A PMR1-like calcium ATPase of Aspergillus fumigatus: cloning, identification and functional expression in S. cerevisiae

The understanding of the controlling factors of calcium homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus is very poor, although this ion is involved in several important events of these particular cells. We have cloned, identified and expressed for functional complementation a PMR1-like Ca(2+)-ATPase gene from A. fumigatus. The Afpmr1 gene encodes a protein of 1061 deduced amino acids, containing all the conserved subdomains found in other P-type ATPases: the phosphatase region, phosphorylation site, FITC labelling site, ATP binding domain; E(386), N871, D875 amino acid residues for calcium ion interaction and Q880, a residue that alters ion selectivity in PMR1. The expressed AfPMR1 in S. cerevisiae K616 strain functionally complemented the deficient growth in EGTA (5-20 mM)- and MnCl2 (4 mM)-containing medium. These results demonstrate the first evidence of a Ca(2+)-ATPase in A. fumigatus and strongly suggest a role for this enzyme in calcium and manganese homeostasis.     

Isolation and sequence analysis of a K. lactis chromosomal DNA element able to autonomously replicate in S. cerevisiae and K. lactis

We have undertaken a search for autonomously replicating (ARSs) from Kluyveromyces lactis chromosomal DNA able to sustain plasmid replication in K. lactis and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The discovery of such sequences might be interesting for the comparison of ARSs from different sources and possibly useful for the construction of multivalent vectors. HindIII fragments from K. lactis chromosomal DNA were inserted in the YIp5 plasmid (lacking an origin of replication) and the resulting chimaeric plasmids were selected for the ability to transform S. cerevisiae. Four plasmids were identified and further analysed. Two contained the same 1.8 kb K. lactis fragment and transformed both K. lactis and S. cerevisiae with the same efficiency and stability, whereas the third transformed only S. cerevisiae and the fourth transformed K. lactis with a higher efficiency than S. cerevisiae. A detailed study was performed on the 1.8 kb fragment which exhibited ARS function in both yeasts. The fragment was subcloned using different restriction enzymes and Bal31 exonuclease. Subclones were tested for ARS function. ARS activities in the two yeasts were localized in the same 100 bp region. Sequencing demonstrated the presence in this region of the dodecanucleotide 5'ATTTATTGTTTT3' differing from the ARS core consensus of S. cerevisiae only by a T insertion. A similar nucleotide sequence is present in the putative replication origin of the 2 mu-like plasmid pKD1 which stably replicates in K. lactis. Homologies with ARSs from S. cerevisiae were also found in the regions flanking the above-mentioned dodecanucleotide.     

Comparison of three expression systems for heterologous xylanase production by S. cerevisiae in defined medium

The influence of the auxotrophic deficiencies of the host strain and expression vector selection on the production of a heterologous protein was investigated. Heterologous xylanase production by two prototrophic S. cerevisiae transformants, containing either a plasmid-based, YEp-type expression system or an integrative, YIp-type expression system, were compared with production by an auxotrophic transformant, containing an identical YEp-type expression system, in batch and continuous cultivation, using a chemically defined medium. Heterologous xylanase production by the auxotrophic strains in defined medium was critically dependent on the availability of amino acids, as extracellular xylanase production increased dramatically when amino acids were over-consumed from the medium to the point of saturating the cell. Saturation with amino acids, indicated by an increased leakage of amino acids from the cell, was thus a prerequisite for high level of heterologous protein production by the auxotrophic strain. Maximal xylanase production levels by the auxotrophic strain corresponded to the levels obtained with a similar prototrophic strain during cultivation in defined medium without amino acids. Superfluous auxotrophic markers thus had a strong deleterious effect on heterologous protein production by recombinant yeasts, and the use of such strains should be limited to initial exploratory investigations. The increased copy number and foreign gene dosage of the YEp-based expression vector, stabilized by the ura3 fur1 autoselection system, significantly improved production levels of heterologous xylanase, compared to the YIp system, which is based on a single integration into the yeast genome. No evidence was found of the possible saturation of the host secretory capacity by multicopy overexpression. Stable production of heterologous xylanase at high levels by the prototrophic YEp-based recombinant strain, compared to the YIp system, was demonstrated.     

Linguistic analysis of chromosome III DNA sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome III DNA sequence by computer (‘in silico’) permits the definition of its linguistic characteristics. These characteristics include the designation of non-randomly occurring oligonucleotides, their distribution along the chromosome, and the distribution of some particular homopolymers. All these elements may contribute to the understanding of the organization of information on the chromosome.     

