Title: miRNA-Mediated Low Expression of EPHX3 Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Tumor Immune Infiltration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas Ding S, Hong Q, Duan T, Xu Z, He Q, Qiu D, Li L, Yan J, Zhang Q, Mu Z Ref: J Oncol, 2022:7633720, 2022 : PubMed
The aim of this study was to explore the regulatory role of epoxide hydrolase 3 (EPHX3) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to analyze its bioinformatic function, as well as, to screen and predict the miRNAs that can regulate EPHX3 expression in HNSCC. We examined the expression profile and prognostic potential of EPHX3 in TCGA and GTEX databases and performed functional enrichment analysis of EPHX3 using string database. Subsequently, we analyzed the regulatory role of miRNAs on EPHX3, including expression analysis, correlation analysis, and survival analysis. In addition, we also used TIMER to investigate the relationship among EPHX3 expression level, immune checkpoints, and immune infiltration in HNSCC. The results of data analysis after TGCA showed that EPHX3 is a key regulator of tumorigenesis in 13 cancers and can be used as a marker of poor prognosis in HNSCC patients. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-4713-3p is a key miRNA of EPHX3 in HNSCC. Together, our findings indicate that EPHX3 exerts its anticancer effects by suppressing tumor immune checkpoint expression and immune cell infiltration. Overall, our data uncovered miRNA-mediated EPHX3 downregulation as a contributor to poor HNSCC prognosis and reduced tumor immune infiltration.
Title: Comparative Genomic Analysis of Carbofuran-Degrading Sphingomonads Reveals the Carbofuran Catabolism Mechanism in Sphingobium sp. Strain CFD-1 Jiang W, Zhang M, Gao S, Zhu Q, Qiu J, Yan X, Xin F, Jiang M, Hong Q Ref: Applied Environmental Microbiology, :e0102422, 2022 : PubMed
The worldwide use of the carbamate insecticide carbofuran has caused considerable concern about its environmental fate. Degradation of carbofuran by Sphingobium sp. strain CFD-1 is initiated via the hydrolysis of its ester bond by carbamate hydrolase CehA to form carbofuran phenol. In this study, another carbofuran-degrading strain, Sphingobium sp. CFD-2, was isolated. Subsequently, a cfd gene cluster responsible for the catabolism of carbofuran phenol was predicted by comparing the genomes of strains CFD-1, CFD-2, and Novosphingobium sp. strain KN65.2. The key genes verified to be involved in the catabolism of carbofuran phenol within the cfd cluster include the hydroxylase gene cfdC, epoxide hydrolase gene cfdF, and ring cleavage dioxygenase gene cfdE and are responsible for the successive conversion of carbofuran phenol, resulting in complete ring cleavage. These carbofuran-catabolic genes (cehA and the cfd cluster) are distributed on two plasmids in strain CFD-1 and are highly conserved among the carbofuran-degrading sphingomonad strains. The mobile genetic element IS6100 flanks cehA and the cfd gene cluster, indicating the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the formation of carbofuran degradation gene clusters. The elucidation of the molecular mechanism of carbofuran catabolism provides insights into the evolutionary scenario of the conserved carbofuran catabolic pathway. IMPORTANCE Owing to the extensive use of carbofuran over the past 50 years, bacteria have evolved catabolic pathways to mineralize this insecticide, which plays an important role in eliminating carbofuran residue in the environment. In this study, the cfd gene cluster, responsible for the catabolism of carbofuran phenol, was predicted by comparing sphingomonad genomes. The function of key enzymatic genes in this gene cluster was identified. Furthermore, the carbamate hydrolase gene cehA and the cfd gene cluster are highly conserved in different carbofuran-degrading strains. Additionally, the horizontal gene transfer elements flanking the cfd gene cluster were investigated. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanism of microbial carbofuran degradation and enhance our understanding of the evolutionary mechanism of the carbofuran catabolic pathway.
