Expression of Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor Isoform 3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Showing High Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial peptides are a class of proteins with antibacterial functions. In this study, the anti-lipopolysaccharide factor isoform 3 gene (ALFPm3), encoding an antimicrobial peptide from Penaeus monodon with a super activity was expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which would develop a microalga strain that can be used for the antimicrobial peptide production. To construct the expression cluster, namely pH2A-Pm3, the codon optimized ALFPm3 gene was fused with the ble reporter by 2A peptide and inserted into pH124 vector. The glass-bead method was performed to transform pH2A-Pm3 into C. reinhardtii CC-849. In addition to 8 μg/mL zeocin resistance selection, the C. reinhardtii transformants were further confirmed by genomic PCR and RT-PCR. Western blot analysis showed that the C. reinhardtii-derived ALFPm3 (cALFPm3) was successfully expressed in C. reinhardtii transformants and accounted for 0.35% of the total soluble protein (TSP). Furthermore, the results of antibacterial assay revealed that the cALFPm3 could significantly inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria, including both Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 0.77 μM. Especially, the inhibition could last longer than 24 h, which performed better than ampicillin. Hence, this study successfully developed a transgenic C. reinhardtii strain, which can produce the active ALFPm3 driven from P. monodon, providing a potential strategy to use C. reinhardtii as the cell factory to produce antimicrobial peptides.     

高能湿法球磨制备鱼胶原肽螯合钙及其理化特征

为了拓展胶原肽螯合钙的制备工艺,以鱼胶原肽和CaCl2为原料,以高能湿法球磨的方法制备了鱼胶原肽螯合钙,并采用FT-IR红外图谱、X-衍射、EDS能谱等技术手段对其理化特性和结构进行分析。结果显示,随着球磨时间从15 min延长到240 min,鱼胶原肽的平均粒径逐渐降低,ZETA电位绝对值、分子量和pH值逐渐增加,鱼胶原肽对钙的螯合率逐渐从74.21%增加到85.42%。鱼胶原肽螯合钙与鱼胶原肽的主体化学结构相似,但是球磨后鱼胶原肽的-COO-1 VAS吸收峰(1 643.89 cm~(-1))向短波数方向移动到1 540～1 555 cm~(-1),而-NH2的特征吸收峰(3 313.9 cm~(-1))向长波数方向移动到3 337.12～3 380.59 cm~(-1)。球磨后鱼胶原在2θ=20°处的特征宽吸收峰消失,而在2θ=26、28、48和58°处出现多个尖峰和弥散峰,表明其从无定形结构向兼具结晶和无定形结构转变。鱼胶原肽螯合钙中钙元素比例逐渐增加,证实鱼胶原肽对钙的螯合率增加。研究表明,高能湿法球磨可应用于鱼胶原肽螯合钙的制备,该方法具有加工工艺简单、无污染和螯合率高等优点。     

Identifying and Characterizing a Novel Peritrophic Matrix Protein (MdPM-17) Associated With Antibacterial Response From the Housefly,Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

Peritrophic matrix/membrane (PM) critically prevents the midgut of insects from external invasion by microbes. The proteins in the peritrophic membrane are its major structural components. Additionally, they determine the formation and function of this membrane. However, the role of PM proteins in immune regulation is unclear. Herein, we isolated a novel PM protein (MdPM-17) from Musca domestica larvae. Further, the function of MdPM-17 in regulating host innate immunity was identified. Results showed that the cDNA of MdPM-17 full is 635 bp in length. Moreover, it consists of a 477-bp open reading frame encoding 158 amino acid residues. These amino acid residues are composed of two Chitin-binding type-2 domain (ChtBD2) and 19 amino acids as a signal peptide. Moreover, tissue distribution analysis indicates that MdPM-17 was enriched expressed in midgut, and moderate levels in the fat body, foregut, and malpighian tubule. Notably, MdPM-17 recombinant protein showed high chitin-binding capacity, thus belongs to the Class III PM protein group. MdPM-17 protein silencing via RNA interference resulted in the expression of antimicrobial peptide (defensin, cecropins, and diptericin) genes, and this occurred after oral inoculation with exogenous microbes Escherichia coli (Enterobacteriales:Enterobacteriaceae), Staphylococcus aureus (Bacillales:Staphylococcaceae), and Candida albicans (Endomycetales:Saccharomycetaceae)). Therefore, all the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression levels are high in MdPM-17-depleted larvae during microbial infection compared to controls. Consequently, these findings indicate that MdPM-17 protein is associated with the antibacterial response from the housefly.     