DNA sequence analysis of the YCN2 region of chromosome XI in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A 6·8 kbp DNA fragment localized to the left arm of chromosome XI from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sequenced and analysed (EMBL accession no. X69765). Two genes involved in protein phosphatase activity were identified: YCN2 and an open reading frame encoding a protein that shares 46% amino acid identity with the sds22⁺ protein from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. A comparison of the genomic YCN2 sequence with the published cDNA sequence suggests the presence of an intron near the 5′ end of the gene. Further sequence analysis suggests the presence of three additional genes near YCN2: a mitochondrial acyl-carrier protein, a gene encoding a putative hydrophobic protein, and a new gene coding for a tRNA^Leu (UAA) isoacceptor located near a delta sequence.     

Genetic and molecular analysis of hybrids in the genus Saccharomyces involving S. cerevisiae,S. uvarum and a new species,S. douglasii

We have studied the phenomenon of infertility of yeast hybrids obtained with physiological conditions under the control of compatible mating systems. The yeasts investigated are three Saccharomyces species: S. cerevisiae, S. uvarum and a new species, S. douglasii. The diploid hybrids from crosses between these species sporulate well but are essentially infertile. The rare viable spores, one per 10⁴ to 10⁵ asci, that have been examined carry a complete genome comprised of chromosomes contributed by both parents but invariably have extra chromosomes, i.e. they are generally disomic for at least two or three chromosomes. This observation is consistent with a failure, in meiosis I, of the pairing and disjunction of homologous chromosomes which in most cases results in spores with an incomplete set of chromosomes. This apparent lack of pairing of ‘homeologous’ chromosomes in meiosis I was analysed in most detail with S. cerevisiae/S. douglasii hybrids. As a genetic tool we studied frequencies of recombination, taking advantage of an S. douglasii breeding stock of some 50 identified mutations in non-switching haploids. Recombination, although markedly reduced, could be observed at both the chromosomal and allelic levels, implying a sporadic pairing in meiosis to allow genetic exchange. Meiotic recombination frequencies were studied for 14 gene pairs and generally found to be reduced ten-fold. Heteroallelic recombination (gene conversion) frequencies were measured at 22 loci and were judged to be reduced at least two- to 100-fold. DNA hybridization experiments with S. cerevisiae gene probes gave results consistent with low DNA sequence homologies between S. cerevisiae and S. douglasii. Moreover, by chance, our experiments disclosed another Saccharomyces strain (CBS2908, originally classified as S. cerevisiae) with hybridization patterns identical to S. douglasii except for the hybridization with the Ty transposon probes. Crosses between CBS2908 and S. douglasii yielded diploid hybrids with 80–90% spore viability, thus establishing a second member of the S. douglasii species.     

Molecular cloning and analysis of autonomous replicating sequence of Candida maltosa.

A Candida maltosa chromosomal DNA fragment which confers high frequency transformation of C. maltosa and autonomous replication of recombinant plasmids was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA revealed a sequence homologous for C. maltosa autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) elements. Vector pRJ1 for C. maltosa was constructed, which contained a 1.3 kb ARS sequence, pICEM-19H and the ADE1 gene of C. maltosa. Southern blot analysis suggested that the copy number of pRJ1 in C. maltosa was approximately 20 per genome. The sequence analysis also revealed an open reading frame, encoding a polypeptide with high homology (70%) to the RS15 protein of Brugia pagangi. This open reading frame has an intron with canonical sites for correct splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

A suite of Gateway cloning vectors for high-throughput genetic analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the post-genomic era, academic and biotechnological research is increasingly shifting its attention from single proteins to the analysis of complex protein networks. This change in experimental design requires the use of simple and experimentally tractable organisms, such as the unicellular eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a range of new high-throughput techniques. The Gateway system has emerged as a powerful high-throughput cloning method that allows for the in vitro recombination of DNA with high speed, accuracy and reliability. Two Gateway-based libraries of overexpression plasmids containing the entire complement of yeast open reading frames (ORFs) have recently been completed. In order to make use of these powerful resources, we adapted the widely used pRS series of yeast shuttle vectors for use in Gateway-based cloning. The resulting suite of 288 yeast Gateway vectors is based upon the two commonly used GPD and GAL1 promoter expression systems that enable expression of ORFs, either constitutively or under galactose-inducible conditions. In addition, proteins of interest can be fused to a choice of frequently used N- or C-terminal tags, such as EGFP, ECFP, EYFP, Cerulean, monomeric DsRed, HA or TAP. We have made this yeast Gateway vector kit available to the research community via the non-profit Addgene Plasmid Repository (http://www.addgene.org/yeast_gateway).     

