Bacterial Expression and Purification of an Active ω-Atracotoxin-Arl b from Spider Atrax robustus

The ω-atracotoxin-Arlb toxin （ω-ACTX-Arl b） is one of the arthropod-selective peptide neurotoxins from the venom of Australian funnel-web spider Atrax robustus. The gene of Arlb was synthesized and cloned into pET-32a（＋） vector to allow expression of Arlb as a fusion protein with thioredoxin and the His-tag （rTrx-Arlb） in E. coli BL21 （DE3）. The optimal condition for inducing the expression ofrTrx-Arl b was 1.0 mmol L-1 IPTG for 6 h at 28℃. The fusion protein rTrx- Arlb was expressed in soluble form and was purified effectively by HisTrap HP affinity column and rpHLPC and a final yield of purified rTrx-Arlb was 95 mg from 1 000 mL E. coli culture. The LD50 values for Mythimna separate and Tenebrio molitor were 111.66 and 11.04 ug g-1 determined by injection of the purified rTrx-Arlb. The results indicated that the recombinant Arlb protein was successfully expressed in E. coli and it was high toxicity against tested insects.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular protease from Clonostachys rosea

An extracellular protease from Clonostachys rosea (syn . Gliocladium roseum) was purified to SDS-PAGE homogeneity with 14-fold purification by ultrafiltration、ammonium sulfate precipetation、hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the protease was 32 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE. The N-terminal sequence of first 10 amino acids was A-T-Q-S-N-A-P-W-G-L. This enzyme exhibited pH and temperature optima of 9-10 and 60 ℃, res…     

Expression,Purification and Structural Characterization of Mouse Talin-1 Head Δ139-168

Talin-1 head (hereinafter referred to as TH) is the head structure of talin protein,which contains a four-point-one-protein/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) domain.Its F1 domain contains an unstructured loop of 30 amino acids (139-168),which does not interact with other domains.Because TH doesn't get the crystal structure and whether the unstructured loop has obvious influence on the TH secondary structure,therefore,the truncated talin-1 head Δ139-168 (hereinafter referred to as THΔ) was constructed and its structure and the impact of stability after truncation were analyzed.Molecular biology and structural biology methods were used to construct prokaryotic expression vectors of TH and THΔ,explore and optimize the expression conditions of recombinants,and they were purified by affinity chromatography and FPLC gel filtration chromatography.Finally,a large number of stable,high-purity protein samples were prepared successfully.The physicochemical properties and structural stability of the proteins were investigated by dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism.The results showed that the THΔ secondary structure of the truncated body did not change significantly,the structural stability was enhanced and the resistance to guanidine hydrochloride and high temperature was stronger.     

Purification and Characterization of α-galactosidase from Rhizopus sp.A03

根霉(Rhizopus sp.A03)发酵豆渣产α-半乳糖苷酶,粗酶液依次经过三相分离、Sephadex G-100凝胶过滤获得了电泳纯的α-半乳糖苷酶,纯化了2.3倍,总酶活回收率达到25.9％,SDS-PAGE显示其相对分子质量为168.8 kDa.该酶水解对硝基苯-α-D-吡喃半乳糖苷的最适pH值为4.5,最适温度为45℃, 表观Km值为0.340±0.026 mmol/L,表观kcat/Km值为2.866×104 mol-l/(Ls);水解蜜二糖和棉子糖的表观速率均为10.0μmol/(h·mg);水解活性受Fe3+、Cu2+、Mn2+和Hg+等离子的强烈抑制,但Fe2+对酶活性具有显著的激活作用.该酶活性在pH4.0～8.9保持稳定,在45℃时保温60 min,残余酶活达到了77.4％.     

Isolation and Purification of Bovine Colostrum sIgA and IgG

To further utilize bioactive substance such as bovine colostrum sIgA and IgG,sIgA and IgG were isolated and purified simultaneously by salting out,ultrafiltration and gel chromatography,etc.The analysis of results were showed quantitatively by non-hydrogenized SDS-PAGE,and quanlities of sIgA and IgG were respectively detected by Western Blot.The results showed that the purity and yield of bovine colostrum sIgA were 85.3%and 42.8%,respectively,while the purity and yield of bovine colostrum IgG were respectively 97.2%and 64.4%.This preparative method provides theoretical and experimental foundation for sIgA industrial production.     

