A wound-induced small polypeptide gene family is upregulated in soybean nodules

Small peptides function as key signals in processes, such as plant cell differentiation, organ development and defenses to biotic stresses. A large number of small peptide precursor genes have been predicted from the analysis of the soybean (Glycine max) whole genome DNA sequence. However, most of these genes have unknown characteristics and functions. In this report, we systemically searched for the gene families of small peptide precursors that are up-regulated in soybean nitrogen-fixing root nodules. We found 212 genes (encoding peptides shorter than 150 amino acids) that were up-regulated, and among them, 79 genes belong to 38 multiple-gene families, but the other 133 genes are unique. Twenty-eight of 38 families are conserved in Arabidopsis, but the other 10 only exist in legumes. We also identified 16 out of the 38 members of the wound-induced polypeptide (WIP) gene family to be upregulated in nitrogen-fixing nodules. We further analyzed homologs of WIP genes in Medicago, Lotus, Arabidopsis and Oryza species and found that a few homologous genes from Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus were also upregulated in their nodules and some WIP genes were induced by specific fungal pathogens on soybean and rice. Structure prediction indicated that all WIP prepropeptides contain a conserved DUF3774 domain (including two hydrophobic regions) and most of them have an N-terminal signal sequence. Fluorescence microscopy analysis of two WIP prepropeptides fused to GFP revealed that these proteins are located on the plasma membrane of tobacco leaf cells. Interestingly, 34 soybean WIP genes are clustered onto three soybean chromosomes, different from known peptide gene families (such as CLE). Among them, 11 highly identical genes are aligned on the 6th chromosome, 12 on the 12th, and 11 on the 13th chromosomes. Most of WIP genes from the 12th chromosome share the highest identities with their homologs on the 13th chromosome, suggesting that ancestral WIP genes could have originated from the 13th chromosome, then spread onto the 12th chromosome by chromosome homologous recombination; the new WIP genes could have existed in multiple copies by gene duplication which then spread onto the 6th chromosome. In Arabidopsis and Oryza species, half of the WIP genes are also aligned on one chromosome and showed higher identity with those from the soybean 12th and 13th chromosomes, suggesting that WIP genes originated from one common ancestor.     

Structural basis for iron piracy by pathogenic Neisseria

Neisseria are obligate human pathogens causing bacterial meningitis, septicaemia and gonorrhoea. Neisseria require iron for survival and can extract it directly from human transferrin for transport across the outer membrane. The transport system consists of TbpA, an integral outer membrane protein, and TbpB, a co-receptor attached to the cell surface; both proteins are potentially important vaccine and therapeutic targets. Two key questions driving Neisseria research are how human transferrin is specifically targeted, and how the bacteria liberate iron from transferrin at neutral pH. To address these questions, we solved crystal structures of the TbpA-transferrin complex and of the corresponding co-receptor TbpB. We characterized the TbpB-transferrin complex by small-angle X-ray scattering and the TbpA-TbpB-transferrin complex by electron microscopy. Our studies provide a rational basis for the specificity of TbpA for human transferrin, show how TbpA promotes iron release from transferrin, and elucidate how TbpB facilitates this process.     

Effect of iron deficiency on heterocyst differentiation and physiology of the filamentous cyanobacterium<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anabaena</Emphasis> sp. PCC 7120

The effect of iron deficiency on heterocyst differentiation and some physiological properties of the filamentous cyanobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 was investigated. Under moderate iron limitation conditions, achieved by addition of iron chelator 2, 2′-Dipyridyl (<80 μmol/L) led to delayed heterocyst differentiation, no heterocyst differentiation was observed under severe iron limitation conditions, when the concentration of 2,2′-Dipyridyl in the medium was more than 100 μmol/L. it seemed that there are certain iron-regulated genes or operons whose function is to control heterocyst development. In addition, iron deficiency impaired the growth. Low iron cells had a decrease in the quantities of pigment content (chlorophyll and phycocyanin content), the whole cellin vivo absorbance spectra confirmed the decrease, the protein electrophoretic profiles revealed that iron-deficient cells had less protein bands, with the increase of 2,2′-Dipyridyl, the protein bands was more and more less. And differently, iron deficiency also caused an increase of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) and SOD activity, it suggests that iron deficiency led to oxidative stress, which generally occured under high-iron conditions. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (30070154), the Frontier Science Projects Programme of the Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (220316), State Key Project on Cyanobacterial Bloom Control in Lake Danchi (K9905-35-01) Biography: Xu Wenllang (1974-), male, Ph. D. research direction: molecular genetics of eyanobacteria.     

