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     

Electrostatic effect on electron transfer between cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c

The binding and electron transfer between wild type, E44A, E56A, E44/56A, E44/48/56A/D60Aand F35Y variants of cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c were studied. When mixed with cytochrome c, the cytochrome b5E44/48/56A/D60A did not show the typical UV-vis difference spectrum of absorption, indicating that the alteration ofthe surface electrostatic potential obviously influenced the spectrum. The electron transfer rates of wild type cytochromeb5, its variants and cytochrome e at different temperature and ionic strength exhibited an order of F35Y > wild type >E56A > E44A > E44/48/56A/D60A. The enthalpy and entropy of the reaction did not change obviously, suggestingthat the mutation did not significantly disturb the electron transfer conformation. The investigation of electron transfer rateconstants at different ionic strength demonstrated that electrostatic interaction obviously affected the electron transfer pro-cess. The significant difference of Cyt b5 F35Y and E44/48/56A/D60A from the wild type protein further confirmed thegreat importance of the electrostatic interaction in the protein electron transfer.     

StyS激酶自磷酸化对Pseudomonas putida B3中靛蓝生物合成的调节作用

在恶臭假单胞菌Pseudomonas putida B3中,靛蓝生物合成关键酶基因styAB上游存在一个二元调控系统StyS-StyR。StyS蛋白属于激酶家族,是磷酸化信号转导的重要媒介,但激酶StyS的自磷酸化传导机制对靛蓝生物合成的调节作用尚未探明,因此,研究以Pseudomonas putida B3中激酶蛋白StyS作为研究对象,发现了两个磷酸化结合位点,构建了磷酸化位点突变株。通过分析野生菌株P. putida B3、styS基因缺失菌株P. putida B3-ΔstyS、styS基因回补菌株P. putida B3-ΔstyS-8和磷酸化位点突变株P. putida B3-ΔstyS-1之间的靛蓝产量及酶活发现,P. putida B3产量为10.14mg/L,P. putida B3-ΔstyS-8产量为3.63mg/L,磷酸化位点突变菌株无激酶活性且失去了产生靛蓝的能力。结果表明,StyS自磷酸化作用在靛蓝发酵体系中起重要作用。研究结果将为靛蓝生物合成途径的进一步研究提供参考。     

mRNA二级结构对重组人白血病抑制因子(rhLIF)在大肠杆菌中表达的影响

真细菌中翻译起始效率通常是由翻译起始位点两侧的ｍ ＲＮＡ 区域二级结构的稳定性决定的．这种稳定性与该区域ＲＮＡ 二级结构的发生自由能（ΔＧ０ ）相对应．重组人白血病抑制因子（ｒｈＬＩＦ）为具有诱导白血病细胞分化、调节骨组织的生长代谢、维持胚胎干细胞的基本特征、促进神经元的分化等广泛生物学活性的细胞因子．为了获得高表达的ＬＩＦ蛋白,通过翻译起始区的位点专一突变,把具有优选密码子和能量优势的ｌｉｆ 片段克隆入ｐＪＬＡ５０３ 载体,然后转化至大肠杆菌中表达,得到表达量提高１０ 倍的重组ＬＩＦ蛋白     

Genetic and molecular approaches to synthesis and action of the yeast killer toxin

Summary The K1 killer toxin ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae is a secreted, virally-coded protein lethal to sensitive yeasts. Killer yeasts are immune to the toxin they produce. This killer system has been extensively examined from genetic and molecular perspectives. Here we review the biology of killer yeasts, and examine the synthesis and action of the protein toxin and the immunity component. We summarise the structure of the toxin precursor gene and its protein products, outline the proteolytic processing of the toxin subunits from the precursor, and their passage through the yeast secretory pathway. We then discuss the mode of action of the toxin, its lectin-like interaction with a cell wall glucan, and its probable role in forming channels in the yeast plasma membrane. In addition we describe models of how a toxin precursor species functions as the immunity component, probably by interfering with channel formation. We conclude with a review of the functional domains of the toxin structural gene as determined by site-directed mutagenesis. This work has identified regions associated with glucan binding, toxin activity, and immunity.     

大肠杆菌嗜盐α-淀粉酶基因的分子改造及其酶学特性

【目的】对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli嗜盐α-淀粉酶基因进行改造,并探索嗜盐α-淀粉酶的嗜盐特性。【方法】从非嗜盐的大肠杆菌JM109中克隆到一个嗜盐α-淀粉酶基因k6并进行重组表达。通过同源建模,确定Na+结合位点上的氨基酸残基,并对相应位点进行定点突变。最后对突变酶的酶学性质进行研究。【结果】相对于野生酶,突变酶更加嗜盐,其最适NaCl浓度由2mol/L增加到3mol/L,最适pH值为7,最适温度为50℃,酶活力为4 831U/mg,提高近4倍。经HPLC检测,突变酶与2%(W/V)可溶性淀粉反应后的产物为葡萄糖、麦芽糖、麦芽三糖的混合物。【结论】嗜盐α-淀粉酶基因k6的嗜盐特性与Na+结合位点具有直接联系。     

Electrostatic effect on electron transfer between cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c

The binding and electron transfer between wild type, E44A, E56A, E44/56A, E44/48/56A/D60A and F35Y variants of cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c were studied. When mixed with cytochrome c, the cytochrome b, E44/48/56A/D60A did not show the typical UV-vis difference spectrum of absorption, indicating that the alteration of the surface electrostatic potential obviously influenced the spectrum. The electron transfer rates of wild type cytochrome bj, its variants and cytochrome c at different temperature and ionic strength exhibited an order of F35Y > wild type > E56A > E44A > E44/48/56A/D60A. The enthalpy and entropy of the reaction did not change obviously, suggesting that the mutation did not significantly disturb the electron transfer conformation. The investigation of electron transfer rate constants at different ionic strength demonstrated that electrostatic interaction obviously affected the electron transfer process. The significant difference of Cyt b, F35Y and E44/48/56A/D60A from the wild type protein further confirmed the great importance of the electrostatic interaction in the protein electron transfer.     

人血管内皮抑制素基因在毕赤甲醇酵母中的表达

对发生突变的人血管内皮抑制素基因进行了PCR修正,并将其连接到pAO815载体上,然后克隆进大肠杆菌TOP10F＇中,提取质粒测序,证实序列正确.再用电激法转化毕赤甲醇酵母KM71,利用RDB平板和PCR技术筛选出阳性克隆菌落后,甲醇诱导表达,SDS-PAGE电泳检测显示重组的人血管内皮抑制素蛋自在毕赤甲醇酵母KM71中获得了有效表达.