家蝇金属硫蛋白基因的克隆、原核表达及活性检测

金属硫蛋白是一类普遍存在于生物体内、富含半胱氨酸的小分子蛋白,能螯合多种金属离子。本研究根据EST序列信息,利用RACE技术克隆到1条家蝇Musca domestica金属硫蛋白基因MdMtn（GenBank登录号为GU289398）。序列分析表明,MdMtn cDNA全长408 bp,包含1个123 bp的开放阅读框,编码40个氨基酸残基,其中半胱氨酸残基10个,呈-C-X-C-方式排列。此蛋白理论分子量为3.8 kD,等电点为878。为了解家蝇金属硫蛋白对重金属的结合活性,构建了pET-DsbA-MT表达载体,并转化Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）宿主菌进行融合表达。研究发现MT重组菌对重金属镉的耐受性得到了明显加强,提示MdMtn基因可能在家蝇适应重金属环境中起到积极作用。     

丽蝇蛹集金小蜂Pacifastin蛋白酶抑制剂基因nvpp-1和nvpp-2的功能研究

Pacifastin蛋白酶抑制剂在昆虫免疫与发育中起着重要作用。为了明确其在寄生蜂中的相关功能, 本研究分别克隆获得编码丽蝇蛹集金小蜂Pacifastin蛋白酶抑制剂开放阅读框的cDNA序列nvpp-1和nvpp-2, 序列长度分别为723和888 bp, 分别编码240和295个氨基酸残基。预测结果表明, nvpp-1和nvpp-2推导氨基酸序列N端均含一个长度为17个氨基酸残基的信号肽序列。序列分析和进化树构建结果表明, NVPP-1和NVPP-2分别含有5个和4个典型的Pacifastin保守结构域, 并与疑黑瘤姬蜂Pimpla hypochondriaca毒液蛋白CVP4 聚为一类。实时荧光定量RT-PCR结果表明, nvpp-1和nvpp-2于该蜂雌蜂各组织中均发生转录, 且在胸、 腹部残体（解剖后腹部剩余部分）和毒器官中的转录水平较高; 于毒器官中, 其在羽化初期（0和1 d）转录水平较高, 其转录水平显著降低。Western blot结果表明, NVPP-1和NVPP-2均只在毒液中被大量检出, 在其他待测组织中均未被检出, 而刚羽化时（0 d）其在毒液中含量较低。利用pET-28a (+) 载体分别对nvpp-1和nvpp-2进行了原核表达, 并对重组表达产物进行纯化。分别测定重组NVPP-1和NVPP-2对4种不同丝氨酸蛋白酶（胰蛋白酶、 糜蛋白酶、 蛋白酶K和弹性蛋白酶）的抑制效果, 结果表明, 重组NVPP-1和NVPP-2分别能显著抑制糜蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶活性。同时还分别测定了两种重组蛋白对寄主家蝇蛹血淋巴自身的酚氧化酶活性及原酚氧化酶激活反应的影响, 结果表明, 重组蛋白对家蝇蛹血淋巴原酚氧化酶激活反应亦有抑制效果, 但其均不能显著影响血淋巴自身的酚氧化酶活性。综上所述, 丽蝇蛹集金小蜂毒液中含有Pacifastin蛋白酶抑制剂NVPP-1和NVPP-2, 分别为糜蛋白酶抑制剂和胰蛋白酶抑制剂家族成员, 均能显著影响寄主家蝇蛹血淋巴原酚氧化酶激活反应, 从而削弱寄主体液免疫水平。本研究所获结果加深了我们对昆虫尤其是寄生蜂Pacifastin蛋白酶抑制剂作用的认识。     