Title: Identification of Detoxification Esterase StrH Initiating Strobilurin Fungicides Degradation in Hyphomicrobium sp. DY-1 Jiang W, Gao Q, Zhang L, Liu Y, Zhang M, Ke Z, Zhou Y, Hong Q Ref: Applied Environmental Microbiology, :, 2021 : PubMed
Strobilurin fungicides are widely used in agricultural production due to their broad-spectrum and fungal mitochondrial inhibitory activities. However, their massive application has detained the growth of eukaryotic algae and increased the collateral damage in freshwater systems, notably the harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs). In this study, a strobilurin fungicide-degrading strain Hyphomicrobium sp. DY-1 was isolated and characterized successfully. Moreover, a novel esterase gene strH responsible for the de-esterification of strobilurin fungicides was cloned, and the enzymatic properties of StrH were studied. For trifloxystrobin, StrH displayed the maximum activity at 50 degreesC and pH 7.0. The catalytic efficiency (k (cat)/K (m)) of StrH for different strobilurin fungicides were 196.32+/-2.30 microM(-1).s(-1) (trifloxystrobin), 4.64+/-0.05 microM(-1).s(-1) (picoxystrobin), 2.94+/-0.02 microM(-1).s(-1) (pyraclostrobin), and (2.41+/-0.19)x10(-2) microM(-1).s(-1) (azoxystrobin). StrH catalyzed the de-esterification of a variety of strobilurin fungicides generating the corresponding parent acid to achieve the detoxification of strobilurin fungicides and relieve strobilurin fungicides growth inhibition on Chlorella This research will provide insight into the microbial remediation of strobilurin fungicides-contaminated environments.IMPORTANCEStrobilurin fungicides have been widely acknowledged as an essential group of pesticides worldwide. So far, their residues and toxic effects on aquatic organisms have been reported in different parts of the world. Microbial degradation could eliminate xenobiotics from the environment. Therefore, the degradation of strobilurin fungicides by microorganisms has also been reported. However, little is known about the involvement of enzyme or gene in strobilurin fungicides degradation. In this study, a novel esterase gene strH responsible for the detoxification of strobilurin fungicides was cloned in the newly isolated strain Hyphomicrobium sp. DY-1. This degradation process detoxifies the strobilurin fungicides and relieves their growth inhibition on Chlorella.
Title: Heterologous expression and exploration of the enzymatic properties of the carbaryl hydrolase CarH from a newly isolated carbaryl-degrading strain Ke Z, Zhu Q, Jiang W, Zhou Y, Zhang M, Jiang M, Hong Q Ref: Ecotoxicology & Environmental Safety, 224:112666, 2021 : PubMed
Carbaryl is the representative of carbamate insecticide. As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, it poses potential threat to humans and other non-target organisms. Agrobacterium sp. XWY-2, which could grow with carbaryl as the sole carbon source, was isolated and characterized. The carH gene, encoding a carbaryl hydrolase, was cloned from strain XWY-2 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). CarH was able to hydrolyze carbamate pesticides including carbaryl, carbofuran, isoprocarb, propoxur and fenobucarb efficiently, while it hydrolyzed oxamyl and aldicarb poorly. The optimal pH of CarH was 8.0 and the optimal temperature was 30 degC. The apparent K(m) and k(cat) values of CarH for carbaryl were 38.01 +/- 2.81 microM and 0.33 +/- 0.01 s(-1), respectively. The point mutation experiment demonstrated that His341, His343, His346, His416 and D437 are the key sites for CarH to hydrolyze carbaryl.
Title: Degradation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) by a bacterial consortium and characterization of two novel esterases capable of hydrolyzing PAEs sequentially Lu M, Jiang W, Gao Q, Zhang M, Hong Q Ref: Ecotoxicology & Environmental Safety, 195:110517, 2020 : PubMed
Phthalate esters (PAEs), a class of toxic anthropogenic compounds, have been predominantly used as additives or plasticizers, and great concern and interests have been raised regarding its environmental behavior and degradation mechanism. In the present study, a bacterial consortium consisting of Microbacterium sp. PAE-1 and Pandoraea sp. PAE-2 was isolated by the enrichment method, which could degrade dibutyl phthalate (DBP) completely by biochemical cooperation. DBP was converted to phthalic acid (PA) via monobutyl phthalate (MBP) by two sequential hydrolysis steps in strain PAE-1, and then PA was further degraded by strain PAE-2. Strain PAE-1 could hydrolyze many dialkyl Phthalate esters (PAEs) including dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl, dipentyl, benzyl butyl, dihexyl, di-(2-ethyhexyl) and their corresponding monoalkyl PAEs. Two esterase genes named dpeH and mpeH, located in the same transcription unit, were cloned from strain PAE-1 by the shotgun method and heterologously expressed in Escherichia. coli (DE3). The Km and kcat values of DpeH for DBP were 9.60 +/- 0.97 muM and (2.72 +/- 0.06) x 10(6) s(-1), while those of MpeH for MBP were 18.61 +/- 2.00 muM and (5.83 +/- 1.00) x 10(5) s(-1), respectively. DpeH could only hydrolyze dialkyl PAEs to the corresponding monoalkyl PAEs, which were then hydrolyzed to PA by MpeH. DpeH shares the highest similarity (53%) with an alpha/beta hydrolase from Microbacterium sp. MED-G48 and MpeH shows only 25% identity with a secreted lipase from Trichophyton benhamiae CBS 112371, indicating that DpeH and MpeH are two novel hydrolases against PAEs.