菠菜SoSWEET蛋白家族基因鉴定与表达分析

以现有菠菜基因组信息为基础,通过生物信息学方法筛选鉴定16个菠菜SoSWEET蛋白家族成员,命名为SoSWEET1~SoSWEET16.氨基酸残基数量在648~1 140之间,分子质量在54 070.32~95 868.64 u之间,理论等电点（pI）在5.06~5.19之间.亚细胞定位预测有6个SoSWEET蛋白定位于细胞膜,5个SoSWEET蛋白定位于内质网,5个SoSWEET蛋白定位于细胞膜、内质网.系统进化分析将菠菜SoSWEET蛋白家族分成4个亚族,在此基础上对基因结构、保守基序、顺式作用调控元件等进行分析.共鉴定了10个高度保守基序,其中所有菠菜SoSWEET蛋白都包含基序1,2和4,是构成菠菜SoSWEET蛋白中最高度保守的部分.所有菠菜SoSWEET蛋白家族成员都含MtN3_slv和PQ-loop superfamily结构域.大多数SoSWEET蛋白家族的基因含有5个内含子.顺式作用元件预测结果表明,菠菜SoSWEET基因启动子上包含光响应、生长发育、植物激素响应和逆境胁迫响应等顺式作用元件.组织表达分析表明,所有SoSWEET基因在根、茎、叶和叶柄中都有表达,霜霉病胁迫处理后16个基因表现出不同响应变化.本研究为后续深入研究菠菜SoSWEET蛋白家族成员的功能提供了重要参考.     

Mapping of the protein import machinery in the mitochondrial outer membrane by crosslinking of translocation intermediates.

Mitochondria contain a complex machinery for the import of nuclear-encoded proteins. Receptor proteins exposed on the outer membrane surface are required for the specific binding of precursor proteins to mitochondria, either by binding of cytosolic signal recognition factors or by direct recognition of the precursor polypeptides. Subsequently, the precursors are inserted into the outer membrane at the general insertion site GIP (general insertion protein). Here we report the analysis of receptors and GIP by crosslinking of translocation intermediates and by coimmunoprecipitation. Surface-accumulated precursors were crosslinked to the receptors MOM19 and MOM72, suggesting a direct interaction of preproteins with surface receptors. We identified three novel mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, MOM7, MOM8, and MOM30 that, together with the previously identified MOM38, seem to form the GIP site and are present in the mitochondrial receptor complex.     

Isolation and characterization of the gene for a yeast mitochondrial import receptor

We have previously identified an integral membrane protein (p32) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a receptor for protein import into mitochondria, and have localized it to the mitochondrial outer membrane at contact sites. Here we report isolation of the corresponding mitochondrial import receptor gene, termed MIR1. The deduced amino-acid sequence of p32 shows roughly 40% identity with proteins of bovine heart and rat liver that have been suggested to be mitochondrial phosphate carriers. Haploid cells carrying a disrupted MIR1 allele were unable to grow on a non-fermentable carbon source but grew in media containing glucose, indicating that the MIR1 protein is essential for mitochondrial function. Compared with wild type, amounts of some mitochondrial proteins were markedly reduced in cells containing a disrupted MIR1 allele, whereas levels of others were unchanged. This indicates that yeast contains more than one pathway for protein import into mitochondria.     

A cyclic nucleotide-gated conductance in olfactory receptor cilia

Olfactory transduction is thought to be initiated by the binding of odorants to specific receptor proteins in the cilia of olfactory receptor cells. The mechanism by which odorant binding could initiate membrane depolarization is unknown, but the recent discovery of an odorant-stimulated adenylate cyclase in purified olfactory cilia suggests that cyclic AMP may serve as an intracellular messenger for olfactory transduction. If so, then there might be a conductance in the ciliary plasma membrane which is controlled by cAMP. Here we report that excised patches of ciliary plasma membrane, obtained from dissociated receptor cells, contain a conductance which is gated directly by cAMP. This conductance resembles the cyclic GMP-gated conductance that mediates phototransduction in rod and cone outer segments, but differs in that it is activated by both cAMP and cGMP. Our data provide a mechanistic basis by which an odorant-stimulated increase in cyclic nucleotide concentration could lead to an increase in membrane conductance and therefore, to membrane depolarization. These data suggest a remarkable similarity between the mechanisms of olfactory and visual transduction and indicate considerable conservation of sensory transduction mechanisms.     

The in vitro interaction of CmeA with CmeC

The membrane fusion protein CmeA and the outer membrane channel CmeC,two important components of CmeABC system in Campylobacter jejuni,were expressed in Escherichia coli.After Ni-NTA and ion exchange columns purification,size exclusion chromatography showed that CmeA primarily existed as trimer and CmeC existed as monomer.Then the interaction between CmeA and CmeC was analyzed by dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate)(DSP)chemical crosslinking,pull-down assay on a Ni-NTA column,and isothermal titration calorimetry(ITC)measurement.The results clearly showed the CmeA–CmeC complex band,which confirmed the interaction in vitro and this interaction is independent of substrate and CmeB.It suggests that the mechanism underlying CmeABC function in C.jejuni is similar to that of AcrABTolC in E.coli.     

