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De Marchis F, Vanzolini T, Maricchiolo E, Bellucci M, Menotta M, Di Mambro T, Aluigi A, Zattoni A, Roda B, Marassi V, Crinelli R, Pompa A. A biotechnological approach for the production of new protein bioplastics. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300363. [PMID: 37801630 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The future of biomaterial production will leverage biotechnology based on the domestication of cells as biological factories. Plants, algae, and bacteria can produce low-environmental impact biopolymers. Here, two strategies were developed to produce a biopolymer derived from a bioengineered vacuolar storage protein of the common bean (phaseolin; PHSL). The cys-added PHSL* forms linear-structured biopolymers when expressed in the thylakoids of transplastomic tobacco leaves by exploiting the formation of inter-chain disulfide bridges. The same protein without signal peptide (ΔPHSL*) accumulates in Escherichia coli inclusion bodies as high-molar-mass species polymers that can subsequently be oxidized to form disulfide crosslinking bridges in order to increase the stiffness of the biomaterial, a valid alternative to the use of chemical crosslinkers. The E. coli cells produced 300 times more engineered PHSL, measured as percentage of total soluble proteins, than transplastomic tobacco plants. Moreover, the thiol groups of cysteine allow the site-specific PEGylation of ΔPHSL*, which is a desirable functionality in the design of a protein-based drug carrier. In conclusion, ΔPHSL* expressed in E. coli has the potential to become an innovative biopolymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Tania Vanzolini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Elisa Maricchiolo
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Menotta
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Tomas Di Mambro
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Annalisa Aluigi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Andrea Zattoni
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Barbara Roda
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Valentina Marassi
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Rita Crinelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino (PU), Italy
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Bellucci M, Caceres ME, Paolocci F, Vega JM, Ortiz JPA, Ceccarelli M, De Marchis F, Pupilli F. ORIGIN OF RECOGNITION COMPLEX 3 controls the development of maternal excess endosperm in the Paspalum simplex agamic complex (Poaceae). J Exp Bot 2023; 74:3074-3093. [PMID: 36812152 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Pseudogamous apomixis in Paspalum simplex generates seeds with embryos genetically identical to the mother plant and endosperms deviating from the canonical 2(maternal):1(paternal) parental genome contribution into a maternal excess 4m:1p genome ratio. In P. simplex, the gene homologous to that coding for subunit 3 of the ORIGIN OF RECOGNITION COMPLEX (PsORC3) exists in three isogenic forms: PsORC3a is apomixis specific and constitutively expressed in developing endosperm whereas PsORCb and PsORCc are up-regulated in sexual endosperms and silenced in apomictic ones. This raises the question of how the different arrangement and expression profiles of these three ORC3 isogenes are linked to seed development in interploidy crosses generating maternal excess endosperms. We demonstrate that down-regulation of PsORC3b in sexual tetraploid plants is sufficient to restore seed fertility in interploidy 4n×2n crosses and, in turn, its expression level at the transition from proliferating to endoreduplication endosperm developmental stages dictates the fate of these seeds. Furthermore, we show that only when being maternally inherited can PsORC3c up-regulate PsORC3b. Our findings lay the basis for an innovative route-based on ORC3 manipulation-to introgress the apomictic trait into sexual crops and overcome the fertilization barriers in interploidy crosses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Eugenia Caceres
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolocci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Juan Manuel Vega
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET-UNR and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Amelio Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET-UNR and Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Argentina
| | - Marilena Ceccarelli
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
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Fiorello N, Mogorovich A, Di Benedetto A, Summonti D, Tessa C, Turturici L, Mannini A, Bellucci M, Vignali C, Sepich CA. Improvement prostate cancer detection rate of suspicious lesions through MRI/TRUS fusion guided biopsy by a multiteam of radiologists. Egypt J Radiol Nucl Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43055-021-00653-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The objective of our study was to analyze the data of our biopsies, determine a detection rate (DR), compare it with the data in the literature and draw possible deductions, so as to offer the patient the possibility of not having other biopsies in the future.
Methods
We have enrolled 189 biopsy-naive patients in the period between September 2018 and December 2020. Each patient underwent multiparametric (mp)-MRI which was reviewed by our team of radiologists. In our center, each examination is examined by 4 radiologists separately with an overall final result. Through the t student test, any statistically significant differences between the DRs and the concordance rate between the positive cores and the suspected area on MRI were analyzed for each urologist who performed the procedure.
Results
The absolute (DR) was 69.3% (131/189 patients). The relative DR for each PIRADS score was 41% for PIRADS 3, 70.2% for PIRADS 4, 89.3% for PIRADS 5. We found a high percentage of agreement between the positive biopsy samples and the suspicious area identified on MRI: 90.8% (119/131 patients). There were no statistically significant differences between the DRs of the urologists who performed the procedure (p = 0.89), nor for the percentage of agreement between the positivity of the core and the suspected area on MRI (p = 0.92).
Conclusions
MRI in the future could become the gold standard for performing MRI fusion-guided biopsies to have a better diagnostic result and avoid rebiopsies. A team MRI reading allows greater accuracy in identifying the suspected lesion, which is demonstrated by a high rate of agreement with the positivity of the cores (90.8%). There is a cost problem due to the need to carry out the mpMRI but it could have less impact in the future. In addition, the MRI provides useful information on the extent of the disease (e.g., cT3a/b) which allows you to better plan the surgical strategy or other therapies.
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Bellucci M, Borruso L, Piergiacomo F, Brusetti L, Beneduce L. The effect of substituting energy crop with agricultural waste on the dynamics of bacterial communities in a two-stage anaerobic digester. Chemosphere 2022; 294:133776. [PMID: 35093420 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The replacement of energy crops with agricultural waste in biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD) is both an environmentally sustainable and economically profitable strategy. However, the change of feeding mix in AD might result in nutrient imbalance or increase of the ammonium concentration, negatively affecting the activity of the microbes responsible for the process. In the present study the structure and dynamics of the bacterial communities of a full-scale two-stage AD plant, composed of a hydrolysis/acidogenesis (H) and an acetogenesis/methanogenesis (M) tanks, was monitored during feedstock substitution. Energy crop (triticale) was replaced by poultry manure litter and olive mill pomace. The increase percentage of poultry manure litter (up to 8.6%) and olive mill pomace (up to 30.5%) in the recipe incremented the total solids (up to 21% in H) and, consequently, the nitrogen content in the digestate (6.7 g N/kg in the solid fraction in H and 4-5 g NH4+-N/L in the liquid fraction). This favored the growth of Lactococcus sp. with consequent increment of lactate production (∼ 1 mg L-1 last two days of the survey) and the establishment of Weissella and Lactobacillus spp. Syntrophic acetate-oxidizers, including Syntrophaceticus (6% ± 1.7%), were detected manly in M but were negatively affected by the addition of the poultry manure litter, while the sulfate-reducing bacteria correlated with the variations of the volatile fatty acids. Planctomycetes putatively capable of anammox process were also found in the H during the first two days of the survey and accounted for 0.3 ± 0.01% of the total bacterial community. The stability of the process during feedstock change is the result of the shift of bacterial populations of different functional groups that showed peculiar adaptation patterns in the two stages of the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - L Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - F Piergiacomo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - L Brusetti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Università 1, 39100, Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - L Beneduce
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122, Foggia, Italy.
