Analysis of a Secreted Aspartic Peptidase Disruption Mutant of Glomerella cingulata

Peptidases have been implicated in the pathogenicity of fungi that cause disease in plants. Expression of the secreted aspartic peptidase gene (gcsap), of a Glomerella cingulata isolate pathogenic on apples, is induced during appressorium formation. To determine whether the secreted aspartic peptidase (GcSAP) is essential to pathogenicity, gcsap was disrupted using a vector containing a 637 bp fragment of genomic DNA that encodes the sequence spanning the two active site aspartic acid (Asp) residues. To ensure that the truncated gcsap gene products could not have residual peptidase activity the codons for the active site residues Asp¹¹² and Asp²⁹⁷ were both mutated to histidine residues. Both PCR and Southern analysis confirmed disruption of gcsap. Neither gcsap mRNA nor GcSAP activity was detected in the disruption mutant. Pathogenicity tests on fruit from three apple cultivars showed that GcSAP was not required for pathogenicity. The disruption mutant grew on medium containing protein as the sole source of nitrogen because G. cingulata secretes a previously undetected peptidase(s). A serine peptidase that had a pH optimum between pH 7.0 and 8.0 and a K _m of 0.25 mM for the synthetic substrate succinyl-Ala–Ala–Pro–Phe-p-nitroanilide was identified.     

陆地棉一个丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶蛋白基因的克隆与表达分析

通过RT-PCR获得一个编码棉花丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶类似蛋白全长的cDNA片段,其编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥ATPK3的相似度达到82%,这个基因暂被命名为GhPK1。基因全编码区包括1038个核苷酸,编码346个氨基酸的蛋白。GhPK1的编码产物在265~270个氨基酸处有一个跨膜区并可能结合在内质网膜上。GhPK1在种子和纤维中的表达水平较其它组织高。另外,GhPK1的表达量在受到盐胁迫后上升,说明GhPK1可能参与了盐胁迫反应。     

A Novel Gelatinase from Marine Flocculibacter collagenilyticus SM1988: Characterization and Potential Application in Collagen Oligopeptide-Rich Hydrolysate Preparation

Although the S8 family in the MEROPS database contains many peptidases, only a few S8 peptidases have been applied in the preparation of bioactive oligopeptides. Bovine bone collagen is a good source for preparing collagen oligopeptides, but has been so far rarely applied in collagen peptide preparation. Here, we characterized a novel S8 gelatinase, Aa2_1884, from marine bacterium Flocculibacter collagenilyticus SM1988^T, and evaluated its potential application in the preparation of collagen oligopeptides from bovine bone collagen. Aa2_1884 is a multimodular S8 peptidase with a distinct domain architecture from other reported peptidases. The recombinant Aa2_1884 over-expressed in Escherichia coli showed high activity toward gelatin and denatured collagens, but no activity toward natural collagens, indicating that Aa2_1884 is a gelatinase. To evaluate the potential of Aa2_1884 in the preparation of collagen oligopeptides from bovine bone collagen, three enzymatic hydrolysis parameters, hydrolysis temperature, hydrolysis time and enzyme-substrate ratio (E/S), were optimized by single factor experiments, and the optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined to be reaction at 60 ℃ for 3 h with an E/S of 400 U/g. Under these conditions, the hydrolysis efficiency of bovine bone collagen by Aa2_1884 reached 95.3%. The resultant hydrolysate contained 97.8% peptides, in which peptides with a molecular weight lower than 1000 Da and 500 Da accounted for 55.1% and 39.5%, respectively, indicating that the hydrolysate was rich in oligopeptides. These results indicate that Aa2_1884 likely has a promising potential application in the preparation of collagen oligopeptide-rich hydrolysate from bovine bone collagen, which may provide a feasible way for the high-value utilization of bovine bone collagen.     

