plant Arabidopsis . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence showed moderate sequence identity (30%) to a conventional actin in P. yezoensis , as seen in comparisons between ARP and conventional actins of other organisms. A putative bipartite nuclear localization signal and an actin motif were found within the PyARP4 amino acid sequence. In a phylogenetic analysis, the PyARP4 was found to cluster with the ARP4 of other organisms. The expression level of PyARP4 did not change significantly among four developmental stages of life cycle and was lower than that of a conventional actin. This cDNA therefore may serve as a useful internal standard in gene expression analyses of differentially expressed genes in P. yezoensis .     

Cloning, characterization, and insertional inactivation of a major extracellular serine protease gene with elastolytic activity from Aeromonas hydrophila

The gene ahpA from Aeromonas hydrophila AG2 encoding an extracellular serine protease, named AhpA, was cloned in pUC18 plasmid. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1875 bp encoding a 625 amino-acid protein with a molecular weight of 67 567 Da. The gene ahpA was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli C600 and in the non-proteolytic A. salmonicida masoucida , which was able to overproduce the 64-kDa protease found in the culture supernatant. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified protein revealed a perfect match with the deduced DNA sequence starting at AAT (Asn-25), indicating that AhpA is synthesized as a pre-enzyme with a 24-amino-acid signal peptide and a 601-amino-acid mature extracellular protease. Purified protease had an optimum pH of 7.5 and its activity was strongly inhibited by PMSF, a serine protease inhibitor. The protease hydrolysed casein and elastin. The amino acid sequence of AhpA was highly homologous to A. salmonicida serine protease AspA. Inoculation of A. hydrophila ahpA mutant into trout suggests that the major AhpA secreted protease is not essential for virulence.     

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the fatty acid delta 6 desaturase (FAD6) gene in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

The sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), an important echinodermata, had high value in nutrition and medicine for its rich collagen, sulphated polysaccharide, glycosides and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The cDNA of the fatty acid desaturase gene in A. japonicus (AJFAD6) was cloned and was found to encode a desaturase with delta 6 FAD activity. Sequence analysis indicated that AJFAD6 included an open reading frame of 1392 bp, encoding 463 amino acids. AJFAD6 has all the conserved motifs found in other members of the FAD6 family, including an N‐terminal cytochrome b5 domain and three histidine‐rich regions. qRT‐PCR showed that AJFAD6 was expressed in all tissues tested during juvenile development and was mainly expressed in the respiratory tree at 150 days after adherence (150 days) and in the intestine at 100 days. Furthermore, AJFAD6 mRNA was also detected in the analysed adult tissues, with higher expression in the intestine and testis. Functional characterization of AJFAD6 in a recombinant yeast, Pichia pastoris, showed that AJFAD6 could catalyse exogenous linoleic acid (LA) and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) to produce γ‐linoleic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (STA), respectively, at conversion rates of 11.1% for LA to GLA and 3.4% for ALA to STA. Our results suggested that the biosynthetic pathway of PUFA existed in the sea cucumber, but endogenous production of eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from either LA or ALA precursor appeared to be limited.     

草鱼呼肠孤病毒VP6蛋白在毕赤酵母中表达的初步研究

根据GeneBank中草鱼呼肠孤病毒(grass carp reovirus,GCRV)104株VP6蛋白的全基因序列(HM234682)设计一对特异引物,以提取的GCRV-104核酸为模板,采用RT-PCR技术扩增VP6蛋白编码基因,并将其克隆到含强启动子AOXⅠ的毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)表达载体pPICZB上。重组酵母质粒pPICZB-VP6经SacⅠ线性化,电击转化到毕赤酵母KM71菌株中,Zeocin抗性平板上筛选高拷贝转化子。阳性转化子在30℃,0.5%(V/V)的甲醇添加量的条件下,连续诱导3 d,表达产物经SDS-PAGE和Western-Blotting检测,结果表明成功实现了GCRV-104 VP6蛋白在毕赤酵母中的胞内表达,重组VP6蛋白相对分子质量约46 000,与天然VP6蛋白相对分子质量接近,并且可与鼠抗草鱼GCRV-104 VP6蛋白的多克隆抗体特异性结合。     

鲤疱疹病毒Ⅱ型ORF4基因的克隆、表达与免疫学检测方法

根据鲤疱疹病毒II型(Cyprinid herpesvirus Ⅱ,Cy HV-2)ORF 4基因序列(Gen Bank:JQ815364.1)设计特异性引物,PCR扩增得到ORF 4基因编码框全长序列1 041 bp,将其克隆至原核表达载体p ET-32a(+)中,构建了重组原核表达载体p ET-32a-ORF 4。将p ET-32a-ORF 4重组载体转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导得到融合表达的重组蛋白,融合表达的重组蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在,其分子质量约为57 ku,与预期大小一致。将纯化的重组蛋白免疫日本大耳兔,制备了多克隆抗体,ELISA检测抗体效价大于1∶50 000,Western blot检测显示该抗体可以特异性识别重组蛋白。间接免疫荧光检测结果表明:该多克隆抗体可与由Cy HV-2感染引起细胞病变的异育银鲫脑组织细胞(GICB)发生特异性的结合。