Visualization of protein RecR in Escherichia coli by fluorescent labelling

RecR protein, a functional equivalent of Rad52 in eukaryotes, plays a critical role in the RecF pathway of homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. By constructing and expressing the recR-yfp hybrid gene, the distribution of the RecR-YFP fusion protein was visualized in E. coli by fluorescent microscopy. Our results showed that RecR proteins can be localized predominantly in the nucleoid region of E. coli. By measuring the UV resistance of a recR mutant carrying the recR-yfp gene in the plasmid, the expressed RecR-YFP was found to be functional in improving the UV resistance of the recR deficiency strain.     

Detection of plasmid-mediated IMP-1 metallo-β-lactamase and quinolone resistance determinants in an ertapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae isolate

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of carbapenem resistance and the occurrence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants qnr and aac(6′)-Ib-cr in a clinical isolate of Enterobacter cloacae. Methods: An ertapenem-resistant E. cloacae ZY106, which was isolated from liquor puris of a female gastric cancer patient in a Chinese hospital, was investigated. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by agar dilution method. Conjugation experiments, isoelectric focusing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequence analyses of plasmid-mediated carbapenemases and quinolone resistance determinants were preformed to confirm the genotype. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were examined by urea-sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Urea-SDS-PAGE). Results: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem for ZY106 were 2, 4, and 16 μg/ml, respectively. Conjugation studies with Escherichia coli resulted in the transfer of significantly reduced carbapenem susceptibility. ZY106 produced IMP-1 metallo-β-lactamase and CTX-M-3 extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and E. coli transconjugant produced IMP-1. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinant qnrS1 was detected in ZY106. Transfer of the qnrS1-encoding-plasmid into E. coli by conjugation resulted in intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin in E. coli transconjugant. Urea-SDS-PAGE analysis of OMPs showed that ZY106 lacked an OMP of approximately 38 kDa. Conclusion: It is the first IMP-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae in China and the first report of a clinical isolate that harbors both blaIMP and qnrS genes as well. The blaIMP-1, blaCTX-M-3, and qnrS1 are encoded at three different plasmids. IMP-1 combined with the loss of an OMP possibly resulted in ertapenem resistance and reduced imipenem and meropenem susceptibility in E. cloacae.     

Generation of selectable marker-free transgenic rice resistant to chewing insects using two co-transformation systems

To produce selectable marker-free (SMF) transgenic rice resistant to chewing insects, the Bacillus thuringiensis cryIA(c) gene (Bt) was introduced into two elite japonica rice varieties by using two Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation systems. One system is with a single mini-twin T-DNA binary vector in one Agrobacterium strain, which consists of two separate T-DNA regions, one carrying the Bt while the other contains the selectable marker gene, hygromycin resistant gene (HPT). The other system uses two separate binary vectors in two separate Agrobacterium cultures, containing the Bt or HPT gene on individual plasmids. A lot of independent transgenic rice lines harboring both Bt and selectable marker genes were obtained. The results showed that the co-transformation frequency of the Bt gene and HPT gene was much higher by using the mini-twin T-DNA vector system (29.87%) than that by the two separate binary vector systems (4.52%). However, the frequency of the SMF transgenic rice plants obtained from the offspring of co-transgenic plants (21.74%) was lower for the mini-twin T-DNA vector system than that for the latter (50-60%). The data of ELISA implied that the expressed Bt proteins were quantitated as 0.025-0.103% of total leaf soluble proteins in the transgenic plant. Therefore, several elite transgenic rice lines, free of the selectable marker gene, were chosen. The results from both in vitro and in vivo insect bioassays indicated that the SMF transgenic rice was shown to be highly resistant to the striped stem borer and rice leaf folder. Moreover, in a natural field condition without any insecticide applied, all the transgenic rice plants were found to be not injured by the rice leaf folder, whereas the wild types were impaired seriously.     

MoFLP1, encoding a novel fungal fasciclin-like protein, is involved in conidiation and pathogenicity in Magnaporthe oryzae

Fasciclin family proteins have been identified as cell adhesion molecules in various organisms. In this study, a novel Magnaporthe oryzae fasciclin-like protein encoding gene, named MoFLP1, was isolated from a subtractive suppressive cDNA library and functionally analyzed. Sequence analysis showed that the MoFLP1 gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1050 nucleotides encoding 349 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 35.85 kDa and a pI of 7.76. The deduced MoFLP1 protein contains a 17-amino acid secretion signal sequence and an 18-amino acid sequence with the characteristics of a glycosylphosphotidylinositol (GPI) anchor additional signal at its N- and C-terminuses, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites and domains involving cell adhesion were also identified in MoFLP1. Sequence analysis and subcellular localization by the expression of MoFLP1-GFP fusion construct in M. oryzae indicated that the MoFLP1 protein is probably localized on the vacuole membrane. Two MoFLP1 null mutants generated by targeted gene disruption exhibited marked reduction of conidiation, conidial adhesion, appressorium turgor, and pathogenicity. Our results indicate that fasciclin proteins play important roles in fungal development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae.     

