红肉火龙果酸性转化酶活性快速准确检测方法的建立

郑乾明1,2,王红林1,2,晏 霜1,3,解 璞1

1贵州省农业科学院贵州省果树科学研究所,贵阳 550006;2贵州省农业科学院·农业农村部喀斯特山区作物基因资源与种质创新重点实验室,贵阳 550006;3贵州省特色园艺作物分子育种全省重点实验室,贵阳 550006)

摘 要:【目的】酸性转化酶(acid invertase,AIN)分解蔗糖产生葡萄糖和果糖,改变糖浓度和糖信号,调控糖的积累和分配,是植物生长发育、产量和品质形成及抵御逆境的关键酶。针对目前普遍采用的酵母生长恢复方法检测AIN酶活性方法的不足,本研究以红肉火龙果AINs为对象,建立基于活体酵母胞外酸化原理的快速准确检测方法。【方法】以溴甲酚紫(bromocresol puple,BCP)为胞外酸化指示剂,调查不同pH下的颜色变化,建立吸光值与pH的相关性曲线。使用酿酒酵母转化酶缺陷株系SEY2102 分别表达红肉火龙果3 个AIN 基因,探讨以酵母胞外酸化反映酶活性的可行性。【结果】在pH为4.00~8.00,BCP颜色呈现“黄~紫”;波长432 nm和488 nm的吸光度的比值R432/488与pH呈良好的线性关系,其线性方程为R432/488=(-0.718 7)×pH+6.043 6,R2=0.988 3。添加蔗糖,HpVIN1 和HpVIN4 表达均导致胞外BCP颜色由紫变黄,pH分别下降1.93和1.40,显著大于载体对照(0.03);HpCWIN6表达未致颜色变化,pH下降(0.13)与载体对照无显著差异。上述3个AIN基因介导的BCP颜色和pH变化可真实反映其酶活性,与此前基于酵母生长恢复的检测结果完全一致,证明本方法准确可靠。【结论】建立基于活体酵母胞外酸化的检测方法,可用于植物AIN酶活性的快速准确检测和高通量突变体文库筛选,为开展植物糖代谢相关基因的酶活性检测提供了更有力的技术支撑。

关键词:红肉火龙果;酸性转化酶;蔗糖分解;酵母表达;胞外酸化

蔗糖是绝大多数植物源器官光合产物的主要类型,经韧皮部运输至种子和果实等库器官参与分解、再合成和贮存[1]。转化酶(invertase,INV)水解β-呋喃果糖苷键,介导蔗糖不可逆地分解为葡萄糖和果糖[2]。参考酶活性最大时的pH 范围,INV 分为酸性转化酶(acid invertase,AIN)和碱性/中性转化酶(alkaline/neutral invertase,A/NIN);A/NIN 比AIN 更保守,反映其在维持胞质糖稳态中的重要作用[2]。根据蛋白定位差异,AIN也分为液泡酸性转化酶(vacuole invertase,VIN)和细胞壁酸性转化酶(cell wall invertase,CWIN);CWIN的起源晚于VIN,与维管植物的形成有关,参与韧皮部卸载[2]