Construction of Prokaryotic Expression Vector of Mouse Nanog Gene and Its Expression

The aim of this study is to construct a prokaryotic expression vector of mouse Nanog gene and to express it in E. coli. A pair of primers was designed according to digestion sites in plasmid pGEX-KG and the Nanog gene sequence published by GenBank. The DNA fragment of 918 bp was amplified by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） from the pNA992 recombinant plasmid with Nanog gene, then cloned into pGEX-KG and transformed into the host E. coli strain TG Ⅰ. The sequence of the fragment was matched with the original sequence of pNA992. It indicated that fusion expression vector, pGEX-KG- Nanog, was constructed successfully. The pGEX-KG-Nanog plasmid was extracted from E. coli strain TG Ⅰ and was transformed into BL21（DE3） for expression. After induction by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside （IPTG） at 37℃, the expression product of Nanog gene was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE）, and the expression condition was optimized. Nanog fusion protein was successfully expressed in the form of inclusion bodies. The molecular weight of the inclusion body was 63 kDa. Meanwhile, the optimum condition for the expression of Nanog fusion protein was induced with 0.8 mmol L^-1 IPTG for 5 h. The mouse Nanog gene was successfully expressed in E. coli, which laid a foundation for the purification of Nanog protein and for the preparation of polyclonal antibody.     

Expression of an Antisense BcMF3 Affects Microsporogenesis and Pollen Tube Growth in Arabidopsis

In an effort to provide some information relevant to the molecular mechanism of genic male sterility in plants, BcMF3 gene that encodes a pectin methylesterase was isolated from the fertile B line of Chinese cabbage-pak-choi （Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis, syn. B. campestris ssp. chinensis）. In the present paper, a 455-bp antisense cDNA fragment of BcMF3 was introduced to binary vector pB1121, and then was mobilized into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404. The A. tumefaciens harboring the BcMF3 antisense fragment was transformed to Arabidopsis thaliana by floral dip. Scanning electronic microscopy examination demonstrated that 47.8% of BcMF3 antisense pollen grains exhibited abnormal shape, which might lead to decreased germination of pollens, suggesting that the product of BcMF3 gene plays an important role during microsporogenesis. The evidence on burst of 45.7% of BcMF3 antisense pollen tubes in vitro and a majority of BcMF3 antisense pollens restricted within the stigmatic tissue revealed that BcMF3 is involved in aiding the growth of pollen tubes. The results suggest that BcMF3 acts at both stages of microsporogensis and pollen tube growth.     

Isolation and Structural Identification of Herbicidal Active Substance from Root of Flaveria bident （L.） Kuntze

In order to understand the composition and structure of herbicidal active substance from the root of Flaveria bidentis （L.） Kuntze, the isolation and structural identification were researched in this paper. The crude extract from the root ofF. bidentis （L.） Kuntze was extracted by petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and water saturation of n-butyl alcohol, respectively, and the extraction fluid was separated by using the method of TLC, then the main fraction was separated by HPLC, and the structure of the herbicidal active substance was analyzed by LC-MS, elemental analysis and ~H-NMR. The results showed that the petroleum extraction had the strongest herbicidal activity, and the purple blue stripe separated by TLC had the strongest effect on Digitaria sanguinalis. The herbicidal active substance was identified as ct-terthienyl according to the data of LC-MS, elemental analysis and 1H-NMR.     

Construction of Recombinant Expression Plasmid pYELmleA of mleA Gene and Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

苹果酸-乳酸酶是进行MLF的功能酶。笔者进行酒酒球菌SD-2a的苹果酸-乳酸酶基因重组表达质粒的构建。利用来自重组质粒pLmleA的，mleA基因，以PGK1强启动子和ADH1终止子为调控元件。以大肠杆菌-酵母菌穿梭质粒YEp352为载体，构建了重组表达质粒pYELmleA，并转化酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)YS58。酵母转化子用含有亮氨酸、组氨酸和色氨酸的YNB平板筛选鉴定。SDS—PAGE检测表明获得的转化子表达了约60KD的目标蛋白。斑点杂交检测表明目的基因mleA转化到受体菌中。获得的转化子在添加了L-苹果酸的培养基中培养4d；取培养液上清用HPLC检测L-苹果酸及L-乳酸含量，采用t检验进行差异显著性分析，结果表明mleA基因进行了功能性的表达，将L-苹果酸转化成L-乳酸，L-苹果酸和L-乳酸含量分别与对照差异极显著和显著，L-乳酸的生成量为1002—1106mg／L。苹果酸的相对降低率为19．16—22．34％。     

Sequencing and Analysis Genome of a Ⅵb Subgenotype of Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from Semi-Muscovy Duck