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Rossi S, Pizzera A, Bellucci M, Marazzi F, Mezzanotte V, Parati K, Ficara E. Piggery wastewater treatment with algae-bacteria consortia: Pilot-scale validation and techno-economic evaluation at farm level. Bioresour Technol 2022; 351:127051. [PMID: 35341919 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of an outdoor pilot-scale raceway pond treating the wastewaters generated by a large-scale piggery farm in Northern Italy was evaluated. The biomass productivity over 208 days of experimentation was 10.7 ± 6.5 g TSS·m-2·d-1, and ammoniacal nitrogen, orthophosphate, and COD average removal efficiencies were 90%, 90%, and 59%, respectively. Results were used to perform a comprehensive techno-economic analysis for integrating algae-based processes in farms of different sizes (100-10000 pigs). The amount of N disposed of on agricultural land could be reduced from 91% to 21%, increasing the fraction returned to the atmosphere from 2.4% to 63%, and the fraction in the biomass from 6.2% to 16%. For intensive farming, the release of 110 t N·ha-1·y-1 contained in the digestate could be avoided by including algae-bacteria processes. The biomass production cost was as low as 1.9 €·kg-1, while the cost for nitrogen removal was 4.3 €·kg N-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rossi
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A Pizzera
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - M Bellucci
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - F Marazzi
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), P.zza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - V Mezzanotte
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), P.zza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - K Parati
- Istituto Sperimentale Italiano Lazzaro Spallanzani, Località La Quercia, Cremona, Rivolta d'Adda, Italy
| | - E Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Maricchiolo E, Panfili E, Pompa A, De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Pallotta MT. Unconventional Pathways of Protein Secretion: Mammals vs. Plants. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:895853. [PMID: 35573696 PMCID: PMC9096121 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.895853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, many proteins contain an N-terminal signal peptide that allows their translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum followed by secretion outside the cell according to the classical secretory system. However, an increasing number of secreted proteins lacking the signal peptide sequence are emerging. These proteins, secreted in several alternative ways collectively known as unconventional protein secretion (UPS) pathways, exert extracellular functions including cell signaling, immune modulation, as well as moonlighting activities different from their well-described intracellular functions. Pathways for UPS include direct transfer across the plasma membrane, secretion from endosomal/multivesicular body-related components, release within plasma membrane-derived microvesicles, or use of elements of autophagy. In this review we describe the mammals and plants UPS pathways identified so far highlighting commonalities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maricchiolo
- Section of Biological and Biotechnological Sciences, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Eleonora Panfili
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Section of Biological and Biotechnological Sciences, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, Perugia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Michele Bellucci, ; Maria Teresa Pallotta,
| | - Maria Teresa Pallotta
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Michele Bellucci, ; Maria Teresa Pallotta,
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Bellucci M, Pompa A, De Marcos Lousa C, Panfili E, Orecchini E, Maricchiolo E, Fraternale D, Orabona C, De Marchis F, Pallotta MT. Human Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) Expressed in Plant Cells Induces Kynurenine Production. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5102. [PMID: 34065885 PMCID: PMC8151846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic engineering of plants has turned out to be an attractive approach to produce various secondary metabolites. Here, we attempted to produce kynurenine, a health-promoting metabolite, in plants of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens with the gene, coding for human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), an enzyme responsible for the kynurenine production because of tryptophan degradation. The presence of IDO1 gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR, but the protein failed to be detected. To confer higher stability to the heterologous human IDO1 protein and to provide a more sensitive method to detect the protein of interest, we cloned a gene construct coding for IDO1-GFP. Analysis of transiently transfected tobacco protoplasts demonstrated that the IDO1-GFP gene led to the expression of a detectable protein and to the production of kynurenine in the protoplast medium. Interestingly, the intracellular localisation of human IDO1 in plant cells is similar to that found in mammal cells, mainly in cytosol, but in early endosomes as well. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the expression of human IDO1 enzyme capable of secreting kynurenines in plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (M.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (M.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (E.M.); (D.F.)
| | - Carine De Marcos Lousa
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS13HE, UK;
- Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS29JT, UK
| | - Eleonora Panfili
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (E.P.); (E.O.); (C.O.)
| | - Elena Orecchini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (E.P.); (E.O.); (C.O.)
| | - Elisa Maricchiolo
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (E.M.); (D.F.)
| | - Daniele Fraternale
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy; (E.M.); (D.F.)
| | - Ciriana Orabona
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (E.P.); (E.O.); (C.O.)
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (M.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Teresa Pallotta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06128 Perugia, Italy; (E.P.); (E.O.); (C.O.)
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Riccioni C, Belfiori B, Sileoni V, Marconi O, Perretti G, Bellucci M, Rubini A. High genetic and chemical diversity of wild hop populations from Central Italy with signals of a genetic structure influenced by both sexual and asexual reproduction. Plant Sci 2021; 304:110794. [PMID: 33568295 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the intraspecific diversity of wild Humulus lupulus (hop) in Central Italy, 12 populations were evaluated for their genetic polymorphism by means of 13 SSR loci together with six commercial cultivars as a reference. High levels of polymorphism were found across the populations, being 140 the number of multilocus genotypes over 159 samples analyzed. Moreover, the observed heterozygosity was higher than expected in most of the populations. High levels of gene flow were thus envisaged to occur within and among wild populations, and our sampling strategy allowed us to gain insights on the propagation modes of this species, i.e. clonal versus sexual propagation. Nevertheless, a genetic structure of populations with at least five genetically different clusters was disclosed. Private alleles were observed in both wild and cultivated hops. Chemical analysis of bittering and aromatic quality of female flowers from a subset of 8 wild populations revealed a high variability among plants, especially for essential oil components. Overall, the high variability of wild accessions here examined represent a valid source to be exploited in future breeding programs for new or improved hop cultivars development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Riccioni
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, Via della Madonna Alta 130, Perugia, 06128, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Belfiori
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, Via della Madonna Alta 130, Perugia, 06128, Italy.
| | - Valeria Sileoni
- Universitas Mercatorum, Piazza Mattei 10, Roma, 00186, Italy.
| | - Ombretta Marconi
- University of Perugia, Italian Brewing Research Centre, Via San Costanzo s.n.c., Perugia, 06126, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Perretti
- University of Perugia, Italian Brewing Research Centre, Via San Costanzo s.n.c., Perugia, 06126, Italy.
| | - Michele Bellucci
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, Via della Madonna Alta 130, Perugia, 06128, Italy.
| | - Andrea Rubini
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Division of Perugia, Via della Madonna Alta 130, Perugia, 06128, Italy.
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Marassi V, De Marchis F, Roda B, Bellucci M, Capecchi A, Reschiglian P, Pompa A, Zattoni A. Perspectives on protein biopolymers: miniaturized flow field-flow fractionation-assisted characterization of a single-cysteine mutated phaseolin expressed in transplastomic tobacco plants. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1637:461806. [PMID: 33360435 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of plant-based protein polymers to employ in biofilm production represents the promising intersection between material science and sustainability, and allows to obtain biodegradable materials that also possess excellent physicochemical properties. A possible candidate for protein biopolymer production is phaseolin, a storage protein highly abundant in P Vulgaris beans. We previously showed that transformed tobacco chloroplasts could be employed to express a mutated phaseolin carrying a signal peptide (directing it into the thylakoids) also enriched of a cysteine residue added to its C-terminal region. This modification allows for the formation of inter-chain disulfide bonds, as we previously demonstrated, and should promote polymerization. To verify the effect of the peptide modification and to quantify polymer formation, we employed hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation coupled to UV and multi-angle laser scattering detection (HF5-UV-MALS): HF5 allows for the selective size-based separation of phaseolin species, whereas MALS calculates molar mass and conformation state of each population. With the use of two different HF5 separation methods we first observed the native state of P.Vulgaris phaseolin, mainly assembled into trimers, and compared it to mutated phaseolin (P*) which instead resulted highly aggregated. Then we further characterized P* using a second separation method, discriminating between two and distinct high-molecular weight (HMW) species, one averaging 0.8 × 106 Da and the second reaching the tens of million Da. Insight on the conformation of these HMW species was offered from their conformation plots, which confirmed the positive impact of the Cys modification on polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Marassi
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; byFlow srl, via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40128 Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council of Italy, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia (PG), Italy
| | - Barbara Roda
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; byFlow srl, via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40128 Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council of Italy, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia (PG), Italy
| | - Alice Capecchi
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council of Italy, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia (PG), Italy
| | - Pierluigi Reschiglian
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; byFlow srl, via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40128 Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", via Donato Bramante 28, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Andrea Zattoni
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; byFlow srl, via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40128 Bologna (BO), Italy.
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Abstract
Chloroplast biotechnology has assumed great importance in the past 20 years and, thanks to the numerous advantages as compared to conventional transgenic technologies, has been applied in an increasing number of plant species but still very much limited. Hence, it is of outmost importance to extend the range of species in which plastid transformation can be applied. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important industrial crop of the temperate zone in which chloroplast DNA is not transmitted trough pollen. Transformation of the sugar beet genome is performed in several research laboratories, conversely sugar beet plastome genetic transformation is far away from being considered a routine technique. We describe here a method to obtain transplastomic sugar beet plants trough biolistic transformation. The availability of sugar beet transplastomic plants should avoid the risk of gene flow between these cultivated genetic modified sugar beet plants and the wild-type plants or relative wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Research Division of Perugia, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), CNR, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Research Division of Perugia, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), CNR, Perugia, Italy.
