Abstract:As an efficient and promising protein engineering strategy, directed evolution includes the construction of mutant libraries and screening of desirable mutants. A rapid and high-throughput screening method has played a critical role in the successful application of directed evolution strategy. We reviewed several high-throughput screening tools which have great potential to be applied in directed evolution. The development of powerful high-throughput screening tools will make great contributions to the advancement of protein engineering.

Abstract:This article describes the nomenclature, history and genetic evolution of duck hepatitis A virus, and updates the epidemiology, clinical symptom and surveillances of duck virus hepatitis A. It also summarizes the present status and progress of duck virus hepatitis A and illustrated the necessity and urgency of its research, which provides rationale for the control of duck hepatitis A virus disease in China.

Abstract:Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, existing in both cytosolic and plastidic compartments of higher plants. Its main function is to provide reducing power (NADPH) and pentose phosphates for reductive biosynthesis and maintenance of the redox state of the cell. In addition, the expression of this enzyme is related to different biotic and abiotic stresses. In this review, we analyzed the isoenzyme, regulation and biological function of G6PDH. Meanwhile, we summarized the progress work of G6PDH involved in stress resistance, gene cloning, enzyme-deficiency and cluster analysis. Problems should be solved were also discussed.

Abstract:In order to characterize a thermostable urate oxidase (Uox) from Microbacterium sp. strain ZZJ4-1, we cloned its gene (uox). The open reading frame of uox contained 894 base pairs and encoded a protein with 297 amino acids. Alignment of gene sequences indicated there was no obvious identity with the most reported uox and that 72% identity was found with uox from Arthrobacter globiformis. We inserted the gene into the plasmid pET-15b to construct an expression vector pET-15b-uox and got it induced expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). After the purification of the recombinant Uox by the His·Bind column, we studied some properties of it. It was composed of subunits with a molecular mass of about 35 kDa. The optimal temperature and pH was 30 ℃ and pH 7.5. It was stable below 65 ℃ and from pH 8.5 to 11.0. The Km value was 0.22 mmol/L with the uric acid as the substrate. Ag+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and SDS could totally inhibit its activity while Tween 20, Tween 80 and Triton X-100 had a slight promotion effect. The thermal stability of this enzyme was the most excellent among the reported recombinant Uox. Based on this property, it would be very useful in the application.

Abstract:Studies on lycopene synthesis in Escherichia coli were not only able to gain the strains with high yield and less by-products, but also able to test functions of genes or gene clusters. In this article, the cDNA sequences of tomato LeGGPS2 and LePSY1 as well as the coding sequence of crtI from Erwinia uredovora, each of which was added a ribosome biding site, were controlled by T7 promoter and terminator alone or combined, and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) to induce lycopene synthesis. The results show that only T7::crtI-LeGGPS2-LePSY1 expressed tri-cistronically could produce lycopene, and 2.124 mg/g dry cell weight of lycopene was obtained when fermented for 5 h at 30 ℃ after mixing 80 μmol/L IPTG at the later logarithmic phase while the seed broth of 1:50 (V/V) was inoculated into LB medium (pH 6.8) containing 3% sucrose and cultured for 8 h at 37 ℃. The results confirmed the function of the prokaryonized LeGGPS2 and LePSY1 and their synergy with crtI, and also laid a foundation to establish an independent lycopene synthetic pathway in the tomato plastid.

Abstract:Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), one of reactive oxygen species, is widely generated in many biological systems, and it mediates various physiological and biochemical process in plants. To investigate the role of H2O2 as a signaling molecule in the process of salicylic acid (SA)-induced Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) accumulation, we separately inspected the cultured cells of Salvia miltiorrhiza with SA, H2O2, Catalase (CAT), 2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5- tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (DMTU) and Imidazole (IMD) to investigate the influence on the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and the accumulation of Sal B. Treatment of S. miltiorrhiza cells with SA resulted in an increase of H2O2, the increase of PAL and TAT and accumulation of Sal B. Exogenous application of 10~30 mmol/L H2O2 was found to effectively increase PAL and TAT activity as well as the Sal B content. CAT, a H2O2 scavenger, eliminated the Sal B-accumulating effects of exogenous H2O2 and SA. These indicated that H2O2 may serve as an upstream signaling molecule in the SA-induced accumulation of Sal B signal transduction pathway. Disposed by DMTU, a chemical trap for H2O2, as observed to be effective in inhibiting SA-induced accumulation of Sal B. IMD strongly inhibits the activity of NADPH oxidase, which is one of the main sources of H2O2 formation in plant cells. IMD treatment strongly inhibited the accumulation of Sal B in cultured cells of S. miltiorrhiza, but the effects of IMD, can be partially reversed by the exogenous SA. The accumulation of Sal B was blocked once the generation of H2O2 by NADPH oxidase was inhibited, and H2O2 served as signaling molecule mediated the SA-induced Sal B accumulation.