可可毛色二孢全基因组分泌蛋白的预测及分析

【目的】可可毛色二孢（Lasiodiplodia theobromae）是一种世界性分布的重要植物病原真菌,可引起严重的葡萄溃疡病（Botryosphaeria dieback）,影响果木品质并造成巨大的经济损失。本研究预测并分析可可毛色二孢基因组范围内的分泌蛋白,并明确其基本特征,为该病菌分泌蛋白致病机理的研究打下基础。【方法】依据已公布的可可毛色二孢全基因组序列,利用信号肽预测软件SignalP v5.0、跨膜结构分析软件TMHMM v2.0、细胞器定位分析软件ProtComp v9.0、GPI锚定预测软件big-PI Fungal Predictor和亚细胞器定位分析软件TargetP v2.0生物信息学软件对该菌中的典型分泌蛋白进行筛选。对分泌蛋白N端信号肽的长度、氨基酸使用频率及其切割位点进行统计分析。依据蛋白序列的同源性,应用BLASTP程序对分泌组蛋白进行功能注释分析,预测其生物学功能。采用蔗糖酶缺陷的酵母分泌系统,对所选分泌蛋白的信号肽进行活性检测。利用qRT-PCR方法检测所选分泌蛋白基因在可可毛色二孢侵染葡萄中的表达情况。【结果】在可可毛色二孢全基因组编码蛋白中共筛选获得552个潜在的具有典型信号肽的分泌蛋白,占全基因组预测蛋白总数的4.3%,其编码蛋白长度集中于101—400 aa。信号肽统计分析表明,其信号肽长度以18—20 aa的序列最为集中,信号肽长度为20 aa的蛋白数量最多。信号肽中使用频率最高的氨基酸为丙氨酸;非极性、疏水的氨基酸使用频率最高,占氨基酸总数的60.2%。其信号肽的-3至-1位置上的氨基酸相对保守,切割位点属于A-X-A类型,可被Sp I型信号肽酶识别并切割。336个分泌蛋白具有功能注释,其功能较多集中于细胞壁降解有关的酶类以及致病相关蛋白,并且这些蛋白在分子量、等电点、脂肪族氨基酸指数等方面均存在差异。通过蔗糖酶缺陷的酵母分泌系统证实,挑选的9个分泌蛋白信号肽均具有分泌活性。qRT-PCR检测结果表明,所选分泌蛋白基因在该病菌侵染初期的表达发生变化。【结论】利用生物信息学分析技术从可可毛色二孢全基因组中共预测获得552个经典分泌蛋白。其信号肽氨基酸长度分布广泛,氨基酸组成中非极性、疏水的氨基酸使用频率最高。功能注释主要集中在细胞壁组分降解相关的酶类、致病侵染相关的坏死诱导相关蛋白以及几丁质结合蛋白等。     

Modulation of plant root traits by nitrogen and phosphate: transporters,long-distance signaling proteins and peptides,and potential artificial traps

As sessile organisms, plants rely on their roots for anchorage and uptake of water and nutrients. Plant root is an organ showing extensive morphological and metabolic plasticity in response to diverse environmental stimuli including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrition/stresses. N and P are two essential macronutrients serving as not only cell structural components but also local and systemic signals triggering root acclimatory responses. Here, we mainly focused on the current advances on root responses to N and P nutrition/stresses regarding transporters as well as long-distance mobile proteins and peptides, which largely represent local and systemic regulators, respectively. Moreover, we exemplified some of the potential pitfalls in experimental design, which has been routinely adopted for decades. These commonly accepted methods may help researchers gain fundamental mechanistic insights into plant intrinsic responses, yet the output might lack strong relevance to the real situation in the context of natural and agricultural ecosystems. On this basis, we further discuss the established—and yet to be validated—improvements in experimental design, aiming at interpreting the data obtained under laboratory conditions in a more practical view.     

基于nanoUPLC-MS/MS的螺旋藻游离肽组成分析

为了研究螺旋藻中的多肽成分,以钝顶螺旋藻为原料,采用超滤法提取螺旋藻中的游离肽,利用nanoUPLC-MS/MS和PEAKS Studio分析谱图信息,结合NCBI数据库进行比对和从头测序分析,获得游离肽的结构组成和百分含量信息。结果表明,利用数据库比对法和从头测序法,分别得到可信的游离肽4 485个和20 597个,匹配到的蛋白质有1 036种。数据库比对结果中的游离肽主要为七肽到二十一肽,少量为二十一肽以上;从头测序结果中游离肽主要为二肽到十六肽,少量为十六肽以上。数据库比对结果中百分含量最高的游离肽是十肽,为15.95%;从头测序结果中百分含量最高的是五肽,达到24.09%。本研究结果为螺旋藻蛋白资源的进一步开发和利用提供了依据。     