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Iacono A, Pompa A, De Marchis F, Panfili E, Greco FA, Coletti A, Orabona C, Volpi C, Belladonna ML, Mondanelli G, Albini E, Vacca C, Gargaro M, Fallarino F, Bianchi R, De Marcos Lousa C, Mazza EM, Bicciato S, Proietti E, Milano F, Martelli MP, Iamandii IM, Graupera Garcia-Mila M, Llena Sopena J, Hawkins P, Suire S, Okkenhaug K, Stark AK, Grassi F, Bellucci M, Puccetti P, Santambrogio L, Macchiarulo A, Grohmann U, Pallotta MT. Class IA PI3Ks regulate subcellular and functional dynamics of IDO1. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e49756. [PMID: 33159421 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201949756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of a protein's spatial dynamics at the subcellular level is key to understanding its function(s), interactions, and associated intracellular events. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a cytosolic enzyme that controls immune responses via tryptophan metabolism, mainly through its enzymic activity. When phosphorylated, however, IDO1 acts as a signaling molecule in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), thus activating genomic effects, ultimately leading to long-lasting immunosuppression. Whether the two activities-namely, the catalytic and signaling functions-are spatially segregated has been unclear. We found that, under conditions favoring signaling rather than catabolic events, IDO1 shifts from the cytosol to early endosomes. The event requires interaction with class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), which become activated, resulting in full expression of the immunoregulatory phenotype in vivo in pDCs as resulting from IDO1-dependent signaling events. Thus, IDO1's spatial dynamics meet the needs for short-acting as well as durable mechanisms of immune suppression, both under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. These data expand the theoretical basis for an IDO1-centered therapy in inflammation and autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberta Iacono
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.,Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Panfili
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco A Greco
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alice Coletti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ciriana Orabona
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Volpi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria L Belladonna
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Albini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carmine Vacca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marco Gargaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Bianchi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carine De Marcos Lousa
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.,Center for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Silvio Bicciato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisa Proietti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | - Ioana M Iamandii
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Judith Llena Sopena
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | | | | | - Klaus Okkenhaug
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Fabio Grassi
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Puccetti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Santambrogio
- Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antonio Macchiarulo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ursula Grohmann
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Maria T Pallotta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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12
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Marazzi F, Bellucci M, Rossi S, Fornaroli R, Ficara E, Mezzanotte V. Outdoor pilot trial integrating a sidestream microalgae process for the treatment of centrate under non optimal climate conditions. ALGAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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13
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Galla G, Siena LA, Ortiz JPA, Baumlein H, Barcaccia G, Pessino SC, Bellucci M, Pupilli F. A Portion of the Apomixis Locus of Paspalum Simplex is Microsyntenic with an Unstable Chromosome Segment Highly Conserved Among Poaceae. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3271. [PMID: 30824748 PMCID: PMC6397161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39649-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The introgression of apomixis in major seed crops, would guarantee self-seeding of superior heterotic seeds over generations. In the grass species Paspalum simplex, apomixis is controlled by a single locus in which recombination is blocked. In the perspective of isolating the genetic determinants of apomixis, we report data on sequencing, in silico mapping and expression analysis of some of the genes contained in two cloned genomic regions of the apomixis locus of P. simplex. In silico mapping allowed us to identify a conserved synteny group homoeologous to the apomixis locus, located on a telomeric position of chromosomes 12, 8, 3 and 4 of rice, Sorghum bicolor, Setaria italica and Brachypodium distachyum, respectively, and on a more centromeric position of maize chromosome 1. Selected genes of the apomixis locus expressed sense and antisense transcripts in reproductively committed cells of sexual and apomictic ovules. Some of the genes considered here expressed apomixis-specific allelic variants which showed partial non-overlapping expression patterns with alleles shared by sexual and apomictic reproductive phenotypes. Our findings open new routes for the isolation of the genetic determinants of apomixis and, in perspective, for its introgression in crop grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Galla
- Department of Agriculture Food Natural resources Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Lorena A Siena
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET-UNR, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo A Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET-UNR, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Argentina
| | - Helmut Baumlein
- The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), D-06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Gianni Barcaccia
- Department of Agriculture Food Natural resources Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Silvina C Pessino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR), CONICET-UNR, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Argentina
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 06128, Perugia, Italy.
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14
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Pizzera A, Scaglione D, Bellucci M, Marazzi F, Mezzanotte V, Parati K, Ficara E. Digestate treatment with algae-bacteria consortia: A field pilot-scale experimentation in a sub-optimal climate area. Bioresour Technol 2019; 274:232-243. [PMID: 30513411 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.11.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This paper addresses the efficiency of a microalgae-based agricultural digestate treatment at pilot-scale in an outdoor raceway pond (880 L, pH-dependent CO2 dosage) and in a bubble column (74.5 L, air-bubbling). Specifically, nitrogen removal, evolution of the algae-bacteria consortium, and the actual process applicability in the Po Valley climate are discussed. The performance of the two reactors varied seasonally. The average algal productivity in the raceway was 32.4 ± 33.1 mg TSS·L-1·d-1 (8.2 ± 8.5 g TSS·m-2·d-1) while in the PBR it was 25.6 ± 26.8 mg TSS·L-1·d-1; the average nitrogen removal was 20 ± 29% (maximum 78%) and 22 ± 29% (maximum 71%) in the raceway and in the column, respectively. Nevertheless, nitrification had a key role as 61 ± 24% and 52 ± 32% of the nitrogen load was oxidized in the raceway and in the column, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pizzera
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - D Scaglione
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - M Bellucci
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - F Marazzi
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), P.zza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - V Mezzanotte
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), P.zza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - K Parati
- Istituto Sperimentale Italiano Lazzaro Spallanzani, Località La Quercia, Cremona, Rivolta d'Adda, Italy
| | - E Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), P.zza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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15
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Galla G, Basso A, Grisan S, Bellucci M, Pupilli F, Barcaccia G. Ovule Gene Expression Analysis in Sexual and Aposporous Apomictic Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae) Accessions. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:654. [PMID: 31178879 PMCID: PMC6543059 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Hypericum perforatum L. (2n = 4x = 32) is an attractive model system for the study of aposporous apomixis. The earliest phenotypic features of aposporous apomixis in this species are the mitotic formation of unreduced embryo sacs from a somatic cell of the ovule nucellus and the avoidance of meiosis. In this research we addressed gene expression variation in sexual and apomictic plants, by focusing on the ovule nucellus, which is the cellular domain primarily involved into the differentiation of meiocyte precursors and aposporous embryo sacs, at a pre-meiotic developmental stage. Gene expression analyses performed by RNAseq identified 396 differentially expressed genes and 1834 transcripts displaying phenotype-specific expression. Furthermore, the sequencing and assembly of the genome from a diploid sexual accession allowed the annotation of a 50 kb sequence portion located upstream the HAPPY locus and to address the extent to which single transcripts were assembled in multiple variants and their co-expression levels. About one third of identified DEGs and phenotype-specific transcripts were associated to transcript variants with alternative expression patterns. Additionally, considering DEGs and phenotype-specific transcript, the co-expression level was estimated in about two transcripts per locus. Our gene expression study shows massive differences in the expression of several genes encoding for transposable elements. Transcriptional differences in the ovule nucellus and pistil terminal developmental stages were also found for subset of genes encoding for potentially interacting proteins involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Furthermore, the sexual and aposporous ovule transcriptomes were characterized by differential expression in genes operating in RNA silencing, RNA-mediated DNA methylation (RdDM) and histone and chromatin modifications. These findings are consistent with a role of these processes in regulating cell fate determination in the ovule, as indicated by forward genetic studies in sexual model species. The association between aposporous apomixis, pre-mRNA splicing and DNA methylation mediated by sRNAs, which is supported by expression data and by the enrichment in GO terms related to these processes, is consistent with the massive differential expression of multiple transposon-related sequences observed in ovules collected from both sexual and aposporous apomictic accessions. Overall, our data suggest that phenotypic expression of aposporous apomixis is concomitant with the modulation of key genes involved in the two interconnected processes: RNA splicing and RNA-directed DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Galla
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giulio Galla,
| | - Andrea Basso
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Simone Grisan
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianni Barcaccia
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Dipartimento di Agronomia, Animali, Alimenti, Risorse Naturali e Ambiente, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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16
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Rossi S, Bellucci M, Marazzi F, Mezzanotte V, Ficara E. Activity assessment of microalgal-bacterial consortia based on respirometric tests. Water Sci Technol 2018; 78:207-215. [PMID: 30101803 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2018.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Respirometric techniques are useful tools to evaluate bacterial activities in activated sludge processes due to their fast execution and the possibility to obtain several kinetic parameters from a single test. Using such techniques in microalgae-bacteria consortia treating wastewater could allow a better understanding of mutual interactions between the microbial populations as a function of environmental parameters. This work aims at developing and testing a novel experimental respirometric protocol to determine oxygen uptake rates and oxygen production rates by a microalgae-bacteria consortium. The defined protocol is characterized by alternating light/dark regimes and by dosing substrates/inhibitors to selectively activate/inactivate microalgal and bacterial metabolisms. The protocol was then applied on microalgal and bacterial consortia, which were grown on the liquid fraction of black water from biogas plants fed on agricultural and municipal waste sludge. Results elucidate the presence and activity of microalgae and nitrifying bacteria in the tested systems, suggesting that the respirometric tests could be included into monitoring procedures of photobioreactors/algal ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rossi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy E-mail:
| | - M Bellucci
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy E-mail:
| | - F Marazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e della Terra (DISAT), Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 1, Milano 20126, Italy
| | - V Mezzanotte
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e della Terra (DISAT), Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 1, Milano 20126, Italy
| | - E Ficara
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale (DICA), Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy E-mail:
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17
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De Marchis F, Colanero S, Klein EM, Mainieri D, Prota VM, Bellucci M, Pagliuca G, Zironi E, Gazzotti T, Vitale A, Pompa A. Erratum to "Expression of CLAVATA3 fusions indicates rapid intracellular processing and a role of ERAD" [Plant Sci. 271 (2018) 67-80]. Plant Sci 2018; 272:230-234. [PMID: 29807596 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Colanero
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eva M Klein
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Mainieri
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Viviana M Prota
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giampiero Pagliuca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Elisa Zironi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Teresa Gazzotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy.