Evolutionary conservation of biogenesis of beta-barrel membrane proteins

The outer membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts are distinguished by the presence of beta-barrel membrane proteins. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria also harbours beta-barrel proteins. In mitochondria these proteins fulfil a variety of functions such as transport of small molecules (porin/VDAC), translocation of proteins (Tom40) and regulation of mitochondrial morphology (Mdm10). These proteins are encoded by the nucleus, synthesized in the cytosol, targeted to mitochondria as chaperone-bound species, recognized by the translocase of the outer membrane, and then inserted into the outer membrane where they assemble into functional oligomers. Whereas some knowledge has been accumulated on the pathways of insertion of proteins that span cellular membranes with alpha-helical segments, very little is known about how beta-barrel proteins are integrated into lipid bilayers and assembled into oligomeric structures. Here we describe a protein complex that is essential for the topogenesis of mitochondrial outer membrane beta-barrel proteins (TOB). We present evidence that important elements of the topogenesis of beta-barrel membrane proteins have been conserved during the evolution of mitochondria from endosymbiotic bacterial ancestors.     

牛大力内生细菌的多样性及其促生特性研究

为研究牛大力Callerya speciose内生细菌多样性组成及其促生特性,从经表面消毒处理的牛大力根茎组织中分离内生细菌,采用16SrDNA序列分析法对内生细菌的多样性进行系统发育分析,并以固氮、溶磷性、产铁载体、产IAA能力等为指标,对内生细菌进行促生特性检测。从牛大力根和茎中共分离到59株内生细菌,包括16属20种,芽孢杆菌属是牛大力的优势菌群;在20种分离菌株中,分别有11,17,7株具有潜在的固氮、溶磷性、产铁载体能力,有13株菌可以合成IAA。其中RH17-2、RH17-5、GR2-1 3株菌同时具备固氮、溶磷性、产铁载体、产IAA 4种促生特性。从牛大力中分离得到的内生细菌具有丰富的物种多样性和促生特性,在未来的农业生产上具有潜在的应用价值。     

Functional analysis of the ABA-responsive protein family in ABA and stress signal transduction in Arabidopsis

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in plant growth and development, for example in seed dormancy and germination, as well as in plant responses to environmental stresses, such as drought and high salinity. Previous studies have shown that ABA regulates the expression of genes with an ABA-responsive element (ABRE) and their corresponding physiological responses. Bioinformatics analysis identified a GRAM domain-containing gene family that has a multiple ABRE cis-element, which was termed the ABA-responsive protein (ABR) family. To analyze the function of the ABR family, we identified homozygous T-DNA insertion mutants and constructed abr1, 2, 3 double mutants and triple mutant. The abr1, abr2 and abr3 single mutants showed a normal phenotype; however, the germination of seeds of the double mutants and triple mutant were insensitive to ABA, NaCl, mannitol and glucose. ABR1-GFP was distributed as a punctate structure in the cytosol and may be localized in the endomembrane system. The ABR2-GFP and ABR3-GFP proteins localized in the cytoplasm. In addition, ABR1, ABR2 and ABR3 were expressed in various tissues, and could be induced by several abiotic stresses, especially by ABA. The expressions of these genes were significantly suppressed in aba2, abi1 and abi2 null mutants. These results suggested that the ABR family may act downstream of ABI1 and ABI2 in the ABA signal transduction process in plants.     

海洋鳗弧菌铁载体合成的调控

以一株鳗弧菌pJM1质粒缺陷为研究对象，考察了儿茶酚类铁载体Anguibactin的合成代谢调控。研究发现：在由染色体和质粒共同编码介导的铁载体Anguibactin的合成途径中，其分界点位于2，3－二羟基苯甲酸合成，2，3－二羟基苯甲酸合成之前代谢途径受染色体编码调节,后由质粒编码介导；编码2，3－二羟基苯甲酸的染色体相关基因的表达受环境铁离子浓度的诱导调节。     

Vesicle-related OsSEC27P enhances H<Superscript>+</Superscript> secretion in the iron deficient transgenic tobacco root

Iron is an essential micronutritional element for plants. In addition to the iron uptake mechanism Strategy I and Strategy II, the vesicle transport process was also found to participate in iron uptake and homeostasis. Herein, a new iron deficiency induced OsSEC27P gene was isolated and investigated in both its localization and its function in transgenic plants. The vesicle-related protein OsSEC27P may play a potential role in enhancing H⁺ secretion in roots under the iron deficiency conditions.