植物AIN 是广泛研究的INV 类型,其在液泡内或质外体分解蔗糖形成浓度梯度,促进蔗糖在细胞器、细胞和组织间的分配,调控植物的生长发育及抵御逆境[2-3]VIN 成员如拟南芥(Arabidopsis thalianaAtVIN1[4]和陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutumGh-VIN1[5]分别调控根和花的生长发育;水稻(Oryza sativa L.)OsVIN2通过改变糖组分、转运和淀粉积累影响籽粒大小和产量[6]CWIN 成员如GhCWIN1[7]、玉米(Zea maysCWIN2[8]、木薯(Manihot esculenta Crantz)MeCWIN3[9]分别调控胚乳、籽粒和贮藏根的生长发育;AtCWIN2AtCWIN4在胚珠原基的胎座表达,产生糖信号调控胚珠发育的起始,沉默后导致胚珠败育[10]AIN 成员也参与植株响应逆境胁迫,如茶树[Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze] CsINV5[11]、黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)CsVI2[12]和甘薯[Ipomoea batatas(L.)Lam.]IbVIN[13]分别受低温、干旱和黑斑病菌诱导,通过改变糖代谢调控抗逆性;敲除杨树(Populus trichocarpaPtrVINV2降低VIN活性,导致植株对盐胁迫更敏感[14]AIN 直接调控果实可溶性糖积累,如甜瓜(Cucumis melo L.)MAI1[15]、枇杷[Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] EjVIN[16]、梨(Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd)PbrvacInv1[17]VIN基因表达与果实可溶性糖含量呈正相关;干涉番茄(Solanum lycopersicumCWIN 基因LIN5 的表达,降低果实可溶性固形物含量[18]AIN 也与果实抵御逆境有关,如敲除番茄VIN 基因SlVI 不仅促进果实蔗糖含量积累,还通过上调细胞壁、角质、蜡质、类黄酮生物合成和病原抗性相关的基因表达,提高果实对葡萄灰霉病的抗性[19];通过人工合成的感热元件诱导高温下番茄CWIN 基因LIN5 表达,导致CWIN 酶活性提高后促进光合产物向果实分配,提升逆境下果实产量[20]。因此,AINs介导的蔗糖分解代谢对植物生长发育、产量和品质形成及抵御逆境具有重要作用。

检测AIN 酶活性是研究其生理功能的前提,常见的策略是利用异源宿主表达,然后提取重组蛋白离体检测蔗糖分解活性。例如,利用酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)INV突变株系表达辣椒(Capsicum annuum L.)CaCWINV2CaVINV1[21]、甘薯Ibβfruct2[22],根据酵母生长恢复结果判断,或提取总蛋白离体检测蔗糖分解活性。利用毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)表达黄瓜CsVI2[12]CsVI1[23],利用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达桃(Prunus persica L.)PpVIN2[24],提取并纯化重组蛋白检测蔗糖分解活性。酿酒酵母生长恢复检测具有直观、易操作和无需大型仪器的优点,是迄今为止最普遍应用的方法。该方法原理在于:突变株因缺乏胞外INV活性不能分解蔗糖,表达具有蔗糖分解活性的外源AIN可恢复酵母以蔗糖为唯一碳源的生长。酵母生长恢复检测通过肉眼观察菌落有无进行判断,其不足之处包括:(1)仅能定性判断,难以定量比较,尤其在载体对照微弱生长时极易造成干扰甚至误判[25-26];(2)检测耗时较长,通常需48~96 h[21-22,25];(3)检测效率低。因此,有必要改进基于酵母生长恢复的检测方法,达到准确、耗时短和效率高的目的。

蔗糖分解产生葡萄糖和果糖,进一步通过糖酵解为生物的代谢活动提供碳骨架、能量和糖信号[27],产生的ATP 介导质子泵形成跨膜电位和质子浓度梯度[28]。笔者前期将跨膜质子浓度梯度(即胞外酸化)作为酵母细胞糖酵解代谢的标志,验证外源糖转运蛋白的转运活性[29]。本研究探讨将胞外酸化作为对象,改进酵母生长恢复检测AIN酶活性方法的不足。此前已通过酵母表达和酶活性分析,探讨红肉火龙果HpVIN1[25]、HpVIN4[26]和HpCWIN6[30]等3 个AIN的蔗糖酶分解活性。本研究针对上述AIN建立基于活体酵母胞外酸化检测AIN酶活性的方法,计划开展以下研究:(1)探讨pH 指示剂颜色与胞外酸化的关系;(2)以INV酶补充酵母INV突变,添加蔗糖为唯一碳源,验证检测方法的可行性;(3)对HpVIN1、HpVIN4 和HpCWIN6 开展基于酵母胞外酸化的酶活性验证。以期筛选最佳检测条件,获得一种检测植物AIN酶活性更快速、准确和高效的方法。本研究为开展植物糖代谢相关基因的酶活性检测提供有力的技术支撑,对阐明糖代谢相关基因在植物生长发育、产量和品质形成及抵御逆境中的生理功能具有重要的促进作用。

1 材料和方法

1.1 材料

酿酒酵母INV突变株系SEY2102(MATαura3-52leu2-3112his4-519suc2-Δ9gal2)不能分解利用蔗糖,可正常吸收利用葡萄糖等己糖。待验证AIN 基因分别为红肉火龙果VIN 成员HpVIN1[25]HpVIN4[26],以及CWIN 成员HpCWIN6[30],均克隆至酵母表达载体pDR196。