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18
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De Marchis F, Colanero S, Klein EM, Mainieri D, Prota VM, Bellucci M, Pagliuca G, Zironi E, Gazzotti T, Vitale A, Pompa A. Expression of CLAVATA3 fusions indicates rapid intracellular processing and a role of ERAD. Plant Sci 2018; 271:67-80. [PMID: 29650159 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The 12 amino acid peptide derived from the Arabidopsis soluble secretory protein CLAVATA3 (CLV3) acts at the cell surface in a signalling system that regulates the size of apical meristems. The subcellular pathway involved in releasing the peptide from its precursor is unknown. We show that a CLV3-GFP fusion expressed in transfected tobacco protoplasts or transgenic tobacco plants has very short intracellular half-life that cannot be extended by the secretory traffic inhibitors brefeldin A and wortmannin. The fusion is biologically active, since the incubation medium of protoplasts from CLV3-GFP-expressing tobacco contains the CLV3 peptide and inhibits root growth. The rapid disappearance of intact CLV3-GFP requires the signal peptide and is inhibited by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or coexpression with a mutated CDC48 that inhibits endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD). The synthesis of CLV3-GFP is specifically supported by the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone endoplasmin in an in vivo assay. Our results indicate that processing of CLV3 starts intracellularly in an early compartment of the secretory pathway and that ERAD could play a regulatory or direct role in the active peptide synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Colanero
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Eva M Klein
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Mainieri
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Viviana M Prota
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giampiero Pagliuca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Elisa Zironi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Teresa Gazzotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università di Bologna 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Perugia, Italy.
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Iacono A, Pompa A, De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Grassi F, Grohmann U, Pallotta M. Relationship between functions and intracellular localization of the immune checkpoint target indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1. Ann Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy047.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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20
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Ochogavía A, Galla G, Seijo JG, González AM, Bellucci M, Pupilli F, Barcaccia G, Albertini E, Pessino S. Structure, target-specificity and expression of PN_LNC_N13, a long non-coding RNA differentially expressed in apomictic and sexual Paspalum notatum. Plant Mol Biol 2018; 96:53-67. [PMID: 29119346 PMCID: PMC5778186 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-017-0679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE: ncRNA PN_LNC_N13 shows contrasting expression in reproductive organs of sexual and apomictic Paspalum notatum genotypes. Apomictic plants set genetically maternal seeds whose embryos derive by parthenogenesis from unreduced egg cells, giving rise to clonal offspring. Several Paspalum notatum apomixis related genes were identified in prior work by comparative transcriptome analyses. Here, one of these candidates (namely N13) was characterized. N13 belongs to a Paspalum gene family including 30-60 members, of which at least eight are expressed at moderate levels in florets. The sequences of these genes show no functional ORFs, but include segments of different protein coding genes. Particularly, N13 shows partial identity to maize gene BT068773 (RESPONSE REGULATOR 6). Secondary structure predictions as well as mature miRNA and target cleavage detection suggested that N13 is not a miRNA precursor. Moreover, N13 family members produce abundant 24-nucleotide small RNAs along extensive parts of their sequences. Surveys in the GREENC and CANTATA databases indicated similarity with plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in splicing regulation; consequently, N13 was renamed as PN_LNC_N13. The Paspalum BT068773 predicted ortholog (N13TAR) originates floral transcript variants shorter than the canonical maize isoform and with possible structural differences between the apomictic and sexual types. PN_LNC_N13 is expressed only in apomictic plants and displays quantitative representation variation across reproductive developmental stages. However, PN_LNC_N13-like homologs and/or its derived sRNAs showed overall a higher representation in ovules of sexual plants at late premeiosis. Our results suggest the existence of a whole family of N13-like lncRNAs possibly involved in splicing regulation, with some members characterized by differential activity across reproductive types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ochogavía
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR-CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Parque Villarino, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Provincia De Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Giulio Galla
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, DAFNAE, University of Padova, Campus of Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - José Guillermo Seijo
- Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sargento Cabral 2131, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Ana María González
- Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (IBONE-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sargento Cabral 2131, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fulvio Pupilli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianni Barcaccia
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, DAFNAE, University of Padova, Campus of Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Emidio Albertini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Silvina Pessino
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario (IICAR-CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Parque Villarino, S2125ZAA, Zavalla, Provincia De Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Pompa A. The endoplasmic reticulum is a hub to sort proteins toward unconventional traffic pathways and endosymbiotic organelles. J Exp Bot 2017; 69:7-20. [PMID: 28992342 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The discovery that much of the extracellular proteome in eukaryotic cells consists of proteins lacking a signal peptide, which cannot therefore enter the secretory pathway, has led to the identification of alternative protein secretion routes bypassing the Golgi apparatus. However, proteins harboring a signal peptide for translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum can also be transported along these alternative routes, which are still far from being well elucidated in terms of the molecular machineries and subcellular/intermediate compartments involved. In this review, we first try to provide a definition of all the unconventional protein secretion pathways in eukaryotic cells, as those pathways followed by proteins directed to an 'external space' bypassing the Golgi, where 'external space' refers to the extracellular space plus the lumen of the secretory route compartments and the inner space of mitochondria and plastids. Then, we discuss the role of the endoplasmic reticulum in sorting proteins toward unconventional traffic pathways in plants. In this regard, various unconventional pathways exporting proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole, plasma membrane, apoplast, mitochondria, and plastids are described, including the short routes followed by the proteins resident in the endoplasmic reticulum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
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Alagna F, Bellucci M, Leister D, Pompa A. Editorial: Plastid Proteostasis: Relevance of Transcription, Translation, and Post-translational Modifications. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:1759. [PMID: 29089953 PMCID: PMC5651006 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Alagna
- Viticoltura ed Enologia, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria (CREA), Turi, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Perugia, Italy
| | - Dario Leister
- Plant Molecular Biology, Department Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Perugia, Italy
