Abstract:Zinc-finger proteins have been widely studied due to their highly conserved structures and DNA-binding specificity of zinc-finger domains. However, researches on the zinc-finger proteins from microorganisms, especially those from prokaryotes, are still very limited. This review focuses on the latest progress on microbial zinc-finger proteins, especially those from prokaryotes and the application of artificial zinc-finger proteins in the breeding of robust strains. Artificial zinc-finger proteins with transcriptional activation or repression domain can regulate the global gene transcription of microbial cells to acquire improved phenotypes, such as stress tolerance to heat, ethanol, butanol, and osmotic pressure. Using the zinc-finger domain as DNA scaffold in the construction of enzymatic system can enhance the catalytic efficiency and subsequently the production of specific metabolites. Currently, zinc-finger domains used in the construction of artificial transcription factor are usually isolated from mammalian cells. In the near future, novel transcription factors can be designed for strain development based on the natural zinc-finger domains from different microbes, which may be used to regulate the global gene expression of microbial cells more efficiently.

Abstract:Resveratrol synthase (RS) plays a key role in resveratrol (Res) biosynthesis. RS gene has been formerly reported to be transformed into many plant species and microorganisms, and to play certain roles in metabolic and regulation processes. In this paper, the transformations of RS gene in plants, and the related changes of biological properties, such as metabolites, anti-pathogen activities, anti-radical properties, and developmental characters in transgenic plants, as well as the production of resveratrol in microbes by utilizing RS gene were summarized. Moreover, the application prospects of RS gene in bioengineering were also addressed.

Abstract:Taxol is a kind of isoprenoid with strong anticancer activity. It is difficult to be obtained because of its low concentration in nature, which hinders its application in cancer treatment. Recently, biosynthesis methods for taxol production have attracted more attentions. Several systems including Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Physcomitrella patens, Arabidopsis, tomato and ginseng were explored. This review focuses on the advance in biosynthesis of taxol in different systems and features the bottleneck of scale fermentation for producing the intermediates. At the same time some advices for the further were given. At last, the future and character of Physcomitrella patens system used in taxol combinatorial biosynthesis were analyzed based on our lab’s research.

Abstract:Industrial microorganisms are subject to various stress conditions, including products and substrates inhibitions. Therefore, improvement of stress tolerance is of great importance for industrial microbial production. Acetic acid is one of the major inhibitors in the cellulosic hydrolysates, which affects seriously on cell growth and metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive response and tolerance of acetic acid of S. cerevisiae benefit breeding of robust strains of industrial yeast for more efficient production. In recent years, more insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying acetic acid tolerance have been revealed through analysis of global gene expression and metabolomics analysis, as well as phenomics analysis by single gene deletion libraries. Novel genes related to response to acetic acid and improvement of acetic acid tolerance have been identified, and novel strains with improved acetic acid tolerance were constructed by modifying key genes. Metal ions including potassium and zinc play important roles in acetic acid tolerance in S. cerevisiae, and the effect of zinc was first discovered in our previous studies on flocculating yeast. Genes involved in cell wall remodeling, membrane transport, energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis and transport, as well as global transcription regulation were discussed. Exploration and modification of the molecular mechanisms of yeast acetic acid tolerance will be done further on levels such as post-translational modifications and synthetic biology and engineering; and the knowledge obtained will pave the way for breeding robust strains for more efficient bioconversion of cellulosic materials to produce biofuels and bio-based chemicals.