玉米受伤诱导基因Wip1的启动子克隆及表达分析

【目的】植物蛋白酶抑制剂是抵抗动物摄食和病原侵染的重要防御蛋白。玉米Wip1(wound-induced protein)基因属于Bowman-Birk蛋白酶抑制剂(BBI)家族,了解Wip1(wound-induced protein)的启动子活性和Wip1组织表达特性、受胁迫诱导表达情况和在不同受伤时间下的表达模式,为抗虫基因在植物中应用提供新信息。【方法】以玉米叶片组织的cDNA为模板,采用克隆测序技术获得Wip1启动子序列和该基因的cDNA序列。将所得启动子与植物表达载体p1300连接,构建重组表达载体p1300-Wip1-GUS,并采用冻融法将其转入农杆菌LBA4404中。利用农杆菌介导的瞬时表达体系在玉米愈伤组织中对Wip1启动子的表达活性进行分析。利用热酚法提取玉米相应组织的总RNA,纯化后于含甲醛的变性胶中电泳分离,并将RNA转移到尼龙膜上,用[α-32P]dCTP标记探针的Northern blot技术对Wip1在玉米不同组织、不同胁迫条件、不同受伤时间下的表达模式进行分析。【结果】获得的启动子序列全长1 737 bp,cDNA全长512 bp。将含有重组质粒p1300-Wip1-GUS的农杆菌侵染玉米愈伤组织,3 d后,GUS染色显示侵染部位变蓝,说明所克隆的启动子在玉米愈伤中能启动GUS正常表达。基于Northern blot技术的植物组织表达结果显示,正常情况下,Wip1仅在胚芽鞘中有一定的表达,在受伤后的胚芽鞘、根、茎、叶、雌穗、雄穗、花丝及苞叶中均大量表达;在所设置的胁迫处理时间(2 h)内,Wip1不受缺氧、低温、脱水、PEG、ABA、NaCL和IAA胁迫诱导,仅受伤害胁迫诱导表达;Wip1在玉米叶片受伤胁迫下,玉米叶片受伤2 h时,检测到了Wip1表达,4—24 h时表达量迅速提高且处于持续增加趋势。【结论】玉米Wip1特异地受机械伤害诱导表达;Wip1启动子是一种有效的伤害诱导特异性启动子。     

Expression Patterns of the Serine Protease Gene AlSP 3 in Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) at Different Temperatures

As an important digestive enzyme gene, the serine protease gene AlSP 3 plays a key role in Apolygus lucorum for digesting conventional cotton. To understand the effect of different temperatures on the expression level of AlSP 3, we analyzed the expression patterns of AlSP 3 in A. lucorum reared at different temperatures using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that at the normal temperature of 24 ℃, the expression of AlSP 3 in A .lucorum at different nymphal stages was similar. The expressions of AlSP 3 in the female adult at the pre-mating stage and the male adult at post-mating stage were 19.71- and 7.16-fold higher than their control at the 1^st nymphal stage, respectively, which were significantly higher than at any other stages. However, expression in the 4^th to 5^th A. lucorum at the nymphal stage increased with rising temperature in the range of 21～30 ℃. At 30 ℃, the expression of AlSP 3 in the 2nd to 5^th A. lucorum was the highest. The expression levels of AlSP 3 in adult A. lucorum reared at different temperatures during the new emergence and pre-mating stages were significantly higher than that of the control reared at 24 ℃ (P < 0.01), while the expression during the post-mating stage at 18℃ was higher than that at other temperatures. When incubated at extreme temperatures (4 ℃ and 40 ℃), the expression of AlSP 3 in female and male adult A. lucorum was significantly higher than that at 24 ℃ (P < 0.01). Taken together, our results showed that the external environment temperature and the internal stage of A. lucorum or its sex all had significant effects on the expression of AlSP 3 in A. lucorum (P < 0.01), and that there was some interactions between them. Therefore, AlSP 3 is very important for the female adult A. lucorum to obtain nutrition at the early stages and temperature is an important limiting factor for the expression of AlSP 3.     

猪链球菌丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶基因缺失株的构建及其致病性

为了研究丝氨酸/苏氨酸磷激酶(STK)在猪链球菌致病过程中的作用,利用大肠杆菌-猪链球菌穿梭质粒p SET4s构建STK基因缺失株△stk。结果显示,stk基因缺失后,缺失株△stk易形成长链状结构;缺失株的半致死剂量(LD50)较亲本株高7倍,对CD1小鼠的致病能力降低;体内定植试验结果表明缺失株△stk在小鼠体内各器官的定植能力显著降低。这些数据表明STK与猪链球菌2型(SS2)的致病性相关。     

二肽酰肽酶Ⅳ在金华火腿加工过程中的活力变化

 以浙江兰溪长白×金华猪杂交猪后腿为原料，按传统工艺加工金华火腿，分别在腌制前、腌制结束、晒腿结束、成熟中期、成熟结束和后熟结束6个工艺点随机取5条腿的股二头肌，测定了各样品的常规理化指标和二肽酰肽酶Ⅳ（dipeptidyl peptidase Ⅳ, DPPⅣ）在pH7.0和温度37 ℃条件下的潜在活力；借助Design-experts 6.0软件，用响应曲面法研究了温度、食盐含量、硝酸钠含量和pH值对DPPⅣ活力的影响，并用响应曲面回归方程对金华火腿加工各阶段结束后的肌肉DPPⅣ实际活力进行了预测。结果表明，在金华火腿加工过程中，随加工温度和股二头肌pH逐渐升高，食盐含量持续增加，DPPⅣ潜在活力持续下降；DPPⅣ实际活力受加工温度、肌肉pH和食盐含量的显著影响(P<0.05)，DPPⅣ在金华火腿整个加工过程中一直保持较高的潜在活力，但其实际活力一直很低，最高为其潜在活力的3.12%。     