酵母氮源(PM2070)、缺尿嘧啶(uracil,Ura)的氨基酸混合物(PM2270)和酵母转化试剂盒(SK2400)均购自北京酷来搏科技有限公司。100倍的溴甲酚紫(BCP)母液:取0.15 g 溴甲酚紫钠盐(B111027,Aladdin,上海)定容至25 mL,过滤灭菌。SC/-Ura 液体培养基:每500 mL 含酵母氮源3.35 g,氨基酸混合物0.65 g,20%葡萄糖溶液50 mL,固体培养基则添加琼脂粉10 g,调节pH 至5.8~6.0,高温高压灭菌,4 ℃保存。SC/-Ura 无碳源检测培养基:每450 mL 含酵母氮源3.35 g,氨基酸混合物0.65 g,调节pH 至6.3~6.5,高温高压灭菌,按照1%的体积比加入BCP 母液。INV 酶溶液:称取0.5 g蔗糖转化酶粉末(S10208,源叶生物,上海),加入1.0 mL无菌水溶解,过滤灭菌,4 ℃保存。

1.2 BCP溶液的光吸收扫描和曲线拟合

对一系列pH 为4.00~8.00 的BCP 溶液,利用酶标仪(Multiskan GO,Thermo Fisher,美国)扫描光吸收曲线,具体方法参考前期报道[29]。获取各pH下波长432 nm 和488 nm 的吸光值A432和A488,减去纯水A432和A488,各个吸光值检测均进行3 次技术重复。进一步计算各pH 下A432和A488的比值R432/488。利用Excel 2007 软件对pH 和R432/488进行线性拟合,获得一元一次方程。

1.3 酵母表达

利用酵母转化试剂盒转化质粒至酵母株系SEY2102,使用SC/-Ura固体培养基30 ℃培养48 h。挑选单克隆利用液体SC/-Ura 培养基30 ℃振荡培养16 h,采用PCR 鉴定获得的阳性单克隆。阳性克隆在SC/-Ura 液体培养基过夜培养至OD600为0.6~1.0,离心去上清液,使用无菌水清洗并离心两次获得酵母细胞。加入无菌水重悬酵母细胞,30 ℃振荡12 h,再次离心去上清液。用无菌水调节酵母细胞,至最终OD600约5.0,4 ℃保存备用。

1.4 外源INV恢复酵母胞外酸化的检测

选取表达载体对照pDR196 的4 个独立单克隆作为4次生物学重复,每个单克隆均取6份。分别吸取100 μL酵母重悬细胞,离心去上清液,加入440 μL的SC/-Ura 无碳源检测培养基。取3 份分别加入10 μL 的INV 酶溶液,另外3 份仅加入10 μL 无菌水作为载体对照。分别在含有INV和pDR196的酵母溶液中加入50 μL 无菌水、蔗糖和葡萄糖溶液。30 ℃振荡12 h,离心后吸取150 μL 上清液至96 孔板,拍照并检测A432和A488,每个样品的检测均进行3次技术重复。

1.5 HpVIN1介导酵母胞外酸化的检测

分别选取表达pDR196 和HpVIN1 的4 个独立单克隆作为4 次生物学重复,吸取300 μL 酵母重悬细胞,5000 r·min-1离心3 min 去上清液。反应总体积为1.5 mL,包含有:1.35 mL的SC/-Ura无碳源检测培养基,150 μL 无菌水、蔗糖或葡萄糖溶液。酵母最终OD600为1.0,糖终浓度均为2%。30 ℃振荡培养,定期吸取180 μL 培养液离心,取150 μL 上清液检测A432和A488,每个样品的检测均进行3 次技术重复。

检测不同酵母密度、培养时间和蔗糖浓度下pH变化,反应总体积均为500 μL。检测不同OD600的pH 变化,酵母细胞最终OD600 分别为0、0.3、0.6 和1.2,培养2 h,蔗糖终浓度为2%。检测不同培养时间下pH变化,时间分别为0、2、4和6 h,酵母细胞最终OD600为1.0,蔗糖终浓度为2%。检测不同蔗糖浓度下pH 变化,蔗糖终浓度分别为0、0.005、0.01、0.05、0.1、0.5、1.0 和2.0%,酵母细胞最终OD600 为1.0,培养2 h。

