Semisynthesis of 3′(2′)‐O‐(Aminoacyl)‐tRNA Derivatives as Ribosomal Substrate

An efficient synthesis of (3′‐terminally) 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated pCpA derivatives is described, which could lead to the production of (aminoacyl)‐tRNAs following T4 RNA ligase mediated ligation. The tetrahydrofuranyl (thf) group was used as a permanent protective group for the 2′‐OH of the cytidine moiety which can be removed during the purification of the 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated‐pCpA. This approach allowed for a general synthesis of (3′‐terminally) 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated oligonucleotides. The fully protected pCpA 14 was synthesized by phosphoramidite chemistry and treated with NH₃ solution to remove the 2‐cyanoethyl and benzoyl groups (→ 15 ; Schemes 1 and 2). The 2′‐O‐thf‐protected‐pCpA 15 was coupled with α‐amino acid cyanomethyl esters, and the products 20a – c were deprotected and purified with AcOH buffer to afford 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated pCpA 21a – c in high yields. The 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated pCpA were efficiently ligated with tRNA(? CA) to yield (aminoacyl)‐tRNA which was an active substrate for the ribosome.     

MCAT is not required for in vitro polyketide synthesis in a minimal actinorhodin polyketide synthase from Streptomyces coelicolor

Background: It has been proposed that Streptomyces malonyl CoA:holo acyl carrier protein transacylases (MCATs) provide a link between fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis. Two recent studies have provided evidence that the presence of MCAT is essential for polyketide synthesis to proceed in reconstituted minimal polyketide synthases (PKSs). In contrast to this, we previously showed that the holo acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) from type II PKSs are capable of catalytic self -malonylation in the presence of malonyl CoA, which suggests that MCAT might not be necessary for polyketide biosynthesis.Results: We reconstituted a homologous actinorhodin (act) type II minimal PKS in vitro, When act holo-ACP is present in limiting concentrations, MCAT is required by the synthase complex in order for polyketide biosynthesis to proceed. When holo-ACP is present in excess, however, efficient polyketide synthesis proceeds without MCAT, The rate of polyketide production increases with holo-ACP concentration, but at low ACP concentration or equimolar ACP:KS:CLF (KS, ketosynthase; CLF, chain length determining factor) concentrations this rate is significantly lower than expected, indicating that free holo-ACP is sequestered by the KS/CLF complex.Conclusions: The rate of polyketide biosynthesis is dictated by the ratio of holo-ACP to KS and CLF, as well as by the total protein concentration, There is no absolute requirement for MCAT in polyketide biosynthesis in vitro, although the role of MCAT during polyketide synthesis in vivo remains an open question. MCAT might be responsible for the rate enhancement of malonyl transfer at very low free holo-ACP concentrations or it could be required to catalyse the transfer of malonyl groups from malonyl CoA to sequestered holo-ACP.     

A rapid and simple HPLC-UV method for the determination of inhibition characteristics of farnesyl transferase inhibitors

Ras proteins play an important role in the development of cancer. Farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs) block the first obligatory post-translational step for activation, prenylation, of Ras proteins. To find new potent FTIs, rapid enzyme activity assays are required to reduce FTI development time. Most assays to date are based on radioactive labelled substrates. We developed a new, in vitro, farnesyl transferase assay based on gradient chromatography coupled to UV detection. Unfarnesylated and farnesylated H-Ras proteins were resolved on a C18 wide-pore HPLC column and their concentrations were determined with use of a calibration curve of unfarnesylated H-Ras. The assay was used to investigate inhibition characteristics of FTIs. The IC50 values of the FTIs L778,123 and SCH66336 were 4.2 nm and 78 microm, respectively. This assay could support the screening and development of FTIs to obtain rapid insights into their inhibitory properties.     

基于末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶的纳米界面上DNA的生长策略及用于恩诺沙星的适配体传感器构建研究

在纳米金(Au nanoparticles,AuNPs)表面通过组装巯基DNA制得AuNPs-DNA生物探针后,末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶(Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase,TdTase)催化探针DNA的3′-OH端,实现DNA的生长,并得到生长产物长单链DNA(Single-stranded DNA,ssDNA)。通过琼脂糖凝胶电泳和原子力显微镜成像(Atomic force microscope,AFM)对探针及ssDNA进行表征,结果表明TdTase能够实现纳米界面上DNA的高效生长,卷曲状态下链长可达850 nm。进一步将这种DNA的生长策略与适配体(Aptamer)技术相结合。首先在纳米金表面组装适配体片段1,在醛基化的磁珠颗粒表面组装适配体片段2,以此构建针对恩诺沙星的适配体生物传感器(Aptasensor)。该传感器对ENR在10～1.0×10~5 ng/mL具备良好的响应性能,检出限为1.0 ng/mL,能明显区分环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、诺氟沙星等对照组信号。研究表明,基于TdTase的适配体传感器操作便捷,具备良好的靶分子响应性能和特异性,可为食品安全检测等领域提供新的研究思路。     

基于末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶扩增DNA-铜纳米簇荧光传感检测L-组氨酸

利用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶(TdT)扩增形成聚胸腺嘧啶(T)DNA模板,制备了聚T铜纳米簇(TS-CuNCs),构建了一种用于L-组氨酸(L-His)检测的荧光传感分析新方法.TdT酶在dTTP存在下合成聚T单链DNA核苷酸序列.由于胸腺嘧啶和Cu2+之间的亲合力,聚T单链DNA作为合成铜纳米簇(CuNCs)的模板,加入还原剂后形成CuNCs,荧光强度增强.在L-His存在下,L-组氨酸的咪唑基与Cu2+螯合形成L-His-Cu2+配合物,因而进入聚胸腺嘧啶序列中的Cu2+量减少,使得合成的CuNCs数量减少,导致荧光信号减弱.实验结果表明,体系荧光响应信号与L-His浓度的对数值在5.0×10-9~5.0×10-4 mol/L范围内呈线性关系,检出限达到3.4×10-9 mol/L.本方法用于实际尿液样品中L-组氨酸检测的回收率为97.4%~104.6%,在生物医学及临床诊断中具有潜在应用价值.