Abstract:A truncated mutant of the Open Reading Frame 2 (ORF2, aa384-606) was amplified from cDNA of genotype IV hepatitis E virus (HEV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), subcloned to expression plasmid pTO-T7, and expressed in Escherichia coli. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to detect and identify the recombinant protein, namely rP24. After washing of inclusion bodies, dissolving in denaturing agents, refoldeding by dialysis, ion exchange chromatography and gel chromatography, dynamic light scatter was used to study the hydrated radius of rP24. Western blotting was applied to detect the immunoreactivity of rP24, and mouse immunity test and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to evaluate the immunogenicity and the detection rate of HEV positive and negative serum. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting show that rP24 was highly expressed in the form of inclusion bodies after induction, and had strong immunoreactivity to monoclonal antibody (McAb) 15B2. After a multi-step purification of rP24, Western blotting indicated that the purified rP24 also had strong immunoreactivity to neutralizing McAb 8C11 and HEV positive serum, suggesting that rP24 simulated the nature structure of HEV capsid protein. Dynamic light scatter demonstrated that the average hydration radius of purified rP24 was 7.48 nm. The mouse immunity test showed that the purified rP24 also had good immunogenicity, and the period of serum antibodies converted from negative to positive was very short, but the antibodies maintained more than 20 weeks. Indirect ELISA tests showed that the detection rate of was the same as anti-HEV-IgG diagnostic kit (Wan Tai corporation). Taken together, the rP24 simulated the neutralizing epitopes of natural HEV, and had strong immunoreactivity and immunogenicity. It provided a basis for the further investigation of the difference of infection mechanism between genotype I and genotype IV HEV.

Abstract:To evaluate the immunities of biodegradable microsphere as a release delivery system for DNA vaccine against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus, in our study, silk fibroin/chitosan microsphere adjuvant was prepared with a precipitation/coacervation method. Both glutaraldehyde and Na2SO4 solution were used in cross-linking. No immune chicken were intramuscularly inoculated at 14 day-old and boosted 2 weeks later. The results show that glutaraldehyde destroyed the DNA activity of the vaccine whereas Na2SO4 solution did not. Factors of the chitosan concentration 0.5% (pH 5.0), silk fibroin concentration 0.6%, plasmid DNA (500 μg/mL) dissolved in 2% Na2SO4 solution were optimized to produce microsphere, with a loading capacity of 89.14%. The average particle size of SF-CS/pCI-VP2/4/3 microsphere is 1.98 μm, and it can protect the loading DNA vaccine from DNase I digestion. Data from anti IBDV ELISA antibodies in the serum show that immunization activity of the microsphere groups were generally higher than plasmid vaccine group (P<0.05), and the SF/CS compound microspheres group was better than that of sole CS microsphere group. The developed SF/CS microspheres are a very promising vaccine delivery system.

Abstract:Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a carcinogenic substance in many fermented foods. Enzymatic removal of ethyl carbamate from fermented foods is an important way to eliminate its potential health damage to consumers. To study the enzymatic properties of an ethyl carbamate hydrolase (urethanase) from Klebsiella pneumoniae, a strain isolated from murine somach, we purified the enzyme using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular mass of this enzyme was estimated to be 55 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its Km was 74 mmol/L when EC was used as the substrate. Moreover, its optimal reaction temperature was 55 ℃, and the optimum pH was 7.0. The activity was enhanced by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT), but strongly inhibited by Cu2+ and Zn2+. The enzyme was halophilic and tolerant to low concentration of ethanol. Therefore, it has the potential to remove EC from fermented foods.

Abstract:Microbial nitrilases have attracted increasing attention in nitrile hydrolysis for carboxylic acid production in recent years. A bacterium with nitrilase activity was isolated and identified as Pseudomonas putida CGMCC3830 based on its morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence. The nitrilase production was optimized by varying culture conditions using the one-factor-at-a-time method and response surface methodology. Glycerol 13.54 g/L, tryptone 11.59 g/L, yeast extract 5.21 g/L, KH2PO4 1 g/L, NaCl 1 g/L, urea 1 g/L, initial pH 6.0 and culture temperature 30 ℃ were proved to be the optimal culture conditions. It resulted in the maximal nitrilase production of 36.12 U/mL from 2.02 U/mL. Investigations on substrate specificity demonstrate P. putida nitrilase preferentially hydrolyze aromatic nitriles. When applied in nicotinic acid synthesis, 2 mg/mL P. putida cells completely hydrolyzed 20.8 g/L 3-cyanopyridine into nicotinic acid in 90 min. The results indicated P. putida CGMCC3830 displayed potential for industrial production of nicotinic acid.