1.6 酵母胞外酸化的简化检测

分别挑取表达HpVIN1、HpVIN4 和HpCWIN6的单克隆各30 个作为生物学重复,以及表达pDR196 的单克隆6 个作为生物学重复,至500 μL SC/-Ura 液体培养基30 ℃振荡24 h。离心弃培养基,加入无菌水涡旋混合均匀,离心去上清液,重复1 次。加入无菌水重悬,30 ℃振荡培养12 h。离心去上清液,分别加入450 μL的SC/-Ura无碳源培养基和50 μL 蔗糖溶液。30 ℃振荡培养,分别在24 h和36 h吸取180 μL培养液,离心取150 μL上清液检测A432和A488,每个样品的检测均进行3 次技术重复。

1.7 数据分析

利用SPSS 软件进行样本之间的差异显著性分析,采用Duncan’s新复极差法计算。

2 结果与分析

2.1 BCP颜色与pH相关性分析

在pH为4.00~8.00时,BCP颜色发生“黄~紫”变化,尤其在pH为4.50~6.30时的颜色变化最明显(图1-A)。为精确分析颜色与pH 的相关性,获得pH 为4.50~8.00 的光吸收曲线(图1-B)。在λ=432 nm 和λ=589 nm 出现两个明显的光吸收峰,随pH 降低,A432逐渐升高,A589则逐渐降低。在pH 为4.50~8.00时,λ=488 nm处的A488极为稳定。

图1 BCP 溶液颜色与pH 的相关性
Fig.1 Correlation between the color of BCP solution and pH

A.BCP 溶液在pH 为4.00~8.00 的颜色;B.BCP 溶液在不同pH下的光吸收曲线;C.BCP 的R432/488 与pH 的拟合曲线。
A.The color of BCP solution at different pH values;B.The light absorption curves of BCP solution at different pH values;C.Fitting curve between R432/488 values of BCP and pH values.

对A432、A488和A589两两组合进行曲线拟合,基于酵母生长后期的pH 范围和计算的简便性综合考虑,最终以A432和A488的比值R432/488与pH 进行线性拟合。在pH 为4.50~8.00 时,R432/488与pH 表现良好的负相关线性关系,R2=0.988 3(图1-C)。后续可根据方程R432/488=(-0.718 7)×pH+6.043 6,输入R432/488换算pH。

2.2 INV酶介导酵母胞外酸化的验证

添加外源INV酶补充酵母突变株系的蔗糖分解活性,以BCP 指示胞外酸化情况。表达载体对照(pDR196)或添加INV溶液的酵母(INV),使用葡萄糖为碳源时BCP颜色均由紫变黄,pH分别下降1.90和1.94(图2)。使用蔗糖为碳源,pDR196 表达未导致颜色明显变化,pH 下降仅0.28;添加INV 导致BCP 颜色由紫变黄,pH 下降1.79,显著大于载体对照。由此可见,酵母胞外酸化即pH 下降,是INV 催化蔗糖分解后的直接体现。下一步利用载体pDR196表达外源INV基因,通过可视化观察和定量计算酵母胞外酸化验证其蔗糖分解活性。

图2 INV 酶介导酵母在不同碳源下的胞外pH 变化
Fig.2 The extracellular pH changes of yeast cells mediated by INV enzyme under different carbon sources

不同小写字母表示在P<0.05 差异显著。下同。
Different small letters indicate significant difference at P<0.05.The same below.

