SMG-1 as a Promising Tumor Suppressor in the Management of Cancers

SMG-1 (Suppressor of Morphogenesis in Genitalia-1) is an evolutionally conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase and belongs Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K) related kinases (PIKKs) that include Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), ATM and Rad3 Related (ATR), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), DNADependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit (DNA-PKcs) and Transformation/Transcription Domain-Associated Protein (TRRAP) [1]. The deduced 3,521-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 410kD [2]. PIKKs have diverse functions. For example, ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs are involved in the response to DNA damage. ATM and DNA-PKcs respond to DNA Double Strand Breaks (DSBs) and ATR to DNA replication blockers or formation of long stretches of single strand DNA [3]. mTOR is a nutrient-regulated kinase that controls a wide variety of pathways involved in metabolism and cell growth [4]. TRRAP functions as part of a multiprotein co-activator complex which is involved with the transcriptional activity of c-Myc and other transcriptional factors [5]. SMG-1 is a part of the mRNA surveillance complex that regulates Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD) [6]. SMG-1 was firstly reported as a member of the informational suppression in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) which affected several mRNA processes in 1989 [7]. Pulak et al. reported that loss of function mutations affecting seven C. elegans smg genes eliminates NMD [8] and later demonstrated that smg- 1 kinase activity was essential for NMD [9]. In 2001, Deming et al. reported a partial sequence of human SMG-1 as C. elegans SMG-1 related protein [10]. Yamashita et al. also reported the full-length sequence for human smg-1 which encoded a 3657 aa protein that was a novel PIKK and showed the involvement of SMG1 in mammalian NMD [11]. In 2004, Brumbaugh et al. reported the activation of SMG-1 by DNA damage and involvement of SMG-1 in genotoxic stress-induced phosphorylation of P53 [2]. Besides NMD, SMG- 1 roles as a protective agency in genotoxic stress such as radiation, tumor proliferation, and apoptosis. I will briefly summarize the roles of SMG-1 related with NMD and others in this paper.

Cloning and characterization of KoOsmotin from mangrove plant Kandelia obovata under cold stress

Background Low temperature is a major abiotic stress that seriously limits mangrove productivity and distribution. Kandelia obovata is the most cold-resistance specie in mangrove plants, but little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying its resistance to cold. Osmotin is a key protein associated with abiotic and biotic stress response in plants but no information about this gene in K. obovata was reported. Results In this study, a cDNA sequence encoding osmotin, KoOsmotin (GenBank accession no. KP267758), was cloned from mangrove plant K. obovata. The KoOsmotin protein was composed of 221 amino acids and showed a calculated molecular mass of 24.11 kDa with pI 4.92. The KoOsmotin contained sixteen cysteine residues and an N-terminal signal peptide, which were common signatures to most osmotins and pathogenesis-related 5 proteins. The three-dimensional (3D) model of KoOsmotin, contained one α-helix and eleven β-strands, was formed by three characteristic domains. Database comparisons of the KoOsmotin showed the closest identity (55.75%) with the osmotin 34 from Theobroma cacao. The phylogenetic tree also revealed that the KoOsmotin was clustered in the branch of osmotin/OLP (osmotin-like protien). The KoOsmotin protein was proved to be localized to both the plasma membrane and cytoplasm by the subcellular localization analysis. Gene expression showed that the KoOsmotin was induced primarily and highly in the leaves of K. obovata, but less abundantly in stems and roots. The overexpressing of KoOsmotin conferred cold tolerance in Escherichia coli cells. Conclusion As we known, this is the first study to explore the osmotin of K. obovata. Our study provided valuable clues for further exploring the function of KoOsmotin response to stress.

Characterization and molecular cloning of secreted α-amylase with dominant activity from mon thong durian (Durio zibethinus murr. cv. mon thong)

The secreted α-amylase with dominant activity was purified from the crude extract of Mon Thong durian by steps of ammonium sulphate precipitation and the affinity column chromatography. The purified α-amylase (DzAmy1) had a molecular mass of approximately 44 kDa. Its optimum pH and temperature for activity were 7.0 and 50°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable from pH 6 to 10 and from 30 to 60°C. Many metal ions did not affect amylase activity. The gene cloning of DzAmy1 was carried out and it was confirmed that DzAmy1 gene consisted of 1,254 bp open reading frame, which encoded 23 amino acids of the signal peptide and 395 amino acids of mature protein with a calculated molecular mass of 43.7 kDa. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 5.78. DzAmy1 was shown to belong to sub-family one of the plant α-amylases based on phylogenetic tree analysis. Structural characterization by homology modelling suggested that it consisted of 3 domains with a catalytic triad in domain A. Recombinant DzAmy1 (rDzAmy1) was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and had hydrolysis activity for starch and ethylidene-pNP-G7, which was clearly confirmed the authenticity of DzAmy1 as a functional α-amylase.