Increasing protein content and digestibility in sorghum grain with a synthetic biology approach

Despite great genetic diversity, sorghum grain consistently suffers from poor protein digestibility. The physicochemical packaging of protein bodies which consist of protease-resistant β- and γ-kafirin is considered a major obstacle. A synthetic β-kafirin gene, which shares the endosperm-specific promoter and signal peptide with the native β-kafirin gene (Sobic.009G001600.1), was transformed into sorghum inbred line Tx430. The gene was modified with ten additional proteolytic sites. These sites were designed to be amenable to cleavage by pepsin and/or chymotrypsin proteinases. Five independent transgenic lines were regenerated by microprojectile transformation. Notably, considerably more protein was observed in the peripheral endosperm of transgenic lines under scanning electron microscopy. Microscopy revealed invaginated or irregularly shaped protein bodies in the endosperm of transgenic lines. Grains of transgenic lines contained 11–37% more protein, which was 11–21% more pepsin digestible and 7–25% more chymotrypsin digestible than Tx430. Additionally, the abundant synthetic β-kafirin protein (5.6% of total protein) was detected by mass spectrometry data analysis in the transgenic line 9-1. Field-grown homozygous transgenics retained higher protein content, larger seed size and no reduction in grain number per plant. The results illustrated that plant synthetic biology could play an important role in improving sorghum nutritional value.     

蛙皮素样肽家族及其受体氨基酸序列信息学比较分析

【目的】研究反刍动物蛙皮素样肽家族多肽及其受体的保守性。为不同动物,特别是反刍动物这2种蛙皮素样多肽及其受体蛋白抗原设计和活性多肽筛选等研究提供参考。【方法】采用生物信息分析学的方法,通过UniProt数据库比较牛的蛙皮素样肽家族胃泌素释放肽(Gastrin-releasing peptide, GRP)和神经介素B(Neuromedin B, NMB)2种多肽及其特异性受体GRP-R和NMB-R与其他动物氨基酸序列的差异性。【结果】13种动物成熟GRP多肽C-端的8个氨基酸序列完全相同,牛GRP氨基酸序列与绵羊、猪和豚鼠最高,分别为88.7%、77.8%和77.8%,与其他动物相似性低于74.1%。10种动物成熟NMB多肽C-端10个氨基酸序列完全相同。牛GRP-R与狗、马和猪等相似性最高,分别为96.1%、94.3%和94.0%,牛NMB-R与猪、人和马相似性最高,分别为92.3%、91.5%和91.0%;牛GRP-R与NMB-R相似性仅为62.2%。【结论】GRP和NMB的C-端氨基酸序列在不同动物之间均具有高度的保守性,而N-端为变化区域,且GRP-R和NMB-R氨基酸序列在动物之间保守性较高。     

Periplaneta americana peptide decreases apoptosis of pig-ovary granulosa cells induced by H2O2 through FoxO1

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells and lead to follicular atresia, thereby reducing the number of pigs giving birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Periplaneta americana peptide (PAP) on the apoptosis of the granulosa cells of pig ovaries (PGCs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via FoxO1. PGCs were treated with H₂O₂ to establish a cell apoptosis model. Cell viability was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were detected to reflect the oxidative stress. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and overexpression were undertaken to determine the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3, and immunofluorescence was used to detect FoxO1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PGCs were treated with 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 hr, which resulted in oxidative damage and apoptosis and an apoptosis rate for PGCs of 32.95%. Next, PGCs were treated with 400 μg/ml PAP for 24 hr to repair the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. PAP improved cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated PGCs, the increased MDA level and NO content caused by H₂O₂ stimulation were reversed and the apoptotic rate of PGCs was reduced. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that PAP decreased the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3 in PGCs. The effect of PAP was the same following FoxO1 overexpression. FoxO1 was expressed in the nucleus when stimulated by H₂O₂ or overexpression; however, it migrated to the cytoplasm following PAP treatment. PAP decreased the apoptosis of PGCs induced by H₂O₂ by regulating FoxO1 expression and nuclear translocation.     

合成樟脑中主要杂质的研究

本文研究了我国合成樟脑的组成,用气相色谱和气一质联用方法分析。结果表明,主要杂质是樟脑的同分异构体(小茴香酮,异小茴香酮,异莰酮)和少量醇、烃(龙脑、异龙脑、异莰烷)。内标法分析表明,樟脑的含量通常在95％以上。