2.3 HpVIN1介导酵母胞外酸化的检测

表达HpVIN1 或载体对照pDR196 的酵母培养液中分别添加葡萄糖或蔗糖,观察溶液颜色变化(图3)和计算pH变化(图4)。添加葡萄糖为碳源,两者颜色在3 h均由紫变褐,此后至12 h保持黄色;两者pH在3 h分别下降1.95和1.88,6 h均下降2.03,此后至12 h 基本保持稳定。添加蔗糖为碳源,pDR196颜色保持紫色,其pH在24 h下降0.03;HpVIN1表达导致颜色在12 h已不再呈紫色,24 h变黄色,此后至36 h 均不再明显变化;HpVIN1 表达导致pH 在12 h下降1.43,24 h 下降1.93,此后至36 h 不再明显降低。

图3 表达HpVIN1 的酵母在不同碳源下的胞外酸化观察结果
Fig.3 The extracellular acidification observation results of yeast expressing HpVIN1 under different carbon sources

BCP 为胞外酸化指示剂,紫色变黄色表明pH 下降。
BCP acted as the extracellular acidification indicator,and its color changing from purple to yellow indicated the pH value decrease.

图4 表达HpVIN1 的酵母在不同碳源下的胞外pH 变化
Fig.4 The extracellular pH changes of yeast expressing HpVIN1 under different carbon sources

分别以葡萄糖(A)和蔗糖(B)为唯一碳源的胞外pH 变化。
The extracellular pH changes using glucose(A)and sucrose(B)as the sole carbon source,respectively.

从图5 可以看出,固定培养时间和蔗糖浓度,HpVIN1 表达导致pH 随酵母OD600增加近似直线下降;固定蔗糖浓度和OD600,pH下降幅度也随培养时间的延长近似直线下降;固定OD600和培养时间,在低蔗糖浓度(0%~0.05%)时,pH 随蔗糖浓度增加呈近似直线快速下降;此后随蔗糖浓度增加,pH 下降速率逐渐减慢。

图5 表达HpVIN1 的酵母在不同条件下的胞外pH 变化
Fig.5 The extracellular pH changes of yeast expressing HpVIN1 under different conditions

不同酵母OD600(A)、培养时间(B)和蔗糖浓度(C)下的胞外pH 变化。
The extracellular pH changes under different yeast OD600(A),culture time(B)and sucrose concentration(C).

2.4 HpVIN1HpVIN4HpCWIN6 介导酵母胞外酸化的简化检测

上述检测HpVIN1 酶活性的常规流程涉及酵母单菌落的再次培养和精确控制菌液OD600,操作步骤繁琐。为简化步骤,对红肉火龙果AIN 基因HpVIN1HpVIN4HpCWIN6,直接从转化后的固体筛选平板选取酵母单菌落,在含有BCP的液体蔗糖培养基培养并同步检测。培养24 h,HpVIN1HpVIN4 表达导致颜色由紫变黄,HpCWIN6pDR196表达则保持紫色(结果未展示)。检测pH表明(图6):pDR196 表达导致pH 下降仅0.02;HpVIN1HpVIN4 表达导致pH 分别下降1.93 和1.40,均显著大于pDR196HpCWIN6表达导致pH下降0.13,与pDR196 无显著差异。时间延长至36 h,HpVIN1HpVIN4HpCWIN6 表达导致pH 下降水平与24 h时无显著差异。

图6 表达HpVIN1HpVIN4HpCWIN6 的酵母以蔗糖为碳源的胞外pH 变化
Fig.6 The extracellular pH changes of yeast expressing HpVIN1,HpVIN4 and HpCWIN6 using sucrose as carbon source

3 讨 论

植物代谢相关的酶或转运蛋白常借助酵母突变株系表达,通过酵母生长恢复和(或)提取重组蛋白检测酶活性验证[12,21,31]。笔者前期开展酵母生长恢复和重组蛋白离体酶活性检测,证明HpVIN1 和HpVIN4 均具有蔗糖分解活性,促进酵母利用蔗糖恢复生长[25-26];HpCWIN6 具有蔗糖分解活性,但不能分泌到胞外,未能促进酵母利用蔗糖恢复生长[30]。本研究结果表明,上述3 个AIN 的酶活性与其介导的酵母胞外酸化结果一致,证实基于胞外酸化验证AIN酶活性方法具有可行性。