Abstract:To express feruloyl esterase A from Aspergillus oryzae in Pichia pastoris expression system and study its hydrolysis function, explore the conditions and effects of purification for ferulic acid extracts by macroporos resin. Using the total RNA from A. oryzae CICC 40186 as the template, we amplified coding sequence AorfaeA encoding a mature feruloyl esterase A (AorFaeA) by RT-PCR technique. Then, the coding sequence AorfaeA was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 mediated by an expression plasmid pPIC9K. The purified recombinant AorFaeA (reAorFaeA) showed one single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of 39.0 kDa. The maximum activity of reAorFaeA to methyl ferulate, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was 58.35 U/mg. Then, reAorFaeA was used to release ferulic acid from de-starched wheat bran in the presence of xylanase. The purification tests for ferulic acid from the enzymatic hydrolysate were carried out with preselected macroporous resins. The results showed that macroporous resin HPD-300 had much higher adsorption and desorption capacities. Ferulic acid could be quantitatively recovered by 50% of the eluent concentration at a flow speed of 1 mL/min. Under the purification condition, the recovery ratio of ferulic acid was 92%, and the content of ferulic acid was increased from 0.13% in the raw material to 10.55%. This work exploits the breakdown of ferulic acid by recombinant enzymeand provids a good strategy to its “green production”.

Abstract:Lactate and succinate were produced by Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum from glucose under oxygen deprivation conditions. To construct knockout mutant, lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh) of C. acetoacidophilum was deleted by double-crossover chromosome replacement with sacB gene. Comparing with the wild strain ATCC13870, ldhA-deficent mutant produced no lactate with glucose consumption rate decreased by 29.3%, while succinate and acetate concentrations were increased by 45.6% and 182%, respectively. Moreover, the NADH/NAD+ rate was less than 1 (about 0.7), and the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and acetate kinase of the ldhA-deficent mutant were enhanced by 84% and 12 times, respectively. Our studies show that succinicate and acetate production pathways are strengthened by blocking lactate synthesis. It also suggests that improving NADH supply and eliminating acetate generation are alternative strategies to get high succinate-producer.

Abstract:In order to analyze the correlation between critical residues in the catalytic centre of BSH and the enzyme substrate specificity, seven mutants of Lactobacillus salivarius bile salt hydrolase (BSH1) were constructed by using the Escherichia coli pET-20b(+) gene expression system, rational design and site-directed mutagenesis. These BSH1 mutants exhibited different hydrolytic activities against various conjugated bile salts through substrate specificities comparison. Among the residues being tested, Cys2 and Thr264 were deduced as key sites for BSH1 to catalyze taurocholic acid and glycocholic acid, respectively. Moreover, Cys2 and Thr264 were important for keeping the catalytic activity of BSH1. The high conservative Cys2 was not the only active site, other mutant amino acid sites were possibly involved in substrate binding. These mutant residues might influence the space and shape of the substrate-binding pockets or the channel size for substrate passing through and entering active site of BSH1, thus, the hydrolytic activity of BSH1 was changed to different conjugated bile salt.

