Role of Cys221 and Asn116 in the zinc-binding sites of the Aeromonas hydrophila metallo-β-lactamase

The CphA metallo--lactamase produced by Aeromonas hydrophila exhibits two zinc-binding sites. Maximum activity is obtained upon binding of one zinc ion, whereas binding of the second zinc ion results in a drastic decrease in the hydrolytic activity. In this study, we analyzed the role of Asn116 and Cys221, two residues of the active site. These residues were replaced by site-directed mutagenesis and the different mutants were characterized. The C221S and C221A mutants were seriously impaired in their ability to bind the first, catalytic zinc ion and were nearly completely inactive, indicating a major role for Cys221 in the binding of the catalytic metal ion. By contrast, the binding of the second zinc ion was only slightly affected, at least for the C221S mutant. Mutation of Asn116 did not lead to a drastic decrease in the hydrolytic activity, indicating that this residue does not play a key role in the catalytic mechanism. However, the substitution of Asn116 by a Cys or His residue resulted in an approximately fivefold increase in the affinity for the second, inhibitory zinc ion. Together, these data suggested that the first zinc ion is located in the binding site involving the Cys221 and that the second zinc ion binds in the binding site involving Asn116 and, presumably, His118 and His196.Received 3 March 2003; received after revision 4 August 2003; accepted 25 August 2003     

Changes in calpastatin localization and expression during calpain activation: a new mechanism for the regulation of intracellular Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-dependent proteolysis

The amount of calpastatin directly available in cytosol is under the control of [Ca²⁺] and [cyclic AMP]. Prolonged calpain activation also promotes degradation of calpastatin. The fluctuation of calpastatin concentration in cell soluble fraction is accompanied by an initial decrease in calpastatin gene expression, followed by a fivefold increase in its expression when the inhibitor protein is degraded. This process can be conceptualized as a mechanism to regulate calpastatin availability in the cell. This conclusion is supported by the fact that calpain, the other component of this proteolytic system, undergoes changes in its levels of expression in a much more limited manner. Furthermore, this process can be observed both in cells exposed to different natural stimuli, or in other cell lines. Modification of calpastatin gene expression might represent a new tool for the in vivo control of the regulatory machinery required for the modulation of Ca²⁺-dependent proteolysis.Received 18 July 2003; received after revision 3 September 2003; accepted 23 September 2003     

不同温度对双齿多刺蚁养殖及其保护酶系的影响

在不同温度下长期养殖双齿多刺蚁,观察其存活率和活动状况,测定了不同温度对其SOD,POD,CAT活力的影响,并进行了保护酶活性和存活率的相关分析.实验表明,在较低和较高温度下其存活率明显低于10-40℃测定值.在40-45℃时,酶的活性随着温度升高急速下降;在-5-10℃时,酶的活性随着温度降低而下降.保护酶活性和存活率密切相关.10℃以下的低温和40℃以上的高温对其有不同程度的伤害,其适宜温区为10-40℃,最适温度为20-30℃.     

2,3-Dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase gene was first discovered in Arthrobacter sp. strain PJ3

Bacterium strain PJ3,isolated from wastewater and identified as Arthrobacter sp. bacterium based on its 16S rDNA gene,could use carbazole as the sole carbon,nitrogen and energy source. The genomic library of strain PJ3 was constructed and a positive clone JM109(pUCW402) was screened out for the expression of dioxygenase by the ability to form yellow ring-fission product. A 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase(23DHBD) gene of 933 bp was found in the 3360 bp exogenous fragment of pUCW402 by GenSCAN software and BLAST analysis. The phylogenetic analysis showed that 23DHBD from strain PJ3 formed a deep branch separate from a cluster containing most known 23DHBD in GenBank. Southern hybridization confirmed for the first time that the 23DHBD gene was from the genomic DNA of Arthrobacter sp. PJ3. In order to test the gene function,recombinant bacterium BL21(pETW-8) was constructed to express 23DHBD. The expression level in BL21(pETW-8) was highest compared with the recombinant bacteria JM109(pUCW402) and strain PJ3. We observed that 23DHBD was not absolute specific. The enzyme activity was higher with 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl as a substrate than with catechol. The substrate specificity assay suggested that 23DHBD was essential for cleavage of bi-cyclic aromatic compounds during the course of aromatic compound biodegradation in Arthrobacter sp. strain PJ3.     