胞外酸化可通过pH计直接检测,但在实际操作中表现困难或不便,主要体现在:(1)属于接触式检测,易污染样品;(2)在样品间轮流检测难以彻底清洗并控干,检测速度慢,效率低;(3)常用的pH 检测电极所需样品体积通常为毫升级,微升级别的检测电极价格昂贵;(4)响应慢,误差较大。笔者选用BCP为指示剂,其在pH为4.5~6.3时明显变化[32],优点在于:(1)肉眼观察或比色法检测,不接触样品,保持无菌培养环境;(2)通过多孔板使用酶标仪检测,检测速度快,效率高;(3)样品所需体积较小,可达到微升级;(4)响应快,颜色稳定,误差小。为进一步计算pH 变化,笔者建立BCP 光吸收与pH 的拟合曲线。不同pH 下BCP 的A589和A432呈现较大变化,其比值与pH呈现双S形曲线[29],导致其拟合和后续换算均较为复杂。考虑到A488极为稳定,R432/488与pH呈现良好的线性关系,其一元一次方程便于简化换算。因此,通过观察BCP颜色和R432/488换算pH共同检测胞外酸化,为验证AIN酶活性奠定了基础。

与普遍应用的酵母生长恢复检测相比,笔者建立的方法具有明显的优点,具体体现在:(1)定性和定量结合,准确度高。酵母生长恢复检测通过肉眼比较酵母菌落直径,仅能定性判断候选基因的酶活性。已报道的酵母生长互补试验和笔者前期试验表明,载体对照也表现微弱或明显的生长[25-26]。若表达候选基因的酵母生长微弱,将干扰定性判断甚至误判。本研究肉眼观察到HpVIN1表达导致颜色由紫变黄,载体对照无明显变化,可定性判断HpVIN1具有酶活性;HpVIN1 表达导致pH 明显降低,载体对照下降极微弱,进一步通过定量计算证明HpVIN1具有酶活性。因此,基于胞外酸化的方法可避免载体对照微弱生长带来的干扰,综合定性判断和定量计算结果,较酵母生长互补检测更准确。(2)缩短检测时间。酵母生长恢复检测通常使用固体培养基,多数报道均表明需培养48~96 h,才能通过酵母菌落直径差异判断[21-22,25]。本研究检测HpVIN1,颜色和pH在12 h时明显变化,在24 h时变化达到最大且基本稳定。对HpVIN4 和HpCWIN6 直接使用转化后的单菌落培养并检测,在24 h的pH下降幅度达到最大且基本稳定。此外,pH下降幅度与酵母OD600、培养时间或蔗糖浓度呈正相关,说明可通过调整上述条件进一步缩短培养时间。总之,本研究利用BCP指示胞外酸化的检测耗时仅需24 h,较酵母生长恢复检测大幅缩短。(3)简化步骤,检测效率高。酵母生长恢复验证的常规流程需对表达AIN基因的酵母单菌落进行放大培养、清洗和重悬,再梯度稀释后接种于固体培养基检测培养,步骤繁琐,效率低[25-26]。本研究在已建立通过酵母胞外酸化检测酶活性的常规流程基础上探索简化检测,仅在最初的放大培养就同步开展实时检测,省略清洗、重悬和再接种于固体培养基等步骤。简化检测HpVIN1 的pH 下降水平与常规流程结果一致,说明简化检测具有可行性。由此可见,本研究基于酵母胞外酸化的简化检测,较酵母生长恢复验证具有步骤简单和检测效率高等优点。

本研究基于胞外酸化检测AIN酶活性仍存在局限性,体现如下:(1)不能精确控制AIN蛋白的定位,影响检测结果。为分解胞外蔗糖,AIN表达后需定位于胞外才能发挥作用。为启动AIN基因表达,本研究采用组成型启动子,以达到过量表达的目的。表达载体pDR196 本身并不具有信号肽,导致AIN 蛋白与HpTST1 类似[33],过量表达后发生随机或错误定位。HpVIN1 和HpVIN4 在植物细胞定位于液泡膜和液泡,酵母表达恢复其利用蔗糖和导致胞外酸化[25-26],推测二者因过量表达导致部分蛋白错误定位并泄露至胞外。HpCWIN6在植物细胞定位于质外体,酵母表达不能恢复其利用蔗糖[30],未能促进胞外酸化,说明其未被分泌至胞外。未来可借鉴酵母表面展示技术,通过融合酵母细胞壁蛋白控制AIN蛋白表达后被识别和分泌到胞外[34]。(2)酵母胞外酸化水平和速率可能无法比较不同AIN之间的酶活性差异。根据原理推测,基于酵母活体的胞外酸化即pH 下降水平,至少与酵母生长状态、检测时长、不同AIN的表达量和蛋白定位等因素有关。为准确比较不同AIN的酶活性差异,应采取离体策略,提取并纯化重组蛋白检测[21-23]。尽管存在上述局限,未来对表达载体改造实现精确定位后,本研究可应用于:(1)快速准确检测多个AIN的酶活性。也可作为酵母生长恢复的预试验或补充,再进一步提取重组蛋白离体检测酶活性,从多个角度综合验证。(2)简化流程可高通量筛选影响AIN酶活性的关键位点。通过随机或定点突变AIN构建文库,转化后对酵母单克隆开展培养并实时监测。肉眼观察颜色变化或使用酶标仪检测即可实现高通量筛选,从海量的单克隆文库获得目标突变体。对目标突变体测序和表达,结合离体酶活性分析,可获得决定AIN酶活性的关键位点。