Abstract:Exopolysaccharide La0.1-1 was extracted from the broth of a marine bacterium Lentibacter algarum ZXM100T isolated from the seawater in the coastal region of Qingdao and purified by Q Sepharose Fast Flow ion-exchange chromatography and Superdex 75 gel-permeation chromatography. Its physiochemical properties and primary structural characters were investigated by chemical analysis together with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results show that the total sugar content of the exoploysaccharide La0.1-1 was about 66% with an average molecular weight at 12.0 kD. La0.1-1 is mainly composed of Gal, Man, GlcN at the ratio of 1.35:1.1:1.0. Results of GC-MS and NMR demonstrate that the exopolysaccharide La0.1-1 mainly exists with the β configuration. The primary linkage styles are →2)-Manp(1→ and →3)-Galp(1→ with a small amount of →4)-Galp(1→ and →4)-Manp(1→ linkages. The linkage mode of GlcN is →4)GlcN(1→ and terminal linkage. The exopolysaccharide has mainly a linear sructure with a few branches linked to O-6 of →2)-Manp(1→ and O-4 or O-6 of →3)-Galp(1→. 1D-NMR data also revealed that La0.1-1 is substituted by certain acetyl; the acetyl is mainly linked to N-2 of GlcN. The exopolysaccharides of the bacterium of Lentibacter genus is reported for the first time, and an exopolysaccharide with novel structure was obtained, which enriched marine polysaccharide resources.

Abstract:We transformed the fip-fve gene into Pichia pastoris GS115 for inducible and constitutive expression to obtain feasible bioactvie recombinant Fip-fve. The fip-fve gene was cloned from Flammulina velutipes fruting body by PCR and ligated to pPIC9 to construct inducible expression vector pPIC9-FIP-fve, and promotor pgap was used to replace the paox1 to construct constitutive expression vector pPIC9-PGAP-FIP-fve. These two vectors were used to transform P. pastoris by PEG method. The fip-fve was expressed after histamine-absence screening and yeast colony PCR. The inducible expression level reached 158.2 mg/L at the fourth day and the constitutive expression level was 46.3 mg/L and 29.5 mg/L using glucose and glycerol, respectively. The SDS-PAGE and Western blot both proved the correctness of rFip-fve, and the hemagglutination test indicats the rFip-fve's bioactivity.

Abstract:The subcellular localization and the resistance to fungal pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi of the protein encoded by Arabidopsis AtELHYPRP2 (EARLI1-LIKE HYBRID PROLINE-RICH PROTEIN 2, AT4G12500) were investigated using transgenic tobacco plants. The coding sequence of AtELHYPRP2 was amplified from genomic DNA of Col-0 ecotype. After restriction digestion, the PCR fragment was ligated into pCAMBIA1302 to produce a fusion expression vector, pCAMBIA1302-AtELHYPRP2-GFP. Then the recombinant plasmid was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 and transgenic tobacco plants were regenerated and selected via leaf disc transformation method. RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses showed that AtELHYPRP2 expressed effectively in transgenic tobacco plants. Observation under laser confocal microscopy revealed that the green fluorescence of AtELHYPRP2-GFP fusion protein could overlap with the red fluorescence came from propidium iodide staining, indicating AtELHYPRP2 is localized to cell surface. Antimicrobial experiments exhibited that the constitutive expression of AtELHYPRP2 could enhance the resistance of tobacco to fungal pathogen G. fujikuroi and the infection sites could accumulate H2O2 obviously. The basal expression levels of PR1 and the systemic expression levels of PR1 and PR5 in transgenic tobacco plants were higher than that of the wild-type plants, suggesting AtELHYPRP2 may play a role in systemic acquired resistance.

Abstract:Kinesin is a motor protein that uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to move along the microtubule system. To investigate how the chemical energy stored in ATP is converted to mechanical movement, the corresponding N-terminal region of rat brain kinesin was expressed in BL21-Codon Plus (DE3)-RP competent cells. After SP-cation exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography, the protein yield reached 10 mg/L culture with the purity above 95%. The purified protein had ATPase activity and specifically reacted with the kinesin antibody in the Western blotting analysis. The purified kinesin was crystallized under the following condition: 1.7 mol/L (NH4)2SO4, 500 mmol/L NaCl, 20% glycerol. The kinesin crystal can diffract up to 2.0 ? resolution.

