A TPR-family membrane protein gene is required for light-activated heterotrophic growth of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp PCC 6803

The unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 can grow heterotrophically in complete darkness, given that a brief period of illumination is supplemented every day (light-activated heterotrophic growth, LAHG), or under very weak ( < 0.5 mumol m(-2) s(-1)) but continuous light. By random insertion of the genome with an antibiotic resistance cassette, mutants defective in LAHG were generated. In two identical mutants, sll0886, a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-family membrane protein gene, was disrupted. Targeted insertion of sll0886 and three downstream genes showed that the phenotype was not due to a polar effect. The sll0886 mutant shows normal photoheterotrophic growth when the light intensity is at 2.5 mumol m(-2) s(-1) or above, but no growth at 0.5 mumol m(-2) s(-1). Homologs to sll0886 are also present in cyanobacteria that are not known of LAHG. sll0886 and homologs may be involved in controlling different physiological processes that respond to light of low fluence. (C) 2003 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Cloning and characterization of the gene for UDPGlc dehydrogenase from the cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB 905

Using degenerate primers based on conserved regions of the UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDPGDH) gene, an initial 476-bp DNA fragment was amplified from the water-bloom forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB 905. TAIL-PCR and ligation-mediated PCR were used to amplify the flanking regions to isolate an about 2.5-kb genomic DNA fragment. Sequence analysis revealed an ORF encoding a putative 462 amino acid protein, designated Mud for Microcystis UDPGDH. The Mud amino acid sequence is closely related to UDPGDH sequences from cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 (73% identity, 81% similarity), and bacterium Bacillus subtilis (51% identity and 67% similarity). The cloned mud gene was expressed in Escherichia coli using the pGEX-4T-1 fusion expression vector system to generate a GST-Mud fusion protein that exhibited UDPGDH activity. The cytosolic fraction of M aeruginosa FACHB 905 was subjected to Western analysis with an anti-Mud antibody, which revealed a single band of approximately 49 kD, consistent with the deduced molecular mass of the enzyme. The Mud protein could thus be characterized as a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which was a key enzyme for polysaccharide synthesis and has, for the first time, been studied in algae.

硫代硫酸钠及葡萄糖对蓝细菌Synechocystis sP.PCC6803脂及光合器组成的影响

本文通过对蓝细菌Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803在添加葡萄糖、Na2S203的BG-11培养基中的生长特性、脂类及脂肪酸组成、细胞低温荧光、色素组成进行分析测定，总结出如下规律： 当蓝细菌Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803在添加有葡萄糖的BG-11培养基中培养时细胞出现了一种新的糖脂（记为糖脂-x），在添加果糖、麦芽糖、乳糖等其它碳源的培养基中生长的细胞中也检测到糖脂-x糖脂-x的出现经推测是与活性氧相作用的产物，当在含糖的培养基中加入活性氧猝灭剂Na2S203时能有效地抑制糖脂-x的出现。糖脂一x的出现伴随着其它脂、尤其是双半乳糖甘油二酯(DGDG)的含量下降，这可能与细胞营养代谢类型的转变相适应。糖脂-x的出现使细胞适应异养生长条件，这时藻胆体(PBS)，光系统II(PSII)，光系统I(PSD降解，叶绿素消失。 糖脂-x经1H-NMR波谱术检测证实为甘油糖脂，经气质联谱分析其脂肪酸组成中含大量的枝链脂肪酸，12-甲基十四碳酸、12-甲基十五碳酸、12-甲基十六碳酸以及两种稀有的含氮脂肪酸。这些脂肪酸在添加高浓度葡萄糖的培养基中生长的．Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803中的单半乳糖甘油二酯(MGDG)也能检测到。ESI-MS以及P-SI-MS测定结果表明糖脂．x含一分子的脂酰基侧链以及两分子的己糖，半乳糖与葡萄糖。 对．Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803生长在不同浓度的葡萄糖与Na2S203培养基中脂类组成与脂肪酸组成进行比较，发现Na2S203能有效地增加膜脂中硫代异鼠李糖二酰基甘油(SQDG)和磷脂酰甘油(PG)的百分含量，培养基中同时添加葡萄糖时能抵消Na2S203的这一效应。此外，Na2S203能显著增加单半乳糖甘油二酯(MGDG)、双半乳糖甘油二酯(DGDG)中十六碳酸(C16:0)的百分含量，这一效应也能为葡萄糖恢复。Na2S203不能显著地改变SQDG中C16:0的百分含量，加入葡萄糖时能降低C16:0的百分含量。这些结果说明Na2S203可能充当一种还原剂使膜脂处于一种低的不饱和状态，同时加入葡萄糖时能降低Na2S203的还原力。此外，Na2S203还可作为SQDG合成中的硫供体。 用HPLC测定．Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803在添加不同浓度的Na2S203，葡萄糖的BG-11培养基中生长时的叶绿素与类胡萝卜素浓度，结果表明葡萄糖表现出对叶绿素与类胡萝卜素水平的抑制效应，Na2S203在低浓度时表现出对叶绿素与类胡萝卜素水平的促进效应，但在高浓度时表现出抑制效应。因此适当浓度的Na2S203的加入有利于维持蓝细菌在培养基中添加葡萄糖的生长条件下的低水平自由基，能使葡萄糖表现出促进细胞生长的特性。 通过测定Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803生长曲线中葡萄糖、Na2S203的浓度效应，结果表明葡萄糖在低浓度（例如5 mmoI.L-l）时表现出促进细胞的生长，在相对高的浓度表现出抑制细胞生长的效应。在培养基中同时加入Na2S203时可恢复葡萄糖对细胞的生长的促进效应。单独加入Na2S203表现出对细胞生长的抑制效应。这说明葡萄糖、Na2S203对细胞的生长存在着正的协同效应。