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Advancements in technology have proved useful for many businesses including medical practices. Consequently, these improvements have increased the need to develop new applications for mobile devices. Our group conceived and developed an application for tablets, PCs, and smartphones with the aim to assist the physician in the management of the pelvic floor diseases: iProcto. The aim of this study was to evaluate the receptivity of patients resulting from using the said pelvic floor application (iProcto) during a colon-proctologic visit; and to establish whether it can be more efficient in helping with diagnosis compared to a traditional visit. METHODS We enrolled 126 patients with pelvic floor disorders during the period of 2013 and 2014. The average age of the patients ranging from 16 - 43 years of age, 80 of those, being women. Sixty-three patients were randomly assigned to iProcto consultation (group A), the remaining 63 patients to attended a regular consultation that did not include iProcto (group B). Post consultation, all patients were asked to answer a questionnaire anonymously where they were asked questions about their level of satisfaction, and clarity of the doctor's explanation, on a scale from 1 (dissatisfied) to 5 (completely satisfied). RESULTS Patients in group A have a score average relative to the degree of satisfaction of 4.2 ± 0.7 vs 3.5 ± 0.7 in the group B (m ± sd; p 0.001). Only 3 patients in group A and 15 in group B did not consider the visit satisfactory (score ≤2). With regard to the clarity of the physician the group A patients presented a means score of 4.4 ± 0.8 vs 3.5 ± 0.4 in the group B (m ± ds; p 0.001). Data shows that 95% showed a gain in satisfaction during the iProcto visit as compared to 78% without iProcto. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion the use of iProcto for the pelvic floor diseases can improve the understanding of the disease and increase the degree of patient satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gaj
- Department of General Surgery, Surgical Specialties and Organ Transplantation "Paride Stefanini", Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - M Bellucci
- Department of General Surgery, Surgical Specialties and Organ Transplantation "Paride Stefanini", Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - I Biviano
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
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Pompa A, De Marchis F, Pallotta MT, Benitez-Alfonso Y, Jones A, Schipper K, Moreau K, Žárský V, Di Sansebastiano GP, Bellucci M. Unconventional Transport Routes of Soluble and Membrane Proteins and Their Role in Developmental Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18040703. [PMID: 28346345 PMCID: PMC5412289 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many proteins and cargoes in eukaryotic cells are secreted through the conventional secretory pathway that brings proteins and membranes from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane, passing through various cell compartments, and then the extracellular space. The recent identification of an increasing number of leaderless secreted proteins bypassing the Golgi apparatus unveiled the existence of alternative protein secretion pathways. Moreover, other unconventional routes for secretion of soluble or transmembrane proteins with initial endoplasmic reticulum localization were identified. Furthermore, other proteins normally functioning in conventional membrane traffic or in the biogenesis of unique plant/fungi organelles or in plasmodesmata transport seem to be involved in unconventional secretory pathways. These alternative pathways are functionally related to biotic stress and development, and are becoming more and more important in cell biology studies in yeast, mammalian cells and in plants. The city of Lecce hosted specialists working on mammals, plants and microorganisms for the inaugural meeting on “Unconventional Protein and Membrane Traffic” (UPMT) during 4–7 October 2016. The main aim of the meeting was to include the highest number of topics, summarized in this report, related to the unconventional transport routes of protein and membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | | | - Alexandra Jones
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
| | - Kevin Moreau
- Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK.
| | - Viktor Žárský
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Experimental Botany, v.v.i., the Czech Academy of Sciences, 16502, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Gian Pietro Di Sansebastiano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, S.P. 6, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
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De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Pompa A. Phaseolin expression in tobacco chloroplast reveals an autoregulatory mechanism in heterologous protein translation. Plant Biotechnol J 2016; 14:603-14. [PMID: 26031839 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Plastid DNA engineering is a well-established research area of plant biotechnology, and plastid transgenes often give high expression levels. However, it is still almost impossible to predict the accumulation rate of heterologous protein in transplastomic plants, and there are many cases of unsuccessful transgene expression. Chloroplasts regulate their proteome at the post-transcriptional level, mainly through translation control. One of the mechanisms to modulate the translation has been described in plant chloroplasts for the chloroplast-encoded subunits of multiprotein complexes, and the autoregulation of the translation initiation of these subunits depends on the availability of their assembly partners [control by epistasy of synthesis (CES)]. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, autoregulation of endogenous proteins recruited in the assembly of functional complexes has also been reported. In this study, we revealed a self-regulation mechanism triggered by the accumulation of a soluble recombinant protein, phaseolin, in the stroma of chloroplast-transformed tobacco plants. Immunoblotting experiments showed that phaseolin could avoid this self-regulation mechanism when targeted to the thylakoids in transplastomic plants. To inhibit the thylakoid-targeted phaseolin translation as well, this protein was expressed in the presence of a nuclear version of the phaseolin gene with a transit peptide. Pulse-chase and polysome analysis revealed that phaseolin mRNA translation on plastid ribosomes was repressed due to the accumulation in the stroma of the same soluble polypeptide imported from the cytosol. We suggest that translation autoregulation in chloroplast is not limited to heteromeric protein subunits but also involves at least some of the foreign soluble recombinant proteins, leading to the inhibition of plastome-encoded transgene expression in chloroplast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Research Division of Perugia, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Research Division of Perugia, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Research Division of Perugia, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
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De Marchis F, Valeri MC, Pompa A, Bouveret E, Alagna F, Grisan S, Stanzione V, Mariotti R, Cultrera N, Baldoni L, Bellucci M. Overexpression of the olive acyl carrier protein gene (OeACP1) produces alterations in fatty acid composition of tobacco leaves. Transgenic Res 2016; 25:45-61. [PMID: 26560313 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9919-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Taking into account that fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis plays a crucial role in lipid accumulation in olive (Olea europaea L.) mesocarp, we investigated the effect of olive acyl carrier protein (ACP) on FA composition by overexpressing an olive ACP cDNA in tobacco plants. The OeACP1.1A cDNA was inserted in the nucleus or in the chloroplast DNA of different tobacco plants, resulting in extensive transcription of the transgenes. The transplastomic plants accumulated lower olive ACP levels in comparison to nuclear-transformed plants. Moreover, the phenotype of the former plants was characterized by pale green/white cotyledons with abnormal chloroplasts, delayed germination and reduced growth. We suggest that the transplastomic phenotype was likely caused by inefficient olive ACP mRNA translation in chloroplast stroma. Conversely, total lipids from leaves of nuclear transformants expressing high olive ACP levels showed a significant increase in oleic acid (18:1) and linolenic acid (18:3), and a concomitant significant reduction of hexadecadienoic acid (16:2) and hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3). This implies that in leaves of tobacco transformants, as likely in the mesocarp of olive fruit, olive ACP not only plays a general role in FA synthesis, but seems to be specifically involved in chain length regulation forwarding the elongation to C18 FAs and the subsequent desaturation to 18:1 and 18:3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Valeri
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Fiammetta Alagna
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
- Research Unit for Table Grapes and Wine Growing in Mediterranean Environment, CREA, Via Casamassima 148, Turi, 70010, Bari, Italy
| | - Simone Grisan
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Vitale Stanzione
- Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean (ISAFOM), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 128, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roberto Mariotti
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nicolò Cultrera
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luciana Baldoni
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy.
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Abstract
The classical Golgi pathway is not the only mechanism for vacuolar protein transport in plants because alternative transport mechanisms have been described. The existence of these alternative pathways can be demonstrated using several chemicals and here we describe the use of brefeldin A (BFA), endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo-H), and tunicamycin, on isolated tobacco leaf protoplasts. Two main methods are illustrated in this chapter, protoplast pulse-chase followed by protein immunoprecipitation, and protoplast immunofluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council, 06128, Perugia, Italy.