烟夜蛾组织蛋白酶B酶原基因的克隆、序列分析和原核表达

利用反转录多聚酶链式反应（RT-PCR）技术从烟夜蛾Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée)雌虫卵巢中扩增得到了组织蛋白酶B酶原基因（cathepsin B,CB）cDNA片段,将其克隆至pMD19-T载体。测序结果表明, 该片段长度为1 017 bp,含有组织蛋白酶B酶原基因完整开放阅读框架（ORF）（GenBank登录号：EF154237）。序列分析结果显示：烟夜蛾组织蛋白酶B（HassCB）编码338个氨基酸残基,预测N-末端含有长度为21个氨基酸残基的信号肽序列;去除信号肽序列后,预测成熟蛋白分子量为35.5 kDa,等电点为5.96。氨基酸序列比对结果表明,HassCB与其他昆虫的组织蛋白酶B酶原氨基酸序列有较高的一致性。将去除信号肽序列的HassCB（HassCBa）重组到表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,并转入原核细胞中表达,SDS-PAGE和Western印迹分析表明：该基因能在大肠杆菌BL21中表达,电泳检测到一条大约61 kDa的目的条带,与预测的融合蛋白分子量相符。用该基因制备多克隆抗体并测得该抗体对重组表达的HassCBa的效价为1∶51 200。通过免疫印迹检测证实,此抗体既能识别重组表达的HassCBa,又能识别烟夜蛾卵巢匀浆液中的HassCB。     

家蝇丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂Serpin15的克隆表达及重组蛋白的体外活性分析

为探明家蝇重组Serpin15蛋白的体外活性和酶稳定性,本文对家蝇Serpin15基因进行了生物信息学分析和克隆表达,并对纯化后的家蝇重组Serpin15蛋白进行了酶特性的研究.结果显示:家蝇Serpin15基因ORF框全长为1353 bp,编码450个氨基酸,理论分子量为51076.63 Da,有信号肽和一个标志抑制活性的功能结构域RCL反应环;成功构建原核表达载体pET-28a(+)-Serpin15,经诱导表达和纯化获得家蝇重组Serpin15蛋白;重组蛋白酶特性研究发现,家蝇重组Serpin15蛋白对胰蛋白酶有极显著的抑制作用,此外,将重组Serpin15蛋白经20～60℃热处理15 min,或经pH 6～10过夜处理,或经50℃和pH 8处理后室温存放15～90 min,重组蛋白的胰蛋白酶抑制活性均仍大于70％.研究结果为家蝇Serpin15蛋白的免疫功能研究奠定了重要实验基础,也为有害昆虫杀虫剂的研发提供思路.     

小麦一个新BBI型蛋白酶抑制剂基因TaUES的克隆及初步分析

根据小麦基因表达芯片结果,以山融3号小麦叶片为试验材料,克隆获得在盐胁迫处理24 h时表达显著提高的基因TaUES(up-regulated expression under saline-stress in wheat,ID:KC408382)。序列分析显示,TaUES编码一个富含半胱氨酸的97个氨基酸的多肽,该多肽含有1个BowB结构域和10个保守的半胱氨酸残基;与小麦或其他物种BBI型蛋白酶抑制剂氨基酸序列具有较高的同源性。推测TaUES是小麦中一种新的BBI型蛋白酶抑制剂基因。基因表达分析表明,TaUES基因参与盐和干旱胁迫应答。异源过表达转基因功能初步分析表明,过表达TaUES转基因烟草后代株系耐盐性提高。     

苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

【目的】本研究旨在从苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca中肠克隆出丝氨酸蛋白酶（serine protease, SP）基因的cDNA序列,测定原核表达后的蛋白经纯化及复性后的活性。【方法】运用RT-PCR和cDNA末端快速扩增方法（rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE）克隆苜蓿夜蛾幼虫中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA全序列,用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli表达系统进行表达。重组蛋白经纯化后,利用梯度透析法进行复性,以BApNA为底物,进行活性测定。【结果】克隆获得的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为HvSP（GenBank登录号：JX866720）,该基因全长880 bp,开放阅读框长762 bp,编码254个氨基酸,推测分子量和pI值分别为26.9 kDa和9.49。由HvSP推导的氨基酸与鳞翅目昆虫SP氨基酸序列的一致性在52%~95%之间,其中与棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera SP（GenBank登录号：CAA72962）的氨基酸序列一致性最高,达95%。成功构建重组载体pET21b-HvSP进行原核表达,Western-blot鉴定确定为目的蛋白。蛋白可溶性分析发现重组蛋白为包涵体。在Glycine-NaOH缓冲液中,当pH为10.0时,复性的重组蛋白活性达到最高,为35.74 U/mL。【结论】本研究在苜蓿夜蛾体内获得了一个新的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性。该结果为进一步研究丝氨酸蛋白酶在鳞翅目昆虫体内的生理功能奠定了基础。     

家蝇β-葡萄糖苷酶基因的克隆及重组表达

克隆家蝇内源性β-葡萄糖苷酶(beta-glucosidase,BG)基因并建立原核表达体系,检测其表达产物的活性,了解家蝇内源性BG酶特点,为进一步解释家蝇极强环境适应能力和发现新的种群控制措施提供分子生物学基础。以草地贪夜蛾等结构信息相对完整且研究较为透彻的6种代表性昆虫的BG酶基因序列为参照对象,利用同源克隆结合RACE-PCR的方法,从家蝇cDNA中克隆得到BG酶基因的全长cDNA序列并对其进行生物信息学分析。分别采用原核表达载体pET-28a(+)构建原核表达体系并在大肠杆菌E.coli BL21(DE3)中诱导表达BG酶基因的融合蛋白。采用七叶苷平板显色法和DNS法检测表达体系融合蛋白的酶活性,并对其性质进行初步的分析。家蝇体内克隆得到了长度为1933 bp的家蝇BG酶基因全长cDNA序列,推导其为562个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白多肽。重组原核质粒经诱导表达后,在65 kDa附近均出现特异性蛋白条带,证实重组质粒成功表达。重组表达的家蝇BG酶兼具内切β-1,4-葡聚糖酶、外切β-1,4-葡聚糖酶和BG的酶活性。家蝇BG酶是一种新的多功能纤维素酶,是昆虫纤维素酶研究的重要补充。     

应用定点突变与分子模建方法研究蛋白酶抑制剂eglin C突变体对蛋白酶furin和kexin的抑制活力

蛋白质前体加工酶参与许多重要蛋白质闪体的加工成熟过程,哺乳动物来源的furin和酵母中的kexin是该家族的重要成员。首先人工合成了编码枯草杆菌蛋白酶抑制剂eglin C的基因片段,组装后在大肠杆菌中得到表达。以定点突变方法在野生型eglin C抑制活性中心的P1、P2和P4位引入碱性氨基酸残基可以将其改造为很强的furin抑制剂（Ki约10^-9mol/L）,和kexin抑制剂（Ki约10^-11mol/L）。同时根据枯草杆菌蛋白酶和eglin C复合物的晶体结构,计算机同源模建了前体加工酶与eglin C突变体结构之间的相互作用,并结合实验数据得到以下结果：（1）P1位引入的碱性残基是该抑制剂活力的前提;（2）P4位碱性残基的引入可以极大地提高抑制剂活力约两个数量级;（3）P2 的碱性残基将有效提高抑制剂的活力。然而同时可以破坏抑制剂本身的稳定性。（4）野生型P3位的疏水性残基参与抑制剂活性环附近疏水核心的构成。     