4 结 论

建立植物AIN 酶活性验证方法,检测条件:酵母OD600=1.0,蔗糖浓度0.5%~2.0%,培养时间24 h。相比于酵母生长恢复检测,本方法具有明显优点:定性和定量结合,准确度高;缩短检测时间;简化步骤,检测效率高。未来本方法可用于:(1)快速准确检测多个AIN的酶活性,再进一步结合重组蛋白离体酶活性检测;(2)通过颜色变化高通量筛选突变文库,研究关键结构域或氨基酸位点对AIN 酶活性的影响。

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Establishment of the rapid and accurate detection method for acid invertase activity from red pitaya

ZHENG Qianming1,2,WANG Honglin1,2,YAN Shuang1,3,XIE Pu1

(1Guizhou Institute of Pomology Science,Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science,Guiyang 550006,Guizhou,China;2Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science/Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Karst Region,Guiyang 550006,Guizhou,China;3Guizhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding for Characteristic Horticultural Crops,Guiyang 550006,Guizhou,China)

Abstract:【Objective】Sucrose, glucose and fructose are major and important types of soluble sugar in high plants.Acid invertase (AIN) containing vacuole invertase (VIN) and cell wall invertase (CWIN),degrades sucrose into glucose and fructose irreversibly in vacuoles and extracellular space,respectively.Sucrose metabolism mediated by AINs plays vital roles in plant growth and development, yield and quality formation, biotic and abiotic stress resistance. The enzyme activity determination of AINs is a prerequisite for studying their physiological functions. Currently, yeast complementation assay offers advantages such as simple and no need for instruments, making it the most commonly used approach for AINs activity detection.However,yeast complementation method has defects:(1)judge qualitatively only, and misjudge when vector control grows weakly; (2) time-consuming, usually needs 48-96 hours;(3)low efficiency.Aiming to limitations of yeast complementation assay,this study established a rapid and accurate method for detecting AIN activities by yeast extracellular acidification in vivo.【Methods】Using 0.006%Bromocresol purple(BCP)as the acidification indicator,color changes under a series of different pH values were investigated. Then, absorption curves of BCP solutions under the wavelength range of 350-650 nm were scanned by microplate spectrophotometer(Multiskan GO,Thermo Fisher,USA).Under different pH values,the absorbance value A432and A488 at the wavelength of 432 nm and 488 nm were obtained, respectively. Then, R432/488 values (A432/A488) at different pH values were generated.The linear fitting between pH and R432/488 values was conducted by Excel 2007 software, and the linear function was obtained for the convertion of R432/488 to pH value.Using exogenous invertase enzyme to supplement sucrose degradation defect of invertase deficient baker' s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) SEY2102 strain, color and pH changes with BCP as indicator were investigated, which was used to explore the feasibility of detecting INV enzyme activity based on extracellular acidification.Using BCP as the indicator, extracellular color and pH value changes of yeast expressing red pitaya AIN gene HpVIN1 under control of expression vector pDR196 was investigated with 2%glucose and 2%sucrose as the sole carbon source,respectively.The influence of culture time(0,2,4 and 6 h),yeast OD600 value (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2) and sucrose concentration (0%, 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%and 2.0%) on pH changes was studied. Yeast single clones expressing red pitaya AIN genes HpVIN1,HpVIN4 or HpCWIN6 after screened by the solid medium, were selected for culturing by using 2% sucrose as the sole carbon source. Meanwhile, the extracellular acidification was detected, which was used for simplifying the procedure and testing the possibility of high throughput detection.