Title: A laser-induced TiO2-decorated graphene photoelectrode for sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensing Ge L, Hong Q, Li H, Li F Ref: Chem Commun (Camb), 55:4945, 2019 : PubMed
Herein, direct-laser-writing of TiO2-decorated graphene on indium-tin oxide glass was demonstrated to fabricate a unique photoelectrode with a rapid and stable photoelectrochemical response under visible light; this photoelectrode was then applied in a photoelectrochemical enzymatic biosensor for the sensitive detection of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Methomyl (S-methyl N-(methylcarbamoyloxy) thioacetimidate) is a kind of oxime carbamate insecticide. It is considered to be extremely toxic to nontarget organism. To date, no pure culture or consortium has been reported to have the ability to degrade methomyl completely. In this study, a methomyl-degrading enrichment E1 was obtained by using the sludge from the wastewater-treating system of a pesticide manufacturer as the original inoculant. Two bacterial strains named MDW-2 and MDW-3 were isolated from this enrichment, and they were preliminarily identified as Aminobacter sp. and Afipia sp. respectively. Strains MDW-2 and MDW-3 could coexist and degrade 50smgsl(-1) methomyl completely within 3sdays by the cooperative metabolism. Methomyl was first converted to methomyl oxime and methylcarbamic acid by strain MDW-2, and the latter could be used as the carbon source for the growth of strain MDW-2. But methomyl oxime could not be sequentially degraded by strain MDW-2. However, it could be degraded and used as the carbon source by strain MDW-3. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study presents a bacterial combination of Aminobacter sp. MDW-2 and Afipia sp. MDW-3, which could degrade methomyl completely by biochemical cooperation. This study also proposes the biodegradation pathway of methomyl for the first time and highlights the application potential of a bacterial combination in the remediation of methomyl-contaminated environments.
Title: A novel angular dioxygenase gene cluster encoding 3-phenoxybenzoate 1',2'-dioxygenase in Sphingobium wenxiniae JZ-1 Wang C, Chen Q, Wang R, Shi C, Yan X, He J, Hong Q, Li S Ref: Applied Environmental Microbiology, 80:3811, 2014 : PubMed
Sphingobium wenxiniae JZ-1 utilizes a wide range of pyrethroids and their metabolic product, 3-phenoxybenzoate, as sources of carbon and energy. A mutant JZ-1 strain, MJZ-1, defective in the degradation of 3-phenoxybenzoate was obtained by successive streaking on LB agar. Comparison of the draft genomes of strains JZ-1 and MJZ-1 revealed that a 29,366-bp DNA fragment containing a putative angular dioxygenase gene cluster (pbaA1A2B) is missing in strain MJZ-1. PbaA1, PbaA2, and PbaB share 65%, 52%, and 10% identity with the corresponding alpha and beta subunits and the ferredoxin component of dioxin dioxygenase from Sphingomonas wittichii RW1, respectively. Complementation of pbaA1A2B in strain MJZ-1 resulted in the active 3-phenoxybenzoate 1',2'-dioxygenase, but the enzyme activity in Escherichia coli was achieved only through the coexpression of pbaA1A2B and a glutathione reductase (GR)-type reductase gene, pbaC, indicating that the 3-phenoxybenzoate 1',2'-dioxygenase belongs to a type IV Rieske non-heme iron aromatic ring-hydroxylating oxygenase system consisting of a hetero-oligomeric oxygenase, a [2Fe-2S]-type ferredoxin, and a GR-type reductase. The pbaC gene is not located in the immediate vicinity of pbaA1A2B. 3-Phenoxybenzoate 1',2'-dioxygenase catalyzes the hydroxylation in the 1' and 2' positions of the benzene moiety of 3-phenoxybenzoate, yielding 3-hydroxybenzoate and catechol. Transcription of pbaA1A2B and pbaC was induced by 3-phenoxybenzoate, but the transcriptional level of pbaC was far less than that of pbaA1A2B, implying the possibility that PbaC may not be the only reductase that can physiologically transfer electrons to PbaA1A2B in strain JZ-1. Some GR-type reductases from other sphingomonad strains could also transfer electrons to PbaA1A2B, suggesting that PbaA1A2B has a low specificity for reductase.