家蝇Denfensin-1基因的克隆、诱导表达及启动子活性分析

【目的】鉴定一种新的家蝇Musca domestica防御素基因, 并分析其功能。【方法】从家蝇转录组数据库中鉴定了1条新的防御素基因cDNA序列, 并将其命名为家蝇防御素1 (Md-defensin-1)基因Mdde-1。利用生物信息学网站、 软件预测其结构等信息。以实时荧光定量PCR技术研究该基因的表达模式, 并且利用基因步移技术获得了启动子序列, 同时采取细胞转染技术验证Mdde-1启动子活性。【结果】该序列包含一个276 bp的开放阅读框, 编码91个氨基酸残基。推导的氨基酸序列N端包括1个23个氨基酸残基的信号肽和1个28个氨基酸残基的前肽。成熟肽由40个氨基酸残基组成, 含有1个典型的CSαβ基序。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示, 家蝇2龄幼虫受金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus (G+)刺激后Mdde-1表达明显上调, 而大肠杆菌Escherichia coli (G^-)刺激后表达下调;Mdde-1在家蝇幼虫受到热激时呈上调表达。为进一步研究其调控机制, 克隆了Mdde-1启动子, 并证明了该启动子具有活性。【结论】据此认为Mdde-1是一种新的家蝇防御素, 并且在免疫革兰氏阳性菌方面发挥重要作用; 同时我们首先证明了Mdde-1的启动子具有活性。本研究为进一步研究家蝇防御素的作用机制奠定了基础。     

大肠杆菌YacG锌指结构的金属结合及功能特性

YacG蛋白是一种能够抑制大肠杆菌促旋酶（E.coli gyrase）活性的内源性小分子蛋白质,仅由65 个氨基酸残基组成。核磁共振(NMR)研究发现,YacG结构中含有1个Cys-X2-Cys-X15-Cys-X3-Cys序列的锌指结构域,然而其作用并不清楚。本研究发现,在添加外源锌或者铁的M9基础培养基中,表达并纯化得到分别含有锌和铁的YacG蛋白,而在同时添加铁和L-半胱氨酸的M9基础培养基中可以纯化得到含有铁硫簇的蛋白质。这表明,YacG不仅是一个锌指蛋白,也是铁结合或铁硫簇结合蛋白。定点突变实验发现,YacG锌指结构中的4个半胱氨酸残基突变后,其结合的锌、铁、铁硫簇的含量都显著下降。这提示,锌结合、铁结合以及铁硫簇结合的位点均位于锌指结构域中的4个半胱氨酸残基。体内YacG过表达实验显示,用IPTG在大肠杆菌体内诱导表达野生型YacG蛋白会导致其生长明显受到抑制,而过表达突变体蛋白（YacG-C12/28S）对其生长的抑制作用将会减弱。体外实验进一步发现,锌结合、铁结合以及铁硫簇结合形式的YacG蛋白对E.coli gyrase促DNA螺旋活性的抑制作用没有明显差别,但是锌指结构突变体蛋白（YacG-C12/28S）对gyrase活性的抑制作用显著减弱。这说明,完整的锌指结构对YacG抑制gyrase活性的功能具有重要作用。此研究有可能为gyrase抑制剂类抗生素药物的研发提供有用的线索。     

Molecular Cloning and Expression of cDNA Encoding the Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitor from Upland Cotton

A cDNA encoding a novel cysteine proteinase inhibitor (CPI) was isolated from a gland mutant Xiangmian-18 of upland cotton during the pigments gland forming stage. The cDNA comprises 378 bp and encodes 125 amino acid residues with molecular mass of 13.8 kDa. It contains the conserved motif of cysteine protease inhibitors and belongs to the cystatin superfamily (Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly). The deduced amino acid sequences of the domains are highly similar to the normal upland cotton (96.8%). SDS-PAGE and western hybridization analysis showed that the expressed recombinant protein was recombinant CPI. The inhibitory activity of recombinant CPI was 46 u/μg which was measured by inhibiting the protease activity of papain. RT-PCR results indicated that the expression level of developing gland stage was higher than that of undeveloped gland stage.     

