苯丙氨酸及苯丙酮酸对Lactobacillus sp. SK007合成苯乳酸的影响

从自然发酵泡菜中分离筛选到一株乳杆菌(Lactobacillus sp.)SK007,研究了Lactobacillus sp. SK007利用苯丙氨酸合成苯乳酸的过程,结果发现,在MRS培养基中最高可产生0.55 mmol/L苯乳酸,苯丙氨酸剩余94%,但检测不到中间产物苯丙酮酸,这表明苯丙氨酸的转氨反应是苯乳酸合成的限速步骤. 用苯丙酮酸代替苯丙氨酸作为底物可有效突破这一瓶颈,进一步优化了Lactobacillus sp. SK007利用苯丙酮酸合成苯乳酸的发酵条件. 当苯丙酮酸为18.3 mmol/L, 30℃静置培养24 h,苯乳酸产量可达10.25 mmol/L.     

Physiology and Pathophysiology of Heparan Sulfate in Animal Models: Its Biosynthesis and Degradation

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a type of glycosaminoglycan that plays a key role in a variety of biological functions in neurology, skeletal development, immunology, and tumor metastasis. Biosynthesis of HS is initiated by a link of xylose to Ser residue of HS proteoglycans, followed by the formation of a linker tetrasaccharide. Then, an extension reaction of HS disaccharide occurs through polymerization of many repetitive units consisting of iduronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. Subsequently, several modification reactions take place to complete the maturation of HS. The sulfation positions of N-, 2-O-, 6-O-, and 3-O- are all mediated by specific enzymes that may have multiple isozymes. C5-epimerization is facilitated by the epimerase enzyme that converts glucuronic acid to iduronic acid. Once these enzymatic reactions have been completed, the desulfation reaction further modifies HS. Apart from HS biosynthesis, the degradation of HS is largely mediated by the lysosome, an intracellular organelle with acidic pH. Mucopolysaccharidosis is a genetic disorder characterized by an accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the body associated with neuronal, skeletal, and visceral disorders. Genetically modified animal models have significantly contributed to the understanding of the in vivo role of these enzymes. Their role and potential link to diseases are also discussed.     

Genome-Wide Comparative Analysis of the R2R3-MYB Gene Family in Five Solanaceae Species and Identification of Members Regulating Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Wolfberry

The R2R3-MYB is a large gene family involved in various plant functions, including carotenoid biosynthesis. However, this gene family lacks a comprehensive analysis in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) and other Solanaceae species. The recent sequencing of the wolfberry genome provides an opportunity for investigating the organization and evolutionary characteristics of R2R3-MYB genes in wolfberry and other Solanaceae species. A total of 610 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in five Solanaceae species, including 137 in wolfberry. The LbaR2R3-MYB genes were grouped into 31 subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis, conserved gene structures, and motif composition. Five groups only of Solanaceae R2R3-MYB genes were functionally divergent during evolution. Dispersed and whole duplication events are critical for expanding the R2R3-MYB gene family. There were 287 orthologous gene pairs between wolfberry and the other four selected Solanaceae species. RNA-seq analysis identified the expression level of LbaR2R3-MYB differential gene expression (DEGs) and carotenoid biosynthesis genes (CBGs) in fruit development stages. The highly expressed LbaR2R3-MYB genes are co-expressed with CBGs during fruit development. A quantitative Real-Time (qRT)-PCR verified seven selected candidate genes. Thus, Lba11g0183 and Lba02g01219 are candidate genes regulating carotenoid biosynthesis in wolfberry. This study elucidates the evolution and function of R2R3-MYB genes in wolfberry and the four Solanaceae species.     

三角褐指藻源岩藻黄素功能活性及其生物合成研究进展

海洋硅藻三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)含有丰富的岩藻黄素且生长速度快,被认为是生产岩藻黄素的最佳物种之一。其中岩藻黄素作为一种天然类胡萝卜素,具有抗肿瘤、抗氧化、抗糖尿病、抗炎症、抗肥胖等生理活性,在生物医药和功能食品领域具有重要应用价值。岩藻黄素因合成机制的复杂性而表现出一定的不稳定性,使其在生产中存在着产量低、成本高等问题。本文详细介绍了三角褐指藻源岩藻黄素的功能活性,对岩藻黄素的合成机制及合成过程中不同因素对其积累量的影响因素的研究进展进行系统综述旨在深入研究海洋微藻来源的岩藻黄素的作用价值,为岩藻黄素进一步的开发利用提供技术支撑,有望为功能性食品领域的开发提供理论依据,为未来海洋硅藻产业化发展提供参考。     

Biosynthetic Plasticity Enables Production of Fluorinated Aurachins

Enzyme promiscuity has important implications in the field of biocatalysis. In some cases, structural analogues of simple metabolic building blocks can be processed through entire pathways to give natural product derivatives that are not readily accessible by chemical means. In this study, we explored the plasticity of the aurachin biosynthesis pathway with regard to using fluoro- and chloroanthranilic acids, which are not abundant in the bacterial producers of these quinolone antibiotics. The incorporation rates of the tested precursor molecules disclosed a regiopreference for halogen substitution as well as steric limitations of enzymatic substrate tolerance. Three previously undescribed fluorinated aurachin derivatives were produced in preparative amounts by fermentation and structurally characterized. Furthermore, their antibacterial activities were evaluated in comparison to their natural congener aurachin D.     