Abstract:How root system responds to various environmental factors has not yet been fully elucidated. In root, the expression of OsPK1 is mainly in the maturation zone and the root-hair zone of root tip. It is unknown whether the uptake of exogenous sugars by rice seedlings is affected by downregulation of OsPK1. In this study, we used wild-type (WT) and ospk1 rice mutant plants to investigate the uptake of exogenous sugars and the responses of rice seedlings by adding sucrose to 1/2 MS medium or not. The contents of sucrose, glucose, fructose and galactose in leaf blades, sheathes and roots of rice seedlings were measured by GC-MS analysis. The result revealed that direct contact between root and exogenous sugars greatly elevates sugar levels of rice seedlings. And the root length of these seedlings is much longer than that of the seedlings grown in medium omitting exogenous sugars, suggesting that uptake of exogenous sugars by root promotes root elongation. Downregulation of OsPK1 has effects on sugar metabolism and the uptake of exogenous sugars. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR result showed that the expressions of OsPIP2;4, OsPIP2;5 and OsTIP2;1 (three aquaporin genes) in root were greatly upregulated by the direct contact between root and exogenous sugars.

Abstract:To evaluate the reagent 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole used for isotopic labeling in quantitative proteomics, we synthesized 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole and its tetradeuterated analog in three steps. Prior to tryptic cleavage, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was reduced and alkylated. Tryptic peptides were derivatized with an equal volume of either D0 or D4 and D4-derivatized peptides were mixed with at variable ratio (from 10:1 to 1:5) prior to MS and MS/MS analysis. We used Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and Electro Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) to evaluate the quantitative capability of labeling. The specificity of the reagent is excellent: only lysine side chains were modified among tryptic peptides. MALDI and ESI ionization modes not only could achieve the quantification of differentially expressed proteins but also facilitate the de novo sequencing. This side-chain modification can be used for quantitative analysis with proteomic strategies involving liquid chromatography. Reverse phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) kept a good resolution, and the introduction of D atoms did not introduce a variation of retention time between heavy and light peptides in RPLC.

Abstract:Wheat grain peroxidase 1 (WP1) belonged to class Ⅲ plant peroxidase with cofactor heme, which not only has antifungal activity, but also influences the processing quality of flour. In order to enhance functional expression of WP1 in prokaryotic system by increasing endogenous heme synthesis, we constructed a recombinant plasmid pACYC-A-L containing hemA and hemL of Esherichia coli. Then, we co-transformed it into host strain T7 Express with secretive expression vector (pMAL-p4x-WP1) or non-secretive expression vector (pET21a-MBP-WP1), respectively. The MBP-WP1 fusion protein was further purified by amylose affinity chromatography and its peroxidase activity was assayed using 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) as substrate. At 12 h after induction at 28 degree, the extracellular 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) production of T7 Express/pACYC-A-L was up to 146.73 mg/L, simultaneously the extracellular porphrins also increased dramatically. The peroxidase activity of functional MBP-WP1 obtained from T7 Express/ (pACYC-A-L + pMAL-p4x-WP1) was 14.6-folds of that purified from T7 Express/ pET21a-MBP-WP1. This study not only successfully enhanced functional expression of wheat peroxidase 1 in Esherichia coli, but also provided beneficial references for other important proteins with cofactor heme.

Abstract:To construct, express and purify Exendin-4 analogue and detect its biological activity in vivo. Insert gene sequence into fusion partner of pED plasmid which is helped to purification, entitled the new recombinant plasmid 5＃. Exendin-4 analogue polypeptide gene and fusion partner gene was linked by acid hydrolysis gene, transformed to E.coli BL21 and the fusion protein was induced by lactose. after acid hydrolysis, the Exendin-4 analogue polypeptide separated from fusion chaperon. Anion charge chromatography were used to further purification. 6 to 8 week-old ICR mice were injected(s.c) with Exendin-4 analogue, blood glucose and plasma insulin level was detected in different period after oral glucose tolerance test. The results show that high expression of inclusion body was induced by lactose, which accounted for 40% of germ proteins, the Exendin-4 analogue was obtained with the purity of 91.8% after being purified by anion charge chromatography. Bioactivity assay showed that the level of blood glucose of mouse which treated with exendin-4 analogue was obviously decreased to normal(P<0.01), and the level of plasma insulin was increased obviously (P<0.01).

Abstract:To develop a specific, rapid, and convenient immunochromatography assay (ICA) to detect melamine residues in dairy products and feed sample. Colloidal gold particles labeled with purified monoclonal antibody against anti-melamine were used as the detector reagent. The MEL-OVA (the conjugate of melamine and ovalbumin) and goat anti-mouse melamine IgG were blotted on the test and control regions of nitrocellulose membrane. The strip was then assembled with sample pad, absorbing pad, and dorsal shield. The limit of detection (LOD) is 50 mg/L. The test trip was applied to detect melamine in milk, milk powder, and animal feeds, with detection limits of 100 mg/L for milk, 100 ng/g for milk powder, 200 ng/g for feeds. Compared to LC-MS/MS, the ICA could be used to screen a large number of dairy products and feed samples for melamine residue.