香樟IDI基因克隆及表达分析

为了克隆香樟异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶(isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase,IDI)基因,并进行生物信息学分析,为香樟植物萜类化合物的生物合成研究提供基础。本研究以香樟植物为试样,在转录组测序数据的基础上设计引物,应用RT-PCR技术克隆香樟IDI基因,通过实时定量PCR方法检测IDI基因在香樟根、茎和叶中表达量,利用生物信息学方法对IDI基因编码的蛋白进行表征。结果表明,香樟IDI基因长度868 bp,开放读码框(ORF)为708 bp,编码235个氨基酸,编码蛋白的分子量为27.04 kD,等电点为5.13,蛋白的二级序列结构主要为α-螺旋。经预测香樟IDI是一个定位于细胞质,不含信号肽的亲水性稳定蛋白,具有异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶的特征结构域。系统进化树分析表明,香樟IDI与野生型马来西亚蕉的亲缘关系较近。实时定量PCR结果表明,IDI在香樟茎中的表达量高于根和叶。本研究成功从香樟中克隆了IDI基因并进行了表征分析,为深入研究香樟IDI基因在萜类合成中的功能提供帮助。     

Phytotoxicity of Roundup Ultra 360 SL in aquatic ecosystems: Biochemical evaluation with duckweed (Lemna minor L.) as a model plant

Glyphosate-based herbicides (e.g. Roundup Ultra 360 SL) are extensively used in aquatic environment. Although glyphosate is more environmental favorable than many other herbicides, it may be exceptionally dangerous for aquatic ecosystems through high water solubility. Thus, the aim of the work was quantification of influence of Roundup Ultra 360 SL (containing isopropylamine salt of glyphosate as an active ingredient) on biomass and chlorophyll content within duckweed (Lemna minor L.). Moreover, changes in polyamine content and activity of such antioxidative enzymes as catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were assayed in order to determine the biochemical mechanisms of L. minor response to the herbicide treatment. Obtained results showed that phytotoxicity of the herbicide was connected with decrease in chlorophyll-a, b and a+b content, and reduction of biomass growth. Roundup, similarly to some abiotic and biotic stressors, caused over-accumulation of putrescine, spermidine and total polyamines (PAs) within duckweed tissues. In addition an increase in CAT and APX activities suggested that stress generated by the herbicide treatment was at least partially connected with oxidative burst. Intensity of the duckweed responses to the herbicide was dependent on the applied herbicide level and/or duration of treatment.     

家蚕BmAWD基因的表达和蛋白纯化

家蚕BmAWD与家蚕翅膀发育密切相关,控制其翅膀发育的完整性及可用性。在对本实验室构建的家蚕蛹期cDNA文库测序中,我们筛选到-条编码AWD蛋白的cDNA序列,将其命名为BmAWD基因。通过生物信息学分析,发现该基因序列全长为689bp,ORF框为465bD,编码154个氨基酸残基,含有-个NDPK保守结构域。通过PCR扩增获得该基因ORF框并克隆到表达载体pGEX-5X-1上,得到重组表达质粒pGEX-5X-1-AWD,将该重组子转化大肠杆菌BL21,经PCR、酶切鉴定证明重组正确,在37℃下以IPTG诱导表达后收集菌体并裂解,SDS-PAGE分析发现在43kD左右处有一特异性蛋白条带,与预期值相符,但目的蛋白主要以沉淀即包涵体形式存在,25℃下诱导表达,SDS—PAGE分析表明目的蛋白主要存在于上清中。采用亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白GST-AWD,目的蛋白通过与层析柱上的GST磁珠结合而被纯化分离。     

Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) glycohydrolase regulates apoptosis-inducing factor and inflammatory factors in rat hippocampus after seizures

AIM: To investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) on rat hippocampus neurons after seizures and to study the effects of gallotannin on the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in rat hippocampus after seizures. METHODS: Seizures were induced by kainic acid (KA). The damage of hippocampus neurons was evaluated by Nissl staining. The protein expression levels of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) (PAR), AIF, IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: The number of damaged hippocampal pyramidal neurons in gallotannin-treated group was significantly lower than that in KA-treated group (P<0.05). The expression of PAR was increased in gallotannin-treated group compared with KA-treated group(P<0.05).AIF in mitochondrial fraction increased and its accumulation in nucleus fraction decreased in gallotannin-treated group compared with KA-treated group (P<0.05). In addition, gallotannin significantly decreased the protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, which were obviously increased in hippocampus after seizures (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PARG inhibition by gallotannin has the neuroprotective effect on the damage of hippocampal neurons induced by seizures. In addition, gallotannin suppresses the translocation of AIF from mitochondria to nucleus and the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in rat hippocampus after seizures.     

家蚕核苷二磷酸激酶基因的克隆和原核表达

核苷二磷酸激酶(NDPK)基因在进化中高度保守,却又呈现复杂多样的生物学功能。该酶除了催化腺苷三磷酸(ATP)和核苷二磷酸(NDP)之间高能磷酸基团的转移外,还具有NDP激酶活性和蛋白磷酸转移酶活性,并参与转录调控和信号转导。从家蚕蛹cDNA文库中获得家蚕核苷二磷酸激酶的cDNA序列,该cDNA序列长575bp,含465 bp的开放阅读框序列,编码154个氨基酸残基的核苷二磷酸激酶。将克隆的家蚕核苷二磷酸激酶基因插入pET-28 a构建重组质粒,转化大肠杆菌后诱导表达重组蛋白,经镍离子亲和层析柱纯化得到重组家蚕核苷二磷酸激酶。     

葡萄次生代谢UDP-糖基转移酶研究进展

UDP-糖基转移酶催化糖基转移反应,将糖基从活化的供体分子转移到受体分子上,从而调节受体分子在细胞内和机体内的性质,如生物活性、溶解性、可转运性。糖苷化是葡萄次生代谢很普遍的修饰反应,在次生代谢产物合成、贮存方面发挥重要功能。综述了与葡萄次生代谢产物生物合成相关的UDP-糖基转移酶的生化及分子生物学研究进展,并对今后这一领域需要进一步研究的问题作了讨论。     

Foliar application of chitosan activates artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.

There has been much interest in artemisinin owing to its excellent activity against malaria, an infectious disease threatening the tropical world. However, the low artemisinin content (0.01-0.8%, DW) in Artemisia annua, which is the only commercial source of artemisinin, makes artemisinin expensive to produce and not yet available on a global scale. Here we show that foliar application of 100 mg l⁻¹ chitosan improved artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua. The content of dihydroartemisinic acid and artemisinin in chitosan-treated leaves increased by 72% and 53% compared with control values, respectively. Chitosan induced the expression of ADS and DBR2, which could explain the increase in level of artemisinic metabolites. After chitosan treatment, the amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (O₂⁻) in leaves of A. annua were 1.4 and 3.0 times higher than those of the control, respectively. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) probably accelerated the conversion of dihydroartemisinic acid to artemisinin. Foliar application of 100 mg l⁻¹ chitosan had no harmful effect on A. annua growth. The simple method described here could be an effective method to improve artemisinin production in A. annua field cultivation.