Abstract:We established methods to isolate human amniotic fluid-derived progenitor cells (hAFPCs), and analyze the ability of hAFPCs to secrete human coagulation factor IX (hFIX) after gene modification. The hAFPCs were manually isolated by selection for attachment to gelatin coated culture dish. hFIX cDNA was transfected into hAPFCs by using a lentiviral vector. The hFIX protein concentration and activity produced from hAFPCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and clotting assay. The isolated spindle-shaped cells showed fibroblastoid morphology after three culture passages. The doubling time in culture was 39.05 hours. Immunocytochemistry staining of the fibroblast-like cells from amniotic fluid detected expression of stem cell markers such as SSEA4 and TRA1-60. Quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2 mRNAs. Transfected hAFPCs could produce and secrete hFIX into the culture medium. The observed concentration of secreted hFIX was 20.37% ±2.77% two days after passage, with clotting activity of 16.42% ±1.78%. The amount of hFIX:Ag reached a plateau of 50.35% ±5.42%, with clotting activity 45.34% ±4.67%. In conclusion, this study established method to isolate and culture amniotic fluid progenitor cells. Transfected hAFPCs can produce hFIX at stable levels in vitro, and clotting activity increases with higher hFIX concentration. Genetically engineered hAFPC are a potential method for prenatal treatment of hemophilia B.

Abstract:Anthocyanins are a ubiquitous group of water-soluble plant pigments of the flavonoid family, with anticancer property through HER-2 signaling pathway. Nowadays, molecular docking plays an important role in exposing the active sites and obtaining the bioactive conformation involving protein-ligand interactions. According to the crystal structure of HER-2 kinase domain and 12 main antitumor compounds of anthocyanins as well as ATP, a molecular docking study was performed by MVD program. All 12 compounds could bind to the same cavity of HER-2 kinase domain by high affinity (MolDock Score< -105 kJ/mol for anthocyanidins, < -130 kJ/mol for anthocyanidins-glc), where hydrophobic force and hydrogen bond played key roles. Additionally, this cavity overlapped with ATP binding (MolDock Score= -161 kJ/mol) domain; the binding of anthocyanins presumably interfered the H bond formation between ATP and HER-2. These results indicate that anthocyanins may competitively bind to ATP binding site in HER-2 kinase domain by suppressing HER-2 activation and downstream signaling cascade. This may provide useful theoretical instruction for the molecular mechanism of HER-2 kinase activity inhibition by anthocyanins in cancer prevention and treatment.

Abstract:The aim was to establish an effective screening microarray at genus level for Pospiviroid. We analyzed nucleotide sequences from Pospiviroid viroid and designed 19 probes with genus identification characteristics. The standards of these probes included the characters of (i) a GC content between 40 and 60%, (ii) less than 50% of single nucleotide, (iii) less than 4 continuous mononucleotides, and (iv) less than 6 nucleotides in the inner hairpin. We synthesized microarrays by using these probes on glass slides. The validation results of microarray probes show effective signals from chrysanthemum stunt viroid and tomato planta macho viroid standard samples hybridization. The sensitivity results show that the microarray detected 200 pg/μL of total RNA. The microarray can be used to screen Pospiviroid viroid.

Abstract:Manganese peroxidase (MnP), a crucial enzyme in lignin degradation, has wide potential applications in environmental protection. However, large-scale industrial application of this enzyme is limited due to several factors primarily related to cost and availability. Special attention has been paid to the production of MnP from inexpensive sources, such as lignocellulosic residues, using solid-state fermentation (SSF) systems. In the present study, a suitable SSF medium for the production of MnP by Schizophyllum sp. F17 from agro-industrial residues has been optimized. The mixed solid medium, comprising pine sawdust, rice straw, and soybean powder at a ratio of 0.52:0.15:0.33, conferred a maximum enzyme activity of 11.18 U/g on the sixth day of SSF. The results show that the use of wastes such as pine sawdust and rice straw makes the enzyme production more economical as well as helps solve environmental problems.