家蝇新型抗菌肽Muscin的基因克隆、表达模式及抑菌活性

【目的】鉴定家蝇 Musca domestica (Linnaeus)中一种新型抗菌肽(Muscin)基因,并分析其功能。【方法】通过数字基因表达谱和生物信息学分析,在家蝇转录组中筛选得到一条抗菌肽基因,命名为 muscin。以实时荧光定量PCR技术研究该基因的组织分布以及用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus混合细菌刺激后的表达量变化。并对合成肽Muscin进行抑菌活性检测及溶血率测定。【结果】muscin基因cDNA序列全长379 bp,包含完整的开放阅读框153 bp。推导Muscin多肽序列由50个氨基酸残基组成,N端含有由25个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽。成熟肽中富含疏水性氨基酸残基和带正电荷的氨基酸残基,理论等电点为9.39。基因定量结果显示 muscin 基因在血细胞和脂肪体中表达量最高。通过细菌刺激进行免疫诱导后,幼虫体内该基因的表达水平明显上调,并在6 h达到高峰。抑菌和溶血实验显示c-Muscin对革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌具有广谱抑菌活性,且溶血活性较低。【结论】Muscin是一种新型的广谱抗菌肽,可能参与家蝇抗菌免疫反应,且具有一定药物开发潜质。     

家蝇抗菌肽Attacin-2基因的克隆、序列分析和诱导表达

攻击素(attacin)作为昆虫抗菌肽之一, 在昆虫的先天免疫中起着重要作用。本研究通过家蝇Musca domestica EST序列筛选并结合RACE技术克隆了家蝇的Attacin-2基因(Mdatta2) cDNA序列。其全长819 bp, 包含一个726 bp的完整开放阅读框(open reading frame, ORF), 以及42 bp的5′末端非翻译区(5′-UTR)和51 bp的3′末端非翻译区(3′-UTR), 编码241个氨基酸残基, 推导的多肽N端22个氨基酸残基为信号肽序列。同源性分析表明, 其氨基酸序列与嗜凤梨果蝇Drosophila ananassae的Attacin一致性最高(46%)。以邻接法(Neighbor-Joining, NJ)构建的系统关系表明, 家蝇的Attacin-2与其他双翅目昆虫的Attacin起源于共同的祖先, 属于Attain_C超家族。应用实时荧光定量PCR的方法研究家蝇幼虫在受到外源细菌刺激时Mdatta2基因的表达, 结果显示, 在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus分别刺激后3 h和6 h, 家蝇幼虫Mdatta2表达量出现显著上调。Mdatta2基因在家蝇幼虫体内呈诱导型表达, 表达水平随诱导时间的不同而变化, 提示Mdatta2基因可能在家蝇免疫防御过程中起着重要作用。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of cathepsin F gene from olive flounder Paralichthys Olivaceus

We isolated a homologue of cathepsin F from cDNA library of olive flounder liver. A 2,077 kb full-length cDNA encoding a predicted polypeptide of 474 amino acids was sequenced. The flounder cathepsin F exhibits a domain structure typical for papain-like cysteine proteases, a 17 amino acid N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence followed by an extraordinarily long propeptide of 244 amino acids and the domain of the mature protease comprising 213 amino acids. The mature region contains all features characteristic of a papain-like cysteine protease, including the highly conserved cysteine, histidine and asparagine residues of the ‘catalytic triad’. The cathepsin F protein showed 49–99% amino acid sequence identity with other known cathepsin F sequences. An in vivo expression study showed that cathepsin F mRNA was expressed predominantly in brain, liver, eye and heart, and moderately in other tissues. The accumulation of cathepsin F mRNA in early stage of development increased with development. This expression pattern suggests that flounder cathepsin F has been implicated in the growth and reproduction regulation.     