利用椰子水生物合成CMC改性细菌纤维素

以椰子水为培养基,于培养基中添加羧甲基纤维素(CMC)后培养木醋杆菌可制备羧甲基纤维素改性细菌纤维素(CMC-BC)。当添加6g/LCMC时,CMC-BC产量达到最大(10.41g/L),是纯BC产量(4.73g/L)的2.2倍。采用FTIR表征了产物结构;通过SEM、XRD、TGA研究了产物性能;并测试了产物的特性黏度与含水率。结果显示,利用椰子水所制备的CMC-BC缩短了培养时间(3d)。适量添加CMC〔ρ(CMC)=2～18g/L〕时,CMC-BC的聚合度增大,且具有较好热稳定性及较高含水率。CMC-BC还表现出较好的溶解性能。     

New WS9326A Derivatives and One New Annimycin Derivative with Antimalarial Activity are Produced by Streptomyces asterosporus DSM 41452 and Its Mutant

In this study, we report that Streptomyces asterosporus DSM 41452 is a producer of new molecules related to the nonribosomal cyclodepsipeptide WS9326A and the polyketide annimycin. S. asterosporus DSM 41452 is shown to produce six cyclodepsipeptides and peptides, WS9326A to G. Notably, the compounds WS9326F and WS9326G have not been described before. The genome of S. asterosporus DSM 41452 was sequenced, and a putative WS9326A gene cluster was identified. Gene‐deletion experiments confirmed that this cluster was responsible for the biosynthesis of WS9326A to G. Additionally, a gene‐deletion experiment demonstrated that sas16 encoding a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase was involved in the synthesis of the novel (E)‐2,3‐dehydrotyrosine residue found in WS9326A and its derivatives. An insertion mutation within the putative annimycin gene cluster led to the production of a new annimycin derivative, annimycin B, which exhibited modest inhibitory activity against Plasmodium falciparum.     

Discovery of a Short‐Chain Dehydrogenase from Catharanthus roseus that Produces a New Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid

Plant monoterpene indole alkaloids, a large class of natural products, derive from the biosynthetic intermediate strictosidine aglycone. Strictosidine aglycone, which can exist as a variety of isomers, can be reduced to form numerous different structures. We have discovered a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase (SDR) from plant producers of monoterpene indole alkaloids (Catharanthus roseus and Rauvolfia serpentina) that reduce strictosidine aglycone and produce an alkaloid that does not correspond to any previously reported compound. Here we report the structural characterization of this product, which we have named vitrosamine, as well as the crystal structure of the SDR. This discovery highlights the structural versatility of the strictosidine aglycone biosynthetic intermediate and expands the range of enzymatic reactions that SDRs can catalyse. This discovery further highlights how a sequence‐based gene mining discovery approach in plants can reveal cryptic chemistry that would not be uncovered by classical natural product chemistry approaches.     

Dietary Fish Oil Alters DNA Methylation of Genes Involved in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Muscle and Liver of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Adequate dietary supply of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) is required to maintain health and growth of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). However, salmon can also convert α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) into eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) by sequential desaturation and elongation reactions, which can be modified by 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 intake. In mammals, dietary 20:5n-3 + 22:6n-3 intake can modify Fads2 expression (Δ6 desaturase) via altered DNA methylation of its promoter. Decreasing dietary fish oil (FO) has been shown to increase Δ5fad expression in salmon liver. However, it is not known whether this is associated with changes in the DNA methylation of genes involved in polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis. To address this, we investigated whether changing the proportions of dietary FO and vegetable oil altered the DNA methylation of Δ6fad_b, Δ5fad, Elovl2, and Elovl5_b promoters in liver and muscle from Atlantic salmon and whether any changes were associated with mRNA expression. Higher dietary FO content increased the proportions of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 and decreased Δ6fad_b mRNA expression in liver, but there was no effect on Δ5fad, Elovl2, and Elovl5_b expression. There were significant differences between liver and skeletal muscle in the methylation of individual CpG loci in all four genes studied. Methylation of individual Δ6fad_b CpG loci was negatively related to its expression and to proportions of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the liver. These findings suggest variations in dietary FO can induce gene-, CpG locus-, and tissue-related changes in DNA methylation in salmon.