A novel NhaD type Na+/H+ antiporter gene from a metagenomic library of halophiles colonizing in the Dagong Ancient Brine Well in China

作者:Xiang Wen Liang; Liang Hua Zhong; Luo Fan; Liu Sen; Xing Ya Ge; Li Ming Yuan; Ma Li; Che Zhen Ming*
来源:African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2012, 6(3): 543-551.
DOI:10.5897/AJMR11.915

摘要

Metagenomic DNA libraries prepared from the Dagong Ancient Brine Well were screened for the NhaD type Na+/H+ antiporter gene by functional complementation with the antiporter-deficient Escherichia coli KNabc strain. One NhaD type clone with Na+ and alkaline pH resistance phenotype was obtained and its inserted Na+/H+ antiporter gene was designated as m-nhaD. The deduced amino-acid sequence of M-NhaD protein consists of 330 residues with a calculated molecular weight of 34999 Da and a predicted isoelectric point of 7.02, which is homologous to NhaD from Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 (93%) and Yersinia frederiksenii ATCC 33641 (87%) but with only 77 and 76% sequence coverage, respectively. M-NhaD had a hydropathy profile with 9 putative transmembrane domains and a long carboxyl terminal hydrophilic tail of 31 amino acid residues different from the other NhaD. The m-nhaD gene could successfully express in the E. coli KNabc and its production rendered the E. coli KNabc with both the resistance up to 1.0 M Na+ and the ability to grow under pH 8.5 - 10 alkaline condition. The difference in structure and function suggested that the m-nhaD was a novel NhaD type Na+/H+ antiporter gene and it was an attractive candidate gene of salt tolerance genetic breeding.

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