Antonius Suwanto

Novel β-Lactamase Genes from Two Environmental Isolates of Vibrio harveyi

ABSTRACT Two ampicillin-resistant (Ampr) isolates ofVibrio harveyi, W3B and HB3, were obtained from the coastal waters of the Indonesian island of Java. Strain W3B was isolated from marine water near a shrimp farm in North Java while HB3 was from pristine seawater in South Java. In this study, novel β-lactamase genes from W3B (blaVHW-1) and HB3 (blaVHH-1) were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. An open reading frame (ORF) of 870 bp encoding a deduced protein of 290 amino acids (VHW-1) was revealed for the bla gene of strain W3B while an ORF of 849 bp encoding a 283-amino-acid protein (VHH-1) was deduced forblaVHH-1. At the DNA level, genes for VHW-1 and VHH-1 have a 97% homology, while at the protein level they have a 91% homology of amino acid sequences. Neither gene sequence showed homology to any other β-lactamases in the databases. The deduced proteins were found to be class A β-lactamases bearing low levels of homology (<50%) to other β-lactamases of the same class. The highest level of identity was obtained with β-lactamases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., PSE-1, PSE-4, and CARB-3, and Vibrio cholerae CARB-6. Our study showed that both strains W3B and HB3 possess an endogenous plasmid of approximately 60 kb in size. However, Southern hybridization analysis employingblaVHW-1 as a gene probe demonstrated that thebla gene was not located in the plasmid. A total of nine ampicillin-resistant V. harveyi strains, including W3B and HB3, were examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ofNotI-digested genomic DNA. Despite a high level of intrastrain genetic diversity, theblaVHW-1 probe hybridized only to an 80- or 160-kb NotI genomic fragment in different isolates.

Characterization of the Endogenous Plasmid from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867: DNA Sequence and Mechanism of Transfer

The endogenous plasmid pRA2 from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867 was determined to have 32,743 bp with a G+C content of 59.8%. Sequence analysis predicted a total of 29 open reading frames, with approximately half of them contributing towards the functions of plasmid replication, mobilization, and stability. The Pac25I restriction-modification system and two mobile elements, Tn5563 and IS1633, were physically localized. An additional eight open reading frames with unknown functions were also detected. pRA2 was genetically tagged with the OmegaStr(r)/Spc(r) gene cassette by homologous recombination. Intrastrain transfer of pRA2-encoded genetic markers between isogenic mutants of P. alcaligenes NCIB 9867 were observed at high frequencies (2.4 x 10(-4) per donor). This transfer was determined to be mediated by a natural transformation process that required cell-cell contact and was completely sensitive to DNase I (1 mg/ml). Efficient transformation was also observed when pRA2 DNA was applied directly onto the cells, while transformation with foreign plasmid DNAs was not observed. pRA2 could be conjugally transferred into Pseudomonas putida RA713 and KT2440 recipients only when plasmid RK2/RP4 transfer functions were provided in trans. Plasmid stability analysis demonstrated that pRA2 could be stably maintained in its original host, P. alcaligenes NCIB 9867, as well as in P. putida RA713 after 100 generations of nonselective growth. Disruption of the pRA2 pac25I restriction endonuclease gene did not alter plasmid stability, while the pRA2 minireplicon exhibited only partial stability. This indicates that other pRA2-encoded determinants could have significant roles in influencing plasmid stability.

A consensus linkage map of oil palm and a major QTL for stem height

Oil palm (Elaeis guinensis Jacquin) is the most important source of vegetable oil and fat. Several linkage maps had been constructed using dominant and co-dominant markers to facilitate mapping of QTL. However, dominant markers are not easily transferable among different laboratories. We constructed a consensus linkage map for oil palm using co-dominant markers (i.e. microsatellite and SNPs) and two F1 breeding populations generated by crossing Dura and Pisifera individuals. Four hundreds and forty-four microsatellites and 36 SNPs were mapped onto 16 linkage groups. The map length was 1565.6 cM, with an average marker space of 3.72 cM. A genome-wide scan of QTL identified a major QTL for stem height on the linkage group 5, which explained 51% of the phenotypic variation. Genes in the QTL were predicted using the palm genome sequence and bioinformatic tools. The linkage map supplies a base for mapping QTL for accelerating the genetic improvement, and will be also useful in the improvement of the assembly of the genome sequences. Markers linked to the QTL may be used in selecting dwarf trees. Genes within the QTL will be characterized to understand the mechanisms underlying dwarfing.