Specificity of DNA uptake during whole cell transformation of S. cerevisiae

We have studied the mechanism of DNA transformation of whole yeast cells in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with particular emphasis on the role of the cell wall complex in DNA uptake. Two new aspects of the process have been investigated in order to evaluate its specificity. Such aspects are: (i) effect of monovalent vs. divalent cations during incubation with the transforming DNA and (ii) timing of DNA adsorption and uptake. We found that the specificity for cation requirement is a strain-dependent characteristic influenced by the presence of transforming DNA in the cell suspension. This finding is supported by reports from several laboratories that some yeast strains show mutually exclusive transformability with monovalent vs. divalent cations. While irreversible adsorption of plasmid DNA molecules is induced by both heat shock and polyethylene-glycol (PEG), DNA uptake seems to occur only after the removal of PEG. In the course of this study we have developed a new, alternative method of whole cell DNA transformation with CaCl2 able to transform strains that do not respond to other methods.     

几种乳酸菌S-层蛋白的普查以及slp基因的克隆与序列分析

从内蒙古传统发酵乳制品中分离的几种乳酸菌,包括干酪乳杆菌、乳酸乳球菌、发酵乳杆菌、植物乳杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌、双歧乳杆菌和嗜酸乳杆菌标准株(L.acidophilus ATCC4356)等为实验材料,应用SDS-PAGE方法和PCK方法分别进行S-层蛋白(S-layers pro-tein,SLP)的普查和slp基因的检测.结果表明:在各种乳酸茵中,经SDS-PAGE电泳方法检测,只有植物乳杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌和其标准菌株的样品中出现膜外蛋白的可疑条带,大小为44～66ku之间,与文献报道的slp基因表达产物大小范围是一致;经PCR方法检测,只有嗜酸乳杆菌和其标准菌株L.acidoilus ATCC4356中扩增出slp基因可疑条带,其大小约为1 300 bp.并对嗜酸乳杆菌slp基因进行克隆、基因序列测序和分析.     

IX. Yeast sequencing reports. Cloning and sequence of REV7, a gene whose function is required for DNA damage-induced mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The function of the REV7 gene is required for DNA damage-induced mutagenesis in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and is therefore thought to promote replication past sites of mutagen damage in the DNA template. We have cloned this gene by complementation of the rev7-2 mutant defect, and determined its sequence. REV7 encodes a predicted protein of M_r 28 759 which is unlike any other protein in the NCBI non-redundant protein sequence data base, and which is inessential for viability. The sequence of the 3·88 kb yeast genomic fragment containing REV7 has been deposited in Genbank accession number U07228.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the Zygosaccharomyces rouxiiLEU2 gene encoding a beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase.

A DNA fragment carrying the LEU2 gene of osmotolerant yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii was isolated. The sequenced DNA fragment (2630 bp) contained two ORFs; one of them (1086 bp long, predicting a protein of 362 amino acids) shared a high degree of similarity with LEU2 genes of other yeast species. The cloned DNA fragment fully complemented the leu2 mutations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Z. rouxii.     

Molecular cloning of the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The 4.4 kb SphI DNA fragment (GSH1) that complements the gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase-deficient mutation (gsh1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YH1 was cloned into vector plasmid YEp24. Gene disruption of the cloned fragment confirmed that this segment was the same gene as gsh1. Mutant strain YH1 with this plasmid not only restored gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH-I) activity but the glutathione content and the growth rate. DNA sequence analysis of the SphI fragment showed that the GSH1 structural gene contained 2034 bp and predicted a polypeptide of 678 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence had about a 45% homology to that of rat kidney GSH-I, but a very low homology (about 26%) to that of Escherichia coli GSH-I. Northern analysis showed that GSH1 had been transcribed into an approximately 2.7 kb mRNA fragment. Southern analysis showed that GSH1 mapped at chromosome X.     

Isolation, DNA sequence and regulation of a new cell division cycle gene from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A new complementation group of temperature-sensitive mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ts26-1 and ts26-2) has been isolated and characterized. This mutation maps at 40.7 cM from arg8 and 48.9 cM from arg1 on the left arm of chromosome XV of yeast, providing that it is a newly identified gene. The dumbbell-shape terminal morphology of the mutant cells at the restrictive temperatures is a characteristic of mutants defective in DNA replication. To study the defect of macromolecule synthesis in the mutant cells, DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis were measured at both permissive and restrictive temperatures. The data suggest that the primary defect of this mutation is at the initiation step of DNA synthesis. The gene has been cloned from an S. cerevisiae genomic library by rescue of the conditional lethality of the mutants. It is present as a single copy in the haploid genome. DNA-RNA hybridization of the gene has identified 1 kb RNA, which is under cell-division-cycle control. DNA sequence analysis of the gene has identified an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein of molecular weight 25,055 (214 amino acids).     

