Evaluation of the Allergenicity Potential of TcPR-10 Protein from Theobroma cacao

Background: The pathogenesis related protein PR10 (TcPR-10), obtained from the Theobroma cacao-Moniliophthora perniciosa interaction library, presents antifungal activity against M. perniciosa and acts in vitro as a ribonuclease. However, despite its biotechnological potential, the TcPR-10 has the P-loop motif similar to those of some allergenic proteins such as Bet v 1 (Betula verrucosa) and Pru av 1 (Prunus avium). The insertion of mutations in this motif can produce proteins with reduced allergenic power. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the allergenic potential of the wild type and mutant recombinant TcPR-10 using bioinformatics tools and immunological assays. Methodology/Principal Findings: Mutant substitutions (T10P, I30V, H45S) were inserted in the TcPR-10 gene by sitedirected mutagenesis, cloned into pET28a and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. Changes in molecular surface caused by the mutant substitutions was evaluated by comparative protein modeling using the three-dimensional structure of the major cherry allergen, Pru av 1 as a template. The immunological assays were carried out in 8-12 week old female BALB/c mice. The mice were sensitized with the proteins (wild type and mutants) via subcutaneous and challenged intranasal for induction of allergic airway inflammation. Conclusions/Significance: We showed that the wild TcPR-10 protein has allergenic potential, whereas the insertion of mutations produced proteins with reduced capacity of IgE production and cellular infiltration in the lungs. On the other hand, in vitro assays show that the TcPR-10 mutants still present antifungal and ribonuclease activity against M. perniciosa RNA. In conclusion, the mutant proteins present less allergenic potential than the wild TcPR-10, without the loss of interesting biotechnological properties. (Résumé d'auteur

Altered Phenotypes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Heterologous Expression of Basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa SOD2 Gene

Heterologous expression of a putative manganese superoxide dismutase gene (SOD2) of the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa complemented the phenotypes of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae sod2Δ mutant. Sequence analysis of the cloned M. perniciosa cDNA revealed an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a 176 amino acid polypeptide with the typical metal-binding motifs of a SOD2 gene, named MpSOD2. Phylogenetic comparison with known manganese superoxide dismutases (MnSODs) located the protein of M. perniciosa (MpSod2p) in a clade with the basidiomycete fungi Coprinopsis cinerea and Laccaria bicolor. Haploid wild-type yeast transformants containing a single copy of MpSOD2 showed increased resistance phenotypes against oxidative stress-inducing hydrogen peroxide and paraquat, but had unaltered phenotype against ultraviolet–C (UVC) radiation. The same transformants exhibited high sensitivity against treatment with the pro-mutagen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) that requires oxidation to become an active mutagen/carcinogen. Absence of MpSOD2 in the yeast sod2Δ mutant led to DEN hyper-resistance while introduction of a single copy of this gene restored the yeast wild-type phenotype. The haploid yeast wild-type transformant containing two SOD2 gene copies, one from M. perniciosa and one from its own, exhibited DEN super-sensitivity. This transformant also showed enhanced growth at 37 °C on the non-fermentable carbon source lactate, indicating functional expression of MpSod2p. The pro-mutagen dihydroethidium (DHE)-based fluorescence assay monitored basal level of yeast cell oxidative stress. Compared to the wild type, the yeast sod2Δ mutant had a much higher level of intrinsic oxidative stress, which was reduced to wild type (WT) level by introduction of one copy of the MpSOD2 gene. Taken together our data indicates functional expression of MpSod2 protein in the yeast S. cerevisiae

Carbon source-induced changes in the physiology of the cacao pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa (Basidiomycetes) affect mycelial morphology and secretion of necrosis-inducing proteins

Quantitative and qualitative relationships were found between secreted proteins and their activity, and the hyphal morphology of Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witches' broom disease in Theobroma cacao. This fungus was grown on fermentable and non-fermentable carbon sources; significant differences in mycelial morphology were observed and correlated with the carbon source. A biological assay performed with Nicotiana tabacum leaves revealed that the necrosis-related activity of extracellular fungal proteins also differed with carbon source. There were clear differences in the type and quantity of the secreted proteins. In addition, the expression of the cacao molecular chaperone BiP increased after treatment with secreted proteins, suggesting a physiological response to the fungus secretome. We suggest that the carbon source-dependent energy metabolism of M. perniciosa results in physiological alterations in protein expression and secretion; these may affect not only M. perniciosa growth, but also its ability to express pathogenicity proteins.8310351050FINEP/FAPES

Influence of an extract of Juglans regia on the growth of Escherichia coli, on the electrophoretic profile of plasmid DNA and on the radiolabeling of blood constituents

The aim of this work was to study the influence of a walnut (Juglans regia) extract on the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) AB1157, on the plasmid DNA topology and on the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m (99mTc). An E. coli AB1157 culture, in stationary phase, was incubated with walnut and the growth of the culture was evaluated by optical density at 600 nm for 7 hours. Plasmid DNA samples were incubated with SnCl2 in presence or absence of walnut for 40 minutes, 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis was performed, the gel was stained and the plasmid topological forms were visualized. Blood samples from Wistar rats were incubated with walnut extract and an assay of labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m (99mTc) was performed. Blood cells and plasma were separated. The radioactivity in each fraction was counted and percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) was determined. The results presented an inhibitory action of the growth of the E. coli AB1157 culture, no protective action of the walnut extract in plasmid DNA treated with SnCl2. Moreover, walnut was also not capable to induce modifications in the DNA mobility in agarose gel but walnut was capable to decrease the distribution of 99mTc on the blood cell compartment. In conclusion, our experimental data suggest that in the walnut extract has substances with an effect on the growth of E. coli culture, a potential action to increase the SnCl2 effect on plasmid DNA and also is capable to alter the distribution of 99mTc on the blood cell compartment probably due to redoxi properties.<br>O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar a influência de um extrato de nogueira (Juglans regia) no crescimento de Escherichia coli (E. coli) AB1157, na topologia do DNA plasmidial e na marcação de constituintes sanguíneos com tecnécio-99m (99mTc). Uma cultura de E. coli AB1157, em fase estacionária, foi incubada com nogueira e o crescimento da cultura foi avaliado por densidade óptica a 600nm por 7 horas. Amostras de DNA plasmidial foram incubadas com SnCl2 na presença ou ausência de nogueira por 40 minutos, a eletroforese em agarose 0.8% foi realizada, o gel foi corado e as formas topológicas do plasmídio foram visualizadas. Amostras de sangue de ratos Wistar foram incubadas com extrato de nogueira e um ensaio de marcação de constituintes sanguíneos com tecnécio-99m (99mTc) foi realizado. Células sanguíneas e plasma foram separadas. A radioatividade em cada fração foi contada e a percentagem de radioatividade incorporada (%ATI) foi determinada. Os resultados apresentaram uma ação inibitória do crescimento da cultura de E. coli AB1157, nenhuma ação protetora do extrato de nogueira em DNA plasmidial tratado com SnCl2. Além disso, na nogueira também não foi capaz de induzir modificações na mobilidade do DNA em gel de agarose, mas a nogueira foi capaz de diminuir a distribuição de 99mTc no compartimento sanguíneo celular. Concluindo, nosso resultado experimental sugere que no extrato de nogueira existem substâncias com um efeito no crescimento de cultura de E. coli, uma ação capaz de aumentar o efeito do SnCl2 no DNA plasmidial e também ser capaz de alterar a distribuição de 99mTc no compartimento sanguíneo celular provavelmente devido a propriedades redoxi