A small trypsin inhibitor from the frog of Odorrana grahami

A novel peptide inhibitor (OGTI) of serine protease with a molecular weight of 1949.8, was purified from the skin secretion of the frog, Odorrana grahami. Of the tested serine proteases, OGTI only inhibited the hydrolysis activity of trypsin on synthetic chromogenic substrate. This precursor deduced from the cDNA sequence is composed of 70 amino acid residues. The mature OGTI contains 17 amino acid residues including a six-residue loop disulfided by two half-cysteines (AVNIPFKVHFRCKAAFC). In addition to its unique six-residue loop, the overall structure and precursor of OGTI are different from those of other serine protease inhibitors. It is also one of the smallest serine protease inhibitors ever found.     

Identification and characterization of inhibitory sequences in four repeating domains of the endogenous inhibitor for calcium-dependent protease

We reported previously the cDNA cloning of the endogenous inhibitor for calcium-dependent protease (CANP inhibitor, calpastatin) and the expression of its fragments in Escherichia coli. The CANP inhibitor has four internal repeating domains each spanning about 140 amino acid residues. The inhibitory activity arises from these domains which have a well-conserved sequence, TIPPXYR, in their central positions. The inhibitory activities of various fragments expressed in E. coli suggest the involvement of the regions around the well-conserved sequences. In this report, we describe further detailed investigation on the interaction site of the CANP inhibitor with CANP by truncating inhibitor fragments and by using chemically synthesized peptides. The results clearly indicate that the sequence around the well-conserved sequence, TIPPXYR, is an interaction site. A peptide as short as 23 amino acid residues retained inhibitory activity, but a 9-residue peptide corresponding to the conserved sequence, VTIPPKYRE had none. The inhibitory sequence is suggested as LGXKDREXTIPPXYRXLL. The analysis of the competition between an inhibitor peptide and an irreversible inhibitor, E-64 for the reaction with the active site suggests no involvement of the active site cysteine residue of CANP in the inhibitory interaction between CANP and the CANP inhibitor. The high specificity of the CANP inhibitor to CANP arises from its interaction with residues other than the active site cysteine residue, possibly the subsite for substrate-binding of CANP.     

A high-affinity competitive inhibitor of type A botulinum neurotoxin protease activity

The peptide N-acetyl-CRATKML-amide is an effective inhibitor of type A botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT A) protease activity [Schmidt et al., FEBS Lett. 435 (1998) 61-64]. To improve inhibitor binding, the peptide was modified by replacing cysteine with other sulfhydryl-containing compounds. Ten peptides were synthesized. One peptide adapted the structure of captopril to the binding requirements of BoNT A, but it was a weak inhibitor, suggesting that angiotensin-converting enzyme is not a good model for BoNT A inhibitor development. However, replacing cysteine with 2-mercapto-3-phenylpropionyl yielded a peptide with K(i) of 330 nM, the best inhibitor of BoNT A protease activity reported to date. Additional modifications of the inhibitor revealed structural elements important for binding and supported our earlier findings that, with the exception of P1' arginine, subsites on BoNT A are not highly specific for particular amino acid side chains.     

A thermostable cysteine protease precursor from a tropical plant contains an unusual C-terminal propeptide: cDNA cloning, sequence comparison and molecular modeling studies

We report here the cloning and characterization of the entire cDNA of a papain-like cysteine protease from a tropical flowering plant. The 1098-bp ORF of the cDNA codify a protease precursor having a signal peptide of 19 amino acids, a cathepsin-L like N-terminal proregion of 114 amino acids, a mature enzyme part of 208 amino acids and a C-terminal proregion of 24 amino acids. The derived amino acid sequence of the mature part tallies with the thermostable cysteine protease Ervatamin-C--as was aimed at. The C-terminal proregion of the protease has altogether a different sequence pattern not observed in other members of the family and it contains a negatively charged helical zone. The three-dimensional model of the precursor, based on the homology modeling and X-ray structure, shows that the extended peptide stretch region of the N-terminal propeptide, covering the interdomain cleft, contains protruding side chains of positively charged residues. This study also indicates that the negatively charged zone of C-terminal propeptide may interact with the positively charged zone of the N-terminal propeptide in a cooperative manner in the maturation process of this enzyme.