Genetic and molecular analysis of DNA43 and DNA52: two new cell-cycle genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes previously unknown to be required for DNA synthesis have been identified by screening a collection of temperature-sensitive mutants. The effects of mutations in DNA43 and DNA52 on the rate of S phase DNA synthesis were detected by monitoring DNA synthesis in synchronous populations that were obtained by isopycnic density centrifugation. dna43-1 and dna52-1 cells undergo cell-cycle arrest at the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C), exhibiting a large-budded terminal phenotype; the nuclei of arrested cells are located at the neck of the bud and have failed to undergo DNA replication. These phenotypes suggest that DNA43 and DNA52 are required for entry into or completion of S phase. DNA43 and DNA52 were cloned by their abilities to suppress the temperature-sensitive lethal phenotypes of dna43-1 and dna52-1 cells, respectively. DNA sequence analysis suggested that DNA43 and DNA52 encode proteins of 59.6 and 80.6 kDa, respectively. Both DNA43 and DNA52 are essential for viability and genetic mapping experiments indicate that they represent previously unidentified genes: DNA43 is located on chromosome IX, 32 cM distal from his5 and DNA52 is located on chromosome IV, 0.9 cM from cdc34.     

Purification, cloning, expression and immunological analysis of Scylla serrata arginine kinase, the crab allergen

BACKGROUND: Although crustaceans have been reported to be one of the most common causes of IgE‐mediated allergic reactions, there are no reports about the characterization and identification of arginine kinase (AK) from the mud crab (Scylla serrata) as allergen. In the present study, the purification, molecular cloning, expression and immunological analyses of the IgE allergen AK from the mud crab were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that cloned DNA fragments of AK from the mud crab had open reading frames of 1021 bp, predicted to encode proteins with 356 amino acid residues. Sequence alignment revealed that mud crab AK shares high homology with other crustacean species. Mud crab AK gene was further recombined with the vector of pGEX‐4T‐3 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL 21. 2‐D electrophoresis suggested that native AK (nAK) and recombinant AK (rAK) shared the same molecular weight of 40 kDa, and the pI is 6.5 and 6.3, respectively. The nAK and rAK were further confirmed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Immunoblotting analysis and colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) using sera from subjects with crustacean allergy confirmed that the nAK and rAK reacted positively with these sera, indicating AK is a specific allergen of mud crab. CONCLUSION: Both of purified nAK and rAK reacted positively with sera from subjects with crustacean allergy in immunoblotting and GICA analysis, indicating AK is a common allergen of mud crab. In vitro expressed AK is proposed as a source of the protein for immunological or clinical studies. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ade10+ gene

We have cloned and sequenced the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ade10 gene encoding 5-phosphoribosyl-4-carboxamide 5-aminoimidazole transformylase inosine monophosphate cyclohydrolase. The sequence has an uninterrupted open reading frame of 1755 nucleotides corresponding to 585 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows a high degree of similarity to the purH gene product of many species, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, human, chicken and Escherichia coli. Moreover our data indicate that intrachromosomal recombination in Schiz. pombe is enhanced if the ade10 gene product is defective. The sequence has been submitted to the EMBL data library under Accession Number Y16419. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

酿酒酵母的基因改良

酿酒酵母的发酵性能直接影响到酒的质量与生产成本。利用基因工程改良酿酒酵母可提高其生产性能。基因改良酿酒酵母的研究和应用有：①增加酿酒酵母发酵性能的基因改良，如：构建含α-乙酰乳酸脱羧酶基因的低双乙酰工程酵母；含乙醇乙酰酶基因的高生香工程酵母；含糖化酶、葡聚糖酶等基因的高发酵度工程酵母；高絮凝性工程酵母和嗜杀酵母。②增强或缺失酵母自身基因的菌种改良，如构建高级醇低生成量的工程酵母和构建双乙酰低生成量的工程酵母。     

Microfluidics device for single cell gene expression analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have measured single-cell gene expression over time using a microfluidics-based flow cell which physically traps individual yeast using microm-sized structures (yeast jails). Our goal was to determine variability of gene expression within a cell over time, as well as variability between individual cells. In our flow cell system, yeast jails are fabricated out of PDMS and gene expression is visualized using fluorescently-tagged proteins of interest. Previously, single-cell yeast work has been done using micromanipulation on agar, or FACS. In the present device agar is eliminated, resulting in a superior optical system. The flow of media through the flow cell washes daughter cells away, eliminating the need for micromanipulation. Unlike FACS, the described device can track individual yeast over a time course of many hours. The flow cells are compatible with the needs of quantitative fluorescence microscopy, and allow simultaneous measurements to be done on a large number of individual yeast. We used these flow cells to determine the expression of HSP104-GFPand RAS2-YFP, genes known to affect yeast life span. The results demonstrate inter-cell variation in expression of both genes that could not have been detected without this single-cell analysis.