Survival and Epiphytic Fitness of a Nonpathogenic Mutant of Xanthomonas campestris pv. Glycines

ABSTRACT Xanthomonas campestris pv. glycines is the causal agent of bacterial pustule disease of soybeans. The objective of this work was to construct a nonpathogenic mutant derived from the pathogenic wild-type strain YR32 and to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing growth of its parent on the soybean phyllosphere. A mini-Tn5-derived transposon was used to generate nonpathogenic mutants. Southern hybridization and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed the presence of a single transposon in each of the nonpathogenic mutants. One of the nonpathogenic mutants, M715, failed to induce a hypersensitive response in tomato leaves. An ice nucleation gene (inaZ) carried in pJL1703 was introduced into strain YR32 as a reporter gene to demonstrate that the presence of M715 could reduce colonization of the soybean phyllosphere by YR32. de Wit serial replacement analysis showed that M715 competed equally with its wild-type parental strain, YR32. Epiphytic fitness analysis of YR32 in the greenhouse indicated that the population dynamics of strains YR32, YR32(pJL1703), and M715 were similar, although the density of the mutant was slightly less than that of its parent. The M715 mutant was able to survive for 16 days after inoculation on soybean leaves and maintained population densities of approximately 104 to 105 cells g (fresh weight) of leaf−1. Therefore, M715 shows promise as an effective biocontrol agent for bacterial pustule disease in soybeans.

Gene cloning and catalytic characterization of cold-adapted lipase of Photobacterium sp. MA1-3 isolated from blood clam.

A lipase-producing Photobacterium strain (MA1-3) was isolated from the intestine of a blood clam caught at Namhae, Korea. The lipase gene was cloned by shotgun cloning and encoded 340 amino acids with a molecular mass of 38,015 Da. It had a very low sequence identity with other bacterial lipases, with the exception of that of Photobacterium lipolyticum M37 (83.2%). The MA1-3 lipase was produced in soluble form when Escherichia coli cells harboring the gene were cultured at 18°C. Its optimum temperature and pH were 45°C and pH 8.5, respectively. Its activation energy was calculated to be 2.69 kcal/mol, suggesting it to be a cold-adapted lipase. Its optimum temperature, temperature stability, and substrate specificity were quite different from those of M37 lipase, despite the considerable sequence similarities. Meanwhile, MA1-3 lipase performed a transesterification reaction using olive oil and various alcohols including methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol. In the presence of t-butanol as a co-solvent, this lipase produced biodiesel using methanol and plant or waste oils. The highest biodiesel conversion yield (73%) was achieved using waste soybean oil and methanol at a molar ratio of 1:5 after 12 h using 5 units of lipase.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Thermostable α-Amylase Exhibiting an Unusually High Activity

An α-amylase gene was cloned from the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus subtilis isolated from Indonesian oil palm shell waste. The gene expressed an extracellular enzyme. Optimal hydrolysis conditions for the enzyme were 70°C and pH 6.0. The specific activity of the enzyme was 16.0 kU per mg of protein, which was higher than for other thermostable amylases. Hydrolytic products of the enzyme using starch and glycogen were mainly maltohexaose and maltopentaose. The enzyme had a Km value of 0.099 mg/mL for amylopectin, more than 10 times lower than for amylose. The catalytic efficiency of the enzyme using amylopectin was 39,200 mL/mg·s and was 3,270 mL/mg·s using amylose. The enzyme liquefied corn starch at pH 5.0, which was successfully converted to glucose using commercial glucoamylase and pullulanase without pH adjustment. The enzyme has advantages for industrial applications.

