Global transcriptome analysis of Gracilaria changii (Rhodophyta) in response to agarolytic enzyme and bacterium

Many bacterial epiphytes of agar-producing seaweeds secrete agarase that degrade algal cell wall matrix into oligoagars which elicit defense-related responses in the hosts. The molecular defense responses of red seaweeds are largely unknown. In this study, we surveyed the defense-related transcripts of an agarophyte, Gracilaria changii, treated with β-agarase through next generation sequencing (NGS). We also compared the defense responses of seaweed elicited by agarase with those elicited by an agarolytic bacterium isolated from seaweed, by profiling the expression of defense-related genes using quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). NGS detected a total of 391 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a higher abundance (>2-fold change with a p value <0.001) in the agarase-treated transcriptome compared to that of the non-treated G. changii. Among these DEGs were genes related to signaling, bromoperoxidation, heme peroxidation, production of aromatic amino acids, chorismate, and jasmonic acid. On the other hand, the genes encoding a superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase and related to photosynthesis were downregulated. The expression of these DEGs was further corroborated by qRT-PCR results which showed more than 90 % accuracy. A comprehensive analysis of their gene expression profiles between 1 and 24 h post treatments (hpt) revealed that most of the genes analyzed were consistently upregulated or downregulated by both agarase and agarolytic bacterial treatments, indicating that the defense responses induced by both treatments are highly similar except for genes encoding vanadium bromoperoxidase and animal heme peroxidase. Our study has provided the first glimpse of the molecular defense responses of G. changii to agarase and agarolytic bacterial treatments

Molecular cloning and characterization of GDP-mannose-3′,5′-epimerase from Gracilaria changii

GDP-mannose-3′,5′-epimerase (GME) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of GDP-l-galactose which is a building unit of agar and cell wall polysaccharides. GME catalyzes the formation of GDP-β-l-galactose and GDP-l-gulose from GDP-mannose. In this study, the gene and transcript encoding GME from the red alga Gracilaria changii (GcGME) were cloned. The structural gene sequence of GcGME is devoid of an intron. The cis-acting regulatory element involved in light response is the most abundant element at the 5′-flanking region of GcGME. The open reading frame of GcGME consists of 1,053 nucleotides with 351 amino acids. This cDNA was cloned into pET32a expression vector for recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli. High yield of soluble recombinant GcGME (55 kDa) was expressed upon isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction. The enzyme activity of recombinant GcGME was detected using thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The transcript abundance of GcGME was the highest in G. changii and the lowest in Gracilaria salicornia corresponding to their agar contents. The characterization of GcGME from G. changii is important to facilitate the understanding of its role in agar production of this seaweed

Molecular characterization of GDP mannose pyrophosphorylase, GDP-mannose-3',5'-epimerase and galactose-1phosphate uridylyltransferase recombinant proteins from Gracilaria changii I. abbott

Gracilaria changii is a red seaweed which grows in the muddy and silted mangroves fringing the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia such as Morib, Selangor.Gracilaria plays an important role in the phycocolloid industry for agar production. GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP), GDP-mannose-3’, 5’-epimerase (GME) and galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) are the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of D- and L-galactose (basic unit of agar). Although the complete biosynthetic pathway of agar and agarose biosynthesis is not known, the regulating steps of agar and agarose biosynthesis is believed to lie in the intermediate pathways involving the biosynthesis of UDP-D and GDP-L-galactose. The objectives of this study were to express the cDNAs encoding GcGALT, GcGME and GcGMP as recombinant protein in Escherichia coli for biochemical assays and to isolate the 5’flanking regions of these three enzymes from G. changii. The recombinant proteins of GcGALT and GcGME were successfully expressed as soluble proteins in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) pLysS. The enzyme activity of recombinant GcGALT was determined in a coupled assay by monitoring the reduction of NAD and NADP. For the forward reaction, the Km (UDP-glucose) and Km(galactose-1-phosphate) were 0.134 mM and 0.116 mM, respectively. For the reverse reaction, Km(glucose-1-phosphate) and Km(UDP-galactose) were 0.092 mM and 0.051 mM, respectively. The analysis of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the purified recombinant GcGME formed two products, most probably GDP-Lgalactose and GDP-L-gulose. The recombinant protein of GcGMP was expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli strain Origami (DE3) pLysS. The inclusion bodies were solubilized and refolded for enzyme assay using HPLC. However, the refolded recombinant GcGMP did not show any activity. The structural gene sequences of GcGALT, GcGME and GcGMP isolated from the genomic DNA of G. changii were devoid of introns. Cis-acting regulatory element related to light, methyl jasmonate responses and meristem specific activation/expression were found at the 5’ flanking regions of GcGALT, GcGME and GcGMP. The cis-acting regulatory element involved in light response showed the highest frequency in the 5’ flanking regions of GcGALT, GcGME and GcGMP. The molecular and biochemical haracterization of recombinant GcGALT, GcGME and GcGMP may facilitate the understanding of agar production in G. changii