The first study on the effects of microcystin-RR on gene expression profiles of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein-70 in Synechocystis sp PCC6803

Microcystins are heptapeptide toxins produced by cyanobacteria. Microcystin-RR(MC-RR) is a common variant among the 80 variants identified so far. There have been many investigations documenting the toxic effects of microcystins on animals and higher plants, but little is known on the toxic effects of microcystins on algae, especially at molecular level. We studied the effects of MC-RR on gene expression profile of a few antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein-70 (Hsp70) in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. After two days post-exposure, a high dose toxin (5 mg/l, about 4.8 x 10(-3) mM) significantly increased expression levels of the genes gpx1, sodB, katG, acnB, gamma-TMTand dnaK2, while a relatively low dose toxin (1 mg/l, about 9.63 x 10(-4) mM) induced a moderate and slow increase of gene expression. Our results indicate that MC-RR could induce the oxidative stress in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and the increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and Hsp70 might protect the organism from the oxidative damage. in addition, cell aggregation was observed during the early period of exposure, which might be a specific oxidative stress reaction to MC-RR. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

集胞藻PCC6803中ORF sll0260对于维持基本生命活动的必要作用

集胞藻(Synechocystis sp.)6803的未知功能基因中有很多是细胞的基本生命活动所需要的,这些基因插入失活往往会导致细胞死亡,因而得不到分离完全的突变株,难以进行遗传学研究。构建突变株以铜离子调控的启动子PpetE来控制此类未知功能基因的表达则可能获得完全分离。构建PpetE-sll0260突变株并对sll0260必要作用进行研究。在完全分离的突变株中,去除铜离子可关闭sll0260的表达。此时,突变株生长受到严重抑制,色素含量大为降低,类囊体膜结构破坏,光合作用消失,呼吸能力下降。这些结果

Three-piece-ligation PCR and application in disruption of chlorophyll synthesis genes in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803

Linear DNA, consisting of a drug-resistance marker and long flanking sequences, was synthesized by one-step polymerase chain reaction after a three-piece ligating reaction. Chlorophyll synthesis genes, chlH and chIL in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were replaced by a kanamycin-resistance marker through double recombinations with flanking homology regions. Under LAHG conditions, the chIL but not chlH mutant stopped chlorophyll synthesis, while both synthesized chlorophyll in the light.

Functional characterization of sll0659 from Synechocystis sp PCC 6803

Synchocystis sp. PCC 6803 lacks a gene for the any known types of lycopene cyclase. Recently, we reported that sll0659 (unknown for its function) from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 shows similarity in sequence to a lycopene cyclase gene-CruA from Chlorobium tepidum. To test, whether Sll0659 encoded protein serves as lycopene cyclase, in this study, we investigated the carotenoids of the wild types ans mutants, In the sll0659 deleted mutant, there is no blockage at the lycopene cyclization step. Our results demonstrate that sll0659 does not affect lycopene cyclization. However, the ultrastructure of mutants suggests the involvement or necessity of sll0659 in the cell division.