二肽酰肽酶IV在金华火腿加工过程中的活力变化

以浙江兰溪长白×金华猪杂交猪后腿为原料,按传统工艺加工金华火腿,分别在腌制前、腌制结束、晒腿结束、成熟中期、成熟结束和后熟结束6个工艺点随机取5条腿的股二头肌,测定了各样品的常规理化指标和二肽酰肽酶(dipeptidylpeptidaseIV,DPP)在pH7.0和温度37℃条件下的潜在活力;借助Design-experts6.0软件,用响应曲面法研究了温度、食盐含量、硝酸钠含量和pH值对DPPIV活力的影响,并用响应曲面回归方程对金华火腿加工各阶段结束后的肌肉DPPIV实际活力进行了预测。结果表明,在金华火腿加工过程中,随加工温度和股二头肌pH逐渐升高,食盐含量持续增加,DPPIV潜在活力持续下降;DPPIV实际活力受加工温度、肌肉pH和食盐含量的显著影响(P<0.05),DPPⅣ在金华火腿整个加工过程中一直保持较高的潜在活力,但其实际活力一直很低,最高为其潜在活力的3.12%。     

Changes of urinary exosomal leucine aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the changes of urinary exosomal enzymes and the correlation with diabetic nephropathy.METHODS: Thirty-four healthy volunteers and 127 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included in the study. The healthy volunteers served as control. The patients with T2DM were divided into 3 groups based on their 24 h urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR): 50 patients with microalbuminuria in early DN group (DN1), 34 patients with macroalbuminuria in overt DN group (DN2) and 43 patients without albuminuria in DM group. The levels of urine exosomal leucine aminopeptidase(exosome-LAP) and exosomal dipeptidyl peptidase 4(exosome-DPP4) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The following methods were used to determine the biochemical parameters: liquid chromatography for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), chemical modification method for cholesterol (CH), Jaffe-kinetic assay for creatinine (CR) and urease-GLDH method for blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Multiple stepwise linear regressions were used to analyze the relationship of exosome-LAP or exosome-DPP4 with HbA1c, CH, UACR, CR and BUN. RESULTS: The levels of exosome-LAP and exosome-DPP4 in DM, DN1 and DN2 groups were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01). The exosome-LAP in DN2 group was significantly higher than that in DM group. Correlation analysis showed that the levels of urinary exosome-LAP and exosome-DPP4 were positively correlated with HbA1c, CH, UACR, CR and BUN. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that CH and UACR were independent determinants for exosome-LAP (P<0.01), and UACR and HbA1c were independent determinants for exosome-DPP4 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Urine exosome-LAP and exosome-DPP4 are correlated with the severity of diabetic nephropathy. These parameters may serve as clinical markers for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of diabetic nephropathy.     

桔小实蝇丝氨酸蛋白酶基因（BdorSer）的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆桔小实蝇丝氨酸蛋白酶基因（Bactrocera dorsalis serine protease,BdorSer）,研究BdorSer在不同组织和不同发育时期的表达情况,探索其可能参与的生理过程。【方法】采用反转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和快速扩增cDNA末端(RACE)技术克隆BdorSer,对其编码蛋白氨基酸序列信息和进化关系进行分析;采用实时荧光定量PCR（real-time PCR）方法,研究BdorSer mRNA在桔小实蝇不同组织及不同发育时期的相对表达量。【结果】克隆获得了BdorSer,该基因ORF全长1 239 bp。氨基酸序列一致性分析表明,BdorSer与拟暗果蝇（Drosophila pseudoobscura）丝氨酸蛋白酶（登录号XP_001352960）氨基酸序列的一致性最高,为65.8%。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,BdorSer mRNA在桔小实蝇雌雄虫的不同组织中都有表达,且在触角中的表达量最高,分别是雌虫胸部的43.6和26.8倍。BdorSer mRNA在生殖节中表现出较大的性别差异表达特征,雄虫生殖节中的mRNA表达量是雌虫的18.25倍。BdorSer mRNA几乎在昆虫发育的各个时期都有表达,其中在卵及1,2,3龄幼虫中的表达量分别是10 d 蛹的 0.68,1.63,4.31和15.8倍。BdorSer mRNA随蛹的发育其表达量逐渐减低,1,4,7 d蛹中的表达量分别是10 d蛹的325,125和41倍。【结论】克隆获得了BdorSer,其表达的BdorSer蛋白可能在雄虫的生殖生理中发挥了作用,同时也可能参与了桔小实蝇的变态发育过程,尤其是1 d蛹的发育过程。