Microbial Production and Enzymatic Biosynthesis of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Using Lactobacillus plantarum FNCC 260 Isolated from Indonesian Fermented Foods

In the present study, we isolated and screened thirty strains of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditional Indonesian fermented foods. Two strains were able to convert monosodium glutamate (MSG) to GABA after 24 h of cultivation at 37 °C based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening. Proteomic identification and 16S rDNA sequencing using MALDI-TOF MS identified the strain as Lactobacillus plantarum designated as L. plantarum FNCC 260 and FNCC 343. The highest yield of GABA production obtained from the fermentation of L. plantarum FNCC 260 was 809.2 mg/L of culture medium after 60 h of cultivation. The supplementation of 0.6 mM pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) and 0.1 mM pyridoxine led to the increase in GABA production to 945.3 mg/L and 969.5 mg/L, respectively. The highest GABA production of 1226.5 mg/L of the culture medium was obtained with 100 mM initial concentration of MSG added in the cultivation medium. The open reading frame (ORF) of 1410 bp of the gadB gene from L. plantarum FNCC 260 encodes 469 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 53.57 kDa. The production of GABA via enzymatic conversion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) using purified recombinant glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) from L. plantarum FNCC 260 expressed in Escherichia coli was found to be more efficient (5-fold higher within 6 h) than the production obtained from fermentation. L. plantarum FNCC 260 could be of interest for the synthesis of GABA.

Microbial Production and Enzymatic Biosynthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) Using Lactobacillus plantarum FNCC 260 Isolated From Indonesian Fermented Foods

In the present study, we isolated and screened thirty strains of GABA-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Indonesian traditional fermented foods. Two strains were able to convert monosodium glutamate (MSG) to GABA after 24 h of cultivation at 37oC based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening. 16S rDNA sequencing and proteomic identification using MALDI-TOF MS identified these two strains as Lactobacillus plantarum designated as L. plantarum FNCC 260 and L. plantarum FNCC 343. The highest yield of GABA production obtained from the fermentation of L. plantarum FNCC 260 was 809.2 mg/l of culture medium after 60 h of cultivation. Supplementation of 0.6 mM pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) and 0.1 mM pyridoxine led to the increase in GABA production to 945.3 mg/l and 969.5 mg/l, respectively. The highest GABA production of 1226.5 mg/l of culture medium was obtained with 100 mM initial concentration of MSG added in the cultivation medium. The open reading frame (ORF) of 1410 bp of the gadB gene from L. plantarum FNCC 260 encodes 469 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 53.57 kDa. The production of GABA via enzymatic conversion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) using purified recombinant glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) from L. plantarum FNCC 260 expressed in Escherichia coli was found to be more efficient (5-fold higher within 6 h) than the production obtained from fermentation. L. plantarum FNCC 260 could be of interest for the synthesis of GABA.

Proteomic investigation of Peristenus spretus ovary and characterization of an ovary-enriched heat shock protein

Peristenus spretus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is one of the most important endoparasitoids used for biological control of the green mirid bug, Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür (Heteroptera: Miridae). However, what we know about its reproductive genetics is very limited. Here, the composition of ovarian proteins in P. spretus was analyzed. Mass spectrum data searched against the non-redundant NCBI protein and UniProt protein database identified 1382 proteins and revealed an enrichment of the heat shock protein 83 (HSP83) in P. spretus ovary. The Pshsp83 complete cDNA is 2175 bp in length and encodes a protein of 724 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 83.4 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.87. Transcription of Pshsp83 appeared from days 1 to 13 post-emergence and peaked at 13th day. Immuno-localization showed that the HSP83 protein was present in cytoplasm of germarium and in egg chambers of the whole ovariole. The transcript abundance of Pshsp83 fluctuated drastically after heat shocks at different temperatures and the maximum emerged at 35°C. The exposure to 35°C caused no dramatic effects on reproductive parameters of adult females such as pupation rate, cocoon weight, emergence rate, sex ratio and developmental duration, but did on longevity. These results suggested that the HSP83 protein is involved in life-span regulation in the P. spretus.