类DnaJ蛋白基因sll1384参与集胞藻PCC6803的趋光反应

在集胞藻PCC6803中,基因sll1384编码的蛋白在N端含有一个DnaJ结构域,C端含有一个TPR结构域.sll1384突变株对不同温度的适应能力同野生型没有区别,但其趋光运动能力几乎丧失.将野生型sll1384基因导入突变株后,可恢复其向光运动.电子显微镜观察发现,突变株细胞表面的纤毛与野生型没有明显区别.突变株的转化效率也与野生型相同,推测Sll1384通过与其他蛋白相互作用调节集胞藻的趋光反应.这是在蓝藻中发现的第一个影响趋光反应的类DnaJ蛋白基因.

集胞藻PCC6803 priA基因的突变体

中国科学院知识创新工程重要方向项目(KSCX2-SW-332)

集胞藻PCC6803铜离子诱导表达平台的构建

在集胞藻PCC6803中,基因敲除是研究基因功能的最直接有效的方法,但是对于某些生存必需的基因则无法通过这种方法获得突变株。为研究集胞藻PCC6803中此类基因的功能,在其基因组中构建了一个petE基因启动子(PpetE)控制的铜离子诱导表达的平台。将集胞藻PpetE装配在lacZ报告基因的上游,通过同源双交换整合到这种蓝藻的基因组中。通过调节培养基中铜离子的浓度发现,lacZ的表达能够人为控制。特别是当铜离子浓度在6—400nmol/L范围时,LacZ活力随铜离子浓度增加呈S型增长关系。利用这个铜离子诱

集胞藻PCC6803光激活异养生长必需基因s110886的研究

集胞藻PCC6803能够在微弱、短时光刺激的条件下利用葡萄糖进行异养生长,称为光激活异养生长(LAHG)。从其随机插入诱变文库中,筛选到3个不能进行光激活异养生长的突变株,通过反向PCR和测序确定突变基因全部为s110886。将s110886克隆到表达载体pET21-b,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)诱导表达,并对产物进行了纯化。用Western印迹法研究s110886在集胞藻PCC6803的表达情况,发现在完全黑暗和光照情况下,其表达水平几乎没有差异,并证明其编码产物分布于膜上。因此,s110886是一个

DnaJ-like protein gene sll1384 is involved in phototaxis in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803

In Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, gene sll1384 encodes a protein with a DnaJ domain at its N-terminal portion and a TPR domain at the C-terminal portion. An sll1384 mutant shows no difference from the wild type in adaptation to different temperatures, but almost completely loses its capability of phototactic movement. After complementation with sll1384, the mutant regains the phototaxis. As shown with electron microscopy, on the cell surface, mutant cells have pili that appear to be the same as that of the wild type. Also, the transformation efficiency remains unchanged in the mutant. It is postulated that Sll1384 regulates phototaxis of Synechocystis through protein-protein interaction. It is the first DnaJ-like protein gene identified in a cyanobacterium for a role in phototaxis.

Depletion of Vipp1 in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 affects photosynthetic activity before the loss of thylakoid membranes

A vipp1 mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 could not be completely segregated under either mixotrophic or heterotrophic conditions. A vipp1 gene with a copper-regulated promoter (P-petE-vipp1) was integrated into a neutral platform in the genome of the merodiploid mutant. The copper-induced expression of P-petE-vipp1 allowed a complete segregation of the vipp1 mutant and observation of the phenotype of Synechocystis 6803 with different levels of vesicle-inducing protein in plastids 1 (Vipp1). When P-petE-vipp1 was turned off by copper deprivation, Synechocystis lost Vipp1 and photosynthetic activity almost simultaneously, and at a later stage, thylakoid membranes and cell viability. The photosystem II (PSII)-mediated electron transfer was much more rapidly reduced than the PSI-mediated electron transfer. By testing a series of concentrations, we found that P-petE-vipp1 cells grown in medium with 0.025 mu M Cu2+ showed no reduction of thylakoid membranes, but greatly reduced photosynthetic activity and viability. These results suggested that in contrast to a previous report, the loss of photosynthetic activity may not have been due to the loss of thylakoid membranes, but may have been caused more directly by the loss of Vipp1 in Synechocystis 6803.