产结晶纤维素酶的嗜热菌鉴定及其酶学性质

从云南腾冲热海温泉采集的样品中,分离出一株产结晶纤维素酶的嗜热菌TC-1.该菌株呈杆状,革兰氏阴性,生理生化特征分析和16S rDNA序列同源性比对表明它属于亚栖热菌属Meiothermus.结晶纤维素、木聚糖和葡萄糖可以诱导该菌产生结晶纤维素酶,其中结晶纤维素诱导的酶活力最高.对其产生的结晶纤维素酶进行了初步纯化与酶学性质研究,该酶的最适反应温度为70℃,最适pH为6.0,在50℃～70℃和pH5.5～6.5之间酶活力相对稳定.     

产环氧化物水解酶菌种的筛选及发酵条件优化

以外消旋苯基环氧乙烷为唯一碳源,从土壤中筛选出编号为G7的菌株,能选择性水解外消旋苯基环氧乙烷而得到(S)-苯基环氧乙烷,对映体过量值(e.e)达到99.3%。经鉴定菌种G7属于枯草芽胞杆菌。对该菌株的发酵条件进行了优化,结果表明,当培养基成分为蔗糖10g/L,胰蛋白胨10g/L,Na₂HPO₄·12H₂O 2g/L,KH₂PO₄ 2g/L,MgSO₄ 0.2g/L,CaCl₂ 0.01g/L,pH 6.5,30℃培养25h,环氧化物水解酶活力达到最高值372.2U/mg。     

链霉菌的氨基糖苷类抗生素3′—磷酸化酶APH(3′)抑制剂性质初探

分别采用丙酮沉淀、硫酸铵分步沉淀和柱层析技术从链霉菌85—39发酵液中分离、纯化出APH(3′)抑制剂85—39,并对其部分理化性质进行了测定。结果表明:抑制剂85—39为相对分子质量大于3000的水溶性多肽物质,对APH(3′)表现出强的抑制作用。该抑制剂经丙酮沉淀后的水抽提液对热、碱较稳定,对酸较不稳定,但经离子交换柱初步层析纯化后,其稳定性较差。     

水分胁迫对小豆抗氧化酶活性及小豆叶片解剖结构的影响

用不同浓度PEG处理小豆幼苗,生理生化方法测定MDA含量、可溶性蛋白含量及各种酶活性变化.叶片制作石蜡切片,光学显微镜观察结构.结果显示在整个水分胁迫过程中,随着PEG浓度的增加,小豆叶片MDA含量总体表现为先增加后减少的趋势,可溶性蛋白含量变化表现为先增加后降低再增加的趋势.PEG浓度较低时,小豆SOD活性下降,随着浓度的增加,SOD活性又上升.POD与CAT活性变化趋势一致.经PEG处理后,3种栽培小豆叶片结构变化均表现为叶片失水,萎焉,表皮细胞萎缩或者破碎,栅栏组织细胞变短,形状变不规则,海绵组织变小,细胞破碎,细胞结构破坏,细胞间隙变小.     

生物酶在废纸脱墨上的应用

简要介绍了用于废纸脱墨的生物酶以及生物酶在各种废纸脱墨上的应用，展望了生物酶废纸脱墨技术应用的发展前景。     

斜纹夜蛾NPV多角体基因的克隆和部分测序

本文对ＳＩＮＰＶ基因组作了酶解分析，测得其基因组大小为１４５ｋｂ，并用双酶法确定了ＳＩＮＰＶ基因组的ＨｉｎｄⅢ和ＰｓｔⅠ物理图谱。以含ＡｃＮＰＶ多角体基因的质粒ｐＡＣ－Ⅰ的ＳａｌＩ－Ｃ片段为探针，对ＳＩＮＰＶＤＮＡ酶切片段ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ转印杂交结果，初步判断多角体基因定位于ＰｓｔＩ－Ｂ／Ｃ／Ｄ片段、ＢｇｌⅡ－Ｃ／Ｄ片段、ＢａｍＨＩ－Ｂ／Ｃ片段和ＥｃｏＲＩ－Ａ／Ｂ片段上，且ＳＩＮＰＶ与ＡｃＮＰＶ多角体蛋白基因有６４％的同源性，而以大肠仟菌质粒ｐＵＣ１９为载体对ＳＩＮＰＶ的多角体基因试克隆，得到带有ＢｇｌⅡ－ＰｓｔⅠ双酶切片段的２个克隆子。对这两个杂交阳性克隆子之一的核苷酸序列测定，表明插入片段与ＢｍＮＰＶ多角体基因上游序列亦有一定同源性。