A Novel Thermostable GH3β-Glucosidase fromTalaromyce leycettanuswith Broad Substrate Specificity and Significant Soybean Isoflavone Glycosides-Hydrolyzing Capability

A novelβ-glucosidase gene (Bgl3B) of glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 3 was cloned from the thermophilic fungusTalaromyce leycettanusJM12802 and successfully expressed inPichia pastoris. The deduced Bgl3B contains 860 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 91.2 kDa. The purified recombinant Bgl3B exhibited maximum activities at pH 4.5 and 65°C and remained stable at temperatures up to 60°C and pH 3.0−9.0, respectively. The enzyme exhibited broad substrate specificities, showingβ-glucosidase, glucanase, cellobiase, xylanase, and isoflavone glycoside hydrolase activities, and its activities were stimulated by short-chain alcohols. The catalytic efficiencies of Bgl3B were 693 and 104/mM/s towardspNPG and cellobiose, respectively. Moreover, Bgl3B was highly effective in converting isoflavone glycosides to aglycones at 37°C within 10 min, with the hydrolysis rates of 95.1%, 76.0%, and 75.3% for daidzin, genistin, and glycitin, respectively. These superior properties make Bgl3B potential for applications in the food, animal feed, and biofuel industries.

Gene Expression and Molecular Characterization of a Xylanase from Chicken Cecum Metagenome

A xylanase genexynAMG1with a 1,116-bp open reading frame, encoding an endo-β-1,4-xylanase, was cloned from a chicken cecum metagenome. The translatedXynAMG1protein consisted of 372 amino acids including a putative signal peptide of 23 amino acids. The calculated molecular mass of the matureXynAMG1was 40,013 Da, with a theoretical pI value of 5.76. The amino acid sequence ofXynAMG1showed 59% identity to endo-β-1,4-xylanase fromPrevotella bryantiiandPrevotella ruminicolaand 58% identity to that fromPrevotella copri.XynAMG1has two conserved motifs, DVVNE and TEXD, containing two active site glutamates and an invariant asparagine, characteristic of GH10 family xylanase. ThexynAMG1gene without signal peptide sequence was cloned and fused with thioredoxin protein (Trx.Tag) in pET-32a plasmid and overexpressed inEscherichia coliTuner™(DE3)pLysS. The purified matureXynAMG1was highly salt-tolerant and stable and displayed higher than 96% of its catalytic activity in the reaction containing 1 to 4 M NaCl. It was only slightly affected by common organic solvents added in aqueous solution to up to 5 M. This chicken cecum metagenome-derived xylanase has potential applications in animal feed additives and industrial enzymatic processes requiring exposure to high concentrations of salt and organic solvents.

Cloning, Sequence Analysis and Expression Patterns during Seed Germination of a Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) G-x-S-x-G-motif Lipase Gene

Lipases catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds in triacylglycerides, generating glycerol and free fatty acids. These enzymes are encoded by extremely complex gene families, and appear to fulfil many different biological functions. Although they are present in all types of organisms, available information on plant lipases is still very limited, as compared to their bacterial and animal counterparts. A full-length clone, BnLIP, encoding a putative lipase, has been isolated by PCR amplification of Brassica napus genomic DNA, with oligonucleotide primers derived from the sequence of an Arabidopsis thaliana homologue. The clone included an open reading frame of 1581 bp encoding a polypeptide of 526 amino acids, with a calculated molecular mass of 59.5 kDa. Analysis of the deduced protein sequence, sequence alignment with homologous proteins from related plant species, and a phylogenetic analysis revealed that the BnLIP protein belongs to the ‘classical’ GxSxG-motif lipase family. RT-PCR assays indicated that the BnLIP gene is expressed specifically, but only transiently, during seed germination: the lipase mRNA was not present at detectable levels in ungerminated seeds, was detected only three days after seed imbibition, but its levels decreased rapidly afterwards. No expression was observed in roots, stems or leaves of adult plants. This expression pattern suggests that BnLIP is one of the lipases involved in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerides stored in rapeseed seeds, ultimately providing nutrients and energy to sustain seedling growth until photosynthesis is activated.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of sorbitol transporter gene PbSOT2 in Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) fruit

Sorbitol is a primary photosynthetic product and the principal photosynthetic transport substance in plants of the Rosaceae. Sorbitol transporters in the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) are important for phloem loading and sorbitol uptake into sink tissues. Here we report the cloning, localization, and expression analysis of a sorbitol transporter in fruit of Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. cv. “Yali.” This clone, named PbSOT2, encoded a 537-aa protein with a calculated molecular mass of 57.92 kDa. The predicted protein had 12 transmembrane domains and belonged to the MFS carriers. PbSOT2 was sub-cellularly targeted to the plasma membrane. The expression of PbSOT2 was highest during the rapid enlargement phase of fruit (100 days after full bloom). In addition, the sorbitol content in fruit fluctuated within certain limits, but its proportion of total sugars decreased continuously. This work shows that PbSOT2 may play a role in fruit enlargement and the accumulation of hexose during fruit development.