根据GenBank上发布的新城疫病毒基因组序列,设计了9对引物,对从福建福州地区发病半番鸭场分离的新城疫病毒FJ-SMD-03株进行了基因组cDNA扩增测序和分析.结果表明:FJ-SMD-03的基因组序列由15 192 nt组成,在NP基因非编码区比Lasota株多了6个核苷酸ACACTC;基因组由6个ORF组成,即3’-NP-P-M-F-HN-L-5’序列.BLAST结果显示:FJ-SMD-03基因组核苷酸与1.3、carrier-pigeon/Guangdong/2008、pigeon/Italy/1166/00、AV324/96和dove/Italy/2736/00相似性最高,达94.9％～98.5％;与疫苗株Lasota、Mukteswar和B1的相似性最低,为80.7％～83.3％;与我国标准强毒株F48E8及2002年从福建番鸭中分离到的基因Ⅶd亚型强毒株Muscovy duck/China(Fujian)/FP1/02相似性较低,分别为82.5％和87.1％.F蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸序列为112 R-R-Q-K-R-F117,具有强毒株序列特征,进化树分析发现,FJ-SMD-03属于ClassⅡ类基因Ⅵb亚型,证明鸭群中有Ⅵb亚型NDV强毒株;FJ-SMD-03株NDV与1.3、carrier-pigeon/Guangdong/2008和pigeon/Italy/1166/00亲缘关系较近,与carrier-pigeon/Guangdong/2008形成一个小的进化分支,推测FJ-SMD-03株与carrier-pigeon/Guangdong/2008和pigeon/Italy/1166/00株来源于共同的祖代毒株,可能与鸽携带的病毒有关.     

Cloning and Expression Analysis of a Brassinosteroid Biosynthetic Enzyme Gene, GhDWF1, from Cotton （Gossypium hirsuturm L.）

Brassinosteroids （BRs） are an important class of plant steroidal hormones that are essential in a wide variety of physiological processes. To determine the effects of BRs on the development of cotton fibers, through screening cotton fiber EST database and contigging the candidate ESTs, a key gene （GhDWF1） involved in the upstream biosynthetic pathway of BRs was cloned from developing fibers of upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） cv. Xuzhou 142. The full length of the cloned cDNA is 1 849 bp, including a 37 bp 5＇-untranslated region, an ORF of 1 692 bp, and a 120 bp 3＇-untranslated region. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 563 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 65 kD. The deduced amino acid sequence has high homology with the BR biosynthetic enzyme, DWARF1/DIMINUTO, from rice, maize, pea, tomato, and Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the typical conserved structures, such as the transmembrane domain, the FAD- dependent oxidase domain, and the FAD-binding site, are present in the GhDWF1 protein. The Southern blot indicated that the GhDWF1 gene is a single copy in upland cotton genome. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the highest level of GhDWF1 expression was detected in 0 DPA （day post anthesis） ovule （with fibers） while the lowest level was observed in cotyledon. The GhDWF1 gene presents high expression levels in root, young stem, and fiber, especially, at the fiber developmental stage of secondary cell wall accumulation. Moreover, the expression level was higher in ovules （with fibers） of wildtype （Xuzhou 142） than in ovules of fuzzless-lintless mutant at the same developmental stages （0 and 4 DPA）. The results suggest that the GhDWF1 gene plays a crucial role in fiber development.     

Isolation and Expression Analysis of Two Genes Encoding Cinnamate 4-Hydroxylase from Cotton （Gossypium hirsutum）

Two genes （GhC4H1 and GhC4H2） that encode putative cotton cinnamate 4-hydroxylases that catalyze the second step in the phenylpropanoid pathway were isolated from developing cotton fibers. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 each contain open reading frames of 1 518 base pairs （bp） in length and both encode proteins consisting of 505 amino acid residues. They are 90.89% identical to each other at the amino acid sequence level and belong to class I of plant C4Hs. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 genomic DNA are 2 247 and 2 161 bp long, respectively, and contain two introns located at conserved positions relative to the coding sequence. GhC4HI and GhC4H2 promoters were isolated and found to contain many cis-elements （boxes P, L and AC-1 element） previously identified in the promoters of other phenylpropanoid pathway genes. Histochemical staining showed GUS expression driven by the GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 promoters in ovules and fibers tissues. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 were also widely expressed in other cotton tissues. GhC4H2 expression reached its highest level during the elongation stage of fiber development, whereas GhC4H1 expression increased during the secondary wall development period in cotton fibers. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical role of GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 in cotton fiber development.     

Identification and Expression of a β-actin Gene from Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel （Psocoptera： Liposcelididae）

A β-actin gene, Libβ-actinl, from the psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila, was isolated, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The cDNA sequence was 1 281 bp in length and contained an open reading frame of 1 131 bp encoding 376 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 41.82 kDa. According to a BlastN search, the coding region shared the highest identity (97%) with Pediculus humanus actin 5C, while the deduced amino acid sequence was completely identical to a mutant of Drosophila melanogaster actin 5C. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences confirmed the high similarity between Libβ-actinl and homologs in other insect species. The 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the Libβ-actinl mRNA had a high A+U content (approximately 75%) and contained three repeats of the AUUUUUA and AUUUA motifs, which may play a role in regulating mRNA decay. The expression of Libβ-actinl was further analyzed in insecticide induced and control psocids. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in expression of Libβ-actinl between the induced and control groups, suggesting that Libβ-actinl may be an appropriate internal control for the gene expression profiling in this insect. Furthermore, Libβ-actinl was also heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, which provided a basis to investigate the physiological functions of actin genes in the psocid.