Draft genome sequence of an elite Dura palm and whole-genome patterns of DNA variation in oil palm

Oil palm is the world’s leading source of vegetable oil and fat. Dura, Pisifera and Tenera are three forms of oil palm. The genome sequence of Pisifera is available whereas the Dura form has not been sequenced yet. We sequenced the genome of one elite Dura palm, and re-sequenced 17 palm genomes. The assemble genome sequence of the elite Dura tree contained 10,971 scaffolds and was 1.701 Gb in length, covering 94.49% of the oil palm genome. 36,105 genes were predicted. Re-sequencing of 17 additional palm trees identified 18.1 million SNPs. We found high genetic variation among palms from different geographical regions, but lower variation among Southeast Asian Dura and Pisifera palms. We mapped 10,000 SNPs on the linkage map of oil palm. In addition, high linkage disequilibrium (LD) was detected in the oil palms used in breeding populations of Southeast Asia, suggesting that LD mapping is likely to be practical in this important oil crop. Our data provide a valuable resource for accelerating genetic improvement and studying the mechanism underlying phenotypic variations of important oil palm traits.

Transcriptome and functional analysis reveals hybrid vigor for oil biosynthesis in oil palm

Oil palm is the most productive oil crop in the world and composes 36% of the world production. However, the molecular mechanisms of hybrids vigor (or heterosis) between Dura, Pisifera and their hybrid progeny Tenera has not yet been well understood. Here we compared the temporal and spatial compositions of lipids and transcriptomes for two oil yielding organs mesocarp and endosperm from Dura, Pisifera and Tenera. Multiple lipid biosynthesis pathways are highly enriched in all non-additive expression pattern in endosperm, while cytokinine biosynthesis and cell cycle pathways are highly enriched both in endosperm and mesocarp. Compared with parental palms, the high oil content in Tenera was associated with much higher transcript levels of EgWRI1, homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana WRINKLED1. Among 338 identified genes in lipid synthesis, 207 (61%) has been identified to contain the WRI1 specific binding AW motif. We further functionally identified EgWRI1-1, one of three EgWRI1 orthologs, by genetic complementation of the Arabidopsis wri1 mutant. Ectopic expression of EgWRI1-1 in plant produced dramatically increased seed mass and oil content, with oil profile changed. Our findings provide an explanation for EgWRI1 as an important gene contributing hybrid vigor in lipid biosynthesis in oil palm.

Cloning, DNA sequence, and expression of Aeromonas caviae WS7b chitinase gene

A chitinase-producing bacterium, designated WS7b, was isolated from a soil sample obtained from a black-pepper plantation on Bangka Island, Indonesia. Fatty-acid methyl-ester analysis indicated that the isolate was Aeromonas caviae. A chitinase gene from WS7b was cloned in a pUC19-based plasmid vector, but without its natural promoter. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined, and the structural gene consisted of a 2748-bp region encoding 864 amino acids. DNA sequence analysis indicated that the gene had been cloned without its promoter, and this was confirmed by chitinase-plate assay of the truncated version of the gene in Escherichia coli. The chitinase gene product showed amino-acid sequence similarity to chiA from A. caviae. Chitinase enzyme activity was determined spectrophotometrically, using colloidal chitin azure as substrate for extracellular and intracellular fractions. The ability of the chitinase cloned in E. coli to hydrolyze chitin was less than that of the enzyme in its indigenous host.

Genetically engineered Rhodobacter sphaeroides for the overproduction of δ-aminolevulinic acid

Abstract Genes for β and α polypeptides of the light-harvesting II complexes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 are encoded by the pucBA operon, and their expression is highly regulated by oxygen level and light intensity. δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in this bacterium is synthesized by ALA synthase isozymes encoded by hemA and hemT. Recombinant plasmids carrying either a pucB′-hemA transcriptional fusion (pAS608A) or a pucB′-hemT translational fusion (pAS607A) have been constructed. Derivatives of Escherichia coli SASP19 (hemA− mutant), harboring either pAS608A or pAS607A, still required exogenous ALA supplementation. However, each of these functions could be expressed in R. sphaeroides AT1 (hemA− and hemT − mutant of R. sphaeroides 2.4.1) such that AT1 could grow in the medium without exogenous ALA supplementation. Introduction of pAS608A into R. sphaeroides 2.4.1 resulted in the increase of ALA synthase activity under both aerobic and photosynthetic growth conditions, while the introduction of pAS607A resulted in the increase of ALA synthase only under aerobic conditions. The production of extracellular and intracellular ALA in R. sphaeroides 2.4.1 (pAS608A) or R. sphaeroides 2.4.1 (pAS607A) was not significantly different from that of the wild-type strain in either aerobic or photosynthetic growth conditions.