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Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Ferradini N, Pompa A, Veronesi F, Rosellini D. A mutant Synechococcus gene encoding glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase confers gabaculine resistance when expressed in tobacco plastids. Plant Cell Rep 2015; 34:2127-36. [PMID: 26265112 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-015-1856-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE A mutant glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase gene from the Synechococcus , inserted into tobacco plastid DNA by means of particle bombardment and antibiotic selection, conferred gabaculine resistance allowing to attain homoplasmy. Many plant species are recalcitrant to plastid genome transformation. New selections systems may help to overcome this limitation and to extend the application of this technology. A mutant hemL gene from the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus, encoding a gabaculine-insensitive glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSA), is an efficient selectable marker gene for nuclear transformation of tobacco, alfalfa and durum wheat. Since GSA functions in the plastid, we introduced the mutant hemL gene into the tobacco plastid genome along with the conventional antibiotic resistance aadA gene, in the attempt to develop a new selection system for plastome transformation. Although we were unable to directly regenerate gabaculine resistant transplastomic plants, we demonstrated the functionality of hemL in tobacco plastids by using gabaculine selection in the second and third rounds of in vitro selection that permitted to obtain the homoplasmic state in transgenic plants. Thus, the mutant hemL gene functions as a secondary selection marker in tobacco plastids. Our results encourage further attempts to test gabaculine resistant GSA for plastome transformation of crop plants in which gabaculine has stronger regeneration-inhibiting effects with respect to tobacco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Ferradini
- Department of Agricultural Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fabio Veronesi
- Department of Agricultural Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Daniele Rosellini
- Department of Agricultural Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
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Abstract
Chloroplast biotechnology has assumed great importance in the past 20 years and, thanks to the numerous advantages as compared to conventional transgenic technologies, has been applied in an increasing number of plant species but still very much limited. Hence, it is of utmost importance to extend the range of species in which plastid transformation can be applied. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important industrial crop of the temperate zone in which chloroplast DNA is not transmitted trough pollen. Transformation of the sugar beet genome is performed in several research laboratories; conversely sugar beet plastome genetic transformation is far away from being considered a routine technique. We describe here a method to obtain transplastomic sugar beet plants trough biolistic transformation. The availability of sugar beet transplastomic plants should avoid the risk of gene flow between these cultivated genetic modified sugar beet plants and the wild-type plants or relative wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Perugia, Italy
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30
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De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Pompa A. Unconventional pathways of secretory plant proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole bypassing the Golgi complex. Plant Signal Behav 2013; 8:25129. [PMID: 23733072 PMCID: PMC3999078 DOI: 10.4161/psb.25129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the basic mechanisms that regulate vacuolar delivering of proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) have a great importance in plant cell biology. Indeed, many aspects of plant physiology are affected by this intracellular traffic, for example, germination or reaction to biotic stresses due to the accumulation of storage proteins in seeds or enzymes in vegetative tissues, respectively. Up to now, the Golgi complex has been considered the main hub in the sorting of vacuolar secretory proteins; those polypeptides able to reach their final destination without the aid of this organelle are regarded as exceptions to an established route. This mini-review aims to emphasize the existence of several Golgi-independent pathways involved in the trafficking of different types of vacuolar proteins.
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Bellucci M, Ofiţeru ID, Head IM, Curtis TP, Graham DW. Nitrification in hybrid bioreactors treating simulated domestic wastewater. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 115:621-30. [PMID: 23611422 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM To provide deeper insights into nitrification process within aerobic bioreactors containing supplemental physical support media (hybrid bioreactors). METHODS AND RESULTS Three bench-scale hybrid bioreactors with different media size and one control bioreactor were operated to assess how biofilm integrity influences microbial community conditions and bioreactor performance. The systems were operated initially at a 5-day hydraulic retention time (HRT), and all reactors displayed efficient nitrification and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (>95%). However, when HRT was reduced to 2.5 days, COD removal rates remained high, but nitrification efficiencies declined in all reactors after 19 days. To explain reduced performance, nitrifying bacterial communities (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, AOB; nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, NOB) were examined in the liquid phase and also on the beads using qPCR, FISH and DGGE. Overall, the presence of the beads in a reactor promoted bacterial abundances and diversity, but as bead size was increased, biofilms with active coupled AOB-NOB activity were less apparent, resulting in incomplete nitrification. CONCLUSIONS Hybrid bioreactors have potential to sustain effective nitrification at low HRTs, but support media size and configuration type must be optimized to ensure coupled AOB and NOB activity in nitrification. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study shows that AOB and NOB coupling must be accomplished to minimize nitrification failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Pompa A. Traffic of human α-mannosidase in plant cells suggests the presence of a new endoplasmic reticulum-to-vacuole pathway without involving the Golgi complex. Plant Physiol 2013; 161:1769-82. [PMID: 23449646 PMCID: PMC3613454 DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.214536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The transport of secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole requires sorting signals as well as specific transport mechanisms. This work is focused on the transport in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants of a human α-mannosidase, MAN2B1, which is a lysosomal enzyme involved in the turnover of N-linked glycoproteins and can be used in enzyme replacement therapy. Although ubiquitously expressed, α-mannosidases are targeted to lysosomes or vacuoles through different mechanisms according to the organisms in which these proteins are produced. In tobacco cells, MAN2B1 reaches the vacuole even in the absence of mannose-6-phosphate receptors, which are responsible for its transport in animal cells. We report that MAN2B1 is targeted to the vacuole without passing through the Golgi complex. In addition, a vacuolar targeting signal that is recognized in plant cells is located in the MAN2B1 amino-terminal region. Indeed, when this amino-terminal domain is removed, the protein is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, when this domain is added to a plant-secreted protein, the resulting fusion protein is partially redirected to the vacuole. These results strongly suggest the existence in plants of a new type of vacuolar traffic that can be used by leaf cells to transport vacuolar proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 06128 Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 06128 Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 06128 Perugia, Italy
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De Marchis F, Balducci C, Pompa A, Riise Stensland HMF, Guaragno M, Pagiotti R, Menghini AR, Persichetti E, Beccari T, Bellucci M. Human α-mannosidase produced in transgenic tobacco plants is processed in human α-mannosidosis cell lines. Plant Biotechnol J 2011; 9:1061-73. [PMID: 21645202 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2011.00630.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Deficiency in human lysosomal α-mannosidase (MAN2B1) results in α-mannosidosis, a lysosomal storage disorder; patients present a wide range of neurological, immunological, and skeletal symptoms caused by a multisystemic accumulation of mannose-containing oligosaccharides. Here, we describe the expression of recombinant MAN2B1 both transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and in the leaves and seeds of stably transformed N. tabacum plants. After purification from tobacco leaves, the recombinant enzyme was found to be N-glycosylated and localized in vacuolar compartments. In the fresh leaves of tobacco transformants, MAN2B1 was measured at 10,200 units/kg, and the purified enzyme from these leaves had a specific activity of 32-45 U/mg. Furthermore, tobacco-produced MAN2B1 was biochemically similar to the enzyme purified from human tissues, and it was internalized and processed by α-mannosidosis fibroblast cells. These results strongly indicate that plants can be considered a promising expression system for the production of recombinant MAN2B1 for use in enzyme replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Italian National Council of Research (CNR), Perugia, Italy
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Beccari T, Balducci C, Pompa A, Stensland HM, Guaragno M, Pagliardini V, Menghini AR, Persichetti E, Bellucci M. Production of human lysosomal alpha-mannosidase in transgenic tobacco plants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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De Marchis F, Pompa A, Mannucci R, Morosinotto T, Bellucci M. A plant secretory signal peptide targets plastome-encoded recombinant proteins to the thylakoid membrane. Plant Mol Biol 2011; 76:427-41. [PMID: 20714919 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-010-9676-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Plastids are considered promising bioreactors for the production of recombinant proteins, but the knowledge of the mechanisms regulating foreign protein folding, targeting, and accumulation in these organelles is still incomplete. Here we demonstrate that a plant secretory signal peptide is able to target a plastome-encoded recombinant protein to the thylakoid membrane. The fusion protein zeolin with its native signal peptide expressed by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transplastomic plants was directed into the chloroplast thylakoid membranes, whereas the zeolin mutant devoid of the signal peptide, Δzeolin, is instead accumulated in the stroma. We also show that zeolin folds in the thylakoid membrane where it accumulates as trimers able to form disulphide bonds. Disulphide bonds contribute to protein accumulation since zeolin shows a higher accumulation level with respect to stromal Δzeolin, whose folding is hampered as the protein accumulates at low amounts in a monomeric form and it is not oxidized. Thus, post-transcriptional processes seem to regulate the stability and accumulation of plastid-synthesized zeolin. The most plausible zeolin targeting mechanism to thylakoid is discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy
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De Marchis F, Balducci C, Pagiotti R, Arcioni S, Beccari T, Bellucci M. Enzyme replacement therapy: Production of human α-mannosidase in transgenic tobacco plants. J Biotechnol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.08.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Pompa A, De Marchis F, Vitale A, Arcioni S, Bellucci M. An engineered C-terminal disulfide bond can partially replace the phaseolin vacuolar sorting signal. Plant J 2010; 61:782-91. [PMID: 20030752 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2009.04113.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Seed storage proteins accumulate either in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or in vacuoles, and it would appear that polymerization events play a fundamental role in regulating the choice between the two destinies of these proteins. We previously showed that a fusion between the Phaseolus vulgaris vacuolar storage protein phaseolin and the N-terminal half of the Zea mays prolamin gamma-zein forms interchain disulfide bonds that facilitate the formation of ER-located protein bodies. Wild-type phaseolin does not contain cysteine residues, and assembles into soluble trimers that transiently polymerize before sorting to the vacuole. These transient interactions are abolished when the C-terminal vacuolar sorting signal AFVY is deleted, indicating that they play a role in vacuolar sorting. We reasoned that if the phaseolin interactions directly involve the C terminus of the polypeptide, a cysteine residue introduced into this region could stabilize these transient interactions. Biochemical studies of two mutated phaseolin proteins in which a single cysteine residue was inserted at the C terminus, in the presence (PHSL*) or absence (Delta 418*) of the vacuolar signal AFVY, revealed that these mutated proteins form disulphide bonds. PHSL* had reduced protein solubility and a vacuolar trafficking delay with respect to wild-type protein. Moreover, Delta 418* was in part redirected to the vacuole. Our experiments strongly support the idea that vacuolar delivery of phaseolin is promoted very early in the sorting process, when polypeptides are still contained within the ER, by homotypic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pompa
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy
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Marusic C, Vitale A, Pedrazzini E, Donini M, Frigerio L, Bock R, Dix PJ, McCabe MS, Bellucci M, Benvenuto E. Plant-based strategies aimed at expressing HIV antigens and neutralizing antibodies at high levels. Nef as a case study. Transgenic Res 2009; 18:499-512. [PMID: 19169897 PMCID: PMC2758358 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-009-9244-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2008] [Accepted: 01/06/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The first evidence that plants represent a valid, safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional expression systems for large-scale production of antigens and antibodies was described more than 10 years ago. Since then, considerable improvements have been made to increase the yield of plant-produced proteins. These include the use of signal sequences to target proteins to different cellular compartments, plastid transformation to achieve high transgene dosage, codon usage optimization to boost gene expression, and protein fusions to improve recombinant protein stability and accumulation. Thus, several HIV/SIV antigens and neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies have recently been successfully expressed in plants by stable nuclear or plastid transformation, and by transient expression systems based on plant virus vectors or Agrobacterium-mediated infection. The current article gives an overview of plant expressed HIV antigens and antibodies and provides an account of the use of different strategies aimed at increasing the expression of the accessory multifunctional HIV-1 Nef protein in transgenic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Marusic
- Dipartimento BAS, Sezione Genetica e Genomica Vegetale, ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy.
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Foresti O, De Marchis F, de Virgilio M, Klein EM, Arcioni S, Bellucci M, Vitale A. Protein domains involved in assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum promote vacuolar delivery when fused to secretory GFP, indicating a protein quality control pathway for degradation in the plant vacuole. Mol Plant 2008; 1:1067-76. [PMID: 19825604 DOI: 10.1093/mp/ssn066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The correct folding and assembly of newly synthesized secretory proteins are monitored by the protein quality control system of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Through interactions with chaperones such as the binding protein (BiP) and other folding helpers, quality control favors productive folding and sorts for degradation defective proteins. A major route for quality control degradation identified in yeast, plants, and animals is constituted by retrotranslocation from the ER to the cytosol and subsequent disposal by the ubiquitin/proteasome system, but alternative routes involving the vacuole have been identified in yeast. In this study, we have studied the destiny of sGFP418, a fusion between a secretory form of GFP and a domain of the vacuolar protein phaseolin that is involved in the correct assembly of phaseolin and in BiP recognition of unassembled subunits. We show that sGFP418, despite lacking the phaseolin vacuolar sorting signal, is delivered to the vacuole and fragmented, in a process that is inhibited by the secretory traffic inhibitor brefeldin A. Moreover, a fusion between GFP and a domain of the maize storage protein gamma-zein involved in zein polymerization also undergoes post-translational fragmentation similar to that of sGFP418. These results show that defective secretory proteins with permanently exposed sequences normally involved in oligomerization can be delivered to the vacuole by secretory traffic. This strongly suggests the existence of a plant vacuolar sorting mechanism devoted to the disposal of defective secretory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ombretta Foresti
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy, EU
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de Virgilio M, De Marchis F, Bellucci M, Mainieri D, Rossi M, Benvenuto E, Arcioni S, Vitale A. The human immunodeficiency virus antigen Nef forms protein bodies in leaves of transgenic tobacco when fused to zeolin. J Exp Bot 2008; 59:2815-29. [PMID: 18540021 PMCID: PMC2486477 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ern143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2008] [Revised: 03/31/2008] [Accepted: 04/28/2008] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Protein bodies (PB) are stable polymers naturally formed by certain seed storage proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The human immunodeficiency virus negative factor (Nef) protein, a potential antigen for the development of an anti-viral vaccine, is highly unstable when introduced into the plant secretory pathway, probably because of folding defects in the ER environment. The aim of this study was to promote the formation of Nef-containing PB in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves by fusing the Nef sequence to the N-terminal domains of the maize storage protein gamma-zein or to the chimeric protein zeolin (which efficiently forms PB and is composed of the vacuolar storage protein phaseolin fused to the N-terminal domains of gamma-zein). Protein blots and pulse-chase indicate that fusions between Nef and the same gamma-zein domains present in zeolin are degraded by ER quality control. Consistently, a mutated zeolin, in which wild-type phaseolin was substituted with a defective version known to be degraded by ER quality control, is unstable in plant cells. Fusion of Nef to the entire zeolin sequence instead allows the formation of PB detectable by electron microscopy and subcellular fractionation, leading to zeolin-Nef accumulation higher than 1% of total soluble protein, consistently reproduced in independent transgenic plants. It is concluded that zeolin, but not its gamma-zein portion, has a positive dominant effect over ER quality control degradation. These results provide insights into the requirements for PB formation and avoidance of quality-control degradation, and indicate a strategy for enhancing foreign protein accumulation in plants.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Antigens, Viral/chemistry
- Antigens, Viral/genetics
- Antigens, Viral/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Humans
- Inclusion Bodies/chemistry
- Inclusion Bodies/genetics
- Inclusion Bodies/metabolism
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Plant Leaves/chemistry
- Plant Leaves/genetics
- Plant Leaves/metabolism
- Plants, Genetically Modified/chemistry
- Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics
- Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism
- Protein Engineering
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Protein Transport
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Nicotiana/chemistry
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Zea mays/genetics
- Zein/chemistry
- Zein/genetics
- Zein/metabolism
- nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/chemistry
- nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics
- nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena de Virgilio
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy, EU
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Articolazione Territoriale di Perugia, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy, EU
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Articolazione Territoriale di Perugia, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy, EU
| | - Davide Mainieri
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy, EU
| | - Marika Rossi
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy, EU
| | - Eugenio Benvenuto
- ENEA-BIOTEC Sezione Genetica e Genomica Vegetale, C.R. Casaccia, 00060 Roma, Italy, EU
| | - Sergio Arcioni
- Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Articolazione Territoriale di Perugia, via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy, EU
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy, EU