【Results】At the pH range of 4.00-8.00,BCP solution color changed from yellow to purple as the pH value increase.There were two obvious light absorption peaks at λ=432 nm and λ=589 nm,respectively,and A488 value was extremely stable at λ=488 nm.Under the pH range of 4.50-8.00,R432/488 showed negative linear correlation with pH value.The equation between R432/488 and pH value was:R432/488=(-0.718 7)×pH+6.043 6,R2=0.988 3. Under glucose as carbon source, culture solution color of yeast mutant (adding exogenous INV enzyme or not) changed from purple to yellow and pH value decreased by 1.90±0.01 and 1.94±0.02, revealing that yeast cells could utilize glucose for inducing extracellular acidification. Using sucrose as carbon source,culture solution color of yeast mutant kept purple,and pH value decreased only by 0.28±0.04, which indicated that the yeast mutant could not degrade sucrose into glucose and fructose.Then,after adding exogenous INV enzyme for yeast mutant,solution color changed from purple to yellow,and its pH value decreased by 1.79±0.03,suggesting that the feasibility of sucrose degrade activity of INV enzyme indicated by extracellular acidification.Under glucose as carbon source,solution color of yeast expressing HpVIN1 or vector control pDR196 both turned yellow after 12 h,and pH values decreased by 2.03±0.02.When using sucrose as carbon source,the color of vector control remained purple and its pH value decreased only by 0.03±0.01 after 24 h; the solution color of yeast expressing HpVIN1 turned yellow after 24 h,and its pH value decreased by 1.93±0.01.After fixed the culture time and sucrose concentration, the pH value decreased almost linearly with the yeast OD600 value increase.Under fixed the sucrose concentration and yeast OD600 value, the pH value also decreased linearly with the culture time extension.When the yeast OD600 value and incubation time are fixed,within the sucrose concentration range of 0-0.05%, the pH value decreases rapidly as sucrose concentration increases;whereas within the range of 0.5%-2.0%,the pH value decreases gradually with increasing sucrose concentration.The main detection conditions were as follows:the yeast OD600 was 1.0,final sucrose concentration was 0.5%-2.0%and culture time was 24 h.The extracellular acidification of yeast single clones expressing HpVIN1, HpVIN4 or HpCWIN6 from solid medium were directly selected to be cultured and detected at the same time.After incubation of 24 h, the solution color of yeast expressing HpVIN1 and HpVIN4 both changed from purple to yellow,whereas HpCWIN6 and pDR196 both remained purple. The pH value of yeast expressing HpVIN1 and HpVIN4 decreased by 1.93±0.02 and 1.40±0.40,which were significantly larger than that of vector control (0.02±0.01).The pH value of yeast expressing HpCWIN6 decreased only by 0.13±0.25, which was not significantly different from vector control.In conclusion,based on extracellular acidification tests of yeast expression,it proved that enzyme activity results of HpVIN1, HpVIN4 and HpCWIN6 coincided with the previous yeast complementation detection.【Conclusion】Based on the extracellular acidification principle,this study establishes a method for detecting AIN enzyme activity in living yeast cells.Compared to the current used yeast complementation assay, it has obvious advantages:qualitative and quantitative combination, high accuracy, timesaving, simplifying steps and high detection efficiency, which can be used for rapid detection of plant AIN enzyme activity or high throughput screening of AIN mutant libraries.

Key words:Red pitaya;Acid invertase; Sucrose degradation;Yeast expression; Extracellular acidification

中图分类号:S667.9

文献标志码:A

文章编号:1009-9980(2026)04-0970-10

DOI:10.13925/j.cnki.gsxb.20250431

收稿日期:2025-07-30

接受日期:2025-09-11

基金项目:国家自然科学基金项目(32060674);贵州省科技计划(黔科合服企[2022]014,黔科合平台ZSYS[2025]027)

作者简介:郑乾明,男,副研究员,研究方向为园艺果实品质形成机制。E-mail:zqm851015@163.com