Title: SulE, a sulfonylurea herbicide de-esterification esterase from Hansschlegelia zhihuaiae S113 Hang BJ, Hong Q, Xie XT, Huang X, Wang CH, He J, Li SP Ref: Applied Environmental Microbiology, 78:1962, 2012 : PubMed
De-esterification is an important degradation or detoxification mechanism of sulfonylurea herbicide in microbes and plants. However, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of sulfonylurea herbicide de-esterification are still unknown. In this study, a novel esterase gene, sulE, responsible for sulfonylurea herbicide de-esterification, was cloned from Hansschlegelia zhihuaiae S113. The gene contained an open reading frame of 1,194 bp, and a putative signal peptide at the N terminal was identified with a predicted cleavage site between Ala37 and Glu38, resulting in a 361-residue mature protein. SulE minus the signal peptide was synthesized in Escherichia coli BL21 and purified to homogeneity. SulE catalyzed the de-esterification of a variety of sulfonylurea herbicides that gave rise to the corresponding herbicidally inactive parent acid and exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency toward thifensulfuron-methyl. SulE was a dimer without the requirement of a cofactor. The activity of the enzyme was completely inhibited by Ag(+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+), methamidophos, and sodium dodecyl sulfate. A sulE-disrupted mutant strain, DeltasulE, was constructed by insertion mutation. DeltasulE lost the de-esterification ability and was more sensitive to the herbicides than the wild type of strain S113, suggesting that sulE played a vital role in the sulfonylurea herbicide resistance of the strain. The transfer of sulE into Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 conferred on it the ability to de-esterify sulfonylurea herbicides and increased its resistance to the herbicides. This study has provided an excellent candidate for the mechanistic study of sulfonylurea herbicide metabolism and detoxification through de-esterification, construction of sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant transgenic crops, and bioremediation of sulfonylurea herbicide-contaminated environments.
Title: A gene linB2 responsible for the conversion of beta-HCH and 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexanol in Sphingomonas sp. BHC-A Wu J, Hong Q, Han P, He J, Li S Ref: Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, 73:1097, 2007 : PubMed
Commercial formulations of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) consist of a mixture of four isomers: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. All four isomers are toxic and recalcitrant pollutants. beta-HCH is more problematic due to its longer persistence in the environment. Sphingomonas sp. BHC-A was able to degrade not only alpha-, gamma-, and delta-HCH but also beta-HCH. To clone a gene responsible for the degradation of beta-HCH, a Tn5 mutation was introduced into BHC-A, and one mutant BHC-A45 defective in beta-HCH degradation was selected. Sequencing analysis showed this mutant had a Tn5 insertion at the site of one haloalkane dehalogenase gene, designated linB2. linB2 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the 32-kDa product LinB2 showed the conversion activity of not only beta-HCH to beta-2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexanol (beta-PCHL) but also beta-PCHL to beta-2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-cyclohexanediol.
Title: Analysis of the role of LinA and LinB in biodegradation of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane Wu J, Hong Q, Sun Y, Hong Y, Yan Q, Li S Ref: Environ Microbiol, 9:2331, 2007 : PubMed
Commercial formulations of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) consist of a mixture of four isomers, alpha, beta, gamma and delta. All these four isomers are toxic and recalcitrant pollutants. Sphingobium (formerly Sphingomonas) sp. strain BHC-A is able to degrade all four HCH isomers. Eight lin genes responsible for the degradation of gamma-HCH in BHC-A were cloned and analysed for their role in the degradation of delta-HCH, and the initial conversion steps in delta-HCH catabolism by LinA and LinB in BHC-A were found. LinA dehydrochlorinated delta-HCH to produce 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-TCDN) via delta-pentachlorocyclohexene (delta-PCCH). Subsequently, both 1,4-TCDN and delta-PCCH are catalysed by LinB via two successive rounds of hydrolytic dechlorinations to form 2,5-dichloro-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-diol (2,5-DDOL) and 2,3,5-trichloro-5-cyclohexene-1,4-diol (2,3,5-TCDL) respectively. LinB could also catalyse the hydrolytic dechlorination of delta-HCH to 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-cyclohexanediol (TDOL) via 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexanol (PCHL).