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Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Nicoletti I, Arcioni S. Zeolin is a recombinant storage protein with different solubility and stability properties according to its localization in the endoplasmic reticulum or in the chloroplast. J Biotechnol 2007; 131:97-105. [PMID: 17659801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2006] [Revised: 05/28/2007] [Accepted: 06/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Several strategies have been exploited to maximize heterologous protein accumulation in the plant cell. Recently, it has been shown that a portion of a maize prolamin storage protein, gamma-zein, can be used for the high accumulation of a recombinant protein in novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived protein bodies of vegetative tissues. In this study, we investigate whether this protein can be expressed in the chloroplast. Our long-term purpose is to use zeolin to produce value-added proteins by fusing these polypeptides with its gamma-zein portion and targeting the recombinant proteins to the ER or to the chloroplast. We show here that zeolin accumulates in the chloroplast to lower levels than in the ER and its stability is compromised by chloroplast proteolytic activity. Co-localization of zeolin and the ER chaperone BiP in the chloroplast does not have a beneficial effect on zeolin accumulation. In this organelle, zeolin is not stored in protein bodies, nor do zeolin polypeptides seem to be linked by inter-chain disulfide bonds, which are usually formed by the six cysteine of the gamma-zein portion, indicating abnormal folding of the recombinant protein. Therefore, it is concluded that to accumulate zeolin in the chloroplast it is necessary to facilitate inter-chain disulfide bond formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Plant Genetics - Research Division of Perugia, Italian National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
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Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Mannucci R, Bock R, Arcioni S. Cytoplasm and chloroplasts are not suitable subcellular locations for beta-zein accumulation in transgenic plants. J Exp Bot 2005; 56:1205-12. [PMID: 15710628 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eri114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Zeins, the main storage proteins of maize that accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum of the endosperm cells, are particularly interesting because they are rich in the essential sulphur amino acids. Overexpression of certain zein genes in plants such as alfalfa would be expected to improve the nutritional characteristics of this crop. Recently, significant accumulation values have been reached, but still far from those considered useful for nutritional purposes. This study investigates whether targeting to compartments other than the endoplasmic reticulum (cytosol and chloroplasts) could result in increasing beta-zein accumulation in transgenic plants. To address beta-zein to the cytosol, the fragment which codes for the signal peptide has been removed. beta-zein has also been targeted to alfalfa and tobacco chloroplasts by a transit peptide signal. Both tobacco, as a model plant species, and alfalfa have been transformed with the assembled constructs. An alternative route to accumulate beta-zein in the chloroplasts is to synthesize beta-zein directly in the plastid lumen. Thus, the beta-zein gene has also been inserted into tobacco plastid DNA. The beta-zein gene in each different type of transformed plant was properly transcribed, as determined by northern blot analysis, but no accumulation of beta-zein was detected, either in the cytoplasm or in the chloroplasts of alfalfa and tobacco transformed plants. Therefore, it is concluded that chloroplasts and the cytosol are not favourable subcellular locations for zein protein accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Research Division of Perugia, CNR, via della Madonna Alta, 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
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Mainieri D, Rossi M, Archinti M, Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Vavassori S, Pompa A, Arcioni S, Vitale A. Zeolin. A new recombinant storage protein constructed using maize gamma-zein and bean phaseolin. Plant Physiol 2004; 136:3447-56. [PMID: 15502013 PMCID: PMC527144 DOI: 10.1104/pp.104.046409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2004] [Revised: 06/29/2004] [Accepted: 07/01/2004] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The major seed storage proteins of maize (Zea mays) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), zein and phaseolin, accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in storage vacuoles, respectively. We show here that a chimeric protein composed of phaseolin and 89 amino acids of gamma-zein, including the repeated and the Pro-rich domains, maintains the main characteristics of wild-type gamma-zein: It is insoluble unless its disulfide bonds are reduced and forms ER-located protein bodies. Unlike wild-type phaseolin, the protein, which we called zeolin, accumulates to very high amounts in leaves of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). A relevant proportion of the ER chaperone BiP is associated with zeolin protein bodies in an ATP-sensitive fashion. Pulse-chase labeling confirms the high affinity of BiP to insoluble zeolin but indicates that, unlike structurally defective proteins that also extensively interact with BiP, zeolin is highly stable. We conclude that the gamma-zein portion is sufficient to induce the formation of protein bodies also when fused to another protein. Because the storage proteins of cereals and legumes nutritionally complement each other, zeolin can be used as a starting point to produce nutritionally balanced and highly stable chimeric storage proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Mainieri
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Bellucci M, De Marchis F, Mannucci R, Arcioni S. Jellyfish green fluorescent protein as a useful reporter for transient expression and stable transformation in Medicago sativa L. Plant Cell Rep 2003; 22:328-337. [PMID: 12937943 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-003-0693-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2003] [Revised: 07/16/2003] [Accepted: 07/17/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the experiments reported herein was to transiently test different gene constructs using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter gene for a future localization of the maize beta-zein in the chloroplast of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). The transient expression of two GFP genes was compared in alfalfa leaves to determine which of these two mutants is the easier to detect. Based on the intensity of fluorescence emitted, the GFP S65C gene was used to assemble a chloroplast-targeted GFP to verify the efficiency of the transit peptide for chloroplast targeting. A chloroplast-targeted fusion protein between beta-zein and GFP was then assembled, and this protein was observed to accumulate in small aggregates into the chloroplasts of transiently transformed cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the GFP S65C gene being used to obtain transformed alfalfa plants expressing GFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta, 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
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Abstract
Cytomixis (i.e., chromatin migration between meiocytes) has been detected in many plant species, but not in Medicago sativa spp. In the present study we report the identification of a few cytomictic alfalfa plants. Those plants, the "mother plants," were selfed and crossed with a normal control plant. Microsporogenesis analysis was performed on the mother plants, on the S(1) and F(1) plants, and on controls. The S(1) and F(1) plants, like the mother plants, were found to be cytomictic. Single or multiple chromatin bridges between two or more meiocytes were observed almost exclusively in prophase I. Some completely empty meiocytes were also observed. In addition to cytomixis, other meiotic abnormalities were found. Control plants showed an almost regular meiosis. The highest values of cytomixis were observed in the mother plants, and the lowest in their F(1) progenies. Variability of cytomixis in the F(1) plants is probably due to a heterozygotic condition of the parents for this trait. No significant correlation was found between cytomixis and pollen viability, even if the cytomictic plants showed low values of pollen viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- Institute of Plant Genetics - Research Division of Perugia, CNR, via della Madonna Alta, 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy
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47
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Abstract
Genetic engineering is becoming a useful tool in the improvement of plants but concern has been expressed about the potential environmental risks of releasing genetically modified (GM) organisms into the environment. Attention has focused on pollen dispersal as a major issue in the risk assessment of transgenic crop plants. In this study, pollen-mediated dispersal of transgenes via cross-fertilization was examined. Plants of Lotus corniculatus L. transformed with either the Escherichia coli asparagine synthetase gene asnA or the beta-glucuronidase gene uidA, were used as the pollen donor. Nontransgenic plants belonging to the species L. corniculatus L., L. tenuis Waldst. and Kit. ex Willd, and L. pedunculatus Cav., were utilized as recipients. Two experimental fields were established in two areas of central Italy. Plants carrying the uidA gene were partially sterile, therefore only the asnA gene was used as a tracer marker. No transgene flow between L. corniculatus transformants and the nontransgenic L. tenuis and L. pedunculatus plants was detected. As regards nontransgenic L. corniculatus plants, in one location flow of asnA transgene was detected up to 18 m from the 1.8 m2 donor plot. In the other location, pollen dispersal occurred up to 120 m from the 14 m2 pollinating plot.
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Affiliation(s)
- F De Marchis
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Research Division of Perugia, CNR, Via Madonna Alta, 130, 06128, Perugia, Italy
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48
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Bellucci M, Tonges MC, Kopelman R. Doing well by doing good. The case for objective feedback in case management. J Case Manag 2000; 7:161-6. [PMID: 10703383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Social service programs that do not generate sufficient revenues will not survive in a Fee-For-Service (FFS) system. Yet a concern about finances is alien to many social workers' client-centered orientation. This article presents findings from a study that evaluated the effect of an objective feedback intervention on social workers' productivity in an FFS HIV/AIDS case management program. Results showed a substantial increase in billable hours (13.4% year-to-year; 6.4% pre- to-post intervention) which enable the program to reverse its operating deficit and raise staff salaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bellucci
- Richmond Home Need Services, Staten Island, NY, USA
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Bazzano C, Cilia G, Bellucci M, Cama G. THE ENERGY COST OF TWO MODES OF EXERCISE: EDUCATIVE GYMNASTIC VS. AEROBIC DANCE. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998. [DOI: 10.1097/00005768-199805001-00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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